Ariana watched as Cayden was patched up. She became bitter with herself as it was not an ability she could unlock. She swore to herself that in her spare time she would work on obtaining first aid knowledge and never be so helpless again. "There you go Mr. Tough!" Nafeza laughed as she slapped Cayden's lower back. He winced as he arched his back. "Why?!" He hissed as he tried to move away from her.
"You don't want me or Caralee to heal because of your male pride but you know, you don't have to suffer by letting your body heal naturally." She pouted as she brought her index fingers together and arched them up and down. "... I'm already making someone upset because I got hurt, all I need is to make things worse by letting another person to heal me as if nothing happened." Cayden said as he pulled on a new forest green, long sleeved shirt. "Cayden, I'm so sorry!" Ariana cried as she wiped away her tears with the back of her hands, the Luma tried comforting her as the cuddled against her body.
Cayden sighed as he wrapped his arm around Ariana's body and pulled her into his chest, causing the Luma to scatter. Nafeza started to giggled to herself as she left the room. "It's fine now, you don't have to cry so hard for me." He said as he rubbed her back. "But it's all my fault that you got hurt. If only I brought the Lumas with me or if I controlled my shadow better and killed the familiar you wouldn't have gotten so hurt!" She cried as she rubbed her face into Cayden's neck.
Cayden clenched his teeth and pulled Ariana back. "No!" He glared at Ariana with a fierce gaze. "What happened, how are you able to control your shadow to do... to do what you did?" Ariana averted her gaze as she played with the fabric of her dress. "The five familiars from before... they blessed me... they said that I would be protected even if they weren't around." Cayden became furious and let Ariana go. "Sh*t!" He yelled as he walked over to a wall and gave it a good punch. "Sh*t! Sh*t! Sh*t! I was watching you closely... when the f*ck did they do it?!" He kept shouting as he repeatedly punched the wall.
Ariana gasped as she covered her mouth. She had never seen Cayden so mad before. From her small amount of memories of him, he was always so kind and patient. "Cayden stop! Your hand is bleeding!" She cried as she jumped onto his arm. Cayden looked at her and slowed down her breathing. "Promise me... refuse all other blessings from now on." Cayden said as he wrapped his free arm around her.
"Anything you want, just... just don't hurt yourself anymore." She pleaded as she rubbed her face into his arm. Cayden let out a sigh of relief and waited a few moments for Ariana to calm down. "Can I bother you to dress my wounds?" He asked sheepishly and Ariana sprang into action. "Yes of course!" She squeaked a little too loudly and quickly ran to grab the materials she needed to dress his bloody knuckles.
"Cayden." She asked as she gently washed the blood away. "Mmmh?" He answered as he watched her tiny hands clumsy clean his wound. "How do we know each other?" Cayden went stiff under her touch and stayed silent. The air was quiet between the two but Ariana called up some more courage. "I mean... I have very faint memories of you... we played hide and seek together.... you even showed me how to make a flower crown for big sister Rin and you were always there when I was sad or scared but... but I don't remember my parents or my home... every time I try I get a horrible headache and -?!"
"You don't have to remember anything about that place!" Cayden shouted as have his face became dark. "Don't remember that place! You were so young, I'm surprised you even remember me or Rin." Ariana became furious and puffed out face as she glared at Cayden. Her eyes stinged as she silently went right back to dressing his wound.
"The moment I laid eyes on you I knew you were someone important to me! I didn't have to question what I was told I just knew." She said as she tied off the bandage. She gave it quick look over and was satisfied with her work. "What if your intuition was wrong about me? What if I'm posing as Cayden Remo just so I can get close to you?" Cayden asked as he dropped his gaze.
"Impossible. I can't explain it but I don't hate it when you hug me. I worry about you constantly and I know the smile is still the same. So if I say that you are Cayden then you are Cayden, end of discussion!" Ariana said as she stood up and started to pack up the materials. "Do you remember the day we split up?" Cayden whispered and Ariana stopped what she was doing. "Yes.... mostly." She answered honestly, she then went to put away the materials. "So do you blame me for what happened?"
Ariana turned around so fast that it shocked Cayden. She stomped over with a menacing glare that it sent chills down his spine. "What happened was an accident!" She said as she poked her index finger into Cayden's chest. "You honestly believed that a child can protect another child?! You're insane! I'm surprised you're alive, I'm surprised I'm alive, so don't you dare think that I blame you for what happened!"
"What if it was my fault?! What if I betrayed your trust because my father ordered me too?!" Cayden yelled as he stood up from his stool. "Then pledge your life to me now! Stay with me the rest of your life and take care of my well into my old age! Don't let a second pass by without thinking of me! Pay me back with your life and body!" Ariana ranted back. She felt her face flush as sweat was rolling down her back. She looked Cayden in the eyes and was shocked to see his face glowing red.
Cayden swallowed back some saliva and slightly averted his gaze. "I swear I will spend the rest of my life protecting you, caring for you and... and.... and..." Ariana could see steam practically coming out of his ears as he blushed a deeper red.
Cayden brought back his gaze and locked eyes with her. "I will do everything in my power to make you happy!" He said as seriously as he could. Ariana scratched her cheek with her index finger as she looked away. "You are over the top." She said bluntly as she tried to semi hide her embarrassment. Cayden smirked as he watched her reaction even though he wasn't any less embraced then her.
"Let's go find Rin." He said as he grabbed Ariana's hand. He then brought it up to his lips and placed a sweet kiss across her knuckles before he dragged her out of the room. They rushed upstairs and walked to Rin's room. The Luma quietly followed closely behind her. Cayden knocked on the door and Rin peaked through the crack. She eyed them carefully then opened her door to allow them in.
"Ariana, can you ask your little purple fish to create a sound proof barrier for me please?" Ariana looked at Loralei. "Can you do it?" She asked but Loralei shook her body left then right. 'I'm sorry Master but my barrier can deflect magic but sound is something else.' Ariana made an "Oh." sound as she brought her fist and placed it right below her mouth as she thought seriously.
"Davita if you work with Loralei could you moved the wind within the barrier to distort the sound so no one can hear it outside?" Davita started flapping her wings energetic as she moved next to Loralei. 'Yes! Yes! Yes Master! If we work together we can make it happen!'
"Good. Rin, these two can make it work so just give them a moment to begin. Once everything is set up I want to hear everything." Ariana courtly said as she stared at Rin's face. Rin nodded and waited for Loralei and Davita to get to work. Loralei expanded her body and covered the whole room in a thin layer of purple while Davita laid her coiled body in the center.
At first it didn't feel like the air within in the barrier had changed but having the other Luma wait outside proved that it worked. They were unable to hear what Rin said, when they were satisfied, Ariana had them return to her side.
Ariana stood staring at Rin until she felt uncomfortable. She dropped her head towards her chest as she sat on her bed. "You know it's not easy to talk about myself...." She started to say but Ariana kept her gaze fixed on her. "Fine.... where do you want me to start?" Ariana sighed and sat on the floor. "Start from your village." Rin brought her face upwards and looked at Ariana. "I am from a hidden village up north know as Esau Obadiah Village....."
...
"Rinera... Rinera.... Rinera!" A slender, baby faced lady called as she ran after a small Rin. "Come on it's time to train!" She shouted as Rin bounced off the walls, skillfully dodging and flipping out if the woman's reach. "No! I want to stay home with you today!" Rin yelled as she jumped onto the lady's shoulders, covering the lady's eyes with her tiny hands. "You know you can't sweetie. Daddy will be here any second to pick you up."
"No! No! No! I want mommy today not daddy! I love mommy!" Rin fussed as she buried her chubby little face into her mother's light blue hair. Rin's mother stopped moving and just stood in the middle of the room. She gently brought one hand up and slid Rin down her shoulder and hugged her.
"I know baby but you're a big girl now! 4 years old almost 5, wow! Super duper big and that means... that means you start training with daddy to become a ninja like him." Rin's mother said as she tightened her embrace around the girl.
"Angela..." A deep voice said into the room. Angela tensed up and slowly turned around. Standing in the entrance of the living room was a tall, bronze skinned man. He had beautiful, long silver hair that was neatly tied up into a ponytail. He had sharp features and sapphire blue eyes. Unlike Rin's mother who was more gentle look with her big round eyes, small, plump lips, button nose, fair skin and light green eyes.
"Larkin... can I keep her here for one more day? Please? Tomorrow I promise she will be ready to go with you, so just give us one more day." Angela started to plea but Larkin looked at her with cold eyes. "You have been saying the same thing for 3 weeks, I can not comply with your selfishness anymore." Angela dropped her gaze as her eyes started to water and body trembled.
"I guess, I guess I have run out of time...." Angela whispered as she clutched Rin's body. Larkin closed the gap between them and dropped to his knees. He wrapped his strong arms around mother and child. "No.... our deal is off. I can't come to a home without you here... I need you here as much as Rin does." He said as he started to shake.
Angela looked up as she started to blush. "Larkin what are you trying to say?" Larkin looked into Angela's eyes and brought up his hand. He brushed back a lock of here medium length hair behind her ear. "I... lo... I lo... I lo-?!" Larkin stuttered as his whole face stared to glow red but his confession was cut short when he heard footsteps approaching the house.
He quickly scooped Rin out of her arms and stood up. He looked down at his wife and placed a quick kiss in her lips. "We will speak more tonight... I expect you to be here." He said coolly before walking away from her.
Rin looked up at her father's face and was in awe. "Daddy... you're smiling?" She asked innocently stopping Larkin in his tracks. He looked down at Rin and couldn't stop the urge from hugging the little ball of cuteness.
"Yes, daddy is really happy." He whispered into her ear. "Tonight, I'm gonna tell your mom how much I love her." Rin brought her small arms up and wrapped it around his neck, snuggling him. "Good because she loves you too... me too... I love my daddy and mommy!" She said happily. Larkin couldn't move, tears started to spill from his eyes as he tried to burn the memory into his very being.
After a few moments later he wiped his tears and started moving towards the door. He opened the door and saw an average height man standing there with his arm crossed. He had pale blond hair, dark brown eyes, bronze skin and a slender, well toned body. He raised one of his bushy eyebrows at Larkin as he silently stepped aside.
"Morning Harmon." Larkin mumbled as he walked by, still unwilling to let Rin leave the safety of his arms. "Well isn't this a miracle, your fabled child actually left the house. Honestly if we weren't all present at her birthing we would have all thought that you lied about that 'outsider' carrying your flesh and blood."
Larkin glared at Harmon with murderous intentions. "She is my wife Harmon, do not forget it." Harmon brought his arms up and put his hands behind his head as he closed one of his eyes. "My, my, my Larkin. Me thinks you have taken a liking to 'your little wife' but you do realize she will be chased out after today." Larkin started to emit a dangerous aura as Rin clutched his garb. "I will go see the chief now! She will not be chased out! Rin needs her mother! I need my wife!" He shouted
Harmon raised his hands in defense as he took a few steps back. "Hey, hey, hey buddy. You know I was just reminding you about the contract. You know the chief has a new wife for you in mind and all -?!" Harmon quickly shut his trap as he could see demon Larkin start to take form.
Rin brought her hands up and grabbed Larkin's face. "Daddy don't be mad anymore, are you angry because mommy didn't tell you about the baby?" Rin asked sweetly but her eyes held so much sadness. Time stood still. Larkin stood there with his jaw slacked, matching Harmon's expression of disbelief. "Rin what did you just say?!" Harmon squeaked.
Rin looked at Harmon like he was a moron. "Daddy." She said flatly. Harmon shook his head as he slowly approached her. "No, well yes I am surprised this moron is not over the moon to be called daddy but after that." Rin still looked at Harmon like he was beneath her. "Don't be mad anymore." Harmon face palmed himself and felt his temper rise. "Rin, was mommy hiding something from me?" Larkin managed to ask after the initial shock.
Rin looked sheepishly from under her eyelashes. "She said, if daddy told her that he loves her... she would tell daddy about the new baby coming." Larkin snapped he turned right around and rushed back to the house with Rin in his arms. "Larkin what do you think your doing?!" Harmon shouted as he watched Larkin vanish.
Angela was just coming out of the bathroom when she saw a very disheveled Larkin with a very happy Rin in his arms. "Baby?!" He shouted and Angela started to sweat. "I'm sorry?" She laughed awkwardly as she placed her back against the door.
"Baby! You're pregnant with my baby!" He said as excitement flashed in his eyes. Angela glared at Rin but she happily smiled back. "Daddy loves you and he got mad because an idiot said you were an outsider and not daddy's wife. Daddy was so mad I told him about the baby."
Angela looked at Larkin. "You love me?" She asked as her whole body flushed red. Larkin gently put Rin down and scooped up Angela into his arms. He placed his lips over hers and it caused Rin to giggle. "That's right. I am such a fool that it took this long to tell you but I love you. I have loved you since I first laid eyes on you. There has been no one else, there will be no one else who can make me feel this moved. Angela Bloom, my wife, my lover, my mate for life, I love you."
Tears flowed down Angela's face as she kissed her husband back. "Larkin my love!" She shouted. "We are having another baby!" Larkin kissed his wife again before letting her go. "I will go talk to the village chief. I will beg him to not go through with the first contract. I can't live without my family." He said before he placed multiple kisses on Rin's face. He looked back at his family with a giant smile on his face. "I will be back with good news!" He said happily.
That was the last time I saw my father...