Shion Sonozaki paced in her apartment, her mind wandering back and forth about what had transpired in that dungeon of the Sonozaki Estate. Back and forth she paced, she could still feel pain in her heart, why did she have to be out casted by her family and her sister having the good life? She deserved that life, too, not just her. If they were to tell the truth about they were who they really were, then she would be given the right as heir since, in reality, she was the older one and Mion was the younger one... no, it would just be the same for Mion. They didn't want to be treated differently; they wanted to be treated equally.

Negative thoughts began fill her head, seeing her sister act cold and stoic when she had to rip her nails out as a sign of forgiveness for what she had done. Mion should have done something, she thought to herself.

Her pacing increased faster as she felt the urge to chew at her hand that had her fingernails, the one that still had them.

A ring came at the door and she went to it, her dark thoughts still played into her head about what happened. Her sister claimed that she was a strong person, but when it came to something like that, she was a coward. All that talk about her being masculine was pure horseshit! She was weak on the inside when it came to helping her own sister out of a pickle she was in. She probably didn't want to let down that walking prune.

Opening the door, she saw the last person she wanted to see. "What do you want?"

Mion was taken aback by the cold tone that her sister was giving her. "Hi, Shion. I thought I'd come by and visit."

Her sister just scoffed at her. "Alright, come in, then."

Hesitantly, Mion came into her apartment and the two sat down at the table in silence, the clock on the wall ticking was audible to both of them. They looked down at their hands unsure of how to start a conversation. The only think they could think of was the distinction that Shion had to endure back at the torture room, where she watched with cold eyes as her sister took off her nails; she wanted to help her but she was afraid of what their grandmother would do.

"So... how have things been?" Mion asked, hoping to start things off nice and slow.

"Peachy," Shion said, huffing.

Mion looked at her. "Sis, are you okay? Did I do something wrong to make you act like this? You know I can help you if you want me to."

Hearing this, Shion began to chuckle. "Help me, that's a good one. Since when are you the kind of person to help me? I don't remember anyone in the Sonozaki Family helping me! Were you helping me when I was forced to take off my nails?"

The younger sister only looked down in shame. "Mion, answer your older sister," Shion said, her personality going back to being the older sister, like it was before they switched.

"No Shion."

"Did you want your sister to suffer?"

"Of course not, I would've helped you."

"Then why didn't you, or were you scared of not satisfying that old bag?"

Mion didn't know the answer to that one. Shion was the real head of the Sonozaki Family in her eyes... but to others, Mion was the one to lead on the family. Mion didn't know what more she could do that would help her sister. "What if I talked to Granny about us?" Mion knew that by telling their grandmother about them and the reasons why they did what they did, she would understand. Oryou would also want and explanation as to why and her anger would rise up to high levels; it would also raise her blood pressure.

"She wouldn't understand. She never understood anything. All she cared about was you, you were the only important one, and what was I to her? Nothing! Everybody in the Sonozaki Family gave you everything and I wanted to be treated with that kindness. They never appreciated having me in this family!"

"Don't say that!" Mion said. "They all care for you deep inside, but with our old traditions it's hard to have them show love to you."

"Shut up!" Shion shouted, rising up from the table and rushing to her wrapping her hands around her neck. Mion looked at her elder sister in fear; Shion's eyes showed intense hatred and sadness that was so deep, it took over her body and gave her the commands of what she should do. The elder twin let Mion fall to the floor while she looked up at her. "Don't come back here, Mion. You and that family of ours think nothing of me. When I see you, I see my grandmother looking at me, not a sister. That tells me that I don't have a sister anymore."

Those words hit Mion deep in her heart. "Shion... I, I didn't mean for you to have to go through that, I swear! Please, we can work this out, right?"

Her expression didn't change. Looking coldly at her younger sister, Shion didn't say anything. She grabbed hold of Mion and threw her out of her apartment only looking back at her and saying, coldly, "Remember, don't let me see you here again!"

The door shut on her loudly while Mion just looked at it, unable to come to terms with what she went through with her sister. Was it really her fault that she didn't help her when she distinguished herself for the family? No, she was just doing the job as the head, that's what Oryou wanted, it was their tradition that they always went by.

Being able to have the whole village to their will was something that she knew Oryou took pride in and that took hard work to get where she was, but she was on a thin line with her lifespan. Now she wanted Mion to be the exact replica of her when she passes away, but after having this talk with her sister about what she should've done, she was regretting having to be upcoming heir to the Sonozaki family.

If she told her grandmother everything, would it be alright? Of course not, she would raise hell and want some answers from both of them... and probably want their heads as well.

Thoughts of how she would tell this to her mom and grandmother wouldn't leave her head as she walked back to her bike to go back to her house.

The moment of truth was almost with her.

Oryou Sonozaki coughed, covering her mouth. She lay on her futon, thinking about certain things that have been going on in this village. The Cotton Drifting Festival was coming around and she wanted to make sure that all the recommendations were in place for it. So much had been going on it her life she could feel it in her heart—it was wearing down, her health was deteriorating everyday now. She didn't have to worry about what would happen about the family; she had Mion to thank for that.

Reaching beside her she grabbed a small packet and tore the bag open and put its contents into her mouth before chasing them down with some water. Her medicine was the only thing prolonging her life to help teach her granddaughter. Oryou was always a strong woman when she wanted to be, she took much greatness in her family traditions, there were some that could never be broken.

With somebody new to take charge of the family, maybe she would finally put an end to all this talk about tradition and start things anew. Akane Sonozaki looked at her mother before going back to writing down the will.

Her door slid open; she saw her granddaughter Mion walk in and take a seat across from her bed. She bowed in respect before speaking. "Grandma, there's something I want to talk to you about."

"Is it something important?" Oryou asked, looking at her with a smile.

"Well... in a sense, yes it is. It's about me and Shion."

This sparked some interest in the old woman. "What is there to say about her?"

"I know that our tradition is very important to you, but she didn't deserve to be the black sheep of this family."

"I'm sorry, but you know that we can't have twins in this family as it goes against the rules of how our family does things."

"Well then, what if I told you something that happened a long time ago."

"What do you mean?" asked her mother, now taken interest in this conversation as well.

"When Shion and I were younger, we used to play around a lot and switch identities with each other to fool everybody, but when the day came to mark the elder one with tattoo," she looked at her mother, "you separated Shion and I and gave me the mark as heir to the Sonozaki family when it should have been Shion that should've been the heir."

"What are you saying, you know Shion is younger that you," said her grandmother.

Mion shook her head. "No, that's not it. The person you're looking at is the younger twin, Shion, and the older one who should be the right heir is Shion, who is the real older twin, Mion."

Time froze in place, not a single word was uttered while the elderly woman and her daughter tried to find their senses and speak about what they weren't told about. Different emotions erupted on the inside as the mother of the family was in shock but she wasn't on the height as Oryou was… she was pissed about so much, her clenched hands gripping the blanket were so fight she was making it shake from her trembling, tearing it slightly.

"WHY WAS I NOT TOLD OF THIS? YOU MEAN THAT ALL THIS TIME THAT LOW LIFE IS THE RIGHTFUL HEIR AND NOT YOU?"

Mion flinched at the high tone in her grandmother's voice, it shook her to the core but she remain clam on the outside but inside, she was breaking down as she fought back a shudder from the iron stare that her grandmother was giving her. "Don't call her that," Mion said, "she's not a worthless person… she deserves everything like me, but because of your tradition, you won't let her have a life with the family that's supposed to love her." Mion turned to look at her mother, "You of all people should know that. The reason why we switched when we were kids was because we didn't want to feel left out so we took turns being one another and then when I got branded with the tattoo, you didn't know I was the fake Mion."

"And this continued on until now?" Akane asked, still listening closely.

Mion only nodded when she looked at her grandmother who was about to say something but she coughed violently, covering her mouth. The green-haired could only watch as the elderly woman was helped by her mother. After her coughing was done, she looked at her but tried to compose herself but Mion knew that she was losing control.

"What will you do with Shion?" asked Mion.

"Mion… I don't know what I should do about her, after what you told me. What you told me, I should cut off both your heads for it but seeing as my condition is getting worse, I won't," Oryou said.

"But she's not the only one whose in shock about this, I am too. I think it's best you leave us for while so we can figure this out for ourselves," said her mother.

"But, will everything be okay… will Shion still be my sister?"

Silence was the only thing she was met with before she bowed her, got up, and walked out of the room, closing the door on her way out. Thoughts filled her head—Shion's cold piercing gaze, her hands around her throat threatening to squeeze the life out of her for everything she put her through. Was everything her fault? Hell yes, all the shit she put her sister through and all she did was watch.

Hands raised, she touched her throat lightly. "Was she really going to do it? Does she hate me that much?"

Black Waltz: And that, my friends, is a wrap for this chapter. I apologize for it coming so late, I have problems I'm dealing with and trying to get things cleared up. I'm also trying to get back into school after not doing so well with online classes, and I pray that things will be better for me. On a side note, I've been reading a lot of my books… I have seventeen books, all ranging from horror to fantasy, to how to write better, to one crime novel, The Town by Chuck Hogan, which is better than the movie.

Anyway, I'll be catching up on my reading and catch you guys later.