Reminsense on Cold Winds

Eve looked across the glittering sea, staring intently at the dark island near the horizon. She had been standing motionlessly, except for the occasional impatient flick of her hair when it whipped into her face, at the ship's bow for hours, and the cold wind's fingers clawed to her very bones. Her eyes were watering, but she refused to blink, as if closing her eyes for even one moment would make the island disappear, and take Train and Sven with it.

A warmth suddenly swallowed her as heaviness landed on her shoulders. She glanced down, and realized it was a black trench coat, with silver trimmings.

Train's?

Eve's heart pounded painfully as she turned around. A man with messy dark hair, warm brown eyes, and the number XIII tattooed on his chest smiled cheekily back at her.

"TRAIN!" Eve shouted, trying to throw herself at the brunette, but he side stepped swiftly. The messy hair lengthened into smooth locks, the warm brown eyes deepened into dark pools, and the XIII tattoo blurred into just X. Train's cheeky smile disappeared in a face of concern as Xiao peered at Eve closely, but said nothing.

Eve flushed and turned away, going back to staring resolutely ahead. Xiao observed her, feeling pain fully nostalgic.

He sat in a puddle as the downpour of rain pattered across the playground. The bandages from the hospital were getting soaked, but that was okay, since they covered smooth health skin anyways.

It was kind of funny. He had spent 3 years of his childhood running away from bullies to the warm arms of his brother. Those bullies were dead of course, but like always, another gang took over their position. Ironically, those people avoided Xiao like the plague, scattering within his wake so that even his friends grew apprehensive and fearful of him. But that was okay too. He even wished he could get beaten up by someone again, so that his brother would come back and heal him. Maybe if he sat in the rain long enough, he would get sick and Brother Da would come back.

Splash. Splosh. Splash. Splosh. Footsteps came steadily near him. Was it grandpa again, coming to beg him to go back home? But it wasn't home ever since his brother left, following the blond stranger with unsettling eyes.

Black boots came into his view. He looked up, and saw a rain-blurred face surrounded by short black hair, and kind eyes framed with fogged up glasses.

"Brother?" Xiao rasped, his voice too broken from crying to convey any louder his incredulous delight.

"No," the man said, kneeling down into Xiao's puddle, "I'm sorry, but I'm not."

Xiao stared at Janus, still wondering if it could be his brother playing a cruel joke. But no, the jaw was more firm, and Da Lee would never be caught dead wearing that flashy magenta shirt, nor those tight black pants that were currently being soaked by the puddle Janus kneeled in.

"I am Janus. But I will help you find your brother, if you come with me." He extended a hand, his usually jovial face unsmiling.

Xiao wordless put his hand into his rough palm.

Xiao chuckled sadly at the memory. Upon reaching Chronos headquarters, Janus had been exasperated by Xiao's constant staring due to his resemblance with is brother, and promptly grew his hair out and obtained contacts. That did not, however, stop Xiao from constantly latching onto him.

"Something funny, Green?" Rivar asked as he stepped onto the dock with Kou tightly attached to his left leg.

"Yes," smiled Xiao innocently, "Your face is quite amusing."

A tick mark appeared on Rivar's forehead. "Well, this beautiful face was elected to come here and tell you that your Sweeper Council is ready for your orders for battle."

"Kou gets to stay here and eat strawberry cake!" interjected the cherub excitedly.

Green continued smiling, but his eyes showed his apprehension at the coming battle. The island Eve was staring at intently was looming closer, and he was not sure that even this shipload of professional sweepers could withstand the ambushes ahead.

Omg! I'm back despite it being the most stressful year of my high school life! I just felt sorta guilty cuz of the occasional reviews I've been receiving, and it built up until I HAD to write something…even though I don't even remember what this story is about anymore O.oU

Thank you reviewers who remind me that my story still exists.