A/N: Here's the new Chapter! Which also means the next FIVE chapters are up on my Patreon for early access!

Just when Celine thought she was going to be able to get everything under control.

-x-X-x-

The ding that Jinu has already started to associate with the tower's elevator draws everyone's attention before he can actually say anything. Rumi and her girls are making some seriously wild assumptions, but Jinu doesn't even get a chance to refute the idea.

Instead, he watches along with the hunters as the elevator doors open to reveal a wild-eyed Celine stomping out, followed by a slightly panicked Bobby.

"Celine, is this really necessary?!"

Jinu rises to his feet as Celine almost immediately locks onto him and begins to stomp over. He's tangentially aware of Rumi, Mira, and Zoey all hopping up as well, but the retired hunter stops well short of getting in his face, keeping a good distance between them.

However, she does jabs a finger in his direction, eyes narrowing into slits.

"What is the name of this so-called sister of yours?"

Jinu frowns even as Rumi, Mira, and Zoey share wide-eyed looks. He can't help but bristle a little bit at the insinuation inherent in her words. So-called? As if he was a liar. Which to be fair, he is. But also as if his little sister didn't exist. And she definitely did. Crossing his arms over his chest, he thrusts his chin out.

"Her name was Ahri. And she was very real, I assure you."

Celine's jaw drops open… before clicking shut as her hands curl into fists at her sides.

"Where did you hear that name, demon? Who told you it? Just when I thought your kind couldn't get any lower, now you're trying to use my own family against me?"

Oh shit. So then did that mean… Jinu's eyes barely have time to widen before Mira lets out a low whistle from the side.

"Hooooly shit. So it's true then. You're descended from Jinu's little sister. Damn. What are the fucking odds?"

Practically bouncing up and down next to Derpy, Zoey leaps in.

"I mean, once we knew the connection, it was basically a one in three chance. Still, this IS crazy!"

Rumi, meanwhile, just looks lost as she alternates between staring at him and Celine with her mouth wide open. Celine on the other hand…

"No, it's not true! This right here is all the proof we need of the demon's deception. He's done well so far to convince all of you of his friendly nature and I don't blame any of you for trusting him. But this? He's overstepped if he thinks that I'm going to buy for a second that he's some… long lost ancestor!"

Silence falls as Jinu's frown deepens. He really, really didn't like Celine disparaging him like this. Or rather… disparage HIM all you want, but he didn't like to hear ANYONE disparaging his little sister. The only problem was, she technically had a point. How was he supposed to prove the truth?

Just as he's asking himself this question and Rumi and her girls are exchanging uncertain glances, the Honmoon… makes a noise. If he had to categorize it, Jinu would say it giggles, for lack of a better descriptor. He can tell they all hear it too, not just himself. And suddenly, Jinu is smiling. Because thanks to the Rainbow Honmoon, he knows exactly how to prove it.

"You don't believe me? Fine then. Maybe you'll believe your precious Honmoon."

Jinu lifts up his hands, his iridescent patterns filling with rainbow light beneath his too-tight Hawaiian Shirt as he lets the Honmoon do most of the heavy lifting. With this, even Bobby should be able to see it… and yep, judging by his widening eyes and gasp, he definitely can.

All eight of them (Derpy and Sussie included) are seemingly transported back in time, arriving in the very same village where his mother and sister had found refuge after he'd been forced to abandon them at the palace gates.

Celine whips around in confusion as the daylight of the penthouse suddenly transforms into the nighttime of Ancient Korea.

"What?! What have you done, demon?!"

"I've done nothing. This is all the Honmoon in the end… and don't fret, hunter. We haven't gone anywhere; we're still at the top of the tower. All of this is just a projection of sorts. But you wanted proof. And proof is being graciously provided by the very thing YOU swore to protect. So you'd better watch carefully."

Things kick off soon after that, preventing Celine from saying anything else. Instead she's too busy tensing as the first of Gwi-Ma's forces crawl out of the ground near the edge of the village. Rumi, Mira, and Zoey do the same and Rumi even tries to leap in between a demon and a villager, only for both to pass right through her as the villager runs and the demon chases.

The eight of them might as well be ghosts here in this moment. All of this is just… well, it's his vision but overlaid for all of them to see.

In the end, they can only watch as the demons chase the villagers into their houses. Personally, Jinu only has eyes for his mother and sister just like last time, taking in the sight of his mother trying to protect his sister from the demon creeping closer and closer to them.

And then… the singing. The First Hunters arrive, tearing through the demons, saving the day, crafting the original Honmoon through the soul energy the villagers happily give to them.

"HOLY SHIT, THEY'RE SO COOL!"

"They're fucking hot. And that style… damn."

Zoey and Mira are not quiet in their praise. Rumi and Celine, on the other hand, mirror each other in their silence. Though… Rumi looks on in awe and wonder and no small amount of amazement. Celine just looks to be in a state of willful disbelief.

Finally, the first Honmoon is fully erected. The vision continues on, showing Jinu's little sister and mother with the hunters. It ends with one of the First Hunters kneeling down and offering her hand to Ahri… and Ahri taking it with a tentative, hopeful smile as she accepts the offer to be trained in their ways.

Jinu's own lips are pulled back into a broad grin of his own by the time everything concludes and they're seemingly transported back to the penthouse at the top of the HUNTR/X Tower. He looks to Celine.

"There. My little sister Ahri, the First Hunters' first student. The Honmoon itself has backed up my claim. What proof do YOU have that you come from her bloodline, hm?"

Celine stiffens as he throws her previous accusation back in her face. Mira lets out a sharp bark of laughter and comes over to lean her elbow on his shoulder.

"Oh c'mon Jinu. Is that any way for a seonjo to talk to his huson?"

Celine flinches hard at those old, traditional words, only for Zoey to giggle and pipe up just to drive the dagger further home.

"Hmm, I don't think seonjo works well here, Mira. Jinu isn't Celine's grandpa or anything… so really, it should probably be josang, right?"

Their mentor's face is getting paler and paler. Rumi, meanwhile, looks torn between backing up him and her friends… or trying to take her mentor's side. Before she can decide one way or another, Jinu crosses his arms over his chest and catches Celine's eyes with his own, locking her in with his gaze.

"Well? Where's your proof, hunter?"

For a long moment, Celine just stands there. Until finally…

"I… I can prove it. I'll go back to the compound, I'll find proof that you aren't who you say you are, demon. You've tricked the Honmoon itself… but you can't trick me. I'll prove it. You'll see!"

The woman flees. There's no other word for it. She makes her excuses certainly, but she still turns and runs away, fast walking back to the elevator and leaving as quickly as the doors will close and the large moving metal chamber will take her down the tower.

Silence hangs for a moment before Mira busts a gut laughing and even collapses backwards onto Derpy. Zoey giggles as well, even letting out a cute little snort.

Rumi, who had her hand up in Celine's direction as if to call out to her, whips around on them both.

"What the hell was that you guys?!"

Jinu watches as Mira and Zoey stop laughing. But where Zoey looks at least a little guilty, Mira just shrugs.

"She had it coming."

Rumi growls.

"I don't need you to… to punish Celine for my sake, Mira!"

Sitting up, Mira scowls right back.

"I'm not, Rumi. Sure, I'm mad at her for your sake as much as anything, but I'm also pissed at her for my own sake. What, I'm not allowed to be angry that she lied to me and Zoey all these years just as much as she made you lie to us?"

Rumi flinches, causing Mira to soften… a fraction of an inch.

"Look. I'm already holding my tongue on a lot of shit Rumi. But if she's going to be around and I'm not allowed to lay into her for making you cover up, then I'm going to lay into her for other things. That's just how it's going to be. If you don't like it, feel free to tell her we know already so I can punch her in her stupid face."

With her piece said, Mira stands up and stomps away, heading to her room. Jinu watches her go for a moment before turning back to see Zoey taking Rumi by the shoulder and pulling her into a hug.

"Hey. Sorry for being mean to Celine. But… Mira is right. It's going to be really hard to act normal around her, knowing what we know now. It's like… it's like the bridge is perpetually on fire. But until she knows that we know, we can't find out if there's enough water nearby to put it out and salvage it… or if she's going to burn the bridge down entirely."

Rumi bites her lower lip… but slowly nods.

"I-I get it. I'm sorry I'm making you all lie to her."

Zoey just sighs and smiles.

"You know I've always got your back, Rumi. Mira too. And we'll get through this just like we get through everything. Together."

Pulling away from Rumi, Zoey looks over to Jinu.

"Look… I know we haven't exactly fixed everything. But can we just take the rest of today off? I think it would do us all some good."

Jinu can tell immediately that Rumi is going to try to protest this. So before she can do more than open her mouth he cuts her off with a nod.

"Yeah, I think that sounds like a good idea. Gwi-Ma spent a lot of power doing what he did today. I think it's safe to say we know why yesterday was so quiet now… but also, I don't think he'll be able to muster up another attack tonight either. We should be good and… the Honmoon isn't going anywhere."

From the guilty expression on Rumi's face, Jinu knows she has thoughts about that, especially since she's released two weakening pulses into the Honmoon so far this time around. But what she doesn't know is that it could have been a LOT worse.

The Saja Boys, by this point the first time around, had caused way more damage to the Honmoon than just Rumi by herself could. Weak spots galore, constant disappearances, human souls being fed to Gwi-Ma left and right. That hadn't happened this time… Jinu wouldn't let it happen this time.

Plus, Mira and Zoey knew now about Rumi's patterns. Even Bobby knew. So hopefully, there wouldn't be any more weakening pulses sent through the Honmoon going forward. Hopefully, Rumi would start getting the support she needed from those who were closest to her… even if that wasn't Jinu himself.

Rumi still looks tempted to argue, but before she can Zoey is already taking ahold of her hands.

"Hey! You know how we get Mira out of her room?! Movie night, just the three of us! Either she HAS to come out… or we invade her room and use her TV instead!"

That brings a slight smile to Rumi's face.

"Yeah? And what are we going to be watching?"

"Oh, I know JUST the thing!"

Jinu, recognizing when his presence is no longer needed, meets a quiet Bobby's eyes and nods towards the elevator. The HUNTR/X Manager nods back and they both depart while Zoey is doing an excellent job of holding Rumi's attention.

Once the doors are closed on them and they're heading back down the tower, Bobby turns to Jinu with a frown.

"Sorry about that. I thought I was telling Celine the least incriminating thing about you. I hoped that maybe it could be a way to show her that you were on our side. Instead… it looks like I just gave her a whole new reason to distrust you."

Smiling, Jinu shakes his head, reaching over and giving the shorter man's shoulder a friendly squeeze.

"You've got nothing to apologize for, Bobby. You couldn't have known it would be a… pressure point for her. Besides, it gave the Honmoon a chance to show off a little bit. That was pretty fun, right?"

Bobby's eyes shine at that as he nods emphatically.

"That was amazing. Like virtual reality, but so much cooler and realer on account of it being actual magic. The things you could have the Honmoon show… I bet they'd all be just as incredible."

Jinu's smile falters a bit at that and he has to shake his head again, this time with a bit more melancholy to the motion.

"I'm afraid not, Bobby. Pretty much all of my memories, both human and demon… there's nothing worth showing of that stuff. The First Hunters saving my little sister is probably the best thing I could show and it's not even my own, heh."

After all, even knowing that what happened in his human life wasn't entirely his fault, Jinu still had to live with knowing that he'd ignored his mother's warnings. Her and Ahri surviving long enough to be saved by the First Hunters was a lovely consolation prize though…

Its Bobby's turn to reach over and grasp Jinu by the shoulder, startling him out of his pity party for a moment.

"Look Jinu… I won't try and pretend like you haven't done bad things these past four hundred years as a demon. I'm sure you did. But I think you need to start to consider whether it might be time to forgive yourself. After all, if the Honmoon gave you your soul back and is offering you this shot at redemption… don't you think you owe it to yourself to try to take it?"

For a long moment, Jinu just stares at Bobby, stunned. Then, he lets out a sheepish chuckle.

"You're really good at this, aren't you Bobby?"

Getting bashful, Bobby lets go of Jinu's shoulder and waves his hand airily.

"Ah, well… I do my best but I'm not amazing or anything."

"No, you are. You're amazing. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

Bobby just laughs it off and before long they're parting ways as they reach the floor with Jinu's apartment on it. Bobby is too distracted by Jinu's praise to notice that his smile doesn't fully reach his eyes.

Because… Bobby doesn't know everything. If he did, he might not believe Jinu was so worthy of forgiveness or redemption. And sure, maybe he's had some of his previous shame and guilt alleviated today, but there's still everything he did as a demon… specifically everything he did to Rumi in the previous timeline.

And as Jinu sits down in the guest apartment and just stares at the wall, he won't allow himself to forget that the Rainbow Honmoon didn't have a choice. His was the soul entangled within it's grasp. If it could have sent anyone else back, he suspects it probably would have.

… But that's okay. Because he's doing the best he can anyways. And today… today was some real progress, so he really can't complain.

-x-X-x-

A/N: Jinu's struggles with loving himself continue for the time being. But he's not wrong, he does still have things to make up for~

Feedback is GREATLY appreciated, every comment helps me shape a story like this one!

-x-X-x-

If you'd like to read more of my work not seen on this website, check out Hentai-Foundry.com and QuestionableQuesting.com where I have over a thousand stories!

If you'd like to contribute to funding my writing at all, check me out on Patreon.com/Cambrian

Thanks for reading!