((That's okay :) BTW I hope you don't mind me introducing another character? Someone who occasionally stays with the twins?))

Kira and Kayo walked the rest of the way home after their friends turned a different way to go back to their place. They walked on in silence, with Kira stopping sometimes to feed the occasional dog or cat. Thry also stopped by the general store to pick up a few things they needed, like vegetables and lots and lots of chocolate. Because God knew, they needed it now. There was absolutely nothing chocolate couldn't fix.

Back home, Kira took out the key from her pocket, but Kayo stopped her hand, seeing that the door was already open. Fear ran through the twins as they pushed the door open to see who or what was in their house. But the smell of food being cooked immediately put their minds at rest. The tension left both their faces and gave way to relieved smiles as they realized who it was in the kitchen.

((that's totally fine! you can bring as many characters in as you'd like ^~^))

Chaos conitinued to sit back on the couch. He couldn't help but doubt himself after he had been so useless today, against Delia. As a weapon, he swore to keep his mesiter safe..but in the end, she had to protect him.Learning about the witch's abilities had left him powerless- even if onlly for a moment when she cornered them. That's why she managed to grab his wavelength like she did. Chaos balled his hand into a fist. Tomorrow would be better..right? He sure as hell hoped so.

Both of them ran inside and flung their arms around Aunt Cora, the one person who'd helped them get off the streets and make a life for themselves, before they'd enrolled at Shibusen. She was actually their landlady, and used to live three floors below their own apartment, until she moved away to live with her daughter and son-in-law. She still visited the twins from time to time, and the twins absolutely adored her.

Aunt Cora showered the twins with affection the way she always did when she came to visit, and that made the twins feel much better, even though they didn't tell her what happened. She cooked them their favorite meals; a white pasta for Kayo and her special tuna sandwich for Kira. She always insisted on making separate meals for the twins, every single time. They sat with her as they munched on their respective meals, and caught up with her, talking about everything from her daughter and son-in-law, her knitting patterns, the twins' school (they didn't mention the witch), their friends and teachers. After a while, they hugged and Aunt Cora left.

***

Aunt Cora left the twins' house feeling satisfied with herself. Her purpose, cheering the kids up, had been fulfilled, just as Shinigami-sama had asked her to. The poor dears hadn't said a word about that witch, but then she hadn't expected them to. She was glad that Shinigami-sama had called her to cheer them up. She might not be very useful as a Meister anymore because of old age, but at least she could be counted on to do things like this.

Chaos was left alone with his despairing thoughts. He wanted to go check on his meister, but he didn't want to wake her after the day she'd had. With how tired she was, she probably had to use her own power within herself. A power she inherited from her father, and man he had never met and Ruby didn't talk about him much. She always looked so sad when she did mention him.. Shaking his head, he got up and headed upstairs. It was getting late and they needed to figure something out for dinner. However, when he stood he felt a surge of pain run through his entire being.

Out of instict he clenched his chest area, wadding his shirt into a ball within his fist. His other hand was over his forehead. Ruby awoke and she sat up for a moment. "Chaos..?" She murmured quietly. She slowly slipped out of her bed and headed downstairs, only to see her partner in distress. Of course, she hurried to him and gently put her hands on his shoulders, clearly concerned. "Hey, what's wrong?" She asked. As if his pain had melted away by Ruby, Chaos slowly lowered his hands and he shook his head. He wasn't conscious for much longer though. Ruby held him up, not sure what to do.

((hope this is okay >.<))

((It is... unless I missed something in there? I know that he passed out XP Unless you have something in mind, do you want to proceed to the next day?))

Since it was his turn, Kayo made dinner for the two of them and sat down with his sister to eat. Neither one spoke; there was really no need to. Each one knew what was going on in the other's mind, and the need of the hour was to keep up their strength and get a good night's sleep. Kayo just kept checking his sister's face, to search for any signs that she might be bottling things up again.

Kira was trying her best to eat, for she knew that she need to. But it was really difficult; her appetite was virtually non-existent. She diverted her mind and began to focus on other things, like Ruby, Chaos, her brother and Aunt Cora. They were literally the only people she cared about, and the only ones who cared for her. Unless you counted the professors at Shibusen and Shinigami-sama, who really seemed to care about his students.

After a while, she pushed the plate away, unable to eat any more. Kayo understood and didn't force her to eat any more. The two of them just put away the dishes and sat on the couch, simply holding each other close. After a while, they fell asleep in the same position they used to sleep in when they lived on the streets.

((Yea, he passed out >< and, I don't mind skipping to the next day :D ))

After a moment of trying to calm her anxiety, she slowly laid Chaos down on the long couch then proceeded to sit in the chair beside the couch. Ruby didn't move from that chair once, through the night. By morning, she looked like a wreck.

Chaos had woken, and glanced at his Meister sleeping in the chair, and frowned. He assumed he had passed out, and Ruby probably stayed up all night, worrying about him.. He sighed, and carefully woke her, as to not startle her. She opened her eyes and smiled. Chaos smirked, and helped her out of the chair. The two of them got breakfast, got dressed for school, and then left to meet with the twins like they usually did each morning.

One thing was certain, Ruby wasn't acting like herself. Even though she was trying to hide it, Chaos could tell.

Kira woke up before Kayo did, because being a light sleeper, only she could hear the alarm clock go off in her room. Since they had fallen asleep on the couch in the living room, Kayo (the heavy sleeper) couldn't hear it. She carefully wriggled off the couch and began to make breakfast for them both, waking him up only after it was done.

Kayo woke up and accepted the plate that was being given to him. They both ate in silence again, got ready and went over to meet the other two. "All right, you two?" he asked, as a way of greeting. He did notice something off about Ruby, but decided to chalk it up to sleepiness or something similar. Unless she said otherwise.

As they waited, Chaos tried getting some kind of small-talk going between him and his meister, but she hadn't complied. Leaving him to basically talk to himself. He sighed, and could only greet the twins with a smirk when he saw them. Chaos nodded to the male twin, and put his hands in his pockets. Ruby averted her gaze from them, and ran a delicate hand through her ponytail. She hadn't braided it today. "I wonder what class will be like today." Chaos said with a smirk as he began to head to the school. Ruby just followed her friends.

(short x.x)

((It's okay :) BTW, Happy Women's Day :D))

Kayo heard Chaos' remark, and simply shrugged in response, but his mind was somewhere else. He knew he'd decided to leave Ruby alone until she said something to imply there was something wrong, but she wasn't saying a word at all. That wasn't normal. He looked over at Kira, who got the message.

Kira was walking next to Ruby anyway, so she turned toward the latter. "Hey, did you have a good night's sleep last night?" she asked, trying to get her to talk about what was on her mind in a subtle way. "You don't seem okay."

Chaos glanced over at the twins, knowing that they had probably already picked up on the way his meister was acting. Her behavior was totally out of character.. Hell, usually she ran up to Kira the moment she saw her, even if she'd had a nightmare. Kira was always the one person she went to.. Chaos walked with Kayo, to give the girls some space. It was really nice to have friends who could tell when something was up, without even having to say a word.

Ruby glanced at Kira for a moment,then moved her eyes to the ground she walked on and shook her head lightly. "I couldn't sleep.." She answered in a soft, distant voice.