Chapter 27
"What about this?"
"Nah, too complicated by the looks of it…"
"Rimuru, why didn't you tell dad that you were taking up martial arts?" asked Athena.
Rimuru was silent to his siblings, they gathered in what was once their playroom. However Alley has since converted it into a nice computer room. Tempest was picking up his brother's silence on the matter. "You don't want dad to go overboard with encouragement do you?" he asked.
"I want to surprise him." He whispered. "I mean, dad is a martial arts genius, I'm not to say the least… in fact, I find I don't really have strength unless I am serpent or tap into Amai Mask's power. My own strength isn't much." He explained.
"You noticed that too huh?" asked Yuuma. "Yeah, I've been training with Draven as of late to get my strength up. Perhaps we should start working out? I know the Tank Tops are good at training people when it comes to weight lifting!"
"Perhaps, perhaps…" said Tempest.
"Tempest… why don't you change into a human form?" asked Yuki. "You're big and tall! You look cool too!"
Suddenly, he found the attention on him, he was silent as he turned away rather embarrassed. "I don't like the way people look at me." He said. "When I am human I get so much unwanted attention, it's bothersome"
"You have no idea what unwanted attention is," protested Athena. "It's bad enough if some guy tries to hit on me, that my brothers come in like hawks!" There was an incident she mentioned just a few days ago. Athena was at the mall looking at clothing when some guys wouldn't leave her alone. They asked to see her change into whatever she tried on which she down right refused. They teased and joked, saying she shouldn't 'be like that' and 'let loose for once' Only to catch the glare of Goliath and Akira.
"You ever want to see some teenagers shit their pants, come with me to the mall and watch what happens when they don't back off… also bring Goliath with you."
They snickered to it, but Tempest wasn't laughing. He knew there were some men out there who don't care what she has to say, if she is beautiful, they will do anything and everything they want to her if no one is around to defend Athena. After that, father made certain that she learned how to defend herself.
"Still, I don't like the way women stare at me at time, it's creepy." Tempest said. "I guess I am just not use to it yet."
"Well, if you take this cooking class, you need to be in your human form to do it. Not to mention what if you find something that interests you!" said Titan. "Me, I think I am going to be a hero like our brothers!"
"No doubt we will all be heroes in the end, but it's what to do until we get there." Said Yuki.
Titan smirked. "Well… Since I've loved Mangas so much, I've tried to take up up drawing them…"
"Cool!" said Yuki. "I got to start reading all these smart books Alley does, it's frustrating and yet fascinating all at once!"
"I need a way to start a band…" said Yuuma.
Before the conversation could go any farther a knock came to the door. Everyone turned and saw Luna standing there. "SISTER!" they cheered.
She smiled. "We're going to meet up with our friends Misty and Jason, do you want to come with?" she asked.
A chance to go out? The family jumped on it, Tempest sighed as he finally activated his device and rendered himself human again. Alley added a new function to it, so they don't accidently end up naked somewhere or go through so many articles of clothing. There are now nanobots in their devices that sense the change and cover them rather quickly and accurately. Tempest stood wearing a pair of baggy jeans and a pull over hoodie. He tucked his long braided hair into the sweater to hide his features a little better. With that, Luna called out to mom and dad. "WE'RE GOING TO MISTY AND JASON!"
"Be careful!" mom called back.
Despite the rain, Luna loved it, Akira and Eclipsa were already outside and ready to go. "Okay, whose doing the esper lifting today?" asked Eclipsa.
"Ooo, please, let me, I want to practice!" pleaded Akira.
The sisters nodded as he began to focus. Everyone was a glow as their feet lifted up off the ground. Next stop, City W!
#
Tempest always felt strange when he went with Luna and his older siblings to meet their friends. Misty and Jason were nice enough to allow them to join them, yet he still felt like the odd man out. They would meet up at a small Takoyaki shop of all places, they would sit down and chat for a while, but try and include them in the conversation.
"Oh is that right Tempest?"
He snapped out of his blank stare as he found Misty looking to him curiously. "Luna said you want to try cooking? I remember we talked about that at the mall when you first became human right?"
He nodded his head meekly. "I… wish to try it, it looks fascinating to say the least."
She smiled warmly to him. "You know. I am going to be taking a cooking class at a rec center in City Z. It's suppose to be one of the best if you want to learn. How about you take it with me? You said you wanted to before right? Do you still?"
He froze to the notion, but saw her smile spread. "Come on, that would be fun for you!" said Jason. "Besides, it's better to learn something new isn't it?"
"I don't know… I'm second-guessing myself…" he said as his voice trailed off.
"Tempest… what's wrong?" asked Athena. Despite the fact he was the biggest and strongest out of his siblings, when it came to being in his human form, he wasn't that confident.
"I… I don't like being like this…" he muttered.
"Be prefers to be a snake." Whispered Eclipsa.
"Oh…" Misty said as she continued to smile warmly. "It's okay to prefer to be that," she said. Tempest turned to her oddly. "Hasn't anyone told you that before? It's okay to be like that if it makes you happy. BUT, being the way you are now, offers you more opportunities."
He never thought of it that way before, but understood too. In his snake form, he could take up a whole room to himself. When he's human, he could move about far more easily. But… he knows he is weaker in this state too. Unless…
He shook his head of the thought. "Tempest…" Luna said gently. She got out of her chair and sat next to him. He kept to the end of the table most of the time, it was easier for him to get in and out of when need be. Yet as Luna sat next to him, her hand reached over and she placed it over his. "I know what's going on." She whispered gently.
He tried to take his hand back but she was persistent. "You know you can protect everyone better being who you really are. Like this… you would have to rely on Amai's strength to do it… you don't want to… nor do your brothers and sister. Haven't you noticed that?"
He turned back towards the table where his siblings looked away rather embarrassed.
"Is that why he's so quiet?" asked Jason. "None of you want to use Amai's strength, but know you would have to being in human form?"
"Yes…" he whispered. "We made a vow to each other, we will never rely on his power to keep ourselves safe. And yet, I find none of us are truly that strong to begin with. Dad's been training us for months, we're faster and can last longer when running than before, but our strength… it hasn't increased the least bit."
Luna laughed a little. "You forget, none of you are use to being human! This is all still very new to you, you are strong and powerful without his strength! You just need to find it, it takes time"
Titan smirked. "That's what Draven said to me."
"Our big brother wouldn't lie like that now would be?" she questioned.
"I guess not…" Tempest sighed. "Misty… I'll take the class with you… if you still wish to have me join you."
"I would be delighted!" she said with a grin. "Now, Yuuma… He wants to start a band…" she said.
"Ooo, do tell!" Jason said with great excitement.
"I want to stick it to Amai Mask. Hit him where it hurts." He said defiantly. "But I need a band…"
"Well, I play!" Jason said proudly. "Misty does too, but if she's going to be taking this cooking class…"
"I have been teaching Eclipsa how to play." Misty snapped back.
"THAT'S where you've been going every Tuesday!" said Akira.
"Why are you so surprised? You've been joining me at my guitar classes" Jason said with a smirk.
"Ooo, this is coming together better than I thought!" said Yuuma.
"Now, the big question, can you sing?" asked Jason.
"Well… I have tried… but I don't know if I am any good,"
"Talk to Uncle Street or Knuckle about it, they got like pitch perfect receptors or something." Said Luna. "So, what would you call your band?"
That was a question no one had. "Well… I want it to stand out, but I also want to stick it to Amai…" Yuuma said, it would take some time to consider, for now, they have the start of a band!
Tempest however, wondered what a cooking class would be like…