Jerry; What do you mean, was all part of dad's plan?
Erica; exactly as I said.
Tom; that doesn't make any sense, how?
Erica; I thought you might say that. What! How did dear old dad have anything to do with what's going on in my life! I can't believe that! Is what you're thinking right now, but tell me this, what are the chances of you finding something hidden for thousands of years in a random forest? And how did David know how to release you from it either? It was simple, it was intended.
Jerry and Tom, both shocked, stared at their mother and then looked down intensely while doubting themselves.
Erica; the truth is, even though he was never directly involved, he anticipated that someone would find the stone in the forest, he anticipated that that person will soon become leader of the Ga-den clan after it was raided by Con and defeating him he even anticipated that someone would target his life. And he even anticipated that soon the Tsukuyomi clan would fall and when it did it would be Ga-den that would rise from it.
Jerry; you just said he anticipated that someone would all those things, but that would mean he anticipated it would be some random person and not us specifically.
Erica; yes, but. Out of all things he predicted, there would always be one thing he would say with absolute certainty.
Jerry; and what was that?
Erica; that you Jerry, would take the hand of the Ga-den princess for your own.
Jerry; I see. So that's how it is. But how does all of this tie to his plan?
Erica; that's the one thing I do not know, what his end goal is, I just know he's going to use all these events to carry out a single goal, after that, he would die.
Tom; what?
Erica; exactly, he anticipates that the only way that goal will be successful is if it ends in his death.
Jerry; so he intends to die after this is all over? Is that it?
Erica; exactly.
Jerry; do Dave and Sammy know?
Erica; every last detail.
Tom; huh, So that means…
Erica; why do you think they never tried to stop you or get involved in your affairs? They were aware of them all, but just decided to let it all happen. I mean, how could you be the leader of a clan end expect no one to realize that?
Jerry; so I was right. Dave really does know everything. Even this meeting with you I presume?
Erica; exactly.
Jerry; and you anticipated this to?
Erica; exactly.
Jerry; then why did you go along with it?
Erica then placed her hand on Jerry's face and said, because I missed you, my sweet biscuit, I've been away from you for so long it was killing me, you've been on my mind all these years and I simply just could not take it anymore. You have no idea how long it's pained me, from when I went to sleep till when I woke up, you were the only thing on my mind.
Jerry then removed her hand from his face and placed it on the table saying,
How did you know, about everything I mean?
Erica; simple, I have eyes and ears everywhere, and they're always active, where and when you least expect.
Jerry; I see, that all for me.
Tom; now I just have one thing to ask, at any point, did you ever truly see me as your son?
Erica; what do you mean by that?
Tom; whenever you cheered me up when I was sad, crying or anything, it never felt like you actually cared, there was always something off about it like you we're paid or someone forced you to say those things you did, so tell me, was I right or wrong?
Erica, while still having that same smile she's had all day;
no.
The truth is, I've honestly tried but I just couldn't see you the same way I saw Je…
Tom; that isn't what I meant, did you ever love me or not?
Erica; I've tried, but I guess my heart was just too num.
Tom; I was right.
Erica; if it makes you feel any better, I really did try to make an effort.
Tom; you can save all the talk; I never want to see you again.
Then Tom walked out of the building. Jerry then took one last look at Erica, then left to meet up with Tom.
Erica; those poor, poor boys I wonder how they'll take what's happening next.
That afternoon, what started as a bright sunny day, soon became cloudy, as if rain could fall at any moment. As Jerry and Tom both walked away from the eatery, both of them had a gloom look on their face, and felt like a large millstone had fallen on their hearts.
Tom, who was walking in front, stopped and said; tell me brother, do you think they found this all entertaining?
Jerry; what?
Tom; I mean, not much happened, right? I just had to fight a maniac and get buried by a building but ok, there's no way I could have died, after all dad just had a hunch that we'll miraculously survive. Right?
Jerry, with his head down; Tom,
Tom; and why the hell are you looking at me like I'm insane or something? After all, it's not like I got kidnapped, beaten half to death twice, and almost died several times, just to realize my own family knew all that could happen and still did nothing?
Jerry; TOM!
Tom; …
Jerry, then raised his head and looked at his brother with tears in his eyes; let's just go home, we'll talk there.
Tom, who was filled with anger, said nothing, and clenched his fist. Then the two boys then walked to their home, then Tom, opened the door, went up to his room and wept bitterly. A few minutes later, David, who just arrived, met Jerry at the dining table, waiting for him.
David, after seeing the expression on his face; I see. It seems you know everything now. If you're ever ready to talk, I'll tell you everything.
Jerry just sat there, filled with anger and despair.
Elsewhere…
A 14-year-old girl with red hair from the Tsukuyomi clan looked at a 12-year-old boy crying in the middle of the street of the clan's estate.
Red haired girl; hey kid, why are you crying out here?
12-year-old Bachira; *sob*sob
Red haired girl; I see, Hey Shirori! Come over here for a moment!
A white haired girl then came to the red haired girl.
Shirori; what is it Akari? I'm busy right now.
Akari; well if you couldn't just ignore me, then you don't seem too busy to help. Now look at this kid, he's just crying here.
Shirori; oh, I see. I something wrong?
Akari; I don't know, let's take him with us and ask what is it.
Akari then grabbed the boy by the hand then ran away with him while the boy tried to resist
Present day…
Bachira wakes up from what seemed to be a memory from his past, he then placed his hand in his pocket, and then removed a picture, it was him eating Takoyaki with the two girls from his dream. He then placed his head back to his bed, and held Maya as tears filled his eyes.
EOC