This is a relatively short chapter (come to think of it, all of them are short) that brings the first day of Dust's new life to it's conclusion. Disclaimer: Dust: An Elysian Tail is owned by Humble Hearts

Chapter 7: Aftershock

Dust opens the door to his room and walks in, slowly calming himself down. He got pretty angry with Fidget, as well as the akwardness of the situation not doing him any favors whatsoever. It seemed like overnight his whole life just changed, granted his current 'life' hadn't even lasted a week yet. However, that didn't change the fact that things felt off. When he was just the hero it was easy. He could hide all his insecurities and just focus on what he had to do. Now he didn't have that luxury, and it scared him. Now all his emotions ran free, ranging from his happiness to be back with his surrogate sister, and Fidget, to his regret for what he had did to Haley. Not only had Haley thought he was dead over the past few weeks, granted he kind of was, but now that she finally saw him, he maintained his distance after one reassuring hug, it honestly made him feel like a jerk. He was also angry, angry that it seemed like Fidget knew from the start, but didn't say anything.

"That was kinda mean." Fidget stated. "As soon as you get home, you come running up here with out even saying anything to Haley. No good night, nothing. She's probably been through hell these last few weeks. The least you can do is say something to her."

"Fidget, please, I already feel bad enough." Dust says as he slowly calms down. "Between feeling like a jerk for what I just did to Haley, and you not really helping my nerves at all, I just feel like a wreck."

"I'm sorry Dust.." Fidget said as her ears drooped in sadness "Are you upset with me because I embarrassed you?"

"That is partally the reason," He said. "The other is that you knew. You knew I was supposed to be picking up Haley, and you didn't even tell me. I deserve a bit of a heads up. I just saw her and the next thing I knew, she was in my arms, crying. She looked so...fragile. Like the lightest touch could break her." Dust's eyes start to tear up. "Why didn't you tell me?" He barely lets out as the tears start to fall.

It hurt Fidget to see her friend like this. He always seemed confident like nothing could phase him but now, now he just looked like an average teenager. A sight that Fidget both welcomed and hated. "Dust?" Fidget asks concerned "Are you okay?"

"I don't know Fidget." He replied, "I don't know how I feel about anything at the moment. I don't know how I feel about being alive again, I don't know about how I feel about living here with Ginger, and I really don't know how to feel about Haley herself."

"Wait, back up. You care about Haley?" Fidget asked, honestly bewildered that Dust would even vaguely hint at a possible future with Haley.

"I was starting to warm up to her before, but now, I don't know." Dust admited. "I just don't know."

"Don't worry Dust, you'll eventually work it out." Fidget smiles. "I'm certain of that."

"Thanks Fidget." Dust smiles, "I needed that."

Blushing, Fidget gives Dust a kiss on the cheek before flying off to her bed. "Goodnight Dust."

"Goodnight." With that Dust turned in for the night, all the while thinking about what Fidget told him. As well as her kiss.

"You look like you had a nice time." Ginger says with a a smirk upon seeing Haley. "Shame that Dust didn't want to stick around." Ginger sits down on the couch. Her smirk slowly fades when she get's a good look at Haley. "Is something wrong?"

Haley sits down and looks at Ginger with a smile on her face. "I don't know if I should hit you or hug you. Why didn't you tell me the boy moving in was actually Dust?"

"You wouldn't have believed me." Ginger responded. "Plus, I wanted to surprise you."

"Mission accomplished," Haley states. "I think you surprised both of us."

Ginger giggles, "That's good." Ginger's fit of giggles ends, "Dust looked kinda freaked out, what happend?"

"I hugged him," Haley says as she slowly looks down. "When I saw him I ran into his arms with no regard to his feelings."

"Is that all?" Ginger asks, genuinely curious.

"He hugged me back, but Fidget interrupted before anything else happend."

"What do you mean by 'anything else'?" Ginger was really pushing it.

"I was going to kiss him," Haley blushes. "I couldn't help myself, I lost myself in his eyes, they just drew me closer."

"Really?" Ginger grins. "You really do care for him don't you?"

"That doesn't mean I want to do something that niether of us are prepared for." Haley collets herself. "First I throw myself at him, then, if it wasn't for Fidget, I would have kissed him with out even considering his feelings. I don't want to make him feel even more uncomfotable then he already is."

"Sounds like things are a little complicated." Ginger says. "Are you doing anything tomorrow?"

"No, I'm off work at the Forge. Why?" Haley asks.

"We can talk more in-depth tomorrow, since Dust won't be here." Ginger gets up from the couch.

Haley gets up from the couch. "Why? Where is he going?"

"I'm guessing he didn't say anything." Ginger turns around. "nothing big, he just has a job as captain of the watch now. He'll be out most of the day, so we can talk then." Ginger starts to head for her room, before being stopped by Haley reaching out a hand and grabbing her dress. "Something wrong?" Ginger asked. "Do you want a hug before you go to bed?"

"Well, yes. But I also wanted to ask. Can you spend the night with me in my room tomorrow?" Haley asks blushing. "It's nothing funny, I was just hoping we could spend some 'girl time' togther."

Ginger hugs Haley tightly. "I'd love too, after what happened today, I think you'll need it."

Haley hugs Ginger back. "Thanks babe."

"No problem sugar." Ginger replies as she kisses Haley on the cheek and goes to bed.

Haley walks into her room for the night. "I can't believe Dust is back." With that thought in her mind she strips off her shirt and shorts, puts one of her new favorite pajamas, Jin's old button up shirt. Buttons it half way, like usual and goes to bed.

Well that's the end of day one in Dust's new life, how will things change for all four house mates (yes including Fidget) now that Dust is living in Aurora Village? How will the Village itself change, and how will Dust deal with his feelings now that he is nothing more then a normal... Wolf-Fox hybrid thing. OK Dust isn't entirely normal, but now he lives a normal life.

The Tail Continues: Till next time

Sasuke149