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Story
+ Angel Hunt ~ Streifen +
Future Effects
Twenty Years into the future a new game begins...
A story collaboration between Angel Hunt and Streifen
Chapter Three : Part Two
[ Trust ]
Megumi spends only a minute with her hair before setting the brush down and rising from the carved bench. Small steps from petite slippered feet glide her to her wardrobe almost as if she were floating instead of walking. Reaching out, she pulls the doors open to reveal the lavish amount of dresses and kimonos before her.
Without thought or care, her dressing gown slips from her body and crumbles around her feet onto the floor beneath her. Her motions are fluid as she reaches inside to pull a simple black and white lace Lolita dress free, slipping into it with ease.
Her favorite mode of dress had remained the same throughout the years and while she may have grown a few years older, her tastes had not. She did not care for the modern wear that her brothers and her sister favored beyond the latest brands shipped directly to her from Japan by her husband, she wore what she did not because of a need for appearances, but simply because she enjoyed it. While she was provided for to the fullest extent, it did not matter to her one way or another; she had no care for most modern conveniences or luxuries. But there were few that she did enjoy, and it was those few that she enjoyed to the fullest. Her dresses were among those that she liked.
Long black plaits trail behind her as she continues to dress. Normally she would choose the more lavish and detailed gown, but she awoke this morning knowing that one her Husband held dear would be asking for her assistance soon so she chose simple on this day. She would be traveling into the city for the task that would soon be upon her and she did not wish to obstruct.
Once her task was completed to the Eclipse’s satisfaction, she would ask to be taken to her brother. She wished to see him again and it would be her only price for help in this matter. She did miss him and she is certain that his reluctance to come home was because he most likely felt as if he no longer belongs. She would to tell him otherwise. He will always remain her brother, regardless of his true origins or hers. She wishes Jun to know this.
Megumi slips her feet into a pair of patent leather mary janes and ties a small lace trimmed bonnet beneath her chin, moving to the door of her room to lift a black parasol free of the stand it rests in. Slender fingers twist the knob and she steps out into the hallway of the 2nd floor landing. Closing the door behind her, she turns and folds her hands gracefully at her front, standing and waiting patiently with no movement what so ever for the Eclipsed to present himself to her.
Aki smiles at the Demon still resting on the oversized four poster bed before he exits the door to their shared room. He told Jenova that he was going to eat and then check up on Sen so he would be a while. He did have plans to check on Sen but only after he completed the plans he made the night before, the ones that Jenova was not aware of as far as he could tell. If the Demon was aware, he certainly wasn’t letting him know enough to interfere with them.
The Eclipsed swiftly descends the main staircase to the 2nd floor and heads to the wing that Megumi and Kazuya reside in. Rounding the corner, he is met abruptly with the deep-eyed blank stare of the God’s human daughter. The surprise almost sends him flying backwards but he catches himself before he falls.
“Megumi, I was looking for you. I… I have a favor to ask of you this morning, if you would be so kind.”
Raven plaits spill forward in the slightest as she bows her head as Aki finishes his words. She says nothing and simply walks past the Selestarri towards the main stairwell. Cerulean blue watch in as the petite figure rounds the corner before he blinks and quickly jogs to catch up. Megumi’s footfalls are near silent as she glides down the stairs with Eclipsed following quietly behind. Stepping into the front foyer she nods to a servant as the doors to the mansion’s entrance are opened before her.
Aki smiles and thanks the doorman before moving to the girl’s side who continues to stare ahead, her blank gaze not focused on any one thing. “Um…Megumi?” He starts, interrupted as a town car pulls up to the front. Without a word she steps forward, sliding into the car as the door is opened for her. Aki stares down in bewildered silence before the driver moves to the other side and opens the adjoining door, waiting expectantly for the Selestarri. Deep blue eyes shift to the side when Aki only stands in place, the confusion written clearly on his features. The driver clears his throat and the Eclipsed shakes his head and quickly walks around the car to the opened door and slides himself next to her inside.
With her parasol lying neatly across her lap, Megumi continues to stare ahead of her as the car pulls away from the mansion, only speaking once the scrolled cast iron gates shut behind them and the driver pulls out onto the far road that would lead them to the inner city.
“He would not allow it should we remain inside.” Her voice is soft and even, the distance clear in her tone.
“Then you already know what I want?” Megumi nods at Aki’s question, “…That’s creepy, I don’t know how you do that, but thank you.” The Eclipsed lets his thoughts carry briefly through his connection with Jenova as they speed away from the mansion.
[Jenova, I’m apparently escorting Megumi…somewhere… I should be back soon.]
A soft chuckle reaches his mind, the Demon’s voice ringing gently inside Aki’s head [Yes… she has informed this One already that she had business outside of the mansion’s grounds and wished for you to join her. I did not protest as I thought the time away would perhaps… do you well.]
The Eclipsed smiles, pausing for a moment before reluctantly continuing [ …I know you don’t want to, but could you please check on Sen for me?]
He is met with only silence. It stretches for the space of a few minutes, to the point that Aki begins to wonder if Jenova had cut the connection before liquid notes finally answer.
[As you wish…]
Aki removes his thoughts from the Demon’s reach and sits quietly with Megumi for a few moments before finally speaking up. “Umm... where exactly are we going?”
The black haired woman does not speak, she merely continues to keep her distant gaze locked before her. Aki sighs softly and sits back in his seat, the pair sitting in silence while the car continues to drive them closer to the inner city. Cerulean blue eyes shift to the road as is streaks them by, lost in thought and jumping when a soft voice startles him back.
“I wish to see my brother after you have spoken to my father, if you would be so kind.”
Aki nods, “Jun, of course… I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you. I haven’t seen him in a bit either. I wonder how he’s doing?”
“…. As do I.” Megumi says quietly.
The Town car pulls into the entrance to an empty field and stops, the driver exiting to open the door for Megumi, then Aki once she has safely removed herself from the vehicle. The driver returns to the car and waits.
Megumi stares blankly into the field and the Eclipsed can only assume this is where he will be speaking to her father. He begins to clear a small path for Megumi to follow him as he heads towards a lone tree in the middle of the clearing. Once there he looks around in slight confusion.
“Now what?”
The air before him ripples and the shape of an older child begins to form in front of him, slowly solidifying into the white haired god he has come to recognize as Jenova’s Creator’s Other half. Aki looks to Megumi to verify that it is the correct god and she only stares and blinks.
Confirmation enough.
Io looks around him with solid iridescent eyes and grins widely when he sees Megumi. “Daughter! How nice to see you… away from that… thing’s dwelling.”
Megumi bows “As it is to see you Father.” A brief smile passes over her lips, “I do not wish to hear ill of my Husband …”
Io snorts and turns his attention to the Eclipsed and a look of annoyance crosses his youthful features. “What are you doing here with my daughter? You didn’t touch her did you, you better not have or I’ll be very angry and make you and the stupid toy who owns you regret it…” The Demi God stomps up to Aki’s face and looks at him squarely with solid, iridescent blue eyes.
“Father…” Megumi’s one word causes the Demi God to back down. He sighs loudly.
“Fine, I won’t kill you… right now… Whata’ya want?”
The Eclipsed blinks for a moment, unsure of how to proceed. All his thoughts have jumbled. Sen, he’s here for Sen… Aki musters up as much confidence he can possibly have in the situation and begins.
“I know about your game.”
“What game?” Io flatly denies, “I have no idea what you are talking about…”
“The child.”
“What child?”
Aki growls in annoyance, this was going to be harder than he thought. “Fine. Just listen to me and interject as needed. I know about the game, about the child. I want to know what the child is.”
“You know what it is…”
“Yes, I know, I know he’s part Jenova and part myself, and thank you for admitting you made him…”
“DAMNIT!” Io stomps his foot into the ground, annoyed at being tricked into giving information away. A small slip of laughter is pulled from his daughter’s lips and he flashes her an annoyed look.
“You want to win the game, right?”
Io turns his attention back to the Selestarri. “I’m listening...”
“My assumption is that the game is will Jenova kill the child or won’t he.”
Silence.
“Ok, if that’s the case then I’m assuming that your Other half wants Jenova to kill him and you want the opposite, right?”
“Maaaaybe.”
“Then you need me. I’m the only thing that will let you win the game. I’m the only thing keeping the child alive.”
More silence.
“Help me help you. I want the child to live but I can only do that if I can prove to Jenova that it’s an innocent. The only thing that’s stopping him from believing that is the block in his head, I need to know what’s in there.”
Io balls his hands into fists. Block? A BLOCK?! His stupid Other CHEATED! There is nothing in the child’s head. Nothing! Oh when he gets his hands on his Other….
Aki smirks to himself as he watches the silent reaction to his words play out on childlike features. The God doesn’t know about the block, does he? So unless the Other half hid something in there, then child is exactly what he appears to be. A wave of reserved relief washes over him. Now he just needs to find out what’s behind the block.
“If you can remove the block and there is nothing behind it, Jenova won’t kill the child. You win. Simple.”
Io continues to fume but replaces his soured expression with a saccharin smile before turning back around to face Aki. “I’ll have to get back to you on that one. Daughter, please excuse my brief visit, I have things to attend to. It was lovely to see you again, as always.” He bows to Megumi who bows in return before his form begins to shimmer and fade. Io’s faint voice echoes loud enough to scare the birds on the tree above them.
“OTHER!”
The Eclipsed turns to Megumi with a smile and extends his hand. “I thank you for your assistance. Now, shall we go see your brother?”
The woman extends her hand and returns a distant smile, “If you would be so kind sir.”
Clawed fingers pull a thin leather sleeveless free of the carved mahogany wardrobe, clear red eyes shifting to the set of children’s clothing, folded neatly beneath Aki’s. He smirks and turns away, sliding the top onto his body. Long white plaits spill down his back as he pulls them free of the garment, fastening the final straps while heavily buckled boots carry him to the door of his room.
Turning the antique brass knob, the Demon strides out into the fourth floor hallway, his footfalls near silent while his casual pace carries him towards the stairwell that would lead him to the Ancient Bright’s room located on the first floor.
It was rare Megumi specifically asked for one’s company in whatever tasks she took upon herself to pass her time and so he was… interested to know why she had chosen Aki on this particular day. He would find out from the Eclipsed later though, in the mean time having Aki away from the child would allow him his own time with the creature.
Time that he would use to assess its nature further without interference.
Ikkairius sips his morning tea in silence, smiling at Sen who sits across from him doing the same. He was very impressed at how polite and well-mannered the child was. Most likely that trait was obtained from Aki’s half of the genetics. Sen listened and always tried very hard not to repeat the same mistakes twice. The Ancient Bright hated to admit the child was growing on him.
He sets his tea down as he feels someone approach. It was not the Eclipsed who is coming to his door. This worried him slightly as he knows Jenova is looking for any excuse to terminate the hybrid’s life. Ikkairius wonders if that time has finally approached. It’s no matter anyway, he couldn’t stop the Demon even if he tried so why expend the effort. Aki is the only one who can keep this child alive.
“Sen, please get the door.”
Sen looks up in confusion, no one knocked, how does he know if someone is there? “Is Aki papa coming?”
“Open the door and you will see.”
The hybrid child nods and hops down off his chair and heads towards the room’s entrance. Right as he reaches the door, the Demon swings it open and looks down at Sen. A wide grin forms on the child’s face. Maybe Jenova finally likes him and wants to play with him. Sen jumps in place from his excitement.
“’Nova papa has come to get Sen!”
Sen runs back over to Ikkairius and tugs on his robes.
“Look Uncle Ikkai, ‘Nova papa is here!”
The Bright smiles at Sen then nods to the Demon who nods in return, face devoid of emotion. “You go with Jenova now. I will see you later on. Be good for him.”
Lest he kill you.
Sen nods with a large smile and runs out the door to meet up with his Jenova papa. “Look, ‘Nova papa, look at what Sen can do!” The hybrid turns around and with a look of concentration on his face, telekinetics wrap around the door to Ikkairius’ room slowly closing and finally clicks shut. Sen looks back expecting the Demon to be proud of him and he is only met with a look of indifference. The child’s excitement drops from his expression and he looks up at Jenova sadly.
“Where… where is Aki papa?”
“That is of no concern of yours.” The Demon says matter of factly, turning away from the child and moving down the hall. Sen stares at his father for a moment as he continues to walk away from him, sniffing suddenly in an attempt to hold back a wave of emotion that flairs up and streaks clear red eyes with gold. Remembering what his Aki papa told him the night before about his Demon father, he takes a deep breath in and wipes at the brimming tears. A look of determination quickly replaces the sadness and he nods to himself, running after Jenova as fast as he can to catch up.
The hybrid has to jog to keep up with the large strides of the Demon before him and he follows, careful to stay a few paces behind. Jenova doesn’t seem to pay him any mind as he turns a corner into a large dining hall and Sen crashes into his boots as the Demon comes to an abrupt stop in front of him. With a small yelp of surprise, he falls back and is caught by a sudden clawed grip wrapped around his shirt just before he would spill onto the marble tile. Surprised clear crimson meet cold red eyes as Sen is lifted by his shirt and set back onto his feet. The Demon straightens and stares down at the small child for a moment in silence as he looks up with a mixture of fear and awe before speaking.
“You require food do you not?”
Sen, nods without taking his eyes from Jenova’s. The Demon looks in the direction of the dining hall where servants wait patiently. The child swallows and nods again, turning to walk into the room. A servant picks the hybrid up and places him into a raised chair that allows him to reach the table, the other servants placing breakfast items in front of him. Sen takes some pieces of fruit and begins to eat, looking back at the Demon, confused.
“Will you eat with Sen ‘Nova papa?”
The Demon narrows his eyes briefly before completely entering the room and seating himself at the table across from the child. The pair remain silent for a few minutes before Sen attempts to talk to his father.
“Sen is… Sen is sorry that Haysee and Eee didn’t ask Aki papa and ‘Nova papa before making him. Sen is sorry that Haysee and Eee grandpa have hurt ‘Nova papa before. Sen won’t let them hurt ‘Nova papa ever again. Sen is trying just like Aki papa said to. Sen will listen and be good so ‘Nova papa will like him just like Aki papa and Special Fuan.” The child remembers what Aki said to him the night before when he found Fuan’s room and he attempts to hold back his emotions. His lower lip trembling as he speaks.
“Sen is very sorry he went into Special Fuan’s room. He didn’t know it was Special Fuan’s. Sen will never do it again because he doesn’t want ‘Nova papa to be angry with him and he will be very careful with Special Fuan when he meets him.” The Hybrid looks down and tries to continue eating his fruit.
The Demon stares at him in silence for a few moments before waving away the attending servants as Sen continues to chew slowly on his fruit, all of which quickly leave the room, none ever raising their eyes to meet either the child’s gaze or Jenova’s himself. Cool liquid notes startle the hybrid in the slightest, clear crimson rising to meet the same before him as a heavy leather boot is brought up to his chair and a clawed hand is draped over his knee.
“It seems they deemed fit to grace you with your… other father’s more prominent traits of speech…” The Demon smirks, “what else have they gifted you with aside from the obvious… hm?”
The child’s eyes light up, excited that Jenova wants to talk to him. “Uncle Ikkai says that Sen has tell-kinets and glowy eyes like Aki papa and that his claws and red eyes are from ‘Nova papa. Sen also has wings like Aki and ‘Nova papa, look.” The hybrid puts his fruit down and focuses for a moment, the energy in the room shifting behind him as small black-tipped silver wings form. He tries to turn in his chair to show the Demon. “Uncle Ikkai says that Aki papa had to grow his wings so Sen's must be like yours ‘Nova papa.” The child turns back to a normal sitting position leaving his wings out, and going back to his half eaten fruit. “Sen doesn’t know what else he can do. Will Sen ever get to see ‘Nova papa’s wings? Does Special Fuan have wings too?”
Clear crimson eyes shift to the small silver and black wings folded neatly behind as the long stream of words finally ceases from the child’s lips, “Interesting…” His eyes shift back to Sen while the hybrid continues to chew on his fruit, “Fuan… does not have wings.” Jenova’s eyes narrow and his tone takes on a slight hard edge, “…I will not have you speak to Fuan of wings when he returns or show him yours until I instruct you differently, is that understood?”
The child goes wide eyed at Jenova’s words and nods hastily. “Sen won’t say anything to Special Fuan about his wings.”
The Demon pulls his hand from his knee and stands up, walking around the table and past Sen towards the doorway of the dining area. He stops when he reaches the frame and tilts his head back in the slightest, eyes shifting to meet the gaze of the child behind him.
“Come…”
Sen puts down his fruit and climbs out of the chair, his bare feet land on the hardwood marble tile with a thump and he takes a moment to push his chair back in place before following the Demon out of the dining room. The hybrid runs to keep up with Jenova as he follows him down the first floor corridor and out the main sitting room door to the grounds. Sen looks up and around at the mansion’s exterior almost to the point he begins to fall back.
“It’s so tall… ‘Nova papa’s house is big.”
A small yelp leaves him as clawed fingers suddenly wrap around his pajama shirt, small clear crimson eyes going wide as large pitch wings unfold before him. Jenova bends in the slightest, the iridescent shine snaking over black feathers as he stretches his wings out to push off the ground with one strong beat a moment later. Heavy leather boots touch down on the mansion’s roof top directly above the room he shares with the Eclipsed and he turns, leaning over and setting Sen onto his feet.
The Demon straightens, the wind blowing long white plaits and layered milky brown locks around them as he stares down cold eyes, his wings folding behind him.
“Are you capable of flight?”
Sen stares wide eyed at Jenova’s wings for a moment before refocusing back to the Demon. “Sen doesn’t know if he can fly, Sen’s never tried…He doesn’t know how but if ‘Nova papa wants Sen to try, he will.”
The child turns around, bright crimson looking over the rooftop briefly before settling on a small raised ledge to their sides. Sen turns and pads his way over to it, reaching out with small clawed fingers to grip on what he can and begins to do his best to climb up. It takes him a minute, slipping once down before managing to hook his small legs onto it and pull himself up. The hybrid turns, his face set in determination while the Demon looks on and balls his fists as he steps up to the very edge. The iridescent shine snakes over tiny wings as he stretches them out, bending a few times and rocking in place before taking in a deep breath and swinging out to jump free.
With a loud thump, Sen falls and hits the rooftop, a cry pulled from his lips as he lands hard. The child slowly pushes himself up, flashing a quick look at Jenova who only returns a small smirk. He sniffs once, fighting the urge to break out in tears at his father’s obvious indifferent disappointment before his expression changes back to determination. He pulls himself to his feet once more and turns away from the Demon, returning to the ledge and repeating the process to get himself on top of it. Stepping to the edge once more, Sen begins flapping his wings frantically before leaping off, only to fall flat once again. The child continues this a few more times, each try resulting with him falling, unable to fly.
Pushing himself up, he stares down at the scratches that now riddle his hands and traces of blood that begin staining the fabric from his skinned knees. Desperate crimson move up to meet the gaze of the Demon before him, wanting so badly to please his father, only met with indifference at his failure.
“Enough…” Jenova says, turning away. Large pitch wings fading from view as he walks to the edge of the roof, stepping up on the ledge without turning back.
“Sen… Sen is sorry, ‘Nova papa” he sniffs, sitting back on his knees and rubbing at his hurt hands, “Sen tried…”
White plaits whip behind him as a strong gust races across the rooftop and crimson eyes shift back, “Did you now…?”
Sen nods frantically with a look of slight desperation. “Sen did try, he really did, but Sen doesn’t know how to fly. Sen really wants to fly if it will make ‘Nova papa happy.” He looks down at the stone roof and plays with the hem of his dirty pajamas. “He just wants to make ‘Nova papa happy like Aki papa does…”
Jenova smirks, his eyes shifting back to the sky before him, “What you wish is… not possible child.” With that, the Demon steps off the ledge, falling straight down towards the stone patio encasing the room far below, leaving the child alone.
Gold streaks immediately in Sen’s eyes at the words of his father and his fingers clench around the hem of his pajamas. Milky brown hair falls forward as the child’s head sinks low, his small frame hiccupping subtly with tears he can’t help crying.
Hesue sits perched up on top of a high tree branch, lounging with his eyes closed to the world, hands tucked behind his head and cross tipped shoes kicking idly before him. A loud exaggerated sigh leaves his lips and he sweeps his legs out, uncrossing them and re-crossing on the other side to resume the kicking he was doing a moment before.
How looooonnnnggggggggg was it going to take for his favorite to kill that thing already. It’s been ages already, AGES.
He knows the Demon will do it, no matter how long his favorite’s special thing tries to stay it, he knows it’ll happen, but sheesh, it’s been forever and he’s ready to win the game now.
Maybe putting the block in the kid’s head wasn’t enough, maybe he needs to go stir things up – get the child to do something that’ll set his favorite off for sure.
They’d made rules though, one of them being to allow the Demon and the Selestarri to duke it out between them and not interfere one way or another, but waiting for his win was getting tedious so maybe he’ll go do it anyway. It’s not like he’s cheating per say – he’ll win regardless, he knows his favorite better than anyone, so this would be more like fast forwarding.
Yes. A smile forms on the child God’s mouth and his legs cease the kicking motion, solid orbs opening as he makes up his mind. Yes, he’s just fast forwarding to get to a guaranteed win, it’s not interfering at all…
Hesue sits up with a giggle and is about to travel when the very angry form of his counterpart begins to materialize behind him on the branch.
“YOU CHEATER! You stupid, stinkin’, filthy cheater!” Io stomps down on the branch making it shake, almost knocking Hesue off. The white haired demi God raises his leg up and punts his counterpart off the branch anyway, shifting and meeting him on the ground after he falls. Io points an accusatory finger in his Other’s face.
“You cheated! You put a block in the child’s head! That was not part of the game! Take it out NOW! NOW, NOW, NOW! Stupid Other.” He kicks Hesue’s prone form for good measure. “I don’t want to play games with you if all you do is cheat! You cheated with your favorite in the beginning and now you’re cheating with his CHILD. NO! This game is going to be played fair and square! TAKE IT OUT!”
Of course Io had no plans on telling his Other than he was going to use that favorite’s toy to win for himself…
Solid cobalt eyes stare up angrily as his white haired counterpart finishes yelling at him and he spends a moment rubbing his head before his expression slides to the sweetest most innocent look he can muster.
“I have no clue what you could possibly be talking about you Stupid Other” Hesue pulls himself to his feet and dusts himself off, “block? What block? What’s a block?”
He crosses his arms over his chest and turns away, “I’m shocked, SHOCKED in fact, that you would even have the audacity to accuse me of cheating.” The black haired Demi God scowls, “who was it that cheated in the last three games anyway huh?” He uncrosses his arms and turns around, pointing his finger out, “YOU SIR! That’s right, it was youuuuu. Besides, even if I did cheat, which I did not just so you know, I can’t remove something that’s been planted, which is nothing since there’s no block to begin with.”
Hesue pulls his hand down and turns to the side, returning his arms to his chest and closing his eyes in an indignant huff, “Maybe something just developed on its own, you ever think of that? We did create a new life using other lives which we’ve never done before so anything could have happened during creation and I’m rather insulted you’d assume I cheated when I’m innocent.” His eyes crack open and shift to the side, his arms flying out above him in an over exaggerated manner as he yells to the sky above him, “INNOCENT I TELLS YA!”
Io doesn’t buy it for a minute. “Ohhhhhhh no, I don’t think so. Your own stinkn’ FAVORTIE found it! It’s there and YOU put it there! And do I have to remind you, AGAIN, that your favorite toy exists because YOU cheated? You put it in there so he wouldn’t be able to tell it was an innocent, DIDN’T YOU? If he doesn’t know it’s an innocent he’s going to kill it, THEREFORE making you the victor by CHEATING! Double cheating even because it involves your cheating favorite toy! The child was SUPPOSED to be clean!”
The two Demi Gods exchange glances before getting into an all out brawl, fists flying and frilly skirts torn. After about five minutes of getting nowhere, they stop, laying on the grass exhausted from their efforts. Both their outfits instantly reform into the perfect versions they wore before the fight. The white haired God turns to his other.
“So what’s behind the block?”
“Eh, nothing,” Hesue shrugs, as he straightens and fluffs his shaggy little pony tails “I just thought it would make things interes-HEY!” The black haired Demi God catches himself as a pleased grin moves over his counterpart’s face. “Not fair!” he pouts.
Io rolls on the grass giggling to himself. “Ha! Got ya!”
Aki smiles to Megumi as the Town car pulls up to the front of the mansion. He immediately gets out and goes to the other side, extending a hand to help the God’s daughter remove herself from the vehicle.
“Thank you again for your help, I really appreciate it, Megumi.”
The black haired woman smiles briefly and bows, “And I thank you for escorting me to my Brother.”
Once inside, the two part ways and the Eclipsed rushes up the main staircase to the room he shares with Jenova hoping the Demon and Sen have gotten along at least for the time he was gone. He reaches the fourth floor quickly, smiling over proving to himself that the hybrid child truly is an innocent as long as the Demi God’s other half didn’t hide anything in him.
Aki opens the door and walks inside, quickly joining Jenova out on the balcony and wrapping his arms around the Demon tightly. Jenova smiles softly as he reaches up to entwine the Eclipse’s fingers with his own. After a few long moments Aki pulls himself away, peering into the room confused, followed by a look of dread that quickly washes over his features.
“Where… where is Sen?”
The Demon’s gaze doesn’t shift from the grounds below, “Attempting to fly I suppose.” He says flatly.
Aki frowns, the dread painted on his face not easing in the slightest. “Jenova…”
Crimson eyes pull away to meet cerulean blue, “It is as I’ve said. If you do not believe me, go and see for yourself.” Jenova turns away, moving past the Selestarri towards the room, “he is on the roof top.” Aki stares as the Demon continues to walk away from him, the door clicking quietly behind the leather clad figure as he exits without another word.
The Eclipsed stands for a moment, unsure of what to do before he releases the seal on his wings, attempting to hold back his cry of pain. Aki steps up on the balcony railing and looks up.
He better not have…
Without a second thought, the Selestarri pushes off the railing and glides away from the building, circling back around to gain lift up to the roof. He lands on the stone right in front of a small crying figure in dirty pajamas. Aki rushes quickly to his side and kneels down in front of Sen, staring at the cuts and bruises all over his hands and the blood covering his knees. At least the child was alive.
“Oh god, Sen… what happened?” He quickly gathers the hybrid into his arms and holds him tightly.
Small glass like claws curl tightly around his father’s shirt as he continues to sob uncontrollably in the comforting arms of the Eclipsed. It takes the child a few minutes to calm enough to talk, his voice coming in between hiccups and sniffs, “Sen can’t fly…” the boy pulls back, glowing gold eyes rising to meet cerulean blue as the tears streak down his small cheeks, “He tried Aki papa, he tried hard for ‘Nova papa, but he doesn’t know how, Sen doesn’t know how.” Another strong sob wracks his small frame.
The pair spend a few minutes in silence as Aki rocks the child in place to comfort him. The Eclipsed was not pleased at all about this. What was Jenova thinking? Why does he even care if Sen can fly or not? To allow Sen to come up here and injure himself was more irresponsible than the Eclipsed trusting the child in the first place. Now that he knows Sen is only a child, that makes it even worse.
“How did you get up here? Did you come up on your own or did Jenova bring you here?”
The boy shakes his head, wiping at the tears with a small balled fist “Sen asked to see ‘Nova papa’s wings so we came here. Aki papa, ‘Nova papa’s wings are so pretty and Sen wanted to make ‘Nova papa happy like Aki papa does so he tried to fly for him.” He sniffs again, his eyes moving down and voice going low, “’Nova papa must hate Sen because he can’t fly, he tried so hard but…” Small black tipped silver wings flap once behind him and more tears well in his eyes, “Sen’s wings don’t work like Aki and ‘Nova papa’s do.” Desperate gold rise up to meet the blue gaze of his father, “how come Sen’s wings don’t work?”
“Wait, so Jenova just left you here?” Sen nods reluctantly and Aki frowns.
He and the Demon were going to be having a serious talk later. Aki already knew it wouldn’t go well, but this is unacceptable, even for Jenova. It’s one thing for him not to trust or even like the child, but to be needlessly cruel…
“Sen, it takes time to learn how to fly, it’s not instant. At least with me that’s how it was, I can’t say much for Jenova, who I’m not too happy with right now.” The Eclipsed shakes his head in disgust. “I’ll teach you how to fly, Sen, you’ll learn. It was unfair of Jenova to expect that from you and I’m sorry he did that.” Aki closes his eyes and hugs the child tightly. “I’m so sorry Sen…”
The Selestarri stands up, holding the hybrid close. “Sen, stay on my back and hold on tight, ok?” The child nods between sniffles and climbs around to do as his father instructed. Aki grits his teeth against the pain caused by the pressure of the small body against the shard. It was worth it for Sen. “Hold on tightly.”
The Eclipsed takes a running start and leaps over the edge of the building. Tiny clawed fingers dig into his shoulders to hang on as they drop. Before Aki would hit the ground he spreads his wings and the two glide over the mansion grounds. He chuckles as he looks back to see the hybrid’s eyes squinted closed. “Open your eyes Sen.”
Gold streaked crimson crack open as the wind rushes past them and Sen smiles wide while silver wings remain spread out as they glide closer to the grounds below. The child is about to talk when a combination of wind blown milky brown hair and long ginger locks flies into his mouth. Pulling his hands from Aki’s shoulders to swipe the hair away, he spits at it and shakes his head in an attempt to free himself from it. Sen looses his balance from the motion and starts to fall back, full red eyes opening wide as he rocks forward and latches quickly around his father’s neck so suddenly that he causes the Selestarri to choke in the slightest.
Aki reaches up and eases the grip that remains tight around his neck as he angles his body to the side, circling wide around the grounds for another pass. Closed eyes slowly crack open once again and the hybrid blinks, a look of awe moving over his small features as he uses the grip around Aki’s neck to scoot his little body up and look beneath them,
“It’s so small down there now…”
The Eclipsed smiles. “Yes, and pretty soon you’ll be able to do this on your own whenever you like. We’ll work on it, I promise. You’ll be able to fly on your own before you know it.” The child’s added weight and wind resistance in addition to the pain from the crystal were making him tire quickly. Aki glides down towards the first floor entrance to the building, grabbing Sen off his back and setting him down once they have safely landed. The pair walks into the building and head in the direction of the Ancient Bright’s room. “Sen I need you to stay with Ikkairius again for a little bit. I have to go have a little chat with Jenova about what happened.”
The hybrid nods and knocks on the Bright’s door. They are met with an annoyed look as the door opens but Ikkairius’ expression quickly changes when he sees how cut up and filthy the child is.
“Dare I ask what happened?”
Aki looks down at Sen for a moment then turns his gaze to the Bright. “Jenova and I need to have a talk… I’ll come get him afterwards.” Ikkairius simply nods and opens his door.
“Come Sen, let us get you clean.” The Bright gives Aki a concerned look before closing the door.
“I don’t understand, Jenova. You left a child alone on a roof after letting him hurt himself and expecting something from him that he isn’t capable of doing. What you did was needlessly cruel…” Aki attempts to keep his anger in check. It’s pointless around Jenova and will only make him look like an idiot. He learned that quickly, many years ago.
“I don’t understand what you were trying to do…”
The Demon remains seated on the edge of the four poster bed while Aki stands before him, his leg up and arm resting casually across it. Clear crimson eyes shift to the side and narrow, “I was not expecting the child to do anything, nor was I ‘trying’ to do anything. I merely asked him if he were capable of flight and he took it upon himself to attempt it.”
“But he hurt himself trying to please you and you let him and on top of that you left him up there all alone. Despite what you think he is, he is still a child and he cannot fend for himself.” Aki sighs and walks over to the wardrobe, leaning himself up against the closed doors. “If you didn’t want to check on him you could have just said ‘no’ and left it at that. If I had known this was going to happen, I wouldn’t have even asked.”
Jenova’s gaze returns to his front and he stares out past the gauze coverings draped over the bed. A small sigh leaves him and his tone comes flat, “I would not have allowed him to truly injure himself, nor would I have left him in any real danger. I was aware of his status from the beginning. For all that you speak of this child being apart of yourself, it appears you forget that it shares the other half with this One. To think it is so frail that it cannot even withstand a skinned knee is … laughable.”
The Eclipsed shakes his head and lets himself sink to the floor. Better to say it now and get it over with. “Look, your Maker’s Other half didn’t know the child had a block in it. In fact, he was very angry when he found out. The child was intended to be an innocent for the exact reasons I thought; so you would kill it and I would stop you. That’s the game.” Aki prepares himself for the anger to follow.
Crimson eyes close briefly, before opening again. Quiet liquid notes leave pale lips, his tone taking on an edge, “Yes… I had begun to wonder when you confess to this One that you had subjected yourself to the company of my Maker’s counterpart.” Annoyed red shift to the side, meeting stunned blue, “you must truly believe me to be a fool to think I would not know. I could smell it on you the moment you stepped through the door.”
The Demon pulls his hand away from his leg and turns, sliding his body forward from the bed and rising to his feet. “I am… disappointed Aki.” His voice is cold and he doesn’t turn back towards the Eclipsed while he speaks, “…what good are my efforts when you choose to ignore my warnings.”
Jenova turns and walks towards the open balcony doors. Heavily buckled boots make little sound as he hops up onto the stone encasement. He stands for a moment, staring out ahead of him before the cold, hard words carry softly into the room, “what good is my trust if it is wasted…” The Demon steps off the balcony, falling four stories and landing with little impact into the grass below. Without a backwards glance, Jenova begins walking away from the house.
Aki slams his fist against the wardrobe door. Jenova isn’t the only one allowed to be angry. At this point he doesn’t even know what to do. He can only do what he feels is right, he can only be himself. The Demon knows how he feels about innocent life. He can’t just let a child be killed for no reason other than who it was created by. He’s angry, he’s hurt and he’s confused. The Eclipsed just wants it all to stop.
[You know why I did what I did…he would not have risked losing his daughter just to kill me and he needs me alive in order to win his game. I will not lose you over this child but I am constantly faced with what I feel is right versus my love for you. I don’t know what to do. I can only be myself…]
[You put too much confidence in that creature’s attachments] Jenova continues towards the forest lining the outer grounds, [and so you put the life I have gone to great lengths to secure in his hands over that naivety of yours. You gambled this not because you knew for fact but simply because you wished to believe the child was nothing more than it seems. Do you truly expect me to be pleased because of that Akio?] A quiet sigh reaches the Eclipse’s mind, the Demon’s tone softening in the slightest. [I do not wish for you to be anything but yourself, but you are… stubborn in certain matters and it is a source of… frustration at times for this One.] Reaching the trees, his frame disappears from view as he moves into the thick greenery, [I am…glad your gamble was not in vain. Let us hope it continues to remain so.]
[I’m… sorry. I don’t mean to frustrate you like this. It’s hard to throw away everything I believe in when faced with things that obviously don’t follow the rules. You don’t exactly share your thoughts so it’s hard for me to know what you are thinking, even if it seems obvious that I should know. I will be here when you come back, and the child won’t be in the room…Please don’t take too long.]
[As I have said, they are… skilled in what they do] Jenova smirks [and so it seems the afore mentioned transparency of my actions do not carry over to my thoughts… it is… comforting. I will return.]
Aki gets up and throws himself on the bed. He was physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted and he’s pretty sure Jenova isn’t too far behind. Ikkairius will understand if he doesn’t come to get Sen for a bit. The Ancient Bright knows dealing with Jenova when he’s… less than pleased isn’t an easy task to accomplish and the child should not be caught up in the middle of it.
He’s really going to owe Ikkairius after this one.
Aki rolls to his side and spreads his wings out behind him. It doesn’t take long before his exhaustion from all the strain pushes him into sleep.