At the end where Destiny awaits: Book 6 of the Kinstone series
Chapter 31: Onto another journey

“I can’t believe how much I ate,” says Kenji. “You Americans seem to enjoy large breakfasts.”

I grin. “What can I say, we like to eat.”

He chuckles as we hold each other’s hand.

It’s been a day since Kenji and my aunts arrived at my home. Last night really was nice and quiet, with dinner however being a slightly nerve-racking affair, given that my boyfriend is here and was under the constant watching of nearly everyone. Even Micha, Luna and their father decided to pay us a surprise visit.

To say I really felt even more embarrassed would be an understatement as the pair reiterated the joke that Marron had told them last spring about Kenji becoming their older brother. Gah, it still makes me upset with her over it.

The evening was slightly nicer, given he and I spent it alone in my room. Yet I still had to worry that my mother was more than likely spying in on us.

So come the morning and I offered to take Kenji out onto the Estate to give him a somewhat proper tour of it. Granted a severely limited one given how Mom and the others were hard at work getting ready. I mostly had my things packed away for a couple days now, with the more pressing items already stashed into my bag.

So again returning to our little stroll around my home, Mom said we could do it alone. However within strict reason. I’m not at a loss for that she meant. Yeah…we’re not doing that, something the both of us would obviously know it’s better to wait on.

Yet even with this quiet moment of peace, we all know our time to leave is drawing to a close. The twin feelings of anxiousness and nervousness have been slowly growing in me since I woke up. We pretty much decided to leave last night over dinner, given that everyone that meant to come with is now here.

Plus whoever Miriam is sending isn’t quite ready to leave. Even if you announce someone is coming, doesn’t always mean they’re ready to go that moment. There’s their own prep time that needs to be taken into consideration. So wait I must.

As we walk, I tell Kenji about my time apart from him, namely my time in the past. He’s obviously stunned to hear how I lived with my ancestors, how they became my family and my time in the city I’m descended from. I speak as little of the Fall and my role in it, mostly leaving out the heartbreaking moments. I really don’t have the heart to tell them again, not for a third time.

He then in turn talks more about his time with Yukari and the hellish training she put him through. Thirteen-hour training days for five days a week and one day devoted to other subjects. My aunt basically put him through kitsune boot camp.

His days were filled physical training, even more grueling than spending days out at sea with his father and uncle. At night Yukari grilled him in magic studies, exploring the hidden depths of his own abilities.

Kitsune naturally gravitate towards fire and have a strong connection to the spirit realm, given the spiritual and priestly training. Kenji discovered his innate abilities actually lie within healing and support magic. When they discovered this, Yukari quickly changed gears and began teaching him healing and enhancements spells.

Now he’s not saying that he’s only going to be a healer. His natural fire affinity was found to be insanely high, given how he spoke about accidentally setting an uninhabited forest on fire, nearly destroying part of it. When that happened, he grew his sixth tail as a result. Now…the fae weren’t particularly thrilled when this happened, so they spent a month repairing the damage and restoring the forest.

I grin, giggling softly. “Silvi and I used to go at it hard during sparring sessions, sometimes destroying trees with our bodies and with thrown rocks.”

He looks to me confused, “Care to explain?”

I giggle again. “Flying around, kicking and simply playing catch with boulders. We’d…'miss' at times.”

He nods slowly, and then looks out. “Your home truly is incredible, Ariko.” He looks to me, “Everyone back home would equally be amazed by it.”

I grin, looking around, eyeing the forest. “I think the girls would love to either race me through the trees or just tackle me into the snow.”

He chuckles, “Both.”

I giggle, nodding. Yeah…I wouldn’t put it past my little group for either option. I love those girls to death, with two actually in love with me. I think Saya is as well…though I might not be sure.

I lean into Kenji, sighing softly as my tails swish in the snow behind me.

“Nervous?”

I nod, staring out onto the hills the border my home. “I can feel the final battle coming closer, almost seeing it. I just don’t know what will happen. A million things can go wrong and I just don’t foresee anything beyond the opening salvo.”

I feel him kissing my head in between my ears. “Don’t worry about it too much,” he says. “Like Mukegeno-sensei always says about the future. ‘The future is the path hidden by trees, merely focus on the present and it will open’.”

I grin, wrapping a tail around his tightly. My sensei has always had the ability to say something that tends to make any issue make sense. It’s among the many reasons why I love him so much.

“So where are you taking us?”

I smile, looking ahead. “Just to the lake,” I reply, “where a lot of things tend to happen around me.”

He smiles.

That’s completely true and yet so much more. There’ve been first meetings, confessions, even a transformation. It’s such a peaceful and beautiful part of my home, a place full of meaning for me and for others.

I sigh happily. Yet part of me wishes I would take everyone’s advice and just stay home. To just forget all my worries and live out my life. However, in my heart I know I can’t. If I don’t stop Regulus and Selene, then history may repeat itself and we could face yet another disaster like the Fall of Dewloura. I also have to put an end to all of this.

Then there’s Diana. I know I also have to deal with her. I still hate her for what she’s done to me, but I also know she also has to be freed from Regulus’ corruption.

We finally arrive at my favorite outcropping, a place possessing so many precious memories. A place I love for I think it has the best view of the lake as a whole.

I lead Kenji to the tree near and we both sit down and both gaze out onto the dark blue water of the lake. My eyes catch sight of the small islands my gossip loved to rest on and sunbathe. I grin, recalling numerous times I joined them there.

“Would you swim here as a ningyo?” he asks.

I smile warmly, nodding. “I do. In fact, there’s a gossip of mermaids who live here. We’d play, swim, I’d even help them with their work here. However…they’re in Nerazon at the moment.”

He nods, wrapping his arm around me and gently stroking it and then leans back against the tree. I smile, wrapping about tail around his, listening the waves as they buffet against the rocks. I peer up, watching the cloudy skies roll by. I sigh softly, thinking how they’ve always meant a change is coming.

We lean in tighter, with me curling up into him with us wrapping even more of our tails together. I then reach up and cling to his chest, my ears listening to his heartbeat. I blush as I feel him stroking my hair and ears. His hand tenderly gliding over both.

“There many times when I dreamt of this over the past year,” he whispers. “Just having a quiet moment with you.”

I smile, nodding. I let out a worried sigh, “I hope you’re ready for what comes next.”

I feel his hand stroking my hand, gently moving up and down on it. “I am.” He then cups my chin, lifting it up so that our gazes meet. “I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”

I blush softly.

He smiles, “That said, what does lay ahead of us?”

I giggle softly. Typical, answering before you know what the question is.

“Well…there’s some history you’re going to experience,” I tell him. “Where this is all coming to ahead in is the same place I lived while in the past.” I peer into his amber eyes. “I hope you won’t be too overwhelmed when we eventually get there.”

He smiles nodding.

I sigh as I play my head onto his chest as we continue to rest. I’m hesitant to really try and speculate on anything. I do know that battle is coming, one that I can never escape from. A battle that’s been building since the moment Regulus had me last summer.

Yet for now…that’s an entire world away.

Our ears then flick as the sounds of water rippling sound off in the distance. I open my eyes as I peer out on the lake. I tilt my head, watching as the water shifts slightly. My heart leaps as I see a head popping out of it followed by several more. All are coming straight for me.

I pull myself away from Kenji and lean forward as I watch my gossip rises higher in the water, quickly picking up their speed, becoming frantic in their pace to reach me. A massive smile stretches across my face as Tariel rises up and pulls me tightly to her, covering me in water. She then proceeds to cover my face with cold, watery kisses.

“Oh sweet, sweet Aria,” she says. “We’ve missed you so, so much.” She strokes my hair, making it wet. I can smell the saltiness of the deep ocean on her. It’s actually a very refreshing and soothing scent, yet another I am all too familiar with.

She’s joined by the other girls as they all try and pull me into a hug, nearly dragging me into the water. I giggle, nearly crying as I hold onto them.

“We’ve been constantly reading and rereading your letters to us,” she adds, “loving each and every word.”

“We did Princess,” says Tiarna, one of the younger mermaids, only a couple years older than me.

“We often couldn’t sleep after reaching Nerazon,” adds Mina.”

Sayla smiles as she presses closer. “When we got your first letter back, we nearly caused a scene where our home is.”

I giggle. Yep, that’s my girls. They’re mostly a quiet group so this just makes me laugh. Their home in Nerazon is a fifteen to twenty minute swim from the south gate, in a district that’s mostly peaceful. I’ve been to it a couple times when I visited the city with the girls.

Kalie and Nixie, the second oldest of the gossip merely smile, stroking my hair. These two I’d usually be with while in the city if Tariel had to go off somewhere.

“We kept busy,” says Kalie. “We were always replaceing something to do, even when not working.”

That’s usual for them. if the gossip wasn’t working, they were playing. I still remember when I first transformed into mermaid, they played several with. All with the attempt to better acclimate me to being one.

Nixie smiles, slowly pulling Tirana and Mina back, allowing Tariel a chance to be closer to me.

“We did become a little worried again when your letters stopped coming,” she says. “We nearly tried to leave the city in order to go looking for you.”

I giggle, nodding. “Sorry about that,” I reply, “I sort of went on yet another journey. I went to places I’d never thought of going to.”

She smiles, then glances to the left of me. “And who is this young man?”

I grin, looking to him. “Guys, this is Kenji.”

He leans over the edge of the outcropping and bows to them. “A pleasure to meet all you.”

The girls then rush to him and barrage him with questions. The topics range from general to a couple being downright personal. Yeah…Sayla and Mina aren’t the best at filtering what they ask sometimes.

I blush softly as my boyfriend tries and not break under the strain. He might be a fisherman, given how patient they have to be while out, but I doubt he’s ever had to contend with gossip of mermaids.

I giggle, looking to Tariel. “Have you been alright, aside from what you’ve told me in the letters?”

She smiles, still holding onto me and stroking my hair. Which by now is really wet. “Mostly yes, just keeping busy in the palace. They really had us doing a few things, mostly to keep us occupied.”

I look to her as I tilt my head. The palace? That’s both cool and a bit harrowing if you ask me. Granted I really have no idea what they could’ve been doing while there.

She nods, “The Queen was the one who employed us. We were also given extra security in and out of the palace.”

I smile, well that’s good at least. So Savero’s mother has been involved with them. Not sure if I should be excited or even more concerned. A soft grin rises on my face. “I should really thank her when I get the chance.”

She smiles, and starts to look me over. “I daresay you’ve grown a little since last summer.” She then peer into my eyes, “You look even more mature, and not only because your boyfriend is here.”

I giggle nodding. “My journey home took a few interesting turns along the way.”

She smiles, stroking my face. “I have no doubt that you will truly become a fine woman when you grow up.”

I feel my cheeks burning brightly. “Thank you, Tariel.”

She smiles, kissing my forehead.

My ears then flick again as I hear another ripple in the water.

“When we finally received the summons to come home,” she continues, “we brought along someone else. Someone who’s also been instrumental in our safety.”

I peer over as the sounds of rippling water grow stronger. I smile wide as Savero rises out of it, resting waist up. I then feel my heart racing as he comes closer.

“Hey, big brother.”

He grins, “Hello, my dearest little sister.”

He chuckles as he then pulls me into him, hugging me tightly to his water-soaked chest. His clothes completely smell of coral and kelp, neither of which I have problem with.

I grin, looking up at him. “Thank you for watching over my gossip.”

He smiles, stroking my hair. He then presses his head into mine. “I was glad to. My mother wanted to join us. However you know that could never be possible due to incredible need for security.”

I giggle. Yeah, they would need an army just for the Queen of Nerazon to simply come here. I don’t think they would have gone over well with my mother or anyone here on the Estate, given what happened last summer.

He smiles, continuing the stroke my hair. “I’ve wanted for so long to hold my little sister again.”

I giggle, “I really missed my big brother.” I look to him, noticing a slight scar on his face. It’s more than likely from the scuffle he told me about. To be honest, it makes him look more handsome. Yet even with it, he’s still my big brother.

“My parents really wish to meet you,” he says. “Well to be more accurate, my mother does.”

I giggle, “I hope I’ll be able to come back to Nerazon one day. Then I really could meet your parents.”

He smiles, “I cannot wait until you do. Not just because you are a fellow royal, but because I truly miss seeing you in the city.”

I grin, yep, just add another mark to my growing list of places I’m planning on visiting in the future when this is all over.

Savero then peers over to Kenji as the girls continue to ask me a never-ending string of questions. He smiles softly as he watches. “Is he the one?”

I nod, looking and smiling at Kenji. “Yep.”

He nods just as Kenji looks over to us. Savero puffs his chest slightly. “You better treat my little sister right, or you will have the entire army of Nerazon to deal with.”

Kenji blushes, frantically nodding.

I giggle, shaking my head. “Please don’t scare my boyfriend.”

Savero chuckles and looks to me. “Nerazon is at your full command, Aria,” he says affirmatively. “If you are need of it, it shall come.”

I smile, “Thank you.”

However…not sure what an ocean-based army is going to do on land. If anything, it’s a sweet gesture. I really have no full idea of what Regulus has left, or what he’s been hiding. We’ve only seen snippets of his forces, mainly consisting of his allied covens and the few soldiers we’ve fought.

In all honesty, I still have no idea where they came from. They weren’t exactly death eaters, a rag-tag group of people. No, they were professional and not even mercenaries. Just more questions.

My ears then flick back with the sound of approaching footsteps. I peel back to see Marron strolling towards us along with my wolves. I smile to them, with Fenris staring at Savero. I am grateful that he didn’t bring some sort of retinue with him, say a squad soldiers? However they might still be here, only not visible or close by.

Marron smiles as she looks over. “Hello, Tariel.”

The mermaid smiles, “Hello, Marron. It’s good to see you again after all this time.”

My sister smiles, nodding, “It has been awhile hasn’t it?” Tariel nods.

I become a little nervous the more I watch them stare at each other. However their smiles quickly dissolve my worry.

She then looks to me, “Sweetie, it’s time to leave.”

I sigh heavily nodding. Yep…now we leave to basically announce to the world we’ve returned. This should be fun.

I look to Savero, Tariel and the rest of the gossip.

Tariel nods, “We have to get back to Nerazon. While it’s been great seeing you and being home again, the lake is still too cold for us.”

I nod. Yeah, it’s still winter and the grotto and lake are way too cold for them. I turn to Savero. “Please continue to watch over them.”

“I will,” he replies, leaning up and kissing my cheek. “Be safe, little sister.”

I nod, smiling to him.

The girls all then swim over and pull me into tight hugs, nearly dragging me into the lake.

“Take care, princess,” says Sayla.

“We love you,” adds Mina.

I smile as they then let go and slowly pull away into the water. “I love you all.” I look to Tariel and Savero. “Until next time, you two.”

They smile as they disappear beneath the water.

We stand there for a moment, watching a quick shimmer of light in the distance, no doubt the portal to the ocean. I sigh, summoning several rings of flame and have them orbit around my body, drying me off.

I then turn to Marron who smiles and knocks her head in the direction of the Manor. “Come on.”

I nod and head off with Kenji at my side and Marron and wolves next to me.

We return the Manor where we are immediately greeted by Mom and Silvi as they stand on the veranda. My mother smiles to us as we approach. “Good, I’m glad you all made it back in time,” she says. “Now, we need to prepare for the Court as we’ll be traveling there via fairy road,” winking to me.

I grin, nodding. Yep, it’s the fastest way there and also due to the fact we don’t a plane at the moment. Plus…we’ll be arriving with some flair. Hey, gotta make an entrance after being gone for so long.

She smiles, “As before, we must look our best.”

Rule one of Court, Look the part.

Marron turns to Kenji. “You have a date with me and Sebastian,” she says.

He blushes looking to me. I grin, “Go ahead, you’ll be in the best of hands with them.”

He nods and the pair head inside.

Silvi looks to me, “I’ll be going with this time.”

I smile, nodding. “You don’t want to miss the big fight do you?”

She grins, puffing small fireballs from her nostrils. “It’s time for some payback.”

I giggle, looking to them. “I need to make a quick phone call.”

Mom looks to me, tilting her head. I grin and head inside. Yep…it really is time.

I head back up to my room, having spent the last couple minutes in the breakfast room to replace Yukari and Asha waiting for me. I smile to my yokai aunts as Yukari looks right at me.

She smiles. “I have something for you. Something that will make you look the part of who you truly are.”

I smile, stepping over to them, replaceing a box on my box. I lift the lid and replace a kimono-like outfit inside. My eyes go wide as I look at it. I hold it up, staring at the beautiful outfit.

It’s mostly white red lining at the neck and long, detached sleeves and even longer inner sleeves. The skirt is red and finished off with a purple obi and white tassels. There’s even a hood to go along with it. Finally I see a pair of socks and platform geta similar to the outfit I wore for the shrine festival.

Yukari smiles, looking to me. “This is fit for a kitsune princess. It’s something I thought of having you wear when I plan on taking you and Marron the spirit realm one day.”

I blush even more, looking to her and Asha.

They smile as they begin to help me put it on.

I then return the foyer, replaceing everyone waiting for me. Behind me are Asha and Yukari, each wearing incredibly ornate kimonos, each befitting the daiyokai. I peer down to see everyone all ready to go, but now staring up at me.

Their eyes light up with Mom on the verge of tears as she looks to me. Marron is simply in awe, yet smiles broadly. She then grins, pulling out her phone and snapping a picture of me. Silvi merely beams much like she did during the Winter Solstice Festival.

My knights look to me, each wearing similar outfits to what I saw their comrades wore when I went to the Royal Court with Tyrion and Veylana. Orga is in full regalia; coat, vest, pants, boots and silver tassels over the shoulders with braided chords on his right shoulder. Kateryna on the other hand is wearing a far more elaborate elven dress with a blue and green cloak.

Kenji simply stares at me with his jaw nearly dropping to the floor. He too is wearing something handsome, a silver and red kimono with a slim haori. I grin, thinking Marron must’ve seen my outfit and made Kenji’s to match.

I grin, still blushing as I make my way down the stairs. When I reach the bottom, I look to my wolves. Athena merely beams with absolute motherly pride, the same as my mother. Fenris looks on me proudly, smiling wide as they both stand next to Silvi and Mom.

I turn the Kenji as he stammers to try and speak. I grin to him, reaching up and slowly closing his mouth. “If I didn’t know any better, I think you were staring at the prettiest girl in your life.”

His face turns beet red before clearing his throat and smiling to me. “Of course I am. You look absolutely incredible, Ariko.”

I giggle, and then look to Mom. She smiles, holding her hand to her mouth as she looks me over. “Truly,” she says choking up a little, “you look absolutely beautiful, my love.”

I grin, blushing.

She then looks to Yukari as my aunt rests her hand onto my shoulder. “Thank you, Yukari,” turning back to me, “as a princess, you must truly look the part of one.”

I blush, hearing the same words my aunt used.

A few quiet moments settle over us, no doubt with everyone still in awe of how I look. I won’t lie, it took me a several minutes to get over my own shock after my aunts helped in into it.

Mom then clears her throat, “Right, we should really be on our way.”

I grin to her, “Yep, we can’t keep the waiting longer than we have already.” She chuckles, nodding to me.

Marron smiles, looking to me. “I know who you called.” I grin, nodding. Yet another plan to be set in motion. I should be thankful it took us an hour or so to get ready.

Mom looks to us, tilting her head in confusion

Marron and I merely smile to her. Yep…get ready for yet another surprise, Mom. She sighs and motions us towards the hallway.

We enter the ballroom, with me smiling as I look around. I thought it be better to leave from here rather than outside. The obvious reason is that it’s simply too cold, especially with our current attire.

We are soon greeted by the combat maids, all prepped and ready to leave. beside them I see Sebastian, Warwick, the pups, the salamanders, Amira and the harpies, a few of the dryads along with the Matriarch and Patriarch. Finally standing with them are Velhemina and Xiphos.

The pups soon come running to me, each crying. I kneel down and pull them tightly to me, wrapping them within my tails. I stroke their backs as their tears drip onto me.

“Please don’t go, Big Sister,” says Luna.

“We just got you home,” adds Micha. “And you want to go again.”

I hold them even tighter to me. I love these two so much like my younger brother and sister. They’ve been with me since the first day I arrived here, always happy and eager. Yet during several times, equally just as concerned.

I smile to them as they cry. “I have to do this you two. I have to end all of this.”

They look to me with pleading eyes, begging that I am. I smile, leaning in closer. “What’s our mantra?”

They take in a deep breath, sniffling loudly. “Big Sister is invincible,” they say in unison.

I smile, planting kisses on their little heads. “That’s right. I will again prove it correct.”

They nod, then hug me tightly once more before letting go and stepping back. I smile as I watch their father pick them up into his arms.

I know it’s hard to see me leave again. Hell, I still feel part of me that doesn’t want to leave. However I must.

“I will tend to things while you are away, Young Miss,” says Sebastian.

I smile to him, nodding. “Thank you.” This isn’t like in July when we were attacked by Lana and Mistral. Sebastian this time is going to stay here and hold down the fort. I do wish he as coming with, however I know his place is here this time.

The salamanders, harpies, and dryads all wish for me to stay, however realize that I must leave again. I know it’s hard to see me leave after only being home for such a short time. Yet as before, this is a necessary task for me.

I look to the Sedona, smiling to her. “It’s good to see you again, even if it’s when I’m about to leave.”

She smiles, nodding. “Just promise you will stay safe Young Miss. Our home is not complete without you in it.”

I nod, know the full truth behind her words.

I look to Xiphos, who simply smiles to me. “I truly wish I were traveling with you, little one. However, despite all this time, I still have yet to fully recover. Yet I offer you this. Remain strong and you will see this through.”

I smile, hugging him. “Thank you, Professor.”

I finally look to Velhemina who opens her arms to me. I quickly folding into her, hugging my aunt tightly. We rock and sway for a moment. She then kisses the top of my head. “Have a safe journey and please come home again, my Little Blossom.”

I grin, nodding before stepping away from her and rejoining the others. She smiles as she strolls over those not coming with.

I smile, “I promise to come home again,” then looks to my group, “that we all will come home.”

They smile and nod, watching us.

I turn, now facing the frost-covered windows. even now, I can still faintly hear the music that once filled these halls. I smile, knowing that we will make it back. I have faith that we will.

Taking a deep breath, I begin to draw in all the latent fae magicks, summoning them to the center of my hands as I hold them in front of me. After a couple moments, I clap my hands together, flinging them about the open the portal.

“I still can’t believe at you can open these,” says Silvi.

I grin, then take one last look at everyone not coming with and smile to them. I nod and turn, heading inside.

As I step over the threshold, I feel tails being wrapped around my own. I look to both sides, seeing Fenris and Athena smiling to me as we walk together. I grin seeing Marron and Mom also smiling to me, with the latter resting her hand on my shoulder.

I grin and the portal closes behind us, happy to have my family with me.