As Ayumu finished washing the dishes after breakfast he turned to Kousuke as well as the others, "So what are you guys doing for your birthdays?"

Wouldn't you know it, all the Blade Children had the same birthday. That day happened to be in one week and Ayumu had yet to get any of them anything, what were you supposed to get people like them? He could always go with melons for Rio, but what for Eyes, Kanone, Kousuke, and even Ryoko? Ayumu felt guilty, he should known what to get his boyfriend for his birthday, but he was clueless. The Blade Children traded uncomfortable glances at the mention of their birthday, they all knew exactly what they would be doing. Kousuke was the one to answer, "We were thinking of going out."

"Where to?' Ayumu asked, hoping to join them.

"Just a place I heard about." Kanone answered, "And we'd love it if you could join us...but it's not exactly a place we could take Hiyono." Kanone explained. The others nodded, glad that the Blade Child was so capable of thinking on his feet.

Ayumu sighed and nodded, "Alright, I understand." Kousuke felt guilty for lying to his boyfriend, they all did. But it was the only way to protect him.

"I won't allow him to be hurt. Not again." Kousuke thought. Ayumu had been through enough because of the Blade Children, he didn't need this as well. Besides, saving them had helped him to realize that he was better than his brother; if he found out that he had failed...Kousuke shook the thought off and walked over to Ayumu, "So what time does Hiyono get out?"

"Around 12." Ayumu replied.

12 rolled around and Ayumu opened the door, preparing to leave, "Kanone are you coming?"

Kanone looked up from making out with Eyes and blushed, "I'd rather stay here if it's all the same."

Ayumu just chuckled and nodded, walking out the door. Eyes looked to his husband, "When are you planning on telling him? We only have a week left."

"I don't plan on telling him anything." Kanone replied, "We'll all be dead by the time this is over...it'll hurt him, but not as much as trying to help us would. Besides, he needs to be here for Hiyono."

Kousuke overheard this and entered the living room, where the two were, along with the girls, "You're not telling him!" He shouted, "He deserves to know. Besides, Kanone, you should have more faith. What if Ayumu really can save us and you're just throwing away that opportunity?"

Kanone sighed and looked to the others who seemed to agree with Kousuke, even Eyes, "Alright then. But I want to be the one to tell him, not a word until I do, alright?" The others agreed and it wasn't long before Ayumu returned with Hiyono...to find Kanone and Eyes in the same position as he left them.

Ayumu quickly covered Hiyono's eyes, "Hey you two, innocent little girl over here doesn't need to see that!"

Kanone jumped at Ayumu's slightly irritated and angered voice and blushed, standing up, "Sorry about that." He immediately smiled as he saw Hiyono who had slipped out from behind Ayumu's leg to see what the commotion was all about, "Hello, Hiyono, how was your first day?"

"It was great! I made a lot of new friends and even got invited over to someone's house for dinner tomorrow! They said you could come, too." Hiyono replied, looking hopefully from one father to the other.

Kanone immediately agreed, "Of course you can go." To Ayumu, "We should as well."

Ayumu nodded in agreement and looked down to Hiyono, "Where does your friend live?"

Hiyono thought about it for a second and then shrugged, "Guess I forgot to ask...sorry."

Ayumu chuckled and picked her up, "That's okay, just point out her parents to me tomorrow and we'll set it up."

Hiyono nodded, "Thank you, daddy!" She said and then looked confused, "How did you know my friend was a girl?"

"Huh? Oh...just a lucky guess." He replied smiling, "Hey, I bet you're tired after a long day at school. You want to take a nap?" Hiyono nodded and laid her head on Ayumu's shoulder as he walked past Kanone to take her upstairs, glaring at the Blade Child for his previous comment to Hiyono's question, "Mother's intuition my ass." He thought as Kanone chuckled, reading his mind.

The next night Kanone and Ayumu were all ready to go over to Hiyono's friend's house. Jessica didn't live very far away so they had a couple of minutes to go over some rules that, by now, should be common sense to the young girl, "And never interrupt anyone when they're talking to you or someone..."

"Kanone." Eyes interrupted his husband as he was finishing his lecture.

Kanone sighed as Hiyono giggled. He looked to Hiyono, "And we can use my beloved husband as an example of all that is rude and impolite." Kanone commented as he turned to said man, "Yes, dear?"

Ayumu had to keep from busting out laughing at Kanone's annoyed tone, but Eyes just glared at him, "I was hoping to have a word with you before you left. However, if you're too busy..." Eyes trailed off, looking at Kanone.

Kanone just chuckled, "No, I was just trying to teach my daughter some manners." Kanone replied, "Nothing too important." He added sarcastically.

Eyes just glared again and walked out of the room, waiting for Kanone to follow. Which he, of course, did. When they were in their own room Eyes turned to Kanone, "I think you should tell him tonight."

"Oh? And why is that?" Kanone asked, skeptically. To tell the truth, he had been considering doing just that.

"If you expect him to be able to do anything by next week, he will need time to think things through. I don't think you should wait until the last minute."

Kanone sighed and nodded, knowing that Eyes was right, "Okay, I'll tell him tonight. After we get back we'll all sit down and talk."

Eyes kissed Kanone who smiled into the kiss. When he broke apart, however, the pianist was looking slightly concerned, "Do you have any idea when it is?"

"You mean the actual time?" Eyes nodded and Kanone shook his head, "Not a clue. I just know this year on our birthday."

"What about me and Rio? Will we be changed as well since we're a year younger?"

Kanone considered this, "I don't know exactly; I just know the year, I don't know whether it is significant because of the age we're turning or the year itself." Kanone thought about it, "If it's the former..."

"Then Rio and I are safe for another year." Eyes finished for him. Kanone nodded.

A moment of silence before Kanone spoke again, "Eyes...you have so much faith in Ayumu, but why? It was so easy to save us from the Hunters because there was something he could do about it, but this...how can we expect him to save us?"

Eyes thought about it and hugged Kanone, "Just believe." He whispered.

Kanone was about to ask him something else when they heard Ayumu's voice through the door, "Hey, Kanone, hurry up or we'll be late."

"Coming." Kanone called to his former lover, then to his current one, "We shouldn't be too terribly long; you know how kids are."

"I know how we were." Eyes replied, a bit too fondly, "If those two are anything like us I won't see you for another 20 years."

Kanone laughed, "I honestly doubt they are." Eyes nodded and kissed Kanone once more, telling him goodbye and that he loved him. Kanone did the same and went to join Ayumu and Hiyono who were already in the car.

Hiyono made a joke about how kissing was nasty and Ayumu smirked thinking, "You think that's nasty..." Kanone was thinking the same thing.

Dinner at Jessica's house had gone well, except Kanone had yet to talk to Ayumu, didn't girls like to lock their doors and gossip about things? Maybe Hiyono was still too young for all of that. Finally Hiyono walked up to Kanone, "Daddy, can I go play with Jessica for a while?"

Kanone smiled, relieved, "Of course you can, just remember what I told you."

Hiyono nodded, "Thank you, daddy!" And with that she ran off.

Jessica's mother, Debbie, smiled at Kanone, "Your daughter is so well mannered, how did you manage that? Jessica has got such a mind of her own."

"Thank you." Kanone replied, "Manners are just common sense around our house. Good manners can go a long way."

The other three nodded and Tom, Jessica's father, turned to Ayumu, "So how do you two know each other?"

Kanone hesitated but Ayumu answered for him, "I'm Hiyono's father."

"But...I thought Kanone was her father." Debbie asked, looking between the two men.

"I am." Kanone answered bluntly and without warning, stood and smiled, "I'm afraid that I have to speak with Ayumu. Could you please excuse us?"

The two nodded, still confused, and Kanone walked outside, followed by Ayumu, "What is it, Kanone? Did you not want them to know about our situation?"

Kanone shook his head, "That's not it at all, Ayumu. I need to talk to you about something else."

"Alright. What is it?"