There is a space between dreaming and wakefulness in which Kairi hovered. She knew very well that she needed to awaken and get on with her day but there was a small part of her that wanted to stay where she was, wanted to slip back into dream-land where she soared through the skies and explored the deepest oceans. But alas reality awaited. With a sigh that parted petal-soft lips, her thick eyelashes fluttered back to reveal sparkling blue eyes. She stared upwards at the slow revolving ceiling fan before she pushed herself into a seated position. Her hair fell around her face in a pale mess and she used a hand to comb it away. Shoving back the blankets, she threw her legs over the bedside and slip down until she touched the floor. Weak sunlight filtered through the window as she padded across the wooden floor and into the bathroom.<br/><br/>She flipped the light on and shut the door, running her fingers through her hair as she reached over the bathtub and turned the shower on. Slipping out of her simple sleep shorts and tank top she stepped under the warm spray, ducking her head to let the water run over her head. Humming to herself, she went through her routine and stepped out, drying herself off with a towel. She blow dried her hair and ran a brush through it, padding out into her bedroom. She threw open her closet doors and ran her eyes over her clothes.<br/><br/>Reaching out with a pale hand, she snagged some articles and dropped her towel, slipping into the soft clothing. Smoothing her hands over any wrinkles, she appraised herself in her full-length mirror. A cable knit sweater rested over a plain tank top. A skirt encircled her hips, soft leggings encasing her legs. Her ankle boots finished the look off and she braided her hair, sliding a headband on top of her head.<br/><br/>She tossed her towel into the hamper and padded out of her bedroom. She picked her way through her studio apartment, smiling as her cat gave her a meow. “Time for breakfast Barron?” She questioned. The cat meowed again and hopped down from the counter, leading the way to the kitchen. He scratched at the pantry door impatiently and she chuckled softly, grabbing a pocket of dry food for her pet and a box of cereal for herself. She placed Barron’s food in his bowl and poured herself some cereal, also placing the kettle on to boil.<br/><br/>Once the whistling rang through her apartment, she filled a travel mug and set a bag of tea inside to steep, finishing off her breakfast and washing out her bowl, setting it into the dishwasher. As her tea steeped, she gathered her belongings together in a messenger bag and set it by the front door. She added sugar and cream to her tea and threw away the tea bag, snapping on the mugs lid. She gave her cat a kiss goodbye and grabbed her unneeded jacket.<br/><br/>The forecast called for snow any day now and she would a bit strange walking out in such cold weather without a jacket. So even though it was unnecessary, she needed to keep up an appearance of being human. So on the jacket went and her bag was slung across her shoulder, Kairi exiting her apartment.<br/><br/>She took a deep breath of the cold air, her breath leaving her in a cloud puff, eyes closing briefly before she turned down the street and began the short walk to her store. She passed many people, some hurrying to work and school, casually walking to their destination. She hurried across the street and walked a few paces before turning to unlock the door of her store.<br/><br/><em>Barron’s Books</em>was her pride and joy, her baby. Never did she think that owning a bookstore would be so enjoyable but it was. She had a small cafe added on and many of her patrons enjoyed a nice cup of tea or coffee as they read their books in the lounge on the second floor. She had a few workers man the cafe counter but they didn’t come in until eight, while the bookstore itself was opened at seven in the morning.<br/><br/>Kairi stepped into the welcoming building taking a sip of her tea as she made her way behind the counter and into the back room where she stored her belongings. She shrugged out of her coat and stored it and her bag in a locker. Tea in hand she exited back into the main area and flipped the sign to signal they were open. She settled herself in her chair behind the register and grabbed her current book, flipping to where she left off as she waited for the little bell above the door to chime.<br/>