I swallowed some My saliva that had built up in my mouth due to me thinking about the creature again.
Why would my body even create unnecessary saliva for?
Should I have spat on it? Should I really have swallowed it just now?
"Maya! Focus!"
"Ouch!" she flicks her index finger on my forehead!.
"Is she fine now?" Swan asks while Katie enters the room. He glances at Katie, then looks at me again.
I look up at Nyana's face and see her smiling at me.
"She's all fine...for now.. Just a bit shaken by the events. She's a tough one, trust me."
" *Sighing* Thank god," Katie said. "Swan, all people except for three are accounted for."
"Copy that. That matches the security reports I received. One tank.....let's discuss that later, shall we?...*sigh*" Swan pressing his forehead
Katie nods and says "I saw the creature on the stairs when coming down here. Don't tell me there were more of those things?"
Swan motions for her to sit down, then says "yes, we have security footage that confirms a total of five creatures coming through the mirror. Four of them were killed within the first minute, only one of them got away. The explosion you heard...signaled the end of the mirror."
Nobody speaks a word for a few moments, we only exchange glances.
Swan then continues. "Our staff reported that more creatures could be seen on the other side, and by my orders, they fired everything they had on that thing. The mirror withstood a direct machine gun blast and a flamethrower attack.
One of the guards threw a hand grenade through the portal, which gave us some time to activate the heavy equipment.
Within the next thirty seconds, three stingers were launched at the mirror, not scratching the damn thing.
It took a focused EMP blast to disrupt the mirror's image for a moment, which seemed to make it vulnerable.
Our experimental high energy beam then kept firing on that thing until it started to heat up visibly, glowing all red. It took some....special maneuvers by some of my Men to completely disable it."
"I heard that the police and fire trucks have arrived here. And there are many spectators down there, let alone the worried civilians in this tower who felt the blast." Katie said.
"Yes, I know. Don't worry, it's under control. Our cover story is a gas explosion on the parking deck. So far people are buying it. We have no other choice than to cooperate with the emergency services. They are now temporarily stabilizing the building with emergency support beams in three locations.
Our own engineers already informed us that there's zero risk for a building collapse thankfully.
And because the entrance to the parking deck was blown away by the explosion, people could have a look inside. So far nobody has asked why a tank was sitting there, but we will cross that bridge when we get there."
Then Swan turns to face me and Nyana.
"I know you both wanted to go home, but believe me there was no other choice, sorry."
"I understand, mister Swan. I know the Vordoug well. Even though it pains my heart to tell you this, it was the right decision. They are absolutely terrifying and merciless creatures. But what are we supposed to do now?"
Nyana puts her arm around me.
Swan leans back in his chair, the backrest moving back.
"Well....for starters....it's now...let's see...5 am, and I don't know about you two, but my adrenaline levels prevent me from sleeping now.
So How about an early breakfast then?" He smiled
"I meant our future?" Nyana didn't understand Swan's attempt to help us calm down.
"I know what you meant Nana. Let's recover from these events first. Then we can take some time to discuss your future with us. How about that?"
I'm nodding vigorously, as my tummy seems to be low on fuel again.
"Grumbell~."
Is there perhaps a relation between hunger and my unintended infantile behavior?
"Ha ha ha!." Everyone could finally release some tension due to my body's stupid antics.
"Come, let's get some early breakfast into your grumpy tummy!," Katie said while smiling at me.

Only five minutes have passed and we are sitting in a corner of the restaurant that now doubles as an improvised mess hall.
Everyone in this building seems to have had the same idea...having breakfast.
Looks like the ATF feels responsible and invited some civilians as well.
This place is packed!
Maybe they want to show them that we are just ordinary neighbors...
Yup, definitely ordinary indeed.
I'm now standing on my toes, wearing white shoes with red blood stains, trying to see what I really want to eat.
Waffles? Bacon and eggs again? What's that?
Ohh..pancakes!
There is only one thing missing...coffee!!!
Then Nyana bends down and lets one knee rest on the floor.
"No, Mia, you can't eat that, you need something healthier. How many times do I need to remind you?
And what IS that smell? .*sniff sniff* That black stuff is definitely not good for you! Here...and....here.. and-."
She puts a cup of tea on a tray and then adds something dreadful on it.
A salad!?
Are you bloody kidding me?
Come on! I'm no rabbit!
I look up at her with puppy eyes, but she seems immune to them. Dammit!
"No really, you can't eat that. Your mother would never forgive me!
I know what your tummy needs. Please do what you always do and trust me!" Nyana really feels sorry for me, I can tell.
Then a nasty headache visits me for a few seconds, pushing more memories into my tiny brain.
Why does that happen in the first place? I hate it!
I now remember eating this kind of food every morning, mostly with Nyana.
She usually favors some kind of vegetable soup and tea. That's apparently also my favorite. The images are very clear
....she's not lying to me.
I really seem to have eaten that stuff all the time.
Let's not tell her that I ate french fries yesterday!
"Ahhhhhhh!...Nana, let her have a waffle at least!." Katie almost begged. I smile at her to thank my dear ally.
"No Katie. I'm not punishing her. She's only four and can't decide right from wrong yet. I really know what's best for her. We can't digest that stuff very well."
Then she looks at Katie who was exchanging glances with me.
{What did you do....Mia Kisune?!!} An upset voice said directly in my brain.
It sounded almost like Nyana's.
" Ahh! What??? Who was that!?" I said out loud, looking around me.
"Oh sorry little one. You are too young to use telepathy, but apparently you can still hear me.
Anyways, did you eat something...less healthy earlier?" Nyana asks while smiling trying to get some stray hairs out of my face.
I'm currently faking ignorance here!.
So I really am only four years old, huh? I try to look my age...that's right...nothing going on here...just a harmless four year old child yup...
"Oh no, Mia. I know you understood what I said earlier. Don't try to fool me. What did you eat?" She said with her stare getting more intense
"... well um hehe,French fries....and a hamburger. Bacon and eggs..sandwiches...coffee." I was salivating when I said that last word.
"Oh goddess. For how long?" She said Holding he forehead
"A few days?"
"I see. Let's hope that you are more resilient with your ancestral blood, but from now on...please do as I ask, okay? I am not trying to punish you dear, I just know what is best for you."
"Yeeeees.. okay...Nyana......" I said, sounding and looking really disappointed.
Even more so when I again see the "food" on Nyana's tray.
But before I can contemplate my coffee-less future, I'm tightly embraced by Nyana.
She then whispers in my ear, "I'm so sorry Mia, but thank you for listening to me."
I look up, directly into her eyes and smile. "You always look after me, so it's okay!. I trust you."
"Aww come here.." and Nyana gives me a kiss on the forehead, then again straightens my disheveled hair a bit more.
Now that things are finally calming down, it finally dawns on me that I'm going to be stuck in this form for a very loooong time.
It might be my imagination, but I think I'm really starting to act my age. Was it the Watcher's doing?
Must be. It's strange to have two sets of memories, new ones of "home" still popping up a few times a day.
First I felt these strange memories entering my mind.
Now I feel more and more that they are my real memories, and my memories as Roland are like a dream.
Please don't misunderstand..I didn't lose any memories, but my new memories seem to be more..."real" somehow. Where will it end?
"Mia? Don't tell me you also mastered sleeping with your eyelids open?" Nyana said while smiling, while I sat on a cushion sandwiched between her and Katie.
"Eh? Sorry? No, I was just thinking about what happened." I said.
"I know it was disturbing, especially when you are so young. It's best not to think about that much sweetie. Or do you want to talk about it?"
She really seems to be concerned for my mental wellbeing.
She didn't know that I was referring to my physical changes. Sure, being attacked by a monster was no fun. But somehow I'm not worried about that, maybe because I wasn't really in control...it happened automatically.
"No Nyana, I'm fine. I'm more worried about eating that stuff."
"Don't be a baby, it's the same healthy food you are used to. Now come here." Nyana takes a fork, sticks it in the salad and fishes out a cucumber slice for me to eat.
Like...really?
This early in the morning and the very first thing I get is a slice of cucumber?
At least let me have some tea first!
"Oh no...don't feed me."
"You can't properly use the cutlery yet, so open up."
"Nyana...nooo~!." I feel really embarrassed.
People around me are looking this way, obviously enjoying the recognizable antics of a young child being difficult at breakfast.
They probably have kids too, the way they're smiling.
But I don't care!
"Now, now, open wide!"
"NO!" I pout.
"I can do that myself!" I shake my head vigorously, making my stand here and now.
I see Katie whispering something in Nyana's ears. Both are smiling...an evil smile.
This can't be good!
Seems that I wasn't prepared for this.
Nyana turns my way and suddenly starts a tickle attack!
First she blows gently in my ears which makes me shiver, giving me goosebumps.
Then she tickles me below my armpits.
"Ah ha ha!.. Nyana! Nooo! Ahaa!..."
She stops, but only for a moment. She's discussing strategies with Katie again. I can only pick up "what did you..." and Katie replies with something like "...Kitty." What is that supposed to mean?
Don't tell me they want to get Snowball?
I try to hide during the ceasefire, but she now suddenly tickles my tummy.
"Ah ha ha. Stop it!"
"Are you going to listen to me? Will you be a good little Kitty?"
"Ah ha ha. Nooo!..never! I'm no cat!"
Katie whispers something again..then....
"Eeek!" I shout.
This time Nyana picks me up as if I didn't weigh even a pound and puts me on her lap, her arms tight around me. Oh no There's no escaping this...
Katie is within striking range and whispers something in my ear "C'mon little foxy woxy...Mia. Do us all a favor. I know you find this embarrassing for you, and your bodily changes are against your will, but you really are a four year old child now. There's no shame in being spoiled now and then." I look up into her eyes. She's practically begging.
Nyana then whispers to me in my other ear "if you promise to be nice and eat, I will give you something nice in return after breakfast. I forgot to give it to you yesterday."
"Really? A surprise?" I said out loud.
Oops, I should have whispered. And now I have done it, I look upwards again and see two ladies smiling in their presumed victory.
Ah..whatever...I don't have a choice, do I? Maybe I should just enjoy this? A second chance at childhood? Might not be bad at all probably!.
Alright universe, you want me to be a four year old? So shall it be!
"Yes honey. Now open wide.
Aaaaaaaahhhh." Nyana opens her mouth as well. Why? Whatever I don't care!.
Here it goes. All the embarrassment... Now gone. I don't care anymore.
I surrender to the universe and to the ladies who are enjoying this just a bit too much for my taste. I sighed, then open my mouth wide.
"Awww, that's a good girl Mia!" Katie said, causing my face to turn red in embarrassment.
Grr!
"Here you go Mia." And Nyana puts a small load of fresh vegetables in my mouth.
They were soft. Too soft. Yuck.
That's no cucumber...it's a soft carrot. It made me shiver. Carrots should be fresh, cold and crunchy.
"Don't like it? Aww I see.. But well done."
This continued for ten exhausting minutes while the salad slowly migrated from the plate to my tummy.
"Well done Mia!. That wasn't so bad now, was it?"
Honestly, no?.
It somehow felt familiar, like this had happened every day for the previous four years of my life.
I think I can get used to this, not the being fed part, but still the experience isn't that bad.
Who knows if my body really requires this kind of food. I don't want to throw up when I eat "normal" food.
But coffee...that's going to be another story, I'm addicted to that!
"Mis, I asked you something. Are you sleepy?" Nyana gives me a motherly smile.
"Noo! I was just thinking about what you said. If this really is better for me, then I will eat this from now on."
"Awww, that's so sweet of you! Next time we will eat vegetable soup! I know they have it here as well, I know that's your favorite."
I nodded, which earned me a little kiss on my right cheek. Nyanaaaa! Is she sure that she isn't my real mom?
The tea cooled down in the meantime, so it was easier to drink. I have to admit this really tastes like home.
Oh god, what's going on with me?
Is this the real me? Was everything else a dream just now?
What about my mommy and daddy?
They are worried about me! Why did I play with the portal back home?
No wait, wait!. That didn't happen! O-Or did it?
"Mia, are you crying? Was it that bad?"
Nyana seems really worried. She looks at Katie but only gets a shrug from her.
Katie also had no idea what was going on.
I shake my head and for some reason said
"mommy... daddy...."
A few tears are rolling down my cheeks.
Nyana then turns me around on her lap, so she can look me in the eyes. Then she keeps one arm safe around me, while her other arm massages my back.
"Oh sweetie, I know...." She then gently pushes my head against her shoulder.
"Just cry my little one. It's okay, I am here for you. And you have other friends here too, remember?"
She could feel that I nodded against her shoulder.
"We can't go home now. Maybe we will find another way, okay? So don't worry"
My answer was more sobbing, but only for a few more minutes.
"Feel better now?" Nyana said.
I looked up at her and nodded. She dried my eyes with a tissue and said
"I promise I will do anything I can to get us both home. But for now, let's make the best of things together here, alright?"
I nod and smile again.
"Ah, that's my girl. Are you ready for your little present?"
Ah, I forgot! My present!
I nod. She puts me back on my own chair. I then follow her hands down to a bag between the chairs.
And then, before I can see what it is, she pushes something against my tummy. I look down and get that annoying headache again.
But only for a split second. I know what this is!
"Aika!" I shouted.
"Yes sweetie, I brought Aika with me!"
Aika is my plushie. How could I have forgotten?
She's my everything! Wherever I go, she always follows me.
Aika looks more like a fox than I do.
Completely white and furry, including a very cuddly tail!
I take Aika in my small hands and then cuddle her in my arms like Nyana cuddled me only minutes earlier.
"Awww...." Katie said in a low tone of voice.
But I heard her and our eyes met.
She winks and brushes my cheeks with the backside of her hand. "Mia, may I ask you something?"
"Yes Katie." I said meekly.
"Do you remember when I told you about my little Allie?"
I thought about that for a moment, then remembered. She was three years old, right?
"Yes, I remember. Why?"
"Well...I want to go shopping with Nana and was hoping you two could come along and perhaps play together for a while.
You are only a bit older than she is."
I look up at Nyana who nods and smiles. She's probably happy to get some fresh air too.
"Okaaay. But what about our ears?"
"Well....we have something for that. But it's still very early, Allie's still asleep at home. But I will bring her in a few hours. Maybe you and Nana can have a shower first. And believe me, that's not a suggestion. You both need it."
I look at my clothes and see some red stains here and there. Yuck. Dried monster blood. I completely forgotten it.
"Okay. But what about clothes?"
"Well...we still have some kimonos, they shout fit Nana. And I will bring something along for you.
By the time you are ready to get dressed, I promise that you have some clothes. We can find something better later, okay?"
I nodded.
"Nana," Katie said, "I just remembered. What did you say about that fire you used?"
"Yeah, real foxfire!" Oops, I spoke up without thinking.
"What? No Mia. That's our body's natural defense. It's called Fire, or Soulflare.
We can use it six times in a row at the very maximum. More and we will lose consciousness and pass out. We were lucky that all my attempts really hit the Vordoug. And Mia's assistance finished the creature off. I don't think we would be sitting here otherwise."
"Let's talk about this later, Nana. I think Mia needs to be cuddled again." Katie said while grinning.
"No, I'm fine, really." I said.
"Katie...?"
"Yes, honey?"
I smiled. She really treats me like a little girl. "Am I still with the ATF?"
"What's that?" Nyana said, looking very confused.
"Oh that's my employer. Don't think about that Mia. When we need you, we will ask you for help. Otherwise...just enjoy your time here with us, together with Nana."
"Okaaay." Oh god. I sound like a little one too. Well, I am one now. Don't think much about this Mia!
Nobody noticed my legs dangling...
"Nana, could you maybe tell us something about your home?" Katie asked, while resting her arm on the table, then letting her chin rest on her hand.
"Well, maybe you can even see it for yourself one day. Our world is technologically more advanced, but I think both your and our customs are quite similar. We Enkirians do have much more nature around us, because we love the green of nature."
"I see. But we humans also love the green around us. Well, most of us do.
But you are now in one of our largest cities, so please don't think that the whole planet looks like this."
"Ahh, good to know. That's what I assumed. Anyway, Mia's parents own a tavern with about ten guest rooms. It's actually more of a hotel than a tavern, but tavern sounds more relaxing than hotel.
There are employees who take care of everything from food preparation to room cleaning. Ah, it's difficult to describe, you really should go there once. I promise you will like it."
"I think I can imagine the place pretty well. We have many stories of cozy taverns where people try to preserve the old ways while still applying modern comforts."
"Yes exactly! That's exactly what I meant! Maybe....Katie. Would you like to try an experiment?"
"Eh...is it dangerous?" Katie crosses her arms.
"I don't believe so. I would like to see if you are telepathic. I could send you my memories, and perhaps you can see them?"
"Would it hurt?"
"No....well only if your race can't use telepathy at all. It might give you a mild headache for a few seconds. I promise it's really harmless."
"Alright then. But please try to limit the experience."
"Okay. Close your eyes and relax. Good. Now I'll try."
" ? Uh Oh my god! Yes I can see it! Your tavern! It's...like I have been there before! How it smells and looks. Wait..who is Rikuru? And why the sad feeling?"
" Ah! Eh...that's embarrassing. I didn't want to send that.. He's my..*ahem*..destined one. We will bond...or we would bond soon if we were together."
"Awww...I understand. Sorry Nana, I didn't mean to pry."
"No no, it's my fault for sending those feelings. Maybe you can try sending something back to me?"
I was watching their discussion like one would follow a tennis match. My neck is going to hurt if I continue like this. Left, right, left, right. But before I could say anything, Nyana replied.
"What? Why would we have more than one tail? Is that your sense of humor on this planet? No, we only have one tail silly. And we are proud of it too!" Nyana looked very amused, but Katie seemed to be embarrassed.
"Eh, so you got the message. Wow. So humans are telepathic, but we somehow can't exchange messages with each others of our race. How strange."
"No, that's not strange. You forget that I have used this ability since I was...about Mia's age I guess. It comes naturally to our people. So sending and receiving is easy for us. I think your people just need to practice."
Katie then looks at me and grins.
"What? What did I do?" I said in total confusion, holding my plushie close to my heart.
"She can't receive you yet, Katie. You can only transmit on a basic level. I however can send at higher force. Right, Mia?"
" !? Heeeey! That's not nice! You need a shower too, you know!" I pouted.
She showed me an image of myself with dried blood on my clothes and some vegetable remains in the corner of my mouth. I instinctively wiped it clean on my clothes, but...those were even worse. Yuck!
"Ha ha ha!. See? She can receive it perfectly. Katie, please excuse us if you will. We desperately need to bathe."
"Sure, Mia here knows the way, don't you? My little foxy woxy girl..." She grine again
Oh now she's teasing me. There are limits, you know?! I give her my signature death glare, but to her it probably only looks cute. Okay....I get it....I know when to surrender.
"Yes Katie..." was all I could say.
After Nyana noticed that she hadn't touched her breakfast yet, she apologized to Katie and devoured it quickly in seconds.
So my favorite food is considered unhealthy, but you can just swallow things without even chewing properly?
She chooses to ignore my bewildered look and washes everything away with tea.
How is that even supposed to be healthy? It just doesn't make sense to me....but many things don't anymore,
so it's probably best to just not think about it anymore.
Katie seems to understand what I'm thinking about and just smiles. She shakes her head just enough to indicate that I shouldn't say anything about it.
"Katie...I thought Swan would join us for breakfast?" I look her into the eyes. Perhaps it took awhile for the food to arrive in my brain, but I only now noticed Swan's absence.
She has that 'oh my god oh no, I'm sooo in trouble' expression going on.
"Oops oh no, we were supposed to wait for Swan!" She grimaces.
But only Nyana notices the arrival of a person, now standing behind Katie. Katie follows Nyana's line of sight and turns around slowly.
"It's about time you noticed, Major...." It's Swan, and he's smiling evilly!.
"S-Sir, I don't know what..." Katie is really worried and panicking stumbling her words.
Nyana suddenly realizes how rude this must seem to Swan, who just offered to take us in as guests here.
"Mister Swan, I..." She bows deeply to Swan.
But thankfully he's not someone to hold a grudge.
"*Sigh*Don't worry ladies, it's fine. Something came up or I would have joined you earlier."
I tried to salvage the situation a bit. "Swan....may we please be excused? We kinda need to bathe."
Swan agrees of course and we leave Katie and Swan behind. Katie doesn't seem really comfortable, but it was HER "suggestion" that we needed to bathe urgently in the first place, so I can't help it sorry~.
The moment we leave the restaurant, Nyana says "well done. You are so polite for your age. Now tell me, what happened to the my shy Mia that I used to know, mmmm?"
I swallowed......ooohhhh boy..
I was able to evade her question by pretending that her question was a compliment.
"thank you Nyana." I said. But I don't dare look her into the eyes. I stealthily switch topics and add "ah, we need to turn left here." Mission complete, problem skillfully avoided haha...