Zeliek dried her and himself off and carried her back into the bedroom.
Freya clung tightly to her father.
Zeliek drained the water in the tub and continued to hold her.
"Don't go away like that again, daddy."
Zeliek finished washing her and kissed her.
Lucrecia cried happily and hugged Ryo. "I swear you have more lives than a cat, Ryo."
Zeliek gently washed every curve of her body.
"Daddy, you're home!" Freya said as she ran up to him and hugged him.
Zeliek started washing her.
"There, all done."
Zeliek held her close.
"It's almost done."
Zeliek got up and filled the bathtub with water before getting in.
Zephyr continued the procedure. "This is taking a lot longer than it normally does. I guess it's because I'm getting old."
"But he'll be back, right?"
"I think I'm gonna go take a bath. Care to join me?"
"I hope he does. I miss him a lot."
"I know you'll enjoy life as a demon a lot more than a human's life."
Freya woke up and looked at her brother. "Is daddy coming back?"
Freya was still asleep in her crib, tear stains going down her face. Lucrecia knelt down at Ryo's grave and closed her eyes.
