Arya sat on her throne, listening to one of the Ota's speaking. She nodded, "Alright. I'll consider your request. I shall have an answer when you return at the end of the week."

After they left, she headed out, getting a snack at one of the food stands. She then headed home, her face contemplative.

"Penny for your thoughts." Tomoya lounged on the bed.

"It's the Ota's.. They want a truce with the Fae." She sighed.

His eyes darkened. "You told them to go fuck themselves right?"

"I haven't made a decision yet. I don't want my personal feelings to fully cloud the issue so I'm trying to look at it from an outside perspective."

He sat up and growled. "You can't be serious! After everything they've done?"

"I know they haven't had a good past but I need to figure out what will be best for the Fae."

"Arya..you really think they can be trusted? What's to keep them from stabbing the Fae in the back? Or invading? They are trouble. You know this."

"I know. I just want to think about it. I'm announcing my decision at the end of the week."

Tomoya went quiet as Ryusei entered, his eyes ablaze. "Arya, why?"

"Why what?"

"You aren't going to accept their truce offer, are you?"

"I just want to think about it for a couple days. Talk to Ichigo and see what he thinks."

Ryusei shook his head angrily.

Shouma entered with a sigh. "I think this is a good thing. If it leads to less violence.." He trailed off as the other men gave him disbelieving stares.

"Guys.. this is my decision to make." She sighed. "Just let me think, okay?"

Ryusei took a deep breath and nodded.

Tomoya swore and got up, brushing past her and out of the house.

She sat down on her bed and once her brothers had gone, she curled up on herself.

"Mom?" Zal and Ryon came in slowly, their eyes worried.

"Hey.." she said quietly. "What's up?"

"Heard everyone fighting. You know we support you right?" Ryon asked softly.

"I just.. don't want everyone to be mad if I pick the wrong thing in their eyes."

Zal smiled wryly. "We understand why Dad and Uncle Ryu have their issues. And we're not saying we trust the Otas, but frankly we have more issues with the Court. You know this. But this could be the start of a new era. If it goes well, the Otas might be willing to make a truce with Uncle Ichigo and everyone will be happy."

She nodded, "I see both sides.. which is why I want time, you know?"

Both boys grinned at her, each kissing a cheek. "We'll try to keep them away so you can think."

"Thanks." She gave them a small smile.

They left the room, closing the door behind them.

After a while, she picked up her phone and dialed her brother's number.

"Ichigo. Something wrong?"

"Hey, Aniki."

"Arya, how are you?"

"Really conflicted right now. The Ota's want a truce with the Fae.. and I know you guys have a truce with the Fae.. so I don't know if it'll cause more or less issues with you guys. And they've done so much damage in the past, but the future could be different... I don't know. I guess I called for your opinion but I'm sure you're against it like Toya and Ryu are.."

There was a heavy sigh on the other end. "It could be a good thing. I just worry if you agree and it goes wrong, your leadership will suffer. If they turn on the Fae and hurt people, or worse, kill someone permanently, you will be the one blamed."

"Good points.." she sighed, "This is probably the hardest decision I've ever had to make. Everything else was so right vs wrong."

"That's why you have to think about everything. Everyone there no doubt has told you what to do already. And I'm sure their beliefs are honest, but this can't be decided lightly. This will affect everyone and everything. Can you handle the fall out is the real question."

"I'm honestly beginning to wonder if I can handle this position.." she admitted quietly.

"At least you have options." Ichigo remarked soberly. "I'm sure Shouma would take over if you really decided to back away."

"I know.. thanks for the talk, aniki."

"Anytime, Ary. Love you."

"Love you too." She hung up and stared at the ceiling. After awhile she left the bedroom to see what everyone was up to.

Ryon and Zal were in the game room, the other kids watching them play games. Shouma was rocking Elysia as Ryusei made her giggle.

Arya smiled and headed to see if Tomoya was home yet.

He was sitting in the porch swing, his eyes staring off into the distance.

"Are you mad at me?" She asked softly.

"No." He shook his head slowly. "Worried for you. Mad at myself."

"Why?" She sat down on the other end of the swing.

"I don't want you hurt. But can't forgive them. I just can't."

"Well, if it helps, you aren't a Fae. This won't affect you as much as the rest of us."

"It could get you killed. It could get the family killed. Hell, what if they want you to disavow me and the hunters to get this truce? What happens if you reject it? Will I come home to find ashes where my heart used to be?" He looked at her, his eyes terrified. "I can't stand that idea, Arya. I'll run before I let my heart be ripped from me again."

"I'll do my best to protect you and the kids." She offered.

"That's supposed to be my job. But I'm useless, aren't I?"

She shook her head, "I'm the one who's useless. I'm supposed to be in charge of the Fae and I can't even make a yes or no decision."

"It's not like the Colony. That was black and white. This isn't. And you've never been useless. How many times have you saved us?"

She shrugged slightly and looked away. "I don't know if I can do this."

"You mean being in charge? Or everything?" His voice was halting.

"I don't know that either yet.." she admitted. "I just.. I love you and the kids so much. And I care about the Fae and I want what's best for everyone.. it's just all so much."

He took a deep breath, then stood. "Guess I'll make things easier." He bent and kissed her, whispering "Goodbye" before heading for his motorcycle.

Her eyes filled with tears. "I don't want you to go.." she said quietly before shakily standing and heading inside. She locked herself in her room.

Tomoya parked in front of his old house, unlocking the door. He managed to stay composed until he reached his room, then collapsed on the bed in tears.

Arya eventually came out of her room, disappearing outside and heading off to her room at Court. She laid in bed for a long while, staring at the tree. Finally, she pulled out a bottle and drank it down. She sat down and began writing a note.

Ryusei had noticed her departure and after tracking her to Court, he crept up to her door. He was mentally arguing with himself whether to knock when he felt her aura change. His jaw clenched and he forced the door open. "What are you doing?"

"Writing out rules for if we have a truce," she said, which wasn't a lie.

"What else? And don't you dare say nothing. I can feel something wrong."

"It doesn't matter," she answered.

His eyes flashed and he climbed into the tree. "Do I have to make you tell me? And how dare you say it doesn't matter! You're my sister!"

She looked down. "Toya left, for one thing."

"Guess I have someone else's ass to kick when I'm done here. Now what did-" His eyes landed on the bottle and paled.

She went silent, going back to writing.

He forced silver light into her, his lips pressed tight together. "Why can't you let us in? We're here for you, yet you act like you're alone.." His voice was thick with unshed tears.

"I tried to talk to Toya.. but he decided leaving was best."

"Believe me, I'm going to knock some sense into him. But this is about you. If you need time, Shouma has already decided to be a temporary regent. He says if you don't want to stay, he'll try to be as good a ruler as you." Ryu dropped his hands and embraced her. "You're not alone. Let us help. Please."

She nodded slowly as she clung to him.

"Let it out, Arya." He held her tight, running his hand through her hair.

After a while, she finally pulled away and she wiped at her eyes. "Can we go home?"

"Absolutely. But only if you're sure."

"I need to keep working on these rules.. but I have another couple days.." she said quietly. "I don't want to be alone right now.."

"We'll be here as long as you'll have us." he kissed her forehead. "And don't fret about Toya, okay?"

She nodded slowly and grabbed her papers, folding them and stashing them in her pocket. "Alright.."

"Let's go." He waved a hand and a portal opened. "Had Daigo put one in. Thought it would come in handy."

She chuckled slightly before going through.

The house was quiet, but there were lights on.

She entered slowly.

Haru looked up from his magazine with a smile. "Kids are either in bed or studying. Not sure where everyone else wandered off to."

"Thanks," she said quietly. She looked at him a moment then sat down silently.

"Something's wrong, isn't it?" Haru's eyes narrowed.

She shrugged, "Just me dealing with stuff."

"No. It's more than that." He tossed the magazine aside. "Need to talk? Or would you rather fight it out?"

"I talked to Ryu already a little. Tried talking to Toya but that didn't end well.."

"Let me guess. He did something incredibly stupid?" He paused. "Come to think of it, I haven't seen him for hours.."

"He left."

"Left as in taking some time to clear his head? Or.." Haru growled. "Oh, he's in trouble."

"It was my fault.." she sighed. "Ryu was going to look for him.."

"If he ran, it's his damn fault not yours." Haru forced himself calm. "Hope Ryu isn't running low on juice cause I'm going to pound Toya's ass."

"I.. was thinking of giving up.. and he decided to leave so he wouldn't be as hurt when I did.." her eyes filled with tears.

"I'm definitely going to kick his ass. He's such an idiot." Haru clenched his fists.

"I ended up taking poison.. Ryu stopped it though.." she admitted.

Haru's eyes filled with tears. He wrapped his arms around her. "Arya…"

She leaned against him, trying not to start sobbing again.

"We let you down again, didn't we?"

She shook her head, "No. I just.. there's a big decision I need to make and it could affect everything and it got to be too much."

"Nee-chan...let us help. Don't shut us out. We rely on you so much, it needs to be the other way around." He drew back and stared into her eyes. "I swear to be better."

"I don't want to be a bother.."

"Please. It's not right for us to expect you to stay strong and keep us together and get nothing back."

"I'm the mom to seven kids.. and the Queen of the Fae.. and helping to run an orphanage.. It's just a lot sometimes, you know?"

"Maybe you need to step back a little. Not from the mom thing, but the other stuff."

She smirked slightly, "Aw, don't want to be their mom for me?"

"Me? You know I can barely take care of myself. Now Daigo or Ryu…"

She chuckled, "Thanks.. for being here."

"Always. Unless you're angry. Then I'm taking cover."

She smiled.

Ryusei entered, his face grave.

"Ryu?"

"There is a problem."

"What's wrong?"

"Toya has been kidnapped."

"By who?"

"Unknown. I tracked him to the old house. It has been ransacked, and there are signs of a struggle. A body was dragged out to a vehicle. There was.." He trailed off and averted his eyes.

She stood and nodded. "I'll find him.."

"Are you sure you don't want me to?"

"I don't want to make you.. but if you want to come as company?"

"If I can't hit him, I guess these assholes will do."

Haru looked at her. "Bring him back."

"Alright. You two get to deal with him when he wakes though."

Both men laughed.

She started out the door and headed to the car.

Ryu followed, his face pensive.

Arya began driving, trying to sense where Tomoya was.

Suddenly a red light flared into view from an abandoned warehouse.

She quickly headed there, getting out and rushing toward the building.

Ryu flew into one of the missing windows, then flew down to her. He held her back from the door. "Don't. Let me."

"Why?"

Ryu dropped his eyes.

"This is all my fault.." she hung her head.

"How? Did you kidnap him?"

"No. But if I had been stronger in the first place, he wouldn't have left. Then he wouldn't have been alone to get kidnapped.."

"He could have gotten kidnapped going to the grocery store."

She sighed and slowly opened the door.

"I'll wait until you get up there, then we can get them in a crossfire." Ryu looked at her. "If you're sure."

She nodded and headed up the stairs.

Ryu returned to the window and waited, hiding in the shadows.

Arya got to the top and began looking around quickly.

There were vampires everywhere. They were drinking glasses of blood from a bucket.

Tomoya lay crumpled in a corner, blood coating his clothes.

She growled, beginning to shoot them with lightning.

Ryu appeared, joining her in vaporizing the startled vampires.

After getting most of them out of the way, she moved to Tomoya and knelt beside him. She began pushing energy into him rapidly.

His head fell back, revealing a vicious slash across his throat.

She cringed and healed it up. She worked on building new blood cells to replace what he lost.

"Arya? Shall I take and prepare him?"

She shook her head, continuing to work quietly.

Her brother went silent.

Tomoya's eyes shot open, but they were unfocused. He began to thrash, hands swinging wildly. "You can't have her! I won't tell you anything!"

"Shh, calm down."

"Arya?" Tomoya dropped his eyes, fighting tears. "I'm sorry..I'll leave and you won't have to see me again."

"Why do you keep trying to leave me?" She asked softly.

"You said..it was too much for you." He took a shaky breath.

"I meant everything was too much. Life was too much. That's probably when I need you most.." she looked down. "Ryu had to save me after I took poison.."

Tomoya grabbed her tight. "Arya..I'm a failure, aren't I? I tell you one thing and do another."

"You're not a failure," she said gently. "I just.. I needed you. I still do. Please don't leave me.."

"How can you want me?" He lifted his eyes hesitantly.

"I love you."

"Not worth it." He shrank back as Ryu growled warningly.

"I'm the one who's a failure.. I couldn't stay strong enough.. Why would you want me?"

"You're amazing! After finding out your life was a lie, you shouldered a huge responsibility while being a wife to a complete idiot and mom to troubled children. You are the strongest person I've ever known." Tomoya clung to her in disbelief.

She shrugged slightly.

Ryu rolled his eyes, then slapped the back of both their heads. "Pair of idiots."

Tomoya chuckled in embarrassment.

Arya chuckled as well before kissing Toya's forehead.

"I swear I'll stop running." He gave her a soft, tired smile.

"You better. Or else I'm going to tie you down." Ryu glared at him.

"Let's get you home to rest," she stood, gently pulling Toya up.

"Any ideas how I can stop being a vampire magnet?" He leaned on her weakly.

"Stay home." Ryu grinned.

Arya chuckled again and led Toya to the car. Once home, she took him inside and led him to bed so he could rest. She left the room, going to the kitchen and sitting down, pulling out her note that was originally to Shouma and began rewriting the rules of the truce on a fresh sheet of paper.