"Eliana! Eliana!" Nima shook the sleepy blonde gently, "come on. Wake up." Eliana opened her eyes and looked up at Nima. "It's my first day," she whined, "we're gonna be late." Eliana nodded and slid out of bed.
"Let me go get ready," she smiled at Nima and grabbed her school clothes. She shuffled to her bedroom door where she was greeted by three smiling faces.
"Good morning, Eliana," they said in unison with a smile. Eliana greeted them with a smile then headed toward the bathroom to ready herself for school. Nima stood in the door and stared at them.
"Good morning, Nima," Kei smiled down at her bowing on one knee. "How did you sleep last night?" Nima eyed him carefully then smiled at him.
"I slept fine," she replied staring at Kei.
"Well if you need anything," Kei smiled, "please let us know." Nima thought about his statement quietly then blurted out,
"I need the Legendary Crystal." Zui and Norio exchanged concerned glances with each other.
"I don't know who you are," Kei whispered to her, "or what your plans are, but I can promise you this. If you put Eliana's life in danger, you will answer to me." Eliana emerged from the bathroom fully dressed in her school outfit and Nima smiled evilly at Kei. Tears formed in the corner of her eyes and she began sobbing loudly.
"Nima," Eliana gasped and pushed past her companions, "what's wrong?"
"H-he was b-being m-mean to me," she sobbed loudly throwing herself into Eliana's arms. Eliana rubbed Nima's back softly and glared back at Kei. Kei backed away then hung his head in shame.
"It's okay," she whispered trying to stop Nima's tears. Eliana wiped Nima's eyes and smiled at her. "It's your first day of school," she reminded Nima, "let's put a smile on that face." Nima smiled up at Eliana and followed Eliana down the stairwell.
"We need to figure out who she is," Zui whispered to Kei as they followed behind Nima and Eliana. Kei nodded slowly unable to shake the look Eliana had given to him earlier.
"I've never seen her look at me so coldly before," Kei whispered occasionally glancing up at the girls, "it was as if I displeased her."
"She's being manipulated," Norio said as he watched Nima bounce alongside of Eliana. Zui linked arms with Kei and smiled at him.
"I don't know who she is or what's going on here," Zui said in a low voice, "but if it puts Eliana in danger we have no choice but to protect her." Norio and Kei nodded. Nima stopped outside of Eliana's school.
"We should drop you here first," Nima smiled up at her, "I can walk with them the rest of the way."
"Are you sure?" Eliana asked. "I can walk with you then turn around and come back here." Nima shook her head.
"It doesn't make sense to do that," she smiled, "besides it'll give me a chance to get to know your companions." Eliana nodded. Nima hugged her tightly and smiled. "Thank you, Big Sister," she whispered, "have a good day at school."
"You do the same," Eliana smiled warmly as she hugged Nima back. Nima released Eliana and watched as she headed down the pathway. Eliana rushed up to Takashi and entered the building with him.
"Well," Norio smiled, "we should get you to school." Nima glared at Eliana's companions and turned her back to them.
"I can walk by myself," she growled slightly.
"While that may be so," Zui smiled, "if anything happened to you Eliana would blame us."
"Fine," Nima sighed and walked off in the direction of her school. Zui, Kei and Norio dropped her off outside her school then headed back to the estate. Jade flung the front doors open and looked at them.
"I think I figured something out about Nima," she whispered.
"So your cousin goes to the same school as Mayu?" Takashi inquired as he walked with Eliana toward the girls' school. Eliana nodded.
"Today was her first day," she beamed brightly quickening her pace. Takashi walked a bit faster than Eliana so she struggled to keep up. Outside of the school they spotted Nima and Mayu. "If I didn't know any better," Eliana giggled, "I'd say they were sisters." Nima spotted Eliana out of the corner of her eye and rushed up to her.
"I wasn't done talking to you," Mayu shouted then blushed seeing Takashi standing there. Nima clung tightly to Eliana's leg.
"She's only picking on me because I'm smaller," Nima whimpered avoiding eye contact with Eliana.
"Mayu's picking on you?" Takashi inquired looking down at Nima.
"No, I'm not," Mayu interjected and rushed over to them, "I would never pick on someone." Eliana looked down at Nima then over at Takashi.
"It's not nice to pick on someone just because they're smaller than you," Eliana said in an almost scolding tone. Takashi looked at Mayu and shook his head. "Come on," Eliana said to Nima, "let's go get some ice cream." Nima peeked up at Eliana and sniffled slightly then nodded. The two of them walked away from Takashi and Mayu.
"Taka-chan," Mayu exclaimed, "I would never pick on someone!"
"I know, Mayu," he nodded, "I know."
