I awoke, feeling a bit warmer then I usually do. It was then I noticed that I was wearing Frank's jacket still.

Smells like Frank.

"Well.. yea.. it's HIS coat."

Well excuse me if I just woke up. I tossed off the covers and stumbled out of bed. I blinked and rubbed my eyes. What time was it? I glanced around and stretched again.

"It's still early."

I smell something good.. My stomach rumbled as the scent of Carrie's cooking. I was hungry. I fell back into bed and rubbed my eyes. "It's too early to get up."

WHAM

I felt something smack into my side and knock me off the bed. I stumbled up and rubbed my side as I gave Tellka an annoyed look. "You're alarm clock just went off." She sighed at me and shook her head. "Now get up."

I sighed and scratched my head. "I'm up, I'm up... I wonder where Frank is?" I took off his jacket and layed it on the bed. Then I went to open the curtains on my window, squinting as bright sunlight suddenly filled the room. I think I saw Frank in our backyard.

I looked again. Yep, it was him. I guess he's out doing his own little thing. I turned from the window and fell back into bed. There was a scratching sound outside of my door and I got up to open it. A little black furry creature came running between my legs and hopped onto my bed. I closed to door again and went and sat down beside her.

"What's the cat's name again?" Tellka asked as I began petting the cat's black, round head.

"Pagan."

"That's a dumb name.."

I gave Tellka an odd look. "What would you call her?"

Tellka looked thoughtfull for a moment and then a grin came to her face. "I'd call her Tupa."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not surprised." And went on petting 'Tupa's' black fur. She purred happily at me. My ears twitched as I heard the sound of someone coming up the stairs. Must be Frank, I thought, and with a stretch, I scooted Tupa off of my lap and stood up.

"Guess I'll go get breakfast." I grabbed Frank's jacked at headed towards to door. Before I reached it, I paused and turned to Tellka. "You coming?" She shook her head. I opened the door and left my room, heading downstairs into the kitchen. Carrie was waiting for me.

"How did you sleep?"

"Like this." I sat down at the table and proceeded to fall asleep with my head in my arms when Carrie shook me.

"Come on, Kate. Let's get you some nice breakfast and then you'll feel right as rain." I sat up and my ears twitched again as I heard Frank heading down the stairs. I turned to him as he entered to kitchen.

"Frank... I forgot to give this to ou last night." I said as I handed him the jacket.

He smiled. "Thanks. I've got my other things in there... medicines, a photo..." I smiled back at him.

"Come on you two." Carrie said as she placed two plates infront of Frank and me. They were full of eggs, bacon, and a few pieces of buttered toast. "Nothing like a good breakfast to start the day!" She smiled. Franked smiled back at her, and the two of us began to eat. I munched on a bacon piece and watched Frank for a bit. Something didn't seem right, but I wasn't sure. I shrugged off the thought and finished breakfast. Frank and I helped Carrie clean up.

"Kate..." I heard Frank's voice beside me and I turned to look at him. He looked a bit troubled and I began to wonder, but kept silent as he continued. "I... I have to leave today... I'm sorry..."

"What?" My ears drooped. "Why???"

"I have a lot of questions to answer... Like... Why am I here? Why was I sent to Windia? I didn't say this earlier... but... I wasn't really sent here." I gave him an odd look. I didn't quite understand what he ment. He sighed and continued to explain.

"I was sent to the vioid in between time and space. I should be there still. But... A young angel.. about your age... with blue wings... she brought me to this world."

"But Frank..." I searched his eyes for anymore reason but found nothing. My tail stopped twitching and my ears fell even more. Him? Leave? But... we had just met.. not yet...

"Kate... I'll be ok. Don't worry. I just want to figure out all these things."

"Frank..." I heard Carrie's voice but didn't look. I had cast my eyes down to the ground, the morning cheerfullness seemed drained from me. Carrie's voice continued. "I might be able to help.

"How so?" I heard Frank ask.

"I've heard of a relic... When I was younger... It's a diamond... called the diamond of truth."

"Diamond???"

"Yes... It reveals truths to you. It may be of some help."

"I see... I'd better look then.. Do you-"

"The last I heard, it was in a dungeon in Agua. The floating island above Windia."

"Thanks... Thank you Carrie. it will help me."

Then I heard a knock at the door. I turned and went to get it. Frank? Leave? I tried to distract my thoughts as I opened up the door. I was surprised to find a Windian guard there. Infact, it was Maria, the guard Frank had helped at the Colluseum.

"Frank? Kate?" She asked and Frank left the kitchen, joining me at the door.

"The city wants to thank you," Maria began, "for ending the case that we've been working on for months, for saving my life, and for ending the reign of a dangerous poacher. Where's the third person who was with you???"

"Oh.. Tellka... She's upstairs, still sleeping." I said quietly.

"Am not!"

Will you hush? I shushed her quietly. You can hear her, I don't need you appearing at amazingly the exact time that you are needed like it was some miraculous coincidence or anything. That would just seem too odd.

I felt Tellka snicker. "I suppose you're right..."

"I see..." Maria nodded. "Well, the city has issued you three an amout of money as a reward. Frank, Kate..." She handed a bag to Frank and two of them to me. They felt kind of heavy. "Give one of those to Tellka when she's awake." I nodded. "The city, along with the guard, has agreed to pay you each 10,000 Zenny for services and a job well done."

My eyes went wide. That's a lot of Zenny............

"Again thank you." Maria bowed, and then left. Frank turned to me.

"How much is considered a lot of money in Windia???"

I raised an eyebrow and, cocking my head to one side, I smiled a bit as I looked at Frank. "I'd tell you, but you'd probably faint."

Carrie came out from the kitchen and handed Frank and pack.

"Carrie???" Frank gave her a questioning look.

"You might need this. You don't have much room to store things." She smiled.

"Again, thank you." Frank smiled. "Thank you both, from the bottom of my heart." He opened up the pack and placed his money in it. I could tell that Carrie had packed a few things for him because I noticed him digging through it a bit. He closed it again and shouldered it. Then he glanced over at me.

"It's time. I'd better get going..."

"Frank..." I looked at him for a moment, waiting for the words to reach my lips. "Thanks. Thank you for all you've done. Please don't..."

"I won't Kate. I'll visit if I'm in the neighborhood. Ok? Here..." He pulled his school ID from his wallet and handed it to me. I could see the photo of him on it. I took it but said nothing.

"Don't forget me. Kate, you're important to me. I won't forget you. I promise." He kissed my cheek lightly and headed towards to door. I watched him walk out, feeling on the verge of tears.

"Be careful Frank!" I called out after him as he walked off. He turned and waved at me, but I couldn't find the strength to wave back. I watched as he turned away from the house and walked off. My eyes followed him until he was out of my view. I stood there for a few moments, not sure what to think, still on the verge of crying. I hated to see others go. My mom, now Frank... I heard Carrie sigh, like she was trying to say something. Instead I turned and rushed upstairs and into my bedroom.

I flung open the window and stuck my head outside. From where my window was, I had a pretty good view of everything. My room was on the side of the house. I looked down at the area where I had seen Frank earlier today in the backyard, then turned my head and looked out over the Windian streets infront of our house. They seemed to stretch on forever. I think I saw someone walking, but I wasn't sure if it was Frank. I closed the window and sit down on my bed.

Still the tears didn't come.

I want to cry, because I know he is leaving, but at the same time it's useless...

"It's okay, Kate..."

Do you think he'll ever come back?

"I dunno.. Do you?"

I thought about that question for a moment. Inside, I really felt like he wasn't gone forever. I knew I would see him again sometime. Yea... he'll be back....

Tellka came upstairs, the two bags of zenny in her hands. She placed them on my dresser and turned to look at me. "He'll be back Kate, don't worry."

I sighed, picked up Tupa from off the ground, and layed down on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. I don't know how long I had been laying there petting the cat untill I drifted off to sleep again.

It's too early for all of this...

e-mail author, talonr@hotmail.com