"Oppa why are you ignoring me, don't you love your little cousin?" A young teenager could be seen tugging at the garments of an older male, whose eyes kept twitching.
'Didn't she try to kill me just some minutes ago?' Lionel couldn't help but be partially annoyed, smiling he turned to her, "See your brother over there… Now stop disturbing me… sheesh."
Earlier he had already made a mental note that women were dangerous creatures., he didn't plan to spend time with one.
"I don't have a sister," Fukuro said without much emotion, as he continued to read his book on the stroll.
'Tch, this kid is a pain.' Lionel seemed completely oblivious that their ages weren't that far apart.
"See oppa! I've been completely abandoned by even my own." She said as tears actually flowed down her cheeks, though anyone with two brain cells could tell that it was a trap.
"Look at that man over there, he's bullying such a cute girl!" Rage seemed to well up in the man who had spoken.
"What's wrong with you boy, you should treasure a girl when you find her!"The other person who seemed to come with him also couldnt handle it.
She was too, 'cute.'
Some shouting and whispers could be heard in the background all pointed towards Lionel's actions.
His expression became desolate, 'I think I see why he doesn't 'have' a sister now.'
"Shameless simps." Lionel whispered beneath his breath, "Alright alright you can stay with me."
"Men don't go back on their words, you have to take responsibility now!" Sakura said quickly in victory.
'It was a trap! It was a TRAP!'
...
Lionel and the rest were currently in an opening in the restaurant which was used for leisure, and it also ensured privacy using special means. Any words said within the gardens never left the premises.
Besides that, it was quite a peaceful scenery. It was covered in flora and fauna of rare breeds to soothe stress, birds of many feathers moving in unison through the skies, and the well-laid foundation in the wide pathways which made for ample space for the benches at the sides… all meeting up the gigantic fountain in the middle.
Fukuro stopped bringing everything to a halt. He closed his book.
"You know I've always wanted to meet you, everyone calls you a talent never seen. Yet as I look at you now I feel no Ether emitting from your being, If anything it seems lower than it should be yet your brimming with unknown vitality." Fukuro couldn't help look towards Lionel as he seemed deep in thought.
"When are you going to join the academy… Lionel?" He finally asked after a moment of silence.
[Author's Note: I'll divulge a bit on Ether in the next chapter.]
Lionel smiled a warm smile without any malice, but with this smile came a heavy oppression, that which destroyed the peaceful scenery around them.
"Well to be honest, even the selection might very well be enough to kill me."
The birds became disorganized, moving as they liked as they seemed to await his final words. Everyone in the immediate vicinity turned to the source of their discomfort. The only ones who seemed to be unaffected were the lady who still clung to him smiling and the young man before him.
He wasn't doing this consciously but the words he was about to say carried immense weight, "I think I'll join this time around though."
An underlying smirk formed at Fukuro's mouth.
"Good."
"Hmph… Oppa, let's walk around the restaurant." Sakura was feeling annoyed at their weird attitude.
She never understood why men always liked to point their natural swords out whenever they had the chance.
"Fine fine." He gave in, who knew if anyone would reprimand him again.
"This area is called Loco Villa, it's a VIP location for those who are looking for a peaceful environment to speak on important matters."
"That building over there is the kitchen, where all the dishes are prepared. As a world-class restaurant, we naturally have all sorts of dishes available, even some rare Spirit food can be made by us." After introducing the surrounding buildings Lionel went off in a certain direction as he continued to talk and explore the surrounding buildings
Though Fukuro was in front, he now followed behind as his sister clung to Lionel who continued to introduce them to various scenery.
…
"Don't you think it's too soon for this event to be happening?!" A vigilant man screamed at the top of his lungs as he slammed his fists into the table.
Looking around the circular table one would notice six personas as well as the additional six that stood behind them.
"That's enough Ragnar. We were warned yet did not believe it. Kage had already done his job. We can only hope that our sacrifice can stop this calamity at least for the time being." A light skin woman who went by Helen said her portion.
If Lionel was here he might have very well been shocked to hear his father's name from the mouth of such big figures. Of course there was no way of telling if it was the same Kage they were talking about.
"Helen is right we shouldn't direct our rage in a pointless direction." Another woman called Sarah spoke up at this point. Her skin was white as snow.
"You slut, why does your opinion matter again?" Hakeem who had a light beard and big eyes, said with a smile as he played with his hair.
"Oh and I suppose you have something better to contribute." A calm man with dark skin and a shaved head, who went by Samuel said as he drank his tea.
"That…" Hakeem fell short of words.
"Are you all done?" The last man left in the hall closed his book, as he released an underlying pressure with it.
The hall fell silent.
Passing the book in his hand to the young man who stood behind him, he adjusted his glasses.
"Now listen all, to what I have to say." The name of the young man was Kira Ryosuke, The Japanese representative.
…
"It's good that you're not worried about Lionel, after all, he might succeed where we could not," Yamato said with a self-mocking smile.
"It's coming I can feel it… I just hope that my disappearance doesn't leave a monster in its wake." Mr. Kage said with a smile full of regret. "If only I hadn't been selfish back then."
"It's ok, we cannot always make the right choice. We are not selfless creatures, we are human." Yamato comforted him.
"You are right we are human." After a little shock, Mr. Kage regained his calm with an enlightened glint in his eyes.
"Ah, there you are!" Lionel came running as he waved with a smile on his face.
"Do you know how much trouble watching these two was? Tch." Lionel clicked his tongue.
"I bet they were a lot of trouble indeed. Poor boy, you must have suffered." Mr. Kage wiped the tears forming in his eyes.
"Yes papa, so you'll get me that gear I asked for right?" Lionel could feel the tears building.
"No."
"Okay."
The three watching on couldn't help but think, 'What a pair.'