Red of Dawn

Red of Dawn VI

So. Wow.

It's been a while, huh? I was supposed to finish this months ago (oops) but I got busy with test week, then my laptop died, then I got a new laptop but my beloved bunny passed away quite suddenly, followed by another test week and... I got two new bunnies and one of them passed away too (she was already sick when we got her, but we only found out about that later). So yeah, it's been quite hard for me.

Also, this chapter kept getting longer and so I split it up. Luckily, the last chapter is already halfway done, so I can finally finish this project!

Well, let's get to it, then!

~'0'~

''How are you alive?''

Kurosaki's tense voice breaks the silence, his red eyes hard as he stares at the brunet. Tenma, for his part, doesn't seem the slightest bit intimidated and instead meets his gaze head-on, his own eyes shining a bright gold.

And then Saryuu is leaning an elbow on Tenma's shoulder, smirking. ''Well, you know,'' he says, ''when a man and a woman love each other very much-''

His younger brother elbows him harshly in the ribs before he can continue, causing him to wheeze, and turns a gentle smile towards Kurosaki and the other Clan leaders. ''Reincarnation, I'd say,'' he tells them. ''I haven't quite found an explanation for it.''

There's a tension, hidden but noticed by them all.

''Whatever the reason is, it's great to see you again!'' Endou pipes up from where he's leaning by the wall, grinning brightly as he reaches out to ruffle Tenma's brown locks. ''Gotta say, the hair suits you,'' he adds, slinging an arm around the brunet's shoulders in a quick and gentle half-hug.

The mortal leans into the touch a bit before pulling away, his smile melting as he turns serious. ''We have a lot to discuss and not much time,'' he tells them, gesturing towards the smaller meeting table in the middle of the tent.

Without much fuss, everyone takes their seats at the round table, and once they've all been seated Minamisawa gives the brunet an impatient look. ''Now that all the tearful reunions are out of the way, I'd like to know a few things. Why was Raimei here, at the temple, and why was Ixaal there?'' almost everyone tenses at the name. ''And maybe more importantly, why are you human?''

Tenma closes his eyes for a few moments, rearranging his thoughts, before launching into an explanation, giving a short description of his knowledge of Ixaal's inevitable return, his reunion with Raimei and the following two years and his findings about Ozrock – where both Saryuu and Taiyou put in a few words of what their own Clans have been doing – before eventually settling on the newest developments.

''I am mortal, yes, but as you may have noticed during the battle today, my powers have not weakened,'' he tells everyone, shooting Minamisawa a silent look when Gassan Kunimitsu's leader looks like he's ready to interrupt. ''I needed Caerira to unlock my powers, which is why we're here – we knew that the moment Ixaal returned, it'd be impossible to get to the temple.'' He leans forward, resting his elbows on the table and weaving his fingers together. ''I need to know. Are you willing to stand by Raimei?''

At the surprised looks, he smiles ruefully. ''No one can deny the danger Ixaal represents,'' he tells them quietly. ''Thinks aren't as black and white as they were two hundred years ago, and we have all seen what he can do – in fact, I have experienced it first-hand, so I would completely understand if you choose the safety of your Clans over our alliance. I would never force you to do something you feel uncertain about, so if anyone wishes to back out now, I want to know, so we can grand them a safe leave.''