Teresa moved her head around as we walked out of the store. She had been doing that since we left Yuko's uncle's place.

"Is someone following us?" I whispered.

Yuko looked around. "Yuko hasn't heard anything out of the ordinary."

She heard me?

"I'm keeping an eye out for strong people," Teresa said.

"Eh?" Was she a blood knight like her cousin Roa?

"To recruit for Team Tetsu?" Yuko asked, glancing around herself.

Teresa nodded. "We need to gather more strong allies while we still can."

"Yuko should try to convince Uncle to help."

"I'll help with that too," Onami said. "Although, I kind of don't want to involve him."

Yuko frowned. "Because of the twins?"

She nodded. "We lost our dad and mom at a young age. I rather spare them that same fate."

"Yeah..."

"I understand, but he might lose his life anyway if we fail to stop Margaret," Teresa said.

"True," both said in unison, looking down.

"Do you know anyone else we might try to recruit?" I asked.

Onami crossed her arms. "Apart from the various instructors at Nine Petal Academy, not really. Our Xelerian allies might have some people in mind."

"Hope we can get to Xian soon," Teresa said.

"Hideo still has to go to Sera and Eiichi to Hoin," Onami said.

"Then it's up to my brother and the other two to recruit the rest."

Tere. I had to think of how to help her destress.

"Let's hurry up and make the Akiyamas some breakfast," I said, smiling slightly.

Teresa nodded weakly.

I took the bag from her hands and ran in front of them. What could I do to break this melancholy vibe in the air?

"We're back!" Onami said, grinning as we walked into her uncle's house.

"Yahoo! Omurice time!" Yuuta yelled, jumping up and down. He had red jelly on his face.

His mother laughed and wiped the red goo with a napkin.

"You ate dessert without us?" Onami asked.

"Yuuta did. He couldn't wait for the omurice. Said his stomach needed some food," Yuuto said. His face had a bit of red in it too.

His mother laughed and clean his face as well.

"Eh?"

"Nice try kid, but you failed at hiding it," Mrs. Akiyama said, grinning.

I smiled. Reminded me of when I snuck a piece of pie from the fridge as a kid. Mom wanted to know who took it. I said she did and probably forgot. She said I sure was bold for trying to lie with my shirt all covered in crumbs.

Yuuto blushed.

Onami chuckled. "At least Yuuta is honest."

Her blue-wearing cousin turned away.

"I'll help you cook," I said, walking into the kitchen and putting the items on the table.

"We can't ask you to do that," Mrs. Akiyama said.

I shook my head. "It's fine. We interrupted your breakfast in the first place. Some of our comrades even took ya stuff."

"It was more so that guy's nephew," Yūsuke said, grumbling as he tinkered with some stuff on the table.

"Dear, be sure to put that away before we eat," his wife said.

"Understood." His eyes didn't depart from his handiwork.

"What are you making?" Onami asked, looking over his shoulder.

"Trying to think of how to make a faster computer. Looking at the tech you Zionians have made me realize just how behind we are."

"Well, if anything, it's mostly the cities of Kuroriku and Mizu no Kin that have such tech," Teresa said.

"Still. I want to make something better. Technology is always evolving. I rather make the times than keep up with them."

"How avant-garde."

Onami grinned. "Uncle's always been that way."

Mrs. Akiyama beamed. "It's why I fell for him."

Yūsuke blushed even as he kept his eyes on his work.

"Yuko could learn a thing or two," Onami said, glancing at her sister.

Yuko smiled faintly. "Yuko's happy with how things are."

"Are you really?" her uncle asked.

She nodded. "Yeah. Yuko just needs happy family and friends and Yuko's happy too!"

Mrs. Akiyama smiled. "You like making others happy?"

"Yup! It makes Yuko feel all warm and fuzzy inside!"

"That sounds disturbing," Yuuto said.

"That's because you're the opposite of warm and fuzzy, big bro!" Yuuta said.

Yuuto frowned. "I'm warm and my hair is fuzzy."

I laughed as I grabbed a pan and poured olive oil into it. The kid was surprisingly literal-minded.

Yuuta giggled. "Big bro sure can be a dummy sometimes."

Yuuto's face turned red. "You're a bigger dummy most of the time!"

"Kids, don't fight," Mrs. Akiyama said, walking over to them.

Yuko got between the two and brought them in for a hug. "Yeah. Siblings are supposed to get along. You're lucky to be together."

"Yuko," Onami whispered with a sad smile.

Teresa turned away. Had she felt guilt over what her pa did to them?

"It's true," Yusuke said, smiling weakly. "While my siblings and I did argue, I would do anything for us to be together again."

"Uncle argued with Mama and Papa?" Yuko asked.

"Both?" the twins asked, glancing at each other in confusion.

"Ahh. So, Yuko, do you have a dream for the future?" Mrs. Akiyama interrupted.

Yuko hummed and shook her head. "No. I just want to help Master."

"Then be a maid or something," Yuuto blurted out.

His cousin blinked. "A maid, huh? Hmm."

"I'm not sure if I like that idea," Onami said, scrunching her nose.

"How about a teacher like Mommy?" Yuuta asked.

"A teacher?" Yuko asked, glancing at him.

He nodded. "Mommy likes it when her students smile and make breakthroughs! You like making people smile, so why not?"

Mrs. Akiyama smiled. "Or maybe a daycare worker. You seem to be good with kids."

"Yuko is?" She glanced at her cousins and smiled. "Well, Yuko does like helping out kids. Oh and Master's having one! Yuko can help Master out by taking care of his kid."

Yusuke frowned. "Is that a very good idea? The further you're from that guy, the better."

"Yu, let her decide," Mrs. Akiyama said.

He shook his head. "Fine, but I'm telling you, it's a bad decision."

"Like Ma likes to say, sometimes, one has to risk making mistakes to get anything done. One can stay inside their house all day and not get bird dung on them, but that isn't living. It's better to go outside and risk getting bird dung than to live one's life in fear. Plus, mistakes are some of the greatest teachers, so long as one is willing to be an active student," I said as I whipped several eggs together in a bowl with a whisk.

"Yuko agrees!" Yuko said, nostrils flaring.

Yusuke sighed. "That guy doesn't deserve such loyalty."

"My brother would agree to that," Teresa said, furrowing her brow.

"Master can be humble sometimes! But Yuko knows he's a great guy, worthy of love and trust!"

Teresa smiled. "That brat's a lucky guy. Having you and Rosa fall for him as hard as you have."

Yuko blushed.

"Hope I'm that popular when I grow up!" Yuuta said, grinning.

His father grumbled. "Don't look up to that two-timer, son."

"Dear, I know his father hurt you, but you shouldn't take it out on his kids," Mrs. Akiyama said, putting her arms around him.

He stared intensely at the chips in his hands.

"I get you're afraid they'll turn out like him, but they're their own people. With their own good and bad points."

Teresa smiled slightly.

"It's true," I said as I strained the egg mixture to add an extra soft texture. "I'm not as sweet as my mother, yet I'm not treasonous as my father. I'm Nicolas Ayala and you're Teresa Kuroriku."

She blinked. "Why single me out? We were talking about Tetsu."

I turned away as my face reddened. "Well, ya the one here. So, uh, ya make proving Mrs. Akiyama's point easier."

Teresa giggled. "True."

Yusuke took a deep breath. "Hopefully, you're right."

I smiled as I added cream and milk into the strained mixture.

Mrs. Akiyama made her way over to the over and took out a premade batch of half cooked chicken rice. It had salt pepper and onion mixed into it.

She put some butter into a pan, waiting for it to melt before pouring the mixture in. She flipped it over with one hand like Mom would before her health had degraded.

Yuko went to play with her nephews as we finished making the rice omelettes. 

"Food is ready, kids!" Mrs. Akiyama yelled as she put several platefuls on the table.

"Oh boy!" Yuuta yelled, rushing into the kitchen.

His older brother followed behind and shook his head. "Childish."

"That kid sounds like my aunt Cio when she was little," Teresa mumbled.

Onami chuckled. "To me he's like Hyosetsu, a grumpy tanuki."

"I'm not grumpy!" Yuuto said, frowning.

Yusuke smiled at his oldest as he put away his chips. "You could act a little more like your age, To."

"Yeah!" Yuuta said, grinning.

Yuuto scoffed.

"He's like my cousin Silas too," Teresa whispered.

"Oh, yeah! He is!" Onami said.

"Thanks for the food, Nagi," Yuuta said before bitting into his food.

"Nagi?" Teresa asked.

"This world's male creator deity," Onami said.

"Oh, so their equivalent of our Sky Father."

"Basically, yeah."

"Come to think of it, is your god's name really just 'Sky Father'?" Yusuke asked as he returned to his seat.

"No. But his name is too holy for our lips to utter. Likewise with the holy mother."

"I see. So out of reverence you use their titles. There are a few cases like that in this world too. Some feel similarly about Nagi, using 'August Lord' or 'no Mikoto'. Others call him Holy Mikado."

I gasped. "No Mikoto?"

"It mean 'August One'. It's a title that all of his descendants bear. Mikado means 'Divine Emperor'. The latter is usually used when speaking about him in conjunction with the other 'no Mikoto' or when talking about the Magus Maximus, who is regarded as an earthly emperor. Ironically, the current one fits both definitions."

"Daisuke. Wonder if he's gathered new allies for us," Onami mumbled.

"Hopefully," Teresa said, putting her hands together as if in prayer.

"So yummy!" Yuuta exclaimed.

"Yeah, it is," Yuuto said.

"It sure is," Yusuke said. "Only some nice red bean paste dumplings can make this better. You four can have some too."

Yuuto looked down. "Uhh, we might've eaten the last ones."

"Guess we have to make more," Yuuta said.

Mrs. Akiyama frowned. "Sadly, we're all out of red beans to make the paste."

Her husband sighed. "That's okay."

"I can go get some!" I said, turning around.

"You will?" Mrs. Akiyama asked.

I nodded. "Yeah."

"Wait, but you need to take the translation rod," Onami said, holding it out to me.

I smiled. "I'll be fine. I'm proficient in it."

"He is. He helped translate for us last time we were here when we were away from the knights and dad," Teresa said. She grumbled. "Although, Akari helped too."

Was she still jealous of her?

"Well, let's get going," Teresa said.

"I'll go on my own. You eat your omelett."

She glanced and noticed an extra one on the table. "I made some for you three as you all looked hungry."

Yuko smiled. She had already eaten half of hers. "Thanks, Nico!"

"You shouldn't have," Teresa said, furrowing her brow.

"It's fine. I'll make you a red bean dumpling too. Seems you could use something sweet too."

Teresa gasped. "S-sorry. I didn't mean to give off moody vibes."

"Don't sweat it. We all get moody every once in a while. It's why comfort food is a thing." I winked. "Just make sure you don't eat too much."

She giggled and looked down. "You meanie."

I laughed and ran off. "Will be back in a jiffy!"

I rushed out of the house and headed for the store where we had gotten the eggs.

"Ugh, shut up tummy. I'll find us something to eat. Ugh, maybe running off was a bad idea after all," a blond boy with gray eyes said, rubbing his stomach as he walked the streets, unaware of his surroundings. Thankfully, there were no cars going his way.

Wait, did he just say he ran off?

"Hey, are you lost?" I said, running over to him.

The kid glared at me and raised a foot and both his arms at me. "Sorry, red-haired stranger, but if you think I'll be easy to kidnap, you're wrong!" His stomach grumbled. "Ugh, I said to wait!"

I laughed awkwardly. "I'm not going to do that. Was hoping to help, actually."

He smiled. "Help me? That's swell!" He narrowed his eyes. "Wait, that's pretty suspicious. Who helps a little kid they don't know?"

"Nice people, and very bad people admittingly," I said. "But I get it if you don't trust me. It's actually smart that you aren't too trusting. This world probably has as many bad people as mine does."

The boy jumped. "Your world? Are you from outer space?" His eyes glistened.

"Uh, not really. I'm not from Xeleria in general. Although, my dad seems to be related to the people of this country."

"Woah! So what world are you from Wynaga? Zionia? Cianio?"

I frowned. "Why do you think I'm a demon?"

"Because Dad's one."

I gasped. "W-what?" This kid is part demon too?

He bit his lip. "Ugh. Please forget I said that, Mister!"

I scratched my head and sighed. "It's alright. I hate to say it, but I am too."

"So I was right!"

"Uh, not exactly. I'm not from Cianio. I'm from Zionia."

"Woah, so you're part angel like cousin Shin'en?"

I laughed. "Actually, my mom's human. For the most part, at least. Huh? Did you just say 'cousin Shin'en'?"

The kid nodded. "Yup! Although, he's more like my cousin once removed. His papa's my real cousin."

"Woah. So you're Tabiki's cousin. Not only is the world small, but so is the multiverse."

The kid chuckled. "Seems like it! But Wynaga, Xeleria, and Zionia do have a lot of shared history."

I smiled. The kid sure seemed smart for his age. Wait, was it fair to assume he was a kid? There were stories of young demons who were thousands of years old but physically remained children. He could've been one of those.

"Say, how old are you?" I asked.

"This many!" he said, holding out six fingers.

I smiled. So, he was a regular kid after all.

His stomach grumbled again, this time louder than before.

"Tummy, I said to be quiet! I'm talking to Mister Red!"

I dug into my backpack and took out a sandwich I had prepared as a snack for later. "You can have this. Oh, but let me warm it up first." I closed my eyes and let heat flow into the aluminum foil. My fire magic wasn't much, but at least I could use it to cook.

"What is it?" the boy asked, tilting his head.

I smiled. "It's one of my famous hamburgers." Well, I wish they were famous. Sadly, McDaisy's hadn't taken off at all. My long absences probably didn't help either. But at least Ma was feeling well enough to run the place.

"Woah! An angel burger!" the boy said, reaching out for it.

"Careful. It's hot."

He laughed as he took it. "The heat never bothered me anyway!" He gleefully unwrapped it. "Looks yummy!" He bit into it. "It is yummy too!"

Too bad I didn't have more.

"Thank you so much for the burger! Well, time to go home." He stared at the street. "Hmm, where am I?"

"Say, why did you run off?" I asked.

He stared at his now half eaten burger. "My old man came home, but he didn't wanna play with me! So I am making him play hide and seek!"

"What if he doesn't come?"

"He has to! Mommy will tell him to find me." He giggled.

I frowned. Why did that sound familiar?

"Burai," a voice called out.

"Daddy!" Burai yelled, turning around to face a blond haired man in a purple suit. Bylet...

My eyes widened as Bylet raised the boy by the back of his collar as if he were a cat.

"You are in so much trouble!" he said, narrowing his eyes at the kid.

"Waah? But I just wanted to have fun!"

I stepped back. "This is your father?"

Burai nodded. "Yup!"

Bylet smirked. "Well, if it isn't my nephew. Thanks for finding your cousin. Well, we'll be off!" He turned his back to me and formed a black vortex.

"Woah, the multiverse is small!" the kid said as his dad swung him over his shoulder. "Thanks for the yummy burger, Cuz!"

I took a deep breath and rushed at my uncle. "Stop!"

Bylet turned around and paralyzed me with a wave of electricity.

"I am thankful you helped Burai, but you are still a traitor to our family. Be glad I am sparing you yet again."

I gritted my teeth

"Wait, so Mister Red is bad?" Burai asked.

"He is on the side of the doves. But soon he will see the glory of the darkness." He smirked and went through the portal.

Burai! Ugh. This is just like when Maya was taken by her mother! Were did such sweet kids have such evil parents?

I broke through the paralysis and fell to my knees. Ugh. I was still too weak. I had to get stronger, else I wouldn't be able to help Teresa.

"So, that guy's your uncle?" a voice called out.

My eyes widened as I glanced at Teresa.

"Y-yes," I whispered.

"I see," she said, helping me up.

"Why are you here? I told you to stay back," I said.

"I took my food on the go," she said, raising a piece of foil. "Something told me not to let you go alone. Seemed I was right."

I sighed. "I'm glad you didn't intervene."

"I would've, but I didn't sense killing intent with that attack. Seeing that guy with his son also made me wonder if he's like my dad."

"Huh?"

"Pa's a bad guy, but he loves me greatly. He cared enough to come get his son, so he must feel similarly."

"Hopefully," I said. He did spare me again. Family had to mean something to him. If anything, he seemed to be a better father than the one who abandoned me and Mom for money.

Teresa patted my back. "I can say thing after having fought my own family, it isn't easy to know they're the enemy. That's why, if you want, I'll fight that guy for you."

"No, he's too dangerous," I said. "Tetsu and the Crown Princess both said they were almost killed by that guy. He'll be harder to defeat next time. It'll be foolish to assume we're the only ones training for the war."

"That's even more reason for me to fight him. He messed with my baby brother and my future cousin-in-law!" Teresa said, curling the foil into a ball.

I sighed. "You narrowly escaped dying at Vapula's hands and you had the help of others, including Setsuko. You really think you'll be able to win against someone of her league alone?"

She turned her back to me. "Of course! Because I won't be alone." She smiled. "I'll have you and the others backing me up!"

I laughed. "True. I'll be sure to protect you."

She chuckled. "You sound like my little bro."

I blushed. "S-seems the boss's way of speaking is rubbing off on me."

Tere giggled. "Just don't become a two timer like him!"

My face heated up. "I really doubt that."

She grabbed my hand. "Anyway, let's go! I want to taste your dumplings!"

"O-okay!" I said, smiling awkwardly. 

Teresa. I won't let you die. I'll sooner perish than let that happen.

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed the chapter ^^. Turned out longer than I anticipated**