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Shia tries to smile back, but fails. "That's okay. I need to accept stuff I guess, but right now it just... well hurts. Uncle Kero, can... can we cut today's session short? I... I'd like to be alone, please."

Ari joins Kero and her side and hugs her too. "I'm here too, Shia. And I'll be here, even when he's not. Kind of have to be."

Shia hugs her back. "I know... we're stuck, huh... with each other... so I need to stop getting all teary eyed when you talk about your family. How can I help you when I fall to pieces each time you mention one of them? But guys, I'd really like to be alone."

Ari nods. "I... I understand and Shia, iffin ye get over being sad and start getting bored again... think of some things to do... Mara always says I got a big head... there's plenty of room in here for both of us. Build a house iffin ye want... just don't lock the door, okay?"

And startles Ai who is setting up their lunch on the kitchen table.

"Sorry I didn't mean to disturb you guys.... Kero, is something wrong?" he asks, his apology for interrupting Kero's concentration trailing off into true concern as he gets a glimpse of his face.

"And he's being exceptionally stubborn about staying away, I think he knows it won't help if he does come down." says Ai sadly pouring juice into the mugs.

"I'm not so sure I'd agree to it, even if she did herself... sorry Kero, she's young enough to be idealistic... reality can be ugly."

Ai sighs. "I know... it's just that I know she looks young and acts rather young.... and in someways I guess you could have said she was young, but Shia is... well... about 1200 years old, You'd have to ask her for the correct age. I kind of lost track when we moved to this realm, the time line's similar but not quite in sync. Kitsune age really slow, then once they reach a certain age they don't change very much. Ari is... young, both as a fact and in comparason. You'd be melding apples and oranges as far as maturity levels go."

"Who'd want to mush apples and oranges together?" pipes up a voice f rom the mat. Ari gives a stretch and walks over. "Hi, Mama... that smells good, what's for lunch."

"More of breakfast, I'm afraid... Mara threw another snit about something, not sure what, so your Daddy drug her off for one of his famous lectures."

Ari chuckles weakly. "Poor Mara... she's going to be exhausted tonight." She turns to Kero and smiles. "Daddy says we talk a lot, but I think we get it from him... and when he says we are going to talk... we actuallly don't do much but listen and run. He likes to combine jogging with heart to hearts."

"He's doing that now? When did he start doing that? It used to be just talking." says Ai with a soft laugh.

Ari smiles back. "When he decided we were all getting a bit too pudgy."

Ari grins at him. "You need to eat more of Em's cooking. That's what was making us fat. Even he agreed with Daddy at the time. That's when he and Daddy started taking turns cooking."

Ari thinks about his chili and grins back. "Only if I don't have to put out a fire."

Ai laughs. "Where do you think your Daddy learned to cook so well, watching your brother... that's where. The two of them shared the cooking duties for a time before your Daddy disappeared on me again."

"Daddy disappeared?" echoes Ari in confusion. "But he's still here..."

"Long story and not for today. Someday I might tell you, but right now, you need to eat. Don't worry abot the dishes, Kero, I'll get them later or you can simply port them to the kitchen at our place when your done." says Ai giving his daughter a kiss on the forehead before heading out.

"Mama didn't sound too happy about that story." confides Ari as she sits d own and begins to eat.