"Yuuhime~" She heard Yamato calling for her. She ran as fast as she could, her heart beating fast.

"You can't run from me, I'm your brother." He laughed. She looked behind her but ran into someone.

"Yuuhime, why are you running from your brother?" She looked up and saw Norah, who had a concerned look on her face. "He's your only family left."

"No!!" Yuuhime covered her ears. "He's a cruel monster! He's-he's not my brother anymore!!"

"But he seems like such a nice guy."

"He gives you all the nicest things!"

"He would never hurt you."

Yuuhime screamed as the voices grew louder and louder. Yamato's laughter grew louder and louder until she couldn't tell what any other voice was saying.

"Stop it! Go away! I'm free from you now!" She screamed. She felt her face melting from how much she was crying, so she scraped at what was left of her face.

Yuuhime woke up in a cold sweat. She scrambled up, looking around to find herself in Xuan's room. He slept beside her, peaceful. She sighed shakily and laid back down, reminding herself Yamato wasn't there over and over again.

She was truly grateful to Xuan for letting her stay at his place. She was originally going to sleep on the couch, but her nightmares were too much to handle, so Xuan let her sleep with him. In his bed.

She thought she would feel much more flustered than she actually did, but in practice, she was too worked up over nightmares that him sleeping beside her went right over her head most nights.

She rubbed her eyes, feeling the wet tears slither down her palms. Shivering, she turned to Xuan. His delicate features made her blush, so she carefully slid her hand onto his chest. She felt his gentle breathing, going up and down slowly. She closed her eyes and tried to copy his breathing.

She suddenly sneezed, which made Xuan's eyes flutter open.

"I'm sorry!" She whispered, covering her mouth. He glanced down at her hand, which was still on his chest, and smiled.

"Don't apologize," He placed his hand on hers, "it's a natural human function."

Her face flushed, as did his.

"Your hands are cold." He said, slowly sitting up. Her heart leapt a little watching him get up.

"Where are you going?" She mumbled.

"Gettin some water, want some?"

"No, but I..."

"Yes?"

She hugged his arm, breathing hard.

"Is-" she choked, "is family really that important?"

Xuan was taken aback. "Of course."

"Then why did Yamato-"

"Woah, woah," he stopped her, "hold your horses. There's two types of families."

"Two?" She asked, tilting her head.

"Y-yeah," He pulled her out of the bed, "there's biological, like the one you're born into, but then there's also chosen."

"What's chosen?" She asked as he led her out of the room.

"A chosen family is like...when you find people you also love as much as your family."

"Like friends?"

"No, it's deeper," He poured himself a glass of water, "it's like...finding someone that's like a brother, or a mother, or-"

"A husband?" Yuuhime blurted before looking away.

"Yeah, I guess." He smiled as he drank his water, blushing at the implication. She watched him closely.

"Xuan, what do you think about marriage?" She once again let her mouth and heart work faster than her brain. Xuan simply chuckled, placing the glass down.

"Would you believe me if I told you I used to plan my future wedding when I was younger?"

She watched his face grow sad.

"Marriage is something I don't think I'll ever be able to experience. Being an ops chief isn't something that gives me the luxury to do that."

"Do you want to?" She asked. He turned to her, biting his lip.

"Only with the one." He quietly said.

He knew Yuuhime was the one. Everything about her was perfect. He wanted to place the most beautiful ring on her finger and have her perfect wedding.

But he knew that would never happen. At least, not while injustice littered the world.

It hurt him like a thousand knifes stabbing him all at the same time.

Yuuhime started to caress his cheek, understanding that he didn't want to talk about it anymore. 

"I'm sorry for bringing it up."

"No, don't be. It's my fault for getting emotional."

She sighed through her nose and changed the topic. "Do you think Yamato is my family?"

"What do you think?" He asked.

She thought for a long time. He was her brother by blood, but she had decided a long time ago that he changed too much to be her real brother anymore.

"I think he's just my biological brother," She finally said, "I don't chose him to be my brother."

"Then that's what he'll be." Xuan said, giving her a kind smile.

Yuuhime suddenly felt the tears coming back. She tried her best to hold them back, but she just couldn't hold back anymore.

"What's wrong?" His brow furrowed.

"I-I don't know." She admitted. He watched her for a second before wrapping her into a hug, rubbing her back.

"Why did he change?" She hiccuped. "Why couldn't he just stay the same? Why couldn't he still be...kind?"

"I don't know." Xuan said. "I ask those questions all the time, but I don't think they have an answer."

Yun flashed through his mind. He held Yuuhime closer, fearing to lose her. She felt the same.

"Can I be fixed?" She asked, looking up at him. "Can I be freed from this nightmare?"

"We'll never know unless we keep going." He replied. She choked on her sobs, clutching him.

He lightly gave her a kiss on her nose. Before he could pull back, she pulled his face close to her mouth, locking their lips together.

They sat like that for a long time. His warm lips gave her comfort, making her feel safe. As if the world outside stopped existing for them to have this moment.

They finally pulled back, both their faces red.

"I haven't gotten used to kissing yet," Yuuhime chuckled, "but kissing you makes me feel...better."

His cheeks became an even deeper shade of red, but his face was serious.

"I'll never let anyone hurt you." He said defiantly. "And if they do, they'll have to face my wrath."

She wiped her eyes, his warm body and his strong words giving her the confidence to finally say what she wanted to the moment he made the promise with her.

"Tang Xuan, when this is all over...I mean, when Yamato is captured, when injustice is at an all time low, when everyone can leave their homes without fear...will you...be mine?"

He was silent. She wondered if she was too direct, her stomach plummeting.

"Yes." He said. Her eyes went wide, and before she could control herself, she was on him again, kissing his face and hugging him tightly. He giggled, letting himself be loved by her.

"You'll be mine!" She giggled in between kisses. "You'll be mine forever and ever!"

"Of course!" He peeped right back. "But please loosen your grip! You're hurting my arms!"

She let go, but still kissed his face. She could help it; even though she was so scared and stressed, her joy in that moment outweighed everything else.

Xuan couldn't stop smiling. He didn't know how long it would take, but he decided something: he would marry Yuuhime. Even if his work to fight the evil of the world was never ending, he would give her the happiness she deserved.

"You'll be mine!" She said again, as if she couldn't believe what she was saying.

"I'll be yours!" He laughed, kissing her cheek. "You'll be mine!"

She giggled and leaned on his chest, yawning.

"Ready to go back to bed?" He asked, yawning right along with her.

"Yes, please." She replied, and he led her to go to bed.

***

Yamato stood alone in the Greywater house. His nostrils still flared from New Years Eve. His hands still shook from where he held the gun he shot like a mad man.

How dare they? How dare those barbarians take his family? Steal his sister and his future brother in law?!

He grabbed a very expensive vase and slammed it against the wall. He took the table it was sitting on and flipped it over.

He was normally never this messy. How could he have let this happen? Why did he let this happen? Everything was under control up until the Esper Union butted in.

He grabbed a painting and was about to rip it off the wall but caught a glance of what it was of; a painting of many light purples flowers of all kinds.

Yun came to his mind.

Tang Yun. The one who now possessed the music box.

Except, he hadn't used it yet.

How was he so sure? Well, if he did use it, it would have been all over the news. But nothing, not even a missing persons case, came up.

"Tang Yun." Yamato hissed. "As my future other brother-in-law, you have made me very angry."

He stroked his chin. His other brother-in-law, eh? Of course, Yun wasn't just some Shadow Guard lackey. No, he was yet another member to his small but precious family. A naughty family member, but one nonetheless.

"Tang Yun..." Yamato whispered. He felt his lips form a grin as he laughed to himself.

Of course! The solution was right there the whole time, right in front of his face! It was so obvious what he had to do, he was surprised he didn't realize it sooner! He laughed louder, shaking his head.

Soon enough, his family would once again be reunited! Never again would they be taken from him!

Never!