by Melanie Ray
Muin groaned. “The past will never be the same again.” She sighed and grabbed the bat. “Fine, but if I start becoming hateful, I’m taking it out on you first.”
TIGER WATCHED THE CLOCK. He hardly knew the person he now referred to as his mother, but he couldn’t help his nerves as he stared at the clock. When would she return? What was wrong with her? He picked at the food. Some was good, but it tasted so different. Like he hadn’t tasted any of the ingredients before, and he had the same problem every meal. All the food was so different from what he was used to. “Do we have any of that hamburger stuff left over?”
“Pizza’s better than hamburgers,” Xiam disagreed. “Yed, what’s wrong with your kid?”
Yed understood as he watched a lot of the warnos pick at the food. “Maybe there are some hamburgers. You kids do better with hamburgers?”
“I don’t mind this,” Carress said as she poked at it. “I guess.”
“Hamburgers it is,” Yed said as he went to go get the big platter left over.
“Don’t suppose you have a lot more?” Zaria had to ask.
“We’ve got tons,” Xiam said. “Show of hands, who wants a hamburger?”
Almost every one of them raised their hand.
“Not me, I like my pizza,” Muin grinned as she took another bite. “This is quite yummy. I mean, this is better than takeout by far.”
“Perks of being a chef, you can make good food out of anything,” Xiam said proudly. “Wait until I try desserts with Earth ingredients.”
“Now that is gonna be good,” Yed laughed as he brought out the hamburgers. “Want it warmed up?”
“Cold is fine, I'm used to cold food.” Tiger dug right in along with all the others.
Mental note. Start making hamburgers more often. Xiam smiled as he watched everyone eat up. He remembered briefly how thrilling it was to serve other warnos food in Vallencio's. He doubted a brick wall would even be standing where it used to be. He shook his head, a random thought of the past again. No need to focus on it anymore, he had everything he needed sitting right beside him. Not to mention the warmth and support of his loved ones again. He pulled out a mistletoe and gave Iridescent a quick kiss.
“Oh, don’t start that again,” Yed said. “We’re eating here.”
“Agreed,” Muin seconded him.
“I think it’s sweet.” Litalia disagreed as she pinched Yed’s cheeks. “You’d do well to follow his lead with that other girl you keep staring at.”
“What?” Xiam broke his kiss as he looked at Yed.
“Goodness, you’re always wiping your chin because you're drooling so much for her,” Litalia continued. “Just grab her and show her what you’re made of! Quit being such a wussy, Yed.”
Yed dropped his fork. “Mom?”
“Just saying the obvious,” Litalia said as she took another bite. “She likes you too, and I see how bashful she is around you.” She smiled. “Females like that are always the most surprising. Give her one honest kiss and maybe I’ll have another grandbaby on the way tonight.”
Yed choked as he shook his head at Xiam. Like he'd do something like that? “That’s not a funny joke, mom.”
“It better have been a joke!”
“Xiam,” Iri yanked her husband closer to her. “Your sister has amnesia right now, how can you even care about some joke?”
Yed cleared his throat. “I like the pizza better than the hamburger too, Muin, so don’t hog it all so much.”
“I like it too,” Phaver agreed. She stuck her hand in for one of the pieces, but Muin grabbed it. She looked over at the girl. “Do you mind?”
“I had my hand on it first,” Muin grumbled.
“Muin, knock it off. There’s plenty of pizza,” Yed said as he bit into his own slice.
Muin let the pizza go and stood up. She went off to her room fuming.
Zaria sighed. He stood up, leaving his meal behind. He went over by Yed and whispered into his ear. “You’re not making my job any easier Protector.”
Job? Yed watched as he went after Muinela. Really, getting upset over a piece of pizza. There was plenty of pizza left, what was her problem now?
“MUINELA?” ZARIA KNOCKED on the door. He went in as he felt the door open and closed it behind him. “You okay?”
Muin crossed her arms as she unwinded her frizzed up tail. “That Yed doesn’t even want me here, let alone be my brother anymore.”
Zaria sat down beside her. “Muin? It’s okay, he wasn’t choosing sides, he only thought it was a slice of pizza.”
“And she got it, because she is his sister. A no brainer.” Muin turned away. “I don’t even know why I let you in again.”
“You always did, and you always trust me. Instinct.” Zaria chuckled and tried to coax her to look at him. “Come on Muin. Have you been reading your Chronicle?”
Muin looked at the floor. “I asked to be his sister once when I was little, and he said I couldn’t be. According to what I read, we were quite close, but he never let me call him brother.”
“You were small, and you didn’t understand the meaning,” Zaria said. “You grew up though, past where you are in the Chronicle. You’ll find that Yed wasn’t exactly in a large part of your life after that.”
“I know he’s not my brother, I get it,” Muin sniffled. “Damn it, I always thought he was! I thought he was family. I guess now he's not.”
“Wrong.” Zaria lifted her chin gently. “You’ve spent a lot of years here as his sister, nothing can change that. He’s only paying attention to his real sister because he hasn’t seen her in a long time. He wants time with her, but when that’s over, he’ll come to you too. There’s no law that says you can’t have two sisters.” He chuckled softly. “Right?”
Muin rubbed her eyes. "He was always an insane dumbass running around in an institution. Damn it, I am not crying, not over freakin' Wye." She made a whining sound. “This is so stupid, how can I open up like this to you? How can Wye treat me like I don’t even exist? And why does X keep paying attention to his wife?” She stood up and rubbed her eyes again. “I’m going for a run.”
“Where to?” Zaria asked.
“Far,” Muin insisted. “Far. I don’t want this inhibitor keeping me down right now.” She came out of her room and went over to the door. “I’m going for a run.” As if anyone but that obsessed boy cared. She opened the door and headed out.
Zaria came out of her room and followed her. Not close, but her mind was fragile right now, only seeing pieces from a Chronicle. Last thing he wanted was her rejecting the power of the inhibitors altogether. He followed her down the block, down busy roads, down slower roads and after awhile started to giggle out of nowhere. He chuckled, feeling a ticklish feeling take over. They were getting too far from the inhibitor.
Zaria may have felt a tickling feeling, but he couldn’t help feeling something else as he watched his wife up ahead. The love of his life. Kissing another male.
“Get off of me,” the man said as Muin continued to hang on. "I'm not into midgets."
“Come on cutie, just one more kiss?” Muin held on tighter. "One date? Hell, one night, I don't care."
“Muinela!” Zaria grabbed her, threw her out of the creatures arms and hit the native in the face with all his might. ‘Mr. Handsome’ fell down with a thunk on the ground.
“Ow!” The hunk covered his eye. “What was that for?”
“You lay another hand on my wife, and you’ll get much more than a black eye!”
MUIN WATCHED THE SCENE strangely. She was harassing the guy, not the other way around. She walked away feeling uncomfortable at the moment. On the one hand, she felt more in control a second ago, but with Zaria’s feelings being shoved into that guy’s face, she felt shame and didn’t know how to handle it. She kept walking until she felt Zaria tugging her.
Zaria took a deep breath and exhaled. “What was that? Who was that?”
“I don’t know. Random guy I was harassing,” Muin gulped. “I'
m a weird midget girl with yella hair, I need to make the first move to get any notice on this planet.”
“I don’t care if you don’t remember me, but if I see you lay another hand on any other male like that again...” Zaria tried to find his voice. “I don’t know what I’ll do.”
Muin wanted to tell him to shove off, but as she saw the hurt in his face, she couldn’t do it. She felt herself getting pulled into his embrace, and for some reason, couldn’t reject it. In fact, it felt strangely cozy and warm. She felt her face become warm as he held her.
“Don’t do that again, promise me that you won’t.” Zaria pulled her face up toward him. “I love you Muinela, I always have. Even after all these years, nothing’s changed in my heart.” He stared at her face and couldn’t help but touch it tenderly. “I really want to kiss you.”
Muin didn’t know about that, and her expression said it all. She started to push herself away, but Zaria tugged her back.
“You kissed a complete stranger, what would one kiss hurt?” Zaria persuaded her. This time, Muin didn’t push him away as his lips lightly pressed against hers.
Muin just stayed curled up in the corner. Her mind only on the past. Only on the future that would never be...
And as nice as it would be to be hugged by someone, she couldn't. The moment someone else was hugging her, she wouldn't be able to deny what really happened to her husband anymore. When it was someone else's comforting arms wrapped around her instead of his, it would be over.
And she wasn't ready for it to be over.
Zaria heard Muin gasp loudly in the middle of their kiss. “Muinela?”
Muinela grabbed on tighter to Zaria. “I thought I’d never feel your arms around me again.”
Zaria breathed a sigh of relief as he held her tightly. “You remember?”
“Just...” Muin felt her voice getting hoarse and her mouth felt so dry. She licked her lips realizing they were chapped. “I was curled up in a corner, waiting and trying to accept that you weren’t coming back.” Tears fell down her cheeks as she laid her head on his shoulder and cried harder. “I thought you were dead.”
“I’m here though,” Zaria said as he squeezed her and softly rocked her. “I’ll never leave again. From this day forward, all four of us will be a family. Okay?”
Muin nodded her head and gulped. “I jumped up and down when I found out. I can't, it's too much. I've missed so much.”
“We won’t miss anymore.” Zaria said as he moved a strand hair out of her face. "Not one day more."
“Yed?” Phaver cleared her throat as she moved her piece in a game she was playing with her brother. It was a classic game using colors, to make it an easier transition. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure, Phaver,” Yed moved his piece. “What is it?”
“Did you really miss me and become a Protector to get me and mom?” Phaver asked. “All that, for us?”
Yed looked down at the game board. “Family is family, 'Millie',” he chuckled. “I really missed your annoying little whines.”
“Yeah, but I was gone for a long time.” Phaver moved her piece. “Did you replace me?”
“Replace?” Yed shook his head. “I’d never replace you.”
“That girl, Muin.” Phaver pointed out as she moved another piece. “She’s a lot like me. Did you replace her with me?”
“No,” Yed said as he heard the door open. “Muin is Muin, she’s not you Phaver. She is Xiam’s sister, and I grew fond of her.”
“She calls you her brother though,” Phaver pushed.
Yed groaned. “For like eighty years I was, okay? It didn’t mean I replaced you. Muin is Xiam’s sister and your mine, don’t worry, okay?” He heard the door close vaguely but didn't think much of it. “I admit, she is like a sister. In fact, she’s a sister and Xiam’s my brother. Even before Earth, I’d have to call them some sort of family. They were the closest thing I had. It doesn’t mean she or he or anyone else replaced anyone.” He moved his piece.
“She spent many years with you though.” Phaver moved her piece. “A lot of time I missed. She’s more of a sister to you than I am.”
“Hey, I’ve got two sisters.” Yed smiled. “You and Muin. Muin didn’t take your place, she has a different place like everyone else. So no worries, okay? I’m still your brother too, and I hope one day you two can get along.”
“Muin.” Zaria tried to comfort his wife again. Okay, this was getting ridiculous. They went briefly in to tell everyone that Muinela was remembering, but the first thing they hear is Yed saying she was Xiam’s sister. Muinela left immediately and Zaria followed. Again. “Muinela.”
“I told you.” Muin cleared her throat. “You heard it from him yourself, I’m Xiam’s sister. I’m nothing but a friend, I’m not even slight relation. We apparently never grew close enough on Earth or in the institutions. All of it’s fake and forgotten.” She closed her eyes. “I don’t care. I don't. Brother, friend, all the same...I'm a grown girl, I don't need a brother. Just another loss to add on. I’ve missed so much with you and the b-kids.”
“Muinela?” Zaria heard his angel’s voice. Maybe it didn’t seem like a big deal on the outside, but all 'M-Win' had known all those years were her brothers. No mom, no dad, and before she came back to Pagnia she'd only had a short term memory. So all she actually knew were X and Wye. So, it stung, and it was gonna be hard, unless he made it easier. “I understand better than you think. Do you want to find a place for our family?”
Muinela looked back at Zaria. “Whatcha mean?”
“If you want to work on your memory and our family, we don’t have to be here,” Zaria said. “Maybe when we have our family more established, you’ll feel better. After all, remember our little place?”
“It was two bedroom.” Muinela strained to remember until her memories of their abode fell into place. “One bathroom, one bath, beautiful pink tiling in the kitchen no one else had. A plush peach carpet and a gorgeous stained floor. It was small, but so homey.”
“You can make the next one homey," Zaria said. “What do you say? Do you want a place of our own? Everybody in one house makes it harder to communicate. There's so much going on in there, so it might be better for us to make our own.”
“I’ve lived there for a long time. Every time we came to our senses, that was our place. That was our home, Double Yella.” Muinela looked over towards her home, glowing brightly. “With the only two people I could ever know. Who both act like they are a thousand miles away.” She sighed and stared at it longer before looking at Zaria. “Can we?”
“Yeah,” Zaria nodded. “We’ll live nearby, like we did on Pagnia.” He gently grabbed her hand and caressed it. “You can see them every day, but we’ll have a place to call our own. Muiny, it’s time to build memories with someone other than them. Time to build some long term ones with me.”
“Yeah, maybe it's time,” Muin sniffled again and grabbed his offered hand into hers. “I really need a hankie, my freakin' mind is all over the place.” She watched as Zaria pulled one out for her and smirked. "Thanks, loverboy."
Muinela turned around and saw Yed. He didn’t seem so pleased with her idea. She had gone into the house and told them that she remembered, and everyone was thrilled. He was excited too, now maybe there was a chance she’d stop calling him Wye and give her family attention. However, then she told them that she was ready to find a place for her family. Okay, she wanted to give her family too much attention.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Litalia grinned. “If I knew how this world went, I’d leave too. It’ll be nice, now were down to nine warnos sharing space instead.”
“I don’t think it’s a great idea at all.” Yed looked over at Muinela with fatherly crossed arms. “You're getting your memories back and that's great, but moving away isn’t smart. It hasn't even been a month since we've come back home. What if your short term memory comes back again? Seeing Zaria and not me or Xiam, what could you do? You won't remember him, y
ou'll go out of control in confusion. Who knows what could happen?”
“I know how this world works and Zaria and the kids have transears,” Muin reminded him. “My mind is perfectly fine, and if I sense anything I'll come back. I want to spend personal time, one on one with my family. I’ll get to know them better away from here.”
“You can talk to them here,” Yed said as he pointed to the ground. This was ridiculous, Muin was not ready for that step. “Come on, M-Win? You'll be scared and confused if your memory shortens out.”
“It’s Muinela, Protector Yeducavich,” Muin said with venom. “Take care of you and yours, and I’ll take care of mine and myself.”
Yed didn’t think she’d actually want to leave that fast. Sure, of course, she had her own life, and she was bound to leave like everyone else, but now? “I still don’t get it.” He looked over at Zaria, and his down pointing finger switched to him. “Did you think of this? You did, didn’t you? I can tell, I can always tell.”
Zaria groaned. “Don’t start this again. We got past this years ago, Protector Yed. I will take decent care of my family.”
“You know, moving out isn’t such a bad idea,” Iri said as she looked over at Xiam. “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a place of our own again?”
“Well, we did have a nice place,” Xiam said. "We wouldn't hear yuck, ew or take it outside anymore."
“I call dibs on the yellow place near here,” Muinela smiled. “Other than that, I don’t mind if you copy us Xiam.”
“So we’re leaving?” Zar looked over at Cooey.
“Yeah.” Muinela looked over at Zar and Cooey. She barely saw them when they were born. Small, fragile, and living in that war torn world. She remembered all those days and nights feeling them kick inside of her. The pain she went through, just to have them ripped from her arms by time. “Zaria Junior?” He was tall, a trait after his father. She could see the resemblance, and noticed his similar personality. He was still different though, a different little boy than who Zaria had been. The world had toughened all the children up. “Are you ready to leave Tiger and Carress, and come with us?”