Shiroi sat beside a building's wall, her head tilted back to lean against the rough surface. Her legs are bend up before her, and her arms are resting loosely on the knees in front of her. Her eyes are closed, ignoring the comings and goings on the street.

The passersby make snide comments to each other about the girl, and her clothes. Shadows flicker before her as the people walk past. A few minutes later, one of those shadows stays, directly in front of her.

Shiroi's eyes remained closed, seeming not to realize another presence before her.

The shadow remains on her. "You know, it's hardly ladylike to sit there, on the ground, when you could be dining at a fine restaurant, in the company of a gentleman."

Shiroi's eyes opened, slowly, and her piercing black eyes held a steady gaze at the stranger before her, seeming to be reproaching him for a lie. And she looked into his eyes, steadily, without saying a word.

The man looks down at her. "Come now. You look as if you haven't eaten in a week." He extends a hand.

Shiroi just kept on staring at him, without showing any signs of accepting the hand.

The man shrugs, and sits down on the ground next to her. "Perhaps introductions are in order? My name is Taran. I couldn't help but notice you as I walked down this road, here."

Shiroi closed her eyes again, and leaned her head back against the wall again. "You're not being truthful," she said, slowly, as she exhaled slowly, as if tired.

Taran looks at her. "What do you mean? I have indeed, been called Taran."

Shiroi inhaled slowly. "You're not being truthful," she said again, still as slow as before.

Crulath looks her over. "All right. I was trying to spare myself some hard feelings. I'm Crulath. And you are Shiroi."

Shiroi gave a slight nod. "That's better."

Crulath sighs. "You've heard of me, no doubt. The Blades have hated me for a while, now."

Shiroi kept her eyes closed. "That is none of my business."

Crulath nods. "Perhaps we can talk? I think I have somethings that might be of use to you."

Shiroi murmured, as if her mind's not quite on the subject at hand. "It's too early in the day to dream... The sunlight... So revealing... Piercing... So harshly real..."

Crulath looks at her. "Perhaps we could find a place out of the light?"

Shiroi gave another slight nod, her head making a small tap against the wall. "That... would be best."

Crulath stands, and offers her his hand, again. "I know a place. Come with me?"

Shiroi nodded, her head making another tap against the wall. "Sure..." and she slowly stood, and stretched slightly, rotating her head and her hips.

Crulath gives Shiroi his arm, as a gentleman.

Shiroi gives Crulath that look again, reproaching him.

Shiroi's eyes are strangely solemn, as if offended.

Crulath looks at her. "All right, as you wish."

Crulath doesn't do anything visible. But one instant, they stand in the street, the next, in a restaurant, waiting to be seated.

Shiroi looked around herself, and shook her head. "I'm disappointed."

Crulath looks at her, confused. "What do you mean?"

Shiroi looked steadily at Crulath. "No wonder you are weak... For all your power, you can only see what your eyes tell you... Such a person, I cannot help..." And she turned and walked slowly out of the resturant.

The restaurant reminds Shiroi, most likely, of a restaurant at home. The people are dressed nicely, the tables are set, there's not a sword or weapon to be seen. Some light music wafts in from a corner somewhere, and candles sit at the tables. The smells of food come from a kitchen off to the left, beyond the entrance.

Crulath shrugs, and follows her to the door exiting the restaurant. "I think you may need some help heading home. . ."

The door opens to a foreign city. One never before seen.

Shiroi walked ons steadily, as if it all mattered little to her. "You wanted to talk?" She said

Crulath matches her pace. "I did. You don't?"

Shiroi looked on ahead of her with tired eyes. "Talk, then."

Crulath looks at her. "You're quite possibly the smartest of the Blades. While they may not be able to consider it, I think you could determine the advantage of hearing me out."

Shiroi walked on, silently, her eyes still kept in front of herself.

Crulath walks, stride for stride. "Do you want to go back home? Your real home."

Shiroi parted her lips. "It matters little to me."

Crulath shrugs. "Why throw in the with Blades, of all people? They happened to be there?"

Shiroi nodded. "Yes."

Crulath shakes his head. "You could be so much more than you are. Have you any idea your potential?"

Shiroi stopped, and turned her head over to the taller man. "Power holds no attraction to me," she said plainly, then walked on.

Crulath continues to follow her. "When did I say power, Shiroi? Besides. . .power comes in many forms."

Shiroi walked on, silent once more.

Crulath says: If you won't see reason, then there is nothing I will do to change that.

Crulath transports her back to Albrook, instead of simply leaving her there.

Shiroi opened her mouth again. "It is you who cannot see it, Crulath. Trying to force things, relying on what little power you have... That is why you do not succeed."