“As you wish.” Kuro murmurs as he basks in the happy that comes from the simple gesture of Aoba's wrapping his arms around his neck. The already half asleep little angel feels almost weightless in Kuro's arms as he makes his way carefully inside and up to his room. All the while Kuro's mind is in chaos. [i]'He's so adorable. . . .Maybe Dani was right, maybe I should have taken him before that cute little face takes yet another's heart. . .Those angels have no idea what they were doing, banishing him, treating him like dirt. He's the hardest little worker. Almost too much of one. I swear, if I didn't stop him he would have spent the whole night cleaning up the mess. Well, at least as long as he could remain upright'[/i] 

He sighs softly, looking around the room he gets ready to help Aoba out of his filthy clothes before putting him to bed. However, the angel seems to have other ideas. The demon remains silent, waiting, watching. Once Aoba is out of sight he drops into a crouch and hold his palms over his eyes, pressing down as if attempting to control his thoughts from the outside. [i]'He's mine, my Little Mouse. I got him kicked out, taken away from his family. Though I don't see the loss. His parents sound horrible. That is the angel way I suppose, but it's just wrong not to care at least as much as Papa does. I mean, he's an angel, and he loves, and he's suppose to be the worst and most evil thing ever! He's evil, yeah, and cruel. . . But he's a better parent than an angel parent. . . They haven’t even come to see him. To comfort him. . . .'[/i]

The sound of running water stops and Kuro quickly stands once more, his eyes on the door. A soft, if a bit lascivious, smile comes to his lips as the nearly naked angel walks right past him and climbs in bed. [i]'That's right, they haven't. I have. I care for him, and I don't even have a heart. I care for him so much I am giving up my own goals in life to keep him safe and happy, and I can't even love him as they should. They are the cruel ones. They are the heartless ones here'[/i] He chuckles softly as Aoba flops on his side, his wings stretched all the way out and relaxed. Kuro thinks vaguely that at some point soon he should at least make or buy something to go next to the bed so his wings don't have to hang like that.

As Aoba nods off Kuro slides in next to the bed and leans over the frail looking figure. “Good night, my Little Mouse. . . .” He murmurs softly and presses a feather light kiss to the boy's cheek. Shifting he carefully pulls up the covers sprawled this way and that across the bed and floor, slipping them carefully over Aoba's figure. Once he is sure the youth won't catch cold he takes a step back and just looks at him for a while. [i]'That's right. He is [b]my[/b] Little Mouse. I may not possess him as I would wish to, but he is still my responsibility. He is mine, so far as he's willing to be. . .'[/i] After several silent minutes he finally leaves the room, closing the door softly.

Making his way slowly back to the barn he comes in to find Dani getting ready to go to sleep. Kuro says not a word to his older brother, instead focusing on getting his work done so he can get some sleep before sunrise. Dani pauses mid flight and hovers, watching as Kuro skirts carefully around the calf and thinks to himself that at least he's not the only one who can't touch the new baby. He once more is filled with feelings of worry for his younger sibling but as before, having no avenue to take to solve the feelings he just brushes them aside and with a huff, flies up to his nest. Kuro watches him out of the corner of his eyes until he flies up and he can't help but sigh as he realizes that Dani's not ignoring him as much as he'd like to pretend he is.

[i]'Perceptive little brat. I'll. . . . I'll need to see Papa some time this week. Gotta let him know at least a bit of what's going on, and I'm sure Issho will have something to say about it all. I can't tell them about Dani, they'd take off my hide and come here to free him. . .I don't want them around Little Mouse. That would be. . .That would be bad. . .'[/i] The thought of Papa coming into contact with his little angel sends a shudder of dread through his system and he finishes his task quickly. Once all the filthy hay is removed and replaced with clean stuff Kuro gives Mama a pat and heads inside. There are only a couple hours he can grab before it's time to start the day, but he'll take them. [i]'I gotta head out before sunrise and water the crops, we forgot to do that and it'll be too late if I wait until the Little Mouse's day starts proper. Wanna water it before the sun so the soil can absorb it better. . . And the animals will want. . .'[/i] A low sigh slips out from between his lips as he falls asleep, his mind abuzz with tomorrow's tasks.