Leaning over Dominic's frigid body, I rock back and forth slightly on the balls of my feet. I'm frightened. The outcome of these events is not certain, and it terrifies me vigorously. I stare at my son hopelessly, seeing how any and all life in him is absent completely. I cry.

"Adam…" Tori whispers, touching my cheek and sliding my thin shirt over my head, exposing my chest. "It's time…"

"Why am I shirtless now?" I ask.

"Don't worry about that, Adam. C'mon."

"How much am I going to have to do?" I ask. Tori chuckles lightly.

"You really won't be doing much. Only one sacrifice is needed, but it's one that will leave scars and immense pain and much more. Are you sure you actually want to go through with this?" I nod.

"Dominic is my life. Of course, along with the rest of my family, but ya know… I love him. He was made from me. He's a part of me. I only had him for a short time, but I still wanted to have him for a long time, despite his attitude. I'm not used to being a father, and of course I'm not going to be the best father for the time being, but I'm for damn sure going to try my hardest."

"You are amazing…"

I take a deep breath and step into what looks to be an electric chair. The League of men straps me in by my wrists, ankles, forehead, and stomach. My eyes widen when light flashes across a large silver blade. I try to move slightly, but the straps restrain me. They're too tight, because they're already starting to give me tiny scrapes and cuts.

"This hurts…" I mumble. Tori frowns.

"I know, dearest, but it must be done. Are you ready?" I nod, taking deep breaths until I become a bit woozy. I become queasy, seeing the blade coming toward me, being carried by one of the large men.

"This will not be quick, human," he says, smirking. I blink a few times in shock and fear, looking to Tori for help. She shrugs.

The four men crowd around me, but Tori stays beside a wall calmly, hovering and watching over Dominic maternally. A tear rolls down my cheek as I begin to take the last trial, blood sacrifice, with as much pride, courage, bravery, and love as I can force into the action. I smile weakly.

The first thing I feel is the icy metal against my left forearm. After this, time seems to slow down. I look over to see the large blade slowly piercing my skin, tracing a thin line along my forearm. Slowly, the blood creeps up to the surface of my skin, flowing freely. The cool knife cuts deeper, exposing more skin and blood. But something puzzles me.

I continue watching the metal carve into my arm. I expect to feel horrendously intense pain, but I feel nothing. Not even a slight tickle. It baffles me. The knife is still pressing into my forearm little by little, but there is no pain whatsoever. I feel everything like air and the metal's cold surface against my skin, but it doesn't hurt at all.

One of the four large men takes a small vial, capturing in it some blood that creeps along my arm. I'm still confused as to why this doesn't hurt, but I focus more on where they're taking the vial. They release the blade from my arm, smirking as they walk away. They give the vial to Tori, and she walks over to Dominic, but first she looks to me.

"Adam… Where is your glitter?" she asks.

"My pocket," I mumble, squirming. She nods, and the League crowds around me stalkerishly, loosening all of my restraints. I relax, still feeling no pain, but seeing the ghastly wound created on my arm. The League takes the glitter from my belt loop, handing it to Tori. She nods in gratitude, taking the pouch gingerly. She halfheartedly smiles.

"I hate to say this, but the glitter will not heal your wound…"

"It didn't even hurt… Why was that?"

"Your bravery was an act of pure love and true sacrifice. If it weren't you would be screaming in agony. This proves that you truly love your son enough to sacrifice and possibly give your life for his, and for that, he shall." My eyes widen.

Tori takes the knife used on my arm and slices a line into Dominic's left forearm, same as me. I run up to them, pushing her away, but he's already been cut by the blade.

"Tori!"

"Look!" she exclaims, surprisingly calm. She pours my small vial of blood into his arm. She takes the knife and unbuttons his shirt, slicing through his chest just above his heart. I flinch but hold myself back reluctantly.

Tori takes a small handful of the glitter from the pouch, sprinkling it into and over Dominic's chest wound. I watch in fear and anxiety as the glitter absorbs into the wound, closing it and leaving nearly no scar behind.

I just then realize that I've not been breathing since she sliced Dominic's chest, and I gasp roughly for air. In the same second I do, so does Dominic, like a reaction from me passed through to him.

Tears flow across my face softly, accumulating quickly. Dominic coughs and gasps for air, grasping the edges of the bed and looking over to me and smiling weakly. I smile back as he holds onto his arms out to me. I pull him off of the bed and stand him on his feet, looking down at him slightly. He begins to tear up, slamming into me and wrapping his arms around my waist. I hesitate before wrapping my arms protectively around him, too.

We hug tightly, knuckles white from our enclosed fists. Dominic sobs into my chest. His inky tears slide down my chest, tickling my skin. I smile and kiss his head lovingly. He looks back at me pitifully.

"What happened?" he asks. "I remember jumping in front of you, but that's all…" I smile.

"You died…" I whisper. His eyes widen fearfully.

"What…?" he whispers. I nod. "How?"

"When you jumped, you were shot. That's why you jumped. To save me… It was brave…" Dominic begins crying again, his tears staining his cheeks more. I pull him into a hug.

"Don't cry, babe… I love you," I whisper, crying myself.

"I know I was a jackass before, but I just… I was in denial of myself… I'm so sorry…" Dominic says, his voice breaking. I move back and look into his dark brown eyes and smile.

"It doesn't matter now. All that matters is that you're alive now." I hold him closely again, holding his head against my chest and wrapping my other arm around his waist, keeping him attached to me. "Don't ever scare me like that again…" He holds onto my waist tightly.

"I love you," he says gently. My breath catches in my throat. I smile weakly, my lips trembling.

"I… love you, too…" I whisper. I then realize that my bloody arm is leaking onto his shirt, but his isn't bleeding at all. I hold up his arm, gasping as my eyes fixate into the strange sight before me. I touch it gingerly in awe and confusion. Tori laughs lightly from in the corner of the room.

"What?" I ask. She smiles.

"Dominic now has what Taomalia has. It's not exactly the same, but the same principles apply, minus the whole Protector and offspring idea," she explains. I look to Dominic's forearm again. He raises an eyebrow and looks at his own arm in confusion.

"It's…beautiful…" he marvels, touching the intricate tattoo present on his left wrist. Tori pulls me aside and holds my head close, whispering into my ear.

"It moves just as Taomalia's, but its reason is slightly different. Once he finds that reason, it's your responsibility to keep watch over him, for he will be frightened and confused. I am sure you'll do not wish upon him any amount of suffering. He is a good boy. Pure and full of love, he is. Do not squander than."

Tori leans away and looks at me, smiling warmly. She takes my face in her hands and presses her lips to mine. My eyes feel as though they're bulging out of my skull, and I try to pull away from her, but some strange magic is holding me down… I cannot move.

"Dad?!" Dominic shouts. I raise my arms in defeat and question. Tori finally releases me, and I stumble back into Dominic. He raises an eyebrow. "What the hell was that?!"

"I have no idea…"

"You're gay! Keep your hands to yourself and Dad!" Dominic says.

"She's the one who couldn't keep her tongue to herself!" I shout, looking back at her.

"Why do you think you're shirtless, Adam? I have to get some sort of kicks, right?" Tori winks and I shudder. I look to Dominic again and smile.

"Let's go home." Dominic nods.

"Wait," Dominic pauses. "What is this thing?" he asks. I hesitate before replying. I sigh deeply.

"It's a cherry blossom."