I'm tired. I'm tired. I really hurt my back carrying this stuff awkwardly; it's all twisted and crampy now. I fucked up. And of course instead of slipping in and finding somewhere—wait no we were going to have to get through Leona either way.

"...I… brought them here." Jack admits.

"I can see that." Leona seems very unimpressed, as he crosses his arms. "Why?"

And we get into the story—really, Jack tells it, and I try not to pass out where I stand, or whimper because I need a hot bath and I feel terrible. This is the worst I've felt and I'm also adding in the YOLO incident but that was a wee bit on purpose and deserved.

Finally, Jack concludes the terrible tale of woe and the deal with the devil.

"No way in Hell." Leona knows what he did.

"He didn't even consider it…" Jack sighs, rubbing his fluffy hair. Cute.

"Cafeteria it is." I sigh. "Grim, let's go. I'll figure it out. I always do."

"Our dorm has a no pets policy—Bunny, you and the fur ball need to go… somewhere else." I don't know why Leona's giving me a weirder than normal look.

"On the way, Leona, please fuck off." I reply with a mumble.

"What a JOKE! You have more fur than I do!" I don't know how that's true, Grim, and I don't want to find out.

"Doesn't really matter." Ruggie grins, and shrugs.

I hate everyone here but Jack. I'm already shuffling around and trying not to flinch. My back's cramping so bad.

"And we never clean the free rooms… it's just trashed-out storage right now." Leona explains.

"Literally leaving, just lemme be slow." I am being ignored.

"Really Jack, you want me to let them stay in pig stys?" Leona shakes his head.

"Oh… well… You know, Leona, you should let them stay in your room. There's the space, and, y'know—maybe it was that strengthening potion but I'm still just not up to snuff… so taking care of you is just a bit too much for me right now." Ruggie Bucchi is a man that will never let an opportunity go to waste. "Having… y'know, them clean up after you instead of me for a bit so I can irest/i."

"Ruggie, shut your fucking mouth." Leona hisses angrily.

"You know, I'm just not feeling up to it… and aren't you used to servants in your chambers or some royal bullshit like that?" He hedges.

"Do I need to shut you up myself?" He's pressing his fingers again to his temple. Leona does that a lot.

"It's a win-win, right?"

Leona growls. "Ruggie, you little fuck."

His ears twitch, and he's giving me a weird look for a second, and quite a frown. What, Leona? Fuck off. I can sleep in the cafeteria…

"After risking my life for you, I need a little recovery time—it'd help me get back into shape if I had these two helping for a little bit." Ruggie isn't going to not get his way, I guess.

Uh.

This is also uncomfortable.

"Ruggie, you're always going to be a sneaky little bastard, aren't you?" He's—he's GIVING IN?

"Aw—you know I'm right!" And there goes that little laugh.

"I'm not letting them stay so easily." Leona starts. "Sounds insulting, a little bunny and a fur ball… Runts, get over here." He calls to three random—fuck.

Fuck me he's going to have us fight them.

I starts slipping off bags and slowly putting them down, aside… except for the tote full of books. I'm going to need these. Holy fuck does my back ache.

Yeah, it's a fight, and Jack's already at my side—but everyone is sort of shocked when I slam my entire book tote into the face of one of the trio and knock him unconscious.

"-….Take him to the infirmary." Leona seems a little shocked.

Everyone seems a little shocked.

"...Can we go to bed now?" I ask. I don't care. At all.

"A deal's a deal! We get to be here for THREE DAYS!" Grim cheers, he also is way too arrogant for barely doing anything.

"...Maybe you're adapting too well, No…" Jack is giving me a deep frown.

"Annoy me at all and I'm throwing you out." Leona promises.

Jack, surprisingly, snags up my bags. He's giving me a very concerned frown. Why?

"Okay." I reply.

"And now we don't have to worry about where we're sleeping!" Grim…

I had it all planned out.

"Okay Jack, please get the spare bed in Leona's room and I'll take these~" Ruggie snags the bags from Jack, and off he goes with us.

"Of course." Off Jack goes…

Ruggie says something, which causes Leona to glare back at him. "I can still year you—bunny, herbivore, hurry up."

I am going as fast as my aching back lets me.

I cannot see well in the dark, but it's a beautiful room, I think—and it looks probably boy-trashed. Do I care? No. I don't care. I just… I am barely on my feet right now. I'm about out.

"Wow—wild man atmosphere! Isn't it great, No?" Grim, I can't see in-

"Grim, I can't see in the dark." I reply.

"Bunnies can't see in the dark." Leona echoes, or he wasn't listening.

"I'm going to sleep. Wake me, and go on the streets…" And I hear a flop, and snoring. Uh.

Holy shit.

I hear the flop of a mattress beside us.

"Oh wow-" Grim starts.

"Shush. Sleep."

I see our bags—I think—in the moonlight, and the mattress. I catch two silhouettes leaving… and I flop on the mattress and I'm out.

Fuck.

iA dark cavern illuminates./i

iA mermaid enters./i

iIt's the great sea witch. Two eels watch gleefully. /i

iThe mermaid signs a contract. /i

iHer voice, for legs./i

I wake up from another strange dream.

The sun shines around me and I can barely take in the sights around me. I'm groggy—and Grim's snoring.

"Wake up Leona!" And Ruggie strides right in.

I'm so glad I'm dressed… ugh, I feel like shit too. Great. My back hurts. I feel.. a little nauseated too. I am so getting sick. Fuck fuck fuck.

"Morning Bunny! Morning Grim!" Ruggie too. These assholes will never stop, huh?

"Morning… it's six am! Why?!"

"Savanaclaw has Spelldrive training every morning, and even guests have to participate." Ruggie shrugs helplessly.

I'm going to throw up, aren't I?

At least the show of Ruggie getting Leona out of bed is entertaining.

It's in the middle of practice that I suddenly feel—nope, nope—I run off the field so fast, and I barely make it to the toilets, throwing up the entire contents of the nothing I had in my stomach. And suddenly—suddenly it hits me.

iOh fuck no I did not/i.

I just started my period.

OH no oh no oh no.

I have to clean up, but why did I forget this awful time? The cramps, the feverishness, the moodiness—everything. Everything makes sense. I HAVE to get back to Leona's room and that was five minutes ago. I'm just getting out of there, and heading back to the dorm. Someone probably heard the retching and if Leona gives me guff I'll puke on him or something.

Slowly, I get clothes from my bag and go to the shower, shaking a little bit. I need a meal, too…

But the shower feels amazing; I'm glad Leona actually gave in, at least, that I can use the private shower. I—really can't manage public, considering that whole big reveal with the open access style—my gosh. I'm completely and entirely in his debt with this nonsense with Azul—but I have a plan brewing in my mind, at least.

I hurt so bad and I pray to God I do not bleed everywhere. I FEEL it. I know it. Please, please let me make it.

It IS a miracle I do, and I manage to clean up without any evidence left behind with careful trash-maneuvering and lots of hand washing. Oh no. This. This is absolutely awful. I—why. Is it the stress? Is this what finally did me in? I guess I was hopeful that Twisted Wonderland got RID of that stuff but no, I JUST HAD TO SETTLE OUT FUCK.

I hate everything. I turn on the water. I let it get hot.

There… well, fine, I'm mostly crying at this point, but...

This is the worst time for Azul to pull his bullshit, and I swear I'm syncing up to shenanigans and being an emotional wreck. I blame this being an all-boy's school, because I have no one to sync with but dumbassery. Is that how it works? I might want to research some biology here—at least I know they HAVE periods… Sam's store is a blessing. Anything you need, no questions asked.

There's a knock on the door. "-." Leona's voice is muffled, it barely cuts through the sound of the water.

"Sorry!" I shout in reply. I actually don't know what he said, but I'm assuming. "I—I threw up! I—I'm cleaning up. I'll hurry!"

Well, I need to wrap up at least. So, the water goes off and I take the tedious time to wipe water from my skin and wring out my ever-growing hair. I thought about cutting it, but it's gotten so ipretty/i since I've gotten here. I could at least find someone to trim it—Pomefiore might have someone? I should ask Epel… What a mess.

Now I'm out, and wrapped in such a wonderfully soft and luxurious towel it doesn't really match Leona's gruff nature. It's definitely a bath sheet. It's great. I could sleep in this. Oh, wow—yeah, first, I snag my bag and take care of business, before washing my face—I am so glad I had this stuff on me, or I'd be so screwed. I don't know what I'd do otherwise.

I slowly open the door to peek around, hoping Leona isn't mad I skipped the rest of practice. I see him standing there with his tail thrashing—but he isn't… his normal annoyed? Honestly I don't know what his normal annoyed is. "S-sorry… I… got sick..."

Leona doesn't say a word. Not for the moment. I don't care for his expression—his eyes narrowed, with his tail thrashing. Oh shit.

I step out with the towel wrapped around my dirty clothes. "...Add… stuff to that pile..." I drop the towel in there and put the clothes in my dirty clothes bag.

He has such a narrowed gaze on me. Did… I take too long? I cannot handle a conflict with Leona right now.

"Bunny, we need to talk." I hate those words.

It's a beautiful room, the stone work is so… rustic, maybe? The large windows and their red blinds—fine, I'm definitely staring awkwardly at the room, I'm not sure where to go or where to sit because he's got clothes strewn across the floor. A balcony outside, I think—the bed is so large, and decorated with plenty of cushions and a messily-put-on there blanket.

Fine, I'm literally trying to not make eye contact. "I—I am sorry. I..." I start, I think he's—pissed-and I am already getting far too worked up. Please don't cry. PLEASE don't cry. Nope, that's some tears coming out.

"Slow down, bunny." He murmurs, but it's—very gentle. "...Sit." The Beastking gestures to the freshly laundry-free couch. I slowly take a seat with such a horrible cramp working its way back.

He elects to sit down on the bed, looking at me carefully. I'm wiping away fresh tears I can't help. I'm finally set off and there's nothing I can do about it—which I can tell is making Leona more and more uncomfortable. "S-sorry." I mumble. This sucks. I hate this.

"You're female." Well, at least he gets right into it, but boy, he looks uncomfortable. "Without Grim here, the scent of your… cycle… is obvious. Monsters have strong scents… so I didn't notice until now. Doubt anyone can smell past that monster stink."

I take in a deep, shaky breath. And I'm basically about to start sobbing.

There's sudden alarm in Leona's face. "I—I'm not going to tell anyone." He looks a bit panicked, actually.

"R-really?" I am already crying, but this time in relief. Wiping the fresh tears from my eyes. "Th-thank you-"

Again, he moves so quickly when he wants to! I've got a handkerchief wiping my tears away for me. "I didn't want to make you cry." Now he sounds a little upset. "...But I know the background. You're from some other place, far away from here. You didn't come to Night Raven College willingly… and this is all you have. I'm not going to be the reason a lady's left with nothing…" That's… a change in tune.

"Th-thank you so much-" Okay, this is ireally/i nice of him. I can't help that I'm crying more.

This only seems to distress him more.

"S-sorry—I-I'm-um-really emotional right now." I do not know how to drop that topic.

"I can smell that." He mumbles.

I take the hankie, and wipe my face, taking deep breaths to calm down. My weird blue eyes catch those pretty green. As feline as he is, they are always so wild. I can't help but start to laugh, shaking my head. Oh, man, I am through an emotional roller coaster. I have someone finding out and for some reason he's just going to let me get away with it! And—and he's being so nice. Who is he and what did he do to Leona?! It's a relief, I hope he stays in this mood until this incident ends! "So how do I cover up what I smell like, besides Grim?"

"I can… do that." Leona almost hesitates his… offer?

I stand up, pretty eager to go and complete this process! "How?"

I didn't expect to be immediately wrapped in a hug, and I also didn't realize how touch-deprived I actually feel until I've found myself wrapped in big, strong arms. Oh. That… that feels so good. He's strong, and big, and warm—and it's so nice. I definitely give him a big hug back. Am I maybe nuzzling a bit against his chest? Guilty. But—wow. I've… I think I'm really touch deprived.

"Hugging… and… This…" He mumbles a bit, I swear I feel a blush. But next I feel him… nuzzling me? Like, my head. It's—like a cat rubbing up against stuff. This feels nice to and I say nothing. "My scent is… strong enough to cover yours."

"Thanks." It's… he is doing me favors.

We let go, and I've thought about giving him a pretty big hug since hearing his thoughts during his Overblot. That's… something he doesn't know I know, and well, maybe I should tell him? I haven't sat down with Riddle yet, and honestly I think he'd be mortified. But they do need someone to talk to after that, right? I can't imagine any of it's settled for Leona, considering his personality. Riddle's calmed a bit, I think he's dealing… but…

I'm surprised at the next words out of Leona's mouth. "You're going to have to come up with a reason. If I just suddenly help, Ruggie will put it together." There's that signature smirk of his. "And we both know that you don't want this getting out, bunny. You're lucky I'm this nice."

Nice my ass, but also very nice.

I give a smile. "Leona, you will rue the day you said that."

Immediately, the beast-prince looks a little regretful. "I know you mean that."

I can't help my big grin, even if I'm about to cry with tears again. "It'll be fun."

He sighs, shaking his head. "Figure out what you're going to do about Azul first before you say that sort of shit. Now, c'mon, you have classes—and I have naps, Bunny."

I watch him flop right back into bed and can't help a chuckle.

Well… he looks…

Fine?

I go, sort out my book bag and head to the cafeteria for breakfast. It's a good thing I manage our finances well or Grim would've eaten us out of house and home the first week.

I give Leona's sleeping form one last glance, before I head out the dorm. No one really pays me any mind, which is great, as I rush to see a celebrating, and eating Grim. He's got a big ass pile in front of him. I sit down, and snag a sausage roll off his plate, I'm feeling like absolute shit and I don't really care that he might notice.

Except I hear a yawn and a very specific voice as Leona, changed, sits down in front of me. I am SO fucking confused right now. Did… Am…

Oh right that fucker has magic AND he's a lot faster than me! UGH! I BET HE KNOWS A SHORT CUT!

He's acting like nothing happened and I have zero idea.

"Eating a nice meat breakfast after a workout is the ibest!/i" Grim cheers, still chowing down. I need to put him on a diet.

"Bunny, why did you do something as stupid as making a deal with that scheming fuck?" Leona's blunt and right to the point. "—because now I have you two hogging up my room." Oh, there's the irritation. That, and the big reveal I am starting to try and process and it's not working well. I have to shove away my freak out for later.

I give him a semi-miserable look. "Well… Azul bargained, scammed, and put everyone basically into slavery… and as an American I'm not willing to take that standing down… so basically I made a bargain, and I'm pretty sure he was targeting Ramshackle Dorm all along." My cramps are here and I hate it. I snag another sausage roll from Grim. No guilt.

"...You did this for a bunch of idiots…" Leona shakes his head, laughing. "That's just like you, bunny." What a big bout of laughter. I'm glad someone's amused. Or he's also freaking out a little.

"I mean." Ruggie sets a tray before Leona, and his own. "—the rumors are that Azul has the best notes around. I'm not surprised people fell for it just to get their hands on even a scrap."

Jack slides over, and puts a tray in front of me. "Eat an actually balanced meal, No." I'm getting scolded. "-actually, I noticed neither of you made a deal, either… Leona does seem the type to take—never mind."

"Thanks, Jack." He's being really nice and it helps.

I do not understand the looks Leona and Jack are giving one-another.

"Idiot—I made a deal before, the terms were fine, but why would you make a deal with such an underhanded schemer when you don't have to? Notes aren't worth that." Leona's made a deal…?

"What was it?" I ask.

Leona gives me a look. Oh! He's LISTENING today!

"Ugh… you can't trust him for nothin'." Ruggie's ears sink, shaking his head.

Was it that bad?

Why did Jack get me a balanced breakfast—it's super healthy. Greens. Fruit. Oatmeal. None of the good shit. Oh, milk and juice too. I start to dig in—actually, this REALLY hits the spot after those wonderful sausage rolls. Plus, my appetite is ihorrendous/i.

"Despite all that, he really does make every wish come true." Ruggie concludes.

"I doubt he could get me back home." I edge in.

"—his wishes work on a sliding scale. The bigger the wish, the more impossible the conditions. But herbivores sign with him left and right without reading the terms. Idiots." Leona's being really nice today.

"I have to figure out how to defeat him, and considering I've got two Housewarden defeats under my belt and a Crowley challenge, I've got a positive outlook."

Wow, Leona Kingscholar is giving me such an unimpressed look right now. "What are the terms?"

"Free the students if I steal a photo from a museum under the sea. If I do it, I also get ten percent of his profits—if he wins, he gets Ramshackle, and my working for him until graduation." I say very simply. "I have until the sun has finished setting on the third day. So we're in the beginning of day one—I have under water breathing potions and free access to the Mirror of Darkness. It's a start."

"...third day." Leona says.

"Where are you stealing this—wait. Wait. Atlantica Memorial Museum?" Ruggie asks.

The two older students are silent.

"Sorry. You have my condolences." Ruggie starts.

"Ugh! Don't be shitty like that! It's the first day!" Grim huffs.

"As someone from a country that's back-to-back world war champions, I accept this challenge." They're giving me looks. I sigh. "American history references are lost here."

"How about instead of talking, you hurry up and start." Leona smirks.

I have just finished the rest of the fruit, and sigh. "You're right. However, you can't defeat a Housewarden on an empty stomach, Leona. I'd know." I give him the cheekiest grin. I am in a mood after that emotional fuck case earlier with him.

"Then how about we get Ace and Deuce and go!?" Grim calls out.

Yep, off we go…

I have a bad feeling about this.