By the time she opened her eyes, she had found herself in an entirely different area from the park she was just in.

The boy she recognized was one of the people Tsukumo hung out with. His name was...

A flash of a shoji tournament appeared in her head.

That's right. His name was Kuroto Hourai. But what was he doing here?

"Just what do you think you're doing going near a duras?" Kuroto hissed. He had no idea what was going on, but this was definitely strange. Normally Duras didn't leisurely hang around a park.

She looked up noticing golden green eyes looking at her with anger.

She didn't understand why he was so angry. Had she done something wrong?

She frowned tilting her head confused at his question.

"More importantly how do you know that guy?"

She listened to Kuroto's question, but she did not answer him. Because he had taken her away so suddenly she had dropped her notepad. And it didn't seem like he could hear her 'voice'.

"Well? No answer?"

A loud rumble interrupted his interrogation.

Hana blinked once in surprise before realizing the growl was coming from her stomach. Not to mention she wasn't the only one making sounds. She broke into a silent laughter considering their situation.

There was a pause that lasted a while as Kuroto froze almost embarrassed himself.

She was rather hungry considering she'd dropped her whole lunch when he'd taken her away.

"Shoot. I forgot it was lunch time I left my lunch at school."

Hana chuckled silently at his outburst. She shook her head trying to tell him that it was fine. As long as she knew the twins and Luzé were eating.

She tugged on Kuroto's sleeve trying to catch the boy's attention and succeeding at that.

"Yeah?"

She took his hand in both of hers with his palm face up. With her finger she began drawing patterns on his palm.

At first he thought she was just nervous, but that wasn't the case.

She was trying to communicate with him.

If you'd like my shop is nearby, I can prepare us a meal.

Unless you prefer store bought? She changed her question noticing the change in his expression. He was conflicted. That much she could tell from the way his eyebrows furrowed in uncertainty. She could feel the tension in his hand as he struggled to make a decision.

She didn't mind waiting for his answer. She met his eyes with a smile patiently awaiting his decision.

Eventually his expression smoothed over and he nodded.

"Sure."

She gave him a smile waving for him to follow her. It was lucky enough that somehow he'd brought her somewhere near her flower shop. The familiar smells of various flowers, plus the bakery a few stores away, this was home to her. Considering she'd been around for a while, longer than she'd like to admit, it was a given that it began to feel like home.

Even though they looked the same age, Kuroto had the sense that this girl was far older than her years appeared. He figured that's what most people felt towards her appearance. She didn't wear the school uniform like every other student, always in those long skirts and cardigans.

Except right now she was acting her age. She seemed to find everything exciting, in awe at everything around her. The plants around her seemed to respond to her enthusiasm. They were swaying from side to side almost as if they were sharing her excitement. The birds began chirping as well fuelling his suspicions.

She had a way of manipulating nature to her will.

Was this perhaps the reason why Tsukumo had taken an interest in her? Because he was like her? Able to hear what most could not?

Kuroto frowned, no there had to be more than that. In that youthful body lied a soul older than it appeared to most. There was no way she was merely sixteen.

He couldn't bring himself to trust this girl like Tsukumo could.

Hana was preoccupied listening to so many voices. They were getting closer to her shop. The souls of the deceased huddled in groups, but she noticed a lone spirit from the rest with its attention focused on Kuroto.

A man with long hair in what looked to be a tradition yukata. She gazed curious as to his connection to Kuroto, perhaps a friend? Or maybe something deeper than that?

It was hard to tell from afar.

Kuroto frowned not exactly sure what she was staring so intently at.

She noticed Kuroto watching her, and in return she broke into a small smile pointing to their destination. Her nameless flower shop.

Kuroto furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

"No name? Isn't that a little difficult for business?"

She shrugged not really that concerned regarding economic issues. She smiled helplessly opening the unlocked door welcoming Kuroto inside.

When he proceeded into the shop, he was welcomed by the soft and sweet scent of a bunch of flowers he didn't recognize. Strangely enough, the flowers swayed once as if to say hello.

Now looking around the shop it certainly didn't look like one at first glance. There were couches prepared with a coffee table in between. In fact the small store front didn't do the shop justice. It was much more roomier on the inside than he'd expected.

There was no cash register, but there was an opening to the back where he figured the kitchen probably was. There wasn't much decor, just the company of flowers, not even a TV. But there were books on the lower shelves. Although at a closer look they looked more like photo albums and diaries than books.

Hana turned around now gesturing for him to take a seat patting the couch with one hand as she walked towards the back. Somehow her actions seemed to indicate.

"Please make yourself comfortable."

Kuroto slowly made his way to the couch plopping himself on one side. As he took a look at his surroundings he noticed there was an opened photo album. Curious, he leaned forward to grab the photo album to get a closer look.

On the first page was a photo of her and two other children with mops of blue hair.

Their hair colours were exceptionally different and yet they looked so much like mother and child that it was almost unreal.

It looked to be a recent photo, with the scenery in the background saying otherwise.

All smiling with bright expressions, all with matching blue green eyes. It wouldn't be hard to assume they were mother and child.

It was a childhood he never had living in the main house. Always to be stamped as the Shinigami, the Death God. The photo below it depicted her once again except with a man with the same blue hair as the kids and another man with lavender hair. Both were taller than her in the picture but there was something different about her. In this photo she did not have blue green eyes. Her eyes were golden… just like the Zweilt. All three were smiling but there was something strangely familiar about the way she presented herself. Dressed in a kimono, if he looked closer it looked like she had a small bump around her stomach area. All three of them were smiling with happy expressions minus the lavender haired male.

Kuroto narrowed his eyes. Could she have been pregnant at the time? But then was one of the two men the father?

That couldn't be possible, she was still just a high school student and those kids in the photo looked to be already six years old.

Unless she wore contacts, that eye colour change wasn't possible.

He flipped to the next page, this time it showed a different scenery, an orphanage, it was a photo taken by an outsider. Hana was dressed in a kimono, and her eyes were undoubtedly blue green reflecting unshed tears as she held a child in her arms. Her hair was at the time much darker than how she wore it now, but no doubt it was her.

But the question was when was this photo taken?

He reached to pull the photo out of its plastic casing when Hana stepped out of the doorway holding a tray of food with determination not to fall flat on her face.

She smiled uneasily as she made her way towards him. He noticed right away that she had changed into something more formally casual if that were even possible. She adorned a green yukata with a cherry blossom pattern that trailed on the edges of the sleeves and skirt. Her hair was still tied loosely over one shoulder in a braid that was tied with a lavender ribbon.

Carefully she placed the tray onto the table before taking a seat herself across from him. Kuroto kept his eyes on her as he realized what word described her perfectly.

Ethereal beauty. That's what she had.

A beauty too fragile for this world.

She looked too gentle as if one word could break all of her resolve.

It wasn't wrong, considering he was almost one hundred percent certain she wasn't human.

She clasped her hands together in the gesture for saying thanks for the food in which he did the same.

Both of them picked up their chopsticks, him with his right and her with her left. They were having rice, with beef and carrots with a bowl of miso soup. There was a different side dish of mixed vegetables of broccoli and other leafy veggies.

They ate in silence, but with the first bite Kuroto had to pause.

"It's good."

Hana looked up and smiled happily. She picked up a piece of broccoli and placed it into his bowl urging him to eat more.

She then proceeded to hold up a piece of beef to his mouth.

Kuroto blushed turning his head to avoid her stare. She reminded him a lot of Senshiro with their motherly natures. Hana was chuckling silently still holding the meat towards him. He was so thin that it worried her. He definitely needed more protein in his diet.

Kuroto slowly turned his head seeing that she wasn't letting up until he ate it. Even their smiles were similar, that he couldn't help but relent to her request.

Slowly he opened his mouth eating the piece of meat from her chopsticks chewing slowly.

She smiled relieved enjoying the company even though she knew this boy had questions. From the way he was looking at the albums, he was most likely very confused about the strange timeline of the photos regarding her age.

Even those were a mystery to her. She knew fragments from what the flowers told her, but there were too many holes, too many gaps in her memory.

Strange though, for some reason she couldn't stomach as much food as usual. Perhaps she had an upset stomach? But no it was more like a lack of appetite.

And to think her stomach had been growling really loudly back there.

She settled for just watching Kuroto eat. His partner must be worried about him from what she remembered about Garan.

They continued to eat in the same silence until Kuroto finally said.

"You're… not human are you?"

Hana stopped to blink once before tilting her head awaiting the followup to his question.

"Garan…" he said "He said there was a person not a duras nor were they human, someone who could only be seen in certain circumstances."

She nodded urging him to continue, but he paused trying to make a sense of his own thoughts.

When he was a child, she was already an adult and yet here she was the same age as back then. But her hair colour had changed from lavender to brown.

And the most important change of all.

People could see her.

There were no circumstances required in order to see her.

Was that person really her?

"What are you if you are neither."

She shrugged staring at her own hand. She asked herself the same questions every day. But if she had to categorize herself...

A ghost.

She drew the characters for ghost on the table. If Kuroto noticed her hand, she wouldn't be able to tell.

Kuroto had noticed, but it made sense in a way. Why no one could see her that time. Why she had motioned for him to keep her secret. It all made sense.

But then for what reason did she stay here?

All of a sudden, they were interrupted by the ringing of a cellphone belonging to Kuroto. Kuroto picked up noticing the cell number.

"Senshiro?"

"KUROTO, Tooko chan told me you left school all of a sudden." Senshirou's voice sounded hysteric. "Where are you right now? Did you really hate the lunch I made you?"

"NO, you dolt. I just didn't think I would end up leaving the school. I think we're near the Mansion."

"Eh? How did you get so far from school?"

"We had a little run in with a duras." Kuroto murmured quietly.

"It wasn't Cadenza was it?!"

"No it was the other one."

"The one who looks like Luka?"

"Yeah, that one."

"Do you need me to meet up with you?"

"No, I don't think so, except there's someone I want you to meet. I need a second opinion."

"On what?"

"Whether this girl is in possession of a grimoire."

"Ehhh?! Who?"

"Apparently her name is Hana."

"Hana?"

Even if she wasn't a duras, there was still the possibility of being controlled by Luzé. He needed to make sure. She seemed fine, but he wasn't going to take chances. Kuroto kept his eyes on the brunette who seemed preoccupied by something across the street. Her eyes seem to be looking out to the distance as if she was reminiscing something. She was smiling to the birds and even some dogs had come to surround her store. But there was a spirit mixed in with them.

"Namae?"

Kuroto watched as she opened her mouth and uttered a word, but no sound came out. He didn't hear a thing.

However, the spirit could hear her voice perfectly clear.

Still he was blurry in her eyes, she couldn't make out his face exactly. But she knew that he had to be important to Kuroto for him to appear now.

Oboro.

For the first time in a while, she muttered in her own voice, a voice inaudible to the human ear. "Is there a message you want me to pass on?"

I doubt Kuroto will listen. But if you don't mind, tell him.

The spirit gazed at Kuroto with a smile.

Please be happy.

Hana blinked at this spirit's words. So she was right, he did know Kuroto. She smiled gently and nodded speaking once again "I'll keep that in mind."

The spirit seemed to chuckle and smile before saying.

You're quite strange, the only ones who can see us, are other spirits.

Her eyes widened at that statement. Somehow that sounded familiar to her. Another flash of another memory,

An image of her brother and her when they were children, around four years old. Their mother sitting by the porch watching the flowers. There were other children, her age, her brother trying to drag her to go play.

"Hana let's go and play with the other kids."

She could feel her brother's grip on her hand at the time. Warm, and familiar.

But one of the children frowned. "Haru who are you talking to?"

Her brother frowned in return at their confusion. "My sister, see she's right behind me."

He gestured to her lifting her arm for them to see, but still they shook their heads a little scared. "Haru,"

"There's nobody there."

Kuroto watched as her eyes grew distant as her lips parted into a knowing gentle smile that seem to be directed at a tree nearby. Why did she mouth out words if no sound came out? And then her expression grew fearful as if she was shown something horrific. Was she recalling something she was afraid of?

Still that expression only lasted for a bit before she smiled once again.

It was strange watching as she slightly bowed in respect to the street, before waving goodbye to it. It was strange that she spoke in a voiceless tone.

What could she see that he couldn't?

Hana turned her attention back to Kuroto.

There was something new in her eyes as if she waiting for the right moment. But Kuroto had better questions to ask.

He pointed to her in the photo "You haven't changed in years. Who are these people?" Could they be the duras?

She spelled out. my brothers.

"Younger?"

She shook her head. So they were both older than her.

But there was still an issue with that photo.

"Were you pregnant?"

She paused not sure how to answer. That was a photo she didn't understand, for one it exposed that she did not age like other humans. But that bulge in her stomach… she was definitely pregnant at the time. But she was stripped of that memory. In fact she wasn't even sure that was here. Yes there was a resemblance, but it wasn't much to back up on.

A dream that had slipped from her grasp. As far as she could remember, she didn't have a child. But what was this pain in her chest as she tried to remember? What was this sadness, that overwhelmed her? One that would bring her to tears.

The only two people who truly knew were her brothers, but they were nowhere to be found. The only ones left were the twins but they too were left in the dark. In truth she still had no idea who was the mother.

Kuroto tried a different angle. "How do you know Luzé?"

Wherever she went people kept asking her how did she know Luzé. She had a feeling there was something special about him something most people would be unaware of just like that person who looked like Luzé.

Hana flipped through the album until she reached a specific image. It wasn't a photograph like he had expected, instead it was a small water colour painting of a tree with many ribbons of different colours tied to its branches.

Strangely enough it looked similar to the tree at Izayoi. The hot springs had a tree similar except the ribbons were all red. It was a rather strange meeting place to find a duras. Why exactly didn't Luzé kill her or at the very least erase her memory? It didn't much sense, she was a liability that could expose too much yet he spared her life.

There wasn't actually anything remarkable about her from what he'd seen. It's just that her airheadedness reminded him a little of Yuki. They both had strong attachments to people and a gentleness that made the air seem more clear with them around. But he had to admit, there was something invisible about her presence as if she could disappear at any moment.

Hana sneakily lifted her chopsticks and popped another piece of food into Kuroto's mouth.

"Ommph!" He began chewing until he realized he wasn't the one who lifted his chopsticks.

It startled Kuroto enough that he flushed red in embarrassment. She laughed quietly at his reaction.

"Quit it! I can feed myself." Kuroto protested embarrassed for automatically opening his mouth to eat the meat.

She smiled affectionately as a mother would and lifted her chopsticks to his lips once again.

"I got it. I'll eat." He mumbled blushing not sure how else to react except to comply with her wishes.

Hana was enjoying the moment watching Kuroto act so bashful towards her. It was amusing in its own right. Kuroto continued to eat while she continued to sip her tea in silence gazing out the window. Kuroto continued to scan the photos and images in her albums. She wasn't sure what he was looking, but she hoped he could find the answer he was looking for.

She hoped that he could bring himself to find happiness. A shimmering figure of a familiar old man sat next to Kuroto making Hana smile.

Right? Garan-san.

Garan returned her smile patting Kuroto's head before vanishing.

The ability to talk to spirits, animals and plants and yet she could never speak to humans.

Sometimes she wondered what kind of existence she truly had.

Urgency, that was what Luzé was feeling. Someone had taken her away somewhere and he had no way of knowing who it was.

It could be either the Zweilt or one of the Duras. Either way the consequence wasn't great. If either knew of her association with him, he could already guess what kind of reaction he'd receive. Betrayal runs in your veins, Luzé, your clan betrayed the Duras siding with the humans and your brother fell in love with a human.

It always came back to that word. Betrayal.

Turning your back on those who believed in you.

"Please find Kuroto for me." A voice said around the corner.

Luzé recognized that voice from the fight with Cadenza. He was one of the Zweilt.

Senshiro still unaware of his presence had painted a bird to scour the skies to look for Kuroto. After he'd abruptly hung up on him, Senshiro tried calling back but he refused to answer the phone.

"Where could he have gone?" Senshirou murmured to himself.

He could hear footsteps coming towards him. "Kuroto where did you g-" Senshirou stopped as he realized who he was talking to. The same uniform the other duras adorned it was apparent who he was.

"What are you doing here Luzé-san?" Senshirou said cautious.

Luzé narrowed his eyes glaring at the Zweilt. He didn't have time to be fighting with them. He needed to make sure that she was alright. With how clumsy she was it wouldn't do if she got hurt.

He should be attacking the Zweilt, considering they were Reiga's orders. Where could she have gone in this small city.

"Why aren't you finishing him off Luzé? He's one of Reiga's enemies." A new voice intervened from the opposite direction. Both men turned their head recognizing the red hair of the Opast.

Cadenza grinned at Senshirou's instantaneous glare in his direction. Luzé cursed his luck. It figures Cadenza would choose now of all times to appear.

"Where's your partner Zweilt? I was hoping you'd lead that girl here, the girl that's caught our Luzé's eye." Cadenza taunted.

Luzé could feel the threat in his voice. That meant Reiga knew of Hana's existence. Just as expected the other Opasts were sent to kill her.

"I'm afraid you'll just have to settle for just me." Senshirou answered already pulling out his weapon. The male was already preparing for a fight against two Opasts.

Cadenza smirked even wider. "I like that look in your eyes."

Turning to Luzé he said.

"Elegy should be making her way towards that girl and the other Zweilt right about now." Cadenza said.

This was exactly what Luzé feared.

"What will you do Luzé, if you don't kill this Zweilt, and go after that girl, you'll be betraying your Faolar (master)."

Luzé clenched his fist gritting his teeth. If he betrayed Reiga… Then he'd be no better than Luka. Defecting sides for a mere mortal.

He had no choice did he? If he didn't… she would be killed by Elegy. There was no way that Zweilt could defeat an Opast so easily.

Would she blame him if he didn't save her?

He could see it now her cold body ripped to pieces by the hermaphrodite. With eyes in tears silently asking why didn't you come for me?

Being unable to scream for help, unable to do anything. She was more unfortunate than others unable to communicate the same way as others, but still she always put on a smile.

He wanted to go after Hana, but his hands were tied. Being the duras of Reiga he had to obey orders. If only he hadn't met her he wouldn't have to consider such a choice. If he chose she wouldn't make it out alive. There was no telling what Elegy would do to the girl. His heart ached.

Which betrayal would hurt less in this situation?

Kuroto was still eating still very much focused on looking through the albums on her shelf. She wasn't sure what exactly what he was looking though. Perhaps he just liked to read?

As she organized her thoughts, she heard the sound of a bird making its way towards her shop, except its voice was one she did not recognize.

A bird unlike any she'd ever seen tapped on the window glass. She blinked noticing it looked more like a painting of a bird come to life rather than an actual bird. Its wings were one of a phoenix coloured in different reds, yellows and oranges. It was truly beautiful. She could tell the artist was passionate about his work.

She walked towards the glass noticing there seemed to be a sound of urgency coming from the bird. Opening the door she made her way towards the bird touching its feathered wing. From its touch she could sense worry coming from the bird. This bird was sent to look for Kuroto. Perhaps it was Kuroto's partner's doing.

They must care for each other deeply.

Were they all related to Kuroto? She was sure the bird had been sent to look for Kuroto. But there was a sense of danger, a warning from the bird that worried the brunette. Kuroto was still relaxing finishing up his meal.

Maybe he wouldn't notice if she sent a message to follow the bird back. That spirit from earlier… Oboro, perhaps he could follow the bird and watch over the situation.

She handed a rose to the bird to hold in its claws as a beaker to Oboro to follow. Hopefully nothing bad was occurring without her knowledge.

Just as she was about to return to her shop, a hand grabbed her wrist with great force making her wince at the pain. She was being lifted off the ground so effortlessly that she was met with eyes catlike in a pale face and white hair. The woman licked her lips and smirked.

"So you're the human girl Luzé is infatuated with."

That's it for Chapter 7 sorry there wasn't much Luzé and Hana together. I'm not sure when the next chapter will be uploaded, but bear with me^_^' I'm not very good with english. /Considering it's not my best subject

May change some parts in case I forgot to finish a part.

But thanks for reading and review and comment on what you think so far:)

Until next chapter (^_^)/