OCTOBER 13th, 1984
Rokkenjima Island

"-and that is all you have to say?!"

Battler… stared at his grandfather, at a loss for words.

What else was he supposed to say? He couldn't imagine there was anything wrong with what he had said. Wasn't it natural to respond to his grandfather as he had?

But then, perhaps that was simply natural for him now? Kinzo had seemed in a bad mood from the moment he walked through the dining room door, and his temper was far fouler than Battler recalled from his youth. He had chewed up and spit out Battler's dad, aunts, and uncle each in turn, and made the full-grown adults flinch and dodge his gaze like frightened, chastened school children. And yes, while the patriarch was relatively less cutting with his grandchildren, he was still gruff as he berated Jessica for her grades and speech pattern and frowned darkly as George confirmed his successes in school- Only to have Eva jump in to sing her son's praises. Kinzo said nothing, but was clear that he didn't like the implication that his grandson required his mother's support to make a simply good impression.

After all of that, Battler naturally expected some manner of rebuke. The order of events was obvious enough- The head was running down the table, turning a critical eye on each family member in turn, and the red-haired branch member grandson came right behind George.

And yet, his grandfather threw him for a loop twice over. First, he left Battler pleasantly surprised, even quietly relieved as he caught his eye and said, "So, you finally decided to come back" with an observing sort of ease. Perhaps Battler should have expected it, the storm beneath the calm, but the contrast to the expression Kinzo had had moments before misled the young man, and he laughed and grinned in answer.

"Yeah, it's been strange, seeing everything that's changed since I was last here. But I'm glad I got to come see everyone again. Despite everything, you're really the same old family I remember."

He had said it all so lightly, carefree, but there was a warmth behind the words- For the fun aunts and uncle he had reunited with, and the old cousin playmates he had finally reunited with. And he had meant the words with good will, so, even if the one he spoke to was his severe grandfather, he hadn't anticipated anything worse than a disapproving huff, or perhaps a shift in subject to his grades.

What he had not expected was for Kinzo to keep staring at him, as if convinced Battler was certainly not done speaking… And just when Battler felt a small twinge of unbalance, confused by the silence that dragged on, his grandfather erupted with that question.

-was, that all he had to say?

…it was, at least as far as he was concerned. Because, what else was there to say? Battler could never imagine Kinzo wanted him to openly shower him in assurances that he had missed his grandfather, or relief that he looked healthy, so what?

"W-well…" He floundered, hoping for some hint of what he was expected to say, but instead Battler's confusion only seemed to enrage Kinzo further, and he rose to his feet.

"You come to pay respect to this family for the first time in half a decade, and that's all you have to say to me?!"

"F… Father, I am sure that Battler-" the stumbling try at intervention, coming from Krauss, was quickly smacked down near-literally.

"Stay out of this!"

Kinzo didn't bother to look directly enough to land a proper blow on his son, but the hand that hit Krauss's chest sent him back into his chair with a grunt that made them all jolt, their faces all covered with as much confusion as dread.

Or, at least Battler so thought, but his mind was whirling too much to really mind George's efforts to hiss at him.

"Battler-kun, you shouldn't-"

"W-what else is there to say?" It was his honest thought, but his cousin and others flinched under the question, and Battler could see the rage boiling again in the old man's blue eyes, prompting him to rush on with a blind, skeptical "If you're asking if I missed all of you, then-"

"Do you think I care about that, or your false assurances?!" The scream wasn't loud, but the gravel beneath stayed the protest in Battler's throat long enough for Kinzo to go on, pointing a sharp finger towards him. "Do you think I want to hear something as sentimental as that from a grandson like you, who turned his back on this family without even a shred of shame?!"

Battler, went stiff.

That was the only word for it. Even if he had already been tense from confusion and helpless alarm, in that moment, something visibly and internally hardened within him.

Oh…

That was the only way to characterize that sudden shift of perspective, the harsh awareness that this lecture wasn't for coming back in the wrong way, but for leaving and staying away in the first place.

And now, truly, Battler had nothing to say.

And even if he did, he couldn't. Even with Kinzo yelling right at him, in all of his wrath and glory, Battler was painfully aware of the other eyes in the room all trained on him… Ange's eyes.

He couldn't explain himself, or defend himself, as long as she was there to hear- No matter how angry it made him.

But, what he heard, above the ringing in his ears-

"-belittling us all, not simply failing to pay your respects, but abandoning your very name! Clearly you have no sense of honor or respect for the Ushiromiya family if you can do that without hesitating, and then come back so shamelessly!"

"That's not it," Battler said, trying to keep calm, not blow on the flames, but there was no denying the tunnel vision to his own growing anger, as he saw but refused to see his family trying to stall him with look and gesture without words. "I have nothing against the family, but what else was I supposed to do? Act like nothing had changed?!"

"You think that weak defense excuses you?!" Kinzo slammed his fist down on the table, knocking over glasses and shaking plates as he grit his teeth towards his grandson. "You should have done nothing- A son has no right to judge his parent in the first place! And even if you did, it does not matter! If the best you could think of, weak and unimaginative as you are, was abandoning your name and shaming your whole family to punish your father, then you are as foolish and selfish as he is!"

-it wasn't that anything shattered.

No, everything went very still…

Though not literally. Around him people were cringing, Rudolf was bending his head like he was in pain, the smaller girls were quietly cowering – Ange crying – and family members from all ends of the table were trying and failing to gather the courage to cut in, and Kinzo- Kinzo hadn't stopped. But his remarks on honor, and pride, and insult were as Greek to Battler. Even when the word disown flowed through the air, and Rudolf bolted from his seat with a cry of "F-Father, it is not-" Battler minded none of it.

He rose from his chair too, but only to turn his back… And make for the door.

"B-Battler-" Jessica tried and failed to catch his sleeve, but her efforts drew all eyes to the retreating back.

"-where are you going? You think you can just walk away from me?!" Kinzo screamed, but Battler didn't even look back- Didn't look at any of them.

He just threw open the door and walked away.

"-nii-chan… Onii-chan!"

"Ange-chan!"

It was unbelievable. More than a dozen adults surrounding her, and still the little, sobbing girl managed to bolt out of her chair, right by the rising grown-ups, and get out of the door before any of them could grab her.

Kyrie moved as if to run after her, but a yell from Kinzo cracked over her back. "Enough! No one else is leaving this room without my permission! I will not have anyone else going to him after that!"

"B-but-" Kyrie stumbled, clearly straining to not simply snap back at that irrational demand.

They were all drawn as tight as a bowstring, stuck staring at each other, what had just happened and where the two red-haired branch children had gone screaming through their minds.

-she would never be exactly certain where she had pulled the courage from, but-

"If… If you please, master-" Shannon couldn't even look at him as she dared. She just stared at her own feet, caught in a deep bow as she dared speak to the head directly, before the whole family, in such a situation. "If I could have your permission to leave, I would go make certain that Ange-sama is safe. It started to rain just before dinner, and if she went outside…"

"S-Shannon-" It was Madam, and yet for once Shannon could not swear if she was rebuking her, or simply taken aback.

And for once Shannon could really did not care what the answer might be.

"…do as you like."

Despite her own nerve, Shannon jolted up at the words, locking eyes for one, shocked moment, with a Kinzo who stared, still raging, still terrifying, yet- Introspective, rather than lashing out.

-she didn't waste a breath to consider it. She just turned and ran out of the door.

"-Ange-sama! …Ange-sama!"

"What was he thinking, calling Battler out like that in front of everyone?!"

Shannon didn't respond, didn't even look up at the witch's outcry.

It was not the first Beatrice had made, by any means. She had been yelling and carrying on since the fight between the head and the long missing grandson broke out, and had not ceased for a moment as Shannon sought release from the dining room, collected an umbrella, and ran out into the mist calling Ange's name.

There was simply no time to answer. She had to save her breath for running- For focusing on finding that little girl.

But she could still hear her clearly.

"And what was Battler thinking actually yelling back?! That idiot- He should have known it wouldn't end well! And… And, even if, you can't let Kinzo walk all over you if you want to get anywhere with him… It's not like, he was wrong…"

The servant girl stalled a step on the garden path, caught by the strained pain that had stifled the witch's voice.

…no-

Shannon shook her head, lowered her hand from where it had been pressed to her chest, and rushed forward.

She had no time for that. She had a duty to fulfill, and every moment wasted increased the distance between her and her goal.

She could leave what happened back in the dining room, and the mixed feelings that prompted, all to the witch.

"Ange-sama! Ange-sama! …Ange-sama!"

"-!"

…it, might have been her imagination, or the wind or the rain playing games with her. But it was enough like a hiccup or a gasp that she caught herself, pivoting around on the spot to try and spot the source.

In the end, it was no surprise she had not spotted her… the girl was practically swallowed by the bushes around her, all taller than her tiny frame.

"Ange-sama…" Shannon could have literally sighed her relief, but there was no time for it before the tiny Ushiromiya dropped her hands from her eyes and rushed at her, fingers clutching at the servant's skirt.

"Please! Battler-nii-chan… Help me find him!" The rain was falling over her, weighing down her hair and sticking to her skin, but still it was clear that most of what ran down her cheeks were tears. "Please!"

"-please, calm down, Ange-sama," Shannon tried, tentatively trying to touch the girl's shoulder, but the vigorous shaking of her head just threw it right back off.

"No, you don't know! He ran outside, but he isn't in that house- I checked! I can't find him!"

…not in the guest house?

That, stalled her focus effectively enough, and Shannon's gaze turned uncertainly up on the path that led to the visitor's abode…

Only to drop again at a follow-up tug at her skirt.

"Please… Will you help me find him?!"

Those big, teary eyes begged her, and what flimsy hesitance Shannon could even manage to cobble together in her heart fell instantly to pieces.

Was it going against what she said to the head? Was it potentially a fool's errand? Was it likely to get her into trouble?

"Who cares about all of that?!" Beatrice glowered determinedly down at her, and though Shannon did not look up to observe her there, floating in the rain, she could still see her there, with her heart's eye, and it was as though they had locked gazes. "Are you going to turn your back and ignore this girl's wish? Turn your back on him?! I will not stand for it!"

No… That simply would not do.

"-of course, Ange-sama." The assurance calmed the girl enough that she actually looked at Shannon for the first time, and the clear shift in focus encouraged the maid enough to properly smile. "I know this island well- I'll help you find all of the likely places he would be hiding, alright?"

"Y-yes…"

And with that, the servant offered her hand, and the two walked off together, down a new path.

The walk was not long in the end, as Shannon knew better than to head towards the guest house now, and in two of the other directions lay nothing but the main house again, and the path back to the empty pier. Both were unlikely, and all that left was the treed area about the storehouse, the forest off to the other side of the house, and the rose garden itself.

The chapel floated through Shannon's mind as they walked, both too focused on searching to bother with conversation, but that place was locked. That could not be… Unless Battler didn't know that, and he turned back after finding himself bolted out…

The sudden squeeze of Ange's hand was all the hint Shannon got before she let go and bolted, dashing down the path they had been on, towards-

"Onii-chan!"

Indeed, even stalled a few yards away, Shannon could see him- Rising from the stone table beneath the gazebo just fast enough to catch the little girl who launched herself into his arms.

He, came… Here…

It had to mean nothing. It had to be a coincidence- A result born from the cover the gazebo provided. Not, the history that place signified… For them…

"Was he, drawn here for some reason?"

Shannon didn't know how to answer the witch… And she left Beatrice there alone, standing in the rain, as she moved closer to the two siblings-

"Onii-chan! Onii-chan!"

"Hey, hey-" There was nothing of that dinner's answer in Battler's voice as he scooped the girl up in his arms and supported her in as she clung close… But there was a fond confusion as she kept sobbing. "It's okay, it's okay… Was it that scary, hearing Granddad and I yell? Sorry, Ange-chan, I didn't mean to scare you-"

"It's not that!" The girl jerked back, making Battler stumble to keep his balance, but she just kept on, staring up at him with desperate, watery eyes. "I thought you disappeared! You were fighting, and then you left- That's what Mom always said happened with Dad! –will that happen now?! Are you going to leave again?!"

Shannon… Heard nothing. Not the rain. Not the wind. Not the witch.

Everything, the very world itself, had gone completely mute and still to make room for the presence of that little girl and her cries… And Battler's reply.

She couldn't even hear her own heartbeat, or the way her breath caught as she stared… Painfully grateful and resentful that the siblings were angled just right for her to see, Battler's expression, as it was struck with shock, and slowly bleed into something soft, and sad, and… and…

"What are you saying?" He repositioned the girl higher in his grip, so he could grin at her from eye-level. "Of course I'm not going to leave."

Shannon's breath hitched in her throat, caught around a word as her eyes, went warm. One word-

"Really?" Ange rubbed at her own face before blinking back at her brother. "You mean it? You just got back, and-"

"Yeah, I left because I was mad then, too." Battler bend down to set Ange back on her own feet, but stayed kneeling long enough to hold her shoulders as he gently corrected her. "But that was way different, Ange-chan. Much bigger than a simple fight… We're mad, but families- Sometimes they just fight."

That wasn't it. Shannon knew- It was true that the Ushiromiya could have some cold, ugly fights, and then move forward like nothing had ever happened.

But, this was Kinzo… And Shannon wasn't aware she was gripping her umbrella handle so hard until her knuckles were outright screaming- And even then she did nothing about it.

How… How could Battler speak so certainly of not leaving, when… after…

"-Shannon-chan?"

"-eh?" She jolted, dizzy with the sudden outward focus, and the hyper-awareness of Battler and Ange both looking over at her. "Ah, er…"

"What are you doing there?"

"She helped me find you."

"Did she? I see... Thanks, Shannon-chan!"

"I-It was nothing, I assure you." The simple, rapid fire exchange made the color rise in the girl's cheeks, even as she could only internally marvel at how light both brother and sister's manner grew, the moment they noticed her there. All tears and brotherly warmth replaced with calm and friendly curiosity. "I was afraid Ange-sama would catch cold, running out in the rain."

"Ah… And it looks like you still managed to go swimming, huh?" Battler was clearly caught in the rain himself, but where he was a little soggy, Ange was drenched, and her little body had made a clear wet spot on Battler's shirt and vest where he had hugged her.

That didn't stop him from picking her right back up again, though, or playfully tousling hair too heavy to move right. "We should get you to the guest house so you can change- Shannon-chan?"

"Y-yes?" It was too much in its way, how suddenly Battler would focus on her like that, a question in his eyes.

"I know you need to go back, but- Would you and that umbrella of yours stick with us at least as far as the guest house?"

It was a natural enough request, and yet Shannon stumbled for the right words to reply- And the off-kilter feeling in her only teetered further when she answered, and the hesitance fled Battler's eyes.

"Of course."