Kougaiji stopped dead in his tracks when he heard the question his sister was asking Yaone. Do you just care for me because of Brother? He could hear how very hurt Lirin was, how she feared the answer. He couldn't imagine what had happened between those two who always were of one mind. Did Yaone say something wrong? She did not look like it, but his sister was more sensitive than one might think.

But why should Yaone care for her because of him? Did Lirin think that Yaone saw it as her duty to spend time with her? He had never thought about this for Yaone had been taking care of Lirin ever since he had taken her into his services. It seemed natural that the two females in their small group formed a closer bond. He'd never had the impression Yaone did this for his sake.

Kougaiji sighed with relief when he heard the alchemist's answer. A warm feeling spread through his body as he listened further. He always had a bad conscience when he left Lirin alone in the castle. Whereas he was brought up by his own loving mother, Lirin had never known such a relationship. He tried his best to replace his sister her parents and he had thought he was doing a good job. But when Nii had managed to trick him so easily and take Lirin away from him he'd realized that he failed miserably. It was a comfort to him that Yaone seemed to manage what he did not, she had become a mother for Lirin step by step.

All of a sudden he felt the fierce desire to be part of what they shared. The alchemist was more a mother then he was a brother to Lirin. And his sister was much closer to Yaone than he would ever be..

The thought startled him. Where did it come from so suddenly? He had finally managed to get used to his solitude over all those years, how come that now these feelings of loneliness popped up again?

His attention was turned back to the conversation in the kitchen.

Oi, Yaone. Since when?

He could hear Yaone shift her weight, then sigh. What were they talking about now?

Since the very beginning. I know it's hopeless, but I cannot help it, can I?

He listened to his sister's 'Hmpf', followed by a grumpy reply: But it isn't fair! When you have someone you like you should show them so that they see! Oh, THAT'S the problem. Let's face it, he's as blind as a bat. I mean, honestly, even I noticed! But I think I know the problem.

Kougaiji literally perked up his ears. It wasn't like him to eavesdrop, but this was getting interesting. Who were they talking about, and what did Lirin mean?

Oh? So you've cast an eye at someone? Who is it? There was exactly the right amount of curiosity in Yaone's voice that Lirin would be dying to tell her. His fingers twitched a bit when he thought about his sister and guys. She was still a kid, his baby sister! No way he would let her date a filthy, perverte-

Well, you know him. But that jerk doesn't notice me at all, just like Br-

"Hey Kou, what are you doing?"

Kougaiji jumped when suddenly Dokugakuji appeared behind him. There was abrupt silence in the kitchen, it was so quiet that you would have heard a pin drop.

"I- was about to go in there, what else? Where have you been all the time?", Kou snapped, his mind racing.

Dokugakuji raised an eyebrow at his reaction. "Yeah, what else? I took care of the flying dragons, just like you asked me." 'What's wrong, Kou?', he thought. Kougaiji hadn't been about to enter the kitchen, he'd seen him standing there since he had entered the corridor. "So? Wanna put down roots or what?"

Mumbling something which Dokugaku couldn't understand, Kougaiji stepped in the kitchen.

"We're back."

"Bro!", Lirin shouted, hugging him around the waist. "Why didn't you take me with you? I wanna train, too, so that I can wipe the floor with those jerks the next time...!"

His hand which had patted her head stiffened. "What are you talking about? Which jerks?"

When Lirin noticed her mistake, she swallowed and forced a constrained smile on her face. "I, ah... just in general, everybody who, eh, gets in my way. I.. think I forgot something in my room, I'm.. right back!" She took a few quick steps towards the door but was caught at her collar before she could slip away.

"Sorry Lirin, don't think your brother's through with you yet.", Dokugaku grinned apologetically, pulling her back to Kou.

"I.. lemme go!", she squeaked.

"Please, it wasn't her fault! I took her with me to the woods to gather some ingredients for my poisons when we stumbled across the Sanzo party. It was foolish to go outside, please put the blame on me!"

The three of them turned their heads to look disbelievingly at Yaone who stood in the middle of the kitchen in her usual posture: Head bowed, feet together, hands folded in front of her belly.

Most of her face was covered by her hair, but nevertheless Kougaiji could see that a blush still lingered on the woman's face. Was she embarrassed because she knew he had overheard their conversation? But why should she? He didn't know who was the subject of their..

His eyes widened, he struggled to catch his breath. Since the very beginning, she had said.. He's as blind as a bat.. He stared at his hands, totally dazed.

"Kou! What's wrong, man? Kou!" Dokugakuji shook him but got no answer.

Yaone stared at her prince, his expression mirroring her own. She didn't know what to think when he whirled around, shaking off Dokugakuji's hands. In the twinkling of an eye he had left the room without saying a single word. Dokugaku wanted to follow him, but Yaone caught his sleeve. With questioning eyes he turned around to look at her, but all she could tell him was "I don't know. Let him be."

She managed to stay calm even though her heart was beating furiously against her ribs. Did he know? Did he realize they had been talking about him?

Kougaiji entered his room and slammed the door behind him. He was now sure that Yaone had been referring to him, but this realization didn't help him in the slightest. It had already occurred to him yesterday that there might be any deeper feelings, but now he had a proof. What should he do?

Although he had never seen her this way, he felt a silly happiness spread through his body when he thought about her and the fact that she probably loved him.

But he couldn't allow himself to feel like this. If Gyokumen Koushu or Nii learned about that, Yaone would be in even greater danger than she was now. It was already clear that the four of them had formed a close relationship; especially Nii would know that for he had experienced it at first hand when he, Kougaiji, had managed to regain consciousness after Yaone and Dokugaku declared they would stick with him if he wanted or not.

Although his heart wanted him to declare his feelings to Yaone, his mindforbade him to do so.

"I don't even know what my feelings for her really are, so what can I tell her?", he mumbled, his head resting in his hands.

There was a knock on the door. "Oi, Brother, you in there?"

He didn't actually want to see Lirin at the moment, but nevertheless he told her to come in.

"You really made a face back then, so I wanna ask what's up. You alright? You look a mess."

He couldn't help it, she made him smile a bit. He ran a hand through his hair and let himself fall on his back. "That sure helps a lot, ya know?"

Lirin sat down next to him cross-legged, her hands based on the bed. A grin stretched over her whole face so that she pretty much looked like a cat. "Sure, that's why Lirin's here!", she said, totally missing the irony.

Her brother snorted , his hand still covering his eyes.

"Say, Bro?"

"What is it?"

"Why did you rescue Yaone back then from that demon?"

He let his hand slide down his face and stared at the ceiling. Indeed, why had he? He could remember every detail as if it was yesterday.

He was on his way to his sealed mother when he passed a servant who led a woman through the castle. He did not notice her because she was a beauty but because of the feeling of utter sadness and desperation which was emanating from her. It had caused him to look up, to have a close look at the face which was covered by silent tears. The man's grip on her wrist was harsh though she seemed to follow him voluntarily, no, indifferently, like she no longer had the will to live. But those tears proved otherwise.

Before he even knew what he was doing, he stepped closer. "Wait! Where are you taking that woman?"

When the answer was pronounced, the female demon lowered her head whereas Kougaiji's shot up, his eyes widened with shock. The demon king she should be offered to was a monster, he played with women and after he was ready with them, they were eaten. She wouldn't be the first to suffer this fate, but the thought of her existence being erased caused him a stab of pain. Again his body seemed to react on his own, without being told to do so. The words escaped from his mouth just like before. "I've taken interest in this woman, I'll buy her instead."

He didn't have to though, for the servant hastily pushed her over to him and assured him he would be deeply honored if his prince accepted her as a present.

He waved her to follow him and felt the need to clarify his motives when she looked a bit taken aback. "Don't get me wrong- I didn't save you. From this day on you will work for me- as an alchemist of course. Understand?" He didn't look at her when he said this, but he felt the sadness fading away.

"Yes, Kougaiji-sama."

This was when he had heard her voice for the first time, never forgetting it afterward. There had been so much unexpected love of life in it, so much joy and admiration that he suddenly had known he had done the right thing.

"Oi, anyone home?" A small hand waved in front of his eyes and they concentrated on his sister again.

"I can't say, just felt the need to. Plus I needed a nanny for that disobedient pain in the neck which calls itself my sister." He shot an amused look at her though he actually wanted to reprove her for her earlier solo effort.

"Huh? Pain in the neck? Who's that? Do you have another sister?", Lirin asked, honestly confused.

"You wouldn't believe it, would you?", he laughed, half desperate. "I'm talking about you, silly girl. Why did you go after the Sanzo party all alone?"

Oh shit, she had hoped that he had forgotten it. 'But he isn't that angry, maybe I have a chance!', Lirin thought. Immediately her eyes grew big and watery, her bottom lip began to tremble slightly, her hands were placed just beneath her mouth. "I just wanted to help you, and the last times I tried I'd almost got it, so I wanted to be a worthy sister and..."

"So, the last times, huh?", he interrupted.

"Oops." 'Not again!'

"Lirin, I'm glad you wanna aid, but you don't help me when you sneak away alone and unprotected. I lost you once, I won't let it happen twice. Understand?"

"Bot Bro, I..!"

"No buts anymore, Lirin. Stay with Yaone or Dokugaku and me, but never wander off alone again!" All the amusement had vanished from his features, he was totally serious.

"Yes.", the princess answered, avoiding Kou's gaze. She knew he was right, but it was so boring and creepy at the castle! She wanted to fight!

"Oh, by the way... Who's that guy you've taken an interest in?" The words escaped his lips so quickly that he couldn't stop them anymore. He was dying to learn the name, but at the same time he absolutely didn't want to know.

Lirin turned beet-red. "Oi, how come you know about that? I only told Yaone in the kitchen! Nah.. wait a moment. You heard us. Oh my God, you HEARD us!"

"So what? I'm your brother, I have to know!" Somehow he felt like a small boy who was caught while preparing a prank.

"So? Then you tell me first who's your crush!", Lirin shouted, leaning forward as Kougaiji leaned back, taken by surprise.

"Wha- what are you talking about? Don't change the subject!"

"It's Yaone, right? You looooooooove he-" Once again she found her mouth sealed by a hand, this time it was her brother's.

"M m rght! Knw t!", Lirin tried to say, fidgeting around triumphantly.

"You know nothing! I'm not in love with her! This would be far to dangerous for her.", he snapped.

Lirin became still and stared at her brother, with her mouth agape if Kougaiji hadn't put his hand on it. "Wa, sywldftwrdarns?"

He didn't understand a word, so he took his hand away. "What?"

"Woah, so you would if it weren't too dangerous?", she asked.

He sighed. "Since when do you care about things like that, he? Don't get so observant." He ruffled through her hair. 'She's growing up..'

"I don't know what I feel, okay? I've never really given it a thought, there are other things which are far more important right now. So keep it to yourself. And I'm warning you, if I hear any rumors in the castle, you gonna pay for it, got that?" The last part he said with a deadly voice which as every bit as eerie as Yaone's had been that day.

"Eh, hehe, ri..right. Won't say a word!" 'Boy, he's scary!'

Wow, I finally made it. I'm not quite satisfied though, I have the impression that Lirin is totally OOC somehow.. What do you think?