<div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://s300.photobucket.com/user/SociallyToxicBeauty/media/f9baa897-e285-4e2a-92b5-e0eb263a67ea.jpg.html"></a><a class="postlink" href="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn24/SociallyToxicBeauty/f9baa897-e285-4e2a-92b5-e0eb263a67ea.jpg">[ img ]</a><br/><br/><span style="color: #408000"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">Alida</span></span></span></div><br/><br/>Alida looked worriedly at Izu as he spit out his coffee,<span style="color: #BF0000">“My family…?”</span>She could hear the hesitance in his voice and she nearly said nevermind—but he Izu finished his coffee and began to speak before she could say anything.<span style="color: #BF0000">“Well, I guess they are just a normal family? They both run a bakery about twenty minutes from here, my younger sister is probably in college right about now though…”<br/></span><br/>Izu’s explanation wasn’t much, but Alida was happy to know he still had a family. She didn’t understand why he didn’t speak to them or see them every day if they were only twenty minutes away. She said nothing, though, figuring it was another strange custom of Izu’s. She heard Izu sigh and looked up to see him open the door,<span style="color: #BF0000">“Let’s get some breakfast.”</span>She gave a small nod, still thoughtful.<br/><br/>Alida watched Izu with the same fascination she always did while he was cooking. He always seemed so natural in the kitchen—always seemed to have more energy. She helped him where she could, though he tended to enjoy cooking independently in the kitchen.<br/><br/>Soon enough breakfast was ready and Alida helped Izu set the table. As she went to sit down, Izu smacked her rump and she gave a squealing laugh.<span style="color: #408000">“Izu!”</span>she reprimanded, though not seriously. He seemed satisfied with his hand’s conquest and sat with her. Just as Alida was about to take a bite of her food, Izu spoke up,<span style="color: #BF0000">“So, why the sudden interest in my family?”</span><br/><br/>The question caught Alida off guard, probably as much as her question had Izu. Her hand hovered with her fork for a moment in front of her, then she put it down. She blinked rapidly for a moment as she tried to keep her emotions in check.<span style="color: #408000">“Ah…Um…”</span>she seemed to have a hard time finding the words. Eventually, though, they came to her.<br/><br/><span style="color: #408000">“Alida…doesn’t think Alida’s family is alive. Alida gets sad about it sometimes and misses them very much. Alida was thinking about them and…just wondered if Izu had family because Izu never talks about Izu’s family.”</span><br/><br/>Suddenly, Alida didn’t feel as hungry as she had. Still, she brought the fork back up to take a bite of her food, chewing slowly. She knew if she didn’t eat, Izu might say something. It was quiet for a moment, but Alida seemed unable to keep it. The conversation of her family—her situation—had been silent since the first time Alida revealed her predicament to Izu. It seemed it had all built up for her, and now she simply needed to speak.<br/><br/><span style="color: #408000">“Alida not understand why Zoltan send Alida here. Alida could have helped! But Zoltan not let Alida!”</span>she said, angrily as she slammed a palm down on the table. It was uncharacteristic of her to display her anger so openly. Over the past few months she had wondered how she had gotten to Izu’s world, and as time went on she realized Zoltan had to have been the one to send her. After all, he had been the one she saw last—and he had been speaking the ancient priest language.<br/><br/>Alida’s eyes were slightly shinier than usual, and she blinked a few more times against.<span style="color: #408000">“Alida sorry. Alida not mean to get angry…” </span>she said, forcing a smile.<span style="color: #408000">“Alida not angry at Izu,” </span>she clarified. She knew she didn’t have to say that, but she still didn’t like the idea of Izu even possibly thinking he had done anything wrong.<span style="color: #408000">“Why Izu not see family?”</span>Alida asked, trying to put the subject back on Izu.