In the morning, she got up and headed to the kitchen. Arie was already up and starting on breakfast.
"I'm sorry about yesterday," Andy said softly.
"I'm sorry too," Arie turned to her, "It's just hard to believe everything.."
Andy hugged her, "It's alright."
"I'm worried about what this will mean though. Do we really want to get wrapped up in this?"
"It's who we are, Arie. I'm not going to deny part of who I am. But I understand if you want to."
Arie nodded, stirring the food on the stove. Andy started helping her as they waited for the others to join them.
There was a shimmer of air, then Tsukasa and the dark haired man materialized. Saka gave Andy a smile while the other man looked wary.
"Good to see you awake," Andy gave him a small smile.
He finally gave a forced smile. "I guess. Thanks for getting us out." He fidgeted, eyes roaming the room nervously.
Saka shook his head in exasperation. "Calm down. She's not going to eat you."
"You're welcome," Andy said softly. "I'm Andy and this is my twin, Arie."
"Daiki. Where's Tet?"
Andy shrugged, "I'd assume with the gang. I haven't seen him since yesterday.."
He nodded and headed for the garage.
Saka sat down with a sigh. "I apologize. He was never that friendly to begin with, but the scientists really soured him on socializing. He wanted to run when he woke early this morning and I had to convince him not to. Trust is a rare commodity with him."
"It's fine, I can't imagine everything you've gone through," Andy filled up a plate after Arie turned the heat off. She went over and offered it to Tsukasa.
He gave her a smile as he accepted it. He began to eat, complimenting them both as the gang slowly filed in. Daiki was glued to Tet, appearing to be slightly more relaxed.
Tet gave her a wry smile. "He's a pain in the ass, but he's alive so I don't care at the moment."
Andy gave a small chuckle before handing him a plate.
Tet took it, moving to the couch as Daiki narrowed his eyes at her. He didn't say anything, joining Tet as Ryon wrangled an apparently hyper Ryusei.
"Sit down." He gave the teen a teething ring and gave an apologetic look to the women. "He's overexcited."
"It's alright," Arie smiled.
Most of the other men gave enthusiastic thumbs up as they ate. Kiba picked at his food, eyes distant.
The professors started entering, looking around at the gang with greeting smiles.
Andy and Arie passed them food and most of them stood around eating.
Andy watched everyone quietly as she picked at her own food.
"I don't think you guys should get involved anymore." The statement dropped from Kiba's lips almost unconsciously and the vampire stiffened at the looks he received.
"Involved in what?" Meiko looked up confused.
"I think he means fighting the government," Hiroki raised an eyebrow.
"They're coming after us all anyway, it's kind of hard to avoid," Hana analyzed.
"I meant you guys should hide as long as you can." Kiba started to explain, but Daiki cut him off.
"Don't be so damn eager to be an experiment! The government will kill you.. Or at the least make you wish to die. You're safe here, at least for now. I actually advise you all to leave the country and don't come back unless the government returns to sanity."
Andy rolled her eyes, "Yeah and just let them keep taking everyone else? At least if we fight we can help people."
"Not sure how well Hikaru and I can fight, unless you need underwater fighting.." Kiko said quietly.
"I'm not asking you to stay and fight. If you want to run, run," Andy answered. "I'm just saying, don't tell us what to do if we're intent on trying to fight."
Daiki scowled. "Why don't you ask your twin what she saw when she rescued Shouma? That's the best case scenario.. Or are you wanting to experience the scientists firsthand?" His eyes blazed as he glared at Andy. "You're naive and have no idea what could happen."
Andy stared at him before growling, "I'd rather give up my life and safety to try to help people, than to hide."
Arie nodded slowly, "You're not going to convince her otherwise. She's stubborn."
Andy shot her a look.
Saka went to Daiki's side, laying a hand on his shoulder and saying something quietly. Whatever it was just seemed to make the man madder, blue light rising in waves as Daiki answered back.
Daiki suddenly vanished, Saka dropping both his hand and his head.
Tet sighed deeply, moving towards the sink. "Sorry about that."
Kiba just scowled and headed toward the garage.
The other men exchanged looks, but remained silent.
Andy was trying to calm herself, not doing a very good job of it, her hands clenching.
Arie just shook her head and started on the dishes.
Saka and Tet headed out to the porch, their voices quiet as they spoke.
Andy finally took a deep breath, "I'll be back.."
She teleported away, going to their house. She stood outside, staring at the burnt rubble. Her anger rose further as she realized the government tried to come after them and destroyed their home. She threw charred pieces of wood away as she tried to see if there was anything salvageable. Nothing was, making her let out an angry scream. Suddenly, the remaining wood burst into flame. She stood there staring at it for about an hour until she decided to go back to the house, finally a little bit calmer.
Tet sat alone on the porch, his head bowed on his clasped hands.
Andy went out there, entering slowly, "Hey. You okay?"
"Honestly? Not even close. You know, I had a mental image of what it would be like when I got them back..which went up in flames this morning. I don't know who's right or wrong in this." He raised his head and looked at her sadly. "All I wanted was to have them back so I could die happy.."
Andy sat down next to him, "How did you imagine it?"
He gave a small chuckle. "That it would be like before. Odd jobs and loud parties, nights of bad movies with Daiki's sarcastic commentary. The life we had wasn't perfect, but it was ours. Now we're hunted. And I won't ever get it back because I won't be around. I thought I was okay with it, but leaving everyone in this situation is terrifying."
Andy sighed, "I'll try to figure something out.." she looked thoughtful, "There's a spell that can lock your powers up. It can buy you more time."
He shook his head. "I can't leave them defenseless. You have more important things to worry about right now. Your roomie's were taking a vote when I came out here."
"A vote for what?" Andy raised her eyebrow.
"Hiding or actively fighting. It sounded like it was heading for the dig a hole and bury your head territory."
Andy sighed, "I'll find them somewhere to go if they want to hide, but I'm fighting, no matter what anyone else says."
He gave another chuckle. "Almost all the guys have decided to fight as well. Though we'll probably lose two of the wolves."
Andy nodded. "I wish we could just go back to our lives at the school."
"Hopefully sanity will prevail and you guys will be able to."
She shook her head, "Nothing will be normal after this."
"Maybe not. But you'll find a new normal. This can't go on forever, and when it's over, you guys will pick up the pieces and keep living."
She sighed, "You make it sound easier than it is."
He gave her a wry smile. "How is it that the guy that's on borrowed time is the optimistic one? Shouldn't I be the 'we're all gonna die painfully' guy?"
Andy gave a small chuckle in response.
"That's better. Your face is not suited for frowning." He looked out at the horizon for a moment, then spoke again. "Promise me you won't get yourself killed. Promise me you'll be around to cover my grave with flowers in the winter. Magical ones of course."
"I'm still going to do everything I can to prevent you from dying, you know," she said quietly.
"I know you'll try. Which means a lot to me. But I came to terms with it years ago, so don't put yourself out." He gave her a soft look.
She sighed, unsure what to say. She looked out at the flowers for a moment. "Oh, while I was out, I found out they burned our house down."
"That's how they captured us. I had barely woken when they invaded. Kiba and I fought, but stun guns got us." He looked down. "I'm sorry. I feel responsible. They only went after you because I fought them at the school."
Andy stared at him a moment, "That's ridiculous. They went after us because we're on the list and because Arie and I were fighting them. It has nothing to do with you."
"Doesn't make me any less sorry."
She shrugged, "It's just a house, I guess. It can be replaced."
He nodded but didn't answer. He slowly stood, taking a single step before falling unconscious to the porch.
Andy shook her head, lifting him and carrying him inside, putting him on the couch before checking him over.
He was dangerously hot, his breath coming in irregular pants. Wisps of red smoke began rising from his body. His eyes cracked open, focusing slowly. "Get Saka please.. I want to say goodbye.."
Andy closed her eyes a moment, saying a spell to help lower his temperature. She then put a hand on his arm, slowly soaking in the heat from him. She felt her own temperature rising but she continued to focus until he was back to normal.
He looked at her, his voice weak. "You're just prolonging the inevitable.. My body is self destructing."
"All doctors do is prolong the inevitable. We're all going to die."
He gave a shaky laugh. "I should know better than to argue."
She gave him a small smile, taking a deep breath as she tried to push the heat off of her. "Just get some rest," she said softly.
His eyes closed just as Saka appeared. He sighed, going to Tet's side. "He doesn't have long, does he?"
"I don't know.. I'm working on finding something to help."
Saka gave her a shake of the head. "We've tried everything for years. From what the guys tell me, this is the longest he's been healthy since we were taken. We've resigned ourselves to just trying to make him as happy and comfortable as possible."
Andy shook her head, "There's always more options. I hate how you guys are just accepting it." She sighed, "Let me know if he gets worse again." She headed out of the room.
She went back out to the porch, pacing back and forth for a while. She eventually noticed smoke around her. She looked around and noticed she was turning into smoke. She closed her eyes and reformed, shaking her head.
She continued pacing for a while, feeling like the house, and porch, were suffocating her. She tried to think of what she could do and her mind only kept coming back to raiding facilities. She headed inside to come up with a plan.
Saka stared at her, his eyes dark. "What are you thinking?"
"I need to get out of the house for a bit," she answered.
"First Daiki, now you. Why do I get the feeling you're more trouble than everyone else here?"
Andy shrugged, "Any idea where Daiki went?"
"Not a damn clue. I was planning to look for him when.." He looked down at Tet.
"I could find him, but he'd probably keep disappearing from me."
"Like he wants to see me? I think I pushed him too far this morning."
Andy sighed, "I'll go at least tell him you guys want him to come back."
"I appreciate it. He should be here if Tet.." Saka trailed off, pointedly staring at the floor. "I know you're trying to help, but Tet has fought this his entire life. He's tired..and I hate seeing him like this."
Andy nodded before saying the spell to teleport, focusing on Daiki.
He stood in an abandoned field, spots of charred grass showing his fury. He turned and sighed as he saw her. "Saka sent you."
"Just came to tell you they want you to come back. Not like I'm here to force you to."
He snorted, then gave her a look. "There's more, isn't there? Something happened and Saka's scared. He'd have come himself otherwise.."
"Tet collapsed," Andy nodded.
Daiki paled, then quickly murmured the spell and disappeared.
