OMAKE 8 Promises and Sleepovers

*this takes place the year before the fic begins*

It was raining this particular December night. Although neighbors debated if the storm outside was as loud as the one from the Sakurazuka house. Finally the teenage boy had enough. He just wanted a quiet night to do his damn homework, this was his first year as a N.E.W.T student and his mother refused to give him peace and quiet until he proved he could duel properly.

Refusing point blank to duel his mother, he stormed into his bedroom and started throwing all of his possessions into his school trunk. Books, quills, robes. The wand remained in his hand, having just turned seventeen last month, he was allowed to use magic of his own free will now. The trunk made a thumping noise as he dragged it down the stairs.

"Where on earth do you think you're going?"

"Away from here so I can get my work done if you don't mind." Without another word he stormed out of house into the pouring rain and started to walk. He couldn't wait until he passed his apparition test, the walk he had ahead of him was a long one.

~#~

"I don't see why we need a babysitter! We are a fourteen year old witch and wizard!"

"Hokuto, you know we can't use our magic outside of school, so let's finish our homework before Kamui and Fuuma get here to play chess."

"You're no fun Subaru!" The arguing siblings were brought out of it by a knock on the door.

"YAY, NO MORE HOMEWORK FOR THE NIGHT! I'LL GET IT!"

Subaru rolled his eyes at his sister. The only good out of this was seeing Kamui, they hadn't seen their brother since they left for Christmas break last week. Hokuto opened the door but wasn't staring at her brother and friend.

"Seishirou? What on earth are you doing here?"

"Don't ask, just let me in."

Subaru came peaking into the room. "Seishirou! You're soaking wet!"

"Yes he is Subaru, go get a towel, I'm going to make tea, he's half frozen."

Subaru came out and wrapped a big blue fluffy towel around Seishirou before sitting next to his friend. "Why don't you make steam come out of your wand to warm up?"

"He probably can't Subaru, he's too cold to concentrate." Hokuto handed Subaru the tea cup and got up to head for the door again. "You stay with him, not that you mind, right, Subaru?"

Subaru flushed pink before dipping a spoon in the tea cup and pressing it to Seishirou's lips. "We-we need to get you warm before you get hypothermia."

~#~

"Thanks for the ride Mr. Monou."

"It's no problem Kamui, Fuuma was coming too so why not bring you both?" He walked both boys to the door and knocked.

"Hello da- Mr. Monou! Hi!" Hokuto forced a smile.

"Hello Hokuto."

Hokuto wasn't able to get the words out, she was worried for her friend.

"Where's Grandmother Hokuto?" Kamui asked as he hung his coat up in the closet, Fuuma following suit.

It was Fuuma that saw it first, leaving Kamui's question unanswered. "DAD GET IN HERE! QUICK!"

His father came inside and saw his oldest son sitting on the couch bundled up and still shivering. Pulling his wand out he pointed it at his son as hot air blew from it drying the teenager off. "Seishirou, did you walk here from mom's house?"

A nod as the shivers calmed down.

"YOU IDIOT! THAT'S OVER AN HOURS WALK!"

"If I weren't so tired Fuuma, I'd kick you."

"He should be fine, although I think I'll have a word with his mother, Fuuma, I want you to stay the night, along with your brother."

"That's fine dad, I don't mind."

"Take care of my son, he's much too stubborn for his own good." Said teen had since laid his head in Subaru's lap causing the younger teen to blush.

Once again Hokuto got up and reappeared with a blanket. "He may be dry but he's bound to still be cold, you two can stay like that."

~#~

It had been about two hours since Kamui had gotten there and he was shooting glares at the couch. Subaru had since dozed off, his hand in Seishirou's hair and Seishirou's head still in his lap.

"Stop it Kamui, leave them be." Hokuto turned instead to Fuuma."I thought your dad hated your brother."

"Why do you think that?"

"Because he doesn't live with you where he could get some peace of mind."

"I'm not sure myself, but dad says it's because Seishirou always keeps his promises."

~#~

It was August 31st and Seishirou stood proudly in his room looking at himself in his Hogwarts uniform. His mother had taken Fuuma to the doctor's as the boy had come down with a cold. That left him alone with his father and sister.

His door squeaked open and Kotori padded in. "YOU CAN'T LEAVE BIG BROTHER!" She latched herself to her older brother who patted her head.

"I'll be back Kotori, but I need to go to Hogwarts to learn to become a great wizard."

"YOU'RE ALREADY A GREAT WIZARD! YOU CAN DO THINGS FUUMA AND I CAN'T!"

"I still need to go to school, but I'll come back home."

"Promise me then, that until you graduate from Hogwarts, you'll always come back to this place! I know once you graduate you'll get a job and get married and have a family but until then promise!" The six year old girl held her pinkie finger up to her brother who took it into his own pinkie.

"I promise Kotori, that until I graduate, I won't leave here, no matter what."

Unknown to the two children, their father had heard the whole thing, and that's why he didn't take Seishirou with him the night his daughter was killed. He couldn't wait for the day his son graduated, just to be out of the demon's nest.