The nocturnal garden bloomed in vibrant autumn colors, its tranquility at odds with Airi's words. In the distance, a flock of birds took their evening flight, their dark silhouettes cutting across the deepening sky. The sun continued its descent toward the horizon, stretching long shadows across the balcony's polished surface, revealing the facade of the twilight's peace.

  In its stillness, the cool air sharpened Haru's senses as he remained silent, digesting her stance.

  Airi's hand disappeared into the folds of her elaborate kimono, pulling out a slim cigarette between her fingers.

  "These qualities are stained into his very being, little brother. Always silent,...but never gone."

  Haru's face wrinkled in disdain, hastily moving closer to her side.

  "Sister, what are you doing! I thought you'd quit?!”

  Her eyes defiantly flickered towards him, silently instructing him to light it. “Obviously, I'm stressed,” she mumbled, leaning inward. “I have a lot on my mind these days.”

  Reluctantly raising his index finger, a resigned sigh escaped his lips. He sparked a small flame at the tip, lighting the cigarette. The brief flare of light illuminated their faces, highlighting his creeping unease and her nonchalant demeanor.

  She drew deeply on the cigarette, pulling away from his flame. For a moment, she held the smoke in her lungs before slowly exhaling upwards.

  The white tendrils curled and twisted dissipating into the air, its dance mesmerized Haru, triggering a cascade of memories.

  His mind plunged him back onto the battlefield, the air thick with the scent of blood and ash. Kaito and Airi fought carefree by his side, their younger selves reeling in the bloodshed as his sword blazed through enemy lines. Steel met steel. Fire scorched flesh. Heavy smoke engulfed the bodies collapsing around them.

  Crouching down, Haru wiped the blood smearing his sword onto his enemy corpse. His gaze followed the silhouette passing by, watching a sinisterly pleased grin devour Kaito's face as he stepped over the dead, casually claiming the spoils of war.

  A worrisome expression settled on his face, faltering his breathing.

  Sensing the disturbance in his energy, Airi wistfully smiled, pinching his cheeks with both hands. The sudden contact jolted Haru out of his reverie, bringing his focus back to the present.

  "But, don't get me wrong," she reassured, softening her voice. "I care for my son and husband, but above all, I love you and this clan.”

  Haru huffed softly and rubbed his cheeks, the gesture automatic rather than necessary.

  She took another drag from her cigarette while the sky displayed its evening colors in warm streaks of orange and purple, fixing her attention on the sun's descent toward the horizon.

  "When we had nothing…” she exhaled, the smoke crimped upwards with words so quiet Haru strained to hear them. "...only the members of this clan accepted us. They took us in, gave us shelter, and forgave my rampage. I owe them a huge debt."

  Gracefully, she shifted her weight and walked over to the wooden rocking chair nestled beside a small table perfectly matching its design. Its surface inlaid with radiant glass pieces in different shades of blue. The hand-crafted chair glowed in the dying light, its rare wood reflecting every ray. The polished surface embedded with blue accents gleamed as she lowered herself into the seat, her fingers absently tracing the carvings Kaname etched into its arm.

  As she began her gentle rock, she swayed towards Haru. The fading sunlight caught the blue inlays of the chair and table, diffusing delicate water like reflections patterns across the floor.

  "Little brother... please inform my husband I'm under the weather and will be remaining here, in my chambers."

  Haru moved closer, his arms outstretched, disbelief and alarm warring across his features.

  "But Airi! Have you no concern for the children??!!! Zei has them!"

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  "I'm aware who has my children, Haru!” she snapped back, exhaling a stream of smoke, unconcerned by his urgent tone. Her voice calmed with undercurrents of solace.

  "And to be frank, I'm relieved Zei was the one who picked up the contract."

  Gazing upon Haru's troubled expression, she brought the cigarette closer to her lips, the chair softly creaking as she continued rocking.

  "He may be a brute nowadays, hell, even a murderer and thief... but he's no child lover."

  Haru remained frozen in place, watching her attention return to the garden below as the sun completely disappeared behind the mountains. Moonlight washed across the landscape in a soft velvety glow, coaxing the nocturnal flowers to unfurl their delicate petals.

  "In fact... I'm almost positive he's going to take a liking to both Kaname and Yasushi.”

  "What about Etsuyo? She's with them as well!" his voice climbed, taunting with frustration, while tightening his fists.

  Airi sighed, instantly ceasing her chair's creaking rock. "Don't be foolish, Haru." She pulled the cigarette from her lips and flicked ash, exhaling smoke into the night air.

  "By now, Etsuyo is likely dead. Let's just pray she died with her honor intact."

  "But—" Haru stepped directly in front of her chair.

  "HARU!" she lashed back in aggravation. Her hand whipped downward, driving the cigarette into the side table with violent force. The table shattered under the impact, sending blue-tinted shards skittering across the floor, glittering in the moonlight like fallen stars.

  "These are times of war! Conflict is brewing and seeping into the hearts of the other realm leaders. Death is inevitable. Mercy is a fucking joke!" Her volume rose, bitterness and exhaustion bleeding through every word.

  "I have more pressing matters to deal with than to worry about the children!"

  The moonlight flowers trembled responding to her fury. His shoulders sagged, turning his face away, as his words of protest died in his throat.

  Her outburst faded into the night, leaving a heavy silence pressing down on the balcony. She stood up from the rocking chair and shook glass fragments from her palm.

  "Please stop overreacting and just play along. Kaname won't let anything too drastic happen to Yasushi. She doesn't have a choice. In a matter of time, this will all be over."

  Haru's eyes widened, challenging hers. The calm certainty of her voice unnerved him, forming a knot twisting in his gut. "Airi…" he began, his stare locking onto hers.

  "What did you do?"

  She scoffed, kneeling down to observe her reflection in the scattered glass pieces.

  "I already told you... I care for my son and husband, but what I owe the members of this clan exceeds it, so... I made a compromise."

  Impatience brittled his voice, his mind racing through possibilities, each one worse than the last.

  "I don't understand you, sister. What compromise?"

  Casually, she swept her hand to the side, emitting a wave of dark energy from her fingertips. It wrapped around the broken glass and table remnants, dissolving everything into nothing within seconds, leaving the balcony floor clean and unmarred.

  "Don't worry about it. It's none of your concern."

  Sadness colored her voice despite her dismissive gesture, her tone heavy with unspoken burdens.

  "It's not something I expect you to understand. My little girl is growing up too fast these days and when the time comes, she knows exactly what to do. Kaname is capable of handling this entire situation on her own."

  Haru's stare sharpened, perturbation cutting lines into his face. "And how do you know this?"

  Closing her eyes, she looked up at him with a mischievous grin.

  "Simple. I've been giving her extra lessons in secret."

  Finality rang through her words as she turned back toward the balcony railing, avoiding his glare. "Practice makes perfect," she muttered as if savoring the words. "Have a little more faith in our precious Kaname. She's the only one that can save this clan."

  She rose from her knees and returned to the rocking chair, wood creaked accepting her weight.

  "It's time for you to leave, Haru. You're disturbing my meditation."

  An unsettling energy flowed around her, twisting the atmosphere into an unwelcoming void. He nodded, offering a small bow and turned to leave.

  It's best not to test her patience when she gets like this.

  His feet reached the balcony's entryway then hesitated as Airi's voice pierced his thoughts.

  "Oh! …and little brother?"

  Body tensing, Haru waited for her to continue.

  "Swear to me...No matter what happens, you'll always look out for Kaname..."

  Without turning back, he nodded again, quickly walking through the doorway and closing the chamber's door behind him.

  Airi smiled, pulling another cigarette from her kimono alongside a lighter. The flame briefly flickered in the darkness, touching the cigarette's tip. Tilting her head back against the chair, she placed her arm on Kaname's carvings, her eyes scouring the star-studded sky above. A bittersweet melody hummed from her lips. The rocking chair rhythmically creaked, swaying her as the smoke swirled around in diaphanous patterns.

  Her faint humming filtered through the door into the hallway.

  With a final glance at the closed door, Haru straightened his spine and squared his shoulders, carrying himself down the corridor, back toward the War Room.