Author's Note; Sorry about the mega-wait on this one ppls- have been majorly busy over the last few weeks and everytime I opened this document I just couldn't type, so I'm at home from school sick and I just decided to type and this is what I got, so let me know what ye thinks ppls!! Kas- out:-) XxxxxxxxxxxX

"So who's who?"

"The runt is Toboe, the bad-tempered guy is Tsume, the silent leader-type is Kiba…and me, the perfect guy; I'm Hige."

As she asked this, Karasuke dragged her feet lightly; they'd been walking in this snow for over and hour now and the silence was killing her; it was amusing though as Tsume leaned forward and cuffed Hige lightly round the head, getting his own statement in,

"Tch! More like Porky!"

"This one remembers you all very well…this one is happy to be back with you."

Cheza's voice floated back from where she was a few steps ahead, absently skipping along as Kiba kept a watchful eye on her; he seemed to be that bit more protective of the girl than the others, and yet it seemed to be a slightly endearing quality to him; almost brotherly in a way…and that was when the guilt stabbed yet again; Ruse…to overcome the unnerving silence, Karasuke found herself asking yet another question as her feet dragged slightly in the snow, leaving noticeable tracks behind her as she did so.

"Any idea, which way Paradise is?"

It was the one called Kiba to answer her in an almost nostalgic voice- despite he being the one who invited her to join the small pack, Kiba hadn't really said all that much to her; he'd been pretty much preoccupied with keeping his greenish eyes locked onto Cheza's elated form, almost as though he feared her to be taken from them again.

"Not a clue, but I know it's there and so does Cheza…"

What did he want with her? Why was the man keeping her here in his Keep when her skills were obviously not of need, but she didn't complain- unknowing as to what his reaction would be if she did so…instead, Cher Degré occupied herself with taking in her surroundings in the hopes that if she remained so subdued and compliant that Darcia would lose interest in keeping her hostage and yet her eyes scanned along one of the high shelves in this otherwise stark chamber that rang with lonliness…along the shelf was a line-up of slightly yellowed photgraphs, only one of which wasn't framed and yet it was crumpled and creased as though it had been held in the hands of someone repeatedly, or maybe just been regarded as a sad mmory that could never be recalled.

With curiosity gaining the better of her, Cher flicked back some of her stray strands of blond hair and reached forward, taking down this unique photograph, holding it in her slender fingers as her blue eyes scanned over the picture ; it was of a small girl, maybe about two or three, smiling as she sat on the lap of a young woman with tresses of blond hair and enthralling ameythst eyes, an equally young man was by her side with what looked to be deep blue coloured hair and striking sapphire eyes…the faces on both of the young individuals lightened with what she could only surmise was parental pride as the little girl smiled happily…and yet the small toddler was a sight that rang faint bells of recognition in the back of her mind- somwehere amidst her vague memories, Cher had seen the deep burgundy-hued hair and vivid emerald eyes somewhere before although it eluded her mind as to where. Turning the photograph over, the attractive young scientist picked up on the elegant handwriting across the back, reading it in silence, her whole attention now drawn completely onto this picture.

"Lord Darcia, Lady Hamona and Miss Karasuke."

"You have made yourself at home, I see…"

At the sound of his telltale undertone voice, Cher started with fright and dropped the picture by accident, it giving a barely audible flutter as it seemed to float down to the cold tiled floor below, freezing as her blue eyes darted from him to the yellowed picture, a small nonchalant smirk enlightening the face of Lord Darcia the Third as his one visible eye also directed itself down to the picture, instantly recognising it and knowing what was depicted within the frozen moment of time it had captured forever…a whole fourteen years ago it'd been snapped, the little girl being only a mere three years of age at the time…with a soft and conscience-heavy sigh, the man bent down and picked up the small photograph, his right hand seemingly sitting into the creases and crumples, indicating they were his doing via holding this very image long and hard whilst letting his memories have rein over his mind, as they did every time he found himself wondering about the little girl- more so today than any other time and maybe it had to do with the fact of the thief-girl from Jaguara's Keep…

"I see you've discovered my most guarded secret, Mrs. Lebowski…"

"It's Ms. Degré actually…she looks like her mother…"

Although she had been fishing for more information, Cher actually did mean her comment in grudging sincerity- the little toddler had the same shaped face as the blond lady and her smile also mirrored that of whom Cher only suspected was her mother. Another sigh was heard as the tall man reached his right hand upwards and replaced the treasured picture upon its sanctioned wooden shelf and held his lingering gaze over it for maybe a moment too long before speaking to that blond woman once again in a somewhat distracted and distant voice.

"Do you have children, Ms. Degré?"

When she shook her head, he smiled what she could only label as a knowing smile, and then turned for the door, speaking more to himself than to the young scientist whom he just left in a bewildered state.

"Neither do I…not anymore…"

a/n- hehehehe; the plot thickens again around our Karasuke, hmmm? What ye think huns??XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX