* * *
Around the same time that Rei began talking to Kuro about him, Daichi sneezed. “Someone’s talking about you, Nii-san,” Daichi’s younger brother, Haku, said.
“You actually believe that silly superstition?” Daichi scoffed.
Haku shrugged. He was two years younger than Daichi and shared his steely gray eyes and black hair, although he wore his in a long, thin ponytail. He was a little shorter than Daichi and he wore light blue.
“So, Haku, want to come with me to take care of those fire demons?” Daichi asked as he put a spare set of clothes into a backpack.
“I thought Dad said they were fire apparitions.”
“They are. Apparition is another term for a demon,” Daichi explained. He closed his backpack and turned to look at his brother. “Are you coming or not?”
Haku shook his head. “No. Bakar’s going with you and he and I don’t get along too well.”
“Suit yourself,” said Daichi as he swung his backpack onto his back. He grabbed his halberd that was leaning against the wall and attached his gun to his belt. “I wonder if I’ll see that Nerio girl again,” he quietly wondered aloud.
“You’ve been thinking about her often since you met her,” Haku commented.
Daichi blushed slightly. “N-no I haven’t!”
Haku gave his brother a knowing smile. “Oh, yes you have! You like her, don’t you?”
“No I don’t! She’s a Nerio! Not only that, but her father is the leader of the clan, or have you forgotten?” Daichi snapped.
“I didn’t forget, but you seemed to have forgotten,” Haku said quietly.
“Whatever,” Daichi grumbled as he left the room.
* * *
