"Kujo!" called Avril's cheerful voice as he crossed the grounds.
He looked up almost surprised to see her. Except that she always turned up sooner or later. She seemed to almost wander the grounds in search of him, but that was ridiculous. Why Avril do something as silly as that?
"Kujo," Avril repeated his name as she approached a wide smile stretched across her face.
"Hey Avril." He was still puzzled why she looked so happy.
"I'm glad I found you, I thought you were going to be late for class so I came looking for you."
Kujo chuckled; it was odd to him how careful to look after him she seemed to be at times. "I just needed to see Victorique this morning; I had something to give her."
Something in Avril's face that Kujo couldn't quite identify changed, though she maintained her smile as she looked at him. "Well in any case. Let's get to class." Avril turned away from him, tugging on his hand as she led the way to their classroom. When they were almost to the classroom Avril finally broke the silence that had fallen on them. "What did you give Victorique?" There was an edge to her voice that Kujo almost thought was bitterness, but that couldn't be right.
"Just a book. It sounded like the sort of story she might like." He didn't add that she had not been as impressed with idea as he'd thought she'd be. It wasn't as if there was anything Avril could do to change Victorique's opinion.
"Ah."
They had reached the class. "Well I guess we better go sit down." Kujo said and lead the way into the classroom.
After class Kujo raced back across the campus to the library. He didn't like to leave Victorique in a bad mood as he had. He hoped there was some way that he could make it up to her.
As he began to climb up the steps he realized that he'd forgotten to bring any sweets. Those at least would have been likely to appease her. But he gritted his teeth and kept climbing there wasn't much point going back now that he'd already come this far. And if Victorique was still mad...well, he'd deal with that when it was time to.
When he reached the crest of the steps he was surprised to see Victorique, lying on the floor with her face close to the pages of the book. She was smiling and kicking her feet interestedly.
"Victorique?" Kujo called cautiously, not sure if it was wise to disturb her reading.
Victorique looked up her eyes glassy. "Kujo-kun." She murmured softly. Her head slowly turned back towards the book. "Come read with me." Distractedly she patted a spot next to her.
Hesitantly Kujo approached. "So you like it?"
Victorique had almost started reading again, but slowly she looked to face him again. "Yes, read with me about making a Phantom book."
"Ok..." Kujo sat down cross-legged at Victorique's shoulder, trying to see the pages of the book past her hair and head. Hoping she wasn't already intently reading again, Kujo added, "I can't really read it from here."
Making her first abrupt movement since he'd arrive, Victorique's head snapped around, her lips were twisted in annoyance but her eyes were still faintly glazed looking. "Fine I'll read it for you." She muttered grumpily. She cleared her throat and read:
It is strange to me still that I am a keykeeper. Each time I am required to ask Dalian: "Are you human?" and then unlock her and reach deep within her chest to fetch out another Phantom Book is surreal. Even as I do it, it seems as if such things should not be possible. But they must be because it is what I do. Now I face this even stranger task of creating a Phantom book. Never did I think my task would come to this. I never thought it would be necessary to have to write a book of emotions strong enough to burn, but -
Victorique's reading was cut off abruptly as the pages of the book began to glow blindingly. She screeched and flailed at Kujo desperately. He could only stare as the light was suddenly snuffed and they were left sinking into blackness.
