A/N: Here, we take a short detour to Rei and Yoshino...

Meanwhile...

"Rei-chan! Why did you wait for me! You should have just gone ahead, I-"

Yoshino was yelling at Rei. Her face, scrunched up, red with frustration. They were both in Yoshino's room, with Yoshino sitting up on her bed, propped against a pillow and Rei standing leaning against the door.

"… Yoshino, I wanted to walk this journey with you. Remember what you said after your heart surgery? You wanted to walk with me. Well, I want to walk with you, too. And if that meant waiting another year before I took the unsealing ceremony, I didn't mind…"

"Rei-chan's being silly. And- and…." Yoshino calmed down somewhat. Rei unfolded her arms and looked patiently on at Yoshino. She was used to her cousin's outbursts by now. Okay, maybe I should have gone on with my own Bloodchanger ceremony last year, but what's wrong with just waiting one more year so I could go through it with Yoshino?

"Rei-chan… I'm sorry. I guess I'm just scared, and… the past few weeks after the unsealing have been really a whirlwind. This whole Bloodchanging happening took me off guard. He who strikes first, wins! But I was unable to see the blow. And if you had gone ahead, then maybe you could guide me instead… of scary old Minamoto-obaa-sama."

"Well, Yoshino, it's not really a blow, if you think about it… and Minamoto-obaa-sama is a nice old lady under all that sarcasm…" Rei muttered half-heartedly.

"Yeah? Well, she keeps harping about my mother being a Seisun Bloodchanger, who only have half the usual number of years Bloodchangers spend in this world, before going to that Sanctuary place, blahblah. And her saying that keeps reminding me that you… Rei-chan… both your parents are the usual Bloodchangers who stay much longer…" Yoshino halted, she did not want to say those words out loud, it would make her seem needy. Possessive. Discontented.

"Yoshino… I know I don't have Seisun blood in me. But I promise you that when you answer the inner call of your heart to enter the Sanctuary, I will go with you. I won't stay behind here. After all, my life here would be grey without you, Yoshino." Rei had understood what Yoshino felt, even though the younger girl had not said the words out loud.

Hearing that promise, Yoshino frowned. "Rei-chan, you don't have to do that for me. I'm not weak, I'll manage, and you've made enough sacrifices. Having Seisun blood in me will always mean that I'll be weaker, frailer than you, Rei-chan. So maybe it's better if..."

This time it was Rei who raised her voice. "Yoshino! I won't hear any of that! Besides, you're a halfblood Seisun. Uncle's blood also courses through your veins, and so, you might not be as frail, or have that short amount of years here in this world. But, even if you do, I won't leave you. Please, Yoshino." Rei had come closer to Yoshino while saying all that. She knelt beside Yoshino's bed.

Yoshino had turned her face away from Rei. Her lower lip quivered, and her hands were gripped tightly.

"Yoshinoooo… come on. Promise me you'll be okay with this. Don't chase me away. When you returned my rosary, a few years ago, I felt like I was dying. So now, even now… that our families are returning to Bloodchanger society, please. Let's walk together, okay? Walk with me." Rei reached out and placed her warm hand over Yoshino's.

Yoshino had not recovered as quickly as Rei did from the blood-draining performed before the unsealing ceremony. She was still pale, and a little tired. Heritage of the Seisun blood from her mother's side, no doubt. But to Rei, who had always stuck by Yoshino, it didn't matter. She just wanted to be by Yoshino's side, that was all. She would gladly give those extra years she had, that Yoshino didn't, if it helped the younger girl cheer up. At any rate, she wouldn't want to be left behind by Yoshino when Yoshino left for the Sanctuary. A century or more of separation was a thought too painful to bear.

Finally after a few minutes of silence, Yoshino turned her face back to Rei. She reached out, hugging her older cousin. "Rei-chan, I love you. You know that right? I'll walk with you. That's a warrior's promise!"

Even though being half-Seisun, I fit the image of a poet, or a historian more than a warrior. But if you say you'll walk with me, then that is enough. I'll be strong so that we'll be able to walk together, Rei-chan.

Rei smiled, a happy, cheerful grin that revealed two fearsomely long canines. It did not seemed to suit Rei's gentle nature, but to many others, it was a perfect fit for Rei, a kendo expert, fearsome when wielding her swords.

A/N: And it's not just Rei and Yoshino...