Zaria hung back while the others rushed down the path leading into the park. The idea of seeing trees and large, flat green areas froze her muscles for only a moment. There was no endless rain, or fear of someone tracking her through the mud. It was a different area. A different world. Still, there were enough similarities just being out in nature that she could not match the enthusiasm of the three first time world hoppers. She did not begrudge them their enthusiasm. It had been at least a half of a year since any of them had seen more trees than what still lined the occasional street back in their home. So much green, she wondered what they were all thinking and felt a twinge of jealousy toward their joy.

"Oh it feels so nice out today! The sun feels so good!" Cathy stretched her arms toward the sky. It looked less like a stretch and more like she was trying to grab the sun and hug it. "Don't you just love this kind of weather! A little cold, but the sun kisses you and you feel warm again!"

"It does feel very nice out. Does it get very cold around here?" Zaria was unsure how to deal with such a cheerful person. She could not think of anyone she had known in any world that put out so much relentless cheer.

"Oh it does! It's the best part of living here, how all the weather is just perfect every time it changes! Just think, by the time I have my baby there might be snow on the ground!"

Zaria looked helplessly at Gu Cheng, unsure what to say. So. Much. Cheer.

"You mentioned your father, would that be Speaker Vlachos?" Gu Cheng took Zaria's chilled fingers and stuck them inside his coat pocket with his own hand to warm them. She shook her head with a shy smile, wondering if he would continue to act so affectionately in City C. His image as a cold CEO would be ruined.

Unaware of the small drama playing out behind her, Cathy spun in a circle with her arms out to the side, smiling up at the sky. "Yes! It is a serious and stuffy job, but please don't think him too boring! He is a good person and only gets boring when it is for the benefit of us all!"

"I..." Zaria had no idea where to go after that giddy admission. Luckily Rika had slowed down to let them catch up and overheard part of the conversation.

"And your husband is Speaker Vlacho's assistant, right? Does all of your family work for the government?"

"That is all the family that I have, until this little one comes out to greet us," Cathy looked at the shorter woman with a warm smile. "My father was right! You are really very pretty! What is your name?"

Rika looked frantically at Zaria, clearly flustered. "I am Rika Saito, Saito is my family name. But I am sure he was not speaking about me..."

"Shiny black hair like a raven's wing! I am sure it was you! He said there was a woman who held herself with a quiet dignity, just like my mother used to. She was a human too! She passed away when I was a child, she accidentally got pregnant again somehow and her body couldn't take it."

Zaria watched as Rika turned bright red, her hands waving in front of her and dropping again before she bowed quickly and ran off after the boys who had just disappeared around a bend in the path. "I do not believe I have ever seen her so flustered before. It is good to see. Everyone had a really bad time in their world, we lost people before escaping, and her group lost many before we joined them as well. I don't think she has seriously thought about the idea that she might have the opportunity to hear that someone thought her pretty again."

"Did I say something inappropriate?" Cathy looked back and forth between Zaria and Rika, her face twisted up in panic. "I would never force her to consider my father as a potential husband, I just was so happy that he had described her as he did! He has not noticed a woman or man that way since my mother died. Please tell her that I meant nothing by it!"

"It is alright, really. I can't speak for how Rika saw your father, or what she is feeling right now, but I would imagine that she is feeling shy more than anything. Maybe a little guilty that so soon after the loss of two of our friends she is considering that her life will be getting better. Guilt is powerful. But you said your mother was human? I am sorry, we really don't know anything about your world at all, apparently. Everything is different than the stories that filled my world so far."

"Yes, she was human. How exciting to meet someone whose world is so different! Not that I dislike my own world, there are so many things to love. But there has been some unrest recently. I suppose that is why I'm thinking of my mother so much lately. Human men who fall in love with Sanguine women do not have any of the difficulties that come when the genders are reversed..."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, I am sorry! I have been bringing sadness into our time together! I am sure my father would be able to explain things if you would like him to. Part of his job is being able to say things in ways that won't make people unhappy. Not all of our representatives have the age and skill to be able to do that. There is so much passion in all of us, but sometimes it can come out in angry, or aggressive ways..."

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

She shivered inside of her coat, smiling brightly again. "My father was hoping that you would all join him for dinner tonight! That was part of why I was coming to see you all! He did not mean to overhear, but he was certain that he heard your friends speaking Japanese and there is a new Japanese restaurant that just opened up recently! Not that it will be the same as what you are used to, I am sure, but it will be most assuredly delicious!"

"I...I am sorry, I am trying to keep up, please be patient with me," Zaria struggled to keep the smile on her face. It was nice seeing someone so cheerful after so much darkness, but it would take some getting acclimated to. Like getting used to living in the tropics after spending your whole life in the frozen tundra. "How would we get a hold of him to find out where and what time?"

"...Oh, spar-" With comically wide eyes, the sanguine slapped her hand over her mouth. "My language! So rude! It's this pregnancy, I sound so rude, don't I?"

Zaria shook her head, her brows furrowed in confusion. "I feel like I understand half of what you have said, to be honest. It will get easier as I get used to things. It's not your fault." She hurried to console the other woman, watching as her face fell almost to the protruding belly below.

"I have made your stay uncomfortable, I deeply apologize. I promise to make it up to you! You can ask me anything that you want! No, wait, you should wait until you have talked to my father first. He might explain some things better, with less rough slang."

"I...okay? But how do we get ahold of him?"

"Spar-" a hand slapped over a mouth again, a more good humored eye roll with it. "Sorry, I brought you some telephones, but I was so excited to see everyone that I left them in the car. Can we get them when we get back?"

"That would be fine, and appreciated," Gu Cheng said smoothly , squeezing Zaria's hand in his pocket. "We can likely figure out how to use them if you have other things to do."

"Oh, no! Nothing at all!" Cathy swung her arms cheerfully once again. The bounce in her step made the heels of her bold red boots double-click against the pavement. "If my husband had his way, I would be at home all day long every day, probably laying in bed! This is wonderful, getting out and meeting new people!"

Ahead of them, trees and shrubs angled back away from the broad path, stopping abruptly on both sides to show a large field full of laughing people. Balls flew extraordinary distances between people, a simple game of catch if done by Olympic level athletes. The others of their group stood huddled on the side of the path, faces turned downward toward some common point. More than one set of shoulders was shaking subtly.

"Are they alright?" Cathy whispered the question, showing a lot of discretion for someone who seemed to joyfully bounce into every situation.

"Mmm, their world was a dead world. I can only guess when they last saw this many people alive and having fun. Let's give them a moment."

The trio bringing up the rear of the group moved off to the side and stepped into the grass to give other walkers and runners more space. Random questions were thrown out from both sides, nothing too serious and nothing that would likely be asked again at dinner that night. They learned that the eye searing colors and combinations were a world wide thing. Not a trend, really, just how everyone had dressed for hundreds of years. Bright colors were a sign of life. Poisonous animals was mentioned but Cathy shook her head and cocked it to the side quizzically. "Oh, no, animals that are dark or monotone are the poisonous ones. They are the ones that evolved to look less appetizing."

A few minutes later, the teenagers expressed that they were ready to return. Noses were red, but they all pretended it was from the cold. Hideki hung back to whisper to Zaria. "I'm sorry, it is all a little too much right now."

"No, don't apologize. I didn't think it would hit me this hard, either, and I was not in your world to see the worst of it. There will be other days. Healing takes time." As she said the final words, Zaria knew she was saying them to herself as much as to him. It was easier to say them to someone else. In her mind, she wondered, "Why is it so hard to accept that? He wouldn't heal from a broken leg in a day, why would a broken heart, or broken mind be any different?" The thought was much heavier than it seemed, and she rolled it around in her head during the walk back.

A trim woman in magenta colors that made her espresso colored skin glow stopped as their group passed her going the opposite direction. Her nose was up in the air, as though scenting something. Bold lavender eyes with thick black eyelashes looked out at the group from above strong cheekbones before settling directly on Gu Cheng. She changed direction and walked directly up to him, ignoring his cold expression.

"You are my mate."

Zaria's hand was released from inside of the pocket a moment before Gu Cheng's strong arm went around her shoulders, pulling her close. "No, I am not your mate," he replied, in the coldest voice that Zaria had ever heard come from him. The little signs of warmth that had begun to show on his face since they talked things over back in Zombie Tokyo were gone.

"Yes, I can smell it. Your magic calls to me." She stepped closer, nostrils flared and eyes half shut. Zaria squeezed the hand that was gripping her shoulder, hoping that he would not freeze her in front of everyone.

"I already have a mate."

Striking eyes flicked toward Zaria before dismissing her immediately. "That is not your mate. I do not mind that you had a plaything before you met me, but I can smell that you are not mated to her. Give me your telephone number."

"Why would I give my information to some garbage I saw on the side of the road? I. Have. A. Mate."

With that, Gu Cheng pushed Zaria forward, ignoring the eyes that were narrowing at the petite girl in his arms. Rika tried to look everywhere else, but the other three were staring at the show like they wished they had popcorn and seats to take it in better.

"Speaker Andrews daughter thinks she is your mate?" Cathy asked, looking back and forth between them.

Zaria felt a glare like lasers skewering her through the back. "Well," she muttered to herself. "I guess I know where the drama is going to come from in this world..."