By the time they reached home, everything was quiet amongst them. Zexion was the first to the door, opening it to let the others inside first. When they were all inside, they found Zack at the couch with a laptop sitting in his lap.

"Oh? Back so soon?" Zack asked as he looked up from his screen.

"Yeah… a little earlier than expected," Riku answered.

Quickly picking up on the moods the boys were giving off, Zack closed his laptop and set it on the table. "Something happen?"

"Hunter," Saru muttered.

Zack's expression straightened out. "Tell me what happened."

Riku did most of the explaining of the situation, with Zexion adding his side of it towards the end. During their recounting, Saru had walked off towards his room and quietly closed the door.

When the story had finished, Zack let out a long sigh, running a hand through his hair. "Geez… didn't think something like this would happen. You guys better stay in for a few days, okay? You know, until I can figure things out."

"Right… I'll let Sora know. Maybe he should play it safe too," Riku replied, pulling his phone out.

"Do whatever you can to let everyone know," Zack said with a nod. "I'll go and check in on Saru."

Zack turned around and headed down the hall. He stopped at Saruhiko's door, grabbing the door handle before he paused. He took in a deep breath before he opened it and stepped inside.

Saru was sitting on the floor, curled up with the fawn.

"Oh… So that's where the deer ended up."

Saru hummed in acknowledgement, but continued to pet the deer.

"I was wondering how a deer got in the house in the first place," Zack added.

"You left the back door open… again…"

"Hey! I'm sure that I locked it! Well… maybe…"

Zack sighed, shaking his head. "But you know that's not why I'm here. I'm here to check up on you… you know after what happened."

"I'm fine."

"You always say that," Zack said as he stepped closer to Saru. "But you know you can talk to me."

Zack sat himself down next to Saru. "I'll be here, you know, if you need it."

"He looked so much like that monster…" Saru whispered.

"He did? Shit… I'm sorry," Zack said, scooting himself closer so he was sitting next to Saru. "And it wasn't a trick of the light, right?"

Saru shook his head. "Looked younger though."

"Hmm, a descendant maybe? A kid probably? I know that premise doesn't really help put things at ease though…"

Reaching a hand out he placed it gently against Saruhiko's back. "I won't let him hurt you."

Saru shifted slightly to lean into Zack's comfort.

"I promise, Saru. I will protect you. I won't let it be like last time."

"I don't want to lose anyone else trying to protect me." Saru spoke before dropping to a whisper. "Promise me I won't lose you like mom…"

Zack finally reached both arms around Saru, pulling him into a tight embrace. "I promise. I'll keep you safe and I will always be here."

"If only father was more like you…" Saru whispered, hugging Zack back.

"I know…" Zack said, letting out a long exhale. "But… I'm here for you now, and that's what matters. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Yeah…"

"I told this to Zexion and Riku already, but I want you guys to stay home for the next few days. Only until I can figure things out with this hunter. Understand?"

"Understood." Saru replied, letting go from the hug.

Slowly, Zack lowered his arms. "Do you want some time alone now? Or…?"

"Some time." Saru answered, followed by the deer fawn lifting their head up from his lap and bunted Zack as if to shoo him away.

Zack nodded as he stood up. "Alright, it seems I'm being voted out. But hey, you know I'll be around. Come and find me if you need me."

Saru nodded as Zack exited the room, leaving him with the little fawn looking up at him for attention. He started petting it gently, giving it the affection that it was demanding. It helped soothe his heart, which still occasionally twinged with the fear from before.

He tried to think of other things, trying his hardest to get his mind off the event. He wanted to be able to close his eyes and not have to see him standing there. If he could've banished the memories he could have, but they would never leave. It would be there, forever haunting him in the back of his mind.

But while there were painful memories, there were also good memories that he held. Closing his eyes as he continued to pet the fawn, he reflected on a memory. One memory that hadn't occurred to him for years, not until the little fawn came strolling into the house.

At the age of eight, a rather special moment happened while Saruhiko was outside playing in the front yard. He had been minding his own business, playing by himself when he heard a strange noise.

Looking to the edge of the house's property, where the yard met the forest, he saw there was a large deer standing there, watching him.

Slowly moving so he didn't spook the deer into running off, Saru ducked into the house.

"Mom?" Saru called loudly into the house.

Aerith peeked her head in from the kitchen. "Yes? What is it, Saru?"

"There's a deer in the front yard."

Aerith stopped whatever it was she was doing and started walking towards the front door. "Oh, is that so? Is it a big deer?"

"Yeah. It's got big antlers and it's tall."

"In that case we should approach it slowly to say hello," Aerith chuckled happily.

"Okay." Saru stepped back outside with his mother following right behind.

The deer was still standing there, looking as tall and proud as it had been when Saru first spotted it. Cautiously he hid behind his mother as he watched her slowly move closer.

"You don't have to be afraid, Saru. Remember what I taught you when you encounter an animal?"

"Uh huh." Saru nodded, slowly walking out from behind Aerith and approaching the deer.

Saru took in a deep breath and held his hand out and waited for the deer to walk up to it. It bent down slowly to sniff his hand. It tickled slightly, but Saru tried his hardest to keep his composure calm.

After a moment the deer nudged its nose against his palm.

"See? He's friendly," Aerith beamed.

Saru giggled, moving to his hand to pet the deer.

The deer remained still, letting Saru continue to pet it. He enjoyed how soft it felt under his fingers. He had pet plenty of different animals before, mostly cats and dogs, so the occasional rare forest animal was always a special treat.

"Why don't we ask him his name?" Aerith asked as she crouched down next to Saru.

Saru nodded shyly before speaking softly. "Hi. I'm Saruhiko, what's your name?"

The deer let out a sharp huffed of air from his nose. It made a soft grunting sound.

"He says his name is Hersh," Aerith explained.

"Hersh, huh?" Saru continued petting the deer when he turned to face Aerith. "How can you understand them, mom?"

"I don't know. There came a day when I found myself able to understand. Maybe a kind spirit or witch gave me the granted ability since I'm always kind to all animals."

"I wish I could understand them too." Saru spoke dejectedly.

"Maybe one day you'll be able to. You're so gentle with animals, so I can't see why you can't be given the same gift as me," Aerith replied as she patted Saru's head.

The little fawn in Saru's lap out a little bleat, pulling him away from his memories. He returned his attention to the little fuzzy creature, going back to pet it like he had been before.

Thinking back on his childhood, Saru wondered if he would eventually be able to hear animals like his mother, or if it was only a way for his mother to entertain him.

It was common for parents to set up magical expectations in a young child's mind. But the world was full of magic, so it wasn't entirely out of the option. Maybe it was real, or maybe it wasn't. Either way, Saru knew that he couldn't understand animals, even though he wished he could.

Meanwhile, while Saru found himself settling into a more comfortable position to be with the fawn, Zack had headed down into the basement.

He served up one of the punch bags and got the proper gloves needed before he started his practice set of punches. Before long he became hardcore focused into the routine, so much so that he didn't even notice how much time was passing.

Zack kept at it, even when someone started coming down the stairs. Nothing could break him from his concentration… at least until someone spoke.

"Zack?"

Zack stopped, breathing heavily before he turned to the staircase. "Cloud. Hey… when did you… get back?"

"Few minutes ago. Zexion said I'd find you down here. What's going on, Zack?"

"It's… It's him… Or them… any of them," he huffed between each heavy breath.

"You mean… Sephiroth?" Cloud asked, lowering his voice.

"Could be, or some other family member. I don't freaking know!" Zack replied before giving a hard punch to the bag. "One of them confronted the boys tonight. It shook Saru up pretty bad."

"Only confronted? Nothing else?"

"Yup, he was there only for a moment. That's what the boys told me before he vanished."

Cloud stepped closer to Zack. "And you're not planning to do anything reckless, are you?"

"I might be… so what if I am?"

"Zack…"

Zack huffed. "What? I can't look out for them? Protect them? It's my job to keep them safe! And… I have to do my job… I can't lose them!"

Before Zack could go back to punching the bag, he was pulled into a hug from Cloud. Resting against his boyfriend, feeling the rise and fall of his chest, Zack was able to slowly level himself out.

"Okay yeah… maybe I got too worked up."

"You definitely were, but it wasn't unreasonable," Cloud replied. "Shows how much you care about them."

"I know… I just don't want to make mistakes again. I already messed up so much before, if I fail again I'd-"

"Zack stop it," Cloud cut in. "You know I hate it when you're like this."

Zack sighed, curling himself up tightly against Cloud. "I hate it too, but I don't want any of them getting hurt. If it's really one of Sephiroth's gang, then I gotta prepare for any possibility."

Cloud nodded. "Alright. I'll help too. Just… don't go off without telling me, okay?"

Zack smiled, thankfully for Cloud's constant concern for him. Without Cloud, he knew he would have probably lost himself to his internal thoughts so many times. Having Cloud there grounded him, kept his thoughts straight, and gave him the confidence to keep going.

"Thanks Cloudy, don't know what I'd do without you," he replied before turning around to give a kiss on the cheek.