Welcome to Gaia! ::

On the boat ride back to his village he couldn’t help but think about Ella and the fake Ella of Hidden Twilight. Even though Sai knew the Ella in Hidden Twilight was nothing like the one he knew and loved, he couldn’t help but wonder if their wants were the same. He never explored too far into Ella’s mind. He didn’t want to know about any hidden fantasy she might have about someone else. Then his mind flashes to her and Psyche. Sai refrained before flinging his fist deep into the bowels of the boat and tearing a hole through it. He remembered the first time he and Shaneko road on this boat. He shakes his head to get Shaneko out of it and then returns to his thoughts on Ella only to have Psyche’s image there again. Why had she left? And why did he have to go with her? In comparison to the homunculi she took with her he was the weakest and the least necessary. She was hiding something from him and he knew that but why? What was she hiding that she couldn’t tell him? It couldn’t be her fear of the people after her. It couldn’t be the fear of having people attacking her home because she quit the exams. Why then?

As his boat nears the docks he notices a homunculi he hadn’t seen in a long time. It was Tybalt and he seemed to be walking towards the village after sinking a boat. Sai grimaces as he climbs to his feet on the boat. He raises an arm and then brings it crashing down into the boat beneath him. Water shoots up as he stands upright again. He leaps into the air as the boat slowly fills with water and then dives down. It penetrates the boat and it bursts to pieces. Hearing the noise Tybalt turns around to see Sai swimming towards the docks. Without a word Tybalt was gone. As soon as Sai reaches the shore he takes off in a sprint through the forest. “Ella,” he would call out but would receive no response.

“Sai is coming,” calls out Tybalt as he pants. Tes furrows her eyebrows at Tybalt standing in the doorway.

“How’d he know we were here?”

“He spotted me but he was already coming in towards the docks. It was coincidental.”

“I bet that Naomi told him.”

“What’s going on,” asks a voice and Tes and Tybalt freeze. They slowly turn to face a figure standing in the hall of the Howard mansion.

“Ella…”

“Ella, Tybalt spotted Sai and he’s coming.” Ella clutches her chest hearing Tes’ words and Tybalt shakes his head.

“You could have been a little more subtle.”

“Am I ever,” Tes asks Tybalt who sighs. After a moment he disappears as does Ella. After a few minutes Tes disappears too.

Sai comes to the path leading up to the mansion and is met by Ella. She stares at him and he stares at her. She couldn’t figure out what to say so she supposed she’d just blurt something out but is beat out by Sai. “Why have you come back?”

“Wh-what do you mean by that,” stutters Ella nervously. She didn’t know what to say and was worried about seeing Sai again after so long. She hoped she could keep herself in check. After the many things that had happened to her in the past few weeks she had to be cautious about doing things or else she might become overwhelmed.

“After all this time… what made you finally decide to come back?” When he changed the question around a hint of a growl ripped from his throat. Ella takes a step back out of surprise.

“I… I missed you. I couldn’t stay away anymore so… I came back. What’s the matter? Why do you sound so angry? And… your eyes are a little red.”

“Sure you missed me,” he spat. It was becoming easier for him to be angry with her. He would be the bad boy. He would be the bad boy she wanted. “There’s nothing wrong with me. I’m finally seeing things clearly. So, why’d you leave in the first place if you were just going to return? It hasn’t been as long as it usually is when you run off.”

That stung. “You’re… you’re mad at me?”

“Yeah. Now stop beating around the bush. Why’d you leave?”

“I…” even now that the child was no longer there she couldn’t spit it out. It felt like a knot was in her throat. She couldn’t speak the words.

“Psyche got your tongue?”

That tore it. “I don’t give a rats @$$ whether or not you are justified in being angry with me or not but don’t insult me! How dare you say something like that to me! Have you lost your mind?”

“No, I found my voice, Ella! I’m not going to be shoved aside and saved for whenever you feel like having me anymore. You won’t keep hiding things from me either! I’m through bowing down to you! Now where were you?” Subconsciously Ella flings herself at Sai and grips his collar. She wanted to tear him to shreds. She wanted to completely obliterate him. She was so angry. But being so close to him and feeling their usual electric shock only made her sad. She releases him and flickers a few yards from him. “What’s the matter? Had second thoughts? Why not finish what you started? Look… I’ll even stand here and let you hit me,” he calls stretching his arms outward. She couldn’t believe him. She wanted so much to burst his bubble by telling him what all she’d been through but she didn’t want to speak of it. It hurt too much to remember. Even if she could speak the words without it being awkward she would still be hindered because she’d be afraid the flash backs, visions, and nightmares would come again. Ella’s breathing hastens as she stares at Sai. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes but fought them back. Sai wasn’t even looking her in the eyes. Had she hurt him that much by leaving? So much that he’d change like this? Things weren’t how she’d envisioned it. She thought Sai would be easier to talk to after her return but he wasn’t. He was causing the pain deep in her heart to tear away at her again. Why… why?

“Rafael,” she whispers and he is instantly in front of her. She inches close to his back and places her head on it. He tilts his head to look at her as she shakes her head. Rafael then turns to look at Sai who almost let his stern façade fade. He only glowered at him before he turns to Ella once more. She continued to fight the tears but she shook violently. Rafael’s body hid her from Sai’s view so he wouldn’t see even if he cared enough to.

“Ella,” asks Rafael but she only shakes her head. He nods and the two disappear leaving Sai to stand and look big and bad alone. Was he too hard on her? No. He had to be. That’s what she wanted, right? Of course… of course.

“What happened? Why is she shaking and crying like that?”

“I don’t know Angelle. She was talking to Sai.”

“You think he said something to upset her?”

“I don’t know. For all I know she could have upset herself. But Sai didn’t look innocent. I had a tiny feeling he made her upset like this but I wasn’t sure. Else I would have had to teach him a thing or two.” Ella grips at Rafael’s arms and he sighs. Rafael pries one arm from Ella’s grip and rubs her back but she continues to cry and shake. Angelle paces in the clearing and stops thinking someone was approaching then began pacing again.

“Come on Ella. Stop crying and tell us what happened. It’s easier to talk about it.”

“H-he…” she starts only to begin shaking more and crying a little louder.

“Someone will hear you crying,” coos Rafael. “You don’t want us to have to knock out curious neighbors.” It was a joke. There was no one in the forest where they were or even close. Rafael and Angelle analyzed this place and the only one that could make it to where they were or even find them was Sai and Ella would reveal if he was approaching or not. They would not be found. Ella did not laugh nor did she ease her crying and shaking.

“Ella…” Angelle couldn’t figure out how to get her to stop and simply knelt beside Rafael and pet Ella’s head. Ella was in her hiding form now. There was no need to be in her more adult form any longer. “What can we do?” Angelle never would have imagined she’d be like this with Ella of all people but she was. Angelle wouldn’t even blame Ella if she became evil after this. What they did to her was cruel. It was even worse than what Naomi would do. She makes it obvious she’s going to try and kill you. If she can’t beat someone without sneaking around then she would do something to force them to let her kill them or gain control of them.

“He’s different,” Ella finally says as she tries to cease her crying.

“Who,” asks Angelle as she pets her head more.

“Sai… he h-hates me.”

“What,” growls Rafael. Ella sniffs and then starts crying again.

“Make it stop,” she cries.

“What Ella,” begs Angelle.

“I… I keep seeing him…”

“Sai,” ask Rafael and Angelle at the same time. Ella shakes her head and breathes in and out shakily.

“The child,” asks Angelle sadly and Ella nods then begins crying more. Angelle sighs and falls back onto her behind. There was nothing that could be done now. Ella would have to get control of her self if that was what was troubling her. Rafael, with no avail, continues trying to soothe her by rubbing her back. Hours passed before Ella finally lost consciousness from all the memories and thoughts that filled her head. That was when Rafael and Angelle took her back to the Howard home to rest.

After talking for most of the day the homunculi depart from the Howard home to venture here and there. The area where Sai had been was left vacant. The Howard home was empty except for Ella and Tes. “I want to go and see him.”

“Are you a glutton for punishment, Ella?”

“I want to see him…”

“What if you lose it in front of him?”

“Maybe that’s what it takes.”

“You’re crazy.”

“I guess I couldn’t fulfill my debt to you.”

“Don’t say that, Ella. Stop beating yourself up over that. It wasn’t your fault. That d**n earring was a bad idea. It might not have been such a bad idea if we hadn’t left you with just those four. Maybe if we’d left Kill Joy behind things would have been different.”

“Can I?” Tes looks at Ella and digs her nails into the floor beneath her.

“Go… but don’t mention me letting you leave if things go sour. And don’t get mad if I follow you and tear Sai’s head from its place on his shoulders if he upsets you.” Ella wiggles off of the bed and places a hand atop Tes’ head.

“Worrywart.” With that Ella was gone. Creatures screech angrily at Tes only for one screech to silence them. The creature that was always the calmest was like Tybalt when Nimen had all those spirits following after her. He kept the others in line and was closest to her.

Sai leans against a tree while looking up at the sky. “Sai,” questions Ella as Sai tilts his head to see Ella looking at him. She was on her knees a few feet away from him.

“Yeah, what?”

“Why did you change? Is it because I left? You have to believe me when I say-”

“I HAVE to believe you? I don’t have to do anything.”

“I left because I thought it was the best thing to do.”

“Was it?” Ella felt the knot forming in her throat and her breathing hasten.

“N-no,” she whispers. He sits upward and her eyes flash up from the ground to look at him. “But I couldn’t think straight. There were so many things I had going on in my head… I never wanted to leave but I thought it was best.”

“Well it wasn’t so how about you elaborate on where we go from here?”

“What do you mean,” she cries almost pleading. “Where do we go from here? Things stay as they were!”

“Back to normal,” Sai snorts. “Things can’t go back to normal. I don’t trust you like I use to.” Ella tries to swallow but the knot had grown too big in her throat. She couldn’t breathe. Everything was spinning.

“Please don’t… I can’t take much more… Don’t say it…”

“Say what?”

“That we should…”

“That we should let ourselves be free? Maybe you can finally be out in the open with Psyche and I can go after Shaneko. I had been traveling with her in your absence and she isn’t so bad. I’d fool her into falling for me and leaving the team she’s with. Things will be great.”

“No,” screams Ella. She stammers to her feet and runs over to Sai. She falls down to her knees and grabs up his collar in her small fists. “Sai don’t… don’t do this! I’m sorry! Is that what you want me to say? That I messed up? That I’m a terrible person? That I should have told you in the beginning and talked about the whole thing? I can’t take that all back! I would if I could…” She couldn’t find air. She drew it in but couldn’t feel it. She couldn’t feel the air filtering into her lunges. It was like the air was blowing through her and it didn’t quench her thirst for it. Her head felt like it was going to implode. Was he serious? Did he want to end their relationship just like that? “Give me another chance! Why are you being this way,” she cries shaking him. He tries to pry her from him which, oddly, was easy. He pushes her away gently but she flings herself at him again. He wondered if he could do this. She didn’t want him before but now that he was shoving her away she wanted him. Was this working? He didn’t like it. Her reactions weren’t the ones he’d imagined.

She couldn’t hold them in. She began to cry as she clung to him. She couldn’t form words and she couldn’t cry out. The air was gone and her head was pounding. Finally he realizes his coaxing had gone too far. “Okay, I quit. See; I was just messing with you. Don’t cry.” She continued on anyway. He falls to his knees and grips her shoulders. “Isn’t this what you want? Didn’t you think I didn’t care enough? I care!” He watches her bury her face in his chest and he begins to shiver. He didn’t want to push her that far. He didn’t want her to cry. She never cried like this. She always called his bluff or acted nonchalant. “I don’t want Shaneko or anyone else but you. I swear! Look at me. Ella, look at me.” She would not look up at him.

“I t-tried.”

“Tried to what?” She begins shaking worse than him which makes him wrap his arms around her. He didn’t understand why she was crying so badly. It wasn’t that bad, what he said was it? He said worse yesterday, right? Was that why Rafael took her away? Had he made her cry yesterday too? He felt horrible. “Ella, come on. Calm down. Please. I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry.”

“I was so tired… I c-couldn’t see…”

“What? Tired? Couldn’t see? What are you talking about?” After a few minutes Ella found that she could breathe again but she continued to cry and shake.

“R-Rafael,” she mutters and Rafael appears a foot away from them.

“What’s wrong with her? Why is she crying so badly?”

“Get away from her.”

“Rafael… why is she crying like this? What I said wasn’t that bad, was it?”

“So you did do that to her yesterday.”

“She cried yesterday too… I never would have thought she would take it this badly?”

“Maybe next time you’ll think about not doing moronic things. Get the hell away from her.” Sai couldn’t believe Rafael was that angry. Rafael was usually quieter and wouldn’t say such things like he was saying. Yes he would voice his opinion but he never showed his emotions. He showed pure anger as he stared at Sai just like yesterday. Sai begins to release Ella but she holds onto him. Rafael did not draw near. “Do you wish to know why she left?” Ella tugs on Sai who falls back to his knees. Rafael looks at Ella as his face loses all emotion. She clings to Sai who rubs her back and places his head in her hair. “She left because she found out that she was carrying your child.” Sai jolts and pulls away from Ella to look at her. She was still crying and shaking which worried Sai. He raises her head to look at her but she turns her head away. He examines her body as a calculator appears in his mind. He calculated the time away and the last time he and Ella had spent time away from the others and was amazed. Surely Ella would have started showing by now. He was confused. Ella grips him tighter and shakes her head and then pulls him close to her. He holds her as he had before and stares at Rafael. “She is no longer.” Sai pulls her closer to him as he remembers what she had said and what he’d said. He wished he could tear himself away from her and go out and get someone to torture him day and night until she truly forgave him for being such a fool. “The people that had been trying to come after Ella, as Majora had warned us, came. I was not there but Tybalt, Elizabeth, Psyche, and Kex were.” How could those four be unable to take Ella’s attackers on? Where were the others? Where was Rafael? He could answer to Ella’s every beg and call now; why not then? Ella was slowly calming down as she began coming closer to losing consciousness. Rafael ceases talking and simply looks at Sai and then at Ella. Sai nods mechanically and then pushes Ella away from him gently. She grips his arms and he shakes his head.

“I won’t leave you.” She relaxes her hand and watches him shaking now and then as her crying becomes streams of tears. Sai takes one hand, looking at Ella to be sure she would be okay with it, and then presses it gently to her stomach. Images flick across his eyes as he sees what happened while he had been away from her. The first memory he saw was one that Psyche provided Ella.

”I suppose you’re right about that. However, I don’t see how it’s possible. How exactly can people be unable to make weapons closely related to the Chakra Rifles and then distribute them?” Elizabeth shifts her folded legs on the floor as Kex stares at her. He seemed to await her next inquiry before issuing one of his own. They were somewhere in the forest of Hidden Alchemy. The only ones around were Kex, Elizabeth, Pixie, Sonnet, and Psyche. “I wonder… can we reproduce?”

“Reproduce? I would think it possible if you looked at Sai and Ella.”

“If I look at them how? You saying Ella is in the process of reproduction?”

“No… I was simply saying that they perform the act that leads to reproduction. Why have the wanting to do it if you don’t need to?”

“Well, Ella is different from us as well as Sai. What they can do, in my opinion, can’t be compared with what we can do. On that note, do you think that can happen with Ella and Sai? And if so, can it happen with Tybalt and Nimen?” Tes motions into the clearing with the tame creature close by her side at the mention of Tybalt.

“What’s this talk about having children? What does it matter?”

“Aw, Tes, don’t ruin it. I’m just curious. Haven’t you ever wondered? What would the kid turn out to be? What would a cross between a Dante and Ichazuki be?”

“Come now, Elizabeth. That’s a silly question. Sai is a cross between a Dante and a Ichazuki. If they had a child it would simply come out like Sai.” Elizabeth wiggles her nose around in thought as Kex fumbles with an unlit cigarette in his fingers. Sonnet was listening contently while Pixie found herself fondling in Sonnet’s new hair. He looked very nice with his numerous colors in his hair. He found himself altering his appearance some time ago. Psyche was listening while running possibilities through his mind. “Now, let’s try and figure out that cross between Nimen and Tybalt. A Greek, plus a Zoto, PLUS a homunculi.”

“I would think it would come out as something like a Howard and Greek hybrid,” comments Kex finally.

“Not only that but the cross would have weapon wielding, alternate form operating, chakra mastering, and not to mention psychic abilities. That would truly be an interesting combination. If only we could test it with those two.” Tes grimaces at Elizabeth and begins commenting as Psyche slips away.

Elizabeth had presented an interesting question that day and Psyche found himself pondering over it. Soon he found his curiosity to be too high and began to ask the question to Ella upon reaching a paved road. He saw Ella but when she turned to look at him he emptied his head of all thoughts. Seeing her made him skeptical about asking. It was a personal question, Elizabeth’s questions had few borderlines, and asking it to her might have been a bad idea. “Hello Ella. I was wondering what was on the agenda today?”

“I haven’t figured out something for us to do today. I’m thinking about us having some time off. We’ve been training and running around a lot. I should be around for a while to spend some quality time with each of you as well,” replies Ella as a figure flickers towards her. Psyche nods as Ella laughs at him then turns to walk off. The tiny girl is then crashed into by a red eyed, silver haired boy. Sai laughs and flings himself away from Ella who was cradled delicately in Psyche’s arms. Soon after he caught her he loosened his group so that he was barely touching her. On the outside he was laughing with Sai but on the inside he was utterly surprised. All he wanted to do was see if Ella’s body could sustain another life form and then he was going to see if Sai could aid in the creation process. But what he found out from Ella's body was something he never would have figured. I mean, he wondered if it was possible but never in his life would he have thought it WOULD happen whether it could or not. Ella flashes out of his grasp to glare at Sai who runs off. Once she ran after him Psyche strolls away.

Once he was alone he let out his surprise. He couldn’t believe it. And he couldn’t believe how Sai didn’t know. Maybe it was because Sai didn’t suspect anything seeing as he had open access to her mind. Maybe he tried but she wouldn’t let him out of playfulness. Psyche pondered over it more and more. Ella was around more often and didn’t seem to venture away from the homunculi. She trained each of them trying to solve a question she herself had. Maybe she was too busy to leave them all alone as she did periodically. She had been pretty absorbed with Than this year. Psyche couldn’t shake the thought. He wanted to believe he fabricated what he’d learned but he hadn’t. He used the special clan move that provided information he couldn’t ask himself. Not once had it been false. He figured he’d make the necessary precautions.

When Ella learned of the upcoming Jounin exams he tried to sway her from leaving. She was intent upon becoming Fuhrer even though it would mean taking down Than, her friend, and he couldn’t find anything to change her mind. He wanted to inform Sai of what he’d learned but Sai never left her side and when he did he would disappear from Psyche’s radar. Sai was good at hiding and at finding people which made him even better at cloaking his movements. He would be back at Ella’s side before Psyche could even discover where he’d run off to. Psyche couldn’t follow after Ella and Sai or else they’d grow suspicious and he’d be forced to reveal the information to them both. He needed a time where Ella wasn’t there and where Sai could be found and tell him. He had yet to find such a moment.

Sai snatches away his hand and pressed it to the ground. Like Ella couldn’t breathe before he couldn’t either. He didn’t know how to feel about any of it. Ella was barely conscious now. “I should have gone with you. I should never have covered your tracks like I had. I could have protected you… both of you,” he cries lowly. He didn’t want to startle her. Rafael had long disappeared now and they were alone. Sai didn’t know when his brother had slipped away but he knew he was no longer there. “I’m so sorry… had I known… I was so cruel.”

“I tried…”

“I know you did, Ella,” Sai croons as he kisses her head. Within a few seconds she was out cold. Sai wanted to release her and lay her down but feared if she awoke to find him gone she’d go into a fit again. He’d have to stay with her. But every time he remembers what happened to her and how he’d treated her he winces in pain.

Despite her shifting in his arms now and then she remained asleep. He carried her around, wriggling a hand free to touch this or that, before he finally found the area where the others seemed to be. As soon as he walked into the clearing Ella is snatched from his arms. He growls lowly then notices Tes had her cradled in her arms yards away from him. He relaxes his face and gazes away from her. Tes figured he was told though she didn’t know exactly how he was told. Ella shifts uneasily in her arms which Sai notices out of the corner of his eye. “You guys don’t have to try and protect her from me anymore… I know now…”

“I know you know. Did you run into Naomi sometime in your travels around with Shaneko?”

“So you know.”

“I always knew what you were up to. I tracked you. In the beginning it was hard to find you. I found you the first time when you were covering Ella’s tracks in Hidden Sand. I found you a few more times after that and then I found you in Hidden Snow. I was too late, however. Naomi and Akou were already running off with you atop of a Giant Ram. Then, with Shaneko traveling with you, it was easy to find your trail. I tracked you up until I had to go out and gather some supplies for our stay in Hidden Leaf. After that… well, you know. So I stopped. So… what have you and Naomi been talking about? Has she informed you of how exactly she plans to help us get revenge?”

“Naomi isn’t to be trusted. It would not be wise to have Naomi aid in getting revenge.” Tes snorts and walks over to a leafy bed and sets Ella down on it gently. “I didn’t really talk to Naomi. I mainly yelled at her and ran her off. Last time though… Naomi got to Shaneko.”

“So Shaneko is in league with Naomi now?”

“More so in league with Akou.”

“Has Shaneko defended Naomi yet?”

“Somewhat.”

“This doesn’t seem to be a good thing but Angelle and Rafael do not seem to care. They saw much of this coming. I wonder what they are planning. I wonder what paths lead to what in the future? Do you remember?”

“Remember?”

“What you said to Reina way back when? In Hidden Time you informed her of the doom to come. Is this leading to Naomi’s goal? Was this all planned or did it just happen but prove to her advantage? What would happen to us if we sided with her?”

“I will not side with her.”

“You, unlike the rest of us, will have no choice.” Sai falls silent and Tes begins pacing. “What about Akou? I thought you said he was the key?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“He’s not an Ichazuki anymore.”

“Oh. I don’t know. Things have gone in the wrong direction. I shouldn’t be here. I never really thought too much on the future battle but I realize that…” Sai stops midsentence and stares blankly before him. Tes furrows her eyebrows as Sai’s eyes flash up to her. “I shouldn’t be here. As soon as Ella is feeling better I have to be destroyed.” Tes takes in air sharply and then Ella flings upright. Tes and Sai jump in fear and surprise when Ella turns her head to look at Sai.

“What?”

“E-Ella… What I mean is… Should Naomi take control of me… I could destroy you all. I know what she’s planning. I have to take another form.”

“But I’m comfortable with the you I have now.”

“No. We have to think about what’s best. I can’t be an Ichazuki. What if Naomi decides to take control of me?”

“Then I’ll use the move I’ve been working on.”

“We can’t rely on jutsu, Ella.”

“It’s alchemy.”

“No,” Sai states a little louder. He looks at Ella to see if she might crack but she seemed fine. She just had that worried face which pained Sai. “I have to take another form. If I don’t then I could be manipulated and you could be…” He didn’t finish.

“This whole d**n conversation is pointless,” interrupts Tes. Sai frowns and Tes shakes her head from side to side slowly. “Sai, you won’t return unless it’s a body Naomi or Adam prefer.”

“What?” cry Sai and Ella at the same time.

“You remember what happened with Rafael? I figured it out. That look of plotting Adam had, what Reina told us about her being recreated that time, my own experience with death; they all helped in me figuring out that when it comes to resurrection we are transported to Edom.”

“Wait, make that more understandable.”

“In the Afterlife there are two lands; the Garden of Eden and Edom. Eve, who is sealed within Reina, resides in the Garden of Eden. Naomi resides in Edom with Adam. You can easily tell the bad side of the Afterlife and the good side at this point. The huge white building that Reina mentioned housed Naomi, her sons, Adam, and their followers. They give off the feel of a heavenly place with all the gold and white but once you reach a certain room everything changes. That is Adams hall. There is where he resurrects people. This was all planned from the beginning. They were just waiting for us to fall in place.”

“I never saw this place,” comments Ella which makes Tes smile.

“All the better to prove my theory.”

“What theory,” question Sai and Ella together.

“It’s hard to explain to the two of you. Maybe I should just let Sai do that information gathering thing.” Tes places a hand under her chin and then looks at Sai. “If only the child would have survived… then perhaps we’d have had an alternative,” she mutters.

“What was that? What are you plotting? Spit it out Tes!” Tes shifts her gaze over to Ella.

“It’s very hard to explain. Okay… Here’s what I think. All those who die venture to the Afterlife unless their soul is restless; like Tybalt’s was. There were different types of resurrection, however. When Nimen and Shaneko died they were already in the form wished. They simply had to be returned to the land of the living. So they did not need to go to Edom which is the giant white building I mentioned. Tebayai, who was the needed spirit for Angelle, was left in the Afterlife in hopes that she would either be stuck there or resurrected so that Rafael could do as Adam and Naomi ordered; destroy Angelle, or so Angelle stated t me once. Those were the only weird cases in the Afterlife. Anyone else would be sent to Adam to be reincarnated or sent to Eve to be reborn again. From the start everything was manipulated. Reina’s being a magician and meeting Akou the Ichazuki. They had a bond since creation which Naomi would use as manipulation. Her first body that was powerful enough to release her and give her control from time to time and the strongest ninja she had possessed would prove very useful. Thing is, I don’t know why Akou was made an infant. I’d need to get the information out of him. Maybe then I’ll have a better idea on if things are moving in the right direction or not. Seeing as Rafael and Angelle aren’t worried I would think things are fine. But who’s to know when it comes to those two. But back to my theory: Sai was created from the spirit of the Ichazuki Akou for some reason. I know Naomi wanted to harness the Ichazuki’s abilities but maybe things didn’t turn out like they were supposed to and you were created. I don’t know the whole reason behind what Naomi did but oh well-”

“I think it was to separate him from the Negation Orochi.” Everyone turns their head to the east to see Elizabeth perched high in a tree. “Perhaps Naomi simply wanted to free Sai.” Sai snorts in a disgusted way. “She did it for herself, sort of, didn’t she? She is now no longer connected to the Negation Orochi. So it isn’t impossible that she’d do the same for her son.”

“I am nothing more than a pawn or a pet to her.” The females sigh at him as he growls under his breath. Ella was on the leaf bed and then she was gone. Sai hunches forward and slips down into a crouch when he feels arms wrap around him. The others were worried he might not know it was Ella from the way he crouched and snarled but he soon fell quiet to reassure them. Ella pulls him close to her and then she flickers out in front of him. She looks at him a moment before sighing happily.

“I missed you, Sai. You wouldn’t believe how much.” She smiles at him a moment before her smile falls. “I want to see how Naomi can help me in getting revenge. I don’t care about how this might affect anything or how it could be useless in the end. I want to try.”

“But I can do whatever she can to help you.”

“Maybe so…”

“Maybe so nothing, Ella.”

“Naomi has connections where we don’t. Not only that but she has Akou.”

“Reina and Shaneko too, Tes.” Everyone’s eyes bulge out hearing Sai’s inclusion.

“Then we HAVE to go and meet with Naomi in the least. Where was she last?” Sai looks at Tes and then turns his head from her to stare at a fallen tree that Elizabeth had, at some point, perched herself on.

“It’s a mistake to do so and I know it.” Ella looks at him and awaits his final answer. “Fine, but I am going with you. I’m not being left behind aga-” Before he could finish Ella had flung her self up onto her tip toes to kiss him. The electrical sparks they felt was wondrous. Ella could barely keep her resolve and not take him right there. Sai, on the other hand, couldn’t help himself. He would coax her on. He would place one hand at the back of her head and another would grip at her waist. Ella knew it best to draw away but couldn’t find the strength. Sai held her gently but something strong was keeping her from pulling away. As soon as Ella reaches a hand up to grip at Sai’s hair he releases her. Startled she releases him and he inches away from her. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gotten carried away.”

“Don’t just stop. We have to keep going. There are so many things I want to…”

“Do,” questions Elizabeth ruining the moment. Ella blushes and turns away from them all. “Wouldn’t it be best if you both found another way of communicating? At least until things are dealt with and safety is ensured.” Ella looks down at her feet and then turns to look at Elizabeth.

“But it’s been so long. I don’t think I can resist.”

“Me either.” Sai thinks on his words and shrugs. “But I will try. I don’t want anything like what happened happening again.”

“So who all is heading out, Ella?” Elizabeth was set on joining them but she knew that she wouldn’t be the one coming. Ella could tell and grimaces at her question.

“I was thinking just Sai and me.”

“Hell no. I’m going too.”

“Tes, stop being a potty mouth. I need you to watch the others.”

“Angelle, Rafael, or even Tybalt can take care of that task better than me. Give me another excuse.”

“This doesn’t concern you.”

“Ne? You do still owe me, Ella.” Ella grimaces as Tes strolls over to her. She places a hand on Ella’s head and rustles her hair. “I won’t do anything stupid or get in the way. I’ll be a good girl.” Sai snorts and Tes stands upright. Tes merely glances over at Sai before laughing and walking towards the direction of the docks.

“What do you owe her?” Ella turns to look at Sai and then begins walking over to his side.

“A lot of things. I’d prefer you talked to her to find out those things. You two should try and get to know one another a little better. Maybe then you’ll be nicer to one another.” With that Ella reaches out a hand and grasps Sai’s wrist. “We’ll be back in no more than a week. Please inform the others.” Elizabeth nods and then disappears as do Sai and Ella.