[Freezair]

"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

With the combination of Kaimana's scratching, Rateg lumping on his back, and the flying chaos around him, it proved to be too much for Lohe. The yellow marks strewn across his body began to glow. Lohe gave one last shout to the ceiling. Puffs of silvery dust curled up around Kaimana and Rateg as Lohe simply vanished.

The shock was so enormous that Kaimana simply stopped. He wriggled out from underneath the others, standing perfectly stil. "Wha... L-L-Lohe! Where are you? What have they done to you?"

"Uuuuuugggh..."

The sound came from beneath Rateg.

The strange boy crawled out from beneath the heavy body, shaking crimped green wings. Indeed, those were the only things that suggested he and Lohe might otherwise be related--he was pale and clear as a quartz crystal, and his clothing was immaculate.

"Why does my head hurt so much... Ugh... Where... where am I? Oh... K-Kaimana! It's good to see you here... How did we get here...?"

All of Kaimana's pretenses suddenly fell away. "Uhhh... We... we're visiting some friends for... um... dinner, Rupert. You've been, um... asleep."

"Oh! Dinner? How very nice of them. Why was I sleeping?"

"It... Umm.. You were... tired."

"Oh. OK," Lohe--whom Kaimana had just called "Rupert"--nodded.

[63]

((Yay--finally a chance to show off Lohe's other side! ))

[GrayGriffin]

"Oh!" exclaimed Rateg, getting off. "I'm sorry..." he added, staring. He had...changed? And into someone completely different!

"Well, are you calmed down now, boy?" asked Molly, looking over at Kaimana. "Dinner is ready, after all."

"If it's gone cold, you'll have to wait even more!" warned Akse. "Because then I'll have to disinfect and reheat it!"


"What's all this?" exclaimed a voice. A Lucain was strolling down the stairs, his yellow eyes glaring. "Why are you two in my castle?"

"It's okay, daddy!" exclaimed Shawn. "They're my friends!"

"How do you know they're not spies?"

"Because...because I do!"

"We-we won't have din-ner?" asked Ajor, tilting her head.

"Of course we will!" exclaimed Huul.

"No, we'll just be stuck arguing here forever," muttered Sasuke.

[78, 51, 9, 8, 8, 7, 6, 6, 5, 5, 1]

[Freezair]

"Qui--quite to the contrary, sir," Kaimana said, raising a claw. "I am a spy. However, so long as you live in Barakka and aren't working for... the enemy, I'm a spy gathering information for your side. Agent 57! Analysis!"

The Ballama yawned into being on his shoulder. "Status report on this Lucain male!" Kaimana barked.

"He's clean," Agent said wearily. "Am I done?"

"Dismissed," Kaimana said. The Ballama vanished again.

"I'm so confused..." Lohe-boy murmured. "Kaimana, where are we? Who is everyone? There's so many more people... are they part of the Caravan?"

"No, they're friends. We're having dinner at their house. Um." Kaimana looked sheepishly out at the gathering. "Everyone, this is Rupert. Rupert, everyone. He's, um... It's hard to explain."

"Hello," Rupert waved cheerfully.

[64]

[GrayGriffin]

Ajor laughed. "You are fun-ny, guest," she said. "You do not know your own name?"

"I think he has a split personality," replied Huul.

"What is that?"

"It's like...it's like...urgh, I can't explain!"

"But Huul, you are smart. You do not know?"

"Hush, Ajor. The guests are still here. This is impolite."

Ajor bowed. "Then I am sor-ry for do-ing so."

Toxshae strolled up to look at Kaimana. "So you are allied with me and my kingdom? Then I welcome you." He bowed, somewhat stiffly, to the Paragon.

"Yay! We're all friends again, right?" asked Shawn.

"I hope so," replied Molly. "Because I am hungry."

"You're made of crystal," muttered Sasuke. "How can you feel hunger? Well, whether you can or not, I do!" He dashed off towards the kitchen.

"He'll wait," sighed Rateg. "Let's go too," he added, unfolding his wings.

"Woo! Food at last!" cheered Nosod, grabbing hold of Garrith.

"Hey, put me dooooooown..." he wailed as his friend dragged him off after Sasuke.

Akse frowned. "They'll make such a mess..."

[79, 52, 10, 9, 9, 8, 7, 7, 6, 6, 2]

[Freezair]

"Erm... allow me to explain." Kaimana swallowed. "Rupert is... Lohe, that is... Hmm. Well, you see. He is, how do you say... two entities trapped within one body. Neither one is aware of the other's existence--well, they are, but they don't really believe it. Lohe, you see, comes from the Dreaming Realms. But so does Rupert. Whatever brought him into this world accidentally grabbed Rupert too, because they were both Dreamed by the same person. But it was only designed for one entity, and so they became trapped together. They can only transform during duress."

"There's that story again," Rupert said. "I wish you'd stop telling people that, Kaimana. It's not very nice to tell people that your friend has a split personality! Yes, I'm from the Dreaming Realms, but that's just how it is. And I was not Dreamed by anyone! I am my own self! No one created me. I was allied with a Real person, but that... well, let's not discuss that." He looked sheepishly into the ground. "How about that dinner? It sounded good!"

"Ummm... Certainly." Kaimana nodded.

To Shawn and Toxshae, he whispered: "I'm sorry. You'll have to endure this mild... ah, madness for a while. Lohe will be back shortly. I'll... I'll do something to fix him. Maybe. If Jimmy will let me... "He grumbled under his breath.

"Kaimana! Don't you try to hurt me again!" Rupert's voice was unexpectedly shrill. "Let's just eat in peace, like friends."

[65]

[GrayGriffin]

"Dreamed up? Like an imaginary friend?" suggested Shawn.

"Dreams...are not real..." said Ajor slowly, her claws working in a pattern as she tapped them together. "But...the vi-si-tor is real..."

"I'm sure it's just a metaphor," said Huul. Noticing Ajor's curious eyes, he added, "I'll explain later."

"Peace is good," said Molly, turning her head to look at Rupert. She sighed. "Most of these...companions of mine are much more easily incited to anger."

"I heard that," muttered Rateg.

"I'm going to start eating!" called Sasuke from the kitchen. "If you're all done talking, why not come over? Are you too fat and slow?" Then, there was a sound of a thwack, as if a small, feathery body had just smacked into a furry creature.

"Don't do that, Nosod..." added Garrith's voice.

"He needs to know his place!"

"I do like that girl..." noted Rateg. "She's got a spirit."

"But she does have a tendency to get..." added Molly.

"Don't say it!" warned Shawn.

"Arf!" added Neddy, racing towards the kitchen. He was bored of talking. He wanted eating! What was being made smelled so good!

"Wipe your feet!" called Akse, as Shawn raced happily after his pet.

[80, 53, 11, 10, 10, 9, 8, 8, 7, 7, 3]

[Freezair]

"The Dreaming Realms is where dreams come from, yes," Rupert nodded as he made his way to the dining room. "But they're not false; they're as real as here! I come from there. It's very nice, but this place is very nice too." Folding his wings carefully, Rupert settled himself into one of the chairs. He draped a napkin in his lap and fingered his silverware.

Kaimana, being much larger, simply plopped himself on the floor. Good thing the ceiling here was high. "What will we be having?" he asked. To Agent 57, he muttered, "Be prepared to sniff everything. We can't have any of these people attempting to poison us."

[66]

[GrayGriffin]

"I made some Irish stew," explained Akse. "Ah, good, it's still warm," she added, lifting the lid of a large stewpot. "This isn't all I made," she continued. "I already sent some up to those fellows who want to eat in their rooms instead."

"There are many ways to poi-son stew," noted Ajor, hearing Kaimana's comment. "After all, it is thick, and there are se-ver-al pow-dered poi-sons that would easily dis-solve in it."

Huul grabbed Ajor's wrist. "Don't stay stuff like that!"

"But if it is true..."

"Akse doesn't poison her food! Then no one would enjoy it!" exclaimed Shawn.

"My son is right," added Toxshae. "You are wise, Kaimana, but Akse is a trusted servant. She was cleaning my castle before I arrived here."

"Don't talk about poison..." begged Garrith.

"Oh, c'mon, stop being so cowardly!" exclaimed Nosod. Neddy, who wasn't understanding any of this dialogue, barked, hoping they would start eating so that they could start dropping food.

"Can we not just eat?" asked Rateg, wings folded as he settled at table.

"Don't start fighting again!" added Molly gently.

"For once, I agree with you two. But only because my hunger outweighs my dislike," added Sasuke with a mutter.

[81, 54, 12, 11, 11, 10, 9, 9, 8, 8, 4]

[Freezair]

Agent 57 mistily appeared at Kaimana's beckoning, discreetly sniffing the stew. He hid himself beneath the Paragon's broad wings when Akse passed by. Truthfully, he could see, and he knew she would not, in fact, poison her stew. Good luck getting Kaimana to believe that, though. He'd play along and make the big guy calm down.

Agent nodded, satisfied. Kaimana bent over and lapped at the stew.

"Hmm... Ahh. Yes. Truly, an excellent dish. My complements."

Rupert took one of the spoons and sipped at his own stew. "Mmmm! This is really good! It's so thick and hearty. Thank you so much. Do you have any pepper, though? I like it really spicy!"

[67]

[GrayGriffin]

[Sorry for the latepost. >>]

Akse dropped a bottle of pepper and a scoop next to Rupert. "Make it exact," she warned. "And don't drop any of it!"

Toxshae gulped. He had forgotten about this aspect of Akse's personality. She was obsessive about things like that.

"She'll make you have a timeout!" hissed Shawn helpfully. "So listen to her!"

Garrith sighed. This, to his family, was serious business. And to him as well, because Akse would make everyone, no matter if they were older or younger than her, have a time out.

"Vi-si-tor is go-ing to be in trou-ble?" asked Ajor, her voice somewhat hopeful.

"No, I think he'll listen," replied Huul.

"Okay. Then he is a good boy," replied Ajor, eyes glimmering.

"I think that sort of talk will freak them out a little," warned Molly.

"Whatever. That Paragon just damaged our house. We live here!" pointed out Sasuke.

"When you're not being snarky, you make perfect sense," replied Rateg.

"Aroo?" called Neddy. Shawn quickly slipped a piece of meat down, and the Dalma pounced happily on it. Nosod glanced over at him, and directed her gaze towards the fussing Akse. He shrugged.

[82, 55, 13, 12, 12, 11, 10, 10, 9, 9, 5]

[Freezair]

"Oh my! Ah... C-c-certainly." Rupert carefully tipped the end of the pepper grinder to te bowl of the spoon, and fearfully tapped the end. Tiny black and white flecks spilled out into the spoon. Kaimana and Rupert both held their breaths as Rupert carefully measured out his "dosage."

Satisfied that Akse was satisfied, he poured the pepper into his bowl and stirred. Very, very carefuly. Goodness only knew what would happen if he spilled on the tablecloth.

Kaimana looked suspiciously at Akse. "Why so exact?" he interrogated. "Are you an enemy of... freedom?"

[68]

[GrayGriffin]

"I am no ememy of freedom. But order is important," replied Akse, scooping up the pepper. "Is it enough?" she added, in a strangely kind voice.

"You can ask for more! Akse has lots of different sized scoops!" added Shawn, gulping down another bite of stew.

"And all she has are scoops," replied Sasuke.

"What's wrong with that?" demanded Akse. "I'll stop asking for everything to be nice and neat and orderly the day you stop being so rude to everyone!"

"Ooh, buuuuuuurn," added Nosod.

Sasuke ignored them, and went right back to eating.

"Humph. Oh go ahead, ignore my quip," muttered Nosod. Garrith patted her wing awkwardly, but quickly slipped away when she glared at him.

"Don't argue," added Molly, somewhat spacily.

"I don't think they'll listen," replied Rateg.

"I lis-sen!" added Ajor, turning her head. "But...I am not ar-gu-ing. So...did I have to lis-sen?"

"No, Ajor," replied Huul. "Actually, you did not."

"Just be quiet, everyone," muttered Toxshae. "I'm getting a headache!"

"Sorry, Daddy," said Shawn. Neddy rubbed against Toxshae's legs apologetically and whined.

[83, 56, 14, 13, 13, 12, 11, 11, 10, 10, 6]

[Freezair]

"N-n-no. It's fine," Rupert stuttered. "I--I don't have a problem. This'll do. I wouldn't want to impose..."

"I, however, do," Kaimana said threateningly. The way he shuffled in front of Rupert was almost protective. His tail curled around the base of Rupert's chair.

"I don't appreciate the way you boss my friend around and tell him how he can or cannot add pepper into his soup!" He stepped forward, rattling the floor. "My friend is easily manipulable, you see, and by forcing him to do these uncessesary things, you run the risk of damaging his mind! I demand you stop this nonsense at once--for the sake of his mind!"

"K-Kaimana! N-n-no--it's OK, really! I don't mind..."

"You see? She's already brainwashing you with her absurd obsessions! Resist, Rupert! Resist!"

[69]

[GrayGriffin]

"Perhaps you are unaware of the importance of order," replied Akse, drawing herself up haughtily. She was standing on her hin feet only now, her sinuous body drawn upwards, both sets of foreclaws clenching and unclenching threateningly.

"Akse...don't fight him...it will be messy..." said Toxshae slowly. "And perhaps you were too harsh..."

"Phooey! We never objected!" snorted Sasuke. "It's this reason that's why all of us are so messed up!"

"I am not 'messed up.' I am unique and unappreciated," replied Akse.

"As a Star, I have to say that the energies in this house are certainly twisted," said Rateg, head turning to look at Sasuke. "But they are not 'messed up.' They intertwine, and the result is beauty. Except for your energy, little seal. It is a tumor in the body of our harmony."

"I don't like it when you say those things," hissed Molly. "To me, he is an important part of our harmony too. Who else would you argue with?"

"El-der Ser-vant is good. She has or-der in all things," added Ajor, standing up. "I will fight with her."

"I do not need assistance. Sit down, girl," replied Akse. Ajor shook her head, but Huul tugged at the Kirund's sleeve until she finally sat back down, still glaring at Kaimana.

"I'm sorry brother..." muttered Shawn. "Akse didn't mean to make your friend upset...or you. Can't you forgive her? She can be insisting on things like this sometimes..."

"Ooh, time for Akse to go down on someone..." whispered Nosod. Garrith covered his eyes. He didn't want to look. He looked down, to see Neddy scampering out of the kitchen. The Dalma had the right idea, he thought.

[84, 57, 15, 14, 14, 13, 12, 12, 11, 11, 7]

[Freezair]

"Kaimana, stop!"

Kaimana turned around.

Rupert was bent double over in his chair, his fingers knotted into the edge of his hair. Beneath his fists and pulled-out bangs, his big eyes wavered upsetly. "Kaimana, stop it! I don't like it when you fight people..." Rupert's voice quivered. "I know you're just trying to protect me, but please don't. I like having dinner with new people... I don't want to see them get angry at you..."

Where a thousand angry and slightly sarcastic admonishions could do nothing, a simple earnest plea took hold.

Kaimana's face softened. "Uhhh... Umm... Well, I suppose. I still consider that woman highly suspect." He tossed his head, miffed. "But if you insist that I preserve her, for your sake, I'll let that stand. But only for your sake, mind."

He looked threateningly at Akse. "But for his own sake and his feeble mind, I'm going to insist that you let me dictate his portions from now on. Otherwise, it will not be pretty for you."

[70]