Sweet Reunion

Rose sat in her office going over all the data she recorded. Annalise walked into the office, gently knocking on the door. She noticed Rose was working hard to make sure she was capable of teaching us.

"Rose..?" Annalise called out to her softly.

"Yes, Headmistress?" Rose answered, fixing her glasses.

"Liao Ru is here...she's waiting for you outside." Annalise said. "And uhm, I would like it if you got some sleep..."

"You don't need to worry about my health, Annalise. I'll know when my body has had enough...You just worry about getting August and the others registered for my class and Liao Ru's tutoring." Rose said.

"Of course..." Annalise smiled then looked down. "One more thing... It's about August per se."

"What about him?" Rose asked.

"The power he has...The Serpent Bearer. If Vinson realizes he has that power, no doubt he's gonna harm August. He was able to use more than one Zodiac Crystal as well..." Annalise said.

Rose sat back in her chair then turned toward Annalise. "I understand how you must feel, but we simply can not risk August being closer to The Fallen's proximity. Listen...as his kinda legal aunt, I also need to do what I can to protect him as well."

Annalise looked down and whined softly. "I guess...but he and his friends are so compatible with my students and academy. I could tell they enjoyed fighting as well...the moves they came up with, the strategies... everything was so exhilarating to watch. I wish for them to be my students as well.."

Rose smiled at Annalise then chuckled softly. "Such a kid. Get a grip, Anna. Besides we have them for like two weeks. We have enough time to spend with them. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to meet a historical figure~"

Annalise smiled and looked at Rose, watching her walk by her. "Okay, and be sure to sleep after!"

"Yep!" Rose said, raising her hand in response.

Annalise smiled then went to her office to finish up her last bit of work before going home.

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Imogen signed the lease for one of the academy houses we were allowed to stay in. She handed the clipboard back to the man then waved him off. "Finally... Everyone really fought hard didn't they?"

"For sure~" Leona purred and giggled. "I wonder if they have any bars in the area.."

"Don't you want to spend time with August? It seems pretty out of character of you to not be by his side at this time." Harmony said.

"He's fine~ He has Sephora with him and ladies let me tell you, she is so fine!" Leona gossipped and giggled.

"Thank the Sovereigns I wasn't the only one who thought that woman is otherworldly~ How old is she?" Rama said and giggled.

"She's ageless..~ But her appearance, she can't be no older than her late 20s, around 28 maybe. She's got it, I'll tell you~ August should be feeling lucky that he has a guardian like her~" Leona said.

"She is pretty beautiful I must admit. Her beauty doesn't seem like the same Earthly beauty we know. I hear that she might be an Original Zodiac in disguise." Imogen said.

"That would make sense taken that August is the first EVER Ophiuchus Knight to exist...and she is the other half of Cetus." Rama said.

"I dunno know, it's just a rumor amongst Angels and other Deities in the Sacred Realm." Imogen shrugged and smiled.

"Well, I'm hungry as hell. I don't know about you three, but I need some grub." Leona said then walked to the car.

"Count me in. Shotgun!" Rama giggled and hurried to the car.

"It's like August and April..~" Harmony laughed softly.

"Truly.." Imogen giggled.

...

...

...

Sephora watched me get ready for bed and sat on the side of the bed. "You still have enough energy to move around? I should be nurturing you right now..~"

I blushed a bit and finished putting on my pajamas. "There's no need for that anymore... I'm not ten anymore.."

Sephora stared at me and smiled a bit. "My bad, big man..~ Didn't know you were too old for Mommy now..~"

I grunted softly and blushed even more, turning my nose up. "Don't do that. That Mommy shtick is not going to work on me."

"C'mere my baby boy~ I know you're tired after the day you've had..~" Sephora cooed at me and held her arms out, wanting me to come to her.

I groaned softly then walked over to her. I was slightly embarrassed, but it's been forever since I last felt her in my arms. I watched as she laid on the bed, forcing me to get on the bed with her.

"You better not make this weird..." I uttered.

Sephora giggled softly as she watched me lay my head upon her chest. She wrapped her arms around me then let out a deep, comforting sigh. "It's been forever since I last held you in my arms...the last time we really spent time together was when you were just my little boy..~ Now look how you've grown..~"

I closed my eyes and let myself relax in Sephora's arms. I held her tightly and memories began to flash in my head. I couldn't speak, I just listened to her voice.

"Everyday...there's never been a day where I didn't think about you, August. I missed you so much...My good boy..~" Sephora said softly, running her fingers through my hair.

My emotions began to fill my body, emotions I thought I've long disposed of after she left the first time. "Are you here to stay now that the crystal is active..?"

"I am...I'm here to stay.." Sephora whispered, rubbing my hair.

I felt my heart racing and I began to wipe my eyes. I felt a large lump in my throat and took a deep breath. "I've missed you so much...you don't understand how much you meant to me when you were here..."

"I know, baby...~" Sephora said softly and held me close, holding my head close to her. "You can let it out...it's only us two in here.."

I couldn't hold in my tears anymore and began to cry upon her. For the first time since in four years, my first tears in forever was for Sephora...Being in her warmth again brought back memories I cherished in my heart for eternity. This moment felt too good to be true, but I didn't care. I was once again in her warm embrace.

"It's okay, sweetheart..~ Let it all out..~" Sephora whispered to me, comforting me.

Happiness would be an understatement for how I felt. I felt bliss, true serenity and tranquility...I felt alive again. After crying for ten minutes, my tears were washed away finally and I began to be met with tiredness. Sephora got us both under the covers and I snuggled up against her.

Sephora continued to stroke my hair, gazing down at me with a smile on her face. "Are you comfy..?~"

"A little bit..." I said softly.

Sephora smiled and adjusted our positions, having both of us laying on our sides. She gently placed her hand on my cheek, rubbing her thumb against my skin. "You made Mommy proud today..~ While we didn't win, you did enough to leave an impression..~"

"You think so..?" I asked, as I looked at Sephora.

Sephora let a nurturing smile play upon her face. She leaned forward, kissing my forehead. "I know so..~ I couldn't be happier with you... Couldn't be more proud of you..."

Sephora smiled at me then gave me tiny little pecks on my cheek and forehead. I smiled at her tiny kisses then closed my eyes. For the first time, I felt truly relaxed in the presence of the woman that currently matters most to me.

Sephora noticed I was drifting to sleep then smiled at me. "Sleep well, my baby..~"

Just like that, I was asleep like a baby. Sephora closed her eyes and slept with me, never once trying to leave my side.

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The next day, I woke up feeling more refreshed than ever. I noticed Sephora wasn't in bed then sat up, holding my head. Got out of bed and began smelling delicious food being cooked.

"Okay, so it wasn't you..." April said and yawned as she walked over to me.

"I was thinking it was you..~" I chuckled softly.

April smiled and shared our usual good morning kiss with me. "I wish I could cook for you and the others, but I was so tired I ended up crashing to sleep with Nina and Lily last night..~"

I chuckled softly and noticed Lily and Nina waking out of their room.

"Who's cooking because now I'm hungry..." Nina yawned.

"Me too...I was literally munching on Mr. Stuffles when I woke up.." Lily said and rubbed her eyes.

"Only one way to find out..~" I said.

We all made our way downstairs and I could hear Leona and Rama groaning. I looked in the living room, seeing Leona, Rama, Harmony, and Imogen all wasted in the living room.

"Do I even want to ask..." I said.

"It was Leona...she's a terrible...fucking influence.." Rama said as she laid her head against the arm of the couch.

"You're just figuring that out..?" Imogen asked.

I chuckled a bit at them then walked to the kitchen, seeing Sephora cooking breakfast. A memory played in my head as I watched Sephora cook.

"Mmmn!~ It smells so good in here!~" April said.

Sephora looked back and smiled at us. "Good morning to you all~ Glad to see you're all well rested~"

I blushed and rested my hands behind my head. "Always the early bird huh..?"

"You should know by now..~" Sephora giggled softly. "If you're hungry, you can start digging in. I'm making enough for the whole house and some extra so don't be afraid to eat~"

"August, your guardian is pretty fucking cool~" Nina chuckled and rubbed my arm gently.

I watched Nina and smiled at her. "You're welcome..~"

The four of us began enjoying our breakfast together, preparing our plates and sitting around at the table. Sephora joined us as well and we began to catch up after the years. She began to tell the others embarrassing stories about me when I was younger, which didn't embarrass me much, but now the girls had new ammunition to tease me with.

After breakfast, everyone was hanging around the house while I helped Sephora clean the kitchen. As I swept the floors, I could see Sephora staring at me with her elbows against the counter, and her head resting against her interlocked fingers.

"Any reason why you're staring at me with such admiration?" I asked with a soft chuckle.

"Is it wrong to stare at someone I do admire..?~ I mean look at you, a leader...a Zodiac Knight...a hero..~ You've grown into such a nice man..~ If I wasn't ten years older...~" Sephora giggled.

I looked at Sephora then blushed a bit then looked away. "Well you know...Kinda had to learn on my own when you left. Back then before April, Nina, and Lily came along, I was truly alone..."

Sephora tilted her head, listening to me closely. "Dahlia was with you no?"

"She was, but there wasn't much she could do...In the eyes of Vinson, I'm wrong and his son was always in the right. It pisses me off, but I know I can't do much right now.." I said.

Sephora smiled at me then sighed softly. "I've heard the tales, but I'm also glad you're taking initiative..~ For the longest time St. Meishi has always been the most toxic of the Four Exzodian Academies."

"Everything will be okay in the end..~ You're not alone anymore...if anyone is capable of pushing past your obstacles, it's you.." Sephora continued then walked toward me.

I watched Sephora then gently grunted as she pulled me into her embrace. I felt her rubbing my head and closed my eyes.

"My baby is so strong..~ I'm sorry for all the challenges I made you endure..~ Mommy's here now...you don't have to worry your sweet head anymore..~" Sephora said softly and smiled sweetly.

I smiled at her words and just allowed her to keep me in her embrace. I could understand her clinginess...we've been apart for four years. I could feel myself slowly clinging onto her again.

Leona watched us from a distance then smiled. "I've never seen him this happy before~ It's nice seeing him smile like that..~"

"He has such a nice smile..~ I can see how the ladies fall for him~" Rama giggled.

"You are somehow worse than Leona...Never thought someone could match her flirtatious energy.." Harmony sighed and smiled.

"No one matches me..~ If only you knew the things I'd do to August..~" Leona chuckled and purred.

"Yep, Leona is still the worst..~" Imogen laughed softly.

Today was one of our many chill days, but it felt different from our usual chill days. Today felt more relaxed...everyone is happy. The serenity in the house was like a breath of fresh air for everyone. Nothing could beat today in terms of mood and relaxation.