Thank you I3Len for following! 3
"Teto, the bread's done!" I called to my sister. Even though many years have passed I continued making bread. The two of us lived in a small house outside of town that reminded us of our former home. We rarely went into town and were stuck staying here. It was the only way we could be sure we would survive. Someone would question us if we were around for year after year after year, looking exactly the same, so it was better for no one to know us. I only go into town when it's dark outside to get supplies for making bread from the grocery store, and once to "buy" Teto a computer.
"Yay!" Said sister came in and immediately gobbled a slice up. She had been playing on her stolen computer… It's not my fault we didn't have money. "Hey Ted, I've been thinking…" I waited for her to go on, but apparently she was waiting for my go ahead. I nodded. "Well when you are done with your next cycle, can we go out meet people." I glared at her, a heavy blush on my face and shook my head.
"You do know humans aren't… attracted to… us… when we are in… heat, right?" I felt awkward talking to my sister about this. "And besides, if we leave, we'll just be in danger."
"But there are almost no chimeras left and-"
"Ugh mom, dad, not this again!" I turned. Did I forget to mention "our" son? Neither of them have a clue, but it is actually Rook and I's child. His age was stuck at eighteen… which is kind of awkward for Teto and I who are only sixteen… I had gotten pregnant after Rook and I… well you know… I kept myself away from Teto the once I began to show, with her thinking I was mad at her, and told her I found the child. She trusts me too much sometimes and I feel bad for lying to her, but I don't want her to question me about it…
"Meito it is all your mother's fault she thi-"
"Oh my god! You guys are like children," he complained, "If we just introduce ourselves to the people as a family that just moved here they would buy it!"
"Yeah! I want to have friends!" Teto whined.
"Yeah, me too! I've never had any!" Meito whined with her.
"What are you going to do, sit on a park bench all day until someone asks you to be their friend?" I asked sarcastically. Did they really think that I didn't want friends? Of course I did! I just wanted them to be safe…
"Well…" started Teto slyly. "You could send us to a school around here and we could pretend to be normal students!"
"Yes and with modern day security when they ask me for birth certificates, social security numbers, and such, what will I tell them?"
"I don't know that we were born in the countryside and never got any?" she tried hopefully. I just glared. "Fine! I'll forge some papers!"
"Besides," Meito said, "We could just wait until things get lax again and-"
"No."
"Yes!" countered Teto.
"No."
"Yes!"
"No."
"Yes!" Meito joined the fray.
"No."
"Yes!"
"NO!"
"YES!"
"FINE!" I groaned. They could be very persuasive… or I just give in too easily. "I will let you guys leave the…" I sighed, knowing I would regret this, "house and maybe, only maybe if you guys forge some papers, let you attend a school." They both jumped for joy. "But, if something happens and I feel we are in danger, you are never going out again." They both waited there for a moment.
"Is that it?" asked Meito. "You're not going to lecture us or anything?"
"No, I'm not going to lecture you," I said. They both whooped again, and Teto started talking about all the things they needed to do.
"Wait… school costs money…" she looked at me. "You should get a job."
"Jobs are definitely harder to get nowadays, you need a degree," I argued.
"But your bread is delicious!" Meito said, "You could go into town and sell it on the streets." I thought about that for a minute. I really did enjoy making bread, and I usually baked way too much. Maybe I could actually purchase supplies next time I went into a store if I started selling bread…
"I'll try." Tomorrow I'm going to wake up and think this was just one hellish nightmare…
"Yay! Well get baking mister!" Teto stuffed me into the tiny kitchen and skipped off to the living room, where she kept her precious little baby. I don't want to know what she does on it… I mean with that thing they call the internet… scary things are on there.
After an hour of preparation and several hours of baking, I had at least thirty loafs of fresh bread. There were several different kinds like Teto and my personal favorite, French bread, sourdough bread, and oat bread. I wrapped each loaf up separately and put them in a box. "I'm going to see if I can sell anything," I said sticking my head into the living room, only to see both Teto and Meito staring blankly at the computer screen watching a movie or something. I decided to write a note, so if they didn't hear me, they wouldn't worry.
It felt nice to walk somewhere in the sun, and not under the moonlight. I heard many sounds I had not heard in a while, such as dogs barking, which really frightened me, and people talking to one another, though people usually just send words on a cell phone now. I got many strange stares, but I was used to that because of my unusual hair color. I ignored them and tried to think of a good place to sell bread. Back then, you would set up a little table and people would walk buy and buy things.
I decided I would just look through town for now, and maybe see how much a normal loaf of bread costs… I think ten cents is a little cheap now. I laughed a little to myself, and slowed my walking down. My arms were starting to hurt since I've been carrying this box the whole time.
I reached a fountain; in what I'm guessing was the center of town. To the north I saw a whole bunch of stores, left looked like houses, and to the right was a lot of colorful tents, and good smells. It reminded me of the street I used to sell bread on… I wonder if I could do the same now…
I headed down the street and saw many delectable treats that I never even knew existed. Who am I kidding… bread would never compare to any of this. I turned around, ready to head home when a man grabbed my arm.
"Don't worry, there's still a place for you to set up a stall!" He pulled me down the road despite my protests. "So what are you selling?"
"Ah, nothing, I was just abo-"
"Bread huh, looks delicious!" He put the box he had taken from me down on a nearby table. "How much are you selling this for?"
"I don't know…" I answered honestly. This man was sort of scaring me.
"Does four dollars sound fair?" I nodded my head. He took a loaf and handed me the money. "Have fun setting up!" With that he was gone. I stuck the money in my pocket… Well at least it's going better than I thought! There was a giant clock tower in town, I checked the time, and it was one thirty in the afternoon. I told myself I would stay until it all sold or five o'clock on the nose.
"Hi there," said a bright cheery young girl. "My mom sent me to buy bread, and I was on my way to the store when I saw your stall! I bet your bread would taste better than the stores since it's homemade and stuff ya know~!" The teal haired girl reminded me of Teto in a way… I waited a little bit for her to finish rambling. "So how much is it a loaf?"
"Four dollars," I answered politely. She quickly forked over twelve and took three loafs.
"You should have a sign ya know~!" she said.
"A sign for what?" I asked.
"To let people know how cheap you're selling the bread for! You may get more customers. Ooh! Make it bright and colorful, you know what, just wait here, I'll make you a sign!" she ran off in the direction I'll assume her house is. I was still a trying to process all she had said, she talked very fast. There was only one part that confused me, where did she expect me to go?
A good ten minutes late she returned with a large pink poster that read in neon blue "~Bread: $4 a loaf!~" The handwriting was big and bubbly… nothing I was used to. I must say, it was very attractive. "So, do you like it?" she asked.
"Yes, it's lovely, thank you."
"Yay! Oh and by the way, my name is Miku!"
"My name is Ted."
"How come I've never seen you around Ted?"
"I just moved here," I lied smoothly.
"Ooh! How old are you, you look tall enough to be a grown man, do you have a wife… ooh! Kids, do you have any in high school… probably not, you don't look that old, but what if you do, that would be so awesome, I'm sixteen, so I'm in high school!"
"I have um," I didn't know what to tell her. I never expected someone to ask me all of this. Usually you would just meet their family first… "I live with my sister, and my… cousin… they are in high school."
"Oh this will be so much fun!" She began to squeal about all the fun things my sister and her would do like go shopping and go to the beach, and have sleepovers. The last thing made me cringe. Luckily she ignored me, and continued daydreaming. "Oh, sorry… I should get home! Bye!" She ran off in the same direction as before.
I didn't have time to get bored, because as she left, I got another customer. This is actually fun! I never expected this trip to be anything other than taking money, but I met a lot of people. Of course I didn't talk very much, but it was refreshing to listen to someone other than my sister all day. I heard a bark which made me jumped.
A dog ran up to me and tried to pounce but was pulled back by the girl holding his leash. She was standing next a boy that I could only assume was her brother.
"He's usually more behaved than that, I'm sorry!" said the girl.
"Yeah, what the hell's up with ya boy, c'mon sit." The dog disobeyed his master and gave me the same hungry look I got from Rook. That's when I realized what was going on… It was attracted to me because I was in heat… I couldn't help but giggle at that. The boy gave me a weird look.
"It's like he wants to eat you!" squealed the girl, and then she whispered to her brother, "No wonder he's a real cutie!" I blushed. "You heard that!?" she asked in disbelief, a pink color creeping up on her cheeks. I nodded. "Omigod!" The girl let go of the leash and brought her hands to her face. He took off.
"Maybe he just smells the delicious bread," the boy said. The dog pounced on me, it was only a small Chihuahua, and so I didn't have to struggle to hold him back as he tried to hump me. I picked him up and cradled him. "Whoa, sorry, why the hell was he trying to hump you, that's just awkward…, did I raise a gay dog or somethin'," he continued grumbling to himself as the girl apologized repeatedly for what happened.
"It's fine," I said. If it would've been a bigger dog that might have been a problem, but of course I didn't say that out loud, that would be rude.
"Well, um," the girl snatched her dog, "My name is Gumi. I am really sorry."
"Damn Gumi, ya been lettin' watch that yaoi crap with ya?" The boy snickered, "I'm Gumo."
"So what if he watches yaoi!" she sniffed.
"Um," I started feeling awkward, "What is 'yaoi'?" They both stared at me a little shocked.
"It's… well you know… guy on guy…" Gumi said shyly. I made an 'o' shape with my mouth and smiled.
"Okay."
"You don't find it weird? Most guys do…" Her eyes widened. "Are you gay?"
"Um well, I guess I could be considered joyful, yes." She gave me a confused look.
"I said gay," she emphasized the last word. "You know like you like boys…"
"When did it get that meaning!?" I exclaimed.
"I don't know, never mind, anyway, Gumo, buy me some bread!" she said childishly.
"Sure thing sis," he pulled out four dollars, and she picked up a loaf.
"It smells so good!" she sniffed it and put it up to her dog's nose to sniff; he ignored it and whimpered in need. He hadn't taken his eyes off of me the whole time. "There is something seriously wrong with you silly puppy!"
"Yeah, well c'mon Gumi, let's go."
"Okay, by mister…?"
"Ted."
"Goodbye Ted, hope to see you soon!" She waved and left. I would say today's been a pretty nice day. I only had three loafs left, and I had made one hundred twenty eight dollars! Teto will be very happy. As soon as the last loaf was sold, I carefully folded the sign and put it in the box. Time to head home. It was only three o'clock, and rush hour was now starting. Bread sold better than I would've guessed!
As soon as I got home I was bombarded with questions.
"Did you sell a lot, how much money did you make?" asked Meito.
"I made one hundred forty dollars." They were both surprised and pleased. "The 'bazaar' as they called it is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. So I'll probably make bread the day before since it sold really well."
"Yeah, you were only gone for an hour and a half, and you sold like thirty-five loafs of bread!" Teto exclaimed.
"So did you actually get to talk to people," asked Meito sounding a bit jealous.
"Yeah, and I met a dog today…" I trailed off.
"Hopefully a girl or else it would hump you, and that would be really awkward!" Teto said with a laugh.
"No, it was a boy, but it was a little Chihuahua, that's all." We all laughed at that.
"I have a present for you guys," Teto said after awhile. We both looked at her. I could tell she was hiding something behind her back.
"What is it?" Meito asked. He rarely gets gifts, so it was probably hard for him to contain his excitement.
"Ta da!" she held out a stack of… papers and cards?
"Uh, thanks," Meito wasn't hiding his disappointment well, but Teto just smiled and urged us to look closer. It was a birth certificate, an ID, a passport, and more identification papers. I was surprised she could get all of this for us. I gently took mine from her hands, thanking her. I looked at the age and fumed.
"Teto, just because I'm stuck at sixteen doesn't mean I have to be sixteen for the rest of my life! Some girl in the bazaar said I looked old enough to have kids!" She giggled.
"I just wanted you to come to school with us!" she giggled once again at the end of her sentence.
"Did I say I wanted to go to school?" I demanded. She shook her head, but kept the goofy smile on her face. I sighed; I couldn't stay mad at her. "Whatever."
"Come on, we'll need someone to watch over us!" said Meito.
"I said I would go; just don't call me your father, and Teto your mother or else things will get awkward."
"Come on, it would be funny!" Meito said.
"No it wouldn't, 'cause then I wouldn't be able to get a lover!" Teto whined.
"Teto," I said, "I'm hurt that you don't think of me that way!" I pulled her into a hug. She tickled me. I pulled away laughing. "Do- don't t- ah haha- tick- ckle me!" I gasped out. I pushed her back.
"You are my brother, definitely not my lover!" She scrunched her nose up in mock disgust.
"But seriously Teto, getting a lover would be very dangerous."
"Do you wanna know what Ruko told me?" She asked very seriously. Meito and I both looked at her interested.
"Since we all have male in us, we can emit a scent that can attract humans!" Teto squealed happily, and I face-palmed. Meito looked horrified.
"What if one of us does that on accident?" he asked. "I don't even know how to really control all my chimera abilities and stuff!"
"Maybe it's time Teto and I teach you, and it's something that you can't do on purpose I assume." I looked to Teto for confirmation, and she nodded her head with a wise look on her face. "I imagine it is something that happens under a certain condition, such as being lustful."
"She didn't know for sure, so I guess we can assume that Ted's right, I mean it is Ted!" said Teto happily.
"But what-"
"Just don't think about whoever you meet and like naked, whatever you do!" she warned Meito, and laughed as his expression turned from confused to horrified.
"That is very good advice Teto!" I said, laughing with her.
"Oh and Meito, I know your super smart since you've lived forever, but try to act dumber, it would fit your personality better!" Teto said with a smile. It was true we were all smarter than an average human when it came to book smart, but we still had a lot of learning to do in other areas, especially in this new time. "Like I'm going to be a straight 'D' student!"
"Really now?" I asked. She nodded her head.
"Just like those really stupid, but cute girls that are always the main character in animes and mangas!"
"That's so fitting Teto, so very fitting," Meito said shaking his head. "Then I get to be one of those super cool badass dudes girls always fantasize about."
"Uh huh, uh huh," Teto said nodding her head. "Ted?"
"I don't know…"
"You'll be one of those smart, shy, timid guys I always pair up with hot badass guys… just not Meito, that would be awkward." She giggled.
"Okay then, we'll sign up later today." I said. Sadly I was getting excited for this whole school thing. I honestly thought it would be fun, and I was glad they convinced me. I was just nervous about any of us getting hurt. Maybe not because we're chimeras but because we haven't been exposed to sadness really. Meito has never been insulted before, and I don't know how he'll handle it. Maybe he'll get angry and violent, Rook was always like that, or maybe he will try to talk his way out of things. I just worry for his safety…
