I wait until everyone's there, then hop down from the tree. Not quite as gracefully as I once would have, but pretty damn close. I share a private smile with myself when Kazari's cat hisses at me, then cross my arm over my chest and shrug.

"I was early." I answer simply, sparing an extra long stare at his feline friend (I still have a knee-jerk reaction to dislike cats, though whether it's to do with my lingering bird instincts or my lingering distrust for Kazari, I'm not sure) before looking over each of the former Greeeds that have gathered.

Gamel doesn't seem to have changed, nor has Mezool. Uva's hair seems like less of an eyesore, and Kazari has changed his quite suddenly since he stopped by the restaurant. Other than that it's just... we're human now. Not just pretending, not just posing or possessing. It's real.

But for how long? That question still nags me, a little singsong voice in the back of my mind.

Louder than that though is the echo of Eiji's voice telling me to play nice. That they're family, as close to biological family as any of us will get.

I clear my throat. I do my best to smile. "You're all looking... well."