Hello again everyone! I hope you're ready for this chapter!

First off, thanks to all 9 followers, 7 favorites and 374 readers! I hope you continue to enjoy!

Now, you guys remember chapter 1? And how I rewrote all of Tatara's scenes from episode 6 for that? Well, because of that, most of this chapter is now original writing, which I'm very excited to share with you all, I loved writing these scenes and the contrast they have with Shiro and Kuroh's.

Also, please forgive me if Kristopher doesn't come off like a two year old. I'm trying and I don't have any kids of my own.

Anyways, enjoy!


Kristopher quietly and carefully slid out of the bed, making sure he didn't disturb either Mommy or Anna. The two of them and Izzie had been up and working tirelessly for the last week, they deserved to sleep.

Waving at his daddy as he passed, Kristopher made his way out of the apartment and down the stairs to the bar. He could hear Daddy following him and it made him smile. Even though his daddy's body was in the hospital, his spirit came back to stay with him and his mommy.

As Kristopher reached the bar, he paused as he saw a blonde woman near the door.

"Oh, I'm sorry! Did I inter…" Kristopher trailed off, his brow furrowed.

"Interrupt." Daddy supplied with a soft smile.

"That's it! Did I interrupt?" Kristopher grinned brightly as he climbed onto a bar stool and then sat on the counter itself.

"No, I was just leaving." The woman shook her head with a small smile.

"Miss. Seri! I didn't recog-recogneeze you!" Kristopher cried in surprise. "Izzie, are you and Miss. Seri on a date? I'll leave if you are!"

"The word you meant was 'recognize', Kris, and no, we're not on a date." Izzie chuckled. "Though I wouldn't be opposed to that." Then he winked at Miss. Seri, who simply sighed.

"Not in front of children." She scolded.

"So, I can say that stuff when we're alone?" Izzie grinned. Miss. Seri simply shook her head in exasperation.

Kristopher giggled, causing the adults to turn to them.

"You're like Mommy and Daddy!" He exclaimed.

"That's right, bud, cause they're in love like Mommy and Daddy are." Daddy grinned as he leaned against the bar near his son.

"No, we're really not." Miss. Seri gently shook her head. "Though I'll take that as a compliment. I'll be seeing you again."

"I look forward to it, Seri." Izzie smiled as she left.

"Izzie's in love, Izzie's in love~" Kristopher sang happily, his daddy's laughs urging him on.

"C'mon, stop that." Izzie chuckled. "Your mommy and big sister asleep?"

"Yeah, they were tired." Kristopher nodded. "So, Daddy and I came down here."

"Right…" Izzie nodded.

"Izzie…will you tell me stories?" Kristopher suddenly requested shyly.

"Stories? Like what?" The bartender asked curiously.

"Like when you and Mommy and Daddy and Miko were little." Kristopher grinned. "Hiko and Anna too!"

"Hmm…stories like that, huh?" Izzie trailed off. "Then how about this…"


It had only been about a few months since Leoda met Kusanagi and Mikoto, and an even shorter amount of time since the three of them and Tatara had collectively adopted (Kusanagi still grumbled about how illegally they did it, but his grumbling had decreased a lot when he discovered the boy was a genius) Saruhiko when Tatara first suggested it.

"You want to…what?" Mikoto grunted from the rude awakening he had received for this conversation.

"Go to the summer festival!" Tatara repeated, his eyes practically shining. "Come on, it'll be fun!"

"I don't know if that's such a good idea, Tatara." Kusanagi cut in. "What if Saruhiko's parents are looking for him?"

Saruhiko stiffened at the possibility.

"Don't worry, we won't let anyone take you." Leoda reassured as she hugged the boy. "Mr. Suoh and Mr. Kusanagi will keep us safe."

"What about me?" Tatara whined.

"You're a pacifist." Leoda stated bluntly as her best friend fell over himself dramatically, successfully bringing a small laugh past Saruhiko's lips.

"I still don't think this is a good idea." Kusanagi crossed his arms. "Mikoto?"

"Whatever, do what you want." Mikoto shrugged as he laid down again.

"You'll come too, King! And Leo'll wear a yukata!" Tatara grinned, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "We'll buy Saruhiko a bunch of treats and win a bunch of prizes! And we'll see the fireworks!"

"It does sound fun…and Mom's been wanting to buy me a yukata for forever." Leoda admitted. In truth, she owned more Western style dresses than she did yukatas, she didn't even own a single yukata!

"Can we go?" Saruhiko asked quietly, his voice barely audible as he stayed in Leoda's arms, as if he was afraid she'd disappear if he let go.

The two middle schoolers turned to the bartender, eyes pleading.

"It'll be Saruhiko's first festival…" Tatara added, his eyes taking on a puppy dog quality.

"Ugh, fine, but we have to be careful." Kusanagi finally agreed with a sigh.

Tatara cheered as Leoda coaxed a shy Saruhiko into a high five.


The day of the festival came and Leoda found herself nervous as she made her way to HOMRA. The only hint to her yukata she gave the boys was its color, a light blue green color.

In actuality, her yukata was blue green with a silver butterfly pattern, the butterflies also having long silver lines following behind them in a swirling pattern, and a white obi to match. Her forest green hair was pulled up in a loose bun, with some strands falling down to frame her face. All she was missing was the flower Tatara had promised.

She hoped they liked how she looked…

Brushing her nerves aside, Leoda held her head high as she entered the bar to find all the boys waiting for her.

"Sorry if I took too long, it's different, walking in a yukata that is." She apologized.

"You're fine." Mikoto grunted as he blew out a breath of smoke.

"Wow, Miss. Leoda, that's quite the getup you have on." Kusanagi smiled in compliment. "If you were a bit older, I don't think I could say no to you."

That had Leoda's cheeks turning red, certainly.

"You look okay." Saruhiko awkwardly looked away, causing Leoda to giggle at his cute reaction.

Finally, her eyes landed on Tatara, only to see him gaping at her.

"What…? Do…do I look bad?" Leoda asked worriedly as she played with her sleeve, biting her lip. Tatara's reaction mattered the most, after all.

"What?" Tatara blinked, as if he was coming out of a daydream. "No, no, no! You don't look bad, you look…"

The brunette middle schooler fell silent as he approached her, simply staring in her eyes.

Now Leoda's cheeks were red for an entirely different reason. It felt like Tatara could see into her soul…

"You look beautiful…" Tatara finally whispered, so softly that only Leoda could hear him. He then showed her the flower he got her, and she gasped.

In his hands was a Japanese apricot.

"'Elegance, faithfulness, pure heart'…I think it suits you quite well." Tatara smiled softly before he carefully slid the flower into her bun. "And it matches perfectly."

Leoda was speechless.

"Are we going or not?" Saruhiko clicked his tongue, cutting into the two's moment. They turned just as Kusanagi set down Tatara's camera.

"Mr. Kusanagi!" Tatara cried in embarrassment. The blonde bartender simply chuckled before he made his way to the door.

"Come on, are we going or what?" He called as he did so.

Tatara captured the entire night with his camera, sometimes loaning it to Kusanagi for certain pictures. They bought Saruhiko and Leoda all sorts of treats and Mikoto even won quite a few goldfish. When he presented them to Saruhiko, the boy had been a cross between embarrassed and scared, even as he accepted the fish, which were later placed in his room for him to take care of.

For the first time, the five of them truly felt like a family and they all had a smile as they left for home that night, Saruhiko asleep on Mikoto's shoulder as they walked.


As Kukuri claimed to not know who he was, Shiro felt a pit of ice form in his stomach.

It wasn't possible, they'd been in the same class all year, how could she not know him?

And yet, he had a feeling that this wasn't entirely surprising. It was like he knew, deep down, that something wasn't right with his life.

Kukuri's words felt like one of the few remaining nails in a coffin.

On instinct, Shiro dropped his umbrella and grasped Kuroh's hand. He needed to feel someone beside him, someone who knew him, someone he cared for (though he wouldn't admit that aloud until he knew how Kuroh himself felt).

When he used Kuroh's PDA to call home, only to hear that the number was disconnected, the ice in his stomach and the certainty in his mind solidified.

But…what about his older sister? His little sister? His parents? Were they not real? Or was he overthinking all of this?

He needed proof. He needed to go home, and he needed Kuroh at his side to do this.


Tatara burst into HOMRA excitedly, his fingers intertwined with Leoda's. Kusanagi smirked as he caught sight of their hands and the smile on Tatara's face, while Leoda was blushing.

"I take it things went well?" Kusanagi teased, causing Leoda's blush to darken.

"Is there any surprise?" Saruhiko sighed, sounding about as interested as Mikoto, who was currently sleeping on the couch.

It was one of the few times the bar only held the five of them, instead of all the new clansmen that had flocked to Mikoto since he became the Red King, over a year ago now.

"It went even better than you expected!" Tatara grinned brightly as he rolled up the left sleeve of his shirt. "Check this out!"

Wrapped around the brunette's wrist were gold butterflies and they extended up past his sleeve, continuing to wrap up his arm towards his shoulder.

"They end at my shoulder with a sunflower." Tatara explained. "Leoda has the matching one on her right arm!"

"The Mark of the Miracle…so you're…" Kusanagi trailed off as his eyes landed on Leoda, who pushed up her sweater's sleeve to reveal the same tattoo.

"Yeah. The Miracle is my grandmother." Leoda explained. "And Tatara…is my Marked."

"Never thought you'd end up as one of the Marked." Saruhiko clicked his tongue at his youngest adopted father.

"Why, Saruhiko! Do you believe in your own father's love for your mother to not be true?" Tatara gasped dramatically.

"It's you, Papa." Saruhiko scoffed, the affectionate title slipping out and causing a genuine smile to appear on Tatara's face.

"There a point to this, Totsuka?" Mikoto grunted as he shifted on the couch.

"There is, in fact!" Tatara grinned. "Since we're all a family, I thought it would be cool if we all had the same tattoo!"

"…what." Saruhiko stated, his eyes narrowing.

"He wants the three of you to get tattoos like us." Leoda explained. "I already told him he's not allowed to pick tattoo art up as a hobby, don't worry."

"Tatara…" Kusanagi sighed as he rubbed his neck. "We can't afford to get full arm tattoos, never mind that Saruhiko isn't an adult."

"But it wouldn't be your full arm!" Tatara protested.

"It'd just be around your wrists." Leoda explained. "You and Mr. Suoh would have them around your left wrists, since you'd be considered unrelated by blood, but related by other means, and Hiko will have it around his right wrist, since he falls under being considered my child."

"And how are we going to pay for this?" Kusanagi sighed, rubbing his eyes.

"I've been saving up some money, so I think we have enough!" Tatara grinned, his eyes shining.

"He was originally gonna spend it on bagpipes imported from Scotland. I told him no." Leoda stated dryly.

"You want one, Saruhiko?" Mikoto spoke up as he sat up with a grunt.

"Why would I?" Saruhiko scoffed as he looked away.

"Then let's go." Mikoto stood up and looked at his four clansmen.

"Really, King?!" Tatara cried excitedly.

"Why not?" Mikoto shrugged.

No other complaints were voiced as the family of five made their way to the tattoo parlor.

Months later, when they added Anna to their family, she saw the tattoos circling her new parents and older brother's wrists. The now family of six returned to the tattoo parlor, where the tattoo artist was bought off to not admit he tattooed a seven year old girl's wrist.


Shiro could feel the hopelessness closing in on him as he and Kuroh rode the train to visit his house.

If he was right, if he really was Yashiro Isana, then when he got home, his younger sister would run out to greet him, she had been feeling better the last time he saw her, and his older sister would be right behind her, keeping an eye on her youngest sibling as she always did. And his parents would be in the house, waiting for him to come in and they would welcome him home with open arms…

But if he was wrong, if he wasn't Yashiro Isana, then…he didn't know what he would do. He wouldn't even know who he even was.

Kuroh's possible explanation of his memory being what was wrong gave him some hope, but that didn't change anything even if it was true.

He didn't know who he was, meaning it was quite possible he actually was Tatara Totsuka's murderer. He had no way to prove his innocence now, he had no idea if he even was innocent.

But still, for now, his priority was learning the truth. If he could find the truth, he would be satisfied, no matter how ugly that truth turned out to be.


"You ready, Leoda?" Tatara asked his wife gently.

"Yeah." Leoda smiled as she adjusted the bundle in her arms. "Let's go home."

With a smile, one he imagined had been on his face since he heard a cry ring out in the hospital, Tatara opened the doors to HOMRA and led Leoda inside.

"Surprise!" Several voices cried at once as party poppers went off. Anna ran up to the two with a bright smile.

"Welcome home." She greeted them.

"And it's so good to be home." Leoda smiled tiredly as she leaned down and kissed her adopted daughter's head.

"And with the new part of our family too." Tatara added as he gave Anna a hug before he turned and placed his hand on Leoda's waist.

Resting in the forest haired woman's arms was a baby. Both new parents were looking down at their baby, love shining in their eyes as Anna gently gave one of her fingers to the baby to play with.

None of them noticed the flash as Kusanagi took a picture of them.

"What's the baby's name?" Rikio cried from where he sat at the bar next to Yata. Tatara felt his heart constrict at the empty seat at the bar where his oldest son had once sat.

"Kristopher." Leoda smiled, though Tatara could see the sadness in her eyes as her eyes landed on the same bar stool as his did. "It means 'carrier of Christ."

"A beautiful Western name chosen by a woman bearing an equally beautiful Western name." Chitose winked playfully at Leoda.

"Don't hit on a married woman, Chitose." Dewa scolded Chitose.

"Ah, come on, Dewa, Leo knows I mean nothing by it." Chitose smirked. "She's our clansman, after all."

"And you all know I don't take lightly to insults to my person." Leoda smiled, though it was a smile that promised eternal pain to whoever crossed her.

"Isn't my wife amazing?" Tatara sighed dreamily as he took Kristopher in his arms. "King, Anna, Yata, come see Kristopher."

Mikoto was, of course, sleeping on the couch, but Anna woke him up as the brunette reached him, Yata not too far behind.

"You feeling okay?" Kusanagi asked as he made his way to Leoda's side.

"Yeah, just a little tired. I'm glad to be home." Leoda smiled. "I miss having our full family, though. He should be here."

"I know. But he won't be gone forever, and Seri's keeping me posted on him." Kusanagi reassured.

"Good. Now, when are you going to ask her out?" Leoda teased. The two shared a laugh as HOMRA filled with the sounds of life the Red Clan brought to it, along with a sense of peace.

And in the center of that peace was Kristopher Totsuka, being welcomed into the half of his family that glowed Red, like a warm fire in a cool night, a fire that would protect all who dared to accept its dangerous and unpredictable warmth.


As Shiro and Kuroh stood in the rain in the middle of a soccer stadium, Shiro could feel his heart plummeting.

He was wrong, his memories were wrong, everything was wrong, wrong, wrong!

He wasn't Yashiro Isana, he didn't know who he was anymore.

Shiro hid his fear as he explained everything to Kuroh in a clinical tone, as if he was a scientist stating facts. He didn't want Kuroh to see his fear, didn't want his emotions to affect what Kuroh had to do.

So, Shiro simply closed his eyes as he faced Kuroh and prepared for his fate.


Leoda's eyes widened as she suddenly grasped her right shoulder, feeling pain skyrocket through it. The butterflies on her arm glowed and so did the golden sunflower on her right shoulder.

"Hey…don't sweat it…it'll all work out in the end…"

"Tatara…" Leoda whispered, feeling fear clog her throat. When she finally was able to look up, she saw a red butterfly floating in front of her. "No…"

"Sorry…"

She grasped her shoulder, trying to use the bond that connected her to Tatara in the first place to see if he was going to be okay…if he was still alive.

His heartbeat was faint…but it was there. Her arm still had feeling, it hadn't gone numb…yet.

Instantly, Leoda was out of bed and speed dialing Kusanagi's number with Kristopher in her arms.

"Leoda?" Kusanagi answered, surprised.

"Izumo! Tatara…Tatara's…" Leoda stuttered, feeling a lump in her throat.

"I know, Yata and I are with him, I've called an ambulance." Kusanagi tried to explain calmly.

"Call Uncle Haru! Get him to that hospital and he can save him! I'll meet you there!" Leoda begged, desperate.

"I was going to call him next, don't worry. Mikoto should know, come with him and Anna." Kusanagi explained.

"Okay…we'll meet you there…" Leoda nodded. Sure enough, when she entered the bar, she found a sobbing Anna and a furious Mikoto. "Mikoto…hospital…hurry…" Leoda could feel her breaths growing shallower as her worry and desperation increased. Dear God, please let Tatara's Sight save him!

Mikoto called a cab and the four were off, Leoda calling her mother in her worry. She knew her entire family would know by morning, but she didn't care. She needed to hear her mother's voice as she prayed to every god she ever heard of that her husband would pull through this, that her right arm wouldn't grow even colder then it already was and become numb.

Kristopher, in his confusion and innocence, began to play with his mommy's hair, just as she always did for him when he cried and promised that daddy would fix everything. Leoda tried to smile for him, she truly tried with all her heart to give her youngest son something to believe in in this trying time, but she didn't quite manage it. Her heart was breaking, even as Kristopher continued trying to stop his mommy's tears.

They did not leave Tatara at all that night as he laid in a coma.

That was the night that they discovered Kristopher could see spirits with his Sight.


Kusanagi was lost in his own world as he traced his fingers over the camera that rested on the shelf behind the bar, waiting for its owner's return.

"So, what do we do now, Tatara? You were always so irresponsible, even after you became a dad. Then you go and fall into a coma on us. Damn fool…"

"Hey, come on, Izumo. It's all going to work out." A soft voice said.

Kusanagi whipped around, and sure enough, there stood Tatara, his hand grasped in Kristopher's and his figure entirely solid, as if he was really there. But Kusanagi knew he was only seeing Tatara's spirit manifested by Kristopher's touch.

The smile Tatara wore was sad and yet it was one of the most genuine smiles Kusanagi had ever seen the younger man wear. Kusanagi barely held back the tears that wanted to escape as he gave a watery chuckle.

"That is just like you." He smiled as he leaned against the bar while Tatara and Kristopher sat down. When the father and son let go of each other's hands, Tatara remained as he was, leaning against the bar and smiling sadly at one of his oldest friends.


Shiro shut his eyes tightly as Kuroh grasped Kotowari's handle in his grasp, preparing to strike.

Perhaps…this is what I deserve. Shiro thought. And yet he could still feel the fear thrumming in his heart. He said nothing as he waited for the blow to come.

"The final curtain falls at the very moment a person gives up." A recorded voice suddenly said.

Shiro's eyes shot open and he stared at the black haired vassal, who was not holding his katana, but his recorder instead, a peaceful look on his rain soaked face.

The white haired boy could feel his heart beat picking up at the implications this sight alone gave him.

"Such wise and wonderful words." Kuroh stated simply as he lifted the recorder up.

"Kuroh…were you listening to what I just said?" Shiro asked, his shock showing in his words as Kuroh straightened up. He couldn't believe this…was this actually happening?

"You mean how you can't believe your own story anymore? Interesting you should say that." Kuroh said. "I haven't believed what you've been telling me from the beginning. I was wondering how you'd react to the truth when the veil was finally lifted. I only believe in one thing: my late master's words. Master Ichigen said to be certain before taking action. I'm still in the process of discovering that truth. I have no intention of rushing to judgement before all the facts are before me. Do you feel the same way…Shiro?"

Shiro felt his heartbeat spike as he smiled the slightest bit. It was the first time Kuroh had called him 'Shiro' instead of 'Yashiro Isana' and, somehow…it helped Shiro believe that even if he wasn't 'Yashiro Isana', he was still 'Shiro', regardless of who he had been before his memory had been changed.

"Don't give up yet, right? That makes sense." Shiro smiled the slightest bit as he met Kuroh's eyes. "There's a lot of truth in what he said."

"I'm glad to hear you feel that way." Kuroh smiled, a blush forming on his cheeks.

Shiro felt his own cheeks turn red at the sight. Kuroh looked…adorable…

"In that case, I think you ought to repeat his words out loud." Kuroh continued. "Trust me on this, repeating Master Ichigen's blessed words will ultimately cleanse your soul."

Shiro chuckled as he listened to the vassal speak before he looked down, hiding his face with his umbrella so Kuroh couldn't see the smile nor the tears on his face.

"Creepy…" He whispered under his breath.

For now, however, he was at peace.


Tatara sat on the bed where Anna and Leoda slept, Kristopher in his lap.

If he closed his eyes, he could almost pretend this was a normal night.

The crossroad where a thousand lives go every day;

That's when I first met you all,

I didn't know but,

It was then that they'd say

"A flower bloomed that day".

Kristopher looked up at his father with his gray eyes sparkling knowingly.

"Will everything be okay?" He asked softly.

"Of course, it will, bud, it always is." Tatara tried to smile. But it was so difficult, so much harder than it usually was.

Well I have to confess,

That who would've guessed

That hearts of ice could beat again.

As we move forward

To a future so bright,

I know now the warmth a smile can give.

"You're right, Daddy." Kristopher smiled brightly, somehow doing what his father could not as he reached out and touched Tatara's left shoulder blade.

Tatara could feel his HOMRA symbol pulsing under his skin, as impossible as that was now that he was a spirit.

"As long as you and Mommy have Miko's mark, we'll be okay!" The boy insisted.

"That's right." Tatara chuckled as he buried his face in his son's soft brown hair.

So many times that I fell down,

You're always there beside me.

Everyone gathered 'round 'til we were at ease.

I wish the days could stay like this (forever more).

You truly get back what you give.

The father's eyes traveled over to his sleeping wife and daughter.

Leoda's back was facing the father and son, Anna cradled in her arms. Both had changed into their pajamas and Tatara felt his heart clench as he noticed Leoda wore one of his shirts.

Said shirt had ridden up a bit in the woman's sleep, revealing the barest hint of her back.

So now I think of you like family,

And I will lend a helping hand.

You were always there for me,

And now I understand.

I'm thankful I've got friends like these

For making me a better man.

You've changed my life and now I see

That my happiness

Was reflected through these gems.

This is my circle of friends.

(Together 'til the end)

Tattooed on the mother's back, which Tatara could just barely see from where he sat, was black flame signals, which the father knew led further up her back to a curved flame that was red at the top and black at the bottom.

It was a tattoo that had covered the entirety of her back for the past five years.

Nobody outside of their family knew, however. It was a deeply guarded secret and Leoda herself was deeply guarded by HOMRA as well.

I can't say that things will work out

But, I promise that I'll make it worth the while.

So please stay, I'll always have your back.

No matter what, I will protect that smile.

You first shined your light so long ago,

Ever since, there're no more skies of gray.

It's been quite the sight—I hope you know

I'm happy that a flower bloomed that day.

They were a family, an unbreakable circle of friends.

Tatara could just only hope this incident wouldn't break them apart.

HOMRA was his family, just as Leoda, Kristopher, Mikoto, Kusanagi, Fushimi, Anna and everyone who bore the Mark of the Miracle were his family. He didn't want to lose any of them, especially because he didn't react fast enough that night a week ago.

A flower was a delicate thing, after all. If treated too roughly, if put through too much strife, it would either shatter like glass…

Or stand against the storm.


And there we are! I tried my best to keep the timeline of K straight. If anything doesn't line up, please tell me so I can fix it! Also, as always, the Hanakotba used here is as accurate as I can find it. Oh, and the indented words in the last scene are an English version of Tatara's song, Circle of Friends (I couldn't NOT include it, you know?) with the lyrics taken from Johnny Krasinkiewicz on YouTube.

And there's the little reveal I've been hinting at for a while now! That's right everyone, Leoda is just like Fushimi and Kuroh and Yukari: she can use two auras, Gold and Red, though her situation is a bit different from their's. How? You'll have to stick around to MK to find out ;)

Anyway, let me know what you think in a review and I'll see you next week where I finally start giving even more explanations!