Phantasy Star Portable – Kotone

Chapter 15

Ethan tapped his foot impatiently as the rail stopped, waiting for his younger sister to finally come home from school. Lumia bounded off of the rail and stopped at the sight of her brother, who gave her a smile.

"Ethan! I missed you!" Lumia squealed, hugging her older brother delightedly. "Who're you?" Lumia asked Kotone suspiciously. Kotone smiled, and bent down to look the little girl in the eye.

"I'm Kotone," She greeted, offering a hand to Lumia. "You must be the famous Lumia Waber Ethan is always talking about." Lumia took the proffered hand with big eyes.

"Kotone's my girlfriend," Ethan added quietly, waiting for the explosion. Lumia stared, looking between him and the short Newman incredulously.

"You're straight?" Lumia blurted, before stopping short and blushing. Kotone's lips twitched, and Ethan groaned.

"You sound like Hyuga," Ethan decided, his head in his hands. Kotone snorted quietly, swinging Lumia up to her hip. Lumia didn't protest, already comfortable with the woman who, if the glint in her eyes was any indication, was going to tease her brother into next week.

"Well, you can't exactly blame him," Kotone pointed out reasonably. "Your clothes scream 'Gay boy here'." Ethan spluttered, and Lumia giggled into Kotone's shoulder. "I think you need a makeover." Kotone winked at Lumia. "And lucky for us, we have someone who knows fashions as well as I do!" Lumia lit up. She liked this lady already!

Ethan stepped out of the closet with a frown. Kotone looked at Lumia, shrugging.

"I like that one," Kotone said dryly. "It's a decent outfit." Ethan agreed, tiredly. Lumia looked over it critically, and then jumped to her feet.

"One more thing and it'll be perfect!" Lumia declared, running off to the accessories section while Ethan groaned. He was starting to regret introducing his sister to Kotone. The object of his frustrations smirked up at him, as she made her way over to him.

"Aw, don't pout," Kotone giggled at him. "Honestly Ethan, you do have to admit you didn't exactly look straight in your old clothes." Ethan grimaced, making another face at her, but he bent down to kiss her gently.

"The things I do for love." Ethan griped slightly as he pulled away. But privately, he couldn't help but agree that he looked much better than before. Instead of entirely bright colors, he was clad in earthy greens and pale greys, his normal clothes taken by Kotone, who claimed that they were now hers. A smile touched his lips as Lumia ran back holding one of his favorite belts, one he had previously been too embarrassed to buy. He slung the heavy leather around his hips, waiting for his sister's verdict.

"Perfect!" Lumia declared. The tags were collected and passed to the shopkeeper, who nodded appreciatively at Ethan's new clothes, and they left the store. Ethan quietly ignored the masses whispering to each other, instead chatting to Lumia about her day and generally steering the conversation away from Kotone's odd peculiarities.

At home, Ethan made a split-second decision. "I'm going to get dinner," He announced to them both. "Anything you want?" Kotone frowned slightly.

"You sure you don't want me to make something?" Kotone offered, as Lumia frowned herself. Lumia hated it when people got too comfy in their home, especially in the kitchen. "I know you can't make boiling water without screwing it up somehow." Kotone added playfully. Lumia snorted into her hand.

"Uh, well," Ethan scratched the back of his head. "Lumia's the boss in the kitchen, so you'd have to ask her." Kotone turned to Lumia, brushing her hair back.

"If you want, I'll teach you how to cook some food," Kotone offered, smiling at the tense Lumia.

Lumia didn't say anything, fuming. How dare she presume that she could walk in and do whatever she wanted? No! She didn't want Kotone in that kitchen! Only family had been allowed to cook in there. "I guess," Lumia answered instead. Let's see what she does with that. Lumia thought darkly, expecting Kotone to trespass some more in her and Ethan's home. Kotone could sense the tension in Lumia, the dark, defiant dislike of anyone but family in the kitchen.

"Alright then," Kotone said briskly, standing up. "Apparently your kitchen is either haunted or really doesn't like visitors, so how about I get dinner instead?" Kotone suggested, steering Ethan into her seat. Lumia tried her hardest not to be surprised. Ethan blinked at the clearly unusual exchange of events.

"Sure," He answered, watching her put on his old jacket and fetch her wallet, which was filled with her pay from her first mission. Ethan smiled at his little sister. "Neudaiz food sound good?" He asked her.

"Yeah," Lumia answered distantly. "Yeah, that's good." Kotone kissed Ethan on the cheek and Lumia on her forehead quickly.

"I'll be back soon," Kotone answered, leaving the two siblings in a tense, slightly awkward silence. Lumia looked down at her hands, a strange lump of disappointment in her chest, like congealed pasta, the emotions so tangled and bleeding into one another. The door clicked shut, and Ethan's hands pulled her into his lap, running a hand through her hair and taking out the pigtails she normally had her hair in, stroking the chestnut strands reassuringly. Lumia fisted a hand in his shirt as a quiet understanding passed through the both of them.

Kotone knocked on the door, startling the two siblings. Ethan placed a meek Lumia into the couch, running his fingers through his sister's hair once more before going to the door. Lumia didn't move, still sorting through her thoughts, tangling her fingers together.

Ethan let Kotone in, his lips pressed together in a frown of mild worry. Kotone gave her boyfriend a confused look, but didn't say anything, giving him a gentle hug and kiss before moving to the living room table. Ethan collected the plates and set the table in an uneasy silence. Lumia poked at her food listlessly, sometimes eating, sometimes not, as Kotone looked between the pair worriedly.

"Lumia?" Kotone's gentle voice brought the girl out of her stupor. "Is something wrong?" Kotone's hand turned the young girl to face her. "Would you like me to leave?" Lumia's eyes went wide. None of Ethan's female friends had ever asked her that. Lumia sniffled slightly, watching Kotone gently press a kiss to her forehead, before doing the same to Ethan. "I'll see you tomorrow Lumia," Kotone told her softly. As Kotone made to leave, Lumia managed to find her voice.

"C-can you stay?" Lumia stammered, fingers twisting in the hem of her dress. She was going to leave like everyone else, and Lumia didn't want that. Not when Kotone had so understood her. Kotone stopped, turning around to step closer. "Please?" Lumia's voice began to crack. Kotone hugged the tiny girl, bundling the delicate thing into her arms. Lumia sniffed, breathing in the gentle scent of chamomile and honey. Like Auntie, Lumia recognized dimly, before bursting into tears, clutching the soft cloth of Kotone's jacket. Another pair of arms wrapped around the pair, and she smelled Ethan's slightly maple-like scent. She cried harder, clinging to Kotone.

Kotone.

Ethan watched his girlfriend hold Lumia tightly, murmuring soothing words into her ear and rubbing her back. He smiled as Lumia clung to her and nested herself firmly into Kotone's arms. Kotone lay out on the couch, and Ethan fetched a blanket to cover his girls with. As soon as that thought registered, Ethan stumbled slightly. His girls. A smile touched his lips. Yes. His girls. He could live with that.