[OP: "Learning to Breathe"--Switchfoot]

A couple days somehow passed without any incidents.

Even Baby was subdued. He had nothing left to really fight with them over, obviously, and everyone else treated him distantly, but they didn't go out of their way to be mean. The Hunters realized their energy for it had burned out. Since the Saja Boys weren't acting mad at him, they really had no reason to themselves.

Raven and Morph got a note from Shine on the first day that she'd write them a longer message soon but was busy with something right now. She said she wanted to properly answer their questions.

Her only other message was congratulating Abby on his freedom and hoping he was enjoying it so far and to tell the other boys that it was only a good sign for them, so being envious of it was useless.

Abby said that he liked that Shine always remembered to say things to them, though she'd never met them.

"I thought so before, but she must be a very caring person," he told Raven and Morph.

"Is that the kind of person you like?" Morph asked him. "You seemed to like mean people before this."

"I see what you mean there." Abby didn't deny it. "And that's fun, but you have to appreciate a person who puts in that much effort, don't you?"

"I agree." Morph nodded.

"I knew she'd be excited about it." Raven looked at the note again. "But I wish she'd written more. I suppose she's doing something with the X-men right now."

"She and Storm had another engagement coming up, I think," Morph said. "I know Pastor Mike doesn't expect Shine to do as much since she had the baby, but she still insists on being a part of things, since it was her idea. I hope Wally is doing okay watching Grace so much."

"He seemed fine before," Raven said. "I don't trust him much to remember to do things the right way though."

"Is he stupid?" Zoey asked, hearing this.

"No, but anyone who uses the speed force is prone to be ADD," Morph said. "They said I might be too... I think I'm just weird."

"Yo, they said I might be also," Zoey said. "I do get distracted pretty easily. Neurodivergent people unite, right?" She gave Morph a thumbs up.

"What does that mean?" Raven asked. "That sounds like a condition."

"It is..." Zoey said. "I keep forgetting how old you are... What do they call it in your day?"

"Being an oddball," Raven said. "A character. A crank... Much simpler, if you ask me."

"But meaner," Zoey said.

Honesty, knowing Zoey for this many days without a crisis had made Raven realize just how quirky she was. Rumi and Mira had gotten used to it and didn't notice anymore, but she said the most random stuff and often had no filter whatsoever.

And she didn't shut up about turtles.

Somehow, she'd actually gotten Mystery interested in them for real, with all the videos she'd played, and he kept asking her questions about it...which made her happy, so Morph thought it was a good thing.

Mystery was doing better since they'd gone without being attacked for all of two days. The music was helping and so was not doing anything outside the tower.

Sure, Rumi and Mira both felt kind of trapped...but Mira had to hide her injury anyway, so she wasn't going out. And Rumi was always thinking about the next step...

That made her the most restless, especially since no one else was interested in discussing the next phase.

Ultimately, she figured the one thing she could do was call Celine.

Finally on day two, she got up the nerve to do it.

Raven privately thought the only reason she didn't keep putting it off was that was she was getting too tired of having no progress.

But whatever worked.

Celine was surprised to hear from Rumi at all.

Rumi told her that she wasn't calling to talk about what happened--she didn't want to get into that.

"Look, the last time you were here," she said, "we didn't tell you a lot of what was going on because it was too much...and we didn't know how to explain it...but we've...found out some stuff. And it has to do with the Sunlight Sisters."

Pause.

"What kind of stuff?" Celine said in a grim tone.

Rumi drew a deep breath.

"Look...you never told me there was so much controversy around my mother...passing away. But we did some digging for a project, and we found out it made major waves in the idol world. I guess we should have suspected that already...but it was worse than I knew. People thought there was a jinx, even."

"There were rumors like that, but I never acknowledged them," Celine said primly. "They were ridiculous, and I told people that. And that I was going to bring the Sunlight Sisters back in a new form, which I did. That was the only way to keep the fans from completely giving up."

"So that's why the Honmoon didn't break," Rumi said. "But how did you know you could even do that...so soon?"

"At first, I didn't really know," Celine said somberly. "But...it was clear from when you were young that you were a hunter. I think your mother knew it also. So I knew there was a chance, if I found the other two. It took a lot of effort, but we managed not lose our following. The Honmoon was weakened for a while, but it came back."

Rumi had to get to the point now.

"So about that," she said. "You might not know this...but...Gwi-Ma did some stuff in that time... Do you know that boy band that was actually demons...?"

Celine was silent for a short pause and then in a different tone, "What about them?"

Rumi didn't have a tactful way to begin, so she just said it:

"They were a pop star group back then," she said. "Back around when the SunIight Sisters broke up. You might have heard of them... They were called Stellae. They were rising stars. Might have been fans of the Sisters."

Celine was again silent for such a long moment that Rumi half thought she'd hung up, but then she said, "That sounds familiar."

"It does?"

"Yes...something about a scandal," Celine muttered. "I stayed out of any public problems for a while after that, but I heard things. I don't recall the details though... Are you saying they were demons?"

"They...they weren't at the time." Rumi came to the real point.

Now she would know if Celine knew all along that humans could turn into demons...or if she didn't.

She already felt kind of sick just asking it.

And the pause that followed her statement made her think it probably was not the best case scenario.

"At the time?" Celine finally repeated, but her tone was unreadable.

"They were a real group," Rumi said. "They sold their souls to Gwi-Ma and became the Saja Boys, only it took decades for him to find a way to use them. Anyway...that's why the Saja Boys were so good. Normally, demons can't imitate humans that well. It makes since they were ones who used to know what it was like to be human."

"Rumi...what exactly do you mean?" Celine said. "What do you know about demons like that?"

Rumi pursed her lips. "What do you know about them?" 

Another pause.

"Nothing," Celine said, but Rumi sensed she was trying to sound clam. "I never met any who claimed that. Sounds outrageous."

"Oh, really?" Rumi began to get heated there. "Because that's the most likely explanation for how I even exist, isn't it?"

She could almost feel Celine flinch on the other end of the line. "What do you mean, Rumi?"

"A demon and human couldn't have a child," Rumi said outright. "Not if it was a real demon... but if it was one...they would be able to...do that. One who was human once... They still have human bodies...kind of...so...it lines up. My father was a human once. I told you, I'm not really a demon actually... It's different."

"Rumi, that theory is insane. Did you hear that from your friend who can shape-shift but is not a 'demon,' apparently?"

"Raven? She has been helping, but she didn't find out all of this. Some I found out myself," Rumi said. "We did leg work."

She had just used Morph's favorite word, wow... They were rubbing off on her.

"Leg work?" Celine echoed yet again.

"I need to know more." Rumi got back to her point. "Can you come by again maybe? I don't know if having this conversation over the phone is the best idea...and...we'll need to show you something too. I need to know more about what happened in the past... The Honmoon has been strange lately too. Demon attacks are still coming in, but only at specific targets. That's never happened before, except to us."

"Gwi-Ma is targeting humans? Specifically? Not just any humans?"

"I...well, they're kind of humans..." Rumi hesitated. 

"Do you mean that mutant?"

"Her, yes...and her partner. Look, it'll be easier to explain once you meet them...if you're willing to." Rumi still wasn't crazy about the idea herself, but it was the only way.

"Willing to?" Celine sounded like she was just waiting for this chance. "I'll be there as soon as possible..."

"Maybe give us a couple hours." Rumi wanted time to mentally prepare. "We'll be ready."

She hung up.

* * *

"No, they're not amphibians just because they can live in water and on land," Zoey said, indignantly. "They're reptiles."

"But isn't that what an amphibian is?" Romance argued. "Look, I'm tired of talking about this, but, if we're going to be technical about it--"

"You just said that turtles are amphibians and expected me not to talk about it?" Zoey said.

"What I said was that I was tired of hearing about those amphibians," Romance said. "You're ignoring the first part of that. 'Tired of hearing about them.' Say it with me, Zoey."

"Oh, don't talk to me like that," Zoey said. "You said something really offensive, and you want me to just let it slide?"

"I wish both of you would shut up," Baby griped.

No one paid him any mind, and that was how they'd been treating him for the past 48 hours.

"But, technically you were wrong," Mystery told Romance. "They have scales and breathe air, so they're reptiles."

"Don't take her side," Romance said. "This is literally torture to listen to."

"No, torture is listening to your stupid music," Zoey said. "This is science."

"It's nice to hear them getting comfortable enough with each other to have a normal conversation," Morph told Jinu, Abby, and Mira.

"Normal, sure," Mira said.

"This is how I talk to Gambit," Morph said. "He can take a joke..."

"I don't see this as funny. They're arguing over nothing," Jinu said.

"It's hilarious," Abby said. "I wish I had popcorn. I think Zoey will win this one, though, because Romance is a such a wuss."

"It's strange to hear Mystery talking at all," Jinu said. "He seems...better though."

"How can you say that about the guy who never shows his face and never talks longer than a few seconds?" Mira said. "If that much."

"Well, before, he only talked when we wanted him to," Jinu said. "So at least he's doing it of his volition now. I mean...progress."

"And did Zoey do something to make him like her more?" Abby asked. "Since he seems to be talking more to her."

"I can answer that one," Morph said. "I think he came around a bit more after that other attack. She managed to calm him down."

"That was weird. I didn't think he liked the Hunters at all," Jinu said. "Though it's hard to know what he's thinking."

"I think he wants to be free also," Abby said. "He's said something about that, from what I can recall."

"Romance is more motivated though," Morph said. "But he also caves in pretty quick to pressure from Gwi-Ma. Mystery at least wasn't doing that. He was just losing his cool."

"So, Abby, has anything come back to you about your lives yet?" Jinu asked.

"I've started to get bits and pieces," Abby said.

Mira looked up. "Really?"

Jinu and Morph gave her a look like they were wondering why she was interested in that.

She frowned at them and looked back down.

"Like what?" Jinu prompted.

"Not a lot," Abby sighed. "It's like it's blocked out...if it's about how we ended up like that at all... But I have some images of rehearsals...traveling... Not sure it was all professional though... I don't remember the accident at all."

"Maybe you didn't remember it before," Morph said. "What if you had head trauma? Raven found out that two of you went to the hospital for while after it happened. I think it was probably you and Romance, since Mystery and Baby act the most guilty. So both of you could have gotten hurt badly. It's not unusual to have no memory of it."

"Too bad. Maybe we'd know what their deals were." Abby shook his head.

"It's nice that you still want to help with that though," Jinu said. "I mean...you could just not help now."

"So could you," Abby said.

"I feel like I have a lot to atone for," Jinu said. "But it's like you were just the victim of it."

"Don't know about that," Abby said darkly. "I don't think you just get enslaved to Gwi-Ma for being the victim of something. I still don't know what I did... That memory just won't come back."

"I think you shouldn't try too hard," Morph said. "Maybe Gwi-Ma isn't in your head now, but he had to have suppressed part of your brain, I'd think. I had patchy memories for a long time after my experience... Mental trauma can cause memory loss. I think it helps more if you don't focus on it and just wait... It helped me, anyway. It could be just as well... Why feel guilty about it now?"

"I think the memory was the worst part," Jinu said. "That's the emotional weight of it."

"How is it being an endless question better?" Abby pointed out.

"No, it's bad either way," Mira muttered.

"What's with that pessimism, Mira?" Morph asked. "Things have been good for a few days now."

"Too good," Mira said. "No way Gwi-Ma is letting that one slide... As soon as we leave this tower, I think something worse is going to happen. And we have nothing to stop it with."

"I thought you and Zoey worked on some new songs," Morph said.

"It takes time to get those ready," Mira said. "And they're not finished... We still need music. I can't do that though. I get ideas from going out and listening to sounds. I can't do that right now. And I can't dance either."

She sounded depressed.

"It's not pleasant to be injured," Morph said. "I'm sorry, really. But...that should be doing better, right? Didn't you say you were healing up faster?"

"I mean...relatively faster," Mira said. "Faster than average but slow for us. It could take days to be back to normal...and something could go wrong at any time..."

"I didn't realize you were the more anxious out of the three of them," Jinu noted.

He got a death glare.

He flinched.

Sussy landed on Mira's shoulder and gave Jinu side eye.

Funny, it seemed to have taken to Mira lately. Maybe because they both gave people the same kind of looks.

Mira smirked a little. "Even your own bird things you're dumb."

"Traitor," Jinu muttered.

"New question: how did you find this thing anyway?" Abby said. "I remember seeing them."

"They found me," Jinu said. "I mean...I don't know what year it was. I was bored in that limbo, and I had that old bi-pa, and I was playing it, and Derpy just walked up and sat and listened. Maybe he likes music? Sussy just showed up later and stole his hat."

"So...it's a magpie?" Morph said.

Sussy shot him a sideways look also.

"A lot of birds steal stuff, you know," Jinu said. 

"So you found the tiger, and the bird just stole the hat?" Abby said.

"I mean...I couldn't get rid of it," Jinu said. "I guess they adopted me. I mean, you get bored down there...and lonely...and all I could do was make music, and it's not like the other demons really listened to it that much..."

"Wow, I can just see it now." Mira sarcastically waved with her good hand. "Jinu sitting on some log or something in the demon realm with a big tiger and bird making music about soda...or, no, maybe ramen...or udon? What did they eat back then?"

"They ate more healthy than you do." Jinu was finally getting tired of her attitude enough to fight back.

Probably helped that Mira couldn't beat him up right now anyway.

"Hey, we eat healthy food," Mira said.

"And the songs were mostly about how horrible it was in the demon realm," Jinu went on huffily. "And one song was about Gwi-Ma... That was a lot of fun to make."

"I remember that one," Abby said. "Kinda... That was pretty funny. Of course, we couldn't laugh, since he'd be mad...and we didn't have a sense of humor at the time."

"Why would you write a song about Gwi-Ma?" Morph asked.

"It was making fun of him," Jinu said.

"This I have to hear," Morph said. "What was it?"

"I don't remember it all now..." Jinu hedged.

"Oh, come on, this should be good," Abby egged him on. "What's he gonna do now? Attack you again?"

Jinu thought that might happen.

"Yeah, Jinu, tell us," Morph urged.

Mira didn't object, though she wasn't going to say she wanted to hear it.

"Well, there was something about 'There once was a might demon king. He feasted on souls,' and then something about 'some hunters sang some songs, and his flame grew cold and just a whisper in the dark...and will he let the fire go out? Is this the end of him now?' "

"I'm surprised Gwi-Ma didn't kill him on the spot for that," Abby reflected. "He doesn't like to be mocked."

"The tune sucked, but the words were okay," Mira said. "I liked the part where you said the end of him now." With a fierce look.

"Gee, thanks." Jinu had thought the tune was pretty good, considering it was just a few notes. "Anyway, I figured he would let me talk before he incinerated me... I had to act confident. Plus, I told the Saja Boys to move when they heard me playing the music. That was the only thing they seemed to understand."

"I don't remember how you convinced us to do that," Abby said. "Something about dancing?"

"I just asked the ex-human demons if any of them could dance or sing, and you all stepped forward and did some weird poses," Jinu said. "They looked convincing...and then you could still use your more...human forms."

"Which forms? Our original ones, or the ones that looked human but with the dark skin and patterns?" Abby asked.

"The second ones," Jinu said.

"You looked less normal?" Mira said. "How ugly were you before?"

"I don't think I was ugly before." Abby sounded almost offended.

"Abby didn't look that different," Jinu said. "Mystery looked the most demonic. He had fangs. I don't know why--he never had them when they were down there afterward."

"Could be they look more demonic the more their souls are being suppressed?" Morph guessed. "Mystery was pretty odd when you all first came up here, and he barked... Maybe Gwi-Ma's control makes them like animals. That was in this book Shine sent us for her list... I didn't get into it--the whole thing was a little weird for me--but there was something about a beast turning human and men turning into beasts in it. It was bizarre."

"Your mentor sent another book about our situation?" Mira asked.

"I think it had demons or goblins too," Morph said. "Hang on, let me see if I can find it."

He left.

While he was gone, Abby asked, "How did you even know what K-pop was like, Jinu? I thought you died 400 years ago."

"You hear things, you know?" Jinu shrugged. "We could hear their performances a lot, so I got the idea."

"Wait, you could hear us?" Mira said.

"Yeah, it was muffled mostly, but we got the idea," Jinu replied. "It wasn't that hard to write 'Soda Pop'. Baby came up with most of the lyrics. It was supposed to about stealing souls, so it was a metaphor for that."

"Ew. I thought that sounded wrong," Mira said. "Raven said it was creepy for another reason, but I though it was probably about that."

"That does sound really wrong, if you think about it," Abby said.

"You were happy with it before," Jinu said.

"Well, I was, but Baby's part just sounds wrong," Abby reflected. "I'm amazed you sung that song, Jinu--you're such a prude."

"I'm not!" Jinu objected.

"Sure. Have you even held hands with Rumi yet?" Abby pressed.

"Don't ask him that," Mira said. "I don't wanna hear about this."

"One time," Jinu said, just to annoy her. "But it wasn't like that, Abby. It was just...a gesture of friendship."

"Because guys do that in friendship all the time," Abby mocked him. "Gosh, you're so stupid..."

"Still don't want to hear it," Mira said more crossly.

"You could always leave," Abby countered.

"You shouldn't be mean to her," Jinu said. "She's still injured."

His reward for saying that was getting kicked by Mira.

"I said something nice and you're punishing me?" he cried, rubbing his shin. "Were you trying to break my leg?"

"I can hope," Mira said meanly.

"What is your problem with me?" Jinu complained.

"Maybe she thinks you're pathetic also," Abby suggested.

"I do, but not for the same reason," Mira said.

"I haven't done anything to you since the Award thing," Jinu said.

"Something about you just annoys me, period." Mira was merciless.

"I thinks it's the way you laugh," Abby told Jinu.

"What?" Jinu said. "And stop helping her. I thought we were friends now. Why does everyone keep picking on me?"

"You make it too easy," Raven said, walking in with a cup of tea in her hand.

"Where have you been?" Mira asked her.

"Avoiding the noise in here." Raven pointed to the balcony. "And someone has to water those plants. Where is Rumi?"

"She was calling Celine," Mira said. "So that's probably going great." Sarcastic.

"I don't hear any cracks in the Honmoon yet," Raven said. "Might be going well."

"Raven, tell Jinu that he should really be asking out Rumi," Abby said.

"Oh, not this again," Raven said. "And have you still not acknowledged your feelings? I never waited this long."

"And didn't you have dozens of failed relationships?" Jinu said.

"The thing about that," Raven said, "you have to actually start a relationship to fail it, Jinu."

"You should tell him it's a bad idea," Mira said.

"Mira, I don't need your negativity," Raven said. "Besides, it's inevitable anyway. I've seen this play out before. I don't want to be involved though. Rumi is a grown woman, and you're 400 years old. Why do you need us to tell you what to do?"

"It wasn't the same back then," Jinu said. "You didn't ask people out, and it's not one just because the note says it's a date on it."

"That's...oddly specific," Abby said. "Did you do that?"

"Not exactly..." Jinu grumbled.

"Oh, the note?" Raven said. "Did you really think that's what that meant? That's amusing." She smirked impishly.

"How was I supposed to know?" Jinu asked. "It was a joke anyway. But she said 'ew', so..."

"That's what every girl says at first," Raven said. "Unless she's strange."

"Depends on how she said it," Abby offered.

"What would you now about it?" Jinu said. "I thought demons didn't date."

"No, but we were humans once," Abby said.

"Ugh..." Mira rolled her eyes.

"Not helping yourself," Raven told her.

"What?" She sat up.

"Why don't you ask her out already?" Abby pressed Jinu.

"And why are you so interested in this?" Jinu turned on him real fast. "What exactly do you get out of it if I did?"

"Entertainment," Abby said.

"I think it's a bad idea," Mira repeated. "Stay away from Rumi." This to Jinu.

"And how can I when we're in the same house and I can't leave?" Jinu said.

"Creatively," Mira replied. 

"I'm sure that will work," Raven said. "Maybe he could live on the roof."

"Raven, I never thought you'd care about this," Jinu said. "Aren't you supposed to be mature?"

"I've meddled in plenty of relationships before." Raven leaned to the side.

"Found it." Morph came in holding a small book. "Oh, hello, honey... Did I miss something?"

"More of her romantic history," Abby said. "She's quite the expert on it. I bet she can manage you pretty well."

"Shut up, Abby," Raven said.

"I know she can, but I save her the trouble." Morph winked.

Abby nodded as if he understood.

"That's not sweet at all," Jinu said.

"Shows what you know," Morph said. "Women managing you is the best thing ever."

"That's pathetic," Mira said.

"Not sure you understood what I meant," Morph said.

"What? Ew!" Mira recoiled.

"Not that either," Morph said. "I think it's nice to have someone to take care of...talk to...that kind of thing."

Raven patted his shoulder. "He's right, you know. Morph posed a challenge for me... Makes it more interesting, though."

"I can't tell if that's creepy or sweet," Abby said. 

"You should stop there," Morph said. "And this is the book. The Princess and Curdie. The story is as weird as I thought. I think I should try reading it though...might help."

"The first one is worse." Raven tapped the book cover. "I couldn't get through even half. Shine and her taste..."

"Oh, and here, this was on the bed." Morph handed her a letter. "I guess she finally had time to answer us."

Raven opened it and started to read.

She pursed her lips.

"Please say she was helpful this time," Jinu said.

"Depends on your perspective." Raven looked up. "She wants all of you to hear part of this. Where is Rumi?"

As if on cue, Rumi walked in, looking frazzled.

"Okay," she said. "Good, everyone is here."

Romance had given up arguing with Zoey, as predicted by Abby, but he was trying to ignore her and Mystery's conversation still.

But they stopped and looked up.

"I talked to Celine," Rumi announced. "She's coming here..."

"Wait, again?" Romance somehow remembered that. "But...last time she did that, we--"

"No," Rumi said, quickly. "No...I think she needs to see you this time... Look, we gotta tell her the truth finally. And, she has to see Jinu and Abby. She's heard of the Saja Boys...so if we can show her you really changed back, she'll have to believe it."

"Would she buy it though?" Raven asked. "What if she thinks they're just hiding their patterns?She could try to kill them."

"We'll make sure that won't happen," Rumi said. "Besides, they feel different to be around."

"And the other boys?" Morph said.

"They'll still have to leave," Rumi said. "At least to the other level...just in case..."

 "And we have to explain this too?" Mira touched her arm.

"I mean, she'll ask..." Rumi said. "But getting in demon fights is nothing new..."

"What if she asks how it happened?" Mira said testily. "That'll go over well."

"I'd like to think she'd be glad you're okay and not care about the rest of it," Morph said.

"Uh, no," Zoey said. "She trained us so hard, she'd have a few notes for Mira on her technique if she got hurt like that. And to ask us why we didn't have her back...which...I guess is fair...since we didn't...and we can't explain that without mentioning the Saja Boys..."

"She's coming here in a couple hours," Rumi said. "We need to have an idea what we're going to say before then. I want to ask about the Sunlight Sisters." She touched her arms.

"Rumi, maybe we could help," Morph said. "I know it can be difficult to talk... I had a hard time talking to my father after my mom died... Some conversations are harder with only two people."

[Btw, this was Morph's actual backstory in the comics.]

"That would be better," Rumi said. "I'd rather do it myself, but if I can't... What if I start crying or yelling again?"

"And we could still get upset at her," Zoey said. "You two are more impartial."

Mira looked like she was thinking she'd need it too.

"If we have to go to that level, can we take a computer or something?" Romance complained.

"Can't you read a book?" Raven said.

"Oh, sure, that's what you would do," Romance sniffed. 

"Books are lame," Baby said.

"You're lame," Mira said.

"Actually, I think you are right now." Baby never missed a chance to jab her about her injury.

Mira looked like she'd throw something at him.

"Shut up." Zoey gave Baby a shove. "Leave her alone. I swear, you act like a real toddler sometimes, Baby."

"At least I talk," he said.

"Wish you didn't," Romance said. "Can you and Mystery switch personalities for one day, maybe?"

Mystery glanced at him strangely.

"Just go please," Jinu said.

"Fine," Romance said. "Come on, Mystery."

Mystery stood like he didn't want to leave.

"Hey, we'll still be right up here," Zoey said, assuming that he was nervous about being attacked if they weren't around. "If anything goes wrong, we'll be right there. Besides, there're cameras."

"I forgot Mira watches us on those," Abby said. "Hmm. I'm not surprised, actually."

"Oh, shut up," Mira grumbled.

Mystery walked away.

"He's like a lost puppy," Morph said. "Zoey, you made an impression the other day. He must think you're his guardian since then."

"I didn't really do anything." Zoey reddened a little. "I was just trying to help. Besides, you helped too."

"Yeah, but I'm an ugly man," Morph said. "And you're a cute girl...big difference."

"I'd say you're more average than ugly," Abby said.

"Oh, thanks, Abby," Morph said.

"Technically, he can be anything," Jinu said. "So if anything, he's giving the rest of us a fighting chance by using that form, Abby."

"That's true. I didn't appreciate that till now," Abby said. "Though I think I would be fine, anyway."

"Can you be more self absorbed?" Mira asked.

"Is that a challenge, Mira? Is that what you want me to do?" Abby said. "Talk more about myself?"

"I'd prefer if you didn't talk like that. Especially you, Abby, since Celine isn't going to appreciate it if you do. She very serious," Rumi said.

"Yeah, she's like this." Zoey stuck her nose in the air. "'You have to hold up a high standard for the fans. You can't act up in public. Never eat anything where they can see you.' That's why I'm always hungry."

"Not feeling better about this," Jinu muttered.

* * *

Celine arrived less than two hours later. Apparently showing up earlier than she was told was her habit.

Abby and Jinu were waiting on the balcony, and the three girls and two mutants were in the living and dining area.

Celine walked in like she was all business and surveyed them.

Zoey waved uneasily.

"Hello." Morph stood up. "We've never met. You must be Celine." He bowed clumsily. "I'm Kevin Sydney, but everyone calls me Morph."

Celine stared at him coldly.

"Are you her partner?" She nodded at Raven.

Rave was in her usual form, and the woman's gaze made her feel as if her blue skin was pretty much the same as being a leper.

"I am," Morph said. "Also her husband...not for that long though, still getting used to it."

"I didn't know that things like you got married," Celine said.

"We're just humans with powers," Raven said coolly. "Not another species."

"Celine, you're being rude," Rumi said. 

Celine frowned and then bowed frostily. "Nice to meet you."

"A pleasure..." Morph said weakly.

Celine just stood and waited.

"You can sit down." Rumi pointed at one of the chairs.

Celine sat, primly.

"So what was this about?" she asked. "It sounded concerning over the phone... You've been looking into the past. Some things are better left in the past."

Then she looked at Mira. "What happened to your arm?"

Mira had been dreading this question.

"Demon attacks," she said flatly.

"You got hurt that badly in a demon attack?" Celine was alarmed at once. "Was the Honmoon torn up that much?"

"The attacks have been targeted recently," Zoey said.

"Yes...Rumi mentioned that phenomenon. That's strange," Celine said.

"Did that happen before?" Rumi said. "Around...my mother or you or the other Sunlight Sister?"

Celine hesitated. "A few times it seemed like there were specific places they tried to show up...but it was only towards the end."

"Confirmed our theory," Raven noted.

"What does this have to do with you?" Celine pressed. "What have you been telling them?"

"Nothing but the truth, as far as we know." Morph held up his hands. "We're still learning it ourselves. Still, we're making progress. We know about how things got really bad for a while after Sunlight Sisters broke up. By the way, we commend you for being able to keep things together. Must have been really difficult."

Celine didn't look appeased by the flattery.

"I did what I had to do," she said.

"She reminds me of you," Morph said to Mira.

"Don't." Mira glared at him.

"Like I told you," Rumi said, "the Saja Boys were a band back then...and, now, I have to ask you, Cline...did you know that some demons used to be humans?"

Here it was.

Raven though that if Celine lied, which was likely, she could read body language well enough to tell.

Celine looked at them all like she was wondering why they were asking and how she should answer.

"Why would you think that?" she finally said. "I know you said what you said earlier...but where would you get that idea?"

"Because Jinu was a human." Rumi had no other way to explain it but this. "I never knew that till he told me."

"Who is Jinu?" Celine asked.

"One of the Saja Boys," Mira spoke flatly. "Or he was. Till he died."

"He went into limbo," Zoey corrected. "He went into Rumi's sword. He gave her his soul."

"He what?" Celine was utterly confused. "That's not possible."

"I saw it with my own eyes," Rumi said. "We all did... The sword got bigger for while... It made us able to defeat Gwi-Ma."

Celine looked at her like she'd lost her mind.

"A demon?" she said faintly.

"He wasn't a demon," Rumi said warmly. "He thought he was one... They think it's the same thing, but it's not. Gwi-Ma convinces them with his voice that they're nothing but demons, but they still have souls."

Celine looked like she'd seen a ghost.

Raven saw it and knew she had to have heard this before.

Rumi's mother...she had to have said almost the same thing to her, once.

"Rumi, whatever he told you..." Celine began, "you can't trust--"

"Why would my shame show if it a was a lie?" Rumi stood, getting agitated now. "Why would he save me? Huh?"

Celine was speechless.

"Calm down, Rumi." Morph took her arm hastily. "Let's not get aggressive about it. It must be a lot to take in."

Rumi sank back down slowly.

"But she's right, we all saw it," Zoey reiterated. "He helped us. Then the other Saja Boys got away... We sort of let them slip out of our hands while we were distracted with Gwi-Ma, but it's okay now."

"You said you found them?" Celine asked.

The girls froze.

"You killed them, right?" Celine then added.

"Oh..." Rumi said. "Well...no."

A pause.