Northern exhaled heavily and looked to the side. His clone was bringing his father in his arms, the older man's breathing steady now.
'At least that's one crisis averted.'
"I've healed him. All should be well from this point on, and hopefully he knows where Mother is."
Northern looked at the clone, then at his father cradled in those identical arms. Strange, how normal that sight had become.
"Let's go up."
He put his hands behind his back and walked upstairs, footsteps echoing through the ravaged depths of the Kageyama castle.
***
When they emerged onto the surface of the grand palace—the main floor—Northern found that his clone had been busy. The one he'd sent with Kai had managed to round up almost everything and everyone involved in whatever had torn through the Kageyama clan.
'I'm efficient. As expected.'
