Zeno looks at the blade in his hands. It's not even chipped, looking as new as the day he got it. The day when Hinoe was still a little girl who called him Ai-ue.

Zeno open's the shoji door and steps into the room. Ten year old Hinoe is sleeping against the chest of a 12 year old Zeuxis. Today is his 17 birthday and he is leaving.

Zeno crouches down to the level of the futon they are sleeping on and ruffles Hinoe's black hair. She was the only one who inherited black hair from their mother as was Zeuxis the only who got mother's brown eyes. Pity he thinks, Hinano has beautiful brown eyes. But apparently their father's genes run strong.

She is sleeping after watching and cheering on both of her big brothers remedial training done by their father. Zeuxis stirs and hugs the girl even tighter, Hinoe's black hair intertwining with Zeuxis's dark blond, more brown than Zeno's gold.

Zeno leans down, hugging both siblings and he lets a few tears fall down. He told their parents he is going on a along term mission, a cover up Ubuyashiki Kameki came up with. During which he will most likely 'die'.

This will be the last time he will see either of them as their loving older brother Ryumaki Zeno. Ouryuu has waited long enough.

He stays like that for a while, finally getting up when Zeuxis stirs a little from the extra weight. He stands up, smiling the same kind of bittersweet smile his mother had showed him that one evening a long time ago. Turning around back towards the shoji door.

"Anija.." He stops just about to start closing the shoji door. Glancing towards the now sleepily sitting up Zeuxis. Zeno smiles and whispers from the door.

"Go back to sleep Zeuxis."

"Where you going Anija?" His little brother rubs his eyes and then yawns.

"Don't worry, I'll be going on a longer mission now, so go back to sleep"

"No... Aniue please, stay" Came Hinoe's voice from behind Zeuxis.

"Go back to sleep both of you, Im sure I'll be fine"

"But Aniue.. okay.. but you have to promise to come back as soon as you can!" Hinoe smiles like she won the argument. Zeno smiles and he knows, that if he makes that promise he will be breaking it.

"Hinoe.. you know I cant promise that, but I'll try. Now sleep." Zeno says and then gently closes the shoji door, ignoring the small "Wait Anija!" Zeuxis shouted right before.

He closes his eyes.

It's time he leaves

H̶e̶ ̶w̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶n̶e̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶e̶ ̶b̶a̶c̶k̶

H̶e̶ ̶c̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶n̶e̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶e̶ ̶b̶a̶c̶k̶

H̶e̶ ̶n̶e̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶c̶a̶m̶e̶ ̶b̶a̶c̶k̶