Osanna nodded and drove them into town, parking near the steakhouse and then leading the way inside.

Duo looked around curiously, trying to feel around to see who was demon, who wasn't, and who was part. He had to admit he was curious.

The steakhouse was packed, and the crowd was definitely a mixed crowd. Naomi could feel all kinds of youki from all over, and to be honest, she reveled in it for a moment. It was good to feel that kind of energy again after being on worlds without it for so long. Luckily, they were able to get a table quickly.

Osanna was also kind of glad to be around youki again. Alchemy was fun and all, but it just wasn't the same, somehow.

"Wow," Duo said quietly, glancing around. "You weren't kidding about the mixed populace thing."

"Yup," Naomi replied, relaxing as she sat there. The blue stripe in her hair got a little wider, but nobody even turned to look at them. Her youki barely even registered in the ambient cloud. "Lots of types here."

"I can imagine." Duo looked around with wide eyes. "How many types are there?"

Too many to properly count. There are full-bloods of every elemental type, and then for things like foxes you have various types of foxes, and then there are other demons, and then you have the mix breeds and cross-breeds... Osanna trailed off and shrugged. Like I said, too many.

"And humans thrown into the mix, too," Naomi supplied helpfully. "So yeah, a lot."

Duo shook his head, still kind of overwhelmed as he looked around. He felt kind of like an ant in there, and he didn't particularly like it.

"Just relax," Naomi said as a waitress came around with glasses of water. "Places like this a neutral. Everyone's here for the same reason."

"Well, as long as I'm not on the menu..." Duo took his water and took a sip, starting to actually look through the menu. "How common are places like this?"

"Steakhouses, or neutral places?" Naomi asked in return as she sipped her own water. She subtly cooled it down a bit more. "Most public buildings are neutral, unless specifically stated otherwise."

Duo nodded. "But private residences aren't," he guessed.

Pretty much. Osanna shrugged. Mostly they don't bother us in town, though.

"Right," Naomi said. "There are some places that are strictly human or strictly otherwise, but sometimes they'll make exceptions for people like Osa and I."

"I don't know why you'd want to," Duo muttered. "Geeze, it's almost stifling in here."

You get used to it. Osanna patted his shoulder sympathetically.

"This place is popular," Naomi said. "So it's worse than other places. But Osa's right, you get used to the ambient levels."

"Gah, I don't know how you stand it." Duo shivered.

Osanna shrugged. We grew up with being weaker than most everyone else, she wrote. You're used to being on top. You'll adjust.

"We also grew up around high ambient energy to begin with," Naomi added. "There's no ambient energy where you're from."

Duo nodded his agreement of that. He could definitely tell there was a lot more ambient energy here. Which was probably why it was easier for him to work with the plants here.

Naomi stretched a bit and sighed.

"It's nice to be back home for a bit," she said.

Osanna nodded her agreement, settling into the seat. Yup, home was good once in a while.

"When do you think we'll be able to go get the others?" Duo asked, glancing at Naomi.

"You want the Book to start snarking at us again?" Naomi asked. "Maybe in a day or so. Soon."

Duo snorted. "I see your point." He shook his head though. He didn't mind waiting, but he knew the others would start getting antsy soon.

"I get the feeling you'll have to come with me to go and get them, elsewise I'd say stay here and play in Osa's garden a bit," Naomi added. It was no big deal to her, but the Book might whine about it.

Duo snorted. "Yeah, I figured that. That's okay. I'll have plenty of time to stay and play in the garden later." He grinned.

"As soon as the book allows, we'll go back and grab them," Naomi said. She looked at Osanna. "Sound good to you?"

Yup, sounds good to me. You want me to stay here? Osanna looked at her. She figured she didn't need to go with them and make the Book complain more.