“What? I don’t know your son. I’m sorry.” Kiba looked at the man. His hair was a brown mess thrown on his head. He had sharp alert eyes that were covered with the classic black, thick-rimmed, nerdy glasses. He was wearing a white lab coat that was buttoned in the front so you couldn’t see what he was wearing underneath.

He looked like the biggest science geek Kiba had ever seen.

“I think you know my son. I don’t know why you wouldn’t. I mean you’ve been living with him for five years.”

Kiba glanced down at the note in his hand. Could this guy be talking about Mizu? Wait, Mizu’s father died in an explosion, so why is this guy posing as Mizu’s father? Well, Mizu survived, so maybe his father survived too.

“Well, where is he? I have something to talk to him about.” Kiba could easily see the eagerness on the man’s face. Whatever he needed Mizu for, it couldn’t be good. Kiba took a few easy breaths. Okay I need to alert the Head without this guy knowing. But how will I do that? Kiba looked over when he heard rustling in the bushes. “Saki,” Kiba breathed. She must have come back, worried I would overwork myself. If I can just warn her without the man noticing…

“Who’s Saki?” The man gave Kiba a suspicious look.

Kiba thought fast, “Sake. Mizu went to ask the Head if we could have Sake at the festival that’s coming up.” Kiba glanced over towards where Saki was hiding, “So if you want to see Mizu, we will have to go to the Head.”

Feeling a little guilty about leaving Kiba, Saki had come to give Kiba something to eat. When she saw the unfamiliar man there she decided to stay in the bushes. Now Saki could understand the situation. This man was dangerous and Kiba needed to get away. Unable to go himself, Kiba needed Saki to go get the Head for assistance.

If Kiba wants me to go to the Head, then he must have realized this man was too much for us to handle on our own. Saki ran faster, hoping Kiba could handle the man long enough for her to warn the head.

- -

I must find him, I must find the blonde. I can’t get him out of my head. He won’t go away! These feelings don’t make sense, but I won’t be able to go on if I don’t find him soon. I must find him! Great golden eyes swept out over the horizon in pursuit. He had long silver hair that flew in the wind, and a sharp nose tracing the scent of his lost love. He searched everywhere, tracing the scent, hoping not to loose it. But it got stronger as he passed a ruined clearing. He only stopped at a small grave covered in the scent. He almost turned away when he saw a piece of paper at the base of the grave, the one he had been searching for was close, he could tell. He let the paper float away in the wind. Because even as a new born baby, sitting on his mother’s lap, he could tell who he was, with his matted blonde hair and eyes the color of the sea.

- -

Rei woke with a start. She had had a dream where the forest caught fire and only two of the three could escape. Kori had the choice between Mizu and Rei. And he chose Rei and left Mizu behind. Of course that wouldn’t happen in real life. In the past couple of days Rei could tell the two were really close. They barely ever separated except for the bathroom. Rei knew that in real life she would be the one left behind. The dream had left her heart pumping fast; she could distinctly remember Kori’s beautiful blue eyes shining in the flame light.

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Since there would be three people sleeping with her now, Kori suggested that there should be a door between their rooms so Rei would have a little privacy. What if Kori is there? I can’t face him after that dream! Rei quickly pulled on her clothes and answered the door.

“You take too long.” It was Mizu, “What where you doing in there?” Mizu tried to peer around Rei’s shoulder.

“I was just getting dressed.”

Mizu gave her a suspicious look and then seemed to shake it off. “Well, breakfast is ready if you want some.”

Rei started to answer when she noticed Mizu’s eyes. She could see the beautiful eyes in her dream.

“What are you staring at?”

“Y-your” Rei blushed.

“My what? Is there some thing wrong with my face? You’re staring at it.”

“I’m sorry,” Rei turned even redder, “your eyes look exactly like your brothers.”

Mizu turned a deep red and looked away. They stayed like that a little while, both getting redder and redder as time went by. “W-well breakfast is ready…if you want.” With that he turned away and left the pit. Rei stood for a minute and followed. She noticed as she walked out that Mizu had not really left, but stayed behind to watch her. She went to say something, but Kori appeared, and she forgot all about it.

“Ah, good mourning Rei! Huh? Mizu you’re all red, are you overheated?” Kori knelt down and felt Mizu’s forehead. Rei wished that she could trade places with Mizu. It left her feeling kind of lonely.

“I’m really fine Kori. You don’t have to look me over like that. I can take care of myself.”

“Alright. Well, should we eat breakfast?”

- -

Kori cleaned up after breakfast while Rei and Mizu looked for some more firewood (they had used it all for breakfast). A piece of paper fell out of Kori’s pocket as he leaned over the table. It was labeled ‘My two sons’. Kori stared at the letter. I wonder when I should tell him what our father was really up to in that lab of his. I wonder if he’s ready for it. Kori glanced up at his brother struggling over too many logs in his arms. Just what did he do by himself all yesterday? He won’t let me care for him any more. What could have happened all in one day?

“Phew…Hey Kori what is that you’re holding?”

Kori didn’t hear her he was concentrated on his thoughts.

“Ooi, Kori are you okay? You’re spacing out.”

Mizu can’t grow up yet. He’s mine. I won’t let anyone else have him!

“OOI! Kori!”

“Huh? Oh, sorry.” Kori looked at his hand. His fingernails had left marks on his palm.

“I’m sorry I was thinking about something.”

“Oh…well…um” Kori looked at Rei and saw she was blushing. “You…your eyes are beautiful. T-they remind me of the ocean.”

Kori gave her a questioning look. “Rei do you like me?”

“Ah!” Rei’s face went redder than a tomato.

“You do, I can tell.”

“You can?” Rei’s face continued turning red.

“Yes, but that’s okay. You don’t have to be embarrassed.”

“Really? It’s okay?”

“Yes,” As long as you don’t take Mizu, it’s okay. “Listen, we should get out of here soon.”

“What?” Rei stopped blushing.

“Don’t you get the feeling we’re being watched?”

Rei looked around. He’s right. She could see many pairs of eyes. One pair stuck out too her in particular. They were a beautiful gold shining the brightest in the shadows. She recognized them. This was the same clan of demons that killed her parents when she was young. She could remember the eyes distinctly. Why now? Why hadn’t she remembered them before? She could have looked for her parents. I’m not going to let this happen again. No! I have friends now, and I’m not going to let these demons eat them! I will not be alone ever again! Rei took out her dagger and ran straight for them. She could hear Kori shout in the background, but she didn’t care. “You animals killed my parents!” and she lunged for those golden eyes, but they disappeared before Rei could get close. She heard him whisper in her ear, “I have no need for you.” Rei fell down on her knees; he had punched her in the stomach. No!

- -

It had suddenly gotten dark, like it was going to rain. Kori saw Rei fall unconscious and they were heading for Mizu. Kori acted fast slipping himself between Mizu and the predator. He swept Mizu up and ran for Rei, but stopped when he felt sharp claws in his back, “He is mine!” he heard someone yell and he dropped Mizu.

- -

“Kori!” Mizu yelled as his back hit the ground hard. It thundered. “I’m okay,” Mizu heard behind him. “

“Come with me Mizu, I want you.” He heard someone say, but he had no chance to answer because he was flung on someone’s back, “I will not let you have him!”

“Put me down.” Mizu pleaded his brother. He could feel blood running down his brother’s back, “Kori you’re hurt and…I want to save you this time! You don’t need to save me I’ll be okay…I-I am stronger now Kori, let me go.” Mizu felt Kori dive for Rei.

“I will not put you down Mizu, because whether you’re stronger or not you are my little brother and I will always protect you. I will not ever let anyone have you, Mizu, never.”