Hey back with another update!

Special thanks to Gluten-Free-Okami for Beta-reading this chapter

The soft melody was heard in the cave as Haelth played the violin. Her siblings listened as she played. Out of all of them, Skylar gave her the most attention. Haelth rubbed the strings with her bow as she tried to find the right beats to the song that her father had taught her. Once she was done Skylar clapped.

"Good work!" Her eldest sister praised her. Haelth blushed and looked down, a bit embarrassed.

Leonard scoffed, "She's alright." He said and Haelth felt a bow to her ego.

"Hey, I tried my best!" She huffed, "And Pa said I'm good for my age." Leonard rolled his eyes at that and Annabelle giggled.

Fionn waved his hands, "Come on guys, let's not fight. Ma and Pa will kill us if we make a mess."

"Come on Fionn!" Annabelle snapped, "Ma and Pa are not here. And what's the runt going to do-" She was cut off as Haelth jumped up onto her sister's face to scratch at her.

Her siblings pulled them apart with Skylar holding her back with one hand as she held her head while Leonard held his twin back. Skylar then made them sit in the corners on the opposite sides of the cave.

Haelth pouted and waited for the timeout to be over with. She hopes that her Mom and Dad will come back soon. It was hard to wait for them. She misses them.

Later Skylar tapped her on the shoulder.

"Haelth?" Haelth turn her.

"Yes?" Haelth looked up at her sister.

Her sister sighed, "So Ma and Pa are not back yet and we ran out of food," She looked to the side and Haelth followed her line of sight to where her siblings were near the mouth of the cave, "We're going into town get some food and we can't leave you here by yourself. So-" Haelth immediately got up and walked to where her siblings were.

"Let go! Let's go!" She said getting ready but Skylar grabbed her shoulder.

"Aww, what now?" She whines as she turns to her.

"Ground rules: stay out of sight of police and if you spot them-"

"I'll run," Haelth finished for her. She heard this over and over again. It was getting annoying.

Skylar smiled at her, "Good." She said and grabbed Haelth's hand, "Now let's go."

"Have you guys anything yet?" Skylar asked Leonard who was looking in the trash.

"Nothing yet!" He called out from the trash bin. He and his twin searched through the trash while Skylar supervised them. Fionn and Haelth were on watch duty though Haelth thinks that's because they didn't want them to get hurt.

Which made her very anxious. She wanted to help! She's useful! But her sister won't let her.

Her downcast expression caught the attention of her older brother Fionn.

"What's wrong?" He asked her.

She turned to him, "We are not going to get anything unless we do something," She then power walked out of the alley with her brother nervously following her.

Haelth peeked out of the ally, "And we don't know if the food is going to be safe to eat if they find any. Plus it might take all night!" She explains to her brother as she walks out into the busy street in the marketplace.

Haelth watch from the shadows. The food stand has some good-smelling food. The sweet smell of tempura was in the air. The child's mouth watered at the smell of it.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" He asked her.

"We're all hungry Fionn," she told him, eyeing the food. She ignores the fact Fionn hasn't eaten anything she gives to him. Or that her siblings only get food for her. Not the other way around. Her head snapped up after hearing something fall and the cook left to check what it was while customers watched. This was her chance.

She sneaks up to the stand, walks up, and steals a bowl. The child almost got back to her hiding place when she heard the cook's loud voice.

"Hey-Stop! That's my food! Thief!" Haelth took off running. Push people out of the way. The child heard the police coming after her.

Fuck!

Fuck!

Why didn't she listen to her sister?

She needs to lose the police and go home. Haelth saw her brother running alongside her. She opens her mouth to come with a pl-

"Oh! It's you again!" A pair of hands sweep her off her feet. Haelth out of instinct bites the hand. But to her surprise the one that her grab her laugh, "Hey now! Is that any way to treat a friend?" Haelth stops and looks up to the familiar rainbow-eyed man.

She gasped, "Forest weirdo!"

The man burst out in a laugh, "I told my name!" He reminded her.

Haelth covers her mouth, "Sorry! That first thing that comes to mind." She admits.

The police come down the street, Haelth's eyes widen and she pushes at Douma, "Let me go! They're going to beat me!" Douma's eyes widen slightly at that. He saw the police coming down and quickly hid her in his haori.

Haelth was quiet and listened to what was going on.

"What seems to be a problem officer?" Douma asked the policemen.

"We're looking for a thief. A hāfu with red hair. Have you seen her?" They asked. Haelth is silent gulped and stays still.

Was the man going to turn her in or not? She feels like an idiot for trusting him. For running into him.

Idiot…

Idiot…

Idiot….

"I'm afraid not." Haelth almost moves her head but stays still to not be seen.

"Damnit," she heard the officer curse under his breath, "Thank you for your time sir." She heard the police officers leave. After a while, Douma brought her from his haori out to the open.

"Now that was close," Douma said still holding her, "You certainly like getting into a lot of trouble little one." He smiled at her as he settled her down.

"...Thanks," The child said dusting off her kimono.

The man patted her on the head, "No problem." He stood up, "Now then," He held out his hand for her to take, "Should we be off then?" He asked her.

Haelth tilted her head, "Huh?"

Douma laughed, "Don't tell me you forgot?" He knelt in front of her, "I told you, didn't I? Me and my group are staying here for a while. And I would like you to come for a visit."

"Haelth don't. You don't know him." Fionn pointed out. The rest of her siblings caught up to her.

"Haelth why did you run out?! I told not to do that!" Skylar yelled at her.

The child flinches and rubs her shoulder, "I don't know…"

"Come on! It is fine," Douma said. Haelth blinked, did he think she was talking to her?

"You can leave whenever you want. But we have plenty of food and drink to offer. And no one will judge you." He told her.

"W-well," Haelth yelped as Douma picked her up, "Put me down!"

The man laughed, "Oh it be fine! You'll see!" The rest of the siblings look nervous but they follow the man as he carries the child away.

Douma took her to an inn where a bunch of people were at. He knocks on the door and the bald man opens the door for him

"Lord Founder!" One bald man helps Douma in, "You shouldn't go out in the open like this. I heard there are thieves out and about."

Douma laughed, "Don't worry I can hold myself, plus…" He held up Haelth in front of him. Holding her up under her shoulder like one would with a cat, "I caught one of the thieves myself!"

Haelth growled at the man who's eyes widened.

"My lord!" The man waved his arms frantically, "If that kid is a thief then we should turn her over to the police right?" He asked, his eyes darting to Haelth. Which made the child growl louder

Douma shook his head and laughed, "And leave this poor soul to rot in a cage? Look at her Seiji." He lowers her so she is at eye level with Seiji, "She's hungry and homeless. So I figured why not share our meal with her? After all, it's my job to help the helpless right?"

Seiji sighed, "Of course my lord." He gives one last look at Haelth before walking off. Douma follows him and they end up in a big room filled with people. Some wore a white outfit like Seiji, and others were homeless like she was or poor. The room itself was very big. It has a small kitchen, a living room, and a large table. The floor was a tatami mat, with a zabuton for people to sit around the long, low table.

Douma smiled and let her down.

"Go on. Go," He pushed her forward but Haelth nervously stayed. There were so many people here…Her hands felt sweaty.

Douma notices her nervous, so he kneels beside her.

"Hey, what's the matter?" He asked her.

"S-so many people," she mumbled.

The man laughed, "There are but there are my followers. They are very nice and friendly. You're not the first person to have given a hard life, and to us you won't be the last." he pointed out. Haelth paused, thinking about that. His words were comforting.

Douma took her hand, "But if you're nervous then take my hand. I will be with you every step of the way." Douma told her.

"O-ok," Haelth said. She refuses to hold his hand. Her pride won't allow it. Especially around strangers, she doesn't know. The hāfu refuse to look weak in front of strangers.

She walks out to a group of strangers and waves her hand.

"Hi…" She greeted them.

"Oh, hello there!" One of the women stepped forward and greeted her, "What's your name sweetie?"

Haelth took a step back but answered her

"It's Haelth," She told her.

The woman smiled, "I'm Akemi," She told her, Haelth was kinda relaxed as she seemed nice.

"What brings you here?" Akemi asked Haelth.

Haelth pointed to Douma who was walking to the front end of a long table in the room.

"Douma brought me here!" She explained to her. Akemi blinked in surprise and then smiled brightly at her.

"You're lucky that Douma-sama brought you here. He must see something special within you." Akemi told her.

Haelth tilted her head in confusion, "What do you mean?" She asked her.

"Douma is special," Akemi looked at the blond-haired who was being greeted by visitors here, "He was blessed by the gods and heard their voice. He is so wise and caring to help guide us to Paradise." She talks about Douma like he was a gift from the Heavens. But to the child, he seems normal. A bit strange but normal.

"I thought he was hāfu," Haelth replied innocently.

Akemi's eyes widened a bit at her bluntness then laughed.

"Oh no little one. His appearance is due because the gods blessed him," She explained to him. Haelth was about to ask more questions when Douma clapped his hands.

"Greetings!" He called out and everyone stopped talking and settled down. Douma smiles at this whilst Haelth looks confused but Akemi pushes her down into the bow position.

"I see we have a new guest," His eyes scan across the room to people wearing different clothes from Douma's followers to clothes like Haelth's. The young child notices that most of them are women or homeless like her.

"Me and my followers would like to thank you for joining us. I know some of you are questioning our intentions." He looks at one of the guys and he looks down when making eye contact. Douma pulls out a golden fan to cover the lower half of his face.

"But I promise you we mean you no harm. We want to help you." He had a soft smile as he continued, "I know life can be hard. And I heard your pleas from the gods themselves and I'm here to help." He nodded to one of the people next to him. The person nodded and clapped their hands. Then a whole bunch of people handed out food by putting it on the table before them.

Haelth's mouth watered.

"Now I would like-" Haelth tuned out the Douma and moved to eat the food. She grabs the chopstick and eats some of the chicken. Skylar looks at her in horror while the twins laugh and Fionn looks worried.

"Haelth!" Skylar shouted, moving close to her, "What are you doing?"

Haelth looked up at her, "What?" Skylar points in front of her and everyone at the table looks at her in shock.

"Ummm…what's wrong?" She asked innocently. Skylare smacked her forehead, the twins laughed and Fionn shook his head.

Douma laughed, "Oh, what spirit one we have here!"

He turns to other people, "I'm not some sort of Lord that punishes children for being themselves. Please help yourself! This is all for you!" The people cheer and eat. Haelth ate the food and frowned at her siblings not eating.

"Guys, is everyone hungry?" She asked them.

Skylar shook her head, "We'll eat later. For now, you eat." She told her.

Haelth frowns, and she grabs a piece of chicken with a chopstick. And held it out for some of her siblings to take.

"But-"

"Just eat runt." Annabelle snapped at her.

Before Haelth could push it further her brother Leonard spoke up.

"Is he flirting with the woman over them?" He asked and Haelth followed his gaze to see Douma chatting with a woman that visited like her, who was giggling whilst blushing.

"Looks like it." Annabelle chimes in, "He might be one of those Lords who have lots of wives." She theorized.

"Might be," He agrees with his twin. Watching as the lady shared her food with Douma. Douma smiled and ate the food very quickly.

Haelth looked at them confused, "What's wrong with that?" She asked them.

Skylar watches him, "Nothing but…" She looked away for a moment, "We tell you when you're older."

Haelth pouted at that.

Douma gives the guests a room because he orders a lot of rooms for himself and his followers. Most stayed as they were the homeless and because they were tired of living in the streets but some went home, still not sure about this whole thing. Douma allowed this and said they were welcome back if they changed their mind.

She and her siblings were talking about it. Went back and forth, agreeing to stay if they all slept together so they could keep a watch out in case something was going on.

Douma watched them in amusement as the family talked and forth. Which made Haelth a little annoyed because he thought they weren't there but Skylar told her to let it go for now.

Haelth sleeps on a futon in the corner of the room. She heard the soft snoring from the other guests in their futon which lured her to sleep.

In her dreams, she runs in the woods. The trees were bare, leaving the moonlight shiny above her. But the stars and moon offered her no guidance or protection as she was being chased.

With the trees bare, no shadow will hide her, so all she can do is run. She tore through the field. Haelth yelped as she felt the thing chasing getting closer and closer until she ducked under it and climbed up on the tree. But she was halfway up when the thing grabbed her.

Haelth woke up with a gasp. Everyone was still asleep besides Fionn. Who woke up and looked up at her in concern with his one blue eye.

"Haelth is something wrong?" He asked her.

"Bad dream." She told him. Fionn's brow furrowed and he hugged her.

"Want to talk about it?" He asked her. Haelth gave him a small smile, Fionn was only two years older than her but they were close as they were closer to the same age compared to their older siblings. They always look out for each other because of that. As while she was reckless he is more sensitive. So she defends him from bullies while he checks up on her mental health and leads her to his ear.

She pushes off the covers, "I need to go to the bathroom."

Fionn got up from his futon as well.

"I'll help you. We supposed to stick together, like Skylar told us." He reminds her. Haelth nodded, and the two made their way out of the guest room to the hallway.

It was the middle of the night and everyone was sleeping. Fionn holds Haelth's hand as they walk out of the room and into the hallway. But as the two siblings got closer to the bathroom they heard a hurling sound coming from the closed door.

"It's someone already there?" Haelth turned to her brother.

Fionn frowns, "Guess so." He flinches hearing the person throw up, "They sound sick."

"Should we help?" Haelth asked her brother.

"I think so," He agreed with her.

He let Haelth knock on the door.

"Hello?" She called out, "Are you alright?" There was silence but a person behind the door answered them.

"I'm fine," The siblings exchange a look, as they realize the voice is Douma, "Just give me a moment." There were shifting clothes sounds and Douma opened up the door. He adjusted his haori look down at her.

"Oh, it's you," He kneed down so that he could be at eye level with her.

Fionn keeps close to his sister.

"What are you doing here?" He asked her.

"Oh I just have nightmares and my brother is just here to escort me to the bathroom," She explained.

Douma's mouth twitched, "Oh I see," His rainbow eyes glimmered in the dark hallway. It was kinda creepy.

"What a good brother you have." Haelth frowns, as it sounds like Douma is finding her brother escorting her funny.

"He's right there!" She points at Fionn, glaring at Douma.

Douma holds his hands, "Ok, ok I believe you little one." He grins as Haelth glares at him.

Fionn put his hand on her shoulder.

"Don't pick on him Haelth. He's sick," He reminds her. Haelth nearly tripped at that.

"Oh, I forgot about that!" Haelth looks up at Douma who has an amused expression on his face as she talks to her brother.

"Are you ok?" She asked him.

Douma tilted his head, "What do you mean?" He asked her.

"Well, you're sick right?" Douma stiffed slightly, "Do you need me to get you anything? Like water or soup?" She asked him. That's what her mom did for her when she was sick.

Douma was silent for a moment and looked down at her. The young child couldn't read his expression but the hairs on the back of her neck stood up and her brother tensed up. After a while Douma spoke up.

"There's nothing to worry about little one," He smiles at her, reaching out and patting her on top of her head.

"I get sick from time to time." The tension in the air stops and the two siblings relax, "I have a sensitive stomach that's all." And with that older man explained as he got up, and started walking away. Before he went outside Haelth called out to him.

"Are you sure you don't need anything?" She asked him.

Douma pauses for a moment before he turns, and smiles at her.

"No, I'm fine!" He waved her off, "I just need some fresh air that's all! Just get some rest. You're a growing girl after all and you need some sleep." With that, he opened the door and went out into the night, closing the door behind him.

Haelth shrugged and then went to the bathroom. Fionn stayed outside as she took care of business.

That's a wrap!

I'm interested what your thoughts on what's going on with Haelth in this fic even though I can't confirm anything until much later. But you are free to write them and I give my reaction. But I won't giveaway answers.

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