To Offer the Apple

Zoey jumped slightly at the sudden retrieval of paper. For a while she simply stared in half blank surprise as her friend scribbled away furiously. "C-causper...?" She tried, her words falling short of whatever though had crossed her mind. Her eyes never left Causper's face for the notebook, making it obvious that she was more concerned with the girls state. At least, that was the appearance of things.

It was so painful setting up all the emotions on the slight chance that the girl would see them through her distraction. She could not falter though. This girl was the proverbial meal ticket. Still, the timing seemed convenient. This could have been a play to see if Kaori would make her move during emotional distress. It didn't matter. Her movements were to be subtle as always.

Causper's distress was obviously not fake and obviously painful. Her eyes displayed a few varied emotions, betrayal, sorrow, anger, confusion. Flickering through each on shuffle. She stayed like that for a short moment, before standing up quickly, head lowered, knocking over her chair, and walking quickly out of the library.

Once she was out of the library, out of the school and the enclosed hallways, she started running. Just running in a straight line, away from school and the library, away from the tall building she called home, away from everything and anything familliar. She considered going to Alycia's for a moment - just a moment - before continuing out and away for as long as she could.

That couldn't be. This was too easy right? Kaori wasn't even trying yet, and-... Just what was it she read that could leave her so disturbed? In the end, it didn't matter. At least, not just yet. For now she would be gently concerned. The thought gave her another silent mental laugh. How people fall into place for her would never cease to astound.

"H-hey!" Zoey called out in a desperate tone, the cry no doubt falling on deaf ears. She chased after the girl with a face of strain, and a mixing concern. It was obvious she was not the physical type. "W-wait up! Let me just-." The sentence was interrupted by harsh breathing. Barely keeping up, she huffs along.

Causper ran till she reached the edge of the city, then found her way out of the city and continued walking til she collapsed with exhaustion. Her footsteps trailed out into the sand away from the city and the road leading to where she was curled up on the ground. She wasn't crying, she wasn't angry, she wasn't depressed. Right now, she was just... empty.

Causper didn't notice Kaori had been following her and sped up ahead, however since she had been heading in one straight direction it shouldn't have been too hard for Kaori to follow. She was even lying out in the open where she was clearly visible. It shouldn't be too hard for Kaori to find her, although it may take a long time.

Naturally, Kaori was exaggerating her exhaustion to keep up the look that she was a helpless book-worm. She had no delusion however. If she were to race this girl she would probably lose.

Zoey slowed down, having finally caught up with her new acquaintance, and eventually came to a stop. She was bent over with her hands on her knee's, her face of mix of relief, and exhaustion. "Y-you run r-really fast." She said, still huffing between each word. Swinging her head up, her breath is struck silent by the visage of broken Causper. "Y-you alright?" She weakly approached, and sat on her knee's near the girl. "What was that all about? N-never-mind. You probably don't want to tell me." She said, meekly, and looked at the ground near Causper. "L-let's just take a breather then..."

Causper didn't quite notice when Zoey caught up, nor did she hear a single word that had been said. Her expressions were blank and empty, her eyes distant and cold. She was completely unresponsive while her mind struggled to comprehend what had happened. She may have registered Zoey's presence when she knelt in front however her attention was concentrated inward. Every story she had been told about her ancestors was a lie. What did that say about her? Was she just another puppet for them to string around? Would they be trying to regain the kishin imposter they claimed as a god?

There was no way of knowing and each unknown answer made Causper curl up even more till she was small and almost hidden in the sand. She wondered if her Aunt knew. Or Alec. A more morbid thought crossed her mind that summoned tears to her eyes. What if they were all involved in it? What if her entire life was planned out piece by piece according to some grand plan, and everyone she'd actually cared for was a part of it? She didn't know. And what she didn't know was slowly killing her.

This was pointless. She wasn't even responding at this point. If she had a little more time with the girl this would have been perfect. Unfortunately, Kaori didn't know enough about her to use this time to her advantage. Was this normal for her, or did what she read drive a rift somewhere in her mind. It may be worth it to risk looking into her memory while she was too caught up in self pity too resist, or probably even notice. Still, something was tipping her off, and if she underestimated that ability... Kaori may not be the same person when she exited Causper's mind. Further, if this was an oh so convincing game, she might be that much closer to being discovered.

Zoey reached a timid hand to Causper, and seemed to be considering the repercussions of placing it on her shoulder. With a harsh swallow, she does so, and anticipates rejection. "Y-you wanna go somewhere out of this sand? You'll get a sunburn." She manages through a shaky voice, making it obvious that wasn't really in the front of her mind.

Faded and fuzzy images assulted Causper's mind, tearing the feeble attempt at a mental barrier she had created to shreds. What seemed to be a silver dagger, sharp edge muted by intense fog blurring the image, descending towards her to be intercepted by a fair and apparently feminine hand, paired with the sensation of a warm liquid dripping on her face. An image of her aunt with a rounded stomach, although that image caused a whirlwhind of confusion through her mind. Image by image, everything that she'd ever seen that could prove that the family of psychics were not what they clamed to be slid through her mind and wreaked havoc.

When Zoey placed her hand on Causper's shoulder she bolted up immediately and scrambled backwards away from her. She looked pale and panicked, her eyes wide with fear.

"Sh-shit Zoey.... Y-you should have s-said something"

Zoey jumped in surprise, and stumbled back to fall on her rear. She quickly raises an arm across her face, as if it were Causper's intent to strike her for some transgression. "I-I said something!" She called in a fleeting tone of un-necessary volume. "A lot of something's! You didn't respond so I tried to comfort you because I thought you were listening but didn't say anything and I'm really sorry I didn't really mean to offend you really and if you want I'll stop bothering you really!!" She continued, a breathless cry like one huge run on sentence, after which she shook silently, waiting for a hand to fall on her head.

Kaori wondered, and wondered how could some old history book effect Causper that much? Perhaps she knew someone in the book. That would be ridiculous though. Any Kishin Egg from that long ago was surely dead. What then? Surely she wasn't some child who gets nightmares from scary books. She needed a way to ask without sounding strange. Then again, after that display, Causper would have no right to think it strange she asked.

Causper saw Zoey's defensive position. Heard her protests. Understood what had happened and forced herself to calm down. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. Causper repaeted that sequence until she had calmed down enough to sit cross legged on the ground, looking much less afraid even as her fear steadily rised. When had someone tried to kill her? Why would Enclair have ever been pregnant? She had no children and declared openly she never would. Why then... why... So many questions that all began with why.

"I... I'm sorry Zoey. I'm really shaken up right now... I just... need some time and some quiet to think."

With that, Causper rested her head on Zoey's lap and closed her eyes. Eventually, she fell asleep however the fuzzy memories didn't show up this time. Nothing showed but the heavy colourless black blanket of sleep amd unconciousness.

Zoey's entire body clenched at the contact, suspecting a violent reaction. Upon glancing down at the head that lay softly in her lap, she slowly began to relax. "Y-you?..." She began on a thought, and cut it short when she found that Causper had fell asleep. "Y-yeah... Just a breather..." She whispered softly, and ran a small hand lightly through Causper's hair.

Of all the places she could have the girl in the position she wanted, it had to be in the middle of the blazing hot sands outside of Death City. After that there's the fact that there are two ways that Causper likely held power over the mind. People who spend years honing their focus, and lose control when sleeping. These are the people that were safe to invade. Then there are those with a natural talent, with personalities that suppress it, making their sleeping mind a more formidable opponent than their waking one. Perhaps it was worth it on the fact that there was no actual proof of the girl having these abilities. It was only a hunch at this point, empowered by intuition that may just be luck, or raw intelligence. Yes, that was the most likely way of things. Laying back in the sand, she closes her eyes, and sprawls out her arms to feign sleeping. If the invasion was traced back to her, it would look like an accident. With no more a though, she began to move into Causper's mind. She would look for the most recent memories brought up by the book, and other things near the surface. This was the least likely way for her to be detected, and was far easier than uprooting memories of long past. Now everything depended on Causper's ability to resist. If there was any at all.

The space that was Causper's mind was completely void of light or object, just a fuzzy blackness could be seen in any direction. If Kaori walked far enough then she would find an obsidian almost crystal-like wall that shot up out of sight and extended out to the right and left. If she followed that wall for longer, she'd find an intersecting wall of the same material, revealing the space's cube-like limitations. After finding all four corners, Kaori would be able to see a faint purple glow that grew stronger if she walked towards it.

The glow eminated from a small block no larger than a Rubik's Cube, which hovered at eye level. The cube pulsed with a constant, steady beat similar to a heartbeat, dimming and brightening in sync. It practically begged to be touched. A puzzle to be solved. A puzzle that only one person could solve. That one person was not Kaori, but it said it was. It told her to touch it with its hypnotic glow.

Kaori knew all too well not to touch a strange item that so begged for it. This was strange though. Memories do not disappear, and this seemed like a powerful barrier for someone so young... If it was even that. Perhaps she had stumbled upon something much greater than Causpers memories. While she knew better, she had to think, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." After all, there was nothing this novice could do to hurt her had she failed. No, she wouldn't lose to an amateur mistake. She severs the link to spare herself the trouble it may cause later, and waited with Causper in her lap till the nap was finished.

The cube exploded as Kaori withdrew from Causper's mind, trapping a part of her in there as the walls sprung to life with memory. Every thing Causper knew was displayed upon the walls for only a matter of seconds before everything imploded upon itself and reformed into the cube agian, forcing her out. In this one moment, a small amount of madness could be sensed from Causper's soul. Not enough to affect Causper's thought processes but enough to exist. Then just as it appeared, ot vanished without a trace.
A couple of hours later Causper awoke, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. She was completely unaware of what had happened but she was far more stable.

"S-sorry Zoey... Did I sleep long...? I didn't mean to..."

And there it was. Proof of Causper soon to be part in Kaori's plan. The corners of Kaori's soft mouth were pulled back into a menacing smile of inhuman width, finally indicating the macabre intent of her machinations. Almost instantly after it's birth, the shred of emotion is buried once more beneath intellect to protect her surreptitious designs. There was madness in Causper's sweet, innocent little mind, and soon enough, it would engulf it completely. Kaori would be able to feed it, and even an expert would be none the wiser. Even still... The amount of time until it took hold was dependent on Causper's mental health, and will.

Zoey seemed to be gazing vacuously into the ground, her worries consuming her to the point of becoming wrecked and trapped in on themselves. A few moments after Causper spoke, Zoey jolted in a in shock. "C-causper!" She fretted, her voice noticeably tired, but lacking no sense of elation. Her state of disquietude, no doubt from agonizing over the situation. "Are you feeling better!? Are you okay? You didn't have nightmares did you?" She began a panicked out-pour of inquiry's into Causper's state that wouldn't stop until interrupted to coax her back to reality.

"Z-zoey....? What's wrong?"

Why was she here with this girl agian...? Oh, right. The kishin egg that created her family's purpose and the reason why they are so secretive and possessive. She had run out of the library after reading that book.... And then what? It was just a blank after that. What had happened? Why.... Why were they in the desert? Why had she been asleep? It was empty.... A blank void... What had happened? Causper strained to remember what she had been doing. She had run out of the city... Zoey followed her... Then...

As she strained to remember any further Causper was overcome with a nauseas feeling. She keeled over sideways and pressed her arms into her stomach, trying to weaken the sudden pains in her gut.

"D-dammnit.... "

Causper remained in that position for quite some time, the pain fading over time until it was weak enough that she could sit up slowly.

"I think.... I should go home..."

Zoey stopped suddenly, and clasped her hands over her mouth in embarrassment. Her face might be seen as red from blush if it weren't for every inch of her once light skin being burned from the sun. "W-wait." Zoey called in a quiet, timid voice as Causper suggested she leave for home. "M-my legs are asleep... They w-won't move." She averted her eyes to the side, and played her thumbs nervously in her lap. "Y-you don't have to carry me, er nothin', j-just... C-could you w-wait a minute maybe." She asked, unable to make eye contact. She seemed to be trying to move her legs into the path a blood flow with her arms now, though she wasn't doing a very good job.

Unfortunately for Kaori, she wasn't acting about her legs. That's what happens when you sit on your legs for several hours. She began to release madness into Causper, hoping to spark the existing madness to feed off of it. She wouldn't be able to give it sure, substantial growth unless they resonated together, though the chances of that are slim indeed. She considered giving her feelings of complacency, but tampering with her mind might spark an alarm with her awake.

Causper looked back at Zoey who was sitting on the ground. Poor girl, she must have let her sleep on her legs for hours. She sat on the ground beside Zoey to wait for her to be okay agian. Something irritated the side of her head, somehow from the inside and Causper wondered if somehow she had gotten sand inside her skull. It was a rediculous thought, but it was the first explination she had. It wasn't a painful feeling like a headache, just a nagging pinpoint dull itch. As it went on, Causper began to sway and her eyelids became heavy.

"Some... Thing... is wrong. Zoey... I can't... feel my.. He..."

Leaving the sentence unfinished, Causper faded into a doll like state, her eyes glassed over with unseeing nerves. The madness already existing in Causper's soul greedily devoured what Kaori gave it, intentionally or unintentional. It didn't seem like it was related to the sudden freezing in Causper's mind.

Zoey finally worked up the strength to move to her knee's in a semi-standing position. "H-hey! What's wrong? Y-you've been out in the heat too long, lets get you home." Zoey stood shakily, and tugged at Causper, signaling her to stand. She wouldn't be able to help too much, her legs were nearly limp at the moment.

Kaori was beyond happy. The girl crumbled so easily. She was effected by something long before Kaori tampered with her. She was pumping madness at full capacity now. Any faster, and she would have to release her soul protect to accommodate it. Still... What was wrong? This wasn't the effect of madness. Not this early on, or at her level. She was blank though. Kaori would take the risk of diving into Causper's mind again. There were few powers that could withstand her mentally, and she doubted one was within this girl... She hoped she was right.

Causper didn't hear Zoey's words, Causper was out cold. Unfortunately, Causper was not the only voice in her head. There was others. Fortunately for Kaori, the one she had woken up was sealed away so that she didn't have control. Instead, it left just a hollow mind. All defenses were down, motion was impossible. The brain gave and received no signals that weren't automatic. The madness being pumped into Causper's soul multiplied and devoured until there was only a small amount of blue left. That blue fought back, pushing the madness back at Kaori. It woke up Causper and she took off bolting back into the city. Something was wrong. It hurt to move. She kept running til she collapsed a half mile from the Death City gates. Causper blacked out agian and the doll-like state returned.

A mental trap. If Causper couldn't control her body than no one could? This was incredibly well planned. I was obvious someone had toyed with the girl before. But this trap... No one would make something like this for the sake the one in a million chance of running into someone like Kaori. No, there was something very interesting in her head wasn't there. The only question now was, Is Causper really an asset, or a liability? She didn't need an unstable mess with two minds. She needed a puppet. Perhaps this girl didn't fit the bill, but in a way it didn't matter. Pride was an obstacle. The girl was complicated, and breaking her would be... interesting. Still, this was too soon. Her plan wasn't even close to finished yet, and if push came to shove, she wouldn't risk it for this girl, and some curiosity. She ceased the flow of madness. Kaori had no idea what was inside of Causper's head, and she wouldn't wake it up... Yet.

"W-wait!" Zoey stammered, and frantically took off after Causper on wobbly legs. "You might be having a heat stroke, you should exert yourself!" Concern littered Zoey's voice, and someone within ear-shot would no doubt wonder if she might cry soon. She followed Causper until her second collapse, sliding in front of her just in time to make a catch. "G-got you." She managed through labored breathing. Kaori quickly hefted Causper onto her back, and began to carry her towards her apartment. Causper would wake up in a messy dormitory, loose notes scattered over every inch. Kaori had placed a cold rag over the now couch laying Causper's head, and a cold glass of lemonade waited on the coffee table. The kitchen clattered with dishes, and Zoey's voice rang throughout the house. A lullaby? Was that Gaelic? No... A distant cousin from a time long past. The language had changed so much now.

(OOC: I changed the setting if that's alright with you. If not, I can always edit!~)

Causper's head was full of a deafening silence, blinding darkness surounding her. She tried to move, to call out, to do anything that would break the silence or clear her eyes of the heavy stiff blanket that suffocated her. She was dying, and yet she was recovering from death. She couldn't see but she wasn't blind. She knew there was sounds existing around her but she couldn't hear a thing.
She concentrated as hard as she could on simply opening her eyes to no avail. She couldn't even feel her finger when she tried to move it. She spent half an hour trying to open her mouth and speak to get anything more then a strangled cry. She tried continuously to make an intellible word until she made her voice hoarse. She still couldn't hear a word nor could she open her eyes. She couldn't move.
After another hour she was finaly able to move a finger, another half hour to be able to lift her hand. She could flutter her eyelids but not open them, and her ears couldn't pick up anything even if someone shouted in her ear.

"Zo..... E....."

The only thing she could manage after two hours of trying to speak was that. Her mind wasn't recovering, even though her body had no physical impediments. The madness in her soul wasn't receeding fast enough. Causper would be incapable of moving til it recceeded. She couldn't eat nor drink on her own, nor would she be able to sit up or walk until it had faded. There was no possible way she'd be able to do anything without help and she hoped to the gods that Zoey could figure that out.

"H... el.... p.... "

Zoey's head snapped to Causper's silent pleads, at first seeming to wonder if she had heard them at all. She ducked over near Causper's face, her ear near the mouth to hear any sounds uttered. "H... el.... p...." Zoey shook a bit at the words. She quickly placed a hand to Causper's head, only to be sent reeling with some sort of shock. "M-madness? Wh-where did you-...? And so much? Zoey began to scramble about the room frantically, pacing over who knows what. "I-I gotta help, b-but... I'll have to release it... She gave Causper one last thoughtful look. "N-no good. I have to... I-I'm never going to live this down." With a few words of the old language she had sang in moments ago, she begins a spell. The room is felt with a slight pressure with the release of her formidable witch soul. The madness in Causper's soul would be forced to recede to a degree, but this could take any amount of time now. Minutes, hours... Days....

Causper's soul purified far slower then it became corrupt, and that was painstakingly obvious as Zoey cast her spell. The madness didn't willingly relinquish its hold, clinging as much as it could before being dispersed and purified. It would take hours for the madness to be merely halved, and likely more then a few days before her paralysis was cured. If Zoey continued the spell for more then an hour the effects would start to become visible and Causper could open her eyes.

"Z-zo.... E.... Wh....at..... Hap.....pen...ed...."

Causper's eye sight was blurred and dull, hardly an improvement from earlier. Her throat raw and cracked, she could taste blood on her tongue as she spoke. She thought she was dead or dying. It felt like she was, and probably looked like it. Causper wanted to die, but she knew she couldn't. Not without knowing for sure.

"I need... To spe...ak.... To my... Fam...i...ly... Need... To fi..nd... Tru...th..."

Kaori couldn't help but smile inside. If it was convenient, breaking this girl would be the simplest thing. She had work to do though. Trust would hang this girl to her, and she would just pick up her winnings on the way out. Besides, while breaking her was simple, she was a thrilling puzzle. It would be an unusual challenge to figure out just what was making her tick. More so, the girl was a bit of a looker, and that was always a welcome bonus for servants.

Zoey put a hand to Causper forehead, and pressed lightly to gesture that she needed to stay down. "Y-you need to relax Causper. I found a large amount of madness in your soul, and I'm getting rid of it with... It won't bother you much longer." She would explain, seeming to try very hard to keep her uncertainty. "We'll find your family, and whatever it is you're looking for, I promise! J-just rest... You just... Need to rest." Freezing in between words, Zoey finally breaks down into a small fit of tears. She layed her head on Causper's waist, her spell still at work, though it seemed to waiver slightly.

In the background, Kaori would send feelings, and thoughts of complacency, and comfort in Kaori. Those of trust for a long known friend. Even working three spell natures, and acting, Kaori's performance was flawless, and reflected her years of honed focus. But, she couldn't let the girl snap just yet. Not until she was done in the DWMA.

"Mad.....ness..... Is that... Why I can't.... Move...? I can.... Barely.... Hear you... Zoey... Where are you...?"

Causper couldn't see Zoey's shadow of her form. She could see what was probably the ceiling, but Zoey's blurred image was gone, vanished. She couldn't see her and she was panicking. Had she fallen? Causper didn't think so. Maybe she left? Tears came to Causper's eyes when she considered that. Why was it so sad? She didn't know. She felt like Zoey was the only one she could trust in the world, and began to cry as she thought that she may have abandoned her here on the couch. Causper didn't know why she was so attatched to the odd girl, she just knew she was, and she began to cry freely as Zoey didn't appear immediately.

Zoey quickly pulled away from Cauper's waist, placing her own face about a foot away from Causper's. She cupped Caupser's face on either side with both hands, using her thumbs to gently wipe away the tears. She seemed to be ignoring her own which would begin to fall onto Causper's clothing below. "I-I'm right here Causper. You don't need to worry about anything, I'll take care of you, I swear I will." A couple sniffles broke through the weakly formed sentences. "I'm gonna figure this stuff out. I-I'm gonna make everyone better, and you'll be happy. W-we'll figure out that family of yours, and I'll make sure you're happy whatever the outcome." Zoey's voice continued to waiver, but she pressed through every sentence, even though each one seemed to be weaker than the last, and lacking in conviction.

Kaori must have been sporting that mental grin for hours now. At this rate, she might have even been able to give a genuine smile in reality. It was really too bad that her elation be wasted on a moment where face was vital to maintain. The spells all continued her work.  With Causper's mind as weak as it is, the suggestions were free to land deep within her sleeping, yet fascinatingly conscious, mind. This was a rare moment that was usually granted by breaking, or hypnotizing someone, but it seemed a dose of madness would allow Kaori to brainwash Causper a little more with every meeting until the moment complete loyalty was assured.

The spells were directed towards the deepest parts of Causper's seemingly vulnerable subconscious, a place she would likely never remember more of beyond the fact. I can trust Zoey.... Zoey will always keep me safe....... Zoey will never betray me... I will never be lead wrong by Zoey. Still, the girl was... unique. There was no telling if this would stick or bounce in her very special case. The feelings of trust, and comfort continued to wash over, and through Causper's mind. Kaori was left to wonder if the method was working, and as to what left Causper's so very mind open, and blank. It was a shame she had to fix the problem. Though, maybe she would keep the girl paralyzed for a few days, assuring this dependency for a good long time. That is, if the method wasn't doing any damage.

A rounded shape appeared in front of Causper's eyes, blocking out the light. Zoey's voice came from the shape. Zoey hadn't left. Zoey was still here. Causper wasn't alone. Voices were loudest when Causper was alone.
And now there was a third.
The third voice was soft and comforting, it didn't harass her for being weak or argue about what she should do. The voice helped her to relax and stop crying. It gave her a sense of safety. She could trust this voice. Causper listened to the voice until the world went black agian.

Kaori continued the flow of thoughts. It was obvious the girl might be with her for a while though. She lifted Causper from the couch, and set her down on the bed. She would continue her research at the foot of the bed, never breaking the link that was filling Causper with such succulent relaxing thoughts. Should Causper stay asleep for much longer, Kaori would likely dive into her mind to check the progress.

As Causper slept the madness rolled out of her in waves, strength not high enough to give the madness to Kaori but it was strong enough to be noticed. It drained as if her falling unconcious had pulled the plug that kept it in. Even with the madness draining faster, it took much more then a few hours to drain completely, Causper staying unconcious the entire time.
24 hours after she had fallen unconcious, Causper would awake with a splitting headache and dehydration. While she had slept, if Kaori chose to watch, her memories would have played through, most of them irrelevant memories of cooking or playing with a large Australian sheep dog as a little girl. Some showed an older woman with red hair tied back in a loose bun eating a red kishin egg soul like an apple while she and a younger Causper lay on a beach watching the sun rise or of training and battles with the woman who was presumably Causper's mother.