While Ryuu was dealing with Galamene, the rest of the group was getting ready. And by getting ready, they were sleep. Crescent was up with Lea.
Darius eventually came over, and he was expecting a silent home. "Oh, hi! Who are you?" He sees Crescent playing with Lea while everyone else is asleep.
"I'm Crescent, Amatesa cousin. What's your name?" Crescent responded.
"I'm Darius. Nice to meet you. You must be coming with us to hit the city tonight?" Darius asked while sitting down next to her.
"I am, I'm also here just to get to know my cousin. We bumped into each other, and I wasn't doing anything, so I tagged along." Crescent said.
"Nice, welcome to the party! It's always nice having new faces. Lea seems to like you, and everyone else felt comfortable to sleep around you, so you're cool in my book." Darius said happily.
"You're quite positive." Crescent responded. Lea then went over and started hugging Darius.
"Hey Lea, nice to see you again. You give great hugs," Darius hugs her back. Turquoise wakes up from hearing Darius's voice.
"Oh, it's been that long since we went to sleep? You look nice, you really know how to dress, Darius." Turquoise said groggy.
"I just put some things together, I want to look good while I'm out with you all. Can't have anyone thinking the Sapphires are friends with people who can't dress right." Darius responded. Turquoise started smiling.
"I see. Someone here is really loved here." Crescent said, watching the interactions. Turquoise got up and went to shower. Darius and Crescent talked about their similar backgrounds, with both of them being human, Darius partially.
"Your family had a weird tradition of killing off the weak babies?" Darius asked Crescent.
"Yea, I don't support it, and I left as soon as I was able to. I didn't want to be a part of that culture. I made it to a city that was considered a boiling pot of cultures. I loved it there. Many different perceptions, backgrounds, faces, and so much more. I just learned to go with the flow." Crescent said.
"What about protecting yourself? My mother was terrified to leave our little village without a warrior or mercenary escort with her. When I got big enough, I handled the errands, but she still worried about me, and I was a prodigy at fighting." Darius asked.
"I'm a fighter as well. My family craves power, and I am gifted with a unique ability. I can bypass any defenses and inflict pain equally to anyone I strike. I was taught how to fight growing up, so defending out in the world was easy. Though, I didn't come across that many problems. A few kidnappers, but nobody threatening enough to lock me down." Crescent explained. While they were talking, they heard the shower go off. Shortly, Turquoise had plopped down next to Darius. "Welcome back, Turquoise. All cleaned up?" Crescent asked. Turquoise started giggling.
"This is Emerald." Darius said while laughing. Emerald started to change colors into a more green color.
"Quick as always, Darius." Emerald giggled.
"You guys fooled me way too many times. I finally figured it out, though. You don't have dimples, and when you started laughing, I could tell. Turquoise got dimples from her dad, beyond that you two are nearly identical." Darius had a large grin on his face.
"Or, you knew I would still be wet from the shower and drying off. I don't like wet clothes, so I wouldn't be dressed right now." Turquoise said while wrapped in a towel. "How long have you been here, Emerald?"
"Not that long. I went to your room first and heard the shower and figured I'd try to trick Darius. I wasn't expecting a new guest. I did trick her, which was funny. Sorry about that, though. I'm Emerald, I'm sure you know that by now." Emerald explained.
"I'm Crescent, and this quite the experience. But Turquoise, you don't normally wear clothes when guests are in?" Crescent asked.
"No, I'm only wearing the towel cause Darius would go red in the face and freak out. It was funny when he saw Amatesa and nearly had a panic attack. We try to cover up for him when we know he's coming." Turquoise said.
"I see. That's.... Interesting. That's considerate of you all to adjust to your friend." Cressaid while Darius was blushing.
"See, he's going red right now." Emerald and Turquoise started laughing together.
"Crescent, you look like a human version of Amatesa. Are you related to her?" Emerald asked.
"Yes, I'm her cousin." Crescent responded, somewhat exhausted from stating that.
"I could tell you were human-human cause you have boobies. You have like two apples on your chest." Emerald pointed out boldly. Darius covered his face with a nearby pillow.
Crescent looked at the girls and the still sleeping Amatesa and noticed they were all flat chested. "It didn't dawn on me that you girls were different in that way. But, you aren't supposed to point out qualities like that." Crescent said calmly.
"Yea humans are shy. They don't like nudity. Especially the women. I was hanging out with some humans with Amatesa, and they said other girls our age wouldn't wear a bikini. I wondered how they enjoy swimming with wet clothes. I couldn't enjoy it." Turquoise said while dropping her towel as Darius face was in a pillow. Turquoise tossed on a big shirt before Darius could see. "Are you also that shy, Crescent?" Turquoise asked.
"We call it modesty, not that we're all uncomfortable, I've been around different cultures and gotten very open minded. I don't mind myself. Humans feel there's a time and place for being naked and it's usually when two people are alone and like each other." Crescent responded.
"That's so different. What happens when they are alone?" Emerald asked.
"Oh we can't have that conversation right now!" Darius blurted out, face still in pillow. Turquoise and Emerald started laughing again.
"You're so funny, Darius.We know what she means. We are just playing. Mom told us years ago about it. It's funny though cause you don't have to be naked. You could..."
"Nope, nope. Not with you girls." Darius said interrupting Emerald. Turquoise sat on the other side of Darius and both sisters leaned in and he freaked out and ran outside. Both sisters were laughing hysterically. Crescent just shook her head. Tatsuya and Amatesa were still asleep.
"Well, he's going to be outside for awhile. I should get dressed." Turquoise threw her big shirt off and walked back into her room.
"Are your hips getting bigger?" Emerald said jealously. "Hold on." She ran after her sister in her room.
Crescent was sitting down. Thinking "this family is unique." Then she noticed Lea who was wearing a full cloak sitting on the floor. Covered in a full white robe, with sapphires embedded, with her arms coming out the middle.
Amatesa and Tetsuya finally woke up. Darius is still outside, while Turquoise and Emerald are catching up on what the other missed since Turquoise has been with her dad. Crescent was taking a nap.
"I see sleeping runs in the family. Crescent is knocked out. Better get ready, it is almost time to go out." Amatesa said as she went to the shower. Tatsuya looked at the time and was wondering where Darius was. Lea pointed at the door. Darius was sitting under a tree.
"Darius, you can come inside. You don't have to sit out here." Tatsuya yelled.
"Finally, you're up." Darius got up and came back inside. "I was inside earlier but Emerald was being her usual self. I just got embarrassed and went outside. They were teasing me cause I'm so nervous around naked women. I don't know how you are all that comfortable." Darius sighed. As he did Amatesa walked back out naked.
"Did Turquoise use my towel to dry off?" Amatesa asked. Darius ran back outside. "Oh, I didn't know he was here. Oops. He's so shy it's funny. There's my towel. It does look like Turquoise used it. I'll grab another then." Lea walked up to Amatesa and grabbed her hand. "You can come too. I'll help you wash. You don't mind waiting do you Tetsuya? You know she's shy about being seen."
"It's OK with me. I'll go and hang with Darius until everyone is dressed again." Tetsuya said as he went outside.
Tetsuya went outside with Darius who was back under the tree. "It's OK man, you don't have to be so embarrassed, it isn't even you naked." Tetsuya said trying to cheer Darius up. "You're basically family. Nobody is bothered with you around."
"It's a respect thing. I don't want to see any of them differently. Where I'm from, women didn't do that and if they did it was because they wanted something, if you know what I mean. My brain is just programmed like that and I don't want to think of them like that. I know they are just being comfortable. I'd rather look away than change how they live in their own home." Darius said.
"That makes sense. The girls are trying to be mindful for you, we might have to get a bell or something for you. We know not everyone is as open. Even Lea somehow turned out differently. She doesn't want anything showing at all. Don't know how that came to be, but we accept that and we accept you. Now, with that done. You want to wear some of my pants? The bottom of yours will be dirty now from sitting on the ground." Tetsuya pointed out. Darius jumped and looked at himself and realize his pants were dirty.
"I can clean them, I just need some water. We still have plenty of time before we head out right?" Darius asked.
"Plenty. The sun is just starting to set. We have about 2 hours until the fun begins." Tetsuya said.
"Great, I'll just wait for Amatesa to leave the cleaning hall, and I'll lock the door." Darius said. Tetsuya thinking to himself a locked door means nothing with two lock pickers in the house.
"Great, I'll keep an eye out for you." Tetsuya said out loud.
Darius walks back and everyone has gotten dressed. Amatesa is wearing a long dress with slits on aides. Tight on the top, loose on the bottom. Turquoise and Emerald had the similar outfits. Midriff and shorts with colors matching their respective hair colors. Crescent is wearing a short skirt with a purple top. Lea is in her favorite onesie, it's shaped like a dragon with wings and tail and is the color blue. "Everyone looks fancy. Hair done, make up fresh, and outfits are clean. It won't take us guys that long to get ready." Darius said while walking to get cleaned up.
"My brother should be here soon for Lea. I didn't think he would be out for so long. I wonder what delayed him." Amatesa said. Darius enters the cleaning hall and locks the door behind.
"Don't go messing with him, Emerald. I know you like to prank people, his heart is about to explode out his chest." Tetsuya said
"I won't, I promise." Emerald sighed.
Some time later, Ryuu arrives home. Lea immediately ran into his arms. "Hey, my little dragon, did you miss me?" Lea closed her eyes and put her head on his shoulder. "Alright. You guys get out of here. Have a fun night, and be safe. Turquoise, you know what not to do." Ryuu said sternly.
"Yes, daddy. I won't be reckless." Turquoise said.
"That includes you too, Emerald." Ryuu said.
"Yes, sir." Emerald responded.
Ryuu walked away with Lea, who was already falling asleep. "Time to head out." Tetsuya said as he led the group to the destination.