"Aqwyn…" Vira sat on the window sill in her pixie-form, staring at the reflection within the glass, hoping that the royal headmistress would answer.
She could see Kai in the reflection too, sitting in front of his computer, sifting through images, searching for inspiration. It was late, hours after work, yet he felt compelled to continue his assigned project, even at the expense of his free time. Clearly, he had a sense of purpose now, but whether it was motivated by the job itself or by the hope of capturing Catherine's attention—the godmother couldn't say.
"Aqwyn, are you there?" She whispered.
"I am here, Sister," the reflection changed, and the violet-eyed fairy appeared in the window.
"What you said the other day about Kai's personality remaining the same…" The fairy godmother spared her godchild a worried glance. "What if it is true?... How do I teach him there's more to love than his own shallow understanding?"
"Surely you've taught godchildren such things in the past."
Vira sighed. "I have, but I never had to face that much resistance, and if nothing else… all of them believed in true love."
"I see…" Aqwyn looked past her sister, considering the Oathless.
Then, there was a knock on the door.
"Kai!" Vermallelia called, sitting up in his bed, awakened from her nap, but he couldn't hear her through the music in his headset.
The knock came again.
She considered opening the door herself but was too wary of how other people might react to seeing her, so instead, she smacked the headset off his head.
"Ouch!"
"There's a knock at the door."
"Ah." He got up to open, disappearing down the hallway. Vermallelia heard the click of the lock and an exchange of words, then the smell came in, causing her nose to wiggle happily and her mouth to salivate.
"There is something you could try…" Aqwyn said hesitantly.
"Oh?"
"You could try giving him what he wants."
Vira's eyes went wide. "You mean allow him to indulge in his lust? With that Catherine woman? How would that help anything?"
"Either he falls in love with her and begins to want more from their relationship, or he turns miserable, despite his carnal desires being satisfied, and learns the value of love."
"And if he doesn't?"
Kai re-entered the room carrying a pizza box, and laid it on his desk.
Vermallelia licked her lips and reached to open it, but he swatted her hand away. "Hey! You're supposed to share."
"I'm done sharing with you," he said, his face set.
"Haeh?!"
"What if…" Vira continued as they argued. "What if he finds contentment in such a loveless, salacious relationship?"
"That's heresy, Sister," Aqwyn grimaced. "Happily Ever After is founded upon true love, and the latter requires a spiritual as well as an emotional connection, not merely a physical one. Without true love, the Oathless could never be happy; no one could."
Vira scowled. "Then why are we—"
"Stop!" Aqwyn cut her off. "I know what you want to say… But you're getting close to redeeming yourself, and I won't have you ruin it all by spewing blasphemy in a moment of weakness."
The fairy godmother pursed her lips. "Yes, Royal Headmistress, you are right. I'm sorry."
"Stay strong, Sister. Give the Oathless what he wants; let him learn that it is empty and meaningless, then lead him to the righteous path."
"I will," Vira said, her eyes cold. "Thank you for your guidance."
"Godspeed, Sister," Aqwyn said as her reflection faded from the window.
"What do you mean you're done sharing? I clean, and cook, and do your stupid laundry—I deserve a slice," Vermallelia shook her head. "Scratch that, I deserve the whole box."
"Then, go get one yourself," he crossed his arms.
"And how do you expect me to do that?"
He shrugged. "There's one in the kitchen."
Her eyes went wide, then narrowed. "If that's supposed to be some clever way of telling me that I should go bake one, I swear I'll claw your eyes out!"
"Only one way to find out," he smirked and gestured toward the kitchen.
The rat-girl pouted and reluctantly made her way there.
Kai waited, his smirk spreading into a smile.
There was silence for a long moment; then she poked her head out.
"There's another box," she said coyly.
"Yeah."
"And… it's for me?"
Kai's smile widened.
She blushed despite herself. "Why?"
"You helped me a lot the past few months…" He blushed, too. "I wanted to show you how much I appreciate it."
"You could've just told me you got me another one…"
"And miss out on your tantrum? Not a chance," he took out a slice of pizza from his box and dug in.
"Fugly, idiot." She pulled herself back into the kitchen.
"Hey, I resent that," he sat down at his desk. "I lost a lot of weight."
"You say with a mouthful of pizza," she retorted.
"It's my cheat day," he protested.
She scoffed. "Your entire life is a cheat day."
"Whatever, vermin-loli."
Vira smiled as she saw them move to lie on the bed side by side, each with his own box, eating pizza and trading jabs while watching an anime on the computer monitor. She could not help but wonder if maybe... her godchild wasn't a lost cause, after all.
***
"I'm stuffed," the rat-girl sighed as the BLOODRAGER episode ended.
Kai looked over. "You ate like two slices."
"I'm small, unlike you. Two is all I need."
He shook his head. "It's almost midnight; you should run away into your hole before I step on you by accident." He picked up the boxes on his way to the kitchen.
"Wait, don't throw it."
"Throw away pizza? Who do you think I am?" He put the remaining slices in a plastic container and shoved them in the fridge, then folded the empty boxes into the trash can. "It's in the fridge. You can have it later."
"Good," she got up and stretched. "Vira, could you turn me back?"
"Of course, little helper," the fairy godmother flew above the rat-girl and cast a spell, returning her to animal-form in a flash of red light.
Kai caught a glimpse of the white rat scurrying off as he returned to the bedroom and was about to go brush his teeth, then head to bed, when he heard another knock on the door.
"Who the hell?" He turned and walked to peer through the eyehole when the knock came again—more aggressively this time, fists pummeling.
"Open up, you dweeb. It's me."
"Ugh…" he groaned and unlocked the door.
"Took you long enough." The woman pushed her way in as soon as she heard the click. She was dressed in a long beige coat, a black T-shirt underneath, and a tight pair of jeans.
"It took me five seconds."
She ignored him, moving down the hallway, her high heels knocking against the floor. "I hope for your sake you didn't touch my room, freeloader."
"Why would I? You've got nothing I—"
"I'm starving. Is there anything to eat?" She entered the kitchen. "And don't say 'instant noodles.'"
"Like I'd share my food with your stupid face."
"If you bought it with Dad's money, it isn't really your food, is it?" She scoffed, then opened the fridge, and her face contorted with confusion. "Is someone else living—" she turned to him, seeing him for the first time since she entered, and was stunned.
He had lost a lot of weight, gotten a haircut, worn clean clothes, and his fridge was stacked with vegetables, fruits, eggs, and milk. The container of cold pizza—which she had expected—suddenly seemed out of place, and the lack of energy drinks didn't escape her notice, either.
"Who are you and what have you done with my brother?" she asked.
He flipped her off.
"Ah… Kai, there you are." She smirked. "I almost didn't recognize you with all that healthy food in your fridge."
"What are you doing here, anyway? Did you catch your husband cheating again?" he asked, then scoffed as her face darkened. "Did you?"
"That's none of your business," she pulled out the pizza container.
"Hey, I was saving that."
"What did I tell you?" She poked his belly with the container. "If you bought it with Dad's money, it doesn't—"
"I bought it with my own money," he snatched it from her hands.
"Since when do you have money?"
"Since I got a job."
"Working at the grocery store?"
"No, I—" he paused. "Where I work is none of your business."
"Well, if you are so proud and independent now, maybe I should tell Dad you don't need his help anymore."
He stiffened. He did make enough to survive on his own, but he didn't want to lose the safety of his father's aid, not unless he had to. On the other hand, he couldn't cave in front of her…
"Fine, go ahead, tell him. But if he isn't paying rent, you'll have to find another place to hide from your husband."
Her face darkened again, and she went quiet.
Kai remained tense, nervously expecting another insult that he would have to counter.
"So that's it?" she said meekly, twirling a strand of curly hair with her finger, her brown eyes cast down. "Are you just gonna let your sister starve?"
He felt bad suddenly, which wasn't fair—she started it. "You can have whatever you want," he opened the fridge and returned the container to its place. "Except the pizza."
"Protecting your pizza at all costs." She held the door open when he left it. "You really are my little brother."
"It's not for me; it's… for a friend."
"Friend? Didn't know you had any." She took out a couple of apples.
"Ha, ha," he responded dryly and went into his bedroom.
"So, that's your older sister…" Vira whispered to him. "What was her name again?"
"Emi." He shut down his computer, then headed to the bathroom.
"You two don't seem to get along very well." Vira followed him.
"She has always been Daddy's special girl. While I had to work my ass off and become a lawyer, all she had to do to win his approval was marry one. Girls have it so easy."
"Easy? Didn't you say her husband cheated on her? That doesn't sound like she has it easy."
"Yeah, well, at least she has someone." He rubbed some lotion on his face.
"With a spouse like that, it would be better to have no one."
Kai shrugged. "She could divorce him if it bothered her so much, but she doesn't… you know why?"
"Because she still loves him, despite his flaws?"
"Ha! Good one."
"Why then?" She balled her hands at her hips.
"He made her sign a prenup."
"I don't understand."
"If they get divorced, she gets nothing: not the money, not the house, not the car… maybe the children—if they had any."
"You think she stays with him purely because of that?"
"Ah, yeah, of course. If she left him, she would have to find another husband, or worse—actually make something out of herself. And who would want to marry a divorced woman anyway? Nah, she will stay with him until the day she dies… no matter how miserable he makes her."
"And what about any of that sounds 'easy' to you?"
He opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened again. "At least she has someone…" He started brushing his teeth.
Vira scowled. He wasn't getting it… maybe there really was no other way; maybe she had to give him what he wanted—so he could see for himself how torturous a loveless relationship could be.
"Did your parents not love each other?" It occurred to her to ask when he was done.
"They… Ah…" he stammered at the question. "Dad was rarely home, so… I don't know…"
"Kai?" Emi called from her room.
"What?" He left the bathroom and returned to the hallway.
She opened her door, peeking out sheepishly. "Are you coming home this year?"
"Ahh…" The earnestness of the question caught him off guard. "Maybe."
"I think Dad would like it if you did… it had been a long time since the two of you saw each other."
He lowered his head. "Yeah… alright, I'll think about it."
"Good," she smiled and closed the door.
He sighed and was about to go to sleep when he suddenly heard her scream. "Emi?" He tensed as he heard something break inside her room. She must be in danger, he thought, but his legs wouldn't move. I have to—
She burst out of the room. "A rat!" She pointed behind her, then ran into the kitchen. "I think I saw a rat!"
"Ah…" Kai relaxed.
"You gotta capture it and kill it, before it runs away." She returned with a skillet and shoved it into his hands.
He blinked at her. "What?"
"Go! Go! Be a man for once," she pushed him into the room, then came after him, leaping on the couch to get a bird's-eye view. "There, it just went under the closet."
"Emi, calm down."
"What do you mean, 'calm down'? Stop lazing about and start killing!"
"I'm not going to kill her, she is my…" he paused, not sure how to refer to her. "My pet."
"What?! Don't be stupid. Just man up and kill this thing!"
"No, I'm telling you—" he clicked his tongue. There's no point, she wasn't listening, he would have to show her.
Kai put down the skillet on the coffee table and bent beside the closet, careful of the shattered glass on the carpet.
"It's okay, ah… Vermallelia, you can come out." He lowered an open palm to the ground and saw the rat's whiskered snout peek from the shadows. "Don't worry," he smiled. "I won't let the crazy lady hurt you."
The white rat came out slowly and climbed onto the Oathless's hand.
"You see, I told you," he turned around to face his sister. "You can calm down. She's my—"
"Hold very still," Emi had stretched from the couch to grab the skillet while he had his back turned, and now held it high above her head. "This might hurt, but whatever you do, don't let go." She swung at his hand.
He reeled back. "What are you doing, you lunatic?" The terrified little rat squealed, climbing her way up his arm to nest on his shoulder. "I told you, she is my pet!"
"Bullshit! If she's your pet, then why is she running around my room in the middle of the night?"
Kai side-eyed the rat. "Great question. I'd like to know myself," he mumbled under his breath. Vermallelia shrank into herself.
"And where did you get that rat, anyway?"
"Ah… at the pet store?"
"Oh yeah? And where are you keeping her?"
"Ah… what do you mean, 'where?'"
"An aquarium? A cage? A goddamn shoebox?"
"Ah…"
"Do you really expect me to believe that you bought a rat at the pet store and then set it loose to roam the house?"
Kai held his mouth open, searching his mind for any explanation that could be considered even remotely plausible, but nothing came out.
"Are you insane?"
"I'd have to be to do what you suggest I did."
"What?"
"Yes," he nodded. "I am insane, you found me out."
The woman face-palmed and sighed. "Just get it out of my room."
He lowered his head and did as she asked.
***
"That was a close one, what were you doing in her room anyway?" Kai asked, and placed the rat in the sink while he dug a folded pizza-box out of the trash. "I am locking you up for the night." He punched some holes into the lid with a sharp knife, then grabbed the rat by the tail as she attempted to flee. "Oh, no, no, you earned this one." He dropped her into the pizza-box. "Stay!" He closed it on top of her, then took it to his room, placed it beside his bed, and put a dumbbell on top to prevent her from opening it.
Maybe I should get her an aquarium or something, he thought, and snuggled into his bed.