<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 still panting as Izu somehow managed to find the energy to communicate,<span style="color: #BF0000">"We should probably get ready for work."</span>She gave a groan in response, stretching her arms above her head.<span style="color: #BF0000"> "The lot had a burial today, so I'll have to go in early. You want to come with me? The plants could probably use some water or something by now,"</span>he said, undaunted by Alida's less than apathetic response as he walked out of the bedroom and into the bathroom to attempt taking a real shower.<span style="color: #408000">"Alida not understand why Izu's people hurt flowers for dead,"</span>she mumbled as she rolled off the bed and stood to follow Izu.<br/><br/>She stepped into the shower, rinsing the mess that Izu had made of her and quickly dried off.<span style="color: #408000">"Alida go with Izu. Alida not like walking alone," </span>she stated as a matter of fact. Izu had probably already figured Alida wasn't going to stay home by herself, if the fact that he laid her clothes out for her was any indication. He only shrugged in response. Alida's wings wrapped around her as close as possible, allowing her to don the snug shirt that was picked out.<br/><br/>Izu wordlessly readied himself and Alida made her way through the apartment, cleaning up a few things here and there, finally finishing with cracking the bedroom window as per custom to air out the place. It tended to get stuffy in the apartment and Alida always complained about it. She had managed to convince Izu having a little fresh air come through every once and a while was good for them, though he grumbled and griped about the AC running too much or something. She didn't know, she hardly paid attention when he grumbled.<br/><br/><span style="color: #408000">"Izu ready?"</span>Alida called out, waiting at the door for him. Marmalade came up to her, bumping his head against her ankles and giving a loud, disapproving meow. The little kitty did not want them to leave.<span style="color: #408000">"Marmalade, Alida be back later. Okay?"</span>she said as she bent down to scratch his ear. Izu walked into the room, staring down at the cat and Alida,<span style="color: #BF0000">"It's a cat, Alida."</span>Alida shrugged, not particularly bothered by Izu's lack of concern for Marmalade's feelings.<span style="color: #408000">"Izu just grumpy,"</span>she assured the stubby little thing, standing and poking her tongue out at Izu. He opened the door, gesturing for her to go--she complied easily enough, excitement thrumming through her as she bounded down the stairs. As always, she was thrilled to be outside.<br/><br/>As they walked to work, Alida couldn't resist running her fingertips lightly against any small plant they came across. Izu didn't seem too thrilled by it, though, quietly reprimanding her as she touched another plant,<span style="color: #BF0000"> "Hey, not right now."</span>She gave a small pout and went to touch another in rebellion, but he grabbed her hand and subtly gestured to a house across the street,<span style="color: #BF0000">"Seriously. Stop."</span>She followed his gaze to a family eating at their table and very much capable of catching her at any moment through the window. She gave a sigh and begrudgingly obeyed. Alida sometimes hated the fact that she couldn't simply heal all the plants around. Izu's people were so careless and it very much depressed her.<br/><br/>The rest of the walk was fairly quiet, Alida looking forlornly at the decaying gardens and stray animals they passed. It didn't take them too long to get to the cemetery and for that, Alida was glad. At the cemetery she could get away with much more than anywhere else. The owner of the property never questioned Alida's amazing landscaping skills and Alida was lucky enough that very few people came by, especially in the evening. At that moment, though, it was a little too bright out for Alida to do her usual routine yet, and so she stuck by Izu as he worked, helping him where he needed it and sprucing up areas when he didn't need her.<br/><br/>An hour or two had gone by with them working tirelessly together before Alida asked for them to take a break. As they were sitting on a bench (something Alida demanded), she babbled on about the different animals she saw on the property.<span style="color: #408000">"Alida is always so...inter..interested???"</span>she struggled with the word, but then decided when Izu didn't look at her funny, she must have chosen correctly, "<span style="color: #408000">Interested. Alida is always so interested in animals here in Izu's world. Animals are so...small here,"</span>she stated, gesturing their size with her hands.<span style="color: #408000">"In Alida's world animals are very big," </span>she continued, stretching her arms out comically and almost falling over. She steadied herself easily enough and looked to the sky, then back to Izu who seemed, as usual, bored as hell. He glanced at her and moved to speak, but something stopped him.<br/><br/>Alida then began to notice a rushing sound in her ears, similar to when she had fallen into Izu's world. That thought panicked her as she stood quickly, looking down at herself. She was glowing and it looked as if she was disappearing as well.<span style="color: #408000"> "No! No, no, no!"</span>she started crying out, reaching out to an alarmed Izu. But it was too late, there was nothing she could do as the world seemed to whirl away from her. She grabbed Izu's hand, but felt him slipping away as she disappeared from the spot she stood.