Chapter 5

The next morning Hana was up before even the sun had broken the horizon, in that time she was able to finish cleaning the dorm and was halfway through making a mix cultural breakfast, when Yukio came down the stairs with Hana's cell phone in his hand.

"Hana, what time did you get up?" Yukio asked, clearly tired. He had never been a morning person.

Hana put a steaming mug of tea on the counter in front of Yukio, before she went back to cooking the sausages. The whole time Kiba was sleeping on the floor next to her feet. "I woke up at two, rolled over for about an hour or so before getting up since I couldn't get back to sleep," Hana said.

"Yukio, give me my phone," Hana said, holding her hand out for her phone as she heard her alarm still going off. She saw her brother yawning and his head lolling to one side. Hana shook her head before pushing the mug towards him again. Quickly, she set to work on turning off her alarm for the day. It was then that Yukio finally sat down, his head resting on the counter.

"So tell me, why is your alarm set for so early?" Yukio asked, acting his age for the first time since she had gotten back to Japan. Hana shook her head and went back to making breakfast, the sausage was finished and, in a dish, ready to be put on the table. The next thing she made was the eggs, or that was before the dorm's rice maker beeped at her. She was about to turn and dish out the rice when the little kitchen demon Ukobach came crawling out of his hiding spot and started dishing out the rice.

"Thank you Ukobach. I had to get up early to do all my chores along with doing Patrick O'Connor's," Hana said pushing Kiba back with her foot, he had finally woken up once she had finished cooking the sausage links. Yukio looked at her surprised, he couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that the O'Connor family would make his sister do more than her fair share of the chores. Sure, growing up the three, often had to help around the monastery and their living spaces.

Yukio said just as Suguro-senpai came down the stairs, clearly having been woken up by Hana's alarm. "Remind me to set a weekly chores rotation starting tomorrow."

"Good morning, Teacher...Hana-chan, why are you up so early?" Suguro senpai asked as he scratched the back of his head, or that was until he saw Hana standing in the kitchen cooking breakfast. Hana was rolling the eggs around cheese, meat and veggies.

"Hana is pretty much an insomniac. It also doesn't help that she is used to getting up at this hour of the day because the O'Connor clan made her do not just her chores but someone else's as well. That's why starting tomorrow there will be a weekly chores rotation. And both Hana and Rin have light chores for the next few weeks." Yukio said before he went into the common area and pulled the blanket off of Rin who was quietly drawing, after being up for the last hour with a stomach ache. By the time he came down Hana had already finished the cleaning and had just started making breakfast by putting the kettle on for a cup of tea.

"How long have you been awake, Rin?" Yukio asked, looking over at the mug of lukewarm tea sitting on the coffee table.

"An hour later, my stomach was hurting, so I came down to get some tea. Hana had just put the kettle on," Rin said as he stretched out on the couch.

"I'm starting that rotation today, because you two used to be the worst in the mornings," Yukio said sitting on the couch next to their brother. Hana wanted to tell Yukio that they hadn't been like that in a long time, but she kept her mouth shut. She then continued making a mixture of Japanese and English food for breakfast.

"Yukio, the last time you got up before either of us was during our last year of elementary school, because that was the year everything changed," Rin said, putting a hand on his brother's shoulder.

"But... most mornings when I wake up, you're still in bed," Yukio said, confused. Hana stepped in to explain how their bodies were able to survive such long periods without sleep.

"Some mornings when my body is running low on energy, I can take a power nap in the early morning hours. Rin is the same way," Hana said as the rest of the Japanese team started coming down the stairs towards them. Hana was about to say something else when her phone started ringing.

"This is Hanako Okumura, how may I help you?" Hana said as she reached through the service window to pick up her phone. Most of the Japanese team was looking at her like she had grown a second head. They were probably confused about her name.

"Hannah Rose, you told the twins to have me call you when we got to the front gate of the school." Finn said. Hannah had to bite her tongue to stop herself from swearing.

Hana looked up at the others and asked, "Can you give me a few minutes?"

"Yeah, but you might want to hurry because Mom isn't happy," Finn whispered so his mother wouldn't overhear them.

Hana replied, "Okay, I'm coming." She then removed her apron so she could go upstairs to change out of her work clothes and into her everyday attire. She put on a black peasant sleeved blouse and an olive green tulle skirt, which she accessorized with a silver chain belt and a pair of silver flats.

"Wow Hana, you look beautiful," Yukio said as he handed her a map and a timer. "If you could give us about fifteen minutes to get ready, that would be great." Hana had to hold herself back from rolling her eyes as she picked up her grey jacket off of the hook in the dormitory entranceway. It only took Hana five minutes to make it to the front gate from the nearest door.

"…I said that we are on the list," Professor Erin O'Connor shouted in English at the men standing guard.

"Excuse me; my name is Hanako Okumura and this is the English team of Exwires," Hana said in her native tongue. Right away, the guards turned and bowed to the girl. They even shared a few words, mostly words of condolences over the death of her father.

"Finally, you are here, you damned worthless girl...what do you think you are doing?" Professor O'Connor said, raising her hand to smack Hana, only for the guards to step in and protect her.

"We won't let you hurt Ms. Okumura; she has done nothing wrong," one of the guards said in perfect English. It was then that Sir. Mephisto Pheles appeared behind her.

"Mrs. O'Connor, unlike in England where half-demons are discriminated against, Japan is a nation of equal opportunities; a place where all can thrive. You are fired; your sister-in-law and her husband will take over this class. Here is your ticket back to Ireland. Miss Okumura, would you please lead the English team to their dorm? Their teachers will be here sometime later today, and the attending guards know to call you." Sir Pheles said before disappearing in a cloud of smoke.

Ava coughed at the heavy flowery scent of the demon's smoke and asked, "Is he always like that?"

"Normally it's worse. But don't trust Sir Pheles; he can't be trusted. That's what my father used to say, and it also doesn't help that he's one of the eight demon kings." Hana said, fishing the magic key, which she had 'borrowed' from Yukio, out of her jacket pocket.

"Is he one of your older half-brothers?" Ryan asked as he fell into step with the white-haired girl.

"No, the eight demon kings only see Rin as family because me and Yukio are too human for them," Hana said before putting the small brass key that would allow her to cut through space and time, and get to the dorm without any hassle.

"Welcome to the dorm, English team," Hana said, opening the door into the dorm, just as the Japanese team came down the stairs dressed in their uniforms, while the members of the English team were in their everyday clothes. "That over there is the kitchen and across the hallway is the living room/common area. Lady Chiyo, your room is at the end of the main hallway. I already made sure that your name and title are listed on your door."

"Thank you, Ms. Okumura. Okay English students, you have 30 minutes to put your things away and come down for breakfast," Mrs. O'Connor said, clapping her hands before turning to head to her bedroom. Hana took off her jacket and hung it up on the hook under her name.

"15 minutes on the mark. Here are your slippers, now give me back what you 'borrowed', Hanako Okumura." Yukio said meeting her at the landing with her teddy bear slippers in one hand while he was holding out his other hand for the key she had 'borrowed'. Hana stepped up on the landing being careful not to step on anyone's shoes. Before coming back to Japan, Hana had given the members of the English team a crash course on Japanese culture and manners.

"Here, thank you Yukio," Hana said as she handed him the key, which he took from her outstretched hand. She then placed the slippers on the floor in front of her feet.

"You're welcome, Hana. Now go eat your breakfast; you've worked so hard this morning." Yukio said as he put the key in his pocket and reached out to pet her head, being careful not to mess up her hair, which was neatly pulled back into twin tails, with the main body of her hair framing her face in a mass of beautiful curls.

"Yukio, you better not ruin our sister's hair. I spent a good 20 minutes this morning getting all the knots out," Rin yelled from his spot in the kitchen.

"And that was just the knots; he then spent another fifteen minutes styling my hair," Hana said, pushing Yukio's hand away from her head. Yukio looked between the two, not understanding how Rin had managed to get their sister to sit still long enough for him to fix her hair, which was often a tangled mess due to her natural curls.

"Remind me again what time did you two get up?" Yukio asked as Hana joined Rin in the kitchen, before taking a couple of steps back so she could tie a cloth over her hair.

"I got up at three this morning, while Rin got up around 5:30," Hana said, reaching to take the apron from Rin who clearly needed help with getting the rest of breakfast ready."

"Hana, make the salad. Yukio, come and set the table...or else I'll have Hana put you up in her room," Rin ordered, barking out orders as she used to do in the old days. Hana couldn't help but laugh uncontrollably.

"It's just like the old days, me and Rin making breakfast while Yukio is setting the table...everyone, you might want to cover your ears because it's about to get loud," Hana said as her watch started beeping at her, telling her that the English team's thirty minutes were up and it was time for breakfast. Hana had just finished putting all the vegetables that she had washed and cut into the bowl, before moving out of the kitchen area to the doorway. She cupped her hands around her mouth and took a deep breath.

"10 minutes till breakfast, get a move on," Hana screamed at the top of her lungs. Hana turned back to her brothers. Her brother's students all looked at her shocked, were they not expecting her to yell like that.

"That was louder than last time," Yukio said, blinking a few times at his little sister.

Rin asked, looking at the girl. "How are you still so loud?" He might have been a small thing, but Hana was strong and powerful in her own way. It still surprised him how strong the girl had become.

"Come on I've always been loud, it's just one of the many traits that drive people nuts. Plus, both Patrick and Amelia are hard of hearing; while Amelia is actually deaf, though she does wear hearing aids." Hana said moving back into the kitchen area next to Rin so she could mix the salad, both of her brothers were looking at her dumbfounded. They thought that she would have at least grown up in the time that she had been overseas, but then again she was their little sister. Just then the English team entered the room falling in order of oldest to youngest.

"Can you please tone down the volume, Hannah Rose?" Sophia said, crossing her arms over her chest as she stopped just short of the table. Hana turned to her teammates, her elbows leaning on the counter, with the bowl of salad nicely mixed in front of her.

"No can do, I'm a cook…plus with Patrick and Amelia I have to scream or they won't hear me," Hana said shrugging her shoulders, as she handed the bowl of salad to Yukio. It was then that Mrs. O'Connor entered the room, wearing her exorcist uniform, the crisp black cloth looking brand new even though she had been an exorcist since she was a young teenager.

"Ms. Okumura, there is no need to scream inside the dorm. Do you understand, young lady?" Mrs. O'Connor said, and Hana snapped to attention, her hands at her sides.

"Yes ma'am, sorry ma'am. It won't happen again," Hana said, looking at her feet, trying her hardest to maintain a proper outlook. When she first arrived in Ireland, she had a difficult time keeping her tongue and eyes in check on more than one occasion.

"Make sure that it doesn't Ms. Okumura…no one is allowed at the table, all of you up and get in a line oldest to youngest." Mrs. O'Connor said before turning to the Japanese students sitting at the table waiting for everyone to start breakfast. They at least were being polite and waited to eat until everyone was at the table, and they did not know that Chiyo O'Connor had strict rules about how things are done. Slowly but surely the Japanese students got up from their seats and stood in a line ranging from oldest to youngest. Hana fell into rank at the end of the English team's line, which got a few strange looks from some of the Japanese students, but they could understand with her being a member of the English team.

"My rules are as follows: breakfast is at 7 AM, lunch at noon, dinner at 17:30 to 18:15. You will not be able to sit at the table until three minutes before the meal begins. Before each meal, we will say grace, there will be no talking at all while we are sitting at the table, you will sit in the order you line up in. Every Wednesday there will be a room inspection after dinner at 18:30 sharp, no exceptions. Everyone will help with the chores needed to take care of this building. All homework will be done before dinner every night. Bedtimes are as follows: 1st through 3rd years 20:00, 4th and 5th years 21:30, 6th and up are required to be in their rooms by 22:00, they do not have a set bedtime. For the translation of what year is which, please talk to Ms. Okumura. That is all; you have 30 minutes to eat." Mrs. O'Connor said before turning and sitting at the head of the table. Hana waited until everyone had sat at the table before moving to sit, only for Mrs. O'Connor to hold up her hand meaning she wanted Hana to say grace.

"Bless us, O Lord, for these, thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen." Hana said making the sign of the cross both before and after saying the prayer. Hana could tell that most of the members of the Japanese team were either raised in shrines or temples because they didn't even know the first thing about saying grace. Hana was about to say something when Mrs. O'Connor held up her hand, telling Hana not to say anything. Hana sat down on her chair and started to push her food around her plate. Not even touching the food in front of her. Or that was until Mrs. O'Connor slammed her hand on the table.

"Ms. Okumura, if you're just going to play with your food, then you can go up to your room," Mrs. O'Connor said clearly annoyed. Hana slowly got up from her seat and made her way up the stairs, knowing what was coming after everyone finished eating. Hana lay down, her back facing the door, her stomach tied in knots.

"Hana-chan, are you awake?" A voice called weakly through the door, Hana rolled over, and she would have gotten up but the pain was too much, Hana whimpered before curling back up, trying to relieve the pain radiating from her stomach. She could hear the person open and close her door, before they were gone. She missed lunch, because she couldn't find the strength to get up. And dinner would have been the same if not for the fact that Mrs. O'Connor came and dragged her out of her room by the ear.

"Hello everyone and good evening, it's nice to meet you all. I am the new English teacher, Alexandra Sato. And next to me is my beloved husband Ayato Sato," Professor Sato said in her normally chipper voice, which normally drove Hana insane with how loud she could get. Hana was surprised that everyone was already seated at the table, even though there was still five minutes until the beginning of the meal.

"Ah, there's the youngest student, you must be Hannah Okumura, correct?" Professor Sato said, clapping her hands together as she rushed to Hana's side. It was then that Hana slapped herself across the face, trying to wake herself from this strange and yet terrifying nightmare. But the pain she felt was too real for it to be a dream."

"Hana…" Her brothers said in unison, clearly confused by her actions. It was then that Hana collapsed to her knees, and her head would have hit the ground if someone hadn't caught her.

"What's wrong with her?" Professor Sato asked before Hana's world went black. When she came to, Hana was lying on her bed, Angel tucked under her arm, a note on her desk. Hana slowly sat up, stiff and sore for some reason. As soon as she sat up, the cloth that had been covering her forehead fell onto her lap. Hana turned on the lamp above her head.

"Dearest Hannah Rose,

Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to not only be your teacher but also your friend. I look forward to speaking with you in the coming days. As the youngest student here, you will be directly under the care of myself and my husband, Ayato. If you need us, our door is always open to you.

Yours always.

Alec Sato," Hana read confusedly at first until she heard the rushed footsteps running up the stairs. The door burst open to reveal Professor Sato and her husband.

"You're awake Hannah, how are you feeling?" Professor Sato asked as she moved closer to Hana's bed, only for her to throw the woman a glare, and if looks could kill, the professor would have been six feet under.

"Hey bean... can I come in?" Rin asked, popping his head into the room, clearly trying to hide the tray in his hands. Hana perked up at her brother, but she didn't really care for the professor.

"Yes, you can come in Rin." Hana said, rubbing at her eyes. She had noticed when she woke up that her vision was blurry around the edges, but it became clear that something was wrong when she couldn't clearly see Rin. She started rubbing fiercely at her eyes hoping to clear them up. That was until someone grabbed her hands and pulled them away from her face.

"You can't be rubbing your eyes like that," Rin said as he came closer to her, holding a tray in his hands.

"Why is my sight so blurry?" Hana asked closing her eyes and feeling the items on the tray. She found a bowl, with a semi-solid substance inside, a spoon to the right of the bowl and a cup of apple juice from the smell. Hana dipped her fingers into the substance in her bowl before lifting it to her lips, the substance turned out to be applesauce, which had always been her favorite as a child.

The professor's husband said, "While her manners could use some work," clearly not understanding that Hana was going off of her sense of touch alone.

"No Hana has manners, but with her eyesight as it is, she can only go off of touch." Rin said, leading her hand towards the spoon.

"Why is her eyesight like this?" the professor asked, as Professor Sato pulled up a chair next to her.

"Hanako has a fever because her body is fighting against her demonic blood. At the same time, her eye color is slowly changing. According to what Yukio told me, her eyes are adjusting by cutting off her vision." Rin explained before reaching forward and running his hand through Hanako's sweaty baby hair, which was stuck to her forehead due to the fever.

"That makes sense," Hana said, lifting her head in the direction of her older brother. "How long did it take Yukio to drill that into your head?"

"20 minutes… now eat your applesauce," Rin said carefully, trying not to reveal what was in the food. For all of her ten years that Hana had been with their family, she would never take the medication when she needed to. Their family had learned how to hide the medication within her favorite snack.

"Rin, you don't have to hide the medicine anymore. I'll take it just fine now." Hana said after finishing her applesauce, clearly able to tell that Yukio had put her sleeping medicine in there, but not very finely ground.

"So, you can tell that it was in there?" Rin asked, lifting the tray off of her lap as she curled back up under the covers. Rin pulled the covers up to her chin, making sure that she was tucked in nice and tight.

"Goodnight, Hana," Rin said, leaning forward to kiss her forehead.

"Night, Rin," Hana said before rolling over onto her back, Angel clutched tightly to her chest. It took her fifteen minutes before she was out like a light.