Alari smiled hearing Mera's response, he was sure there would come a time when it would happen and it brought him comfort to know there was someone he could lean on when that time came. He nodded in agreement about open emotions as keeping them exposed all the time was almost as exhausting as keeping them hidden. When she looked at him he found it was difficult to speak all of a sudden. With Mera's face being so close he found his heart was starting to beat even faster, but he didn't want to let go of her though he found he was losing track of the world around them. Mera was overshadowing his senses and he wasn't completely against it happening, However she reminded him of Larel which quickly brought him back, he let out a nervous chuckle at the remainder knowing she was absolutely right about it. This moment of absolute bliss had to end but he found it was difficult to actually move away from Mera. Hearing Mera's thank you only made it harder and caused his eyes to widen as his heart warmed at her words causing him to hold her even tighter. Alari was seriously considering taking the anger from Larel just for a few more moments like this, but he knew that wasn't right and with an extreme amount of regret he lowered his arms and took a few steps back.
"Why don't you head back first Mera, I'll gain more of Larel's wrath if I'm within a certain range of you," Alari said. "I'll be right behind you."
He pushed his glasses up as he closed his eyes, he could still feel Mera's warmth and he found himself blushing at the realization, he put his hand against a tree to keep himself up as everything started hitting him at once. 
"I'm...gonna need a few minutes anyway," Alari said smiling a little.

Larel returned to his focus on the food which made Kaori grateful as he thanked Rin for the help, she only offered a nod in return keeping her attention ahead and on the forest. Kaori was glad to at least be learning new things, Alari only shared so much with him thus most of this was new to him. He was glad to learn more about Larel and the others but he was positive Larel didn't feel the same way so he chose not to voice it. When Eryn mentioned the fish Larel immediately grabbed the largest one with a thank you before digging into it immediately. 
Rin glanced over at Eryn when he held the fish out to her, her eyes moving to the fish in his hands for a moment. She didn't really need to eat so there was no reason for her not to decline, but she reached over and took the fish from his hands.
"Thank you," she said before taking a bite of it. 
Kaori grabbed a piece and smiled seeing Rin eating in silence, she really was like Alari minus the attitude he had that same expression whenever he offered him food, he ate it more out of politeness than hunger which showed his consideration.
Larel glanced over at Mary as Hotaru moved towards her, he listened to Raina's warning glad he chose to keep some distance from her but he was a little worried about Hotaru being that close and was a bit relieved when she moved away.
He noticed Hotaru flinch and his eyebrows drew down a little seeing it but when Hotaru spoke his normal expression returned to his face. He tilted his head a little at Hotaru as she asked him a question.
With a sigh Larel just shook his head ashamed he didn't have a ready solution to that inconvenience.
"Sorry Hotaru still looking for a way to fix that myself," Larel said. "All they can do is really talk for the most part, annoying as it is you just can't let it get to you. Zenmaru's told me to kill you guys about twenty-seven times for example."
"I was off by one," Rin said finishing her fish.
"I'm afraid Sybil's just going to keep talking, only reason Zenmaru is quiet is either because of Alari or our agreement. Aside from that she's constantly going on about something. Oh if there was a way to wear her out or satiate something in her she'd probably go dormant but I don't like the idea of...satiating Sybil."
"It's a good thing I was listening then."
Larel glanced behind him as Zenmaru rose out of his shadow in her human form, though it was just a female version of Larel in the end. Larel arched a brow as her face was pale, her black hair was disheveled and her clothing was a tad torn.
"What happened to you?" Larel asked.
Zenmaru looked at her clothing and snapped her fingers causing it to fix itself, Larel seriously started to wonder how the two of them could do that but left it alone knowing Zenmaru of all people wouldn't answer it.
"Anata was pretty rough if you must know," Zenmaru said. "You wouldn't tell from the way he looks how violent he can be," Zenmaru said putting a hand to her cheek and blushing.
"......Seriously what did you do in my shadow?"
"Nothing all that interesting, I tried to eat him he was rude and didn't want to be eaten so we got into a bit of a tiff, I got my arm, leg and head blown off he got cut by me multiple times and beaten near to death. If he had just minded his manners and died in an excruciatingly painful way like a gentleman there wouldn't have been a need for that."
"....I suppose just be glad she can't do this," Larel said pointing at Zenmaru. "Then you get to hear her inside and out."
"That's rude I actually came out just to help Hotaru."
".....really," Larel said his eyes narrowing a bit at her words.
"Of course now listen Hotaru the easiest way to shut Sybil up is just to let her take over, then you won't have to hear her anymore problem solved."
Larel just started at her along with Kaori their faces completely blank, Rin sipped her tea ignoring her which caused Zenmaru to tap her chin a puzzled expression crossing her face.
"You know I was just joking right?" she said smiling.
Kaori felt that no part of that was a joke but he didn't want to be used as a seat again so he didn't say anything.
"Anyway Hotaru by now you should know that Youkai love doing one thing in particular, aside from maiming, devouring and the such and that's manipulation. I mean you haven't lived until you've made an entire village kill themselves by spreading ill rumors. It sounds boring but watching them tear each other apart is surprisingly entertaining. Even more so when they find out it was all a lie, it's so much fun."
"Your sense of humor is sick," Rin said.
"I'll take that as a compliment, anyway if you don't succumb immediately Sybil she'll just try other things, she'll pick at your deepest darkest secrets and regrets to make you doubt yourself. I of course am telling you this because there is no way to stop it...without negotiation or force. Sybil is intelligent and crafty but I doubt she'd deny negotiation, I mean she can't do anything in you as you are and she must want something, do take note that she's crafty so if that doesn't work force her down. I've lived in Larel for over ten years so I've grown fond of him thus I'm willing to sacrifice for his sake and our agreement is minor."
"Yeah and all it took was multiple traumas you make me relive in my nightmares every night," Larel said taking a bite out of his fish.
"Well yeah if you went and forgot we wouldn't have all our memories together," Zenmaru said kneeling down and wrapping her arms around Larel's neck from behind. "You'd miss them and you know it."
Larel sighed and made motion with his hand causing Zenmaru to look behind her, she shrugged and sunk back into his shadow causing it to expand a little.
"I'm sorry about that but I'm afraid I don't know how to make her stop, much as I don't like admitting it Zenmaru does have a point as that's how i handled it. Granted the first few years we were together I dealt with some...pretty messed up stuff..."
Larel seemed to trail off at that but he quickly came back and looked at Hotaru.
"I was a kid then so you have that advantage over me, just don't let her get to you. We can do some research to find a way to make her stop or destroy her, maybe I'll find something too."
Larel glanced to his right and sighed before turning his attention forward.
"Zenmaru says you look very nice today by the way, she could just devour you...I'm afraid she means that literally so feel free to ignore that."