"Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you." ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

I watched her as she slowly walked up the path to Shuiichi's house, the dog beside her guiding her feet. Her gloved hand reached in front of her until it bumped into the door. Her small fingers curled into a fist and rapped on the door. I watched as the door opened and Kurama's mother, Shiori, embraced the girl. Kurama told me yesterday that he had a distant cousin from Italy coming to stay with them. 'Why do humans have such a fascination with being close to distant family?' I wondered for the second time since my conversation with Kurama. I didn't get it. Ties to immediate family was enough for me to imagine. I couldn't fathom feeling too much affection for someone who I'd never met and to whom I was only slightly related to by blood. But, then again, this is the human world, land of the weak and the foolish. 'Then again, some of them do have a great deal of tenacity. Some even possess much skill.' I admitted to myself. Humans were not entirely a weak race, although, compared to demons, they did seem to be rather…lacking, in many respects. I saw a movement of red – Kurama was returning home. He too walked up the path to the now-shut front door and went inside. I sat for a few minutes more, debating whether to go in or not. 'May as well get a good look at the girl, so I'll know her if anything happens.' I concluded, jumping and landing gracefully beneath the tree. I walked up to the door, raising my hand and knocking. Kurama has chided me one too many times about proper etiquette, mostly about the impoliteness of just entering someone's house without knocking.

Shiori opened the door. "Hello Hiei. Shuiichi just got home. Please, come in." We exchanged bows and I stepped inside and removed my shoes. Shiori motioned for me to follow her into the living room. "My cousin has just arrived. Do come meet her."

I followed silently, meeting Kurama's eyes when we rounded the corner. We exchanged a greeting and then I turned my attention on the newcomer. "Hiei, this is Farfalla, my cousin." Shiori introduced her in Japanese. But when she spoke to Farfalla, presumably introducing me since I heard my name, she spoke in English. My gut informed me that things were going to get a little more complex in a moment.

Farfalla didn't move but said "Pleasure to meet you, Hiei.". Her English was a little unsure, and still had an accent when she spoke. Unfortunately, I don't understand English. My eyes looked to Kurama, unsure of what to do. "She said it is a pleasure to meet you." He spoke in Japanese. I grunted my acknowledgment. Kurama said something to her in English, and I could see a look of some amusement on her face. But I said nothing, demanded no explanation from Kurama.

"Shiori, where will I be staying?" Farfalla asked, patting her dog's head. I don't know what breed it is, but I will admit it is beautiful – for a dog. And exceptionally well-behaved. I took in as much of her appearance as I could, knowing Kurama would ask me to help keep an eye on her while she was here. Besides, I didn't really have much else to do here at the moment. Shiori was in the room, I couldn't communicate with Farfalla, and Kurama had taken Farfalla's arm to lead her upstairs. Since I had nothing better to do, I followed the pair upstairs, keeping myself clear of her animal and it's tail. Kurama led her to the guest bedroom.

'With how much he's talking, he must be describing the room to her. I wonder what it would be like to be blind? In Demon World, being blind, unless you are good, is almost certain death. Here in Human World the others take care of you. Here it is safe to be helpless.' That thought was a little strange, living in a place where it was safe to be disabled somehow, a place where it was safe to rely on strangers and friends alike. Kurama finally left her and we went to his bedroom. He sat down at his desk and began his homework. I sat down on the bed, my eyes canvassing the walls. "You repainted since I was last here." I commented.

Kurama nodded. "It's the same shade. The last coat was looking a little faded." Silence fell again, but it was not an awkward silence. I am not a demon of many words – not that I never talk. I talk much on an occasion that merits it. I just don't engage in meaningless conversation. Kurama picked up one of his textbooks and joined me on the bed, on the other side. He laid out, his back against the wall, his hands holding up the textbook as he read. "What did you think of Farfalla?" He asked, his eyes never leaving the pages.

I shrugged. "She's polite and rarely speaks louder than she did downstairs. She lost her eyesight when she was little, probably in a car accident. And she is a careful person about everything in her life."

Kurama smiled a little. "Very astute observations. Why do you say car accident?"

I leaned back against his pillows. "She has scars running across her face, notably across her eyes. Her head going through the windshield could cause those scars."

Kurama nodded. "Logical guess. I'm not sure what happened exactly, but I know it happened when she was a little girl. You'll remember her then?"

I knew what he was really asking: help him watch over her, keep her safe. I nodded. "I'll remember her."

He flipped a page. "Good." We both were out of anything useful to say, so we just enjoyed each other's silent company.