Chapter X: Connect the Dots

Beads of sweat trickled down Satoru's face, he sliced through the morning air with his katana, executing a number of fluent, expert moves. Today he'd canceled his classes; to take a day off from kendo. How ironic it was that for the entire morning thus far all he'd done was train. He was practicing Iiado now that he'd finished with his kendo katas. He was still a disciple at the art of sword drawing and thus did not teach it in his school. An old friend of his father's who had mastery in the art taught him and he hoped to convince him to be a Sensei for his school so that he could offer Iiado to the students as well.

He stood still a moment as he contemplated what to do next, and then went into his trade stance. He moved perfectly, going through the forms he'd learned thus far. He liked using the katana. It was a good weight and had a better feel than the shinai or the bokken. Perhaps in another couple of years he would be ready to practice with a sharpened sword.

He stopped. Deciding that he'd trained enough, for at least the time being. There was work around the house to be done and he couldn't rightly shove it all on his baby sister. He wiped the sweat off his forehead and sheathed his sword into the scabbard. He stretched, cracking his back and again wiped away more sweat.

The eldest Shidou heard the enthusiastic dog barks and looked in the direction from which they came only to find Lantis stroking the dog's head as he leashed him. Lantis stood and the dog wagged its tail happily and barked again.

"Hello? Satoru?" Came his little sister's voice and he looked down. "I said we're taking Hikari off for his walk."

"What? Who? Oh, you and… Lantis, yes?" He looked back up at the black haired man who was now playing with Hikari. "Just the two of you?"

"That's okay right?"

Satoru paused a moment. "Hikaru."

"Yes?"

He sighed. He was being over protective; a trait all Shidou men seemed to have towards their baby sister. It wasn't fair to Hikaru or Lantis whom had done nothing wrong. "Unless you can give me a reason, why you shouldn't go out, I see no reason why it wouldn't be okay."

Hikaru looked at her elder brother quizically. "Is there something wrong Satoru?"

"No. I suppose not. Excuse me," and with that, he headed towards his house to shower. I'm just being over protective. He told himself again. If Lantis were a danger to her, Hikari certainly wouldn't be affectionate towards him. Still…

"In this world, it takes a lot more energy and concentration. Calm your mind and focus only on me." Lantis instructed, Hikaru complied. It was Lantis intent to discover this World's boundaries. Hikaru had explained that magic could not be used but then if he could show her his mind it made sense she could show him hers perhaps she only needed a little training. Then they could go from there to discover what else this world would allow.

Currently they were seated on the grass in a somewhat quiet section of the park. Hikari lye sleeping close by, exhausted from previously playing with both his master and the raven-haired man.

The young woman's eyes closed and again she concentrated, and that's when she felt something light flutter onto her hair. She opened one eye slowly then the other. She lifted her hand and he heard a crunch sound.

Lantis opened his eyes and sighed when he found Hikaru playing with a crushed leaf. "Hikaru…"

"Oh, yeah, right. Sorry."

He thought a moment. She looked down at her palm and brushed it away then wiped her hands on her skirt. "Were you at least trying?"

"Yes. But it wasn't working."

"What were you thinking about?"

She frowned, "homework."

He gave her a strange look then shook his head. "Do you want to try again?" She nodded.

Again they tried and again they failed.

Hikaru sighed, "This is really tiring…" Her shoulders slumped.

Lantis craned his neck and cracked it. He then stood up stretched and crouched down to her. "Let's stop. We're getting nowhere."

"Agreed." She whistled and Hikari instantly awoke, perking his ears up, he then walked over to them and sat down. Hikaru happily patted him and he returned her affections by licking her face.

"We should probably get going. I'm sure your brothers will have expected us back by now."

"Oh, okay." She re-leashed Hikari.

Lantis stood again, took a step forward and held out his hand for her to take as she stood up. When she took it, he suddenly felt an intense feeling. When she stood and released herself from his grasp, the feeling went away. She began to walk and he grabbed her arm.

"Wah!"

"Are you hungry?" he asked.

"Uh, yes?"

"Think of something."

"Think of what?"

"Anything."

"We already tried this."

He searched her eyes, "Just do it, please."

He continued to hold her and he felt it again. A thought. He smirked, "I thought displays of affections were frowned upon."

"Ah?" She blushed, of course she couldn't help but think romantic things when he was there holding her.

"Apparently it only works if we're in physical contact with each other."

"Huh?" She looked down at the hand firmly around her arm. Suddenly she could feel his thoughts as well and when he released her, she began to laugh.

Lantis tilted his head, "What's so funny?"

"We spent all that time trying to communicate with each other without saying anything, and here all we had to do was hold hands."

He thought about that for a moment. The irony was not lost to him. He felt her take his hand again and again he felt her thoughts. `Shall we go?' He gave her hand a squeeze and sent his confirming thought to her.

TBC