Sakiko gaped rather rudely at the new people entering the house. How many people could actually fit into this house?! She put down her cup with a clatter, and turned to Aqua.

"So...how are you guys all related?"

Zeze, on the other hand, was not at all surprised nor discouraged by Alexander's strange greeting. She hopped inside cheerily, and tugged on Alexander's shirt.

"Hey, there, budd-aaayyy. Got anything to chew?"

Sakiko turned around from her seat and expertly tossed the cup at Zeze. The bard caught it quickly, and yelled,

"Whatcha do that for! If that hit me on the head I would've landed up dead! Cold!"

Sakiko turned back and muttered,

"I am only sorry that it didn't happen."

Abel didn't even relize how many people lived here however it was now clear to him that these people all relied cared for each other and the people around them and this was one of the few things that comforted Abel in the soul. "Aqua what did you say t make Mitchy listen to Keychain.

"I told true stories about Keychain. At the time, I was trying to find her." Finding Keychain glaring at her, Aqua smiled innocently. "Okay, so maybe I might have exaggerated a few things. But in the end, everything was truthful."

Aqua stretched out on the couch. Her legs dangled off the edge of it. Kicking off her boots, she stuck her feet in face of the next person that was going to come from the room. It was Jasper, who instantly jumped away, waving his hands in front of his face.

"Stinky! And you always tell me I stink?" Jasper grumbled.

Not replying to him, Aqua spoke again, "We're all friends, that's what it boils down to. Only Darren and I are the ones who are blood related. Keychain and I have been friends for a year now. Jasper was discovered collapsed from exhaustion by Keychain maybe half a year ago. Mitchy I found, since it seems like her parents are both dead and she ran away from the orphanage. It hasn't even been a month since we met Alexander."

Alexander, at the time, laughed at Zeze. "Girly, you'll have to wait a bit. The two head chefs in this family are whipping something up for at least seven families of four. Now, how about you go sit in the living room while I go do things Darren shouldn't be doing and I should."

"Everyone is so active around this house once they get back," Aqua commented. Jasper disappeared in the kitchen, only to be kicked out by Keychain. "Nice one, Jas."

"Every time you call me that it makes me feel like your saying Jasmine," he grumbled. "By the way, you forgot to sweep up the remains from your little work done today."

Aqua stood up, her head banging into the ceiling. Rubbing her head, she mumbled, "I knew that I forgot something."

Ooc: hahah my best friend's name is Jasmine and we sometimes call her Jas...or Jazz. I dunno, they both sound the same... ^^

IC:

"Interesting."

Sakiko nodded curtly, but her face showed nothing amiable of the kind. Zeze, with a very short attention span, was of no help. She merely added cheerfully after Sakiko's comment,

"Yeah, that's kinda what happened with me and Sakiko - the story of how Keychain found Jasper? Sakiko almost died and I saved her, ya know."

The mage snorted.

"Oh yeah? According to my memory, you just ran around with a bucket of water screaming for help."

The bard scratched her head, screwing up her eyes.

"Huh, that may actually be right. I dunno."

She shrugged, as if it wasn't really an important matter. In her perspective of life and "things", the present was the only thing that truly had weight to it. Why talk about the gloom and doom of the past when the now was something to live for? And of course, the future was something that really no one could predict for sure. Maybe if you continued to live, live, live...then the future really didn't turn out to be anything at all.

Zeze's ears perked up at Alexander's reply. She squinted her eyes suspiciously and muttered teasingly,

"Something that Darren shouldn't be doing? Now what could that be...?"

Abel listened intently on the conversation at hand. Taking swigs of his drink every so often. Abel really just sat there wonder about things like if Keychain was single.

OoC: *acts like Sakiko* Interesting.

IC: Aqua stopped sweeping. She pointed between Sakiko and Zeze. Her mouth was agape before she finally could get words out. "Remind me never to rely on Zeze, she doesn't seem like much hope."

"Yeah, if it was me, personally, I would have thrown the bucket of water where a fire was brewing. Like on Keychain's flaming finger," commented Jasper, as Keychain stood behind him without him knowing.

"Watch it," Keychain said, pointing a finger at him. "Or else this finger will go in a place where the sun don't shine."

"No, thank you," Jasper said, cowering from the scholar.

Darren came down the stairs, tapping Keychain on the shoulders. "Mitchy refuses to wake up. You need to go up there and get her before dinner is ready. Oh, and she needs to change out of the clothes that she is in."

"Okay, and I finished my work with the food, now it's your turn." He nodded at her words. Keychain started her way up the stairs.

Alexander sat down on the couch, relaxing. "Now I can just sit down and-"

Aqua smacked him in the face with the broom. "Up, before I torture you with this thing." Obediently, he stood up. "Good boy." Then Jasper sat down. "Why you little-!"

"Hey, I'm never trusted to do anything, might as well do nothing," Jasper commented, shrugging lightly.

Zeze smiled as Aqua pointed between her and Sakiko.

"Sure, I'll remind you when the time comes."

The bard was, surprisingly, an intelligent being, but Sakiko tried to degrade and underestimate her abilities. It was just easier that way, and Zeze did nothing to protest against it. She laughed good-naturedly at Jasper's little comment and the small bickering that followed.

Stretching her legs and yawning, she sighed as if satisfied.

"I guess I'll just take a little nap until the dinner is finished...thank y'all for yer kindness..."

Abel smirked at the comment Keychain made about puting a finger where the sun dosen't shine. Getting tired of feeling like a shadow he said to Sakiko " Considering i've never met you before i was wondering if you had any exploits."

Keychain came back down the stairs with a small girl clutching to both her and a blanket in her arms. Black tumbles of curls fell from the girl's head. Green, wolfish eyes looked around, filled with a tired look.

"There's a guest room upstairs. You can take a nap on the bed," the red head said. She adjusted the small girl on her hip. "Say 'hi' to everyone, Mitchy."

"I'm sheepy," Mitchy mumbled, her voice sounding slurred and clumped together. She continued to clutch to Keychain's dress as she sat down on the couch. "Why wake me up?"

"It's almost supper time, sweetie," Keychain said. She looked around for Abel. "Hey, Abel, don't be a stranger. Come and sit by me. You need to talk more, you're acting like a wall flower."

"Zeze, only half an hour. The food should be done by then," Aqua said. She placed the broom away and put the dust outside. Clapping her hands together, Aqua beamed. "Well, one chore done for the day. About a gazillion more to go."

"Not until after everyone is done eating, then it's a gazillion more chores," commented Keychain. Mitchy began tugging at her collar, catching her attention. The small girl's eyes were wide at the sight of strangers in the house. "Don't worry, sweetie, they're nice." She looked up at Sakiko, pinning her out. "At least I hope."

OoC: Going camping this weekend. May not post until Sunday.

Upon Keychain entering the room he had noticed the kid who he guessed must be Mitch and heard Keychain's invitation to sit next to her which he wasted to time in doing. The kid seemed to be scared of them with good reason considering Sakkiko was in the room. "Mitchy my name is Abel."

Mitchy stared at him wide eyed, her head resting on Keychain's chest. Her hands gripped the dress tightly. Keychain looked down at the girl, whispering something to her to get her to relax. It didn't work out so well. Mitchy was still tense and wide eyed.

"Mitchy, it's okay, sweetie," Keychain said. The girl refused to look at her. "Hey, what's wrong?" She got nothing. Looking at Abel, Keychain said, "Sorry about this all, she's not so good with strangers."

"Yeah, I remember when she first met me," mumbled Jasper. "The girl still won't go near me." He scowled at the girl. She coward. "Are you sure she's ten, Keychain? She's so small, and acts like she should be at least six. There's no possibility that she's ten."

"It's what she said. None of us knew her through her years, or knew her parents, so we have to go along," Keychain commented. She sniffed the air. "Darren, you're not burning the food, are you?" She tried placing Mitchy on the ground and went to the kitchen. The girl chased after her.

OoC: I'm back! A bit late since I forgot when I wrote this. XD

“Burning food?! By Din, that’s a crime against humanity!”

Zeze jumped up from her drowsy position, all life and energy bursting from her at once. She skidded across the floor and followed Keychain as if her life depended on it. Sakiko, on the other hand, was getting tired herself. She considered going home, but to leave Zeze by herself was not manners at all. Exhaustion floated above her head like a dark cloud, adding to her miserable aura. The Mage stood up without a word and went upstairs. Aqua had mentioned an empty bed.

As she looked around the room, she wondered if she’d see anything particular.

Seeing Zeze, Darren's eyes narrowed. Keychain had set the pan to cool, since Darren had been eavesdropping on their conversation, not paying attention to the food in front of him. It was done, just too hot for anyone to even hover over. Darren didn't look all too happy having people in the kitchen.

"I would get out if I was you," commented Keychain as she picked up Mitchy. She went back to the living room, sitting down next to Abel. "Food should be done once it cools off. I hope you're hungry."

Mitchy stared at Abel. Keychain didn't know what she was doing until she looked at the girl. "Hey, sweetie, it's not nice to stare." Getting the girl to look away, Keychain looked up. "Where's Sakiko?"

The room that Sakiko was in had been decorated by Keychain. The walls were covered with flowers that moved with an invisible wind. They were small, almost unnoticeable on the navy wall. The bed was covered with three different thick blankets. All that wouldn't be needed in the heat. There were black out drapes that were pulled away from the window, letting light shine in.

When Keychain came back Abel became kind of glad because when he was left alone he felt like their was someone in his head. "Sakkiko went upstairs . I think she was going to sleep. Keychain how long have you lived here also i've been wondering where are you from.

Keychain rubbed her head. She knew this was going to be coming very soon. "I've lived here for maybe a year, maybe more." Keychain pressed her lips together. "No,not even a year. Like ten months I've been here. I come from...a village. It was secluded for years. One day, someone burned down my house and I was forced to run. After that, I started my life here."

Mitchy wiggled out of her arms. She jumped down from the couch and rushed up the stairs to her room. Keychain stood to follow, but the girl was already back down the stairs with a small book in her hands. It was a book that she had snagged from Keychain. It was filled with wildlife information.

She sat back down on the couch. Mitchy crawled into her lap, holding the book open in front of her. "That's a wild lily, Mitchy. It's a beautiful flower, isn't it?"