45 43...

Kai jolted awake, taking in a big gasp of air and then letting out frantic breathes. She looks around the room trying to re-familarize herself with her surrounding. She jogged her thoughts, phases from her former encounter with the withdrawal vision showed flashes in her head. Then it struck her...

"Nathaniel...", she sprunged forward as she abruptly rushed out of bed and made a head start to the living room.

Entering the main room of the house, she was met with a vacant space with the soft radiant glow of the sun lightening up the whole room

"It's... morning?!", she asked no one in particular. Looking around the room once again, she saw a simple tray of a covered bowl and plate with a spoon and fork placed at it's side. Walking over to the table, she bent over to see what was kept in the dishes.

"Bacon... eggs.. toast", she frowned, knowing far too well that her grandfather, Toshiro had no such patience to prepare a complete breakfast.. ailment or not.

Although, the assumption of the delicacy falling from the sky was still a possibility..

"I had a feeling this would shock you", she heard a hearty but familiar laugh behind her as she turns to see the last person in multiple realms she would want to be seeing.

The frown on her face intensifies in an instant, her gaze darting to anywhere but his.

Finally, she settles for a stiff loof, her arms folded across her chest.

Xavier lets out a sigh. "Okay... I deserve that"

He took steady steps towards his baby sister hoping to examine her and make sure she was a lot better than yesterday.

Just a few inches apart, he reached for her arm but was shook off and in return he received a tut from her.

"Huh.. maybe that too", he mumbled under his breathe, taking a step away from her and then matching her stance.

The room stayed quiet for a couple of seconds, none bringing up a conversation of any kind. Kai stood on her loof, her gaze else where while Xavier gave her a worried look she had not decided to acknowledge yet.

"Look, it was either this.. or I brought it up to your room", he chiselled through the tense atmosphere with his statement.

"I just... wanted to make sure you were okay", he was sure he saw her expression soften for a split microsecond before it reverted back to it's angry pout.

"Your friends left pretty unsettled yesterday_", she had zoned out of his banter the moment he had referred to her friends. The reasons why she jumped out of bed and was actually a bit distraught this morning.

Knowing Nathan and how very stubborn he is, he would have stayed till she woke up. Anna Marie and her weren't still exactly on any terms for the time being so her focus was kinda on her boyfriend who left without saying anything.

And wasn't today Thursday... she should be in school since... NOW!

"I have to go", she said, her eyes finding his wary ones still on hers. Kai let out a sigh of evident distaste before making a move to leave the living room to her bedroom so that she could get ready for school.

"Go?... go to where?", he asked stopping her in her tracks.

"Uh... won't you like to know", she tutted before resuming her walk to her room.

"I'm serious Nae-nae...", she stopped again, his words hanging in the space between them

"You are not allowed to call me that... not anymore", she snapped, her head turned to look him dead in his eyes, her serpent glints starring into his soul. Instinctively, she blinked back the slits, already feeling her frustration take control. Opening her eyes to find a partly scared and confused look on his face, she took in a calming breathe.

Xavier had stiffened from her sudden reaction and outburst from the pet name he had always loved calling her since when they were little... She was that mad.. huh...

"Kai..", he called her gently.

"You are not well", he eyes were calm now, all the confusion turned to worry and concern.

"I'm fine", she snapped again, still not looking in his direction.

"You're not fine Nae_ Kai", he corrected, taking a steady step towards her.

"I said I'm fine... ", she yelled as she forcefully turned to meet his gaze. The serpents haven returned to her eyes.

Xavier shuddered at them, his body not so obviously trembling under her glare.

But unfortunately, orders given to him had been very clear...

Under no circumstances must Kai step foot out of the house. Toshiro has planned on doing a full body examination with the aid of some later practice exercises and most importantly sufficient medication and rest.

"And I say.. you're not. Kai", he called her subtly, not wanting to trigger any thing that could lead to uncertainties or lose of limbs.

"I can't let you leave. We need.. we need to make sure that you're okay", he took further steps towards her, the space between them just a few inches apart. This time, she didn't move out of the way, her arms still wrapped securely around her, and her head starring head on at her big brother.

"Grandpa thought it was best you stay home for the day till you got better", he explained, now very close to his little sister, his eyes filled with adoration and so much care.

"I need to talk to them", her face was still strong, no sign of softening.

"Your friends?... they said they'll be back to check on you later today",

"No!!!... I need to see them, speak to them", she sighed, letting out steamed air from her mouth as her face finally calmed and her nerves unspiked from before.

"Tell them everything", she felt herself shiver a bit. And that's because she hadn't thought that far ahead.

Don't get me wrong, the babe had made up her mind right about till that second that she had to tell them every secret she had kept from both of them in detail...

She had not just worked out whether she would get yelled at or smacked in the behind at the end..

"They need to know", she whispered, not missed by the boy who stood in front of her.

"It's the only way", that she also wasn't so sure about. The guard of the affectionate withdrawal stage did say she was the one who knew what has to be done to enable the next phase of the stages. It never told her what she really had to do. So she thought.. 'why not start with ratting yourself out'.

Turning to face him, she saw he had a look that outshined her own. A look that casted out his fears and wary. Like he had something to say but did not know how to.

Admittedly, she was also concerned about what he had to say or what was bothering him or the fact that she was what was bothering him... but what he did, what he had done... would always overshadow that feeling and fill it with some kind of raging hate towards him.

That made her frown again. She saw his face fall but decided to ignore it.

"So if you'll excuse me", she now turned back to the exit of the room, ready to get a move on and meet with her boyfriend and her formerly and currently probably infuriated best friend.

"He will do no such thing", said an unexpected voice coming from another end of the room. Toshiro walked into the room through an opened entrance from the kitchen, his cane in hand and a furrow between his brows.

Xavier breathed out a sigh of relief, thankful for not having to deal with her by himself.

"Grandpa_"

"Had I known you'd be difficult about staying little one, I would have been in place of your brother", he said firmly.

"I have also called the school about your absence till next Monday",

"But of course, your friends can still come visit whenever they want", not like he could stop them if he tried though.

Unacceptable.. she had to go, see them.. explain herself. She wasn't going to stand and let them choose whether she was capable or not. "But papa...."

"I have spoken little one and you will not go against my word", he was very stern now.

Toshiro had began walking back to the small kitchenette around the corner.

"But I need to see them", she yelled at him, thus stopping him in his tracks.

"I have hidden the truth from them far enough papa. About everything... they need to know what going on.. wha_ what's going to happen to me... ", her voice quivered, like she was about to cry.

"They told me I needed to talk to him... it's the only way to fix this", she made reference to the one she loved, her teary eyes looking straight into her grandfather's old ones.

"They?.. who are_?", Xavier asked.

"it doesn't matter.. what matters is that I am leaving for school to meet with them", she was agitated. Nothing can stand in her way.

"That.. I shall not allow", she caught sight of the fury in his sudden slits. She has not seen him show his inner dragon side in a very long time. It actually made her almost pee in her pyjamas... Wait... when did she...?

You know what.. that's for much later..

"But_"

"But nothing. You have no need to leave this house for any reason. Your friends have been well informed about every other thing... except for your awakening", he tried not to be too harsh with her. He hated that it had to come to this. He then saw the stunned look she now has sprawled on her face.

"They what?", she croaked.

"I_ I told them about everything Nae-nae", Xavier cuts in, now reaching to place a gentle hand on her arm. It was immediately slapped away, her gaze now on her excuse for a big brother.

"I have told you never to call me that", she yelled. "YOU?!?"

"Why would you do that?!!!"

"Kai, i_"

"NO!... just... don't", she spat.

Then, she looked over to her grandfather who was now fazed and very vexed.

"Why would you let him come back into our lives, where he is clearly not needed_"

"ZÙGÒU DE"

"ENOUGH!", a quick flare of blue was sent towards both children. In a matter of seconds the flames were vanquished and a certain half dragon half human sister stood in front of her brother, her hand out in defense. Rethinking her stance, she backed away from him and then returned back to where she stood before.

"Grand_ pa?", Xavier stuttered, his body a bit shaken by the sudden flare up.

"You will remain in the refines of your bedroom till you are needed", he gaze was on his grand daughter. "Do I make myself clear"

With a tut and a begrudging bow of the head, she resigned to her room, leaving her family to themselves.

....

Once she slammed the door behind her, she picked her cell phone from her dressing table and immediately dialed the first number she saw...

*******

Hey guys... so sorry for the late update. Was just super excited about birthday plans.

I'll try to update early next time... till then