[banner]asa[/banner]

Asa sat cross-legged on the bed, listening to Ishani, who sat opposite of him. He listened as she spoke, explained, and taught him how to use the Blood, but part of him just enjoyed listening and watching her.

The way her face animated, hands gestured, voice sounded. The smooth skin and silken hair. He had spent weeks with her Eclipsed and hurt, and the memory still hadn't faded. Here, like this, was like a gift.

He was paying enough attention to laugh and duck when she yelled and slapped at him, realizing his full attention wasn't on her words. Even though she soon smiled, he saw the flash of anger in her eyes. He noticed that. Before, she was given to impatience and exasperation at times, but now it seemed to be more... vehement. She usually quelled it rapidly... but he still noticed.

The last time... at City Tropics. City Tropics. He felt a surge of similar volatile emotion as he remembered them all standing outside, and just as quickly quieted it.

He realized she was looking at him expectantly, and he opened his consciousness to the power of the Blood, focusing, seeing more than he normally saw. He concentrated on her, and began to see flickers of colors. Sapphire, and ruby, with amethyst shining through.

Sapphires and rubies.

She had explained the shades and hues during the lesson, and his eyes lit up and mouth widened in the boyish, excited smile that was only ever for her.

"This helps a lot with that jealousy thing," he said, reaching out to stroke her cheek.