Chapter Two: Introductions / Figments of Her Imagination

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Well, that was weird. This dude appears from nowhere after that freaky light died down. And he looks like his lost but he's on his guard for some reason.
I shut off the engine of my cycle and call out, You alright?
The brunette teen blinks at me, curious. He edges closer to me, close enough that we can get a good look at each other. Man, he's hot! But what's with the cat ears and the tail, not to mention the long braid? ... Why is he staring at me like that?
I'm okay. Uh... this is probably gonna sound stupid, but where are we? he asks, pushing some of his bangs back, enough for me to see he doesn't have human ears, just the cat ones on the top of his head.
What are you? I blurt out, then mentally bang my head against something hard because of the sheer stupidity in that question.
I'm a cat-man. My name is Duo Maxwell and I'm the hottest cat-man in all of Fanelia. he replied with a flirtatious wink.
I've lost my mind. I've finally gone off the deep end. Must be cause I told Misha that story bout Van and Mom. I mutter, my head in my gloved hands.
You know Van Slanzar de Fanel, the king of Fanelia? Duo asked surprised.
No, I just heard about him and his adventures with Esca Flownae. I answer, And by the way, we're in Tokyo, Japan. On Earth or what you'd call the Mystic Moon.
I smack my forehead, realizing I answered something that couldn't possibly be real.
Why am I talking to something that can't be real? Though he is hot as hell. This is crazy, I'm drooling over a figment of my imagination. I mutter under my breath. His ears perked up so I guess he heard me.
You think you're just imagining this? I'd hate to break up that little pity party you've started there, babe, but I'm real. I'm as real as you are. Duo says, moving 'til he's less than three inches away. Imagine this. he comments, closing the distance between us with a kiss. His arms wrap around my waist, his tail curls around the left leg of my blue jeans, and I'm in nirvana. I just pray my power doesn't kick in, but too late, I can see inside his mind, look at his memories and feel his emotions. He is worried about something, he's enjoying the kiss, and he's curious about me.
I pull away, breaking the skin contact and I nod. You're real, all right. And a great kisser, too.
Duo grins, and goes to stroke my hair but I grab his wrist.
I don't like being touched, kitty. Okay? I tell him, Come with me to meet my friend, Gem?
Sure. What's your name? You didn't tell me. he says, sitting behind me on my cycle as I start it up again.
I answer as I revved the engine. His grip on me tightened as we sped off.
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Jewel was pounding on my door for some reason. I thought she might break it down if I hadn't opened it in time. She and this brunette guy with a meter-long braid run in and plop down on my leather sofa before I had closed the door.
I heard you've gotten kicked out again, Jewel. This time for good, or so Zack said. I'd give it a week before going back, if you want to go back, that is. I told her.
He called you? Jewel said skeptically.
Yeah, cause he knows every time you get kicked out that you come here and that usually I'm the only one who can talk/beat some sense into you. I reply as I inspect the Braided One.
I guess that's true, Gem. Anyways, on my way over here I found Duo and I thought you should meet him. He says he's from Gaea. Jewel tells me as she sinks into my couch next to the cat-eared teen whom I guessed to be 15 or 16, Jewel's age.
I arch an eyebrow at the violet-eyed boy in black, From Gaea? But I thought that was just a figment of your mother's delusions.
Apparently not, Gem. But no one's gonna believe that there's a whole planet so close that the people of it think as Earth as a moon. Especially since no one can see it. Jewel responds.
I still don't get why you people can't see Gaea when everyone on Gaea can see the Mystic Moon... I mean the Earth. the feline-human comments, toying with the end of his braid.
That's one of the great mysteries of life. Another great mystery is: Does the Dark Magician wear a robe or a dress? Or, how come Jewel has blue-blond hair and a nice figure but still can't get a steady boyfriend? I say, teasing my younger friend. Jewel glares at me and Duo just blinks, confused.
Whatever you two say. I just want to go home. I gotta make jokes that aren't that funny but still amuse my best friend who is way too serious for his own good. Duo mutters, yawning.
Gonna take a cat nap, kitty? Jewel comments, openly flirting with the cat-man. Duo nods and curls up in her lap as he drifts off to sleep.
This is an interesting development. Not only do we know your mother wasn't making the whole Gaea thing up, but you have a potential boyfriend, if he isn't already your boyfriend. I murmur, pouring a glass of Mountain Dew for the blue-blond.
Will you drop the boyfriend thing, Gem! We have better things to talk about. Jewel says, playing with Duo's ears.
Like what are we doing for Halloween? We were Dungeon Dice Monsters last year and Duel Monsters the year before. So what are we going to dress up as? I ask.
We've done YuGiOh! to death so pick a different anime. Jewel replies.
G-Gundam? I'll be Rain and you'll be Allenby. I suggest.
Ugh. No, I'm not hyper enough to be Allenby and you're not exactly Rain either.
Thankfully that's true. YYH? you'd be either Boton or Yukina and I'd be Keiko.
A koorime who Kuwabara likes or a grim reaper that flies around on an oar. No thanks. And why are you suggesting ones where you get a guy? Jewel responded, gently getting Duo off of her.
Dunno. You think of something. I answer, shrugging as she stands up and stretches.
I can't think of anything right now, Gem. Emotion overload and the cat kissing me really didn't help. Jewel tells me and collapses on the carpet.
All right, we'll talk in the morning.
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KDA: well, I'd like to thank my plotting partner ShinraiHimura for reviewing all my fics. It's sad when the only person who reviews my stories is someone who knows pretty much everything that's going to happen in the fic. -_- *sigh* And Shinrai, you get half a cookie, because you answered only one of the two questions.