XMAS - An Orphan's Christmas [Flame/Vio/Gaz]

[Flame]

SPOILER: Click to show

Vio Kami-Gaz If you have a better name please re-name

A blanket of snow, likely at least a foot deep at the lightest point covered the island. It rolled over the island, dunes of it like sand in a desert rose and fell with the wind. Above it iced over buildings stood like islands themselves in the ocean of snow. And above them yet was the blizzard. Heralded by the storm clouds which hung over the island it screamed and swirled as it beat against the buildings. The winds carrying the mess of snow flakes danced between buildings. As if drawing outlines against the dark backdrop of the island those flakes formed white lines. They flew upwards and downwards surfing the air currents.

All that and more was visible if only barely from this. This frosty window, one of many dotting this large, aging stone building encased in snow and ice. On a nicer day than this the front of it would read The Karakuri Institute for Abnormal and Unwanted Children, or the Orphanage. But today it was invisible, today the children that would normally dance and play in the yard were inside. They were here, in the building. Their energy pulsated through what would have otherwise have been a rather cold building. For those who worked at the institute, having them all in here was too much. On any other day it would have been a piece of cake, this was what they were used to. But today? No today was different, today the children who were usually at a 9 were at a 15. Their exuberance nearly doubled by the promise of what the night to come had to offer. After all, it was the most wonderful time of the year, that's right, it was Christmas Eve.

The power of youth coursed through the building, even as midnight inched closer hour by hour. The workers and orderlies were as excited as the children. Those orderlies were exhausted, chasing after kids who bounced across the halls of the institute like gangbusters. The thought of their work for the day finally ending was a godsend. They like the children had only moments left to wait. But until them the little rascals, those orphans ran wild. Their voices echoed throughout, loud and exuberant, the sound of their feet pounding against the floors seemed to shake the building. These kids were ready, the promise of Santa Claus, presents under the large tree in the main hall, it was all they needed.

In the library, if it could be called that, a pair of children ran about chasing each other among stacks of old worn out books. First one chasing the other then their roles reversing. Like little rockets they danced across crooked tables dodging from one another as endless bundles of energy. The taller one, if only by a little was a boy. He glanced behind him eyeing his chaser as he swept by another stack of books executing his best pinwheel turn as he tried to zigzag his way around the stack to evade his pursuer.

CRASH

The boy slammed into another, this one much smaller than him had been sitting at a chair, a large book laid out before him. The pair toppled to the floor as the pursuing child reeled up behind them. The sound of aching children softly echoed in the so-called library. The pursuing child stopped, glancing down at the two as they lay their the wide smile across his face stymied for a moment. Before he bent down slightly touched his hand against the leg of his prey and then began to dash away. The running child's voice echoed from behind him, it was filled with excitement and not a moment's remorse. "You're it!"

Back at the pile the larger boy was picking himself up. He stood up glancing back at the smaller boy who was still disoriented as he lay on the floor the large book on top of his chest nearly obscuring it from view. The boy glanced at the other and shook his head, before grabbing the younger one by his shoulders and lifting him to his feet again. The younger said nothing only glancing with a slightly annoyed face at the older. "You'll be fine, don't worry about it." Said one to the other. A friendly hand brushed a little dirt from the younger one. "I gotta go, got a game of tag to win ya know!" The older one started off down the hall. But then he paused for a moment glancing back at the small boy who stood there still, he looked a little dazed.

"You really should stop staring at those books, Kano." He smiled and ran off in pursuit of his victory once again. Leaving Kano there standing next to the large book he had been reading in peace only moments ago. At his feet a book called Stars and the World Above lay binding upwards. He bent down and picked it up brushing off the weathered book's cover. And in a voice that apart from its high pitched youth seemed more mature than one could imagine Kano said "What a pair of idiots." He shook his head from side to side, his golden hair shaking from side to side. It was still short and stood up on his head.

Then as he was about to get back to his book a bell rang. It echoed through out the building. Signifying only one thing, bed time. Lights out. "Guess I'll get to you in the morning." Kano squeaky voice said with a sigh. He put the book down upon the table and trudged off towards the room he shared with another pair of kids. "What are they so excited about, its only Christmas."

SPOILER: Click to show

I hope you like my little twist, 5yo Kano is gonna be interesting :]. Thought it'd be funny if 5yo Kano was sane, a little stuffy, and not yet the reckless dreamer that he one day becomes.

[Kami-Gaz]

With the excitement of Christmas eve in the air the orphanage was more lively than ever as bedtime rolled up. The kids in the library who were playing tag ran out into the corridor and into another room where an orderly had to nimbly dodge out of the way as they tore through the bedroom, wanting to keep their little game up until the absolute last second. With a little dace as the older woman spun around trying to not drop the young baby that was in her arms she would shoot them a look of ‘you’re so in trouble’ but in the spirit of Christmas she would just laugh and shake her head before heading to the light switch.

“Is e’eryone here? All ready to put you wee heads down so Santa can bring you all presents for in the morning?” She asked, an exited smile plastered on her face to help the kids who were on their bunks. The mental head count she was doing was falling short a few of the little tykes, a common occurrence on most nights, some of the kids would hide to try and stay up past their bed time. “Alright, a few more minutes while I go and put little Suzie here in her bed, I will even add a bed time story~” The woman with dull brown eyes announced as she turned around to leave the large dormitory.

In the other room a small group of the of the older children were sat in a circle talking and having a laugh, remembering old Christmases and funny things that they had seen. Sat in the lap of one of the older girls was what can only be described as a ball of cuteness wrapped in adorable and fluffiness. A small girl who would barely get to the orderlies knees in height, she wore a T-shirt that was way to big for her and hung below her own knees. The long purple haired young half mink was sat in the girls lap, her large fluffy ears were being petted and the tail that was as long as she was tall and as fluffy as a real life puppies was being stroked by another girl who was sat to the side.

This little girl no older than five was emitting a subtle pink glow, it was a happy glow as she sat there listening to the big kids and the stories she didn’t really understand but she laughed along with them when they laughed. She herself really being to young to remember much of her own experiences. “So Kit, are you expecting anything good from Santa this year?” Asked a buy who was sat by the window watching the little wolf girl get her ears petted.

Looking at him with a small pudgy face filled with concentration she would think, think harder than she has ever done in her small little life. Then suddenly with the biggest grin on her face she would beam out “I hope he bwings me a family!” With those words the hearts of the girls in the room melted for this little girl. There was a universal “Naaaaaw!” That filled the room and got her a great big hug before the Orderly walked by and noticed Kit sat there. “Come on, Kit has to go to bed with the other wee ones now. You can all play tomorrow.”

With a little shuffling later Kit was left to her own devices, stood up and slowly walking out of the room and into the corridor where the ceiling was high and the distance she had to walk on her little legs massive. “I can do it! I’m a big wittle girl!” She told herself as she started to walk forwards… then run. As she kept advancing forwards she would eventually get to the bed room door, but not with letting her forwards foot get caught in the oversized shirt she was wearing making her fall face down with a loud crash!

Everyone who had not fallen asleep yet would poke their heads up and look over to the girl who was lying face down in the doorway, wondering if she was alright. Some of the more mischievous kids would giggle knowing what was about to happen. Kit katherines sat up and rubbed her small button nose, the redness on her face evidence enough that she was upset, hurt but soldiering on. “Oooooo~pssy I fwell…” She said before giggling to herself and getting up again to carry on the pitter patter of her tiny feet towards the far end of the room by the window, where he bed was positioned.

Crash! She hit the floor again… this was a common thing for the little puppy called Kit Katherines, or as most of the kids called her Sparkles.

[Vio]

1

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^Crash!

^Thump!

^Bang!

“Nnn…” Despite the hour fast approaching, the orphanage seemed more awake than ever. There was no denying that a sense of excitement and anticipation filled the air, for that was the norm on the Eve of Christmas. However, one little well-behaved girl was not exactly enthralled by the fun and games that many other kids played. Perhaps well ahead of her chaotic companions, she had already retreated to the relative comfort of the bedrooms, sat upon the bunk’s edge with her legs dangling over and awaiting their curfew. It was already dark outside, snow packing itself upon the window’s ledge as icicles hung from the overhang. Even the subtlest of light made the outside world – cold and harsh in this time of year – luminesce in entrancing ways.

^{“Mei-Mei-chan~!”}

^{“Wa–ah…!”}

Thwomp! All of a sudden, the youngster’s face had been met with an unidentified flying object of the fluffy variety. A stray pillow had found its way across the room and smack bang into the nose of one Bai Meifeng, snapping the five-year-old out of her trance and replacing sparkling white with warm black. Hastily recovering from the impact, she tossed the offending cushion onto the floor and searched for its all but innocent origins. There was only one girl in the orphanage as bold as to toss a pillow in the face of Bai Meifeng. Actually, there were probably several, but the juvenile Jane liked to believe that she was above the rest. Nonetheless, her blue eyes could not find the source of attack, even after scouring the room.

“I know it’s you, Yanmei,” she announced knowingly.

^{“No you don’t!”}

^{“Nnn – Then who else would it be!?”}

“Maybe it was Kano-kun~?” the phantom voice quizzed. A clear look of disgruntlement upon her fair façade, Bai clambered down from her bed, her legs moving rather precariously as her toes searched for the solid flooring below. In all honesty, her bed was not all that far from the ground, but the girl with snow-coloured hair was not exactly very gifted in terms of stature. Compared to most of the establishment’s inhabitants, she was actually one of the smallest. With anything but the grace her looks seemed to suggest, she waddled towards the next bed and checked the other side. There was nobody there.

“Kano doesn’t throw pillows, silly! He’s always reading those books,” Meifeng answered matter-of-factly, this time on all fours and peering beneath the bed. Sapphire hues squinted through the shadows, seeking their quarry, but found naught but the silhouette of a teddy bear that had been stowed under there at some point. Pulling her head out, she caught a brief glimpse of something black and glossy moving at the other side of the room – her target had been sighted!

^{“Ooh~!” the voice teased:
“Maybe it was Kit, then!”}

“Nnn – No…,” the baby bounty hunter grunted. Tiptoeing her way across the room, albeit faltering once or twice thanks to her own horrendous footing, Little Mei moved quietly back towards her own bedding. As gently as she could, she pushed her back against the footboard, shimmying along to the frame’s corner and taking a deep breath before breaking cover. “Got y– Huh…?”

^{“Mm… Nope you don’t!”}

She must be hiding under the bed then… Once more, the girl in royal red pyjamas dropped down to all fours and peered into the obscurity of the underside of the bed – this time her own. From head to foot she searched the shadows, but saw nothing that even vaguely resembled a human being in size and shape. The closest comparison was a sock puppet, its button eyes a gleam upon its stripy body. Confused, Mei-Mei pulled herself back out a bit and glanced sideways towards the open bedroom door, but her view was obstructed by something rather large and round. A cheeky face stared back at her with eyes of dark jade, pink tongue poking out from between its lips as it hung there, upside down, at an extremely uncomfortable proximity of about a finger’s length.

“Ew! Nnn – Don’t lick me!” Miss Bai recoiled. Yanmei, her dark hair hanging like drapes as she balanced herself on the bed’s edge, giggled. The ring of the bell interrupted the girl’s laughter, replacing her cheery visage with an altogether more annoyed frown. The fun was over, but both girls’ faces soon lit up again. The day might have been a fun one, but the morrow would bring all manner of new wonderments! Turning to their beds respective, both Meifeng and Yanmei looked at one another. The latter broke the shuffling with a whispered and mischievous statement:

^{“Mei-Mei… I’m going to try and catch Santa!”}

^{“Nnn,” Meifeng shook her head:
“You’ll never do it…”}

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SPOILER: Click to show

{OOC}

omehow I ended up making young Meifeng a sort of childish snob, with a sort of princess complex? Either way, I’ve also cameo’d her childhood friend, Zhu Yanmei!

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Starring…

_{Bai Meifeng (fffff0)
Zhu Yanmei (36454f)}

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[Flame]

Step by step, foot by foot, Kano's small form trudged towards the room he shared with the pair he termed as those idiots, Mars and Wan. Other kids raced by him towards their beds herded by orderlies, but not him. Kano at least for the orderlies was one of the good kids. He didn't need a guide. As he watched others walk by him with orderlies glaring at them to make sure, he puffed his little chest out a little. A grin slid across his face, he forced his puny little hands into the pockets of his hoodie, pulling the hood against the top of his head as he looked upwards to the ceiling. Pride blossomed out of his face as he marched on with a little pop in his step.

It was a short while before he found himself before his own room. From inside he could hear them. Those idiots, he reached his hand up palming the knob as best he could. With a little force he pushed open the door to reveal the small room he shared with them. A pair of bunk beds rose far above his head. And in the middle of the room were those two, wrestling with each other like a pair of fools. "Another fight?" The sound of incredulity filled Kano's squeaky voice. The pair who had been wrestling moments before stopped. Mars was on top his clothes hung loosely from his body as he grasped Wan's shirt his fist raised above his head. Below him was Wan, a small bruise on the side of his face and his long hair strewn upon the floor. Both heads turned to Kano, looking at him like he was crazy. "He stole my girlfriend!" Mars said as if the reason was obvious.

Kano's hand found an immediate place on his face and he trotted past the pair who only continued to watch him. He couldn't listen to it anymore, he was confident that he had heard this fight a jillion times. In the past he might respond, "Do you even have a girlfriend" or sometimes the less caring "Who cares?". He was in the end 5, and his roommates no more than 8. All these problems went right over Kano's head, so in the end he just didn't care. But he learned, not to ask questions, they always ended in more trouble than they were worth. More talking with people whose problems he really did not understand. The pair who had been fighting separated and glanced at each other then back at Kano.

"Where's your energy?" Wan asked

"Yeah common, its Christmas! Aren't you excited for presents?"

"For Santa!"

The pair chimed in together completely in sync. Their eyes sparkled and Kano could feel the wonder and awe through their voice. He just didn't feel it. His eyes were a dull auburn color, looking at the pair both somberly and sullenly. "Common, Santa isn't real." Kano said. His voice was loud but deadpan. The two across from him looked at him, their jaws dropping to the floor. Glancing back at each other once again and then back at Kano with great smiles wide across their face. Then in seconds they were on their feet charging Kano and tackling him into his bed. Kano's eyes were wide as they kneeled on his bed over him and began to tickle his sides.

"SAY HE'S REAL!" "SAY HE'S REAL" The pair chanted as they continued to tickle Kano's helpless sides. Breath passed from his lungs as Kano laughed continuously unable to control it. Recklessly he swung his hands around in front of him but it was no use, the few years of growth they had in him gave him no chance against them. "Hahahaha ne-ne hahahaha ve hahahahaha -rrrr!!" He was barely able to get out not that they could hear him. The ruckus continued for a while, them continuing to chant Kano continuing to laugh.

KNOCK!

They paused for a moment. The silence quickly broken by the following voice "GO TO SLEEP!" It was an orderly outside the door. Wan and Mars paused giving Kano a moment to calm down. He glared 'friendly' daggers into them and shook his head. Somewhat sheepishly they backed off heading to their own beds. Kano was one thing, but they weren't about to mess with the caretakers. With the sound of the wind rattling their outward facing window Kano tucked himself quietly into bed and closed his eyes. Across the room he could hear the other two just barely, whispering to each other. He turned facing the other way and tried to shut them out. He, was not going to be disappointed by such reckless hopes and dreams as Santa.

[Kami-Gaz]

Crash!



The little girl again fell face first to the floor with a miraculous thumping noise that resounded throughout the whole orphanage. Then again, she sat straight up and rubbed her red nose and giggled. The smile she was beaming made anyone who worried about her clumsiness wave it off as a childish phase she will grow out of eventually.



“I twipped again!“ She said between giggles. A few moments later she would be up and back on her way pitter pattering across the long dormitory. The buzz of excitement in the air had not shifted it had only grown quiet with all of the children in their beds eagerly awaiting the orderly to turn the light out so they could fall asleep. The other rooms had already had their lights turned out or were going to after this one. As the small half-mink reached her bottom bunk bed she would jump, as high as she could and use all of her strength to pull herself up onto the bed, her little legs kicking the air as she forced herself up. Her giant fluffy tail was swinging in the air as if it was trying to push her to the top of the sot comfort that was her mattress.



“Neawy there!” She grunted before one final heave from her tiny little arms to pull her over the precipice of the mountain that was this bed. Kit was still not regretting the choice she made in getting a big girl bed, it made her feel like a little queen among the paupers. A quick shuffle later and the half mink was now under the covers and resting her little head on the giant pillow, her massive wolf like ear were bent upwards and it made her able to hear nearly everything that was going on.



“Night kids! Santa is coming so make sure you stay asleep or he won’t give you a nice gift.” The female orderly announced into the room before flipping the switch killing the light that dangle above the room… killing all light except the one that Kit Katherines was emitting. This bright glow was not so simple to just turn off, it would illuminate that entire corner of the room, it was easy to tell that Kit was exited and how she earned the nickname Sparkles.



“Psst, Hey! Sparkles! Can ya turn it down a lil bit? I can’t sleep.” One kid said from the other side of the room whisper shouted. Whilst the light did show the little girls excitement it did tend to annoy the others who shared a dorm with the little wolf. “Hey man! Leave her alone… she is just exited, it’s Christmas, let her glow a bit, it’s relaxing.” A bigger girl said before rolling over to look at Kit. “Besides I like an adorable night light like you.”



A quick giggle later and the half mink light would shift to an embarrassed salmon pink. Then her ears twitched, she heard something in the other room across the hall that had gotten her interest. It was something she had not expected to ever hear, it must have been something from a real naughty child. “Catch Santa!” Was all she could hear, but it was enough… the excitement in the girl would shift to annoyance, why would someone want to catch the man giving them presents?!



The glow would quickly dull as the girl rolled on her side to look out the window to the frozen landscape that was covered in blanket of stars extending out over to the horizon. The calming sensation she had made the glow fade and the half mink start to drift off to sleep, images of the morrow filled with presents happiness and pets to come filling her tiny head. With in the next twenty to thirty minutes all the other kids in the larger dormitory would follow suit, drifting off to a deep sleep as they anticipated tomorrow.



Then the ears of the half mink flicked again as the sound of a creaking board was heard near the entrance of the room. Sitting up Kit would look at them sleepily and wonder who it could be.

[Vio]

2

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Creeee… Outside, the floorboards creaked softly. Quiet, but loud enough to disturb the slumber of Bai Meifeng. Her head poking out from the pillows, she gazed lazily towards the dorm room’s door, its edges illuminated by the soft cascade of light that was Sparkles’ gift. The clumsy pup might have been a bit of a handful during the day, but her bestowed power was more than a blessing for the children of the orphanage. A shadow shifted without. Was it one of the orderlies checking up on the children? That begged the question – just how late was it? Unable to tell, she turned over and squinted at the neighbouring bed.

^{“Zzz… Zzz…”}

So much for catching Santa Claus, Yanmei, the girl in red pyjamas thought. Her ebon-haired acquaintance had once again managed to cocoon herself amidst the bedsheets – a scrunched up mass of fabric from which none could escape was broken only be the presence of Mei-Mei’s friend’s façade breaching the flank. A sleepy smile was just about discernible upon her face thanks to Kit Katherines’ gracious glow, and a rather large snot bubble pulsed slowly with the girl’s restful breathing. An elephant could barge through the room and Zhu Yanmei would probably remain in the depths of sleep.

Creeee… The floorboards went again, more quietly, more distant.

Little Bai rolled again, breaking free of the confines of her own covers. Any and all tiredness had been stripped from her rather swiftly, replaced by a mounting curiosity. She stifled a waking yawn, big blue eyes focusing with what little light she had access to. Uncertain thoughts crossed her mind, still warped by the waning tides of a dreamy haze, but finally settling. The possibility made her little heart beat rather fast. If it was so late, that could only mean one thing, could it not?

^{“Yanmei?” she whispered:
“Nnn – Yanmei…?”}

^{“Zzz… Zzz…”}

“Nnn…” Scanning the dormitory for signs of life, making out the peaceful shapes of several kids huddled up in their blankets, Meifeng quietly shuffled to her bed’s edge. Even with Kit’s radiance, the floor beneath looked like a sea of blackness, serving only to make the drop seem like she was lingering over a bottomless chasm. Bothered not by heights however, she clambered down; sneakily approaching Miss Zhu’s bedside and attempting to stir her social sorority. It was an attempt made in vain – nothing was going to wake that girl at this point, not without drawing the attentions of the other children and even the orphanage staff.

Deciding that a quick glimpse would hopefully be enough, the snowy-haired sneak crept towards the door. Curiosity having gotten the better of the girl, if anything she considered herself of high enough status to deserve a sighting of Santa. Unfortunately, prestige would have to wait. The greatest obstacle she had encountered was posing a problem, the doorknob high enough from the floor to make it impossible to turn for a child of her stature.

^{“Nnn – Poopy…”}

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SPOILER: Click to show

{OOC}

ccursed doorknobs! Bane of our diminutive damsels!

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Starring…

_{Bai Meifeng (fffff0)
Zhu Yanmei (36454f)}

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[Flame]

In, out, in, out, Kano felt the soft pressure of air exhaled from his nostrils as it tapped likely against his chest. His blank spread over his side arched like a loosely hung tent around him. His ears were intent, listening for the sound of whispers, or snoring anything that might have told him the pair across the dorm from him were awake. It had been what felt like hours to Kano laying there, pretending to be asleep. His back to them he couldn't confirm with his eyes, but then in the dark his dull red eyes had a tendency to flash a brighter red color. If they noticed he was still awake they'd ask a question, or perhaps another, and he'd be pulled away from his true purpose. Or worse, tattled on. His standing with the orderlies was part of what allowed him to do so much, he wouldn't let that be ruined by those idiots.

Why don't they snore more ... Kano complained to himself he was unable to tell whether they were asleep as he hoped they were. There was not a sound, they were as quiet as a ... mouse as he thought the lyrics went. Carefully he rolled over in his bed. Twisting his young form, he swirled the covers up around him as he did. Curling up as he did he now faced the other two beds across the hall. His tent turned into an igloo around his body.

Did he dare check? They had not made a sound in seconds ... minutes ... well it had been a while. Kano did his best to squeeze his left eye shut while at the same time trying to open his right eye. His face like the blankets around him scrunched, almost vibrating with the pressure he put on it. It was no use, Kano's dorky little self hadn't practiced this amazing talent they called winking enough. He couldn't figure out the set of muscles to move to make it work.

But had to know, I'll just hold one of my eyes open. The 'brilliant' sighing remark slid through his head. Pressing both eyelids down he slid an arm up from its position at his bodies side bringing it out of the covers and up towards his face. Two fingers poked forward pressing themselves gently upon his left eyelid. Pushing a little harder his two fingers tilted his head upwards as they lifted the eyelid from its position at the bottom of his eye. It revealed a brightening red pupil beneath. From its dull auburn it was already a brightening imperial red color.

The pair's bunk slid into view for Kano as he saw them and relaxed. The pair of idiots were fast asleep. They were so lackadaisical sleepers it almost caused Kano to laugh. They lay strewn across their beds, their covers a mess it was a wonder that they weren't actually just cold. Tilting his head upwards he glanced to the door, no one else in the room to notice him. A perfect night for my practice, no one will be out, those idiots don't want to get caught by 'santa' He said to himself with an inward laugh. Brushing the blankets off of him Kano bundled his hoodie around him once again.

Swinging his legs softly over the side of the bunk to hang for a moment he carefully lifted himself from his bed. Dropping himself softly onto the cold stone floor below. Waddling through the dorm room as quietly as he could he brought himself over to the door.

Pressing up onto his tippy-toes he extended his arms and palmed the knob once again. Leaning his body to one side he twisted the knob with as much care as he could with the minimal control he had. Now came the tough part, pulling the door out. His little fingers gripped the metal knob as best he could and he leaned back. Putting his weight into it. The door creaked, the force of the five year old causing it to give only slightly as he tried to overcome the last bit of connection of lock and door. Come onnnn!! He said to himself, and finally it gave.

The sudden release of force caused the door to swing forwards and left deprived Kano of his balance. Tottering backwards Kano fell butt first onto the floor with a soft bump. The door slowly swung outwards pulled by the once given force of the youngster. Kano turned his head back to check on the pair who slept soundly still. Smiling outwardly to himself he allowed himself a short giggle. Before standing back up and walking into the doorway.

Grabbing onto the edge of doorframe he peeked his small hooded head out and glanced down the long hallway. Right, than left, darkness and silence. No sign of the orderlies, perfect. He stepped out into the hallway lifting a hand into the air in front of him. Time for practice.

[Kami-Gaz]

The curse of her own power to generate light had made looking at the door rather hard, she could only make out the obscure shadow of a single individual. With a frown on her face and the shedding white light shifting to a pinker tone the little half mink would cautiously shift and slide out of her covers and crawl to the edge of her bed rather sleepily. She had done this many times before, getting up in the middle of hte night to go to the bathroom, or to go and get a glass of water. She was a big little girl after all and nothing could stop her! If anything the gravity that would ensure she fell off the bed with a squeaking “EEEEeeeeeep!” was an aid to the independant five year old.

There was a soft crunching sound, a sound similar to a big beanbag chair being landed on by a five year old. A few moments passed as the pink tinted light source lay face down in the beanbag feeling rather pleased with herself. Despite this set back of falling off of the big girl bed she was good… she had fallen off of her bed before and was told that if she woke everyone up by doing it again she would be put back in a little girl's bed. This was something that could not happen! So she had the bright idea of putting the big bean bag chair under her normal get out of bed path.

Getting up the girl would pat her self down, still looking rather sleepy as she did, her pinkish glow not diminished in the slightest. Kit would soon slowly back up off of the bean bag chair and step on her own fluffy tail, making her trip backwards and land on her tush with a gentle thump and another “Eeeeep.” This yelp was quieter, and one she was expecting… the pair of falls had now woken the little girl up enough to let her have an objective…. And that objective was to see who was by the door.

The big shirt wearing little half mink again stood up, patted her bottom down and then began to waddle on as quietly as she could. Avoiding walking into things and falling over as best she could. The shining light that she had being ever present as she did it. ‘I wan sweeps...’ She thought, rubbing her eyes with her right hand as her left scooped her tail up to hug as if it were a stuffed toy.

The long walk to the door stopped as the other girl came into her light, it was Meifeng… Some one the little Kit Kat had never really interacted with outside of sharing the dorm room. The half mink did spend most of her time trying to impress the big kids after all. “Meif- Meiffffffffff- Meifung!” She said in her sleepy state, trying to remember the other girls name, struggling for a little bit as she tried to get the right sounding letters in her adorable little skull.

The twitching ears would again flick as she heard sounds coming from outside of the room. “Wh-what’s tat?” She asked adorably. Her small head tilting to the side as she stared towards the door., her pinkish light growing another shade darker. With a shuffle she headed to the door and reached as high as she could, not even coming close to getting her little hand on the door handle that was so high off of the ground. Where was the stool when she needed it?!

“I’m too wittle...” She whispered with some small tears in her eyes as she backed up and looked at the door and then to Meifeng with a shattered heart. Her big eyes looking like they were pleading for any kind of help that could be offered too her.

[Vio]

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“Meif– Meiffff– Meifung,” a voice struggled. The waking soul, somewhat startled, flicked around to identify the source. She had failed to notice the steady increase in luminosity as a sign of approach, instead – and like many a kid – attributing the fluctuations of pigment and intensity to the dreaming mind of one wolf-eared child. However, said living lava lamp was more than free from the land of nod, standing a lot closer than Bai Meifeng had anticipated. Worry was replaced with a weird frown. As far as interactions went, she often stuck to her closest friend, Yanmei. However, ‘Sparkles’ was not a character she often dealt with, save for experiencing the varied vividness and clumsy behaviour that this child was famed for throughout the orphanage.

^{“Nnn,” Meifeng roofed her tongue:
“It’s ‘Meifeng’… Why are you awake?”}

Suspicion ripe in her mind for reasons unknown, Miss Bai’s attentions flitted back and forth between the door and her company. The creaking of the floorboards had faded, or at least the atmosphere had become noisy enough so as to drown out such sounds. Was it the woken Wolf Mink’s escape from her bed that had caused the boards to squeal and groan? The thought crossed the five year old’s mind, but then why would it sound like it had been coming from outside of the dormitory? Unlike a couple of the older kids in the orphanage, she could not honestly say she was gifted in the acoustics department – though dishonesty had allowed her to proclaim otherwise on occasion.

“Wh– What’s tat?” Sparkles squeaked.

^{“What’s what…?”}

Creeee… Blue eyes widened a little, taken aback by Kit’s ability. Apparently, those big and fluffy ears were not just for show, able to pick up the disturbances in the floorboards long before the more audible groaning reached Mei’s own. Just how sharp were the witt– little one’s senses? She pondered that question for a moment, watching as her new company tried and failed to do what she had already attempted. It was then that it dawned on her; why was the dorm’s door actually closed? Did not the orderlies usually leave them ajar, or had she simply believed that that was the case? After all, she was not the type to wake in the night.

^{“I’m too wittle…”}

^{“Nnn – Don’t cry,” she whispered:
“I can’t reach either…”}

Getting a stool or beanbag chair would be too noisy – we’d wake everyone up! Except Yanmei… Thoughts mustered, trying to find an answer to surpassing the barrier that was the door, Meifeng looked to her usual suspect. Still, the dark-haired doll was bundled up within a swollen cocoon of covers, suppressing her energetic movements even in the depths of slumber. Yanmei had never been the graceful one of the dynastic duo, nor was she particularly brainy, but she did have a habit of coming up with the most ingenious of plans at a moment’s notice. Maybe she was not as poorly educated as one might have believed? Regardless, she was too busy dreaming of grand adventure to be of use to her creamy counterpart.

“Nnn – Get on my shoulders, then we can reach,” she said, albeit reluctantly. The idea of having a common girl ride her like some kind of horse was disgraceful – a complete and utter travesty of her noble claim! Nonetheless, neither party was tall enough to manage the deed without making some sacrifices. All she wanted to do was investigate, to see what was behind closed doors, but in order to do that she needed to take the compromise. This would definitely, definitely be a once in a lifetime event…

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SPOILER: Click to show

{OOC}

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Starring…

_{Bai Meifeng (fffff0)
Zhu Yanmei (36454f)
Sparkles (d89623)}

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[Flame]

Kano stood still in the darkened hallway. The vague color of a candle flickering in an adjoining corridor gave a bare illumination. His eyes flickered to it for only a moment before returning to the softly lit outline of his hand in the dark of the night. He held it in front of him and stared at it with an unnerving amount of effort. Twisting it in the air he gazed upon it, the palm and the back of it.

I can do this ... The words spun through his head on loop. Chanting through his head like in a similar way as that strange metal thingamabob had in that picture book all his orphan-mates read. His eyes latched onto his hand to no avail, there was no change. Kano furrowed his minuscule brow, concentrating so hard he though he might give himself a head ache he glared down upon his open hand. Until finally he found his relief. A finger, his pointer finger disappeared from its position on his hand.

"I di-" He started all excited before immediately covering his mouth with both hands. The excitement of his voice echoed through the hallways, it wasn't loud. But in the dead of night, with no other sounds to contest it seemed like it would go on for ages. Frozen in place Kano's ears perked up, they listened for anything. The slightest creak, the softest stomp of feet, and even the sound of voices. Anything that might tell him that his expedition into the dark was already at risk of discovery. He waited for a moment, and nothing, complete silence was all that greeted Kano's ears.

Turning his hand downwards he bore down on the missing finger. Smiling he watched as something small peeped its way out of the hole which was once his finger. Its progress however was not enough and in an effort to make it come out faster Kano jerked his hand back and forth. Tilting it downwards he shook his hand about, trying to make it like pasta sliding out of a box. And slowly but surely it came, a small line of paper, not very thick or wide, but long. As it slid completely out of the finger and began to drop, middle finger and thumb swung together to close the trap.

Together they pinched the end of it, holding it there as Kano's second finger reappeared. With the shape of a long straw, or maybe a skewer it hung from in his grasp. If not for the dark Kano would've noted decorative patterns going across it, color in swirls not unlike the patterns of a devil fruit covered the papery outside of the item in his fingers. Raising it up to his head level he looked at it, spinning it between his fingers by rolling them against each other.

As he watched, he waited, for something, anything to happen. He had ... made this from his body, or such was the feeling he had. It had to do something, anything really, being able to make this and have it be absolutely useless seemed so helpless to Kano. He wanted it to have purpose, even if he didn't believe it did. Maybe if I .... thoughts trailed through his head without end. An unending stream of options like a voice that could not shut up. Knowing not what to do Kano's other hand swung up and pinched the opposite end.

Pressing his fingers together he let them go flying apart almost like he was snapping his fingers, if he could properly do that. And nothing. He watched it for a few moments disappointed in it. He was almost about to drop it when miraculously it happened, with a soft crackle light blossomed from the piece of paper. Small and effortlessly quiet, it fizzled upon the piece of paper. A smiling Kano watched it with awe. The illumination from it showing him the beautiful spirals upon his thin creation. Happiness flowed through Kano and without thinking he much he moved it slightly. Sliding it left and right letting its little molten light brighten much more of the room.

Well until it dropped, agitated by the movement, the small orb of red dropped falling to the ground with a silent thud. Kano's grin disappeared in moments as he whispered to himself "Drats ..."