A/N:

This chapter happens after the "Concrete Jungle" mission. You know, Lindow's disturbing date? Just in case you're wondering about where we are already in the main storyline.

As always, thank you to lunyan, darryanmartin, Yue Twili and crescenthaineEX for reviewing!

Disclaimer: All rights goes to their respective owners.

Key 13 - Broken

"You weren't thinking again, Lindow!" Tsubaki's words came out as a harsh whisper, her emerald orbs locked on to the same emeralds of Lindow's and it took everything for him not to flinch and look away.

"I could-"

"The mission that you took needs time and preparation! Taking it up on the spot was dangerous and reckless, not to mention stupid. Sure, you got away with a few scars, but do you have any idea what could've happened if you didn't?" Tsubaki's tone was sharp and severed the words given with harsh intonations.

Lindow scratched his head, he practically could tell that Tsubaki was trying very hard not to lose it on him, he sighed defeatedly, "I told you that it's no big deal! Man, you and Sakuya sure know how to nag me..."

"That's what you get for flirting with an Ouroboros!"

The both of the siblings glanced up to the source of the voice only to find a girl leaning on the wall with her familiar red rose and raven locks that they knew so well.

"Oh, Rookie!" Lindow greeted her, his expression had never been happier with the sudden distraction, "What's going on?"

"I just came to pick up some medicine," Estella told him as she started making her way to the first-aid cabinet.

Stirred by her tangent, Tsubaki took a deep breath to calm herself down, "Now that's what I like to see. Somebody who's a bit high-strung and timid is more likely to survive more than a certain someone here," she said, obviously pointing her statement at Lindow.

"Gimme a break, big sis," Lindow sweat dropped and turned to Estella, "Anyways, don't tell anyone that you ran into me here, got it?"

Estella chuckled, "No worries,"

The smile on Estella's face seemed to have thrown Tsubaki's anger off and her expression softened under her gaze, "How is your mother doing? I heard that you visited her the other day," she asked.

Sighing and immediately stopping her musings, Estella's gaze fell down on the cold floor, "How good can someone who lost their husband do?" she asked herself softly, "She just cries all day, if not she's asleep," she explained.

Tsubaki made her way beside her and gave her a pat on the shoulder, "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine," she muttered lowly.

Lindow frowned at her, "Is that really how you feel?" he inquired.

Estella gave him a gentle smile, "I can't really afford to be sad or anything. I'm afraid that if I do, mother is going to leave, too. I have to take care of her, before me, she comes first."

The Amamiya siblings went silent and the rest of the moment was pretty much kept that way.

Tsubaki couldn't help but find it a bit odd that the child is now the one taking care of the parent. In normal situations, the parent would be consoling the child when they lose someone.

She had only seen Estella's mother once and it was the time that when she had to get the guardian's permission to recruit Estella.

-Flashback-

"Miss Yuuki, am I correct?" Tsubaki inquired Estella's mother, ignoring her dishevelled appearance.

Bowing her head and ceasing her sobs, Estella's mother answered, "...How could I help you?"

"I would like to inform you that your daughter, Estella Yuuki, is a candidate for being a New-Type Gods Eater."

Lifting her head, Estella's mother looked at Tsubaki in confusion, "...But I don't have a daughter?"

-End of flashback-

Tsubaki couldn't help but to think that was the cruelest and most selfish thing a person could do to their child. And for a moment, she was glad that Estella was not there to hear that.

She knew that no amount of time Estella spent with her mother would ever fix her. She was far too broken for that…

And when Tsubaki locked gazes with her for a brief moment, she knew that Estella was already well aware of that.

-TBC-