An Unexpected Turn

Why?

For what cost?

Why must I be alone again?

As the fire continued to burn, the girl who stood at 5 feet and 1 inch never felt smaller than she did at that moment. The shadows of the sun descending the horizon made the flames glow brighter before the white haired girl who was just freed for the first time in 2 years. To feel the warm embrace of her Mother, or to feel the accepting care of her Father was all she ever wanted in this moment, and it was all robbed from her once again. To the truth of her Aunt, and her constant struggles to survive and keep mentally sane, to her Mother's trials and fight to survive the experimentation, and lastly to her own Father's attempts to keep this world free. It was all gone, and at the cost of more than their lives. It was at the cost for their very existence. The former Memory Rosary, Neviah Clixx-Kimura was now alone. With her friends either dead or forgotten about her, and the last leg of her own family not even aware of her own existence, Neviah was now a single being in a sea of loneliness.

Tears began to stream as the reality settled in. They were gone, and she could never see them again. When she would find time from being a Captain of the 10th Division to see her family for as much time as possible. She would enjoy every second of tasting her mothers delicious cooking, and even her fits to dress her up in random clothes she wore when she was younger. She would even make Neviah smile and embarrassed by asking about boys, which Senna was very aware of Neviah's fear of. She would never again have the shot to train with her Father again, or even be able to help him chop wood for daily chores, or even watch Radioactive and he spar in the fields to ensure their maximum capabilities are still primed. To seeing her Aunt again, after the first time she actually got to meet her, and learn she was actually a good person! Her Aunt Claire saved her life from the truth of the ego that unleashed their worst capabilities! And now, that the truth has been made aware, they no longer exist in this realm, and Neviah is left to question her newly established existence. What does she live for now? Is it her job to overlook the spirits of Eden and see to their return home? Or is it to see that the current realm she inhabits sees balance brought to its order? Why is it her responsibility in the first place? She never asked to be a Goddess! Why must she now face the tasks when all she ever wanted was to experience "life".

Gripping her hands, she could feel the fires warmth begin to fade as the wreckage ceased burning. The smoldering coals at the foot of the former home would radiate the heat Neviah could still feel, but as Neviah looked at the homes placement, her Cycle Sight would occasionally flicker on, showing her moments in the past where the house was full of life. Where Neviah would be visiting and her Mother would have a whole buffalo on a spit in the back yard. Now why a whole buffalo most would not know, but it meant that her fathers best friend was over, Radioactive. Ceon and Radioactive would occasionally chop wood together and kill time, and Senna would serve lunch while Neviah enjoyed the peaceful company. Most of Neviah's life involved war, or preparing for it, thus to have peace was something she enjoyed dearly. It was when Neviah planted a flower she believed represented her family. She planted a Zinnias, which was a flower that represented Friendship, the one between Radioactive and Ceon. She planted a Gladiolus, a flower that represented strength for her Father, the one who always stood in front or behind her when she needed it. She planted a Rose, to represent the love between Ceon and Senna, one that would last till they very day they ceased to exist. And lastly, the one that was planted for Neviah by her mother Senna, was an Iris. One that represented hope, no matter the struggles and trials, the hope to strive for others. When Neviah remembered the Iris that Senna had planted for her, Neviah proceeded to look to her feet to see a small lump of soul by the front deck that had crumbled. Neviah approached the pile of soil, wiping her eyes as she reached it, and moved some of the dirt aside to see a small white Iris. It was dirty, and bent out of shape, but it survived. It survived the destruction of its home, and survived the harsh condition it was under till Neviah managed to save it...

Was this a sign?

As Neviah stood straight, admiring the small flower within her hands, she heard a voice. A voice she was not familiar with at all. The words she was unable to understand for a moment due to her mind being slightly off track. Neviah slowly turned, revealing the saddened tan eyes to her guest as they asked of the residence of her family home. Neviah's tan eyes were glowing slightly due to the effect of Cycle Sight being active, but as she attempted to cease its activation to gain a better glimpse of the individual standing before her, she was cut off by her two escorts Serenity and Insidious.

Insidious stepped forward, acting as Neviah's protector. Her size was relative to 5 feet and an inch as well as she held an appearance that was not welcoming towards Kakine. Serenity stood by Insidious as well as she held her fan closely to her, prepared for any form of surprise attack by the individual in question. Insidious was the first to confront the male and respond to his question regarding Neviah's relationships with her Father, Ceon.

"Sorry, but the one behind us has no business with you. You'd do best to move from here, seeing as this land is not yours."

Serenity held a puzzling look, as she inspected Kakine from top to bottom, almost as if she sensed something but couldn't quite put her finger on it. Insidious was ready for the male to possibly respond with violence, but that was something Insidious welcomed, as she was someone who got her way, and would be mouthy about it too. Insidious had her jet black hair in its traditional ponytail, and her mask sitting on the side of her head, as she walked up to Kakine, arms crossed across her chest. It was almost as if Insidious was feeling angry about something and needed an excuse to potentially ask for a fight. Serenity on the other hand, was on the tip of finding something out she couldn't entirely place a finger on, but as she looked back to see Neviah, something even more interesting caught her eye. Neviah was staring at their guest, and she didn't run. She wasn't shaking in fear, nor was she crying and attempting to hide. She was standing there looking at their guest with all attention on him, holding the weak little iris in her hands.

Was... Neviah no longer scared of males?

Serenity was puzzled even more by the strange sensation of a familiar spirit being nearby, but also at Neviah showing no extreme fear of the male that had managed to approach them. Was this the "New" Goddess Neviah outgrowing her fear of the male gender? Or was Neviah perhaps entranced by their guest that she forgot all about her silly little fear and became enthralled by him? Either way, Serenity was now going to test the waters, assuming Insidious doesn't attempt to rouse their guest.

"Uhm, excuse me..."

Serenity approached the male, ignoring Insidious standing before him.

"I sense... A spirit on your person. It smells like..."

For a moment, Insidious caught on and also inhaled the aura that was emitted by Kakine. They were both on edge, just trying to figure it out, but Insidious knew that smell better than anyone. She was with someone who reeked of it for hundreds of years back in Eden, just before the Great War. It was the scent of the only Maiden in their entire existence to stand before one of the Goddesses, and even confuse them. This Maiden was the one who obtained the power of the Goddess Blood Queen before she went to seek sanctuary from Mirokumaru. It was none other than...

"BENKEI!" "BENKEI!?"

As the Maidens pressed their questions to Kakine, Neviah remained where she was, moving the Iris close to her heart. She continued to stare at the male, and was asking herself.

'... Am... I no longer afraid?'

The six wings of Neviah extended outward, as if stretching out while Neviah asked herself that very question. As she questioned her momentary delay of fear, she also wondered why he was asking about her Father. Wasn't it that when the Memory Rosaries died, so did their existence? If so, then the memories of Ceon should have disappeared as well, yet this man knew his name and where he lived. She looked at him wondering, just who was he, and would he look at her just a bit longer?