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 Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 2:11 pm
"I'm... sorry?" Knowing that was an inadequate apology, Yeine nudged Ying in the side. "Ying, you're talking like everyone understands."
What was hard to understand? Ying sighed, then took a deep breath. "You do know this is a core, right? A Jumi core? Or have you not been to Etansel yet?"
If she hadn't... well, that would be a bad thing.
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Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 2:16 pm
Aiko shook her head.
"No... I'm sorry, I really don't know what you're talking about. One of mine found this and brought it home for me."
"Because she likes shiny things." He glanced down at Yiene. "It's not your fault."
Aiko just sweatdropped and rubbed the back of her head, holding the core in her left hand.
"What's a Juu-mi?"
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Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 2:31 pm
Ying sweatdropped back. The woman didn't even know what a Jumi was, and she had a core? That spelled trouble. Hopefully she would take the news well. "Um... well, I'm a Jumi. We're a kind of people." She had never explained what she was to anyone else, so her wording was clumsy. "That rock you have is a Jumi core. All Jumi have cores- this is mine."
Pulling at her collar, Ying revealed a bit of her chest. There was a rock embedded in the middle, magenta-hued and perfectly round. It sparkled in the brief sunlight before the shirt covered it again.
"Basically, that stone is going to become a child. And soon, I think. It's not glowing yet, but it's only a matter of time."
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Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 2:36 pm
Aiko nodded as she listened, then let her eyes grow wide, fully showing that they were slitted like a cat's.
"Nani, yo?" She almost squeeled, unable to help the fact that she slipped into her native tongue. "Hontou des'ka?"
"Another in the house?" Nigel sighed deeply and rubbed the bridge of his nose where he could have sworn a headache would form. "Fantastic..."
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Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 2:45 pm
"I'm sorry," Ying whispered, not knowing what else to say. She had done her duty and informed the pair of the true nature their gemstone was hiding. And she did her best to do it gently. Of course, she had hoped that they would take it well, but one of them didn't seem to be, and the other was in shock.
Yeine fidgeted nervously. "It's not bad. I've met a couple, and they're very nice. And Ying's the best friend I ever had," she added defensively.
Smiling gratefully at Yeine, Ying was still worried. What if the woman didn't want to keep the core? What would she tell Crystal?
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Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 3:10 pm
"Another child... NIGEL!" Aiko turned to Nigel, grabbing the strings on his corset and pulling him toward her. "You know what this means?"
Nigel blinked, staring at her with big blue eyes.
"Another mouth to feed?"
"I'M GUNNA BE A MOMMY... AGAIN!" Face breaking into absolute joy, she squeeled with happiness. Letting go of Nigel, she held the Core up, letting it sparkle in the afternoon sun. "I wonder if it's a boy or a girl? Either way, I'm sure they'll be pretty."
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Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 3:23 pm
Ying held her breath during Aiko's initial outburst. She assumed that the woman would say something along the lines of what Nigel guessed, but apparently she was wrong. As Aiko spoke again, she exhaled slowly.
"You mean... you're okay with this? Really? I'm so glad!"
Being okay meant no abandoned cores and no having to explain to Crystal. And she wasn't only okay, but excited, and that was even better!
"If the child is like Ying, then he or she probably won't eat much," Yeine said in an attempt to comfort Nigel. "I worry about her sometimes."
"Yeine!" It was the Jumi's turn to elbow her friend. Still, all things considered, things were working out rather well.
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Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 3:28 pm
Nigel shook his head and sighed again.
"Even if the child ate like a horse, this woman would find a way to keep it."
"Of course I would. I mean, how could I abandon something?" Aiko closed one eye and looked through the translucent moonstone at Ying. "So... is there any special way I should be taking care of this until it turns into a child?"
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Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 3:39 pm
"Thank heavens," Ying breathed. It worked out marvelously after all. "Just make sure it doesn't crack or break. When it starts glowing, you'll have to take it to see Crystal. It might not glow actually... I met one that played music. But you'll know when the child is ready to emerge."
Surprisingly Ying was enjoying her tutoring role. "To get to her, you'll have to go through the big tree in Barton's field. You'll know it when you see it."
Yeine looked at the sky and frowned. "Ying?"
"And make sure you watch it, it's not good if it glows too long." Ying stopped and looked at Yeine, a little cross. "What?"
The reply was a letter waved in Ying's face. "We need to find that fruit, remember?"
Remembering her quest, the Jumi paled abruptly. "Oh, right. We need to find that fruit. It's very very very important."
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Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 3:42 pm
"Crack or break? Good thing this one has the Force, then," Nigel told Aiko as he jerked his head in Yiene's direction, using a sort of a 'you should thank her, you know' tone of voice.
"Ah! That's right! Domo arigatou!" Aiko bowed deeply in front of Yiene. As she popped back up, she held the moonstone against her chest and smiled broadly. "I promise to take good care of it."
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Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 4:02 pm
So it really was the Force! Yeine blushed and bowed in return. "I'm just glad I was able to help," she said.
"I'm sure you will," Ying smiled. "And I'm also sure we'll see eachother again soon."
She tugged at Yeine's arm, and the two started heading off back where they'd come from. Ying waved over her shoulder, then started to run. They had to find that fruit as soon as possible!
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Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 4:06 pm
"Ja ne~..." sang Aiko as she lifted one hand to wave goodbye to the girls. As they left, she quickly turned around, slapping Nigel with the tips of her hair.
"Ow," he said, then took a few jogging steps to catch up to Aiko, who had taken off at a steady trot. "The walk's over, then?"
"Oh, of course," she responded, not able to take her eyes from the Core. "I need to go home and plan."
This made Nigel stop in his tracks for a moment as he dared to ask, "Plan for what?"
"To find a bigger house! Nigel, we're moving!"
An exasperated sigh and a giggle lifted above the trees.
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