Heirot

Soran's face tensed when Mizuki pulled on his cheeks, but he allowed it.

"Hmm... that reminds me... I have a son with wings waiting for me..." she said as she released him.

"True," Soran said, sounding calm although his pulse was still flying. "It's about time to return," he said, turning and gesturing back in the direction of the house.

Happy and feeling light-hearted, Mizuki giggled and hugged his arm and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you," she said softly, her face flush against the setting sun's rays. "This place is beautiful..."

"Ah, but princess, I am sorry to say that I have a wife at home," Tensho began to say. "She would not tolerate me having another wife besides her, and even if we could keep it a secret, I love her so that I would not want to." Tensho looked apologetic.

Rai blinked and then grinned. "You have past the test!" Rai said and danced around in circles. "You are the magic man of love!" She laughed, because it sounded very funny on her tongue. She didn't know what a magic man of love was, but Tencho had been deemed that from her.

"Want to play another game?" she asked him, hugging his leg tightly.

Soran nodded to Mizuki, leaving his arm in hers as as they began the walk back toward the house. When they were nearly there, a small and unusual looking girl stepped out from an alley and walked across the street up ahead of them. She wore a white dress and held an ornate mirror in her arms. Mayn looked toward the couple and an eerie grin crossed her face as she recognized them. No, she was not to provoke them...not yet. Seeing them together, she began to understand what Jhaptal had meant when he said the target's weakness lay in those he was traveling with. She gave them a sweet curtsy and continued along her way, ignoring them.

Soran watched the girl leave, wondering why a young child was wandering alone after dark in such a dangerous city. "Odd," he commented, narrowing his eyes as the girl walked out of sight.

Mizuki watched the girl with mild interest. "Maybe she was just running a quick errand for her family?" she suggested and let go of Soran's arm slightly. She wasn't sure if he was comfortable with holding her hand while they walked into the house. The blob resurfaced on her should and squeaked.

She glanced at the blob and turned her attention back to Soran. 'How would things be now?' She wondered.

Tensho thought about it for a moment, then shook his head. "Sorry Rai, but not now, I think I'm going to have some things to do in a bit," he said. He turned back into the direction of the forest. "There are some things I need to look for in the forest. Please don't follow me though. I don't want you getting lost and having Soran mad at me."

"Probably," Soran agreed. As Mizuki's arm loosened around his, he let his arm slip down and wove his fingers between hers loosely. His touch-me-not nature was overcome tonight by all that had just transpired between them, though he would probably never be the type to exhibit this kind of physical affection all the time, as some couples did. Couples... the concept made his blood race a bit faster as he led her up the stairs and opened the door to the house. They walked in and looked around for signs of life.

Rai sighed unhappily and kicked dirt up. "Okay," she said and wondered off to the porch to sit on the side. She sat there, swinging her feet back and forth in a bored, lonely manner.

Mizuki's cheeks pinkened slightly as Soran wove his fingers with hers. No one seemed to be in the house. Her heart jumped, she had left Blade with Siren when she went after the escaping blob.

"I hope... something didn't happen. I left Blade with Siren!" A slight tone of motherly panic in her voice.

When Jhaptal got far enough away from the house. He looked around and called out, "Are you ready for the attack Mayn?" He then stood there, waiting for the response.

Soran thought about Mizuki's concern, looking around the empty room. "Maybe they're nearby outside," he speculated, turning back to the door and looking out. He saw no Siren, but Rai was sitting there on the porch. How he'd not seen her on the way in, he wasn't sure. "Rai? What are you out here for?" he asked, stepping out toward her with Mizuki.

Mayn heard Jhaptal's voice and jumped up and down in girlish excitement, a broad smile spreading over her face. Jumping up again, she clutched her mirror to her chest and disappeared in a flash, reappearing near where she'd heard Jhatpal's voice. Spotting him in the trees, she ran over to him and couldn't keep the bounce out of her gait. "It's time?" she asked, eagerness painted all over her face.

Rai looked up at Soran for a moment and then looked at the forest. "I bored so I cam outside, and Tencho played a game with me, but then he left," she said to Soran, sighing again. She was terribly bored and lonely feeling. She missed Toby... She wondered where he could be.

Jhaptal slipped off his figurative mask again, reverting back to his original stoic persona. He nodded to the excited young girl. "Yes, it's time, we should begin the attack soon," he said.

"Where would he go..?" she asked anxiously. She was still worried about her son. Where would Siren take him?