RenKun-Sensei: Thank you so much for adding this story as a favourite! This is my first time writing and I really hope that you will continue to enjoy reading.

elsey951: OMG! I didn't think that people would actually favourite this! Thank you! Also, I'll try to update by the weekend if not, blame the delay on my end years.

BadyGuz: I didn't want to kill off Nanji-chan too... but ... i'm sorry, 4 the story to work he has to die and thanks for the compliment!

megamilan: I hope that you won't be disappointed!

herbblood: I plan on updating every 2 days or so after next week but till then, i plan on putting up the next chapter on the weekend!

Wicken25: Thanks 4 your compliment it means sooooooooo much to me!

thfourteenth: I agree! Why didn't I think of that?

"Atobe-sama, we have arrived at the meeting area." The driver announced as he opened the limo's door for his masters to alight.

The Oshitari family stood from their seats as Atobe Keichirou led his family through the glass panelled doors and into their sitting area. Oshitari Yuushi looked on in interest as the youngest Atobe followed her family through the door. "Atobe-san, I had no idea that you had lowered yourselves to adopting commoners." Oshitari Yuna, the second wife of the current head of Oshitari Medical, asked in barely hidden disdain.

"Ah... That's..." Rima found herself at a loss of words, not knowing how to reply without damaging the fragile trust that Ryoma had placed upon their family with.

"I was adopted a year ago due to unfortunate circumstances which took my birth parents, Echizen Nanjirou and Echizen/Takeuchi Rinko, away." Ryoma spoke up in a soft tone. Ironically, her golden, cat-like eyes were diamonds that cut into Yuna's soul leaving her flustered and tongue-tied.

Yuushi looked on with carefully hidden glee as his gold-digger step-mother was reduced to a blubbering mess by a mere child, only 5 years of age. He could easily see that his father, Oshitari Reishi, had also become extremely uncomfortable and was looking at his wife with reprimanding eyes.

"Yuna, know your place! My sincerest apologies Ryoma-san, my wife has no right to bring up something like that." After apologising for his wife's actions, Reishi turned towards the Atobe couple. "You are truly blessed to have such a wondrous child as your own. Ryoma-san's mother and I were close friends from when we met in middle school until her death and she was truly a remarkable lady. I have also met Ryoma-san once when she was still a baby. Even then, she was already extremely bright. Be assured Atobe-san, as long as Ryoma-san is happy and content within your home, you shall have the full support of my family."

"Thank you for the compliment. I agree completely that we are blessed to have little Ryoma with us and I am glad that she still has people to talk to about Echizen fusai if need be."This time, it was Rima who had replied with a cheerful smile. Reishi smiled softly in return as he gestured for his son to step forward.

Yuushi saw his father gestures for him to introduce himself and stepped up to Reishi's side. "My name is Oshitari Yuushi and it is a pleasure meeting you Atobe-sama, Rima-sama, Atobe-kun and Atobe-san."Yuushi watched curiously after his self introduction as Ryoma giggled softly.

"The pleasure is all ours, Yuu-chan!"Ryoma replied mischievously. She could tell that she had startled the formal boy with what she called him, even if he did not show it on his face, and derived great pleasure from seeing her own brother splutter, trying to cover up her teasing while said victim simply took things in stride once he managed to shake himself out of his shock and the adults, excluding Yuna, laughed at the children's teasing and removed themselves from the sitting area and towards the conference room.

After Keigo had finally gotten over his shock, the children started chatting with each other and soon, they decided to relocate to Yuushi's room.

The moment they reached the room, Ryoma immediately laid back onto the bed, spread eagle while the boys stood to a side in amusement before Keigo got a glint in his eye. He pounced onto his little sister and immediately started tickling her. It didn't take long the newly dubbed 'Yuu-chan' to join in the fray.

"Ah! St...st..o..p it Yu...yu..u-chan, Ni...ni..i-chan!" Ryoma gasped out through her laughter. After a while, the boys decided to cease the teasing and collapsed on either side of her, content. Ryoma, herself, was a different story. Her eyes were glazed over as her mind wandered in her memories...

Flashback

A young girl was lying on her back in a beautiful garden and there was an older boy crouching over her, trying to awaken the deeply sleeping girl and failing, miserably. Suddenly, laughter like crystal bells could be heard throughout the area. The boy had given up waking the girl using conventional means so he simply started to tickle her causing her to gasp for breath. Abruptly, the boy stilled his movements. "Ryoma!Run!" the boy sounded just as 5 men, clad in black, jumped out from the girl, Ryoma, stood shell-shocked and her young mind, unable to comprehend the events taking place. "Run!" the boy's shout snapped her out of her daze as she ran in the direction of her house just as she was about to reach it, a pain-filled scream echoed from the garden."Ryoga-nii-sama..." Ryoma wept silently even as she continued to run. Finally, she reached the house and her parents.

Once she had told them about what happened, her mother immediately ushered her into a small, hidden closet. "Ryoma, no matter what happens later you must NEVER reveal yourself alright?" Her mother told her softly before handing her a letter and a box."When the police come, give this letter to them and give the box to them too. Alright, Ryoma?" Ryoma nodded her head just as a resounding crash came from downstairs."Rinko! I'll go down to confront them. You stay here with Ryoma." Her father said in a hurry."Ryo-chan, otou-san has to go now. Stay strong and be brave ore no hime." With those words, Echizen Nanjirou resigned himself to his fate.

Several minutes later, the same 5 men opened the bedroom door. Rinko was now cornered and, like her husband before her, resigned herself to fate, hoping, that Ryoma would live.'Gomenasai Ryo-chan, okaa-san has to leave you too...'with those thoughts, Echizen Rinko was no more. ...

End of Flashback

"Ryoma! Ryoma!" Ryoma blinked open her eyes, startled. The faces of her brother and Yuushi hovered over her, their hair tickling her face. "You fell asleep and started crying and screaming for someone to stop!" Yuushi spoke, his voice betraying the worry he felt for this girl whom he had dubbed his little sister.

"Gomen ne..." Ryoma lowered her head. "It's just that, just now, when you guys started playing with me, it reminded me of THAT day." Keigo's eyes softened, understanding perfectly what she had meant while Yuushi became even more confused.

"What day?" Yuushi asked softly. Keigo looked to Ryoma, silently asking for permission and Yuushi frowned a little at being completely left out. When Ryoma nodded in acceptance, Keigo took a deep breath and replied.

"The day when Ryoma's biological family was murdered. The day that she had to witness her mother's death."

And there was silence...