Miki: Mothers and Brothers

The kitsune matron finished pouring a fourth bowl of soup. It was time for dinner, but between the goblinoids in town, the Hornet Empress so close by, and Camilla in a coma, everyone was either too anxious or too depressed to have a proper. Even William had been stopping by more often than not to help care for his sister. He'd taken some time off of his schooling to stick around after the Empress fight. By itself, a lovely sentiment, but it meant that illusions needed to be in place constantly.

Miki entered the room where William and Kara were watching over the self-proclaimed captain, bowls of soup in her hands and precariously balanced on her arms. "Time for supper." The pair look up, both weary from worry. "William, do you have any more insight?"

The mage shakes his head as he takes a bowl from Miki's arm. "I can tell there's...something, but..." He shakes his head again. "I don't have the experience to determine even the school of magic, let alone how to unravel it. I'm tempted to-"

"No." Kara states her opinion bluntly, not taking her eyes off her girlfriend as she tightens her grip on the captain's hand. "We wait for Dusk. He'll be able to help."

William shares a look with the matron. "How do you know he can? And even if he could, we don't even know how long he'll be imprisoned."

"He said he would be back, and he will be." She stares at the man with weary determination. "You don't know even a fraction of...of..." The mio wavers, then collapses, her head landing near Camilla's. Did her eye just... Miki can't react quick enough, and Kara's illusory appearance shimmers momentarily before the shibi can reform it.

The mage stands sharply, spilling his soup all over the floor. Glancing between Miki and Kara, he utters a phrase, one laced with magic, and his eyes begin glowing before he staggers back, fear in his eyes.

Miki sighs. Looks like Camilla's getting what she asked for... She dispels the illusion both on herself and on her daughter, flexing her four tails. "Do you fear us, William?" She sets down the remaining bowls of soup on a small table before turning back.

"Wha...what are you? What have you done with them?" He raises his hand, a bolt of lightning held in his shaky grasp.

"With Camilla? I've done nothing but care for her for-"

"With Miki and Kara! What did you do to them?" The electricity in his hand lets off a light spark that drifts to the ground.

He can't control it well, can he? The shibi kneels down next to the comatose captain. "You imply I've done something to myself, and to my own daughter." She looks up to the mage. "I've done nothing but protect my family, even at the cost of others' lives. I crossed an ocean to find a place where we could be safe. And here we are, now. I tire of running, William. If you're going to kill me, then do it, but leave Kara out of it. You know firsthand how much she cares for your sister."

"But you're monsters!"

"Does it matter?" Miki swallows. "We may not be human, but we can still care for others. Some to an...unhealthy degree." She looks to her daughter. "We have hearts, William. We have families, just like you. Take my life, but not theirs'."

Will glances between the two kitsune, seemingly unsure of what to do. Suddenly, the bolt in his hand shoots off. As Miki closes her eyes, bracing for impact...it never comes. She opens her eyes, finding a shadowy, black, feathered wing between her and William. Looking to her side, she sees Camilla, her left eye a deep red color, and the wing protruding from her back as she's pushed up on her side. "This is not the time or place for these kinds of actions..." Her voice is...echo-y, like someone else is speaking at the same time. After a moment, the wing dissipates, and Camilla falls against Kara, almost hugging the kitsune.

Her brother stumbles back, his legs failing him as he collapses against the wall. "What..."

Miki steps in, setting her hand on the now-**** human's forehead. "You are not the only one in your family that wields magic anymore, William. We have much to discuss..."