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Who in their right mind had decided Asra should be in charge of the entire Benedict Center on his own? Sure, he was older now, and could take care of himself.. but both Stae and Alania were both gone, gone for weeks now, and no one had so much as even called to check on the poor boy! He was frantic with worry over both women, not to mention more than a little lonely.

He had seen Lillian once or twice in passing, but every day he saw her she seemed to pull further and further away from him. He asked for nothing from her, yet couldn't bear the idea of losing her forever. Too much was at stake and he felt clueless and helpless to the fate that was intertwining around everyone.

All he wanted was for his friends to be happy. Was that so wrong?

Asrafel was sweeping the floor of the Center that morning, getting ready for any passing customers that may stray in and leave their child in his care. Business had been achingly slow, once people had started to notice that the only person in the Center at all times was a virtually naked young man.

Parents didn't go for that sort of thing, it seemed.

Still, he'd had a few veteran customers who trusted him, and left their children wailing and sniffling in his care. They were always returned laughing and singing, though the Center itself usually looked as though a hurricane had hit it.

He finished the waiting room and let the broom rest against the wall, taking in a deep sigh. The nearest window beamed bright rays of sun at him, and he looked out into the cold January day. The weather had been surprisingly neutral these past few days, with no snow, no freezing winds, just a chill to be expected for this time of year. His eyes rested on one of the trees in the distance, and was surprised to see it still had all of it's leaves, though they were brown and gold in color.

"Stubborn to the last~!" He chirped out at the tree, and turned around to get back to his work.

"I could not possibly agree more." A lifeless voice spoke out as Asrafel turned and slammed face first into Halexei's chest.

Asrafel let out a muffled scream and stumbled back, unaware of who it was that had just snuck up on him for a second. When he realized who it was, his surprise only heightened, and a terror ran through him.

"Wh.. what do you mean? What do you want? Why are you here?!"

He hadn't seen Halexei in quite some time, and he had considered it a good sign. Yet here was the man, ready to do.. something. Something Asrafel was sure wasn't good.

But for once, Asrafel was wrong.

Halexei placed his hand on the boy's shoulder, eliciting a shiver in response.

"Calm down, please, and nevermind what I meant. I am simply here to give you a gift."

This was unexpected, though the last time Halexei gave him a 'gift' it hurt very much and now resided like three separate entities in his soul. He didn't know if he wanted any more of this man's 'gifts'.

Halexei's other hand revealed itself, and he reached out for Asrafel, taking his hand into his own. The boy felt a sharp sting in his palm, and pulled away.

There, with its tip pricked lightly into his palm, was a tiny little shard of glass.

"What do you-" Asrafel started, looking up at Halexei to question his motives. Unfortunately, the man was gone.

Was he supposed to find a new guardian for his kin.. himself? Was Halexei .. quitting?

No, that's ridiculous. He was just testing the boy, Asrafel was sure. He slid his hand against his ribbon, and the little shard vanished into a safe holding within it. Whatever the shard was meant for, this wasn't the time for it.

Asrafel turned to the door, his eyes widening slightly. He could feel it in his soul. It was her time, the entities within him whispered. It was her time of decision. And she was coming.

This, above all, took precedence over some little shard.

It was just as she looked to the building that Asra flung the door open and looked around. Perhaps he was a bit hasty in his excitement to see Elle, but when he felt her presence he assumed it meant she was close enough to see. He blinked when he found the doorstep empty, and scrunged his face in confusion. The chill wind caught him by surprise, twisting his ribbons around him, but he couldn't feel the cold. Instead, he caught the telltale scent of his friend in the whisper of wind that had brought it to him, and turned slowly, his eyes falling to where she stood. There she was! A bit far for his tastes, but still there!

He closed the door behind him, glad that there were no children inside to have to look after for the moment, and rose to the air, fluttering like a hummingbird towards her. Before she had time to think he'd swooped her up in his arms and twirled her around in the air, hugging her like a long missed plushie.

"Elle!" He cried out happily, giggling at his own inexhaustible excitement. "It's so good to see you!"

Asrafel let out a little squeak when she told him she was scared, lowering to the ground hurriedly just as she kissed him. His eyes fluttered closed, feeling the flush of warmth fill him as if her lips poured it into him. He made sure she was settled on her feet before pulling away, his grin bright and giddy. "I'm sorry!" He suddenly blurted out, remembering that he had frightened her. "I didn't mean to scare you! I was just happy to see you, maybe a little too happy, oh, please forgive me Elle! Come inside and I'll make you something warm to make up for it!"

He kept his arms wrapped around her, but slid around so that he was now behind her instead of in front of her. With gentle steps he walked this way, leading her back towards the Center as if she needed his gentle guidance to make it there successfully. He let out a happy giggle, snuggling into her repeatedly.

"I'm so happy you came. Are you hungry? Did you have to walk long on your own? Oh, you should have called, I could have come to get you perhaps!"

Asra took the invitation only too gladly, stealing yet another kiss when she leaned back. He kissed her lips, and her cheek, before resting his chin on her shoulder and continuing to lead her on.

"A bath?" He responded, his innocence taking her completely serious. "Of course we have a bath! That's a good idea, I'm sure a warm bath would take the chill from you faster than any drink, and it would soothe any aches you might have from your walk. You're so smart Elle! I shall prepare you one once we go inside."

Whoosh.

He released her as they reached the door, and opened it, holding it open for her. "After you madam~" He singsonged, bowing slightly with a proud little smile.

Asrafel moved to close the door behind him, but thought better and reached around the door, flipping the sign that hung on a nail outside the door from open to closed, before closing it behind him. He frowned and made a face, nodding in response to her. "Stae and Lani have been missing since forever! And not too many kids come without them.. and goodness knows where Lilly's been lately. So.. it's been me alone for a while now. It's driving me nuts! It's hard not to worry."

He reached out and took her hand, clasping it within his tightly. "So!" His face instantly brightened, returning to it's normal character. "What can I make you to drink before I go fix you a bath?" He floated forward and led her into the kitchen hand in hand.

"Spiced apple.. spiced apple.." He looked through cabinets, picking out every tea box he could find and fingering through it. So far he had come up empty, until..

".. Aha! What in the world.. why was this in the cookie jar?" He pulled out a little box of assorted teas, and after having filtered through them, tugged out a single packet of spiced apple. "How lucky, I never would have thought we would have one! I knew we had apple though, I would have offered that if I hadn't found this."

He put on a tea kettle, and let it heat up while picking out one for himself. He found a sweet caramel tea, something he'd bought himself because no one in the house found it even remotely tasty, and left both packets beside the cups he had pulled out.

While the water heated, he sat down beside Elle and clasped her hands in his. "So, tell me everything!"

Asrafel was thirsty for the knowledge she provided, and felt at home listened to Elle tell her stories. He was surprised to hear the name Lonan, a name he had only heard once before, from the man himself.

"Lonan! I do know him! Well, I don't know him.." His voice held regret at that, pursing his lips. "But I've met him! He seemed very clever.. I felt so inadequate around him. As if I was always doing something wrong." He had looked away while explaining this, but his eyes returned to Elle and he shook his head. "Isn't that silly of me? Oh well. I bet you've brightened his days, much like you brighten the lives of everyone you touch!"

Asrafel reached out and brushed Elle's bangs away from her eyes, before falling back into a lull as he listened intently. His eyes widened at the mention of a child in Elle's care. He was used to the idea of Elle taking care of Aki's children, but one of her own! How exciting~!

Suddenly it was his turn, and he flushed with inadequacy. "Oh, I have so little to tell. I've simply been here, alone.. first Miss Stae went missing, then Aunt Lani.. the hardest must have been when Lilly stopped coming. Have you ever met Lilly? She's Miss Stae's girl, we've lived together here since as far back as my memory allows. Having her away from me like this.. oh it hurts."

It was true, without the dark and sarcastic Lilly there to counter his every bright and silly remark, Asrafel felt less than complete. The only thing he had left were those which lived within him, like parasites.

And they weren't much for talking.

He heard the tea kettle suddenly sing behind him, and jumped up with a squeal. "Oh, the waters ready! I almost forgot!" He took Elle's hands and brought them to his lips, kissing each one before letting them go. He turned to take the tea kettle off the oven, but once he had done so, he stopped moving.

"Elle, I wonder.." He whispered, his back still turned. "What do you think of this world?"

"I think he would have been very happy to hear that. You should repeat it for him, when he can hear again."

Asra hadn't moved from the spot he had been in when he put the tea kettle down, nor had he reacted to Elle's touch when she wrapped her arms around him. He was still as a stone, much like a bright, colorful statue standing there staring blankly at the tea kettle.

The voice came from behind Elle instead, on the other side of the room. There he stood, his face as as unreadable and emotionless as the wall behind him. Halexei's bright, cold eyes watched the girl, waiting carefully for a reaction.