High Stakes

Animos looked curiously as Marynia took the money bag and started going through it. Odd... But, considering he was Anim at the moment, he didn't really understand the concepts of Greed and Avarice, and therefore, he figured she was just going to buy some nice things with it. He wished he had some nice things... Like more candy! Thinking about his candy, he smiled and went back to eating it, as Maiyuki entered the room. She glanced him over and went back to what she was doing. Soon some guys came and brought her some clothes. Then she asked him why he was following her... ... ... He was following her?

Honestly, he had no idea that he had been following her, he just took over the body after Jack had went with the two into the hotel. So, he tilted his head to the side, not qute understanding her question. After a bit of thought, he finally realized what she was asking him, and smiled. "Aren't we friends? I think so..." And with a smile, he picked up a big pile of candy and set it down in front of Maiyuki, smiling still. Then Jack convinced Anim to let him get a word in. "Well, sorry about that. That was Anim, another personality of mine. He doesn't know much, he isn't very social, and he happens to be the one of us most often in command. To answer your question, I was simply a bit curious about yourself and Marynia. By the way, you are excellent with a hand of cards. Lost every penny I had." Then, his eyes blinked red, and he grinned widely, as sickening grin. Blade had decided to speak. "And I hates to break it to yah, but the only reason I didn't X either of you, is cus if Anim and Jack had more sense, the insides of these pants would be as active as they are now, way more often. Sexy things, you two is. Blade, by the way, but you can call me whateeeever you want, babe." And he blinked again, his eyes turning purple, and a bit confused. Blade had been thinking some strange thoughts and Jack tried to cover his eyes, but it didn't help... "... I'm sleepy..." And as such, he laid back on the floor and fell asleep...

No matter how many times she counts those greens, somehow the anxiety never settled away. This was big money too, she should have relaxed, if not go into an enthusiasm, but in the end, it felt like there was more at stake, more to the catch than just getting "free money". Only suckers think there is such a thing as a free money, and Marynia is no sucker.

Scooping up all the cash wads, unaccounted for more than half of it, she stuffed them into the bag, zipped it and swung it over her shoulder. Setting herself off the seat, Marynia made her way through the extra bedroom door, distinct from the master one, opening and closing it behind, and towards the exit. Being stuck in a room with two bi-polar and homicidal maniacs wasn't healthy, and Marynia very much likes to live her life at the fullest. Suddenly realizing, there is more to the world than winning money in some shady cabin, such as winning more money in an Esparian casino.

Creeping and inching towards the exit, catching a glimpse of the setting sun from the same banister Maiyuki was at which stopped her in her tracks. CRAP. It will be dead cold out there... and she was stuck here, for now. Playing along that she "enjoys" her stay in such a lavish villa, what's there not to like anyways? As long as her motives weren't questioned, she made herself comfy and threw herself on a couch, money bag at her side... and a sleeping Animos slumped on the ground. Ah well, that eases her worry on one thing at least, not having to be concerned with one such maniac.

Pulling out a remote, switching the TV on that it was all horribly riddled with... state approved programs. BAH, this was why the Union is such a killjoy in the show business. It was dull, to say the least, alluring her into a drowsy state, but she shook her head awake despite the boredom of the soap opera of how Secretary "Alena" triumphed over the Capitalists and the Czar himself. Repeat and rinse multiple times that she may not just doze off.

Mai looked down and saw he was sleeping on the floor. Oh hell no. Mai jumped off the bed, and literally stomped on Animos. "WAKE THE FUCK UP! GO SLEEP IN YOUR ROOM!" Mai was not having a male sleep in her room. Besides the fact that men in nature were perverts, if he attempted anything his body would be hanging out the window with a rope wrapped around his neck. To prevent that, she was kicking him out now. "I am no charity organization. Better be happy that Yuki even got you a room. I woulda let the lot of you sleep in the snow. NOW GET OUT!" Mai walked over and opened the door, waiting for Animos to leave. Yuki was prepared to come out, but Mai was capable of getting him out one way or another. Yuki's method usually meant blood, and the last thing she needed was the Drachman police showing up and deporting her.

Anim was sleeping peacefully on the floor when Maiyuki decided to kick him. That was unkind... Her words were unkind as well. Well, what a mean person! He woke up and childishly rubbed his eyes. Then he looked at her in confusion again. "Huh? But why? I'm tired, I don't w-want to go all the WAY to my room... 'Sides, I CAME i-in h-here because I c-can't find my room k-key... I won't do anything in h-here. Here, you can have all OF Blade's kn-n-n... Sharp stuff." And thus speaking, he quickly removed about 17 knives from his person, excluding his kukri, which was his, not Blade's. And he wasn't giving that up, and in a bit of contradiction to his prior actions, he returned the long blade to its sheath, not wanting to part with it. Then, he ate a few more pieces of candy and looked at Maiyuki's untouched pile, questioningly. Why was she being so mean to him? What did he do wrong?

She slowly drifted into sleep, bored senseless from the television program, forgetting the grueling experience she just went through. It was getting peaceful, the mundane state sponsored program flew through her head, making it easier to doze off until...

"WAKE THE FUCK UP! GO SLEEP IN YOUR ROOM!"

HOLY CRAP! Were they under attack?! What? Huh?! Marynia snapped her eyes open into an alert, roused into wakefulness, jumping to a stand as she shot her eyes at wherever the scream originated, and from the looks of it, it was from Maiyuki just... waking that sleeping candy guy up. Oh. Him. Ah right, he had a room of his own, she almost forgot about that.

"I am no charity organization. Better be happy that Yuki even got you a room. I woulda let the lot of you sleep in the snow. NOW GET OUT!"

Maybe this was a chance not to be horribly restrained and maybe mauled in her sleep by Maiyuki, and all under "generosity" of course. She could still remember the feeling of sharpness against her throat, and that's something not exactly under what she wanted to experience. Waving, Marynia invites attention to herself.

"Wait wait wait, what if... I trade rooms with him? He seems really tired and I don't think that he can find the room, but I can. You wouldn't mind now, would you now?" Then she blinks, apparently Maiyuki forgot something from the leaping, "By the way, I would want to check that towel if I were you..."

. . .

Okay, those blades that candy guy just set down, it really helps making a decision in trading rooms. Two dangerous people stuck in one room, Marynia safely sleeping in another, with her sweet precious FREE money while those two dealt with... whatever it is dangerous people do with each other. Probably murder or maybe maul one another. This idea is PERFECT.

Maiyuki looked down at Animos...he was already tired. "Yuki" Yuki sneered. "Yeah Yeah I know." Yuki forced their body to produce a pheromone that would push Animos back into his sleep. A chemical induced signal to sleep coupled with his natural fatigue, he'd be pretty much forced to go back to sleep. As he drifted away, Mai would remove both towels and step back into her underwear. She would look to Marynia and smile.

"You are afraid of me? I can smell if on you. You wreak of fear. But I can not say that the feeling is one sided. I fear you as well, both of you. I trust no one and need no one. But Yuki has taken a liking to you. Despite your heinous greed, she see's a little good in you. For that reason alone, you still draw breath. However, we must come to an understanding. If you wish to be on my good side you must have something I want. The reason why you like Yuki is evident, we can get money. Large sums of money, in fact we could walk into a bank and simply ask for large sums of money. But the key is, what do you have that we could possibly want?"

Mai picked her towel up and began to try and try her ends. She hated wet hair, a trait shared by both of them. She sat back down on the bed and crossed her legs. Once finished she tossed the towel into the corner. Marynia wasn't unattractive, but that wasn't the point of this chat. Perhaps, if they came to some kind of agreement, Maiyuki would have some fun with Marynia. A small smile crept across her lips

Anim felt the effects of sleep deepen on himself, and thus he began to dream as Maiyuki's effects kicked in. Within his mind, and his mind alone, he was in a large, endless room, with strong winds and upside down rain. The never-ending room also had a black Sun, that shone darkness and all shade was bright as day. This mind-room, Animos's internal anarchy, was complete with three massive wooden chairs, and a long row of drums, beating the same incessant song of war, song of peace, and song of chaos, over and over, as if in an infinite playlist. The drummers themselves were nonexistant, and the drum sticks hammered away by themselves. In the midst stood three men, one dressed in white rags, purple eyed, with chaotic hair. He stood confused, on top of one of the chairs. The next was red-eyed, sickly grinning, in black cloak with waist-length hair, tangled widly. In the last chair stood a man in rich garments, well-combed hair and crystal blue eyes.

"Blade, Jack, why ARE we h-here? I t-t-th-thought we were in that funny place in D-Dra-DRACHMA?"
"Oh Anim, you are such a fool. Isn't it obvious? That cat-chick don't want us there no more, so she knocked us out. I don't think she likes you. It'd be best if I put a cleaver in her kidneys... Oh wait. SOMEONE gave her my knives! Which makes SOMEONE'S kukri MY property! Moron!" Anim winced, feeling the hatred of every spoken word by Blade. Jack stepped forward, glaring daggers at Blade.
"Now, now, Blade, what have I told you about bullying the weak? Anim did so with good intentions. He didn't want Maiyuki to attack us, and therefore he decided top prove to her that we could be trusted. Well... 66.66667% of us anyways. Not so sure about you, Blade.[/b]"
Blade glared back at Jack, his eyes practically spitting the words, "Well what are you going to [i]DO about it, huh?" directly into Jack's face. Anim stood in confusion, when suddenly the drums stopped. The Sun faded, as the wind and rain began to cease to exist. Blade and Jack also faded slowly away, and Anim was back on the floor of Maiyuki's room as Marynia finished speaking to the cat-girl. Anim decided then to fake as if he was still asleep, just to hear what they were saying...

Marynia glanced at the guy, that knife nut guy whom would have been nice and comely if he wasn't exactly the nuttiest bolt in the plank. A good time to empty ever single cash he had while he wasn't exactly in a disagreeable state. Sounds about right. Just funny how he fell asleep, a bit suspicious... but then again, everything about him was suspicious. It would be EXTRA suspicious if he did something really normal.

"You are afraid of me? I can smell if on you. You wreak of fear. But I can not say that the feeling is one sided. I fear you as well, both of you. I trust no one and need no one. But Yuki has taken a liking to you. Despite your heinous greed, she see's a little good in you. For that reason alone, you still draw breath. However, we must come to an understanding. If you wish to be on my good side you must have something I want. The reason why you like Yuki is evident, we can get money. Large sums of money, in fact we could walk into a bank and simply ask for large sums of money. But the key is, what do you have that we could possibly want?"

Having just about missed Maiyuki indulging in some wardrobe change, paying attention to Animos that time, Marynia wondered. She had to make up an answer quick. Well, she could say she has local knowledge of things. That sounds good. Yeah, the brains and brawns approach, to the Drachman brunette, sounded like a good answer. So she smiled back, well, more like forced herself to smile back. Feeling some shadow from that questionable smile of Maiyuki's as she made herself home at bed. A leftover feeling of fear that she just wants to dismiss, being the source of such a shadow. Doing her best to ignore it, keep her calm. To just focus on Maiyuki and not on some vibe.

"I... I know where to find the most cash, and avoid being caught by the state police, if you're the sort that likes to stay free." She confidently asserts, shining with confidence intermingling with anxiousness, "Who wouldn't want my brains on their side anyways? I am the best around when it comes to local knowledge of the underworld."

She flexed her arm around, sighing, "And I may not advertise this... but I am also a damn fine qualified pilot. Does that satisfy your curiousity?"

"And I may not advertise this... but I am also a damn fine qualified pilot. Does that satisfy your curiousity?"

Maiyuki sneered. She obviously was oblivious to the situation. Also hard of hearing, or maybe Mai wasn't as good at speaking Drachman as she thought. She pulled a leg up to her chest and tilted her head looking to Marynia.

"I can get money. Men are the easiest to manipulate, however, women...they take a little longer for me to work my "magic" on. As for the piloting...I don't mind flying...but Yuki she hates it. I'm a Chimera if you have not already guessed that, and Yuki is a feline soul merged to my human one. She does not get along with being that high in the air. But tell you what..."

Mai stood up and stretched her arms and back. She moved towards the window and looked through the curtains. Damn the window was cold, and even let off a cold draft. She let the curtain fall back into place and looked to Marynia. "I'm looking for a partner, and Yuki is looking for an Owner. So if you be mine and let Yuki be yours, I think we can become the most intimate of friends. Delicious, no?"

Mai sat at the small round table near the window and rested her head on her hand. Waiting for Marynia to answer. It really wasn't a bad offer. However, she could refuse. Mai wouldn't kill her...well at least not over that. However, the one on the floor was the main problem. What to do with him?

Feigning ignorance and obliviousness the whole time, Marynia tried figuring out just what her angle was... the catch behind Maiyuki. What was the cog that set the clockwork which ticked basically.

"I can get money. Men are the easiest to manipulate, however, women... they take a little longer for me to work my "magic" on. As for the piloting...I don't mind flying... but Yuki she hates it. I'm a Chimera if you have not already guessed that, and Yuki is a feline soul merged to my human one. She does not get along with being that high in the air. But tell you what... I'm looking for a partner, and Yuki is looking for an Owner. So if you be mine and let Yuki be yours, I think we can become the most intimate of friends. Delicious, no?"

A moment of contemplation passed, and just that -- a moment. Not really much consideration was given, just as long as money making is spun, it sings to Marynia's tune that she finds herself inclined to follow. She wasn't baffled by Maiyuki being a Chimera, she had met another in place. It was delightful.

"I am no stranger to these 'Chimera', but that explains your... love for catnip, figuratively speaking," Marynia happened by, seating herself on the chair under the table mounted by Maiyuki, "Sounds profitable... deliciously. Alright then, call me partner and owner from now on."

A smile formed on her pristine features, giving it over to Maiyuki, slouching at the chair when she looked out into the snowy white blanket of Drachma, in the darkness of night. It can be quite soothing to look at, that at least it puts what fear at heart away, that, and the promise of wealth does that too. Without. A. Single. Loss. Whatsoever.

Maiyuki slid off the table. She was completely and utterly tired. Yuki was screaming in her head as well. Obviously pleased at finally being owned. Getting her to settle down would be tough. Otherwise it would be like trying to sleep with a boombox next to your head playing Rock and Roll. She slid under the covers of her bed and curled up into a little ball. Slowly drifting off into sleep. The bed was cold, but it was soothing to an extent. Maiyuki shared an elevated core temperature, similar to that of a felines. Allowing her to survive at temperature that would be uncomfortable to humans with ease. She would dream of simple things in life. However, the world would slowly darken as both became conscious.

A shadowy figure stood not too far away from them. Neither could make it out, who was that? It would seemingly walk closer, but at the same time it was retreating. Maiyuki stepped forward trying to get a better view of the person, but gained no ground. She would call out, but no sound would be emitted. This chase went on for what seemed like eternity before a brilliant light flashed before her eyes.

(OOC: Hope you don't mind me dragging you along, Animos.)

Finally, the peace and quiet she wanted. Her lids were heavy and she was sleepy herself. Taking along her money bag, newly given of course. She went along and stopped by Animos. The knife nut. Looking down on him as she can't help but smile. At least when he sleeps, he looks peaceful, looking aside from his psychopathic tendencies to murder and destroy from that short time she was with him.

Kneeling over by him, she reached for his pocket, rummaging through past whatever he had until she looked over to see the room key of his, a room number. Looking around, left and right, swallowing as she looked back to see Maiyuki was asleep... despite the racket. Okay good, nobody was gonna see this generosity from her, it helps he was pleasing to look at, something which helped her decision.

Throwing Animos's arm across her shoulder, she took step by step back, despite his weight, dragging him along as she groaned and panted. "Just how much does this guy weigh anyways?!" Such thoughts passed her head, making her way to the door, pulling the knob, putting such obstructions aside as she went along to find out his room was surprisingly close by. Using the key she had at hand as she left her bag back there to compensate for this weight.

A few minutes later she'd return to the room, and throw herself to the couch in front of the TV, tired and exhausted. Never again shall she mention this kind altruism. Tucking the male in earlier and making sure to set his things on the table next to him was generous as it was. Taking a glance to sigh that Maiyuki was nowhere near awake to see that. Good, she'd have it no other way but to be seen as a miser. Caught unaware of whatever troubles Maiyuki seems to be undergoing, more concerned about catching her breath as beads of sweat rolled from her cheeks. A proof of the burden of carrying him through the hallways.

Unknowing of the darkened figure that came after. Perhaps it had to do with forgetting to lock the door?

Mai woke with a start. Her breathing was hoarse and ragged as she tried to calm herself. What was that that she saw? A message or was it something more? No. No, it felt like something was lurking in her consciousness. Deep. Suppressed. Sleeping. The question was what was it? She sat in the bed wondering that for a few moments, before she noticed that Animos was gone. She noted that Marynia's breathing, and beating heart. Sounded like the beat of a drum in a band. Perhaps she carried the man to his room, she had no marks to prove otherwise. Or maybe he was convinced to leave and she merely went for a run around the hotel...not likely. She placed her hand over her mouth as she tried to ease her mind. Yuki was strangely silent as well. They were focusing their minds on a single task. Trying to comprehend Mai's dream. Perhaps it was best to put it out of her mind. She stood up and crossed the room. Reaching the mini-bar, she grabbed a bottle of water. Drachman lettering was weird. She had never taken the time to properly learn it, just bits, pieces of it to understand maps and roads. She took a sip from the bottle and moved back to the bed. What to do? What to do?

Slapping the handkerchief on, she wiped her face of sweat, breathing slower and slower. Tending unto her own business first, thoughts scrambling madly. Thinking of plans, anything. She had to do SOMETHING instead of just sitting here patiently waiting until the next day. She has a big wad of cash in a bag, with so many places to spend it in... and yet she is stuck in a hotel with nothing to do whatsoever. Tired and fatigued dragging that guy around, he weighed like a brick.

Irritated by the mild cool of the room, it was too slow to cool her, prompting Marynia to divorce the chair and find herself in the bathroom, kicking the door behind her to a close. Discarding her jacket, and kicking off her boots. Grasping for the zipper that slid down to loosen her jumpsuit, she dangled it along to her ankles, stepping out of them with a shiver. It was a bit too drafty with her new-found lacking of garments.

The brunette, satisfied with the new found cool, stepped into the tub, turning the valve labeled "Cold" in Drachman, she sat herself on the base, head reclining, eyes closed. The chill sending shivers, but it has done wonders stopping the sweat, raising a leg as she nudged with her toes the "Hot" valve a tad bit. Sinking it back into the flowing water which ran past her hips and legs.

It ran quite well now at least, just the right amount of temperature for a minute's worth of watery relaxation.

"Hey Mai...Let me out for a bit." Yuki asked lightly. Even Yuki was perturbed by the dream. As the transformation took hold, Yuki stood in her underwear. She immediately reached back and undid the fasteners on her bra. "Damn that thing is tight." Yuki muttered. She bent down and placed her hands on the ground. Kicking her legs over her head, she balanced in a vertical position. Her long hair fell to the ground as she closed her eyes and focused on the task at hand. Her elbows bent, and as her head nearly touched the ground she pushed herself back into her original positioning. She did this thirty times before somersaulting and laying on her back. She immediately launched herself into doing one-hundred-and-twenty sit-ups. Sweat pouring from her forehead, she rolled over onto her stomach, and pushed herself up. She spread her legs apart, and placed a hand behind her back. Lowering her body, she began her one-handed push-ups. Fifteen for each arm was a tedious thing. She was still developing stronger muscles, but as it stood now she was far stronger than the average human.

"Don't you think it's a bit much to be working our body so much?" Mai asked concerned about the side effects of this training. "Instead of worrying about our body, why not rethink the merger I proposed. No sense going at this half cocked all the time. It takes far to long to change between us. Roughly 1.734 seconds. Which is way too much of an interval." This argument had raged between them for as long as they could remember, but the question remained who was the dominant soul. Mai had her points, but so did Yuki. "Neither one of us wish to disappear what point is there in merging? Just learn to change more fluidly." Yuki thought about that, but the thought process to ask for permission took to long. "Stop shutting me out then. Allow me to take control whenever I sense danger. It will make the transformation smoother. It would bring us down to .012 of a second." Mai thought about, and concluded it was the best option. No sense getting them both killed. Yuki went into her Meditation, which meant Mai had to shut up as well.

Slouching forth, she took the bath cork and plugged it in, letting the water rise up to her navel. Pouring some of the bubbly bath solution into the water, bubbles began forming on the surface until it enveloped the entirity of Marynia's curvaceous features, setting her to a mood of tranquility she loved as a sense of warmth tingled throughout her body in excess comfort. Flexing her back inwards, enjoying the bathing, brushing her arm and rinsing herself of what sweat would've brought.

Taking the occasional stretching of her legs as she enjoyed the sublime warm waters in such a cold Winter. Feeling she might just prolong her escapade in the bathroom, not that she had to worry much now that she apparently holds the leash. Still, since when did she ever bathe this great? In comparison to the dull and mundane water saving approved showers of the state. This was great! So much waste in return for the luxury of enjoying the sensual moist afforded by luxury.

Bliss. Such utter bliss.

A sense of laze settled in, again she leans her head back to face the top, closing her eyes as to envision the full invigoration felt from the caressing sublimity of the waters that pieces itself on her skin so. Her aching tensions left on her muscles loosening, letting out a relaxed sigh.

"Aaahhhh... Marynia, old girl, imagine living like a Queen like this every single day... that'd be quite the life!" Such thoughts floundered on the soothed brain of the bare Drachman brunette. It was rare she ever bathed like this, a huge upgrade over state-approved showering.

Yuki began to construct her mental body. This always intrigued Mai to no end. How profound Yuki was since they had been joined. She knew that cat's were intelligent, but to this degree was unprecedented by her standards. Yuki was probably more intelligent than Mai, which put Mai off slightly. She began to wonder...was she just the soul that was holding on for dear life to a body that might not even rightfully belong to her? Maybe it was right to give Yuki the reigns...to retire from this world all together. Mai looked on as Yuki's enemies began to manifest themselves before her. She began to combat them as she did in the past, however, she was evolving. Learning better more simpler ways to dispatch them with minimal energy exerted. Was this what it meant to be a Genius? Yuki was beyond words, if given her way she could become a frightening threat. Mai on the other hand...maybe she was really useless. Trying to cling to her humanity, even pushing all their abilities on to Yuki. She was the part of them that was holding them back.

"Shut up Mai" Yuki looked to Mai. For the entire time she had been thinking, she had forgot they were joined at the mind as well. Yuki reached out and grasped Mai, hugging her tightly. "You are an important part to us. Without you I wouldn't be as I am. It's from your mind that I grow stronger without you I would have died back in that lab." Mai was shocked to be comforted by Yuki at this moment, but it felt warm. She could not refuse this. They were one, and yet separate. "Perhaps...perhaps we should become one." Yuki didn't know what to say at this point. "Are you sure?" Mai nodded in agreement. "Okay, give me some time to set it up. I don't know what will happen, but no matter I'll always be with you" Mai smiled and hugged Yuki back. "And I'll be with you."

Sinking into the bubbly obscured waters, she rose up again and shook her head, swatting away what wetness remained by her eyelids. Enjoying the peacefulness of solitude without a care for the surrounding or the world... for these few moments. Sooner or later, reality should be invited right back in, which is quite the pesky thing at that. But who cares? She has all the time to herself, which is not a lot.

These few moments spent, she took a scrub and applied it to herself, removing whatever filth tainted her skin. Stepping out after the purposeful finish, throwing a towel over her slender form, brushing it against her skin and shaking the moist off her hair until it was feathery thin from what remains of the wet there, drying it off before discarding it as it were to the ground in a heap next to her set of garments. Kicking it to the side of the corner, she'll figure she'll let it dry off before putting it on again.

But seeing as she isn't a fan of stepping out in a birthday suit around complete strangers, Marynia solved this particular issue with the quickly worn bathrobe of whiteness, lapping one end against another and fastening the belt against her abdomen in a knot.

Afterwards, making her way out of the bathroom as to seat herself at the same chair she found herself at much earlier. Watching the same TV channel... AGAIN. This is why Drachman TV sucks, all of it is politics and crap in one way or another. Changing the channels at the press of a remote button, shuffling through the programs. All of them involving Secretary Alena one way or another, as a heroic leader, a revolutionary, and whatever bullshit the state can come up with. As if she was some sort of superhero. Sure it's nice at first, but it gets old FAST if it consists of just THAT.

"DAMNIT! Who the Hell makes these dumb programs?! Has anyone ever heard of variety of shows?!" She snapped in thought, leaning forth with that displeased look stenciled on her face all crystal clear-like.

Yuki opened her golden eyes and looked about the room. The hum of the televisions circuits pounded against her eardrums, as Marynia watched some mindless show. Perhaps it was time to stop playing. Yuki reached back and grabbed a few pieces of candy. Slowly eating them, she let tears fall from her eyes. The only solace she had were these tears and the candy she consumed. Mai had blocked herself off to not be a burden. It was as if they had built a wall between them. It was terrible being alone, and she couldn't imagine what she would do without Mai. What if something went wrong? She couldn't take that burden. She continued to eat in her own silence. She soon finished and wiped her eyes. She crawled into bed awaiting the morning sun to rise, and perhaps something new to take her mind far, far away from here.