The rest of the week was rather calm compared to how it had been. Roxas hadn't needed another hospital run. Although, the stress from college work was an utter pain.

When asked why he still decided to continue schooling from Orion, the only response was a simple shrug and a, 'It kills time.'

Come the next Monday, as per usual, Orion decided to tag along to both watch over as well as learn a little himself from lectures. Oh who was he kidding. The only thing he really learned was how fast it took to bore himself.

The answer was one long, boring minute.

So his time was spent drifting in and out of tables. Making funny faces and gestures behind the professor's head for either Albel or Roxas to enjoy. Even the ole trick of flicking some poor suckers pencil on the floor and pressing an extra keyboard key to confuse others.

All in all, the lunch break couldn't have taken longer to arrive.

Both Roxas and Albel met up after lectures and decided on eating out at a nearby on campus fast food joint. Healthy food may be nice, but most couldn't say no to a nice juicy, greasy burger. Certainly not Roxas.

Once ordered and ready to settle in a nearby booth, a few strangers approached. Two female. One tapped Albel on the shoulder for his attention and gave him a concerned look. "Hi. I'm from your economics lecture. That isn't important though...do you know you have a ghost attached to you?"

All three males gave a look of shock to the newcomer.

"I can exorcise it for you."

It? Ouch that stung.

"It seems too attached, and I'm afraid if around too long, it'll cause you trouble. Ghosts mean bad luck. What if one of these days, you end up possessed even?!" Her face was scrunched in disgust and discontent.

Orion flew back a few paces and brought his hands to his chest. Was this how most humans viewed his kind?

Her glare turned back towards the being in question. "Ghosts are a bad omen and deserve to be wiped away. You died once. Stop forcing us to deal with your attachments you selfishly hold onto." Reaching into her bag, she even pulled out a talisman and threatened to thrust it in his direction. "Leave foul being!"

Each movement she took made him more and more afraid.

Each word she spoke drove him further and further into a corner.

Was this how everyone felt after so long? Was that what he was, just a burden?

"Now listen here you-" Stepping forward abruptly, Albel growled and threatened to grab the smaller girl by her shirt collar.

However, it was too late. The damage was already done. No matter how much this supposed medium or whatever she was meant to be was throttled by Albel and scolded by Roxas, by the time they turned to look for their ghost he had vanished.

"Fuck, where could he have gone?" Albel placed a palm to the side of his head and groaned in frustration. How was he meant to search for something he couldn't even see?

The troubled blond beside him gently pat his arm in efforts to calm him. "Just calm and think where he might have gone. Feel him."

With that, both split up and set off in search where they debated he might have ran off to.

First stop for Orion was the one place he visited if ever he needed to be reminded of his own existence.

The local humane society.

While alive, he absolutely adored animals of any and all kinds. Heck, this was even a staple visitation while still alive for him.

Making his way through the closed door, immediately he was greeted by the excited barks of the first dogs to notice his presence. Shortly after, the whole room bustled with a chorus of barks, meows, and various other noises. Everyone around working panicked at the scene and tried everything to hush them but failed.

This. This was exactly what he needed. And yet...it still wasn’t enough to cure the hurt instilled in his chest.

After his moments of temporary bliss, Orion decided to leave the poor humans be by leaving.

Maybe there would be a better place he could wait.

A place he could be found.