Gazing at the stars (ISO Ryuu) - the 'original'

Participating characters:
Debora Ajdelsztajn
Ryuu Riccardo Nefis

Status: Partially complete/History

Last Post: Unknown





Debora Ajdelsztajn
Almost a week has passed since Debora arrived at the Hangout. So far, she had received only one letter from her mother, and that was the day she arrived. What were they doing in France that was so important that her parents couldn't write a letter to their own daughter? And if it was really a business trip, how come Alex could go with them? Debora had her doubts about it, but she had no clue about what they could possibly be doing there.

With these doubts wandering through her mind, Debora decided she needed some fresh air. The girl knew it was late since most of her roomates at the cabin were already asleep, but she didn't mind. It would be useless trying to sleep know, so she would just go for a walk.

So, the young Gryffindor put on some clothes and grabbed the box of cookies from her bedside table and walked out of the door, not really minding where she was going. Those cookies had been her saving this past week. The cafeteria food was awful so she ate there as little as she could.

After a few minutes, Debora found herself in her favorite spot at the gardens. There was a white bench, surrounded by blooming flowers, and even though it was dark, she could still see their beautiful colors. Besides, she just loved the scent of them.

So, Debora sat there with her dark locks flying with the cold wind, and pulling her arms close together. Even though it has been a hot day, the nights were always cold. She looked up at the night sky, and munched one cookie as she tried to forget the real reason why she had come outside.

Ryuu R Nefis
Another night, another rare encounter with serenity and tranquility...

Ryuu wandered through the camp grounds not caring where he ended up. At night Ryuu was at home at the Hangout, it was the time that few spent time outside their warm bunks. Most would be asleep or else they would be spending the night with friends before finally hitting the hay in the wee hours of the morning.

Ryuu was a nocturnal creature, he spent the hotter hours of a summer day asleep indoors as fellow campers wreaked the tranquility that now greeted him with water games to beat the heat and woke to explore the grounds when the exhauster students returned to their cabins. When the day was at its coolest, so was Ryuu Riccardo Nefis. These were the times he would be at peace and should he meet any of those who knew him for his fiery temper and cold nature they would have thought that he was ill for it was now that he was not like himself, where he was in the softest of moods.

His aimless wandering brought him into the gardens. There wasn't much to see as most of the flora too were asleep, save a rare orchid that was in bloom that night. A spectacular display of colours that ended in ten seconds before the flower perished, never to bloom again in its life. Ryuu watched as it opened it's fragile petals to the tender caress of the moon's light before slowly fading in splendor and darkening with a dull blackish tinge before falling off it's stem dead. The lion then moved on.

Walking through the sleeping rose garden now Ryuu tenderly teased the closed petals of the flowers that were often used to symbolise love be it for the living or the dead. Playfully he stroked the soft petals before moving on yet again. Ryuu was was virtually alone - or so he thought - as he displayed to the sleeping world the softer side of him, one that perhaps even Ms Shigami would not have believed he possesed.

Continuing to dwell in that illusion Ryuu pulled his coat tighter about him as he slipped into a dream like state, recalling fragments of his childhood in the Nefis Pilazzo, then his brief weeks at Levet Chase - that was until he saw a lone figure seated before him at the garden's fountain. A brief scan through his recollections of the people he had met at camp told him that it was none other than Debora Ajdelsztajn. Ryuu smiled, the young man appreciated what little company he could enjoy.

"Good day Ms Ajdelsztajn." Ryuu greeted as he approached the huddled figure. "Is it not too cold to be out without a coat?" Without wait for her reply Ryuu had taken off his outer coat and had laid it on her shoulders. A gesture considered normal in the Nefis household. Every member of the family took care of each other to the best of their ability.

Debora Ajdelsztajn
The moon shone brightly in the sky, making the stars even more evident than they usually were. Looking up, Debora pondered how they could send so much light to the earth if they were hundreds of thousands of miles away. She hadn't reached to a conclusion when a voice reached her ears and for once, she wasn't startled. Maybe it was because the voice had been calm so.

"Good day Ms Ajdelsztajn."

The girl looked back down from the stars and stood up, her cookie box forgotten for a moment on the white bench. And who did she turn to see? Ryuu Nefis. Appearently, he liked to show up when most people would not be around.

"He must be a fan of the quiet." Debora told herself. She knew other people who liked the peace of not having people around. And she had to admit, a lot of times, she was like them. But company couldn't hurt now. The girl had things she wanted to forget about and as much as she liked the stars, they alone were not doing the job.

"Is it not too cold to be out without a coat?" Ryuu added, before she could even answer his greeting and all she could do was mutter a surprised, but pleased, "Oh!" when he took out his own coat and put it around her shoulders. This was something not many would have done these days. It seemed that the more the years passed, the more uneducated the people became.

"Thank you Mr. Nefis, but are you not to be cold yourself?" Debora said looking straight at his eyes, and even though it was night, she could still see their emerald green color. They didn't held anger, like on their last encounter. It had not been held against her, but it was still good to see that they were different tonight. "It is my own fault I did not take my coat on my way out, and you should not be cold on my account."

"And I believe I already asked you to call me by my first name." she said with a small smile. Her comment was not said in a rude way. Quite the contrary, actually. Her voice only implied only the politeness she was so accustomed to use. "I don't think we need such formalities." she added.

The first time they met, they hadn't exchanged many words for another girl, Ryoko Shigami, had arrived. Ryuu had been clearly irritated and took it out on Ryoko. Why? She didn't know. But she knew that Ryoko could have saved a lot of things to herself instead of saying them aloud.

After he had left, the newcomer had been most upset, and Debora had tried to calm her, but she didn't know if it had really worked or not. Debora doubted this would happen again this time, for it was highly unlikely someone should decide to show up at the gardens at this hour. Though before she thought no one was to come here and Ryuu showed up..

Ryuu R Nefis

Philio: brotherly love...

"Oh! Thank you Mr. Nefis, but are you not to be cold yourself? It is my own fault I did not take my coat on my way out, and you should not be cold on my account."

Ryuu chuckled before proceeding to reply. "Considering how long I've survived in harsher conditions than this, yes I believe I will survive." He answered somewhat cooly - due to lack of practise - as he leaned against the nearest tree and folded his arms. "And besides, I believe long sleeves would be more than sufficient in providing me with some protection against the winds."

"... I believe I already asked you to call me by my first name. I don't think we need such formalities."

"Ah my apologies Ms... Debora, it is hard to change a habit implemented since childhood. As they often say, a leopard never changes it's spots." he had replied half jokingly "But I will try. It will take some time to accustom myself to the strange culture you have here. It feels highly informal not to address one by one's title. Afterall a title is earned as is respect is it not? Why not credit one for one's hard work? Of course few here have achieved much to credit them for..."

Ryuu's voice had trailed off as he recalled his encounter with Ryoko Shigami, her appearance and her behavior had led to his following conclusions. First of all from the clothes she wore and her physical appearance, he concluded that she was of oriental origin, most likely one from Japan. From her behavior he had only one thing in mind, she was not one from a civilised class, or at least she did not display it. Unless it was custom where she came from the behave the way she did, Ryoko had few excuses to back up her childish conduct.

Turning to gaze at the stars Ryuu reverted away from the subject of Ryoko Shigami and commented "To tell you the truth, I did not expect to see you here at this hour. DO you come out in the night often?" He asked, turning to look at the girl who now dorned his coat as he addressed her once more.

"Do forgive me for my... unexceptable behavior this morning, it is very unbecoming of me to act the way I did. Though for some reason, I just do not quite like Ms Shigami... Perhaps it might be because of a bad experience I had with people of her origin." For the first time since his liberation, Ryuu had apologised for his actions. During his unvoluntary imprisonment Ryuu had struck when he fancied and never said a word of regret.

Speaking of memories, Ryuu had finally figured out why he had been drawn towards Debora Ajdelsztajn. As he had lain on his bunk that afternoon he had dove deep into his store of memories and found the link; Debora had reminded him of Vera Nefis.

Vera, Ryuu's childhood disciplinarian but one with a kind heart. She was harsh to him when he truely offended someone and dishonoured the Nefis name but even after his father had struck him with the cane she would still welcome him into her arms as he wept from the pain that had been inflicted on him. Vera would even help treat his wounds and ease his pain when the blows were severe enough to cut through his skin. True, Debora did not possess Vera's emerald green eyes or flowing red hair but she did possess a heart of similar depth in forgiveness and maturity. They even bore the same smile...

Abruptly, Ryuu turned away. All this while he had been unconsciously staring at Debora as he compared the girl to his mental image of Vera. It had been rather unlike him to have stared so intently at someone, let alone someone of the opposite gender.

"My aplogies Debora... I shouldn't have been staring at you like that. It's just that... you remind me of Vera..." Ryuu began "Vera is a sister of mine, and you have much in common with her when it comes to inner beauty." he continued with a wry smile. "I guess that is why I respect you so much, you remind a lot of her and a little of Katrina and Cassandra as well. Would you mind if I... I treated you as my sister?" the lion asked, blushing slightly as he did so.

Debora Ajdelsztajn

((Prepare yourself, this is going to be a very long post :p))

Debora could not contest such a direct response so she nodded with a smile. She was grateful he hadn´t taken his coat back for it had provided her with the warmth her clothes alone could not have done. Adjusting herself to it with her head lowered, her black curls falling in front of her face as she did so, her mind wondered what the boy had meant about living in harsher conditions than this. That expression usually meant one has lived a hard life, but his manners told her otherwise. The more he spoke, the more intrigued Debora was, and what he said next only helped to instigate her curiosity.

"Ah my apologies Ms... Debora, it is hard to change a habit implemented since childhood. As they often say, a leopard never changes it's spots."

At this, Debora raised her head once again and she addressed him with her usual polite manner, but as if accepting a challenge: to truly convince him that he shouldn´t call her by the name Ajdelsztajn.

"A leopard may never change its spots, but it still hides in the bushes if defense or attack is needed. If you wish, I shall continue to call you by your title, Mr. Nefis, but I cannot see why call me by my surname when I still haven´t accomplished anything worth keeping it other than behave as one in my family would." Her voice didn´t hold anger in any way, but passion. The passion of someone who wanted to accomplish something one day. "If I am to be called by my title, I might as well achieve something for myself, instead of just boast over the fact that I´m called by it."

As she finished, she looked away from his emerald eyes for a moment, like she was afraid he would read her true feelings. The truth was that she rather resented her title, as much as she resented her society. Why try so hard to keep up a name when because of it you weren´t even allowed to love? The only place where she had the luxury of being called by her first name was at Hogwarts.

The young girl gazed back at Ryuu, a small smile placed on her lips to assure that he couldn´t read her feelings. Then her gazed followed his to the stars.

"To tell you the truth, I did not expect to see you here at this hour. DO you come out in the night often?"

"There are many things in life we do not expect, Mr Nefis." Her smile broadened and she jokingly quoted the exact sentence Ryuu had used that morning. "But do not be fooled, the nights are not always my friends, though lately I seem to have taken a liking for them."

Indeed, the number of nights she had spent out had increased, specially since she had arrived home for the summer.

Then, Ryuu apologized for the way he had acted that morning. Debora noticed he hesitated a little before he spoke. No matter, to have apologized at all showed how he was indeed well-bread despite of his lapse. Debora made a slight motion with her right hand, to assure him that it was ok. She understood him.

"I forgive you Mr Nefis, but I don´t think I should be the one who you should seek for forgiveness. It wasn´t me who you offended." Debora began, recalling the moments after Ryuu had left the lake. How Ryoko had been distressed.
"You were hard on her, although, I can see what made you become irritated so. Perhaps Ryoko could have saved some of her thoughts too. And you had previously apologized to us for your coldness whether you showed it or not, so you should not trouble yourself."

After this, Ryuu stood there, his back against the tree, but his eyes, staring at her. And for a few moments, she couldn´t not bring herself to say anything. Her big brown eyes, stared right back at him with a deep look, one she used a lot when she was trying to figure someone out. Debora didn´t undertand why he was looking at her like that, and she could not help but to lose herself in his beautiful emerald eyes. He was so different from any boy she ever met that it was indeed interesting to watch him. When he suddenly turned away, she moved to stare at the sleeves of Ryuu´s coat she was wearing. He was rather bigger than her and she could hardly see her own hands. Ashamed of staring back at him, her face blushed as she did so. The gryffindor was glad that it was rather dark and hoped he wouldn´t be able to see her change of color.

When she thought she was finally done blushing, her face felt warm yet again and she blushed even harder than before.

"As your sister?"

Was she disappointed? No, of course not, why would she be?

And before she spoke again, she let out a cute giggle. Debora sounded perhaps more like an average girl now than any other time she had addressed him.

"I´d be honored! That I remind you of someone who you seem to be so fond of. I´d be glad to." she said, smiling and sending him a look of affection. "She´s lucky to have a brother who thinks so much of her."

Her own brothers probably didn´t think much about her. They were fit for the family´s routine, and thought her very odd. A girl who´s fonder of books than the town´s parties could only be so strange..

Ryuu R Nefis

Debora had appeared to be on the verge of asking something but had later on decided on keeping the thought to herself. Not that Ryuu minded, one could lead a horse to water but you couldn't force it to drink, and forcing someone to speak her mind was not what he had been taught.

"A leopard may never change its spots, but it still hides in the bushes if defense or attack is needed. If you wish, I shall continue to call you by your title, Mr. Nefis, but I cannot see why call me by my surname when I still haven´t accomplished anything worth keeping it other than behave as one in my family would."

The girl had sounded relatively cold about it. Perhaps there was more to her than what met his eyes. Ryuu made a mental note to get to know those within his company, but to what degree the lions was uncertain. Would he be able to find another he related well with? Thoughts aside, he waiting for her to continue.

"If I am to be called by my title, I might as well achieve something for myself, instead of just boast over the fact that I´m called by it."

There was little resentment in her voice as Debora finished off and looked away. Had he prodded onto a much too sensitive topic? Perhaps there was more that Ryuu needed to learn, like tact and sensitivity to name a few.

"There are many things in life we do not expect, Mr Nefis." Ryuu couldn't help but put on a wry grin as Debora quoted the first words he had said to her. It was rare that people actually valued his words let alone remember them. "But do not be fooled, the nights are not always my friends, though lately I seem to have taken a liking for them."

"I wouldn't blame anyone if they prefered the night. It appears to be the only time one can find peace and tranquility without the invasion of unwanted company." Ryuu had not meant anything offensive in his comment, but he did not deny that it had been said in reference to Ryoko Shigami no matter how indirectly.

Then came the matter of his apology.

"I forgive you Mr Nefis, but I don´t think I should be the one who you should seek for forgiveness. It wasn´t me who you offended."

That was an undisputed fact. But Ryuu could not find it in himself to go up to the third year and apologise. For some reason he just couldn't. By now, Ryuu had left his shelter of the shadows and had moved to settle down beside the girl as she continued.

"You were hard on her, although, I can see what made you become irritated so. Perhaps Ryoko could have saved some of her thoughts too. And you had previously apologized to us for your coldness whether you showed it or not, so you should not trouble yourself."

Ryuu sighed in relief. For a moment he thought he was about to receive a pep talk about the need to apologise. If that had happened, perhaps his perception of Debora might have altered as well. But for better or worse Ryuu was uncertain.

"At least I know we share somewhat the same sentiments." Ryuu muttered as he rested his arms on his knees with his eyes facing heaven ward. Making conversation was not an easy task on his side. He had yet to be accustomed to using words to express himself again.

"But you havn't answered my question, would you allow me the honour to treat you as I would my own blood kin?" The fifth year asked tenderly, facing the girl.

"As your sister?"

"Yes. As my sister." Ryuu smiled, this time with an increased certainty in what he had requested of her.

"I'd be honored! That I remind you of someone who you seem to be so fond of. I´d be glad to."

Ryuu's smile broadened into a grin.

"She´s lucky to have a brother who thinks so much of her."

"Ah but I believe you're more fortunate in the sense that you enjoy the luxuries of such attention." He commented as she embraced her in a hug, one often seen in his home. "And since as of tonight you will be - to me - my sister, you should stop calling me Mr Nefis as I should learn not to address you as Ms Ajdelsztajn."

Releasing Debora Ryuu noticed a forlorn looking tin cast aside where Debora had been sitting.

"Did you plan to have a mid night snack... sister?" he teased with a wink.

Debora Ajdelsztajn

Both lions sat beside each other, envolved in the smell of flowers and the light of the stars. This would turn out to be a memorable night in Debora´s life: the night she gained a brother in the magical world.

"Ah but I believe you're more fortunate in the sense that you enjoy the luxuries of such attention."

She was still pondering on why his sister shouldn't receive his attention ,but before Debora could actually understand these words, Ryuu surprised her with a hug. The girl laughed softly as he did so and she didn´t hesitate to return his embrace.

"And since as of tonight you will be - to me - my sister, you should stop calling me Mr Nefis as I should learn not to address you as Ms Ajdelsztajn."

They were still in each other´s arms when she answered,

"Alright... Ryuu." she said with a smile, showing that she would be faithful to her part of the deal, "And though I already have four brothers, you shall be my brother away from home. The one who will be there when the others aren´t."

As they let go of each other, Debora realized that this was the first time she had ever mentioned to another student that she had four brothers. She had never felt the need to mention them, as she hardly ever talked about her own life. And she had told Ryuu Nefis. It was truly a good beginning to their friendship.

Ironic as it was, Ryoko Shigami had asked Debora that very morning, after Ryuu had left, to be her sister, and Debora had smoothly rejected her request, settling for a compromise, trying not to hurt the other girl's feelings. It just wasn't the same. Her brothers were different from her, they liked their routine and found their little sister rather odd, but they loved her regardless of her ways. And perhaps she could see something of them deep in Ryuu´s eyes, not to mention that he seemed to have been well bred, just like them, so she was more at ease sharing things with him.

Debora only saw her parents and her brothers during the holidays, so it would be good for her to have someone she could count on at Hogwarts. Of course, she had Rinoa too, but somehow she hadn´t yet been able to say anything about her own life to the older lioness. The two girls shared a passionate spirit, but they knew nothing about each other´s past.

"Did you plan to have a mid night snack... sister?"

"Actually yes... brother." the third year said, grinning wide at the fact they had called each other 'brothers'. "They had been my saving this past week for the cafeteria food is absolutely awful." Then, picking up the box, she said with a gesture, "Would you care for one?"