Kirino

I can't believe we actually drank that entire bottle. It's like no matter how
much we drained the damned thing it just always had more inside. Like
some nether gate to the sake dimension. My head swims as we trudge
down the street, my feet slightly unsteady and pigeon toed to help keep
my balance. The five of us are heading back to the apartment my brother
and I share to sleep off our drunken stupor for the night. Ayase and I use
each other's weight to steady ourselves as Manami blazes the trail in
front of us, Kyousuke and Kanako bringing up the rear. Kanako passed
out earlier, her diminutive figure finally giving out from the copious
amounts of alcohol in her system as she sought to keep up with us all, so
that leaves my brother to carry her. We played and sang for a few more
hours after everyone calmed Kyousuke and myself down when we were a
little more intimate then we should have been in front of everyone. The
party came to a halt when Kohei received a text from Sena demanding he
come home immediately for a 'reward'. The picture he mailed her when
Kouki kissed my brother deserved immediate action apparently. Kohei
had more than enough of his share of the sake so Miura and Kouki
decided to make sure he got home safely. Kyousuke had put a halt on his
own consumption after his kiss with Kouki, deciding that that was
enough loosening of inhibitions after all.
So now we walk to our apartment to sleep it all off, Kanako slung
piggyback style over my boyfriend's shoulders. Ayase and I giggle
amongst ourselves, spinning stories about the night, the alcohol
loosening our lips enough to poke small jibes at each other's expense.
"Did you even hear your voice?" I prod her in the ribs with my finger a
bit. "You sounded like a dying giraffe!" I begin to laugh remembering her
awkward voice belting out that tune. I mock the sound, exaggerating it to
gross lengths of course. Ayase casts a good natured glower at me, her
face trying to hold back embarrassment and the hint of a grin.
"Well at least my boyfriend doesn't kiss other guys. Ms. Brother
Complex." She huffs out, crossing her arms over her chest indignantly, a
smirk budding at the corners of her mouth.

"Well, I-I gues-s you have-have me there." I just manage to gasp out
through stifled laughs, my stomach convulsing trying to hold them back.
The bro-con would have had me paralyzed with fear or denial almost a
year ago, now it's nothing but the truth. A strange yet beautiful truth.
"You can hardly blame Kyo though, Kouki looks very much like a girl. I
bet he liked it. And to think that it is immortalized forever in thirtymegapixel format." Manami says with a thoughtful expression from the
front of us. Though not particularly funny it's the last straw holding us
back before we all bust out with laughter, the alcohol combined with a
very uncharacteristic quip from Manami poking fun at her lifelong crush
finally shattering the wall of self-restraint. For his part though Kyousuke
takes it all in stride. Exasperated with it all, the teasing never really
ending since the event in question, but in stride.
"Yeah, yeah." He says lamely back, a small smile plying over his lips. His
eyes meet mine and I see a small appreciation there. Yeah, I know. I'm
getting along with your precious childhood friend, it's not so hard. The
drink makes it slightly easier to discard my old armor and have fun with
everyone even if they all at one point admitted to liking my brother in a
romantic sense. We made Kyousuke the brunt of our jokes for the rest of
our walk home, the darts being flung without much mercy despite his
good nature. He was used to it by now though, his temper slow to boil
and the fact he had to put up with me and my whims for so long made his
patience that much more resilient. It makes me really happy and grateful
to find someone who can keep up with my behavior, which hopefully I
grow out of.
Our giggling conversation keeps up until I spy the familiar signs of the
apartment complex, which I'm very thankful for. The sake in my system
makes the world spin around me and I feel like I'm sprinting at an
alarming rate rather than walking slowly. I dig the keys out of my purse
and give everyone the signal to wait up for me to unlock the door. It takes
me a little longer than usual, the lock moving around when I try to put
the key in, but I finally get it and the number pad right. Kyousuke gently
sets Kanako down in his desk chair while Manami, Ayase and I begin the
arduous task of rousing the girl.

"I'll get a pallet on the floor ready." Kyousuke says as he walks to the
small closet in our room. He emerges with the extra bedroll he purchased
for our cover story and several extra blankets. He sets about the task of
arranging the makeshift bed. I head to the bathroom and turn on the
bath, filling it up so we can hurry up and get clean. You can't expect us
girls going to bed smelling like booze and sweat can you? Of course the
girls each don't have their own clothes with them but I have clothes they
can borrow until they can be washed in the morning. The water feels just
right, the tub most of the way filled. I head back out to the living room to
check on everyone. Kanako is awake and blearily looking around the
room still sitting in Kyousuke's chair, Kyousuke and Manami are in the
kitchenette area chatting and drinking water, and Ayase is arranging the
pillows on the palette Kyousuke set out.
"The baths ready everyone. Kanako you should go first, you're close to
passing out." I take the girls hand in mine and gently pull her up. She
tosses a wistful glance at Manami for help. "Manami, can you take her in
the bath please?" I ask the bespeckled girl. These two share a small bond;
like teacher and student. She trust Manami and I want to talk with Ayase
anyway.
"Sure. " She sets her glass down on the counter and takes Kanako gently
by the arm. "Let's get cleaned up real quick, okay?" A drunken Kanako
seems happy with that answer and allows herself to be escorted into the
bathroom.
"Hey you." I bark at my brother. He snaps to attention at the gruff tone
in my voice. He should have figured this out already on his own, the idiot.
My posture demanding with hands on hips it's really my old way of doing
things. "Go for a walk or something; don't just stand there as girls get
naked. What are you, stupid?" He just shakes his head and lets out a sigh.
He sets his water down next to Manami's and starts to put his shoes on at
the entry way.
"Call me when it's safe again okay?" He says showing his phone to me
before he slips it into his pocket. He grabs his keys and approaches the

door before turning around, a small gentle smile tugging at his lips. "I
love you." And he walks out the door letting it close softly behind him.
"I love you too." I say as the door shuts. I know it's weird, but when we
part company we always say that to each other now. Not only is it a great
mood booster just hearing that, but it's become a ritual to remind myself
how far we've come. Plus, and I know how chilling it sounds, but in case
something happens I want my last memory of him to be him smiling and
saying he loves me. During our 'cold war' we would never acknowledge
each other, and when we started talking again I would go to bed angry
several times because of some stupid event or another. Now that's in the
past and it's my new policy for my last view before sleep's warm embrace
to reconfirm what I live my life for now. Ayase just smiles next to me,
seeing the small warmth and large change within me.
"Well, while we wait for our turn how about we eat something?" I ask as I
stumble my way into the kitchenette area. I dig around the pantry
counter and pull out a box of sweet crackers, my mind too numb to
properly fix food. We plop down together on the floor at the table and
partake in the food together, comparing notes once again about the night.
"You're not a bad singer Kirino, you and Kanako should do some duets
sometime for her idol auditions." Ayase crunches on one of the crackers,
waiting for my response.
"I don't know about that. With school, modeling, and track I'm pretty
sure amateur idol star would be just a little too much. Or rather I could
do it if it was just me, but with Kyousuke and Iit would just eat up too
much time I think. Plus, why would I want to steal poor Kana-Kana's
spotlight. The girl works her ass off to get to where she wants to be." I
crunch down on a cracker myself and wash it down with the glass of
water Kyousuke left behind.
"Is he a good kisser?" GURK! I choke hard on the water and cracker mix
as it shoots up my nose. I quickly wipe at my leaky face and attempt to
compose my brain for the question. "Does he use tongue? How about his

hands, is he good with his hands? And the nights alone together"
HOLY SHIT GIRL! Gimme a chance to answer at least one them!
"UhAyase? Are you okay?" I ask trying to fend off some of the
questions. Her eyes shine with energy and her she has a goofy weird
smile.
"Tellllll meeeee." She insists, her face glowing not only with the booze
but embarrassment from her inquiries. "If I can't experience it then I
have to live vicariously through you." Good god girlwhatever.
"He's a great kissernot that I have anyone else to compare it to. As for
tonguesometimes." I can't quite meet her eyes and look away feeling
my face light up. I really don't want to answer her next questions
butthe hell. My inhibitions are lowered themselves with drink. "His
hands are just fine, though a little rough. They're a guy's hands after all.
And the other thingthat's a secret." I can't bring myself to give that
little bit of privacy away. Ayase begins to pout a bit, her expression
uncharacteristically childlike.
"Fine, be that way then." She says puffing her cheeks out slightly in a huff.
I quickly change the subject to something more appropriate and attempt
to kill time. The chit-chat dies down after a moment and about ten
minutes later Manami and Kanako emerge from the shower, wrapped
loosely in towels that struggle to stay attached to their wet skin. I knew it
was a good idea to send my brother away. I would have had to remove
his eyes had he seen anything too 'important'. Kanako is bleary still,
trying hard to stand up straight. It's obvious that Manami's stature
helped with the amount of alcohol still in her blood and seems for the
most part sober. She takes Kanako gently by the elbow and guides her
over to the other room.
"I'll get you two some clothes." I get up quickly, bad idea as the room
quickly spins, but I right myself and stumble into the bedroom and grab
a t-shirt for each girl from my drawers and shorts to wear for bottoms.
I'm not one-hundred percent comfortable with someone wearing my
underwear. I divvy them up amongst them and make sure Kanako is

dressed before having Manami help tuck her in for the night. It's funny
to see the usual boisterous red-head defeated by the drink but hopefully
she'll be back to her usual precocious self tomorrow.
"Go in with me?" Ayase asks me standing up from the table.
"Sure." I grab my change of clothes and make sure to grab a fresh towel
and head into the bathroom. I get undressed in the entryway to the tub
and throw my laundry into the small hamper along with everyone else's
things. I got to do laundry tomorrowprovided I'm in any condition.
Ayase is right behind me and quickly disrobes and throws her clothing
on top of mine. We begin to scrub ourselves off before our soak in the
warm water, taking turns scrubbing where the other can't reach,
shampooing each other's hair. She seems to get rather handsy when
drunk, though she keeps them north of the equator. After finally rinsing
the soap and shampoo off we plunge into the tub facing each other at
opposite ends. God I love Japanese bathrooms. When I was in America it
shocked me a bit to see how small their tubs actually are, and most
people elect to only shower and never soak. Our baths our much larger
and we have a drain in the middle of the room to encourage over spill
from the tub. I let the warm water sooth me, the effects of it somehow
both mitigating and enhancing the alcohol in my system.
"Kirino." Ayase says across from me. I look up at her face, smiling at me.
"Yes?" I shake some water from eyes.
"I've been meaning to tell you this for a time now." She leans her head
back against the wall of the tub and props herself up a bit, her face
staring directly up at the ceiling. "Especially after seeing you and
Kyousuke all lovey-dovey tonight. The way you acted with each
otherhas me really jealous." I prop myself up a bit as well, letting the
girl get her thoughts out. "Not so much jealous that you're the only one in
his heart, though that's a part of it, more like jealous of how happy you
are and that you found someone not only so close to home but so early in
your life too. If you told me about your feelings way back when I first had
trouble accepting your hobby than that would have been the lynch pin to

ending our friendship and I would never have spoken to you again. If I
had learned from someone else about your relationship with your
brother I would have cut ties, maybe even go to your parents with it."
Really? Jesus Ayase! "But that was then. That was the old, deceitful,
Ayase who honestly didn't know what a friend truly was. My friends then
were just like me. Prim, proper, the perfect Japanese Womanit was so
unfulfilling. I had to keep everything I felt bottled up; all of the thoughts
and feeling that didn't conform to that a secret or chide and convince
myself that they were wrong. It wasn't until I saw the way you lived your
life at full throttle that I discovered what little living I was doing. I can't
even remember who my old friends were anymore, not their names,
facesanything. But you, Kanako, even Kyousuke dare me and made me
change in small amounts. Your hobbies, modeling with the two of
youthe next thing I knew I had lifelong friends, a family that I myself
chose. My old way of life tried to have everything I knew conform into a
single convenient shape. My relationships were superficial and alien,
forced even. It took me a long time to admit that the way I viewed things
was flawed. While society and others may hate your relationship should
they find out, and it may be hard even for me to accept sometimes" She
finally looks back at me, as the entire time she had been staring at the
ceiling. "I'm very, very happy that I have you in my life Kirino and I
promise you that despite the fact that I haven't always been the most
reliable friend I want you to know that I will work my way into that spot
again."
I guess that had been eating at her for some time now, the booze finally
working loose her lips.
"Ayase" I let it trail off, the embarrassed and pleased emotion plainly
written on my face more than enough to get across my meaning. I've
always been clandestinely afraid of my friends' sincerity about her
supporting my relationship, so her inspirational drunken words set my
mind at ease more than a little. I lull back in the tub again and consider
the things she confessed to me, letting the warm water sooth away the
tense muscles in my back and neck. It's not long before I hear Ayase
move around and open my eyes to see her leering above me, her wet hair
dangling into my face, tickling the tip of my nose.

"Ayase?" I ask hesitantly already sensing my doom. I know if I move fast

to avoid her it would be like inciting a predator, so I instead calm myself
and laugh a little as my best friend curls up and flops into my lap giggling.
I can feel her hands on my backside rubbing in circles. I swear that if I
didn't know this girl has fallen for my brother I would think she was gay.
Waitboth ways?
"Kiiiriiinooo." Her putting extra emphasis into the vowels is a little
creepy but whatever. I just hug my friend and let her act spoiled for the
moment. "I can start all that tomorrow! You're so soft Kiriiinooo." Eh

A few minutes later we exit the bath, Ayases' molestation finally passing
over. I throw on my hooded yellow pajama top and a pair of blue and
white striped underwear, one of Kyousuke's favorites. Weird that he
seems to have a slight fetish for such plain underwear. He seems to enjoy
lace and frilly types just fine, but these get a bigger reaction. I let Ayase
borrow one of my t-shirts and shorts like the other girls and gravitate
toward the living room. I give Kyousuke a call and alert him he's okay to
come home to take his own bath. He's a few minutes out, having decided
to run by a convenience store and pick up a few things, so Ayase,
Manami, and I decided to catch up on precious gossip and girl talk.
Being friendly with Manami isn't as hard as I feared it would be. I don't
perceive any lingering bitterness from her loss to my gain. I had seen a
handle full of covetous glances from her as Kyousuke and I held hands,
hugged, kissed, and I can only image the thoughts plaguing the poor girl
about our nights here alone. For those reasons I was hesitant to be open
about our relationship in front of her to begin with, but she's adapting to
it and so are we. For so long I considered Manami the 'neighbor girl' or
'plain girl'. In reality Manami is very cute with a nice body too. I cast a
simmering look at the cannons under her shirt she regards as breasts.
Mine will get biggerI'm still growing dammit! Kyousuke never says
anything but praise about them and I'm glad that he doesn't really seem
to care about breast size.

The fact I called her plain was more regarding the fact that she has no
'pizazz' or style. She dresses like a housewife or middle-aged woman. For
Christ's-sake she's a teenager! She doesn't wear makeup, cute clothes,
any accessories, and I'm pretty sure her ears aren't even pierced! If the
girl had made a real effort to get Kyousuke through a makeover I'm
pretty sure things may have turned out differently. A little eye-liner,
mascara, lip-stick, the girl would clean up very well. Maybe after some
more time has passed I can offer the makeover myself. Right now is still
just a little too early in our relationship for comfort. We manage small
talk for a time before the door opens and Kyousuke comes through with a
plastic bag in his hand.
"Hello again everyone." He says to us as he removes and organizes his
shoes at the door way. He the proceeds to the fridge and removes a few
things from the bag and sets them inside. I've been meaning to pick up
more tea and juice, seems he beat me to it. "I also got some laundry
detergent for tomorrow, if nothing else we can at least wash everyone's
clothes before they take off." He takes a seat to the right of me at the
table now bringing our total to four.
"Go ahead and take your bath, we'll be fine without you." I say standing
up and making my way to the bedroom. I grab a pair of his underwear, a
shirt, and his pajama pants and hand them to Kyousuke with a towel on
top. "Hurry up." I push him gently in the bathrooms direction and wait
until he's safely inside before turning back to join my friends. I go back to
sip on my water again, my throat parched and I need something else in
my system other than booze as well. After Kyousuke finally leaves the
bath, fully dressed in his pajamas thank god, we decide to just stay up
and talk a little more. It's not so often that we have a chance to anymore,
though with Kyousuke and Manamis' graduation they'll have more time
to hang out before college. The other three of us are beginning highschool shortly. The rest of the night is calm for the most part. No more
teasing of my brother or inappropriate questions from Ayase. Just
enjoying each other company and sharing stories. It's before too long
though that we all decide to head to bed for the night. It's gotten
extremely late (or early depending on your view) and although no one
here has school tomorrow people are starting to get loopy with the
alcohol in their system combined with fatigue from lack of sleep. Ayase

and Manami climb into their makeshift bed next to the slumbering
Kanako and get comfortable as I turn off the lights. Kyousuke heads into
the bedroom first and it's then that a realization hits me.
I'm about to share a bed with my brother with my romantic rivals in the
next room. It's an unnerving feeling to say the least. Yet I shake it off, the
group knows and supports the relationship and no one has said anything
to us about the sleeping arrangements so they must all be just peachy
with it. I head on into the bedroom behind him and turn the lights off as
I close the door. Kyousuke is already getting into the bed and laying back
the covers for me to jump in next to him. For some inexplicable reason
the sight makes me giddy and bubbly. I slide in next to him and pull the
covers up to my chest and roll onto my side facing him. I can make out
his features in the dusky room. His obsidian colored shaggy hair, his
open and honest eyes a clear sable shade, his face beginning to lean out
as he gets older, the roundness of youth fading away quickly. I can make
out the shapes of his body underneath the covers too, and I yearn for that
body right now. I scoot in and press my face to his chest and feel his
arms wrap around me. His smell, somewhere between a book and leather
combined with the minty smell of his bath soap, saturates me and I flash
back to the first night I shared a bed with him all those months ago. The
storm outside that night now reflects in my heart as I begin to recognize
that I'm gettingstimulated at the memories of that night combined with
his very real body pressed against me. If I was sober then I would have
realized that this is pretty much one of the worst moments for me to be
getting this way, if I was sober I would simply ask my lover to hold me
until either the yearning drifted away or I fell asleep. But I'm not clearheaded, nor am known for making sound even-tempered decisions even
then.
I cast my gaze upward and catch Kyousuke's eyes looking back down at
me with a contented expression. I thrust my face closer to his and lock
my lips tightly with him, forcing my tongue through his lips and pulling
into his shirt. He clenches slightly at my sudden assertiveness but
loosens up as I worm closer to him and wrap my arms around his chest
securely. I've heard alcohol called 'liquid courage' before, and I say that
usually I would be too embarrassed to do something like this but at the
moment I don't care that much. As my lips are pressed to his mouth I

reach down below the covers with my hand and take him gently in a
stroking motion. He flinches a bit at the unexpected contact in such a
delicate place and pulls back from the kiss just a bit.
"Kirino? What are you-" He's too loud dammit! Idiot should be aware of
those just outside.
"Shhhh!" I whisper against his ear. "They'll hear us." I tease with a lick
against his earlobe. I feel a slight shiver rock him with that. His ears are
very sensitive I've discovered to my enjoyment. I sometime just lick and
nibble on them in private just to get him worked up before attempting to
scamper off, which usually fails as he seizes me before I can get far. I
have to be honest here. I love my brother in way that is sick and
abnormal compared to how others see things. When someone asked if I
had sisterly feelings for him I honestly had no idea how to respond. What
the hell are sisterly feelings? I just even know the answer to that. But
now we've come this far and I'll never lose him to another woman so long
as I can help it. Because of the nature of our transgression I'm very
insecure about someone taking him away from me; I have to know that
he's mine and belongs only to me. I'm more than willing to be only his
and give myself utterly to him, but I'm very scared of losing the
happiness that I found in my life with him. If for no other reason it's why
I feel the need to mark him in public, and in private, that he's mine. With
Manami, Ayase, and Kanako sleeping not ten feet away it makes me
worried to any hijinks that could happen during the night. I mean they're
all drunk, have confessed to him, have a better chance in society with
him, and each have their own uniqueness. Ayase is a model housewife,
can cook, clean, is very pretty with a great sense of style, and can be
surprisingly gentle and loving towards others. Manami is caring, gentle,
cute, and has been with my brother for the last ten years and knows
almost everything about him. Kanako hasn't known him that long but
she is ambitious, assertive, and has a certain 'loli' aspect some men look
for. Then there's Kuroneko! She's had a major infatuation with my
brother for over a year now and even dated him for a brief time back last
summer. She ended up breaking up with him to prove some sort of point
that we all needed to get along. I wonder how different our lives would be
if she never broke his heart that night.

That was one of the first nights I admitted to myself I loved him. He
came to me asking for advice on how to handle the situation. I didn't
really know what to tell him and he ended up crying in my arms that
night. It led me to not only showing genuine affection to him but working
to make him happy again. I also heard her confess that day I first kissed
and confessed to Kyousuke back in December that she intended not to
take him away but to have a piece of him as well. The thought doesn't
disturb me really, as she's closer to me than almost anyone else and has
stated that the relationship is not only supported by her was actively
pushed as well. Yet I'm in nowhere ready for any kind of funny business
in that light. He's mine! She can find someone else! She pretends to be
her character from Maschera in order to deal with certain situations she
doesn't know how to deal with as herself. I know she's actually way shyer
than she admits to being and needs the occasional prodding to go
through with certain things. She even came to me with the fact she loved
Kyousuke before confessing to him. That's enough Kirino! You have his
junk in your hands and are pretty much on top of him right now. Time to
destroy this man's ability to hold back.
"Just hold it in. Leave it me." I whisper back down to him as I scoot
backward under the covers toward his feet. I grin to myself before my
mouth becomes preoccupied with my planned activity, 'No one else will
ever do this to him but me.'

I yawn and stretch as the sunlight beams through the curtain and into
the bedroom. The single beam highlights the dust particles that float
lazily in the air and I am temporarily mesmerized until a small headache
and sickness drop into my stomach. Ughcongratulations, fifteen and
got your first hangover. Your parents would be proud. With that though I
take a quick inventory of the bedroom and note that my brother is gone.
My yellow pajama top is still on the floor from last nights near silent fun,
but his clothes are gone. I hear some talking out in the living room and
notice a delicious smell leaking from under the door. Ah, he must be
making breakfast or something. I sit up and stretch further, hearing
cricks in my neck and back at the awkward angle I was sleeping in. I
check the alarm next to the bed to gauge the time. 11:56 AM. Damn,

almost afternoon. Good thing I took my pill before I fell asleep. The
doctors said it's best to take it early rather than late. They don't work if
you don't take them strictly at the time you're supposed to but by the
time I actually fell asleep it was nearly the time anyway so whatever.
I finally get up out of the bed and smooth out the sheets, putting the
whole thing back in order. I remove my panties from the night before,
they were kind of a mess as I left them on during, and replace them with
a clean pink and frilly pair. I throw my pajama top back on and arrange
my hair into some semblance of order before I make my way into the
living room. Manami and Ayase are sitting at the small table drinking
what smells like coffee. Kanako was folding up the blankets from the
night before and Kyousuke was in the kitchenette area with apron on and
spatula in hand. I could smell eggs and the tell-tale aroma of rice in the
air as I plop down across the table from Ayase and the right of Manami.
Ayase and Manami look refreshed from the evening before and glance
sideways at me before breaking out into flushed smiles.
"Morning Kirino, did you sleep well?" Ayase asks as she sips lightly on
her coffee. Manami pours me a cup too and slides it across the table to
me.
"Hm? Yeah, I was pretty tired." I stretch again to emphasize my point.
"I imagine." I hear Manami murmur a bit as she herself sips on her
coffee. She quickly glances up at me. "Not that I would imagine anything
or that I would listen for anything at all!" She says panicky, seeming a
little shaken by something. Kyousuke is still cooking up a storm not
really paying any attention to us. Kanako finishes piling up the blankets
and bedroll before completing the square at the table.
"What are ya'll talking about?" Kanako asks reaching across the table for
her own cup of morning brew. She seems the best off out of all of us. I
guess all that extra sleep did her good.

"About what we may or may have not been hearing last night." Ayase
replied with a smooth grin, her eyes shut in modest review. Oh god, I
knew last night was a terrible idea. They heard usthe whole thing?
"I have no idea what you mean." I say huffing and turning my head to the
side and up, placing the worst poker face of my life on and hoping that at
they won't ask any more questions from me. Please leave me be! If you
heard us then I'm sorry, I was drunk!
"Ooooh, was that the noise that woke me last night?" Kanako teases
prodding my ribs a bit. Her usual sly and collaborators smile taking over
her face. Her hair down for a change it gives the red-head an aura not
unlike the devil, and with that I struggle to maintain the straight face I
put on. "I thought a ghost was haunting the place with all those moa-"
"Kyousuke, what are you making?" I ask jumping up for aid, interrupting
her question before that last word managed to erupt.
"Hm? Oh, fried rice with scrambled eggs on top. I'm thinking of French
toast too for you girlsManami can I have a hand? I need the batter
prepared please."
"Sure Kyo, I'll start on that right away." She climbs to her feet and joins
him in the kitchen. I sigh letting out a little tension. Such questions first
thing in the morning, what are they trying to do, kill me? Kanako and
Ayase smile devilishly out at me from behind their coffee cups but are
thankfully silent, getting their points across.
"How long have you guys been awake?" I ask taking a sip of coffee that
had been offered to me by Manami when I sat at the table.
"About half-an-hour." Ayase replies
"Same." Kanako replies.

"Kyo waking up woke me up so about an hour and a half." Manami says

facing toward her task. Jeez, I was the last obviously. Kyousuke's been
awake that long? He must be tired. Breakfast takes about another thirty
minutes before finally plated and sitting on the living area table. On two
plates each we have aromatic Jasmine fried rice with scrambled eggs and
a deep red chili sauce over it with what looks like bell peppers cut and
fried inside the eggs. I can also smell a sharp cheddar cheese melted into
the middle of the scramble forming an almost omelet. The second plate
had the aforementioned French toast with small blessings of powdered
sugar and a strawberry glazed sauce with pieces of the fruit suspended
with the gelatinous goodness.
"Did you make all of this?" I ask looking sideways to my brother. We sit
next to each other on one side of the table, each of the other girls getting
their own side. He puts on a sheepish expression and looks at me.
"WellManami helped a little." He says taking a bite of the eggs.
"Don't be so modest Kyo. I only prepared the batter for the toast and
helped make the strawberry glaze. Everything was all him. I have to say
I'm very proud of how far you've come." Manami says disarming my
brothers' humility. Wow. What happened to my hopeless older brother? I
thought I would get to spoil him forever. Now he's making money as a
modeling manager, beginning college next fall, and even has the gall to
be a grade 'A' short order cookbastard. Making me love him more. We
all munch through breakfast voicing our appreciation to the chefs who
made it possible. The food in my system makes the headache and slight
nausea disappear. After we destroyed his beautiful meal Manami and I
pick up the plates and quickly begin washing them while Ayase cleans off
the table.
"Laundry time." Kyousuke gets up and heads into the bathroom to grab
the basket. We splurged and got a washer dryer for the apartment awhile
back as the public laundry rooms were usually too crowded and dirty.
Usually I would berate him for handling other girls' garments, as all of
the other girls clothing is in there, but after last night I have no worries.

"He seems rather full of energy." I say out loud to myself rhetorically.
"I wonder why? He's even humming" Manami points out as we keep
washing the dishes. I get it. Everyone knows I destroyed the poor guy last
night. Cant' they please stop teasing me?

Sunday morning comes quickly with no school or club activities to get in

the way. We haven't seen Kuroneko or Saori in a couple of weeks, finals
and graduation were foremost on our minds and we really couldn't spare
the time to get out. So we made plans to gather up at our usual meeting
place in Akihabara and do some much needed shopping together. We
wake up early and get dressed quickly. It's been getting warmer out lately
so Kyousuke dons a blue t-shirt with a woven white collared shirt and a
pair of brown slacks. Simple guy stuff. I decide to wear a light blue onepiece dress with white lacy piping around the hem and neckline, a white
and blue lace chocker for an accessory. It's actually a very sunny day and
beautiful blue skies welcome us as we traipse to our predestined meeting
place. When we do finally arrive at the maid caf we spot Saori occupying
a booth with a cup of tea and a Danish pastry, which was partly eaten.
She was wearing her Otaku outfit, but her glasses were off and siting on
the table beside her. Her hair let down as well it was a strange contrast
between her normal appearance and the eccentrics she adopts to protect
herself. Small steps I guess.
Kyousuke and I sit ourselves down across from her and order our own
refreshments. I see next to Saori another cup, Kuroneko's I guess, she
must be in the bathroom or something. With that I hear footsteps from
behind and the titular 'goth-loli' slides into the seat next to Saori. She has
on her usual cosplay outfit, minus the overdress that she would usually
refuse to take off unless she was about to pass out from the heat.
"How are you two?" Kyousuke asks in the corner of the booth.
"Not bad Kyousuke, how are things at home?" Saori follows the flow of
conversation. We pass pleasantries until our drinks and snacks get here,

exchanging small stories about our lives over the last few weeks we were
out of contact. After a few minutes pass Saori reaches under the table
into her backpack she usually wears in Akihabara and withdraws a few
pieces of paper. She reads them over in silence quickly before looking at
both me and Kyousuke again.
"How have you two been, as a couple I mean?" She asks finally.
"Great actually." I reply a little wary. "I even get along with Manami now,
though it was hard at first." I take a bite of my spinach quiche, the flavors
a delight in my mouth.
"Speaking of Manami" Saori started looking at the papers in hand. She
looks to Kuroneko for something, confirmation maybe? The black cat
nods, back to her questioning look. "I think she may have been the entire
reason you two ended up together in the first place." What?
"Before I get into it, Kyousuke." My brother perks up at his name. "How
long have you been friends with Manami?" Her gaze is intent and
probing. He sits back and thinks about it a second.
"Ten, eleven yearsmaybe a little longer." He answer back.
"So since you were very young? That lines up." What lines up? "Tell me
honestly, have you even thought of Manami in a light you couldbe
intimate with her?" WHAT!
"honestly? No. I mean I knew she liked me like that, but no matter
what I did I could only think of her as Manami. It would irritate me to no
end if someone else dated her, and accepting them would be out of the
questionbut in the end I just couldn't see her as anything but Manami."
Saori nods with a small smile.
"Have you ever heard of the Westermarck Effect?" She asks us. Kyousuke
and I shake our heads no. "Well it is a hypothetical psychological effect
through which people who live in close domestic proximity during the

first few years of their lives become desensitized to later sexual attraction.
When you and Kirino were growing up I understand at an early age you
began to spend less and less time together. That frequently you would
spend the night at Manami's and that you spent most of your free time
with her. When your 'cold war' between you two started you spent even
more time with her." We nodded off each point she made as she listed it.
"That means when Kyousuke was six and Kirino four you two began
separating, you no longer saw each other to the point it was daily
interaction anymore. I believe that the Westermarck Effect was
circumvented because of that. That as you grew up into puberty and
developed deeper memories and feelings that you grew up as strangers in
the same house. This caused the bond between the two of you as siblings
to fail." That all actually makes a lot of sense. "However, the absorbent
amount of time with Manami that the Westermarck Effect came into play
then, imprinting a brother-sister relationship into you. Why Manami
never developed that is beyond me, maybe it was fought off with her
early infatuation with you. I don't know." She goes back to her notes in
her hand, reading a few lines. "Kyousuke, you don't want to date Manami,
even a little, yet you love her, and want no one to date her at all. You are
protective of her and are there whenever she needs it. What does that
sound like to you?"
I can see the wheels in his spin in place a moment before a light sparks
behind his eye.
"Like a brother." He finally answers. And there it is. He views Manami
like a little sister more than he ever thought of me. I was someone to date,
someone that was precious to him, someone to marry. Manami was
someone to protect and covet until he was ready for her to move on.
"That's not all either." Saori continues. "That's not the only thing. There
is also the case of Genetic Sexual Attraction." That makes me blush a bit.
"People tend to select mates that are like themselves, this is known as
assortative mating. This holds both for physical appearances and mental
traits. You both have very similar facial structures and you both are now
officially 'Otaku'. People commonly rank faces similar to their own as
more attractive, trustworthy than average. With the absences of the
Westermarck Effect and then walking back into each other's lives as early

fleshed out adultsI think this outcome was the only one." She finishes
and slips the notes back into her bag, looks back up afterward, and
awaits our reply to these facts.
"I seedoes this really change anything though?" Kyousuke asks after a
time. "I mean, even if this theory is true, it doesn't affect how I feel about
Kirino. It doesn't affect my love for her or what our relationship is. I
would still be willing to do anything to make her happy, regardless of our
blood or circumstances that brought us together." My idiotic, stupid,
careless, worrisome, outstanding, lovable older brother. Hearing things
like that is what makes me love this man and want to marry him and
make him happy for the rest of our lives. I take his hand in mine in the
booth and squeeze gently, catching a reassuring smile from those
wonderful lips.
"I agree." I say looking across the table at Saori. "Whether it's true or not
doesn't matter. While it's interesting thinking about how it happened, it
doesn't matter to me anymore. I have him now and I really don't plan to
let him go." With that Saori and Kuroneko smile slyly over at us.
"Good. Plus, I wouldn't have helped set you suspicious siblings up in the
first place if I didn't really believe you were perfect for each other." Saori
says as she places her glasses on her face and ties up her hair in the
classic pony-tail. "With that finally out of the way let's say we hurry up,
eat, and get out to Aki proper?" With that we all give our assent and
attack our refreshments in earnest. I don't really know the reason for
Saori giving that info to us. Maybe to reassure us it wasn't our fault,
maybe to say that there may be others like us, or maybe even closure to
our relationship. Doesn't really matter to me though. I eat my quiche
holding Kyousukes' hand under the table and I don't plan to let it go.

Kyousuke
The sights and sounds of Akihabara have always been a bit of an
overwhelming wonder to me. Charming girls dressed in maid outfits

handing out flyers to their respective cafs, street performers here and
there acting out their craft, huge television screen showing the newest
anime trailers, even the people walking around. Wearing costumes or
simply dressed in their chosen fashion it was beguiling to see the
assortment of characters parading their way across the streets and into
the various shops. The first time I came here with Kirino, when she was
first meeting in 'real life' with her online chat group, was a little
overwhelming. She even had me sit close to the group to help keep tabs
on her lest something go wrong. Now I've become slightly accustom to
the sights and sounds around here and learned to enjoy our time
together out with the group.
We peck our way through our groups' usual shops by our route. First
stopping into a figure shop right near the maid caf to ogle the newest
figures from Freezings' line, not to mention Orchid Seed, which
specializes in curvy female types. I don't collect anything like this myself
but I can feel the enjoyment Kirino gets from them. The trick is curbing
her enthusiasm for them so she doesn't buy too many. She, of course,
gravitates instantly towards her Meruru figures and next thing I know
has that weird sappy grin as she studies them, flipping the boxes around
to get better looks. Saori disappears almost altogether behind a
mountain of figures modeled by Taka Tony, a well-respected artist it the
'Otaku' community that's been featured in several games, anime, and
other assorted media. My knowledge of anime and 'otaku' culture has
significantly increased over the year and half since I've been active in
Kirinos' life again, and it kind of creeps me out how much my brain
soaked up over the time unintentionally.
I make my chance while Kirino is distracted by her hobby and wiggle my
way over to Kuroneko, who is reading a cosplay digest magazine near the
register. She's not really a figure collector, more of a cosplayer after all.
That's part of what I'm trying to accomplish here actually. I actually had
a goal today and I mean to at least talk about it.
"Hey, Kuroneko." She looks up at me from her magazine. "Can I talk to
you outside for a bit?" I ask making a thumbing motion to the door. I
don't want the others overhearing our conversation for the moment. She
gives a confused nod and follows me out the door. I walk across the lane

of the street and wait for Kuroneko. She's right behind me though and I
have to quickly organize my thoughts before I begin.
"Are you sure you should be doing this? I mean Kirino could see us out
here probably." Huh? Oh.
"It's nothing like that." I say waving a hand as if to blow that possibility
away for the moment. "I actually wanted to talk about something else
entirely with you.' She looks up at me expectantly. " As you know I began
to manage Kirinos' modeling career semiprofessionally. I also picked up
Kanako to help her with her idol auditions."
"Ah. Congratulations then Kyousuke, you seem to have it all worked out."
She says a little stoically.
"I actually wanted to ask you something about that. Can you work for me
as a model?" I see the ratchet thrown in the gears as her brain struggles
to understand my question.
"W-wh-what?" She stammers out, her character gone and Ruri coming to
the fore. "What do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said. I think that you could easily get your foot in the
door modeling. I have a little influence here and there now and I want to
sponsor you modeling professionally." I run my hand through my hair as
I gather my thoughts still.
"What are trying to do? Turn me into your sister?" She's turning slightly
indignant despite her embarrassment. "Be some brain-dead model that
struts on the runway, who smiles for the camera?"
"No." I say simply. That gets a reaction. Kuroneko is now just watching
me for a moment, Ruri still there. "Not like that. My sister is gorgeous
and brings out the best in clothes and clothes can bring out different
aspects in her. But that's her kind of modeling." I mentally prepare
myself for this. "You're strikingly beautiful Ruri." I use her name instead

of her handle to show I'm serious with this. "But that's just not you. You
look perfect for something else though. Through Mikagami and Kanako I
gained another contact in a freelancing agency that can help you do
something different. I want you to be a cosplay and traditionalist model."
There it is. I watch Ruri's eyes for the moment.
"A what?" She finally asks confused sounding.
"It would be just as it sounds. You make your own costumes already and
you are very skilled at staying in character. Your talent with a sewing
machine would allow you make several different costumes very quickly
and with superb quality. I mean, you made 'Yami-neko' overnight right?"
She nods to my question and looks to actually be thinking. Her face is
flushed still from me admitting that's she's gorgeous not to mention
fervently complimenting her skills. "With your long black hair, pale skin,
and cobalt eyes you look the perfect part to play traditional settings. I
would be your manager and arrange appearances, photo shoots, and be
there personally with you for any help you needed."
"And what do you get out of all this?" She finally asks after several
seconds click by. Her face holds stoic but her eyes are shining with
apprehension and fear of what I'm talking about. I know she's much
more shy and normal than she lets on so I have to tread carefully and be
honest here.
"Nothing. I will take no compensation from any of your appearances or
photo-shoots. You're one of my best friends Ruri, a true friend that
despite losing her own happiness arranged me and my sister together.
There is no way to ever repay you for that, no way to ever make amends
for forsaking any relationship we could have had." I take a breath to
steady myself a bit. "I simply want us all together again, all happy in their
own way. The only thing I want from you is being with Ruri Gokou, not
Kuroneko." I hope my words can get across to her and make her
understand me. She nods a slightly as she thinks over it.
"Can you give me time to think on it please? It's kind of a big deal right?"
She asks not meeting my eyes. "I-I'm not sure-" Her sentence falls flat as

tears began to form up around her eyes. And there it is, all those bottled
up emotions coming forward. "Can I ask why her?" She says straight
voiced. I take a moment to give it a real thought. I know why I love
Kirino, I feel it. I need a single thing to say to get it to her, not an
explanation but an idea.
"She brings out the best in me." I say after taking that long moment to
humble myself before the question. She nods slightly and her tears fall
silently. I hug the poor girl as she deals with the emotions coming to the
fore. She plays at being her character, plays at being Kuroneko, but
under all that is still Ruri Gokou. A new second year in high school who's
first boyfriend fell in love with his own sister.
"Thank you for being honest with me." She whispers up at me after a
moment. She quickly dries her face and separates from me. "I did most
of my crying already." She confesses to me.
"Ifif it makes you feel any better about itif things between me and
Kirino never happened it would have been you." I say not meeting her
eyes. But I feel her hand touch the side of my face and turn it to look at
her.
"It helps." She says with a smile. "Besides, who said I gave up on you? I
told before that I don't mind you being with Kirino. I never said I would
stop because she's number one." Ah. Back to this again. That's when it
hits me how close she is to me at this moment. She's even leaned in
closer to make her point. She pulls back though and lets' go of me so I
can breathe a little.
"I thought you were going to do something there for moment." I confess.
"I would never do anything without Kirinos' consent. That black-haired
model may think she's Kirino's best friend but I am her closest ally and
would never do anything to betray her trust. Including some illicit affair,
so no need to worry over that." She bites the end of her thumb in thought
for moment. "I just have to figure out how to convince her to share is all."
What the hell is wrong with my friends?

Kyousuke
Damn it's hot. When did it get so hot? It feels like the sun has a personal
vendetta against the top of my head and is trying to melt me albeit slowly.
I sip at my water bottle, condensation from the cool liquid slipping down
and off the ribbed plastic surface, and savor the cool liquid. The hot
aluminum bleachers I'm sitting on do nothing to help cool me, even in a
t-shirt and shorts I'm boiling out here. I'm sitting at the edge of the track
where the bleachers are set up at my old high school. Kirino has a
regional track meet today and I'm here for moral support. It's been
several months since my graduation in April as its mid-July now and the
weather proves it. Parents, friends, fans, and students fill the bleachers
and stands around me. Each in their own little world, enjoying each
other's company before the races actually begin. My sister is the record
sprinter for the local schools team and every day since high school
started for her she's be training to show everyone what she can do.
She's grown even leaner and angular in the last few months, following a
strict rgime that was easy for me to cook and prepare for. Seeing the
muscles stand out on her body however made it even harder for me to
keep hands off of her. I guess I like the fit look. I would every so often
come to her club practices if I wasn't working, having nothing better to
do really, and have been a known staple around the club helping out
where I can. It was disconcerting at first being introduced to all the girls
from Kirino's old track team or even the new girls from different middle
schools. Even more so because some of the second and third years went
to the school at the same time I did and they have no idea who I am. I
really didn't stand out apparently. Sometimes, when allowed, I bring in
gym clothes and train a little with them myself. It really just shows how
out of shape I am as I can't keep up in the least. It's good conditioning for
me though and I get to see the non-'otaku' side of Kirino this way. I also
still administer Kirino's modeling career and have been much more
involved with my school out of the way. Just arranging and sustaining
shoots has evolved into picking the clothing lines, arranging other
models that perform with Kirino, setting up backgrounds and scenarios,
overseeing multiple camera men, and even talking directly with other
agency managers to cause a supply and demand for her work outside of
Eternal Blue. I was once told even though I'm just a manager I do the

work of a producer apparently. The whole process seemed to confuse my

dear sister as I think she only expected for me to treat it like a job when
in fact I actually enjoy the slog of it all. As I said to Ruri that day, 'she
brings out the best in me.'
Speaking of Ruri, she ended up taking me up on my offer to start a
modeling business and, although it was challenging at first, she
skyrocketed in popularity in many 'otaku' inner circles. It was hard to
find agencies willing to publish her costumes being modeled but they do
exist. Kirino was thrilled to hear that Ruri accepted my proposal and
even helped where she could. She trained Ruri in many of the basics of
modeling and even disclosed to her how to angle her body in specific
ways to show off in Ruri's gowns. The energy was contagious that day I
played the part of camera man and watched as Ruri and Kirino modeled
about the small studio that was rented for the occasion of capturing the
initial portfolio shots. I called upon everything I knew about taking
photos (which is not much), from watching Kirino's camera man, to
capture the scene to the best of my ability and start building Ruri's range.
After I had selected the best pictures I got Ruri to make several costumes
in orthodox Japanese styles such as kimonos, shrine maiden style outfits,
and even Shinto style wedding garments. Within several days she had
them completed and I had a scheduled a meeting with my contact for the
magazine that would be pushing these out. The photo shoot went
flawless, though the girl was extremely nervous. Ruri used what Kirino
had taught her and modeled not only the traditional wear but also outfits
for several anime that have been big lately. With her figure though it was
difficult to find outfits she could actually fill out, as most popular anime
characters these days seem to be 'F' cup or higher, which left her with
mostly 'loli' specific roles. Part of the charm in her photos is the way her
eyes convey her slight embarrassment but her face can read as pure, cold,
stoicism.
A month later I was contacted by a few other agencies in Akihabara for
her freelance work. She ended up doing a total of six different magazines
with several Akihabara idols. Kirino even joined in with one shoot to help
out, no doubt her reputation preceding her. That gave Ruri and my own
name within the modeling community a huge boost. By June Ruri was a
fixture in the cosplay scene and has been featured on the cover of the

same magazine she was reading the day that I asked her to model for me.
A few agencies offered to hire her full time and even pay a decent sum for
her trouble. In the end she shot them all down choosing to stay freelance
and work for me. She always sites school as her main priority, but also
tells me she's loyal to me and me only. She doesn't really care about the
popularity, thought the money is useful, and is quite embarrassed by it
all. But it also makes her happy to see how her hobby and passions can
reach so many out there. She told me that if it inspires another girl out
there to try her hand at sewing and cosplaying then her work was fruitful.
She no longer lets us call her Kuroneko either. Soon after I spoke with
her that day in Akihabara she told us that she would like it if we called
her by her given name, not her online handle. I didn't question it but
took it as a good sign instead. She still goes by her handle in the 'Otaku'
community conversely.
On an awkward note, Ruri did confide in my sister about 'opening up her
territory' a bit where I am concerned. I wasn't part of the conversation
mind you as that is an awkwardness I can deal without. It was instead
'girl talk' time. I was unceremoniously kicked out of the apartment and
only know what was talked about as I could hear them from outside our
door. I didn't catch everything that was said, perhaps only a tenth. But
what I heard was a vehement and stammering no from Kirino and Ruri
saying something about not giving up. After the awkwardness of the
conversation passed I was allowed back in and for the most part
pretended not to know what they spoke about. We hung out the rest of
that day discussing what to do with our summer until Ruri went home.
That night Kirino acted lovey toward me all evening and even attempted
to cook, to which I immediately intervened. That's my job now, my little
contribution to the relationship. That and I don't feel like nursing a
stomach ache. As night fell we lay in bed attempting to fall asleep when
Kirino let some of her insecurities surface. She asked me point blank if I
regretted choosing her and a life with her over Ruri, over a more normal
life than a sexual and emotional relationship with my own sister. I told
her the truth: I have no regrets and I love her more than anyone or
anything. I would choose her again and again to attest to what I felt then
I still harbor within me. It's with that I saw I extraordinary development
in her attitude and she began helping Ruri in earnest.

I also still oversee Kanako. Her spunk and candor make it difficult at
times but I've been filling her portfolio with idol auditions, glamour
shots, and even a DVD full of her singing and dancing from her concerts.
Idol auditions are pretty merciless in comparison to the amateur
modeling world I also work in. The girls are nice to each other's faces but
covertly try to undermine each other with either passive-aggressive
comments or starting rumors behind their backs. My relief comes in the
form of Kanakos' personality which brooks none of that cloak-anddagger manner of operating. If she had a problem with one of the other
idols then she handled it, which has led to failure to land a performance a
few times. She can act coy and mischievous but is in reality an honest girl.
She can paint the smile on when necessary and be 'Kana-kana', the
amateur model and idol but to a certain point it's really not worth the act.
Good news comes is all her appearances as Meruru at conventions and
concerts truly mean something. They opened doors for us at most of the
major auditions and even got recommendations from several sponsors
and event organizers for future dealings. Kanako has had a blast playing
Meruru at events, despite her objection to 'Otaku' culture, and her image
in the public eye has only improved. I'm trying to get her to branch out
though; she won't always be that tiny. As she gets older there is no way
she can act the 'loli' forever; either she'll grow breasts or get taller, just
develop more and make it impossible to keep doing her current plan. So
I'm constantly trying to find her actual idol auditions, mostly solo as she
doesn't always play nice with others. In the meantime I managed to
arrange several solo shows in Akihabara and Ikebukuro this summer
during the break.
Now I find myself with some free time to cheer my sister on during her
run. I sip more water to avoid dehydration and turn toward my two
companions this day. Ayase sits to my right and Kanako my left, both
here to lend Kirino their support as well and fresh out of classes for the
day. I have to say that seeing them in my old high school uniform gives
them an air of maturity. Ruri and Saori would be here too if they could
make it. Being in the middle of the week however they were unable to
actually make it out here. Manami started courses this spring at Chiba
University and is currently in class. She's going for her teaching degree in
primary education with a minor in basic accounting, no doubt to help
run her family's business. I don't yet have money to start classes and

with the money I've sunk into getting Ruri and Kanako up and running I
might not be able to start until next year instead of next semester. But
whatever, I have no regrets where that's concerned. We've been making
small talk while waiting for the actual field meet to start, which should be
any minute now actually.
A few moments after that thought I hear a horn blow and the athletes
take their places in the grass next to the burgundy colored track top.
Being a formal track meet for actual medals the opening ceremony is
slightly drawn out with the schools song, a quick speech by the coaches, I
tone it all out. I don't care about that part anyway. After the noise drones
on for a bit the commentators finally begin to announce the meets
athletic events in the order they would be run, my sisters three events
spread throughout evenly so she can rest in between. My sister's events
are the 300-metre race, the 100-metre sprint, and finally the four by
400-metre baton relay race at the end. Until her events are over she's not
allowed to sit with us or leave the field lest something happen and she
twist her ankle or something else improbable happening. Rules are rules
though. So we cheer everyone on until her events, and when those pop
up we nearly leap from our seats to give her encouragement. It was clear
that in middle school she was the ace in everything, but high school is
another story. Her legs are long and her cardio perfect, but others had
been training at that same level, or surpassed it, and that shows. During
her first race she just managed to squeak into third place, earning a
bronze medallion for her conquest. Her opponent only a few fractions of
a second behind her it was a narrow victory.
Her 100-metre sprint though was different however. She pushed herself
to limit and her legs were nothing but a blur. I screamed her name from
the stands amidst the crowd hoping that my voice could be picked up
and give her that inspirational edge. In the end it was not to be however.
She finished in the middle of the pack in fifth. I could see the pained
disillusionment and exhaustion evident on her face as sweat trickled off
the end of her nose, gasping with her hands on digging into her knees to
catch her breath. Whether she wins or not I'm so proud of her and the
dedication she shows to this other side of her life. I try to catch her eye as
she turns back toward her team, grabbing a bottle of water, but she sits
down facing back toward the track on a wooden bench to rest. Her last

race is the final event of the night so she has another twenty minutes or
so to rest before it starts.
"Is she okay?" I hear Ayase ask sitting next to me with concern plain in
her voice as she too could see the frustration in her friends' bearing.
"I think so." I reply without looking back toward her. I instead stay
focused on Kirino hoping for a sign she can move passed this. She's lost
before, but really when it was due to lack of preparation. She's been
training hard for this meet but isn't the star she's used to being. She can
get down on herself when she can't live up to her own expectations.
"Let's just get ready for the next race." Ayase and Kanako give nods to
that and we settle back in to get what semblance of comfortable we can
on these god forsaken bleachers. The other events I have much less
interest in and instead the two models and I kill time with conversation.
Ayase is choosing to focus more on her studies at the moment than
modeling, though she has chosen for herself a career in fashion. She
thinks she would much rather be a designer than a model in the future so
has her goals set. I introduced her to several people I've met since
managing the girls and she's got her foot in the door in a few companies.
More than a few are just panting at the bit to get her when she graduates
high school.
Our conversation is interrupted by some whispering I hear under my
seat in the space between the stands and the ground. I motion to the girls
to be quiet for a moment and listen as a few words had piqued my
interest.
"Yeah that's what I heard! I swear it." A female voice not familiar to me.
"That's just a rumor because of how close they are. All I heard is that
she's friendly to him just because they were so distant to each other when
she was in middle school." Another female voice, slightly huskier than
the other.

"I knew her in middle school, believe me; something's been up with that
girl for a while now. Plus, I hear that she lives with him now. Siblings at
that age sharing a roof away from home is a little suspicious right?"
"Not really. Her brother just graduated and is working right now. She
basically has all kinds of freedoms. I'm actually envious. Though it is
obvious by the way she acts she has a brother-complex."
"Yeah! I know she's a model and all"
I let the rest of their conversation drift, I heard enough really. Even
without names it's easy to tell who they're talking about and it disturbs
me more than a little. I glance upward to both Kanako and Ayase and see
a small bit of fear creep into their eyes. If rumors get started here at
school then things could get bad if they somehow get home. All it takes is
one of the high school students to mention it to their parents in passing,
then my dad hears it in the neighborhood rumor mill, and then...I don't
really want to think of the outcome. I have no idea who was talking about
us down under the stands but I gauge it to be some of the acquaintances
Kirino made in her middle school days. I'm kind of in a hard place now. I
need to start retreating a bit from her in the public view. Especially here
at the school, I need to stop coming to her practices and make myself
scarce in other places if I can get away with it.
I'm broken from my thoughts as the whistle is blown for the next and
final relay to begin. My sisters last race for the meet. As Kirino gets up
from her bench I see her toss a glance back at us. I manage to catch and
hold her eye for just a moment. Her stare holds for just a bit and I
manage to silently mouth 'I love you' to her in an attempt to motivate her.
She reads my lips and flushes for a moment before returning the
mouthing back and smiling a cute little grin. I can see some of the
tension leave her shoulders as she turns back around and trots to her
place in the relay. Kirino is the final member of the relay, a strategic
location for usually the fastest person on the team of the slowest,
depending on the strategy of the team. A team can either attempt to
rabbit out front with the fastest and keep a lead or have the final person
the fastest to overtake all the slower members of the enemy. They are

going for the former here as they all know and trust Kirino to give her all
at this. As the athletes take their starting positions at the marks on the
blacktop the audience is give the signal to quiet down so runners can
hear the 'go'. They all assume the classic sprinters position as the
countdown is announced. Second, third, and last relay lined up behind
their respective partners and begin limbering up.
At the buzzer they leap away, Kirinos' team rabbiting out of the gate and
taking the lead by a good second or two. Each sprinters goal is to run the
length of the 400-metre track and hand the baton to the next runner at
the starting line effectively making it four total laps. Kirinos' team is the
first to hand it over. Her second in line pumps her legs wildly as she uses
the advantage her peer gave her. This girl is by far not as fast as her
teammate but is obviously pushing it as fast as she can. The runners
behind her gain ground around the half-way point and two are in front
by the time she hands it to the third runner. This girl is similar to the
second but manages to pass the second runner leaving only one in front
she just couldn't catch. My heart is in my throat as I realize it really will
hinge on Kirinos' speed. I'm cheering for my old high schools team,
standing and trying to reach them with my voice. At the half-way point
for the third runner Kirino gives me one last glance and steels herself
hand outstretched behind her. I can practically hear the baton slap into
her hand as her partner lays it down hard and fast. Kirino fly's out at the
fastest I've seen her run, her face a mask of intense concentration.
I can't help but be intimidated by everything I've seen here with these
athletes. I'm struck with a reminder of the night I ran after Kirino after
her accidental confession and my physical prowess (or lack thereof). Yet
despite that I shout and yell encouragement toward my sister hoping
that even though she can't hear me that she could feel that we're all
rooting for her. She rounds the final curve of the track almost dead even
with her competitor, her arms pumping furiously and her legs a blur.
She's putting everything into this race. Her fellow teammates cheer her
on as well, jumping, hollering, and trying to wave her in. It breaks my
heart when she crosses only a fraction of moment in second place.
Immediately her teammates move into receive her though, patting her on
the back and congratulating her on a race well run. She's gasping for
breath and that pained expression is back on her face. I'm still so proud

of her though. She tries so hard at everything. I let her teammates have
her for now. They still have the closing ceremony, ribbons, medals, and
ultimately who won the meet out of the regional schools competing.
So for the moment I smile to myself and confer with my other two
friends here for her support. Yet I can't help but have that conversation I
heard under us play back in my head and wonder about the
consequences of our actions.

The ceremony over and the victorious school crowned, some other school
in northern Chiba prefecture, I make my way out of the stands to Kirino.
She was awarded not only a bronze medal for her third place in the single
race but also silver for second in her relay. She was also presented with a
red MVP ribbon from the school for being the best runner in her grade
and the appreciation from her team. The moment seemed to improve her
mood considerably after her defeats so I think it's safe to approach her
now. She's conferring with one of the other teammates at the moment so
I approach from behind and tap her on the shoulder to grab her attention.
"Wow Kirino, I've never seen you kill yourself like that." I say after she
turns to see me.
"See you later Ran." She waves to her teammate before facing me. "Yeah.
It was a real eye opener." We make our way over the sections of benches
where the water and sports drinks are kept. The field has been emptying
slowly of the participants and parents. Ayase and Kanako are making
their own way down slowly. "I've never seen girls run like that before. It
was like racing lightning."
"I bet mom and dad wish they could have here." I say back as she takes a
seat and sips on a sports drink. Got to replenish those electrolytes.
"It can't be helped really. Dad has his reports to write up. He may not a
detective but he is part of the system that keeps us safe. So it's
forgivable." The girl really has matured over all this time. "And momI

think it's still hard for her to be around both of us at once." I've noticed
that too. It's not as bad as when it first happened, and when we visit
home she's the same old Yoshino Kousaka, but we can both tell it pains
her to know what we are.
"But jeez Kirino, who knew that you would come home with awards like
that? I guess that training and diet from hell was worth it?" I ask trying
to change the touchy subject.
"I guess." She smiles uncertainly.
"Don't worry; I'll treat you to a nice dinner tonight with a new dessert
Manami drew up for me. A flan pudding filled pastry with a chocolate
drizzle." I take a seat next to her on the bench and sip my water.
"What are you saying? After this defeat I'll restrict myself more! No carbs,
no-" I interrupt her with a soft downward chop with the blade of my
hand on the top of her head.
"Stupid. Take better care of your body than that. Yeah a dessert isn't the
healthiest thing but you should stop killing yourself over this. You can't
always be first, but I'm more impressed with the passion you tackle it
with." Kirino looks a tad peeved but in the end settles down a bit. "And
tonight after your bath I'll rub your legs and feet down for you." She
blushes a bit at that. After a hard day at track I would rub her aching legs
and feet down for her till she fell asleep. Made her feel like a kid but she
likes it so doesn't complain.
"Fine. I can let you dote on me for a change, sis-con." I just smile and pat
her head. "Can you not do that?" She gruffs out, but she's smiling so
whatever. A moment later Ayase and Kanako finally made their way
down next to us. Time rolls by as we hang around the field, nothing
better to really do. Eventually Kanako and Ayase decide to give their
farewells and head home as they have homework still to do and need to
get to it. The field is virtually empty by now, save for a handful of
competitors from the other schools waiting on their bus ride, so we

decided to make our way out as well. We fall in step beside each other as
we near the edge of the field.
"You always surprise me Kirino." I say stopping at the edge of the grass.
"You always give your all at practice, but seeing the real thing was
intimidating." I slide hands in my pockets a little embarrassed. "I can't
hold a candle to you now."
"I know. But you don't need to stupid. You have my back and I have
yours. I love you after all." She takes my hand out of pocket and into hers
and leans in slowly. My brain recalls the conversation I heard earlier but
I do nothing as she leans in and presses her lips to mine. It was not a
long kiss by any means, little more than a peck. So the visible flash that
accompanied left my gut with a feeling of such icy cold dread that I swear
someone just walked over my grave. Kirino and I turn simultaneously to
see a teenage boy most likely no older than Kirino with a digital camera
in his hand. Oh shit.
"Hello." I start, my face blanching trying to control my reaction. Kirino
next to me is stunned. "What are you doing?" The question seems to
startle the young man.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Sano Yamada in class 1-B. I'm part of the newspaper
club and couldn't help myself. Seeing such an inspirational scene I
mean." Calm yourself Kyousuke. He doesn't seem to recognize you as
siblings. Play it off.
"Isn't it in poor taste to publish that kind of picture?" I ask hoping Kirino
would let me take the lead on this. I see her out of the corner of my eye,
her face turning red with barely held rage. "Can you delete that picture
please? I mean, I don't want something embarrassing like that floating
around." For his part the guy looks thoughtful on what I said.
"You're right." He fiddles with his camera a bit and shows me the screen
afterward. It reads 'SD card empty'. Oh thank god. "Sorry. I just saw you
two together and just knew you were dating. I wanted to get a normal
photo but it was such a good moment with the sunset and everything"

"Don't worry about it. No harm no foul right? We would like to keep the
fact she has an older boyfriend a secret okay? Can you do that for us?"
Kirino visually cooled after the picture was deleted and is now breathing
normally though her face is still scrunched up in annoyance. The kid
nods a couple of time.
"I'm no stranger to keeping secrets. Lips sealed." With that the young
man turns about and begins taking more pictures of the surrounding
area. I decide we should leave him be now, the heart stopping incident
now passed. But why do I now feel as if an invisible time limit has started
counting down over my head?

"Wake up sleepy-head." I murmur down to Kirino.

To emphasize my point I softly clout her in the face with a pillow. It's a
death wish but I'm bored. I've been wallowing in bed beside her for the
last fifteen minutes taking no small amount of joy in her precious
sleeping face. But we need to get up and moving, todays a special day
after all. We lay about the bedroom late Wednesday morning, the
curtains loose to let in the sunlight. Thank god for summer vacations, at
least for Kirino as she's the one still I school. She lay partially on her side
facing away from me with her legs entangled in the covers leaving one
bare thigh exposed. It's been two weeks since that picture scare and I've
since discussed with my sister the conversation I overheard that
afternoon from under the bleachers. Kirino's later confessed that she
kissed me at the track mostly out of habit, that combined with
exhaustion from the meet and losing she just forgot temporarily that we
are siblings. That combined with someone almost having evidence of our
relationship has rocked me onto my heels. It's been eight months now
since our relationship began and I think we've become complacent with
the way things are. We spend most of our time with the friends that
accept us so sometimes it can be a shock to be out in the real world
where we actually need to keep it a secret. We decided I'm to stop going
to her track practices and really just attend her competitions like a
brother. Kirino also began to attack the underground rumors at school
with Ayase and Kanako's help. With my say so she began to bad mouth

me in front of a few to quell any brother-complex talk out right. I don't

go to school there anymore so I really don't care how others view me. So
hopefully the rumors will die out sooner rather than later.
I reach under the covers and run my hands up her legs, the pillow blow
not enough to wake her up. Really just enough to get a few grumbles and
half-hearted threats. I let a little bit of my perverted side come out and
had asked her to just wear nightshirts without shorts to bed. She puts on
such a 'tsun' attitude by calling me names and acting uninterested, but in
the end she did what I asked and now I can fondle her thighs and butt to
my heart's content. Which I take full opportunity to do now, if she
doesn't wake up then I at least get to molest her a little. I take my liberty
and grope her lean yet delightfully soft thighs and move my hands up
and glide them over her posterior and up into her lower back savoring
the smooth and supple skin. Then I attack, my hands moving into
position at her sides. I squeeze my fingers gently under ribs, mercilessly
tickling the girl. A sharp squeal and floundering of limbs follows, which
is useless as tangled as she is in the sheets. I refuse to relent and instead
renew my attack in earnest now getting under her right arm. She's
laughing and cursing me at the same time, an adorable combination
coming from her. Especially as her flailing only gets her more and more
tangled.
"W-wahaat GAH- I'll-I-kill you!" She manages choking out in between
laughs. She's trying to dislodge my hands but my much larger build
easily prevents her as I toss my leg over her pinning her down on her
stomach so I can continue my tickle massacre.
"Kill me? Really now?" I taunt down at her. Her mouth is open in a silent
laugh now, tears forming at the corner of her eyes, with her breath
caught by her quivering diaphragm. I keep it up just a little longer, just to
satisfy my bullying impulses. I never had to chance to pick on my little
sister as most siblings do growing up. It's a little cathartic after all the
business she puts me through. I let up after a moment finally, letting her
get her breath back. But before she can attack me now that she has her
strength back I flip her back over onto her back and pin her down against
the bed by her wrists.

"What the hell a-" I cut her off before her ire can find her target with a
soft kiss, making sure to keep her wrists in hard to protect myself in case
she still felt like throwing any punches. I hold it until I feel her melt into
the covers and she kisses back. I break the kiss after a moment and sit
back taking in her blushing face, still savoring the feeling of my hands on
her skin. So it is with surprise that her foot flies up and strikes me in the
back of the head forcing my face into the blankets.
"What's the matter with you?" She roars down at me after sitting up, her
face a mask of barely controlled rage. "Waking me up like that? Can't I
sleep in on my own birthday?" I sit back up slowly rubbing the back of
head. I probe around and don't feel any liquid squirting out or a bump so
I guess I'm okay. Being my sisters' punching bag over the last two years
has definitely toughened up my body, but I'd rather not push the limits
on such an auspicious day.
"You shouldn't sleep your sixteenth birthday away." I say nursing my
head, milking it for a bit of attention. For her part Kirino looks less angry
now, but the ire is still evident. "We have to get a move on if we are
heading over to Saori's right?"
"Jeez, there are better ways to wake me up without me beating you, you
know." Such a cold attitude. I know there are better ways, but none I
could think of as fun. She huffs and turns her face, her hair still
disheveled from her sleep. She must really be mad as it's been at least a
week since I was kicked. Though not as often I still get abused on the
daily, but she pulls most punches and kicks to avoid actually injuring me.
It's more like her brain and mouth can't find the words so she lashes out
with her fists. Even such I can't keep the grin from spreading over my
face. She's so cute when angry. I stand at the edge of the bed and run my
hands affectionately through her hair ending with caressing her cheek.
She can't hold onto her anger when I show such tenderness and her
pouting face drops away. I give her a kiss on the top of her head give her
one last poke in the ribs just to get another squeak.
"So what would the birthday girl like for breakfast?"

I quickly prepare us a breakfast of toast, oatmeal, and eggs while Kirino

took a quick shower to get rejuvenated for the day's events. I already took
one while she sleeping but just neglected to put on any real clothes and
just re-slipped back into my pajamas and lay back next to her in bed. So
after eating we get ourselves dressed. I let Kirino pick out my wardrobe
so I don't 'embarrass her in front of so many people' and wait quietly at
my desk and surf the internet as she dresses and puts on her makeup.
She looks a lot more grown up than she used to, which is understandable
as years have passed since everything between us began. She's taller,
slimmer, and much more mature now than she was the first day I
bumped into her in the entryway to our house. She still continues to dye
her hair every other week, siting that it's part of who she is now and is
part of her image.
She still has her immature and obnoxious side to her though, as I think
we all do no matter the age. She can channel a lot of that into her other
creative works however, such as her light novel, manga series, and anime
that's slated for its second season starting this fall. It sometimes is really
hard to believe that this girl would choose to love me, to be with me,
someone of no particular ability, when she could be with anyone and
they would consider themselves blessed. It doesn't take too much longer
before she emerges from our bedroom ready with her purse slung over
her shoulder. She dressed simply for the most part, a short sleeve pink
ribbed shirt with a ruffled black skirt forgoing leggings in an effort to stay
cool out in the Japanese summer. Conversely I have on a short sleeve
button up shirt, left open, with a light blue t-shirt underneath and a pair
of lighter colored jeans.
Our planned day is simple enough: first stop is Saoris' condo, then have a
moment in private in our park in the early evening, then to our parents
for the ritualistic dinner afterward. Saori of course will be there, Ruri,
Kanako, Ayase, Manami, and Kouki roger'd up to attend the festivities. I
tried to contact Miura but it seems he started college too but decided to
attend one out of the prefecture dedicated to game design and is just way
too far out. But he did wish Kirino a happy birthday anyway over the
phone. It's a decent length of a train ride followed by a short walk before

we arrive at the auspicious high-rise apartments. The last time we were

here was for Saoris' birthday when she turned sixteen, seems only fitting
we celebrate Kirino's here as well. We ring the buzzer to her apartments
intercom and a after some bizarre teasing by Saori we're finally
shepherded in.
Kirino made me promise to not buy her anything for her birthday in light
of how I'm trying to save money for college, and how she never bought
me anything for mine, so in the end I never bought her a birthday
present. I instead baked a cake from scratch with Manami as a 'cake
referee' to help with the complicated parts as my cake was not the most
simple of recipes. It was stored with and is being delivered by Manami as
her family does regular deliveries out in town for their business, so it
wouldn't be a problem for them to drop Manami off with the cake.
Nevertheless, even though it went against my better judgment, I did end
up buying Kirino something, though not as a birthday present. It's a light
burden to carry in my pocket but it burns as well, just begging to be
released and given. Turning sixteen is a landmark birthday in Japan for
other reasons than just another year come and gonelegal reasons. I
absently finger it in my pocket nervous about how to go about giving it.
Not here I know that much, this is something to be between the two of us,
something precious. Most likely tonight at our park before dinner, that
gives me plenty of time for me to gather a game plan.
We finally enter Saori's actual apartment to the popping of crackers and
a banner over the entranceway reading 'Happy Birthday' in pink letters
against a canary yellow, streamers hanging of the corners in litany of
colors. Standing to welcome us are all of our assorted friends, Kouki even
donning the clichd party hat decorated with stripes and a fuzzy
ornament on top.
"Happy Birthday Kirino." The group erupts as one. Kirino looks faintly
embarrassed being at the center of attention but still strides into the
room like she owns the place, a pleased smirk breaking out over her face.
"Thank you." She declares embracing our friends one by one. I just smile
to myself to see her cheerful. Out of the back Saori comes up with

another girl I just barely recognize attached to her arm. Saori is wearing
a white dress with a light blue lacy blouse underneath, her 'Otaku'
persona dust in the wind for the moment. The other woman looks like an
older yet infinitely more mischievous version of Saori. She's wearing a
plain t-shirt and jeans with her bangs pulled back in a hair clip to keep
them out of her eyes. They make their way to Kirino and squeeze her just
the same and wish her happy birthday as well.
"I remember you." I say cocking my head to the side in thought. "You're
Saori's older sister right?" I can't quite remember her name though
"Kaori." She replies with an infectious chuckle. "Good to see you again."
She says reaching out to shake my hand. I take it warmly noting the
callouses she has on her palm. A working woman alright.
"I thought you two were fighting though?" I ask unsure of why I should
even ask such a question as it's not really my business. I'm curious
though and Saori is my friend, I would like to make sure her home life is
okay.
"We decided to make up. Turns out that it was over some
misunderstanding. Now we are the same, you and I: our cute little
sisters' slave!" She says proudly. Is that really something to be proud of?
"Hey now, don't lump me in with you!" I say heatedly my hands clenches
in fists. "Or so I'd like to say." I leak out in defeat, my word making my
posture slump. I know my place just fine and her confidence helps ease
the pain of the burden. I hear my dear friends laugh at that, they all are
well aware of my place as nothing but a work horse for my younger
sibling as well. I see a few other faces peering out of the back as well that
I barely recognize. More of Kaoris' friends I bet.
"Oh, let me re-introduce you to our 'Otaku' circle: 'Pretty Garden'." With
that the mass of our friends part a tad to allow these near strangers to
show their faces better. "This is Kanata Kurusu." She motions to a ginger
haired woman with a baggy plaid shirt and loose jeans on, her hair tied
up into twin tails. Her eyes a startling shade of indigo she leaks an energy

that reminds me of a certain model here in the room. A matter of fact she
almost resembles the way Saori dresses out in town but is in an orange
shirt instead of Saoris' green.
"Kanako's older sister." I hear Kirino whisper next to me. That explains
more than a few things.
"Kirara Hoshino with her sister Kurara. Kurara isn't really part of our
little club, but she's welcome anytime." Kaori continues on. Two black
haired twin tailed girls with brown eyes wave at us from the rightthey
look so similar maybe they're twins. I recognize Kirara as a maid that
works at the caf we frequent in Akihabara, Cure Maid Caf. I don't
recognize Kurara however.
"And lastly, but certainly not least, Shinya Sanada." With that a taller
man with black hair and sable eyes pokes his head out from the rear.
Wearing a long sleeve purple shirt and pair of black pants he seems
perfectly comfortable with the extra estrogen in the air. He was probably
the only male member of their group, which would clarify a lot really. But
as I go to shake his hand my breath catches for a quarter of a moment. If
I was slightly taller, older, and worked out a little more, I would look just
like this guy. As a matter of fact he closes the distance a bit with the same
peculiar expression I can feel on my own face. Like we're long lost
brothers or something. Everyone else seems to see it too as everyone
scoots back a little to make room. I move my left arm and he moves his,
my right and he mirrors it. The hell?
I feel a push from behind in my back and I stumble into the guy trying to,
unsuccessfully, catch my balance. He catches me before I can fall to the
floor with his chest and each of his hands gripping my shoulders lightly
to stabilize me. I hear gasps from those around us. I peer up embarrassed
slightly and see the man looking back down at me, his eyes puzzled and
confused. I suddenly remember the night a few months back that Kouki
kissed me during a Kings Game. Dammit brain why bring that back you
ass! I had managed to repress it! I can feel the intense gazes of the
predominantly female audience members, our faces just inches apart.

"Sanada" I say uncertain of any reaction I'm supposed to have. It is

with that that I hear a furious scratching from my side. Shinya and I
break our gaze, which was becoming uncomfortable, and turn to see
Kanata Kurusu furiously scratching at a drawing pad, pencil in hand with
a gluttonous look on her face. What the hell is sheah dammit!
"Don't draw us!" Shinya and I exclaim as one, our voices shrill with panic.
Kanata breaks her spell for a moment before looking dreamily away in
victory.
"Ahtwo pretty boys with identical featuresah the magical world of
'Boys Love'. Thank you for being the models for of my new doujinshi.
There's a market for everything you know." She floats gently away on her
thoughts after explaining that. Damn crazy women in my life.
"Sorry about that." Saori says as she comes up to my side. Shinya finally
sets me on my feet with a self-conscious grin and turns to speak with the
ginger haired woman. "Ganma gets that way when inspired to draw. I
saw her lightly push you but I didn't expect that." Ganma?
"Hey, you can't just do that you know?" Shinya says as he struts to
Kanata looking only slightly annoyed.
"Oh relax; you know you belong with me." And with that Kanata throws
an arm around his middle in a small embrace.
"Excuse me Saori, did you say Ganma?" I turn to see Ruri talking to Saori.
Most everyone started to disperse slightly as the spectacle of Shinya and
me has been defused. Kirino has been lead to one of the couches and is
being fussed over by Ayase and Kanako. Ruri came in her white sundress
she used to wear on a few of our dates, for once taking a break from her
usual cosplaying about town.
"Huh? Oh yes. Ganma Yamanashi. It's one of her pen names she uses.
She's actually a pretty successful manga illustrator and writer." Saori
finishes happily. Why does that name sound so familiar? I look over at

Ruri's face and the look there is priceless. Her face has morphed in real
time from her usual stoic and unflappable mask into being gape mouthed,
her face flushed, and her eyes betraying total confusion. It's a rare sight
to see her drop her character even after we all started calling her by given
name, so I take the time to mentally photograph the usual unflappable
Ruri Gokou panicked. After a moment something seems to click behind
her eyes. It's not really any of my business but I'm curious so I decide to
follow the girl as she approaches Kanata, who is putting more detail into
her sketch of Shinya and me to my chagrin, with trepidation and
uncertainty. I just slip my hands into my pockets and decide to watch as I
don't feel like I have a place here to say anything.
"Excuse me." Ruri starts. "Is your nameGanma Yamanashi?" She asks
tentatively. Kanata looks up from her sketchbook confused by the sudden
break from her concentration.
"Hm? Oh ,yes. Well, it's actually one of my pen names. I used it when I
wrote a manga a while back." She says back slightly embarrassed.
"Specifically a darker manga named Maschera. It was popular for a time
but after the second season of the anime deviated from my manga it was
hard to keep track of it." I know how hard it is to keep producers for
anime in line with the wishes of the original author. I remember the
drama involved with having Kirino's light novel turned into an anime. In
the end they relented and grated most of what she wanted; save for
things that would cost just way too much money. She was slated for a
second season as well. With her light novel being officially completed the
anime has a clear cut story to follow with a manga serialization coming
out soon as well.
Now I understand Ruri's reaction, she's the writer and creator of her
favorite anime series. Ruri seems to be slightly overwhelmed with that
new information.
"How did you come up with such a rich and inspiring story?! How did
you-"I smile as Ruri bursts at the seams with questions and praise for her
work. Kanata seems slightly taken aback by Ruri's sudden enthusiasm

for her work, but in a good way really. She seems to flush with
embarrassment but opens up quickly about her work.
"Honestly my main inspiration was my childhood friend, and boyfriend,
Shinya." She says gesturing to the man beside her. At the mention of his
name and the topic at hand his face gets a slight panicked edge to it. "I
modeled Lucifer after him and his days in middle school. He had quite
the case of 'eighth grade syndrome'. He was all like 'Disappear into the
darkness!' I thought he was really cool then." She says as way of
explanation. Shinya has been trying to cover her mouth ever since she
began to talk about his middle school days but is easily kept away by her
foot planted in the middle of his chest.
"Really? I guy like you huh?" I ask teasing a little bit. After all, this older
and more mature guy seems to have a lot going for him. I can give a good
ribbing every once in a while.
"Oh let me tell you!" I hear a voice from behind me. I turn to see Kaori
breaking from her sister and Kirino and making her way over to us. "This
guy was always like: 'Behold the power of darkness!' and practiced
conjuring a three-headed dog all the time. It was cool, really!" Seems she
likes messing with the poor guy too. He has his hands over his ears now
attempting to block out the reminders of his embarrassing past to no
avail.
"No. Pleasep-please stop." The poor guy whines out. But between Kaori
and Kanata it was not to be. The verbal exploitation continued for a few
more minutes until Kanata pulled him into her lap and patted the guy's
head. He must have been overloaded as he didn't even respond and just
kept mumbling about the Queen of Nightmares.
I left Ruri to the rest of her questions and made my way over to my sister
who was still speaking with Saori, Ayase, and Kanako. Manami and
Kouki went to prepare the cake for the actual party so I might as well
grab the girl.

"Hey Kirino, you ready for cake and presents?" I ask coming up behind
her. To that she looks back with slight disbelief that quickly turns into
one of scorn. A back heeled kick to my thigh is sharply delivered followed
immediately by a look of utmost scorn.
"What? Am I some kid to you? Cake and presents? What am I, nine?"
She huffs out. I can see the ire and small amount of regret in her eyes
from the kick. She doesn't really mean to be that way anymore; it's an
uncontrollable part of her now. It's really not in her to apologize in front
of people though. I just smile as I rub my thigh where she kicked me, the
pain receding slightly. There will probably be a bruise there later. I'll just
make her kiss it to make it better tonight.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm sorry madam. Would you like for the refreshments and
festivities to begin?" I ask politely with a slight bow at the waist dipping
my arm underneath me to make it formal.
"Gross." Kirino rolls back with slight disgust in her voice. "But I'll let you
as you seem to want to so bad." She says looking slightly embarrassed
and twirling the ends of her hair around her finger. Man her
'tsundere' attitude is showing up hard today. Whether it's because I've
seen that side of her so much over the past two years, because I know it's
really a front for how she really feels, hell maybe I'm a masochist and I
like the abuse, but in the end it doesn't really matter as it's really just
another aspect I fell in love with. With that Saori and I call everyone into
the living area and get everything ready for the birthday celebration.
Manami finally wheels in the cake and sets it up in the middle of the
room on the living room table. I baked an angel vanilla cake with a
strawberry cream flavored icing that was spread around the outside.
Pieces of said fruit stuck around the outside edge. Braided white and
black piping lines the border of the cake in a structured pattern that took
me over an hour to do. Transcribed in neat writing was 'to the one and
only' in black piping that added another hour to my labor. We place and
light the candles in the cake and turn the lights off. It's a strange
atmosphere. Everyone gathered around the cake with Kirino at the
center of attention. The sixteen candles exude a soft light that cast
shadows against our assembled entourage, casting everything into a

surreal light. We finish the lilting melody of the birthday song, everyone
trying their best to stay on line with each other.
"Go on Kirino; make a wish and blow'em out." I say to my dear sister.
She looks thoughtful for a moment before leaning forward and in one
mighty breath snuffing out the source of light. A moment of darkness
falls before Kaori flips the lights back on. I hand Kirino the cake knife for
her to make the first cut and grab her desired piece. After everyone grabs
a plate and cake we sit Kirino down in the center of the couch with me
and Ayase flanking her on either side.
"Happy birthday Kirino." Ayase hands her a small blue box. "It's from
Kanako, Kouki, and me." I watch as my sister opens the box and pulls out
a blue butterfly broach. It's not very large, about the size of half her palm,
but I could see even from my position the intricate detail that went into it.
The wings a glazed cerulean with black outlines it had almost a stained
glass finish. Within the wings I could make out turquoise webbed
designed inside of each individual panel of cerulean meant to resemble
the veins inside the wings themselves.
"I made it myself. The supplies were acquired for by these two though."
Kouki quips up from the side with a gentle smile. Kouki hand makes
most of the accessories for his side company so it stands to reason he
could make a special something for Kirino.
"It's so cute! Thank you." Kirino beams to her three friends.
"I apologize." Saori says with a slightly concerned look on her face. "I had
ordered you some doujin based on your anime and light novel series as a
surprise but it didn't arrive in time. I called the company this morning
and it seems it won't be here for another week or so."
"It's okay. I was thought of and that's enough." My sister says waving off
the unfortunate dilemma.

"I got you something else too." Kouki says as he reaches around to the
side of the couch and produces a long manila envelope. What kind of gift
goes in there? Kirino takes it tentatively from her friend, I guess
somehow sensing that this present will be a strange one. She opens it and
removes a single sheaf of official looking paper. I gaze over but can't
quite make out what it is. Kirinos' eyes become large and her mouth
slightly drops open; it had to be something either terrible or grand. I
finally decide to lean in closer after seeing her reaction to it. I read a
bottom line first. 'Witness'. What is this? I quickly scan the rest of it
before it dawns on me what I'm looking at. A marriage license. Kouki,
what the hell?! It's not like it means anything either right? I mean you
need two witnesses for it to be legally binding anyway. I read the second
to last mark and see next to one witness line 'Kouki Mikagami' signed
next to it. Witness number two has 'Gennosuke Miura' in a personal
stamp. President?! These two have been talking this entire time?
Kirino quickly slips it back into the envelope before anyone else can see it.
Her face is now a crimson on par with a ripe tomato and I have to gather
my own thoughts quickly. Sure we are brother and sister so no marriage
license will be court binding or legally approved. But it's something,
something real. The legal age of marriage in Japan is eighteen for males
and sixteen for females so technically, if it weren't for the whole 'related
by blood' thing, we could be legally married if we stamped this document
with our personal seals. The thought saddens me a bit, but I'm also
slightly happy to have this. Even if we can't file it with the courts of the
government we can hold onto it as a reminder of what we have and strive
to attain someday.
"Did you see it?" Huh? Kirino is gazing at me out of the corner of her eye,
her face flushed and biting her lips. My hesitation answers the question
for me as Kirino proceeds to get up quickly from the couch. Everyone
backs up a pace when they see her face with warring emotions. Despite
the warning bells that go off in my head I don't put up my guard. Instead
I just get up and stand there like an idiot trying to find words even
though I know my fate is sealed. Kirino's foot finds its way into my chest
from a jump kick, landing me floundering on my side. Next thing I know
she's stomping down at me. The blows are light and her earlier kick
wasn't extremely hostile either, more panicked.

"Why are you hitting me?!" I shout up at her covering my face from her
flailing stomps.
"I can't hit Kouki! He's too pretty. What if I bruise his face, it's his
livelihood you know!" She answers back still kicking at me.
"Indeed that wouldn't be good." Kouki says covering his mouth from a
laugh that threatens to escape. Everyone else in the room is used to this
behavior too and as such is just watching with mild fascination.
"What kind of logic is that?" I ask as she stops flailing and just places a
single foot on my stomach holding me to the ground. My sister face is a
mixture of embarrassment, frustration, and what appears to be fun. It is
then that I hear the tale-tell scratching on paper again. I turn to see
Kanata back on her sketch pad with that same gluttonous look in her
eyes, her hand at warp speed capturing the moment. God dammit!
"Don't draw us!" Kirino and I erupt as one. Her foot just pushes down
hard with that though, forcing the air out of me. Kanata snaps out of her
reverie mid pencil stroke.
"Finished!" Ah dammit. "New models for another doujin. Incest S&M is
all the rage these days. Thanks you two." She proceeds to float away just
like earlier, sparkles seeming to appear around her as if being carried
away. With so many weird people in my life how the hell did I turn up
normal? Oh yeah, I didn't. I realize as I can see part way up my sisters'
skirt and realize what I've done to that region. Kirino lets me up and
proceeds after Kanata I guess to prevent that sketch from leaking out. I
sit back on the couch to recover from my abuse finally able to draw
breath again. I breathe out a rough sigh, relegating the last event to just
be a part of my treasured memories.
"So what did you think?" Kouki asks sliding in next to me.
"I think I just got my ass kicked thanks." I murmur back sinking into the
couch.

"No. I meant about the present." Ah.

"I think it's honestly the best, and worst, thing I have ever laid eyes on."
Kouki waits patiently for an explanation. I lower my voice a bit to avoid
eavesdroppers. "I mean, I love her more than anything in this world.
Seeing that form made me happy but also caused reality to hit me a bit
too. That paper is no more than that; a piece of paper. We will never be
recognized as an actual couple by outsiders nor can we be properly
married." I smile out bitterly as the thought takes solid shape and lean
onto my knees. "I want to give her a wedding so bad. I want to marry her
and do everything that a normal couple would do. I want to have a house,
come home to her after a long day, and even have kids someday. As
normal as it sounds I know it can never happen. And I think that's why
Kirino acted the way she just did." Kouki looks thoughtful for a moment
before relaxing back into the couch with me. "She knows that our
relationship has no fairy tale ending. We don't get married and have a
whole herd of rug-rats around us." I feel the smile start to break as my
thoughts become twisted. "We don't have a father give her away at the
wedding, there's no best man or brides maids, no wedding photographer,
no honey moon. Nothing. We have to keep this a secret for the rest of our
days and pray that those who could hurt us never find out about it."
"Maybe that's true. But that's not what I was trying to get to with it."
Kouki says looking into my face with a serious expression for once. "I
wanted to remind you that what you have with her is real. It may not be
understood by everyone, but it's real and has weight. We accept you not
just because we are your friends but because we can all see the feelings
you two have. I mean look at you Kyousuke! In the past year since you
two were dating seriously you turned over a new leaf from the guy I met
so long ago. You have a priority in your life now that you work toward.
That paper may have forced you into the real world but I meant for it to
be more of a validator of the fact that what you have with Kirino is
precious. That if this world had any justice then you should be able to
stamp that paper and be married." His usual smile comes back.
I'm not too sure how to respond to all that. Instead of words of
affirmation I just place a hand on Kouki's shoulder in a silent signal his
words have gotten through to me. I really shouldn't be so negative about

the future. I have and will continue to do what I can for her. Every day
she is first and foremost in my mind. Every evening I thank whatever
deity that tied our red-strings together. So I happily smile back at my
friend and let my eyes wander back to Kirino who is looking over
Kanatas' shoulder as she finishes her sketch of us. Seems she didn't mind
the drawing as much as she put up a front about. That marriage license
shouldn't be seen by anyone else but the two of us. For us it's a glimmer
for what we may someday aspire to be. Or if nothing else something to
frame and gaze at wistfully. It makes what's in my pocket that much
easier to give to her, it provides support to what I have to say and confess
to her. It makes it all real.
Kyousuke
"Wake up sleepy. It's getting late." I hear as I'm gently shaken. I open my
eyes slowly, recovering from the perverse pleasure of my dreams, and
take in my surrounding. I'm still at Saori's for Kirino's birthday partyI
must have fallen asleep. I rub the sleep from my eyes and try to recount
what happened before I passed out.
After Kouki and I had our little talk we continued with the celebration for
about a couple of hours before Kaori and her friends decided to check out
for the day. Apparently Kurara Hoshino is something of a celebrity and
the voice actress for Stardust Witch Merurus' titular character. When
Kirino had that info it was a free for all as she attempted to dress her up
and have her act like the character. Eventually she acquiesced and even
reenacted a full scene for my sister's birthday present. During said
reenactment Ruri and Kirino herself dressed as the other characters and
it ended up being an entire event. Ayase even dressed as Thanatos Eros,
the ultra-skimpy outfit I tried to get her to wear for a costume contest to
win a prize for Kirino a long time ago. My little sister had to be extracted
away from the poor girl by Saori at the end. She tried to take her home
with us for god knows what.
It was fascinating watching Kirino interact with 'Otaku' from outside her
usual circle of friends. She never even hesitated to show that side of her
either. In the end Kanata's drawing of us was fully inked and purchased

covertly by Kirino as a birthday present. I feel a little uncomfortable

knowing it's there but it's her birthday so whatever, let's let her have it.
After that Kirino decided her birthday called for a Meruru marathon of
seasons one and two. The assorted crew plopped around the television
and couch and participated. During said time I must have passed out
here on the couch, the beatings I received finally taking their toll. I
stretch out my back and legs. I can feel a small amount of drool on my
cheek but I merely sluggishly wipe it away not really caring if anyone saw
it. Who am I trying to impress anymore?
"What time is it?" I ask standing up noticing the darkness outside the
windows. I stretch my arms over my head and yawn. I look over to Kirino,
who was the offender who woke me, and note she's fully dressed with
purse in hand. She has a cute little pout on her face too, her little fangs
showing her impatience. She's wearing the brooch her friends had made
for her, neatly pinned on her chest. The cerulean blue matches her eyes
almost perfectly but clashes horribly with pink shirt she has on.
"A little after eight. Ayase, Kanako, and Ruri left a while ago needing to
get home before curfew." I shrug a bit, my brain starting the wakeup
process finally. Then it hits meeight? We were supposed to be at our
parents before seven. Shit we're late! Our father doesn't take kindly to
being tardy. I give a fitful look around and finally note Saori coming in
from the kitchen with a small glass of tea.
"Ah, you're awake Kyousuke. Was my sofa comfortable?" She asks sitting
gracefully on the far side of the couch and places the tea on the coffee
table.
"Yeah, sorry about passing out, I must have been tired." I say as was of
apology for abandoning the party. "Kirino and I have to be going to our
parents' house. They would be awfully upset if they didn't get to dote on
her for her sixteenth birthday after all." I rub the back of my head
apologetically as well as in an attempt to smooth my hair back down.
"I'm sure, that's family after all. Just have a safe trip please. Thank you
very much for coming out here to visit. Have a good night." I gather up

everything we brought and leave most everything else here to be picked

up later. I see Kirino stuff the manila envelope containing Kouki's little
gift into her purse. We wave to Saori as we exit her apartment hand in
hand, our fingers interweaved. I should have said something else over
my shoulder. Something cool sounding looking back on it.
Kirino and I quickly make our way back to the train station to get over to
our parents side of town. In the meantime waiting we recount the events
of the day, including letting Kirino know that I know she has that
drawing of us, or of her stomping on me. She's such a sadist. It's funny to
watch her try to stammer out an explanation for it before I stop teasing
her.
Kirino took pictures of everything we did and shows me on the train ride.
Such memories as Kouki laughing at my beating, my sister squealing
over Kurara and Kanako both performing as Meruru, and other
compromising pictures of our friends, myself included, in odd cosplay
are stored forever on our camera. Near the end of the ride we simply
enjoyed each other's company and held hands quietly. Although it's late
it's also summer vacation so there's no curfew for Kirino to get home for.
So even if we go to the park afterward everything should be fine. I just
need to think of something to tell our parents about why we were so late.
Once we get to the neighborhood surrounding our parental home I start
to think of excuses to why we were late. Everything I can come up with
sounds terrible though, or blatantly a lie, so I think the truth might
suffice. We simply lost track of time with friends. After all, we are still
young and are allowed to have immature moments. As per usual we
separate once we get to the neighborhood and don't even bother
knocking on the door as it is considered our house too.
"Good evening." We greet as we walk in. We scoop our shoes off and
quickly arrange then near the door. Kirino and I head into the living
room right after, smiles outward. The moment we walk in however the
atmosphere is completely different than my birthday. My father sits on
the couch, a grim faced demon in traditional garb. My mother sits next to
him looking apprehensive. On the coffee table rests a silver and blue

laptop facing toward my father, the power cable running across the floor
to the nearby outlet. The house is dead quiet, no sounds of dinner or
telltale smell of food in the air. A knot turns over in my stomach.
"Mother. Father. Good evening. Sorry we're late, we lost track of time at
a friend's house" I reiterate putting up the most respect I can muster.
For some reason a chill runs up my spine and I start a cold sweat.
"Sit you two." My father gestures over to us to grab chairs from the
dining table. We comply nervously and sit across from him and the
coffee table. He simply stares at us for a minute, his eyes seemingly
burrowing holes into us. "First off, happy birthday Kirino. It's good to see
you are well and I hope your day has been a good one. I'm sorry to
disrupt it but I have to ask as something has come up that cannot be
ignored. Is there anything at all that you have to tell me? Anything about
how well the two of you get along? Anything that you shouldn't be doing
that you are perchance?" His arms cross and he stares at us from the top
of his glasses. Our mother is simply staring at her hands in her lap. He's
playing with us. My mind nearly shatters as it scrambles over itself to
figure out what to do, how to save this situation.
Calm down, CALM DOWN DAMMIT. Just think rationally, there's no
proof. Just a hunch and no doubt rumors, just explain the rumors away.
If we can do that we can pull through this.
"Well, I have heard rumors from my old school. When I went to one of
Kirino's track meets I heard that some people think that we're too close.
It never really occurred to us that's how we appeared to others. We just
we're afraid we would lose contact with each other, plus we share similar
hobbies so of course we would hang out then too. But after hearing those
rumors we decided how I shouldn't hang around her too much anymore
and that she needs her own space. As for your question; I don't think
we've done anything for you to be ashamed of." I say literally putting on
the best show I am capable of. Sounding good, sounding good. My father
nods with a slight smile on his face now, though it is bitter and not kind.

"I've heard of such rumors in the neighborhood. You two walking too
close to each other, staying out late, holding hands, and the fact that you
still share a one bedroom apartment it is a little odd right? Though
those behaviors are odd they can be explained and by themselves are not
especially damning. Do either of you have a boyfriend or girlfriend?"
What kind of question is that? "It's strange for people your age to not be
interested in others. I know Kirino's not actually dating Mikagami as I
was there for that bit of drama. Kyousuke, you're not dating that black
haired girl anymore and you haven't really been around Manami either."
My father says back calmly. His arms are still crossed and he's still
glaring at us, no hint of warmth in his smile. I open my mouth to say
something.
"Don't. Lie. To. Me." My father growls out through his teeth. I
instantaneously shut my mouth.
"Daddy" Kirino starts to say something.
"Do either of you know a Sano Yamada?" That knot turns into an urge to
vomit. I can feel the cold sweat on my back and neck now. "The newest
camera man of the newspaper club, the kid is apparently a huge fan of
Kirino's. Almost to the level of stalker apparently." My father leans into
the coffee table and starts to use the laptop. "It seems he started a blog
online about a certain young girl and her older boyfriend. You see, I
purchased this computer when I decided to do some extra research on
Kirinos' job as she is no longer in the house to hear it from her. Plus, a
grown man not having a computer this day and age is nearly
unforgivable right? I gave Kirino her extra freedom but what kind of
father would I be if I can't keep tabs on my own fifteen, excuse me,
sixteen year old daughter? You can imagine my surprise to find this blog
after a single search for 'Kirino Kousaka'." My mind begins to blur a bit
at the seams and I find it hard to focus. I look to my mother and she's
looking down into her lap, her expression incomprehensible. That's a
dead giveaway if nothing else. We're done.

"You seeafter I began reading this blog I found several pictures of this
alleged boyfriend and thought it funny if not cute a first. Until I saw
some of the 'special pictures' in the gallery."
With that he turns the laptop around and my eyes are met with a picture
that makes my knees weak. It's the picture of Kirino and me at the track
meet weeks ago, our lips locked and our hands holding each other. The
day of the racehe must have saved it to the cameras on board memory
instead of the SD card. There are several other pictures too including us
on dates that happened even before then, kissing and holding hands.
Pictures of us at our apartment outside coming and going, always
holding hands. Of us inside our apartment cuddling intimately or just
kissing and sharing a moment. Thank god nothing explicit as god knows
we had done it before. The angle of the photos making it clear that it
came from outside somewhere and not a hidden camera. If the boy hid in
a tree or something he would have a great view into our apartment
through an open window. Which I had opened as being on the second
floor I never saw the harm. Here it is.
"I must have been daft in my old age." My father continues as I stare
shell shocked by the evidence staring us dead in the face. Kiriino and I
are both stone cold busted and frozen in place. I've never felt this kind of
fear before. I notice my father stand out of the corner of my eye but I'm
locked to the screen, unable to look away. That little bastard, if I ever
meet him again I'll kill him. I swear to god he dies. It is with that thought
that motion catches my eye.
Heywas the floor always horizontal? No that would be impossible
wouldn't it? I would fall into the sky or something I'm sure. I wonder
how one falls into the sky? Would gravity keep you just spinning? What
is that metal taste? Like a yen coin almost. My eyes are a little blurry too
and my head hurts a little. What's that ringing in my ears? I can hear
some sounds like scuffling and something far awayNow I'm floating.
No, not floating, I'm being lifted. Why am I being lifted? FOOL
YOU'VE BEEN HIT! My brain shoots awake. That metal taste in my
mouth is blood and I can feel it run out of my mouth and down my chin.
Another blow strikes me before I can restart my brain again, this one to

the opposite side of my face but it wasn't a full connection as Kirino had
interfered with it.
It still feels like I was hit by a cannon ball and my vision begins to dim
again. I struggle and keep my eyes straining and open. The sights around
me are almost nothing but a dark blur as I struggle to stay conscious. The
sounds I've been hearing start coming into focus as shouting. My sister
and mother with my father's voice booming over them both.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY DAUGHTER!?" Well I guess the calm
collected father is out the door.
"DAISUKE STOP!" My mother's voice, sounding angry actually. I look
over as she's trying to pry me away from him, and failing miserably.
"I TRUSTED YOU WITH HER! I TRUSTED MY NO GOOD, ROTTEN,
REPULSIVE SPAWN!"
My father has me by the front of my shirt holding me off the ground with
one hand and my back pressed against the wall of the living room. My
ears still ring from the unexpected blow to the temple and my vision has
black haze around the edges. I'm struggling to stay conscious; I know
that blacking out spells the end no matter what. My mother is desperate
behind my father, holding his other arm in place before he could gather
the will to hit me again. I can see the frenzy and anguish on his face as
bright as day. As my mind comes whirling back to the surface it dawns
on me that he must detest this more than anything. I am his flesh, his
son. This isn't a corrective action but one of passion. He's not thinking.
His emotions got the better of him and he dropped his usual stoic
samurai like mind set. There is no 'bushido' here, no discipline. Just fury
and pain. To the forefront is Daisuke Kousaka, father of two, police man,
and husband. A man who just learned that his two children have been
involved in an illicit affair that brought him disgrace and feelings of
betrayal. He's yelling back at mom to let go. His other hand is slack
however and quiveringI'm not sure if he can bring himself to hit me
again. But

My eyes refocus and take in Kirino, who looks in between a rage to match
my father and tears that threaten to be unleashed, and I begin to feel a
stirring in my gut. She's torn between helping me and lashing out at
everyone around her.
"Onii-chan!" She yells out. The tears finally spill over as it's just too
much too fast for her. She would wouldn't she? That's the first time she's
ever called me that, the first time. I have to protect her; I have to get
her away from this, from everything.
I think the fact that he has a teenage girl and boy that my father taught
us the basics of self-defense from his academy training. He prefers
nonviolent means, for the most part, but has preached that if one is
confronted with violence then one should be able to match it. So I guess
it's ironic in a way to what I'm about to do. I reach my left hand across
body to where his left is gripping my shirt and take hold of his wrist,
planting my thumb in the joint. I dig my thumb in with all the strength I
have left in my hand and feel his grip weaken from the pressure point
being prodded. His hand slips from my shirt suddenly without strength
to grip and I twist his arm across my body so he can't protect himself.
His face turns to look full on at me now with confusion first and foremost
registering. It's too late however, I'm already in motion. I'm not a big
man by any means. I'm about average for my age and race, but it doesn't
really take a lot to do something so senseless. My right foot pivots and
my heel flares up, my hips swing with my shoulders, and my arm hooks
out and back in and up. My fist crashes in my fathers' chin, his surprise
giving me an easy opening to his face. It wasn't the strongest punch I
could have even thrown, the wall behind me giving no room to properly
cock my arm back. However my father's height made it less of punch and
more of an uppercut giving it that extra power from my legs.
The blow is more than enough to stun him. He sways heavily on his feet
and turns somewhat lousily in place. I hear my mother inhale at the
sudden movement and violent crash. Just when I think I might have
gone too far my sister follows up with her own right hook that knocks our
father flat out making him slump down against the living room wall. He's
not out just down and will recover quickly. We are both committed now,
both of us have gone over the line that can't be re-crossed. My father's

violent outburst and my own response to it have guaranteed simple days

are over. Kirino runs to me and I grab her hand turning back to the door.
I grab the handle and fling it open dashing through before I can hear my
mother. Her voice reaches just the same on the wind, begging and
pleading to stay. As Kirino and I flee into the night I feel it all crashing
around me with each step. Everything we built together is over. I
committed violence against my fatherI shake the thought for now. I
have Kirino to worry about. I toss a glance over my shoulder and see her
easily keeping up with me. Her face is grim and her eyes wet as tears
stream around her cheeks. She knows just like I do. We can never come
back here together. We can never come back to this house again.

We ran until we couldn't breathe anymore. We ran and came to a place

we could feel some measure of peace. So we sit at our park along a
deeper side trail, the dead of night only interrupted by the ghostly light
cast by the moon. We purposely avoided all the lamps about the trail
trying to hide our faces, our shame, and our tears the best we could. We
shouted at the world to accept us, we pleaded, we begged even. A whisper
came back with only one word: 'No'. Never have I wanted to end
everything so badly in all my life. Never had I lost hope for my own
future, or even the future with Kirino. We lost ourselves in a delusion
that one day we could actually be 'together'. That public opinion didn't
matter, that we could throw everything away and live just for each other.
It was a dream. I sit on a stone ledge along the tail, Kirino laying back
into me with my arms wrapped around her. Like some mockery of safety.
My face still hurts and my hand is killing me and my knuckles ache. I
hope I broke something in my hand, I could use the distraction.
"Do we kill ourselves now?" Kirino asks looking dead ahead into the tress.
"If we do I don't think I would mind too much." She takes a few breaths.
"I heard that lovers who take suicide out are reincarnated as twins. That
would be the most tragic thing in the world to me but at least we can be
together from birth. Try again."
In response I just squeeze her tighter. Part of me wants to yell at her, to
scream how stupid she is for even thinking about it. But it crossed my

mind too. My life seems much emptier than it did just mere hours ago
when we were surrounded by our friends. After the events in my home,
which were tempered by the fact we're family, it violently ripped my eyes
open to the world. Knowledge about the attitude we would get is much
different than experiencing it first-hand.
"Don't be stupid." I hear my own strangled voice say out. Thank you
brain, I needed that. But Kirino doesn't respond and instead just holds
my arms to her tighter. I feel tears beginning to rise up within me. I bite
the inside of my cheek to hold them back; I have to be strong here for her.
"All that would do is hurt our friends" I can't say anymore as my voice
sounds phony even to my ears. We sit in the darkness for a moment, then
another. Minutes tick by as we soak in each other for what feels like the
final time.
"Leave me." She whispers out to the dark.
"What?" I ask confused by what she said.
"I said leave me! I don't love you anymore!" She shouts as she breaks my
hold and turns to look at me. "I swear if you don't leave me I'll make you
regret it! I'll hit you every day, scream at you whenever you make a
mistake, and make you feel as if nothing is ever good enough for me!
Please, just break-up with me! Go be with someone else, love someone
else! PleaseRuri still loves you and has begged me to share. Ayase I'm
sure would give you a chance. Hell, even Manami would say yes! Just
pick someone else. Anyoneanyone but me." She turns to her side and
wraps herself in her arms as if to shield her from the outside. From the
decision she's trying to make.
"Idiot." I murmur back with a bitter smile, trying to hide my strange
mixture of happiness, grief, and anger. She's really trying to push me
away to save me huh? Like chasing away a wild animal to prevent it from
being captured. Well that's too bad. "I made a promise to you right? I'm
yours, and you're mine." It takes a moment for my words to sink in.

"How can you do this!?" Kirino says through barely controlled tears,
whether from sadness or temper I can't even tell. "You're doing this
nowno you've always done this! You sacrifice so much for me and my
selfishness; obeying my whims, losing respect from others for mehow
can you do this? You forsook all the other girls and chose me, your little
sister, in the end. When it's all over you'll have nothing left!" She's
clutching her hands to her chest as if to keep her heart from leaping out
of her chest.
"They weren't right for me." I lean back against the wall finally feeling
tired from all the drama. I feel my bitter smile grow and start to become
a real one. "When I first discovered how I thought of you it crossed my
mind to run into another's arms and try to forget my feelings. Do you
know why I didn't?" She shakes her head side to side in denial. "It would
have been a terrible lie to them, myself, and to you. Being a liar, using
them to forget or in place of youis too cruel. In the end I haven't lost
everything. I'll have you." I say back. "I said to leave everything to me
right? I made my choices and I have tono, I want to live with them."
"Creepy. It's creepy right!? I mean, we're siblings! Not some 'eroge'
where we are actually cousins, or step siblings, or even adopted. We're
real blood related siblings! If you really choose this there can nothing
good for you!" Finally my courage is coming back to me as we say this to
each other, my brain kicking back in from the punches I took earlier.
"No, this is everything to me! I'm petrified dammit! I'm not like those
'eroge' older brothers that don't care what others think, I don't have the
spine they do! I'm not cool; I have nothing that distinguishes me from
any other man! I don't have the will to throw everything away and live
under a bridge if I had toobut I'll do it anyway." I take a few gasps as I
begin to mentally prepare myself. My mind screaming and awake with
dancing thoughts that finally line up. "I'll become that character! I'll
grow that spine and throw everything away. I don't need anything but
you dammit! Listen close to me now Kirino as I will only say this once!" I
take a deep single breath and clear my mind.

"I'm not going anywhere. I will not run away! I'm here and will be with
you as long as you let me. PleaseMARRY ME!" I scream out heedless to
the world around us. I reach into my pocket as my voice echoes around
us and produce a small box. It had been burning in my pocket for hours
now. It seems appropriate for some reason to give it now, as if it's really
now or never. The box is small and a pearl white with brass hinges.
Kirino's face goes slack, her hands coming up to her mouth. I get down
on my knee and open to box to her facing outward. A single ring sits on
the inside of the box propped on the cushioned liner. The ring is a white
gold with a heart shaped center design that held several small diamonds
with a cut inlay of sapphire around the middle of the band. I thought
about buying the exact one she saw in the shop so long ago, but when I
went to actually purchase it during my shopping I discovered it was sold
out already. So I instead got an inventory sheet specifying the design
from the merchant. I took that to Kouki and had him make up the plans.
I took those to a local jeweler in town. A month or two of salary later we
have this little resplendent item that I want my sister to wear.
Her face changes slowly as if trying to understand what's happening. Her
eyes twitch first before the tears begin to fall. Her eyes turn next from
startled disbelief into a bliss that I can't even begin to comprehend.
"yes" She gently whispers before launching into me in the same way
to how a flying squirrel jumps from tree to tree. She wraps her arms
around my neck and rains kisses on me until I push her back a bit. I
never thought she would say no but stillyou never know one-hundred
percent. Especially with the events that just transpired. After I managed
to push her back a bit I take the ring from the box, close the thing, and
put it back into my pocket. I reach to Kirino and grab her left hand and
gently slip the ring over her delicate finger till it rests comfortably. She
seems too choked up for words so instead I bring her in and kiss her
softly and lovingly. It may not be the most romantic place or way to this
but nothings perfect. She has to know now how much she means to me.
After a few moments we break our kiss, the moment slowly passing. Our
heads a little clearer and my dread no longer felt I begin to think of how
to fix this...if it can be actually fixed.

"How much do you love me?" I hear Kirino ask timidly. She slightly
buries her head into my chest.
"Enough to dedicate the rest of my life to you." I say back as I stroke her
hair.
"You love me more than Manami, Ruri.mom and dad?" Why is she
"Yes. I love you more than anyone." I answer holding her tightly.
"More than Japan?" More than anything dummy.
"Yes. More than any place or anything."
"ThenI may have a way out..." She says back. She pushes gently away
from me and takes out her cell phone from her pocket. "I need to make a
call. If you're serious about meabout us." I nod at her to give my
consent. I think it's time to use some of those contacts.

It took lot of time to explain to everyone what happened at our house.

We spent at least a total of a couple of hours on the phone with our
respective friends trying to calm them all and reassure them this was the
only way. Kohei and Sena promised to hold down everything for us and
keep ears to the ground. Manami would be our eyes at home. Ruri, Ayase,
and even Kanako were desperate to keep us here but they know we had
no choice by now. Those two at school promised divine retribution on
Sano as well. Good, that stalker needs to be taught a lesson on reporting.
Kouki promised to get everyone together after school was out tomorrow
and clean everything out of our apartment for us. We worked everything
out with Misaki and our land lord already. Kouki would get the back
reimbursement from rent and forward it to us, minus the cost for any
storage. Saori would take care of anything Kirino left from her hobbies as
well.

All in all it was a tortuous experience. We had to say good-bye to the

people that made up our lives. That gave us reason to be here. I would no
longer to be able 'beat feet' for Ruri and Kanako's careers nor would I be
able to provide support for anyone if they needed it. I won't be able to
solve the problems of our group, help guide anyonebut this is our
choice, our burden. It would be cruel to an extreme if we didn't tell
everyone that we were going or why or even left them a note. We've all
been through so much together. We owe them this much.
After all the calls were made to our friends we took a quick final shower
and got dressed quickly into clean clothes. Don't know when we'd get
another chance. Then we finally get busy packing and getting ready. It
takes only twenty minutes but we get everything packed. Well everything
that can be moved in a single night, which is pretty much a single suit
case for each of us and her laptops. A good chunk of our life here will
have to remain behind for our friends to clean up. Sadly this includes
Kirino's collection of figures and 'eroge'. I could tell it broke her heart
slightly but she sees this as a way to sacrifice something for us to work as
well. I knew that there was some reason I never gave my parents the
address to our apartment, this is it. We have a little bit of time to prepare
now.
Misaki will be here almost any minute to collect us. Kirnio and I are
seated at the living room table sitting next to each other on one side. On
the table is a single sheaf of paper on top of the manila envelope. Our
marriage license that was a gift from Kouki. Today was my sisters'
birthday. Jesus what a day. We both have small white cylinder like
objects with black rubber bottoms in our hands and a single dish of red
ink on the table between us. Our personal stamps for legal documents.
We've decided to do this now. It seems strangely suitable for our life now.
I dip my stamp into the red ink, giving it a small coating.
"I love you Kirino Kousaka. I always have and always will." I say as I
stamp my half of the document making a clear indentation of my name. I
give the warmest, calmest, and most loving smile I think I have ever
given in my life to her. She responds in kind. Her eyes clear and loving,
no sign of weakness or internal struggle. She dips her stamp in the ink as
well.

"And I love you Kyouske Kousaka. I too always have and always will."
She stamps her side of the document as well. Her smile grows and grows
until I think her face will break. We wipe our stamps clean and throw
them into Kirinos' purse for safe keeping. She places her hands into her
lap and leans over into me letting out a sigh. I wrap an arm around her
and hold her close with a gentle squeeze. This time not with the sadness
and grief I was experiencing before at the park but something warm and
engaging instead.
"From now on we are Mr. and Mrs. Kousaka right?" I ask gently down to
her in corroboration.
"We were always both Kousaka's." She responds with a bit of a mocking
tone and a poke in my ribs.
"Idiot." I say gently bopping her on the head with my left hand. "This is
clearly different: Mr. and MRS. Kousaka." I say this time raising my own
hand showing the silver ring I had placed on my left ring finger. The
shop keeper threw it in with Kirino's ring once I said what it was for,
leaving out the sister part of course. I feel her nod her head promptly. We
separate after a small enjoyable moment as we still have some business
to attend to.
Calling our friends was difficult. More than that: it was heartbreaking.
Everyone just saw us happy and safe. We were protected and accepted
with them. Telling them we were leaving destroyed them and us.
However, this last phone call will be the most problematic but it's mine
to make. Kirino's phone has been shut off already and she's preparing the
box for what we plan to do. I open my phone out and scroll down to
'Home'. I take a deep breath and press the green call button. It takes less
than a full ring.
"Kyousuke! Where are you? What's-" My mother's voice anxiously begins.
"Mom!' I interject swiftly. "Listen to me, please...how's dad?" I ask first
and foremost.

"He's okay. A bruised jaw and a splitting headache." That's good. I never
really wanted to hurt my old man. We just needed to get away.
"Good, I'm glad he's okay. Listen momthis is the last time you'll hear
from us in a while."
"You're leaving aren't you?" She asks. I can almost hear her tears.
"Yes. There's no place for us here I learned. I know you never supported
us, I know you always hated what we had. But you kept quiet for our sake.
You kept dad in the dark about us and tried your best to keep the family
together even when dad found out. This is something that we should
have done a long time ago. We should never have put you in a position to
lie or suffer like we did. We were selfish and I'm sorry for hurting you. I
don't know what the future holds for us exactly but we've made our
choicesand I think it's really for the best. We love you and dad very
much. This is the rest of our lives however and neither of us is giving this
up without a fight. I'm honestly sorry for hitting dad. There is no excuse I
can give for that. I just hope one day the both of you can accept us for
who and what we are. I love you. Kirino loves you. Good-bye." I close the
phone before she can say anything else and bite back my tears.
"Kyousuke" Kirino murmurs next to me. She rubs my shoulder
sympathetically before taking the phone from my hands and dropping it
into the small cardboard box next to hers.
I hear the buzzer from our front door shattering the silence that was
beginning to fall. Misaki is here and our time is out. We grab our
respective suitcases and Kirino her purse. As we get to the door I look
back at Kirino and smile at her with warmth and reassurance that our
choice is the right one. This is a real test and a real step in our lives
together. I take her hand in mine as we step out over the thresh hold of
our apartment for the final time. I great Misaki and thank her profusely
for her help before I turn and lock the door, placing the keys into the
mail tray, where I told my land lord 'Pops' they would be. I stand and
take one last wistful look at the door I would never go through again.

"It's time. We have to get to the airport soon." I hear Misakis' voice call
up behind me. I turn to see her helping Kirino put our bags into the
trunk of her car. I nod down and rush to help them. A minute later we
are buckled in and heading to our destination. We are just a memory to
this place of our youth; the carefree beginning to our struggle. I sent a
letter in the mail to my parents address so they have mine and can come
to the apartment. Inside the letter are instructions on where the keys are
and the code to the door. They should arrive in a few days to see one
message Kirino and I left for them. One thing we wanted them to know
more than anything. The one thing we told our friends not to touch as
they clean our apartment out. I sigh a final time and breathe out before
turning back to my sister and taking her hand in mine, twining our
fingers together. I have to be strong now, for the both of us.

Daisuke Kousaka
Anger and shame were the first things I felt that night. I was committed
to holding it in at the time and was going to approach it logically, with a
calm head and righteousness. I had discovered something I didn't have
the strength to approach without a plan or strategy. I can admit now that
I was hurt deeply. I trusted my son. I trusted him to take care of my
daughter, to help her when she needed it and to keep an eye on her.
Stumbling upon the blog those pictures were posted on did something to
me. I had weird suspicions for a while before of course, nothing like that
however. Who in their right mind would suspect that their flesh and
blood were doing something soperverse? I had known for a few days
before they came home that evening. During that time I confronted
Yoshino with it to discover that she already knew and she been actively
keeping it from me.
I shut down after that, feeling betrayed and alone from my family, feeling
like the only sane one here. The dishonorwas nearly unbearable.
Because of that blog reports began in the neighborhood and it grew from
there with people actually asking me personally about it. Combined with
the noise of our final confrontation that nighteveryone in the
neighborhood now knows it as fact. When I heard my son's voice from

the entry way to the house it took all my effort to not attack him then. In
truth I have no recollection of hitting my son or even the things we said.
The first memory I have is holding him by his shirt against the wall,
Kirino crying out for me to let him go and Yoshino holding me back. I
was stunned at what I had done. I lost my temper for the first time I can
accurately remember. The few times I had disciplined my son before I
was more annoyed or frustrated. I always held back as he was my flesh
and blood, my son and needed to do right by him and always wanted him
to trust he could come to me. The few times he confided in me where
times I shined. My father never held back in his beatings and I grew to
hate him for that. Seeing the blood run down the side of my sons face
from my blows and watching his eyes try to stay open, fighting for
consciousnessdid something to me. Broke me.
Then he fought back. I wasn't thinking at all or his strike would never
have landed, or maybe I simply underestimated his resolve and ability. It
doesn't matter. The blow was hard and struck precisely, knocking me
almost from me feet. In some strange way I was full of pride he could do
that. I didn't really strike me how out of hand things were until I realized
Kirino had hit me too. My little girl had reached a level of anger that she
could do that to me. After I had recovered, and began to nurse my aching
jaw, Yoshino told me about the phone call she received from my son. Of
course I didn't believe they could pull it off and leave the prefecture.
They are but children after all. I combed the neighborhood, the parks,
and every open caf with miles. It was to no avail. When I went to work
the next day I attempted to file a missing persons report but was road
blocked by red-tape. A run-a-way cannot be reported until twenty-four
hours have passed, even then as she just reach sixteen she can legally be
held responsible for herself as for age of consent laws. So I can't lawfully
force her to return home.
To my shock and resentment my wife also steam rolled any attempt at
other legal action. She filed emancipating paperwork in Kirino's name
and had it temporality block legal action. As a parent of the child she
could legally do it without my consent if she believed I was emotionally
unstable or if I gave reason to deny my consent by law. Violently
assaulting my son is more than enough. When I questioned her on it,
maybe a little intensely, she simply asked if I thought Kyousuke had

healed from the blows I had rained down on him. I tried to fight the
question but was cut off.
"What happened to the Daisuke I love? Where did this man, who shame
and image is more important to, come from? Where did your love for
family and personal sacrifice go? When we met you were just like your
son. You went after everything half-cocked and desperate but always
ended up succeeding anyway. You threw away your pride to be with me
and worked yourself to the bone to provide for us. Where did he go?"
Yoshino asked me, her eyes unreadable.
"You knew what they were, how could you support that?!" I try deflecting
it away. Her question was more than a little penetrating.
"I don't. I never supported it. I think it's disgusting and I've been sick
thinking about itbut I want you to look at what they have become!
Since theirrelationship started Kyousuke went on to graduate one of
the tops of his class, got reliable employment, moved out on his own
terms, and even started saving to go to college! Kirino conversely
lightened some of her own load and stopped stressing herself to the point
of collapse. Together they could easily afford an apartment in downtown
Chiba City and even save money! These two managed to have the
connections to not only leave Chiba instantaneously but without a trace!
That's the influence those two found together!"
I couldn't even argue back. She was right to a disturbing degree. It all
deflated me, made me weak. She was not only dead-on on the other hand
in some sick way I'm proud of them. However I was still on pins and
needles for days until I got a letter in the mail. It was from my son and
daughter. The letter simply had their address written neatly with
instructions on how to get into ther apartment. At the bottom of the
letter was a single sentence.
"We're sorry."
Yoshino and I shot over to the address right away hoping there would be
clues, a friend, a note, something! The apartment was cleared out. No

clothes, books, any of Kirino's or Kyousuke's games, and no furniture

save for a single small table in the living room. On top of the table were
three articles. A single cardboard box with both of their cell phones
inside, powered down with the chargers neatly wrapped and lain out next
to them. Next to the box was a single sheaf of white official paper.
Yoshino and I read it together. It was a marriage license completely filled
out and stamped. I read it slowly going numb. It had two witnesses, no
doubts friends of these two, and their names stamped at the bottom.
After I read it the strength was sapped from my body. My arms were
limp and I could actually feel my eyes burn as tears threatened. They
were actually gone. It really hit me thenmy children are gone. They left
this as a message. 'We've made our choice. This is us.'
It's then that Yoshino picked up the last item. She held it up to me as she
could no longer speak intelligibly, tears streaming as she choked back
sobs. It was a strip of paper that when I turned it over was a print club
photo strip. In it were Kyousuke and Kirino both smiling happily at each
other. My sons' arms wrap around Kirino lovingly and she's beaming up
at him. Both are flushed like fools and still seem so blameless. The
photographs are obviously older too. They are slightly worn and the sides
are marginally frayed with apparent frequent viewing. This combined
with the document in hand destroyed me. I finally broke down,
embraced my wife, and let my tears flow freely for the first time in a very,
very long time.
It's been three months since my children left and for a time I no longer
knew what to do with myself. The entire neighborhood knows about my
children and how they ran off together. It used to bring so much shame
that I wanted to die to atone. NowI no longer care. Neither about the
rumors or the persona I put on as a strict head-of-household. I don't
really care about my job, my health, or much of anything. I spend time
with my wife as much as I can. I love her more than almost anything else
and this incident has shown me how much I have abandoned her. I
closed myself off at some point thinking I was providing a good example,
or at least did my best to. Looking back my children always feared me,
something that I will always regret. I became the mask I put on; I was a
'proper Japanese man'. Funny thing is I never wanted to be that, it just
happened. I sacrificed so much to give them a home and a family. In the

end it seems like I left them. Maybe some of that is why they developed
the way they did.
Losing my children to my own reaction has driven home that everything
I did I did for them. No longer hearing their voices nor seeing their
facesdoes something to a father. I told Kyousuke once that being strict
and tough was something a parent has to do. And that's true, but what I
did that night was over a line. Yoshino was on fire for weeks regarding
the incident and refused to speak to me for days at a time. I can't blame
her. At the end of every night I went to their old rooms and sat recalling
the days we were all still so normal, when they called me daddy, when I
was a doting father to my son and daughter. Seeing the things I've seen
on the police force I guess I hardened my views and stopped being so
understanding.
After the second month I tried pulling a few contacts to locate them if
they were here in Japan still, but I got back nothing. The few contacts
that did come through for me discovered that they had left Japan but had
no word where they were heading. When I tried to trace them through
their works it dawned on me that I don't know Kirino's actual agency. I
have no idea what Kyousukes' job was either. The only friend I knew by
name was Manami and despite my prying wouldn't disclose any
information to me. I know no other of their friends or anything about the
lives they lead. I knew so little about my own children yet I called myself
their father.
In the end I did something that went against all common sense as a
parent and a person really. I signed Kirino's emancipation paperwork
and filed it with the courthouse. It effectually makes her an adult in the
eyes of the government and on her own. It would have gone through
probably without it, but I consider it my redemption for what I did that
night. I've decided to live to someday see my children again. I hate the
fact they are doing something sodisgusting and dishonorable. Yet as a
father I still love them and I want to know that they are okay. I once even
tried mentally putting the mask back on, the fearsome samurai of the
house and disowning my children. I was tremendously unsuccessful and
ended up in the bedroom sulking for hours looking at family albums. I
can't disown my own flesh and blood; it's just not in me. I used to feel

anger and shame. Then after some time guilt and remorsenow? Now I
feel like I need to earn a second chance. I'm not sure what I'll do or even
when, I just want to see my children again. To hear them and tell them
that regardless of what they choose I'll love them just the same.
Kirino
Five years. The contract I signed was for five years obligated service
exclusive to Eternal Blue. UghGod that's a long time. Yet I would make
the same decision again and again for him. Misaki has been after me to
be exclusive for Eternal Blue and to model in Europe ever since my
professional spread in 'K' magazine. The offers becoming more and more
outlandish and were getting difficult to ignore. Tonight our father
confronted us with the knowledge of the relationship my brother and I
have and things quickly spiraled out of control ending with both my
brother and father striking each other, though I think I hit him myself as
well. We ran from them as fast as we could and after finally calming
down discussed what we were going to do. I saw no other way for us to be
together normally other than I finally cave into Misaki's pestering and
get her to agree to take us both. Of course I pressed as many extra
conditions on top of the offers as I could get. First and foremost is that
Kyousuke has to come with me no matter what. Two, it had to be tonight
and couldn't wait another day or even until the morning. Three, we are
now married in the eyes of the company and we could not be split up
under any circumstances.
Misaki readily agreed to my stipulations, the third giving her light pause
and confusion, but we quickly set up a meet to discuss the devils details.
The caf near our place we usually visit served nicely and we went over
the finer specifics of my contract. The amenities of the contact stated I
am to serve exclusive to Eternal Blue and all modeling appointments will
be handled exclusively through their selection process. I will also only
wear the companies clothing lines during shots and public appearances. I
am being offered private schooling at a nearby academy, full health
benefits given to both myself and my brother (as he is still recognized as
an official employee), backstory of an early marriage provided courtesy
of Misaki, and finally a generous increase of salary on my behalf.

However, Kyousukes' own salary was nearly eliminated altogether and

was more of a small stipend.
Misaki quickly explained it to us before I had a chance to argue it.
Kyousuke would no longer be my manager. I would no longer need one
with the contract; the agency itself would manage me for the five years.
Kyousuke would be hired on as an assistant to the other braches
representative and would be offered a paid internship once college began,
that is if he was interested. It was better than him not having a job at all,
so it makes sense. With minimal thoughts about the rest of it, and
because time was of the essence, I signed my life away.
Our next move is we explain our situation to our friends and said our
tearful goodbyes. We also make the proper arrangements for them to
clean up the apartment. After we finally got off the phone we packed up
what little belongings we could. When we finally settled down for a
moment is when we stamped our wedding license. I was overjoyed when
Kyousuke and I signed our private little contract, our little message to
the world. However, it was fleeting and I didn't have time to enjoy it.
Misaki picked us up at the witching hour and we were off to the airport.
The car ride was quiet and a little tense for the most part. Kyousuke held
my hands wordlessly, squeezing gently in mute affirmation. We might
not have done the brightest thing in the world leaving right away, but it
was genuinely for the best. We put unnecessary strain on our mother to
keep our secret and we put our friend's reputations on the line for our
selfish love. With that blog out there it's only a matter of time before
rumors become indisputable fact. People in the neighborhood would
know about us. Within weeks, maybe even days, the school will know.
The faculty would try to intervene 'on behalf of society' and have us
separated. Either Social Services would show up or at the very least law
could get very messy.
The national age of consent in Japan is thirteen, with outlying rural
prefectures having no age laws or low ones to encourage early marriage
and population growth, but the prefecture of Chiba law is sixteen. Things
could get messy if they conjectured we were intimate when I was still
fifteen. If he was unable to be prosecuted than at the very least my

brother would be labeled a pervert by society at large and may have

difficulty getting into a reputable school not to mention a decent job.
The two of us fleeing in the night not only keeps Kyousuke and me to
together, with our options for a better life still open, but also gives our
parents a precious gift. Credible deniability. They have the ability to say
they had no idea what we were doing, to say to any government or school
employees they have no idea where we are. It's believable as our father is
rarely home and our mother can always say she just thought we were
close. There may be societal damage there, with shame and image very
important concepts in our culture. Yet it saves them from any real
trouble.
We finally arrive at the airport a little after one in the morning, the
airport empty of most traffic. Yet even this late I'm wide awake. My
adrenaline is spiked with what we were trying to achieve. We quickly
make our way to the check lines to make our flight, which Misaki had
arranged for us while we were packing, as well as get our pitiful luggage
sorted. In order to claim your itinerary for a flight you need to produce
official identification. For anything international a passport or travel
Visa is required instead. I still have mine from the last time I traveled to
America to attend a specialized track camp. It's after I claim my boarding
pass and baggage ticket that it occurs to me. Kyousuke had no passport.
The time he flew to America he used a temporary customs Visa
purchased by our father for a week-long vacation. Is this really how it all
stops after all the planning we did? By bureaucratic paperwork!?
"You're going to need this." Misaki's voice shakes me from my small
panic attack. I watch her remove a small leather booklet from her purse
and hand it to Kyousuke as he steps up to the attendant at the counter. I
watched him slowly open it to reveal a picture of him in a suit and tie
against the official passport backing on one side, several blank pages for
customs stamps on the other. What the actual hell? Passports usually
take weeks if not months to receive. There are background checks, fees,
and strict waiting period. Kyousuke's mouth opens for moment before
slamming closed as he hands the passport over to the attendant. A few
moments later she hands it back and delivers it with his boarding pass

and baggage ticket. I'm briefly stunned before I put it into the back of my
mind for later as we head over to our next section.
We get through security quietly and quickly, the thought of the passport
swirling in my head. I could see my brother chewing his bottom lip in
thought as well. When we got to the boarding area to await the boarding
procedure we set down our carry-on bags and take our seats in the
leather padded chairs. Before I could say anything Kyousuke beats me to
the punch and asks her straight out.
"Why do you already have a passport setup in my name? Further, why do
all this? Kirino may be an employee but there are limits right?" It may be
rude to question the gift being given, but it struck my attention too.
Misaki's face is unreadably blank as she thinks a moment. It occurs to me
then that she's not our friend. She's my handler and representative. She's
someone we know. A contact, but she has not a personal stake in us, and
barely even a professional one. All of our supporters have been like us:
barely adults. Misaki is a full grown woman who see's things for what
they are, not what they could be.
"I knew something like this was bound to happen with you two." I knew
it. "It's my job to read people and I knew very early on that you two were
quite suspicions. So, honestly? I made a gambit, when Mikagami asked
me for Kyousuke to be your manager, that something had happened
between you two and you needed money. Especially when he went
through me for your apartment, the ones that we only use for part timers.
I had staked you two would be found out eventually by someone who
shouldn't know and need a safe haven, something to run to, or at least a
last resort. It took longer than I thought it would be, truly, but just as I
predicted here we are." She motions around her, as if showing off the
airport. She takes a long breath and leans against the back of her seat.
She stretches a bit before burrowing into seat, gently resting her hands in
her lap.
"You two are really something else you know? Something about the way
you two go about everything makes me want to root for you despite being
related. I don't care about the oddity of your relationship in the slightest.

You're something special in the modeling world Kirino. But if I didn't like
you or think you weren't worth the trouble I would never agree to what
you asked from me. I feel as an adult I have to tell you thoughyour
relationship is disturbing at the least. You will have your backstory as
being married young, the rings you wear will definitely help with that,
but stilldon't regret what has been done here. Don't wake up one
morning next to him and realize with horror 'This is my older brother.
What have I done?' If you can live happily like this five years in the
future, ten, hell twentyit's worth it. I just want you two to have a chance.
Plus, it's business. Eternal Blue wants you. In fact bad enough to agree to
your terms despite me knowing how desperate you were. I did what I had
to. I had to get you to sign on the dotted line of your own freewill. I may
seem despicable to do such a thing, manipulate you into only having me
as recourse, but still"
"No Misaki, you're not anything like that." I said looking her dead in the
eye. "It's because of you we have this opportunity after all. You will
always be welcome with the two of us. If we can ever repay what you have
done for us please let us know." I take my brothers' arm in mine and
press closer to him. It's uncomfortable with one butt cheek in the gap
between seats but right now I need to be close to this man.
She went quiet for long time in thought before our plane was ready to
board. The announcement breaks our somber mood and I get teary eyed
again. I hugged my former representative and Kyousuke shook her hand
with a small smile dancing behind his eyes. She pulls out and hands us
her business card and a list to Kyousuke with the contacts we would be
meeting up with in England, our new port. We wave out our final
goodbye over our shoulders as we link hands together and board our
flight, leaving Japan and all we've ever known behind for each other. The
plane was barren for the most part so it took very little time to find our
seats and get comfortable.
"Are we doing the right thing?" I ask in one last chance for corroboration.
One last voice from him to any kind of objection to us being together.
This is literally the last chance before we take this leap. After we leave
here it is us, just the two of us, for the rest of our lives.

"Without question." Kyousuke smiles back to me. With that I lay my

head on his shoulder and intertwine my fingers with his. I eye the
engagement ring he gave me this night, I bounce my calve up and feel the
familiar tinkling of the anklet he bought me, and run my free hand across
the nape of my neck using the tips of my fingers to verify the earrings
from our first adventure together are there. All are now parts of me and
even if one day I lose the items, I will never lose the feelings they brought
to me. This is my home now, together with him.

The flight was long and unremarkable, except the fact we were actually
doing it. In the back of my mind I had always feared we could never pull
it off, but here we were. We weren't running away like many of our
friends and family thought. We were running to something, to the
beginning of us.
Yet it was still an eighteen-hour trip that nearly killed us with boredom.
Being in a cramped metal sausage in the sky gets on your nerves after a
while. There were in-flight movies for a while before it was nothing but
static. Being technically a 'red-eye' flight there was a skeleton crew for
the most part. Two meals were included, a breakfast and lunch, so we
didn't go without food at least. No turbulence and landing was a breeze.
After we landed it was an adventure trying to read the signs and find our
way to the baggage terminal. I know a bit more English than Kyousuke,
but he's quite proficient as well. All that studying he's been doing finally
paid off. Reading the language is a little tricky, but English is for the
most part simple in small doses. Letters are uniform and a word usually
can only be read one way. Makes our language seem a little complicated,
or just sophisticated, in comparison.
About half-an-hour after landing we both have our suitcases from the
carousel and we slowly begin to make our way out to the pickup/drop-off
area of the terminal. Standing outside the door, highlighted in the rising
sun of the early morning as the time difference caused us to go back in
time, I make out a Caucasian man waiting at the entrance. He's wearing
a sky-blue button up shirt tucked neatly into solid brown slacks with
matching brown loafer shoes. A loose white tie hangs around his neck

with the top button undone. About my brothers height, but built a little
more solidly, he looks nondescript if not well dressed with parted
medium length wavy brown hair and a clean shave. As we got closer I
could make out brown eyes as he turned toward us. I guess that's
shatters the stereotype that most British are blonde haired and blue eyed.
I would guess his age to be late twenties maybe early-thirties.
"Good morning. Are you two the Kousakas?" He asks in stiff but still
accurate Japanese. It takes me by slight surprise to hear it coming from
his mouth but I recover quickly. His posture is relaxed and inviting. A
slight yet warm smile giving way to show off a row of straight white teeth.
And there goes the one about the British having bad teeth.
"Yes. I'm Kirino and this is my brohusband Kyousuke. Pleasure to meet
you Mr?" I say as I offer my hand out for the traditional western
greeting.
"Oh! Sorry, forgive my manners. My name is Rastin Mathers. I'm a
representative from Eternal Blue." He replies as he takes my and
Kyosuke's hand in turn. He produces a business card and presses it into
my hand. I examine it to confirm his story. "I used to be a representative
in Japan before I came back to merry old England. I was a natural choice
to receive you when you came in. Misaki has already called ahead about
your uniquesituation."
"Well thank you very much Mr. Mathers. It would have certainly at least
a little harder to get around with someone who didn't speak Japanese."
Kyousuke says as we move out of the way of the exit.
"Please, no need to stand on ceremony with me. Please call me Rastin.
Given names are used much more frequently in the west. Of course if it
bothers you your preferences come first, but most people here aren't so
aware of your customs. If you prefer your last name just let us know." I
nod as we start flowing Rastin toward a parking lot.
"I have no problem with people calling me by first name. Got to get used
to it if we live here after all." I say.

"I don't mind either." Kyousuke says next to me complimenting my

willingness to adapt.
"Well no worries then. Are you two good with English?" He asks as we
close in on the rows of vehicles.
"So-so. Just need some practice." Kyousuke answers first using his
English for the first stretch here. His grammar is spot on his accent
notwithstanding.
"Me too, though I was in America for a time. I don't have much trouble"
I answer too, the words coming with some difficulty.
"Good" Rastin answer in his native tongue, his British accent giving it a
lilting tune. We move through the rows of vehicles until we get to a white
four door sedan. Rastin produces the keys from his pocket and presses a
button on the ring of keys. I hear the doors unlock. "Welcome to London,
England."

There was no time for sightseeing at the moment; we had business to

attend to. Our first stop was the Eternal Blue local headquarters. A tan
and white brick structure with windows tinted black it was a little
intimidating at first. We drove around the side of the building till Rastin
spotted the parking garage that lead underneath the building. After
Rastin parked the car half way down the row we quickly followed him, at
Rastin's behest leaving our bags behind for the moment in the car, inside
the building. A short elevator ride up to the top, out of five floors, we
once again followed Rastin into a row of offices. Each was large enough
from the outside to fit several people and tinted glass to prevent peaking
from the outside. We come to a sudden stop just outside an office most of
the way down the aisle before Rastin turns to regard us for just a
moment.
"You two caused quite a stir amongst some of the higher ups around here.
But don't let it get to you. Our branch manager is a prettyinteresting

guy. Just be honest with him regarding your situation and please don't
use too much Japanese around him. He doesn't speak the language and
it would alienate him. He's the one ultimately responsible for you two
until you're on your feet. He's also the one who pulled strings to get
everything setup for you two." I swallow a little at his sudden somber
tone.
"We understand. We are more than a little grateful for everything that
everyone has done for us." I say taking Kyousuke's hand in mine gently.
Rastin smiles lightly and nods before lightly rapping on the door.
"Come in." I hear a male voice say from the other side. With that Rastin
opens the door and ushers us into the office and I mentally switch to
English. My mind is blown almost right away. Adorning the walls around
the office are posters and wall scrolls featuring anime and games that I
recognize from back home. I can spot High School of the Dead's Saeko
Busijima PVC figure on a small shelf in the back corner and a small curio
display case against one wall behind a cherry wood desk filled with Saber
figures from the show and visual novel Fate/Stay Night. Before I can
wrap my head around the oddity of the room, or for that matter cover the
happy grin forming at the corners of my mouth, movement catches my
eye.
"Good morning. Miss-excuse me Mrs. Kirino I presume? And you must
be Kyousuke!" A man seemingly in his early thirties approaches from the
side of the room hand offered in greeting. He has medium length thick
wavy sandy brown hair and emerald eyes that shine with a mischievous
energy begging to be unleashed. Sporting grey slacks, a long sleeve white
button up shirt, a grey and black vest over it yet unbuttoned, with a black
tie messily hanging down his front he set an odd figure. His smile was
disarming and before I could introduce myself with any sense of
manners he takes my hand in his and begins vigorously pumping it up in
down.
"Of course you are! Who else would be coming in today anyway?" He
exclaims with a laugh as he lets go finally. "My names Christopher,
pleasure to meet you both! I've been really looking forward to meeting

you two. Such a young couple with such promise!" Jesus, this guy's got
energy for days doesn't he.
"Boss." I hear Rastin from behind us. "I asked you to put away those
things before they got here." He says motioning to the Otaku gear behind
Mr. Christopher. "They might find it offensive or something." His eyes
shift uncertainly toward us as if to measure our reaction. I just want to
take a look at his collection.
"Nonsense. Why hide something you love? Don't be such a downer."
What an odd man. Interesting indeed, but I think I like this guy.
Christopher proceeds to walk back to other side of his desk and motions
me and my brother to have a seat on the opposite side.
"Thank you Mr. Christopher-" Kyousuke begins.
"Please, Mr. Christopher makes me feel old and thus slightly creepy to
like these things." He says motioning to the figures behind his desk.
"Please just call me Chris."
"Okay thenChris." I see Kyousuke make a slight face at that. It is odd
calling not only this man by a shortened first name but he is also my boss
form now on. "I just really wanted to say thank you for everything you've
done for us up until now. I really look forward to meeting your
expectations." With that Chris just smiled. After a moment he sets his
right hand on top of the other and lays them down on his desk and gently
looks us over. The atmosphere seems to cool a little as Chris seems to
switch to business mode.
"Mr. Mathers, that will be all for the moment. Please, if you may have a
seat outside I would like to speak with these two alone." His voice
changes into a more authoritative tone when speaking now. "How old are
youKyousuke right?" He says behind a gentle yet stony smile to my
brother.

"Eighteen sir." My brother answers matching the serious tone of my new

boss. Chris nods as he hears it.
"You and Kirino are married correct?" Kyousuke silently nods. "Misaki
gave me a pretty detailed brief on your flight from Japan, especially why
you had to leave to begin with." With that he looks us both over, his eyes
unreadable and no longer filled with the mirth he had earlier. Would
Misaki tell him the truth about everything, or feed him a lie? I stay silent
and mentally prepare the backstory Misaki gave us.
"Kirino just turned sixteen too am I correct?" He continues. "That is the
legal age of marriage in Japan, so you must have just tied the knot
yesterday. Tell me, how long did you two date for before making such life
changing a decision?" He still smile waiting for an answer.
"We've only dated for just under a year now, but we've been together our
entire lives really." I say. I feel Kyousuke tense up slightly beside me. I
may have unwittingly revealed too much just now.
"Childhood friends huh? That's really something else." Chris says back
with a nostalgic grin beginning to take over and he visually relaxes. "You
knowI met my own wife when I was about your age Kirino." He says as
he lifts his hand up for us to see a small gold wedding band around his
left ring finger. He turns one of the framed pictures decorating his desk
to face us. In it is a picture of a darker skinned woman with a bright
embarrassed smile and beautifully kind brown eyes. "The best decision I
ever made was giving up my freedom to that woman. We have been
together a very long time and we have been through very hard and
difficult time together. She has stood by me regardless of any strange
hobbies or mannerisms I have and I dedicate everything I do to her.
Because of that I take marriage vows very seriously as I believe it's
something should never be done twice. Seeing your two together
reminded me of myselfI wanted to make sure you two were serious
about it, being so young and all. But I see I have nothing to worry about."
I digest that for a moment before I respond.

"Thank you sir." I say back respectfully trying to keep in mind that this is
in fact my new boss and I really can't afford to be too lax around him. He
just smiles gently again, some of that mischievous energy returning.
"I understand you two needed to leave Japan quickly, due to familial
reasons, and because of that it was just a 'courthouse marriage' and there
was no actual ceremony. If you two ever need anything let me know. I
may not be able to do much, but a leave of absence I can probably swing
here and there." I breathe a little easier now. I really like my new boss so
far. I glance to my brothers' face and see it relaxed with a content look in
his eyes.
"I don't need anything else from you two for the day. This was mainly a
'meet and greet' after all. I expect great things from you Kirino. Mr.
Mathers will show you two to the duplex house we have rented for you as
well as answer any questions about the city and getting around." Mr.
Chris leans back into his chair and turns his wife's photo back toward
him. His eyes shift down to it as he smiles slightly before looking back at
us with his hands under his chin. "Do either of you have any questions
for me?"
"Do you have any more of those?" I ask, before I can stop myself,
pointing to the rows of figures in his case. I look at my boss expecting
something other than the light that now shown brilliantly behind his eyes.
"Oh yes. Would you like to see them?!" He exclaims standing quickly.
The energy was back in full swing as he comes around his desk to stand
beside us. I thing I'm going to like working here.

After spending an extra half an hour ogling the different wares that my
boss has it was the time to leave before it got too late. He is actually a
pretty big Otakuapparently. He and his wife apparently love watching
anime together and have been to several conventions. They both collect
figures, my boss being more into warrior women types and his wife
into tsundere's, and even build and paint custom kits. It's nice knowing

that although I lost the ability to speak with my friends back home as
often as I want to that I have someone here to talk about that kind of
stuff with. Other than Kyousuke of course, he would hopeless without me
after all.
Rastin takes us on a quick tour of the area, mostly sticking to where we
would need to go daily such as grocery stores and restaurants. We stop at
a small restaurant near the inner city for lunch. Climbing out of the car it
strikes me how different everything feels here compared to home.
WellI guess this is home now. No-he is my home now. I grab
Kyousuke's sleeve as he walks in front of me into the building and yank
him back a bit before taking his hand in mine. I'm a little emotional at
the moment and I'm keeping it in for the most part. It's been only a day
since we left home and it's starting to hit me how different my life is
going to be.
He squeezes my hand lightly with a confident smile that screams 'leave it
all to me' before leaning his head in the direction of the shop. I pull it
together and smile back with my usual smugness before pulling him
roughly into the restaurant. We take a seat in a corner booth with Rastin
sitting across from me and my brother. We are promptly handed menus
and I have to decode the symbols on it before long. What is that word?
Turnkey? The hell is a turnkturkey. The bird. Damn this language is a
bit tricky. I glance over to Kyousuke and see a similar stupefied
expression on his face.
"If you two need help ordering it's fine. It'll take some time before you
two are fully fluent in the language." Rastin says folding his menu up in
front of him. "How about I order for you two this time?" I nod slightly
embarrassed at the fact I need help doing something so simple.
"Sure. I'll be very grateful for that." Kyousuke says next to me. A few
minutes go by before the server returns for our orders. Rastin orders for
all three of us and also some tea to go along with everything. We discuss
small unimportant things until the pot is delivered with three cups, a
bowl of prepackaged creamers, and also a bowl of sugar cubes. Sugar and
cream with green tea would be stange but I know that the British

primarily drink a mix of Earl Grey and black tea. After we all have our
beverages sorted out Rastin produces a business card from his wallet and
slides it across the table to me.
"This is the number and contact for the chairman at your new school
Kirino. The paperwork for transfer has already been started but you are
not slated to begin attending till next week. It is a uniformed academy
not too far from here and about a twenty minute ride by trolley from
your doorstep. "I nod as I take the card from the table and read it to
myself. I slide it into a small space in my purse and listen to Rastin's
explanation. "Your measurements from the agency were used to get your
uniform made and should be delivered to your home by the end of this
week. If there are any problems with the uniform just let me know and
we can set something up. I would suggest meeting with the chairman's
staff to get acquainted with them better. Unfortunately Kyousuke will be
unable to go with you, or rather I advise against it. It's an all-girls private
school and I think it inadvisable to bring your husband around a bunch
of teenage girls." He finishes with a smirk and shrug while taking a sip of
his tea. I cast an irritated glance at my brother. He better not even look at
any of those girls let alone think of touching one. I'm getting irritated for
nothingcalm yourself girl, he hasn't done anything at all. Yet.
"Thanks Rastin. What about Kyousuke's school?" I ask trying to change
to uncomfortable direction my damned brain took the previous
conversation.
"He can start at the beginning of next semester this winter if he wishes. If
he is set on a career with us we can offer to 'full-ride' him to a school of
our choice. If he wishes to attend some other school to pursue something
else he would have to take that up with Christopher back at the office. If
so I can say a full-ride is out but we can certainly offer something."
Rastin answers, looking pensive in between sentences. "Though, in my
opinion, you can do much worse than managerial material in a company
that is world renown for their models, clothing lines, jewelry
craftsmanship, and cosmetics line. Hell, actually Kyousuke I would think
you the luckiest man on Earth. You have a beautiful young wife,
highbrow contacts lining your collection of business cards, powerful
friends, and a grand future if you can grab it." I swallow as I realize that

Rastin is right about all of that and not just about me being young and
beautiful.
I mean, we got so caught up in our romantic struggle that we failed to
remember how much harder everything could be. If we play our cards
even half-way decently we can easily make a life together here. Can you
imagine me the adoring housewife cooking meals for my husband as he
comes through the door after a hard day of closing deals and contracts?
In a cute little yellow apron with flowers on itI shake my head to clear
the thoughts away for the moment. That will be going into my little
document folder later. I'm so glad I brought my laptops with me.
"I have no complaints about attending whatever school Eternal Blue can
help me attend. I really never had much ambition to anything really. Yet
ever since Kirino and I began dating I found something to work for in my
life. So I really don't care what I end up doing as long as I can make her
happy." My brother replies with confidence and contentment. It makes
me feel a little wretched yet happy that he's so willing to go down any
path just to be with me. It's a bittersweet happiness that I find myself
reciprocating back to him. I grin at him as we've taken another step now.
"Very well then, you will need to take the tests to be admitted but it
should be a stroll through the park for you. You were already admitted to
Chiba University after all, just couldn't enroll in classes." Rastin
responds in kind. "For now, once we are done eating, we should head
over to your new house. It's not big or anything and is segmented as a
duplex so is actually closer to the size of your old apartment. It's clean
though and comes with basic furniture such as bed, dressers, and a
dining table. I'll be sure to point out any stores you may need to visit to
grab everything else."
Kyousuke and I both nod as he lists the places we would need to visit to
get everything together. I make a mental list of cookware, dishes,
bedding, and any types of clothing I need to replace I couldn't bring with
me.

I also always kept several months of my birth control pills on hand in

case I got distracted and failed to pick more up from the pharmacy. So
I'm covered for a least a few months. Still, I need to see a doctor here and
get my usual exams and a local prescription. I'm way too young to be a
mother yet, let alone my maturity level before I can successfully raise a
child. I want to be an active mother and not someone whose always
hiring a nanny or somethingA child huh? A child with Kyousuke?
Nochildren. I want both a boy and a girl. The boy first obviously so he
can protect his little sister. I didn't realize I wanted something like that.
It makes me smile a bit but I know that before we take literally the
biggest leap a couple can take we need to both age and mature,
notwithstanding have a stable family life.
"Crepes?" Huh? Oh! Our food is here. I must have been spacing out in
my own private fantasy. Another for the document file. I quickly raise me
hand and the server places a plate with several crepes stacked up with
powdered sugar and mixed berries topping like kings of their little hill. I
pay little attention to the dishes the two 'y' chromosomes ordered. I take
a delicate scoop of the sugary goodness and relish the feeling of
raspberries roll over my tongue.

I needed a good meal. I savored bite after bite of my meal, the last one
having been plane food it was uplifting in more than just the obvious
ways. After we each tucked away our meals Rastin took the check to the
front and paid the establishment for the wonderful meal. We quickly
load back up into the car and make our way down the road until we come
to a row of house that all seem to intertwine together in one long line
with no gaps between them. The only feature that marked where each
home ended was a row of stone steps with wrought iron guiderails
leading up to a deep blue wooden door with brass knockers. Each was
identical in size, shape, and color as well. Deep umber brick rose up two
stories topped by a sea of maroon shingles, white borders outlining the
windows breaks up the monotony of each structure.
Rastin pulls the car in a spot outside of one of the rows of homes near the
end, parks it, and kills the engine. Taking his cue we exit the vehicle and

gather on the sidewalk running parallel to the buildings. I cast my gaze

left and right as Rastin passes us heading to a door just in front of us. I
take in the setting and memorize the surrounding for future reference.
Rastin digs lightly into his pockets and produces a pair of keys. He uses
one to quickly open the door, which swings inwardly noiselessly and
smoothly.
"Welcome home." Rastin says as he steps into the front area. We follow
in, myself leading, and took in our new house. It was cozy feeling inside
despite the lack of personalization. Hard wood floor covered the entry
way area and down the hall which ended in the kitchen and dining room.
Immediately after entering the front door to the right was the living area,
which has off-white pearl like color carpet lay out from the hall to the
wall. Stairs head up to our left as we close the door behind us.
"Up staris are the bedroom and bathroom. Down here are your kitchen,
dining room, living area, and laundry room. Your kitchen is barren at the
moment but your laundry room already has a washer and dryer installed.
Your dining area has a small table and two chairs, and the living area has
a couch, chair, and coffee table. The bedroom has a queen size bed,
dresser drawers, and a long chest. You are free to bring any furniture in
you wish but the furniture here is Eternal Blue property and if there are
any damages noted after you move out they will either have to be
replaced or paid for depending on the damage." Rastin listed off a few
more conditions of the housing contract. I noted nothing extreme in any
of the conditions. Bills paid on time, trash pickup every other morning
after seven. All standard really.
After the brisk tour of the down stairs Kyousuke and I take a tour of our
new bathroom and bedroom. The bedroom was decent sized and much
bigger than our slightly bigger than our body room back in Japan. The
bed was huge as well. We slept on what is classified as a twin sized bed in
our old apartment. A queen seems at least twice as big. We need to buy
sheets. The bathroom made me sad though. Nothing really wrong with it,
and the size was fine. The tub made me want to cry and I could see a
piece of Kyousuke break too. It seems that English tubs are just as tiny as
American ones. I sigh in slight depression. We can take baths here sure
but it won't be the same at all. No more filling the tub till it overflows and

scrubbing ourselves clean before a good soak. I shove it back into my

head to pout about later. Showers are just fine and will save water in the
long run.
"There's a nice department store not too far away you can pick up the
stuff of daily living. Right now I can help you guys get what you need at
the store and get setup for the day. Kirino, your first day of work will be
the day after tomorrow. Kyousuke" Rastin calls to my brother. "You
come with her. Since you are still employed with us for the moment you
will either be assisting either me during the work day or Mr. Christopher
back at headquarters. Once your schooling starts you be on a temporary
suspension so you can focus on school, but at the same time your salary
will be frozen." My brother nods as the Englishman lists off the events
for him to prepare himself for. I need to show up in casual clothing,
anything being worn for any shoots will be provided. Kyousuke is to
come in no less than slacks, nice shoes, and a button up shirt with tie.
"If there is nothing else you two lets go ahead and get you anything you
need to get settled in and relax."

The days get pretty busy pretty fast. We spent the next day relaxing and
getting familiar with the trolley system in the local area. We ate out for
lunch and spent time simply being opening affectionate in public for a
change. Kyousuke made us dinner that night, making a simple yakisoba
dish in remembrance of our homeland. After we showered and got in bed
we simply cuddled up together, too tired and stressed for any intimate
activity. But I'm so very happy to be here with him that I eventually let it
all fall away and sleep.
My first days back to work were fun actually. I met a few of the other
models that came from overseas as well, though I'm the only one from
Japan. Fortunately we are all around the same age so we click pretty easy.
I got to talk to Mr. Christopher more about anime too, which helped
lighten the load as well. Kyousuke was kept pretty busy by Rastin. It was
mostly a learning experience though. Rastin taught him the ins-and-outs
of actually being a professional manager of both models and business.

Even though Rastin is a little rough around the edges sometimes, with
his speech patterns and mannerisms, I did see something in the way he
looked at my brother.
Whenever he only had to tell him once or Kyousuke mastered something
fast I could see the looks of surprise that flashed in his eyes. It's then I
realized my brother is skilled at this type of work. I'm used to the way he
does things so someone else seeing him at his best makes it apparent he's
good at what he does.
I began school the next Monday; the uniform not only is cute but fits well.
It's a red and black palid skirt with a white button up shirt underneath. A
black vest is worn over with a short lack tie to be worn around the color
of the shirt. Allowed accessories are the stockings, knee socks, hair
decorations, and school approved pins and badges. The academy I attend
is quite beautiful. The chairman, ironically a woman, took me on a tour.
The campus has a rustic feeling with large red bricked structures and a
black wrought iron gate surrounding the borders to keep out anyone
unauthorized. Ivy grew along some of the concrete paths and gave the
school a story book appeal. Against Rastin's advice I insisted Kyousuke
come with me for the moral support. The chairman had no problems
with him visiting as he is my husband and all. The look on her face when
I had to introduce him however was hilarious.
I regretted my decision doing so as we walked around campus. More
than a few girls gave cursory and covetous glances bounding after my
brother. I shrug it away for two reasons though, One, I trust him to not
do anything that would jeopardize our relationship. Two, I'd kill him and
he knows it. Plus, he seems to not even notice and seems more interested
in studying the building as we pass them.
I must admit that the man cuts quite a different silhouette than he used
to. I always loved the way my brother looked and found him attractive in
every angle. Getting older agrees with him though. His hair longer, his
body growing taller, and his face leaning out he looks every bit the 'pretty
Asian boy' stereo type except that he still has his strong and masculine

eyes that carried our fathers scowling look. I'm going to have to mark my
territory again later.
Over the weeks work begins to pick up as we near winter. The modeling
shoots aren't spaced out like they were before when I was freelance. They
are done three times a week, twice during the work week itself and one
usually scheduled on Saturday. One of the biggest changes, and a great
one for that matter, is that there is no school on Saturday. It's one extra
day to catch up on homework and spend time with Kyousuke. School
work is easy enough to balance with my career, European schools seem
to be a little easier as they are learning things I've covered since my
middle school days. History (as its English history) and English
literature are a little advanced for me, but math and science is a breeze.
Kyousuke helps with any homework and projects at night on top of his
other duties at Eternal Blue. With that I have so far managed to stay at
the head of the class and moral high.
It's now been two months since that night we left Japan and is earlyNovember. We have our fights, and our make-ups. Nothing is ever too
big to forgive as long as we love each other. I can be hard to manage I
know and have been unreasonable more than a few times. Yet he always
calmly pats my head and tells me 'I love you'. I have no defense for that
yet and I melt like butter placed in the microwave. We also have had our
misunderstandings, such as my brother being stalked by some of the
girls at my school. I blamed him for it at first, as I just assumed he had
gotten tired of me. But he did his usual smile and calmly explained he
would never be tired of me. I bring out the best in him and he loves me
with his whole heartbastard. I can't stand it! We have our trust that we
built over time and I believe he would never hurt me. My insecurities
aside It's the best feeling in the world to be able to be affectionate with
him in public, the hold his hand without fear. Then there's the added
security of falling back on Japanese whenever we talk as siblings in front
of others. I get to call him Aniki, Nii-san, Onii-chan, Nii-Nii, Ani-kun,
An-Chan any of the titles I've withheld for the last few years without odd
looks from others. It's fun to poke at his fetish in front of others who
have no idea what's going on.

We decided to go out tonight for a change as we've been cooped up for

the most part. Kyousuke starts his vocational business school January so
we'll have a little less free time once that happens. So we decided to take
a break from cooking eat out with a night out on the town. We've already
eaten dinner at a decent restaurant having given Kyousuke a much
needed night of rest from the kitchen. Kyousuke was so excited the first
night he cooked. Our old apartment had more of an area for cooking but
no real kitchen. Now we have a much larger actual kitchen with an oven,
four burner stove, and plenty of counter space.
We bundled up as the weather got very cold very fast here. Snow had
fallen two days ago and still caked the sides of the roads as we walked
down the boulevard away from the restaurant. We have no real
destination in mind, but we did find a nice scenic spot standing to the
side of the famous London Bridge. All lit up at night it's a beautiful
wonder. It takes over an hour to walk there but we link hands and enjoy
our walk. Our breath puffs out in the cold, our noses are red with nip in
the air, but our hearts are warm and contented.
We arrive to the bridge well after night fall and the bridge is lit up like
the stars above us. I happily run to the railing and peer out at the still
water as it reflects the moon and clouds above. It's a little windy on the
bridge but it's tolerable even with the cold. Foot traffic passes us leisurely
as people meander about their own night. Every once in a while we get a
look here, the cozy young couple gazing out across the waters of the river
Thames.
"You knowI've had a lot of fun being here." Kyousuke says coming up
behind me and draping his around my shoulders. I snuggle back into his
chest and breathe him in. "If you had asked me over a year ago if this is
what I saw in my future I would have laughed at the absurdity of it all.
Now I see this is the place I need to be." I nod. We separate after a
moment. Kyousuke approaches the railing of the bridge and grasps it
with both hands and takes a deep breath in and hold it for just a moment.
"I LOVE MY LITTLE SISTER! I WANT TO BE WITH HER FOREVER!
I'M CREEPY AND HAVE PROBABLY THE WORST SISTER COMPLEX

IN HISTORY!" Kyousuke cries out next to me in Japanese, his voice

reverberating across the river. He smirks back at me breathing a little
hard from emptying his lungs of air. What a sad sack for cardiac strength.
I grin back and take a deep breath as I run to the railing too. He won't
out do me!
"I LOVE MY OLDER BROTHER! I WANT TO MARRY HIM AND LIVE
TOGETHER FOREVER! I'M SELFISH AND POSSESSIVE OF HIM! HE
BELONGS TO ME AND NO ONE ELSE!" I scream out next over the
water. We would never dream of doing something like this in Japan.
Here in England however no one within hearing distance speaks our
language. We can scream the truth out loud for the first time ever. It's
very therapeutic. We just look at each other now before busting out in
laughter at the shear ludicrousness of it all. Men and women walking
about give us strange glances here and there. After all they just watched
two people scream something nonsensical and then start laughing for no
reason. We needed this however. We've been unable to yell it out, to
vocalize it for fear of others. Here in this city across the world we are free
to declare it as loud as we want. We live for each other now and no one
else. Being young we used to believe that 'love conquers all'. Now we
know that there is struggle, strife, hardship, and doubt involved. It takes
iron will, courage, and lack of common sense to make something like this
work.