Chapter 29

It took a good week for the boys to recover.

Alley took that time to ensure her sister was kept safe. Thanks to Genus, the two had created a blocking perfume for her. However, there was a problem. Jason has caught her scent and has been oddly close to Eclipsa since. He wouldn't be far from her and has been acting overly protective. Despite the perfume, since Jason already got a whiff of her scent, the smell could no longer be hidden from him. They tried to see if they could get the scent erased from his mind, but it was of little use. "He really has it out for her now doesn't he?" Genus asked aloud.

Alley nodded. "I should have kept a closer eye on that… Also it explained the monster attacks in that area, it was her. However in the other parts of the cities, something artificial was introduced to lure the monsters out. I got a feeling we know who is behind that. But the question remains as to why? Why bring out so many monsters?"

Genus sighed. "I thought your uncles were closing in on him?"

"They have become rather distracted since mom is pregnant. So they are not going to leave her unprotected. Blue has been pushing his luck around her, Uncle Street isn't taking any of his shit either."

He merely nodded, but then appeared to scratch his head in frustration. "Why is it that this always happens!?" he demanded. "Why do my clones go against everything I worked hard for? Why on earth did I let them all go to do their own thing? I should have known better with 106! He was the most deranged of them all!"

Alley paused from her work as Genus sat down frustrated. "Genus…" she said gently.

"I don't need a pity explanation, I failed as a father!"

"Maybe not. Granted, you are cringing at your mistakes, which only indicates to me that you have grown wiser as a person."

He paused to her words. "I go through stages like that too. I look back on things that happened and knew I could have done better. But it's the past. When you cringe it only means you have grown as a person."

"Still, this blasted clone is my fault…"

"It will be corrected soon enough. Now I think we need to talk about Jason…"

He nodded in agreement as Eclipsa came into the lab unannounced. "Alley, I need more of that perfume please!" she begged.

Alley paused as Jason was close behind her. "Why are you wearing that stuff!?" he demanded. "It doesn't suit you, Eclipsa!"

"Jason… your flooded with hormones right now, you got to back off!" warned Genus.

However, a growl came out of him, his teeth suddenly turned jagged as he bared them towards his father! The room paused to his actions until Jason himself realized what he was doing. "Oh… Oh God! Dad, sorry!" he said and covered his mouth.

Alley sighed aloud. "How do you feel about my sister?" she questioned.

"Alley?" whispered Eclipsa.

Jason was silent. "I… care for her deeply… I always have but was angry at her for how I became this… and it wasn't her fault! I just… I wanted another chance to be with her. The more I am, the… the better I feel about myself…"

Her arms crossed. "We let this happen, there is no going back. You cannot break up with her, you cannot be with anyone else…"

"That's fine," he said. "No one would want me like this anyways."

"You always sell yourself short…" Eclipsa whispered. "You are more than what you appear to be!"

Alley turned to Genus who gave the nod. "Eclipsa, do you love him? Love him enough to accept him as your mate… as a husband?" she asked.

"But… I'm young!"

"So was I and here we are," Alley said without a hint of sympathy for her. "Sis, seriously, do you love him?"

She got a nod from her sister. Alley turned to Jason. "There is no going back. Got it, and as dad said, you don't cash in this privilege until she is ready!" she warned.

She got a nod from him. "Dad…" he asked.

Genus gave his blessing as well.

Eclipsa approached him nervously. "Uh… so how is this…" Jason suddenly came from behind her, his arms wrapped around her body as he brought her in closer to him. "Whoa! Hey!" she protested.

"It happens, he's gonna get really cuddly in a moment."

She watched as Jason swept her off her feet, but then something odd began to happen. His body started to swell! In fact, it looked like his flesh was melting and began to glide itself over her sister and pulled her into himself! "That's… new…" Alley muttered.

Her sister was a little panicked until the flesh stopped moving, however, she appeared to be trapped within Jason's body! In fact, she nearly, seamlessly blended into it! "Alley…" she said in a worried tone.

"It happens, it's going to be like this for a while, your scent is going to change and so is his. Tough it out for now, but I will keep a close eye on this."

Jason on the other hand was purring oddly, much like how her father does when he is content. She remembered Suiryu doing the same thing. Perhaps it was a calming mechanism for the mate to settle and not resist?

His smaller monster like arms caress where Eclipsa was as he appeared to be blissful.

"Ahem, Jason" Genus said gently. He snapped out of his odd blank stare and turned to his father. "Go to one of the private resting rooms with Eclipsa, rest up until this is done." He said.

There was no argument nor words spoken as he left the room. Alley sighed aloud to it all. "You think this family doesn't have enough problems…"

"I am more concerned for your other sister. What about Luna?" Genus asked.

She paused to the comment. Come to think of it, Luna should be in the same situation. "I know everyone develops differently, however I don't know if Luna has had her first cycle yet…"

"Perhaps we ought to prepare for that before hand?"

"Perhaps… after I check on my brothers and Snek."

Excusing herself from the room, Alley went to see everyone. They had digested most of their prey and yet none could really move around in comfort… no one but Snek that is.

It wasn't long when Titan got stuck in the same situation. In fact, on that day, when he was on his way with Bang to the Association, he turned serpent and decided to eat as he traveled. He didn't consume as much as the others, but was rather full by the time he arrived. Bang shook his head to it all stating. "They are so Garou's boys!"

The comment made her laugh as she entered the loading bay. Alley froze, as there was snakeskin everywhere! "What the hell!" she demanded.

Her brothers paused, Snek and his children froze as they appeared to be trying to clean up the mess. "Did you ALL shed at the same time or something?"

"Yeah…" said Yuuma. "Why?"

She went over the discarded scales and saw how tough they became. "Damn, you guys got stronger… where's Tempest?"

"He left to get something to eat." Said Snek.

Alley froze. "He just finished digesting his prey and he's gone for more!?"

He nodded. "I couldn't stop him, nor could your father. Garou went with him to make sure he doesn't over do it. I mean, he was only supposed to be serpent for a week right? We're about to go on two!" said Snek. "But Tempest mentioned something about being hungry still…"

Alley didn't press the matter. She helped everyone clean up and looked over her brothers. They were almost ready to turn back. "Still have it lingering a little huh?" she snickered.

Yuki sighed. "I want to go back to the lab but I can't even fit!" he protested and glared at Yuuma. "Last time I ever take a dare from you again!"

His brother though snickered. "You still forgot what it's like to be serpent! It not about where you can fit, it's about how you can fit in your gut!"

Alley sighed. 'He SO takes up after dad…' she thought to herself.

"I do admit, it was rather fun," said Rimuru. "But Iaian and Bang won't be happy that I have been missing out on my training…"

With a roll of her eyes, Alley left them be, they will be back to normal in a day or so. Tempest however, she was starting to worry about…

#

Garou only watched as Tempest gorged himself. They managed to find a few more monsters from the pervious attack hiding out and waiting to strike again, but it won't be happening anymore. Tempest finished his sixth one of the day. He looked gratified. "That's what I needed…" he said contently.

"Yeah, okay now we got to work something else out. It's clear, you are not getting enough to eat to fuel your body. You need to do this every so often to keep up your strength… shit kid, you're going to be a lot stronger than before!"

He merely nodded his head. "Dad… is this right? I mean… I was born like this, but to be human for so long… I am getting confused as to what I should be!"

Garou snorted and laugh. "Kid, you be whatever the hell makes you happy. If sumo wrestling makes you happy, keep being a sumo wrestler. If you prefer being serpent, then be a serpent. It's your call. I ain't going to force you to be one or the other. But from here on, no matter what you choose, if you decide to remain human for the most part. We got to make some time for you to hunt as a serpent. Your body was starving and is just catching up on getting what it needs to fuel itself."

Tempest agreed. With his meal done, he decided it was time to go back. "It shouldn't take too long to digest this…" he said offhandedly.

Garou nodded. "When that is done, turn back. Let's see how much stronger you got!"