Rain Dance

"Nicely done," said Adair, as Voltaire helped Kimi board Ava.

"We got some thrush too," added Voltaire. "Kimi hit some with her barrier when we got caught out in the rain."

"Um..." Kimi blushed. "It was an accident"

Voltaire shrugged. "So? I didn't plan on the cougar either." He climbed aboard.

"Leaving now," said Ava, as she began to flap her wings and take off.

"Now?" asked Voltaire, looking up at the sky. "We don't have much daylight left."

"Raizin says there are lots of caves along the cliffs here. We can stay in one of them."

Kimi hurriedly climbed up as well, though less graceful than Voltaire. "Did you sleep well Ava?" Kimi asked politely.

"Aside from funny dreams yes," Ava replied. "Couldn't really tell if they were good or bad they were so funny. I think they were good."

"It made her really noisy, whatever it was," added Adair. "Even I couldn't sleep through it."

Voltaire felt a little uncomfortable. He was silently thankful for Adair's naivety.

"Oh. I'm sorry. At least you can sleep later" Kimi smiled. "Right?"

"Why be sorry? Not your fault," Ava chirped back.

Actually it kinda is Voltaire thought. Ava gave him a curious look, having sensed his brief embarrassment and guilt.

"...What?" Voltaire asked uneasily, knowing his uneasiness was probably making things worse.

"I'm just being sympathetic." Kimi replied.

"Ava takes things literally sometimes," Adair said. "Don't mind her."

Ava focused back on watching her flight path, to Voltaire's relief. "So you guys saw Raizin earlier? We saw Curtis on the way back."

"Yeah, he was trying to find some creatures to experiment on earlier," Adair explained. "I honestly don't know how Barrett can work for a nekomata. I mean, I know he's a Mercenary, but..."

Kimi stayed quiet. She didn't know much about who they were talking about so she felt it was best to mind her own business.

"Mercenaries are Mercenaries. They take the highest-paying job," Voltaire replied lazily. Suddenly he was feeling very warm and sleepy. Was this normal after sex? He tried not to nod off.

Kimi yawned softly and leaned back against Voltaire.

Voltaire soon gave way to sleep himself. He started singing almost immediately.

Out already? It's not even sunset yet, thought Adair.

Kimi smiled slightly. she cuddled back into him, closing her eyes. She didn't go to sleep, rather she was relaxing.

Adair took little note of the scene, until Voltaire's back started spouting fire. Then he gave a start.

Is this-

The wings fully materialized almost immediately this time, spreading themselves out in their red glory. Voltaire remained in slumber, though his song grew louder.

Kimi sat up with a start and stared at his wings. "We've got to wake him up." she stated suddenly

"Hey 'Taire! 'Taire!" Adair shouted, shaking Voltaire's shoulders. " 'Taire, wake up!"

Voltaire groaned and opened his eyes, but his pupils were red and widely dilated. The wings stayed.

"Got too..." he mumbled, his words slightly slurred. "Need too..."

Kimi gently held Voltaire's face and made him look at her. "Taire. Voltaire. Its time to wake up." She commanded softly. "I need you to wake up" She sounded like an entirely different person.

Voltaire's eyes fluttered, his entire body tense. "Ki...mi?"

Then his eyes drooped closed as he entire body relaxed, the wings dissolving into fire. A few moments later Voltaire came to, his bleary but normal.

"...Wha, Kimi?" he asked tiredly. "...Did I hit my head or something? Head hurts...back hurts..."

"You made the wings again." Kimi murmured to him softly. She made him rest his head on her shoulder and she pet his hair softly. "Just relax. Okay?"

"Mmm..." Voltaire hummed in reply, not in any state to protest. His head continued to throb.

"Volty okay?" Ava asked worriedly.

"...Yeah, seems to be," Adair answered, though now he was on edge. The dazed look in Voltaire's eyes and his slurred speech seem to suggest some kind of takeover had been trying to take place. Was it the build-up of demon energy? But Kimi had drained him of that a couple days ago...

"Do you know what that was about?" Kimi asked, looking up at Adair worriedly.

"No I don't," Adair admitted. "And that worries me. That time seemed different than the time before somehow."

Voltaire wasn't really following the conversation. All the words seemed to be echoing from far away, distorted and intelligible by the time they finally reached him. "Kimi..."

Kimi looked down at him. "Yes Taire? Is something the matter?" She cooed softly.

"Kimi..." he repeated, his voice growing softer. He started to shiver, a cold sweat on his brow.