The italic one is in English, normal one is in Japanese and 'apostrophe' is thoughts.

This oneshots chapter consist of some fragments on Nowaki's childhood memories, between fourth to his fifth year

Chapter 4

It was a week before his fifth birthday when he start to reconsider his own meaning of 'family'. In his mind, 'family' is Natsumi-san and other kids on the orphanage. He's not very fond of other older kids, though. They've been always somewhat dislike him and bully him. Well, he did try to always be nice to others and keep smiling. He decided that being angry wasn't very nice.

"Oh. Its you. "snorted some older boy, who was just enter his third year on primary school and boasting all over being the oldest.

The raven-haired boy just glance and telling himself just to ignore the oldest boy. He flick back his midnight blue eyes and stare at the green grass under him.

"What do you do last time? I heard you grab Hana's teddy on the highest branch of Sakura tree. No one can climb the highest so fast except me." mocked the older one, puffing up his chest for his swelling pride.

The crouching boy bit his lips and decided to hold up his anger before those weird fire start burn on the older boy. Natsumi-san didn't like that accident before on the oldest boy before he was gone-adopted and she certainly didn't want that happen again.

"Are you mute or something? Can you even talk?"snorted the standing boy, enjoying his mockery

The silence boy finally open his mouth, wanted replying the pride-swelling older boy, telling him that he's not mute-whatever the words meant, it's sound bad, before one of the nun called the older boy name. The boy continue to playing with the little dandelion he picked before. He twirling the floating flower in his hand without him touching and sigh. He never show this, fortunately, to anyone, except Natsumi-san. He smile as he remember Natsumi-san said he is special boy. So special that he maybe can do some things that other boys or girls can't do. He found he can do some...things. The nearly five years old boy continue to mulling over some things he could do when he felt somebody presence beside him. Standing quietly.

"Beautiful day, isn't it?" said the deep gentle voice. The stranger get his attention fully and he frowned his forehead. The stranger was the most tallest man he ever seen. Well, he rarely leave the orphanage anyway, so he didn't meet many person or adult except with Natsumi-san and on kindergarten. The standing figure has the same dark hair like he had. What this stranger talking about? He is four and he should understand whatever the man speak. He never heard that words for his entire life. Like...like he was talking another language. Or maybe he talk with some adult things he didn't understand much.

"Gomenne. You don't understand, do you? I said this day is such a beautiful day. Sunny and bright."said the man, inhale deeply as he never see the sunny day.

Hold on. Where did this stranger coming from? He is sitting down in front of the orphanage since morning, playing by himself. So he MUST HAVE known when the man come in. But he isn't. He blinked owlishly, staring at the stranger. The boy then remember its rude to stare at one people for a long time and so, he averted his glance with a faint flush on his cheeks.

"Don't you suppose to be playing with other?"said the man, smiling strangely to him

He just shook his head. Natsumi-san said he should not talk to some stranger. The man is definitely a stranger. The man suddenly change his expression into something he don't understand.

"Why?"said the man, slowly approach him and crouch down next him.

The boy once again shook his head once more, move down his head between his knees, shifting his attention again to the small dandelion and twirling on his hand.

"You can do that?"said the man, sound slightly surprise, glancing at the spinning flower.

The boy squeak when he realized the man found out he's twirling the flower in the mid-air. The dwarf flower fall down suddenly on earth, lifeless and the child flinched away from the man.

"Oh, I didn't mean to startle you. I'm sorry."sooth the man, raise his arm, signing for peace

The boy sharpened his glance in a suspicious and scared stare. The man continue to raise his hand in his weird gesture. Again, some of the expression on his face, he didn't understand perfectly.

"Sorry. Sorry. I don't...sorry. Please."said the man, almost in his pleading voice

The smaller raven hair continue to stare at him. Minutes filled with silence and the man looked nervous on his staring.

"Look, uh-here. I can that too."said the man, pick up the dandelion before and twirled like he do

He widened his blue eyes and couldn't help himself to lean towards the man. The man seemed perfectly happy when he decided to move closer.

"See? Told you so. It easy, isn't it?"grin the man, showing his twirling flower. The flower then flew away into the air, higher and higher until he can't he much further.

Its the very first time he decided that maybe he is not alone.

"Hello." said the man, walking through the living room, where he currently sitting on the chair.

The boy throw his own small rare smile to the man, despite he didn't understand his words. This man promised he would come today, promising him with other amazing stories to tell. His eyes often widened on his story, about special broom you can ride to fly, magical creatures like tiny human with wings ("Don't let their funny appearance fool you. They can bite and its hurts!"), a man-horse and all wondrous things that he can't even imagine what's look like. The boy is (secretly) hoping those stories weren't just any ordinary stories. Stories doesn't come alive. Only real things happen.

"Alone again?"said the man, brushing some dust over his shoulder. Which he gain a nod for the reply.

The man approach the boy quietly and sat down beside him, on another chair.

"Here. I brought you something."said the man, suddenly throw something small to mid-air, glinting and shimmering halfway across the room.

The child surprisingly catch the rolling yellow things with both his hands. He opened with both hands slowly, to find out round thing on his palm. Its hard, like metal, with a tinge of brow-yellowish colour. He touch the small things, to feel it hard and cold surface. Its somewhat like...like a tin for food! Metal things! Key chain! Or..or maybe its...its..oh! Maybe its a coin? But its not look like a yen coin to him.

"Nice catch! You could be a quidditch player someday with your fast reflex." said the man, move himself closer until their arms touch softly.

The boy is too much distracted with a small weird golden things on his palms, not realizing their closeness. The older raven-hair man look at him with somewhat soft fondness.

"Its a coin actually. In case you won't notice. Remember what I did tell you about the other people who's just like us?"told the man

The younger male nodded eagerly, still marvel the smooth surface of the big coin on his hands-nearly the size of his small palm. An old man with long beard embedded upon the hard coin.

"We have our own currency. Or you could say, money. Like the other version of yen. And this is, galleon. There's other too, like Knuts and Sickle. We own this to buy things."

Black hair bounced once the owner nodded again, still in wonder. He reluctantly give back the coin itself to the man.

"Oh no, this one is for you."said the man, shake his head, followed by the disbelief of round eyes looking at him.

Its the very first time he owned the other things, beside his dearest cloakie.

"You know, I was just wondering, why are you won't even talk to me from the day we met."said Makoto, made the child glance beside him

Makoto-san, noted the child tried to remember the name, as the man told him his name on the second day he met. His dark blue eyes averted his glance from the man shyly and looking the shadows of the sakura's tree, which began to grew out one of its smallest blossom. Hana once told him how she loved Sakura's blossom, like her pretty name too.

"No need to answer that. Just wondering. I'm very grateful for just meeting you at last."

The boy throw his questioning stare. 'Why? I'm just ordinary kids. I'm not that special, despite I can do some...weird things.'

"I'm...I have a boy for my own you know. I haven't meet him for a long time."said the man, seem to be anxious

His kid would be the luckiest person on earth to have a father like him!

"Its just...I..I believe to make some mistake on the past. I do love him and I still do. I just wanted him to be safe, that's all. There's been a horrible war at the Wizarding World and we must protect our family, including yo...I mean, including my son."

'War? What's that?'

"No need to explain you about the war. You are too young to know those. In a few days, you are five, right?"said the man, followed with the faithful nod from the boy

"I think I have the right present for you." said Makoto grinning widely

He was hiding under the shade of sakura's tree and under his dearest cloakie, when Makoto meet him again. He heard soft noises of shoes walking upon the green grass. His teary eyes peering blankly to the green strands which bends back after being stomped down by the man's weird boots.

"There you are. I was looking everywhere for you in the orphanage." said the man bend down to the crouching child. The boy folded himself even further from him. His hand clutch the side of the worn cloak.

"You are not afraid of me again, are you?"

The boy just shake his head, which buried between his knees and under the fabric. He inhale a breath to calm himself down and wipe his nose harshly. He heard a heavy sigh and a shift on the air next to him. Minutes later, the child heard a frantic footstep. 'Must be Natsumi-san' he thinks. The front door suddenly wide open, revealed a frantic nun, looking for someone, made him even further sinking under the fabric.

"Wacchan! Tell me what happen, please!" said the nun, with her wide step approaching him. And then, the nun stopped when he saw the man next to the child, who's staring at him. Her mouth gaped like a fish, before she controlled herself down.

"Oops. You caught me." mumble the man as he grins to the female

"Y-you. How did you...when?"

"A week ago, I think. Isn't it, Wacchan?"said Makoto, slowly crouch beside the boy

"The things is getting better?" said the female nun

"Yes. Maybe for a couple days...anyway, I'll talk to you later on. Now tell me, why is he look miserable like this?"Makoto said, almost with a growl in his voice

"Oh, Makoto, I don't know for sure. That's why I'm asking him now. Wacchan. Did someone hurt you?"said Natsumi slowly, as she intended not to sound like interrogation

The younger male shake his head, still buried his head between his knees.

"Did someone, oh! Oh...did he call you mute and weird again?"

The same reply, but accompanied with more frantic shake of small head. Raven-haired boy pleaded with his eyes, wanted to say 'Please, Natsuni-san. Don't mind me! You got other important thing to do.'

"Who called him like that?' said Makoto with a cold voice, made him want to flinch for the cold voice and oh, that weird word again.

"Now, its just an older kid from my orphanage.."

"Just? you said 'just'? He could be traumatized! Can he even talk yet? He's four years old and I know children should be chattering on those age!"

The quiet boy quickly took a glance unto the man. He saw the man slip his hand under his cloak to pick up something. Come to think of it, the cloak is similar to his. A long thin stick came out. Makoto held the stick tightly.

"He kinda shy and quietened when he meet stranger, the older stranger. He practically fine with other younger kids. Calm down for godsake! Look how far you made him frighten. Lower down your wand! No need to make fuss around here!"

Makoto suddenly looked upon him, making that expression again. The young boy nearly pout because he can't decide what's emotion on his face again. Why Makoto-san carrying a wooden stick around? Does he beat the bad kids with that stick? A large hand reach his black hair and stroke slightly. His eyes widen with the sensation.

"Soon, Nowaki. We'll take you out from these horrid muggle world."

Its the first time he received a truly loving kiss from another person, beside Natsumi-san.

There's a fuss inside Natsumi-san's office. He was just slipping off his pyjamas into daily clothes, before he remember today is his fifth birthday! He ran off into Natsumi-san happily, calling Natsumi's name. What's inside made him stop his fast step, a pair of people, man and woman standing in front of the fireplace. A green fire crackling softly behind them. He never know about the green fire. Its pretty tough.

"Oh, I just wondering when you woke up, Wacchan!"said Natsumi enthusiastically.

His step bring him quickly beside Natsumi's usual grey robe and grip the cloth for steadying himself. He recognized the man standing in front of him. Its Makoto-san. But the other, he don't. Another female in the room looking himself almost like the way Natsumi-san look at him. Natsumi-san always held her gaze to him with soft but far away. But this woman is different. She looked at him like its the first time he properly seeing a child. There's a firm, but yet, loving and tenderness gaze from those blue eyes. He could felt he will be safe on her cradle, despite a strange drawing on her arms.

"Happy Birthday, Wacchan."said Natsumi, set her hands on his shoulder to calm his uneasiness

A seconds later he was being swooped up, press upon a warm body. He couldn't quite place himself whether he will like this woman or not. There's a particular feeling that he's been knowing her for his entire life. There's a familiarity on these warm and firm heat.

The way her arms hugged around him.

A soft flowery smell upon the bulging chest.

Her trembling hands stroke upon his raven hair, like she's afraid to touch him.

The fierce hug.

Another large hands (Makoto's. He remember perfectly when a wide palm touch him another day.) soon rubbed his back.

"Happy Birthday." said the female who's still hug him

Oh

Oh!

He dream countless time before of this voice. The boy flashback at Natsumi's word that he actually, have a parent. They are still somewhere else in far away country, preparing a safe place for him live for. Someday they'll come back at him. So that's why he's not being in adopted program, where good kids taken away with couples to live with. But he can't tell other kids this secret, that would be unfair to those who didn't have parents.

Maybe.

Just maybe.

He brace himself up to spoke a certain nickname he'd been yearning to speak. He'd only heard them on television kids program.

Note: Cloakie is actually the robe that Reinette left on the day she entrusted Nowaki to Natsumi for a while, facing the World Wizarding War II. So Nowaki practically born during the war and Reinette being pure-blooded, even she change her surname into his husband, she's threatened for being recruited to the dark side.

If you read or just simply read Harry Potter 7, you know how dangerous it is.