AN: Since it's been so long since I've updated, I've gone back to do a little editing of the previous chapters.
It finally happened, the thing that Gehenna had been worried about since removing her cloak from the unnatural link, ghosts were crowding around the entrance to the portal and were beginning to flood their way through it into Gaia's realm. Normally the flood wouldn't be so unmanageable because her Halfa's parents had been wise enough to have a set of doors blocking the portal, making it hard for those without a certain level of strength or drive to push through. But for some reason the doors were repeatedly opening and closing, making it extremely easy for even the most basic ghost animals to find their way through it. A line even formed in front of the portal as the ghosts eagerly waited for their chance to go through.
Gehenna close monitored the portal and growing line with concern, making sure the sudden influx of ghosts to Gaia's realm didn't risk the balance of the realms. Thankfully her young Halfa was hard at work, keeping all her stray children contained and capturing them before they could become to numerous in the town.
But disaster struck when Johnny 13 and Kitty attempted to make their way through the unnatural link. They hadn't been able to make it through the doors in time and Kitty's form was split between the realms. Her scream of pain caused the rest of the ghosts in line to scatter, fearing a similar fate. Gehenna concentered her consciousness into a physical form and gently embraced the flickering Kitty as the younger was forced to return to her realm. Carefully cradling the injured child, Gehenna began carefully dripping concentrated energy into Kitty to help stabilize her form.
Kitty groaned slightly in pain, leaning into Gehenna's arms. Though normally Kitty wouldn't be able to see or really feel Gehenna, her rebellious nature making her dismissive of a guiding force, her unstable state left her more open to Gehenna's presence.
Under Gehenna's care, it wasn't long before Kitty's form stabilized though she was still far weaker than she had been and that was something that Gehenna would leave to time. It was better for Kitty and Johnny to learn that their hasty actions had consequences and would hopefully make them think a bit more rationally in the future.
Kitty held her head slightly as she came to full awareness and immediately contacted Johnny through the connection she had with him and the items she had given him, opening a small window to Gaia's realm and demanding "What's taking so long?"
"I'm trying to find the right girl for you to take over," Johnny replied. "If I've gotta look at her face for all eternity I wanna make sure I like it, dig?"
Gehenna frowned at the conversation realizing pretty quickly what the two were planning to do. Forcefully, Gehenna said, "You are not to try and take a human as a permanent host. That is against the old laws."
Kitty couldn't hear Gehenna, but she did shudder slightly in fear as she got the feeling she was doing something forbidden. Stubborn and impatient, along with the hot-headiness of youth, prevented Kitty from giving up her foolish endeavor. Instead she focused on the window as Johnny pointed out the host he was planning for her and replied, "She'll do for now."
Kitty closed the window and couldn't do much but wait, growing more and more tense and anxious as she subconsciously felt Gehenna's disapproval. Kitty was so tensed that she jumped when the portal doors' opened though she smiled as she saw Johnny on the other side with Gehenna's young Halfa's sister prepared as the new host. Kitty eagerly began the transfer process.
"I told you that is forbidden!" Gehenna rumbled, the atmosphere quivering under her anger. Kitty faltered for a second before hurrying the transfer, her fear making her press forward in urgency.
Gehenna reached out and blocked the flow of energry, making Kitty frown as she couldn't figure out what the problem was. Thankfully Gehenna's young Halfa was also working to stop the transfer and managed steal the ring from his sister's hand, stopping the process completely.
"Johnny?" Kitty asked in worried annoyance. Johnny didn't have time to answer though as her Halfa fled with the ring and Johnny commanded his shadow after him. Kitty paced anxiously and was shocked that the next time she saw Johnny was because he was being forcefully returned to Gehenna's realm thanks to her young Halfa.
Johnny was dazed for a moment before his gaze locked onto Kitty, causing him to go over to her and apologize, "I'm sorry I failed babe. And now neither of us can get to the human world.
"Be thankful you did fail," Gehenna replied sternly, the aura in the area still tense though not as tense as before. "Or I would have had to taken more drastic actions against you."
The couple shuddered at the unheard words and Kitty replied, "I-it's okay Johnny… maybe it was better this way. We'll just spend a little time getting our strength back and try again some other time. And you better not fry my body again!"
"I won't babe, promise!" Johnny said, relieved his girlfriend wasn't too mad.
Gehenna let her disapproving aura fade away as the young couple began flying off back to their lair, watching them carefully but having a feeling they had learned their lesson. With one last glance at the unnatural link, Gehenna let her own form fade away, hoping her half would have a chance to rest and relax for now.
Because unfortunately felt something big was on the horizon.