"I don't want to be treated like a child." Ren shoulders slump remembering his family.
"Kiyoshi's a b*stard. Don't let him bring you down like that even if he's your father." I tell Ren sternly.
"How do you do it?" Ren asks.
"Do what?" I look at him confused.
"Have such a big family that cares for you. My father left me here while he, mum and Minato went to hide." Ren answers.
I stop walking.
"Did I say something wrong?" Ren stops and looks down at me.
I look up at him. "Hahahahaha. Oh my. That's the funniest thing I've ever heard. Big family that cares for me. Haha." I laugh and laugh until I'm out of breath. "The only family I'm close to are my brothers, Aunt Cora and her family of four, Uncle Hunter and the four Myth's family. The rest of my family I treat like a business partner. Cold, serious and always on guard. Ha family that cares."
I start laughing again but soon stop when seeing Ren.
"What?" I ask. My laughter's gone and is replaced by curiosity.
"I'm sorry." Ren apologizes.
"For what?"
"I was selfish and forgot what you've been through." Ren replies.
My vision turns black and something warm surrounds me.
"I'm so sorry." Ren says. He places his chin on top of my head.
My eyes widen when realizing that Ren is hugging me. I freeze. This is the first time I've ever been hugged by someone other than my brothers or the Myth's and it doesn't feel like this.
"Sorry." Ren apologizes when he comes to his senses. "I just thought- never mind. Just forget that I hugged you." Ren starts to walk away.
I look up at his retreating back and my face heats up. I furrow my brows when my face feels like it's on fire. Must be the heat. I shrug my shoulders and cool my face using magic. I look back up to Ren's back to see that he's stopped and turn back. He must've noticed I wasn't following.
"Let's go. It's getting late." Ren smiles.
Badump. Badump.
My heart starts to speed up. I look around to see if there's anything suspicious.
'Astrid. Anyone?'
[Nope. Not that I can feel] Astrid answers after surveying the surroundings.
Must be my imagination. I follow Ren to the bus station staying on high alert.
*****
We head back to the apartment and head straight to our rooms since it's late.
"What are you doing here?" I ask seeing the person sitting on my bed.
"Nice to see you, cousin." Rowan says, not offended by my tone.
"So why are you here?" I ask more nicely. I sit down on my chair and glance at him.
"Great disguise but Ren failed his mission."
"I was the one to compromise it. I will take full responsibility."
Rowan nods. "I knew you would say that. Dad heard a rumor in the underworld."
"What rumor would make my cousin come himself? Last time you said you were never going to get involved with me or the underworld."
Rowan smiles bitterly at the memory. "I still have the scar."
"Your hair has grown back nicely. You look like a lion with that thick tangled mess." I insult his hair.
Rowan doesn't seen fazed. "Benjamin will be going to Tokyo at the end of the month. He plans to go in disguise so no guards."
I smirk. "No guards mean he's a sitting duck. He'll be an easy kill."
"That's all Mum told me to tell you." Rowan stands up and takes out a yellow stone which is a spirit stone and is shaped as a tree. He walks towards me and puts a hand on my shoulder. "Make sure he dies." He whispers before a yellow portal appears. He steps through the portal which the yellow spirit stone made and it disappears after.
"Witches." I sigh when seeing the portal disappear.
Witches are powerful. They come in all shape, size and powers. When young Rowan has always been bad at directions so Aunt Cora sought out Aunt Imogen's cousin who is a portal witch. The cousin put a spell on the yellow spirit stone that Rowan always carries around with him. The spirit stone is connected to the spirit flower garden at Renata Castle and Aunt Cora and Uncle Lane's house.
I smile when thinking that Benjamin is stupid enough to go to Japan by himself. I thought that he would've learnt that Japan is my territory and that he shouldn't step foot inside again.
Yuu Yachi.
His face appears in my head. I wonder how Yuu would react when seeing Benjamin again since last time Benny tried to kill him.
I shake that thought out of my head and pull out the necklace around my head. A snowball and a house. The necklace was made using the same materials Rowan's necklace was made. Spirit stone and gold.
Of course gold can be fatal to me but that's only when it's melted and comes in contact with black blood.
I change my clothes and wipe my make up off. I climb into bed and look up at the ceiling. I should really decorate my room. It's too plain for my liking. I let my eyes look around the room which has no windows. It's dark and gloomy, perfect for sleeping in. There's nothing that could annoy me in my light sleep.
I turn on my side and fall asleep only to be woken up later by hunger.
I quickly go downstairs and cook instant noodles.
"Are you hungry?" Ren walks out of his room and ask when hearing the sound of the kettle boiling.
"Yup. Don't mind me and go back to sleep." I smile up at him.
"Okay." Ren obeys.
"Oh wait." I call.
"Is there something you need?" Ren turns back.
"The end of the month I got a mission so I'll be going to Tokyo for a day." I tell him.
Ren nods. "Anything else?"
"Reiji will come over to look after you."
"I'm capable of looking after myself!"
"Yes and no. If a robber comes yes but if a supernatural assassin comes then no. The driver to your mission is very influential and has many friends on the world assassin board." I explain. "Plus Chandler's partner hasn't visited yet so I suspect that he's going to make his move once I'm away."
"Why would he go after me?" Ren asks.
I smirk. "Why wouldn't he? We live together so he must think we have a close relationship. He might even think that you're special."
"Am I?"
"You are a friend and a person that I'm getting paid to protect so I'd say that you're special. I'll also be away tomorrow."
"Oh, okay. Goodnight." Ren shoulders slump and he goes back to his room.
"Huh?" I shrug my shoulders. This must be a teenage tantrum.