Disclaimer: See Prologue or Chapter 4.

---------------------------------------

Previously...

I may be gone and going through the purgatory, but I can still see the angel child already gone into a deep, deep slumber in the flowing river, taking her through an unknown path of time. Though immortal, she didn't grow further, as if her age has stopped when she is resting through these centuries, like the cryogenic sleep. Where will she be taken to? Watching is the only thing those like me can do...

Chapter 5, Recovery for Many

Tsume's POV

Another rainy day has passed, including my day on the job as a mechanic. I stopped at the red light and waited for its altering to green. I resumed on my way to the road past the city limits merely to visit one of my friends who is currently has an injured leg. After the visit, and on my way back to the city, I took a shortcut over a river. But halfway, I thought I was hallucinating; there was a child, appeared to be around 14 years of age, drifting down the river.

"What the…?" I muttered.

I stopped my ride on the side of the bridge and rushed to the low side of the river. I pulled the girl, who feels unbelievably light, out of the cold river and checked her pulse. Did a fugitive knocked her out and threw her down? The sign from her veins told me that she survived, so I took her on my back and returned to my apartment. Immediately, I only set her cloak thing near a heater to dry and took her shoes and socks to dry, too, so she wouldn't catch a cold. I moved her strange beacon and bag to my table. I gulped, worrying about if her baggy pants are really pants and if the gi is like that of shirt to her.

"I have to be careful not to wake her up" I whispered to myself as I untied her obi and examined the gi.

A little of what I saw was a matching undershirt of some kind. I sighed in relief and carefully took it to the same drying spot. In case of she did wake up, I took and placed a pair of sweatpants and a tee that my neighbor's godchild, Toboe, had left behind.

Days have passed. I excused myself from work since I can't leave this kid alone here. I checked her pulse again and her forehead. She has gotten warmer and her breathing returned to its normal state. I believed that she'll wake soon today. I walked to the kitchen and made some lemon tea for her. I was sure that she'll wake up soon. Also, I called another neighbor.

"Hello?" She responded.

"Hi, Cathy."

"You sounded worried. Is something the matter?"

"I was getting' to that. A while ago, I found a young girl, unconscious, in a river on my way back home. She's in my bed right now, I'm worried she might get sick. I already made her a mug of tea. I was wondering if…"

"Did you set her belongings to dry and extra clothes for her?"

"Yes, but not her strange-looking suit or petticoat thing."

"I'll be right there with some of my herbal chicken soup Leftover from helping my sick nephew. I should be there in a few seconds flat. Bye."

"Bye." I said as I hung up.

I poured the tea and walked back to my room. I immediately noticed that she left my bed, took the dry clothes I left for her and walked to the bathroom to change. I placed the tea on the night table and saw her back in my bedroom, yawning.

"Where…am I?"

I answered to her, "You're in my place. I found you drifting in the river."

"Thank you…" she said as she rubbed her eyes.

White Rose's POV

I finished rubbing my eyes and saw a familiar figure in front of me. This guy, who appeared to be a grown-up human. He was clad in black leather, has tan skin, an X-shaped scar on his chest, and short silver hair with a small ponytail in the back.

I don't believe it! "Tsume? Is that you?"

But unfortunately, the look on his face told me that he doesn't recognize me.

"How did you know my name, and what do you mean 'is that you?'" He asked.

"Um…That's kinda hard to explain… A-CHOO!!" I sneezed.

"Gesundheit." He crossed his arms, looking me a bit close, and said "Clearly, you know me from somewhere."

"In a sense. Normally, and rarely, an individual would have a dream of encountering someone in the future. Ever wonder about that?" I blew my nose into a tissue as I heard someone knocking the door. I tried to answer it, but Tsume walked sooner.

"I got it, and no, not really" he said as he opened the door.

"Oh, then there's no point in explaining it to you." I suggested a bit.

"I got the soup heated up." a woman spoke as she walks in with a bowl of steaming hot soup, which I immediately whiffed along with the lemon tea aroma.

Tsume took it and handed it to me. "Here. Of what Cathy said, this'll help you."

"Oh, thank you both." I said softly as I ate the soup and drank the tea.

"So what happened before you were found drifting?" Cathy asked.

"Everything is…somehow difficult to remember. All I recall was…" I whispered audibly.

And then, it hit me. I ran to my now dried cloak and its pocket. When I reached my hand to the letter, it wasn't there, but a handful of paper powder.

"Sorry, kid," Tsume spoke. "Everything was wet when I found you."

"It's okay." I said.

The paper was waterproof. Since it fell apart, that means my Trial is now complete. But I have to get out of here and return to Heaven if I were to see if I'm qualified as a full-fledged Guardian.

I walked to retrieve my things and walked into the bathroom to change into my clothes.

"Thank you again for your hospitality." I said as I head out the door. "I'd best be on my way now."

"Not so fast, kid." Tsume placed his hand on my shoulder, stopping me. "You just woke up, and I bet you've never been to through this city before. It's best that I escort you to a train station or something so you won't get lost."

"I'll be fine, Tsume." I responded as I grinned. "I've gotten used to a lot of places, and I have a keen sense of direction. And no mugger or any crook will catch up with me."

"If you say so. Just be careful out there."

"Okay! I appreciate your concern." I ran past Cathy and a few seconds later…a familiar boy with the same age appearance as mine. "Sorry! I'm in a hurry!"

To be concluded (For the arc, that is.)

So, is that okay for you? I'm still writing and I'm thinking about shortening the epic a bit. I'm still a beginner, y'know. Please, again, review. And once more, no flames, please!