"Hitomi and Leena's Unusual Relationships" Tweet! Twelve young women lined up for brief inspection and roll call. With a whistle in her mouth, Leena K. crossed her arms and looked up and down the line. "We're going over the basics today," she told them. "A general Olympic-style exercise for everyone. That includes relays, ropes, bars, and basketball for today. I wish to God that we had our own pool, but we can do without it. Now I know that some of you feel that you can't participate in these exercises, and to that I say you should drop that idea. There's only one student in this whole class who has trouble with participation, but she and I have made arrangements to fit her needs." Katt Parkin blushed and looked away, and knew that a few of the girls stared right at her. Even the best of them hated a teacher's pet. "After we do our stretches," resumed the teacher, "we'll start with a few relay races. We'll work our way through the ropes, then we'll hit the bars and maybe have a basketball game if there's any time left. Katt, I've arranged for a short distance for you; you should be able to cover it." Parkin blushed again and wished everyone would not stare at her so much. The twelve girls were broken into three teams of four and were split up with one standing at each corner of the gym (except for Katt, who was closer between two good runners). Once Leena blew her whistle, each of the groups made a run for it. Since one group went at a time, it wasn't so much a race as it was a time trial. The relay left many breathless, but it hadn't been grueling. Leena let her students rest for awhile as she explained the next exercise, the ropes. Besides the obvious vertical climb, there were also rings and an overhead climb that hung above a safety mat. Most of the girls looked forward to this (sans rope burn), but Gabrielle turned green—and not the kind she was accustomed to. "Aw, shyte," she whispered under her breath. "Ropes! God in heaven, I knew there'd be ropes! I knew it! That's it; I'm gonna fail gym. I'll be a lark at parties, sure!" "What's wrong with ropes?" asked Ayanna, who had not yet been her girlfriend long enough to find out anything secret. Gabrielle groused. "I'm afraid o' heights. Last time I was more'n a head above ground was when I was a wee girl in Disneyland. Got stuck in a ride high off the ground and I bawled like a sissy. They couldn't never get me back up there again, not for a song or anything." "Oh... poor baby." Ayanna rubbed O'Shannon's back in sympathy, trying to soothe the nerve-wracked girl as best she could. Since Gabrielle's name fell around the middle of the alphabet, she had quite a bit to dread: the suspense kept building up. Leena and some of the other students were preoccupied with the climbers, however. "Great! Now don't slide back down, use your hands." The climber, the bubbly Ana Lu, whooped in excitement and shimmied back down the rope until she was jumping distance away from the safety mat. She let out another victorious howl upon touchdown and rubbed her weary arms and burnt palms. Gabrielle shuddered as her name came one step closer to being called. "Joss?" Jocelyn McKeough screamed bloody murder and nearly jumped half the distance of the rope as she attacked the challenge with all her might. Ayanna couldn't help but be impressed as she split her attention. "Look, just go a few feet and stop. How high can you go before you feel sick?" "Bout' the second story of a house," said the redhead. "I can climb stairs and take an elevator fine, and once I badgered meself into goin' up a third story buildin', but in those cases, I usually feel like I'm still on ground level. I can't stand it when it don't look like I got nothin' beneath me." Ayanna smiled very gently and kissed her cheek. "You'll do fine." "Aya?" "I'm up," she whispered, and Montgomery left her girlfriend's side. Gabrielle took in a deep breath and watched nervously as her brave girlfriend ascended upwards like an angel, then came back down. She had made it look so easy. Gabrielle knew she would have terrible butterflies long before she even touched the dreaded cord. Leena's next word sealed the deal: "Gab?" "Aw, hell." The poor girl swallowed and managed to walk towards the rope. She could touch it and hop up a few feet, but anything higher than a meter without solid support and... She shivered and tried to focus. Even Blake had managed to get all the way to the top, and she had depleted her meds for the week. Gabrielle could do the bars and she liked basketball, but those ropes... those damned ropes... it was all she could do to stop convulsing as she held the cord and shakily looked up. Crap, she thought to herself, that was damn stupid of me! Ayanna screamed out her support, and soon Janine and Blake were with her. Aintzane, who was studying Gabrielle for her homework in Madsen's class, voiced her support as well, and even Leena seemed to wish her well. Gabrielle pursed her lips and eyes, and managed to climb a few inches up. Her hands began to sweat with fury, and her legs wobbled as they lost touch with the ground. Her elbows shivered and a squeal of terror came from her throat. The poor thing was barely a few feet off the ground when she quit. "I know you can go all the way, Gab," said Leena. O'Shannon shook her head fiercely. "Look, I know you can do it. I've seen you do tougher things." "I can't! I'm afraid of heights! Anymore and I'll faint!" Leena sighed, feeling just a little frustrated. "Gabrielle, you won't fall. You've got four friends down here watching you and supporting you, and I'll catch you if you do fall. Just trust us and go on. I know you can do it." Again, she shook her head violently. "I can't! I can't even hold on! ...Ow! Shyte!" Cursing loudly, Gabrielle nearly screamed out loud as her hands slipped and burned from the rope friction. She finally let go and flopped on the ground, landing with a painless bump on the mat. She groaned in humiliation and tried hiding her red face. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," she said, over and over again. Leena sighed in defeat. "So am I. I can't give you a good grade for quitting." "But at least I tried!" shouted O'Shannon defensively. "That should count for something! It was dam' brave of me just to touch that thing!" Leena grumbled, but it was only by the word of Blake and Janine, who insisted their friend's phobia was true, that she got any kind of grade at all. Embarrassed and beaten, Gabrielle picked herself up and limped back to Ayanna, who embraced her with a quiet hug. "Hi, hon. How does a date sound?" she whispered. Gabrielle managed to smile. "Swell. Thanks." "No problem. You know, I think you did something really brave." "...Y-yeah, right." ............ Leena smiled and waved away her students as the last bell sounded. Some had not bothered to shower, while others would remain for soccer practice or other after-school activities. She saw Gabrielle and Ayanna walking off together, chatting; Furious Hail seemed very distant from Ivory, who had been cavorting more and more with Ancelin recently. Their politics were none of her business; she only watched them and hoped that they would make good decisions. She did not expect Kathlyn to stay after class, because she had noticed her leaving eagerly for several days. Curiosity was drawn out. "Is something the matter, Katt?" she asked, using the girl's informal name. Parkin shrugged meekly. "Uh, no... I'm kinda just waiting for a friend." "Oh. Well, I just asked because you usually seem ready to leave, like you don't like me or something." Parkin managed a weak laugh as she dismissed her teacher's prying voice. "Oh, it's nothing like that! I just... well, I like getting home before my brother does." "Matt, right?" "Yeah. He's staying over at a friend's house today." "So you can take your time getting home?" "Uh..." Katt fumbled for words for awhile, then murmured with a meek smile, "Oh, I'm going to a friend's house as well. Um, my parents understand." Leena shrugged again. "Anyone I know?" "Oh, um... I don't think so. Her name's... Danica. I've got a car, so I'm just waiting for her." Leena nodded again and was silent. Kathlyn fidgeted nervously. Did her teacher realize that there was no Danica, or was she just content to hear those jittery lies? She just seemed unaware, maybe "You're antsy!" she stated at last. "Sit down. Take a few breaths. You look more nervous than Gab did before she climbed the ropes. Go on, go get a drink at the fountain." "I'm all right," lied Parkin shakily. Leena frowned. "Oh, I don't think so. Don't get me wrong, I know when to stay out of my students' affairs, but... well, the things I've observed... Uhhh, Katt, this may seem uncomfortable..." Knowing where the older blonde was going, Kathlyn squirmed and tried to change the subject. "Uh, yeah... Say, um, I've been making some friends in soccer. I mean, I never thought I'd be good at any sport—" "I've seen you come to class with bruises." Katt was silent, Leena too. The girl's face was red. She took a breath and laughed. "Well, I am the team goalie." "Those aren't soccer bruises." Katt's chest throbbed with every beat of her heart. "I just bump into things, especially at my job. I work where I bump into stuff a lot. It doesn't hurt, it's just inconvenient." "Katt, I like you and respect you, and I always hope my students treat me the same." Leena put one impatient hand on her hip and looked at the younger woman very seriously. "I'm not naïve," she continued, "so don't treat me like it, and please respect my intelligence. I can tell what's going on. Listen, Katt—" "Leena, it's—" "You're not in trouble," she resumed, coming closer to her student. "I just want you to be frank with me. Is your brother hitting you?" "Matt? No, God no!" "Any of your other brothers? I know how tough it is being a girl in a houseful of boys—" "No, most are moved out or else they leave me alone," she whispered. Leena stepped very close, touched Katt's shoulder, and rubbed it gently. Parkin had to admit to herself that the nurturing touch felt quite good. "Is it your father?" Mute. "You can tell me, Katt. Look, I know that you're being hit, and it's by something with hands. I'm not going to accuse anybody, but if one of my students is being hurt, I'm going to intervene and help. It's my job." Taciturn. "Katt, please trust me." She squeezed her eyes shut, but didn't cry. "Not all the time." "You believe he might today?" She shook her head. "I can never tell. Sometimes... but yesterday he seemed really upset because of what mom was doing." "What does she do?" "Just work," sighed Katt, who had given into Leena's comfortable touch. "Work, work, work: two jobs she and all of us hate. Most of my family works and we're still in debt. How about that?" She chuckled a little and gently removed Leena's hand from her shoulder. "Look, I'll level with you. I don't have any friends. Whenever I think my father... is in a bad mood... I just find some homeless shelter to go to, or I go to work and stay there until it's time for school. It's not bad, and like I said, it doesn't happen all the time." Leena sighed. She had heard of girls like Katt before, even in Finland, but being raised in a loving home brought her away from actually meeting one. "But Katt," she whispered gently, touching both her shoulders now, "just once is too many times. You don't have to put up with it." "I know," she sighed, still not showing any signs of tears. "That's why I tell Matt to stay at a friend's, and I go somewhere else. I just run and hide until the storm's over, or if I have to, I just lock myself in my room." "And you're not disturbed?" "I've got good locks," she muttered with a grim smile. Leena drew in a very deep breath, looking up at the ceiling as if to consult the very Powers themselves. "Katt," she said at length, "I don't know what I can do for you, but if you don't think it would be too weird, you can stay in my apartment if you'd like." "Oh, really?" Katt's face practically beamed at the invite, and her mood swung back to the happiness it sometimes showed at strange intervals. Leena nodded. "I've got a nice couch, and while I can't promise anything big, or a fancy breakfast, at least you won't be in a shelter or... wherever you work. And you'll be early to classes." Kathlyn chuckled lightly, and since it did seem like the best option—and she was starting to like Leena as more than a teacher—she agreed. Leena smiled, as she was easily inclined to do, and led the younger girl to her car. When they arrived at the humble yet pleasant apartment complex and walked into the first-story door, Kathlyn Parkin realized that she had a crush on her own teacher. ............ Rather than going directly home, Lilian rode her bike to the park, carrying an umbrella and a large white beach towel. She liked the outdoors but was unfortunately restricted due to her condition; the sun usually started to burn her before an hour had passed. It was cool and cloudy that day, with barely any rays poking out of the puffy canopy, so Lilian would take the shaded chance and enjoy the weather before it turned cold. She brought her parasol just in case; the towel was so she could lie down without getting earth-stains. Living around a suburban-rural community didn't give her much of an opportunity to enjoy more than a few acres, and what was there really wasn't very enjoyable. The roads were paved, not worn by feet, and there was a shopping center not a mile away. The air wasn't always clear, and there was enough trash on the ground for it to count as a compost heap. Whatever was left of the creek was dirty and polluted, and cars traveled around and even on the grass. Lilian sighed. Some Americans could be so insensitive. In the mess and mangle of the park, Lilian found a pine tree she liked to shirk under and spread her towel out beneath it. She sat down and took a few breaths to enjoy the day. A car passed by, filling the air with smoke. Lilian coughed and cursed such foolish behavior. In the distance, people her age were playing frisbee golf, unaffected by the defecation around them. She ached to join them but feared rejection; she was socially inept and didn't exactly look like a normal teenager. Sighing again, Lilian tried not to contemplate the ugly fate given to her and managed to enjoy some part of the day. It would be winter before she knew it, and probably a long one at that. The cloudy shadows above didn't fade, and the rays of sun that poked out here and there became slimmer. The afternoon was waning and evening would soon approach; forecasters had seen rain for that night. Lilian didn't want to go back home unless it seriously started to pour, or else if the dark hours started to creep up. She distanced herself from home whenever possible, and some days she never returned at all. The pale young woman would've been more encouraged to do otherwise if Mother and Father Nachtheim concerned themselves over their daughter's absence, but... A shadow unlike one cast by clouds covered her. With such shade over her eyes, she could open them wide to see who was there. She smiled warmly as the person squatted down and joined her on the towel. It was Hitomi Madsen, out for a stroll. "Guten tag, frau Nachtheim," she said. Lilian's smile broadened. Her teacher knew a handful of German words and used them whenever she could if she was around Lilian. It made the young woman feel more relaxed and at home, even if the accent was funny or the pronunciation was off. "Hello, Miss Madsen," she replied back, making sure to do just the opposite. Hitomi grinned and sat next to her. "You don't mind, do you?" Lilian shook her head; her teacher let out a long gust of wind as she relaxed her body. She quietly pulled a half-empty pack of cigarettes and a matchbook from her jacket and put one in her mouth. "You smoke?" Lilain shook her head and Hitomi lit up. She drew in the tobacco and blew it out very slowly. "I try limiting myself to three smokes a day—morning, noon, and night. This is my last one. I used to be a chain smoker, but a friend helped me quit that. My ultimate goal is to get off completely, but... old habits." Lilian nodded, understanding what she meant. "Not easy to quit." "No, God no," murmured Madsen, inhaling again. "It's addictive as hell. I nearly had a nervous breakdown going from six to three; I can't imagine what one or none must feel like." Lilian was apparently content to just listen to her teacher speak; she never talked very much, even if her few friends were around. She had blushed a fraction when her teacher let a tiny word of foul language slip, but otherwise didn't mind. Hitomi noticed the reaction and grinned. "Oh... I tend to let bad words slip out now and then, but I'm very good at keeping it out of the way of business. You could say it's another ‘bad pleasure-habit' of mine, like smoking. It's something I need to quit, but I just can't. I know I sound hypocritical... but I'm not perfect." Lilian smiled. So, the woman she liked and respected was really not very different from anyone else—and here, certainly, she didn't have that commanding presence. Madsen seemed content to let her hair down (figuratively; she wore it down in class) and relax, even if it meant exposing her weak points. "I still respect you, frau Madsen," assured Lilian. "You can call me Hitomi, Lilian. We're not in class." "But is it not disrespectful for youths to address their elders like that? Or their teachers?" "Mm, perhaps," she shrugged, "but we're not in a formal setting. Would you think it weird to speak to me so casually?" "A bit, ma'am—erm, uh, or should I say, Hitomi?" The Japanese name sounded cute, and even more so coming through with a Teutonic accent. Hitomi laughed gently and flicked at her cigarette. "Whatever makes you comfortable, Lilian. I can call you Lilian, or would you prefer Miss Nachtheim?" The albino smiled humbly. Aside from a handful of people, nobody had ever really been that friendly with her. Even her parents rarely called her by name, instead choosing "young lady" or "daughter". "I would actually like to be called Lil," she whispered. Hitomi chuckled. "Then Lil, do you come here very often?" "Ja, all the time, whenever I can. I really do not like going home." "Why not?" She frowned and pulled her knees to her chest, hugging herself loosely. "My parents... I am sure they do not like me. My absence is not really even recognized. I can apparently come and go as I please, unless there is some stupid event that I am forced to come to." "Event?" Lilian casually told her teacher of her family lineage and status, and how she was often expected to attend many fancy socials, events, galas, concerts, and parties. She hated some of it, tolerated most, and only really liked going to musical or theatrical events, if and when. Hitomi Madsen seemed genuinely impressed. "Amazing. I never knew." "That's good. I'm afraid that people will treat me differently if they learn I'm famous or rich. I'm sometimes tempted to just tell them, if only for the attention, but I know it will all be false. This way is better." She loosened her legs and laid flat on the blanket, squinting against the milky sky. She stayed there in silence; Madsen didn't feel inclined to speak at all. At length she began to brush Lilian's long grayish-white locks with her fingers, giving some measure of comfort to the young woman. Lilian smiled and whispered something in her own language. "Hmm?" "I said that felt good." Madsen smiled and continued brushing the girl's hair, feeling it not unattractive at all. There was no doubt in her mind that Lilian was very beautiful, both outward and in, she just looked different. Maybe even that difference alone contributed to her attractiveness; monotony got ugly after awhile. At length, when the sky turned darker and the breeze became chill, Madsen stopped brushing and glanced at her watch. "As good an alternative to smoking this is," she said, "I must be off home. I've got lots of work to do, and I'm feeling hungry. Would you be uncomfortable if I asked you over to dinner?" Lilian sat up and nearly beamed. "I would love that!" she exclaimed. Hitomi chuckled at her sudden eagerness and stood up, helping her student as well. "All right. Are you sure your parents won't mind?" "No," she snorted, "not in the least. I've been away from home before; I will do it again. I could stay over and they'd never notice." "I don't know if that would be a good idea," murmured Madsen thoughtfully (even though she actually liked the thought quite a bit), "but we'll see. You can at least stay for supper." Lilian smiled warmly, and followed her teacher to her car, detouring only once to pick up her bike. ............ Lilian had always envisioned her teacher's house to be small, if not humble, perhaps built to suit only her needs and maybe a luxury once in awhile. She wasn't far off the mark. The fact that she didn't live in an apartment was a surprise, because she could've managed to squeeze all her possessions into a smaller place. She reasoned that Hitomi liked the extra room; being crammed in somewhere tight was never very fun. "What do you like to eat?" she asked as she and Lilian came through the door. Hitomi dropped her keys and mail on a cupboard and removed her shoes roughly, putting them on a small rack nearby. Lilian did the same. Madsen's small home was dimly-lit and didn't have a particularly great smell; it wasn't well-organized or clean, and not very colorful. This was where Lilian's imagination and reality parted ways—she had thought the opposite. "I'm in the mood for casserole," she said. There came a pause from her teacher. "I've got to warn you, I'm not fond of cooking and I can't do much outside the basics. Unless you're willing, I'm afraid you'll have to settle for something less." Lilian smiled and made her way into the kitchen. Being mostly independent led her to making meals for herself, and since she preferred reading to television, she had spent many long hours learning unique recipes for various meals that would otherwise have been simple. She volunteered for the act and set to work; Hitomi thanked her and turned on the TV. Lilian ignored the half-hour sitcom and fixed a crude casserole with the leftover ground beef, cheese, and bread crumbs she found. She could improvise when needed, and her teacher seemed to have more at hand than she gave herself credit for. By the time the end credits had rolled out from under the show's carpet, Madsen was completely relaxed from the stresses of the day and dinner was ready. "Oh, it looks good!" she exclaimed as she saw the spread on her humble table: Lilian had taken plates, utensils, and glasses and set them to good use, splitting them two ways for her and her teacher to share. She had manners enough not to serve herself until Hitomi took a piece (even though she was not the hostess), and Hitmi had manners enough to leave the television off. She quickly reached into her refrigerator and pulled out a green bottle. "Wine?" "Just a bit," replied Lilian. She added with a smirk, "After all, I am underage in this country." "Did you drink in Germany?" "Only during social occasions, when my parents permitted it. I will if you're offering; I'd just prefer something else." "A little wine'll do us both good," said Madsen quietly as she poured two glasses. She sat down and clinked her glass with Lilian's, and drank slowly. Lilian barely sipped hers, vying for a humble glass of water when she felt thirsty. The meal tasted as good as it had looked; Hitomi insisted on cleaning the dishes and asked Lilian to relax. It was not often that people treated the young albino so kindly, so "normally", so her guard was up a little bit in spite of how eagerly she embraced the safety and rest of the small loveseat. Being a bit unaccustomed to such freedom and goodwill, she was a bit shy about changing the silent mood. Luckily, it seemed both their minds were on the same tangent. "What sort of music do you like?" asked Hitomi from the kitchen. "Instrumental. I really like Wagner's works." "Oh. So I played the right thing on the first day of school." "Ja." Madsen chuckled very softly, and left the dishes in the washer while she joined her student on the loveseat. "I suspected as much," she sighed, "but it was also meant to be a general... feeling or term, or whatever. Music helps us dream, I think, so... it worked." "Do you have any others?" It didn't take her long to figure out what Lilian meant. "No, just that one. It's got quite a compilation, and I'm afraid to buy any others since they seem to carry everything else I have. Would you like to listen?" Lilian nodded her head. Hitomi got up (reluctantly), drew the CD out, put it in, and played it. Lilian recognized the music playing as something from "Lohengrin". Then, "The Valkyrie". After that, "Tristan and Isolde". It really was quite a mix. Lilian closed her eyes and kept them closed, letting the music take her to places only dreams allowed. If Heaven were anything like this experience, she was ready and willing; it was better than cozying up by a fire with a mug of cocoa (although she certainly wouldn't have been against that). Hitomi seemed absorbed in the music and stared absently at the wall, just as lost as her student was. She didn't notice young Lilian edging closer to her, until their bodies were in contact and her head was resting on her shoulder. Hitomi smiled warmly, and even though she knew she would regret it in the future, she put her arm around her student. Lilian sighed in contentment. The music came to an end after a long while, and neither had moved. Eventually, Hitomi drew in a deep breath and let it out. The last hour had been more intimate and personal than my nights and evenings with her previous lovers; it was something so simple that to cherish it was a prerequisite. Lilian had never looked happier—she had never been happier. She still looked to be in a euphoric state; Hitomi didn't want to break it. But the hour was late. She shook her student gently. "Lilian..." "Hitomi," whispered the girl very gently, "may I please stay the night?" A stab of love and terror, wickedly cold and beautifully warm at once, pierced Madsen's spirit. She desperately wanted to say yes, for truth be told, she had fallen for Lilian ever since taking that very first peek into her soul. She badly wanted the girl to stay over—that night and every night, safe in her arms and happy—but the businesswoman in her knew that it could not be. She was still her teacher, and probably at least ten years older. She swallowed and tried fighting off her weakness. "Lilian, you can't..." "Please? I do not want to go back home." "But you have to." "They don't care about me," she sighed, and to emphasize it, she clung onto the older woman's arm for dear hope. The stab grew worse; Hitomi felt a lump in her throat. She tried calming her desires by stroking the long braid of whitish hair and whispering. "Lil, you can't stay here the night. Even if I didn't mind, and I don't, it wouldn't be professional. In the morning, I'll still be your teacher." "I understand. Just tonight, then?" Hitmi frowned. Lilian sounded desperate, as if going back home would kill her—or maybe she only felt alive everywhere else. The teacher sniffed and shook her head. "Just tonight," she stated, "but..." And then, there was silence. Lilian's smile was warm, and her ruby-red eyes radiated love. Her heart seemed to shed off its burden, and felt light again. The simple gesture apparently garnished more thanks than Hitomi thought possible. She had never seen anything so beautiful before. Hitomi Madsen lost the battle with her sensible side and took Lilian's face into her hands, gently kissing her for as long as she dared. ............ Leena set her alarm to go off at six in the morning and stripped down to a white tank top and shorts; Katt settled for a T-shirt and her jeans. She had already thanked the older woman enough to embarrass her. The light flicked out and Leena was in the bed, covered by only a sheet since the weather was still warm. For awhile, there was silence as Kathlyn tried to adjust sleeping in the foreign yet comfortable place. "Katt," said Leena suddenly, "you don't snore, do you?" "I don't think so. Do you?" "I don't know. Would you tell me if I do?" "Mm-hmm, same here?" "Sure." Silence again. It was almost cute, Leena wanting to know if her rest would go disturbed or not. Then again, Leena could pass off as being a very cute person despite her age and build. She was anything but macho or butch, and could probably pass off as a ballet instructor, especially with her accent. Katt sighed. She wished she had gone to ballet classes, but her family... I'm glad I don't have to think about it here, she said thankfully. She smiled and tried to sleep, but even then she couldn't. Not a full meter away, Leena snoozed lightly, the only sound coming from her nose as it took in and expelled air. It sounded like she was still awake and not quite able to drift away. Kathlyn fidgeted and waved at her sheets as she tried to adjust her comfort, but something still bothered her. She sighed, and in spite of herself, went to resolve it. Leena stirred slightly as she felt her bed shake. She immediately tensed as she felt the presence of another in her bed. It was Kathlyn, practically sucking on her inhaler. In the darkness, she could only make out the younger girl's general appearance, but she looked distress. "Yes?" said Leena quietly. Kathlyn's blush was covered by the darkness. "May I... um... share your bed?" "You said I should have it. If you want it, I'll take the couch." "No..." Katt nudged herself in and cuddled close to Leena, feeling herself become oddly more comfortable. If anyone in the whole wide world could be a protector to her... "I just need someone to hold me," she whispered. "I've never been held all my life." Leena's heart went out to the poor girl, so she automatically drew her into an embrace and kept her there. Kathlyn Parkin quickly faded into Nippon. She had never slept more soundly or more peacefully since then; she knew now that she could be at peace, and could find someone strong enough to help her, hold her, and love her. Maybe even all three at once.
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