Luzé had never heard of a bookstore. Library yes, like an archive where all their history was stored. However, a store where humans bought information, he'd never thought of going into one. There were so many humans around that it irked him for some unknown reason.

He scoured for her form in the crowd of people. There were so many scents around that it merged with the smog of the city.

But there was one scent. One scent that he distinguished from the rest. A scent purely floral and natural. It smelled of both sunshine and roses.

He masked his presence enough to avoid further suspicion. Weaving through the streets was easy enough, without all the staring he received from the passer-by.

The store was easy enough to find and stepping inside was like being in another world.

Wherever he looked there were books of all kinds with a smell different from the dusty archives back in Infernus. Many females ogled him as he walked past, but there was only one person he was looking for. Dressed in his military uniform he didn't exactly blend in very well with the other humans.

He noticed right away her head of brown hair tied this time in a bun and her change of clothing. She was instead wearing a pale yellow yukata printed with a floral design rather than her normal cardigan and long skirt. He kept a distance away preferring not to interfere in her search, but still he watched from afar.

She seemed quite determined to choose her books. She had no idea how many gave her second glances, especially the human males.

It made him feel irritated for reasons unknown to him. The idea of a male courting her was infuriating.

Hana smiled to herself choosing the book and moving onto another shelf. There was another child trying to pick out a book in the same area having trouble reaching a book in the tope shelf.

She pulled the novel off the shelf bending down to meet the child's eyes. She smiled and handed the novel to him.

The child revealed a toothy grin "Arigatou onee-chan."

She laughed silently ruffling the child's hair.

"It's for my little sister."

She smiled clapping her hands together pointing to some other books.

"Yeah!"

The conversation was one sided to the rest of the world, but to Luzé he could hear perfectly clear the words she had told the little boy. That's amazing.

You're going to be a great big brother. How about we choose books both of you would enjoy?

They began pulling a couple of other books off the shelf giggling at the occurrence until the boy had to return to his mother.

"Arigatou onee-chan." The boy hugged her once before walking towards his mother.

She waved goodbye to the boy greeting his mother. Maybe it was his imagination but he could've sworn there was longing in her eyes.

He made his way towards her with quiet steps until he found himself right behind her. From that Zweilt's information she had been injured greatly and yet she looked to be perfectly fine. He placed a gloved hand on her shoulder causing her to turn her head.

He was anticipating seeing some kind of injury on her face, but all he got was a look of surprise in her blue green eyes. Her eyes widened and a split second her lips curved into a smile.

Luzé what are you doing here?

Luzé couldn't form any incoherent sentences. How could he say that he had been worried when he'd heard that she was hurt? It shouldn't have even been a possibility.

She chuckled to herself happy to see him.

Luzé, I didn't think you'd find me here.

Luzé cleared his throat. "The Zweilt said you had been injured."

She blinked and tilted her head.

Injured… is that how it seemed?

She remained cheerful as she watched Luzé scan her profile for any injuries.

I met Kuroto-kun a little earlier. Then I got sidetracked and decided to pay a visit to the bookstore.

Met? Didn't she mean kidnap?

Luzé wasn't buying it. Why would she be here if she wasn't threatened?

She reassured him. I don't think he meant any harm. Besides I love company, it's much more relaxing.

He could understand her trying to cover for the Zweilt, but a bookstore was rather a strange choice to leave.

"Why here?"

She blinked and held out a book about Japanese characters. I thought it'd be nice if you learned how to read katakana and hiragana.

Hana smiled in a way that made her eyes crinkle as she expressed her happiness.

I thought this way we could read books together.

She laughed silently to herself already excited, but then remembering where they were, she blushed another shade of pink. She tilted her head staring into his amethyst eyes.

Is that no good?

There were people watching their strange interaction with them not knowing what the hell she was saying, but she didn't seem to mind.

As a soldier… the only skill really required was sword fighting. Reading had never been a priority. There was no need for him to know how to read Japanese, this human language… but her enthusiasm was contagious.

He almost cracked a smile.

Almost.

Still he relented to her whims.

"Fine, but you'll have to teach me though."

She brightened and nodded clapping her hands together, dropping the books to the ground.

She turned bright red at her clumsiness.

Sorry, I got too excited.

Her apparent excitement was refreshing in how… innocent it was as if it was the first time she was doing this. Was he the cause of her happy mood? He almost smiled at the idea of being able to make her happy than sad.

She crouched down to pick up the stray books on the ground. The titles of the books he couldn't read, but considering that they had very cartoonish characters on the cover made for children… he could only guess they were children's books for kids just learning how to read. He crouched down along with her picking up one of the other books that had strayed away from her.

There was even a workbook in between the books she picked up. He could feel the stares of children pointing towards him and her in loud whispers.

"Mom, why's that man dressed that way?"

"Probably just cosplay. Don't stare at him dear."

Luzé had no idea what cosplay was and he wasn't too sure if he wanted to considering the disapproving tone from the mother.

He also would've been embarrassed too if he knew what those titles said so he didn't attempt to ask.

But then he was reminded of the earlier danger.

Swiftly as she slowly stood up, he raised his hands gripping each side of her arms. He urgently asked in a quiet tone. "Did a silver haired lady come to see you?"

It was all Hana could do but blink at the strange urgency in his voice. She nodded absentmindedly.

Yes, but all of a sudden she fell asleep and then she disappeared. Maybe she was tired and went home first.

Was she a friend of yours? She was really pretty.

She peered under her eyelashes blinking once more awaiting his response.

She was always smiling patiently for him to answer. There was no malice, just curiosity in her blue green eyes.

"No. Not a friend."

She nodded stiffly probably not believing his statement.

Acquaintance?

"The same master."

Co-workers? Why don't you invite them for tea next time then? I can make some sweets or would something salty be more fitting?

Did nothing really happen with Elegy? She made it sound like they were old buddies.

She began walking towards the cash register pulling out the right amount of money out of her pouch.

She smiled waiting for the cashier to ring up her purchase. The cashier was a male of about twenty who gave her a second look as if trying to place where he'd seen her.

"Your change is 150 yen."

She nodded writing on her note pad. Arigatou.

She waved goodbye after placing the books into her bag and ushered Luzé out of the store.

Let's go buy you some new clothes.

"Clothes." Luzé repeated. The only clothes he owned were his three pairs of military uniforms.

She nodded. I need to buy some new clothes for the kids anyways. Then we can go to the supermarket.

Luzé opened his mouth to protest, but she wasn't having any of it.

It's official. No ifs ands or buts.

She murmured quietly into his mind. He turned his head slightly to find that she was smiling childishly with puppy dog eyes.

"…Fine."

She pressed her fingers to his back creating some kind of message against his back.

Maybe it was a good idea to learn Japanese.

She had a great time showing Luzé around the area. She even learned new things about the male. For one he had a sweet tooth. She had taken him to a café to grab something to eat. Considering he didn't know what to order, she'd picked one of her favourites for him to try.

She giggled as she watched his stoic face twitch, as he tasted the sweet treat. The way his violet eyes lit up was priceless.

She didn't make any comments but she figured, Luzé must have already known considering her open silent giggles.

She'd taken him to a well-known clothing store already determined to at least purchase him two casual outfits.

She brought out a pair of dark pants and a v neck t-shirt for the male to try. He stared at the clothes not sure what to do with them. She guided him to a change room and mentally instructed the taller male.

Try on these first.

She wanted him to undress? Here?

His eyes looked at her incredulous at the ordeal handed to him.

They had a stare down in which she frowned.

She pulled out her notepad and started writing to the salesperson.

The saleperson smiled and nodded. "That's fine. You can return the clothes if you are not satisfied."

Hana looked to Luzé waving a hand for him to come.

Hana instead paid for the clothing upfront.

"Sorry."

She shook her head. I'm sorry for not noticing your discomfort. Let's go find some clothes for the twins instead. I'll have you try them on at the house.

That was basically how the whole day went, them looking for clothes for the two kids in her care.

Will you come eat tomorrow? She asked

"Maybe."

Even with a vague answer she was happy to say the least. She was walking faster as he watched her carefree form.

"You know I'm not human." He brought up.

She blinked at his serious tone, but she nodded nonetheless.

"Why are you doing this for me?"

He still couldn't understand it.

She turned her head keeping her gaze up towards the sky. You seemed… lost. As if you weren't sure where you belonged.

I'm the same way.

That was it? He was almost disappointed. What exactly was he expecting?

My brothers and I have always been deeply connected to nature. But I'm different from them.

She shrugged almost sheepishly.

I do not represent one season as my brothers do. I am more connected with flowers.

She lightly brushed a finger against a leaf of a tree branch.

Spring and Flowers will always remain intertwined. Without flowers spring will not truly arrive. She brushed a hand against a tree. Without spring, flowers will remain asleep. Without a calm snow, no one would appreciate winter. She turned her head to him with a small smile. Without flowers, another voice would be lost to the flow of time.

That's how humans are.

They are all interconnected. One cannot survive without the other. She murmured in her soft thoughts. Without Spring, time would remain an endless winter.

They'd reached the flower shop in which she owned. However she wasn't open for business. She merely opened the door ushering Luzé to leave the bags on the sofa.

There isn't anyone in this world that isn't needed.

She explained in gentle whispers in his mind. They quickly left the shop and instead began taking a walk towards a park.

"Even killers?" He asked not believing her words one bit.

She smiled her eyes half lidded as she gazed at him. Everyone. She answered.

To be forever happy engulfed with love and happiness that sort of idea is not possible. Sadness, betrayal, revenge, and anger… no one wishes to experience the pain that follows these outcomes.

But… She crouched down to a flower bud that had grown in a crack of the sidewalk. She brushed a finger against it not turning to look at Luzé, her eyes turned upwards to the sky. Without them this existence would no longer be considered a life.

She turned her eyes to him this time with a smile that did not touch her eyes.

It would only be a very long dream.

At least that's what I have been told. She said thoughtfully into his mind as she stood up and brushed her skirt off for any dust. There wasn't any malice in her thoughts, just a longing that was forgotten by most. Her eyes remained distant as if recalling old memories.

Luzé could only remain silent as he realized she wasn't referring to him, but rather to herself. She wished to live that dream. There was no doubt in his eyes.

There was no evidence of her uneasiness as if she had already come to terms with her own struggle.

Her blue green eyes crinkled as she smiled at him. Never mind me though.

A black duras had appeared in front of them. She blinked recognizing the creature crouching down to its level with a grin. It was the one she had met earlier. She crouched reaching out to the low class Duras. The black form purred allowing her to pet him.

Luzé was no longer surprised at her easygoing nature with all things dangerous.

It seems he wants you to return home, Luzé.

Home. What a strange way of putting that dark castle, yet so like her. It wasn't a word he would use to describe Infernus.

This must've been about his choice earlier on. Reiga would not be pleased considering his thought process at the time. Elegy or maybe even Cadenza had already reported his disloyalty.

"Sorry." He muttered.

She smiled unknowingly holding the low class duras in her arms as if it were a cat or even a bunny. That gentle smile, oh how disillusioned she was for not knowing what choice he had made, the betrayal that he acted on, the betrayal against her.

It's fine. The house isn't too far from here. I hope they're not too angry with you for spending time with me. She reassured.

It was getting dark now as he noticed the sun setting.

Luzé was hesitant. It would be a bigger mess if he disobeyed this order considering the number of times he had already skipped his duties to come see her.

But he didn't want to leave her alone.

Hana wasn't having it though.

You better hurry Luzé. Next time I'll make dinner. And here. She allowed the duras to jump out of her arms and wander off somewhere.

She pulled a red rose from her apron and pinned it to his jacket where his heart was. She placed her hand against his chest feeling his beating heart.

I'll be here. She said.

Her reassurance was indeed a comfort. In her yellow yukata it gave a much more timeless feel to her words. As if he was being reminded of the last battle with the Zweilt years ago.

He nodded slowly willing himself to believe her words. Letting her hand fall back to her side, she lightly pushed him to get going, but he grabbed her hand fast surprising her.

He'd turned her around to face him but she was too nervous to look up. What expression was he making? She wondered.

He just stood there holding her hand.

5 seconds.

Twenty seconds. Still he remained silent.

A minute later, he still hadn't let go.

The longer she waited the faster her heart pounded waiting for his next move.

It was so loud in her ears she was almost certain he could hear her heart.

Luzé?

"…Sorry." His grip tightened on her hand making her wince. There was something more in his voice that she could detect. Somehow she had a feeling he wasn't apologizing for leaving early. No…

She looked up tilting her head upwards to be met with anguish.

It was something that hurt him more deeply. As if it was enough to make him cry.

He let go of her hand and left as quickly as he came. There was no time for her to ask him what had hurt him so.

Luzé! She called not knowing if he could still hear her.

Truth lies in the flowers of the receiver. Her last words echoed into his head sweetly and calmly like a passing wind. Somehow she felt this was the only answer she could come up with.

It was the only hint she was willing to give him.

Whether he heard her words or not was left a mystery.

Luzé was definitely at a loss Hana deducted. It had to do with a conflict with someone close to him though, she was sure of it.

She settled for walking just a little longer before heading home. Her hand unconsciously went to her stomach wincing at the aching pain that throbbed when walked. She kept another hand against the trees as she made her way towards the forest she could see up ahead.

She winced.

Then, she walked and continued moving nonetheless.

She recalled the encounter with Luzé's co-worker.

A little earlier on… when Luzé had been preoccupied.

Ah you know Luzé. You must his friend. Hana smiled clapping her hands together. It's nice to meet you.

Elegy smiled falsly analyzing this girl. Elegy couldn't hear the girl. She only could the girl clapping her hands together. There really was nothing special about her. She was pretty for a human, but not to her level. She was too ditzy to really be considered a seductress.

"Luzé has been skipping out on us. What makes you special?"

Nothing. She thought to herself. There was nothing to justify she was special. She was no better nor was she a greater person from the next person. She was however different just like them.

She was the same in the way she was different.

However there didn't seem to be a way for her to communicate this to the other woman.

She could only shake her head in denial.

"You can't even speak. How are you even speaking to each other?"

Hana smiled shrugging.

"Whatever, this is meaningless." Elegy murmured. "You know nothing about him."

"I'll just kill you righ-" Elegy was cut off when there was a rumbling coming from the ground. The ground shook slightly as the air began to fog up.

White blinded their vision from all sides.

But it was strange.

There was something mixed into the unnatural mist. Movement from the ground made itself known as a large root rose reaching towards the Opast.

The silver haired lady had coughed retreating away from the mist, but still capable of using her whip trying to deflect the roots that had begun to rise from the ground.

"Get away from me!" She screeched at the trees. But as she attacked with her whip it made contact with Hana's side making her wince as it ripped open flesh. In this mist the silver haired lady couldn't see anything. Rather than calmly think about the situation, the Opast kept swinging her whip left and right to avoid the branches and roots from binding her.

What exactly was the lady seeing? Hana wondered. It wasn't normal to see people in such a frenzy. She reached out towards the silver hair lady to grab the whip in one hand.

Pain.

That was what she felt.

She gritted her teeth trying hard not to cry as she pulled with all her strength to stop her from whipping the trees. THe woman was much stringer than her.

"Let go of me, you wretch, these trees are your doing isn't it? You really are one of them."

Elegy smirked pulling with much more force. "Then Reiga won't be mad if I have a bit more fun with you."

She could hardly stay standing even without her warning. There was a potent poison that coated the whip that was dulling her senses. It was spreading inside her. The whip had escaped Hana's hands leaving purplish bruise marks on her skin that seemed to mix with her blood. Still she tried to stop Elegy from hurting any more of the flowers and herself.

"You really don't know when to quit. How weak, you can't even scream for poor Luzé to help you."

She coughed mutely seeing nothing in the white mist. But still she reached for Elegy's arm willing her to stop.

Please stop. You're injured, you shouldn't move.

Elegy couldn't hear her voice. And then Elegy coughed grabbing her own throat. What was this? Her throat was burning the longer she spoke.

Her eyes were watering and drowsy. Her vision blurring. This was bad. If she wasn't careful Cadenza might kill her first.

Hana was reminded again the loneliness that came with silence.

Bein ignored.

No one recognizing her presence.

I'm right here. She could here her past self attempting to convince herself of her own existence. Another memory began to rise to the surface. She withdrew her arm from the pale woman at the upcoming headache she was receiving.

She needed to leave before the Zweilt came. Tsk "I'll be back for you my dear. We'll have Luzé watch next time." Elegy withdrew her whip returning it to her side.

However, Elegy still hadn't realized that Hana was nowhere to be found in the hazy mist of spring.

Afterwards, Hana had found herself in front of her flower shop. Not knowing how she got there frightened her. After all, she had no memory of returning.

She looked at her torn clothing with a sigh. She wasn't prepared for something of this nature. With a look back toward the street she went into her shop to change into the only outfit in the storage.

A yellow yukata.

She didn't recall ever purchasing it and yet here it was in her closet. She allowed herself to look at herself in the mirror at her dishevelled state from the encounter.

Her cardigan had been ripped revealing her side and her sleeves.

Her skin looked okay and yet what was this pain that throbbed in that area?

She shook her head and began changing into the yukata. As she changed she was once more hit with another memory.

"Little miss you shouldn't be able to come here." An old man said to her as she wandered the gates of an unknown dojo.

She blinked her blue green eyes in surprise at his attention. "You… can see me?"

"How could I not with your beautiful lavender hair?" The old man smiled not at all worried about the intruder.

She laughed chuckling to herself. "Most people would scream in terror at my appearance."

"A nice girl like you, no I'm sure you've just been misunderstood." The old man waved his hand in denial with a grin. "You're the one always leaving flowers by their graves. Thank you for always doing that."

Hana blinked and hid her face behind the bouquet she held. She blushed and whispered. "It's nothing."

"I was just admiring the flowers here."

"You can call me Garan, and you are?"

She pointed to the flowers.

"Hana?" He guessed in which she nodded once.

Garan smiled and ushered her to come closer.

"Well then Hana, have you ever played Shogi?"

And then another more recent memory surfaced.

This time the scene showed Garan with his back against a large iron door. Hana could only watch and cry at her inability to change the inevitable. Even though that red haired man was injuring him he still wouldn't budge. And those cries "Grandpa! Grandpa" she kept hearing. She could only apologize silently at her own helplessness. In times like this she hated her lack of existence.

She had to watch as the taller boy ushered the dark haired boy into the safe hold even though they wished to help. The cries of anguish and helplessness hurt her bring her own tears. She had to stifle her cries from alerting Garan.

She knelt next to his fallen form against the door with her head hanging low. Garan barely noticing her arrival smiled slightly.

"So it's true then, those who've become able to see you have a certain condition." The older man murmured.

"I've heard stories about you. The spirit who appears before those about to die."

"I'm sorry Garan. I can't save you no matter what I do." She had sobbed.

"The one who appears before you die, you're like my little grandson Kuroto. A shinigami of death, a ghost waiting to inflict punishment on those passing on." Garan coughed finding it hard to breathe. "There were stories about you my dear that you came to send us into our own eternal hell."

She remained silent knowing it was true. She was a bad omen.

But Garan merely smiled."But that's not true, is it? You've been here the whole time watching over us like a guardian angel."

Garan turned his gaze towards the door he was leaning against.

"You two have always been misunderstood huh." he said. "In fact both of you are too kind for your own good."

The old man coughed.

"If you could please watch over those kids as they grow up in my place. I'd be really thankful"

"Garan, are you sure? Even though," She couldn't mutter the last of her sentence.

But still Garan knew what she wanted to say. Even though, she was a warning of death.

"I'm sure one day you'll find the place you belong." He smiled "Someone, somewhere will be able to see you for the king person you are."

And she could only nod. "Hai, I will watch over you and the children."

"I hope you find your child too."

She froze blinking once. "How did you-"

"You're always clutching your stomach as if you were worried."

So she was that obvious. She smiled sheepishly.

"I will do my best."

"Hana, what is your child's name?"

Her tears would not subside as she croaked in a whisper.

"It's - - - -"

His eyes widened at the name, but he could no longer utter a sound. All he could do was listen as she sobbed apologizing again and again for her own helplessness.

Garan smiled warmly even sadly as he closed his eyes hearing that duras named Luka and Takashiro-sama arriving to protect Kuroto and Senshiro. She would never know what Garan wanted to say in his last moments.

After that flashback she had headed towards the bookstore where Luzé had found her as she lamented her new discovery.

She made her way into the forest that presented itself to her. The large trees hid her entrance as she struggled to walk. Luzé was probably back home now and Kuroto must have returned to school.

Hana snapped out of her daze losing all strength in her legs.

She remembered. She remembered where she had met Kuroto. It was in Garan's final moments. Even then she didn't understand the pain, but still she had witnessed the massacre that had happened. The frustration of two kids unable to do anything.

Her hand landed on her stomach as she did in her newfound memory. Was this encounter one of the reasons why she couldn't fully remember?

It wasn't that she couldn't remember, but was it that she was too afraid to remember?

It made more sense in that arrangement.

In her present now she leaned against the true with eyes closed to process all this new information.

It was clear though she wasn't like her siblings.

She'd never been like her brothers affiliated with the seasons winter and spring, Setsuna, and Haru.

Hana, even her name singled her out Winters and Spring could last for months or yearly.. Flowers in truth could bloom all year no matter if it was Autumn, winter, spring or summer.

The only difference… in exchange a flower's lifespan would always remain fleeting. For flowers were not only meant for the living.

Flowers are tokens honouring the dead. For that she found it reasonable that unlike her siblings she understood death more than she did life.

She settled with leaning against the tree to catch her breath.

Without flowers spring will not truly arrive.

Without spring, flowers will remain asleep.

Without one, time will remain an endless winter.

She looked to the large mansion in the distance. How strange for someone to live in such a dense forest. Her vision was blurring quicker than she had expected.

Just a nap she told herself. She would close her eyes for a little and be on her way later.

Her eyes were already half closed.

But just as she closed her eyes she could have sworn cherry blossoms were falling from the sky. Pale, white, and beautiful.

She shivered closing her eyes.

But if that were the case...

Why were the petals so cold?

Part 2 finally out.

Review or comment on what you think and thanks for reading:)

Disclaimer: Only own my OCs.