Chapter Six

Junko quietly read as she heard the commotion through the mansion, she still didn't want to live in New York but she didn't want to go back to Japan by herself either. She could hear the decorators bickering outside her door and the caterers squabbling in the dining room below her bedroom. The old mansion didn't have much sound proofing and it was hard for her to concentrate on the book. Her bedroom door opened and she looked back at Seito, "do shimashita ka? (What's wrong?)"

He shivered, "Dad is here."

"I thought Dad went to see his family in San Francisco," she asked turning around in her chair. "Or at least that's what mom said."

"You know better than that," he paused. "Dad can't seem to drop that Aunt Rinfi and Great Uncle Chin were killed so easily. He's been on about that Socovia Accords thing that everyone on the net talks about."

"Mom won't like that."

"Mom doesn't like anything."

"Except Stark," she said bitterly. "I have a feeling this going to be a terrible birthday, Sei. I mean Papa isn't here, Mom's busy with her artwork, and aunty Kay might be dead."

"I don't think she is," he said as he sat on her bed. He pulled out the orb of Strata and the virtue of wisdom glowed, "see? It's been very unsettled since that storm yesterday."

She frowned, "don't get involved."

"Dakedo, Junko... (But, Junko...)"

"I can't lose you too," she said angrily. "I mean its inevitable right, you read the 'Legend of the Five Armors', we're doomed to suffer, Sei..."

Her brother took her hand, "and what if you're supposed to be Hardrock?"

She bit her lip, "why? Because I'm like Dad? So what if I'm bull headed and stubborn, and like to eat...and didn't get Papa's IQ."

"Junko, you're over thinking this," he said, "I mean Kay beat Kunito. Other than the occasional demon, there's probably not going to be anyone to fight anymore. Think about it this way, we can be super heroes. Like Thor!"

She shook her head, "I don't like it. It's not just the Avengers who have terrible enemies...you heard about Pym...and that spider guy in Brooklyn...and the man who could control minds on the news...then there's that thug who fights a red devil in Hell's Kitchen..."

He let out a deep breath as she started sobbing, even if he was like her father Rowen, she was a lot less like his Dad than he hoped she would be. She was sensitive on so many levels, but he understood why. The armors were scary, and it wasn't like they were immortal, they were just humans. Even his dad, who didn't age a day since the battle with Ameno, was still mortal. He hugged her close, "hey, its going to be alright..."

There was a knock on the door and Junko rubbed her eyes dry, "who is it?"

"It's Dad," Kento said.

She looked at Seito who climbed out the window, he was known to disappear when he didn't want to deal with family issues. Lately, it had been more often and she didn't want deal their issues on top of everything else. She opened the door and managed some enthusiasm in her voice, "Daddy, you made it!"

Kento wrapped her up in a big hug with one arm, and then showed her a large white box, "Happy Birthday, baby doll."

"Should I open it now," she asked as she took it.

He nodded as she let him in. Kento sat on her bed as she sat down in her desk chair and pulled on the silver ribbon on the box. Her blue green eyes widened as she opened it up and pulled out a sea foam green dress. She hugged it, "thank you, Daddy, this is beautiful."

"You're welcome baby, if it fits well, can you wear it tonight?"

She nodded enthusiastically, "yes, dad."

"Have you seen your mom or brother?"

He saw her expression grow blank as she said, "Mom said she was going shopping and I don't know where my brother is."

He had a feeling she was lying, but then again, no one was completely honest with him anymore. Except Cye, but his virtue was trust, so that wasn't obvious why he was being truthful but he was definitely busy with Raleigh trying to make sure they stayed myths and rooms. He stood up, "Junko, I love you."

"I love you too, Daddy," she smiled. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he said quietly. "Just have a good time tonight, okay?"

She stood up, "Dad, are the battles over with?"

He looked back at her, she looked like her mom so much in that moment. She didn't take after Rowen, or him, but her Mom. He felt it in his heart that the hardrock did not belong to her, she was the next bearer of Owari. He put on a smile, "don't worry, princess. I promise you that your birthday will be peaceful. I just wish I could talk to your mom before it starts in an hour is all. Do you know where Cye is at least?"

"In the study," she answered.

Kento went to the door, "I'll see you in a little, Jun."

She was quiet as she left and he walked down the stairs to the study. The mansion was old, and he didn't care to be there. It reminded him far two much of Hoshi's parents, who were...not the nicest people in his opinion and the place should have been sold ages ago. Instead, it was a safe house for stray ronins and traveling mercenary warlords. He walked into the study and saw his long time friend reading through a recipe book. "Hoshi, should have let me make the bloody cake," he complained.

Kento couldn't help but grin, "sorry, she seems off lately."

"Hm," Cye said as he flipped the page. "What I don't understand is why she invited both Stark and Captain. It's obvious those two get along as well Ryo and Dais."

Kento shrugged and reached in his pocket for the orb, "did you feel it?"

Cye nodded, "that Kayura is back? It wasn't a good time for her to return."

"I agree."

"Finally, you listen to reason," Cye said slamming the book shut. "I mean Captain America, she couldn't date one of those lesser heroes like the dude who shrinks? No, she has to fall in love with America's bloody god damn idol. They break up and we'll be all over the five o'clock news for months!"

Kento couldn't help but laugh, "yeah, I don't know if that's better or worse than Ryo. Speaking of which?"

"Ryo and Sage are in charge of the caterers and decorators, horrible decision," Cye complained. "How's your mom?"

"She's doing better, her heart nearly gave out though," he said quietly. "How's Raleigh?"

"Good, she's far too excited about the Cap and Kay thing and I have no idea why," he paused. "Other than that, we're off the grid. Reports about Tanzania say it was volcanic activity..."

"And Stark's Party?"

"None of the party goers remembered anything and assumed it was a gas leak because of a shotty reconstruction," Cye said. "We lucked out this time...Even Runa's death didn't ring any suspicions and if anything should have, it would have been that."

"Did you find..."

"No," Cye said with a heavy breath. "I don't understand how Rowen's body could have just vanished, and who would have taken it? That seems a bit cruel and unusual."

"Hoshi thinks it was S.H.I.E.L.D but I still don't know why."

"Something about Tahiti, she's losing it, bud," he complained and saw Kento look away.

Kento crossed his arms, "cye, she's my wife."

He replied, "do you want me to be honest or not?"

"I appreciate you being honest with me all these years, buddy," he said with a smile. "Even more than my wife has been at times."

"Are you still mad about the Yuli thing?"

"I have that right, don't I? She pretty much gave our friend to a super spy organization and had him turned into a weapon by the same scientists that fucked her up," he said angrily. "Thank goodness, Mia had the state of mind to stay with him the entire time to make sure he didn't go bonkers. He somehow managed to come out of everything because some Asgardian nutcase fucks with his mind again, and he's like 'hey, I guess I'll just roll with it'."

Cye laughed, "you ever think he got that from you?"

Kento crossed his arms, "maybe..."

"I think he ended up in a lot better situation than he could have had it," he paused, "he was supposed to be a vegetable, remember? Now he has three kids and a wife. Sounds like he's happier than any of us hope to be."

Kento nodded, and said quietly as he left, "yeah, he really lucked out."