"What is this foul smell?" Elizabeth said in a piqued tone, wrinkling her nose when Yuki stomped into the living room. She left wet pawprints from the snow that had soaked her costume.
Shinku jumped up from the sofa. "Eeeek! A monster!"
Even Souseiseki stared wide-eyed at the newcomer, while Akshi tried to hide behind her legs. "Is that... is that dirty thing really a girl?"
Yuki harumphed and shot an evil look towards the pale Shinku.

"I... I think I'll faint." Shinku felt queasy. "All that dirt... Where have you been, little girl?"
When she saw tears well up in the girl's eyes she shut up. "You must have been through such terrible things!"

"I smell something familiar beneath that dirt," the vampire commented. She gave Yuki a measuring glance, "Are you a relative of Eternia?"
"I will only talk to my sister," the girl stated loudly.
"Ah, I was right. More sister squabbles, how fun." Elizabeth gave a long, bored sigh.
Souseiseki rose from her seat. "We better go, Shinku. Seems like this room will be needed for other things soon."
"You're right, Souseiseki. I was about to go home anyway; it's getting dark."
The Rozen Maidens said their goodbyes and left the room.

Shinku quickly found Nareen in the garden.
"Nareen! We just wanted to say goodbye."
"Aw, you haven't even listened to the band yet!"
"We heard them quite clearly in the kitchen, actually. Thank you for your hospitality. It's been a long while since we had such good food!"
"Glad you had fun, Shinku. Souseiseki... I hope we'll meet again soon!"

"Maybe we can go on a picnic together in spring!" Shinku smiled and waved. "It's more fun to be outside when it's warmer."
"Ha ha, that's so true. See you!"

Sou approached Tamara. "Excuse me, have you seen my sister somewhere? We wanted to go home together, but I can't find her."
"Uhm... If I recall correctly she went with Brian from the band."

"What?! That scoundrel kidnapped her?!"
"Actually, I think Sui joined him happily. They probably just went for a walk."
"I have to find my sister!" yelled Sou.
"Talk about overreacting."

Sou waved to Nareen. "Sorry, I have to go! I won't allow Sui to be alone with a man! That's too dangerous!"
"Err... okay..." Nareen waved after her, then turned towards Tamara. "Did Sui actually go in the direction Sou ran off to?"
Tamara shrugged. "No, but she didn't ask."

"Oye. That's rather mean."
"Nareen, let's allow those lovebirds a bit of privacy."
"Why do they want to be alone? It would be more fun if they stayed at the party with Sou!" Giselda chipped in.
"Giselda..." Nareen looked at her sharply. "Are you really an adult?"
"Isn't that burnt smell coming from the kitchen? I better go check..."

Eternia wasn't sure what to tell Sol. She felt embarrassed by what he just witnessed. "I'm sorry about that, Sol. My sister... she was in our homeland, far behind the ocean, with the family. I have no idea why she showed up here, and all alone to boot!"
"Hey, I'm sure it's not your fault." Sol tried to cheer her up. "Just... go and have a talk with her and everything will clear up, right?"
"Ha ha, I wish things were that easy with young girls."
She turned away to go, but before she could leave he quickly added, "Eternia?"
"Hm?"
"It was a really nice day. Thank you."
"Oh..." she said absentmindedly. "Yes, really nice."

"Maybe we can... meet again?" Sol asked full of hope.
"Uh... sure, why not?"
"Okay, it's a promise! See you soon!"
"Yeah. Bye, Sol!" Eternia's head spun. All of the day's news had already had an impact on her, but Yuki's sudden appearance truly shattered her world. She was so confused, she barely felt her heart twitch when she left the guard.

Dolltopia Archive 53 <-- # --> Dolltopia Archive 55