Chapter 4
Toji was feeling weird.
Despite the fact his son Megumi has been reduced to that of a baby, he felt odd as he kept staring at him. "Why… why do I feel so… odd?" he asked as he held his son.
Tiamat was on standby as she watched him closely. "You feel odd or do you feel something resonating within you?" she asked. "You already had a moment where you lost sense of yourself… is that happening again?" she asked.
He didn't answer her, hell, he hardly heard what she said! He couldn't describe it, part of him wants to find somewhere warm, safe, secured and hunker down! Another part of him wants to just hold Megumi, then, there's the thought of threats from all around… threats he needs to destroy and take care of so his son is safe…
But he can't figure out what to do!
"I want to do everything I can to keep him safe… but… but…" his mind was slipping, in fact, he was remembering the day he walked out on the family… and never returned… he abandoned his son… and he was disgusted with himself.
"Toji, take it easy, Megumi has only been turned…"
But the more he remembered… the more he felt his mind slip.
'Take care of Megumi… okay?'
His first wife's voice came into his head once more.
"Take… care of Megumi… protect Megumi…"
Then, his instincts got the better of him…
#
They were about to sit down to the second course for dinner. Ryoto helped his mother cook the meal as he has been wanting to get some of his skills up. They just sat down to eat, his father joined them when suddenly, Ryoto got a text message.
It was odd since everyone knows he doesn't answer his phone at the table.
"Go ahead and see, it maybe serious." His father insisted.
Ryoto excused himself and looked over the message. He was taken aback but was glad he read that ahead of time. "Uh… father… for the next while, you and I are not going to step outside of the house."
His father paused and glared at him. "Is Six Eyes…"
"No, this came from Marcy who just got word from her grandmother. Apparently. Megumi has been turned into an infant, and yet… his father's mind is all over the place. Grandma Tiamat said that if anyone who has harmed Megumi in the past is revealed… Toji may take action. He's in that phase where he will destroy anything that has or could harm his son… So… yeah. It's strange since he was showing Megumi off just this morning right? That or it's how fast his mindset can change."
His father froze to this and yet growled a little. "I won't show my face for a week if that's the case…"
"I'm in the same boat then…"
"What do you mean, Ryoto? You never harmed Megumi!" his mother protested. "And also, didn't Toji just introduce you to him before you went to rest?" she asked.
Ryoto smirked as he came up beside his father, side by side, there was a very strong resemblance. "Do you think Toji would know or care to know the difference? Especially at THIS side profile?" he asked his mother.
She looked between them and sighed. "Fair point" she said. "I'll keep a close eye on things until it is safe for you two to leave the house."
'Ding'
Another message.
Ryoto checked and smiled. "Apparently now, Toji is in a bonding phase. He has tucked himself in at the nursery with Megumi. He won't leave until he knows a bond has been established between then… Never pegged Toji to be a nurturer…"
His mom snickered. "He's not, but he also just became a dragon, maybe something got knocked around in there huh?" she laughed. "But… Yua told me he abandoned Megumi at a young age…"
"He did, never saw him again until the Shibuya incident." Said father.
Ryoto was about to ask but then remembered, his father possessed him and obtained memory of Megumi.
"Still, do you think it's his instinct doing this? Or is this Toji trying to fix what he didn't do the last time?"
His parents paused. "He's so your brat…" his father muttered.
His mom snickered on the other hand. "Either way, perhaps this will do them BOTH some good. Megumi has to figure out that his form is not going to change, he needs to accept it or…" she trailed off.
Ryoto nodded to this as he peered to his father. "You have been trying to tell him, this whole time, haven't you?" he asked. "You can see his soul and body clashing… the soul trying to escape but the body made from his shikigami… they refuse to let him go."
His father merely nodded to this. "I have damaged him beyond anything or anyone could do to him… even with his sister back, he won't listen to what I have to say… Perhaps this is why Lady Tiamat did it…"
The room… went silent.
"Father?"
"Did you suggest that she turn Megumi into an infant?!" mom demanded.
He nodded to that and began to eat his dinner. He took a few mouthfuls before he explained. "Had you left him be, he would have broken free eventually… and the body dies," He put it bluntly. "However, when the body has been altered from its pervious state, it bides you time. Not a lot, but enough to hopefully establish a bond between body and soul. If Megumi isn't whole when he is turned back… he won't survive much longer."
Ryoto was stunned. His mother gasped in shock. "This whole time, you have…"
"I've been trying to tell him that."
Ryoto paused to this, despite the terrible things he has heard from the others here… when his father tries to help, he truly is attempting to do so as best as he can.
"Then perhaps we can help… if we can earn Toji's trust…"
"Not happening" his father decreed. "Especially with me. You may have better luck since you are with Marceline. You have dragons at your side related to Lady Tiamat, who is his mate… just be cautious for not even I can save you from him."
That… was a little chilling, but he understood, his father was warning him to tread carefully and not push his luck. For if he does, he is on his own.
"I understand, father," he said with great sincerity.
"Good, sit down and eat your dinner"
