[[ Kiko- C H A N and Sno - C H A N ]] - Private 1x1

[Sno Magicka]

Α ℓєкsαи∂єя ● K єsισм ● S иσ ● H ιкαяα ● T σкєтsυ

Aleks stood up from where he was kneeling with Kiko, holding the woman firmly in his arms as he paid attention to both Sno's worry of wanting to leave and Keiko's worry of how that would be possible. He knew he normally would have little to no trouble transporting a group of this size to Venus...it was like second nature to the man, and his heart crystal was fully charged, still in its overdrive from Kiko's love for him. The only issue was of course was that he was still wounded. It was healed mostly, yes, but he had lost a lot of blood while constrained, and it was taking most of his concentration already to remain standing without tipping over from waves of dizziness. "Under normal circumstances, I would have no problem with that...but, with my blood loss, I can barely concentrate right now much less move 8 separate forms across planets, especially considering Mars is further from Venus than Earth is," he said, pointing out every fact that could possibly make the journey more difficult than originally imagined. A frown crossed his face, just as he heard Kesiom clear his throat.

Kesiom took in what Keiko had said, gladly accepting her last kiss before standing up from the ground and remaining close to her side. As Aleks explained the predicament, thoughts ran through the man's mind. Gently clearing his throat, he shrugged his shoulders when he had the group's attention. "If you have the energy to pinpoint the landing, I can try to power the transport..." he said, trying to hide the uncertainty in his voice. His powers...they felt, funny, to say the least. The darkness, it was still there, but that tainted feeling it always had, of the evil that always threatened him and his mind, was gone. It was just a shadow based kind of power, one he felt he could control. But also, along with those shadows, there was a darker edge to it, something that was on the edge of death, but not in the evil way as it use to be. And then there was something else, something like a glow, a happier, life filled power that almost reminded him of Keiko's healing powers and how they felt. Though not quite the same, he figured the two powers in him were two halves of some weird whole, and even though he was fumbling through whatever had happened to him, he felt secure in the idea of being able to transport them. If what his...brother...had said was true, he was apparently from Saturn, and that was much farther than Mars to Venus, so this trip would be easy, right?

Aleks gave Kesiom an uneasy look. "Are you sure? Not to put salt in a wound, but just minutes ago you were lying lifeless on the floor," he said, the doubt easy to recognize in his tone. Kesiom shook his head. "Well, I'm perfectly alive right now, thanks to whatever that...gentleman, did for me. If anything, I feel more alive than before," he said, relating his words unconsciously to the weird, new side of the power resting in him. "I can't say I really know how to explain it, I have no idea what really went on or the exact details of how I am standing and breathing right now, but I do feel the power in me, and I know I can help get us there," he said, a more confident tone radiating from his words this time. Aleks nodded his head. "Alright, we can try it," he said, surprised by his own easy going faith in the idea of relying on unknown powers to cross them over to another planet.

Calling Keiko over, he let the woman take Kiko's body, then summoned everyone to stand in a circle around him and Kesiom. As Aleks began summoning his heart crystal forth, he gave Kesiom the instructions to place his hands around it and push his energy for the transport into it. The other nodded, his hands resting a few inches outside of Aleks' as he closed his eyes to concentrate on the new powers inside of him. As he focused on both energies, he drew them out, and thinking the same way he used to for transporting, the area outside their circle suddenly started to swirl, the wind picking up from the ground and swirling upwards around them. Immediately Aleks could feel what was behind it, or more so what wasn't behind it. The man could easily remember that day when he had flinched from being so close to Kesiom because of his darkness. In reality, it hadn't been because of his darkness but more so because of the evil attached to it, that tainted it. Aleks could feel the darkness that Kesiom was pushing forth into the transport, but at the same time, a lighter, more vibrant energy accompanied it. He wanted to say something to the other, to mention it, but figured he needed all the concentration he could get to get a harness on these apparently new powers.

Within' a few minutes, in a similar style to how Valerick had come and left, a purple whirlwind was whipping around the group, dust and rocks from outside their little circle picking up and being thrown around, but not a hair on any of their heads being affected inside the circle. In the next moment, Kesiom's eyes opened, glazed over in a indigo color as they all vanished, the dust and pebbles falling down from where they once were. Whether it was luck or...whatever it was, they landed safely in the grand hall of the Venus throne room, their feet touching on the ground softly as Kesiom reigned in his powers quickly. A few of the curtains in the room rustled from the wind before he pulled it back, but blinking a few times, his eyes returned to their mismatched colors, and Aleks pulled his hands and crystal back, the color very faint inside of it. "Hey, good job," he said with a small smile to Kesiom. The man shrugged his response, amazed that he was able to do what he just did. Aleks quickly walked back over to Keiko, taking Kiko from her arms once more.

Almost immediately the doors to the room opened, his mother walking in and halting once she saw the sight. There was a mess of emotions on her face, accented by her blood shot eyes and the tears that seemed to be constantly threatening to leak from their captivity. At the moment though, confusion pulled out first. "I thought...that power, it...I thought Hotaru was coming...never mind," she said, her normal grace and poise of her words obviously missing. Aleks felt his heart break a little at the sight of his mother, finally letting his transformation down into the clothes he had been wearing earlier. "Mom..." he said quietly, and she just shook her head. "Take care of what you need to first, I see you have your hands full, and we'll talk in a bit," she said. The man could only feel a frown play on his face, then looked to the group. "The guards will show you to rooms respectively, and I'm assuming one of them can show you to Aphrodite and Hikara," he said, directing the last bit to Kesiom and Keiko. Motioning for Yori to follow him as he began walking towards the doors his mother came from, his mother fell into step next to the two guys as the doors closed behind them.

As Aleks walked, he suddenly remembered how surprised his father had been at who Yori was. "By the way mother, this young man is-" "I know, my grandson," she said before Aleks could finish, her hand reaching out and ruffling Yori's hair gently, trying her best at a small smile for the boy. "I could sense it, he is of Venus and Mars, and I figured in the end, no matter the story behind it, he would be because of a union of you and Kiko," she said. "Plus, even though it isn't active inside of him, he also has a heart crystal." Aleks simply nodded in agreement with her statement. "Though...we shouldn't let Nicolai in on it. Having his nephew here who is 8 years older than him, it would be problematic," she said quickly. Having reached Aleks' room, Minako opened the door, and Aleks quickly walked in, lying Kiko's body down on the bed and sitting next to her on it before turning his attention to his mother once more. "How...how are you holding up?" he asked cautiously, and just those few words were what it took. Minako felt her eyes close tightly before she rushed forward, Aleks standing a second before the woman took him into a hug, her tears falling fast and furious. Aleks simply hugged her in return, feeling his heart break at the sight.

Back in the throne room, two different guards approached the remaining people, one talking to Kesiom and Keiko first. "If you would follow me, I can direct you to Aphrodite and the girl," the man said, bowing and then turning to walk opposite of where Aleks and crew had walked out of. Kesiom took Keiko's hand, nodding to the Mercury group before they passed through the doors. After a few confusing twists and turns of the hallways, they eventually were lead into the same room that Aleks had been healed in. The guard bowed his good-bye, walking back out and closing the door after him, and the figure standing in front of the table turned to look at the two. Aphrodite smiled at the two, one hand extended over Hikara's body lying on the table. "She used a regeneration spell, didn't she?" she immediately asked, a slightly worn look over the woman's features as a bright light pulsed from her hand and fell into Hikara's chest.

Once again in the throne room, another guard approached Sno, Jirou, and Toketsu, and surprisingly it was a female. She bowed her hello, then studied Jirou for a moment. "Tsuyu?" she asked, smiling as she recognized his energy. "Thought I recognized your energy...your father's a legend among the guards here. I thought some of the other female guards were going to pass out when he came to help us train once," she said, laughing a little as she turned to lead them out the same door Aleks had left through. Sno couldn't help but feel a small play on her lips, reaching and squeezing Jirou's hand as they walked. Walking through a few hallways, she stopped at a room, opening it to reveal a large two room suite. "Since you do not have any prior engagements here, I will send a tailor to help outfit you guys for the events that are to take place in the next few days. You all will most likely need an outfit for both the funeral and coronation," she said, and confusion ran across Sno's face. "Coronation? A new King has already been appointed?" she asked curiously. The woman simply nodded her head. "The crown is automatically given to the next oldest of the male lineage of the royal throne. Aleks will be crowned in two days," she said matter of factly. Bowing, she left to fetch the tailor, and Sno just felt a surprised look on her face. Toketsu couldn't help but look very confused. "But...he's King of Mars in our time..." he said meekly, worry crossing over his face.

[[ I know that was CRAZY long, but I wanted to get everyone to their different places on Venus. xD ]]

[shigatsusan]

Ⓚⓘⓚⓞ ◦ кєιкσ ◦ ΥѲЯΊ ◦ ʝȋʀɸϑ

xxxxAt first Keiko had the same hesitations as Aleks about Kesiom supplying most of the energy for their transport. But she could feel the change in him as well. Obviously not as profound as he himself was experiencing it, but if anyone knew Kesiom's presence it was Keiko. And what was swirling inside him now was not the same black, twisted power it had once been. She squeezed his hand once for assurance before heading over to Aleks and slipping her arm underneath her sister's, wrapping it around her back to hold her upright as everyone positioned themselves around the other two. There was no denying the change in Kesiom as he prepared them for the journey. The energy was powerful and dark but pure. It was his power, his to control and be one with, and it was no surprise to Keiko when she opened her eyes to see they were in the throne room at Venus. He was capable of just about anything, now. Once Aleks had hold of her sister again, Keiko came up beside Kesiom to give him a side-long hug, repeating a congratulations to him.

xxxxYori had to hold back an odd noise when Minako came through the doors. It felt like he was looking at the same version in his time, except a little younger. She had worry set in her face and at the soft exchange between Aleks and his grandmother, Yori looked down at his feet. They had lost Grandpa. He felt his throat close as his eyes watered but bit them back. He hated crying, and it seemed he was doing far too much of it lately. He merely stiffed his bottom lip and followed Aleks as he motioned for him to follow out the door with Kiko. He tried at a smile when Minako ruffled his hair, "Hey gammy." when he had been a toddler just learning to speak, the world grandmother never came out right. He always slurred it as 'gammy', and wouldn't you know it, the name stuck. Once in Aleks' room Yori came to stand on the other side of his mother, once again feeling the p***k of tears at seeing his father and grandmother fully realize the extent of their loss. His fists clenched at his sides and he stared at his shoes, as if the ground beneath him would open up and swallow him whole.

xxxxKeiko gave Aleks a nod of thanks before turning her attention to the attending guard. Threading her fingers with Kesiom, she followed the man through the intricate hallways of the palace before they were in what appeared to be a medical room. The woman there had a hand over Hikara and at seeing her face Keiko felt her heart twitch. Her eyes were still closed, set in a lifeless face. She could only nod in response to Aphrodite's question, not sure if she could live through the whole experience again. After a moment she stepped forward, "You can help, right? I'll do whatever is necessary." she was willing to give her own energy to the woman if it would help in recovering Hikara.

xxxxAt hearing his own last name, Jirou turned around to face the female guard with a puzzled look. His father? After the woman explained, he couldn't help the tug of a smile that played on his mouth. He bowed at the guard in return, "Glad to hear he's making a good name." in truth, Jirou hadn't heard much from his father since being sent to earth. He didn't feel bitter about it, not by any means, but it did make whatever news he got about the man that much more interesting. He followed the woman to their suites, once again faced with a room far larger than he'd think he would ever need. But then again Sno and Toketsu were staying there as well. He could only assume. The worry in Toketsu's face when he mentioned Aleks having other responsibilities in his time caused his own brows to furrow, "That was the whole point in coming back to this time though, wasn't it? To change the future?" he sounded questioning, as if he wasn't sure if Aleks not being King of Mars later in life would have terrible consequences.

[Sno Magicka]

Α ℓєкsαи∂єя ● K єsισм ● S иσ ● H ιкαяα ● T σкєтsυ

After a good almost 5 minutes of what seemed hugging, the shaking off his mother's sobs finally came to a halt, or at least downgraded in intensity, and she pulled back, wiping from under her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she nodded a little to Aleks. "Thank you...other than crying every 10 minutes it seems, I've been trying to be strong...trying for Nicolai. He doesn't know yet, he keeps asking why I'm so sad. I already have the funeral arrangements set for tomorrow, so...I hate doing this, but I figured if the news should come from anyone, it should come from you," she said, giving Aleks a look that mixed sympathy and guilt together in one gaze. Aleks nodded, trying his hardest to lock his emotions away for now. There would be time to mourn tomorrow, and for now, he needed to stay strong, like his father would have. "I'll talk to Nicholai...tonight," he said, just as a small head peeked around the corner. Aleks looked over just as his little brother bounded over, undoubtedly hearing what the man had said. "Tell me now! What's going on? Why's everyone so sad?" he asked, his childish demands causing Aleks' hold on his emotions to crack a little. He was his innocent little brother, only seven years old...doing this, telling him...he didn't even know how to do it.

Kneeling down next to Nicolai, Aleks simply smoothed the boys' hair back, forcing a smile onto his face. "I'll let you know after dinner, alright? We'll have a grown up talk, brother to brother," he said, the last part pushing through the young boys demands and bringing a genuinely happy smile to his face. "Alright, you better promise!" he said, Aleks just nodding and standing back up. Looking over, Nicolai saw Kiko on the bed, bounding over and jumping up next to her. "What's wrong with Miss Kiko?" he asked, and before anyone had a chance to say anything, looked to Yori and cocked his head. "Who are you?" he said, a small inquisitive smile on his face.

Aphrodite simply nodded her head, then gave the couple a confused look. "When Kiko and Aleks were here last..." she said, her thoughts trailing off as she walked forward, the spell she had been conducting hovering in mid-air, like it was on pause. Placing her hands over both of their hearts, she looked to the side like she was concentrating. "Did your change happen after or before Hikara's spell?" she suddenly directed to Kesiom, the man raising his eyebrows at the question. "After...why?" he said, wondering exactly what the woman was so confused about. Aphrodite sighed and pulled back, her foot tapping as she kept thinking. "I'll need both of you to help then...I started this spell based on the information I read from Kiko's heart last time she was here. From that information, I was under the assumption that your powers were still tainted, still the ones that Hikara would have. Now that yours have changed, in essence, it will change for her, so to complicate the process we'll need you to help diverge some of your new energy into the healing process so that her powers won't go completely beserk when she wakes up," she said, pacing back and forth as she spoke. Kesiom gave a worried look, nodding to show he caught the gist of what she said at least. "Come on," she said, walking on the other side of Hikara, continuing the spell. "You first Keiko, place one hand on top of mine, and start a spell, one that you would use to heal and awaken someone at the same time, and during, concentrate on her soul, on her very spirit inside of her. As for you," she said, looking to Kesiom, "put your hand over Keiko's, and your spell will be concentrating on pouring your energy, your powers into her to stabilize her energy before she wakes up." Kesiom nodded, acting on his part once Keiko did her part.

Sno shrugged her shoulders, gently rubbing Toketsu's back. "We don't know all the facts...maybe it's a formality? Maybe he won't be needed here, or some other item will play out we haven't factored in yet. For now, lets wait until we can talk to the others," she said, smiling at Toketsu, who simply just shrugged. "If you say so..." he said. Sno just sighed before jumping a little as a small form jumped into the room. "Hi! Lets get some clothes for you guys, lets do it lets do it lets do it," the overly spunky girl suddenly started saying, and Sno cast Jirou a worried glance. The girl simply looked them over, cocking her head and playfully tapping her foot. "Lets see, Mr. Mysterious, Ms. Elegant, and Short Stuff," she said, and Toketsu huffed at the random nicknames. "I am far from short," he said defiantly, genuinely upset. He had his father's genes, he was tall for his age thank you very much. Hell, he was taller than the tailor! The girl just stuck her tongue out, and unzipping a small pouch whipped out a measuring tape. "Who first?" she said, and Sno let out a small, uncomfortable laugh, and without a second to spare, the girl rushed forward and grabbed Sno's hand, leading her over towards the space in front of a mirror, running around her as the tape wrapped around her waist. Sno just froze in spot, her face that of shock and almost being scared.

[shigatsusan]

Ⓚⓘⓚⓞ ◦ кєιкσ ◦ ΥѲЯΊ ◦ ʝȋʀɸϑ

xxxxYori had been raised in war. He knew that casualties were just another part of the whole process, knew that over all their outcome on Mars could have been a lot worse...but it still hurt to think about. In his time Grandpa had died but not until much, much later than now. He wasn't supposed to be taken so early. Thinking about how it was affecting his family now was almost too hard to swallow. As if to make matters worse, Nicholai came in demanding to know just what everyone was keeping from him. Even at his young age he had his talents of perception. Yori could never lie to his uncle, the man always knew. Somehow, he just knew. Aleks managed to derail the situation for the time being, leaving the boy to question about Kiko and then, himself. He blinked, exchanging a glance with Aleks and Minako before trying to answer, "Well, M...uh, Kiko is just tired. She had a big fight with this bad woman and she won but she's sleeping." that answered one question. As for the other..."I'm Kiko's nephew." maybe it wasn't all that creative of a response but at least it wasn't the truth.

xxxxKeiko felt relief crash into her like a tidal wave as Aphrodite confirmed she could indeed help out Hikara. And then she was walking toward them, asking about Kesiom's transformation. She had a feeling bringing Hikara back would take some fancy magic and hard work but she had no idea such a process was called for. But it made sense; with the new, even more powerful energy in Kesiom it was no doubt a hard switch for Hikara to make. She nodded with resolve at her instructions and did as she was told, raising a hand to cover Aphrodite's over the girl. She closed her eyes, concentrating the bulk of her magic on the faint hint of life energy she felt was still inside Hikara. Her eyes went white as she attemtped to bring her back to consciousness.

xxxxIn reality, there was a lot of time in between then and the time Toketsu and the others had come from. Maybe Aleks was only meant to be King here until a new successor came about? Sno was right, there were a lot of factors in the equation they weren't aware of, and fretting over it all now seemed futile. The girl that practically vaulted into their room surprised Jirou as well, though other than raised brows you wouldn't have been able to tell. Her boundless energy was something Jirou was not used to, and could only stare at Sno as she was picked first to be measured. He shrugged his shoulders, a look of 'I have no idea' on his face.

[Sno Magicka]

Α ℓєкsαи∂єя ● K єsισм ● S иσ ● H ιкαяα ● T σкєтsυ

Nicolai just sat next to Kiko on the bed, looking at the woman once as Yori provided the answer, then squinted his eyes at Yori when he spoke the last answer. "So...you're..." the little man said, trying to make connections in his mind, trying to remember what would exactly make Yori her nephew. "...alrighty!" he said finally, giving up for the time being and accepting Yori's answer. Aleks forced another smile out, walking over and putting his hand on Nicolai's shoulder, looking him in the eyes. "How about you go help in the kitchen? I'm sure they'd love your help," Aleks said lightly, a wide grin spreading across the young boys' features as he nodded. Jumping off the bed, he ran to the door, waving before he disappeared into the hallway.

Aleks just breathed in heavy, smiling at Yori. "Nice cover," he said, turning back to his mother then. "I'm assuming tomorrow..." he said, his voice coming out softly. He didn't need to finish his sentence for Minako to know what he was inquiring about, and she simply shook her head. "The day after will be the coronation ceremony," she added, and Aleks froze. Minako saw the shift in his demeanor, shaking her head solemnly. "I don't like it anymore than you do, but Venus law states there must always be two rulers, and you're the only one who can inherit your fathers crown," she said. Aleks could feel a tremble running through his body...he had never considered anything beyond the funeral. He wasn't ready for something like this, he couldn't be King, he just couldn't do it. Sitting back on the bed, he rested his head in his hands, trying his hardest to steady his breathing.

Kesiom found it easier to pull at both sides of his new powers than he thought, and as all three of them did their separate tasks, signs that she was slowly coming back became present. Her hand twitched, her breathing became more steady, and finally, after about 15 minutes of heavy concentration, her eyelids fluttered open. "Ugh...what the hell..." she croaked out, her throat dry as her hand came to her forehead. Coughing a few times, she managed to open her eyes completely, looking up at the people above her. "What...Mom? Dad? What's wrong with your eyes dad?" she asked, her brow furrowing in confusion. Kesiom could only let out a small laugh. "You come back from a coma and the first thing you ask is about my eyes..." he said teasingly, watching as she sat up with Aphrodite's help. Hikara let out a small laugh, reaching forward and bringing both her parents into a hug. Suddenly then, she remembered exactly what she did. "Is...is Toketsu's dad...alive?" she asked quietly.

Sno felt like she was in a medical office or something, jumping as the tape measure reached more private places. Finally, the girl said she was finished, and Sno gladly backed away. Toketsu was biting his bottom lip, being used to overly hyper kids, coughYoricough, and could only start laughing outright as the woman hurried Jirou over next in front of the mirror. Considering the man's height, she was forced to throw the tape measure over his shoulder, accidentally hitting him in the face. "Oh my gosh! I'm sorry!" she said, her cheeks lighting up in a blush as she decided to start out lower, wrapping the tape around his waist instead. Sno just caught Jirou's eye, trying her hardest to keep a laugh in, instead just sticking her tongue out a little.

[shigatsusan]

Ⓚⓘⓚⓞ ◦ кєιкσ ◦ ΥѲЯΊ ◦ ʝȋʀɸϑ

xxxxYori bit is lip, wondering briefly if the boy would connect the dots and realize his little excuse didn't make much sense but thankfully he was still young enough to let it slide. He seemed content with the answer as he headed off to the kitchens to 'help' as Aleks put it. He gave a shrug at his father's joking approval. Hey, he was put on the spot, what did you expect? His mind did a 180 when Minako mentioned the coronation. His father was King of Mars in his time...now he was going to inherit his father's crown? It didn't make sense....but then again, they had changed a lot in the past over the last few weeks, maybe this was just a new road. He watched his father struggling with the idea of becoming King so soon with a heavy heart, and after a moment he came up to sit beside him on the edge of the bed. He wished his mother was awake, knowing she wouldn't have to say anything to make Aleks feel better. Slowly, he leaned his head to rest against his father's shoulder, letting out a long sigh. "I'm sorry." he said softly. What exactly he was apologizing for was unclear. His father dying, this sudden responsibility thrown into his lap, everything all at once.

xxxxJust when Keiko was about to lose grip on her own magic, Hikara began to stir. Seeing the signs of life in her caused her to push harder through the last strecth until eventually the girl was awake. She let her hands fall back to her sides as relief filled her up to the point of bursting. She didn't pay much attention to what the girl was saying, she merely watched her as she sat up and came to. When the girl reach out to hug her, Keiko's arms wrapped around her torso with care like a mother would, and she could feel tears wetting her lashes. She pulled back enough to watch Hikara's face as she nodded, "You saved him. He's just fine." it was hard not to notice the pride in her voice. She pulled the girl into her again for another embrace, "Don't you ever scare me like that again."

xxxxJirou felt as if he had stumbled into a whirlwind or something because their tailor seemed to be buzzing about a mile a minute. After practically just starting with Sno, she had already moved on and was pushing him toward the mirror. Just when he was about to protest getting measurements, he already knew them, the tape measure smacked him in the nose. It wasn't nearly as painful as getting a barbed whip in the back, but he flinched a little as a hand came up to rub his nose. "S'alright..." he mumbled as he shot a soft glare to Sno. His was of saying, Oh, shut it.

[Sno Magicka]

Α ℓєкsαи∂єя ● K єsισм ● S иσ ● H ιкαяα ● T σкєтsυ

Aleks felt Yori come up next to him, his head touching his shoulder as he murmured a sorry. The man pulled his face from his hands, resting his cheek against Yori's hair. "You have no reason to apologize...I just...just need time...to let it sink in," he said, having a hard time believing his own words as they came out. Pulling back, he smiled at Yori, a genuine, though pained smile. Looking back on the bed, he took in Kiko's face for a second before his mother chimed in once more. "I already have all the outfits set for you three, considering you already have the sizes, I figured Yori would fit into your old outfits, and I know Kiko's measurements from the ball. Dinner will be in one hour," she said, her queenly facade finally starting to come back. Turning, she nodded her head in good-bye and walked from the room, and Aleks simply looked back to Kiko once more. Shifting himself closer to the woman, he brushed her hair back a little, letting his gaze fall across her face. "So much sacrifice and hurt in one day..." he murmured to himself, closing his eyes as he tried even harder to push the emotions back, to lock them up and away.

Hikara laughed a little in her mother's embrace, nodding her head yes as she pulled away. "Sorry Mom," she said with a happy smile, turning to swing her feet onto the side of the surface she was lying on. Aphrodite then walked around, smiling at all three of them. "She's inherited the best from both of you...after the funeral tomorrow though, i would like to take the ladies to the side and teach you the spell to stop the a coma from coming on in the first place, as to prevent this from happening again," she said. Hikara just got a confused look. "I thought you said Toketsu's dad survived?" she said, and Kesiom shook his head. "He did, but Aleks' father wasn't so lucky," the man said quietly, a look of pain shooting across Aphrodite's features. Shaking it off, she smiled once more, though there was pain in this smile. "I'll lead you guys to your room," she said, watching as Hikara bounced off the resting area like nothing had happened. Walking out of the small room they were in, the four passed through the grand hall once more and to the other side, and after another few hallways, stopped in front of a room that was just down the hall from Sno, Jirou, and Toketsu's. "When Mitzy, the resident tailor, is done with your friends, she will visit you to help suit you up for the upcoming events," she said, and with one last bow let them be, walking back the way she came.

Sno gave Jirou an apologetic look, watching as Mitzy, more focused this time, aimed the measuring tape for his shoulder, this time making her target and quickly whipping around the man to catch it. A few seconds later and a couple of more things scrawled on her tablet of paper, she announced she was done with him, turning to face Toketsu. The boy just smiled mischievously, turning and jumping up on the bed as Mitzy glared at his futile escape attempt. "There's no escape from me!" she said jokingly, running to the side of the bed and launching herself at Toketsu, just as he tried to move. In result, both of them bounced when they landed, then bounced right off the bed, hitting the floor with a loud thud. Sno ran to the other side of the bed, sighing heavily at the two lying on the floor, laughing loudly, Mitzy having tied Toketsu up with measuring tape. "Told ya," she said, and Toketsu, with the limited mobility of his arms, put them up in a sign of surrender.

[shigatsusan]

Ⓚⓘⓚⓞ ◦ кєιкσ ◦ ΥѲЯΊ ◦ ʝȋʀɸϑ

xxxxYori knew the smile on his father's face wasn't perfect, but it at least had hope in it. He was sad and tired but he was still whole. He was no the broken man Yori had seen out on the battlefield. Whether he knew it or not, he was even stronger now than he was then. At the idea of outfits and dressing up, Yori bit his tongue. He was his mother's son, that much was for sure. He would wear the proper attire for the funeral of course, but knew he'd have to get dolled up for the coronation as well. He'd rather gag himself with a spoon. He brought his thoughts back to the present when Aleks shifted, leaning over to gaze at Kiko slumbering there on the bed. "It seems like a lot..." he said quietly, "But imagine this every day for fifteen years." it had been one hell of a day. There was no denying that. But, to Yori, a day like this was common place in his time. But because of their success with the dark queen, the future wouldn't pan out like that. At least, he hoped not.

xxxxKeiko didn't need to hear an apology, she just needed to hear the girls voice. Once over the shock of seeing Hikara up and around again, she couldn't help but get a little excited at the idea of learning more healing techniques from Aphrodite. She had heard the woman was a wonderful healer, and Keiko could only imagine what she could teach her. There was a quick silence as Kesiom told Hikara of their loss, but Aphrodite went back to normalcy for the most part and went to showing their rooms. The idea of getting a custom fitting from a royal tailor made Keiko's girly side a little happy, but only wished the events would have been for more positive reasons. She paused after Aphrodite left before turning back to Kesiom, giving him a moderately serious expression, "So, I suppose I should fill you in on some things."

xxxxJirou quickly deduced that this girl was the type you best just let be. If she wanted to measure all of them she was going to do it, no matter what. So instead of piping up and adding his two cents he let the woman measure him, taking down a few numbers before turning her sights to Toketsu. The boy did his best to avoid her but she was just as quick as he was. He too couldn't hold back a laugh at seeing his son wrapped in the measuring tape, finally surrendering. "Fighting back will only make it worse, son." he joked.

[Sno Magicka]

Α ℓєкsαи∂єя ● K єsισм ● S иσ ● H ιкαяα ● T σкєтsυ

Aleks nodded to Yori. "I know...lets just hope things will be different and that when you are born in this time, you will be able to have a normal child hood," he said quietly. The man wouldn't allow himself to think about what was going to happen in the next two days. It would only drive any hint of control over his emotions to the brink, and he would go crazy. Instead, he simply helped maneuver the blankets of the bed over Kiko, making sure she was thoroughly tucked in before turning back to his son. "And I guess I have to thank you...you're so much stronger than I am, and it's something that helps me not break, not like I did back on Mars," he said, the last part trailing off ever so slightly. He didn't ever want that to happen, he didn't want to snap like that again. He hurt Yori more than he ever wanted to, which was never in reality, and if it meant locking his raw emotions up even more, so be it. He did it normally, and it worked, and with everything that was going to happen in the next few days, it seemed like it was necessary.

Hikara walked into the room, plopping down on the bed. She had been dressed in a long sleeve silk nightgown thing, and while it was soft, it was far from practical. Similar to her mother, the thought of having someone fit her personally for something pretty? It sounded fun, and even though the event it was for wasn't all that great, enjoy the bright moments, right? Kesiom simply looked to Keiko as she made her statement, and the man just lifted his eyebrows. "I guess it would be nice to know why my powers feel so messed up and why some guy stating to be my brother randomly revived me," he said, layering a little sarcasm into his voice as he walked over and wrapped his arm around the woman's waist, gently looking at her. Hell, he could hear something completely horrible at the moment, but with her in his arms and knowing their daughter was safe, he knew he could handle anything that was thrown at him. Hikara chimed in, her perky nature showing through. "Yeah, why ARE Dad's eyes all messed up?" she asked, a big grin on her face as she watched the two.

Toketsu just stuck his tongue out at his father, standing up as Mitzy released him from his tape measure confinement. With a couple of movements of the tape around Toketsu's body and much scribbling along her paper, the girl stopped and backed up, examining the three of them. "Since all three of you are from Mercury, I'm going to put splashes of blue into your funeral attire, and then your coronation wear...oh that's going to be so much fun to put together!" she said, excitement ringing out in her voice. "I'll work the outfits together tonight, and I'll bring them by the room tomorrow!" she said, scampering from the room with what seemed an even higher level of adrenaline and excitement than she came with. Sno breathed out a sigh of relief, glad that was over. Walking over, she put her arms around Jirou's waist, resting her head against his chest. "I guess we'll be here for support in the end..." she said, not thinking there was much else of a role they could play in the following events. In the mean time, Toketsu had walked over to the sliding doors, revealing his smaller room with a queen size bed. Running over, he flipped onto his back and landed on the bed, letting out a big yawn. Sno looked over at the boy, tsking comically. "Hey hey, no sleeping yet. We still have dinner to attend to mister," she said, Toketsu responding by murmuring something about not being sleepy.

[shigatsusan]

Ⓚⓘⓚⓞ ◦ кєιкσ ◦ ΥѲЯΊ ◦ ʝȋʀɸϑ

xxxxYori made sure he wasn't in the way as Aleks tucked Kiko in to bed, to which the senshi cooed and turned over in her sleep. Even despite her tattered body she looked peaceful and content. A far change from the expression she had back at the castle. He turned away from his mother to watch Aleks as he thanked him, and a slight blush spread through his face. "M'only strong cause of you." he mumbled, and though it wasn't a very loud statement it was true. Another trait he had picked up from his mother was his discomfort in expressing heartfelt emotions. The man sitting beside him might not have been exactly like the father he grew up with but he was still the same powerful, loyal, and devoted man all around. This Aleks had even taught him something, too. Being weak didn't mean breaking and showing emotion, it was giving in that showed true weakness. He sat there a moment before glancing up at the other man with a smile on his face. They were going to be ok.

xxxxThe light senshi wasn't quite sure how to approach the subject she needed to discuss with Kesiom. While, in essence, hearing about his true lineage would be a good thing overall, how could you tell someone the woman who he called his mother merely abducted him from his real family to be used in some grand evil scheme? She took the hand around her waist and led them to the bed, pulling him down to sit beside her at the edge. "While the Queen had me locked with Aleks and Sno...she told me about you." Ok, good start. She just had to keep going. "She's not your real mother, Kesiom." it came out like a punch, as if saying it in one breath made it easier to get out. She slowed down then and took a breath before continuing. "You're really Hotaru's son, the Prince of Saturn. Neivra abducted you as a baby and used your powers for her benefit." all the while she spoke she was watching him, watching his face for signs of distress and her hand remained in his.

xxxxJirou wasn't a hard person to please. If the hand-tailored suit the head seamstress of Venus made for him didn't have some blue in it, he wasn't going to piss on the curtains or anything. But the gesture was kind and he bowed his head in thanks to the woman before she left like a whirlwind. He shared Sno's relieved sigh and leaned his head down to rest against her shoulder when she came closer. He looked up to see Toketsu flopping himself on his bed like a rag doll, and he shot him a look, as if to scold him for hopping into bed so carelessly. But he wasn't paying much attention, he seemed to be tired. In reality, so was Jirou. He placed a light kiss on the crown of Sno's head, speaking softly by her ear, "It's been a long day. Let him sleep for a moment."

[Sno Magicka]

Α ℓєкsαи∂єя ● K єsισм ● S иσ ● H ιкαяα ● T σкєтsυ

Aleks returned the smile, nodding at his comment. Yori was so like both him and Kiko, taking their strongest traits and combining them into one person it seemed, and it made Aleks' heart grow a little watching the young man. Bringing his hand over by Kiko, he let it glide over a scratch on her cheek, a small light producing from his palm as it healed over. Even with that little power usage, Aleks winced, just then deciding to remember he still had a half healed wound to contend with. Just as he was about to offer for Yori to come with him to visit Aphrodite, the woman peeked her head into the room, smiling when she saw the three. Aleks simply smiled in return as she strode over. "How is Hikara?" he asked, and the smile on the woman's face grew stronger. "She's awake and with her parents right now," she said. Resting her hand on Aleks' left shoulder, he could feel the light and power of healing spread over it, rotating it a little when she had finished. Then she went to work on finishing Kiko's cuts, making sure the woman was mark free before sitting on the bed also. Her attention went to Yori, and she couldn't help but smile. "You look so much like your parents," she said softly, an endearing look on her features.

Kesiom sat next to Keiko, taking in each word as she spoke them, letting them sink in completely. For a good minute, the man sat there, staring at the rug on the floor, his face unchanging. Then his eyes closed and he let out a half laugh. "Surprisingly...it doesn't surprise me, at least knowing Neivra wasn't my mother. She was so different, and even with her coldness I never sensed anything that told me I was her son. The whole Saturn thing though..." he said murmured, the last part of dropping off into nothing. The man simply squeezed Keiko's hand, focusing on his breathing. A moment later he spoke once more. "That will take...time...to understand. The powers inside of me, one of darkness and even a hint of death, the other of light and life...I don't understand them," he said solemnly. Hikara took in what Keiko said also, and just gave a small smile as her father spoke. "We'll figure it out...you said you had a brother, right? Maybe he has the answers you need?" she remarked hopefully. Kesiom simply just shrugged, his mind turning into a mess with each passing moment, as each new fact sunk in. he had already had his life turned upside down when he went against Neivra to spend his life with Keiko, and now this? He wanted stability by now.

Sno smiled as she felt the kiss, looking up to him after he made his statement, then back to the boy. Walking over, she realized he was in fact passed out, and in result Sno gently pulled him up to the head of the bed, pulling the covers over him and tucking him in. "A nap before supper then," she said, playing with a few strands of the boys hair as he slumbered peacefully. Looking back up to Jirou from the bed, even with all the death and destruction they had to deal with today, she couldn't help but feel a small moment of peaceful happiness.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > Dinner Time

After talking for a bit more about his new lease on life, Kesiom decided it was a topic best saved for a later discussion, one that hopefully included the man that claimed to be his older brother. Hikara smiled and took the opportunity to freshen herself up in the bathroom, running a brush through her hair and rinsing her face. Walking back out, she made a comment about how she looked like she had been dragged through a storm, and this caused a smile to come on Kesiom's face much to Hikara's satisfaction. One each of them had taken a moment to make themselves a little more presentable, they headed, with the assistance of a guard, to the dining hall. Walking in, the sight was even more impressive than the breakfast that had been laid out when Kiko and Aleks had been there, food as far as the eye could see and just about anything you could want. And of course, if there was something you wanted that you didn't see, it could be made in a heart beat. Hikara clapped her hands happily, immediately running over to a seat in the middle of table and summoning both Keiko and Kesiom over to sit next to her.

Sno had taken little in getting ready, more so taking the time to lie down and relax. Her mind was going a million miles per hour like usual, not allowing her to sleep, but letting her muscles relax felt good none the less. When the time came, she gently woke Toketsu up, who fussed at first, then was up in a flash at the prospect of food, much to Sno's amusement. She made sure her two men were ready before heading out with them, another guard leading them to the proper place. Once inside the hall, Sno couldn't help but take in the grandeur once more, Toketsu noticing Hikara right away and running over to the girl, wrapping his arms around her and excitedly talking to the girl. The woman simply smiled at that, taking the seats across the table from their friends.

After a few minutes, Minako walked in, a smile on her face as she saw the two groups had already arrived, but soon became puzzled. "Where is Aleks?" she asked, referring to him in terms of his little group. A guard simply told her that he had not arrived yet, and a worried look crossed her face. Back in his room, Aleks was reclined against the headboard of the bed, resting there. His appetite was mostly gone, his stomach in knots at the thoughts of what was to occur in the next few days. Plus, he didn't want to leave Kiko, he wanted to be there when she woke up.

[shigatsusan]

кєιкσ ◦ ΥѲЯΊ ◦ ʝȋʀɸϑ

xxxxKeiko couldn't have possibly wrapped her mind around just what Kesiom was going through. He had to digest a whole new part of himself. Despite this, she could empathize and try and give him some peace of mind. They didn't have much time to talk before she had to begin getting ready for dinner, but made sure to let him know he did have stability in his life. It was her. With a soft kiss on his brow she headed off to wash up. She had a quiet moment of peace while brushing Hikara's hair, and after a quick once over decided the girl was fit for festival. She followed the guard with Kesiom and Hikara in tow to the dining hall, and practically gasped at the sight of so much food. The table was long and robust with sturdy, regal chairs set up all around. One for each person. She took a seat beside Hikara, still taking in everything that was laid out for them. What a treat!

xxxxIt didn't take Jirou long to get ready for any occasion, whether it be a simple day at work or a night at a ball. A quick wash of his hair, a scrub, and then pants, shirt, suit jacket. After taking a moment to rest with Sno he got ready quickly while the woman went to waking up Toketsu. He gave a mild fuss, but with the promise of food and a quick word from Jirou, the boy got up. As they were led to the dining hall, Jirou couldn't help but feel a little odd with all the guards around. It was his job, after all. He was usually the one doing the guiding. It was a tad surreal, to be on the other side. Once in the hall, he wasn't sure his eyes were big enough to take in the entire display of food. He noted Keiko and the others had already arrived; the light senshi shot them a smile as they walked in. He smiled in return, glancing at Hikara and then back at the woman. He was very glad to see she was alright. Toketsu was glad too; Jirou's smile widened a bit at seeing the boy embrace her in relief. He took his seat beside Sno, only standing again when Minako came in. It was customary to rise when the Queen entered, and then sit as she did. When she inquired about Aleks, eyes began searching. Yori and Kiko were missing as well. Was something wrong with her?

xxxxYori sat and talked with Aphrodite for awhile while Aleks stayed beside Kiko. After a bit of small talk the woman excused herself to prepare for dinner. He took a glance back over at Aleks then, who had not moved from his spot. He didn't plan on going to dinner, then? The ornate grandfather clock by the door said they had a bit more time left before dinner...Yori decided to sit on the floor by the foot of the bed, his back pressed against the frame as he drug his knees up to his chest. He conjured a small fox looking creature made of fire in his palm, playing with the thing to pass the time. The control training with Kiko had obviously paid off. When he looked up again, they had five minutes until dinner was scheduled to begin. He closed his palm, snuffing out the flame as he stood to watch his father, "I think we should go to dinner." he said simply, raising up his hand with two fingers outstretched. "I think mom's out for the count tonight. Not to mention Gammy is going to wring your neck if you skip out." at each reason he pointed to one of his fingers, as if rattling off a list. He raised another finger then as he added an after thought, "Also, I'm starving." he turned and walked over to the large dresser on the other wall, and began pulling out clean shirts. He tossed one to Aleks and then held one up against himself. Ah, it would fit.

[Sno Magicka]

Α ℓєкsαи∂єя ● K єsισм ● S иσ ● H ιкαяα ● T σкєтsυ

Aleks just smiled as Yori pointed out the reasons that they should go, rolling his eyes a little as he caught the shirt. Looking to Kiko for a moment, he let a small smile play across his face before turning back to Yori. Taking his shirt off quickly and throwing it toward the hamper in the corner, he slipped the new one on. Standing up from the bed, he turned and leaned over Kiko once more, placing a small kiss on her forehead before turning to talk to Yori once more. "Obviously my mother doesn't change much in the future," he said with a small grin, also thinking she wouldn't be the only one to wring his neck if he didn't attend. Letting Yori change, he walked with the boy from the room, looking at Kiko one last time before turning the lights off and shutting the door.

As Minako noticed Jirou's movement, she shook her head, waving her arm for him to sit. "None of that now, we're all family here and I insist on pushing formalities aside," she said, walking over and taking her place at the head of the table. Soon, Aphrodite also walked in, Nicolai in tow, and both sat on separate sides of Minako, Aphrodite on Kesiom and Keiko's side and Nicolai on Jirou and Sno's side. The moment the boy sat down next to Jirou, he looked up at the man, the first words that came to his mind coming out. "Wow, you're tall," he said, a hint of wonder and amazement in his voice. Toketsu laughed as he walked back around the table to take his seat, and Minako just shot Nicolai a look of 'mind your manners'. Moments later, Aleks and Yori both finally walked in, a look of relief washing over Minako's face. "I thought you weren't coming," she said, and Aleks simply put his hand on Yori's shoulder. "There's no stopping this boys' appetite," he said with a smile. Looking to the chairs remaining at the table though, his smile faltered for a moment. The other end of the table, where his father would have normally sat and the two chairs next to it were open.

Shaking it off, Aleks simply walked over, sitting at the other end, trying his best to lock away another batch of emotion. The chair next to Keiko remained empty for where Kiko would have been, and Toketsu just smiled as Yori took his seat next to him. Minako then just smiled, telling everyone to eat as they pleased. Once everyone started to dig in, Sno had to reach over and smack Toketsu's hand as he and Yori took turns messing with each other's food, Yori making Toketsu's too hot to eat and Toketsu freezing Yori's soup and drink. Aleks was in his own world, not really eating what was on his plate, more so just letting the hum of conversation that wrapped around the room float by him. Hikara spent most of her time grilling Aphrodite, her unending want for spell knowledge causing her to get hyper enough to spill her drink once. Immediately a maid came across the room, gently dabbing up what had spilt as Kesiom let his hand rest on Hikara's arm. "Settle down," he said quietly but firmly, Hikara just giving him a sheepish grin as a sorry. Nicolai had decided he wanted to be taller than Jirou, and in result stood on his chair and pushed himself to his tippy toes. "Ha!" he said just before his balance faltered a little, nearly causing him to fall over into the man he was trying to be taller than. One reprimanding look from his mother got him to quickly sit back down.

After about 15 minutes had passed, Minako rose from her spot on the table, addressing the table promptly. As all eyes were on her, she spoke in her calm, queenly voice. "The...first event...will be tomorrow. The guards will come with your proper attire, and one hour after the first...part will begin," she said, slipping over her words in an attempt to avoid anything that would give anything away to Nicolai. "Then, the next day will be the coronation, in which-" Minako stopped as Aleks rose from his seat, and without a word walked from the room. The woman simply bit her lip, a sigh escaping. "And I guess that will be a topic for later," she said, sitting back into her seat.

The moment his mother had begun mentioning the coronation, Aleks felt that hold he had on the already pretty full box of emotions start slipping. Not wanting to have a mental breakdown in front of his friends, the man simply silently excused himself, walking from the dining hall briskly and turning to walk down the hall. On of the guards tried saying something to him, but it was only jumble to the man's mind as he continued walking. After some time, Aleks finally stopped, finding himself in the royal garden, a lush paradise of flowers and greenery native to the planet. Finding a bench, he simply lay down on it, letting his gaze wander over the stars that shone brightly overhead. A million thoughts ran through his head...he didn't want this being at the forefront of his mind. It had been planned that since he was with Kiko and she was to inherit the throne on Mars that he would be by her side as King there and that Nicolai would take his father's crown when the time came. Now...now what would happen? With a deep breath, the lock on those pent up emotions slipped a little, a single tear running from the man's eye.

[shigatsusan]

кєιкσ ◦ ΥѲЯΊ ◦ ʝȋʀɸϑ

xxxxYori, although willing to bother Aleks until he eventually gave in, was glad when the man agreed to his reasons with a light smile and a joke. He shook his head as he changed into a clean shirt with a laugh. Gammy hadn't changed a bit over the time Yori had spent with her and it was something he counted on. He ambled over to Aleks by the bed, glancing down at Kiko slumbering there peacefully. He kissed the inside of his fingers and leaned over to gently tap her exposed shoulder. He seemed satisfied after that, for he turned to Aleks and let the other man lead them out to dinner.

xxxxWhile he didn't feel bad for getting up when Minako entered, Jirou did feel his ears get hotter. He was still a knight at heart, it was hard to strip him of all the training he had. He smiled gently and nodded his head to the woman as he took his head again, glad she seemed to be in a good mood about it all. He exchanged glances with Nicholai, a smile playing at his lips at the boy proclaiming he was tall. Aleks and Yori came in then, Jirou tilting his head just a bit to see them at the entrance to the dining room. The boy mentioned an apology about being late before taking his seat beside Toketsu. The boys were naturally very close, seeing them interact together was pretty amusing most of the time. But after dinner had already started, an ice and fire match was not necessary. As Sno bat at Toketsu's hand, Jirou sent a gaze in his direction. He caught Yori's eyes too, who looked surprised for a moment before quietly pulling his hands back to his own place on the table.

xxxxKeiko smiled as Yori and Aleks finally made their way to the table. There was a part of her that wished Kiko could be here to see everyone she had protected safe and sound, but knew the girl was utterly exhausted. It was best to let her sleep. She was half way in to her plate of eggplant lasagna when the glass tipped over, causing her to jump just a bit. While she knew how exciting it was to learn to skills, especially from someone as experienced as Aprhodite, Kesiom was right. She needed to settle down. Her focus switched to Minako as she began giving them a very brief over view of what was going to transpire the next day or so. This obviously upset Aleks for he got up and left without a word. She watched with sad eyes, knowing he must have been feeling a lot of pressure at the moment but not knowing what any of them could do to help. She glanced at Yori, who was looking from Minako back to her. "Excuse me." she tried to sound apologetic as the light senshi exited herself from the table to follow Aleks out the door. After inquiring to a few guards if they had seen the prince go by, she managed to find him out in the garden. The soft crunch of grass beneath her feet as she approached made her presence obvious, so Keiko didn't bother to let the man know she was there when she got closer to him on the bench. He knew, alright. She was silent for a long moment, as if afraid to say something she shouldn't. She knew Aleks might have preferred nobody following him out here, or someone closer to him like his mother or Kiko...but her twin had done everything in her power to save Kesiom, and Keiko would do the same. Not to mention Aleks was not the kind of person that deserved such turmoil.

[Sno Magicka]

Α ℓєкsαи∂єя ● K єsισм ● S иσ ● H ιкαяα ● T σкєтsυ

Kesiom watched as Aleks left the hall, realizing the man was going through his own life altering change, something similar to his own issues. It seemed that he and Kesiom had more in common than anyone would have thought, but as Keiko got up to follow, Kesiom just gently squeezed her hand and nodded. Once she had left, Minako exchanged a glance with the man, and he gave a mild shrug. "She always knows what to say, if anything at all," he said lightheartedly, a small smile forming on Sno's face from across the table. She knew what he spoke was true, she had always been that way, even before the entire mess of them first encountering Kesiom when he was still under Neivra's control and wanted to kill Kiko. It was odd thinking back on those days, but none the less, she knew things were different now, at least in the sense of Keiko's love life, not necessarily her ability to pull the right words out at the right time.

As Aleks heard the rustling of grass, he swiftly made sure there was nothing on his face to show his break of emotion, wiping the single tear from his face as he worked hard to throw that lock back on his troubled box of emotion. As she sat on the bench near him, he pushed himself up, not making eye contact with her as they sat in silence for a few moments. While Keiko wasn't her twin, the woman he truly loved, she was similar in more than just their looks, and in reality the presence of the other light user settled his fraying nerves just enough so that when he spoke, his voice didn't crack like he feared it would. "I'm fine..." he started, still refraining from eye contact. "I just....I just needed some air, that's all," he said in a half hearted lie. He didn't want to burden Keiko by any means...Kesiom was already having enough trouble in his life, and there was no way he was piling his own personal problems on her too. Taking a deep breath, he forced out a small smile, letting his gaze move to the side and finally meet hers.

Back in the dining hall, Nicholai was becoming restless in his seat, confused as to why his brother was so distraught. Without warning, he darted out of his seat and from the hall, ignoring Minako's calls for him to return. The little man was determined to know what was going on, why everyone seemed so down and wouldn't tell him the truth. Yeah, he was young, but he was intelligent and knew when people older than him were lying to him, especially people he knew very well like his mother and brother. Nicholai knew immediately where his brother would be without the assistance of guards. The garden was a place both of them found peace, a place their thoughts could be free and even a place they often played together. As he rounded the corner, he saw both his brother and the lady who looked like Kiko sitting there, and in the outgoing matter that was Nicholai simply walked around the corner and smiled at the two.

Immediately Aleks' heart sank when he saw Nicholai, the small smile he had forced out turning immediately to a frown. Before he had a chance to say something to the boy, to ask him to return back to the dining hall, he had rushed over, placing his hands on Aleks' lap and looking determinedly into his eyes. "Tell me! Why are you so sad? Why is Mom so sad? Why are you guys all lying to me? What is going on?!" he said, the frustration obviously growing in his voice as his demands fell out of his mouth. Aleks simply frowned further, and exchanging a brief glance with Keiko, knelled down next to the small man on the ground. "I need you to be strong, alright Nicholai?" he started with, figuring there was no avoiding this topic. As Nicholai nodded frantically, Aleks was more and more glad that Keiko was there, that there was someone else in case something went terribly wrong. After a few moments, Aleks took a deep breath, then let the words that had been plaguing him ever since it had happened roll from his tongue. "Nicholai...father...is dead. His funeral is tomorrow...and I will be crowned the day after," he said, forcing his emotions back with much work, refusing to let his voice break.

For a moment, Nicholai didn't move, didn't talk, didn't even blink. Eventually though, his mouth opened in shock, and Aleks could see a thousand emotions warring inside of him. Quickly though, angst and sadness won out, and the small boy collapsed into the man's arms, the tears rapidly falling from his face as his small frame shook violently. Aleks just hugged the boy close, trying his hardest to remain flat faced in fear that his own emotion would cause a similar reaction in him. The, the boys body suddenly became rigid, and pulled from Aleks, looking him right in the eye. "Mommy...she's been dealing with this...all on her own? That's why she was crying? Why she seemed so sad?" Nicholai asked, a look of determination crossing his face as Aleks simply nodded a yes for his response. Quickly, his tears dried up and he almost looked angry. "I'll miss daddy, I know I will...but, mommy, she..." he said, trying to grasp at something that was beyond his years. "She loved daddy, I know, but if you and I can be strong together for her, to be her support through out this, I know we can all make it through. We'll all still hurt, but we can confide in each other, in our friends," he said, briefly making eye contact once again with Keiko.

Nicholai then turned to face Keiko, putting on a small but true smile. "Thank you for being my brother's friend," he said, the young boy obviously trying to push his voice into a more serious, proud tone and not let his sadness interrupt. Aleks, for the first time in the conversation, since he had left the room, smiled also, gently rubbing the small boys back. "Everyone back in the dining hall is my friend, and I know they would all want to be your friend too, they'd love you just as much as Lady Kiko does," he said, Nicholai now beaming at the thought. "Even the red haired boy? I kinda wanted to play with him earlier, and maybe that white haired boy too...they both seem like they have fun together," he said, and this time Aleks just smiled and laughed a little. "I'm sure they would love to play with you," he said fondly.