Cute_Kitten

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Gertrude froze, but Magda flew into action. She ducked into the cluttered pantry, hiding on instinct. How many times had she hidden like this? Yet again, she reminded Gertrude of a hunted animal. Josef appeared. He was a tall, dark shadow in the flickering lantern light. The folded white cloth he held glowed like snow under the moon. “Gertie. What’s going on?” “J-Josef!” Gertrude’s brain froze. She couldn’t think. Her partially full bladder twinged; she wished she was diapered. He came into the kitchen. He wore thick cotton pajamas, wool socks, and a house robe. She blushed when she realized he was holding one of Heidi’s clean, folded diapers she’d left out on the bed. Heidi had had a lot of diapers. Most of them Gertrude gave to Magda, but a few she’d kept for herself. “Your bedroom door was open. I found this on your bed.” He held up the diaper. “G-good morning! I couldn’t sleep a wink. So I-I started cleaning. Those diapers make great dust cloths.” She saw him glance at the pot on the wood stove and the empty bowl. “All that cleaning made me hungry. So I had an early breakfast. You know how I love veggie stew. Everyone else is tired of it. But not me. No siree.” Gertrude laughed nervously. Her heart slammed against her ribs. She eyed the diaper longingly, wishing she was wearing it. She’d be calmer if she could just pee herself. Josef stared at her like she’d grown another head. Did he suspect something? “Are you hungry? I can heat you up a bowl. How about some tea? We’re saving the coffee rations for Christmas breakfast, but I traded some eggs for extra tea bags yesterday. Or some warm milk?” He looked around the room, peering into the shadows. “You’re very jumpy, Gertie. Is anyone hiding here? I heard voices. A little Christmas tryst with a lover, perhaps?” “Of course I’m jumpy- you scared me half to death! Sneaking around like that. I should slap you upside the head. Scaring people like that. As for the voices, did you hear a man? No. As if. I’m insulted. I was singing. It’s Christmas morning, so I was singing Christmas carols.” Gertrude rounded on him, hands on her hips. She hid her nerves behind a veil of indignation. Josef raised an eyebrow. “It sounded more like talking. Then again, you’ve never been able to carry a tune in a bucket.” His tone turned teasing. Gertrude’s forced laugh was too high in pitch. She swung at him playfully; he ducked. She grabbed the diaper off him and smacked him with it. “And here I was, going to be nice and offer you some stollen and gluhwein. But if you’re gonna be mean to me…” Why did she keep offering him food like she wanted him to stay? She wanted him to go away. She did it to placate him. Keep him from being suspicious. “Gluhwein? Well, it is Christmas morning…” Josef’s eyes lit up at the mention of mulled wine. “Then you have my most sincere and humble of apologies.” He bowed with exaggerated grace, like a grand duke apologizing to a royal princess. Gertrude couldn’t help her giggle. This was the Josef she’d grown up with. “Maybe a cup or two.” She teased.

“You haven’t touched your tea. It’s cold.” Chika’s hands wrapped around his cup. Static crackled the air. The surrounding humans were oblivious to the undercurrent. Steam curled from the cup. This was as close as Chika would come to apologizing. He knew she wasn’t sorry. She just didn’t like seeing him upset. To show he accepted her peace offering, he wrapped both hands around the warm ceramic and took a long drink. The foamy green liquid was the perfect temperature. Bitter green matcha chased by sweet, creamy vanilla. Chika didn’t apologize, so he didn’t thank her. Yuki’s cup clanked on the table. “So. After Ichiro picks me up, what are you going to- hey! Get out of there!” His cheeks burned pink at the sight of Chika pawing through his furry lilac diaper bag. “I’m just double checking I packed enough diapers for you. Oh, yes, there’s plenty. Diaper wipes. Baby powder. Diaper cream so your cute tushy doesn’t get a nasty rash. Anal thermometer. Aw, don’t look at me like that. Everyone knows this is the best way to check a baby’s temperature. And suppositories! To help you go poo-poos when you get backed up.” Chika chirped in a syrupy sweet coo. He wanted to throw the rest of his latte on her. None of the surrounding gaijin understood her, but they could still hear her. That alone made him want to die of embarrassment. She didn’t pull anything out of the diaper bag, but anyone who looked over could see into it. Then again, anyone who looked at his lap could see the unmistakable diaper bulge under his skirt. “Chika-chan, are you teasing my baby again?” Ichiro plopped down, straddling a backwards chair he pulled over from another table. “L-Lord Ichiro! I was-was just making sure I remembered everything.” Chika’s cheeks turned as red as Yuki’s. She quickly zipped up the bag and placed it on the floor by Ichiro’s chair. Yuki’s heart sped up at the deep timbre of his voice. Ichiro was lanky, lean muscles sculpted from years of sword practice. Dark roots shone in his fire colored hair, gelled up in spikes. His hair was an intentional rebellion against his family; his eyes, unintentional. His almond shaped green eyes sparkled with amusement at Chika’s expense. Those emerald hues came from his gaijin mother- she’d been an Irish Fomoire Fae refuge from Tir Na Nog who married into the Nakatomi clan. Like his son, Ichiro’s father had rebelled against the clan and tradition to get the bride of his choice. “Yuki-chan. You look adorable.” That green gaze fell on Yuki, slowly drifting down to admire his outfit and lingering on the padded bulk of his crotch. He took Yuki’s slender hand and brushed a kiss over his knuckles. The fingers cradling Yuki’s hand were long and slim, the hands of a skilled surgeon, and calloused from all the time spent holding a sword. Long ago, the humans of Sekai Nippon stopped carrying swords. The days of samurai and clans was long gone. That fire still burned bright in Ikai. “That was cheesy.” Yuki smiled softly. He didn’t tug his hand away. “You’ve been watching those gaijin romance movies again.” Ichiro’s lips had been soft and warm against his skin. He wanted to feel those lips against his own. His nerves tingled at the thought and his heart sped up. “That was incredibly forward, even by human standards. In public, too.” Chika’s face was bright red like the confetti hearts on the table. Yuki blushed and clasped his small hands in his lap, burying them in his skirt. The bottom of his diaper peeked out from under the hem. His hands rested on top of the enormous bulge. Through the layers of skirt and legging, he felt the crinkly plastic shell grow warm. Only then did he realize he was peeing. He sniffed discretely, wondering if he’d messed himself. “We’re in America. We can do what the Americans do.” Ichiro pushed scattered confetti into a pile. “I never saw a gaijin do that.” Chika picked up her cup. “Then they don’t know what they’re missing. It’s fun.” “Was it an old movie?” Yuki tugged on his skirt some more, trying to pull it down enough to cover his diaper. “Maybe.” Ichiro blushed at Yuki’s teasing. Yuki giggled. “It was romantic in the movie. Don’t American gaijin do stuff like that on Valentine’s Day? The holiday’s supposed to be all about romance.” “No. The guy gives his girl presents. Flowers, chocolates, diamonds.” Chika frowned at Ichiro’s empty hands. “I got Yuki something. It’s a surprise for later. When we’re alone. On our date.” Ichiro’s green eyes turned to Chika, answering her unspoken accusation. “Who cares what the barbarians do? We’re not gaijin. All we do is trade chocolates. Our way is the best.” Yuki didn’t like where this conversation was going. He thrust the strawberries at Ichiro as if they were a shield, sliding the box along the table. Confetti hearts fell to the floor. “My favorite. They look delicious. Thank you, Yuki-chan.” Ichiro took the box, but his eyes never left Yuki’s flushed face, catching the nervous energy in Yuki’s awkward movements. “Are you okay?” “I’m fine.” Yuki forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “You don’t look fine.” “You look like you’re gonna cry.” Chika’s empty cup thunked down on the table. Their concern smothered him and comforted him at the same time. He knew Ichiro would never coerce him into something he didn’t want to do. Ichiro was too gentle, too doting. Just thinking of sex opened a doorway into bad memories Yuki wanted to stay firmly closed. He also didn’t want those old emotional and psychological wounds to ruin tonight. Ichiro wasn’t expecting sex, but surely he was hoping for it if Yuki showed an interest in it. A light bulb clicked in Yuki’s head. He was interested in sex. Maybe he could use it to break the hold the past had on him. He wanted his wounds to heal, turn into scars. Past trauma suffocated him, and he was sick of it. Like falling off a horse and being afraid to ride again. The best thing to do was get back up and ride. Ride Ichiro and face his fears. His pulse sped up at the thought. Color drained from his face. Part of him wanted Ichiro. Another part was terrified of any sexual intimacy. With anyone. Even Ichiro. Ichiro had touched him many times in a non-sexual way, like when he changed his diaper. That intimate act helped them bond closer together, made him feel safe with Ichiro. His head spun with conflicting emotions; desire and fear. Warm, calloused hands cupped his cheeks. Ichiro’s worried gaze probed him, checking him over for signs of sickness. “You don’t have a fever, but Chika says you’ve been acting off today.” “I’m just nervous.” Yuki admitted, closing his eyes. His cheek pressed into Ichiro’s palm, taking comfort in the touch. “Because it’s Valentine’s Day? We can do something else. We can just cancel. You and Chika-” “Hey! I have plans, you know!” “- can go do something.” Ichiro finished, ignoring Chika’s interruption. “I know. I’m just being stupid.” Bitterness tinged Yuki’s girly voice. He needed to hide his fear better if he wanted to confront it later. Needed to control it instead of it controlling him. Their date hadn’t even started and he was already ruining it. Typical. “It’s not stupid. After what you’ve been through-” Yuki’s soft, doll hand covered Ichiro’s mouth, cutting him off. Yuki leaned forward with a crinkle, eyes blazing intently up at Ichiro. “I want- need- a romantic night. With you.” Voicing that out loud made him feel raw. Exposed and vulnerable. He dropped his eyes and sat back in his seat, suddenly shy. His diaper grew warm as he peed again. “Please.” His plea was a soft, desperate whisper. He shivered, cold inside. The irrational, hurt side of him expected hard rejection and painful insults. “Always, baby.” Ichiro’s gentle promise soothed his battered spirit. “Why don’t you finish your tea? It’ll help you feel better.”

Very nice! The flowers are pretty! Green stuff is just starting to poke up out of the grown where I'm at. xD

Ah, I forgot I placed LOL. I kinda figured you were being modest, so I decided to say it for you since that was my favorite story of the contest.

That would be funny, though! "Luna" will be having a lot of fun- and a lot of learning- in her wolf form as she helps Lucas out. :3

Some of my top favorites that are finished, aside from the already listed French Whines and Dante's Infanzia, are: A Tortured Soul by BabyButt: http://www.ararchive.com/index.php?option=com_ewriting&Itemid=7&func=storyinfo&story=667 Addiction by Personalias http://www.ararchive.com/index.php?option=com_ewriting&Itemid=7&func=storyinfo&story=1392

Don't forget to mention it came in first place!

Before deciding to continue a story, I think it would be a good idea to ask the author. It would be one thing if an author disappears for extended period of time- like years and years they're inactive and contacting them is next to impossible. But that's a different case. Since Personalias is still active in the community, I think asking him for permission would be the respectful thing to do before any remixing or continuing. Speaking from experience, sometimes priorities shift in a writer's life. This is just hobby stuff, writing done for fun. I've had to put stories on hold for long periods of time because of other projects or things going on in my personal life. I just recently started being able to add new material to one of my long-time running stories and I have another old one I just don't have the time/mental energy to focus on.

Thanks for commenting. I always enjoy hearing reader speculations. Trouble is definitely coming their way, but I don't want to give away any more spoilers than that.

Thanks for commenting. :3 Lucas and Prudence are finally getting along. Rosie will be reappearing soon.

That's what I thought, too!

Thank you both for commenting. I'm glad to know these scenes are emotional- it's what I was aiming for. Given the turbulence of those times, I wanted to try and capture what it might have been like. That's one of the reasons I chose to write from Gertrude's point of view instead of Magda's. She heard the soft rustling of cloth as Magda dried off and got dressed. The distinct sound of rubber panties sliding over skin then pulled over bulky cloth diapers filled the room. Gertrude stirred the stew on the small stove. It bubbled away, filling the kitchen with a mouth watering aroma. She turned the burner off and poured the stew into a bowl, then set it on the kitchen table next to the knapsack. She added a few slices of homemade bread. Gertrude fiddled with the empty pot as it cooled on the stove. She listened as Magda finished getting dressed. The chair scraped on wood then Magda sat down in front of the stew. She no longer reeked of pee, so she smelled better, even if she didn’t look any better. Heidi had been a gangly thing. With the weight loss, Magda had no problem fitting into Heidi’s old woolen dress. Gertrude wondered how the diapers and protective rubber panties fit. Magda sniffed the stew appreciatively, her eyes widening like she wanted to plunge in face first and devour it all in one gulp. Her stomach rumbled, echoing the hunger in her eyes. She calmly picked up the spoon and ate in a slow, controlled manner like a polite lady would. LIke she wanted to prove she wasn’t just an incontinent animal. Gertrude watched her for a moment, wondering what the hell her friend had been through. “There’s no pork. Just veggies.” She glanced down at the stinky, pee soaked wet rags on the floor. On top of the skirts, tattered sweater and ratty coat were torn, saturated cloth diapers and ripped rubber panties. How long had Magda been stuck in leaky diapers? That was one question answered- Magda obviously never grew out of her diapers. “You already said that. Even if it was pork, I wouldn’t care.” Magda swallowed a carefully chewed bite. “Did I? Sorry.” “Thank you for the food. And the help.” She added as a forgotten after-thought, as if she hadn’t used her manners in a long time. “That’s what friends are for. Anyway, while you’re eating, I’ll take care of this.” Gertrude looked at the pee-soaked clothing stinking up the kitchen. “B-but, that’s my p-pee! My d-diapers!” Magda’s flustered, horrified whisper filled the kitchen. “Just eat. It’s not a problem- I used to do stuff like this for Heidi all the time. I’m used to it.” “B-but-” “Eat, eat.” Gertrude waved her off. She got Heidi’s old metal diaper bucket out of the storage pantry, filled it with hot water and soap flakes from a box under the sink. Then she held her breath, picked up the urine saturated rags and soaked them all in the bucket. She hid the bucket in the pantry to take care of later. When she came out of the pantry, Magda finished mopping up the last bit of stew with the last bite of bread. Her eyes were closed in unguarded ecstacy, savoring the last bite. Gertrude expected to hear her moan, but she made no sound. Opening her eyes to see Gabby watching her, Magda blushed. “It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten to eat so much. I’ve forgotten what a full belly feels like.” She stood up to carry her bowl and glass to the sink. Her chair fell over; the clatter of wood hitting wood echoed like thunder throughout the quiet house. Magda and Gertrude froze, staring at each other with wide eyes. They held their breaths. Silence stretched out. Tense seconds felt like hours. They never moved, waiting for the sounds of feet on the floor upstairs. Silent minutes passed. Gertrude wished she’d put on a clean diaper. She had to pee. Her poor nerves couldn’t take this. She wondered if Magda had peed her clean diapers and rubber panties. Gertrude gave Magda a nervous smile. “Looks like the coast is clear.” She whispered softly, afraid to talk too loudly after the noisy bang. Magda didn’t return the smile. “I need to go.” Her face was stricken, her hiding place ruined. Gertrude wondered how long had Magda been running and hiding. Her eyes were that of a haunted animal. Gertrude wanted to argue that Magda could stay a little longer- it was Christmas, after all. But then common sense overruled her emotions. It was too dangerous for Magda to stay. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was the last time she’d ever see her best friend. She swallowed thickly and nodded. “I brought down my old boots. I noticed yours have holes in them. Mine are a little worn, but sturdy. They’ll get you where you need to go.” Heidi’s socks looked brand new on Magda’s small feet. Gertrude had also brought down Heidi’s old winter coat, knitted woolen hat, scarf, and gloves. Heidi’s clothes had all been hand-me-downs from Gertrude, except for the yearly Christmas cardigan from grandma. All of Heidi’s clothes were supposed to have been donated to charity, but Gertrude couldn’t bring herself to part with them. She supposed this counted as a type of charity. Giving them to Magda, helping out a friend, felt better than letting them go to some stranger. That stranger would be a fellow Aryan. Gertrude felt she was betraying her people. Magda was a Jew. Gertrude should put a fellow Aryan before any Jew. Even if that Jew was her friend. But this felt right in her gut, in her soul. This is what Heidi would’ve wanted. “Alright. The boots squish my toes, but they’re much warmer than my old ones.” Magda finished dressing and stepped toward the door. She sounded as close to happy as she could, under the circumstances. More uplifted than happy. Like her hard times had been sweetened just a little bit. A small candle of hope lit her heart. A flickering belief that she just might make it, after all. “Here. I..I hope this gets you wherever you’re headed. ” Gertrude handed over the canvas knapsack and helped Magda shrug it up over her shoulders. She didn’t know what to say. Goodbye seemed so inadequate. Talking about the past seemed like talking about the future; both were to taboo, too dangerous or painful to voice. Magda trusted her enough to accept her help- that trust stemmed from the trust and love of their childhood years. But Magda didn’t trust Gertrude enough to tell her where she was headed. Gertrude could too easily alert the German authorities about the runaway Jew. “Thank you…...I guess not all Aryans are so bad.” Magda faltered over the last part, as if it cost her emotionally to say that. Gertrude wondered yet again what all Magda had been through. She opened her mouth to reply when they heard footsteps on the stairs, wooden boards squeaking.

Thank you both for commenting. I appreciate it. They're both going through some rough emotions right now, but there's still some drama and story left. Hopefully with some twists and turns that take people by surprise

Formerly titled "Kokoro No Sokokara Aishiteiru" but upon reflection, I think Yokai Heart suits the story better. And it's easier to say. YOKAI HEART by C.K. Cute Kitten “Valentine’s Day sucks.” Yukihime shifted on the hard wooden seat. His voice was high and girly sweet. The crinkle of his diaper filled his ears. The murmur of quiet conversation around the small coffee shop drowned out the noise; no one looked at what appeared to be a pretty girl and her crinkly, bulky underwear. He tugged on his pink and purple plaid skirt, trying to hide the bulge of his thick diaper. He wore leggings under his skirt to keep him warm in the February cold, but the obnoxiously bright pink of his diaper showed through the white fabric. A sparkly lilac sweater, frilly purple socks, and sneakers covered in pink glitter completed the ensemble. He could kill Chika for dressing up like this. Over his leggings, but under his skirt, a HKAFO-hip knee ankle foot orthosis- brace encased his left leg. The nerves in that leg were damaged; he had only partial control and feeling. The hard plastic and metal of the brace gave him the support he needed to walk. Without his brace, he needed a wheelchair. The metal bar extended past his hip to his waist while the stiff plastic wrapped around his lower abdomen and back. This gave him support and control over the hip that never healed right. The humongous pink diaper came up past his leggings, past his brace, to his sternum. Chika had bought the wrong size again. Sometimes he thought she did it on purpose. “You’re the one with a date and a fiance. What are you complaining about?” Chika flicked glittery heart shaped confetti scattered on the round table at him. Red, white, and pink hearts bounced off the red glass vase filled with fake roses. Yuki stuck his tongue out at her. “The gaijin celebrate this holiday all wrong. Back home, all I have to do is give Ichiro chocolate.” Yuki’s gaze flicked to the heart shaped box of chocolate dipped strawberries covered with heart shaped sprinkles. Not giving Ichiro something on Valentine’s Day felt wrong, even if they were celebrating it the American way. “Then a month later on White Day he gives me white chocolate. It’s easy. Simple. Here, we’re supposed to go out on a date then…..s-sex…” His cheeks pinked. He dropped his eyes, shifting uncomfortably. His diaper crinkled. His pulse sped up and his stomach rolled, queasy with old memories. Old fears and hurts- hands tearing his clothes, squeezing his throat, pinching and twisting his nipples so hard they bled. He, Chika, and Ichiro were Japanese yokai from Ikai Nippon- the Japanese Otherworld. The Spirit World. The World Over Yonder. Humans lived in Sekai Nippon with all its modern amenities and technology. Some of that trickled into the land of Ikai, but time moved slower there. Yokai society was heavily feudalistic with clans, aristocrats, and fighting- especially against certain kinds of yokai that cannibalized other yokai and humans. Internal conflicts were rampant. Yokai, for the most part, preferred their world to the realm of humans; they felt constrained and sometimes insulted by numerous pointless laws- like the law of 1876 that banned samurai from carrying swords. But they loved the inventions humanity came up with. Back home in Ikai, Yuki had been sexually assaulted. His sister had almost died from a disease; her medicine was expensive. To afford it, Yuki had sold his virginity to a brothel. The client got off on hurting people; a mutual sexual encounter had turned violent. Yuki ended up in the ICU with a shattered cheekbone, dislocated jaw, crushed trachea, snapped spine, broken ribs, punctured lung, and both hips torn out of joint. Ichiro was nothing like that rutting bastard. Ichiro was honorable. Patient. Gentle. Yuki trusted Ichiro. Yet the emotional, irrational part of him feared intimacy with his future husband in an arranged marriage. “Sex is the best part. The round eyes have the right idea. Us women don’t have to do anything but look pretty and we get flowers, chocolate, jewelry, and a fancy dinner. I made sure Ichiro got you something nice.” Chika tugged down her low cut sweater dress so more of her cleavage showed. At home in Ikai, she was one of the most well endowed yokai. She always had men panting after her. Here in America, even with a pushup bra she got less attention than she was used to. When Yuki didn’t reply, she quit fussing with her clothes and raised her head. Yuki’s big eyes glimmered with remembered pain and fear. His pink lips trembled. The haunted expression gutted her. “Ah, shit.” She reached across the table, careful not to knock their lattes over, and grasped Yuki’s soft, small hands. Her fingers squeezed his smaller ones. “Ichiro would never hurt you.” “I know. I’m being stupid. Forget about it.” Yuki tugged his hands free then fanned one in front of his face like chasing away a bad smell. A small, cynical part of him thought Chika was obligated to say those words. She was a distant cousin of Ichiro’s. Both belonged to the Nakatomi clan, the most powerful clan in Ikai. Yuki hailed from the Soga clan, in the lowest rung of aristocracy. The Soga were a dwindling, crumbling house; nobility in name only. Long ago, they had been mighty and powerful. Now they were paupers, their ancestors’ legacy a tattered shroud. “He loves you. I’m not just saying that to make him look good. He really does love you from the bottom of his heart.” Factual certainty weighed Chika’s words, like she was telling Yuki the sun rose every morning and water was wet. Chika poked at some sugar packets by the rose vase. Ichiro was the second heir of the Nakatomi clan; a yokai prince. Chika was a distant cousin from a much lower ranking branch within the clan. Her lineage demanded loyalty to her prince. “I don’t doubt you. I just...don’t understand how. He’s Nakatomi no Ichiro. I’m not a real Soga. I’m not even a real girl.” Yuki’s vision blurred. His long, inky lashes fluttered, blinking back tears. He’d been born a male yukionna yokai. The snow maidens practiced male infanticide. No one knew why, though some speculated the reclusive yukionna practiced a perverted, inverted mix of Buddhist and Confucian beliefs. Part of that corruption was killing male offspring. Yukionna were also notorious for killing any males they slept with. As a baby, he’d been left to die, exposed to the elements. Instead, he’d been found by one of the Soga clan and adopted. He couldn’t live as a male yukionna- the yukionna would hunt him down and kill him by any means necessary. His adoptive father had yokai doctors perform a vaginoplasty to turn him female, to protect him. Yuki had been too young to remember. He’d been raised as a girl, even if he never felt like one on the inside. “Hey, don’t cry.” Chika dropped her sugar packets on the table. Heart confetti scattered. She reached across the table; her fingertips brushed under Yuki’s eyes, wiping away stray tears. “I change your diapers. I know you’re just as much of a girl as I am.” Yuki winced, scooting back in his seat with a crinkle. His plaid skirt flipped up. The unmistakable diaper bulge was on display for all to see. The pink diaper with purple hearts shone clearly through the white cotton leggings. He didn’t notice. The padding swaddling him grew warm as he peed, but he paid no attention. His diaper would protect him. He scrubbed his eyes, angrily wiping away the tears. Chika made things sound so simple. Did his vagina really make him a girl? In the eyes of most people, it did. He just saw himself as a surgically modified male who had to live as a girl. He’d never say that out loud. To the rest of the world, he was female. His name- Yukihime, snow princess- was a slap in the face to the yukionna. His adoptive father’s way of showing contempt for the creatures who’d left an infant to die. “You’re right.” Yuki’s voice was as bitter as the green tea in his untouched tea latte. Chika licked his tears off her fingers. “Weird. I always forget yukionna tears aren’t salty at all. Tastes like fresh rainwater.” She picked up her four sugar packets, shaking them. “Besides, love isn’t something planned or rational. It just happens.” She dumped the sugar into her latte and stirred, metal spoon clinking off the ceramic cup. “Ichiro and I were the only yokai on campus until the Nakatomi sent you to be my nanny. Ichiro likes humans. He’s fascinated with gaijin culture. Isn’t that why he came here to finish his medical degree? But we both know he’d never lay with a human. I’m only here because the yukionna sniffed around home too much, in Ikai and in Sekai. Father was concerned for my safety so he sent me here. It’s only natural Ichiro and I sought each other’s company. But for it to turn into a marriage contract between our clans...the Soga are too low for the Nakatomi to even consider…” “Don’t doubt Ichiro’s love for you. He went to war for you. He never defied the clan head and elders before. He threatened to leave the clan, live in exile. He broke a marriage contract. That man moved the heavens to be with you. He loves you. Don’t doubt him.” Chika’s spoon jabbed at Yuki’s nose. The sweetness of caramel and sugar mixed with the bitter bite of espresso filled his nostrils. Coffee dripped from the spoon onto the fabric roses. “I don’t. I doubt myself.” Yuki pushed the spoon away. Wet warmth flooded over his crotch with no warning; the thick padding surrounding him whisked the wetness away. He knew all Ichiro had done for him. For them. He defied his clan, broke tradition. Those things meant nothing to humans, particularly the foreign barbarians. To yokai, they were everything. Their family name, their clan, was part of their identity. Their history. Their connection to their ancestors. Their place in the world. To humans, family name meant little. Humans were lost, adrift in a world with no roots to hold them in place. No idea of who they were. Yuki pitied them. And Ichiro had been willing to give all that up for garbage like him. “But you’re adorable! You’re so cute. Like a baby doll. You’re even prettier than me. Ichiro’s into that sweet, innocent thing. He’s going to love your outfit. Especially those cute Valentine diapers.” “Chika!” Yuki glowered at her, his pale baby doll cheeks turning pink in an embarrassed blush. He looked around the crowded cafe, but the patrons were all absorbed in their own conversations or phone screens. Even if any of the people close enough to hear understood Japanese, they’d have trouble with the old fashioned cadences of the Ikai dialect. He tugged on his skirt, trying to cover up his gigantic diaper. “What? Do you want your binky?” “Chika.” Yuki growled, blushing some more. His baby paraphernalia belonged at home; Chika was teasing. Chika loudly slurped her caramel latte with espresso shots. She grimaced at the taste. “Needs more sugar. And it’s getting cold.” She wrapped her hands around the cup. A static charge filled the air around her as she used her youki, her yokai energy. Seconds later, steam curled up in wisps from the cup. She reached for the sugar packets. Yuki’s spoon smacked her knuckles. “You’ve got enough sugar in there to kill a horse.” “Ouch! Yuki! So mean!” Chika sucked on her abused knuckles, pouting like a kicked puppy. “And you call me childish.” “I’m not the one in diapers.” “I don’t have much choice.” Yuki didn’t sound bitter, just matter of fact. He wasn’t potty trained. Not anymore. Not since he’d started his poison conditioning as a Nakatomi bride. As part of the ruling elite, the Nakatomi-especially the clan leaders- engaged in politics. Ikai politics were dirty and potentially deadly. The elite clans made their members immune to poisons through exposure therapy to build up their bodies’ tolerance. Conditioning started in childhood, with doses increasing little by little until they could survive even a lethal dose. As a lowly Soga, Yuki had not been part of that world. As the bride of the Nakatomi clan’s second heir, he was suddenly thrust into that world. Yuki was behind in poison conditioning. To catch up, he was on a strict regimen overseen by Ichiro and Chika. With his medical background, Ichiro was in charge. Once a month, Yuki was given a concentrated dose of yokai poison. Normally, poison conditioning was slow, increments over years. Time was a luxury Yuki didn’t have. His conditioning was condensed, his doses concentrated. This sped the process up, but at a price. As his body processed the poison, the higher functions of his brain shut off. This left him an overgrown baby for several days. A trip back to babyhood as his body absorbed and processed the poison. Yuki recovered just fine for the most part. Most things stayed in tact- his memories, his skills. It was all there. His fine motor skills were sometimes shaky, but he still retained them. His potty training was gone. His brain still retained the steps involved in using the toilet, but his bladder and bowels didn’t get the message. Those muscles could no longer retain his pee or his poop. He never knew he had to go until he felt it enter his diaper. He knew he should mind much more than he did. His diapers were strangely comforting. The thick padding soothed him, made him feel protected and safe. His pacifier was another source of comfort. Chika and Ichiro made him feel loved. Even when he was in his adult mind, he enjoyed nursing his pacifier. Were those side effects of his conditioning, or had the conditioning led him to finding something he enjoyed? Ichiro enjoyed the big baby paraphernalia. Rather, he enjoyed babying Yuki with it, even when Yuki wasn’t in his baby mind. At the slightest inclination from Yuki, he was ready to go into daddy mode. To Yuki, Ichiro never fully seemed out of daddy mode.

Some of those I do like- That Girl, Addams Family, and the Munsters. Some of my other favorites are I Dream of Jeannie, Hazel, and Dennis the Menace. Laverne and Shirley as well, though theyr'e a bit more "recent" than the other shows lol.

In my house, most of the TV viewing is the stations that play older shows. :3 Turning tail and running would be the smart thing, but Bridget thinks they're just REALLY into role playing. :3

You sound just like an announcer for one of those old-time action/ adventure shows. I like it!

People pressed in on all sides as Bridget followed Deirdre and Moira down the street. Music blared from various bars and restaurants they passed. Most of it was modern; only one bar played Celtic rock, and none of them played traditional Irish music. So much for Celtic pride Bridget thought. It’s all just an excuse to drink. Like Americans need that. Occasionally, Deirdre threw a glance over her shoulder to make sure Bridget was still following. The red curls peeking out under her lime beanie bounced with every toss of her head. Bridget’s gaze stayed glued on Moira and her blonde curls, but Moira never looked back. Instead, Moira talked to Deirdre in Irish. Bridget moved closer so she was right behind them, focusing on the Gaelic lilt and trying to ignore the loud voices of tipsy passersby. She spoke very little Gaelic; she’d taught herself over the internet. Gaeilge, as the Irish called it. She couldn’t place their accents to any dialects- Munster, Connacht, Ulster. She didn’t detect any Scottish Gaelic or Manx intonations, either. This was a Gaelic accent she’d never heard before. Deirdre looked back, saw Bridget’s confused face, and giggled. Her and Moira turned a sharp left after a row of shops. Bridget paused, blinking. She knew this block well; she passed it several times a day. Bookstore, sandwich shop, coffee house, music shop then nothing. Yet there stood a small, shabby pub she’d never noticed before. Outside the door, a girl sat on a battered stool, smoking a long-stemmed pipe. A tweed flat cap sat upon her faded, dyed blue hair. Small braids interspersed the tangled curls. Deirdre and Moira headed straight for her. Bridget hesitated, looking behind her at the sea of people on the sidewalk. No one glanced at them; no one noticed the door and the strange girl. Bridget had the strange sensation no one could see them. “Katie!” Moira called out, skipping ahead of Deirdre. Her skirt flipped up, showing off her green diaper. Bridget’s heart fluttered. “What are you doing out here?” The blue haired girl puffed her pipe and rocked back on the rickety stool. “Just playing doorman for Oonagh. I had nothing better to do.” “Keeping the human’s out?” Moira looked at Bridget for the first time. Something hard in her eyes made Bridget flinch in surprise. She’d never seen Moira with that kind of expression. Moira was quiet, evasive, timid, but so soft and gentle. It was that coy sweetness that charmed Bridget in the first place and made her fall hard. Now lamb-like Moira gazed at Bridget like a lion sizing up a gazelle. “Yeah, something like that.” Katie followed Moira’s gaze, looking Bridget over. Bridget froze, Moira’s sudden animosity an arrow in her heart. Katie’s gaze was mildly curious, as if she was surprised a human had even approached the door. “Since when have humans been completely forbidden? Besides, she’s got a drop o’ Fae blood in her. Can’t you sense it? She’s not bone of our bone, but somewhere- probably far back- in her lineage, there’s a tad bit of our blood. Just a little drip, but it’s all she needs. I invited her, and she’s followed. Blood of our blood, bone of our bone. So she’s allowed in. We can always summon Oonagh if there’s a problem.” Deirdre stepped towards the door, a clear challenge to Katie. “She’d be better off out there, with the humans.” Moira frowned at Deirdre. “Doesn’t matter to me. You invited her; she’s your responsibility.” Katie shrugged and blew out several smoke rings in the shape of four leaf clovers. The smoke shamrocks drifted to Bridget; she coughed and stepped back, waving her hand to clear the smoke. Deirdre grinned, opening up the door. Moira shook her head in defeat and walked inside, passing Deirdre without a glance.

That would've helped Reila, but it would also mean she'd have to go and do actual work on her own. That isn't something she's inclined to do xD. With Nicky- well, magic/demons/ Christmas spirits thing kinda let him fly under the radar. Yes, Reila's lack of teeth would make her more easily manageable. I don't want to give any spoilers away, so I'll just say, stay tuned! Thank you both for commenting. :3

I agree- those would be the treatments more appropriate for Reila but much less fun for me as a writer. The judge thought he was doing Reila a favor by being lenient with her. That didn't work out too well, and here we are, with Reila squaring off with a..well, not *the* Krampus, but a creature from his family tree. xD

I think it would be a case of "any port in a storm will due."

"Being a big boy's not so bad, yeah?" Lili kept her eyes on the road as she pressed down on the gas pedal, weaving in and out of cars. "Yeah." He said softly, slipping his binky out of his pocket and popping it in his mouth. A soothing feeling like a warm wave washed over him and he relaxed into the leather seat, which he could not feel under the thick cushion of his diaper. "Still a baby boy, too." She laughed and he blushed at her teasing. He leaned back in his seat, feeling like he was going to fall without the sides of his carseat boxing him in, the harness holding him in place and pressing the thick padding against his crotch. He clutched the brown paper bag holding their ice cream; it crinkled in his hold with each movement, just like his diaper crinkled. "Such a noisy baby." Liliana changed lanes then brushed her fingers over his soft cheek in a caress before slipping a finger through the ring on his binky and popping it out of his mouth. He blushed and lowered his head, taking her action as a silent reprimand- babies belonged at home in their nurseries, just like Grandma Beatrice said. "Lili?" He asked softly as her fingers traced his lips. "Yeah?""Where we goin? Back home?""Nah, figured we'd go someplace to eat our ice cream since you didn’t wanna go inside. Maybe a park or something. Where there’s no people." No strangers around to make him anxious. "Oh." He fell silent, wondering what she meant. Maybe that's why she took his binky out?Silence fell between them. "Oh? Just oh? No questions? You're allowed to voice your opinion, too, you know." Cameron just shook his head. She was babysitting him, though he had never had a baby sitter before. His nannies just followed the established routine of feed him, change him. With Lili, life was anything but routine. He opened his lips to ask where they were going, but then quickly shut them. She was in charge, just like his grandmother, his teachers, his nannies. They decided what was going to happen; he was used to people making decisions for him; it had been inducted into him during his therapy time in the hospital, and he had lived most of his life abiding by that rule. It's just the way things were. But why not change the way things were? His eyes widened slightly at the thought. Could he really do that? "I-I...L-Lili?" His voice trembled, so soft it was barely a whisper."Yeah?" "Wh-where we going?""Do you really need to know?" She arched an eyebrow, making her tone firm to push him. She wanted to encourage him to push back, to have faith in himself and not back down. He flinched, cringing. "S-sowwy! I-" "Cameron." He curled in on himself at her firm tone, wondering what he had done wrong, shoulders hunching in, the ice cream bag crumpled. He had sat in the car while Lili had gone in to get the ice cream. He had done fine riding out, but had a panic attack the moment she went to open his door. After calming down, he had sat in the parking lot, just watching from the car through the windows while Liliana got their ice cream to-go. He had watched people coming and going, no one paid him any mind aside from the occasional stray glance noting some teen sitting in a car. Mapleton was a well to do area, and that meant that most of the cars here were as nice or nicer than Lili's. Her expensive, flashy was nothing special; just another rich kid with rich grandparents who bought her everything. If he had been a normal boy, or had been able to be mainstreamed, he would have a car like this, too. Hang out with his friends. His girlfriend. He blushed at the thought. Would he have met Lili, had he been in the normal classes? He knew how she behaved in class, but that was when she was 'on her best behavior, scout's honor'. Had he been normal, would she have been his girlfriend? Since he had been mentally un-regressed, he had seen girls his age and a few older he thought were cute. Some of his nannies were very pretty. But that was as far as it went. "Cameron." Lili said again, but he would not look at her. He just shook his head, confused. She sighed and just looked at him, barely keeping her attention on the road. "S-Sorry.." He made sure he talked like a big boy through his stuttering."You apologize too much. You're not a baby. " "Yes, I am." He kept his gaze focused on his feet. His slim body trembled. This was one certainty in his life he knew. She wanted him to be more vocal, to show more spine. Fine. This was one truth in he knew deep down in his bones."Plenty of adults wear diapers, too." He chewed his lip. "Not like mine. I-I like it. I-I don't want to give it up." His tone went even softer. It was true; he liked his diapers, he liked his pacifier. He found comfort on having a rubber nipple in his mouth to suck on. He liked his bottles, the security of his crib with his stuffed animals and blanket and the wooden bars surrounding him. He even liked his high chair and his bibs, his car seat. He would prefer to stay where he knew it was safe, where he felt secure. Too much in the world had hurt him already, and he did not want to experience any more of it. But being with Liliana....it was scary, it was dangerous....but also thrilling and fun. He liked being with her, wanted to spend more time with her. But he also wanted the safety and familiarity of being a baby."What?" She could not look at him to watch his lips move- her eyes flicked back to the road. "N-N-O!" Cameron stuttered out in a quick, stuttering yell as he objected to being a big boy, maybe giving up his babyhood. His eyes widened; he had not meant to be so forceful with his words. His frustration built up and she kept egging him on. Lili flicked her gaze to him for a second, surprised at his outburst, and she smiled. "That's my baby." Just then, a shiny red Lamborghini ran a red light as they approached an intersection. They were headed right towards the car. Lili had been doing the speed limit but was going too fast to stop. She swerved, and tires screeched as the car slid sideways, right off the road and onto the gravel side before sliding to a stop. The force of motion sent the ice cream bag flying to the floor. Cameron's body flung about, the seat belt holding him in, going taut as he flew sideways, the thick nylon strap digging into his neck. Cameron's heart pounded and he was not sure what just happened. Clouds of dust from the disturbed gravel kicked up, enveloping both cars. Lili's grip on the steering wheel was knuckle white. She let out the tense breath she had been holding. "Cameron, baby? You okay?" She looked over at him anxiously, voice filled with concern. He was her first priority. He was shaking from head to toe and really, really wished he was in his car seat. When he was a baby, things like this never happened. He should have stayed home, safe in his nursery. His diaper flooded with warmth as his nerves let loose. She laid a hand on his cheek, turning his head to her. He was still wide-eyed in shock. "Baby?" She could not see any marks or bruises on him, except for a red mark on his neck from the seat belt. She unfastened her seat belt and laid a gentle finger on his red mark; he flinched. "It hurts?" Cameron shook his head, still feeling numb and tingly all over. Her words didn't register in his brain; just so much noise in his ears. He opened his mouth, but the words would not come out. His body was still processing what had happened, reality slowly sinking in through the insulating layer of shock that had temporarily shut his brain off. They narrowly avoided a car crash. They could have died. His trembling increased and he let out a little, terrified whimper. "Shh. Baby. " Lili found herself shaking as well as she undid Cameron's seat belt then slid her arms around his tiny waist, drawing him to her. He quivered in her arms, soft and warm. Alive. She found the warmth of his body reassuring, the soft, quick huffs of his breath brushing against her throat. The movements of his fingers as they twisted into the material of her hoodie. Safe. Alive. That was all that mattered. Over the top of Cameron's head, in the passenger side mirror, she saw a hulking, huge figure approaching the driver's side. The male walked with a particular long-gaited, swaggering stride as if his ego was too big for his huge, linebacker body to contain. Her eyes narrowed. She knew that stride, that figure. She slipped Cameron's binky back into his mouth. She was trying to encourage him to be a big boy and have some fun with her, but after this, surely use of a binky would count. And Beatrice could just go kiss her ass for letting her grandson suck his binky in public. Cameron blinked at the sudden return of his beloved binky, automatically sucking on the rubber nipple that filled his mouth, but found more comfort in the security and warmth of Lili's arms. Warmth that pulled away. Still shaking, he clung to her, gripping her shirt tightly and whimpering in protest. He wanted to stay like that, just a little longer.... "Baby. Shh. I'll be right back. You're safe. It's over." Lili kissed his cheek and pressed her cell phone into his hands. "You know how to dial 911, yeah?" Cameron nodded, though he did not have a cell phone. He was just a big baby- cell phone was not needed nor encouraged. But, when he had been attempted to be mainstreamed, his therapists had taught him to do things like normal big boys did- simple things like use a cell phone. Dialing 911 was simple enough; find key pad on the screen, hit 911, hit send button. But that was only for emergencies; no one had been hurt, there was no crash, so why....? "Lili?" He whimpered. "Shh." Another kiss, this one to his forehead. "Just in case, yeah? Just sit here. If I'm not back in a few minutes, call 911. It’s easy. Just do what I say. You’re a good baby, yeah?" Her eyes bore into his, fervent. He whined, softly, but nodded. Just before she turned, her soft, worried expression hardened into one of blazing anger, full lips pressing together, eyes narrowed. Lili turned to exit the car. Panic flashed through him and he reached out, grabbing her sleeve. "L-Lili." What was going on? Why was she suddenly so angry? Just as angry as his father had been when he had come home in wet pants. As angry as Nanny Isabelle. Exact same expression on the face of someone he loved. Old fear spiked through him, but he swallowed his whine, sucking hard on his binky and trying not to think of those old, haunting demons. Not now. He could not have an episode right now, he had to be a big boy. Stay here, in the present. His hold tightened on Lili's arm. "Baby." Her soft voice, calling him. "You can do this. Trust me, yeah?" Her voice wrapped around him, and he clung to it, to the solidity of her wrist under his hands, using her strength to draw himself back to the present. "I'll be right back. Cameron?" "..k-kay." He lisped behind his binky, his shaking dying down to a fine trembling. A little bit of drool slipped down his chin and plopped onto his hoodie. He should have had a bib on, but he did not even notice. He let her go, hugging himself, clutching her phone to his chest and curling up on the seat. He kept his eyes on her as she turned and walked towards the approaching man. "You stupid bitch! You nearly hit my fucking car!" The man snarled. In his rage, spittle flung from his lips. Cameron's heart leapt into his throat. That was no grown man, despite his size- that was Mad Max, the star quarterback of the football team. Priscilla's ex-boyfriend. The mayor's son. Mapleton High's golden boy, who could do no wrong. Senior and star of the varsity squad. Still not fully grown, and already hulking. Broad shoulders, a walking slab of good looks and muscles. “You fucking cunt!” Max snarled at her. "Kiss your mother with that mouth?" Liliana's face was hard, her gaze ice cold and her voice clipped, full of snark. "L-Liliana!" The rage fell from Max's face in shock, surprised to see her of all people there. The girl he had tried to sleep with several times, had tried to get with after seeing Priscilla. The girl he imagined laying on Priscilla's bed, spreading her legs for him. Their bodily fluids combining on Prissy's old bedsheets, the same bed where he had once taken Priscilla. He almost got to bed her, once. But Lili...her scar freaked him the fuck out. Lili's mocking laughter as she taunted him with that horrid scar until he'd run from her once more. He left her laughing in the bed where he once fucked her cousin. After that night, he had tried to get with her again- she was so casual about shit; she wanted none of that romance garbage the other bitches were into. And he just knew the slut was great in bed. Then, the bitch had rejected him. Repeatedly. He was just a notch in her belt. Fucking whore. "Just Lili. And you ran the red light, ran me right off the road." She crossed her arms under those deliciously plump breasts, their roundness and fullness visible even through the small hoodie she wore. Max stared at them, remembering the weight of them in his hands. She knew where he was staring, but she did not correct him. Not just yet. "The light was yellow, you were the one who ran the light and hit me." His voice was firm, rage tinged down by his awakening sex drive. She had rejected him, and his cock still yearned for her. Any of the pretty girls at school would happily bend over for him, and the one he had chosen wanted nothing to do with him. Who the hell was the slut fucking that could be better than him? Some obnoxious college asshole? Lili shifted, arms under her breasts pushing them up and making them jiggle, taunting him. Max's eyes stayed glued to them... "Liar. Our light was green the whole way." "You'll have to prove it." She smirked. "And so will you. I have a witness." Max's eyes flashed to the car, and he spluttered. He knew that pretty face, knew what horrors hid beneath his clothing. His jaw dropped. "What the fuck? Freddy Kreugar? You're fucking Freddy Kreugar? Seriously? He shits his pants- he's- he's a fucking big baby!" His senses reeled, his universe sideways. Liliana dressed like a freak, but she was so fucking cool, just like Prissy. They even talked alike; on Facebook he couldn't tell which one it was, though he knew it was Lili. She typed just like Prissy and all the other girls he knew. But she never joined their circle, not fully. Sure, she’d come to her senses, ditched that goth shit and dressed normal, but she was still a fucking weird, pierced freak. And here she was, fucking the freak Prissy had loved to make fun of, taught them all how much fun it was. And it was. "Cameron, dickwad. His name is Cameron." Her voice was cool and hard as he raged like an inferno. He snarled, then laughed. "You're fucking Freddy Krueger. Wait 'til I tell everyone. " He stepped past her, heading towards the car and the boy he used to have such fun tormenting. Aside from that ridiculous pacifier, the boy looked almost normal. Maybe he should rip his pants off like he did in gym class once, see if the hideous fucker still wore diapers. He laughed maliciously. Lili blocked his way, her breasts pushing into his chest as she invaded his personal space. In the car, Cameron shook, his eyes huge. Max licked his lips, Liliana forgotten. Here he was, no one around, and given access to his once-favorite punching bag, the perfect thing to take his anger and frustrations out. And said punching bag had stolen his girl. He would make his world right again; kick the pants-shitter's ass, pound him good and teach him a lesson. Make Lili realize who she should be with. "Touch him, and I'll fucking kill you like I did that puppy." She snarled in a deadly soft voice. Max backed up at the sudden challenge to his personal space, even though Lili was shorter and female. She advanced, hips swaying. "What? You said it wasn't true!" She smiled. "And Prissy alway told you it was. Didn't you used to call me 'that fucking little psycho' when you were with her?" Lili challenged him with lies sweet as poisoned honey. "Yeah, I killed that puppy. Fucked it up real good. Poured gasoline on it. Set it on fire." The incident was old, but not forgotten, so scandalous it lingered in the community's collective knowledge and gossip mill like an old winter coat hung out in the closet in summer. She toyed with Max- there had never been any gasoline or fire on the puppy and she was not the one who hurt it, but rumor had blown the incident out of proportion and twisted it sideways. "Knew you were fucked in the head-" Max's snarl was cut off as she came closer to him. He backed up some more. "Just think of what I'll do to a human. What I did to Prissy." Liliana's black lipstick covered lips curved into a sinister, mocking smile and the metal rings on her lower lip glinted in the afternoon sun. She was good at lying; so good her lies sounded like God's gospel truth. "That was an accident. You weren't even here." He took another step back. She sashayed forward so close he could feel the heat of her body. "Sure about that, Maxie-pad? Bet your life on it?" "You're fucking psycho! You should be locked up! Insane bitch!" He burst out, raising his fist to make her back up. Lili did not move. "Go ahead. I'm warning you, mess with me, and I'll fuck you up real good. You might be Daddy's Golden Penis, and most of the adults don't like me much. But it's common knowledge how badly you fucked Cameron up in the past. Your daddy had quite the time sweeping that scandal under the rug. The town's infamous burned boy bullied to the point of suicide. And now, here's the town's star lunk head, at it again. I'm sure you really want to stir up that pot of shit with football scouts from colleges sniffing around to see if you're university football material. " Her words sunk in, penetrating the rage and he lowered his fist. Get into a good college, one with a stellar football team. Make it to the pros. If he screwed that up because of some old scandal, for once he was afraid of what his father would do. Take away his car, throw him out, disown him. Max's father never disciplined him; it was the only thing he ever drove into Max's head. The only thing he was firm on. His father had hollered at him over the incident with Cameron, only when said incident became public knowledge and newspaper articles had been written about it. He had almost lost it then, almost was kicked off the team. Only Mrs. Beatrice's cooperation with his father and Priscilla's grandmother had help stopped the scandal. Lili watched Max's face intently as the emotions flickered over it. "You just stay the hell out of my way and leave me alone, and I'll leave you alone. Cameron's my plaything now, not yours. Just forget about him. Understand?" Max's huge hands balled into ham-like fists. "You'd better watch your back, psychotic bitch." Liliana shook her head, heaving a falsely disappointed sigh. " You're just as stupid as you look. Maybe dumber. And you'd better watch all your sides. I'm telling you, mess with me and I'll fuck you up so good. As good as I fucked Pissy Prissy up. Maybe even better." "You threatening me?" His voice shook with rage and he started to raise a fist to swing at her. Lili moved fast. His ham-like fist was only partially extended when pain erupted in his groin, enveloping his entire being, followed by several more waves of pain as her knee, then her booted foot found contact with his genitals. He curled in on himself, falling to the gravel. Lili's boot planted firmly on his chest, forcing him onto his back. She bent low, one hand on his throat, squeezing in just the right place to put pressure on his trachea and make his eyes bulge as his airflow was cut off. He was aware of nothing but the pain washing over him and the psychotic bitch above him, pressing down. Her eyes were deadly intent and serious. Lili smirked down at him. "Listen, Missing Link. Accidents happen. You don't want an accident to happen to you like it did to Prissy, do you?" She bent low, weight on her hands, in turn putting more pressure on his neck. He gurgled, gasping as his breath was cut off. Her free hand fished in his pocket, pulling out his keys. She stood up, releasing him and jumping back in case he tried to lunge, but the pain in his swelling, throbbing groin was too great. He closed his eyes, trying to ride the waves of pain drowning him and gasping, drawing deep ragged breaths into his hungry lungs. Her sharp bark of laughter cut into him, making him open his eyes and look at her. "If you were smart, you'll have learned your lesson. Don't fuck with me. Simple, yeah, stupid? " She turned to go back to her car and the wide-eyed, effeminate boy in it. As she did, she tossed his car keys down the nearby storm pipe. Lili found Cameron curled up on the passenger seat, knees as close to his chest as his titanic diaper would allow. He hugged himself, face buried between his knees. Her cellphone lay on the seat by his feet. He shook all over, looking so fragile and vulnerable it broke her heart. “Cameron? Baby?” Lili touched his shoulder. At the feather-light tap, his head popped up. His eyes were wide and glassy, pupils dilated in fear. His cheeks were dry; at least he hadn’t been crying. Somehow that made it worse, like he was terrified past the point of tears. He suckled noisily on his pacifier; a little drool dribbled down his chin. “Wiwi, yew awive!” Lili, you’re alive. He lisped in baby babble around the rubber nipple filling his mouth. He flung himself into her arms. She kissed the top of his head and held him tight. “Shh. Baby, it’s okay. It’s over.” She cooed reassuringly, rubbing soothing circles on his back while rocking slightly. He buried his face in her neck, wanting to hide from the world. The button of his paci pressed into her skin, moving in and out as he sucked in his agitation. He knew this was a bad idea. He was safer in his nursery. Safer as a baby. “Baby, it’s alright. No one got hurt. Nothing’s broken.” Lili continued to croon in a reassuring mantra. She kept it up as she felt his shaking die down to quivering then to a fine tremble. He was reacting badly to the near accident. Worse than she thought was normal. Part of that was due to Max, his former tormentor. Seeing that bully scared him worse than the almost accident. Despite all his therapy, he still carried deep emotional scars. Lili’s words of reassurance washed over him as garbled noise, but her gentle tone was a soothing balm to his frazzled nerves. Gradually he calmed down. Eventually he pulled back just enough to peer up at her. “Go home, peese?” He lisped. “Yeah. Home. And a warm milky baba for you. Maybe a story, yeah?” Lili thought finishing up with a nice nap for him would help him calm down and recover from his emotional turmoil. She wouldn’t mind some cuddles herself. His soft, warm body in her arms soothed her own raging emotions. Tamed her anger, fear and worry like a flute soothing a savage beast. Focusing on taking care of Cameron forced her to push her own feelings aside, get her priorities in line. Make her think and act instead of an emotional gut-reaction. Cameron just nodded his head in agreement, too drained for words. Fear, worry, and anxiety ebbed, leaving him exhausted. A bottle and cuddling with Lili in the safety of his nursery was all he wanted right now. She eased him back into his seat and he whimpered softly in protest. He wanted to stay in the warm security of her embrace. “Sh. You just need to play big boy a little longer. Until we get home. I know you can do it.” Lili kissed one soft cheek; the metal tips of her spike snakebite piercings tickled. He whimpered again, puppy dog eyes begging to be held for just a little longer. “Baby. Shh.” She gently chided as she fastened his seat belt. The corner of her sweater wiped the drool off his chin. As she sat back into her own seat, her eyes flicked up into the rearview mirror, where she saw Max stumbling about, shakily looking for his keys. He’d be pulling himself back together soon and he’d realize where she’d put his keys. “We really should beat feet.” She started up Prissy’s expensive, sleek sports car and calmly pulled out, leaving Max in her wake. Cameron sighed contentedly with a mouth full of creamy, sweet, warm chocolate milk. Some leaked from the corners of his mouth to dribble down his chin and onto his bib as he nursed the bottle. Lili’s arm cradled and supported his head, his cheek squished up against one of her magnificent breasts. Her other hand held his bottle. He felt as helpless yet safe as an infant cradled in its mother’s arms. He lay sideways across her lap, his legs dangling over the wooden armrest of the rocking chair. His chest rose and fell with his soft breathing as he drifted closer to sleep. Lili hummed a tuneless lullabye while she rocked him. The squeaks of the wooden chair mixed with her off-tune hum. “Such a good baby. You’re feeling better now, yeah? All cozy and sleepy.” Lili cooed. Cameron opened his sleep-heavy eyes half way, the most he could manage. “I remember you asked about the scars on my back.” Lili started but corrected herself when his brows wrinkled in confusion. “My boo-boos? I can tell you a story about them.” His pretty face smoothed out in understanding at her use of boo-boos, showing that in his sleepy state he defaulting to his usual toddler speech. He barely listened to her words; her soft tone combined with the milk filling his belly and the warmth of her body tugged him over closer to sleep. Lili watched his eyes drift shut again. She smiled. “Not very long ago, but far away, a rich old man and his rebellious granddaughter went to Sumatra, a big island in western Indonesia. It’s...in neighborhood of Australia. Sort of. It’s a...very different place from America. They were there to help set up a wildlife reserve for Sumatran tigers. The old man donated a shit load of money and local officials kissed his ass. They threw a party in his honor. Now, the old man’s assistant joined him, and she brought along her grandson. He was the same age as the old man’s granddaughter. He was a wild child, but not as wild as the girl. They were good friends, and they did something bad. Very, very bad by sharia standards.” Lili laughed like she found that funny. Bad. The word popped Cameron’s contented, sleepy bubble and curdled the milk in his tummy. He opened his eyes with a soft whine. He shifted his legs, making his huge diaper crinkle and rustle. Growing up, he’d been told many times by his father, his grandmother, and Nanny Isabel he was bad. He didn’t like where this story was going. This story wasn’t a story at all; Lili was telling him something that had happened to her. “Shh. It’ll be good for you to know this, so let me finish, baby.” Lili softened her reprimand with a kiss to the tip of his head. Cameron closed his eyes and let her continue while he idly toyed with the bottle’s nipple. His tummy was full and he didn’t feel like drinking anymore, so he just chewed the rubber nipple. “So, the boy and girl got caught and punished-” Lili intended to skip over the more brutal aspects. She wasn’t ashamed of what she’d done. Hell, she’d do it again. She felt no need to be ashamed. But revealing that would show Cameron a side of her she didn’t want him to see. She was afraid he’d look at her the same way he looked at Prissy. Like a monster. Cameron was so fragile, so vulnerable; exposing him to the ugly side of her might destroy the relationship she was still trying to nurture. “Whad dey dew?” Cameron lisped around the rubber nipple filling his mouth. Milk trickled down his chin like drool. Lili paused, caught off guard at the unexpected question. “What did we do?” She’d understood his garbled toddler lips; she was just stalling for time. He nodded, head bobbing against her breast. She bit her lip, staring down at him. He was a big baby, but he was also a big boy, too. Knowing what she’d been through might help him come to terms with his own past. Not that she was expecting a miracle or anything. She just wanted to help him as much as she could. Regression Therapy had helped him heal as much as he could from the mental, emotional, and physical trauma he’d been through. Knowing someone who went through something similar might help him feel less alone in the world. Could bring her and Cameron even closer together, like their scars did. “Um. Yeah? Well...we got....things that are okay to do here are really not okay over there. Different cultures and laws, yeah? Alcohol is a big no-no over there. So is sex outside of marriage.” Cameron frowned at her stumbling words. He remembered overhearing the normal kids in class talking about parties and dates, where they drank and had sex. Priscilla drank a lot. And she had sex a lot. Lili was more like the normal kids than he’d ever be. He shivered at the thoughts of Lili getting drunk and having sex. He knew she was bad- she talked back to teachers and got in trouble at school a lot. But this was very bad. Even here in America, Lili was too young to drink. This was not breaking a few parental or school rules, this was breaking the law. Lili smiled down sadly at his horrified look. Her heart lurched in her chest. This was the side of her she didn’t want him to see. He’d asked, and for once in her life, she felt compelled to tell the truth. He’d bared his soul to her the first time he’d let her change him. He’d been so vulnerable when he let her see all his scars, let her touch the intimate parts of his body and his heart. To lie now and cover up her own ugliness felt like a betrayal. Like lying to him would drive a wedge between them and destroy the trust he had in her. But telling him came with its own risk; the truth might change how he saw her. Make him pull away from her. Maybe he’d fear her as he did Prissy. Lili’s tongue toyed with the backs of her lip spikes as she stared down into his wide eyes. He said nothing, just kept chewing on the bottle’s nipple. Chocolate milk speckled his once-clean bib. Cameron stared back up at her as the silence stretched out. She couldn’t look away as her insides twisted up in apprehension. She had to know what he felt, what he was thinking. “Baby?” She prodded in a strained whisper. Seeing the anxiety in her face, Cameron timidly reached up with one trembling hand to touch his fingertips to her cheek. He wanted to reassure her as she’d reassured him so many times. Bold Lili, afraid? That emotion on her face puzzled him. Lili feared nothing- she’d even intimidated Max. Now she looked at him like she was expecting him to bite her. He’d often looked at Max and Prissy like that. He forced a smile and patted her cheek. “Liwi is Wiwi. I wike Wiwi.” Lili was Lili; he still liked her. Lili closed her eyes. “There’s...some more. So..we screwed, yeah? And we kinda….recorded it…” she finished in a small voice. Whore. Slut. Rutting bitch. Lili had been called all those names and worse. She didn’t give a damn; she’d shrugged it all off. Hell, she’d egged the responses on with taunts of her own. But Cameron’s opinion…. Cameron tried to push the nipple out of his mouth with his tongue, but Lili still held the bottle to his lips. He settled back to chewing on the nipple. His hand fell from her cheek. Screw? He remembered hearing that word in normal classes when he’d been mainstreamed. The students used that word a lot. He knew it meant to have sex. Some of the normal students, judging from the conversations he’d overheard, did that a lot, too. Or at least they talked about doing it a lot and lied about how much they did it. He understood the physical concepts of sex, but it was also very confusing and complicated. Adult stuff he wasn’t ready for or interested in. But taping it? That sounded like the porn stuff the normal boys talked about. Just how bad was Lili? Lili watched the confusion on his face clear to apprehension. She closed her eyes, unable to take the look on his face anymore. His timid touches had reassured her that he didn’t completely fear her. But he didn’t completely trust her, either, as evidenced by the look on his face. She had shattered the trust between them, just as she’d feared. “Soo...long story short, we were punished. Asha’s grandson got some baby time so he’d learn to be a good boy. And I got a few souvenirs on my back from the local law. No big deal.” She forced a hollow laugh and smiled. “I was bad, too.” Cameron said softly, finally pulling his head away from the bottle. Turning his head smooshed his face into Lili’s boob. It was soft and warm through her shirt, like snuggling a living pillow. Sometimes Lili reminded Cameron of Prissy. Not just in their similar looks, but in their personalities. In their words and deeds. He also saw the pain Lili was trying and failing to hide. He didn’t understand why she was afraid of what he thought; did she really care about him that much? Lili might be bad, but she was also caring, gentle, strong and brave. Things that he’d never be. “Yeah?” Lili prompted as she gingerly touched the fading yellow bruise under his eye from his ball. He had a similar pacifier shield shaped bruise around his lips from Nanny Isabel pressing his paci down hard when he wouldn’t stop crying. At her touch, Cameron didn’t wince or cringe away. He just stared up at her with his big, dark doe eyes. His skin tingled where she touched. Her fingertips glided down to trace the edges of the pacifier shaped bruise ringing his soft lips. “And what did you do, baby?” “Too noisy. Nanny Isabel was watching TV. She got mad.” His words were very soft. “She should’ve been watching you.” A dark look washed over her face. He closed his eyes, snuggling against her breast and saying nothing. He wouldn’t argue, though he thought Lili was wrong. He was a bad boy for interrupting Nanny Isabel. She was gone now, so either way it didn’t matter. “Well, she should’ve.” Lili snorted her indignation. She saw the doubt on Cameron’s face and knew he blamed himself for the incident. She kissed his forehead. His cheeks grew rosy warm with a pink blush. Lili started humming again, rocking him until he fell asleep. With his eyes closed, he missed the storm clouds rolling in on her face; the same expression she wore when she thought of Prissy. They fell into an easy routine as the weather grew colder. Late fall bled into early winter. Cameron’s nanny for the morning shift took him to school, but Lili picked him up. The first day, she’d startled Ms. Sweeney and Mrs. Vesper. Her new look shocked them so much they momentarily thought she was Priscilla. Not even her snake bite piercings gave her away. Lili played along, poisonously polite until Cameron cried out, “Lili!” and flung himself into her arms for a hug. Ms. Sweeney laughed and shook her head at Lili’s joke. Mrs. Vesper just scowled, looking like she sucked on a lemon. Ms. Sweeney elbowed Mrs. Vesper. “Oh, lighten up, you old grump. She’s just joking.” Lili’s new preppy look was the center of the normal students’ gossip mill. Lili fabricated many stories for her wardrobe change just to feed the frenzy. Deep inside, she missed all her shades of black and skulls. Her behavior improved. Somewhat. She was more careful not to get caught. She spent her afternoons taking care of Cameron instead of in detention. That was the only change she liked; it was what she’d been aiming for. He trusted her so completely, and Asha was off her back. Lili knew Asha was watching; she always was. The incident with Prissy just reaffirmed that she was always watching. But this new breathing room….if Lili was careful, her long ago plan was about to come to fruition. The idea was simply too delicious to resist. She just had to be sure it was Prissy and not Cameron who got hurt. “Lili!” Cameron raced across the regression classroom in a wobbly waddle as fast as his gargantuan, noisy diaper would allow. Today he wore jean overalls with a long sleeve red onesie. A red and blue train decorated the front bib of his overalls. The poppers on his crotch had popped open from the bulky diaper, revealing sagging yellowed plastic padding. His bib was white terry cloth trimmed in red with a brown teddybear in a diaper. His bib flapped with his jerky movements while his pacifier bounced on its clip. He waved a piece of construction paper excitedly. “Hey, Cam. Did you have a good day at school? Lili caught his soft body in her arms, hugging him tight while he buried his face in her shoulder. She poked at his exposed diaper, checking how soggy he was before snapping the poppers on his onesie then his overalls. “Uh-huh. I drew dis for yew!” He lisped in excited toddler babble. He thrust the paper at her with a big smile. A childish sketch in crayon of a girl in a black dress with purple lips and a boy in long-sleeve green shirt and blue pants with an obvious diaper bulge. They stood inside a wood box up in a big, leafy tree. “Dat’s yew and me in my twee house. In summer. I’m not allowed in any more cuz I’m a baby. But when I was in big boy classes I could. It’s waay back in Gwandma’s gawden. Maybe yew take me up dere? Peese?” His eyes shined up at her, full of hope. Ms. Sweney stared at Cameron, taken aback. This was the most out going she’d ever seen the boy. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen him smile like that. He used a lot of big boy words, too, sprinkled in with his usual lisp. He’d been speaking more and more like a big boy lately. He seemed actually happy, not just faking happy. At school, he was still quiet and obedient, but his smiles were bigger. His whole face lit up at the end of the day when Lili picked him up. He giggled more, too. Towards the end of the day, she’d catch him staring at the clock at fidgeting, his diaper rustling noisily. He couldn’t wait for Lili. “Good job. You worked really hard on this. I can tell.” Lili praised. Cameron nodded his head. “I love it. Thank you.” She kissed his forehead then took his hand. Mrs. Vesper handed her Cameron’s brightly colored, childish backpack with a scowl. Lili just smiled sweetly as she took it. “I carry?” He asked, reaching for the bag. Lili carried her own backpack; he wanted to show her he was a big boy. “You’re silly.” Lili slung his bookbag over her shoulder, on top of her own. Hand in hand, they left the school. Cameron crinkled along at her side. His diaper bulged out a if fighting his pants. There was no hiding all that bulky padding swaddling his thin, tiny frame. Lili buckled him into his carseat, where he felt safe and secure. The incident with Max was the end of his riding up front. He just wasn’t ready for that yet. “Juice, peese?” He lisped as Lili fastened his carseat harness. The soft adding cocooned him just like his diapers and made him feel protected. It was soft and comfortable after sitting on a hard wooden chair practically all day with only his diaper for cushion. He wiggled, getting as situated as much as the restrictive straps would allow. Lili pawed through his diaper bag in search of his bottle. His nannies kept his diaper bag immaculate, but Lili wasn’t nearly as tidy. “Here you go, baby.” “Tank yew.” He reached out for the juice, but as soon as his fingertips brushed the bottle, she pulled it out of his reach with a giggle. He pouted up at her, giving her puppy dog eyes. He knew she was just teasing. She smiled at him, brushing the rubber nipple against his pink lips then pulling it away soon as he opened his mouth. “Wiwi!” He whined, straining against the straps as he reached out. He grunted and felt warm pee spurt into his already swampy diaper. “You’re adorable.” Her lips pressed against his soft cheek, stealing a kiss as she finally slid the nipple into his mouth. His teeth clamped down hard on the nipple so she couldn’t steal his bottle again. He whined in protest, so she stole another kiss. He sucked; cool apple juice filled his mouth. He held it with one hand while picking up his paci that dangled from its clip. He poked the nipple at her lips, making her draw back. “Okay, you win.” He giggled around his bottle. Juice bubbled in the corners of his mouth and trickled down his chin and onto his already stained bib. Lili shut the back door then went to get behind the wheel. She just opened her own door when a shout echoed across the student parking lot “Hey, bitch! We’ve got some unfinished business.” Max snarled. Ever since the near-accident, he’d kept his distance, especially in school and in front of the teachers. Outside of school, their paths hadn’t crossed. “My recruitment fell through because of that diaper-shitting tard. He owes me.” “Fuck off. We owe you jackshit, douchebag.” Lili flipped her middle finger up as she climbed into the car, slamming the door shut on Max’s retaliatory scream. Tires squealed as she pulled out of the lot, forcing Max to jump back. Rubber burn marks smoked on the pavement. “Tch. Stupid asshole. I should chop his dick off.” Lili muttered to herself then glanced in the rearview mirror to check on Cameron. He trembled, whimpering softly as he fought off old memories of all the times Max had bullied him. He bit down hard on the soft nipple of his bottle, eyes scrunched close as he struggled to control his breathing. To calm down. Stay here and now, not get lost in old, painful memories. “Cam-cam? You’re safe. It’s okay, baby.” Her gentle, concerned words washed over him, soothing his anxiety. Twice, Liliana had stood up to Max. He was safe with her; she’d never hurt him. He relaxed slowly, breaths still shaky as he slowly nursed his ba-ba. He peeked up through his thick, inky black eyelashes to see Lili watching him in the mirror. He forced a small smile. “I’m okay.” Lili stared at him for a few more heartbeats then drove on. Lili pulled through the gate and up the long, looping drive to the McLeod mansion. They passed a small, employee parking lot on the side of the house along with an employee entrance. Technically, as the babysitter, she should’ve parked there. But as a fellow blueblood, she parked in the family and visitor’s lot. Prissy’s flashy car would stand out in the employee lot like a sore thumb. Even the well paid maids and chef couldn’t afford the overpriced luxury cars the upper crust of Mapleton drove. The employee cars were nice, most of them newer models popular with the middle class. No rust buckets or clunkers on their last legs. Yet the vehicles seemed small and sad in comparison to the family lot, representing the very different worlds the rich and their employees lived in. The servants were paid well, but they were still servants. Lili’s life in India hadn’t been the lap of luxury it was in America. Like everyone else on the conservation, she’d had chores. Grandpa Jack had house servants that cooked and cleaned, but Lili still woke up before dawn to feed the tigers, clean cages and enclosures, shovel tiger shit- and all of that before her own breakfast and studies. “We’re the rulers of the world. Flawed and vain. We deserve what we get.” She snorted in disgust as she parked in the family lot and slammed the driver door shut. Cameron had calmed down by now and his bottle was empty. He still held the bottle, chewing on the rubber nipple. Saliva bubbled in the corners of his mouth, dribbled down his chin, and spattered his teddy bear bib. His smile was shaky as Lili opened his car door. “Not you, sweetheart. Never you.” She muttered to herself as she took the bottle off him and replaced it in the diaper bag. “What? Lili?” Cameron glanced at her face and frowned at the dark expression. Instantly, he wondered if he’d done something to upset her. “I sowwy.” Feeling insecure, he slipped into his toddler lisp. “What?” LIli shook her head to clear her thoughts, pressing the red release button on his carseat’s harness. “No, baby. You didn’t do anything. You’re a good boy. Such a good boy.” She cooed reassuringly, using her sleeve to tenderly wipe away drool from his pink lips. Instead of feeling placated, Cameron continued to frown. She’d looked very upset when she’d opened the door. Even if he hadn't done anything wrong, he still wanted to know what was wrong with her. Maybe he could help her feel better? “What wong, Wiwi?” She smiled and shook her head. “Nothing, baby. Just contemplating the unfairness of the world. Philosophy really goes down better with alcohol.” She laughed sadly and tugged on his soft hand. “Ah, forget it. I’m being stupid. Let’s go get an after-school snack, yeah?” Cameron let her help him out of the car. His soggy diaper barely crinkled. He gazed down at his red velcro sneakers. His diaper swelled as he peed; a few crotch snaps popped open and yellow, saggy plastic peeped out. He didn’t bat an eye; he was now used to Lili changing his diapers and seeing all the ugly, burned bits of him. “The world’s never been fair. I don’t know where people get that idea from.” He spoke like a big boy, voice so soft Lili barely heard him. “Hm? Cameron? Baby?” Lili was so shocked at his soft words, she wasn’t sure she heard him correctly. Cameron shook his head, staring at his shoes. The swollen bulk of his ginormous diaper kept his legs splayed and prevented his toes from touching. He popped his thumb in his mouth, wishing for his pacifier. He couldn’t repeat himself. The bravery to voice an opinion out loud fled just as sudden as it came. “I sowwy.” Lili gently pulled his thumb out and slipped his pacifier into his mouth. “You’re right, baby. You’re right. The world’s never been a fair place. Maybe it’s humanity’s hope, our arrogance, that makes us believe we can change it. Make the world fair.” She snorted. “We really are a stupid species.” She looked at him, smiled, and gave his hand a little squeeze. Behind the plastic shield, Cameron smiled back. He let Lili lead him inside, to the kitchen for a snack.