Leilani had always known that her money wouldn't stretch for all eternity no matter how disciplined she had been. Sure, she really missed proper foods, real cooked meals and variety but she had kept herself in check.

Her last attempt of making food collecting easier had been to buy herself a fishing rod. It was the reason why she had even made her way towards the sea but she had no real luck.

Fishing was terrible. While she normally didn't have much to do besides searching for food, practising magic, sleeping and walking… fishing wasn't better. She actually felt like she was wasting her time and her stomach was already sending out another few hunger pains.

She knew that she looked haggard at this point and she was almost glad that she made no more trips to towns. Probably the reason why she hadn't met one of the arcobalenos in over four years.

Before their encounters had almost been at every city she visited. It had been a great practice for her magic though. Fumos in particular had become handy, vanishing because of a thick cloud was something she found particularly amusing.

Her rage at the other toddlers had settled. Which didn't mean that she wanted to be around them. She didn't trust them in any way but she wasn't angry anymore. It had just been a waste of energy to be honest. Sure, it had made her realise how lonely she actually was when she didn't spend the short talks to banter with them but she couldn't help it. This was her life now.

She almost let her fishing rod fall when she felt a strong pull on it. Leilani was struggling hard to reel it in and she was almost panicking at the thought of what exactly she had managed to capture.

And suddenly she fell backwards, the pull had vanished abruptly but something still plopped down on her belly.

An octopus had landed on her! An actual octopus!

Seriously Leilani could only stare at the red animal on her. Why an Octopus? Why an intelligent being that was now staring up at her with way too big eyes.

"By merlin… I can't kill you little guy. Why don't you go back in the water?" She carefully pushed herself up again, the octopus latching onto her belly, still staring at her.

"Come on. Just hop back into the ocean. YOu should really try not to get fished again though. I'm not sure that the next person will see it the same way."

The octopus kept on staring, not even trying to move.

Sure, Leilani could use magic but she really didn't want to risk harming the animal. Which was kinda stupid as she was here to fish but well the little animal was way too cute to even entertain the thought.

"Come on. You can go. Your family or friends are probably waiting for you."

The octopus just latched on tighter.

"Wait… do you not have anyone?"

To her wonder the octopus nodded.

"Oh… but you can't stay with me."

He kept on staring.

"Seriously. You can't stay with me."

He latched on even more.

"I don't have any money, nor a home and I don't even have food."

Still more staring.

"How should I feed you if I can't even feed myself?"

Leilani really was weak to these eyes.

"But only for a little bit, alright? Like a few hours or more or you could keep me company while I'm still staying here… nothing more, okay?"

Maybe talking to the octopus would help her with her loneliness for a bit, maybe.

"I'm just gonna call you Oodako, alright?"

Oodako made a slightly weird purring sound but she had to admit it was adorable. Just a tiny bit of company couldn't be wrong, right? And red was her favourite colour after all.

Fon had originally planned to hike up the mountain to practise when his pacifier lit up. He was more than just certain he was the only one in the immediate area and the answer slapped him straight in the face. Skull was here.

They hadn't even gotten a glimpse from the flighty cloud in over four years. Honestly for a while Verde had even tried to set up an automatic hack to various grocery stores as this was the place they had met Skull the most but to no avail.

He raced towards the direction his pacifier signalled him but he froze at the sight that awaited him.

It was a campsite in the middle of the forest. A very beaten down small tent was set up with an open door letting him look straight at Skull. Skull who was barely even skin and bones, hugging a small octopus in his sleep.

He had to centre himself and took several deep breaths before he inspected the area in more detail.

The backpack they had seen on Skull several times was used as a pillow and a tattered blanket was loosely around him, having slipped off for the most part.

Skull even wore his typical suit instead of any sleepwear.

The more he looked around the clearer it became. Skull wasn't here on a camping trip. Skull was living here, in a tent, alone.

His hands trembled as he slowly sat down on the ground. He hadn't expected this. Not even a bit. No one had ever considered the fact that Skull was homeless and that it was the reason why he never appeared anywhere regularly. He was obviously wandering the continent.

Fon didn't know what to do. He seriously had no clue. This was bad, very bad.

But it made sense, it made so much sense he could hit himself for it.

Skull had lived with the circus before and they had checked. He had left the circus straight after getting cursed and how much money did a stuntman really make? He didn't even have any mafia contacts that could have organised living arrangements for him. How had Skull survived for so long? How did Skull manage to survive for 14 years all on his own?

Fon felt sick, more than just sick and his eyes skipped over detail and detail, how beaten down every last of Skulls equipment was and in which state the cloud was. He was so thin, he was starved. He obviously had no more money. Which was probably the reason why no one had been able to find him.

Beside him there was no one who regularly walked into nature and even he hadn't done it much for the last few years, way too busy with the triads and still searching for a cure to actually take some time off for a training period.

Sure, he had practised in his off time but not like this. Would he have been able to find out about Skull sooner if he had spent more time training?

Leilani was waking up, something was way too bright even if it probably was the next morning. She was slightly disoriented when she lifted herself up. Strill dazed when she patted Oodako that had made himself comfy on her lap again.

The marine animal had in the end stayed and well Leilani just hadn't been able to kick the octopus out. He had even caught her some fish to eat!

She was still searching for the cause of the light when her eyes fell on her pacifier. This was bad. She had to pack up and leave before anyone could make their way over.

She was about to scramble to her feet as her eyes caught sight of Fon and she immediately froze in place.

The martial artist sat straight in front of her tent. His smile completely vanished as he looked at her and the only thing Leilani could do was stare.

"How long have you been homeless, Skull?"

Her mouth opened up, not even managing to stammer out an answer. Still way too frozen at the revelation, that Fon had found out.

"Why didn't you ask us for help? Skull.." his voice faded out.

She still didn't know what to answer. What was she supposed to do? She couldn't run! All her stuff was still here and he knew the location. She would have to leave her whole existence behind if she tried to get away. She couldn't do that! It was all she had and she had no more money. She couldn't leave her tent or anything behind!

The storm's voice was soft but with a rawness underneath she hadn't heard before "Skull… please talk to me. I can help you. I will help you. Please don't run away. We can just talk. I'm staying right here. I won't come any closer but please talk to me Skull."

She clutched tightly onto oodako, relying on her companion to give her the needed strength to go through with this.

"Alright." her voice was already slightly trembling in trepidation.