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Sailor Dubhe had powered in a heartbeart, chasing the youma with the intent to kill. It was a rare emotion for the senshi whom was normally a soft, gentle soul, but tonight she craved the youma's blood.

It had been a nice night, plain and borin, walking with her father through the City to go home towards her family and to bring home groceries. It had been a nice night alone with her father, the senshi enjoying the conversation when, all of a sudden, the youma launched itself at her father. In but a handful of moments, the youma lplunced a claw into his chest, and withdrew the man's starseed. Yolanda had screamed in surprtise, but the sudden act brouight tears of pain -- and rage -- and she powered in a heartbeat, launching after the youma. TRhe normally gentle face was cold, angry -- hostile to the casual observer, and she employed all of her power and strength to persue the youma.

The youma had killed her father. A youma had killed her father. The thought [ierced her thoughts as she shrieked her unbrtidled fury at the abomination, the beast moving and roiling unnaturally as it fled, starseed in claws to consume once safe from the hunting senshi. Sailor Dubhe did not afford it the opportunity to feed, to rest -- and the senshi moved to cast her magic, mind rushing back to memories of her childhood.

---

"Daddy?" Yolanda followed her father dutifully, the tiny girl hugging a stuffed bear as she walked. Her fasther smiled, and turned, kneeling to her level and stroked her hair, warmth, pride, and love on his face as he answered his precious treasure -- Maria's only child. HIS child.

"Yes, Yolanda?" He answered. The ten year old climbed into his lap, looking up sadly as she did in a way that broke his heart, and she frowned.

"Why doin't I have a mommy?"

A loaded question. Her father sighed and ran his fingers through her hair softly,

"I wanted to tell you when you were older, my love." He respinded. Yolanda looked down -- that line never bade well -- and fidgeted.

"My classmates said she dumped me because I was dumb and that I'm 'dopted." She answered back. The man arched a brow.

"Is /i]that why Zeke and Zayne came home early for fighting?" He asked. The boys werte very protective of their cousin -- even tothe point they'd get into more scrapes than they did for Zeke's normal interest in girls' clothes, or Zayne's nigh-feral moodswings. They'd taken to their little cousin from the start, and Yolanda's father had even known them to bite their sire for a percieved offense. Hearing this, he sighed -- he'd have to tell Vincent later - but for now, his child needed comfort.

"Your Mommy and I weren't married." He explained. "She was married to another man who coulkdn't have little girls or little boys, nor should he have. Your mommy and I were in love for a long time, though, and she only married him to make your grandpa happy. When she had you, the bad man realized you werten't his baby, and..." His voice trailed off before he sighed.

"Your Uncle Vincent found her dead body at home when he made a surprise visit to see you. When he calld the police, they said they'd putyou in the foster carte system, unless he took you. So he did, and he had your DNA tested to see if I was your daddy. And I am. But... Yoiur mommy didn't want to leave. She was so delighted to be pregnant with you, and was in love with youthe moment she learned she was going to be a mommy."

Yolanda was quiet, looking down thoughtfully again before frowning, looking upo.

"What happened to the killer?" She asked, using big words to remind her daddy she was no fool.

"Caligula's in prison on death row, sweetheart. He'll never hurt you." The man hugged her tightly, and she hugged him back, bneaming brightly.

---

The Memory played out like poor comedy. Even chasing the youma, her father's body was on her mind -- her only loving parent, whom had wanted her. Loved her. Taught her. She grit teeth, baring them against her tears as she moverd, launching off a concerte half-wall onto the youma.

With her magic she could easily dust it. She was not thinking of magic, though -- primal fury took over as shje grabbed the limb the claw clutching her father's starseed was in and yanked violently, trying to leap off to use her own weight as a counterbalance to rip the limb off.

It succeeded, and the senshi forced the inert claw open yo withdraw the small starseed inside, the youma wqheeling on the senshi rapidly before she raised a hand, eyes cold and merciless as she's often seen her cousins' eyes become protecting her, and she threw the limb to raise a free hand.

---

Yje neast was dust. The starseed, gleaming and bright, had floated from her fingers into the night, and she'd powered down by her fathewr, screaming for help. When the police came, she told them some monstyer attacked her daddy, begging for them to help him, but when paramedics came, it was, as she silently knew, too late. The girl had given her testimony, and was wrapped in a blanket waiting for a relative to pick her up.

She felt numb. She'd always had her father for weal or woe, and in a momenty he was gone, her last words to him a casual conversation, notthe quiet comfort of an 'I love you', not a hug, nothing. The only think she could do was transform and dusttheyouma thjat took him away from hjer, see the strange little cryustal in her fingers float away like a star, and now she felt cold and alone.
She looked up as heavy boots entered the station, eyes sullen and puffy from crying endlessly, and the lasnky, tall form of Zeke rushed in, mobing to his cousin and hugging her tightly. For a moment, Yolanda hesitated, before burying herself in Zeke, wailing anew as the young man ran fingers through her hair, shushing her softly.

"I'm here,Uolie... I'm here..." Zeke murmured softly. Yolanda continued wailing into her cvousin piteously, and the older man rocked her, ignoring looks around the station to console her.

"It...That horrible monster just... Killed him so fast..." Sher sobbed. Zeke shuished, rocking a bit more before sighing.

"Shh, don't dwell on it noiw, Yolie. You're going to be alright. Everything will be alright."

"No it's not. Daddy's gone. Nothing is aslright." Yolanda pressed tighter, and Zeke sighed, nuzzling her.

"You have us though. Xsyne and me, and Dad. It's not 'okay' but it's love and support. We'll get some of your favorite on the way home, and snuggle up with one another for movies."

"I'm...I'm not hungry."

"You need to eat." Zeke insisted. "It's going to get better. I promise." He removed the blankety, offering it back to the police before lifting his cousin awkwardly, carrying her out to the car before placing her in the passenger's seat, buckling the quiet girl in. Yolanda was quiet, looking out the passenger window as Zeke slid in beside her, and the senshi sighed silently, eyes closing.

It had begun to rain, and Yolanda couldn't help but feel the rain appropos for the mood she was in, silent for the rest of the ride as she watched the water form paths and trails on the glass -- and silently, she wondered if she could have saved her fther at all as the car rode into the night.

When they walked inside, the atmosphere was somber. A candle already burned by a photo of her father on the mantle as the two entered, and Zayne was pacing, glancing up once to approase the tywo as Zeke walked Yolie in, the girl still quiet as her eyes drifted tothe rqain pouring on the windows. Zayne frowned at this before Zeke motioned it best to styar nothing, moving to put the take-out he'd stopped for anyhow on the dining table when their father emerged.

Victor was an imposing man, and although his sons were unbothered, many found him unsettling. Brawny, wiyth a severe expression, Victor was no man to trifle with, but in the moment, he was also soft, approaching his neice softly before pulling the girl into an embrace as he sighed. He said nothing, asking no words of her -- he knew all too well the truama of seeing a loved one's body lain before one, prone and helpless, and the man ran his fingers through her hair as fresh years came to Yolanda's eyes. Victor sighed, and shushed her gently.

"I know it hurts, Yolanda. I know. Let it out. Let all of it out. You're home, and loved, and sage now." Victor said, tone a soft gravelly purr.

"I cvouldn't stop it.It was so big... and looked like a centipede, and..."

"I know, Yolanda. I understand. I hated the man your mother married." Vivtor said. Yolanda blinked, looking up and sniffling. She rarely heard uncle Victor speak of his sister, but when he did, he always lity up. There was no light this time -- only anger and pain.

"We wete raised byyour great grandfather, whom passed when I was but a new father mysself. Our father had died of illness, and one of the last arrangements he made was your mother's wedding. U loathed CValigula. He treated your mother poorly. When he killed her... I too, felt helpless. I took it out on grandfather -- he was equally shocked, I rtealize now -- but I yelled at him. I blamed him for it. It will haunt me as our last conversation, because your father still allowed him meet you, and he adored you. Tis only a pity he pass3ed when youwere a toddler of two. But your feelings... Are normal. Anger. Pain. Terror." Victor sighed.

"I just... I just want my Daddy back." Yoplanda said softly.

"I know you do. Istill want your mother back." Victor responded, and then knelt to her. "Every day. SAnd you will ever want for your father. But he'd want youto keep moving. Keep thriving as the beautiful, intelligent child you are. Even still..." And then Victor caughed. "I will make arrangements for a therapist for you. I've seen one myself for your mother, and it can only helpo to have someone help youthrough processing and acceptance."

"...Thank you." Yolanda smiled faintly, and her uncle afforded a rare smile back. A movement drew his gaze to his sons, the blonde boys peering from the linin closet wioth pillows before Yolanda looked over, Victor coughing.

"It appears your cousins want a pillow fort tonight. Are youup for that after supper -- I know you aren't hungry, but you need to eat, sweetheart."

"I...I suppose." A pause, and Yolanda looked up. "Before Zayne gets annoyed, I think."

"I agree. Just wenjoy time with your cousins,. Iwill serve meals." Victor smiled again faintly, and kissed her forehead before movin As she returned, she moved with her cousins, the construction of a pillow fort a quiet comfort for a terrible night.g off, and Yolanda slowly fetched her favorite blanket.