A/N: Apologizes for the slight delay, turns out writing canon material is harder than original stuff. Go figure. Updates may be a couple at a time and not every day. Still anticipating being done this week though. Enjoy the finale!

x

Ultear crouched underneath her hiding space in the corner between a small shed and Mikan House. She chose this place specifically so that no one would come looking for her, even though given the limited options around the house someone was always bound to find her eventually. She sullenly stared at the ground, using a stick to draw pictures in the dirt.

The seasons had changed from winter, to spring, and then finally late summer. Mom hadn't yet returned. Ultear could still vividly remember the last time she saw her, as she faded away with Dad in the distance. Her mother had tears in her eyes as she spoke, "We'll be back, but for now, please stay here. They're good people, Ultear, they'll take care of you."

Lies. She was never coming back. Surely, if she was, Ultear wouldn't still be here.

Ultear had gradually become more and more dejected every day that Mom hadn't returned. Eventually, she spent less and less time by the window, as her belief that she'd see her mother through it again grew smaller and smaller.

The weather grew warm, but Ultear's heart only grew colder.

The two caretakers did care for her. There was always food to eat, games to play, a bed to sleep in. They were kind, as well as the other children at the place. So far Ultear was both the youngest and smallest, but no one so much as called her names. Certainly nicer than some of the people back at her camp. But even the mean ones she found herself missing if only to have something familiar to rely upon.

Ultear's heart remained firmly closed to them, despite their best efforts. Her chest ached whenever she thought of Mom and the others, and she felt herself on the verge of tears once again. She swiftly rubbed a hand across her face to banish the tears; she refused to cry any more than she already had for them.

"Hey, she's over here!" A voice called out. Ultear stiffened, curling within herself even more. A young boy, only a few years older than her, rushed to her side. She tried to look as uninterested in him as possible. "Hey, do ya wanna play over here? It's all dark and gloomy in the shade."

She didn't reply, not even to shake her head. The boy scratched his face. "Ya know, I think it's normal to feel sad and all, but aren't you lonely over here? We won't laugh if ya fall down."

His concern made Ultear retreat even further within. What did he know of her pain? Sure, most of the children here had no parents, but this boy couldn't even remember what his looked like. And she was lonely, but certainly not for his company.

The boy sighed. "Well, if ya want," he said before moving to rejoin the other kids. Once he left, Ultear got up and peaked around the corner of the house, watching the children as they played. Her heart sped up at the thought of joining them, but she quickly snuffed out the thought. Playing, laughing, having a good time. Those were all just signs that she'd given in. And despite her increasingly numb heart, she still had a shred of hope that her mother would return one day.

Until then, she would resist with all her might.

Suddenly, the head of the foster home–Mikan–stumbled out through the doorway and yelled. "Everyone inside right now!"

The kids glanced at each other, confused by his uncharacteristically frantic tone. Mikan didn't wait for them to obey as he rushed to grab the hands of the closest ones and pulled them towards the house. "I don't want to hear it! There's something dangerous going on outside, so we need to stay inside for now!" Ultear had never heard him so panicked. Mikan was not the one who yelled, usually.

Now that he mentioned it though, Ultear had felt a strange presence pressing down on her since yesterday. It was more ominous than anything she'd felt before, and that alone scared her enough that she'd hardly eaten since then. Rosie never forced her to eat, merely leaving the food out for her and reheating it if she asked.

Maybe that was why she suddenly felt so curiously dizzy. Just as she thought to sneak inside with the others, she took a hesitant step and found all strength leaving her legs. The yells of Mikan and the others faded into the background as she fell face-first on the ground.