Kite moved closer, still frantically saying the first things that popped in her mind. It did not take long for the woman to fall into a tangent that was related to nothing. Offering cookies to a dark witch, really? "I already told you," Kanoe said raising a hand infront of her, "You do not owe me anything. But if you really wish to finish the job then do so from a proper position. Would you prefer me sitting or lying down? And when I say sitting down, I expect you to be behind me, not awkwardly wrapping your arms around me to reach my back." The witch would move either to the bed to either lie down or sit at the edge. There, Kite would have enough room to position herself and work freely on the woman's back. "In case you have not noticed, I am a witch who studies in near darkness alone in her room," she added, "I am not someone who goes out to play and eat cookies and icecream. I would not have learned what I had without devoting my life to my magic."

"And what have you learned?" Even the giddy, childish Kite could be painfully blunt as she sat behind Kanoe and started massaging again. Perhaps slightly bitter. She was convinced hugglemassage had intrinsic benefits, but could never -practice- "Aside from lots and lots and lots of limitations and barriers. Speaking as a mathematician who studies in near darkness alone in her room. At least a dark witch of darkness has some credibility. Talk at mana and ritual and darkness and people think they understand and so they listen, but talk about a 17-dimensional transphasic Klein bottle that suppresses theta wave feedback and alters phosphate metabolism and they run away from finding out anything about the unseen force that dominates every last second of their damned lives!"

While still rubbing Kanoe's back, though from this position, shoulders really had to be first, Kite lean closer to whisper, "So yeah, one messed up recluse who's spent too much time chasing what lies behind the veil to another, eat a fucking cookie. Well, obviously not a fucking cookie, those are bad. Some other cookie, posessed of an equally vehement but noncoital expletive."

It was safe to say that the witch had no interest in 'huggles' but she certainly knew the benefits of a good massage. Even if Kite was proficient in this awkward method, such skills would be better used from a proper position. "I learned enough to attract your attention," Kanoe replied with equal bluntness, "Channeling elements, understanding basic runescript, and seeing mana are not things you can just casually learn on your own. You best remember that next time you decide to mock years of my work and life." Annoying the witch was certainly not making her body relax any better than before and it definitely did not make the woman hungry for cookies. Perhaps she should have charged Kite for the knowledge she provided, making her lick the floor day in day out would certainly put things in better perspective for this troublesome woman.

"Good! You do still have strong emotions other than despair." Either the implied threat went completely unnoticed or completely ignored. "Hold still, this is going to hurt, a lot, you've got two vertebre misaligned down here. i'm pushing them back in." knuckles pressed grindingly into the centre of Kanoe's back, insistent intense pressure before suddenly jerking slightly, sending a brief surge of the promised pain along Kanoe's spine, but, well, that was part of massage sometimes, especially one given to someone this determined to be self-destructive. "For what it's worth, i respect your dedication, and the point was to see if you still had emotions or i was wasting both our time. Physiological fact, you don't relax a body from time to time, it breaks. Neurological fact, you don't relax a brain, it stops working so well."

Kite kept rubbing at Kanoe's back in silence for several moments longer, before letting her hands fall, "Look, i know you don't like what i'm doing. i'm not that dense. There used to be some students here who thought that if they severed themselves from any sort of softness completely, they'd get left alone because the creatures wouldn't get any pleasure from hurting them if they couldn't feel it. You won't believe me if i tell you what happened when they found out they were wrong. It won't take you all -that- much time, and believe me, i've done enough research, with, and without having the sense to take breaks... and i'm sure you know which went better. And it'll keep you away from... -that-."

The witch frowned at Kite's comment. She did not like being manipulated, tested, or whatever you call it especially by just another student experienced or not. Kanoe would not have much time to complain as the student's knuckles ground into her spine. "Ahhhnnnnn!" The raven haired woman was left gasping. It was as painful as one would expect when one's bones are ground against one another. The rubbing helped soothe the pain some and Kanoe was not really in the mood to respond after that. She would accept the 'help' she was receiving for now.

"I do not care what you do," the witch replied to the next statement, "You are free to do as you wish. I just do not believe you will succeed. And while you say my preferred seclusion is a bad thing, I can assure you that the other path is not much better. I know this from personal experience. That softness can be far more painful than any jagged metal from a broken spring. I know you are being vague on purpose to protect me but it does not make your suggestions any more pleasant." Kanoe sighed, letting herself lean back and rest against Kite's body if she allowed it. The pain from before was just a gentle throbbing reminder now. "And what of you?" she added, "Or have you mastered your method of hugging yourself to give yourself a proper massage?" It was a mild tease but it was at least something above complete and total dispair and dread.

"No, i built a corset with sixty pulsed electrostim channels running off a bank of capacitors charged from main-line. Not as good, to be sure, and programming it was horrid, but it does the job, along with some bitterly dark chocolate and a bottle of really well-steeped iced green tea. If the minimall had been here when i was an undergrad...well, no, that's not fair. One of us would've probably blown it up."

Kite was happy to let Kanoe lean against her, though this invited her to resume hugging, though her hands rub over Kanoe's ribs gently. "Not just to protect you, but me, too. i've been firmly informed that if i talk about those details, they will happen to me. Again. There's not a lot in the universe that scares me. But that? Oh yes."

"I regret asking," Kanoe mumbled as the explanation was beyond her. The witch knew a little bit of science, mostly chemistry. But, it was nowhere near the level the Analyzer knew in that splintered mind of Kite's. She did not bother asking about the whole blowing up the minimall comment. It was probably best to let such a thing pass unquestioned. The witch was content with just resting and letting those hands roam her body. It was no longer a massage but the physical contact felt good nonetheless. "Hmm... Do as you wish then if it protects you," Kanoe replied, "It matters little if I know it or not on this island. Hmm..." She shifted a bit, getting more comfortable resting against the other woman.

"Truly, it likely matters little, just so long as you do not come to know it the hard way." Kite was mildly worried by the way the three of her seemed to be flickering back and forth around Kanoe. It might be dangerous. But she did let kitten take over again bodily, shifting some to let Kanoe rest in a more comfortable embrace.

"There are, after all, limits to what we can do, and nothing that we can leave behind for those who come after save what they permit us. Trust nothing absolutely. Anything that is written down in this place may easily say something else as soon as you look away."

"Now you are just trying to sound profound," Kanoe mumbles, closing her eyes, "What would be the point of telling future students? It is not like they would believe you. Even if they did, what then? It would be like telling someone that they will die eventually. It may be true but knowing it will not really help that person. In this case, it can make things worse. Perhaps the only advantage of being a powerless student is having the ability to continue living in ignorance. Being a witch denied me such a luxury." Once again, the topic had gotten dark but there was little one could do about it. Kite was talking much calmer now and not bouncing off the walls. It was strange but not enough to make Kanoe concerned. For all she knew, it was just an act to try cheering her up. Then again, she probably should have taken such a method as an insult. She was not a child wanting candy and sweets afterall.

Kite shrugs, still holding Kanoe, "The same point as any of our struggles. Unless you think you've time enough left to gather the strength to truly break the menagerie we live in? i know i haven't." Kite laughs a touch bitterly, so long, so very very long it was easy, effortless to keep fighting with nothing truly to fight for. To stave off despair from having no hope for it to quash. Now, finally something with meaning to fight for, and something far more dangerous to fight against, and all the paths are suddenly barred. "But perhaps you're right, and there is none. But if the thought that being able to face one's fate and choose whether to accept it or fight it is important it purely my conceit, i can accept that."

The witch did not say anything for a bit. She rested against her fellow experienced student while being held gently. Kanoe gave a faint smile when she finally broke the silence. "Aren't you supposed to be making me feel relaxed?" she teased, "There is no point in speaking further on the matter. Any secrets we may know are not worth revealing if it just paints bigger targets both of us. I have long accepted the doom and gloom of this island as reality a long time ago." The witch rested her arms over Kite's as she sighed softly. Well... at least the woman was comfortable to lay on.

"You are right, of course, and for that i apologize. It has been strange. i find myself......switching gears much more spontaneously than i used to, and am not yet adapted to it." The pause was quite obviously Kite choosing her words to conceal yet something else, but what did that matter?

Kite takes one hand away, fumbling briefly at her back, shoving her hand up into the vest of the school uniform, emerging with, of all things, a chocolate bar from the vending machines. "i used to keep handmade knives and grenades in those pockets. Funny, that sweets have proven more useful in the long run. Not as good at pastry, but a shattered chocolate bar is merely preportioned to bitesized pieces. While a shattered cookie is somehow forlorn. And also leads to crumbs down the asscrack, and i may assure you that extracting melted toffee from one's ass is one of the more unpleasant sensations which one may inflict upon oneself. Care to split it? i find it a more reliable antidepressant than what tends to be offered by the medical wing."

This would, of course, beg the question of why the hyperactive and hyper-affectionate Kite did not seem to know about assorted caches of snacks hidden at her back, but perhaps she just was trying to insist that Kanoe leave her room in order to separate herself somewhat from her research.

Well calling it changing gears was one thing. At least Kite was aware of her crazy mood swings. Kanoe felt her shift behind her as she apparently reached in and pulled out a candy bar from... somewhere. Well chocolate was certainly more calming than knives and explosives. It would have been more pleasant without the mention of candy in the ass. The witch could only sigh and sit up finally. One way or another, Kite was intent on making Kanoe eat something sweet. She prefered it not be something that could have been in the woman's ass.

"Fine," she replied, "You wish me to get out. Very well, you may take me somewhere. You seem persistent in repaying me in someway afterall." She headed for the closet and began looking through it. "I suppose I will have to find something to wear. Oh well, I will just wear a uniform. We can match then." The last part was just a small joke as the witch allowed her robes to slip off her shoulders and onto the floor. The nude woman proceeded to slip into the necessary undergarments before slipping on the blouse and skirt that was part of the school uniform. She did not seem bothered about Kite possibly watching her change. Her body was beautiful, almost unnaturally so. There did not seem to be a single mark or flaw on her smooth pale skin.

Once dressed in the tight and revealing uniform, she turned to Kite. "There," she said finally, "I trust you will take care of me. Lead the way."

Anyone who had spent long on Shokushu Island learned the feel of lustful eyes on their skin. As Kanoe dressed, Kite watched, with appreciation, but no lust. And when Kanoe had turned back, the chocolate bar had disappeared back whence it came.

Walking side by side Kanoe might notice Kite's expression flickering between moods, between controllers. She might not. The two of them alone in the elevator, it was the cold-voiced Kite who spoke. "i know you don't value what i'm doing, and i don't know if you will. In thanks for being willing to try, i offer you magic for magic. At the base of the cliffs on the eastern edge of the island, there is a small waterfall with a cave behind it. In it are hidden many of my old notes, which i suspect will no longer be of use to anyone, but also the notes of others, one of whom worked in darkness. If her bones remain there as well from when we burned together, i was given to understand she would not object to her remains becoming an athame, and that such objects are powerful." A truly morbid pronouncement, made all the more jarring by her suddenly relaxing and the giddy Kite returning.

"Stuffy, stuffy, stuffy! These lifts always are so stuffy! Sure, there's only the one main vent for a reason, a mean, mean, nasty reason, but would two and some crossflow be SO much worse?"

Not much was said until they reached the elevator to take them to the ground floor. Once again, Kite sounded serious as she offered notes that could be of use. A cave behind a waterfall, it was certainly not the first time she had to go such a place for something on this island. Could it be the same one? It was possible but there was alot of places unexplored where who knows what was hidden there. It was certainly a trade worthy of Kanoe's attention though it was odd that she was being paid to accept the first offer of relaxing in the mall. She would not question it and she would consider a time to retrieve said notes in teh future. The dark witch could only hope no monster finds her traveling there or one decided to move into the hidden cave.

The mention of being burned did cause Kanoe to look over at Kite. Well the woman did appear to have a number of scars. She had already learned it was best not to ask questions about Kite's past as it would either lead to no answer or an answer she should not hear. The violet haired student even offered the bones of her friend to be made into a ritual dagger. She will probably leave them be as making a weapon would only cause more problems than anything else.

Then just like that, the tone and topic changed. It made her look around, searching for someone that could be watching or listening in. But she did not believe this was a matter of covering up their conversation. Sighing, the witch finally bit the bait. "Are you alright?" she asked, "You been acting rather... strange..." That was best way to put it. It was as if the woman was crazy and suffered from shifts of personality and mood swings.