A/N: I rewrote the chapter, adding new words and removing some. Hahaha. All thanks to Azelmu, I might just be able to update this again. :)

"Rey, wake up." Erika said as she gently shook her little brother. The raven-haired child woke up and beamed at his sister. No matter how sick he was, Rey was always happy to see his sister.

"You have to eat. I still have to go to school." Erika smiled sweetly at her brother before helping him sit up and feeding him. Erika was the elder among the two, and she always took care of Rey. Ever since their parents died in the accident a few years ago, she had assumed the responsibility of being his mother, father, and of course, sister.

After feeding her brother, Erika kissed him on the forehead and let him return to sleep. She quickly washed the dishes and grabbed her school bag--she was running late! Without any noise, she left their home and began running to her school--the one and only Domino High.

'Erika's not here yet... I fear she might be late again. If she does, she'll get a suspension for getting late five times.'

'God, help me. I don't want to get suspended. Please...' Erika thought as Domino High came to sight. She all but barged into the building, not caring to rest anymore. Finally, class A-1 became visible to her and she slowed down to catch her breath.

"Erika! It's good that you're not late!" Her teacher, Mr. Yohiko greeted.

"I'm also glad that I'm not late sir. Good morning." Erika smiled and bowed, before making her way to her seat. Yugi waved at her as she passed by, and she gladly returned the gesture.

After class, Mr. Yohiko called for Erika.

"Sir? You called for me?"

"I'm really worried about you Erika. Really. You've been late for four days now and I don't want you to be suspended. You have the intellect, the potential... I don't want to waste that." Mr. Yohiko said worriedly.

"I'm okay sir. You don't have to worry about me." Erika forced herself to smile, just to look more convincing. She appreciated her teacher worrying about her, really—but she didn't want anyone else to be involved unnecessarily in her problems.

"Who are you living with? I wish to talk to them regarding this case."

"No! Don't!" Erika suddenly found herself looking into the green eyes of her teacher.

"Why?"

"Please... You'll be doing us both a favor if you didn't do that." Erika said in a hushed tone.

"You're my student. It's my duty to help you, whether or not it'll do me any good."

"Sensei, I... I need to be honest with you. My Uncle is an alcoholic and... he's not very sociable. I don't want to involve any outsiders as much as possible. I... Rey's sick and... I'm juggling my schedule. But I'm managing, really I am." The raven-haired teen tried to explain clearly through her tears.

"Your record says otherwise. I need to talk to your Uncle." Mr. Yohiko persisted.

"Please... Sir, don't... He'll just get mad and beat us up. If you really want to do me a favor, kindly let me be." With that, she turned for the door and was about to open it when it opened from the other side.

"I need to talk to you Mr. Yohiko." Kaiba said, trying his best to ignore the crying girl in front of him. It wasn't that he wasn't curious, but he knew that during these times, it was best to not meddle with other's affairs.

"Come in Kaiba." Mr. Yohiko took off his glasses and sighed. Erika excused herself and came out before Kaiba could come in. Kaiba merely let her pass; he was not in the mood to argue with anyone right now, most especially with a crying girl.

Erika wiped her tears away. She was ignored the stares the popular girls were giving her--she didn't even want to think about them today. Ever since Rey got sick four days ago, she knew she had more important matters to dwell on. But that didn't mean she didn't view her life as a living hell—she did. She was sick and tired of it, having to carry so many responsibilities, even as a teenager. Sometimes she wished it'd all just be lifted from her hands, and she wouldn't have to think about it. It didn't mean she hated her brother though. No, she loved him. But it was too much for her to handle. Her Uncle was an alcoholic and oftentimes made Rey drink alcohol.

"Erika."

That voice made Erika shiver in fright. She turned around and saw her Uncle.

"U-Uncle Jin? W-What is it?" Erika asked.

"It's Rey. His fever is rising and I don't know what to do with him." She didn't need to hear more from him. Erika ran out of the building, forgetting all about her studies, the suspension awaiting her for cutting classes and Mr. Yohiko. All she cared about was her brother and she wouldn't risk having him leave her.

"Rey!" The distressed teenager kneeled down beside the little boy lying on the futon. Rey was breathing rapidly and his face was turning red. Erika immediately got a cold compress and some medicine for the boy to drink. Once Rey had taken in the medicines, he started calming down.

"Oneesan... Uncle... He made me... He made me drink again." Rey whispered. Carefully, Erika took his fragile figure into her arms.

"I'm sorry Rey... I won't leave you alone again. I'm sorry…"

"Don't say sorry oneesan. It's okay..."

"I love you, Rey. And I'll get us out of here, I swear." She kissed his forehead, and finally hummed a lullaby to put him to sleep.

(end)

A/N: Ummm. Yeah. :)) You don't have to review. Just. Yeah. XD