Turning Point

"I don't like this."

"Felix what else can we do? He says they'll kill mom if we don’t turn ourselves in."

"I know, but I still don't like it. We're giving in to his play, and well..."

KuliKuli sighed, "We don't have a choice anymore, but you still do. You both do." She added, glancing at Janette.

They were sat atop the wagon with Dimyri in the front. Leone was recovering in the back, Syri was hugging Janette tight while KuliKuli was telling KuliKuli goodbye. Raz was freed and given Leone's horse to ride with them separately.

"But we can't just give in to him like this, what if we lose?"

KuliKuli held his cheek, rubbing his nose. She recalled the memories they shared, her first bath, her time accompanying him to the market, and the time they first met Janette and were attacked by Reta. It brought a sigh and a tear to her eye.

"This is where I belong Felix, with my family. I need to keep them safe, even if it means giving in."

"Kuli, he could be lying."

"I know, but I can't take that risk. I won't. Please, take care Felix. And Janette, you too."

Janette nodded, petting Syri and stroking her hair. Syri sniffled and bit her lip. "We never had our first date, this isn't fair!"

"I know, life can be unfair."

"And-And we never got to have fun again!"

"That's... not so loud." She blushed, kissing her forehead and wiping her face clean.

Syri sniffed, her face red from sobbing and her nose all runny. "I don't want to go."

"Sweetheart, you need to."

"I know, but I'm going to miss you. You're my hyu-mane."

Janette smiled, there goes that funny accent again. "Never change, Syri. I'll miss you too, but it's time for you to be brave okay? Like your mother said, you need to put on a brave face for us both now. Can you do that for me?"

She wiped her nose and nodded. "Uh-huh."

"That's my girl." She beamed, kissing her hugging her tight, pressing her cheek against hers. She felt the soft vibrations through her body as the Nekomata purred for several seconds. That's another thing she would miss.

"I'll miss you."

"I'll -hic- miss -hic- you too!"

Dimyri turned back, waving goodbye to them as both her sisters climbed up. Leone grunted as KuliKuli leaned in, noticing the herbs doing their work and helping seal up the wound around the dagger kept in him.

"We really need to yank that at some point." She said, turning back to see her beloved and her friend watching them leave. Syri was quietly moping to herself waving back until they were out of sight.

Leone shook his head. "Not yet, just leave me be for now." Turning around, he shouted at Dimyri. "Keep us moving forward, don't make any turns 'less I say!"

"How do we know you're not lying to us, about Mom?" KuliKuli asked.

Leone turned back, flinching as the wagon jumped after passing over a dip in the dirt. "You don't really, you'll just have to trust me. Do you?"

She shook her head. "No."

"Good. Better to trust yourself than to trust others." He glanced over at Syri, wiping her face away. "It hurts the first few times but you'll be numb to it eventually. Try not to fret too much, you'll feel embarrassed thinking back."

"Fuck you." Syri pouted. "It's because of you that we're doing this!"

"Yea... I guess it is." Leone nodded, turning away as they kept going down the road. He kept eye contact with KuliKuli, watching each other as they continued on their way to damnation.