AN: I am so sorry that this took so long. Well its Sunday night and I am really bored. I should probably be studying for my SAT, which I'm taking in less than a month. But oh well. This is more fun. I'm really happy that this story is doing so well review wise. Though I wish I got more reviews for Learning to Cope. But I'll earn myself more reviews once I get the next chapter done.

But here's chapter four of Don't Go. Now you get to meet Hitomi's evil father and stepmother. The anime never gave a name for Hitomi's father so I made a name up. If anyone has a name that they would want me to use instead that would be cool. There will also be another character introduced besides her stepmother.

Also this chapter may get altered later. I don't know. If it does you'll know.

IV Mamouru

"Lady Kanzaki." Charles bowed respectfully.

Hitomi looked up. Coming down the stairs was a black haired woman followed by the maid, Elizabeth. The woman wore a fancy blue dress. Hitomi just stared at her. Lady Kanzaki. Her stepmother.

"Hitomi! I am so glad that you are back!" Lady Kanzaki came up to her. Taking Hitomi's face in her smooth hands she examined her. "Very ladylike. You have changed. Your father won't even be able to recognize you." Lady Kanzaki let go of Hitomi's face. "Elizabeth. Take her into the parlor. Charles, go to Lord Kanzaki and tell him that she is here."

Hitomi followed Elizabeth as Charles smiled at her before he left to go get her father. She had acutely noticed that Lady Kanzaki had referred to her not as her stepdaughter but simply as "she." It was almost as if she didn't think that Hitomi's name was worth mentioning.

"Here you are Miss. Please sit down. Your mother and father will be with you shortly." Elizabeth left Hitomi alone in the large parlor.

Mother? Like that woman would ever be her mother. To pass the time Hitomi looked around the room as she waited. Above the fireplace there was a portrait. There was a brown haired man with flecks of gray standing next to a black haired woman. Her father and his wife. But what confused Hitomi was that there was a young boy sitting on her stepmother's lap. He looked to be only five years old. But to the best of Hitomi's knowledge she couldn't remember her stepmother having a son.

Hitomi didn't have any more time to wonder over this mystery before she heard voices coming in her direction. The voice of a male and female. And one voice she couldn't recognize.

Sujiro Kanzaki opened the door to the parlor. Sitting on one of the red stuffed chairs was a young woman he hadn't seen since she was seven and a half years old. His own daughter. Hitomi Iris Kanzaki. He gave her a quick glance over before he greeted her. "Welcome home daughter."

Hitomi gave a small smile. Standing up she walked over to her father. Doing as she had been taught she gave her father a respectful hug and then curtsied to him. "It is good to be home Father."

Sujiro took Hitomi's hand and led her back to the chairs. "There are many things that we must discuss." Once his daughter and wife were seated he began. "First I would like to introduce you to Mamouru Izui Kanzaki."

Hitomi looked down and saw that the little boy that she had seen in the portrait was hiding behind Lady Kanzaki's skirt. Hitomi gave him a smile. "Hello." She barely heard his quite hello.

The rest of the conversation was a blur for Hitomi. Not once did she speak out. That was what Jeture's Boarding School had taught her.

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Once her father had finished talking to her she was taken up to the room that was to be hers. Yet again she felt like a stranger. She felt out of place at the boarding school and now in her own home she felt out of place. Like she didn't belong there.

Letting out a sigh Hitomi started to unpack her belongings. It was when she was opening her smaller bag that she heard a small noise. Looking up she was surprised to see a small face peering around the corner of her doorway.

"You can come in if you want. I won't hurt you." She gave the young boy a bright smile.

Seeing her smile the small brown haired boy walked slowly into her room. "What's your name?"

His little child voice brought a sincere smile to hitomi's face. It was rare now for her to be sincere in her expressions. "My name is Hitomi. What's yours?"

Giving a big smile and a giggle the little boy came up in front of her as she stepped away from her bags that were on her bed. "My name's Mamouru. Will you play with me?"

Nodding her head Hitomi crouched in front of him. "What do want to play?"

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Hitomi smiled. She was currently playing hide and seek with her stepbrother. He was the one that was hiding this round. She already knew where he was but she decided that she would have some fun and pretend to not know where he was. He was hiding in her armoire amongst her dresses.

Having delayed long enough Hitomi thrust open the armoire doors. "Found you!"

Mamouru laughed as he jumped out and hugged her legs. "Yay!"

Hitomi hugged him back as she picked him up.

"Thank you for playing with me. Momma and Papa don't."

Hitomi kissed his temple. "I'll always play with you when you need someone to play with. But right now I think it is your bedtime." She laughed merrily as Mamouru groaned childishly. "We'll play tomorrow. Now off to bed." Putting him on the floor she patted his bottom as she gently lead him to her door.

"Will you come and say goodnight?"

"Yes. I'll be there in a few moments."

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Hitomi sighed. How could her brother be so sweet and innocent when his parents were not? Maybe she would have a slight release from her father and stepmother. She had played with Mamouru for two and a half hours. They played hide and seek in her room and she also told him made up stories that she had once heard.

Taking up her nightgown she quickly changed. Soon her life wouldn't be so easy even if she did have Mamouru to spend time with. Her father's news had brought everything to an end. As she crawled into bed she let a tear roll down her cheek. She could hear his words playing in her head.

"Now there is business that we must discuss Hitomi. It has been arranged for you to marry. Within the next four months you will be married to Kosuke Hiromaji, a knight from Astoria."

"Yes Father."