Chapter 17

She didn't know if it was because she found SK's so called errands pointlessly boring or the fact she knew she could do most of them within the space of about ten minutes, but she somehow managed to find herself in the middle of Giya performing a mixture of Ti Chi and air fighting. It was her own brand of martial arts, which elegantly combined her powers with a form of hand to hand combat. Or at least that was the idea. As a bona fide academic she tried her best to be a pacifist, but there had always been something so inviting about the idea of combat.

She'd first learned just how much of a knack she had for it when False had asked her to be his sparring partner shortly after they turned eleven and he decided he wanted a job with the Balance Council. She'd refused to begin with, for fear of what she might discover about herself, but he had been so… persuasive, especially after he found out…

Suddenly she sensed the presence of someone nearby. That was another thing her sparring with False had taught her about; always being on guard enough to sense danger long before it hit. Keeping up her graceful movements, she kept a track of the stranger in the shadows as they wound themselves closer and closer to her. When the time was right she'd make her move, but for now she'd just let them think they were approaching her unnoticed.

She heard the buzzing almost as soon as it started, pinpointing its location exactly, she made a swift turn towards it, reaching both her hands out towards her attacker and dissipating their attack. For a few long moments there was silence. Then a loud clapping began and a tall lad, with deflated curls, a fake leather trench coat and a red dragon print black shirt came out of hiding.

'As sleek as always I see Kissy,' his voice was filled with overly amused tones, 'if I didn't know any better, I'd definitely say you didn't know how to use that power of yours.'

'Isn't that what we've been aiming for,' she placed the tips of the fingers of her right hand to her chest, then flicking her hand towards him, 'to make it seem like I've just suddenly stumbled upon them?'

'Of course,' he tilted his head to one side, 'but we also thought you were going to be locked away in a library for about a million years,' coming towards her, he slowly made his way round her, before smirking. 'Met any of them yet?'

'Any of who?' Kisara frowned.

'The First, the Pure, the Face of Friendship.'

'Oh,' she shook her head, 'no, but I've met two of the Pure's son.'

'Which ones?'

'The youngest, Taylor and the oldest one Fray.'

'So you've met the mortal immortal then?'

'Yeah,' she nodded. 'You know he's a mute currently, but I was babbling so much when I met him that it took me ages to work that out.'

'Why am I not surprised?'

'Because you never are False,' she laughed.

'So, met anyone else exciting?'

'No,' she shook her head, not knowing why she was holding back the fact she'd also met Lus, 'unless you count SK of course. But what about you, how was your first day?'

'I learnt I don't like Nethher Herin,' he shrugged and half turned away. 'Especially not arrogant ones who think it's cool to go by a name like Nichee.'

'Your mentor?'

'More like my mentor's boyfriend. Or at least the guy I think she'd like to be her boyfriend.'

'What's your mentor like?'

'She's actually pretty cool. What's SK like?'

'Odd,' she bit her lip thoughtfully, 'and a bit nervous, in a kind of creepy way. He licks his lips a lot.'

'Maybe you make him think about something,' False smirked, 'although, I honestly can't see why that would be.'

'Gross. He must be at least old enough to be my father. Or would be if he wasn't dead.'

'Hey, maybe that makes you all the more attractive to him.'

For a few moments False tried to pull a straight face, but Kisara knew he was putting it on because of the way the corners of his mouth were desperately trying to twitch into one of his oh so amused smiles.

'You don't honestly think he's thinking of that, do you?' Kisara narrowed her gaze onto him.

'Remind me, what library did you crawl out of again,' he placed an arm round her shoulder and leaning on her slightly. 'Of course I'm joking. Everyone from here to Gain knows that Seto Khoral has a compulsive lip licking habit.'

'How?'

'How what?'

'How does everyone know that?' Kisara shrugged his arm off of her shoulder and turned round to face him. 'I mean, did they post some kind of bulletin about it or something?'

'No,' he gave her one of his infamous baffled looks, 'Mistresses' Helpers have always had reputations. That just happens to be part of his.'

'How do you know so much?'

'The same way that everyone but you knows so much,' he rolled his eyes, 'I pay attention to more than just the basics we're taught in class.'

She gave a heavy sigh, before glancing down at the pink strapped watch she was wearing.

'Oh gee, I've got less the half an hour to get all of SK's errands done now.'

'Want a little help?'

'Yes…' she started, before sighing again and shaking her head, 'but no, I shouldn't. I mean, as much as I don't feel like I should have taken this job, I still want to prove that I can do it.'

'Why?'

'I don't know,' she tilted her head thoughtfully, 'there something about it that, despite everything, feels kind of… right.'

'Does Dee know?'

'Yeah, she found out last night, when SK sent me to her as part of my second task.'

'What did she have to say?'

'I could tell she wasn't happy. But aside from reminding me not to divulge my family secret, she didn't really have much to say. I expected her to demand that I quit.'

'I wonder why she didn't.'

'I don't know,' Kisara pressed her lips together, 'I guess she knew she couldn't bubble wrap me forever. And it's not like she's ever stopped anyone else from doing anything.'

'But everyone else wasn't you Kissy,' False's face filled with a gravely serious look, 'for a start they've all had enough social skills not to…'

'I would never blurt it out in the middle of a babbling rant False,' she cut him off.

'That's not what I'm saying,' he gently took hold of her shoulders. 'I know you well enough to know you wouldn't blurt it out, but you would babble round the point.'

'What's that supposed to mean?'

'That means you could slip up without actually saying anything directly.'

For a few moments Kisara weighed up what he'd just told her. Then, backing away from him, she checked her watch again.

'I have to go now,' her voice was mute, 'I'll talk to you later False,' she turned to leave.

'Wait,' the sound of his voice made her stop mid Jump.

'What is it?'

'I…'

'You what,' she glanced back towards him.

'I don't think you'll give yourself away Kissy,' he threw her a weak smile.

'Thank you,' she smiled back, 'that means a lot to me.'