A Royal Discussion

A Portal opened in Ashura's castle and Namide stepped out holding Teri. "So she's in this castle somewhere."

*Takumi heard someone in the castle, was it Ashura?* "A-Ashura? I-Is that you?"

Namide hearing Takumi walked towards the sound of her voice. "Takumi...I came to speak with you."

*Saddened by the fact it wasn't her groom-to-be, she sat back down. Where was he? He'd been gone for days now...she was worried.* "What do you want?"

Namide walked into the room that Takumi was in and sat down in a chair. "I came to talk to you on behalf of your mother."

Teri looked at Takumi and blinked.

"My mother? Why? I'm not facing her until I marry Ashura..." *She looked away, not meeting Namide's gaze.*

Teri sighed. "She loves you and misses you. I..I've seen her cry when you're brought up around her."

Namide looked down to Teri and pet her. "The little one is right."

"She...does? I ran off...I loved Ashura so much...I wanted to marry him when we got older...I haven't...not yet." *She was sullen. She looked at the ground, unable to meet anyone's gaze.*

Teri climbed down from Namide's arms and walked over to Takumi before hugging her legs gently.

Namide nodded. "That's the thing you are blinded by love right now. You should at least stay with your mother and check in on your husband to be when you can if you still want to marry him."

"I-I promised myself...that I wouldn't return...until I married him...we're making plans now...I haven't seen him in days...I'm worried."

Teri blinked and looked up at her. "Takumi..." She then held her arms up to be picked up.

Namide sighed and looked away. "I'll see if I can sense him anywhere."

"I'm sorry, sweetie..." *She looked towards the doors, as if he was going to arrive any minute now.* "...he's been staying up during the day. I'm worried about his safety."

Teri blinked and then sighed sitting down next to Takumi and curled up feeling tired.

Namide pointed to Teri. "She came with me because she wanted to see her Big Sister."

"S-sister? Did mother have another child?" *She looked at Teri.* "She looks nothing like mother or father..."

"She adopted her...you see this one here lost her family in a battle in the demon world...she apparently was there and saw the whole battle." Namide stood up and walked over sitting next to Teri and started to pet her. "She then hid in the human world and was found by your mother there."

"S-sister..." *She hugged Teri.* "...mother's as soft as ever, I see..."

Teri blinked and then cuddled with Takumi in her hug. "Hmm.."

Namide was sitting there with her eyes closed and sighed. "That fool. Takumi...watch over Teri for a bit." Namide then fell through a portal and it closed behind her.

Teri blinked and then looked up at Takumi. "Onee-san." She then smiled and hugged her.

"So you've been through hell, huh? Mother had her share of problems..."

She nodded and then looked down. "But we got a bit of closure today."

A portal opened in the room and Namide returned with Ashura in a very weakened state.

"Dear!" *She rushed over to him, wresting him out of Namide's hands.* "What happened!?"

"The fool was unconscious in a dragon's den. I think he was trying to steal some of its treasure and it found him."

Ashura looked at Takumi and then to the ground his right hand missing a finger from one of his fights with Hunters at one time. "Hey..hun."

"What were you thinking!? You could have been killed! We aren't even married yet, and you're making me worry like an old lady!"

Teri stood up and blinked before walking over to Takumi and tilting her head. "Hmm.."

Ashura looked away. "I'm sorry."

"You've been gone for days! I was worried about you!"

Ashura grabbed her hand and sighed. "I..I know." He then fell to his knees. "I..I just need to rest a bit."