Dream Star

Lila"s gaze darted on the black hair man that was wandering around. He"s so carefree, or rather isn"t he reckless? " It"s the rare month where they are releasing him. But we cannot have him run around freely, please watch over him. " That"s easy for Aunt Asuka to say.

This guy walks around and wanders whenever he pleases. She and Izumi only fell asleep for what, a few minutes? And then he"s no longer at the house. The reason why this mans reigns are tied now and why his freedom has been limited; is most likely because of the incidence that happened before she was born.

Lila heard a great deal about it from her sister, even then it was vague since her sister was only a young child then. She would only be born into the world four months after, but as a baby, she would not recall the lingering effects.

By the time she could walk around by herself, the after-effects - at least physical damage-wise had disappeared. The town did a complete restart and the only signs of the war that happened belonged to the voices of the townspeople.

She wonders what this person did then. To rid himself of the trust in other people. A man who seldom smiles, but when he does, it appears to be so very painful. He"s been wandering around for so long already, doesn"t he get exhausted? Feeling tired, she had perched herself on a wall to rest while Izumi followed closely behind him.

The man they are guarding is "Rihan." n.o.body knows his surname, and so everyone refers to him by name, even those who are not close acquaintances with each other.

A man like that, what sort of place does he have in this present society? Does he even have a place left in this world? It truly is sad. Whenever she thinks of his loneliness, her heart hurts. She doesn"t know why. But it"s painful.

Lila feels as though this person, was far more important to Mother than to the extent that people believe. No matter who she asked, they all say the same things. n.o.body knows the true extent of their relations.h.i.+p but the two of them.

Her thoughts broke of spotting an old lady approach Rihan. Izumi immediately pulled out his weapons. She closed her eyes. There"s nothing there, no trace of malice or hate. Lila jumps down from the wall and lands safely on the ground.

"Izumi, let that lady go. She means no harm. " Lila walked over, "I apologize," Lila took out a handkerchief and wiped the lady"s cheeks, "I hope he did not injure you, but I need you to forget about what you saw."

The lady immediately recognized her, but Lila extended her hand out and placed her palm over the old ladies face, a lilac-colored light surrounded her palm, " Forget it. Remember to warn the next person who comes here, that this place is dangerous."

"Yes," it was a single and weak reply. But it was to be expected, most people end up this way after she used her abilities.

Lila remained quiet until the old lady disappears in the forest and turns to glare at the black-haired man, wearing a striped kimono. "We will protect you no matter what, so it"s okay to go on a night walk if you want to. But, you"re just wandering around aimlessly with no care in the world. Think about how troublesome it is for us!"

In price for whatever he did in the war, they took away this mans memories, and now he no longer remembers — even the hand of the person he held so dear. "Rihan was in love with Sumire. "

"Geez, please be more careful," Lila ended her short lecture.

Rihan smiled softly, "I apologize, I did not think that taking a stroll would bring so much harm."

This man named Rihan is just another man who was in love with Mother, one of many and yet there"s something about him that"s different than the rest. Maybe it"s because he"s eccentric?

"But, I wished to take a stroll today. " Rihan places his hand on his chest, "A lot of time has pa.s.sed since I"ve walked out at night, seeing the stars from up close is refres.h.i.+ng."

Lila said nothing to that as she recalled something somebody told her about this person.

"An incredibly lonely person, but Sumire saved him from that loneliness. "

In other words, Mother most likely kept pestering him. Lila can picture the scene quite clearly. This man not really refusing but not being so willing to walk about, and Mother showing up every day to show him more of the world. Mother, even during her most painful moments, told her, to think of this world as beautiful after all.

On numerous occasions, every year for the past eight years since they have a.s.signed her to guard this person. Lila has wanted to tell him several times, about what she knew of him from the others - about the feelings he had for mother. About the special relations.h.i.+p, he shared with Mother, that even father felt reluctant to interfere with. What a lonely man, won"t anyone even tell him that the person he"s seeking is no longer here? That she disappeared and broke down terribly for years before then? It"s too sad.

n.o.body knows their relations.h.i.+p but them. One is no longer here, and the other has lost their memories. Lila turned to the man on her right, who had been unusually silent after the old lady had left.

"Izumi, your injured," she saw a fresh cut across his cheek. Lila reached over and was about to touch the wound, but Izumi pulled away immediately.

"A minor injury, not worth your concern. From the branch earlier."

Lila was about to apologize, but Izumi shook his head. "That part about him hasn"t changed," Lila thought. He remains so reserved when it came to her.

On the way here, she jumped down from a high building, and Izumi had to hurry and chase her. Despite her condition recently, her reflexes haven"t changed at all. So it was easy for her, but he must have struggled.

"Let"s head back," Lila turned to the man, "It"s almost midnight," soon it would become a dangerous time for their kind.

"If I were to jump from this cliff, would my life end?"

"Try it," Izumi challenged.

Even if he no longer has memories of Mother. Izumi told him that there"s something that connects him to another person. How much he actually understood when he first explained it, Lila isn"t sure. But since then he"s been asking them such things.

She doesn"t feel surprised or fear from his behavior just now. Nor eeriness or crisis, nothing. Because she knew she knew about this person. Since Mother returned, Lila gradually asked her more and more questions. Soon, Lila learned of their tale.

"I will refrain from it, I feel like she will scold me if she knew," Rihan said.

Her gaze softened. Even with no memory, Rihan seems to be the only other person who understands even such small details about her mother.

.....
x.x.x Mansion

Izumi closed the door behind him, "He"s finally asleep, that man like the rumors says has endless amounts of energy. Memories and being locked up or not, his stamina has not changed," he trailed off, "I can still sense the dangerous aura around him. He could cause us severe injuries, just raising his hand."

"I know."

She knew that very well. Even though Aunt Asuka and the others treat him as a dear friend; they do not visit him as often as before. Although that"s due to her mother disappearing and the search for her is important. Lila cannot help but pity the man somewhat. He must be lonely. Even the people who he once called his dearest friends, can no longer get near him. The woman who pulled him away from the shadows is no longer here. He doesn"t have anybody.

Her thoughts broke off when Izumi wrapped his cloak around her, and she blinked surprised. Izumi sighed, " The nights are still cold, and you refused to wear your coat today. Even if its expensive clothes your boyfriend got you. It won"t be enough to protect you from the weather. "

Usually, she would have scolded him for bringing up Haruka, but, "If you keep acting kind to me, Izumi, I will misunderstand."

"Misunderstand, there"s nothing to."

"I see," Lila murmured. Her relations.h.i.+p with Izumi even now is not clear, they are not partners. Even though they frequently get a.s.signed work together, nor are they comrades. "I called you my family earlier, sis that bother you? If so, I apologize."

"I also played along, so there"s no need for that apology."

"Stubborn."

But it"s not new, whether it"s an apology or "thank you" Izumi has never once accepted it. He"s always been this sort of person — someone who desperately keeps a distance.

"Lilsan, you and Karas.h.i.+ma are not seen together as frequently as before."

In other words, " What happened. " Lila is slowly getting used to translating Izumi"s words. Whenever he says things, there"s usually a more profound meaning or alternative meaning to them after all. You have to listen carefully.

"Yes, he appears to be busy these days. Though if you wish to ask me what he does, not even I know of it," Lila said with a sigh. That was a lie. Lately, she couldn"t take it anymore. The loneliness whenever they are apart, so she asked Takes.h.i.+ to trail him and he told her everything.

"In its own way that"s good. You can learn to be independent of him before you go back to your fiance. "

Lila glared at him then, but Izumi wore an indifferent expression on his face. How dare he bring up Kiryu now of all times? She dismisses his words. " Independent, huh?"

"I"m not trying to offend you."

"I understand, you"re right Izumi," Lila muttered. Haruka does not belong to her in any way. She understood that, no matter how many times they join their bodies and say possessive sounding words to each other. She has no claim on Haruka if he desires to stop their existing relations.h.i.+p and leave his side. It pains her, not being held by him and even when they get a chance to.

The opportunity quickly slips away, like it was never there, to begin with. Haruka does not belong to her, so she cannot tell him the thoughts she has been thinking recently. " Don"t go to Aizawa Mei. " " Don"t be close to another girl but me. " Lila never thought that such possessive and selfish sounding words would leave her lips. But right at that moment. Before she pa.s.sed out, she wanted to pull them away from each other.

Her thoughts broke when Izumi patted her hair, " Izumi?"

"Attempts at comfort, my words always come out as harsh. So I want you to understand my real intention by doing this. Sorry, does it hurt? I"ve not done this before. ... " he pulled his hand away, "I wonder how much strength I should apply. .."

Lila chuckled softly, "I think I just found something you"re bad at."

"You haven"t changed Lilsama."

Her gaze softened at his words, "You must be the first person to tell me those words. Everybody around me keeps telling me I"ve changed."

"One thing that has changed, you no longer smile as you did before. You"re not as carefree, these days you seem sad."

Her violet orbs went wide. He"s too observant. For someone who claims it"s only his duty to watch over her, to stop her just in case her powers go out of control. He sure does observe the details people rarely see very well.

"Maybe it"s because I don"t like being independent.!

"If you remain a kid, your t.i.tle old hag won"t fit."

Her eyes twitch in annoyance, " Who are you calling old? Your only a year and a half younger," Lila exclaimed. Geez, why does he like ruining moments? They were having a somewhat pleasant conversation there. But, if it weren"t for Izumi, she surely wouldn"t have been able to deal with the knowledge of Rosalia and Kiryu getting along. Even though this person is going through a lot also, he"s never once broken down.

She has to continue doing her best to be stronger.