Chapter 6

She opened her eyes to see Tsuzuki at a small distance. He was sitting on the ground near a corner with a strange look in his eyes, like he wasn't really there.

She knew how weird it sounded but even though she could see his body, she somehow knew his spirit wasn't there.

She heard a voice from behind them and turned to look right into Semi's eyes.

"Come Asato, I have a new experiment I'd like to test."

She watched in horror as he walked to her brother and pulled him up without trouble and she saw his eyes appeared to be a dark blue instead of their usual radiant purple.

"Don't worry, you won't die, you never do," Semi smiled that creepy smile of his as he picked up a knife from the table beside them.

"Let him go!" Ruka screamed as she realised the man's intentions, but as she ran forward she stumbled right through them.

With a gasp she sat up, immediately waking Tsuzuki.

"It's just a dream, you're all right," he wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly as she tried to fight him until she eventually stilled in his arms and stared up to him.

Relieved to see his usual purple eyes, she threw her arms around him and cried, burying her face into his chest as he rubbed her back.

She had gotten used to those weird dreams, but she had never seen something like that before and was relieved when he held her without comment, making her feel safe without a single word.

In eighteen years he'd grown from a cute and beautiful boy into a strong and handsome man, but he never lost his innocent and sweetness no matter how often he was pushed over and terrorized.

After some time she finally pulled herself together enough to pull back and looked up into his beautiful eyes again.

"I love you, Suki."

"I love you too, sis. Are you feeling better now?" he smiled as she moved up to place a kiss onto his forehead.

"Yes, thank you," she laughed as he rose from the bed to pick her up like a precious doll and carried her to the only two chairs in their house.

"When did you grow so strong and tall?" she complained, making him laugh.

"I'm not that much taller than you!"

She glanced up to see he was right; he truly was only a few inches taller than her.

"I should have kicked your butt more often when you were a child," she laughed as she realised he was truly rather small for a grown man.

Laughing he flicked her nose before they both began to get ready for the day, unbothered by each other's presences as they washed and dressed.

"Are you nervous?"

"No, not when I'm dancing with you," she smiled.

There was a ball room dance competition that night that they'd entered. It was funny, but Ruka indeed wasn't nervous, she never was when she danced with her brother as it let her forget all their worries and fears.

Quickly finishing her dressing, she turned to allow him to do her hair, knowing he'd be able to do it up properly more quickly than her.

Once he was done she rose to her feet and twirled before him.

"And?"

"Stunning as always," he grinned as he grabbed her hand and made her spin a pirouette before stepping back.

"Am I all right, too?"

"A suit always looks good on you," she complimented him before frowning. "Everything looks good on you, it's unfair."

He laughed before hugging her. "Tonight is going to be your night."

"We should get going, it's a far walk."

Together they left their house and walked towards the river without having to discuss it and a heavy feeling settled inside her.

"Why do I have the feeling we'll never see it again?"

Surprised she turned to him. "What do you mean?"

"Did you ever have that feeling that when you walk out of the door, you just knew you were never going to return?"

That was exactly what she was feeling. "Yes."

"What do you think it means?"

"I don't know, Angel. I really don't," she leaned on her toes to hug him from behind, smiling when he leaned back against her.

"I have a bad feeling that something bad is going to happen," he whispered.

"Whatever happens, we'll face it together," she assured him, placing a kiss in his neck before letting go and slipping a hand in his. "We should go or we'll be late."

Thinking back to the dream she had, she shivered a little, smiling when her brother immediately slipped out of his jacket to place it around her shoulders.

They reached the village where the competition was being held with time to spare and Ruka smile as her brother hummed along with the music.

There weren't many festivals here, so when there was one, almost everyone in town joined.

Making their way to the tent where the competitions were being held, she glanced up as Tsuzuki walked a bit before her while she announced their arrival and several couples looked up as he passed them.

For a moment she feared they'd seen his eyes despite the sunglasses he'd taken to wearing again, but as she passed them herself she caught slivers of their conversations.

"He's so cute, who is he?"

She blinked before biting back a laugh as she hurried up to join him, sending him a smile as he laughed at her.

A few hours later their number was called out and they rose to their feet.

"It's time, sis," she nodded, all traces of nervousness leaving her as she took his hand.

"Yes, it is time."

Hand in hand they made their way inside and bowed before the public, there were more people than she'd thought present, but it didn't make her nervous as Tsuzuki let her to the middle of the dance floor.

Smiling brilliantly as he slipped his sunglasses down a little, she looked up into his eyes and when the music began, she let him lead her as they got lost in the music like they always did when they danced together...