Mahou Sentai Magiranger

Courage and Innocence

By: MysticPhantasy

Chapter 21

(A/N: Greetings everyone and welcome back. We're so sorry that it took this long to continue this fic, but we hope that it's still worth the wait. Thanks to our friends Hallwings and CrystalBlueMontana for their continued support.)

(Disclaimer: We don't own MagiRanger or its characters. We just own our OC's Hoshi and Envy.)

"Titan-kun's not waking up?" Houka asked in distress.

"He's been out of it ever since he came back," Urara said, tears starting to come to her eyes again, "We're taking care of him as best we can…" she didn't have a chance to finish as her older sister rushed past her to the magic room and saw her boyfriend suspended in a literal bed of water, Hoshi in a similar state next to him, the two visiting saints also at their side.

"Snowgel…Rin-chan…can you help them?" Houka asked.

"All the physical damage has been taken care of, the damage to their minds and hearts…that's something only time can heal," Snowgel revealed.

"I'll find a spell then," Houka said determinedly.

"You know that magic doesn't solve everything," Lunagel gently countered, "if we try to use a spell, it may actually make things worse. You'll just have to have faith they'll pull through…though what to do with the one who was possessed…that's the question."

"She'll have to have her memory erased. Tsubasa will know the proper potion," Snowgel replied, "Once he's well enough he should do it soon."

"You just said magic doesn't solve everything…do you want to do the same for Titan-kun?" Houka replied.

"Titan already knows about the magical world," Lunagel pointed out.

"And learning about it in the way that she did will be a traumatic experience for her, for anyone really," Snowgel replied, "You'll be showing her kindness by removing this experience from her."

"I'm not entirely sure if that's the right thing to do either…" Houka replied.

"Well, ultimately it will be your decision. However you plan to resolve it, we'll support you," Lunagel assured her.

"You did very well out there by the way," Snowgel smiled at Houka, "We're both proud of you, but as your family has returned safe and the threat is over, Lunagel and I must be going."

Houka nodded, "Thank you for all your help," she said, bowing.

"Good luck," Lunagel smiled at Houka as she and Snowgel departed through the fireplace in the Magic Room. Turning around, Houka noticed Urara, Nai, Mare, and Isamu carrying the rest of their injured.

"It looks like I've got my work cut out for me," Urara commented.

"Nonsense, let us help," Nai said.

"Yes we're here too, and so is your Tou-san," Mare pointed out

"Sorry," Urara looked down, "I guess I've been used to handling the nursing duties of the family alone."

"Actually, you've already done a lot," Isamu said, "All this worrying won't be good for the baby I'm sure. You can take a break while the three of us handle things."

"Arigatou, Tou-san," Urara smiled.

"You don't want my help?" Houka asked.

"I know you're extremely worried for Titan-kun," Isamu replied, "Just focus on taking care of him. I'm sure Nai, Mare, and I can treat everyone's wounds. They won't be out for long."

Houka nodded and went to Titan's side, holding his hand, stroking it gently "Titan-kun…it's Houka-chan," she said, "You're at home now, you're safe. You're with me now. The others are also here and they made it safe too. Envy is gone. Tou-san and I got rid of her. She'll never hurt you again…I won't let anyone hurt you like that again. That's a promise. I am so sorry I couldn't get there before things got out of hand…please forgive me." Unfortunately, Titan remained completely silent, "Please, still love me," she pleaded as Titan's still form continued to at least breathe softly. Houka decided to take a small chance and leaned over, pecking his lips softly and caressing his cheek, but still he didn't wake. She looked over at Urara, who was busy treating her mother, "Ura-nee…could you make this water bed a little bigger?"

"Sure," Urara smiled. With a wave of her MagiPhone the bed expanded and Houka climbed up on it, holding Titan's hand.

"I won't leave you till you wake up, but I'm a little sleepy myself."

"Then take a nap. We'll wake you if anything happens," Isamu promised. Houka nodded and let her drowsiness overcome her.

XXX

Houka was gently nudged awake with a soft voice calling to her, "Houka-chan, Houka-chan." She looked over at the gentle face of her mother.

"Kaa-san…glad to see you're okay," Houka smiled and got up and off the bed.

"Thanks to you, my dear," Miyuki replied. She looked over first at Hoshi, then at Titan, "It looks like neither of them are awake yet."

"How are the others?" Houka asked.

"They're sore, but awake. Everyone's eating dinner together, I thought I'd come and invite you as well before the boys eat it all up," Miyuki replied with a smile.

"Arigatou, Kaa-san, but I don't want to leave him."

"You've been through a lot today. I'm sure you're hungry," Miyuki replied, "I'll look after him for you."

"Kaa-san, I promised I wouldn't leave him," Houka insisted.

"Houka-chan, he'll understand. And as long as you stay in the house, you'll be keeping your promise to him. Now go and eat before you make yourself sick," her mother replied, still gently, but firmly.

Houka went into the dining room where the rest of her family and their friends were already eating. Everyone looked over at her.

"Hou-nee, glad to see you up and about," Tsubasa smiled at her.

"Tou-san told us what we missed. Great job at taking Envy down for good!" Kai grinned.

"You're the heroine of the hour," Makito said proudly.

"Thank you everyone, but I won't feel like I've won until he wakes up," Houka said looking down.

"Give it time," Urara said, "He's been through a lot; and such a gentle and innocent soul going through that…"

"I know!" Houka shouted, but then looked down, "I'm sorry everyone…didn't mean to shout."

"It's okay," Isamu said, "Why don't you sit and eat with us."

"Yes. We saved you some," Nai said.

"We love our guys, but they can eat," Mare chuckled.

"And a Heavenly Saint should know better than to give into gluttony," Urara joked, causing Hikaru to blush. Houka let out a small smile at the banter and allowed herself to eat.

"Everyone!" Miyuki rushed into the room, "Titan-kun's awake!"

"Really?" Houka's eyes lit up and everyone else's attention was on Miyuki as well.

"Yes. I was just sitting there, singing to him for a few minutes and he woke right up," Miyuki smiled.

"But…but I was with him for much longer…and he didn't budge," Houka stuttered.

"I'm sorry Houka-chan, so sorry," Miyuki said, "but Titan-kun's…he's asked to be left alone for now. He doesn't want to see anyone for a bit, and I think we should respect that for the time being."

"He doesn't want me?" Houka said.

"Please don't take it that way, just give him some time," Miyuki tried to reassure her oldest daughter, but she had already rushed upstairs.

XXX

Later in the night, after everyone has home and safe, Titian went to bed after a long, hot shower.

He was starting to go to sleep when flashes of the night's events came flooding into him, causing him to cry out, "Kaa-chan! Help me!"

Miyuki was the first to reach her adopted son's side and found him, balled up like a kitten in the corner of his bed, with Kai standing near by.

Miyuki sat on the bed, "Titian, sweetie, I'm here."

Just then Houka ran in, "What's going on?"

Titian sniffled and looked up, "Kaa-chan?"

Miyuki smiled her very loving smile, "Hai. I'm here."

He moved to her and clung to her, "It felt like it was happing again."

She held him and rubbed his back, "It's okay, sweetheart. You're home and you are safe. No one is going to hurt you."

Titian couldn't help but shake. After a moment, he bolted for the bathroom, and everything that was in his stomach was in the toilet and he was still heaving.

Once he thought he was done, he laid on the floor and sobbed.

Houka stood there, unable to move to help her boyfriend as Miyuki and Kai aided him.

After several, long moments, Miyuki was able to convince Titian to try and get some more sleep.

She sat on the edge of his bed and rubbed his back as she sang to him a sweet song. She then got her glass angel music box, wound it up, and laid it on his nightstand next to the fishbowl with Ponyo, and looked over at Houka and held out her hand.

Houka took her mother's hand and they went to the kitchen, where she made them both a cup of hot tea, "It's going to take a while, but you and Titan, with your love, will make it though this."

Houka nodded, "I know, but I felt so helpless just now. I want to be there for him, but I felt like I wasn't able to do anything."

Miyuki handed her oldest daughter a cup of tea and smiled, "Sometimes, a mother's touch is what is needed."

"I know, but Kaa-san…I should have been able to help him!" she cried out, "I should be able to hold him and help him through times like these."

"Houka, you are able to be there for him. You helped saved him and the rest of us from Envy. You showed a great amount of courage and I know he is thankful for that. Things will just take time for both him and you. Titian loves you just as much, if not more than you love him and he always will. He just needs a little bit of time, just like you do."

Houka sighed and nodded in agreement, "It doesn't make it hurt any less."

Miyuki hugged her, "I know how you feel."

Houka looked at her mother, puzzled, "How?"

"Your father was a nervous wreck when we got married and would throw up all the time. It wasn't until he went to visit his "mother" Magiel that he started to understand and was able to cope. Then, 9 months later, your Aniki was born," she smiled.

"Kaa-san! I don't want to hear about your sex life! And we're dealing with something very different."

Miyuki shook her head, "That wasn't my point Houka. My point is, things take time and sometimes men need a little love from their mothers to be able to cope with the new situation at hand. Give Titan-kun time, he will come around again."

"I really hope so, Kaa-san…I'm so worried about what this has done to us, as a couple. Will he trust me again? Will I trust myself with him again? I feel like I'm going to be stepping on glass for a while," Houka replied.

"Speaking of what this has done, you still have to figure out what to do with Hoshi-chan," Miyuki reminded her, "She's still asleep in the magic room. Mandora Boy is secretly watching her and she only stirs a little to let out a few sobs before going back to sleep. I don't think she's aware of where she is, but I do think she's aware of what happened to her…and what Envy did through her."

"I…I still don't know what to do…" Houka admitted, "I want to do the right thing but I don't know what that will be…"

"Well I think you can hold off on that decision until morning. I think she'll still be asleep until at least then," Miyuki reassured her.

XXX

The next morning, before Miyuki even started working on breakfast, she heard sounds coming from the magic room and investigated. Inside she saw Tsubasa asleep but just waking up, two bubbling cauldrons nearby.

"Kaa-san…ohayo," he greeted.

"What are you doing up so early?" Miyuki asked.

"I couldn't sleep…this issue has been bugging me so I wanted to work on it to present some options before Hou-nee woke up," Tsubasa replied.

"Do what before I woke up?" A sleepy Houka emerged into the magic room, still in her pajamas, rubbing her eyes.

"Hou-nee…I made two potions overnight," Tsubasa explained, "One is the memory erase potion, but the other is one that allows for me to explore her mind. I wanted to know what the effects of the memory erase would be before we tried it…" he looked sad and shivered at saying that.

"What did you find?" Houka asked.

"I really feel for Hoshi-chan. The experience of being possessed by Envy and violating Titan-kun has left her in a deep despair. She saw and felt everything that monster did just as much as Ura-nee did when she scryed to locate Titan-kun earlier. Even though she had no control over Envy's actions, she still feels responsible for them and is experiencing a terrible burden of guilt. In her dreams she's in a dark place constantly crying for what she feels responsible for."

While Tsubasa was explaining this, Titan also emerged and cringed at the sound of Envy's name and immediately went to Miyuki's side.

"Then that settles it," Houka said, "We should erase her memories of those events. She…she doesn't deserve to suffer like this. It's not her fault, it was Envy and she already paid the price for what she did."

"I'm afraid it's not that simple," Tsubasa said, "The memory erase potion won't solve the problem, it may make it worse."

"How is that?" Miyuki asked.

"The potion will erase her memories of the event, but not the emotions attached to them," Tsubasa explained, "She would be like an amnesiac patient all of a sudden breaking out in tears and not knowing why. And with guilt this heavy, not getting any answers may torment her for the rest of her life."

"Oh no…" Houka gasped, "Do you think we could explain that it's not her fault?"

"With something this traumatic, it will be very hard to convince her completely," Miyuki said sadly.

"She's…she's waking up!" Titan pointed at Hoshi who finally got of the bed of water which disappeared. She looked back in surprise what she just saw, then looked at the half of the Ozu family who was looking at her with various expressions of concern (Tsubasa), sympathy (Miyuki), sadness (Houka), and fear (Titan). At seeing all of them she looked worse and worse, and seeing Houka and Titan, she fell to the ground crying.

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry…I'm sorry…I'm sorry…my…my friends…what have I done…Kami-sama I'm so so sorry!" she wailed. At the sound of her sobs, the other members of the family woke up and walked into the magic room. None of them spoke, but they all felt their hearts ache at seeing Hoshi on the ground sobbing, head bowed in guilt, not daring to face the friends she felt that she hurt so unforgivably.

"Tsu-nii," Houka whispered to her brother, "You're right. The potion won't solve this problem. This requires a…different kind of magic," she said and she walked over towards Hoshi and put a hand on her shoulder. She cringed at the touch and didn't dare look at her.

"Kaa-chan, what's Houka doing?" Titan asked Miyuki, still standing close to her.

"Shh…just watch and listen," Miyuki said softly.

Houka felt Hoshi's body shake as she bent down to her level, "Hoshi-chan…" she said gently, "Please look at me."

"I…I can't…" Hoshi shook some more, "not after what I did...to you and Titan-kun…you must hate me…I hate me…"

"Hoshi-chan, please look at me," Houka repeated, putting a finger under Hoshi's chin and lifting her face up gently. Houka took one look at the young girl's red eyes and tear stained cheeks and her heart was moved. She was going to do this because she felt she needed to, but now she was also doing it because she wanted to, "Hoshi-chan," Houka said, gently but firmly holding Hoshi's head up so she wouldn't turn away, "I forgive you."

"But…all that I did…you…how can you just…" Hoshi stuttered, "you don't hate me?"

Hoshi wiped the tears from the younger girl's face and shook her head, "No. I don't hate you. Hoshi-chan. You are an important friend to Titan-kun. I forgive you."

"I don't deserve your forgiveness…I don't deserve Titan-kun's friendship," Hoshi continued to shed a few tears.

"It's when we don't deserve forgiveness and friendship that we need them the most," Houka replied softly, "Please accept both from me."

"If…if you're really sure…" Hoshi said with hesitation.

"I'm sure," Houka said with a smile nod of her head. She also helped the younger girl to her feet where she finally started to look up.

"See," Miyuki whispered to Titan, "Now you understand what Houka-chan meant by 'a different kind of magic.' It's an older magic, and very powerful. Best of all, you don't need to be a magician to be able to use it."

"Really?" Titan looked at Miyuki who nodded and smiled.

"All you need is a heart. Anyone with a heart can use it," she replied as Hoshi approached the rest of the family.

"Everyone…I'm so sorry for everything…and thank you for taking care of me despite everything," she said, then looked at Titan who was still hesitant, "I'll understand if you don't want to be around me anymore, Titan-kun…but I hope you know how much I regret hurting you."

"The Hoshi-chan who was my friend…would never hurt me like that…" Titan replied. Hoshi paled considering it an end to their friendship but Titan continued, "but I can tell…you're hurting too because of what happened to me. Therefore…it wasn't you who hurt me…it was a monster and she's gone…the Hoshi that's here…she's still the one who's my friend…and I forgive her too." Titan held out his hand and Hoshi took it hesitantly but Titan squeezed it softly and smiled at her, "Now all you need to do is forgive yourself."

"It will be hard, but I'll try," Hoshi repied.

"Then I'll remind you as often as you need to hear it. We forgive you," Titan said. Then they heard the sound of everyone's stomachs growling.

"Time for breakfast!" Makito interrupted the moment with his cheerful shout. The younger members of the Ozu family left the magic room one by one.

"Hoshi-chan, please join us," Titan said.

"I…I should go," she replied.

"Not on an empty stomach," Houka insisted.

"Okay then, you've convinced me," Hoshi replied, trying to smile as Titan and Houka led her back out.

"Just us left," Miyuki mused.

"I know, we can give them a few moments," Isamu replied, "I need a moment anyway. I've never been more proud of Houka and Titan than at this moment."

"I know how you'll feel. It may be rough on them for a short time, but I think they'll make it," Miyuki smiled, "Now, let's go join the children."

"They aren't children anymore," Isamu said with a bittersweet tone to his voice.

(A/N: Well we hope that you have enjoyed this chapter and that it was worth the long wait. Please leave us some reviews to let us know what you thought. It's not the end though, we have a few more ideas to do before this fic is concluded so we hope you look forward to next time. Also if you've tried to PM us and it hasn't worked, try again, we fixed that on our account.)