After waving bye to their mother and father, the three siblings headed out of the manor and towards the town. The manor was located in the first district of Rukongai, the wealthiest and safest of the districts. It was known to have the best shops, markets and restaurants.

Saya was walking in-between her brothers and enjoying their conversation. Most of it was light hearted teasing; however she did manage to learn a few things about her brothers. Michi wasn't a business man like Saya had thought; in fact he was a very successful lawyer. He mainly did family law, and helped the aristocratic and noble families with wills, inheritances, and things of that nature. He had been seeing a woman by the name of Asano Kikyo for quite some time now, and it was clear he wanted to marry her. She was the eldest daughter of another aristocratic family within the district. Shunsui, although a soldier-captain in the protection squads, hated to fight unless absolutely necessary. He was peace loving, and would rather read haiku or discuss philosophy than draw his sword against another. Saya respected both men very much. They seemed intelligent and honorable. She was happy to call them her brothers.

"Kyouraku-housou (lawyer), so nice to see you out and about!" said a jovial looking older gentleman. "Who do you have with you?" he asked, eyeing Saya a little more than what would have been considered appropriate.

"Ah, Asano-sama. It is a pleasure to see you. Please, let me introduce you to my brother, Shunsui, and my sister Saya." Said Michi, "Brother, sister, this is Asano Kanaye-sama. He is the father of Kikyo-san."

"A pleasure to meet you, Asano-kun," said Shunsui tipping his straw hat to the man.

"How nice to meet you sir, my haku has just been telling us how much he admires you. I am honored to meet someone that he thinks of so highly." Saya said with a low bow.

"Well, well! What a lovely young girl!" said the man, instantly taken in by her flattery. In fact, Michi had said nothing of the sort about liking and thinking highly of Master Asano. Truth be told, he thought Kikyo's father to be a bit over-zealous and arrogant. Saya simply smiled and hid her face behind her fan. Shunsui noticed her actions.

Clever girl, she just managed to get Michi on better terms with this Kanaye. I'm sure this man is going to be his father-in-law one day. Onee-chan was able to give false flattery while seeming utterly sincere. It's interesting, her flattery and attitude at home seemed completely genuine. Here, although appearing sincere, she is being political. Haha. She must be a noble; they are the best at this sort of game.

Saya noticed Shunsui was staring at her with a smirk. She looked at him a little confused.

"I didn't know you had a younger sister, Michi housou. You have not mentioned her before. I don't know why you would keep such a lovely young lady a secret!" exclaimed Asano-san.

"Let me explain, Asano-sama. I was not trying to keep my honored sister a secret. She has been recently adopted into our family. I am happy to be her older brother."

"Oh, I see! Well, such manners and so beautiful too! I hope you don't mind, young lady, but I would like to borrow your brother for a few minutes." Asano-sama said to Saya.

Saya kept her face hidden behind her fan and batted her eyelashes slightly. "Ne, Asano-sama, again, I am so pleased to have met you, sir."

"So lovely, lovely indeed," Saya could hear him saying as Asano and Michi walked off.

Saya looked over to Shunsui to see him still smirking at her.

"What is it aniki? You've had that strange look on your face for a while now. Have I done something wrong?" Saya asked.

"I was just thinking about your flattery towards Asano over there. It was quite interesting how you were able to deliver it, although Michi thinks nothing like what you said."

"What was I supposed to say to him? If Michi is truly in love with this Kikyo woman, than it does not hurt him for his future father-in-law to believe that he is admired by our brother. Asano-sama is flattered and Michi-ni gains the benefits of my remarks. It is a win-win situation." Argued Saya.

"I didn't say you did anything wrong, Saya-chan. It's just that it was interesting observing your interaction with Asano. I've also deemed that the flattery you bestow on my parents is honest and sincere, while what you said to him was more of a political compliment. When you truly mean your compliments, you are humble. When you are flattering for the sake of flattering, you are coy. However, I doubt anyone but myself would pick up on such a thing. If I do say so myself, I have a good intuition for people's true meaning." He finished with a wink. Saya smiled back at her aniki. He was probably right. The way she acted toward the aristocrat seemed ingrained in her somehow. She didn't know quite how to explain it. "Come Saya, let's start heading towards that ribbon tent over there," Shunsui pointed.

Saya was looking at all the ribbons with Shunsui. She couldn't believe how many colors there were in front of her. All sorts of yellows, pinks, purples, blues… Saya thought that there had to be a different colored ribbon for every day of the year.

"Who are you buying a ribbon for, aniki?" asked Saya.

"Well, there's a young girl who I feel needs a gift." Replied Shunsui.

"Is it this Nanao that I heard you refer to earlier?"

"Haha. Why do you say that?"

"I don't know. I just thought." Saya looked at the ribbons. "It's hard to choose. I don't know Nanao-san, so I don't know what ribbon she would like."

"What ribbon do you like Saya onee-chan?"

"Huh, me?"

"Well, you're a girl, so I thought that perhaps you could pick out a pretty ribbon that you like." Said Shunsui, a bit slyly.

"Well Aniki, it should be something that you pick out, really." Said Saya.

"Oh?"

"Yes, for a couple of reasons. It will mean more if you are the one who put in the effort into picking it out; and two, whenever she wears it, she'll be wearing it for you because she knows that you admire her in that ribbon. Does that make sense?" Said Saya, furrowing her brow a little. She wasn't thrilled with her inarticulate explanation of the delicacies of ribbon buying and wearing. Shunsui just laughed at her.

"Yes Saya, I see. Well then, I would pick out this blue ribbon here."

"That's very pretty, Shunsui-ni." Saya said, staring at the beautiful ribbon in Shunsui's hand. It was as blue as the sky, and on closer inspection, Saya saw delicate silver thread woven through so that it shimmered in the light. "You have good taste in ribbons, brother."

"Do I?" Said Shunsui with a smirk.

"Yes, in fact I think that you should give up your duties as a captain shinigami and become a professional ribbon consultant. Women of nobility everywhere will pay out the nose for your fashion take on hair ribbons." She retorted teasingly. This earned her a laugh from Shunsui. She looked up at her brother when he laughed. It was warm and filled her with so much happiness just to hear that sound. Saya smiled and turned her back to her brother while he paid for the ribbon.

Saya started watching all the people bustling about. It was one of her favorite things to do when she went to town with Lady Kyouraku. She loved watching the small children running around and playing with their new toys, the women fussing over them all while trying to look like they had control of the situation (when really they were frazzled and at their wit's end), and the men talking business with one another trying to sound more self-important than they really were. But Saya's thoughts were interrupted when she felt her hair being taken down out of the half-bun Asuko-san had put it up in earlier. She tried to turn her head when Shunsui stopped her.

"Don't move onee-chan, I don't want to mess it up."

Saya continued to look straight ahead and could feel all of her hair being taken up in a pony tail. Shunsui handed her a mirror so she could see.

"Ni-sama! That ribbon is for me?" She said admiring the ribbon in her hair.

"Yes onee-chan, it is my gift to you to welcome you into our family. I picked it out because it goes so well with your eyes." Shunsui said. Saya was touched by his thoughtful gift.

"Thank you ni-sama."

"Saya! Shunsui! There you are!" It was Michi, "I've been looking for you. Saya, whatever you said to Asano-sama was like magic. He's given me permission to take Kikyo as my bride! He's never been this warm towards me before!"

"Congratulations, Michi" said Shunsui with a smile, "she is one lucky lady, ne?"

"I'm so happy for you haku! Not only did I gain two brothers, I will soon be able to call this lady of yours my sister!"

"As a thank you Saya-san, I bought you this." Michi held out a charm of the letter 'K.' "It's for 'Kyouraku,' our family name." Saya looked up at him, how thoughtful of both her brothers, she was happy for her gifts.

"Thank you, ni-sama. My brothers are too kind to me!" Saya placed her new gift on her necklace with the charm that said her name.

………

In the middle of the night Saya woke to noises on the roof. She was a little afraid, did anyone else hear that? She decided to sneak up to Shunsui's room. If it's some sort of predator, he'll be able to handle him no problem. Aniki is a captain-level shinigami after all. She made it to Shunsui's room and noticed he wasn't in his bed. Actually, it looked like Shunsui hadn't been in his bed at all. That's when Saya noticed the open window right above it. She went over to look and noticed that the roof came down lower at this part of the house, giving him the perfect ability to sneak out his window and onto the roof. Saya smiled to herself. Why would Shunsui-ni want to get up on the roof? Saya decided that she wanted to find out. She went out onto the ledge and carefully climbed up, careful not to lose her footing. She saw her brother lying down with his hands behind his head, bathing in the moon light.

"Ahh onee-chan, so you found me?"

"Hai aniki, what are you doing on the roof?"

"I don't always sleep well at night, besides; it's nice to come up here when the rest of the world is silent. It's a peaceful feeling; I can be alone in my thoughts. What is your excuse, onee-chan?" Shunsui asked playfully.

"I was woken up by noises on the roof." Saya said with a laugh. Just then a cool breeze blew by. Saya realized she was only wearing a light-weight sleeping kimono and suddenly blushed at her lack of proper attire. She started to pull her kimono around her tighter in an effort to stay warm against the night breeze, and to preserve some of her modesty.

"Chilly onee-chan?"

"Hai."

"Come over here."

Saya walked over to her brother. He stood up and covered her with his outer pink haori he was so fond of wearing.

"Thank you, Aniki." Saya said as she pulled it around her. Shunsui lay down again on his back with his hands behind his head, looking at the moon and stars. Saya sat next to him and looked up.

"I never thanked you properly for my ribbon."

"No? I thought you did."

"It didn't feel like I did. I wasn't expecting it is all. I appreciate all the kindness you and Michi showed me today." Saya lay down next to him. She was warm wrapped in his haori and sleep was attempting to take her once again. Shunsui looked over at his new sister and smiled.

"Saya-chan, come here." He said while he pushed his arm under her shoulders and scooted her towards him. She laid her head in the spot where his arm met his shoulder and snuggled into his side. Saya felt safe and protected next to her brother. She smiled as she drifted off into sleep.

You are a good addition to the family, onee-chan. Sleep now. I will protect you. Whoever harmed you before will not be able to touch you again.


Author's note: Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Thanks to Sareenah for the nice review! I'm writing this because Shunsui is one of my favorite captains (obviously!). The names I've chosen for some of my characters reflect their personality or looks (Daisuke means large, great, help; Akemi means bright, beautiful; Kanaye means something like boisterous). I should clarify that the story line is about 100 years prior to the manga/anime.