Luzé was losing his mind.

He should have been focusing on how to infiltrate the Giou's barrier, but his mind kept on straying to a certain brunette's foolish smiling face.

Her smile was always on his mind these days. He'd stayed by her side as she slept making sure that she was truly alright. He chose to stay on the porch on the other side of the paper sliding door gazing at the blooming buds in her backyard garden. She was way too trusting allowing him to stay near her when he was Duras. Most humans would have known at a glance that he wasn't of this world yet she always ignored his warnings.

When she woke up at five in the morning, he could hear her footsteps as she stepped into thte washroom to brush her teeth and go through her daily morning routine. Waiting for her to finish, he could hear how familiar she was with her routine, it was almost pleasant just waiting with no expectations required from him. Everything in her home was so gentle to the colours of her room and her furniture. As he heard her footsteps get closer, the door slid open revealing a happy brunette in a long dress that fell right above her knees and a striped cardigan she seemed perfectly fine smiling in that affectionate and contagious smile of hers.

Saying into his mind Good morning, Luzé.

She gently touched his shoulder, but remained standing up. Luzé on the other hand was sitting down. Still he muttered. "Morning"

She smiled extending her hand towards him. Shall we have breakfast?

Luzé stared at her extended hand noticing that there was a small mole on the side of her index finger. He'd never noticed before. It was a first to have someone reach out to him. Slowly he grabbed her hand allowing the small woman to pull him up with both arms. It was almost funny watching her put so much effort into pulling him upright.

He also noticed the way she didn't let go of his hand until they reached the table. She sat on one side while he sat across from her. She had once again placed her hair in a loose bun with a pencil stuck into it. She clapped her hands and said mentally Thank you for the food. before pulling out her chopsticks to start eating. Luzé did the same, but he was still unsure on how to use chopsticks.

She silently handed him a spoon to use instead as she continued to eat her rice.

The breakfast was quiet and comfortable. It was strange to think he could take his time rather than rush to kill another enemy at every available moment. It was too peaceful.

She was too peaceful if he thought about it.

She didn't seem to notice his staring as she focused her gaze on something beyond the window. Her blue green eyes blinked once as her smile became motherly as if she was having a conversation with someone he couldn't see.

Hai hai I'll come water everyone soon. Here.

She lifted her chopsticks with a piece of fish and rice between them and then he watched as she lifted her chopsticks to near the ground and the food disappeared.

"Where did it go?" He asked shocked.

Hana smiled thoughtfully.

Spirits tend to wander around here. Sometimes they have a physical form.

But usually that means they will be reborn soon.

"You can see spirits." He wasn't sure if he should believe her or not. After all it sounded rather bogus, but he knew.

He knew that Hana wasn't a liar.

Hana nodded in confirmation with a gentle smile that seemed to hold a deeper meaning as if there was more than she was letting on. She was too mature for her age honestly speaking.

Hai. I can. All my life, they've gravitated to my home waiting to be reborn. Hana's gaze focused to her garden wistfully. Although there are some that stay by my side. Never to be reborn. They are always watching over the others. Ah but they don't come all the time. It's just once in a while.

Hana tried to reassure the older man.

"You're not bothered. That you can see the paranormal."

She shook her head and smiled kindly at the space next to her. They too were once human. What is there to fear?

Whether they are human or not. We all wish to love and be loved in return. Is that not the same for you?

She commented with a secretive smile and a knowing look in her blue green eyes.

Luzé could feel that her gaze was sending a double meaning to him. But he wasn't sure if it was aimed at him or the spot next to him.

They continued to eat in comfortable silence, but Hana noticed that Luzé seemed to be staring hard at his unused chopsticks with a hard stare. It was a little endearing, but she had a feeling Luzé would get mad if she said that.

When Hana finished eating she chose to stand up and collect her bowl and utensils to be washed. She also took Luzé's bowl and spoon, but she noticed the chopsticks were missing.

She first placed the dirty dishes in the sink before anything else and started cleaning. She noticed by then that Luzé was staring at her soapy hands with curiosity. She didn't mind his staring as she kept washing until they were squeaky clean.

Next all she had to do was water the flowers and trees. Wiping her hands on her apron, she stepped outside to turn on the hose to give the flowers a light shower before she went to visit the children.

The sun was shining brightly today that it made her smile.

It was almost like the pain from yesterday didn't happen. She couldn't recall what had caused her to pass out like that though.

She wondered if it had something to do with Luzé.

As she finished watering the rest of the flowers she began weaving her way through saying her good mornings.

Good morning everyone. She said.

As she had come to expect, the trees, the flowers and the animals murmured in all kinds of voices.

Good morning Hana.

She laughed a little at the unison of voices.

How could she not be happy with all of them here?

I'm sorry I can't stay for very long. I need to go to school, then the grocery store and then the flower shop. hmm… oh and the bookstore. I'll be back as soon as I can though.

A shimmering faint hand patted Hana's head with motherly love.

It's fine. Have a good day. A new voice whispered into Hana's head.

Hana nodded unable to go against her. I'm off then.

Luzé who had been quietly observing Hana was more than ready to leave if only to watch her from a distance.

Knowing the Zweilt, they might attack her just because he was near her. He couldn't take that chance. Especially if Elegy ever found out of his fascination with her.

Hana would be in danger because of him.

Blinking Hana had somehow snuck up towards him with a questioning gaze in her eyes. She wanted to know if there was something bothering him. Even without saying a word to him, somehow he could tell that was what she wanted to ask him.

He shook his head.

"I'm fine. You need to leave soon."

She pouted but nodded with an endearing smile. She walked past him to grab her bag and in her walk she had unconsciously grabbed his hand dragging him along with her.

With a tug she guided him to the door and closed it. He noticed that she didn't lock the door like what he'd seen humans normally do. Wasn't that a little careless? he wanted to ask, but it would be showing weakness.

Luzé She started.

"What?" He answered.

She tilted her head upwards and murmured into his head. Would you mind coming to the bookstore with me?

"Bookstore?" He asked. He'd never been to one.

She nodded waiting for his answer as they walked towards school. Luzé felt the itch to grab his sword with the thought of all those Zweilt in one place. After all they were his enemy, but Hana was not. She was not a part of it all.

If she were to die because of their fight…

He didn't even dare think about it.

Just as he was imagining that scenario he felt a soft squeeze on his hand.

He looked down noticing that she was trying to reassure him even though she probably couldn't read his mind.

He squeezed back telling her that he was fine. "I'll go"

She smiled again this time with relief and continued to walk to school. Then shall we meet at the park then?

"Alright"

They continued walking side by side to school, in comfortable silence with only the swaying of tree branches filling the silence. The walk only lasted ten minutes but it felt like a long time to Luzé.

He was reluctant to let her go, but she waved goodbye and once again gave him a rose. Again, but this time the rose was a deep shade of red.

In her hands she was holding two clothed containers both with a flowery print that adorned her name on them.

She held out a clothed container to the older male with a smile not uttering a word.

He stared for at least a good solid minute before he muttered his guess at what was the blue container. "Is this… for me?"

She nodded I thought you might be hungry during the day. If there is anything you like in particular, please let me know. Oh! And perhaps would you like to stay for dinner?

Luzé knew he shouldn't stay and linger. Reiga might suspect his movements and decide to eliminate her if he so choose. After all, he was the one who held the contract between them. He could order Luzé to kill her and he wouldn't be able to disobey him.

"I… can't." He mustered.

She must have seen the hesitation in his eyes because she merely nodded in understanding. Then next time, please tell me your favourite dishes and I'll do my best to make them. Okay?

He nodded mutely unable to say no.

Then it's a promise.

She held out her pinky waiting for him to pinky promise with her. He just stared at her held out pinky with confusion.

Noticing his unnatural pause she asked. Have you never made a pinky promise?

That confused Luzé even more. Really human customs were all so strange.

It's a song I sing with the twins whenever we make promises. You just intertwine your pinky with mine.

Slowly he raised his gloved hand still unsure of this custom and twined his pinky with hers gently.

yubikiri genman, uso tsuitara hari senbon nomasu, yubi katta

(*It means Pinky promise, if I lie, I will drink 1000 needles, and cut my pinky.)

She smiled with cheeks flushed

She tugged on his sleeve for him to bend down a bit in which he complied not sure what she wanted.

He bent down to her eye level observing what her next action would be. Quickly, she leaned her head towards him and the next thing he knew he felt a pair of warm lips touch his cheek in a quick kiss. He froze at the action not sure of what just happened, but just as quickly, Hana pulled back and smiled flushed a shade of pink.

Have a nice day, Luzé.

Luzé let go of their pinkies watching as she walked away with a wave towards him.

Luzé was the first to untwine their fingers finding human customs a little strange. Did he really have to drink a thousand needles and cut his pinky if he broke his promise?

But really she was so unexpected. The kiss on his cheek lingers with a warm feeling making his heart beat a tad faster.

He almost found it funny how easily she could change his mood. He cracked a small smile under the shade of his hat as he watched her walk through the school gates.

There were still so many difficulties especially with the war still going. He had a task to fulfill. He almost sighed.

With that he was once again left alone to watch from afar and to search for a way to destroy the Zweilts.

Hana was tending to the flowers in the garden at the high school when she felt a presence from beyond the school grounds.

"I thought I'd find you here." Tsukumo called out to her noticing her from a mile away. She was probably the only one who tended to the flowers so earnestly. She was pruning the flowers with a pair of gardening scissors diligently working when she heard his voice.

Hana turned wondering and smiled. She placed a finger to her lips pointing to something on the ground.

Tsukumo bent down and noticed two blue heads of hair.

There were two children sleeping soundly under the large cherry blossom tree. They couldn't have been more than six years old just by looking at their small size. But there was something inhuman about the two children. They were too pretty to be human.

"They're not yours are they?" He asked innocently. She looked too young to be a mother truthfully. The twins had an abnormal hair colour, a deep shade of sapphire blue.

She smiled knowingly. No, but they were left in my care since they were born by my elder brother.

"Where is your brother now?"

She smiled sadly. I don't know.

"I'm sorry"

Don't be. It was a while ago. I just wish they would rely on me a bit more, but they never stay for very long.

The way Hana looked at them was affectionate and… motherly. Almost as if they were her own.

"Do you like children?"

She smiled and laughed silently. I do, but they always grow up so fast. It's a little lonely when they're all grown up.

"You sound as if you talk from experience."

She blinked thoughtfully and smiled wistfully at the silver haired boy.

Maybe.

"You don't act like you're sixteen."

She merely smiled unaware of her own behaviour.

To normal students, it was strange watching Tsukumo having a one sided conversation. Yuki was one of those students. He watched as Tsukomo conversed with the brunette. Yuki couldn't see who exactly Tsukumo was talking with but he noticed that the girl wasn't wearing the school uniform.

Tsukumo didn't seem at all bothered by her lack of response but they seemed to be having fun.

She pulled out a small yellow rose and stuck it in Tsukumo's hair. For you.

Tsukumo blinked in surprise. "What is this for?"

Hana smiled tilting her head to the side. We're friends right? Consider it a token of our friendship.

Tsukumo smiled in return. "Arigatou. I'll treasure it."

Now that he thought about it...

"I've heard that every flower has its own meaning."

She nodded Hai every flower, their colours even the number of them. Each have their own meanings.

"What do yellow roses mean then?" Tsukumo asked curious.

She hugged the yellow bouquet closer to her heart.

She smiled thoughtfully tilting her head to the side. She plopped herself down on the grass making herself comfortable.

Yellow roses have quite a few meanings depending on what you wish to convey. Sometimes they convey joy and friendship. Sometimes they mean gladness or delight. Sometimes they mean a promise of a new beginning, some people use these flowers to convey 'welcome home' to a loved one or 'remember me.'

However sometimes people use these flowers to represent their jealousy.

Tsukumo blinked. He didn't think a rose had so many meanings behind it.

Tsukumo noticed how Hana's eyes seem to glaze over as if being reminded of the past.

"Do you give flowers away often?"

Her blue-green eyes widened at his question and then the heat crept into her cheeks. She smiled brightly in happiness.

Hai, beauty is meant to be shared. It would be a shame if they were not acknowledged.

"Do you give them to anyone special?"

It's a secret. She responded with a smile lightly flicking his forehead. Sometimes it's the flower that picks their receiver.

Tsukumo nodded understanding, but there was one thing bothering him.

Hana had stopped pruning and had now moved to sit across from Tsukumo staring into the distance. Whenever she returned to school, he'd always find her among flowers, or empty classrooms sleeping curled up like a cat. Not once had he seen her with any of her classmates.

"Why are you always alone?" He abruptly asked

Her eyes widened at the sudden question. Tsukumo frowned at her strangely antisocial nature. She was truly kind, but there was somehow a line she didn't allow people to cross. He'd never seen her interacting with any of the other students outside of him at lunch. Even gardening was done only by her. He'd hadn't heard anything from Yuki or Hotsuma that she was even attending classes properly.

She smiled innocently not understanding the question.

I'm never alone though?

She didn't actually understand his question. She'd never been alone. She was content with her current life. She could grow as many flowers as she wanted, she was allowed to choose her lifestyle. What was there to be sad about?

"You're not lonely?"

Are you? She asked back with a teasing smile. Humans are born alone. But their interactions create bonds that are unforgettable.

"No. I have my sister and Yuki, Luka, Kuroto, Shuusei, Hotsuma, Lia and but who do you have?"

She blinked and merely smiled. The question is who did I have?

Life is short sadly, but that's what makes a flower so beautiful, that's what makes a human life worth living. It will never experience the same life as another. They are all unique even if you can't tell the difference.

Tsukumo found that rather sad. She was indicating indirectly that she had lost people.

She didn't have anyone. She was alone. She may have had animals or flowers but they weren't people.

There was no one to take care of her. Tsukumo realized.

Truth be told, he didn't even know someone like her existed in this school to begin with.

Come to think of it...

It had only been a short while yet teachers claimed she'd been here the whole time.

Was she even real?

Tsukumo could feel the unease creep into his heart looking at this timeless beauty.

"You weren't here in the beginning."

She blinked and then smiled once again realizing what he wanted to know.

You're right. It's only just recently I've returned to school. I was taking care of some children while I was away.

Hana pulled out her phone showing him her screen saver. Tsukumo leaned over to see the image noticing that she was seated on the grass with the dark haired twins and four other children. There was one he recognized in the files regarding that particular case. She was the little girl that had been under the influence of a Duras where Shuusei, Hotsuma, Yuki and Luka were involved in. It was just before Yuki joined the Zweilt.

Hana smiled a little remembering their happy faces. She pointed to that child on the screen.

It seems like her parents were abusing her due to their bad relationship. I had custody over her until further notice.

Strange though… apparently she met a person called Yuki and Hotsuma at the hospital when she was put into my care. Perhaps they're your friends?

Her eyes asked her silent question with wonder.

"Yeah… they are. Did you see anything strange?"

She blinked and then clapped once in remembrance.

There was only one thing really… That large dragon that came from the sky. Is that perhaps a real creature? The dragon was really beautiful. I wonder where it went afterwards?

It hadn't bothered her then because she was used to children being put into her care for a while. Her nephews were the same way. Having lost their father. But when she had been taking her usual walk outside to stop by the grocery store she looked up and there she saw a blast coming from the park near the hospital.

She hadn't known what to make of it at the time, but no one seemed to notice the dragon except herself. If she recalled correctly she had walked past a boy who had a beautiful face with brown hair parted to the right and golden eyes. He seemed rather fragile and holding within him some kind of burden she couldn't pinpoint at the time.

Hana hadn't really paid much attention to that incident except…

She had a feeling it related to her somehow, but she couldn't pinpoint exactly what. She just knew that she felt lonely somehow. Almost as if there was something she should have remembered.

"You could see that?" That was impossible for just a normal civilian. Tsukumo was a little worried now. To be able to see through Shuusei's barrier, that wasn't normal.

Hana nodded thoughtfully. Does that have to do with those creatures I see now and then?

Tsukumo couldn't help the widening of his eyes at her question. She could see the Duras. He was absolutely sure now that she wasn't a normal human.

"Do you want to know the truth?"

She noticed the sad tint in his eyes as if being reminded of some tragedy. It was the same look she saw in Luzé's, but only for a moment.

Is it a secret or a surprise?

Tsukumo looked confused at her question in which she silently chuckled.

A secret is a truth not meant to be told, a surprise is a truth that is meant to be revealed.

Tsukumo thought about it for a moment and replied. "I think both?"

She smiled in return in acceptance and reached out to Tsukumo cupping both sides of his face.

Then it can wait until he's ready to tell me his side of the story.

Her hands felt warm on his cheeks. It was a motherly gesture for someone so young.

"Do you mean Luzé?"

She smiled a different type of smile that held a special affection for the duras, Tsukumo thought, but she didn't answer.

She let go of his face and started to get up. She had to clean up the gardening tools before getting ready to make her routinely visits. Before that she crouched down to place a pair of bentos next to the twins still asleep beneath the tree.

She looked up to the tree and communicated telepathically. Please watch over them until they wake up.

We understand. The trees and flowers responded in unison.

She smiled grateful for their understanding watching as their souls take human shape of those who had died.

Thank you.

The human spirits nodded and returned inside the plants.

She turned her head noticing that Tsukumo was watching her. He was watching, but he didn't understand what she had been doing.

That was the difference between her and him. He could not see nor hear the spirits that resided in some of the plants and trees.

There were times she had a hard time differentiating between human voices, animals and even plants.

"Come eat lunch with us. I'm sure everyone would like to meet you."

She blinked surprised at the invitation. It was the first time since she entered this school that someone had invited her. But her body felt heavy all of a sudden, and for a moment she saw dark spots in her vision.

She smiled, but shook her head. Maybe another time. I'm not feeling too well.

Tsukumo frowned in return. "Are you alright? Do you need the infirmary?"

She pulled out her notebook this time writing her words. No, just a little sluggish. I'll be fine if I bask in the sun.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded gesturing that he shouldn't worry. You should go eat with your friends, I'm sure they'll be worried if you don't go.

Tsukumo tilted his head unsure. "I'll help you clean up at least."

She exhaled slowly attempting to stop the blood from rushing to her head as she managed a half smile. That would be nice. Thank you Tsukumo-kun.

But as she stood up to get her things, she felt a cold chill go down her spine at the gaze watching her from afar.

Even though it was still spring, somehow it felt like winter was getting closer.

Tooko, Kuroto, and the gang were still waiting on Tsukumo to arrive.

"Tsukumo is late." Tooko pouted.

"It's only been ten minutes," Kuroto said not in the least bit worried.

"Maybe Tsukumo got a girlfriend." Hotsuma added insensitively.

"Don't be rude, Hotsuma." Lia reprimanded.

However when Hotsuma turned his head he lifted an eyebrow as he pointed with his chopsticks. "Then who's the chick with him right now?"

Tsukumo was indeed walking with a girl next to him with brown hair and pale skin.

"No way, WHERE?" Lia asked excitedly searching in the direction Hotsuma was pointing.

Tooko looked and broke into a smile.

"Ah that's Hanae-san." Tooko recognized those blue green eyes anywhere. "She works at that flower shop nearby."

"Flower shop, you mean the one with no name on the signboard?" Kuroto asked remembering such a place.

"Mmhm" Tooko replied "Do you know it?"

"Rather than know it…" Kuroto left hanging. As the two approached the group, Kuroto narrowed his eyes at the suspicious woman coming closer to them.

"Does anyone know who that girl is?"

As the girl got closer he realized there was something oddly familiar about her. The way she walked reminded him strangely of Yuki, gentle and smooth like the wind.

Even though Kuroto did not recognize her, she seemed to. Her eyes lit up in recognition at the sight of Kuroto. There was understanding and something that lied much deeper in those blue green irises. The girl stopped walking at the sight of Kuroto, she smiled gently with a nod.

She lifted a hand and tugged on Tsukumo's sleeve forcing Tsukumo to look at her.

From the eyes of the other Zweilt it seemed like Hanae and Tsukumo were having a conversation with their eyes as he nodded and she smiled they parted ways with her leaving the school grounds and Tsukumo heading towards the other Zweilt.

"Tooko, Kuroto, everyone… why are you looking at me like that?" Tsukumo asked.

"I didn't know you knew Hanae, Tsukumo." Tooko noted a littler disappointed.

Tsukumo tilted his head. "Her name is Hanae?"

Tooko's mouth hung in disbelief at her younger brother's question.

"You didn't know!?"

"No, it's just that the other animals call her Hana."

This unnerved Tooko a great deal considering Hanae- no Hana did not correct her when they met at her flower shop. Did that mean that she didn't trust them?

"Why would she lie about her name?"

Tsukumo shrugged not that worried. Maybe because it was his Ears Of God, but he felt like she hadn't been lying about her name being Hanae.

Kuroto watched at these two siblings talk about this girl. A girl that had nothing to do with them. Truth be told he still didn't understand women in general.

That girl however gave him a strange feeling that they had met somewhere before.

The way she walked did not match her age. She walked too gracefully, too perfectly.

At that moment, she tripped over air falling flat on her face.

He took that back. She was clumsy as hell.

Tsukumo chuckled "Well that's just Hana."

The Zweilt watched as she got back on her feet smiling sheepishly holding her nose. In that moment though, Kuroto saw something that shouldn't have happened.

Her shadow separated from her feet shimmering on its own without her. In that moment, that girl disappeared. No, it was more like she became transparent when her shadow separated from her. In that instant she almost appeared ghost-like and then she turned back to normal.

"Did you invite her to lunch?"

"Mmhmm. But she said she wasn't feeling well today."

Tooko frowned "That's not good."

"But it was strange," Tsukumo murmured to the bird on his shoulder. "She didn't look well, but there's something physically wrong with her."

He hadn't asked Hana, but it was rather unnerving. Watching her walk away like that.

Kuroto was also unnerved, the sense of nostalgia that flowed throughout his body. It was strange enough that it made him cold. Unnatural. That's what it was. It was unnatural

Hotsuma seemed to take Kuroto's interest for something. "What? You got the hots for her?"

"DON'T BE RIDICULOUS." Kuroto loudly denied. "She just reminds me of someone."

"Oh really." Hotsuma said with a smirk not believing him.

"There's something different about her."

It made him recall a memory he had of Grandpa Garan. Those flowers that girl held in her hands.

"Remember Kuroto, there are beings much different from us."

Kuroto still only eight years old tilted his head. "I know, Duras are different from us."

"No Kuroto, not duras nor are they human. Someone that can only be seen in certain circumstances. When you meet her please don't begrudge her."

Kuroto at the time did not understand Garan's words. "Why would I do that?"

Garan smiled knowingly almost sadly. "She too holds a deep sadness, surrounded by flowers that do not exist. Always, always watching over us."

"She is-"

In the corner of his eye he noticed a woman he'd never seen before holding a bouquet of blue chrysanthemums in the garden in the backyard. No one seemed to notice the stranger even though she was definitely not one of the Zweilt. Not to mention her hair was such a strange shade, a very pale shade of lavender dressed in a white dress.

Kuroto turned his head watching as the lady pull out a chrysanthemum and place it next to the tree. She turned her head slightly feeling someone's gaze on her and her eyes widened surprised someone could see her. She smiled gently placing a finger to her lips indicating for him to keep her appearance a secret.

Just like a ghost she disappeared without a word or evidence that she'd ever come in the first place.

"Kuroto"

"KUROTO" Someone yelled into Kuroto's ear causing the teen to stagger a bit.

"What." Kuroto asked a little pissed.

"You look like you were off in another world." Tooko commented sitting down.

"I was just remembering something weird. It's nothing." Kuroto muttered but he was still suspicious of that girl.

That woman in his memories… if he recalled it correctly.

Hana and that woman, they had the same blue green eyes.

It couldn't be just a coincidence. But if that were true...

Then that girl Hana…

Was she really human?

Before going to class she went to go find the twins hoping they had at least eaten.

She rounded the corner, sensing their presence nearby. Seeing Tsukumo's friends from afar had struck a cord with her.

It reminded her that she did not have those type of relationships. Friends she could rely on. People who would stay by her side no matter what. If she did, she no longer remembered them.

Sometimes she had to wonder if she was really the age she appeared to be.

Even though in her heart she already knew the truth.

She turned a corner hearing the sounds of the twins speaking to someone in loud tones.

"AH! You're that mister that visits Kaa-san." Aoi the older twin said.

"Aoi! That's rude of you." Aki the younger one reprimanded while holding his twin's hand. They were rather short for their age being about seven years old. But they had spirit. They were the happiest kids she'd ever seen.

"But it's true! He keeps coming even when she's not here." Aoi complained. "We never get to play with her."

Aoi plumped down on the ground pouting. "It's not fair. We never get to see her."

Aki smiled sheepishly at the older male. Luzé noticed for the first time, the younger twin had Hana's eyes. The younger twin shyly said. "Ano I'm sorry, it's just that we never get to see Kaa-san anymore because she has school and work."

Luzé was surprised at how maturely the younger one spoke. Height wise, they only reached up to his knees. It required the younger twin to crane his neck to meet his eyes.

When the twins had approached him he'd still been carrying the boxlike container Hana had given to him along with the fork and the chopsticks he'd secretly taken. No matter what, it still bothered him greatly at how difficult they were to use.

But there was one thing that bothered the Duras when the twins spoke.

"Who is Kaa-san?"

At that, both siblings blinked their blue green eyes and turned to look at each other and then to Luzé with confusion.

"Mister, don't you have a Okaa-san?"

"Okaa-san means mother in English." Aki added.

Now it was Luzé's turn to blink. "Are you her children?" It didn't make sense considering Hana had once told him that the twins were her elder brother's children… Unless, Hana's family took on the tradition of only breeding within the family.

"MmMm" The younger one shook his head. "Daddy disappeared, but Hana has always been taking care of us."

"We don't know where our real mom is." Aoi shrugged. "She never came to see us."

"What about your Okaa-san?" Aoi asked.

"…" Luzé tried to recall his own childhood. Luka and he were separated at an early age, so to see these two so close it made him re-evaluate his own relationship with his older brother.

His mom had never been around. At a young age, he could only recall orders barked by adults, kill or be killed. Bloodshed, screams, swords, violence. That's all he could remember. There was no such thing as a happy childhood in Infernus.

"She doesn't care for us."

"You have a brother?"

"'… No, I can never call him my brother." Luzé said in a low threatening tone clenching his fist being reminded of Luka's betrayal to the Demon King.

Aoi frowned sadly at the older man's tormented expression. Somehow the child wanted to change the subject, but didn't know how.

Luckily, Aoi, the older one, was already distracted at Luzé who was still awkwardly holding chopsticks in his right hand.

"Ah! Are you trying to hold chopsticks?" Aoi pointed. "That's not how you hold them."

"What kind of man doesn't know how to hold chopsticks?"

"Be nice Aoi. I don't think he's from here." Aki said holding onto the hem of Aoi's shirt.

Animated Aoi motioned with his fingers. "This is how you need to hold chopsticks."

Bending down to the child's level, Luzé imitated the child's hand posture with little luck.

"No, no" Aoi shook his head taking the older man's gloved hand and using his smaller hands put Luzé's hand in the right position. "Like this."

Hana watched as the twins readily helped Luzé to his chopsticks overcoming Luzé stoic nature so easily. Luzé was now sitting on the grass with the twins with a concentrated look in his violet eyes.

After ten minutes, Luzé attempted once more to pick up a piece of rice from the bento and this time it came out successfully.

Aoi and Aki brightened up excited. "Yaaay! You did it mister!"

Aki this time was the one to jump onto Luzé hugging him with a big squeeze.

"But why is there a spoon and fork if you have chopsticks?" Aoi asked.

Luzé didn't give an explanation. There was no way he could tell these two kids that he had secretly taken them to practice using them to show Hana later.

To shut up the kid he held out the chopsticks with the rice to the kid's mouth in which Aoi automatically opened his mouth and ate the piece of rice.

"Mmm" Aoi chewed in bliss at Hana's cooking. "Delicious."

Luzé noticed Aki staring at him and the chopsticks in his hand. Slowly, he picked up another piece of food and lifting it towards the younger twin. Aki's blue green eyes lit up and he happily ate the food.

To stop from falling Aki repositioned himself on Luzé lap while Aoi sat next to him on the grass opening his mouth again for more food.

Luzé was reminded of feeling baby birds the way the twins were acting.

Like clockwork Luzé found himself feeding the twins and then himself food.

She laughed silently at how easily Luzé got along with them. It looked like she really had nothing to worry about at all. She'd been hidden by the trees watching from afar.

She figured it was time to head back to school to eat her own lunch since the trio didn't look to be troubled. She'd have to make a bigger dinner for everyone.

But as she turned her head, she found herself hitting someone's chest with a thud causing her to fall backwards.

However, the other person was quicker grabbing hold of her hand before she could fall. The person's other hand covered her mouth whispering "Quiet, or he'll hear you." Then she was being dragged away by someone farther away from Luzé.

Out of surprise she dropped the bento in her hand with a loud crash and just like that her vision darkened.

Luzé looked up from the children and scanned his surroundings for any attackers.

There were none.

But on the floor there was something pink that had had been turned over. The twins that were sitting in front of him watched as he stood up and walk towards the pink container on the ground.

The cloth the container was wrapped in was cover in rice but he recognized the embroidery done on it from this morning.

This container belonged to Hana.

His blood went cold at all the possible scenarios that went through his head.

It couldn't be… she was kidnapped?

He looked left and right seeing no one else in the park but him and the twins. There was no one else he could think of that would take Hana away like this. But there was a scent in the air that he knew well.

The scent of another Zweilt.

Luzé narrowed his eyes. He didn't think he'd have another fight so soon, but without a word to the twins he'd already set off to find the Zweilt that had taken her.

Happy New Years to everyone\(^_^)/.

It's been a while since I updated, but as a start to the new year I decided to post the latest chapter today. It's a bit longer than I usually post but at least I finished.

I might change some parts later but for now I'm leaving it as it is.

Review and comment on what you think.

And thanks for reading:)