Chapter 2:

Dio paused before the stairs, considering his next course of action carefully.

Option 1: He could barge in there, take Aya by the wrist, and demand her to run away with him and stop her experiments at once. He could tell her how worried her mother is, possibly guilt her into quitting her disturbing hobby, and use her father as an example of her future, scaring her into doing what he wanted.

Option 1 may result in bodily harm or her refusal to cooperate. Dio winced, remembering Alfred's punishments when something went wrong.

And, as always, there was Option 2.

He just wasn't sure what that was yet.

Shaking his head, he decided to just go with it. He was usually a man of thought, not of action, but action may be the only appropriate approach to this.

Dusting off his clothing, he mentally did a check list to make sure he was presentable. Before coming, he'd bandaged his missing eye once more, as well as got a good look at himself for the first time in years. Before, he'd been a boy—a mere teenager. Now, however, he seemed to have the body of a young man. He wondered if Monika gave him this body as a gift. Maybe not. He'd think that she'd at least replace his eye if she were doing him any sort of favors. So his growth was a mystery. Besides tending to his wound, he'd changed clothes and even brushed his hair. Remove the gruesome injury, and he would call himself handsome.

Figuring he looked well enough, he stepped up the wooden stairs. They creaked under his weight, though they did not seem old, and he was by no means heavy. Must be worn. He figured a lot of people must have walked up these same stairs to never come back down.

Shuddering, he wondered how Aya was now. Such an innocent little girl she had been. And now, well... she had to be a young woman at the very least. But he wasn't too worried about her appearance. It was her mind, her soul, that he was really scared for.

Not letting himself think about it (become a man of action, he told himself), he knocked on the door leading to the quaint little cottage. It was a lovely place, to be sure, but he already knew the horrors that lay beyond the door.

He internally prepared himself for whatever was to come next as the door seemed to open in slow motion. When the action was completed, a woman stood before him.

She was beautiful. Absolutely stunning, to be quiet honest. Short, black hair framed a pixie face, heavy bangs falling over her forehead. Big, blue, soulful eyes stared up at him in amazement, a pert nose resting beneath. South of that was a mouth with full lip that were pursed in confusion.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Dio wondered what it would feel like to have lips—those lips—against his own.

"It's... you," she finally spoke, and Dio finally realized that this gorgeous woman was, in fact, the little girl he used to know. It was Aya. Well, she certainly didn't look deranged.

Maybe she was better off than Monika let on.

At least he could hope.

–

Aya was, to say the least, completely shell-shocked.

When she heard the knocking at the door, she figured it'd be another poor patient, begging her to be examined for whatever illness they may have. And she'd fix them right up, so that they'd never be sick again. That was her job. That was what she did.

What she did not expect was this boy.

Well, he was more of a man now, accurately. He couldn't be too much older than herself at eighteen. She could recognize him anywhere, even without that horrid mark on his face. She'd promised to never forget him, and she intended to keep it.

But... he wasn't supposed to be here.

Her past wasn't supposed to have any impact on her future. She was her own person. Yes, maybe she looked like her mother and practiced the same things as her father, but that was of her own accord. She allowed nothing to influence her physically. That book had become her future, and she was content with keeping it and Maria and Snowball as the only remnants of that time.

And this man would ruin anything.

She entertained the idea of slamming the door in his face, but she wasn't that rude. She'd been raised properly to be a good lady, and she'd be damned if she let something as little as the feeling of surprise ruin that.

He smiled at her then, but she could tell it was forced. She recognized forced smiles, she was a master at them.

"Yes, it's me. It's been a long time, Aya," he said. His voice had deepened, she noticed. He even sounded the part of an adult now.

She had to remind herself she was an adult, too.

"Um," she started lamely. "Would you like to come in? Maria—you remember her, right? Of course you do. Maria's making dinner. I'm sure she'll be... happy to see you, too." She stepped aside and motioned for him to step inside.

He did so, and they stood there for a moment in the entryway, taking in the past. Aya's mind was going a mile a minute. This couldn't be happening. Nothing could interrupt her studies. She needed to get rid of him and—

"Are you alright?"

Her head shot up so fast her neck cracked and she winced at the sound. The blonde man was looking at her in concern, so she shot him an easy grin. "I'm fine. Just... reminiscing."

He frowned then. "I'm sorry. I'm sure my sudden appearance must be rather stressful, but it's of the most importance, I assure you."

Aya waved him off with her hand. "Oh, no, don't worry about that," she stated. "You were just an unexpected guest. But Maria and I will be happy to have you." No, they wouldn't. "Make yourself at home." Leave as soon as possible, please.

His frown disappeared, replaced with a grateful smile. "Thank you."

She nodded at him, and then looked at her feet. "You know," she mentioned, "I never caught your name before." That was true and she was curious. He asked her to never forget him and he never even told her what he was called.

He chuckled. "How rude of me." She smiled. "To be honest, I don't remember what my name was beyond..." he paused, checking her reaction. "Beyond being taken away," he finally settled on. "But now everyone just calls me Dio."

"Like the god of wine?" she asked, and he shrugged. She supposed he wasn't much interested in Mythology, unlike her. Everything interested her.

"Mistress?" came from the kitchen. Both people in the entryway looked up as Maria entered the room. She was well into her thirties by now, but still as lovely as ever. Her green eyes widened when she saw Dio, a look of fear gracing her pretty features. "What's going on?"

"Maria, you must remember Dio," Aya said, placating. "He's going to be staying here for a while, I suppose."

Oh, Aya certainly hoped not.

–

A/n: Introductions! Yay! This story is on an official roll.

Reviews are much appreciated. The more reviews, the more chapters, guys!