Long Night's Work

"It's great to see you again as well." She sat down on the couch, and looked around. "So how's the Queens life? And forgive if I'm on a first name base, I'm too busted up for the entire royal stuff."

She shook her head. "You're my mother you are find for that." She then sat down next to her. "It's ok." She then cuddled with her.

"Things got sticky on my end, so I dropped things. Quite a few. Simply no longer bothering with the lives of the rest."

She looked up at her as she lay her head on C.C.'s lap. "Hmm...It gets tough here every now and then."

"That's what it's like to rule. You have to make the decisions."

She nodded. "But you and Tsun prepared me for it." She then smiled. "And I'm glad you did."

"Well, I had to have a hobby, so." She teased Namide with her hair.

She looked up at her and curled up. "Hmm..." She was wrapping her tail around c.c's leg. "Oka-san....about teri...she's been through a living hell....and Tsun is all she has. Please to take care of her." She then looked up at her. "But don't be soft on her either. Treat her like you did me when I was that age."

"You were horrible as a baby. It's a surprise you got this responsible. Whenever you didn't get to eat when you wanted to, you'd cry the entire staff together."

"Ah..good times."

"But don't worry, I know how to handle little kids. I mean, you ended up fine didn't you? More or less."

She looked up at her. "Just don't be too stern with her. She's kind of mischievous...according to her files from many orphanages."

"I could slap the mischievous out of her. But I'm not like that. I'd rather tickle it out."

She laughed a bit. "You do that." She then sat up and looked to her. "I thought about your offer with Guilford...that sounds nice I can say my final farewells to him then as well."

"It'll take a bit of effort to set up, but it should be possible."

She nodded. "I've missed you Oka-San." She then hugged her.

It was only a mere 10 minutes later, that C.C. had gone off to set things up, that she returned.But she wasn't alone. Behind her, a shadow was stirring, one that was free from any object.

She blinked looking at C.C. "Oka-san..."

"Don't worry. He's only here for the process. He's not gonna take anyone along." From the shadow, a creature rose. It was black, had a red pointed collar, and white foggy hair. "Guilford, it was?" His voice was deep and dark.

She nodded and then looked him over. "So....you're..in charge of the people who die?"

"I'm Darkrai. I'm the new Death." He held up his claw like hand, and a black orb was created in it. His bright shining blue eye was fixed on Namide, while C.C. had taken a few steps back.

She stayed there and watched him.

The orb then became bigger, and in a second time, it concealed Namide and Darkrai. "Focus."

She looked to him. "On what?"

A faint figure became visible, and in a minute time, Guilford was standing in front of Namide. Darkrai was still in visual range. "It's the echo of who he was, before we claimed him. It's the man you knew."