Xaviers!

"Madame Ealdwine is coming too? Zen who will remain to look after monsieur Spencer?"

"She will remain here to look after Edmond." Chisaki clarified.

"Ooooooooh, yes, zis makes much more sense." Colette was a little relieved, and not just for Edmond's safety. She'd already been juiced by the woman, she didn't want to see a less... rebounding person suffer the same fate. The pink woman fidgeted a bit, looking for the right words now that she was a little bit more clear-headed, returning to an earlier subject.

"Chii-tan, do you remember back when we first became roommates? You explained to me ze importance of being in control of your appearance around ozers?"

"Yes... Why?"

"I zink zat, at zat time, I told you zat I had some understanding of how you felt. I cannot remember how much I told you but...." Despite not having any lungs, Colette closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh through her nose before she continued.

"All of my life, I have been different. At an early age I had to be taken out of school because ze children, zey treated me poorly. Children can be very, very cruel. And zey can be unabashedly honest. Zey will say ze zings zat adults will only zink. I learned from a very early age how ozers saw me, and so I strove to defy zeir expectations. You saw how I dressed, very formal and professional, not sloppy. Not... disgusting. Zis zinking also extended to my relationships. Spending almost my entire life at home, I had very few friends, zose zat I did have were of ze online sort. Coming to ze school did offer wonderful new opportunities, but even among so many people who were different, I was different still from zem. So ze few friends I do have, ze real friends, are very special to me.

"When I learned of your disappearance, and zen ze reason for your presence on campus, I... doubted ze relationship we shared. I began to zink zat you had merely tolerated me, and my mind went back to zose days in... école primaire." She struggled trying to come up with the English word for it. "I zought perhaps zat you had zought about me ze same zings zat zose ozer children had. And such zoughts hurt me deeply.

"Knowing now zat zis is not ze case, it fills my heart wiz happiness. But I owe you an apology. I am sorry for doubting your sincerity and your friendship. And I am sorry if my actions or mannerisms in any way made you feel disliked." Even when she opened her eyes, she couldn't look directly at the other girl, instead opening a neat little wooden box and looking at the colourful plastic pucks within.

Chisaki tilted her head to the side in genuine confusion.

"None of that had ever occurred to me as the reason.

I thought perhaps you were angry with me for failing you... for failing Basil. Perhaps also, that you felt betrayed, which I would understand."

Colette shook her head. "No, neizer of zose zings ever crossed my mind. So... we were boz anxious for nozing?"

"Yes... I suppose." She replied, smiling cautiously.

"We should go and eat breakfast. I will pack some of my things, and then we will return to the University?"

"We... probably should do zat, yes. You are welcome to come and stay wiz me at ze house, if you wish. Zough zat does remind me, I have some unpacking to do... but I can worry about zat later. Right now, I have ze chance to experience an authentic Japanese breakfast, and share it wiz a very close friend."

Chisaki returned, and played a few rounds of the dancing game with Diego while they waited for breakfast.

Kiwa had joined Edmond in the kitchen and together, they made rolled omelettes and grilled fish, served with umeboshi which they served to everyone. Edmond was very quiet through breakfast, and it was likely he had a reason to be.

Once everyone was fed, the gang was given the opportunity to clean up a bit, and the entire assembly made their way back out to the beach.

Chisaki had a suitcase with her, giving the indication she was returning back with the group of students.

While Chase prepared the boat, Diego stood beside Chisaki with his tail in the 'question mark' position of the happy feline. Hey, at least he wasn't purring or rubbing up against her.

"Glad we could whisk you away," he smiled.

Edmond narrowed his eyes a bit behind his shades, but his mouth broke out into a smile.

"Diego, do you have a moment?" He asked, tilting his head in a motion that gave the impression he was going to corral him elsewhere for a minute.

The expression of his traitorous tail drooped.

"Uh, alright," he said, excusing himself before following Ed.

Edmond guided Diego away from the group, far enough he couldn't hear them chattering their goodbyes to one another. He made sure not to look the boy in the eye as he spoke.

"I'm sure you're eager to go home, so I'll make this brief.

I dated Jessica before George did. George was actually the one who took her from me.

One of the many... blunders of my youth was in my anger with George, I used my abilities to frighten him away from Jessica's flat. Permanently."

Diego raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Worried I'd do the same if she picked someone else?"

Edmond started to giggle in a way Diego was familiar with from being Basil's drinking buddy.

"No, young man.

I'm telling you that twenty more years of experience has taught me much better ways of getting people to go away forever. ​

And if you hurt her, you will not get a second chance to do it again.

Do we understand each other?"

Diego gulped, nodding. Vampires and supervillains had nothing on The Mutant Dad Speech. Or, well whatever he was to Chisaki.

"Ah! Lovely!" He exclaimed, clapping Diego on the shoulder.

"Right! Let's see you off then!" He added, moving to rejoin the group.

"All aboard!" Chase proclaimed from the boat as Diego rejoined them.

Colette took the opportunity to give a little bow before Kiwa, imitating movements she'd seen Chisaki do in the past.

"Zank you again for your hospitality. I hope zat I am able to return ze favour some day."

Kiwa reciprocated, though a bit steadied than Colette as it was second nature to her.

"You are most welcome, though i wouldn't hold my breath. Edmond and I haven't been back to England in seven years."

"Well, when ze dust has settled... zere is a guest bedroom in our home. As I doubt zat ze Bensons will be paying us a visit in ze foreseeable... forever, you are always welcome."

Kiwa nodded in acknowledgement.

"You are also welcome to visit.

Just try to call next time."

Chisaki had been loading her possessions onto the boat, but when Edmond returned from his talk with Diego, she hurriedly finished whatever it was she was doing and bounced overboard to go and say her farewells.

Burrowing herself into his torso, she squeezed him as tightly as she could. "Goodbye Eddie-kun."

Edmond mostly remained silent upon his return, and reached out to hold Chisaki, brushing his hand across the back of her head.

"Be careful Watāme." He replied, giving her a peck on the forehead.

"Exchanging one of you for another does not improve the situation."

"I know." She murmured.

"I love you."

"I love you too duckie."

Chisaki pulled away from Edmond, and looked at Kiwa.

For her, she merely nodded her head, and then moved onto the boat.

Colette did the polite bow bit to Edmond as well, quietly thanking him for his hospitality and assistance. All very formal and respectful.

On the boat she was practically jiggling while they waited to push off, though that may have been due to the waves.

Chisaki loaded the last of her items onto the boat.

"Let's go home." She said to Diego.

Of course, once they were away from the short and out of earshot, Colette's jiggle grew more noticeable until she broke into gross sobbing and hugged poor Chisaki. Her goodbye to Edmond had done a number on her.

Chisaki reached out to hold onto Colette.

"It will be alright. He was not the one saying goodbye. He was not really here." She replied, speculating as to why Colette was such a mess.

Colette shook her head and hugged Chisaki too tightly as she blubbered in French.

"He cares for you so much, and I am making you leave him. I am horrible."

Chisaki simply attempted to comfort Colette as she blubbered in French.

She didn't know that one.