The dinner continued but it couldn’t be complete without the host.

The Head of House Gray. But he was late as ever. Dean believed it to be a habit of his at this point.

While Dean tried to eat, doing his best to hear himself think in this chaos. Someone approached him.

She sat on his left hand side. And immediately Yuki’s eyes went to her. A look of recognition that Dean didn’t possess.

The memories he inherited didn’t include this one.

"You’re quiet," the girl started.

"Am I?" Dean answered with a question.

She tilted her head with a small smile. "Compared to them?" She gestured to the table of giggles, laughter and just perpetual chaos. "Yes you are."

Dean smiled and shrugged as he ate some rice.

"I’m Hana," she said casually.

"Hana..." Dean repeated. Trying to recall it but nothing came.

It was a bit odd to him after all, the girl looked like she was same age as him.

"Dean," he said flatly.

"I know." She leaned forward. "You’re the miracle boy, the center of Gray attention."

Dean narrowed his eyes. ’where the hell was miracle boy coming from.’

"I guess, it comes with the package," Dean said calmly. Causing Hana’s smile to widen.

"This is our first meeting. If you don’t embarrass us tomorrow, it won’t be the last."

Allowing a second of silence, Dean took another crack at the bowl of rice and meat before he looked at Hana with a small smile. "I’ll do my best."

"Good," Hana said as she got up and joined the others. With Yuki’s gaze following her all the way.

Dean remained where he was, giving Yuki a slight nod.

Finally, Ying appeared. He walked to the spot at the head of the table.

He sat down without a word even as the entire family watched him together.

The empty table was occupied by food and drinks in the blink of an eye.

Ying sat for a second longer, his food still untouched. Dean guessed even him got entranced by the scene of so many Grays together.

"Thank you all for being here," Ying said calmly before he began eating.

The family watched him in silence before they all bowed. Dean led the way this time.

He had to admit, the man was a great father. And by how a large chunk of the family gathered here today. He was probably a better leader.

After a while of eating, Ying raised his face with a rather unreadable expression.

"Where is Yin?" He asked.

Everyone looked at him immediately, they looked at each other before Eva spoke up.

"He’d left Zhrea for a while now."

Ying stayed quiet, his expression didn’t change.

Eva continued. "He is on a mission with the Scouting and Exploration regiment."

"I see," Ying simply replied as he gestured for Dean.

Dean walked to him and knelt by his side. The touch of the wooden floor was cold on his knees but he didn’t mind.

With just a gesture, Dean leaned his ears closer as Ying spoke in a hush.

"You know about this?"

"Yes, we spoke a few weeks back."

"Is that so..." Ying withdrew his head a little as his voice became cold. "I wasn’t told about this.

Dean was silent. He didn’t know what to say.

Ying’s jaw tightened. "The authorities are supposed to inform the family head when a Gray leaves the city."

Dean understood Ying’s anger almost immediately.

"Why didn’t they?"

Ying raised his head. He could see the tension around the room. On everyone’s faces.

He smiled and looked at Eva. "It’s alright, I remember now."

A sudden calm entered the room and everyone who could understand what was going on, returned to their drinks.

Dean leaned in closer to Ying again.

"You know why they didn’t tell me now?" Ying said as he looked at the table again.

And there and then, Dean understood. "Because they don’t respect us anymore."

he muttered to himself more than answering the question.

"Not like they used to," Ying added.

"I aim to change that."Dean thought out loud.

Ying smiled as he continued eating. "That’s my boy."

<><><>

On the morning of the ceremony, Dean realized the Gray compound was literally transformed while he slept.

He strolled around and discovered the training hall had been cleared. With tatama mats laid out across the space.

The decorations were already hung from rafters with paper lanterns lining the ceiling.

The Gray family crest was strung up everywhere with a large banner on a altar that they were still working on.

Dean greeted a few people but was instructed against his will, to go back inside.

He grumbled as he walked back to his room. He was missing the storm that Yuki, Eva, Solace and Brianna were cooking.

With a defeated sigh he entered the room and that was he last they saw of him.

***

By mid- morning, the guest began arriving. Yuki placed the final pin on Nessa’s hair as she smiled. "Perfect,"

Nessa giggled. "Thank you Yuki."

Yuki smiled and made a final touch to Nessa’s brow, as the girl’s eye brightened even more.

"Now, go join the others."

"Alright big sis. Are you coming soon?"

"Yes.."Yuki smiled. "Let me go get Dean first, he is hiding in his room,"

Nessa suddenly stopped with a playful smile."If it’s hide and seek, let’s find Dean together."

Yuki’s expression suddenly darkened. "What did I say?" Her voice became colder.

Recognizing the switch, Nessa turned and ran away, screaming. "Scary Yuki. Scary Yuki."

A big smile appeared on Yuki’s face as she finished with her own dress and walked out.

At this time, the guests were already arriving. She knew most of them except one boy but the one she noticed most was Leona.

"Hey big sis," she waved at her.

Leona reciprocated with a smile on her face as she walked into the hall.

Yuki took a different turn and walked to Dean’s room.

Knocking on the door softly first. "It’s time brother," she said. But there was no answer.

After a minute, she knocked again, a lot harder. "Hey idiot. Are you deaf? Let’s go."

There was still no answer. Yuki immediately became worried. She quickly slid the door open.

Entering the room, Dean was no where to be found. She searched all around and there was no clue to where he was.

His clothes were no where to be found as well. ’Where are you?

She immediately left the room to the hall. Walking straight to Ying as she tried her best to look unperturbed.

Kneeling beside Ying, she gestured for him to come closer. Ying leaned in as she whispered into his ear.

"I can’t find Dean."

Ying’s expression changed but he remained calm. "What do you mean?"

"He isn’t in his room and I can’t find him."

Ying’s eyes widened.