"MMMMmmmmmm!!!" I mutter while stretching before lying down on the side of my hotel room bed. It reminds me of my room at the Keisetsu building, aside from different smells.

"Nice hotel." Crystal lazily says next to me, taking up the majority of the bed. "Well, for our price range..." She takes out another popsicle and tosses the stick of the previous one into the trash can across the room.

"Could have more space though." Yuri says above me.

"Hey, I like tight spaces." Ripperu says. "Gives you an excuse to get close and sweaty with your buddies. Especially..."

And Ripperu begins to breathe heavily.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd take you for a darkness tone." Yuri says to her.

"Only in personality. I don't have the looks or the rack to be one."

Kon. Kon.

"Come in!" I say.

The person knocking opens the door and...

"KUSHU!!!"

BUWA!!

Yamiso opens the door, carrying two Qoo fruit drinks, with a small cloud of spores behind him.

"DAMN IT, CLAIRE!!" Yamiso yells into the hallway.

"Language..."

The drinks instantly freeze to Yamiso's hands.

"OWOWOWOW!!!" Yamiso cries out, wildly waving his hands, attempting to shake off the drinks. "Hey, your sister isn't here! Give me a d...!!"

And his mouth gets frozen.

"I don't want to encourage bad habits."

(I'm a darkness tone, damn it! This IS normal!)

"EEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPP!!!!!!" Yuri screams, covering herself, as she's only wearing her bra.

I guess I did forget to mention...we girls are wearing our pajamas right now. Basically, Crystal is in her undewear and bra, because extra layers would make it too warm for her, and Ripperu is wearing men's pajamas. For me, just my panties and a T-shirt. Ripperu probably doesn't mind. In fact, it likely gets her "excited". And Crystal is too lazy to care. I personally don't mind. We animal tones don't worry about such things. If animals can go in public, use the bathroom, and openly mate all in the nude, why should I care if I show a little skin?

"You're not much of an animal tone, are you?" I say to Yuri.

"That's not the point! Yamiso, GET OUT!!!!"

Yuri creates silk to grab all nearby pillows and starts tossing them at Yamiso. He gets hit, unfazed, simply gesturing for Crystal to remove the ice from his mouth. After he is hit by every pillow, Crystal removes the ice from his mouth and hands.

"Not necessary..." Yamiso remarks.

Yuri quickly turns around on the ceiling, continuing to cover herself.

"Don't worry, Yuri." Yamiso says. "You know I only have eyes for Mydrea."

"That doesn't make it any less creepy! You've probably snuck a few peeks over the years, haven't you!?"

"Only when Mydrea was with you."

"PERVERT!!!"

She throws more pillows. Again, Yamiso stays still.

"Besides, I've seen enough of what you're wearing in my porn."

Yuri begins to pick up and toss pillows faster.

"Anyway, I didn't come to sneak a peek. I wouldn't openly walk in, if that was the case."

Yamiso turns to me.

"Hey, udders. Where's your brother?"

(Udders!?)

My heart sinks...vvveerrrrryyy low...

"He isn't in his room."

"Try the roof..." I say weakly. "He always sleeps on the roof on clear nights..."

"Oh... I...should have known that."

As Yamiso leaves the room, Claire sneezes again.

"KKKKKUUUUUUSSSSSSSSHHHHHHUUUUUUU!!!!!!!"

BBBBUUUUUWWWAAAAA!!!!

Batan.

(Guess the allergy medicine she had at the concert and karaoke wore off.) Ripperu thinks.

"You know...many girls would kill for your 'udders', udders." Crystal says, yawning.

"Well, I don't like them!" I retort.

"Why's that?" Yuri asks, turning to me.

"In Terraz, small breasts were considered sexy. And though he won't tell me directly, I know Oren likes flat chests, just like everyone else there! I overheard him once..."

"Doesn't seem to stop him from liking you as much as he does." Ripperu says. "Forbidden love...If only you were a dude. Wait... Forbidden love... BRILLIANT!!!"

Ripperu starts writing...and having a nosebleed.

"Hey! I don't want the smell of blood in my room!" I wince, covering my nose.

"Sorry, but I can't stop! I DON'T WANNA STOP!!!"

After a few minutes, Ripperu stops and, after I threaten her, she uses her subtone to clean up the blood. She lies down on the floor, likely because she's lightheaded, then turns to me.

"Sorry about that, but the whole 'forbidden' thing just sparked some inspiration. But, I have to ask, is it forbidden?"

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"You and Oren don't have that much in common..." Crystal says. "Aside from your shared disgust for meat, your body structures, intelligence, and personalities aren't similar. One of your adopted?"

I pause and look around. Seems the girls are interested in what I say.

"Oren's adopted. Didn't I mention this before?"

"Not to us. We didn't want to pry. You two had some recovering to do after what happened in New Vegas."

"You know, I really don't understand your brother." Yuri says. "Not that that's a bad thing. In fact, if he wasn't so down in the dumps all the time, he'd be just my type."

"Wwwwwwwhhhhaaaaattttt dddddiiiidddddd yyyyooooouuuu ssssaaaayyyyyyy?????" I hiss with a menacing expression that makes Yuri turn completely white.

"Nononononononono! I'm not trying anything!"

"Yyyyyooooooouuuuuuu sssssssuuuuuuurrrreeeeeee????"

She nods her head vigorously. I take a deep breath to calm myself down.

"Sorry for the misunderstanding. I know he's taken. I'm just saying that he's a man of contradictions, and that's the kind of man I like."

"Didn't take you for that kind of girl..." Crystal says. "Thought you'd want someone 'pure' and kind, like the way you attempt to express yourself through your miko clothes."

"Not really. Contradictions invoke mystery, and I like mysterious men. Oren's cloak hides his appearance from everyone, making him seem mysterious. He's kind, yet aggressive when need be. He makes some foolish mistakes, but is quite smart. He's skilled at many things, but doesn't seem to show us everything he can do. Men of contradictions are my thing. Like Dumac Castien."

"Dumac?" Ripperu asks. "The orc model?"

"Yep." Yuri says. "Half orc, half elf. He's got an elf's lean body with some orc muscle. By human standards, he's quite sexy. And I bet his 'orc side' surfaces most when things get romantic, contrary to his kindhearted portrayal in the media. THAT's my kind of guy."

"I want somebody like Hiromu." Ripperu says. "At least the acting part. I hope to reenact what I picture in my writing with the guy I love. What of you, Crystal?"

"Don't know... Don't care..."

"Oh, come on!" Yuri, Ripperu, and I say together.

"Surely you're at least a little interested!" Yuri says.

We continue to look at her, then she sighs.

"Beggers can't be choosers... I don't have much to offer. Doubt guys go for the lazy ones..."

"I know you have to have a type!" Ripperu says.

"Fine... So long as they will stay with me, regardless of how lazy I am, and are also willing to give me popsicles for the rest of my life, I don't care about appearance. I just want a guy who's loyal."

"That...sounds about right..." Ripperu says. "You know, you should really try to express yourself more if you want to be someone's waifu."

"Someone's waifu?"

"Surely you'll touch the heart of somebody you don't know."

"Should I be creeped out or flattered?"

I giggle.

"Anyway, what do you see in Oren?" Yuri asks me.

"Me?"

Yuri and Ripperu look at me with curious expressions.

"He...rescued me."

The two of them inch closer to me, even more eager than before.

I let out a sigh, then take a deep breath.

"I know that I can be...a bit rough at times, but did you know that my violent side was how I always was?"

Yuri and Ripperu look at each other, with expressions of both concern and curiousity.

"Before Oren came into my life, I was a...dilinquent. Not having a mother, but having monstrous strength at possibly the lowest IQ of my generation made me get picked on a lot in Terraz. Because of this, I chose to solve everything with violence, the only thing people said I knew. Fellow kids. Their parents. Even my father, Doryoko, on occasion. I fought with everybody, closing my heart off to everyone. Even the animals could sense my hostility."

I look to the necklace Oren gave me.

"That is, except for Inuki."

"Who?" Ripperu asks.

I open my necklace to show the picture that I put in it. It's one of the few things I could keep with me from Terraz. The picture is of me, Oren, and a large sheepdog.

"Inuki was the family dog."

"Strange name." Crystal comments.

"We only agreed on it because it had 'inu' in the name."

"Ah." the three girls say.

"Anyway, Inuki became part of the family when I was around four years old. By the time Oren arrived, Inuki was really old. However, when I was alone, Inuki was always there for me. We played together. Enjoyed our time by ourselves, without a care in the world."

I look at the picture, then run my left index finger over it.

"And then it happened."

Yuri and Ripperu inch closer.

"It started off as a normal day for the two of us. Playing in the forest, by the creek. But, while we were playing, Inuki stopped and began to sniff the air. I did so soon after. The smell of blood. A smell I rarely smelled, as there really weren't many animals around whenever Inuki and I were playing. We followed the smell up the creek..."

"And found Oren...floating livelessly in the water, his cloak soaked in blood. In fact, when I looked upstream, much of the creek was red with blood.

Ripperu and Yuri back up a little.

"I walked up to Oren's body and, to my surprise, realized that he was still alive. While I normally didn't like being around other people, even someone like me couldn't leave a person to die. Inuki and I dragged Oren home and got Doryoko and the local doctor to treat Oren. He lay in bed, practically lifeless, for a whole week. And when he came to, he was..."

"He was...?" Yuri asks.

"Perhaps...'empty' might be the best word."

"Empty?" Crystal asks, getting up on one elbow. Seems she's starting to get interested.

"When he woke up, and for the next couple days, Oren wouldn't speak. Not only that, he didn't seem to know anything. What we were saying, what certain things were, nothing. Not only did it look as though he had no memory, he didn't even know how to perform the most basic of actions. Normally, a family that had more members would take in someone like Oren, as they had more hands on their farm, and thus, had more time between individual shifts. But after rumors of Oren arriving in a 'river of blood' and 'rising from the dead', nobody would take him in, forcing him to be in our care, as we were the ones who found him."

"And that's when you started to like him?" Ripperu asks.

"Nope. Quite the opposite."

The other girls have confused looks on their faces.

"I found trying to teach Oren to be rather...annoying. A waste of time."

"YOU taught him?" Ripperu again asks.

"Well, the basics even a child can learn."

"Does that mean you're the reason for his 'sama' quirk?" Crystal asks.

I blush.

"I'm...not proud of that."

"Then why'd you do it?" Yuri inquires.

"During that time, I thought of Oren as inferior, and, as a form of bullying, constantly told him to address me, and everybody else, by 'sama', as we were all his 'superiors'. Didn't think he'd actually do it."

...

"Oooookkkaaayyyy..." Ripperu says. "Does that also mean that...?"

"Yep, I gave him his name too."

"So," Crystal begins, "What does 'Oren' mean?"

"I gave him the name 'Orekno'."

"Ore no? 'Mine'"?

"He was my property."

(That's cold.) Crystal thinks.

"Orekno Tsurai? Kind of a silly name." remarks Ripperu.

"Don't know why he only goes by the abbreviation 'Oren'." I say. "Previous intensions aside, I like his full name."

(I can see why he doesn't.) the other girls think.

"Anyway, back to the story. While he learned fast, he still didn't speak, and I didn't want to get involved with someone that I thought to be nothing but a hinderance. Plus...I was...jealous. For some reason, once Oren started to 'return to normal', he seemed to get along with almost everybody he met. He was kind and put others before himself. Eventually, not only did everyone in Terraz open up to him, the animals did too, once he began to work on our farm. This...included Inuki. Eventually, Inuki would spend more time with Oren and less time with me. My only friend...was not there for me as much."

I pause.

"And then...the accident."

I close my necklace.

"One day, when we were returning with groceries, one of the bulls pulling a nearby wagon got spooked by Inuki, causing it to go out of control. It charged recklessly, and almost ran over a child. However, Oren jumped in to save the child. But...he wasn't fast enough. Oren would have been run over too...if Inuki didn't save the two of them. In the end, Inuki...was the only one to get injured."

...

"While Inuki didn't die, he didn't return back from the hospital. Oren was the only one to stay by Inuki's side, as I couldn't bring myself to go somewhere with the man who was responsible for Inuki's condition. At that moment, I hated Oren for taking away my only friend. I absolutely hated him. So much so that, when he returned the next day, I beat him up to the point that any normal person would likely have died. The rage inside me wanted me to kill him. It's...something I regret to this day. Eventually, my father stopped me, but I sure beat him within an inch of his life. Then, without me knowing, Oren chose to stay at the hospital to recover while also taking care of Inuki."

The girls look at each other, then back at me.

"With my only friend gone, I became more hostile than ever. I beat up people far worse than I ever did before. I looked for any reason to fight. The 'dilinquent' side of me got worse by the day. And it's because of this that I got myself into more trouble. Eventually, many of the boys of my generation in Terraz grew sick of my actions. Exchanging their fear for hatred, they all chose to fight me at once, eventually overpowering me. In my weakened state, they drugged me and tied me to a tree outside the village. Whether they intended to kill me, severely injure me, or rape me, I don't know. Before they did anything else, they gave me another drug to knock me out. But before they could do anything...Oren jumped in between them and me."

"Oren did?" Crystal asks. "In spite of everything you did?"

"Yes, much to my surprise. I don't know what was being said, but it was the first time I heard Oren's voice. Judging by what I could faintly see, he was trying to convince them to leave me alone. When it didn't work...he stole one of the boys' swords and whistled. In that instant, with his front leg in bandages, Inuki rushed over to Oren, and the two fought side by side for my sake. Luckily, I learned that the boys didn't use their rhime out of respect for Oren challenging them all by himself. When I came to, they were still fighting, though Oren was the only one beat up as he continued to protect Inuki and me. By this time, the drugs wore off, and I broke free and joined the fight. And boy, did we fight! It was like we rehearsed it! Eventually, the boys gave up and fled, though they'd apologize the following day out of fear. Luckily this fear and hatred would disappear in the upcoming years when I began to open up more."

"Okay, but why did you open up?" Crystal asks. "Doesn't sound like you changed."

"Ah, yes. After the fight, despite being the most injured, Oren tended to Inuki's and my wounds. When it was my turn, it was the first time I broke out in tears. Tears of fear, and tears of guilt. I nearly killed Oren out of a misunderstanding, yet he still came to save me. I eventually learned he took care of Inuki the whole time I didn't go to the hospital. I asked him why he would do something so reckless. And he simply said to me, 'Sueka-sama, do I need a reason to help out a friend?' That was the first time anybody ever called me a friend. When I asked him how I could possibly be his friend after everything I did, he told me that he was grateful to me for rescuing him and teaching him when nobody else would. He'd also say that, because he had no memories, he knew what it was like to be alone, and not only did he not want me to feel alone, he was grateful to me for not making him feel alone anymore."

"That sounds like him." Ripperu states.

"After that, I opened up to him as a friend. Eventually, I spent more time with him once he became our hired hand. Inuki, Oren, and I would spend more time together, helping me to open up and finally have a reason to smile again. Everyone in Terraz was surprised at my change and joked that it was love that changed me. At the time, I would deny it, but eventually, my trust in Oren did indeed become love. Love that would be there for me against all odds. Love from someone who enjoyed my company while I could be myself. It was the first time I ever felt that way. And my heart belongs only to him."

"Quite the touching story." Yuri says. "Though I didn't expect you to be THAT violent."

"We all have our flaws." Crystal remarks.

"Anything else?" Ripperu asks...with another nosebleed. Seems she's been writing while listening.

"A little. A year after Oren arrived, Inuki died of old age. It was a severe blow to the both of us, as it was like losing family. It was on that day that Doryoko came to Oren and me and proposed that, to fill the 'gap in the family', Oren be adopted. The two of us immediately agreed, and that's how Oren officially became family."

"Sounds like he was already family." Yuri states.

"Can't argue with that." I say.

"And yet, I'm still a little curious." Ripperu begins to say. "While it's true the 'current' Oren is the one you love, aren't you concerned about who he was? Plus, you've never seen what he looks like under the cloak, so what if you don't like what you see?"

"I may be an idiot, but even I know what love is. I can tell the difference between love and lust. I hope you weren't addressing the stereotype of animal tones choosing their lovers based on the 'survival of the fittest' mindset."

"I wasn't."

"Okay, sorry for getting defensive. But there's more to a person than just their appearance, especially when you consider that looks don't last forever. As for who Oren was, I never really cared. He is who he is now, and that's all that matters."

...

"Now may I ask you girls something?" I request.

"Sure." Crystal says. "It's only fair."

"Why'd you join the Keisetsu?"

"I wanted to escape the racial prejudice my clan was facing in Obaken. There's always some feud going on between all the yokai species. Well, aside from mating season. As for humans, nobody really accepted me, so I joined as a part-time cleaner to not only get a job, but fit in among the 'other freaks'."

"Ouch." Crystal, Ripperu, and I say simultaneously.

"I'm not wrong."

"And you, Crystal?" I ask.

"I'm too lazy to repeat it. Just reread the first volume."

(Que?)

The three of us look at Ripperu.

And she simply shakes her head.

"It's only fair." Crystal says.

"Don't wanna."

"You need the same pressure you put on me?" I ask.

"Still don't wanna."

"Ice Drive: Popsicle blade."

In that instant, Crystal's icicle blade gets pressed up against Ripperu's neck.

"It's only fair." Crystal repeats.

"And this is why I like guys over girls..."

Crystal and Ripperu continue to stare each other down.

"Fine..." Ripperu reluctantly agrees.

Crystal returns her popsicle to its original state and puts it back in her mouth.

"I was born in New Vegas. And as you'd expect, I was one of the many kids without family or money. My guess is that my parents abandoned me due to children being expensive to care for. All they left me was my birth name that I choose not to use."

"And that is?" Yuri asks.

"Let me continue."

...

"Anyway, despite not having any known blood relatives, I can say I had a family. My family was the other kids I grew up with on the streets. I don't regret what I am about to say; we stole to survive, and we did it without remorse. My ability to liquify my body definitely helped with breaking and entering. In the end, of the estimated forty of us, I was considered one of the top two thieves. The other top thief, who was our leader, had the nickname Rippere. In the end, our family 'name' was the name of our band of thieves, 'Kumar Oasis'."

"Wait, you were Kumar Oasis!?" Yuri exclaims in astonishment. "I thought it was only one thief!"

Ripperu smiles, then gives her victory pose.

"Like me, our leader was a water tone. Her subtone was called 'vapor', which allowed her to turn the water she created, as well as her own body, into a gaseous state, similar to my ability to liquify myself. She was, in many ways, my idol. Smart and talented, but put the rest of us before herself. While it's true she always had money on her mind, though I think we all did, she always put the rest of us before herself. However, unlike the rest of our family, she once told me that she considered me to be the closest thing she had to a younger sister. As fate would have it, we even shared the same last name!"

"And that is?" Yuri asks again.

"Stop interrupting." I retort.

"Sorry."

"Our dream was to make enough money to pay for everyone's freedom from New Vegas while also saving up for a few extra luxuries, such as an education. Unfortunately, our plans were set back when New Vegas underwent the 'the Vegas Burst'."

Ripperu looks at me. Clearly, I must be making a confused expression.

"An economic stagnation similar to Japan's 'Lost Decade' in the First Age."

I still probably look confused.

"Oh, forget it. Let's just say times got tough. So much so that we risked more dangerous buglaries. No longer simple businesses for food, clothing, and short change. We began attempting to rob from the higher-ups whenever we got the chance. Many times, this resulted in some of us getting captured, myself and Rippere included. Luckily, we would normally be able to break our teammates out when Rippere and I used our subtones to escape, but eventually, security began to tighten to the point that, before our last big heist, we were down to 13 members."

I look towards the windows.

"Tonight's weather was just like the night we went to steal from the New Vegas vault. We got word of a special crystal, one that would give anybody the strength to surpass even the strongest of animal tones. Reflecting on it, I think it was the animal face."

!

"The security was top notch, resulting in five of our comrades getting captured, but eventually, using my, and Rippere's, subtones we managed to get our hands on our prize. In spite of heightened security, New Vegas could never really afford the best guards, as many were just people looking for work on the street. But, when Rippere came into contact with the stone, it began to glow and engulfed Rippere in what I believe to be animal rhime. This surge in rhime caused the building's technology to get unstable, so the place crumbled around us. The remaining six children all moved towards Rippere for support, but, being the coward I was, I couldn't bring myself to help them or Rippere. She may have been family, but if she taught me anything, a thief should do anything to survive, even if it means putting oneself before others."

...

"Once the building collapsed, I managed to escape without getting captured, and returned to the area where Rippere and the others should have been. And when I got there..."

"The other six children were writhing in agony around Rippere, underneath a cloud of purple vapor. Poison. In between them was Rippere, who arguably seemed to be in the most pain, but was standing, flailing around but continuing to hold the stone, as though she was attempting to ward off some invisible foe that was trying to steal what we took. I wanted to get to her, but the toxic vapor didn't allow me through, and, before I knew it, the police arrived. We ended up being surrounded but, with her remaining willpower, my older sister told me to run and chose to fend off the entire police force to save me and, while that was in vain, the children. With her newfound strength, she fought to let me flee. But...even if it was the most logical choice, I hated myself for running. I was a coward. I was alone. Alone for the first time in my life."

Ripperu manages to maintain her composure, but a single tear runs down her cheek.

"It was ironic. A thief among theives who, as a group, achieved great heists. But, when we finally became too greedy, everything was taken from us. I searched for my fellow family members, but Rippere was confirmed missing, with the captured children being sentenced to life in prison. Unfortunately, by this time, those poisoned were dead. And all I could still think about was money. Aside from enough for the necessities, the money I desired wasn't meant for me, but for those children behind bars. I wanted to pay for their freedom. And...that's when I met Hiromu."

Crystal nods her head.

"I remember something like that. Hiromu brought you here and paid for your food and clothing. It was a couple years after his wife and child's death, and he still couldn't bear the thought of a child suffering."

"Indeed. He gave me a basic education, and even introduced me to storytelling. At first, I only wanted to write in order to get money, but, when Hisao offered me a chance to become a Keisetsu member, I leapt at the opportunity, because I thought that the Keisetsu could pull a few strings and get my family out of New Vegas. Unfortunately, I never knew what happened to them, as the fate of so many people behind bars in New Vegas is almost always unknown. My guess is that they died in prison from malnutrition or unsanitary living quarters. I don't know. But, when I finally became a Keisetsu member after all my years of training, I made a vow that I would turn over a new leaf and give up on my life of crime. Stealing will only lead to you getting stolen from in the future."

When Ripperu finishes, the rest of us remain silent for a little while.

"Seems we've all got our own burdens to shoulder." Crystal says.

Yuri and I nod.

"Question, Ripperu." Yuri says.

"Hm?"

"That still doesn't explain your ridiculous name."

"Hey, your name always makes me think of girl-on-girl action!"

"Ahem!" says Crystal, silencing us.

"Well, what does 'Ripperu' mean?" Yuri asks again.

"The reason Rippere had her nickname is because, when I was younger, I would mispronounce her name that way. Eventually, she'd poke fun at me by calling me 'Ripperu', to make us sound similar."

"And your real name is?" I ask.

...

"Mila..." Ripperu says quietly.

"I didn't catch that." says Crystal.

"Mila du Perlé."

"That actually sounds kind of cute." Yuri remarks.

"I DON'T WANT TO BE CUTE!!!!"

In an instant, Ripperu goes from angry to happy.

"Que magnifique!!!"

(Think she just got some inspiration.)

"That reaction about being 'cute', it's PERFECT!!! I just need to get an idea of how to get the protagonist thrust into the story, and I've got a volume!"

She picks up her writing materials and heads towards the door. Most likely to talk to Hiromu.

"Wait!" I yell. "What was your sister's name?"

Already running down the hall, Ripperu yells to us.

"Riva du Perlé! Or Ri-pere, as I used to call her!"