The moon was starting to rise on the eastern skies, casting an illuminating glow over the forest below.
“I’m sorry that we took so long,” the man apologized hastily, and Clarine nodded in agreement.
Mirajane smiled kindly. “I trust that you found what you were looking for…?” she asked, looking around. “Did you already move them?” she said with a perplexed expression.
“We have with them with us right now,” Clarine answered.
This confused Mirajane even more. “…How is that possible?” she responded lightly. “Those trees aren’t just something you can carry around in a bag.”
“Well…” Clarine started to say, and explained about how they decided to use a magic circle to transport them to the pocket dimension within her pot.
Mirajane remained quiet until Clarine finished her explanation. She seemed to be deep in thought. “I see…” she said when Clarine stopped talking. Her expression showed both confusion and interest. “Clarine, dear?” She asked softly. “Just how many of them were you able to transport?”
“Eh?” she replied, startled. “We took all of them…that isn’t a problem, is it?” she added worriedly.
“No, no, of course not!” Mirajane answered hastily. “It’s to build your home, after all.” She added warmly. “It’s just that…I’m rather surprised.” She continued to say slowly. “For someone of your age to be able to accomplish such a feat with magic…you are quite the talented Pot Devil.”
Clarine blushed at the compliment. “T-thank you…” she managed to say.
The man was confused, however. “What do you mean, ‘for her age?’ Mirajane?” he asked.
Mirajane looked at him oddly, as did Clarine. “A Pot Devil’s magic grows stronger as they age.” Mirajane explained helpfully. “For someone as young as Clarine, to be able to use such powerful magic is rare.”
“Isn’t it the same for humans?” Clarine asked curiously.
The man shrugged, and shook his head. “Before I came here, I didn’t even know magic existed. If I hadn’t seen Clarine perform it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it.”
“Eeeh…” Mirajane mumbled. “I thought that human magic users were more common these days…” she continued to say to herself.
“Mirajane,” he interrupted, not hearing her speak. “How is it that you know so much about Pot Devils?”
“Hmm?” she responded offhandedly, distracted. “There used to be a Pot Devil that would frequent these woods with her small daughter; she was very cute~” she added, squirming slightly.
“What was her name?” Clarine asked suddenly. Despite being tired beyond belief, she managed to force herself to sit upright.
Mirajane seemed to think about it. “Her name…?” She fidgeted in place, trying to remember. “I believe…her name was Merine? Merine Kaores.” She stated firmly. Clarine seemed to be disappointed at this new bit of information. “…Is something the matter, Clarine?” Mirajane asked, noticing this.
Clarine perked herself back up, immediately responding “oh, it’s nothing!” with false cheer.
“…If you say so…” came back Mirajane’s unconvinced reply, but she let the matter drop. “I take it that you’ll be going home now?”
The man nodded. “We came by to pick up Anya, and to express our gratitude to you.”
Mirajane moved about bashfully. “Oh, there’s no need for that!” she exclaimed happily. “Little Anya is such a dear to have around, it was my pleasure!” She pointed one of her branches to the side, pointing to her closed flower. The gentle sounds of her slumber soon reached their ears. With light steps, the man walked over to his sleeping daughter, and gently picked her up as to not disturb her sleep.
The flower rustled a little. “Mama…Papa…” came the sleepy response from inside. With a smile, he gently stroked her petals. She rustled once more, but she remained asleep. “Papa…is warm…” she murmured in her sleepy voice. For a moment, the man wondered what his energetic daughter was dreaming about inside her little flower.
“We’ll be heading home now, Mirajane.” The man addressed the tree dweller.
“Do come to visit again.” She replied kindly, and she watched as the man disappeared into the darkness between the trees with his family.
**********************************
“Ah, home sweet home,” the man joked as he set Anya down, and set about removing the chains from his body. After he set the pot on the ground and released the chains, he gently lifted Clarine from inside. “It’s been a long day, hasn’t it?” he asked.
Clarine nodded, as she held onto his arm for balance and support. She felt frail and weak against his arm, and he wanted to grab hold of her and never let go. He restrained himself, however, and helped her sit down next to him and their daughter. “Dear…do you have any family?” she asked suddenly.
“What makes you ask that?” he wanted to ask, but he decided against it. Instead; “…Well, there’s my father, and my little sister.” He answered with a sigh. “They probably think I’m dead, now.” He put his arm around her shoulders lightly.
“Did…you get along with your family?” she asked hesitantly.
The man let out another sigh. “…My father…and I, we never saw eye to eye, after my mother died.” He looked down. “I lived on my own, but whenever I came home to visit, he would immediately begin to criticize me for one thing or another. If it wasn’t for my sister, I would have never gone back home at all.”
Clarine tilted her head to the side as she looked at him. “What was your sister like?”
“Cecelia…my sister, she’s a very kind person.” A smile crept onto his face. “When we were kids, she would always tag along like my little shadow.” He let out a small laugh then. “It probably sounds odd, but I admired my little sister. Cecelia always found the positives in life. No matter what, she wouldn’t let anything get her down.”
“Do…you miss her?” she asked quietly.
“Aye.” He said just as quietly. The two remained silent for a time, listening to the sound of the others heartbeat.
“Have you…ever thought about…going back?” Clarine asked, still speaking softly.
The man thought about his answer before speaking. “I…thought about it. At first, it was the only real thing on my mind.” He exhaled. “But as time passed, I felt that there was no chance of ever going home. And then…you told me about a way out. To the outside world, and I grew eager again.” He could few Clarine trembling softly in his arms. Even still, he felt that what he was saying was something she should hear. “When we reached the dried up riverbed, however, all hope of ever going home and seeing Cecelia again vanished, just like the river. I’m a human being- we don’t often live for more than 85 years, let alone a hundred. Even if I did- there’s no guarantee that she’d still be alive when I returned…” He shook his head. “For better or for worse, my place is here in this world. It may not have been the world I was born to, but it’s my home. I belong here with you and Anya.”
“Aaahh.” He murmured out, gazing straight up at the stars. “It’s a pity, though. I guess I’ll never be able to show my little sister my cute bride.”
“Eeeuuuhh?” Clarine started, confused. “Wh-wh-what?”
The man looked Clarine in the eyes for the first time since she brought up his family. “Well, of course I intended to bring you with me! You didn’t think I’d leave without you, did I?”
She blushed wildly at this. “B-b-b-b-but, but-!!” she sputtered. “But…w-why?”
“Isn’t it obvious, Clarine?” he said, gazing directly into her eyes. “It’s because I fell in love with you. Be it in this world or my own, my feelings for you are absolute.” He pulled her into his embrace then, holding her against his chest. “Yes, you are a Mamono. Yes, I’m a human being. The humans in this world, and almost certainly the humans in my world; they would surely look down upon you.” He squeezed her lightly. “Even so, I don’t care what others would think or say.”
Clarine looked up at her husband tenderly. Slowly, she pressed her lips against his own. It was a soft, gentle feeling against his lips. Just as slowly as she moved towards him, she moved away from his. “Thank you…” she whispered softly, and buried herself in his arms.
Clarine…no matter what, I’ll always be by your side.
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