So I've told Zera that I want to be her familiar, and her natural reaction now is to avoid looking me in the eyes. On our way back to the StockCrib, she held my hand, I squeezed hers and tugged on her ear, but she only responded with a tight smile. It stung a little, honestly.

"Your mushroom friend is healthy," Zera points before we climb. I smile, relieved finally, and then skeptically look the opposite direction and see a huge path of wasted trees and charred bushes. Minky and her friends pack a whopping punch!

All of the little 'shrooms sputter and yip at our arrival, like a mini homecoming parade. Terribly cute. Zera pokes on a random mushroom, and it chortles at her.

"Hello, the fennec lady, Zera!" yelps Minky, her colossal eyes almost bulging from her tiny body, "You and Leonardo survived the Rasta Ducks! That means you get another free night's stay in the Treehouse. Please enjoy!"

"Free is good," I casually respond.

Zera lowers to the plant's level, "Does our place have a Yen room?"

"Yes-see!" Minky cheeps. "And I have a huge library of books. I'm training to be a librarian!"

"Good for you, Minky the Magnificent!" I salute to her accomplishments. "I'm impressed by your strength, too," as I survey the damage again. A whistle escapes my lips. Minky and her friends go ballistic with their rattles and trembles, and I mouth to Zera about leaving them to their celebration. She climbs up first.

Underlight is breaking surface, but I notice the burst of colors across the darkening sky: shining hues of green, white, and yellow. Undoubtedly, an odd mix plastered on a planet's surface, or wherever we are, but still just as breath-taking.

"Hey, wait," I whisper up to her, and she stops to peer down at me, looking slightly alarmed. "Nothing's wrong," I assure her and glide over her body, pressing against her. "Look. To the sky." It's completely random, but I bury my face onto the back of her head and brush against it. So soft and warm. She smells like very earthy but there is a hint of a sweetness to it. There's no immediate response so I watch the sunset over her thick bangs and hope that I'm not making her uncomfortable. And asking would be awkward, too. I can't explain it.

My touch of anxiety fades when a low sound rumbles from her body. Is that a purr? It gets a little louder as I press closer. It really DOES sound like a cat's purr! No.. actually, when I listen more closely, it sounds like duct tape being pulled apart. I lean away and then push back to her again, and the noise fades in and out as I move. I find it cute and amusing! However, she soon gets wise to my tease, huffs at me, and shuffles up the tree. Apparently I need to be a little more suave and less comical. Also, it didn't help that I'm pants-less AGAIN and forgot about that when I scooted against her. How perverted of me!

Moody Zera doesn't wait once she reaches the StockCrib's door, and she vanishes as quickly as I would. I sense she slipped into the bedroom, and I'm correct because the closet door is shut again. Is she that upset at me? "Wait... I didn't mean to make you mad," I fly into Guilty Land and stand in front of the door. "I thought your –... uh, sound was cute and-"

"No, no," her mood lifting, "I want to take you somewhere, like you did for me. I need to dress appropriately for you., the ..." She pauses and then breathes, "...other."

My chest warms as soon as her last word sinks in. "Okay. I'll be waiting."

Looking down at myself, I notice I need a good change of clothes, too. I swiftly choose a nice pair of black pants and a blue shirt from my closet and hit the shower again. The hot water feels so luxurious and stimulating over my sore limbs from the Rasta Ducks' battle. Imboo's water healed my wounds, but my muscles ache a little. When I glance at my dripping turtle form in the mirror, I remember that my body was much stronger as a mutant. Zera doesn't see me this way: as my true appearance. I still view myself as a green guy with a plastron and shell, a few deep scars, and scaly skin. Humans and mammals are much prettier, more attractive. I can completely understand if she didn't want to be with someone like me.

….it's not like I might be able to take her home anyways.

Bugger! No dresses in here that I like! Not even one.

He's going to forget me at this point. I'll throw on these light blue jeans, high waist ones for my pencil legs, a white shirt that hugs me a bit, and slip on a black sweater. Not too bad for something last minute. Comfortable and mature. Let's just pat down my bangs a bit and make sure my ears are hanging low. Gosh, I hate them so much. An unflattering feature of mine but he doesn't think so.

I smile and flap them with both of my hands. Yeah. He doesn't think so.

I'll be the first to admit that I, Zera, know nothing about the opposite sex or dating. I've never dated before, or that I can remember. Hamato is friendly and soothing, and he's important to me. Nice things come to my mind: a quiet walk, training with him, playing cards, or reading with him. That's what I gather that he likes to do.

But, he likes to touch, too. I just feel like I can't touch him right now. It doesn't... seem right.

I hear him finish with his shower and I calmly exit the bedroom. I will miss this pretty house when we leave. I've never been anywhere this gorgeous. So much room and the floors are fun to slide on.

"Hi." He stands in the hallway, a muted light shining behind him, and his smile is very bright. "Ready?"

"You look nice, Hamato."

"Still Hamato, huh?" His smile mutates into a cheeky grin, and I give an embarrassed shrug in return. "You look... wonderful."

When he said wonderful, his voice faded, like the wind. It had such force behind a simple word. Something I probably couldn't do for him at that moment.

"Thank you." I clear my throat and join him in the hallway. "The Yen Room should be down this way."

"What's a Yen Room? Maybe something to do with... a circus or a hot air balloon race?" He nonchalantly takes my hand and walks with me. "I'm seeing visions of yellow elephants using balloons to get to space."

His humor is precious. "For once, it's as it is. A room showing your true desires. You can relive your memories there. I am sure the way back to your home will be shown to you." I don't look in his direction, but I can feel his stare on me.

"That's a good idea. I like it," he lowers his voice. "I am ready to go back home and see my family."

I nod and keep marching forward down the stretching, twisting hallway, and I realize how hard I'm squeezing his hand when he returns the gesture. I'm a little apprehensive about the recent events, and I don't want to make him uncomfortable now. I'm frightened that he won't be able to go to his home; that he will be trapped there and miserable. I don't want that. I don't want that at all, even if it's with me.

We arrive at a small red door, even shorter than us, and instantly we know it's our room.

"Are you coming with me, Zera?"

It's the first time I've fully glanced at him since the Rasta Ducks, and it's the mopiest look I've ever seen from him. "Are you scared, Hamato? Scared!" I tease and shove into his shoulder. "This is for you."

He grins and shoves me back, "If this reveals my home, I want you to come and see it. See my family and New York. Share this with me."

"I don't know how the Yen Room truly works, but if it doesn't want me there, I'll have to leave."

"Will do."

We enter through the short red door together, hands linked.

"It's about time you got home, Bro! Don's on supper duty, but I'm watchin' over him so it's cool!" Mikey the Bouncing Ball emerges with his red apron and spatula, waving it around the place. "GREAT to see you home! Did you bring me back any souvenirs?"

I'm rather startled by everything, especially seeing and feeling Home again. "Uh, not really.."

"Pretty women in bikinis?" Mikey's eyes could rival a black hole.

I shake my head and shrug my shoulders. Empty-handed.

"Even just a teacup?" Mikey baps me with the wet spatula. "See if you get enough for seconds, buddy!" The apron flutters from his maximum speed of evading a disappointing situation. Poor Mikey. He'll survive.

When I enter the warm glow of our kitchen, I smile at seeing my two remaining brothers at the table: Donatello with his smart phone and Raphael picking his teeth with a toothpick. It didn't even bother me when Raphael spat a rogue piece out of his mouth onto the floor. I could even kiss him!

"You look like shit!" Raph cackles and spits again, only this time the piece of food lands on his chin and he wipes it away.

Well, not REALLY kiss him, but a pat on the shoulder works just the same.

Don turns off his smart phone, and I feel very privileged by that. "The dojo just isn't the same without you, and neither is our darts game. I don't have any worthy opponents, and these two like to aim at each other like pincushions." He stands and gives me a hearty hug and smiles. I almost didn't let go of our embrace.

Seeing Mikey consistently at the stove, I ask, "I thought you were cooking, Don?"

"Well, I-"

"He had a headache!" Mikey howls and slams a cup into something. "But he can play that dumb Dwarf Fortress on his phone and talk about GeoChron clocks, whatever those are!"

"Shut up, drama queen!" Raph yanks on Mikey's apron. "I think those clocks are cool. I asked him about it! I saw it on the front page of Yahoo!"

"Let go of my apron! April and I made it last month!"

Raph tugs some more. "You wanna kiss, sweetie poo!"

In about five seconds, the apron snaps off and wraps around Raph's neck. Home sweet home. Don rushes to the stove and hollers that the food is burning. I can only shake my head and beam at the colorful annoyances dancing around the kitchen.

Raph slumps back in his chair, trying to breath normal again. "Yeah, uh... Splinter's in the family room waiting for ya." He gags and coughs. "And it wasn't my idea so don't holler at me later!"

Raphael calls fire before there's even smoke, and I warily glance at Mikey and Don to see what Raph is fussing about. They avoid my stare, and I have no choice but to meet with Splinter and see what in the world Raph means.

It's strange how I don't remember passing through the family room and not seeing Splinter because when you enter ourlair, you pass through the family room first. How did I get back home? Everything is so fuzzy.

The family room is laced in candlelight, and I immediately notice another person with Splinter on the sofa. April? Looks female.

"Welcome home, my son," Sensei's loving, elder voice needles through the darkness as I approach them. "I'm glad to see you healthy and alert."

I extend my arm to the mystery person and a furry white hand takes mine. Soft and warm, and it all floods back to me in calm memories.

"You've met Zera then, Sensei."

"Yes," our Sensei's dark eyes kindly flickers, "and she agreed to blindfold her eyes. I allowed her to use one of your old masks."

I prompt Zera to stand with me, and one of my tattered blue bandanas cover her excited eyes. She's grinning slightly and I can feel her trembling hands. I tighten my grip around her fingers.

"She has been introduced to all of us," Sensei humbly remarks from his seat. "And I have given her permission to remove the blindfold, but she insists on wearing it."

"It smells like sweat but more like you," Zera finally joins in. "And it makes me comfortable. Your life is mostly in darkness and secrecy from what I could see before coming here."

I play with her chubby fingers. "I broke our bond to get in here faster. I'm sorry. I left you behind, didn't I?"

"I'm never far away. I can sniff you out!"

Her kind, powerful words and our tender moment is interrupted by a bunch of immature hooting from the kitchen. I should have known my brothers would muzzle their way into my business!

"She's so cute! Do you think she will let me touch her fur? Not in a creepy or pervy way but just because I haven't touched a walking fennec before!" Mikey and the others congregate in the family room, and suddenly the darkness lifts and everything can be perfectly seen. Especially the dirt on the rug and cheeto fragments on the couch. Ugh! She sat in that?

Raph has to act macho, of course, and lean on the couch like a cowboy. "It sure is getting deep in here!"

"I don't know. That sounds a little stalker-ish. No offense, miss," Don idly comments and then quickly steps away when Zera snaps her head in his direction. "Don't smother each other is what I'm trying to say. Some distance can be good!"

"Shuddup, Dr. Donny," Raph mumbles and spits a pellet behind the couch. I'm highly disgusted. "They don't need dating advice from a ninja turtle."

Mikey touches one of her ears, and she instantly jerks away. I break mine and Zera's embrace to bap Mikey's hands. "Warn her before you do that!"

"Your hands feel different, Hamato," she whispers and grabs them again, running her paws over them. "Very different. His feel the same, too. Michelangelo, correct?" She drops my hands and touches Mikey's cheek. "Hamato talks about you a lot, and he smiles when he talks about you."

"What's this 'Hamato' business?" Raph croaks. "You haven't even told the girl your first name?" Sensei chuckles in the background.

"Zera," I lean next to her ear. "Don't listen to him. Call me what you want."

She nods but almost pokes a flabbergasted Mikey in the eye. "Sorry! You have a smooth face, Michelangelo Hamato. Do you wash with seal spit?"

Don and Raph howl with laughter, and Mikey stretches her cheeks. "I would if you brought me some back with you! I put baby oil on my face! Shiny baby booty!" His giggles are contagious, and she shows all of her teeth while laughing with everyone and Mikey stretching her furry cheeks.

Raph pushes away from the sofa, catching his breath, and leans on Don for support, and their amusement dies down. I quickly stop Mikey from tugging on her ears and politely shove him back. Zera points in a random direction, "Raphael Hamato is the one that makes you scrunch your face but your words have force to them. A kind of passion, too. Even when you say mean things."

I suppose it's no secret that Raph and I butt heads, but I don't want him to know that I gossip about him. Raph puffs up like a mad hen and then brushes it off with a fast grunt. "I keep him on his toes, that's what it means!" he gloats and almost drags Don to the floor with his cocky weight. "He would be DOG meat by now if he wasn't for me!"

"Dog meat? Does that taste good?" Zera blurts. We all have a moment of silence around her.

"I think it tastes like beef ravioli out of a can," Mikey the Saver guesses and whips behind her so I'm sure he can snag a better opportunity at grabbing an ear. I kick at him.

Zera points at Don. "And Donatello Hamato is the one whose brilliant mind keeps the family from being someone's science experiment or freezing to death."

I hear a slap and a resounding yelp from Mikey behind me. Sensei took care of him, thankfully.

"I guess that sums it up," Don shrugs and chuckles. "At least I don't use baby oil on my face."

Zera switches back to me, "Was I correct?"

"Yes," I bow to her, "you were. Very good."

"Well, I'm going on my bike while you two lovebirds make your nest or whatever," Raph stretches, walking away from the room. "Bye, HAMATO!" with a falsetto voice and a fancy hook to his step. Show-off.

This mask is getting itchy, but I will not remove it until I'm out of his family's presence. It's important to all of them that their family and home are kept secret. I know at the bottom of my heart that I won't be returning for a second trip, but it wouldn't hurt to obey their wishes.

Not returning ….. not coming back. I drum it over and over in my head, peering through a dark blue filter, and being grateful for having my eyes shielded. A strong woman doesn't cry; she isn't weak and she doesn't break. I should enjoy this while I can and not stoop to silly emotions.

Truthfully, I'm just sitting here and listening to Hamato recall his tales in a 'Wonderland' to his family beside me. I don't think I've ever told him the actual name of the place. I like Wonderland better, anyways. Their hospitality is worth noting. I'm always asked if I'm comfortable, hungry, thirsty, or if I need to wash and dry my ears. This Michelangelo brother seems to have a fascination with my ears. I might let him touch one ear and then politely charge him money for it.

"Sensei," Hamato alerts the family elder, Splinter; there is a nervous tone to his voice as he continues, "may I give our guest a tour around our beautiful city?"

I feel Michelangelo pressing between us and making smooching noises. "Ooooh! Can I buy a candy bar, daddy!"

Hamato shoves Michelangelo's head away. "Preferably alone, but at least not with this jumping bean."

"ALONE, he says!" The jumping bean dances and smooches in the air. "Keep the door open, kids! All hands above the blankets!"

"Theoretically, I don't think that's possible," Donatello Hamato calls from my right. "He's a reptile and she's a mammal. Two completely different species."

"Duuuuuude," Mikey blows into my ear, "that won't stop LOOOOVE!"

"Mikey! Go away!" Hamato snaps, and I feel a slight breeze next to my head. "Nobody has that on their mind EXCEPT you. Now stop it!"

Splinter Hamato's hairy fingers softly touch my clasped hands; he speaks like the elder Trees from my land with many years of wisdom and experience behind him. It's extremely comforting. "Dress warmly and please don't bore her with facts and dates like you did to me. Sometimes," he tips next to me and whispers, "we just want to admire and study our surroundings."

Hamato doesn't respond on my other side, and I have a feeling that he's embarrassed. It's a rare opportunity to catch him vulnerable so I stick my hands on his face and feel the warmth.

Toasty Hamato! Teehee!

"The Metro-po-li-tan Museum of... Art," Zera enunciates, shivering slightly. I draw her close to me and then she says, "If you like this, I'll like it."

"Well, we don't have to go if you don't want to."

"No, no. You want to go here." A cute smile and one ear crushing against my chest. "It will be interesting to learn about your city and world."

We chuckle at each other for no apparent reason and flow in with the crowd. It's amazing to walk in with the humans. Not a soul looks at us! I'm quietly nervous, obviously, but it's like I'm being guided and protected. I don't know by whom or what. The powers of the Yen Room, more than likely, or maybe...

"I've seen a tunic like this before," she talks rather loudly and I tap my finger on her muzzle a couple of times. She continues in a softer whisper, "I used it to wipe an elder ogre's bottom because he had chronic diarrhea and always wanted jello milk."

...Maybe Zera makes a big influence on me. "What color was the tunic before?"

"Beige and black."

I rub a part of her other ear between my fingers. "Not much difference in color after that incident, huh?"

"I gave it to the Killer Bees Express Dry Cleaning and ….." she loses her train of thought.

"Ice skating rink? Ice cream shop? Oooh. Ice cream!" I tease. She nods quickly with her tongue squeezed between her teeth, in sheer delight.

The burn from the other patrons' eyes herd us to the next exhibit. Zera progressively gets more quiet and I'm fascinated by history and art, particularly South American, Southeast Asia, African, and Japanese cultures. A person steps back in time in a museum; it's truly our modern day time machine, and I can't fathom why more people don't support the programs. They're beautiful and timeless. My chest grows big from inhaling the information. I am at such peace.

"The arrival and passing of seasons in Japan is very significant to its culture," my lips dance along with my eyes across the gallery, "from the welcoming of spring at the lunar New Year to picnics under the blossoming cherry trees to offerings made to the harvest moon. I would love to take you to those one day, Zera. Maybe we can go..." It's with an embarrassed heart that I released my date somewhere between the Historic Images of the Greek Bronze Age and Artworks of Korea exhibits. I turn, feeling a little nervous about asking her on a future trip to Japan, and then she's...

"Sir, please ask your partner to tone down her... snoring," a male Museum employee with a stick mustache barges into my view. "I can hear it from the Oceanic Art room!"

His glare makes me even more nervous, and the only time I'm ever approached by a human with a glare is when I'm ready to strike at them. My hands twitch, but I'm very patient and steady. He leaves finally, and I can breathe again.

Zera's ears almost bounce with her snoring. I tug on them. "Hey, hey," I press my beak against her muzzle, "You're disturbing the peace, Lady Decibel. Wake up from your dream about me in a chocolate bath."

"You would be too sticky," she mumbles, one eye opening.

"So you were dreaming that, huh?"

"No," licking her lips and popping her neck, "I was sleeping in a hammock and you were talking to me about the seasons in Japan."

By the end of our three hour tour, Zera is wide awake and I'm exhilarated from the experience. She really enjoyed the Night Vision photography gallery and wanted to design a peace quilt like Faith Ringgold. I'm not sure what would she place on that quilt from her fantastic world, but it would be interesting to see, I admit.

Hamato lives in a humble world. I understand now why he was so bewildered when he came to mine. Everything makes sense here, and there is control and stability. It's also very cold, and my tongue is numb from eating ice cream. He ate chocolate chip and I had a rainbow sherbert because I couldn't decide on anything and the colors were pretty. I wanted three big scoops, and that was a huge mistake. Now I have to eat all of my ice cream, he says, or starving children in Africa will cry. Wherever that is.

"They can cry, damn it! I can't eat all of this! Send it to them!"

He ate the middle scoop and a part of the third. He doesn't make smacking sounds when he eats, and he's so meticulous. Every inch of the cream must be smooth before inserting into his orifice. He's weird, but I like him. I like that he bought me a red coat, too and said that I was pretty and reminded him of his friend, April. We will be meeting her soon, he says.

Hamato and I toured a Green-wood Cemetery. Our cemeteries have pubs, food huts, and marketplaces. We do not call the dead 'permanent residents' or give them memorials. They're dead. End of story.

"Any of the people you had to kill in here, Hamato?"

I got a very disapproving look, and he wouldn't speak to me for a while. I was interested in the 'Civil War' soldiers' monuments and wondered if my land was ever going to be free from the Lucaracs.

During the visit to Wave Hill, Hamato lectured about preserving plants across the world. He didn't seem to notice when I crushed a few flowers in the Palm House by accident. I was getting sleepy again and the ice cream churned in my tummy. The Woodland was my favorite, and I lectured him about preserving trees, unless it's a Twinkie Tree. Just burn those things to the ground!

I can't remember if it was getting near Christmas back home. I love that time of year: all of the magic, lights, warm food, and fellowship. Singing holiday songs comes to mind as well, and Zera tried her hand at it. Unfortunately, she was told to hush and then she threatened the group of teenage boys with a loaded hot dog.

"There's so much to see and do in New York," I comment as I'm plucking snow and relish out of her fur, "and we can't do it all in one day. Would you like to go see April and Casey now? Get inside where it's warm and we can watch a movie and have hot chocolate. I can make a delicious latte."

"Does that mean we have to kiss?"

I'm caught off-guard. "Uh... not – not really?"

She chomps on her hot dog. "I've never kissed anyone. I was afraid of getting a tooth disease."

"Neither have I. I've been kissed on the cheek and forehead. Tooth disease?" She comes up with the craziest things.

"We have to brush our teeth first. Have you had your check-up?"

"Zera," I squeeze her shoulder and watch her lick mustard off her chops, "I don't live in a normal society. I live in the sewer, but I know how to brush and floss. Don't confuse me with the other brothers who don't practice good hygiene."

"And, and," she almost fades into a whimper, "I'm too scared of doing the Reproductive Tango. I don't care how good your latte is or how nice your touch is or..."

I get the urge to playfully bite her ear. So I do it, and we forget all about that dumb conversation.

But... reproductive tango? I don't think I've heard it being that called before!

This April O'Neil woman is amusing, but I'm not sure if I like her. She gives off the Mama Bear vibe.

"So," the red headed woman's green eyes work their way up and down my body, "you met Leo on a flying walrus?"

She had to remind me of that imbecile Nipal. "Not exactly. I pulled Hamato from the river. Then we went on a flying walrus. He's actually a rabbit though."

April leans on the kitchen counter, arms crossed. "A walrus that's actually a rabbit? People who eat their own teeth? Hamato?"

Hamato can already feel this train wreck coming. He sits across from me at the table. "Her pet name. Long story."

"All of this sounds pretty amazing, Leo!" April's curls spring as her head tilts to one side. "No illegal substances are involved with this kind of... fling, is it?"

"April-"

"You guys are always getting yourselves into some wacky situations, but this one-"

"Allow me to explain," I rush in. "I saved your friend from drowning and being eaten by a Litto, a mermaid. They are not good creatures. I took him under my wing and supervision despite our land being in the middle of its own civil war and injustice. Hamato and I molded a tight bond, but it wasn't quick because I don't trust easily. Neither does he."

April relaxes and allows me to press on with the tale. "He's a terrific ally and friend. I won't be around long. He'll be back to his world very soon."

The kettle screeches from the stove and startles April. I glance back at Hamato, who is concentrating hard on the ceramic orange cat in the middle of this table.

"Leo," April quietly shakes him. "Your water is ready." She takes his seat when he rises and also stares the cat. I wonder what's so special about it, but I realize it's an excuse for them to think.

"You seem like a nice girl...er... fennec," she finally speaks with a mild tone, "but everything sounds too bizarre and I'm not grasping the situation. Give me more time to accept it. I may be friends with walking turtles, but where you're from takes the cake."

Turtle?

Hamato pours steaming water into our cups. The back of his blonde hair ripples into green waves.

A walking turtle, she says.

His hand stirring powder into the cup is suddenly bulky and green with a few scar marks on it. His back bulges, his shoulders stretch, and his height is decreased by a couple of feet.

April sighs and places her elbows on the table. "Casey is at hockey practice and that's supposed to only be a couple of hours but it usually turns into five." Annoyance dots her cheeks.

Finally, when Hamato finishes the latte, I'm staring straight into his reptilian eyes and face. He smiles, and it's as nice as it was before. Same Hamato; just a different skin.

And he's right: he makes a fantastic latte, and we didn't have to kiss or tango either.

It's my turn to get a lecture from someone: a sassy redhead named April, and I hang on to her every word about trusting, caution, how to treat a lady, and not to get too serious at my age. All are very valid, realistic points.

"But they don't apply here, my lady," I reassure her. "And we're not looking for a chapel to get married in."

"I know that, Romeo!" April hisses. "But I'm giving you some advice! You, of all the brothers, are the most level headed. She said that she's leaving soon. I don't want you tore up over it."

"But I will be, April. No matter how gently you break it to me. She's my friend and when we part, it will hurt. Just like it hurt to be away from you and my family."

She wraps me in a big hug and kisses my forehead. "Don't talk with that sad voice. I don't like your sad voice."

"I'll be back home soon, okay?" I muffle through her green bathrobe. "And I would like an apple pie to celebrate. O'Neil's finest!"

I get a wink as a response. Good enough. "April, do you know where a red door is?"

"Down the hall, I think," she oddly answers. "I don't want to know. Travel safely, both of you, and get home soon!"

Zera emerges from the bathroom, and I wait for her by the front door. Since April's interrogation, Zera hasn't spoken much, but she has smiled at me more. I'll take what I can get, then. The two ladies nod, and April sends Zera off with a pat on the shoulder.

April was correct: the red door looms at the end of the hall, and gripping Zera's damp paw, I lead the both of us through the Yen Room's exit.

Our voices echo in the darkness, and nothing is seen but can be felt and heard.

"Your desires are strong and fierce. I like your city and your family."

"Even April?" I joke.

"Yes. And I will miss you. I hope it's not too long before we can meet again."

I squeeze her hand and she returns the gesture. "It won't be."

"Your latte was very good. Thank you."

"You're welcome. May I ask if something happened in April's kitchen? Your face changed."

"Hmm?"

"Your expression. Like you just realized something."

"Your latte was that good."

"It was?"

"And that you're a little shorter and greener now, Leonardo Hamato. So cute!" with a small giggle.