It was the day before the Blade Children's birthday, and Ayumu and Kanone had gone with Ryoko to see her friend, Christian, and drop off Hiyono. Ayumu held Hiyono's hand and looked to Ryoko, "You're sure about this?" He asked for the fifth time since they had left.

Ryoko looked a bit annoyed, but just nodded, "Yes, Ayumu, I'm positive. Christian is a great guy, and I guarantee you'll love him."

"Hopefully not too much or else I'll have to tell Kousuke." Kanone joked.

Ayumu glared at the two and looked down to Hiyono, "You ready?"

Kanone and Ayumu had explained to Hiyono that she would be staying with a friend of theirs for a few days and she agreed, happy that she was going to get to play with kids her own age outside of school, "I'm ready, daddy!"

This caught Kanone's attention and he grabbed Hiyono's other hand, "Now you be a good girl, and make sure to be polite. These people are our friends and I know what a little monster you can be."

Hiyono pouted at him and Kanone just laughed. Ayumu glared at him and picked Hiyono up, "Well, we know where you got that from, don't we?" Hiyono laughed and nodded, looking to Kanone.

Said boy fell back in step with Ryoko and glanced at her, "So where do you know Christian from?"

"He was on our school track team." Ryoko explained, "He and I used to train together a lot and we became quick friends."

Kanone smiled; if Ryoko approved of someone, then that person must be pretty good. Kanone didn't like to think badly of Ryoko, but she could be kind of picky when it came to her friends. He knew for sure that if she wasn't one of the Blade Children then her and Kousuke wouldn't even know each other. They arrived at Christian's house a few minutes later and Ryoko knocked a couple of times on the door. A second later a young boy answered the door and looked at the four strangers, "Can I help you?" He asked in a small voice, trying to hide behind the door while still looking at them.

Ryoko smiled and approached him, "Hi there, is Christian home?"

The little boy looked between her, Kanone, and Ayumu and then his eyes started to water up. He sniffed a couple of times and ran back inside, slamming the door shut. Ryoko looked to Kanone and Ayumu and shrugged, but before she could say anything the door opened again. Ryoko turned around to face a middle aged man and a slightly older woman, "Can we help you?" The man asked, a little defensively.

"I just wanted to know if Christian was home." Ryoko answered.

"Who are you?" The woman asked.

"I'm his friend, we were on the track team together. We haven't spoken in a few years, but I'm sure he'll remember me."

The woman shook her head and went back inside, crying. The man turned back to the four, "He won't remember you; Christian died a couple years ago."

Ryoko gasped and looked down, "I-I'm sorry." Was all she could say.

She ran off and Kanone nodded to the man, "I'm sorry to hear about your loss, thank you for your time." The man nodded and closed the door, and Kanone turned to Ayumu, "We should catch up with her before she gets herself hurt." Ayumu nodded, and the two ran off. They had walked around the entire city and found no sign of Ryoko. Ayumu sighed and shifted Hiyono from one shoulder to the other; she was getting pretty heavy. Kanone noticed this, "Tired?" Ayumu nodded, "Here, I'll take her."

"Thanks." Ayumu said, happy to be relieved of the weight, "Maybe we should just go back home. Ryoko can take care of herself and we need to get Hiyono to bed."

Kanone nodded, "Alright, let's go." They made it home about 10 minutes later, and walked in to see Kousuke and Eyes waiting for them in the kitchen.

Kousuke stood up as soon as they walked in and walked over to Ayumu, "Where have you two been?"

"We've been looking for Ryoko." Ayumu explained everything as Kanone took Hiyono into his bedroom.

Kousuke just looked confused, "Why have you been looking for her? Ryoko called here a couple hours ago saying that she was heading home."

"What?" Ayumu sighed and looked to Kanone as he emerged from the bedroom, "Ryoko went home." He said.

Kanone just sighed and chuckled a little, "Well, that figures."

Eyes had been silent until now, "So you haven't found a place for Hiyono yet?"

Kanone shook his head, "What are we going to do?"

"We've got to get her somewhere tonight." Ayumu pointed out the obvious, "I hate to say it, but we may have to leave her with my parents and Kiyotaka."

Kanone stiffened at the suggestion, "Ayumu..." He started.

"I know you don't want to, Kanone, but what other choice do we have?"

Kanone sighed and racked his brain for any other option, "I...I don't know."

"I'll take her when she wakes up, do you want to come?"

Kanone hesitated, but eventually agreed, "I want to see her as much as possible before tomorrow."

Eyes stood and walked over to Kanone, "I'm coming with you." He left no room for argument and walked into their bedroom.

Kanone sighed and looked to Ayumu, "Well, I'll come and get you when she wakes up." Ayumu nodded and watched Kanone disappear after Eyes.

Kousuke hugged him, "It'll be okay, I believe in you. I know you'll figure something out."

Ayumu chuckled, "No pressure, right?"

Kousuke grinned and grabbed Ayumu's hand, leading him into their bedroom, "Yeah, but you'll like this pressure." He whispered, seductively.

An hour and a half later there was a knock on Ayumu and Kousuke's locked door, "Ayumu? Kousuke? Hiyono's up, we should get going soon."

Ayumu groaned, rolling over, "Be out in a minute." He called.

He would have fallen back asleep except Kousuke started poking his side, "You need to get up, Ayumu. Kanone won't wait forever."

Ayumu groaned again and sat up, "You honestly think he'd go without me?"

Kousuke considered this and nodded, "Probably." Ayumu jumped out of bed at hearing this, and quickly got dressed.

He emerged from his bedroom, hair still messed up, and grinned at the two waiting men and his daughter, "Ready."

Eyes looked annoyed and Kanone didn't look much better. Hiyono giggled and ran into the other room. A second later she came back holding a comb, "Here, daddy." She said, handing the much needed brush to Ayumu.

Ayumu thanked her and took the brush, combing through his hair quickly, and then looking back to the three waiting, "Okay, I'm ready now. Right?" He said, looking to Hiyono. She giggled and nodded, and the four left.

A little while later they ended up in front of the same building that Ayumu had a few days before, "Just let me talk to him." Ayumu told the other two who simply nodded.

Ayumu knocked on the door and Kiyotaka answered, "What is it?" He asked, not realizing who it was.

"Nice way to greet your brother." Ayumu said, annoyed.

"Hm? Oh, Ayumu, back so soon? What can I do for you now?" He looked past his brother and saw Kanone, Eyes, and Hiyono, "Quite a little group you have going on here. To what do I owe the pleasure?" He asked, eyeing Kanone.

Eyes growled softly, putting his arm around Kanone. Ayumu drew Kiyotaka's attention back to him, "We don't have a place for Hiyono." Ayumu started to explain.

Kiyotaka waited for a second and realized his brother was waiting for a response, "So? Why would you need a place for her?"

"She can't be with us tomorrow!" Ayumu said, desperately, "I have no idea what will happen, and I can't risk her life."

Kiyotaka chuckled, "Ayumu, I thought you would realize something as simple as this."

Ayumu was confused, they all were, "As simple as what?"

"Think about it. The Blade Children's curse results from the blood throughout their veins."

Ayumu got it, "Hiyono is Kanone's. She shares his blood...she shares their fate." Ayumu shook his head, "No...it's not possible."

"I thought you would realize this, Ayumu."

Ayumu just looked to the other three. Kanone and Eyes looked saddened, but Hiyono just looked confused. No one had explained to her about the Blade Children, and definitely not about their fate, "Daddy, what is he talking about?"

Kanone looked down to Hiyono, "Don't worry about it, honey." He smiled sadly, "Everything will be okay."

Hiyono nodded, convinced that everything really would be alright. Ayumu wished that he could be as naive as she was, but knew that by now that was impossible, "Let's go." He turned once more back to his brother, "Thanks, Kiyotaka. I'll talk to you later, I hope."

Kiyotaka nodded, "Stop by after everything if you can. I want to know how it all turns out." Ayumu nodded and the four went back home. Three thinking of tomorrow, and one falling asleep in Kanone's arms, blissfully unaware of her fate.

The next day Ayumu woke up extremely early. He was surprised he had been able to get any sleep, as unrestful as it was. He walked out into the kitchen to find that the other three were already up and the girls had arrived as well. Kousuke tried to smile, but failed as he stood up to hug Ayumu, "Good morning." He whispered softly.

"Morning." Ayumu said to Kousuke. He turned to the others, taking in their appearance. Eyes and Kanone were sitting together, wrapped in each other's arms. Rio and Ryoko were also sitting together; Ryoko's arm was around Rio, and the smaller girl as leaning her head on the other's shoulder. They all looked incredibly depressed and Ayumu realized that even Hiyono was awake and had the same sad face as everyone else.

Ayumu looked to Kousuke and he explained, "We couldn't hide the truth from her any longer. She has a right to know what's happening."

Ayumu was about to object, but decided against it, "I understand. How long have you all been up?"

"Eyes and I couldn't get to sleep so we've been up all night. Rio and Ryoko came here around three, they couldn't sleep either. Kousuke got up around four and Hiyono woke up about half an hour ago." It hadn't taken long to explain everything to Hiyono, and she had taken everything exceptionally well.

"So...what now?" Rio asked timidly.

Ayumu shrugged slightly and grabbed Kousuke's hand, "I guess...we just wait."