[b]Scene Title: Castle in Sky

Characters: Kynthia Usagi, Naito Zivaku, Bakugami (with children), and Gekigami

Context (Situation): After a talk with Yumigami and his children, Kynthia brings Naito to a special place of hers, a confrontation with the God of the Onslaught occurring on the way before the boar god can pacify it.[/b]


[i]North Ryoshima Coast, Nippon[/i]

The wind was salty this day on the North side of Ryoshima Coast. Not surprising as it came from the sea. Still, the wind seemed to fly over the grass and dirt of the main land, while also whipping around the Cat Tower that was so tall that it disappeared into the sky, along with the few small islands out in the water and the restaurant near the banks of a long stretch of land. The Sakura Tree that over looked this area stood on top of a cliff that could only be reaching by going up and zig-zagging path of ledges. It was in a pond right next to the tree that a glowing, green spot twirled and flickered.

The spot seemed to give off a steady light for the longest time. At least, until glowed brighter and brighter until it finally gave a flash. When the flash went away, the demigoddess Kynthia and the time traveler Naito appeared on the banks of the pond. Kynthia looked about her to make sure they were in the right place and, after confirming her suspicions, turned to look at the pond.

“It’s a good thing that Mermaid Coins are easy to come by,” Kynthia said, then gave a halfhearted smile. “Though… if I was in good relations with Nuregami, it wouldn’t have cost us a thing. However… that aunt never approved of me. She always made me very aware of the fact that she thought I shouldn’t even be alive…but that’s neither here nor there.”

Naito sighed at Kynthia's assessment of her family relations. He tried to be on good terms with people, but... he did understand what it meant to be thought of as a freak of nature. All he could do was nod, having recognized the Ryoshima Coast. "Maybe you can get a better one later, Kynthia. I mean... once you clear up any problems around here, after all. But I guess Da--Greg and Isaac are taking care of that," he tried to encourage her, but was admittedly embarrassed. He hated making slips like that.

Kynthia couldn’t help but flinch at the slip but sighed. It’s not like it was a secret anymore, especially not as far as her father was concerned. Of course, she herself still didn’t know how she felt about this new situation she happened to find herself in. Regardless…the demigoddess would get to what she thought about it all soon enough.

“Well, just follow me Naito,” the half-blood said before walking towards the edge of the cliff and jumping off of it. She took out her scythe and put it into the rock and dirt to help slow down her descent. When the demigoddess was close enough to the ground, she placed her feet against the wall and, taking her scythe out just a half-second beforehand, kicked off and flipped in the air before landing with bent knees upon the ground.

The angel flinched just a bit as she jumped, realizing she knew what she was doing. He could just go down a safer way, anyway. Summoning his blue Cruxis energy wings, he flew down, floating to a safe speed to land on the ground. He considered dismissing them, but decided against it, simply standing on the ground with them out, knowing it didn't really matter to hide them. "Um... is it okay if I ask where we're going?"

“You can ask, doesn’t mean that I’m going to tell you,” Kynthia said, this time with a real smile on her face. “Come on Naito, don’t you like just a bit of surprise in your life?”

He smiled back a little, sighing and giving up the point. "I guess that's okay, but it couldn't have hurt to ask, right?" Still, he nodded for her to continue. "I can wait. I might be from the future, but I'm not without patience, after all."

Kynthia chuckled at his response, though frowned afterwards. “Still…makes me wonder if you have seen this place before…” she muttered before shrugging her shoulders. “Ah, well, I guess we’ll figure that out soon enough.”

The demigoddess led the way towards wherever their destination would be. She brought the two of them to a path and walked down it. All the while, Kynthia turned her head from side to side, looking for something. She muttered to herself every now and then, as if trying to remember she put something. The half-blood grunted and seemed to get more frustrated until she turned her head to the right.

A wide smile crossed Kynthia’s face as she saw a very familiar place. The smile seemed to grow more and more as she turned to the right and raced to whatever she saw. However, that expression quickly went away as they went over a hill and, on the other side, was a large stone dais with a small crack in the very center.

“What the….what the hell is this thing doing here!?” Kynthia shouted. “It wasn’t here the last time I checked!”

The quarter-god flew after her, knowing he was faster on his wings than his feet. He grinned as she did, following her.... and was shocked as she was. He had never seen that dias before. "I... I've never seen that! What's going on? What's happened?!"

“I-I don’t know…” Kynthia said honestly, looking closely at the dais. “I…I think I can break through it, but I may need-“

There was a very distant rumble in the sky. It was quiet enough that most people wouldn’t have thought about it. However, the demigoddess knew exactly what that sound meant. Without a second thought, Kynthia lunged at Naito and knocked a good distance away just as a lightning bolt landed where they were just that moment ago.

Kynthia got back onto her feet in an instant and took out her Moon Scythe. Looking up at the clear night sky, she shouted; “Get the hell down here you stupid, over grown cat!! What’s the matter? You finally scared of me!?”

“Hardly, half-breed,” a booming, growling voice said from the sky before a lighting blot hit the ground in front of them. After it landed, a huge white tiger with orange stripes with a large cross-bow on his back appeared. “I’d just thought I’d give you a warning shot before I really lay it on your filthy hide!!”

Naito was shocked by the lightning, floating back suddenly.... but his eyes narrowed as the tiger came down. Gekigami, God of the Onslaught, guardian of the Thunderstorm and Thunderbolt Brush Techniques. He knew his child, but did not associate with him often in his time. He flew in between the tiger and his mother, his eyes showing his hate for anyone who would insult her. "You leave her alone! Is that any better than someone attacking you for being a cat? Any better than anyone being racist for any reason? Let us through, and we don't need to fight!"

“How dare you talk to me like that insolent boy!” Gekigami roared. “Who do you think you are!? I’m going to…wait…that scent…” The giant tiger sniffed the air around the quarter-god. “I know that scent…you smell just like…just like…her!”

Gekigami jerked his head and glared directly at Kynthia. “You miserable whore! How dare you bring another like you into this world!! While your blood tarnished the god blood that flows through your veins, you have now completely ruined what our Mother Amaterasu has made! You will pay dearly for this!! I think I’ll start with your brat!”

“Naito, get back!” Kynthia shouted as she jumped up and brought him back down to the ground, shoving the boy behind her. “You’ll never harm, you oversized flea bag! This is between you and me! Leave him out of it!”

Naito ran up next to his mother after being shoved, staying by her side nonetheless. He was extremely angry at the insults, though he didn't let it show too much, afraid of what would happen. Instead, he directed it at the god before them. "Don't you dare talk to her like that! A god like you depends on people, on humans! That means that by virtue of what you need to retain power and what she has, she is better than you, not someone to be insulted!"

“Quiet you insolent whelp!” Gekigami roared and raised a huge claw to swipe at the mother and son, but suddenly stopped and looked up. The tiger’s eyes widened and he suddenly jumped to the side just as a large cherry bomb fell and exploded where the thunder god was.

Kynthia’s own eyes widened when she saw the bomb appeared, but soon a huge smirk crossed her face at the same time two more bombs fell from above, causing the god to dodge them as well.

“Bakugami!!” Gekigami roared. “Get out here you cowardly pig so that I can gut you for this insult!”

“Oh yes, because Amaterasu forbids that we harm the great and mighty Gekigami! Lord of the kittens!” A very deep-throated voice said around the god and part gods and in an explosion of confetti a huge boar with red markings came in on top of a cherry bomb that seemed to be at least half his size.

“Remember, Geki, that I can use my bombs revealed as well as hidden.” Bakugami said and, as if to prove his point, three more bombs appeared above Gekigami, which the tiger just barely dodged.

Naito's own eyes widened in shock as well, but he did not smile as his mother did. Instead, he did a half bow, as he usually did around gods that were not openly hostile to him. "Thank you, God of Explosions. We owe you if you have a request, provided you can have Gekigami leave here." Yes, he was aware that Gekigami was still there, but given his reactions to his mother and basic logic, he didn't think he deserved any better treatment, divine or not.

As much as Gekigami would have normally roared at how Naito ignored him, he refrained for now as he kept a close eye on Bakugami. The boar let out a deep chuckle at how the quarter god treated him.

“Oh relax kid, just consider yourself lucky that I came when I did. I heard that my favorite little niece was back and I thought she might come here…though it was only a hunch,” the boar god admitted.

“This, is, IT!!” Gekigami roared, lowering his body as if in a pounce and using his tail to pull back the cross-bow string on his back, aiming it right at Bakugami. “Either you start talking to me or leave! Because either way, I’m not leaving here without a fight!”

“Well then I guess you should look up,” Bakugami said as he pointed up.

Gekigami did do as the God of Explosions said and his eyes seemed to grow very wide as he saw twelve cherry bombs above him. Though they were all smaller than one of Bakugami’s bombs, they did cover a wider area. As if on the cue, the bombs began to descend. The God of Onslaught let out a small ‘mew’ before turning into lightning and shooting back into the sky.

Naito watched the tiger god leave, smiling at last, sighing in relief. He looked to Kynthia. "Um....how did I do? And... I'm sorry if I scared you." He looked to Bakugami again, nodding, though he stood tall again. "Thanks anyway. Um....can you help us get down through there?" He looked to his mother again. "Um...if that's the right way."

Kynthia grinned widely as Gekigami ran, loving the little ‘mew’ sound he gave. Ah, revenge was so sweet, especially when you get help from someone who feels the same way as you. When Naito talked to her, the demigoddess just shook her head.

“I was scared, Naito, but…you’re a grown man, and I should realize that you can take care of yourself…” the demigoddess, her features becoming softer, but then shook her head. “Anyways! Yes, that is the right w-“

Before Kynthia could finish her sentence, there was a crackle of thunder and a lighting blot shot out of the dark sky. Bakugami noticed this in time and caused an explosion near to Kynthia to knock her way, but not close enough to actually do some damage. The half-blood cried as she was flown across the ground, hitting the earth again just as the lighting blot did, causing her to gasp in pain as the electricity coursed through her body.

“Coward!” Bakugami squealed up to the heavens. “You yell at me for not attacking directly, what do you call this!? Get down here you damn cat!” There was no reply of any kind from the God of Onslaught.

Kynthia groaned in pain and slowly sat up, clenching her head in pain. “Eh…embleer firthrah…u pfeffa narn hrair hraka! Pfeffa u tharn as zorn crixa!”

Naito's eyes widened in shock at the assault, dropping to his knees beside his mother. She was hurt, and he wasn't sure how much. Brain damage, if her new language meant anything. "Mom!" He reached into his etherspace pouch, yanking out a Hi-Potion and holding it out to her. "You'll be okay, you'll be okay! Please be okay!"

Kynthia gave her son a strange look. “Roo, zorn? U elil…the…the…” the half-blood shook her head and grabbed the potion, draining the whole liquid in one gulp. “Ack! Narn hraka…Oh Amaterasu! Why am I speaking hlao now?”

Bakugami chuckled at the young woman’s speech, “Oh boy! I haven’t heard you speak rabbit in a long time, my dear! Must have been at least a century ago! A bit rough, but you seem to have slipped right back into it pretty well. That bolt must have jogged some of that memory for ya.”

Naito looked to the boar god, then back to the demigoddess. He did know about Lapine as a language, though he hadn't taken much time to study it, only knowing a word or two, maximum. Still, the idea of Kynthia... Actually, that made sense. She was a rabbit's daughter. Still, he looked to her again, concerned. "Are you okay? Do you want to rest here?"

“No…no…I’m fine, roo,” Kynthia said, slowly standing up, clenching her head in pain. “I…I’ll be fine once we get down there. That…that place heals, in more ways than one.” She looked up at the God of Cherry Bomb as she said this.

The boar gave his deep chuckle. “Sure thing kid! I’m sure they’re missing ya.” Bakugami said before three cherry bombs appeared on the stone. They went off at the same time and the stone disappeared to, revealing a great hole.

Kynthia grinned widely and turned to thank the god, but only found floating confetti where he once was. The demigoddess just smiled and walked to the edge of the hole, turning to face her son. “Well, are you ready?”

Naito waved goodbye to the god, albeit after he was gone, wishing he could thank him as well. He let out a sigh of relief. At least she was okay. He looked to the hole, hovering again on his silver wings, and approached the hole. "When you are. Um... sorry I called you that. I know you don't like it. Do you want me to carry you down?"

Kynthia chuckled at her son’s offer. “Like father like son I guess. No, you don’t need to carry me down. In fact, you don’t even need those wings at all,” she said, then jumped into the hole without a second thought.

She fell quickly into a dark space for a bit, but then began to slow as a light shone below her. The light grew brighter and brighter with each passing second until, finally the darkness fell away and she gently floated to an under ground spring. She descended towards a tiny island-like land mass with clear, perfect water surrounding it. Grey stone surrounded the water with a water fall coming from the north-west. The island itself was green with a few flowers here and there of bright, joyful colours. The island gently ascended to a hill where a pale yellow broken base stood, with a giant, vibrant clover in the very middle of it. Although there was no light source, everything could be seen from the light of the life that lived in this grotto.

Though the most important thing that should be mentioned here, is who lives in this tiny piece of paradise: rabbits. Dozens of white rabbits that hopped to and fro, with a giant, black and white rabbit seeming to watch over them.

As Kynthia touched ground, she walked over to the warren. Every single rabbit stopped what they were doing and turned to look at the half-blood. She gave a small smile as they all looked at her, she wasn’t sure they would recognize her. Suddenly, the rabbits seemed to let out a happy squeak and rushed her all at once. A tiny, pure white rabbit jumped first and landed right on Kynthia’s chest while all of the other rabbits overcame her, causing her to fall down on her back.

“Ack…Naito…meet…my second…family…” Kynthia grunted as the rabbits jumped all around and nuzzled her.

The time traveling angel had landed in the time it took for the rabbits to see the Moon's Daughter, his wings dismissed, smiling slightly at how she compared him to his father. He didn't want to think further on what that meant, though, so he watched, kneeling beside Kynthia and petting a few of the rabbits that had landed on her, looking around. "Um.... hello, everyone? I'm not sure if you understand me, but it's very nice to meet you all."

Kynthia smiled as a few of the rabbits turned to him, some even jumping onto his shoulders and sniffing all about, trying to figure out just who or what he was. The smallest of the rabbits, who was still on Kynthia’s chest, stood up on its hind legs and seemed to glare at the boy, not liking how close he was to the half-blood. The woman chuckled and slowly sat up, dislodging some of the rabbits on her but using a hand to keep the small one close to her chest.

“Don’t worry about Fviver here,” Kynthia said as she pet the small bunny. “He’s just the jealous type. Again, like someone I know, but at least he got better.” More of the rabbits hopped over to the boy to nuzzle and sniff at him more.

“Ammy introduced me to this place, the very first time dad…well, he often got violent,” the demigoddess stroked Fviver more as she talked, “since then, I always came here whenever your Grandfather had one of his moments. This place…it just seemed so…outside of everything. As if…something much greater than the gods made it.” She pointed at the giant clover above them.

“That clover right there…that’s where I got the feeling…it seems like something that shouldn’t belong here…but yet deserves to be here more than anything else in this world…I don’t know. In any case, this place always made me happy and calmed me down. Of course, these little fur balls always helped.”

Naito smiled, looking to the rabbits as he sat down, letting them climb on him. "It's okay, I'm... well, I'm with Kynthia here." He wasn't sure if he should explain further on that. Still, as he heard Kynthia's tale of parental abuse, he sighed, looking down. "I... never really asked about how he was before. He seemed nice when I was in my time. Then again... only a few gods weren't, and never anything abusive toward me. I think y-- I mean my parents took care of that."

He looked down, sighing. How was he supposed to react? He looked over at her again, then muttered under his breath. "... I wish I had a place like this back there. Somewhere to hide. Nótt always wanted me to be careful, but... It's hard."

“Nótt…that’s…your sister, right?” Kynthia asked, feeling bad for asking. “I’m sorry…that must sound horrible coming from…from…your mother.” The demigoddess gave an exasperated sigh. “You know what, I’m your mother! There, I said it! I’m your Embleer Firthrah mother! I may not have given birth to you…yet, but you are my son and I should be treating you better than what I have. That’s why I brought you here. Even before going through whatever you went through, I knew that you were having trouble.”

Kynthia sighed again. “I know…I know that I would have loved to have been able to run to my mother whenever anything went wrong. Unlike me, you actually have that ability and I…and I just pushed you away. I’m so sorry Naito…for…for everything. I haven’t been acting at all like a mother to you, and I should have. I guess…in light of all that has happen…and hearing how you’ve been bullied. What I really want to say is...will I be a good mom!?”

The angel's eyes widened. She accepted him? She thought of herself as his mother now? He was so happy, he didn't know what to say! A broad grin for the first time in a while came to him, and he came closer, hugging her. Finally, after a few seconds, he spoke.

"It's okay, you're allowed to forget about a daughter you haven't had or met. I'm sure she'd understand too." He let go, looking down, sighing over her next words. "I understand, it's okay. I feel selfish for thinking you'd be like her back home. But..." He looked over at her. "If you are anything like her, and I don't think you're that much different in some ways, I guess, you'll be a great mom. Protecting your children when they need it, nurturing when they need it also. Oh, and also some training sometimes when we feel like it, though we tend not to bother you about that. Or is it we will not tend? Or tended?" He rubbed his head. "...actually, I see where the confusion comes from." He still smiled again. At least he had a family he could rely on, one that accepted him for who and what he was. Sure, he had that before in his time, but now he had that and friends.

Kynthia smiled with her son as he hugged her and hugged back, the rabbits all around them seeming to catch onto this new feeling and jumping all about in happiness. “I promise you here and now, Naito, that I will do whatever I can to protect and help you from this point on. Heh, might be good practice for when I do end up having you,” she said, then slowly un-wrapped her arms around her son.

“Now, with that out of the way, you mentioned that you wanted to talk about something youself,” the demigoddess commented. “Well, go right ahead and tell me, I’ll try to help as best I can.”

The young man coughed awkwardly into his hand at the mention of Kynthia having him. Yes, he did think of her as his mother... in a sense. But aside from name and look, and the powers, this was a different woman. Sure, he still called her his mother, but the idea of talking about his mother... that never failed to weird him out.

Onwards! He looked down, nervous, as he let go, wringing his hands. "Um... I guess you can call it... uh... girl trouble." He blushed. "I don't know how to handle it, sorry." He didn't even mention a name, still nervous and embarrassed about the prospect. "I just... I don't know what to do, and about my time, and... I don't know."

“Girl trouble?” Kynthia repeated, seeming to think about it for a bit. “Wait, are you talking about Jasmine? Heh,” the half-blood leaned back and looked up at the ceiling. “Well…you know I have no problem with the two of you together. Jasmine and I were friends…at least I think we were. Memories a bit hazy still on that part. But, from what I can tell now, she’s a nice girl…”

Kynthia sighed and ran a hand through her silver bangs. “But that’s not what you’re talking about. You’re talking about the whole time travel bit. Well, to be honest Naito… I have to ask you one big question: do you want to go back to your time?”

The young man sighed, lowering his head. "...is there any place for me there? I mean, I have you and dad and Isaac, and Nótt..." He was very tense, scared. "... But she's here. And... and nobody calls me a freak, or a killer, or..." He looked to the demigoddess again. "... do you think she would come back with me if I wanted to? That there's even a chance? I mean she's so..." He looked down again, blushing at the thought.

“Well, I wouldn’t ask her right away, I mean you two don’t know each other that well,” Kynthia said with a chuckle, but then sighed. “Look, I understand if you don’t want to go back. Trust me, when I first became an Interference, I kind of just stumbled back here…it’s not like I wanted to come back and face Geki and some of my other uncles and aunts…”

She sighed again at some very unpleasant memories. “As for what she thinks…well, you two looked very close for just knowing each other for so short a time. Heck, I would have loved to see what would have happened…if that no-clothes woman didn’t get in the way. At the same time, you should really take your time with this, my roo. I know Jasmine doesn’t have our kind of immortality, but trust me, a lot can be done if you use your time wisely. Speaking of lives…what are your thoughts on that? From what I understand…you do still have immortality from the quarter-god in you. I’m sure the angel part helps too. But still, what are your thoughts that Jasmine will die and you will continue to live on?”

Naito blushed at her assessments. He did agree, of course, but was grateful for the change of subject. Or at least was for two seconds, before another sigh escaped his lips. "I.... I don't think I can do it. I... I need to find out if she's mortal or immortal. If she's mortal, then..." He paused, but sounded assured when he spoke. "I don't want to keep going if she doesn't have the chance. And what if dad dies before you, but I live and she dies? That's fair to nobody, given there's a chance. I... I just need to know. If I do, I'll contact dad, and..."

He paused once more, looking to her. "I'm sorry, I don't want to upset you. I just want to do what's the best for everybody." He tried to lighten the tone a little at that, knowing it was a bit too dark at the moment. "I don't even know how to deal with girls I like, even going slow. Um... do you have any tips?"

“You sure you want to ask someone who has put themselves through hell for the sake of deconstruction?” Kynthia asked, again with a smile, but did take the time to think about it. “However…well, your father was a bit more forward with it. Of course, we both were just horny teenagers at the time…so yeah. Regardless…if you’re really sure about your feelings for her, then you should just go and tell her. Though…a little gift might help sweeten the deal, but nothing too fancy, she might be put off by it or think that she doesn’t deserve it. Just something small that could mean a lot, if only for a short time, like flowers.”

Suddenly, Kynthia grabbed her son in a head-lock and messed up his air, scaring some of the rabbits away though they came back. “In any case, you just need to get some of that Zivaku charm out! If it was able to get a harden demi-goddess like me, then a butterfly sprite should be no problem! And don’t you ever dare say that you upset me, nothing you can do will do that!”

Her son yelped, then laughed, trying to pull back, ignoring the talk about Jasmine as a "sprite". "Okay, okay! Quit it, mom!" Still, it did sound like a good idea. Flowers could help. Maybe he could search for a shop? In any case, this was a good day for him, he thought. It was nice, talking to her.

Kynthia laughed louder as she held her son a bit longer before finally letting go. “Alright, alright! I’ll show you mercy this time. But remember, just show that you have confidence and any doe will fall for you!”

The demigoddess chuckled and stood up, bringing her son up with him. “Remember, whatever happens, you can come here whenever you want. If Geki or that cat god tries to give you some trouble, just remember you can always call on Tachigami, Bakugami, or the Hanagami trio for help. Ammy too, though I wouldn’t trouble her too much.”

With everything said and done, Kynthia led the two of them to a glowing circle. As soon as they step foot on it, they found themselves floating back to the surface and eventually back to the others.