The redheaded boy looked at the children playing in the tall grass playing hide and seek through the looking glass in his hand. One of the children, a boy, peeked from the tall greens as his friend passed by. When he was sure that he wasn't detected the boy jumped at his friend scaring the other boy silly. When the other children heard the commotion they joined in and soon they were all jumping among each other tickling each other senseless.
The redheaded boy giggled and clapped his hands as he watched the play, wishing that he could join them as well. Suddenly he heard footsteps coming towards his chambers and he quickly wrapped the mirror with the other objects Hikoichi gave him in piece of cloth and hid it under his bed.

Just as he was standing up, the door to his chambers opened and in stepped Maki, his teacher and guardian.

Looking at Hanamichi's too innocent expression Maki spoke, "What have you been up to?"

"Nothing," said the young boy, meeting Maki's scrutinizing look with arrogance.

Maki drawled, "Really? So if you haven't been doing anything special I believe that you assume yourself capable to fight with me better than last week."

Much to Maki's satisfaction, Hanamichi's haughty expression disappeared.

The young boy was pushed back to land on his butt for the dozenth time that session. Growling, he pushed himself up and charged at his guardian swinging his spear angrily. He swung and thrust but the man was faster and stronger and soon Hanamichi was thrown back to land on the hard floor - again.

Maki sighed, "Didn't you practice what I have taught you these last few weeks?"

Hanamichi stayed silent, rubbing his sore bottom and his bottom lip stuck out in a pout, though inside he really did feel guilty.

Maki held out his hand and Hanamichi accepted it to be pulled up. After he felt certain Maki would not start lecturing him anymore, the boy forced himself to ask his guardian what he wanted to know since he received that mirror from Hikoichi.

"Uh... Maki," began Hanamichi.

"Hm?"

"Is it fun there down on earth?" the young boy asked.

Maki looked at his ward in surprise, "Well, it's not entirely fun. Things are different there than here. We are outside forces that evolves together with the universe but we do have significant duties for each and every planet in the galaxy. On earth they are them alone. They have their own society and their own people and we try not tamper with their lives."

Hanamichi scowled, "You haven't answered my question. I asked if it was fun."

"And why the sudden interest, my young lord?" asked Maki.

"I.. I wonder if you could take me down for a look..."

"Absolutely not," said Maki abruptly, "Haven't you been listening? I said that they are their own society and we are not to tamper with their lives."

"It's not tampering! It would just be taking a look!" protested Hanamichi.

"No!"

"But..."

"I said NO!"

Maki sighed at the redhead's dejected look, berating himself for losing his temper.

"Why there?" asked Maki kneeling in front of the redhead.

The redhead brought his head up to see Maki looking at him with softness in his eyes that he wanted to say, 'because I'm lonely here. I see the children playing together and I want to join them' but if Maki was to know how he could see the going ons on earth, Maki would take the mirror away from him and then Hanamichi would be left with nothing to see the earth children anymore.

"Nah, forget it," said Hanamichi letting out a forlorn sigh.

Maki smiled. Ruffling the redhead's locks, he stood up and said, "Alright, that's enough for now. Go change into your colours. We have a banquet to attend to. Your two brothers will be there and I know you'd be happy to see them since the three of you have been apart for so long."

"Yeah," said Hanamichi, his smile showing before it disappeared as quickly as it had came, "but I still haven't grown yet. They'd be sure to laugh at me!"

"Every elemental child takes different periods of time for their growth. When they do they are blessed with different abilities, unique than the other. So be patient young one," advised Maki.

Hanamichi smiled, "Thanks, Maki," and then without thinking he added softly, "If you're with me I feel special and not alone."

Maki looked at the redhead curiously, "What was that?"

"Eh?" Hanamichi blushed and stammered, "N-nothing! Just thinking out loud. Ne, let's go or we'll be late!"
Quickly the young boy ran off with his spear in hand, leaving a puzzled guardian behind.

Hanamichi was bored out of his mind. The people around him were just talking, talking, bragging and talking some more. He tried to catch on what they were talking about but after a while he grew tired listening about the tsunamis in Hawaii, cracks on the moon, appearance of the black hole or any other disasters occuring in the universe. Can't they talk of any happy and funny stuffs? wondered Hanamichi.

"Well now, still haven't grown yet, Hanamichi?"

Hanamichi made a face before he turned around to look at his brother, Koshino, looking criticizingly at him.

Hanamichi lifted his nose in a childish manner. "So?" he said haughtily ignoring the nagging fact that he was only as high as Koshino's shoulder, "What's it to ya?"

Koshino frowned, "And you're still a brat."

"Leave him be, Koshino," said a soft voice.

Turning around they see Fujima walking up to them with a smile on his face. Hanamichi couldn't help but admire his older brother's beauty as Fujima walked across the short distance between them in a graceful but proud manner. If Fujima was not Phoenix's older son, he would've passed for one of Willow's children with his beauty and elegance.

"Hanamichi. You look well," said Fujima smiling cheerfully at his youngest brother.

"Yah," Hanamichi grinned as he scratched his head, "but I still haven't grown."

"You don't say," Koshino remarked sarcastically.

Hanamichi gave him a dirty look, wanting to say something rude when suddenly Hanagata, Fujima's guardian, approached them.

"Young lord Fujima, there are some people who wishes to speak to you of an important matter," Hanagata told the oldest of the group.

"Alright, I'll go," he said and then returning to Koshino and Hanamichi he said, "Excuse me, dear brothers. I'll be joining you two again later."

The two nodded before Fujima walked away with Hanagata beside him.

Koshino leaned towards Hanamichi and whispered, "I've heard that our brother and his guardian has this very close relationship with one another."

"Huh?" Hanamichi responded, "aren't they supposed to be? I mean Hanagata did take care of Fujima since he was born. Like Maki and Fukuda."

"Not that close, you baka," Koshino said, "'Close' as in 'heart-to-heart' or 'soul-to-soul' kind of close."

Hanamichi stared at his brother in surprise. Is it the same kind of closeness I feel towards Maki? he wondered.

His eyes scanned for his guardian and when he did find Maki, the tanned man was looking at someone raptly. Wondering who it was that captured his guardian's attention, the redhead followed Maki's gaze.

And it was directed at....Fujima?

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