Title: Sleeping Over
Authors: Leiko and Perry

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Kirk pulled up in the driveway of his house. The exterior is a light blue and there are carved seagulls hanging on the front next to the grey shutters. Kirk turned the engine off and remained sitting, head bowed. Kiron slept quietly in the passenger seat, turned slightly toward Kirk. Taking a deep breath, Kirk ran a hand through his sandy hair, still wondering what he was going to tell his mother. Shaking himself slightly, he reached over to touch Kiron's shoulder. "We're here." he said softly.

She woke slowly, staring at his hand a moment before coming completely awake.

"We're here." he repeated.

Kiron smiled sleepily, then nodded. "If it's too much trouble, I really can..." she trailed off, realizing she didn't want to stay alone in wherever she could find.

"Oh come on." Kirk jumped out of the truck and came around to open the door for her.

She slid from the truck, automatically putting an arm around his waist to stay standing.

Kiron took a moment, using an old trick to clear her weariness from her mind. After a few seconds, the elf waa able to stand and walk on her own.

Kirk held out his hand, still not sure if she was steady enough.

Kiron smiled, mind clearing as well. "It's a warrior's trick, just clear the mind. It's more wear in the end, but I doubt we're doing anything but sleeping tonight."

Kirk blushed. "Now we just have to convince my mother of this."

She grinned, and turned to the house. "I'll let you talk."

"Thanks." Kirk said uncertainly.

Her first step was slow, to be sure she could walk, but Kiron proceeded with confidence toward Kirk's house. On the outside she was once more the confident girl she was that morning.

Kirk held the door open for the girl, waiting for her to pass before entering and calling out "I'm home!"`

"Hi hon." a distracted female voice called from somewhere inside the house. "How did the meet go?"

"Oh it was good!" Kirk called out, leading Kiron towards a room. "I broke the state record." he said nonchalantly.

The elf followed, eyes observing everything of the house about them.

Kirk leaned in the doorway, looking in on a desk piled high with books and papers, waiting for a response.

After a few seconds of typing and paper shuffling his mom looked up. "That's nice dear." she said before looking down, not having noticed the elf.

"Yeah, and look what they gave me as a reward!" Kirk said, motioning at Kiron like a gameshow host, grinning mischevously.

Kiron smiled faintly, feeling rather selfconcious

Kirk's mom looked up again, almost starting as she saw the silver haired girl. "Oh! I'm sorry. Please pardon me, I was preoccupied." she said, standind and managing to only knock over a small stack of papers in the process.

She suddenly felt bad for Kirk, if this wsa how his mother had treated something that was as important to him as a state record. She bent with lightening reflexes, catching most of the papers before they hit the ground. "It's not a problem."

His mom blinked at the girl's quick reflexes. "Thank you." she replied, her eyes going over the long silver hair before returning to Kirk. "So you broke the state record?" she asked finally.

Kirk nodded patiently, obviously used to this kind of behavior. "Yup, but almost a second!"

"That's wonderful dear." she smiled briefly, reaching forward as if to ruffle his hair and then pulling her hand back.

Kiron set the papers where they had been before falling, watching their interaction.

"Anyway, Mom, this is Kiron, Kiron, my mother Regina."

Kiron bowed, one hand to her heart as she had always been taught to do to the master or mistress of the house she would be staying in.

"M. .my Lady?" his mom asked after a moment's surprise.

The elf blinked, "I-I gave that title up, ma'am."

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Jumping at the sound of his mother's voice, Kirk dropped Kiron's hand, standing up quickly and rubbing his hands over his face and hair.

Kiron looked at her hand for a moment longer, realizing but not quite comprehending why she felt alone again.

Kirk's mother came into the room, hands weighed down by plastic bags.

The elf scrubbed a hand under her eyes, forcing once more a calm exterior.

"Hi mom." Kirk said, trying to be cheerful.

"What did you get?"

"Oh, a bunch of stuff." his mom replied, hefting the bags. "Sesame chicken, MouGouGaiPan, Lo Mein, Veggie stuffs."

Kiron wasn't sure what any of those were, but she was used to the slight confusion now. There was hardly anything remaining of when she had been alive.

Kirk walked over and took the bags from his mother, taking them over and setting them on the coffee table.

Watching with interest, Kiron supressed several question about what appeared to be dinner.

Kirk and his mother opened most of the boxes, setting a box of rice in front of each place, as well as a set of chopstics and napkin.

"Um, can I help at all?" the elf asked politely.

"We're set Kiron." Kirk said, smiling almost shyly at the elf.

"Ok, let's eat!" Regina said, rubbing her hands together excitedly.

"Okay," she looked at the chopsticks, unsure for a moment.

Kirk picked his up, sliding them out of the paper cover and breaking them, almost demonstratively for the elf.

"I hope you like chinese food." his mother said, pulling up a pillow and sitting down on the floor.

Kiron followed suit, her long fingers quickly figuring how to operate the chopsticks. "It looks wonderful," she smiled.

Kirk smiled back at her before digging into a box of sesame chicken.

The front door slammed and a high pitched voice yelled "I'm HOOOME!"

Kiron jumped slightly, looking in the direction of the door.

"Hi Kid!" Kirk called out.A girl came bouncing into the room, hair all curled, face done up, and with TOMMY emblazoned across the front of every article of clothing she had on.

"Hi Mom, hi Kirk. . uh. . hi Kirk's girlfriend." she giggled off down the hall followed by a loud thump that must have been her backpack.

The elf blinked, glad that her skin didn't sustain a blush very well.

The girl came flouncing back into the room and plopping herself down.

"So what's your girlfriend's name?" she asked, picking up a carton and picking at it with the extra pair of chopsticks

"Um. . Gina, this is Kiron." he said, following the statement with a piece of really hot chicken.

Looking at the girl, Kiron smiled. She felt a slight tightness in her chest that Kirk had a younger sister, but chose to ignore it.

"Hi I'm Gina." she replied bubbily, extending her hand across the table.

Taking the girl's hand, Kiron repressed a smile at her natural enthusiasm.

"So how long have you been going out?" she asked, settling back in and jabbing her brother in the side.

"Ah, we met today," Kiron said, once more trying to fight the feeling of exhaustion that accompanied all that she had done over the day. Settling back on the couch, the elf tightened her wounded hand slightly to keep awake.

Gina giggled, picking up a different box of chinese and picking at it.

"Oh give it a rest would you?" Kirk said irritably, stabbing a piece of chicken.

Gina smiled innocently.

"So. . umm. . What brings you to Newport?" Kirk's mom asked awkwardly, not wanting to seem rude.

"Oh, I just sort of found myself here, nothing really," Kiron replied, evading the issue.

"Oh? It's rather interesting that you met up with my son though." she tried again.

"We met at school, the swim meet," she replied, realizing the woman was intent upon finding more about her.

"Oh? You have an interest in swimming?" she smiled politely

"For observation, yes. I'm not much of a swimmer," she looked a bit sheepish.

"Ah. . and was it an enlightening experience?"

"I certainly learned a few things," the elf answered.

Kirk shifted uneasily, not happy at his mother's attempts for answers.

"Did you get a chance to watch the diving competition? I hear that Newport has an outstanding diving team." Regina tried to make it seem like polite conversation.

"I'm afriad Kirk was helping me with my hand at the time," she laughed softly, holding up her bandaged wrist.

Kirk started at his mother's reference to diving, and he looked quickly over at Kiron.

"Oh? And how did you hurt yourself?"

"A shop accident, stupid really, I should have been paying better attention."

"Shop? You own a store around here?" Regina asked arily, having missed the slang.

"Um, woodshop," Kiron wondered if those still existed, certainly many things were made out of wood around here.

"Oh? I love carved figurines. I expect you've had years to work on them. You'll have to tell me where your store is." she continued on.

"I don't actually own a shop, just a few things to pass time with," she invented quickly, not wanting to be caught in her lie.

"So what attracted you to Kirk?" Gina piped up.

Kiron lauhged softly, "It's the speedo."

Kirk turned bright red and industriously stuffed another mouthfull of rice into his already occupied mouth.

The elf held a yawn in check, not wanting to offend Kirk's mother.

Gina giggled mischevously and picked up a different container.

"What are you doing in school, Gina?" Kiron asked, curious.

"Me?" she asked, shifting slightly. "Oh this and that." she replied offhandedly.

Absently, Kiron put her hand over Kirk's, amazed how his sister could put food away.

Kirk looked down, surprised at the casual motion.

The elf didn't even realize she had done it, as she listenened to Gina's chatter.

"It's all pretty boring and none of the guys there are very cute." Gina prattled on.

She nodded with understanding, barely keeping a laugh in check.

"But I guess that you don't have that kind of problem now do you?" she looked meaningfully at Kirk.

"Apparently not," she smiled faintly.

Kirk's mother sat there looking desperately like she wanted to ask the elf questions, but not able to come up with one that couldn't be diverted.

Kiron continued to watch the family, enjoying the realtive peace while she could. Although, she continued to run possible methods to save Shirania through her mind.

"So, what were your plans for this evening?" Regina asked finally.

Kirk looked at Kiron, unsure of what their plans for the evening were.

She gave him a quick smile, watching his mother a bit more carefully than the rest.

"Well I think we were just going to hang out." Kirk replied non-committally.

"Probably," the elf added, not feeling very helpful.

Kirk's mother smiled again, still looking as if she were on the edge of her seat. "Is there anything else you would like to see while you are here?"

"Um, I was sort of hoping to visit the beach," she replied, wondering why she was so interested.

"Really? We could go tonight if you want!" she replied very enthusiastically.

"Only if it's not inconvenient," the elf wasn't sure if she really wanted to go.

"It wouldn't be a problem." She smiled, getting up. "You don't have any homework do you Gina?" she asked her daughter.

"No ma'am." Gina replied airily.

Kirk leaned close to Kiron as his mother gathered up the remains of dinner. "You really ok with this?" he asked softly.

"Yeah, I'll be fine," she assured him. "So long as I don't try any long distance running."

"If you're sure." he squeezed her hand, smiling.

The elf blinked, suddenly realizing that they were holding hands. "Of course."

Kirk surpressed a smile, standing up and offering the elf a hand up.

She accepted, rising to her feet. "And you know I love car rides, how could I resist?"

Kirk chuckled, bending down to get the rest of the leftovers from the table.

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Kiron stepped from the car, breathing in the smell of the ocean. It had been a while since she had gone just for plesaure. The sand seemed to glow faintly in the moonlight, stretching in either direction. The tide was out, giving the impression that the beach was endless.

Kirk stepped up beside her, looking first at her, and then out on the moonlit landscape.

"It's great, isn't it?" she asked, almost a bit dreamily. The faint magical abilities she had, felt refreshed.

"Yes," Kirk replied, stretching.

She smiled, stepping down from the small parking lot to the logs, and then finally to the sand below.

Kirk kicked off his shoes and jogged to catch up. "I'm sorry about my mom." he apologized. "I've never seen her act like this."

His mother and sister made their way onto the beach as well.

The elf shrugged, kicking her shoes off by a log. "It's okay. She has an interest in elves, and in walks a seeming member of royalty."

"But how did she know?" he asked, finally venting a little of his frustration. "Am I really that oblivious?" he asked himself.

Kiron raised her bangs off her forehead. The silver band across her forehead was more obvious without the silver hair falling over it.

"Yeah but. . . " he sighed. "I feel like everything is just happening around me."

"It'll never stop feeling like that," she smiled ruefully. "Unless you take active charge of things."

"I don't know." he ran a hand through his blond hair. "It's still like a dream. How do you take charge of a dream?"

She grinned, "Well there are a few methods." Kiron splashed him, having reached the water first.

"Hey!" Kirk ducked belatedly. Grinning impishly, he ran forward towards the elf, trying to push her into the water.

She dodged easily, skipping backwards to stay facing him.

Kirk turned easily, coming at her again.

She continued to move, hands behind her back, smiling. "Is that all?"

Kirk scooped some water up in his hands, throwing it at the elf.

"Foul play!" she called, laughing.

Kirk laughed, running up to the elf again.

With her back turned, Kiron tripped over a rock half buried, balancing for a moment between falling and staying up.

Intent on tossing the elf into the water, Kirk didn't notice her loss of balance until it was too late. Running into her, his momentum carried both of them over into the cold seawater.

Kiron laughed, keeping the bandaged hand out of the water somehow.

Kirk spluttered, wiping the seawater out of his face before smiling over at the elf.

Serious for a moment, "We'll have to pick up a few things from Shirania's house tomorrow."

A shadow passing over his face, Kirk nodded, the world of reality crashing back down on him as his sister came prancing up in her Tommy outfit.

"Haa haa, you fell in!" she laughed.

"If you don't watch out, you might too," Kiron rose form the water, almost as fast as she had fallen in.Gina pranced back a pace. Kiron shook her hair out, peeling her shirt from her body. "Well as fun as that was," she turned, offering a hand to Kirk.
Kirk took the offered hand, pulling himself up before a second wave came rushing in. The elf smiled, suddenly wishing her shirt wasn't wet, and would stay unstuck to her frame. "There, I think we're even."

Kirk nodded slowly, feeling that he ought to do the brotherly duty of throwing his sister into the ocean, but not having the energy for it.

Regina stood well outside the reach of the water watching the children play.

She stretched her arms over her head, the elf's back giving a satisfying pop. "Care to walk for a bit?"

"Sure." he replied softly, giving his sister a meaningful look.

Gina made a mock romantic face at them and then wandered off.

Kiron's eyes caught enough light to see well in the dark, even though from their color, one might expect otherwise. Humming an old tune to herself, she looked the beach over again.

Kirk ran a hand through his dripping hair, shaking most of the water out of it. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do about his jeans or his polo shirt.

"Look," she cought his shoulder suddenly.

"Hm?" he asked, following her line of sight.

"There," she knelt down, pointing at the surf following the waves onto the beach. "Water pixies."

"Pixies?" Kirk asked, straining to see in the dim light.

"Here, hold on a moment," she whislted a short, but complicated tune. A light dusting of sparkles floated toward her, dancing over her hand. "Pixies."

The boy bent down so that his eyes were even with the level of her hand. A bemused expression settled over his face.

"They're fairly intelligent, but," she shrugged, as they wandered off her hand and back toward the water.

Watching the sparkles return to the water, Kirk shook his head. "So many things." he muttered softly to himself.

"I'm sorry, you were trying to go back to what you remember as simple," she smiled apologetically.

"No, I'm ok." Kirk smiled tiredly, "It's just been a long day."

A large gathering of birds ahead, picking at something on the white sand. The elf looked up, head tilted to one side.
Taking a short jog forward, Kiron quickly shooed the birds away. At the center of where they had gathered, a wounded seal lay bleeding on the beach.

Kirk followed behind the elf, hoping that nothing else would happen today.

"Y..you might want to wait over there," Kiron suggested, kneeling beside the seal.

Kirk knelt down beside the elf anyway, feeling almost emotionally numb at this point. Some small part of his mind was glad that his sister wasn't here though.

"It's a silkie, you may have heard stories of them," she murmured softly, running her good hand along it's head lightly.

"What's it doing here? I've never seen one in Newport before."

"Ready for a spell?" she asked, adressing both Kirk and the silkie. Ignoring the blood on her hands and pants, Kiron gently put her arms in a sort of fence around it.

"Good question."

"Spell?" Kirk asked, worried about what happened last time.

"Whispering softly in elven, Kiron started a spell, one she had not used in a long time. Light crawled from her hands to the seal's wounds, flooding into them. Both the silkie and the elf jerked slightly, sharing a communal pain. After a few second, the wounds slowly started closing. They stayed frozen, until the wounds were closed and the seal regained a better color. "There," she smiled tiredly.

Kirk watched the two carefully, his heart almost stopping when the two jerked.

"Are you ok?" he asked solicitously.

The silkie shifted, suddenly surrounded by light, and and stretched. In seconds, a young, human male lay on the beach. Falling back onto the sand in stunned surprise, Kirk's eyes widened at the young man.

"I thank you, most honorable of elves," the man knelt before Kiron.

"It-it was nothing," she said, blushing slightly. "Just try not to let it happen again okay?"

Kirk just sat there in stupified silence.

"If milady wishes it so," he stood. "If you have need of me ever, you can call with this." The dropped a small charm into the elf's hand, then dove into the water, dissapearing.

Kiron settled back, looking at the charm tiredly. "Okay, no more magic for me," she muttered, glancing at Kirk. "I'm really sorry for that."

Kirk tried to say something, but no words came out. Finally he gave up.

"I look a mess," the elf mutterd, looking at the blood now on her arms, pants, and shirt. She rose, wading intot he water a bit to rinse off.

Numbly, Kirk stood and followed her, the chill water helping to bring back a sense of reality into what had become an almost unreal day.

"Look, I. . . " Kiron searched for soemthing to say, knowing she had almost put him in shock.

Catching her hand, Kirk looked the elf in the eyes. "Just tell me this is real." he said just above the roar of the ocean. "Tell me that this is real and I'll believe whatever you say."

"It's real," she looked back, heart reaching out to the boy.

Closing his eyes for a moment, he nodded.

"We should head back before Gina comes to see if we're making out or not." he said, trying to enliven the situation.

"If at aany point, you just want it to stop, all of it, just ask. I'll leave," she said, voice barely audible.

Kirk shook his head. "I'll never ask you to leave." he promised, squeezing her hand for emphasis.

Kiron smiled, feeling relieved. "Okay, let's go."

Kirk smiled, loosening his grip on her hand.

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Phrases like 'you shouldn't push yourself too hard' kept running through Kirk's mind as they walked the seemingly interminable distance back to the car. After too much longer, Kiron leaned lightly on Kirk, doing her best to support herself. Kirk shifted an arm around her for support. "You sure you'll be ok?" he asked.

"Yeah, I've just... done too much, especially with magic," she smiled slightly, glad for his arm there.

"I'm worried about you." he said softly.

"Why's that?" she asked, looking over at him.

"Where would I be without you? I can't deal with the kinds of things that have happened."

"Without me? You'd return to what you were used to, this would soon seem some... dream."

Kirk shrugged. "I don't know. I'm not sure what I feel."

Kiron smiled again, soaking up the last of the moon rays as they walked. The car was growing closer, when she asked, "Would you prefer if I hadn't come?"

Kirk thought for a moment. "No. I wish some of the things hadn't happened, but I'm glad to have met you."

Kiron knew, if it wasn't for the moon's plaer light, Kirk might have been able to see the faint blush. "Thanks."

"Oh come OOONNNN!!!" Gina yelled from the car. "Sheesh! Couples!" she threw up her hands in mock resignation.

Kiron held back a weak laugh, "We're coming."

The two of them started up the sandy incline to the parking lot.

Once they reached the car, Kiron settled gratefully into the vehicle.

Kirk closed the car door before crossing to the other side of the car and getting in.

Gina plopped into the front seat and his mother smiled back at them before starting the engine.

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The car slipped into the driveway, the engine rumbling to quiet. Kiron slept quietly, head resting against Kirk's shoulder.

Kirk shifted slightly, intending to get out of the car and carry Kiron inside. Kiron blinked rapidly, taking a moment to remember where she was. She murmured something softly, sitting up. Kirk smiled, "We're home." he said softly.

"Oh?" she blinked again, looking at the house. "Oh, right." A part of her had been expecting, and hoping for, her home. The Astrainia home.

She slid across the seat, getting out the already open door. "Can I go to bed yet?"

"Sure." he held the door open for her, extending his hand in a gentleman like fashion.

Kiron laughed, accepting his hand with all the grace and poise ettiquette teachers had never convinced her to use.

Kirk laughed. "You really have a royal bearing."

"Not that ettiquette instructors could convince me to use it," she grinned. "I was... a constant annoyance."

He smiled, his eyes laughing. "I can't imagine."

"Think about this, we have some very dignified visitors coming, and I show up the same time they do, join the line-up, and am covered in mud."

Kirk laughed again, playing the gentleman and escorting her into the house.

Kiron actually needed his help to get to the house, but did her best not to lean too heavily on him.

Kirk kept his hand under her elbow, hoping his family would take it all as an act, rather than a necessity. As they walked to the house, Kiron suddenly wondered if it would be alright with Regina if she stayed the night. "Hmm. . . I guess you can have my bed. I can sleep on the couch." Kirk said, his thoughts parallelling hers.

"I don't want to be in the way," she said softly, still sleepy.

"You aren't." Kirk smiled confidently. "Besides, Mom wouldn't stand for anything less."

"Um, okay," the elf was merely too tired to argue.

Kirk guided the elf down the hall and into a sideroom. The room was almost neat, with pictures of atheletes on the wall and a few trophies on the top of a large crowded bookshelf. "Nice," she smiled, blinking heavily.

Kirk shrugged, coloring slightly.

"Anyway, I'll change the sheets for you." Kirk motioned to a chair.

"Sure," she settled, resisting the urge to curl up in the chair and sleep.

Kirk went out of the room for a moment and returned with an armload of clean sheets. Setting them on his desk, he worked on stripping and remaking the bed.

Kiron watched, before looking the room over again. It was interesting, the slight conflict between studies, and the sporting pictures on the walls. Books were crammed into every available space, as well as various other collectables. "I like this room, it's you," she smiled softly, too tired to check her own words.

Picking up a pillow to put the cover on it, Kirk paused, smiling sheepishly.

"And that makes it nice," she blinked, part of her warning that she should check what she was saying.

Kirk blinked, feeling suddenly shy. "Umm, thanks. I'm glad you like it."

Kiron looked around for a moment, sensing something. "Wh-what's in that box, there?" she pointed to a small, wooden box, half buried under papers.

"Hm?" Kirk walked over to the pile and dug out the box. "This is just an old jewelry box."

"Oh? It has.... an aura to it."

"Aura?" Kirk looked at the box warily as if it were a snake.

She shrugged, "It's very benevolent. But, we could leave it if you like.""

"Umm, no. I think I'd rather know what I've got sitting around in my room." Kirk said, handing the box to the elf.

Opening it carefully, Kiron found the glow to come from a simple, silver ring. "You have magic in your blood, Kirk," she said softly, holding the ring up.

Kirk sat down on the edge of the bed, a resigned look on his face

Kiron stood, moving to sit next to Kirk. "This is, I suppose you could say, only able to be used by you, or your blood that is. Who did you get it from?"

"Umm," Kirk took the ring with nervous fingers. "I think it was something my dad gave me before he died."

"Give me your hand," she requested.

Kirk held out his hand. The elf carefully slid the ring onto his finger, not letting go once she did. "Tell me, what do you feel?"

"I. .I'm not sure." Kirk replied uncertainly. "What am I supposed to feel?"

"Close your eyes," she instructed, voice soft. "And feel with... your emotions, your heart."

Feeling like his hand was trembling, Kirk closed his eyes, trying to feel his hand. "I. . I'm not sure." he said after a minute.

Kiron tighteend her grip slightly, moving his hand higher for a moment. "Dont think with your mind."

Kirk took a deep breath, trying to let his mind loose. "I. . um. . . I think I hear the roar of the ocean." He shook his head to try and clear it.

"Is there anything else?" she moved her own hands slightly, so that her skin was next to the silver as well.

"The ring feels cool, like water." he furrowed his brow for a moment before remembering to try and relax.

"You're getting closer," she watched his face, interested in the expression crossing it.

Suddenly he could see himself, the ocean, tumultuous and confused. But below that, his feelings, a concern for Shira, underlying an attraction to her. But over all of that, something else. Above, the moon, but...that was Kiron. The moon was not that warm. There was a strong urge to protect there, as well as. . . a desire for something, something dark. Death? Farther down, a warm emotion, deep and strong, but not one he could identify. "I. . " he shook his head, opening his eyes. "I saw you." Kirk looked at the elf with almost a reminiscent look on his face.

"You have something, that I can never be able to use. It's... a great gift, that you were left," she said, eyes locked with his.

"I. . .felt your emotions." he said, feeling that the description wasn't quite right.

She nodded, "You have a natural empath ability, the ring just brought it to the surface."

Kirk shook his head, running the hand wearing the ring through his hair before standing up and returning to the half-dressed pillow.

Kiron swallowed, wishing for a moment she had been born the gentler of the sisters. Laira had all the magical ability, and was more... attractive. The elf shjook her head, what was leading her to those thoughts?

Kirk finished making the bed before finally pausing and looking at the ring again. "If only I knew what I felt." he said wistfully, looking up at Kiron.

"Empathy is generally an outward thing. So, what did you learn about me?" she asked, switching the subject.

"You, you feel responsible for Shira." he started out, sorting through what he had experienced. "But there was something else." he moved closer to the elf. "I'm not sure what it was."

"I couldn't tell you. The more often you use it though, the better you will become. Keep that ring with you, even if you do not wear it."
"What would you do if something happened to Shira?" he asked suddenly.

"I-I don;t know," she said. "Nothing would happen to Shirania before it happened to me though."

"Are you sure?" he asked, putting a hand on her arm.

"I- yes," she said, firmly denying to herself what she knew Kirk meant.

Kirk gave her a steady look before dropping his arm. "Alright." he said, his voice trusting.

She smiled. "I'm almost jealous, I have little to no magic ability," she lay back on the bed, looking the ceiling.

"I'd give you everything I have." Kirk replied, stuffing his hands in his pockets and looking down at her.

"If only it were that simple." she smiled again, then sighed. "I should not have let anyone get involved with this again. It would make all our lives better."

"We'll manage, I'm sure."

Kiron sat up, giving Kirk a serious look. "I've possibly destroyed one life, and seem to have stolen yours. If there was some way for me to go back and change it... I would do so, for yours and Shirania's sakes."

"Yes but you can't go back." Kirk said slowly, so it's best not to dwell in past shadows."

"Right, I just hope I can give you back when this is over, nothing will happen to you either, I promise."

"You are the moon, Kiron. Do not let yourself be eclipsed by a shadow." Kirk emphasized poetically, running a finger over a lock of her hair.

The elf was silent, staring at the ceiling. A tiny trickle managed it's way from her eyes, only to be obscured as she sat up, running an arm over her face.

"I should let you sleep." Kirk said after an awkward moment of silence, turning to leave.

"Sleep well, dream of something sweet," she said quietly.

"I shall try, and may the same come to you." Kirk bowed genteely before stepping out of the room.

----------------------

Blinking, Kirk rolled over and hit the alarm clock. 6:00am, time to get up for school. Throwing the covers back on the sofa, Kirk stood up, stretching. "I guess I'd better go get Kiron up." he mumbled sleepily to himself, running a hand through his hair.
Feeling his way down the dark hall, Kirk knocked softly on the door to his room before opening the door. "Kiron?" he called softly, walking over to the bed. Kiron was curled up, the covers having fallen to the floor. The sheet was held tight in one hand.
Bending over, Kirk shook the elf's shoulder slightly. "Kiron." he called.

Her eyes snapped open, the elf automatically sitting up in bed. The sheet slid down, revealing she had slept only in a thin shift.

"Umm. . .good morning." Kirk said blushing.

"Morning," she muttered, looking around sleepily.

Kirk turned to leave. "I'll go get breakfast ready." he said.

"Wait," she put her lags on the ground. "Do you have school today?"

"Umm, yeah. It's only friday." Kirk said, looking back at her.

"Um..." she paused not sure for a moment. "We really should go visit my friends, today. As soon as possible."

Kirk nodded slowly. "Right." he said.

"You don't mind do you?"

"No. I've just never skipped class before." he smiled sheepishly.

Kiron smiled, "There's a first time for everything."

"I guess." Kirk said.

Kiron stood, stretching. "Oh, do you have someplace I can bathe?"

"Oh sure. The bathroom's down the hall." Kirk reached out to the cabinet in the hall and pulled out a fluffy green towel. "Here you go."

"Thanks," she smiled, leaving the Kirk's room to find the bathroom.

"You're welcome." Kirk said softly to her retreating back.

Shaking himself, Kirk dug out a set of clothes from a drawer before Kiron came back.

Kiron closed the door behind, not even bothering to lock it. After a moment, she figured how the shower worked, and began to wash. After a few minutes, Kiron turned the shower off, picking up the green towel. Once dry, she wrapped in the towel, carrying her shift in on hand.

Quickly pulling on a pair of jeans and a dark blue polo shirt, Kirk ran another hand through his hair before giving it up as a lost cause.

The elf returned to Kirk's room, silver hair tossed over one shoulder.

Turning to leave, Kirk stopped short as Kiron entered the room, clad only in a towel. "O- um, sorry," she winced, starting slightly as well.

"Umm. . Pardon me." he stuttered, turning bright red again.

"Right," she moved further into the room, allowing for Kirk to get to the door.

"I'll just get breakfast." he left hurredly.

After closing the door, Kiron dropped the towel, feeling color rise to her own cheeks. She quickly pulled her clothes on, and took the worst snarls from her hair out with her fingers.

Having stopped in in the bathroom to run a wet comb through his hair, Kirk went into the kitchen, breaking eggs into a pan. Kiron wandered to the kitchen, looking at her already worn clothing with slight distaste. Kirk looked up. "One egg or two?" he asked, flipping the pan.

"Um, one plesae," she smiled. "Do you have a brush I could use?"

"Sure. Just a sec." Kirk flipped two eggs out onto a plate for himself before going down the hall for a comb. "Here you go." he handed her a small black comb.

"Thanks," she pulled the snarls from her hair, running the comb through until it was smooth. With that accomplished, she stood in front of a small mirror, fingers moing fast to put her hair up in a complex set of braids.

Kirk flipped the last egg out of the pan, setting plates on the table. He turned to announce breakfast but found himself mesmerized as she braided her hair. Once she was done, the braids stayed up on their own, but also kept her hair from her face. If there was any fighting to be done, that was more important than how it looked. Kirk started as she turned around, feeling guilty for having watched. "Umm. . breakfast's ready." he pulled a chair out for the elf.

"Oh, looks good," she smiled, not having notices his eyes on her.

Kirk politely sat the elf before plopping down in front of his own plate. "So what is it we need to do today?" he asked.

"Go pick up a few things at Shirania's, and visit my friend. From there," she shrugged.

"What are we gonna tell Shira's parents?" he asked quietly, chewing on a bite of egg.

"Nothing, I'm scaling the house," she said, keeping her eyes on her food.

"Scaling?"

"Climbing, I noticed Shirania's window is large enough, and low enough to the ground that I could get in easily."

"Ah." Kirk looked dubious.

"Unless you can think of something to tell her parents," she said, "There's not much else to be done."

"I suppose not." he poked at the egg.

Kiron lapsed into silence, finishing her breakfast.

Kirk's mother came bustling cheerily into the kitchen. "Good morning. Are we off to school again today?" she asked

"Yeah, I was hoping to be able to observe his classes today," Kiron said, face betraying nothing of they intended to do that day.

Kirk nodded, stuffing his mouth full with egg to avoid replying.

The elf played with her fork, idly watching the centerpeice on the table.

"Glad to know that you'll be having fun." she said. "Please feel free to ask me about anything." she tried to encourage the elf.

"Ah, what should I do with my dishes?" she asked, looking up at the woman.

Kirk's mother blinked, not having expected that kind of question. "Just put them in the sink, I'll get to them later." she said cheerily.

"Thank you," the elf put the dishes in the sink, the returned to the table. "Tell me, what started your interest in elves?"

This time both Kirk and his mother blinked, having not expected such a direct question. "I umm. . . .I'm a historian." she started, trying to figure out phrasing

"Oh?"

Regina nodded, making herself a cup of coffee. "I always liked researching mythological references in history, and they didn't always seem like just a myth."

"Most things are based upon truths," she replied, nodding.

Regina nodded. "So I've spent most of my life doing research on the side, since no real academic institution would support such notions."

"You seem to have done a good job of it," Kiron said, smiling.

"I didn't even tell my kids so they wouldn't have to be teased." she looked over at Kirk.

"Have you ever... in you research, heard of the Astrainia?"

Her eyes went thoughtful for a moment. . . "I think there were a few references, yes. Was there something in particular that you were interested in, my Lady?"

"I was merely curious," Kiron shook her head. "I'll have to write down a few things that you might find interesting while I'm in Newport."

"Oh would you?" she almost bounced like Gina had at the mention of boys.

"It's no problem," Kiron said. "It's the least I could do after being allowed to stay the night."

"Oh please, it was no problem at all!"

"Are you ready to go, Kirk?" the elf asked, looking at him.

"Um. .yeah." He tossed his dishes into the sink and picked up his backpack. "See you later Mom." he called over his shoulder.

"Bye," Kiron waved, closing the door behind them.

"Do you know where Shirania lives?" the elf asked as they got into the truck.

"Umm. . .kinda, I think." he said, backing out of the driveway.

"Alright," she looked around as they drove, finding the town of Newport intruiging.

Kirk headed out of town, turning down a wrong road once before finding the way to Shira's house.

"Looks like no one is home," Kiron observed as she climbed from the truck.

"Yeah, I think her parents leave for work fairly early."

"Good," Kiron stood below the window, looking up at it. She ran a hand over the wall, noticing a small terrace as well.

Kirk eyed the house dubiously. "You sure about this?" he asked.

"Ok, stay where I won't fall on you, okay?" she asked grinning.

"Umm, if you don't need any help."

She took a few steps back, then a running jump that barely caught her fingers on the window sill. She pulled her self up, balancing on one hand to push the window open. Seconds later she was inside. "Be right back."

"Wow." he said to himself.

Kiron picked up her armor, sword, and set them by the window. Hoping Shirania would not mind, Kiron changed her clothing, to a khaki pair of pants and a white tank. Moving back to the wondow, she looked out at Kirk.

"Watch out," she called, first dropping the armor.

She then strapped her sword to an over the shoulder harness. Balancing on the window sill again, Kiron closed the window, leaving no sign anyone had been there. She then dropped the the ground, rolling with the impact. "Ready to go again?" she asked, stretching herself again.

Kirk merely nodded, flipping his keys out.

"Good," she picked up the chainmail, dropping it into the back of the truck before getting in.

Kirk merely raised his eyebrow at the sword and got in.

Kiron set the weapon in her lap once she was in the truck. "You remember where Kristolas lived?"

"Yeah." Kirk turned the truck expertly around.

"How are you doing with... all of this today?" she asked quietly while they drove.

"I. . I'm ok." he said after a moment.

"Are you sure?" she looked at him.

"I think so." he said evenly, smiling over at her.

----------------------

Kirk pulled the truck up to the side of the road in a suburban area of town. "Well, I think this is it." he said, shutting the engine off.

Kiron hopped from the truck, pulling her sword back on. It was reassuring to have it with her, as they approached the door. Kirk raised an eyebrow at the sword, dropping in behind Kiron. "Habit," she shrugged, then knocked on the door.
After a moment, the door opened a crack, revealing a sliver of the face they had seen the day before. "Kiron... Is that really you?"

"Last time I checked," she smiled. "Can we come in?"

"Sure, sure," he pulled to door open, allowing both to enter, then closed it again.

"Kristolas," she said finally. "You got old, old man."

"And you, miss, have not learned manners yet. How is it you are... still this young? And with a human?"

Kirk shifted awkwardly, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"I-I know how you feel about them, but Kristolas, I've told you before, they are not a sub-species. Look at the world you live in. This is my friend," she stressed the word, "Kirk. I hope you will treat him with the courtesy he deserves."

"Sir." Kirk bowed his head politely.

"I apologize, Kirk," the older elf bowed. "I'm... just not used to people of any sort any longer. No, you two are here for information on the Grinaldi, yes?"

Kirk looked over at Kiron.

"Yes, they... took someone, very important. It's not about Laira any longer," she said, flexing her wounded hand slightly.

"I've... heard rumors that they are operating from the Fornel Lawyer's building. It's in downtown Newport, I think young Kirk would know where that is."

Kirk nodded.

"And having said that, you need to change the bandages on your hand," Kristolas lead Kiron from the room, putting giving her a fresh roll of bandages. He then went back to Kirk.

"What do you intend to do once you've saved your friend?" he asked the boy, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I, umm. . I'm not sure how you mean sir." Kirk answered politely.

"Will you just leave?" he asked. "Human elf relationships are not of the pleasantly ending type. The difference in lifespans is tragic."

Kirk blushed furiously. . "I guess I hadn't thought that far ahead sir."

"Indeed," the elf's raised eyebrow though differently. "Just keep that in mind."

"Yes sir." he glanced surrepetously at Kiron.

Kiron, out of hearing distance, was carefully tying off then fresh bandage.