Opening my eyes… I’m surrounded by darkness, my neko eyes unable to see through it. I can see my soul in my shadow now, though, which must be from the soul fusion.

  Feeling Oraxia wake up in my mind is a special strangeness- her physical body is still here, but we share minds just as well. I can feel her sensations like an echo, and vice versa. She’s buried in my chest, seeing nothing but darkness as well. My hands are bound, my legs too- I can’t move.

  The sound of meat sizzling is what I next notice, and sharp metal clacks before the sizzling gets louder. What is…

  “oh.”

  I realized now, and as I roll over and off the bed to the floor with a thud, I find myself free from the blanket prison I trapped myself in.

  “Woops.”

  “You forgot we were in there, didn’t you?”

  “What? …hey you didn’t remember either.” Pouting at the laugh I hear in our shared mind, I put her down and change into something comfier. Some nice soft sweats and a sweatshirt with a spider on it. Which, looking at myself in the mirror… I do look different. My eyes have a slight web look over them, and the scar on my cheek is still there. But otherwise…

  My soft, thick body, strong muscles, and impressive height are all present. Despite it all, I’m still just Yuna.

  “No… despite it all, you’re still Yunaria. And I’m Oraxia. We’re just… better now.”

  Smiling, I pick her up and kiss her head, carrying her out with me. “Yeah, of course. Glad the girls understood.”

  “I knew they would, they were just worried about you.”

  Entering the kitchen, I see Lumi cooking up breakfast, sausage sizzling on the stove with some eggs and bacon and smelling amazing~

  Glancing up at me, she returns to tending the food. “I see someone woke up for breakfast. Hungry?” Smiling, I nod and get out a few plates so everyone can eat. “Duh, I missed your food. Oh! Did you have anything planned to drink? I wanted to try making you and Sal the tea my Mom makes.”

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  Visibly surprised, she nods slightly. “Uh, no it’s fine, go ahead. You know where things are.” “Thanks~ You’ll love it.” Putting Ora down, who skitters off to get the tea leaves, I get everything prepped.

  “So… how are you feeling? Tired still?” Smiling as I take the leaves from Ora and set the tea to steep, I shake my head. “No, I’m good. Was such a good sleep I didn’t even know where I was when I woke up.”

  Chuckling, she nods. “Must’ve been tired. I mean, you were out of the city, right? It’s gotta be exhausting out there.”

  “Oh right, you’ve never been out of it, have you? It’s… well, hot and dry everywhere but some oasis’, and my home is in one. A…” Oraxia speaks into her mind, making Lumi flinch from being unused to it. “A huge forest, tall trees, and everything is dangerous. The village is very friendly and has nice food, heavy on the meat.”

  Nodding a little, she serves the plates and I put them on the table. “Sounds nice enough… I guess you ate well there?”

  Smiling, I finish up the tea and pour four steaming cups, placing them next to the plates. “Yeah, they took good care of me. I did say I’d come back eventually, with how nice of a note it ended on.” “Ah… makes sense. Soon or…?”

  Shaking my head, I sit Oraxia on the table. “No no! In a while from now, no schedule or anything.”

  Letting out a sigh of relief, she turns to go get Salka, only to yelp and stumble back, said neko standing right behind her. “Mornin.”

  “Hey Sal~” “You scared me, hmph.”

  Chuckling, Sal gives her a little pat on the head. “Sorry. Breakfast smells good, though.” Pouting, Lumi sits and nods. “You bet it does, now come and eat.”

  All of us sit and start eating our food, quickly my tail is swaying and Ora is making happy little taps with her feet. “So good~ thanks Lulu~”

  Smiling and nodding, she swallows her food. “Course. My foods never disappointed now, has it?”

  Sal joins in between bites. “No, it hasn’t. And what kind of tea is this? It’s pretty good.” Smiling, I speak up. “It’s a kind my Mom makes, I brought some home for you to try.”

  “Huh… well kudos to the chef… does that apply here?”

  Shrugging, I keep eating. “Either way, thanks.”

  I can feel them both watching me as we eat… but it does lessen a bit. They’re just worried I might be hurt after the ascendance.

  Ora speaks in our mind, helping assuage my worries. “They just care that much.”

  “I know… I did miss their presence, I always feel safe around them.” “Yeah, of course! Ooh, I can’t wait to eat pudding again~”

  Chuckling a bit aloud, both the girls look at me confused… and I just shrug. “Oraxia was getting excited about pudding.” Tapping her hand, Sal nods. “I’ll need to get some then, we’re out.”

  Oraxia looks at her with sad eyes, before looking up at the ceiling and her voice echoing in our minds. “Nooooooo~”

  ‘Ahh… I did miss this.'