It was a couple hours later when Asuka and Arthur returned. By the time they did, Ichigo and Thalia had already returned, and they had just finished preparing. When they opened the doors to the home, all eyes had turned to them. Seeing the pair hand in hand, Martha didn't bother to hold back her laughter, throwing her head back with a howl.
"Oh Asuka, who knew you were so bold," Mei said, innocently covering her smirking mouth.
"My babies are getting so old," Thalia spoke, wiping away her watering eyes with a tissue, "Thank the Aeon's I got to live to see such a beautiful moment."
Ichigo said nothing and only nodded approvingly.
Asuka groaned in embarrassment, trying to cover her reddening face. Arthur stood a bit more relaxed, though he couldn't meet any of their eyes.
Despite it all, they never let go of each other.
The other children joined them after they all sat down. Even with inevitable dark times approaching, Asuka managed a smile, savoring these moments of joy. They laughed, told embarrassing and fun stories about each other, and even danced when Thalia brought out a harp and began to play. Mei tugged on Ichigo's arm. He was hesitant but eventually wrapped his arm around her waist and twirled her around. They moved so perfectly, one would confuse them for one body instead of two.
They were a sight to behold. Even more so when Mei began to sing in her home language. No one, except Ichigo and Arthur, understood the lyrics, but the emotion from them could be felt by all.
"Rise my love, rise my love. Don't let them halt thee. Rise my love, rise my love. Burn brightly evermore..."
Arthur whispered the meaning of the lyrics to Asuka. She was shocked that Arthur could understand what she was saying.
"I've studied the languages of the other continents," he explains, "Though I've studied some better than others. Especially the dead languages."
Then, an idea sprang in Arthur's mind. He hesitated for a second before standing up, facing Asuka.
He did his best to remain cool as possible. He placed one arm behind his back and stretched the other one forward in an offering gesture. He cleared his throat before speaking.
"May I have this dance, madam?"
Asuka was taken aback by the offer. She was about to refuse when she looked into his eyes. Without saying a word, she took his hand. Before she could stand, he kissed the top of her hand sending a shiver up her spine.
They forgot the other people watching and began to move to the sound of the song. Asuka didn't know how to dance, but Arthur guided her till the end.
When the song was over, they were both sweating, Asuka mostly from nerves. The children all cheered and swarmed the two.
"That was amazing," one said.
"I knew you two like each other," said another.
Their words of praise made the blushes on their faces worse.
Soon, the night grew darker. The children made their way to bed first. Then Asuka decided to head to bed early as well. She lay in her bed contemplating the night. The small smile couldn't disappear off her face. Then her thoughts wandered to her mission, and it widened even more. She placed her hand over mouth and her eyes darkened as her thoughts did.
"Acceptance."
~
It was any ordinary day for the young girl Aria. She awoke early in the day to the sound of the church bells as the morning sun was still rising. She let out an innocent smile and leapt out of bed. She quickly tied up her brown hair got dressed and ran into the dining room meeting her father and mother who were still preparing breakfast.
"Morning darling. Up quite early don't you think," said the father, his voice soft and inviting.
"Hello daddy! Hello mommy!" The girl replied with squeaky excitement. "I'm just so… so excited for my first… day of school!"
Both parents smiled at the girls words.
"Excitement eh," the mother said, "Can't believe this is the same girl we could barely get to read a few lines of a story book. The lord truly has blessed us."
"Speaking of the lord, your brother should be returning from his assignment today. Oh, I just can't wait for him to return. It's only been a couple days, but I already miss my boy."
"Brother!" The girl yelled excitedly. She threw her arms in the air in celebration.
"Now darling, don't want to be late on your first day. Eat up quickly alright."
Her mother put a plate of eggs and toast lathered in jam on the table with a glass of milk as the beverage. Aria beamed at the table and gobbled down her food, making her parents worry she may choke.
The girl's day passed rather quickly. She attended all her classes but found them all rather boring. The only class that entertained her was the one about Aeonara. So many stories and legends to excite her child mind.
Though she never understood why everybody seemed to take the stories seriously. The idea of actual Aeon's existing was ridiculous. Her parents had told her as much when she was even younger than was now.
"Even the nice bishop said the same and he would never tell a lie to me."
As she approached her home, she noticed there was some commotion going on inside. She decided it would be better if she stayed unseen and eavesdropped under the window. Listening, she heard the sounds of silent crying from a woman. There was a man talking but it wasn't her father. He was uncharacteristically silent. Instead, it was the kind and caring voice of the bishop. It had been quite a while since the last she saw him.
"I wonder what words of wisdom he's come to spread today."
"I am truly sorry for your loss. The boy had great potential for our cause. It is a shame such young talent has been wasted. But this moment of sorrow is only further proof of the truth. The divine have forsaken us. Instead of despair, use this as motivation. This is not the end."
Aria hadn't even heard the whole speech the bishop had said. Right now, there was a deep abyss inside the girls soul. Her brother was dead.
She didn't understand all that death entailed, but she knew that she would never get to meet him again. She would never lay on the ground, drawing pictures trying to see who was the better artist. She would never hear him play his flute again. He would never bandage her bruises whenever she played without cation. He was gone forever.
Suddenly, a loud weep came from outside startling everyone inside. The bishop walked to the door, opened it and peered outside to see who made the noise. All he found was a little girl with her head in her knees and loud sobs tearing from her throat.