Chapter 14
Ichi
"Signing these papers mean that you accept being a guardian. What do you say?
Xael's Point of View
"Wahhhhhh! Why didn't you tell me that Bree has some incredible power?" Kichi gaped as he reminisced what happened. I didn't respond to what Kichi said and continued to treat Bree.
We were now back in the shop and Bree wasn't close to waking up. The couple asked us to treat her wounds for the mean time before they can question me. They didn't ask any further about Bree being a demon since it was obvious to everybody that it wasn't the right time to talk about it-well except Kichi. I understand that he doesn't know how serious the situation was so I let his question slide and decided to keep my mouth shut.
Demons are feared across the whole land because of their nature. All the races lived together thousands of years ago but the demonic race decided to side with Kratos. Kratos was the parallel realm of the mortal world where the evildoers reside. Anyone from any race who seeks destruction, power, and all the selfish vices of men goes to Kratos to commit their one main purpose-to have one realm where power-hungry beings reside on the top.
"Thanks," I mumbled as Mizuki threw away the water that we used to clean Bree. We already changed her clothes with one of the maid outfits she bought here in Cerulean. I told her that she can buy normal clothes but she insisted to buy those instead.
I burned her blood-stained dress and the used cotton balls since her ability revolves around blood manipulation. Anything that comes in contact with even a tiny drop of her blood can be manipulated by her like how she controlled the King. I'm just making sure that she won't be going berserk next time.
Hiro was leaning beside the door frame with his arms crossed while Sir Magnus and Lady Raven left the room and went outside to give us a little bit of privacy. I know this was sudden for them but I just didn't really know when to tell them. In reality, Bree actually saved my life when I was a kid but it seems like everyone doesn't like the word demon whenever they hear it. Only my parents and Lady Solaris knew about her being a demon. My mom over reacted at first but after a quick talk with Lady Solaris, it seems that she calmed down. I wonder what she said to her.
This is so frustrating. I don't know what to say to them. Maybe a breath of fresh air would calm my mind.
"Where are you going?" Kichi curiously when he noticed me grabbing my green hood from beside the table.
"Outside," I shortly answered. He didn't ask any further since he might have noticed the thick ambiance inside the room. The silence was so uncomfortable that even when the floorboards downstairs creak when I step on it made me anxious.
"You talked to him? Didn't you?" I quickly paused and held my breath when I heard Lady Raven's voice from outside.
"Yeah," I heard Sir Magnus answered. I could smell the smoke from his favorite cigarette that it almost made me choke. I tried to not make a sound since they were just by the other side of the door.
"What?!" Lady Raven scowled. I could sense the anger vividly revolving on her word. I was able to see them when I peeked on the glass pane on the door.
"You did what?!" She repeated and walked closer to him.
"It's fine, honey." Sir Magnus calmly responded as he stepped on the burning cigarette butt which he just finished using.
"What do you mean by 'it's fine'? It was part of our truce with the last Arcarums that they will no longer cause havoc as long as we don't engage with them. What if Lionel tells the others and decide to break the truce? We're still outnumbered in Kratos and if they side with them it's game over. We don't have Alex anymore. He clearly instructed us to never, under any circumstances, make connections or contact with them. It was his last command before he-oh you get what I mean!" She whisper-yelled with controlled voice but you could tell that it was making her frustrated. When Sir Magnus mentioned the word Arcarum on our ride back to the shop, he explained to us that they were the most elite forces in Kratos. They form the group everytime a power of a new guardian awakens and their main purpose is to kill each and every guardian that they find.
"Calm down, Raven. I only said hello to him as a friend and asked him some few important questions. Even if I didn't approach him it seems that the other Arcarums have been secretly allying themselves to Luna," he apathetically said and grabbed another stick of cigarette from his pocket and lit it up.
"So Luna really is the keeper of Kratos. Does Sol know?"
"I doubt that she wouldn't. Out of all of us, she holds the most secrets. If the news of her sister finally reigning on their father's throne, she would be the first to know," he said and puffed out smoke from his mouth.
"Why are you eavesdropping on them?" Someone whispered behind me which made the back of my hair stand. I almost screamed out of surprise but good thing he grabbed my mouth to keep me from making noise.
"Shhh. Be quiet. Do you want to be caught?" Hiro asked. I shook my head as a response and he immediately removed his hand from my mouth.
"Which reminds me. Why did you burn the King's skin back in the castle?" Lady Raven asked, grabbing Sir Magnus' cigarette and placing it in her mouth to puff out smoke.
"Burned the king's skin? Haha. Even if I really want to, I'm not allowed to do that. Not only we'll be kicked from Cerulean, we'll even face Serenity's wrath," he smugly smirked.
"Wait so, then who did?" Lady Raven mumbled to herself. She once again puffed out cigarette smoke while thinking deeply. Both Hiro and I simultaneously looked at each other because it was the same question we had in mind. I'm sure it wasn't me since my ability doesn't revolve around that kind of power.
"Who did what?" Sir Magnus asked. Maybe it wasn't really him. He grabbed his cigarette back from Lady Raven but it seems that she didn't care. She seems to be in a trance. Her burrowed eyebrows make me think that she must've been thinking how and who burned the King's skin and making a portion of his clothes turn to dust.
"By the way, that girl should find her comrades fast. New Arcarums are now moving..."
"...and you know what that means, war is brewing up."
There was a long pause before Lady Raven responded."I wonder what he would do?" She whispered and looked up the sky.
"Xael. Bree's awake. She's asking to see you," Hiro said, breaking my train of thought
"Huh? What?"
"Kichi came over a while ago to tell you that she's awake but it seems like you weren't listening."
We decided to quietly head back upstairs so they wouldn't realize that we were secretly listening to their conversation. I wonder who Lady Raven was talking about.
-•-
"Waaaaaahhhh! I really love you, breakfast. You're the best thing ever invented. You make my heart and stomach crave with such desires!"
Morning came and Kichi was already daydreaming about a person made out of breakfast food. He was chomping on some toasts with bacons and eggs on them. Beside him was Mizuki who's aslo...
"Waaah! what's that Joe? Yes! I will marry you!" Loud sounds of slurping came from Mizuki who was talking to a pitcher of coffee. Just like Kichi, she was daydreaming of marrying a person made of coffee
"You guys are weird." On the other side of the table was Hiro. He was enjoying his vegetable salad of chopped cucumber, tomatoes, radishes, bell pepper, minced green onions, garlic and lettuce. He said it was a healthy diet for him.
"Are you sure you're just gonna eat those leaves?" Magnus asked as he sat at the end of the table. He was holding a book on his left and a mug of coffee on his other hand.
"Yes, sir. As part of my healthy diet, eating such vegetables and fruits may reduce the risk of heart diseases, including heart attack and heart stroke. It also can be a huge help to protect against certain types of cancers. These vegetables are the sources of many nutrients like potassium, folate or folic acid, vitamin A and vitamin C," He said in a matter of fact like a genius professor pointing out a chart of nutrients of vegetables.
"Uh..I see" Magnus sweatdropped. He reminded her of Bree when he once complained about the dying potted plants by the windowsill. She started to recommend him all the fertilizers she knows like some kind of professional botanist.
"What happened to the youth these days?" He whispered to himself. When he was their age, all he could think of was where babies came from.
"Will you two stop cuddling with your food?" Hiro scolded. He thought that it was disrespecting for Raven and Magnus' part. Kichi and Mizuki didn't listen to him and just kept cuddling with their food.
"Give them a break Hiro. They're still kids." At the other end of the table was Raven who was not eating anything.
"You're not gonna eat?" her husband asked, setting down his mug on the table. She just shook her head and opened her fan to cover her face as she looked to the side, deep in thought.
"Would you care for some salad, my lady?" Hiro offered as he stood up to grabbed a clean bowl.
"N-no thank you," she refused. Hiro just shrugged it off and sat back down.
"Good morning," the princess chirped from upstairs. She showed up wearing a green dress and it looked like she didn't get much sleep.
"Xael, come let's have breakfast" Magnus enthusiastically invited her as he closed the book he was reading. Raven's eyes squinted when she noticed Bree behind Xael. The princess must have noticed that everyone was staring at them so she quietly sat next to Hiro who was carefully munching on his leaves. Bree followed right after her and stood up straight behind her, keeping a stoic face. No one made a sound. The clanking of their plates when their utensils hit them was all they could hear and it was louder than usual because of how quiet the whole table was.
There was a suffocating silence before Raven decided to break it.
"Xael."
"Yes, my lady?" Xael meekly responded. She laid both of her utensils on the table and looked at her. She knew where this conversation is going and she's been preparing to answer it since last night.
"Raven, this isn't appropriate right now." Magnus nonchalantly remarked without looking up from the book he was reading.
"I don't know why or how you have a connection with a demon..." Raven continued.
"Demon?" Kichi whispered as he was still chewing.
"...Brielle is a sweetheart but you know that she is still a demon."
"Raven."
"She is my shadow. She won't hurt anyone unless they don't hurt me," Xael defended, slamming her fists on the table. The porcelain plates clanked with the silver utensils that they were using. She hated this. She hated when someone looks down on the people she loves.
"That's the point!" Raven raised her voice higher. Everyone paused on what they were doing and looked down, the tension rising by the second."You are the daughter of one of the most powerful people here in Ethiopia and we can't deny that Serenity and Fendrel had some enemies. Don't you realize that they may use you to threaten both of them?"
"Your demon maid may kill those bad people but once a demon goes berserk, you can't stop them. On top of that, she's the Puppet Master. Do you know what that means? She was the highest living war machine in the demon race. She was still a kid back then but she killed thousands of our men from the last great war. From the last war where a demon killed my brother!" She said, controlling her voice.
"Brother?" Xael raised her brows. Raven's eyes widened when she realized what she said, cold sweat dripping from her temple.
"I didn't want to be like this..." Bree whispered.
"It's true that demons are monsters because of how they throw away their emotions. But what can we do? We are trained to fight. To not feel anything even if blood stains our hands." She looked down on her hands and clenched her fists out of anger. "10 years ago, hime freed me from the bounds of restrictions that the demon race had given me as the Puppet Master. Once a demon becomes a shadow, other demons can't do anything to reverse it. It has been 10 years since I used my ability and isn't that enough proof that I won't go rogue like you expect me to be?"
"What was that?" Kichi asked, looking behind his back.
"What's what?" Mizuki asked back.
"I don't know, I think I heard something large crashing outside the house," he said as he knitted his brows to try in figure out what it was.
"Way to ruin the mood, Kichi." Kichi got embarrased at what Hiro said and slumped on his chair when he realized that everyone was staring at him. Raven started laughing for an unknown reason which made everyone confused.
"Alright, alright. I understand now. You have my respect, kid. It takes guts to stand by yourself. Besides, I doubt that Serenity and Solaris don't have a clue about this, so I'm giving both of you my trust," she calmly said but this time with a much more lighter aura.
"Ehem...is it done? We still need to talk about something," Magnus barged in in as he coughed on his hand. Raven laughed at him while shaking her head in disbelief. Seems that he wasn't affected with what happened.
"Talk about what Sir Maggie?" Kichi aksed as he fixed himself.
"Please don't call me that," he threateningly smiled. "It's about the enemy Mizuki and the other guardians are going to face."
"M-my enemy? Did they come to arrest me?" Mizuki squeaked as she hid her face with the table cloth.
"What arrest? You kids keep confusing me," Magnus said as he scrunched his nose.
"I assume that you rememeber what I already told you about the Arcarums right?" Everyone nodded.
"Assuming everyone of you here is familiar with diablerie which is witchcraft from demon-magus hybrids, you must be familiar with tarot cards. Arcarums are consisted of 10 people that represents 10 of the major arcanas from those cards," Raven explained.
"As of now, they are complete and would be making their move anytime soon. Lionel mentioned that their first target would be in Cuscoux. So it would be advisable that you leave Cerualean at once and try to stop them now that Xael's hand isn't glowing anytime soon. You could find useful intel from while the next location isn't revealed.
"Ohhhh. New adventure," Kichi grinned.
"Mr. Lionel Adchi is one of the the Arcarums? The bailiwick?" Hiro asked.
"Was. He was part of the last group. I used my stomach as an excuse to talk to him privately while you were assisted by Deborah. It might be even possible that that kid is one of the current ones too."
"Where is Cuscoux?" Mizuki asked.
"It's six kilometers to the east from here. Cuscoux is the land where natural resources come from and this is also the land where the Dwarven people reside. It would make sense that their first stop is there since they would be gathering materials for the war," Magnus explained.
"S-six kilometers? I can't leave Cerulean," she anxiously panicked.
"Why? Are you afraid of travelling?" Kichi curiously asked.
"No. It's not that. I... I just can't..."
"Mizuki, why?" Xael asked.
"I'm sorry everyone. It's just-I'm taking care of two children. If I accept, that means I would have to leave them." She looked down on her knees as she fiddled her fingers again.
"Children? Then that means...You're a mother?!" Kichi shouted
"Will you pipe down, Kichi? Don't go jumping to conclusions," Hiro scolded as he rubbed his ears but Kichi didn't listen to him because he was too deep in thought. He didnt even hear Mizuki's explanation.
"No... They're orphaned now. Their mother died a week ago and they've been living in the streets ever since. I've been helping them for a while now and it wouldn't be right if I leave them behind."
Raven paused for a moment. She and Magnus communicated with their eyes while they decide what they would do to make her be a guardian.
"Is that so? Then how about you fetch these children? We would like to see them," Magnus stood up from his seat.
"See them...?"
"Yes Mizuki. I, too, would like to see these kids," Xael answered. Mizuki was a bit confused which made Xael smile at her, to assure her that everything's gonna be alright.
"Okay then!" Mizuki shouted with joy as she ran towards the door.
"Hey wait! Take us with you" Xael said outloud as she tried to call her before she could turn the knob.
"I want to come!" Kichi shouted as he raised his right hand.
"No, it's okay everyone. Dana and Gus tend to be shy when it comes to other people. They might get scared if they stumble on some strangers." Mizuki finally twisted the knob and ran outside.
"Don't get in trouble again, okay?" Xael yelled.
"I won't!"
The kingdom of Cerulean is a place where most aristocratic people can be found. Due to fact that the place is filled with rich buyers from all over the land, it can't be avoided that thieves roam around the place to rob someone naked. Even though patricians take over 90% of the population, there were still poor people in the kingdom which were usually the beggars and the thieves.
When Mizuki was abandoned by her adoptive parents, all she could do was steal. As a child, she was always quick with her hands and body. She didn't have other credentials or qualifications to find a job so she had no choice. She always thought that thieves were bad people but as she grew accustomed to their life and got closer to them, she was able to understand that they did it out of survival and not to cause any evil deed intentionally. So despite being a thief, she decided to do charity works by helping other people in the slums with the extra money she steals. The closest family she got was Dana, Gus, and their mother.
Mizuki lived her life by stealing money and jewelries from people until she found an opening for as bartender-waitress at a lousy bar shop in the kingdom. It was another opportunity to earn money since it wasn't just herself that she was trying to feed. Instead of quiting of being a thief, she made it a special routine on her work at the bar. She can steal stuffs from her customers as she serves them. It's like hitting two birds with one stone.
"Dana! Gus! Onee-chan's here-Huh?" The place was empty. No Dana nor Gus in sight. Could they have been kidnapped? No, impossible. Their things are still there.
"Dana! ...Gus! ...Im here! ...where are you, kids?" She yelled while walking by the dirty alley. Where could they be? Did they get lost?
"Where could have they have been?" Mizuki asked herself as she was looking around at the busy place. Treats, meats and sweets surrounded her. The smell of the sweet caramel glazed coffee near her was so tempting that made it made her tummy growl even though it wasn't long when she drank her last coffee. No! She doesn't have the time to be buying things.
"Onee-chan?"
Mizuki turned her back only to see the two kids wrapped around a light blue cloak she let them borrowed.
"Dana! Gus!"
She immediately hugged both of them and checked to see if they're okay.
"Nee-chan. Where have you been? We've been looking for you for two days now," Gus pouted.
"I'm sorry. Nee-chan had some things to take care of. Have you eaten yet?" She asked. Before they could even reply, their stomachs started grumbling.
"I guess not. Come with me. There's people that I'd like you to meet."
-•-
"What is taking her so long? It's going to rain," Magnus warily asked as he lit a cigarette to calm his nerves.
"Lord Magnus. It would be best if you stop smoking. Your clothes are starting to smell like tobacco," Bree pointed out as she pulled the cigarette away from Magnus' mouth and threw it onto a trashcan.
"Wait, really?" Magnus confusingly asked. He grabbed another cigarette out of compulsion but before he could light it up, Bree swiftly stole it once more and threw it again in the trashcan.
"What the?" Magnus got even more confused.
"Will you pipe it down, Maggie!?" Raven irritatingly complained as she looked outside the window to spot any signs of Mizuki.
"Yeah, she's right, mAgGiE" Kichi mocked as he laughed at his own banter.
"Eh? Who are- huh?" Magnus didn't know whether to laugh or scold him so he ended up uttering gibberish syllables out of his mouth.
"We're here!" Mizuki shouted from behind the door. She quickly entered inside the shop with the two kids behind her, shyly hiding under her cloak.
"Everyone, this is Dana and Gus." Mizuki extended her arms to introduce them. The two kids hid behind her when they noticed that everybody was staring at them in awe.
"I wasn't expecting them to be twins," Hiro said as he walked closer to them.
"Hello. My name is Hiro." He bent down on one knee and extended his hand for a handshake. Both of the twins got startled with his gesture but Gus eventually warmed up to him and shook his hand while Dana was still hiding inside the cloak.
"You have the coolest blue eyes, mister. I like you," Gus said which made Hiro chuckle and mess with his hair.
"I'm sorry. Dana is very timid when it comes to new people," Mizuki said as she pulled Dana closer to her.
"It's okay. They're so cute!" Xael went closer to Dana. "Did Hiro scared you, munchkin?"
"N-No.." Dana meekly responded as she hid even more.
"Dana, isn't she that pretty blonde lady you keep talking about when we passed by the palace gates?" Gus asked. Hiro was carrying him on his shoulder.
"Gus!" Dana exclaimed and glared at her brother.
"I like your blonde hair too, lady." Gus whisper-yelled which made Dana even more embarrassed. Xael chuckled with her cute gesture and tucked the lose strands of Dana's hair behind her ear.
"Don't worry. I like your black hair just fine," Xael whispered and carried her up.
"Ohhh, so this is Mizuki's children," Kichi mumbled to himself as he rubbed his chin. "But I don't know. Xael and Hiro look like their parents. Suspicious. Hmmm." He looked at the four of them like they were straight out from a poster of a happy family.
"Hime, I brought some snacks." Bree was carrying a tray with slices of cakes and chocolates. The twins eyed each other when they saw the sweets and raced towards it, jumping out of Xael and Hiro's grasp.
"Mine's the chocolate cake!" Gus snickered.
"H-hey!" In the end, Dana was able to get most of the sweets. Gus was okay with it since he was happier to see his sister happy.
"Ohhhh, they look so small and cute!" Magnus stared in awe as they innocently eat the sweets on the tray. He went closer to the two of them and couldn't help but pinch both of their cheeks.
"I always wanted to do this," Magnus mumbled with a smile. The twins started crying when he pinched their cheeks too hard.
"W-wait, I'm sorry! I didn't know it hurts," he panicked when the two kept crying. He grabbed a fist full of chocolates and offered it to the both of them but they wailed even harder. Xael and Hiro rushed over to the two kids and tried to comfort them so they wouldn't cry anymore.
Magnus pouted and crossed his arms when he wasn't able to stop them from crying. "Maybe this was why I never got to have kids. How is this even possible? Kids take better care of other kids!" he cried like a little kid on Bree's shoulder. The maid didn't mind and just patted his back as he wailed with the two kids.
"W-wait, why is e-everyone c-crying?" Kichi sniffled and slowly began to cry.
"W-why are you crying?" Mizuki asked as she awkwadly rubbed his back.
"I felt left out," Kichi pouted and clung on Mizuki's arm.
They decided to delay their departure one more day and play with the kids instead. Gus was able to warm up to everybody while Dana was having trouble getting out of her comfort zone.
"What's the matter, Kichi?" Mizuki asked when she noticed that he was in a trance and not being his usual talkative self.
"Oh nothing, it's just that I wish I can find my dad's book," he sighed, placing his hand on his chin.
"Book?"
"Kichi lost his family's most priced possession and heirloom which was the spell book. It held almost all the powerful spells and potion recipes that ancient Magus' have attained. Rumors said that it even holds forbidden spells from Kratos. The Tanaka family was the highest order of protectors of the book...until Kichi came." Hiro pointed out.
"You're mean!" Kichi pouted and crossed his arms.
"You don't know where it is?"
"No. I already searched everywhere. It's the book I showed you at the party. Which was the...last place...I remember leaving...it. Hmm, by any chance-Zuki-do you remember where I placed it?" He asked as he pursed his lips while trying to remember where it was.
"Me?...uh.. no. Of course not. " she answered, avoiding eye contact.
"Are you sure?" Kichi suspiciously asked as he neared his face towards Mizuki.
"Y-yeah."
"If you say so," Kichi shrugged and continued to remember where he put it.
"Onee-chan. Is he your boyfriend?" Gus asked when he saw both of them together.
"No!" / "Yes." Mizuki and Kichi simultaneously answered.
"What? I'm not your boy friend?" Kichi pouted.
"What? Of course not!" Mizuki denied, her face red as a tomato.
"Hiro is my boy friend so how come I'm not with you?" Kichi raised one of his brows.
"No, I'm not!" Hiro shouted back, narrowing his eyes.
"What? You too? Then perhaps Bree considers me as her boy friend," he said as he looked knowingly at her.
"No," Bree coldly answered.
"What? So all this time all of you don't consider me as your boy friend? Am I also just a brother to you, sis?"
"Kichi. Boyfriend refers to a lover," Xael nonchalantly corrected him while tying Dana's hair.
"Oooohhh. Yeah, I'm not her boyfriend," Kichi said, turning back to Gus.
"Really? I've never seen nee-chan get flustered like this before, though." Gus snickered.
"Gus!" Mizuki scolded, her face getting even redder.
"Mizuki," Raven called her.
"Y-yes, Lady Raven?" She replied, fixing her composure in the process.
"I'm offering you a proposal," she said, paper documents appearing on her hand.
"P-proposal? I thought you were married to Sir Magnus!" Kichi exclaimed.
"You realize how stupid that sounds, right?" Hiro sarcastically said.
"True. Lady Raven marrying Mizuki sounds stupid," Kichi agreed which made Hiro groan and face-palm himself.
"Here's the deal. I know you're declining to be a guardian because of the twins so I'm gonna give you a choice," she said as she flapped her fan gracefully turning it into a feather pen. "We can adopt the two kids so you wouldn't have to worry with their well-being and your problem will be solved just like that," she said as she snapped her fingers.
"I don't know...they are quite a handful," Mizuki muttered as she stared at the twins, wide smiles plastered on their faces.
"I'm a woman of my early thirties. What could go wrong?"
Mizuki paused for a minute. She didn't know what to say or what to do. She doesn't want them to get hurt yet she doesn't want to leave them.
"Here are the legal documents for transferring custodial rights to us and all you need is to sign these papers. I checked earlier and it seems that the twins' mother had given you custody legally to the kid before she died," she said giving her the feather pen.
"Signing these papers mean that you accept being a guardian. What do you say?"
Mizuki bit her lip and gripped on the pen tightly, holding the documents on her other hand. Her decision is final. It's the best option for now.
"Arghh!"
"Nii-san! Nee-chan's eye seems to be hurting!" Dana tugged Hiro's shirt.
"It seems that when a guardian agrees to be one, the next location will be revealed, huh?" Raven mumbled as she made the documents disappear and transformed the feather pen back as her fan.
"Hime, are you okay?" Bree asked, rushing to her side while carrying a glass of water.
Xael was feeling lightheaded again from the sudden surge of power coming inside her. She grabbed the glass of water and drank it straight and laid down on one of the couches.
"Nii-san. Is she okay?" Dana asked Hiro timidly. He hoisted her up to his arms and assured her that she's alright.
"It's seems that your next destination is in Aragon. The human kingdom. It's just between Cerulean and Couscoux so maybe you could stop by there then to Couscoux," Magnus said as he appeared unexpectedly from behind.
"I feel dizzy," Xael mumbled. Bree assisted her to stand up and guided her towards their room.
"Nii-san. I hope she's okay," Dana apprehensively said as her eyes followed Xael.
"Don't worry. Xael isn't the princess of Furia for nothing," Hiro assured her and lightly pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Nii-chan is a princess? I always wanted to be a princess!" Dana's eyes widened.
"And why is that?" Hiro curiously asked as he tucked away her hair behind her ear that keeps getting in the way.
"So I can have a knight..."
"I'm a knight." Hiro grinned.
"R-really?"
"Yep but I can't be your knight. I already have a stubborn princess to protect," Hiro said and chuckled.
"Oh..."
"Dana? You seem to be closer with nii-chan than me," Gus said as he narrowed his eyes on Hiro.
"Besides, you already have your knight," Hiro said and meaningfully looked at her.
"Whaaatt?! My little sister has a knight?! Where is he, huh? Where is he? He has to go through me first!" Gus angrily shouted while adorably cracking his knuckles.
"Gus! Stop shouting!" Dana scolded because she was starting to get embarassed.
"Where is that knight nii-chan was talking about? He has to face me first before my little sister!"
"H-hey we were born only 1 minute apart!" Dana pouted.
-•-
"Do you have to leave?" Gus sobbed and cutely pouted while hugging Mizuki's legs.
"I'm sorry. Nee-chan seems to be very busy this week," Mizuki smiled and hugged the little boy.
"B-but Nee-chaaann. I don't want you to leave," Gus whined even more and stomped his foot to the ground.
"Remember all the stories that I told you about my true little brother?"
"Y-yes," Gus sniffled and wiped some of the mucus dripping from his nose.
B
etween him and Dana, he was always the softest. He may act tough and brave but deep inside he was one of most lovable kids that you would eventually fall for. He was always looking out for his sister and mother that he was the most affected when she died.
"10 years ago, I promised Kiel that we will always find our way back to each other and maybe its time that I get to fulfill that promise," Mizuki said and placed her forehead with Gus.
"Nee-chan. Here's the cloak you had let us borrow," Dana shouted while running outside from the shop, holding the light blue cloak.
"Hey Zuki, it's time to go!" Kichi yelled from the roof of the carriage.
"I got to go. Be good to your new parents, okay?" Mizuki said and swiftly grabbed the cloak as she hurriedly ran to the carriage.
"Promise to see us first when you get back!" Gus yelled. Dana just waved her goodbye buy you could feel that she was sad that they'll be apart.
"Be careful!" Magnus shouted while placing both of the kids on both of their shoulders so they can still see them.
"We will!" Xael yelled, waving her hand.
"Oh I forgot...Kichi!"Raven shouted when she remembered something.
"Yes?!" Kichi yelled back while he was still standing on the roof of the running carriage.
"I forgot to tell you, Hanako is still alive!" Raven yelled, placing both of her hands on the side of her mouth so Kichi can hear her clearly.
"Okay!" He smiled and waved his arms a big farewell.
"Who's Hanako?" Hiro asked, without looking at him since he was manning the horses.
"I have no idea," he replied and went back to his seat next to Hiro. All the girls was sitting inside the carriage.
"Are you sure that Kichi knows Hanako?" Magnus asked Raven when they couldn't see the carriage anymore.
"Oh, crap!" Raven cursed.
"Mama, what's crap?" Gus asked while playing with Magnus's hair. They explained to them about their adoption last night and they were so excited to have parents that Gus called them Mama and Papa immediately.
"It's nothing sweetie. Would you like to see your new rooms?" Raven suggested, quickly diverting the topic. The twins looked at each other and excitingly went upstairs, leaving the two behind.
"I guess we'll have to take a break from cursing," Magnus sighed.
"And smoking," Raven added.
"Parenting is hard."