"Fairy tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten."
-G.K. Chesterton



AN: Katiemakes has been worriting me incessantly about a new chapter which, unfortunately, I do not have written. Seeing as I am unknown to when said chapter would be finished, it would likely not be wise to stall any longer on that; I happen to enjoy life and wouldn't want it suddenly cut short for various and sundry reasons. *furtive glance* So, in an attempt to please my dominators readers and forestalling my personal need for a shower, I offer this impromptu report.


"Monsieur Kanno? I'd like a word." Daddy gets up from his creaky upholstered chair, slow, and walks to the man standing in the doorway. They step out into the hall and talk in hushed voices so I can't hear what they're saying and neither can Mummy. She looks down at me with concern and maybe a little anger, but I don't know why and I don't understand. So I slip off into a half-sleep that no one can take me from but that I can exit anytime.

Daddy comes back in the room; his voice is quiet and hoarse. "Aoi, the doctor told me about an adoption programme just now. He's notified them of our-" His voice falters and he swallows. "Our situation. They'll be here soon."

She looks surprised and a little frightened. "Adoption programme? What are you talking about?"

"It's the only way, Aoi."

"Only way for what?"

Daddy rubs the bridge of his nose and sighs heavily. He comes to Mummy and takes her hand gently and he speaks to her as he one day might speak to me when I wonder what makes two two's into a four. "Darling, look at it." She does, for just a moment. But in that moment I see her eyes fill with tears and her hand slips out of Daddy's grip and to her mouth. She turns away from me and I don't know why. "It's not like us. We'll never understand this... thing, no matter how much we believe it's ours." Her body shakes from silent sobs; though whether they are in anguish or disappointment, I'll never know. "We have to give it up."

"I hope you're not referring to my granddaughter." An old woman is standing in the door, carrying a teddy bear three times the size that I am. Her face looks made for laughter and games, despite the scowel that is currently etched in it.

"Mother! What are you doing here?"

"Coming to see my grandchild, obviously." She sets the bear down into Daddy's chair and comes to the bed. I open my eyes fully as she lifts me up into her cradling arms and offer a small smile. She's warm and soft and smells of something sweet that I do not recognise but love none the less and she holds me gently and looks on me with love. Love. I've never seen it before. "Now, were you speaking of this dear child, here in my arms?"

Daddy looks nervous now and clears his throat. "I simply think it would be best if we didn't attempt to raise it-"

"And who do you think will, hmm?" A flicker of fire appears in her eyes. "This is your flesh and blood, Hitoshi. You have created her and are responsible for her well-being." He is frightened by her and seems to step a little closer to Mummy. "Only a coward lets his own daughter go when he can clearly care for her. Are you a coward, Hitoshi?"

"No, Mother."

"I would hate to have wed my daughter to a coward."

"Yes, Mother. You haven't."

"Then why are you refusing to hold your child?" He looks at me with disgust and I start to cry. "Why, Hitoshi?" Her tone is harsh and threatening.

"Because it isn't right! That creature is not mine!"



"See? You carry the two here and you add that to this number here. It's all rather simple."

"But it's all so dull." I draw a cat on my work paper.

"Neko-chan, you have to learn this."

"But why?" I whine and look up at him desperately. That always makes him smile.

"You'll need to know someday." I scrunch up my face in frustration and he laughs. "Okay, fine. Let's take a break from arithmetic, shall we?" He leans back and stretches. I love to watch him. Whenever my parents are 'round he's so well-mannered, almost dapper. He comes every morning with his jacket on and very formal. But the second it's just us, he rips off his coat, loosens his tie and top button, rolls up his sleeves and curses businesswear to the depths of hell. He musses up his hair often and chews his pencils like a madman. And he never makes me be formal. "So, lovey. What shall we do now?"

I ponder for a moment. "Let's colour."

He gives me a wary look. "You haven't wanted to colour in years, Neko. What're you onto?"

"I'm not onto anythin'. I just want to colour."

He shrugs, too lazy to argue. "All-right then. We'll colour." He produces a large box of crayons from his seemingly endless bag and we toss them out onto the table and reach for the forgotten notepaper.

For a minute, we're both quiet and intent on our work. "Nori? I can ask you anything, right?"

"Of course, sweet." He switches colours faster than light.

I watch him for a moment, delighting in how his messy hair still seems to look artistic and how his arms move so gracefully across the page. "Am I really as different as everyone says?" He stops suddenly, eyes still on the paper before him. He takes a deep breath and looks up at me.

"No, love. You're not."

"Then why does everyone say so?"

His eyes are sad and I don't know why. He gets up and comes before me, kneeling down and taking me hands. He kisses the palms and holds them tight; his fingers are cool to the touch. "It's because they can't see you for what you really are."

My eyebrows knit in confusion. "What does that mean?"

He attempted to find words that I would understand. "It's because... because most people will never look any further than what they can see with their eyes. They don't realise that you're like them." He took my hand and compared it to his own. "See? Five fingers." He wiggled his own. "And a nose." He tapped it lightly with his finger. "And a tummy." He tickled mine, earning a giggle and squirm. "Yes, just the same." A loving smile crossed his lips and he looked at me carefully.

I still didn't understand fully. "But, why can't they see that?" A terrible and frightening thought came to me. "Nori? Am I... ugly?"

His smile fell slightly but his eyes didn't lose their care. A gentle hand reached up and cupped my cheek. "No, honey." He smiled again, though not quite happily. "You're lovely." He stood and took me in his arms, and I fell into his embrace happily and clung to him tight. "You're the prettiest little girl I've ever seen."

We stayed there for a moment: his arms rubbing my back calmingly and mine holding him tight as though he were the only real thing left in the world. "I love you, Nori."

"I love you, too." And then he pulls away and he looks at me, but he isn't Nori anymore. His eyes have gone from black to a deep, deep blue and his messy hair is curly and brown and I know him somehow, even though I know I've never seen anyone in my whole life, just Nori and Mum and Dad and Gran but I do know him and I know him very well. He smiles warmly at me and I suddenly realise that my feet are touching the ground and I not in my sailor suit anymore. I'm naked. Oh my GOD, I'm naked! I look around for something to cover myself, but it isn't there and I'm so, so afraid he'll notice and I start to shake. He takes my cheek softly and looks at me with concern, but a caring kind of concern and I just can't look away, I don't want to. And my hands are touching his chest and I realise that it's just his chest, not Nori's crisp suit shirt that was so wrinkled before. And he's not Nori, he's Him and I know, somehow that I'm safe. He bends toward me a little and my eyes flutter shut and sweet Jesus it's Him. And when we finally touch I can't stop feeling as though my life's comple

beep beep beep

She pulled heavily out of sleep with a little cry and rubbed her eyes feverishly to find reality again. She looked around the room, her room. She was Home. "What just happened?"

beep beep beep

She climbed out of bed quickly and ran over to the monitor sitting at the window, searching for the enter key. Finding it at last, she hit it hard and the screen filled up with a boy's worried face. "Blimey, I thought you'd died."

"Sorry, Guiness. I was sleepin'."

"I can tell," he replied, glimpsing at her tossled appearance. "Sorry to wake you, but I need you down here right quick, love."

"What? Why?"

"It's Basil. He's in a spot of trouble."

She flew out of the room, not even bothering to get dressed, running full speed to the stairs and down.

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Dun dun duh!!!!!!!!!!!

I know it's not much, but now you have something to entertain yourselves with.

Kirily