Business aside, and a new guild member added to their numbers, it was time for introductions...and dinner. Nyanta headed to the kitchen, food being his responsibility as chef for the guild. He was contemplative. He hadn't considered that his inability to control the twitchings of his cat body would be because of the continual small changes that were occurring in this world since they came. Even if it was only Purrcy's theory, it wasn't a bad one. It looked like it had answered some of Shiroe's questions, too. While Nyanta was uncertain he really wanted to let it all go and learn to be beast and then human again, if he could help Shiroe in some way to solve his current difficulty, he would be willing to do so. Nyanta was also very interested in relearning how to keep the physical display of emotions in check. If Purrcy could help with that part, he'd be willing to learn.

He listened with one ear as Purrcy was introduced to the rest of the guild by the other three officers of the guild. Purrcy thanked the rest of the guild as politely as she had the officers for defending her, a stranger, and for welcoming her. As Nyanta began to prepare the ingredients, wondering briefly what she liked to eat, the introductions began. There were the twins, Touya and Minori. Touya was another warrior, like Naotsugu's Guardian, a Samurai just having reached level 72. Minori was a Kannagi who would reach that level at the next exercise of the group. Together they had been the next members of the guild after the first four who were the officers and all level 97 now, nearing 98. He smiled. The twins had come a long way from the early days when they had been young newbies to the game brought in with the rest of them at the time of the catastrophe. They greeted Purrcy as politely and as enthusiastically as ever, though a lot more comfortably now that they were comfortable in their own skins and in the guild.

Next were Isuzu the Bard and Rundelhaus Code the Sorcerer. They were also both young, and roughly leveled to the upper seventies as well now. Isuzu's strong yet kind personality came through in her greeting. She enjoyed treating the boisterous and jaunty Rundelhaus, who they nicknamed Rudy, as if he were her personal puppy and she kept him on a sufficiently tight leash that the rest of the Japanese cultural members could handle him. He'd been a Person of the Land until he'd died and Shiroe had used a world-class magic scroll to revive him and make him an Adventurer. Only the guild, and one other person, knew Shiroe had done it. Nyanta found it interesting that Purrcy accepted Rudy's greeting the closest to how he would have expected an American to act. So far she'd been very careful to be as un-American as possible. It wasn't an inappropriate response, though. Rudy seemed to calm immediately. Nyanta smiled a bit at that, as he dumped the vegetables into the pot warming on the stove.

The last guild member was Tetora, a complicated sort. Female in this world, male in the other. Level 97 like the officers. Preferred to act female to disguise his true gender since what people saw was what they expected. Chose to mercilessly tease Naotsugu for not recognizing that 'she' wasn't what 'she' appeared to be, though the rest of them knew from the start. Mostly for that reason - and because it hurt, though it really was Tetora's fault for not owning up to it. Naotsugu would have been his best supporter, really, if he'd understood it. Naotsugu was dense, but underneath he was the guild's healer and everyone turned to him for protection of some kind or other. He was truly the steady rock - the tank. The surface Naotsugu irritated some people, like Akatsuki, but they overlooked that for the most part.

Nyanta froze in the middle of setting his pot on the stove. Tetora had just asked Purrcy if he could pet her. That was a breach of etiquette among Adventurers, though not out of line of Tetora's testing of new people. The room had gone rather still in general. "No, I don't mind at all, Tetora-kun." Nyanta was at the door staring in amazement. So was everyone else. Purrcy had her head tipped down so that Tetora could reach it. Tetora was staring at the top of her head just as surprised as everyone else, then quickly, with his usual bluster to cover up his embarrassment, reached out with a laugh and touched the top of her head between the ears pricking forward towards him. She really didn't mind? The hand on her head was initially brazen, but as soon as the fingers touched the soft fur a change came over Tetora. He was surprised by the softness and the fingers lightly caressed the fur, even petting it a few times, until he suddenly came to his senses.

The hand jerked back and he laughingly said. "It's so soft. Thank you." Purrcy stood back up and smiled at him. He stood frozen for just a moment, then fled the room.

"Well...that's a first," Naotsugu said looking after him. "Tetora tongue-tied." He looked back at Purrcy. "Did you do that on purpose?"

Purrcy flicked an ear softly. "Shall I go apologize?"

"Apologize? Nah, she'll get over it." Purrcy's eyes narrowed but the others motioned for her to not say anything. The tip of the tail flicked, but she held her peace. "She was probably quite honored you'd play along."

"Embarrassed is more like it," Akatsuki murmured.

Nyanta agreed. He turned and hurried back to his pot, having one more thing to think about with this newest member of the guild. Americans were said to be more forward physically than the very reserved Japanese...but this had seemed just perhaps a little different. And it had done something to Tetora. He hoped it was in the right direction. They didn't want to see him hurt further either. Everyone here was being protected, and lived to protect each other.

A soft movement behind him drew his attention. "Can I help, Nyanta?" She said it just like that, too. Just his name, kindly, without reserve, yet respectfully.

Without him intending it, an ear flicked her direction. His hold on his spoon tightened. Keeping his voice the kind neutral it always was, he said, "Do mew have the Chef skill?"

"I can cook," she answered.

He raised an eye ridge of whiskers at that somewhat evasive answer. "What level?" He asked it as if just barely interested, or if testing someone new to his kitchen.

"I don't know," she said thoughtfully, "but I make a really good Chicken Tikki Masala. I'd be happy to share the recipe with you if you want. They were saying you make a very good curry. I love curry but haven't been able to -" She cut off because he'd turned around and was staring at her. He realized with some chagrin she'd made his tail stand stiff again and he worked to get it back under control along with his emotions. "Ah, sorry," she said contritely. "Shouldn't I have?"

"Ah, no, I'd be happy to exchange recipes," he answered casually, though he was under quite a bit of tension at the moment. "It's just...both are high level. For mew to not know...?"

At that, her tail moved fluidly again, having held very still in her concern over his reaction. Her smile matched the one she'd given Tetora. "Well...that's part of the mystery that is me. It will all come out eventually, I'm sure. ...Really, I'd love to help. What can I do?"

Since he wanted to know what she could do, he immediately set her to the testing range of tasks. First cutting, then salad, then preparation of a baked vegetable dish with a higher level sauce. All of them turned out properly. No messy black goo of an inexperienced or low level chef. He'd worked her up to about a high forty's level by the time dinner was ready. He knew because he kept having young ladies asking him to help them cook in the kitchen. None of them were that high yet, but he knew other chefs that were. He called everyone to the dining room using the guild chat function. As the two of them carried the dishes out to the table, he thanked her for helping.

"I enjoyed it," she answered politely. "Thank you for letting me help." She hesitated like she was going to say more, then stayed quiet, the look on her face going as kindly closed as he kept his own. He knew that look. She'd had a thought of home - the people she missed on Earth. He politely let her recover in silence, their simple acts of putting the food on the table and being present for each other enough for the moment. Adventurers only ever needed someone to be present when those feelings came, so they knew they weren't here alone. Nyanta suddenly wondered at that though. She'd been alone a long time. Did she understand that? He looked at her and was caught looking, her eyes having been moving past him at the same time. She smiled lightly at him, but the sorrow in her eyes matched the one in his heart and her slight nod of thanks was met by his own in return. The moment passed, as it should, by the arrival of hungry, boisterous youngsters, and those not all that young who acted it anyway at meal time.

-:-:-:-:-

Dinner being done, the guild gathered in the central common room which doubled as the dining room. Purrcy was surprised that everything was so organized and moved so smoothly. Touya and Minori had shown up to set the table and Minori had helped about the kitchen though likely today Purrcy had taken most of her usual tasks there. After dinner, everyone helped clean the dining room up and Isuzu and Rudy did dishwashing duty while Tetora wiped the table and swept the floor. Nyanta had supervised it all by just being present to make the after-dinner tea which Tetora set cups, saucers, and spoons out for. Purrcy kept herself out of the way, exploring the first few floors quietly until everyone began to gather back in the dining room again. She'd managed to find at least one sleeping place for herself, though she was a bit partial to the fourth floor closet now, it being dark and quiet.

She waited until it was obvious where they wanted her to sit. It seemed to be a central seat that might normally be Shiroe's, but perhaps when guests were visiting it was theirs. Tonight it was to be hers - most likely because they wanted to hear all about her and ask their questions. She couldn't help the light droop in her tail and ears. She really didn't like being the center of attention on this world...but this was the payment she'd been asked to give, and to be a member of a guild - an Adventurer 'family' - it was only right. She shook herself out to get her ears and tail to behave politely, then walked to 'her' seat for the evening and sat carefully, curling her tail around her waist so the tip of it was in her lap.

The one thing she had troubles with still was what to do with the tail in public. Only Adventurer clothing automatically went on without causing troubles for tails. Artisan clothing had to be special made for them, and they still weren't getting it quite right - either opting for no hole so the tail was hidden by the skirt or down a pant leg (very uncomfortable), or with a hole that might or might not be placed right and that the tail had to be carefully pulled through. She'd been making suggestions when she came, but...a lot of others were also and it still wasn't perfected yet. She was working on her own method but hadn't finished testing yet.

The tip of her tail rose just a little and stayed taut in reaction to her slight stress at so much attention and so many people. It embarrassed her, but it wasn't likely anyone else cared. It flicked down and back up at that and she sighed to herself, accepting politely the cup of tea that was handed to her. It was delicious, like the dinner was, and she said so.

"Did you know Nyanta-san was the one who learned how to cook real food?" Minori asked her.

"No," she answered with a slight smile. "I actually know very little of the life of the Adventurers in this place. I'm sure going over two years of history will be a little much for tonight, but please assume I don't know anything when you speak to me. This is the first day I've understood Japanese, other than little bits and pieces."

"What? Why?" Touya asked.

"Because...and please keep it secret within the guild...I'm from the United States. I was on the Japan server trying to study to learn the language better, as a very junior student of the language, when the Catastrophe happened. I thought it would be a fun time to be present on the server here at such an auspicious occasion as the newest release of Elder Tales." She grimaced. "Like many others, in my case it didn't work out so well. Having the auto-translation off on my PC meant I couldn't understand it when I got here. Guildmaster Shiroe used one of his torn-scroll spells to help me. I've only managed to learn it through magic, I'm afraid." She was rather apologetic. She really should have learned it on her own...it was just...too difficult to face the other Adventurers in their own stress of the time and then it had never worked well after that.

"The U.S.?" Touya gaped at her. Purrcy nodded.

"I would have never guessed," Naotsugu said in amazement. "You were speaking just fine when I arrived in the office."

"Ah, sorry. We'd done the scroll by then," she answered him.

"And you're very well behaved," commented Tetora coyly, though with perhaps less of his usual bite.

"Thank you," Purrcy bowed her head to him lightly. It was a complement to her being able to hide among a different culture as well as a statement for the warped perception American television and media gave to the rest of the world. But that was a common element across all countries and cultures, not something to get worked up over, even when it had caused some of her own early difficulties. Tetora seemed a little non-plussed with her response and went back to silently watching Purrcy from above and behind Naotsugu, where he'd perched on the back of the couch behind him, his long mostly bare feminine legs hanging over Naotsugu's shoulder. Purrcy looked at the pair for a bit, trying to understand them while the others worked around to their next question.

"Ah...," Purrcy added, "I wouldn't be at all surprised if a lot of the back street creepers who don't want attention are like me. Logged on to the Japan server with the translator turned off and too afraid to admit it, unable to step out and learn the language. Those who already had it well enough probably integrated sufficiently, but it's hard to speak to native speakers when your own capability is almost nothing."

Shiroe sat up straight. "I'll take care of it," he said absently.

"Only Adventurers, please," she asked just as absently. "You keep leaving open boundaries that are becoming problems."

Shiroe finished his mental pre-write, then came back, then comprehended what she'd just said. He stared at her with an open mouth, but she had moved on...and she wasn't about to answer for it anyway.

Nyanta had asked, "Since food was brought up, how is it mew learned to cook?"

Purrcy smiled into her tea, seeing her reflection. That answer...how to say it. She looked up. "It's only natural, isn't it?" She looked around the room. Every person in the room had a very interesting reaction to that statement. She smiled faintly. This might have actually been the best place to land after all.

"...The Mysteries...," Akatsuki said. Purrcy looked at her politely. She struggled a bit to find her words. "They also are natural."

"Ah...the Mysteries are techniques that can be learned but not taught," Isuzu explained. "They're often combinations of techniques someone already knows, with their own 'special sauce' thrown in."

"It seems they come out and are added when a person is in need of them, or has worked hard to perfect a set of combinations and the right additional exterior stimulus is provided to create the new technique." Shiroe explained in more depth. Purrcy nodded. She understood that.

"But so far there seems to only be one, or at most two, Mysteries for each person to learn." Touya said, disappointment in his voice.

Purrcy's ear turned outward at that. Cautiously she asked, "Are these only fighting Mysteries? Or are they in other aspects?"

"Only fighting, or whatever you are - magic Mysteries for magic users, that kind of thing," Isuzu said.

Purrcy thought about that for a bit. They might be a little different. It seemed Nyanta agreed, "But mew learned a subclass skill. That isn't a Mystery."

Purrcy nodded. "There were many things I had to learn on my own, but it's the same even on Earth. One can't be an adult on any planet and not know how to take care of oneself. Perhaps some find it more difficult here because we also have the additional 'gift' called 'Adventurer' that we've arrived with. I chose to not begin there, but to arrive at it later. I chose to begin with, 'how do I live as an adult on this world'? "

Shiroe sat petrified. Purrcy sipped more of her tea, giving him time. That was a lot to take in at once for someone who understood its implications. The other upper level Adventurers in the room seemed to understand the state Shiroe had gone into and were giving him surreptitious glances.

"Well, of course you would, wouldn't you?" Rudy asked, confused.

Purrcy turned to him. "Well, why would you say that, Rudy?"

"Because we all start life young and grow up learning to live in our worlds - even you Adventurers, right?" he asked.

Purrcy raised an eyebrow and her tail twitched in a sine wave. "Rudy started out one of the People of the Land, Purrcy." Isuzu hurried to explain. "He became an Adventurer through Mister Shiroe's magic."

That had Purrcy's attention. "Through the scroll and ink as well? What level materials?"

"Highest," Shiroe said absently, still thinking. "I made them myself. It was my first world-class magic. Li Gan even felt it."

Purrcy didn't know Li Gan, but that... "World-class magic," she whispered. "It can go that high?"

She suddenly had Shiroe's attention again. "What level have you seen it go to before?"

"Ah, no, I've postulated. I haven't tried...," she panicked, then slumped, wondering just how high her own brand of magic had accessed. That wouldn't be good, if others could sense the higher level magics. "But...to have come to Adventurer late... It must be hard Rudy." She looked into his eyes.

He nodded fearlessly. "Yes, but I keep working hard. It's a lot easier to level up now that I'm an actual Adventurer. It was very difficult before."

"The limitations of the different types," Purrcy murmured. "That's been my greatest frustration as well..."

Shiroe looked up again. "It's the same in the reverse?"

"Yes," Purrcy's tail slapped in her lap, "and irritatingly so. Only because of initial conditions set by programmers."

"So...mew've learned to cook as a second subclass because mew've studied it as if mew were a Person of the Land, instead of an Adventurer?" Nyanta asked.

Purrcy wiggled just a little uncomfortably. "Well...I suppose you could say it that way." They waited for her to explain further. She sighed. "I learned it as if I was a child of Earth, learning it again for the first time. ...I started with cutting, and cutting, and cutting." She gestured with her hand. "I saved everything I cut, since we can. Eventually I could put the things I had cut together and they actually stayed things like 'salad', or 'meat shish kebab'. I ate the salad and put the shish kebab back into the list to store and kept cutting and putting together until the shish kebab stayed shish kebab when cooked over flame and I could eat them. It was like that. Little by little working my way up, as if in junior high school cooking class again, going up grade by grade. It was a great achievement to reach 'college student living on my own' level. Then I could do soups and mix my vegetables and meats." She was getting wry grins from the older set in the room who'd had to walk that path on Earth themselves already. "Rudy, is Adventurer your title?" she asked him.

"No, it's my subclass. My Class is still Sorcerer."

Purrcy's ears and tail twitched slowly, thoughtfully. "Guildmaster Shiroe, did you specify that in the contract?"

Shiroe shook his head. "No. Only that he would become an Adventurer." Purrcy nodded slowly, tapping lightly on her teacup. The specifics had been left up to the 'game world' and the results sufficient. "I wonder...," Shiroe said musingly, "if having us push the boundaries of the original programming...we are the cause of things like the flavor text becoming more real, the same as what is happening with the beast clans. As we force the system - the world - to accept we are 'real' we must become 'real'?"

Purrcy looked sharply at Shiroe. "Graduate student." He nodded. She nodded back. "That's my hypothesis as well. I apologize for my part in it, though it's little consolation and far too late. I'm sure you and I aren't the only ones. Most adults are going to push the boundaries...and graduate students and professors even more so."

"Professor?" he asked back.

Purrcy laughed. "I could have been. I enjoyed the time I spent as a college level teaching assistant. I've spent most of my adult life teaching in one way or the other, and even some of my teen years, truth be told. I just didn't want to delve that deeply into any one subject. I've enjoyed learning just as much as teaching, but only have the attention to devote about one year to any given topic. Slightly ADD, sorry."

Shiroe smiled back. "Engineering, CAD design."

"Programming?" she asked back.

"Only what was necessary. I understand the basics."

Purrcy nodded. "Me too, and I'm a couple generations back they change so fast, ...but the basics don't." She watched him. He'd tucked it away but not understood it just yet. She mentally shrugged. "I was in engineering as well, switched half-way to computer programming and they stuck me in technical writing instead when I got out. Since I'm also OCD with edits, that was sort of okay, but I dropped out due to absolute boredom after a bit and went on to other things. I rather love being able to focus so heavily on learning here. There's a lot to learn and grow from in this place."

Now Shiroe's eyes narrowed. She really should stop. She just loved leading good students along, though. He needed time to let it all percolate. ...And they'd lost the rest of the guild members.

"...Doesn't that make you rather old?" Tetora ventured after the pause went on long enough. "I mean...to be 'generations' behind in the programming languages?"

"Do you program, Tetora-kun?" Purrcy asked kindly.

"Yes, some," he blushed. It came across very prettily since on the female face that was currently vulnerably relaxed, the pink tint made him look particularly vulnerable and innocent.

"Then perhaps...you'd be right," she allowed. "But to ask my age would be rude both as a lady and as an Adventurer, so we'd best leave it at that, ne?" She winked at him. Tetora agreed reluctantly. It looked like he really wanted to know. Then, most Adventurers did. At best they could work out an age range of their compatriots now that they could see each other face to face and test level of maturity. They were still trying to place her. She'd given them enough clues to put her into the category of 'adult', and 'post college degree', but that was still rather a broad range. It was enough. She finished drinking her tea, then turned her teacup upside down on its saucer, set them both on the table in the center of the seating in the room, and sat back, lacing her fingers together and putting her hands in her lap.

The unspoken requirement was understood and they left her alone and slowly picked up other conversations between each other, allowing her to watch their interplay. It made her a bit nostalgic, but was restful as well. She'd been away from friendly banter for a long time and the family atmosphere of this guild was making her relax in a way she hadn't been able to relax in a long time.

-:-:-:-:-

"Come on, Naotsugu...let me come sleep in your room tonight!" Tetora was hanging on Naotsugu, having worked himself up to relaxing as well and teasing his favorite target. "You know the extra warmth will help you sleep better."

"Get off, Tetora," Naotsugu was struggling to rise from the couch and brush Tetora off at the same time. "You know you can't do that."

Purrcy watched the interchange until Naotsugu was up on his feet, carrying Tetora's weight as if he were only a bird or other large pet clinging to him. When they had moved out of the way of the other seated guild members, who were also beginning to get ready to head to bed for the night, and were mostly ignoring the teasing as if it happened daily - which it must if they were - Purrcy rose and walked over to them. She snagged the back of Tetora's blouse and lifted him off Naotsugu. "Come with me, Tetora-kun," she said, using her no-nonsense voice that wouldn't take any arguments.

Tetora froze in surprise. Naotsugu rubbed the back of his head, not sure whether to utter thanks or warning. Purrcy raised her free hand without looking back at him. "Go do what you need to do Naotsugu. I'll stop by later. I want to talk to you, too." She did glance back at the rest of them. "Go to bed. I won't eat him. I promise."

"Ah! You'd do it?!" Tetora struggled.

Purrcy held on tighter and didn't let go. "No, of course not. We're going to your room, shall we?" She put his feet on the ground but only just and still didn't let go.

"How's she holding on to him when there's more than a thirty level difference?" Naotsugu stage whispered behind her. She presumed he got shrugs. She wasn't going to answer. Tetora, only having human ears, didn't hear the question.

"Maybe she was a parole officer?" Touya asked back. Purrcy shook her head. The funny things kids thought of.

Up two, then three flights of stairs to the third floor Tetora took Purrcy. She sighed to herself. That didn't make it better, did it, to have to room on his own floor by himself, even if it was by luck of the draw to come just late enough to the guild to have to spill over? Even she hadn't been considering this floor. Tetora nervously let her into his room, for someone who was supposed to be acting female. He looked at her from the corner of his eye as he moved into the room past her. "I'm in trouble, aren't I?"

"Should you be?" she asked mildly.

"I've been expecting it," he rubbed a toe on the floor, his hands clasped behind his back.

"For how long now?" she asked.

"...A long time," he admitted.

Purrcy stood silently, putting her words together. "Tetora-kun, let me tell you about my father." Tetora looked up at her in surprise, then nodded once that he'd listen. "My father, in his seventies, was diagnosed with prostate cancer." She watched him closely. "He had the surgery to remove the prostrate, then the chemotherapy to kill the rest of the cancerous cells in his body. In order to continue to live long to provide for my mother, he opted from that time to go through hormone therapy. For prostrate cancer, that means progesterone shots on a regular basis, to make the balance of testosterone small enough the cancer can't come back. He has been living his life since then with the same hot flashes and emotional outbursts that menopausal women go through. ...At what point did my father lose his manhood?" Tetora looked at her, lost. He shook his head.

"He never did." Purrcy said quietly, with conviction. "He had to go through necessary, unexpected changes that were not his to choose. He did choose to remain true to his own inner self, regardless of what body changes had come upon him." Tetora's eyes widened. Purrcy's tail moved gently behind her. "Tetora, I am sure that things have been very hard, and you have been trying your utmost best. It is an accomplishment to be proud of. You, too, can be true to your core, regardless of what your circumstance has become." She could see his hard shell begin to crumble. "Please consider it carefully, because it is also not right for you to lash out in anger at those around you who care about you, any more than it is right for one guildmaster to make his guild lash out at the city around him because he has been placed in a circumstance he cannot understand."

"It isn't the same!" he cried out, both in anger and despair.

"It is, Tetora-kun. To Demikas, this world wasn't reality but he couldn't escape it and he become afraid. Because he had the strength of the guild, his total acts were more atrocious. You are only one, so your strength of acts are not visibly so terrible...but you are still causing others pain you don't intend in the long run. Naotsugu knows you're male, but because you attack him as if he doesn't know, he can't help you. If he admits it now, he will cause you more damage in the admission. ...It has gone on long enough. Please forgive and move on to proper inner strength."

She waited, watching carefully. The choices people made were different for every one. It seemed this guild had worked on him enough. He slowly collapsed to his knees, tears pooling in his eyes. Purrcy went to all fours calmly, her clothing disappearing as she padded over to him as a cat, albeit a large one. She rubbed her head on his cheek, letting him feel the softness and licked a salty tear off his cheek. When his hand finally came up to pet her head, she rubbed her head on his cheek again, letting him continue to pet her. Then she put her head near his ear and began to purr. She stayed there and purred for him, letting him pet his grief, sorrow, loneliness, and pain out. Before he could really come back to himself, she stood and transformed back again. "Come on, now it's time to sleep. You'll feel better come daylight." She lifted him and helped him into his bed. She pet his head until he finally was asleep, keeping him company to give him hope and healing, like they all needed - to know they weren't alone in this place they hadn't chosen to come to.

She padded down one floor to the door that smelled the most like Naotsugu and knocked on it lightly. He opened it, looked at her soberly, then let her in. "I've told him you know, given him hope, and let him cry. Be gentle, but be yourself. The normalcy of you will anchor him as he tries to learn the new 'Tetora'."

Naotsugu looked at her, then nodded. "You think he'll be okay?"

"Yes. Just the fact he could cry shows it. If he could only be angry, then he would be gone come morning." Naotsugu agreed, then sighed, looking both tired and relieved. "Naotsugu...," she wasn't sure how it would be received, more advice, "he's alone on the third floor. That isn't helping." Naotsugu's eyes widened, then he nodded his understanding. "It's not my preferred floor, either, but tonight I'll sleep where he can find me in the morning, so he'll know he wasn't alone this night." She turned back towards the door to let herself out. "Please ask the other heads what can be done about it...to help heal his heart and so he isn't quite so alone, ...though...I do think all of you have been very good for him. He wouldn't have done even this much if not for all of your efforts, I think." She bowed slightly to him and returned to the third floor where there was one branch coming from the tree that was just large enough for her to sleep on, though at a slightly awkward angle.

-:-:-:-:-

Naotsugu looked at the closed door, waiting a bit, then opened it and looked out. She'd left this floor, the second one. He moved quietly (most people didn't know he could), headed back downstairs. He opened Shiroe's door and poked his head in. Three heads turned to look at him. He entered, closing the door behind him. He kept a carefully neutral expression on his face until he was sitting, arms akimbo on the back of the love seat in the room, across from Shiroe who was on the couch. "She's good," he said. Everyone relaxed. "She's got him to start behaving, healing, and recognized that having him alone on the third floor's not doing him any favors. She's staying there on the third floor tonight - not with him - but let me know that's not her preference. She'll not be there again, likely. ...She also told him I already know so I don't have to."

Shiroe slumped in utter relief. "All in one fell swoop," he said. "It might be worth it just for that, but she taught me a lot more in just a few brief minutes...twice. What is she?"

There was silence as they thought about it. "She's an Adventurer," Nyanta finally said. Naotsugu nodded agreement. Only Adventurers understood the pain of other Adventurers.

Akatsuki twirled a lock of hair around her finger, a sign she was trying to put her answer to words. They waited patiently. "I - I'm not sure I know...but...it feels like...mother."

Naotsugu contemplated that. Nyanta's head tipped down a bit as he thought as well. Shiroe sat back up to take his chin in his hand. He finally nodded. "I didn't - don't - have a close relationship with my own parents...but I think I can see that. She watched the kids that way...as if enjoying having the noisy banter around again. And taking him to task right away instead of letting it slide..."

Nyanta's shoulders finally sagged and his tail made a sad wave. "I have a different answer...but it comes down to the same thing, I think."

Naotsugu rose and patted Nyanta on the shoulder on his way past. "Of course you'd have a different answer. ...In this place, you're father." He walked off, knowing it was truth, but it wasn't any easier on the gentleman felinoid. He was having a rough time with it. "Give her some time and let it ride, Chief. Maybe she can bring you some healing, too. ...And...I suspect she could use some as well." He let himself out with one last significant look at Shiroe. Shiroe gave back a surprised look that faded to sad acceptance. They all needed help. She'd shown she was willing to give what she could. It would stand.

-:-:-:-:-

Purrcy lay on the branch, listening. Shiroe's office was too far to hear from here, though the soft voices did sound somewhat. Naotsugu wasn't gone long. Just long enough to report then, she decided, and return to his bed. Her ear twitched slightly and her tail swayed below her and the branch slightly. She was also relaxing towards sleep already, but she couldn't quite get there just yet. It wasn't too much longer before the door opened again. In a short amount of time a different door on the first floor closed. Nyanta. Steps, nearly silent were coming up. Her paw twitched slightly. There was thick silence nearby. She turned her head and opened her eyes slightly. "Akatsuki." She rubbed her head against the forearm on that side to scratch an itch.

The slight woman couldn't come up on this branch with her. It curled up too rapidly - so rapidly it was uncomfortable since Purrcy would rather lay out fully on her sleeping branches. Instead, Akatsuki crouched down and ran a finger on the floor. "Purrcy...would you just let...anyone...pet you?"

Purrcy rolled over to lean her back against the rise of the branch and considered the question. Finally she rolled, dropping to all fours to sit as cat in front of Akatsuki, looking at her solemnly. "I won't take him from you," she answered, "but if he needs to pet a cat, I'd let him." Akatsuki looked up in surprise. Purrcy hesitated. "I'll steal his mind for a while, though. ...He has things he wants to learn. When he's learned them, he'll come back. Can you let him?"

"Will you let him?" Akatsuki answered.

"I want him to," she smiled, her whiskers lifting. "You're the best protection he has. ...Though you'd be even better protection if you let him know a little more directly you're really interested."

"Why?" Akatsuki's eyes were wide.

"Because then he'd know to protect himself for you."

Akatsuki blinked. It looked like it had finally been put into words she could understand. Purrcy impatiently butted Akatsuki's arm with her head and was absently pet a few times. That was enough. Purrcy lept back up into the branch and settled back down. "No, just the guild members...and a few other close friends," she answered the original question sleepily, then yawned a cat yawn and tucked her head down in her arm. "Thanks for comforting me, by the way, up in the tree. It was the first time a stranger had been so kind to me in a long time."

Akatsuki rose to standing. "You're welcome," she said stolidly. "Good night."

" 'Night," Purrcy was already falling asleep, though her ear twitched when the final door closed one floor down and everyone was finally in their rooms where they belonged. She sighed and deep sleep claimed her.