Welcome to Gaia! ::

..: Connection of Races :..

How did I get myself into such a mess? Am I even cut out for this..? the thoughts ran through a warrior's mind, her slit eyes lowering to the bundle in her arms. She had had plenty of complicated missions, ones that tested her strength, will, knowledge, and even psyche, but this... this was much different. It wasn't even a traditional mission, just one she felt she needed to do, somehow. But what exactly was it she needed to do? Exactly how was it that a trained mercenary suppose to care for a child?

A muffled moan came from the tiny child as he rolled to his side, oddly-pointed ears plainly visible in the daylight. She sighed as she smiled down at the boy, wrapping part of the blanket over an exposed arm. He needed her, for how long she didn't know, but the boy was in need, and she never turned someone like that down; it went against her morals. She'd figure something out, she wasn't lacking in imagination on that.

Seeing a horse-driven wagon coming their way along the dusty trail, the demonic Ryuuza sidestepped her way off the road to make way for the large barrow of goods. Her taloned feet greeted the grass readily, as it made for a softer road than the pathway itself.

As the carriage driver passed he didn't give the demon a second look, just a slight bow of the head as he continued along his way. Ryuuza smiled at him, but continued to watch as he passed. It was so strange to be treated like that... Being brought to such a distant, strange world definatley had its perks, for many people looked different from one another and was rarely judged solely on looks, but it was hard to get used to.

Turning back to the road, she stepped back onto the raised dirt and continued her way to the small house she made a home out of. As the unpainted cottage came into view her eyes slid back down to the baby in her arms, a smile spreading across her face once more. "I guess I need you just as much as you need me, Wray..."

..: Silence :..

The sun was peeking through the overcast of clouds, lighting up the living room window with a brilliant golden light. Ryuuza was in the kitchen, wrist-deep in soapy water as she scrubbed the dishes from lunch. She had fed Wray earlier, before she herself had eaten even, but found it to be incredibly difficult. As the child was in a slumber-like state, he had almost no reaction to food as a normal child would, so it was a challenge to get him to swallow without choking on it or breathing it in. It was a daily routine, but still very new to her.

Eri was passed out on the recliner, and even being of such tiny mass, was taking up the whole surface area. The small sprite had been trying to help out with everything, but more likely was just making things worse but for moral support. Ryuuza glanced over to the little perrin, exhausted over its constant babble but glad s/he was there nonetheless. Without the support s/he gave the demon, she wasn't sure if she would be able to do it. Guess everything happens for a reason, she thought with a wry smile, the adage running through her head almost on the dime.

However, her thoughts were cut short when a cry came from Wray's open bedroom, choked with sobs. Her tail whipped about in surprise, shaking her hands free of the dampness of the sink before swiftly grabbing for the towel that hung from the handle to the stove next to her. Tossing it on the counter without a second thought, Ryu rushed into the bedroom, looking around for anything that might disturb the child.

However, upon quick glance, there was nothing there. Wray didn't need a diaper change, wasn't hungry.... and was still asleep. Puzzled, she leaned over the crib to investigate, and the small protostar's crying lessened to a whimper. She cocked an eyebrow, reaching out to pick him up, murmuring, "What's going on with you, Wray-kid? Are you sick?"

At that point Wray's cries ceased, being replaced by the silence of a content child. She had propped the boy up to her shoulder and was rubbing his back with her hand to settle him down. His body had been trembling in fear, and it unsettled her. What had scared him so badly? Fear wasn't suppose to clutch such a small toddler like that, and her thoughts immediately went to the thought of dreams. Could a dream have done that? Was it possible?

For the rest of the day Ryuuza had carried him around in her arms, making sure it wouldn't happen again. All the while, her thoughts ran through what could've happened, but Wray never made a peep.

..: Journal Entry #1 :..

It has been one hell of a week for me and Wray here, that's for sure. The poor boy has been having some sort of nightmares lately that have really shaken him, but what sort of nightmares does a child have that has never opened his eyes before? All I can really guess would be some sort of past life or instinct, though I have a feeling it's neither. I just wish I cold help more, know what it is that's bothering him so. I guess such is the pressures of motherhood, something I have yet to figure out.

I keep thinking that I'm not cut out for such delicate responsibilities. Ryuuza the mom... now that's one thing I never saw coming. I can just see Otomeza now... she'd never believe me if I told her. I've always been pretty rough, and she knows the path I have chosen.

Mercenary. Who would've thought a mercenary would have been chosen to care for such a tiny life? I can protect people, sure; after all, it's in the job description. However, caring for someone else, having a life depend on you for everything... it's new, and hard to get used to. Never did I see myself in this situation. I was more likely to be dead right now than to be caring for a baby.

Though... he's really grown on me. I know how I could live without him, an expression I never really understood, but I can't see him being taken away from me. Never thought I'd be devastated by something like that, but what can I say? He really grows on you.

The nightmares he's been having have made it so he cannot sleep alone. He's too prone to reliving them again, for it has happened so much, but when he's with me he doesn't make a peep. Makes me wonder if I'm spoiling him, even though I know it not to be true. He shakes like a leaf when he cries, and I can feel the terror running through him as I pick him up after a relapse. It's a little difficult to maneuver him around so I can finish the things I need accomplished, but there's nothing I can do about it.

Oh well, can't complain. After all, I took up the job knowing full well what it meant.

~Ryuuza Ekibyougami

..: Otomeza's Call :..

It had been a short amount of time Ryuuza had allowed herself to use up to try to determine what she was to say to her sister, but the headstrong woman was not about to put it off any longer. She had been gone for months, and although that was normal for her to do when on a job she did not find it fair to keep something this big from her younger sister any longer. Knowing what to say or not, there was only so much Ryu could allow herself to put something off.

Although she had not used this phone to call her sister as of yet, she had long since programmed her number into the phone. How long had it been exactly since she last called her sister? Wryly she thought of the scolding she would get from her for making her worry again for such a long time, but it was something she couldn't avoid. So without further hesitation, she pressed the programmed button, number one, on the phone's face and waited for the ring.

One ring, two... a third ring. Was she even home? It was pretty late... though not late enough for Otomeza to be in bed for the night. A fourth ring, a fi- there! "Hello?" the voice on the other end inquired, alert enough for Ryuuza to find herself silly for wondering.

"Otomeza? It's me, Ryuuza," she started off, trying to sound as casual as was average for her.

"Ryu? Why haven't you called!? It's been ages!" And there it begins... she thought with a smirk. But who was she kidding? It was nice knowing someone worried about you every once in a while. "You really shouldn't work yourself so hard if you have to go off on one of your 'missions' and disappear for months on end without so much as a letter!" Otomeza growled, but Ryu could tell she was smiling; there was laughter on her voice.

"Yeeeah, sorry, sorry! Time just slipped by so quickly; you know how it goes. I get so engrossed I lose track of everything else," Ryuuza snickered nervously, wondering when would be a good time to mention Wray.

Otomeza snorted. "Uh-huuuh, which is exactly my point. I mean, come on! What job could be more important than your own family, right?" she laughed, teasing. However, Ryuuza fell silent in that moment, and Otomeza immediately knew there was a reason behind the call. "Ryu, what's going on?"

She glanced over to Eri, who was peeking up over the counter over at Ryuuza, waiting for her to say it. Ryuuza sighed, rubbing the back of her head. "Heh, you'd never expect it, I can guarantee that," she started off, unsure of where this was going to lead but continued on, letting her mouth do the walking for once. "You know I mentioned that I had a 'special' assignment that I needed to take care of?"

"Ryu, don't give me that," Otomeza retorted haughtily, hoping that it was nothing too serious. She had had enough of her elder sister's 'special assignments' that only ended up getting her battered and bruised, lucky to have made it out alive. She knew Ryuuza was excellent at her job, probably irreplaceable in some instances, but it didn't mean Meza had to like it. "If they want you to stay any longer than you have to, they have a--"

"No, no! It's not like that..." Ryuuza interrupted quickly. "It's different this time. They didn't really specify the mission before I left, but it's important. I... they put me under guardianship of this kid, and--"

"A babysitter!? They've reduced you to a babysitter!?" Otomeza exclaimed, thinking it was the reaction Ryuuza wanted to hear.

"Well, except I'm under full guardianship. He's no ordinary kid, he's really quite special. He's what the locals call a Starlet, though he's still just an infant. He could grow up to do great things..."

Otomeza was silent for a while, but a chuckle broke it as it came through the earpiece of the phone. "Well well, Ryuuza -- a mother? I take it you're going to need some help. I'll get going over there as soon as I get things situated there. I'm sure you wouldn't mind a visit from your sister either, huh? I'll come around for a few weeks as soon as I can. I'll give you a call when I'm ready to leave. See you in a week or so!"

"No, Meza, you don't need to do that! Everything's fine here, really!" the mercenary nearly shouted across the line, yet she knew she shouldn't be so surprised. Otomeza had given up almost everything in her life so she could support Ryuuza's decisions, and Ryuuza had likewise done the same so that she could get even the slightest bit of a flow of income for the two of them. Sometimes she wondered if it would have been better if Otomeza had forgotten about her and pursued her own interests in life, but Meza was too much of a giver...

"I'm not taking 'no' for an answer!" she said in a sing-song fashion, but sternly enough for Ryuuza to know there was no way around it.

She snorted, smiling. "Okay, I'll see you then."