Prelude

Gilbert never spent much time at the Nightray estate. Admittedly he found the Vessalius house much more charming. The garden especially. Yet over his years of patience he found himself spending more and more time in his adopted family's home. At first, he began to wander here only to visit Vincent in his spare time.

He usually spent his time at that place. A spot that served as the very first stage of this tragic play. The lone grave had given him an eerie feeling when he and Oz had first come across it. Yet the second time they encountered the grave the image of his master standing in front of it and the words that left his lips gave him nothing but happiness and hope. It wasn't like the hungry hope he used to quench his anger at the man that caused his master nothing but pain.

No it was light it was overjoyed it was real hope. Something that had abandoned him once he found out his master was no longer in this world. That memory the memory of him verbally renewing the vow he had mentally renewed throughout those years. The memory of those words hitting not only his ears but his master's ears as well. The memory of the smile it brought to his young master's face.

That was the moment he looked upon the most as he visited Lacie's grave pocket watch in hand. The grave and the watch seemed to resonate with each other at times. Sometimes during his reminiscing as the watch hung from the grave swinging in the breeze he could see light dance around it. Of course, he told himself it was something he imagined yet when warmth from a long-gone sun warmed him in the midst of the cool night he could only smile.

Though Gilbert would love nothing more than to stay at that place all day and all night he did not find visiting the Nightray house a chore anymore. There were memories he could only recall when walking through those halls. Memories of people who not only brought his master happiness but him as well. Memories of a person who helped not only him in his greatest time of change but his master as well. Gilbert didn't pay much mind to most of his adopted siblings admittedly Vincent disturbed him when they first met again after all those years.

He never really yearned for his memories like Alice had; he was content not having them. Content with what he currently had and afraid of his long-forgotten memories rising to the surface and destroying his much beloved present. So, the painful feeling of nostalgia, the memories that banged at his skull when he was near Vincent frightened him especially when he saw him again for the first time. The feeling didn't fade easily either but he managed it.

His other adopted brothers were of no real concern to him either. Though when he met Elliot his heart ached at the similarities he shared to his missing master. Hearing the name Holy Knight and then not hearing Oz's voice read to Ada as he set up snacks saddened him to immeasurable degrees. Yet he did not dislike Elliot even though his adopted brother found him shameful and did nothing to hide his distaste for Gilbert at times.

There was no doubt in Gilbert that Elliot had accepted not only him but Vincent into his family and thought of them as brothers despite having no blood relation. Gilbert chuckled as he reached Elliot's room. Remembering the one time he had truly been serious with Elliot. The one time he had stood up to his young adopted brother. That had been all because of Oz as well hadn't it.

Elliot had grabbed Oz by the arm making him cry out in pain. Gilbert recalled that vividly and the panic and anger that rushed into him that came from the action. The way Elliot had grabbed him threw Gilbert off no one had ever grabbed his master like that before. Even Xai had only pushed Oz away from him a rough pull like that… Neither Oz nor Gil were mentally prepared for it. "What did I say back then? It was something along the lines of I won't forgive those who hurt my master not even you Elliot… That sounds about right." Gilbert thought aloud as he leaned against the doorframe of the room.

Oz had gotten so mad at him that day. He only understood why Oz got angry at him for calling out his name later. Even though he was chastised for it right in front of Elliot. He still did not know which angered Oz more the fact that he had ruined his introduction or that he had been running from a bunch of girls while he was stuck with the Baskervilles. He seemed equally angry about both.

He couldn't help the small laugh that escaped him as he looked back on the incident. Not only from Oz's reaction but Elliot's face as well. "Hmph…" the small hum of a laugh left Gilbert's closing lips as he looked upon the room with nostalgia. A calmness flowed through him as he thought back upon his youngest brother. Vincent cared for Elliot as well usually when Gilbert came here unannounced he found either Leo or Vincent loitering around in his room today was a lucky day for him. They were both out for the time being so Gilbert had the room to himself for once.

It was a rare event the first of its kind. He entered the room slowly hesitantly he had never really gone into it much when Elliot was alive and regretted it deeply. He took a seat upon the bed and just thought for a moment. It was during times like this when his mind wandered from his master and he thought of his own interactions with the others who had passed on their journey. It was only when he was sitting in this home that he thought of the emptiness of it.

The memories of Elliot, Vanessa, and the others running about the fullness it once had. The sadness its emptiness brought to him. Yet he always found his thoughts drifting back to Elliot while here. Despite the others who once used to be here as well. There were so many things he wanted to tell Elliot but never got the chance to say. He regretted not being a better big brother regretted shying away from the role and the responsibility as he always seemed to do.

It was Oz that gave him the courage to actually go be a brother to Elliot before he passed. Oz had pushed him to go talk to Elliot at Isla Yura's mansion. It had helped him learn more about Elliot but it didn't help him articulate exactly what it was he wanted Elliot to hear. Saying it in his old room wouldn't allow Elliot to hear the words yet Gilbert once again felt the urge to speak them. "Thank you…" he muttered out the words lowly at first but then repeated them more assured.

"Thank you, Elliot, for not only being a great brother to Vincent and I but an amazing friend to Oz as well. I couldn't have ever dreamed of having two great brothers in my lifetime but I got them." In that brief moment, Gilbert thought he saw that light again the one he usually only saw at Lacie's grave. He clenched the pocket watch in his pocket tightly before leaving the room with a sigh. It had been two years since the events of the abyss, the reappearance of Sablier and the disappearance of many dear ones.