72 Garden Lane--The Wright Residence

[The Phantom of Paris]

Beneath looming oaks as old as the house itself sits the sprawling home of the Wright's. Built some time shortly after the Civil War, the home has been in the Wright family for over a century, filled with almost as much history as New Orleans itself.

A long, curving driveway leads up to the house, which is a little farther back from the road than the rest of the houses on the street. It opens up into a circular driveway in front of the house, left over from the days of carriages and Southern belles. The front lawn is huge and covered with massive trees, and the front garden is kept to perfection as overseen by Cassie's mom, Kristen. The house has an enormous front porch with patio chairs and a table, invoking the classic Southern pastime of socializing on the porch.

When one enters the house, they are met with a huge entryway with a curving staircase leading from the upper story. To the left is the large parlor--sometimes used as a ballroom in addition to the entry hall--, dining room, and kitchen, beyond which is a small room that was once used for servant's quarters, with two guest rooms, the library, and a less formal living room to the right. The walls are covered with old oil paintings, and antique furniture--more family heirlooms--can be seen in every room.

If one ascends what Cassie lovingly refers to as the "Scarlett O'Hara staircase"--or the smaller one at the back of the house, which was used for servants--to the second floor, one enters the 'residential' area of the house. Here are the bedrooms belonging to Cassie's mother and father--just mother now--and the Wright children. To the left of the top of the staircase is the master bedroom, which has more antique furniture and a huge master bathroom attached. Past that is the room usually occupied by Jake, but he prefers to live on-campus in a dorm (to get the "quintessential college experience"). Another bathroom lies past Jake's bedroom.

On the other side of the staircase are Cassie and Shelby's bedrooms. Shelby's room is dominated by her bookshelves, crammed with books, and her Ikea desk. Her bed is a full-size from Pottery Barn with functional storage underneath, meant to look like lockers. Her closet is the smallest one in the house, and her bathroom is attached to her room and is baby blue. The walls of Shelby's bedroom are plastered with posters from different animes and mangas, most of them FullMetal Alchemist-related.

Just past Shelby's room is Cassie's. The first thing one will notice when one walks in is the mural she painted on her wall when she was twelve. It is filled with neon and pastel flowers. The rest of the room is painted a neutral light pink, as not to overwhelm the artwork. Cassie has a hot pink canopy above her white metal day bed, and right across from it sits her easel and the rest of her art supplies.

Directly in front of the top of the stairs on the second floor is a little sitting room, with an entrance to the second floor balcony. Finally, there is one more staircase, leading up to the attic (which was also once used as servant's quarters) and, beyond that, the widow's walk.

There are also two secret passageways in the house at 72 Garden Lane--one leading from the kitchen to the attic and one from the upstairs sitting room to the parlor. The house is also said to be haunted, and while Mrs. Wright is quick to deny these allegations, her children are not so sure.

The grounds of the mansion are as magnificent as the house, with a carriage house that has been converted into a garage, a gazebo, a swimming pool, an old treehouse up in one of the most ancient oaks, and several old swings hanging from the branches of the trees that cover the grounds.

The Wrights' have two servants that work at the house: Halina, the maid who originally came from Poland, and New Orleans native Adele, who serves as the cook. Adele has been with the Wrights since before Jake was born and is very friendly with the entire family, whereas Halina was hired after the breakup of Mr. and Mrs. Wright and is extremely shy.

[More than Music]

OOC: Planned Cassie/Kagayaki interaction, continuing the stuff from Bourbon Street.
BIC:

Kagayaki Aidou


Kagayaki had been woken up at about midnight - which was NOT his time of the day - by a call, and he'd rushed over to Cassie's house when he'd heard it. He had to have played it seven times already. Sitting the in the taxi, he opened his cellphone with a fumbling worry and listened to the voicemail again.

"Aidousan?" Cassie's voice called, hopelessly. "It's Cassie. Sorry to wake you up, but...Erin just called and she's drunk and in trouble and I don't know what to do to help and I can't do anything and...and..."

Then she'd stopped, and he could hear her crying for a moment or two in the background before it clicked and told him the voicemail was over. Kagayaki's lungs ached from him breathing too wildly and his heart pounded in his head. All he could hear was Cassie... crying... he hated it. He hated that she was crying.

He could only hope Yukito had gone to Erin. That would explain why he was missing.

As his ride pulled up in front of Cassie's house, he was glad that he didn't know how to drive and wasn't able by his own mental stability. He probably would have crashed on his way there... Just like the last time he'd been in the driver's seat.

He quickly paid the cab driver - who was nice enough to tell him exactly which bills to use. He was in such a flurry, he didn't know if he'd been ripped off or not but he didn't care. Cassie needed him and he couldn't think about money right now.

Kagayaki tripped as he got out, but he jumped back up and told himself he was fine. He wasn't going to let the throbbing pain in his knee stop him. Not now. He rushed up to the door and knocked on it maybe a little too hard. Taking a deep breath, he tried to make his voice as clear as possible.

"Cassiechan?" he called, saying each syllable on its own, to ensure clarity. He couldn't have her not hear him. He didn't know what he was going to do to make her feel better, but... maybe... just being there to try and calm her down would be enough. He wasn't sure how much more he had for her right now.

[The Phantom of Paris]

OOC: Cassie's pajamas: This and this.

BIC:

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Cassie had stopped crying by now, but she was too worried about Erin to even think about getting back to sleep. She sat on the floor, back leaning against her bed frame and blanket wrapped around her shoulders, staring at her cell phone and willing it to ring. She sighed heavily. Yukito, wherever you are...I hope you found her.

A loud thump filled her ears, and she shrieked a little, jumping. With so much speed as to make her slightly clumsy, she leapt up and turned on the lamp that stood on her bedside table, illuminating her bedroom. Looking around, she found it empty. Cassie's heart raced. Although her mother would never believe her, Cassie had lived in that house long enough to believe that it was, in fact, haunted.

The banging noise continued, and Cassie realized it was coming from downstairs. Keeping the blanket wrapped around her, Cassie slowly walked over to the door, turning on every light switch as she made her way out of her bedroom. Oh, grow up, Cassie. You're almost seventeen years old...are you honestly still afraid of the dark.

Actually, yeah. But it never bothered me so much when Dad was here.

Cassie was about to go down the stairs when she stopped and tiptoed over to her mother's room, hoping that the noise had awoken her too, but when she peered in, she found it empty, the bed still made. Still out with the BF, Mom? Fantastic.

Slowly, still turning on lights as she went, Cassie made her way down the Scarlett O'Hara staircase. "Cassiechan?" called a muffled voice from behind the front door.

"Aidousan?" Cassie whisper-yelled.

Letting the blanket fall to the floor, Cassie ran down the rest of the stairs and across the entry way. Unlocking the front door, she swung it open to reveal Kagayaki standing there, looking more worried than Cassie had ever seen him.

"Aidousan! You scared me! Did you get my message? I still don't know what's going on, and..." Cassie ran her hand across her face, realizing that the remnants of her crying were still there. She also realized with a start that she was in her pajamas in front of Kagayaki. "Um...here, come on in," she said, opening the door wider and standing back to let him through.

[More than Music]

Kagayaki Aidou

"Aidousan?"

Something stirred in his heart as he thought he heard a voice inside. Yes, he was leaning his head against the door.

He was a mess inside, he knew it. But if he could help Cassie, it didn't matter.

Kagayaki heard someone running, and his head snapped up and he tried to look like he wasn't totally tired and out of it. He was not a night person, by any means. Kagayaki was a morning person. Like, a 4/5am morning person who got up to wake up the sun and was sent away with a 'five more minutes'. But, he would sacrifice sleep for his friends. He'd given up more for his friends before. Like ignoring his fear of traveling by plane to come across the world. The door flew open and he saw Cassie, tears still streaking down her face and a very shocked look on her face.

"Aidousan! You scared me! Did you get my message? I still don't know what's going on, and..." she said, sounding like she was rather confused. Then she looked about herself with a strange look, and then her voice changed, in a way that he could only translate as if she were welcoming a relative she didn't really want there. Kagayaki watched her with a tilted head, unsure of what to think. "Um...here, come on in," She let him in, and he slowly came into the house.

He'd rushed over here. And she didn't even need him. His heart sank.

"C...Cassiechan... I... I comed. Yo... Yo saded. No wanted yo been saded... Eto..." he rambled, reaching up to the scars on the back of his head with nervousness. He probably looked like an idiot, didn't he? "I... I no meaned to been... a... a annoying." He looked up at her a little. "Yo... wered sleepin?"

[The Phantom of Paris]

OOC: Sorry I made you wait, love!

BIC:

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

Kagayaki looked as worried as Cassie herself was, and she sighed. "C...Cassiechan... I... I comed. Yo... Yo saded. No wanted yo been saded... Eto..." He reached up and touched the back of his neck self-consciously, reminding Cassie of what the characters in Shelby's animes always seemed to do when they were nervous or embarrassed. Speaking of Shelby...didn't even wake up, I guess. Too exhausted from the rest of her exploits. Doing absolutely nothing all day must really take a toll on a person! Hiding away in fictional lands must make it so tiring when you come back to reality!

Aidousan spoke again, interrupting Cassie's thoughts. "I... I no meaned to been... a... a annoying."

Cassie quickly shook her head. "You're not annoying! You scared me, that's all." She gave the entry way a quick once-over, wrapping her arms around herself. "It's a scary house, sometimes." In more ways than one.

"Yo... wered sleepin?" Cassie gave him a little smile coupled with another shake of her head. "No...I've been too worried to sleep. You haven't heard anything from them, have you? Erin or Yukito? I'm sorry I bothered you...but Erin called me drunk so I called Yukito, and he told me to let you know...I..." She trailed off. "Thanks for coming."

She retreated over to the staircase to retrieve the lost blanket, and wrapped it around her shoulders again. "Here, follow me," she said to Aidousan, leading him past the staircase and the other rooms to the kitchen, where she flipped on the lights and busied herself in front of the refrigerator. "I'm starving," she explained. "Do you want anything?"

[More than Music]

Kagayaki Aidou

"You're not annoying! You scared me, that's all." Cassiechan said, wrapping her arms around herself in a way that showed she was a bit frightened. And maybe cold. Kagayaki took off his jacket and wrapped it around her with a smile, hoping it would help. It was a big, loose, black jacket that was really soft and comfortable; something his mother hadn't bought for him, nor would have liked to see, but he liked how comforted it made him feel.

Like someone was holding him close, protecting him. Or, at least, that was what he had imagined in those long night hours when okaasan would come late or - now - when she was too far away to hear him when he woke up in the middle of the night crying.

"It's a scary house, sometimes." Cassiechan continued. Kagayaki nodded.

"Scawy wowld." he muttered, then looked up at her. "Yo... wered sleepin?"

She smiled, shaking her head. "No...I've been too worried to sleep. You haven't heard anything from them, have you? Erin or Yukito? I'm sorry I bothered you...but Erin called me drunk so I called Yukito, and he told me to let you know...I..." She began, but her words seems to escape her. He came a little closer, looking into her face - but not her eyes. "Thanks for coming."

He nodded. "Yuyukun finded Saikochan." he said, tapping on the side of his head. "Knowed it, yah." He ran his hand over her hair with a gentle smile. "Trus me."

Cassiechan went over to the stairs and pulled the blanket around her. Yeah, she was eitehr scared or cold. Maybe both. "Here, follow me," Cassiechan led him through the house, and he followed her slowly, silently watching her face. She was so precious to him. She couldn't know how precious she was to him; there was no way she could understand. Why did he adore her so much? Did she remind him of someone?

Yes, but that wasn't why.

It was because she reminded him of what he wished he could be. A much more beautiful, wonderful, caring, smart version of everything he had hoped to become. She was like a dream, and she had no idea. "I'm starving, do you want anything?"

He smiled softly, shaking his head. No. She looked like she was feeling better now. He had done some good. That was all he needed. Kagayaki could only hope that didn't offend her - he had stayed at her house for some time and still didn't seem comfortable at all. It wasn't her fault. It was living in the same house as her and her sister.

Why was it, that the amazing people in his life wouldn't believe him for a second if he told them how much they mattered? Maybe that was why he couldn't tell Cassiechan how he felt about her, even though he wished he could.

Fear of rejection? Not so much as fear of not being believed. Fear of being blown off as someone who was just trying to say nice things.

Couldn't people tell when he was serious? It wasn't often that he was completely serious about something. Couldn't they tell lies from truth anymore?

Had he gotten that good at lying?

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

"Yuyukun finded Saikochan," said Aidousan, gently tapping himself on the head, like a small child would do to prove to you that they did, in fact, know what they were talking about. Cassie almost had to laugh at this, absently fingering the soft fabric of the sweatshirt he'd draped around her. "Knowed it, yah. Trus me."

Cassie gave a weak smile. "Okay." She wanted to ask Aidousan exactly how he knew that everything would be all right in the end, but she remained silent. Her mind was whirling with a thousand different scenarios that might involve Erin at this point. New Orleans was by no means the safest city in the world, and Erin was very drunk, very alone, and very vulnerable. Cassie imagined her being shoved into some random guy's car, being cornered in an alley, being rushed into a hospital room...

Hey. Relax. Maybe he's right. In the meantime, no more watching ABC for you...

Still cold and frightened, Cassie retreated to the comfort of the forgotten blanket, finding comfort in it's fleecy softness and the warmth of Kagayaki's jacket. Her stomach growled loudly, reminding Cassie that she hadn't eaten since lunch the day before, having skipped dinner. She led Aidousan to the kitchen, still turning on lights as she went, illuminating the antique chairs and old family portraits that stared out from their ornate frames almost mockingly, people from a past Cassie didn't care to know about. It's Dad's house, isn't it? Then how is it that he moved out when Mom gets to stay? Why is it that in the end she always ends up with everything?

"I'm starving, do you want anything?" she asked when they reached the kitchen. He gave her a smile and a shake of the head, and Cassie shrugged. "Okay. Just let me know if you change your mind." She reached into the freezer and pulled out a package of Eggo waffles, taking out two and putting them in the toaster. Opening up one of the tall pantry cabinets, she stood on her tiptoes to reach the bottle of maple syrup and walked it over to the kitchen counter, trying to ignore the feeling of Kagayaki's eyes on her. It made her feel...not bad exactly, but almost like he thought she couldn't take care of herself. I'm not as helpless as people seem to think. What's that line in Grease? 'I can take care of myself and anyone else who comes along?' Something like that. Haven't I been trying to be there for Shelby? For Erin?

Her waffles popped up out of the toaster and Cassie put them onto a plate, cutting them up and pouring a generous amount of syrup on them. She smiled at Aidousan, taking a bite. "Thanks," she said softly, not knowing if she meant for his sweatshirt or his friendship.

[More than Music]

Kagayaki Aidou

"I'm starving, do you want anything?" Cassie asked. Kagayaki shook his head and smiled, making note of how pretty she looked. She shrugged, and he smiled a bit wider. She looked tired... 'Kawaii...' "Okay. Just let me know if you change your mind." He nodded as she got herself something. Kagayaki nearly laughed at how much syrup she put on it.

He wouldn't be able to handle that much sugar.

"Thanks," she said, smiling. He felt himself melting into a puddle inside.

"Doumo. he said, returning her smile. He looked around quietly, then at her. "Tas good, ne?" He laughed, waving his hands a little. "Toooo mush sugah."

He went from thinking that okaasan would never let him have syrup - at least in that big of an amount - to thinking about how beautiful she was.

"C-c-c-cas... Cassie..." he began, but his words caught in his throat. He swallowed. "Wan me stay, tilr yo go slreep?"

He wouldn't mind. He really wouldn't mind.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

"Doumo," replied Aidousan, and Cassie smiled before taking a bite of her snack. She didn't exactly know what that meant in English, but she guessed it was along the lines of 'you're welcome' or something similar. For a second, she almost wished Shelby was awake to tell her what Kagayaki meant. Oh, wait. She wouldn't say anything, would she? She would just sit there, blending in with the walls and the ghosts of the place. She's more ghostly than they are now, if they're here at all. I don't know how much more of it I can take. Everyone's worried about her, not just me...I know Adele is, and even Halina is even if she doesn't talk about it...and Dad's face when she doesn't talk...it hurts to see him like that. Even Mom is concerned...and The Boyfriend From Hell is too...Shelby, can't you see what you're doing to us?

She took another bite. "Tas good, ne?" Aidousan asked with a laugh. Cassie nodded. "Yeah. I love waffles. Do you want a bite?" she asked, holding the fork out to him. "Toooo mush sugah."

Cassie gave a quiet little laugh. "Yeah, but that's what makes it so good!"

They sat in silence for a while, the sound of Cassie's fork hitting her plate the only sounds to be heard. Cassie gave an involuntary shudder. This was when the house was the scariest--when it was quiet. When everyone was gone, her mother out with Mike, her dad and brother who knows where, and Shelby holed up in her hideaway, the silences seemed to echo through the house, never stopping. I hate it. I hate it here now.

Her midnight snack finished, she stood up and rinsed her plate in the sink, putting everything in the dishwasher and reaching up again to put the syrup back in it's proper place. She sighed quietly. Now that he knows I'm fine, he'll probably leave...I don't want to be alone in this stupid old house again...I can't be strong for everybody all the time.

"C-c-c-cas... Cassie..." There. That was it. He would leave Cassie alone until the morning, alone with her thoughts and fears. No, please don't leave me...it's too scary...I just don't want to be alone...Shelby's no help at all...Please?

"Wan me stay, tilr yo go slreep?"

Cassie sighed with relief. "Yes, please!" she cried. She looked away. "But you don't have to if you don't want to. I know you're tired...it's stupid, really. I shouldn't make you stay. It's stupid...I'm almost seventeen and I'm still afraid of my own house! But I don't care, it's scary. It's scary and I hate being alone and my sister is useless now and..." She paused, taking a deep, shuddering breath. "And I miss my dad," she added in a whisper.

She shook her head. "You don't have to. But I'd like it if you would."

[More than Music]

Kagayaki Aidou

"Tas good, ne?" he asked Cassiechan with a smile and a laugh.

She nodded fervently. "Yeah. I love waffles. Do you want a bite?" she asked, offering him the fork. He waved his hands a bit.

"Toooo mush sugah."

'Okaasan would kill me!'

This time, Cassie laughed. "Yeah, but that's what makes it so good!"

He just smiled at her. 'I'm sure, he thought, watching her finish up and put everything in it's place. She was so incredible... He heard her sigh, and was about to say what he should have a long time ago, but he chickened out and just asked if she wanted him to stay until she was asleep again. Another sigh from Cassiechan, but this time it was one of relief.

"Yes, please!" she exclaimed, but then she looked away. "But you don't have to if you don't want to. I know you're tired...it's stupid, really. I shouldn't make you stay. It's stupid...I'm almost seventeen and I'm still afraid of my own house! But I don't care, it's scary. It's scary and I hate being alone and my sister is useless now and..." She shuddered, and Kagayaki moved closer to her, worry in his eyes. "And I miss my dad,"

Kagayaki smiled. "Okaasan... Miss my... okaasan... too."he managed, leaning closer to her so that she could see the look on his face. It was one that told he was being very honest and trying to make her feel better. "I stay."

"You don't have to. But I'd like it if you would."

Kagayaki leaned a little closer to her, his eyes looked across every part of her face. She was so tired and hurt. He just wanted to take away all her pain, but he knew it wasn't that easy.

But he found himself leaning forward to place a gentle kiss on her lips.

"Cassiechan. Kitto daijobu. Defnitly, been... alrighto." he whispered, kissing her again.

This was crazy! This was crazy! But it felt good, and he hoped it would help.

He only wanted to help, and be loved by the most wonderful girl he knew.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

"Okaasan... Miss my... okaasan... too." he answered quietly. Cassie knew enough Japanese to know that okaasan meant 'mother', and for just a second she tried to imagine missing her mother the way Aidousan missed his. She gave up after only a few seconds--even before the affair and the divorce, Cassie's mom had been extremely cold and distant with her children. When Cassie was younger, the first time she'd accidentally called Adele 'Mommy', neither the cook nor Mrs. Wright had even noticed. Over the next few years, Cassie would go out of her way to mistake the cook for her mother, just to see if Kristen would react.

She never did.

"I stay."

Cassie gave another relieved sigh. "Oh, thank you...You don't have to. But I'd like it if you would. Thank you."

He was staying. She wouldn't have to be alone, staring at the ceiling and jumping at every noise, counting the minutes until morning. He would stay with her.

Kagayaki studied her intently, his eyes moving over her face. "What?" she wanted to ask him. "Why are you looking at me like that?" But she stayed silent.

He was leaning in closer...

Before she knew it, he was kissing her softly, sweetly.

Huh?

"Cassiechan. Kitto daijobu,"[/i] he said, pulling away. "Defnitly, been... alrighto." And he kissed her again.

What...what's going on?

"Kagayaki...I..." she whispered, looking at him and trying to make sense of it all. "I..." I'm so confused...I just... But instead of finishing her sentence--she wasn't even sure if she could finish it if she wanted to--she leaned forward and kissed him, making this kiss longer, deeper. Her eyes filled with tears as she pulled away. "I don't...I can't...I don't understand..."

It was then that she noticed it--the mass of bruises covering his face. Painful, ugly bruises, as if he'd gotten into a fight or something. "Oh my God..." she murmured, gently placing a hand on his cheek, "What happened?"

[More than Music]

Kagayaki Aidou

"Kagayaki...I..." Cassiechan whispered. Kagayaki looked at her, trying to figure out what she was trying to say, but he couldn't. "I..." I'm so confused...I just..."

He didn't have to figure out what the rest of her sentence was. She kissed him instead, and that was worth much more than words to him. It was something he could actually understand, no matter what. Kagayaki's hands slipped into his pockets automatically. That was what he'd always had to do with Yumi, because he'd wanted to wrap his arms around her but knew that would have made her nervous. And he didn't want to make anyone he loved more nervous than the already were.

Tears were all in her beautiful blue eyes as he looked down at them. "I don't...I can't...I don't understand..."

"Is okay." He whispered. 'I don't always have the words either.'

"Oh my God..." she said, making him look at her with confusion. What? What was she talking about. Her hand cupped his cheek very carefully, and he had to clench his teeth. The bruises there were very sensitive still, but it was worse that she had actually noticed.

Especially at a time like this, he didn't need his self-conscious thoughts to evade his courage.

Not now.

"What happened?"

Kagayaki sighed, taking her hands and pulling her closer to him. "Yuyukun." he laughed, shaking his head. "Talkeded, had... getted outo." He emphasized this, letting go of her hands, taking a playful fighting stance and facing an imaginary foe. His hands dropped to hers again, but not before he wiped away a tear that was just barely slipping out of her eye. "Been okay." Kagayaki kissed her again, pulled her still nearer. He wanted her to be close. He wanted her to never go away.

"You... shoulded... go bed, yah." he muttered, looking towards the door, then slowly back at her. He couldn't keep a smile off his face. "You so beauful, Cassiechan." He softly brushed away some hair from her face. "So beauful..."

'Especially when you cry, even though I don't like you to be sad.'

[The Phantom of Paris]

OOC: Warning--slight PG-13 language in here at one point. Beware.

BIC:

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

This was so out of the blue Cassie wasn't even sure how to react, let alone what to say. I had no idea he...why didn't he say anything before? Am I that scary or something? No, of course not, don't be stupid. That's not why, but...I don't know...

I don't know...do I want this right now? I think I do...I want...I'm not even sure what I want anymore...does it even matter? He's here now, I can figure this out later...but...oh, I'm so confused now...

That was when Cassie noticed the maze of bruises covering Kagayaki's face, purple and yellow and painful-looking. Incredulously, she asked about them, putting her hand on his cheek without thinking of whether that would hurt him or not. It did, and she quickly took her hand away, her eyes moving over his face with concern.

"Yuyukun," was his answer as he took her hands. Cassie's expression turned icy. "What?" What happened? I will never understand guys...who just goes around beating up on their best friend? God, Yukito...he better have had a really, really good reason for being such an ass or I might kill him. I might have to kill him anyway, if he hasn't found Erin.

But to Cassie's surprise, he laughed, dropping her hands and posing with his fists in the air in a very ninja-like manner. "Talkeded, had... getted outo." He looked so silly that Cassie almost had to laugh.

He dropped the pose and took her hands again, reaching up to brush away a tear from her face that Cassie had barely realized was there. Crying? Fantastic. My skills around the opposite sex are second to none, aren't they?

"Been okay," he assured her before pulling her in for another kiss. Another tear slid down Cassie's cheek before she could stop it, but again, she hardly noticed it. When the kiss was over, she timidly put her arms around him and stood there in silence for a moment, feeling more safe than she'd been since her dad had left.

"You... shoulded... go bed, yah," he told her gently, and Cassie nodded into his shoulder, pulling away. "Yeah, you're probably right..."

"You so beauful, Cassiechan. So beauful..."

What do you say after someone tells you you're beautiful? Can words really express what you feel after you hear those words, the words that some people wait all their lives to hear? Cassie didn't know, so she did the only thing she could think of--she kissed him again.

This might be a huge mistake and absolutely crazy, but who really cares at this point?

"I should get some sleep..." she murmured once the kiss had ended. "Or tomorrow's gonna be torture..."

[More than Music]

Kagayaki Aidou

In trying to explain what had happened between him and Yukitokun the other day, Kagayaki managed to make Cassiechan look a bit happier. That put a huge smile on his face, and he drew her close to him. "Been okay." he told her, kissing her again. When they parted, he felt Cassiechan wrap her arms around him, and it took his breath away. Which wasn't good for him, he knew it, but that didn't matter right now. They just stood there for a while, in eachother's arms, not wanting to let go. "You... shoulded... go bed, yah."

She nodded, and he was sad as she pulled away from him. "Yeah, you're probably right..."

"You so beauful, Cassiechan. So beauful..." he whispered. This earned him another kiss, which he was glad to take. He wanted to take this moment and capture it forever, to remember this feeling... but that was something he knew it couldn't do. It would pass away, and the only way to keep it in his mind would be to make sure she never forgot what it was like for him to kiss her.

"I should get some sleep..." she said, not sounding too happy about it. "Or tomorrow's gonna be torture..."

He nodded, sighing. "Un." his replied, the word being more of a sound than a word at all. He wanted to ask... but he shouldn't... it wouldn't be proper, or respectful, or anything, but.... "Cassiechan?" Kagayaki looked up, his eyes wide like a child. "Wan me sayed herle?" He was getting very tired, and his diction was suffering for it. "Orl... go wit you?"

'Please, I know it will seem strange, but I want to make sure you feel safe... I want to go in your room and stay with you. I don't mean any harm by it, I promise! I just... want to stay with you until I'm sure you're sleeping soundly.'

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

This night was just proving to be too much. First, she had gone to bed ungodly early because she had had nothing better to do, then had been woken up by a friend in crisis. After spending God knew how much time sitting in the dark worrying, she had been scared to half to death by a loud knock on the door, which had turned out to be a good friend coming by in a time of need...who had then out of the blue kissed her, told her she was beautiful, and turned her already topsy-turvy world upside down.

Yes, it had been a very long night.

I...I don't know what's going on...but that's okay. We'll figure it out. Maybe it'll all be okay. It has to be. I want it to be.

"I should get some sleep..." Cassie admitted reluctantly, "Or tomorrow's gonna be torture..." But I don't want to sleep...because what if I wake up and this is all a dream?

Can you dream of something you had never even considered in the first place?

Kagayaki sighed. "Un. Cassiechan? Wan me sayed herle? Orl... go wit you?"

It took her a while to realize what he was saying, but when she did, she blushed a bit. "Um..." she said, yawning widely. She was so tired... "I..." Oh, come on. It's Kagayaki. You don't need to worry or anything, you're safer with him than you would be alone, most likely! Wow. What's coming over me, really? Why do I feel so...what is this? And can I maybe wait until morning to find out? It's too early to think.

She smiled. "I don't see why you couldn't go with me." Mostly because I don't want to be alone, and also because I just want to go to sleep...

She took him by the hand and led him out of the kitchen, through the entryway, and up the Scarlet O'Hara staircase, turning off lights as she went. Look how different this is when I'm not terrified out of my mind!

She paused at Shelby's door, even though what she wanted more than anything in the world was to walk past it and into her own bed. "Just a second..." she murmured, opening the door to her sister's room slowly. She peered inside, smiling to find Shelby curled up under the covers, clutching her Al plushie and sleeping soundly, her glasses still on her face.

Once inside her room, she dragged her desk chair away from the desk and more into the center of the room. "Sorry I don't have anything more comfortable...but I've fallen asleep in that before, it is pretty comfy," she said through another yawn, handing him a blanket. She sat down at the edge of her bed, smiling tiredly. "Thank you," she repeated softly.