Kurama thought to himself. What was so special about this group of siblings that made them special enough to King Enki to want to take them into his own home? There had to be more than there appeared to be on the surface. But what? Lucian was in a foul mood at the moment. He had begun to show more of his displeasure at the presence of the Reikai Tantei the more Yusuke had been directing them on which path to take to King Enki's palace. There was no way he would be willing to give answers with the mood he was in right now.
Abigail was walking close to the distracted redhead. "How about we go on a little further ahead?" She asked. "You seem concerned for your friend. The sooner we get there, the sooner you can quit worrying about him."
She knows I want answers. Kurama thought to himself. "Perhaps you're right. I didn't realize just how caught up in my thoughts I was."
Abigail turned to Lucian. "I will be cautious at all times. Plus with Yoko Kurama beside me, I doubt we will face much trouble." She waited eagerly for Lucian to answer.
"Give me your wrist." He instructed. She did so, knowing his intentions. The whole group stopped walking. They watched Lucian remove the bracelet that had been around her wrist. Kurama made a mental note the other girls were wearing identical bracelets.
Once Lucian had removed the bracelet he instructed her, "Keep your energy flaring at its maximum the whole time you are separated from me. Do not argue. If I feel your energy falter, even if for a minute, I will ensure your punishment will be severe." Then he turned to Kurama. "Watch her."
Kurama nodded and the two separated, moving ahead from the others. "You're very empathetic."
"I am. I believe that is why they call me an empath." She smiled.
Kurama returned the smile. "That would explain it."
"Look, I know you have questions, so we should probably get down to business before my brother begins insisting we return to the group."
"Yes, he does seem to have a short fuse."
"Ask your questions." She cut him short of whatever else he may have said.
"What happened to this family? Why is it so important to Enki?"
Abigail pondered a moment on how to properly answer his question. "We are not important to Enki, so much as we are to Mokuro."
"Mokuro?"
Abigail sighed. This explanation would take some time. "A long time ago, when Athen was merely a girl, she was kidnapped, along with our littlest sister. The man's name was Hotaru. He was the same man who had kidnapped Mokuro back when she was younger. Less than a year after Athen's and our other sister's kidnapping, Mokuro was leaked information from an insider that Hotaru was up to his same old tricks."
"Old habits die hard." Kurama interjected.
"Shh." She silenced him. "Mokuro was infuriated by this. She personally went to Hotaru's hideout and freed the girls, only to find that the youngest girl in our family had died by the hands of Hotaru. For some reason, Athen's strength caught her attention. I guess it was something about Mokuro's admiration for how Athen had managed to remain strong through something Mokuro herself could not. Mokuro took Athen to her personal dwellings to take care of her. They became extremely close. Mokuro asked if Athen wanted to return home, Athen declined."
"She was ashamed." Kurama guessed.
"Yes. So Mokuro assisted Athen, trained her in the ways of the bandit. Mokuro wanted Athen to stay, for some reason. Athen wouldn't tell us why. She refused and got angry when we asked."
"Why was she defensive?"
"She refused to say. I thought I told you that already. Anyway, for a long time, none of us saw or heard from Athen. It was a good seventy five years later before we saw her again. She returned home, told us a vague explanation of what she had been doing away from home. Afterwards, she never mentioned it again. We never pried."
Kurama processed the information he had been told. "A thief. Seventy five years, you say?"
Abigail nodded.
"Misally?"
Abigail looked up at him. "How did you know Athen was Misally?"
"I am Yoko Kurama, after all, I have lived to see many years. Very little news got passed me. Especially word concerning another thief. She was very talented, from what I heard."
"That's what we have been told as well." Abigail stopped once more, halting Kurama with her hand. "Listen, tell your group this information only if you feel it's absolutely necessary. And do not mention our youngest sister. Athen is now the littlest in our family, but far from being the most immature. Her witnessing the death of her little sister is something I doubt she wants everyone talking about. And I'm sure she doesn't want you to have this information anyway."
"Don't worry. Her past is of no concern to the group at the moment." Kurama reassured her.
By this time, the rest of the group had caught up to them. "Come along, Abigail. We're only fifteen minutes away now." Lucian kept walking. Abigail and Kurama began to follow with the group.