[ 27 - video ]

[heartbetween]

[The video flicks on to reveal Kaien, still very much an adult, and...standing in midair.

Yep, he's basically standing right in the middle of the sky, with absolutely no visible supports or attachments. A few rooftops are visible some feet beneath him.]

Hey, any of you kids ever dream of flying?

[Takes a few steps around to show that he really

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[ voice ]

[valdecet]

[ Sniffly, subdued voice, but Kaien's doing the one thing Angeal's always wanted to try. It's his biggest dream, right after growing the largest dumbapple in Banora ever, and going around saving people. ]

Y-yes, sir.

[ voice ] OH GOD SO LATE

[heartbetween]

[He's going to chuckle! By voice alone he doesn't recognize who you are, but he still thinks it's cute.]

You don't have to call me sir. It's just Kaien.

And if you can tell me where you are, I'd be happy to take you flying.

[ voice ]

[valdecet]

[ Shyly, since he's never called a grown up by name before, ]

Thank you, si-- I mean, Kaien. [ Pauses and then still sniffly and sad, ] I'm... I'm in a house. I dunno where it is, though.

[ voice ]

[heartbetween]

[A little pause. The kid sounds sad and that brings out Kaien's protective instincts right away.]

That's okay. There's a little button you can press that makes the screen show video. Think you could put it on that and show me where you are? I know this place pretty well.

Are you okay? What's your name?

[ video ]

[valdecet]

There... there is?

[ And wee one as he is, Angeal can hear that protectiveness in the nice mister Kaien's voice, and something inside him yearns for it. After... after what had just happened not too long ago.

--oh hey. There is a button! *O* Some scrambling about, and then the video flips on to a small, fear-whitened face with eyes that are just a bit too suspiciously shiny before it swings around to the view outside the window. And in a small voice, ] 'm awright now, mister Kaien. My name's Angeal.