"S-so.. I'm going in first?" Kosuke asked, wringing his hands and flicking his tail nervously. The boiling natural hot spring beside them was beyond intimidating in this situation.<br/><br/>Seimezi reached down and ruffled the boy's hair. "Yeah. Are you sscared?"<br/><br/>Kosuke started and rubbed the tears out of his eyes. This had been his idea; he couldn't go back on it now. A memory flashed before his eyes of a Naga halfling holding out a hand to him when he'd been utterly alone. Seimezi hadn't been favored by his clan before they met, but afterwards he was utterly disowned. Kosuke was going to attempt to hide his demon blood in their new environment, but he and Piko would pretend not to know each other. That way, if he slipped up, he wouldn't get dragged down with him again.<br/><br/>"Make ssure you hide your tail," Piko said, tucking it under Kosuke's shirt. He paused for an instant, then brought the little demon into a firm hug. "It'ss going to be okay. I'll be looking out for you whenever I can." He released the boy. "Now get going. We'll be late."<br/><br/>-----------------------<br/><br/>This was painful. Seimezi and Kosuke had ended up sitting right next to each other on the train, yet they couldn't let on that they knew each other. It was also inconvenient that Piko couldn't borrow his brother's warmth anymore. He decided that this situation was too tense and decided to move to the back of the compartment, where it might be warmer due to the high density of students. Once the train stopped in the Himalayas, he found a seat directly between a Cyclops and an injured fire sprite, and gladly took it. It was definitely a warmer location, and much less stressful... Except that it appeared to be a danger zone for flying objects. The train took off and somebody lost a coin, which flew by so fast it seriously could have hurt somebody. Seimezi gave a quick, worried glance at the fire sprite's injuries, hoping he wasn't next.<br/><br/>All of a sudden, it looked as if a fight might break out right in front of him, between a very small boy and a much bigger boy... Oh, that would be painful to watch if it came to it. Seimezi bit his lip (Gently! That was a terrible habit, what with his fangs) and gave his full attention to the two boys.