Chapter I

It was a warm spring afternoon as Ayato and his elder sister Touka playing in the front yard of their home. Occasionally, Arata who sat in a chair on the porch of the Kirishima home would close and lower the book he was reading and glance over at Touka and Ayato.

Aratra with a small smile, began to rub the silver band on his left ring finger with his left thumb. Several moments passed before Arata focused his attention back to the book he was reading as his two children could be heard giggling in front of him. It wasn't long before Arata could hear several footsteps rushing towards him so Arata lowered his book and saw both Ayato and Touka.

"Staying out of trouble I hope?" Arata asked with a gentle smile on his face. Ayato and Touka looked at each other and nodded.

"We were wondering if you would take us to the park today," Touka said, speaking for both herself and Ayato.

"...Well I dunno, it is almost time for lunch," Arata teased his children with his hand on his chin.

"Pleaseeeeeeee?" both Ayato and Touka pleaded in harmony.

"Alright alright you guys, there no stopping you when you both have your mind set on something," Arata chuckled as he stood up began to follow Ayato and Touka ask they cheered.

Arriving at their favorite spot Arata sat at the bench he usually would sit on when he would bring his family to the park. As soon as Arata sat down he saw Ayato and Touka dart off.

"Don't run off too far, stay close," Arata shouted out hoping his children heard. Arata sighed and smiled once again rubbing his silver band

"If only you were here to see how much of a handful they have grown into, you'd be proud," Arata said to himself with a smile before he opened his book and resumed reading, occasionally glancing to check on Ayato and Touka. After several minutes of chasing each other towards the trees, Ayato and Touka hear a faint chirp nearby sparking their curiosity, the two begin to investigate where the sound is coming from.

"Touka! Over here theres a tiny bird on the ground," Ayato said as Touka quickly approached. Touka reached down preparing to pick up the tiny bird, Ayato noticed the bird wasn't moving away as a normal bird would.

"Touka, be careful he may be hurt," Ayato mentioned to Touka before she picked up the tiny bird. Touka nodded to her younger brother before gently picking up the tiny bird.

"He must be hurt...do you think Papa will let us help nurse him back to health?" Touka asked her brother curiously.

"I hope so, it wouldn't feel right just leaving it," Ayato told his sister.

"Lets go ask him and find out," Touka said with a large smile as they both began to walk towards where they left their father.

Arata turned another page in his book before glancing over to check on Ayato and Touka, noticing both of them approaching and also noticing Touka's hands carrying something. Arata closed his book as Touka and Ayato got closer.

"What have you got there Touka?" Arata asked curiously.

"Papa papa papa" Arata could hear his children call out as they drew closer to their father.

"Slow down you two, whats up?," Arata asked his children as the stopped in front of their father.

"Papa, we found this tiny injured bird and we were wondering...if we could take him home and take care of him?" Touka asked her father. Arata quickly glanced at the tiny bird.

"You both know having a pet is a lot of responsibility right? You have to feed it and water it, we don't even have a cage to put it in but if we got one you would have to clean it and then birds can be noisy pets. Can you two handle that much responsibility?" Arata asked.

"Yes we can,we promise we will take good care of him, can we please take care of him?" Touka begged. Arata started at both Touka and Ayato for a moment before putting his hand on his chin

"...Well I dunno," Arata was cut off by his children

"Pleaseeeeee?" Touka and Ayato asked in harmony.

Arata stared at both of them seeing their eyes gleaming at the hope of their first pet, Arata let out a sigh and rubbed the back of his head.

"Well, you guys win," Arata said defeated. Touka and Ayato looked at each other proud that they were going to take care of the injured bird and excited for having their first pet. Arata stood up from the bench he was sat on

"Well, it's time to head back to have lunch" Arata said as he ruffled Ayato's hair with his free hand then Touka's.

"Yes Papa," Ayato said while he and Touka followed beside their father.

"So, have you thought of a name for our new feathered friend?" Arata asked while looking to his children.

"...I can't think of any names," Touka said with a slight frown.

"What about you Ayato?" Arata asked his son.

"How about Chunta?" Ayato suggested.

"I like that name," Touka smiled back to Ayato then quickly focusing back to the tiny injured bird in her hands, trying to walk carefully beside her father.

"Chunta it is then, now lets get back soon, I don't know about you two but I'm starving," Arata chuckled to himself.

As the Kirishima family approached their home, Arata noticed a large woman wearing a bright floral dress kneeling on their porch.

"Satou, what a lovely day today isn't it?"Arata asked loud enough to be heard while waving.

Satou quickly raised back up and looked to Arata who was waving to her with Ayato and Touka following their father only a few feet away from her now.

"Hey, I was just leaving some Potato stew, I made too much and there's no way I could finish it all so I thought your family might like it," Satou said with a smile.

"Well thank you very much, we were actually coming back from the park for lunch, we are lucky you were looking out for us, we always enjoy your cooking Satou," Arata said while smiling as Ayato held his father hand. Touka walked past both her brother and father and extended her arms out to Satou showing the injured bird.

"look Satou, we found this poor injured bird in the park and our father is letting us keep him, this is Chunta," Touka said with a large smile on her face.

'Poor little thing, I used to have a bird myself," Satou added studying the bird noticing it was having trouble moving its wing.

"I think the poor thing may have fallen out of his nest and hurt his wing, hopefully it's wing will heal soon," Satou said with a smile.

"Papa, can we go to the pet store later and get him some a cage and food for Chunta later?" Touka asked her father.

"That wont be necessary, I happen to have a cage in my basement that I never got rid of, I'm more than happy to give it to you, as for the food you can just feed Chunta earthworms, bird food can be expensive, I'll be right back with the cage," Satou said as she began to walk over to her home.

"Ayato, do you mind getting the door for me and Touka?" as Arata leaned down to pick up the pot of potato stew left for them by Satou.

"Yes Papa," Ayato said while quickly opening and holding the door, moving out of the way so his father and sister could come in before closing the door behind them.

"Ayato, Touka, do you two mind getting 3 bowls and spoons ready? I'm going to wait outside for Satou to bring the cage and bring it back," Arata said while he went back outside.

Ayato and his sister did as their father asked and set out 3 bowls and spoons on the table in the kitchen before hearing their father.

"Thanks again for everything once again we really appreciate it and look forward to the stew," Arata said before closing the door and turning around to she his two children standing in front of him. Arata knelled down set the bird cage beside him and ruffled both of his children hair.

"Alright, lets eat" Arata smiled then stood up and began to walk to the kitchen being followed by his two children. Arata grabbed one of the bowls on the table and grabbed a spoon and began to fill his bowl with the potato stew.

"Alright, hand me your bowls please," Arata asked as Touka handed her father her empty bowl and was given a bowl of potato stew same for Ayato.

Arata took a spoonful of the stew and put it in his mouth began to chew and swallowed. He looked over to Touka and Ayato who were staring at their bowls in disgust. Arata sighed.

"It would be rude not to eat, Satou worked very hard on this, you don't have to eat all of it, just some of it," Arata said

"But it taste awful Papa" Touka said while continuing to stare into the bowl of stew.

"I know it does, but do you two know why I make you eat human food?" Arata asked his children, curious if they understood yet the purpose of being forced to eat human food. Touka and Ayato looked at one another before looking back to their father and shaking their heads.

"I know you both are young and may not understand, we must eat human food to be able to blend in, to avoid attracting attention to ourselves. When you get older you are going to have to eat human food, it's better to have the practice now rather than later. Humans are scared of ghouls, they believe we are dangerous and so they hunt us, if we are discovered they will come for us," Arata said, noticing Ayato looking down slightly upset.

"...Is that what happened to Mama?" Ayato asked continuing to look down. Arata wasn't expecting to hear that question and was caught off guard by it.

"..Yes Ayato," Arata said as he looked down to his silver band feeling his eyes start to water but hiding it from his children. Knowing he couldn't be weak in front of his children, Arata regained control of his emotions he looked back up. Touka and Ayato began putting a spoonful of the stew in their mouths and beginning to chew.

"BLEH" Ayato spit the stew back into the bowl.

"I'm sorry Papa, I know she worked hard and I understand the importance of eating human food, But I cant do it, it's gross," Ayato said as he stuck his tongue out in disgust. Arata and Touka couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"I'm sorry Ayato, but your face was priceless," Arata said as he felt his spirits lifted from the gloom subject from before.

"Tell you guys what, I'll finish the rest and clean up if you two go out and get some earthworms for Chunta," Arata said, knowing he let them off easy but knew they were young and had plenty of time to learn to blend in.

"Deal," Touka said as she quickly jumped out of the chair and ran outside eager to get away from the nasty food. Ayato was behind his sister just as eager to get away from the food.

Once outside Touka led Ayato to a large rock and pointed to it.

"Ayato, lift up this rock I bet there are loads of earthworms underneath it," Touka commanded her brother.

"No way, you know i don't like bugs and stuff," Ayato said while taking a step back from the rock.

"Ayato, why are you such a wuss? Guys are supposed to like bugs," Touka told her brother as she flipped the rock over revealing several rather large earthworms.

"Ayato come over here and hold out your hands," Touka requested from her brother.

"What for?" Ayato asked curiously.

"Well would you rather hold the earthworms or dig them out?" Touka said. Knowing her brother hated bugs and earthworms, wanting to annoy him by forcing him to handle earthworms in some sort amused her greatly.

"How many do you think Chunta would need?" Ayato grumbled as he stuck his hands out.

"This should be enough," Touka said as she dropped an earthworm into Ayato's hands, laughing as she watched Ayato's eyes open widely.

"EWWW, why did you have to put it in my hands if you were already holding it and done?!" Ayato asked dropping the earthworms back into Touka's hands.

"Because its funny Ayato," Touka said as she smiled as Ayato grumbled to himself.

"Lets go back in and and feed Chunta," Ayato grumbled to his sister as he started to walk back towards the house followed by Touka who was giggling behind him.

Once inside Touka and Ayato saw their father tending to Chunta and putting him in the cage provided by Satou. Touka quickly approached the cage with Chunta now in it.

"Chunta it's lunch time," Touka said as she stood beside her father. Touka stuck one of her hands in the cage with the earthworm dangling between her fingers hovering over Chunta. Chunta's beak was opened and Touka slowly lowered the worm until Chunta quickly snatched it with it's beak.

"That was easy," Touka said.

"Well you two aren't done yet, You both need a bath," Arata said to his children.

"I don't like baths, but a hung might change my mind," Touka said with a smile on her face.

"Yeah me too," Ayato added.

"It's a deal then," Arata said as he knelled down and opened his arms. Touka and Ayato rushed towards him wrapping their arms around their father.

"Alright who is taking a bath first?" Arata asked

"I will," Touka said as she let go of her father as she headed off for her bath.

Alone, Arata and Ayato both let go of one another and walked towards the counter and watched Chunta.

"Papa, I have always wondered, why do you rub the silver ring on your hand?" Ayato asked curiously.

"Well, Ayato it's my wedding ring from when me and your mother got married. When me and your mother would sit together or hold hands she would always rub my ring. After she passed...I started to rub it to remind me of the times we shared...it helps comfort me," Arata said as he looked at Ayato.

"I'm sorry life happened this way, that you don't have any memories with your mother. There's nothing more i'd want more than to have your mother here with us now," Arata said as he looked down.

"What was she like?" Ayato asked his father.

"She was a lot like Touka, she could have flair but was kind and caring, she meant the world to me, she was wild when I met her but she changed. She cared for both you and Touka greatly," Arata said trying to hold back tears, imagining how hard it must be not growing up knowing their mother.

"I'm sorry Papa, I didn't mean to upset you," Ayato said frowning knowing the topic was upsetting his father.

"Stay right here Ayato, I want to give you something," Arata said as he walked off to his room before returning moments later.

"Ayato, i want to ask a favor of you, if i give you something that's very important to me do you promise to protect it and take care of it always?" Arata asked Ayato with a smile on his face.

"I promise Papa, I will protect it," Ayato said curious as to what his father wanted to give him.

"That's my boy," Arata said as he ruffled Ayato's hair, before reaching out with his palm flat revealing a silver band.

"This was your mothers wedding ring, this is the first time I've touched it since she passed. I have memories of her I can cling to, you don't have anything of hers...I want you to protect her ring. This ring is a part of her, a segment of her life that she cherished. I want you to cherish this ring...as it is a symbol of all of the events of her life, protect this ring to keep her alive," Arata says while starting to tear up but smiling to Ayato.

"I promise, I will protect this ring no matter what," Ayato says beginning to tear up, taking the ring from his fathers hand. Understanding the significance behind such a simple object, Seeing and wanting to protect its meaning and innocence.

"I know you will Ayato, you were always very mature for your age and understand things well," Arata said to his son as he ruffled his hair. Ayato and Arata both wiped away their tears.

"Alright Ayato, now it's your turn," Touka said as she walked towards her brother and father while she dried her hair with a towel.

"Alright Ayato, go get cleaned up, tell you guys what, when you get back I'll read you guys a story," Arata said. Both Touka and Ayato's eyes widened excited.

"Ayato, hurry up I wanna hear the story," Touka demanded.

"Right," Ayato said as he darted off quickly going to his room to grab fresh clothes to change into then rushing straight towards the wash room closing the door quickly behind him.

Several minutes later Ayato emerged from the wash room. Ayato was in pajamas and using a towel to dry his hair as he walked towards his room that he shared with Touka.

"You took long enough," Touka said as she glared at Ayato.

"Alright Ayato, crawl into bed and I'll start to read you guys a story," Arata said as he sat on the bed beside Touka. Ayato quickly rushed into the bed and covered himself with the covers looking to Arata to let him know he was ready.

"Everyone comfortable?" Arata asked looking both to Touka and Ayato as they both nodded to him.

"Alright, this is a story your mother would read to you to help you sleep, it was a story that was read to her by her parents," Arata said smiling to both his children.

"Does it have a happy ending?" Touka asked.

"Of course, your mother liked stories like that," Arata said looking to Touka before opening a book beginning to read.

"Once upon a time..." Arata began to read to his children. Ayato started to rub the silver ring he was given earlier. Ayato always wondered about his mother, but having her ring and his father reading a story Ayato and Touka's mother would read to them when they were young Ayato felt close to the mother he felt he never knew.

As Arata continued the call to sleep pulled on Ayato and soon Ayato's eyes closed.

Ayato somewhat regained consciousness as he felt his father get off the bed and felt a kiss on his cheek.

"I love you Ayato, sleep well my boy," Ayato heard his father say before drifting back into sleep.

Once again Ayato felt himself being pulled away from sleep as he felt someone shaking him.

"Ayato, wake up idiot," Touka practically yelled while shaking Ayato violently.

"Huh...whats up Touka?" Ayato asked as he slowly sat up rubbing his eyes.

"Have you seen Papa? He's not here and he didn't leave a note or anything, I was wondering if he might have woken you up to tell you he went somewhere," Touka asked slightly worried.

"No, I didn't see him and he didn't wake me" Ayato told his sister as he rubbed the silver band his father gave him yesterday.

A/N - Hey everyone, I want to thank everyone for reading the story, I hope everyone liked it. This chapter was kind of slow, things should build up more as the story continues. Sorry for any errors. I hope the characters aren't too out of character and are somewhat believable. Hopefully I can get the next chapter out ASAP. Once again thanks for reading and I hope to see you guys as the story goes on.

- Skwiz