Hello there~ Anyway I changed the way my of writing because it's easier for me, it'll be from Misaki's POV this chapter!

To Guest o3o: Back when I wrote religiously I used to pop stories out as they came to me, causing me to have an overload of stories and like close to no updates. This is the only story I have now and it's safe to say that I'm planning on sticking around and finishing this. As to only Misaki being female...Saruhiko is the one who got Misaki dragged into this genderbend so he's going to be turned into a girl too but I threw a surprise in for you here and the next chap.

To Guest Guess: Surprise! It's both!

And since I don't want to leave anybody out...Shirayukikiss: I love genderbends too~Probably more than I should XD

I no own K or any of it's characters...if I did Sarumi would be a thing already~


Saru's acting weird, just basically said that he said that he still cares! After all this time...I had given up on him caring and suddenly he's all 'Yeah if you were dying I'd come to see you' like what the hell? What? To laugh at my dying body? Or like- huh? I don't even know anymore! Even if he did mean he'd see me in a caring way, that's great but now what? Make-up? After he's hurt me, after I hurt him…there's no taking that back. I mean I tried to be you know…friendly but he shut me out and went all 'fight me Misaki~'. Was I just imagining things? Like what the fuck am I supposed to think? Now things are awkward. He's really quiet, I'm quiet and…and this!

"I said put me down!" I hit him on the back a few times but the most I got was a 'tsk', typical. I tried to leaned back trying shimmy my legs to the ground but he just grabs them and readjusted me from kidnapper carry to bridal style and continued. At this rate, he'll be carrying me like a fucking princess into blue territory. I'll fucking die of embarrassment! "Look man, my knee is fine. I can walk, you know I heal real quick." He had got impatient like the bastard he is and started carrying me again, I don't think he has ever willingly carried me this long even in middle school!

"..." Okaaay, let's try again.

"I've been walking on it for two weeks now, so I'm pretty used to the pain." I tried the calm approach hoping to snap him out of this mood.

"…" REALLY?!

"Arg! You stupid monkey I said put me down before I really fucking hurt you! I'm so serious, you bastard! Saruhikoooo!" I struggled but it was too late I was surrounded by blues all stopped and staring at the two of us.

I hate my big mouth! I hate this shitty monkey! And I hate my fucking face cause I knew I was blushing like Mr. Kusanagi when he's wiping down his bar! I mean why wouldn't it be? It's embarrassing being carried like some chick in a romance movie! I'm a dude dammit!

"Isn't that Yatagarasu?" Some random blue pointed me out and more eyes were looking at me. I reached for my beanie to find it wasn't there...had I had it I would've pulled it over my eyes, cause this is just too much.

"Lookie, isn't that Princess Misaki?" Some bastard chuckled, thanks to the Monkey everybody knows about my girly name. I opened my mouth about ready to kick some blue ass but I was jerked violently toward the voice and all of a sudden we were face to face with the guy.

"That name will never pass your filthy mouth again, understood?" Even I tensed up, hell, since when did his voice sound that threatening?!

"O-okay. I-I mean yessir!" The guy saluted and ran off, which was probably smart.

"I didn't dismiss him." I turned to face him and man did Saru look like he wanted to run him down.

"W-wha…Do you talk to all your comrades that way?!" That was fucking terrifying! How the hell do they even function here? They're always spoutin' shit like 'Scepter4 is the best a group blankity blank blank.' How the hell are they going to be best at group blah blah blah if there's no sense of unity! HOMRA prides itself in its unity, even if you got shit with another member you take it out of the bar or forget about it. And here Saru is, down talking his comrade in the damn lobby! There's no way he's getting along with anyone here if he's talking to his fellow clansmen like that. "Do you even talk to anyone here outside of giving and taking orders?"

I've seen many of Saru's faces. I've seen him laugh, seen him cry, seen him angry, seen him hurt, seen him embarrassed, you name it. And I can confidently say nobody knows his faces like I do, but this face…I've seen it only once before and at the time I did I really hoped I never would again. Something is really wrong with him for him to feel guilty. Bastard has a clear conscious for a lot of things that he shouldn't, so this was weird to say the least. Guilty about what? I have no clue, certainly isn't for that guy whose head he bit off. Could he be thinking over this 'friends' thing?

"That's none of your business." He grumbled before heading toward the elevator.

"The hell it isn't! I don't know how you take 'I'd see you if you were dying'. But I take that a sign that you still care for me. So..." Oh shit, that was close. I was about to say something really weird just now. God, I don't know what I would've done without Kamamoto's training*.

"Sooo?" Saru raised a brow, he looked curious. Even though I wish he'd drop it, it's good he's out of that funk he was in earlier.

"F-forget it!" I shook my head.

"Don't say anything if you don't intend to finish saying it, it's annoying." He just rolled his eyes and finally set me down. I hopped to the grab the railing while Saru ran his ID and pressed the elevator button. The whole elevator turned blue and the thing actually started to talk asking Saru for a passcode and to identify who I was.

The elevator lights turned dark blue for a second as it started to move but then turned to normal and started playing classical music. Fancy ass blues and their fancy ass elevators. Who even pays for all this stuff?

"If you still have something you want to say, say it." Saru's voice cut through my starting to get weird theories on how this place gets funded.

"I was going say that it isn't ya know...strange if I was worried about you." He just stood there and stared at me for a while before giving a small scoff.

"You're really embarrassing." He shook his head, removing his glasses and cleaning them. He does that when he's embarrassed! Guess I managed to embarrass him a bit, wasn't the intention but who cares? Hah! Karma's a bitch, isn't it? Wait...how was that embarassin-oh. Damn it! I was so distracted with the funding thing I just answered him automatically!

"S-Shut up! That's the last time I worry about your sorry ass." He 'tch'ed again and turned to look out the elevator's view of the lobby.

"I only need one person's eyes on me, I don't care for the rest." He didn't turn to face me but I could hear he was serious but still...

"Heh. Whose embarrassing now?" I stuck my tongue out, his head whipped around and he gave me the most irritated look.

"Tsk. Annoying." He looked away, for real why is he mad this time? I just said what he said to me back to him.

"Hey. I just sai-" I had leaned forward to see his face and it was pink. "W-w-why are you blushing?!" I grabbed his face to make sure and I was right! C-c-could he have been talking about me? That was a joke an-

"You're imagining things." The elevator stopped suddenly and shook.

With my hands on Saru's face and me leaning my weight on my uninjured leg. I fell on Saru and him not ready for my weight hit the wall behind him.

"Oh. My bad. You alright?" I apologized taking my hands off his face and steadied myself with the rail on either side of him.

"Eh-hem...am I interrupting something?" Standing there was the Blue Witch himself, for whatever reason a crepe in his hand and smile on his face. "I can take the stairs if you two need more time. Though I would suggest moving that to Fushimi's office, I'll let this slide since Fu-chan doesn't do much-"

"I don't know what perverted things your thinking of but they're wrong." Saru left the elevator and I walked in behind him, trying not to look like a complete fool in front of a king by hopping.

"Sooo you two aren't fighting?" The blue king just sat there eating his crepe in amusement.

"Don't play like you meant something else." Saru growled before pulling out his PDA and messing with it as he walked on completely ignoring his king.

"You even talk to your king that way?!" I gawked, I mean I don't exactly kiss the ground that Anna walks on but if she asked me if I could, I would. I don't know whether to take this as them being close or them not getting along.

"Oh, my apologies Yatagarasu. Welcome to Scepter4." The blue witch stuffed the crepe wrapper into his jacket pocket and dabbed the corner of his mouth with a napkin.

He said that almost as if he were expecting me, then he had the nerve to just stand there as if I were some obstacle that popped up during a video game and you have to wait until it moves or talks. It was fucking annoying. So I just moved to what was important: My rights as a clansman. This guy knows the rules like it was some kind of holy book, he has to know that my king has the rights to decide to do with me if a strain were to use their powers on me, not the code enforcers.

"Yeah, well. What do you people want? I missed my first job and I have to get to my second."

"I've heard you are holding multiple jobs, I assure you I will compensate you. However I have a proposal. One that I think might benefit you and your king."

"Well you going to explain or what?" This guy should be an actor with all this unnecessary drama he likes to create.

"I want you to accompany Fushimi-kun on his mission. It's not an order, of course. Just an opportunity that could benefit you if you so choose." Cheh, as if I would want anything from the guy who killed Mikoto. I'm only restraining myself because Anna said not to give him shit about it.

"And how exactly will this 'benefit' HOMRA?" I gritted my teeth and started listing colors, something Anna gave me to calm down. Red, maroon, mauve, lilac, purple, green. yellow, chartreuse...chartreuse? What the hell kind of color is that? Wait! No! Focus!

"What will be discussed at that meeting will be highly classified, I do think HOMRA's knowledge of such news would be more than crucial."

"So what yer sayin is that this meeting will be discussing HOMRA?" Just get to the point already! "And why is it that Saruhiko has to change genders for it?"

"The host of the meeting has androphobia-a fear of men if you will. As to the content of the meeting, I am not allowed to say. It is why I insist you that you attend." He smiled sarcastically. Yeah, that's right! Sarcastically! That smile says 'Yes, that's what I said you deaf peasant'. Bastard! I prefer Saru's brand of sarcasm to this pricks. At least you know when Saru's being sarcastic even if he's smiling.

"Who told you about the NS routes?" Saru came back from his office. At least I think that's where he went since he came back with his floaty laptop thingy. Guess, he's doing work? There were a lot of red blips on the screen and as he typed they started to disappear a bit faster than they appeared.

"NS?" How the hell am I supposed to know what that means? I don't speak Scepter4 lingo.

"Non-surveillance routes." Saru sighed before he typed the last blip away and turned the screen off.

"Oh um, Kamamoto told me that Mr. Kusanagi gave it to him, but Anna drew it." I went through my pockets and pulled the paper out to show them.

"If it's Mr. Kusanagi, then he got it from Lieutenant." Saru picked up the paper and shoved it in his kings face.

"Yes, I gave clearance to such thing. Although she told me Izumo asked for it himself." So Mr. Kusanagi asked for them? Why?

"Hm." "Yes, indeed." Both blues were starting to piss me off by just standing there adjusting their glasses at each other.

"You guys seeing something I'm not?!" I prompted.

"Mr. Kusanagi set you up to run into me." Saru smiled sadistically, bet he didn't feel too good about being played but it seems he chose to focus on one of my leaders getting one over me instead. "This route, if you had kept pass the convenient store, you would've run into the front cameras of Scepter4's gates." He explained further.

"And you'd come running." His King chimed in and for once I was glad that bastard opened his mouth. Saru's face was well worth it.

"I've had enough." He 'tsk'ed and crossed his arms but he didn't leave this time.

"Hm, yes, your grievance is well noted. Back to the matter at hand, this route s a rather roundabout way to get to your workplace, give or take by ten minutes but with the large distance between where HOMRA is to where you work is a great distance within itself. It's no wonder you didn't notice. The plan itself was worth applause, perhaps I should be more forthcoming toward contacting that man."' The Blue witch took the lead in explaining it to me, in too many words. Seriously, I didn't need to know all of that.

"So, Mr. Kusanagi and you had the same idea?" I tried to confirm the core of all of that.

"That is what it appears to be." He nods. Goddammnit! Just say 'yes', you don't have to get smart with me or make it fancy! This is probably why Mikoto didn't like the guy!

"I gotta call my people, hold on." I pressed a few buttons on my watch and called.

"Yo." He sounded super casual today, meaning he knew damn right what this call was about!

"Hey. Did you set me up with the blues?" I tried to keep it at a whisper. Rival kingship or allies, I don't want anyone else to know HOMRA's business.

"Oh that. Yeah sorry Yata, I really needed you to do this but we promised Mikoto we wouldn't touch it."

"Touch what?" What the hell is he talking about? A promise with Mikoto? About what? Me? What'd I do?

"Nothing. Just behave yourself and keep safe till you report back." There he goes again, either he moms me to death or treats me like a punk.

"I would've gone if you asked, I'm not a kid." Turned and started walking down the hall, the Blue Witch and the Monkey were starting to stare.

"I know. Anna and I know that we can count on you for anything. It was us, not you." Bullshit! Sometimes I feel like Mr. Kusanagi will never trust me with anything. So what what if I can't stay calm sometimes? I can still breathe and think through it like anyone else!

"Whatever..." I heard a few whooshing sounds meaning he must be putting me on speaker.

"Misaki?" That tiny little voice I'd recognize anywhere, so I had to take a deep breath and gather myself before answering.

"Oh, hi Anna!" I managed to come up with a happy voice even with all this shit going on. If it's for Anna, I'd do anything. Not because she's my king, not even because she was a really special person to Mikoto, it's because Anna is Anna. She's a smart, kind, mature, and considerate. Just all around good kid. One who said that I'm like a big bro to her.

"Are you mad?" A loaded question meaning she's trying to see how I'm taking this.

"No, I'm not mad just a little frustrated. Promise." There's no keeping secrets from her even over the phone plus I make it a habit not to lie to people especially those who I call my family.

"Okay." And with that the call ended. She sounded satisfied...well at least she didn't baby me like Mr. Kusanagi. I can behave! I'm a 20 year old man, damn it!

"They agreed." I sighed, so I'm being turned into a girl to attend a meeting for a formal rival kingship. This is a new level of weird.

"Then it's agreed upon then. I will make a pass for a Ms. Misaki Yata." A pass? Like the ones needed to get anywhere in this building? Why?

"Huh? Whatta I need a pass for? Can't I go home?"

"We can't run the risk of those who know you to see you, it'll compromise the strain who did this, and it'd be a breach of our agreement." Oh, if that's the case I guess. Can't help but to be pro-strain rights, not only cause Anna's one but because there are a few that are good people and should have protection rights like everybody else.

"So your telling me even HOMRA doesn't know about me turning into a girl?" So Mr. Kusanagi knew about this meeting and was trying to get me into it but didn't know that the head lady is man-phobic.

"I trust lieutenant Awashima with her choice of words with her exchanges with Izumo Kusanagi. So most likely the answer is no." Again man...just say 'no'.

"Well shit anything else I should know about?" I questioned. I have a feeling that if I didn't ask this bastard, that he'd say nothing and enjoy watching me run around confused.

"You will be staying with Fushimi, in his dormitory per our previous agreement. Also the change will occur when you sleep, also you were infected so you too are also contagious for 24 hours." Thanks...oh powerful great blue witch for gracing me with this important ass information.

"Tsk."

"Here. Go buy you girls something nice courtesy of Scepter4." He pulled out his wallet and gave me a blue card with the name: Munakata Reisi, printed in big letters. Did this guy seriously just give me his personal credit card and not expect me to overcharge it? "I'll just bill anything over my card limit to HOMRA." Bastard got me...oh my god that face! He looked so amused at my reaction...I change my mind this guy and the monkey definitely getting along.

"You really are a blue witch."

"Oh? I haven't heard that in a while. I imagine Suo-I mean your king spread the seed then?" Spread the seed? What the hell? I get it-like he planted the seed and it grew, as in everyone knows about it but that phrase is just no.

"Yeah, it used to be blue bitch before Anna." I smirked thinking it'd get under his skin, but instead he surprised me.

"I see, how endearing." The guy smiled sadly then turned to get in the elevator. I don't want to even think it but maybe he's taking Mikoto's death the hardest.

"What does he mean by 'buy something nice'? Like food?" I turned to Saru and handed him the card. Hell, I don't want to be responsible for losing the Blue King's credit card.

"I knew you were an idiot but this? It means to go shopping for clothes."

"C-clothes? Like in girly stores...with girls?" I can't even go to the mall because how many girls are there! Girls in the stores, at the kiosks, in the food courts, at checkout counters, everywhere! Not to mention those l-lingerie shops, I just can't stand it. There's a reason I buy online, but even if I did that it wouldn't get here on time...

"Oh yes, how could I forget you're scared of girls? How does it feel? Becoming the thing you fear the most? Think about it Misaki, we have to buy bras and panties. How are you possibly going to survive?"

"T-there's no way in hell I'm doing that! C-can't you send someone else? Like I dunno, a girl to pick them up?"

"Only woman here is the lieutenant and she's off duty and the only girl you know is little Anna."

"N-not true. I know a girl...kind of, but-" There's no way that shopkeeper is going to see me an not try to hug all up on me and who knows if he-she...she might do if Saru's there. "Ah! My sister!"

"You're going to wear your sisters panties? That a new level of pervert." His face scrunched up at the thought, mine would too if that was what I actually meant. That's gross.

"No! Our grandma always sends her shit on Christmas. Clothes she thinks are cool or s-sexy. But check it, Megumi is smart and she puts them in boxes and gives them to charity. I'll just drop by the house an-"

"Your stepdad." Saru's voice dropped as if he was threatening me.

"I'll wait till he leaves or something, I ain't stupid. I'll be fine." I'm sure he's thinking about the incident, but that was way back when I was really weak so it's not the same. "I'll head to HOMRA on the way for my skateboard, so bye."

I began to limp to the elevator, my knee still feeling stiff and hurt. Don't get me wrong nothing was broken but something hard formed at the back of my knee and it made me feel the bruise every time I moved it. It was annoying as hell, but it didn't hurt as much as it used to.

"Wait!" He caught my hand as I walked by, I tried to shake him off but he just held my hand tighter and stared at me.

"What-are-you-doing?" I tried to break free from his grip but he held firm; just staring at me like he was trying find something.

"..."

"AGAIN? What is with you today?" Saru used to do this about every time I said 'bye' when we were both at HOMRA. Never got what that was about but I wasn't expecting him to do this again.

"It's the hair..." Oh, I almost forgot about my hair problem.

"Heh? Just cause I look like how I did back then doesn't give you the right to touch all over me!" Ah crap! That sounded harsher than I wanted it to.

"Ho? Someone finally told you, huh?" His face darkened and he let go walking ahead of me and into the elevator.

I'm not really that mad about that stuff in the past. I was a different man back then. I didn't question it. I didn't mind it. Welcomed it even. So why should I be mad now as a different man? If there should be someone to be mad at it's myself. BUT! It's not like I can tell him all of that.

"We'll talk about that later. After all, we have all week. Anyway, I can handle myself." I grunted pushing the closing elevator doors open as the bastard just watch me struggle with them.

"The captain put you in my charge, I'll drive you. We also need food, so I have to go out anyway." He sighed and leaned his head back, something he does when he's 'off-putted' from something. Gotta lighten this mood, I can't do this sulking thing for a week.

"Oh yeah, I noticed you had junk food in that bag you dropped. You still eating that shit?" I'm holding out my hand here Saru...take it.

"I can handle myself." He mocked halfheartedly. "You know I don't cook." Good. Good.

"More like can't. I'll cook tonight, I'm not eating that crap."

"As long as there's no vegetables." He grumbled as he again walked past me and into the lobby, where some other blue handed him some keys.

"You're such a baby!" I yelled after him.

"If there's vegetables, then you have to leave out the pineapple." He turned back to me with a small smile, I could hear some people gasp. I couldn't help but to laugh as he looked thrown off guard at his clansmen's reaction. "No vegetables." He said with a straight face before walking off without me again.

We argued about dinner all the way down to the car, we just decided on fried rice with vegetables and pineapples. The deal was the same as usual he picks one vegetable to eat, eats all of it on his portion and I'll eat the rest. It was a nice conversation until we got into the car...then it was silence.

"Same apartment?" Saru finally spoke after adjusting all the mirrors.

"Oh, yeah. Let me call Megumi to see if Hojo is home." I had to search the web for her number. I haven't talked to her since Saru left and I was feeling down. "Hey sis, it's Misaki. Do you remember me?"

"Big brother?! Of course! Are you hurt? Are you okay?" She sounds cute but she sounded so old too. It's been forever.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm alright. I just...I need those boxes of clothes Grandma always sends you. Did you send them for charity yet? I don't need all of them just the recent ones."

"Yeah no, of course you can have them. They're in my closet but...does that mean you're coming by?"

"Yup."

"But...but dad is here."

"Where is he?"

"Sleeping on the couch."

"And Minoru?"

"He's at school still, baseball practice. It's a shame, he wanted to see you too."

"Okay no problem, I'll be in and out. And as for Minoru, maybe I'll stop by and see him at the school."

"Big brother...I'm not asking you to stay but...I want to talk to you for more than two minutes on the phone! I want to see you! I miss you! I've forgotten how your face looks like! It's horrible, I know but dad he-he doesn't allow mom to put pictures of you up. I had one but he took it away and got real angry."

"Did that bastard hurt you?"

"No! No! Nothing like that, dad's a good man...he's just good to everybody but you."

"Megumi...don't get upset."

"Sis! Call me sis! We're still family!"

"Okay sis, just calm down. Big brother will take care of it, okay? I'll give you my number."

"Don't come alone. Bring someone, even if it's from HOMRA. Don't come alone."

"Got it. Will do. See ya soon."

"Okay!"

"Bye."

"I can't believe your mom is still with that guy." Saru sneered, guy never liked my stepdad or my mom.

"What Megumi said was right. Hojo's a good guy, just to everybody but me. He makes mom happy so if I have to go away so she can be happy. I'll do it."

"Don't bullshit me, she chose some stranger over her own son solely because she hates being alone." Can't deny it. She really does hate being alone, Hojo made her happy but he hated me. She was torn, leaning on keeping Hojo and having me move out but I made the decision for her and found a place with Saru. I know though...she was planning on giving me up. "It's ridiculous that that piece of trash links you to the guy that killed his previous wife. What about you-"

"It's my eyes, they're like my dads. Heh, wouldn't doubt if it was my dad who killed Hojo's wife. Dad's...dad's suck."

"I'll agree to that. We're here." The car screeched as it stopped. Saru pulled out the keys and started to unbuckle.

"Stay here." I buckled him back in before the seat belt left my reach. "I'll be back."

"Not a chance." He shook his head and smacked my hand away.

"Saru, I don't know how Megumi will take it after the incident." Damn, why does he have to be so damn stubborn?

"She used to call me, asking about you. I think we're fine." What? When?

"Just stay out of sight." I warned.

"Stop ordering me around. I'll come out when I think I'm needed." Doing what he wants like always, what do I expect? I just nodded and got out the car.

I walked up the stairs and knocked on the door. Answering the door was a pretty tall girl with green eyes and chesnut hair, maybe in middle school.

"Misaki! I've missed you." A very tall Megumi ran to hug me, I had to remind myself to dodge. Same big green eyes but everything else was different, I almost didn't recognize her. Her naturally chestnut hair was dyed black. She was like six years younger than me but she was almost as tall as I am, so she must be 15 now and Minoru must be 12. Wow.

"Me too. Got the boxes?" She gave me a weird look but just played along probably guessing it had something to do with HOMRA. Which she knows about because I was emotionally unstable when I called mom but she answered, so thus the 'incident'-me crying my eyes out about how my best friend left Homra and me behind. Not something I should've done but nothing I could've avoided.

"I can't bring it all by myself. I don't want the go back and forth, it might wake dad up."

"And there's my cue." Saru rounded the corner. This bastard here!

"Saruhiko...what is he doing here?" Saru didn't look too offended, as if he expected it.

"W-we're working together for now." I explained quickly.

"When I said somebody...I didn't mean him." She childishly stuck her tongue out.

"C'mon right nows not the time fo-" I noticed the small beads of tears welling in Megumi's eyes.

"You made big brother cry! You have no right to be here." She tried to push Saru but he moved, I went to try to catch her but was stopped causing both Megumi and I to fall...although Saru caught me. Megumi? Not so much.

"Shit, that was close." I hissed as Saru pushed me upright.

"Really? I'd say I have more right to be next to him. I have a job to do. You? You cry like you miss him but what's really stopping you?"

"My dad he-" She wiped her tears as she rose, trying hard to look tough.

"That's right you chose your 'dad' over your big brother. Don't call out a traitor when your one yourself." What is with him? She's only a kid!

"Enough! Saru, just wait around the corner. I got this. Please." Can't believe he's lecturing my sister right now...I swear.

"Come back and face me you! You...You fake!" Megumi shook her fist at Saru's direction.

"Ennouugh! Let's get these boxes." I sighed. If this gets any louder, Hojo will wake up for sure. I don't know why I thought this was a good idea.

I followed Megumi to her room and picked up two large boxes and loaded them in the car outside. Saru leaned against the wall next to the stairs with arms crossed no undoubtedly sulking or whatever he does when he's alone and not talking.

It surprised me though, I wasn't expecting Megumi to get all defensive about that call. Could've gone on without Saru knowing that I cried like a baby when he left, but whatever. I'm only human ya know?

"I think that's it, I'll go back upstairs and get the bag with all the personals in it. If who ever needs these clothes, then they probably need those as well. I don't mind giving those away anyway."

"Kay, um, by chance do you guys still have my stuff from my old room?" Assuming I'll be smaller as a girl, the clothes from middle school should fit me just fine.

"We have your clothes in a box but it's heavy. One more trip couldn't hurt." Megumi looked nervous, it was plain to see but she hid it behind a smile. Such a strong little girl. I really am proud of her.

"Minoru's back. I warned him not to wake Hojo." Saru informed us on our way back up the stairs.

"Thanks. One more and I'll be back." I assured him before turning the corner and went into the apartment room one more time.

This time going toward my old room, it was being used as storage but even without asking I could spot my crushed up and for whatever reason mildewing box from the very back of it all. I noticed the hole in the wall was patched up from when I was thrown into it...no no...not here. Gotta stay strong for the little sis and bro.

"Are you Misaki?" I heard a voice whisper. It was Minoru, eyes wide with shock. I smiled and patted his head with my available arm.

"Hey, yeah. Wow, you and your sis certainly got dad's genes on the height." The little runt was almost as tall as me, and he was 12! I honestly am the black sheep of the family, aren't I?

"I don't really remember you much, but I'm glad I got to see you. I've been wanting you to come see one of my games." Minoru was always the loud and obnoxious one while Megumi was the more shy of the two but now it seems that they've switched.

"Yeah, I'll drop in whenever just tell Megumi and we'll plan it, sound good?"

"I-It was this easy? All along? I'm sorry Misa! You tried to call us but...but-"

"No, Minoru it's o-"

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY SON, YOU BASTARD!" Words that left me paralyzed.

Damn it! I'm better than this! I'm not a weakling anymore. So why? Why? Can't I move?

"Stealing stuff, huh? Befitting a thug like you." Heavy footsteps rounded the corner and there he stood with a wood bat. Shits gonna go down if I can't move. He's out of his mind when he's like this, he might even hurt Minoru.

"He's not! He's only getting his stuff!" Minoru tried to speak before a 'shut up' was thrown his way.

"It's time you pay you bastard!" He started swinging like a maniac, wildly breaking the dry wall as he walked toward us. I shoved Minoru back in his room and shut the door.

Besides my natural instinct to protect Minoru, I couldn't move to save myself. I wasn't scared, I knew I was stronger than him. So why couldn't I mov-

"DIIIEEEE!"

The world spinning and the sideways view of the hall was all I saw clearly before it started to fade. No pain or anything, just the taste of blood and dark closing in on my vision.

When I came to...

THWP THWP THWP THWP THWP

It was all I could hear, that consistently timed noise; though it started to sound more wet as it went on.

"AHHHHH! Please stop! Saruhiko! Please stop! No more! Please! Minoru! Don't come out of your room! Please! Saruhikooo!" Megumi...Megumi was crying.

"I told this bastard if he ever touched Misaki again that I would kill him. You don't need him anyway." Saru? Oh shit. Is he arresting Hojo now?

"Sa-Saru." I tried to open my eyes but my head screamed not to.

"PLEASE! STOP HITTING HIM!" Megumi begged, my eyes flew open to see nothing but blue. This was Saru's coat! Did he think I was dead? IDIOT! He's going to kill Hojo!

"SARU!" I yelped, my voice sounded all cracked and weird but it stopped that awful noise. I heard heavy steps and felt a presence beside me. I couldn't move yet, but I knew it was him.

"Don't worry, I didn't touch him. I used the baseball bat." It was scary, his voice...it wasn't that crazed voice he uses when he fights me. It was calm and normal! Admitting to beating someone with a baseball bat as if he did nothing wrong! Well...I'm not the one to talk but I don't repeatedly beat on a defenseless person! "He deserves to die, no matter what you say. Just be lucky I didn't kill him."

"Thanks?" It was all I could get out and a bit high pitched too but it'd have to work for now. I don't really know how I feel about Saru beating my stepdad half to death in front of my baby sister. I don't. I don't mind Houjo being beat up, but what about Megumi and Minoru? Saru probably scarred them for life. And Mom...she'll be hysterical.

The sound of sirens wailed and I tried to get up. The only thought in my hazy mind was to get Saru out of here before the police came.

"No. Don't move the jacket." My face must be pretty busted up if he hit me more while I was out but he wouldn't worry about something like that, so what was it?

"Why?" I thought to ask anyway to brace myself.

"It'll make it even more difficult for me to claim this as self-defense and...technically, you slept."

"So I'm a..." It all makes sense why my voice has been sounding so strange to me.

"A Girl? Yeah."


Sooo yeah, I have general idea how I'm going to write these and then they kind of take over as I write them. More sadness and angst this chap...*slaps myself and cries* what is wrong with me? Anyway as I stated I'll fluff it up as I go! Any comments, suggestions, corrections, or just any random thing you wanna send my way is welcomed. Thanks for reading!