[OPEN] Nights are for sleeping through.

[Nou Hiroaki]

Nathan was looking straight ahead, but when he heard the fluctuation in her voice it made him look at her. She explained that maybe her parents were down there and maybe just maybe she would catch glimpse of there existence down in that mess of Heartless. Nathan's eyes showed deep sympathy for her, he was only sixteen but his little sister had given him lots of practice on being an older brother " I'm sorry bout your parents Linai. I probably shouldn't of brought that up..." he got off the ledge and step towards her a little " But for as long as I'm here. I'll be your family. " placing his thumb to his heart, he smiled " I'll be your older brother. Ok."He wanted her to understand that now she held a special place in his heart. His hand slowly approached her head, than dropped down softly. He had grown fond of her quickly. How she hadn't gotten foster parents to take her off the streets were a mystery to him. He turned back around towards the ledge and turned his head towards her " Come on. Let's see if we can see your parents. " he walked towards the ledge, looking over it.

[Linai Faela]

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/ily9eh.jpg] To be honest, Linai hadn't expected herself to get so emotional. This was just like any other visit she'd made here, only... only now there was someone to talk to. Someone she had to explain to. He was interested in her thoughts and feelings. And so she had to tell him why she came here. It was such a fruitless effort, but until she saw her parents in that crowd - felt their eyes on her, even if it was in hateful desire - she would continue to search fruitlessly. It's not like she had anywhere else to be or anything else to be doing. So why not keep looking? Why not search fruitlessly for the two people she loved more than anyone in the whole wide world, in all the worlds? What was so wrong with wanting to see and recognize the faces of those you loved? It was unlikely that she'd ever find them... it had been so long ago. Surely they would have been taken out by now. Her poor parents... Linai sniffled pathetically and looked at her toes, and she felt Nathan's gaze fall upon her. She could sense that feeling coming off of him. She could feel that sympathy that he held for her, but why was he sympathetic for her? He had no connection to her, no reason to hang around, but already Linai could tell that he was getting close to her heart. He murmured a soft apology and said he shouldn't have brought it up. A little crystal tear dripped off her long black eyelashes in the darkness, and she shook her head fiercely and insisted in a strained and quiet voice, "I-It's okay. I-I needed to talk about it anyways, someday." She heard his feet as the scuffed against the dirt, stepping away from the ledge and facing her. She kept her gaze on the toe of her boots. "For as long as I'm here, I'll be your family," Nathan said, and she looked up, eyes wide, even with the tears building up in them. He pointed to himself. "I'll be your older brother. Okay?" For several moments Linai was speechless. She didn't know what to say to this man. She had just met him, but he was already being so kind. He stepped towards her and softly rested his hand on her head, and her eyes instantly lit up, a smile growing on her face that had become slightly red with the effort of holding back the tears. His hand slipped back down to his side and he half-turned towards the ledge, beckoning her back towards it. They were going to look for her mommy and daddy together. It was still a hopeless search, Linai knew, but somehow it didn't seem so useless now. After all, out of all this had come Nathan. She shuffled back to the ledge, laying on her stomach beside Nathan, her arms folded on the ground in front of her and her chin on the back of her hands. She stared over the edge for quite a while, saying nothing, as she watched for those faces. By now it was almost dawn. Linai had been awake all night, running around with her new brother. Though she was tired, she strained to keep her pretty eyes open. The Heartless were growing even more restless as the day began to break, and Linai wondered what they would do once the sun peaked over the horizon. She wondered what she would do. Now that she had a brother, would things be different? Where would she go? What would she do? Would he want her to go with him wherever he went? Was he going to be like a father, or would he just be there when she needed him and disappear the rest of the time? She didn't know. There were too many questions, and she didn't have the energy to ask them or consider them for more than a moment. She was tired. She'd searched the endless see of faces, but mother and father were nowhere in the crowd. She couldn't feel their presence in her heart. She couldn't feel them anywhere.

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[Nou Hiroaki]

That night was as comfortable as any night he's had an awhile. Linai filled his night with good conversation and company. It caused him to grow even closer to her.They watched the heartless like hawks hoping to catch a glimpse of them looking back towards them. His eyes moved towards Linai as she laid on her stomach watching the heartless. It was hard to explain...But when he was with her, he felt like he was home. He felt warmer , stronger. They say when you have something around you to protect you become stronger, It may be true because until now he never felt like he had to carry someone around with him or that he wanted to. The hours passed by and the sun begin to creep on the horizon. He was use to nights like these so had a unusually high energy reservoir.

He contemplated what to do with Linai while he was here. It would need time to think about it. She was still a little girl and he was traveling the worlds trying to lower the increasing number of heartless on different planets. He didn't want to put her in unnecessary danger. Maybe it was best to just leave her here on this world.But still she was alone here, he didn't want her to be unprotected. It was way to much to think about for just one day. Maybe he'll come up with something later on. He looked towards Linai in notice she was little tired. Nathan stood up, wondering just how sleepy she was.

[Linai Faela]

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/ily9eh.jpg] Watching a sea of Heartless was almost as lulling as a softly murmured song from her parents. They hissed and whispered unintelligibly to one another; she could sense in them their greed and their hunger, and she could sense the emptiness, and she knew that no matter how many hearts they stole they would always be hungry and they would always need more. They would never be complete, no; they would always be empty. Nothing could really fill the void inside of them. No matter who they'd fallen in love with and no matter how many friends they had, if they saw them now they would feel no love and no affection. They'd only feel that endless hunger and that greed and that desire to steal their heart. Linai closed her eyes for what seemed like only a moment, but a sudden stirring beside her made her realize she'd been laying there for quite a while, asleep. Linai sat up and rubbed her eyes sleepily, holding back a yawn, and she said softly, "I-I couldn't find them." She sniffled once, then looked up at Nathan. He had already stood. She stood as well, and her legs wobbled beneath her. She squeaked, almost tottering over the edge, but she recovered quickly enough. Her heart beating quickly but her brain and eyes still tired, she stepped away from the ledge, turning her back to it and to Nathan. "We could, um... we could go and wander around the castle grounds," she suggested. She didn't want to seem like a puny, weary little girl in front of her big brother. She wasn't that tired...

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[Nou Hiroaki]

Nathan bent down, placing his hand on her shoulder "I'm sorry maybe next time..." after he heard her suggestion his head nodded down than back up " Why not. Let's go." It was obvious that she was tired, her legs was wobbling trying to keep up with him. Nathan started walking than realized he had no idea where this place was, he once again motioned her to lead " If you get tired. I'll carry you and you can just tell me ok" he walked behind her " Don't push yourself Linai." his voice showed the care he had for her.

[Linai Faela]

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/ily9eh.jpg] Nathan was sympathetic as she stood. His warm hand rested on her shoulders and she gave him her sweetest, softest smile, unable to muster up anything greater than a slight twitch at the corner of her lips. He suggested that perhaps they'd find her parents some other time. At this point, Linai was too tired to think past the next couple minutes, let alone in a day or two when she'd find it in herself to come back for more inevitable disappointment. But she wouldn't let Nathan know that. She was a big girl. She didn't need to go to bed early. Well, she didn't think so. Then again, this wasn't early. This was very late. She was bad at sleeping through the night tonight, apparently. Her big brother nodded at her suggestion to go explore the castle, but she could see the slight suspicion in his eyes as he said that they could go look around. Surely he knew that she was tired. But she refused to be all weak and just give up. However, as they began to walk, she found herself falling behind step by step, and eventually he noticed and he stopped, looking back at her as she wandered up beside him. She yawned as he spoke, offering to carry her if she got too tired - she wasn't that tired. That's what she told him. "I'm not tired. Really, I'm not." Another yawn and a stumble from the girl said otherwise, but she steadied herself quickly and began walking again. He followed and warned her not to push herself. As if...

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[Nou Hiroaki]

It was obvious that she exhausted. She could sleep now and they go exploring later. He walked behind her slightly smiling at her strong spirit. He sighed before walking ahead of her which didn't take much, seeing as she was already sleepy. He stopped infront of her and bent down to one knee. Nathan's back was broad and sturdy, his fist touched the ground. He had a feeling that she would try to deny his back but he hoped she would take it " It's ok Linai. I can carry you." He turned his head and smiled softly. If she hopped on he would instantly ask for the directions " So where to now?" He wanted her too sleep peacefully, so he wanted the directions now, so she could enjoy her nap. He himself was beginning to feel the infant stages of drowsiness approaching. He shook it off quickly and held her small thighs between his arms. His eyes looking straight as he waited for her answer.

[Linai Faela]

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/ily9eh.jpg] Now that she was ahead, she could tell that Nathan had to slow for her. She didn't want to be tired, but she obviously was, and he knew she was tired, but she wouldn't admit it. For several more minutes it seemed like they weren't going to get anywhere - she was going to continue being stubborn until she dropped from exhaustion. Nathan's next options proved to be fortunate, and unfortunate simultaneously; he stepped up to his normal speed, kneeling in front of her with his back towards her. She hadn't even noticed until he spoke. "It's okay, Linai. I can carry you," he said soothingly, and she stopped moving, looking at him with confusion in her eyes for a moment. Then she remembered the way her father had once carried her; he'd called it a piggy-back ride. Linai hesitated. On one hand, a large part of her wanted to argue - "No, I'm fine, I can still walk. I'm not tired at all. Really! I'm a big girl; I can stay awake." - but then there was a tiny part of her, inside her sweet little heart, that made her doubt her own words. Some part of her wanted to reminisce, to remember that feeling of being carried by someone bigger and stronger than her. Nathan could bring back some of the old, precious memories that she'd lost. All that she'd have to lose was a bit of her stubborn nature and overly-strong will. All she had to do was climb on. With a yawn, she murmured softly, "Okay," and she wrapped her arms around his neck, gripping her forearm with her hand, and wrapped her legs around his torso. Linai laid her head against the base of his neck, and for a moment she hadn't even realized that her older brother had spoken, but then she was moved back to something like consciousness to answer his question. She sighed sleepily, "All you have to do is follow this path. It'll lead you back through the town and up to the castle." Almost instantly she slipped into a light sleep, soft sighs being the only occasional sound that was made. This had been a good, good night.

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[Nou Hiroaki]

The familiar feeling of this girl laid on his back, it was like a perfect illusion of Eve herself. He held on to her tightly, hearing her soft voice tell him the directions. Her tiny head laid on his neck and his voice soft and kind responded to her " Okay Linai. Sweet dreams." His gentle smile would slowly fall to contemplation.He stared down at the path with curious eyes for a moment, his eyes following all the twist curves of the road. He sighed before beginning his long track to this castle. He traveled for a while, Linai still slept peacefully on his back, which was what he wanted. He stop countless times to get back on track, cause every now and then he would lose his way. It was obvious to them that he had never been here. He arrived at some stairs. Looking out to the distance he would see the castle. It was fairly large, it made him wonder had she explored that place before. Or was it just fascination that led her to want to go there.Well it was a beautiful place maybe she wanted to look at the sunset here. Still it was amazing that the girl walked here all alone.

[Linai Faela]

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/ily9eh.jpg] Linai didn't do much while Nathan wandered the stone paths of the city. She was unaware of how lost the man was starting to get. She was pretty much unaware of every step he took, but she knew that it was his steps that were lulling her deeper into sleep. She just clung to his back, and she didn't let go. This was the first time she'd been so near to someone since her parents had died. The memories, the instincts, all came flooding back to her; the need to hold on, even when she was asleep, remained. The smell of her parents came back, but when she woke she wouldn't remember it. Nathan was her brother. He was family. Her family. She dreamed about what it would have been like, if Nathan had been her brother from the start. Would the Heartless have taken him from Linai, too? What had been a happy dream for Linai suddenly became a whirlwind of subconscious thought, mostly fears. What if the Heartless took Nathan away from her? She'd only been able to have him for less than a day. Less than twelve hours, even. What if they stole him from her? She didn't want to be alone again. She hated being alone. She was brave and strong and smart and courageous, but she didn't even want to be alone like she had been for so long. Still, she was growing up. Eventually Nathan would leave her again, and she'd never know if he would come back. She'd be able to accept it then, wouldn't she? -- ooc ;; babbling post is made of babbling. You can make it to the castle and just, like, set Linai down in the grass to sleep or something.

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[Nou Hiroaki]

Nathan walked up a tall grassy hill that would soon reveal the castle to him and the sleeping Linai.It was nice to see that he had finally completed there journey there. His eyes turned towards Linai, and he smiled. He was happy to see that she was still asleep. He walked towards the castle and was planning on exploring it. Just to make sure it was safe for what Linai had finally awoken. Finding a pretty safe patch of grass he softly laid her down, taking off top half of his shirt for her to use as a pillow. He hadn't done much so it wasn't smelly or sweaty. He folded it up and placed it under her head. Revealing quite the skin tight black long sleeve shirt underneath. Nathan appeared skinny and flat, but in all actuality he was quite ripped and lean.

He entered the castle and stood in the entrance. He held the SunSet Ender just incase it was needed " Arn.." It was interesting, but he didn't want to leave her outside alone. He walked back out and decided to train hard until she woke. It had been a couple of hours and afterwards he decided to lay down himself. Seeing that he was quite tired. Laying closely beside her, but not at all touching her. He laid on his side, his arms acting as his pillow, his hand cuffing his head and his wrist acting as the support.

[Linai Faela]

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/ily9eh.jpg] Linai was unaware of everything; the shift in her surroundings as the man wandered, lost, the change in speed and sounds around her. She slept more peacefully than she'd slept since her parents had died. Just the feel of a warm body supporting her, a heartbeat in her ear and the sound of soft breaths too, being able to sense that this person carrying her cared... it all meant something, something more than words would ever say and a mind could ever know. They stopped as they reached their destination, and Linai stirred, a soft murmur coming from her, but she did not awaken. She still lay, peaceful on his back, as he pondered what to do. She did not know his thoughts. She knew nothing but her subtle dreams. Nathan removed her from his back carefully and laid her in a soft, cool patch of grass. Linai let out a short cry of protest as the warmth that she'd been clinging to disappeared, but she continued to sleep as though nothing had happened, her arms wrapped tightly around herself and her body curled up into a loose ball. His shirt was soon placed beneath her head and she nuzzled into it shortly after. She sighed to herself as Nathan stepped away, moving off to explore the castle with a sword in his hand. She did nothing, made no more sounds or any movements at all, as he made his way up to the front door, and he stood in the entrance. She was quiet. She was peaceful. She was happy. Still she slept soundlessly as Nathan hesitated. He didn't enter the castle. He didn't want to leave her alone. He didn't want to leave her exposed, and so she was kept in his company as he sparred with an imaginary partner in the grass of the castle, perry by perry and every oh so valuable step trained and practiced. Hours passed and still she slept hard, having not slept for such a long time. He lay beside her in the grass, on his side, and she now lay on her tummy, her arms clutching his shirt and holding it tightly. For a while he rested on the lawn, and she continued to sleep. Then the sun lay high in the sky, blinding in the daytime to which they'd slept, and she opened her eyes. She sat up and rubbed her eyes, a loud yawn escaping her. The sound of a bird chirping made her sit tall, looking around, suddenly aware. For a moment, she'd forgotten where she was and how she'd gotten here, but then she looked to Nathan, and a look of quiet understanding came over her face. Nathan. Nathan's my brother. We went to the castle to explore... The memories of the night and early morning hours came back to her, and she sat with her hands in her lap, thinking. How long would Nathan stay here on Hollow Bastion with her? She knew in her heart that someday soon she would be alone again, but when, and for how long? He'd remember her, wouldn't he? He'd come back? She didn't know. She didn't know how to know. She was afraid to ask. Oh, well. It was time to explore the castle.

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[Nou Hiroaki]

Nathan had slept for a little while but it was enough to regain the majority of his energy back. His ears heard the yawns of a small girl, it sounded like a echo from far away. The drowsiness soon wore off, and he got up. He kept a hand on his blade and yawn, stretching his one free hand in the air. A small yawn was released in his face was dressed with the hints of being tired. He looked around in a daze before noticing his shirt on the ground unused ( Did she leave?) Nathan put his shirt back on, it wasn't to hot and the breeze was making him a little chilled. He looked around for Linai hoping that she hadn't went exploring without him. Nathan walked casually up to the entrance hoping to see Linai waiting.

[Linai Faela]

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/ily9eh.jpg] Linai sat still for several moments. In the short time that she and Nathan had rested, the weather had grown a little bit chillier; a breeze had picked up, tossing her pigtails around slightly, the strands that remained against her forehead whipping around a little as well. She watched him as he slept lightly, something like fascination sparkling in her deep chocolate brown eyes. Along with her odd fascination with peoples' thoughts, she liked to watch them sleep. You were an entirely different person while asleep than you were when awake. For example, Linai was a wild, excited, adventurous person when she was awake, but when she was asleep she curled up protectively around herself as though afraid that the world was getting too close to her. You could see into someone's soul when they slept, or that's what Linai felt. She examined Nathan. There were many things she had not seen about him in the darkness of the night only a few hours ago; she looked at the rather long, thick silver hair which he sported on his head, his relatively dark skin compared to other people that Linai had seen, the way he dressed in a long black skin-tight shirt, and a sword which, even in sleep, his hand clutched the hilt of firmly. He was long and lean and handsome, and Linai wondered how he'd gotten to look the way he did and how he'd come to Hollow Bastion and how much there was about him that Linai didn't know and would likely never find the answer for, or at least not for a long time. After several minutes of watching his chest steadily rise and fall, Linai stood up, brushing the grass off of her dress and looking around. She'd been to the castle before. She'd even been her alone, on her own. But somehow, it was different. She had Nathan now - someone strong and smart and brave who wanted to protect her and keep her safe - and looking at the castle while he was asleep, and she was vulnerable, made her tremble a little. She put her hands together as though she were going to pray, holding her hands against her chest and looking all around the castle with cautious eyes. What if the Heartless found them? What if they hurt Nathan? Linai wouldn't be able to do anything about it. Well, nothing that could possibly save him if the Heartless did attack. Still... Linai wandered across the grass to the stone pathway that led up to the castle, and then she walked up to the front door. It was closed. She looked back to Nathan; he was still asleep. Afraid that opening the door would wake Nathan, she turned and walked away, wondering how much the castle had changed since she'd last seen it. Maybe there was something exciting around the back of the castle. She cast one last hesitant look at Nathan before she struck off to the back, shuffling through the grass in the opposite direction of where Nathan lay. She looked around the side of the castle before letting herself go into the open. Nothing interesting caught her eye. She made her way to the back, feeling a bit exposed now that there was no shade to hide in, and her thoughts were justified as suddenly the familiar sound that was the hissing of Shadows caught her attention. She whipped around, a quiet whimper of fear coming from her. Where were they? Her hand grabbed at a dart that was in the holster hidden up under her frilly skirt. She suddenly found herself on her belly as one of the Heartless lunged at her, coming into contact with her back and throwing her to the grass. She let out a scream and flailed her arms, smacking the creature on her back in the face; it rolled off with a low hiss, and she scrambled to her feet, suddenly surrounded. Linai yelled out, "Help!" She very much regretted leaving Nathan's side now.

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[Nou Hiroaki]

Nathan looked in the darkness of the entrance, wondering if Linai had entered. His slate grey eyes searched through the darkness, for the small figure that would be Linai. She was too sweet and fragile to be in there alone. He took a step towards the gate, when he heard Linai's voice shrill throughout the area. His dilated eyes peered around towards the direction the voice came from " LINAI!!!" Nathan rushed from the castle grounds, hopping over the ledges and back onto the field. Making his way around the Castle he would see Linai surrounded by the heartless.

His face scrunched as the image of Linai being attacked and torn apart by the heartless played through his head ( No..NO..I wont let this happen.) He sprinted towards her with speed that he usually used for reserves. Nathan wrist made simple but advance movements causing his blade to attack multiple Heartless with a single strike " Ahh!!" The volume of black smoke increased and dispersed into the air. Nathan's leg moved swiftly kicking one in the air. The SunSet Ender was sharp and strong but it wasn't until it was held in a reverse position did it show some of it's devastating power. The blade was tossed to his right hand and he begin to spin at a high enough speed that the blade's range seemed to increase, any heartless in the circumference were completely smoked and destroyed. He twirled from out the crowd of heartless and in front of Linai. His spin slowly came to in end, his grey slate eyes passing by Linai's, ending it with his back to her.

Nathan was low to the ground when he appeared to her, but at the end he stood tall and strong to her. His blade stretched out across Linai and towards the heartless like a shield. His free hand laid at his side and his eyes stared intently towards the crowd of darkness. The path he made with his sword were still clear, the heartless had yet to drown the area again. The sun had shinned on his outline "Linai..Are you okay?" He was genuinely worried about her, he cared for her like his own sister and didn't want to see her hurt. Nathan had no idea what he would've done if she was injured in anyway " Please stay close,Imma try in get us out of here.Alright." His head turned slightly towards her, he wanted her to see the confidence in his eyes.He was gonna get her out of here no matter what.