I gasp as I wake from that remembrance, clutching at the blankets with a panicked expression on my face. Looking around, I realize where I am and calm down slowly. In the other room, I hear the soft sounds of Mi... _Micah_ sleeping, and I slow my breathing down to match his. Here. I'm here. Not anytime else...

It must have been because of he looked so much like Michael... that must have been why that old memory was triggered. Because Micah was such a child, when he should have been... when he should be- Dammit. He should be my brother. My Michael, instead of this pathetic human being who's just destined to-

I chuckle wryly at my own thoughts, and then sigh. Lying back down in the bed, I focus my eyes on the ceiling and try to devise a way Tomas and Micah will be able to meet... Not that they wouldn't, without my help, but if I don't intervene, they're just destined to meet and then suffer just like the other times.

Closing my eyes, I focus my thoughts. This is a good time as any to make my story real... Reaching out with my mind, I sneak into Tomas' dreaming unconscious. I'm about to ignore the rather childish dreams he is having of being a hero and rescuing a golden-haired maiden, but something catches my eye and I can't help giggling.

My goodness... I never thought Michael would wear quite that even if he were a girl. The fact that he remembers this much is odd, though. Looking around, I realize that this was a very deep dream indeed. Most of the details would not be remembered the next day, and all Tomas would probably recall was a golden-haired person and the sound of laughter...

Still, this is no time to dawdle. Reaching for Tomas' memories, I carefully insert a few key ones into the time that he was in the orphanage. Of course, these are specifically blurred so that when he sees me and hears my story, he would remember only a bit of how he had defended a younger child for a few weeks before he was transferred into a foster home. No need for him to know that Kyrie never existed until a few days ago...

Satisfied at my work, I nod, and creep back out. That should do it... and now, he even remembers writing a letter to poor Kyrie. As I let myself drift from his mind, I can't resist peeking back in for another look at the dream, only to see a tableau out of my oldest memories... Quietly, Tomas is sitting, holding and being held by the one he has just rescued. Neither of them say a word -- they both just watch a perfect sunset together.

A strange turn for a sixteen year old boy’s adolescent fantasy, but then again, Tieral has always been more perceptive than others had given him credit for. A strong mind, even after all this time... I gaze down at them for a moment longer, before I nod and let myself go back to the body in Michael's bedroom.

As I get back into my body, I finally feel like going to sleep. Astral projection isn't usually so draining, of course, but since I had to cloak my every move at the same time, it had been a bit more difficult than usual. I yawn and push my head deeper into the fluffy pillow. I drift to sleep, and manage to rest for a moment before the door bangs open.

"Wake up, sleepy-head! Don't you know that it's 10 o'clock already? You should be glad I don't have school, or else-" I try to ignore the rest of Micah's cheerful babbling, but I just can't drown him out, especially after he opens the curtains in his room, letting the sunlight just flood into the once-comfortably dim room.

Finally, I sigh and give up, accepting the fact that sleep was obviously not going to be in the stars today. Rubbing my eyes with my too-long pajama sleeve, I smile up sleepily at him, and yawn. Of course, he would be cheery in the morning... he's just that kind of person. Bleah.

With a small, cute smile, I ask, "Are we going to look for my brother?"

Micah's smile slips a bit as he looks around the room, trying to avoid my eyes. "Of course, but don't be too disappointed if we don't find him. Okay?"

I nod vigorously, and then throw myself into his arms, and laugh. "But I know you'll find him for me!"

I sense the rush of guilt he feels as he looks down at me, and I can't help smiling just a little. Even after all this time, he still wishes to spare pain whenever he can... I push that aside and giggle in his arms, and then hop back down onto the bed. Micah smiles at me feebly, and then turns to his closet. Pulling out boxes from the back, he takes out a few old clothes that look as if they would fit me.

Of course, they _would_ be absolutely adorable. Light colors that had complemented the younger Micah look pretty good on me too. It's only that I wouldn't look out of place in one of those pictures that comes with the picture frame -- an almost too perfect, too sweet child. Ah well... I let him hustle me into the bathroom and get me washed up with a minimum of fuss, before dressing myself in his hand-me-downs.

Putting on my recently washed and dried shoes, I can't help smiling at the fairly competent way Micah had handled me. I look at my reflection in the window and close my eyes for a second. No one had better try pinching my cheeks, or- Cutting off that fairly murderous thought, I leave the room and go outside with Micah.

It is an absolutely lovely spring day outside, especially in contrast to last night's fierce thunderstorm. The air smells very fresh and clean, and the birds are trilling to themselves songs of love and mating... In short, almost sickening. It just misses being truly annoying because it really is too nice.

We tramp along the whole day, going to various police stations and hospitals, looking for any information at all. As can be expected, we find out absolutely nothing. By sunset, I start to droop visibly, and he starts to look very sad indeed. We stop at a park right near his house, and he crouches down in front of me, putting me on a convenient bench.

"Kyrie, I'm sorry. But to tell you the truth, I'm not sure when we'll be able to find your brother." He looks so dejected as he says this that it seems he should be the one crying, but a part is a part... I let a few tears run down my face before I wipe them off with the back of my right hand.

Looking at him with a slightly quavering, brave face, I grab his hand and nod. Micah holds me close for a moment, and then lets go as I push myself off of the bench. My voice is just a little weak as I say, "It's okay, Micah... maybe..." I look away into the sunset for a moment, before continuing. "Maybe you could be my brother for a bit...?" I let my voice trail off at the half-question, and look back at him.

Micah's eyes are full of tears as he hugs me again, and then starts to cheer up as he takes my hand and brings me into the house. "I've always wanted a sibling, Kyrie, so I'll try to do my best to be the best big brother I can be."

I nod and try not to gag from the saccharine lines we've both said. Still, as I look into his shining, excited eyes, I can't help feeling that I've come home for just a little bit...

The next morning, Micah tells me to stay by myself for a few hours while he goes to school. Obviously, there hasn't been time to set up where I would go, so this was the best he could do... I nod, and watch him as he runs out of the house with book-bag in hand.

Looking around the house, I notice how empty it seems. I think for a moment, and then decide to look in on Tomas. Closing my eyes, I let myself be drawn to where his presence -- I have a lot of catching up to do in this department -- I had been watching my brother more than Tomas, so I'm not sure what's happened in his life beyond the fact that was in a foster home. As I see what he's doing, I can't help sighing. Of course, Tomas would still be the troublemaker... skipping school and hanging out with friends. I remember how annoyed Michael had been when...

I shake my head in amusement before go back to my own physical body. I leave my eyes closed for a moment more while I probe around for any intruders and watchers. So far so good, with no sign of tampering or spiritual seeking. I finally open my eyes, and get off the couch to eat what Micah had left on the table when I hear the door open.

I stick my head out of the dining room and hear a startled shriek come from the woman who has just spied me... "Who- who're you?" I look up at her for a moment, absolutely lost on who she is, when it hits me who it must be.

"Are you Micah's mommy?" I look up at her with a totally innocent expression as she drops her bag and gives me a totally bewildered look.

She manages to say, "I -- I am..." I laugh and take her hand and lead her to the table, where she sees the food laid. While she stares and doesn't say a word, I sit down at the table. She smiles weakly as I dig into the food, and then joins me. After that, it isn't too difficult to tell her what I'm doing there... turning on the charm again, it only takes a bit of Ariel's trick before her worries are allayed.

"So, Micah's told you he'll be your big brother while you look for this Tomas, and..." Micah's mom looks at me and sighs, before she pats my head. "All right. I see why he-" I blink up at her, and she gives a helpless little laugh and takes me into her arms in a big hug. "You are absolutely adorable, Kyrie dear. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

I nod, and she closes her eyes for a moment as I snuggle in her arms. Is this is what it feels like to have a mother? Somehow, it's different...

I start to squirm after a few minutes, and she lets go of me with a smile. "Kyrie dear, why don't you go into Micah's room and read one of his easier books? I think I'm going to have to call the hospital and arrange for your school..."

I run up the stairs as she starts to make one of the many phone calls she's going to be making today... "Hi, this is Anna Galen. I have to ask a few questions about becoming the guardian of-"

The rest of the conversation becomes too indistinct to hear as I close the door, but I'm sure that Micah's mother will take care of everything. A very efficient lady, and somehow familiar. Anna... who does she remind me of?

I shrug as I store that little question on my list of things to do, before I lie down onto the bed to catch some sleep. I hadn't realized when I made this persona-illusion that I would need as much sleep as the body requires... Truly, this is all rather new to me. Drifting to real sleep, I feel almost safe for now.