Xenovia entered the classroom and waved to Issei and Asia, who were already in class. 

"Sorry if I'm a bit late," said Xenovia, "My other class ended later than I anticipated." 

"No problem! The class hasn't started yet, so you should be fine!" reassured Asia.

"Hold on, Xenovia!" said Issei suddenly, "Was the math test hard? What kind of stuff was on it?" 

"Well, as long as you studied, you should be fine." giggled Xenovia, "You did study, right?" 

"Well..." Issei mumbled, "Kind of..." 

The teacher walked into the classroom and everyone scurried back to their seats. 

"Please open your books to page 127," said the teacher in a tired voice, "Would anyone like to volunteer to read the following passage?"

Xenovia raised her hand. 

"Xenovia. Thank you for your participation. Read away."

Xenovia cleared her throat before beginning. 

"Tanzan and Ekido were once traveling together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was still falling.

Coming around a bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash, unable to cross the intersection.

'Come on, girl,' said Tanzan at once. Lifting her in his arms, he carried her over the mud.

Ekido did not speak again until that night when they reached a lodging temple. Then he no longer could restrain himself.

'We monks don't go near females,' he told Tanzan, 'Especially not young and lovely ones. It is dangerous. Why did you do that?'

'I left the girl there,' said Tanzan. 'Are you still carrying her?'"

Xenovia sat down again as the teacher thanked her again. 

"What do you think that's about?" the teacher asked. 

"Well..." thought Xenovia, "I think it's about learning how to let go... It's hard to let go of someone sometimes..." 

Asia and Issei looked worriedly at each other as Xenovia put on an uncomfortable face. 

"And even though it may be hard to let them go... It's our responsibility to do so and keep moving on..." 

____________________________________

"I'm just worried, that's all..." said Issei, "She seems fine enough, but every so often..." 

"As much as I wish to tell her that I know what she's going through, I can't," Rias sighed, "It's been two years, and we're still feeling the effects of what happened that day. Where is she now?" 

"Probably in his garden." 

"Do me a favor. Pay her a visit," said Rias, "She needs the company. 

"Will do, President." 

Issei summoned a magic circle, with a blinding red light taking him to Xenovia.

When the red light went away, Issei was greeted with flowers of every shape and color. 

The air was fresh and the birds were singing a beautiful tune. 

There was a tree, just a short walk away, with Xenovia sitting under it. 

"Mind if I sit?" asked Issei, after walking to her. 

Xenovia nodded her head, moving over to make room for the newcomer. 

"I'm fine..." she said before Issei could speak, "I really am... It's just... Everything's changing so fast... Rias and Akeno have graduated, leaving us for our last year at school. Now that we're pretty much adults, I can't help but think about the future."

"I've been thinking about that too," said Issei, "It's scary to think about, but being with you guys always seems to calm me down." 

"It's the same for me too, but... It's hard to let go... It's been two years, and I still haven't really gotten over it." 

"I wouldn't expect you to get over it," said Issei, "If I were in your shoes... Who knows what I would do?" 

There was a moment of silence between them as they looked at the flowers. 

"We're in France. Did you know that?" she asked. 

Issei shook his head. 

"He told me that he flew across the world almost for nearly a month to find this place... He went through all that... Just for me..." 

"He must really love you..." Issei muttered. 

"Yeah... He must have... But life goes on..." 

"Life goes on..." said Issei, looking over to see a tear going down Xenovia's face. 

____________________________________

Issei couldn't help himself. He just had to do it. Sneaking in carefully, so as to not alert her, Issei dipped his finger inside the warm pot to get an early taste of Asia's cooking. Of course, being the Venomous Snake that he was, Issei was caught almost immediately.  

"Not yet! It's not ready!" yelled Asia at the intruder.

"You don't understand!" complained Issei, "I haven't had anything to eat since this morning!"

"Then I guess you won't be having anything until I'm finished in here!" said Asia, crossing her arms. 

"Fine..." muttered Issei, slinking away. 

Asia giggled to herself as she continued to cook, only for her to turn around and to see Issei trying to get another early taste. 

"Issei!" 

"I'm sorry!" 

Meanwhile, Xenovia knocked on the door to a familiar house. 

"C'mon in," said Bulma, "How's your day been?" 

"It's been a day..." said Xenovia, "Same old stuff. Day in, day out." 

The conversation moved into the kitchen as Bulma prepared some tea. 

"Everything seems just bland now since..." 

Xenovia stopped herself. 

"It's okay..." reassured Bulma, "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. I know it can be hard." 

"It's not that I don't want to," sighed Xenovia, looking out the window as Bulma filled her cup with tea, "I guess I'm just trying to forget." 

"Forget?" 

"Yeah. It's been two years since the Azazel Cup, and I think it's about time that I move on... No matter how hard it is," said Xenovia. 

"You're a very strong woman, you know that? Right?" Bulma asked, "Much stronger than I ever was when I was your age." 

"What do you mean by that?" said Xenovia. 

"Putting the past behind and moving forward is something that a lot of people can't seem to do. You're very brave for trying to do that." 

"T-Thank you..." Xenovia muttered while taking a sip of her tea. 

"And if you ever need help or support," added Bulma, "Just know that I'm always here for you." 

Xenovia thanked her again with a heavy heart. 

Just then, she sounded exactly like him.

____________________________________

Later that night, Xenovia pondered on Bulma's words. 

She thought about a lot of things. She thought about school. She thought about the Peerage. She thought about Bulma. She thought about the flower field. She thought about him. 

But she couldn't think about that. She had to move on. 

She thought about how if she could keep going, she had to move on. 

"Life goes on..."