Alte Liebe Rostet Nicht

Cracks

Talk about a nuisance. First this woman had been complaining about the small space right then and there, yet she had the audacity to show her face one way or another. And why is that? Because her 'darling son' was living here and she had to be there every waking second of the day it seemed. It was no secret that Ann was pissed, though even that would sugarcoat it. Sena Kimiko, a top class model but also a top class pain in the ass. Something was off about her, they could tell that much. No, they were certain that something was up with her. That was no secret. The way she speaks, the way she words things, the way she just acts— How can anyone handle that!? Ugh, if it were legal, Ann would just ram a knife into her back and get this over with. But no, things were not so simple. Only if it was so simple, only if... And that was Izumi's mother, so they couldn't go that far, merely out of consideration. But that didn't mean that they had to like her.

Kimiko was already a lot to handle and came off as weird. She managed to sniff out her son's location and just barged right in without permission whatsoever, not even announcing it. All because she is 'worried about her little baby'... Who does that!? And how she coddles him, always talking to him so sweetly as far as they knew... Yet talking down to anyone who is not her 'darling son'... Anyone would agree that something was up with this. And she didn't give it a rest either, making sure that she was always around and didn't give the two any privacy. It would be rude to just turn her down, sure, but this was starting to get out of hand. Even when Ann refused to let Kimiko in, she found a way, even if it meant shoving them to the ground and almost trampling over them in her heels, not paying any attention to them whatsoever. Oh the words they wanted to yell right into her face... Hating was an understatement at this point. This woman is something else, and not in a good way.

Even today, she just barged in and made herself at home and occupied with her very own son. Unfortunately Ann had no control over this one, given that they had work to attend to. And they were praying that they would not have to deal with this woman today. But no, no such luck. At least they brought Nyeli home to keep them company.

Why was he here today? Well, Ritsu asked them to take care of the kitty and have him stay over for the night. He himself had to stay up for a late night job and wouldn't be in his dorm for some time. And if he wasn't he would just nye non stop and keep Mikarin awake. Ritsu figured that Nyeli would be able to sleep with his Sisnya around though, so the kitty was coming over for another sleepover today.

They were not sure to really accept at first yet figured that Kimiko would leave eventually. She always did, luckily, or else Ann would lose their goddamn mind. So hopefully Nyeli could keep them sane for the time this woman was around.

Thus they had opened the door, with Nyeli in their arms and saying a rather weak: "I'm home..." when spotting Kimiko right then and there. Deep breath and make it through...

"Nye~" Nyeli added, sounding more cheerful than they did for sure. The difference in tone was night and day at this point.

Usually they would expect Izumi to get ahead with the greeting but today things would be a little different, to say the least. Because before he could even get a word out Kimiko had also turned her head to them. Ann was getting ready for another snappy comment as usual from her mouth but the reaction would be... Different, to say the least. Because the moment she had turned her eyes lost all of their life, oddly enough, and her pupils were as dead as they could be. It was all happening so fast, from one moment to the next, yet the next audible thing was a sudden scream from her lips, so loud that it made Nyeli curl his ears so he didn't have to hear it and close his eyes, tearing up already. He even held them with his nubs, trying to keep them in place. It was probably unbearable for him, not even soft pats could get the cat to calm down.

It left all of them in a shock, Ann staring at the woman in utter disbelief, mouth gaping open. What was her deal now? What!? How!? Why!? This woman... The nerve...

"M... Mama!? What's gotten into you!?" It was a little forced and stuttery but Izumi managed to ask it in the end, the question which had been in their mind right away. Would she answer it though? Of course not. At this very moment it was as if her own son did not exist, or was not present at the very least.

Instead she stomped over while dashing, getting as close as possible while eyeing Nyeli, even circling around somewhat. Kimiko's head was moving around like an automatic door, swaying side to side in an unnatural motion. All while her face was devoid of any sort of emotion, her dark blue eyes lacking emotion especially. She didn't quit it either, eyeing Nyeli as if Ann had been holding a tiny monster in their hands, a creature of some sorts. It took minutes before she backed off, though still looking down at the cat with her gaze. "The brute? What is that doing here?" She asked, no shame, hesitation nor emotion. She was cold, very cold, and direct. No sugarcoating it whatsoever... Brute? Brute!? Did she just call Nyeli a brute!?

"Mama!? That—"

Before anyone else could interfere it was Ann who jumped in first, biting their lip as they were so close to barking. Actually, when they were speaking up they may as well have been so close to barking to be honest. "Brute!?" They yelled, making sure to hold very tightly onto Nyeli while speaking. "You... Take back! Now!"

"Answer my question." Kimiko demanded however, ignoring their protest. "That thing's a stray, right? Don't you know what it could carry around? Why do you have that thing in the first place? That thing belongs on the streets."

Hearing this made Ann widen their own eyes in shock. How can someone say stuff like that without shame whatsoever? What was wrong with this woman!? Were they off here? No, it was starting to confirm itself. This woman was bad news, in every sense of the word. She was infuriating. No, more than that... This...

"Well? Come on, spit it out, barbaric brat." Kimiko continued, only making them shake in response. This woman was just... Just... They were so close honestly to just lift up one of their hands and go for the punch. No, they should! They have had it! This was too much! The line was crossed, they couldn't just stand by.

And yet, they would not get the chance. Because as if Izumi had the right idea of what was about to go down he suddenly stood in between the two of them. "Th... That's enough!" He even said, though nearly shaking. It was a reaction they had never seen of him either, making this a situation even more concerning for them. They had seen a lot but not this. Was he... Scared? Scared of his own mother? It was their next best guess and yet he was not standing back, much to their surprise.

Instead he was suddenly grasping one of his mother's wrists and ready to walk out with her. It was a mere reflex for Ann to step aside, staring in disbelief. All of this was just a rollercoaster for them. But not just them, Nyeli as well. The last thing they expected to be completely honest. And yet, it would be best if they just watched or they would just punch the living hell out of this bitch. That's all she was at this point, a bitch.

"Mama, I... Think you are tired. Let me get you to your hotel!" He even insisted before dragging Kimiko out, no questions asked. Oddly enough the woman did not protest, only following along like some robot. Even her movements were anything but natural. How can someone act so much like a robot was not something anyone could probably explain. And yet Ann was witnessing this, making this bitch perhaps a little unsettling to look at. But that was as much 'credit' as they were willing to give her.

However, their gaze soon went down to Nyeli who had just curled up and hid himself in Ann's chest, his ears still formed like rolls as he seemed to shake right then and there. Sniffling was more than audible, the constant shaking suggesting fear. This reaction made it more than obvious...

It took a bit of reflecting yet when connecting the dots it was more than obvious... Izumi said that his mother told him Nyeli ran off. Yet Nyeli recalls being abandoned by his previous owner. Given Kimiko's reaction things were more than clear, she had given herself away. And Nyeli's reaction confirmed it even more...

The one at fault was Kimiko. If she is willing to go that far to 'keep her son safe' then she won't shy away from other methods... At least it wasn't completely unlikely, was it? Urgh...

"Diese Schlampe... "