Inside the Forbidden, pt 4: The End and the Beginning
Prologue- In Hot Water
Houta washed off the tomato and handed it to Linara.
"Sorry about abandoning you," said Linara. "But I've been so preoccupied with exams and everything."
"It's okay," said Houta, smiling. "I've been busy too. I probably didn't offer much help in that area." They both laughed. "So we're making..."
"Pesto," was the answer. "Let's get to work."
"Houta, where the hell are you?" Charei walked in, her blue hair falling out of the ponytail she was attempting to hold with one hand. "What'd you do with my scrunchi?"
"It's on the couch. Or in the couch. It's part of one of those 'the couch' places."
"Thanks a lot. Hey Lina." Charei turned and disappeared back into the living room. Tapae soon replaced her.
"Houta, have you seen Ryo? He's not in his room, or the balcony, or anywhere in the basement I could see."
"He isn't back from the movie yet."
"Damn. Hello, Linara." Tapae went out into the garage, grabbing her jacket. Winter was slowly coming. Slowly.
"Houta-" Linara jerked and dropped a tomato on the floor as Cye came in. She bent over quickly to retrieve it. "Where's the rest of everybody?"
"Tapae's outside, Charei and Rowen went for a walk, Ryo, Sage, and Kento are at the movie and we're in here making lunch."
"We?"
"Yeah. Me and Linara." Cye raised an eyebrow and Linara cursed at the silence. He was getting it too easily. She stood slowly. He jerked in surprise. Those eyes...
"Lina," he whispered. "But... how?"
"You weren't taken through dimension, brother. You were shoved into the future. Time passed normally for the rest of us," she said quietly. Houta looked between them both, first at Cye, then at Linara. The realization came over her.
"Oh. My god," she whispered. "You're... you're..." Linara sensed her friends hesitation and nodded.
"We are. Cye is my older brother."
Chapter 1- In the Middle of the Forgotten
"Wait a minute, I'm confused," said Charei. "So Cye and Linara are related? Just hold on a second. That makes about as much sense as... well, a lot of things in my life right now."
"Cye barely said anything about his sister," said Ryo. "His parents divorced when he was about ten and his mom took her up north. The only thing he knew was that she married some guy in an airshow." Tapae's head lifted up at the words 'airshow', but when she saw it wasn't Charei who had said it, she settled back down by the door.
"Damn," she muttered to herself. "So close." Houta elbowed her in the ribs and made a kill motion. Sage and Ryo chose to ignore them. The weirdness of the three girls was becoming familiar.
"So now we've got Cye's sister in this," said Charei. "I wonder..."
"Don't even," said Kento. "She can't be. That would be too strange."
"What? If Linara was a Descendent?" asked Houta. She shook her head. "I doubt it. I would've sensed it by now. The residue of the power lasts for at least a year, getting weaker, but it's there. Remember, the last two used their power the first time we met Shisama and that wasn't that long ago."
"Sure seems like," said Charei and Ryo at the same time in undertones. They looked at each other and Houta sighed.
"Only because you almost died," she muttered. Charei shot her a look. Neither her, nor Ryo had come out on the good end of that battle. It had been a week, but the pain still lingered. And Charei couldn't shake the deathlike feeling in the back of her mind. It kept growing and was in her dreams all the time. Her mother... her father... fourteen other people... one freak accident had cause so many problems and so much pain... "Charei? Wanna wake up, kid? It's time for dinner." Charei didn't say anything, only followed. Cye and Linara seemed to be fine, now that they were together. They made quite a team.
"Looks great," said Kento, sitting down. Everyone joined him. Two seconds later, Charei bolted from her chair and ran outside. "What the-"
"She finally got it," said Houta, standing up. "She finally freaking got it."
"Took her long enough," said Tapae. Both of them went after the first girl. Ryo got up and went after them, followed by everyone else except Linara.
I'm not part of it, she said to herself. It's not my problem.
"Who used Light?" asked Charei, looking around. There was no one in sight, but a long black mark ran across the ground. A demon lay burnt to a crisp on in the dirt nearby. "What the hell is going on?" A shadow moved across the moon and vanished. "Light Illume! That was the Light Illume! I've got to go after it!" Rowen grabbed her arm.
"No way. For once, Charei, listen to me when I say you're too weak to do this. It's long gone. You can't over exert yourself."
"Rowen-"
"Charei-"
"Both of you, shut up. Let's get back to dinner. We'll think about this later. I'm hungry now," said Kento, turning back into the house. The others followed, everyone but Rowen and Charei. They stood outside, facing each other, Charei's eyes aflame in the darkness.
"Rowen," she said. "Why do I have to keep telling you this-" He stopped her and touched his finger to her lips.
"From now on," he said. "Listen. Don't use your head. Use your heart. If your body is telling you to take it easy, which it's gotta be, then listen. You'll kill yourself and that's the last thing I, or anybody else, want."
"Rowen..." He wrapped his arm around her waist and held her closely. "I won't let Shisama win because of me. I was born to stop him. You of all people should know... that..." He kissed her warmly. Oh, man I could kill him for this, she thought. He's too protective but I'll be damned if he isn't the most wonderful guy on the earth. Shisama hurts him and there's gonna be hell to pay.
"Hey!" said Houta. "Either come in and eat or stay out there and starve!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Alright, Miss Tenoh, what's the adjective and adverb in this sentence?" Charei studied the board, then answered. "Very good. Mr. Hashiba, what about the pronoun, conjunction, and interjection?"
BRRRRRRRRRIIIINGGGG! Charei cursed the bell silently. She had been hoping to see if Rowen was really doing his homework.
"You wanna skip lunch today and go somewhere?" asked Rowen as they walked to their lockers.
"Sure, sounds good," she answered. "Meet you at the front door." He nodded and walked off. She stopped at her locker, opened it, then jumped back in surprise. A dead rat was hanging from the coat rung in the back, a knitting needle through its heart. "Oh, Christ," she said. "You sick bastard."
"Do you like it?" came a cold voice behind her. She whirled around and faced a boy, about her height, with jet black hair and cold black eyes. "I thought it was a wonderful gift."
"Shisama!" she hissed. "What? Does killing innocence get old?" He laughed darkly.
"I came to warn you: LightIllume and AirWind are my personal soldiers. They're the only ones that don't know it. Watch your back, pretty senshi. They're the best in the world." Charei grabbed the mutilated rodent as he vanished into the crowd of kids.
"Damn it," she swore. "I should've seen this coming."
"What?" asked another voice. She turned again, almost throwing the needle-ridden rat into the face of Kellei.
"Oh, geez, Kell, don't do that. I'm serious," she said, taking in a deep breath. "Just some sick jokester."
"What'd he say about the armors?" Charei grabbed her wrist and pulled her into an empty classroom.
"He says they're against us," she explained softly, wrapping the rat in an old newspaper and throwing it in a trash can. "That you and AirWind fight for him. It's all bull shit, only he doesn't get it."
"AirWind's made a mistake: she was found out." Charei nodded.
"So I've heard. Kellei, it's not safe, even here. Shisama's not getting weaker, for all that we do. We'll have to put more faith in the guys and you and AirWind have to make an appearance. It's begun, Kellei. We might as well end it together."
"Charei, you've lost your mind," said Kellei. "We can't win unless we kill ourselves in the process. You know that. It's going to take the InfernoBlade, plus the full Soul Bearers and the Descendents coupled with the Ronins they were born to protect."
"I know, I know, but our mission is still the world's safety. Look, let's talk this over later. I've got to go. I was supposed to meet Rowen five minutes ago." She grabbed her backpack and ran out the door. Rowen was waiting in the parking lot, patiently. "Sorry," she said. "I had to talk to someone."
"Come on," he said. "I figured we had time to go somewhere in town for lunch."
"Please say 'Thai' at the end of the sentence," she said. "And don't get on my case. I'm taking my bike. And you're coming with me."
"Charei, I'll agree on the Thai food, but not the bike. I remember the last time I was on that thing with you. You almost hit a couple walking across the street."
"Cut me some slack. I was trying to get your ass to the hospital. You were bleeding pretty badly. Really badly obviously." She tossed him a helmet.
"What do you mean?" he asked, getting on behind her. She grinned and pulled hers on.
"It was a guy and his dog."
Chapter 2- The Unbidden Arrival
Charei set the plates down on the table and fixed her watch, which kept sliding around on her wrist. The numbers changed to '7:30' and she sighed. Thank God. All the secrecy was about to end.
"Charei," said Linara. "She told me tonight..." Charei nodded.
"Yeah. This has to end. We can't keep you hidden anymore."
"He's gonna kill me."
"Of course. He's your brother. It's what he does." They both laughed and Linara turned back to the stove. Charei sat at the table and laid her head down on her hands. "Man. It would have to be today."
"I'm sorry," said Linara. "But you wanted this done as soon as possible."
"I know, I know," sighed Charei. "It's just not a good day today."
"How's your head?"
"Hurts like hell. Same as it usually does." She stood up and walked over to the cupboard. "Aspirin's only gonna help the mental part of it, but it's still a help."
"Don't take too much. You'll have some explaining to do. Not to mention I need competent help to finish dinner."
"Ask someone else. Aspirin's not gonna make me competent." The garage door opened and everyone who hadn't been in, came in. Tapae came out of the living room, awoken from a nap by the smell of food.
"I'm starving," she said.
"Oh, that's a new one," said Houta. "Tapae hungry."
"Shut up," snapped Tapae. "Be nice."
"Don't get angry, Tape," said Ryo. She threw her hands up.
"I give in!" she said. "So much insanity, so little tolerance for it," she added, shaking her head. "Can we eat yet?"
"I'm with Tapae," said Kento. "Can we eat yet, Lina?" Linara laughed.
"It's all ready," she said. "Everybody sit down. Charei, wanna help?" Charei nodded and went to help her. "Do you feel that?" whispered Linara after the kitchen had been emptied. "He's near."
"You and Kell might have a reason to show up tonight," Charei whispered back. "If he attacks."
"Can we get him to attack?"
"Do we want to get him to attack?" Both of them frowned and Linara lifted the pan off the stove. Charei grabbed the pot and they started for the dining room.
What they found was a hole.
"Why don't I like this?" said Charei, staring into the infinite darkness. "Lina? Remember that evil feeling?"
"Yeah, I get the idea. We've got to go after them."
"We'll have to wait for Kellei." There was a thud on the roof. "Right on time. As usual. Let's go. FireWing Soul!"
"AirWind Soul!" Footsteps came behind them. Kellei, her green wings folded behind her, came into the dining room.
"Whoa," she said. "Holy black hole. Where is everyone?"
"Down there, probably," said Charei. "Let's move. Hopefully, Houta and Tapae managed to call their wings before it was too late."
"We'll know soon enough." All three of them dove off the edge and caught a strangely warm thermal. For those of us scienticifally challenged, a thermal is an uplift of warm air. Basically, it's what makes birds soar. "We're leaving ourselves open."
"If he's got his attention on us, then he's left his attention on them," said Charei. She pulled her wings back. "Come on!" The other two followed, which made it quicker getting to the bottom.
And to fate.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Charei groaned and opened her eyes. Solid rock all around. She sat up and felt a distinct pain in her right shoulder. She didn't have to see to know: her right wing was broken.
"It's always the right one," she muttered, standing up. Something in the darkness around her gave a childlike giggle. "Ohhhkay. Who's there?!" she asked, forming her swords. The metal gleamed with unnatural light, sending bizarre shadows dancing across the walls. The laugh came again, then singing.
"A tisket, a tasket, I've lost my little basket..." said the voice. It echoed through the cavern and sent chills down Charei's spine. "A tether, a tother, you have lost your mother..." Her grip on the swords tightened.
"Who are you?!" she repeated. The singing continued.
"A tither, a tather, and you have lost your father." Something scuttled across the ground. Charei yelled and jumped back. Tiny red eyes stared at her from the other side.
"Damn it," she muttered. "It's just a god damned rat. What do you want?" The song stopped and there was the sound of muffled sobbing.
"I only want a friend," said the voice. "It gets so cold and lonely down here. Ever since I died..." Charei lowered her swords and sighed.
"I didn't mean to make you cry," she explained. "But that song wasn't very nice. Where are you?" The cave suddenly darkened and the light from her swords took a more distinct shape.
"He attacked so quickly," whispered the voice. "I saw them die. There was so much heat and screaming. People keep dying, all around me. My dad's friend came. He's trying to save me. I'm frozen to the spot. Oh no! The tent's starting to cave in around me..." Another voice suddenly joined the little girl's. It was as pained and as lost, but wasn't as young. It carried more maturity to it, hidden somewhere in the agony.
"He pushed me from the tent, sacrificing his life. God, the pain. It's too much. The heat and the flames. They're all still in there. Why won't someone save them? They're still alive... they have to be..." Charei's voice trailed off. "It's not possible. How can you..." A shadow moved, right in front of her. It stepped within the line of the light from her swords. "Oh, good Lord..." Empty blue eyes stared up at her, framed by long blue bangs, half pulled up in a messy ponytail.
"I've wanted revenge," said the little girl. "For what he did. He killed my family and created you from the ashes of my soul. You're not Charei Tenoh. You're just a pawn in his little game."
"No!" The older voice rang around them. "I don't know what kind of demon you are, but I am the real Charei Tenoh."
"If you're the real Charei, what's your favorite color?"
"Maroon. Like the sunset."
"No! It's yellow, like mother's plane. You're down one. Second question: who's your best friend?"
"Easy. I have two: Houta and Tapae." The little girl giggled.
"What about Samsu?" she said pointedly. "Two. This is the last one: who's the most important person in the world to you?" Charei paused.
I could say Rowen, she thought. Because he is. But this isn't me now, this is me then. The me that died with my parents. "The most important person is... I can't answer that! That's the dumbest question I've ever asked myself! Everyone's important to me." The little girl's eyes lifted to Charei's.
"Samsu asked me that yesterday and I told him the same thing," she said. "You are me. Why haven't you gotten revenge?"
"Revenge?"
"For what that demon did!" The little girl took a step forward. "Don't you remember?"
"Remember what?! I don't want to remember those days. It's... too hard." The girl smiled gently and held out her hand.
"Let me show you," she said. "And it will hurt less." Charei hesitated. This was her chance to find out what really happened that day. To find out what she had suspected all along.
"Okay." Her swords vanished and she took the little hand. A glow spread around them...
Flash!
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the 1989 Toyama Air show!" There were crowds of people everywhere. Old, young, it didn't matter. Everyone loved this kind of thing.
"Mommy!" said little Charei. She let go of her older self and ran to her mother's arms. Older Charei was in her regular clothes again. "Mommy, this is my friend."
"It's nice to meet you," said the woman. She had sparkling blue eyes and soft brown hair. "I'm Shisamaye Tenoh."
"C- Cara." Shisamaye turned to her daughter.
"Alright, little one, you go to the tent. Your father and I have a show to do."
"But mommy, the demon-" Shisamaye put her fingers to little girl's lips.
"Go to the tent and wait. If I see any demons, you'll be the first person I tell, okay?" Little Charei nodded. "That's a girl. Will you take her, Miss Cara?" Charei nodded. "Thank you. Go on, Charee." She sat the child down and disappeared into the crowd of people.
"She never listened," muttered older Charei. "I tried to tell her about the demon, but she wouldn't listen." She felt someone tugging at her hand.
"Let's try Hellena," urged the girl. "Houta's mother. She'll listen."
"Our first act today is the Flight of Wings!" said the announcer. "And here they come!"
"It's too late," whispered Charei. "They're gonna die." She looked around the tent, trying to keep her sadness down. Everything was exactly the same. The table against the back with books, crayons, tons of things for little kids to do. "Why don't you go color?" suggested Charei to her younger self. "To pass the time?" The little girl nodded and walked to the back. A few seconds later, a boy came in. He had dark black hair with warm brown eyes.
"Charei," he said, sitting next to the little girl. "Where have you been?" She grinned.
"Right here, Samsu."
"Samsu..." The older Charei felt intense pain. He was going to die too. A flash of light came from outside. Charei ran to the door and looked up. The plane her mother and father were in had collided with Hellena's. The fiery wreckage was falling towards them. She listened. There is was! That laugh...
"We've got to get out!" yelled Samsu. He reached for younger Charei's hand, but an early piece of metal fell through the roof. It struck him, killing him instantly.
"Samsu?" asked younger Charei. She shook her friend's shoulders, crying his name. "Samsu! Wake up! Please!!"
It's just a memory... said a voice in the back of her mind.
Just a memory... agreed one in older Charei's.
"You can end this!" she said. "Just stop remembering!"
"But that's all I am!" the other girl yelled. "A memory! You are the one remembering!"
"Me...?" Older Charei closed her eyes and blocked out the screams around her. "It's just a memory," she told herself. "They died a long time ago. I only have my friends now. And Rowen..." The sounds died away, replaced by sounds of a cave. She opened her eyes and looked down at her younger self. "If that was my memory, then what are you?" she asked softly.
"I'm the part of you that you lost that day. You're entire life before the 'accident'. You have to defeat Shisama! It's all because of him they died!" She sat down on the ground and started crying. "I've been so alone. I just want to go back to my family and my life!" Charei knelt down and brushed the girl's tears away.
"I'll defeat that bastard," she said. "We'll both do it. Together." She held out her hand. The little girl didn't hesitate before nodding.
"Together."
Chapter 3- The Child
"Where's Charei?!" yelled Houta. She sliced through some soldiers and bit back a cry of pain as another slammed into her side.
"I don't know!" said Tapae. "Die, Dynasty trash!" She ran the sharp end of her staff through two or three soldiers. "I just hope she's okay!"
"I still can't believe it's you," said Cye. Linara grinned and sliced into armor with her glaive.
"It's been awhile, remember," she said. "Cye of the Torrent." Suddenly, there was a flash of light. Shisama appeared, laughing his ass off.
"So naive they are," he said. "You're searching for one of your own, I'm assuming? Well, I can give her to you. yes I can."
"Where's Charei?!" asked Rowen. Shisama sighed.
"Fine. Ruin my fun." He snapped his fingers and Charei appeared. She lay in mid air, directly in front of him, odd burns on her bare skin and blood soaking through her T-shirt. Houta gave a chocked gasp.
"Not again!" she said. "What did you do to her?"
"I did nothing!" said Shisama. "She did this to herself! By staying to save that boy!"
"You leave him out of this!" yelled Tapae. "Samsu was too young!" Ryo looked at her, confused.
"What's going on?" he asked, but she didn't answer.
"You were all supposed to die," said Shisama. "You two and her. But that damned boy had to intervene. He deserved to die."
"You bastard!" Houta's armor glowed. "Force of Water! Spiral Torrent!!" Shisama dodged and lost his hold on Charei. She fell to the ground and still didn't move. "Charei!"
"Tut tut," said Shisama, resuming his position. Charei lifted off the ground again, but this time, her eyes opened. They were blank and empty and looked at none of her friends in particular.
"I am bound by fate," she said wistfully. "To serve my master." Shisama laughed.
"That's the smartest thing she's ever said!!" She turned on him.
"And that is not you, demon." A red glow surrounded her and turned into her armor. But there was something different. Ryo felt intense pain and power flow through him. The InfernoBlade! "We are united again. My past can no longer haunt me. It has become me." Her voice was steady, unwavering. "You will not win, Shisama. Good will triumph."
"You... you're bluffing. You wouldn't dare use your full power." He didn't sound so certain.
"You know I will. You created this power. You will die by it." She landed gently on the ground near her friends. "We will win."
"So the end has come," said Shisama. "But I won't go down without taking you with me." She just nodded.
"I know," she said. "I know..."
"Let's get him," said Ryo. "He's going down."
"We'll win and save the world!" said Houta.
"Then can we get something to eat?" asked Kento. They laughed.
"Then we'll get something to eat," said Linara. "I'll make whatever anyone wants. To celebrate."
"How about we go out?" said Kellei. "You shouldn't have to work when we're going to celebrate, Lina."
"Can we get Italian?" said Tapae hopefully. Ryo shook his head.
"Whatever you want, Tape," he said. Shisama raised his arms over his head.
"I call upon the darkness! Destroy these do gooders!" Charei leapt off the ground and slammed into him. They grappled before she managed to catch his arms and pin them to his sides. "Damn you!"
"Now!" she screamed at her friends. "Do it now! Forget about me and kill him!" The other four girls flew off the ground and stopped in the air around them. Each armor that matched their element stood beneath them.
"Full force of Water!"
"Full force of Earth!"
"Full force of Air!"
"Full force of Light!" Power shot from the ground, amplified by the Ronins.
"Trust!"
"Justice!"
"Life!"
"Wisdom!" Ryo took his place at the top of the entire scene.
"Full force of Fire!" Charei managed to yell. Her grip was slipping. "Do it, Ryo!"
"Virtue!" hollered Ryo. All of the power shot from the girls to him, including a line straight up the middle. "Rage... of... Heaven!!" He formed the power above him and aimed it down. Charei tightened her hold. It slammed into both her and Shisama, but he was the only one that screamed in rage and pain. The light faded and both of them were gone. Slowly, the four girls let go of their power and it vanished into the earth again. They landed on the ground and the armors disappeared.
"Charei..." whispered Houta. Pain echoed in her voice. "Charei! No!" Sage put his arm around her and she started crying. "Oh, god..."
"She sacrificed herself," said Linara. "For the good of the world."
"No," said Kellei. "It was more then that. It was revenge. It was because of Shisama that her parents died. And your mother, Houta. I heard about it while we were still in the Tokyo circuit. But it took me awhile to find out what really happened." Rowen's armor vanished and he fell to his knees.
"I can't believe I lost her!" he said, slamming his fist onto the ground. "Charei!" There was a sparkle of light. Linara took a step forward and bent down over it. Instantly, a blue light engulfed her. One by one, the other girls did the same. Each time, a light shone from them. It went back to their elements in the Ronins and the InfernoBlade armor glowed again. It's white light exploded and when it pulled back, there was a child standing where the small flash had come from.
"We're safe," she said. "Both of us. She saved me from my torment in the past and I saved her from torture in the future. Shisama has been defeated. Go and live your lives, warriors, to the fullest. There is no reason you should feel pain over her death."
"I loved her!" said Rowen. "I have every reason to feel pain!"
"Is there anyway to bring her back?" asked Tapae. "Please. We just want our friend back. Tell us."
"She doesn't want you to be upset! She wants you to go on!" yelled the girl, tears in her eyes. "I just want to leave! I want to be with my parents!" She vanished instantly, back into the orb, still crying. Then she reappeared near Rowen. "Why can't you understand? She loves you too! But it wasn't supposed to be!"
"Why?" asked Rowen. "Why can't I be with her? I love her. I don't want to lose her." A red light shot from the ground and surrounded the little girl. Her eyes closed, then opened again, less angry then before.
"I don't want to lose you either," she said quietly. "But I can't come back. I can't live again."
"Why not?" whispered Rowen. "You've never played by the rules, Charei. Why now? Why when I need you the most?" She blinked.
"You're honestly in love with her," said a new voice. Two other people appeared. Houta and Tapae both gasped.
"That's... her parents! Charei's mom and dad!" said Tapae.
"Charei is the only daughter we have, you have to understand that," said her mother. "That last day... I didn't know her life would be like this. I want to protect her. But I cannot..." Her husband put his arm around her shoulders gently.
"We'll always watch her," he said. "But you can do a better job then us." And they were gone. Charei looked around, her eyes wild and lost.
"Where are my parents?" she said hurtfully. "They can't leave me again! Do you see what you've done?" Rowen knelt down in front of the little girl. Tears were running down her cheeks.
"They've given you a chance to start over," he said quietly. "But only you can take it." He stood up again.
"Start... over?" she asked hesitantly. "How?" He held out his hand.
"We'll do it together," he said. She looked at her friends, then closed her eyes in thought.
"Together." She took his hand. The red light spread and engulfed them. When it cleared, they had Charei back. She was in her armor and kissing Rowen warmly. There was a cough behind them. Houta whirled around, recognizing it at once.
"Look, Mr. Date," said the apparition of Houta's mother. "You watch my little girl, got it? Or you'll have one pissed off ghost following your ass around."
"Yes ma'am," said Sage. Houta chuckled and laid her head on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, mom. I got it covered," she said. The ghoul disappeared. "Well, what now?" Rowen and Charei joined them.
"I seem to remember something about Italian," said Ryo. "Right Tapae?" Tapae looked at him, scared. "What?"
"What did you just say?" she asked. "Did you just call me 'Tapae'?" He nodded, giving her an odd look.
"That's your name, right?" She rolled her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Not to you, kid," she said. She kissed him warmly. "Not to you."
Epilogue- A Parent's Love
Five Years Later
CLICK! Sage, catching Alex before she fell in her attempt to walk over a group of tree roots.
CLICK! Ryo and Tapae, rolling a ball to Nicca. She kept missing and having to run after it.
CLICK! Houta, pushing Lee in the baby swing.
CLICK! Linara yelling at Kento, who tried to use Caia as a way to get food.
CLICK! Kellei and Cye, both sitting on the back porch, their heads bowed together.
CLICK! Seneca and Nicca, bumping heads, both trying to reach the ball.
"Will you put that thing down and help me?!" said Rowen. Charei lowered the camera and laughed. He was struggling with Makaro, who was trying desperately to get to her mother's flashing toy-looking thing.
"Here, you take this," said Charei. She traded with Rowen and now Makaro tried to get to her dad. "You silly goose. Go play with Alex." She put the girl down and watched her toddle off to her friend. Nicca was watching Seneca, who was sitting on the ground crying. Cye stood up and walked over to pick up his daughter. Then Nicca started crying and Tapae picked her up.
"It's okay, sweetie. It wasn't your fault," she said. "It was just an accident." Alex was tugging at her mother's shirt.
"Swing." she said. Houta picked her up and Sage took Lee out of the baby swing. She started crying. "Lee-so?" Alex shook her head. "Lee-so not cry. Swing."
"You want Lee to swing, Lex-chan?" asked her dad. She nodded firmly. "Okay. Are you going to play with Makaro?" Another nod. "Okay."
Above them, cold eyes watched the happy family.
"Six girls," said a dark voice. "All the children of my enemy. I can use this. I will use this." His gaze fell on Lee, who had fallen asleep in the swing. She was the youngest, the weakest. "And you will help me, little one. Yes you will."
The End
A/n: And then again… hey, you get me bored over the summer and I'm bound to do some crazy shit.