(Part 9)

Kenzo stepping up the stairs headed inside the grandiose manor, however, before he could step inside any further he heard a canary's chirping. Light, soft and intense at the same time, Kenzo turned around stuned.

A gentle breeze blowing he gulped, "The canary... is singing…?"

Aidan glancing at Kenzo tried to speak however, before he could utter even a single word Kenzo rushed down.

Following the voice of the bird, he ran inside the gardens ignoring ever single call made for him.

"Young highness...!" Aidan called instantly sighing bending low.

"I told you to tell him beforehand, now face it." Mira scolded following behind Kenzo.

"As if I had the time!" Aidan retorted following her. 

Kenzo running through the lawns, stood before a beautiful garden surrounded by wooden fences. Wiping the sweat under his chin, he stepped inside gazing at the sight before him wide eyed.

Amid the lush flowery garden, a golden cage as tall as door, rested with a beautiful blue and yellowish-golden canary chirping inside. Standing before the cage was woman.

Her long monochrome hairs glinting under the sun rays as if a gradient of silver and white. She wore a long, beautiful white dress, her complexion fair. Golden earings dangling left and right, she too hummed. 

"Mother…?" Kenzo whispered in disbelief.

Upon his surprised call yet a call full of longing, a strong breeze blew scattering leaves and petals all around.

___

 Helios and Poseidon standing before the hospital nodded. One heading inside while the other knocking a big house beside. Poseidon waited.

"Who's there?" called a fragile, stuttering voice.

Poseidon smiled, "It me…"

The voice not responding back with only the gates flicked open as an old woman stared at Poseidon surprised, "My little Poseidon…?"

Poseidon beamed stepping forward, embracing her, "Hehe, you're right. It's me nanny. I am back." 

____

"Young master Helios, Doctor Layla and Doctor Sahil are busy in the operation theater right now. You can wait until they are free. In the meantime, would you like some coffee or tea?" the receptionist asked politely.

Helios smiled shaking his head, "Thank you, I'll pass the offer. Until they are free, I'll wait."

Settling down on the waiting seat, he stared at the operation room. On its entrance a red light was lit reading 'Surgery in Progress' Helios crossed his fingers looking at the ground anxiously, "I pray that they both succeed…"

____

Poseidon peeking from the corner of the wall beside the old lady asked confused, "What is mother doing?"

"She is planting new seeds for the harvest… mostly tomatoes and coriander." the old lady replied.

"Then… should I scare her?" Poseidon asked amused, "Or surprise her? Or, go before her wearing a tomato mascot?" he assumed foolishly.

The old woman chuckled, "Just go the way you are silly one. After all, she had been missing you a lot." 

Poseidon hearing her words stepped forward as the granny smiled. "Mother…" he called

. As if heard an angel's call the woman pivoted around. Her hands dirty and attire disheveled, she asked, "Poseidon?"

"Yes." Poseidon greeted stepping before her lovingly.

Leaving the gardening tools from her hands the woman embraced him tightly, "My Poseidon is back!"

"Hehe…" Poseidon gleamed.

Looking at him the lady beamed cupping his cheeks. "How are you feeling and are you here alone? What about the training base? And Helios did come back with you?" she asked hastily. "Yes, I am feeling a lot better, thanks to Doctor Layla's prescriptions and I came back with Helios as well. Since, Under-18 PSL tournament is about to commence from tomorrow onwards I came to visit you today. It's base's holiday today." Poseidon told.

"I see, come on in then. Don't stay outside." the lady pulled Poseidon and the old lady inside the house.

____

The lights of the operation room finally turning green, the doctors came out. Helios stood up anxiously. Tracing two familiar figures talking to the patient's family he exhaled relieved, "Looks like everything went well."

Instantly Sahil's gaze meeting Helios's he uttered surprised, "Heli…?"

Layla hearing the lovable sobriquet too turned around to find Helios waving at the two of them. Shoving her files into Sahil's hands Layla rushed over embracing Helios tightly as Sahil followed.

"Hehe, You're squishing me, mama…" Helios chuckled as Layla stood straight rubbing his arms, "Sorry, my love. I was so I excited to see you, that I just couldn't keep control on my strength."

"Had you been waiting for long?" Sahil asked.

Helios shook his head assuring, "Not at all dad, I just arrived."

"My little Heli…" Layla grasped his hands beaming.

Seeing the two of them so delighted, and remembering the harsh time he passed without them Helios finally confessed releasing all his burden, "I missed you both… very much."

Sahil stepping ahead embraced the both of them, "We too… we missed you a lot too. Welcome back home, my prince." 

____

Ryan standing before his house turned to Xavier who waved. "Thank you, Brother Xavier." he thanked.

Xavier shook his head, "Don't worry about it. Now hurry up and go in." he pushed him before the gate.

Suddenly a loud shrieking voice was heard as the two flinched. "RYAN IS BACK! RYAN IS BACK!! ON THE GATE!! RYAN IS BACK...!" It repeated continuously.

Ryan smacked his forehead flabbergasted while Xavier smiled at him clueless. "The voice doesn't sound as if of a human…?" he inquired.

"It's my parrot. Whenever he senses me coming back home. He would always call my name alerting the entire world." Ryan rolled his eyes in irony.

"Heh, how assuring." Xavier praised.

"It's not assuring at all, that old man always knows that I am coming back thanks to…" Ryan retorted as the wooden gates of his house unlocked.

A middle aged man wearing a ragged trouser and an unbuttoned, unkempt and peach colored round necked shirt with dark brown tousled wavy hairs and slippers stepped out of the house scratching his hairs.

Xavier making acquaintance still smiled while Ryan on the contrary... looked away embarrassed. Embarrassed to the point of smacking his head in a wall nearby!

"At least come out of the house properly?! Are you a beggar or something?! To think that the Legendary cricketer of Pakistan 'Musa Ty Alexandro' is answering the gates in this condition?!" he freaked in his thoughts.

A large green and red parrot sitting on his shoulder with his other hand holding a long wooden bat the man called, "Come on in already? Or are you just going to spend the entire day standing out there?"

Ryan twitched his brow annoyed. Xavier turned to Ryan. "Then I'll leave now. Take care al-?!" he said as the man had out of nowhere kept his arm around Xavier's shoulder pulling him, "Why are you in such a rush young lass? Aren't you Ryan's senior? Have a cup of tea inside." he offered.

Xavier confused still smiled. "You don't have to force a smile, brother Xavier." Ryan thought pushing the man back, "Stop pestering him dad. If you have a problem just play against me."

"Heh~" Musa smirked. His dull eyes which showed no interest suddenly started burning with fire, "Are you sure~?" he teased.

"I am." Ryan stated, "PSL are commencing from tomorrow. I want you to test and give me some advice."

Musa rolled his eyes mumbling, "So early? They should be training more and…"

Ryan nodded at Xavier, pushing Musa inside the house. Musa instantly squealed, "Then what's the big hurry! We have a whole day ahead of us I'll test the both of you!" he turned around clasping Xavier by his shoulder and Ryan by his collar taking the both of them in.

Poor Xavier who had no idea of what was happening to him went on with the flow silently putting up sweet smile. Ryan on the other hand annoyed glared at Musa who smirked at him laughing loud instead.

____

"I'll head in first then!" Adam turned to Seraph and Cassiel before a small house.

"Alright." Seraph ruffled his hairs.

"I'll come back and visit you once I am done here." Adam gleamed.

"Alright, alright. Just go in already." Cassiel exhaled at his endless questions.

Adam stepping forward hugged the two of them, rushing inside. Waving one last time his figure faded.

Seraph exhaled, "He is such a kid." 

The two of them walking inside a bustling market street. People looked below from the apartments above. Car and bikes rushing here and there, Cassiel smiled at the bustling sight, "Finally back home."

Suddenly a voice called, "Seraph! Cassiel!" Seraph turned around to find a man and the people surrounding him waving from his fruit stall.

"Uncle!" the two rushed over.

"You both are back?!" the man asked astonished.

"Yeah, just for today but we are back." Cassiel told.

Others surrounding the two of them called loudly to the other stalls men, "Every one! Cassiel and Seraph are back! Our cricketers are back!"

Seraph and Cassiel blinked at each other puzzled.

"They are back?!" asked the barber coming out of his shop.

"Both of them?" added the baker barging out of his kitchen.

"Don't joke about those stars!" said the clothes seller.

"Oh my! We have to tell Kinza and Yumna!" said a woman talking to another one who came out for shopping.

"No! Not our mothers!!" Cassiel and Seraph tried to stop them however, no use. 

News of their arrival spread around like wild fire.

"They are back?" asked the boys coming outside their houses and the girls glanced from their apartment windows.

Cassiel smacked his forehead speechless while soul left Seraph's body.