A/N: Alright, I think I've teased you guys enough with all her secrets. So I'm gonna tell you them in this chapter, though I'm not so sure I'm going to expose her true name just yet. Not sure, guess we'll see as I type this chapter. Thank you OokamiLover19 and TeeBeMe for reviewing so quickly on my last two chapters and i'm sorry it's been so long since I updated this. It'll be even longer once school starts again. Anyway, on with the story. Be sure to review as well as vote on the poll on my profile. I want oppinons. Love you all muches, later and please enjoy.

-Cecelia-

I got up and quickly changed into a loose pair of shorts and a baggy t-shirt before grabbing the book off my bed and heading downstairs. I laid the book on the island before starting to make breakfast. Just as I finished the bacon the boys came downstairs. They all sat around the island and helped themselves. I made a plate for myself as well as I silently flipped open the book and picked up where I'd left off.

"The Twin Sister of Galendreya? Didn't think you'd be into that kind of story."

I looked up to see Raiden looking up at me and I blushed a bit.

"I'm not usually, but this book is special."

I said and an eyebrow rose at my comment.

"Oh? Why?"

He asked and I gently closed the book and slid it closer to me.

"My...My sister loved stories like this one. She used to ask me to read it to her when we were younger, I sort of memorized it when i was young."

I said hoping he wouldn't hear me, but of course I wasn't so lucky.

"Sister?"

He asked and my grip around the book tightened.

'Please don't ask. Please don't ask. Please don't ask.'

I thought over and over. If he were to ask where my sister was I might just lose it.

"I see."

Was all he said and I looked up surprised, but he had engaged Kouhai in a conversation leaving me to myself. I mentally shook my head to clear it and put my dishes in the sink.

"Well, I'm heading to my parents'. I'll see you guys when I get back."

I said and went over to the door and pulled on my sneakers before opening the door and slipping outside. I leaned against the door for a few minutes before heading for my old home. The one I'd shared with her.

-Raiden-

I was shocked to see Celia reading, but was even more shocked at the kind of book she was reading. She didn't strike me as the 'damsel in distress and knight in shining armor' kind of girl, so when I saw her reading the Twin Sisters of Galendreya I was kinda taken by surprise. Then when she explained she normally wasn't into that kind of story, but that book in particular was special to her I couldn't help but ask why. The others weren't paying any of us any attention, so I assumed it was safe to ask.

"My...My sister loved stories like this one. She used to ask me to read it to her when we were younger, I sort of memorized it when I was young."

She said quietly and I noticed instantly she referred to her sister in the past tense.

"I see."

I said and turned to talk to Kouhai. I noticed she looked up at me in surprise and smiled to myself as I realized I was right. Her sister was no longer alive, was that why she had been acting so different lately?

"Well, I'm heading to my parents'. I'll see you guys when I get back."

Celia said after having put her dishes in the sink. She went to the door and pulled on her sneakers before slipping outside. I could feel her leaning against the front door for a few minutes before she finally left. I sighed to myself as i imagined what must be going through her head, but I kept my thoughts to myself. If she wanted the others to know she would have said something.

-Cecelia-

'Okay, so Raiden knows about my sister, but nothing more than the fact I have-had one.'

I thought as I walked into the family shrine and walked upstairs to put the book down on my bed. I left my room and headed for the small shrine my parents had built for my sister after having changed into a more formal outfit. The white and red kimono clung to me tightly, but not too much. I walked into the shrine and closed the doors after me. I walked over to my kneeling mother and knelt beside her. Both her and my father were knelt infront of a picture of what looked like me when I was ten, but it wasn't. It was my sister, Talia. We were twins, but I was born a few seconds ahead making me the eldest. Meaning I was suppose to protect her, but I still let her fall beneath the ice and get sick.

I clenched my hands together and the pain of my nails digging into my skin brought me back to what I was suppose to be doing right now. I took a deep breath before leaning down and pressing my forehead against my hands and started to pray. Pray for health, for protection, and for forgiveness. I stood up when my parents did and we filed out of the small shrine after my father lit an inscence. We walked back into the house silently and sat around the dining room table. It didn't take long for my mother to burst into tears and my father to wrap his arms around her, trying to comfort her. I didn't cry, I wouldn't. Not infront of them. I stayed in my knelt position until my father stood up and took my mother upstairs. We did this every year right around this time. We'd pray to her picture and honor her memory, then we'd come inside where my mother would weep until my father and her both retired upstairs. Then I'd go over to the phone and call my grandmother so we could talk, then I'd go to bed. Grandma Zelda cut our conversation short, saying she knew I wanted to get to sleep so I could grieve by myself. My grandmother knew me better than anyone since I lost Talia. I went to my room and stripped down to my under shirt and boy shorts, then I crawled beneath the covers of my bed and fell asleep with mine and my sister's book on the pillow next to me. I'd almost finished it. Almost, but not quite. I alway finished it when I got to our spot.

-Hikaru-

It was odd being in the house with Cece not here. Apparently Katsume and the others thought so as well because they stayed in their rooms all day, I only saw them when Daiki called everyone down for dinner. The food was good, but it still wasn't the same without Cece. Once the dishes were washed everyone retreated back to their rooms again. Kenta and Kouhai didn't ask to play Smash Brothers, Raiden didn't sit on the couch and read, Katsume didn't glare at anyone, Daiki didn't bother telling about his latest encounter with human females, and I didn't even want to watch the new wolf program that was suppose to come on tonight. It was odd how much one little human effected all of us, but we couldn't deny she did. Though thankfully she'd be back tomorrow morning and everything could return to normal.

-Cecelia-

I showered quickly and pulled on a pair of black shorts and a blue tank top before grabbing the book off my bed and heading downstairs. My parents were both still asleep when I slipped out the door. I took a deep breath before hiding my aura and my scent, Hikaru had taught me how to hide my scent. Then I made sure no one was around before I started running for the forest next to the house Raiden and the boys had given me. I made sure to pass as quickly as I could by the house and didn't dare breath more than necessary until I was past the first couple of trees. Unlike the first time I'd come out here I wasn't running blind, I knew where I was going. Which bush to pass, which tree limb to crawl over, which hill to go down. It didn't take me long until I came to the little hollowed out log with the moss growing on only one side lying next to a tree that split into a 'Y'. I smiled as I remembered Talia pointing this tree out to me when we were younger. I quickly slipped down the small slope and went through the barely visible opening in the bushes that led to where I was going. I stood up as I reached the other side and smiled to myself as the breeze blew and seemed to welcome me to mine and my sister's secret spot. I looked around the clearing and felt my eyes start to sting. It was just like the last time I'd been here. The flowers were bright and beautiful, perfectly blended amongst the grass as it all gently swayed in the breeze. The small pond that fed out into a little river that disappeared somewhere into the forest. Talia and I had found this place when we were six and decided this would be our place since then. I walked to the log that sat in the middle of the clearing that me and Talia had drug out of the forest here so we could sit and talk. We'd spent hours here when we wanted to be by ourselves. If one of us was upset and disappeared, the other would find us here.

I sat down and leaned against the log, drawing my knees up to my chest and propped the book there and turned to the page I'd last stopped on. The breeze picked up and blew my hair about my face. I smiled sadly and tucked a loose strand behind my ear.

"You ready to pick up where we left off Talia?"

I asked the breeze as it died down. I heard the surrounding sounds of the forest die down and turned my attention to the book on my lap. I took a shaky breath before starting to read. Somehow, no matter how fast or how slow I read this book when it got close to this day I always wound up reading from this exact page when I came here. It was the last three pages in the book and they were always Talia's favorite because it always ended happily.

"The prince, being the gentleman he was, escorted both of the princesses back to their castle in the East and didn't leave their side until he was sure they were both safe and sound. As he saddled up his horse to leave though the youngest princess, Princess Serenity, came running across the courtyard towards him.

"Please don't go Prince Daniel!"

Princess Serenity yelled as she reached him, but she tripped over one of the cobblestones in the courtyard and fell foward. The prince dashed forward, dropping his sword that he had been tying to his saddle, and caught the young princess before she could hit the ground.

"You need to be more careful Princess."

Prince Daniel said and Princess Serenity blushed up at him before remembering she had a reason for stopping him.

"Wait Prince Daniel, please don't go."

The princess pleaded and Prince Daniel sighed as he helped her to her feet.

"I must my princess, nothing more holds me to you."

The prince said and Princess Serenity gathered what courage she had and turned to look at the man she'd fallen in love with.

"Does love not hold you to me?"

She asked and the prince stopped in tying his sword at the princess' words.

"I...It may, but I cannot stay if my love is not returned."

The prince said and Princess Serenity sighed before walking up to him and turning him so that he was facing her.

"Prince Daniel, have you learned nothing of women as you travelled with my sister and I?"

She asked and the prince looked at her confused until she leaned up and pressed her lips against his. The prince was shocked at first, but quickly overcame that and wrapped his arms around the princess' waist and held her to him as he deepened their kiss. They pulled back and stared lovingly into eachother's eyes.

"Tell me again Prince Daniel, what is it that holds you to me?"

Princess Serenity asked with a smile.

"Love holds me to you my princess, love."

I finished reading the last sentence of the book and slowly closed it before setting it gently down on the grass. The breeze picked up again and I smiled sadly.

"That's the end of it Talia."

I said to the breeze as it died down once more. I suddenly felt cold and drew my knees closer to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. I sat in silence as I thought about all the things that Talia never got to do because I was too scared to jump into the water to get her out. If it hadn't been for my moment of weakness, then my sister wouldn't have gotten so sick.

FLASHBACK

Cecelia sat in the waiting room of the hospital with her parents as she waited for the news about her sister's condition from the doctors. One of the doors opened and a doctor walked up to them.

"You're daughter is alive, but she is severely sick. She has a rather bad case of Pneumonia."

The doctor said and Cecelia looked at him confused. What was nemonia? Why did it make her mother cry even more? Where was her sister?

"You can take her home, but she will need constant care."

The doctor said and Cecelia saw her father nod before the doctor called for some nursed to bring her sister out. She was wheeled out in a wheelchair. Cecelia gasped when she saw her sister wrapped in a blanket and her lips were an unhealthy shade of blue and her skin seemed paler than normal. Cecelia followed her parents to their car and the drive home was silent except for the sound of Talia's teeth chattering.

Once they got home Cecelia's mother and father rushed their youngest daughter inside and put her to bed. Cecelia waited outside the room until her parents left to go to bed before going to her sister's side. She held her hand and shivered at how cold it was.

"S-Sissy?"

Talia whispered shaikly and Cecelia looked down at her.

"I'm here."

Cecelia whispered just as shakily, though it was from keeping her tears back.

"I had fun today."

She said with a smile before closing her eyes and going to sleep.

About four days passed since Talia was released from the hospital, but she never got better. She was constantly sick and was always freezing.

"She's asking for you again."

Cecelia looked up at the sound of her mother's broken voice and nodded silently before going into her sister's room.

"S-sissy, read me our story."

She said and Cecelia nodded as she walked over to the bookcase and pulled out the book. She crawled onto the bed next to her sister and wrapped her arms around her as she started to read to her. Their parents didn't disturb them at all, knowing Talia enjoyed when Cecelia read to her. Talia didn't speak until Cecelia was reading the last few words of the book.

"S-Sissy..."

Talia said, but stopped as she started coughing uncontrollably.

"Talia! I'll get momma!"

Cecelia said and started to get off the bed, but Talia stopped her.

"No, i'm alright."

Talia said and Cecelia looked at her younger sister a moment before nodding and settling back down.

"What is it?"

Cecelia asked her sister.

"You know I don't...care that I fell...into the ice right?"

Talia asked between coughing fits and Cecelia couldn't help but feel her eyes start to burn.

"I'm sorry I didn't jump in after you. I was just so scared and-"

"It's alright sissy."

Talia said and Cecelia nodded as she wiped at her eyes.

"You know what holds me to you sissy?"

Talia asked and Cecelia shook her head at her sister's question.

"Love. Love holds me to you, just like love holds you to me Zapphirra."

Talia said the last part in a soft whisper before her eyes slowly slid closed and her head fell back against the pillows. When Zapphirra noticed her sister's breathing had stopped she started panicking.

"Momma! Momma!"

She cried out and her mother ran into the room.

"What is it? Oh! Talia, no!"

Her mother cried out as she rushed into the room and lifted her youngest daughter to her chest and cried. The noise got Zapphirra's father's attention and he ran into the room. He stopped when he saw his wife holding his youngest daughter's still form and slid to the ground. They'd lost her. Zapphirra's sister was gone.

END FLASHBACK

-Zapphirra/Cecelia-

I felt the tears as they fell down my face as I remembered when Talia died. She wouldn't have gotten sick if I had jumped into the lake and gotten her out. If she hadn't been in the water for so long, then she would have been okay. The breeze blew again, as if trying to comfort me and I tightened my grip around my knees before slowly lifting my head to stare up at the sky. The sun was starting to set and the clouds were rolling along the sky. I took a deep breath before starting to sing the song Talia said described our family. I sang it every time I came here, to let Talia know I remembered what she'd said.

"I remember tears streaming down your face

When I said 'I'll never let you go'

When all those shadows almost killed your light

I remember, you said

'Don't leave me here alone'

But all that's dead and gone and past tonight

Just close your eyes

The sun is going down

You'll be alright

No one can hurt you now

Come morning light

You and I'll be safe and sound

Don't you dare look out your window

Darlin' everything's on fire

The war outside our door keeps raging on

Curled up to this lullaby

Even when the music's gone

Gone

Just close your eyes

The sun is going down

You'll be alright

No one can hurt you now..."

-Raiden-

Once it reached midday Hikaru and the others were freaking out. They had expected Celia to come back by now or have at least called.

"Come on! We have to go search for her!"

Hikaru shouted and everyone got up to go look for her. I followed out at a less frenzied pace. I knew each person grieved differently, and that's probably what Celia was doing now. Hikaru, Daiki, and Katsume headed into town to look. Kenta and Kohai headed to her parents' place and I headed for the forest. I was about to turn back when I heard something that sounded like singing. It was faint, but I followed it to a 'Y' shaped tree and saw there was a hole down a slope. I slid down it and moved through the brush until I came to a clearing. I looked up and saw Celia leaned against a log in the middle of the clearing with her knees drawn up and her eyes closed as tears silently fell down her face and she was the one singing. I hid behind the bushes and listened.

"Come morning light

You and I'll be safe and sound

Oooh, Oooh, Oooh (x2)

Laaa, Laaa(x2)

Oooh, Oooh, Oooh (x2)

Laaa, Laaa (x2)

Just close your eyes

You'll be alright

Come morning light

You and I'll be safe and sound

Oooh, Oooh, Oooh, Oh (x11)"

When she finished her head dropped down and her hair covered her face, but I could tell she was crying still. Her shoulder moved as she silently sobbed into her knees. I don't know what possessed me to do it, but I found myself moving from my hiding place amonst the bushes and walking up beside her. I silently sat down on the grass beside her and pulled her over to me. She tensed and looked up at me in shock, but I didn't say anything as i wrapped my arms around her. After a while she relaxed and laid her head against my chest and continued to cry. I tightened my hold on her and leaned back against the log. I noticed the book she'd been reading earlier laying on the ground and realized that this must be where she went when she wanted to grieve for her sister. I wanted to know what happened, but I knew she didn't want to talk right now so I just held her until she stopped crying and slowly fell asleep in my arms.

I hadn't moved since Celia fell asleep in my arms other than draping my cloak over her when she started to shiver as night fell. I could feel that the others had given up on trying to find her as soon as the sun had set. I hadn't expected her to sleep so long, but I wasn't going to wake her. She seemed to be having a nice dream and looked peaceful for the first time in the past couple of days.

'So today is when her sister died.'

I thought to myself as I tilted my head back and stared up at the sky. The moon had risen and taken hold of the sky and the stars had followed suit. I smiled up at it briefly before turning to look back down at Celia. Her outburst at dinner the other day had shocked us all. We had no idea she felt that way about us leaving, though I had my suspicions. She'd opened her home to us and considered us friends, of course it would effect her if we were to leave. But we couldn't stay here, we had friends and family back in our dimension. But that didn't mean any of us wanted to leave her when we went back, but what choice did we have? We couldn't bring her with us, she was just a human. She stirred and my eyes jumped down to her face. Her eyes slowly opened and she looked up at me and I felt her tense in my arms before relaxing.

"W-What are you doing here Rai?"

She asked and I smiled to myself as I looked down at her.

"Keeping a pretty girl company and making sure she doesn't freeze."

I said simply and she blushed when she saw my cloak draped over her. She started to hand it back, but I stopped her.

"You need it more than I do at the moment."

I said and she just nodded as she slipped her arms through the sleeves and pulled it closer to her.

"How long have you been here?"

She asked as she sat up and I let her, though I smiled at her blush when she realized she was sitting between my propped legs.

"Since you finished your song."

I said honestly and saw her eyes widen a bit before going back to normal. Silence fell between us and I watched her out of the corner of my eye as the breeze picked up and blew her hair about her face. She tightened her grip on my cloak with one hand and tucked a strand behind her ear with the other.

"Thank you."

She said after a while and I turned to look at her confused.

"For what?"

I asked curiously.

"I usually always grieve by myself, it was nice to have someone hold me while I cried. So...thanks."

She explained and I nodded before turning to look around the clearing. It was quite a beautiful place and well hidden.

"How'd you find me?"

She asked and I smiled to myself.

"Daiki and the others started to freak when you didn't come home so we all went out to search for you. Daiki, Hikaru, and Katsume searched the town. Kenta and Kouhai searched near your parents' house and I chose to search the woods. I was going to turn back when I heard something that sounded like singing. I followed it and found myself here..."

I said turning to look at her.

"...and saw you sitting in this clearing singing while you silently cried."

I said and she blushed and looked down, her bangs falling into her face and hiding her eyes. I frowned at this. I was so used to seeing the strong side of Celia and seeing her constantly happy. To see her this sad and weak was...I wasn't sure what it was, but it made me feel like I needed to comfort her and keep her safe.

"This clearing was mine and my sisters' secret spot. We could always come here to be by ourselves."

Celia said quietly and I just listened without saying anything.

"I'm not sure why, but when I come here it feels like she's close."

She explained and I nodded in understanding.

"I suppose you're curious about what happened right?"

She asked and I just looked at her. I was going to leave it up to if she told me or not, though I'd be lying if i said I wasn't curious.

"We were ten when it happened."

She said looking out at the flowers covering the clearing.

"Me and my sister Talia had gone out to play with some of the neighborhood kids down by the lake. It was December and there had been a storm the night before and the lake had frozen over. Our parents told us we could play near the lake, but not on it. It was fine until one of the boys said I was too chicken to go out on the ice. I was just going to ignore him, but Talia...She said I had to prove him wrong so I did. I walked out on the ice and when the others saw it was fine we all started running and playing on the ice. It was actually really fun, but then again, all fun has to end sometime right?"

She asked sadly and I saw her eyes start to water and she wiped them away with the back of her hand and continued.

"There was suddenly a loud cracking sound and we all moved to get off the ice. I had just managed to get to shore when the ice broke. I heard my sister scream and turned to see her fall through the ice. She could swim, but that wasn't the problem. I was too afraid to move and I watched as she struggled to stay afloat in the freezing water. I didn't move as the ambulance showed up or when the EMT worker got my sister out of the water and started to move her to the back of the ambulance. I only moved when my father yelled at me to tell him what happened. I had been so scared that I couldn't do anything."

She said and tilted her head back to look up at the sky. The moon's glow illuminated her face making the tears streaming down her face stand out against her fair skin.

"She got sick and was bedridden. She'd always ask me to read her our story."

She said and turned to look at the book lying on the ground before turning to look back up at the sky.

"I got to her favorite part when she'd gotten my attention. She started coughing uncontrollably and I wanted to get our mom, but she told me not to. I sat back down with her and she told me something that I'll never forget."

She said and I looked at her confused. I was about to ask what her sister had told her when she spoke again.

"She asked me if I knew what held her to me and I'd told her no. Then she told me love was what held her to me and what held me to her, then she closed her eyes and stopped breathing. That was the last time I heard my sister's voice. If I had just jumped in the water after her and gotten her out then she wouldn't have gotten so sick and she wouldn't have died. Why'd I have to be so weak?"

Celia asked in a whisper as her head dropped again. I frowned at how broken she looked and moved towards her. I tilted her chin up so she was looking at me. I could see the tears streaming down her face and wiped them away.

"Celia, you were ten. No more than a child, you were scared. It's not your fault that that happened."

I said but she shook her head.

"Yes it is. I was the oldest, I was suppose to protect her Raiden and I didn't. It's my fault she died."

She said looking away from me and I moved her head so she was looking at me again. I knew what she was going through. For years I had thought my master's death was my fault until I realized it wasn't. I couldn't have helped him even if I had wanted to, but Celia could have though she couldn't stop the ice from breaking.

"Cecelia listen to me."

I said and when she started to shake her head I tightened my grip on her chin just slightly.

"Listen."

I said and she looked up at me and I loosened my hold.

"It's not your fault. You couldn't stop the ice from breaking. Even if you had managed to jump in after your sister you both would have gotten sick anyway. Did you see your sister crying when she died? Was she frowning did she look sad in any way to you?"

I asked and when she shook her head I smiled softly at her.

"Exactly. She was happy to go because she knew you would always love her just like she will always love you. Do you think your sister would want you blaming yourself for something that was beyond your control?"

I asked and again she shook her head.

"So stop blaming yourself for something that wasn't your fault."

I said softly and she closed her eyes and let a few more tears slip out that I wiped away with my thumb. I pulled her to me and she curled up against my chest.

We sat that way for a couple of minutes until Celia pushed against my chest and sat up.

"Thank you Raiden."

She said looking down at me with a small smile and I smiled back.

"I know what it feels like to think something was your fault and feel guilty about it. Think you could have done something to change it. I lost my master and blamed myself for not being strong enough to protect him, but I couldn't have helped him even if I had been. We can't blame ourselves for things we couldn't control, we can just continue to live and grow so that we can protect those who are still around us."

I said and she looked at me surprised before smiling again.

"I suppose we should get back."

I said after a while and saw Celia suddenly frown.

"Do you think...we could stay here for a little while longer?"

She asked quietly and I looked at her before smiling softly.

"Sure."

I said before leaning against the log again. I didn't move this time as Celia moved over to me and curled up against my chest. When she was situated I wrapped my arms around her to keep her warm. She laid her head against my shoulder and I could feel her breath on my neck and shivered slightly. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before opening them and staring up at the sky. It seems like everyone has secrets that haunt them, whether they're willing to admit them or not. I noticed Celia had fallen asleep again and laughed quietly as I swooped her up in my arms and stood up. I called the book from the ground and it floated up and gently settled across her lap and I smiled as she reached out and unconciously held it to her chest. I wrapped us in my magic and teleported us back to the house right outside her room. Katsume and the others were all downstairs and didn't seem to sense us coming back. I pushed open her door and walked over to her bed and gently laid her down. She turned over onto her side, the book still clutched in her hands. I stepped back and looked down at her. She seemed at peace again and I smiled as I saw her bury her face in the collar of my cloak.

'It looks good on her.'

I thought, then quickly shook my head. I shouldn't be thinking that, but I couldn't deny it did look rather nice on her. I smiled and shook my head at myself as I realized I was falling for the woman lying on the bed infront of me, but there was nothing I could do about it. I quietly stepped out of her room and teleported to my room before walking over to my bookcase and pulling out my own copy of The Twin Sisters of Galendreya. I sat down in the chair at the desk in the corner of my room and started to read.