"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" an ear-piercing scream was heard, shattering the silence of the night...
A young girl of about 5 years old woke with a start. Her forehead was slick with sweat and her chest was heaving as though she had been in a marathon. Silently, crystal-like tears slipped down her cheeks as she stared blankly at the ceiling. "Ryoma!"A flustered call broke her from her reverie. "What happened? Did you have a nightmare about that night again?" A slightly older boy of about 7 years of age ran into her room, out of breath after running from the other end of his mansion to reach his sister.
"Keigo nii-san..." Ryoma's voice softly called to the boy. "Itai yo nii-san, itai" (It hurts brother, it hurts) Ryoma's small frame trembled from the force of the sobs that engulfed her. Keigo, as young as he was, felt his heart shatter hearing the girl he has called sister for over a year cry in pain and suffering and being unable to help. The young boy's eyes filled with tears of frustration as he wrapped his arms around the one he called precious as she drifted back to sleep and slowly, his eyes slipped close as he made one final promise in his mind.
"I won't leave you, you are never alone, I'll always be with you..."
The next day...
Gentle rays of light illuminated a large Victorian-styled bed, shedding its glow upon the figures of two children curled around each other, as the hustle and bustle of an early morning in the Atobe household roused them from their slumber. The slightly larger figure blinked open his blue-grey eyes as he awoke, his hair in a mess, careful not to rouse his little sister who had attached herself to him during the night. Atobe Keigo glanced with soft eyes, at the sleeping figure of Atobe Ryoma, once known as Echizen Ryoma before adoption. Keigo had just prepared to resume his peaceful slumber when his mother, Atobe Rima(a made up name), entered the room." Keigo, get up you have to accompany your otou-san to meet the Oshitaris. You can be lovey-dovey with Ryo-chan later!" With that teasing statement, Rima left her son flustered and blushing different shades of red and his freshly awakened sister giggling at her brother's misfortune while a light blush powdered her own cheeks." OKAA-SAN! "Keigo protested, sending the innocent birds flying out of the nearby trees while the servants simply shook their heads in exasperation, too used to their Mistress and her son's ways and said mistress giggling to herself.
A few minutes later, the voices of the siblings could be heard approaching the dining area. As usual, the first to step through the doors is the newest addition to the family, Echizen Ryoma. The young hime wore a gentle smile and a teasing glint in her eyes as she glided gracefully through the door in a snow white dress, the epitome of a young lady of her standing. Behind strutted a slightly older boy, the heir to the Atobe corps. , Atobe Keigo. The proud heir wore an arrogant look ,and a small suit in preparation for the meeting he was to attend ,which looked out of place on a 7 year old' s face, even while his eyes were filled with mirth and adoration for his imouto. They seated themselves at their seats just next to each other and continued their conversation, even as their butler nagged at them to NOT talk while eating. But just as children their age are known to do, they simply ignored and tuned out the droning of the adult while still chattering about nothing as children tend to do.
Just as breakfast was going to end, Ryoma abruptly stood from her seat and made a mad dash towards the fridge, while still being able to keep her hair and clothes in place, with her brother at her heels." No ponta in the morning Ryo!"Keigo panted as he finally outran her and blocked the fridge from her searching hands. "But...but nii-san..."Ryoma whined," I NEED my ponta!"she continued whining even as her brother bodily dragged her to the limo that they were taking even as the 7 year old was trying to avoid falling prey to Ryoma's eyes that had felled even the strongest willed men. Thanking the Gods, Keigo managed to get Ryoma into the limo without much fuss (The GREATEST understatement of the year) and the family was finally on their way to the meeting. For the first few minutes of the journey, Ryoma refused to speak to anyone and sat in her seat pouting with tear-filled eyes. After a while, their father was unable to take his precious musume looking so sad and he broke the silence.
"Ryomaaaaaaaaaa? Are you still mad at otou-chan 'and nii-chan' for banning ponta at breakfast?"
"..."
"Don't be angry... we'll buy you all the ponta you want after the meeting alright?"
"Really? "
The two male Atobes' eyes sparkled as the princess answered them.
"Yes! Yes!"
And the remaining female member of the Atobe family could only shake her head with fondness and exasperation at how easily the Atobe males were manipulated by Ryoma even while they were the manipulators when it came to everybody else. Ryoma, herself, was smiling sweetly with bright eyes that contained depth and wisdom from far beyond her years, while snuggling into her brother from her perch on his lap.