Disclaimer: I don't own the Ninja Turtles, and I'm not making any money off this story. I do own the Demon world, the residents of the Demon world, the Reapers and their respective identities, and the messsage Xawks.
----
Surprisingly, Donatello understood the difficult act of teleporting to Earth almost the moment it was taught to him. Shayl was shocked, and rather angry, considering the two hours of trouble they'd gone through trying to get him to teleport within the demon world.
"I don't get it," she huffed as they walked down a sidewalk in Cleveland, "How can you teleport here, but not back in the Demon world?"
Donatello shrugged as he watched all the people passing them as if they weren't there.
"It's strange to walk down a sidewalk in broad daylight," Don said.
"I forgot that you're in your original form. I get so used to people looking unhuman." Shayl wrinkled her nose as a boy ran underneath her legs. An adult was chasing him, and without even knowing he had done it, he sidestepped the pair of Reapers and continued on his way.
"Yeah...I was trained as a ninja. Never in a million years would I have walked around out in the open," Don sighed, "Oh well. That part of my life is over."
"It is...and now it's time to train you for the next part. Can you feel the imminence of death?"
Don stopped walking and closed his eyes. Shayl had described the feeling to him, but it seemed as if he already knew what to look for.
"I feel it," he said suddenly, "Follow me." Don waved his arm and tore open a portal...a portal that lead to another place on Earth. As he did this, time began to slow, until not a soul was moving, not a sound could be heard.
Don looked around for a moment in wonder, and then jumped through his portal. Shayl followed.
They emerged in the middle of a highway, but the cars were frozen in place; they wouldn't have hit the two Reapers even if they were moving. Don looked around and realized that he had misjudged the location; he wanted the southbound lanes, not the northbound. Shayl shot him a sour look, but he just shrugged and made another portal. They stepped through, and Don cringed at the scene before them. It had only happened moments before; a semi truck had lost control and jacknifed, taking out three cars before coming to a stop. Two of the cars were badly damaged, but the third was absolutely demolished. Don looked at the people in the other two cars, but he couldn't feel anything from them. Apparently they were going to live, at least for now. He walked over to the third car, but he couldn't see into it; if there was a body in there, it was smashed beyond recognition. Don sighed and looked around. There, kneeling next to the car was a young woman, she couldn't have been more than sixteen. She was sobbing. Don got the distinct feeling that she wouldn't see him until he wanted her to.
Donatello sighed and closed his eyes. As he did so, a cacophony of images flashed into his mind, images of this girl's short life. She had been a girl scout, she loved horses, and she was supposed to turn seventeen tomorrow. She hadn't led a perfect life; she'd been very mean to her little brother for most of his life, and she had told more than a few lies. However, the pervailing feeling Don received was good. He looked over to Shayl, and she just shrugged.
"Make your own judgements," she said.
Don looked down at himself...he would surely frighten this girl. "How do I appear to her without freaking her out?" He asked.
"Well...I'm not sure you can really help it, unless you choose a Demon form that's human."
Donatello sighed. That really wasn't what he wanted to do. He would just have to rely on his diplomatic skills to get through this. He wasn't -that- scary...just, different. Straightening himself out and taking a deep breath, Don did what he thought was necessary to show himself to the girl; he looked over to Shayl and she nodded.
Don walked around the car and stood in front of the sobbing girl, about six feet from her. He then knealt down slowly, hoping that she might not freak out as much if he wasn't standing over her.
"Excuse me..." He asked, keeping his voice soft. The girl gave a start and looked up, her eyes wide with shock when she saw who was speaking to her. Don put up his hands in a defensive guesture.
"I know I look strange," he said, "But I'm here to help you. The world has stopped, and I can explain why."
She girl just stared at him. She appeared as if she wanted to run but couldn't bring her feet to move. Shayl had told Don about this phenomenon...most of the time people simply weren't able to run from their Reaper. The girl seemed to be trying to control her breathing, but she couldn't seem to help herself; she was panting hysterically. She appeared to be hyperventilating. Don grimaced. He felt truly sorry for her.
"Please," he said, "I know how you feel, I really do. This very same thing happened to me just a few hours ago."
At this statement, the girl blinked. Her breathing seemed to slow a bit, and she drew one of her sleeves across her eyes, wiping away the tears.
"It...did?" she asked, her voice so quiet that Don barely heard her.
"Yes," he said almost as quietly, "It did. I was scared too, but I had someone to help me out. Now I'm here to do the same thing for you. I know I look weird...turtles aren't supposed to talk or walk on two legs." Don sighed, "But...if you're willing, I can help you understand what's going on."
The girl remained quiet for a long time, her only movement to wipe tears from her face. Don wished he had a handkerchief to give her. Finally, she took a deep breath and spoke, her voice a little stronger, but hoarse, "I want to know...what happened..." she said, her voice breaking with a sob, "I..I think that truck hit my car. I know I was in it...but now I'm not...and...and nothing's moving, just like you said." Her last words came out very fast, with a hysterical edge to them.
Donatello nodded, "You're right, I'm afraid. That truck did hit your car, and you were inside it."
The girl stared at him, and then, amazingly, she nodded. "So," she said, "I'm dead...right?"
Donatello blinked. He really thought he'd have to be the one to tell her. He hadn't grasped reality very easily when it had happened to him. "Yes," he said, "I'm sorry, but it's true. I'm here to...to take you to where people go when they die."
"I never thought it would be like this," the girl murmured, "I thought...well, I don't know what I thought." she sniffed loudly and dashed another tear from her face.
"You're doing fine," Don said, smiling. "What's your name?"
"Adrienne," the girl said.
Don nodded, "A lovely name. My name's Don." He felt a touch on his shoulder; it was Shayl. The girl couldn't see her, so Don didn't turn around. Shayl began to whisper.
"Once you take her back to the Demon world, you can't dally long. Tell her you can't stay, and tell her that you will leave her someplace where people will help her. I'll make the portal since you don't deal well with Demon world teleporting." She snorted and backed away.
Don sighed, "Well Adrienne, we can't stay here forever. It's my job to take you to your new home. It's a real nice place, with lots of nice people." Don hesitated for a moment, "It's kind of weird, too, but I think you'll get used to it. I won't be able to stay with you long once we get there, but I'm going to take you to a place where people will help you."
"You're going to leave me?" Adrienne asked, her voice frightened.
"I'm sorry," Don said, "But I have to. Don't worry, though. There will be plenty of nice people there to help you. And.." Don paused for a moment and took a deep breath, "You won't be leaving your loved ones behind forever. Everyone who dies goes where I'm taking you."
The girl seemed to brighten, so Don smiled at her and stood up. He held out his hand to her, and a portal opened up in front of him, courtesy of Shayl. The girl gasped and seemed reluctant to move, but after a moment, she took Don's hand and followed him through the portal.
----
Donatello sighed and slumped down into an easy chair in Shayl's living room. She glared at him for a moment and then sat down on the couch.
"You can't be tired," she said, "That was only -one- soul."
Don frowned at Shayl, "I'm not physically tired, but that took a lot out of me mentally. I'm not used to dealing with strangers, especially frightened teenagers."
"You're gonna have to get used to it,"
"I know, I know," Don said, frustration evident in his voice. He didn't like the side of him this woman brought out, "It's just gonna take some time, ok? A lot of crap has happened to me today, and you people expect me to just deal with it and move on. Well, news flash, my life has been completely upheaved...I'm not capable of just accepting that!" Don was shocked at the anger in his voice. He hadn't meant to yell, but he'd had just about enough.
Shayl wrinkled her nose and said nothing for several minutes. Finally, she spoke, "I'll never understand why Gaia chooses such weak-minded people to be Siyem," she sighed, "Whatever. That's enough for today. I'll spend the rest of the week teaching you easy stuff. Hopefully it won't take you more than a day to learn how to teleport." Her voice made it sound like she thought it would.
"We're not going to do any more escorts?" Don asked.
"No, I don't think so. Maybe in a few days, but I really think you should learn how to do stuff -here- before you start messing around on Earth."
"But Gaia said..."
"Gaia can bite me. We'll do a few more escorts later in the week, when -I- feel like you're ready."
Donatello nodded, but he was frowning intently. Shayl's disdain for Gaia gave him a sick feeling in his stomach. It felt to him like he was speaking to an ungrateful child, hateful of their parents for all the wrong reasons. He certainly didn't know that much about Gaia, but he couldn't help but like her. Don, now that he was connected to her, felt whole. He'd never realized before that he hadn't felt whole, but now...
"So, where am I supposed to live?" Don asked, standing up from the easy chair.
Shayl shrugged. "Hell if I know."
"That's not very helpful," Don said, crossing his arms.
Shayl sighed, "Whatever. I'll drop you off in Bonang. You can find a home there."
"I don't even know where to look!" Don wasn't as shocked this time by the anger in his voice.
"I don't give a damn."
"Look, how are you supposed to find me tomorrow if you just dump me off in Bonang without a home?"
"Just send a message Xawk to me."
Don ground his teeth, "I don't -have- one!"
"Yes, you do. Snap your fingers and say 'Xawk.'" Shayl rolled her eyes. Don wondered how on earth she expected him to already know that. Sighing, he did as she said. There was a small pop, and there fluttering in front of Don's face was a....Xawk. Don stepped back in alarm. This -thing- was not a bird. It was more like a ferret with wings, except it's fur was bright red and the wings were comprised of bony fingers connected by a thin membrane. This little Xawk's wings were quite tattered, and its fur was patchy in many places, as if it had been in numerous fights.
"Um...this is my Xawk?" Don asked.
"Yes. I beleive his name is Rudy."
"Rudy. How....nice." Don shook his head. "Ok...c'mere Rudy." Don held out his arm. Maybe the little ferret-thing wouldn't seem so creepy if he held it for a while.
The Xawk fluttered a few feet from Don, staring at him apprehensively for a moment. Then, with a little sqawk, it flew over to him and settled on his forearm. Don could feel tiny claws clutching his flesh, but they didn't break the skin. It would take more than Xawk claws to pierce the flesh of the Siyem.
"Ew!" Shayl exclaimed, "Nobody -holds- those revolting things!"
Don shrugged, "He's not that bad...kind of a mix between a ferret and a bat...though I wonder where the red fur comes from.." Don scratched his head.
Shayl made a disgusted noise, "Yuck. You're weird, Siyem. Come on, we're going to Bonang." with that she turned away from him, tore open a portal, and walked through. Don had to hurry to get through it before it closed, Rudy squawking in alarm as he was thrown off balance for a moment.
----
Don spent an hour in search of a place called 'Harlequin Homes.' He'd asked the first person he'd seen on the street where he could get a place to live, but they had failed to give him directions. Don wondered why for a moment, and then noticed a giant billboard of himself, proclaiming him as the new Siyem. Apparently the woman he'd spoken to assumed he could just teleport there.
Don gave a frustrated sigh, which Rudy echoed. The little creature had moved up to Don's shoulder, and Don had noticed more than a few people staring at it in disgust. It certainly wasn't the prettiest creature in the world, but thus far it had been nicer to him than anyone else.
Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity of looking, Don found Harlequin Homes. He sighed with relief and walked through the door. Inside there was nothing but a small desk, covered with hundreds of tiny model houses. No one was about, so Don waited. After a few minutes, he began to call out. HOwever, he realized that the only door to this place was the one he had come through. Sighing he turned to leave.
Suddenly, the very small sound of a throat clearing reached Don's ears. He turned around swiftly, but he couldn't see anyone. Then, he heard a voice.
"Down here, moron."
Don jumped and looked around the room. Then his eyes swung across the desk, and he caught a glimpse of a very tiny little man, standing on the stoop of one of the model houses. Rudy gave an excited squeal and dove from Don's shoulder, right toward the little man. The man called out in alarm and ran back into his house. Don grabbed for the Xawk, catching it by the tail and dragging it away from the desk. Rudy began to protest loudly, but Don placed his hand over his muzzle, looked him directly in the eyes, and ordered him to leave. Rudy let out a piteous cry and began to wriggle. Don released him, and he was gone.
Don rubbed his face and turned back to the desk, "Um...it's ok. The Xawk's gone."
"Are you sure?" The little voice was muffled.
"Yes. I told it to leave. It won't come back unless I call it,"
"It'd better not!" The little man yelled, stomping back out onto his stoop, "How dare you bring that vile thing into here! Why, I've got a mind to teach you a les....oh...oh, hello Mr. Siyem...sir..." The little man began to stammer incoherently.
Don grimaced, "Please don't," he said, "I'm sorry I brought him in here...I didn't know that you were...were..."
"It's ok, Mr. Siyem. If you w-want to have that little fellow eat me, that's f-fine. You can do whatever you want. I don't c-care." The little man had prostrated himself onto the desk.
"Oh..please don't do that. Get up." Don looked like he was going to throw up. The little man stood up hastily, though his face showed a great deal of fear.
"What can I d-do for you...Mr. Siyem, sir?"
"Call me Donatello, please," Don said, "I just need a home...somebody told me to come here."
The little man nodded, bobbing up and down as he did so. "Yes...yes I can give you a home. Which one would you like? Pick anything!"
"Um...how much do they cost? I don't have any money.." Don felt foolish.
"Money? Forgive me, sir...um..Donatello, but you don't need money. Nobody does!"
"No money? You just do this all for nothing?" Don was shocked.
"Well, no sir...Donatello. I do this because everybody does something, and since everybody does something, everything gets done, and everything can be free!"
"But, who picks up the trash?"
"Um...nobody. The trash just disappears. And....nobody goes to the bathroom, so we don't have that problem...oh...I'm sorry...I'm sure you knew that, sir. I shouldn't be trying to tell you things when of course you know them. You're the Siyem. Oh sir, please forgive me!" The man prostrated himself on the desk again.
Donatello groaned. "It's ok...get up, please. I know you think I must know everything because I'm the Siyem, but I really don't know anything! I've only just arrived in this stupid world, and nobody has helped me at all! Seriously, anything you tell me will be of great help."
The little man stood up, surprise evident on his face. "How can the Siyem not know anything?" he asked.
"I'm new. I still have to learn everything. The Siyem doesn't know everything the instant he or she is created."
"Really? Nobody ever told me that. I bet nobody knows that!" The little man was clearly dumbfounded.
"Well, tell everybody, I don't care." Don rubbed his face, "Do you think you could get me a home? I'm really tired and I'm sick of wandering around this city....I still haven't figured out why demons get tired. I'm never hungry or thirsty, but I know that I can eat and drink...and how can we not go to the bathroom if we eat and drink? It doesn't make any sense!"
The little man was staring at Donatello, his mouth gaping. "You really -don't- know, do you?" He asked.
"No, I don't. I don't know a damn thing."
The little man seemed almost relieved, "Well...I can help you, sir. Yes I can. First of all. Let's get you a house. That's really all I can help you with. I dunno why people can eat but don't have to, and I dunno why we get tired. We just do...that's they way it is. But anyway! Pick out a house...any one you like!" The little man waved his hand, apparently indicating the houses on the desk. Don wondered how that would help him, but he'd learned not to assume things in this place. He carefully perused the houses, until he came to a small one, apparently made of brick, and stone chimney jutting out of the peaked roof.
"Oh, you like that one?" The man asked, his little face crinkled into a smile, "That's a very nice house. Where would you like it to be located?"
Don blinked. "Um...I don't know. I've only been a few places. This city, the field where I was inducted, and this enormous grassy plain."
"Ah! The grass sea. Wonderful place. Would you like to live there?"
Don shrugged. "I guess so. It was definitely pretty. Just don't put me too close to anybody else." Don hoped he would figure out teleporting soon...living out in the middle of a field wasn't a good way to get supplies.
"No problem," the little man said and snapped his fingers. "Your house is created. Enjoy!"
Don hesitated for a moment, and then reluctantly spoke, "Um...I was wondering if you might...create a portal to it? I'm not real good at that."
The little man looked at Don as if he were joking. Then, after several moments, he realized that he was not. "You...you can't do it?" The little man seemed to be fighting an inner battle, "..I..but, you're the Siyem!"
Don sagged his shoulders, "I know. It was the first thing I was taught today, but for some reason I've been having problems with it. I can teleport to Earth just fine," Don said, somewhat defensively.
The little man shook his head, "So hard to beleive. Sir, I like you. I think you're just what we need around here. I don't think there's a Reaper in the world who'd admit something like that...wow..." The little man shook his head again. Apparently Don's admission had completely erased this man's fears of speaking his mind.
"Well, it's no problem making a portal for you," he said, motioning Don closer, "But I hope you figure it out soon, cause you're in the middle of nowhere out there. The house'll have all the basic furnishings, but if there's anything you need, you'll have to come to a city." The little man shrugged and waved his hand. A portal opened next to Don.
"Thank you," Don said, "Feel free to tell people what I'm like. I'm getting tired of people treating me like I'm the best thing ever." Don smiled and stepped through the portal.
After he was gone, the little man stood for several minutes, shaking his head in disbelief. Then, he turned on his heel and headed back into his little house.
"Loretta!" he called, "You'll never beleive what just happened to me!"
----
Surprisingly, Donatello understood the difficult act of teleporting to Earth almost the moment it was taught to him. Shayl was shocked, and rather angry, considering the two hours of trouble they'd gone through trying to get him to teleport within the demon world.
"I don't get it," she huffed as they walked down a sidewalk in Cleveland, "How can you teleport here, but not back in the Demon world?"
Donatello shrugged as he watched all the people passing them as if they weren't there.
"It's strange to walk down a sidewalk in broad daylight," Don said.
"I forgot that you're in your original form. I get so used to people looking unhuman." Shayl wrinkled her nose as a boy ran underneath her legs. An adult was chasing him, and without even knowing he had done it, he sidestepped the pair of Reapers and continued on his way.
"Yeah...I was trained as a ninja. Never in a million years would I have walked around out in the open," Don sighed, "Oh well. That part of my life is over."
"It is...and now it's time to train you for the next part. Can you feel the imminence of death?"
Don stopped walking and closed his eyes. Shayl had described the feeling to him, but it seemed as if he already knew what to look for.
"I feel it," he said suddenly, "Follow me." Don waved his arm and tore open a portal...a portal that lead to another place on Earth. As he did this, time began to slow, until not a soul was moving, not a sound could be heard.
Don looked around for a moment in wonder, and then jumped through his portal. Shayl followed.
They emerged in the middle of a highway, but the cars were frozen in place; they wouldn't have hit the two Reapers even if they were moving. Don looked around and realized that he had misjudged the location; he wanted the southbound lanes, not the northbound. Shayl shot him a sour look, but he just shrugged and made another portal. They stepped through, and Don cringed at the scene before them. It had only happened moments before; a semi truck had lost control and jacknifed, taking out three cars before coming to a stop. Two of the cars were badly damaged, but the third was absolutely demolished. Don looked at the people in the other two cars, but he couldn't feel anything from them. Apparently they were going to live, at least for now. He walked over to the third car, but he couldn't see into it; if there was a body in there, it was smashed beyond recognition. Don sighed and looked around. There, kneeling next to the car was a young woman, she couldn't have been more than sixteen. She was sobbing. Don got the distinct feeling that she wouldn't see him until he wanted her to.
Donatello sighed and closed his eyes. As he did so, a cacophony of images flashed into his mind, images of this girl's short life. She had been a girl scout, she loved horses, and she was supposed to turn seventeen tomorrow. She hadn't led a perfect life; she'd been very mean to her little brother for most of his life, and she had told more than a few lies. However, the pervailing feeling Don received was good. He looked over to Shayl, and she just shrugged.
"Make your own judgements," she said.
Don looked down at himself...he would surely frighten this girl. "How do I appear to her without freaking her out?" He asked.
"Well...I'm not sure you can really help it, unless you choose a Demon form that's human."
Donatello sighed. That really wasn't what he wanted to do. He would just have to rely on his diplomatic skills to get through this. He wasn't -that- scary...just, different. Straightening himself out and taking a deep breath, Don did what he thought was necessary to show himself to the girl; he looked over to Shayl and she nodded.
Don walked around the car and stood in front of the sobbing girl, about six feet from her. He then knealt down slowly, hoping that she might not freak out as much if he wasn't standing over her.
"Excuse me..." He asked, keeping his voice soft. The girl gave a start and looked up, her eyes wide with shock when she saw who was speaking to her. Don put up his hands in a defensive guesture.
"I know I look strange," he said, "But I'm here to help you. The world has stopped, and I can explain why."
She girl just stared at him. She appeared as if she wanted to run but couldn't bring her feet to move. Shayl had told Don about this phenomenon...most of the time people simply weren't able to run from their Reaper. The girl seemed to be trying to control her breathing, but she couldn't seem to help herself; she was panting hysterically. She appeared to be hyperventilating. Don grimaced. He felt truly sorry for her.
"Please," he said, "I know how you feel, I really do. This very same thing happened to me just a few hours ago."
At this statement, the girl blinked. Her breathing seemed to slow a bit, and she drew one of her sleeves across her eyes, wiping away the tears.
"It...did?" she asked, her voice so quiet that Don barely heard her.
"Yes," he said almost as quietly, "It did. I was scared too, but I had someone to help me out. Now I'm here to do the same thing for you. I know I look weird...turtles aren't supposed to talk or walk on two legs." Don sighed, "But...if you're willing, I can help you understand what's going on."
The girl remained quiet for a long time, her only movement to wipe tears from her face. Don wished he had a handkerchief to give her. Finally, she took a deep breath and spoke, her voice a little stronger, but hoarse, "I want to know...what happened..." she said, her voice breaking with a sob, "I..I think that truck hit my car. I know I was in it...but now I'm not...and...and nothing's moving, just like you said." Her last words came out very fast, with a hysterical edge to them.
Donatello nodded, "You're right, I'm afraid. That truck did hit your car, and you were inside it."
The girl stared at him, and then, amazingly, she nodded. "So," she said, "I'm dead...right?"
Donatello blinked. He really thought he'd have to be the one to tell her. He hadn't grasped reality very easily when it had happened to him. "Yes," he said, "I'm sorry, but it's true. I'm here to...to take you to where people go when they die."
"I never thought it would be like this," the girl murmured, "I thought...well, I don't know what I thought." she sniffed loudly and dashed another tear from her face.
"You're doing fine," Don said, smiling. "What's your name?"
"Adrienne," the girl said.
Don nodded, "A lovely name. My name's Don." He felt a touch on his shoulder; it was Shayl. The girl couldn't see her, so Don didn't turn around. Shayl began to whisper.
"Once you take her back to the Demon world, you can't dally long. Tell her you can't stay, and tell her that you will leave her someplace where people will help her. I'll make the portal since you don't deal well with Demon world teleporting." She snorted and backed away.
Don sighed, "Well Adrienne, we can't stay here forever. It's my job to take you to your new home. It's a real nice place, with lots of nice people." Don hesitated for a moment, "It's kind of weird, too, but I think you'll get used to it. I won't be able to stay with you long once we get there, but I'm going to take you to a place where people will help you."
"You're going to leave me?" Adrienne asked, her voice frightened.
"I'm sorry," Don said, "But I have to. Don't worry, though. There will be plenty of nice people there to help you. And.." Don paused for a moment and took a deep breath, "You won't be leaving your loved ones behind forever. Everyone who dies goes where I'm taking you."
The girl seemed to brighten, so Don smiled at her and stood up. He held out his hand to her, and a portal opened up in front of him, courtesy of Shayl. The girl gasped and seemed reluctant to move, but after a moment, she took Don's hand and followed him through the portal.
----
Donatello sighed and slumped down into an easy chair in Shayl's living room. She glared at him for a moment and then sat down on the couch.
"You can't be tired," she said, "That was only -one- soul."
Don frowned at Shayl, "I'm not physically tired, but that took a lot out of me mentally. I'm not used to dealing with strangers, especially frightened teenagers."
"You're gonna have to get used to it,"
"I know, I know," Don said, frustration evident in his voice. He didn't like the side of him this woman brought out, "It's just gonna take some time, ok? A lot of crap has happened to me today, and you people expect me to just deal with it and move on. Well, news flash, my life has been completely upheaved...I'm not capable of just accepting that!" Don was shocked at the anger in his voice. He hadn't meant to yell, but he'd had just about enough.
Shayl wrinkled her nose and said nothing for several minutes. Finally, she spoke, "I'll never understand why Gaia chooses such weak-minded people to be Siyem," she sighed, "Whatever. That's enough for today. I'll spend the rest of the week teaching you easy stuff. Hopefully it won't take you more than a day to learn how to teleport." Her voice made it sound like she thought it would.
"We're not going to do any more escorts?" Don asked.
"No, I don't think so. Maybe in a few days, but I really think you should learn how to do stuff -here- before you start messing around on Earth."
"But Gaia said..."
"Gaia can bite me. We'll do a few more escorts later in the week, when -I- feel like you're ready."
Donatello nodded, but he was frowning intently. Shayl's disdain for Gaia gave him a sick feeling in his stomach. It felt to him like he was speaking to an ungrateful child, hateful of their parents for all the wrong reasons. He certainly didn't know that much about Gaia, but he couldn't help but like her. Don, now that he was connected to her, felt whole. He'd never realized before that he hadn't felt whole, but now...
"So, where am I supposed to live?" Don asked, standing up from the easy chair.
Shayl shrugged. "Hell if I know."
"That's not very helpful," Don said, crossing his arms.
Shayl sighed, "Whatever. I'll drop you off in Bonang. You can find a home there."
"I don't even know where to look!" Don wasn't as shocked this time by the anger in his voice.
"I don't give a damn."
"Look, how are you supposed to find me tomorrow if you just dump me off in Bonang without a home?"
"Just send a message Xawk to me."
Don ground his teeth, "I don't -have- one!"
"Yes, you do. Snap your fingers and say 'Xawk.'" Shayl rolled her eyes. Don wondered how on earth she expected him to already know that. Sighing, he did as she said. There was a small pop, and there fluttering in front of Don's face was a....Xawk. Don stepped back in alarm. This -thing- was not a bird. It was more like a ferret with wings, except it's fur was bright red and the wings were comprised of bony fingers connected by a thin membrane. This little Xawk's wings were quite tattered, and its fur was patchy in many places, as if it had been in numerous fights.
"Um...this is my Xawk?" Don asked.
"Yes. I beleive his name is Rudy."
"Rudy. How....nice." Don shook his head. "Ok...c'mere Rudy." Don held out his arm. Maybe the little ferret-thing wouldn't seem so creepy if he held it for a while.
The Xawk fluttered a few feet from Don, staring at him apprehensively for a moment. Then, with a little sqawk, it flew over to him and settled on his forearm. Don could feel tiny claws clutching his flesh, but they didn't break the skin. It would take more than Xawk claws to pierce the flesh of the Siyem.
"Ew!" Shayl exclaimed, "Nobody -holds- those revolting things!"
Don shrugged, "He's not that bad...kind of a mix between a ferret and a bat...though I wonder where the red fur comes from.." Don scratched his head.
Shayl made a disgusted noise, "Yuck. You're weird, Siyem. Come on, we're going to Bonang." with that she turned away from him, tore open a portal, and walked through. Don had to hurry to get through it before it closed, Rudy squawking in alarm as he was thrown off balance for a moment.
----
Don spent an hour in search of a place called 'Harlequin Homes.' He'd asked the first person he'd seen on the street where he could get a place to live, but they had failed to give him directions. Don wondered why for a moment, and then noticed a giant billboard of himself, proclaiming him as the new Siyem. Apparently the woman he'd spoken to assumed he could just teleport there.
Don gave a frustrated sigh, which Rudy echoed. The little creature had moved up to Don's shoulder, and Don had noticed more than a few people staring at it in disgust. It certainly wasn't the prettiest creature in the world, but thus far it had been nicer to him than anyone else.
Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity of looking, Don found Harlequin Homes. He sighed with relief and walked through the door. Inside there was nothing but a small desk, covered with hundreds of tiny model houses. No one was about, so Don waited. After a few minutes, he began to call out. HOwever, he realized that the only door to this place was the one he had come through. Sighing he turned to leave.
Suddenly, the very small sound of a throat clearing reached Don's ears. He turned around swiftly, but he couldn't see anyone. Then, he heard a voice.
"Down here, moron."
Don jumped and looked around the room. Then his eyes swung across the desk, and he caught a glimpse of a very tiny little man, standing on the stoop of one of the model houses. Rudy gave an excited squeal and dove from Don's shoulder, right toward the little man. The man called out in alarm and ran back into his house. Don grabbed for the Xawk, catching it by the tail and dragging it away from the desk. Rudy began to protest loudly, but Don placed his hand over his muzzle, looked him directly in the eyes, and ordered him to leave. Rudy let out a piteous cry and began to wriggle. Don released him, and he was gone.
Don rubbed his face and turned back to the desk, "Um...it's ok. The Xawk's gone."
"Are you sure?" The little voice was muffled.
"Yes. I told it to leave. It won't come back unless I call it,"
"It'd better not!" The little man yelled, stomping back out onto his stoop, "How dare you bring that vile thing into here! Why, I've got a mind to teach you a les....oh...oh, hello Mr. Siyem...sir..." The little man began to stammer incoherently.
Don grimaced, "Please don't," he said, "I'm sorry I brought him in here...I didn't know that you were...were..."
"It's ok, Mr. Siyem. If you w-want to have that little fellow eat me, that's f-fine. You can do whatever you want. I don't c-care." The little man had prostrated himself onto the desk.
"Oh..please don't do that. Get up." Don looked like he was going to throw up. The little man stood up hastily, though his face showed a great deal of fear.
"What can I d-do for you...Mr. Siyem, sir?"
"Call me Donatello, please," Don said, "I just need a home...somebody told me to come here."
The little man nodded, bobbing up and down as he did so. "Yes...yes I can give you a home. Which one would you like? Pick anything!"
"Um...how much do they cost? I don't have any money.." Don felt foolish.
"Money? Forgive me, sir...um..Donatello, but you don't need money. Nobody does!"
"No money? You just do this all for nothing?" Don was shocked.
"Well, no sir...Donatello. I do this because everybody does something, and since everybody does something, everything gets done, and everything can be free!"
"But, who picks up the trash?"
"Um...nobody. The trash just disappears. And....nobody goes to the bathroom, so we don't have that problem...oh...I'm sorry...I'm sure you knew that, sir. I shouldn't be trying to tell you things when of course you know them. You're the Siyem. Oh sir, please forgive me!" The man prostrated himself on the desk again.
Donatello groaned. "It's ok...get up, please. I know you think I must know everything because I'm the Siyem, but I really don't know anything! I've only just arrived in this stupid world, and nobody has helped me at all! Seriously, anything you tell me will be of great help."
The little man stood up, surprise evident on his face. "How can the Siyem not know anything?" he asked.
"I'm new. I still have to learn everything. The Siyem doesn't know everything the instant he or she is created."
"Really? Nobody ever told me that. I bet nobody knows that!" The little man was clearly dumbfounded.
"Well, tell everybody, I don't care." Don rubbed his face, "Do you think you could get me a home? I'm really tired and I'm sick of wandering around this city....I still haven't figured out why demons get tired. I'm never hungry or thirsty, but I know that I can eat and drink...and how can we not go to the bathroom if we eat and drink? It doesn't make any sense!"
The little man was staring at Donatello, his mouth gaping. "You really -don't- know, do you?" He asked.
"No, I don't. I don't know a damn thing."
The little man seemed almost relieved, "Well...I can help you, sir. Yes I can. First of all. Let's get you a house. That's really all I can help you with. I dunno why people can eat but don't have to, and I dunno why we get tired. We just do...that's they way it is. But anyway! Pick out a house...any one you like!" The little man waved his hand, apparently indicating the houses on the desk. Don wondered how that would help him, but he'd learned not to assume things in this place. He carefully perused the houses, until he came to a small one, apparently made of brick, and stone chimney jutting out of the peaked roof.
"Oh, you like that one?" The man asked, his little face crinkled into a smile, "That's a very nice house. Where would you like it to be located?"
Don blinked. "Um...I don't know. I've only been a few places. This city, the field where I was inducted, and this enormous grassy plain."
"Ah! The grass sea. Wonderful place. Would you like to live there?"
Don shrugged. "I guess so. It was definitely pretty. Just don't put me too close to anybody else." Don hoped he would figure out teleporting soon...living out in the middle of a field wasn't a good way to get supplies.
"No problem," the little man said and snapped his fingers. "Your house is created. Enjoy!"
Don hesitated for a moment, and then reluctantly spoke, "Um...I was wondering if you might...create a portal to it? I'm not real good at that."
The little man looked at Don as if he were joking. Then, after several moments, he realized that he was not. "You...you can't do it?" The little man seemed to be fighting an inner battle, "..I..but, you're the Siyem!"
Don sagged his shoulders, "I know. It was the first thing I was taught today, but for some reason I've been having problems with it. I can teleport to Earth just fine," Don said, somewhat defensively.
The little man shook his head, "So hard to beleive. Sir, I like you. I think you're just what we need around here. I don't think there's a Reaper in the world who'd admit something like that...wow..." The little man shook his head again. Apparently Don's admission had completely erased this man's fears of speaking his mind.
"Well, it's no problem making a portal for you," he said, motioning Don closer, "But I hope you figure it out soon, cause you're in the middle of nowhere out there. The house'll have all the basic furnishings, but if there's anything you need, you'll have to come to a city." The little man shrugged and waved his hand. A portal opened next to Don.
"Thank you," Don said, "Feel free to tell people what I'm like. I'm getting tired of people treating me like I'm the best thing ever." Don smiled and stepped through the portal.
After he was gone, the little man stood for several minutes, shaking his head in disbelief. Then, he turned on his heel and headed back into his little house.
"Loretta!" he called, "You'll never beleive what just happened to me!"