*Yuko*

Master yawned as he walked out of his room.

"Master!" Yuko said, jumping to her feet.

He blinked at Yuko. "Yuko? What are you doing here? How long were you waiting there?"

Yuko wiggled her ears underneath her hat. While a lot of Yuko's Kuroriku allies knew of my real identity, it was still best to be wary around the people from the neighboring countries. Especially Mizu no Kin. They were the ones who had enslaved the tanuki soldiers who had fought for the late Second Xelerian Empire.

"Yuko got up early to help Lady Anis make some food."

He gasped. "Mom? Why didn't she ask me for help?"

Yuko smiled. "She noticed you were exhausted after your training last night."

He sighed. "Mom. I should be the one letting her rest, not the other way around."

"Should be ready now." Yuko ran ahead.

Master chuckled as he chased after me.

Yuko's cheeks warmed. "Did Yuko do something funny?"

"No. I just find your energy to be endearing."

Yuko cleared her throat. "Master shouldn't be flirty with Yuko."

He blinked as he passed Yuko. "Sorry. I didn't mean to."

Yuko huffed. Yuko could see why Rosa got mad at Master sometimes.

Yuko giggled. Master sure could be more oblivious than the second princess sometimes.

"The heart can be so fickle. Sometimes I wonder how people do it. How they know they only want one person," a voice called out.

"Sir Hyosetsu," Yuko said, turning to find the sword knight walking beside her.

"Oh, Hyo. Barely woke up too?" Master Tetsu asked.

He scoffed. "No, I woke up with the crows."

"Crows? Back home, we say rooster."

Sir Hyosetsu shook his head. "There are no roosters here."

Tetsu laughed. "I see." He gawked. "Wait, were you training all this time?" He sighed before Hyosetsu could answer. "Ugh, I should've woken up earlier! I'll simply have to increase my training so that I don't fall behind ya!"

Sir Hyosetsu put a hand on his hip and sighed. "You really should work on waking up earlier. Surprised someone who grew up on a farm could wake up so late. That said, I was training my mind."

"Training your mind?" He stared at the novel in his companion's hand. "Oh, you mean reading books?"

He nodded and raised his book.

"What is it about?" Yuko asked, leaning forward.

He held the novel out. "Want to read it? I am done with it. Just be sure to return it to the library or give it to one of the servants or Rosa if you have no clue where it is."

Yuko smiled and took the book. A swordsman under a cherry tree decorated the cover. "Yuko'll give it to Rosa. She might want to read it too."

Hyosetsu glanced at Yuko's bracelet. "Can you use Caelio despite being a non-angel?"

Yesterday, he noticed Yuko's bracelet and asked what had happened to Rosa's angel tool as it lacked beads, and Yuko had a different colored replica of it. Yuko explained to him about the trial. Master also helped a bit, telling Sir Hyosetsu what the princess had told him.

Yuko raised her wrist. "Yuko hasn't tried yet, but in the dream world of the trial, Yuko could use it."

"Did you activate it in said dream world?" Master asked as Yuko and the boys descended the stairs.

Yuko shook her head. "No. Rosa lent them to Yuko and the other girls."

"I'm surprised that it worked, especially as Harmonica, Ocarina, and you aren't angels. Well, that I am aware of."

"If anything, it's further proof of the link between soul and angel tool," Hyosetsu said, putting his book against his chest.

Yuko felt fuzzy inside for some reason.

"Doesn't that mean the other Masters should be able to use Agnes?"

Master sighed. "Don't call them 'masters'. They aren't. Nor am I."

Yuko gripped her skip and blushed. "O-okay, T-Tetsu."

He smiled. "Hope it sticks this time!"

"Is the contract your father made you form broken yet?" Hyosetsu asked.

Tetsu furrowed his brow as we arrived at the first floor. "I've yet to look into it. Plan to ask Eri and the others if they know anything about it once we visit Xeleria in a few days."

Yuko frowned. Yuko liked being bonded with Tetsu, even if the origins of the bond weren't what she would've liked.

"I hope to break the contract after the war."

Hyosetsu raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Because my growth makes Yuko stronger. She doesn't have to push herself as hard to get the strength she wants."

Yuko narrowed her eyes and poked his side. "It's a two-way street."

He laughed nervously. "Y-yeah, I know. But I don't want to see you on the verge of death again. I'm tempted to leave you here with Rosa, actually."

Yuko hugged Master. "But Yuko wants to go! And Yuko promised Lady Rosa to go with Tetsuya!"

Yuko felt a hand over her hat. "Sir, Hyosetsu?"

He gave Yuko a warm smile. "I can watch over this idiot if that is what concerns you."

Yuko puffed her cheeks. "Master's not dumb! Ugh, Yuko did it again!"

Tetsu laughed. "Guess that I can't go without you after all. Let's see this war through together!"

Yuko grinned. "Yeah!"

"Aren't you giving up too easily?" Hyosetsu asked, raising a brow at him.

He chuckled. "I've tried to talk her out of things in the past, but once Yuko's made up her, it can be hard to talk her out of it."

Hyosetsu sighed. "Here I hoping she would watch over the princess."

"As was I. Especially as Rosa can be a challenge once set in her ways too."

Yuko raised her bracelet. "It's fine! Yuko, Rosa, and the others are linked!"

"Yuko's our very own Rosa security sensor," Tetsu said, laughing.

"I thought I was the living sensor," a voice called out. It was Kohri!

Yuko's sister waved at us as she accompanied her boyfriend.

"Sis!" Yuko said, hugging Onami.

"Aww, Yuko. You don't have to hug me all the time as if we have been apart for weeks."

"Yuko has to make up the lost hugs, though."

Onami chuckled and snuggled Yuko. "I guess we do!"

"Family hug!" Kohri said, hugging us.

Yuko giggled, but Onami grumbled.

"Hey, sisterly moment here! Go hug your brother if you want a family hug!" Onami said, scoffing.

Hyosetsu stepped aside and ran for it.

Kohri chuckled. "Hey, Hyo! I'm not even tackling you yet!"

"I rather not wait for that," Hyosestsu said, sighing. He gasped as Kohri appeared in front of him. The raven-haired knight jumped back, causing Kohri to almost fall.

Kohri glanced up as he straightened himself. A playful smile dotted his face. "Hehe! Nice dodge!"

Hyosetsu stared at him, mesmerized. "You've gotten quicker."

"Sure have!" Kohri popped up behind Sir Hyosetsu, causing the Knight of Prophecy to duck and elbow his little brother away.

Kohri gripped his stomach and grumbled.

"Does Hyosetsu even care for Kohri?" Onami asked, tilting her head.

"Why do you ask?" Tetsu said, folding his arms.

"Well, when Con died, Hyo didn't seem very concerned about his brother's emotional well-being. And before and after that, he treated him as an annoyance."

"Yuko thinks he does. Sir Hyosetsu helped rescue Con after all! He acted as if he had a stake in it."

Tetsu smiled as Kohri tried to hug Kohri again, only to get whacked away. "Yeah. I think that deep down, he does care."

"Does it matter if I do or don't?" Hyosetsu said, sighing as he appeared behind Tetsu.

Tetsu looked back and forth between the brothers as Kohri rushed at them. "Huh? Hey, wait!" He grumbled as Kohri hugged him.

Kohri smiled as he glanced up at him. "Oh, hey, boss!"

"Let go of me, child," Tetsu said, poking him in the forehead.

Kohri laughed as he let go of him.

"Ironic hearing you say that," Sir Hyosetsu said, jumping back as Kohri went around Tetsu.

Tetsu smirked.

Sir Hyosetsu gasped as his back struck something invisible. He moved to the sides, but the same thing happened.

"Thanks for the support, Boss!" Kohri said as he got a hold of his brother.

Master chuckled. "You're welcome."

"Tetsuya!" Hyosetsu said, glaring at him as Kohri snuggled him.

Tetsu chuckled. "Should've kept your mouth shut."

"Petty Tetsu," Yuko mumbled.

He blushed.

Hyosetsu smiled even as Kohri continued to embrace him. "Indeed. A petty man-child."

Tetsu's face turned redded. "Hug him tighter, Kohri!"

"There you are, Tetsu!" Lady Anis said as her sisters rolled her chair out of the dining room."Was wondering if Yuko was struggling to wake ya up, but it seems you're wide awake."

Tetsu rubbed the back of his neck and smiled slightly. "Yeah. Hey, that reminds me! Why did you not wake me up to cook? You're in no condition to do it."

His mom crossed her arms and scoffed. "I can't walk, but my hands are as good as ever. Plus, I got my two assistant chefs."

Lady Rene smiled.

"She gave me the same answer," Lady Juniper said, sighing.

Lady Anis chuckled. "You sound as if you're the big sis."

"I might as well be with how you act sometimes."

Rene giggled. "You sound like your nephew, Jun."

"Me?" Tetsuya asked, tilting his head.

"Not you, silly! You and Hide take after Ani. Meant my Sy."

Jun scoffed. "I feel for my younger nephew then. Worse, he has more than one sibling who needs watching over."

Rene giggled. "Ki can care for herself. And Dan... he wasn't a troublemaker."

"Rene," Anis said, grabbing her youngest sister's hand.

She smiled weakly. "Seems that I still haven't gotten over losing him."

"I don't think one can get over such things, Mom," a snooty voice called out. It was Silas.

"You're right." Lady Rene beamed and hugged him. "That said, we were just talking about you! How you're like your Auntie Jun."

"I see, but did you have to hug me all of a sudden?"

"Ahh, sorry. Seems I can be a little spontaneous sometimes."

Jun smiled. "Just like Kiara."

"And Master Tetsu!" Yuko blurted out.

Tetsu blushed. "Am I really that hyper?"

"No one beats Kohri," Hyosetsu said as his brother continued to cling to him. He flicked his little brother in the forehead. "Now, get off, you!"

"Ouch! Fine, meanie!" Kohri said, rubbing his forehead.

"If he were, he probably would've done so sooner," Yuko said, giggling.

Sir Hyosetsu turned away. "I was contemplating it."

"Mean!" Kohri exclaimed. He chuckled. "But in all seriousness, I know that Yuko's right. You are a nice guy, but you like hiding it."

He sighed and walked away. "Not really."

"Say, would you like to come shopping with us?" Rene asked. "We're going to buy clothes for Hide and the babies."

Hyosetsu stopped. "Shopping? Why are you inviting me?"

"Hideo shared his conversation with you. About changing up yourself."

"Oh. I've decided to be myself like Setsuko suggested. Plus, I am not fond of crowded places such as malls. But thanks anyway."

"I don't even know what my child's going to be," Tetsu mumbled.

"Whether it's a girl or a boy, I'm sure it'll be cute!" Yuko exclaimed.

Tetsu smiled. "Yeah. The same goes for my little sibling." He put a hand on his mom's stomach.

Anis gripped his hand and smiled. "Aren't you sad about no longer being the baby?"

Tetsu cleared his throat. "Mom, I'm not that childish! Though, it does feel surreal to think that I'm going to be a big brother."

Rene giggled. "None of mine have really got to feel that way."

"Of course not. You and Hideaki breed like rabbits," Jun mumbled.

"Jun!" Anis snapped.

Rene giggled. "It's alright. I'm used to hearing that after the twins were born."

"Did someone say rabbits earlier?" Conrad asked as he strolled out of the dining room with his brother, Setsuko, Rosa, Emon, and Kimura.

"Yeah, I was talking about how Rene had a litter of children," Jun said, giggling as she turned around. Her smile faded as her eyes went to the older Seven Flame Knight. "Kimura..."

"Jun? What are you doing here?" Kimura asked, gasping.

"Is he the guy you were talking about? The one who is young-" Lady Anis said until Jun covered up her mouth.

Rene giggled. "Yeah, he-"

"Shush, you two!" Jun said, glaring at them as she clamped their mouths shut.

Kimura smiled. "It's nice to see you again, teach."

"Huh? You were taught by my aunt?" Tetsuya asked. "How strong are you, Auntie?"

Jun puffed up her chest. "What? Thought I came here just to look pretty?"

"You do have that too," Kimura said with a smile.

Tetsu's aunt blushed. "S-shut up, flirt. I'm not falling for your charms again!"

"Again?" everyone present except for Hyosetsu and Yuko exclaimed.

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed the chapter ^^. Thoughts? Theories? Predictions? By the way, the book is still on hiatus. This is only a break to mark both my birthday and the 3rd anniversary of Song of Divine Wrath.**