Quiet Wisdom

Key of Unleashing

Chapter 1

"Chikako-san." A girl with blonde hair pulled into a loose braid jerks in surprise and quickly stands up.

"Chikako-san, if you would wake up and read the next paragraph for me please."

"H-Hai!" Shaking a little from nervousness the girl reaches down and grabs the open book off her desk, "The sun shines brightly through the blossom adorned trees as a breeze gently ruffles the flowers--." As she reads the paragraph in greatly accented English her wavering voice gets calmer ending the paragraph with strength.

"Very good. Minamino-san would you read the next paragraph?" A boy with bright red hair and emerald green eyes stands calmly to finish the page. His voice is gentle yet strong and all of the girls visibly melt under it's soothing influence. All except Shizuka Chikako. Now comfortably seated she pushes up her large-thick rimmed glasses to sit more securely on the bridge of her nose. A slender wrist wipes the sweat from her brow. I really don't like doing that.

As Suichi Minamino's voice continues to read the page in English Shizuka turns her pale green gaze out the window, and looks longingly at the soft green grass.

A dark viscous ooze drips into her eyes. Reaching a hand up she wipes the stuff off, a little confused, it feels sticky. Looking down at her arm her eyes widen in shock and horror. Blood, her arm is covered in blood! Focusing her gaze back to the classroom her body freezes. No, not now, please, not again! Scattered around the room are her classmates, mostly dead. Some of them lay huddled in the corner fear evident on their blood and tear streamed faces. Humanoid creatures stand over them, blood drenched swords ready for the final swing. Screams echo all around Shizuka and she begins to shiver. Slowly the sound of laughter drown out the screams, the laugh of someone greatly enjoying the scene before them. A ringing reaches her ears and she starts.

Looking around to find her classroom empty and the view from the window filled with students heading to their last class, all eager to leave and enjoy a school-free Sunday. Another bell rings and Shizuka jumps up from her desk, grabs her book bag and scurries from the room, acutely aware of the exasperated gaze cast at her from the teacher.

Maneuvering through the crowd of students standing at their lockers she slowly makes her way through the packed halls. Suddenly two hands grip her shoulders and shove her into a closed locker, the force great enough to knock her glasses from her face. Before they fall to far a hand catches them.

"Are you okay?" a kind voice asks from the locker next to Shizuka.

"Hai! I'm just very clumsy, that's all." Smiling Shizuka turns to the black haired girl opening her locker next to you. Reaching out a hand she takes her glasses from pale slender fingers and looks up, accidentally meeting her gaze. A scene begins swirling in her mind.

This raven haired girl walks down an alley. She is wearing her school uniform and she is completely alone. The air in the street is eerie in its silence and she nervously turns to look behind her, almost as though she expects something to be there. Of course there is nothing. Hesitatingly she keeps walking. Her back is stiff with tension.

Without sound or warning a creature jumps form the shadows, knocking her over. With quick ferocity it sinks it's teeth into her over and over again. Before she has time to do much of anything let alone scream she's been ripped to pieces. Once the girl stops moving the creature sits down and gleefully starts munching on the bits of girl he now has.

The scene slowly fades and Shizuka shakes her head. Focusing again she looks at the girl. Paling visibly the girl backs away from her, friendly manner completely gone. Slamming her locker she all but runs away. Shizuka sighs in resignation as she puts her glasses back on, it's not that a reaction like that isn't common when people look into her eyes, it's just that it always makes her feel lonely. Continuing on to her last class, she ponders what to do about what she saw. Her glance of the girl told her enough to know that she should be able to figure out where she'll be after school. I don't need to worry about her ditching classes, it's not that she's intelligent but she isn't the kind of girl who would leave because of a little unidentified fear. The sound of snickering brings Shizuka from her thoughts and she looks up. A small group of boys and girl are looking at her, their faces cut by sneers as they point at her slightly tousled blonde hair and her glasses that hide her freakish pale green eyes. Turning her face Shizuka ignores them and keeps walking, shoulders straight.

Mind elsewhere, the next class goes by in a flash, and before she knows it she is being excused.

"Class, I have a very important meeting to attend, so you may all leave now." The teacher waves a hand at the class before picking up her folders and books and quickly leaving the room.

Smiling at her luck, Shizuka goes outside to wait for the girl, and enjoy the weather. Standing there in the silence a sincere smile crosses her face as she soaks in the sun and enjoys the calm of the day, before the muttering and gossiping and pointing of students can ruin it. The wind whispers silent words as it gently blows her braid away from her neck. Her shoulders relax and her eyes droop closed as she takes in the wonderful feeling of ultimate peace.

The sound of the girls from her class chattering their lives away breaks the spell of the sky so she turns to look at them. They don't take notice of Shizuka, giveing her the opportunity to really look at them. A brunet girl standing at the edge of the group radiates extreme insecurity. It is present in every movement she makes, in the hunch of her shoulders, her downcast eyes, the very hollow smile. Everything, even in the way she has her short brown hair falling a little in her face. Feeling the need to do something Shizuka approaches the girls.

"Sumimasen, (excuse me)" the whole group almost as one turn towards her, "Gomen(sorry), I just had to tell you how gracefully you walk." This phrase aimed at the brunette.

"Huh?…. Really?" The girl stares at Shizuka a little startled as the other girls exchange glances, "I…I always thought I was clumsy and awkward."

"Oh, no, not at all!" Shaking her head Shizuka smiles, "You could be a really great dancer if you wanted to. I just felt I had to tell you that, Gomennasai(I'm sorry)." with a polite bow she turns and walks away from the group. Oblivious to the stares following her, she retreats to her sunspot and attempts to reclaim the calm that she had. The steady gaze of the redheaded boy, who used her distraction to escape from the throng of girls, not penetrating her concentration.

Her shoulders hunch in defeat, unable to regain the calm, Shizuka looks around.

The loud ringing of the schools bell gives a moment's warning of the oncoming hoard of high school students, all eager to escape the confines of the school building on this Saturday afternoon. Taking an involuntary step back Shizuka squares her shoulders, preparing for the onslaught. Her eyes watch the crowd, looking for a certain black-haired girl.

Here we go. Pulling in a deep breath, Shizuka pushes into the crowd, keeping the black-haired girl in her sight, staying far enough away to not be noticed by her or her friends. After four blocks of hiding behind tree stump, light post, and other various objects, the girl waves goodbye to her friends and turns down a fairly large alleyway. Barely managing to dodge the girl's gaze for two more blocks Shizuka's shoulders tense as the scene from earlier begins to play out in front of her. The girl tenses up and Shizuka ducks behind a large dirty garbage can, managing to not be spotted again when she looks behind her. Beginning to inch closer Shizuka sees the moment she's been waiting for. In an act of nervousness the girl brings her right hand to her hair. Glancing around Shizuka catches a glimpse of the creature-thing forming from a shadow. Without another moments hesitation her feet begin to move.

Spotting the monster the girl chokes out a gargle as it rears over her. Skidding to a stop Shizuka finds herself between the girl and the monster. Not usually a place someone wants to find themselves. Glasses already clasped firmly in her left hand she looks up and makes eye contact with the creature. Growling with a snicker the creature begins to pounce. Raising her right arm, hand in an 'L' symbol Shizuka says one word.

"Gimuteki"

The monster freezes all movement. Not blinking, barely daring to breath, Shizuka remains still. Breaking eye contact will cause Shizuka to loose control and see the creature's death. Assuring the one she's trying to prevent and her own as well.

"Run."

The girl looks at Shizuka, unsure and terrified before turning and running as fast as is humanly possible for her. When the sounds of her foot falls fade Shizuka begins muttering incomprehensible words under her breath. Everything goes still, even the wind seems to stop and listen. As though being pressed by a great weight the creature slowly kneels on the ground. It struggles briefly with a power greater than it's own as it's eyes close and it's breathing slows before coming to a complete stop. Staying still for a moment longer to make absolutely sure the spell worked completely Shizuka stares at the monster. Slowly the creature turns a sickly black color and begins to fade. Seeing this Shizuka straightens with a sigh. Casting one last glance at the vanishing creature she replaces her glasses and turns away, heading for home.