A soft groan escaped her lips as she woke up from her slumber. Ayako gently rubbed her eyes to rid herself of grogginess. She looked outside the window, just to see that it was almost dusk and she had missed out on lunch.

Her eyes traveled as she took in her surroundings and was surprised when she realized that she didn't sleep in her room and in one of her brother's instead. She tried to recollect from her memories earlier that day, as to whose room she entered before she fell asleep.

But based on the scent and cluttered stuffs inside the room, she already knew. It was Masaomi's. His room smelled like a mix of mint and fabric detergent. It's a scent that always calmed her down whenever she cried.

A smile took over her lips before she got up from the bed and fixed it. The blue-haired girl also tried to clean up her older brother's room as an act of gratitude for putting up with her a while ago. It must've been troublesome for him, although she knew that Masaomi did not really mind her using his room.

As she was fixing his things, a certain picture frame caught her attention. It was when their mother married Ema's father, which was just recently. All her brothers were present and were wearing tuxedoes for the said occasion. Ema was wearing a knee-length dress and looked pretty.

Now that she looked closely, it's a dress that her mother designed. How she knew? It seemed pretty obvious to her since she had always known her mother's styles and her works. Ayako had always wanted to be a fashion designer herself ever since she was young. She had always looked up to her mother.

She saw another frame by the corner of her eyes. It was a picture of their family as a whole. They all looked younger. As she looked closely, she realized it was taken the time before that happened. Meaning, she was still seven years of age.

Ayako stroked the part of the glass, where the younger version of her smiled brightly at the camera as she linked arms with Fuuto who was posing with a peace sign, smiling widely beside her.

The sound of the door opening, took her back to reality. She spun around, nearly going out of balance at how quick she did that. It was only Masaomi, who seemed to be amazed at how clean his room became.

"Ah, Masa-nii. Sorry for cleaning up without your permission," she smiled apologetically, which he returned with a good-natured chuckle.

"It's fine. I didn't even realize how large my room is until you cleaned it up." He approached her and patted her head, like how he usually does. A smile lit up her face, before she finally looked back at her bedside table.

"What are you looking at anyway?" Masaomi asked, before following her line of gaze. He happened to see the two picture frames that stood on his bedside table with the lamp. Somehow, he felt awkward especially after knowing that Ayako had seen the photo during their mother's wedding.

"You were still so cute then. I wonder what happened now..." He laughed trying to steer the topic of conversation, making Ayako pout sulkily beside him. He immediately regretted it because the girl seemed to be offended at what he said.

"I'm just joking!" He tried to defend himself. The younger girl just made a face at him and pretended to be mad, before laughing at him upon seeing his panicking expression. Their moment was disturbed when someone called for Ayako and Masaomi in unison. The two just looked at each other before bursting into another round of laughter.

"Aya-nee!"

"Oof!" Wataru jumped into the said girl's arms, clinging onto her neck for dear life. Yuusuke hot on his heels. Ayako wondered as to what the youngest did to actually annoy him.

"Wataru!" The red-haired male called out angrily as Ayako held her youngest brother in her arms, protectively. Her eyes glared at the boy in front of her, not minding if Wataru actually did something wrong or not. The poor boy is still a baby in her eyes.

"Yuu-chan, don't bully Wataru!" She slapped his shoulder lightly as if to scold him. Yusuke flinched when he heard her tone of voice. It was strict and reprimanding. He didn't want to deal with another scolding from Ayako. He always end up being ashamed, one way or another. Plus, she had dirt on him and he's afraid that she will use it against him.

"...Sorry." He finally said, after a few moments. Ayako had always known Yusuke being a hot-blooded and rash person who ends up regretting his actions afterwards...most of the times. Wataru still clung to her as he carefully peeked at his older brother's face only to see him, already calmed by his older sister. A gleeful smile spread on his lips as he jumped down from Ayako's arms.

"What were you guys arguing about anyway?"

The youngest child stiffened for a moment at the question directed to him and Yusuke. Ayako looked back and forth at the two boys before her. Her arms were crossed and her eyes were demanding for an answer from either the two of them. Yusuke looked sheepish and embarrassed, while Wataru seemed apologetic and about to cry. Her eyes immediately softened at the sight. She ended up patting the youngest child's head before smiling kindly.

"Well, if you guys won't say so, then it's fine. Just avoid arguing, alright? That's not good." She chuckled and patted Yusuke's shoulder, a little bit too hard. It was a warning from her that if he did anything to Wataru, he'll be regretting it for his life.

"If you end up acting immaturely again, I'll tell on you to Kyo-nii. I have something you do not want to be know, after all."

Shivers run down Yusuke's spine as he heard what his sister whispered in his ears. Ayako had always been the one who ends up disciplining him if not Ukyo, Masaomi or his other older brothers. Since the two of them are of the same age with him being older than Ayako by a few months, she can do whatever she wants without worrying although he won't ever admit it easily. Still, he sees her as an irreplaceable and lovable sibling.

"Ah, Aya!" The girl turned around slightly to look back at him. Her expression was inquisitive. She was walking away, holding onto Wataru's hand and was about to head outside when he called out.

"...Never mind." Yuusuke waved his hand, before leaving the girl and Wataru alone. Ayako only looked inquisitive for a moment before she shrugged it off and proceeding outside to play with their youngest sibling.

"Who is this?" Ayako suddenly saw black as she large, warm hands covering her view. Her eyebrows furrowed and met in the center as she tried to figure out who the person was. The said person even tried to alter his voice, so as not to be recognized by her.

She was currently sitting on the sand, with her knees tucked in. Her job for today was to entertain and babysit Wataru since their baby brother insisted that he wanted to play by the shore. The blue-haired girl was watching over her younger brother and now she's currently in this situation, robbed of her eyesight.

"Who is this?" Ayako threw the question back to the person who dared to prank her when she has a duty to attend to. If this was an unfamiliar person, she'd make sure that this person won't be able to see the sunlight ever again.

"Can you guess?" The voice suddenly changed again, and now she was confused because the pitch is higher but still sounded a bit deep. It sounded like a boy who hasn't hit puberty yet. She tried to pry his hands away, but the person was stronger than her.

Ayako was sure by now that it was a male, and one of her brothers that is pulling her leg right now. She has always been the subject of their affections... and pranks. Probably because she always has the best reaction out of all of them, according to a certain someone. A sigh could only escape her lips, as she finally realized who it was. Lucky of her that she remembered that certain memory or else she'd be here all day trying to guess and not being able to see.

"A-nii, please remove your hands from my eyes." Finally, she could finally see again. Her eyes squinted at the sudden brightness that welcomed her. She could hear the familiar sound of his brother, chuckling at her.

"That was not funny. If I hadn't recognized it was you, I would've thought another guy was trying to prank me." A pout formed on her lips as she sulked, her shoulders slouching slightly. He lightly ruffled her hair, making the girl protest.

"Sorry. You know-" Azusa was cut off from his sentence by Ayako, who was the one who finished it for him.

"I have the best reaction out of all of us, was it?" She shook her head but she finally smiled. He returned it with one of his own.

Azusa had always been serious and the composed twin out of the triplets. But sometimes, or most the times when it's her, he'd be the one pulling practical jokes on one of them. It seemed like this trait of his didn't change at all, although it also seemed like completely mellowed out too. He rarely does that anymore as far as she could observe.

And another wave of realization hit her. It felt like the family that she grew up with was becoming more different than it used to be in the past. Ayako knows and understands that yes, they all grew up but this nagging feeling in her tells her that it might not also be the family she once knew.

She willed herself to shake that thought away because she didn't want any of her siblings knowing that she always had this insecurity ever since she came back. The girl didn't know what to do or say, especially when she quietly watched them in the sidelines interacting with each other, including Ema. But she tried her best to not do something irrational and make her be hated by her precious and beloved brothers.

"So, how was your vacation so far?" Azusa tried to steer the conversation to a different topic, pulling Ayako away from her self-loathing thoughts.

"It's really enjoyable. If I could, I would want my next vacation to be like this again." A wistful expression graced over her features as she looked on at the horizon, keeping in mind to watch over Wataru who was currently preoccupied with picking up sea shells.

"I'm sure the others won't mind if you would tell them that. I bet they'll be happy to accompany you," she looked at him incredulously and Azusa knew what she thought of upon seeing her expression.

He quietly laughed before continuing, "Of course, I'll be glad too if you told me that." She instantly felt relieved and assured when she heard his response.

"Then, I'll try to tell all of you personally next time."

Ayako went inside her room and shut the door behind her, gently. She walked towards her bed and sat down on the edge before deciding to take a bath and maybe soak herself in the tub. Dinner would be served later. She bet someone would come to her room and call her.

Somehow, she felt too tired today. Probably because she cried again earlier and had to take care of her really active younger brother. She smiled at the thought of the adorable Wataru. It was just like yesterday when he was still a baby and Ayako would always help their mother in taking care of him or play with him or even change his diapers.

She stripped herself off of her clothing as she went inside the shower to clean herself before dipping in the bathtub. Warm water showered over her, and she let herself to be momentarily consumed by her thoughts; thoughts of her life for the past seven years and what she had to go through, thoughts of her siblings, thoughts of her life from now on, and thoughts of their new sibling, Ema.

The last one made her feel a little conflicted. She was happy that she already has an older sister to rely on and was not the only girl in the household beside their mother. At the same time, she envied her. Although, everyone's attention are currently on her, soon enough it will all be turned towards Ema.

She knew that it would only be for a while. How she knew about the span? Well, Ayako had already noticed but just kept it to herself, in fear of being chastised for becoming selfish.

The blue-haired girl leaned her forehead on the cold wall, trying to cool herself down despite the steamy, running water pouring over her. Her wet hair was framing her face and sticking on it but she didn't mind. She doesn't have a clue as to what expression she was making, but she was more than sure that she was probably grimacing or making an unsightly expression right now.

With eyes shut, she turned off the shower before opening her eyes once more. Her blue orbs reflected sadness, anxiety, jealousy and resentment. It was only for a moment before it soon turned to her normal, sparkling ones.

Ayako stepped inside the hot tub, relaxing against the cold, smooth marble that it was made of. She was able to lean her head on the wall beside her, as she remembered certain memories from her past. Her harsh past, as she would like to call and label it.

Author's Note:

Hey guys! TheWhimsicalNoirette is back. :) *insert evil laugh*

Well, I decided to update... again, which I found surprising to be honest.

I don't know why, but I seem to have found my muse to write a chapter for this story.

And I guess, a part of Ayako's past would be revealed although in my opinion, it may or may not be as dark as you guys might have thought. It would really be confusing though, I think.

Anyway, I have ended this chapter with a cliffhanger and I like it just the way it is even if I know that some are ready to hunt me down for what I did. LOL. /shots fired.

On that note, please continue to support and give this story lots of love! Don't forget to comment and let me hear your thoughts about the story. I would love to hear feedback from you guys. ;)

Thank you very much! :)