CHAPTER 1

Yuuhi Aogiri watched the leaves fall from their branches as he sat down on the porch. 'I wonder how Aya is doing', he thought. It has been three years since Ceres returned to the heavens with her beloved Mikage. Everything has been going well until a few months ago when Tooya's body showed signs of weakening. 'She must be out of her mind with worry.'

"Tadaima!" shouted someone into the hall.

"Okaeri nasai!" Yuuhi said as his sister-in-law, Suzumi, strolled to where he was sitting. "Well, how is Aya handling it?"

"Good, considering that she has to take care of both her husband and her son. Tooya's condition is getting worse. I suppose it won't be long now." Suzumi answered sadly.

Yuuhi sighed. "I thought Aya would finally be happy after all the things she's been through."

"She'll be okay, eventually," Suzumi said while putting an encouraging hand on Yuuhi's shoulder. "She's tougher than she looks."

"Aya." Yuuhi said as he gazed at the sky.

Sensing Yuuhi's need to be alone, Suzumi walked back to the house. She gave him a final glance before closing the door behind her. 'She's going to need your support. Please be strong for her.'

~o~

Seiyo Ellington turned right at the intersection and headed towards the building where her apartment was located. A month has gone by since she moved from England to Japan. 'I bet the old man is ecstatic,' she thought. She had never gotten along with her grandfather starting from the time he took her under his wing.

Seiyo had been orphaned when she was eight years old. Before then, she and her family lived in Tokyo. Her grandfather had been against her parents' marriage because her mom was Japanese. She wasn't sure why, but until now, it still doesn't make any sense to her. She hadn't heard from the old man 'til after the car crash that robbed her of a father, a mother, and a little brother. He took her in, however, he had always treated her with animosity. She decided to move out because he had just undergone an operation and she didn't want to upset him further. Her uncle had come with her and helped her settle in before going back to England.

As Seiyo walked down the pavement, she recalled all that has happened since her return to Japan. A week ago, she enrolled at the local high school to finish her senior year. She also signed up for dance lessons to keep her occupied during the afternoons. She heard that the instructor, Suzumi Aogiri, was quite good. 'Well, I'll find out soon enough,' she thought. She made her way to her apartment, packed a change of clothes, and then proceeded to the dance studio.

~o~

Aya woke with a start. She looked around and realized that she was in her son's bedroom. She settled back in the chair she had slept in and fixed her gaze on Midori's face. 'He looks like a cherub while he's sleeping,' she thought. A chuckle escaped from her lips as she remembered the times when he had thrown tantrums.

"I hope he grows up to be like his father," she sighed. She leaned over him and placed a kiss on his forehead.

She walked out of Midori's room and headed to the one she shared with Tooya. She was extremely worried about her husband and his current condition. 'Knowing this would happen doesn't compare to facing the reality,' she thought as she opened the door. She stopped in her tracks when she noticed the faint figure of a girl standing by the bed. The girl turned around and gave her a warm smile. Then, she simply vanished.

'Is she an angel?' thought Aya who was slowly approaching the bed. She sat beside Tooya and brushed his hair to one side of his face. Suddenly, a small movement caught her attention. Tooya's eyelids flickered, and finally, they opened.

"Aya."

~o~

"Suzumi-san! Suzumi-san!" a woman shouted. Everyone turned their heads to see who interrupted the class.

"What's the matter, Kyuu-san?" Suzumi asked.

"It's Aya. Aya-chan is on the phone."

"Honto?" Suzumi said before shifting her attention back to the class. "That's all for today. We'll continue this tomorrow."

"Hai!" cried the students in unison. One by one, they filed out of the room.

Suzumi went to the corridor where the phone was located. "Aya-chan, is there something wrong?" she asked into the receiver.

"He's okay! I can't believe he's really okay!" said the trembling voice on the other line.

"Who? Calm down, Aya-chan. I can't understand what you're talking about."

Aya took a deep breath and said "It's Tooya. He finally woke up last night. I know it's impossible, but he did. I.I.I'm so relieved!"

Stunned by the news, Suzumi could only stammer "H-how?"

"I'm not exactly sure, but it may have something to do with the girl I saw last night. She was standing over Tooya when I came into the bedroom, then she suddenly disappeared."

"A girl?"

"Do you think she's an angel?" Aya asked.

"Maybe. But it may also be another tennyo." Suzumi replied.

"Tennyo?! Do you think trouble is coming?"

"I don't know, but we had better take precautions, just in case."

~o~

'I wonder why we were dismissed early. What was so important about that phone call?' Seiyo thought as she flopped down on her bed. 'Anyway, it was a good thing since my muscles are starting to hurt,' she continued. She never imagined that dancing could be so difficult.

The past week had been very tiring. She had a hard time coping with the dance lessons, aside from her schoolwork. But Suzumi-san had been very patient with her. There was something about the woman that she found familiar. 'Why do I feel comfortable with her? It has never been this way with my grandfather. Why do I feel that we have something in common?'

She looked at the ceiling and recalled the dreams she's been having. They were beginning to bother her, which was another reason why she felt so tired lately. 'What do they mean?' she thought. For the last seven months, her sleep had been disturbed by images of her visiting sickly people. 'It probably means that I ought to be a doctor,' she laughed. Then, she became serious, 'Maybe I should ask Suzumi-san. She might understand what they mean.'

~o~

"Nani?! Aya-chan is coming?!" Yuuhi exclaimed.

"I already told you about it yesterday, but you obviously weren't listening," Kyuu-san said. "Suzumi-san thought it would be best for her to stay with us until this whole thing with the mysterious girl blows over."

"What mysterious girl?"

"I won't tell you again," Kyuu-san said and walked out of the room.

Yuuhi stared at Kyuu-san's retreating back. 'Aya's coming. That means Tooya and Midori will be going with her,' he presumed. Two days ago, Suzumi had delivered the news to him that Tooya was good and well. 'I'm happy for Aya. She won't have to raise her son alone, after all,' he thought. However, what he was thinking at the moment was completely different from what he was feeling. His heart twisted painfully at the idea of Aya and Tooya being together. It always had ever since he realized he was in love with her. 'I should get a girlfriend,' he considered vaguely.

Yuuhi was casually toying with the notion of asking somebody out when he remembered what Kyuu-san said about a mysterious girl. 'What is it this time?' he wondered. 'I should ask Oneesan as soon as she gets home.'

~o~

After being informed of the situation, Yuuhi offered to pick up Aya and her family from the train station. However, Suzumi-san persuaded him to stay home and watch over the house. 'I wanted to come too,' he sighed.

He glanced at the clock and counted the minutes before the others get back. He paced impatiently in the hall. A moment later, the doorbell rang. 'I wonder who could that be. Suzumi-san has a key so she definitely won't bother with the doorbell,' he thought and rushed to the gate.

Yuuhi opened the entrance and was frozen in place. Standing before him was a girl with dark, shoulder-length hair and amber eyes. 'She's certainly good-looking. She must be a new student because I've never seen her before.'

"Konnichiwa! Is Suzumi-san home?" the girl asked cheerfully.

"Ah.iye. Did you want something from her?"

"Actually, I was going to ask her for advice," she said disappointedly.

"If you wouldn't mind waiting, she'll be back in a while," Yuuhi offered.

"Oh.okay. Thanks," she answered.

Yuuhi opened the gate wider to let her in and led the way to the living room. "Would you like some tea?"

"Ah, no, but thank you all the same."

Yuuhi felt his hands becoming clammy and wiped them on his pants. 'What am I nervous for?' he asked himself. 'She's just another girl.'

"So.umm.are you Suzumi-san's brother?" inquired the girl.

"No, but close. I'm her brother-in-law," Yuuhi answered absent- mindedly. Her perfume was making him light-headed. "Are you one of her students?"

"Yup, just started last week," she said and laughed. "I'm not getting any better though. Suzumi-san has been very encouraging."

"You've never danced before?"

"Nope," she laughed a second time. The soft sound, Yuuhi noticed, was strangely affecting his state of mind.

"Oneesan is a supportive teacher, but she can be a slave driver sometimes," he added seriously. The laugh came again.

"She'll be furious if she hears you say that."

"You're right, I will," a voice said from behind.

Yuuhi stood up immediately. "Oneesan! You're back already?!"

Suzumi glared at him then faced the girl who, by now, was also standing. "Konnichiwa, Seiyo-san," she smiled.

"Konnichiwa! I came to visit because I wanted to ask you about something important," Seiyo said. "Are you busy?" she asked shyly.

"Not really, but we do have visitors. Come and meet them before we talk," Suzumi said, gesturing to the corridor.

"They're here?!" Yuuhi said excitedly and hurried off to welcome their guests. He returned in an instant with a young woman carrying a toddler. She looked up and scanned the room.

"You! It was you!" she said all of a sudden, pointing to Seiyo.