Back to my point of view

It's about 7 p.m., and dinner is about to be served.
We are currently in the ATF building in what appears to be a company restaurant.
The ambiance is much nicer than the mess hall we visited earlier.
This looks and feels like a real restaurant, but...still safe inside the building where nobody would ask any unnecessary questions.
It's already dark outside and the lights in here are comfortably adjusted to help people relax.
The sounds my tiny tummy is making however, would even amaze a hungry wolf if you would.
But that doesn't change my mood!.
I feel depressed!, beaten!, victimized! and helpless....
Why do these things keep happening to me? Well, people are kind to me, so that's a plus at least.
Katie found some fitting clothes for me earlier, and managed to get me dressed in them, even after my many attempts at refusing.
The embarrassment is complete now. I'm wearing something like black pajama pants and a warm pink sweater depicting a unicorn of all creatures. And did I mention the smiling sun?
On my feet are modest white shoes with velcro straps. I have to admit though, my new outfit really is comfy.
Yes, this is my life now. The life of a kid who can't even speak the same language. But on the inside I'm still thirty One years old....
What else does the universe have in store for me?
Hm Eh? Uh no....I take that back please.
Swan is keeping me company in the restaurant and occasionally shows a few pictures on his phone, trying to help me understand what's going on. At that point Katie walks inside, bringing some takeout.
Oh god, it smells divine! I recognize that...
She takes the food outside of a white plastic bag and puts a little carton in front of each of us.
Swan gets two boxes for some reason. I can barely sit on the chair, let alone reach the cutlery, but I still recognize the big letter "M" on the boxes. I assume it means the same in this universe.
Katie leaves us for a minute, then returns with a cushion.
She points at me and I get the message. I stand up and she puts the cushion on the chair.
"Eek!" I shout, surprised that Katie just picks me up like I'm some toddler. Oh right...I am...more or less....
"Shhhh," she says, placing her finger on her lips. Yeah, I get the message. She smiles warmly at me, even though I feel quite embarrassed about it.
At least I can now properly see my meal, but my rather short arms are still unable to reach the cutlery. Dammit!
She takes away the fork and knife and shoves the box my way, opening it for me.
I look at her in the universal expression of "are you kidding me?"
Yep, she's thoroughly enjoying this!
In front of me is a happy meal, including a less than interesting miniature toy.
I don't think anybody has ever seen a little girl facepalming at a happy meal.
Well, there's a first time for everything, right?
At some point I notice that my feet are hovering above the floor and my legs are moving on their own. It takes a strong desire to tell my body to stop doing that.
Stop dangling already!
Swan takes a french fry from my box and motions me to do the same.
So...am I supposed to eat like that? Sure I can do that.


After finishing my happy meal, which was surprisingly enough for my tiny tummy, I don't really feel as miserable as before anymore.
Maybe I really needed that? And no, I totally didn't see people winking at me with a warm expression on their faces.

Ah, who am I kidding? I waved my tiny hand back at them hehe.




Big mistake!


One lady now approaches me and seems to speak perfect Klingon.
I can only reply by tilting my head and shrugging. Swan then made some similar noises, probably a reply to the lady's question.
She said something like "ahhh," probably understanding what was going on and patted me on my head while smiling.
I gave her an honest smile, because these people genuinely seem to think that a four or five year old is sitting here, enjoying her happy meal.
Should I tell her that I'm actually eighteen, no, thirty-one years old? To see their reaction. Nah, what's the point?
The lady in question has already left when I focus on reality again. Katie is smiling at me for some odd reason.
I make the gesture "what?" and she replies with her hands folded at her cheeks...is she...sleepy?
I point at her and make the same gesture, making it look like a question.
She shakes her head, then points at me and repeats the gesture.
Oh no...was I nodding off a moment ago?
At six thirty? Well..my eyelids ARE feeling heavy, I have to admit..... that...
....It has been quite.... the day today....
Katie, who is sitting next to me, then picks me up and puts me on her lap. But unfortunately for her this causes me to burp pretty loudly,
after which I put my right hand on my mouth in a reflex.
"Me he vanna.." [ I'm sorry ] I said.
She coos something in my right ear and doesn't seem to mind my impolite behavior in a restaurant.
She wraps her arms around my stomach and gently pushes me towards her. Then, with her right hand, she gently pushes my head against her shoulder. Yep, now you have done it! This is sooo warm and comfortable~.
Sounds are slowly getting blurry. That *purr* must have been Katie trying to help me relax. I hear it until I lose consciousness all together.


At some point I am awoken by someone blowing at the backside of my ears, causing them to twitch heavily.
I wake up with a loud yawn "iiiiii ahh!" and see that I'm sitting in the backside of a car.

My eyelids open wide and I look around in confusion. I'm still sitting on Katie's lap somehow. Did she do some magic? I didn't notice a thing.
Don't tell me she drugged me! Yup, that must be it! Something in the food perhaps?
My racing thoughts are interrupted when Katie points at the building outside. I can't see it very well in the dark, until I recognize the building.
We are parked in front of the


Tranquility Peaks Psychiatric Institution!?


I start shivering and violently wanted to leave her lap, until she makes me understand to calm down.
She then points at me and shakes her head. Then she points at me again and then at her while nodding.


Ah good.., so I can stay with them, good... I nod to confirm that I understand.

She points at the both of us and then at the building. Ah, so we are going inside. I nod.
It's dark outside, so nobody will suspect a little girl with furry ears and a tail to be a real alien.

We walk towards the front door, which Swan is keeping open for us, while Katie makes sure to match my slow walking speed.
Yes, she's really holding hands, how embarrassing!
We walk towards the common room and I recognize some of the residents here.
Wait...are those...yes! Mary and the police officer from before...eh... Taylor!
They approach me and smile. They are making hand gestures too.
Do they....recognize me in this form? Not the adult me? Maybe that's what the Watcher said.
They now seem to believe that I have always been a little girl! That's the only explanation I can think of!
"Mary! Taylor!" I said, loud enough for both of them to hear. They both take turns to hug me and feel the need to pat me on the head.
Suddenly I understand why the hair on a dog's head is always flat. That's where they are always petted, right?
Guess I don't have to think about fluffy hair at that spot anymore.
And there they go again, speaking their mystery language again. I look at the faces of the adults, but I don't understand a thing.
"I'm glad she's fine. Does she remember her name already?" Taylor asked Katie.
"She really is a sweetheart, but her memories only seem to be returning slowly." Katie tried to think of a suitable answer on the spot.
Mary then says "what are the odds that another one ended up in our little safe haven here? I think it's about time to introduce to them, don't you?"
"Yep, let's see what happens." Katie said.
I look around, completely ignoring the gibberish the adults call "conversation" until Katie taps my shoulder and points towards the chair I sat in before.

The one looking out onto the garden.
Wait...are those? No...can't be. Or can it?
Someone is sitting in the chair, facing away from us.
But I can still see two furry objects where there should be none.
Katie pushes my back a bit and I walk towards the chair. Are they....real furry ears?
I stop at the back of the chair and say "Excuse me. Are those ears real?"
Not even a second passed when the person sitting in the chair jumped high into the air, landing next to the chair and then facing me.
Wow..can you do that again?
Nevermind.
Ah, it's definitely a lady.
That lady's mouth is agape and she blinks.
She's scanning me from my head to my toes and back. "Mia? Mia, is that really you?"
Then I get the most incredible headache ever, falling down to my knees in pain. I hold my head and then the lady embraces me.
"Mia! It really is you. What's wrong? Did they hurt you?"
I shake my head, but I feel fine again. "No, I feel fine again. Just a big headache."
I look up at the lady and she now somehow looks familiar. "Nyana?" I said out loud for some unknown reason.
"Yes Mia, I finally found you!"
Then I hug her tightly and say "Nyana, I missed you so much!."
Really? Didn't I just meet her? Just now? Where did that come from? But why do I feel tears coming from my eyes?
Both our tails are swaying vividly as well!
Behind me I hear an "ahem".. Swan seems to want some answers. But I still can't understand him.
Nyana inspects my neck, but can't find what she's looking for.
"Mia Kisune, first you worry your parents and me and then you also forget your translator stone? How could you forget something important like that?"
"I'm soooowwie...." What's going on with me?
Is my mind really regressing to the point of a toddler?
Wait...did she just mention my last name?
"Ah, don't be sad, little one. I'm not angry with you. I could never be. Luckily for you I always carry a spare one with me, here let me put it around your neck." She then made me wear a necklace with a pretty little green stone.
"So Well, how about it?" Swan said. I could understand him!
I turned around and noticed that everyone in the room was watching this spectacle. It was utterly quiet here, but I focused on Swan for now. "Swan, I can understand you again!"
"That's good news. Eh..Mia, isn't it?"
"Yes, I remember that now. My name is Mia!"
"Hello Mia, nice to finally meet the real you!" Katie said, smiling.
Reports about me spontaneously being hugged by Katie are greatly exaggerated.
"Awww. You are so much cuter now."  Katie said that, not me.
That earned her a glare from me, but only for a second as we both giggled.
"And that lady is Nyana, my caretaker when my parents are not at home." I said.
"Well, it's actually Nana, but little Mia here likes to call me Nyana so I let her." Then Nyana cuddled me again for a while.
I didn't notice that Mary and Taylor had left us, in order to discuss some loose ends with Katie.
After a few minutes, Katie returned, seeing that Nyana was done hugging me.
"Goddess I am so happy to see you." She said while she looks at me. Then Nyana looks at Katie "but how did you find me?"
"We received a report that described someone like Mia here, so we already thought you two might be related. But if you don't mind, we would like to go elsewhere, so we can talk in 'private'."
Nyana looks at me and I understand her worries.
"Don't worry Nyana, they are good people!."
"I am not worried about them. But you seem to have learned many new words in such a short time. You're growing up a bit too fast."
"Ahaha..." How am I getting out of this? Of course she would notice that I don't speak like a young child anymore.
"Eh... I-I have been watching a lot of television!?"
"It's a form of entertainment here." Katie tried to help me. I made sure to wink at her, thanking her for the rescue.
"Ah, that makes sense. Anyway, please lead the way. If Mia trusts you, then so shall I."
Before we went outside, I saw the elderly lady again. You know, the one who petted my ears? Or didn't this happen now? Talk about confusion.
But the lady did recognize me. "Hi, pretty kitty." She winked at me.
Then she whispered in my ears "Thank you for being so nice to me. Enjoy life now you are a little kitty."
Ohhh!...that's just too creepy!.
I stared into her eyes, feeling utterly confused. That earned me a grin and another wink.
Then she resumed cuddling her baby doll.
Who is she???
She definitely knows things!
But I can't ask her about it, because Katie is pushing me forward, we are heading back to our car.
Nyana insists that I sit on her lap while Katie makes sure that the seatbelts are properly fastened.
Somewhere on the highway, about ten or fifteen minutes after our departure, I fell asleep.





I now find myself at Home in my own bedroom. How did I get here? My bed is warm and comfortable, my plushies are all neatly sitting on the shelves. A dolly is lying in the corner of the room, like if she's looking outside the window.
"Mommy! Daddy! I'm home!"
I run barefoot to the living room where my parents are, but they are not happy to see me.
"So you finally decided to come back, huh?
You should be ashamed of yourself. You left us worried sick while you had a fun adventure.
Just go back. We don't want you anymore. You are not my child." She was pissed and wouldn't even look at me.
"Mommy?.... Noooo...."
"Don't speak so disrespectfully to her! You are a fake! There is no Mia! Leave us alone!"
"Daddy...no noooo....!"
I'm crying. Why aren't they happy that I'm back?
"I'm sowwiee. I didn't want to leave you! I didn't mean too....It was an accident!"
"Leave! You're a FAKE. FAKE. FAKE!" Daddy is shouting!
"No no daddy...., no. Mommy...."
"Mwaaaa!." I cried really loudly,
tears are rolling down my cheeks.
"ia....Mia!...wake up honey."
" Huh? Nyana...?" I have a bad headache, and see that I'm sitting in a car on Nyana's lap. I look up to try and see Nyana's face, but it's too dark.
"Yes sweetie. I'm here." She hugs me and gives me a kiss on the cheek.
"*Sniff* uaah Mwaaaa...!" I can't stop crying.
I'm so sorry, but I can't stop it.
This feeling, it's so deep, so emotional.
There is no way I can stop crying....
"What's wrong Mia?" Nyana tries to comfort me thinking what's wrong with me.
"Mommy....*sniff*, daddy *sniff*....they don't like me anymore. They think I'm a fake...."
"They what? Mia sweetie, trust me, that was just a bad dream. Your mommy and daddy really love you.
They would never, ever say something like that. Did you watch something scary maybe?"
"No...."
"Mia, did I ever lie to you?" Nyana asked.
"No, never...."
"Then trust me now, when I say that it was just a bad dream, okay?"
"You promise?...."
"Yes of course."
I heard Katie whisper something to Swan, but I couldn't understand it.
Nyana then kept brushing my hair with the palm of her hand, which made me relax.

The occasional kiss and the fact that she gently hummed a nursery song I remember from home, made me feel sleepy again.
After sleeping on Nyana's lap for who knows how long, we finally arrived at the ATF headquarters.

I could swear they teleported me,
because I am now sitting in a conference room. The clock shows nine thirty and my body is complaining that it needs even more sleep.
"Ah little Mia's awake." Katie said in a teasing tone of voice. "Oh c'mon, don't give me that look. You know I mean well."
Nyana then takes over the conversation and asks me, who is still sitting on her lap,
"how are you feeling now honey?"
"Okay, but I'm a little sleepy..." I said. My brain is working in low-power mode I guess.
"I used the most recent address in the portal's memory, hoping I would find you. And thank goddess I did. Now tell me, Mia, what happened for you to end up here?"
After a two second headache and subsequent embrace from Nyana, I could remember more details, so I replied
"I was playing with the portal near our home. And I didn't mean to leave! Really!"
"Shhh, it's okay Mia. It was only an accident. Nobody's angry with you." She's brushing my hair again. Calming me down
"Excuse me, Nyana? En Nana, I meant." Katie said.
"Yes, what is it..eh Katie right?, I believe your name is?"
"Yes, right. Is her last name really Kisune?"
"Yes it is. Have you heard of it before?"
"Honestly, yes. We have stories from a country far away where a person such as yourself appeared to the people of this world. They called those beings Kitsune."
"That is almost the same name. Hmm How odd." Nyana said, appearing deep in thought.
"Indeed, do you have any stories of visiting this world in the past perhaps?" Katie asks.
"Let me think...hmm no, nothing really seems familiar to me. I would definitely remember beings without a tail and small ears on the sides of their heads."
"Ah, that's a pity." Swan said. Then he continued "Nana and Mia. I must be completely honest with the both of you. I don't know if we can get you back home.
We have a portal here, but the guardian told us that traveling was not recommended due to the age of the portal."
"That is....unfortunate. Perhaps we could try to speak to my people? Let them know where we are? They can send a ship in this way. Um What do you call this world?"
"This is the planet Earth." Swan said.
"Uuuhrth. No...I have never heard that name before..."
"I ask that you both sleep here tonight. We will have fresh clothes and anything you may need here.
Perhaps tomorrow we can try using the portal again. If you can't return home, you will be our guests for a while longer." Swan said in a reassuring tone of voice.
"But...we have nothing to offer you as payment though?" Nyana looked concerned when I looked up at her.
"If you could share some stories about your world, then we can call that payment in full. And I must ask you to stay inside this building until we can find a way to hide your ears and tail. People of this world are not used to...visitors such as yourself."
"I see. Then we will graciously accept your offer. I always take care of Mia's parent's tavern, so I might help around here if you would allow me." Nyana said.
"Thank you very much, but that won't be necessary. We can take care of most things, so just relax for now." Katie said.
Nyana nods and smiles, then focuses on me.
"It's past bedtime for you, young lady. Mmm? Mia?" She moved her nose through my hair, just between the ears.
"Mmmmzzz.." was the only sound my body was able to produce to indicate she was interrupting me.
Not at all did I answer her gentle strokes with a *purr.*
But I was already sleeping comfortably in Nyana's warm embrace to notice any of this. Katie smiled warmly at Nyana's motherly care for me.
At some point I wake up and realize that I'm lying in a warm, comfy bed. Nyana's fluffy tail is surrounding me and keeping me warm. She's trying to help me feel safe.
This is nice, just like back at home. It's the way things are supposed to be. She always comforts me like this when I feel lonely because my parents always aren't at home.
Or that time the thunderstorm outside was so bad and loud that I couldn't sleep, trembling in bed.
Just like that day, so am I feeling safe now and it doesn't take long for me to fall asleep once more, while enjoying her warm caring embrace.