James showered and dressed up. He thought Miya had once again caught him however he smiled. He thought she was used to it now and he could use it to his advantage.
He walked downstairs and saw it was empty. He thought Seo was not here. He remembered that Hibiki and Hiraki were winged by Aladdin and not Seo. He thought that Aladdin knew him so he must be the one from Jasmine`s universe. His eyes were not innocent. They were the eyes of a broken twisted man. He sighed.
He then thought there was Renier, the Armoured Titan from Attack on Titan was with him. He thought normally these two will never cross but they did. He knew there was a multiversal being behind all of this.
James looked to his left and paused. There, sitting quietly on the floor near the garden was Kusano. Her eyes were fixed on a tree outside.
Kusano's expression shifted. Her pupils dilated slightly. She had a vision of the tree withering. Its leaves were curling and falling. The trunk faded into dust.
"No," she whispered. There were tears in her eyes.
James walked over. "Kuu? What's wrong?" he asked.
Kusano turned to him. There were tears on her face. She leapt into his arms and grabbed his shirt.
"Shi isn't here," she cried. "What do I do? I'll mess everything up again if she's not around," she asked.
James held her close. He wrapped his arms around her protectively. "It's okay," he said softly. "I'm here now. You're not alone. You can count on me," he added as he stroked her back. He then leaned down and kissed her forehead gently.
Kusano felt the warmth of his lips. Her tears slowed. She looked up at him and smiled faintly. "James," she said. "Would you like me to stay with you for a while?" she asked.
"Of course," James replied. He sat down beside her. James then gently pulled Kusano into his lap.
Kusano leaned back against his chest. Her small frame relaxed into his warmth.
"Kuu," James said quietly, "would you follow me?" he asked.
She tilted her head. "Follow?" she questioned.
"Yes. We'll be going somewhere far. But I want you with me," James responded.
Kusano's eyes widened. "James will leave Kuu?" he asked.
James shook his head. "Never. You're precious to me. I want you by my side," he replied.
Kusano smiled. "Then Kuu will come," she said.
James kissed the top of her head. "Thank you, Kuu," he said.
Just then, a voice called from behind. "James, are you here?" she asked.
He turned and saw Jasmine standing in the doorway. She wore a sleeveless light pink dress that fell just above her knees. It had a white floral pattern. She had a matching headband which held her hair back, and white drop earrings. She also had pink heels.
James looked at Jasmine. "You look stunning," he said.
Kusano's mouth dropped open. "Like a princess," she said.
Jasmine smiled warmly and knelt beside her. "You're our princess too, Kuu. And the cutest one here," she said.
She patted Kusano's head, and Kusano beamed.
"That's a lovely dress," James said. "Where did you get it?" he asked.
"Miya gave it to me," Jasmine replied. "She said it suited me," she added.
"She was right," James said with a smile.
Suddenly, Musubi's voice rang out from the window. "Kuu can you come here?" she asked.
Kusano perked up and nodded. She dashed off before James could stop her.
"Wait, " he started, but Jasmine giggled.
"I wonder where she's off to?" she asked.
James chuckled. "She's having fun," he responded. He then looked at Jasmine. "Why don't the two of us explore the city a bit?" he asked.
Jasmine smiled. "I'd love that," she responded.
James and Jasmine strolled side by side down the road. Their hands were locked together.
James looked at Jasmine. She had an aura around her. A majestic aura. Her skin was perfect, her body was slim and her smile was amazing. He thought in that dress she looked amazing.
"People are staring," Jasmine said. "And you are as well," she added with a playful smirk.
"Can you blame them?" James replied. "You look like you stepped out of a dream," he replied.
Jasmine smiled. "You're sweet. But I think they're staring at you too," she replied as she held his hand.
"Only because I'm walking next to you," James said.
They passed a small vendor cart. The smell of vanilla and strawberry wafting lingered in the air.
"That smell, what is it?" she asked. "It is like the stuff from the market when we went into town with Nell," she added.
"It is ice cream," James replied. "Let us have some," he added.
They walked over and James looked at the options. "Two strawberry swirls, please," he said.
The vendor nodded and gave them two ice-creams. "You two look like a perfect couple," he remarked. James nodded.
"Let us sit over there," James said.
"Sure," Jasmine replied.
They sat on a nearby bench. Jasmine licked her cone with her tongue. Her eyes sparked. "This is perfect," she said.
James nodded. "It really is," he replied. He looked into the sky. He thought this was nice as he licked the ice-cream. James thought this was peaceful. He thought these moments are the ones to live for.
After finishing, Jasmine stood and walked toward a nearby bin to toss the wrapper. At that moment, two men stepped out from the alley.
"Well, hello there," one said as he blocked her path.
"Didn't know angels walked the streets," the other added as he stepped closer.
"Those two monsters, they harness everyone," one said.
"Last week they took a poor girl's underwear," another added.
James thought clowns. He stood up.
Jasmine didn't flinch. She turned slowly. "Please excuse me," Jasmine politely said.
"Oh, come on, don't be like that," one said as he reached for her arm.
In a flash, Jasmine grabbed his wrist and twisted it. She sent him crashing to the ground. The second lunged, but she ducked and swept his legs. She flipped him onto his back. They both groaned.
The crowd nearby gasped. Then applauded. "She's got beauty and brains," one said.
"Queen energy!" another added.
Jasmine dusted off her hands and smiled as she walked back to James.
"You were about to jump in, weren't you?" she teased.
"I was," James admitted. "But I think you handled it better than I would've," he added.
"Where did you learn that?" he asked.
"Lois, Saeko and Rei all said something about martial arts and taught me some," Jasmine responded with a smile on her face.
James thought that did make sense. He knew all were talented.
They continued walking as they entered a park. The leaves rustled overhead,
James looked at Jasmine. "What is on your mind?" he asked.
Jasmine's tone shifted. "It is Misuzu. Her eyes when she pushed her friend down," she said.
James thought Jasmine still thought of that. "I said it before, some people are selfish and evil," he said.
"You have a good heart, pure and innocent," James added. "The fact you think about it still proves you are a good person," he said.
Jasmine nodded. "Thank you," she responded. "I'm just glad no one around me is like that," she added.
They stopped beneath a willow tree. The branches swayed gently around them.
Their eyes met. And then, without hesitation, they kissed. Their lips met. The world around them faded.
Meanwhile, back at the Shrine, Miya stood with her wooden staff.
Musubi lunged forward. She swung her fist towards Miya.
"Again," Miya said calmly as she sidestepped Musubi's strike and tapped her forehead with the staff.
Musubi touched her head with her hands. She nodded. "Okay," she replied.
Across the courtyard, Saeko stood still. She moved her hand up and down. The blade went up and down. Her eyes were focused. She was breathing steadily.
Kusano sat cross-legged beside Uzume.
Uzume was twitching as she watched Miya and Musubi train.
Uzume smirked. "If you are scared why don't you watch tv or something?" she asked.
Kusano's eyes widened and she shook her head. She watched Musubi punch and kick, however Miya dodged.
Uzume smiled. She thought this was the third one.
Inside the Shrine, Saya stood near the window. She crossed her arms. "Something's off," she muttered.
Lois sat nearby and nodded slowly. "I feel it too. Like we're being watched," she said as she looked around.
Saya nodded. "I did see some cameras but could not find the source," Saya replied.
In the corner, Akitsu sat quietly. "I will become stronger," she said softly. "So I won't be discarded again," she added.
Rei, who had been listening, stepped forward. "James would never discard you," she stated.
Akitsu looked up. Her eyes were uncertain.
"He chose you," Rei said firmly. "That means something. You're not just a weapon. You're part of us," she added.
Akitsu blinked, then nodded slowly.
Saya turned back to the window and looked outside.
Outside, Musubi launched another strike. Miya blocked it with ease but gave a small nod. "Better," she said.