"Feeling better?", Nena gently asked, and Zuku nodded, "Y-yes...I...I want to tell you my former nickname...As you know, since Dazis told me that you know of my full name; Zukalora Mariselle...I...I used to be Kala...".
Nena's heart raced even more at the sound of the former nickname more than it did for Zuku, and she whispered, "Kala is a beautiful name...It even sounds better than Zuku...no offense...", with a sheepish smile.
Her soul mate blushed so red, seeming to fight something internally, and whispered, "It...it was what my family...my cousin used to call me...before it happened...You...you actually like it?".
Nena smiled warmly, "I do, very much...But I understand if you want to stay to Zuku in public.", and her soul mate looked so thoughtful and serious before looking like a little something had lightened off her shoulders, and spoke, "Call me Kala, please...".
"Kala...", Nena spoke reverently, taking her in, seeing her with new eyes before moving closer to her face, her eyes unable to pull away from Kala's lush lips, and Kala blushed even more redder if that was possible, and then went in, meeting for the first time in a kiss.
Nena suddenly felt like something finally clicked, a surge of excitement and pleasure as she and Kala moved, their hands moving into their heads and necks, lasting for 30 seconds before Nena pulled back, looking over Kala, "Wow...That felt so good and perfect...", before starting to kiss her again before Kala stopped her, "Thank you, but...if you do that more...I might scare you off...I'm fighting so much to take you so bad, to kiss you deeply...", shuffling back slightly back into the loveseat, yet staying so close.
Nena blinked before she exhaled, "The dealbreaker...", and Kala nodded, "Yes...I...Do you sometimes think that souls choose to be made and born in the world?".
"Yeah. I believe that souls have the choice to choose parents, environment and such, but not their entire life, as they don't know what will be there for them...", Nena nodded, and Kala took a deep breath, "Sometimes souls don't end up where they want to be...I...I was born a girl, and yes, I am proud to be a girl, but inside me, I feel like half a boy, and half a girl, two souls into one inside...I...I...I wanted to be a boy on the outside too...My cousin, as he was a healer who knew enough before the flood, he...he made potions, medicine, hormonal boosters...I...I currently have a red-blooded boy's hormones...and a sheathed penis within my vagina...One of my ovaries has eggs, while the other one has sperm to go into the penis, and I still have my womb and breasts, as you see obviously...The day...he...he died, we were celebrating the success of his work, and he knew puberty would be hell, so he gave me instructions to abide it down here and there. That's why I didn't want Nola to tell you...", nervously playing with her braid again as she glanced down, trying not to panic, waiting for either Nena to freak out, reject her, or to accept her, love her.
"Oh...", Nena took a deep breath by hearing that. So, that was the dealbreaker; Kala just felt more comfortable being a man than a woman then.
"I understand if that's almost too much to take in... I don't even know if that would work for you considering you... like women and all...", Kala rubbed her arm.
Nena exhaled, "Yet you're lesbian, technically speaking?", and Kala nodded, "Yes, I am. I have no attraction to men, no sexual or romantic attraction. I only have platonic affection for male friends like Dazis. I suppose the technical word for me is a bigender lesbian, for as you've seen, I'm emotional and petite like a woman while I'm passionate and hot-blooded like a man which is currently what I'm trying to fight right now...".
Nena's heart raced as she remembered what she said earlier, "You...You're trying to fight being turned on because of me?", realizing that this is still her woman, just unique in her own way.
Kala blushed, nodding, "Yes...I...You have no idea how much my female hormones and my male hormones fought during puberty...The medicine that my cousin had created was barely enough to help me with Nola trying to understand what he did in making the medicine considering how long puberty was for me...Yes, I am 20 now, but being attracted to Atlantean women was rough as I kept trying to keep my honor and morals intact by waiting for my soul mate, and I knew I only wanted to be with her whoever she is, giving her a family, the chance to be a technical father, to be a wife, to be her best friend and more...I had never dreamed that it would be you, but seeing how different you are compared to the Atlantean women...you are the woman of my dreams, my destiny...but I will understand, and give you peace if you don't want me through the conditions of my dealbreaker, even if it will hurt, it will pass on, and I want you to be happy however you decide to be in anywhere you go in your future.", looking at Nena gently.
"I'll be honest...", Nena said. "I wasn't exactly expecting this when I was told about a whole dealbreaker.", she admitted. "I... I almost thought it was going to be related to the tragedy or something terrible but this...". She gave a small smile, "Okay, it's certainly not something I'd ever expect, but certainly not something I'd truly consider to be a deal breaker.".
Kala's heart skipped a beat, looking hopeful, "You...you're accepting me...all of me?", and Nena replied, "Yes...Yes, I am, Kala...Those dreams...I was becoming attracted to you emotionally, mentally, physically...and sexually...I am a virgin, Kala...".
"Oh, Nena...Me too...You have no idea how attractive and beautiful you are...I really swear that I kept my honor and morals as I am a virgin too...Those Atlantean women has no flame compared to you...", Kala replied.
Nena blushed, stunned yet wanting to see what Kala looks like when she's turned on, whispering, "May I take you to my room? I'm...I'm not going to christen anything here in my father's office...Jesus Christ, am I being too forward right now? I want to help you so bad...decades of puberty, maybe longer...I can't imagine living like that, but somehow, I admire you for your amazing courage to do it...Damn, Kala, please tell me that I can kiss and touch you as that first kiss...I couldn't get enough of it...".
"Let's just do the whole kissing and keep it at that right now...", Kala gave a small smile. "I... I don't want to rush it or anything, you know? Not like the queen and king did if I heard the rumors right.".
"Oh? Milo and your queen...?", Nena raised an eyebrow. "Apparently, only a few hours after they had arrived in Atlantis.", Kala blushed.
Nena blinked, "Ah...Right...", blushing as she replied, "Milo told me that Kida didn't want him to leave, needing him to help with Atlantis, and apparently, becoming mates and having a heir to the throne was the solution for him to stay, to convince Kida's father to allow an outsider to live in Atlantis...Of course, I heard that things didn't exactly go according to plan, unfortunately...", as she was told the story of the couple among other stories of the adventure to save Atlantis after finding the city.
Kala sighed deeply, "King Kashekim was a truly good king...I never blamed him for wanting to protect us, to give us peace from war at the time of the great flood, but yes, he admittedly made a few mistakes, but in the end, he died for Atlantis.".
"I couldn't blame him either, for if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have met you, Kala...", Nena whispered, moving to caress Kala's cheeks in her hands, and Kala whispered, blushing with a smile, "Kiss me...And before you ask, I know how to help myself if the kissing gets very heavy into the line of turning me on, okay?".
Nena whispered, "Of course...", before moving in to kiss her newly gained girlfriend, and indeed, in that loveseat, they became experts at kissing, lasting for a hour between snippets of conversation and getting to know each other in explaining the stories from their dreams, and then when Nena noticed the clock, "Let's go see about helping out with dinner...and introduce you to my father...", with a nervous smile.
Kala smiled nervously, "I really hope he likes me...", and Nena smiled, "Of course he will...You are making me happy, Kala...", landing a reassuring kiss on her cheek as she squeezed her hand. Kala nodded, "You are making me happy too, Nena...", with a chuckle.
They left the office, heading to the courtyard, to the kitchen as the household is spread around the courtyard, thanks to having a big family and all, and talking to one of the aunts who was delighted to meet Kala, through fooled by the still intact spell disguise illusion for non-crystal holders, and so it turns out that Manuel is in his garage office, since it made sense for him to have two offices, one relating to family, and one relating to business.
Nena led Kala to the Ramirez family garage, taking the back side, to Manuel's garage office, and at a knock, Manuel looked up from his desk over some supplied lists, and smiled, "Ah, Nena and Zuku, come in, come in.".
Nena closed the door, and squeezed Kala's hand reassuringly as Kala took a deep breath, "Honored father of Nena, I have deviated to my former nickname, Kala, and I intend to tell the others the same...I seek permission to court your daughter, for I'm entirely accepted as hers, which I am still stunned about, for I revealed the dealbreaker to your daughter, and even when I expected to be rejected after having heard stories that the world up here isn't...overly accepting of free love. We only shared the basic affections of kissing, and I can admit that I do truly like your daughter so much, growing my love for her.", as she bowed her head in a submissive motion for the man is her elder, even if she's far older than him chronologically.
"Okay, okay...", Manuel chuckled. "Listen, if you don't mind me asking, you don't need to go into the whole courting ship speech; just simply say that you two have decided to start dating is good for me, Kala. I promised her I would do whatever I can to help her be happy, and allowing you two to be together does it, then I'm more than happy to support.", he smiled as Nena took a welcome sigh of relief. She just needed to hear all that even with what he had said earlier.
"Thank you for putting it that way, Papi...", Nena said as she glanced over to see the paper that was on his table. Local Mexico City paper but the cover certainly was important for Mexico considering they too were at war still along with many of the Allies against the Empire of Japan. 'Prompt and utter destruction' were Roosevelt's words from the Allied meeting at Potsdam for Japan if they would continue the fighting. Only recently did the US finally secure the Philippians and the island of Okinawa, but the results were deeply troubling in terms of growing American causalities and the sheer desperation of the Japanese.
Suicide tactics was a thing already spreading, massed last charges in a make-or-break way for the Japanese to try to recover a lost battle on many islands before and the recent kamikaze suicide planes where Japanese pilots crashed their planes into US ships rather than simply just trying to bomb them like they had before... but now the tactics were changing and getting worse.
The planes kept their missions, but the infantry rather than charging would hold out for so long and dare the Americans to come into their kill zones and it was showing. Whispers even reached Mexico of just how many dead there might be if the upcoming American invasion of the home islands were to occur. The Potsdam Declaration might be seen as perhaps a last out for the Japanese to avoid the coming battle... a battle they obviously were prepared to fight to the last man, woman and child. Death before dishonor...
Nena shook her head. The war was so far away in her mind; her country had played a small role, sending some troops and pilots to fight in the Pacific in less publicized campaigns that the other nations probably would barely notice. No, for her, obviously, her personal life was the focus right now.
Kala sighed in relief with a smile, realizing that he has given permission for her and Nena to court together, or in other words, dating, and replied, "Thank you, Elder Ramirez...".
Manuel waved his hand, "Call me Manuel, please, if you will, Kala. And that's a swell lovely name if I must say.", with a smile, and Kala chuckled, "Thank you, Manuel. Apologies for being proper.".
"It's alright, I wouldn't blame you. Nena, how soon is dinner gonna be?", Manuel asked, and Nena replied, "Tia Maria said that it'd be an hour, Papi.".
Manuel nodded, "Good. Why don't you show Kala to the less crowded parts of Durango, as to go slow with the culture shock, and then get back for dinner? And I don't have to repeat for you both to be discreet in a way, do I? Nena will know some areas to hide things like affectionate kisses and such, I am sorry that it wouldn't be like Atlantis, but I am not angry if you want to take Nena to Atlantis for some time to develop your courtship after the wedding reception tomorrow, after Audrey and Bucky gets married, Kala.".
Nena widened her eyes, "You...You can let me go with Kala, Papi? But I thought you would want me here to help fix the situation...especially when I quit boxing...I still am scared what the manager decided to do, even if he didn't reveal the truth of me to the fans...", tears in her eyes as she had hoped to see Atlantis, yet she still felt a bit guilty of disappointing her fans and their expectations of her.
"Look, I'll figure out something, alright?", Manuel said. "Right now, let's just focus on both you two and your happiness as well as your sister's wedding.".
Nena exhaled, and felt a now familiar touch as her hand was squeezed and looked at Kala who kissed her on the lips gently, "Your father is right, and do not dare think of those people who wouldn't know how special you are. They are out of luck. You are not alone, for you have your father, your sister, your family, and me...I'm here for you, Nena...", with a warm, reassuring, and affectionate smile.
Nena's heart skipped a beat, still a bit stunned at the support she has, and smiled, feeling like she can do anything, and Manuel chuckled, "There is that smile. Now, git, show your woman around!", with a grin.
The ladies giggled, smiling as they nodded, and left Manuel in his garage office, and indeed, with discreet yet excited, Nena showed Kala around the quietest spots of Durango, showing her slowly to experience some of Mexican culture, while sneaking kisses and affectionate hand squeezing for the next hour before they went back to the Ramirez household to enjoy dinner within the chaotic yet comforting atmosphere of the family.
The next day, it was finally time for Bucky and Audrey, on the anniversary of Bucky's proposal to Audrey in the Ramirez family garage, to get married. Sure, the American wedding was nice and mundane, but this is more wild and bigger and real as a Ramirez-style wedding is different.
As Audrey was sitting in a chair in her room, Tia Maria replied, "Audrey Rocio Ramirez, stop twitching! You are making it impossible for me to fix your hair!", as it was slightly hard for Audrey and Bucky to sleep without each other last night as they were separated, but luckily, little Marina had turns, like being nursed by Audrey, and being rocked to sleep by Bucky, with help of Nena and Kala, without seeing each other.
"Sorry, Tia Maria...I...I just am so darn nervous! I kept my cool in the American wedding back in New York as it was nice with Bucky's sisters in attendance, but this...the whole family is going to watch me and Bucky get married as this feels more real...I never felt so darn nervous like this before, not even when I told him that I was pregnant and all...", Audrey sighed, trying not to twitch in her dressing robe, with the wedding dress on a mannequin nearby.
"It's the jitters, that's all.", Tia Maria tried to assure her. "Honestly, maybe you just need to go back to that previous mindset if it went so much more smoothly.", with her hands carefully unrolling the curlers from Audrey's thick black hair, intent to make curls at the ends, if making the hair slightly less thick, easier to manage.