7

"What?"

Rin looked up from the book in his lap, his earring swaying slightly. Loid came to sit beside him on the porch, his bare feet touching the soft grass of the front yard. He was dressed in white shirt and trousers, his long hair tied back in a high ponytail.

It was a pleasant morning; white fluffy clouds swimming sluggishly across the blue summer sky. A slight wind would blew every now and then making the clothes on the line flutter in its course.

Loid turned his head, repeating his previous statement,"I want you to give me some task."

Rin closed his book, his slender fingers brushing its maroon colored cover. Turning towards the boy, he asked,"Why? Because you feel like you are using us?"

Loid nodded. He was somewhat used to the witty replies of that human by now. That boy was smart, he would admit that.

When Rin had asked him to stay by his side, he had meant exactly that. To stay by his side. A week had passed since he had met that human and all he had done was to trouble him and his family.

"Don't feel that way then," he covered the side of his mouth by his hand, whispering,"Don't let mom hear you say that."

Loid nodded and the boy turned away, opening his book again. He was wearing trousers and a black button up whose sleeves had been folded up, revealing the porcelain skin of the human's forearms.

"But you must consider my sentiments. I don't understand why but if I'm staying by your side than I ask you to let me do something for yo-, for this family."

"Something for me, huh?",Rin smirked, the tip of his lips lifting slightly.

"Y- your family. Yes. Yes, for all of you. F-for helping me and Dammy", Loid looked away, avoiding that human's gaze.

Why was he feeling anxious again?

Rin chuckled, swinging his legs, running his bare feet through the wet, soft grass.

"You don't have to do anything. You don't owe us anything. Just live how you wish."

"Beside you?"

"Beside me."

Their eyes met and neither of them said anything during that comfortable silence but they both were thinking.

'He hadn't slept well last night.'

'I can not tell what this human is thinking.'

A paper plane came riding on a gust of wind, flying into the front yard. Standing up, Rin reached out for it, catching the plane. Loid came to his side as he unfolded it.

"Blank?"

"No, wait for it",Rin said and soon enough words began materializing on the white paper.

"Here. Read it for me",Rin gave him the letter before turning around and sitting down on the wooden porch.

"It says that black eyed pixies from the forest of west have requested Imperial Kage's service during the festival of lights.P.S: Drop by my office sometime. I miss you, my boy."

Rin scrunched up his nose,"Skip the P.S next time. That man doesn't know what he's talking about."

"But he says that he misses you", Loid folded the paper neatly, giving it back to Rin.

"He just wants me to come back to the Imperial council. Have you seen Kim around?"

"I believe I saw him outside the greenhouse. The imperial council?"

Rin placed the letter inside the book before getting on his feet. Loid walked beside him as they went around the house.

Rin's family lived on the outskirts of the city. That way it was easier to hide their powers otherwise the magic circles- which they created ever so often - would make their neighbours suspicious of them. It was a world of their own; a small two story house with a front yard and a green house.

"You don't know about it?"

The lion shook his head,"This is my first time hearing about it."

Rin nodded, "Makes sense. You have lived your whole life on that mountain, haven't you? Well, the imperial council of Kages is the highest office in all the domains."

"Office?"

Rin looked up at the boy, an eyebrow raised,"Loid, just how much do you know about me?"

"I can't see what that have to do with me asking about the imp-"

Rin smirked as he saw the realization dawning upon the spirit,"Yep. I'm an Imperial Kage."

They had reached the greenhouse and Loid pushed open its door, holding it open for the boy. "What a gentleman",Rin smiled, going past him,"I had been the vice president for a year and th-What on earth is going on here?"

"Dammy!",Loid cried at the same time.

The greenhouse was a complete mess. Pots broken, windows stained with dirt, water up to their ankles. Kim and Dammy were wet from head to toe, their hair sticking to their foreheads and water dripping from their tips.

Those two pointed at each other simultaneously,"He started it!"

Rin shook his head,"Really? What are you two? 5 years old?"

The elf shook his head vigorously, sprinkling water droplets everywhere. His brown shirt was all muddy and it was irritating him.

"It's all his fault, Rin",he cried.

"My fault? How's it my fault that you are too short to reach the top shelf?",Dammy snickered. Kim scowled, kicking the spirit boy behind his knee. Dammy stumbled forward, his hand hitting the last pot on the shelf and it crashed on the white tiled floor.

"Kim!",Rin cried. Was he for real?

"You are so dead",Dammy said with gritted teeth, making a dog's shape with his hands,"Tsuk-"

"Oh no, he is not", Loid placed a hand on the boy's mouth. Dammy frowned, looking up at his brother.

"Don't make me scold you, Dammy."

He let go of him.

VAPORIZE.

A red glow surrounded the lion's hand as he casted the spell. All the water on his brother vaporized, leaving him dry. Hands on Dammy's shoulders, Loid looked over at Rin who was shaking his head disappointedly at an aggressively pouting Kim. The elf huffed before raising his hand. Loid saw him make a fist and whispering a spell. He opened his hands and out flew tiny green lights, like hundreds of fireflies. They spread all over the room, returning it to its previous state.

One of them flew up to Dammy's face and bumped into his nose, vanishing with a greenish spark, healing up the small cut on the boy's nose. Dammy rubbed his nose, a small smile on his face. Loid saw him looking at Kim and averting his gaze when the elf caught him looking. Loid smiled, ruffling the boy's black locks.

"Loid?"

Loid turned to Rin, a grumpy Kim behind him, his cracked glasses repaired now.

"Can you write a reply to that letter? Tell the president that I have accepted the task and that I will be leaving for it tonight."

"Tonight?"

Rin nodded and lead the way out of the greenhouse, sunlight engulfing them the moment they stepped out in the garden. His mom loved flowers. White Lily, tulips, roses. They were planted everywhere in her small garden, bathing delightfully in the warm sun rays.

Loid had took a liking to that place. The weather there in human's domain was the mirror opposite than in his domain. The warmth of the sun, the scent of the flowers dancing in the summer breeze and the bright blue sky over their heads.

Simply beautiful.

Rin turned around, walking backwards,"Do you wanna come with me, Loid?"

"Will it be alright? I don't want to create trouble for you."

Rin shook his head,"It's no trouble at all. At least you won't die of boredom staying here all day."

Loid gave it a thought, looking at his brother.

"Kim can look after Dammy."

"What?", the elf and the spirit boy cried in unison. No surprise there. Kim frowned. He would not look after that ill mannered brat. Not after being teased for his short stature. If he could, he would have casted an itching spell on him. A chuckle escaped his lips at the image of Dammy scratching himself continuously.

Dammy narrowed his eyes,"You are making fun of me, aren't you?"

Kim placed a hand on his mouth, shaking his head,"Who? Me? Not at all."

Dammy stomped his foot walking away from the 3 of them. Loid shook his head, pinching his nose bridge. Why was his brother being that way?

Rin glared at his childish friend.

"What?", Kim shrugged, "He needs to learn who is the elder one here. Are we going or not? I don't have all day, you know."

Rin couldn't use TELEPORT for a while, it took a lot of one's energy. That's why he needed Kim's help.

Rin looked up at the lion,"Are you in?"

"If it is alright with you."

Rin clicked his tongue,"You heard the man, Kim. Let's go."

Kim pushed his glasses up his nose before materializing a magic loop, greenish glow radiating from its rim.

"ALL WAYS."