2318 Melpomene Street--Cassie's Dad's House

[More than Music]

Kagayaki Aidou

"I... I miss... my friend."

She didn't say anything. That could mean she wasn't angry. Or that she was too angry to talk... he hoped it wasn't that.

"I know... I did bad things to you. But... I want make it good....Please?"

'I'm sorry, Cassie. This is the best I can say.'

Cassie seemed to be okay, because she let him come in the room. She sat down on the bed but Kagayaki wasn't sure if it was okay for him to sit next to her, so he just took in a deep breath and let it out, folding his hands behind his head. "I understand what you're saying. But I'm sorry, but that's not enough. I need more than just an apology and a 'please.' How do you want to make things right again?" She sighed. She was sad, but she was getting more comfortable. That was good, that was good. "I'm listening. You can tell me."

He sighed, moving one finger over to touch the scars on the back of his head. It helped him stay calm, to know how much they'd healed.

...They'd healed...

Kagayaki smiled, just slightly, and reached his hand out to Cassie. "I want... be for you. Help you get... all better, okay?" He almost touched her shoulder, then stepped back, putting his hands behind his head again. "Yukito is... has Erin-chan. I not good as Erin-chan, helping," he paused to laugh a little, "eh, still, I want you to has someone. For laughs. For cries." He took in a deep breath, and held his hand out to her, but more steadily and confident this time. "I be your friend, Cassie. Promise, do better now." His smile grew more familiar, and he just waited for her to say something. Do something.

Anything.

[The Phantom of Paris]

OOC: So I guess we're starting the fight now. *rolls eyes* Sorry if this wasn't what you were expecting, I can edit if you want. Cassie totally took over here. BIC:

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

She was tempted to give in. To forgive him, to trust him again, to do whatever he had come here to get her to agree too. As much as it pained her to admit it, she had missed his friendship a bit too. She had missed him. But she also hated him for it. As always, he expected that everything could be fixed just by saying he was sorry, hated him for thinking that she would want to forgive him. It's like he thinks this is some stupid sitcom where relationships are fixed in thirty minutes or less and everyone loves each other again. He says he's changed, but he hasn't! He still lives in this fantasy world and has no concept of reality, like he's a little kid or something! The world didn't work that way, it never had. And Cassie knew enough to know it never would.

The question was, did Kagayaki know that, too?

She was tempted to say yes, forgive him, move on. She was also tempted to shove him out of the room, slam the door in his face, and hide in Shelby's closet until Thanksgiving was over and she could go back to classes. Still, she decided it would be too cruel to just turn Kagayaki away without hearing him out a little bit. For all she knew, he had some elaborate plan as to how to win back her trust or something, or he had a more sincere apology in the works than the tawdry 'I'm sorry,' which she still wasn't inclined to believe was genuine. Don't shoot him down just yet. Try to listen and then figure out what to do with him and his stupid expectations. Just listen. "How do you want to make things right again?" she asked carefully, watching his face. Cassie gave a little sigh, almost dreading what she might hear. "I'm listening. You can tell me."

He reached out a hand to her in an unsure way, as if he didn't know whether touching her would get him slapped. Cassie didn't move an inch, staring him down as he spoke. He just stood there, one arm outstretched, looking like some tragic Shakespeare hero gone wrong. "I want... be for you. Help you get... all better, okay?"

What?

"Yukito is... has Erin-chan. I not good as Erin-chan, helping...eh, still, I want you to has someone. For laughs. For cries. I be your friend, Cassie. Promise, do better now."

...What?!

"Unbelievable," Cassie murmured, staring up at him in shock. She raised her voice, quickly becoming angry. "You are unbelievable!" She shot to her feet, her hands shaking as she tried to contain herself. "You said you've changed, but you haven't changed at all! You still think that I'm this helpless little girl who needs to be protected!" She raised her voice an octave, mocking him as she repeated his insipid words. "'I want to help you get all better, okay?' Do you have any idea how arrogant you are? Has it ever occurred to you that I might not want your help? That I might not need it?!" She took a deep breath, her entire body shaking, her eyes glaring daggers at him as she plowed on.

"I don't 'need' you. I don't 'need' a 'someone.' Did you ever think that I might have, I don't know, moved on with my life? Just like you have? I have a whole new life now that you know nothing about, but since you're not a part of it anymore, you think you need to fix it! I have someone. I have Erin and Shelby and my roommate. My roommate is my 'person' that you keep talking about now. Lilith is my person, okay? I don't need you and your white horse to come sweep me off my feet and make my life perfect, okay? I have friends and a life at college, which you would know if you even bothered to ask me! I don't need fixing, and if you're so concerned about having a project to work on, why don't you just spend some time with your crazy girlfriend? Because I don't need you."

[More than Music]

OOC: Let me know if this is too soon to initiate the other part of the plot, then. ;D
BIC:

Kagayaki Aidou

"I want... be for you. Help you get... all better, okay?"

She didn't say anything, so he kept going.

"Yukito is... has Erin-chan. I not good as Erin-chan, helping...eh, still, I want you to has someone. For laughs. For cries. I be your friend, Cassie. Promise, do better now."

"Unbelievable," Cassie said. The look in her eyes made him bury his hands deep in his pockets and look down. "You are unbelievable!"

'So, we're really gonna be this way forever.'

"You said you've changed, but you haven't changed at all! You still think that I'm this helpless little girl who needs to be protected!"

He didn't look up. He couldn't. She'd taken everything the wrong way, probably because he'd said it wrong. Had he said it wrong? He had, hadn't he?

"'I want to help you get all better, okay?' Do you have any idea how arrogant you are? Has it ever occurred to you that I might not want your help? That I might not need it?!"

Cassie took in a shaky breath that made him meet her eyes.

'You would rather be all alone?'

"I don't 'need' you. I don't 'need' a 'someone.' Did you ever think that I might have, I don't know, moved on with my life? Just like you have? I have a whole new life now that you know nothing about, but since you're not a part of it anymore, you think you need to fix it! I have someone."

Every word was like a punch in the stomach. Maybe one he needed.

"I have Erin and Shelby and my roommate. My roommate is my 'person' that you keep talking about now. Lilith is my person, okay? I don't need you and your white horse to come sweep me off my feet and make my life perfect, okay? I have friends and a life at college, which you would know if you even bothered to ask me! I don't need fixing, and if you're so concerned about having a project to work on, why don't you just spend some time with your crazy girlfriend? Because I don't need you."

He bit his lip, not saying anything for a long moment. But he couldn't ignore the fact that his blood was going through him like a thunder storm. That he wanted to say something. And why shouldn't he?

Why should it always be his fault?

Kagayaki took in a deep breath, and stood straighter. "You... you hide, all time," he said, his voice softer than he'd wanted it to be. Clearing his throat, he was determined to not sound so scared. "You and your all new life is... is hide! You... You want be hurting, do you?" He pointed a finger at her, noticing how neither of them seemed strong enough to stop their hands from shaking. "You want be alone, hurt, and say is okay! I know you hurt, Cassie! I..." His voice cut off, and he looked away.

"You still sad, beautiful and sad, and you will always. Just like... when I first saw you."

He met her eyes again. "You don't get better. You hide it. And you never listen!"

'You can't keep this up forever. I want to help you, but I can't, can I? It's like you want to live like this forever. Like you don't deserve any better.'

"Cassie, I ju--"

Before he could finish the word, he knew something wasn't right. His whole body froze, and he held his breath to listen. That was when he realized what it was: a distinct beeping sound from downstairs. He knew it.

'Kaji. Kaji. Fire.'

His eyes grew wide as the slight scent of smoke came up to them. He heard yelling, but he wasn't sure what was being said because his heart was racing.

"Cassie," he said, and this time his voice sounded choked. It was like he'd already breathed hours worth of fumes. "Kaji."

[The Phantom of Paris]

OOC: All right, I'm 99.9% sure this fails as a post. I know nothing about fires and gas lines. But whatever. BIC:

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

"You said you've changed, but you haven't changed at all! screamed at him, quickly losing whatever ability she had to control her anger. "You still think that I'm this helpless little girl who needs to be protected!" Not stopping to think about the consequences of her actions, she raised her voice mockingly, throwing his stupid, insipid words right back in his face. "'I want to help you get all better, okay?' Do you have any idea how arrogant you are? Has it ever occurred to you that I might not want your help? That I might not need it?! I don't 'need' you. I don't 'need' a 'someone.' Did you ever think that I might have, I don't know, moved on with my life? Just like you have? I have a whole new life now that you know nothing about, but since you're not a part of it anymore, you think you need to fix it! I have someone."

His face seemed in a permanent state of shock, like every word Cassie threw at him was causing him physical pain. She didn't care--maybe it was what she wanted. "I have Erin and Shelby and my roommate. My roommate is my 'person' that you keep talking about now. Lilith is my person, okay? I don't need you and your white horse to come sweep me off my feet and make my life perfect, okay? I have friends and a life at college, which you would know if you even bothered to ask me! I don't need fixing, and if you're so concerned about having a project to work on, why don't you just spend some time with your crazy girlfriend? Because I don't need you."

There was silence for a moment, and Cassie stared him down, breathing hard. When Kagayaki finally spoke, it was in that annoyingly calm voice again--that scared voice that made Cassie want to shake him. Fight back, for God's sake! Yell at me! You never get angry, you just let people walk all over you, and you never tell people what you really think! You never change! You'll never change!

"You... you hide, all time."

"How the hell am I hiding?! Cassie screamed, the profanity leaving her mouth before she could stop it. "Tell me how!"

"You and your all new life is... is hide! You... You want be hurting, do you? You want be alone, hurt, and say is okay!"

"I am not alone! You don't know anything about me! You don't know me! I'm not alone!!"

"I know you hurt, Cassie! I...You still sad, beautiful and sad, and you will always. Just like... when I first saw you. You don't get better. You hide it. And you never listen!"

"And you never learn!" she fired back, knowing that would get to him. "You can't see how someone can be happy and not be with someone--not have someone hanging off of them at every minute. I am not alone, but you don't even care, because you have to be right, so you won't listen to me!"

"Cassie, I ju--" He stopped abruptly, every muscle in his body tensing. Cassie stared at him, not comprehending, until suddenly she, too, realized something was very wrong. A strange smell seemed to be wafting up the stairs, and before long, a harsh beeping filled the air. The smoke alarms were going off.

Because there was smoke in the house.

Because her incompetent dad had started a fire in the kitchen.

She could hear her father yelling something, probably asking whoever would listen where they kept the fire extinguisher. Cassie didn't even care. We'll be fine. It's just a tiny kitchen fire. They've happened before. At the very least we'll need a new oven or something. No big deal. Who even cares?

"Cassie. Kaji."

Cassie rolled her eyes. "It's just a little one. He starts them all the time because he's an idiot who likes to think he can cook. He'll put it out in a minute. No need to panic. Oh, wait, sorry. That's what you do."

Boom.

The explosion wasn't very loud, but it was enough to rattle the floorboards and send a wave of heat their way. Cassie's eyes widened. Oh God, no. No no no. The stove. The stove must have been on. They had a gas stove...an old gas stove. And the gas must have been turned on...they were lucky the whole house hadn't exploded. But now...the fire had surely spread. A fire in a hundred-year-old house with a gas line on.

The whole place was a tinderbox.

Sure enough, more smoke now began pouring through Cassie's door, stinging her eyes and making her cough. She lunged towards Kagayaki, grabbing his shoulders and pushing him out the door. "The stove!" she cried, fear evident in her voice. "We have to get out of here! Now!"

[More than Music]

Kagayaki Aidou

"How the hell am I hiding?! Tell me how!"

"You and your all new life is... is hide! You... You want be hurting, do you? You want be alone, hurt, and say is okay!"

"I am not alone! You don't know anything about me! You don't know me! I'm not alone!!"

"I know you hurt, Cassie! I...You still sad, beautiful and sad, and you will always. Just like... when I first saw you. You don't get better. You hide it. And you never listen!"

"And you never learn!"

That felt like being hit. Kagayaki bit his lip. "Stop!" was all he could manage.

"You can't see how someone can be happy and not be with someone--not have someone hanging off of them at every minute. I am not alone, but you don't even care, because you have to be right, so you won't listen to me!"

"Cassie, I ju--"

That was when he realized the alarm downstairs was going off.

Every bit of his body was telling him something just wasn't right. And, as a child, he'd started enough fires to assume his instincts were good. But what should he do? It was always the reaction part he had trouble with.

He looked at Cassie, surprised by her calm. "Cassie. Kaji."

She rolled her eyes. "It's just a little one. He starts them all the time because he's an idiot who likes to think he can cook. He'll put it out in a minute. No need to panic. Oh, wait, sorry. That's what you do."

Kagayaki shook his head. "No, Cassie, is--"

He felt the explosion try to knock him down, and the sudden heat. The smoke started getting in. It hurt his skin, his eyes, his throat... Cassie coughed. He looked over at her just as she grabbed him and pushed him out the door.

"The stove!" she choked. She was scared. "We have to get out of here! Now!"

Trying to swallow, he shook his head, pulling off his jacket and putting it over her mouth as best as he could. One thought blared in his mind:

'Keep Cassie safe. Keep Cassie safe.'

They stumbled downstairs. Kagayaki couldn't see much of anything... it was all cloudy from smoke and fire. He coughed, then tried to hold his breath as much as he could. What was he supposed to do? Usually he could get out quick. This wasn't good.

Within sight of the door, the roof started falling. Kagayaki swallowed hard, but his throat was already dry. He kept close to Cassie, but it didn't help much. A huge board fell right in front of them, and they had to be careful going around. He was so distracted by it he didn't see the other one coming down.

It hit him in the back, and he couldn't help it when he yelped. Suddenly, everything hurt. His hands were shaking bad.

'No... no... Not now...'

"Cassie..." He couldn't see her. "I'm stupid... Help..."

The last thought he had before he felt himself faint was: 'Please... please, not a seizure. Not now.'

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright


"And you never learn!" The words flew out of Cassie's mouth before she could stop to think about them, and in another situation--another life--she would have regretted them instantly. Now, though, she found herself relishing every opportunity to hurt him. What right did he have to come in here and ruin everything? What right did he have to say that her new life was nothing but hiding? He didn't even know her anymore, and at this rate he never would again. He didn't understand the difference between being alone and being lonely--he didn't know that hiding and moving on were two very different concepts, because he had only done the former, not the latter. He didn't know, and because he didn't understand, he thought he could just come in there and rip down everything Cassie had tried so hard to build up again. And she wasn't going to let him, not without a fight.

"Stop!"

But she didn't stop. She couldn't. "You can't see how someone can be happy and not be with someone--not have someone hanging off of them at every minute. I am not alone, but you don't even care, because you have to be right, so you won't listen to me!"

Kagayaki opened his mouth to protest, but his words were cut off by shrill screaming. At first, Cassie thought it was herself making that horrible noise in a sort of out-of-body experience, but she quickly realized that it was the smoke detectors going off. Her dad had apparently had some sort of malfunction in the kitchen. At least we know they work, I guess... she thought satirically as Kagayki's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates, obviously scared while Cassie had to bring herself to even care. "Cassie. Kaji."

Cassie gave a cruel roll of her eyes, explaining that it was probably only a little one, that there was nothing to worry about unless they were both made of paper. She knew her dad would have it out in a minute, but of course Kagayaki had to doubt her. Her eyes narrowed to near slits as he shook his head, saying, "No, Cassie, is--"

The rest of his words were cut off by what could only be described as an explosion. The entire house seemed to shake and the acrid smell of smoke filled Cassie's nose, pouring into the room more thickly now. Panic filled Cassie's mind as she realized the gravity of the situation--how quickly the fire could and would escalate now that the gas line was involved. Coughing violently, she grabbed hold of Kagayaki and pushed him out the door, knowing that with the ancient woodwork of the house, the flames could reach them within minutes. Every second counted if they wanted to make it out of the house. "The stove!" she choked. She was scared. "We have to get out of here! Now!"

He handed her a bundle of fabric, putting it over her face to block out the smoke. Cassie tied it around her face, thinking back to the fire safety tips she had been taught in elementary school. She had never once thought that she would actually need them...

Once out into the hallway, she could see that the entire house was nearly engulfed. Flames licked at the wooden staircase as they thundered down it, filling the air with smoke and making it difficult to see. She knew they should stay down, to avoid most of it, but it was too difficult on the stairs, and her throat was so locked she could barely speak. She forced herself to look straight ahead, to focus on the door instead of the fire slowly destroying the family pictures, the furniture, Chloe's toys. Everything was on fire. The curtains, the carpeting--all being reduced to smoldering piles of ash.

The air was smoke, and the smoke was air. It was too hot to see, to breathe, to think.

They were almost to the door when the first beam fell. Cassie screamed and looked up, knowing that the very structure of the house must be falling apart now, that the fire had now spread through the entire house and was going to bring it down on top of them. Another fell as she looked up, plummeting towards them as they tried to get to the front door, to safety and air that didn't choke them. She looked up one more time, unable to stop herself, and knew what was going to happen before it did.

"LOOK OUT!"

Too late--the beam struck him and he fell to the ground. Cassie screamed, rushing towards his side, noticing how badly he was shaking. "Come on!"

"Cassie..." he said weakly. "I'm stupid... Help..."

Their eyes searched for each other for just a moment through the smoke before she saw the shadow of his head drop, knowing he was now unconscious.

"No! Don't do this to me! We have to get out of here! We have to--"

She glanced towards the door again. It was so close...Coughing so hard she thought her lungs would fly out of her chest, she untied the jacket from around her face and covered his with it instead, struggling to get her arms around him and lift him up. He was heavier than she would have expected, but the adrenaline seemed to help as she half-carried, half dragged him along. The extra effort caused her to breathe harder, more smoke pouring through her body.

She stopped short at the door, the fire safety lessons coming back to her again. She couldn't touch the doorknob, could she? It was too hot, she'd burn her hands. Still keeping her hold on Kagayaki, she through her entire weight against the door, hoping by some miracle it would open. When it didn't work, she tried again, adrenaline fueling her body, ash and smoke darkening her face.

There was the sound of splintering wood and the door opened. She burst out into the front yard, screaming for her father above the wailing of the fire truck that was apparently speeding towards them, although Cassie wasn't sure if she was imagining it or not. She knew already that by the time they arrived, it would be too late to save the house. "Dad!" she screamed. "Dad!"

She ran further away from the inferno, her cloudy gaze finally finding her father, who rushed towards her. He must have run out the back door when the fire started... "Cassie!"

Her head spun, her eyes watered and stung, and she couldn't keep her balance. She felt consciousness slipping away from her as she choked. "We made it," and slumped to the ground.

So...I think this interaction is over...since both charries are no longer conscious...XD Shall we continue at the hospital?