Loose Ends

It had been about a week since Nixa's defeat of the Oni Overlord and things had pretty much gone back to normal. The remaining Oni were fighting for control over the hive, Nixa was now given some respect by the Hunters for taking down a monster with Demi God-like powers, all by herself. Nixa herself was now at Full power again, but that Really didn't help because she still only knew those few spells.

Musume, Marble, and Tomeko were staying with the Hunters. Musume had joined the Hunters full time and officially. Marble was staying there for her protection. If that feral symbiote came for her once, it may do so again. And Tokemo was just there, because she had nowhere else to go.

On the positive side, Marble was recovering. She wasn't her bubbly old happy self, but she wasn't so full of negativity and anger. It helped that her friends visited regularly. Lara had been told that her friend, Sarah, was an Oni named Marble and what had really happened to her. Lara didn't care if Sarah was Marble or an Oni, the blonde American was just happy Sarah was alright and she felt so bad that she did Nothing to help her friend in their time of need.

Abraxus had taken to avoiding his family, who had moved to Japan to be closer to their son and big brother, and Amy had taken to visiting Hunter HQ to try and visit her older brother.

Aya, was another matter. She was the Oni soul who was in possession of Fumitsuki's body. She had disappeared from both Taki and the Hunters and no one seemed to know where she had gone... until now...

Hiroshi had come back from visiting the make shift grave he had made for Ra and his family. He didn't unfourtnately know the full name of the mother so he'd have to make do. It was more just a symbioic gesture then anything else.

True to what Jason said, he didn't really think too much about what happened between him and Taki that one night even though he did like them. He had thought about things a bit more, and he came to the conclusion he put too much pressure on himself. If it happened, it happened, if it didn't, it didn't .

Society and people, either subconsciously or consciously at times put too much emphasis on finding that one person. And when they didn't, or they took to long and they saw family and friends with people or starting famiiles as they got older, they begin to think maybe something was wrong with them. It was why Holidays were a depressing experience to some people, even if had friends and family.

It was much better, and healthier in his mind to think of more of a good supplement rather a mandatory thing you had to have at some point in your life. Besides he was still a teenager, why the rush?(or maybe it was because of that it was, he couldn't tell)

It wasn't reinventing the wheel, but he was better head space because of it.

One thing he Wasn't happy with, was his current level. To him where he stood was unacceptable, Now that he was back to normal, and didn't have a father figure in his head to bail him out all the time, he realized how far his normal abilities had stagnated.

That was why he was checking out a few books at his library, something about armors of different cultures and time periods for inspiration. He was going to make one due to Ra with his own natural powers, when he got good enough. He was also going to check on t physics book. Seemed strange, but if he knew more perhaps by knowing more about fire and heat, he could push it to do some interesting things.

There was still training to be done too, he asked Abraxus about it later. Overall besides some things here and there life was relatively good at the moment, and hopefully with all the Overlord stuff they get a much needed break.

He was going to head to the HQ for a few things, then maybe visit Taki as usual depending on how he felt at the time.

After signing in, and going on his way, someone approached him. It was Amy, Abraxus' little sister. She often came to the Hunter HQ, looking for her brother. Most no one would ever help her find him, being busy themselves, so... "Um, excuse me. But, could you help me?" she asks "I'm looking for my brother, Abraxus Abraham... I can't, seem to find him?" she says, looking around.

Hiroshi shook his head. "I don't know where he is. I do have something to ask him or Julius. Have you tried the office already?"

Amy shakes her head "No. Every time I talk to someone, they're either too busy or they send me to the cafeteriaor the gift shop." she says, folding her arms in a huff.

She looks over to Hiroshi "Say, you work with my brother, right?" she asks "Can you tell me how he's like? When I seen him that one time, he was so intense and focused." she says, a dreamy look in her eyes "It was like, he was a total badass or something... a huge change from how I remember him."

If Hiroshi didn't know better, he would think Amy was swooning. It did remind him there was another Amy around, but it was easy to differenenate them. You know, with one having animal features and one not.

He scratched the back of his head a bit. "Not too good at this, but if I had to say, very serious most of the time and business like. I'm not sure what they like to do during down time. We don't exactly hang out outside of work."

Amy nods slowly "That's totally different from how he was." she says "Before, he was always so carefree and cheerful. He'd come home every weekend to spend time with me and mom and he wore brighter colors then now..." she explains.

She gets a faraway, dreamy look in her eyes again "But now, he's so dark and mysterious. He's so serious and has a Dangerous feel about him... like when he came to save me and mom, he got shot in the leg, but just Walked it off!" she says, clearly getting excited.

She focuses on Hiroshi "I mean, who Does that? It was like it never happened for him! I mean, Sure it was scary, but, Abraxus was just so... cool..." she breaths the last part.

Julius comes walking over to Hirosho and Amy, he was looking so old now. Every bit the seventy years that he was "Hiroshi, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be home resting?" he asks.

Hiroshi turned to Julius, noticing he seemed a lot more tired then normal which didn't fit him. Sure he was on the older side but he usually didn't look like that. "I am. But since I was in the neighborhood with the library I decided to swing by before heading back. I was gonna talk about changing my training schedule since my situation is..different now but you seem tired so it can wait."

Julius shakes his head "I'm fine. Let's focus on you and your new training." he says "I assume you want to learn to use your fire better? We can see about getting a Jinn over and have them train you. But in all honesty, you're probably better off going to Noreal and having an actual Farian train you." he points out.

Hiroshi knew that made the most sense, but he hadn't for a few reasons. "That, and learn how to use a sword. I already know how to use a fire arms a bit and it seems like most Hunters use weapons along their natural abilties. As for Noreal, its a idea but it likely take a lot of time away from home. Probably could set something to go back and forth."

Julius nods "We have quite a few sword masters here who could train you. We also have some firearms experts who can teach you to use normal firearms." he offers. He didn't mention anything about Noreal "I'll go talk to some of them and see if I can set you up an appointment." he says, before nodding to Hiroshi and heading off. He ignored Amy completely.

Well that went relatvely well, but it also meant he was done being here and it was time to spend go to Taki's. There was just the slight issue of Abraxus sister as he didn't know where he was at the moment.

"Anyway sorry got distracted. I don't know where your older brother is, can be a hard person to get a hold of when he wants to be." Though he was usually in the office, or the back if he was here at all.

"Hey Hiroshi, who's your friend?" A familiar voice of a unique young woman and a much taller young man besides.

It was Excellent timing far as Hiroshi was concerned. "It's Amy. Abraxus younger sister. Amy this is Tobias. And the other girl is also, uh Amy." He said somewhat lamely not sure how to introduce the last part slightly. "She's looking for her brother."

This surprised the shorter Amy, but she recovered and smiled. "It's nice to meet you! You can just me Rose or something since its my last name since it gets confusing. I don't know where Abraxus is though, sorry. I honestly don't think they're even here but I can help you look if you want.'

Amy seemed to be taken slightly aback by other Amy "Uh, I-I'm okay. I'm sure he'll come around here at some point... or maybe the lunch room. He has to eat sometime, right?" she says with a nervous laugh.

As if on cue, Abraxus and Shadow comes walking in, they looked roughed up, and they were escorting someone in handcuffs and he had come kind of high-tech choaker on. Hunters knew this was to dampen powers, a product of Paragon Corp, naturally.

Hiroshi wondered briefly who it was, since it had to be strong to have both Shadow and Abraxus banged up a bit. Though at the moment they had it handled and on top of that, it wasn't his problem at the moment. He just wanted to take it easy and spend time with Taki. "Well, that's my own cue. I'll spend time with you guys some other time, tell Brandy I said hi."

Tobias nodded a bit. "Later then. Take care of yourself."

He made his leave since there was nothing more for him at the moment, and Amy obviously knew where her brother was now. It didn't take him too long to reach the house, since he didn't make much detours. "I'm home."

Since Taki was recovering, it meant she didn't have to go to school so he was was as usual spending as much time as he could with them when he wasn't out doing something.

"Welcome home." says someone who Wasn't Taki. It was, in fact, Jason. He was sitting with Taki, who had her hand bandaged, but was otherwise okay. She blushes slightly and doesn't meet Hiroshi's eyes.

Jason seemed to be talking to Taki about something when Hiroshi came in "What's up, dude?" he asks "Aside from a little emotional discontent, you're looking more You than you had in over a year." he points out.

Whatever the two were talking about was private, so Hiroshi didn't think or ask anything about it. If he had to make a guess though, it might of involved him in some way judging by Taki's reaction. "I've been doing pretty good, just running around for the day. What brings you into our neck of the woods?"

Jason shrugs "Business. Me and Taki have some unfinished business to attend to." he says. He takes his wallet out and pulls out a few hundred yen and holds it out to Hiroshi "Would you be willing to go to the WcDonald's down the street and get us some lunch?" he asks, clearly wanting to speak to Taki alone.

"Sure..."

Hiroshi took the yen and left without much more fanfare, there was one a bit further out he had seen.

As he was heading out, Aya could be seen heading towards Taki's place, or in the general direction. She didn't seem to see Hiroshi as she was heading on over.

Hiroshi did notice, but if she was heading towards Taki's he had no idea exactly what she was doing. "Aya? Whet happened to you? You just up and vanished after the battle was done."

Aya stops in her tracks "Oh, I've been around. I had to lay low after, uh, the Overlord was delt with. Because, the other Oni would know that I was the one who betrayed him..." she says in a low tone "Sorry to cut this short, but I have somewhere I have to be." she starts off, waving to Hiroshi "You take care of yourself, Hiroshi." she says as she heads off, going towards Taki's place for sure now.

At this point, it became apparent at least on this end everyone was too busy with other things and he didn't think them going there when Jason Happened to be at the time as well just a concidence. He he was smart enough to know the real reason Jason did so so he could talk to Taki in private and not really for the food. Probably best just to head home and call it a day.

As Hiroshi headed to his apartment, Sarah was waiting there for him. She looks over at Hiroshi and waves a bit. She was looking, and acting, much better. She wasn't 100% and she likely would never be, but she was much better.

"Hey there." she greets him "We hadn't had much a chance to talk lately." she says.

It wasn't his business and he know he shouldn't but he honestly just felt really out of the loop and pushed to the side. Just how he felt anyway. What he didn't expect to see was Sarah. "Hey there Sarah, good to see you. What brings you over? Just wanted to chat?"

Sarah nods "Yeah, something like that." she mumbles "I wanted to thank you for what you did for me and the other Oni." she says, nervously fingering her necklace "I'm not sure what you did, but I could feel myself getting better and even now..." she mumbles.