The clock on the mantle struck seven AM when Mahpari's smokey-gray eyes fluttered open. She blinked, then sat up. She had fallen asleep on the couch.

Oops.

"Ah, Mahpari. I'm glad you were able to wake up before I left."

Mahpari turned around, her eyes widening when she spotted Durbe there. He was dressed from head to toe with camouflage, and his backpack was tied neatly onto his body. In his hand he gripped his suitcase, and his rifle was grasped in his other hand.

"You're leaving already?" Mahpari asked, tears threatening to cloud her vision again.

Durbe could only nod.

"But, I read the paper. You don't have to be at the station for three more hours."

"There's supposedly going to be lots of traffic. I want to get there as soon as possible so I get a good seat on the train."

Mahpari hung her head. "I see," she whispered.

A frown overtook Durbe's facial features. He sighed, then set his stuff down and walked over to Mahpari's side. Bending down and tilting her head up to look at him, he smiled sweetly.

"I suppose I can stay for a few more minutes. What would you like to do?"

Upon hearing this, Mahpari's eyes lit up. "Can we maybe go to the swing for one last time?" she asked, holding her camera up. "I want to get a more recent picture of the two of us."

Durbe chuckled and lifted his little sister up. "Alright, let's go," he said, opening the door and speed walking to the swing. Mahpari leaped from his grasp and landed cleanly in the object, then motioned with her hand.

"Get over here so I can get the picture of us!" Mahpari exclaimed.

"Well, alright then."

Mahpari watched as Durbe walked over towards her, his smokey-gray eyes staring into hers. She smiled, then held the camera up. Both of them smiled as the flash came from the device, making their eyes spin for a moment.

"Is it worthy of being kept?" Durbe asked. Mahpari nodded.

"Of course. Any picture of us is worthy to me."

"That so?"

"Yup."

Neither of them could keep their laughter dulled down as Mizael walked up the hill. His long, blond hair wafted around gently in the breeze, his sky-blue eyes staring at the two siblings before him as he smiled.

"Well, this is some moment, is it not?" Mizael questioned, walking over and crossing his arms. Mahpari giggled, then nodded.

"It is." She turned back to face her older brother. "So, Mizael is going to be the one to take care of me again, huh?"

Durbe nodded. "He's the one I can trust most to take care of my baby sister."

At this, Mahpari blushed, her cheeks turning a dark, crimson red. "Shut your mouth," she said, crossing her arms and making a pouty face. Durbe simply laughed at his little sister's actions. Boy, sometimes she was so childish.

Mizael smiled and ruffled Mahpari's hair. "If you have a problem with it, then you can try living on your own. Although, I would advise against it. You have a weak heart, remember."

With an irritated sigh, Mahpari nodded. "Yes, I'm painfully aware of that."

All three of them began to laugh as they realized how stupid they were being. Mizael finally pulled himself together, then grabbed Mahpari's camera out of her hands. "How about I get a picture of the two of you? It will look rather nice if you have someone else do it for you," he suggested.

Mahpari nodded. "Sure," she agreed.

Mizael nodded and smiled. "Good. Then, get on the swing and look cute."

Mahpari did as she was told. She plopped down on the swing, looking out of the corner of her eye as Durbe knelt beside her. He placed a hand on her shoulder, and both of them smiled only seconds before Mizael took the picture. The blond smiled, then chuckled. "Perfect," he said.

The two siblings in front smiled while they stared at Mizael. Honestly, the man did so much for them, it was unbelievable how generous he really was. He had just out of the blue decided to step in and take care of Mahpari the first time, and now, he was doing it again.

Unbelievable.

Durbe glanced down at his watch and went bug-eyed. "I need to go," he said, kissing Mahpari on the forehead one last time before standing. He went to go run back to the house, but was stopped when he felt a slight tug on his shirt sleeve. Startled, Durbe turned around, instantly staring into Mahpari's smokey-gray eyes.

"Don't go," she begged, pulling on his sleeve again. "Please don't go yet."

"Mahpari, I have to."

"Not yet!"

"I'm afraid so, sis. Sorry."

But Mahpari would not let go of her older brother's shirt sleeve. Rather, she tightened her grip on it, then clenched her eyes shut and whimpered. Before anyone could react, the girl was latched onto Durbe, her face buried in his chest as she started to cry slightly, her small arms wrapped around his waist in a defiant fashion.

"No, no not yet. Don't go yet," Mahpari begged. Durbe frowned, then sighed and bent to his little sister's height. He pulled her into a hug, allowing her to sob onto his shoulder.

"I have to, Mahpari. I can't help that they're forcing me to go."

"Then take me with you!"

"That's too dangerous. I'm not going to risk your safety for this."

Mahpari whimpered again. She pulled away, then sniffled and wiped her eyes. A small smile crossed Durbe's lips as he placed his hands on Mahpari's shoulders.

"Why...can't I follow you?" Mahpari asked in between sobs. "It's not that...that dangerous. I can take care of...of myself!"

"I know, but I'm not taking that chance."

They stayed silent for a moment. Finally, Mahpari straightened up. "Could I at least walk with you to the train station? I wanna spend every moment possible with you."

Durbe smiled again. "Alright, I suppose you can. But as soon as the train has pulled away, I want you to come back here, okay?"

"Okay, nii-san," Mahpari agreed. She finally managed to force a smile past her tears, then turned back to face Mizael. "I'll be back soon," she said.

Mizael simply nodded. He watched as Mahpari took Durbe's hand in hers, and together, they began to walk away.

XxXxXxXx

Smoke arose from the trains as some of them pulled away, others screeching to a halt. Mahpari still had her brother's hand clenched in hers, and she was basically shaking with sadness. She had been trying to hold the tears back the whole way there, and as of right now, it was still working.

With the cost of shaking like she was now.

Once again, the younger of the two siblings was pinned to the older, in a fashion that utterly begged him not to go. But she was shot the "I need to go now," look again, forcing her to let go. Durbe and Mahpari exchanged looks for one last time, and this time, Mahpari didn't hold the tears back. They trickled down her cheeks slowly, some of them grabbing onto the edge of her lips. As she took a closer look, she could see that Durbe had a few tears flowing down his cheeks as well.

Mahpari put her hand up and waved it, grinning with her teeth showing as she did. Durbe did the same thing, the same toothy grin as his sister's on his face. He turned and got on the train, peering out the window to see Mahpari one last time.

The train slowly began to pull away. Mahpari sniffled, then waved one last time. She stood there, in that very spot as the train pulled away. Her smokey-gray eyes had tears gushing out of them as she turned away.

"Good-bye, nii-san," Mahpari whispered. "I'll see you later."

Slowly, she turned away, walking the opposite direction of the train station as smoke rose from her brother's departing train.

If only she realized just how much "later" meant in all of the mess that was about to occur.