Chapter 68 - Bottling Up
While Alex helped Samantha with cooking dinner and talking about "past" topics, the others continued with emptying out Ami's luggage. Renee forced Jin and Gene to look away while she looked through Ami's belongings and clothes. Even though Selbith stated she did not care, the junior student corrected her stating she should. Hearing the sophomore ask them to not go into another brawl, both female teens stopped arguing. One went to the carry on while the other opened up the suitcase.
"...wow..." Renee commented. Opening the luggage fully, she lookiled at the clothing that was inside.
"You have quite high tastes."
"..." Selbith replied pulling out an item from the bag. Looking at it, it was a book. Reading the cover to herself, it seemed to be a thick diary. Setting it aside, she continued with removing stuff out.
"Is your underwear in there?"
"...no...there appears to be only objects and personal possessions in this bag."
"So that means they are in here somewhere," Renee mentioned looking under the clothing piled up. Not seeing any, she looked in a zipped up pouch on the inside of the suitcase. Opening it, there was the undergarments.
"Found them."
"..." Ami responded looking at them. Some of them looked frilly while others had different colors. A frown came on her face.
"I do not see the point of them."
"Well you should wear them."
"What if I do not want to?"
"Is she a commando brother?" Gene asked looking at a wall.
"...sort of..." Jin answered looking at the same wall.
"She's a rebel."
"Possibly."
"Put a sock in it you dorks," Renee commented and forced herself to not giggle. Looking at Selbith, she was not even paying attention to them. Instead, she was looking at each item that she pulled out of the bag. Only staring at it for a few seconds, she set it aside. Looking at what was placed on the bed, the junior saw the thick diary.
'...Ami's diary...' she thought staring hard at it. 'Despite how curious I am on wanting to know who this Ami was, it is Selbith's identity now...on the other hand, if I ask her about it she might not care.'
Shaking her head, she collected all the underwear. Looking around the room, there was a small dresser on the other side of the bed. Walking around and pulling the first drawer open, she placed them all in there. Closing the drawer, she looked back at Ami. She glanced at where she was then looked back at getting another object from the back.
"You boys can turn around now."
"...yay..." Jin responded out loud. Turning around, he saw his younger brother go to the objects on the bed. Standing near Selbith, he was in front of a book. Before he picked it up, Renee got it first.
"Looks like it's your diary Ami," she mentioned then handed it to her. "Probably should find a hiding spot so nobody else looks at it...that right Gene?"
"...I...don't know what you are talking about," the boy said turning his head a little. There was a small pout on his face. His reaction made the junior student smile.
"..." Selbith spoke looking at the thick book. Thinking nothing about it, she set it aside. Reaching back in, she put another item on the bed. It seemed stuff for the bathroom which made Renee reach for it first.
"Maybe you should keep this stuff in the bag for now. Jin's mom can help you on where they should go and stuff."
"...fine..." Ami replied with a face of indifference.
"There is some girly stuff you have," Gene stated looking at the things on the bed. He then glanced at the rail thin teen and saw her eyes were one him.
"I thought from you being a demon character in E.V.E., you'd have demon stuff for real."
"..." the teens responded blinking and staring at the boy. Both Jin and Renee saw Selbith look back in the carry on. Rummaging a little, she shook her head.
"...there is none..."
"Hey Gene?" Jin asked getting his sibling's attention.
"Yeah?"
"Go ahead and drop your stuff off from school in your room. You know mom and dad will tell you later to do that."
"But...i wanna see what Ami has," he complained a little.
"...well..." the older brother began then looked at the time. "You know what show is on in a couple of minutes?"
"..." Gene replied looking at the time on Jin's phone. He recoiled and began walking quickly out of the room.
"Robot Warriors!" he mentioned out loud then left.
"How caring of a brother you are," Renee stated with a smirk. Seeing him turn around, his expression was neutral.
"Caring is an interesting word given that he wanted to look at everything."
"Why is he that curious?"
"Probably sees Ami as not lashing out at him or making fun of him for looking at her stuff," he replied blinking.
"Is that because he doesn't see her as a female?" the junior mentioned with a mocking smirk.
"..." Selbith responded with a face of indifference.
"No. He sees her as a gamer regardless of gender. Gene sees you in the same light as well."
"For what purpose does your sibling do this?" Ami asked.
"I don't really know. I am guessing its a way to cope, have a connection, and understanding someone's actions," Jin mentioned. Taking his glasses off, he grabbed the end of his shirt and started wiping the lens.
"You make it sound like he doesn't have any female friends."
"Possibly," the sophomore spoke then put his spectacles back on.
"Have you asked him?"
"No."
"Why not?" Renee asked putting her hands on her hips.
"Because he doesn't talk about it nor brings girls to the house."
"I bet you had some."
"..." Jin replied then started turning away. "I'll be in the next room when you two are done."
"Avoiding the question isn't stylish Jin."
"Nor is someone being nosy."
"Jerk," Renee stated watching him go to the couch. Turning to Ami, she had moved from the carry on to the suitcase. Going through a couple of clothes, none of them were intriguing her. Instead, she looked at them impassively. Crossing her arms over his chest, the junior spoke.
"...I still don't believe you are what he says you are..."
"..." Selbith replied. Seeing that the dresses had hangers, she grabbed them. Looking around the room, there was a closet with the door open. Instead of answering, she slowly moved across the room. Seeing that there was a bar installed underneath the overhead shelf, she hanged the clothes on it.
"Let me ask you something if that isn't too much for you."
"..." the rail thin teen responded turning around and staring at her.
"What do you hope to gain here that you fooled him and his family?"
"...save your breath thief..." Ami spoke evenly without blinking. "I will not answer you."
"..." she reacted getting annoyed. Instead of blowing up, she just gave her a shooing hand gesture.
"Whatever. Why bother talking to you anyway. "
Renee turned around and left the room. Selbith watched her go towards where Jin was on the couch. Passing him and sitting on the other end, both were on opposite ends. Hearing fast footsteps coming down the stairs, Gene was moving quickly. Getting in front of the coffee table, he grabbed the remote and turned on the TV.
The screen turned on and sound immediate came. Watching the boy input something on the bar, lights and sounds changed. An announcer came on and spoke with an enthusiastic voice. The noises of machinery coming alive with other odd ones came as well. It seemed to emit something of a hyper-techno industry that was about a battle between robots.
'...if I am a mortal here...' Ami thought. Turning around to the head gear on the bed, she went toward it. Stopping in front of the helmet and picking it up, she stared at it.
'...then by using this catalyst to go back to the realm...I can become...'
'...no...' Selbith said in her mind and shook her head. 'I can not become what I was...my human and reaper essences split in that place.'
'I forced myself out as a mortal while the demon resided in that ritual circle,' she continued placing the helmet down on the bed. '...based on what those two have stated...I can only create a mortal being when using this catalyst.'
'Maybe by seeing the realm through different eyes,' Ami thought. Turning toward the living room, she headed toward where Jin sat. 'I can grasp what the purpose of that realm was for being created.'
Getting into the next room, the lights and sounds from the monitor were stronger. Despite wanting to ask the sophomore something, Selbith became distracted from what was being seen on the screen. Two fierce looking mechanical beings were in an arena and battling each other. Outside of the ring, there were spectators cheering on the fight. Stopping near Jin, the two robots impacted causing a large spark to generate.
"What onslaught is this?" she asked.
"It's a show called Robot Warriors. Teams create robots to do battle and win for prize money and a title."
"Sounds no different than a gladiator arena."
"Similar but without the bloodshed," the sophomore commented then looked at her. "Might as well sit down. Dinner will be awhile."
"Why do you say that?" Renee asked looking at him.
"When mom asks dad to help with dinner, it usually means he's in trouble," Gene stated out loud not turning away from the TV.
"..." the junior reacted suppressing a snicker. Hearing movement, she saw Jin move one space closer to her. Seeing that it was just so that Ami could sit down, she turned back to the TV.
A couple of minutes passed by with hearing both the TV and mild conversation occurring in the kitchen. Looking to her left, Jin was looking to his left. Seeing his head turn right, he looked at her. He lifted a finger and put it perpendicular to his lips. Blinking and leaning forward to look passed him, Selbith had fallen asleep. Her head had tilted up and was resting on the backrest of the couch.
"Finally the demon sleeps," Renee mentioned in a low tone and leaning back. Looking at him, he smirked then looked at the TV.
"You seem to roll along with this new burden to your life."
"...well...it's no different from what she was doing before."
"Oh yeah? How so?" she asked with a smirk. Thinking he would give her his usual deadpan expression, he looked at her with an unreadable one.
"Remember you stated about a virtual stalker."
"...yeah..."
"What happens when it manifests into someone else's body?"
"..." Renee answered with opening and closing her mouth. Staring at him, he was staring back at her and not blinking. It made her feel alert that he seemed to be serious.
"...I would probably freak out..."
"...in a way...but actually...it is easier to deal with...because its tangible," Jin stated with a blank face. Turning back to the TV, he ignored the look of concern she was giving him. He continued whispering as he sounded more detached.
"Instead of something watching that is not real...there is an actual person that is watching...and given the individual's current state...I have the ability to-"
"...Jin..." Ami muttered putting a hand on his left shoulder.
Both teens did not move as Selbith slowly leaned on him. Putting both hands on his thigh, she eased herself down on the limb. Putting her head in the center, she turned her head to face the TV. Having on hand on his thigh and the other hanging, the rail thin teen went back to sleep. Renee blinked a couple of times at what Ami did. Seeing slight movement, she saw his head tilt down a little.
"...just like in the game..." he whispered and moved his left hand slowly.
"..." she spoke. With her eyes widening a little, his hand slowly touch Selbith's neck. It didn't stir the teen in sweats as her breathing remained the same.
"...a highlighted area...a simple grab and twist..." the sophomore continued. Slowly turning his head towards Renee, his expression was still blank.
"...will end this tangible aspect...would it not?"
"...Jin..." the junior whispered and slowly got next to him. Though she started to feel creeped out, she understood where he was going.
"I can understand what you mean," she began and placed her left hand on top of his right hand. Thinking that would cause a stir, he didn't even blink. Both of them were staring at each other's eyes. However, the female teen blinked from feeling his hand shake a little.
"...but there are consequences here...there aren't any in the game...you'd lose more here than what you'd gain."
"..." Jin commented turning his head. Looking down at Ami's head, he slowly lifted his left hand. Placing it on her head, he began to pet it. After a few strokes, Selbith seemed to relax a little bit.
"...I know..."
"Bottling up your feelings isn't good either. If that bottle bursts, then you are in trouble."
"..." he replied with a tired sigh. "...I know..."
"You can tell me about your feelings. Right?"
"...they're...nothing special..."
"Yes they are...I want to hear them."
"..." he stated glancing at her.
Renee's face was right next to his and staring at him. Seeing her look at him with a determined face, he looked back down. The junior saw his cheeks turn red a little as he looked embarrassed. Feeling that she broke through his shell, she gave his hand a squeeze. It made him look at their hands before looking back at her.
"..." he responded with not saying anything.
"You know you are not escaping," she whispered with a confident smirk. "I'm not moving until you tell me."
"..." Jin replied with a small frown. "Is that so?"
"Mmm-hmm. Nothing you say or do will make me move."
"..." he spoke and slightly moved his eyes to the right. Blinking, his face looked more embarrassed and irritated. About to say something, Renee stopped for seeing that he was not looking away from her. He was staring at something to her left. Blinking, she looked to the left and flinched.
"Oh, don't mind me," Mrs. Ainsley commented with a small smile. "Please continue."
"..." the sophomore remarked and looked back the junior.
"..." she looked back at him and had an expression of being caught. Redness came to her face.
"Probably should...postpone this for another time."
"Awe, come on Jin. Am I embarrassing you?" his mother asked.
"...no..." he answered looking away a little.
"...awe...no fun..." Samantha remarked then stood up. "Dinner will ready in a bit. I'll let you two get back to your bonding moment."
"..." Jin commented with a small grunt.
"..." Renee spoke hearing the woman walk away. Turning herself to looking over her shoulder, his mother entered the kitchen area again. In her hand, there was a cellphone. Blinking, she turned back around and saw his face go back to a blank one.
"What...what did she do?"
"Probably took photos or video," he answered quietly.
"Is she...a savage?"
"...that's part of mom's personality..." the male teen replied with a blink. "For her to be sneaky and be in the middle of things...she is a bit mad."
"...!?" the junior recoiled a little. "...she's...mad?"
"Yep."
"...at you...me...Ami...or your dad?" she asked a little confused.
"It is a little more complicated than just one person," Jin began then looked at her. "May I have my hand back?"
"..." Renee responded with a blink. Remembering where her hand was, she looked at him determined.
"Until dinner, you can have your hand back."
"..." he spoke staring at her. Sighing through his nose, he turned to the TV.
"So," she started and leaned her left shoulder on his right. "Explain the complications while we wait."
'...women...are a pain...' the sophomore thought suppressing his wanting to scowl.
"...zzz...zzz...zzz..." Selbith snoozed quietly on his thigh.
After some minutes passed by, Alex came out and announced that dinner was ready. He saw three heads on the couch turn to him while his youngest son was still glued to the TV. Ignoring them, he headed to the bathroom. Jin got up and went next to his brother. Putting a hand on his shoulder, he stated what their father said.
Seeing that method did not get the boy to move, the sophomore gave two options. Renee and Ami blinked from hearing what he was going to do if Gene remained sitting on the floor. It got the younger sibling to look at him with a pouting face. Jin did a faint karate chop on the child's forehead then stood up. Still pouting, the smaller brother turned off the TV.
Seeing the two siblings walk into the kitchen, the two female teens got up and followed. When they entered, they saw that there was food on the table. It looked to be a standard dinner in Renee's perspective. Looking at the boys, Gene went to one of the six chairs at the dinning table. Jin had walked to where his mother was in the kitchen.
"Jin...could you get the silverware and drinks for everybody?" Samantha asked in a polite tone. She was washing the cookware she used to make dinner.
"Yes mom," he answered neutrally.
"..." both Renee and Selbith spoke observing.
Seeing him turn around, he went and got was asked. Setting the forks and knives around the table, Gene reached out and grabbed his shirt. They saw the older sibling lower his head so that the younger one could whisper. Seeing him nod his head, the boy looked nervous. Jin patted his head a little then went to them.
"Anything you two would like to drink?"
"...what's going on...?" Renee whispered.
"Did something change in her?" Ami asked in a low volume voice.
"..." he responded only blinking and staring at them. About to ask why he was acting stiff, the junior flinched a little from her wrist being grabbed. Glancing to her right, Selbith had a stoic expression.
"I will have what you have Jin," she told in a normal tone. "...Renee...will have the same."
"Okay," he stated with a small nod. Turning around, he headed for the cabinet that was near his mother.
"...?" Renee blinked in surprise. Ami pulled her wrist weakly to the dining table. Following, they went to the chairs that were across from where Gene was. Sitting down, the two saw the boy still looked nervous.
"...excuse me...Gene..." Selbith spoke. The boy looked up and blinked.
"...yes?"
"Can you...explain what...that battle was? I have never seen it...before," she asked focusing hard on the child. It made the younger sibling more nervous as he stole a glance at his mother. Looking back at Ami, he began to explain what was on the TV.
'...okay...what the hell is going on?' Renee wondered staring at the rail thin teen. Weirded out from Ami making an attempt to converse, a glass of juice was put down. Jin whispered quickly in her left ear then walked away to make more drinks. Blinking in surprise, she stole a glance at Mrs. Ainsley. Not seeing anything physically different, she just finished rinsing off the soap suds of a frying pan.
"Renee, is there something you need?" Samantha asked in a polite tone.
"...!?" the junior reacted with a flinch. Looking back at the beverage in front of her, she answered.
"N-no. I'm fine."
"Mmmm? Positive?"
"Yes...positive...my mom usually doesn't clean up after setting dinner down."
"Ah. Is it unusual?"
"J-Just different is all."
"Okay."
'...Jin said before that she was mad...now he said she is madder...she sounds okay to me,' Renee thought blinking.
Despite saying that, she focused her attention on the mild conversation between Jin's brother and Selbith. The sophomore put down the rest of the drinks then went to his mother's side. Alex came back into the room and sat at the end of the table. Taking a sip of his beverage, he looked stiff. Footsteps came in which both mother and son were approaching the table. She sat at the other end of the table while the male teen sat in the chair next to Gene's. The conversation between the younger sibling and Ami slowly died away.
"You don't have to stop the conversation...continue," Samantha mentioned with a small smile.
"I-I'm...I finished explaining mom," Gene stated.
"Oh...Is it true you never seen Robot Warriors Ami?"
"...yes...I have not," Selbith answered looking at her with a neutral expression.
"Must be a wonder from coming out of a coma and having amnesia," she stated staring at the rail thin teen.
"...possibly..." Ami stated not breaking the eye contact.
"Why not everyone dig in?" Mrs. Ainsley stated blinking and looking at the others. Everyone began to eat in awkward silence except for one person. She looked back at the young Felmort who looked at her dish then at Jin's.
"Something wrong Ami?"
"..." Selbith responded with a blink then turned toward her.
"Is it not something you like to eat?"
"...no...it is not that."
"Oh," she began then leaned a little forward. The woman hadn't touched her food either.
"Do tell me. I promise you that it isn't poisoned."
"..." Ami reacted by just staring at her.
Only Jin took a bite while everyone else froze. Renee blinked and glanced at Samantha. Her mannerisms were starting to make her feel uncomfortable. Looking at the sophomore, he was the only one that didn't seem fazed by the awkwardness of his mother. Seeing movement, the male teen put his utensils down and grabbed his plate.
"Jin...what are you doing?" Mrs. Ainsley asked slowly turning her head toward him. The small smile was still on her face.
'...he wasn't joking...' Renee thought feeling goosebumps on her arms.
'...to have that much of an icy gaze and to control it...how formidable...' Selbith thought feeling her insides tense up a little.
"I was going to offer my plate to Ami."
"Why?"
"From the aspect that she still hasn't worked out her trust issues."
'...ah shit...' Alex thought hearing the buzzwords.
"Trust issues?" Mrs. Ainsley repeated staring hard at him. "Did you say...trust issues?"
"Yes mom," Jin replied giving a neutral stare back.
"I think...Ami can work on her trust issues right now...wouldn't you agree?"
"Takes time and patience mom."
"Are you disagreeing with me?"
"Trust isn't granted immediately...regardless if you befriend or make friends."
"...you know...Jin...trust is hard to earn...but easily taken away."
"Yes mom. I know."
"Do you?" Samantha asked then slammed a fist on the table. It caused Renee, Ami, and Alex to flinch. Gene jumped a little in his seat. Jin did not react and stared back at her unfazed.
"Do you really understand the aspect of trust issues Jin?" she repeated with a stern voice. The small smile on her face stayed but it was tighter.
"Dear...could you calm down a-" Alex began before he stopped. Everyone saw her eyes dart to him and the smile was gone.
"What was that...h...o...n...e...y...?"
"..." he commented and cleared his throat. "...I was saying...about calming down. You are being scary in front of the kids."
"Scary huh," Mrs. Ainsley repeated. Leaning back in her chair, she stared daggers at him. Lifting one leg to cross over the other, she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Well...maybe I wouldn't be losing my-"
"Sammy...stop. Please," Mr. Ainsley mentioned and lifted a hand. His wife glared at him with one eye twitching.
'...holy shit...she's PISSED...' Renee stated in her mind and didn't move.
'...what wrath did this man unleash...' Selbith wondered moving her eyes back and forth.
"Let's all just have dinner together, get Jin's friend home, Ami situated, and then we can work things out later. Okay?"
"..." Samantha replied not changing her position. The icy glare in her eyes remained. Her mouth turned upside down back into a tight smile again.