My apologies for how long it takes me to update. A quirk of the universe that most of you probably don't like….On with the story!

Ralina glanced warily around the room, eyeing each face. She looked them over critically, sizing them up, and she could tell that they were performing the same check on her. She stood where Johanna had left her, unwilling to move. You could never know what to expect with homes like these. Or any home for that matter. Some of them were annoyed when you just started asking questions and trying to make yourself at home. Others expected it. And so she decided that waiting for some one to tell her where to go would be the best thing to do. To her credit, unless Ralina really hated a place on first sight, she tried to fit in. She really did. At least in the beginning. Until she understood the rules, she wouldn't try to break them. But just by looking around she could tell that before long, she would find a reason to stir up trouble. The girl called Mahiru stepped forward first and was about to say something, beginning to extend her hand.

Nozomu pulled Mahiru back as she was about to interact with the newcomer.

"Mahiru," he whispered quietly, "We don't want her to transform. We have no idea how much control she may have so just try to keep it at a no-contact greeting, 'kay?"

Mahiru nodded mutely, seeing a mask of cold indifference slide over the girl's face.

Finally Oboro broke the tension.

"I'm afraid that you'll have to share a room with Mahiru. We didn't have any to spare."

Ralina gritted her teeth, hiding the anger that was already trying to consume her. They were such little things that were triggering her growing fury, but they stung. Why did you even offer to take me then? She thought angrily, but followed Oboro compliantly enough. The room was a soft blue color and there were now two twin beds on opposite sides of the room. He pointed to which one was hers and she nodded her understanding as he left, leaving her alone. She fell face first onto the bare mattress, the bed was still unmade. She didn't really have anything to unpack, just the few items in her shoulder bag. She rolled over to face the wall, turning her back on her new home.

"Um…" a voice said from behind her.

She rolled back over and immediately recognized Mahiru.

"What do you want?" she snapped, trying to control her temper.

"I-I….I just….um…."

"What?" Ralina asked, thoroughly irritated.

"I- It's just that I…umm…. See…its…"

"Just spit it out!" Ralina said, raising her voice.

"I just really wanted to say…um….that I-I'm….." Mahiru was practically flinching now.

"Whatever the hell you're trying to say, just say it or leave me alone!"

Mahiru ran out of the room and Ralina sighed before returning to her contemplation of the wall. This was not a good start.

Ralina had fallen asleep after Mahiru had left and that night, Mahiru tiptoed in and left her alone. Ralina slept fitfully.

It was dark, very dark and the she was very small. She coughed and coughed but she couldn't breathe. So much smoke, everywhere. She struggled to find a way out but she could barely walk. She screamed. And then her older brother was there.

"It's okay," he told her, a tiny lisp still lingering in his seven-year-old voice. All she could see were flames and smoke and she couldn't stop crying but still, somehow, both children made it to the door and outside to the lawn, into the night. There was nothing but pandemonium outside. There were human's, dancing around with torches. They were celebrating but she couldn't understand why. Where was her mother? And her father?

"Mama!" she cried, seeing her mother run from the house. But her mother didn't turn to her; she kept running toward the circle of humans. She heard a cry of pain and she cried harder. Her mother ran back to them now, picking them up and running. The scene shifted and suddenly it was a cold, rainy afternoon a few days later. She was bundled up in a sweater and a rain jacket and her mother was carrying her. They stopped on a street corner.

"Alright Ralina, see that bench?" her mother asked, tucking her collar into her jacket.

"Uh-huh"

"I want you to go and sit on it. Your brother and I are going to go somewhere but I can't take you. So I'm going to give you a nametag," her mother said, pasting on onto the damp jacket, "and I want you to go sit there. And when you see someone, you need to go introduce yourself and then try to get them to take you home."

"But, Mama, I wanna-"

"Remember what Daddy taught you about your powers and be a good girl okay?"

With that, her mother got up and began to walk away. She was only four but she wasn't stupid.

"Mama! I'm sorry Mama, I'll be good now!"

She began to follow but her mother turned back, looking angry. Her mother picked her up and walked to the bench, placing her on it. Her mother produced a coil of rope then, tying one end around her daughter's waist and the other around a bench leg. She embraced her quickly and then walked away, so fast that it was almost a run.

"Mama! Wait! Don't leave! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I was bad but I'll be good now! I'll be good! No! Don't leave me! Don't leave! I'm sorry! It's all my fault! I promise! I'll be good! Don't leave me!" she screamed.

Mahiru rolled over, hearing Ralina's voice. The girl was tangled in her sheets and was fighting them violently, sweating and screaming.

"Mama! Wait! Don't leave! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I was bad but I'll be I'll be good! No! Don't leave me! Don't leave! I'm sorry! It's all my fault! I promise! I'll be good! Don't leave me!"

Ralina was thrashing as though fighting something and the light flicked on in the hall. Nozomu pushed the door open flicking on the light in the girls' room. He gestured to someone in the hall and Oboro walked in past him. The older man walked quickly to the opposite end of the room, shaking Ralina's shoulder first gently and then harder.

"Wake up, Ralina, it's just a dream. It's okay."

Mahiru was on her feet and before anyone could protest, she knelt beside Oboro and took his place.

"Ralina, it's okay. You're only dreaming. Wake up."

Ralina's thrashing ceased suddenly and her eyes opened. Mahiru stepped back as the girl freed herself from the sheets, and stood unsteadily. Nozomu stepped out of her way and down the hall they heard the bathroom door slam.

"What the hell is going on?" Mitsuru demanded, appearing behind Nozomu.

Mahiru had already stripped the sweat-soaked sheets from the bed and she pushed past him. Oboro gave him a tired look.

"Let's just sort it out in the morning," Oboro said, quickly convincing the awakened boys to return to their own rooms.

"You can go back to bed," Mahiru told Oboro as she returned with clean sheets.

A few more comments were exchanged before he departed. Mahiru finished making the bed and was about to return to her own when Ralina finally reappeared.

"You shouldn't have bothered," Ralina told Mahiru when she saw the freshly made bed, "I won't be sleeping anymore tonight. But….thanks." Her tone was much softer than it had been the previous afternoon and Mahiru smiled slightly before snuggling back under her own covers. Ralina might not be sleeping anymore but she was still tired.

So... I do realize that this is my first update since who knows when. Super thanks to anyone who has the patience to stick with it. P.S. I may take forever to update but I will never abandon a story. REVIEW!

pendragoness