Reina had littered the floor next to Marie with the bountiful hydrangea spheres, the azure and sapphire bright against the tan of the tatami mat. "Mama, are these the right ones?"

Marie gave a joyful hum of satisfaction as she pulled Reina close enough to dust a kiss on her cheek. "Grab another armful, darling." She was gone in a flash at the order, leaving her mother to start plucking the leaves to safely set aside for drying. Hydrangeas always signaled the rain, but the thought of it couldn't douse the joy that those beautiful blossoms brought. They were a constant reminder that even in the darkest of times, you could still find beauty.

This time a twitter of voices came on the return, forcing Marie's hands to still as she watched the doorway in anticipation. While elation usually blossomed every time her daughter's smiling face popped into view, it was the body behind her that seized a tight, icy fist around Marie's heart.

Medusa's arms were filled with the cerulean florets, her smile matching Reina's in vibrancy though the bliss never reached her eyes. "I'm sorry to barge in."

A small prayer was offered up, a deep wish for some of her husband's artful dissociation. Marie was able to swallow a corner of it, a hollow, hostess smile gracing her lips. "Well, you brought flowers, so how can I fault you?" Marie reached for her daughter, grasping Reina's elbow without letting the desperation seep from her fingers. "Reina, will you take some of the blooms I've already stripped to Master Shiro?" Marie trained her eyes carefully on the little girl's face.

Reina's smile didn't falter, but her blinks slowed, sudden focus making those eyes just even more her father's.

"They're right here." Marie swept her hand over the blooms, watching as Reina dutifully scooped them up and disappeared without any of her usual chirping.

"Master Shiro?" Medusa offered after watching the little girl go.

"That's what she likes to call the produce man," Marie replied with a soft laugh. "You know, old man, white hair. He likes hydrangeas for his wife's grave."

"Children are precious like that, I suppose…" Medusa dropped the flowers to the floor without ceremony, ignoring the disarray to watch Marie's face. "And she is very precious, isn't she?"

"All children are." Taking her eyes off Medusa was a feat in itself, but Marie forced her gaze to the flowers, starting to fix them next to the others. Clipping the leaves came easily, but waiting in the silence was an arduous task.

Medusa's sigh drifted with exhaustion. "I really did think we'd have more to say to one another."

There was spite Marie couldn't swallow. "The only thing we have in common is Franken, and I think it's clear that all that is over with." She didn't hesitate to raise her glare, meeting those golden eyes that were glowing with mirth.

"Oh, you are so right, Marie." Medusa's toothy grin gleamed. "Maybe I had hoped that 'absence makes the heart grow fonder,' but I'd never be so foolish to believe it now. Franken loves you and Reina so much." That seemed to buzz off her tongue like a snake hissing through its teeth. "I can't imagine anything that could change that."


"Shiro-chan!" Reina was running full-tilt, petals floating behind her in a blue mist.

"Slow down," Maka cautioned, hands outstretched to catch the little girl. Reina was barely in her grasp before Maka noticed the glisten of tears at the corners of the child's eyes.

"What's goin' on?" Soul was already on the move, no hesitation in his steps towards the engawa.

Maka looked over her shoulder, shaking her head softly at Soul before bringing her attention back to the sniffling child in her arms. "Reina, did something happen?"

"I don't know–" came her tiny moan, flowers fluttering to the ground between them. "Mama sent me here, but she used Shiro-chan's secret name, so I know– it's important that I stay here, but I'm scared."

"Reina, I'm sure it's fine." Maka smoothed her hair, whispering softly by her ear. "Come have tea with us. We'll fix your hydrangeas."

Reina sniffled as she pulled away from Maka to glance upward at Soul. "Is that alright, Shiro-chan?"

His thoughtful hum buzzed with delight. "On one condition."

Both sets of eyebrows furrowed at his sudden playfulness.

Soul leaned, his smile so soft and light that Maka's heart jumped into her throat. "You'll convince Masao to read to us. It's the best way to enjoy tea."

A breathy laugh left her, freeing the thought she'd tried to push to the back of her mind: I-I wanted him to say that– that those moments matter.

"Masao?" Reina sent pleading eyes Maka's way.

There was no chance for refusal, but Maka put on enough of a show with a blustering sigh. "Just this once."

Soul chuckled, his tender glance coming Maka's way. "Give her my cup."

"I can get another–" Maka started as she lifted Reina onto the engawa.

"Let's not leave anybody alone right now." Soul beckoned Reina with a soft flick of his fingers, bringing the girl chasing after him into the room.

Maka watched the two as they collapsed around the tray, Soul settling back against the wall with enough distance between them. She gathered the hydrangeas, admiring the blue just as much as the scene unfurling between the two in front of her.

"There's a poem about hydrangeas," Soul murmured as if it was only meant for Reina.

"Really?" Reina inched closer until Soul waved a hand of warning.

He hummed sweetly again before tilting his head back so his eyes lingered across the ceiling. "As the hydrangeas / Have eightfold blooms, / For eight generations, and more / I would have you live, my friend! / The sight will ever bring me thoughts of you…"

Poetry? Maka almost scoffed, but the beautiful hypnosis that Reina had slipped into left her quiet. She moved to her side, gently leaving the blossoms between them.

"Thank you, Masao," Reina chirped before rearranging the flowers carefully.

"And now tea." Maka poured, stealing glances at Soul who still sat entirely tranquil against the wall. "This is yours." She offered and Reina received the cup carefully.

"Thank you." The echo was still just as sweet, the smile on her cheeks almost teeth-shatteringly so.

"Now, unless Shiro-chan has another poem…" Maka offered playfully, receiving the grimace she expected. It only made that flutter in her chest come to life again, forcing her to reach for a book in hopes of driving it away. "How do you feel about fairy tales, Reina?"

Reina turned to Soul first. "Is that a good choice?"

Soul smirked. "The best. Ask for his favorite." But before Reina could even open her mouth, he answered with uncanny ease: "Actually, let me guess. The Bamboo Cutter and the Moon Child."

Maka's grip tightened on the cover. Did I ever mention that? No, I would never–

"Am I wrong?"

"No…" Maka met his gaze, finding a glow of sentimentality that caught the breath in her throat. He's just thinking of his mother. The reading– these stories just remind him of her. It's not me. He's not looking like that at me.


Soul couldn't help but watch them intently. Masao was still reading softly even though Reina had given into exhaustion and curled up against their lap. It was easy to mistake them for parent and child—hair and eyes only a few shades apart—but even more so was the tenderness with which Masao soothed the little girl. After a few more strokes, Masao stopped reading, turning worried eyes towards Soul. "Do you think Marie is alright?"

Soul nodded.

"Should we get Franken?"

"No." He glanced at Reina, envious of the peace on her face, and maybe, for a moment, the place she'd taken. "One or both'll come soon."

Masao huffed, an unsure hand hovering over Reina before gently clasping over the child's ear. "What if something's happened to them? She said Marie sent her away, used a secret name for you–"

"Trust me," Soul interrupted with a tilt of his head.

He watched Masao nibble into their lip before they acquiesced with one bob of their head.

Soul got to his feet, legs stiff but still smoothly bringing him to the engawa to set his eyes on the pink easing away to darkness on the horizon. I'm not sure either, Masao. Reina's never had to come like this, but… it doesn't matter. I'll protect her. I'll protect you. He glanced at the scene again, some of his concern melting away as he watched Masao at their gentle work of loving Reina.

It was envy, which he knew as a feeling not entirely alien to himself. He'd felt it as a child enough to be able to identify it even if it was rare for him as a man. What confusion lay in this moment was the who. Did he wish he could be the one to hold Reina? Reassure her and give her comfort? Or did he wish that it was his hair being stroked? Looking up from Masao's lap and knowing that the glow in those green eyes was for him? And for a terrifying, tumultuous moment, all he yearned for was falling to his knees and at least being a part of it– to find his place somewhere in the middle.

The start of voices broke his revelry, his eyes turning back in time to catch Franken and Marie at the bower. They were all spikey whispers, Marie's hands gesticulating as Franken tried to catch them. She allowed his fingers one sweep at her tears before turning into the courtyard, leaving the man standing defeated at the edge of the overhang.

"Reina's fine," Soul answered the terror on Marie's face.

"Thank you." For once, Marie's voice was clipped, but her footsteps were not. She was past him in a flash, intruding on Masao to scoop her child into the safety of her arms.

"Are you alright?" Masao whispered, those steadying hands moving to Marie's arm to catch her.

Marie let her momentum slow, giving her knees the excuse to fold and meet the mat next to Masao. "I… I need to ask a favor."

Soul left the door open as he caught Franken approaching but still turned his back to join the circle. "Go ahead."

Marie looked from Masao to Soul. "There's been a few mornings where Masao walked Reina to the temple. I'm asking if Masao could have the time to walk her from now on, and if you'd allow Masao to pick her up as well."

She's not safe. Soul glance at Masao. "Can you?"

"That's fine, but–"

"Please," Marie pleaded.

Masao breathed, eyebrows furrowing until Soul was sure the wrinkles would crack their forehead. "I need to know what– who I'm protecting Reina from. I can't do a good enough job unless I know."

"The new physician," Franken's mutter broke the concentration of the circle, shooting all eyes to him. "Marie or I walking her now would look too suspicious and give Medusa nothing but joy to see both of us squirm. Reina's taken a liking to you, Masao. It would seem innocent if you were to watch her."

Soul watched hardness steal away the usual warmth of Masao's features. For a moment, they were nothing more than ice, calculating and cold as the man they were looking at. "Fine. But is this all of us agreeing that we don't trust Medusa? That something has to be done about her?"

"Yes," Marie answered sharply as she looked at her husband.

Franken did nothing more than sigh.

In the silence, Soul cleared his throat. "I'll go with Masao."

"What?" Masao voiced the question before Marie could.

Those twin envies sat in his chest along with the unsaid promise made on the engawa. "I'll protect them too."


It was a disgusting little scene. The page, hand in hand with the blonde brat, while the young lord walked behind them with a gentle grin on his face. The rain that fed those terrible blue blossoms didn't seem to affect them in the least– splattering their clothing and drenching their hair but doing nothing to weigh down the amiability that was oozing from the three.

Medusa pursed her lips.

As they passed, her eyes focused on the only real oddity in the equation: Masao.

Medusa knew the young lord down to his insides—deliciously dark as they were—and the girl was nothing more than a product of her father and mother. Both were open books, pages she knew by heart. But this page, this little creature was a secret still waiting to be ripped from the hearts of those who held it.

It had been months and that dutiful dove wasn't dead, wasn't running in the night in fright. This was a pleasurable new puzzle to spend her time on. Regardless of the saccharine sweetness of the display, Medusa watched their backs with a growing smirk. And what a pretty, pretty face for a boy.