{Code Beta} (Plot Thread 2.2)

[Shiki]

"I might as well. It won't stay secret forever." She sat back down on the lawn, and tried to figure out where to start.

"For starters, I wasn't born here; actually in a city across the state from Urbadelphia. I'm an only child, and you know how there's that stereotype, "if your an only child you're spoiled rotten" saying? I wasn't spoiled but sheltered. I was rarely allowed to leave the house, couldn't do what most kids my age did, and I hated it. My parents were secretive; they never answered my questions. So a lot of the time I was stuck in my room with just my thoughts."

She stopped for moment, then continued.

"Eventually I got fed up with it and snuck out one day; I was twelve, almost thirteen. My parents found out, and tried to come after me. And that's the day I saw my first Crossing. I discovered my powers and all of that; took on demons by myself. But..something called them back. I didn't kill a lead demon, didn't destroy a portal. It just ended. After that I demanded answers from my parents. And I got them alright."

"I'm not like most Otherborn. My family has a lot of demon history in it, but it broke off a few generations before. But I still inherited some of it. There isn't that much; I'm mostly Otherborn. Then I found out not that long after the Crossing...my parents were planning having me meet a demon relativeof mine. They gave up with me, they were willing to give me over to that side. I wanted nothing to do with it; so I ran away."

She sighed, looking over at Sora with a very mixed emotions expression. "Great family, huh?"

[Sora Shimomura]

As Sora listened to her history he found himself sympathetic. Though her plight wasn't anywhere close to his, he could understand a rough life.

"Maybe..." he said, not really sure how to answer her question. "Hey, I'm sorry. I really am."

[Shiki]

"It's not your fault; not like you could've changed it." Shiki answered. Her expression became more light. "After the Network found me though, things began to look up. So my life isn't a total loss I guess. Sorry if I just depressed you."

[Sora Shimomura]

"No...no not at all." He laughed, walking over to meet her eye to eye. He stared for a moment before he reached out...and adjusted her hat on her head.

"You're a tough chick cowgirl."

[Shiki]

She smiled and poked his forehead, "And you...have some very spiky hair." Shiki looked at him, "Anything you want to talk about while the subject is on?"

[Sora Shimomura]

He could tell her a lot of things, he could tell her he never knew his parents...of how his father was a halfer who was owned by the Devil himself. How he was cursed because of it. How he spent his life being a bully and a scumbag till he became Ghost Rider. how that once his job was complete...he was going to Hell.

Instead, Sora frowned a bit and shrugged. "No...nothing really. My past is my past."

No, Shiki would have a much better future than Sora could ever dream for.

"At least you have a future ahead of you right?" Sora jabbed her arm a bit playfully.

[Shiki]

She smiled a little, "That's true; at least I have something to go towards." She stood up and said, "Can you keep what I told you a secret? If anyone wants to know, they can ask me." She then turned back to the house. "I can't believe she hasn't heard anything." Shiki walked up to the door and knocked again, this time harder.

[Sora Shimomura]

Sora nodded at Shiki's request, "I don't worry..." he mumbled, "I'm good at secrets."

As she knocked on the door Sora put his hands in his coat pockets.

"She could be out you know," Sora suggested, "Shopping, getting food, on a date, I dunno. She may not be home."

[Namine Joy LeBeau]

Waking up with a start and growling at my attire, I hear voices outside. My phone is off and a note is tapped to my now dried and worthless lump of clay. This means that Angel must be out.

Glaring at the once piece in the making, I hear a knock and sigh. Getting up I slip on shoes and a bra as I head for the door.

Looking through the pep hole I gasp, "Shiki?" I open the door and see Sora is there too. Confused, I run fingers through my hair as ask. "What do I owe this surprise to?" Then quickly un-ruffle my shirt and jeans, clay falling off as dust as I do.

[Shiki]

"I didn't think of that..." Shiki groaned. "Five more minutes then." She decided and waited. The door opened a minute later and revealed a surprised Namine. "Sorry Namine, looks like I woke you up." Shiki apologized. She glanced inside her house, hoping that Angel guy wasn't around. "There's something going on with the Otherborn. We have to get down to Veil. I figured you'd want to know, so I came to get you."

[Sora Shimomura]

"Yes, it's a Code Beta too." Sora said, trying to suppress laughter, "It's worse than a...a...Code Alpha!"

Then he burst back into laughter again.

[Shiki]

She rolled her eyes, "Ignore him."

Then she looked at Sora, "And for your information, it is not! That's the worst."

[Namine Joy LeBeau]

"Oh! That's fine Shiki, just let me get my key," I rush as I am about to run back inside when I see my key is laying on the ground next to the welcome mat... Weird. Grabbing it I exit my house, close and lock the door, and nod to Shiki. "Could you lead the way?"

Then look to Sora, "Wouldn't a Code Alpha be worse than a Code Beta because a beta is usually used as a term for secondary... basically."

[Shiki]

"Sure," she said and then looked at Sora. "I assume you're coming too?"

[Sora Shimomura]

Sora shrugged, "Guess I am."