The skyline was marvelously colored, clouds catching and reflecting the light of the sun. It seemed so peaceful, so outside the familiar lingering fear.
"Are you hearing me?" The small voice drew Eiko back to the aircraft, to where she sat across from the student president of Genetics West.
"I am sorry, Chiffon, I was distracted," Eiko admitted.
"Thinking of your sister," Chiffon took a stab.
Eiko humored the other girl with a smile. "Not in the most direct sense – more in regards to not being able to stand under the weight of her shadow."
"She is a hero, regarded highly by all. None could stand under her shadow."
"And none are expected to," Eiko agreed. "Save one – me."
"You carry her Stigmata, do you not?"
"And we share genetics, but I fear that is not enough."
"Only time will tell," Chiffon spoke.
When they landed, Chiffon began a tour of the campus. "We have the medical center," she pointed to a building, "where any injuries will be cared for." She pointed to a large building, "there is the auditorium, where we will be called for school wide addresses. There," she pointed to a smaller building next to it, "is the dining commons, where all meals are taken." A looming building came up on their right. "This is the training facility, equipped with simulation arenas. Most of your studies will be done in there. Also," Chiffon merrily chirped, "a carnival is to be held in about three days' time!"
"A carnival?"
"An event to demonstrate the advancement of student progress and determine the ranks among each class."
"So, a duel among Pandoras?"
"Precisely! Although, I believe in this case, Limiters are being included, for the upper class events."
Twin buildings rose parallel to each other. "The dorms, I presume," Eiko guessed, receiving an approving smile.
"The female dorm is on the right. All of your things should be in your room and a uniform. Feel free to change and settle. You will meet with the Head Mistress in the morning."
"Thank you, Chiffon."
The student president left her there and Eiko hesitated a moment before entering the building. It was structured so that each floor housed one grade, with first years on the first floor. Her room was not hard to find.
She found herself staring at her uniform, wondering if it would fit. Would she be able to wear it as well as her sister before her? With a sigh, she began to remove her clothing. As she had begun to slip on the new fabric, a knock on the door gave her almost no notice as a figure barged in.
"Oh, I am so sorry," a cheery redhead cried, laughing slightly.
On instinct, Eiko threw her shirt at the other girl, while she tried to cover her breasts. A moment later, she realized her mistake. "Shit, can you toss that back?"
The redhead nodded, retrieving the shirt from the floor at her feet. "I am truly sorry," she repeated, tossing the shirt back. "I meant to come greet you, as the first year representative," she confessed. "My name is Kaho."
"A pleasure," Eiko quipped, as she slipped the shirt over her head.
"You can use your stigmata to do that, you know," Kaho supplied.
"I prefer to do it manually," Eiko lied, not revealing that she could not coax her stigmata to listen.
"Whatever suits your fancy, I suppose," Kaho shrugged it off. "So, would you like to join me at the dining commons?"
"Sure, why not?" Eiko agreed, taking the offered company over attempting to traverse new waters on her own.
"Great! So, what is your name?"
"Eiko."
"Nice to meet you!"
Eiko let Kaho lead the way through campus, not yet trusting her knowledge of the layout. Small talk was passed between them, with Kaho revealing information about the carnival and the hierarchy at the school. Eiko was reminded that she had called Chiffon by name and vowed to apologize for stepping out of line, not that Chiffon seemed like the type the was strict about formality.
"Anyway, you can either take from the buffet or buy something from Burger Queen," Kaho pointed each option out.
Eiko looked down at her school uniform, realizing that she had not thought to bring money. Shrugging, she started forward once more, muttering, "I guess it is buffet for me." She had not looked up in time to see that she was right on course to collide with another student. Both parties were turned about by the impact, each facing the direction from which they came. Eiko's eyes were initially drawn to the falling of the bag of food the other carried, but her eyes snapped upward to meet the surprised and perhaps fearful look of her counterpart. Their eyes met for only a moment before the other, a notably beautiful blonde, turned and continued her progress, leaving the food behind.
Eiko hardly had time to think and was not at all aware of her surroundings. She dropped to her knees, scooping the wrapped burgers back into the bag, before making to follow. Her hand was grabbed and she was pulled towards Kaho, who seemed a bit frantic, but Eiko paid it little mind. She could deal with whatever it was after she returned the girl's food. "I will be right back," she called as she pulled away, jogging to catch up with the taller girl, seemingly determined to escape.
"Hold up," she called after the girl, her words falling on deaf ears. She followed the girl into the hall, not noticing how it was miraculously clear of people. "Wait," she tied again, with the same result. She reached for the girl, hand coming to rest on bicep in an attempt to turn the other girl about.
As soon as her fingers made contact, things happened too quickly for her to comprehend. She first felt her head crack against the wall, blinding her for a few moments. As her vision returned, she found a giant blade at her neck, the tip of it sunk deep in the wall by her ear. The blonde towered over her, bearing down on her prey. "Do not ever touch me," the words were venomous, drawing tears to Eiko's eyes. Through her blurring vision, she looked into the eyes of the blonde, finding only wrath.
"Please, I just came to return your food. I did not mean to overstep. Please, I do not want to die," she sobbed. Panicked welled in her core, erupting in warmth that consumed her presence of mind. It was as though she had blinked, but she found herself standing behind the blonde, who still held blade in wall.
"What have you done," the blonde hissed. "Why am I frozen? Did you bring a Limiter?"
Eiko felt a pulse go through her and she looked down to find her hands extended and glowing blue. "I do not know what is going on," she admitted.
"Are you not a Pandora? The skirt – you cannot be a limiter," the girl spat.
Eiko dropped to her knees, exhaustion washing through her. She saw the other girl turn about before darkness claimed her vision.
Eiko woke in a foreign environment, what appeared to be a hospital room. She lay in a pristine bed, with a clip on her finger, monitoring heartrate. There was a window by the bed, overlooking the training facility. She shook her head, looking away. "You are awake!"
Eiko looked farther to her left, finding Kaho sitting by the head of the bed. "What happened?"
"You met the Untouchable Queen, Satellizer el Bridget," Kaho announced, "and lived to tell of it!"
Memory flooded back, of the sheer panic the other girl induced. "Are you sure I survived?"
"It was quite remarkable, really! The way you froze her in place! You did not tell me you were Eiko Aoi," Kaho gushed.
"I try not to. It gives people expectations," Eiko grumbled.
"Well, clearly you live up to them, standing toe to toe with the Untouchable Queen."
"I would hardly call it 'toe to toe'," Eiko groaned.
"Nonsense! Even the upper classmen were impressed. They are all stirring about how they would love to take a Pandora as their Limiter."
"What?"
"Well, yeah, you froze the Untouchable Queen. You acted like a Limiter."
The door to the room opened and a woman entered. "Alright, Kaho, you should let her rest."
"Of course," Kaho chirped, rising and taking her leave with a friendly wave.
"My name is Elise and I act as the doctor of West Genetics. How are you feeling Eiko?"
"Um, I feel fine," Eiko stated.
"Tired, I imagine," Elise offered.
"I guess," Eiko agreed, "but I did just sleep a bunch."
"That you did," Elise confirmed.
"Is what Kaho said, about me acting as a Limiter, is that true?"
Elise smiled softly. "It is unheard of and goes against everything we know, but nothing is out of the realm of possibilities. Limiters usually go through a baptism, so unless you have performed a baptism, you are already out of the norm there." Eiko sighed. "I will let you rest," Elise offered. "I recommend you stay here tonight, but if you wish to leave, I will not stop you."
"Thank you," Eiko granted. Elise removed the clip from Eiko's finger and the left.
Eiko took her time getting up. She felt her stomach gurgle and remembered that she had been on her way to eat. "Shit, is food even available at this point?" She cursed her misfortune and gripped her stomach as she walked, searching in the dark for a clue about which way to head. By luck alone, she found her way to the dorms and when she thought she was finally free, key in door, she felt another presence in the hall.
"You." She looked towards the source of the voice and found herself looking up at Satellizer, towering over her once more. She had moved so quickly, Eiko had not even had time to open her door. "How is it that you beat me?" Eiko was frozen in place, unsure whether to try to face Satellizer or try to finish unlocking her door. "Answer me."
"I do not know," Eiko pleaded, turning the key, falling into the room. She turned and pushed the door shut, locking it for good measure.
"I do not like being toyed with," Satellizer intoned, from within the room. Eiko had not even seen her enter. Fingers wrapped around her throat, forcing her against the door she just locked.
"Please, please do not hurt me," Eiko choked out the plea.
"Tell me how to use freezing without a partner," the other girl urged.
Eiko looked into Satellizer's eyes and while she expected to find hatred, she found only fear. "Why do you want to learn to freeze without a partner?"
The hand around her neck tightened. "That is none of your business."
"What if it cannot be taught," Eiko choked out.
There was a moment of silence before the fingers released her. She fell to the floor, knees too weak to support her. Satellizer knelt, placing a wrapped burger next to her face. "With this, my debt to you for bringing me my food is paid."
She stood and unlocked the door, stalking out of the room. As Eiko ate and readied herself for sleep, her thoughts lingered on Satellizer, unsure what to make of anything. Why did she want to use freezing without a partner? Did she not have one? Did she not want one?