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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 Three
[ Circumstance ]
“Uncle Ikkai?” Mauve rise up to meet the hybrid’s gaze, “how did ‘Nova papa and Aki papa meet?”
Ikkairius laughs at the innocent question. “Let us just say Akio was doing what he does best, being headstrong. They met by getting into a fight, but it was not truly a fight.” Sen looks up at the Bright confused. “Jenova is much stronger than most so for someone like Aki to challenge him, it was not much of a challenge to begin with. That Demon toyed with Aki for a while and later on they… enjoyed each other’s company.” The Ancient Bright begins on the scrapes riddling the child’s palms.
“It took a long time before Jenova trusted Aki enough to tell him things and let him in, but Akio is very persistent, which is one thing I think the Demon likes about him. In fact, there was a time where Aki was almost killed. I stepped in and reset things, so to speak, and Jenova did not see fit to respect me after that… I do not honestly care what he thinks of me one way or the other in all truth, but in that particular instance I had reminded Aki of his bonded weapon therefore in your father’s eyes, it seemed as if it were my fault. Neither Aki, nor myself could have known how Jenova’s blood would react to it though.” Sen looks up even more confused. Ikkairius sighs.
“It seems I will have to explain this further… All Selestarri, like Akio and myself, have weapons that are forged by our people that we become bonded with. Once bonded we can call upon them at any time.” The Ancient Bright holds out a hand and calls his own weapons which he hasn’t seen fit to call upon in years. Elongated twin ivory daggers inscribed with Selestarri symbols form in his grip. He puts one down and hands the other to Sen.
“I have never used my weapons much, I was more reliant on weaving spell patterns but I do have them and I am proficient when needed.” He smiles as the child looks wide eyed over the faintly glowing blade. “Selestarri weapons are unique in the fact that your opponent’s blood, when it hits the blade, can fuel your actions. If your opponent is weaker than you, it does nothing, but if your opponent is stronger, that strength will infuse into you and give you a ‘blood lust’ of sorts. It is really a method of keeping your solders fighting when faced with stronger enemies, considering when Bright fought with Dark, the Dark were always the stronger ones.”
“My point of all this is, when Jenova’s blood hit Aki’s blade, he went into over drive and nearly died. The blood lust was so strong that he literally went insane and tried to kill Jenova with his own weapon. That Demon’s weapon can only be wielded by its owner and Aki received the backlash from that. That is the point where I stepped in and made the silly mistake of attempting to save the boy’s life. Either way, Jenova stopped and brought Aki back into the house and actually cared for the wounds that he caused. At that point I think Jenova’s opinion of Aki changed for the first time. It took many more times before they developed more permanent feelings for each other.”
“But Uncle Ikkai, if you saved Aki papa from being killed by ‘Nova papa, how come he doesn’t espect you?” Sen wonders as he turns the dagger in his tiny hands, “’Nova papa loves Aki papa right? If Uncle Ikkai saved him, then ‘Nova papa should be happy with Uncle Ikkai…” a thoughtful look passes over the child’s features, “Sen enjoys ‘Nova and Aki papa’s company all the time, but ‘Nova papa still doesn’t like him. Maybe Sen has to fight with ‘Nova papa and enjoy his company like Aki papa did and then ‘Nova papa will love him back.”
Ikkairius holds back a startled and amused scoff. “It is not quite the… same way of ‘enjoying’ one’s company… I also do not think getting into a fight with Jenova will help you in this case.” The Bright clears his throat.
“That Demon works in strange ways and only he knows why he does some of the things he does. So far it has served him well, he has been alive for many millennia. At the time all of that had happened, Jenova did not love Aki yet from what I could tell. But he thought me a fool for reminding Aki of his weapon and allowing him to use it only to have it end tragically. I have no control over what that boy does and simply reminding him of something he already possessed is not exactly my idea of warranted blame. He had only recently obtained the ability to call upon it as he had only recently been welcomed out of exile and back into the Eyrie at that point in time.” Ikkairius lifts Sen free from the tub and wraps him in a towel. “But that is a story for another day…”
The Ancient Bright recalls his weapons and the pair walk back into the main part of his room. He removes a light robe from his own garments and wraps it around Sen, folding up the sleeves. “This will have to do for now as your other clothes are too dirty. I do not dare send you up to retrieve more. Aki is not going to have an easy time, if his mood from when he dropped you off here is any indicator and I do not think you will be going back there tonight at least.” Ikkairius shakes his head, “That boy owes me much for this, he is lucky you are well behaved and I do not, so far, mind having you around…” Mauve eyes meet clear crimson and he smiles, “but I will never admit this to him lest he attempt to pawn you off on me more.”
“I won’t tell Uncle Ikkai” Sen giggles, playfully flapping the rolled up hem of the robe he was given to wear.
Once Sen is dressed and settled, Ikkairius calls for his teapot to be delivered to his room. He lifts Sen into the chair opposite his own and pulls a few teabags from his own collection.
“I do wonder if you are more like young Akio or Jenova when it comes to weapons. Jenova had his weapon bonded with his form when he was placed into it so there is a possibility you may have as well.”
“Sen saw ‘Nova papa’s weapon …” A soft knock at the door causes the child to jump in the slightest and bright crimson eyes watch intently as a servant enters and sets a teapot down between the pair. The Ancient Bright nods and Sen follows suit, nodding as the human takes his leave, eyes never rising to meet either of their gazes. Turning back towards Ikkairius as the Bright sweeps the sleeves of his robe up in order to fill both cups. “Does Aki papa’s weapon glow like uncle Ikkai’s? ‘Nova papa’s was really shiny but it didn’t glow… I think ‘Nova papa’s weapon is bigger than him.” He giggles, “Is Aki papa’s weapon bigger than him like ‘Nova papa’s?”
The hybrid trails and bends low, blowing on the steam as it rises from the cup and watching with an amused smile as it twists and curls into the air. Mauve eyes watch with mild amusement as he reaches out and makes a grabbing motion at it with a giggle before bending in again and wrapping small clawed fingers around his cup, carefully lifting it to his mouth. The child takes one sip and sets his cup back without removing his tiny hands from it. A look of curiosity moves over Sen’s features, “Uncle Ikkai, why does ‘Nova papa need a weapon? Is it so he can fight with Aki papa and enjoy his company? How will Sen know if Haysee and Eee grandpa made one for him?”
“Jenova did not always have form, he was born as more of an essence. He is the run-off of life itself. Chaos, to be exact. Chaos fractured over time and these fractures developed consciousness of their own. Jenova had existed this way for countless millennia until your… grandfathers showed up. They decided the planet would make a good stage for their next game and proceeded to make the playing pieces. Angels and Demons. Your one grandfather, Hesue- I believe he likes to be called at this point in time, found these chaos fractures and made a deal with them. He was cheating to put it bluntly.” The Ancient Bright picks up his tea and takes a long sip while Sen looks on in confusion.
“Putting already existing sentient minds into blank bodies gave him an advantage that the mindless Angels did not have. They were made to fight and kill, that was their only purpose, to be playing pieces on a game board for those two. Jenova did not agree with what the rest of his kind wanted, he did not want to be put into form. Eventually they forced him and he killed all of his people because of it. One cannot bottle chaos and expect good results. The reason he has his weapon is that once he was placed into form, he was supposed to be the Guardian of his people and lead them to victory. The Selestarri have the occasional Guardian as well, but it is not the same thing, anyhow… Jenova’s weapon is made of Hesue’s blood. It lives within him and when he calls upon it, it forms into a solid piece through his flesh. I imagine it is not a pleasant experience when he does, but he can also heal at will.”
“Aki also has a weapon for the purpose of killing but Selestarri wars are a much different matter. Aki’s weapon does glow faintly as mine does, you should ask him to show you when he comes back. Your fathers often spar with each other and Jenova has been training Aki beyond what he could have ever learned from his own people.” After another long sip, Ikkairius places his cup on the table.
“I am unsure if you can obtain a forged Selestarri weapon. The Selestarri, despite their love of humans, still shun inter-breeding of any kind, even between the Bright and Dark. You are a Hybrid, Sen, a mixture of Ancient Demon and Eclipsed Selestarri. Technically, you should not be able to exist and I highly doubt you would make it any where near the floating islands even with someone such as Aki being your father. If you do have a weapon as Jenova does, it will be the same as your wings, you will need to will it into existence.”
Sen’s brows furrow as he looks at his hands, trying hard to make a weapon appear like the one he saw his Demon father with. As Ikkairius looks on, the child’s face becomes more determined with each passing moment, his eyes squinting and breath held in his attempt. After a minute of nothing he lets out his breath with a loud puff, panting a little from his concentrated effort. Disappointed crimson eyes move up to meet mauve and he shakes his head. “Nothing happened Uncle Ikkai…”
Ikkairius smiles. “Perhaps you just are not able to call it yet if it is there. That is something Jenova will have to teach you in time. But yes, as you can see, Jenova is not one to trust lightly and it takes an exceptional creature to earn that from him. I believe you have what it will take, Sen, it is just a matter of time and patience.”
The child sighs, his gaze moving back down to his tiny hands and voice going low, “Sen doesn’t know if he likes Haysee and Eee grandpa anymore… Haysee and Eee told Sen they made him for ‘Nova and Aki papa so they wouldn’t be lonely, Haysee and Eee said they asked but they didn’t ask at all. And Haysee forced ‘Nova papa to be here too so Sen can understand why ‘Nova papa doesn’t trust him.” A sad look moves through small crimson eyes, “but Sen will prove to ‘Nova papa that Sen is just Sen.” He sits in silence for a moment before a look of determination quickly replaces the sad and he nods his head, “Sen will prove to ‘Nova papa that he loves him and Aki papa most and Sen will never let Haysee and Eee hurt him again so ‘Nova papa can trust him.”
The hybrid smiles as he pulls his cup towards him and takes a small sip before leaning forward and setting it back down. “What does ‘shun’ mean Uncle Ikkai?”
The Ancient Bright motions for the child to come sit with him in his chair. Sen nods and turns himself around, the oversized robe he’s wearing hiking up as he inches his way off the chair to the floor beneath. With a small thump the child lands, moving quickly to climb his way up the Ancient Bright’s chair. Ikkairius leans over and lifts Sen up, easing carefully back into his chair as the hybrid settles next to him. Mauve eyes meet bright crimson as he continues.
“Shunning is simply to ignore something’s existence, even if it is right in front of you. It is very cruel in most cases but it does achieve the desired effect. Those who interbreed in Selestarri society are cast out and ignored… or killed; this is how they keep their race pure, so to speak. Bright are only allowed to create life with other Bright and nothing else. Dark cannot create life by themselves but it is possible with one who knows the correct patterns or creation to do so with a Bright, as was the case with Akio. In my time, interbreeding between factions was much more common and as the war against the Valcaeriens was won and the fighting ended, the two began to dislike each other in principal once more.” Sen listens intently, looking a bit confused as the Bright leans forwards to take a sip of tea while he continues to explain.
“The Bright took it upon themselves to exterminate all evidence of mixing between the factions and the Eclipsed became extinct for close to ten thousand years until Aki was created in secret. He was meant to disrupt the political structure between them simply by living as well as being groomed to take over leadership of the Bright. I can already imagine the council leaders having an aneurism over the thought of an Eclipsed even existing, let alone leading them. But it was not to be, much to the Oracle’s dismay. Aki refused his birthright and left the Eyrie to live among the humans he liked so much. Now, Jenova would never let him go, even if he wanted to.”
“I was shunned, but for different reasons that are much too complicated to explain to you today. Needless to say, I do not join Aki when he goes back for holidays.” Ikkairius sets the cup down and leans back in his chair, looking out the window, lost in thought. “The one successful interbreeding between a human and a Selestarri that I know of was a disaster, to put it mildly. Physically, they were gifted but mentally they made the average Dark out to be a kitten in comparison. The cruelty of those children was immeasurable. One of them had a run in with Aki some time ago and he came out of the ordeal badly hurt. I believe that one - Kallixstus is still alive to this day… and perhaps in one of his rare moments of wisdom, has decided to stay on Nova understanding that Jenova would kill him the instant he teleported within five hundred miles of this place. He may be sociopathic, but he is not stupid. It is …a pity that I could not have done more for those children to save them from themselves...”
Sen reaches up and tugs on the Bright’s sleeve, pulling his attention back. A look of mixed confusion and question is painted on small features, “If the Ses-starri shunned Uncle Ikkai and shunned Aki papa for not being his right, why doesn’t ’Nova papa just kill them like he killed his own people when they wouldn’t listen? ‘Nova papa seems really strong and Sen is sure ‘Nova papa could get them to listen if Aki papa asked him and then Uncle Ikkai and Aki papa wouldn’t be shunned anymore.”
His brows furrow and his expression darkens, “Sen doesn’t understand… How come ‘Nova papa let Kallitux hurt Aki papa? I thought ‘Nova papa loves Aki papa best. Sen loves both Aki and ‘Nova papa best so he would never let anyone hurt them, not ever, so why did ‘Nova papa let Aki papa get hurt?”
Ikkairius chuckles at the child’s innocence. “The Selestarri did not shun Aki, he is too valuable to them and he was created under specific request from the Oracle so she holds the decree. Aki is one of the few Selestarri that can walk on both islands and not be killed entirely as instantly, though he has no reason to go to Nova other than to see his ex-partner who is now a Dark Warden. He does not want his people killed nor would he ever ask such a thing of Jenova. Aki has a reverence for life that rivals even the most committed Bright, hence why you still live. The... event that happened with Kallixstus happened before your fathers met. Jenova had attempted to kill Kallixstus, I believe, when he came for a ‘visit’ one time but Aki stopped him. The boy is far too lenient.” The Ancient Bright shakes his head.
“Jenova will never let another soul touch or harm Aki without the threat or follow through of immediate death. Except for those he has not figured out how to kill yet, such as your grandfathers.”
“Haysee and Eee tried to hurt Aki papa too?” Surprise moves over Sen’s small face.
The Ancient Bright nods, “Yes, they have either attempted to or have gotten close to hurting Aki in the past, though Jenova’s hatred of them was decided the instant he was placed into form I am sure. As for myself, I would not want to go back to Eyrie even if invited. My dislike of my own people has been far too ingrained into me now.” He laughs. “They wouldn’t even believe it to be me. I died over ten thousand years ago according to them. I suppose in a way it’s true. I have not been back to Nova in years and I have no plans to do anything other than I have been. If need be I will go back into the Gioa crystal and stay until an appropriate time comes. It does not matter to me, it never has.” Ikkairius sighs.
Sen opens his mouth to ask more questions and the Selestarri smiles, shaking his head. “I think I have talked far too much for one day and it is nearing time for our evening meal. I believe I should probably acquire some clean clothing that fits you. However, the thought of risking my life for it should they be in an argument does not sound appealing at the moment. Hopefully we will catch Aki if he comes down to eat or if Miss Megumi would be so kind as to try for us. Jenova will know her presence if she goes to the fourth floor. We shall see.”
Night cracks in through cathedral length windows, washing the room in a soft indigo glow. Jenova sits against the heavily carved backboard of the oversized four poster bed, clear crimson eyes staring down at the sleeping Eclipsed cradled against his chest. Glass-like claws carefully trace over silver feathers, watching as the minimal light causes each tuft of down near the base of Aki’s wings to glint softly, casting the smallest of prisms against his nails. His movements stop momentarily as the Selestarri’s breath stills, his brows furrowing and face shifting down to bury in deep. Slender arms move to his waist and fingers clench tight around the soft leather draped over his frame before Aki relaxes and slips back into uninterrupted sleep once more.
A brief smile passes over pale lips and he traces along the line where feathers meet flesh, red eyes watching as he continues over and carefully draws his claws around fused skin and the Gioa shard. Aki’s lips part allowing a small whimper to escape and the Demon smiles, sweeping his fingers up to brush long layered ginger locks free of the Eclipse’s closed eyes. White plaits spill forward as he leans down, touching his lips to Aki’s forehead and taking in a deep breath before pulling away. He sets an elbow on his upturned knee, leaning his head against his palm while threading the fingers of his free hand in Aki’s hair. Leaning back, his eyes slide shut and he sighs softly in the darkness of the room.
The Eclipse’s eyes slowly crack open and a smile crosses his lips as he realizes he’s in Jenova’s arms. One day he fears he will frustrate the Demon to the point were he won’t come back after his anger has calmed. This whole situation certainly wasn’t helping to frustrate him any less. Admittedly, he had been making quite a few risky decisions and he doesn’t exactly blame Jenova for being… annoyed at him.
Aki’s arms move to wrap around the Demon’s waist and he sighs, half relieved that Jenova had returned and half from the sheer mental exhaustion of the whole ordeal.
“I’m sorry, I… wasn’t thinking. I don’t mean to undermine your efforts but sometimes I can’t stop myself from being… myself.”
Clear crimson open and shift down while he strokes long ginger locks, “you cannot be anything other than you are…” He chuckles, “nor do I wish you to be anything other than ‘yourself’” Sliding his fingers from Aki’s hair, he moves them along the Selestarri’s face, tracing around his jaw line. Touching the tips of his claws beneath Aki’s chin, he lifts his face in the slightest, cerulean blue meeting his red in the darkness of the room, “though at times you are far more reckless than you should be and in the time we have been coupled, I had assumed you would understand the dangers that surround this One and the risks decisions such as the one you recently made, entail.”
The Demon slides his fingers back up to sweep brown hair from Aki’s eyes once again, “You think me cold perhaps for not believing the child to be a mere child… and I think it foolish to believe such a thing without question... more so considering the source.” Jenova pulls his fingers away and slides his hand down, pulling his other from his knee to join the first wrapped around the Eclipse’s slender frame. He sets his head back against the headboard, eyes shifting to the grounds beyond the windows before them, “I understand your need to protect life Aki, but you must also understand my need to protect yours…” His eyes narrow and his voice takes on an edge, “I have lost much in their petty games… you will not be added to it.”
Aki nods against Jenova’s chest. “I just wanted to find out the truth and that was the only way I could think to do it, by going straight to the source. I am realizing now how much of a risk I took and I don’t blame you for being angry with me because of it. I just don’t want to play this game anymore and I don’t want to see a child suffer because of it.” The Selestarri shakes his head. “But I won’t risk losing you over this by either my death or your leaving. It’s not going to happen and I won’t be making such a stupid mistake again.” He pulls his head away and looks up into clear crimson eyes. “What can I do in all this?”
“We never wish to play the games they choose” the Demon smirks, “but what we wish does not matter as far as they are concerned and in the end, we are all at the mercy of their whims.” Clear crimson narrow, “…I will change this in time.”
Jenova smiles softly as blue eyes rise up to meet his own. He reaches down and slides clawed fingers under the Eclipse’s arms, pulling Aki free of his body and onto his knees in between his own legs. The Demon’s hand travels up to trace along Aki’s collar bone and up along the long line of his neck before once again resting beneath his chin. His head tilts to the side, red eyes moving slowly over the Selestarri’s features as he traces over his jaw line with the tips of his claws before pulling his hands away. Leaning back against the heavily carved headboard, he returns his elbow to his upturned knee and shifts his gaze to the windows beyond them.
“I suppose there is nothing that can be done other than make due with what has been given…” Aki reaches forward and touches his hand to the Jenova’s abdomen, pulling a partial smile to pale lips, “though I am far from… pleased of the gift my Maker and his counterpart decided to grace us with…” Red eyes shift back to meet blue, “…I will… for your sake, be more… forgiving of its nature until it has given me a reason to be otherwise.”
Aki attempts to hide to wide grin forming over his lips. “Thank you, even for just that. I know it’s hard for you to do, and completely understandable, but it means a lot to me and I know it will to Sen as well.” The Eclipsed slides his hands over and gently pushes the Demon’s legs down, climbing up to straddle Jenova. Leaning in close, he brushes his lips against the Demon’s mouth with his own, speaking in a whisper. “You are impossible to argue with so I try to avoid doing it at all costs.” Clawed fingers snake up Aki’s back and between his wings, ghosting over the Gioa shard. He gasps, reflexively arching back into the touch.
“I will retrieve Sen tomorrow but until then…” A whimper is pulled from him, “whatever I can do… to make up for being so stupid and… angering you…” Crimson eyes glint in the darkness as glass-like claws move up to the Selestarri’s neck, guiding him forward so their lips touch. Aki grabs hold of Jenova’s face and they meet in a deep kiss.
“…Pssst”
Sen furrows his brows and turns over, a clawed thumb moving to his mouth in his sleepy state and fingers clenching tighter around the Ancient Bright’s robes.
“Psssst”
His eyes crack open momentarily before closing again, the sucking on his thumb renewed for only a moment before he slips back into sleep.
“HEY PSSSSSSSSSSST”
Sen whimpers at the sound, his eyes blinking open as the insistent noise pulls him completely from sleep and into consciousness. The child slowly sits up, rubbing at his eyes sleepily and looking around in confusion before clear crimson settle on the solid cobalt of the black haired child God floating with his legs crossed to his front, just above the Selestarri he was laying next to. Hesue giggles softly, flashing the hybrid a very pleased grin. Sen opens his mouth to talk and Hesue shakes his head, eyes shifting down to the sleeping form of Ikkairius beneath him before putting his hand out for the child to take.
Reluctantly, Sen reaches out and slides his tiny hand into the Demi God’s. In the blink of an eye, Sen finds himself on the roof of the mansion, standing next to his grandfather while the night wind blows long milky brown hair and flowing over sized robes around him. Without letting Sen’s hand go, Hesue turns and kneels down in front of him with a grin,
“So how do you like your daddies so far huh?”
Sen grasps tightly onto his robe with his free hand to stop it from blowing open and off him. He shivers slightly from the cold and shakes his head. “Wanna go back to Uncle Ikkai. Sen isn’t supposed to leave the room. Sen doesn’t wanna talk to grandpa Haysee.” The Hybrid shakes his head defiantly. “Grandpa Haysee and Eee lied to Sen. Aki papa and ‘Nova papa never asked. You hurt ‘Nova papa.” Sen tries to pull his hand from Hesue’s grip, getting upset when the Demi God won’t release him. Streaks of gold show in his eyes and tears begin to form.
“Sen wants ‘Nova papa to come get him from grandpa Haysee!”
The black haired Demi God frowns, standing up without releasing the hybrid’s hand, “Oh be quiet child,” Hesue turns and starts dragging Sen towards the nearest ledge. His grip is firm even as the child struggles to break free and the annoyance is clear in his tone “You’re no more fun to play with than he is.” Stepping up on the ledge, Sen yelps as Hesue lifts his tiny body up and swings him over the edge. He suspends the child high above the ground by the grip on his hand and a sinister grin forms on his lips, “It’s not like he cares so I really don’t know why you’d bother to call for him when he’s just going to end up killing you anyway…” Sen reaches up with his free hand and claws at Hesue’s, his small legs kicking frantically as he’s held in mid air. Solid cobalt narrow and he giggles, “I will win this game, no matter what my stupid Other thi-“
Hesue’s words stop abruptly and his eyes go wide, a small choking sound escapes his lips a moment later. He has just enough time to peer up into icy crimson eyes before he’s ripped backwards by his neck. Sen cries out as he slips from the child God’s grip, his eyes shutting tight as he begins to fall. Caught suddenly by his wrist, gold streaked crimson reopen in time to watch his Demon father twist his grandfather’s small body around behind him. A loud crack rings out throughout the darkened grounds below them as Hesue’s neck snaps and he’s flung hard off to the side.
Jenova straightens as the limp body disappears over the far edge of the mansion and turns, swinging the child from the edge and setting him on his feet.
[THAT WAS NOT FAIR!!] Hesue’s angry voice booms around them, causing the child to jump and clench tight onto the over sized robes draped over his small frame.
The Demon only smirks as the Demi God’s voice fades out and disappears completely. Long white plaits and the semi sheer black kimono draped over his form blow gently behind him in the wind as the Demon stands still; staring at the place he’d thrown his Maker’s body for a few minutes in silence before clear red eyes finally shift down to the child at his side.
“… Were you injured?” Quiet liquid notes barely carry above the wind.
Sen shakes his head while gripping onto his robe tightly, streaks of gold still visible in his eyes. He hesitates for a moment before finally speaking. “Sen doesn’t like grandpa Haysee and Eee. They hurt ‘Nova papa and Aki papa. Sen was so scared, ‘Nova papa. He told Haysee he couldn’t leave Uncle Ikkai’s room but… but…” Tears fall from the hybrid’s eyes and he clenches tighter to the fabric of his oversized robe, fighting the urge to run up and cling on to the Demon.
“Sen will go back to Uncle Ikkai’s room now…” The child peers over the edge of the roof and swallows. “When Sen gets down…” He looks back up meeting clear crimson with gold streaked clear crimson. “Sen is very happy ‘Nova papa came to help him.”
Jenova stares at the child in silence for a minute before stepping forward in the slightest and squatting down low. The semi sheer kimono sweeps out behind him as a strong gust hits them both and he holds a clawed hand to the hybrid. Sen clenches tighter on his robes, eyes moving from his father to his partially outstretched hand for a moment before he reaching out to take the Demon’s hand. Clear crimson move down to the child’s hand as he turns it, facing Sen’s palm up to reveal the cuts and scrapes riddled across his flesh he’d received from his earlier attempts to fly.
The tip of the claw on his thumb moves to traces lightly around broken skin momentarily, his gaze rising to meet gold streaked red, “…Why have you not repaired this?”
The child looks at him confused. “Sen doesn’t know how… Uncle Ikkai helped to clean Sen earlier but he doesn’t know how to ‘repair’.” The pair sit in silence for a minute before Jenova narrows his eyes and stands, scooping up the child quickly. Sen flails in surprise as the Demon walks to the ledge of the roof and steps off, landing on the balcony below with barely a sound, entering the room he shares with the Eclipsed without missing a step.
The Demon sets the child down just inside, turning to close the French patio doors before moving silently in the darkness towards the wardrobe. [Do not wake him] Sen jumps in the slightest as soft liquid notes touch his mind, bright crimson shifting to the sleeping Eclipsed on the large four poster bed.
The heavily carved doors of the wardrobe make the barest of sounds as Jenova slides them open and reaches down to lift a set of Sen’s pajamas free. Moving around the bed, the Demon holds them out to the child. Sen reaches up to grab onto his clothing with small clawed hands as it’s handed to him, watching wide eyed as his father moves towards the center of the room and sits down on hardwood.
[Dress yourself and I will teach you to ‘repair’]
Sen nods cautiously and unties the oversized robe, dropping it on the floor and attempting to stuff his feet into his pajama pants. He struggles for a few minutes before finally sitting down on the floor and pulling them on slowly one foot at a time. Small claws work on the buttons of the top and fumble a bit until he finally gets them all open. He slides himself into the sleeves, claw tips catching on the fabric every few inches. Not even bothering to attempt doing the buttons back up, he quickly pads his way over to Jenova and sits down facing him. He looks up into matching crimson eyes with curiosity.
Jenova holds his hand out and Sen spends a moment looking at his father’s hand before he reaches to take it, [Damage me], the hybrid stops his movements short as the matter of fact words reach him, bright crimson traveling up to meet calm eyes before him.
“’Nova pa-?“ he starts, stopping in mid sentence by the sudden hard gaze of the Demon, signaling him to be quiet.
Glass like claws shift out to tap gently at the side of the child’s head. [Speak from within. You are capable.] Pulling his hand back as Sen nods, Jenova holds it out once more.
[Do as I have instructed. Damage me.]
Sen’s eyes travel down and he looks at his father’s outstretched hand with uncertainty before slowly reaching forward and touching tiny claws to pale skin. He takes in a deep breath and squints his eyes, scratching back hard in one swift movement. Crimson boils up in the wake of his claws and he looks hastily up to his father with a look of mixed worry and fear only to be met with the same calm gaze as before. Jenova tilts his head in the slightest and turns his hand around to watch as blood bead up and begin pooling in his palm. The child’s eyes move back down just as the skin begins to knit back together, leaving only streaks of red to indicate anything had been done.
[‘Nova papa that’s amazing!] Sen bends in without thinking, grabbing onto his father’s hand with both of his and tilts it around in his grip, amazed crimson looking intently at the flawless blood streaked skin. [How did ‘Nova papa do that?]
Jenova smirks softly in the darkness, allowing the child to study him without pulling away. [It is of little consequence... I simply willed it whole… I wish you to do the same…]
The Hybrid releases the Demon’s hand and turns his own palms up to look at the scratches from earlier. He nods with determination. [Sen will try.] Staring down at his own hands for a moment, Sen takes in a deep breath and holds it. His eyes squint shut from the effort as he attempts to pour all of his will into healing as his father instructed. Tiny scratches begin to slowly knit together and after a minute Sen releases his breath only to take in another and repeat the process. After several minutes of trying, all but the bigger wounds have healed completely, leaving only minor indents.
Sen stares awestruck at his hands before turning them to Jenova with his mouth gaped open in surprise. [Look ‘Nova papa! Sen did it!] The surprise is quickly replaced with a proud grin.
[So it seems…] Jenova rises to his feet and turns away from the child, speaking as he moves towards the bed. [practice this more so that you may ‘repair’ whole over partial from now on.]
The Demon slides himself into the bed as Sen nods and rises behind him, taking tentative steps towards his fathers as the pale form before him sinks into red silk covered down. Padding his way towards them, he clenches his little hands around his own pajamas as Jenova carefully lifts the Eclipsed, white plaits fanning behind him as he slides himself down and eases Aki besides him. Crimson eyes shift to the side as slender arms unconsciously wrap around him, meeting the wide unsure look of the child just barely peeking above the bed’s side. The Demon stares at Sen for a minute in silence before a soft sigh leaves pale lips.
[You may…]
A large excited grin sweeps across the hybrid’s mouth and he reaches up to wrap small glass like claws around the bedding. Swinging his leg up, Sen struggles for a few moments as he works to pull himself up onto the bed itself. His tiny frame sinks in the slightest when he makes it onto soft down and he crawls forward, easing himself next to the Demon a moment later. Milky brown locks fall over his face as he turns his head and snuggles against Jenova’s side, reaching up to wrap his small hand around Aki’s arm and closing his eyes to the world with a contented sigh.
Jenova slides one hand up and turns it, setting the back of his palm against his forehead while the other slips down to wrap around the sleeping Eclipse’s frame. Clear crimson eyes close and he falls still, listening to the soft drum of Aki’s heart against his chest while the pair sleep buried in at his sides, waiting patiently for morning to come…
The early morning light shines brightly through the tall windows of the room falling on the Eclipse’s face. Aki turns over and away from the light, reaching to his side to find Jenova and only patting empty space. The Demon must have left early to attend to business. He moves himself over to the spot Jenova had occupied and curls up, attempting to fall back asleep until his Demon returns when something hits him.
Aki’s eyes open slowly against the light and focus in on a tiny clawed hand, tracing it all the way to its owner. They hybrid sleeps soundly not far from where he lay, one hand to his face with a thumb securely in his mouth. Aki blinks in confusion. He doesn’t remember retrieving Sen last night, so unless the child came here on his own…
“Sen? How did you get in here…?”
The child’s brows furrow and a small whimper escapes from in-between his mouth and thumb before he turns over, curling into a near fetal position, still soundly asleep. Aki reaches out and places his hand on Sen’s shoulder, shaking the boy slightly to wake him,
“Sen…”
Clear crimson crack open and he pulls his finger from his mouth, stretching his little body out with a wide yawn. With his arms and legs stretched out, he collapses against red silk and rolls back and forth for a moment with a giggle before completely rolling over to face his father. Sen grins up at the Eclipsed, yawning wide once again to show tiny fangs as he pulls himself up, wiping sleepily at his eyes with balled fists.
“Aki papa, where’s ‘Nova papa?”
“He’s probably taking care of some business… but that still doesn’t tell me how you got in here.” Aki sits up in bed. He didn’t think the child would be able to enter the room without either Jenova or himself letting him in. The Demon doesn’t want anything to do with Sen so it doesn’t make any sense. “Does Ikkairius know you’re here? You are supposed to stay put with him until someone comes to get you.”
The hybrid crawls into Aki’s lap and turns up his palms. “Look, Aki papa, look what ‘Nova papa showed Sen how to do!”
The Eclipsed stares down at him in confusion. “Jenova showed you something? Back up here… what happened? I’m lost.”
Sen reaches up and grabs onto the long front tails of his father’s hair and nods, turning his body around in Aki’s lap and sliding his head back against his chest to smile up into his face, “Grandpa Haysee took Sen from Uncle Ikkai’s room…” The child’s expression changes to a scowl, “Sen didn’t want to go and he told Haysee no but Haysee didn’t listen. Haysee held Sen up and hurt him and Sen was so scared but then ‘Nova papa made Haysee listen like Uncle Ikkai said he made his people listen.”
Sen slides his head back down and begins whipping Aki’s hair in front of him while he continues, “’Nova papa fell with Sen from up there and took Sen inside Aki and ‘Nova papa’s room. He showed Sen how to talk inside so Aki papa wouldn’t wake up and then he showed him how to repair himself. ‘Nova papa can repair so fast.” The child continues to whip long ginger locks, kicking his small feet in place with a smile, “’Nova papa made Sen scratch him and then fixed it, it’s so ‘mazing Aki papa. Sen will practice lots like ‘Nova papa told him too so he can repair fast too.”
Aki listens to Sen awestruck attempting to absorb it all correctly. “Wait, let me get this straight… Hesue took you from Ikkairius’ room and hurt you? Then Jenova saved you, brought you in here and showed you how to heal yourself?” Sen nods while still playing with the Eclipse’s hair.
“That explains how you got in here but… Jenova actually went out of his way to not only help you but teach you something? Two somethings even? He showed you how to speak telepathically?” The child nods at Aki’s words.
This was… too much. Either Sen was lying or Jenova’s gone insane.
[Jenova, did you really bring Sen in here last night like he says? And showed him how to heal? Did your Maker actually try to hurt him? What’s going on?]
It takes a few moments for the Demon’s voice to reach him [He did indeed take the child from your Guardian’s room] He smirks. [Though I am unsure of my Maker’s true intentions as I did not bother to ask. The child could not return on his own so I … assisted for your sake… as I said I would.]
Sen stares up at his father during the silent conversation in curiosity, continuing to whip Aki’s hair in front of him.
The Eclipsed smiles. [Thank you…] After pulling his thoughts back he turns his attention back to Sen. “I see… I’m glad Jenova was able to help. Very glad…” He hugs Sen tightly for a few long moments and whispers into the top of his hair. “See... I told you it would start to work out eventually. Jenova just needs time, you’re doing well Sen.” They spend a few more moments in silence before Aki thinks on the Ancient Bright.
“Crap, Ikkairius is probably wondering where you are, we need to go down stairs so he knows you’re ok.” He picks up the child and carries him to the wardrobe. Opening it, Aki grabs a pair of jeans and a t-shirt for himself and a sweater and pants for Sen from his own small section of clothing. After dressing, the two head downstairs.
This is another reason why he dislikes watching children, they often see fit to just wander off. Normally Ikkairius wouldn’t care but Sen being in the wrong place at the wrong time could lead to his death at Jenova’s hands and he did not want to have to be the one to explain that to Aki.
He also refuses to admit to himself that he does actually like the child and is therefore truly worried.
The Ancient Bright had spent that past hour or so searching in vain. Not a trace of the child could be found on any floor. It’s not as if such a unique signature would be hard to miss either, unless he was dead already. That’s the last thing he needs to deal with.
Children… bah!
As he passes the main stairwell, he catches a glimpse of movement out of the corner of his eye. A wave of relief washes over him once he realizes that it’s Aki carrying the hybrid child. Ikkairius moves to meet them at the bottom of the stairs.
“Uncle Ikkai!” Sen pulls one arm away from his father’s neck and waves frantically at the Ancient Bright while they continue to descend the stairwell.
“Sen, you know you are not to wonder away from where you sleep. You are lucky it was Aki who found you. Where did you go?”
The child pulls his other hand away from Aki’s neck and makes a grabbing motion towards the older Selestarri. Cerulean blue eyes meet mauve briefly before leaning forward to hand the child over. Sen wraps his arms around Ikkairius’ neck and grins as they turn and begin walking towards the nearest dining hall, “Sen is sorry, he didn’t want to leave Uncle Ikkai but Haysee grandpa made him go” The child frowns.
“What?” Ikkairius turns back to Aki. “Care to explain?”
Aki half smiles. “Apparently Jenova’s maker came and took him during the night and tried to hurt him. Jenova came to the rescue and then not only brought him back to the room to sleep, but also taught him to heal and use telepathy… I verified it with Jenova.”
The Ancient Bright raises an eyebrow at Aki and Sen grins, pulling an arm away from Ikkairius’ neck to grab playfully at his face. “That must have been quite a talk you had yesterday then… That seems very… unlike Jenova.” The Selestarri reaches up and pulls the child’s hand away, causing Sen to giggle.
The Eclipsed shrugs. “Sometimes he can be… reasonable. We had a pretty bad argument yesterday as far as our disagreements go. I left earlier that morning with Megumi and she helped me get in contact with her ‘father’. Jenova was not happy when he found out.”
Ikkairius scoffs. “I can imagine, you are an idiot for doing so you realize… that creature could have killed you at any time. It has tried in the past.”
Aki nods. “Yeah, but once I figured out the Game, I was banking on the fact that he needed me in order to win it, which was true. I found out some info that helped ease Jenova’s mind a bit. After he was done being mad at me of course… There is a block in Sen’s mind that Jenova cannot get past, which led to his immediate dislike, distrust, whatever… of Sen. I managed to find out that his Maker’s Other half didn’t know about it, meaning Sen was supposed to have been created as an innocent. So unless there is something hidden behind the block, Sen is Sen and only Sen.”
The three turn a corner and move into a lavish dining hall, “Sen is Sen is Sen.” The child nods, his determined expression pulls amused laughter from the two older Selestarri’s lips.
The three are seated in the dining hall and wait as servants place food in front of them. The child immediately takes pieces of fruit for himself while Aki starts on a bagel and Ikkairius drinks his tea. The Eclipsed frowns while he thinks.
“What I’m worried about is whether Jenova’s Maker will come back, especially if he’s determined to harm Sen. I think he may have gotten fed up with the fact that Jenova hasn’t killed him yet. Jenova obviously can’t be around him all the time and he cannot defend himself.”
Ikkairius puts his tea down for a moment, mauve eyes shifting to the child. Sen’s face is set in concentration while he takes small polite bites of his fruit.
“I think that if his Maker now knows Jenova will defend the child should he attempt anything, that in it’s self will be a deterrent.”
Aki nods. ‘I’m just worried, I don’t want anything to happen to him.” He turns to looks at the hybrid child and smiles warmly. Catching small crimson eyes, Sen grins wide at his father before turning his attention back to his fruit.
The Ancient Bright shakes his head. It seemed that the fondness the Eclipsed has for Sen will soon turn into attachment. He secretly hopes it is not in vain.