I closed my eyes as the corner of my lips curled up into a gentle smile. There was a breeze just as gentle as it blew past my silver hair and caressed my cheek. I leaned back against the tree trunk. It was rough and it scraped against my back, but it was all perfect nevertheless. I opened my eyes just as a cherry blossom broke free from it's place of birth to fall gracefully and place a kiss on my forehead. It was as soft and light as a flower. A soft giggle manifested beside me and I looked in it's direction as I zoned back into the real world. A little boy with big, beautiful eyes and yellow hair was smiling at me. The biggest smile you could ever imagine on a seven-year-old's lips.

My younger brother, Zatch Bell. I felt his grip on my hand and I gave it a small squeeze. He followed my example and used his other hand to adjust the hand-crafted flower crown on his head.

-You're too precious for this world-

I watched contently as he pulled a small pocky box with sticks poked into it's sides from his pocket. "Vulcan" as he called it. He began to mess with the sticks and bounce it around as if it were a real, factory made toy. He seemed so peaceful how carefree he was and how the whole world lit up around him. And he was all mine.

Soon, the sun began to set on the horizon. I was beginning to get drowsy and I could feel the energy leave my brother as his eyelids fluttered closed. With the passionate touch of the breeze and the melodic songs of the birds as they prepared for sleep, I also let my consciousness slip away into the dying light.

"Oh no!" Zatch yelled worriedly as he dug in his little pockets. "I left Vulcan at the tree!" I shook my head a bit as I observed his pouting. Anyone with a heart wouldn't dare leave that face to worry about any little thing whether it be an untied shoe, or a lost pocky box. "Big brother will get it for you." I said as calmly as I could. As he smiled at me, I felt the atmosphere of the house brighten up again. "I'll bring you yellowtail on my way back too."

-I cross my heart-

As I walked down the forest path, I saw a figure; a shadow standing a few yards away from the road. It was nothing unusual as people strolled down those parts often since there was a small park not too far from the cherry blossom tree, but when I saw him, my skin began to crawl. Something seemed very off about it. Perhaps it was the way it stayed put without moving at all like the strollers do. It could have just been the sudden gust of wind that tickled my flesh. Either way, I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't going the way it should have.

I finally reached the tree and sure enough, there was Vulcan. His little chopstick arms and legs were spread apart on the grass, his mouth agape. Wanting to get back to Zatch quicky, I picked it up and set it in my pocket. Before me, laid on the grass was my shadow. Surely, I knew it was my own, yet there it was again-that uneasy feeling. When I turned around to be sure I wasn't followed, that shadow consumed me. There was nothing but darkness in it's purest form.

-I'm sorry-