Drageria
Ch.10: Bad Dreams and Bad Old Friends.
Tachibana sat at his desk with 6 arms present and writing diligently and ambidextrously at an unprecedented pace. A tall stack of papers went from one side quickly turned into a short one and vice versa. Eventually, the paperwork stopped and ended along with all 6 of his smoking pens. He placed them into a cup of water on his desk, watching the steam rise off them on contact, then proceed to crack all fingers on all his arms. After this, he cracked his neck and stretched while making a loud yawn followed by scratching his side.
"Aw, man! Finally done! What a day. Can't wait to do it all again tomorrow.", He relinquished in relief.
Just as he got out of his oversized comfy chair, he heard the distinct pitter-patter of tiny feet running towards his office door. You stood by his desk and waited for a moment for the little feet to finally make it to his door. He knew exactly who it was and what was going to happen, but pretended to be oblivious and play along while acting surprised. When the enormous yet very light door opened up, there was the very small crack of an opening that stood a very scared-looking Eri. Judging from her puffy eyes streaming with tears, sniffling nose, and shaking knees she no doubt had a nightmare.
He looked at the small girl sympathetically and asked, "Eri sweetie, what are you doing up so late? You should be in bed."
"It-its... it's the bad man!", Eri managed to squeak out in a panicked tone.
"The bad man?", Tachibana asked while walking towards her.
Eri ran into the tall man's legs and wrapped herself around it long before he could walk the length of his office to the door. Eri looked up at him with tearful eyes and said to him, "The-The one with the bird mask. He-He came back! He's-He's in my room!"
"Oh Eri.", Tachibana looked down at her with a comforting expression, before picking her up into his arms. "Don't worry. He's not in your room. You just had a nightmare is all.", He briefly explained to her.
"Nightmare?", Eri repeated the foreign word.
"A bad dream. It's when you dream of something scary.", Tachibana explained a bit deeper.
"It felt real.", She shivered while leaning her head into his shoulder.
"They usually do.", He told her soothingly. "But you have nothing to fear. He's not in your room and he'll never get you so long as I'm alive.", He assured her.
Eri's head whipped up at this and grabbed his cheeks with her hands she exclaimed, "Please don't die!"
Tachibana giggled at this and pulled her hands away he said, "Don't think I could even if I tried."
Eri just gave him a pouting and tired expression in his joking tone. Tachibana then walked out of his office and told her while closing the door, "Now come on. Let's go back to your room and-."
"No!", Eri immediately screamed while burying her face into his shoulder and holding a death grip on his suit.
Tachibana held back an exasperated sigh and surrendered to her, saying, "Oh alright. How about I let you sleep with me, but only for tonight.", This immediately brightens up Eri as she looks up at him with a smile, only for him to retract and say, "Then tomorrow you have to sleep by yourself.", Tachibana had never seen someone go from hopeful and happy to distraught and hopeless so fast. "I know you've been through a lot, but you have to learn bravery. It's the first step to sort healing. And I know you're a very brave girl.", He told her encouragingly while playful pinching her nose.
He then walked down the empty and dead quiet hallways with the young girl in his arms. His room was at the very top of the mountain-sized castle, so it always took him a while to get there. But he likes it that way. Just to take the time and walk so he can think, breathe, and reflect on everything that has come to where he is now, and admire all that he has done and collected over the Centuries. Plus it was nice to not be in a rush or use fancy superpowers to overdo everything in life.
Once he was halfway there he sensed a presence nearby, a very big presence nearby, a very familiar presence that was right on top of him. He stopped in his tracks and waited to see if his follower would reveal themselves. Though after a while of waiting, and Eri growing more anxious, he decided to finally force them out of hiding.
He looked over at a wall and said, "Okay, you can stop with the invisibility routine. I know you're there, Ladon."
The moment his son's name slipped from his mouth, the large purple chameleon-looking dragon appeared, not on the wall, but instead right behind him with his long neck craned over and looking down at him. Upon suddenly seeing the huge beast, Eri hits her face out of fear. Tachibana looked from the wall and above his head at his youngest son's silly-looking face.
He smiled at him, then praised him saying, "You managed to outmaneuver and truck on where you were. You are improving."
Tachibana looked at the young girl trembling in his arms and shook her to raise her head, when she looked up he told her, "It's okay Eri. It's just one of my kids. Ladon likes to sneak around me. Though he is improving greatly."
Eri looked up, only to see the weird dragon's face up close and personal. Making him look scary as opposed to silly. So the young girl took to hiding her face back into the Dark God's shoulder. Tachibana rolled his eyes while patting her back, then looked back at Ladon who looked back at him.
"Mraaaaaaaa!", Ladon sounded off a noise that was like a reptile mixed with a bird.
Tachibana rolled his eyes while shaking his head and said to him, "And you should be in bed young man. You'll be cranky in the morning."
"Mraaaaaaaa!", Ladon creaked like an old door.
"Don't Mraaaaaaaa me, Mr. Man! Go put your butt back to bed, now!", Tachibana told his child.
Arrrre Eck Ah!", Ladon clicked at him.
"Yes, Eri is going to sleep with me tonight. She had a nightmare and she's 8.", Tachibana told the dragon.
"EEEE Ack Ah Ah!"
"No, you cannot sleep with me also. You are far too big! You're not a little guy anymore.", Tachibana firmly told him.
"Mraaaaaaaaa!"
Tachibana narrowed his eyes, stopping his walk to his room, and exclaimed in a demanding parental tone, "Don't give me that tone! You know very well why! I had to inflate the size of my room by tenfold just in case one of you 6 little gremlins tried to get in. There's nothing but a bed in there! And don't get me started on that! I had to create an entirely new material just so it wouldn't break when holding either one of your fat butts! And it still isn't perfect!"
"Mraaaaaaaaaa!", Ladon continued to complain.
"Mraaaaaaaaaa! Mraaaaaaaaaa! See, I can do it too.", Tachibana mocked his son.
"Mraaaaaaaaa!", Ladon complained even harder and louder.
"Keep your voice down young man, and quite hitting the floor, you'll wake everyone in the whole castle!", Tachibana tried to keep his voice down as he scorned him.
"Mraaaaaaaaa!", Ladon complained even louder while slapping his wings, tail, and jaw on the floor.
Tachibana finally caved from the loud shaking he was causing and exclaimed, "Alright! ALRIGHT ALREADY! Sheesh! You can sleep with me tonight.", Ladon immediately stopped and raised his head with a very silly smile on his face. Which was met by Tachibana's serious and disinterested expression, as he continues, "However! You will sleep near the bed and not on it! Understood!"
"Mraa-!", Ladon tried to complain again, only to get a finger shoved between his lips.
"AP PA PA! One more word and I'll drag you back into your room with your siblings! It's this or nothing.", Tachibana made his demands, making Ladon calm up. Tachibana nods his head and says, "That's what I thought. Now let's-", before he could finish, Ladon jumped from his spot on the floor and barrel through the hallway. Tachibana sighed and finished his thought, saying, "Go."
It took the Dark God another few minutes to get this room by comfortably walking, and once he got there he was greeted by the sight of his son. His whole belly was pressed up against the door, chin laying up, and scratching at it with each claw. His tail swept across the floor as his telescopic eyes looked up and down the gigantic dark brown door. His eyes looked back, seeing his father's displeased face at clawing the door he stopped. He scooted back and allowed him to open the huge doors with his telekinesis quirk. But before the doors even opened, Ladon was already trying to wedge his nose in! The doors shut, pinching off his nose horn, and preventing him from moving back or forth. This causes him to dig his claws into the ground to pull himself free.
Tachibana shook his head and said, "Alright. Alright already! Cool your jets kid, you'll break the damn floors again."
Tachibana released his grip on the doors and Ladon barged in, causing the huge doors to fly open like a screen door! A loud BANG erupted from where the giant doors slammed against the walls and caused a web of cracks to form in their place! Several smaller BANG noises erupted from the ground, alongside a mild shaking, as Ladon happily jumped around the huge room while tongue hanging out and poisonous saliva flying all over the darkened room. Eri, having finally lifted her head from Tachibana's shoulder, looked out over the new room they were in. For being the one room in the whole castle reserved for the leader and God of this country….it was pretty bare bones.
"It's empty.", Eri mindlessly commented.
Tachibana nods as he tells her, "Excellent observation Eri. It is indeed…..empty."
And….it was. It was nothing more than an open room with stone lining the floors, walls, and ceiling with a single bed in the middle. Though it was the biggest bed ever seen. The only other decorations in the room were a large painted portrait that couldn't be seen in the darkness, a single chandelier at the very top, and the largest window ever crafted.
"Why?", Eri asked innocently.
Tachibana rolled his eyes while motioning to Ladon, as he explained, "Because he and his other sibling never got over not sleeping with me. I thought they'd grow out of it, but I was wrong.", Eri then almost jumped out of God's arms as he suddenly yelled into the room, "HEY! Get off the bed! NOW!"
Eri looked over to where Tachibana was angrily yelling and saw Ladon trying to unevenly position himself on the bed that was far smaller than him. Ladon briefly looked over at his dad with guilty puppy eyes before making a mad dashing jump off the bed, causing the pillows and blankets to scatter across! When Ladon jumped off he also ended up skidding across the floor and ended up falling onto his hip with a wet slap while jumping up to his feet and running towards the window where he tries to hide his massive body in the drapes. Only speaking out to make sure he was unseen. Tachibana rolled his eyes at his son's antics while Eri giggled.
"He's silly.", she chirped happily while continuing to laugh.
Tachibana smiled at seeing the young girl relaxed and laughing, then told her with a sweet tone, "I told you, you have nothing to fear. Ladon has always been my sweetest little boy.", almost immediately, as Ladon was trying to hide in the curtains, the large dragon ended up getting tangled in them like a cat. Tachibana sighed and added, "Although a bit dumb."
Tachibana then set to work on fixing everything that his giant son had messed up or destroyed. First, he stretched out his hand, and using his telepathy he set the bed back up to the way it was alongside untangling his son from the window. Then quickly sprouting another hand he sent out a foam that dissolved all of Ladon's poisonous spit. And finally, he turned to the wall where he spat out a strange cream-colored mucus that adhered to it and filled in the cracks.
Once that's done he takes Eri to the bed where he places her down amongst the soft pillows and downing. He then snaps his fingers and his clothing turns into a liquid that re-forms into sleepwear. Eri could help but giggle at the silly dragon faces printed on them. Once he's on the bed, Ladon rushes over, where he begins to circle and then lay down with his whole body encircling the bed, his head by the side where Tachibana would lay. Tachibana then immediately sets to tucking her in until she looks like a bug in a rug.
"Comfy?", he asks as Eri nods. "Good. Now go to sleep.", he tells her while shutting the door with his quirk, before throwing the covers over himself.
It's quiet in the room for an astounding two minutes before the Dark God hears his name called by the young girl next to him. "Tachibana."
Tachibana turns his head and opens his eyes and answers, "Yes, Princess?"
"Will you tell me a story?", she asks with pleading innocence.
"A story…..okay, let's see here… Ah! I got one." Tachibana stays in deep thought while sitting up and illuminating his horns like a night light. He thinks for a few seconds before something crosses his mind and he starts with a story, "Once upon a time there was a village in a land with magic in it. But that village was far away from the magic and people didn't know about it or understood it. Then one day, two boys went beyond the village border and saw the magic in the land beyond. They interacted with it and were given great power because of it. The first boy used his magic to impress the people of the village, and he was showered with praise and attention for his magnificent feet, especially since he had such refined control over them. The other boy had very little control over the magic within and he would hurt people by accident. The people of the village called him a monster for this and he was shunned, even by his own family."
"That's so mean! Why would they be mean to him if it was an accident?", Eri interrupts him while pouting with puffed-up cheeks and balled fists.
Tachibana had to suppress his smile at the young girl so invested and showing so much emotion. He tape the tip of her nose and continued with the tale, "Well it's just human nature to gravitate to the things that are pretty. They don't like dealing with things that can be controlled. Nor want to help or know what needs help the most. Anyway, a little thing about magic is that it is directly affected by the emotions and wills of people around it. So when the village called the boy a monster, he did turn into one. The people drove him out of the village, never to be seen again."
"That's a bad story.", Eri deflated with a sad and defeated look.
Tachibana shook his head and lightly pinched her cheek while saying in a gentle yet firm tone, "That's because it's not done yet, let me finish. When the monster boy was driven out, even more praise was brought to the more gifted boy. And the gifted boy then brought magic into the village, where the villagers gained magic of their own. But that….was all a part of the gifted boy's plan. You see, he had magic that allowed him to steal others' magic and use it like it was his own. When everyone in the village had their magic, the gifted boy swooped in and stole their magic, leading to their deaths. With enough magic from the whole village, the gifted boy destroyed what remained of the village and moved onto the greater wide world where he continued to steal magic.", However, at this point in his story, Eri just looked even sadder and even a bit angry, but Tachibana continued. "Now, as for the monster boy, after he left he took refuge in a cave where he stayed for years on end….all alone. He was sad and scared and would attack and kill anything or anyone who got too close to his cave, truly believing he was how he looked and gaining their magic in the process. Then one day three children came to his cave and he went to kill them as he had done with so many others.", ERI gasped as he dramatically paused, then continued again. "But the children were unafraid of him. They gave him no fear or aggression. This baffled him and so he didn't kill them and let them do what they came to do. The three children reached into the packs and pulled out three gifts for the monster boy. An Apple, a blue Rock, and a Silver Coin. Haven't known genuine kindness like this in a long time, the monster boy's stone heart broke and for the first time he shed tears that turned into three pearls. The children then took the pearls and monsters out of the cave and back to their small village. At first, the villagers were hesitant of the monster child, and the child almost left soon after, but the children prompted him to stay. So the monster child used his magic to perform marvelous things, and it impressed the villagers with awe! The monster child stayed in the village from then on and performed more wonderful things that allowed the village to grow and protect it like it was his home." "Until one day the monster boy no longer felt like what he appeared to be, the magic changed him and instead of a boy, now stood a beautiful man! The man continued to stay and protect the village with his many magics, where he eventually becomes its king and rules over his kingdom with love and compassion. The end.", He finished the story while petting her head.
Just before he could turn off his horns and lay back down, Eri stopped him by saying suddenly, "That was…..", she trailed off trying to find the words.
"Okay?", Tachibana offered.
Eri balled up his fists and puffed up her cheeks deep in thought before explaining, "It's nice that the monster boy found a home and people who loved him, but….the other village and the other boy who destroyed it. They both had different magic."
Tachibana smiled at this statement and explained to her, "On the contrary, my dear. They both had the same kind of magic that allows them to take it from others.", Eri tilted her head, clearly confused by this revelation, but still he explained more. "As for the village, nothing is so cut and dry like in stories. Some people just won't help those who have wronged or hurt them. Would you help someone who hurt you?"
Eri thought about it for a moment, closed her eyes while shivering, and violently shook her head!
Tachibana gave a grunting chuckle as he told her, "I didn't think so. So the monster boy, even if he heard about it, would've never come to their aid. As for the other boy who destroyed the village he lived in, do you know why he did that?"
Eri thought on this again and finally answered in a question, "Because…..the villagers?"
Tachibana nods and says back, "You're right. Because of the different way they treated not only him but both of them. Do you know why?"
Eri thought on this as well then answered slowly and confused, "Because…..the bad boy was given happiness and the monster boy was given anger?"
Despite her wording, she did understand the general gist of it, and commended her with a smile and a hardy, "Correct! Both were treated on equal yet opposite extremes. The mean boy became self proud and power-hungry to the point he used his village as a way to gain more power, while the monster boy had a similar effect, but never directly hurt them. There was no balance and the worst was brought out in both."
Eri then jumped up from her spot in the bed, bouncing excitedly with a gleam in her eyes as proclaimed with stuttering zeal at her realization, "But-But the little kids who helped the monster boy! They-They showed him happiness!"
Tach nods again and says, "That's also right. One good deed helped turn a monster good. One good person turned him back into a man. good and kind-hearted man.", Eri smiled at her realization and looked deeply and happily into the man's multi-colored eyes. He then picked the girl up, set her under the blanket and tucked her in while saying, "Now no more stories or excitement, it's time for bed.", He told her while patting her chest affectionately.
Tachibana turned off his horns, turned over to give his surprisingly silent son a pat on the nose horn, and threw the covers over himself before closing his eyes.
Just like the last time it was silent for an astounding two minutes and thirty seconds before a small and familiar voice called his name.
"Tachibana?"
"Yes Eri dear?", He answered without turning his head.
She hesitated for a moment before asking, "The story, were…..were you the monster boy?"
Tachibana's eyes widened in surprise at this one question! He even almost felt himself sweat at such a death on assumption! He knew he'd have to answer and there'd be no use in lying. So he told her the truth.
Turning his head over to the young girl he said, "You're much smarter than I thought, but yes…..yes I was that little monster boy. A long long time ago."
"Who was the mean boy?", She asked without skipping a beat.
Okay. This time he'd have to lie….or rather….. simply tell her without telling her. So he sighed and told her vaguely, "Someone from my past. Someone with a similar yet different story than mine. Someone with a quirk like mine, but….safer. Someone…..who I haven't seen in a very very long time.", At this Eri grew more concerned and frightened. Even hiding half her face under the blanket. Seeing this, Tachibana quickly followed up saying, "And someone you don't have to worry about since he's gone."
"Gone where?", She asked, peaking her mouth out
Tachibana sighed, already tired of the constant questions, Tachibana firmly stated, "Gone, gone. Now go to sleep."
Tachibana then began to soothingly pat her head until she finally closed her eyes and the cadence of her breath slowed into bliss. With Eri finally asleep he turned over, kissed his son, and finally fell asleep himself. Tachibana had been asleep for maybe an hour before he suddenly, yet still, awoke. His body tensed and his eyes shot open, yet his body remains still! He feels something, an old yet familiar something or rather someone.
Someone he thought to be long gone, but here they were, and here he could feel their aura in the country. The covers slowly pulled off his body all while his body didn't move. He then rose from the bed like a vampire and floated towards the now open window. Even though his actions were quiet and calm, Ladon sensed his father's stirring and woke up to see him standing at the window, the drapes slowly fluttering as he stood motionless. His scales shook violently, like that of horsehide, and felt the presence of someone he has long forgotten.
"Garrrrrrr Hap Hap.", Ladon called out to his dad.
"I know Ladon…..I can sense him too. He's here. And he's close. It's been so long.", Tachibana acknowledged him while keeping his eyes glued to the view outside.
"Eee Eee Ah Ah Ah Ah.", Ladon called again.
"Don't you worry about me? I can handle him, I've always been able to….. maybe I should've handled him long ago.", Tachibana said with some self-anger.
Tachibana then stood on the window sill with his wings spread. Ladon quickly, yet quietly, raced over to him and tried to nose his way out the window with him. However, Tachibana caught his nose horn and gently pushed him back in.
"No Ladon, you can't come with me. You'll only get hurt.", Tachibana told him with a reassuring pat.
"Mraaaaaa!", Ladon complained.
"I know you want to, but I need you here.", He told the dragon while pointing to the bed and saying, "To protect her."
Ladon turned his head and saw the still sleeping form of Eri snoozing quietly amongst the soft bed. Both God and the dragon walked over to the bed and gazed down at the sleeping girl's peaceful face. One of the few times she didn't look so overwhelmed or nervous.
Tachibana pets her head and says firmly, "It can't be a coincidence."
"Gahrooooooo Gee Gah!", Ladon gurgles.
Tachibana smiled while caressing his son's face and told him, "Don't worry. Your old man may be old, but he's still got fire in him.", He then looked back to the window with a serious expression and added, "And from what I can sense, his fire has died down in recent years."
Tachibana then kissed Eri on her head, gave his son one last pet, then spread his wings and flew out the window in a silent flash! Ladon took up his guard position and laid back down with his whole body encircling the bed. Even if someone did get in, they'd never see Ladon.
Tachibana soared across the starlit sky of Drageria at Mach speed, while making no sound. He follows the trail of skin-crawling aura like a bloodhound follows a fresh scent until he reaches the largest mountain in his country. He zooms down in an immediate nosedive and lands at the base without a single sound.
He looked around the area grumbling to himself. At face value, there was nothing to see, just a normal forest at the foothills of a mountain range. The gentle wind is accompanied by the soft chirp of insects.
Tachibana narrows his eyes and knits his brows together tight as he finally sets his eyes on one particular spot, before saying aloud and demanding, "Come on out! I know you're here! There's no use in hiding! I can feel your presence."
Then a dark bubbling mass of something appeared on his command, floating in the air, and slowly growing in size. Tachibana released the grip of his eyebrows and said with disdain in his voice, "Ah, there you are, you old snake."
Soon the black goo mass expanded large enough for a very large and ominous figure to walk through. The man was far taller than Tachibana, wearing a business suit, and a strange black mask that looked like a skull with metal tubs running around it. He stepped out of the portal nonchalantly and pushed himself off before gazing at the unpleasant Dark God. Tachibana knew this man, he hated this man, he wished he had killed him long ago, yet here he was now. Still alive and still a nuisance to him.
Tachibana controlled himself with a calming breath as he acknowledged the man by name, saying, "All For One."
"Tachibana.", All for One acknowledged back nonchalantly.
Tachibana snorted angrily at being referred to so casually and made this demand known as he exclaimed with fingerprint furiously at AFO, "That's Lord Tachibana to you, plebe!"
He couldn't see it, but he could feel the shit-eating grin under his skeletal mask as he apologized with a bow, "My apologies."
Tachibana rolled his eyes with a disgusted sigh as he told him with a hand wave, "Okay Yuri, you can stop the formalities and pleasantries. Just tell me what your actual goal for being here is and get lost!"
Like last time, even though he couldn't see it, he could feel as All for One raised an inquisitive eyebrow while saying back, "My, that's a name I haven't heard in a long time, A-."
Before he could finish that thought, Tachibana quickly cut him off and threateningly yelled at him, "That name means nothing to me! And you will do good to not utter it in my presence!", AFO smiled under his mask and bowed again, obviously not meaning to be sorry at all. Tachibana collected himself and then demanded, "Now speak your peace and be on your way."
AFO chuckles this time as he asks coyly, "What gives you the idea that I have some alternative motive for being here? Perhaps I just wanted to see an old friend after-."
Tachibana let out a loud and exasperatedly aggravated sigh at his babbling and with another eye roll he told him off, saying, "Oh please Yuri, I've known you for the better part of 400 years now. I know how you are. I know what you think. I know you always have two irons in the fire. And we are not friends! Not by any means!", Tachibana's eyes glowed with a foul hatred in the last sentence as he bore them into the tall man's face! He then demanded with a stern and serious finger, tired of the games, "Now speak truthfully or suffer my fury. I'm already in a bad mood from lack of sleep."
"I know for a fact you need no sleep, but perhaps something else ails you?", AFO offered as Tachibana suspiciously raised an eyebrow, "Something like…..that green-haired boy-."
Before he could even breathe at the end of that sentence, Tachibana was already in front of him with fury burning so bright his eyes looked like light coals! The Dark God then raised a hand back and punched him square in the chest! The huge man flew back, but while his physical body was shot away, so too was his soul! An after image of AFO appeared far behind him as he flew back, but still connected to his body. At the moment, the great villain had a true out-of-body experience, almost like the worst head rush ever, seeing the world spin and crumble before putting himself back together.
Just as he started to regain control of his body, he was suddenly grabbed by the neck, and forcefully thrust back until his whole body, head first, was smashed into a boulder! He heard his blood rush in his ears, his brain rattled, his body form deep in the rock, and the wind was knocked clean from his lungs! He had honestly hadn't felt something like this since his last brawl with All Might. In a way it was exhilarating!
Though when he looked down to see what was holding him against this stone, he was met by the silent fury of Tachibana's eyes staring him down! Eyes even sprouted all over his spread wings, staring him down with the fury of an army!
Although when he spoke he sounded calm, AFO could hear the distinct sound of repressed anger trying to burrow its way out, as he flatly told him, "The only reason you're still alive is that we're still standing in my country. If we were anywhere else, I would've reduced you into pudding along the side of this mountain!"
"The only reason?", All for One jostled him.
The eyes on his wings opened wider and a red substance leaked from them as whispered screams echoed from all around, while the Dark God tightened his grip and yelled, "I should've killed you ages ago AFO! In all my years of life, that's the one thing I regret the most!"
All for One managed to choke down enough air in the death grip as he said to him, "Then the next thing you'll regret will be leaving your home unattended."
Tachibana raised a stupefied eyebrow before narrowing his eyes and asking in demand, "What are you saying?"
The grip around his neck loosened and All for One chuckled in a cold hearty tone, before stating, "I mean you were right. I did have other motives for being here. Like...keeping you busy long enough for my retriever to get that young girl you've acquired recently."
All for One smiled under his mask, thinking he had bested him, waiting for the look of honor to string over his face at his mistake! Something he longer to see once again! But instead, the only thing Tachibana did was look at him blankly, like it was of no concern to him. This worries and confuses the villain as he tenses up at the lack of reaction.
"Oooooooooooh!", Tachibana finally speaks, like the realization just hit him like a feather. He released his grip as the boulder firm restraints on his limbs and neck. "You don't happen to mean….this retriever?", He asked unamused while summoning a portal with a snap of his fingers.
The red portal stayed open for only a second as none other than Ladon poked his whole head through. Without acknowledging the villain he began to slurp and cough before regurgitating up a mass of poison! Within the poison was a half-melted human skeleton.
Tachibana smiled cockily at All for One, who swears under his mask and with a click of his tongue insults the dragon. "Those kids of yours always find a way to be a thorn in my side."
Tachibana shrugged nonchalantly and said back vexingly, "Well that's parenthood for ya, Whatcha gonna do?"
All for One angrily smeared under his mask as he fought against the stoney restraints. The same black ooze Pooler from the center of his body and within moments the great villain disappeared with the parting words of, "We'll see each other again, Tachibana. And next time, perhaps, under different circumstances."
Once gone, Tachibana snorted aggravatedly as he spat, "Different circumstances my ass.", The Dark God sighs with relief before turning to his son and praising him. "Nice work Ladon. Is Eri still okay?"
Ladon ducked his head back into the portal with his dad close behind. Once through he was back in his room where he saw the remains of Ladon's skirmish with the retriever. He looked over to the bed and saw Eri still sleeping peacefully.
He wiped the sweat from his brow before sighing, and petting the girl's head, saying softly, "What a relief."
"Hap Hap Hap!", Ladon croaked while nudging his side.
Tachibana blows a raspberry while saying, "Yes you can still sleep in my room tonight and tomorrow for keeping watch. Just don't tell your siblings. I don't think my old bones can take another dog pile.", He shudders while rubbing his bones.
"Burrr Ah Ah Frrrrrrrrr.", Ladon pipes up again.
Tach pets his son's face while telling him in a comforting tone, "Don't you worry about Balls for One. He knows I'm stronger than him. He only comes directly to me cause he knows what'll happen anywhere else.", This didn't seem to convince the Dragon. So the Dark God followed up saying, "But if he does, it'll be the last time he steps foot on our soil.", Tachibana then climbed back into bed, affectionately caressing the head of the sleeping girl and the head of the dragon. He turns his head to his son and says in a firm but sweet tone, "Now go to sleep, my sweet little prince."
