Guardian

by yasha012

I used to want to save existence... I saw it as this beautiful place, capable of fostering life in all of its many forms. A place with the potential to nurture so much Light. But the closer I got to it... the more I fought for it… the better I could see the Darkness waiting within… the evil we would all rather forget. (Part 4 of the Hero series; sequel to "Eternal Shadow Falls".)

149. Family Matters

Disclaimer: I hereby disclaim all rights to all characters (save for those of my own creation) in this troubling time… especially for the Best Dad.

~保護者~

"Family Matters"

~保護者~

What kind of man did you grow up to be?

Thoughts like this one, all in his native tongue, swirled through T'alo's mind. He had so many questions regarding his son. How much of his personality had changed? How much of it had stayed the same? How had he escaped the Therians, and when? Did he still love to write and study, as he once had? Had he continued receiving the therapy he needed? Was he ever able to make more friends? So many questions, so few answers.

Only some things could be gleaned from glancing around Kath's bedroom from where he sat beside the bed. Papers littered the desk with the same sort of organized chaos that T'alo had always equal parts admired and been exasperated by (the latter mostly because his son's toys and other belongings had always been kept in the very same state of semi-organization throughout the whole house). Somehow, the sight of it all, along with the many other books and papers scattered throughout the room, brought a smile to his face.

That was one question answered. T'alo glanced around a little more and was, somehow, unsurprised to see an assortment of logic-based board games stored on one side of the room. He had played those with his parents a lot since he had been small. Matrikali had always been his favorite. T'alo had learned to play it purely so they could enjoy it together. He remembered how brightly Kath had smiled when T'alo had first asked to play with him. It warmed him, even now when he was so chilled by the news he had just received.

He stole a glance at Kath and Azerel. The former remained unconscious, the latter was fast asleep. Things were quiet for now. Calm. He could only hope they remained that way long enough for some form of help to come. But what if it didn't? Normally, he was far from a fearful man. Not entirely stoic, nor did he strive to be, but certainly calmer than this. The circumstances of his death and apparent revival seemed to have taken more of a toll on him than he'd previously considered. Especially since he'd barely given himself time to wrap his mind around the whole "revival" part of this mess to begin with.

A sound intruded upon his thoughts, a very light rapping on the door. Azerel's ears perked and he lifted his head. A second later, he stood and stretched while projecting his thoughts to T'alo. Just as with before, Azerel made himself understood to T'alo with ease, as the wolf grew up just as immersed in his language as Kath had. "It is family," he briefly explained, dropping off the side of the bed. Kath didn't even move. "Word must have reached them, or perhaps they already knew."

Family? What family? T'alo glanced quickly at his son again. Had it been so long that Kath had already married and- But that train of thought never had a chance to finish. Azerel strode over to the door and promptly phased through it. He returned not a moment later. The door opened soon afterward. Immediately, T'alo knew just how right his quick guesses had been. The woman he saw was so very clearly related that it stunned him. Grey feathers, pure blue eyes, a calm and composed demeanor, very clear strength lying beneath the surface… He couldn't help but look at his son again and, in his own language, wonder, So she is yours, then…?

The woman frowned at him, suspicious and confused, but didn't address him directly. "Azerel, who is this?" In response, Azerel sat down with his tail neatly tucked over his paws and waited with great patience for her lagging company to join them.

It didn't take terribly long for the 'lagging company' to make it, jogging into the room and setting his eyes on T'alo. "Huh, another person revived?"

She tossed the blue hawk a glance. "You believe he was revived?" she asked him. As was now commonplace in his life, T'alo found himself unable to really follow what was being said.

"Look at him," Sein said, motioning to T'alo. "He looks a lot like Kath… and subsequently a lot like you."

"...I suppose that is true," Alana acknowledged. "That leaves the question of what the relationship is, however… and why he does not seem to understand what we are saying."

Sein frowned a little at this, scratching at his chin. "Maybe he just doesn't speak the universal language?"

"That would be most unusual for one of our kind," Alana mused.

"But what if-" Sein was cut off when Arkiri entered the room again, blinking a few times. "Oh, heya."

Turning, Alana noticed Arkiri as well. She inclined her head respectfully. "Hello," she greeted.

Arkiri returned the gesture to them both with his own nod of greeting. "It is nice to see you both. I see that you have met T'alo. To keep matters simple, he speaks an ancient dialect of our language and thus doesn't understand what we're saying for the most part as he only knows the one language."

Alana's eyes widened. "Satavi," she suddenly said. "Father mentioned once coming from the Satavi tribe. Is that the language that this m- that T'alo speaks?"

"It is," Arkiri answered.

"Aside from a name," Alana was quick to ask, "what else do you know about him? Why has he been revived?"

"My first guess would be his relation to Kath, but I haven't had adequate time to speak to him. I had to go handle matters… that I suppose you need to know about. Do you have a way to help Kath with the corruption placed on him?" Arkiri questioned.

Hearing that made Alana frown at first, but then her shoulders sagged. "No," she sighed. "We know nothing."

Arkiri frowned openly at this. "That is not good… We desperately need to be prepared before it becomes a serious problem."

Alana nodded. "We understand," she responded softly. "I have several clones out seeking solutions. In the meantime, I wanted to sit with him. At least for a time."

Arkiri let out a sigh, relaxing himself a little before waving T'alo over. "I will introduce you to him, and act as a translator, if that is alright with you all." Though he really had no clue what was just said, T'alo was familiar with the gesture and stood. Although he opted not to approach just yet.

"I'd appreciate it, Arkiri," Sein said gently. "Thank you."

It didn't take long for the man to nod in response and speak up. "Sein and Alana, this is T'alo, Kath's father." He switched languages without hesitation and spoke to T'alo briefly in Satavi, translating their names to the best of his ability before returning to the universal language and activating his power for just a moment. "T'alo, meet Sein and Alana."

For a moment, Alana was frozen with wide eyes. I knew he was familiar! He is the man from that video clip we saw, the one where father was abducted…? She stared at the man before them with newfound respect and understanding. This is not some ruse or trick… It is real.

Sein blinked a few times before tilting his head. "Huh, I knew he looked familiar. Makes sense why he was revived, I suppose."

Well, at least someone seemed to understand this. T'alo sure as hell couldn't claim to. He was even more thankful than he'd been the first time they'd met that Arkiri was here. "...Familiar?" he echoed cautiously, the word strange and only slightly familiar on his tongue. He had a vague sense of what it meant, but not enough to fully grasp it without additional clues.

The blue hawk turned to T'alo before remembering that he likely wouldn't understand what he was saying, so he shifted his attention to Arkiri. The man immediately understood, and Sein began speaking as Arkiri translated for T'alo. "There was a video within the records showing the day where Kath was captured. You were in that video."

T'alo immediately turned his head away with a scowl, muttering some swears that Arkiri was unfamiliar with - and therefore couldn't be translated. Then he muttered something that could be translated. "Sa'tevo." ("Bastards.")

Arkiri didn't translate this for a few reasons, ultimately prompting Sein to speak further, which he did. "To keep a long story short… that's why you seem familiar. We saw what happened to you both."

The response Sein got was immediate. "Trei'ko lan? Ut'avo ieka t'an?" ("How much did you see? Was he harmed?")

Sein could only nod. "I don't know how bad it really was, but he went through more than he ever should have."

More cursing ensued, but this time there was just as much fear and sadness in the tone as there was anger and disgust. T'alo shook his head. His next response was short and didn't acknowledge the emotions at play whatsoever. "Eitan. Ei zeto." ("Thank you. I needed the truth.")

"You're welcome," Sein said gently, glancing away. It bothered him to think about any of his family being harmed.

Given how the mood had shifted, Alana opted to step in. She laid a hand on Sein's arm to reassure him as she spoke. "It is good to meet you. Forgive my silence before. I was merely… surprised." T'alo nodded a little one he was told what she'd said. "It is possible that you guessed already, but I will explain regardless. I am Kath's daughter, and his only child. Sein is my husband. We are all family, it would seem. For that reason, I hope to get to know you more as time goes on."

As this was a lot for Arkiri to translate already, she said nothing more just yet. Instead, she silently marveled at her apparent grandfather's native tongue. So much was communicated using so few words, and it fascinated her. Does Father know this dialect as well? If he did, she had already decided to seek lessons from him in the future.

Arkiri had no problem keeping pace with Alana as she spoke, seamlessly acting as a translator. Sein waited for him to finish before speaking as well. "It's nice to meet you, T'alo."

Once this was translated to him, T'alo murmured a reply. Then, doing his best with his limited knowledge of the Universal Language, he attempted to communicate a question. His accent changed the way the words sounded to some extent, but they remained perfectly understandable. Just different. "He… marry her? Laralei?"

Arkiri and Sein both nodded at the same time, though the owl spoke first. "He did, and they have a son."

"Our son is Jet," Alana supplied softly. "If things go well, perhaps you both can meet him soon."

Sein nodded. "I'm sure you'll both like him." Once this was all translated to T'alo, he murmured an agreement. Then he moved away from the chair and motioned for Alana to go ahead and take it. He moved back out into the hall to sit down out there again, needing a small amount of space to wrap his mind around all of this but also still desperately wanting to remain close.

Arkiri let out a gentle sigh. "He's having to learn a lot all at once."

"I understand," Alana murmured. She crossed the room to the chair and sat in it. "It was hard for Sein and I as well, at first. I can only imagine how hard it is for him, given that he struggles to understand the people around him on top of everything else."

"I plan to teach him the Universal language, but it will take time. Hopefully that will mitigate the issues," Arkiri said.

"It's much appreciated," Sein said with a smile.

"It would seem he does understand some things, here and there," Alana mused. "Kath did mention that his mother spoke both the tribal and standard dialects. Perhaps she already started the process of teaching T'alo in the past. If so, the foundations may already be in place. All he may need is the vocabulary."

Arkiri shrugged gently. "It is certainly possible. I will not be upset if that is the case."

"It will certainly make things easier," Alana murmured. Just then, Sein's communicator began vibrating heartily.

Sein looked at it and his eyes widened. The man answered immediately. "Hey, Jet, what's up?" he asked.

It sounded as though Jet started to say something, but the sound of rubble falling briefly interrupted him. Then there was a sigh. "Can you come?" Jet asked a second later, voice quiet. Then, almost hesitantly, he mumbled, "I need you here."

"Absolutely," Sein replied. "I'll be right there. Your castle?" Jet mumbled some sort of vague agreement.

Alana gave her husband a worried look. "Go check on him," she insisted softly. "Tell me if anything is wrong, alright? I will stay with Father and Arkiri."

Sein nodded and teleported instantly, going directly to the castle since he realized Jet was allowing him to come there. It didn't take him long to get near to Jet, stretching out his senses just to check if there was anything dangerous. "Jet, what's happening?" he called.

Jet allowed his aura to be felt in order to lead Sein to where he was, but it was shaky and unsteady. As was normal for him, he didn't raise his voice to call back, just waited for his father to get there. At the same time, he silently threatened the Void. "Break anything else and I'll end your sorry existence."

The blue hawk moved quickly, but approached Jet in a slow manner once he found his son. "Jet?"

Once Sein was actually in the same room as him, Jet finally spoke. He carelessly dropped his communicator beside him where he sat on the ground. His hands (and really, the rest of him as well) were just as shaky as his aura. "I think I had a seizure," he mumbled, rubbing at his eyes. "Powers… reacted to it. I can't do damage control like this, but the animals… They might be hurt."

Sein knelt down by Jet, his eyes instinctively tearing up at the obvious strain Jet was going through, among so many other things. "It'll be okay, bud. I promise. Tell me what you need me to do and I will do everything in my power to do it."

It was hard to focus after having only just woken up a couple minutes ago, but Jet forced himself to do so as much as possible. "Most of the second floor collapsed onto the first. The animals were down there."

"Absolutely," Sein said softly. "Do you need anything?"

"I just… need to lay down," Jet answered slowly. He tried to encase the larger pieces of rubble with his aura and move them off of his bed, but his efforts quickly faltered and the energy vanished from view again. Damn it…

"I got it." Sein carefully began moving the rubble away from the bed with his own aura, shifting it enough initially just to be out of the way. "Do you need help getting to the bed?"

Truth be told, he was so shaky and feeling so faint that he probably did. Still, Jet attempted to stand on his own, using the wall to lean against as he did so. He managed to get up, but only just. "...I don't know." It was as close to an admission as he'd give right now.

"Is it okay for me to help?" Sein murmured. "I'll take you over there." After another pause, Jet conceded with a nod. Sein slowly moved and lifted Jet off the ground, carrying him to the bed and laying him down. "Here you go. Try to relax, okay? I'll handle everything." Jet just nodded again, reflexively curling up a bit on his side (as he often did when sleeping) while trying his best to do as he'd been asked.

Sein was quick to bestow a bit of fatherly affection in the form of a brief hug before setting to work, shifting the rubble back into place and using his powers to piece things back together as best he could before moving to the first floor and stretching out his aura to ensure that none of the animals would panic as he freed them. I wish I could see him more without the circumstances always being rough on him… but I'm really glad that I get to at all.

With more tact and slow movements, Sein began displacing the rubble, making sure nothing would collapse further as he made his way inward. He could sense where the animals were, so he made them the first priority. Repairing all of this could wait, and so he set to work, slowly freeing every animal and healing any injuries they may have (since none of them were hurt seriously). Once they were free, he moved on to putting the pieces back together and placing them all where they went. This didn't take him anywhere near as long to do, since he could move faster and with less worry about everything collapsing inward.

The moment he finished, he reappeared outside of Jet's room and attempted to detect Jet's aura. It was still there, as the younger hawk was making no effort to hide it. However, further determinations regarding it were impossible, as a bubble of Void energy was now encasing Jet - almost as though to keep Sein out. Despite this obvious fact, Sein opened the door and slowly stepped inside, a touch wary of the possible repercussions.

Nothing bad happened to Sein this time. However, he wasn't permitted to see through the energy that had been formed around the bed. What he was allowed to see was the vague, shadowy form of a figure with crossed arms standing there. "Do not attempt to breach those barriers," the Void warned irritably. "He is having another one. Several of his powers are rampaging again. I figured out how to contain it this time."

"Will he be okay?" Sein asked, frowning openly.

"He felt incredibly sick, disoriented, and confused upon waking the last time. I assume that will happen again." The Void hovered closer to the bubble and seemed to look inside. "He barely had the presence of mind to call you."

"Will there be a problem if I stay here?" Sein glanced at the bubble, wishing he could help his son more than he was right now.

"He did call you," came the scoffing reply. "It stands to reason that your presence is desired in some way."

Sein crossed his arms. "I meant between me and you. You've made it abundantly clear that we're not even really allies."

Another scoff. "Our only similar goal is his health and safety. It will not do for him to be ill, grievously injured, or killed. I will permit your presence this time only for that reason."

The blue hawk took that as permission enough and found himself a place to sit nearby. "I hope you don't mind, but I have a few questions."

Across the space between them was cast the pure sensation of a withering gaze turning Sein's way. However, no attacks accompanied it. "I make no promises of answering them," was all the Void said in reply.

Sein didn't seem bothered in the slightest by the gaze on him. "What is all of this for? You've become tied to Jet, and you have a liking for destroying things, but what is the purpose?"

"That is the purpose. Destruction in and of itself." The Void's false visage faded out of sight, but continued to speak the same as before. "I exist for that purpose. To break, to ruin, to damage, to corrupt, to drain life away… That is what I am."

"Then why not work with Jet?" Sein pressed lightly. "Surely you'd get more than your fair share of chances to do everything you're wanting to. The Immortals live to have to make choices like that, as much as I hate to admit it."

"He has a vexing penchant for mercy," the Void sneered. "It does not suit him. I seek to help him do away with it, in time."

"Are you the one that's supposed to make that decision?" Sein raised an eyebrow. "Just as you're choosing to cause destruction and so on, due to your nature, can't he also choose mercy? Furthermore, why not choose someone with less of a penchant for it?"

This time, there was laughter. Dark, gleeful laughter. "Why choose him? Because during those times when he has relinquished that feeling, however fleetingly, he was everything that I am. Everything I am, and more. The coldness and hatred in his heart fuels my power well when he wields it. It gives us both strength." Another laugh. "As for choices… I do not choose anything for him. I speak and tell him things he needs to hear. He listens when he chooses to. His actions are his, even if the suggestions are mine. Does that bother you?"

"You're doing more than suggestions," Sein pointed out lightly. "You've gone as far as to attack me or break things of his. Who knows what else you did when nobody was around." Rather than answer that beyond chuckling softly, the Void allowed its barriers to fade away into nothing. Jet was still now, although he was trembling badly and his breathing was ragged. Beyond that, however, he appeared to be fine. A touch annoyed by the fact that the Void had a reasonable opportunity to simply ignore him, Sein let it go and hurried over to his son to check on him, despite the appearance. "Jet… you alright?"

It took a few long moments for Jet to come to enough to start to regain awareness of his surroundings. He shuddered badly a few times, which certainly didn't help him stumble over his words any less as he tried to reply. "'M f-fine…"

Sein took a seat on the bed beside him. "It's okay, bud. I'm here with you," he assured softly. Jet couldn't really reply. He was even more out of it than he'd been the previous time, barely awake and unable to focus. Sein gently set a hand on Jet's shoulder and murmured, "Try to sleep, Jet, okay? I'm here, and I won't go anywhere."

No response came from Jet. Instead, the Void spoke. "He will sleep," was the simple assurance. Then came a warning. "If he activates my power again as he did the first time he blacked out, more damage will be wrought. He is fortunate that he did not kill his… 'pets' mistakenly before. Be mindful of the risk you also face. Ending you, specifically, is not part of the plan. Yet."

"Stopping your plan is part of mine," Sein answered lightly. "My son comes before all else, and if you're trying to do something that will separate him from me… Just know I'm not gonna let it slide. He is my kid, and I'll be damned if he loses me again."

"Save your emotions for a being with the patience to care." The Void briefly yanked Sein away from Jet, but only long enough to roughly cover Jet with the blankets. After all, the younger hawk was shivering due to feeling cold, and by the Void's own admission Jet's health mattered to it. But that was the extent of the "care" it was prepared to show.

"I don't remember caring about your patience or care," Sein responded coolly. "It's more of a warning. Don't fuck with my kid, or my family." Sein moved back over to Jet's bed and sat back down. There was no answer this time. The Void had opted to begin entirely ignoring him at this point. With this much apparent, Sein quickly typed out a message to Alana, letting her know that things were okay now and that he would be back sometime soon, once he knew that Jet was okay.

~保護者~

Kial's presence was something she didn't realize she had needed, and the tears now streaming down her face hadn't been expected. She wasn't sure what had her so upset, but being held in his arms made her feel so safe. Rose clung to him tightly as they sat together. Kial broke the silence once she seemed calm enough to speak. "Rose… what is on your mind? You have been troubled lately."

"I lost my way for so long," Rose murmured softly. "My endless travels alone left me hardened, my Light weakened…"

Rose paused as Kial set a hand on her head, but ultimately relaxed when he began to pet her. "In some ways, I certainly see that there has been some trouble in your life. However, you have always retained a certain compassion. I firmly believe that you are doing better than you were some few weeks ago."

His words always soothed her, and she slowly moved to lean against him, letting him hold her. "I fear that I may not recover myself fully… that I will not be able to regain the power of my Light. Eona and Analia seem to think otherwise, but I still find myself… angry. I… cannot view demons without finding some form of fury within."

Kial continued to pet her softly, a soft frown on his face. "You can do it, Rosalline. If there is any one soul capable of regaining the true level of compassion they possess, I firmly believe it is you."

"You need not say such words," Rose murmured. "I know your stance."

"Then show me that you can, Rosalline. You are a strong woman. Prove to yourself that you are worthy of such praise. I know you are, Eona and Analia certainly believe so… all that's left is for you to feel that way."

Rose sniffled a little and pressed her head up against Kial's chest, wrapping her arms around him. "I… I will try. For you."

"For yourself," he softly corrected. "Self betterment cannot be for others solely. You must want to do it to improve yourself."

"I will never understand your wisdom, Kial," Rose said softly. "It never ceases to amaze me."

Kial didn't respond to that, only pulling the white cat in his arms up to kiss her gently. "You never cease to amaze me."

Rose's eyes sparkled in a way they hadn't for eons, and for once she allowed herself to slip into the embrace of another being for comfort, holding herself close to Kial. There can never be someone so perfect as you to me.

~保護者~

As familiar as he was with Toru's fighting style, Espio wasn't surprised about the fact the other shinobi was the only person to have ever managed to break one of his bones. It hurt more than he'd anticipated, but it wasn't unbearable. Having the ability to both create and manipulate bones made this even less of an issue, since he was able to mend the break before even his still-developing regenerative powers could. That just left… everything else. But he could wait for that.

His only remaining issue on this battlefield was the matter of the swords. The first was snapped in half. The second was well on its way toward shattering into many more pieces than just two. With the latter, he had no idea its specifications or what it had been designed to handle. The first, however, had been designed to not be broken by someone like him - least of all him specifically. And yet he had done just that. He needed to know why, and whether it could be fixed.

That line of thinking led him straight to Li, who had yet to leave for whatever reason. As it worked in his favor, he didn't waste time wondering about it. Instead, he merely handed the second blade, still sheathed, to Li and stated curtly, "It is damaged. The other is broken."

Li gripped the weapon and pulled it out of the sheath only to wince. "Aye… that's pretty bad. This is… hm. I'll get you another… but there's no way it's gonna last. I have to ask that you avoid fights unless it's strictly necessary… though I assume you know that. Probably just sound like a pain mentioning it," he murmured, sheathing the blade once more and summoning another into his hand and handing it to Espio.

Espio took it in his left and used his right to draw the sword that had actually been made for him. Or, at least, the half of it that was left. "I did not use my Darkness," he stated slowly, "and yet this happened. How?"

Li blinked once at this revelation before frowning. "Uh… I hate to ask, but would you give me a minute to examine you? I might be able to figure it out."

Amber eyes narrowed minutely. "Examine how?" Espio asked after several seconds of internal debate.

"Just to assess how strong you are, and what is causing you to break my blades," Li assured. "I promise I can't learn anything about you as a person other than your powers and strength, that sort of thing."

Resisting the urge to scoff, Espio glanced away. "Fine," he permitted simply.

It only took Li a minute or so, if even that long, to come to a conclusion. "Well… it seems like you're not gonna be able to use a semi-Immortal sword anymore."

Of all the answers he could have gotten, that one hadn't even been on Espio's radar. "Why the hell not?" he demanded quietly.

"You'll need an Immortal's blade," Li said before groaning. "Ah, god. That means I have to make two of them, since Alana needs one."

"Chottomatte," Espio was quick to demand. Then, realizing he'd spoken in the wrong language in his haste, he cursed under his breath and said, "Explain this. It should not be possible."

"Well, it looks like you've got the strength of a budding Immortal," Li answered, focusing on his thoughts of weapon-making. "I gotta make something that's prepared for your level of strength, and whatever may come beyond that."

"That explains nothing," Espio muttered, more unhappy than ever. "None of this is meant to be possible."

"Of course making a-" Hearing this made Li pause for a moment and return his full attention to Espio. "Oh my god, you're becoming an Immortal!"

"Not. Possible," Espio repeated yet again, openly scowling now.

"Obviously it is," Li countered gently. "I don't get it either, but maybe it's time to talk to Cere? She might know something."

Espio gave Li a certifiably dirty look. "There is little reason why she would," he pointed out. "She may have existed for countless eons, but she is not the Faein. Only they would understand why something so fundamental about existence is trying to change."

Li winced at this and rubbed the back of his head. "Then I don't know what to do. The Faein went back to their slumber."

Crossing his arms, Espio turned his head away and glared at nothing in particular. "I am aware," he muttered.

The wolf frowned and allowed himself a moment to think before saying, "What I'll do is make a blade for you, regardless of the reason this is going on. As soon as we have the chance to find answers, I'll look into it. Sound good?"

Doing his best to quell his temper, Espio offered a curt nod. "Fine, then."

Li frowned a little. "Everything okay? You… how did I not notice that you're injured? What the hell did that to you?"

That made his temper flare again, but Espio squashed it as much as he could. "A friend of mine was corrupted. I confronted him. The results of that are obvious." As he spoke, he glanced over a few of his injuries again. It seemed that, since he was keeping his Darkness at bay for the moment, his regeneration was barely kicking in. It made sense, in a way, but it still served to further irritate him.

"Sorry," Li murmured. He thought about it for a moment before his eyes widened. "Who was corrupted?"

"Toru," Espio answered shortly.

"Oh fuck," Li bit back the urge to curse further and quickly reached out to Cere mentally via a specific mental channel. "We need to be on watch for Toru. He's been corrupted." The wolf redirected his attention to Espio with a concerned frown. "I just let Cere know that this happened, but I have to ask that you rest for a bit."

Espio gave Li a flat look. "I do not need rest. I am fine." This wasn't mere bravado or anything of the sort, of course. He'd faced far more serious and life-threatening injuries before and still kept on going in spite of them. This felt comparatively minor, overall.

Li crossed his arms. "You just fought someone that you called a friend," he murmured. Rather than push the matter, he simply let it go. "Just be careful, and if you need another temporary sword for any reason, I'll gladly give you one. Alright?"

After a short pause, Espio nodded. "Understood." He sheathed the broken half of the sword he'd originally been given, then took the whole sword (sheath and all) from his waist to hand over. "The half that broke off is in the sheath as well. I did not think you wanted them left on the battlefield where anything could take them."

"I can reuse the materials, and yeah… it's best to not let random people get ahold of weapons like these," Li said gently, accepting the blade. "Thanks for that."

"It is standard practice for my people as well," Espio revealed. "I assumed it would be more important than normal in this case, given your skill and occupation."

Li nodded. "Still, thank you."

With a small nod, Espio turned away. "I am leaving. Call if you need something." He vanished into the trees without waiting for a reply.

The wolf sighed and looked at the broken blades he was holding. "...How are you becoming an Immortal, and why?" He asked himself before teleporting to his own realm.

~保護者~

Locke removed his hat from his head and beat some dust and ash off of it with the other hand. "Whew… that went a lot better than expected." Spying a much younger individual nearby (one of the few weasels he'd ever seen, as they weren't common), he called out, "Hey, you alright over there? Saw you really in the thick of all those fires for a while."

The woman jumped a little, obviously on edge as she scampered some couple of feet away. "O-oh! I uh… I'm… okay…" she answered, flicking her eyes away from him. "I was just putting them out and everything… nothing special."

"Plenty important, though," Locke commented. He gave his hat another good whack before placing it back atop his head. "Thanks for your efforts. We all really appreciate it."

Kira rubbed the back of her head sheepishly, wincing when she accidentally scratched herself a little. "It's really nothing. I couldn't just… stand by and do nothing."

"Takes courage. Not everybody would stand out here and do what you did, no matter how right they felt it was." He tossed her a tired yet genuine smile. "You got guts, kid. Don't let 'em go to waste."

It truly touched her to hear that, and she made it known with a smile. "You did really good too. I don't think I could ever fight the fires and handle demons at the same time, much less how well you did."

"Ah, that… Well, guess this weary old body of mine is still good for somethin' these days." Locke smiled wryly to himself and shook his head. "I did what I could. That's all anyone can do, really, and that's all we ever ask of each other. I'd wager you did all you could out there, too. That's some real heroism if I ever saw it." Still smiling, he gave her a playful wink. "And trust me, with friends like these, I've seen a lot of heroic nonsense in my day."

Kira's smile only managed to grow in response to this. "I can imagine. I've heard some of the stories about the people I've met. It's so… fantastic to think that I'm among the heroes of Mobius."

"Not just among 'em. You're in the thick of it now, kiddo." Locke laughed a little, more to himself. "Even if you never choose to fight again for the rest of your life, you'd have a real hard time getting most of these guys to not call you their friend, anyhow. Actions like yours speak pretty loudly in a way that matters to people like us. So, I suppose what I should be saying right now is… welcome to our family, in all it's crazy, obnoxious, nonsensical glory."

Her smile waned for just a moment before she nodded a little. "It's nice to have family, even if it's… not expected, ya know?"

"Yeah, I do. I really do." Locke spotted some sparks in the grass by his foot and was quick to grind them out under his heel. "Anyway… I imagine you've got some kind of a life to get back to, now that things have calmed down here. If you need a lift, I can find someone to help you out. It's the least we can do."

"I've got some plants to tend to in a city, but my friend Wery said something about a teleporter and letting me use it… so I suppose I just need to get back to wherever they are?" Kira said, a touch unsure.

Though he didn't know of any 'Wery', Tails was immediately familiar to him. "Ah, yeah. I know where Tails hangs out." Turning, Locke scanned the area for anyone with a conventional means of teleportation… only to find that everyone was busy. He sighed. "Well, looks like you'll have to wait a bit to be teleported, unless you're willing to walk through a portal. But I'm gonna go ahead and assume that's outside of your comfort zone at the moment."

"I mean… how weird could it be? We just fought a big ol' horde of demons. I think I'm too in shock to really be mind-blasted by anything," she said with a chuckle.

Locke thought this over for a long moment. "About that… You've still not seen everything that goes along with our special brand of craziness." He turned around to face her again. "Did you happen to see those brighter-than-normal fires I was using earlier? Bright as the sun, probably dangerous to actually look at?"

Kira blinked a few times before nodding. "Yeah… And that cat had some really bright fires. Multiple colors too."

"Right. So, without going into too much detail, the portals I make are using my fire." Locke crossed his arms. "If we were to use one to get you where you need to go, I'd guide you through it without any harm coming to you. But I'd understand perfectly if that isn't something you're comfortable with. Fire's a bit… much for most people."

She shrugged a little. "As long as it doesn't hurt me, there's nothing wrong with a fire. Not like I'm planning to play with it, ya know?"

"Walkin' through it, though," Locke pointed out with a shrug. "But if you're really sure, I don't mind."

"I'm fairly sure, but honestly I'd rather leave this battlefield sooner rather than later," Kira said gently.

"Can't argue with that logic, I suppose." Locke called a fire into his hand briefly, just for the sake of demonstration, then immediately banished it. "See how bright that is? You're going to be surrounded by that level of light, and the heat that goes with it. Given that, I have two rules. Keep your eyes closed no matter what, and don't move around. Sound good?"

Immediately she was willing to go through with this, deciding it was simply best that she didn't try to back out now with how far she'd gotten. The woman closed her eyes and stood as still as she could. "Alright."

"One last thing. Unless you want melted feet, I'm gonna have to carry you - assuming you can't fly." Locke sighed. This part was always awkward. "That's the last thing you've gotta decide whether or not to be okay with."

"Oh, uh, sure," she answered, unsure of how exactly to take this information. "Just… please don't drop me."

"Not an issue," he promised. "Well, let's get it done then, shall we? Keep those eyes closed." Once she complied, he created the portal in question and easily hefted her up. Sheesh people are lightweight. "Alright, goin' in. It's gonna be hotter than all get out, but only for a few moments." With that said, he stepped in and allowed the entrance to close behind him.

Kira let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding and gulped. "So… am I okay now?"

"You'll know when it's over as soon as you feel how cool it is outside of here. Which is…" They emerged from the portal, and he set her down with a smile. "...Now." The portal closed behind them without a sound, taking all of its light and heat with it. "You're safe now, and you can open your eyes."

The weasel coughed a little and rubbed at her eyes, giving a small frown at the little specks formed temporarily in her vision from the bright flames. Her fur also seemed a little shorter, but she could live with that. "Thank you. I really appreciate it."

"Sure. About the singing, if you go to Tails's friend Amy she might be able to help you out. Chances are she'll find her way here before long." Locke adjusted his hat on his head in order to have an easier time looking up. Well past sunset by now… yeesh. "Anyway, it's time I get going. Got a couple little girls I promised a bedtime story to who are waiting on me."

Kira smiled brightly to him and nodded. "Have a good rest of your day, then."

"Same to you." Locke offered a short wave and walked off into the surrounding woods before vanishing with a harsh flare of sunlight. Sunlight that appeared on the ground.

The weasel blinked a few times before deciding it was best to not question it. Instead, she simply sought out Amy, hoping to get whatever injuries she'd suffered taken care of.

~保護者~

Calypso was glad that she was able to be up and around. Especially when Eirza unceremoniously dumped her badly beaten sister beside her hospital bed. "What is t'is?" she asked.

The look on the normally unruffled Goddess's face was almost pleading, but only very subtly so. "I realize," she murmured, "that you are not her mother. However, it is clear that you never spoke to her about men - or women, I suppose - in terms of how to act with them. I may claim her as a friend, but this is not my job. I request that you handle this." She vanished without another word.

Understanding dawned. Calypso opened her mouth, then closed it, then sighed. "Tempest, what you do, eh? You hit someone and t'ey hit you back?" She moved off the bed and knelt beside Tempest's side. "T'is one time I hope t'ey not look as bad as you. If you want someone to like you the same way you like t'em, you cannot attack them."

"I want a man that can act like a man and beat the shit out of me," Tempest groaned in reply. "And this man is that kind of man. I started a fight and he damn well ended it."

"T'at is not healthy. You see what my husband do to me. He beat shit out of me and he not a good man." Calypso roughly pulled her sister to her feet and then pushed her to sit on the bed. "No real man will strike you unless you his enemy, you understand me? What you wanting is bad. Very bad only."

Had this been any other person, anyone else at all, being handled this way would have started a fight. However, Tempest simply endured it and let Calypso move her. "But it's what I want? I don't understand where the problem is." She was genuinely confused.

Calypso rubbed her hands over her face. It was rare when she became exasperated with her sister like this now that they were adults, but the feeling was familiar regardless. "Violence and love are no the same t'ing," she insisted. "T'ey separate because t'ey must be. You want to let someone love you, and t'at is good. But fighting t'em is not t'e way."

Tempest didn't really get it, and it showed on her face as she tried to make sense of this all. "I like being hurt," she said, eyebrows furrowing. "Isn't that like… the same thing?"

"You don't know any better." Calypso sighed heavily and dropped into a sitting position beside her. "Perhaps t'at my fault. I never teach you. I never t'ink I need to. I learn on my own when I grow up and t'ought same would happen to you. Sometime I forget it my job to help you learn t'ings." She ran a hand over her face again. "It hard being your sister and your mot'er at t'e same time. I am sorry I did not do my best wit' t'is situation."

That wouldn't do at all. Tempest turned to Calypso with a deep frown. "Hey, cut that out. You didn't do shit wrong, and I'm not gonna let you sit here and act like you did."

That earned a second sigh, but this time a smile managed to follow hot on its heels. "You are kind, when you wish to be. Why you not do t'at more often, hm?" She gave her sister's arm a playful shove. "It suit you, at least sometime."

Tempest scoffed. "At least pretend like you know me."

"I say sometime," Calypso laughed. Then, more seriously, she added, "T'is be a situation where kindness may do you a favor. T'at man you fight, he called Ylden, yes?"

"...How the fuck did you know?" Tempest dared to ask.

"You forget t'at I am more t'an just your sister," Calypso said, her smile growing. "Much of t'e universe is under my observation. I watch t'ings, but not wit' my eyes. I sense your fight, though I am… how they say… 'out of sort' still. I not realize it was you fighting him until you brought here."

Tempest shrugged. "Eh, makes sense. He kicked my ass."

"And t'at probably main reason I sense it so fast, despite my magic being gone. You not in danger, though, so I not feel t'at normal urge to step in." Calypso leaned back on her hands, thinking about her next words carefully. "You remember my husband. Vile man. Despicable. You see aftermath of what he do to me t'at night before I t'row him out. He attack me one time, never get t'e chance again. But Ylden story is different. He hurt many time. I do not know how. I only know he suffer, and a partner is to blame. Violence will not forge a bond between you and him."

Well, that wasn't helpful. "Then what the hell am I supposed to do?"

"You treat him like you treat me," Calypso said, hoping to frame this in a way that would make sense to her sister. "You are kind to me, even if you pretend t'at not true. You do not mince words, but you are not cruel. You are helpful when it is needed or asked of you. T'ings like that."

Tempest frowned openly. "I don't know how to do that," she muttered in vague irritation. "That one guy I was with, we got in fights all the time. I usually won, but that was how things were for me. I thought that was how things were supposed to be."

"T'is not the way t'ings are meant to be," Calypso murmured. She was gentle and yet firm, sort of switching into "mom mode" for just a moment. "If you need help wit' t'ings when t'ey come up, ask. You know I always want to help when I can."

"Alright," Tempest said, moving to stand before realizing that everything in her body was hurting. Instead of moving away, she decided to simply ask questions. "How is he so damn strong?"

"He serve t'e God of Deat'," Calyspo answered her. "He have to be strong. It his job to be. Aside from t'at, I do not know. I know little of him overall."

"God of Death? Shit," she laughed. "No wonder he kicked my ass. That's why his spells were like that. Makes a lot of sense now."

"He… eh, what it called? 'Right hand'? Somet'ing like t'at." Calyspo shook her head. "He very powerful. I sense him fight in past. Bad idea tangle wit' him most of time."

Tempest snickered. "No kidding. That poor diction or whatever, that shit was brutal. Ripped right through the earth."

"Interesting. Perhaps his power grow over t'e years too, eh?" Calypso stood up and nudged Tempest's shoulder. "I want you to lie down and rest. I stay here wit' you and my son, but you need t'e bed more."

"I don't want to," Tempest muttered.

"You t'ink I want to when I brought here?" Calypso reminded, hands migrating to hips. "You make me lay down and t'reaten harm if I not listen. Want same treatment? Disobey me now. I still can count on one hand how many time t'at work out well for you."

The vague temptation to call out an obvious fact flickered across her mind, but this was Calypso. The woman who had single-handedly raised her. She had no intention of upsetting her. "Alright, but once I'm fine, just try and stop me. I'll toss you all the way to our moon if I have to."

"Excuse me, it my moon. I t'e one who claim it for us, chase all t'e ot'er people off of it." Calypso tossed her a smile that proved she was joking about the first bit and pulled the blankets up over her sister. "Sleep now. I be here when you wake."

Tempest blinked once, always unsure how to respond to such gentle treatment before simply listening and laying down, crashing almost immediately into a slumber. Shaking her head, Calypso pulled up a chair and sat down to watch over both her sister and her son.

~保護者~

Therin decided that he hated whoever or whatever that had taught demons how to use weapons. In this moment, he specifically hated the ones that knew how to be archers. Despite the relative safety of his perch, he'd taken an arrow to the thigh. This thing hurts like a bitch, he lamented as he carefully pulled the projectile out. Then, sighing, he used a mental link (one which Finis maintained off-and-on when he had the spare energy to allow communication between their whole group) to contact Sona. "Hey, where are you at? You hurt at all?"

"I'm fine," Sona responded shortly after. "Arms are a bit torn up from a few of those sneaky bastards, but it'll heal just fine. Prolly gonna go see Rose in a bit, but they're nothing serious. You?"

"Mostly fine, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to kill whoever taught these guys to shoot," Therin responded crossly. "One of them got me in the leg. Can't tell if that was skill, though, or dumb luck. Pissed about it either way."

"I assume you've gotten it out by now, yeah?"

"Yeah, I just pulled it. It didn't go all the way through, thankfully. Pretty sure I can walk."

"Checked for poisons or potential fragmentation of the arrow?" she asked quickly.

Therin rolled his eyes and dropped off of his branch to the ground below. The impact made him wince. "I would've known if it was poisoned or whatever else. I'm a thief and an assassin. That's kinda my area." He paused, then added, "And there's nothing else in the wound, no."

Sona seemed to mentally sigh in relief. "I know… just… making sure. That's all."

"...I get it. It's fine." Therin limped a few steps forward before sighing. "Feels like this probably did more damage coming out than going in. It looked like it was made to do that, too. Just another reason to hate whoever taught these guys."

Sona was quickly in front of him, appearing in a burst of flames. "Shit, you okay?"

Therin almost sighed again. "Probably," he grumbled. "Just hurts."

It was plainly obvious that she was concerned, and the woman disappeared for approximately five seconds only to return and rub the back of her head. "Should probably just take you to a healer."

"Uh… yeah. Probably. Where did you just…?" Therin trailed off and shook his head. "Never mind. Rose still around? I don't see her from here."

Sona's ears flicked a few times before she frowned a little. "No… and speaking of that, Kial isn't around either. Seems they've gone somewhere together."

"There another healer around here, then?" Therin asked her. "Otherwise, I'm gonna have to go bug Nier for a healing rune. And I'm pretty sure he's busy, given how he up and vanished again."

"I think there's a healer, yeah," Sona answered. "Think you can reliably move around?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm just slower than you for once." Therin huffed, more to himself than at her. "I have no idea who to look for. Mind leading the way?"

Sona gently took his hand and began walking. Only a second later and she realized she was pulling, so she slowed down to try and keep pace with him. "I'm glad that's the worst that happened to you, at least. It… could've gotten ugly."

"Given that I was told to be unarmed since I'd be mostly ignored like that… Yeah. I have to agree." Therin limped after her as best as he could manage. "Had I been allowed to bring weapons along, I would have been fine. Last time I listen to Nier's advice, the shit-head."

"Always bring some form of weapon, wherever you go," Sona said gently. "You can't always expect to not get in a fight."

"I also have orders to follow," Therin groused. "I'm not as far removed from this stuff as you and Locke are. I live in the thick of it, remember? Plus, Cere and Finis raised me. I can't just ignore orders when it comes from them or Nier. You know, the only one of us Jet regularly goes to about existential crap that's happening? Can't really defy the guy, given that."

"Well fuck that," Sona bit out. "You could at least hide a dagger or something on your person if something comes for you."

"Fat lotta good that would've done against an arrow," Therin responded with a huff. "When I'm hyper-focused on watching things, at least. Which, have I ever explain that to you before? When I'm observing things, gathering information, or whatever in the way I did here, I extend all of my senses. Absolutely all of them, even touch, far beyond their normal limits. But it's all focused on what I'm paying attention to. There's a reason why I hide, find a perch, and that sort of thing, and not just because I'm usually getting ready to steal crap. That reason being that it's much harder to be aware of stuff that's nearby to me when I'm doing that. So technically being armed wouldn't have helped here, anyway. until I was shot and got distacted. Still irritating, though."

Sona turned her gaze away and rubbed at her face a little, hissing when she suddenly remembered the damage to her arms. "Just… please be careful…" she murmured.

"Only if you do the same." Therin limped a little closer to examine her arms. "What exactly happened, anyway?"

"Demon snuck up on me and latched onto my arms. I blasted it away, but its claws held and tore the hell out of me," she answered, huffing. "Nothing too serious."

"It's worse than my arrow," he retorted. "When we find this healer, you're getting help first."

Sona glared at him. "No, you are."

"I am so not arguing about this," Therin groaned. "You're getting help first since your wounds are worse, and I'll sit patiently to wait my turn, not straining my leg any further. Alright?"

The cat openly growled at him before mumbling something under her breath. "Fine," she agreed reluctantly.

Pleased that they had made a deal, Therin relaxed and let his brief tension fade away. "Do you sense her nearby? Walking is a pain, and I mean that literally this time."

Sona nodded before turning to him and sucking back the pain to pick him up in her arms. "It's not too much further."

A choked noise of surprise escaped him, sounding like a pitiful ack! more than anything else. Then the protesting began. "Sona, what the hell?" he complained.

"I'm carrying you. Shut your mouth," Sona said. "I don't want to hear your complaining."

"Oh, you're gonna hear it," Therin groused. "I'm not a child. Put me down."

She raised an eyebrow and made no move to put him down, continuing to walk. "And if I don't?"

"I have claws, same as you," was the petulant reply. "I can scratch the shit out of you."

"Do it," Sona dared him. "Won't make me put you down." Therin just complained under his breath and didn't reply. Sona was quiet for a moment, but ultimately she spoke up. "Hey, Therin… can I ask you a question?"

"What?" Therin sighed.

She had to challenge her almost painfully fast heartbeat to speak up. "I… at my house… I'm sorry. That was a lot to throw on you. I just… it's okay if you… don't feel the same."

Another sigh escaped him, this one deeper. "If that were the case, I would've said something then." Therin tried to shift, found he couldn't do much, and gave up with a grumble. Then he continued, "I may be a liar by trade, but not about this kind of thing."

Sona shifted her attention away from him. "I just… I don't know what to do. I've never felt like this, and I don't want to ask someone else."

"I have no idea, either," Therin admitted. "I mean, yeah, me and Katari dated a few… well, more than a few eons ago, but it was pretty short-lived and it wasn't serious. Beyond that, I'm just as lost as you."

"Let's just… go to a healer. I should probably head home after this," Sona murmured, speeding up her gait.

"Or you could… hang with my sister and I again," Therin mumbled. Then he cleared his throat and said more clearly. "If you want."

This brought her pause and she looked at him, blinking. "Are you sure?"

"Wouldn't have said it if I wasn't," was the moody reply.

Sona shifted Therin a touch closer in her arms and continued walking, more than intent on finding a healer now than she had been mere minutes ago.

~保護者~

To think that I immediately find myself engrossed in some measure of work, despite having been alive again for such a short time… In truth, Satsuno wasn't truly bothered. Business was his life. He barely knew any other way to be. Lounging around and resting wasn't really his thing. Which was why, even though he had conceded to physically resting, he kept his mind strictly awake and occupied.

Multiple matters held his attention all at once. Myriu was still in the room, and so he kept half an eye on her (realistically probably less than that, given that she wasn't exactly some danger-prone toddler). There were still some spirits around, albeit not any dangerous ones, and he listened in on their activities just on the off-chance one of them wound up having something important to say. And then there was Soren. I sense the same thing in him that I do in her. He possesses some form of spiritual ability as well.

The teen in question hesitantly entered the room, seeming nervous even in what was apparently the boy's own home. Still, he didn't hesitate to speak. "Oh, uh… hey, Myriu. Were… you two busy with something? I can come back later." Satsuno opened his eyes and looked at him, but didn't interject yet since he wasn't the one being spoken to.

Myriu shook her head. "Nope. Not doing anything important."

Soren stole a glance at Satsuno, but still still didn't address him. For his part, Satsuno didn't start a conversation with him, either. "I'm sorry to ask," Soren started with a sigh, "but would you mind terribly leaving the room for a moment so I can talk to him? I just… have an easier time talking to new people when it doesn't feel like I'm being watched." She tilted her head at him for a moment before vanishing entirely, leaving the room to go somewhere else.

Satsuno's eyes followed Soren's movement as the boy sat down on the second couch. Once settled, he asked, "It is okay if I talk to you… right?"

"Yes." Satsuno regarded him quietly for a moment before continuing. "This is about your powers, yes?"

Soren's eyes betrayed his surprise. "You knew?" he asked. However, he was quick to follow that up with, "Wait, of course you knew. I heard you talking to Myriu about this stuff a little bit." He glanced over at Satsuno, accidentally meeting his gaze before quickly looking down again. "Are you really going to teach her?"

A slight frown made its way onto Satsuno's face. He pushed himself up into a sitting position. "I intend to, provided it is something she wants," he confirmed. His head canted ever-so-slightly. "However… it seems to me that you have plenty of time to consider what you want in regards to these things."

"Yes. I've dealt with spirits my whole life, and they used to scare me horribly." Soren's ears lowered. "Negative spirits used to crowd me all the time because of how negative I was. That's how I found out they could hurt me and I couldn't do anything about it."

His interest piqued. "What else can you do?" Satsuno asked him. If Soren was more forthcoming about this sort of thing than Myriu had been (not that she was at fault, given her age and circumstances), then perhaps he could get a better idea of what sort of training Soren needed. He could certainly sense these things in detail on his own if he put forth the effort, but he'd been taught growing up that such observations could be seen as intrusive by some. So he refrained when it wasn't strictly necessary or explicitly asked for. "Explain all you can to me."

"Well… I can touch them and they can touch me, obviously. I can see and hear them, too. Plus they can attack me." Soren glanced at Satsuno again, as if to gauge his reaction. Satsuno remained mellow and listened intently. "They liked to scratch me when I was younger. They pushed me into walls or down stairs. I've even been bit before and had things flung at me."

"Have the attacks ever progressed further than that?" Satsuno asked him, tone nothing but serious. Thankfully, Soren shook his head. "Good. Anything else?"

"I don't know," the teen admitted. "Nothing else has ever happened. But I don't… like being defenseless. And I don't like not being able to really tell if spirits are there when I can't see or hear them, you know?"

Honestly, he did. While the latter problem wasn't one they shared, he was far too familiar with the defenselessness Soren was describing for his own good. Still, Myriu is likely to be a student who requires her instructor's full attention. If that is so, then I cannot take one anyone else. He closed his eyes briefly to think. The God of Death is also an option. Kaden will have inherited the role when I died. However, in his current condition, he cannot help. Nor will I ask him to try. That leaves… Opening his eyes, he said, "I will get in touch with a friend. If he is willing and able, he may make a good teacher for you."

"And… if he's not?" Soren asked, risking yet another glance at him.

"Then I will do my best to balance your needs with Myriu's," Satsuno said, "and train you both myself."

This time, Soren's gaze didn't drop. He actually looked stunned for a moment. "Y… Yourself?" he echoed, eyes slightly wide. "You mean that?"

"Yes. Spiritual matters are important to me, more so than I care to explain. It is equally important to me that those whose lives are impacted by such things are equipped to defend themselves when necessary." He stood, prompting Soren to almost reflexively do the same. "If it ever becomes relevant, I will explain why this is so. For now, it is not worth your time."

"I-" Soren cut himself off when they heard Shadow suddenly call out for him to come over. "Oh, uh, Dad wants me. I'll see you later, I guess?"

Slowly, Satsuno offered a small nod. "Behave for him. He appears to be under significant stress that grows worse as time moves forward."

"I will, I promise." Soren turned and left the room, pausing only briefly to glance in Myriu's direction. Then he was off to the dining room.

Satsuno's arms crossed as he watched the boy go. His foot rapidly tapped on the floor in thought for just a moment. Will I still have access to the Realms of Death? he found himself wondering. Even if I do, will I have the same level of access that I once did? I am not the God anymore. Pushing all worries aside, he gathered his energies and teleported away. The only way to find out was to try, after all.

~保護者~

Two of his newest visitors had enough sense not to teleport directly into Shadow's home. The third did not. For that reason, he and Lia were both awakened by the harsh sound of his alarms blaring. It lasted for only a split second before he deactivated them, but it was more than enough. Lia was in his room not a moment later, rubbing at her eyes and yawning. "I thought everybody knew to knock," she mumbled.

Shadow's sigh was irritable, but not toward her. "Apparently not." He kicked his blankets off and stood, scooping her up on his way out of the room.

"We've always had alarms, haven't we Daddy?" she asked through another yawn. "How come somebody forgot?"

"I doubt that is the case." He eyed the strange… creature now occupying part of his home, but said nothing to or about it just yet. Instead, he opened the front door and, upon confirming who he'd suspected was out there, he let them in with one simple demand. "Explain."

Golden eyes fell upon the creature. "Oh, er… Sorry about that. Guess we should have warned her. Uh… him? It? ...Hm."

Wave rolled her eyes at Silver before saying, "By 'we' he means me, specifically. That was my fault. I'm sorry. I'd intended for us to be quiet."

With a glance at Lia, Shadow swiftly decided that it didn't even matter anymore. With her head on his shoulder and her little thumb in her mouth, Lia had already fallen asleep. "It is fine now," he admitted. He motioned for them to sit in the kitchen, as he could hear a conversation already going in the living room, then went to put Lia back to bed. When he returned, he joined them at the table and instructed again, "Explain."

In response, Wave motioned over to the strange being she apparently deemed herself to be responsible for. "Well, I suppose let's get names out of the way first. Shadow, this is the Aether. Aether, this is Shadow." She introduced them with no fanfare, but at least a smile. "I guess we're partners or something now, but I don't fully grasp it just yet. I haven't had much time to sit and process it all, but I'm getting there."

The Aether gave a happy wave as a sort of greeting with one of its legs. "Hello!"

Though his eyes narrowed a little with additional confusion, Shadow slowly relented and inclined his head. "...Hey."

"As Wave said, I'm the Aether. Super nice to meet you!" the Aether said with a bright smile.

Shadow looked at it silently for a long moment before daring to ask, "And you are here… why?"

"I wanted to meet you and come talk to you!" it admitted without hesitation.

"Why?" he asked, no less confused but now also a touch annoyed.

The Aether blinked once. "I thought you could use some company. You seemed a bit upset."

Somehow, he couldn't find it in himself to be surprised that it knew. That didn't mean he was happy about it, though. "Even assuming I was," he countered evenly, "I am not overly fond of talking."

"Well, maybe we don't have to talk? I mean, Silver's here, I'm sure he knows enough about something to help," the Aether said.

The aptly-named hedgehog's ears perked. "...Wait, what?" he asked, glancing between them. "What am I being volunteered for?"

Wave couldn't help but laugh, albeit quietly. "Dummy." He pouted at her.

The Aether turned its attention to Shadow before suddenly asking, "Is there anything I can do to help you? I know you've got kids, so maybe I could go find something for them?"

That earned the Aether another long look. This time, however, Shadow responded quicker. "'Find something'?" he echoed, feeling suspicious but doing his best not to let the feeling grow too strong. "Explain."

The Aether looked to Wave for help, desperately. "I dunno how to explain this."

Wave shrugged unhelpfully. "What exactly are you wanting to find?" she asked. Maybe rephrasing it slightly would help somehow. "That's all he's asking."

"I dunno. Whatever they might need?" the Aether said.

Silver finally perked up. "I bet Lia's been begging for toys," he guessed happily. "Soren's gotta want stuff to do, too. Anyway you can help with that sort of thing?"

The Aether gasped excitedly and vanished without a trace. Shadow fixed his nephew with yet another look, this one vaguely disapproving. "If I wind up buried in toys, I will drag you down with me."

"Hey, I did my time," Silver laughed. "I had three kids, remember? There were so many toys. Oh, and art supplies. It's your turn now."

"Silver, you might want to watch yourself," Wave grinned. "He does still have his own personal armory, remember. He can shoot you whenever he feels like it."

Shadow sat back in his seat and crossed his arms. "Don't tempt me."

The Aether reappeared by Silver's side, and he was the one buried in toys as the Aether smiled in glee. "I did it!"

"W'the?!" was the only sound Silver managed to make as he vanished under the pile. Wave had to smother her riotous laughter with a hand, her whole body shaky with the effort. Silver's head soon popped out. "Holy moly, where did you get all of this?"

"This is a good question, one that I'm not sure how to answer," the Aether said with a bright smile.

Reaching over toward his nephew, Shadow plucked a handheld gaming system out of the pile and looked it over. Then he called out, "Soren, come here."

His son was there within seconds. "Yeah, D- Whoa, what the heck?" Soren nearly jumped when Shadow tossed him the system, but soon grinned. "Oh, cool. This one's even better than the one Uncle Sonic gave me." The fact that Soren seemed so pleased with it made Aether extremely happy, and it showed this with a growing smile.

Something about the Aether's demeanor clued Soren in. "Oh. Um… did you get this stuff?" All at once, his awkwardness was back. He edged behind Shadow a bit, for all the good that did with his father sitting down. Still, it made him feel safer. The sight made Wave smile. "Th-thanks. It was… That was nice of you."

"Don't worry. You don't need to thank me," the Aether said with a smile of its own.

Soren reached to the side and dug through the pile a little, unburying most of Silver's right arm in the process. The older hedgehog was quick to celebrate this bit of renewed freedom, but Soren spoke first. "Looks like Lia won't be bored anymore, huh Dad?" He picked up one object in particular. "No way she'll be happy with a toy gun, though. She'll be mad it isn't a real one."

"She is only allowed to use a real one during emergencies," Shadow reminded, "or when she is out at a range with you or I. Otherwise, she will survive just fine with a fake one."

"Just saying, she'll be grumpy," Soren said, managing a small grin.

"Gun?" the Aether asked in vague confusion before gasping. "Woah, that's cool."

Wave looked over. "Did… you just spontaneously figure out what a gun is?" she asked.

It nodded quickly. "Mhm!"

"Huh. Interesting." Wave helped unbury Silver a little more. "Also, seriously… Thanks. This was really sweet of you."

The Aether vanished into the pile and began to push Silver out, not really understanding that doing so only made a bigger mess. "Don't gotta thank me! I just wanted to do it." Silver laughed in response to the efforts, but made sure to keep his voice down.

Soren grabbed his cousin's hand and pulled the man out the rest of the way. Then he said, "It was still nice of you. She'll be grumpy about the gun thing, but my sister will love the rest of this. Myriu might even like some of it, maybe."

Is being nice really that worthy of praise or thanks? I thought it was normal… "I'm glad she'll like it," the Aether said with a smile, poking its head out of the pile.

Soren nodded, then asked Shadow, "Actually, do chameleons play with toys?" he asked.

"No idea," Shadow shrugged. "Myriu plays board games, but beyond that I don't know."

"We could always ask," Wave pointed out with a shrug. "I'm sure Espio would know, for one thing."

Her careful avoidance of Toru's name was noted, but Shadow did his best not to dwell on it. Or the reason behind the action. "Perhaps," he conceded simply.

"Or you could ask," Myriu said from above, looking down at them all from her spot on the ceiling. "That works, too."

Shadow glanced up and huffed. "It took you thirty seconds longer than usual to reveal yourself," he casually revealed. "Enjoying the spying, were you?"

"Quite," Myriu replied easily.

The Aether looked up at her and blinked a few times before floating up to her with a giggle. "Hiya!"

The young chameleon blinked and crawled some few feet away, leaving the Aether vaguely confused. "As I said, you can just ask."

Soren decided to do just that. "So… do you guys play with toys?" He paused, then elaborated, "Chameleon kids, I mean."

"I have not owned my own toys," Myriu answered dryly. "It is common for children to own them, but they are often handcrafted with various natural materials."

Silver thought about this. Why's she never had any? "Well, want to have a look at all of this?" he asked. "You're welcome to this stuff, too."

"Maybe in a minute," she answered, her eyes flicking to another spot in the room.

Shadow glanced that way as well with a minute frown. "What is it?"

"I swear to god." Myriu darted off, going as far as to drop off of the ceiling and disappear into a different room.

The Aether blinked a few times, tilting its head before frowning. Maybe I shouldn't bring that up.

However, someone else decided to do just that. Setting the gaming system on the table, Soren glanced from Myriu to the spot and back again. "...Wait." He glanced between them again, tension finding its way into his expression. "Don't… Don't tell me you can see it, too."

Myriu blinked once as she stopped where she was, turning to him with a tilted head. "Oh, it's not just Satsuno, then?" This caught Shadow's attention, and he began observing this situation with more understanding of what was happening.

"Uh… no? That's kinda… why I went in to talk to him earlier," Soren said nervously. "I kinda assumed you overheard, but I guess… ...Anyway, if that thing is bothering you, you can say something. I know how to get rid of spirits that aren't aggressive."

"It's just irritating me," Myriu said blandly. "Nothing more."

"I'm just saying I can make it go somewhere else," Soren shrugged. "That's all."

"Do what you will," Myriu answered.

"That isn't very…" Soren trailed off and sighed. "Dad, is it okay if I get some ash from somewhere?"

"...Just burn a piece of wood," Shadow said after a moment. "There are trees everywhere. Find a stick." Soren nodded and headed off outside.

Like Silver, Wave was confused. He just happened to be more open about it. "So… what's he need ash for?"

Although he shrugged, Shadow had an answer. "It is not unlike how some spirits, supposedly, will leave in the presence of burning sage. Some are bothered by ash and will flee from a location where the substance is present." This sort of very minor thing was about all he knew on the subject of ghosts and the like, but at least for once it was useful for him to know.

Sure enough, Soren was back moments later with a bit of ash in his hand. He scattered it on the floor where the spirit was and watched it swiftly vanish. "There. It's gone now. Hopefully it won't be back anytime soon."

"So you guys can see spirits. That's cool," The Aether said before turning around in a full circle, blinking a few times. "I can't, though."

"Almost no one can," Wave explained. "There are people employed within the Realms of Death who can, but most of them only can because they have those jobs. Outside of that group of people, there's basically no one who can do it."

"But both Soren and Myriu can," the Aether said with a tilted head.

"Soren can because he's part of a whole family that tends to have that ability," Wave replied. "I don't know why Myriu can, though. This is the first I've heard about it."

The Aether blinked once. "Neato." It whipped around in a circle to the door and gasped, beginning to practically prance in place. "Ooh, ooh! Steam's coming!"

Silver blinked. "Oh, he is? Why?"

It shrugged in response, and sure enough, mere seconds later a knock came at the door. More than a little annoyed at having yet another person over, Shadow got up and opened the door. Thanks to the Aether's exclamations, he knew who it was, at least. That helped him be slightly less annoyed. Steam was quick to step inside, very obviously in a bit of a hurry. "Alright, I've got just another couple minutes. Shadow, remember that medicine I said I'd get ahold of? I brought it for you," Steam explained.

Suppressing a sigh, Shadow nodded. "Yes, I remember," he mumbled. His annoyance ebbed away, but he was still tired. Part of him just wanted to deal with all of this later.

The Aether spoke, but Steam visibly ignored it, looking around the area before letting out a gentle sigh and turning his gaze to Shadow. He could tell how Shadow felt to some degree, and motioned for him to go. "Go relax a little. I'll go back to Tails's place with them for you, alright?"

"Fine," Shadow agreed, mostly in reference to the last part. "They are loud."

Steam handed over the medicine he'd brought with him and smiled a little. "I'm gonna be gone for a few days, but you can message me if there's something you need," he offered, motioning for the Aether to be quiet. "Hey, Wave, you mind taking the Aether back to Tails's house?"

"Yeah, sure. We just stopped by for a quick chat, anyway." Wave stood and gave Silver a look that prompted him to get up as well. "It was good to see you all. Talk again, soon." With that, she vanished, taking her two companions with her.

"So… onto the medicine. Do you have anywhere safe in the house that you could put it?" Steam asked gently. "I know that Lia's around, and I understand if you want me to take it somewhere else for you."

"She will break into most anything," Shadow was forced to admit. However, rather than ask for help, he just huffed and said, "I will figure something out."

Steam raised an eyebrow. "Have Seiko make a magic barrier that only select people can reach into. Either that, or I'll take it to Tails's home."

"She is not here." As he said that, Shadow looked at the bottle for a moment before taking out the proper dosage (two pills) and sealing it again. Then he tossed it back to Steam. "Do what you will."

The green hedgehog caught and nodded a little. "I doubt anything bad could come of it… but let me know if something does happen. I'll make sure to have it handled." Shadow nodded a little in response and walked off to take the pills.

In the brief awkward silence that followed, Soren sort of stood there. Eventually, though, he forced himself to speak. "You… uh, know my dad?" he asked nervously.

Steam cast his gaze to Soren and nodded. "Yeah, I do. What's up?"

"Just curious, I guess," Soren replied, edging away. "I haven't been out since being revived and all, so…"

"I get it," Steam said with a gentle smile. "I'll be back around once I return from my timeline. If you wanted to talk about anything, I'd be glad to. Sound okay?"

"Uh… sure," Soren said after a moment. "I mean… I guess."

I've got enough time. Steam teleported the medicine away and cast Soren a soft smile. "It's alright to be nervous. You just met me, after all. All I can say is to try and relax as best you can, and remind yourself that the people you're meeting here all are trying to make everyone's lives better. Pretty much everyone you'll come across here is pretty cool."

"Okay… I-I'll try that." Nerves started to try to get the better of him, but Shadow re-entered the room then. That eased a lot of his anxiety straight away. "Oh, hi, Dad."

Shadow was quick to reclaim his earlier seat, and from there he set about going through the mess of toys to see what in there Lia would even use. "Do your best to calm yourself," he said as he sifted. "He is not like the people you knew in your timeline. No harm will come to you from him."

"R-Right… You're probably right." Soren sighed and glanced at Steam. "Sorry…"

"Everyone's got their own struggle," Steam said as he waved it off. "No problem." The green hedgehog glanced at his communicator and sighed. "I got a loose end to tie up before I leave. I'll see you guys again soon."

Soren gave a little wave. "See you," he mumbled. He walked over to the toys in order to help go through them. There were a lot, after all. Steam waved to them both as he teleported away.

~保護者~

She is at risk of losing her way.

This understanding, more than anything, prompted Zenith to seek out a being of Darkness he knew to be rather young. Rather complicated, too, given her heritage. This was most likely the cause of her off-and-on turmoil. He wasn't really sure what he could do to help, if anything, but something nagged at him, insisting he at least attempt to communicate with her. If he could work out what exactly was going on, perhaps then he would have a firmer idea of how to assist.

Shaking his head, more at himself than the situation he found himself in, he slipped seamlessly from his realm to her. With a single step, he transitioned from being surrounded by blackness to being on a porch in front of a small home. Almost immediately, a child ran out to greet him. "I knew you coming!" she declared happily. "I senth it!"

Reminded abruptly and deeply of one of his own daughters, he corrected with instinctive fondness, "Sensed. You sensed it." She nodded, eyes wide, curious, and eager. In truth, he was curious as well. To be so attuned to her senses while still so young… Interesting. "There is another here. Armaris, I believe?"

"Oh, I know where! I find her!" The little girl dashed off without waiting for him to reply. Then, from one of the home's two other rooms, she returned. Both of her tiny hands tightly grasped one of Armaris's while small legs did their best to drag the older woman along. "He here! I said he coming! Did you believe me?"

Oh, her excitement was so like one of his children. Not Aora, but one of her sisters. Eyra and you are greatly alike, little one. Many can only dream of having as much spirit as you both. Perhaps that was just Eona's influence on him and his life prompting such thoughts, but he didn't mind. He'd learned by now that one just couldn't possibly become friends with the woman without her changing them for the better. It had long been apparent that even he was not immune. Which reminded him… I should check on her soon. But, for now, he made himself refocus on the pair in front of him and waited to see what Armaris would say.

Armaris blinked several times, stunned into a brief silence at the sight and sensation of Zenith. Her own senses were sharp, but she had been refusing to pay attention to anything around her in lieu of relaxing. A bad idea, and a habit she needed to break. Being around him made her feel… different? She didn't understand it. "Uh… hey."

Zenith inclined his head a little. "The girl is… energetic," he commented after a moment.

She nodded slowly to this. "She… definitely is." Zenith's presence prompted so many questions, much like the Rusen man… so she decided to bite the bullet and make a guess. "Did I do something bad during that fight…?"

His head canted. "...Precisely the opposite," he said after a long pause. "You took something objectively 'bad' and used it for good. That potential has always been there, and yet you struggle to see and accept it." Crossing his arms, he murmured, "There is turmoil in you. Even realms apart, I can sense your struggle. I came to see if it was possible to help in some way."

Armaris didn't like where this was going, crossing her arms a little. "There's nothing good about it," she responded firmly. "Nothing."

"Incorrect," Zenith responded, calm as ever. "Entirely incorrect. Do you consider your success against Iblis to be some fluke? Some stroke of luck? You possess strength in you, Armaris. It is driven toward a life you are not aligned with, yes. But you yourself proved that it is capable of being used in a way that is entirely good. Doing so will never be easy or flawless, but it is possible. And that is a fact you cannot live your life ignoring."

She frowned and oh did this bother her. "Zareil turned me on my allies. No way in hell am I okay with that. People look down on me and my father because I'm a demon, and that's not okay!"

"You are right. It is not okay. Being turned against your allies by an enemy is wrong. Being judged for your heritage is wrong. What is right is how you choose to respond to such things." Zenith glanced away, debating whether it was time for him to leave. However, given that his eyes were nothing but pure white energy, the motion was impossible to see. "You are, at least to some extent, allowing others to make that decision for you. It is time to stop and consider how okay with that you are."

Armaris let out a low growl for a moment before her anger all but vanished and she leaned up against the frame of the opening to the home. "I just want to be seen as more than a half-demon…"

"As you deserve," was the calm acknowledgement. "Yet it is a part of you and who you are. You cannot accept yourself while actively denying half of what makes you you. It does not make you vile, it does not make you a demon yourself, it does not make you evil. But it does lend you strength, Armaris. That should not be ignored."

"I don't know how to actively use it the right way," she murmured, sliding down to sit on the porch. "I worry that every time I tap into it, I'm gonna hurt someone or make someone hurt me… I don't want that…"

"As with anything else, training is your ally," he murmured back. "With the correct teacher, one who understands your struggles and your power, you can overcome these obstacles in your way. That much is certain."

"...You act like you know a person," Armaris murmured. "Do you?"

"I know many," Zenith agreed with a shrug. "It is my duty to know. However, this does not mean that I know the right person for you. That would be up to you to determine upon meeting any prospective teachers." He looked at her closely, studying her face, before quietly adding, "You are not the only half-demon out there, Armaris. People on both sides may seek to vilify you and those like you, but you are not the first, nor were you the last. There are others out there who understand in a way even I cannot. You are not alone."

Armaris's eyes watered. "I feel alone…" she admitted quietly.

Taking a risk, Zenith reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. "You are not," he reiterated. "Even assuming there were no others like you out there, that would not make you alone. You surround yourself with friends and family. They do not understand yet, but you can help them get there. At least, when you are ready."

"I've been alive for so long and nobody seems to get it!" she protested. "I never knew how to make it make sense…" Armaris didn't seem to even notice the hand on her shoulder, but that certainly could be for the better.

Cautiously, so as not to startle her, Zenith removed the hand. "Then perhaps you have not spoken to the right people." He glanced to the child clinging to her leg, read the lineage recorded in her energies. "...Or person."

Armaris let out a sigh. "I don't know who that person would be…"

Zenith nodded meaningfully toward the little girl. "I would presume that person to be… whoever is responsible for her."

"Unless you're talking about Nyokae, to which I would say a prompt fuck you, Espio has a lot of his own problems. I can't just pile up all of my shit on him. It's made it worse every time I said something, because I can't control my emotions," Armaris muttered. "I've made stuff worse for him enough times now."

"Relationships require communication," Zenith told her. "There is no getting around that. However, if you choose not to speak of such things with him, then so be it. That is your call to make, and yours alone. What I implied was merely a suggestion."

Hearing that stung, considering the recent conversation with Rose and Espio. I've gotta break that habit too… "I just… I'm worried. Everything is scaring me…"

"It is natural, for most, to feel fear. This is not unwarranted in a situation like yours," he answered. "The goal is not to be lacking in that feeling. It is to overcome it, to strive to most through and beyond it."

Armaris didn't really have anything else to say. Zenith had effectively countered every point she'd made, and her mind couldn't come up with more at the moment. "I just… never learned how. I can put on a facade pretty good, but when it's all said and done I'm usually terrified…"

"And there is nothing wrong with that," Zenith reminded her. "But allowing that fear to paralyze you is not… advisable."

"I want this war to be over…" Armaris sighed. "I want to live here with Espio, take care of Sako and Zei. Maybe have other kids," she said softly.

"Perhaps soon that will all come to be," Zenith answered, his ownvoice growing quiet. "My kin is safe now, finally, and that is an important step. As he grows well again, the tides of this war may well continue to turn in your favor. Only time will tell."

Armaris glanced away. "Yeah…" She couldn't help but sigh. It always is. Her gaze flicked back to Zenith and she frowned. "Is that why you came here? Just because I'm not happy with myself?"

"Because you needed help," Zenith told her. Through all of his neutrality came a note of sincerity. "All neutral beings of Darkness are, in a way, a part of my family. That includes you and your father. My family is important to me, so I do what I can for them all."

"...Do you know what happened to my dad?" She dared to ask. "I didn't see it, but I could sense that something was wrong. Cere was with him, too."

"He is safe," Zenith assured. "Albeit angry, among other things. A boy he once took into his care was corrupted by a demoness named Zareil. He sought to do something about it, but nearly went too far in his efforts to make her pay. Cere intervened only enough to calm him down and bring him back."

Armaris frowned a little at this. "How far did he go?"

"Far enough to warrant intervention," Zenith shrugged. "He crossed a line, to some extent. Nearly killed someone whose life was agreed to be spared, caused excessive damage to the only world those fiery demons have to call 'home'. Had he persisted, she may have died… eventually. The demons would have been forced to go elsewhere, to seek out some other planet to claim heedless of whatever life was there before them."

"Fuck…" Armaris bit her lip. "He definitely broke that promise to Cere, then… They never told me about it, but they always said it was serious. Is… is he okay?"

Zenith blinked slowly upon hearing this. "Tired, but otherwise well. He is unharmed, so far as I am aware."

Armaris let out a long sigh of relief. "Thank god…"

After a small pause, Zenith asked a question of his own. "The young man he sought… do you know him as well?"

"Not well, but we've met. His name is Marthal. Ylden once took care of him," Armaris explained.

"Do not go after him as your father attempted," was all Zenith said on the matter. "For any reason. Even if Marthal himself does not kill you, Zareil will. It is in your best interest to stay away."

"Provided she decides to kill me instead of using me on my allies and friends," Armaris grumbled.

He had to acknowledge this truth. "There is that possibility as well. Either way, do not do what he has done. If possible, do not allow him to repeat his mistake, either."

Armaris let out a sigh. "My father is intelligent enough to know that Cere is watching him now. He won't do it again."

"Good." Zenith shifted a foot in preparation to turn away. "Unless there is something else you wish to ask or so, I need to be leaving. My daughters require my attention, as yours does with you."

Armaris nodded to him, finally moving to properly stand. "I appreciate this… a lot." Zenith gave her a small nod. He happened to glance down in time to see the tiny chameleon girl in question giving him a wave goodbye. Armaris smiled at this sight and gently picked her up, waving as well. With a slight wave of his own, Zenith turned away fully. By the time the motion had completed, he was gone.

~保護者~

16,664 words this time. Many thanks as always to Blazing Winds for all of his help and support. Posted (at about 10:46 a.m.) 06-29-21.