Chapter 1: Lullaby595Please respect copyright.PENANAtMwfrOEBwd
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A month had almost passed. The first few days of this month Alura had sulked and not wanted anything to eat. She didn’t want anything to do even with Ginsu’s at times prodding. This changed within the last two weeks. Her sadness had changed to a seething anger towards Marenzo and his memory. She began to fight an invisible foe, refusing to allow Ginsu to spar with her. Currently she had her two blades and was charging, jumping back and roll dodging with Ginsu watching on the sidelines.595Please respect copyright.PENANABdrs9Vl37D
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The Water God sighed and pushed his hand through his blue hair. He tilted his head back to look up at the blue sky that was filled with soft clouds of white. Maybe if I use my water to make a sparing dummy for her? That might help her better in her swordsmanship as well as to release anger through physical contact. Then again… he sighed quietly as he closed his eyes just as the wind blew warmly. If I do that and she doesn’t approve…she could start hating me and I don’t want her to hate me, not right now anyways. He heaved a sigh and rested a hand inside his pocket, turning his gaze back to her. If any of the others are watching and can help…I would appreciate it. 595Please respect copyright.PENANA1eJgQsFPD5
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Alura sliced through the air and landed before glancing over towards the Water God as her hair, that had come loose of the hair tie, fell across her vision. “Why do you keep staring at me and not letting me be alone most of the time?”595Please respect copyright.PENANAC3eEtcGTvc
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“Huh?” he slightly jumped being snapped from his thoughts. “I just want to make sure you’re okay so I thought me being around would help, given what happened.”595Please respect copyright.PENANAnxoId4RJrj
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She stood and snorted while shooting him a stern glare. “Well stop. I don’t need watched over because I’m just fine.” She snapped with anger lining her tone. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to train away from the cabin.” She started walking away only to pause and glance over her shoulder. “That is, if that’s okay with you, protective hawk.”595Please respect copyright.PENANAkRGeCcdcRD
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Ginsu winced at the venom in her words and nodded. “Yup, that’s fine. Just come back in a few hours for lunch.” She rolled her eyes and continued on her way. He watched her disappear into the trees before going back inside, moving to the kitchen and began washing up the breakfast dishes. He frowned at the soapy water as he tried to get his thoughts straight. “…I don’t hover like a hawk…” he mumbled under his breath.595Please respect copyright.PENANAcYpSguYIGB
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Aw do you have problems, little brother? Marizu asked inside Ginsu’s mind, causing the Water God to stifle a growl.595Please respect copyright.PENANAHefYmN8WE2
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When I asked for help figuring out what to do to help her, I didn’t mean for your creepy ass to answer. Now go away.595Please respect copyright.PENANAq0PeH7n5Nf
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Marizu chuckled inside Ginsu’s mind before it became audible in the room behind him. “Don’t you want your elder brother’s wisdom to help you?”595Please respect copyright.PENANAazjjZIRlUD
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Ginsu turned and glared at the black haired Earth God who was surprisingly not in his normal armor. “Given how your advice comes from the prostitutes you take into the palace, I will gratefully decline your so-called wisdom.”595Please respect copyright.PENANAgWjR7IJ6zI
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Marizu closed his eyes at the same time as he hit his chest with his hand hard, gripping it with a dramatic move of throwing his head back. “Oh! You hurt me so bad with that insulting accusation!” Ginsu watched unimpressed by his brother’s actions. He didn’t bat an eye as Marizu began to laugh while returning to his relaxed position. “Heheh, you are so delusional.”595Please respect copyright.PENANAVItzVjQz06
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“I’m not delusional now get out of here. You are not hurting Alura.”595Please respect copyright.PENANALf9np9geew
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Marizu snorted as he withheld a laugh. “You got me all wrong. I didn’t come here to kill her.”595Please respect copyright.PENANAYa0VD3ySuL
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Ginsu raised an eyebrow. “Then why did you come here?” aside from taunting and annoying me.595Please respect copyright.PENANAq4M2sR1w0i
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“I came here to make sure you understand the boundary line you are crossing again.” Marizu commented as he pushed back his hair from his eyes. “I told you before when you were in punishment, I warned you and yet you aren’t listening at all.” He expressed in a bored tone.595Please respect copyright.PENANAukZyL98mmz
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“I’m not crossing any lines. I’m watching out for Alura as I was told to do.”595Please respect copyright.PENANAfGSw1UPiJZ
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“Uh huh, and how many times did you lie to yourself to start believing that one?” the Earth God questioned flatly.595Please respect copyright.PENANAFCfKX640Ij
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“It’s not a lie.” Ginsu growled with his jaw tight.595Please respect copyright.PENANAaAoLO5W6AH
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Marizu put his hand over his mouth as he stifled another laugh before lowering it. “Oh, I’m sorry, I’m sure the mortal has always had a god for a father.” He gave a sly look to Ginsu. “My mistake,” he cooed in a lower, almost taunting type of pouting tone.595Please respect copyright.PENANAmeN6fhqJy7
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“Marizu…”595Please respect copyright.PENANAqYHeNt9xiq
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“Is my sweet little brother upset I want him to stop playing daddy to a mortal urchin?”595Please respect copyright.PENANApuX4LaAFwr
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Ginsu narrowed his eyes on Marizu. “Don’t call her that. I’m warning you, do so again and you’ll wish you hadn’t.”595Please respect copyright.PENANAWYXZxJNwnu
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“Not my fault you’re confusing ‘guarding’ and ‘fathering’ like a newborn.” He said smoothly in a quiet tone with a smirk on his face. He lowered his head as he kept his eyes locked on his tense younger brother. “Are you sure she isn’t just using you? I mean, she is a female after all and we both know what those vixen’s can do when given a-”595Please respect copyright.PENANAOp9Y0c1gk9
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He was cut off as Ginsu had quickly closed the gap and wrapped a hand around his brother’s throat, forcing his chin up. “I said to shut up about her.” Ginsu snarled through his tightly clinched and baring teeth.595Please respect copyright.PENANAA0wKnJsoyq
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Marizu watched Ginsu calmly before he lifted a hand to rest it on the Water God’s wrist. “I’m not stupid and neither are you. Or…I would hope not.” He croaked out from the tight grasp on his throat. “You need to become more teacher than father before you end up doing something that results in someone being hurt.”595Please respect copyright.PENANALC05NAvfxt
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“No one will be hurt except you if you don’t apologize for your words towards Alura.”595Please respect copyright.PENANASCHWwnOonK
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“And how are you going to make me, little brother? Hmm?” the Earth God questioned as he formed thorny vines on the palm of his hand on Ginsu’s wrist. He smirked as he saw Ginsu wince in pain as the vine grew and began to wrap tightly into his flesh. “Are you going to release your hold or are we going to see if my vine can sever your wrist?”595Please respect copyright.PENANAZKRvtt4lNb
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Ginsu was still but did release Marizu’s neck, grabbing hold of his bleeding wrist after the vine removed itself back into the middle brother’s hand. “Get out.” Ginsu growled with his sights on his injury he was now mending, a blue light coming from the palm of his hand.595Please respect copyright.PENANAC5JoFRdi08
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Marizu stood, stretched and proceeded towards the door. “Fine, I will but…” he looked over his shoulder to Ginsu. “You know this isn’t going to work. You can’t keep her from him nor can you delay what’s coming.”595Please respect copyright.PENANAWZn13F3CUi
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“…”595Please respect copyright.PENANAN1jItDdRBx
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“It’s your own fault. You brought her to us so, to take advantage of a little loophole to avoid becoming involved, she did.” Ginsu’s gaze had lowered as he listened to his older brother’s quiet stern words. “Don’t blame her for this failing when it could be considered your own. You had a choice that day…let them fall to their deaths or save them and see what would become of their mixed futures.” He looked away from Ginsu and continued out the door. “Too bad the Weavers couldn’t have spoken with you prior about mortals. I am beginning to think you need more training in how to better handle them as well.” He sighed, “then again…fire breath isn’t much better, becoming attached to the boy.” The door closed gently to leave the Water God alone with those parting words.595Please respect copyright.PENANACdl798Rbk8
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Ginsu stepped closer and sat while closing his eyes as his wrist finished mending. Did I really make the right choice? I’m sure I did…I didn’t know Hiatsu would go ahead and pick her to help solve the mortal’s problems here. He thought sadly in the silence of the room, his magic coming to an end as he put his face into his hands with his elbows resting on his knees.595Please respect copyright.PENANAxifcn2BQjd