Rekino sighed and sat down on one of the porch steps. She thought about what Flash told her. It wasn't her fault for having amethyst eyes. That was an inherited gene from her mother's side of the family. All women had amethyst eyes. She rolled up the sleeves on her jacket and looked at the cuts she had made. The raven pinched her eyes closed as she cried. It was soft at first but it grew louder and louder until she screamed. It was an ear piercing one at that.

All of the guys had heard the scream. Sage came out of the bathroom, Hana and Rowen came out of their respective rooms, Ryo stopped brushing White Blaze, Josephine looked up from her snack and stared at the door, Mia and Amaya bolted out of the computer room, and Thunder poked his head out of the laundry room. They all wondered what it was until they heard it again.

"Rekino!" Rowen ran down the stairs and out of the door. He saw Rekino sitting on the steps and she was crying and holding her arms, which were bleeding slightly from applied pressure. He knelt down beside Rekino and took her into his arms. He cradled her body in his arms, which seemed to mold perfectly to his, and stroked her soft hair, "Shhh, it’s okay, Rekino. I'm here. Everything's going to be alright."

Rekino buried her head into the nape of Rowen's neck and cried harder. She knew the pain that she had caused him and everyone else. She looked up at his face and brought her hand to his cheek, "I'm…s…s…so….s…sorry, Ro-Rowen. I didn't m-mean to…c-cause you p-pain," Rekino barely got the words out as she started to cry harder. The tears made red lines down her face. She was crying hot tears.

Rowen gently cupped her face between her hands. He softly kissed her on the lips, lovingly. He couldn't go any farther since she was crying so hard. He pulled away gently, "I know, Rekka. I know. It's okay."

Rowen gently cupped her face between her hands. He softly kissed her on the lips, lovingly. He couldn't go any farther since she was crying so hard. He pulled away gently, "I know, Rekka. I know. It's okay," Rowen looked at the door and saw Ryo coming out.

"Sis!" Ryo said and immediately took her into his arms. He rocked her back and forth, "I'm glad you're okay! Everything's gonna be back the way it was! I won't let you get hurt ever again."

Rowen took this opportunity to get up and leave the siblings by themselves. He walked back into the house and several pairs of eyes fell on him, "She's okay. I think that she just cracked under all the pressure and stuff," Rowen turned around and saw Ryo carrying a still crying Rekino up the stairs. They heard a door shut.

"I guess Ryo's a little more protective over Rekino now," Sage said. He started to panic, "AAH! I didn't take the conditioner off of my hair!" He ran back into the bathroom and locked the door.

Hana laughed and walked downstairs. She had her laundry basket with her. She was headed towards the laundry room when something caught her eye. Thunder was in there though. She saw him take off his shirt and put it in the washer. She followed every muscle of his body, right down to his feet. She licked her lips and started to think of how well he could kiss. In the spur of the moment, she dropped her clothesbasket, which startled Thunder.

Thunder turned around and saw Hana staring at with him some kind of hunger in her eyes. He sweatdropped. Why him? Why did he have to be blessed with the power of looks? He cleared his throat and got Hana's attention. He put on his shirt and looked at her.

"Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't mean too…I mean… you know…I was just walking in here to put up my clothes and you were here and I couldn't help but look….oh shit! I mean…." Hana said in a long breath.

Thunder frowned, but he couldn’t say anything. He only nodded his head and finished getting his clothes out of the dryer, bending down to get the last pair of socks. Hana could not help but watch him.

Nice ass, she thought to herself, then mentally smacked herself. What was wrong with her? She had a crush on Sage, didn’t she? She watched as Thunder lifted his basket up and made his way for the stairs.

Hana turned to the washer and begin to load her clothes inside for washing. Today had been a long day and she was feeling rather tired after everything that had happened with Rekino and Brock, which she still had to laugh about, and then with Rekino’s sudden outburst earlier this evening. She planned to take a nice hot bubble bath and relax for the rest of the evening even if she had to force herself to.

Ryo came back downstairs and found Rowen sitting in the recliner reading a book. He cleared his throat and got Rowen's attention, "She wants to see you."

"Okay," Rowen put down his book and got out of the recliner. He walked up the stairs and Ryo grabbed his arm, "Yes?"

"Hurt her and I'll make sure you she's the last one you ever hurt," Ryo released his arm and walked back downstairs to find Mia.

Rowen sighed and walked up the stairs. Why would he hurt Rekino? He loved her with all his heart. He made his way to her door and knocked lightly. He didn't hear a respond. She was probably in the bed asleep. He sighed and was about to walk back with he heard a very soft voice. He turned around and saw Rekino in the doorway.

"Come in," She said softly and opened the door for him. She walked back into her room and lay down on her red comforter. She saw Rowen in the doorway and patted the side of the bed, "I don't bite."

"I know," Rowen whispered. He walked further into the room and sat down on the bed. He was startled when Rekino grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him down, "What was the for?"

Rekino just smiled, "I want to be close to you," She placed her head on his chest and looked up at him, "Do you wanna hear my story?"

"Yes, I'd like too," Rowen said.

Rekino took in a deep breath and started to tell Rowen all about her past. All ten of the foster homes she was put in didn't want her because of her problem. She told him about being ridiculed due to her eye color. Then, Rekino told him why she started cutting herself. It was to relieve the pain cause by others and the feelings of being alone. When she finished, she was near tears again, "I never thought that I would start cutting myself again. When I was ten, I was diagnosed with estrogenic sarcoma, bone cancer. The doctor told me that it wasn't normal for a child my age to have that specific kind of cancer. Anyways, I have a tumor under my kneecap. I did chemo for a while, and my doctor told me I was all right. When I was here in Japan, Mina-san told me that I wasn't completely free of it. So, I started back on chemo."

"That's why you were so sick, huh?" Rowen asked, "I remember you would come home from school and just immediately start throwing up. You always told us that you just had a weak stomach."

"I didn't want anyone to know," Rekino said back, "I've got an appointment this Saturday with her. I'm pretty sure everything's going to be okay. I haven't had any bad news here for a while."

Rowen bent down and kissed her lightly, "I know it'll go well," He sat up and stretched, "Well, I need to go. You're probably tired from everything that's happened today," He started to get out of bed, but Rekino stopped him, "Huh?"

"Please, don't go," Rekino said. Her eyes pleaded with him, "I want you to stay with me tonight."

Rowen blushed a little, "Okay, but I'm not ready to go to bed. I have to go to my room and put on some more clothes," He could've sworn he saw her glowing eyes turn mischievous, "Um…what are you thinking about?"

"You can just strip to your boxers. It's not like I've ever seen you without your shirt or pants on," Rekino laughed. She saw Rowen grin and he took off his pants and his shirt. She felt him climb into bed. She smiled and put her head back on his bare chest, "Feel better?"

"Much," Rowen leaned down on kissed her lightly on the lips, "I love you."

Rekino smiled and climbed on top of him, "I love you too, you mother cracker," Before he could ask what that was; she kissed him hard on the lips.

*~*

Back downstairs, Sage and Hana were sitting on the couch while Mia was sitting in the recliner, Ryo was on the floor, and Amaya was standing beside Mia. The others had gone to bed earlier. Sage decided to play a little game on Hana. He placed his hand on her butt and squeezed it.

"AAH!" Hana screamed. She jumped off of the couch and looked at Sage, "Damnit Sage, I know my ass is nice but that doesn't give you the right to touch it!"

Sage just winked at Hana, "Well, I saw an opening that said 'Pinch me' and I did," He chuckled.

"Guys," Ryo said, "It's late. We need to go to bed."

"I agree. We've got school tomorrow," Amaya said.

Hana's eyes shined, "Plus, we vote for class favorites and Mr. and Miss Hana High! I can't wait!"

"Drama Queen," Mia muttered. She got out of the chair and stretched a bit. Her legs buckled under her and she toppled forward right into Ryo's arms. Her cheeks turned a deep shade of red, "Gomen nasai!"

"It's okay," Ryo said and helped her stand up. He noticed that she looked rather cute when she was blushing, "I'm going to bed. See you guys in the morning," Ryo yawned and made his way up the stairs. Mia followed him and went to her room.

"I hope Rekino's okay now," Amaya said. She looked at Hana and Sage, "I'm bushed. Au revoir!"

"Adios!" Hana called back at Amaya, who was already out of the room. She looked at Sage and noticed he was staring at her, "Um are you okay?"

"Yup," Sage said, "Perfectly fine."

"Well, I'm going to bed. See you in the morning, Seiji," Hana said and got out of the room before he killed her for calling him his 'real' name.

"You know, Hana. My bed's more comfortable," Sage called to the top of the stairs.

"I think I'll stick with mine. Night," Hana replied and shut her door and locked it.

Sage smiled and walked up the stairs to his room. Once there, he stripped down to his boxers and climbed into bed. He was planning on getting Hana back for calling him 'Seiji'. Just wait, Hana. I'll get you back, you little minx! Sage thought to himself before closing his eyes and going to sleep.

The next morning everyone was awake and getting ready for school, including Rowen who didn’t trust Flash. After a good breakfast that Cye had made, they all headed for school, and went to their classes.

As Rekino sat in one class, she noticed that Brock wouldn’t even look her way as he usually did. Instead he faced forward, hands folded neatly on his desk while casting his eyes downward as if he was afraid to face anyone. She kept a smirk to herself and planned to ask Flash how she had did it.

Time passed and the heroes went through their daily classes, getting homework from some of them and having to study for tests for others. Finally Rekino entered History 11 and took her place next to Mia.

“Rough day?” Mia asked.

“A bit,” Rekino replied as she put her book on her desk. She let a sigh out and brushed a few strands of hair back out of her face.

The teacher walked in just as the bell rang. He gave the students a chance to settle down, then told them to open their books up to page 416.

The class did so, and the teacher begin to read. “For centuries Germany has always been ruled by a monarchy system. However that monarchy was attacked in the year of 1988, a war was to break out. The ruling monarch King Thaitus and his wife Queen Lila had a two year old son then, who they were forced to give away to peasants to save his life. This boy has been missing for fourteen long years. And to this day the royals still search for their missing son.

Mia stared down at a photograph of a two year old baby male while the teacher droned on. What could have happened to him? she wondered.

The teacher continued on. “This boy, this heir to the German throne, is said to be searched for to this day. The boy is said to have a birthmark on his left shoulder in the shape of a two way axe and cross, he is also said to have blond hair, one eye light blue, and the other eye is so blue and so bright no one can look at it for very long which is why his parents kept it covered. Now can anyone tell me what is the significance of what I have just read?”

“Um, there’s a royal kid missing?” a teen asked.

“Not quite.. This is history,” the teacher droned on. Suppose you were walking down the street one day and you passed a blond hair boy with the birthmark and those colored eyes. Without learning this now you would not even know it was him. History is all around us. We are making history now. History comes in all shapes and sizes and events. Without learning about history we could not learn about ourselves.”

"God, I wish he would shut up!" Rekino said to Mia through the telepath link due to their Lady Guardian Armors.

Rekino stared down at the picture. She narrowed her eyes and studied it closely. She didn't see anything familiar about it until she looked at his eye color. Her mouth fell, "Mia, it looks like…Thunder! His eyes are the same color!"

"Ah, shaddup!" Rekino replied back. She raised her hand, "Um…Coach Ware?"

"Yes, Rekino?"

"Um…what did the peasants do with the baby?" Rekino asked.

Coach Ware shook his head. “No one really knows. Some say the peasants raised the child as their own on the sea And some say they peasants gave the baby to a military school. No one to this day have any idea what happened to the child.”

"Arigatou!" Rekino said to the teacher, "Mia, I'm going to connect with Hana. She seen Thunder with his shirt off last night."

Rekino shot her a look before she connected with Hana, who was in her Honors Algebra III class, "Yo blondie, ya there?"

"I might have. Let me see!" Hana started to recap what happened last night, "Yeah, I did. Why?"

"Just wondering! Thanks blondie!" Rekino closed the connection and turned her attention back to Mia, "Guess what?"

"Yeah, that and we're housing a PRINCE at our house!" Rekino sighed, "This is going to look good on my college resume!"

Rekino shook her head, "She doesn't need to know now. We'll wait and talk to Thunder about it…better yet; I'll talk to Flash today. She'll know. Thunder doesn't talk to us."

Mia sighed and looked down at the picture. She felt bad for Thunder. Having been taken away from your parents at a young age had to have been hard on the kid. She just wondered how he and the others would react when she and Rekino told them. "Rekino, this is going to be a very weird day."