Wicked Reincarnation

Chapter 209: New Way

"It's done, take my hand," Yano held out his hand as the all-familiar portal threw sparks around. Lia didn't move. Seeing the round blue circle already made her feel nauseous.

"Don't. Let me," Zero grabbed Yano's hand and then Lia's. It was already morning. Yesterday the three of them barely managed to escape from the soldiers. Thanks to Yano's quick wit, they were able to hide until the soldiers disappeared and Yano could use his portal.

Zero woke up a few hours ago, confused but then quickly recollected himself.

"Let's go," surprisingly Zero took the lead. With one step, they leapt into the portal and Lia felt the awful pressing feeling on all sides of her body. Maybe because she was just recently hurt, it was several times worse than she remembered.

Finally, it was over and they landed on soft, earthy ground. Lia looked around, holding her hand to her mouth as nausea crept up, "It's Neverland."

"Yep, welcome to my place," Yano slyly said but Zero distorted his face, "Great. The last place I wanted to be."

"Wear this," Yano gave Lia and Zero a bracelet.

"What's this?"

"It helps purify the toxicity in your body."

"What?" Zero alarmed started the bracelet, "Why toxicity? There's nothing in my body, right?"

"It's not you but Neverland," Yano explained, "The air here is toxic so breathing it in could even kill immortals, that's why no one comes here."

The Neverland. Lia narrowed her eyes. It was different than she had experienced. It was only a big piece of barren land with absolutely nothing. The sky was dark and the surroundings mirrored the gloomy atmosphere. Only here and there did some colours akin to a hologram appear.

Apart from that, far and wide, nothing could be seen except for the land that seemed to never end.

Neverland. The most surprising thing was the fact that there were barely any ghosts. Only a few vengeful ghosts detected them which then were quickly purged by Lia.

The stories of how Neverland was roamed with ghosts were wrong and deceiving. Lia narrowed her eyes. First Noel and now Yano. Living in places like Mistand and Neverland, it was no wonder they turned out to be like this.

"I'm surprised, you're still sane in your head," Zero spoke out what Lia thought.

"Well, I could guess your reactions," Yano shrugged his shoulders.

"Wait, where do you live?"

There were no houses. Nothing.

"Don't tell me on the ground," Zero panicked.

Yano laughed, and said, "Follow me. I'll lead you."

Lia wasn't sure if Yano was joking or not but he confidently walked through the land. Everything looked the same. It was the same scenery all over again. How could Yano see the difference and navigate through it? Where was north, south, west and east?

"Lia," Zero scooted closer to Lia as they walked behind Yano, "Do you notice anything else than this awful plain land?"

"No," Lia smiled and pinched Zero's cheeks. Zero looked offended but let Lia do as she pleased until Yano suddenly turned around. With a serious expression, he walked to Lia, grabbed her hand that was still on Zero's face and put it on his.

"Why do you always dote on him?"

Lia was at her wit's end. Was Yano serious? Was he seriously competing with a child for favour?

"Hurry up," Lia pulled her hand back and ignored Yano. Yano looked so pitiful at the moment that even Zero felt bad for him.

"I mean-" Zero started but Lia stepped past them both, "Are you now going or not?"

Yano sighed but quickly lifted his spirit, "It's not far from here."

Not long after, they arrived at an area that was

"Exactly the same as everything else," Lia pursed her lips.

"Now that's the magic of it," Yano held up his hand and drew his all-familiar circle. This time, however, he pushed it back and the circle flew in the air until it disappeared. At the spot where it vanished, Yano put his hand up and a light blue shine appeared.

The air shook a little like water when something fell into it and then Yano said, "Guys, come closer."

The next moment, Yano gently pushed Lia through the wave-like air. She glided through the air before her legs steadfastly stood on the ground.

This time something completely different took her by storm. The blue and bright sky with birds chirping revealed a place that seemed like it was in the mountains.

Grass surrounded three mansions that stood quite a distance away from each other. It was a beautiful sight, contrasting the dull and dead Neverland.

"What the hell?" Zero rubbed his eyes and pinched his arm, "Is this the same place?"

"It is," Yano joined them and tapped the air. The wave-like current disappeared, "It's a hidden place in Neverland."

"An illusion?" Lia narrowed her eyes.

"It's not what you think. It's not the Z family's power and not an illusion," Yano laughed as she seemingly could read Lia'smind.

"Then what?" Lia still couldn't believe what she saw here. It was as if two worlds clashed with each other or as if she stepped through the portal and landed somewhere else.

"This is my dad's power. This is what Neverland used to look like partly," Yano explained but before Lia or Zero could question it, Yano suddenly froze, "Oh, I hope he's not at home. Hopefully, he's travelling around."

"Why?" Lia was curious as to why Yano seemed so nervous.

"Well it's best if you don't meet him. He's quite eccentric and embarrassing"

Lia almost laughed out loud. So Yano also knew what shame meant, she thought his face was so thick, being shameless was natural for him.

But here he was feeling ashamed of his father. What a turn of events. Suddenly Lia found Yano very endearing. Now in a good mood, Lia hummed, "I want to meet him."

Yano widened his eyes nervously before his usual smirk appeared, "I see. Usually, it's the man asking for the father's permission but if it's you, my dad would gladly allow you to marry me."

Lia almost bit her tongue. Indeed, truly shameless. She chose to ignore him while Zero danced around trying to catch the butterflies.

"My house is there," Yano pointed at the mansion in the far right, "The middle one belongs to Mil and the left one's where Skyla's family is."

"I forgot you are all childhood friends," Lia mumbled and thought of Leo. Her heart started to ache.

"Come, delicious food awaits you," Yano smiled at Lia warmly.

The mansion was pretty normal. It looked similar to Mika's. The only difference was that it was quite modern like the ones in the Mortal World. It had a glassy exterior with a balcony on the second floor. There were three floors.

Inside the mansion, the walls were of creamy granite and flowers graced almost every corner. Lia remembered that Yano had an affinity for flowers.

A large spiral staircase led up and big chandeliers were everywhere. Yano led them to the living room where Lia and Zero sat before they heard a loud voice hollering from upstairs, "Is that you, my son? You finally came back and not even greeted your old poor, lovely father."

Yano bit his lips and briefly closed his eyes. When he opened them again he could see the smug on Zero's face and Lia trying to stifle her laughter.

"Dad" Yano mumbled and rushed up the staircase preventing his father from coming downstairs, but Lia and Zero could hear Yano's father deliberately shouting, "What? My son's finally got guests coming over that are not the lovestruck childhood friends? Damn, you grew up, you make your father proud!"

Slap. Yano's father encouragingly hit Yano on the back. Zero was giggling and Lia was amused.

"You don't tell your own father he's embarrassing! When I was your age I used to smack all the-"

"Dad! Please just stop! Go back to your room," Yano couldn't take it and also shouted.

"Yano! Your daddy's hurt. That hurt a lot. You are so ashamed of me you even want me to go away? That hit hard. No, I- I really don't know what to say."

"Dad"

"You don't even want to introduce your friends to me? Back then when you were still in your nappies and picking flowers-"

"DAD! Stop! Just go!" Yano right now sounded incredibly desperate. Lia was very happy about his misfortune but for some reason, Lia found the dad's voice familiar.

"If you say it like that then I gotta meet your friends!"

"NO, dad! Dad, come back! Come-" Yano raced after his father who cheekily descended the stairs.

Zero stopped laughing and together with Lia anticipatingly stared at the entrance of the living room.

"I can't believe my son is embarrassed by a cool father like me! Don't worry, Yano, I'll show your friends how not embarrassing I am."

"You are not only embarrassing but also cringy!" Yano held his father back who still managed to invade the living room.

First, his eyes fell on Zero, "Son, I didn't know your taste went this far."

Yano who dashed after his father bit his lips.

But then the father and Lia met eyes. The old man laughed and hit Yano ungently on the shoulders, "I see, it's like this."

Then he approached Lia, "My good girl. I told you I'd like you as my daughter-in-law but didn't I tell you not to fall for my good-for-nothing son?"