Chapter 4
Training Room
In here they had a variety of machines to chose, dumbbells, barbells, plates, exercise bikes, treadmills, elliptical trainers. Most things a workout club desired where here.
May admitted to be the first time she had been here. She always thought they where just a waste of money, situps and pullups where much cheaper and reliable but Rosetta insisted they train here.
'It's not as easy at it looks.' she said pushing her friend to her favorite machine, the exercise bike.
She liked them because as a kid she never got a chance to ride a bike and it was a good way to build up stamina, something both lacked. May was curious about the device and studied it for a good time.
'You sure about this?' she asked turning seeing her partner was not next to her. 'Where'd you go?' she said looking around then finally spotting the redhead in front of a punching bag used mainly for kickboxing.
It was suspended from just one point in the ceiling. Size for size the bag seemed more intimidating but Rosetta stood there and stanced ready to strike.
The chinese was curious what she was trying to do.
The redhaired girl pulled back her hand , her palm wide open and took a minute to concentrate. This eary silence was broken when a loud thump was heard as she hit the heavy bag with the surface of her palm. It tiled back with the force halfway to touching the ceiling. May was quite impressed witht the raw strength. She thought she could manage the same with a bit of practice but saw the dissapointed look on Rosetta's face.
'Something wrong?' Rosetta snapped out of it and turned to her. 'It's nothing I just am a bit sad having lost all the strength in my arm.'
The chinese was dumbstruck. 'Lost all strength? Your kidding. That was quite a punch.' Rosetta shook her head an explained.
'You don't understand. Since the legendary maneuver I like Sora preserved most of that strength.'
May was astounded. 'You kept it for a almoast a year?' Rosetta noded. 'It became second nature to me and now it will take some time to get used to this new feeling.'
May had heard about the training and it seemed like something she would have wanted to try and now it was a good excuse to bring it up. Also seeing her partner dissapointed gave her another reason.
'Why should you acomodate yourself? Just train it back the way it was. I'll train with you.' Rosetta at first thought it to be an illusion but there again was that caring side she so enjoyed.
'You really don't have to.' May bumped her playfully in the shoulder. 'Now now, we should be partners and as such we must be equals.' The redhead noded and the returned to their original objective.
May still was unsure but Rosetta showed her the whats and wheres and it seemed like she might enjoy this workout, but never one to leave competition aside she said starting the machine.
'First one to a thousand miles?' Rosetta smiled seeing how some friendly rivalry would make things a lot easier and a lot more fun.
'Your on!' she said and with that both started pedaling. As if they where competing for dear life both raced trying to outdo the other one. Half-way trough they where panting but still the exhaustion was eclipsed by the thrills and a rather strange effect.
Apprently being of similar size weight and condition they began moving in a similar fashion as their breathing was almoast sincronized.
At the end of the day both had passed their distance so no clear winner was established. The last hours the two started doing onehand push-ups. May who mostly used her feet tired easily but was not about to be deterred. Terribly exhauseted they called it a day and returned to their room.
Rosetta's Room
Still exercising her arm she struggled a bit retelling today's events when however she unwillingly mentioned the misfortunate incident. Just what she expected Fool couldn't contain his laughter.
If she wasn't that absorbed in her training she would have taught him a thing or two but even so she knew she would never live this down, at least not in this lifetime.
Being the patron of entertainment meant that the spirit must have seen a great deal of humurous shows in his lifetime, but nothing it seemed was as funny as what he had just heard as his obnoxious laughter lasted almoast an hour. Finally regaining some control he stopped holding his stomache.
'I'll never forget this.' he said. 'I've got to tell Sora this.' he added then however seeing the redhead charging him he quickly fled the room trough the window.
'Damn you Fool!' was the last things she said before she angrily slammed and locked the window.
May's Room
The chinese had also been practicing, she was determined not to fall behind and trained herself mercilessly, but not just one hand, both. She wanted a slight advantage. The edge over her partner made her more at ease and feeling superior was something she enjoyed so despite her aching legs and arms she continued exercising until the late hours when she finally fell into bed.
The next morning unusually it was Rosetta who had to wake up her partner. The blackhaired girl cruelly awakened by the girl when quickly trying to get up felt her body aching all over. However she always enjoyed this sort of aching as it was sign of progress.
Training Hall
Sora who finally got a day off was quick to catch up with them. After she had heard what Fool told him she was curios to see if it was true but the nervous expression Rosetta got when she started mentioning confirmed the validity of the story so she didn't pursue it.
On the trapeese both where quite slow today and the lilachaired girl was concerned, but May told her that they where in intensive training.
Finding out that they where trying to obtain the strength required for the legendary maneuver brought up the question.
'Are you going to attempt the maneuver?'
In all the determination of the past day neither had considered this possiblity and after a silent moment and a confused mind they shook their head.
'I don't think so.' said Rosetta, curious to see May's reaction and relieved that she was of the same opinion.
Altough she admitted that they had no intention to do so, if motivated she would have gladly performed it with her new partner. The chinese thought that altough interesting as it sounded their first co-starring should be a new act.
The next days progressed in similar ways and by the end of the week they had a pretty solid run. May and Rosetta agreed that at the finale they would try to use the act they had created before the accident. Snatching your partner in mid-air was quite a unseen feat and Mia started to get some pretty good ideas about the script.
However the last days something strange was happening to May. She seemed less enthusiastic then usual and she started to frequently miss her queue. This short attentionspan was seriously affecting her routine and she tried her best to blame it on the afternoon training. Rosetta however somehow knew that there was something more. She went trough the same training and she was fine.
Sora and Mia knew what was going on but this time they had to stand aside. Rosetta's head was once again filled with doubt and when May almoast started to forget to get out of the net she was getting more and more concerned. The chinese asked for the rest of the day off.
"Could I be forcing her into this?" the redhead continuosly asked herself and after another minutes of practice couldn't stand it and went to look after her partner.
May's Room
As the chinese entered her room she was too tired and dizzy to lock the door. She sat down at her table where some cold food was layed out.
Altough not aparent at first May was suffering quite severly. The training was really weighing on her. Not even with her bare hands could she pick up any of the foods. She winced as she desperatly tried to eat. Having both arms aching she was struggling to get anything done at home and just barly drank a glass of water.
The last couple of days had been the same. Get up in the morning and train till the afternoon. The phisical pain prohibited her eating so she started to slowly decline.
However only alone at home was she not masking her pain and seeing how today again she would not eat she settled for another glas of water drinking it with a straw. She hated herself in this weak state and decided that nodody should know about this.
The blackhaired girl knew however that she could not continue like this and tried again to eat something of her plate.
"Could Rosetta be going trough the same?" she wondered but seeing how she was lively as ever made her question her own strength and endurance.
Her thoughts however interrupted as a familiar voice sounded from her back making her drop the fork she was straining to hold.
'I should have known.' May quickly turned around and was suprised to see in front of her Rosetta. The redhead had suspected it had something to do with the training, but it seemed much more severe then she expected. With a slightly arguing tone Rosetta added.
'You'll kill yourself over pride one day.' The chinese turned around not wanting to see the displeased face of her partner.
'I didn't want you to know.' "Some habits die hard." thought Rosetta as she slowly walked towards the girl.
'Oh May ...' Picking up the fork the other girl had dropped she cleaned it and set it on the table then sat on a chiar next to her.
'You should really stop doing this, as partners don't expect me to do nothing.' May still had her eyes averted.
'I know, I just didn't want you to see me like this.' The redhaired girl partially understood the desire to keep a brave front, but this was just too extreme.
'Why would you go this far?' she asked. The blackhaired girl turned to see her girl as if the question was too obvious.
'I didn't want you to think less of me.' The redheads voice became soft and she slightly accused herself for not noticing sooner.
'May ...' she said getting closer to the other girl. 'Accepting your weakness is a sign of strength not hiding it.'
The chinese now looked intent at the little girl, in these rather unpleasent moments her friend had this uncanny ability to lay everything in the open and make her see her mistakes. She felt as yet again she was vulnerable.
Rosetta then saw as yet again unwillingly her partner opened up to her, it was just as enjoyable as it had always been but this time it was diffrent, for this time it was not a caring May she saw, it was a weak one.
The chinese could not belive how much she transgressed everytime she spend time with this girl and wondered if the girl itself was responsible.
A silence settled as May didn't know what to say and Rosetta enjoyed seeing her partner trueblue. However the moment didn't last long as Rosetta remebered the fork she had in her hand and punctured a bit of food on it and said.
'Open wide.'
The blackhaired girl could not belive what her friend was doing.
'Rosetta please don't.' she tried to argue seeing the cuttlery with nurishment at the end extended towards her.
She was dumbstruck, never would she have thought that Rosetta would attempt to help her eat. It was similar to a scene between mother and daughter and May noticed that altough her partner had enough strength to pick up the fork the shaky hand hinted that she to suffred the same pain,altough milder.
Rosetta didn't want to argue over the matter and insisted for her to help.
'Your not going to stop training so I have no choice but to help you.'
The chinese was still reluctant but was more astounded to see those caring eyes. Sure she had seen her like this some times for Sora, but never did she think that care could be directed towards her of all people.
Maybe she was a bit rude and rough around the edges but May showed that she can be caring sometimes, but when it came to reciving care she was completly unexperienced. She hadn't felt this in years after she gave up ice-skating.
Now even more uncapable of speaking she looked at her friend feeling a strange warmth then she head never felt this strong. Rosetta enjoyed seeing as thoughts and revelations bloomed behind her friends eyes, she could imagine what was going trough her mind right now. Then she added. 'You are no use to me weak.'
This remark triggred a big smile from May as she was slightly amused as that would have probably been exactly what she would have said. She could no longer stall partially because of hunger and partially not wanting to ruin her friends disposition and grabbed the small piece of meal and ate it.
Now having tasted nurishment did she realize just how hungry she was and Rosetta didn't waste time helping her finish her meal. It seemed for the last three days she hadn't eaten and the food that had acumulated was welcomed. May now felt sated but not just phisicly but mentally as she knew that there was someone out there who turly cared and looked out for her. With her meal done Rosetta made sure May got some and rest and made it clear that she would be back later for dinner. The chinese complied and went to bed for and mid-day nap. Now she could properly recover and build up strength.
Rosetta didn't leave until she was sure her partner had fallen asleep. Fool who had been watching was surprised to see such a strong bond develop between the two. He really didn't know what to make of this situation so he consulted his only means of insight and summoned his ring of tarot. A card chosen by fate he drew but what he saw he couldn't believe
"The card of death? Again?" He wondered what this could mean. It sometimes meant sudden change in their lives, but usually negative so it couldn't be applied. A tragic event Rosetta had already passed so it couldn't mean that. Only one interpretation was left.
"Death - the fatalistic omen. But who could die?"
Fool somehow felt that it didn't implicate any of the girls directly but one of them or maybe both will be confronted with the fatal principle.
Outside the dorms
May having now eating three times a day quickly got back on their feet. The aching pain altough still there was much mider and both could preform. They started getting to a point where normal exercises weren't enough so May decided to take the initiative.
'Are you sure about this?' Rosetta aked looking down. The chinese noded.
Sora's Room
The lilachaired was thanking the deities this morning after her exhausting show last night. Thankfully it was sunday and she could sleep in. This slow start was unusual to her but it would take a calamity to get her fully awake today.
Needless to say that was she got as she felt a tremor in her room. It had lasted only a second when it receded, but just as quickly as it had dissapeared she felt it again as the room seemed to wobble slightly.
She had no idea what was going on but as the room shook again she quickly ran out of the room still in her morning wardrobe, thinking an earthquake was about to hit.
Quickly getting out of the building she didn't know what had caused her to panic when however someone had spotted her.
'What happened to you?' The voice was familiar.
'May?' she asked looking around not able to pinpoint where the voice was coming from.
'Over here.' the chinese said. 'To the left.' 'MY LEFT!' 'Up here.' Sora now layed eyes on the chinese and at first didn't know what to make of the scene. Looking up she saw May hanging by her arm up to where her room was, but on the outside wall.
'What are you doing there?' she asked walking towards the chinese who responded.
'Rosetta's here too.'
The lavanderhaired girl still couldn't figure out what had happnened but as she layed eyes on both of her friends she pieced it all together quickly.
'That's what you've been doing.' she said observing. Rosetta and May where both hanging by a thick rope and pushing themselves from the wall.
This was the middlestage training for the legendary maneuver and Sora was suprised that they had gotten so far. She was worried that they may be rushing things, but Rosetta having done the training deserved enough credit and was capable of judging their abilities.
Now she understood what she had mistaken for an earthquake.
'Did you have to set up here?' she then asked.
'We're very sorry, but this is the only high place we found and where we could lay out our matresses.' Sora looked down and understood and decided not to pursue this and try to resume her only day off in a relaxed manner.
She changed then however grew concerned, even with Rosetta watching over it wouldn't hurt her also keeping an eye on them. A few hour later many other people started to join them curious to see the training. Only a few people knew about how the training was and with a lot of newcommers all where awed seeing the two girl work to their limits. At first Sora wondered why May had shoulderpads but quickly saw that it was a good precaution.
"May has a problem, everytime she pushes herself she strains to keep herself straight. Most of the times she ends up entering a spin."
This kind of behaviour was largly due to her iceskaing skills where one finds balance trough giroscopic inertia cause by the spins. On the trapese it could be also adapted but for this particulor training she needed to say balanced or she could risk spinning into the wall and hurting herlesf severly.
The rest of the afternoon Rosetta took the lead, but May improved her balance greatly.
Finally deciding it was enough both dropped onto the mattresses which usually seemed rough and stale, but after such a workout were more like a featherpillow.
'Told we didn't need a grand canyon.' the chinese added and with that today's session ended leaving both performers closer to oblivion but just as happy as tired.
The next days they completed training succesfully and May was astounded how much strength could come out of just one arm. She had abandoned training both arms for the sake of eating and had also gained a new form of stability in the air. Rosetta was pleased having returned to her original form and with both now phisicly strengthened there would be nothing to stand in their way of a new act.
Training Hall
'So the guy on the sidewalk comes of to her and sais: How about a cane lady? Its always good for old people.'
Yet again May was telling stories of her childhood hero she respected just as much as she did Layla. Her grandmother seemed to have done quite many things in her lifetime and Mia, Sora and Rosetta seemed to be destined to hear all of them.
Mia was again annoyed but fearfull to interrupt, and without Marion who wisly sneaked away she had to endure seeing how Sora was far too polite and Rosetta enjoyed the stories to the fullest.
'She takes the cane and looks at it. Good wood. Good strong wood. the man kept repeating until grandma had enough and looked at him. And why would I need one?' The man looked at her not getting the annoyed expression.
'It always good for old people like you.' May laughed then continued
'She couldn't stand hearing someone calling her old and broke the cane she was holding over her knee.' The chinese mimiced accentuating her tale.
'Now with two halfcanes she started running after the man, but the lucky devil escaped somehow.'
Atlough absurd to most Sora had also met this woman who was quite sharp and strong. It amazed her how someone of her age was still capable of such feats. If she would have been interested the trapese she would most likly be performing today. The lilachaired was impressed and hope to retain so much power in her old age, as far away as that time seemed.
However the barding May was interrupted as Ken called her away because apparantly Sarah had something to tell her. Rosetta wanted to follow but the chinese told her to start practice. Sora and Rosetta didn't miss the concern in Ken's eyes and after May left didn't waste any time pinning their ears against the sliding door.
The chinese goodnatured due to her energetic storytelling didn't see any troubles and was blissfully unaware of what would happen.
Fool who had been observing from a remote corner of the hall realized that this was the even omen he fortold. "It was inevitabe, the time comes for us all."
In the hallway that spanned across the width of the big hall Ken led May a few feet away at the entrace where Sarah was standing equally concerned. Now did she see the worried expression and asked.
'What is it you wanted to talk to me about?' Rosetta and Sora eavesdropping heard every word they spoke clearly.
This was the part Sarah detested most about her job, but as their supervisor and the second boss she had to do this.
'Your parents called today.' May quickly lost all of her earlier spunk as this had to be serious, her family rarely called.
'Is something wrong?'
The british woman couldn't bare doing this and bit her lip wanting to get it over, but Ken cut her off lifting that weight.
'Its your grandmother. She died this morning.'
Those where words May had never expected, it was not just the first time in her lifetime that someone out of her family died, but her strong and energetic grandmother was the least likely. Her skin turned pale as she heard and tears filled her previously joyfull eyes which she struggled to maintain.
Rosetta and Sora had been equally shocked. They looked at eachother and couldn't belive what they had just heard. Rosetta also had fond memories of the elderly woman and she knew just how much this woman meant to her partner.
'Kalos wanted to tell you that you can have leave the stage for as long as you want to attend the funeral and decide what you want to do afterwards.' Sarah said quickly wanting to end the conversation.
Ken then added. 'He also said that if you want to take someone from here with you he will allow it.'
The blackhaired girl had her sight in the ground after this and couldn't get around this tragedy. Her limbs shaked violently and the pain in her chest grew unbearable when she said with a halfdrowned voice. 'Excuse me.' Then rushing past the two.
Still firmly locked on the door Sora felt concerned for her friend as did Rosetta, but she seemed to mirror May's feelings as she also felt the sadness and frustration which also started to moist her eyes. However she wouldn't just sit idle and quickly slid the door opened and rushed past Ken and Sarah.
The lavanderhaired girl now grew more troubled as she didn't know if that was such a good idea. She admitted caring for her friend, but in these kind of situations she had no idea how to proceed, especially because it was concerning May, she thought that in these times she needed to be left alone and sort her troubles out.
Rosetta got out of the building and looked around then remebered the place where she had fled once. It seemed that the lonely bench became a refuge for the troubled, but she did not rush to get there.
Walking slowly she wanted to think what she was about to say. She didn't want to make her friend any sadder and thought that leaving her alone would be wiser. As she got to the corner of the building she saw her hunch was correct.
Sitting lonely on the bench was May supressing her tears trying to regain herself. She would have never allowed to cry in front of the others and it seems she wouldn't cry to herself as much as she wanted to. Probably considering a sign of weakness the chinese continuosly wiped her eyes, dispoing of any tear that might have slipped.
Seeing her like that made Rosetta instantly forget her fear of saddening her, only one thing did she want to do right now. Relieve her freinds pain, or carry it with her.
The redhead couldn't bare standing there and took the initiative, walking slowly.
'May? ...' she asked in a mild weak voice. The blackhaired girl quickly turned to find her friend having the same sadness in her eyes, but just as quick turned away avoiding appearing so weak. With a voice filled with tears she sad.
'I didn't mean to stop practicing, I'll be back in a minute.'
"She thinks I don't know." thought Rosetta as she sat on the bench next to her friend. 'Oh May I'm very sorry.' The chinese turned around to see her friend.
"Could she know?" but the sorrowfilled gaze that matched her own left no doubt. Having Rosetta by her side made her even sadder as with her around she became more honest to her own feeling and altough deepening her sorrow it felt much better then supressing herself.
May remebered Ken's words clearly then remebered what he lastly said. She didn't know how she would be able to face this tragedy and even with her family by her side she didn't know if she was able to cope.
She admitted that she coudln't go trough with this alone and asked with her eyes into the ground. 'Would you mind coming with me to the funeral?' she silently said, but Rosetta clearly heard.
May asked her not because of lack of choice, Sora might have come, but she wanted the redhead with her, but she also knew that with her gone for a few weeks Rosetta could fufill her dream and star alone for the first time since the competitions many years ago.
If it had been her she would have faced a serious dilemma, of course her partner meant a lot, but a dreams did too. Rosetta was however of a diffrent opinion, she almoast considered it to be purly rethorical but said. Y'ou don't have to ask, of course I'll come.'
The chinese was suprised by her choice, she didn't know if the same position she would have chosen similary, her friend it seemed cared more for her then she had previously known. May again beheld this caring Rosetta she had met some time ago and this wave of warmth that was emanating from the girl was the trigger to her most inner being as she could hold her tears no more. She almoast fell in the redheads lap and cried her pain and frustration.
Rosetta at first was suprised but quickly settled and conforted the girl patting her head. It was similar to the time at the hospital but this time it was not she who needed care, it was May, and any small relief that she give she would not even think of hesitating.
As much as this open vulnerable state was touching Rosetta felt the need to sooth her pains, she wanted to bring her back on her feet. It lasted quite some time and the casual bypasser was quick to pass and leave them be.
At other times May would have contained herself but at this moment everything around her receded as there was just her Rosetta and a sorrow that both shared.
Sora who had been concerned that something might have happened had searched for the two for the past hour when finally she came to this spot. Her concern was gone as she was completly dumbstruck by the scene. Rosetta had told her what had happened at the hospital and when she tried to adress the subject she saw it was true, but seeing it with her own eyes erased all doubt.
Quickly however she turned around and left them, in this rather emotional and private moment she felt like she would be disturbing, the redhead seemed to manage better then she would have thought and better then she herself would have managed.
"Those two have something special." she tought then left them returning to her own buisness.
A few minutes later May's tears had stopped but not by much as she raised her head. Rosetta would have liked to moment to prolong itself but the other part of her wanted to see May happy again. Wiping her tears the blackhaired girl saw that again she had opened up willingly to someone to such a degree which she had never done before. She started seeing that this was not due to her, but to her friend.
With a slight tremor in her voice, but much more relieved she just said two words.
'Thank you.'
Both getting up then parting prepared themselves for what would follow. The chinese called the boss and announced her leave and that she would take Rosetta with her. Kalos understood how this personal matter would interfeer with the stage and allowed it. The redhaired girl had also packed everything in her room. She got many black clothes that would match the tragic even, however she remebered that someone told her once that in a traditional chinese wedding white was the color of mourning and packed some white clothes just in case.
"I never want to see May like that again." she tought but she realized that todays event was just the prelude to much sadder ones. Rosetta dearly hoped she could be there for May and completly forgot about the costarring and never even considered this a chance to star alone, but she was still charmed by the stage as Fool who insited to come was a reminder. However right now she had other priorities.
The next day Rosetta and May left early in the morning. Kalos had aranged for one of the workers to drive them. The chineses parents house was not far away, but it was out of town.
The carride was unlike what the redhead expected. May altough fully awake was silent. The driver watched them trought the rearview mirror. He felt sorry for what had happened but he didn't want to remind the poor girl.
Rosetta was a bit frustrated. She tought about the blackhaired girls troubles all night long and came up with many diffrent ways to confort her and give her strength, but now face to face not a single word was spoken.
What use where her carefully selected words if she couldn't engage in the simplest of conversations?
The two hour drive was not at all enjoyable and Rosetta innerly wanted yesterdays event to repeat itself. But it seemed she would have to wait. May didn't get anything this morning. She was completly otherworldly. Her usually competitive look was now pale.
It was uncharacteristic for her to be sunk in thoughts but under special circumstances it seemed she too had to take some time and figure herself out. Arriving at the estate May didn't even realize the trip had eneded and only after Rosetta spoke up did she realize where she was.
'May, we're here.'
This is not what the redhaired girl wanted to say to her partner first thing in the morning but things weren't under her control from the begining so she had to live with it.
A mature woman from inside looked trough the curtains. Rosetta saw the woman and was curious if that was May's mother. This would actually be the first time she would meet her parents. Her little brothers and sisters she had met before.
They walked a bit and the redhead got a good look of the property. The house was quite large and built in a very american way. Surrounding them was a forest.To the side of the house she was a colorfull structure which she guessed must have been the childrens playground.
There where no fences and no dogs, but this looked like a very peacefull retreat. A audbible comotion was heard troughout the house as many children voices and a yelling mother voice commanded.
May knew what this was but Rosetta had no idea what all the noise was about.
When however the big double doors opened six small children quickly came out. Lining up in order of height they quickly where followed by two older people. One a blackhaired man who was moderatly tall which Rosetta concluded was May's father and the other one a slightly shorter woman with the same darkhaired color, which however had a tiny trace of blue in it.
Rosetta saw that May moslty resembled her mother but had the same dark-blue eyes as her father. The woman seemed more mellow and had a sweet look in her eyes.
Wearing an apron the redhead could easily imagine that she was in the process of cooking.
This image of a family overwhelmed Rosetta. She had never known a real strong family. At the stage they all where family but outside the stage she had never seen such genuine unconditional care. She didn't have such a strong relationship with her parents since she started diabolo and after that sought a loving family in her friends which she found, but still this image of a genuine family was atounding to her.
All lined up with their parents in the middle they all greeted the two girls. It looked like a small army only they had friendly welcoming smiles. Only a few feet away May saw her families attempt to put on a brave face and rushed in her mothers arm with her eyes full of tears. Rosetta was amazed how with just a simple greeting and a nice smile could unlock the sensitive May she craved for.
She admitted to be a bit jeleaus as she previously thought that only she was capable of sparking such strong emotions but she quickly reconsidered as this was her mother she was thinking about. But why was she jealous?
May's younger siblings where overjoyed to have their older sister home and the redheadded girl they remebered from the shows, she surly must be good for a lot of fun.
All together they draged and pulled her inside and then quickly got the suitcases. Fool who had been watching the scene saw the potential for some rough times. He summoned his card and chose one purly led by his own question.
"The inverted High Priestess. Emotional insecurities, if one doesn't realize the core behind things they end up destroying what they care for."
Inside her parents introduced themselves to her and quickly showed that this rather chaotic, but funfilled house was based on a strict discipline and a traditional style of living.
Four of the six children went outside after their father had seperated them from May. It was quite amuzing seeing the man carry two children in each one of his arms, fiesty ones at that, struggling to get free.
The other two where staring at the newcommer. They seemed to be the more curious of the lot. They whispred to eachother not wanting to disturb their mother.
'None of the neighbors kids has such hair.' The smaller girl replied in a similar covert manner.
'You think her hair is on fire?'
The young boy looked a bit surprised but as such a young age it was not hard to imagine.
'I don't know, ask her.' The little girl bumped his brother shoulder.
'You ask her.' The boy returned the gesture.
'No. You ask her. Your a girl.'
Easily they stared arguing over who would question the guest and each time ended an argument with a bump on the shoulder. A childish fight, but what could one expect at such a young age?
Their mother however saw it as a sign of hostility and didn't like it when her children quarreld between them.
'You two stop fighting.' The children responded in the classical way pointing at eachother shouting.
'She started it!' then adding. 'Liar!'
The elderly woman didn't want to put trough with this again. 'Excuse me.' she said quickly getting to her two children jerking them slightly by the ear.
'You two apoplogize and get our guests suitcase to her room.'
The two kids rubbing their red ears complied and working together got the large suitcase moving.
Rosetta however spoke up. 'Please, you don't go trough all this trouble. I'll sleep here.' The woman returned to her guest and placed her arm on her shoulder. 'Now now. We chinese pride ourselves on our hospitality and also a friend of May is always welcomed.'
Pointing to a hallway she showed her. 'Your room is at the end of the hallway to the left. Face to face to May's old room where she will be staying. The bath is behind me and should you need anything don't hesitate to ask.'
Rosetta noded but then a questioned dawned on her.
'I don't mean to sadden you but at the funeral I'm not sure what clothes I should wear. I brought some black and white ones. Also I never attended a traditional chinese funeral before.'
The parent looked at her smiling amused seeing what sort of problems she posed herself.
'Don't worry. Since we moved here we adopted the catholic belief despite still having our traditional beliefs. It was actually grandmother 'God rest her soul' she said drawing a cross over her. 'Who insisted to be converted and also asked for a catholic funeral so black will be fine.' As she finished she quickly rushed to the kitchen remebering her pots.
May's father came trough a backdoor and was little worn out. He wiped some dust and grass of him.
'That takes care of that.' Rosetta wanted to leave a bit intimidated by the man, but he stopped her.
'Wait. I wanted to speak with you.' The redhead turned to face him and sat down. The man also took a seat face to face to the girl still shaking some grass of his now stained clothes.
Rosetta figured that the man probably had been wrestled to the ground by his kids in play as they wanted to pay him back for his extraction. If she had rarely seen a true family in her life, the image of a caring father was much more new and surprising.
Her father was not as attached to her or her mother so she never had a father figure. At the stage Kalos filled that position for most of them.
'What do you want to talk about?' the girl asked in a shaky voice. The man heard the nervousness in Rosetta's voice and raised an eyebrow in curiosity, he never did realizing that he was that imposing.
'I just wanted to get to know one of May's friends. Rosetta Passel right?' The redhead noded.
'Well you must be relly good friends with my daughter.' The girl didn't know how to respond. With today's events rather dull she was not fully sure she could make that statement. 'Your atending the funeral and the last show's you've been performing together.'
Rosetta could again only nod. This shaky image of a girl was quite intriguing to the man but he didn't want her to think she was unwelcomed and got up.
'Relax, your among friends.' He walked to the kitchen and to check up on his wife's progress and also help her in any way he could. Rosetta still sat on the couch for some time as she was still struck by the mans words.
"Friends? Could I become their friend?" she tought. Never before had she been involved in normal family affairs and she felt compelled to try to be accepted by them for May's sake and also curious too see what being inside a real family was like.
May that night did not leave her room and despite her mother constant arguing wouldn't get her out of her room. Normally May enjoyed her dinners and was always first to give her mother a helping hand and even replace her alltogether as cook, but tonight was diffrent.
'And she usually eats so well.' said her mother sighing. All except May were sitting at the table.
At one end of the table was the man of the house quitely eating his dinner. To his left side was his wife and three children. To his right were three children but the chiar right next to him opposing his wifes seat was empty. Rosetta at first didn't know what to make of it and was about to ask if that was supposed to be her seat but realized that it should have been May's seat.
She concluded that in this household at dinner altough not clearly visible follows a strict etiquette. Regardless if present or not seats are reserved and distributed in an odd hierarchy. At the head of the table was the man of the house followed by his wife and the rest of the family.
This set however a disturbing thought in Rosetta's head. Beeing at the other end of the table she didn't know if she was respected by them or regared as a stranger.
Despiter her usually headstrong ways the redhead secretly always yearned for acceptance and from May's family she especially wanted to gain such an aproval. The dinner however seemingly build on etiquette was rather choatic.
Seems May's sister and brothers also got a bit of their parents fistyness just as she did. Their mother had her hands full keeping order always telling one of the child to get his elbows of the table or to stop picking on a younger sibling, but all in all it was the image of a content family enjoying eachothers presence.
Rosetta wondered where or if she could ever fit in this tight knit unit.
The children were constantly asking her questions. She didn't mind and was amuzed by the kind of questioned their infant minds posed. The asked her all kind of things, where her name comes from, if her hair was on fire, what her favorite color was.
It wasn't the usual questioning the redhead recived, having been mostly surrounded by mass-media people her childhood years, but it was a refreshing change.
May's parent however did not want to pose more serious questions not wanting to make her visit uncofortable, but the children where led by curiosity.
After a good twocourse meal and desert Rosetta was quite content. With her strict regime for the trapese she knew that she would have to excercise hard, but for now she started to warm up to the family and forgot all about the stage for one day.
However as much as she interacted with them she still felt like she was just regarded as a guest.
The two parents clearly expected something from her but what it was she didn't know. Not wanting another round of desert having been filled she excused herself from the table.
Walking along the hall images started to bloom in her head. She imagined how a tiny May must have seen the world at that time, how she would have caused all sorts of mischief how this large house must have been like a palace to her at that time.
But why was she so interested in her friends past?
Rosetta envied such a layed back and normal childhood. Having learned diabolo revealed to her a diffrent kind of fufillment but could not compensate for her lost years. Maybe that was the reason for her rather childish behaviour sometimes.
Studying the various drawings along the hallway she figured that May's parents hanged at least one of each childs creation as a milestone.
At the end just next to her roomdoor she saw a rather old one. It was not exactly a masterpiece but one could feel the good intentiones with which it had been drawn.
In the picture there was obviously May, her mother and father, but her mother holding one infant and May supporting a much younger boy. This picture she concluded must have been done in the chinese earliest years as at that time the family counted only three children instead of today's seven.
"She really loves her family." Rosetta thought as she saw the strong bond that had been nurtured trough the years. Wanting to enter her room she remebered the actual reason she had come and stood in front of May's door.
She wanted to knock but a fearful impulse stayed her hand. "What if she wants to be alone?"
Today's events between them where stale at best and she feared that it would take some time for her friend to recuperate, but as headstrong as May was she surly wanted to get herself back on her feet and so she relented.
Before entering her room she took another look at her friends drawing and started questioning her bond with the girl, could she ever exchange such affection with her friend. May's mother had clearly seen trough the girl altough pretending to do something else from afar she saw the worried expression.
She concluded that Rosetta was a friend of May's a good one at that, but the hesitation sprung a fountain of worries.