Welcome to Gaia! ::

Her breath caught in her throat at the sounds Keme made but she sighed when he did, taking a moment to get her misbehaving heart beat & breathing back in line. She was about midway up his back or more by now. "I'm sure your family would be glad to have you home once in a while. And you're always welcome here."

Hastily Relm mended. "There's plenty of extra rooms if we need them."

It was only then that she registered their position, and on her bed. Relm blushed furiously, though it would be hard to say if it was more from the discovery or the flood of thoughts that accompanied it before she could get the floodgates closed once more.

Relm blushed furiously, her hands gently kneading out the last traces of tension from her friend's back. "Thank you..."

Would he fall asleep? What would she do if he did? The artist stifled a yawn of her own. The sun was down outside, the stars peeking out. Espers... when did it get so late?

The artist let her hands rest lightly for a moment where they were, watching Keme sleep. He needs a blanket... She reflected after a while noting how he was asleep on top of her blanket. Ever so carefully she removed herself from his back & headed to the door.

Only her years of adventuring before kept her from gasping & jumping when Relm opened the door to find Trelweny with her hand upon it. The human looked just as startled & a little sheepish. "It's getting late... I thought your friend could use a blanket & a pillow. I know we keep the house cold..." Glancing at Keme sleeping on her bed Relm nodded, accepting the proffered items like precious gifts. Trelweny watched the artists reactions carefully, then nodded to herself. She did not need to give warning. At least not yet. "We'll see you both for breakfast in the morning. Sleep well."

"Thanks Trel." Relm murmured as the woman smiled & softly shut the door behind her. Padding over to the bed Relm first took Keme's sweater & jacket & her own warmer garments to hang them on the art supply cabinet. Then she very tenderly covered her friend's tall form with the blanket, tucking it in carefully under his chin. Her fingers lingered of their own accord before the artist backed away, finding a clean canvas & the right colors of paint. She wanted to do this one with only minimal magic. He looked so peaceful...

Relm smiled softly at her finished work, cleaning up in a sink half hidden beside the supply cabinet and finished pieces. Yawning she removed her cape & beret & hung them up. Looking at her bed and the sleeping Keme she pondered only a minute about leaving & finding an empty room. But she did not want to leave. Breathing deeply, Relm climbed into bed & under her own blanket so that it was between the two audios. "Goodnight, Keme. Sleep well." She whispered, before turning her back to him to face the wall & willing her eyes to shut as sleep claimed her.



knock knock "Relm! Breakfast! Ginny really outdid herself this time!" The blonde audio opened the door to Relm's studio, letting in a waft of breakfast smells as she popped her head into the room. "Yahto helped, but..."

Whatever Rikku was about to say died on her lips as her mouth opened & closed in wordless denial & wonder. A flicker of resentment, disappointment & jealousy played in her swirling green eyes. She could not believe what she saw.

At some point in the night Relm had curled herself against Keme, whether for warmth or comfort might never be known. She heard her sister, still half asleep. "okay Blondie. I'm coming..." She stretched, felt someone warm beside her & opened her eyes wide suddenly very awake. Seeing Keme & imagining what Rikku saw the artist blushed hotly.

Relm moves quickly from Keme's initial panic but instantly goes to him at his cry of pain. Honest worry fills her light green eyes, momentarily forgetting that Rikku is still there in the doorway, watching them. The Al Bhed absently brushes a quieting hand at the small flying blue blur near her ear. Rikku was listening to her sister. "Keme!" There is no masking the artist's concern this time. "Let me soothe that! I don't want to undermine what I did to you last night."

Rikku's eyes widen & she makes a surprised sound which reminds Relm of her presence & makes her face heat up even more than before. "Ah... the massage. I don't want that tension built back up. I can deal with a crick quickly." She smiled at Rikku, trying for the life of her to pretend nothing was out of sorts or abnormal. "And before breakfast has a chance to get cold too."

"Sure. Just come quick before the others eat it all, Relm. It looks like Keme could use a decent meal." Shaking her head & causing her braids to bounce lightly Rikku shut the door behind her & Dreav.

Relm also did not speak, the thoughts in her head nearly on level with Keme's had she only known it. She wondered if Rikku was going to sulk? The Al Bhed had been complaining that not only would Naruto not come to their house to see her workshop, but that she wanted to have the ninja beside her at night while she slept. They slept together when they were just best friends! What's the harm! But Relm new the difference; Rikku & Naruto had loved each other, even if neither knew it at the time everyone else did. She & Keme did not. We don't. Relm sighed & carefully eased the crick out of her friend's neck. "There. All better." She offered Keme a shaky smile, her eyes showing that she was a little worried too. "I don't know about you, but breakfast sounds wonderful."


Outside the door, Rikku sniffed softly to herself. Little Dreav hummed by her ear, worried at his bright one's sudden sadness. She did not understand why Naruto always pushed away... she knew he loved her, but she could not understand & it... hurt. Grabbing a tissue she blew her nose, glancing balefully at the magic door. What is UP with those two anyway?

Relm smiled, pushing aside her own worries for now & donning her beret & cape. Funny, they were not even necessary articles of clothing even if one thought that way but she felt naked without them. That train of thought of course had her blushing again & she hurriedly turned to put her hand on the door. "I'll warn you, breakfast is the one meal most likely to have the entire family together around here."

She opened the door, surprised to see Rikku beside it wiping at her eyes. Seeing them Rikku hopped up, gave them a forced smile & hurried ahead to the kitchen. Cheerful morning sounds & breakfast smells filled the air. Relm breathed it in with a smile. Only then did she realize how well she had slept the previous night. It was refreshing. The artist looked at Keme questioningly, wondering if he had something to do with it. Probably because I was not worried about him being out there alone. She concluded, leading the hummingbird audio to the kitchen.

The room was bright & shining & full of creatures, seeming a lot larger inside than one might originally guess. Quite a few looked up from their meals & smiled, offering polite "good morning"s. From the window where he had inserted his head to get to his own breakfast, the ninau Timex whinnied a pleasant [Nice to see you again, Keme.] with a slightly protective look in his eyes for his favorite "sister". Trelweny sitting beside Theron at the table waved them to an open spot. "You slept well, I hope? Everything's on the counter, buffet style." She inclined her hand, grinning as Theron laughed & reminded her to eat with an insistent "ahmah!"

Relm smiled at the kitsu she knew was responsible for such a spread as she pulled out plates from the cupboard, handing one to Keme. "Thanks, Ginny. It smells wonderful." At a strangled choke from the cyan yoshi as he tried to talk with his mouth full for his part in it, she hastily added. "And thank you too, Yahto. I'm sure Ginny appreciated your help." Her gaze met the redheaded witch's & they shared a smile.

"Aamha pelae! Aamha!" A blue & grey kunkun called happily, fluttering near Keme's face. The red fox seen with Locke & Amaryllis the previous night rolled his eyes. "Can't someone keep a hold of that bug?" Remus looked up with mild humor from where he & his daughter Liliana were eating. "You are someone, Shippou."

Nearly everyone but Shippou laughed, especially when the little fox guffawed in an attempt to get out of it. A jovial laugh boomed over the others, coming from a blue & white angelic kitsu playing near a many winged pastel kitsu kit. He wove his way to the two audios winking bawdily at Keme. "Congratulations, lad. I see you've managed to put a smile on our artist's face." For of course, AearHwesta was of only one mind about what would make Relm -or any female for that matter- smile like she was.

Relm paled, even as a few voices admonished the lusty angelic. "Aear!" She pointedly turned her face away without comment, putting food on her plate. From the corner of her eye she could see the talaye Mirage with her sunset scarf trot over to join Rikku in the corner. Her sister looked so uncharacteristically sad that Relm felt guilty. It's not my fault! But that did not make her feel any better.

((There are translators all around the house, so everyone but the HouseCats, Tien, & Theron can be understood while here.))

Aiden shot a warning glance at the sailor. "Stay yer tongue, laddie. Dinnae be jumping te such conclusions. Nae everyone has yer urges, AearHwesta-lad." The angelic fell back, then laughed boisterously. "HAHAHA! Like ye Aiden? HA! Ye can't hide yer goings on with that lass of yers from me!" The highlander blushed slightly & growled. "Wha' goes on between my mate an' I is our business, laddie. Best ye nae forge' tha'." At the cold stare in Aiden's golden eyes AearHwesta graciously backed down. He knew he had pushed his limits with the soft-spoken audio.

Perun followed over the ninau's head more sedately, sneaking onto the counter to steal a sausage before being sho'ed off. [Don't forget to eat.] He meowed to the female, a twinkle in his deep blue eyes as he jumped back onto Timex's head & curled up in his blue mane as if he owned the spot. The ninau rolled his eyes.

Setting down her full plate at the table Relm could only blink in surprise at the pretty feather tailed cat who knew her friend. From her corner, Rikku smiled a little despite herself. "Oh Azure!" Then seeing Perun watching the pretty female cat with an almost proprietary air the Al Bhed giggled. "So you're why Perun was sniffing so at Naruto when he found us camping!" There was a wistful little smile on her face as she remembered. Perun nodded. [Naturally. He had her scent on him.]

From beside them Ginny nudged Keme's elbow with her head. "Come on Keme. Eat up. What will Moochi & Gypsy think if we send you home unfed?" The redhead smiled up at him. "Before it gets cold. Try the quiche. It stayed up well this time."