I just realized that I never put a point of view for the last chapter! I apologize, but it was all Hikaru's POV just to let you know ^^ and xXmegachompXx ask for more length, so I made this one extra long. Review please!

(Hikaru's POV)

I awoke the next day when I heard children and what sounded like a bird, trying to flap its wings.

"Hey look! It's a crow!"

"Don't you know? They're bad omens!"

"What's it doing on church grounds?"

"Maybe someone's going to die?"

"Whatever. This thing doesn't belong here."

The crow began to sound more agitated and, although I couldn't see it, I knew what those kids were doing. I got out from under the bush and the kids were shocked that someone had caught them hurting an animal. They ran off as I bent over to pick up the bird. To me, it was beautiful. A pitch black bird with two long, blood red tail feathers amongst the shorter black ones, and small midnight black eyes. (AN: mind you, this in 07 ghost. They don't exactly have the same animals as we do.)

I felt bad for it. Its left wing was obviously hurt, but those kids attacked it just because it was different. It reminded me of myself. The moment I reached down, I knew how it would react. It would attack, unused to being cared for by anyone. And that it did. It tried to fly away, but when that didn't work, it pecked at my hand repeatedly. It hurt, but I picked up the struggling bird and snuck my way over to my room, hoping that Natsu wouldn't be there.

I was lucky, he wasn't in the room. I set the bird down on my bed and pulled out a first-aid kit I had…borrowed from the sisters. Sure, stealing wasn't right, but it was for a good cause so they'll forgive me. The crow had calmed down, realizing that I wasn't going to hurt it, which made it easier for me to wrap its wing. I relaxed when the crow fell asleep, but Natsu returned at that moment.

"Y-You!"

I turned towards him, to see that he'd just returned from bascule practice. But I didn't need to turn around to figure that out. He had already thrown me across the room with his zaiphon attack.

"What are you doing?"

"I don't know how you got in the church, but demons don't belong here!"

"I'm not a demon! Just because I'm different doesn't-"

"Hm? What's this? You went and brought a crow in here?"

Natsu grabbed the crow and let it hang from its injured wing. The crow was surly in pain, but it still tried to attack Natsu from its position.

"Leave it alone! He did nothing to you!"

"Oh? You care for this thing? Fine then, catch!"

He threw the injured bird across the room and I just managed to catch the bird before Natsu began to hit me with zaiphon.

Figures, I decide to trust someone and they betray me. I guess I really have no one left.

"You're not alone. I will always be here to protect you."

Great, now I have voices in my head. How can I trust you? Everyone I've ever put my trust in has left me. What makes you so different?

"No one said you have to trust me. You only need to know that I will trust you and protect you from anyone who wishes to harm you if you ask me to."

I remember now, you're that voice from before who helped me with the kids from the church. I don't want to hurt Natsu though. I just want to protect this bird.

"Then I will protect you both…but remember this feeling. It can be useful with your bascule."

I felt a sharp pain in my back and I looked over my shoulder. A boney wing had appeared but, instead of staying boney, it covered itself with black feathers and wrapped around my body, protecting me from the onslaught of zaiphon.

"You're a demon! A kor! A-"

He was cut off as the door to our room was practically blown off its hinges. Frau subdued Natsu while Castor and Labrador headed towards me. They were shocked and unsure of what to do, seeing the large black wing. I somehow put the wing back and Labrador spoke first.

"Hikaru? What happened?"

I rolled onto my back and handed him the crow, before smiling sadly.

"I trusted."

(Castor's POV)

Frau, Labrador and I were discussing the warsfeil that challenged me earlier.

"For him to have broken into the church and challenged me, he's quite confident in his powers. At any rate, his desire to kill was strong. I just worry for Hikaru."

"Huh? Why? What does that brat have to do with anything?"

"Frau, were you not listening? Hikaru was there when the warsfeil challenged me and it seemed as though he was more sensitive to its power than I was. He was so…surprised that he actually attacked me and I haven't seen him since."

"You can never tell a good seed from a bad seed until it blooms."

"Exactly, we can't just send everyone away and because Hikaru has disappeared, we can't get him to help us locate the individual."

Labrador cut off the head of one of the flowers he was trimming, looking depressed.

"Relax! I'll protect everyone."

Looks like Frau has his uses, at times.

Night came and I still found no sight of the boy, even though I was using many of my dolls to search for him. I had to continue my other…duties and proceeded to help Teito train for the up coming exam. We finished late, as always, and the next morning, one of my dolls alerted me to Hikaru's presence.

Looks like he was hiding in the garden somewhere. I swear, him and Labrador get along just too much for my liking.

I followed the strings, but Hikaru was on the move. By the time I reached the garden, all that was left were a few children, mumbling about something interesting.

"Did you see that guy?"

"Yeah! He went and picked up that crow, even though it was attacking him!"

"Guy must be crazy or something."

"Yeah. Besides, didn't you see his hair? It was all white! Well…except for the tips. Those were blood red."

"Maybe he's a demon and he went to eat the crow."

"I'll have you kids know, he is no demon. He is merely a very troubled, very kind young man."

"Bishop Castor!"

"You kids should return to your teacher. I'm sure your free time is over by now."

"Yes, sir."

The kids sulked and went back towards the church, as my doll informed me that Hikaru returned to his room. I headed in that direction, but became disturbed when the doll also informed me that Natsu returned to the room as well.

Natsu? Wait…he's Hikaru's partner and he knows. This isn't good. Frau, Labrador! Meet me outside of Hikaru's room, now!

I heard Frau mentally sigh and Labrador was very worried. I just hope we'd make it before something really bad happens.

(Labrador's POV)

When Castor called us to Hikaru's room, I was glad that he'd been found, but worried at how urgent Castor sounded. I could only assume it had something to do with his partner and I hope the boy didn't do something he would later regret.

There are times where it hurts more to be the bystander.*

We all reached their room quickly, but judging by the sounds, we may not have arrived quickly enough.

"Frau."

"Che, that damned brat."

Frau broke down the door, which I would have deemed unnecessary if the situation wasn't so serious. When we entered, Frau hand stopped Natsu, who kept saying rude things about Hikaru, while Castor and I ran to where Hikaru was. What we saw though, was unexpected. A large wing was protruding from his back, covering his small, injured form. The wing moved, so Hikaru could see us, and disappeared into his back when he saw who it was. There was only one thing I needed to ask him.

"Hikaru? What happened?"

He rolled onto his back and reached over to give me a small black bundle of feathers. I gently took it from him and saw that it was an injured crow. Surprised, I turned back to Hikaru who smiled sadly.

"I trusted."

He passed out immediately and Castor picked him up, as we all prepared to leave. He stopped, just short of the door and turned back to Natsu.

"You, Natsu Reijiro, are hereby banned from the bishop's exam for injuring a fellow examinee. I suggest you pack your stuff and leave…now."

The boy seemed to struggle with himself for a moment, but we just walked out. The bird in my arms was too exhausted to put up a fight, but what I was worried about was Hikaru. His last words had me worried.

"I trusted."

"Labrador, what are you thinking about?"

"He may change after this, Castor. It's possible that he may never trust anyone again. He may revert back to his old self."

"Well, we can only hope Teito will be able to do something about this."

(Hikaru's POV)

I was sitting in a room. This room was different though. It was pure white with no furniture. I was crouching in a corner of the room. The only corner of the room. Black outlines of people were standing around me, pointing and calling me names.

I'm tired of this…Just when I thought my life was coming together, I realized it was just starting to fall apart.**

I looked back at the shadows and recognized some of the faces. Frau, Castor, Labrador, Mikage, Teito, my own mother, Father, everyone I ever knew or trusted was on the other side of the room mocking me. I curled up tighter and someone came towards me through the shadows. A young man wearing a blue vest and baggy grey pants walked towards me. He had short red hair, but a long ponytail could be seen flowing behind him. His eyes were a bright violet similar to my own and they showed great sorrow, as he bent down to my now shaking form.

"S-Stay away!"

"You don't need to fear me. I'm here to protect you, remember?"

Two large black wings unfolded from his back and I remembered them from before.

"Y-You…I-I still don't trust you…I don't think I can trust anyone anymore. They all just betray me in the end."

"You're right. It takes years to build up trust and only seconds to destroy it, but you don't need to trust me or Frau or any of the others. They all trust you and that's the only thing you need to worry about. Now you should go back. They are worried."

He wrapped his black wings around us, closing out the white room and the shadows that lay beyond.

"But I don't understand…even if they trust me, won't they leave me when I don't trust them? I'll just end up alone."

"You'll discover, Hikaru, that, trusting or not, they are still willing to protect you."

I opened my eyes and realized that I was in yet another room, but this one I kinda recognized. It was probably the infirmary or something. I went to glance around, but noticed the crow I had saved resting in the crook of my neck. I smiled slightly and went to move it, but the door slammed open and Mikage jumped onto my face.

"Mikage! Ah! Hikaru, you're awake!"

I nodded as Mikage got to know the crow, which I've dubbed Rok for now.

"Um…I heard what happened. I-I hope this doesn't change anything between us…"

I remembered what the guy from before said and decided that, at least with Teito, I am willing to still trust. I looked at Teito and curled my pointer finger, telling him to come closer. He walked over and…I hugged him.

"H-Hikaru? What are you-"

"Is everything okay, Teito?…"

A boy our age with long blonde hair had walked in and stared at us. I glared at him and let a blushing Teito go.

"I see I've interrupted something. I'll just go then."

He turned to leave as Teito stuttered, but was pushed back inside when Labrador, Castor, and Frau walked in, holding food. I swear I started drooling right then and there. The food smelled great and I was starving. I reached out to take it, but Castor held it back.

"Ah, Hakuren. Nice to see you again…and you, Hikaru, need to answer some questions of mine before I give you your meal."

I sighed, but nodded as Rok climbed up my arm to my shoulder and Hakuren left.

"Okay then, first off, why did you run away from me yesterday?"

I debated on whether or not to tell him, but decided that he too could be trusted.

"I thought that you would be angry after I hit you, so I hid. I was often punished before…it's kind of a reflex now as well as a…trust issue."

"I see. Well, I'll have you know that I was not angry at you and only wished to speak with you about that incident. The other question I have is, are you still willing to take the exam?"

I thought about it and I knew that I still wanted to do it, so I nodded.

"If that's the case, then hopefully we will have a partner for you by the exam. If not…then I'm sure we can figure something out."

I pet Rok, who nuzzled my cheek, and Teito spoke up as Castor placed my meal on my lap.

"Hikaru? Where'd the bird come from?"

I paused in my eating and looked at Rok who had hopped down to enjoy my meal as well.

"He's a crow that was injured in the garden. Some kids were picking on him and I helped him out. I've decided to call him Rok for now. At least until he can fly again."

"Heh, Mikage seems to like him."

"Teito, let Hikaru rest for now. You should join us for training tonight though, Hikaru. Oh, and I'll have you stay in Teito and Hakuren's room until the exam. You all seem to get along together and, although there is not enough room for another bed, I'm sure you won't mind sleeping on a small cot. Right?"

I shrugged my shoulders and continued chowing down, slightly glad that I won't have to deal with anyone other than Teito and his friend.

If Hakuren accepted Teito, then he'll probably accept me too…hopefully.

I hurried to where Teito and Castor were, hoping I wasn't too late. I had fallen asleep earlier and woke up late, hurrying to put Rok in our room. I arrived just in time to see Teito stretching.

"Run? That's it?"

"Yeah, I'd thought it'd be harder than that."

"Oh it is. By enduring suffering, you will lose sight of your 'self' and form a stronger mentality."

Woah…that's deep…

Just then, that deep feeling went away. Multiple Frau's appeared behind Castor, forming a circle around us and mocking us. If Teito was less than pleased, then I was even more pissed.

"Today's training is over when you two don't mind losing to them in a race."

"So you're expecting us to lose?"

He never answered that question. He did, however, tell us that the real Frau had business at night. Whatever that means.

"Now then, allow me to make paths for you two to run on."

He used his zaiphon and created two paths or it, next to each other. I went to touch it, but that voice told me not to. I was about to ask why, when Teito flew about two meters after touching it. Needless to say, I slowly put my foot back.

Teito returned, less than pleased, but put up a shield as I had done. Castor started the race and the Frau's ran off.

Hm…they're fast, but not fast enough.

While Teito took a deep breath, I clapped him on the back and ran ahead.

"Oi! Hikaru!"

"Hurry up Teito. You don't wanna lose to Frau do you?"

I knew taunting him would get him moving and I could practically hear Castor chuckling mentally. We ran ahead, but I knew that this wouldn't be as easy as it sounded. Castor always has something up his sleeve. Not much later, one of the Frau's behind me threw itself at my shield. I ducked and he flew over, but Teito wasn't so lucky and was knocked off his path.

"There's bumps in the road of life, too. It appears even Hikaru knew that."

I chuckled at Teito's failure and he glared at me before Castor started the race again. We ran for hours and when we finally returned to our room, Teito collapsed on his bed, exhausted. I went to silently chuckle, but my coughing fits were back. I kept them as quiet as I could, in order to not wake up Hakuren, Mikage, or Rok.

"Oi, Hikaru, you okay?"

"Yeah, it's just a cough. I'll be fine."

I stripped myself of my shirt and stretched my aching muscles. While Teito had a large white shirt for night wear, I had no such thing. I had refused when the sisters offered it to me, because I knew it was pointless if I would just take it off at night.

It seemed that when I coughed earlier, I had managed to wake up Mikage and Rok. Mikage hopped up to Teito, who was still lying on his bed at the moment, while Rok walked up my arm onto my shoulder. I was looking for my other clothes, to set out for tomorrow, and failed to notice Hakuren sitting up until Teito spoke.

"Sorry! Did we wake you up?"

He looked at me for a second, before gesturing to Mikage.

"That little guy just couldn't sit still while you were gone."

"He's a reincarnation of a dear friend."

Teito paused, looking a bit sad remembering Mikage, before he realized something.

"B-But you don't have to believe me!"

Hakuren just continued on like he hadn't said a word.

"So he's like a brother to you."

"Isn't he? I'm taking this test just for him."

Hakuren seemed surprised for just a second, mumbling something about 'having reasons', before turning to me.

"What about you? Why are you taking the exam?"

I was surprised that he asked about me. Most people wouldn't bother even looking in my direction. I reached up to my left eye, an old habit of mine, and began removing the bandages that covered it.

"I'm not to sure. One part of me says that I'm taking it to protect Teito, while another part says I'm doing it for Mikage, as well. I guess another part of the reason is because I want to prove myself, but I can't figure out which one is the true reason."

"I see. Teito, I'm sorry I was rude to you back when we first met."

"Oh, well I'm sorry I insulted your family name…but you're a member of the Oak family. Why are you taking this exam?"

I thought back to the annoying guy from the academy, chuckling mentally when I remembered him nearly getting crushed by the prisoner. I listened to his story about his mother being infected by a kor and how his father wouldn't do anything. Knowing that Frau had helped her, kind of shocked me, while Teito praised Hakuren for leaving everything behind.

Hm, sounds similar to me…only I did not wish to leave it behind, I was forced to.

The next night was the same training, but I rested after I won the race, waiting for Teito to do the same. When he finally did, Castor gave us both professional bascules and asked us to try them out on the puppets. Teito went first and, I must say, I was impressed. This would be my first time using it correctly, if I managed to get the feelings right.

"Remember this feeling. It can be useful with your bascule."

I remembered when I wanted to protect Rok, and even thought back to when I wanted to protect Teito and Mikage. My bascule formed a large ball and I successfully hit the dolls. Just then, Castor called out behind us.

"If you'd like, you're welcome to come practice with us."

Hakuren had been watching us from around the corner, apparently.

"I merely came to drop these off since they were both acting lonesome."

Rok was on his shoulder and Mikage was in his palm. Teito and I took our friends, before walking with Hakuren. Teito was talking with him, but I had a bad feeling that something was about to happen.

It better not be too bad. I had just finished healing from my last encounter.

Sure enough, a huge black thing had just rose from the ground, aiming for Teito. Hakuren knocked him away and blocked it, but it was too strong and threw him over the side of the building.

"Hakuren!"

Teito jumped after him and I would have too, but I knew that they'd be okay. Besides, someone has to take care of this. It turned towards me and I launched zaiphon after zaiphon at it. They either had little effect, or it just dodged. It attacked me and I dodged, to the best of my abilities, but it managed to put three deep gashes in my right leg. I stumbled as it went after Teito again, but the thing grabbed a hold of my leg and pulled me down with it. I heard Teito screaming, but Frau caught him before him and Hakuren hit the ground. The thing hit the ground with me still in it's clutches until Frau cut it up with his scythe.

"Oi, you okay brat?"

"Does it look like I'm okay? That thing almost tore my leg off!"

He stared at it, before explaining that it was a Wars. The Wars dissipated leaving a body of some sort, while Teito checked on Hakuren, who was unconscious. He thanked Frau before passing out as well, and I still sat on the floor trying to slow down the bleeding of my leg. A pain erupted in my head and I looked behind Frau, spotting two figures. I pointed and Frau followed my gaze before throwing his scythe at them. The pain receded and I managed to get up with Frau's help. I got treated and collapsed on Frau's bed, too exhausted to go to my own room.

They better not wake me up early tomorrow morning…

Sure enough, the fools woke were arguing the moment they woke up. I ignored most of it, seeing how it was Teito trying to get over his trust issues, but when an alarm clock went off I was ready to kill.

Frau rose from his…coffin and mumbled.

"Sleepy…"

Oh, I'll show you sleepy.

I got up off the bed and threw the closest thing to me, which happened to be a book with hidden porno, at Frau's head. It hit, right in the middle of his forehead and I turned to glare at Teito and Hakuren.

"Shut up and let me sleep or you'll all wish you were sleeping in a casket."

The shivered and I plopped back down, falling asleep instantly. I stayed asleep, seeing how Frau was too chicken to wake me up, and only started to come to when he was talking to himself.

"Damn, Labrador can be a jerk…I know Lab. I should have carried them back to their room. That was like torture…"

He trailed off and fell asleep, halfway out of his coffin. Sighing, I limped over and lifted him completely into it. It hurt my leg and I couldn't get up off the floor to close it, so I just fell asleep leaning on the edge of the casket.

If that was torture to you, then you could never stand what I've gone through Frau, but I'll give you my trust since you're so determined to protect us.

* was a quote from the manga Wild Ones that I don't own btw

** was a quote i found online with no author