"So, tomorrow you leave us."

"And what about Bella? Will you lie for her?"

Plans are made. For Good-byes. For Dreams and Promises.

Ascension

Chapter Thirty Seven

Into the Promise: The Worse Day Ever, Part Eighteen.

Unsurprisingly, it was Bella that popped up first. Seeing the four in the living room, she immediately moved to get everyone else, but in seconds they were behind her, each watching, each staring with a seriousness she'd only seen a handful of times. Blinking up at them, for a moment she felt the gap, the chasm between their life spans and hers. She shifted her weight uncertainly then followed them down the stairs descending solemnly into the living room. There was something different about this night. This evening, they weren't a family. This evening, they were a coven, and this evening seeing their hardened faces, their reluctant faces, their accepting faces she found herself alone standing at the bottom of a hierarchy she may never crest, never climb or ascend higher than where she was. It was the same feeling she had when she was human. Inadequate. Inexperienced. Unequipped. She remained silent, Bella, even as she settled herself next to her mate, the two occupying together the small bench before the piano.

Seras blinked widely alarmed by the sudden change in mood. Everyone looked so grim and austere. She was tempted to spy on their thoughts to see where this was going, but she hesitated uncertain if she really wanted to, afraid of what she would find.

Takashi eyed them also. His gaze narrowed. Subtly, he rose forcing Seras to sit up with him. There was something wrong, something different in how the family regarded them. It put him on edge.

Seeing this, Carlisle shook his head hoping to dispel whatever misgivings the wolf was formulating. To his chagrin, however, it didn't work. The wolf merely scrunched his nose suspicion all the more tensing his shoulders, flaring the spark in his eyes. The patriarch sighed. With a patience that was more conscious thought than genuine feeling, he promptly stood rising to his feet. His family, meanwhile, situated themselves around the room scattering between the arm chair, the couch, and the baby grand in the corner.

Catching the leader's gaze, the wolf lifted an eyebrow. In return, the doctor ran steady fingers through his mane meeting the stare head on, evenly through the tension, coolly through the heat from the fire. He took a breath then crossed his arms. He eyed the dragon softly. "So," he said, "tomorrow you leave us." Everyone watched him. He could feel it.

Detecting the slight fatigue coloring his words, Seras leaned forward. Sluggishly, resting soft elbows on grey tinted sweatpants, she nodded then looked away. "It appears so," she murmured.

Esme's brow furrowed, crumpling heavily in concern. "We really hate to see you leave so soon."

A number of the gang nodded. It was a small number.

"It seems a little abrupt to me," Rosalie added coldly. She crossed her arms eyeing the girl with suspicion, skepticism curling her lip tightly like a knotted ribbon. She hated melodrama, and she hated sappy. This meeting would head that way fast. She knew this, and she just wanted to leave.

Knowing her thoughts, Emmett patted her hip with his large paw. "Don't mind her, Cous'," he offered. He spoke softly from his place in the chair. "What she means to say is that it seems too early taking into account that you haven't been here long enough to do what you said, study up on the brutes and all. Shouldn't that take longer than half a day?"

Bella nodded. Seras watched her remembering what she said earlier. She concurred acknowledging their rebuttal. It was a solid argument. "You have a point, but I was able to obtain all the information I needed last night. From another source." At the confusion spreading across their faces, she rushed to explain, but then she paused. A thought buzzed into her mind like a bee ready to sting. She crinkled her nose.

Seeing this, Takashi wrinkled his eyebrows then leaned towards her. "Something wrong, Imp?"

She blinked then scrunched her shoulders looking up at him sheepishly, consciously aware of the others staring. She scratched her head. "Well…

私は昨夜ツリー妖怪を見た。どのように私はのように見えることなく、そのを説明しない…"[a]

She trailed off instantly seeing humor spark within her friend's eyes. He exploded with laughter. Disintegrated. Combusted. Completely fell apart into fur, flees, snorting chuckles. The Cullen's blinked, even as the dragon huffed and crossed her arms. "You're not helping."

"Nope, you are on your own with this one," Takashi howled. "This is too entertaining. I'm not lifting a finger—no limb (Haha! Get it limb, effin' hilarious) to help you."

Seras growled preparing to rise to her feet when a soft clearing of a throat caught her attention. Her eyes slanted catching the impatient stare of the doctor. It immediately erased the look on her face, but it only made the wolf laugh harder. She rolled her eyes then plopped back onto the couch. She sighed. "I talked to a tree demon last night."

"You talked to a tree—"

"Did it talk back?"

"Effin' hilarious!"

Emmett smirked interrupting the sarcastic tone of his bride. He chuckled even as she glared daggers at him. "Excuse me. Did it bark back?"

While a number of Cullens' shifted in their seats, the number being more than a few, Takashi's howl quickly rose to a booming roar causing Emmett's chortle to vault right after it.

Seras' eyebrow twitched. "Yes," she said calmly, trying to stay calm in light of the idiot shaking the loveseat underneath her. "In fact, it tried to drug me and eat me, but that is—"

"Drug you?!"

"Eat you?!"

"Trunk! However did you manage to leaf that situation, Seras?" Takashi laughed. "Did you have to dig into your roots before sprouting your wings to fly?"

Emmett snickered slapping his hand on the armrest. Forgetting that Rosalie was there, he smacked her hip hard causing her glare to deepen, but he didn't see it. "No-no-no, here's another," he said. "Maple, you should have stayed away from all them apples—"

"Ain't it ash-tounding what they'll do to you?" Takashi continued. "Ain't life a birch?!"

Seras slapped a hand to her face and groaned.

Rosalie turned her frosted glared upon the wolf. "Is he like this all the time?"

Seras created a gap in her fingers just wide enough to return her stare. She blinked then eyed her mate chuckling just as uncontrollably by her side. She lifted an eyebrow. "Is he?"

Rosalie just patiently sighed and nodded. "Point well taken."

Casually, she glared down at her mate, who was staring starry-eyed at the wolf in front of him exchanging puns like trading cards and popcorn. She sneered then promptly decked him upside the head.

Emmett choked then stopped laughing. He smirked up at her. "Oh, come on!" he alighted. "It's all fun."

Takashi, seeing this, settled a little. He sniggered. "Perhaps, she's all tapped out."

"Please make it sap—stop," Esme intervened giggling slightly.

Carlisle glared at her, but she just shrugged putting a hand over her bubbling laughter. Needless to say, it got both of them going all over again.

Carlisle sighed and ignored them. He put his hands on his hips. "Did you mean what you said?"

Seras looked at him and nodded earning a number disbelieving gasps. She shrugged. "As you can see, I made it out fairly in one piece."

"Smelling like apples no less." Takashi snickered. Calming down, he placed his chin in his hands as he leaned against the armrest. "Have you found your mountain demon yet?" He asked waiting for the spark in her eye to flare. His smile softened when it didn't come – again.

Immediately, Seras deflated. "No," she answered. She rubbed her chin with her hand. "There has to be one left. They can't have all just disappeared."

"Mountain demons?"

Seras looked up at the group before her. They were staring confused and uncertain. Immediately, she lit up, her smile broadening in spite her slight guilt of not explaining earlier. "They are youkai."

"Demons, like you?" Jasper asked. Admittedly, he was intrigued. Tree demons, Mountain demons, how many were there?

That exactly was what Edward wanted to know. It made his heart race at the thought. So many who could—

Fight, Alice pondered. Were they all on his side, the guy in the vision? Were they evil like the legends said?

The legends never said anything like this, Bella thought. In a matter of two years, she had been exposed to vampires, shape shifters, dragons and now there were more. She wanted to know more, yet she eyed Seras deflating slightly. She wouldn't get the chance. The dragon was leaving—

And it looked like it was probably for good. Esme sighed looking at her husband. She could tell that he was upset by the prospect, never had he been so out of character as he had been lately. This good-bye was going to be hard for him, for both of them. Perhaps, she could do something. She thought about the couch upstairs. The girl did need a new place to sleep.

Sleep. She said she slept in the tree. She lied. She was nearly devoured. Something in Carlisle tilted.

"They are demons, like me and Takashi, but they are mountains—no," she shook her head knowing exactly what they were thinking. "They are literally mountains, the whole thing, and when they wake and move the whole mountain goes with them. The last one was seen 500 years ago." When people blinked, she instantly corrected herself. "Our time. 500 years. He was recorded to have walked 30 miles, and it took him two days to do it."

Bella leaned forward, her eyes wide. "The whole mountain walked?"

Seras' smile was so broad it hurt. "Yes," she nodded accompanying Takashi's.

"It took forever, because they are too big and heavy to move fast."

"Well, I get that, but where was it going?" she asked. "Why did it wake?"

Instantly, the mood shifted. Jasper could feel it. The doctor could see it easily. The light in Seras' eyes faded a bit. The wolf looked away.

"It was seeking revenge," he replied softly. "A half demon stole the seal that allowed him to slumber for eternity. So, he traveled to kill him in the name of what he lost. He never achieved that dream."

Esme put a hand to her mouth. "Oh dear. Was it hunted?"

Seras nodded. "Three orphan boys killed it, but it is a well known fact that the fight was under orchestrated by the half demon, the one who stole the seal in the first place. Its death was his fault. Anyway, today, the mountain's body still rests where it died, and it is still called by its original name, Gakusanjin, The Mortal Mountain, the mountain without a range."

"You lie," Edward sneered. "That can't be true. It sounds like some myth or something. It's not true."

Bella elbowed him, but he wouldn't budge.

Seras tilted her head. "You can think that all you want. It means nothing to me."

"Why?" he growled.

"Because I saw it with my own eyes. You can't erase first-hand experience." She shrugged.

"And it's because of that first-hand experience, she's been searching so long for another," Takashi added.

Bella scrunched her nose, her fingers outlining the curve of the piano. Subtly, Edward removed the wandering digits from its faultless finish. She rolled her eyes. "Are they extinct? Is that why they're so hard to find?"

To this, Seras shook her head then crossed her arms. "It's not so much that they are extinct as they are in very deep slumber. The total numbers of these types of youkai are unknown because of this. They have been asleep since well before ancient times. Even the oldest demon alive today would be hard pressed to tell you where they all are. But that's the case with any plant or earth based youkai. They're just not interactive with the waking world."

"So, I'm guessing the tree demon falls into this category," Carlisle observed.

Seras nodded watching Jasper lean back. "But I don't get it," he drawled.

She tilted her head.

"Something like that, a man-eating apple tree, wouldn't it have been discovered by now?" he asked out loud.

But to this, Seras shook her head. "It lures in prey using illusions. It creates a barrier depicting summer. It probably alters it when it's not hunting to keep it from being discovered. Youkai illusions can be quite strong."

"It's why they are so dangerous," Takashi finished for her. He looked into the hearth. The fire was low, he thought. "It's never wise to take them for granted."

Seras watched him feeling her curiosity peak with his change in mood, the darkened tones of his voice. Jasper shifted slightly. Her gaze wandered to his, an eyebrow lifting. He just shook his head.

"So, what did it say?" someone asked.

For a moment, Seras just blinked then stared at the pixie not really expecting a question from her. But it came, and she would answer it. She shook her head. "It told me where and how the tribe is hidden, and how to locate it and break their barrier. Apparently, the native's remember us and would be able to point us in the right direction."

"But that would be hard given your association with us. They won't trust you to bring you into their territory."

Seras tapped her chin. "That is a dilemma."

Takashi tilted his head. "Why? Because of this 'supposed' war?"

Seras blinked. "How do you know about that?"

Takashi shrugged and looked at the doctor. "I saw a couple of their wolf warriors on my journeys in finding you." He sneered. "They were talking about waiting for confirmation on a turned vampire. It's why I was able to find you." He rubbed his nose. "I don't know what they were, but they smelt awful, almost like a hanyou, but not quite."

Seras crinkled her brow. "That is curious."

Jasper did also. "What is a hanyou?"

"A half demon, half human. It's the mixture of blood that gives them their distinctive scent. Those wolves smell similar to that."

"Oh!" Seras exclaimed. Surprised, everyone hailed her. "Speaking of wolves, I met your nephew last night."

Takashi paused looking at her. His eyes widened. "I'm a—" His surprise quickly turned into a smirk. "Kouga got busy. Didn't know he had it in him." He chuckled even as he settled back into the couch. "Especially since Ayame's such a bitch."

Seras raised an eyebrow. "She still is."

"Met her too have ya?" Takashi sighed rising to his feet. The Cullens watched him. "I told him not to marry her, but her father was adamant. 'It would save the species.' Yeah right. All it did was…" he trailed off. "So, what was he like?" He walked around the room putting his hands in his pockets.

"Competitive, cocky and playful, just like his father and uncle." Seras smiled softly. Her cheek stripes crinkled endearingly. She crossed her arms. "He acts like a pup—"

"Cub," Takashi corrected automatically. "What does he look like? Like Kouga, I hope."

Here, Seras crinkled her brow. "I'm not so sure," she admitted.

"What do you mean?" Esme asked mirroring her expression.

"You didn't get a good look?"

She looked at Bella and then at Takashi, her eyes serious and sympathetic. "He was invisible. He's like you, Tsume. He has powers, and he was born wolf."

Immediately, Takashi whined and wilted crouching to the balls of his feet. "Goddammit. They're gonna kick him out."

"You don't know that. There is—"

"Don't give me that bullshit, Seras. You know as well as I do how the Eastern clan works, and how tightly they've got Kouga wrapped around their fingers. They are gonna do what they've been doing since the dawn of fucking time." Seras' countenance fell even as she watched her friend's shoulder ripple as he traced a wondering finger over the ridges in the floor boards. "Another victim to their bloody tradition." He growled rubbing a hand through his hair. He needed to shower. "Perhaps, I'll give Sesshomaru a call."

Seras slouched back into the couch, her gaze wandering. "If they are as Eastern driven as you think, they will never send him with him. Perhaps, you could take him. He needs a wolf, Takashi. There's only so much another youkai can teach him."

But the wolf just shook his head. "I can't take him," he said quietly.

Seras just watched him and sighed. "In the end, this is Kouga's decision, but maybe he can come with me. We'll just have to talk with him."

"It's a thought," he said eventually. "But as you said, it is Kouga's decision. So, what's the plan?"

"That's what I want to know," Carlisle commented hoping to get the conversation back on track. To his relief, it worked.

Seras crumpled her nose. "I think it will be safer to just tell the truth. It's what the tree said. She mentioned something about using diplomacy instead of force. I think she may be right."

"It was a girl?" Takashi asked suddenly.

"How can you tell?"

Seras looked at Emmett and shrugged. "Saw it eat too. Don't ask me where it went. I don't want to know. It was the most disgusting thing I've seen since well…"

"The slugs?" Takashi offered with a smile.

Seras paused. "Ok, the second most disgusting thing. They were bad."

Bella chuckled. "Really? What happened?"

"Well," Seras began. "They—"

"Diplomacy, Seras," Carlisle interrupted. Perhaps, he was wrong.

She blushed and apologized. He waved it off and went to lean against the TV.

"The way I see it," she began, "it's the only safe option. If we sneak in and get caught, they will see it as an attack and start your war. If we just go and explain, then the option is in their court, and they won't have an excuse to use our presence against you. If they do attack afterward then it's on them. Your hands are clean."

"But what if they refuse you?" Jasper asked.

"Then I'll respect their decision," she answered, "but I don't think they will. They may know about their ancestors, but I'm sure they don't have the tools to contact them. If they have any respect for them and their heritage, their curiosity alone will not let this opportunity to slip by." She put her head on her fist. "Humans are curious and selfish creatures. Sometimes, these traits make them predictable in certain circumstances."

Jasper snorted. "True, but these are incredibly bigoted and stubborn. Your plan may back fire.

Seras nodded knowing the risk. She didn't say it was fool proof.

"And what about Bella?" Edward asked suddenly. Everyone turned. Everyone wondered. It was the first foremost thought in their minds. He knew this. The dragon knew this too. She was prepared. "It's foolish to think that they won't ask. Will you lie for her?"

Seras looked at him, looked at all of them: the boy, the girl, the pixie and her soldier, the mother, Rosalie, Emmett and finally the doctor. She sighed feeling Takashi's searching gaze. "I cannot promise her anything," she admitted, to which Edward sneered. "In my experience, it never really mattered what I say. If I lie, people normally read through it and do what they please."

"So, you will not protect her."

But Seras shook her head. "That's not what I said. I will do my best to keep the peace between you."

"Your best. And what will that do?" Edward jerked to his feet.

"Edward," Carlisle scolded.

But the boy didn't listen. "No," he objected.

"Yes," Seras agreed. "Carlisle, he is right to be concerned. Don't scold him for it." She looked at the boy even as he glared at her, at all of them.

Bella tried to calm him with a hand on his arm, but he jerked her off. Seras met his glare calmly. She leaned forward until her elbows were on her knees allowing her unbound hair to caress her shoulders like a robe, emphasizing how long it was. She sighed and broke eye contact staring at her hands. "My clan," she began. "We take promises very seriously and don't give them out lightly. I cannot promise you to lie. I can't promise to keep your war from occurring, because frankly, from how you've described it, your enemies are just thirsting to find a reason to fight. If that truly is the case, then there is no amount of action on my part that can keep them from their goal, especially since the reality is that Bella was changed, and your treaty is broken. It's done." She looked up with sympathetic eyes at the two of them, Bella mostly. "But I can promise you this. If your war starts because of me, if my actions tomorrow erupt in that, then I promise to fight with you until it's over. That, I will promise you."

From his place on the floor, Takashi just stared at her. Quiet like the rest. He swallowed before looking at the group. Though some stared in awe or pity or uncertainty, he was sure that they didn't fully understand or trust the significance of what she'd just promised. But he did. It made him take a step back, to think and evaluate – again. He rose to his feet. "Seras," he murmured gently.

She blinked up at him. "Is it wrong for me to promise such a thing?" She had known him too long, he figured. He her. She knew his thoughts though, for the first time, he couldn't comprehend hers. He just shook his head, but before he could say anything, a quiet voice interrupted the moment breaking it, shifting it, molding its fate.

"My hope is that it doesn't come down to that, Seras," Carlisle said from his place by the TV. He was looking into the fire taking everything in, watching it twist and turn as it danced. He blinked and regarded her. "I'm of your opinion. Being honest is the right course of action, but I request a change in your plan."

Seras crinkled her eyebrows and tilted her head. "What is it?" she asked.

Briefly, Carlisle regarded his family. "I want to go with you."