((Ha ha, that's fine. Sorry for my delayed replies. I'm currently coloring Melik in Photoshop and texting my boyfriend. lol))

Adonia nodded in agreement, realizing the truth in his statements, "I think he'll be back. And possibly before we actually finish eating." Her eyes were searching everywhere and she listened to the things behind her. " I know a good place for sushi, or at least it was last time i was there. " She would glance at him out of the corner of her eye every once in awhile as they walked, "So why were you acting earlier?" She was curious, after all now that he wasn't acting he actually seemed to be an incredibly warm hearted guy.

"When you can't trust a person in the world, you get cold hearted with new people, but you give off good vibs and I don't think you will run off on me" Zenfoid smiled "and to tell you cause I know you were wondering. I lost control and killed a man with my bare hands about five years ago, and i just got out a month ago"

Memories flashed before Eleanor as the guy talked to her. Did she want to be alone? She didn't know, she did know that she didn't want people to get hurt. She couldn't stand the sight of it anymore. Not after, after they killed him. She wouldn't let anyone know that she had fallen in love with her protector, that was just not done. He had agreed to help her locate her family. That is what they were going to do together. He did everything he could to save her from anything and anyone that threatened to harm her, he did his job almost too well.

"If you really want to you can stay," she said quietly not really knowing what she wanted at this point. He was being nice though, he couldn't turn him down because of it. "But if things get bad, please, run, leave me while you have the chance." She looked up at him for the first time since he had said something to him. Her eyes were pleading, the memories were on repeat in her head.

She just wanted to run though, be alone to sulk in those memories. That was how she lived so long, she ran, always ran. At least that is what she thought. What would her old protector think of her now? She had changed so much in those few short weeks. She was on the verge of tears now, but she refused to show it. People didn't need to worry about her. It was not their job. It was no one's at this point.

((Well you get to go home at least! I'm getting distracted by every little thing XP Heck, I just got done making homemade hot chocolate!))

"You sure you need to be a candidate for protection? I'd say if you can kill someone with your bare hands you are pretty well off." She returned the smile, "And no, I'm not going to run off on you."

(oh don't worry. i seem to be having a hard time concentrating today to. but its also a snow day so... XD entire campus was closed!! woot woot!)

Melik looked up at the girl. He smiled. "Please don't hate me...."

He embraced her. Holding her in his arms, he stroked her hair. "You know, you don't have to hold back your tears. If you need to cry, cry." He lifted her chin to make sure she was okay.

"If you ever need someone to talk to, I am here. Like I said, I know your pain. Well, I don't know it per-say, but I've been where you are right now." He ruffled her hair and moved her away from where others could see them. "Not trying to seduce you or anything," he added with a snicker, "I figured you wouldn't want people to see your getting all soft. Or, perhaps... teary."

He hoisted Eleanor up onto a ledge that overlooked the town. Carefully, he placed her on his lap.

"This place is kinda big. A guy could get lost around here."

His eyes widened. "Shoot! I forgot to fill out that paperwork Adonia was talking about." Melik looked at Eleanor. "I think paperwork can wait some more, right?" He teased and blew her hair aside. "If you continue to be this dreary, I will have no choice but to tickle you!" He laughed, only to return back to his calm and serious state.

Melik pulled her hair back. "Can I get you anything? Or help you find something? I seemed to have acquired a lot of money, so if you need help finding somethi... someone?" He was reading her eyes, watching where there appeared to be movement. "So you're looking for someone. Who? Your... your family?"

He went quiet.

"I never knew my parents. It would have been nice to know them, but they say, what you didn't have can't be missed. So I can't really say I miss them since I never met them. It's got to be really hard to know your parents and have them disappear on you. I'm not even sure I could imagine what it's like."

His eyes were watering. Melik looked at Eleanor. "Ummm, so, let's not talk about sappy stories! You need to get a smile on that cute face of yours!" Melik tickled the girl. "Come on, let me here you laugh!"

----------

((And lucky! We still have college! But we're on finals week... so we really can't close. But the weather is nasty here. :\ We never get snow days. lol. That's my school for you. XD))

Zenfoid laughed, "YEah but i was in a blind rage, I am not stable" The two of them rounded the corner and kept walking.

((DAMN BRAIN CRAP))

(( anyone know if althazar is on yet? i would like to start with him since hes my "protector" and everything. ))

Eleanor just looked at the ground through everything at this point. He was trying, really hard, and yet she couldn't really feel anything execpt the pain of those memories. She then slowly shook her head at what he said, "I don't smile anymore." Letting out a slow sigh she looked out at the people that were bustling around the city.

"They leave me alone for the most part then," she said nodding toward them.

"Sure the mean ones are meaner, but other usually mean people can't bare to do or say anything cruel to me. It keeps them away. Like people should be." Taking a deep breath she looked at the guy whom she still didn't know and said,

"I'm fine, really. Whatever I need they give me. The usuals do at least. I don't want you getting pulled into my problems." She didn't mean for it to sound as mean as it probably did so she added,

"Everyone that tries to help, they don't last long." She then looked out at the people. The people that just didn't seem to care what was going on with anyone, or even events of the town. She watched them often. They seemed happy, a lot of them did at least. With loved ones and families. Eleanor didn't know why she did things to cause herself more pain, she just, did.

((My boyfriend had a snow day today but my college is still open. I just only have classes Tues and Thurs. And go figure, it seems any snows days that there are fall on any other day!))

((He's online, I'll go yell at him!))

"You seem stable enough to me." She replied kindheartedly, and she meant it to. There are alot more people out there that are far less sane than you.

(( yay! yelling! XP 'kay, thanks SMG! ))

Melik shook his head. "Fine, don't smile." He teased. "And death doesn't really bother me. I'm okay with dying. I have lived a wonderful life, and should someone take it away, I will not complain." He patted her head.

He looked over his shoulder. "I believe my friends are almost at the restaurant. Would you like to join us, or shall I leave you for now?"

He looked at her. ''Here, take this. It'll help me find you faster." He handed her a small glass ring. "Don't worry, it won't chip or break." He patted her head. "I shall see you later, miss." He bowed and vanished.

---

"What?!?! You were going to eat without me?!" Melik attacked Zenfoid and Adonia.

"Look, I got myself a Big Kids meal!" Melik grinned. "I'm not a Happy Meal kinda guy. But Big Kid meals, those are the shiznet."

He looked at the two of them. "What? Can't a ninja do as he pleases? Oh, and just to make sure you two don't try and ditch me again...."

Melik gave Adonia a devilish grin.

CLICK!

Melik looked at Adonia. "There, I handcuffed this lovely miss to myself. So if you try and run off, well, you'll be protectorless." Melik smiled. "Don't worry, I'll unlock us," he finished with a mumble, "once I remember where I put the key."

He have a sheepish look. "Heh."

((Haha yelling is good here then? XP))

Just like that he was gone, Eleanor stared at the air for a moment before looking at what was placed in her hand. It was a glass ring, how was a glass ring supposed to do anything? She inspected closer before putting it to her ear and shook it, nothing. With a shrug she shoved it into her pocket and hopped off the wall. Watching the people for a moment longer she stepped into an oncoming wave and fell into step with them. They ignored her for the most part which was good. It was time for the usual routine.

In a fast flash of movement Adonia flipped Melik over and pinned him to the ground using is own hands. "Seriously kid, I need that, it's not smart." She rumamged through his pockets until she pulled out a key, refusing to be disgusted by what she thought she felt in there that wasn't metallic and small. She unclicked the cuffs and than helped him to his feet.

"Now if you were really worried about us eating without you." She smirked, "you wouldn't have gone off to try to prove your a big boy."

She straightened back up and looked at Zenfoid, "Shall we?" She was all smiles. As they walked by a stall on the street she placed a coin down and took a handful of something which she slid into pockets in her dress that weren't obviously pockets.

Melik rolled his eyes.

Behaving himself, he followed behind the two. His reddish-brown eyes were fixed on them. He was rather pissed.

He'd finally had enough. He stopped walking, and his hair fell forward into his face. Melik wasn’t one to get pissed easily, but, when offended, he would not let it go.

“You know, you think you’re tough and all, and you think you’re all high and mighty just because you’re a protector, but you’re really nothing at all.” Melik’s words were hollow and harsh. “You are but a mere protector. You might be strong, but you’re lacking a heart. That’s what this whole damn town is lacking. Have you no passion at all? Or must you keep up this lousy act of being tough? If tough if the norm, then I will rebel. If I die, I’ll die trying to change this place. Isn’t that something worth fighting for? Doesn’t that mean more than just a pathetic title? I might be labeled as a ‘subject,’ but everyone is in control of his or her own fate. Should I want to end my life, no protector could stop me. I do what I want, when I want. I serve no one but myself. I’m not selfish. Selfish is quite the opposite. You see, you’re the selfish one. You think you have it tough, try living in my shoes. You haven’t even seen what the real world is like.”

Melik moved over behind Zenfoid. He placed a blade at his neck. “If I wanted to, I could kill your precious little pawn. But you see, it would leave you without a job, and me without a friend. Zenfoid here seems to be the only one to understand, that is, if I’m correct to assume you get me.”

Melik leapt up on top a low roof. “I don’t mean to sound arrogant and harsh, but do you really know what you want to do with your life? Don’t you want to be free? To do as you wish? Or do you really want to be bound by your society’s rules? Rules like these are what hurt people. You can’t live if you don’t try to experiment and play. If you don’t try, you’ll never know if you’re a success or a failure. And not knowing which you are means you have no purpose. You’re just a nobody. Can you really live a life like that? I for one cannot.”

His eyes became less harsh as he started to calm down. “I’ve been around longer. I’ve seen more things that you’ll ever see. I’ve traveled with death and I’ve started death in the eyes. But that doesn’t mean anything. It just means I’ve experienced more. I’m neither a success nor a failure. I am only me.”

He peered around at his surroundings. “If you can’t respect your elders, than I have no interest in helping you two out.” Melik flipped into the air, and then vanished, but only to reappear in front of them.

“If you two don’t hurry up, you’ll starve yourselves to death.” Melik winked and waited for the two to catch up. He sighed, having a bad feeling that everything he just said went right over their heads. It was annoying to be freakishly smart.


((Wah! Sorry for writing sooooo much. If you couldn't guess, I love writing. Ha ha ha. And Melik, being a logical intelligent guy, has moments where he'll spill out random speeches relating to success, failure, life, and passion. He's a bit of a weirdo, but he values life and freedom. I kinda wish one of my other OCs was here. He can usually counter Melik. But oh well. Lol.))

( and where he's completely wrong.... *twitch*)

Zenfoid just kept walking, "Just because you are a friendless blite on society does not mean you know jack shit. Also if we control our own desteny you have no right to kill me by your own rules you little tiny punk." Zenfoid turned and glared at Milek "Oh yeah you have been around longer and no protector can help you, because no prtoector would want to. So you can take your friendless life and useless rants and find somebody who cares."

Melik stepped back and frowned. "Very well."

With that, he vanished.

---

Landing near the moving crowd, Melik stepped into place. Weaving his way around the mob of people, he found his target - Eleanor. Keeping just slightly behind her, he followed her around. Hmmmm, I wonder where she is off to.

He drew closer to her. A smirk came over him as he suddenly tugged her aside. "I'm sorry to interrupt you miss, but I seek your help." Melik got down on a knee again. "I seemed to have upset my friends by speaking my mind. I'm alone now, and... and I was hoping, that maybe I could stay with you. I've... I've never been very good on my own." Melik looked up at Eleanor with watery eyes. "I promise I won't bother you while I accompany you on your journey."

Melik looked back at the ground. He hated being alone. It was the one thing he couldn't stand, and yet, he always ended up alone.

Zenfoid muttered "good ridence, you still hungry?" he asked Adonia. He held up the money and smiled, he had gotten rid of the pest and kept the money for sushi

Eleanor cocked a brow as she was forced to stop in the moving crowd. He was back, and people around them were not happy that she was stopping people. "Just because you're different doesn't mean that you can do whatever you want," some people sneered as they walked by, well at least along the lines of that.

She ignored them this time as she thought, So I shake the ring and he eventually appears? She then realized that he had asked her a question. "Um, if you really want to I guess. But don't you have paper work to fill out? For a protector?" That last question was asked in a sullen tone, but she fought away the images this time. She was in public, most people wouldn't want to put up with a sulking and upset test subject. They were perfect, they couldn't get sick or diseases and people resented that.

Melik looked up at Eleanor. "What is this paperwork you keep talking about? And do I really need a protector? Can't I just share yours?" He paused, "Oh...wait, you don't have one yet." He frowned. "Well," he said grabbing her hands, "we can be partners for now."

He raised his right pinky finger. "I, Melik Tasee, promise to be your best friend from here on out. And, since you don't want me to die, I'll make sure I run away if anything terrible is to happen to us. I will keep you company and help you find the strongest and bestest of all the protectors in the land. And once we find you an awesome protector, you can have your way with me. I can either leave, or continue to help you." Melik smiled and waited, hoping she would except his promise.

As he waited, he thought about a million questions he wanted to ask her. One ended up slipping out, "What is this talk about being a subject... and... different." Melik blushed. "Heh, I wasn't supposed to ask that aloud. My bad."

He wanted to help her find a new protector. Eleanor just stared at him for a moment. No emotions plauged her face, she just stared as she let him finish talking. She then lowered her head and shook it slightly. "I don't want a new protector," she whispered. "I lost mine, I can't get a new one, I already know that. The government can't grant me a new one, I was notified of this. You can stick around if you want though."

His question then swam through her mind and she looked at him like he was crazy. "You seriously don't know what you are?" She didn't wait for him to answer. She reached foward and lightly gripped the familiar fabric that was his cloack. "This," she said as she opened it enough to see his name in it. "This cloak marks you as a test subject. You're one of the people that the government got its hands on and tested on. They put something in you. I don't know what, but whatever it is people want it. The 'race' wants it. That's why are protectors are of that kind. They are the only things that can hurt them. Believe me, I know why..." Her voice then trailed off as her thoughts drifted.

Quickly getting back on track she pulled her cloak open so 'Eleanor Duboi' was exposed for him to read. "I'm one too, I already had my protector. You need yours yet from the sounds of it."

Melik looked at the jacket. "But, but this..." Melik looked up at Eleanor. "Like I said, I found it. I have no idea how my name is in this." He frowned. "I'm sorry if I deceived you, but I literally found it. I-I-I didn't even know my name was on it."

Shivering, he took back his hand. "And why don't you want a new protector? Just because you lost yours doesn't mean you shouldn't get a replacement. Now, I know they can't replace your old partner, but... there is nothing wrong with getting a new friend." He smiled. "I'm sure you're important so they should be more than willing to get you a new guy."

He paused to think.

"And ummmm, if you can't get a new one... how about sharing mine? I wouldn't mind sharing!" Melik took Eleanor's hand. "Come on, I'll fill out my paperwork and we can be a team! Doesn't that sound better than being a loner?" Melik was beaming now. "Please!"

With his right hand, he ran his fingers across his name. "A test subject? So... I'm... I'm an experiment? Meaning, if they wanted me to be... super cute, they injected me with super cute genes?" Melik smiled. "I must have been injected with ubb cuteness!"

He stopped joking. "And only protectors can hurt us?" He was a bit confused. "I think I misunderstood you. Ha ha. My bad. So you're saying that we're a new 'species' and we need protecting. So we're each assigned a protector. And we're often hunted and targeted because other people, bad people, want to know what our powers are. And... they are hoping they can recreate the experiment or maybe steal our powers away?

Melik rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Information overload!"

He smiled as he tried to sort things out in his head. "Oh, and nice to met you miss Eleanor Duboi." He placed a kiss on her hand.

"So Eleanor-sama, will you follow me on this journey? And shall we become a team?" With an arm around her neck, he waited for her to answer.

Eleanor shook her head and said, "Most never really know what they are until someone tells them. It wasn't chance that you found that. Either you got out or they let you out and left you with that, you just don't remember or something."

Hearing what Melik had to say about her protector and how she could always get another one, or how they could share, she instantly pulled her hand out of his. "You don't understand," she practically yelled at him. This cause the people around them to put more distance between themselves and the group. "My protector isn't one that can be replaced," she said quieting down a bit, but her eyes held hurt tears of the past and anger for what he had said. "We can't just share that isn't allowed! What happens if we're both caught and your protector has to choose? They won't be able to save both of us and they are assigned to you, they'd have to pick you and that would leave me in the hands of them." She then shook her head trying to calm down. Pulling away from him she said, "That is why I've been alone. I don't want to risk anyone losing anything. I don't want to run into them again."

She then turned around to take a deep breath to keep the tears from coming. "Only the 'race' can hurt themselves. Modern weapons can't and I've seen them try." Looking back she said, "From what the tv and newspapers say we were supposed to be some sort of medical 'cure all' break through. There just wasn't enough money to finish that project of train enough people to protect all of us and replace those that fall."

Melik frowned. "I'm sorry." He put his hand out to touch her, but he didn't have the heart.

He sunk back into an alley. He found a place to sit down.

Fumbling with his name tag, he got frustrated. He ripped the name from the jacket. Taking out his kunai, he ripped the jacket. He didn't care about the rules.

He ran over to a merchant stand a bought some clothing. He removed the jacket and dressed in his new fishnet attire. Cutting off the lower half of the jacket as well as the major length of the sleeves, he put the uniform back on. Next, he unlatched the belt bulk, and threw it around his torso. He re-latched it. Then, he put on the reddish-orange elbow-high gloves.

Once finished with his upper attire, he moved to his lower dress. He torn his white pants, and exposed the fishnet pants below. He removed the worn sneakers, and placed the orange-ish sandals on his feet.

Taking his knife, he cut off some about five inches of his rusty-colored hair.

He stepped back over to where Eleanor was.

"Well, it was nice meeting you. And thanks for filling me in with the facts. I can tell you don't want me. So I'll be leaving now. Good luck."

With that, he vanished.

---

He now stood before the main building. He exhaled and walked in. "Ummm, excuse me, I need to fill out some paperwork. Could you help me out?"