He leaned back against the wooden wall with a small thud, mouth slightly parted to let out hot, shaky breathes as his violet eyes stared blankly at the empty space next to where he slept. He felt his eyes burning, droplets of salty tears formed at the corner of his eyes, blurring his vision, allowing his mind to conjure the images, memories of that man, his companion. Tuck into his chest in his hands was a small hair tie made from strands of leathery material that shone metallic white when light hits it, adorned with two small violet gemstones chiseled into small orbs taken from the bracelet that was nowhere to be found. He sobbed, confused and tormented by the emotions and thoughts in his head.

It was a parting gift, by destroying the bracelet, Quetz has essentially cut all ties with him, by creating this new gift, the man has given him a chance to start a new life. A life without him. The teen bit his lip, reasons let him know why the man left, but his heart wouldn't understand, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't understand.

- Haru? - The voice of his sister pulled the boy from his thoughts, wet violet eyes glistened in the weak light of the early dawn, looking at a concerned Mitsuki who's making her way toward him. - What's wrong? - She asked, wrapping her arms around the smaller boy and pulled him into her chest.

- He...left... - Haru whispered shakily through bitten lips, clinging against his sister for comfort.

- O-oh...I...see. - Mitsuki was taken aback, knowing full well who his brother was preferring to but unable to do anything to comfort the boy. - D-don't be sad, you still have us right?

Her question was met with silence, Haru didn't want to reply, or rather he couldn't, all of his strength was spent holding in the anguish wails of anger and sadness. The white haired boy buried his face into Mitsuki's shoulder like a lost child, for he was only a child and indeed he was lost. The girl sighed, expecting tears to soak her shirt, but there was non, instead she felt the weak, shaky breaths of her brother against her skin. He was defeated and exhausted, barely having the strength to lift his head, so Mitsuki let him rest against her, rough yet gentle fingers combing his snowy white hair as she sang him a lullaby to comfort his heart.

- Mitsuki-nee? - The white haired boy called out weakly.

- Yes? - The older girl asked, her hand still resting on her brother's head as he pulled himself from her shoulder.

- Mitsuki-nee, please tell me... - The boy grabbed his sister's wrist, voice choked with uncertainty and fear. He didn't know how to put it, nor did he know how his sister would react to what he wanted to say, he only knew that it has to be said, she has to know. Grinding his teeth together, Haru tried his best to still his mind, to find the suitable words to tell Mitsuki. - Please tell me! - He shrieked quietly out of frustration, before his voice dimmed into a whisper. - What if I want to go with Keto-san?

Horror spread across the white haired boy's face, seeing Mitsuki's expressions darkened as she considered his question. He pushed himself against the wall, as far from her as possible before curling up and burying his face into his arms, mumbling inaudible apologies under his breaths. What was he thinking? Asking her something like that, the one of the only two people who treated him like an actual human being. Haru was being selfish, that much he knew, after all those years of them taking care of him, he still consider leaving them to follow a stranger who forsook him when he was just an infant.

The white haired boy sat silently, waiting for a slap, a yell, a disgruntled sigh, something, anything to come from his sister to show him her disapproval. He was sure she was upset, that she's angry at him for this betrayal, paranoia gripped at his heart with its talons, filling his mind with visions of what to come. Yet it never came, at least not the bad things that Haru's imagined. Instead of a slap, a warm, gentle hand was put on his head, shakily caressing his hair. The white haired boy could feel it coursing through him, his sister's emotions, her anxiety, her doubt and fear. She was just as torn as he was.

- I-I don't...know. - Mitsuki voice was little more than a whisper when she said those words. - I think...I think I want to...follow him too.

- What do you mean? - Haru lifted his face, violet eyes sparkling from the rippling lights of early dawn reflected from the waves.

- I think he was telling the truth about you. - The older girl replied, keeping her hand on her little brother's head. - A-about us. I didn't feel any thing bad coming from him, only...regret and...

- So, you two are going to leave me here alone, aren't you?

The disgruntle statement came from behind Mitsuki, the girl spun around, eyes widened when she saw the tanned boy standing at the doorway, visibly shivering from rage. Horror befell her heart, guilt and regret washed over her as she realized that he's been listening the whole time. She glanced at Haru, hoping that he'd help her explain everything to the tanned boy, but his expressions were terrifyingly similar to hers, if not even more so.

- So?! Answer me! - Loi said in short, high pitched yelps, a vague attempt to hide his emotions. - Are you going to leave me or not?! Are you going to follow him?!

- W-we... - Mitsuki stuttered, finding herself unable to come up with a right explanation to tell her little brother.

- Fine then. - The tanned boy swallowed his anger, teeth clenched tightly before wiping the tears from his brown eyes. - Go then. - He said, voice shaking with rage and grief, feet turning swiftly before dashing out of the house.

For an entire hour, Mitsuki and Haru sat there, guilt-ridden and uncertain of what to do next. Silently, the two packed up their belongings, whatever they can't fit into their satchels and bags were left behind. By the time the horns sounded, signaling the time has come for the evacuation to begin, all of their belongings have been packed into three backpacks and several smaller satchels, one for each of the children to carry, and yet there were only two to carry them. Mitsuki and Haru waited by the long burned out fireplace, waiting for their brother to return. The sounds of the horns sounded more urgent now, backed up by the noises of protesting livestock and their masters, and yet Loi hasn't return. But then, they heard it, the sounds of footsteps on wet sand echoing from outside, before the old wooden floor creaked and vibrated as someone's climbing on it.

- Rai! - Haru called out, bolting from his seat and rushing out.

But instead of seeing his brother's tanned skin and shaggy black hair, the white haired boy almost tumbled into the tall, slender frame of a grown man, eyes flinching as pale arms reached out to secure him. Backing off, the boy's violet eyes were met with two amber orbs staring at him with confusion and curiosity. He fell backward, eyes bulging at the towering figure in front of him, heart beating wildly, his mouth opened and closed repeatedly like a haplessly stranded fish. He felt joy, fear, confusion and anger, all rushing in and overwhelming him as his breaths quickened and eyes watery. Standing in front of him was Quetz, still confused with his head slightly tilted to one side.

Haru wanted to scream at him, he wanted to be angry at the older male like he did the day before. But he couldn't. He couldn't force himself to be angry. He couldn't hide the smile that was spreading on his wet, messy face as he once again bolted from his feet and wrapped his arms around the man's back, burying his face into the fabric of his silvery blue shirt. No matter how hard he tried, the white haired boy couldn't stop himself from looking up as he felt Quetz slowly kneeling down onto one knee, hand clinging tightly onto the older male's shirt, fearing if he let go, the man would disappear right in front of him. He flinched a bit, feeling clawed hands caressing his face, gently wiping the tears on his cheeks and eyes with his knuckles so that the claws wouldn't scratch the boy's face.

Hot, shaky breathes escaped Haru's slightly parted lips when he locked eyes with Quetz, amber eyes with elongated, cat-like pupils staring into right back at him. They're strange, they're abnormal, they're like his, when the boy looks into them, he saw his reflection staring back at him. Slowly, he put his hands onto the man's face, causing the older male to slightly open his mouth in surprise. His pale skin was warm to Haru's touch, just like the hands on his face, so he closed his eyes and leaned closer, feeling the warmth until their foreheads met in a gentle collision. It's all coming back to him now, the memories and feelings when he was just an infant, when Quetz has to give him up. Haru felt the older male's sorrow, still a smoldering fire like the one from that night when the sky was at its blackest. It's all true, everything the man has told him was the truth.

- Keto-san. - The white haired boy quietly called out. - I...want to go with you but...I don't want to leave Mitsuki and Rai behind.

- You...don't have to.

The voice came not from Quetz, but behind him, and the older male silently shifted to one side, as if he's known it before hand. And there he stood, hand still clutching at his spear yet his thoughts, his emotions, his aura, were calmed, serene, at peace, unlike how they were last night. The tanned boy planted his spear into the wet sand, a blur of swift motions carried him onto the wooden platform and right in front of Haru. Despite being only a year older, Loi was still half a head taller Haru, who has to look up with his violet eyes into the boy's dark brown eyes. Mimicking Quetz, the tanned boy put one hand onto Haru's cheek and slowly caressing it, though it wasn't the kind of warmth he felt from the older male, it's still the warmth the white haired boy would savor no matter what from his adoptive brother and one true friend to this point.

- Haru... - Loi murmured, still stricken by the guilt of his actions from the previous night. - I...love...you. - He repeated the sentence that has started all of bad thing from the last day, yet this time the white haired boy felt something was different from his tone. - I love you...much more than a brother should. But I want you to be happy too. So... - Loi suddenly grabbed Haru by his hands, tight enough to keep the smaller male from running but not enough for him to feel threatened. - ...so...if you want to follow Quetz, I'll follow you too.

Those large, gleaming violet eyes, by the ancestors, Loi couldn't stand looking into them, especially after all he's done. In those eyes the tanned boy saw his reflection, or rather what his brother thinks of him, a shallow, jealous, selfish and disgusting monster. He turned away, closing his eyes so he wouldn't have to look into those purple mirrors, Haru must have hated him, disgusted by him. Or so Loi thought. The feeling of delicate hands pressing against his face made the tanned boy flinched, enabling Haru to slightly pull his brother's face to meet his. Once again, Loi looked into those beautiful violet orbs and in them he saw no disgust, anger or even condemnation, instead he saw...forgiveness and understanding. Without saying a word, the white haired boy wrapped his arms around his brother back and put his face into the tanned boy's shoulder.

- Thank you. - Haru said softly into Loi's ear, although he couldn't see his brother's face, the tanned boy knew he was smiling.

- You're...welcome. - Loi replied, forcing a smile onto his lips as he pulled Haru from his shoulder. - We...should get packing.

- Yes. - The white haired boy smiled, not one of those forced smile that he usually presents to them when he feels sad, it was a smile of true happiness, something the tanned boy thought he wouldn't get the chance to see ever again.

Yet he couldn't shake off the feeling of jealousy he had for the white haired man, for as soon as he let go of Haru, the smaller boy immediately turned toward the man's direction, causing him to grab for the white haired boy's hand. The smaller male turned around, confused by his brother's sudden action as the tanned boy realized what he's done. Loi pulled his hand back, embarrassed by his own action as Quetz shot him with an inquisitive glare. He turned away again, feeling the white haired boy's eyes on him, filling him with shame and embarrassment.

- Rai... - Haru called out, understandingly.

Loi couldn't look at him, he couldn't hear his brother's voice, muffled and drowned out by the boiling blood in his ears. It's overwhelming, roiling in his mind, a sense of self pitying, envy and jealousy that directed all of his anger, fear and anxiety of loosing Haru toward Quetz. But in that maelstrom of emotions, the tanned boy felt the warmth of his brother's hand on his face. Instinctively, Loi held onto that hand, pressing it more against his cheek but still keeping his eyes shut, it feel so soft, so caring, so...close.

- Haru... - He opened his eyes, but not to look at the younger boy's face, but to the warm, pale hand on his face and pressed his lips onto the soft, milky white hand, knowing full well he might not get any more chances to do this again.

- Ew! Rai! You jerk! - The white haired boy yanked his hand back, playfully teasing his adoptive brother without even realizing what that action actually meant.

- H-ha...got ya. - Loi played along, forcing a smile onto his face to hide the pain.

- Rai. - Said Haru, his voice a bit more serious and echoed with regret. He knew. He understood. - I'll always be your brother. No matter what.

For a moment, Haru thought that Loi's dark brown eyes were lit up with joy as he heard those words. A small nod came from his older brother as a reply, making the boy smile in relief. He leaned closer, arms wrapping around the taller boy's back and hugged tightly, a small giggle escaped his mouth as he felt the tanned boy's arms wrapping around his back. Pulling himself off from Loi's embrace, Haru smiled at his adoptive brother then turned toward Quetz, the older male's expression was hard to describe, his lips sprouted a smile of satisfaction yet his eyes sparked with distastefulness.

- I should...go pack up my things. - Loi muttered softly.

- Y-yes. - Haru nodded, then turned his gaze to Quetz sitting at the edge of the platform, watching them as the sounds of his tail hitting the water echoed from below.

The white haired boy sighed, watching his brother disappears behind the door before slowly making his way toward the older male. Strangely, he realized, that he felt no more fear or anxiety when he looks upon the...creature in front of him. He remembered how terrified he was of Quetz the first time they met, their reunion, how the man was also as confused and distanced as Haru was. That day, that moment, he felt no connection, no familiarity, only fear and terror as those beastly eyes locked onto him with the look of a predator eyeing its next meal and nothing more. Yet for some reasons, the white haired man didn't treat Haru as such, the man was fully capable of killing human and many times willing to do so, no doubt he would've killed Haru on the spot if he was a normal human child, ancestors know how many children have been found mutilated and hung on trees as warning. But why didn't he? The white haired boy pondered to himself, not noticing the pair of amused amber eyes was gluing on him.

- I didn't know either. - The older male's voice was soft and mischievous as he spoke.

- Wh-what? - The white haired boy jolted.

- I didn't know why I didn't recognize...or attacked you. - Quetz smiled awkwardly, clawed digits reached out, his knuckles gently brushed against the cheek of the human boy.

- But...why? - The boy asked quietly, but the white haired man simply shook his head at him, making him lower his head in disappointment. Yet he thought of something else as he lifted his head, eyes sparkling with excitement and curiosity. - Keto-san, tell me about...our home.

Haru couldn't describe Quetz's face after he asked the question, for a split second, his eyes widened and his lips parted, reminiscence to that of a dumbfounded look, before an eager smile bloomed on his mouth and his entire face lit up with joy. The man let out a low chuckled, then his eyes darkened into a distanced look as he gazed upon the boy and tried to collect the broken pieces of his memories with him. With a voice mixed of regret and joy, made vaguer by the sounds of gentle waves and winds, he mumbled:

- You really are Runty.

***

He stood at the edge of the water, just close enough to feel the sand shifting with each time the waves drag themselves from the sea, violet eyes ponderingly set on the horizon as the winds brushed through his untied snowy white hair. It was serene, the constant beating of the waves and the light of the autumn's sun piercing through the clouds made the scenery so peaceful, even the noisiness of the villagers behind him didn't make him flinch a bit. Closing his eyes, the white haired boy let his mind wander, focusing only on the sensation of the winds on his face and the sounds of the sea, contemplating on what Quetz's told him.

Throughout his life, the matter his origin have plagued Haru's mind in all of his waking hours, even in his dreams, flashing visions still haunt him unrelentingly, filling him more with questions rather than answers. The white haired boy sighed, recalling how he's felt trying to decipher the meaning of the visions, of the feelings that always followed, the frustrations and anxieties of facing the scornful attitudes of the others. Oh how he's longed for an answer, a sign, anything to ease his mind. But now, now that Quetz's here with him, the white haired boy didn't know what to feel about the things he's learned, about their home, about their people, about himself.

- Haru, get in the shade, you might get sick standing out there for too long. - The call, along with the sounds of shuffling footsteps on the sand, made the boy turn around.

The abnormally tall figure was standing right behind him, staring down with his amber eyes partially hidden under the hood, eyes that filled with concern...for him. Before Haru could acknowledge his companion, Quetz's lifted his arm under the cloak and draped it over the boy's head, shielding him from the midday sun, along with the disgruntled eyes of some of the villagers.

- I-I'm fine...Keto-san. - Haru nodded, averting his eyes from his companion's face, still uncertain of what to feel about him and the things he's been told. He tried to keep silence, but something told him that if he tell the man, it'd be better for both of them. - I just...I just...don't know what to feel about the things you told me. - He confessed with a small sigh hidden under the end of his sentence.

- It's the truth. - Quetz reassured him, kneeling onto one leg and resting a hand onto the teen's shoulder. - I will show you when we...

- I know it's the truth. - Haru exclaimed softly, trying to sound as composed as possible, to sound like he's not torn by the feelings and doubts. - I know... - He repeated, this time with a softer tone. - It's just...too sudden to accept.