There was no reason for cruelty. And yet, as I stood at the end of the block watching a teen take his rage out on another, there seemed to be some sort of purpose for it. I approached the violent teen, careful to walk around the unconscious boys around him. Judging from his blue uniform, he attended Sarayashiki Junior High, though the kids at his feet were from a different school on the other side of town.

The orange haired teen had many bruises on his face, and a scowl that could break a mirror. I had seen this teen before, fighting thug teens from my own school. He was Kazuma Kuwabara and had walked me to my neighborhood a few times. The only problem was he was too violent, not pulling his punches from the teens that were obviously weaker than him.

"And just what do you want?!" He yelled, glaring down at me, "I'm on a time limit, you know!"

I stepped out of his way, watching him run down the sidewalk he possibly could. What a bizarre encounter. Shrugging it off, I moved around the rest of the unconscious group, heading to the library where my brother was waiting.

The entire day had been strange. I blamed it on lack of sleep, but there was no mistaking being stalked. My stalker never really showed himself, but I was fortunate to run into Kazuma. That seemed to have at least delay his prowling.

The sun had nearly disappeared entirely when I made it to the library. I hated going to the library. The terrible smell of dust and still air engulfed me the moment I stepped in. The only noise to be heard was the annoying buzzing of the overhead lights. The unflattering light only made the place more miserable. The carpet was worn, almost nonexistent in front of the bookshelves from people constantly pacing by.

There was a new librarian, I noticed. She was young, probably a new graduate from college. It didn't go unnoticed that the other bookworms were checking out the newest member of the wretched place. Her attention, when not on the books in front of her, was focused on a red head in the corner of the room surrounded by other teenage girls.

Disgusting.

If they knew how Shuichi acted at home, they wouldn't be so buddy buddy. Withholding my rage, I headed to the table, placing my bag in the remaining empty chair. Ignoring the looks, I headed to search for an autobiography, any autobiography.

Stupid book reports. At least it wasn't a group effort report. I would have chosen death before doing a book report in a group. The last report I was placed with Yu Kaito who refused to accept any work I put forth, claiming it was below his standards and that I should be smarter since I was the great Shuichi Minamino's twin.

My fury caused my body to shake as I glared at the books in front of me. Pointless.

"You okay, Pip?" Eiko asked. It was her touch that brought me from my enraged daze. My eyes moved from the books to my wrist where she had grabbed me.

Eiko was my best friend and very easy to read. The adorable brown haired girl had painted her nails, something she only did when she had been asked out. I moved my eyes to her brown gaze as she blushed under my knowing look.

"You don't know him," she mumbled, her face turning redder.

I didn't point out her fidgeting, her telltale of lying. My attention went back to the books as I tried to find some sort of interesting topic.

"When do I get to meet him?" I asked as I pulled a book about some millionaire from the shelf.

"It's not that serious," she replied, fidgeting still, though she had calmed down.

I smirked, "You gotta give me details, Eiko. Don't leave me in the dark on this."

A blissful sigh escaped her lips as she leaned against the bookshelf, a love-dazed look on her face, "He's wonderful, Pippa. He knows all the right words and really listens. Ugh, I wish you could meet him. He said he wants to go on a few dates before we start anything official, though."

"I'm holding you to that," I told her as I pulled another book from the shelf. This one was about murder, and I didn't feel like reading and doing a book report on such an interesting topic. "Who are you doing your report on?"

"Anne Frank," she smiled. "It will be super easy."

"Great," I grumbled. I raised an eyebrow as I pulled a rather questionably old book from the shelf. It was a book about someone's life in a place called Demon World and how he managed to survive the wasteland.

I opened the book, double checking to make sure it was considered an autobiography. "How could this be considered an autobiography?" I voiced, curious and awestruck.

"It must be like those books where people died and spent time in heaven before being returned to life and writing books about that experience," Eiko said as she followed me to the table.

"Maybe," I mumbled as I opened the book.

Just as I started reading, Shuichi closed it, earning a glare from me. "What's your problem?"

"It's almost seven o'clock. Mother will be waiting for us." His emerald eyes moved over the barely readable title of the book, and he frowned, "I figured you would at least pick some sort of role model, not some fool's fantasy."

I tossed my book into my bag, "I don't have role models. They're pointless and only disappoint."

The librarian watched us leave, her eyes focusing on my brother. The moment we stepped out, I scoffed, "Even the librarian has a crush on you."

"Is that jealousy I hear?" He countered.

"Yes, dear brother. I just wish so badly I could be like you."

"Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit."

"I never have been as intelligent as you, so try to not fault my banter," I told him evenly as I opened the door to our home.

The smell of smoke overwhelmed me, but I rushed inside anyway. "Mother!"

My heart stopped when I saw the flames in the kitchen. I could barely see her black hair through the flames, but that was motivation enough. Lifting my shirt over my nose, I pushed through the scalding air to my mother. Luckily she had passed out near the back door, but I could see the handle glowing from the growing inferno. The regret came long after I picked up the cast iron skillet, throwing it as hard as I possibly could out the glass door.

It was a difficult process for me to carry my mother to the door, but Shuichi had appeared on the other side of the glass, taking mother from my shaking arms, and pulling me from the room just as the oven exploded.

By the time the ambulances arrived, I was wearing my brother's shirt, his jacket draped over our unconscious mother who had lost a good bit of her clothing in the flames. What remained of my clothing had been used to wrap my wounds.

None of that mattered as I watched the house turn from an inferno to an empty plot of land covered in soot. Mother was being taken to the hospital immediately, Shuichi riding with her before a separate ambulance took me.

As the adrenaline began to wear off, I realized my pain. My throat was nearly closed off from the burns within it. Blisters were forming on my cheeks, and a lot of my hair had been singed off. I couldn't feel anything but pain coming from my hands where they were treating me for third degree burns.

I thought it would be more painful, but I almost felt relieved. Slowly, the pain became more and more of a reality until I couldn't handle it anymore. I don't know what happened after that.

Five days later, I was released from the hospital. Mother, however, was going to be staying much longer. The doctors didn't know what had happened, only that she had some strange blood disorder that had only been seen a few times before. They could only delay the inevitable, but they hoped to find a cure along the way.

Shuichi and I stood in front of the mansion our aunt owned. We hated coming to this place.

"Our manners should be kept in check while we are here. I still have my suspicions of her. We cannot trust her," Shuichi said as the large gate began to open.

It was hard to believe we had a relative like this woman. Though the borderline cruelty she showed could be seen in some of Shuichi's actions, even he wouldn't send a child to fight dogs. Unfortunately, we had nowhere else to go.

A butler waited for us at the door. He couldn't have been much older than Shuichi and I. I hesitated at the doorstep as Shuichi continued. There was something very evil inside that mansion, and I didn't want to get any closer.

When Shuichi turned to me, I knew he felt it too, but he was able to overlook it. "Are you alright?"

With a nod, I managed a smile, "Just...this is real."

Stepping up, the butler took my bag, his dark eyes glancing over me before leading us in. A large foyer greeted us. Despite the tall ceiling, I felt suffocated. Large portraits on the wall shrank the room, and the large chandelier felt as though it could fall at any moment.

"This way, Miss," a maid said, offering to show me to my temporary quarters.

She took my bag from the butler and led me down a long hallway, more portraits lining the walls. It was a lovely home, otherwise. The floor was a sparkling marble, the walls painted a rich brown.

She stopped in front of a wooden door with my name on it. With how secretive my aunt was, it was no doubt to keep me from wandering. I had no interest in her secrets. I just wanted to go home.

The maid opened the door, revealing a very lavender room. The bed was large, probably a king size, and there was a balcony to overlook the garden. I even had my own bathroom.

"Thank you," I told the maid as she left me to settle.

I didn't have much with me except two school uniforms Eiko was letting me borrow and toiletries. As I looked over the room, I realized how hopelessly alone I was. I had no idea where Shuichi was. And what was this feeling? An overwhelming sense of doom lied on my mind, making me even question the bed sheets and if they would try to kill me in my sleep.

Making my way through the room, I noticed a vase of flowers, lavender and chamomile. So, this was some sort of resting place. The plants had never helped me sleep before, and it certainly wouldn't start now. I made my way to the balcony where I saw a field of stone lined with lavender roses and hydrangeas. A fountain had been placed in the center of some white rose bushes, the centerpiece being a naked woman and man. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I kept to the shadows of my room, my eyes following an odd man. He wore the butler uniform, but he didn't carry himself as a butler. In fact, that butler and maid didn't have such a humble disposition either. Should they? Shuichi and I were guests for an indefinite time. My stomach twisted in discomfort at the thought. I didn't want to be there any longer than necessary.

A knock caught my attention, and without permission, the butler walked in, Shuichi behind him. I ignored the butler's annoyed gaze, focusing on my brother who had his bag in his hand. "I thought you could use a roommate."

I smiled as he stepped into the room, feeling more at ease in the place. "That's a fancy way of saying 'I'm lonely.'"

He chuckled, "Perhaps."

Shuichi had changed since the accident. It was as though the thought of losing Mother had cleared his mind of all his bratty ways, and he was the perfect child. He was no longer rude to me. For the first time, he was treating me like his sister, not just another classmate he had been burdened with.

"Why are you really here, Shuichi?" I asked as we sat on the bed.

"I would not risk you dying here." He placed his hand on mine, "I cannot lose my sister and my mother."

I smiled, resting my head on his shoulder, "Thanks."

Silence took the room, both of us enjoying the other's company. It was bizarre. Fifteen years we had been at each other's throats, but it felt like that had never happened.

"Your wounds are healing faster than I thought," Shuichi said as he touched my face.

"Yeah, my face did heal up pretty fast. If only my hair would grow that fast," I grumbled, tugging at the chin length hair I now had.

Shuichi laughed, "It will grow back."

"I know, but it's still annoying."

The door opened again, the maid stepping in this time, "Supper is ready."

I looked at my brother as he stood. His gaze was very steady. It was an intimidation tactic of his that had worked on everyone but me. I could give the same look, though it wasn't nearly as terrifying as my brother's. Again, this look had successfully made the girl back away, closing the door behind her.

"We must be careful, Pippa. I do not believe we are in immediate danger, but I do not know if it is safe."

I stood, crossing my arms over my chest as I looked at the closed door. "It can't take long to buy a house, can it? You have authority over everything right now, until Mother gets better. We can get a house and leave."

"Yes, I believe that will be the best line of action. Shall we search tomorrow?"

I headed to the door, resting my bandaged hand on the doorknob, "The sooner the better. Something evil lives here' and I do not want to be near it any longer than necessary."

"Agreed," he murmured as I opened the door.

As we walked down the hall, I noticed odd noises coming from inside the walls. Laughter and jeers. It sounded like a party, and a vulgar one at that. Shuichi stopped walking, staring at the wall as though he could see the action. I didn't want to know what could trouble him. He looked disgusted, and maybe even a bit ashamed.

Before we could venture any further, he placed his hand on my shoulder, "Let's grab our bags and get a hotel room. I do not wish to stay here any longer."

After gathering our things, we left the mansion. Once outside the gate, a weight seemed to be lifted from my shoulders. Shuichi relaxed as well. We didn't speak as we headed to the nearest hotel to check in.

"Do you think we should look for an apartment?" I asked him as I sat on my bed.

"Apartment? Not a house?"

I awkwardly kicked at the floor, "You know, in case Mother..."

He stood silently, thinking over my words. "Yes, perhaps an apartment would be best. However, we will continue searching for a house until we know for sure Mother will not survive."

I nodded, "Yes. That may be best."

I stood up, stretching as I pulled some clean clothes from my bag so I would have something to sleep in. After a long shower, I had to wipe the condensation from the mirror. Gross. My face was still rough looking from the blisters and the dark circles under my eyes had only gotten darker with the lack of sleep. Being plagued with nightmares was hard to deal with. They felt so real. Sometimes, I could wake up still feeling the sensations of the dream.

My most recent nightmare had felt very evil. There was a great need for murder and blood. I could still hear their voices. Under the screams of fallen soldiers were giggles of children playing, then just fading away as if they no longer existed. It was sad, and I hated it.

I stepped out of the bathroom and headed to my bed where Shuichi sat, a box of pizza on the night stand. "Why are you eating on my bed? You have your own bed."

"And I'm sitting on it," he answered with a sly smile as he continued eating. "It's your favorite."

I scrunched my nose at the pepperoni but smiled nonetheless. My favorite pizza was pepperoni, could peel the pepperoni off. It was a pretty sweet deal since Shuichi loved pepperoni.

"Pippa, can I ask you something?" Shuichi asked as he picked up another piece.

"Yeah, sure," I agreed carelessly. What's the worst he could ask?

"Can you tell me about your dreams?"

I paused mid bite, looking at him. How many years had it been since I talked about them? He couldn't care less when I had my first nightmare, and I couldn't remember how long ago that was.

I agreed, "What do you want to know?"

"What are they about?" He asked.

I sighed as I rubbed the back of my neck, my attention moving to the wall. "Well, they're reoccurring dreams. Most recently, I've had a dream about soldiers getting killed and something happening to children. I try to avoid sleeping long enough to dream, or sleep at all."

"That would be an unfortunate end. Perhaps your dreams will be better, now that you have a brother."

I smiled at him. He was really going to try. I chuckled as I climbed into bed. We were impossible to deal with when we were butting heads. Chaos seemed to follow us wherever we went. If anything could start a fight, the world shook. We could argue for hours, even turn violent.

But, we were going to be on the same team. There would be a new type of fear in the world. Shuichi and I were on even ground. Could the world handle that? They would have to learn how.

As I closed my eyes, I realized I did feel more at ease. I had a brother. I couldn't fight the tired smile as an odd spring scent filled me. Everything would be fine.