She smiled warmly at both of them and nodded. "Your quite welcome! Its my job to be a good hostess. Speaking of which, I have something to show you Howard. I hope it will be good enough for you to work with."

Kyou got up, stretching a little and started walking to the bar, when she heard a mew from behind her. She turned around and Blade was sitting on the floor staring at her with wide eyes. For some reason the little cat shifter had become quite fond of her. It wasn't hard to guess why. The little one was actually a mere child. When Kyou had found her, she was sitting in the street in her semi-human form. Seeing a 10 year old little girl who had silver ears and a silver tail sitting in the cold streets was heart breaking. So she had taken her in. Blade never spoke though. And when she had turned fully cat a few days ago, she didn't tell Kyou why. But that was alright.

She bent down to look at Blade and rubbed her ears. She had seen Leona transform, and trusted her to take care of Blade, which was something she normally wouldn't do. She looked up at Leona and smiled.

"I have a favor to ask of you. Will you take care of little Blade here for a few minutes? I'll be right back." The last part she said to both Blade and Leona.

Howard smiled brightly. "You need not worry Miss Kyou, I have worked with desert before... it was challenging. but you know, I do love a good challenge," he added, and had a slight grin as he pondered the prospects. He really did enjoy gardening after all. It was relaxing, and more than a slight rewarding as the garden started to sing.

He really did love listening to the plants, the songs and the stories they would eventually tell of their travels within Gaia.

Leona nodded. "Gladly!" she replied with a wink. She looked towards Blade and smiled brightly. "I'll take care of her to my fullest abilities, you can count on me!" She gave a light salute, then gave a slightly serious smile. "You needn't worry," she added. "You two go have some fun eh? Go see what kind of magic Howie can cook up for ya!" Leona then looked towards Blade and waved again.

"Hope ya don't mind me watching ya for a bit while they go out," she added towards the feline.

((Yes, yes I was VERY shocked to see Blade! :3))

Kyou nodded her thanks to Leona and waved a little to Blade before leading Howard behind the bar, through the kitchen, and out the back door. She paused for a moment and looked back at him.

"This area is going to be yours and yours alone. You can do whatever you want with it. Consider it a gift. Even for someone as good as you, I know it will be a little tough. Feel free to take your time. Now then. Here you go!"

With that Kyou stepped aside. The courtyard was surrounded by her bar, which was actually bigger than it had seemed from the outside. Her bar and inn wrapped around itself in a big O and in the middle was the courtyard. In the middle was a dried crater where the pond had once been. Around it was dried dirt and sand. It was a depressing looking area, which is why she normally didn't let people back here. But she had faith that this stranger could fix that.

------------------

Blade sighed softly, her ears going back against her head as she stared off in the direction that her friend had gone. Kyou was like her adopted mother almost. She loved her. And she hated to be apart from her.

She looked up at Leona and quirked her head to the side. She was curious as to what that lady could be. She had become a cat, but she didn't smell like cat shifter. She smelled like something else. It was all very odd and confusing to her. She layed down on the ground and stared after Kyou.

((I thought you might like that sib. She hasn't made an entrance in a loooong time. I surprised even myself by making her a child though.))

Howard's eyes widened a slight, and his grin. I believe I can. But I need to know soemthing first," he added. "You see, I hear the whisperings of life beneath... perhaps dormant seeds. And I need to know if they will allow for this. A mere moment please." He took in a deep breath, stepping outside into the middle of the area, and started to sing. A rich tenor voice, one could almost feel the magic it contained. The magic that was singing to the plants buried below. A moment later he stopped, nodding to himself.

"Thank you so much Miss Kyou! They informed me of their delight and... and truly this is a gracious gift! I shall do my best to make this the best garden in the city! Perhaps even better than my last..." His eyes reflected sadness a moment at the mention of his old garden, which the city had burned saying it reeked of Howard's "witchcraft." He remembered the cries it had made. but he shook his head, promising that would not happen here. No way.

-------------

Leona shifted into a housecat once more, an orange one with brown stripes and white underbelly. She smiled brightly towards Blade. "Bet you're probably wondering what the heck I am huh?" she asked, giggling softly. This all she spoke in a feline tongue. "I probably smell funny!" She paused, giving a feline smile.

"I'm a chaos elemental. Kinda lost from my original place in time... so I wander. It's kinda lonely from time to time, but then I see cute little faces like yours and it's okay! I am quite happy to have met you Blade!" she added, purring a slight to show she meant it.

And I know... you're probably thinking what a wierdo I am right now huh?" she added, laughing softly.

((I wondered about that, but she is so cuuuute! :3))

Kyou smiled happily and nodded to Howard. "I'm glad you approve. I'm sure you'll make a garden that everyone will come to see. It will be a garden known for its beauty. You can work on it whenever you want. Its yours now."

She was just as happy as him to know that this little piece of dried land would see life again. It had been so long since she had seen grass and flowers and trees and life! Much of the city was like this now. But things were about to change. One corner of the world at a time would be changed by Howard. She knew it was possible.

Another thing she knew would happen, would be that people would want the things that he would grow. If he sold any of the plants or any flowers or fruits, then he could make enough money to get back on his feet. She wanted to take care of him.

---------------

Blade looked at Leona and cocked her head to the side. She was still a little confused about her. After all, she was still a child. But she didn't say anything. Even though she knew Leona would understand her, she still didn't speak. Her reasons were all her own though. She loved Kyou all the more, that she never once tried to make her speak.

But she did like Leona. She was a friendly person, cat, creature. But she didn't know how to act. She had never had another cat be nice to her. Kyou was pretty much the only one who ever cared.

Howard blushed brightly. "Thank you once again Miss Kyou," he replied, bowing deeply. "I sincerely appreciate this, I will not let you down!" He seemed positively beaming with happiness now, quite excited to say the least! In his mind, he was already picturing the steps he would take, what would go where, what he needed to get, and how he would work with the dormant plants already here.

"Back home, I was a master gardener," he replied. "It had been my passion ever since I was little! I cannot tell you how much this means to me!" This place... it would sing! Howard was certain of it! He could just about dance he was so happy, and it was quite a refreshing change to see so much life in the mage.

-------------

Leona sighed softly, then smiled again. "You don't have to say anything," she commenting, padding over towards Blade and gently nuzzling her cheek. "It's okay! Folks say I do enough talking for a small herd!" She giggled softly, purring with delight.

"Besides, your eyes say it for you," she added with a wink, and a twitch of her whiskers. She really did the small kitten would take well to her. Leona loved cats, she really did. And she loved people in general. She could be a bit much for some, but hoped that wasn;t the case here! Thankfully, it did not seem to be as such.

((Haha, wow, fishing really pays off once you hit the 350 mark! o.o))

((Yes it does sib. Now, I'm going to bed. I'll reply tomorrow at some point ^^))

((Alrighty then, have a good night! *Wavies*))

She smiled widely and patted Howard's shoulder. "Your very welcome! I know you'll do a wonderful job. This will be a beautiful place once you're through with it. I'm sure of that. I'm going to leave you too it now, and go check on the other two. Have fun!"

Kyou patted his shoulder again and went back through the door and into the bar. She smiled at Leona and Blade and bent down to look at the both of them.

"Have you two been getting along?"

Blade looked up at her and mewed softly. She seemed happy. It seemed that she liked Leona. She mewed again and then sat up. She closed her eyes for a moment and a small flash of light covered her small body. it was bright for a moment and then as it faded, Blade sat in her human form, her silver ears and tail flicking slightly.

In her human form she was small and dainty. She wore a very poofy white dress with little red ribbons and black lace on it. In her platinum blond hair a red ribbon was tied and a black rose was tucked through the bow. Her bright red eyes looked up at Kyou and for the first time in a long time, she spoke.

"I love you miss Kyou," she said softly.

"Not to worry Miss Kyou, I shall!" Howard replied, giving a broad smile once more. Indeed, working upon the garden, he could forget the strange things he heard earlier, his trying week... even the past. AS he worked, it was just himself and the garden. He did not use the handtools like normal gardeners would. Instead, for every part, he would use his hands.

"I will make you sing once more," he said to the future garden. "I promise!" And with that, he started to softly sing as he worked. It was a joyous sort of sound, one that would make the grumpiest of men sit and smile.

Back inside, Leona upon seeing Kyou poofed back to her human form. She still sat beside Blade however, smiling brightly. "We have!" she replied. "Blade here is quite the nice company!" She however, blinked with a slight surprise when Blade changed forms, before smilng softer. She had THOUGHT she smelled something different about Blade, and now she knew!

It was a very touching, cute moment. Leona found herself smiling at the sight, and it seemed a slightly warmer smile than usual. There were some sights that were priceless. Ones that a person, no matter how many centuries they lived, would remember forever. This was one of those.

At Blade's words, Kyou hugged her tightly, scooping her up into her arms as she covered Blade's face in kisses. "I love you too!" She smiled so wide, that it would of been impossible to smile any wider.

Blade was just as happy as she clung to Kyou, smiling just as wide. She was thankful to Leona actually. If it hadn't been for her, then she would probably still be in her full cat form and unable to talk. Leona's personality was such that it almost forced her out of her shell. She saw how happy she was, and wanted to be that happy as well. What had happened to her in the past was just that. It was the past.

She looked at Leona and smiled. "Thank you miss Leona!"

Leona started to sniff a slight, her eyes tearing up at seeing all of the joy. Such sights really were rare in life she thought to herself as she pulled a kerchief from her pocket and dabbed her eyes a slight.

At being thanked she blushed wider, and once more gained a big smile. "Teehee.... it was nothing really! Blade here did it all on her own! But you know what guys? I say a circumstance like this deserves a PARTY! What do you say? I can decorate yanno? Just wait until you see my Inventory Bag! It's so cool!" Leona looked towards the pair with a wide grin, waiting for their response.

She felt, perhaps, a good party might help out Blade as well. And noone threw a party quite like a chaos elemental could!

Kyou smiled as did Blade. "A party would be great," Kyou said, as she set Blade on the ground. Blade nodded and tugged on her hair a little. She still didn't talk much, because she wasn't used to it. She would be eventually, but for now she would just cling to Kyou and let her take care of her.


((Short this time, I know. I'm having problems with Marion. He didn't react very well when I told him I might do a Yaoi RP with someone.))

"Alright!" Leona replied with a cheer. "A party it is then! Stand back guys, you're in for a show!" Leona, at this, pulled from the pockets of her attire a small looking leather bag. She set a hand into it, which instantly vanished inside, up to her arm! There was no sign of the bag bulging at all even! She started to hum a bit as she dug.

"Okay... wow, I need to clean this thing out sometime! OW! No biting!" she said to soemthing inside, before giving a sigh as she set her head inside which vanished like her arms did!

Moments later, she pulled out with a grin, satisfied. "Okay guys, watch this!" She gave a flourish of her hands, and one could see as green magic flowed from them into the room. Out of seemingly nowhere, streamers unfurled themselves upon the ceiling of all colors. A jukebox popped in a corner, along with a table that bore refreshments.

With another wave, there were colored lights, and in the center of the refreshment table a massive cake, decorated with little felines. Leona exhaled, smiling brightly.

"Glad that worked! Never know with chaos magic... sometimes you just end up with rabid octopus running about!" She grinned again, laughing. "Just kidding you two! So, will this work? That's a magical jukebox so just tell it any song and it will play! Nifty the kind of things one can pick up at a yardsale..."

((No prob. And oh thats real mature of him! *Facepalms* If you like I can talk to him... *Grins and flashes teeth* Boys, sheeesh!))

Kyou smiled widely at seeing all of the party supplies and hugged Leona. "Its all very lovely! Thank you!"

Blade seemed to agree as she wandered over to the cake and stared at the little kitties, her tail flicking softly, her ears perked up in happiness. She reached out and gently touched one of the kitties as she giggled softly.

"I'm going to go get Howard. He's excited about the garden, but he should come enjoy this as well."

Kyou went out through the back doors and smiled at Howard. "There's a party going on in here. Care to join? The garden won't be going anywhere."

Leona blushed, hugging Kyou back. "Aaaaw, it was nothing really! Just a bit of magic and it is all good to go!" she added, smiling as she noted Blade's reaction to the cake. The best thing about the kitty ornaments were that they were chaos based. As such, they were soft to the touch, and would occasionally blink or twitch their whiskers or tail.

"You're right, can't let Howie miss this!" Leona agreed. She looked towards Blade then. "Try rubbing behind their ears." she urged, knowing that would draw the most adorable little mew from the ornaments.

Meanwhile, outside it was clear just how long Howard had been working with plants. He already had the ground softened, a stack of random debris he had dug up beginning to form against one of the walls. Looking up, covered in dirt, he smiled back.

"A... party?" he asked, slight confused as he got up. "I am curious... but what for? Did I miss soemthing?" he asked, brow raised as he started towards the back door. Whatever had they been up to inside?

Blade reached up one of her tiny fingers and gently stroked one of the kitties. She giggled in delight as it purred at her and mewed. She mewed back and kept petting it, watching in fascination as it moved. She had never seen anything like it before. She wanted to show it to Kyou, but she had already wandered off.

Outside Kyou smiled at Howard and put a finger to her lips. "You'll see what happened when you come in. By the way, your making very good progress out here. I'm very impressed. I know it'll be even more impressive the more you work. Now come on inside and join the party!"

Leona squeed with glee seeing that the magical ornaments had been well worth the extra little spot of concentration. "Watch this," Leona commented, grinning with happiness as she walked over towards the jukebox. "Lesse... jukebox! DDR party style if you will!" She tapped it lightly, and the next thing one knew it wa splaying upbeat sort of music one would find in any DDR game.

"SAY! Do ya dance?" Leona asked, knowing Blade would nod or shake her head.

"Thank you," Howard replied with a light bow of thanks, as he finally came inside. Seeing all of the ornaments, celebrations, and music he blinked with surprise.

"That was quick..." he pondered with amazement.

"Chaos magic baby! BOOYAH! Check out our guest of honor eh Howie?" Leona nodded towards Blade. Howard blinked a few moments, before putting two and two together.

"OH!" he exclaimed, blinking. "This s rather a good reason," he replied, walking over to greet Blade properly. He gave a light bow before her. "Miss Blade, you are truly a wonderful sight," he said. "You have my congrats and..." He blinked, noting soemthing blink at him and rose a brow.

"Did that cake ornament just blink at me back there?" he asked, truly surprised.

"Maaaaybe..." Leona replied with a devious grin.

Blade looked around at everything with wide eyes and listened as the music started playing. She had never seen or heard anything like it! Actually, it was the first time she had even heard music. Before Kyou found her, she had never left her cage. So the music itself was a fascination.

Her body waved slightly as she listened, awestruck by it. She looked up at Leona and cocked her head to the side. She didn't even know what dancing was, much less how to do it.

Blade glanced over at Howard as he came in and smiled widely at him. "Thank you Howie," she said softly. She called him what Leona had called him, simply because it was easier to pronounce then Howard.

Kyou looked at Blade like a proud mommy and sat down in a chair as she watched them all. She was so unbelievably happy that Blade was getting so much attention. She deserved it.

Leona nodded at Blade's reply. "It's real easy! All you have to do is let your body move as it wants. It can be sully, or cool, or crazy even! Just swing your hips, move your feet, even your hands if you want! Like so!" Leona started to dance then, a chaotic yet somehow fluid dance.

"You can even grab someone else's hands and start dancing with a partner!" she added. "Would you like to try that?" Howard laughed softly.

"I have a feeling that nickname is going to stick isn't he?" he asked, shaking his head.

"Yo you two! Come out onto the dance floor!" Leona called, waving at Kyou and Howard. "Don't be party poopers, this is a special occassion!" Howie blushed.

"I'm afraid I only know formal ballroom..." he replied.

"You don't have to know how to dance, you just do it silly!" the shifter replied without missing a beat.

Blade still looked a little confused as she moved a little bit, swaying softly, her head cocked to the side as she listened to the music. It was so foreign to her. It absolutely fascinated her!

Kyou meanwhile laughed at all of them. "I'm afraid, I'm with Howard here. I don't really dance. Its just not quite my forte."

She did watch Blade though, ever the proud mommy as she smiled, watching as she discovered music. She knew that Blade had led a sad life, but she could tell by her expression, that apparently that sad life also meant having no music. It made her feel bad because in the entire time she had been her guardian, she had never even thought that she might not of heard music. But at least she seemed to be enjoying herself. That was all that mattered.

And Leona was a great influence. She was so kind and so gentle to Blade. Perhaps that's why she had spoken again. She realised that there were more people who were kind then she had though there were.

((What do ya think of the new items sib? If your not seeing them then push F5 ))

"Would you like a drink?" Howard asked Kyou, before he went over to the punch table. Coming back, he found himself a spot against a nearby wall to relax against, finding it best right now to just take in things. Unfortunately, he knew he had the worst habit of taking forever to truly unwind.

Leona meanwhile giggled with delight. Music, after all, was a sort of medicine to the shifter's soul. "Watch this Blade!" Leona added, as she flipped upside down upon her hands. "I can dance upside down! Teehee.... whooops!" Leona cred, as she lost her balance and fell over bottom side up, revealing her light pinkm, lacy undergarments.

"Oh my..." Howard said, blushing as bright as a radish. Leona righted herself up shortly, before laughing hard once more.

"I never can get that landing right..."

((They match ya very well, its a spiffeh set :3))