"The movements from Genesis have paused momentarily as of now, reason of so is unknown." Ludwig explained as he looked down at the papers before him.
The damn group was getting bigger and stronger each day, showing up in random places and as usual, disappearing. For Yao, it was hell. He hates sitting here and not taking action like he would of in the past. The day they hit out within the Yellow Sea caused enough for him to attack, yet he was told to hold off until further notice.
"How long are we going to sit here and let these assholes continue their bullshit before we go and give it to them?" Alfred spoke what everyone thought.
"Da, I have to agree with him on this." Ivan replied, "It is getting quite troublesome to keep my eye on things."
"That's because your eyes are on your wife most of the time." Arthur chided.
"You are a good one to talk." Francis laughed.
"Enough." Yao raised his voice, "No more of this nonsense, this is serious and must be taken so."
"Thank you." Ludwig nodded at him, "As of now we can only do so much ground wise yet surveillance is something getting stronger and more of an approachable idea. From what I've gathered they are finding some of the best Programmers and Hackers from around the world. They hope that with them, they'll be able to pinpoint better at where they are."
"Isn't that why we have our governments and military?" Kiku asked.
"Yes, yet this is different. Genesis is somehow even avoiding their eyes and it seems that our own are not enough for them, hence forth why they are leaning on the ones that are more highly trained."
Of course, more things out of Yao's reach. Not that he did not like seeing his country flourish in advances, he was like Francis in this manner. He'd rather have the old days then the newer ones. So much had changed over the years, it was hard for him to keep up. He was too traditional as Im Yong stated the other day.
"So, until then we lie in wait like before, even with everything happening around us?" Ivan questioned.
"Yes, for now." Ludwig sat the papers upon the long table as he rubbed his temples.
"I call bullshit-" Alfred spoke up.
"And what else can we do exactly?" Arthur cut him off, just to have Alfred eyes shift to the table, "Exactly. Nothing, there is nothing else we can do. This is out of our hands of military grounds, air, and sea. This is a new warfare that even we have no idea what to gain or have a strategy for. It's up to the younger minds of the world or the nations that handle the new technology better than we can."
"Yet China and Russia sit at one and two for hacking." Alfred pointed.
"Do not get stereotypical with us, young one." Ivan warned.
"Well, Francis and I are also on that chart too. I can see what Lovino can get for us." Feli added.
"Yes, yet I have no clue what I am doing with computers. Brie is more, as you would say, tech savvy, if you please."
"Dude, she's an author, she better know how to function a laptop."
"Must we get back into arguing again?" Yao asked rhetorically.
"Ja I agree, best to let this sit for now until further notice." Ludwig agreed.
"Ja, besides someone is asking for Vati." they heard from the door.
Yao turn to see Marie standing there with Adeline, the little girl rubbing her eyes as she looked at Ludwig. He watched as Ludwig's whole persona changed as his daughter was handed to him, the gentle German lifting from his tongue. Lily followed behind, her eyes searching the room.
"What is wrong Lily?" Yao asked.
"Have you boys seen Alexei? He was playing hide and seek with Liberty and decided to take it to a new level." she replied, looking at Ivan.
"Net podsolnechnik, I haven't seen him." he said, calmer than most would.
With a sigh, Lily left to search for the tot. Yao looked back to ask him why he was so calm only to see the little feet of why under his coat.
"Ivan, when did you gain extra feet?" Feli asked as Liberty came in.
"Found you!" she shouted as she lifted Ivan's coat and Alexei squealed in excitement.
The two little ones ran out of the room, laughing and squealing in happiness as they continued their game. Yao found himself smiling at the children, how adorable and cute they all were.
"How long was he in here Ivan?" Arthur asked.
"I saw him crawl in when we were discussing the foreign affairs." he smiled at the Brit.
"Bloody hell, he heard all that."
"He will be grown one day and hear a lot of this talk. It won't hurt him to get a taste of it."
"Yet he is a bit too young for some discussions." Francis pointed as Jeanne came in.
"Papa, aidez-moi s'il vous plaît." she asked.
"Oui, oui. Un instant." he said, leaving them all behind as Ludwig followed.
"I guess the meeting is adjourned then." Kiku said standing to his feet, "I will retire myself to the office and finish my work."
"Ve, an I'll cook some pasta." Feli dodged out of the room before anyone could say anything.
"Energetic like usual, da?"
"You could say that again." Alfred agree with Ivan as a duo of shouts echoed the hall. "I believe those belong to our two dude."
"That it is, getting into trouble." he stated as they heard Amber and Lily scolding them. "Best go before things get worse."
Once the two of them were gone, Yao let out a sigh of content as he and Arthur were left in the room. Truth be told, he missed those days. He missed when they were all so little and played with him. Sitting in his garden as he told them stories of ancient times and myths, watching as their eyes lit up in awe. He missed being needed like that.
"Missing the old days with Kiku and Mei and the others?" he heard Arthur asked.
"Didn't you with Alfred and Matthew?" he gave back, smiling at the man, "Yet now you are to be back in that position."
He watched as Arthur smiled widely over the fact. Yao could still remember seeing Brie heavy with Jeanne, how excited Francis was as their little girl would be there any day. Now, Juliet was with child and Arthur was just the same as Francis was.
"I think I am more nervous than anything. The two boys I raised as brothers yet this one," he paused, "This one is my own flesh and blood. Mine and Juliet's. It's just hard to believe that it's real."
Yao smiled, "Know what it is?"
"A little boy." he heard Juliet reply as she came in making her way to Arthur's side.
"Yes, it seems Ivan and I are the only two that could put the stem on the apple on the first try." Yao laughed at Arthur's words.
"Well then, I must be off." Yao bowed to them, "Have a pleasant evening."
"The same for you Yao." Juliet waved as Arthur nodded, "Now, mother is hungry for Dumplings and Spring Rolls."
"If I were to suggest, go to Black Sesame Kitchen. Very good food and everything to mother's wants."
"Good man, let's go." she laughed as Arthur took her hand.
Yao watched as they left together as he made his own way out of the building. He gained quick glances as he walked by the children, he saw Ivan and Alfred speaking deeply with Liberty and Alexei as Francis helped Jeanne with something in her notebook, Jacque gripped onto his father's leg. Brie stood next to them as she braided Satine's hair, and Marie walked over to Ludwig soothing Adeline back into sleep. He saw Feli move within the small kitchen as Kiku sat there speaking with him over something.
He felt good, looking at all of them and the comfort of family and friends before him, it reassured him that he had all of that before him and even more at home. With one last glance, he finally went home.
The gentle songs of the magpie-robins, larks, and finches filled the air as he sat in the main court. The evening slowly came in as the night grew cooler, and his own body shivered against the chill. The small footsteps caught his ears as they came next to him. He knew that step, knew who was coming to his side before he even saw the usual green ao dai sit beside him.
"I take that the meeting wasn't successful?" Lien smiled as she listened to the birds with him.
"It was usual." he replied. "You're meeting with the others?"
"Decent." she said, "So far my military has a strong hold against the group along with Dorjee. Taj and Prem are just finishing up government things and then they'll be set with us."
"Good. The more we have on our side the better." he nodded to her as his eyes went back to the darkening sky.
"You miss this, don't you?" she asked him.
"What do you mean?"
"This." she pointed to him and her on the bench. "The calm evening just sitting here listening to the night like we did back then."
He smiled, "You were the only one that really sat with me like this."
"That's true." Lien laughed. "Mei was always hanging on Prem as Taj talked about the elephants they had, Kiku was always off in his room writing and drawing, Im Yong was causing havoc most of the time as Dorjee tried to meditate in the garden."
"That it was with them." he laughed, "Yet I still sit and wonder over you all."
Lien didn't have to ask, she knew like the others where his mind laid.
"Sensei, I want to thank you." She spoke up suddenly.
"For what Lien?"
"Being who you are and never giving up on us."
He gave her a puzzled look, trying to figure out what she meant. Lien chuckled as her gaze turned to within his home. Following suit, he saw Philip playing with Dao, the little boy giggling in his father's arms as Lien smiled at them.
"At one point, I feared I wound not be a good mother for him. I was so scared." She confessed to him, "But when he came and was before me I thought if you and how you took care of us all. You never gave up and always tried to give us the best and making sure we became the adults we are today. So, thank you."
His heart felt warm and comfort as she spoke so highly of him. He always felt like he failed them in some way after the fight with Kiku, but hearing her was more than he could have ever imagined.
"I'm glad I did well on all your parts." He said, a sigh of relief escaping him.
"Hey Yao!" The quiet evening shattered as Im Yong came running.
"Yes?"
"Look here, it's your hacker." He said throwing the glowing device into his face.
There were times he loved his family quite well yet when they did things like this, he was ready to punch their heads in.
"What do you mean?" He asked looking at the device.
"Read the article." Im Yong replied.
Giving in he read the piece, the article stating how one of Canada's brightest was in China and working under the development of cyber-warfare. He continued reading, learning her knowledge and agility behind the screen and how she helped the industry.
"And that's not the best part." Im Yong nearly jumped in excitement as he scrolled the article farther, revealing his excitement to him.
"Who is Mystic-Sweetheart?"