<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 was turning out to be a rather heavy sleeper, but it was likely because she was now working alongside Izu at the cemetery. She was a surprisingly hard worker and Izu seemed far less stressed than he had when she had first arrived. It was likely the extra income that helped—she was beginning to understand the concept of money, but still gave all her paycheck to Izu to do what he thought was best.<br/><br/>It turned out to be the right decision as he was able to provide healthier food and could invest in proper furniture. He also took the time to help Alida learn more about the concept of money and would always explain how bills worked—occasionally he would make Alida pay the bills herself in order to give her skills to function in his world. He always seemed worried Alida ending up on her own.<br/><br/>Overtime, Alida had managed to get Izu’s language down—for the most part. Sometimes Izu’s jokes and sarcasm would fly over her, but not nearly as much as it used to. Alida’s syntax was still a bit odd, but overall there was much better communication between her and any other human.<br/><br/>Alida was happy with Izu, very happy—but as time went on, she realized that no one from her home was going to come for her. It was likely they were all dead. It was a thought she tried to avoid. Alida was just happy that she ended up with Izu and not a more difficult human. It wasn’t that Izu wasn’t difficult—he certainly was—but he was endearingly difficult. She found him to be a good, and rather interesting contrast to her own personality.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">“Meorrwwww…”</span></span><br/><br/><span style="color: #408000">“Nnhnn…Izuuuuu. No, Izu. Alida wants sleep,”</span>Alida groaned as a soft paw brushed against her nose, a mewling consistently running through the air. Alida finally opened her eyes, only for the kitten’s nose to push against hers. She gave a small laugh, turning her head into the pillow and pulling the kitten towards her.<span style="color: #408000"> “Marmaladeeeee---no mess with Alida,”</span>she said playfully. Marmalade gave a purr in response and wiggled out of Alida’s grasp. He ran to the door, only to stop and look back at Alida expectantly.<br/><br/>Alida finally took the hint and got out of bed, stretching some. Her hair was a bit messy—it was somewhat longer than before, but Izu had been cutting it in the same style she had arrived any time he noticed Alida becoming annoyed with her hair. She had a tendency to pull at it when she was unhappy with its length. She wore one of Izu’s button up shirts to sleep in—slowly she had been getting used to wearing clothes and found that there was a strange comfort in wearing Izu’s clothes to bed.<br/><br/>She took a deep breath as she stretched, catching a whiff of coffee. She gave a crooked smile as she padded softly towards the kitchen where the coffee was. She prepared herself a cup, looking around curiously when she didn’t immediately see Izu. She realized he was probably outside and her smile widened—she would join him.<br/><br/><span style="color: #408000">“Izuuuuu!!!” </span>she called out in a sing song voice as she walked outside. Marmalade followed her, never going beyond two feet from where Alida was. When Alida saw Izu, she gave him a peck on the cheek, then a pout.<span style="color: #408000"> “Izu woke Alida with Marmalade…”</span>she accused playfully as she took a sip of her coffee. His eyes briefly cut to her, but then back to the image beyond them. She followed his gaze; the sun was still rising.<br/><br/>The sunrise seemed to touch on a memory of Alida’s home, stirring an odd mixture of sadness and contentedness all at once. She didn’t remove her gaze from the sunset as she spoke to Izu,<span style="color: #408000">“Alida love Izu…” </span><br/><br/>Alida had become more comfortable overtime sharing her affection for Izu—but there were some things she still tried to keep to herself. Alida, through much effort, had managed to control how much of her emotions were sent to Izu. She couldn’t always stop them, but she could definitely diminish how much they affected him. He would know how she felt, but he would be unable to tell the depth of them.<br/><span style="color: #408000"><br/>“Izu…” </span>she said suddenly, breaking the silence once again,<span style="color: #408000">“Izu…tell Alida about Izu’s family…please?”</span>