"Are you done?" Fi questioned as she peeked in from the door.
"Yeah, I am." I sighed as I leaned back in my chair, sitting in front of a desk.
It was the office my father used very often, and I also used occasionally for keeping files and less secretive work. It was made from finely carved wood, including the desk. A computer was placed at the desk, four drawers and two cabinets carved into it as well. One of the walls was lined by three bookshelves, the other dotted by many paintings over an orange wall. A wide window overlooked the garden, close to the desk, the curtains currently drawn closed.
"How did it go?" She inquired, walking in as she carried Kesshō in her arms.
"Well, to some extent," I sighed.
"They didn't accept your offer?" Fi questioned as she set Kesshō on the desk.
"They will accept it, after they are provided with some evidence, and a display of how capable she can be," I mumbled.
"So, you need to go back?" Fi inquired.
"No, they will send some people to check out the facility," I informed as I got up from the chair.
"What about her?" Fi inquired, gently caressing Kesshō's hair.
"They will realise soon enough how insignificant anything we can do is for her," I mumbled. "How are you doing?"
"Just as well as the past year, I will definitely say my health has improved since she came," Fi smiled.
"That's good to hear, and might just be the case." I sighed as I glanced at Kesshō, her blue eye half open and looking at Fi's hand which caressed her hair. "How is Dark doing? Still hard to believe you really made everyone including the kid accept that as his name."
"It's a good name still, fits him quite well," Fi smiled. "He is doing good as well, a bit hard on himself I will say. He studies hard and trains a lot as well, even follows a strict diet and schedule."
"Good unless he focuses on that too much, let me know if he goes too far with all of it," I sighed. "How is he with others?"
"He talks respectfully to everyone and really looks after Sapphire and Crystal, both of them also like him. He is not yet very fond of me though, there are certain times when he is, but he usually isn't," Fi informed.
"Elaborate?" I requested.
"Well, not having any parents is hard, and I know that very well. I try to be like a good mother as much as I can whenever he seems sad. I take Kesshō with me so he doesn't leave and keep his thoughts to himself, he trusts her more than anyone else." Fi smiled as she again picked Kesshō in her arms. "I do understand why, I also knew someone not so different afterall, just that these two are younger than we were."
"Its still different, their situation is not the same as ours," I pointed out.
"They have both been through much as well, he has been through almost the same things as you, you both just happened to witness different parts of the trauma. Your sister was taken from right in front of you, his just... Disappeared. You only received the news of your parents having died, and he watched them die right in front of him, I am still kind of mad at you for that," Fi sighed.
"They were to die sooner or later, he just happened to see it happen," I mumbled.
"Maybe you should be nicer to him as well, and praise him more, you also liked it when people said good things about you, it's just that you will never admit to it," Fi mumbled.
"I did not," I replied.
"See?" Fi responded. "Kesshō, don't you think your father should really listen more to his own heart?"
Kesshō did not respond and continued to stare in Fi's direction.
"What are you doing?" Fi questioned as I retrieved my pistol from my pocket. "You want to show me something?" She inquired, understanding the situation almost instantly.
As I took a step forward the sounds of leaves rustling could be heard clearly, Kesshō slowly moving her head to the side before burying it in Fi's chest.
"Not a human," I mumbled.
"Another one of those?" Fi inquired.
"Has to be, her response was similar to when she met the bird," I informed.
"Was it the bird?" Fi inquired.
Kesshō shook her head, confirming it to not be the bird.
"Would have been much nicer if you could talk," I sighed.
"Don't want to," a voice sighed.
Both me and Fi snapped our heads towards Kesshō in shock, both of us having heard the same voice.
"So you can talk?" Fi inquired as she raised Kesshō to her eye level. "Aw, don't worry you don't have to if you don't want to, you have a really sweet voice though," she squealed.
"There you go glossing over things again," I sighed.
"I am not as shocked as you, I have heard this voice before, I just didn't know it was hers, I just thought it was Crystal or Sapphire trying to talk in a different voice," Fi informed.
"Where did you hear it?" I inquired.
"Talking to Dark several times," Fi informed.
"Of course," I sighed.
"The two of them get along well, she looks the happiest when she is around him, and the same goes for him," Fi replied.
"I am not against it, everyone needs friends afterall," I sighed.
"All of that aside, I want ice cream, you also want some?" Fi questioned.
"I will pass for now, I have some work to do," I replied.
"Okay, more ice cream for us, right Kesshō?" Fi laughed as she left, closing the door behind her.
---
"So, that thing has to be very smart," I mumbled.
"Yeah, it destroyed all the security cameras before passing where they could have noticed it, it was also smart enough to figure out blind spots and timings for safely destroying them," Flash informed.
"It melted the cameras, there was only melted metal on the ground and walls where the cameras used to be, it was also smart enough to only melt them enough to cause damage to the power circuits," I added, sipping a cup of coffee. "When are they arriving?" I questioned.
"Tomorrow, they will take a tour of the underground facility and discuss the construction plans with the people you hired, then they will go ahead with inspecting her abilities," Flash informed.
"Do they plan to make it public?" I inquired.
"Not for as long as possible, just as you requested, it would be highly confidential information available only to the people you allowed," Flash confirmed.
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"Good, has the report about the falcon arrived?" I inquired.
"It did yesterday to me, I checked everything before sending it to the people you told me."
"Did you send it to me though?" I inquired.
"Didn't you get it directly from them?" Flash questioned.
"I need both you know, I have yet to see it anyways so I will just see both side by side right now," I informed.
"Got it, sending it to you right now, and hanging up as well, I have to do some other work as well," Flash sighed.
"Okay, good luck with that then." I replied before he hung up, the mail arriving barely half a minute later. "Quick as always," I mumbled. "Avian body structure, has a core, high intelligence, genetic structure has ninety percent resemblance to a part of Kesshō's genetic structure." I read through the report, raising my brow at the last part.
I looked up on hearing a click, the door slowly opening a few moments after the click. Small fingers peeked through the door, placing themselves on it and pushing it further open. Sapphire looked in from the door, her blue eyes glistening in the golden light of the setting sun. She walked in as I tilted my head at her, stopping at my side and raising both her hands in the air.
I grabbed her under her arms and lifted her up, placing her in my lap. "Did you need something?" I inquired as she looked up at me.
She shook her head before resting it on my chest. "I just thought I was the favorite." She mumbled as she closed her eyes, pouting.
"You are jealous?" I questioned, surprised someone like her could be jealous. She did not respond, leaving it to my imagination. "What can I do to please you in that case? Want some chocolates?"
"No, time," she mumbled.
"Time?" I inquired.
"Spend more time with me," she commanded.
"Well, I have important work," I sighed, "but you are free so I guess it could work." Sapphire tilted her head at me, confused whether I accepted or declined. "I have some important work which I need to do, so I can't do what you want me to with you, but I don't mind bringing you along, if you promise to be a good girl, and after that we can do what you want, sounds good?"
Sapphire thought for a while, considering the offer. "Do I get a gun?"
"Why is that even a question?" I questioned.
"I do?" She squealed.
"No, your hands will break from the recoil, maybe once you are older." I patted her head.
"New toys?" She inquired, her excitement gone.
"Sure, as many as you want, also a lot of chocolates and ice cream if you like," I reassured.
"Yay, and a lot of time, at least two hours a day for me," Sapphire added to the list.
"Sure, sure, as you wish, can't ever say no to my princess," I sighed.
Sapphire smiled as she turned to the side, curling up and resting her head on me, falling asleep shortly after. I continued doing my work, not paying much mind to her for the time. It wouldn't be dangerous to take her there, the bird seemed very calm even around strangers so I did not doubt her safety much, though I still did not intend to let her out of my sight, knowing very well what sort of mischief her mind has proven itself capable of.
---
"So, you are taking her there with you?" Fi mumbled, staring at me as I stood at the door with Sapphire.
"Yes, I thought she would enjoy it." I replied, afraid for my well being due to not informing Fi of this beforehand.
Fi glanced at Sapphire, grinning and ready to go. "Take Crystal somewhere tomorrow, don't forget about her," Fi sighed.
"I am not forgetting about any of my daughters, or you," I mumbled.
"Yeah, yeah, you are not, just why I felt the need to remind you." Fi sighed as she turned around to leave. "Bring some chocolates when coming back, the fees is twenty, pay it or else you won't be allowed inside."
"The things I do for your fun," I sighed.
"Can we go now?" Sapphire questioned, jumping in excitement.
"Yes, we can," I mumbled as I opened the door and headed out.
It was a straight drive to the coast, and to a boat. Sapphire's third time on a boat, something she did not live much at all. The rocking of the boat and the occasional sprays of water scared her. Her first time on a boat is when I realised even little sociopaths could feel fear, from something as insignificant as water at that.
I did teach both Sapphire and Crystal how to swim very early on, knowing very well that it's easier for younger kids to learn how to swim than adults, and it also helps getting the fear of water bodies out of them, not to mention helping them not drown if they are ever in water. Sapphire could swim very well even, not better than Crystal but still well for her age, and yet the fear of water remained present.
As for Kesshō, I did not feel the need to teach her, although her method of swimming is very similar to that of a shark. Her physical capabilities never fail to surprise, no one ever expected her to be able to modify her wolf-or-fox-like tails, which she has three of, to resemble the tail of a shark, though pink and still fairly soft to the touch, although touching it would be highly against all sense of self preservation.
As it seemed after accidentally poking her tail with a metal rod, when not modified to appear like a shark tail, she would obliterate anything that touched her tail. It did not matter what the object or being is, as long as it touched her tail, it would no longer be allowed to live. She ripped the metal road apart, ripped, with the help of her tentacle-like tails, which are going to be classified as tendrils.
Her tendrils also seem to throw all sense of physical capabilities in the trash can, limits are an option, one they never consider. It is incomprehensible how anything barely ten centimetres in diameter could do so much with such ease, when it's not even entirely made of muscles.
Comparing Sapphire to Kesshō, I feel truly lucky knowing Kesshō is the born in such a way, knowing very well just what would happen to the world if such abilities belonged to Sapphire. Destruction, apocalypse, and such words would be an understatement for what type of horrors she would commit for simple joy.
It is terrifying as a parent to buy your six year old daughter a doll which can record and repeat phrases, only to see her use it in the most horrific manner possible. I fail to understand how a six year old could think of recording a scream from a movie in the doll, then create a scenario with the help of other toys in which the doll gets stabbed all across the body and repeat that scream again and again, all while laughing.
It gets worse when that same girl records and even louder and more horrific scream, and then proceeds to play it and decapitate the doll with her hands, pretending to be a giant, all while giggling and rolling on the floor. I do not blame Dark for not wanting to be alone with Sapphire. My only concern in bringing Sapphire along also happened to be what she might to do for her enjoyment which would bring harm to the well being of other life.
When we finally reached the shore, the American surveyors were waiting at the shore, the giant bird sitting on top of a tree, the tree not being bent much, which is not a surprise. The bird turned out be extremely light for it's size, just a hundred and fourteen kilograms, which makes little sense considering its massive size. It only served as another connection between it and Kesshō, considering how she only weight two kilograms, an unreal and unexplainable magnitude.
I walked over to the surveyors, three people, two in black suits and one in blue, allowing me to easily figure out the main surveyor, a man with blonde hair and light blue eyes. The other two possessed brown hair, one possessing a beard and moustache, the other only with a simple moustache.
"It is great to meet you." the man in blue greeted, stretching out his arm for a handshake.
Before I could Sapphire shook the guy's hand, nodding before turning to me. The man looked at me in confusion, half due to me bringing a child with me, and half due to what she just did.
"Excuse my daughter, pretend she isn't even here." I chuckled nervously, placing my hand on Sapphire's head and tapping my thumb on her forehead. It annoyed her enough to be a punishment without much pain.
"Okay," the man mumbled, "let's proceed then, shall we?" He inquired as he gestured forward.
"I thought you have already seen the facility?" I inquired.
"We have, we simply wanted to meet the one who took out the bird that terrorized our military bases," the man informed.
"Oh," I murmured. *I do not remember them wanting to see her? Did they even mention that?*
A strong gust of wind blew as the bird descended, landing right next to Sapphire, who fell to the ground from the stormy breeze. The bird glanced at her, lowering it's head and seemingly trying to help her in getting up, failing miserably, only managing to keep her down.
"Hey, step back, you are making it worse." I informed, lightly kicking my leg towards it, stopping short of it.
The bird stepped away, allowing Sapphire to get up by herself which she did, instantly directing all her attention and curiosity to the bird, inspecting it in awe. The surveyors seemed to be on the verge of wanting to shoot the bird, which I believed they would have if not frozen stiff from the shock of seeing such a large thing fly.
"I expected you to have seen it by now," I shrugged.
"Is this the thing that destroyed our military bases?" The man inquired.
"I am surprised you haven't seen the recordings from your military bases to check," I sighed, beginning to get somewhat suspicious.
"We would have, but one of the soldiers survivors from the first attack carried the recordings. He says that he even checked them before engaging the bird in the forest, they worked till then, but after that they stopped working," The man explained. "Its the same with all of our electrical equipment, all of them have been completely fried from the inside, not a single one is usable, even the tanks were heavily damaged."
"Tanks?" Sapphire echoed quietly.
"That is vital information, I am wondering why I haven't been told about this till now," I mumbled.
"We were supposed to relay this information to you after the inspection, which is now, and so we did," The man sighed. "Regardless, where is the one which stopped this bird?"
"She is not here right now, and I never agreed to showing her to anyone," I replied.
"We simply need to report back just what type of creature is capable of doing this," The man tried explaining.
"I can tell as much, and the answer is still no, I will recommend you all to compile everything you wish to know and give me a list, I will relay all of that information to all nations," I mumbled.
"To all nations?" The man exclaimed.
"It should be general information, I am not supporting a specific nation, and neither are they," I sighed.
The three men discussed amongst each other, planning what to do next. "Do as you will then, we have not been allowed to resort to force anyways."
"Funny you think that would have worked in your favor," I scoffed.
"Whatever, we will submit our report back, you will receive the verdict in a few days time." The man informed as he prepared to leave.
"Hope they don't put personal reasoning in the report." I sighed as I watched them get leave before turning to Sapphire. "As for you, no, don't even try to get on it, you are not allowed to go for a flight, Sapphire, no. Okay I am getting you off myself."