A day passes like normal and soon I find myself sitting in my house at seven P.M. on the day before we're supposed to leave.

"You've been acting super weird," Vivian says as she enters the living room and plops down beside me on the couch.

"I have?" I raise my eyebrows, pretending to be surprised.

"As if you hadn't noticed," Vivian snorts and looks pointedly at me with her blue eyes.

"Did you badger him yet?" Ayette says as she pokes her head around the wall from the kitchen and I sigh.

"Guys, come on," I force a smile, "I'm fine."

"I don't think so," Ayette clucks her tongue and comes to sit on the other side of me.

"Even I can tell that you're not being yourself," Darian says as he stands in the doorway of the kitchen, his arms crossed against his black t-shirt.

"Did you three conspire to interrogate me all at once?" I groan as Darian takes the last empty spot on the couch beside Ayette and Vivian giggles.

"Yup," Vivian smiles wickedly as Ayette ruffles my hair.

"I'm telling you," I roll my eyes but feel grateful for their concern, "I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me. Let's watch a movie or something, yeah?"

"That would be a splendid idea-- if we actually knew you were fine," Ayette says.

"I promise, I'm okay," I laugh genuinely, smiling, "everything's alright."

"Fine," Ayette backs off, leaning forwards to the wooden coffee table to grab a movie from the pile resting there, "we'll have it your way, Mr. Mysterious."

I smile as Ayette stands up and heads to put the disc in the player to the TV and Vivian runs to the kitchen to grab snacks while Darian brings his knees to his chest and wraps his arms around his legs, placing his chin on his knees while watching the screen that hums to life with intent, wide hazel eyes.

I meant it when I said I was okay. The truth is, I really don't want to leave my family. But, Reine assured me that they wouldn't be in any danger while I'm away and that time here would be paused. It makes me kind of sad to know that their lives will be put on pause as simply as one would pause a song or a TV show, but it gives me relief knowing that they won't need to worry about where I disappeared to and that I don't need to drag them into this by explaining it. I'll just have to enjoy the few remaining hours I have with them for who knows how long. A pang of fear courses down my spine when I wonder if this is the last time I very well may see them, but I don't want to think about that right now.

Tomorrow, a whole new world will be in store for me.

***

I lie awake in my bed at night, staring at the ceiling as I think about tomorrow, anticipating what's to come. I packed my things a little bit ago, bringing everything I think I might need--and a few highly sentimental items-- leaving behind unnecessary items. As I lie there, wondering what's tomorrow and Reine's realm will be like, I hear a faint pang on my window. The first time, I chalk it up to just being a usual random sound. The second time, I sit upright and frown, wondering what could be hitting against my window. I get up and cross the room to my window, brushing aside the curtains and looking down to see Reine standing there on my lawn throwing pebbles. I raise a brow and quietly unlock the window, pushing it up and open.

"Reine?" I whisper out, looking down at her, "what's going on?"

"I want to talk to you," Reine says.

"Okay, well--"

My sentence falters as Reine runs towards the house and leaps up in the air, landing perfectly on my windowsill and crouching down, her eyes meeting mine as she smiles sheepishly. I back up a few steps to allow her entry and she climbs inside, shutting the window behind her.

"You're really something," I sigh, walking back to my bed, "you do know that it's two in the morning, right?"

"I know," Reine fidgets her hands together as she stands there watching me, unmoving from the window.

"You can come over here, you know," I raise a brow at her and she nods, hesitating for a moment before briskly walking over and sitting next to me.

"I wanted to talk to you about your sister," Reine starts, her eyes meeting mine once more.

"My sister? Which one?" I ask, furrowing my eyebrows and frowning.

"Your sister by blood-- Vivian," Reine says, "I'm surprised you didn't mention it to me before, but I guess you had a lot to think about, which is fair. You do realize that you are an Iegashyia, right? And Vivian is your full blooded sister, meaning..."

"Meaning my sister is an Iegashyia too?" I raise my eyebrows in surprise, wondering why I never thought of that.

"Yeah," Reine nods, "but she's not in the Soul Chain. She would be valuable to bring with us because it would mean another ally, but...I know you don't want to put your family in danger."

"Yeah..." I trail off as my gaze focuses on my bed sheets, sighing, "man..."

"You know," Reine starts after a few moments, "you're actually taking this whole thing better than I expected."

"How so?" I ask, lifting my gaze back up to meet hers once more.

"You're...unusually calm. You freaked out a little bit at the beginning, but you never ran away from me or turned me away. I'm grateful for that," Reine smiles softly.

"Yeah," I smile tiredly, rubbing the back of my neck, "I guess I've always been that way. Calm, I mean. I typically have a steady head, well, so I'm told. I just be myself and I don't really care what anyone else thinks. Apparently I'm quite impressionable, but I find myself to be just another regular guy, y'know? Sure, everyone is different, but I never thought I was extremely special or above anyone else."

"I've always liked that about you," Reine laughs softly, placing a hand to her lips as her eyes seem to shine brighter in a fond manner.

"Th-- wait, what?" I pause when I notice what she said.

"Well, I'd best be going," Reine sighs and stands up, walking back over to the window, "you should get some rest, Lightsander. I'll see you in the morning. Don't be late."

"Reine, wait--"

Reine opens the window and leaps out as I sit there staring out the now open window where she once was. Wind blows in and my curtains sway throughout my room in the warm night air as I continue staring, my eyes wide.

I've always liked that about you.

That sounds almost as if...as if she knew me for a long time. But that couldn't be, right? I mean, surely that's not possible. She must've meant she could sense me through the chain like she did with Renji...right? Then again, there have been little things here and there that don't add up. And then there's my dreams of that girl. Just who is she? And better yet, who is Reine Yvatlovich?