This chapter is very cathartic to me. 😊

2.7

…Who did this to you?

With the connection made, Vulnera could smell pain on him and see the damage done to his body. The left side of his face was heavily bruised, and he could see the damage to his shoulder. He reached out, gently ghosting his fingers over the unmarred side of his face. Shinobu reacted to the touch in his sleep, nuzzling his nose into Vulnera's palm.

Vulnera let out a shaky sigh, and pressed a hand over Shinobu's heart. I'll be gentle. Please…let me care for you.

He descended upon Shinobu's body, using their mind-link to stimulate him and bring him pleasure. Shinobu always maintained an appearance of calm; Vulnera knew that this was one of the few moments in his daily routine that Shinobu could let loose and express himself freely. He knew that that was one of the few moment in Shinobu's daily routine that he actually felt good. Shinobu welcomed his kisses and caresses; the slow and tender lovemaking Vulnera gave him.

Remember me. Please, remember me…

Vulnera wished that there was more that he could do to connect to Shinobu; to make him remember their history together. The first time they made love was after Shinobu had been raped. Vulnera remembered the rage he felt when he witnessed it and had been unable to stop it. And the sorrow he felt when Shinobu tried to act cool and calm after the fact and failing to do so. Vulnera didn't know how else to help Shinobu than to offer him a better, consensual experience. He didn't know how Shinobu would react to his proposal, but to his shock Shinobu accepted. Having that connection to Shinobu…the joining of their bodies…Vulnera had never felt a connection of that magnitude before. It had been special and beautiful…and Vulnera had been happy to give pleasure to the man he loved.

…But so much had happened since then, So much, and all because of the accursed Madarame family. Shinobu continued to suffer, remaining far out of Vulnera's reach. This mind-link…reaching out to him when they both slept and giving him pleasure was the only thing he could have to reach Shinobu. To help him, to save him.

Even in slumber, Shinobu knew that he was connecting to someone. Just not who. But he knew that he was experiencing simulated lovemaking, and Vulnera sensed that he welcomed the relief brought from the psychic lovemaking. He used the link and simulated taking Shinobu into his mouth, closing his eyes and envisioning Shinobu's taste on his tongue. Shinobu moaned and panted, lifting his hips to the motions of his mouth. Yes, yes. Forget the pain, my love. Forget the pain. Remember me. Come to me.

Shinobu reached his peak and Vulnera's own body throbbed with longing, wanting to join with him. But he remembered everything that had happened in the past couple of days, and the injuries to Shinobu's body, and he slid up to kiss his mouth. Shinobu reciprocated, moaning throatily as they kissed deeply.

I love you. I love you. Please…remember everything.

The scar on his chest ached with the memory of pain, but Vulnera ignored it and pulled back. "Look at me," he whispered.

Shinobu opened his eyes, but they were clouded and unseeing. "Let me help you," he pleaded for the umpteenth. "Let me take you away from them. Please, Shinobu. Look at me, remember me." He leaned down and nuzzled his face. "I'll take care of you. No one will hurt you again. Please…I don't want to you to end up like that boy, please…"

The memory of the boy's dead face lingered briefly in his mind. He had been seeking a path to find Shinobu, and he was able to manifest out of the fluid of the boy's tears. But never did Vulnera expected to manifest beside a dying teenager. A victim of murder, and possibly rape. A boy who died alone, facedown and bleeding out on a sidewalk. It was a horrible way for anyone to die.

All because of the Madarame family.

I couldn't save that boy from that family. But I WILL save Shinobu.

"Please Shinobu," he whispered desperately. "Please—"

"I killed you."

Vulnera quickly looked at Shinobu. Shinobu's eyes were open fully, his eyes clear. Shinobu sat up, and Vulnera eased away from him to give him room. Shinobu reached out with his right hand and cupped Vulnera's cheek. He ran his fingers over Vulnera's face, tracing his facial scar. Vulnera let him, and he held himself steady…and waited.

"You're alive," Shinobu whispered. Tears had filled his eyes. "I thought…I thought I killed you."

Vulnera grabbed his hand and held it to his cheek. Yes, yes! He remembers me!

"I'm alive," Vulnera said soothingly. "And everything will be okay. Please, let me make everything okay, Shinobu."

The tears spilled down Shinobu's cheeks. "I tried to kill you," he whispered painfully. "Father, he—I had a choice between my father and you, and I chose my father. I—"

"It's okay," Vulnera soothed him. "I don't blame you. I never blamed you, Shinobu. I exist as I am because of you. I love you. Please, Shinobu…" he reached for him fingers gently caressing his cheeks. "Come with me. Let me take you away from here."

An expression of haunted sorrow filled Shinobu's face. "The Madarames are cursed," Vulnera hissed. "They destroy everything they touche! They caused the death of a child, Shinobu! Please—come with me! Get away from these people! I will take care of you for as long as I live! You'll never feel pain again! You'll feel nothing but love every day, I promise!"

Shinobu closed his eyes, and tears slid down his cheeks. "…I believe you," he whispered. "I believe you when you say that you love me and will take care of me. I believe you…because I love you, too."

Vulnera gasped, but Shinobu opened his eyes. "But I am my father's son," he said painfully. "And you cannot save me, Vulnera. No matter how hard you try."

"Shinobu—!"

"I will be okay," he reassured him, cupping Vulnera's cheek with his uninjured hand. "I will be okay…and so will Norio. I will make sure of it."

"That boy is dead!" Vulnera wheezed in anguish.

"No," Shinobu said. "He lives. He gave me these bruises."

Vulnera blinked, and in a split second then connection severed and he was back in his own body. He slammed his fists into the cushions of the couch and threw his head back and screamed, "FUCK!"

I was so close! I almost had him! Why, Shinobu?! Why do you deny me?!

Vulnera hunched forward and pressed a hand to his face. Tears stung his eyes, but after a moment…after a moment his body cooled. He opened his eyes and stared across the room. He hand dropped away as Shinobu's final words to him finally registered in his mind.

The boy is alive.

The hairs stood up on Norio's arms, and he glanced towards the door. Someone with…immense power, had just arrived to the house. A dark soul appearance. He could smell it from his room. The person stank of chaos, blood, and death. Norio would not be surprised if flowers wilted when this Madararui walked past them.

He must be here for me. Hmm.

They had found him in Kunimasa's room and had panicked. Because he had been distracted by the scent, he could not get away. All of them had been terrified in Norio's presence; too afraid to even touch him. But Norio did not attack them again. He decided to humor them. He let them take him back to this room, and he let them lock him inside this room. For three days.

Norio sensed that…whatever it is they were planning had been delayed because of the people recovering. Since he was feeling many presences arriving to the house, he knew that they were probably planning a hearing. Or an interrogation of sorts.

I have some questions that I need answers to.

He looked down at himself. They did not have his clothes, so they dressed him in a purple yukata. Everyone seemed averse to dressing him in either white or black. He plucked at the sleeve. The material felt good against his skin, but he could smell a cat on it. He didn't like it.

There was a knock on the door, and Hidekuni slowly opened the door. He had a large bandage on his forehead. "Norio, ah…could you come with me, please?"

Norio stared at him blankly for a moment. Hidekuni raised a hand, as though to show he were harmless. "It's okay, you're not in trouble. We just…everyone is in a state of shock, and—"

"I hurt you, didn't I?" Norio asked him bluntly. His voice lacked emotion.

"Oh, this?" Hidekuni gingerly touched the area near his bandage. "No, it's fine! Just a cut, nothing more!"

"I'm sorry, Hidekuni," Norio said, still bluntly and emotionlessly. "You have been nothing but kind to me and I attacked you. If there's any consolation, I only attacked you because I didn't recognize your presence when I rose from the dead."

Hidekuni stared at him in shock. He seemed to have been stunned into silence. Norio abruptly rose from his chair, and Hidekuni jumped back. "Where will you take me?"

Hidekuni stammered for a moment before he gestured towards the hallway. "Ah…follow me please, Noririn."

Norio. Noririn. He alternates between the two. Norio found that odd but didn't bring attention to it.

Hidekuni felt his heart in his throat as he escorted Norio down the hallway. Wha…What happened to him?! I mean I know he died and came back to life, but this…this isn't like Noririn at all!

The Norio he was used to burst with energy, was highly emotional but loyal and dedicated. He also had a beautiful smile that made his big eyes shine. He had a beautiful soul, and not just his soul appearance.

But now…this Norio did not smile. Did not stir. When he looked at people, his eyes were blank and void of emotions. And when he spoke…it was all the same. And his scent…he was overloaded with blinds when he was brought back home unconscious, but he…he didn't even smell the same as he did before.

Norio is back…but this is not Norio.

The entire household was on edge, and at the moment it had little to do with Norio. No…he had arrived. The man who had not been to the Madarame compound in years.

Madarame Kunimitsu. The King of the Madararui of Japan, and one of the most powerful Heavyseeds in Asia. If Vulnera ever got close enough to Kunimitsu, he would try to drive a sword through Kunimitsu's throat.

Everyone ducked their heads in his presence. Including Makio. Including Kunimasa. No one said a word.

They had gathered in the main room, family members lining up on opposite sides of east and west walls. Those were attacked during Norio's rampage still looked battered, with Shirou being the worst condition. Shirou was unable to wear his glasses because of the bandage wrap around the top of his head, right eye, and the right side of his face. He wore a cream-colored yukata because it was easier to wear with the bandage wrap that covered his entire torso. He leaned against Yonekuni slightly for support, and despite not being injured in the rampage Yonekuni looked like he was in great pain as well.

Among the people sitting along the west wall was Shinobu, Yonekuni, Shirou, Manami, Inukai, and others in the household. Among the people sitting along the east wall was Karen, the twins Shima and Ume, and Hidekuni's fathers, David Woodville Maximillian Seymour. The moment they heard of the attack on the Madarame household they flew to Japan to check on not only Hidekuni, but also their twins with Makio—Kunimasa and Yonekuni, sired by David and Maximillian respectively.

Kunimitsu stood at the front of the room, looking over his family and people with cold, dead eyes. Beside him at the front sat Kunimasa, his successor, his right. And on his left sat Makio, his oldest child.

Both were direct products of Kunimitsu's machinations. But both were also responsible for their own actions.

"So," Kunimitsu said after a prolonged and uncomfortable moment of silence. "Where is the miracle Return to Ancestry who apparently rose from the dead?"

"Hidekuni is bringing him," Kunimasa said. He didn't like the idea, but Hidekuni felt like the safest option to escort Norio to them. Even though Norio had attacked Hidekuni as well during his rampage. But after Norio had apparently been found in his room while he was unconscious, no one felt comfortable leaving them alone together.

Kunimasa hissed under his breath and nursed his torso with his uninjured hand. The ribs would take the longest heal, and kneeling like this didn't help. But when Norio attacked him, Kunimasa could sense from his strikes and his rage that Norio intended to kill him. He felt genuine fear in the moment…but then he relaxed. In the moment he thought of the terror Norio must have felt when five men tried to gang-rape him. He thought of the terror that Norio must have felt when he was shot, and when he realized that he was going to die.

"WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME?!"

He thought of every bad thing he ever did to Norio…and in the moment, he decided to give his life to him.

"It's okay to kill me."

But Norio didn't kill him. He stopped, and then he fainted. But he didn't kill him.

I want to see you, Norio.

The door opposite Kunimasa's position opened, and Hidekuni entered. "I've brought Norio," he announced.

"Bring him in," Kunimitsu said. His face was expressionless and his tone was void of curiosity, but Kunimasa couldn't help but sense…menace in his tone.

Hidekuni hurried over to sit with his fathers as Norio casually strolled into the room. Kunimasa immediately tensed from the power he sensed from his ex; the soul appearance that radiated off of him like an aura. Four people had put blinds on him when he was brought back, but the blinds did not seem to be enough to contain his power.

What…Where did this power come from?!

Kunimasa felt a pulse, and he shifted with alarm as he watched his grandfather's soul appearance come out in response to Norio. Everyone in the room began to tremble from the competing powers.

Norio came to a stop in the middle of the room. Now that he was so close, Kunimasa could see that his eyes were wide as they always were, but his expression and gaze were blank. He was staring at them casual, despite the power he was emitting, and he felt…cold from Norio. He did not perceive any of them to be a threat.

"Tsuburaya Norio," Karen called out calmly, motioning to him. "Please, have a seat." Kunimasa saw out of the corner of his eye that her arm was trembling.

Norio swept down and sat in the kneeling position in the middle of the floor, but despite his lower height there was nothing that indicated that he was less of a threat. And what was worse was that…from his blank expression, he didn't even seem to be trying to look like a threat.

Norio…

Kunimasa wanted to know what was going on; why he had suddenly changed. But the unspoken question sounded stupid in his mind. It was easy to explain why he was different. He had literally died, and was brought back to life.

Kunimitsu swept down and sat down, his eyes never leaving Norio. "So…you're the one who attacked my family," he said.

Norio stared at the snake before him. He was the one who had given off the dangerous soul appearance, and the—stench that he could smell all the way from upstairs. He glanced between Kunimasa and Makio briefly before settling his eyes on the man once more. He inhaled shortly, and different smells struck his senses. It gave him pause. …Oh.

"Do you know who I am, boy?" The man asked him.

Norio stared at him in silence.

"I am Madarame Kunimitsu," the man continued. "I am the guardian and ruler of the Madararui of Japan. I am the grandfather of the future rule of the Madararui of Japan. The one you tried to kill." He motioned to Kunimasa. "You attacked many people in this room and tried to kill them. My kin. This is an offense punishable by death. Is there anything you would like to say?"

"No," Norio responded, quickly and bluntly.

Kunimitsu stirred, looking a little perturbed. "You are unafraid."

"Yes."

His short answers disturbed the people in the room. Norio could sense that. But he kept his eyes on Kunimitsu.

Kunimitsu tilted his head back slightly, keeping his eyes on Norio's face. "Do you know why my grandson rejected you, Tsuburaya Norio?"

"Ask him," Norio responded. "His reasoning made no sense to me."

"He told me that you were unworthy of him. That he could do better than you. Do you believe that he was right, Tsuburaya Norio?"

Norio noticed Kunimasa shift out of the corner of his eye but he didn't glance at him. "I don't care."

"I told Kunimasa to remove your blind," Kunimitsu said quickly. Kunimasa gasped in alarm. "I told him that if you really meant nothing to him that he HAD to remove your blind to prove to his worthy betrothed that he would put no others before them. Kunimasa is powerful enough to remove your blind at a distance and he did so. Does that bother you, Tsuburaya Norio?"

"I'm aware Kunimasa removed my blind," Norio said. "I was besieged by rapists and murdered because it was removed."

Murmurs of shock and horror filled the room. "H—He really did die?!" Maximillian whispered to Hidekuni.

"Yes, Father," Hidekuni whispered back. "I was one of the people who checked his body. He was dead for several hours before he just…woke up."

"But how is that possible?!" David whispered. "A-And…Kunimasa left him unprotected?! That is reprehensible!"

"You are giving the appearance of calm," Kunimitsu said. "But I have heard that you are an immature, overly emotional boy who throws screaming temper tantrums when he doesn't get his way."

"And I've heard that you're a child molester," Norio responded. "So validation from you is not something that matters to me."

The temperature in the room dropped several degrees. Kunimitsu's eyes widened, and his soul appearance expanded out from his body as he swiftly stood up. He looked ready to transform. "What did you say to me?!" he hissed through clenched teeth. His voice made the air itself vibrate. Makio swiftly stood up and walked towards a side door, exiting the rooms without looking back.

Norio however was unafraid. He felt nothing inside of him. He responded to the threat before him by widening his own eyes, and pulsating his own power. He knew that his pupils became slits in response. People cried out in shock as the tatami mats underneath Norio, and the ceiling above him, began to splinter.

"What did I say that was incorrect?" Norio asked Kunimitsu calmly. "You call yourself the guardian of Japan, but you are a grown man who has raped and impregnated teenagers. How does that not make you a child molester?" Norio shifted his gaze and looked at Shinobu. "Am I correct, Shinobu?"

Shinobu gasped with alarm, but Norio glanced towards Karen. The woman in question was ashen-faced and looking at Norio with wide eyes. "You told us that Shinobu was your son, and the son of that viper," Norio said, indicating Makio. "But the scents are wrong. Shinobu smells like you, Karen-san, but he also smells like this man. This man is his sire, isn't he? How old were you when your wife's father decided to make you one of his concubines?"

Karen started trembling violently where she sat. Tears even stung her eyes, which intrigued Norio. He had never seen her cry before. Norio looked at Kunimitsu again, who was radiating rage. "But I suppose I shouldn't be surprised," he mused softly. "The ruling Madararui family of Dubai appears to practice physical and psychological abuse of their partners. It must be a common thing for you royals to crush your mates under your heels until they are nothing but shells of their former selves."

"Tsuburaya-kun, you are wrong!" Shima cried out, leaning forward. "I speak with Wakaba all the time, and he is very happy with his husband!"

Norio looked towards the mongoose. "Your friend hid from his now-husband for three years. He was scared enough of his now-husband and the royal family that he knowingly hid the existence of their child from his now-husband. Then your friend was whisked away from Japan to play the role of second wife to his now-husband. Back to the people who abused him. What part of this can be described as a happy ending for your friend?"

Shima stammered softly, his eyes wide. Ume looked between his twin and Norio, his expression angry but he was clearly at a loss for words.

Norio looked around the room at the people who stared at him stunned. "Is there anything that I said so far that is wrong?" he asked bluntly.

"This discussion is pointless."

Norio looked back at Kunimitsu, who was still radiating power and trying to exercise his authority. "There are only two questions that matter," Kunimitsu said. "How are you still alive, and why did you attack my family."

Norio blinked once. Then twice. "Fine," he said. "Then I have questions of my own."

"You—"

"Kunimasa proposed marriage to me," Norio interjected. "I thought about it and accepted it, and then he dumped me. Kumakashi-senpai and McBear took me in, but McBear didn't waste a moment to rub his happy family life in my face. I was under the impression that he was deliberately doing this to hurt me and I became upset. McBear responded by siccing his security upon me and telling me that I would never be good enough because I was immature and could not control my abilities. Then he told me to leave. I felt that I was not getting the support I needed from them, so I left.

"So…I wandered the city." Norio glanced towards the ceiling as he recalled everything that happened. "I got tired and sat at a closed outdoor café. Then I sensed that…something had happened. I realized later that Kunimasa removed his blind from me. Less than two minutes later I was accosted by five Madararui, who offered to "take me home". I said no, but then one of them tried to kiss me so I ran.

"They cornered me in an alley, where they physically assaulted me. I screamed for help—screamed for Kunimasa—but no one came to help me. It was there I learned that Kunimasa had a fiancé and that he had removed my blind. They almost got my pants off, but I was able to get them off me and run. One of them shot me in the back as I ran. I ran as far as I could until I couldn't run anymore. Kunimasa then found me, but I died before I saw his face—"

"Wait, what?!" Kunimasa exclaimed, jumped. "Norio—I wasn't there!"

"Yes, you were," Norio responded. "Right before I died, I saw someone kneeling beside me. It was you, was it not?"

Kunimasa shook his head, his face pale. It was Shinobu who spoke up. "I…can answer that. Norio, the person that came to you was a man named Vulnera—"

Kunimitsu stiffened but Shinobu pressed on. "And Vulnera brought you here after he found you."

Norio stared at him. "Oh," he said bluntly. "So a complete stranger cared more about my wellbeing than any of you did."

"Noririn—" Yonekuni said.

"After that," Norio continued nonchalantly. "I opened my eyes and saw Charon again. I was no more eager to go to the afterlife now than I was before, so I jumped out of his boat and swam back. Unfortunately Charon was quite angry at me for the last time this happened, so I ended up having to fight to get back. I was able to knock him out of his own boat.

"Then I woke up and found myself surrounded by animals. Annoying animals that I didn't recognize. That's why I attacked everyone. The End."

Norio had spoken with a dead, emotionless voice in a matter-of-fact tone. Everyone was looking at him stunned and he knew they were puzzled about his "encounter" with Charon. But the unspoken question lingered in the air.

This wasn't the first time Norio "died"?

"Norio, how did you come back to life?" Shinobu asked.

"My turn," Norio said, ignoring Shinobu. He looked at Kunimasa. "Kunimasa, when you removed my blind were you aware of my location?"

"No!" Kunimasa cried out. "I-If I had known that you—I didn't know you weren't somewhere safe! I thought you WERE somewhere safe!"

"So you thought I was with Senpai and McBear?"

"Yes!"

"So you intended to remove my blind when I was in a house with two bears, one of whom is an American grizzly, and ALL his servants and security detail. Do I have that correct?"

Kunimasa's face fell, as though he realized the weight of his monumentally stupid decision. Norio sighed, but it was a quiet sigh of boredom and not anguish. "For what it's worth, I'm glad to know how little this family cares about me."

"NORIRIN!" Yonekuni shouted, standing up. "That's not true at all!"

"Isn't it, now?" Norio asked him. "The only reason any of you cared about me was for Kunimasa's sake. Not once have any of you considered how I feel, or what's good for me. Kunimasa has been the only thing that mattered in this situation. I have only been his incubator, with my only purpose being to give birth to his child. His heir."

"Norio, STOP!" Kunimasa cried out. It sounded like his voice was full of anguish. He started to move towards Norio. "Norio, you have to understand—"

Norio fixed his eyes upon Kunimasa. The look he gave Kunimasa made the jaguar stop dead in his tracks. "Everyone always tells me that I need to grow up," Norio said. "That I need to fight for you. But I HAVE fought for you, Kunimasa. More than once. I fight for you, then you chose me, and then you reject and discard me. This has happened more than once. You discard me over and over again because I'm not a person to you."

"Norio—"

"How many times am I supposed to be hurt by you until it is enough and you start treating me like an equal, Kunimasa? Why am I expected to just stand here and suffer verbal and psychological abuse from you? Just to receive the bare minimum of minor crumbs of affection from you? Why am I expected to just have to "understand" you? Is it because you're a strong and handsome stereotypical seme, and I'm just the weak and pathetic stereotypical uke who no one has any patience for? Who has to just tolerate your abuse because of your good looks and your position."

Kunimasa's knees trembled, and he collapsed onto the floor. He hissed in pain and hugged his broken ribs, his breathing unsteady. "Norio—"

"I supposed it's all a moot point," Norio mused. "After all, you did dump me and chose someone else. You never loved me and never will."

"Norio, I DO LOVE YOU!" Kunimasa shouted. A stunned silence swept over the room from his sudden proclamation.

Norio however did not stir. "You're lying."

"W…What?"

"You're lying, Kunimasa," Norio said. "You're lying because lies come as naturally to you as breathing does. You've told me before that you love me. Then you said that it was a lie. Then you said THAT was a lie. Then you said you wanted to marry me. Then you said THAT was a lie. Why should I believe you when you never tell me the truth?"

"Noririn—"

"You dumped me to marry someone else," Norio cut in. "You don't do that to people you love, Kunimasa. I'd ask if your parents ever taught you something so basic, but I know that they didn't."

"I'll end my engagement, just—"

"I don't care what you do. I've spent the last year caring more about your wellbeing than my own and what do I have to show for it? I'm discarded by you like garbage and I'm murdered. So go ahead and break off your betrothal. I don't care. But I'm not returning to you. I'm not returning to you because it's not good for my physical and mental health. And I'm not returning to you because you don't love me."

"Stop making assumptions and just fucking listen to me!" Kunimasa hollered.

"Kunimasa," Norio said as though he hadn't spoken, tilting his head slightly to the slightly. "How can you say that you love me when you don't truly know me?"

Kunimasa looked at him stunned. "What are my hobbies?" Norio asked. "My interests? What do I want to do when I graduate high school? What's my favorite color? Can you answer these questions, Kunimasa?"

Kunimasa was silent. The color drained from his face and his mouth hung open. His eyes were wide and were slowly starting to turn red, as though tears were building up.

"What's my favorite color?" Norio asked again.

"…I…" Kunimasa struggled to speak.

"What's my favorite color?!" Norio asked again, his dead tone abruptly turning sharp.

Kunimasa made several more noises, but he otherwise didn't speak. "Tsuburaya-kun…" Shirou breathed softly.

"KUNIMASA!" Norio suddenly shouted, power bursting from his body. "WHAT IS MY FAVORITE COLOR?!"

Section of the ceiling collapsed around them. Everyone screamed and scrambled to their feet. The Madarame security burst into the room, but were repelled by Norio's powers.

Kunimitsu's began to change into his true form, but Norio noticed and quelled his power. The air slowly became still as Norio rose to his feet, staring down at Kunimasa. He was aware of little else in the room. Kunimasa stared up at him with an anguished expression.

"You don't know," Norio said. "You can't answer any questions about me. You can't answer them because my only purpose is to be your savior. To be the incubator for your child. I'm not a person to you. I'm not a person to ANYONE in your family."

Norio looked around the room, his eyes narrowing. "Tsuburaya Norio is nothing to any of you. My only value to any of you is to save Kunimasa from himself. To give birth to his child. Am I wrong? I have bent over backwards to prove myself worthy of this family, but what has this family done to prove itself worthy of ME? None of you have helped me for my own sake! Even my Madararui training was molded to Kunimasa's taste! Everything has always been for Kunimasa!"

"Norio, I helped because I wanted to help you!" Hidekuni shouted.

"Don't," Maximillian hissed, grabbing his arm. "You're not helping the situation."

Norio looked back at Kunimasa. "You don't love me," he hissed. "If I was wrong, then you would know even the most basic trivia about me. You would do more for me than tear me away from other people, screaming that I belong to you. But I don't belong to you, Kunimasa. I will never belong to you. Tsuburaya Norio will always belong only to himself."

Norio looked towards Kunimitsu, then towards Karen, then towards Kunimasa. "I'm done," he said. "I'm going home. I'm going back to my life. Involving myself with you people will only open me up to more pain and possibly another death."

"And what will you do if the blinds that are currently on you get removed?" Kunimitsu asked him coldly.

"Then it will prove everything that I've said," Norio said. "That none of you actually care about me. But go ahead—take off the blinds. If another pack of rapists decide to come after me, I'll just kill them too."

Shirou limped over to him, his expression full of sorrow. Even despite his injuries, he reached out for Norio. "Tsu—Tsuburaya-kun…"

Norio turned to look at him. Shirou paused, but moved to stand in front of him. "Tsuburaya-kun," he said quietly. "You are loved so…dearly by so many people in this room. If I could just…when you were brought back here, the entire house mourned for you. W-We couldn't even conduct business the following day because everyone was still crying. I know that you have suffered—"

Shirou's voice broke off when Norio abruptly reached for him. "Noririn, NO!" Yonekuni screamed, hurrying over.

Norio pressed his hand to Shirou's cheek…and gently stroked it. "Senpai," he said quietly.

Everyone noticed that he was no longer radiating power. His eyes were no longer narrowed. His expression was still blank, his voice still emotionless. But he was…calm.

"Senpai," Norio repeated himself. "Wolf God. I hurt you worse out of everyone, didn't I?"

"I-I'm okay," Shirou said softly but Norio shook his head. "I'm so sorry I hurt you, Fujiwara-senpai. You didn't deserve that. You have always been so good to me without ulterior motives. You have been my friend. I will miss you greatly, Senpai."

Tears filled Shirou's eyes. "T-Tsuburaya-kun—"

"Don't let them hurt you," Norio told him. "If Yonekuni-senpai is mean to you, you don't have to take it. You're allowed to be happy. Abuse should never be tolerated, especially by your chosen."

"Yonekuni doesn't abuse me, Tsuburaya-kun," Shirou told him. "I am happy."

Norio smiled. It was the first time anyone had seen him smile since he woke up from the dead. But it was a smile that did not reach his eyes. "Then I am happy for you."

Norio moved away from him then and looked towards Karen. He did not acknowledge Kunimasa's presence. "You have my wallet and cell phone. Can I have them back?"

"We do not have them," Karen said. She had appeared to return to her authoritative calm. "Joshua McBear called. You left them at his house."

"Hmm," Norio said. "Okay, then." Then he turned and walked out of the room.

"Kunimasa," Kunimitsu called from the front of the room. "You are my heir. Are you going to let that boy insult you? To walk out of here after he assaulted your family and tried to kill you?"

Kunimasa exhaled sharply, his eyes on Norio's retreating back. Yonekuni knelt down beside him. "…Yes," he said after a moment. "Let him go."

I've lost him. This time…he's truly lost to me.

"This is ridiculous," Joshua huffed, cuddling Alice to him. He was standing alongside Teruhiko at their car in front of the Madarame house. "Making us wait three days, and then they won't let us enter the damn house!"

"I-I just want to see Tsuburaya-kun," Teruhiko said shakily. His heart was in his throat.

"I want to see him too," Joshua said. "Telling us he was murdered, but then to tell us he was alive?! All because I wouldn't play ball to that bastard-Madarame's games?! This shit is grounds for war! They should know that!"

"Joshua," Teruhiko said, sliding an arm around his waist. "Please don't talk like that."

Joshua softened and leaned in close to nuzzle his forehead. "I'm sorry, Teru."

"Can I hold Alice?"

"Of course." Joshua passed their daughter over to him. "Isn't she the best girl? Hasn't made a fuss since she left the house!"

Teruhiko laughed a little. "If only she was like this all the time."

"Yeah, no kidding." Joshua sighed. "I guess it's good we're out here, given the power we've been sensing—"

"Hello."

Both Teruhiko and Joshua snapped to attention at this voice. They both gaped in shock to see Norio standing before them, wearing a purple yukata. His eyes were wide as usual, but his expression was blank.

"T-Tsuburaya-kun?" Teruhiko whispered, tears stinging his eyes.

"You have my wallet and cell phone," Norio said to Joshua. "I need them back."

Teruhiko flinched when he heard his tone. It was void of any emotions. Teruhiko could smell at least four different blinds on him, but Norio…Norio wasn't acting like himself.

What happened to him? W-We thought the Madarames had been mistaken when they said he was dead, but…

"Here," Joshua said, pulling Norio's cell phone and wallet out of his back pockets. He handed them over. "I'm surprised. This lot said you were murdered, but that was clearly a lie."

"Oh, I was murdered," Norio responded bluntly. "A group of rapists attacked me, and they shot me when I fled."

Teruhiko gasped harshly, and pain filled his body. "W…What?!" he gasped.

"Would you like to see my clothes?" Norio asked. Both Joshua and Teruhiko noticed then that he was carrying a bag. Norio held up the bag and pulled out the contents. "See? I bled to death."

Teruhiko almost screamed when he saw Norio's bloodied clothes, and he slammed back against the car. Alice began to whimper from his visceral response. Teruhiko knew that they were Norio's clothes because it was the same clothes he had worn the night he left Joshua's house. He knew that it was blood because it smelled like blood. And he knew that it was Norio's blood because the blood smelled like Norio.

Oh God. Oh God. Those clothes—so much blood! How did Tsuburaya-kun survive that?!

"Can you put that away?!" Joshua said sharply. "You're distressing my husband and child!"

Norio shoved the clothes back into his bag. "I'm sorry," he said bluntly. "I would never intentionally cause harm to Kumakashi-senpai."

"N-No, it's okay," Teruhiko said. He turned to soothe Alice. "It's okay, it's okay—"

Norio leaned his face close to the baby. He looked at Alice, but his eyes were still blank. To Teruhiko, it looked like Norio was staring straight through Alice. After a few moments though, Norio looked up at Teruhiko. "She is beautiful," he said emotionlessly. "And she looks like you, Senpai."

"I told you so," Joshua chimed in.

"Thank you Senpai," Norio continued. "You were always good to me, and I never appreciated it."

"O-Oh, I didn't do anything," Teruhiko said, but Norio raised his hand. "When I came back the first time, people responded to me by violating my personal space and trying to rape me. Both men and women. You, however, gave me 14-page love letter and you gave me a charm to protect me from molesters. And your charm worked to keep people away from me until I met Kunimasa. You did nothing to violate my boundaries. You were my friend from the beginning and your feelings were sincere. I'm sorry that I was mean to you."

Teruhiko shook his head shakily. "T-That—Tsuburaya-kun—"

"I'm glad you have a happy life," Norio said. "You have a mate who worships you, and you have a perfect little girl. If there's anyone I know who deserves such a happy ending, it's you."

Teruhiko began to cry. He was moved by Norio's words, but at the same time…the absence of emotions and the finality of his statements scared him deeply. This was nothing like the Norio he knew.

What has happened to him? Oh Tsuburaya-kun…what has the Madarame family done to you?

"I'm going home," Norio said. "We probably won't meet again, but thank you nonetheless."

"Wait, what?" Teruhiko demanded. "W-Why wouldn't we meet again?"

"Because I'm done. Kunimasa told me to go back to my life when he threw me away and so I will. It's probably for the best that I keep away from all of you."

"Hold on," Joshua said, stepping forward. Norio glanced at him. "I…want to apologize," he said hesitantly. "For how I treated you before. It—whatever happened to you was partially my fault. If you want to get away from Japan and—these people." He gestured to the Madarame house. "I have a condo in Dallas that you can stay in for awhile. I'll have staff who are fluent in Japanese who can help you during your stay."

Norio looked at him for a long moment. "McBear," he said.

"What, kitty?"

"What's Kumakashi-senpai's favorite color?"

"What?" Teruhiko asked.

"Yellow," Joshua answered without hesitation. "The same shade as a sunflower."

Teruhiko reflexively smiled at his husband. Norio looked at him for a long moment before his lips quirked slightly. "Have a good day." Then he turned to walk down the sidewalk.

"Uh—should we offer him a ride?" Joshua wondered.

Teruhiko quickly hugged him. "I love you."

I actually don't know any of the character's favorite colors. So any coversations related to this is fanon.

Forward warning, but there may be a delay in the next chapter coming out.