Disclaimer: I wish I own the characters of Kyo Kara Maoh

Eru awoke from his slumber. The first person he saw was his crying mother. His eyes wandered around the room searching for someone. A bright smile formed on his lips as he stretch his arms towards the brown-haired girl but was replaced by a grimace when he saw her talking to the other blond in the room. Eru wailed which caught the attention of every person in the room.

"What's the matter Eru?" Nicola held her child in her arms. Eru wiggled while continue reaching for Aya. However, a broad chest blocked Eru's view. As he look up, he came face to face with his father.

Hube's eyebrows furrowed as he look at his son. The room became quiet.

"Eru!" Hube's loud voice echoed, "that's enough!"

Eru's eyes widen in surprise. He stopped himself from crying.

"Hube, don't you think that's too much. He is only a child." Conrad held Hube's shoulder as he said what's on his mind.

"No, it's what His Eminence said. Eru is a sensitive child. He understands what I mean." Hube answered as he look at his son.

Afterwards, Hube and Nicola bid there goodbyes.

Blood Pledge Castle lobby

"Your Highness, we are very sorry for the problem our son caused you." Hube bowed to Yuri. Nicola, with Eru in her arms, bowed with Hube.

"It's nothing really. It's my pleasure to help," Yuri answered.

"We would also like to apologize to Miss Aya," Nicola walked towards Aya, "please accept our apology."

"You don't need to apologize." Aya patted Eru's head as she said, "Eru is a very sweet child." Eru's eye shone as he looked at Aya's eyes.

"You are still the same, Eru. It's just that I'm taller than you during this time." Aya smiled to herself as she saw Eru's family leave the castle.

After several days, Eru's birthday celebration came. Yuri and company came to Nicola and Hube's home for the party. Only close friends and relatives were invited. By afternoon, the party came to an end.

One night...

As Wolfram was taking a stroll along the back garden ofnthe Blood Pledge Castle, a person wearing a hooded cloak came past his line of vision. "Could it be my imagination?" he thought. He followed the path where he last saw the hooded figure.

His eyes didn't deceive him. He saw the figure walked deeper in the woods. He followed it as quietly as possible. Moments passed but the person he was following continued walking. When suddenly, the hooded figure disappeared from his view. Wolfram ran towards the last place where he saw him. He readied his sword for a surprise attack. He felt someone presence right behind him. Wolfram pointed his sword towards that someone when...

"Wolfram?" A familiar voice came from the person he was pointing his sword to. The person removed the hood and what he saw was Aya looking surprise.

"You? What do you think you are doing here in the middle of the night?! Hmmph..." Wolfram exclaimed. The girl rushed towards him and and covered his mouth.

Thump thump. Wolfram's heartbeat leaped at their close proximity. He then felt that his face became hot.

"Shhh, keep your voice down or they might leave." Aya then removed her hands from Wolfram's mouth, "Eh? Are you alright? Your face is red."

"What are you saying? It's just your imagination," Wolfram said while looking away to hide his face.

"Is that so?" Aya remembered what she came for. "Come on," Aya grabbed Wolfram's arm and lead him deeper in the forest. Not long after, Aya stopped.

"We're here." They arrived in a small lake in the middle of the forest. However, unlike the path they took earlier that was only lighted by the moon light, the lake was so bright. Small luminous fairy-like creatures fly above the lake.

Both of them stared in awe with the view in front of them. Flowers which look a lot like lilies in earth surround the side of the lake. The lily-like flowers simultaneously bloom while releasing bright pollen adding to the glowing things flying around.

"They are very beautiful, aren't they?" Aya whispered to the person next to her. Wolfram returned to his senses hearing Aya's voice. He looked at the girl who was busily watching the lake, a smile reflected on her face. Wolfram kept staring at her profile without him realizing it.

After what seems like several minutes, the light from the lake slowly disappeared leaving the moon's reflection in the waters.

"It's finished," Aya yawn. "Wolfram, let's go back." Wolfram quietly nodded and followed Aya.

As they are walking back to the castle, Wolfram broke the silence.

"How did you know that place?"

"Oh, that?" Aya paused before she continued, "someone told me about it," Aya said smiling at Wolfram as they continue walking. Wolfram blushed as he saw her smiling at him. He would like to ask who that someone was but he kept the question to himself.

They continue to walk in silence. The path became dark as the moon hide itself behind the clouds. Aya stumbled by a rock she failed to see along her way. She closed her eyes out of reflex. She felt an arm pulled her up before she falls however, the force was too strong that she fell on the other direction. When Aya opened her eyes, she came face to face with Wolfram, who was lying on the ground.

They can feel each other's breath as they stared in each other's eyes. Silence enveloped their surroundings but their heart beats are loud enough to hear.

"Ah!" Aya suddenly stood up. "I...I'm very sorry. Are you alright?" Aya, still flustered, tried to act like nothing awkward happened between them.

"Yes, I'm fine." Wolfram tried to maintain his cool. "You're really clumsy, stumbling over a huge rock in front of you. What a hopeless girl." Wolfram snorted while trying to hide his red face. Good thing the moon is still behind the clouds that the girl could not see his face.

"I'm very sorry." Aya hung her head in reply.

"You apologize too much." After saying this, Wolfram held Aya's hand. The girl looked at him in surprise. Wolfram felt her gaze and said, "this is the most convenient way to prevent you from hurting yourself because of your clumsiness."

Aya obeyed quietly. The two continue walking back to Blood Pledge Castle.

That's all…for now