When I enter the basement of our dilapidated hideout, I'm greeted by Patchy, standing next to the doorway with her arms crossed and a look of mild irritation on her face. "How long were you standing there?" I ask. "Not too long, I'd hope."

"The little devil let me know you were coming," Patchy replies. She smiles and waves. I turn around to see said little devil coming down the stairs doing the same, though she stops when I look at her. "You could've at least told me you were leaving yourself."

"Why listen to my words directly when you have a servant to listen for you?" I ask, shrugging. You're quite lucky to have one, you know.

She rolls her eyes. "I never understood the nobility…"

"Does my splendor fall outside the scope of your… Knowledge?"

"Oh, shut up." She begins to turn around, but stops. Her eyes are drawn to my arm and the look of annoyance on her face suddenly becomes one of concern. "Remi, what happened?" She asks, gently grabbing my arm to examine my wound.

The little devil looks over my shoulder and gasps. "Should I get something for that, Mistress Patchouli?" I break free of Patchy's grip.

"It's nothing," I say.

"Don't be stupid, Remi." Patchy stands in front of me, blocking the door. "How did that happen, anyway?"

…I can't tell her about that girl. It'll cause unnecessary worry. Not to mention, she'll never let me try to meet her again. "I got a bit careless is all. Humans are so weak, I sometimes forget how hard they can struggle when pushed into a corner."

I can't read Patchy's expression. That was believable, right? She sighs. "Playing with your food again, you brat?"

I smile and shrug. "I got a bit confident…" I raise my skirt a bit, showing the numerous vials of blood and Patchy's equipment. "Shall I show you the fruits of my labor?"

Patchy tilts her head at me and sighs again, though it sounds more relieved than last time. We enter the room together and head towards Patchy's desk while the little devil goes to check on a seemingly roused Flan. Once I unload my bounty in front of Patchy, I can't help but drink in the satisfaction I feel from the sight of her widening eyes. "Lot more than usual…" She mutters.

I was in a good mood after my encounter with the girl, so I was sure to make the most of that sudden burst of motivation. "And I didn't rush," I comment, picking up a vial. "All of this should be high quality. Well, as high a quality as you can get here…"

"Didn't I tell you-"

"Not to push myself? No, Patchy, I'm not deaf. If I was pushing myself, I'd either have a dozen more scars or those vials would be full of pigs blood." I retch at that thought. "Pigs blood…"

"Either way…" Patchy looks into my eyes silently for a moment. "Take a moment to relax. As much as I hate to say it, you've earned it." I give her a more genuine smile as I walk away from her and passed the little devil as I approach Flan.

She's sitting up now, her back against a stack of pillows. "Big sis…!" She says when she sees me, her face lighting up.

"You look better, Flan," I say. I try to offer her the blood vial, but her outstretched arms force me into a hug. I flinch at the touch. Still so cold…

"I didn't see you when I woke up…" She says, slowly starting to sob.

"I… I'm sorry, Flan." I hug her tighter, but she doesn't get any warmer.

"You always say goodbye."

"I know. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you, Flan."

We stay in each others embrace, silent, aside from Flan's soft weeping. My fingers brush over the bandages wrapped around her back. My wings twitch. Buried under these covers… Why are you still so cold? When her sobbing stops and her hold weakens, I gently push away from her. I hand her the blood vial, which she slowly but eagerly sips.

"I'm sorry to worry you, Flan," I say. I couldn't possibly say it enough. "Is there anything else you want? Anything at all."

She finishes her vial and thinks for a moment. "I haven't had a bath in awhile…"

At the mention of a bath, the putrid stench I'd since managed to block out invades my nose once again.This place really is filthy…"Ah, right… I think that'll make us feel a little better." I turn towards the little devil, who turns towards Patchy, who nods, causing her to head into the wash room.

Before long, the bath is ready. I help Flan undress and get into the tub before I join her. The warmth causes me to shiver, as if all the cold is being forced out of my body. How long has it been since I've indulged in such a pleasure? Not that long, in reality, but it feels like an age… I slump down, nearly going completely beneath the water. Even Flan's perpetually strained expression seems to relax a bit.

"…Big sis?" Flan says after a while. "Is that…?" She points to the wound on my arm.

"Oh, this?" I begin. "It's nothing. Just a scratch." She seems anxious… Idiot, why'd you have to go and get yourself attacked?! "Really, Flan, this is nothing. Here, let me wash your back."

After a moment, she turns around and lets me do so. I flinch when I see her scars. Two massive scabs, surrounded by raw skin, if not a lack there of. She flinches every time a finger brushes her, no matter how gently. My own wings start to twitch and my chest starts to weigh me down.

"Big sis…" Flan speaks up. "You got hurt gathering blood, right?"

"I…" I sigh. "Yes, I did, but it's nothing serious. Please don't worry about me."

"…Useless," she mutters.

"Flan?"

"I… Wish I could do something." The sound of splashing water grows muted as Flan speaks. "You're all doing so much to help me… Patchy works at her desk or in her room all day… You go out to gather blood every day and night… I haven't seen Meiling in… In…" She starts to choke on her words. "I… I'm sorry."

"Don't say that!" I raise my voice without thinking. We remain in silence for a long moment. I take a bucket that Patchy prepared, so the running water wouldn't harm us, and rinse off her back.

"Let me wash yours," she says. It takes me a moment to process the request, but when I see the spark of determination in her eye, I can't help but relent and turn my back to her. It wasn't always just a spark. Your eyes used to shine like that all the time. "…You have such pretty wings…" She says it under her breath. So quietly that I doubt she even realizes she said it out loud.

"Flan… You aren't a burden. Please, don't think this was your fault. It wasn't." It's my fault. I couldn't find you in time. Blame me. Please. "I love you, Flan."

I feel her head gently come to a rest on my shoulder. "I love you, too." As if on a trigger, my chest grows heavier as she says those words. You don't have to love me. You can shun me. You can hate me, and I'll still do everything I can to help you. I always will.

Suddenly, the door swings open, and Patchy fills the doorway. "Remi! We've got a call."

"Do you have no sense of decency?" I ask. "It's a bit rude and uncalled for to burst in on two young girls bathing, Patchy… Is there something you're not telling us?"

"Don't flatter yourself, brat." I nearly retort, but she silences me with her next statement. "It's from Meiling."

...Meiling? I stand up, step out of the bath, and grab a towel. "Little devil, please take care of Flan," I say as I wrap myself and start to head out.

"B-Big sis!" Flan cries out.

I stop and turn around. "I-I'm sorry, Flan, but-"

"No, I know," she interrupts. "Um… Please tell Meiling I said 'hi'."

I smile. "Of course."

The little devil enters to help Flan while I follow Patchy. She moves aside the books on her desk so that only one item remains in it's center: a large crystal ball. The orb itself is purple, but deep within it is a faint, green glow. The glow grows larger and larger until it overtakes most of the purple. "Meiling?" Patchy says. "Meiling, can you hear me?"

"Loud and clear, Miss Patchy!" The voice emitting from the ball is somewhat distorted, but I easily recognize it. And how could I not? It's the voice of the former captain of my mansion's guard force, and now, the only remnant of it. "Wow, it's good to hear your voice again… Is any one else there?"

"Indeed, there is," I respond.

"Mistress!" She shouts with excitement. I then hear some minor distortion, possibly other voices, before her own voice returns. "Sorry… I should probably stay quiet. Anyway, how have you-"

"Meiling," Patchy interrupts. "You sent me the signal and I'd like if we could talk about it." Meiling apologizes, and even without seeing her face, I can almost picture her with that same, awkward smile. "Where are you?"

"Japan."

Patchy flips through her notes. "…Interesting. All the research I did on Japan hit dead-ends. Where are you exactly?"

"The Yatsugatake Mountains, on Honshu."

"Hmm… I might've read something about a war there a few decades ago. Well, regardless, you've found a good place, right?" The ball is silent for a few moments. "…Meiling? You found a place, right?"

"About that… I haven't managed to enter yet."

"What do you mean, enter?" Patchy sighs. "Meiling, I told you to call us if there was an emergency or if you've found us a place to stay."

"I-I know, but…"

Before Patchy can say anything else, I put a hand on her shoulder. "It's fine, Meiling. Now, how close are you to entering… Whatever this place is?"

"Thank you, Mistress…" She says under her breath. "Anyway, it's hard to tell. There's a definite irregularity in the Qi around these mountains. Namely, none of the Earth's veins are going through them, only around. It doesn't look natural, but it still feels normal… Aside from that, I'm sensing a massive concentration of non-humans, but the feeling is… Faint. Muffled. Honestly, it's unlike anything I've ever felt before. It's definitely magic, without a doubt. And it's strong.

I can feel my heart starting to beat faster. "You're certain, Meiling?"

"Absolutely! I haven't found the entrance yet, but there's no doubt that it's here!"

"If you haven't found it yet, you can't be one-hundred-percent sure," Patchy chimes in. "…Though, I know you. Your senses are sharp, and if a vein of the Earth's Qi lead you there, I'm inclined to believe both it and you. But for you to have this much difficulty finding an entrance, it must be well hidden."

"And by extension: safe," I add. "Keep searching, Meiling."

"I'll do my best to find it, Mistress Remilia! Miss Patchouli!" With her voice alone, the room started to feel just a little bit brighter. It really is wonderful to hear her voice again… A drop of liquid rolls down my cheek, but I'm unsure if it's from my hair or my eyes. I wipe my face regardless. "Sorry to bother you all. Next time I call, I'll have found the perfect spot!"

"W-Wait!" I blurt out.

"…Yes, Mistress?"

"Um…" You couldn't have done that any more childishly… "Flan… Flan wanted to say 'hi'."

A few moments of silence pass before she responds. "Good to hear she's doing fine. Tell her I said 'hi' right back!"

"I'll be sure to-"

The sound of coughing suddenly causes me to turn around. Flan is dressed, but on her knees, coughing violently. The little devil is couched down next to her. I rush over immediately.

"Flan?! Flan!" I couch down on her other side, holding her chest and back. "It's okay, you're okay. Calm down." I mostly said it for myself.

A moment later, just as Patchy joins us, the fit stops. She's still shaking. "I-I'm sorry…" She says, barely audible.

"Quiet, Flan, it's okay…"

The little devil and I walk her over to her bed and lay her down. The little devil steps aside and Patchy feeds her some sort of medicine and a vial of blood. She nearly falls into her pillows when she finishes. "Sis?" She whispers, quietly.

"Flan, don't push yourself, you should rest."

"Meiling… Did you tell her…?"

I smile. "Yes, I told her. And she said 'hi' right back." A small smile appears on her face before her eyes close and her expression becomes a portrait of peaceful melancholy.

My exhaustion catches up to me, and the night passes by quickly. Before I know it, I'm dried, dressed, and already in bed next to Flan. But while my body is refusing to move, my mind hasn't slowed down.

Meiling has nearly found our promised land and Patchy has nearly finished Flan's wings… Will that time really be upon us so soon? If so… I hope our next meeting goes a bit better. We may just need your help… I stare at the ceiling waiting for sleep to claim me.

A shame, resting at this hour… Wasn't it a full moon, tonight?