Kurogane stood on a balcony at the palace of a land known as Seresu. His parents had taken him along as they often did when they went to another nation to discuss issues with leaders of other nations. Like always, Kurogane had been left to wander about on his own while his parents talked, not that he minded any, since listening to his parents and other lords and ladies and kings and queens discuss political issues was terribly boring.

Kurogane leaned over the railing a bit, trying to see the ground below. "So high..." he smiled excitedly.

"Yes, it is rather high, so try not to fall," he heard a pleasant voice from behind say to him. Kurogane turned to see a little brunette girl standing in the doorway. She was about his age, he imagined. "Might you be Kurogane-sama?" she asked.

"Yeah," Kurogane grinned.

"I'm Alicia and that over there is my brother Fai," she pointed into the room behind her to a blond boy who was about her height. "Would you like to play with us?"

"Sure," Kurogane nodded, running off with her.

"Fai-chan, this is Kurogane-sama. He said he wants to play with us," Alicia smiled as she returned to her brother.

The blond looked up at Kurogane with big, shining aqua eyes and Kurogane felt a strange sensation for just an instant. "Kuro-sama," he declared.

"What?" Kurogane twitched.

"We'll call you Kuro-sama," Fai laughed.

"You will not!" Kurogane growled.

"It sounds good to me," Alicia nodded.

"Kuro-sama, let's play!" Fai grinned.

"Knock it off!" Kurogane snapped.

Despite his complaints, Kurogane really did have a good time playing with the twins. He discovered that the blond tired quite easily as time went on and Fai fell asleep with his head in Kurogane's lap.

"He's so cute when he sleeps," Alicia smiled.

Kurogane looked off to the side, opting not to say anything.

"Kuro-sama?"

"Yeah?"

"I get the feeling... you and my brother are destined to meet again... and that I won't be around to see it..." Alicia smiled sadly, brushing the blond locks out of Fai's face. "Take care of him, will you? Please?"

Kurogane opened his mouth to respond...