Okay here's the 4th chapter of Winter's Child. Starting from the next chapter the story will follow the plot line of the anime. Everything that has happened will lead to the plot line. Actually I had to cram this chapter because there was so many things I wanted to put but then the chapter would turn into some long overdrawn soap drama or something so I decided to add in the missing parts throughout the story as fillers or flashbacks.

Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of Uraboku


5 Years Later…

As she approached the building, Mizuki's eyes widened when she saw the sign above the school gates

"Welcome to Middle School!" and a smile grazed her face when she heard voices calling out to her. Turning her head, Mizuki's eyes widened even more when she saw Hotsuma and Shusei waving towards her.

"Hurry up!" yelled Hotsuma as Shusei smiled at her.

"I know!" yelled Mizuki as she started to run towards the two as a smile appeared on her face. As they walked through the hallway, Shusei looked down at Mizuki. Dressed in the gray middle school uniform, Shusei smiled when he noticed that Mizuki's hair was no longer hidden in the black hat she used to wear but pulled down and placed into two pigtails as her long silver hair reached her waist. When he looked back at her, olive eyes locked with blue before Mizuki looked at Shusei with a questioning look.

"It something wrong?" she asked and Shusei shook his head before he looked down at her and smiled

"You're not hiding your hair anymore," he stated and a slight blush appeared on Mizuki's face before she looked down and fiddled with one of her pigtails.

"Yeah, I thought it would be better if I didn't wear that hat anymore, plus, I think it matches the uniform" and a smile appeared on both Shusei and Hotsuma's faces.

" That uniform suits you," and Mizuki smiled at him when she noticed that the three were on the first floor.

"Shusei, aren't the second years on the second floor?" she asked and Shusei nodded before he looked up at the time.

"I've still got time, I'll go after you guys," and a smile appeared Mizuki's face before Hotsuma bonked her on the head.

"Ittai! Nani yo!" yelled Mizuki as she looked over at Hotsuma who looked down at her before he pointed up at the sign above the door. Looking up, Mizuki's blue eyes widened when she saw the sign for class 1-2 above it. As she looked up, Mizuki's eyes narrowed as she clenched her hands. Behind the doors, the emotions of excitement and happiness flowed and Mizuki smiled as the positive feelings flowed into her. Hotsuma and Shusei looked down at Mizuki before they opened the door. The moment they did, the positive emotions in the room disappeared and Mizuki's eyes snapped open as other emotions replaced the excited and happy feelings a few seconds ago. When she looked around, Mizuki's eyes widened when she saw Mayu and a few of her friends staring at her before the whispers reached her ears.

"It's the witch," they whispered and immediately, negative feelings surfaced around the room and Mizuki flinched as the atmosphere of the room changed. Noticing Mizuki's hesitation, Shusei looked around the room to see some of the people from their grade school staring at Mizuki with a hateful glare. Placing a hand on her shoulder, Shusei looked down at Mizuki as she looked up with fearful eyes.

"It'll be alright," he whispered and he smiled when he saw some of the fear in Mizuki's eyes fade before he looked over at Hotsuma before he looked down at Mizuki again.

"I'll be fine, after all, I'm not a witch," and she looked at both Hotsuma and Shusei.

"I'll be fine," she smiled and Hotsuma sighed before he turned and headed towards his class. But before he walked in, he turned his head to Mizuki and Shusei.

"If anyone give you trouble, just tell either Shusei or me," and a smile appeared on both Shusei and Mizuki's faces before Shusei called after him.

"Let's meet at the park after school!"

"Its her! It's the witch!" whispered voices as a silver-haired girl walked past them in the hallways. As she walked past them, Mizuki's blue eyes narrowed as she felt the emotions whirling around her.

'This feeling again!' whispered Mizuki as the emotions of the others around her started to overwhelm her thoughts. As the emotions grew out of control, Mizuki flinched before she grabbed her head and fell down. The whisperings and emotions intensified causing Mizuki to grit her teeth.

"Are you alright?" asked a voice and Mizuki's eyes widened before she looked up to see a pair of amber-green eyes looking down at her. Shusei's eyes narrowed as he saw Mizuki's pained expression before he understood what was causing her pain. Grabbing her hand, Shusei looked around and everyone in the hallway flinched at the cold look on his face before Shusei led Mizuki outside. As he walked, Shusei's grip on Mizuki's hand tightened. When the two reached the sakura tree, Shusei let go of Mizuki's hand before he turned to face her.

"Are you alright?" he asked and Mizuki's eyes widened before she looked up at the worried look on Shusei's face.

"Shusei," started Mizuki before touched his cheek causing the older boy to look over at her.

"I'm alright Shusei, don't worry about me," smiled Mizuki and Shusei's eyes widened before a small smile appeared on his face before he took Mizuki's hand.

"Yeah," and Mizuki smiled at him when the two heard voices in the distance and they turned to see Hotsuma running towards them.

"Hotsuma!" yelled Mizuki as Hotsuma caught up to the two and caught his breath.

"What are you two doing here! We were supposed to meet thirty minutes ago!" yelled Hotsuma and both Mizuki and Shusei's eyes widened before they looked at the time.

"Ack! Sorry Hotsu!" apologized Mizuki over and over and both Hotsuma and Shusei sweat dropped before Hotsuma bonked Mizuki's head causing the silver-haired girl to fall over.

"What was that for Hotsuma? I already apologized didn't I?" yelled Mizuki and Hotsuma sighed before he started to walk away.

"You were being too loud," he smirked.

"What the heck?" yelled Mizuki before she ran after him and smacked his head.

"Ittai!" yelled Hotsuma when he saw the grin on Mizuki's face as she stuck her tongue out at him.

"Payback!" she yelled when she saw the fire in Hotsuma's eyes before she turned around and ran for her life. Watching the two, a smile appeared on Shusei's face before he looked down at his hands.

'This time, I will protect her,' he thought when he heard voices in the distance. Looking up, Shusei's brown-green eyes saw Mizuki and Hotsuma waving at him, smiles on both their faces.

As the three walked around the city, Hotsuma looked over at Shusei.

"Shusei, what exactly happened after school? All I saw was you and Mizuki running out of school," and Mizuki's eyes fell downcast and Shusei looked over at Hotsuma.

"I'll tell you about it later," and Hotsuma's eyes widened before he clenched his fists.

"Don't tell me Arai and her friends messed with you again! It's already been five years!" and Mizuki looked away when she saw something that caught her eyes. Shusei looked over at Hotsuma and motioned for him to stop but the younger boy ignored him as he punched his left hand.

"You would think that people would stop that teasing," and Shusei sighed before he thought of something to change the subject.

"Anyway, isn't your birthday coming up Mizuki? You're finally going to turn 11!" smiled Shusei as he looked over to his side to realize that Mizuki was not beside him.

"Mizuki?" yelled Shusei and Hotsuma turned around and his eyes widened when he didn't see a silver-haired girl beside Shusei.

"What the heck? Where the heck did she go?" yelled Hotsuma as he and Shusei started to look around the street.

"I don't know, Hotsuma, I'm going to check over there," and with that Shusei ran off.

'Where is she?' thought Shusei as panic started to develop when he saw a flash of silver hair across the street.

"Mizuki!" yelled Shusei as relief filled him before he ran over to her.

"Shusei?" asled Mizuki when Shusei grabbed her arms and pushed her into the wall.

"Where the heck have you been? We've been looking all over for you!" yelled Shusei and Mizuki's eyes widened.

"Gomen! I was just looking at something!" yelled Mizuki and Shusei looked behind her to the display window of a little jewelry store.

"You were looking at something here?" he asked and Mizuki nodded before she turned around and stared at a pendant.

"That one," she pointed and Shusei leaned in and he looked at what Mizuki was pointing to. A silver key pendant with a blue jewel embedded in the center along with a fine silver chain was laid out on a velvet cushion and Shusei looked over to see the awe and desire on Mizuki's face.

"You want that?" he asked snapping Mizuki out of her trance before she looked over with wide eyes.

"No! I mean yeah I do want it but it's so expensive!" yelled Mizuki as her finger pointed to the price and Shusei's eyes followed hers before he saw the price attached to the necklace.

"8035 yen," he read and he looked over at Mizuki who was frantically shaking her head.

"Anyway, it's way too expensive and the style is for someone older, not an 11 year old!" yelled Mizuki and Shusei sighed before he grabbed Mizuki's hand.

"Fine, let's go," and Shusei led Mizuki to Hotsuma. While they were walking, Shusei looked behind him at the store one more time before he continued to walk away.

"Tadaima," whispered Mizuki as she walked into the orphanage. The minute she walked in, most of the other orphans steered clear and Mizuki's eyes fell downcast when she heard someone calling her name. Looking up, Mizuki saw the caretaker of the orphanage smiling at her and a middle-aged couple stood behind her.

"Mizuki-chan, could you come here for a bit?" she asked and Mizuki slowly nodded before she followed the caretaker and the couple into one of the conference rooms of the orphanage. Once they were seated, the couple looked at Mizuki and a smile appeared on the woman's face.

"Hello, my name is Orihaya Shouko, this is my husband Masato," and the man next to her offered a small smile. Mizuki looked between the couple before bowing her head.

"Pleased to meet you, my name is Sakurai Mizuki," and a smile appeared on Shouko's face as she reached forward and grasped Mizuki's hands causing the silver haired girl to look up.

"Mizuki-chan, why don't you come and live with us?" she asked and Mizuki's eyes widened.

"What?"

Noticing the shocked look on the girl's face, Shouko looked over at the caretaker and smiled, before she looked back at Mizuki.

"We want you to come and live us Mizuki-chan, with me and my husband," and tears fell down Mizuki's face before she buried her face into her hands.

"Mizuki-chan?" asked Shouko when Mizuki hugged her and cried in her arms.

"Thank you," and Shouko smiled as she wrapped her arms around Mizuki. Masato's eyes narrowed as he watched his wife and Mizuki's embrace before he turned his head and sighed before he reached into his pocket and pulled out a flask. Taking a quick swig from it, Masato groaned as the hard liquor burned his throat before he turned back to the two sitting next to him.

"Adopted!" yelled Hotsuma spraying some of the rice in his mouth all over the area.

"Hotsuma! That's gross!" yelled Mizuki as she covered her head from the rice. Sitting back down, Hotsuma stared at Mizuki with wide eyes before he spoke again.

"Are you serious?" he asked and Shusei looked over at Mizuki who smiled and nodded.

"They came yesterday and told me that they wanted to adopt me,"

"So what are you going to do?" asked Hotsuma and Mizuki looked up and offered a small smile.

"I asked them to give me some time to think about it," and Shusei noticed the sad look on her face.

"Is something wrong?" and Mizuki snapped up at him.

"Its just that, I wonder if I deserve all of this,"

"Deserve?" and Mizuki nodded.

"I wonder if I even deserve all of this, I've always wanted a mom and dad but I also wanted to have parents with Yuki. I left Yuki behind at Asahi orphanage, I've done something so horrible yet I'm the one being adopted," Shusei's eyes widened when he saw tears threatening to fall down mizuki's face before he reached over and wiped them off.

"Baka," stated Hotsuma causing Mizuki to look up at him with wide eyes before he looked over at her. "Of course you deserve it, you've idiot,"

"Thank you Hotsuma, Shusei," whispered Mizuki causing both boys to smile at her and Shusei fingered a certain box in his pocket.

Two weeks later…..

Walking into the kitchen, Mizuki's eyes widened as she saw flour, eggs, and other baking materials strewn around.

"What the heck?" she yelled when she saw Hotsuma in the corner of the kitchen growling at a cookbook as he mixed something in a bowl.

"Hotsuma?" questioned Mizuki causing the brown-haired boy to whip around causing the mixture to fly out of his hand and towards Mizuki.

"Crap! Mizuki! Duck!" yelled Hotsuma and Mizuki's eyes widened when someone pushed her down and the mixture hit the wall behind her. When she looked up, Mizuki's eyes widened when she saw a blue glop fall down from the wall before she turned her head to see Shusei holding his hand out to her. Taking his hand, Mizuki stood up before she turned to face Hotsuma.

"What are you doing?" she yelled and Hotsuma offered a sheepish grin. Shusei turned to Mizuki and offered her a small smile.

"We were baking a cake for you but as you can see," and he pointed to the entire kitchen and Mizuki's eyes widened before she fell down laughing. Hotsuma and Shusei's eyes widened as Mizuki rolled around on the floor laughing before she wiped some the tears on her face away.

"Gomen gomen, its just that you two and baking don't really match together!" she yelled causing Hotsuma and Shusei's eyes to widen and Hotsuma's eyes immediately narrowed before he grabbed a bit of flour and threw it at Mizuki,hitting her face.

"Take that," he smiled and the temperature of the room suddenly dropped and Hotsuma's eyes widened when he saw the look on Mizuki's face.

"Hotsuma," smiled Mizuki and both Shusei and Hotsuma shivered at the venom dripping in her voice before Mizuki ran over and cracked an egg over Hotsuma's head.

"What the heck Mizuki!" yelled Hotsuma before he bragged some other ingredients and threw it at her but instead hit Shusei. Suddenly, a dark arura surrounded the kitchen as Shusei looked over at Mizuki and Hotsuma.

"Shu…sei?" stuttered Mizuki before she ran behind Hotsuma.

"You're dead," whispered Shusei before he threw an egg at Hotsuma square in the face.

"ooph!" yelled Hotsuma as he fell over and Mizuki started laughing when an egg hit her head and she looked over to see Shusei smiling at her, an egg in his hand.

"You're on,"

"What happened here?" shrieked Shouko when she walked into the kitchen to find three pre-teens covered in baking ingredients lay on the ground.

"Mizuki-chan?" asked Shouko as she looked down at her adopted daughter who just looked up and smiled before she sat up and rubbed her head.

"Gomenasai ka-san, we kinda made a mess," and Shouko's eyes widened before a smile appeared on her face.

"This is the first time you called me that," she whispered and Mizuki's eyes widened before a slight blush appeared on her cheeks. Watching the two, Shusei and Hotsuma looked at each other and smiled before they got up and bowed to Shouko.

"Gomenasai, we used your kitchen and messed it up, we wanted to bake a cake for Mizuki's birthday but as you can see," pointed out Shusei and Shouko's eyes widened before a smile appeared on her face.

"It's alright why don't you guys go and clean up?" and the three jumped up and ran out of the room. Watching the three, Shouko couldn't help but smile when she saw Mizuki laughing with them.

'So they're the ones who pulled her out of isolation,' she thought as a previous conversation from the caretaker at the orphangage flashed in her head.

:/

"Mizuki-chan's a cheerful little girl," smiled Shouko as she looked down at the adoption papers in her hand and at the picture of Mizuki who was smiling brightly.

"Yes the way she is now is completely different from the way she was when she first came to this orphanage," and Shouko snapped up at the other woman's comment.

"What?" and the woman looked down for a second.

"When Mizuki-chan first came here, she was aloof and quiet. No one wanted to be near her. I also heard that she was bullied and beaten at school. But after a couple of months, she began to smile again," and Shouko looked down at the picture of Mizuki again.

"Do you know why?"

"Mizuki-chan never said anything but we always saw her smiling and laughing when she was with these two boys," and Shouko looked up again.

"Boys?"

:/

Shouko smiled at the three before she looked around the kitchen and sighed before she started to clean.

Collasping on her bed, Mizuki stared up at the ceiling before she started to laugh causing Hotsuma and Shusei to look over at her.

"What's wrong with you?" asked Hotsuma and Mizuki sat and smiled at him.

"Its just that I'm still trying to get over the fact that you two tried to bake me something," and Hotsuma sighed before he walked over and shoved a stuffed bear into Mizuki's face.

"Ittai! ..Nani?" asked Mizuki as she pulled the bear away and looked down at it.

"Kawai," she whispered as she started to wave the bear's arm before she looked over at Hotsuma and smiled. "Arigato Hotsuma!" and Hotsuma smiled down at her before he stood up and walked towards the door.

"I'm getting food," he called before he closed the door behind him. Laying back down on the bed, Mizuki looked at the stuffed bear as she started to play around with it. Noticing the smile on her face, Shusei smiled before he walked over and laid down next to her.

"Mizuki," called Shusei and Mizuki looked over at him with a questioning look.

"Hm?" she asked when Shusei looked over and leaned in until his lips were on hers. Mizuki's eyes widened as a blush appeared on her cheeks when Shusei pulled away and smiled.

"Happy Birthday," he whispered and Mizuki felt something around her neck and she pulled up a pendant on a silver chain from her neck. Recognizing the pendant, Mizuki's eyes widened before she looked over at Shusei.

"This is," she started when Shusei sat up and looked down at her.

"You wanted that didn't you?" and Mizuki looked down at the key pendant in her hand. A smile appeared on Mizuki's face as she looked at the blue gem in the center of the silver key before she looked up at Shusei and smiled.

"Arigato Shusei, I'll treasure this," and Shusei looked down at Mizuki before he leaned over and kissed her again.

"That's my other present to you," he whispered before he walked towards the door.

"Hotsuma's probably waiting for us," and a smile appeared on Mizuki's face as followed him out the door.

'Thank you'

4 years later….

"I heard Yuki was coming today," stated Shusei as he looked over at Hotsuma who scoffed.

"Who cares, I don't need that guy," stated the blonde-haired teen as he looked away. Shusei looked over at Hotsuma before he looked down at his Zweilt ring.

"Then I guess I don't need him either," and Hotsuma glanced over at his partner and childhood friend before he turned to face the front again.

"The anniversary's coming up," he whispered and Shusei clenched his fists before he looked over to see Hotsuma's eyes watching him.

"Its already been four years," stated Hotsuma and Shusei looked down as his eyes saddened.

"I wasn't able to protect her," he whispered causing Hotsuma to look back at him.

"We both weren't able to protect her, its not just your fault," and Shusei snapped up to see Hotsuma's fists clenched as he gritted his teeth.

"That's why we both promised to get stronger so that we will never lose another loved one," and Shusei nodded before he looked out the window.

'Mizuki,'

Standing on top of Tokyo tower stood a masked woman. Half of her long silver hair was held up by a blue rose hairclip while the other half was down and blowing around in the wind. Standing beside her was a white wolf and a white tiger to which the girl petted their heads before she turned back to look at the city below her.

"Ciel," called a voice and the girl turned around to see a man with black hair and silver eyes staring at her. A small smile broke out on the girl's face as she walked over and kneeled down.

"Reiga-sama," she whispered and Wakamiya Kanata nodded.

"I thought I told you not to weak that mask around me," he ordered and Ciel nodded before she slowly removed the crystal mask from her face. When she looked up, Kanata's silver eyes were met with blue as Ciel turned around and looked down at the city of Tokyo.

"It'll soon be time," she whispered as she touched a silver key pendant with a blue gem in the center around her neck. Watching her, a smile formed on Kanata's face before his eyes hardened.

'Yuki'


Like I said, there are some missing parts but I will incorporate them into the story as time passes. Well I hope you enjoyed!