Tsuki awoke to hearing a scream coming from the room down the hall, she didn't even bother throwing clothes on over the boxer briefs and tube top that she wore before she and Yaten rushed down the hall, only to almost run into someone.
"Sorry. I just heard the screaming." Karunā stated, earning a nod.
"Come on." She sighed, walking into the room only to be tackled by the youngest of the four kids.
Without a word Tsuki knelt down and picked the child up.
"What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?" she whispered, her tone gentle as she quietly walked out of the room.
"She wouldn't stop shaking Kaasan. I was going to come and get you…I swear!" Cerecere stated from the bed, fear flickering in her gaze.
"I know little one…It's alright. Somethings Mom and I have to handle okay? We already know that you're a good big sister." Yaten stated, making a mental note to remember that in their de-aged state that their insecurities might resurface stronger than before.
Karunā quietly slipped from the room, feeling as alone as she had on the streets.
Tsuki heard the door toward the terrace close and sighed as she sensed the energy from the newly controlled star seed rush toward the gardens.
Once Parapara was sleeping against her Tsuki carried her back to bed, tucking her in before glancing over at Cerecere; who looked more innocent and fearful than she had ever remembered her being at eleven.
"Momma I…I'm sorry I didn't come get you right away. I thought….maybe I could help her." The pink haired girl whimpered, causing Tsuki to smile.
"Hey now, there's nothing wrong with what you did. You were just being a good big sister and trying to help her." The shadow senshi stated, kneeling down beside of the bed before continuing "but you don't have to be afraid to come and get me or Yaten okay?"
Cerecere nodded, glancing down at the bedsheets.
"Aren't you mad….that we disobeyed you before?"
Tsuki flinched at the reminder. Was that why they seemed to be distant toward her?
"Sweetheart….That was a long time ago. No, I'm not mad." Tsuki answered, pulling her into a hug.
Meanwhile outside Karunā leaned against one of the stone arches that lead into the gardens; fighting tears as images of fire and the smell of gasoline engulfed her senses.
I deserve to be alone…..my fire protected me but didn't do shit for them!
She thought bitterly, the moister spilling down her cheeks.
She didn't know how long she was out there but suddenly a warm, silk-lined fabric wrapped around her.
"You want to tell me what's up with the waterworks?" gruff voice asked, causing her to whirl around to find that both Tsuki and Haruka stood behind her.
"Nothing." The teen muttered earning a sigh.
"You deal with this one….I put up with this enough when you were her age." Haruka commented before leaving.
Tsuki glared after her sister before sighing.
"I know about the crash….I'm sorry that I did not take that into consideration when giving you a room." She admitted, sitting down next to the girl who glared up at her.
"What do you know about losing everyone that ever cared about you?!" Karunā yelled, more tears spilling.
Tsuki only closed her eyes and leaned back against the stone pillar.
"I never met my real dad as a kid…Though the man merely wasn't aware that I was born. But at one time I only had my step father, brother and boyfriend." Tsuki began, memories flashing across her eyelids though she fought them back.
"At thirteen my stepdad died in a car crash and my mother blamed me. In her bitter mindset she began to abuse my half-brother and me; though at the time I thought it was only me. Then he started abusing me too…being mother's pawn. Skip ahead a few months and I'm living with my half-sister on our Father's side and dating Danny Aswolt but he lied and went off, breaking up with me."
She paused again, feeling the teen's eyes burning into her.
"You were abused for three years?" the girl asked, causing Tsuki to open her eyes.
"Longer…I never knew what having a mother was like until I was around your age. I was in a dark place for a long while…had bouts of self-harm and a few attempts at my own life. But in the end the people I thought of as family helped me through it so that when I had to face the worst thing that happened to me I knew how to try to cope."
Karunā's eyes widened, how had a princess been through so much?
"What was the worst thing?" she couldn't help but ask.
Tsuki glanced down at the scar that ran from her shoulder to her bicep, the gruesome scene flashing through her mind's eye.
"During the battle with Jaaku-Henkō I was forced to watch my family be destroyed. Thank the heavens that I got a second chance at raising them in a peaceful era."
Silence fell over them for some time before Karunā removed her right glove.
"My parents were killed in a fiery car crash little over three months ago. I stayed with my aunt until she discovered my powers with fire then I was left at an orphanage. My foster family decided to….to make me normal. Most of these scars are from beatings but around a month ago….Reye forced me to reach into the fireplace."
Hearing the young thief's story Tsuki shook with rage.
"What is Reye's name?" the shadow senshi questioned, clouds boiling overhead.
"Reye Alto, his wife is called Ari." The teen answered, fear gripping her.
Surely they won't send me back there?
She thought, not noticing how Tsuki's jaw clenched
"You'll never go back to that hell hole….No wonder you're afraid of manipulating fire." The shadow senshi growled before standing.
"Go get some sleep…It's late. I need to go talk to a certain technology wiz."
Tsuki mentally cursed at having to civilly talk with Auk but decided not to ponder on it too much until she had the info she needed.