Moonlight Demon

Satsuhiro

Three long weeks had passed since the battle for Sapphire. Three weeks of much-needed resting for Satsuhiro's group. There's a certain way that the mind allows itself to distract from the weight of responsibility. Allows itself to persist through weariness when action is needed. Some such human trait is what Satsuhiro attributed to the way he quickly realized that he had been far more exhausted than he'd believed himself to be when the rest began. 

It showed up in small ways. How he'd give Opah tired glances whenever she asked her father to read to him, or how he'd let out a deep sigh whenever he sat down at one of the Savior House's couches. These little expressions were his body's way of telling him how much he'd been stressing for these past two months. 

Currently, he found himself stressing in similar ways, but for different reasons. 

"By Lumina," Satsuhiro muttered as Metsumi washed some dishes in the kitchen. Satsuhiro rubbed his eyes and yawned. The cold air of the nighttime hit his shoulders like a blanket being draped over him. "They've been staying out like this for the last week." 

"Satsu," Metsumi laughed, "calm down, they're just having a little fun." 

"Okay, but what if some psycho tries to start something? Or if they run into some church fanatics who want revenge for what Kaori did?" 

"Then they'll handle it like the adults they are," Metsumi chuckled as she brought Satsuhiro a glass cup filled with wine. Satsuhiro took a sip as Metsumi sat down next to him, casting an affectionate glance in his direction. 

Satsuhiro, instead, kept his eyes on the liquid in the cup. 

"You sure do seem a lot more worried about those girls than you usually do," Metsumi said. Some of Satsuhiro's dark hair had fallen over his eyes and Metsumi casually swept it aside. "Is something troubling you?" 

Satsuhiro sighed. 

"... Nothing specific," he replied, leaning his head back on the couch. He stared up at the ceiling as a few candles burned around the room, providing a dim light. "I don't know, I just..." 

"Yes?" Metsumi asked. 

"I just don't want them to get hurt." 

"I don't think there are many people in the city who could hurt them, really," Metsumi replied but Satsuhiro shook his head. 

"I don't mean physically, I mean in general." Metsumi raised a brow and Satsuhiro instinctively went to stand up but stopped himself. His body still hadn't adjusted to having one less limb. Shaking his head, he went back to what he was saying. 

"Think about it," he told her, "everything they've been going through. From the start, what happened with Varcon, the portals, the destruction of Pearl, and now, losing two Saviors who could have been their teachers for years to come," Satsuhiro explained. "I just worry about how they're taking all of this." 

Satsuhiro couldn't imagine that these events hadn't had some effect on his students. The death of Varcon had turned what was already a hostile city to the group even more so. Even now, whenever Satsuhiro went with them out into the streets, on occasion citizens would still lob insults and accusations at Kaori. 

The destruction of Pearl was particularly a sore spot for Satsuhiro himself. That was the battle that let everyone know just how powerful humanity's enemy was, and with Takomaro's death during it, had left Satsuhiro as a senior Savior. 

Now, with Vermia and Ren having made the ultimate sacrifice in Sapphire's defense, their responsibilities fell squarely on the girls' shoulders, and their legacies would be defined by what Ash and Kaori did in the coming fights. 

Satsuhiro worried that all of this, coupled with whatever it was that was happening with the girls on a personal level, would be too much for them to handle. 

For some reason, Metsumi started laughing. Satsuhiro raised a brow at her. 

"So, what you're saying is, you're starting to care and it's scary?" Metsumi asked with a bit of a smirk. 

"Hm?" Satsuhiro hummed. "What do you mean?" 

"Starting to care about them. The girls." 

"Honey, they're my students," Satsuhiro responded. "I've always cared about them and their success. It's what makes a good teacher." 

"Not like this, you haven't," Metsumi countered. "Or at least, not as much as now. You're worried about them, but not as Saviors. As people," his wife continued. "You're worried about how they're feeling, you know? How they're doing as human beings. Personally, I think that's sweet." 

As Satsuhiro took those words in, someone knocked on the front door. He went to stand up and, again, realized he couldn't do so on his own.  Shit. 

A hand was in front of him before his mind could dwell on that for too long, and Metsumi helped him up, handing him the crutch he'd been using. 

"Thanks, I've got it," he said curtly and Metsumi nodded. 

Satsuhiro went to the front door and opened it. The person standing on the other side, a man dressed in a white and gold ji, with strangely blank eyes, raised a hand in greeting. 

"Good evening, Savior," Talo said. 

"Hmph," Satsuhiro stepped aside, allowing the Royal Council's vessel to walk in. They had their hands behind their back, bowing to Metsumi and turning back to face Satsuhiro. 

"We hope all has been going well," they said. 

"Sure," Satsuhiro leaned against the nearby wall. "What's the matter?" 

"Always so direct," Talo chuckled. They turned away and looked at the living room for a moment. "So, are our new, honored rookies home?" 

"No," Satsuhiro didn't elaborate further. Talking to the Royal Council was tedious enough, with having to maneuver past fifty pleasantries before they got to the point. Satsuhiro didn't want to add to that. 

"Would you like some water?" Metsumi asked. 

"Yes, thank you," Talo replied before turning to Satsuhiro. "So, onto business then?" 

They then pulled out an envelope from a pocket in their ji. Satsuhiro opened it and quickly scanned through the paper's contents as Metsumi brought a cup of cold water to Talo. 

"Onyx... demons..." Satsuhiro mumbled. "No portals?" 

"No, no portals," Talo replied. "None close enough to the city to believe a siege will be happening soon, at least. No, we simply ask that your group goes and deals with these stray enemies swiftly. Even a few lone demons, left unattended, could serve to ruin the lives of many civilians. We cannot have that, can we?" Talo asked. 

"When?" Satsuhiro asked. The girls were still picking themselves up after everything that had happened. He knew well that if he brought them this news, they'd drop all of their rest in a moment's notice and head out, but he wanted to give them time. 

"That is up to you," Talo shrugged. They sipped from the cup and continued, "This is less a mission and more a request, after all. We will still pay you all, of course, but what you do and when you do it, is up to you. We will let the authorities in Onyx know you are coming and you go whenever you wish. Oh, also," Talo added, "as Onyx is a place of many technological marvels, you will find that going there should pose a considerable improvement to your equipment. Specifically, we've been looking into Kaori's situation and we've contacted a blacksmith who appears to have something that could suit her."

"Really?" Satsuhiro asked. 

"Yes, so, when you go, it will be made worth your while. Finally, we also wanted to say, Satsuhiro," Talo bowed to him suddenly, "your retirement has been finalized. As in, you will no longer be asked to fight." 

Hearing that made the strangest feeling pass over Satsuhiro's heart. He couldn't quite identify it. 

Ironically, this whole journey started with Varcon forcing Satsuhiro out of retirement to train Ash. Hearing that he was being allowed to retire fully again, was strange. 

"We appreciate the sacrifices you have made during these trying times, even though you were officially retired already," they placed a pouch full of coins in Satsuhiro's hands. The Savior raised a brow. "Once again, thank you. We hope you enjoy your retirement to the fullest extent." 

Satsuhiro didn't respond to that. There were too many things going through his mind. He wouldn't fight anymore, next time a city was attacked, he'd be sitting with Metsumi and the other civilians in hiding. It was... Unnerving. 

"Well, that is all we wanted to say. Thank you for the water," they told Metsumi. "Goodnight." 

With those words, they left the Savior House and Satsuhiro closed the door behind them. He used his crutch to walk back to the couch he'd been at and sat down again, letting out a deep sigh. 

Metsumi was next to him at a moment's notice, resting her head on his left shoulder. 

"So, I'm done." 

Saying those words damn near hurt. He'd said them before, the first time he retired, but back then, they'd brought relief. Now, they brought anxiety. 

"Yes," Metsumi said, reaching up with her lips to kiss his cheek. 

Satsuhiro shook his head. 

"Got any more wine?" 

Metsumi laughed and quickly stood up. 

"Right, right. Want to celebrate?" 

More like I want to avoid thinking about it,  Satsuhiro answered in his mind, but he nodded. 

"Alright, alright. Luckily~" Metsumi said as she poured some more drinks, "Opah is asleep and the girls are out, so you and I have this whole night to ourselves." 

If for a little while, Satsuhiro figured he'd allow himself to pack up his concerns. Just for tonight, at least.