Unable to ‘Return to Normal’

[Kim-la]

[Closed far all except Li-wa and Dizzix]


Duemi sat upon the roots of one of the trees in the moonlit garden. Her feet were stretched out across the mass of roots and had her back against the trunk. She wore a new leather- appearing jacket that had maroon shoulder pad and a simple silver Celtic design on the torso and on the jackets hem. Her body language would indicate she was relaxed, perhaps tired. But her face told a very different story. Lines of sorrow were etched across her face, and her bright green eyes looked like they were about to cry. She blankly watched the lights of the garden float slowly through the evening sky, trying to think about something else, anything else.

On the other side of the tree, resting in a similar fashion to Duemi sat an unfamiliar female figure. She had brown hair with blonde highlights in a horse shoe cut style. The straightness of her hairline seemed to hint at a military background. Her eyes were the color of dark moss, with a brown undertone and her skin was surprisingly pale. She wore a simple tan, knee length dress. The top seemed to hint at a Japanese style, while the bottom had a plain Celtic design, not at all dissimilar to the pattern on Duemi’s jacket. She turned to face Duemi, an anxious expression on her face. “Mistress, pardon me for the bother, but is everything all right?” Her words flowed smoothly, a colonial- like accent pulling at her speech.

“It’s nothing Rai’elle.” Duemi said in a sighing tone, “I just need some peace and quite.”

“Yes my lady.” She answered softly turning back around to give Lady Duemi some space.

Duemi sighed and thought about what had happened all the time she had been away. She wondered how much she had missed. She didn’t doubt classes had started by now, but at the moment, she had no intention to go to any of them any time soon. She certainly had two visible changes. Springing from the corner of her right eye was a vine- like tattoo, black with and iridescent sheen. Second, she seemed to have put on a little weight, particularly around her stomach. Hm.

[Señor Sunday Friday]

"Duemi!" Came the overjoyed voice of a bright green eyed cat boy, a smile on his face as he immediately wrapped his arms around Duemi. "You're back! Where did you g-" he froze, his expression looking more horrified than anything, looking at the tattoo next to Duemi's right eye. "What happened?" He asked, staring at the little mark, then looking over to Duemi's companion, "And who's that!?" he asked, "What's going on, are you all right?" He stepped away from Duemi though his hands still were gently placed on Duemi's elbows, "You're still you... right?" he asked, sounding a bit scared for Duemi's well being.

[Kim-la]

“I-I-I… I’m fine Neko… Really…” Duemi said, struggling to with her speech. She didn’t know if she was ecstatic that she was with Neko or if it would be better if he didn’t know… Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision before Duemi quickly wiped them away. She took a deep breath to steady herself then “Neko, this is Rai’elle. She’s… A new friend of mine.”

Rai’elle managed a small wave. She didn’t like the way this was going. Who was this boy? Was he a threat? Duemi seemed to like him, but they weren’t supposed to contact anyone from the school. She watched the cat- boy, her anxiety rising with every breath.

[Señor Sunday Friday]

"Oh... well you should better get some medicine for those allergies then." Neko commented, a little nod, "You're tearing up and everything, they're even a little puffy, makes you look like you're going to cry..." he commented, "What are you allergic to?" he asked, having no clue that Duemi had any allergies at all. His tail swished back and forth as he looked towards Duemi's new friend, extending a hand to her, "Hi... umm... do you know where Duemi's allergy medicine is...?" he asked, "I'm Neko though and it's nice to meet you Rai'elle!" He smiled though you could tell he was still very much concerned about Duemi and her allergies.

Neko's an idiot.

[Sun-Hi]

Addison Rae fixed her hair as she walked over to where Neko was. She had been walking with him but had gotten distracted by a pretty flower, then a butterfly landed on the flower and Addison began to follow it. She would have continued to follow the beautiful butterfly but it began to fly upward until it became a speck in the sky. After the butterfly was too far away to see, Adz tried to find Neko again. She had lost him while following the purteh butterfly.

After walking for a few minutes she finally found Neko, a smile returned to her lips. She walked over to him, "I got lost." She gave a small laugh as her cheeks turned a light pink. She then noticed the two others with Neko. "Oh helloo." She noticed one of them looked as if she was going to cry, "What's wrong?" Addison tilted her head only slightly and her smile faded a bit.

[Kim-la]

“Hi…” Duemi commented to Addison Rae, slightly confused by who this person was. “I’ve just been sick lately… Bloating… Throwing up in the mornings… But it’s getting better” Duemi said, to both Neko and Addison Rae. She attempted to sound reassuring for Neko, but her flat tone seemed to be an alert that what she had said wasn’t quite the full story.

“I’m Duemi’s personal care assistant.” Rai’elle said, grabbing at her opportunity for a cover. She needed a reason for being here, and all the people so far seemed to believe that Duemi was only sick. Plus, it wasn’t a complete lie… Just a great many details were left out.

[Señor Sunday Friday]

Neko narrowed his eyes at Rai'elle, "Why would Licentia assign a 'personal care assistant?" he asked, obviously not trusting this stranger that was with Duemi, "And where's Lyra?" he asked, looking towards Addison Rae quickly before returning his gaze to Duemi and Rai'elle. "What did you do?" he asked, if it wasn't for the fact that it was nearly impossible for Neko to be threatening no matter what he did... Neko would probably look very frightening. Oh well, you could tell he's angry and an angry Neko was maybe scary enough since it was so rare and therefor his actions when he's angry were something that couldn't properly be predicted... though Neko was a wimp so it shouldn't be that bad... Neko could possibly get himself killed though... and it wasn't going to leave a good impression on Addison Rae.

Unless Addison Rae stepped back to think about the fact that this was Neko being protective of someone he cares about. Then it was kind of sweet that Neko was completely pissed off.

[Kim-la]

“Careful what you say cat-boy.” Rai’elle said darkly, her demeanor completely different form what it had been before. She saw not value to his life, and saw not reason for him to live if he was able to infer as much as he had already. She extended one hand behind her back, an orb of whirling light growing beneath it.

“No Rai’elle!” Duemi said in distress, scrambling to her feet. Rai’elle’s head snapped up to look at Duemi, her look surprised, and then flashed to apologetic. She lowered her hands obediently and looked at the ground.

“Look Neko… It’s a long story… Lyra’s happy… She’s where she wants to be… And Rai’elle really is here to help me…“ Duemi struggled for more words. How were people supposed to say things like this? “Neko…” She took in a shaky breath. “Neko, I’m pregnant.”

[Sun-Hi]

Addison Rae thought for a moment as Duemi explained that she was sick,"Throwing up in the mornings" caught her attention. 'Is she pregnant?' She asked herself, Addison knew a lot about a woman's body. More than most guys who had never dated a girl should know, well this was because she found a woman's body interesting and beautiful, she was just not sexually attracted to it. 'I wonder if she knows... Neko obviously doesn't....' She kept her mouth shut for a while, she knew she shouldn't get involved with other people's problems. Also because if Duemi knew she was pregnant and didn't want people to know then blurting it out would be extreely rude and would probably lead to Duemi hateing Addison.
She didn't really mind Neko getting mad, she figured Neko was probably friends with Duemi and he was worried about her.
Duemi soon confessed to Neko that she was pregnant, 'I knew it!' Addison gave a small smile

[Señor Sunday Friday]

Neko went pale, freezing as his arms went limp at his sides, "No..." he muttered, looking towards Duemi, "No! Things aren't supposed to happen like this!" He said, shaking his head, "This is wrong! Duemi! What happened!" He said, his hands starting to shake, "Did he marry you, Duemi?" he asked, "Where is he? Who is he?" Neko asked, his voice shaking as he asked, he also wanted to ask a myriad of other questions but he wouldn't dare let them fall from his lips, he wanted to ask but he didn't want to know the answers. Neko's tail thrashed back and forth in irritation, his green eyes looking from Duemi to Rai'elle in mixed emotion, no clue how to respond to this, there were so many things that were brought to Neko's thoughts at the current moment and he had no clue how to respond to it. He felt responsible, he felt obligated to help, he didn't know how to help, actually. He was supposed to keep Duemi safe and now Duemi was pregnant, Neko had let himself get too distracted with everything. He decided he was going to quit his job at the Ninth Heaven- obviously it was getting in the way of his previous duties. Neko hadn't realized it but his eyes were watering and it seemed as if he was crying, not from his expression, but by the tears that were slowly making their way down his cheeks.

[Kim-la]

Duemi’s face flushed with grief. Why was Addison smiling? This was the exact opposite of what she ever wanted… But what really hit her was Neko’s reaction. Unable to watch, she buried her face in her hands, a torrent of tears drenching her face.

Rai’elle stepped between Duemi and Neko, not trusting Neko not to take some sort of action against Duemi. As far as she could figure, Neko must have wanted Duemi to be his, and some other man had gotten to her first. It never occurred to her that Neko might actually love Duemi. “You should be joyful for Mistress Duemi!” Rai’elle said loudly, a sense of conviction in her words. “The Licentia has waited centuries for the favored child of Reggetar to return! The union between her and Lord Azatel was beyond our wildest dreams! Their child will no doubt be the strongest the Licentia has ever seen! He (apparently the baby was either a boy or everyone was hoping for a boy) will no doubt be able to lead the Licentia to victory! Even you cannot say that our cause is a wrong one.” Rai’elle fished, her voice burning with passion. Even so, if she was wrong, Rai’elle clearly believed that she was right.

[Señor Sunday Friday]

"Licentia kills innocent people! They would destroy everyone if they thought it would make things easier for themselves! They're no better than Virisea themselves!" Neko shouted at Rai'elle. He then made his attempt to push Rai'elle out of the way, "And she has a name!" he said irritably, "Her name is Duemi so stop giving her whatever names they are that you feel are necessary- just call her Duemi!" he said, wrapping his arms around Duemi, "We'll get you somewhere safe, isn't that right, Addie?" he looked towards Addison Rae before he started dragging off Duemi regardless of the wishes of Addison Rae, Rai'elle, or Duemi herself. He just wanted to get Duemi somewhere that Licentia wouldn't be able to bother her.

[Kim-la]

Duemi allowed Neko to drag her away, her hands falling away from her face. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her face seemed to be a blank sadness.

Rai’elle’s face was contorted with red hot fury, her upper lip curled in a snarl. “How dare you comment upon our actions?! The Licentia has struggled for centuries against Virisea! Can you truly name one group who has struggled for freedom over oppressors that has no blood on their hands? Virisea contorts our actions to have us seem more evil than they so they can continue to dominate your people and crush any hope that they have a chance of overthrowing them.” The entire time Rai’elle had been advancing upon Neko, another whirling orb of white light whipping between her fingers.

“Rai’elle.” Duemi breathed, no emotion in her voice.

Rai’elle immediately halted, moss-green eyes fully concentrated on whatever Duemi was about to say.

“Leave. When I require your assistance, I will call for you.”

The shock of Duemi’s request stunned her, the orb between her fingers flickering out of existence as her hands fell numbly to her sides. “As you wish.” Rai’elle said softly, leaving out any formal titles so not to anger the cat-boy. She hung her head like and walked away like a dejected dog, sent away from it’s master.

Duemi sighed at Rai’elle and rolled her head to look up at Neko, her longing expression seeming to beg for forgiveness.