The Settlement

Mori followed closely, cursing silently as he went. Once they'd reached the stairs he paused shortly to glance behind them. "Merda!" He scowled and proceeded to run up the stairs, quickly placing Anei down and knocking out a guard posted by the door. He picked her back up and headed outside.

Ayama ran between them and once both were out, she shut the door behind them and blocked its way. She turned t the boys. "Now we can go home."

Mori nodded. They were almost home when Mori stopped. "Mori!" Sadaharu's terrified voice came across the headphone.
"Sadaharu, what happened? Where've you been?" He asked.
"Just, get home!" The younger demon pleaded. "It's Satori. She's still alive but..." Mori paled visably. "We're almost there" He answered and charged off ahead, Anei held tightly in his arms as he ran.

Seeing the obvious burdon Anei was and the rush mori was, Ayama scooped Anei from Moris arms and let him run ahead, herself and Yuki behind him.

Mori thanked her quickly before racing off ahead, not stopping till he got to their door. He threw open the door and made his way inside, hurrying to Satori's room. The first thing he saw was Sadaharu, sitting on the floor against the wall, sobbing. Dread filled him and he forced his eyes to the bed. Satori lay still with her eyes closed, not breathing. Mori was trembling in disbelief as he leaned over her, shaking her gently.
"Satori. Satori!". He tightened his grip on her shoulders and shook his head. "No. No!" He was unaware of the tears rolling down his cheeks, blurring his vision.

Ayama placed Anei down and rushed to Satori's toom, she froze in the doorway at what she saw.
Yuki stood behind her, frozen in disbelief.
"Its not-" Yuki began but Ayama cut him off. "Lets give them a moment."
She shut the door.

An agonized cry of grief tore from Mori and he pulled Satori into his arms, head bowed as he cried. He cradled her body, one hand holding her head against his chest. Etsuko once again left her room, door open, and walked over to Ayama, tugging at her hand.
Why is daddy sad? She asked, eyes wide as she pointed to the door.

Ayama sat down and pulled Etsuko onto her lap, she held the girls face in her hands. "Come here baby." She pulled Etsuko to her chest. "Just give Daddy a minute, he'll be out in a minute ok?" Pulling back and smoothed the hair away from the girls face.

April walked over to her father. "Daddy, what is going on?" She asked.
Yuki bent down. "Someone close to all of here just passed."
"Oh." April replied simply, looking down.

Etsuko clung to Ayama and nodded, watching the door. Mori felt as if his world had just been torn from him, ripped away. He rose one hand to his face, staring down at Satori. He was silent now, tears still flowing down his cheeks, dampening his shirt. "How long?" He asked Sadaharu in a choked voice. Sadaharu shook his head.
"Not ten minutes after i called." He answered through his sobs. "You wouldn't have been able to get here" He said in a whisper. Mori ignored him. Sadaharu stood and dazedly moved to the door, resting his hand on the handle for a moment before actually opening the door. Etsuko jumped from Ayama and ran over to her brother. Sadaharu trembled lightly, hair flopping over his blindfold and hiding his features. Etsuko then looked inside. Sadaharu instantly realized his mistake and turned to close the door, but Etsuko stopped his, running inside.
"Mummy? Mummy, what's wrong?" Sadaharu bit his lip and let hiss hand fall from the handle. Etsuko tugged on Mori's shirt. "Why is Mummy not answering?"

Yuki looked to his mother, tears in his own eyes.
Ayama rose from her seat and walked over to Sadaharu, she gently touched his face, moving the hair out of the way and rubbing her finger over his cheek to check how wet it was.

A strangled sob broke from Sadaharu at the contact and he struggled to remain semi composed. A trail of blood trickled down his chin and he gave up, breaking into sobs and hugging Ayama.

Etsuko patted her mother's cheek and glanced up at Mori. "She's not sleeping sweetie" He managed and lay Satori back down, pulling his daughter into his arms instead. Etsuko took a handful of mori's shirt, burying her head in his chest and crying, confused and scared. Mori stood up, Holding Etsuko and turning away from Satori, leaving the room.

Ayama held Sadaharu close, her hand on his head. Placing a gentle kiss to the crown of his head and closing the door to Satoris room.
She faced away and this time wrapped both arms around Sadaharu.

Mori held his head with both hands, sitting on the end of the bed. The curtains were closed, a small line of light that managed to reach into the room lighting up a section of the carpet. Mori turned his head, dropping his hands to his side to stare vacantly at the light, burning it into his vision. The window was open, wafting the curtain around as he watched. He absently traced a pattern on the bedspread, dropping his eyes from the window. The sound of children playing at the park sounded outside, echoing through the quiet streets and he buried his head in his arms again, drawing his knees up to his chest. It had been five days since Satori had died, one since her funeral. She had been buried in the shadow of a forest a few streets from their apartment. A tear rolled down mori's cheek and he didn't bother brushing it away.

-----

Sadaharu was sleeping on the couch, Etsuko lying underneath one of his arms. Yes, it was nearly midday, yes, he'd had the entire night to sleep, but he felt constantly drained of energy. Etsuko was huugging her doll, eyes bright and awake as she listened to her brother's breathing.

Amaterasu quietly sat down next to the two siblings and smiled at Etsuko. "Morning, you hungry?" She asked, her hand basent mindedly running through Sadaharus hair gently.

Yuki sat at the bench, holding his head in his hands as Yui cooked breakfast for everyone. She, for once, wasn't smiling or chatting, she was just working.

Ayama walked over to Moris room and knocked on his door gently. "Mori? Want some food or water?"

---

Sandy stood in his bar, a gun in front of im as he sat looking drery. The chairs were on the tables and the bar seemed to be closed for quite some time.

Max sat at the top of the stairs, his legs to his chest and his arms wrapped around them, he looked depressed.

Mori blinked and glanced to the door. "No. I'm fine, thank you." He answered, not moving from his position on the bed.

-------

Etsuko noodded and sat up, moving free of Sadaharu's arm. He murmured slightly and moved his arm closer to him. "I'm hungry" She said, glancing over to the kitchen.

"Mori please you have to eat something." Ayama said. "Just a peice of toast, anything. You havn't eaten for five days, I'm really worried about you."

---

"COme on then." Amaterasu said, taking Etsukos hand. "Yui's cooking today." Smiling she led the girl into the kitchen.

"Okay" She said, looking up at her as they walked and giving a small smile back. "What is it?" She asked Yui.

---------

Mori rested his head on his knees, arms around his legs. "...I'm not hungry." He said and glanced at the window as the breeze blew the curtain away from the window, letting more light in.

"A good Old English breakfast." Yui smiled. "Fatty goodness Galor, unless you want something else. I'll cook that too."

---

"Please mori." Ayama begged, resting her head against his door. "Just come out and eat something, please."

"No. It sounds good" Etsuko said, nodding. Sadaharu lay still. He'd just woken up, the talk and smell of food invading his sleep. He felt content to just listen to them for the moment.

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Mori lay his legs out straight and then brought one back up to his chest, running a hand through his hair. "I... I don't need anything. I'm not hungry" He said, closing his eyes.

"How much longer?" Amaterasu sked.
"Acouple of minutes before greasy fatness enters our theighs." Yui grinned.

---

Ayama sighed and gently opened the door, flinching at the darkness. She sat down behind him and gently touched his back. "We all miss her Mori, we're all hurting. But please, don't starve yourself over this food wont hurt you, just east something please." She said

Etsuko smiled at them. "You're funny" She commented to Yui. Sadaharu saw it fit to get up and sat up, holding his face as he tried drowsily to get his bearings.

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Mori bowed his head and remained silent, his hands tightening around his leg. He took a deep breath. "I suppose i could eat a bit of toast" He said, jaw set.

"Morning sleeping beauty!" Yui grinned to Sadaharu, moving the food around so ti would cook. "We're having English goodness for breaky this morning."

Amaterasu smiled over at him before making her way to his side. "Sleep well?" She asked softly.

---

"Thank you." Ayama said, hugging him from behind and kissing his shoulder before standing up. "Come on."

"Morning" He murmured. "And it was okay" He said, not bothering to mention the amount of times he'd woken up last night. Etsuko was still in the kitchen, now clinging onto one of Yui's legs.

-------

Mori slowly moved from the bed and stood up, vision blurred momentarily by black dots. He shook his head clear and followed after Ayama, one hand on his head.

Ayama walked out and stood behind Yui, giving her a small kiss on her cheek as the latter of the two dished out servings of breakfast. "Mori too?" Yui asked.
"Just some toast." Ayama replied, making her way to the toaster.

at this Moment Yuki stood up and made his way into the bathroom.

---

Amaterasu gently touched his head, "Alright." She said before walking back into the kitchen.

((What the Fuck! i wrote this huge kick arse post yesterday and its not here WTF!!!!!))