Summer of the Traveling Princess: A Report of Sorts

Of Homesickness

A/n: I did this instead of sleeping. W'oops.

"Let go of her legs, Soph."

"Nuh-uh." Aelita sighed a little, hauling her duffle up on her shoulder.

"I'm going to miss you, too," she told the tiny blonde, running her fingers through her hair comfortingly.

"I want to go to 'apan!" Sophia cried. Odd peeled her off, pulling at her fingers until he could get her away, scooping her up in his arms.

"Hey, you don't like my friend better than me, do you?" he teased. Sophia pouted.

"Yes." Aelita laughed at her answer, hugging them both at the same time.

"I'm going to miss you both so much. I had such a wonderful time." As excited as she was to get to Japan and see Yumi for the first time all summer, she was just as distraught about leaving her new found friends with the Della Robbias. Especially after how much she had bonded with Sophia and Delilah.

"'apan!" Sophia insisted, clinging back to Aelita.

"How about I send you something pretty, okay?" Aelita offered, smiling at Odd.

"Do I get something pretty?" he asked. Sophia pulled away, looking like she was considering.

"Okay," she said. Odd kissed Sophia's forehead, leaning over to kiss Aelita's.

"Odd," she laughed.

"Have a safe flight," he told her.

"I'll see you in September." She smiled.

'Planes lose their novelty quickly.'

"Aelita, where are you?" Jeremie laughed. Her face appeared on his computer screen, crammed in between a lot of luggage and something silver.

"Hi!" she giggled. "I'm at the airport, getting ready to fly out to Yumi's!"

"Are you in the hold?" Jeremie laughed, resting his chin in his hand.

"No! I'm in a laptop cubby thing at the terminal." Jeremie glanced around her face, orienting her in one of those crammed little seats with the power outlets and old phones no one really uses anymore.

"Well, you seem to be having fun," he said. She nodded. He tilted his head, looking a bit uneasy but she didn't seem to notice.

"I took more pictures for you, would you like me to upload them now?"

"Uhm, sure." She blinked at his answer, holding her camera against her chest.

"Are you tired of all my pictures?" her cheeks turned pink. "I know I send a lot but I don't really get to see all of this every day and I really…"

"No, no!" Jeremie assured her. "I love your pictures, I do. I was just wondering about the uhm…" he motioned to his head. Aelita looked puzzled for a moment, touching her own hair.

"Oh!" she giggled. "Do you like it? It's very different, isn't it?" Jeremie chuckled nervously.

"It's blonde." Aelita laughed loudly.

"They're called streaks!" She shook her head and her hair flailed out around her face, sticking to her eyelashes haphazardly.

"I see that," he laughed. "Did Odd talk you into that?"

"Nope!

"Oh."

"Sophia did!" Jeremie stared at the girl.

"The… baby?"

"She's not really a baby, Jer. I believe the term is-"

"I mean Odd's little sister."

"Yes! She's so precious." This was clearly not a conversation that would lead to anything but confusion.

"It looks great on you, Lita," Jeremie told her, smiling. She beamed.

"Thank you." Her smile wavered just a little and the boy picked up on it like radar.

"What's wrong?" She shifted, wrapping her arms around her duffle.

"It's nothing, Jer. I'm just feeling a little… oh, what's the word?" She glanced around like she would find it. "Oh, I don't know. I feel like I'm in a hurry to get back to Kadic. Isn't that silly? I miss Yumi, oh and I miss you too! But, I just feel.."

"Homesick." He finished for her.

"Yes!"

"It's understandable, Kadic's your home." She didn't answer, just stared wistfully at the screen, wondering if he was right. She'd never considered it one way or the other. "Right?" he asked.

"No, you're right," she assured him. "I guess I'm just homesick." Jeremie smiled at her lightly.

"Well, you'll be home before you know it."

"I miss you," she blurted.

"I miss you, too," he assured her. "Hurry up and get back to France, okay?" Aelita grinned up at him. A voice filled his speakers.

"All passengers boarding for Kyoto, Japan are now boarding…"

"That's me!" Aelita squeaked, cheeks flushed. "I'll call you when I land! Bye Jer!"

"Bye Lita. See you soon."