He was awoken by the gentle chirping of the birds hanging above his head, Ragna reluctantly opened his eyes as the sun beams tried to force them closed again. By his side, Rachel lay with her hands clutching his shirt, huddled for warmth from the cool morning air. "Oh Dad your awake!" Mariela's voice had a bit of excitement in her tone. "Look at the sunrise, it's so pretty.." Ragna looked at her eyes as she said this, it was not typical of Ragna to care for such small pleasures as admiring the scenery, but seeing his daughter's face with such an expression was something he did admire and appreciate. "Yeah, you don't get these kind of views back home". He took a look around his surroundings, the sunrise gave him enough light to be able to tell exactly where they were. "I'd say were about an hour's walk from Kagutsuchi". Hearing their conversation Rachel began to squirm in the sleeping bag she was sharing with Ragna, "Oh would you please seize that mouth of yours Ragna, your ruining the pleasant sounds of nature." Ragna couldn't help but retort, "Give me a break Rabbit, I doubt a couple of birds chirping away is anything to marvel at."
As the morning dew dissipated they grabbed their things and headed out early to try and reach Kagutsuchi as soon as possible. Mariela was hand in hand with Noel, they were leading the pack in the front like before. While Ragna and Rachel treaded the rear. "You know Mariela had the biggest grin I've ever seen this morning." Ragna said in a softened serious tone, something quite uncommon for him. Rachel didn't acknowledge his words and merely stayed quite. "She sure loves this nature stuff, I guess she got that from you cause she sure as hell didn't get it from me." A brief remembrance of the morning banter with Rachel flashed briefly in his mind. He shrugged as his eyes fell on his wife. Again she did not acknowledge his words and kept her gaze forward fixed on Mariela and Noel.
"Oh woah! What is that!?" Mariela started bouncing around while holding on to Noel's hand and pointing at the distance. From where they were standing, the outlines of Kagutsuchi's buildings could be seen. The airship's that flew around the various ports and docks were visible as well. Noel seeing how excited Mariela was, cleared her throat for the grand introduction. "Mariela, welcome to Kagutsuchi!".
As they made their way through the busy city streets, Mariela's eyes grew big and her mouth remained open, she was taking in all the sights and sounds of the grand city of Kagutsuchi. Never in her wildest dreams did she believe that she would ever get to experience visiting such a place. "Mariela, close your mouth this instant! It's not proper for a lady such as yourself." Rachel scolded Mariela from behind. "Oh come on Rabbit, let her have her fun, I was actually pretty impressed myself when I first came here, although I didn't really have the luxury of time to take in the sights with all that was going on back then." Ragna added. He placed his had over Mariela's head and ruffled her hair, "pretty big place huh?" he said boasting, as if he knew all there was to know about the city.
Ragna looked around, trying to cover his face using the folds of his crimson red jacket. He had been infamous for a long time in this city even though his bounty was no longer valid, there were still foolish individuals who seek to test their might against the former Grim Reaper. "At the very least I think I can walk around without drawing too much attention to myself. Ok, time to hit up Kokonoe, will you girls be ok without me?" Ragna directed his question towards Mariela, much to the irritation of Rachel. "What? But I was going to tag along with you Dad! I want to see Aunt Kokonoe too you know, I haven't seen her in forever! Plus I'm sure Mr. Tager is there too, I'd love to see him again as well." Ragna rubbed the back of his neck, not knowing what to say. "Noel, help me out here." Ragna's eyes seemed like they were pleading for Noel's assistance. "Sector Seven isn't exactly a place for kids Mariela, tell you what, let's go to the market and I will buy you the most delicious ice cream you have ever tasted!" Noel tried her best to make the offer seem as enticing as possible. "Nope, sorry Auntie but I'm not budging on this one." Mariela crossed her arms and gave her dad the saddest look, he had faced this look many times during his fathering of her. It was the look she made when she wanted sympathy from her dad. This look however did not work on her mother, and she knew that very well.
Ragna tried to turn away but her face was just tugging at his heart too much, "*sigh* fine..., you know I can't say no when you give me that damn look." He sighed again at having given in to his daughter. "Yaaaaay!" Mariela began jumping up and down as if she had just one the most fabulous prize in the world. Ragna just stood there defeated, his back slouched and arms drooping. "Well can't be helped I guess, yo Rachel you coming with us?" Rachel stood in place staring at him with that same icy stare he knew so well. That stare was one of anger, distress, and contempt. "No, I have no such urge to see that child right now, I still haven't forgiven her for much of what happened in the past, so I will pass. But do hear this well Ragna, I'm leaving Mariela in your care. Do you undestand what that means?" Ragna gulped so hard that even Noel who was at a considerable distance from him could head it. "If anything happens to her, anything at all, if she even falls and gets a cut on her precious skin, there will be...consequences." Rachel's voice was calm yet there was a certain air of frightening power in her words, enough to make Ragna regret tagging along with the group.
"hehehe...don't worry so much Rabbit, Mariela will be fine." His nervous laugh betrayed his confidence and his voice crackling from the tremendous stress and pressure Rachel had just laid on him did not reassure her.
Rachel walked over to Mariela and gave her a firm hug, "I think this is the first time we've been separated like this, please do your best to avoid any danger, and if you ever find yourself in trouble please use your father as a shield, he is good at absorbing punishment so you need not worry." Mariela was confused at what her mother was saying, but she simply nodded and gave her mom a reassuring smile. Ragna looked annoyed at Rachel's words, "you never change rabbit."