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[Ryuuji Tsukino]

With his chin on his hand, Ryuuji Tsukino, a young Ravenclaw of fifteen years of age, sported a blank and bored look as he sat on the edge of his bed in the room that he shared with his fellow ravens. For perhaps the millionth time that day, he sighed as he contemplated about the days ahead of him. His fourth year at Hogwarts hadn't run all too smoothly, in fact, it was quite the opposite. Normally, it wouldn't have bothered him that much, but as carefree as he was and as calm as he tried to be, some things are just too stubborn to just go along with his plans. "What's it with me today?" Witha huff, the boy jumped off from his bed, not really bothering to make his bed as he started to walk towards the door. Being locked up inside the room caused him to think too much, and as much as he love analyzing things, thinking about the past and thinking about what-ifs is making him uncomfortable and dizzy.

Not really paying attention to his surroundings or to where he was heading, Ryuuji was taken by surprise when he learned where his feet had taken him. With all the things that had occupied him during the last months, it had been already so long since he had last visited the place. Nothing had changed though, of course, not that it will, but still, standing there, looking at the lake,brought back a lot of memories. The lakefront had always been an important place or him. It's almost safe to say that it is his sanctuary, his place, even though it's a little insane for him to say that. The lakefront had been the place where him and the twins, his almost siblings, would always meet. Ai and Conan had really made his days at hogwarts. They were like his real family, and he supposed to have promised to himself that he'll always look out for them, that he'll always be their big brother, and that he'll be always there for them. But alas, that promise had been broken, for during the last months, he had been anything but a good brother or them. He wasn't even sure when was the last time that he had properly talked to the twins. Of course, there had been times when he would see them lurking around the castle, but he never really had the time to approach the two. Such a good brother he is. He wasn't even sure now what's happening with them. With a heavy feeling on his chest, Ryuuji teared his eyes away from the lake and started to climb up the cliffs. He stumbled once or twice as he scrambled upwards, but thankfully, had managed to regain his footing quickly; quidditch had, after all, endowed him with swifter-than-average reflexes. Upon reaching the peak, a shudder passed through him - not because he was cold; it was summer after all; but because the sensation of being so high above the rest of the world was both thrilling and terrifying at once.

As he sat down, he tried not to look over the edge. Even though he flew frequently, he still felt a twinge of fear. Then again, it was one thing to soar hundreds of metres above the ground on a broomstick but quite another to be sitting on the cliffs and had absolutely no control over external forces that might cause him to lose his balance. A gentle breeze drifted by, teasing his unruly black hair and ruffling his shirt playfully. He sighed and sat back, trying to relax. "I feel so useless." He muttered under his breath, it wasn't like him to act like this at all, but being alone and away from the noise of the students had caused him to think a lot about the things that he had failed to do. With a defeated sigh, the boy pulled his knees closer to himself and close his eyes. 'everything will be better soon...I'm sure it will.'
​

 

[Ai Nightray]

Bandaging hands. Ai has never been good at it, even until after months of getting her hands hurt. Each and every time she would remember the fight with her brother she couldn't help but punch the walls and throw some of her stuff. She wanted to control her emotions, but it seemed impossible for her. The first semester had already passed and the second semester had already started, but Ai didn't have much of an interest. She was now part of the Quidditch Team for Hufflepuff as a Keeper but she didn't do good at the game either. "Useless," a voice in her head said, and she punched the wall again, wincing from the pain of her already damaged hands. Last year, she had been seeing flashbacks of her past life, not really a memorable experience, and this semester, she had been hearing voices in her mind. Maybe because she had been too much depressed lately. In any case, she just decided to get out of her room, and as she always did last semester, she sneaked out of the common room and let her feet lead her anywhere.

A zombie, is what she looks like when walking nowadays. With little blood on her hands and a blank expression on her face. She hasn't been able to smile lately and she hasn't spoken with any of her acquaintances either. By the time she realized where her feet had taken her, tears were already streaming down her face. She was led to the cliffs. The very place she and her brother had a fight. She tried to wipe away her tears and sat down a rock near the edge. And there, her tears flowed out endlessly. "It's too late, already." she told herself. "Onii-chan's changed because of me. It's all my fault," she cried. The young Hufflepuff let her tears flow as she thought she was alone.

 

[Ryuuji Tsukino]

Thoughts swam endlessly on the raven haired boy's head as he continued to shut his eyes. He wasn't supposed to act like this, now where had the smiley and collected and easy going boy gone? Why was it that he was now replaced with this gloomy and over analyzing guy who is now closing his eyes pretending that if he did so everything will be alright? What had really happened to him. This is just not him. Or maybe, this is him. He wasn't sure anymore. He wasn't even sure if he knows himself now. Things are just getting worse as time pass by. Eyebrows furrowed in frustration, Ryuuji Tsukino once again messed his already unruly hair as he bit his lower lip. He had to stay calm and strong even though he is already feeling like the whole world had turned its back against him. Now where is his sister who would just give him a bear hug and pull his cheeks whenever he's feeling down? "You're no longer a child Ryuuji. Stop acting like it." He said, mentally kicking himself or letting depression take the best of him. Really, if he just have his broom at the moment, he would have flew all around the place and just release all these frustration building up inside of him. But alas, even that wouldn't happen. And besides, how long has it been since he had last touched a broom?

Disappointed with himself, Ryuuji laid on his back, the grass tickling his face as the wind blew gently against him. He didn't want to feel like this. The second semester had already started and he need to get himself together if he wanted to survive this year. He can't let what he had left with him to just get thrown out of the window. Consumed in his thoughts, the young Ravenclaw had almost jumped when he heard someone walking towards the cliff. Now he cannot let other people see him in this weak state. He can't let anyone see him so pathetic. Mustering a smile, he pushed himself into a sitting position and turned to look around him, only to have the his life cut short when he realized who it was that is on the cliff with him. He couldn't be mistaken. He will never ever forget that face. It's her. He was about to call out to the younger girl when he saw tears running down her face, and at that, he felt even more guiltier if that was even possible. Forcing a smile to his face, he stood up. He can't let her see him down like this, cause if she does, she might think that it was all her fault again, and that was something that Ryuuji didn't like to happen. "Ai-chan..." He could have said more, but words failed to find him. He couldn't think of anything else to say as he sat beside the younger girl. Reaching out, he patted the young girl's head the same way that he would always do before. He didn't know what to do. He felt a little awkward. And it's not supposed to be this way at all.
​

 

[Ai Nightray]

"Cry. All I've been doing is crying." she thought to herself. It was true but her cries didn't seem enough. Enough to calm her down. Enough to make her think straight. Ai remembered Heath telling her that crying wouldn't solve anything, and she believed that, but for the moment, all she wanted to do was cry. Her cries the past semester seemed to have never been enough because she was all alone. Alone with thinking how she could make things better. Alone at trying to cheer herself up. Her emotions after the fight had been messed up and the loneliness made it harder to bear. She wanted to get up and tell herself that everything will be alright. That everything will go the way she needed them to be even if not now. But she just couldn't do it. Not alone.

Tears continued to stream down her face. Memories continued to come back to her again and it made her tremble in fear. But, Ai couldn't have been any happier than when she felt the light pat on her head. The one that never made her felt alone. She wiped her tears and looked up at the face of a familiar figure. "Ryuuji-niisan..." the words barely came out of her mouth. She stared at him until her body took over her mind. She stood up and hugged her brotherly figure so tight that she might have squeezed him to death. "R-Ryuuji-niisan..." she said as her tears rolled down her face, tears which she didn't know if she could stop.

 

[Ryuuji Tsukino]

The broken girl in front of him breaks Ryuuji's heart even more. And once again, he thought that the world really hate him, or maybe fate does, cause in all honesty, though he was really relieved and happy that he have seen the girl again, he would have traded anything that he have to have met her on another circumstance other than this. He can't really bear seeing anyone cry. And Ai's not just anyone, she's someone whom he holds dear to him. And seeing her cry made him feel even more useless. He wanted to stop her tears, but he didn't really know what to do. It's not like the last time on the tower, on the first time that they met when he gave her that happiness charm, saying that hopefully, it will bring her happiness too. No, it's not the same. For right now, he knew that he's partly the one to blame. He hadn't been there for her. He hadn't been there when they needed him the most. These thoughts and all these emotions threatening to take over him, however, had been left forgotten even just for a moment when he felt slim and small hands around him. It was like time had stopped for him, and he could almost hear nothing but the way that his heart beats. His shirt was slowly getting soak with the girl's tears, but that too had gone unnoticed. And when he heard the younger girl call him nii-san again, it had almost break it. Almost.

Ryuuji felt like he has no right to be called and be treated as her brother. He had no right to claim that. For he had been gone from their lives for too long. Too long that he didn't even know what had actually happened with them. He had heard rumors before, but he never believe anything. After all, from the time that he had been with the twins, he deemed that they were indeed really inseparable. But with the sight before him, he knew that he had been wrong. Now how could he say that he is their big brother if in fact, he had been nothing but a stranger to them? When in fact, he had put himself first before the twins. They might have not been blood related, but he made them a promise. And he broke that. And for that he cannot forgive himself. "Everything will be alright." The statement was actually more for himself than for the girl, and by that he wanted to kick himself once again. He's being selfish, and he can't think of himself when in fact, the girl needs him more. "Gomen Ai-chan.. nii-san had been a really bad brother. Gomen (sorry)" He said once more, a bitter smile gracing his features as he tried to wipe the tears off the younger girl's face. ​

 

[Ai Nightray]

"How long has it been? When did I last see Ryuuji-niisan?" she thought to herself. Indeed, it was already quite a long time since. She remembered. The last time she saw her brotherly figure was in the Gardens nearly a year ago. And Conan had been there. It was their birthday celebration, but, it seemed like it was more for her than both of them. The thought of this made Ai cry even more. She missed her brothers. She didn't care if Ryuuji and her weren't blood-related, but he was still her brother. They were the most important persons for her. And it has a been a long time since she had talked to either of them. She couldn't stop her tears, and she doubted that she could.

"Everything will be alright." When she heard that phrase her tears stop momentarily, and she nodded her head in agreement. "Hai (Yes)," she whispered with a smile than can barely be seen. That phrase was what she needed, what she wanted. She wanted to hear it ever since the fight, ever since she got back from Japan, she wanted someone to tell her that everything would be alright even though the outcome is still undefined. When she heard the boy apologize to her, "Ie (No). Ai-chan's the one who should be apologizing. Suddenly crying and making Ryuuji-niisan's shirt wet from my tears. Gomen ne (Sorry), Ryuuji-niisan," she said as she managed a little smile on her face. Sure, none of her problems was solved, but it's different because she had one of her brothers beside her and she couldn't help but feel a bit happy because of it.

 

[Ryuuji Tsukino]

A lot of things have changed. That thing Ryuuji was sure. Time can really do a lot to a person. From what he could see, he can say that Ai had matured over the past months. Maybe not physically, but she looked much stronger now. She had been a strong kid before, Ryuuji knew that. He had been well aware of what had happened to the twins before hogwarts. He knew o the tragedies that befall them. He knew o the things that the kids had faced, things that children like them shouldn't have experienced. That's why he had really admired the bond of the twins, the way that they protected each other, and the way that they always seem to watch for each other's back. But then again, things change. And never did he thought that the said bond would be broken. He still can't believe it, and he still wasn't believing the things that he had heard unless he hear it directly from the girl, unless she tell him herself what had really happened. He wanted to ask, but he cannot bring himself to do so. Cause he knew that if he did that smile, even though so little, on the girl's face would be gone again. And he didn't really want that to happen. He felt helpless. He wanted to help, but he didn't know how.

"Ai-chan shouldn't apologize. Don't. Alright?" He tried o smiled again, though it is still a little force. He needed to smile. He needed to be strong not just for Ai but for himself as well. "What happened?" Words came out even before he could stop himself. He wasn't supposed to ask. Alright, he wanted to do so, but still, he didn't know if asking was appropriate. Biting his lower lip. he turned his eyes away from the younger girl, sitting down once again and patting the space near him, indicating and inviting the girl to sit down as well. For the first time that day, or perhaps week, the world seemed to take pity on him. Wind blowing gently and the sun shining brightly above them, Ryuuji stared of at the horizon, thinking of ways to mend the relationship of the twins. It's his only salvation from this depression that he's feeling right now. "I'm not being selfish, am I?"
​

 

[Ai Nightray]

At the time, all Ai could do was cry and cry and cry. To cry her heart out while she was with someone dear to her, it had probably been a long time she'd done that. Her friends admired her for being strong, but she knew, she knew that it was not the case. They were stronger than her and Ai knew it. She admired them for being able to show what they truly felt, to say what they truly wanted and to express what they truly knew, while she, she hid her feelings, kept her thoughts to herself and lied to herself that it was okay. She could never control her temper unlike her friends and that was the reason she and Conan fought. Because Ai lost her temper on Taylor, a friend of her brother. She knew it was her fault and she blamed herself for causing that fight. For causing Conan to change so much, to the point that he never attended classes too, even History which was his favorite subject. Ai blamed herself for it. She knew it was her fault.

Somehow, Ai already had an idea on how Ryuuji can tell whenever she forced a smile, because now she was seeing him force a smile. It hurt her, to the point that her heart would probably be destroyed. She hated it. "Ryuuji-niisan shouldn't force a smile. It doesn't suit you at all." she said with a little smile on her face. Ai knew that the question of what happened would have probably appeared. She knew that Ryuuji would probably want to know what had happened and she wouldn't blame him if he would ever come to hate her too. She sat beside him and watched him stare at the horizon. She shook her head in disagreement, "Ryuuji-niisan was never selfish. Not like me." she smiled a little smile, it was the best she could do. "Ai-chan fought with Conan's friend. I couldn't bring myself to not get mad when he broke his promise and went of with someone I was not on good terms with. Then he asked me to apologize but I disagreed. It somehow led to me pointing out that he changed, even though I knew that there would come a time that he would. Then I told him that maybe he'd be better off if we do what our aunts told us long ago. To be rivals." she paused for a while, trying to stop her tears from flowing out.

 

[Ryuuji Tsukino]

The way that Ai had noticed that he was just forcing a smile had came as a surprise to Ryuuji. People had been so used to seeing him smiling, after all, he had never failed to smile before, no matter what the situation is, be it that the said smile was real or not. People didn't notice. They just can't tell what's real or not. Or perhaps they can. Ryuuji didn't know. But Ai did. She knew that he was just faking it. And somehow, he felt a little happy or that. It just shows that she knew him well, despite them not really interacting that much during the last months. Ryuuji knew Ai as that observant and smart girl, so perhaps, it shouldn't have surprised him when she pointed out that he shouldn't force himself a smile. "Gomen. Ai-chan's right." He said. He's still feeling really bad, but somehow, a small smile graced his face. Nothing's better yet, but at least, he felt a little at ease now. The awkwardness that he felt earlier was slowly disappearing too. Ai and Conan really have that effect on him. He's a friendly person, but it's not always that he would quickly get attached to any person. But that was not the case with the twins, cause the instant they met, he felt already connected with them, that's why he said that he can be their brother figure at the school. But then again, he wasn't able to live up to that. With that thought, Ryuuji frowned before quickly shaking his head to get rid of the negative thoughts again. He have no time to wallow on self pity, cause right now, he had resolved to be the brother that he should have been to the twins, especially to the younger girl.

For the second time that day, or maybe third, he wasn't entirely sure, Ryuuji was surprised again. He didn't realize that he had said his thoughts out loud again. Well.. some thjings would never really change it seems. And this one habit of his that he wanted to change is too stubborn to just leave him. "Aish.. I said it out loud again eh?" He chuckled a little, noticing that somehow, he felt like it was just like the old times again, that a year had not passed. That it hadn't really been that long since they last saw each other. But then again, good things must end too. He was pulled back to reality when he heard Ai's story and he felt really bad again. He had heard about the twins fighting, but he never did thought that it was that serious. again, he blamed himself for not being there for them. At least, he could have probably made a difference. At least, he could have prevented this thing from happening. "How long had it been since then Ai-chan? Have you talked to Conan-kun?" He could sense the atmosphere being heavy once again, and he was quite sure that the younger girl was about to cry again and at that, he felt himself wanting to cry too. But he can't. He can't cry. Not now.
​

 

[Ai Nightray]

A giggle. A giggle very faint that almost no one could hear. It was what came out of Ai's voice when Ryuuji apologized. It had been a very long time since she had giggled, but it was probably because she felt a little better with someone around her. The smile that was shown in Ryuuji's face was what Ai wanted to see, not some forced smile like the one she would always give. That little smile gave her hope that in the end everything would turn out right, even if it was very far from the possibility. She was glad that her senpai was there, but, he was not just a senpai to her, but a brother as well.

Ai nodded when he asked if he had said his thoughts out loud again. Ai would remember that he always did that the past year and how she would giggle at him for letting her know what he was thinking of. With that little smile on her face, "You never changed that habit, Nii-san. You should really fix that, you know." she told him. It was quite a playful thought. When Ryuuji had asked her on how long it has been, Ai's smile began to fade, and she felt a tear roll down her face. She quickly wiped it away and held back the rest with all her might. "Back in Japan, after our first year in Hogwarts, I wanted to apologize. But instead, I kind of asked him on why he didn't take the exam and I wasn't able to ask nicely. Then he said a few things and our fight kind of got worse. I haven't been able to talk to him after that." she admitted. She didn't just talk, but with her anger, she slapped Conan too. She'd never been guiltier than when she did that. Ai wanted to apologized, but it seemed that it was too late for it.

 

[Ryuuji Tsukino]

"I know I should Ai-chan. But honestly, it's a little harder than I thought." Any other person would have missed the sound that the younger girl had made. It was just so faint that it could easily have been unnoticed. But then again, Ryuuji is not just any person. Other than the fact that he's a wizard, which made him even less normal, he's a keen observer too. And he's pretty proud of that fact. Aside from that, Ai's not a stranger to him, and hopefully, he had not been one to her too, even though he had basically disappeared from her life for about a year. It nay have just been a momentary thing. Maybe it won't last that long. But at least, he made her laugh again - maybe not a full out one, but at least, it's a start. Hopefully, it's a sign that everything would indeed go well again. He missed that little giggle of hers. And at that time, it felt like not a year had passed. If he could really just control time just like how those super heroes do on those anime and movies that he used to watch back at home, then he would have done so. He would have given anything just to make everything fine again. Maybe not perfect, but just fine. But alas, he knew that not all things would go according to his plans. And that is what frustrates him the most.

Just like what he had thought, the atmosphere began to feel a little tense and heavy again. And that made Ryuuji feel helpless again. Eyes flashing a darker hue of blue, the young Ravenclaw lowered his head. His fringe, which is getting quite long now, covered his eyes as he listened to the younger girl tell her story. And as he listen, he felt his chest tightening quite a bit, and at that, he knew that any second, he'll cry too. But he really can't afford to let that happen. He needed to summon the old Ryuuji back. He need to keep calm and think. He cannot just let things to fall apart between the twins. It maybe selfish of him but he really want things to be fine no matter what happen. Some people might misunderstand. Some people might even say that his toeing the line, that he's overstepping his boundaries, that he's poking his nose in somebody else's business. But he didn't really care. He needed to make things right again. Not only for the twins, but for himself too. "You really should talk again Ai-chan. I know that it will be hard. But I also know that you love your brother so much. Conan-kun treasures you a lot too. Just being apart, and with you ignoring each other, nothing would happen. We don't know what the outcome will be, but it would be really better if you two would talk to each other." He said, not lifting his head as he was afraid that the tears that are threatening to fall since earlier would find its way out. He really didn't want Ai to see him cry. He's already fifteen! No. He should be mature enough to handle things like this without breaking down. ​

 

[Ai Nightray]

"You can do it Nii-san!" she told him a bit cheerfully and playfully. Ai knew that she can't let her sadness take over her. Time is precious, and this was the only time she reunited with her senpai after along time. She shouldn't be sulking and crying, instead she should spend it happily with him! "I know you can!" she giggled. Well, at least she tried her best to cheer him on, right?

Ai had listened to Ryuuji and she can't help but feel a bit sad. "I'm not ignoring, Onii-," she paused for a while, remembering her family telling her not to call Conan 'Onii-chan' anymore since it's too childish of her. And Conan too, telling her to call him by his name. "I mean, Conan. It's just that, I can't see him anymore." she explained for a while. "I don't know where he's at, if he's still doing the things he normally does," and it was true. Ai never saw her brother after they arrived at Hogwarts. Never. She spent her time locked up in her room punching the walls and now what does she have? Badly bandaged, severely wounded still bleeding hands. "Oh, and Ryuuji-niisan, you can cry. Ai-chan's been sensing that you're sad. And by the way, the color of your eyes is changing and your fringe is getting longer," she told him quite casually. It was not because of her family ability, but it was because she already knew him, and she already had an idea that he felt sad. On the other hand, the way his physical appearance was changing had surprised Ai quite a bit, but she remembered him saying that he would tell her about it someday.

"I..." she said softly before pausing. Ai had thought about what Ryuuji has said and in fact, she knew it was true. And as she can't stop her tears from flowing anymore she hugged Ryuuji and almost shouted, "I want to talk with my Onii-chan!!" she told him. "I miss my Onii-chan!!" Ai couldn't help but admit the feelings that she tried to hide for so long. Her hidden thoughts and feelings just came pouring out, like the tears in her eyes.

 

[Ryuuji Tsukino]

Little by little, though it was not really that much, Ryuuji felt that things are getting a little fine. He knew that nothing will ever be perfect. He knew that it will really take time for him to even be able to consider that things are better. BUt things being fine, it's already enough for him. For now at least. And the way that Ai was trying to cheer him up and encourage him, even though it should have been the other way around, gives him that glimmer of hope that indeed, things will be fine again. Maybe, just maybe, this change that had happened would be for them too. After all, he used to believe, or rather, he still believes, that things do indeed happen for a reason. Things change. He wouldn't be able to stop that. But at least, he should learn how to ride these waves of changes. He can't fight them. He knew he can't. And that was why he should really stop sulking and depressing over things. Rather, he should start gathering himself up again and start being the old him. The him who would handle things calmly. Really, if the Ryuuji from a year ago would see how he's acting right now, then surely, that Ryuuji would kick a ball to his face and would tell him to stop being a child. His father, his father would surely be disappointed once he learned that his son is being so weak too. He can't disappoint them, can he? "Arigatou Ai-chan. Thank you for believing on me. I can do this." Rather than the statement pertaining to him fixing that habit of his of speaking his thoughts out loud, it was actually directed to things that he is facing right now.

Ryuuji knew that Conan was also a hufflepuff just like his twin, but for the twins to not really see each other, then things were indeed worse than what he had thought. Listening to the younger girl, Ryuuji's eyes traveled to her bandaged hands. She was hurting herself, and yet, he hadn't been there for her. He wasn't sure what Conan was doing, hopefully though, he's not hurting himself too. But then again, he knew that Conan wouldn't do such thing. It's not like Ai was the childish one of the two, in fact, he view the twins as adults stuck in a kid's body. It's just that, he somehow feel that Conan is better at keeping his emotions in check than Ai. Ai's strong, but she's delicate too. "You really should stop doing that to yourself Ai-chan. I'm sorry but it's selfish. Stop hurting yourself like that. Alright?" He said as he looked straight into the young girl's eyes. His expression was stern, and his eyes tell that he means what he was saying. He really can't let the girl continue on doing those reckless things. He really can't comment on the young hufflepuff telling him that he can cry though. His father used to tell him that he shouldn't cry, that he should be though, that he shouldn't show weakness to anyone and that he should man up. That's precisely why when he was a kid, he used to hide himself in the closet whenever he needed to cry. His sister would tell him that it's fine to cry. And right now, Ai was saying the same thing too. "Gomen Ai-chan.. Nii-san's fine." He said, smiling a little he took some strand of his hair and examine it. It might be a little random at the moment, but Ai's statement made him remember that promise that he told her before. He had told Conan about the ability of his, but he had never really told Ai. He wasn't really sure if should tell her now though. Not that he didn't trust her to keep his secret, it was just that, he himself is quite confused with that ability of his too. And that's the reason why he had decided to avoid commenting on the statement. There would be another time to talk about that. Just not now perhaps.

Ryuuji felt hi chest about to burst again as the younger girl hugged him again. He really hate seeing people hurt, he might be a little sadistic at times, but really, he doesn't like seeing people in pain, especially if said people are those that are really close to him. When he heard what the girl had said though, he cannot help but to feel a little happy too. Happy that at least, she wanted to talk to her brother again. At least, it's a start. "It will be fine Ai-chan. I'm sure Conan-kun misses you too. Let's talk to him ne?" He said as he pat the younger girl's back. This time, letting her cry her tears out. He'll be there for her. He won't let the twins get hurt again. This time around, he would be the big brother that he should have been.
​

 

[Ai Nightray]

Ai smiled at Ryuuji. The smile she always gave him a year ago. No sadness, no grief, no depression. Just her little smile of hope and happiness. Everything seemed so easier to bear when she was with Ryuuji, everything seemed that they would turn out right. But, then again, the outcome wasn't really accurate and foreseen, and that was stuck in the Hufflepuff's mind. When the girl heard the older boy thank her, she just smiled and said, "I will always, always believe in you Ryuuji-niisan. Zettai (Definitely)!" And it was true indeed. He was not just anyone, he was a big, big someone who entered her life and was sure to never come out.

Ai looked at her hands as Ryuuji told her to stop hurting herself. It was a bit painful when she punched the walls, and she didn't really care at all. She needed to feel pain to snap out of seeing things and hearing things. Things she didn't want at all. "Gomen ne (Sorry), Ryuuji-niisan. I just needed to feel the pain at time. Shinpai shinaide (Don't worry), it doesn't hurt anymore," a little white lie is what she said. But it probably wouldn't take an expert to tell that her hands were in a bad condition, but it was fine with her. She thought she was the only one who lied, but it seemed she was wrong. A small tingle on her back had told her that her senpai had once again, told a lie. "Nii-san's lying." she said calmly without asking anymore questions.

A nod was all she could manage while crying and hugging Ryuuji. She missed Conan. More than she ever missed her Mom, her Dad, and many more. Ai just wanted to fix the broken bond between them. A bond that she wished she never triggered to break. "Nii.... Nii-san, will come with me, right?" she asked him willfully, hoping that he would say yes. But, she never really knew what the boy's answer would be.

 

[Ryuuji Tsukino]

It was such a relief that the younger girl had smiled once more. It had been quite a long time since he had seen that in the little girl's face after all. The past year had been specially hard, not only for him but for the younger girl as well. Time crept by so slowly that those torturous and bitter memories had carved deeply within their souls. It would be really hard to heal those wound, but with enough resolve, Ryuuji was sure that this time around, everything would turn out to be fine. "And I won't betray your trust Ai-chan. Nii-san believes in you too you know?" He said, a small smile slowly gracing his features. Shaking his head a little as the wind blew, Ryuuji reached out his hand in front of him, effectively blocking out the sun, his hand casting a shadow on his face. "Ne, Ai-chan, we've been surrounded by darkness, demo ne, the darker the time is, the more brighter the light would be right?" With that, Ryuuji let himself drop on his back, the grass tickling his face as he lay still on the ground.

"Don't lie to Ai-chan, those wounds says the otherwise. It still hurts, doesn't it?" He said as he pushed himself back to a sitting position, his eyes darting towards the small hand of the younger girl. It pains the young ravenclaw to see how much she had hurt herself over the year. "Relinquish your pain Ai-chan.. nii-san's here to help alright? When you're in pain, i'll always be there. Punch me all you want, I'll take it instead of the wall alright? I'm your big brother after all, ne?" He told her, flashing a smile in her direction. But withing seconds, that smile faltered as he heard Ai told him something. He knew that she had already figured him out. He wasn't sure but Ai really had that knack of knowing whether someone's telling the truth or not. He was specially amazed of it, but not at this time. He didn't want to hide anything from her, specially something that he had already told her twin. But still, he can't tell her anything for now. "Who knows?" He decided to take the try to be mysterious and playful way as a smirk found its way on his face. He needed to find a way to steer the conversation away from him now though.

"Of course I will come with you Ai-chan. I told you ne? Nii-san will not leave you again." Ryuuji was glad. Really, he was. He was glad that things seemed to be working on the right direction for now. Glad that at least, it seemed like things would be fixed soon. Hopefully, his hunch wasn't wrong. Hopefully, Ai and Conan would made up again. After all, seeing a bond so tight be broken is something that Ryuuji would not be able to bear at all.
​

 

[Ai Nightray]

"I know that." she said as Ryuuji told her that he won't betray her trust. From the very start, she believed in all of her friends, Ai knew they would never betray her trust, she was only scared of separations, but not scared of trusting. "Arigato, Onii-san!" Ai could not help but smile when the older boy told her that he believed in her too. That's what she's been needing, someone to believe in her, and she was glad that she had that someone beside her. She took a glance at the sun and was momentarily blinded before she covered her eyes and listened to Ryuuji, "A lot more brighter!" she shouted with glee, as she watched him lay down on the ground.

"A bit," she couldn't help but confess. After all, he did see right through her so there was no point in lying at all. But when the older boy had told him that she's allowed to punch him all she wants, the girl just can't help but panic, "Ah! No, no! I can't possibly punch Nii-san!" she said shaking her head in a very quick manner. "And the wall really helps in snapping back to reality," she said a bit cheerfully until she realized that she let out a secret that only two people knew: herself and Heath "Oops. I'll tell Nii-san about it next time!" she said as she started to tremble a bit while remembering those frightful times until she slapped herself just to bring herself back to the present and see Ryuuji flash that mysterious smile of his. "Mou! The playful smile is out again! Nii-san's definitely scheming something!" she said playfully almost forgetting what she had remembered.

"Arigato, Ryuuji-niisan!" was all she can say with the joy she felt that she now had a chance to make up with her brother. A chance that she's been given by the friend and brother beside her right now.