Rosie

He looked at her, completely stunned. "You... you seriously like it? But it's crap! You can barely even tell it's you!"

Raiden crossed his arms, and glared down at her. "Fine, then. I refuse to sleep in your bed, so I'm going to sleep in the bath."

"Most people just make fun of me. I mean, I can barely draw a straight line. In fact, I probably can't, not properly."

"I'm fine on the mat," he continued to protest. "And I forced my company on you. So I don't really count as a guest, do I?"

Zack giggled slightly. "Sorry, I know, I'm terrible."

He looked up, full of protests. "No. No way. The bed's yours. I can't take it from you, all I've done is laze around all day."

Zack pulled a face. "It started off being you but now I really don't know."

Raiden shrugged. "Yeah. I really don't remember all that much- the little details are just gone..." he looked down at the floor, biting his lip.

Zack turned the sketchbook around with a grimace- even HE couldn't tell what he'd drawn. And he'd only just finished it. (Zane was talking to Zerex. :'D)

"That gunk is a decent meal?" Raiden raised his eyebrows in disbelief. "It looks like baby food. It's not baby food, is it?"

"Well, you did bring it on yourself..." Raiden spluttered. His stomach panged slightly at the sight of the food, but thankfully managed to keep quiet.

"I'm not promising anything decent..." he said, flipping it open to a clean page and starting to scribble away at it with the crayon.

Raiden tried to surpress a snort, spluttering and covering his mouth at the awkward timing. He held it for quite a few moments, then broke, laughing right out loud and plonking himself down on the floor to stroke at Ruru as she ate.

"Now... How 'bout I scribble you a picture like you asked?" he asked, smile widening.

"I'm amazed she can still walk, let alone jump around like she does," Raiden added. Hours and HOURS too late, Will sprinted off towards the portal, hissing chains of profanities as he ran. He'd fallen asleep again for far too long.

"If you let his head swell any bigger, he might explode. And that would be annoying to clean up," Zack continued.

"I tried to feed her while you were out. I don't know if I gave her enough, though..." Raiden began, wandering in after Eliza.

Gently but firmly, Zack grabbed her shoulders and made her sit up. "I wasn't telling you to bow to him, silly. Besides, it's not a good idea to add to his ego."

Raiden noticed Ruru leaving, and sighed. "Oh, your kitty is hungry. She was meowing before..."

"And I'm sorry you had to see me... all screwed up," Zack added. "Please don't bow to me... Zane might like it because he feels like he's lording something over you, but I don't..."

Raiden pulled back from her, holding her at arm's length. "You alright now?"

"Hey... You'll be alright. I'll pass by and irritate you when I can." Raiden smirked at the thought, but the smirk faded when he thought just how angry his family would be that he hadn't come back quickly, and hadn't managed to do anything anyway.

Zack smiled at her properly. "Thank you for helping," he said to her, unconsciously scratching at the inside of his arm.

"And you don't have to worry. I'm going to go back and face my father tomorrow, so you'll have me out of your hair."

(Rosie smacked herself in the forehead for turning the school computer off before her reply sent four hours ago.) Zack smiled weakly at her, nodding. "'S'good," he muttered, sitting up properly, so Zane didn't have to support him. Zane looked up at Zerex, scowling. "More than you want to hear," he hissed. Zack whacked him hard in the arm, a sure sign he was starting to feel better.