Prologue

"Yong Soo."

The twelve-year-old boy looked up, blinking in surprise. His oldest brother, Yao, stood in the doorframe. Yong Soo, upon seeing the sad look on his elder brother's face, couldn't help the faint feeling of fear that coiled in his chest.

"Yao, da-ze?" Yong Soo chirped, quickly bouncing up to his feet.

Yao motioned for the younger boy to sit back down, and even took a seat beside him. He hesitated, gazing at Yong Soo with a regretful look. Carefully, he wound an arm around the younger boy's shoulders.

"Due to...certain circumstances," he started slowly, "We're making a few changes. For... the time being, we're going to split up, aru."

Yong Soo, for the longest of moments, froze. His heart stopped in his chest. Even if he was young, he wasn't stupid. He knew exactly what 'circumstances' his older brother was talking about.

You see, they were a family of eight. Leon (Hong Kong), Mei (Taiwan), Kiku, Kai (Thailand), Jade (Vietnam), Chio (Macau), Yong Soo himself, and Yao.

They were all related by blood, though technically not siblings. Mei and Jade were twins, Kai was their older brother, and they were Yao's younger cousins. Yong Soo was also one of Yao's little cousins. Kiku, Leon, and Chio were Yao's actual siblings.

With such a large family, and Yao being the only one old enough to work (age 18, mind you) they had a lot of financial problems.

"We're splitting up?" Yong soo's voice was barely above a whisper. He could barely breathe, and his chest felt as if it was about to collapse. Who's leaving who? Where are we going to go?

"Do you remember your older brother?" Yao said softly. "Hyung Soo? I managed to track him down... and...he offered to take you in."

Yong Soo could only nod helplessly, biting back sobs and tears as his whole world came crashing down around him.

"I'm sorry." Yao whispered. And truly, he was. He could only hope that Yong Soo knew that.

Nine Days Later

August 3rd was a day that Yong Soo would remember as long as he lived. It was the time their little family was splitting, tearing at the seams.

Mei, Jade, Kai and Chio were all going to live with one of their distant uncles (India). Leon and Kiku were staying with Yao, and Yong Soo was going to stay with his fully grown, 24 year-old brother.

Tears blurred his vision yet he didn't dare let them fall.

"See you later, da-ze!" He shouted, calling out, waving to his siblings as they became smaller and smaller, farther and farther away.