A/N: This is an idea i've been playing with for a long time. I'm worried I'll want to go back and change stuff later on, but I'm posting it now anyway... cause I told someone I would post the first chp by the beginning of February.... well we all see how well that worked out. lol.

Attention All Artists: If you're an artist and wish to draw pictures (doujin/fancomic included) of this or any other story I've written, you have my permission to do so on the condition that I get credit for the idea and you send it to me (links please, no file attachments).

Chapter 1

"These are the new children you told me about?" a man asked. He was dressed in a fancy looking suit that seemed newly cleaned right down to the little gold buttons on his cuffs.

"Yes. Their mother disappeared and left them on their own, you see. She was their last remaining family. Their aunt was originally supposed to take them. However she died of a heart attack shortly after the disappearance," a woman explained, patting the older of two kids on the head. He hardly responded.

The man walked to stand in front of the children but didn't touch them. He looked them over in a scrutinizing manner. You'd almost think he was trying to buy a pedigree pet or something. He examined them as well as he could without actually touching them, including taking a whiff of them... in what he must have assumed was a discreet way. The younger of the kids shied away from him.

"Well then... How old are they?" he asked, not taking his eyes off the new children.

"The older one is nearly 9. His little brother just turned 3," the woman explained in a happy tone. She obviously thought the 3 year old was cute. This man obviously did not.

"Almost 9? Hm.. That's my son's age... Names?" he asked, this time addressing the children directly. The older one clenched his fist behind his back and made sure he didn't let this guy know how much he disliked being treated like pond scum.

"Prosper," he said. The little one just stared up at the man and said nothing.

"Name," the man asked again, a little rougher this time. The three year old shivered.

"Bo," Prosper answered for him. "His name is Bo, but he gets real nervous when strangers talk to him and forgets it."

The man looked at the orphanage woman curiously. She laughed a little and nodded.

"Prosper and Boniface," she explained. "Though… they both seem to prefer Bo." Again, she seemed happy about it. The man sniffed.

"Probably because it's easier for the inept child to remember," he muttered under his breath. Prosper grit his teeth.

"What a foul man," Prosper couldn't help himself. He didn't give a rat's ass if this man wanted to adopt them or not anymore! He was horrible! He turned his cute face to the woman standing to the side. "Tell me I don't have to live with him, Sister, please."

Suddenly, hands were on his shoulders. It was the first time the rich man had touched him since meeting him, and it shocked Prosper to no end. His eyes were wide as he was shaken a little. It wasn't enough to be considered a threat, however, and the sister didn't move to step in. Bo squeaked and hid further behind Prosper.

"Listen, child... I'm here to adopt you into a nicer family than you'd ever find anywhere. You should smile and accept it," the man spoke, and Prosper could hear that the kindness in his voice was forced.

"Family?" Bo squeaked. Prosper saw the man flinch at Bo's high pitched baby voice.

"Yes," he said, smiling at Bo and fixing Prosper's jacket as if that had been his reason for grabbing the child in the first place. "I have a few other orphans living at my mansion, and I have a son as well. He's about the age of your brother. So you won't be lonely. See?"

"Y-Yeah," Bo nodded, slipping his tiny hand into Prosper's. Prosper held it tightly and stared forward at the horrible rich man as he was released.

"So you will definitely adopt them, Mr. Massimo?" the sister asked in a joyous tone. "I thought you would. You always said you wanted to adopt siblings."

"Yes," and the man had a brilliant smile on his dirty, lying face. Prosper glared at him while the man wasn't looking. "I always hated to think of siblings being split up in orphanages. I can't imagine what life would have been like without my own older brother."

"Prop... Prop," Bo tugged on Prosper's hand, his voice a soft whisper. Prosper dropped his glare and looked down at his brother. "You is squeezing my hand to tight," Bo whined. Prosper loosened his fingers quickly.

"Sorry," he apologized. Bo rested his face against Prosper's hand.

"It's alright," he replied in the adorable way only a three year old could do.

Mr. Massimo and the sister were talking, but Prosper wasn't listening. He felt like he was being sold into slavery with no choice in the matter. He wanted to go home... to his mother, but he was old enough to understand that it wasn't possible. All he could do now was stay with Bo and protect him... to give him a good life. Judging from the man's clothes and personality, he must be rich. Money... yes, Bo needed a family with enough money to support him. This man obviously had too much money on him or he wouldn't adopt orphans like puppies. On second thought, even pets were loved to some extent. This man was adopting ferns for all he seemed to care.

"Okay. Time to go. You know how to bill it, Sister," Mr. Massimo said. He nodded his goodbye to the sister as he ushered the two children to the door.

He walked so fast that Bo was having trouble keeping up. Prosper paused momentarily to lift Bo into his arms. Mr. Massimo walked so fast that even Prosper had to half run to catch up for his short break. In front of the orphanage was a sleek looking black Ferrari. Mr. Massimo pointed Prosper toward the back seat as he slid into the driver's seat. Prosper understood the motion. They weren't respected enough to be allowed in the front seat of the car.

"I'm only going to say this once, so remember it," Mr. Massimo ordered. He turned around in his seat to look the two children right in the eyes. Prosper heard the door lock click. Mr. Massimo's voice was harsh, his eyes angry. "I expect order and obedience. In my house, the rules are strict and you are to obey them all. I'll let the other children and maids explain most of the rules to you, but let me make this clear. Rule number 1: You never speak ill of me in front of people or ignore a direct order from me! Do you understand? I'll have you shipped off to a military boarding school faster than you can blink."

"Yes sir," Prosper replied. He swallowed heavily. Bo was shaking so fiercely beside him that he barely managed to nod. Mr. Massimo didn't change his expression at all while he turned forward and started the car.

Prosper wondered if this house was really the best place for Bo after all. This man seemed almost abusive. No. If he laid even one finger on Bo, Prosper would kill him. He didn't care what the authorities would do to him afterward... He'd kill him.

"Now, look presentable. You're about to meet the family," Mr. Massimo ordered.

Prosper was about to ask where Mr. Massimo even saw a house when a large white mansion began to grow in the distance. They were driving down a long paved road surrounded by two large fields on either side. A white fence ran down the length of the drive and bushes were planted every 10 feet along the fence right at the posts. Prosper would have said the drive was ruined by the pavement in the center, but he didn't want to chance getting thrown out of his new home before ever getting inside it. Mr. Massimo probably didn't want dirt on his precious car or something stupid like that.

The car came to a silent standstill, but Prosper could still feel the engine running. Mr. Massimo stepped out of the car and a man dressed in a plain suit and wearing a weird hat slipped into the seat. The door by Prosper opened up and a smiling maid ushered him out. Prosper stepped out and then pulled Bo straight into his arms. Bo didn't seem to mind. He cuddled into Prosper's chest.

They walked up five beige steps, being swept even as they ascended them, to a pair of pure black doors. They looked like they could be made of ink, or perhaps pure onyx. Even the handles were black, trimmed in gold - or perhaps it was gold plated. Prosper couldn't even imagine spending so much money on a door to have it be made out of onyx and lined in pure gold.

The maid who'd opened the car door also opened this door. She walked in and stood back to keep the door open as Mr. Massimo and the children entered. Bo gasped. Prosper's eyes widened and his jaw dropped.

The entrance hall was large and sparkling. They could see their reflections in the floor, which appeared to be granite. Three statues stood perfectly spaced around the room, all made of white marble. All three were seahorses, and they were all undercover fountains. Water was sprayed out of the seahorse mouths down into the base of the statues. The statues faced the center of the room, drawing attention to it, though nothing was in it. Well, nothing that would be there permanently.

Right now, Prosper counted 10 maids, 5 butlers, and 4 children. Mr. Massimo walked only a few feet in front of them, making sure to introduce everyone. He only left enough time between introductions on the staff for the person being introduced to say a short 'hello'. Prosper forgot most of the names instantly because of how fast they were going, though he thought one of the maids was named Leah and maybe one of the guys was something like Jonathan. Mr. Massimo only slowed down when he got to the children.

"This is Caterina," he introduced, motioning to a tall, skinny girl with brown hair down to her butt. She looked about 7. He stopped to scrutinize her for a moment. "I thought I mentioned something about the length of your hair. Do something about it soon, girl."

"Of course," she nodded, but Prosper saw the glint in her eyes that said she wouldn't. He smiled at her and held a hand out for her around Bo.

"Hi. I like your hair," he complimented. Her returned smile was a little hesitant. She glanced at Mr. Massimo before she softly replied with a 'thank you'. Prosper cast a short glare at the back of his new 'father'. After almost a whole minute, the introductions continued and everyone in the room seemed to relax.

"The little one is Riccio. Next time, remember to comb properly... I swear...," Mr. Massimo shook his head and rolled his eyes. Riccio's hair spiked in odd angles, and it appeared to be naturally designed that way. He must have been 6 tops. Prosper purposely stopped to poke Riccio's hair and laugh with him about it under their breaths. The staff and children were beginning to notice Prosper was doing this out of spite for Mr. Massimo as well as a general want to do so.

"The tallest one is Mosca. Well done, lad. At least you seem to be in order," Mr. Massimo complimented dryly. Mosca was definitely the tallest, but they were all too young to have had any growth spurt yet so it was really too early to tell. His height made him look almost 10, but he was probably Prosper's age, 8.

Prosper could find nothing to do to get on Massimo's nerves, so he just shook Mosca's hand and muttered a hello. Bo had given everyone a cute stare which they all took as a hello but had yet to say a word. Caterina wondered if Bo had learned to speak yet.

"And finally, my son, at the wrong end of the line... This is Scipio," Mr. Massimo introduced, standing behind his son at the end of the line. Scipio was the only child who seemed worried about the father's warning. He stepped forward in an obvious attempt to get away from his father and held his hand out to shake.

All the other children were wearing the cheapest in fine clothing while Scipio was all dazzled up in possibly the finest child's suit Prosper had ever even heard of. Prosper numbly held out his hand to shake. He was shocked by this boy, the only one older than him. Mr. Massimo had said his son was 9, but he could pass for 10. Though, maybe only a child could tell the difference. Scipio's hair was combed back perfectly and barely reached his eyes.

"Welcome to the family," Scipio greeted. Behind him, his father rolled his eyes. Prosper heard something like 'just like his mother' muttered under the breath of the man he already hated. He ignored it.

"H-Hi...," Prosper greeted, feeling suddenly like an idiot. The other children had seemed like other children. Scipio almost seemed like a teenager already.

"Hi," a small voice spoke, and the whole room stopped to stare at the body in Prosper's arms. "My name is... is Bo!" the boy greeted happily. Scipio grinned and held his hand out to take Bo's tiny hand in a gentle shake.

"It's nice to meet you. My name is Scipio," he introduced himself.

"I know," Bo replied. Caterina grinned widely. Scipio raised his gaze to meet Prosper's and the new orphan heard the question there.

"I'm Prosper," he said.