A Distinct Lack of Common Sense [Open]

She knew better.

She knew better than to sneak off in the middle of the night.

She knew better than to sneak off in the middle of the night in search of something she couldn't name.  In search of something she couldn't picture in her mind, or even explain.

She knew better than to embark on a wild goose chase like this.

She knew better.

And yet, here she was, wandering the streets of Sanyo's Sun district at one in the morning.  Oh, her brother would be so proud.  Enough so that he might even forgive her for stealing one of his prized baseball bats, which was currently strapped to the side of Kayo's backpack.

Just in case.

Sanyo was a fairly safe place, but Kayo wasn't about to take any chances.  Every city had its underbelly, and even though she was in the residential area, she couldn't help but feel on-edge.  She supposed part of that was her target.  How could she not fear something she couldn't explain?  Something she couldn't see?  Something that, in spite of being so unknown, Kayo was still certain existed.  She'd experienced it herself -- whatever "it" was -- when she'd tried to fight Xander the other day.  He'd done... something.  Kayo didn't know exactly what.  One minute he'd been his usual, insufferable self.  Seconds later, he'd started exuding a kind of power that Kayo had never felt before.  It had been terrifying.

And she wanted to know why.

Whatever Xander had done wasn't normal.  Her instincts told her that much.  She just wanted to know more.  Had to know more.  Kayo didn't like relying on primal intuition; she wanted to know the details, wanted to know the how, the what, the why.  She wasn't interested in claiming such a power for herself -- she just wanted answers.

And that was what had pushed her to prowl the streets at such a late hour.  Tailing Xander probably would have led her to answers sooner, but she was hesitant to get tangled up with him again.  They'd left things on a sour note, and she really, really didn't want to get involved in any sort of confrontation with him.  Not until she knew what she was dealing with.

So, of course, the next logical step was to sneak out in the middle of the night and wander around, looking for clues.  No leads necessary!  Just a random, aimless search carried out by meandering through the streets of the Sun district.  Fantastic plan, really.  One of Kayo's favourites, right next to charging headlong into things without consideration.

...Ugh.

Not your best move, Kayo, she thought to herself, kicking at the pavement idly as she walked.  But what else was she supposed to do?  Walk right up to Xander and ask what was wrong with him?  Sure.  That would go over well.

She scowled.  Not that this is going well either.  Kayo felt very stupid all of a sudden.  What had she been expecting to find tonight?  A miracle?  Because that was what it was going to take to find anything of interest, let alone answers to --

Wait.  What was that?

Kayo frowned, squinting at the houses a few blocks ahead.  Was that... Fog?  What the hell?  Her eyes must have been playing tricks on her.  It wasn't humid enough for fog to form, and yet...

Curiosity piqued, Kayo picked up the pace and trotted over to the area.  The fog grew thicker as she got closer, until she could barely see ten feet ahead of her.  What the hell was going on?

Her heart started to beat a little quicker in her chest.  Instinctively, Kayo reached to the side of her backpack, fingers curling around the cool metal of her brother's baseball bat.  Something was wrong.  Very wrong.

The sound of footsteps caught her attention.  Snapping the bat out of its restraints, Kayo held it in front of her, and called out.  "Who's there?  Show yourself!"