Newt's POV

Ten years later

The streets were loud and filled with more people than Newt had ever seen. It was within this crowd just moments before that Newt had lost Nai. They had been separated when someone had bumped into Newt.

Now he was desperately trying to find the one he considered his brother. Nai looked to be fifteen or sixteen in human year. His mind was more like six or seven.

Nai was a niji made human through Karoku's experiment. Karoku taught them how to read, write, math, and history. His unbiased opinions allowed them to see the whole story rather than just pieces.

Until three months ago when the man just disappeared. It wasnt until three days after he left that Newt and Nai went looking for him. They found a trail of blood and a bracelet with three gems on it. But no Karoku.

After another two days, they decided to leave the forest. Together he and Nai went to the cities looking for Karoku without luck. Now Newt was alone in a strange city.

Cold feeling people pushed past him causing the boy to flinch. His senses were heightened from his time in the forest as well as his time as a niji. Every part of him screamed to run and return to the forest. At this point though he wasnt even sure if he could find his way back.

Nai had led him to this area as if following something only he could see. Newt's bond with Karoku was on another level than Nai's. The blue-haired man had formed a more emotional bond than a physical.

Karoku always thought it was his empathic ability. They bonded when Newt finally accepted help. There was a connection that was always in the back of his mind. He could feel Karoku's emotions. They were small things at first but as time passed the bond grew stronger. Distance didnt seem to matter with the bond. Karoku was always there and it didnt scare him.

Then he was gone. When Karoku disappeared he would get faint impressions. Then when they had gone silent. Karoku was there in the back of his mind. Just there wasnt any emotions. It scared him to think that the other was hurt somewhere and they couldn't find him.

Suddenly he was shoved into the building closest to him by an ice-cold body. Newt flinched as his shoulder hit brick. A pained whine escaped him.

A gentle hand pulled him away from the wall. At first, he tried to pull away but then he noticed that it was warm. A smile crossed his face as he turned to face the person.

A bright, look crossed his features. Only for it to fall when he finds a black-haired man standing just over six feet tall with blue eyes. He wore a black tuxedo with a black tie. Glasses sat on his nose as he smiled at Newt.

The smile was gentle like Karoku's smile. He was warm and Newt couldn't help but step towards the man. Trying to feel the warmth rather than the coldness that was all around them.

It was only after seeing the lips moving that he realized that the man was speaking, "...are you okay? Do you need help?"

Newt signed, 'I'm sorry. I was looking for someone.'

Blue eyes widened behind the glasses. Then the man signed back, 'Are you mute? Deaf? Do you need help finding the person?'

'I'm mute. Always have been.' He snapped back angrily.

The man gave him a small smile before asking, "Is there someone here that I can return you to?"

Newt shook his head as he replied, 'No sir. I'm sure he will find me soon. I'll wait for him here."

The man cocked his head to the side like a curious animal. It was much like the nijis of the forest when they were inspecting something new. Still, he stepped back and away from the man.

Warm or not he didn't know this man and could not trust him. As he was when he first met Karoku he was mistrustful of the man in front of him.

A hand reached out for him and the man's jacket sleeve pulled back. It revealed a bracelet with one medium-sized red crystal in the middle with two smaller blue crystals. It was slightly different from the one that Nai was wearing but it was close enough. This man had to know where Karoku was!

When Newt grabbed the man's forearm he froze. It was the first contact he had made willingly. So far he was reluctant for any contact with the man.

When he went to touch the bracelet the man pulled away. He inquired carefully, "What's wrong, child?"

'Your bracelet! What is it from? Do you know Karoku? Where is he?'

Surprise crossed the man's face. Then it became closed off rather than the openness it was before. It made Newt step back in fear. Maybe this man wasnt a friend of Karoku's.

The man questioned, "Did you not hear me earlier? I am Captain Hirato of Circus. These bracelets are id bracelets."

'Circus? Like with the animals?' He questioned curiously.

Karoku had explained the concept to him and Nai. He had warned that not all circus' were good. Some abused animals.

That made his blood boil in anger at the thought. He had been abused by his father and that was how he ended up with Karoku. Newt didnt even know if his older brother was alive. Any abuse made him feel murderous and ready to kill any abuser. Whether they abused humans or animals it didnt matter. Those that abused deserved a fate worse than death.

Hirato blinked in surprise. The coldness that had seeped over the man was gone. A laugh escaped Hirato and Newt cocked his head to the side.

Hirato replied with a shake of his head, "No child. I am part of the National Defense Group. The group is officially called Circus to make the civilians feel better. We protect the world from creatures that you will probably never see. What about my id bracelet interests you?"

'Karoku had one,' he signed, 'Nai has it now. Do you know where Karoku is?'

Hirato shook his head as he said, "Currently there is no one with the name Karoku in Circus. To check our complete records I would need to be on the airship. Come with me and we will see if we cant find your friend."

Newt shook his head fear clear in the green eyes. No, he wouldn't be going anywhere with this man. Not without Nai.

Newt's magic reacted to his emotions and Hirato was thrown away from his. The man's head cracked loudly against the far wall. Newt didnt even wait to see what happened.