Lexi was nuzzling Rufus some more when she heard Kurumi call her name. Looking up she smiled brightly and said, "Hey kiddo! Ready to monkey sit for me?"

Rufus perked up a bit when he saw the girl with the cookies and the soft hair. He did love to play with her hair ever so much. Chattering a bit he started to wriggle in Lexi's arm and finally broke free. Hopping to the floor he immediately scampered up Kurumi to come to rest on her shoulder.

Lexi actually smiled brighter as she watched Rufus come to life at the sight of Kurumi. "Well, he is happy to see you."

"I think so," she nodded nervously. Truth was that she knew nothing about taking care of a monkey. She probably should have checked out a few books in the library prior to the break. Too late now.

Kurumi giggled as Rufas climbed up her leg and perched himself on her shoulder. She didn't remember little money paws tickling so much.

"I...I am not sure I really know how to properly take care of a monkey though. Does he like...bananas?"

"No need to be nervous. He is pretty self sufficient. He just needs more stability than I can give him until we get back from Asia. I am not sure where we will be staying or how long we will be gone, so it's important to me he stays with someone. We will be apparating a lot, too," she said as she dug in her rucksack for the bag marked RUFUS. Heheh.

A splinched monkey... that would be TERRIBLE. Wait -- what was she doing? OH! The bag. Extracting it she held it out for Kurumi. "Here we are. It's just a few things he likes to play with... the blanket I cover him up with." She shrugged and looked at the little guy perched on her shoulder... now hugging her head.

He was looking for something from her, wasn't he? She was certain he was, 'cause he was still apologizing even though she'd dismissed it. "I forgive you." There, now he could stop apologizing. Because if they were gonna do this, then she had a few things she should probably apologize for.

Nope, she wasn't gonna beat around the bush getting to her questions. The train ride isn't long enough for them to do that. Not anymore it wasn't now that they were both prefects. Didn't they have to patrol stuff?

She would have told him that it wouldn't have been easy to tell her earlier seeing how kept disappearing... but that would have meant interrupting his story, and it seemed to be an interesting one. Oh. "She..." That was a bit chaotic. Arya kept her voice just as low. "Does Ellie know?" Was this why he wasn't speaking with her? Nibbling on her bottom lip, she waited for him to finish speaking, and when he didn't spoke in a low voice again. "You don't have to end your friendship just 'cause of that..." Especially with the little lion, and especially when she went to him in times of need.

Phew. That was a relief. Kurumi would hate to have done something terrible to Lexi's monkey. Kurumi wouldn't be able to live with herself if that were to happen to Rufus.

Kurumi froze for a moment. Wait..Asia...DID LEXI JUST SAY ASIA?! "YOU ARE COMING TO JAPAN?!" Yes, the little Gryffindor was jumping to conclusions, but it was a fair question, right?

Lexi chuckled a little bit and nodded. "Sal and I are starting in India... then going wherever the wind blows us really. I want to see Tibet, the Taj Mahal, Mumbai, Japan, China... ANYWHERE we can go. And we are backpacking, so it will be just us and Wasabi this trip. Just in case. And I can always call Daisy to us if we get into trouble. I think... it'll be good for us to be away from everything for a while."

That made him feel better, actually, that she'd accepted his apologies. Nice, Arya, very nice. He just nodded in return.

She did seem to be in quite a hurry to figure things out. Well, he wasn't going to 'patrol' the train this time around, yet he could pretend he was when he went on the lookout for his favorite Ravenclaw, right? Yes, of course, he could pretend.

"The Trophy Room part? No, I didn't think it was something I should say," because, after all, that part only concerned Kurumi, and he wasn't going to go around telling people how she felt about him. "I'm not...ending things...the problem is, that a couple weeks ago she kissed me," Kurumi, of course, then again, he also kissed Ellie on the day he told her, but he was talking about Kurumi at the moment, "I kissed her back," THAT was the important part of the story, because he could care less about the part where Kurumi kissed him, the one thing that affected him in the end was his mistake. "Ellie knows that bit." And Arya knew the rest of the story.

"I told Kurumi that space was most necessary again," and then she came around with cupcakes. Sigh.

Kurumi was bouncing around a bit now - probably causing Rufus some discomfort. "I hope I am back in Japan when you come. I'd love to show you around. That is, assuming my mother would let me leave the house after getting back from my study abroad."

Arya was silent for a long moment, processing what he was saying. "... It was her you kissed?" No more questions as to why, it only seemed to confuse them both even more. And she didn't need to be confused even more than she was hearing that he kissed her BACK. He kissed her back, and... "Do you like her? Kurumi I mean." Or was it just a kiss? Was there ever such a thing?

"I guess it makes sense... why Ellie won't speak with you." Because had Sabel done the same thing, she'd never be able to look at him again, never be able to THINK about him again without her heart breaking into a thousand tiny pieces. "Yeah.. space makes sense now."

Treyen said nothing, he just nodded. Didn't he mention Kurumi's name from before? Maybe Arya was having trouble with this new load of information. This was the tricky part and he didn't even know it had ACTUALLY been Sierra, but he listened to whatever Arya had to say. Or ask...because she had another question.

Almost instantly he shook his head, "Not the way she wants me to," he said, resting his head on the wall, "She's more like a sister to me," someone that needed protection from all the wrong things in the world. Kind of like Arya, but Arya was very well fending off for herself. She had Aaron and Treyen to worry about, really.

He made no comments, though, on what Arya said next. Yes, it all made sense, but...,"I want her, Arya," he said, looking down for a moment, "Ellie," that's what he'd told Finn, "I miss her," obviously. "And I'll talk to her again, even if it is to say goodbye."

Then why was he smiling today? Because she had to be on the train, right? And...it's not like she could escape from him if she was here. So, she'll listen or not.

Louisa frowned and looked up at her friend. How could she be so sure that Dallin wasn't mean? And cared about Louisa?! "If you'd seen him today when he talked to me, you would know I'm telling the truth," He shouted at her!!! And didn't meet her eyes! He didn't even care when she wiped her eyes in front of him!! Usually, he'd try to cheer her up by either going for a walk –which wasn't an option in the train- or telling her about the ocean.

"He was just so weird.. and serious. He shouldn't be serious! That was me! I was the serious one and he was the one with the jokes! That's the true equation." With a shaky sigh, she shook her head, "We're not close friends anymore, I guess," According to him. As for Louisa, she was far deeper than a close friend. "I just want to go back to liking him a little. Just as when we first met in here, and then in classes. I don't want to be his close friend," Because that'd mean many things going on around her that she couldn't handle; Ellie would be around him most of the time, for starters, and then he wouldn't climb trees, swim, or sock-slide with her, not to mention their study sessions which were a big failure but at least she sat next to him and talked about things. Thanks Ellie for ruining my bond with one of my.. best friends.

She nodded, at Vashti's invitation, "I'll ask Marina and let you know, then. We're going to owl each other every week, right?" Her eyes were pleading; She didn't stay in touch with her friend much before because of her aunt but this summer, she was going to spend most of her time in the leaky cauldron. She will make sure of this.

Well that was good, wasn't it? Hopefully made things just a teensy bit easier. Hopefully. "I get that," The sister thing. Arya had lots of guy friends that were like brothers to her, including him. She wouldn't point out that Sabel once held that category, because really, he didn't. He'd always had his own special category. Must have been the Gryffindor in him.

Arya couldn't help but smile softly at his next words. So funny to hear him say that when he once used to say he didn't even like her. "Then you should go find her," She pushed herself off the wall and moved over to him, taking his hands and pulling him off his wall of shame. "The train's not that big, I'm sure you'll find her in no time." Dropping his hands in favor of throwing an arm over his shoulders, and starting him down the corridor. "I bet she wants to see you too, even if she acts like she doesn't." It was all an act to protect herself from getting hurt again, and Treyen wouldn't do THAT again. Arya was certain of it.

Nessie couldn't exactly hear Rose. She was too bussy running after Puffles. He just kept going and going like the time before. "PUFFLES!!!!" shouted Nessie. She was seriously going to be mad with her pygmy puff later. As Nessie chased after him, she had to run around people standing in the corridor, which made her go pretty slow. So Puffles was now fairly ahead, not listening to a single letter Nessie was saying. "COME BACK!!!" She just kept running, seeing as shouting deffinately wasn't working.

Starting to get out of breathe she felt the need to stop, but she couldn't. She couldn't just let him go, he wouldn't be able to find her later and he could get hurt. So she kept going and going her legs getting more and more tired. Then out of nowhere she by accident placed her left foot on top of her right toes and tripped flat on her face.

>_______<

Great! How embarressing! She thought she had gotten over her clumsy stage. Why am I so unlucky. The moment I need to be unclumsy, I trip and fall. Puffles was going to be in huge trouble when she found him.
She then looked up to see a few people standing in the corridor. At least it wasn't the whole school thought Ness to herself. Really embarressed she slowly started getting up. This deffinately wasn't her day. "You are so gonna pay Puffles" said Nessie queitly to herself.

Good. That she got what he meant, so, really, he didn't like the Gryffindor girl that way. Not that it mattered much at the moment, because he still had other problems to attend to, apparently.

Huh?

Yeah, he knew he had to talk to her, and the train was the best chance he was going to get, the Platform was full of uncertainty and then they were off for the summer. It had to be today, like, soon...and...say what, Arya? Right. Not soon, but now. There was a smirk on his face as he allowed to be pushed and whatnot along the corridor.

But..."I'm not so sure about that," really, he wasn't. Either way, it seemed that Arya didn't mind if he went off to find her, right? "Like, now?" ah, he was suddenly terrified, but confident enough to speak to her if he found her, "I'll...see you later?" yeah, Arya, you go on and patrol the train, he wasn't going to do that.

And he started to walk away from his best friend, turning one last time to look at her.

Vashti sighed. "No, I don't think I would," she said. Louisa was probably just blinded by her hurt and took it out on Dallin, making herself believe that he was mean and cruel when he actually wasn't. Vashti didn't know him very well, of course, but he didn't seem like a very mean person when she'd met him a few days ago. The Ravenclaw didn't add on any of that though because she really couldn't be one hundred percent sure on it. She'd never had her heart broken like this, so she didn't truly know what it was like. (Reading books probably count.)

"Maybe he's just sad to be leaving Hogwarts," she suggested. "That sometimes makes people less out-going and more serious." Especially when that person was graduating - but Dallin was just ending his fifth year like Vashti, so that wasn't it. But even so, leaving Hogwarts was kind of sad, even if it was only for a few months.

But she didn't want to be Dallin's "close friend," anymore? Oh Louisa. "That's up to you then, I think," Vashti said slowly. "If you don't want to be one of his close friends, then don't hang out with him as much. Distance yourself from him." It was that simple. Or it seemed that way to her.

She nodded as Louisa seemed to accept the possibility of coming over to visit Vashti. "Yeah. I've got my own owl now, so it'll be easier to send letters." As opposed to having to go to the Owl Post Office, as she would normally have to do if she wanted to send a letter to any of her Hogwarts friends.

She wouldn't? Louisa frowned at her. "You don't believe me!?" Private issue or not, she was not letting Vashti side with Dallin... not against her anyways. And yes, Louisa knew they weren't in a war. "He shouted at me and didn't even look into my eyes when he talked. He said he was looking for me to ask why I hadn't said 'hi' at the feast, but I'm not stupid! He just came across my compartment and was polite enough to greet me."

When she stopped, she realized how agitated she was- breathing hard, too. She folded her arms and glared at one or two of the students who gave them confused looks, and they scattered away quickly. Back to Vashti, "Leaving Hogwarts didn't make him him as bad tempered as today when we talked about it few days ago." She met her friends' eyes, "Don't try to justify him, Vashti. He's hurt-" her throat went suddenly stuck and she had to hem a bit before continuing, "-me. And I..." Another lump that caught in her throat and this time she didn't bother completing her sentence.

Distance herself from Dallin? Louisa seemed surprised at this. It was simple.. too simple, actually, that she was frightened. They were going to stay apart for almost three months before the next term. He said he wasn't going home and that meant even if Louisa decided to call him, afterall, she wouldn't be able to. Whether she liked it or not, Louisa was actually not seeing him or have anything to do with him for a very long time. Distance herself from him, in other words. Her face went pale quickly, "yeah." She mumbled to agree with Vashti but she was scared- she did not want not to see him for that long! Even when he shouted at her and said that he had a girlfriend and all! She still wanted him to be around. Whenever she looked for him, she must find him. That was what seemed right to her.

Lexi smiled at her little cublet, but couldn't help feeling as though she had let her down this term. Oh well... things were better now and to be honest, Lexi hadn't the energy to rehash the term's nonsense right now.

"Well I think perhaps I can come to your house as long as your mother doesn't mind. It's not really an issue. Perhaps I will save Japan for last and I can fetch Rufus then," she said with a small smile. The monkey seemed okay with that idea. So Lexi would let it be.

Kurumi couldn't help but think that Lexi was having a deep thought for a brief moment, but it seemed to come and go as quickly as a breeze.

"As long as you don't perform magic in front of her and, well, don't discuss magic at all when she is around it will be fine," Kurumi said, squirming just a little. "Mother might be afraid of magic and not be too fond of witches and wizards, but she likes you. She has said so."

...

"Ummm... I am not sure I can do that. I... I am so obviously a witch, aren't I?" Lexi asked after a moment. She was not positive that she could get around not saying things about magic.

Anyway... it was starting to get crowded in the corridor and Lexi was not liking it. So with a smile she said, "I will send Wasabi to you and we can decide something later. I need to go. Please take really good care of Rufus." Then she was gone making her way through the crowd back toward the back of the train.

"I..." But before Vashti could even speak, Louisa practically blew up, rapidly listing what all had happened earlier with Dallin, and Vashti could only stand there and listen and try to stay calm. It wasn't that she didn't believe Louisa or that she thought she was a liar or anything like that - she just didn't think her friend had a very objective view on the situation. Which was okay, she wasn't really expecting her too. Louisa had a crush on a guy and it hadn't worked out so far. Vashti didn't expect her to just shrug it off, but she thought what Louisa needed was someone (i.e. Vashti) to give an objective view on the situation. Was she wrong?

Maybe?

She'd never gone through this sort of thing herself, so how would she know? How was it that Louisa, who was younger than her, was experiencing this sort of thing before her?

Merlin's beard.

Talking about it a few days ago didn't upset him? Vashti was going to reply with something about the difference between talking about something and experiencing something and how a person might be more upset by one over the other - but Louisa once again spoke before she could. "I'm not trying to justify him," she said, frowning. And then - well, Merlin, what could she possibly say to that? Dallin had hurt Louisa, even if he hadn't intended to, there was no way to disagree with that. So what was there to say?

Nothing.

So remaining silent, Vashti moved to stand beside Louisa and put an arm around the girl's shoulders in an effort to comfort her. Words couldn't do that now.

Louisa leaned her head on Vashti's shoulder, the girl was a little taller than her and that came in handy sometimes, and sighed, "Sorry." She seemed to say this a lot to Vashti lately and that made her feel bad. She should remember to get her friend an I-Am-Sorry gift for all the times that were to come.. just to show that she was really sorry.

Anyways, her mind was busy with all this After-Dallin situation. "I don't think I can keep myself distant from him." She said suddenly, after a few minutes of silence. "Do you think we will end up like those Pirates from the old ship?" She gasped and snapped her head up to look at Vashti, horrified yet amused by the idea! A bit dramatic but.. wow! "Maybe we won't meet anymore but after we die, our spirits will take possession of other people and try to find each other until.." Her eyes were beyond Vashti's face now... way beyond.

"I'm sure... I'll be sure for both of us." She grinned at him, obviously knowing that this was a brilliant idea. No better time like the present, right? Arya nodded her head, stepping out of the way of a smaller student as she lightened up on the leading since he wasn't fighting it. "Right now."

Dropping her arm, she wiggled her fingers at her friend. "I'll see you later," She nodded again. He had to tell her how the meeting went! Couldn't leave her hanging alll summer. Or hanging until she saw him again in the summer. The prefect watched her best friend wander off to find the girl he cared so much for before she too headed off to do prefect things... maybe by the trolley?

"S'okay," she replied quietly, accepting the apology. She didn't really think it was necessary, but she accepted it anyway. Vashti couldn't possibly be mad at Louisa, not when she was so obviously hurt already.

Vashti merely nodded at her friend's next statement. She supposed it was understandable. If you liked someone a lot, you probably didn't want to stay away from them for too long, even if they had hurt you. And then, suddenly, Louisa seemed to perk up, suddenly talking about the pirates and the ship and spirits possessing people. She hadn't been at the Flying Final when all of the crazyness had happened - stupid OWLs - but she'd heard plenty of it from other people. And Louisa thought her and Dallin's spirits might behave the same way those pirates' spirits had?

"You've still got your whole life ahead of you, Louisa," she said. "You might meet someone you like even more than Dallin between now and then." Louisa probably didn't want to hear that, but it was true. She still had plenty of years to go before she really needed to think about finding her true love and all that stuff.

Kurumi shrugged her shoulders. "I'd still love it if you could come," she said, only slightly pleading with her eyes. She was sure that her father would be able to keep the woman distracted well enough.

Before she could say another wood, Rufus was on her shoulder, chattering into her ear and wrapping his arms around her neck. Wait...was he picking things out of her hair? She sure hoped not.

"Have a safe trip Lexi!" Kurumi waved as the blonde vanished in a sea of people.

The younger girl pouted at her friend's answer. She's got all her life? No way! "I don't want to find my true love," She folded her arms, "I don't even know how a true love is found. All I know is I want to hang out with Dallin all my life," that sounded… stupid. "And talk to him," did this fix it? Meh, Vashti got the idea probably. "I don't want my spirit to be a pirate though. I bet mine will be like… Nicholas Flamel's spirit!" She grinned, all the tears and sadness were buried somewhere. "I don't know how his spirit is but I'm sure it's great and fast and nice." She nodded confidently, he was one of the greatest inventors in the Wizardy world afterall.

"Dal's spirit would be even better than Flamel's and mine," Her gaze went dreamy all of a sudden, "His will be energetic, a perfect flier, and won't drive people mad," did she just flirted with his spirit? Gulp. Okay, she so needed to rest and eat something other than chocolate. Her pale face and red eyes recommended it too.