Hey peeps! I kept my promise! Although I made it harder for me to come up with more ideas, I decided to just post this passage anyways. I'm not that really satisfied with it myself, but hope you enjoy it. And the ironic thing is...I had a fever myself. Sadly, no one took care of me! T-T

"39°C...You sure screwed this one up."

Yuto grunted as he covered himself with his blanket once more. To his right was Yuri, who had the thermometer in his hand.

"You may be the oldest, but to jump in the river in the middle of winter was entirely stupid of you."

He remembered that day when Yuzu had suddenly came to their house, all in out of breath, where he heard the news from her that Yuko was in a dire situation. Without any second to waste, Yuto hurried over only to find that the building was engulfed in flames. He instantly dove into the freezing river near the buildings and ran inside to save his sister. The oldest brother was horrified to find her stuck under burnt debris but used all of his might to push them off. Yuko's cards were all scattered on the ground, to which Yuto was only able to take Saffira, Queen of Dragons and the Hymn of Light. Everything else was left in there to burn while he carried his sister out.

Moments later, the ambulance and firetrucks came with the sirens and Yuko was taken to the hospital. While waiting outside of the surgery room, Yuto remained sitting on the bench outside in the hallway praying that everything would be alright. The rest of the brothers as well as Yuzu came shortly after, but the operation was still in procedure. Yuzu began to cry since she knew that it was her fault to leave Yuko in the warehouse by herself. Yuya laid his hand on her shoulder to say that it wasn't, but Yuri stepped in to ask her what exactly had happened. The girl explained as best as she could though it was hard to understand between her sobbing. Based on her vague description on the men who attacked them, Yuto and Yuri completely understood how grave the situation was. They knew that Yuko was getting targeted once again, after all of these years…

"Doctor! Is she fine?" Yugo asked when the surgeon came out.

"Her operation was successful. She only needs a few days of resting and she will be fine."

The tension was released upon hearing the wonderful announcement. Yugo was so cheerful that he hugged Yuya and Yuzu altogether while Yuri sighed out of relief. Although it was indeed great news, Yuto had concerns of the assault. As soon as the brothers went back home, leaving their sister in the hospital along with Yuzu going back on her own, Yuto began to intensively research once again on the organization, Academia.

He had been doing this ever since his parents died from the accident, knowing fully well that it wasn't an accident at all. In fact, both he and Yuri knew partially knew about the truth that their parents had hid away from the family. Yuri employed at Leo Corporation to work with the president, Akaba Reiji, to gain access to confidential information while Yuto did his own researching at his workplace and at home finding out that Academia was a secretive group that was behind of many incidents around the world. He went on for many days and nights trying to draw connections with Yuko's incident with other notorious events, leaving him deprived of sleep. And after he was chosen to be Yuko's partner for the tag duel tournament, he went to go buy new cards to replace her deck, overexerted himself, collapsed, and which brought him into the current situation.

"But I've been wanting to ask you...Why did you restrict her from using Ritual monsters? And here, some medicine."

Yuto turned his back to reach over for the pills in his brother's hand and gulped it down with water.

"Yuko has a power...far more dangerous and powerful than all of us. And if I were to make conclusions, it'd be because of Saffira." His voice croaked from his sore throat.

"And just to be safe, you forbidden every Ritual Monster. While you are cunning, you still make stupid mistakes like this." Yuri sneered at his brother.

"Shut up."

"Alright, alright, Onii-san. I won't disturb your pleasant sleep." He stood up to leave and saw a deck on Yuto's desk. Yuri went through the cards and grinned.

"It's a nice deck. For Yuko?"

"Yeah, so stop touching it." Yuto replied, his voice muffled from his pillow.

The two of them heard the door being shut and Yugo's loud voice saying that he's home with their sister.

Yuri smiled and said, "I'll go give it to her right now."

But before Yuto could say anything back, his younger brother closed the door shut leaving him alone in his bed. He wasn't entirely immobilized, but the drowsiness slowly started to kick in from the pills he took. Yuto finally gave in and his eyes closed to sleep.

...

That day...I remember...it was raining.

He recalled the day of the funeral of his parents. Hiiragi Shuzo went up to him, holding a letter and saying that it was for the oldest Sakaki. Even though Yuto didn't shed one droplet during the ceremony, it was the letter that made him mourn.

Dear Yuto, my precious son:

By the time you're reading this, Mommy and Daddy are already gone. I know that you may already know this, but Yuko isn't your actual sister. She was the daughter of our good friend but we took her in as family when they lost their lives. And in our place, please protect her. I know that this is hard for you to take in, but your mom and I believe in you and your brothers. Make sure you take of of your siblings well. We love you so much Yuto. And know that we'll always be watching over you and your siblings.

Love, Dad.

He truly didn't want his parents to leave him to look after his siblings by himself. Even though Yuri was mature enough to help him, the oldest brother was distressed that he wouldn't be able to see their smiles anymore and experience those annoying moments with them. His parents, who went on occasional trips usually left him to take care of Yuri, then Yugo, then Yuya, and finally Yuko, who wasn't even blood related to him. Yuto was always, always left with big responsibilities that were all only meant for him. Of course, Hiiragi Shuzo would help from time to time, but in the very end it was him. Always him. Always the oldest to take care of his younger brothers and sister.

It's not fair! Why is it always me?! Why am I left behind to do all of this? Just because I'm born first? It doesn't make sense at all!

Darkness was surrounding him. It was tranquil and soothing, keeping himself calm and apathetic. It was the state of pure nothingness.

Right. I don't need to do anything. I don't need to follow those expectations. I don't need to be forced at all.

But the it was actually consuming him, slowly and carefully changing him. It didn't take him another moment to realize the dangers he was putting himself into. Yuto began to panic and attempted to break free, ripping away the shadows that were wrapping around his body.

I need to escape! I can't be caught!

Inch by inch, the shadows were being closer into engulfing him. Soon, he began to suffocate with it all around him.

I can't breathe..Someone help..

"Onii-tan!"

That voice!

Yuto finally opened his eyes and was panting in fear. To his side, he saw Yuko and realized that he had grasped her hand. He instantly embraced her, much to her surprise, all in order to keep his racing heartbeat down. After all, he was in a hazardous state of mind during his sleep.

"Onii-tan? Are you okay?"

"Sorry, but could you let me stay like this for few more seconds?" He whispered into her ear.

Yuko face reddened and she gave a shy nod.

The two remained like that until Yuto released her and left them in an awkward silence.

"Are you sure that you're okay? You looked like as if you were in so much pain in your sleep." His sister asked.

"I'm fine. Where's everyone else?"

"They're at the Hiiragi's to train."

Yuto looked at her in a puzzled expression, "Hiiragi's? Why?"

"Well, they wanted the sisters to be their partners for the tag duel tournament. Even Kurosaki-kun joined by saying that he would enter with his sister." Yuko explained.

"Then who's with who?"

"Yuya Nii went with Yuzu Sempai, Yugo Nii-chan is with Rin-san, and Yuri Nii-san, strangely, teamed up with Selena-san."

The oldest Sakaki could just imagine at the scene: Yuri and Selena arguing with each other, Yugo is 'brutally' beaten up by Rin, while Yuya is pelted with attacks by Yuzu's infamous paper fan.

"Yuri probably just wanted Selena as his partner because she's skilled at Fusion Summoning." Yuto suggested to her.

"Then what about Yuzu Sempai? Isn't she also good with it too?"

"Well, Yuri and Selena have always been good partners, just not friends."

"I see…" Yuko's voice trailed off. Her brother looked questionably at her reaction.

"Umm..I know that it may not be much, but I made some porridge for you if you're hungry." Yuko nervously showed the stone pot to her brother. He gently smiled and took her offer.

"Even though I can't really taste anything, thank you for making it for me."

His sister's face lightened up but went dejected right after.

"Even though you did it to save me, I'm sorry that you have a fever like this. And you even bought new cards for me.." She began to slightly tear up.

Yuto gently patted her head and whispered, "There's no need to cry. After all, what kind of a brother doesn't come to save his sister?"

Yuko stayed crying for minutes, burying her face in his chest. The brother rubbed her back like he always did and he smiled.

That's right, I really did forget. I was born first to protect my siblings. And given the chance to protect her happiness.

When she had settled down, Yuko was already sleeping his arms. Yuto knew that she must have been tired since she was only discharged from the hospital today. With his temperature down, he had enough strength to carry her over to her room and placed her onto her bed. He covered her body with her light blue blanket. Yuto kissed her hand and began exiting the room.

"Even if we may not be related by blood, I'll protect you no matter what. Since you're the person who I love the most." He whispered and then he closed the door.

Little did he know that she was awake ever since he had carried her over. Yuko was stunned under the covers, too shocked to think.

I'm not his sister?

It was hard to tell if she was either hurt at the truth of happy because of it. Since, through many moments of her life, Yuko knew that she had feelings for the oldest brother. She hid them many times so that no one would find out this unrequited love. But it wasn't taboo anymore.

Yuko could love Yuto.

"Yuto Aniki."

"Yeah? Something in your head?"

Yuto, who was feeling much better than before, decided to stay up to continue his research on his computer. Yuya and the rest of the brothers arrived home not too long ago had already washed up and were preparing to go to bed. But in their shared room, Yuya was asking the oldest brother a question that was causing him distress.

"What blood type were our parents?"

Yuto looked at him strangely, "Dad was type O while Mom was type AB."

"Then why does Yuko have type O blood while the rest of us have A or B blood? I saw the information when we were at the hospital and I know I took biology seriously enough."

The older brother remained silent.

"Why didn't you tell me? Am I the only one who doesn't know?" Yuya asked quietly in a betrayed tone.

"I wanted to follow our parent's will, that we'd be family." He spoke, now facing towards him.

"You're just a hypocrite! Even I can tell that you love her. In fact, everyone in this house is in love with her. No one can deny that." He shuddered, frustrated at his brother.

"Yuko doesn't know anything, even my feelings and the truth. If she did, she wouldn't forgive me for the rest of her life." Yuto said with a sad expression.

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"Because I was the one...the one who killed her real parents." The oldest brother was gazing at his card, Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon, the beast that was beyond his control.