Chapter 596

596 Shadowy Visit

Skye and Tidas awoke late the following morning, despite Peggy barging into their room every ten minutes. Their training with Genie was more of a lecture on the previous day’s errors, which seemed to irritate Skye as she impatiently thumped her foot throughout most of it. It did, however, allot Skye enough time to visit the clinic with the shady doctor.

After going over the patients and tending to the most critical ones, Skye, Tidas, and Genie had departed relatively quickly after arriving. Tidas had attempted to help heal some of the patients, but gave up once he’d realized that he just couldn’t. It was slightly disheartening for him, but Skye had already explained to him that he may not be an outward Shaman.

Just like all other traits, there were usually limitations to their magic. Most Earth mages can only manipulate specific materials based on their composition, but Skye wasn’t limited like everyone else. Like now; his wife’s abilities would occasionally cause a touch of resentment to rear it’s ugly head in Tidas’ heart, but his love for her always quickly overshadowed it.

It was a natural human response, so he never overthought the issue. But it lingered this time around as they left the clinic. Genie was in a deep conversation with Skye, so neither noticed the scowl that Tidas had until a familiar voice asked if he was alright.

When all three snapped their heads up, wide smiles stretched across their faces as they were greeted by a rambunctious Rukia. She was skipping up to them as she’d asked, making it all the harder for Tidas to remain sour. The moment that her little arms wrapped around his leg, he couldn’t even recall what he’d been thinking about.

After scooping her up in his arms, Rukia hugged her Uncle Tidas, then she pulled back and said; “There, there! All better now!”

The gentle pat on his shoulder accompanied by her sweet grin brought Tidas out of his gloom completely. He thanked her for her kindness, then asked how her day was going. She went off about finding the perfect dress for her doll, then started to talk about how nice it was that her father was shopping with them when Skye came up, and tickled her sides.

Tidas felt his heart melt as Rukia practically launched herself backwards, and into his wife’s arms. They smiled and laughed while tickling each other, bringing a softened grin to his face as he imagined Skye playing with their future daughter in a similar fashion..

‘She’s going to make a wonderful mother some day..’

.....

“What are you daydreaming about?” Genie asked as he came to Tidas’ side with Hang in tow.

A familiar sour expression passed across his features for a split second before he replied; “A future I very much want to happen...Soon. But it’s not possible until we go back to Alcon.”

Hang kept a neutral look on his face, but Genie donned a wide smirk before stating; “Not necessarily.. You can have children here, you two just wouldn’t be able to travel for a while.”

Tidas scoffed; “Yes, because my Father would Love for his grandchild to be born hundreds of miles away.. No, we have to be in Our home before we can start our family.”

“You two love each other: you’ve already started a family,” Hang interjected; “After that, you’re just adding more love.”

Both Tidas and Genie stared at him with surprised expressions for a few seconds before Genie commented; “That was...surprisingly heartfelt, Hang.”

After shooting him a dirty look, Hang replied; “I’m not a machine, you know. I do have emotions, despite my reputation.”

“Oh, I know. It’s just odd to hear you discuss them-”

“So what brings ya four our way? Coincidence, or intentional?” Skye asked, interrupting Genie’s clever comment.

Mei and Hana, who had been hanging back watching the interactions, stepped forward. Mei looked more relaxed than she had in weeks as she smiled cordially, and answered; “Intentional.. Hang has to get back to work, and he had a favor to ask your husband before going.”

Both Skye and Tidas looked over at Hang with inquisitive expressions, who then cleared his throat to speak; “I have called over half of the Senate to an emergency meeting. I plan on showing them the evidence that we’ve accumulated against Senator Tokuga and his supporters, and I’d like you to help me put together a comprehensive presentation.”

Tidas nodded his understanding, but inside, his irritation was beginning to peak again. He’d originally wanted to go out with just Skye, but Genie had tagged along. Now, he was losing her company completely.

The only solace he had was that the sooner the corrupt senators were removed, the quicker he and Skye could return home. That thought, combined with the urging expression on his wife’s face made Tidas agree to leave. But he had one condition..

“I will help you now, so long as I get Solid promises from everyone here that Skye and I will have the day to Ourselves tomorrow. We love you all, but I wish to have my wife to myself for a day. Call me selfish if you wish, but that is my condition.”

Everyone grinned at the Prince’s request, especially Skye. It made her heart flutter to hear him outright claim time with her, which she showed with a quick, yet sweet kiss on his cheek. While everyone began to say their goodbyes, Genie focused on maintaining his fake smile.

“I have a request for you as well, Uncle,” Hang started; “Will you go to Senator Lei’s home and retrieve him? I would like both of your inputs as well.”

A frown crossed Genie’s face a moment; “Shouldn’t I stay with the women? For protection?”

“Do you think I’m incapable of protecting Mei and Rukia?” Hana asked with slight irritation lining her voice.

“No, I-”

“And me? What am I? Chopped liver?” Skye asked indignantly.

Genie sighed deeply with exasperation as his shoulders slumped with defeat. He was looking forward to spending more time with Skye in a non-training setting, but understood the importance of his assignment..

“I will bring Hao with me, and escort my Brother. How long until the meeting?” Genie asked as he re-established his poker face.

Hang shifted nervously where he stood as he replied; “At four o’clock..”

Everyone stopped and stared at Hang in disbelief before Genie said what they were all thinking; “You’re joking, right? That’s barely over two hours from now!”

Hang stood with his shoulders still hunched, but his eyes were almost pleading as he stared back at his in-law. Genie sighed heavily in unison with Tidas, which prompted them to glance at each other. After a short pause and nod, they agreed to all terms, and finished their goodbyes.

Once the men had left, Skye, Mei, Rukia, and Hana decided to continue shopping. The Saianese New Year was in two days, and Mei had promised her daughter a new dress for the occasion. They were heading into their third shop when Skye felt eyes on them.

She paused at the door and glanced around, but she didn’t see anyone. When Skye’s eyes caught a glimpse of an unusually dark spot in the alley across the street, she tried to move towards it. But she hadn’t seen the older woman trying to come into the shop behind her, and plowed into her as she tried to run over and investigate.

The older woman was in the middle of cussing Skye out in Saianese when she realized that the shadow was gone. As she helped the older woman to her feet and healed any residual ache for her, the woman realized who she was, and started to apologize to her for berating her. Preoccupied with what was across the street, Skye smiled politely and told her not to worry about it.

The older woman looked extremely relieved as Skye led her into the store. When Mei saw her, she greeted the woman respectfully as one of the Senator’s wives. Upon learning it, Skye again profusely apologized for knocking her down.

The older woman told her not to fret, and that she was sorry for snapping at her as well. They all chatted amicably for a few moments before she’d disappeared to find the shop keeper. When they were alone again, Mei let the giggle that she’d been suppressing out.

“What?” Skye asked with an edge in her voice, and without actually looking at her.

Mei calmed herself, then replied; “It’s just both amusing, and comforting to see that you haven’t changed. You’re still kind to a fault..”

Skye smiled shyly; “Thanks, but Ima not That kind.. And the situation twas me fault ta begin wit.”

“By the way, why did you turn back?” Hana asked as she kept an eye on Rukia.

An odd expression crossed Skye’s face for a moment before she shrugged and replied; “Twas nothin’ ta fuss over..”

Mei and Hana exchanged a look between, then they began to press Skye about what she’d seen. When she finally gave in and told them that it was one of Ahriman’s shadow clones, Hana wanted them to leave right away. Mei convinced her to go back home after they finished up in their current shop, so as not to startle Rukia.

It worked out perfectly in their favor, since while they were all chatting, Rukia had found a patterned dress that she liked. Once they had the seamstress take her measurements for alterations, they paid half up front, then left. As Mei shuffled her bags about, Skye caught sight of the shadow again..

“Get them back to Bai Lei’s, and put the guards on alert!” was all Skye said before taking off in pursuit of the shadow.

Hana tried to call out to her to wait, but Skye had used her Tank trait, and sped off before she could say anything. Seeing that it would be difficult to catch up to her, Hana elected to escort Mei and Rukia back home. As they moved through the streets, she felt eyes on them the entire way back..

************

“Would it not be easier to dispatch my targets with the princess gone?” a cloaked figure asked in Saianese as he and another watched Mei, Hana, and Rukia enter Bai Lei’s main home.

The second person kept quiet for a few moments before replying; “No. You must fight the Princess so I can gadge her development for my Master.”

The first man grimaced; “So I have two tasks, then? I charge extra-”

“My Master will pay three times your asking, but you must make sure to draw out her full potential..”

The cloak on the second man slid back a bit as he’d turned to speak, exposing his cheek to the light. His skin looked scorched and almost rotting, but that wasn’t what had caught the first man’s attention..

With pitch-black eyes, the second man added; “You Must kill the Senator’s daughter and her child. Only then with the princess show her true potential.”

A deep chill filled his bones as the first man realized that he was most likely making a deal with a demon. He was about to run away in terror when the second man pulled out a large bag of gold coins. Extending his arm out, he dropped it in the trembling hands of the first man..

“This is but a third of your earnings. Return with your task complete, and the rest is yours.”

Then first man nodded, then disappeared into an alleyway behind them. After the second man had watched the first disappear into the sewers, he pulled his hood back, and stuck out his arm. Seconds later, an old raven landed on his bare wrist.

He tied off a tiny scroll to it’s leg, and sent it off towards the boarder. Knowing that he was now alone, Ahriman sighed deeply before pulling his hood back up..

“That foolish ninja. He truly thinks that he’ll be returning to collect.. My Master would never pick a mate who could be bested by such a weakling. How do lambs not see the slaughter coming when the knife is so obvious?”