[Liveman parents, mostly]

[catcameback]

Since Gai started going to school, I've actually started attending most of my classes. I also spend some time in a tree in the courtyard, but it's the effort that counts.

Not today, though, despite all of my best intentions, all I can focus on as I walk past Genta's sushi-cart (all closed up tight, and I haven't seen him in days, which is kind of a shame because fish) is the tiny mewling squeaking sound somewhere behind one of the wheels.

Which turns out to be a new born kitten, all small and spindly and confused and it's eyes aren't even open yet, but when I reach my hand towards it it balls up against the warmth of my palm and closes it's tiny mouth around the end of my pinkie.

It's cold, it's way too cold and shivering and there's no other cats around anywhere and I don't know what to do.

No, wait. Yes, I do. It needs a mom. A mother will take care of it. Or any kind of parent. But there's no cats around.

But I have three. And they always know what to do.

I run the entire way back to the house with the little guy cupped protectively against my chest. It fits easily in one hand but I use both just to keep it a little warmer.

I throw myself in through my cat flap, skid and almost fall over (man, sometimes I miss the grace of my original body). "Someone! Anyone? Is anyone still home?"

Comments

[catcameback]

"There's not much to know." I pout a bit. I don't really want Megumi to think cesspool of greed every time she looks at me. I'm trying to move beyond that.

"I don't think I'm in any danger." I admit slowly. "Yet. I guess. It's just... There's another one. Another Greeed. And I don't know if he's going to come back or not, but I... I really don't want him to."

[bluedolphin]

"He wouldn't be human? It stands to reason that if the rest of you are, he should be too."

I wonder where these others are living. If I could only find out-

[catcameback]

I snort at that. Obviously she doesn't know, I don't mean to be rude, but the reaction is completely involuntary.

"That's part of the problem. He started out as human, not like the rest of us. And he was... bat shit crazy before he became a Greeed." I glance up, meeting her eyes for just a moment before looking away again. "I think I'm scared."

[bluedolphin]

Deep breath. Let's think through this calmly.

"Would you know if he were back? Do you know where he'd go? And even if he was human to begin with - it's still possible he will lose his power."

[catcameback]

I huff a little, letting my head roll back so I can stare at the ceiling. "I don't know. That's why I'm scared, isn't it? Because I don't know if he's going to come back, or if he's already back, or if he'd even do anything to me if he came back?"

I have my Switch. The other Greeed have nothing. It stands to reason that if Maki comes back, he'll just be a creepy human again. And without his doll, too. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to freak you out or anything."

[bluedolphin]

"We need to think about this calmly and be prepared. But if the worst comes to the worst ... there are more of you than of him. And one of you has a Switch."

It had to come out at some point.

[catcameback]

"Yeah, I guess I'm over... reacting..." I trail off, sort of sneaking a glance at her and then biting my lip.

"Cat's out of the bag?" My hand sneaks into my pocket, and it's still there. I hold onto it, but don't pull it out. "I don't use it very often."

[bluedolphin]

I examine it warily from a distance. It's covered in ominous-looking spikes, "oh, Kazari. Where did you get this?" At school, most likely.

[catcameback]

"Not at school." I protest immediately. Which is technically true, I wasn't on school grounds when crab cakes gave it to me, and I wasn't on school grounds when I used it and evolved or whatever. "Near school?" It's not a lie.

"I just have it. I mean, I'm keeping it. For good reasons!" I pout at her. "Whatever crazy guy is in charge of these things, he's trying to get all twelve together. Which would probably be back. But as long as I have this one..." I bite my lip. "Don't take it away."

[bluedolphin]

"How can I? We want you to be able to take care of yourself." I close my hand over his, "with everything that's happening ... you'll probably need it." We haven't properly spoken to the boys about this yet, but Kazari's a little different. He knows.

[catcameback]

"You mean the other Greeed." I hesitate. "And that... guy." What was his name? Komp? Kent? "I want to protect you all. You're my family. I've never had one before, not really. I don't want anything happening to any of you."

[bluedolphin]

"There are a lot of things going on. We haven't spoken to you about it because we don't know everything. People ... things ... coming back." I press a kiss to his silvery head, "but I promise we'll do whatever we can to make sure we all come through this safely. You don't have to be the brave one all the time."

[catcameback]

I pout at her, wrinkling my nose a little. "I have a lot to make up for," I admit softly.

I look around the waiting room blankly, then sigh. "Aren't they done yet?"

[bluedolphin]

Wait, I didn't let anyone know where we've gone. "Saving lives takes time," I remind him, but I send a quick text to Jou and Yuusuke and then take Kazari to the desk to ask after the kitten.

[catcameback]

"Yeah, yeah," I grumble softly. Stupid doctors better not be hurting my kitten.

I trail behind her to the counter, kicking at the floor and pouting towards the ceiling and waiting for a favorable answer.

[bluedolphin]

We're told that the kitten is doing well but is with the doctors and we'll have to wait. I hover close to Kazari lest he try to muscle past the desk.

[catcameback]

I would consider vaulting over the desk and going to find my kitten now, but Megumi seems to think it's okay to let them take their time, so I sulk back to the chairs to wait longer.

"Sorry I missed school." I grumble softly.

[bluedolphin]

I hadn't even thought about school until this moment, "you know, I wouldn't have noticed that until you mentioned it. But please do try to go to school." I ruffle his hair. If he had a reason not to go today, we'll discuss it later, after we find out about the kitten's wellbeing.

[catcameback]

I pout at her, I know what she's thinking. "I've been going! I've been going a lot, you know, since we got Gai. I just... The kitten, I found it on my way. I couldn't just... leave it."

[bluedolphin]

"I know you couldn't. You did the right thing." I stroke his hair soothingly. It's a little too early for me to try to cheer him up with thoughts of what we'll do if allowed to take the kitten home.

[catcameback]

"You're not mad?" I'm not sure why she would be, I don't know if I've ever seen Megumi mad about anything.

She seemed to get pretty close over my Switch, though. I'd feel bad about it, but it's about the only thing keeping me from meandering around in a state of panic worrying about whether Maki is going to come back to life or not.

[bluedolphin]

"How can I be? I worry, of course, but I trust you. That's what mothers are for." And to wash dirty socks, and check your homework, and plenty of other things that I also do.

I look at the clock on the wall. We've been here ... three-quarters of an hour. It feels like an eternity.

[catcameback]

I like that. I can definitely get behind that. I smile at her, rub at my temple a bit, then look up at the clock. The passage of time is one of those weird human things it took a while to understand properly, but I think I'm getting a hold of it.

"How long will this take?"

[bluedolphin]

"I - I don't know. It depends on whether they have to operate, or -"

I'm interrupted by the receptionist calling us to the desk. Thank heavens for that.

[catcameback]

..."Operate, like cut open with knives?"

I'm on my feet even before the receptionist is calling us, but then I figure if we're being called that probably means everything is okay.

Right?

I beat Megumi to the desk and lean over it to get in the receptionist's face. "Is he okay?"