*Teresa*

[Meanwhile, Back in Zionia]

We had arrived back in Kaguya yesterday in preparation for Serra's birthday, but instead we were greeted with bad news. Serra had vanished a week ago during a mission to the abyss. And a few days prior to that, Tetsu had been accused of abusing princess Rosalba. Though by day's end we did get word that my cousin was safe, having been found by my little brother and the others.

Though my brother continued to do his task as a knight, I couldn't help but be concerned about his future once all was said and done. King Osamu had told mother that my brother will be executed after the war if he is found guilty. Such is the punishment for such crimes in this country. That or imprisonment for life which was basically the same thing as death as all contact with the outside world would be cut off.

My little brother couldn't possibly be a rapist. However, I doubted Rosa would lie. She hadn't struck me as one who mislead others like her friend, Akari.

"Are you alright?" a voice called out. 

I turned toward the entrance of the kitchen. It was Nico. He had been so kind as to let us stay over at his place. It was for the better too. Ma couldn't stomach being in that palace, hearing the king berate her youngest son. Nor could I. I wanted to scream at the king. My brother, like every other citizen of this nation was entitled to a trial. Such was the law according to the Novum Magna Carta Regnum put in place by his father, the late King Orlin.

"I'm fine," I whispered as I lazily stirred the tea in the cup in front of me.

"Are you hungry? I can whip something up for you."

I shook my head. "No, just thinking."

Nico took a deep breath and pulled up the seat next to mine. "You're worried about Sir Tetsuya, aren't you? I'm sure he'll be able to clear his name up."

I picked up my cup of black tea and allowed my eyes to linger on it for awhile. "How? Given the 'proof' against him..." I finally said.

Nico tapped the wooden table with his hand. "You think he actually did it? Cause your cousin appears to according to what the king said. If Sir Tetsuya loses his big sister too then he'll be in more despair than he's likely already feeling."

I closed my eyes. I didn't want to doubt my brother, but... I couldn't automatically assume he was innocent either. Especially as it would mean doubting Rosa.

Nico scratched right cheek. "These cases can be hard. I think it would be better to stay neutral. To give both sides the benefit of the doubt. Though, I will admit, my bias is that Sir Tetsuya is innocent."

"It it because you're a guy?" someone said. It was Akari. "Personally, I think Rosa is right. How could she confuse someone else for that guy?"

I wanted to yell at her that Tetsu wasn't the one who did it... but only a weak mumble came out.

"You have a bias against guys to begin with, at least it seems that way," Nico said, averting his gaze.

Akari glared at him. "I admit that I do. But at least Rosa's claims have backing. There is nothing to prove that scumbag's innocence!"

"Don't call my brother that!" I yelled, standing up.

The Amadeusian princess scoffed. "Come on! Even Serrano who is his best friend doesn't believe him! Even you doubt him!"

I clenched my hands into fists. I couldn't deny that. I had nothing to defend Tetsu but emotions. Emotions didn't win cases. Tangible evidence did.

I turned around and ran for the back door.

"Hey, Tere! Wait up!" Nico yelled, chasing after me.

Why did this happen? Would it have happened if I hadn't been made to stay back to seal the abyssmal portal? Perhaps I could've watched over those two. Then whatever did happen could've been avoided.

"Tere!" Nico yelled. I looked down and saw that I almost tripped down the concrete stairs. "Careful."

"T-thanks," I mumbled. I looked up at him. His eyes were like flames in the light of the rising sun. "Say, why did ya allow her to stay here?"

"She got evicted from her place for failing to pay for this month's rent. I couldn't let her stay out in the streets."

"She could've stayed in the palace," I said, turning around. "Zafir did."

"I think that's why she didn't. She rather avoid Zafir," Nico said, scratching the side of his cheek.

I scoffed. "I don't see what that guy sees in her. She makes things more complicated than they should be. If she's afraid of commitment then why string a guy along?"

Nico let out a dry laugh. "I too wonder why there are people who do that. String others along and go as far as have such relationships with them only to leave them the next day."

I gasped. I had forgotten about his background. His dad had likely done the same thing with his mom as Akari is doing to Zafir.

He slid his hands into the pockets of his black track pants. His eyes rose toward the sky. "When I was little, I wanted to change that. However, I now realize that I can't. But I've come to accept what I am. I am the product of a fake relationship, a fraud perpetrated by my father. One that my dear mother sadly fell prey to. Believing that guy's warm words of affection."

"Ya know, Akari's mom fell to the same trap," someone called out. We turned around and saw Takuya descend the stone steps. "I think that might be connected to her fear of commitment. She rather be the one hurtin' others rather than the one hurt."

Nico shook his head. "While I understand that fear of being hurt, that doesn't give her an excuse to do that to Zafir or anyone for that matter."

"Yeah. Taku, ya got to stop defending her. She isn't serious about love, what makes ya think she'll treat ya differently than a prince?"

Takuya winced as soon as I said prince. "So, ya think she wouldn't be interested in me because of my status?" He sighed. "Ya're probably right."

"Taku..." I walked over to him and grabbed his hand. "Listen, it's the same with Zafir and me. We aren't meant to be with royals. Most are fickle people. We peasants are but adventures to them, nothing serious. Nobles only marry other nobles."

"That's true."

Nico gasped and turned his eyes toward a gray haired man.

My mouth dropped as soon as I saw his face.

I grabbed my necklace and transformed it into its yari form and stepped in front of Nico and my older brother. "Stand back you two! This guy is dangerous!"

"Yeah, he is," Nico said, glaring at the man.

The man chuckled. "That's a mean thing to say to your father." His eyes shifted toward me. "As for me being dangerous, I have no idea why you think that, young lady."

I gasped. "Wait, father?" I gave the man another quick look. He resembled that fox, Satoru, but older. I shook my head. "Sorry, I seem to have mistaken you for someone else." I bit my lip, someone too young to be Nico's dad.

"What are you doing here?" Nico snapped.

The man put a hand on his hips and smiled at his abandoned son. "My informants around town said you had returned. Prior to your departure to Kuroyuki no San, I heard that you wished to see me. Though went I tried to get in contact with you, you had already gone northward. Maybe you should get yourself a phone like I suggested before."

Nico clenched his hands into fists. "It wasn't you who I wanted to see, but my little sister!"

His father nodded. His golden eyes scanned the abandoned parking lot beyond the rundown burger shop-house. On the opposite corner of the street was a pair of suspicious-looking men glancing at us. Though they quickly averted their eyes as soon as they notice us looking back.

"I see, but this place isn't safe for Maya," Nico's dad whispered before spinning around. He grabbed a knife which had come out of the blue and sent it in the direction of the shady looking men. The knife struck the heart of its owner in just a few seconds notice.

"Man!" his buddy cried out, staring at the blood pooling around his feet.

Nico father grinned as he calmly walked toward him. A swirl of cold air wrapped around his left arm. "So, you wanted to play with the big boys, eh?"

"Plea-please spare me!" the man cried out as he back away only to hit a stone wall. He tried to run leftward but the gray haired man appeared in front of him as if he were a wraith.

"Spare you?" he asked with an impish grin. He grabbed the man with his clear hand and drew his icy hand an inch from the guy's neck. "Perhaps I would have contemplated such a notion if you had decided to fight back rather than running like a scared pup with his tail between his legs."

"Stop it!" Nico yelled as he grabbed his father's arm. The ice encased Nico's hand but it quickly melted away as if Nico hands were as hot as flames.

His father dropped the man to the ground and chuckled. "Seems you're lucky. My son here is much more merciful than I. Now, run along and don't think of doing anything as stupid as here. As for your buddy, the vultures will take care of him if no one else comes to bury him."

The man pushed himself off the ground and ran, or at least he tried to as his movements were slow. His neck remained covered in a layer of frost.

This man was like an adult Satoru.

His golden eyes turned toward me, freezing me in place. The way he looked at me was even identical to that kitsune's.

"Say, Nico. Is that girl your girlfriend?"

Nico turned his back to him. "Why do you care?"

The man shrugged. "Nothing. Just thinking about how she's kinda like you mom, curvy in all the right places."

I put my arms around my chest and backed away.

Nico spun around. He had tried to back slap his father across the face but his hand was stopped. "Is that all you cared for? Her body?"

His father turned around and glanced up at the sky. "No, there was more."

"Why did you abandon her then, why did you leave us?" Nico yelled at him. The ground trembled with his rage.

"I had my reasons. Now, if you excuse me, I have stuff to attend to." He jumped into the air and vanished into a puff of smoke.

What was that technique he just used?

I put a hand on Nico's shoulder. I couldn't think up the words to comfort him with, but I stood by and hoped my presence itself would be as much a support to him as he is to me.

"Hey," Akari said, stepping outside of the house. Had she watched what had transpired. "Want to go meet up the others?"

"The others?" Takuya asked. "Who are you referrin' to?"

"Your brother and the other knights. They are in Xeleria according to the king, remember? Well, it so happens that my aunt Saya invited me to see the games with her."

"I forget that the Celestial Queen is your aunt," Nico said, looking back at her. It seemed that her arrival had made him forget about his family issues, at least a bit.

"Yeah. So, want to come with me?" she asked, pulling some strands of her hair back.

"Yeah, we would!" Takuya said.

I didn't like the idea of going on a trip with Akari, but it was a great chance for me to get to talk to Tetsu and Rosa rather than wait for their return.

"Let's wait for Ma to wake up, think she'll want to go too," I said. I glanced over at Nico. "And you?"

Nico sighed. "I have to manage this place. I've been away from it for too long. Do tell Sir Tetsuya to hold his chin up. I'm sure he'll be in the clear soon."

I grinned. "Thanks, Nico!" I said, giving him a bear-hug. "You're the best!"

Nico ran one of his large hands through my long chocolate hair and smiled. "Just doing what I can."

*Character Section*

Nicolas and Maya's father- Age: Unknown Powers: Ice and others Also known as: CEO of Crystal Pillar Tech, Richest Man in Kuroriku (outside of the nobility)

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed this chapter :3. Thoughts on the cast of this chapter and the stuff they're going through?**