It sounded so easy. When Mikoto lifted her head, she looked off to the horizon. But nothing is never that easy, especially in a world of dragons. The minutes turned to hours. The hours turned to days, and the days turned into…day, Unnoticed. Her brooding face was caked in black dust with dirty gray streaks. Being miserable seems to be her new norm. Feeling the dust filling her mouth, she reached for a canteen hanging on her belt.

A blend of blood and water - a light smile. They think of everything. Little Misaka spoke with gratitude- it felt good taking a drink...

She swished it around and swallowed, cooling her parched mouth and throat. Taking a breath, feeling and smelling the forgiving cold of the water. She smiled in relief for just a moment. But it was just a moment. The edge of her mouth brushed the metal of the canteen's opening, feeling it getting warmer from the two suns reminded her of her situation. Another drink.

She leaned her head back, opening her mouth wide, her long dry white fangs dulled in color. She let the water drop into her mouth, a little quicker over her tongue, a little clumsier. The water splashed. Some of it missed, ran down her chin, and found its way to her breasts. The much-appreciated chill- traced a path over the swells of her ample breasts and disappeared.

Oh, yea…. a slight sense of relief giggled inside her head. That's what I like. She laughed. Little Misaka closed her eyes, softy grinned, please sir…she giggled, using her best British accent. may I have some more….

After closing her mouth to save the wetness from fading, Mikoto lowered the canteen, closed and twisted the cap. Shaking her head, looked down as she hooked the canteen onto her belt. Slightly licking her lips, she exhaled, blowing a soft breath across the opening of her armor over her breasts. "shut up, Oliver twisted… putting her hands on her hips, pulling her shoulders wider, and stretched. Feeling and waiting for it…little misaka had something to say. She was getting bored. She knew, but she had an unknown distance to travel and started walking.

"what is it now?" Mikoto said, not really paying attention to anything but the monotonous crunching of the black rocks underneath her boots.

Tell me a story.

"No," Mikoto answered.

Why?

"I know you're bored… "Mikoto said, "and I don't want too…" keeping her eyes forward, her pace consistent. She lied.

Little Misaki slowly shook her head. She couldn't lie. She resided inside of Mikoto's head.

The little avatar given birth with the mixing of the Royal vampire blood and Mikoto's blood. Anastasia Von Alucard was the ruler of the four kingdoms who'd bitten her to save her life. A rogue manmade vampire created in Academy city. and preying on Academy City students. Anastasia came to Academy City to hunt down the manmade vampire. She felt it was her responsibility since the scientist in charge had come from the Four kingdoms. Mikoto and Anastasia, still in her prepubescent form, ran into each other after witnessing Anastasia and the vampire battling one night. They joined forces, formed a plan, and executed the project.

During the chase and capture of the manmade vampire, Mikoto Misaka was bitten. Its venom devolving into nothing but a frenzied beast. So, using her queens' venom, Anastasia bit Mikoto, saving her but turning her into a vampire. But not an average vampire, one with the queens' venom, which had two effects.

One…Mikoto Misaka became the bonded mate of Anastasia Von Alucard and the future queen. And two, an annoying little avatar was born. Taking the name of little Misaka, the avatar carried the memories of all previous queens of the four kingdoms. Anastasia and her mother, Tatyana, who had been killed when Anastasia was young and were now, Mikoto's guide to the vampiric world.

"a little sooner than I planned. Oh well, a happy accident… Anastasia would always say. Mikoto would blush, "whatever…."

Little Misaki knew it was hard for Mikoto to get beyond the loss of the members of her household. Especially those so close to her, like sisters, very close sisters. She knew, deep down, no matter how painful it was, she, Mikoto, needed to get past it, or she'd carry it for the rest of her life. If she didn't, it would slowly fester until it devoured her.

"Look…." Mikoto said, without thinking, "Entertain yourself."

Little Misaki shook her head, "I can't or well…" she grinned," or I won't…."

"Why?"

You know why. The little avatar rolled her head, stretched her shoulders, smacked her lips, put her hands on her tiny waist, and slipped her thumbs underneath the edge of her skirt.

Mikoto slowly closed her eyes and swallowed what little water was in her mouth, realizing why, "crap…." she whispered as a dull pain burned in her chest. Mikoto bit her lip, the taste of blood mixed in her mouth as the wound healed.

(Little Misaki lived in the here and now, looking forward. Rummaging through Mikoto's memories would give rise to the old feelings. Whether it was of her mother and father or Kuroko Shirai, Ruiko Saten, or Uiharu Kazari. Or Anastasia Von Alucard or members of her own household of Mikoto. Heidi, leader of her wolves, and Emelia, leader of her Elite vampires or Brym, Vita, Chloe, etc. The memories contained images, words, and feelings. Even telling a story would bring about those memories. One leading to another, leading to another.

Storytime was a weekly tradition. Mikoto read to her household. In the beginning, she read to herself. But she had a bad habit of moving her mouth, whispering the words. But vampires being vampires, they could easily hear if they focused on her and only her. Hidden silently in the forests of the other realm, it slowly grew into a small close group. They'd sit around as she read Yuri and Yaoi novels, mainly Yaoi.

She read the very sexually charged stories, eyes wider, cheeks redder, heart pounding. What the hell are they doing, can they do that, oh hell no, no way they did that, here and there, oh no I won't, embarrassed she'd read, no longer surrounded by a few but hundreds. Perverts! Who writes this stuff….!

She'd re-read the stories before reading to the groups to handle the rather racy situations. A decade removed from the first time, she'd turned beet red.)

"I know what you're trying to do but not right now." Mikoto said in a soft voice soaked in sorrow, "but I promise I will… I just want to… Focus on finding these gardens…" bringing her hand up as a mild pain filled her chest, "Th Then whatever you want… I promise…" slowly, nodding her head as her eyes dimmed and glistened.

Little Misaki's eyes widened. Anything? Mischief grew across her face.

"Sure…" Mikoto smiled for the first time in a long while.

Little Misaki giggled. Her cheeks turned red, and her eyes thinned. Hey…

"What…" Mikoto answered, feeling a hint of regret in her promise getting larger.

(A promise made is a promise kept. A verbal handshake or signing on the dotted line. A promise was a contract and couldn't be broken. It was more valuable than currency. The only thing close in value, like a promise, was a favor. Wolves and vampires, being long-lived preferred either cash.)

We have a little time for you know? Wiggling her brow,

"You know?" Mikoto furrowed her brow. "You know what?" She asked.

Well… Here's a hint… The little avatar wrung her hands together like an evil villain. We're alone.

"Yeah… So." Mikoto shrugged her shoulders. It's been a while… Longer than normal… Little Misaki nodded,

"A while?"

You know… Little Misaki sighed, hugging herself. It can take a minute or if done right, a little looongerrr!

"WWWHHHAATTTTT!" you can't be serious! First… It's hotter than hell… I think. Two… I'm not about to do that… The last thing I want to do in this heat… Underneath those two suns… pointed to the sky, is get naked and…." She blushed, "I can't believe you would… Would…" She balled her hands, "and I don't want to be… You know… Afterward… We need to take a bath or something… I just couldn't…."

Little Misaki laughed. Just kidding!

"Jerk!" Mikoto shut her eyes, bringing her hand to her chest, and blew out an exhausted breath, "besides…." she whispered sadly, "I'd see her face…."

Mikoto squeezed her eyes tighter, and small tears trickled down her cheek.

Little Misaka's shoulders sank, shutting her eyes. Her teasing went a little too far. I'm sorry…

"It's okay," Mikoto said as she sniffled, feeling the slight warmth on her cheek before quickly evaporating in the heat.

A moment later, fretting her brow suddenly as a cool breeze caressed her face. She took a deep breath and smiled, "smells so good…" shutting her eyes and smiling, "like the forest back home…" her smile getting bigger. "I can remember the shade of the trees, the freshwater… And… Wait a minute." She took a deep breath and held it. This isn't a memory…this is….

The gardens! Little Misaki shrieked. We're close!

Mikoto's eyes shot open, then quickly thinned, scanning the horizon. "nothing…." She softly growled, listening to the wind blow across the distant jagged black rocks. Another breeze.

She wiggled her ears, hoping for a hint of sound. She breathed, pulled her shoulders back, raised her head, pounding her heart and the blood surging through her veins.

An anomaly, that's what she thought… That's what she was looking for… Something different… Something out of place. Feeling the trembling of her chest from a deep-throated growl.

The broken, jagged surface expanded to the horizon, jagged after jagged line. She slowly looked over the ground, something dark, something smooth-rolling like waves of the ocean… No… Like treetops blowing in the wind. She dropped her chin, her nostrils quivering, drawing in the smells floating on the breeze.

The wind was getting cooler. Before she knew it, she'd broken into a run. The black rocks crushed underneath her boots, faster and faster. The undulating mass forms in the distance.

Treetops… Leaves… Branches…trunks then roots, buried in the nice cool ground, feeding off pure, clean, delicious cool water…. Little Misaki laughed, cool enough and warm enough for a long relaxing bath."

Forming into a memory of her past. She stood on the edge of a mountain, looking across the tops of trees swaying in the breeze underneath a South American sky.

"almost…" Mikoto said as she ran. The wind cooler across her smiling face. "there… At least another mile…."

She ran and ran; one mile became two, then three, then… She slowed. Her lower lip trembled, her eyes grew wet, and her dirty hair swept up in a draft that carried the smells of a sunken garden.

She stood at the edge of the deep canyon, looking out across the tops of trees, waving in the hot wind. She closed her eyes and reached to her breasts, feeling the heat of the metal zipper between her fingers, unzip her armor down to her waist, and pulled it off her shoulders, hanging open at her waist. Her wet naked upper body glistened underneath the two suns, savoring the cool air over her belly, breasts, and face. In a violent, cooling rush, the wind kicked up her hair and disappeared.

She leaned her head back, looking at the bright clear blue sky, holding her arms out, praising the calm wind as it continued to swirl around her waist, over her ample breasts, up her neck, over her face, and through her damp hair. Her body tensed at its soft cool caress. Seeing the twin suns, she laughed, took a deep breath, exhaled, and enjoyed the moment.

The coolness of the wind rising from the valley swept up the side of the cliff and sent goosebumps rushing over her dry skin.

"Woah!! Little misaka shrieked. Mikoto grinned, "my boobs are cold,…she laughed, cover them up…and by the gods…she raised her joyous voice…. my nipples are hard!"

Mikoto laughed, bringing her hands up and covering her breasts, "how's that…

"ahhhh…. well, how about warming them up…."

A soft bluish-white glow slipped from underneath her hands, a long-satisfied sigh from the avatar. Why do you make me say what you want, Mikoto…."

Mikoto took a deep breath, feeling the long exhausting experience coming to an end. She sat down with her legs hanging over the edge and looked across the treetops. Then, with a smile, she looked down the descending side of the cliff, down to the bottom. Tall trees deeply rooted in the warm soil, tall grasses bending with the wind as it made its way up the side of the cliff and over her, carrying the smell of a living garden filled with who knows what, but she could smell the water, and her heartbeat a little harder. We could wait here…she said softly…until they come for us…

It sounded good to say it as a small smile settled on her lips. Her reddish-brown, copper-colored eyes glistened, looking into the shadows of the forests of the garden.