*Looks around* Hello? Anyone remember me?

Agh! I am SO missing this place it's not FUNNY! Collage is becoming really tiring. Good news is I only have 7-8 weeks of it left till I'm back home and writing again! In the mean time, this chapter got written at random times during my course. Hey, Design takes up a lot of time! Especially that darn 2D/3D bull that I have to do but will never be using in later life!

Ugh, well, anyways. I have passed all my assignments so far. Pretty good considering I have to keep up with my part-time job also. (Guess what all! I'M WORKING IN A PS2 SHOP! How cool is that? I get cheep games AND I get to take out any game I want to try! Too bad I won't be working there when Jak 2 comes out, but such is life.)

ANYWAYS! I have to thank my buddy Tania for this chapter. She's letting me use her laptop to upload it. *hugs Tania* she's also in my course, and is a real pal!

I am, of course, missing you all heaps. All mah readers and reviewers *Phoe-Chan! Gemma! Miss you two the most!!!!*

Well, that's about enough blabber from me (Although I DO have a proposal for you Leah. I'll email you about it later if I get time though).

Anyways, enjoy the chapter. More scandals and such. More guessing to do, and yes, I WILL try my best to type up the next one soon, but with lectures and all, it may not be until the start of July.

~ Keysha

*** Chapter five: The Past ***

"You're kidding me? That THING was a boy?"

Karma laughed wickedly at Bryon's shocked expression. "Had you fooled didn't he?"

Bryon nodded, looking a tad embarrassed.

"All this time, Xema was betraying me.she was having an affair with some boy-turned-rodent."

"Don't get ahead of yourself there lover-boy. It wasn't technically an affair." Karma teased. Bryon mumbled something rude behind her back, but Karma's sharp ears picked his words up instantly. In a flash, her long dagger was an inch away from slitting his throat in two.

"Don't mock me boy." She hissed, as Bryon gulped nervously. Karma grinned. "We both want revenge on my little sister, myself more than you, and we both know exactly HOW we can do it."

Bryon smirked, rubbing his tongue over his teeth in deep thought. "Play with her mind. Torture her emotionally?" He grinned. "Bet that if there's one major weakness we can associate with her, it'll be that weasel."

Karma nodded.

"Get to the ottsel, you'll get to Xema."

***

"Man it feels good to be home." Daxter stretched his stiff limbs as the others breathed in the welcoming smell of the salty ocean air. Kryzdal gazed around the small village in awe.

"It's so quaint." She whispered. Daxter rolled his eyes.

"What is it with you people and this talk of our village being small and homely?" He moaned, and Xema swiftly jabbed him in the ribs playfully.

"I think we've got a reason considering how large our home city is." She teased; Daxter blushed slightly under his fur, unaware that Kryzdal was watching their playful teasing very intensively. Too think that two people who were so completely opposite in social ranking, character and even species could become so close made her purr in delight. Her Xema had finally grown up.

***

"Daxter? May I have a word?"

"You sure you only want one?" Daxter chuckled to himself, but quickly dropped it when he received a rather stern glance from Kryzdal. It was evening, and the ottsel was sitting outside, staring at the sea and lost in thought. That was, until Kryzdal decided to join him.

"Daxter?" She sighed. "Tell me about your parents."

There was a silent moment. When Kryzdal glanced up, she noticed a look of pain in the ottsel's eyes. Obviously, this was going to be a touchy subject.

"Please?"

Daxter sighed. It wouldn't be easy talking about his parents. It never WAS.

"My father? He brought me here, to Sandover, when I was a baby. I grew up here - it's how I came to know Jak, he was brought up here too. I never really knew my father very well. He was kind of distant and never talked very much. I guess it was living with him that made me so talkative. I worked hard to make conversation with him. Sometimes I'd just talk to myself so that there was noise in the house. I don't like the quiet. It scares me. It reminds me of those times when my father wouldn't even talk to me. He always looked at me like I was different, as if there was something wrong with me - you know, like I was a freak." Daxter sighed. "He was right."

Kryzdal was shocked.

"Daxter, you're NOT a freak!" She insisted, placing a caring paw on his shoulder. He simply shook his head.

"How can you be so sure?" He whispered. Kryzdal smiled.

"Well, for one thing, you managed to woo my Xema. That would be a pretty hard task for a freak to accomplish."

Daxter laughed.

"Well, she always told me she liked the 'different ones'". He chuckled.

"So, where's your father now?"

"He died when I was just a little kid. I think it was depression. He missed my mother, and I think it hurt him that I reminded him of her so much."

"She looked like you?"

"Sort of. We had the same colour hair and eyes - or so I hear."

"You don't remember?" Kryzdal rubbed his back kindly. Daxter shook his head.

"I never knew her."

Kryzdal stopped questioning him. It was becoming too painful, she could tell. She simply nuzzled his cheek, and rubbed his back some more.

"Don't cry. You're fine now. You have friends and family who love you. You know that right?"

Daxter nodded.

"You know Kryzdal, you're very good at this mothering stuff. Do you have any - I don't know - Kittens, or whatever kind of kids you creatures have?"

Kryzdal was quite taken aback, but laughed, smiled and nodded.

"Yes, two in fact. Two girls."

Daxter smiled. "Bet they're beautiful."

"Yes, they are. But you already know, don't you Daxter?"

"HUH?"

"Well, don't you at least think Xema's beautiful?"

The ottsel spun around faster than lightning. KRYZDAL? She was Xema's MOTHER?

"Just - don't let her know. Not yet. She still has much to learn. At least I know I can watch over her when she's unaware of how close I really am."

Daxter could hardly speak. Very much unlike him, that went without saying.

"She thinks you're dead. Won't it be even more painful for her the longer you leave it?" Daxter thought quickly, then added: "Your highness?"

Kryzdal was much taken aback. "Highness? I haven't been called that for so long!"

Daxter smiled. "Yeah, well, your status DOES kind of get lowered when you become a furball."

Kryzdal laughed. "Yes. That is true Daxter. Very true!"

"What's true?" Xema asked, making her way towards the two.

"Uh - how beautiful you look tonight!" Daxter quickly piped up, jumping up from his spot and running over to embrace her. From the corner of his eye, he could catch the look that Kryzdal was giving him.

"Don't let her know. Not yet. There WILL be a time."

"Just not yet."

Daxter nodded in understanding, and held Xema closer, nuzzling her cheek against his.

"Come on, let's go down to the beach. Chase some seagulls!"

Xema laughed.

"You're just a little kid at heart aren't you Daxter?" He grinned.

"Yep!"

Kryzdal just sat in silence, under a starry sky, recalling the past.

Her time, and Daxter's, was drawing near.

*** FLASHBACK ***

"Kryzdal? Do you know?"

The young woman edged her way towards the young queen. Kryzdal smiled, and placed a hand delicately on her pregnant tummy.

"Xi said it's going to be another girl!" Kryzdal squeaked in excitement. Her young friend could barley contain her joy, jumping onto the bed that her queen was relaxing on, and hugging her tightly.

"That's wonderful news! To think: Two beautiful little girls!" The young woman's eyes sparkled with excitement, but Kryzdal was quick to push her down onto the bed.

"Jewlii! You KNOW you're meant to take it easy! Especially seen-as you're having a baby at such a young age!"

Jewlii gave a light squeal as she lay on the soft bed.

"I just can't help it Kryzdal! It's so exciting! Oh, I can't WAIT until my child is born!" She gave a light giggle, and then sighed. "Are you SURE you can't ask Xi to figure out if it will be a boy or girl?"

Kryzdal sighed and shook her head for the thousandth time that day.

"How many times do I have to tell you Jewlii? Xi is only allowed to tell the QUEEN if her child will be a boy or girl. You'll just have to wait and find out."

Jewlii screwed up her face.

"That's stupid!" She mumbled, before smiling and rubbing her own pregnant tummy. "Well, I KNOW that mine's going to be a boy anyway! I don't need that stupid old Xi to tell me!"

Kryzdal smiled and rolled her eyes at her ignorant friend. "How can you be so sure?"

Jewlii giggled. "Because it will be PERFECT! Just think, our little boy and girl will grow up, fall in love, and get married! They'll be the most perfect couple ever!"

Kryzdal sighed.

"When will you learn Jewlii? Life isn't like a fairy tale! Besides, you're not SURE that your child will be a boy, are you?"

Jewlii simply smiled.

"Well, if it's a girl, then they'll both be best friends. They'll braid each other's hair, and go gather flowers together, just like all beautiful little girls do!"

Kryzdal smiled.

"And what if Xema isn't LIKE all beautiful little girls?"

"Who's Xema?"

Kryzdal patted her stomach.

"My little girl!"

Jewlii laughed. "Free-spirit? That's what the name means right? Oh Kryzdal, she'll be just like you then! All silly and crazy and acting like a Tomboy! Is that REALLY what you want your daughter to be like?"

Kryzdal smiled, glanced up at her best friend, and nodded.

"Yes, that's EXACTLY what I want her to be like!"

*** END FLASHBACK ***