Shizu wasn't sure that she quite understood what jet lag meant but from what Lucian said, it had to do with her sleeping cycle. It wasn't like she got much sleep anyways but things could change now that she didnâ€™t have to fear that someone would try to assassinate her while asleep. Though she wasn't sure how it would affect her, he said that she would be able to adjust to it pretty fast, so she would trust his judgment. It still confused her about the different time zones and that only told her how little she knew about the New World and life itself. She suddenly felt slightly nervous, wondering if she would be able to grasp all that was around her. When she first the village, she had been so surprised at all the technology that was around her. It was fascinating yet terrifying, just how far back in time had her village been in. Her stepfather had obviously known about the outside world, but the villagers didn't and neither did she.<br/><br/>For now, she would just have to learn one day at a time.<br/><br/>As silence fell between them again, she had been thinking about Azrai and how her blood might have affected him. Her stomach was rolling and twisting into knots the more she thought about it. Maybe it would have been best if she stayed longer, teaching him how to control the urges he might have. Would he need someone there to guide him, to sympathize with him? She had gone through those stages by herself, learning to tune out the Oni side of her. She had learned to become human all on her own and it had been a difficult task. It was cruel of her to do what she had done to him. Even she would be unable to forgive herself. She had probably made things even more complicated than before. Here, she had been only thinking of Azrai and how to save him. She had been cruel by placing this burden on him but who could blame her? All she had wanted for him was to live.<br/><br/>Her mood continued to take a turn for the worst as she suddenly felt uncomfortable. Her stomach was aching and she felt slightly nauseous. Something was wrong but she didn't know what exactly it was. She let out a slow breath, trying to calm herself down. Maybe she was just getting too cramped in this plane; they had been in the air for hours now. They had to be close to landing because she could tell that Lucian was becoming restless as well. "Lucian," she said gently, while still trying to figure out the next words she was going to say. Should she tell him that she wasn't feeling well? Should she tell him that she was a demon? She was conflicted with her thoughts that she fell silent for a while. Coming out of her thoughts, she blinked a bit realizing how rude it was of her to say his name without saying anything else. "F-Forgive me," she said in an apologetic tone. "I was just wondering if it would be possible if I could contact Ivan once we land." She glanced over at him, a solemn look on her face. "There is something extremely important that I must discuss with him," she stressed her sentence slightly, signaling that she truly meant it.<br/><br/>This was not a ploy to contact Azrai, she knew better than to go back on her word. Although she truly did want to know if he was recovering well, she needed to tell Ivan about the other possibilities that could happen. She needed to tell him how to teach Azrai to cope with Oni blood. Then there was the topic of blood and what steps she needed to take to obtain it. Surely no one would be too thrilled with her attacking an innocent bystander, not to say that she would. That was just a dramatic scenario that she thought of. The guilt that she felt was almost unbearable and she slowly began to loathe the decision she made. She wondered if Azrai would begin to resent her for trying to save him. Would everyone else too? Would they abandon her, once they see what could happen to Azrai? The fear was chilling but she could understand why they would do such a thing if they wanted. She wouldn't be angry for their choice.<br/><br/>Perhaps she was being too pessimistic with her thoughts. They had all seemed to understand the consequences of the blood transfusion though she was sure they couldn't truly grasp it. They all had wanted to keep Azrai alive and that had been the only way to do so. The antidote had barely worked on him and her blood had been the only way. So, they wouldn't resent her that much, would they? Then again, humans were fickle creatures and she knew how easily they could turn on her. She had experienced it all her life. Her eyes narrowed a bit as she gazed out the plane once more. The more she thought, the darker her thoughts became. The silence that was shared between her and Lucian was ringing in her ears. The sound of the engine was beginning to give her a slight headache. She desperately wanted to be out of the plane and by herself.<br/><br/>She needed the time to sort through all her thoughts, try to understand the situation that she had placed everyone in. If she could just talk to Ivan, then she would feel at ease. No, that wasn't the truth. If she could talk to Azrai, she would feel better. She wanted to let him know that she was alright. She wanted to hear that he was alright as well. She needed to tell him to not let his aggression control him, to always remain calm. That was how she managed to not kill everyone off in her village. Then again, fear had been instilled in her at a young age so that had also helped cope with her demonic side. Though there had been times when she was so close to attack but she held back, she had always held back.<br/><br/>Was this decision for the best or the worst? She wondered what would have happened if she stayed. Would she be able to face Azrai after he found out what she had done for him? Would he detest the Oni blood in his veins? She wondered all of this but she probably would never know. She was thousands of miles away from him now, there was no point it trying to think that they could still be friends. This move had been to sever whatever was starting to form between them. That was why Ivan had been so compliant with her condition. She had already known from the beginning that Ivan was not happy about the attachment between her and Azrai. She was sure that it went against some rule within the organization. She was sure Ivan was trying to protect Azrai from her that was why she had to leave.<br/><br/>She was a monster, something that ruined lives. She already heard the words that the others within the organization had said about her. She had no right to be around them if they would live in constant fear of her. It had been best to leave, least she experience the same events that had happened in her village. She had to go to a place where no one knew what she was in order to live a peaceful life. If she had stayed, things would have not been pleasant. Toronto would be the place that she would start her new life, where she could live normally, well as normal as possible. Eventually, she knew someone would find out about her true nature but she hoped that it was either Elias or Lucian. But if they found out, would they fear her as well? She shifted in her seat, feeling uncomfortable. She really began to think it would've been better if she stayed in her village.<br/><br/>Then she would've never caused any of these problems. This guilt that was looming over her would have never come to be. Most importantly, she would've never met Azrai. She would've never become attached to him and it wouldn't have hurt this hurt. It wasn't like she resented Azrai for saving her; she owed him for this new life that he had given her. Even saving him wasn't enough to pay him back after all he had done for her. She had become attached to him so quickly that she hadn't expected this sorrow to fill upon departure. He had been the first person she could ever trust, he brought out new feelings that she had yet to experience in her village. Hope and happiness were only just the beginning. He had given her something that she thought was impossible, given what she was. No one would probably be able to understand how she felt about him and that was alright. No one would ever know either, because she had left him in Israel, where he would be safe and continue his life normally.<br/><br/>Letting out another sigh, she knew that she was being far too pessimistic, falling back into old habits when she was in isolation. That would have to change if she wanted to live a normal life. Maybe after she contacted Ivan she could move on and let go of everything that had happened, though she doubted it. Maybe she could just ignore it all and focus all her attention on her new life. That was something she had to do in order to keep her mind off of everything. Instead of falling into this state of depression, she would just have to kick herself into gear and focus of better things. No matter how hard the task might be, she had promised Zachariah that for Azrai's sake she would live a happy life, no matter what.<br/><br/>----------<br/><br/>Well, at least their conversation had gone rather smoothly, for now. He knew that there was a lot on Azrai's mind and he was still trying to put things together. It would be a while before Azrai decided to spill out how he felt, a long while and Ivan knew that he would be there just listening, as he always had. That was how their odd relationship worked. Azrai and Ivan would both keep things bottled up until they reached a breaking point. That was usually when they had a few drinks in them and words just started pouring out of their mouths, like vomit. As much as he hated telling what he had been holding back, Ivan wouldn't have things any other way. This relationship he had with Azrai simply worked. It worked better than any other bond he had created in his life. That was probably why Ivan had never left his side because he knew that he would never be able to find someone as close to him as Azrai was.<br/><br/>Azrai was like his own flesh and blood. He admired him more than anyone else, including Zachariah. Life in Russia had been rough, too rough for words. Once he had joined the military, things had become easier. Then he met Azrai, who showed him how things could be outside of his home country. That was when he decided to move to Israel. Not only because it was too keep Azrai out of trouble, God knew that he needed it, but also because Azrai had given him a new home and a new life. Ivan owed Azrai so much that he was sure that even his friend couldn't comprehend it. That was why he had aided him when Cassandra died. It was why he was always there first whenever Azrai was in trouble. And like all those other times, it was why he had separated Shizu and Azrai. Many people would not be able to understand his motives, but it wasn't like they needed to. Ivan simply did what he thought would protect those he cared about, even if it meant fighting along the way.<br/><br/>Ivan let out a low sigh as he waited for Azrai out of the room. The more time he spent thinking to himself, the more dangerous he realized it was. This was why he had to continue doing something or else he would lose himself in his thoughts. Ivan was typically a quiet man, always thinking about something. Now, he wished he could cease thinking and just ignore all the doubts that shrouded his mind. That would be pleasant at this point but he knew it wouldn't happen. Life wasn't that simple. Maybe this was God's way of punishing him for separating the two. Should he have let things follow its own path or did he choose the best solution? He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to sort out all the questions he had. He wondered if Zachariah would be able to give him some clarity. Their leader always seemed to have an answer. Then again, he would be relying too much on another person, which was not something Ivan enjoyed doing.<br/><br/>He already relied on Azrai far too much for his liking. If something ever happened to that man...he wouldn't know how to cope with it. It was truly terrifying to think that he could have lost his one and only true friend a few hours ago. That didn't mean that he blamed Shizu for what had happened nor did he really blame Azrai. He was just pissed off at how the world worked. It sucked not having control over things but when had he ever had control over anything? He liked to think that he knew how to handle extreme situations, that was why he was so good at his job. Today simply showed him how things were just out of his hands. It terrified him though he knew better than to voice his thoughts. That was what he should have expected today, that all sorts of hell would break loose and it had. He sighed slightly, knowing that he was over thinking things as usual.<br/><br/>Ivan glanced at the door that had yet to open, wondering if he should see if Azrai was alright. However, he knew better than to try to show that he was worried about the shorter male. That was a death wish waiting to happen. He shook his head, hating how stubborn Azrai was and it truly irritated him that he didn't seek assistance when he needed it. It was like watching after a toddler sometimes, then again Ivan had no experience with children so he only assumed. He knew that Azrai wasn't happy about getting another dosage of the antidote but it had to be done. Ivan would rather be safe than sorry when it came to Azrai's life. Sometimes, he really just wanted to strangle him but he should be used to it by now. If they both didn't have such a temper, things would probably go a lot smoother but that would be boring.<br/><br/>So he simply waited until Azrai managed to get dressed and out of that dark room. He glanced down at his friend, quirking a brow at the smirk on his face. Well, it was good to see that Azrai was slowly beginning to cheer up. It was probably because he was getting out of the building for a few minutes. He knew that Azrai would want to go home soon but that would be a topic that Zachariah would have to handle. Ivan could deal with Azrai but Zachariah was the one who could convince Azrai to do something. Ivan could to but sometimes Azrai wouldn't even listen to him. He noticed that Azrai used the wall to walk but didn't extend any kind of help. It would get rejected anyways so there was no point in wasting his breath.<br/><br/>As they walked through the base, Ivan was pleased with what he saw. He could tell that everyone was working hard to get things in order and trying to slowly rebuild. He noted that there were a few empty drinks here and there. He was glad that everyone took the opportunity to relax for a few moments, he was sure they all needed it. The trek up the stairs had taken a while due to Azrai's condition. Ivan had slowed down his pace but still didn't offer his assistance. He would simply act if Azrai were to trip or something like that. Once outside, Ivan took this opportunity to relax a little more. Being underground for so long was a bit suffocating though it never really bothered if as much as it had Azrai. Inhaling the muggy air, Ivan could feel the tension from his shoulders releasing. Coming outside was a great idea.<br/><br/>He leaned against the wall beside Azrai, watching as more soldiers were cleaning up the area, hiding from the government that there was a huge battle. All they would probably get was a few bombings at that were all. Still, Ivan wished that even that information wouldn't leak but it was better than the whole world knowing about the bio-weapons. It was nice outside, even after the battle, it was refreshing. Ivan opened his mouth to comment on the weather but fell short as he could hear a few people talking. His heart began to pound, filling his ears. His eyes cut over to the group of men, as they continued to talk about the demon on the battlefield, Shizu. The mood around the two of them shifted and something told Ivan that things were about to take a turn for the worst.<br/><br/>He was ready to tell Azrai to go cool off somewhere but it was too late. It seemed to have happened in mere seconds as Azrai was soon choking the life out of one of the men. A loud curse left Ivan as he immediately followed, shouting at others to help. His mind was racing, was it the effect of Shizu's blood taking over? Ivan had feared for something like this to happen, who would've guessed that his temper would be so short. He reached Azrai, grabbing hold of his shoulder, trying to yank him off. "Azrai, let go," he said in a calm manner, knowing that if yelled the situation could get worse. He could see the poor man struggling with his breathing already. Another curse left Ivan and he tried to think of something to get Azrai to quit.<br/><br/>"Shizu wouldn't want you to attack anyone because of her," he said slowly. "Do you think this is something she would've wanted?" It was wrong of him to use her as bait but he had no other choice. It seemed as if Maverick hadn't told Azrai about the blood transfusion and the possible effects. He was sure Azrai would be more careful if he knew. That conversation that he had been desperately trying to hold off on would have to come to light now. He frowned knowing that Azrai was probably not prepared to talk about Shizu but it had to be done. He tried pulling Azrai off of the male once more. He didn't want to have to use too much force or worse, resort to a sedative. Azrai wasn't an animal and he wouldn't treat his closest friend like that.<br/><br/>What would come from this situation? What would Zachariah have to say about this? If Azrai couldn't control his aggression then he would be kicked out. Ivan wanted to avoid that at all costs but this situation was leading them down that path. Would it be like this every time Shizu was mentioned? Clicking on his earpiece, he let out a small sigh. "Zachariah, this is Ivan. We have a situation that calls for having that conversation with Azrai, immediately." Ivan didn't want to into details right not. He knew that Azrai didn't understand his aggression so he shouldn't be at fault. Damnit, he should've said something sooner but instead he was too much of a coward to say anything.<br/><br/>"Azrai, let go," Ivan said in a stern tone. "You'll kill him if you don't."<br/><br/>---------<br/><br/>How long had it been since he parked his car? Elias couldn't really tell anymore, he had been sitting here in a sort of daze. He rubbed his eyes as a yawn escaped him, maybe they would really have to reschedule their outing tonight. The sleep deprivation was slowly beginning to kick in and if he even thought about drinking, he knew he would pass out after the first bottle. The best course of action seemed like picking the two up and getting Shizu settled into her apartment before having an intimate night with his bed. Man, going to sleep sounded like the greatest thing in the world at this point. He was sure that Lucian was probably thinking the same thing but seeing one another first was at the top of Elias' priority list.<br/><br/>He only had to wait a little longer until they landed then he would let Ivan know that everyone was in one piece. Maybe he would be able to get an update on Azrai's condition as well. As far as he was concerned, the antidote hadn't been enough to save his friend and that truly cause fear to strike his heart. What would they have done if Shizu hadn't been there? She probably didn't understand how much of Godsend she was but then again, she probably didn't know much about anything. Not to say that she was unintelligent or anything but Elias had been here since the beginning of the mission. Although both he and Ivan had protested against Azrai taking it on, Elias was there for him no matter what. Shizu hadn't even been a real person until Azrai took her out of the village and into Israel.<br/><br/>He wondered what kind of hell she had been through to not even be within the system. Elias had assisted Ivan on rescue missions before and he typically could find out anything about the victim but not with Shizu. Elias had created a life for her, which was something that he had never done for any mission before. So that caused him to wonder, what exactly was she? Why had caused her to be so sheltered her entire life? She was probably the most interesting person he had ever come across, and that was a big deal coming from him. Elias mostly concerned himself with the advancing technologies in this world, not people. There were only a few people that he had a genuine interest in and an even fewer amount that he cared for. Now, with Shizu arriving, both he and Lucian would have to care and provide for her, for the time being.<br/><br/>He wondered if he was suitable enough to handle such a task, then again who was. Who was able to handle such a daunting task? What all did she know and what didn't she? Where would they have to start with her? All these thoughts filled his mind and he wondered what exactly Azrai had in mind for her once his mission was over. Elias was sure that Azrai probably didn't know what he would have done either, but that man was smart, he would've thought of something. Elias may be a genius but when it came to people he was completely lost. It looked like that he and Lucian would have their work cut out for them, maybe he would look up what he was supposed to do with her. Leave it to him to rely on the internet for help.<br/><br/>Looking at the clock, he realized that they would be landing soon. His heart raced a bit as excitement filled his being. A sudden rush of energy came through him and he soon exited his vehicle, grabbing the coats that he had placed in the passenger seat. He wondered what Shizu would be like in person; he had only seen a picture of her and a small glimpse of her on the security camera at the hotel. He wondered what her personality was like or would it take a while for that to develop. He was truly interested in her and it was odd. Was this what everyone else felt about her or was he the only one? Maybe Lucian was interested in her life as well, because quite frankly, Elias had never been able to meet anyone like her.<br/><br/>He knew there was something about her, from the picture that he had received for her identification to how Azrai so fiercely protected her. There was something about Shizu and he would find out, it was like hacking really. He would simply dig and dig until he found out what it was that he wanted, it may take a while but he would find it. He grinned a bit as he walked away from his car, heading off to meet the two of them. It seemed like a new chapter would start in his and Lucian's life. Maybe they could develop a friendship with Shizu; Ivan hadn't said anything about them not being able to be in contact with her. She was simply to not be involved with Azrai anymore, which may prove to be difficult if the man every decided to pop in for a visit.<br/><br/>Then again, Azrai hated the cold weather in Canada, so maybe he wouldn't visit until it warmed a little more. Elias shrugged his shoulders, knowing that his friend was full of surprises. That note being taken, he would just have to be careful when dealing with Shizu and Azrai. He knew that he would have to make no indication that he knew of her whereabouts or the fact that she was a few blocks away from his house, the next time he spoke with Azrai. He felt kind of bad, for having to keep this secret from him but if it was to keep him alive and safe, he would. Letting out a sigh, Elias shook his head, wishing his job wasn't so crazy but he wouldn't change it for the world. Instead he would just follow the orders he was given and go on from there.<br/><br/>Right now, he would stand here awkwardly waiting for his friend and the woman that seemed to have shaken up the organization. Things would be interesting from now on, he could tell.