The Equation of Hearts

√𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟼𝟼ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩ

Anxiously, the next day arrived and Kato was waiting with Camilla. She was already tearful and worried beyond belief, so it was up to Kato to comfort her. Irū had gone out so it wasn't as if she could help.

Tenshi arrived into the room and frowned at the sight of Camilla, simpering and worrying as she was, he joined the pair and hugged Camilla into him. Instead of comforting her with words, he looked up at Kato; "right kid, I die today." He began. A wonderful segue to feed the stress and worry Kato was hiding, "the light in that room, it falls on me," he nodded to where they called the other Tenshi. Kato was relieved he knew - he had hoped that Tenshi could remember the dreams he had of dying, and this Tenshi did. He continued to hug Camilla who hugged him,

"I don't want you to die..." she hugged him and Kato had the strong pang of cynicism hit him. Camilla said the same thing to their own dad. "Please don't..."

"You've protected me well enough," Tenshi assured her, "and I won't. Mateo will help me," he decided and closed his eyes. He faced death fearlessly, that would never change.

"Mateo, do you promise?" Camilla looked at her younger brother. Why she had to behave younger when she was worried, Kato sometimes hurt to see it. He nodded and took a hold of the pair of them,

"I'll be there this time," he closed his eyes, "I'll be there to save you this time," he looked at Tenshi, who closed his eyes,

"Good... b-because Uncle Juno isn't here either..." she reminded him. Kato was stressed, he couldn't deny that. But he couldn't show it. A soldier showed no fear and a prince showed no worry. He had to comfort, he had to be able to make promises he could keep - that meant being confident. And even with his slightly faster than usual heartbeat, he had to remain calm.

"We won't need Uncle Juno this time." He promised, "you just stay out of the room, I'll make sure we see dad."

"Can't you just get rid of the light?" Camilla wanted both to be safe.

"We could," Tenshi agreed. It was the easiest solution, but he wasn't risking getting close to it until he needed to, and Kato wasn't allowed in the room alone, "some things are stopping us," he mumbled, because both would be damned if they let Camilla in that room on this day of all days. Kato nearly lost his father. He wasn't losing his sister,

"Like what?" She whined and Kato pushed her into Tenshi. In his world, the pair were the two that spoke the most - because Camilla was interested in ruling, and she was the heir. As for Naeem, he didn't want to rule, he wanted to remain a royal advisor instead, be the kingdom's representative, or, of course, marry for another kingdom.

"The fact is, I'll be there to see he doesn't get hurt. I won't make the same mistake twice," he assured and stood up. Camilla watched him walk towards the door.

"Where are you going?" She worried,

"Giving you space," he smiled at her and she looked back to Tenshi,

"...I'd rather you stay." Tenshi mumbled. Kato was in some denial, but he went over and sat with them, "are you scared?" He whispered. Camilla nodded. Kato didn't respond.

"I heard... from your students," Kato changed the subject, "you were talking to Sara." He spoke. Tenshi sighed.

The day prior, while he was lecturing, he had Sara visit him during his break. Trust her to despite being 38, dress like a 17 year old. Her confidence oozed as she strode into the room.

She flipped her black hair and moved it to the side, grinning both mischievously and flirtatiously at Tenshi. How she wore a tight turtleneck and a blazer bound by a belt to show her inhumane features of a small waist and still huge curves. It was apparently the women from their father's side. The only thing they inherited from their mother was the eye colour. Regardless, her lacy stockings pressing at her thighs and a skirt just about too short for anything, as well as heeled boots.