A/N: Hey, hey, hey my fellow fans. Hopefully, all of you are having a good day today. My day's been good so far (well…other than having to lay in bed all day cuz my injured knee hurts). I'll tell you: a tub of mint chocolate chip ice cream and a good movie makes the pain almost go unnoticed. And re-watching all the Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood episodes helps to lighten things.

"Regular dialogue"

'Mental dialogue'

"Dialogue said by another"

Disembodied voice

Chapter 4: Chips On A Cracking Glass

The days seemed to roll by just as slowly as ever.

It was the same old routine for everyone: Hayate moped in his room for most of the day, Tama doing the same, and Maria drowning her sorrows in cleaning while trying to find ways to bring both occupants out of their shells. Same sadness, same routines.

But it was bearable for the time being. "It isn't the end of everything", as Maria often told herself.

With enough coaxing, she was able to convince Hayate to get out more (even if it meant going out to the backyard and sitting at the rose bushes for a couple of minutes). Tama started showing up during the afternoon from time to time (even if it was only to water Nagi's flower bed and her sitting beside him to chat, despite him not being able to talk). But she felt she was getting through to them somehow.

For one, Hayate didn't object as much anymore when she invited him to sit with her and talk a little. And sometimes, when he wasn't in a daze, he'd talk about the sky. It never exceeded more than two sentences and the comments were random or obvious for the most part. But then she'd take a side-glance at his face and see a familiar flicker of light in his azure pools. A bit of the old Hayate would shine through.

But as quick as it appeared, it faded back into the dullness of his orbs just as fast and his face would slacken once more. He'd sit there, slumped against the tree, and regress into the confines of his mind while she continued to make small conversation to fill the silence that'd fall on them.

Tama was a little easier to get to open up to her. Whenever she heard him padding across the living room, she'd pause whatever she was doing at the moment and join him to water the flowerbed outside. He carried a light blue watering can in his mouth and drop it under the water faucet outside. She'd help him fill the watering can and he'd scoop it in his mouth again to carry it over to the flowers. He'd look up to her in a silent way of help. She'd take the tin and water Nagi's flowers. Afterwards, she'd sit beside him and scratch behind his ears. Maria would start conversation with him, asking how his day went and such. The tiger would merely let out a sad sound and kept his gaze towards the flowers. Sometimes, he'd paw her hand as a 'yes' or slightly shake his head no to answer her questions.

She didn't think it silly at all that she was talking to an animal.

Klause continued to visit at random intervals to check up on the remaining 'family'. They were short and brief. But it was a reliever for Maria to have someone to talk to since none of the others were up for conversation.

The silence became too much at times.

But Maria found temporary comfort in busying herself with cleaning. So it was enough for now.

As a matter of fact, she was cleaning around the house again. She'd already done hers and Hayate's laundry, cleaned the kitchen and swept the front. All she had left was the living room.

She got done with dusting the blinds and shelves when she noticed a tuff of blue poking out from the rose bushes in the backyard from the nearby window. It disappeared as soon as it came up, so she decided to shrug it off and get back to cleaning. She polished the wooden table and cleaned the glass of the TV. She noticed the windows needed cleaning, so she got a new roll of paper towels, along with her bottle of glass cleaner, and proceeded to clean them.

That's when she noticed the tuff of blue again from the top of the bushes.

'Am I going insane already?' she thought, rubbing at her eyes in case her vision was playing tricks on her. When she opened her eyes, she saw that the blue object was gone from sight again. 'Or maybe it's from lack of sleep. I have been sleeping less as of late…' She shook her head at the thought and wiped the windows some more.

When the windows started to leave streaks, she bent down to rip out new paper towels to use. She folded the four perforated pieces and rose up to clean off the streaks. She scrubbed hard at the lines until she couldn't notice them anymore. The sun gave the window a gleam that had her proud at the work well done.

"Now that's how you clean-." She stopped short when she saw it again.

A blue tuff poking out at the top of the bushes.

She blinked several times and pinched herself on the hand for added measure. "Ow. Ok, that was real." She rubbed at the sore spot while gazing out the window to the blue moving back and forth. It was perplexing to say the least.

'What the heck was that?' She saw the bushes being moved and a speck of blue visible through a tiny gap between the greenery. 'Maybe I should go check it out. Just in case.'

She rushed to the kitchen and made a grab for the broom leaning against the countertop. She ran to the backyard door, gripping the broom tightly as she took a moment to compose herself. Afterwards, when she was sure that she was ready, she slowly turned the knob and opened the door to a crack. She peeked through the small opening, taking note of her surroundings. She didn't see anything suspicious. And if she was correct, the mysterious blob of blue probably hadn't heard her opening the door. So she opened it wider and crept down the marble stairs with stealth she learned after years of working for the Sanzenins.

She heard the bushes rustling up ahead, halting her on the spot. A deep fear coursed through her blood, and she didn't know if she should pursue this on her own or call animal control.

'I probably should have went with animal control.' she thought grimly. She didn't know what she was facing up against. For all she knew, it could have been a rabid animal that was let loose or a creature of the supernatural (something Nagi would have suggested at first).

As she neared the spot where she saw the blue object, the more her knees quacked under her. She felt them wanting to give out on her from the mere thought of something dangerous waiting to jump up and attack her. For a second, she thought about calling Hayate to help.

'No. I can't possibly ask that of him. I don't even know what the thing is yet. But I can do it. I'm not a coward and I'm not about to turn into one.' The bushes rustled again. 'Y-yeah. I'm brave. I'm strong.' The bushes rustled a few more times as she neared them. 'I-I'm courageous. B-brave. Not c-cowardly?'

An image of a vicious bear/tiger looking hybrid appeared in her mind, shedding her body to bits. As easily as a stick.

Rustling of the bushes.

Picture of a deadly beast.

Being the only one outside.

Knowing that she would have to fend for herself.

All these thoughts clouded her mind as she took those last fatal steps towards what could be her impending doom or menial scare of the day. She hoped it was the latter.

The blue popped out from the bushes. So she rose the broom as high as she could and brought it down hard with the intent of knocking out whatever was hiding in the bushes.

That was until she saw what it was.

The broom came to a startling halt above the tuff of blue. Her eyes widened and she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

"Hayate?"

And lo and behold, Hayate was kneeled on the grass and looking up startled from the spot Maria intended to swing at. Patches of dirt decorated the front of his short sleeved, white shirt and denim jeans. His cheeks were powered the same dark color.

Maria kneeled down to his level looking at him in surprise. "What are you doing here at the garden?"

A look of realization crossed his features and his once startled face contorted in a hysterical sadness, blue eyes widening and turning glossy. "I-I can't find it."

"Can't find what?" she asked, clueless as to what he was meaning.

"My treasure. My treasure is gone."

"Treasure?"

"Yes! My treasure."

"Can you further ela…borate?"

But Hayate was already crawling away, constantly thrusting a hand through the bushes and sweeping his hands under the shrubbery. She noticed several red lines that ran across his arms and tiny dots of blood painting his lightly tan skin.

"Hayate." she called to him. But he kept looking through all the bushes instead. "Hayate, please." She put a comforting hand on his shoulder. He looked up to her, brows creased in worry.

"I don't have time. I have to loo-."

"No, Hayate." she told him firmly. She hooked both arms around one of his own and proceeded to lift him from the ground. "You have a lot of cuts on your arms. Right now would be best if I cured them for you."

"But you don't understand!"

"I do. So you can look for whatever this thing is after I cure your cuts."

Hayate swiftly pulled his hand away and backed from her a couple of feet. He gave her a look like he was deeply offended, clenching his hands on either side of him.

"A thing? You're calling something important to me 'a thing'?" His eyes narrowed dangerously low on his face and his breathing was picking up, flaring through his nostrils in anger. "It's not 'a thing'! It…it's the only thing a have left to remember!" he shouted out. He ran back into the house and a loud slam was heard from where Maria stood, paralyzed on the spot.

She was stunned by his behavior to say the least.

Hayate didn't speak to her for three days straight since the incident at the garden. During that time, he hadn't let her inside his room to wash his laundry or talk him into joining her outside for a bit.

He was being reclusive.

She was, however, lucky enough to sneak into his room and take out a load of dirty clothes when he went outside to look in the bushes again. He didn't know that she saw him walk out and she didn't bother to question him about it. She left it at that and raced to clean his clothes without him knowing.

That was a couple of hours ago and he's long since returned to his room to sulk some more. It was 7:45 p.m when she got done washing the last load.

She placed a basket of Hayate's light colored clothes on the couch. She turned on the tv to a drama series and sat down to fold the clothes, munching on some wheat crackers she bought yesterday.

A heated scene between the protagonist and his leading lady came on the screen, gaining the maid's attention.

They were embracing passionately as the man spoke sweet nothings in her ear. The woman blushed prettily and wove a delicate hand through his sleek, black hair. He, in turn, gripped her waist tighter and the space between their faces were shortening….

The cracker hung loosely in Maria's mouth, her eyes going wide with anticipation. She moved her body forward from her seat. With the movement, her hands tugged a shirt from the basket absentmindedly.

That was when she heard a thud beneath her. She looked down to see a shiny object at her feet, so she bent down to pick it up and observe it. Several charms adorned the gold bracelet. One in the shape of a heart had the initials 'N.S.' etched on the back. Something in her memory clicked.

"Ah! This…this is Nagi's bracelet. The one Hayate got her as a present."

"You're calling something important to me 'a thing'?"

"It…it's the only thing I have left to remember!"

It suddenly dawned on her what Hayate was offended about that day.

She fingered the heart charm, a sad smile tugging at her lips. "So this was the 'treasure' he was talking about…."

The whole room was dark, save for the lamp on his nightstand. It was night outside, meaning the end of another fruitless search.

Hayate was laying on his bed, his eyes unfocused as it gazed at the pitch-black ceiling above. The salty tears from earlier had dried and crusted on his cheeks. His hair was in a disarray from the three days of not showering and his clothes began to stink (he was wearing the same outfit from three days ago).

He felt defeated and utterly frustrated. He looked all over the backyard, practically tore up his whole room and checked all of the restrooms that he may have used between the time he had it and when it disappeared. But he always came through empty handed. It's already been three days...three days…

"Damn it!" he whispered loudly, crossing his arms over his eyes when he felt his eyes sting from the thought.

Hayate. Hayate~

"Please…leave me alone." He didn't dare uncover his eyes to see the person talking to his right.

Hayate. Are you ignoring me?

"This isn't real. None of this is real. None of this is real what so ever." he chanted to himself in a whisper.

Why do you like hurting me, Hayate? Have I done something wrong?

"I-I can't take this anymore." He heard his voice cracking under the pressure. "Please just go away."

Why won't you look at me?

The girl's voice also sounded choked up. But for his sake he didn't look.

Why won't you talk to me like before?

On the contrary, he wanted nothing more than to sit all day with her and chat like things in their lives hadn't changed.

But they did. And that's why he didn't trust himself to answer her.

Do you…do you hate me, Hayate?

"…No." Even knowing that she wasn't physically there didn't make the hurt any less real when she uttered those ugly words. A part of him still wanted to convince her that he DID care, even if he had to convince a conjured image of her.

But you do. If you didn't, then you wouldn't be ignoring me.

He felt the hot tears roll down his face, soaking the bed spread under his ears. His lips quivered a little.

"Is this…my punishment? Am I being punished for not protecting you? What did I do wrong to deserve all this pain?"

You let me go. Why Hayate? Why did you let me go?

"I-I don't know…"

Hayate…

"Nagi!" He quickly got up, turning his body where the voice was fading.

She was gone. Just like she'd always been.

"Nagi…" The tears continued to spill over as he looked to the spot on his right with wide eyes. He couldn't believe that he let his emotions get in the way again.

His ears perked up when he heard knocking on the other side. Two dark silhouettes blocked the light from the hall under the doorframe.

"Hayate. It's me. Can you open up for a sec?" came Maria's muffled voice.

His blue eyes scanned the empty spot to his right once more before getting up from the bed to open the door. He was momentarily blinded by the bright lights, having been in the dark for so long. He quickly rubbed the tears at the corners of his eyes and tried to adjust his vision from the light.

She wore a gentle smile full of understanding and care.

"I'm sorry to bother. But I found something that may cheer you up a bit." She reached a dainty hand into the pocket of her apron and produced the golden charm in her outstretched hand.

Hayate almost couldn't believe what he saw.

She grabbed both his limp hands, placed the charm in them, and closed his fingers around the jewelry. "I believe this is yours, no?"

He opened his fingers carefully to gaze down at the object in his hands. The lights overhead gave the charm a nice glint to it, reflecting the initials on the heart perfectly.

Hayate closed his fingers around it, eyes misting over, and starting to back into his room. He didn't lift his head to look at the maid. But he did utter a quick "thank you" before closing the door shut.

Maria turned on her heel and began walking down the stairs to finish the laundry. It wasn't a drastic change to his mood.

But it was a start.

Early Thursday morning, Klause came by again for another visit.

He and Maria sat in the living room and discussed as usual. He talked about his trip to the Hawaiian beaches and how the food there is delicious. He also told her how a crab on shore ran up to his foot and pinched his big toe (to which he added with pleasure that it tasted divine at dinner later that day. And to his displeasure, it made walking difficult to bare). Maria couldn't help but laugh from the story he told.

He asked how things were going for her, but she seemed hesitant to answer. Things were still awkward between her and the other occupants.

"Um…well, uh. The days go by too quick to recount everything." she said in embarrassment.

"Hm. I suppose that it does."

"W-would you like some more tea?"

"That would be lovely. Thanks." Maria took the ceramic cup from his hands and began to pour him another batch of the Strawberry Vanilla tea (coincidently, it was Nagi's favorite).

He took a sip and set the cup down on the coaster. He looked to the maid with a serious look.

"How long are you going to keep pretending that everything is alright?"

For a second, her façade slipped and her eyes widened slightly. But she quickly composed herself and flashed him a deceiving smile, hoping that'll drive his suspicions away.

"Excuse me?"

"Look." He rubbed two fingers on his forehead and let out a frustrated sigh. "We can continue with this little lie of yours all we want. But who exactly are we helping doing that?" The maid flinched from his words. "That's why I specifically came here today with the intent of assisting you during this difficult time."

"Where are you getting with this?" she asked in a light tone, despite the smile that was beginning to slant down her face ever so slightly.

"I think it would do Tama good to spend his time at a place that's therapeutic and away from this type of environment." He pulled out a couple of brochures from inside his suit and handed them to Maria. "It's a company owned by the Sanzenin family and specializes in pet care. The program itself allows the animals to loosen up and be pampered. Free of charge, so you wouldn't have to worry about the expense."

Maria looked through the various photos depicting a tropical looking center and all the opportunities for fun and activity.

"I signed him up to spend a duration of at least three months for rehabilitation. I know it'll do him good."

"Three months?" she asked incredulously. "Isn't that a long time for him to be away?" Her face no longer held a look of elation, same with her voice.

"Absolutely not. The way I see it is this: he's going on a small vacation to clear his mind and get away from the heartbreak of living in a house that's missing it's vital member."

Her eyes downcast to the brochures again.

"Wouldn't you want for him to get help while the problem is still fresh?"

She felt unsure about the idea of sending off Tama to live elsewhere for a while. The tiger was as much her friend as he was to Nagi. And to comply to Klause's wishes would mean that she'd have to part from him.

Another of her 'family' would be taken in the process.

"Miss Maria?"

"I-I'm sorry. It's just that…" She looked behind Klause and saw a photograph of the trio at the beach, along with Tama and Nagi's school friends. Her heart wrenched from looking at it.

Klause caught on to the look on her face and heaved a heavy sigh, getting up to straighten the wrinkles on his suit. "I can see that you're hesitant about this."

She, too, got up and bowed over, hands placed over her thighs. "I'm really sorry." She straightened her body back up. "It just seems too sudden, that's all."

"I understand."

"…a week." she murmured under her breath.

"Hm?"

"I need a week to think about this. If that's alright with you?"

Klause thought it over in his head, wondering whether it best that she delayed such a decision. One look at her eyes, though, told him that the decision was more important to her.

"…Ok." He gathered the brochures from the table and made his leave towards the door. "I'll give you a week to decide." he said, waving a hand to the side dismissively.

"Thank you, Klause-san."

"But." He stopped to look over his shoulder. "I'd give this question a thought before you make your decision."

"What would that be?"

His eyes were stoic and mouth drawn in a tight line. "Ask yourself this: "Is what you're doing helping him to get through the pain?" Give it some thought and have an answer ready for me next week."

"…"

"Have a nice day, Miss Maria."

The sound of the door shutting was the only thing heard after that.

Maria took this opportunity to spend some time with the tiger and see where things went from there. She spent time with him at the flowerbed as usual and resumed conversation like it was any other time.

Hayate didn't come out as much since she returned the charm bracelet to him. It was as though he was distancing himself even more from her. She still cooked for him and did his laundry when she could. But that was just about it. He didn't join her for chatting in the garden nor did he eat as much (even though his eating habits were already poor to begin with). It was a constant worry for her in the back of her mind.

Tama, however, was more compliant and didn't mind getting out of the room for a little. His mood hadn't changed much, if the frown on his face hadn't proved it enough, and he didn't purr with her usual ministrations to his ear (it always calmed him and make the tiger purr like crazy at one time). But she was happy that he was getting out.

She sprinkled some water over a tiny bud that was pushing through the surface, the green bulb round and bright. A deep contrast to the gloomy life in the mansion.

"I wonder how the little bud is holding up?" she said, more to herself than anything (a certain blonde in mind). She stroked and pet the tiger's furry head and she set the watering can aside and made herself more comfortable on the cobblestone path beneath her. She continued stroking Tama's fur and gazing at the single bud amongst the rest of the already grown flowers.

"It looks as though she's trying to sprout soon and catch up with the rest." Her lips curved upward in a sad smile. "Trying to prove she's not going to be small forever…"

She heard Tama exhale quietly through his nostrils at her comment.

"What do you think, Tama? You think she'll catch up?" A light pat of his paw to her hand told her he agreed.

"That's what I thought."

The wind picks up and lightly brushes through her pinned up hair. Tama looks lifeless as he lays on the ground, peering at the tiny bud in the middle. She wonders if she sometimes looks the same.

"You know…" She takes a deep breath and swallows the tiny lump in her throat. "It's gotten kind of quiet around here. Usually, this place would be bustling with people."

Tama remains silent.

"Those days sure were the craziest. It almost seems surreal when you compare it to now."

She felt a familiar sting behind her eyes, but chose to ignore it to continue talking.

"I wonder sometimes what it would be like if our lives weren't as such. Would we still have been as happy? Would we have had as much fun without those memories? These things…it gets you thinking sometimes."

Tama hadn't responded. But she felt him twitch a little at her words.

"I don't know. Maybe I'm just getting old for my age." She ran delicate fingers across the top of his head and looked down to his glazed eyes. "What do you think Tama? Do you think I'm getting too old?

He continued to look at the tiny flower bud, unresponsive to her question. She cranes her head up to the sky, eyes flickering to a couple of birds flying by.

"I wish I can soar through the sky like these birds, without a single care in the world. Just to have a moment…and forget my problems."

"Ok Tama! Lets get out there and see how that bud is holding up." she says enthusiastically, Tama following close behind with the watering can in his mouth. She walks ahead, with her hands folded behind her, and a wide smile plastered on her face.

The sun was shining brightly outside. It recently stopped raining about an hour ago and a beautiful rainbow stretched across the blue, blue sky and fluffy clouds. Her spirits were up and she was sure that it would lift the tiger's as well. She had a good feeling about this as she pushed back the doors and greeted the sunny weather for the day. Tama was indifferent as usual.

"Mmm!" She stretched her arms above her, feeling the kinks in her back loosen up. "Isn't today just wonderful?"

Tama stood behind her and simply watched the scenery before him with little emotion.

Maria closed her eyes and breathed in the after shower scent. She let it sink into her system for a minute before turning around to get the water hose. "Ready to fill up?" she asks the tiger.

He nods his head slowly and walks his way towards the maid. He sets the can on the floor and watches as Maria fills it with water. When it gets close to the rim, she turns the knob counter clockwise and wraps the hose back around its wheel. He collects the handle between his teeth and they make their way to the flowerbed.

They stop short when they notice a ball of black fur on the flowerbed.

Maria runs towards it to shoo it away. The cat, as it was now discovered, turned around to see Maria getting closer and scampered away, the maid running close behind. It ran up the wall, a dead bird hanging from its mouth, and jumped over from their view. The maid puffs out her cheeks in annoyance and turns back to walk over to Tama at the flowers. She notices a grave look in his eyes.

And as she joined him at the flowerbed, she can see why.

All the flowers, once neatly arranged and standing tall, were scattered about, half of them buried under the soil and torn to shreds. Petals fluttered about as they moved with the light wind. But that's not what got their attention.

What did, however, was the little flower bud- ripped from its stem and crushed flat on the cobblestone.

It was destroyed, killed, ripped apart.

Maria softly pats the tiger's head in remorse as he watched the scene before him. "I'm so sorry Tama." She says barely above a whisper.

He bows his head low and slowly walks back into the house. He looks defeated and she couldn't help the sorrow that reached her heart as she watched him leave.

So much for that good feeling of hers.

Two days have passed since the flowerbed destruction and Tama hadn't left his (Nagi's) room.

In three days, Klause was supposed to come again and get her answer. Time was fast approaching and she wasn't sure if she'd accomplished much. She made every effort to get him to open the door so they could talk. But he was too engrossed in his misery to listen. They were returning to their old routine again.

Hayate had kept with his seclusion. So no help there. And Klause wasn't coming by soon. Nagi's friends weren't going to be of help either, on account that none of them came over to visit.

So she was left to help Tama out of it by herself.

"Tama. Will you please open up? We need to talk about this."

She knocks on the door, leaning her head against it.

"Please, Tama. Open up."

She kneels to the ground, her forehead rubbing against the sleek wood. She feels a slight burn from it.

"Tama." she calls out desperately. "Please. Please let me help you."

"Is what you're doing helping him to get through the pain?"

Those words never rang so true in her mind than now. She listens to the quiet house and thinks of the emptiness of it, of the lack of happiness it houses. She clenches her eyes tightly as the tears spring forth from her eyes. Her hand slides down the door and she's never felt more alone than when she found herself sitting outside in the hall by herself.

No one to help. No one to assist her…or her distant, makeshift 'family'.

"Please, Tama."

"Please don't shut me out too."

A week passes by. Klause doesn't have to ask to know what she's decided.

A depressed looking Tama stands beside the crestfallen maid, his luggage of things in her right hand. Klause walks forward to collect the luggage and gives her a sympathetic look before ushering the tiger inside the limo.

Maria doesn't make a move to leave from her spot even after the limo has driven away. She doesn't even bother to stop the tears from flowing down her cheeks.

She realizes she's been in a losing battle and the glass wall she's built around her optimism was chipping under all the weight of her sadness. Her confidence starts to slip and she wonders how long she can keep at it before she loses Hayate also.

A/N: And that's a wrap to another chapter of this fic.

I know some of you are starting to get anxious about when Nagi will make her appearance. But I will say that we're getting close to that point. And about the lack of Hayate, you have to understand that he's going through a tough time right now with losing Nagi and all. So his mind is kind of out of it. And if I made this whole thing in his view…well, all you'd get is a bunch of moping over Nagi. And who wants to read a whole couple of chapters about that? So that's why I have Maria as the main pov for right now. But rest assured, we'll start seeing more of Hayate…and maybe some Nagi? So please be patient with me.

Anyways, leave me a review and I'll make sure to work on the other chapter so that you guys (and gals) don't have to wait so long for the next update. I'm really trying to make an effort to make up for that horrible waiting I put you guys through. So I hope this helps. Until next time, buh bye!