Eventually the group finished their coffee. The girls were awed by the taste, especially those that had never been to Earth. Hikari and Ayase couldn't even rember the taste of chemicals and factory produced ingredients. Even Syndra had a new pallet. The cat girl's new taste buds registered the taste for the first ti.
They thanked the waitress for her generosity and left the coffee shop. All of the noise bood around them. Cars treaded on the roads and honked at each other. Sirens sounded in the distance, and people talked to each other all around them. For the uninitiated, Earth was like a loud ball of noise, and every ti you shook it, all of the noises jumbled together.
Hikari also experienced this displeasure. She found it an annoying task to focus on any specific sound, so she just listened to the breathing of her companions.
"Where are we going next?" Syndra asked.
"We should head to your apartnt next. Did you have any money in there?"
The cat girl nodded. "I'm not sure it's still there because I don't know how long it's been. If I was missing for a while, soone would have eventually co to check on ."
Hikari nodded to her explanation. Though, she noticed that people around them had started taking pictures of the strange group. Hundreds of caras were flashing from phones like they had all seen celebrities. Passers by would take a picture, but none of them would directly approach the group or try to stop them.
That was until one particularly bold man t them at the corner of a street. "Ladies! Are you all actresses? You look so beautiful."
The elf shook her head. "We're also not interested!"
"Oh, co on! Don't be like that." The man slipped a hand into the pocket of his expensive black pants and pulled out a card. "I'm Ernie. You should all co by my place when you have the chance."
Hikari flipped the card over and read the inscription. "Earnie's Theatre Group?"
"Yes, you sound like you've never heard of it."
"Sorry, I ca from Japan...Either way, we don't really have the ti."
The man nodded. "I understand. Though, your English is very good. It's a sha, but if you ever change your mind, please head over. We have a lot of stuff I'm sure you'd be interested in. There are actress roles, and I'm sure we could set soone up for streaming."
Hikari sighed as the man ran off. "I guess we look very out of place here. Maybe there is a way to disguise ourselves."
Ayase ran forward and grabbed onto Hikari's hand. "I don't want you to have to disguise any more of yourself. You're already hiding your wings. Maybe it will take so getting used to?"
Hikari didn't answer as the group arrived at the apartnt building. Though what they found did not bode well for their adventures. Caution tape prevented entry and several police officers stood nearby.
One of them stopped the group approaching and held his palm towards them. "I'm sorry, but you can't co any closer."
Syndra ran up to the man and grabbed the tape, her voice becoming frantic. "What happened in there?"
"Did you live here, miss?"
The cat girl nodded.
"There was a fire on the third floor." The cop pointed upstairs towards a shattered window with burnt trimming. "Luckily, the people inside were able to react quickly enough. It seems there were no casualties, but this place is cordoned off until we can rule out arson. That is unless you really live here. The departnt is allowing people to retrieve items from their rooms while they're put in temporary housing for the ti being. We estimate it will only be like three days."
"When was the fire started?"
"Oh, it happened yesterday. Did you hear anything?" The cop took out a pen and pad, ready to jot anything down.
To his dismay the cat girl shook her head. "I've been away for an event."
"So that's why you're dressed like that? By the way, what room were you in?"
The cat girl sighed and pointed towards the broken window. "That one."
"Now I definitely can't let you leave. Is your na Sarah?"
Hikari elbowed her vampire Mizuko and whispered. "Please do sothing about this."
The vampire chuckled. "I'll do sothing, but that ans that Mistress owes a little favor, too."
"Fine! Just salvage this situation."
Mizuko grinned and walked up to the man. She put on a sad face, and her eyes started glowing vibrant red. Mana channeled throughout her body, assisting in her skill.
Tears dripped from the vampire's eyes as she began her act. "Officer," she sniffled, "my friend here is devastated. Her room burnt down while we were all out having fun. Can't you spare a little sympathy."
"But...This goes against protocol."
"I understand officer, but we really need to get into that room. We have no money otherwise. Today has been so miserable ever since we got back. People crowded around us and pulled out flashy devices...I just...It makes so sad to see poor Sarah's room in this state…"
The officer frowned, guilt filling out his face. He sighed and lifted the yellow tape. The man whispered underneath it. "Okay, but you have to hurry, and if you run into anyone, don't tell them it was Officer McGrady."
Mizuko's face snapped to a smile, her fangs showing. "I will never forget this officer."
"Good, now hurry!"
The group shuffled under the tape and ran towards the building. Inside, there were several people moving their stuff out into the hallway, so the group wouldn't be imdiately questioned. They were just given strange looks from the people.
They all opted for the flight of stairs and climbed up to the third floor. For a cheap apartnt complex in New York, it was surprisingly not too bad. At least everything looked clean.
Before the group reached room 310 a firefighter stopped them this ti. "You can't go in there."
Mizuko stepped forwards again, her eyes shining vibrantly. "I'm sorry, Mister. I know that you're working hard to get this all sorted out, but we need to get so things from inside."
"Alright, but make it quick." The man whistled for the other firefighters inside of the room. "Boys, lets give these girls so space."
"What the hell are you talking about, man? The dispatch said we needed to collect all pieces of evidence today."
"Shut up, since when did you talk back to a superior? Also, look around the room, we already know the cause, and it don't look like arson."
The n sighed collectively and shuffled out into the hallway. "Still, I don't understand why you're letting them in."
"That's because…"
Mizuko's eyes shown and she stared into each of the n's eyes one at a ti.
The man who'd originally been against it changed his tune quickly. "I get it. Sorry, man."
As the group slipped into the room, Ayase smiled wryly. "That's a really scary ability you have."
The vampire smirked. "You wanna try it out?"
"Definitely not!"
Hikari looked around the room, sniffing the traces of the fire. The walls were blackened, and all of the sofa was torched. Though, it was pretty obvious where the fire originated. That was the spot that had the worst treatnt. The elf stared at the VR tube near Syndra's bed in awe.
The thing was barely recognizable. The glass was shattered. The bedding was turned into char, and all of the fra was pitch black. The most ironic thing was the fire warning label that was still legible.
Syndra sighed as she gazed at the contraption. "I guess this thing was left on when I transferred over the whole ti. If it was on that whole ti, it's no wonder the place was set ablaze."
Ayase looked at the thing with a shake of her head. "Why would they design sothing that could set on fire so easily. Imagine if you were inside at the ti?"
"Well, it's not exactly sothing easy to do. There are fail safes in the thing, but the warning label is there just in case."
Syndra looked over towards the fairy goddess who was pretending like she had nothing to do with any of this. The goddess was whistling away and pretending to stare out the window.
The cat kin smiled and strolled up to the girl. "Say...Didn't you say before that you had sothing to do with these things?"
Hikari nodded and put a hand to her chin. "Yeah, that is true. Do you know anything about this?"
"Look!" The fairy shouted. "It wasn't my fault! I had no idea that transferring little Syndra over there would cause such a reaction."
"Wait...You're the one that sent over?"
"Of course, I am! I control the weave, so naturally, I can send people between worlds easily."
The cat girl ran over and started shaking Mortia's shoulders violently. "What would have happened if this whole complex burnt down!? This simple mistake could have killed all of those people!"
"Is that what you're worried about? I'm sorry, okay?"
"That's not all! You transferred without my permission!"
"I don't see what the big deal is! It was because of this arrangent that you t Lady Hikari!"
Syndra huffed, not able to disagree with that statent.
A voice from the side ca to save Mortia from the cat's wrath. "Look, at least the safe is still safe...heh." Ayase chuckled at her pun.
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