Ba time before all of the chaos that engulfed Japan, as cliché as it sounds, things were happier. The clock pced the time before Yuki lost his parents and before he knew anything of his destiny. Before he met Ayumi and lost a friend. Life was simpler for him, though the world remained as plicated as ever.

  At the end of another day iary school, Yuki exited the building alone. He smiled to himself with a sihought on his mind. Today was his birthday, his seventh in fabsp; His parents made sure to get off work early for him, promising a rge party for him. The thought of presents and cake made him excited to get home. ‘I ’t wait! I wonder how big the cake is?’ His daydreams drifted him off from reality for a moment before being rudely popped.

  A scream of a girl reached him from around the school. Yuki’s eyes widened, reizing the voice immediately. “Saki!” He ran off in the dire without a sed thought.

  In the back of the building by the trash dumpsters, he saw the backs of three older boys. Yuki charged from his position and rammed his head into the first kid. A little dazed, Yuki staggered around to get iween them and Saki. “What are you doing pig on a girl?”

  The chaos Yuki caused threw them all off banbsp; The boy Yuki plowed into id on the sed, struggling to get to his feet. Only the third boy stayed out of harm. He reached out for Yuki, but missed when Yuki ducked down. The older boy gred down at Yuki, frustrated that a little kid gave him trouble. “Get lost kid! This doesn’t have anything to do with you!”

  “Yeah, it does! You’re trying to hurt my friend! I won’t let you do that!”

  The other two boys finally made it back to their feet and snickered, feeling that they had the advantage. “Whatcha going to do about it?”

  “I’ve got no problem beating up a little kid first!” The two boys grabbed hold of Yuki before he escaped and pinned him to the ground. The third boy grinned with pleasure as he raised his foot.

  Chapter 100 – Rewind

  “Why’d you do that Yuki?” asked Saki, helping him off the ground. She waited until the boys left to e to his assistanbsp; All she got in response was his grin like nothing was wrong. “Why did you let them beat you up so mubsp; They were bigger, but I know you could have stood yround!”

  Yuki kept smiling to her, not letting her see the pain. “I didn’t want to embarrass them with my awesome martial arts skills!” He struck a quick pose for her.

  Saki sniffed bae tears feeling sorry for herself getting Yuki into trouble. “It’s my fault again! You’re always resg me aing hurt!” She tried to hold back her tears, but it seemed fruitless.

  “Hey, it’s not your fault! It’s my choid you shouldn’t feel bad about what I do, Saki! You’re my best friend, right?” He reached out for Saki trying to focus her on him.

  “…yeah…”

  “A friends stick together no matter what, right?!”

  “…I…think…so…”

  “So you don’t have anything to worry about then!” He mao get her to take his hand. Yuki gave her another smile encio smile as well. It took a little bit, but he saw his happiness start to break through her tears. “Ready to go home?!”

  “Yeah!”

  They ran out of the school ughing to themselves until they tired out. The walk back to the neighborhood gave them plenty of time to talk. They made their routine pass quickly with never ending chatter. The neighbors kept things pretty active so they never cked something iing to see.

  The path they toht them to Saki’s apartment building first. “Hey, Yuki! Let’s go up a my mom to you up!”

  “Oh ok!” He followed behind her up the rickety stairs and groaning floor boards. They jumped around as they asded creating a pyful chorus from the differently tuned wood. At the top, they both came down hard to at their arrival bellowing out a deep base note. A few fkes of dust from overhead settled on their noses making Yuki sneeze. “Made it!”

  Saki giggled and raced to her door. Already unlocked, she ope slowly inviting Yuki in with her. “I’m home, Mom! I brought Yuki with me!”

  They mao get their shoes off before Saki’s mother appeared carrying Saki’s baby sister in her arms. “Wele home, dear!” She kneeled down carefully to look at Saki at eye level. The sight of Yuki’s bruising and dirt marks alerted her. “Oh my, Yuki! What’s happeo you?”

  “I tripped pying with Saki on the way here!” he replied sheepishly. Being half Japanese, kids found all and any excuse to pi her. Most only, her father taught at the school. An easy lie.

  “You should be more careful, Yuki. You’ve only got one life.”

  “I’m sorry, Mrs. Furukawa! I’ll be more careful.”

  “Well let’s see about ing you up so your parents don’t worry about you!” She walked them into the main room that barely mao be called a living room. “Wait here and I’ll be ba a minute. Saki, you watch your little sister for me?”

  “Sure!” Saki accepted Noriko from her mother and carefully set her o her. Yuki and Saki pyed with Noriko until their mother returned. Most of the injuries he took from the bullies only looked worse than they actually turned out. He got away with only a couple of band-aids and the rest just ed up scraps.

  Down the blod around the interse at Yuki’s house a visitor came knog in the middle of birthday preparations. The Hayashi house fluttered about with Momoko running around eagerly following their very pregnant mother with decorations for ea. Their father dropped the presents he carried at aable to ahe door.

  He opehe door not cheg who stood ooop. “Hello? Oh!” When he finally looked at their visitor it took him back a step. “It’s been a while! Please e in!”

  “Thank you, but I shouldn’t,” an elderly man’s voice protested, “I came to deliver a present. I don’t want to take up your time.”

  “Nonsense! You’re a friend. It’d be rude not to invite you inside. Tomiko’ll be pleased to see you as well.” He insisted lightly holding onto the old man’s arm to invite him inside. A little more protesting gave up the struggle and Yuki’s father closed the door behind them. “Tomiko! You won’t believe who showed up!”

  Tomiko handed off the decorations to Momoko and rushed over to the hall, curious what had her husband so excited. When she reached the hallway a surprised gasp escaped her lip. “Mr. Alexander! I’m so gd to see you again!”

  The old man bowed politely to Tomiko a himself be guided into the house. “It’s good to see you again as well. But you call me Demosthenes, Mrs. Hayashi.”

  “If that’s the case then you have to call me Tomiko!” she teased.

  As they came into the living Ken came wobbling in followed by Momoko. They both looked up at the adults with curiosity at the fner. Momoko looked over at her mother. “Who is he?”

  “An old friend from work, dear! Why don’t you take Ken back to his bed?” Momoko gave her a little fused look for a moment befreeing. She picked up Ken aed the living room. Tomiko looked over to her husband making sure everything was safe. “This is quite the surprise. Right, Isamu?”

  Isamu motioned over to the coubsp; “Why don’t we sit down? I’d imagine you’re quite tired from your trip.”

  “Thank you.” Demostheook a seat alone in the end chair while the parents joiogether on the coubsp; He kept a calm and trolled expression on his face, while still maintaining a sense of friendliness. His hand dug into his trench coat retrieving a small box out, the present he promised. “His Majesty sends his best wishes and a gift.”

  Tomiko accepted the present from him aed it in her p. “Thank you! I’m sure Yuki’ll be very happy with it!”

  “How’s he doing?” Isamu inquired. “He left so suddenly.”

  “Sadly, his health tio fail.”

  “Isn’t there something you do with all that you have?” Tomiko asked.

  “There’s no medie, no matter how advahat save him. It’s a matter of life force.”

  She lowered her eyes down at the present. It was ed carefully and lovingly. She felt bad knowing that such dista between them. “I’m sorry, Demosthenes.”

  The Atntean lifted his palm ft out to Tomiko. “There’s no need. He uood the risks. This was important for him. He only asks that you keep your promise.”

  The thought of the promise that they made shook Tomiko a little. It seemed s to her despite that it was his wish. She nodded along with Isamu to him. They agreed to the arra even though they had their doubts. “If that’s what he wants. But it just seems so cruel.”

  “He has many enemies. This is the best solution.”

  “I know, but…” She leaned into Isamu a little, having trouble with the memories that stirred. They all khe situation too well. It only made it more difficult for them.

  “We uand,” soled Isamu, taking Tomiko into his arms.

  Demostheood up from the chair and bowed to them again. He started to make his way out of the living room, but stopped. “Sorry, it has not been my iion to cause you more trouble.”

  Isamu searched out for him while holding on to his wife. “Sure you ’t stay longer? Yuki’ll be back soon.”

  “It’s best not to fuse him. Thank you for your kindness and hospitality.” The old man gave half of a warm smile to them and stepped out into the hall. While he retrieved his shoes Isamu and Tomiko joined him in the hall watg him. He tilted his fedora ba to his head a himself out.

  They stared between each other sidering what they wao do. Sihey agreed to adopt Yuki, the whole matter became an oddly dark secret. Much remained unknown to them. They uood a little of the political climate that Atntis was under, but it always felt too painful to know they never met even onbsp; It art of the agreement.

  Tomiko hesitated in looking up at Isamu. She thought about it frequently, but mao normally quiet the voice that made her sider the idea. “Perhaps we should tell Yuki, dear…”

  “…we ’t… Besides, at his age he wouldn’t be able to uand the full implications.”

  “We’ll have to eventually…”

  “I know…and when that day es he’ll have to make a choibsp; One I don’t want to force upon him.”

  “I’m sorry…”

  A kno their door separated them and sobered them up. Isamu insisted that Tomiko rest herself from the excitement and answered the door himself. When he ope, Yuki and Saki stood jumping up and down eager to greet them. “Hey! Wele home, Yuki!”

  “Dad!” shouted Yuki, reag up for his father to be picked up. He got hoisted up on his shoulders, hugging on to his nebsp; Saki quietly stared up at the two of them trying not to look like she wao join. He indulged her and lifted her up joining Yuki on his shoulder grinning back at each other.

  “Good afternoon, Kiku!” greeted Isamu to Saki’s mother. He invited her in along with the children.

  “Good afternoon, Isamu! I hope Saki isn’t being too much trouble for you.”

  “Not at all! Right, Yuki?”

  “Yeah!” he cheered, holding up Saki’s hand with glee.

  They all entered into the living room with Momoko rejoining hearing the noise. Saki and Yuki got down a over to look at his gifts that rested on the ter by the kit. Momoko hung around them leaving the adults together.

  “How are you feeling, Tomiko? Must be getting close!”

  Tomiko rested a calm hand oomabsp; “He kicks hard!” she ughed. She kept in good spirits for one of her best friends. Isamu kept nearby for support while they talked. Soon Saki’s father arrived along with Noriko, having finished a few things at home before heading over. With the st guest, Yuki’s birthday party could finally begin. Laughter and cheer tihrough the evening celebrating Yuki’s seventh year and wishing for another wonderful year.