Page 151 of Dragon 7

“Yes. Three ones together means new beginnings.”

“I feel like Dream Reo would say that—”

“I could punch you in your face. That might help. I surely would enjoy it right now.”

I frowned at him.

Rolling his eyes, Reo pulled out his phone and headed off to Kenji.

I turned back to the twins.

They’d been watching me the whole time.

“Hiro?” Aki leaned his head to the side.

“Are you okay?” Yuki finished.

And then I noticed the white lock of hair above Aki’s ear. One thin streak, bone-white against the black strands.

His hair is different.

And lower, at Aki’s throat, where the round had gone in earlier, and I had watched it back out—a dark brownish mark sat on the skin like a birthmark.

They’re changed but. . .don’t know it yet.

I turned to Yuki and found a brownish birthmark on him too, on the right side of his face, near his ear.

It’s like. . .they’re stamped at the exact place death touched them.

Also, there was a white streak of hair that ran further back on his head.

What else about them has changed?

The plane leaned in the opposite way and everyone found their balance except me. Whatever had been holding me up all this time finally ran out. My knees went, and I began to fall back.

Aki and Yuki rushed to me. Yuki caught me under one arm. Aki caught me under the other. They held me up.

I tried to lift my hand to my face. It went up halfway and fell back down. “I’m tired. . .all that going in reverse. . .to save your lives.”

“You’re a little. . .drunk too.” Aki blinked.

“And high, probably.” Yuki held my wrist. “When did you smoke?”

“I didn’t.” Tears spilled from my eyes. “I promise I’m not intoxicated. It’s all magic and the baby ghost.”

They exchanged odd glances.

They’re different. I can feel it. . .they’re not exactly the twins I grew up with, but. . .this is good enough.

There was still grief in my heart for the twins that had died because. . .something in my chest told me that they were the same, yet different. And. . .I didn’t know how to deal with that.

The cabin tilted as the plane began its descent.

The baby giggled again.

Oh. She’s here.

I turned, and she was near my ear this time. “You’re my niece.”