A/N: Thank you everybody for the loving and encouraging reviews. Your words and kindness is the fire which pushes me forward to write this story from my heart. I cannot thank you guys enough! You guys are great, you truly are ;)

So this chapter is basically about nothing. I barely had any ideas so please bear with me ^_^;; and thanks to Desastrus for kicking my ass, lol.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Summary: Tala is adopted into a loving home, starting a new life but he had to his friends behind. It's not quite often blessings come in disguises but in this case, it's more than a blessing; it's a gift.

Chapter 10: Small Talk

"So, this is your new home."

"Uh huh,"

Could this possibly be true? Were my eyes deceiving me or was this a cruel illusion? I could barely focus my attention onto one of my best friends, sitting across from me with his eyes shut and legs crossed. Sitting across from me was Kai Hiwatari, one of the closest people coming to me during a time when I lost my own friends. I wondered if it was a sign for good things to come... Hmmm... I reached out to the porcelain teacup only to have him speak.

"So, they left,"

My fingers recoiled from the teacup. Leaning back, I released a sigh running my hand through my hair. I didn't want to think about it.

"Stanley told me about it," Kai continued opening an eye. "It all started with you."

"What? What does that mean?"

"Relax, I'm not saying it's a bad thing..."

I narrowed my eyes giving him my distinct glare, "And do why all of a sudden I feel guilty?"

"I meant that as a good thing," Kai stood up moving his hands into his trousers, walking to the window. "Since you made the first move, the rest followed... to gain a better life."

"So what you're saying is that if I didn't decide to get adopted then they wouldn't have done the same?"

"Maybe, who knows but I knew that sooner or later, you guys will walk separate paths. At this age, all of us are attending universities, are we not? Blading is now not our priority. We now have lives to live."

It was the truth; blading was now not the top priority. Shaking my head, I stood up and made my way next to him. I knew what he said was true; I started university a week ago and that's where the next step of life began. This was life.

Socializing with new people was still something I'm learning, taking baby steps at a time. I'm still weary of people and what they think about me but I shouldn't let such petty matters get under my skin. It didn't help when people at the university recognized me. However, let's just say I made it very clear that I was one who should be left alone regardless of my celebrity status. Right as of this moment, I was a normal teenager attending university, just like the rest of humanity. What do I have to look forward this year? Ah yes, the possibility of learning how to do group work, excel in academic studies, make new friends and perhaps gain a life... Why must the human condition be so complicated?

"So why exactly are you here?"

"Nothing. I just wanted to see this new life of yours before I go back to mine."

"Ah yes," I dryly replied. "You got accepted into Brown, didn't you? Or was it Yale?"

Typical of him to not reply. I sighed and walked back to the velvet couches. Glancing over to the grandfather clock in the corner, the long arm of the clock struck twelve signalling it was now three o'clock. It was on days like this when I time was reduced to crawling. Tilting my head back, my eyes fixed onto the ceiling; my eyes scanned the intricately carved floral spectacle in front of me while my mind brewed with questions.

Suddenly, several knocks echoed. The golden doorknob turned and Calina entered, well, more like exploded into the room. As usual, the young girl squealed the moment she saw me and rushed toward me, throwing herself right into my lap. Good lord, every time she leapt on me I swore she continued getting heavier. By this rate, I'll be flattened! The little girl giggled before telling me all the things she did in school. I nodded with everything she said until she paused, took in a deep breath and continued without realizing I had company. Well, if you could consider it company.

"How was Tala's day?" she asked brightly snuggling into me.

Good lord, I couldn't stop the smile forming on my lips. Ruffling her hair, I replied, "My day was good, little one. But aren't you forgetting something?"

Removing her face from my chest, she tilted her head slightly in confusion. How cute. "Yah?"

"Tala has company."

"Oh!" the little girl squeaked and immediately hopped off my lap. She rushed over to Kai. "HELLO! MY NAME IS CALINA!"

I face-palmed. Bold little one, wasn't she? Well, wasn't this something; a little girl talking to Kai, the wall. I watched him stare at her. What I didn't expect was he suddenly picked her up and tickled her. Calina laughed, squirming in his arms before yelling, "Stop! Stop! Calina's about to go boooooooom!" Maybe that's when I saw something I wasn't supposed to see; I just witnessed a softer side of Kai! Oi, since when was Kai 'child friendly' anyway? And look at him, he's smirking! That bastard! Did Hell just freeze over or was I completely insane, imagining my friend smile and let alone, play with my little sister? Pinching myself, I made sure I wasn't dead. Ow. Yep, I'm pretty much very alive.

Rubbing my stinging arm I said, "Calina, come here."

The little girl squealed louder, escaping from Kai rushing back to me. I released a grunt when she literally jumped and body slammed into me. Ow. It didn't help when her entire weight fell onto my chest. I shall be expecting bruises in the near future.

"Calina! Time to do homework!"

We turned our attention to the door; Inessa stood there with a smile on her face. Behind her was Irene who held a silver tray with snacks and coffee.

"Hi mom," I said, looking at her. "Is it me or is Calina much heavier than she was at Christmas?"

Inessa laughed. "She's a growing child, sweetie."

I heard Kai clear his throat. I believe he was trying not to laugh... if he was even capable of it.

Ignoring my silent friend I turned my attention to Calina, "My, my Calina!" I exclaimed poking her belly. "If you get any heavier then I won't be able to pick you up!"

Calina's jaw fell open. She immediately shook her head thinking how her life would be if I didn't or rather, couldn't pick her up. "Ahhhhh!" she released a cry. "I don't want to be heavier! It's Irene's fault! She made me eat yucky veggies!"

I turned my attention to Irene whose back was turned to me. I imaged she smiled on the other side.

Returning my attention to Calina I spoke, "Now, now don't go blaming Irene. You need your veggies to be beautiful like Irene—"

Crap. What the hell was I saying? I immediately shut up turning my head away. Clearing my throat, I hoped someone was to fill in the silence for me. Curse my interesting choice of words! Damn! Feeling a blush creeping up on my face, I lifted Calina off my lap and excused myself from the room. I leaned behind the door rubbing my face. Wow, wasn't that awkward? Behind the door, I heard Calina squeal but only this time she was teasing Irene.

"Tala and Irene sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

Pinching the area between my eyes, I thought, Really? What are they teaching children nowadays? I heard my mother laugh followed by Calina who burst into a fit of giggles. I imagined Kai smirking and Irene, well, she probably remained silent as her cheeks turned rose red. Pushing myself off the wooden door, I made my way down the hallway thinking about... Irene. Ugh! What was wrong with me? Shaking my head, I made note that she was my maid and a loyal servant to the Murin household. Nothing more, nothing less. All this humanly emotions confuse me so, I concluded.

I arrived in the living room where I spotted Gregori sitting by the fireplace with a pipe hanging from the corner of his mouth. Greeting him, he looked up and smiled at me.

"Ah Tala! Just the person I wanted to see."

"Yeah?"

"Do you think you can tutor Calina English?"

"Sure but isn't the school teaching her?" I questioned. I thought schools were teaching English to children since kindergarten.

Gregori nodded, "Yes they do teach English but I rather let her learn from someone who learnt it properly and spoke it all their lives. Plus, what they teach in school is formal English. I want her to know informal English,"

"Ah," I nodded. "Sure thing. When do I start?"

"After Calina is done with her homework and French lessons with Irene,"

Ah, Irene, again. Without thinking, I made my way to sit across from Gregori.

"Dad... um, can I ask you something?"

"Yes?"

"Has Irene always been here?"

Gregori looked at me quizzically. Realizing I asked out of plain curiosity, he placed down the green leathered book onto the side table. Removing his glasses he began, "Irene was adopted, just like you and Calina. Although the circumstances were different,"

"Hm?"

"I remembered we met Irene when Inessa and I were touring Paris during our honeymoon," Gregori leaned deeply into the armchair lacing his fingers together.

Closing his eyes, he recalled sweet memories...

He remembered walking down the streets of Paris, hand in hand with his beloved wife, Inessa. He couldn't be happier! Well, he never assumed a day like this would come after the fact Inessa's father detested him for not being 'perfect' or 'ideal' for his daughter. Nonetheless, love triumphed in the end. Pigeons took flight into the blue sky and Inessa reached for the skies as if she, herself gained wings to fly with them. Oh how she loved the thought of being free! With a cool breeze passing her, she laughed and turned around smiling at Gregori. Her smile so heart warming it could bring a smile to anybody's face within a heartbeat. And that was that smile that he fell in love with all those years ago.

"Gregori!" she called out. Gregori watched Inessa running to a nearby cafe. "Hey, let's try this place!"

"You really need to keep that sweet tooth under control," Gregori laughed, walking over.

It was a small cafe on the corner of the block surrounded by ancient brown, yellow and white cobble stones. Outside was a small patio were several black metallic chairs with white and green striped cushions placed in sets of two. Added to the front was a small fountain surrounded by several brightly colored flowers and small cupids holding arrows waiting to strike 'Cupid's Arrow' into their next targets.

The couple entered through the glass door as silver chimes echoed; a waitress at the front approached them with a smile of her own, greeting them. Walking them to a small table next to an aquarium filled with exotic tropical fish, she placed down two laminated menus and relayed today's special. With that, she bowed and left.

"My! I can't decide what I want!" Inessa exclaimed with her finger scanning through the food items and of course, French wine. "Oh dear, I'm going to gain so much weight!"

"This is why places like this are dangerous," Gregori said flatly.

It didn't help when Inessa chuckled, kicking him under the table. The waitress returned five minutes later asking them for their orders. Placing down their orders, the blonde haired girl left for the kitchen and immediately, the couple heard the sound of dishes crashing against the floor tiles. Inessa was the first to react, rushing to the kitchen. Without thinking she pushed the doors open and on the floor was the waitress clutching her hands tightly. Red lines dripped from the waitress's hand staining the white apron.

"Hey, are you alright?" Inessa asked in French crouching down next to her.

"Oui..."

"Here," Inessa slowly pulled the waitress up. Removing the scarf from around her neck, she carefully wrapped it around the waitress's hand. "I'm going to take you to the doctor, alright?"

Suddenly, the sound of a woman's screech sliced through the air sending shivers down the waitress's spine. A lanky and tall French woman entered the kitchen; several strands of hair hung down her face as her eyebrows furrowed with her green eyes glaring daggers at the young waitress. Inessa had a feeling she had to intervene. She knew it was none of her business but this waitress here was unable continue and she bloody well didn't care what this woman was going to say.

The corner of the brunette's lips curved upwards into a snarl but she maintained a straight face nonetheless. Speaking in French to Inessa she spoke almost too kindly, "I must ask you to leave now, madam."

"I can't," Inessa responded firmly. "I need to take this girl to the doctor."

"Without any disrespect madam," the woman took a step closer. "She is my employee."

Inessa's finger twitched. Giving the woman a firm smile she continued, "Yes but she's injured, she can't continue."

"With all due respect, she can continue," the brunette took another step forward.

Gregori massaged the area between his eyes remembering that day all too well. I tilted my head.

"You alright dad?"

"I'm fine," then Gregori released a laugh. "You know, that was the first time I've seen your mother angry! It's quite frightening!"

"Oh..." Tala fell into deep thought. The idea of imagining Inessa angry did not compute. It wasn't on the path of logical thinking or imagination.

"Never had I thought someone so sweet as your mother would have a dark side! I remembered she argued with that woman until both of us were kicked out of the restaurant! Even the police was involved!"

I suddenly began to doubt if I was adopted into the right family.

Finding my voice, I asked, "So what happened after that?"

"We strolled by the cafe again at night, we found the waitress thrown out with a suitcase by her feet, clothes scattered on the road and that woman, who Inessa argued with yelling at the poor girl."

"Oh..."

"We found out later that woman was Irene's stepmother who managed the cafe. This time both of us intervened and took Irene under our wing. At the time we weren't sure what we were doing but we knew, deep in our hearts it was the right thing to do." Gregori paused for a moment gathering his thoughts before continuing, "Irene's stepmother was a horrible woman,"

Nobody could be as horrible as Boris... I shook my head and then asked, "Horrible? How come?"

"She forced her daughter to gain money buy 'unconventional' methods." Gregori replied darkly. With a frown etched on his face he concluded, "It broke our hearts to hear Irene telling us she was pregnant by one of her customers but in the end, she miscarried."

I understood every human life was different in the sense some people were destined for bad luck. Hell, I thought I was one of those people but I began to understand, even a little, that others share a series of unfortunate events, varying to different degrees of course. Personally, I thought abbey life was my personal hell but to listen to Irene's story... her life was not easy either. Hm. Maybe everything wasn't as bad as I thought...

Pushing myself off the chair, I looked at Gregori, "Thanks dad."

"For what?"

"Making me realize not everybody is perfect. We don't need to be perfect... we just need people who love us."

I made my way back to the room and hopefully, everybody had forgotten the thing I said earlier. Turning the door knob, my eyes locked onto Kai sitting on the floor with his legs crossed. Beside him was Calina with several pieces of paper scattered around her, which I assumed was her homework. There, I watched Kai explaining in simple terms the process of photosynthesis. Calina tried desperately to absorb his teachings but I could I tell she was having trouble getting the overall picture. Time for me to intervene, I believe.

Calina looked up at me, "I don't get it!"

"Come here," I crouched down and picked her up. Locking gazes with Kai I asked, "Since when you socialize with children?"

"..."

Typical. Rolling my eyes I continued, "Just spit it out."

"I tutor morons at university. Happy?"

The very words coming out of his mouth barely computed in my mind. Him? Tutor? I couldn't help but release a dry laugh. As usual, my response was silence. Calina looked from me to him. Quite curious had to ask me.

"What's a moron?"

"That is something that I will tell you later, little one," I replied placing Calina back down. The little girl was about to argue but she didn't; instead she plopped back down to her homework with eyebrows furrowed. Clearly she wasn't pleased. "Calina, I'll help you finish your homework and we can play later alright?"

Her eyes sparkled with excitement at the mere mention of 'play'. "Yay!"

Shooting a glare my dear friend I said, "And you can play horsey with Kai. He makes a great horse! How does that sound?"

He grunted as usual, he kept his comments to himself. Calina looked at me and said, "Can Irene play too? I want all of us to be happy and have lots of fun!"

Ruffling her chestnut hair I smiled, "Yes, she can play with us too."

As long as I have my family and friends beside me, life could still be perfect, just the way I like it.