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This was not Lu's usual scene. Bookstores were not necessarily enemy territory for her, but she never felt welcome in them or inclined to visit them. Fairy tales were one thing; yet, long winded books were another. The rabbit craved pictures and words to accompany her learning. That was an enjoyment that print on pages could not provide her.

To say the least, the sigel was a bit disgruntled when the title of a popular novel showed up on Josh's Christmas list. This was one of only a handful of times she had been in a place like this.

Libraries, bookstores, and lecture halls.

It was all quiet and concentration in places like that. The rabbit felt inclined to float nearer to the small cafe connected to the bookstore. The idle chit chat of customers did more to relax her than the shelves upon shelves of covers.

Never one for unruly loudness, a subtle drone still helped put her own mind at ease. Therefore, she enjoyed the white noise as she scanned the display of bestsellers near the front of the shop. There were many titles on display, most of which she had never seen or heard of before. Now what was it that Josh had wanted?

What even was a 50 Shades of Grey?

Still, the sigel ran her finger along he colorful spine of a novel. She could not enjoy them intellectually, but she could appreciate their covers.

The subtle din of customers slowly grew in volume like an orchestra preparing for its grand opening number. Voices chimed in and out of tune. LuLu could not help but look up from her shelf. Her attention was drawn to the cafe and the conversations.

A flash of ribbon and blond hair caught her eyes and the rabbit peeked from behind the shelf. Melisande! The sigel felt like a jolt of electricity had pricked her spine as her wings flared and her breath caught in her throat. Still, she called after the other raevan.

"Meli..." Much too quietly. The muse must not have heard her and was still moving towards the exit. LuLu began to fumble over herself to get closer. The younger sigel called more boisterously, "Meli!" She could not help the slight crack in her voice.

The rabbit had caught herself floating after the muse. A book on gardening was held up to her face as though trying to shield from imminent embarrassment. "Hi."

LuLu did not seem to notice the low call of the prowling men behind them, or she decided not to care. Her left ear merely flicked in their direction before making a slow swivel back to the muse.

The gardening book inched down to reveal a hazy pink hue on the angled planes of the rabbit's cheekbones. It nearly matched the dusty colored roses on the cover. LuLu 'hopped' in place when she was acknowledged. Her rune gave a pulse as she bobbed in the air. She accepted Meli's hug graciously and even kept her hands over Melisande's as they parted. The other sigel's lithe fingers fit well in her own slight palms. She gave them a final squeeze before she released her hold.

Her wings flared with a crepitus pop as she puffed with pride at the muse's compliment. LuLu placed her hands on the swell of her hips and spun in place to give the muse a better show of her newest 'assets'. She could not help the nervous giggle that escaped her lips when her shirt nearly caught on the corner of a display table.

Her gaze returned to Melisande and after a beat she replied. "Likewise." Her eyes glittered as she spoke, molten and alive. "It is always a pleasant surprise."

LuLu's expression then grew concerned as the search for Dr. Kyou was mentioned. Her brows knitted together in a tight bow arched downward. Her eyes flicked to the lace bandage wrapped snugly around the muse's wing before they returned to her pale blue eyes searching just as hard as Meli was for answers. "It is fine. I have-" she pauses to find the right words, "experienced worse."

True enough, she had healed not long after they had departed from the jungle. The wound in her shoulder was long gone and without a trace. Still, LuLu knew that others in the search party were not as lucky as she was to have healing powers. Furthermore, the emotional scars were not as quick to mend. She still experience the occasional nightmare about dolls, knives, and falling into darkness.

Overall, the jungle had been a trying experience, but her dreams of ink and blood were far more numerous.

LuLu's hand rejoined Meli's on her shoulder. "How are you?" She vaguely recalled hearing Melisande when everyone faced the monster. However, she had been too incapacitated at the time to do much else. She regretted not being able to help more.

"Good. That is... good." LuLu nodded to the muse then continued, "I am sure everyone prefers to see you getting better. I know I do." The muted hues that comprised the divine song just seemed to be that much brighter when a smile graced her pale pink lips.

The falter of her eyes finally betrayed the dip in Melisande's mood. LuLu took notice. The rabbit tried to continue their conversation even as a man approached from behind them. "No, I am shopping for my guardian. For Christmas. What are you here for?" The flash of a camera phone went off and LuLu swore she could see Meli flinch. The flush on the muse's cheeks was much more noticeable.

LuLu finally shot the group of men a look from over her shoulder. Pouted lips were drawn into a frown as she leaned into Melisande. Her breath ghosted over the muse's ear as she whispered, "Are they bothering you?" The younger sigel stared at her counterpart with wide eyes.

LuLu jolted as the man snatched the book from Melisande's grasp. The muse's hands remained delicately hooked as though his actions had not even registered. Then, the rabbit saw a slight tension curl them even sharper.

No, it was not that his actions had not registered. Melisande was holding back.

She was angry.

That particular emotion shaped Meli's expression in a way LuLu had yet to see. Happiness gave Meli a glow. Sadness made everything wilt. Anger though...

Anger gave Meli's usually soft features definition. LuLu watched the muscles in Paha's jaw flex and her mouth form a thin line. An upset had Meli an imposing grace. She was a rose with thorns. However, now the muse needed the poison to her barbs.

LuLu glanced at the man once more as though sizing him up. He was a slip of a man. Probably just out of high school. He was no threat. Her wings flared.

"Why must we leave? He is in the wrong." The rabbit seemed satisfied with her logic then gave the other raevan an encouraging quirk of her head. As if to say 'go ahead'. "Tell him to leave."

LuLu did not understand why Pasha was retreating. This man had chosen to tread in their personal space and be rude to them. He had even made her friend uncomfortable. It would be a cold day in hell before the rabbit changed her plans to accommodate him.

LuLu had a few keen words already in mind that she would like to share with him. However, Meli also seemed as though she had things she wanted to say. This man deserved an earful of common sense from both of them.... perhaps with a few jeers thrown in.

So why was Melisande still holding back? Why did she want to run away?

LuLu tilted her head again to give Meli the ok. Whatever happened, she had the muse's back.

Oh! Melisande's lips were moving in round oo's and closed ee's. Her voice was echoing with a pleasing chime. LuLu's lips curled in satisfaction.

However, LuLu's pleased smile faltered into a slanted frown as all the words registered.The muse's bark had sounded more like a yip to Lu's ears. Had she really said please at the end?

Meli's failed attempt at confrontation had left Lu bewildered. The rabbit had never heard anything so uncertain coming from Pasha. Pasha, who was supposed to be her paragon of a proper 'princess'.

But, weren't princess supposed to be strong and sure?

The rabbit was thrown off and barely registered the man twining around her until he was firmly latched on. A camera was perched precariously in her face by the time she had come back to reality. The flash went off and Lu had to squint her eyes against the burn. She nearly moved to push the man away when Melisande's voice sounded once more.

Yes! That was the smoldering power Lu craved. The rabbit returned her attention to the muse, still in the man's hold, and she waited to see what would be said next. Meli may have wanted to retract her hostility the moment it had escaped, but Lu was curious for more.

LuLu felt Meli's hand wrap around hers, a delicate vice. It gave a reassuring squeeze before it began to reel her away from the men, now turned group of men. His two friends had risen from their seats. They had chosen to defend their buddy with hoots and jeers.

It seemed like the raevans were in the clear. LuLu had been tugged away. However, a hand clamped around her shoulder before they could make their final exit.

The ringleader of the group cooed in her ear, "Hey, hey, hey. She is not complaining. Why does she have to go?" The man practically pouted through his sneer. "In fact, I think she likes it!" He offered the rabbit a wink and a wolfish curl of his lips. The small crowed behind him gave a series of choked guffaws and belly laughs at Lu's expense. The man moved to yank the rabbit closer.

LuLu jostled into him with a soft 'oof'. Her soft brow furrowed into an agitated arch. She moved to push away but he yanked her again.

And that was her final straw.

A sharp slap echoed in the space around them. A fierce red mark was already welting on the man's cheek. He seemed stunned as he reached up to cup the sore skin. He stared wide eyed and bewildered at the rabbit.

Meli was content with being just direct, but Lu felt the need to take it a step further. In her defense, he had started the manhandling! She would just be the one to end it. Her usual high pitch rang with a cracked tone, "Are you deaf, blind, or stupid?" She continued with the same harshness, "Take a hint. We do not want your company."