Return to My Heart (con't)
Keetra: Back again! Thanx for all the reviews and special thank you to banryuu for telling me that Gaean horses are called Yorkles. I wasn't able to find it anywhere, though I've been DYING to know. Thankies! And now, after much hard debate within my mind and many brain cells fried, I give you, the next chapter! Oh, and if it seems to be rushed…. Well, it kind of is. A lot happens in a fairly short period of time and they all need to be touched on, so sorry if it bothers anyone.
Chapter Four: The Solution
Hitomi stared at Edwin in the aftermath of the shocking announcement.
'Van, is that possible? Is it the drag-energist that's killing you?' Hitomi asked.
Hitomi heard Van sigh heavily.
'It is. I knew it when I connected to Escaflowne.'
This came as more of a shock than Edwin's announcement.
'Then why? Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you stop it?' Hitomi fought hard to keep from crying, knowing the others would see.
"Hitomi?" Millerna's voice cut off any response Van may have wanted to give. "Are you alright?"
Hitomi opened her eyes. Everyone except two faces were looking at her with different measurements of concern. Corbin and Benji looked annoyed.
"Van knew. He said he knew this would happen." She looked up at Edwin. "Can we stop it? Now that we know what we're dealing with, surely-" she stopped seeing the sad face of Edwin.
"I have determined the problem, yes. However, the solutions I found… I'm not as certain to how successful they may be."
"Go on, doctor." One of the nameless council members urged.
"The least dangerous conclusion, is to acquire another fresh dragon heart and create a new bond between the Guymelef and the King."
"You call THAT the least dangerous!" Corbin exclaimed, rising to his feet.
"The King must slay his own dragons. That is the law which was set in place to preserve the relationship between Fanelia and its protecting dragons." The elder council member recited as if teaching a young one.
"And how would you suggest he do that, old man!" Corbin challenged, fully aware of the disrespect he was showing.
"Gentlemen, please, calm yourselves. This option must be thought through logically." Garret cut in calmly.
'Fools. Too busy arguing to realize it wouldn't work.' Van commented.
"It wouldn't work?" Hitomi gasps, covering her mouth as she realizes she spoke aloud. Everyone turns to look at her.
'Of course not. If my blood's contaminated or whatever, then Escaflowne would not recognize the blood as mine. It's like taking out a worn out energist from a Guymelef and putting another worn out energist form a different dragon, expecting it to work like a new one. Using a different dragon doesn't solve the problem.'
"As I was about to say, and as the Lady Hitomi has said for me, I discovered this method would not work. The Lord Van's blood is too contaminated to form the bond needed." Edwin announced. "However, I do submit this as a remedy if the illness is identified sooner."
"Wouldn't that mean killing a dragon every few years? That does not seem right!" Millerna spoke up, shocked.
"As sad of a solution as it may be, Princess, it is a solution to be kept in mind."
Millerna looked like she wanted to disagree, but a squeeze of Allen's hand on her arm stilled any objections she would have voiced.
"The other conclusion would be to replace the King's blood with that of another draconian. When Zaibach's Strategos, also known as Folken, claimed sanctuary, he shared with us an invention used by Zaibach to produce his so-called 'Luck Soldiers.' He gave to us sketches of the design and a manual on how it could be used. I believe it could be used to replace the King's blood with that of another half-draconian." Edwin paused for a breath. "There are, however, many dangers and side-effects to be considered here. First of all, even Folken admitted to the high fatality rate of those who use the machine."
"He's dying anyways," Corbin chimed in, half downing a glass of wine.
Everyone ignored him.
"Another fact," Edwin continued. "This would permanently severe any link the King has with Escaflowne. Because Escaflowne would not recognize the blood as that of a Fanelian royal family, Lord Van, and any descendants of his, would never again be able to awaken Escaflowne."
"Outrageous!" one of the council members voiced.
"Indeed." Garret offered, "Escaflowne is the best defense that Fanelia has to offer. To do this would deplete our defensive capabilities."
"It's not the Guymelef that makes the good fighter," Allen objects, "but it is the warrior inside. All guymelef fighters know and understand this."
"The Escaflowne is no more than a symbol of our relationship with the dragons around this country." The old council member spoke again. "To break the pact with it is to break the bond between us and the dragons."
"You may have no choice." Dryden pointed out. "Unless you have another solution, doctor…" Dryden pauses.
Edwin shakes his head.
"Those were the only two that I could think of. I reached the discovery last night."
Dryden nodded.
"Since the first obviously cannot be considered now, the only one left is this one. You can argue about it for days, but remember the urgency of this situation. Your King is dying." Dryden stated with his usual lack of tact, "If you spend too long arguing about it, your King could be dead before you reach an agreement." With that, he stopped, meeting the eyes of those around him without backing down.
A moment of silence followed.
"Doctor," Garrett spoke up, "how long would it take to set your plan in motion. Does the King have enough time?"
Edwin sighs heavily.
"To tell the truth, it is difficult to say. His breathing and heart rate have slowed since the Lady Hitomi arrived, perhaps a side affect from her contact with him. My best estimate is that he may live for another three months. Though I suggest taking action within the second month, since the King's veins may start to deteriorate after then. I already has engineers constructing the device. They assure me it will be ready in less than a month."
"Good. Now, are there any further questions?" Garrett asks, looking around the table.
"I have one more, Doctor," Hitomi speaks up, "You mentioned Van's blood would be replaced by another half-draconian."
Edwin seems to anticipate her question then.
"Ah, yes. Thank you for reminding me. Yes, since the King is a half-draconian, half-human, the blood needed to replace his would have to be of the same."
"You need us to find a half-draconian?" Allen spoke, bewildered.
"Doctor," Garrett spoke again, "I'm not sure you understand how difficult that would be. One does not simply walk out the front door and find a draconian, never mind a half-draconian. Do you intend for us to search the whole planet for something that very well may not exist outside the Fanelia royal family?"
"On the contrary, sir. I know there is one other. In fact, I already found her. Well, actually, she found me." Edwin nodded to the guards, who opened the door, startled to find someone standing outside it.
Through the door walks a young girl, looking no older than thirteen. Her pitch black hair reaches just past her shoulders and a few bangs cover the left of her crystal blue eyes. She wears a light blue jumper with a white tank top. Contrary to the little girl appearance, she steps through the room with the grace and presence of a full grown woman and does a small bow towards those at the table. Edwin walks behind her and puts his hands gently on her shoulders.
"Allow me to introduce Miss Daphne Dracon. She is a direct descendant of the first Draconian on her mother's side. Her father was human, a small merchant living in the outskirts of Freid. She tells me it is her destiny to help the King of Fanelia and has agreed to help us."
"Outrageous!" Benji nearly snarls, standing up in protest. "You expect our King's noble blood to be replaced by this woman's? Not even a woman! A girl, not yet old enough to do her duty as a woman. I will not allow it; it is an insult to Fanelia's leadership."
Hitomi's rage swells within her, as well as several others around the table. Benji's grudge and disrespect for women was well know, but would he really endanger his King's life because of it?
Surprised that Corbin has not spoken to this remark, Hitomi manages a glance in his direction. She is slightly surprised to see him faced-down asleep with his head on the table. Since no one has bothered to wake him up, Hitomi realizes she is not the only one who disapproves of him. A servant silently walks over and reclaims the empty glass as well as the almost empty bottle.
The doctor steps in front of Daphne and looks directly into Benji's eyes.
"Daphne is a half-breed Draconian. Even a full Draconian is hard to find in Gaea, their kind being horribly mistreated and despised for the demise of Atlantis. If you know of another half-Draconian, Captain Benji, then I suggest you bring this person here. I would not wish to insult the great kingdom of Fanelia by saving its King's life. If in one month, another half-Draconian is not found, Daphne will fulfill what she believes is her destiny, foretold at her birth."
Benji's hands shake in his anger at the obvious mockery. Unable to control his rage, he storms out of the door, knocking aside a guard that tries to stop him.
"Well, I guess that's it then." Garrett states, shaking his head. "By law, we cannot continue the meeting without all of the representatives. However, seeing as how all that's left is the final vote, I think we can safely assume what Benji would put as his. Now…" He turns back to the others, "All those in favor of the plan presented by Doctor Edwin for construction of the machine and the replacing of Van's blood with the blood of this half-Draconian female, raise your hand." Garrett raises his hand. Immediately, Dryden's hand follows, as well as Allen's and Millerna's. Prince Chid raises his hand soon afterwards, and the older council member as well. Then the other council member also raised his hand, though very slowly, as if waiting till the last moment for another option to be presented. Garrett looked to Hitomi, but Hitomi only looked at the girl. Daphne still stood behind Doctor Edwin, her head nodding approvingly as each hand raised. Then, she looked at Hitomi as well, the last in the room to not have placed a vote, besides Corbin.
The girl. What would happen to her afterwards? Something doesn't seem right. She said it was her destiny, her fate, Hitomi wondered to herself, shaking her head.
"Lady Hitomi?" Garrett asked politely, snapping Hitomi back to the present situation.
"Doctor… the girl… what will happen to her?" Hitomi asks, not breaking eye contact with Daphne.
Edwin shook his head.
"I do not know. The machine will extract enough of her blood to sustain the King. He will sleep for a while as the blood replicates itself within his body. This is what I know. However, what I do not know is how much blood that will require," Edwin admits.
Hitomi keeps looking at Daphne.
"You want this? You want to take this chance for someone you don't know? Why?" Hitomi asks her.
Daphne smiles slightly.
"It is my fate, told to me my a great seer when I was barely born. 'When a ruler's time is short, in your hands will be his life. In Fanelia, there comes a blood sacrifice.'" Daphne nods at Hitomi. "The King's time is short and I hold his life in the palm of my hands by offering my life as the blood sacrifice in the land of Fanelia. I have made my choice. What is yours, Hitomi Kanzaki?"
The entire room gasps as Hitomi shakes her head.
"No, I won't accept that. I'm sorry, but my vote is no. There has to be another way and I'll find it."
Daphne shakes her head, but says nothing.
"Your vote is noted, Lady Hitomi." Garrett replies. "The vote stands at six approve and three," he pauses slightly, with a glance at Corbin, "against. The majority has spoken in favor. Doctor, you may proceed with any assistance you may require."
"Thank you, counselor." Edwin replies with a slight bow. He turns and escorts Daphne back to the room they had entered from.
Garret turns to the remaining counsel. "If there is nothing else," He pauses, waiting for someone to speak up. No one does. "I call this meeting adjourned then. I bid all of you good day."
Everyone who was seated now rises and some begin to leave.
"Hitomi? Are you alright?" Millerna asks, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Fine." Hitomi replied glumly, before walking away from them and out the door. Chelsea stood, waiting patiently across the hall.
"Lady Hitomi, where shall I escort you to?" Chelsea asked with a slight bow.
Hitomi sighed. All the bowing was starting to aggravate her.
"Please show me to the Library, Chelsea. I want to look through some things."
"Yes, Mistress." Chelsea replied with another bow.
"And Chelsea, call me Hitomi, not Lady Hitomi. I want to be your friend, not your mistress. Is that alright?"
Chelsea smiled with glee. "Yes La-, I mean Hitomi. I would like to be your friend. Should I show you to the library now?"
Hitomi sighed, knowing Chelsea would take a while to sop being so formal to her.
"Yes, thank you, Chelsea."
Many long hallways later, Hitomi in a large room filled to the ceiling with books of all shapes and sizes, lined up very neatly on a vast number of dark brown wooden shelves. She walked between the aisles and the next aisle was filled with scrolls, stacked not quite as neatly with many small notes attached to the shelves here and there.
'Hitomi, what are you hoping to find?' Van asked her.
'A different solution. There's got to be a way that we can help you without sacrificing a little girl.'
'Doctor Edwin looked, Hitomi. He would not have brought it before the counsel if it would not work.'
'He only looked for one night, Van. I have a month to find something else.' Hitomi walked the aisles, looking for something that would give her a clue to what things were, but she barely knew any of the Gaean written language.'Van, help me, please.'
'Alright.' Van translated the scrolls, and told her a little of how everything was organized.
For the next month, Hitomi looked through books and scrolls, always looking for another way, but each scroll held nothing that helped her and the books were only from the time they defeated the Zaibach Empire. Most of them held accounts of the lives lost, who was stationed where in the final battle and so on. Some of the books were dedicated to technology found in the Zaibach Empire, but most of it was inconclusive because of how advanced the technology was and only Freid was at a point where they understood some of the technology and adapted it to their use. Everything had been destroyed that was found, to prevent another country from repeating Zaibach's blunder.
A little over a month later...
Hitomi was in the library, yet again. By now, she had remembered a lot more of the Gaean written language and was able to read the scrolls with very little help from Van. She closed the last scroll on the table with a sigh.
"It's no use. I've read through most of these already. All the past Kings insisted that the doctors not try and help solve the illness, only to try and relieve the pain. I don't know where else to look, Van."
'Take a break, Hitomi, you need it and so do I. We've looked for the month and not found anything. I think it's time we accepted Edwin's idea,' Van told her gently.
Hitomi sighed, knowing he was right, again. She placed the scrolls back where they belonged and walked out of the library with a defeated pose. She walked down hall after hall, not really caring much where she was going. When her meandering landed her at the front door, she opened it, and walked out into the streets. All around her people called a greeting to her and waved. Hitomi waved back absently, but did not stop. Eventually she found herself walking into the woods and walking along a small path. Slightly curious, and with nothing else to do, she followed the path to its destination. She looked sadly at the grave of Van's brother Folken before turning her gaze to the right and looking at Escaflowne. The guymelef sat exactly where it was the last time she had seen it, crouched next to the grave as if guarding it.
"So," a voice cut in, startling Hitomi. The voice belonged to Daphne, standing not very far away, further back along the path Hitomi had followed. "This is the Escaflowne everyone is talking about?"
Hitomi nodded, watching as Daphne approached and made a slight bow to Escaflowne before laying a hand on the cold metal surface. Hitomi started to speak but Daphne held up a small hand.
"No, I want to tell you something first. I want to tell you why I want to help Doctor Edwin save King Van." Daphne sat down upon the ground and gestured for Hitomi to do the same. She waited until Hitomi sat before continuing. "As the doctor said, I'm half-draconian. My mother's side is very proud of their pure Draconian blood that is said to be directly descended to Draconian, the lady who found the Dragon Heart that allowed us to power the Fate Alteration machine and allowed our greatest desires to be granted." Saying this, she brought out a necklace hidden within a pouch around her waist.
Hitomi gasped as she recognized the necklace that was also around the neck of Draconian, the woman who had helped her to help Van.
"This is what is left of the heart." Daphne continued, "Though this may seem large, being almost the size of the energists used in the guymelefs, this is actually only a quarter of the size of the original. The Atlanteans, now referred to as Draconians, broke of small pieces and encased them within small pink jewels and wore them as necklaces. The remainder was encased in a jewel it barely fit and was presented to Draconian as a gift to show the world who had given them the ability. Later, after her death, the ones graced with pieces of the heart began to call themselves Draconians in her honor." She held the necklace delicately and with pride. "This necklace has been passed down to the first daughters of my family. My mother wore it as well. Then my mother fell in love with a human she met in her wanderings. It was awhile before she realized that she was with child and was afraid of what her family would do, so she went into hiding, saying she needed to get away. The man who was to be her fiancé went as well and died in a landslide accident. A few months after my birth, my mother went back to the village and claimed me as her fiancé's child, but no one was fooled. To them, it was obvious of my half-human heritage. They banned myself and my mother, accusing her for murdering her betrothed. A friend of my mother's, feeling sympathy, helped my mother find the village my father resided in and he happily took us in. My mother and her friend raised me, cautioning me to never reveal to any human what I was, telling me I would be hated and feared. When I was almost four years of age, my mother died, her dying wish being for me to have the necklace that was mine my birthright. Resla, her friend, insisted that I should, even if I was half-human. A year later, while in lessons secretly with Resla on how to fly, I was spotted by one of the villagers. Immediately, all the village turned against us and my father as well. Resla and father told me to run and never look back. I ran, as told, until a fell to the ground, barely able to draw breath." Daphne paused, a little as she held back a sob. Hitomi felt strong pity for her.
"I've never seen them again, even though I've asked everywhere if anyone has seen them." Daphne turned her face upwards, as if searching the skies. "I began to wander Gaea, not really knowing where I was going. I learned quickly how to hunt and find edible food and drinkable water. Eventually, I found a forest with other Draconians and they allowed me to spend the night there. It was that night that I was told the prophecy by an old lady there. Ever since, I've been wanting to fulfill it. I'm a half-Draconian, unwanted by both worlds. It's all that's left for me."
"But it shouldn't be! It's just wrong that the only reason you live is to die." Hitomi argued, hoping to help the girl.
"No, to help the king is the reason for my life." Daphne explained. "It was fate that I should be born half-human to save another half-human. He has people who love him, and a kingdom that mourns his illness. He was able to prove that he can help people. It was my fate to be born to save his life so that he could continue to change human attitudes towards those born with Atlantean blood. The one question that we always wonder is if our lives have purpose. I know this is my purpose; it is the meaning of my very existence. It is the reason I came here and sought out the doctor in charge. Please do not deny me the right to carry out my fate."
Hitomi is stunned by this girl's stubbornness in wanting to die. She had never come across another so driven to carry out such a sad fate. Most wanted to avoid such a sad end, and yet this girl was seeking it with all her heart. Hitomi sighed in defeat, making Daphne smile a little. The girl stood and bowed slightly to Hitomi.
"Thank you, for listening and for understanding." She said before walking off back down the path.
Hitomi sits in silence, watching her walk away.
'You're going to let her do it?' Van asks bluntly.
'I don't think I have much of a choice, Van. We couldn't find anything and I think she'd try to do this no matter what we said or did. All I can do now is hope.'
They both stay silent for a while, relaxing as they had not done for a whole month.
One week later...
Hitomi and Daphne sat in one of the many courtyards surrounding the palace of Fanelia. The two laughed and talked like old friends, which they had quickly become over the course of the week. Some time later, Chelsea appeared with some cool drinks and the girls invited her to join them, which she did, though hesitantly; even though it's been a month, she was still unused to be being treated as an equal. The three girls looked up as a guard walked over to them from the other side of the courtyard. Chelsea jumped to her feet sharply and quickly dismissed herself. The guard bowed stiffly when he reached the two girls.
"Miss Daphne, Lady Hitomi, I was asked to summon you both for Doctor Edwin. He said it was urgent and for you to come right away." The guard tells them as if reading a prewritten speech.
Daphne nodded and got to her feet. "It is time then."
Hitomi sighed and got to her feet then they both followed the guard as he led them through hall after hall.
Hitomi watched with sadness as the doctors attached the last of the wires to Daphne's arms. Both Daphne and Van, lying on cots next to each other, were nearly buried in wires that were attached to so many different places on their bodies. In the room were the Fanelia council members (including Corbin, sadly, who was looking on with obvious disapproval), as well as Allen, Millerna and Benji, who was sulking in the corner. They all glanced up as Edwin cleared his throat after her finished checking over the connections.
"We are ready to begin." He states, then glances towards Hitomi, "Lady Hitomi, are you still in connection with the Lord Van?"
"Yes," she replies, slightly startled.
He nods. "If you would not mind, it may help us if you could tell us what you feel in the connection."
Hitomi only nods. 'Are you ready for this, Van?'
'Would they stop if I wasn't?' He asks, though Hitomi senses that the question is rhetorical. Van sighs, 'I'm as ready as I could be.'
Hitomi nods. "Let's get this over with," she says aloud.
Edwin nods. "Begin," he says to the other scientists who are operating the controls.
One of the scientists flips a small switch and a slight hum fills the room. Immediately, Hitomi cringes slightly in pain.
"Hitomi?" Millerna looks at her, worried for her friend.
"I'm fine, it just hurts a little bit," Hitomi says.
'It doesn't hurt as bad as I thought,' Van commented, though Hitomi noticed his voice sounded slightly weaker as if being spoken from farther away.
"We are going to increase the power level now, Lady Hitomi," Edwin announces. "The pain will most likely increase, but if we keep it at this power level, we will lose them both."
Hitomi nodded, bracing herself. Slowly the pain grew stronger and more intense. What was a dull ache was now growing sharper like a fresh cut then became hot and searing like a hot iron against her skin. Hitomi felt drops of uncontrollable tears rolling down her cheeks and could not move her hands to brush them away. Then a new pain appeared, like a knife wound growing deeper within her chest, spreading wider and deeper with each passing second as the burning sensation raced along all the veins in her body. Hitomi cried out, Van's voice echoing with his own pain within her mind. The two separate pains became one, as Hitomi became unable to tell the difference between Van's body and her own.
Allen gasped as Hitomi's knees gave out and her body slumped to the floor. Grabbing under her shoulders and knees, he yelled at a shocked doctor to grab another cot or a chair. The doctor runs out and returns with a simple, straight-backed chair which Allen sits her into gently, holding up her limp shoulders to keep her from falling. Another doctor rushes over and, after opening her shirt completely, attaches some monitors to her.
"What's going on, doctor?" He asks, turning to Edwin.
"She is experiencing the pain within the body of the King, with whom she has connected with. I had not expected the connection to be this strong between them," Edwin rambled.
"Then turn own the power level," Allen ordered, but Edwin just shook his head.
"This is the minimum level we have to hold for the transition to be successful. We will monitor all three of them carefully and deal with any problems as they arise."
Allen buries all impulses to kill the human before him and turns back to Hitomi. Hang in there, Hitomi. We're counting on you, he pleads.
Everyone in the room holds their breaths, all praying everything would be safe. They all look up hearing a fast beeping sound from on of the machines.
"Doctor!" One of the nurses exclaims, "the King's heartbeat has increased rapidly. His heart is trying to distribute the small amount of blood remaining, but it's overworking itself!"
"Start the transference from Daphne! The machine is programmed to only remove the blood with his unique DNA code."
The nurse nods and works over at another console. After a few minutes she shakes her head. "His heart is not slowing down, doctor, even with the new blood. If we don't slow it down, the heart will crash!"
Edwin runs to another corner and grabs a tray lying on the table there. Bringing it back with him, he balances it on a console and removes a needle from the surface. After removing all air bubbles form the tube, he injects it in the middle of Van's chest, where his heart would be. The beeping monitor starts to beep slower for a moment then beats faster than before.
"It's not working. Pulse is continuing to rise." Another beeping joins the first from another console. "Doctor, Hitomi's heart rate is starting to increase as well. Pulse is quickly reaching a critical level."
The doctor grabs another needle and walks over to the chair where Allen now is having hard time keeping a thrashing Hitomi from falling out of the chair.
"Lay her on the floor, she'll hurt herself on that." Edwin says, as he pushes the slightest air bubbles out of the needle. Allen does this and Edwin plunges the fluid in the same way he did with Van. Edwin looks back at the nurse, who shakes her head.
"No change. Pulse is continuing to rise in both patients."
Edwin looks perplexed, then gets a determined glare.
"Increase blood flow from Daphne."
"Doctor, any more and she'll reach critical!" one of the other doctors exclaims.
"Do it! We have to take the chance or all three will be gone."
The nurse nodded and worked some controls. The beeping only increased and no one needed to hear the nurse's announcement to know things were only getting worse. The two beeping monitors continue to beep faster and faster until it seems that the beeps merge, forming one long sound. It takes a moment for the nurse to realize that one of them is only one long sound.
"Doctor, the King's heart has crashed!"
"Get the heart machines ready! We need to get it beating again! Grab the other in case if hers decides to do the same."
A few doctors rush to the corner to grab two machines hooked there. After wheeling them over, they begin to connect them to various points on their torso. Edwin presses a button and sends a shock through Van's body, making it jump, but the beep continues solidly.
"Van…" Hitomi whispers aloud, drawing the whole room's attention, "Don't go without me, Van. Don't go-" Hitomi's breath stops mid-sentence.
The second beep joins the first in a solid shrill sound.
End Chapter 4
Keetra: And my reign of nasty cliffhangers continues. And banryuu, I'm sorry, but it was too tempting. :P You're the only one that knows how it turns out, so keep the secret, okay? I promised and I'm not going back on my word, so please don't be sad and get mad at me. winks
Cassandra: I still think you should've used my idea…
Keetra: Well, the cliffhanger was your idea, so people should get mad at you, not me.
Cassandra: No, the other idea!
Keetra: Oh, you mean that instead of Daphne giving the long speech on her past she just takes out a book, hands it to Hitomi and says "Here, I wrote an autobiography explaining why I want to die. Please read it and you'll understand. Oh, and there are pictures too!"? I think my idea woks better… even if she does seem a little out of character for an early teenager. But Hitomi's the first one who wanted to listen to her so she started rambling…
Cassandra: And you shortened it from what it was.
Keetra: yeah…. The original "speech" was almost two pages long…. Even I don't like reading something that long without any breaks in between. Though… I've probably talked that long…
Cassandra (aside to readers): she does.. I live with her so I know.
Keetra: -whacks roommate- Hey! Anyways, guys, please review and don't hate me too much… heh heh. Ja ne!