Baby Bird

-----Kaede's POV

When I woke up, I was greeted by my mom's face smiling. I had no idea how long I was asleep, but it looks as though Yui has left along with Natalie.

Kaede: "Guess I was asleep for too long."

Lilith: "It's alright."

Lillian: "Yeah. You've been awake all this time. Don't worry about it."

I didn't even know I was tired... I guess the stress of my mom's conditioned kept me awake until now...

Kaede: "Did Yui go back home?"

Lilith: "She went off to get another mattress for us."

I end up looking over to the one mattress we have, only to see that Sicily is sprawled across it. I find myself smiling at her seeming to be at peace. But it was when I was looking around that I noticed someone else was missing.

Kaede: "Wait, then where's Mell? Did she go with Yui?"

Mell: "I'm here!"

Suddenly, the girl in question bursts through the door. I was getting worried for second, but that all dissipated when I heard her voice.

Kaede: "You were outside?"

Mell: "Uh... Yeah."

I'm not sure why, but I feel as though something's up with her. That's right! I've been asleep so I haven't fed anyone yet! I can sense that Fleur and Faye are still outside so we may as well do it there.

Kaede: "I'll be back."

Lilith: "Mm."

Taking my leave from my mother's side, Mell and I walk outside of the cabin. But now that I'm seeing Mell up close, I can tell that something is definitely up. She's not clinging to me and is staring off at the ground as we walk.

Kaede: "...Is everything alright?"

Mell: "Eh?"

Kaede: "You're staring off into space."

Mell: "Ah, well. It's nothing."

Oh my, Is Mell entering her rebellious phase? It's not normal for her to hide something from me.

Kaede: "Come on. You can tell me."

Mell: "I just... I overheard Yui saying some stuff. And it... It got me thinking."

Kaede: "Yui?"

Mell: "Mm. I saw her crying even though Lilith finally woke up."

Crying? I thought she was just going to get a mattress? I feel the sudden urge to rush over to her place to see if she's alright, but I feel Mell grab hold of my hand, stopping me before I could even make a single step.

Mell: "Mom..."

Kaede: "Yes?"

Mell: "...Do you want to go back?"

Kaede: "Back inside?"

Mell: "No... I mean, to your old world."

Kaede: "Eh? What brought this on?"

I'm very confused, but it looks as though Mell is seriously worried about it, making me feel like I should answer this seriously.

Mell: "Yui. You love her, right?"

Kaede: "Of course."

Mell: "...Then you'd follow her back to your old world?"

Did she overhear Yui talking about this?

Kaede: "That's impossible. Our bodies are long dead back in that world."

Mell: "But!"

Suddenly, she raised her voice as we stop walking.

Mell: "But what if it is possible? Would you?"

Kaede: "..."

I've fantasized about the idea of it a couple times, but I always come back to the same conclusion. In my old world, sure it wasn't all that bad, but if I'm honest... Yui played a big part in it. Sure I could've fell in love with a guy instead, but you can't really control your feelings. I'm sure my life back there would've been a lot better if I wasn't with Yui, my parents would even treat me better and would've even given me their blessing.

So to say if I want to go back to that time, my time with Yui...

Kaede: "...No."

Mell: "Eh?"

Kaede: "I wouldn't dare throw away what I have now over that life. We might've been just starting our lives, but I knew it would be an upward battle. I'd much rather us to remain here where we can feel free and do what we want, not to try and be forced to fit into a certain mold."

Mell: "So you'd leave Yui to stay here?"

Kaede: "I... I'd like to think that wouldn't happen."

This is all just a hypothetical at the end of the day. If Yui did find a way to return, then I'm sure she'd discuss it with me. But from what Mell is saying, I'm getting the impression she really does want to go back. I guess for her, she never asked for this. Her life was robbed from her, meanwhile I robbed myself from my own life. We might both be here now, but we are different in that sense.

Mell: "..."

Kaede: "Well either way, I don't want to just abandon you and everyone else. Family sticks together. If something like that happens, then I'll just convince Yui to stay."

I say that as I tighten my hand around Mell's as I shoot her a smile. Seeing her smile back cleared all the worries in my heart as we soon resumed our walk.

Kaede: "Anyways, how are you feeling?"

Mell: "Eh?"

The talk we had just before made me think that Mell's maturing quite fast, and that's not mentioning that she's nearly my height despite how young she is. She's seen far too many things for a child...

Kaede: "Ever since meeting me, your life's been quite scary, right?"

Mell: "..."

Kaede: "You've seen too much bloodshed... I would've handled it differently if I knew things would turn out like this, so I feel a bit guilty having you witness all that."

Mell: "I-I'm fine..."

Kaede: "You can be honest with me."

Mell: "I am. I mean... Yes, it's scary. I even had dreams about that- sort of stuff. But even so, you were there as well."

Oh? Mell dreams about me? Is that normal for a child? To have dreams of their parents? I don't think I've ever had a dream like that.

Mell: "Seeing mom so calm, and not afraid about it. It made me see it all in a different light."

Kaede: "Still. I should've had you not watch all of that."

Mell: "But then I won't be strong as you, mom. I want to see the world as you do. The good and the bad."

Kaede: "Well hopefully we can live peacefully from here on out. I still think you've seen far too much."

Mell: "Hehe. I've gotten used to it."

That's worrying to hear... I get she's now a vampire like me, but she shouldn't be used to this world like that.

Kaede: "So you were fine seeing my mom's back being cut off?"

Mell: "...I uhh. I'd rather not think about that. I can still hear her screams, even now."

Kaede: "S-sorry."

Mell: "But yes. I can handle things like that. So don't worry about me, mom."

Kaede: "Hah~ You know, you're too strong for your own good."

Mell: "Hehe."

Before we arrive where Fleur and Faye are at, I decide to quickly scoop up Mell in my hands before extending my wings out before taking off into the skies in a single burst of speed.

Mell: "Ah!"

Kaede: "But not strong enough!"

I stop quite high up as we're likely a couple hundred meters from the ground. Mell ends up clinging onto me tightly as I hold her close.

Mell: "S-so high!"

Kaede: "Hehehe. And? You scared?"

Mell: "...N-no."

Kaede: "Good. Then I can drop you like this?"

Mell: "What?!"

Almost in response to my words, she clings to me even more tightly.

Kaede: "You want to fly, right? So this can be our first lesson."

Mell: "Eh?"

I forcefully pry her off of me as I hold her out, getting ready to throw her higher up in the sky.

Kaede: "Don't worry. I'll catch you."

Mell: "..."

Kaede: "So? You ready?"

She gives a slight nod instead of using her words as I quickly begin to build up more momentum. I want to give Mell plenty of time to find it in herself to stretch out her wings. So in order to do that, I'll just slingshot her with as much force as I can.

Kaede: "Ready! And..."

After approaching a good enough speed, I quickly come to a sudden halt, however I use the momentum to thrust Mell forward, continuing higher up into the sky.

Kaede: "Go!"

Mell: "Ahhh!!!~"

I watch as her figure becomes smaller and smaller the further she climbs. I understand how crazy this situation is, but I felt like this is as good of an opportunity for it, especially considering how depressing the previous talks were. I don't look away from her figure for a second as I position myself below her, using my wings to keep up stable.

Kaede: "So Yui wants to return back, huh..."

It'd be weird for me to confront her about it now, especially since that'll never happen. But it does make my chest feel funny, knowing that we view this world differently. I could also be jumping to conclusions. Like she could still love this world and the people in it. Mell is a perfect example. Yui wants to connect with Mell more, so why would she think that if she wanted to go back?

Kaede: "Ah~ Oh well."

I guess we can talk about that if the time comes. Right now, I need to pay attention, especially since Mell's body is beginning to grow bigger by the second. I ready my arms in order to catch her, but I soon realize that Mell's actually coming down slower than I expected.

Kaede: "Wait..."

Unable to contain my excitement, I fly up towards Mell as her figure grows more and more. I can hear distant yelling but I can't make out any words. It was then that I realized that two black shadows were stretched to either side of her figure which only made me pick up the pace even more.

Mell: "Mom!"

Her yells finally reach me as I quickly close the distance between us as we essentially crash into one another as we both wrap our arms around one another.

Mell: "Mom!"

Kaede: "You did it!"

First try no less! I knew my daughter was strong, but I didn't expect her to get it first try. Maybe it's true about mother birds throwing their babies out of the nest in order for them to fly...

I watch as Mell's wing's flap in excitement as she tighten her grasp around me. They're smaller than mine, but not by much, probably due to the difference in our size.

Mell: "Mom, mom!"

Kaede: "Yes, yes. Let's show Fleur and Faye."

Mell: "Mhmm!"