The week spent at his mother's came all but to an end too soon. Sora bid his mother goodbye, laying in her comforting embrace before they departed back to the Academy. He was a bit upset that he was leaving, but nonetheless smiled. He at least had his new family to go back with. Hikaru, Shizuka, and Nicole. His smile brightened at that thought alone. Nicole had become such an important figure in his life now, so quickly, that he wasn't sure he could understand a life without her now. After everything she was put through, what they went through together, here they were still standing beside each other. He was also pleasantly surprised that Shizuka and Hikaru seemed to be on better terms.
They were not arguing or fighting as much as they once had, and Sora couldn't help but think of positive things of the situation. Perhaps with more time, they might even laugh, but that was a thought for the future. Their plane made an abrupt landing in London due to weather conditions, forcing the four of them to take up residence in the terminal until the weather cleared. Sora had leaned in his chair, holding onto his balance by the table with his foot as he pet Kira. She had taken to laying in his lap as the group had picked up a spot in a secluded part of the terminal. He could hear the humans whispering about of their group, how attractive they all were, but he paid no mind to it.
Living as long as he had, he was well aware of the allure vampires, and apparently Shizuka, had to the humans. Vampires, he could understand, were more graceful, elegant, had an air of just something out of reach, but Shizuka? He glanced sideways at her, meeting her mahogany eyes with his amber ones. She narrowed them at him, raising a brow in confusion as he just shook his head. Perhaps it was the unapproachable rigidness she held that drew them in. She was certainly an attractive woman in her own right, but not nearly so as vampires held. And he let his eyes soften as they landed on the one woman who would be his own.
His thoughts were shaken when Nicole stood up abruptly, Kira lifting her head as well and releasing a soft hiss. He tilted his head in confusion at the situation until his eyes landed on a woman. He rose a brow at the woman. She looked familiar, sharing in qualities of Nicole. Was this someone related to her? Shizuka furrowed her brows at the newcomer, however; she remained in her seat, unfazed of what was to come. It was then that Nicole answered the hidden question on both of their minds, causing Sora to tilt his chair back too far and falling backwards. Shizuka snickered at his misfortune, however; he recovered quickly and returned to his chair, his eyes still wide.
It was Nicole's mother, and from what he could hear from the conversation, she was asking for help. Nicole came back to the group, stating that her mother would be joining the group. Sora could see the frustration rolling off in waves from Nicole, and he made to stand, however; Shizuka beat him to it. She could smell the stress of everything weighing down on Nicole, and Shizuka didn't like it. The scent was unbearable and she wanted it to end, so she did the only thing she could think of. She grabbed Nicole's arm and pulled the girl towards her, wrapping her arms around the girl's shoulders in the process. She wasn't quite aware of how to give a proper hug, and she was trying her best to comfort the girl. Shizuka wasn't one for comfort, however; this was Sora's fiancee, and in some odd way, her own friend.
A hug, while desperately needed, was also completely unexpected, especially from Shizuka. For a few seconds, Nicole could only stand there, in shock, a perplexed expression on her face, when suddenly she giggled. Shizuka let go of her, and Nicole had to sit down abruptly before she lost her footing because she was laughing. She wasn't even sure why, but she knew it felt better than the frustration she felt towards her mother. After half a minute of uncontrollable giggling, she finally managed to compose herself. "Thanks, Shizuka...I needed that."
Shizuka frowned slightly when she released Nicole, and the girl burst into fits of laughter. Did she do something wrong then? She watched as Nicole sat down abruptly, still laughing like a maniac. Sora only smiled at the confusion laced on Shizuka's face before he joined in the laughter, though his was a bit softer and hardly noticeable. She sighed roughly through her nose and sat back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest in the process. She puffed her cheeks out somewhat before she turned her attention towards Nicole. It was then Nicole expressed her gratitude. Shizuka sighed softly, allowing a smile to plague her lips momentarily.
"You're welcome, but don't expect another one any time soon," she retorted, the smile never leaving her lips. Sora just shook his head. It seems that the two of them were getting a long better than he had originally thought. And that thought made him happy. If they were getting a long, though she might not have forgiven her quite yet, it was still the first steps to doing so. In due time they could be perhaps extremely close friends, and that was something he was counting on. Shizuka was a fierce friend, and he knew he could rely on her to protect Nicole should something happen to him. She wouldn't allow her friends to be hurt, and he had appreciated that over the years.
After a few seconds more, Nicole sighed softly. "Frankly, I didn't expect it in the first place." she told the other girl with a small smile. She then turned to Sora. "Well, I've met my future Mother-in-Law. Ready to meet yours?"
Sora was taken back by the sudden question and he coughed nervously in his hand. Sure, she'd met his mother, but honestly, after what transpired between Sebastian, he wasn't sure if he really was quite ready to meet her parents once again. Though her mother had not physically been there, he had heard enough from Nicole to understand why she wasn't particularly fond of the woman. That in turn, caused him to be hesitant to meet her, however; there was no going back now. And it was far too late since she was here. Taking a deep breath, he forced a smile on his face.
"Well, it'd have happened sooner or later I suppose," he replied with a light shrug of his shoulders. Though it was true, he would have met her sooner or later, and though it was much sooner than he would have liked, regardless, it was happening. "Are you going to keep her away from the group or are you going to introduce her to us?" he stated, glancing over her shoulder to gaze at Michaline, who still kept her distance from the group.
Nicole shook her head. "Nope, this is a two on one thing. Come on." Nicole then stood up, dragging Sora with her over to where Michaline was now seated, leaving Shizuka and Hikaru alone. Michaline looked at them both with a shadow of something across her face. It was something that Nicole couldn't place. Hope? Sorrow? She gave up trying to figure it out and instead spoke. "Right. Sora, allow me to introduce my mother, Michaline Edyta. Mother, this is my betrothed, Sora Akarui." While she said this a bit stiffly, her mother actually managed a smile.
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Sora. I will apologize on behalf of my husband, your meeting with him was not overly...welcoming." Nicole had to hold in a snort. That was an understatement. "Introductions was not the only reason I brought you over here alone. As it so happens, I'm sure you surmised that my mother came to me for help. Now, I'm turning to you. My mother is pregnant, and not by my father. You can imagine what sort of situation that will put us all in if she comes with us. Frankly, I'm not entirely sure what to do."
Sora let out a startled yelp when Nicole dragged him away from the table, shooting the others an apologetic glance as he followed behind Nicole. Her mother sat, a solemn look upon her face though she tried to smile at the both of them as Nicole introduced him. He offered a smile in return, though he could see something flash behind Michaline's eyes. He couldn't exactly deduce what it was, however; it wasn't his concern.
"Like wise, Mrs. Edyta," Sora replied as she spoke. "Your husband is of no concern to me, so do not apologize on his behalf," he replied, sighing softly through his nose. It was then Nicole began speaking, and he furrowed his brows. A child from another vampire wasn't exactly a favorable thing in the community, and was frowned upon. Depending on old customs, if the husband so chose, he could have his wife condemned to death. And that was something neither of them could really do anything about.
"I am sure you are aware of the law, Michaline. If Sebastian so chooses, your life would still belong to him regardless. There really isn't much we can do about it to interfere. That being said, however," he paused, running a hand through his blue locks in the process. "It seems that Sebastian really isn't a favorable person. I cannot say for certain what will be in store for us, however; my family comes first. If something were to happen to any of them, Nicole included, do not think for a moment I will not hesitate to give you back to Sebastian," he stated. Those his words were harsh, he meant every word of it.
Nicole, Hikaru, and Shizuka were his family. Should Sebastian even think about harming them, he would give Michaline back to him without a moments hesitation. Though he had no doubts in his mind that he, or even Shizuka and Hikaru, could easily dispose of Sebastian, Michaline meant nothing to him, regardless if she was the mother of his betrothed. And that was all that he harbored for the woman. She was nothing more but the one who gave him Nicole. He wasn't going to sugar coat anything for her.
Michaline offered Sora a wan smile. "I completely understand that, and that is why I did not come to you. Besides, I'm sure my daughter feels the same." Nicole frowned slightly, but otherwise nodded. "I do. Sebastian disowned me. Blood or not, you are no longer considered my family. Sora, Hikaru, and Shizuka, however, are my family. I will protect them before I protect you." She sighed through her nose, the intercom above them signaling that their plane had come in.
"If you're coming, I won't stop you, so long as you understand the stipulations." Michaline nodded, an odd little smile on her face.
They were not arguing or fighting as much as they once had, and Sora couldn't help but think of positive things of the situation. Perhaps with more time, they might even laugh, but that was a thought for the future. Their plane made an abrupt landing in London due to weather conditions, forcing the four of them to take up residence in the terminal until the weather cleared. Sora had leaned in his chair, holding onto his balance by the table with his foot as he pet Kira. She had taken to laying in his lap as the group had picked up a spot in a secluded part of the terminal. He could hear the humans whispering about of their group, how attractive they all were, but he paid no mind to it.
Living as long as he had, he was well aware of the allure vampires, and apparently Shizuka, had to the humans. Vampires, he could understand, were more graceful, elegant, had an air of just something out of reach, but Shizuka? He glanced sideways at her, meeting her mahogany eyes with his amber ones. She narrowed them at him, raising a brow in confusion as he just shook his head. Perhaps it was the unapproachable rigidness she held that drew them in. She was certainly an attractive woman in her own right, but not nearly so as vampires held. And he let his eyes soften as they landed on the one woman who would be his own.
His thoughts were shaken when Nicole stood up abruptly, Kira lifting her head as well and releasing a soft hiss. He tilted his head in confusion at the situation until his eyes landed on a woman. He rose a brow at the woman. She looked familiar, sharing in qualities of Nicole. Was this someone related to her? Shizuka furrowed her brows at the newcomer, however; she remained in her seat, unfazed of what was to come. It was then that Nicole answered the hidden question on both of their minds, causing Sora to tilt his chair back too far and falling backwards. Shizuka snickered at his misfortune, however; he recovered quickly and returned to his chair, his eyes still wide.
It was Nicole's mother, and from what he could hear from the conversation, she was asking for help. Nicole came back to the group, stating that her mother would be joining the group. Sora could see the frustration rolling off in waves from Nicole, and he made to stand, however; Shizuka beat him to it. She could smell the stress of everything weighing down on Nicole, and Shizuka didn't like it. The scent was unbearable and she wanted it to end, so she did the only thing she could think of. She grabbed Nicole's arm and pulled the girl towards her, wrapping her arms around the girl's shoulders in the process. She wasn't quite aware of how to give a proper hug, and she was trying her best to comfort the girl. Shizuka wasn't one for comfort, however; this was Sora's fiancee, and in some odd way, her own friend.
A hug, while desperately needed, was also completely unexpected, especially from Shizuka. For a few seconds, Nicole could only stand there, in shock, a perplexed expression on her face, when suddenly she giggled. Shizuka let go of her, and Nicole had to sit down abruptly before she lost her footing because she was laughing. She wasn't even sure why, but she knew it felt better than the frustration she felt towards her mother. After half a minute of uncontrollable giggling, she finally managed to compose herself. "Thanks, Shizuka...I needed that."
Shizuka frowned slightly when she released Nicole, and the girl burst into fits of laughter. Did she do something wrong then? She watched as Nicole sat down abruptly, still laughing like a maniac. Sora only smiled at the confusion laced on Shizuka's face before he joined in the laughter, though his was a bit softer and hardly noticeable. She sighed roughly through her nose and sat back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest in the process. She puffed her cheeks out somewhat before she turned her attention towards Nicole. It was then Nicole expressed her gratitude. Shizuka sighed softly, allowing a smile to plague her lips momentarily.
"You're welcome, but don't expect another one any time soon," she retorted, the smile never leaving her lips. Sora just shook his head. It seems that the two of them were getting a long better than he had originally thought. And that thought made him happy. If they were getting a long, though she might not have forgiven her quite yet, it was still the first steps to doing so. In due time they could be perhaps extremely close friends, and that was something he was counting on. Shizuka was a fierce friend, and he knew he could rely on her to protect Nicole should something happen to him. She wouldn't allow her friends to be hurt, and he had appreciated that over the years.
After a few seconds more, Nicole sighed softly. "Frankly, I didn't expect it in the first place." she told the other girl with a small smile. She then turned to Sora. "Well, I've met my future Mother-in-Law. Ready to meet yours?"
Sora was taken back by the sudden question and he coughed nervously in his hand. Sure, she'd met his mother, but honestly, after what transpired between Sebastian, he wasn't sure if he really was quite ready to meet her parents once again. Though her mother had not physically been there, he had heard enough from Nicole to understand why she wasn't particularly fond of the woman. That in turn, caused him to be hesitant to meet her, however; there was no going back now. And it was far too late since she was here. Taking a deep breath, he forced a smile on his face.
"Well, it'd have happened sooner or later I suppose," he replied with a light shrug of his shoulders. Though it was true, he would have met her sooner or later, and though it was much sooner than he would have liked, regardless, it was happening. "Are you going to keep her away from the group or are you going to introduce her to us?" he stated, glancing over her shoulder to gaze at Michaline, who still kept her distance from the group.
Nicole shook her head. "Nope, this is a two on one thing. Come on." Nicole then stood up, dragging Sora with her over to where Michaline was now seated, leaving Shizuka and Hikaru alone. Michaline looked at them both with a shadow of something across her face. It was something that Nicole couldn't place. Hope? Sorrow? She gave up trying to figure it out and instead spoke. "Right. Sora, allow me to introduce my mother, Michaline Edyta. Mother, this is my betrothed, Sora Akarui." While she said this a bit stiffly, her mother actually managed a smile.
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Sora. I will apologize on behalf of my husband, your meeting with him was not overly...welcoming." Nicole had to hold in a snort. That was an understatement. "Introductions was not the only reason I brought you over here alone. As it so happens, I'm sure you surmised that my mother came to me for help. Now, I'm turning to you. My mother is pregnant, and not by my father. You can imagine what sort of situation that will put us all in if she comes with us. Frankly, I'm not entirely sure what to do."
Sora let out a startled yelp when Nicole dragged him away from the table, shooting the others an apologetic glance as he followed behind Nicole. Her mother sat, a solemn look upon her face though she tried to smile at the both of them as Nicole introduced him. He offered a smile in return, though he could see something flash behind Michaline's eyes. He couldn't exactly deduce what it was, however; it wasn't his concern.
"Like wise, Mrs. Edyta," Sora replied as she spoke. "Your husband is of no concern to me, so do not apologize on his behalf," he replied, sighing softly through his nose. It was then Nicole began speaking, and he furrowed his brows. A child from another vampire wasn't exactly a favorable thing in the community, and was frowned upon. Depending on old customs, if the husband so chose, he could have his wife condemned to death. And that was something neither of them could really do anything about.
"I am sure you are aware of the law, Michaline. If Sebastian so chooses, your life would still belong to him regardless. There really isn't much we can do about it to interfere. That being said, however," he paused, running a hand through his blue locks in the process. "It seems that Sebastian really isn't a favorable person. I cannot say for certain what will be in store for us, however; my family comes first. If something were to happen to any of them, Nicole included, do not think for a moment I will not hesitate to give you back to Sebastian," he stated. Those his words were harsh, he meant every word of it.
Nicole, Hikaru, and Shizuka were his family. Should Sebastian even think about harming them, he would give Michaline back to him without a moments hesitation. Though he had no doubts in his mind that he, or even Shizuka and Hikaru, could easily dispose of Sebastian, Michaline meant nothing to him, regardless if she was the mother of his betrothed. And that was all that he harbored for the woman. She was nothing more but the one who gave him Nicole. He wasn't going to sugar coat anything for her.
Michaline offered Sora a wan smile. "I completely understand that, and that is why I did not come to you. Besides, I'm sure my daughter feels the same." Nicole frowned slightly, but otherwise nodded. "I do. Sebastian disowned me. Blood or not, you are no longer considered my family. Sora, Hikaru, and Shizuka, however, are my family. I will protect them before I protect you." She sighed through her nose, the intercom above them signaling that their plane had come in.
"If you're coming, I won't stop you, so long as you understand the stipulations." Michaline nodded, an odd little smile on her face.