Wow, it's already chapter 13, this thing has come pretty far. I want to get everyone's opinion on the characters so far, so stop by my profile and check out the poll I set up.
Chapter 13: The request
As Emy felt the first rays of the morning fall across her face waking her from her slumber she looked over to her sleeping companion Luna. Luna's posture had at some point in the night become twisted into a painful looking ark. Huh, she must toss and turn a lot or something, Emy thought to herself. A groan from the neighboring bed caught her attention. Getting out of the bed she walked over to Terry as he sat up.
"How did you sleep?" she asked while Terry sat up on the bed and dragged his legs over the edge.
"Not well." He grunted holding his head as he looked up at Emy with bloodshot eyes, "I couldn't sleep at all."
"You might feel better after you get something to eat." Turning to the door she added, "I'll go see if we can borrow the kitchen."
When Emy approached the door a knock echoed from it with Tansy's voice coming from behind it. "Dear guests if you're up then please come to the dining room I have prepared breakfast for you."
"Well looks like we don't have to borrow it in the end." Emy turned away from the door and approached the other bed. "I'll wake up the others while you're getting ready."
Starting with Calisto and battling a short match with her using the enlisted help of Terry, Emy got her to at least presentable condition before waking the others and heading out themselves. Mostly following their noses they navigated the countless hallways with relative ease and made it to the dining room. Before them was a veritable feast, there was a multitude of baked rolls filling the room with the smell of fresh baked bread with a hint of sweet glaze. A platter of raw vegetables delicately cut adorned the center, various egg dishes were placed around the table. Already seated at the head of the table was Kaden, as they entered he quickly rose and beckoned them over. Although they each had a different reaction to the setup, only Karis seemed to be the most shocked out of all of them.
"Come in, come in. Please have a seat," He guide them all to the chairs lining the table. Each had an elegant set one would find in a fine restaurant, even going so far as to add wine glasses to the set up. Each set up seemed to have been made with the individual guest's needs in mind. In front of Emy was only a salad bowl, while Luna was already served a sparkling glass of mineral water. Soot's set had a small condiment bowl filled a light red sauce and judging from the smell coming from it; it wouldn't have been surprising if the sauce ate through whatever was dipped in it.
"Please don't hold yourselves back on our account; we are merely expressing a small portion of our gratitude to you." An elegant and well-spoken voice sounded from behind them. After entering the room, the owner of that voice sat down across the table from her husband. Victoria wore a voluminous dress that left her shoulders and neck line bare; it would not be out of place in a high class party. Her hair was done up into a loose mass of curls. She wore light make up that accentuated the features of her face. Overall there was a motherly quality to her appearance and demeanor.
"Good morning Victoria." Kaden greeted her while pushing in her chair. "And how is Addison today?"
"Our poor child is still too sick to move, but sweet Lei is there to play nursemaid, so all is well." Victoria turned her attention from Kaden to the guests sitting at her table. "I am terribly sorry to not have greeted you yesterday, but I'm afraid caring for Lei had taken up all of my attention. Do please forgive me."
"Um, it's alright we understand that family should always come first." Terry said. He was more concerned over how Karis had not stopped staring at Kaden with a strange look in her eye. "We weren't that bothered by it, right Karis?"
"Huh? Uh, yeah… it was not that big of a deal." She said with a short pause and turned away to focused on her plate. She just idly picked at the food on it, and seeming like she was going to remain silent for the rest of the meal.
"Well if that is so, then we will leave it be." Victoria smiled charmingly before adding, "I would like to ask you all to accompany me upstairs Addison would like to thank you for Lei's rescue personally."
Seeing as how they still had time thanks to the storm they readily agreed, and passed through the meal in relative quickness. Tansy shortly appeared after the meal to clear the table while they stood up to follow Victoria and Kaden.
The two led Terry and the others up the ornate staircase and down the east wing opposite of their own guest rooms. While their hall contained a multitude of separate rooms this hall contained only three. Judging from the spacing of the doors each room was almost large enough to be considered a small apartment. Kaden and Victoria led the group to the door at the furthest end of the hallway and ushered them inside.
Inside the room the furniture could only be called ornate and luxurious with a grand wardrobe off to the side next to a large dresser, but the focal point of the room was clearly the bed in the center. It was large enough that it could easily fit three people comfortably, at the current moment there were only two figures on the bed. One was a human propped up against the headboard surrounded by pillows, while the other, presumably Lei, was fast asleep and huddled under the covers.
Victoria introduced the person on the bed as Addison. There was a fragile and sickly air about Addison, from the slight, weak frame one could see through the silk night gown, to the straight, fine blond hair cut to shoulder length. Overall Addison possessed a fragile doll like appearance.
"Welcome, I am sorry that I cannot greet you properly," Addison spoke in a thin light voce. "But I am very grateful that you saved Lei. If it wasn't for my illness I would have thanked you earlier."
"Has she always been sickly?" Terry asked with concern apparent on his face.
"Who Lei? No this is the first time she has ever collapsed." Kaden said while furrowing his brow from worry.
"No I mean your daughter."
"Our daughter…?" Kaden shared a confused glace with his wife before the light bulb went off, causing him to double over in laughter. "Ahaha, yes… oh, yes. Our daughter has been sickly ever since he was a child!"
Terry looked around at the laughing figures of Kaden and Victoria. Kaden was wiping tears from his eyes while Victoria elegantly covered her mouth as she tried to suppress her own laughter. Turning to Addison Terry saw the very definition of a depressed and defeated look.
"Yes, I-I know that I am very effeminate…" Addison said in a defeated voice.
"Huh you mean that she is actually a he?!" Terry exclaimed in shock.
"Of course, couldn't you tell?" May said in a fake voice while looking away, her comment instantly gave away her lie.
"Oh shut up, you're a worse judge of gender than I am." Terry yelled at her fully embarrassed by his mistake.
"You mean no one could tell?" Addison was getting more and more depressed by the minute.
"Fret not my son," Kaden placed a hand on his son's shoulder, and struck a dramatic pose. "I too knew the pain of being a beautiful boy when I was your age, but as I aged out of adolescence I grew in to this handsome form you see before you. So cheer up, I know you will do so also."
"Daddy please stop acting like you're on stage, you and mama not in the theater anymore."
They're theater actors? That explains so much. Terry thought as he watched them get engrossed into their own conversation.
"Hmm… What's going on?" Lei stirred as she was awoken by the commotion going on less than a few feet from her. She sleepily rubbed her eye with a closed hand. She's really cute… NO! Bad Terry, don't think those thoughts about someone else's Pokegirl.
"Good morning, Lei." Addison turned to her and started to pat her on the head. She looked up from Addison to the other people in the room and gave him a look as if to ask who the others in the room were. "These are the people who saved you yesterday."
She jumped up from the bed with a smile that could melt the coldest of hearts spreading across her face. Terry and May now had a chance fully take in her appearance. Terry once again realized just how small she was. She only stood at a whole four feet and six inches, with her vulpine ears sprouting from a mass of curly, chestnut brown hair giving her another two. Rich brown fur coated her from head to toe, she must have been a domestic born from how thin it was. Moving from her earthy brown eyes the eye was lead to the small mane like puff of fur that ran from her chest to her shoulders. Her mane, which was a light shade of tan comparable to the color of fine sand, ended just above her b cup breasts. She wore a chemise that ended just below her hips, with her bushy tan tipped tail peeking out from behind it.
She happily skipped over to the two young tamers with a smile that could make even harden criminals repent, and leaped up giving the both of them a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. Turning around she gave the same treatment to the others present in the room. "Thank you, I owe you all my life."
After say her thanks Lei happily skipped back to Addison's side, and snuggled up to him. A warm smile spread across Kaden face as he gazed at this heartwarming scene, and turned to Terry and the others. "I have a request for you, would you be so kind and be our guest for one more day. We had planned to celebrate Addison's birthday today, and wish to show our gratitude to your group even more."
"Okay, we'll accept, right Terry?" May gave Terry a smile that said I will twist your arm if you refuse.
"Ah, yeah we can stay a little longer. We'll just have to contact Edna and Harold; they should be worried sick about us." Terry said and left the room for some privacy. With his disappearance the others began to trickle out after seeing the tired look on Addison's face. As they left Kaden announced that they planned to have the party in a few hours, and bid them to prepare themselves.
Time passed quickly and Terry found himself and his Pokegirls in their guest room fifteen minutes from the start of the party. Terry stood next to the window gazing out at the unnatural storm still raging on the other side of the glass, while the others were getting ready.
"Did you manage to get a hold of Edna and Harold?" Emy asked as she walked up next to him gazing out of the window as well.
"No but I did leave a message for them."
"That's weird. They usually stay near a phone in case one of their customers calls." Emy said her voice colored by concern.
"Hey Emy could you come here for a second, I need some help with this thing." Luna called out from the bathroom, pulling Emy away before she could say more.
After Emy left with an "I'll be back" Terry turned away from the window and looked around the room. Calisto was in the corner again already dressed for the occasion in a "formal" two piece swimsuit, in her hands was the romance book Terry bought her. Being the first one to finish dressing she had been absorbed in her book reading as she waited. Karis sat on the edge of the bed and like Calisto was off in her own world of thoughts. Holding her chin while furrowing her brow, she was the picture of "deep in thought."
"What are you looking so pensive about?" Terry asked as he approached her. When she started at him suddenly speaking, Terry added, "Is there something wrong?"
"Uh, no I don't… It's nothing." A frown still creased her elegant features.
"Well if you say it that way, then I will definitely think there is something wrong. So what is bothering you?" Terry asked as walked around in front of her looking into her face.
"Hmm, I was… wondering what kind of person Kaden is, …I mean just who is he?"
"H-huh?" Kaden? The owner of this house Kaden? Terry thought in surprise at her unexpected question. Why does she want know about him? She… She isn't interested in him is she? "W-why do you want to know about him?"
"Passing curiosity maybe? …Well just forget I asked." She got up and walked passed by him seeming to not notice Terry's mixed look of confusion and panic. "I think the're ready for us by now."
What was with the "?" is she's not even sure about it herself? Does "passing" curiosity last long? A myriad of likewise questions swirled in his head. With no answer to them, in the end Terry only succeeded in making himself dizzy.
Karis left the room as Emy exited the bathroom, and walked up to Terry. "We're good to go are you ready? Huh, Terry is there something wrong?"
Downstairs in the foyer the party had begun with all in the house in attendance. As Terry and May's group flowed into the living room they were greeted by the sight of their hosts. Victoria stood next to her husband at the opposite end of the room, with Addison and Lei sitting in front of them. Tansy stood off to the side next to a tea cart Kaden raised up a glass in a toasting gesture to his son, ready to make a speech.
"Today my son is now eligible for his tamer's license." Kaden waited for the polite round of applause to subside before continuing. "And as such we wish to usher him through this important stage in his life with the utmost dignity. A-and… by their… wish… Oh! I can't believe that my little boy has grown up so fast!" Kaden broke into tears not even a fourth of his way through the speech and latched himself around Addison's neck, crying an emotional river.
"Be strong dear." Victoria placed a hand on her husband's shoulder, while stifling her own cheerful tears behind a hand fan. Poor Addison just sat there enduring the embarrassing display with his face a red so bright it surpassed the color of Soot's plume. "He will still be our baby boy."
"Y-you're right dear …I will start again. Ahem." Kaden straightened himself and prepared to start over again, but stopped when he felt a pull at his sleeve.
"Please just skip to the important part." Addison mumbled feeling like he was about to die from embarrassment. Even Terry's smile had become strained as he felt embarrassment on Addison's behalf.
"If that is what you wish. On this joyous occasion we have an announcement. In accordance with these two's wishes, Addison will take on Lei as his first Pokergirl." He announced with great joy, while resting a hand on Addison and Lei's shoulders. "Today we have received word that your license is now on its way through the mail, congratulations my boy."
A shadow passed over Lei's expression catching Terry's attention, and it was gone in the blink of an eye replaced with a cheerful smile. Looking around he seemed to be the only one who noticed her dark look. What was that about?
The party had started to pick up some pace after Kaden emotional speech had finished. Someone brought out a pack of cards and a fierce game of poker between Kaden and Soot ensued shortly after. Most of the party passed by Terry as he mulled over his concerns; at the forefront of his mind was both his concern over Karis' interest in Kaden, and that strange look Lei had in the middle of the speech. Occasionally he would look around the room seeking out Karis or Lei. The former was always in the same position with her eyes locked on Kaden and a hand on her chin as she sat, while the latter was moving around the room with a smile so cheerful that one would think she didn't know how to feel depressed. The party ended with Addison falling asleep in the chair shortly after midnight. Shortly after that Terry and the others had left to their separate rooms, with him leaving ahead of the others to give Calisto a bath.
Heading down the hall with directions from Emy and the others they managed to find the bathroom without getting lost through the hallways. Entering they were amazed at the sheer size of the room. The tub appeared it was designed for an Edo league open air bath. The bath itself was sunk into the floor with a slight lip around the edge and was easily large enough to fit Terry and all of his 'girls comfortably. Another door beyond the bath was set aside for the restroom.
"Whoa." Terry and Calisto said in unison as they entered the oversized bath. It's an amazing bath, but with the two distinct and clashing designs I have to question the sanity of the architect. Terry thought as he looked around room.
After quickly discarding their clothes Terry placed Calisto into the bath and sat behind her on the edge of the bath. He wrapped his legs around her midriff as he rummaged through the bag he brought with them.
"You know you don't have to hold onto me… I won't run away this time." She said looking up at him giving him a look that could draw pity from the hardest of hearts.
"I heard that before." Terry responded unswayed. He put more strength into his legs when he felt her starting to edge away, intending to keep her there. Finding what he was looking for, he pulled out three bottles from the bag and exclaimed, "Found them!"
"Found what? Oh…" She looked over her shoulder at what Terry held in his hands, and groaned in displeasure when she saw them.
"Come on they're just shampoo and conditioners, besides Emy picked these out for you, she thought you would like these scents." Terry knocked her on the head with one of the bottles as a gentle reprimand. "But… the names on these things make them sound like they're scented candles; lilac, sea breeze, and… celestial garden party? What the hell does a celestial garden party smell like? …..*sniff*….Oh, let's use the garden party one."
"Do we ha-"
"Yes." Terry said cutting off her protest. Pouring the shampoo into his hand he started scrubbing it into her matted hair. He tried to work out the tangles and knots without pulling on her hair, a tough task made more difficult by her constantly squirming around. "Come on, hold still."
*click* "What was that?" Terry was distracted by the sound of a door opening and closing. Taking advantage of the opportunity Calisto broke free from his grasp and swam to the other side of the bath. Resurfacing she shook her head spraying the rest of the shampoo in her hair everywhere, causing Terry to shout out in surprise, "Calisto!"
As Calisto apologized Terry was surprised by a voice coming from behind him. "It looks like you two are having fun."
Turning around Terry came face to face with Tansy clad only in a towel. Terry dashed away from her almost crashing into the side of the bath and snatched a towel off the side to cover himself with. Turning around he could feel the heat radiating off his face as she smiled seeming to almost laughing at his reaction.
"Not bad." She commented as she eyed his towel in a way that reminded him too much of Karis, causing the red of his cheeks to deepen and even reach his neck.
"W-what are you doing in here?" Terry stuttered as he sunk up to his neck in the water.
"You mean besides admiring the view?" She wore a wicked smile that reminded Terry of the cat that had the cornered mouse. She dropped her towel as she entered the bath with them; causing Terry to sink further into the water when he realized she was still playing with him. Tansy barely suppressed a laugh at his reaction.
Calisto made a depressed sound reminding Terry that she was still there causing him to abashedly pull his attention away from Tansy's more interesting parts to her face. He asked Tansy with his voice only slightly wavering, "What did you need?"
"I have a favor to ask of you." The smile she wore slipped of her face to be replaced with a very serious expression. Terry straightened himself up feeling the gravity of her look. Looking at the both of them to confirm that she had their undivided attention she took a breath and said with grave seriousness. "This concerns my sister. Please take Lei away from here."
End of chapter 13
Sorry about the long wait. I'm still looking for a Beta reader; I need one mostly because I want someone to bounce ideas off of and to stop me from pulling a cliché that could ruin my story. So if there is someone who thinks they can do that, then just pm me.
On a final note since my classes have started up again it's going to take a long time to get the chapters out since I'll only have about one day a week to work on this, things might change at spring break. As always let me know what you liked and what you didn't.
