Thank you to everyone who wrote a review on the last chapter. Glad to see that you are enjoying the story so far. In response to Rajata question about more characters, Some new faces will appear after the shadow of the mist saga, so please be patience. This chapter is rather short, but necessary. Read, review and enjoy.
Forward: I don't own The Psychic Academy, though I wish to open one in the future. The wonderful Katsu Aki does. When her Characters do appear, they will be mentioned in the forward.
Psychic Academy: On the Other Side
Based on the popular manga series by Katsu Aki
By Darkensea
Chapter 11: The shadow of the mist Part I
The sky was dark and gloomy, and threatening clouds taunted from above. The wind was strong as it tried to blow away anything that wasn't anchored down or had enough weight to withstand it. Moon and Yukeri walked together across the empty school courtyard. Holding tightly on to each other, as if they were to let go, the wind would carry the other one away. They reached the middle of the courtyard before they stopped, and turned to face the large school building. They had no classes for the week, and most students, not wanting to battle the weather, had decided to stay indoors today. Most students, but not all.
"She still up there isn't she?" Yukeri asked. "She hasn't left his side since he landed in the hospital."
"Yeah." Moon replied. "I thinks she blames herself for his condition, but its been two days, and even I am beginning to worry about him. So she must be torturing herself." A strong gust of wind caused him to pull her even closer. "We should go in a check on her." Yukeri nodded and the two started their battle toward the front door.
They found Soni asleep in the infirmary, laying on bed that had been pulled up next to Xaioto's bed. Xaioto was still unconscious, various machines monitoring his condition. Xaioto had been hospitalized since the practical exam and the doctors had still not yet figured out why he was still unconscious, and physically there was no reason for his condition. There had been some scares where his body would burn off a critical amount of fluid, leaving him dehydrated, and the strange difference between his surface temperature and internal temperature. Through almost all of it, Soni had stayed with him in the infirmary.
"You have to admire her commitment to him." A voice said from the corner of the room. "It's a shame he doesn't know how much she cares about him." They turned to see Myria sitting curled up on the window sill in the corner sipping a cup of tea. She looked tired, as if she had been up all night. She continued, "But can you blame her?"
"You." Moon and Yukeri said together. "What are you doing here?"
"Relax," She said calmly. "I'm here for the same reason you are." She checked her watch and rose from her seat. Crossing over to Soni, she gently shook her awake. "Soni, You have company. I'm going to take my rest now. I'll be back to check on him later."
Soni yawned and replied sleepily. " Alright. Any changes?" Myria shook her head solemnly. "Thank you, Myria."
Myria walked over to Xaioto's bed an kissed him on the forehead. "Hang in there Xaioto." With that she flickered and vanished. Soni turned to Moon and Yukeri. "Hey guys, What time is it?"
"It's around eleven." Yukeri replied. "How are you holding up?"
"Me? I'm still here. Still worried about him."
Moon pulled up a chair for Yukeri to sit in and took Myria's seat in the corner. "Well we're here to support both of you"
Myria appeared out side the school building. She didn't have the energy to make it all the way back to her room. Pausing to catch her breath she looked towards her dorm, wondering if she had the strength to fight her way back. She would have turned around and taken Soni place on the bed, if she hadn't seen some thing that make her freeze. A lone figure stood in the center of the courtyard looking skyward. The strong winds made his long black jacket float wildly. He was standing in a thick cloud of mist that didn't rise higher than his knees. Looking towards the sky he appeared to be lost in thought.
"Xaioto" She called rushing towards him. He turned and looked at her. His light purple eyes sparkled mysteriously. A evil smirk spread across his face then he disappeared, in a swirl of mist. "That looked so much like Xaioto." Myria said aloud as she headed for her dorms. "Who was it?"
The next day she and Soni where sitting in the infirmary next to Xaioto. Talking to each other and still waiting for a response from Xaioto. Myria had just finished telling Soni what happened when she left yesterday.
"It was probably a hallucination," Soni said, "You were pretty tired, you may have just imagined it."
"I'm pretty sure I didn't." Myria said. "It was him."
"Like I said before, I was with him all yesterday, and he didn't move." Soni replied solemnly. She paused them said, "I want to go to the café to get a drink but I don't want to leave him."
"Go ahead, you could use some fresh air. I will be here."
"Thank you Myria." Soni said softly as she rose and left the room. What was Myria trying to do to her. Telling stories of Xaioto walking around the school. She couldn't possibly understand how worried she was about him and do something like that to her, was just plain rude. She could feel tears beginning to build in her eyes. Soni was so lost in thought, she made a wrong turn on her way to the café, and soon found herself in a mist filled corridor. Standing not a far distance of, Xaioto stood looking out the window. She hastily wiped the tears from her eyes to make sure.
Myria wasn't lying. She had seen Xaioto or someone that looked like him. His appearance however, was different to the one she was used to. He was dressed in a long black jacket and black pants. His hair was slicked back, and he wasn't wearing the glasses that she had never seen him without. "Xaioto?" She said softly approaching him. He didn't respond. "Xaioto." She gently tapped him on the shoulder. Still no response. She thought for a minute. "Mylki."
Xaioto turned and looked at her. "Tami." He said softly. As she rushed to embrace him, he caught her in an embrace, spun her around and pinned her to the wall. He then kissed her. No warning, no signal, just pinned her to the wall and kissed her. Strangely she felt weak, as if her aura was being sucked away through this kiss. She found she had lost the strength to fight him. When he released her, her knees gave out and she collapsed to the floor breathing heavily. Xaioto knelt beside her resting his hand on her shoulder. "Tami? Your crying. Don't cry, I won't be gone long." The mist encircled her and she felt as though someone had thrown a light blanket over her. Something about it was calming and soothing and she felt her strength was returning. After a moment Xaioto helped her to her feet speaking softly. "There are things I have to do before I can return home but have faith that I will return to you." With that he vanished in a swirl of mist. The corridor was now clear and there was no trace he had ever been there.
Soni rushed back to the infirmary to check on Xaioto and to tell Myria what happened. She was greeted by Doc and Nurse Kerla. Xaioto seemed to have suffered from another water level drop. After she told them what happened, leaving out the kiss, Doc said.
"I could be a golem. A duplicate of Xaioto made unintentionally out of mist. That would explain why he is staying like this up here."
"But golems are just auras," Nurse Kerla said. "It wouldn't be able to use jump or use aura techniques. Plus it wouldn't be able to do much with out Xaioto conscious to control it."
"Is it possible that the golem is acting as his consciousness?" Myria asked. "That's why he is unconscious up here. If it acts as his consciousness it should have be able you use Xaioto's aura freely."
"I would say its near impossible. Besides the golem wouldn't be able to operate outside Xaioto natural aura field, which is no larger than this room. A golem running around with its own freewill, is not only unheard of but practically impossible. I would have to contact the California Aura Developmental Center about this case." Doc said. "See what they say."
"In the mean time, can we ask you girls a favor?" Nurse Kerla said. "Can we ask you to try and find the golem? If you do try and bring it back here without damaging it. If the golem is acting as Xaioto's consciousness and the golem is destroyed, we don't know what might happen to Xaioto."
Soni and Myria looked at each other. The same thought had just crossed there minds. If Xaioto's golem runs in to Azural. Xaioto could be in trouble. Without another word or saying good bye the two rushed off to find the golem.