Who are the Real Monsters? by: Elsbeth Ken Umeki will learn that not all monsters come out at night.

Normally I couldn’t imagine Katie getting me ready for bed. Something she hasn’t done since I was about nine years old. Today, I couldn’t imagine her not helping me. “You need to take off your bra luv; you’ll hate yourself in the morning if you sleep with it on.”

Frowning, I took off the dreaded thing much more easily than putting one on. Well Katie had me practicing taking it on and off after dinner so perhaps it would be less of an issue in the morning. “Geez, these things have a mind of their own.” At least when the girls were wrapped up, so to speak I could almost forget about them. Yes, I’m still in denial.

Smiling, Katie handed me a blue and white flannel nightgown.

“Kind of old fashioned.” Slipping it over my head, I admitted it felt nice and toasty.

“We’ll get you some other things on Monday, unless you were planning on sleeping in a t-shirt.”

“No the nights are too cold here, this is fine.” Convincing myself that I was actually just wearing a long shirt, I sat on the bed.

“Now sit still luv, while I comb your hair.”

She told me that this was going to be a nightly thing. I had other ideas. “I was thinking about chopping it all off. Get one of those cute Japanese School girl haircuts.”

“You so will not, I forbid you.”

Turning around I looked at Katie and smiled. She gave me the evil eye then stuck her tongue out at me. We then both began to giggle. Already giggling and I haven’t been a girl for even twenty-four hours.

“Still we should get you into Salon.”

“Can’t I just go to ‘Ye Olde Cuttery’?” Aya took me there before the fateful wedding; it was your typical barbershop. The store was an institution and it even has one of those cool old fashioned barber poles.

“I hope you were kidding.” She paused brushing my hair for a second. “I would like to get you into ‘Eve’s Touch’ on Monday. It’s fairly new. It would be nice to take your cousins there as well as a treat for helping you shop.”

Yay for me; shopping but then again I had absolutely no clothes. “Do I really need that many clothes if I am just going to turn back into a boy?”

Katie leaned forward and placed her head on the back of my head. “Luv, you want my advice?”

Something told me that it wasn’t something I really wanted to hear. “OK.”

“Prepare to stay a girl. If you happen to switch back than fine but you’re putting too much hope in switching back. If you just accept it, it will be better for you and frankly a lot more fun. If you do manage to switch back, it will be a priceless learning experience.” Katie also didn’t sound sure that I would be switching back anytime soon. Sitting back, she began to braid my hair.

“Man, this sucks.” I mumbled. I knew she was right. “That’s what I get for running through that stupid forest.”

“What did you say about the forest?”

“Nothing.” Crap.

“You went through the forest didn’t you? What part of ‘don’t go near the forest’ didn’t you understand?” Aya said angrily from the doorway. I wasn’t sure how long she had been listening.

“Do you think that’s what happened?” Deciding that I needed to come clean, I told them about my woodland adventures.

“You should have said something before, luv.” Katie rubbed my back.

Aya looked like she was about to burst something. I hated not living up to her expectations. Tears began to run down my face. Crap, I did this to myself. “I’m sorry. Do you think if you told grandma it would help her find a way to switch me back?”

Aya smiled sadly and sat down next to me on the bed. Reaching over she wiped the tears from my eyes. “If we had known before, maybe, now I don’t know.”

The three of us sat in silence for a few moments. “Aya, why was I put in Ren’s room and not here in the main house?”

She seemed surprised about that question. It had been bothering me all day. “Your mother thought that you and Ren were friends. She hoped that the pair of you would get along.” Aya then smiled. “Your mother also thought that two boys would be more comfortable wallowing in each other’s filth.”

I laughed. That sounded like my mother. “Didn’t really work out as planned, did it?” Although lately we seemed to be getting along better, I wondered if it would have eventually worked out.

“No it didn’t.” She sighed. “I’m sorry for that, now as for living in the main house, your mother, as you know has certain expectations on how Umeki women should be treated.”

“And how they should act.” No wonder everyone been treating me like my mother or grandmother.

“It’s also because you’re going to be high maintenance.” Katie interjected playfully. “Where are we going to put all of your new clothes?”

“What, I’m not high maintenance. How much clothes are we talking about here?” Suddenly I remembered how many bags of luggage my mother carries with her.

“All Umeki women are high maintenance.” Katie laughed.

Slipping under the comforter after the rest of my nightly chores, I looked up at Katie. Aya had already left, gone off to terrorize a small village or something. “Thank you for today; if you weren’t here I think I would have gone insane.”

“No luv, you wouldn’t have, you’re strong. You always have been strong.” Tucking me in as if I was small child, she kissed me on the cheek then left my bedroom. Sleeping in million-count sheets was a nice improvement as opposed to listening to Ren’s snoring. After the day’s adventures, I was asleep as soon as I hit the pillow.

As usual, Katie was right. If I had put all of my energy into the off chance that the next day’s performance would have turned me back into a boy, I would have been very disappointed, or worse. Now I was only mildly irritated and felt better after cursing the stupid forest a dozen or so times. Once I decided that was enough, I ended up having a rather nice day. My Aunt and Aya kept me in the Izumo-ryu- Kagura costume for most of the day. They had me sitting in front of the Shrine, sipping tea and speaking to a number of important families that my Aunt knew. As the leading member of the Umeki family on site, it was my responsibility, as Aya pointed out.

At first, I was terrified positive the other woman would oust me as an imposter. Then a thought occurred to me. While still in costume, all I needed to do was to play the part. Depicting a Japanese noble woman a number of times already in dance roles, and remembering how my mother portrays herself, I just fell into character. Moving slowly, smiling, speaking a certain way seemed to work and by the end of the day, I did it without much effort. The approval in Aya’s eyes made up for the disappointment I saw there last night. I shot myself in the foot on this one though. As it was my first real public appearance as Kimme Umeki, I was now expected to act like this all of the time, at least in public. Also looking the way I do now I mentioned that I would prefer if people didn’t know I was once Ken. Aya quickly pointed out that Ken would never act the way I did today so there would be no confusion. I hated it when Aya made sense.

“School?” And here I was having a perfectly nice dinner when Aunt Rika had to bring it up. “Like I am now?” Everyone in this room was out of their freaking minds, including me.

Aunt Rika gave me a sympathetic smile. “Your mother believes it’s in your best interest to continue your studies. Also she doesn’t want you to spend your days ‘sulking’.”

“Close your mouth dear, it’s very unladylike.” Aunt Naomi said as she set down a small salad with ginger dressing in front of me. At least I got most people to stop calling me Kimme-sama in private. It was getting rather annoying.

“Am I going to take the same classes?”

“Some, I spoke with the Principal today, your transcript and schedule will be changed to reflect your new status.”

Well, my family never had a lack of money to throw around to fix things. “So what, do I do just walk into school in Tuesday and pick up my new schedule?” How weird was that going to be? I get to be a new transfer student again but this time as a girl. Actually, I plan to have a nice quiet nervous breakdown when I get back to my room.

“Aya will be driving you back and forth from school for now on. She will help you on the first day with registration. Like Katie, she also will have other responsibilities; one of them will be to see to your safety.”

Great I have a minder. Being a member of the Umeki family there was always a threat for kidnaping; my mother usually has several assistants tending to her every needs. However, I see my mother’s hands manipulating this one. “No offense Aya, but why does mother think I need a minder? I’m seventeen not twelve.”

“I think I can jump in for this one.” Aunt Naomi said. “If I were in your mother’s shoes I would be worried that you might need help dealing with the public. She’s just concerned for your safety, dear.”

I could see her point, the thought of going clothes shopping was freaking me out. At least if things get really bad and Aya was there, she could at least cut our way through to the parking lot. “Well, OK for now. Aya, if possible I would like to call my mother tonight.” Having no idea whether my mother meant well or not sometimes, it was necessary to tell her to back off. We might not always get along but I was somewhat hurt she hadn’t called me yet.

After dinner with the food barely digested, Aya dragged me upstairs. “Workout clothes?”

“When was the last time you ran?”

Scratching my head, I nodded. “Point taken but I can’t wear this.”

“Meet me downstairs in fifteen minutes.”

Grumbling and taking two stairs at a time with Katie right behind me trying to set my hair, I found Aya.

“The Lokta Jacket is really nice but these shorts are…”

“Fine, come on.”

“You do have nice legs, luv.”

Roiling my eyes, I grimace. “Thanks.” The two of us took to the road with me at the lead. We soon were running my normal route away from the inside of the forest. I’m surprised that only after two days, I’m already comfortable enough with this new body to run with no problems. Not even giving it a thought, I quickly fall into my zone with Aya running next to me. About two thirds into my run a familiar street caused me to stop.

“Sile!” How could I forget? She couldn’t just be told that Ken went back to Hawaii. It wasn’t right. She needed to be told in person.

“Who’s Sile?” Aya asked coming to a halt.

“My girlfriend.” Watching the street, I crossed it and headed towards a familiar home.

“Kimme, you can’t speak to her.” Catching up to me, she grabbed my arm.

“No Aya you are wrong. She is not going to be told by some text message that Ken went back to Hawaii.” This was the story, Ken got sick on Wednesday and was sent back home. “I’m his cousin right? Well then, I’m going to tell her myself.”

“I don’t approve.”

“I don’t need your approval.” At that point, I realized I didn’t. I wanted to meet her expectations of me but I didn’t need her approval. She worked for my family. I would have to answer to my parents not her. Anyway, she knew me well enough already that I wasn’t going to run away from this one.

She stared at me for a moment then smiled. “Fine, Kimme-sama, you’re your own woman.”

“I’m not particularly happy to hear that but thanks. “ Returning the smile I cross the lawn and knocked on Sile’s door.

Moments later, my white haired goddess appeared. Giving me a strange look she inquired. “Yes.”

“Hi.” Nervously I greeted her. What am I going to say, I’m sick to my stomach about the whole thing. I so wanted to tell Sile the truth but it’s not possible. “I’m Kimme Umeki.”

“You’re Ken’s sister?”

“His cousin.”

“I see.” She continued to stare at me as if she was seeing right through me. “Is Ken OK?”

Shaking my head, tears started to come to my eyes. “No. He got sick and had to go back to Hawaii. I’m sorry.” Visions of Olina came to my mind. I then started to really cry.

“Oh sweetie.” Sile moved forward and wrapped me in her arms. Looking up she finally got a good look at Aya. “Who are you?”

Stepping back, I rubbed my eyes with my fingers. “Sile, this is Aya she is my…”

“Warden, I see.”

Aya eyes shot open. The two women stared at one another. I took a step back confused.

“Kimme-sama, I think it’s time for us to leave.”

“Kimme, right.” She reached over and held my hand. “Let me get your number so we can keep in touch. I would
like to be kept abreast of Ken’s illness.”

“Sure.” Reaching for my pouch, I pulled out my cell phone. At that point, I realized that Ken and Kimme both had the same cell phone. Sile gave no notice.

“Thank you for coming over, it was really nice of you.” Sile hugged me again. “I know that’s you Ken.” She murmured. “Call me later and tell me what’s going on.”

Shocked I stammered. “I’m sorry.”

“Hush…ma belle petite amie.” She kissed my neck away from Aya’s eyes.

Sile waved as we departed. “I’m sure we will be seeing one another again Kimme. Maybe we’ll have a girl’s night out.”

“Next time you will listen to me.” It was all Aya said but it didn't answer my questions. What's a Warden and why did Aya get so angry. Moreover, how did Sile know I used to be Ken.

Nina Ombre drove her black Lexus RX350 down the busy street of Skogshaven. With ‘The Necropolis’ closed because of the Founding Festival, she decided to attend some of the closing parties. A good place to get something to eat but no she was trying to find a tree in a town full of trees. Pulling over, she carefully parked her car. “Stupid chica…where are you hiding?” With no one in sight, she leaped up towards the nearest tree branch. It would have been quite the feat if she was human, but she wasn’t.

Listening to the wind, she could hear a young woman’s voice filling the night’s air with the melody of The Moreen. “Damn, she’s in a mood.” Leaping down from the tree branch, Nina quickly passed through the night finding the person she was looking for.

“So chica, why did you pull me out of a perfectly good party?” Nina sat across from Sile, who much like Nina could pass for a shadow. The tree branch they shared was a good twenty feet off the ground.

The white haired Vampire pointed to the enclosure in the distance. “What do you see?”

“Is that the Shisaa family enclosure?” Nina turned her head. “Did you really drag me away from dinner to show me this?”

“Stupid putain of course not.” Sile made a face. “I’m calling in a favor you owe me. I need you to find out everything you can on the Umeki family.”

“You know there is a thing called the internet.”

“Stop being so helpful, I need you to put Pavel on it.”

“I see, well it still won’t clean the slate.” Thirty years ago, her sisters were hunting a Deviant Vampire in the streets of Paris. It had not gone well. If it wasn’t for Sile showing up unexpectedly to help with her magic, they all would have been dead. Sile had been an unexpected player in keeping the Paris Pax. “I pay my debts, little sister. “ Nina looked at the enclosure once more. “It’s about the boy isn’t it?”

‘Yes.”

“He sort of reminds me of Phillip.” Nina said sadly.

“I know.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Dropping off the branch, Nina disappeared into the night. Above the trees, she could once again hear The Moreen whispering in the wind.

Authors Notes: A special thanks to djkauf for a little elvish editing. If you like the story please leave a Kudos, if you have the time I would love to hear from you. Thanks to all for reading! - Elsbeth

PS Click The Moreen if you wish to hear what Sile is humming.