That day happened soon after Ayu appeared on the Lookout.

Ayu will always remember that day as a day of revelation. Of acknowledgment that was forced on her, rubbed in her face bluntly and without any hesitation. She had her suspicions, the awareness that was sitting quietly at the bottom of her heart and while it was never spoken out loud, it was still there, waiting. Deep down she knew - but it still hurt. Truth can be harsher than lies... And when she has been turning her eyes away from it for so long, she had to learn about it one way or another. To accept something groundbreaking an equal force, able to shake her world, needed to be used. A tough lesson... Usually, a revelation was taught and beaten into someone the hard way - and that day wasn't an exception.

It started peacefully, with the morning calmly passing by after she finished her chores and meditation.

Staying on the Lookout wasn't so bad after Ayu started to learn more things. The very first lesson was about the healing technique... Because Dende was using it on her every morning. It was like a little ritual that helped her have a clear head and light movements, so she could go through her studies and meditation without any problems. Her energy was pretty much unstable, to the point when the pressure of build-up power was affecting her body. She was more than aware of this state, seeing what she was able to do - how much havoc and chaos her power could unleash. At one point, it could start to break her body down again, slowly killing her from the inside... If it wasn't for Callion who took her to the Ancient Temple in the sky, Ayu could have withered away tucked in the blanket on the old couch. The dizziness that she often felt, the nosebleeds, headaches, all the pain, and the crushing tension... It all was because she was too strong for her own good. Ayu was not a warrior, her body wasn't matching the evergrowing energy that was hurting her from within - and when it was breaking out through her frail, mortal shell, it caused so much pain... To others, to her, to the world around her. And there was nothing that could be done about it, except learning control. It was crucial and cruel, Ayu was aware. The night when she hurt Calot so badly and when she killed people and injured Liari - it was haunting her in her sleep, and these bloody visions were appearing in her meditations too.

She desperately wanted to learn self-control. The steps that Ayu was taking while bettering herself and that ability were small, too small, but as Guardian of the Earth said, it wasn't something that could be taught in one day. Even an inch closer was better than no progress at all. Whole days she was meditating, thinking, processing... Dende's Heal was taking away the painful tension in her body, so Ayu's thoughts were clearer than ever. It helped her to think through some more things and after a while, she asked Mr. Popo for a favor. It might have been something trivial but after days of meditating, finally gathering the resolve and courage to ask for some help was an important thing to her. Even if it was something small in others' eyes... On the Lookout, Mr. Popo became her friend. He was an amiable, calm soul that loved to take care of the plants growing in the temple. Maybe they did not speak much but they didn't need talking to get along. Remembering how he owns a magical, flying carpet, unable to fly herself, Ayu approached him asking for a small request.

Because she wanted to visit her home. Reaching the other side of the planet on her own would be quite a hard ordeal... There was that place, an old, small house made out of red bricks, and wooden piles. The old-fashioned tiny building looked like a memory of the passing century compared to the newest glass and concrete installations in the major cities. It couldn't be helped - Yibai's household was poor. How they moved to a such remote place with an almost ancient house, was beyond her knowledge. She lived there since she remembered. After Zhang was gone Ayu was worried about money but thanks to her powers she was able to save some cash on selling fruits and vegetables. It helped to improve the place, fixing walls, and leaking faucets, and getting all the nice and small things she never dreamed of. She couldn't bring herself to move out and buy a different place after the budget didn't look so bad anymore... How could she so easily abandon her home? She finally had someone that was waiting for her, her little sister, her tiny niece. It made all the difference. A reason to go back home smiling - though now she couldn't tell where any of those two reasons were, which heavily weighed on her soul. In the end, as much as she loved this place, the home wasn't a building. The home was people, the loved ones... And she was missing hers terribly every waking moment.

"Thank you for agreeing, Mr. Popo," Ayu said to her friend and the djinn's mouth widened in a warm smile. He was carrying his trusted carpet in both hands, the very same that had a crash landing near her home - that's how they met. It seemed like a lifetime ago she met him in the forest... There were moments when Ayu was thinking - what if she would have gone with Popo when he told her about Guardian back then? Perhaps so many difficult situations could have been avoided... Or not. Dwelling on the past wasn't a good thing though she couldn't help it sometimes. Shaking her head to get rid of those thoughts, Ayu adjusted her gloves. "I am ready for departure," she smiled back at God's attendant, showing that she was prepared for the trip.

"We should be back before dinnertime," Mr. Popo deducted and unrolled his carpet. The pretty red fabric revealed a gold-like design on top, the tassels floated in the air. The magical device stayed suspended in the air like two feet above the Lookout's floor. Sitting there, the two of them braced themselves and... Ayu blinked, as always surprised by the work of this unusual magic. In one second they were high above the ground, on the ancient temple - and now the carpet was gently floating through the meadow that was growing behind the forest near her house. Looking around she could feel herself smiling softly. Not many things have changed here... "I decided to land in a place without any trees," Mr. Popo said and chuckled, Ayu nodded with an understanding smile. The last time when he was in this area, he crush-landed and broke through the woods, leaving broken trees and a breach in the soil. She didn't mind the long way around, if anything, Ayu was enjoying the ride. There was the stream, the trees she used to climb when she was younger, and the patches of herbs near the stones piled by the border of the meadow. The thick greenery on the other side was hiding a path to the small grotto where the old Namekian ship was sleeping... It's been months since Ayu last was there, right? But it's not like gravity training could be of any use to her now. Even if she wished it could help, she needed a different way to keep herself in control.

The carpet stopped near the edge of the forest. Getting off this means of transportation, Ayu dusted her clothes and looked down from the gentle hill they were standing on. It was so peaceful. The unused road seemed to be overgrown with grass, and from outside it didn't look like her home was empty at all. The area was quiet, just a gentle rustle of greenery and the singing of birds... The sounds of the forest were so soothing. The branches of the nearest trees leaned a little toward Ayu and she couldn't help but smile, touched, her heart warm. It might not seem like it but flora had a mind on their own and she felt that the area she grew up in, missed her. She did too...

When Mr. Popo was busy rolling his carpet, Ayu walked towards the building. Everything looked the same - the old walls, the wooden fence around the area, dark from the always changing weather window frames and aged door. The rose vines were tangled around the tool shed in the corner of the garden, the poles were covered in morning glory and ivy. It looked like always... Though only the state of her pride and joy, her garden, could hint that no one was staying at this place. It has overgrown so, so, so much. Her vegetable patch could use some cleaning... And the apple trees in the corner were made into a home for bird families - right away she spotted nests and feathery, fluffy puffs jumping from one branch to another. It looked like wild animals already helped themselves to the bounties of her gardens and the wildflowers grew between the bed of herbs.

Nothing would make her happier than to start tidying up her garden right away... But Ayu couldn't do it just yet. She wasn't going to stay at this place for long, her home was out of her reach - until she would be able to control her power, she has to stay on the Lookout. And using her abilities to clean all the overgrowing plants would hurt all the animals taking shelter in the wild garden. That needed to wait. She was here, today, for a completely different reason.

It didn't take her long to ponder about the present, because as Ayu was walking towards the door she started to hear a familiar sound. A very loud, distressing meow rang next to her legs and right away something jumped on the windowsill, staring at her with green eyes. She blinked, confused, and then sighed with relief, recognizing the creature that was yelling at her with such an attitude. It was a cat she once healed, a wild and lone soul that used to venture around the forest and only once in a while visit her for some snacks and milk. They were never able to come up with any name for him but sensing a familiar presence was comforting enough. Ayu's expression softened.

"Hey, you're still here..?" she said softly, reaching out to stroke his side. The tabby cat as always was thin and boney but very proud. He was a cat through and through. After two strokes the paw slapped Ayu's hand away and she chuckled. "I'm glad to see you're well," she smiled.

"What a curious creature," Mr. Popo noted, approaching the two of them. The cat narrowed his green eyes, glaring at the Guardian's attendant with something that could sound like a warning hiss, but after a moment he started to purr. Ayu watched with fascination how the always wild and feral feline was gently picked by Mr. Popo, turning into a perfectly tame cuddle bug in his arms. "Your friend?" he turned to her, gently stroking stripped, matted fur.

"I'd like to think that but he's more of a visitor," Ayu admitted, crouching down to pick up the third flower pot from the left side of the main door. That was their hiding place. Grabbing the key, she stood up to open her home, gently pushing the old, wooden door.

There was no creaking noise and yet the silence inside was unsettling.

Ayu would give a lot to hear laughter here, the familiar sound of small feet, the rustle of someone stretching and yawning, woken up from another nap. Now? Her home was empty and quiet. Walking inside and stopping after three steps, she felt this vacant place weighing heavy on her chest. This was her home. And yet, it didn't feel like it... Since she could remember it was often like this, she would return from school to this empty place, welcomed only by silence and her plants growing in the garden. If by any chance Zhang would be here, it was always awkward and suffocating... Then Liari and Terra appeared and filled the space that Ayu didn't like with warmth and their presence - and now it was empty again. Right, right, the home was the people she cared about and it didn't matter where they lived as long as they were together. And yet... She just wished they all were her, back again, the three of them. Like nothing ever happened. Like Ayu almost didn't kill Liari with her powers snapping and attacking everything around her. It was wishful thinking but it gave her a faint idea of what she missed the most. With a sad smile, she started looking around, at the thin layer of dust covering the flat surfaces inside. Toys were scattered in corners of the room, and the potted plants inside started to turn green again with Ayu's presence nearby. It seemed that since she left, no one visited this place... It stung just a little bit.

"Would this box do?" Mr. Popo asked, picking up the wooden crate, previously emptied from the flower pots that she and Terra used to paint with pretty colors. It made her smile, remembering that time. The dried-up strokes of pain were still present on the wood, like the memories that awaken when her eyes lay on the crate. This would be ideal... Ayu nodded, taking the box from Mr. Popo's hands and placing it on the kitchen table. Now - she had to look around. Suggesting that he can have some rest in the meantime, Ayu started to search through the house, while Mr. Popo sat on the chair nearby. The cat wasn't leaving his side, rubbing his side against the djinn's legs and the two of them seemed to bond very quickly. Would Dende allow them to bring feline to the Lookout? There was no doubt that Mr. Popo would take great care of his new friend and it would be nice to have someone like that strolling through the chambers... A fluffy, warm presence. Though on the other hand, it could be dangerous. One misstep and, well, Ayu didn't want to think what could happen to a poor cat. One jump from out of the window or the edge of the temple while chasing birds or butterflies could prove fatal. Some beings were meant to stay on the surface of the Earth... Well, Ayu felt like she was one of them but here she was, living for the time being in the Ancient Lookout in the sky.

Either way, she was glad that Mr. Popo agreed and helped her to visit her house today. Ayu wanted to bring something with her, to make the Lookout feel more like an actual home and to keep important trinkets safe. When Callion brought her there, she didn't have anything aside from clothes on her back - she didn't even have shoes... Dende gave her new clothes, they offered her a new room and everything she used was from the temple. It wasn't so bad because Ayu didn't have many things in her possession in the first place but still her mind would venture back to things left behind.

In short, she was busy picking things that she wanted to take with her to the Lookout.

The box started to fill with various items that Ayu simply wished to keep close. She never thought about herself as a materialist but those things were holding a special meaning in her heart, she couldn't just leave them to get dusty and forgotten in an empty house. Without her little sister and her niece, she needed something that could act as a substitute for closure. Hopefully, this didn't feel as pathetic as it sounds... She missed them so much. After months of sleeping tucked next to Liar's arm and with Terra's legs on her stomach, she couldn't get used to spending nights alone in a quiet, modest room. Something was missing, the warmth next to her side, a slow, peaceful breathing she could listen to when the visions in her head didn't want to let her sleep... So Ayu wanted to at least hug something that belonged to them - taking with her some of her personal belongings of course. Her herbarium and private notes about plants, alongside drawing utensils and sketchbooks have found their place in the case. Terra's favorite plushie, her coloring pencils, and ribbons couldn't be missed too. Oh, and Liari's blanket, the one that mysteriously always found its way back to the coach each time she was sleeping there. Ayu folded it neatly and put it carefully into the box, looking around for anything else. There weren't any photos there - Ayu now regretted not getting a camera. She always thought that the house was empty without frames filled with happy faces, not like Zhang would actually want to pose with her, but she would love to have a memory like that with Bluebell and Sweet Pea. Wherever they are... Her note was laying on the table untouched. Next to Ayu's instructions about being sent to Lookout, there was Terra's message written with crayons that she was going on an adventure and won't come back home for a while.

She could only wonder if she'd be able to sense them anywhere near or be lucky enough to walk right into a familiar Majin again. Dende promised he'd tell her as soon as he'd see any of the two - but nothing like that happened so far. Only the gossip about a crazy villain attacking cities was heard here and there.

Things weren't as they seemed, she knew us much.

Before anything could happen, Ayu decided to focus on getting better. It might be that future and fate had something planned for her, so she needed to be in control of herself. There will be a lot of studying and meditating, she knew it... She had to be ready - and what was most important, she can not ever again let herself snap, losing control of her powers. Never.

For now, she was busy looking through her, Liari's, and Terra's belongings. After dusting the kitchen counter Ayu heated up some water and made them two cups of mint tea. Mr. Popo was pleasantly sipping his beverage, stroking the cat that decided that his lap was the best spot for napping in the whole house. Looking at the two of them made her heart warm. The things Ayu planned to take with her weren't taking much space but she had a hard time choosing what she could need... Or what she should take strictly because of sentimental value. Books, she needed books... Standing by the bookshelf in the living room she started looking through the titles, trying to remember where she put the rest of her notes. Maybe botany was boring for many but she has spent lots of time polishing her knowledge and researching her powers so it would be a shame to just leave everything behind. It might prove useful later.

And then she heard a car approaching. By engine sounds, it must have been a newer model, the antigravity one that hovered above the ground seamlessly. Ayu blinked, slightly raising her head and exchanging with Mr. Popo cautious looks. It wasn't unusual for vehicles to pass by this area even if it happened rarely - the road was very old and almost forgotten but once in a while someone would wander in this place. Be it by accident or a stranger would look for a nice spot for sightseeing in the forest, it never bothered her. Ayu shrugged a bit, continuing browsing the books on the shelves, expecting the car to pass by the house and the sound to disappear alongside it... No. It stopped in front of the house for whatever reason and that startled Ayu a bit.

Because... Who could be that? It's not like she could feel a presence approaching. It was like nothing, like no one, was out there.

They could hear the door of the car closing, and heavy steps walking toward the entrance, crushing small stones and grass under thick soles. There was a metallic clunk of the key reaching the keyhole and a moment of silence when a person standing there realized that the building was open. The handle was pressed and the wooden frame creaked - and Zhang Yibai walked in. Right as he stepped inside the building, his and Ayu's eyes were locked in shock, confusion from his side and concern from her.

Her green face paled turning into a hue of gray, cold sweat appearing above her brow. The ground felt like it was going to swallow her whole, both knees and hands were trembling so much that she couldn't say anything - there was a lump inside her throat. It felt like someone stubbed her stomach, twisting the blade to the side to cause more pain than necessary. Because... How could she not be worried and scared at this point? Zhang looked the same as he did the last time she saw him. A tall, brooding man with grey hair and a face full of angry wrinkles, his presence overwhelming, the look in his eyes unpleasant with a grudge hiding there. And that was a man who ordered a mercenary group to hunt her down and capture her alive. Both humans and androids from Red Ribbon that were on the mission of kidnapping her did not make it out alive. Liari, Calot, Ayu herself - they killed them all. In her case, she did it in panic and without control but it didn't change the fact that Ayu stole their lives... And the very man who wanted her to be taken away by them, who told the mercenaries about her was her own adoptive grandfather - Zhang Yibai, a genius mind, a famous geneticist and bio-engineer. The man who disappeared for almost a half of year walked into her kitchen like nothing ever happened.

"W-Why are y-you here..." it wasn't much of a question but a statement that Ayu half-mumbled and half-spit out. She was trembling. The cat hissed and jumped out from Mr. Popo's lap, arching his back and showing his teeth to Zhang. The God's attendant stood up from the chair, clearly troubled and worried but he raised his arm toward Ayu in a protective gesture.

Out of everything she could have asked him, her mind had to go blank and she said something that put her at disadvantage... Because seeing how pale she was, Zhang scoffed with a wry, crooked smile and once again Ayu felt like everything inside her was frozen solid. It was a habit or maybe it was the uneasiness that she was raised with. Ayu always was afraid of this man, tall, wide, with broad shoulders and a scary presence. She dared not to oppose him, because how could he? He was the one who took her in, have her food, clothing, shelter, and... And he knew that she was shy and meek, so he expected her to follow his every word. There was no mental strength in her or the rebellious streak to stand her ground - it was like this for a long time. The very first time that she opposed him was when Ayu had to visit him at the university. Back then, when she was saved by Jorey. Zhang didn't allow her to even thank the man for his help, dragging her away - she slipped from his grasp, running back to the Saiyan to convey her gratitude. Of course, her guardian was angry but at the same time, he showed a lack of care, indifferently thinking about that little display of her own will. After that Ayu was banned from visiting any major cities and then she saw Zhang talking with that man in red in the fancy restaurant and-

"You have no idea how much trouble you caused me," Zhang's tone was sharp and full of pressure, as he stroked the bridge of his nose. His dark glare was as piercing as always, making her nauseous. "And where have you been? Did you finish playing house with that blue friend of yours and run off?" There was... Something mocking in his tone but the clenched teeth and the dangerously hostile tone made his every word feel like a shard of glass. This man always reminded her of a bear for a reason - easily irritated, enormous, and eager to confront anyone daring him to calm down. "You have no idea how long it took me to work off that little feat you pulled off in the wasteland..."

He knew. Ayu realized that with cold sweat on her back and a dark pit growing in her stomach. He knew that she was living here with Liari... Did he spy on her? They did often visit the town together to sell their vegetables and sweets, so maybe that's why... But knowing that he didn't mention Terra or the Lookout it seemed that his information haven't been updated for a while. Though what happened in Break Wasteland must have reached his ears sooner than later - if he was the one who send mercenaries after her, their fate was probably something that caused a great fit of anger. She shivered suddenly, the uncertainty holding onto her stomach. Why was Ayu so worried about that... This man never cared about her in the first place, did he? She hoped and believed that under this thick skin, he wasn't just skillful at showing emotions, deep down making sure that she will have a good life. But, no. It was never about that. Even now Zhang walked into the house he abandoned, glaring at her, who was supposed to be in his care, reproaching that she didn't allow herself to be taken away by Red Ribbon. Her hands stopped shaking all of a sudden when a certainty started to grow inside her chest.

There was nothing she owed him - but there were a lot of things that he owed her. For example, honesty and explanation.

"Why did you order them to kidnap me?" Ayu asked with a softer tone but the clarity and sound of her voice made both Zhang and Mr. Popo look at her with caution.

There was a heavy silence in the room, weighing on her shoulder before Zhang scoffed again. With a sigh he raised his hand, scratching the back of his head as he often did when frustrated. The brow on his face narrowed, his bushy eyebrows joining into one, angry line. She knew that gesture and the unpleasant look in his eyes... It was the gaze of someone who had to say something he did not like and hated to be questioned about it - convinced that there was no blame on his side. He might have been a genius but he was an awful person, to begin with. Maybe Ayu should have been more honest about that...

"The Red Ribbon wanted to buy my project and I got paid nicely," when he finally admitted that, he made it sound as if it was nothing. A project. She shivered again not because of what his words meant but because the tone he used was so... Indifferent. So casual, like it was a part of his work, with no feelings, no second thoughts, no lingering sentiments. "Unfortunately, I couldn't come to pick you up myself so they decided to send a special unit. Knowing that you were often in a presence of that blue monster they were taking precautions... But so I heard you helped in wiping them all out," Zhang tilted his head and his expression darkened with pure, unrelenting spite. "I don't remember raising a murderer," he spat those words through the tightly clenched teeth.

That hurt so much that Ayu took a step back, her hand over her chest. Her heart was beating irrationally, trying to deafen everything else around her but she couldn't allow it. This was not the right time to panic again. What happened back then... She didn't mean it, she really didn't mean it... Her energy was out of control, she was scared, and his betrayal pushed her into a panic. How could Zhang even say something like that, when he was the one who orchestrated everything - Ayu's only fault was that her enormous power snapped out of her control while both her mental and physical limits were reached and broken. Knowing that her missing grandfather, about whom she was worried sick, ordered her kidnapping... That did a number on her. So she was telling herself but Ayu knew that she had to learn from that mistake. Live and learn to make sure it won't happen again.

But it felt so bitter.

"So I am a murderer and a project," she said calmly, though her voice started to crack as emotions were taking over her reason. Her burning sorrowful eyes were gazing at Zhang, she couldn't look away. Everything she knew was now being challenged - or proven, depending on who was speaking about it. "I know I am not human. I k-know that," tears began to gather in the corner of her pale yellow eyes and the pained expression on Ayu's face didn't want to go away. She lowered her head, not wanting to give Zhang the satisfaction of looking at her broken like that - or just to keep the rest of her composure intact. Now she couldn't stand to look at this indifferent face, she felt like her heart might break in half. All her pain, distress, worrying about her origins, and wishing for a place to belong to - it was nothing to him. He never gave her an explanation, never cared, never considered it, so why would he do it now? But she needed to know. "S-So would you mind," her hands curled into shaking fists. "Finally, after more than ten years, t-telling me - what am I?"

She finally asked about that. The thing was that Ayu... She knew now. The reason why her blood was of different color with that dark rose hue... Why her nails were always white, and why she had more prominent fangs than humans. Her powder green skin, lines around her wrists and ankles, unusual hair color, ability to regenerate - it all made sense. There was no way she could be of Namekian heritage, knowing about that race reproduction made it clear... And yet, here she was, a human energy mixed up with Namekian's Ki, layered on top of many other types of powers that were twisting into one living being - her. There was no way that she could be alive, that she came to be naturally, no. And the fact that Zhang Yibai was a genetics genius made it even more obvious. It was Ayu, who was blind for so many years, or rather, she was turning her head away from the truth, believing that she was a child of some unknown race that once visited the blue planet and tragically died in a car accident. That is what she was aware of now - yet she wanted to hear it from him. Loud and clear.

"You are nothing more than a thing I created in a basement laboratory with that damned Williams," those words hit Ayu harder than she ever suspected they would, and tears started to stream down her face while Zhand rolled his eyes, continuing to be irritated by everyone and everything. "You didn't even turn out right, for heaven's sake! A year of work wasted. And she basically dared me to watch over you, curse that old hag," he shook his head and his eyes grew colder. "You're alive because we both had a whim of trying our abilities. Nothing more." He finished with a tepid, emotionless voice, looking at her with something in his glare that Ayu never saw before. Resentment.

This was too much for Mr. Popo who was about to say something but Ayu placed her hand on his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. The djinn looked at her, concern painted in his black eyes... But in the end, he remained quiet because she shook her head slowly. She did not wish for him to hear all those things, knowing that he would start to worry, stepping in for her sake. That was between her and Zhang.

"Thank you," she whispered to Mr. Popo before taking a step closer to look at Zhang. While being questioned he remained there at the entrance, standing annoyed and not hiding his attitude. But it was far from over. "S-So t-that's it..." she replied, closing her eyes and wiping the tears from her face with a sleeve. "You m-made me, I k-know. You never thought of me a-as your granddaughter, did you? W-Was I even a living and feeling person i-in your eyes..?"

His scoff shouldn't surprise her anymore but the fact that it hurt again started to be quite mundane. Zhang did nothing but show indifference and hurt her with his words and Ayu didn't expect anything else from him at this point. Just knowing her origin would be enough.

"Oh, you're very much alive, but you're nothing, a side project that didn't turn as well as expected. I wanted to put you in an orphanage but Williams was sure that something could happen to you so I had to take you in," he explained it so easily, so effortlessly with the get-over-it approach that Ayu's chest tightened. So, that was it. The whole reason why she was his adoptive granddaughter - it wasn't kindness, it wasn't even a sense of responsibility for something he created. No, just ego that wanted to make sure that although she was a failure in his eyes, nothing else would happen to her so he could prove it to his colleague. Or anything else, every reason felt twisted. It sounded like he expected her to drop dead at one point and maybe, just maybe - her overgrown and overwhelming power level was the reason for that. After all, Ayu didn't turn out as expected so it wouldn't be anything surprising if something was wrong with her body... That made so much sense she felt her lips trembling and she had to bite them not to weep out loud. "... But I have to admit, I never expected that you'd start to grow so rapidly, developing plant-manipulating abilities," he stroked his beard, his eyes narrowed with a pensive look. He looked like a philosopher pondering now about the nature of his creation but there wasn't even a shred of decency or regret of how he was seeing her.

She really was nothing else but a project that he was forced to look after through all those years. And Ayu used to delude herself that she meant something in his eyes - even if she couldn't come up with a good excuse why. Maybe it was her loneliness looking for some closure in the only person that she thought was close to her, but now? A stranger. She was worried when he disappeared too, only to be greeted with a harsh truth... She was nothing but a failed genetic engineering project. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to realize that she was made in a laboratory but Zhang's whole attitude, emphasis on how small her worth was... It hurt. Ayu had her flaws, she was aware of that more than anyone else. All her life she was looking for a meaning to her origin, hoping that it would give her a sense of comfort, and when it was presented to her - her whole self was degraded and shaped into something less than a speck of dust. That's how it felt, a misery growing strongly in her chest, failed hopes that she had tasted like ash on her tongue.

The world outside darkened slightly when the forest's trees stretched their branches into the sky. Her garden was alive now more than ever before, the leaves rustling and murmuring on their own. The potted plants that were sitting quietly on the windowsill started to grow rapidly, silently the leaves and vines were covering the glass with green, bushy screens. The cat hissed and bolted out from the home, sensing something that Zhang wasn't able to spot just yet. Ayu was shivering, her mind starting to go blank from the sense of dismay. Mr. Popo placed both of his hands on Ayu's shoulders but her mind wasn't as clear as before. Her breathing grew heavier and there were moments when the worried face in front of her was starting to blur... Still, like a cruel sense of humor, her hearing was perfectly fine. She heard every word of Zhang's lecture while he was still talking and talking and he wasn't going to stop anytime soon...

"Oh, great, now you're trying to reproach me. Don't look so shocked," he snorted and waved his hand. "I didn't lie. Your whole family died in a car crash. You barely survived and were dying with brain and organs suffering major trauma... You would die anyway," his silhouette was clouded in a fog for a second but she was sure that Zhang Yibai just shrugged without a care in the world. Her heart was beating painfully in her chest. "We took you to our hideout. We treated you or rather we made your body fix itself by splicing your genes and adding Namekian DNA. And many others too," as Zhang explained Ayu's shivers were becoming stronger and a sense of foreboding washed over her. She knew what this sensation was, she was very well aware and panic started to feed on her anxiety. Still, she couldn't stop listening. "There is this Beastfolk that lives at the bottom of the sea, the genetic compatibility with those was very unlikely but it worked and helped to stabilize the whole process. Surprisingly certain plant chromosomes matched the created new genotype..."

His voice started to grow lower and then again she heard everything with clarity so sharp it hurt her ears. Ayu was slowly losing it. The floor beneath her feet seemed to crack gently as if something was dwelling there, slithering under the wooden boards. Was Zhang really the reason that she felt she was going to snap again? Was what he said worth her tears, pain, and her energy slipping away from her grasp..? W-What if she will kill him..? The power was fluctuating more with every passing second, rising high to falling low only to jump again in an irregular pattern. Ayu couldn't help it, her fear was only making this state stronger - but she was scared of herself and nothing she could think about could calm down this growing panic. It sunk into her bones, spreading this aching sensation through her very core. She hated the idea of hurting Zhang - no matter who he was she didn't want to cause anyone harm, not anymore. Keeping it all in was messing up her senses. Blood dripped from Ayu's nose, falling to the ground and staining the floor, her chest raising heavily with every breath.

"Ayu..." Mr. Popo placed his hand on her back trying to give her some sense of comfort in this ridiculously bad situation. She was grateful, from the bottom of her heart. Maybe if it wasn't for him something would have happened already but Ayu was still fighting... But it felt too much like trying to hold onto the breaking rope, praying that the last string won't snap. The djinn looked at Zhang with a frown on his face, not hiding that he does not think about the man favorably. "You have no right to condemn the being you created. Every life is unique and important, and Ayu is a special cause." He raised his hand, separating them from the man glaring at him with mocking amusement. "She can do more than you could ever dream of and what she achieved is not tied down to the likes of you."

A muffled groan could be heard when Ayu struggled to stand still, her innards seething with growing power. Mr. Popo hold her and supported her enough so she wouldn't fall down but the situation was getting worse. The dizziness was taking over and the desire to let go of this struggle was following right after...

"Oh..." Zhang's voice seemed surprised but also pissed. "A pity you think that way. Though I guess you're doing worse than I thought. Anyway, I can fix that breaking body of yours," he offered, walking closer to them and stopping two steps in front of Ayu and Mr. Popo - only because something in the djinn's eyes made him stop in his tracks. "The Red Ribbon was very interested in the method of modifying humans to give them regenerating bodies. You see... Lots of my files were either destroyed or lost but you're here," he looked at Ayu. "I can finally make use of you. The blueprints are gone but you are the evidence that my method worked. It will need more polishing but with RR's equipment and connections, I could improve my research... And with that, I can fix what's wrong with you."

And again that superior voice, sly and vibrating with anger under a seemingly composed tone. Maybe he was honest but Ayu did not dare try trusting him. Deep down she was always afraid of him so much that at times it hurt. Right now that fear began to grow on the information that he was truly Ayu's creator. It felt so hopeless, especially when he rubbed it in her face how useless and meaningless her existence was... But this time she wasn't confronting the bad news alone. Mr. Popo was here. There were people she treasured... And their words meant more to her than Zhang's cold opinion could ever do.

"Now, are you satisfied? There's a long way to the City so get in the car an-" as he said that, assuming that she will meekly follow his instructions, Ayu cut him off.

"No."

The floorboards behind her broke. The trees sprouted out from the ground, roots digging into the foundation and the branches breaking the old roof like it was paper. Shrubs grew under her feet and the more her energy started to seep out of her body the more mayhem was devouring it... The vines in front of Ayu shot out toward Zhang and they tossed his body like a ragdoll through the door - he landed on the oak tree on the opposite side of the road, almost breaking its trunk in half. Mr. Popo looked at her startled and run out of the house... A good choice, considering that the walls started to shake and the dust was falling from the ceiling.

Again. It happened again... This time Ayu was more aware of what was happening with her body, she recognized the pressure and the painful tension that was ripping through the layers of her control. It made the guilt worse. She never wanted this, she never... Ayu never asked to be made. What has she done to deserve this wrecked body that caused her and others only disasters? The vines like snakes were wrapping around the furniture, flowers blooming on the wooden frames, tufts of grass growing in every corner of every room... She heard a wall or two break down, and bricks falling to the ground outside. Here she was, destroying the only place she wanted to return to... That was filling her heart with despair. What was Liari or Terra going to say if they come back to this wreck? Or worse, was she going to kill anyone again? The nauseous fear didn't make it easier. Through tears, Ayu clenched her head in both hands, feeling her knees giving in. She heavily sat down on the floor, in feeble attempts trying to hold that power in, no matter how hard it would be... But her only result was the taste of blood filling her mouth. It filled like energy was leaking through the cracks of her body and the flora was drinking it eagerly, growing without control and growing even more.

Her mind felt like it was starting to fade away... Just in time, she saw a familiar person flying through the hole in the wall toward her.

"We're leaving!" Mr. Popo shouted, grabbing half-conscious Ayu by her arm and pulling her onto the flying carpet. She didn't oppose it, she wasn't in any state to do so. As soon as she fell on her side on the red fabric their silhouettes blurred and they disappeared, returning to the Lookout... There Ayu was going to be sealed for her own good since she couldn't calm down her powers after her encounter with Zhang. And here... After their presence was nowhere to be found just like that, everything turned quiet. Without Ayu's Ki the frenzied greenery that was about to take over the house, slowed down and finally stopped. The rippling effect of her emotional state faded away in an instant. The growth was halted and there was no more energy that could feed the flora here... So everything stopped. The only thing that was left was the silence that danced between the green leaves.

And the wooden crate packed to the brim with treasured belongings, still standing on the kitchen table.

Though not for long. Before dusk could cover this side of the world with darkness, Mr. Popo returned. He picked up the box with items carefully selected by Ayu and crouched down to pet the tabby cat that was following him through the house. The feline rubbed against his legs for the last time and with a gentle purr, leaped into the bushes behind the house. The djinn sat on his magic carpet, gazing for a second at the damaged house... This was only a fraction of the disaster that took place in the wasteland but the sole fact that it happened again was concerning enough. The countermeasures taken weren't as effective but they have to rely on them for now.

Soon enough, Mr. Popo disappeared.

Everything was quiet again.

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Power Level - 296,255
Word Count - 7,741