38

O(I)O(I)

Tatsumaki could hear the sound of pencils scribbling on paper and jolly old man talking about how nice a flower would be for his daughter. This was without a doubt a botanists shop. Tatsumaki didn't see it as a shop however-more like a prison where she spent those unhappy moments in. All she knew was she wasn't in a good mood.

Her sister went against her and that cog-brained metal hero beat her worst than any one ever has physically. If it came down to it she wouldn't hesitate to use her powers to wipe away the area in a twenty mile radius. Not soon after her mind was symbiotic with these awful feelings did the supposed shop owner walk in; a grizzly red haired man with hazel eyes wearing an apron.

She glared at him with intensity in her eyes only a cat could have. Speaking of them, one cat went past her faster than a bullet, a Siberian gray and white male.

"I hope you didn't mind snoozing in the archives room. I would have taken you to the hospital but they had their hands full taking care of many people that were entangled in the vampires' nest. I thought I'd give them a break. My name is Alearado."

Tatsumaki veered her attention away from him a few times; she was grateful for what he's done for her but she didn't know him. Looking a stranger in the eyes was the same as being dragged to see a movie you didn't want to watch.

"I'm doing fine. Just fine, and in a few moments I'll be out of this bed and out of your life."

"Wouldn't you want to rest until nighttime? My wife is out hunting today and will bring back a nice Moschulc for me to flay into a nice stir fry."

A fringe in her head stopped her from almost saying the wrong thing: no. Although Tatsumaki was a bullheaded, short-tempered and egotistical woman older than her child stature would make people think—they were right about that, but she was also smart enough to know in a world that wasn't her own the most judicious course of action was to sleep, eat, and sleep some more before trekking through this new world.

"Thank you...when I get better I will find a way to repay you."

"Just do something nice for someone else...just like my wife and those adventurers did for me."

He stared at her with a big smile on his face embarrassing her more than it creeped her out before completely closing the door on her. Tatsumaki went to sleep dreaming about a boy born rich named Wen whose parents never say what they do for a living. He invented a room that acts like a rabbit hole only with laundry doors to get in and out from, and a skinny dark green haired girl jumping around like a kangaroo saying funny insults and making weird gestures with her hands before Wen shot her with a gun.

She awoke with the whole room shrouded in darkness. She could say she felt better, but she could also feel a heartbeat beating rapidly on her tummy. Her eyes flitted down to see the Siberian cat nestled in a ball sleeping on her without fear.

Normally she didn't show pets any affection due to people who own them slowly start to get lazy with them. She let herself put her knuckles on its ridge and started stroking its back. It didn't react at first due to it being in a deep sleep but slowly it raised its chin before dropping it on her tiny fingers. It made her feel a little warm, relaxed when the kitty did it. What she felt though was finicky by the loud sounds of a man and woman who were undoubtedly the store owner and his wife.

"No Alearado, we cannot ask where her parents are."

"Why not? Their probably missing her very much right now and any clues on where to find them would be helpful."

"She's been through enough today. Let's just give her dinner tonight and find a good place for her to stay tomorrow."

"But when she woke up she never said a word about where she was or where her family is."

"Do you think she doesn't have a family to go back to?"

"Maybe..."

Tatsumaki was getting tired of the bickering these people were drawing up with every second they thought she was still sleeping, so with her mind she used her psychic powers to turn the doorknob and open the door. They were right behind the door and noticed with their voices muted and their mouths agape the powers little Tatsumaki had.

At least now she had their full attention.

"My parents are dead, but I am not alone. I have a younger sister in my life, though I am much older than you two make me out to be. So please...stop worrying and get ready to make dinner."

Even when she was done talking they remained flabbergasted.

However, the husband got up and walked out of the room. The lady of the house, a red haired woman in a green cloak with a bandolier of knives all around her, walked a few steps before slowly sitting down to talk to her.

"I'm sorry we talked about you behind your back. Without knowing you we thought—"

"You'd keep nattering about whether you should ask me about finding my parents over, you know, just asking me?"

"My name is Savatia."

"Tatsumaki. I found your discussion to be rude and puerilely thoughtless. Even if I was as young as you believed wouldn't it have been easier to just tell me you'll help me find my parents and depending on how much I trust you I'd respond accordingly?"

This was a somber moment for Tatsumaki and the lady alike. While they were in complete silence feeling a little silly about all of this the husband was singing a barely intelligible song about skinny dipping in a stark pond.

Tatsumaki inhaled before she exhaled.

"In my home there are these shows we call Screaming and Yelling. It's ten minutes of of action with thirty minutes of yelling. Let's stop this trend and just play with your cat."

She couldn't have looked more elated to hear that from Tatsumaki's mouth if she was given a cat and dog spirits who always showed affection and never needed treatment or to go to the bathroom. She used her three middle fingers prodding into the relaxed kitties back before scratching it with affection.

The cat responded to this lifting up its rear end while stretching its front paws. Tatsumaki trying her hardest not to use any of her psychic powers this one time used the nails in her fingers to scratch the cat's whiskers.

He pulled and digged his face deeper into those bones before turning around to show his belly. Tatsumaki reached down to scratch his belly much to the lady's worry.

"Wait."

But it was too late. Tatsumaki didn't listen to her—rubbed the cats belly as gently as she could-and when she did that the cat sprang up with its paws gripping tightly on Tatsumaki's hand before he started chewing on her with his tiny teeth.

She winced a little trying to pry his teeth away from her him, when he was latched onto her too long she had to lift him up with until he was a feet above her head.

She lifted him away before dropping him on the ground where he scurried away from them.

The two ladies looked at each other in silence much like before only with a wry smile on her face.

"I haven't properly introduced myself. My name is Savatina and I am an angel from a heavenlike realm no human may enter. I am a creation of the great and benevolent Mumina. Nice to meet you again. "

"Tatsumaki." she responded in an almost deadpanned way. "I have esper abilities beyond anyone in my world except maybe Psychos...for now."

They shook hands as earnestly as they could. The kitty came scuttling by slow enough for Savatina to grab him and outstretch his paw for Tatsumaki to shake.

"This little munchkins name is Pascal. He was very malnourished and quiet when we found him but has since become focused and very vocal for his wet food, but Lil Bit Spoiled is only allowed two bowls of that food a day."

"Dinner!" Her husband called.

Tatsumaki's body on instinct was coated in a green aura floating her towards the kitchen. She tumbled and fell with a loud thud along the way, wincing and groaning trying to pick herself back up. Once she managed to get herself up like a bird slanted to one side, she floated again towards the kitchen.

Savatina wished she could fly towards her dinner like her except her wings were too big for this confided space and materializing them was exhausting so she cradled Pascal in her arms.

As she reached the dinner table she could see Tatsumaki still levitating above the furniture much to her husbands joyous laughter.

"Alright, you clearly have me outmatched with your powers. Why don't you come down now and have some of my delicious Moschulc stir fry."

Savatina acted first bending down so Pascal could be close to the ground before letting go—the cat moving like a bullet to get away from her to his food bowl where he ate quickly and voraciously scarfing down every kibble. Tatsumaki finally pulled her chair back to have a seat at the far end. Most families pray to their beloved god thanking them for the meal instead Savatina glimmered in a bright white light. It blinded Tatsumaki to the point she had to conjure a barrier just to shield herself from the intensity of it.

It lasted less than a minute and she returned to an ordinary looking if not robust and beautiful woman in no time.

"We are now blessed-even our new friend Tatsumaki. Let us eat now."

The young esper girl started eating lifting up her knife and fork with her psychic powers. She at first only used it to safely slice the meat while her fork digged into the meat. Soon she caroomed another fork from the kitchen to stab into the meat and vegetables at the same time.