He relaxed in his bed, having done the dishes while Sen put his // her daughter to sleep for the night. Yawning, he felt tired but he couldn’t sleep. He turned to his side trying to get comfortable, his recent voicemail left him feeling hollow. When his side didn’t work for him he laid on his back and stared at the ceiling his eyes long adjusted to the darkness that was his room. Again, this position wasn’t able to get him to sleep so he turned to his other side facing away from the door and closed his eyes to try to sleep once again.It was a few minutes later when he heard his door open and a sudden clash of thunder echoed in the room before the door closed and t was silent again. He heard the pitter patter of tiny feet running to the bed and felt it shift. Soon he felt something warm close to his back, he waited a few seconds before throwing the blanket over the other and turned on his stomach and to the side to scoop the little body close to him.“Scary noise?” he asked and heard a muffled agreement. “It’s ok, no sound in here. I also don’t like loud noises. Do you want a night light?” Again muffled agreement and he turned on the soft glow light on the floor and set the colour to blue. “Better?”Ari poked her head out and sighed closing her eyes to sleep.Van relaxed feeling more comfortable now and drifted off to sleep.---He looked around and seen melted cities and crumbling walls. Where was he?“Doggy! Daddy!” he heard Ari crying off in the distance and went towards the sound, something in him woke at the sound of distressed crying and suddenly he was moving faster. He spotted Ari standing with her hands to her eyes and now screaming.“Back off!” his voice wasn’t words but a roar towards the lanky thing hovering over her. It looked at him and it had a circular mask with jagged lines for a mouth and mismatched hollowed eyes. He reached an arm out to hold Ari close and knock the thing away.“The Dragon Prince awakens!” it screamed and disappeared. He looked at Ari and seen her staring up at him, she was no longer crying or screaming lowering himself and sighed giving her a hug. He put her on his shoulders and started walking, soon the ground was no longer under his feet but he didn’t mind he was still steady and soon they were in the clouds.Ari started laughing and he just went around the clouds often turning and dancing just to hear her laugh again.---He woke up and felt tired he just wanted to rest more but noticed Ari was laying next to him and closed his eyes happily. He missed this. He wanted more of this, just to have someone next to him. But he knew that it won’t last, he knew that this will only happen once.He got up and gathered his things for work and a shower. He left the door open for Ari to hear Sen calling for her and went into the bathroom.He walked out and still felt tired and went to see about catching a few more minutes of sleep until he noticed Ari has yet to wake up.Not wanting to get yelled at he tried to wake Ari up, he was unsuccessful and laid down beside her and started to sing softly to her. After a few moments she opened her eyes and yawned, “Time to get up Princess.”“Ok,” Ari sat up and so did he to help her down from the bed. “I had a bad dream but then it turned good.”“Yeah?” Van asked and closed the door behind them and went to the kitchen.“Mmhm, a scary man was there. I called out for you and daddy but daddy didn’t show. You did, you were a dragon. Your roared at the scary man and it ran away. Then you put me on your shoulders and we flew into the sky with the clouds.”“That sounds amazing,” Van said and sat down at his usual spot to eat breakfast. The rest of the morning went on quietly. Ari then talked to her dad but didn’t tell him much. Van started to worry if he was taking his time with his daughter away. Van left soon after and tried to relax as best as he could.He got to the building and went straight to his office to sort out the papers that he’ll need to be looked at. He hoped that these people weren’t troublesome today, it wouldn’t be nice for him to have a rough start to the day so soon after that exhausting journey last night.He handed off the papers and let the team deal with it while he went to start his exercising routine with the trainee’s. The run was a simple jog, or not so simple for the people he’s running with shaking his head he continued his easy going pace only stopping when Tomorrow decided it was time to stop.They got into pairs and started sparring while Van went on to stretching himself out.Tony excused himself to take a call.“Go ahead,” Tony said. “Rowan slow down, what happened? You stepped out to put a box away and come back to see him covered in blood?”“Isn’t Rowan looking after the house?” Van asked hearing the conversation.“Yes, she found Sen Neko covered in blood when she came back to get the next box.”“What? How did that happen?” Van asked a bit panicked because he wasn’t aware of injuries. Does it not work on Sen? The others were also questioning it since he was normally the first one to prevent injuries before they happen. He was the reason the injury count was down.“Sen, what happened?” Van walked closer to try and hear the conversation. “I see, you were moving a box and something fell on your shoulder. Where is the- ok I’ll have a word with Van about his Holiday Decoration hoard.” Tony gave him a side look of disapproval.“Leave my decorations out of it! Better yet, leave them alone!!” Van huffed and went back to his spot where he was stretching. He felt like he needed to fight something and gave his last few stretches before going to the punching bag in the corner on the wall. He was glad it was one of the denser ones because he felt he would rip the other ones off with the force he was trying to keep together.He didn’t bother to wear gloves or wrap up his knuckles and just started hitting it with force. It swung like any normal bag and the sting in his knuckles from the hit made itself known but he ignored it and continued to try and beat the life out of the bag.His mind wandered to why he was feeling like this.It could have been the dream last night. He felt angry that something would go as far as to scare Ari.It could be that he was tired because those kinds of dreams take his spiritual energy like it was nothing.It might have been the worry he felt when he heard that Sen was covered in blood.His hand twitched and he hit the bag with more force than he anticipated and it sung further and dropped heavily with a clang. He hit it again with what felt like the same force and the bag repeated.Just the thought of Sen covered in blood was enough to make him feel uncontrollable rage. He felt himself growl and hit the bag a few more times with the same force trying to keep his pace even despite how angry he felt.After an hour of doing that he felt more in control again, it seemed all today was it was about trying to keep Ari and Sen protected. The thought of harm to them was enough for him to feel anger he hadn’t felt in such a long time. It was nothing compared to dealing with scum that kidnap or hurt their women.He breathed in to relax his stiff shoulder and quickly threw a punch at the bag and walked towards the doors leading out of the training room. He stood in the shower letting the water wash away his tainting thoughts. He distinctly heard Tony telling him that Sen was ok while he was taking it out on the punching bag but it wasn’t enough to calm him down until later. Stepping out of the shower he dressed and took care of his scraped knuckles.He could see his hands were shaking and held them close to his chest where he felt his arms shaking and the slight tremble in his legs. His breathing was uneasy and shallow and again the image of Sen covered in blood flashed in his mind. He had to know for sure.He took his phone in trembling hands and looked for his text.Only to find six of them unread from him.‘I’m sorting out the garage.’‘Help!’A picture of Sen and his right hand holding his heart while lying on the floor where fake blood pooled.‘I’ve been hit!’‘While I’m dying what do you want for dinner?’‘That fake blood washes off really easily! Where did you get it?’Van smiled seeing that Sen was just fine and the image wasn’t as graphic as he first imagined. He texted back three ingredients and went down to his office where he knew his lunch was waiting. He sat down and decided not to work on papers, the sting in his hands were now more present than they were while working out. He ate the food and got to the last one where it was sushi, he was slightly appalled by the very sight but didn’t want to waste his food. He tried to eat it as quickly as possible but had to stop himself from gagging when the fish touched his tongue.He quickly braced himself and managed to eat one.Just one.He pushed it aside and tried his best to keep himself together. Just the thought of raw food was sickening. He forced himself to breathe and calm his stomach to accept the raw fish he had consumed.

---

Dressed and ready to leave, Van waited by the door for the two to come down for the awaited day. It was time that Ari attended her Debut ball. It was a Christmas Tide ball and Van made sure to dress in his Knight uniform, although something had come up while he waited.
"Boss, you are needed at the Casino Rouge Rose."Nodding at Tony he called up to Sen to tell him to go on without him, he heard Sen call down but couldn't understand the words at the time as he headed out the door to Kathrine's waiting car. They arrived at the Casino and Kathrine attached herself to his arm as they walked in. He heard yelling and a commotion in the back near one of the Black Jack tables. He walked up and seen a drunk man arguing with one of his security members. They backed off as he stepped in front of the drunk."Who'r ssooouu?" the man asked unbalanced."You are causing a disturbance within my Home," Van growled staring the man down waiting for his next move."Iz hat shooo? Well! Why don- why do- hic- out fide?" The man stumbled towards him and tried to swing at him but fell before he made the third step."Have you called the police about the disturbance?" he asked the man beside him and they replied that they had indeed done so after calling Tony about it. Van gave his jacket to Tony to hold and was given a spare jacket in its place. Van put on the dark fabric jacket and lifted the man up and escorted him towards the front. The drunk swung his arms towards him and a few times getting hit on their way. He kept up well as the police arrived and let the man stand on his own so that he could talk to the officers."I got here later, but this man is intoxicated and tried to pick a fight with my patrons." He explained and then the man turned around and punched him on the left side of his jaw, stumbling a bit and holding his chin gingerly as the police fought to control the drunk man.Greenbell messaged him that Sen and Ari had arrived at the Castle as he finished with the police business. He traded jackets again thankful that Tony had taken into account of the smell of others around him. He noticed that he had the faintest scent of alcohol on him but it was soon overpowered by his recent scent of Rose and Sakura Blossoms. He knew it wasn't an appropriate scent, given the weather. It was just starting to snow.He walked in and soon his presents was announced and he was crowded by old acquaintances and friends from Knighthood and Princesses who used to swoon over him. He was glad that it doesn't happen now as they started normal conversations but soon they walked off losing interest in him. Sighing, he went to find his Chef and Princess.He spotted them near the tables having a snack.He stopped and watched for a moment seeing them having a moment, without thinking he took out his phone and took a picture of the two happily laughing together."Well, couldn't get enough of my Charming Smile?" Prince Charming said. Turning to the voice and smiled, he felt calmer than before and the two started to talk about the past. Only for the past to strike up again."Hello, Sir Knight, would you care for a dance?" a woman in white and grey dress with fur walked up to them pointedly looking at Prince Charming."Excuse me, I was promised a dance first," another woman this time in blue and white stepped up."I would be delighted to, but I'm on duty tonight.""Nonsense, one dance won't hurt.""Apologies ladies but I really can't- whoa!" Van grabbed his collar and started to drag him away."I can't believe you let them push you around like that," Van let him go, "You haven't changed one bit since I left.""Is that really my fault? You never let me fend them off until you get fed up.""That's the point, just say 'Sorry' and walk away.""But I'm talking to you.""Tch, like that will stop me. I have other people to talk to other than you.""That hurts," Prince Charming gave his best puppy dog eyes."Dawddy!" Van felt something grab him before he heard Princess's voice."Princess," Van knelt and picked her up."Now I'm really hurt, won't you pick me up too," Sir Dwight leaned against him slightly until he was pushed away by Ari."My Dawddy!" Ari said loudly, Van couldn't help but look at her and laugh as she hugged him."Ari!" Sen said both surprised and scolding and he tried to take Ari from Van."Now I'm jealous," Dwight said and took Van's arm and gently tugged, Ari let go and went to Sen but soon was on the floor and started to 'beat up' Sir Dwight. Sen was about to intervene but Van stopped him and Ari and Dwight got into a fake fight. Dwight had knelt down and held his arms up and tried to punch lightly on Ari's cheeks and she did the same and started saying that Van was hers while Dwight said the same thing.Dwight smiled and took a 'Right Hook' to his jaw and fell and went back to Van and he picked her up and she hugged him."Ari, you shouldn't fight," Sen said trying to scold her."No he's right, fighting is a last resort. If all else fails then might as well put up your dukes." Sir Dwight said getting up and straightening his clothes."That was the last resort. She clearly stated that I was hers, she told everyone here loud and clear. She pushed you away when you didn't listen, should I go further with your humiliation?" Van asked as Ari hung around his neck content."I would like to know what else you are teaching my daughter," Sen said and stared them down a frown visible.