Welcome to Gaia! ::

Sayuri rubbed her head groggily, opening her eyes hesitantly to the bright, lush surroundings. It was unreal how big everything was too! “Hey! What do you think you’re doing on the ground?” Sayuri looked over, surprised to see Shou staring at her with his head cocked. But- he had ears? Long rabbit ears. Sayuri wondered if he had a little cotton tail. “Shou! What are you doing here? Where is here??” Sayuri asked, scrambling to her feet. She was willing to accept any help she could get until she knew what was going on. “Shou? That’s a silly name. No I’m White,” he laughed, “now what are you doing here? I must admit most people wouldn’t be too excited to see you after the trouble you’ve caused, but personally I think it’s going to be better than it will be worse.”
“Wai- wha?” Sayuri asked in confusion as ‘white’ helped her up. “We should get you to the White Queen,” White said, “she’ll be able to explain.” Sayuri tried to make sense of what was going on, but her senses were a bit overloaded by her surroundings. It looked like she’d fallen into a bad fantasy set, one built for a child. “Things have been a little tenser since you were here last. Although, I’m sure things haven’t been quite so pleasant for you. I can imagine their trust in you has been a bit strained,” White continued. Sayuri’s head was spinning but she just nodded and followed. She had no idea what was going on.
They were following a sheltered path deep within the woods that seemed to wiggle and dance, a low hum echoing around them. Sayuri could’ve sworn it was coming from the surroundings themselves. “Well, well, well Dee what do we have here?”
“Looks like a traitor’s escort Zee.” Sayuri turned quickly to see Rave and Murasaki sliding their backs around two trees. Only- they were in matching outfits to start, and they’d apparently given each other new nicknames. More importantly- why did they have giant weapons!? White put a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll handle this,” he whispered before stepping over to the two girls. They stared at each other a moment before the girls hugged White and the three all laughed. “Hey girls. What are you doing around here?” White asked. “Dee and I promised the White Queen we’d behave… so we decided to patrol on our own,” Rave said. “Zee almost caught Knave S but at the last second he got away. Ugh him and his underhanded ways.” Sayuri had no idea what was going on. Why was everyone going by such weird names? White was nodding though, “sounds about right.”
“Soooo why are you escorting the traitor towards White’s castle?” Dee asked. “I mean I’m sure the Red Court isn’t fond of her but they’ll want her more than we do,” Zee added. White sighed and put his hands on his hips. “Come on girls. You know Queen White is more forgiving than that.”
“But we aren’t,” they pointed out in unison. Sayuri stepped back anxiously as the girls raised their weapons. “Dee, Zee, please don’t. Look at it this way: now we can monitor Salice easier!” White pointed out. Sayuri glanced at Shou curiously. Salice? What was a Salice? Zee and Dee seemed to ponder it before nodding. “Right! To the Queen!” they agreed. White smiled and watched them march off to patrol. “They’re nice girls really. Just not fond of authority really. I’m surprised they listen to Queen White as much as they do,” he explained, leading Sayuri along again. “Right… so- Salice-“
“You mean you?” White asked curiously. Sayuri gave him a blank look and he frowned a little. “Oh… you must have hit your head on the way back. You don’t remember what happened?” Sayuri shook her head. White sighed but patiently explained. “You ran away from the Red Queen to us. She started a war and you went back to her at the turning point… you didn’t make many friends that way I admit.” Sayuri’s head swam for a moment. Why did that sound like it could be familiar? “Oh... and we’re going to the White Queen now? White nodded and looked up at the sky. “We should be entering the edge of the kingdom now.”
“You could say that. Although you’re not exactly on the main path,” a voice rung out. Sayuri had to wonder how many people who looked like people she knew lurked around in the woods. She and White looked over to where a male and female neko were lazing in a tree. Sayuri thought they looked like Zelda and Mistoffelees but who knows what they were called here. “Well it wouldn’t be very smart for White to take her along the main path. Not without a better entourage.” White sighed and waved in greeting. “Hello Chess. Chessie. Guarding for the Queen?” he asked. Chessie- the one who looked like Zelda- purred with a smile. “Yes. Although I want to go with you two!” Chess swatted at her ears in irriation, “We have to stay here!”
“Fine! You stay here, I want to go with them,” Chessie pouted, scampering over to White and Sayuri. ‘Though I guess I should be calling myself Salice here,’ Sayuri thought to herself. They walked in silence for a few moments, Sayuri noticing that they took the back way into the Queen’s courtyard, probably to avoid attention just yet. It was so weird for them to talk like she was back when she couldn’t remember the first time she’d been there. ‘Wait! Why am I buying this at all??’ Sayuri caught herself. She noticed several other classmates all sitting around on giant mushrooms, wearing coats longer than their feet and blowing bubbles that floated and danced amidst the smoke of incense at their sides. Kuromaru glanced at her and seemed to intentionally blow a stream of bubbles at her as they passed inside. “You know I don’t blame you. I’m not happy, but I don’t blame you,” Chessie spoke up. Sayuri looked at her and nodded quietly. “Thank you.”
“Salice! What are you doing back?” Sayuri couldn’t tell if the voice was accusing or not, but she turned to the doorway anyway. “K-katashi!?” she exclaimed. He looked so sharp in his top hat and jacket, Kai and Kempo sitting at the table with him. But they all looked so strange! Kai was wearing rabbit ears, Kempo was wearing mouse ears, and Katashi- Sayuri had never seen him look so oddly handsome. “What are you doing here?” katashi asked, ignoring her surprise to ask his own question. Zelda- or rather Chessie- answered for them, “we’re going to talk to the White Queen.” Katashi nodded and fiddled with his tea cup. “Salice, promise me something,” he begged. Sayuri shifted but nodded unsurely, “okay. What?”
“Promise that when you decide, you do it carefully,” he asked. Sayuri had no idea what he was talking about, but his eyes, his desperately forlorn eyes, begged it of her. She couldn’t bring herself to say anything except, “Of course I will,” and smile. It seemed to relieve Katashi at any rate and Shou gently tugged at her arm, “Come on then, don’t want to keep her majesty waiting.” Chessie hung back for a moment and Sayuri was able to hear Chessie whisper to Katashi, “maybe if she stays you can invite her to a tea party. For real this time.” Sayuri wasn’t sure why, but she felt guilty as the cat-girl caught up with them. There were so many things Sayuri wanted to ask, but she didn’t know where to begin; so she quietly followed White and Chessie to the large central throne room. Zenko-sensei sat in a regal white gown, smiling as if she’d been expecting them. “Hello Salice. It’s nice to see you’ve found your way back to us,” Zenko said gently. Sayuri shifted with an awkward bob of her head, “yes well... I’m not entirely sure…” Sayuri couldn’t think of a good way to word her insecurities. Zenko stepped down and walked over to her to gently clasp Sayuri’s hands between hers. “There comes a time in life when we all have to start looking at how we’re living and decide if it’s really the best course for us. It’s a time to reflect on what makes us who we are and what will make us happy and successful in the future. You’re always welcome here, just as you are,” Zenko tried to explain without giving it away. Sayuri nodded slowly, starting to grasp some concept in the back of her mind. As if on cue though, none other than Manami and Shin burst in, followed by a hoard of what looked like playing cards. “Ah there you are. We were starting to worry you wouldn’t come back,” Manami addressed Sayuri sweetly. Zenko frowned and stood by Sayuri as a host of white court members swarmed in donning chess-themed helmets and passing along swords. Even Zee and Dee managed to rush in and stand at the front line. “You two!” Shin growled. They gave vicious grins. “We’d never miss a party Knave.”
“Especially not if we know you’ll be there!”
“Enough!” Manami scowled, adjusting her crown, “I demand you return her to me!” Zenko shook her head. “You’ll have to ask her yourself.” Manami huffed and looked at Sayuri. “Well? Are you coming or not?” The room fell to dead silence, all eyes on Sayuri. She wavered, looking around at all the faces before her. Dee and Zee stared at her hard, weapons hefted as if expecting a fight. Katashi implored her with his baleful eyes. Zenko seemed hopeful that Sayuri knew what she was doing, and Manami looked as sour as ever. “Right,” Sayuri said quietly, stepping over to Manami’s side. The disappointment from the White Court’s side was almost tangible. Manami smirked and tossed her hair over her shoulder. “Right then. Off with their heads,” she ordered casually, pointing at Zenko and those behind her. Zee and Dee exclaimed, “F_ck that!” before Sayrui was lost in a blur of motion and sounds.
And then she woke up.

Sayuri trailed behind Manami and Shin, her mind busy with what had ended up being a very odd dream. She wanted so badly to tell them, to see if they had any ideas, but she knew that if she did that it would most likely get her ridiculed rather than get her sympathy. “Ugh. It’s them again,” Manami’s disdain cut through Sayuri’s thoughts. She looked up to see Zelda, Murasaki, Ravenna, Shou, and a few others hanging out by the café. For a moment, Sayuri saw them as she had last night in her dream and an itching realization started to creep into her conscious. It hadn’t been long ago that they’d taken her into their circle after a fight with Manami. Sayuri had been lost and unsure and they’d all opened their arms- if not a little grudgingly for some- to take her in and show her what friendship could be. ‘And then I went back to Manami and Shin..’ Sayuri thought to herself. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but she just knew something was itching in the back of her head. “Come on let’s get away from these losers,” Manami demanded. Sayuri glanced back at the group again and thought that somehow she’d figure out what it was between them all that had been so vivid in a dream..