Contagious (Mai)

[Suzumi Tamao]

A student had once described the woods, voice lowered to fit the mood. And she concluded her short story with what was meant to be a rhetorical question. Her voice softened, and eyes grew slightly larger by the lamplight.

"Do you dare go there at night?"

Leaves crunching beneath her black shoes, Tamao came to a few minor conclusions in her head. One, she did dare to go out at night, and two, she was a complete blockhead for doing so. All because she had heard something, her disastrous curiosity begged to know. The Miator student wasn't wearing her frilly uniform; why would someone do that in the first place? Instead, she was wearing a simple pair of pants and a darkly colored shirt. In case mud swiped on it, it wouldn't be terribly noticeable.

Of course, Tamao wouldn't have to worry about such trivial matters if she had just stayed in her dormitory. Nagisa wasn't there, in the room anymore. Presumably on yet another night escapee with Shizuma, the blue-haired girl had gone to sleep with other friends (though it wasn't as comfortable).

"This isn't like me, anyway..." Sneaking out and breaking school rules. No, Suzumi Tamao was a 'good' student. Always rule-abiding...but then again, past situations had made her bolder. And more inclined to disobey. Not to the point of expulsion, however. That was going overboard.

Finally stopping by a gnarled tree, the female sighed and leaned against the rough bark. Her feet were sore, and she didn't even know what she was looking for. This night-time journey had only given her more time to think about things that she wasn't supposed to be thinking about.

[shoryu]

The wind blows in the chilly night air and throws up a mess of long black hair. It's quiet here, but then again it always was. The forest the kind of place that held an untold beauty with its vegetation and varying wildlife. It was a place one would go to when they wish to take a walk amongst nature, clear their head after a stressful day or take their loved one.

But at night, it was totally different. A dark and desolate place where unseen dangers stalk you in every turn and the whispers of the dearly departed flew with the wind. The very thought of the forest's nighttime counter-part was enough to keep many girls awake for days at a time.

But then again, Mai never saw the forest the way others did. To Mai, the forest was as much the same during the night as it was during the day, the only noticeable difference besides the temperature was the fact that one would be less likely to find her. Then again, it was always less likely that one would find Mai when she wished. But that doesn't bring us to why we find her out here wondering aimlessly.

Mai had made wondering the forest be it daytime or night a habit. Like she always did, she wore her white Spica uniform to boot. It would seem tonight would be another quiet night out here until the blind student got tired and would sneak back in. However, coming past one place, she noticed something.

Leaning at a tree was a girl, a restless one at that. Mai figured it was just another girl coming to check out the rumors of the ghost girl at night. However, the aura around this one was different, familiar. It took her a moment, but Mai recognized it was that of a Suzumi Tamao. She saw this girl a few times before and after the Etoile Election and had at one point watched her and observed her.

Fate is such a funny thing...

However, tonight Mai decided she'd finally approach this girl...

[Suzumi Tamao]

Tamao was one of those people blessed with the ability to sense when something was wrong with someone. But, she was not blessed with an ability to sense those close in the vicinity, if such people were quiet enough. So, the blue-haired girl sighed once more, oblivious to the approaching...person. Deep violet eyes settled, lashes painting a shadow before opening them to stare upwards. Even if she didn't find anything, and no matter how scary it seemed...if she thought about particular things, ignored other things and stared at the prettier side of wildlife...

The Miator student supposed the forest wouldn't be that bad to walk around in after all. But that was when she saw it. A flicker of movement seen at the corner of her now larger eyes. She pressed her fingers against the rough bark, scraping her flesh and flinching. But she didn't, or tried not to utter a squeak or word of surprise and shock. Tamao had to bite back a short sound vibrating at the back of her throat. Eyes...white? Black hair...dark, dark hair. Didn't know if it was a female or male; the student was too surprised to even comprehend such simple facts.

Despite her earlier thoughts, distant paranoia came rushing back to blow her off her feet. Not literally, but she did slip from her position. Was this the entity making the noise? A...ghost? Did that mean ghosts were real? And Suzumi Tamao almost laughed at the irony; had she been born with a lot more courage for the supernatural, or faced with such a position, she would have whipped out her notepad (which was currently crushed in her pocket) and jotted down answers to the questions she would ask, all the while nodding her head.

Perhaps she was just losing it now. But Tamao stood back up, not bothering to sweep the mud from her previously clean garments. "You..." she tried to loosen her tongue, to release the knot in her throat. Impossible.

"I...you...ghost?" Ah, how smart. For a student who was a member in the literature club, she couldn't even form simple sentence structures.

Maybe she was taking her fears too far, and simply assuming things. But it was a coherent assumption, and perfectly acceptable for someone who was in her position...and at this time of night. Well...paranoid thoughts seemed to override common sense.

[shoryu]

(Cue BGM, Dai-san-rakushou "Kodoku to Shitoubo"- Yami to boushi to hon no tabibito OST)

In a moment's notice, Tamao's mixed thoughts and feelings had been replaced with fear and uncertainty. Mai always found such a thing a little amusing when some girl would come wandering into the forest then stumble about, fearfully calling to her in the forest. Mai's footsteps were soundless and she stepped through the foliage with ease, having done it countless times.

When close enough, she stepped out beside her target and addressed her.

"Hello, Suzumi-san" Mai greeted.

[Suzumi Tamao]

OOC: ...okay then.

"Hn!" So she had been directing her words in the wrong direction. Well, everyone did that at one point in their lives, right? Right. This time, she wouldn't say something stupid. Biting her lip to stop the word 'ghost' to once more evaporate from her mouth, Tamao uttered a slight squeak. The 'ghost' knew her name?

And she stopped her subtle scuffle backwards. "Um...do I... know you?" Oh, could it be the ghost of a former student? She didn't know any students who had died though...not personally anyway.

[shoryu]

Mai chuckled a little at Tamao's questions and raised her hand.

"No, but I know you..." She started. "I'm not a ghost, in case you're wondering. But, like a ghost, I tend to wander about and observe the events and people of this place; it's in my nature. Because of this I'd been watching you for a time after the Etoile Election. I must say, even now, Hanazono-sama still lacks subtly" This is most she'd said to anyone in one sentence, but if Mai was going to approach this girl, it had to be tonight, or never.

[Suzumi Tamao]

Now that her worst fears had been dispelled, Tamao felt the air to be much lighter. But she was still slightly wary. The other knew her? She travelled her eyes over towards the figure, racking her brains to see if she could put a name, or a familiar face on the female. However, it was partially impossible. Nothing came to her.

"I'm sorry, but...I don't know what you mean." The blue-haired girl said carefully. Shizuma-sama lacked subtly? Well, she had to agree to that, seeing as the former Etoile was one of the more in-your-face type of person and flirt. Not that that was anything bad, but she somehow wondered if the older female could at least try to stop being so blunt.

"And...I don't remember, or know, who you are, really..." Tamao was still being slightly cautious. Who wouldn't be, after all?

[shoryu]

"I'm Mai. Himemiya Mai" She greeted the younger girl."Don't worry, you have nothing to fear of me, nor I have anything to fear of you."

Mai reached out and touched Tamao's shoulder and stared into where she guess would be her eyes. "I just hoped I could talk to you is all"

[Suzumi Tamao]

Normally, this was the part where she would introduce herself. But seeing as the other already knew, or stated she knew, who she was...well, Tamao guessed it was a little foolish to do so. "A pleasure to meet you...Himemiya-san." She would have bowed, as was customary, but the light, unexpected touch made her blink.

"Ah...talk?" She repeated, her eyebrows furrowing slightly into a light frown. "Talk about...what?" Yes, she had to admit that she was curious, but also a little apprehensive.

[shoryu]

"I'll be honest... After the election, well I started to see a side of you that... Reminded me of myself" She started. It was ironic that Mai would finally approach the girl like this. Until that fateful day, she had always been a loner. She wondered if such a thing would continue until she saw Tamao's change of spirit.