"Hos.h.i.+ko-chan, ssh. Don't cry anymore."

"Mama, mama -iyu hurt! Iyu-hurt..." The little girl kept repeating those words in a trance. It pained her seeing how upset her daughter was.

Sumire extended her hand out, a flash of light appeared in her palms. Soon the girl closed her eyes.

The sight she arrived to was awful.

The battlefield was covered in the color of blood.

She was too late, she didn't think they'd contact Kiryu-kun so soon. She just happened to be on her trip to see Lucifer, Yuhi accompanied her alongside Hisame. So she didn't notice. How naive. How could she have made such a mistake.

"Ritsuko-chan, you should rest too. You're hurt."

The girl shook her head. "I'm not as hurt as he is..."

Sumire gives the girl a pained smile as she looked over at the other side of the gla.s.s mirror, where Kiryu-kun lay.

"It was difficult for me to keep Asuka away from here. But it's no good if she saw her son like this."

Ritsuko nodded, "I agree."

"Ritsuko-chan, please go to her side."

Sumire instructed.

"Now?"

Sumire nodded, "I wanted to wait until you recovered a bit. But I received word about her getting injured from Takahas.h.i.+-kun, it's too dangerous right now. They're attacking so openly without hesitation..." She's starting to think that there's an external force to all of this other than Mori-kun.

"I will protect her, please don't worry."

"I will leave her to you."

.

.

"Thank you Yuhi."

Sumire thanked her husband who entered the room moments ago and with a mug of hot chocolate for her, but she didn't touch it all.

He pulled her into his arms, and she felt the tears fall immediately, "Yuhi, I couldn't stop..."

"Don't blame yourself."

"These children don't deserve to carry on this burden, they're supposed to live in peace. Isn't that the reason why...we fought then? The reason why we fought that terrible war."

Yuhi paused, "Sumire, we can't avoid wars. We can't completely have peace. Didn't you say it before..as long as light exists there will be darkness."

"I know, I know that! But...but...Kiryu-kun didn't do anything wrong, Lilchan too. These children didn't do anything bad. Why do they have to get caught up in our mess? Yuhi, I'm afraid... Maybe I should give myself up..."

Her husband frowned, "No."

"But don't they want...."

Yuhi shook his head, "No. Even if you gave yourself up, nothing would change. They'd try to eat away at your powers and then what? They'd lose control, they'd cause even more chaos for everyone." He cupped her cheeks, "Look at me Sumire, do you really believe what you're saying? Do you think things will change, because you do something like this..."

"I know, I know already. But Lilchan...and Kiryu-kun.."

"Their future, their wish is different than ours. That's why I know, this time it will be different. It's alright, that student of mine is stronger than he looks and our daughter is ...well she's a bit strange. But she got those genes from you so..."

Sumire hits him at the last part and he chuckled softly. "My dear wife. Won't you greet me more kindly?"

"Greet, your just too slow. What were you doing ---" Sumire paused when Yuhi pulled something. A familiar looking ring.

"Oh.."

"I had Lucifer return it. You told me before that a few of your possessions were missing when you stayed with him before.."

Sumire nodded, she was really panicked when she lost the ring.

While she already has her wedding ring from Yuhi, this one was different. Her cheeks reddened when he slipped it on her fingers, "D--don't be stupid...I can't go around wearing so many rings...now.."

"Yeah, I get that. But this one is important."

He's so foolish to even now.

"Even though we're both adults now Yuhi, why are you till able to make me blush?"

"...Hey, you're seriously asking me that? I'm the one who has a hard time.." he sighed.

Sumire laughed, "I know."

"Did you send Rennas daughter to protect her?"

"Yes. I don't want to take any more chances. I'll inform Oujiro-kun too."

"They'll attack again?"

"I can't be too certain..especially..."

Yuhi nodded, he gently kissed her forehead, "It'll be fine. We will protect them."

Lilchan, Kiryu-kun...

______________________________________________

J Building, 2035. 7:00 PM

"Finished?" Haruka asked.

Lila nodded and Haruka extended his hand. She shook her head and he simply nodded as he walked ahead of her. She wondered if there will be any miracle meeting with her and Kiryu today. Just in case, she made sure to get dressed up and she even wore the clothes he gave her the last time... Kiryu, a miracle meeting will occur, right? He did say once every month, and it's already been a month. She can't wait to see him again!

This time around, she will ask him...