The Sudden Appearance of the Oracle

Colin made sure that Nicole was also safely behind him and Thor before he stood up. Fall was sitting beside the children. There was something different about the way the greyhound was looking at Fujin.

"Long time no see, Cú Chulainn. How are you?" the Japanese god of wind asked.

He looked like Reno from Final Fantasy VII with his red hair styled in the same manner. That is where the similarities ended. Fujin was tall around 6'4 with fair skin that most Japanese men would have.

He had this heart-shaped face that was framed by his red hair that was tied at the back of his neck. He looked like a rouge with his crooked nose that was broken too many times. His eyes were a bit rounded and he had a sneer on his face that never failed to irritate Colin.

"What do you want Fujin?" Colin bluntly asked.

"Araa, araa, Colin-chan, is that how you greet an old friend?" Fujin asked in Japanese. "I just want to talk to the boy behind you. Ne, Claude-chan?" he said, looking at the young boy with a scrutinizing gaze.

Instead of being afraid, Thor and Colin were shocked when Claude also stood up. He gave Fall a pat on the head and said, "Guard, Nicole, okay?"

"What do you want from me?" Claude asked. The three adults looked at the young boy and they were surprised. Yes, there was a trace of fear in his voice, but most important of all, there was a hint of bravado in his voice.

"Boya, do you know who I am?" Fujin asked, his voice rising an octave higher. The wind started to pick up and the sky began to darken. There was a slight glow in Fujin's eyes, making him more like a demon rather than showing his human persona.

"Hai," replied Claude in perfect Japanese. "I know who you are. You are the god of wind, Fujin, the counterpart of Rajin the god of thunder, like my Uncle Thor. You are part of the Japanese Deities my mommy had written and researched before."

There was confidence in his voice that made Colin proud of the young boy. His respect for this small human has risen.

Fujin was silent and regarded the young boy that stood beside two of the most formidable people he had dealt with. Thor and Lugh's friendship was legendary. Lugh's son as well.

The way he stood beside them and protected the little girl behind them was commendable. He never had someone to protect, maybe...

He crouched so he would be able to look into Claude's eyes as they speak. Fujin could see the fear in the young boy's eyes, but he still stood up against him.

Fujin grinned at Claude before asking, "Boya, who is your okasama?" his grin widened when the boy tightly shut his lips. He then laughed, and continued to ask, "the author? The one that writes those romance stories about us?" Fujin probed, all he got was a nod, which prompted a burst of laughter from the Japanese god of wind.

Colin and Thor were expecting Fujin would be snatching Claude. Both males had their weapons drawn, ready to fight, but it was not necessary.

The fierce wind that caused Fujin's anger slowly died and was replaced by a gentle breeze that was soothing to the soul. Fujin gently patted Claude's head and praised, "Your okasama has taught you well. Names have powers in Japanese culture. She did good of telling you those."

He then looked at the two adults with the kids. "Araa, araa, Colin-chan, you know me better than to take children. Why are you like that?" he suddenly asked with the sweet voice of a young boy.

Colin felt the hair at the back of his neck raised hearing how Fujin's voice sounded. He hit the Japanese god of wind on the back of his head before turning his back to him.

Thor, who was expecting a good fight, was astonished when the Fujin started whining like a girl to Colin. He was aware that these two were friends, but for a demon god to act like a hurt child was...comical.

Thor looked at Claude. The boy was silently watching the scene. A smile formed on his lips when he noticed the frown on the young boy's head. Like him, he did not believe any of the words Fujin said.

Oh, the praise was real. That was apparent, but the rest? Nope.

"Why are you here?"

All of them looked at the little girl who asked the question. Nicole had woken up, and it sounded like she was not the Nicole that Thor had gone to love.

"Kyah~ ohimesama is awake!" examined Fujin, his eyes sparkled in amusement. "Did you have a good dream?" he asked.

"You did not answer my questions, Fujin-san," Nicole asked.

Colin's forehead furrowed, there was something wrong. This was not Nicole, the little girl that he had come to care for as a baby sister was not with them. This was...

"You have nothing to fear, Cú Chulainn," Nicole suddenly said, she looked at him and he could not help but gasp. He was right, this was not his baby sister, the person with them right now was the Oracle.

His father was right to guard this little family. With a mother that nulls the power of the gods, a child that can understand any language, and a little girl, that can see the future. In the hands of the wrong god, Chaos was not far behind.

"Your father had fallen for their mother way before they met," the Oracle dryly commented, "his dream jumping could be blamed for that. He had been... obsessed."

Colin sighed deeply. For the Oracle to tell something this important made him question his father's 'like' for Julie. Does he really her? Or was he drawn to her because of the dreams he had seen?

But...

The few months he had seen his father with Julie's little family made him realize one thing.

Dream or not, his father does care for her. Not to satisfy his ego, but each time Colin would observe his father without Duncan knowing, Colin could not help but smile.

Why?

His aura spoke of something Duncan never had after being the king of Tuatha Dé Danann.

Peace.