Mikoto leaned back, her head against the springs' rocky edge, staring into the calm blue sky as a soft wind made its way through the trees. Enjoying the heat and dampness on her skin from the hot springs.

"Not exactly a private moment?" Mikoto said. "Seems a certain someone has been spreading…:"

"The truth?" Vita spoke, reaching up and taking a wooden cup from a tray carried by a young woman. Gave a quick wink as she took a drink. The young woman blushed, bowed her head, and walked away into a group of waiting, excited young women.

"Not really sure I'd put it that way." Taking a breath, eyes rolling to the armor hanging on a branch. The house of Mikoto insignia on the breastplate. Seemed a little more polished than she remembered. Vita put the wooded cup down on the rocky surface, "it's amazing what a little sand and spit can do?"

"The boots are a nice touch," Mikoto spoke.

Vita smiled. "I'm glad you approve." She looked over at Mikoto with a smile.

Mikoto was quiet for a long time, then finally spoke again, "You know, if you were trying to get me in trouble…"

"What? No!" Vita laughed.

"Well, there is that whole 'sneaking out' thing."

There had been times when she had opened her eyes as she slept to find nothing but the calm of the moment and the gentle lapping of the fish stored in the barrel. She noticed the slow changes taking place around her. The new desk, shelves and parchments that went from one roll to hundreds. Many spilling out onto the ground. And sometimes the sound of a come and get me sweet teasing voice followed by quick footsteps.

"That was an accident! You're just too easy to tease." Vita giggled, nervously looking around.

She remembered back on Earth or in the other realm. The young vampires in her care would do anything for their mistress. She hated it. Knowing many of them no older than eleven or twelve had been taken by force. They worked hard and finished, bringing whatever they had clean and presenting it to her, much like cats giving a mouse or sock to its human. She'd bend down at eye level, and with a gentle pat on their heads, she'd smile her answer. They giggled and turned and rushed away. It pained her they would never grow up and have a "normal life."

"What's a normal life, anyway?" Anastasia would always answer. "We give them a life, a reason to go on… and that becomes their normal life." She would always end with a wiggle of her eyebrows or pouting lips.

"Over ten years…." Mikoto whispered, taking a deep breath, and exhaled. The warm waters of the spring gently lap against the skin.

"It's not so bad here," Vita said.

"No, it isn't." Mikoto nodded.

Vita had whispered the words as she held her tight when she woke. "You've been asleep for ten years." She said, her arms tensed, hoping she could hold her. The others using their bodies as weight, the others held on as if it would have worked. She held Maka tight, letting the electricity bloomed and do its job.

"Yes, ten years," Vita replied.

"And you didn't even tell me?"

"I thought you knew," Vita said. She was talking about the length of her sleep.

"So, what did you do while I was sleeping?" Mikoto asked.

"Oh, you know, the usual. Got married, had kids, moved to a new home, and started a business."

"seriously" Mikoto said, knowing better. Vita liked the smartass answers.

"I was talking to Kea's mother and…."

"Little pillow talk?" Mikoto said flatly.

"A lot of pillows talk!"

"Seems this planet serves a certain purpose," Vita said, the warm water slipping over her shoulders, her chin tapping the surface.

"Purpose?"

"Yea… it's kinda like a secure place."

"Do you mean prison?!" raising her voice. And glanced around to see if she'd been heard.

"By another name… but the same."

"Great!" making sure she lowered her voice. As she sank a little deeper into the water.

"Yes, and no…" she said, "seems that the dragons of creation do not kill their children."

Mikoto rolled her head, eyes glowering. "And what the hell happened when we arrived?" Ripples rolled across the surface of the water. A deep growl resonated from her throat.

"Not what you think," Vita answered. "it seems they can kill each other. Survival of the fittest, I guess."

"And what role did we play?" her eyes glimmered, tawny-colored eyes turning dark red.

"Caught in the crossfire?" Vita shrugged.

"That was no crossfire," narrowing her eyes.

"Yeah, I don't know how it works, but apparently, the dragons of creation are very territorial."

Mikoto took a deep breath, swallowed the warm, wet air, and held it deep in her lungs. She could hear the thrumming of her heart, blood pulsing in her veins. She clenched her teeth, muscle straining. It had been a diplomatic mission. One that Bahamut had orchestrated and quickly attacked. Sealing off the portal. "Fucking dragon!"

Vita watched, the anger seething just underneath Mikoto's surface. The water trembled, rocked, and splashed like boiling water. Vita reached over and put her hand on Mikoto's arm. "That's not going to help anyone." She said, "look around you. Who will you take it out on?"

Around them, sitting at the edge of the hot springs, the faces of hundreds knelt, stood, waited, and watched. A few dangling their legs in the cold end of the springs. A few closer in the warmer pools. Aya and Gullam are closest to the hot pools. Nya lying naked on the warm rocks nearly shrouded by the hot steam, looking as if she was asleep. Kea, Rae, and Maka were at the top of the cliff, wearing armor and looking down at the hot springs. The mist wraps around them like a mother's arms. The fog was thicker now and lazily swirled around them.

Mikoto closed her eyes, exhaled her breath, and calmed herself down. "I hate to admit it… she said, "but you are right."

"Of course, I am," Vita grinned, "but I haven't told you that…. these children of the dragons. And were often called gods on Earth."

"What?"

Vita nodded, "and each god had gardens," she said, "their gardens of Eden.…."

Mikoto straightened her back, feeling the wind's chill against her warm skin. "And?"

"Each god had portals."

"Portals?"

Vita nodded.

"Does this one?" She raised her voice.

"Yes and no," Vita spoke, her hand out of the water. "Many of them had been destroyed in the war of the gods. This spring was one." She said, "but was destroyed along with the goddess who used to rule here." She said. "it seems she was well-liked. Something to do with water or the oceans. Sujin or suite or suiu… anyway, their history is verbal, so," she shrugged, "erratic at best. But what I am saying…."

"Is that each one has its own dominion? Maybe each has a portal?"

"The central city has one." Mikoto said.

"And you've been?"

"I have been waiting for…. them… to…" Mikoto said as she blushed, her eyes narrowing.

"To come back." Vita said, her hands clasped together.

Mikoto looked at the sky, watching the clouds roll by. "Yea," she whispered.