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Maximos snorts, choking back a laugh while he repeats the fork poking motion , bringing the food up to his mouth from the plate, then back down, and repeat.

Like this, silly.

He said, trying not to laugh up the tiny piece of steak he had swallowed.

Good!

Maximos said, before turning back to his dish and taking another bite. It was an unfortunate side effect of Maximos' wierd mind, but when he was thinking on things he tended to be a more on the quiet side.

There was a smile ever plastered on his face, taking a few random moments to check on Teira and make sure she was ok, while giving her a smile to make sure she knew she was doing things right. After he finished his plate of food he gently laid the fork across his plate, and used a napkin to wipe his lip.

And then sat calmly, taking a few random sips of water as he checked on Teira. Waiting for some sign she was done, or needed help.

The scent was swirled with many others. First the scent of fresh paint and mortar. She might even seen signs of recent repairs on the windmill itself. Second was the scent of food, not just a single meal but dozens swirling up from behind that rickety wooden windmill door. It was enticing, welcoming, something about the very aura of this island seemed to welcome Juuni's arrival.

The tree's and flowers were silent, and yet they seemed to whisper on the cool breeze, "Welcome, we were expecting you". Impossible as it may seem, stranger things had happened.

Though that scent she caught would only grow stronger. And then it split, as laughter echoed from the windmill. Could two people really smell the same?

There was a rustling in the bush beside her, like a small animal hiding in the leaves. And then a voice caught on the wind, it was small, almost like a whisper.

...Hey...

It was those eyes, those endless pools of black that seemed to sparkle in the shadow of those leaves.

It smiled...a toothy grin. A grin she just might recognize, each tooth a separate jagged fang in a terrifying maw. And that scent...the scent of that man that choked her up, it came from that evil shrubbery...

But something was off, those eyes were too small, and too close, and that mouth, there was less teeth, infact it looked like two teeth were missing! Something wasnt right...

...I know you...

The eyes lowered, like the creature was about to pounce!

The bushes rustled again, something stirring, something preparing to move...a primal stance. Juuni was prepared for attack, but that didnt sway the creature...that was so like him...

And then he moved! The tiny branches snapping and parting as the figure poured out, its finger extended at the senshi before him.

Yor d'angel lady!!

He stood looking rather proud with himself. He had thin black hair, combed and parted right in the middle. And dirt all over his pale face from playing in garden. The same dirt that covered his jacket, and his black shorts, and his black shoes, with skull signia's on the heel...his pale finger was pointed right at Juuni. A tiny finger...a finger belonging to a boy that couldnt be older than 6 or 7. And who carried a big toothy, all to familiar, and yet entirely too innocent grin. A grin missing one of his front teeth, you see his baby teeth were falling out.

He paused, scratching his chin for a moment entirely mimicking the man Juuni had come to see. The memories were in there, they were just...lost, behind thoughts of play, candy, and shiny things.

Do you mean big brudda?

He looked mostly confused. He could never get a whole memory just the little bits, here and there.

But, he's prolly inside.

A dirt covered finger pointed at the door to the Windmill. And gave a stout nod. He wasnt sure who the pretty lady was looking for, but "everyone" was inside.

I'll go get him!

Without another word, he ran off tripping on a branch, rolling on the round, picking himself back up and running to the door. Tossing it open revealing what seemed to be a wall of black. A wall he ran straight into, and vanished.

--

A few minutes later, D was seen charging across the dining room. Snatching up Maximos' hand and running back outside and up the stairs. It all happened so fast, Maximos didnt even know what to say!

--

A minute or two later.

Come on!

Was heard coming from the dark stairwell behind the door as it flung open and the little kid broke through. Tugging, a rather familiar man behind him. It was him, there was no question about it. The same spiky dark blue hair, only now it seemed stained at the temples with streaks of black. He wore a black shirt with its sleaves rolled up to his elbows, and a dark blue pinstripe vest with small skull insignia on its breast. As always his pants and shirt were black, in contrast to his pale skin. Though despite its pale nature, it held a bit of a rosy tint...the sort of tint you get when real red blood flows through your veins.

D...D its very rude to just barge into places and puh....

His words simply fell off his lips and landed on the floor dead, as his eyes lifted and caught sight of Juuni. D, the little boy, released his hand. His right arm was covered in white bandages that led all the way up to the elbow and into the sleeve, and the hand was covered in a single black glove.

His eyes held disbelief as well as an odd tint. His left eye was black, not a souless black it simply seemed like a very very dark brown, while his right, was a black white. Like staring into a snow field. It...it couldnt be. In the rush of HoH he looked for her, he scanned those crowds every day but he never once saw her, even i the stadium...and yet here she was...

Look big brudder! Its the pretty angel lady!

D said pointing, not understanding why Maximos' feet seemed frozen. As frozen as his lips, and throught. The two just barely managing to release one word...

J...Juuni...?

There was no count for how many times he regretted passing on and leaving behind those who really did care. Those, who really and sincerely hurt while he was gone. He looked for her so many times, until finally he gave up. He was so sure of the worst. Maybe she left to see him too...? Maybe she crossed over when he crossed back? Or worse...maybe she had...?

She fell!

Even that was too much, he had let her fall once, he wouldnt do it again. The doubts in his mind, the hesitations, the wonderment, "Why do I say?", "What do I do?", none of it mattered. His feet carried him, strong and fast, to her side. As he fell she would feel his arm behind her. As she reached out, his hand slipped into hers grasping tight, and strong.

There were no words for a moment like this, no sound that could escape the lips and be anywhere near as re-assuring as his presence beside her. And he would hold her, that smile on his lips that only Maximos could give. The smile that said, "I'm here, its going to be alright."

The reassurance and feeling her right there in his arms. Not a painful regretful memory, not that lonely chill he felt in his death. His eyes gazed directly into hers. He would not disappear, not again. Not ever again. He could not bring himself to do that to her again, for any reason.

He gazed so deeply into her eyes, remembering all the things he had missed for so very long. She moved forward, bringing forth the sweetest memory of all. He remembered that look on her face the very last time she kissed him. That time he wasnt ready, this time, he was. He was no sure about whatever feelings were inside him about her right now, beyond the fact that everything felt right.

He could feel the softness of her lips against his. A feeling he was without the last time these lips met. He would not pull away until she did. He had been scared panicked, beyond nervous even being touched, Juuni was the first to break through his own nervous barrier and get so very close. A power she still had over him.

My dreams have never been so sweet...

He said, the words slipping from his lips bypassing all the doubts, and escaping just for Juuni to hear.