So, good news and bad. Good news: I landed a job! Bad news: it's...very tiring, aha.

Enjoy!

"…and that's why we're all here today."

Vinny, Katherine, and Amy were seated in front of Katie by the riverbank, listening to her explain the situation.

"So Rudy is still…he did die after…" Amy mumbled.

Vinny shook his head. "…this is completely, and utterly–"

"Fascinating!" Katherine cut in. "I mean, this proves there is an afterlife, how could you not find that cool, Vincent?"

"It's–It's stupid!" Vinny sputtered. "I mean, talking cats? Evil squid people? This whole hubbub about a kid not knowing he's royalty because his dad's dead!?"

He sighed heavily. "And yet…I can't deny it sounds kinda cool. And I don't see how you'd be lying, really…"

"You don't have to help us," Katie said. "I mean, any amount of help would be nice, but…"

Vinny crossed his arms. "…Amy, look, we gotta go. Don't know what to really say other than that if you and these kids need us, then call."

Amy nodded. "Be careful out there, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. Kids, uh…don't die against these yokai things," Vinny said before hopping on his bike and taking off.

"Be careful, Amy, alright?" Katherine said, looking up at Amy. "If this has any connection to what happened to your dad…"

"I–I will be," Amy responded, holding Rudy close. "I promise."

Satisfied with that, Katherine hopped on her bike and followed after Vinny. Yami sighed deeply, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Katie Forester…I really am sorry you and your friends have wound up in our horrible situation," she apologized. "You do not have to fight our battles for us–"

"But I want to," Katie interrupted, stepping forward. "This whole thing involves my world, right? Then it's my fight too!"

Yami paused, staring at Katie before smiling warmly. "Humans never truly cease to amaze me. Even when things are bleakest…"

"Um…mom? What am I going to tell my parents? And who's the other kid?" Nate piped up.

"Oh! Right, I almost forgot!"

Yami stepped aside to show the kid with her. "This is Lucas. He was born after I fled to the human world."

Lucas waved a little, shoulders stiff. "…huh-hi."

Katie waved back, smiling. "Hi there! I'm Katie Forester, the Watch holder! Nice to meet you, Lucas!"

"And as for your parents, Nate," Yami said, "that's…harder to answer. I mean, if you need me to, I can explain the situation to them as is…"

Nate could only shrug. "I don't…I don't really know right now. I mean, sure?"

Yami clasped her hands together. "Wonderful! I must bring my attendant, Blizzaria, she'll want to meet you and your parents as well!"

"As for us, I do want to see if Chirpster has Auntie Heart with him," Whisper declared. "If she truly can heal even the most evil of yokai…we need her help!"

Yami nodded. "Best of luck, and be careful."

"Bear and I are gonna go with Katie," Eddie said. "I mean…there isn't much else for us to do here."

"And I'm going to go home with Rudy," Amy added. "Where do you guys want to meet up tomorrow?"

"The museum," Katie said. "Assuming they haven't blocked it off…"

With that, the group went their separate ways for the time being.

–

Katie, Eddie, and Bear made their way back to Chirpster's manor, Komasan and Whisper with them. It was…oddly quiet for once, and Katie kept expecting for something to break the silence aside from their footsteps.

"…so, uh…it's been…a day," Katie finally spoke up.

"…it sure has," Eddie agreed, quietly.

"I admit, I'm relieved Yami is alive!" Whisper declared. "And the fact Nate was the heir…"

"…it doesn't feel real," Katie mumbled. "So is he just…going to live in the Yokai World?"

"Most likely," Whisper said, nodding. "Once this matter is sorted out, at least!"

Katie found herself stopping, something in her just…clicking at that moment. "…he won't be able to hang out with us anymore, will he?"

Whisper paused, then shook his head. "I mean, he has some freedom that most yokai don't have! He'll still be able to hang out with you and all that!"

Katie just quietly grunted and nodded. No one spoke again for a good while or so, until Chirpster's mansion was in sight. Eddie stopped walking just past the hidden gate, looking down at the ground.

"Eddie? You okay?" Bear asked.

"…don't really know, to be honest. It's just so…so weird to picture Nate being a king. I don't know if maybe I was hoping Chirpster was wrong or what."

Eddie sighed. "Sorry. I know, it's stupid…I just don't know what to make of all this, I guess?"

Katie shook her head. "Absolutely not. Eddie, c'mon, don't worry," she said, stepping toward him. "Things will be fine, alright?"

Eddie nodded. "Mhm. Sorry."

"Relax! C'mon, let's go!" Katie said, nudging Eddie toward Chirpster's manor. The group proceeded on, determined looks on their faces.

–

The dinner table at Nate's home was crowded with Yami, Kyubi, Venoct, and Blizzaria all in human guise, Nate and his adoptive parents looking plain in comparison. Blizzaria stood at Yami's shoulder, long black hair tied into a pony-tail and a pair of blue glasses on her face. The decision had been made, upon seeing their guests, to simply grab fast food from a nearby place so Yami and her group wouldn't have to wait.

"So…thank you very much for agreeing to host us on short notice, Mr. and Mrs. Adams," Yami spoke, breaking the awkward silence. "I apologize, if I had known I would be reunited with my son so soon…"

"So you're his mother?" Mrs. Adams asked, eyes wide. When Yami nodded, she sputtered for a few moments before deciding on, "Why did you give him up?"

Yami's face darkened, and Nate instantly stared down at his plate. "…my husband was murdered, and my daughters and I were scared we would be next. I had no choice but to give him up for adoption."

"I'm–I'm so sorry, we had no idea!" Mr. Adams apologized. "If we had known at all…"

Yami shook her head. "Don't be sorry. If anything, I must thank you both."

She smiled, looking over at Nate. "I have reason to believe you've raised Nathan well when I couldn't. Knowing he grew up safe and loved…more than anything, that makes me happy. So, as his birth mother, and hopefully as a future family friend…I thank you two both."

Mr. and Mrs. Adams could only stare in wide-eyed silence, jaws dropped. Blizzaria smiled, looking to Yami. "Lady Yami, that's so sweet!"

Yami chuckled, raising a hand to her mouth. "I apologize if I've come off too strong. I was raised to be proper, and I wanted to at least thank you both!"

Mr. and Mrs. Adams nodded, still very much stunned. "You're–You're welcome! We're glad to have raised Nate!" Mrs. Adams responded.

Yami nodded. "Now then…I suppose there's the elephant in the room to discuss as well. You both are likely wondering what will happen now that I've returned, alive and well."

Mrs. Adams nodded. "At the risk of sounding like a bad mother…if you want to have Nate back, then by all means. I don't want to keep him from you or anything like that."

"No, no, I don't wish to separate you from Nathan!" Yami quickly said, shaking her head. "While he will be living with me, that doesn't mean he can't see you both whenever he likes! If anything, I encourage Nathan visiting you both as often as possible."

"You mean it? You don't mind…?" Nate asked, looking up from his food.

"I mean it. Again, I cannot describe how grateful I am for you both taking care of my son while I was away all this time, and attempting to forbid him from seeing you both…"

Yami shook her head again. "I wouldn't dream it. He doesn't have to come home right now, things are…still tense, to say the least, and it would likely be best if he continued to live here until it's safe."

Mrs. Adams started to tear up, taking off her glasses to wipe at her eyes. "Oh my goodness, Mrs. Yami, thank you so much! We promise, we'll continue to take care of Nate until you can go home with him!"

Yami beamed. "You have my eternal gratitude!"

Before the meeting could go on, there was a sound of glass shattering and something hitting the floor. Yami stood up instantly, eyes wide. "What was…"

"Hehehehe~it took forever, but I finally found you~!"

Pinkipoo stepped into the kitchen, teeth bared in a grin. "Hi, Yami~"