Skeleton Keys

[Ricia]

"Ba-lon-ey." Sage said slowly, pronouncing each syllable as she spoke. "We went in and out several alleyways... not through... ah... you're lying is awful." It was a few moments later that a bus was pulling up to the station. "Anyway... thanks for your help... See you tomorrow... Sanzy!" Sage said before dashing to jump on the bus and escape him before he could grab her.

 

[Ixidor92]

"You--"


Sanz didn't have any time to get the sentence out before the bus was gone. The young man shook his head and walked down the street to his 'home'. The building was fairly small. It did have a second story, but it was only large enough for two rooms. A bedroom and a bathroom. The first floor led straight into the living room from the entry way, which connected to both a kitchen and a room that must have been meant to be an office besides. Sanz had turned that into a workout room, with a few barbells and large sandbags.


"Might as well cook dinner . . ."

 

[Ricia]

The next day brought back the nuisance. Though this time she was waiting for him first thing in the morning a bit away from the school She had picked a destination that he should have been coming from. Her end goal was to figure out why he did what he did now. He just thought she was some kind of dense leech who was more popular then her own good. Sage loved it.


Sage thought about hiding and surprising Sanz, but then he might really punch her. So instead she waited inconspicuously for him out of the way from other walkers. She had every intention to walk to school with him. With or without his consent.

 

[Ixidor92]

Strangely enough, Sanz never passed through the area where Sage was waiting. Odd, since he should have had to pass through there to get to the building. He hadn't even passed when there were roughly fifteen minutes left before the first class began

 

[Ricia]

Sage let out an annoyed sigh, "He might have saw this coming!" Sage whispered to herself, "Might need to change my battle plan..." She turned to start walking to class. There was no way she'd make it in time, but she didn't much care. She had been late before.

 

[Ixidor92]

It wasn't until 40 minutes into period 1 that Sanz finally appeared. The door to the classroom opened up, and the few who turned to look instantly recognized the red hair--including the teacher.


"Young man! What on earth--do you . . ."


The teacher stopped her sentence partway through as Sanz walked to his desk in the back. There was a patch on his face just above the eye, with a clear red stain showing through, as well as a bruise on the left side of his neck. His backpack had a faded red stain on it, one could guess it was blood, quickly washed off. There were also very clear red stains on both of his knuckles.


"Don't mind me."


Sanz spoke bluntly to the teacher as he sat down, and the woman slowly started the lecture back up

 

[Ricia]

Sage was mostly in a pleasant daydream. She had been passing notes with another student when the door opened. She hid the note in a quick slight of hand so not to be seen. That was when Sanz pranced right in and sat down in the normal seat next to Sage. One good look at him Sage could only tell he was on his crusades again. When the teacher started her lecture again, Sage leaned over to whisper to Sanz. "Psst.... you should go to the nurse.."

 

[Ixidor92]

Sanz initially ignored Sage's comment, but upon feeling her gaze stay on him he let out a sigh.


"I'm not the one who needs medical attention after what happened this morning."


Yes, he had run into some trouble this morning, he didn't need to say it as everyone could guess. He also didn't need to say that one of them had brought a damn katana to the fight.

 

[Ricia]

"Hmmm that doesn't mean you shouldn't go..." Sage whispered back.


The teacher cleared her throat, "Sage is there something you want to share with the class?" She asked her.


Sage laughed a bit awkwardly and straightened up, "Ah no. I apologize for disturbing your class." Sage picked up her pencil and took the stance like she was going to take notes again. The teacher seemed like that was enough before they began the lecture for the second time.

 

[Ixidor92]

Sanz sat through class rather quietly after that, not responding to Sage's comment at all. Come lunch he immediately left for the same quiet spot he had found in the courtyard yesterday. God-willing that bint of a boy would not find him here.

 

[Ricia]

Lucky for him, Sage was unable to find him. She told herself she will find his hidey hole! If not today... tomorrow! Or... eventually. Damn him. You can't hide from me forever Sanzy! Sage thought to herself as she went to go participate in lunch with a few of her 'friend'.


Sanz however was followed to his dismay. The person who followed him was about 5'3 and rather quite. She took a deep breath, ready to approach what she assumed could be a possible delinquent. However her moral code could not ignore those who were hurt. Thus she had to be brave! Well attempt to be brave. "Um... Excuse me." She said clearing her throat lightly. She stood timidly away from him, in her hand looked to be a small first aid kit. Her hair was braided in a couple of twin tails and a pair of glasses sat on the bridge of her nose. As far as Sanz could tell, she wasn't really in any of his classes.

 

[Ixidor92]

Sanz's ears twitched at the approaching footsteps, and he half-expected blue-gay-boy to show up. However, the voice that greeted his ears was definitively NOT that of Sage's. In fact, it was so quiet he had to strain himself to hear it fully. The young man turned around, only to be greeted by one of the smallest women he'd ever seen, at least that was in high school. Her shoulders were slightly scrunched, and her head was down, almost as if she was trying to retreat from the sight in front of her. He also couldn't help but notice she was carrying a first aid kit


"What?"


Sanz narrowed his eyes into a glare and put some venom into his voice. He couldn't accept help from this girl, not from anyone

 

[Ricia]

His tone made her physically flinch. She seemed easy enough to scare off if he really tried. "Um... You're hurt." Rhea tried to say. She felt a bit dumb saying it. It was like telling him the sky was blue. He knew he was hurt, she didn't have to point it out to him. "I would like to help. Please... please don't say no." Rhea almost begged before he could shoo her away. She had a feeling he was going to try anyway. Persistence... persistence...

 

[Ixidor92]

Sanz had to raise an eyebrow at the dichotomy that was happening before his eyes. People usually became uncomfortable or frightened around him, but not so much that they would jump from just one word. Yet, she seemed persistent enough to try and help him with his wounds. Sanz let out a sigh and leaned back against the grass, waving a hand dismissively


"I don't need to be looked at. Most of the bloodstains aren't even mine."

 

[Ricia]

"Just... just one look and i'll leave you alone..." Rhea promised him. She fidgeted with the box a little, opening it up to pull out a small eye dropper of water and some gauze. She seemed to approach him a bit more, but almost with extreme caution. Kind of like a deer. The fact he didn't yell at her was lightly reassuring.

 

[Ixidor92]

Sanz let out a slow breath and pondered his options. He cold just push the girl away, but she seemed to be a little too insistent for just a light push to work. He could scare her witless . . . but with someone so gentle the idea abhorred him. Of course he could . . .


"If you leave immediately afterward I'll relent. Just don't expect this to be a regular thing."

 

[Ricia]

Rhea let out a soft breath of relief, "Ok.. I promise I'll leave.." With his consent, Rhea kneeled next to him in the grass before timidly brushing the hair away from his forehead. With that she took the small bottle of water and placed a few drops on the gauze before quietly dabbing away the blood. She was trying to be gentle so not to hurt him in anyway. With a bit of the blood out of the way she assessed the injury.

 

[Ixidor92]

Sanz closed his eyes and let the woman do her work. Her hands moved quickly but gently, as if she was afraid of causing more damage. The injury itself was a simple cut over his left eye. It wasn't bleeding profusely, but it was bleeding consistently. It was also a very clean cut, like it had been made with a scalpel or some other kind of precision blade.

 

[Ricia]

Rhea deemed it not deep enough for stitches. It was cut so nicely that it would heal just as nice. "Its not too deep... a couple of butterfly bandages should work fine... but we need to stop the bleeding first." She folded up a clean gauze and then put it on his forehead before applying pressure there and just held it quietly. She hopped the prolonged touch didn't irritate him. To be honest she didn't expect an answer from him. She just told him what her conclusion was from looking him over.

 

[Ixidor92]

Sanz gave a "hmph" of recognition at Rhea's appraisal, though he didn't actually say anything. Whoever she was, this woman seemed to have both knowledge and skill when it came to injuries. Was she planning on going into medical school? Or did she just have practical experience from other experiences? It was difficult to say right now, but she was very good at what she was doing.

 

[Ricia]

Rhea and Sanz proububly sat in a serene silence for an undefined amount of time. The likely hood was for a good portion of lunch. Rhea sat quietly, her legs on either side of her. The skirt she wore flowed over her thighs. She didn't seem to look at Sanz, if anything she kind of avoided it. She didn't want to set him off, her thoughts were still sure he was dangerous. Instead she looked elsewhere. Somewhere in the distance, off school ground, her mind pondering.


Soon she pulled the gauze from Sanz's forehead before dabbing at it lightly with the wet one. When she seemed satisfied, she dried the spot and turned to pull out a couple of the butterfly bandages. She leaned a bit close to him while applying the bandages, trying to make sure she put them on right. When she was done, she closed up the box and wrapped the two bloody gauze in each other to go throw away.


Almost jumping she grabbed the box in her hand before practically running away from Sanz as promised.

 

[Ixidor92]

Sanz opened his eyes just in time to catch the fleeing form of the young woman. True to her word, she had left immediately


"Heh, now if only a certain blue haired bastard would be as cooperative."


Noticing the time, Sanz realized he had roughly ten minutes to finish up the lunch he had made that morning


"Shit."


He wolfed down the food as fast as he could before standing up to head back to the classroom. Without the throbbing over his left eye, the acts of seeing and thinking were much less irritating

 

[Ricia]

When he got back to the classroom, Sage was already there, though not at her desk. She seem to be babbling away with a few other students. She wasn't overly loud, so it was not like she could be heard above the rest of the chattering class.

 

[Ixidor92]

The rest of the day went by largely without incident. However, the last hour of class for Sanz was not spent focusing on the lesson, but rather forming a battle plan in his head. He had no doubt Sage would try and follow him again. He needed to get out of the school as quickly as possible. As soon as the bell rang, he was already out of his chair and briskly walking through the halls

 

[Ricia]

As soon as the bell rang, Sage turned to talk to Sanz with the usual smile on her face.... but the bastard wasn't there. "What the hell?!" She exclaimed. She turned to see him already rushing for the door. Sage quickly looked back to her desk and started to stuff things in her bag. Crumpled notes and all before slinging the shoulder pack over her head and dashing out the door to follow Sanz.