~ Episode Twenty-Nine ~
A Change of Hands:
The Fears That Define Our Existence
“We’ll see you inside,” Shinji said. The Star Warriors stood out in the hall amidst the sleepy confusion of teachers and students alike returning to their classes after the battle with Grandar. He nodded to Eri and Mackenzie as Evan worked an ankle into a stubborn indoor shoe, beside him.
“Yeah,” Mackenzie said. “We’re right behind you.”
With a nod, he turned to head into 208-B, pausing for a half-second to realize Evan hadn’t waited for him. Shinji sighed and trudged past the threshold, alone.
“Close call out there,” Mackenzie murmured, coolly.
Eri nodded from where she leaned against the doorframe hugging herself in wait for Macks to switch out of her outdoor shoes. It was all she could think about. Grandar snatching her in mid-fight. Flying off with her. Shinji’s declaration to Evan before the battle even begun. “Get Seruma out of here!”
And the obvious question that begged to be asked:
Why?
Movement turned her attention up the hallway. There, she noticed Isa Keitel hedge careful steps towards the roof access door near Mrs. Dupont’s classroom.
The sight of her stirred alive the butterflies in Eri’s stomach. “I still can’t believe Isa’s the Child of Destiny…”
“Why do you keep saying that? Literally no one else thinks so.” She could almost feel the steam off of Mackenzie’s ears. “But if she is the Child of Destiny, then no wonder you’re so distracted by her. Maybe you’re just sensing her magic or something.”
Eri blinked. “…Her magic?”
“Didn’t Shinji say something about that? That we’ll all just naturally gravitate towards whoever the Child of Destiny is, because of how her magic works? – Anyway, it explains your dumb little crush.”
…Crush…? Eri’s face radiated, but she didn’t take the bait to defend herself. Instead, her gaze lingered on Isa grazing fingertips along the now-unscathed face of the access door, where the Fire Hammer had earlier bashed it down.
“But – you don’t feel that way about her, do you?”
“Eh?!” Mackenzie froze, her face the color of Arctic daylight. “WHAT. OF COURSE NOT. I’M NOT – WHAT ARE YOU IMPLY – I – I LIKE – BOYS – JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER D-DUMB GIRL IN THIS SCHOOL.”
“Why are you being so defensive? It’s just a question. Anyway—I don’t know that I like boys that way. I don’t know that I like anybody that way.”
“WELL, YOU’RE JUST EXTRA DUMB.”
Eri frowned at her, then looked back up the hallway and caressed a warm cheek, embracing the swell in her chest when Isa cast a sudden look their way – almost like she’d sensed Eri watching her. The new girl blushed, drew away from the roof access, and darted into the bathroom.
If this really was a crush, and if this was what a crush really felt like, Eri couldn’t help but to hope that it ran deeper than simply “sensing magic”.
“What’s with that Red-eye crap she called you, anyhow? She’s so rude and obnoxious. I don’t get what you even like about her, anyway.” Mackenzie shot to a stand and dragged Eri into class by the wrist. “Come on, lover-girl. Ugh, whatever. Until Shinji says for sure she’s the Child of Destiny, I couldn’t care less about Isa Keitel. And neither should you.”
~
The rest of the day went on in relative normalcy. French class, followed by English, then Social Studies. Last recess came and went from the inside of 208-B in favor of a pop quiz that served as punishment to those who found amusement in Evan’s drowsiness during a lecture on Anne Frank.
Phys Ed capped the school day. Eri – given permission to opt out of running laps and a game of dodge ball – spent the time doing homework, tucked away within the shadows of the gymnasium’s stage with everyone’s bags and change of clothes.
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She had missed a lot of P.E. recently – something Shinji noticed right away over the past week, since it was her favorite subject. Today the revelation gave way to worry that distracted him so much that he was knocked from his team’s roster immediately by a blow from Josh Hamilton (who seemed to take great pleasure in the “kill”).
Strangely, Mackenzie hadn’t been in attendance, either. She’d been dismissed to the nurse’s office shortly after the pop quiz, on claims of nausea. Shinji wondered if she’d gone home early.
When school let out for the day, Shinji found Eri waiting in the lobby for her ride as lower-grade kids spilled through the airlock past her towards the oncoming of busses and parental pick-up. Overhead, dark clouds swelled the sky with the threat of rain like a spider’s egg sac close-to-burst.
“Hey.” He hedged careful steps forward, stopping a safe distance from Eri. “Uh … You gonna be okay?”
Eri found him over her shoulder. She offered a weak smile. “…Yeah. I’m fine. Just not feeling well.”
Her gaze lowered, searching thoughts that swam in silence.
“Shinji—Why do you think that Monster went after me today?”
The corners of Shinji’s mouth flexed to answer the question. But the truth refused to present itself, instead dancing around an active bonfire on his tongue. He offered a helpless shrug.
Eri studied him with a wrinkled nose, then let her chin drop as she mulled it over. A deep sadness hung behind her eyes. Confusion, too.
The sight squeezed Shinji’s heart into a bloodied, guilty, pulp.
I’m hurting her.
“Seruma—”
“Anyway, it’s good you’re still here. I got something for you.” Eri rooted around inside her backpack. She presented her Game Boy fanny pack.
“Your Monster Orbs?” Shinji murmured, surprised.
“They’re no good to me while I’m grounded. You guys might as well use ‘em for now.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. You might be grounded, but you still need to protect yourself.”
“Protection from what? Not like I’ll be going on patrol with you guys any time soon.” She slung her schoolbag over-shoulder and stepped towards Shinji with her fanny pack outstretched.
He stepped away from her with a jolt of fear that came with the lingering memories of her rejection earlier that day.
But Eri stepped closer. “Please, they’re no good to anyone stuffed away in my vanity with my Garbage albums.” She pushed the fanny pack into his hands.
Shinji flinched from her touch—from her pleading eyes, her signature scent. The innocence he felt he’d stolen from her. With a shudder of guilt, he tilted back the flap. Nagamani, Kyupo, Cloria, and Zorfus gleamed up at him from within the black-and-neon-pink folds.
Shinji regarded Eri with a bad feeling in his guts. “Seruma…”
“I mean … um … you can use them, right?” She nervously tapped index fingers together. “I know you said you have trouble undoing most Seals like you can with Shiara, but…”
“…No.” He sighed. “No. These will help a lot. Are you sure?”
Eri nodded, rosy-cheeked. “I’m sure.”
Shinji looked up to find a red Ford Explorer that had just pulled up in front of the school. Noah Seruma was behind the wheel, peering right at them through the passenger-side window. There was an almost hostile intensity about Eri’s brother as he tapped fingertips against the steering wheel with a steady, impatient, beat.
“Uh … I think your ride’s here.”
Eri took one glance out the airlock’s double doors and shifted with discomfort. “Shinji, I – didn’t get to say it earlier but…”
She hesitated.
“Seruma? What is it?”
“I – Um – Thanks. For saving my bacon today.” Eri flashed Shinji a weak smile and pushed through the airlock to meet her brother. “Um, see you.”
“You too, Seruma.” Shinji waved goodbye.
“Hey, Shinji, by the way—”
“Yeah?”
Eri offered another smile over her shoulder – this time a sheepish one. “What did you give up for Lent?”
“Lent?” The question stuck Shinji with an off-guard shrug. “Chocolate, I think. Probably. The usual … Uh, what about you?”
Eri started to answer when a sharp blare from the Explorer stole her attention. She glared at Noah, then threw a final look Shinji’s way.
“Being scared,” she said. “I don’t wanna be scared anymore.”
“Scared?” Shinji chewed on this while Eri pushed past the doors to meet her brother. He watched her climb into the passenger side of the Explorer before it peeled around the bus-only lane and vanished up Northgate Drive.
Being scared was all they knew.
Fighting through fear was all they knew.
The vow for Lent was a curious one. Because as far as Shinji knew, Eri had turned out to be one of the bravest kids he’d ever known.
He pondered this for a time, until out the corner of his eye, Isa Keitel appeared off the edge of the school where the utility garage and recycling bins all were.
She looked deep in thought, head bowed and fists tight around the straps of her backpack. Waist-length scarlet hair fluttered behind her as she trekked down the small hill past the bus route towards Fletcher Street, off of Northgate.
Shinji’s gaze narrowed at the sight of her leaving the school grounds. The Spirit Pendant vibrated within the folds of his jeans pocket. He pushed past the lobby doors and headed that way, too.