~Time skip: 1 month~

Honjo sat up in bed then shook Corliss's sleeping body. She groaned and rolled over. He climbed out of bed and made his way to the living room. There he took out a pencil and paper and started to write. He often erased as he misspelled words, trying not to get frustrated.

He smiled happily as he held it up. It was done. It soon left his hands and was being held by Corliss.

"Honjo, there are so many errors. Why didn't you wake me?" she asked, sitting down beside him.

"I tried, but you wouldn't get up. So I wrote it myself." he said, taking the paper back. "I didn't want to miss our letter exchange..."

Corliss pulled him closer, amazed by his dedication to sending Aoyuzu a letter. She figured most boys his age wouldn't be interested in something like this.

"Honjo, I have a surprise for you, but not right now." she said, helping him fix his errors.

"Is it a toy?" he asked.

"Nope." she replied

"Workbooks?" he said while tilting his head.

"Nuh uh." she said, shaking hers.

"Food?" he asked.

"Nope, now you're out of guesses." she said with a chuckle.

"Meanie." he said with a pout.

He really had no idea what it could be. Were they moving? Was he getting a sibling?

"There, now that's better, isn't it?" she said, looking over his letter.

"I want to see him..." he mumbled.

"One day when we can find time." she responded.

Honjo didn't respond but leaned against her instead.

____

Corliss rubbed her eye then looked down at Honjo who peacefully slept curled up against her. The show droned on as she checked her phone to see if today's plans had changed. A smile formed as she received confirmation that everything was set. She'd let him sleep a bit more before having him get ready so they could head out.

She felt his hand touch her chest before his small body sought out the warmth of hers. She quietly took a picture as her insides melted. Despite all the troubles and heartaches he's put her through, it was small things like this that really touched her deep inside. She leaned down and placed a tender kiss on his head, waking him up.

"I didn't mean to wake you... go back to sleep." she said softly.

"Gotta pee..." he mumbled, leaving his spot and walking off to the bathroom.

She took that opportunity to text Illumi.

Honjo made himself comfortable in her arms just to be told he had to get dressed to go out. She turned off the TV then herded him into the bedroom.

____

Corliss checked the time as they neared their destination. She picked up her pace, needing to get there before they did. Honjo did his best to keep up with her. She offered him her hand so they wouldn't get separated.

They slowed to a stop in front of an aquarium. Honjo looked in awe at its size. What were they waiting for?

"Your surprise will be here soon." she said with a smile.

Corliss kept an eye out for them while keeping Honjo from taking off. She spotted them and frantically waved. They locked eyes.

"Honjo!" they shouted.

"Aoyuzu!" he shouted back.

They happily ran towards each other and shared a tight hug. Both boys started to cry, unbelieving that they were able to see each other in person.

"They look so happy. I told him we were going to the aquarium but he was extremely adamant about staying home. He just had to make sure he didn't miss his letter." Aoyuzu's adoptive mother said with a chuckle. "There's someone else coming, right?"

"Yep. And here he comes." she said, spotting him across the street. "He looks so good today..."

"Is that love I hear?" she whispered.

"What? Of course not!" Corliss replied with frantic movements in a panic.

Illumi was soon hugged by the two boys then greeted the two women. Corliss couldn't keep her eyes off of him.

"We're all here so let's head inside." she said, taking both boys with her.

Illumi and Corliss walked side by side in silence. Illumi looked at her outfit that consisted of dark denim jeans, black booties, a dark coat and scarf. It wasn't much but to him she looked breathtaking. They locked eyes then quickly looked away. A part of them regretted not dressing up a bit more.

"You look really nice today, Lin." Illumi said, looking straight ahead.

"You too." she replied.

They walked in silence once more. Who or what could break the tension? She looked up and saw a fish swimming in supposed circles. She walked over to it in curiosity.

"Hey, should it be swimming around like that...?" she asked aloud.

"Maybe it likes swimming in circles." Illumi replied, standing beside her.

"The others aren't doing it though." she mumbled.

"Doesn't it remind you of someone?" he asked, making an insinuation.

"No. Who are you talking about?" Corliss pried, wanting to know who swam in circles.

"You. You chose to be who you were meant to be, swimming in circles unlike the rest of the people around you." Illumi said, making the connection. "You both are doing your own thing which makes you unique."

Corliss remained silent as she stared at the fish who was no longer swimming in circles. She would've felt more touched if she wasn't being compared to a wet fish, no, a fish in general.

"Ah, we should probably catch up to them." said Corliss, grabbing him by the wrist.

"You really are cuter when you're embarrassed." said Illumi, shifting her hold to his hand.

____

Honjo and Aoyuzu excitedly talked about the fish show as they exited the aquarium. Aoyuzu's mother looked at Corliss then noticed she had a rather glum look.

"Hey, what's wrong? Miss the fishes already?" she teased.

"It's not that, it's... thinking about how they'll be apart again..." she muttered, watching the two boys chase each other around. "Hey! Watch out for others!"

"I get what you mean. Everything should be fine if they keep exchanging letters." she replied.

"Aoyuzu is starting school soon, right?" Corliss asked. His mother gave her a nod. "I should as well, but I'm worried about distance. I don't have a car and we all know how public transportation is. And my position isn't too flexible at the moment since he's not in school. Even then who knows what could happen..."

"Wow, you really do have a lot to worry about." she said in surprise. "Why not ask Illumi?"

"I could never. He's already done so much for the both of us. I've always relied on myself, so..." said Corliss with a sad look on her face.

"Don't shy away from someone who wants to help. You'll appreciate it later on down the road." she said then called Aoyuzu over. "Talk to him."

Corliss gave her a half hearted smile then felt her hands being held by a smaller and bigger one. Both males gave her warm smiles, causing her to do the same.

"Why don't we all go out to eat? Is there anywhere you two want to go?" Corliss asked, looking at the both of them.

They both shouted out a restaurant Yurina had written about in her letter to Sunny Side. Corliss pulled up directions then they set off to eat before parting ways.

____

"Aoyuzu, did you have fun?" his mother asked as they waited for dessert to be delivered.

"Yep! It was even better with Honjo." he said with a cheeky smile.

"Aoyuzu made funny faces at the fish and they swam away!" Honjo said with laughter.

"I did not!" Aoyuzu said with a pout.

"They really were meant to be friends." Corliss said in a low voice.

"Oh, I need to take this phone call. Do you mind?" she asked.

They let her go then turned their attention back to the kids. Corliss looked at Illumi then discreetly leaned against him.

"Feeling tired?" he asked without looking at her.

"Can't get anything past you can I?" she chuckled, moving off of him.

"You didn't have to move. If you're tired, you can rest. I can watch them until she comes back." he said, now looking at her.

"I'm not tired, you're just comfortable." Corliss replied, leaning against him once more.

The waitress arrived at their table and started to place down their desserts. They thanked her then started to dig in.

"Where's my mom?" Aoyuzu asked worriedly.

"She needed to talk to someone. She'll be back." Illumi said, noticing Corliss wasn't touching her dessert. "Lin, you full?"

"No, just thinking. Don't mind me." she said quietly.

Illumi cut a piece of her cake then held it by her mouth. She looked up at him. He was trying to embarrass her again.

"I can feed myself." she said with a pout then seized the fork.

"Then feed me." he said, waiting with his mouth open.

She stuffed a napkin in his mouth, causing the two kids to laugh. She soon started to laugh herself then apologized to Illumi. She offered him some cake to which he ate right off her fork.

"I know what you're thinking. 'Oh, that's an indirect kiss.'. Am I right?" Corliss said with a raised eyebrow.

"Of course not. I'd much rather prefer a french kiss." Illumi said with a smirk.

"For your information, we aren't a couple so no kisses for you." she said, turning her attention to her cake.

"Then why not become one?" he said.

Corliss stopped picking at her cake. Why did hearing him ask make her feel sad? She let her fork go then looked at Illumi. She knew why. The last time she gave her heart, it was viciously ripped to pieces. She didn't want to feel that kind of pain again.

"Marry Mr. Zoldyck, mommy!" Honjo piped up.

"Yeah!" Aoyuzu chimed in.

"Hey, no one is getting married here." Illumi clarified while the boys laughed with cake and ice cream all over their faces.

"I'd like to but... I have to consider Honjo too. He always comes first." she said, making up a half true excuse.

"I really wouldn't mind helping you raise him. Do you want Mr. Zoldyck to be your daddy?" Illumi said, looking at Honjo when he asked his question.

"Yeah! You're really cool and kind!" he exclaimed. "Can we keep him, mommy?"

"Now I'm being treated like a pet..." Illumi mumbled as Honjo clung to his arm.

"Then... is it okay if I rely on you sometimes...?" she muttered, avoiding eye contact.

"Like I said long ago, I want you to. Don't be afraid to ask. I want to be there for the both of you through good and bad times." he said then held her hands. "You're not alone, Lin."

"I guess we can keep him after all, Honjo." she said with a chuckle.

"Now you're doing it too..." he said with a heavy sigh.

"What did I miss?" Aoyuzu's mother asked as she sat back down.

"My mommy said we can keep Mr. Zoldyck! He's going to live with us now." Honjo said happily.

"Oh? I never took you as the dirty dog type." she joked then started laughing as Illumi visibly gave up trying.

Corliss was definitely afraid of having her heart broken again, more so this time around since she and Illumi were very close. Even then she wanted to be with him. The person who treated her like a delicate flower but also understood that she needed to be independent as well.

Two different flowers with different backgrounds, means of survival and meanings, finding peace in the other's presence. The plastic flower that was grasping at strings, finally finding the string to linked to a lonely poppy in a desolate field.