He heard roars in the distance, but he couldn't tell if they were friend or foe. All he needed to do was keep everybody moving quickly, keep moving up, and make sure nothing else happens.
"Is it weird that I kinda wish there was a Sanguis moon out right now? I mean, if they want a piece of somethin' more their speed..."
Just like she thought before this month, she'd like to have a normal ending to a month for once, uncomplicated by outside factors and maybe - just maybe - have some quiet time with Kanji. Speedwalking on, she had a scowl fixed on her face.
"Yes. And if I could be Iris-blessed right now, I could at least electrocute any that got past you."
Hoo, boy. She was pissed. With a sigh he felt Zaiten dissolve and shift back into his body, needing rest. No soul could be fragmented for so long.
"Back atcha- I could hold the little guy for a bit, give your arms a break. We're makin' good time to the top, but the last hundred feet or so look like a real trip."
"... I'll carry him for a little bit longer. Once we get there, I'll have to let him go."
Yamato returning to her soul, Naoto continued looking away as she sighed. It may have felt like hell that first day and then a little on, but they'd hatched them and raised them. Not for long, but all the same.
That was crystal, and he felt it, too. It was the Prismals who'd said they would keep causing problems and needed to go back home, and while many moonblessed expressed their relief after the boundless Chroma spent to help them grow and develop, there were others still who couldn't help but feel that pull lingering.
They were so young, just days old... did it really have to be time now? Didn't Lunatia have enough Chroma, enough resources to clean up any damage and perhaps learn better as a community how better to house the dragons? Was it because unlike the moonblessed made so much Chroma, dragons demanded so much of it, taking away from the Prismal plan?
That burned like an ember in his mind. Now, it glowed brighter. Rather than stress that maybe dragons matured faster than humans, he instead put an arm over Naoto's shoulders and kissed her temple.
"We'll have answers, at least. We've never been outside of Lunatia before, not since we were on the Iris moon."
It was likely - no, no doubt at all that Kanji already understood. She'd seen how he babied his dragon, let her play with his yarn and then some. Like her, he'd tried to curve her destructive accidents, but failed. And given their rapid growth while still being so infantile mentally, Naoto understood where the Prismals were coming from.
But why were they constantly being the ones made to let go and sacrifice?
"... That's true. And perhaps the King will allow us to visit."
"Damn right he should! We should be allowed to see our babies as they grow up. That'll be the first thing laid on the table the minute we see this guy."
Ugh... he hated looking at it, but there it was: The final ascent. At the top of that plateau, the finish line awaited. He could hear others up top, who may have coaxed their dragons into giving them a ride to the top. Nuts to them- they'd have to be the first to do the hard part in saying goodbye.
Kanji fell quiet. Then, with a sigh: "...But we should get to him, first. Just need a sec to prep Zaiten."
Sounded like the perfect plan to her. Oh, but what if the King only permitted one question? He wouldn't do that... would he? He could if everyone was asking questions; she knows she would. They wouldn't know until they arrived and this appeared to be the last leg.
"Sure."
But he wasn't actually doing that. She knew he could summon Zaiten at that moment.
God, he just hoped they were doing the right thing. The dragons owed them for sure, and maybe later they could ask for aid, or further information in the short-term if not the long-term. Hell, what if they offered lodgings? Could they move from Lunatia, away from the Prismals...?
Her hand was warm in his, and he focused instead on that. When she made her request, he was puzzled, but obliged.
And like he had done for her earlier, she rose to her toes just enough to press her lips to his cheek. Both of them were probably overthinking things because they were about to let their hatchlings return among the other dragons, but like he said.
He raised his unoccupied hand to her cheek and held, offering a small, albeit melancholy nuzzle.
"We will." How much of this was them and how much of this was a side-effect of the eggs' aura still lingering on the dragons was up in the air, but it didn't make it any less potent against their emotions.
He lingered in the touch for just a moment more, drew strength from it, before he pulled away and looked back to the robotic face that had begun leaking steam.
"Up, big guy. Let's do what we came here to do." And like he weighed nothing, Zaiten began to ascend, bypassing any climbing that needed doing.
At the top would be the hand-off. At the top, if he could help it, were answers. They'd more than earned that much.
At this point, it could be all their own feelings. Naoto always had a hard time letting go so she wouldn't be surprised.
With Kanji pulled away, she leaned against his arm again as Zaiten began taken them up, both her hands again wrapping around her hatchling. Soon they would say goodbye, ask their questions, and take their time to leave. Maybe they could come back, maybe they would be disavowed from for a period of time; either way, she would be going back with him... and they would finish their paper work to move into their new residence.
No matter what, they'd be together and get through this.
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"... Yes, I trust you. Keep us safe."
Yamato would be ready to react though, glancing towards Zaiten.
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He looked up and nodded to Zaiten, who drew his blade and cleaved through the underbrush.
"A'right, up we go!"
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This hike would take some time, but she shifted her hold on the dragon in her arms. Food was at the end for them; they had to get there.
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"Is it weird that I kinda wish there was a Sanguis moon out right now? I mean, if they want a piece of somethin' more their speed..."
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"Yes. And if I could be Iris-blessed right now, I could at least electrocute any that got past you."
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"Back atcha- I could hold the little guy for a bit, give your arms a break. We're makin' good time to the top, but the last hundred feet or so look like a real trip."
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Yamato returning to her soul, Naoto continued looking away as she sighed. It may have felt like hell that first day and then a little on, but they'd hatched them and raised them. Not for long, but all the same.
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They were so young, just days old... did it really have to be time now? Didn't Lunatia have enough Chroma, enough resources to clean up any damage and perhaps learn better as a community how better to house the dragons? Was it because unlike the moonblessed made so much Chroma, dragons demanded so much of it, taking away from the Prismal plan?
That burned like an ember in his mind. Now, it glowed brighter. Rather than stress that maybe dragons matured faster than humans, he instead put an arm over Naoto's shoulders and kissed her temple.
"We'll have answers, at least. We've never been outside of Lunatia before, not since we were on the Iris moon."
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But why were they constantly being the ones made to let go and sacrifice?
"... That's true. And perhaps the King will allow us to visit."
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Ugh... he hated looking at it, but there it was: The final ascent. At the top of that plateau, the finish line awaited. He could hear others up top, who may have coaxed their dragons into giving them a ride to the top. Nuts to them- they'd have to be the first to do the hard part in saying goodbye.
Kanji fell quiet. Then, with a sigh: "...But we should get to him, first. Just need a sec to prep Zaiten."
He was stalling.
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Sounded like the perfect plan to her. Oh, but what if the King only permitted one question? He wouldn't do that... would he? He could if everyone was asking questions; she knows she would. They wouldn't know until they arrived and this appeared to be the last leg.
"Sure."
But he wasn't actually doing that. She knew he could summon Zaiten at that moment.
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Then he called the card and broke the seal.
He had to do it. He had to do it for the dragons. This was what was best for them, to be with their own kind.
Right?
Zaiten lowered to accept them once more. Saying nothing, Kanji climbed on and offered a hand up.
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When he summons, when he gets onto Zaiten's hand, again, she doesn't say a word. Everyone needed their moment - he had given her hers before.
Taking hold of his hand, she joined him on the Persona's hand... but then continued to hold his hand.
"... Kanji-kun, do you mind leaning down a little?"
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Her hand was warm in his, and he focused instead on that. When she made her request, he was puzzled, but obliged.
"Er, sorry- somethin' in my hair?"
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And like he had done for her earlier, she rose to her toes just enough to press her lips to his cheek. Both of them were probably overthinking things because they were about to let their hatchlings return among the other dragons, but like he said.
"Together, right? We'll get through this."
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"We will." How much of this was them and how much of this was a side-effect of the eggs' aura still lingering on the dragons was up in the air, but it didn't make it any less potent against their emotions.
He lingered in the touch for just a moment more, drew strength from it, before he pulled away and looked back to the robotic face that had begun leaking steam.
"Up, big guy. Let's do what we came here to do." And like he weighed nothing, Zaiten began to ascend, bypassing any climbing that needed doing.
At the top would be the hand-off. At the top, if he could help it, were answers. They'd more than earned that much.
no subject
With Kanji pulled away, she leaned against his arm again as Zaiten began taken them up, both her hands again wrapping around her hatchling. Soon they would say goodbye, ask their questions, and take their time to leave. Maybe they could come back, maybe they would be disavowed from for a period of time; either way, she would be going back with him... and they would finish their paper work to move into their new residence.
No matter what, they'd be together and get through this.