Disclaimer: Not mine. I don't even own a PS3, so... no ToS Chronicles. TnT

Sister

Chapter 3: Aunt

-o-

We lived in the outskirts of Heimdall, but for years, I thought the world was only the small clearing where our house was built.

This notion lasted until one sunny afternoon, when I was allowed to explore the village.

-o-

The fact they possessed the same energy as mother only served to further accentuate the differences. Their faces were cold, as if they didn't possess emotions. For a child who had only known wide smiles and open hearts, to know the world wasn't as beautiful as my sheltered life suggested... that left me with a sense of unease that never really faded away.

(Because the world is a scary, ugly place.)

I spotted a sign, and, using my recently acquired skills, put the letters together: 'Shop'. I decided to spend the gald mother had given me for my birthday.

"We are closed," said a woman with a very stern voice.

I fidgeted with the coins in my hand, "Oh, I'm sorry."

When she looked at me, her expression softened. "Ah, it's just a child. What do you want to buy? I've got some candy from Latheon Gorge and gels from Meltokio."

"Hm… I don't know. Mommy gave me some money and I'd like to buy her a present."

"Who's your mother, little one?"

"Irena Yggdrasill, madam. And I'm Mithos. What's your name?"

Her eyes widened a bit, but I didn't linger on that. "Irena Yggdrasil, you say? Why, she's my favorite niece! My name is Themis Yggdrasill."

"Really?"

"Yes, yes. Well, she was–at least until she married your father." She patted my head. "Your father was a gentleman, and I quite liked the idea of having him as a nephew, but my family... they all protested rather loudly. She couldn't stand it anymore and ran away from home." Her eyebrows furrowed. "Before she left, I tried to talk to her, but… I hurt Irena and she never spoke to me again."

"That must have been ages ago!" I exclaimed. "I'm sure Mommy has forgiven you already. She's very nice."

"You're such a dear." Themis smiled. "Little Mithos, would you call me auntie?"

"Okay. So… come with me, auntie! I'll talk to mommy and say you're sorry. I'm sure she will forgive you!"

"I'm not so sure…" She frowned.

"Why not?"

"It's complicated."

Complicated indeed. I never quite understood why adults like that phrase so much. Maybe they just don't want to think about something for too long…?

"More complicated than Math?" I frowned.

When we formed Cruxis, Kratos took care of finances. I still don't really like numbers.

"Yes."

"Well, okay. We can go later."

She went to the back of the store. "Wait just a moment. I have a gift for Irena." Themis returned, carrying a glass case filed with some cone shaped pastries; they looked delicious. "These were her favorites. If you want more, just visit me again."

I took the present and smiled. "Okay. Bye bye, auntie Themis!" I waved and exited the building.

-o-

Auntie was always nice to me. According to her, she had to spoil me to make up for all the family.

Later, I found out the Yggdrasil clan consisted of over three hundred people, so the fact she was the only one to ever acknowledge my existence was… horrible? Not really; in the end, it hardly mattered what a bunch of bigoted elves thought—I paid them back.

(Heimdall was, in the end, only the smallest of the elven settlements. When word spread of an Yggdrasil single-handedly decimating nine tenths of the Elven Folk... my dear relatives' reputation was forever tarnished.)

-o-

Two years later, Themis finally went to see mother. Why did it take so long, you ask?

My life was probably the Fates' idea of a joke, and clichés originated from somewhere in the first place.

…On a completely unrelated note, I do remember Yuan gloating about his catchphrases becoming widespread. His look of complete mortification after they were labeled 'cliché' is forever engraved in my mind. When he kept using them (supposedly, as a form of protest against 'the fickle nature of mortals'—as if that wasn't the very definition of mortality), I had the urge to throw him from the top of the Tower.

Repeatedly.

Without his Cruxis Crystal.

(That particular urge never really went away.)

-o-

AN: I found this in my HD. It's been sitting there for frigging two years! The revised version feels much crackier than the original. Where has my angst gone? orz

Also, it's much more deranged and disjointed. I guess it fits him, though.

Thoughts on this mess? Want me to stop writing and look for therapy? Want to slap me for procrastinating/writing basically a word per day? Well, there's this nifty button called 'review'. It's so shiny!

Trivia: the cone pastry represents a cornucopia, which is sometimes associated with the goddess of peace.