Disclaimers: I don't own Digimon Frontier. This is just a fanfiction.

Rated T for mild languages, fighting scenes, mild sensuality scenes, and bloody-violence

Bloody Nightmares

Chapter 28: The Sparrow

"What do you mean I can't hang around with Takuya anymore?" Izumi cried, glaring furiously at her parents from across the table.

Romano held up a hand in defense, trying his best to calm his distraught daughter. "Your mother is overreacting, Izumi," he explained. "What she meant to say is that we don't want you to be around that Kanbara boy for…a while."

But Izumi wasn't satisfied. "Why?" she demanded, pointing at her parents accusingly. "You'd never had a problem with me hanging around him before!"

"That's the problem," Teresa said, matching her daughter's glare. "I'd thought he was a nice boy in the beginning, but now I'm starting to have my doubts."

"Takuya never gave me any trouble before!" Izumi said defensively.

"Oh, really?" her mother questioned. "What about that time when he made you missed your cousin's wedding toast?" Teresa demanded. She held up her hands and began to count them off, listing her so-called 'bad-deeds-that-Takuya-got-my-daughter-into'. "Or the time when he set one of our tablecloths on fire? Or the time when he broke one of our windows…and the fish tank by your usual table? And that time he caused Enrico's accident?"

"Your mother and I had to work overtime to cover Enrico's absence while he was in the hospital on account of his broken arm and his broken leg," Romano reminded.

"But those were just accidents!" Izumi retorted. "Takuya never meant to hurt anyone. He's just like to clown around sometimes."

"But the boy jumps into things before thinking," Romano pointed out, causing Izumi to hold her tongue. "Honestly, your mother and I have never seen anyone so reckless. Every time he jumps into a situation before thinking, he causes trouble!" Izumi suddenly remembered the event at the movie theater earlier that day when Takuya made a fool of himself (and Kouji) when he tried to "rescue Kimi from her so-called kidnappers"…who turned out to be her bodyguards.

"But that's just the way he is!" Izumi continued to protest. "It's not like he can help it."

"Regardless, his irrational behaviors are a bad influence on you," Teresa stated. "Not only is it a bad habit of his, he clearly involves you in it several times as well!"

"But—" Izumi said, but her mother cut her off.

"May I need to remind you that if it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have to pay Enrico's medical bill last year?" she said.

"This isn't fair!" Izumi cried. "It's not fair for you to judge him like that and you know it!"

"Look, this discussion is not up for debate," said Teresa firmly. "We don't want you to hang around that boy for the time being because things had been complicated. We would rather have you here helping us with the restaurant."

"With Rinaldo gone, it is going to be difficult for us to look for a replacement," Romano noted. "What, with the news all over the places today, no one will want to look for a job here for a while. We're just doing what we think is best for you right now."

"Well you're doing a very good job by doing the opposite!" Izumi cried.

"Not another word, young lady," Teresa warned.

"You can't do this to me! What about our camping trip? You said that I could go with them to the lake!"

"You're not going," Teresa confirmed coldly as she stood up and placed both of her hands on her hips. "You're staying right here where we can keep an eye on you. Now go upstairs because I will be expecting you in the kitchen tomorrow morning."

Izumi's lips trembled and her eyes began to water with rage, frustration, and shock. Without another word, she ran out of the kitchen and made her way towards the stairs to the third floor. Although the family lives in a three story building, Romano and Teresa could hear the sound of a slamming door once their daughter made it into her room.

Izumi didn't bother to turn on the lights. Instead, she just threw herself onto her bed and screamed through teary eyes.

"It's not fair! It's not fair! IT'S NOT FAIR!" she cried, her voice muffled meaninglessly through her pillow. "They can't keep me lock up here! They can't keep me away from the others…especially not from Takuya!"

Downstairs, Romano watched silently at first as his wife picked up Izumi's dinner plate and washed it in one of the sinks of the kitchen.

"Do you think that we were too hard on her, Teresa?" Romano asked. "Perhaps we should let Izumi go on that camping trip of theirs," he suggested.

"Don't even think about it, Romano!" Teresa replied. "We spoiled Izumi too much as it is already. It's always shopping, school clubs, and playing with her friends! We're trying to wean her of all that pampering. That girl needs to understand the value of hard work, and the last thing she'll need is another excuse to hang out with that boy!"

"Yes, but you can't deny the main reason is because you're afraid for her," Romano pointed out. "What with Officer Kanbara and his team on this big case, it's too dangerous for anyone of us to venture past our doors alone at night."

"I don't want the same thing to happen to her, Romano!" Teresa exclaimed. "Don't you know how horrible it was to find Rinaldo lying out there on the cold ground and not breathing?" She covered her flustered tears with both hands and gasped at the horrible memory. "I can't bear it. I think I shall go mad if the same thing should happen to our baby girl."

Romano sighed. "But to lock Izumi-chan up even in during daylight?" he questioned her.

"A small price to pay for our daughter's safety," Teresa said, whipping away her tears.

"Izumi is a rebellious girl, you know, Teresa. She's not afraid to speak her own mind and when she see something wrong, she'll fight for it….she's just like you when you were little," Romano reminded her.

"Well, she's going to have to get used to being wrong once in a while," Teresa replied simply. "I'm doing this for her own good, Romano. I'll keep her in this restaurant where we can keep an eye on her and where she'll learn some responsibilities."

Romano shook his head and poured himself and his wife a glass of vodka each. "Do as you wish, dear," he sighed. "But lwhen our problems are settled, you're going to have to release her."


Izumi didn't know how long she had lie in her bed crying. She must have dozed off but for how long? Izumi turned to the little pink and purple alarm clock on her bed stand and saw it read eleven at night. An hour had passed already?

Izumi snorted angrily at herself and threw one of her pillows across the room. She was clearly still frustrated about what her parents had told her earlier. Just the thought about it brought tears to her eyes again. Urgh! How could they do this to her? How could her parents have just decided to blame Takuya for being a bad influence on her? Sure sometimes he had caused a few accidents here and there but he had never meant to break the windows and the fish tank, and Enrico didn't press charges against him for landing him in the hospital!

No, Takuya may jump ahead into things recklessly but Izumi could tell that her friend has a good heart. Hey parents are wrong and there is no way she's going to listen to them. Izumi buried her face into one of her pillows, wanting so much to scream. But just as she was about to, she caught something at the corner of her eyes.

Izumi looked up and saw something glowing. It was coming from the bag where she had bought her copy of Kaze's signed novel just yesterday. Has it already been yesterday? It felt more like months considering all the things that had happened. Brushing that thought aside quickly, Izumi slowly got up and approached the book bag cautiously. But then she stopped.

What am I doing? Izumi questioned herself. It's probably just the screen of my mobile phone or my dPod MP3 player! But just as she was about to open the flap, the light inside shined even brighter. It startled the Italian-Japanese girl so much that she fell back a few steps. That was definitely not my cell phone! Izumi thought as the glow of the light dimmed a bit.

Again, Izumi cautiously got up and moved closer to her book bag. She gulped and took a quick peek inside and once she realized what it really was, Izumi sighed in relief. Taking out the two copies of her signed Spiritual-HoLic books, Izumi brought the book bag to her bed and dumped the glowing contents on the blanket. What were they?

The four silver and gold bracelets that Kaze had given her the night before.

Izumi tried to think back to last night and what Kaze and told them. These things can track the bearers of the Galis Star and it was her job to look for these people. But Izumi knew that she can't do it alone. She'll need Takuya's help and that's another good reason why she can't stay away from him. They're in this together but at the moment, Izumi pondered what to do.

She looked down at the four bracelets again, but realized that only one of them is glowing. What does that mean? Could it be that a bearer of the Galis Star is nearby? Izumi raced to her window, hoping to see someone, but the streets are just full of cars and people who are going about in their night shifts. Plus, the bracelet is dimming its glow and Izumi was afraid that it was going to go out. But then it shone brightly again. Izumi gasped and drew her curtains closed, not wanting anyone to realize that there is a miniature star shining in her room.

Izumi quickly stuffed the glowing bracelet under her bed and picked up her cell phone. Checking to make sure that her parents are asleep, Izumi pressed the speed dial for Takuya's number.

It rang about three times before a familiar voice spoke through the other end of the line.

"Hello, Izumi?" Takuya said rather a bit cheerfully. "Hey, what's up?"

Oh, if only he knew the ordeal that I'm in! Izumi thought miserable. If Takuya knew that she can't see him for a while, would he still be cheerful just for her sake?

"Takuya…" Izumi said and realized too late that her voice broke because she had been crying for a while. She sniffed and tried to rub her eyes dry.

"Izumi, what's wrong?" Takuya asked gently with concern in his voice. Oh, how the sound of his voice made Izumi felt as if he was holding her in his arms! Izumi realized what she was musing about and blushed furiously and shook the thought away before she spoke again in a quiet voice.

"Takuya…" she repeated… "It's glowing…"

"W-wait! What?" Takuya stuttered, clearly confused. "What are you talking about? What's glowing?"

"The bracelet!" Izumi gasped. "One of the bracelets that Kaze-sama gave to me yesterday, Takuya! One of them is glowing! I thought that it was my cell phone screen or my MP3 player but it wasn't. It was one of those magical bracelets that Kaze-sama gave me so that we can use them to find the bearers of the Galis Star and give it to them so that Dusk won't rip it out of their bodies and—"

"Wait, Izumi!" Takuya stopped her. "You're talking too fast! Slow down! You're saying a bracelet is glowing?"

Izumi nodded and took a deep breath. "Yes, it's glowing, Takuya-kun," Izumi repeated patiently. "One of the four bracelets is glowing. I put it under my pillow so that people outside the streets won't notice. But Takuya, I think it has found a piece of the Galis Star!"

"You're kidding!" Takuya said. He realized that the door to his father's study was opened and sighed. The last thing he wanted was to have his little brother eavesdropping on his conversation. "Hold on a sec, Izumi," he said and shut the door, looking himself in. "Okay, let's talk. You really think that a Galis Star bearer is there near your house?"

"I'm not sure," she said. "That's what I thought at first and I checked the street outside. But there are still a lot of people passing by. I don't know if it's one of them."

"Okay, so did you noticed anything strange about someone in the crowd?" Takuya asked, remember what Kaze advised to do. In order to spot a Galis Star bearer, they must keep their eyes open.

"No, I didn't," Izumi replied shamefully. "But when I tried, the bracelet dimmed its light and I thought that it was going to go out. But then suddenly it shines even brighter again, but it was only for a few seconds."

"And people didn't noticed?" Takuya asked.

"No, I shut the curtains," Izumi said. She walked towards the window and took a quick peek outside. "Everybody just kept going about with their night shifts. Nobody stopped to bother."

"So everyone just kept going?" Takuya asked, making sure.

"I'm sorry, Takuya," Izumi sniffed, "I think I let a Galis Star bearer got away. I didn't know which one of the people walking outside it was."

"Wait, Izumi," Takuya spoke up. "I just had a thought. What if the bracelet wasn't glowing because it sensed a bearer?"

Izumi frowned. "I don't understand what you're trying to say," she said.

"Well, what I'm trying to say is what if the bracelet was glowing because it sensed a bearer using his or her gift?" Takuya explained patiently.

Izumi nodded, seeing what he was getting at. "It is possible…"

"Hey, I got an idea," Takuya said," "why don't we drop by Kaze's place tomorrow and ask her about it? I can pick you up at your place tomorrow!"

Izumi chocked as she felt tears coming in her eyes again. "I-I-I don't think that's possible, Takuya."

"What? Why not?" Takuya asked. "You want to sleep in or something? Because if you are, then I could drop by at a later time."

"N-no, that's not it," Izumi said. Her voice was quivering again. "I'm afraid that it's not possible for you to come here again."

"Don't tell me that you're gonna be out of town tomorrow!" Takuya laughed, unaware what his friend was about to say. "Because may I remind you that we also have to drop by Kyochi's place and tell his sister that we really want her to be in our gang. Oh, and it was also you idea to begin—"

"Takuya, I can't see you anymore!" Izumi blurted. She was afraid of how he'll react after he was silent for a moment. "Takuya?"

"Wait…you're joking right?" Takuya asked, laughing. But Izumi knew that he was getting nervous himself. "Tell me you're joking."

"I wished that I am, Takuya," Izumi sniffed, rubbing her teary eyes. "But I'm afraid it's no joke. I got in trouble with my parents and they think that you're…" Izumi stopped and thought to herself. Perhaps it was best that he doesn't hear it. "…they think that you shouldn't come here because they don't want me to go out with you and the others."

"Why? Are they crazy?" Takuya asked.

"No, they afraid, Takuya. It's because of all of these murders that Dusk committed. You saw how freaked out my mom was today. And after that earthquake, she doesn't want me to leave here sight."

"So your parents are going in over-protective mode and now you're under house arrest?" Takuya balked. "Izumi, that's just crazy! Listen, the others and I are gonna drop by anyway to see you whether they like it or not. We'll convince your parents that they're overdoing it, Izumi."

"I don't think it'll be that easy, Takuya," Izumi replied sadly. "I think this how bloody nightmare thing with that vampire and Ami and the others are becoming too much for them. Especially my mom. She'll do whatever it takes to keep me here."

There was a paused and Izumi was about to say good-bye when Takuya said something that she had never expected before.

"If that's the case, then I'll do whatever it takes to get you out, Izumi."

Izumi silently gasped. The words surprised her too much that she didn't know what to say. But it made her feel hopeful and happy inside and for that she knew she was grateful to Takuya. "Thanks, Takuya," she smiled, whipping away the last of her tears that night. "Thanks a lot. I mean it, Takuya. I really do."


A couple of city districts away, Yutaka's girlfriend, Yumi Tanaka, was fuming over a cold glass of vermouth. After her conversation with her sister on the phone, Yumi was just too furious to go straight home. Instead, she stopped by a small disco club that's open twenty-four hours a few days a week. There were still several people dancing under the blinding colorful and flashing lights. The rhythm of the pounding music didn't bother Yumi as she slammed her glass on the table.

"Give me another shot!" she ordered the bartender.

"Don't you think you'd had enough?" the bartender suggested politely. "It's not healthy to brood over a small matter with alcohol."

"I didn't ask for your advice," Yumi snapped rudely. "Another shot!"

The bartender nodded and sighed and poured her half a glass of vermouth. "This is the last one. I'm sorry, but you drank both of our last bottles of vermouth tonight."

Yumi snorted angrily and didn't bother to acknowledge two guys around Yutaka's age who stood behind her grinning.

"Hey, little lady," said the one with black hair. "You digging the scene?"

"Wanna join us on the dance floor?" said his friend, grinning widely. "You don't wanna waste your evening at the bar, do ya? C'mon! Join the fun!"

Yumi hiccupped drunkenly and glared at them coldly. "Shove off, losers."

"Ah, don't be like that missy," one laughed and he grabbed her arm. "C'mon, baby. Dance with us and we'll buy you another shot later!"

"I said shove off!" Yumi snapped and yanked her arm out of his reach. With her other arm, she slapped him with the back of her hand so hard that he stumbled back a few paces.

"Hey, watch it lady!" said the second guy as he was about to grab both of her arms. Yumi didn't wince. Instead, she grabbed her glass of vermouth and splashed it into his face. Automatically, the guy screamed and tried to wipe his face clean but Yumi too her chance and tripped him with her high heels.

"Pathetic," she growled, reaching into her purse to pay for the vermouth. "You men disgust me!" She spat and made her way out the back door.

Yumi didn't know how long or how far she went. She was just too drunk and too angry to even care. Suddenly, she came to a lonely street. She looked around and realized that she was almost at her boyfriend's house. She was about to continue walking when she fell and scraped her palms on the asphalt.

"Damn it," she cursed. She looked at one of her shoes and realized that the stiletto under the heel snapped. "What a rotten day!" she vented, throwing her broken high heel to the ground in frustration. "This cannot get any worse!"

"Actually, it's about to for you."

Yumi jumped from the sound of the voice and turned around to see a boy standing in the shadows. "What do you want?" she glared. "Don't you know it's rude to stare? Get lost you little brat!"

The boy smirked and snapped his fingers and the light bulbs from the street lights around them shattered, plunging the scene into darkness.

"How did you?" Yumi stammered as she tried to get up. The boy grabbed her and instinct kicked in. Yumi slapped him across the face with her manicured nails. It left three red marks across his face. The boy glared at her and his eyes glowed red with fury.

"That," he said, "was not wise." He slapped her, sending her flying several yards across the ground. Immediately, Yumi knew that she had to get out of here but she when she was about to dash, her ankles got caught by vines that had spontaneously sprouted from the ground.

"Did you really think that you'll get away after that?" Dusk smirked but somehow or another, Yumi managed to free one of her legs and kicked him viciously in the stomach. He gasped and then she kicked his face, digging her high heel shoe into his cheek.

Dusk felt a trickle of blood running down his face and realized that the cut was pretty ugly. Furiously, he punched her before binding her limps with his newfound powers over vegetations again. Rather than his usual discreet style of murder, Dusk decided to change his tactic just this once. This bitch needed a lesson in manners.

The vines muffled Yumi's scream if she realized what was about to happen. Dusk smirked and pulled out something from his coat. "You're the first meal that I had in years that really fought back," he said coolly, flicking the object and Yumi realized that it was a knife. "Although I'm impressed with your resistance, I can't forgive you for giving me a hard time."

Yumi did not have enough time to scream as Dusk plunged the knife into her chest.


"I can't believe you just said that," said Kouichi, watching his brother from across the room. After their discussion with Gali and Kaze, the two women left them alone and went outside to talk, leaving them alone with their Guardian Knights.

"What do you mean?" Kouji asked, not bothering to look up. This irritated his twin a bit.

"I can't believe you told Gali-sama that Kimi is nothing more than someone we have to look out for!" Kouichi pointed out. "For a moment, I'd thought…"

Kouji cut him off. "You thought what?" he challenged. "You thought that I was falling for her? I can't, okay?"

"Why?" Kouichi demanded. "I saw they way you held her in your arms…the way you looked at her…are those nothing to you at all?"

"Hey, we were all caught in the excitement, okay?" Kouji retorted. He squeezed his tea cup, leaving marks on his own palms done by his fingernails but it didn't matter. "I was only saving her because it was the right thing to do."

Kouichi sighed and shook his head in disappointment. "Then tell me why, Kouji," he said. "Why did you run after her when she was leaving?"

"I told you already!" Kouji insisted. "I was worried about her because she was sad. It's nothing major at all. Just let it go, Kouichi." He scowled and lean back against a cushion with his arms crossed behind his head. He didn't need to watch to know that his brother sighed and dropped the subject.

I can't do it, Kouji thought to himself. I can't tell Nii-san the truth. I can't tell him that I already like someone else. No, not yet.

He drank the rest of his tea and sighed, looking to his left. Lobo was resting his head and gave him a somber looked. His brother on the hand, was having his back turned to him while stroking Löwe's fur as he continued to sleep the pain away. Without a word, Kouichi picked up his cat and placed him on a cushion next to him and pour himself another cup of tea.

Kouji sat up and was about to apologize to him when suddenly, he felt light-headed. Clasping his face, he realized that his eyes were getting heavy. What's happening? He asked himself. Kouji noticed that his brother was leaning over as well. It felt as if darkness is calling them and with their minds slipping away, it wasn't long until both brothers were unconscious.

Gali and Kaze came into the room and looked around to see both boys fast asleep. The sleeping herb that was added in the tea had worked once again…just as it had with Takuya and Izumi. With a raised hand, Kaze summoned a magical soft wind, teleporting them back into their rooms.

"I'll leave them to you know, Lobo," said Gali.

Lobo nodded as all four companies disappeared, leaving nothing but seat cushions and a tea set on a table. Later that night, Kouji was dreaming again…


"Kouji, you came!" said the girl as Kouji came running up to her at the park. He noticed that she was wearing a simpler dress as if it was meant for more physical activities. But more curiously than that was her position. She was standing in front of one of the bushes with an eager smile on her face.

"Hey, what's up, –chi," said Kouji.

"I'm fine," said –chi. She smiled when he gave her another rice-dumpling.

Biting into one himself, Kouji looked at her and said, "So what is it that you wanted to show me, –chi?"

"You promise that you won't tell?" –chi asked a bit nervously. "It's kinda of a secret from my family. I haven't shown them what I found, so you're the first person who would know."

Kouji didn't answer, but he nodded.

chi turned around and bent closer to the bush. With one hand, she opened a patch and the other to gesture to Kouji to lean in closer. Kouji did just that and suddenly, he heard something: a little chirp.

"It's a sparrow!" he gasped.

Sure enough, a little, brown sparrow chirped in response as it looked up at the two human children with its beady little eyes that were black as ink. But it wasn't flying away and Kouji saw why after a closer look.

"It has a broken wing," he said. He looked at –chi curiously. "What happened?"

"It smashed itself into my window two days ago and broke its wing," said –chi. "I've been taking care of it since. Do you think it can fly again, Kouji-kun?"

Kouji studied the bird quietly and broke a piece of his rice ball and gave it to the bird. The little sparrow pecked at the food greedily and Kouji smirked. "I think it'll be fine. It's eating enough. Maybe that means that it is doing well."

"I hope so," said –chi. "I can't show it to my family. They'll think it's a dirty stray and they'll make me abandon it."

"I know a vet who lives near my place," suggested Kouji. "We could take it to his place tomorrow and ask him."

chi looked up at him with great hopes in her eyes. "Really? Do you think he can help?"

"Sure, I'm sure!" Kouji replied proudly. "I'll prove it to you, c'mon!" Kouji made a grab for her hand and with the other he picked up the little sparrow and gave it to her. She quickly wrapped it gently in her sleeves and Kouji dragged her along all the way from the park to small clinic.

"Well, if it isn't Kouji-kun!" Said the vet, Dr. Suzaki, as soon as he heard the door bell. "What brings you here?" He noticed that the boy was accompanied by a cute little girl in a dress and smiled. "And who's your little friend?"

Kouji's friend hesitated as she was too shy to speak. This caused the vet to look at her kindly. "What's your family's name? Are they from around here?"

The girl nodded and said something that sounded like, "Kinomoto, huh?" the vet asked. The girl nodded. "Well, then…what can I do for you?"

The Kinomoto girl loosened her sleeves and showed the man her sparrow. "Will it be okay?" she asked. "I'm afraid my bandage isn't good enough."

The little sparrow chirped quietly in her hands as the vet scrutinized it. He gently picked it up and placed it on the table to inspect its broken wings even further. He turned to the children and smiled, "Why don't you sit down over there and I'll take care of your sparrow. It won' take long."

Sure enough, it didn't take long for the vet to give the two kids back their sparrow. It was placed in a shoebox with soft hand towels and a few bowls of water and bird seeds. The little sparrow itself was sleeping as it snuggled itself in a comfortable position. Its broken wing was more properly mended with brand new bandages wrapped neatly around the feathers.

"Will it be better now?" asked –chi. While Kouji was holding the shoebox steady, she bent in and stroked the sparrow gently. It stirred but it did not wake.

"It'll be fine," the vet assured her. "If you give it proper care, it'll be able to fly again in a few weeks."

chi smiled with satisfaction, happy that her little friend was going to be alright. Kouji looked at the vet and asked, "You're not going to tell my dad about this, are you?"

The vet was taken aback. "Now why would you want to keep it a secret, Kouji-kun?"

"It's me, actually," –chi spoke up. "I don't want anyone in my family to know about this sparrow. They might make me get rid of it before it can fly. And if someone else finds out, they might tell my family!"

The vet saw the connection and agreed not to tell. Satisfied, –chi pulled out whatever few changes of money she had and paid him and both she and Kouji left with the sparrow sleeping away in its shoebox.

"I can't take it home with me," the girl said sadly. "What are we going to do?" Kouji thought about it and knew that she was right.

They passed by their park again and Kouji was suddenly struck with an idea. "How about here?" he suggested pointing to the bushes and the trees surrounding the playground. "We can hide your sparrow in the bushes where no one will ever find it."

The girl seems reluctant. "I don't know Kouji. What about the cats?"

"We'll leave it in the shoebox. It has holes for it to breathe, and look—" Kouji pointed to a tree and dragged her along. "See? There's even an old bird nest in here! We can keep the sparrow safe in here and not even a cat can get it."

The Kinomoto girl smiled and handed him the box. They opened the lid to see how their sparrow was doing. For now, it was still sleeping quietly, its wings tucked in neatly. Kouji blew at it gently and the sparrow woke up and blinked at its two saviors curiously before falling back to sleep.

"What should we name it?" the Kinomoto girl asked.

Kouji thought about it for a moment before answering, "How about Tanpopo?"

chi laughed. "That's a funny name, but I like it." She thought about something and looked at Kouji. "Will you help me take care of Tanpopo-chan until he's better?"

Kouji smiled and closed the lid of the box before hiding it in the tree. "Even better. I'll help it learn how to fly again."

chi giggled. "We can't fly, but I want to be like Tanpopo-chan."

Kouji looked at her curiously. "You mean you want to fly?"

chi nodded. "You bet! I wanna fly up so high and so far away that not even all my problems can pull me down!"

They both broke into a fit of laughter but then hushed themselves for fear of waking up their sparrow.

"I'll bring some extra birdseeds tomorrow," Kouji said.

"And I'll bring some more water and towels," –chi added. "I don't want Tanpopo-chan to be cold. And he should have enough to eat with your help!"

"Did you just realize something?" Kouji asked.

chi nodded. "Yeah. For a moment there, we…"

"…sounded like parents?" Kouji laughed, finishing her sentence before grabbing her hand and dragged her to the swings.

They had once played like friends…took care of their sparrow like parents…


…and was happy before things took a turn for the worst…

…Kouji didn't know what happened next when he suddenly woke up in his room. He looked around and found his brother sleeping and both of their Guardian Knights dreaming. Kouji sighed and looked up at the ceiling and remembered a bit of his childhood friend's name…

A name with the suffix –chi who have relatives named the Kishimoto…

And suddenly, a thought struck Kouji… "She's not Kimi…is she?"

To be continue...

Author's note: Sorry it took so long for me to update the next chapter. I'm kinda going through another family crisis and I'm currently on hiatus. I'll try to get the next chapter up before Christmas.