Persona - Mask of Origins

Yuki in inside and sat on the couch.

 

Nicholi grabbed Zero's arm and spun him around, "What was that?" "What?" "That look. Just because you spend a few days with Callen, suddenly you know what kind of shadow I am?" his red eyes ceased leaking blood and glowed that vibrant rust color. "Zero, you'd best watch your words. Now, would you go check on Yuki." Nicholi turned to Toji, his eyes returning to how they always were and rested a hand on his shoulder, "I hope I didn't make things worse by showing her Zain's fate." He barely noticed the nails on his hands growing longer and to a sharp point.

 

"I wouldn't know about that. She's probably taking it pretty hard."

 

Nicholi nodded, removing his hand and staring at the extended nails, "Ah, this day could not get any worse." tucking his hand into his deep pockets of his trench coat, Nicholi headed away from the house, toward the car Zero had flung himself out of.

Zero slumped down beside Yuki and stared at the floor, "You okay?"

 

"As okay as someone who found out that their brother was destined to die, I guess."

 

Zero nodded, "Yeah...but at least he was human for a while. Unlike my brothers and I. Would you rather have him be reconstructed by the Doctor?"

Nicholi sat inside the leather car with Callen silently. "I think I have a problem." "I know...you killed a Deathchild, Nicholi. It's time we either took you away or killed you right here. Which would you rather have?" Nicholi tapped his claws on the dashboard, "I think I'd rather live, Callen. But, if in case I can't control this...no, I'd rather live." Callen nodded. THe exchange between the most emotionless shadows would've had a normal human reeling.

 

"Of course not." Yuki said.

 

Zero gave her a hard look, "Are you sure? Reconstruction of DNA is...a lot more sucessful than you think. He won't necessarily turn out like Nicholi or Ari."

 

"If you're so sure it can be done, I suppose I'll take my chances."

 

Zero huffed, "I'll make sure nothing goes wrong with it. WE'll begin immediately." Zero jumped up and left, hurrying back to the car. Nicholi, Zero and Callen disappeared down the road.

 

Yuki sighed and laid back on the couch.

 

A few months later, Zero and the others returned. Dark circles under their eyes and a five o'clock shadow across their faces. Except Nicholi. His rust colored eyes were bright as he carried a small bundle of cloth back into Toji's home. "Hey Yuki, Toji, we're back! Sorry it took so long but...we had a few problems but they worked themselves out." Callen couldn't remember how many Zain's had died and what they'd each tried to do. "What kind of a replica tries to bite himself to death. For crying out loud. Not a lot of replica's are so creative in trying to die."

 

"So it worked, then?"

 

Zero grinned and nodded, "Sure did...well, maybe not like we'd thought it would but he's normal and alive again and probably will be the same as the Zain you knew. He just...uh..." Callen sighed and pushed Nicholi forward, "He needs to grow up first." Nicholi held out the little bundle of cloth and tiny human to Yuki, "First hand experience of Zain. His growth has been excellerated unfortunately."

 

"So he's my little brother now, I guess."

 

Zero laughed and Nicholi watched the little hand reach out of the bundle toward Yuki, "He won't be little forever." Zain's eyes opened and large blue eyes stared at the people around him. Nicholi reflexively pulled the small bundle back into his arms and cuddled him against his chest. Zero watched nervously, "Nick, loosen up bro. He's fragile."

 

Yuki looked at Zain and smiled.

 

Zero managed to pry little Zain from Nicholi and handed him to Yuki, "He's your responsibility now. We'll be back in a few weeks to check his growth progress....unless you'd let Nick and I stay for awhile...?"

 

"No, I think I'll be fine, just as long as Zain doesn't mistake me for his mother."

 

Zero stopped laughing and let the young Zain grab ahold of his finger, "That's not a problem. Zain has all his memories from before. It'll be a little wierd until we can explain it to him properly but you don't have to worry about him mistaking your for his mom." Callen gruffly spoke up, "His speaking will need to be redeveloped so if he does say the word mom, it's only because he's trying to learn how to talk." Nicholi shoved his hands in his pockets, "We should be going now. We'll be back in a week to see how he's doing." Little Zain cast his large blue eyes toward Nicholi and Nick pulled out something from his pocket, "That's right, you want this don't you." he let the child grab the small gold locket and gummed it. "That locket has the last picture of Zain's parents before they were killed."