Across The Years (CITRUS)

Thirty - Troubles In Paradise

I'm so sorry!!! I'd actually named both chapters as Thirty, and Wattpad was being dumb and uploaded today's chapter yesterday. I'm gonna upload another chapter as an apology.

Thanks a lot, ANGELKAIMERCADO, and sorry for the error.

No one's POV.

As if Mei weren't freaking out enough on the patio, the appearance of a helicopter above, nearly sent her over the edge.

"It's a monster!" Mei shrieked, as she pointed to the helicopter as it zipped by.

Yuzu immediately took Mei's hand and assured her it was not a monster but a flying machine. Seeing that she'd had enough, Yuzu then rolled Mei back to her room, all the while trying to explain the various forms of modern transportation. Mei only half listened, however as she was still quite rattled.

After Mei was eased into bed, she quickly fell asleep, having been worn out by her little trip to the patio.

Yuzu at that point lowered her head and slumped into a chair. Yuzu was most certainly getting the feeling, that things were not going as well as she hoped. "Fuck."

Mei slept for a while, waking just before lunch. Lunch was fine, save for the fact that Yuzu was forced to explain what Jello was. Yuzu hated Jello more than any other food in existence, her mom made it all the time for dinner when she was growing up. That wobbling food substance constantly reminded her of the tense, quiet, and uneasy dinners at the Okogi household. It's never easy growing up in a house where your parents hate each other.

"So as I explained, it's called Jello. It comes in many flavors and can be used in different ways, in salads, as a dish by itself and many say it's fun." Yuzu explained, in a rather matter-of-fact tone of voice.

"Oh..." Mei said as she put some on her plastic fork and watched the red-colored substance wobble. Mei then shoveled it in her mouth.

"I like this Jello. Do you like Jello?"

Yuzu shuddered and glared at the rather innocuous-looking half-eaten square of Jello on Mei's tray. "No I hate it, it's evil."

"So I shouldn't eat it then?" Mei said puzzled.

"No, eat it if you like it, just keep it out of my sight. I can't stand to eat or even look at Jello."

Mei quickly finished off the Jello and continued with her lunch. Mei had calmed down slightly since this morning but still felt very uneasy and scared about what she had seen. Strange-looking buildings and flying machines, she understood none of it.

Just after lunch, Nene arrived to see how Mei was doing. Yuzu had previously explained to Mei, who Nene was and how she had helped Yuzu. Mei greeted the elderly woman with the utmost courtesy and thanked Nene for her generosity.

Once Nene expressed a desire to hear more about the Victorian age and what it was like, Mei seemed to perk up a bit.

Yuzu at this point excused herself to take a break and get something to eat. Though things weren't going so well, Yuzu hoped once they got home things would go better.

Mei and Nene spoke for more than an hour and Nene very much enjoyed the first-hand descriptions of life in the Victorian era. Mei enjoyed speaking of her time and what it was like. Nene just before she left, thanked Mei for the wonderful talk and invited her to come over sometime and have dinner sometime after she got settled.

For the next three days, Yuzu did her best to acclimate Mei to the modern world. The next day Yuzu went to the library and got some children's pictures books. She figured children's books would be the best way for Mei to learn. One book was about various types of houses and buildings. Another book was about all types of transportation and a third was just a pictorial book of various places in the world.