A/N: Enjoy a batch of small updates and then get ready for the final two chapters tomorrow! It's been a ride everyone, enjoy the epilogue scenes.

v

Yukiko looked out over the front yard of Mikan House. It was a beautiful day, the sun shining, the early June weather making it just the right temperature. Well….maybe just a tad hot. She always did prefer the winter months.

A rolling suitcase was packed behind her. She took some deep breaths. She'd been waiting for this day since she turned seventeen. The moment of freedom.

"Hey! Yukiko's trying to leave without saying bye!"

"Get 'er!"

At the cry, Yukiko was suddenly bombarded by the arms and hands of over half a dozen children. She knew it was coming, but pretended she hadn't and fell to her knees at the "attack".

"Oh, nooo. I've been captured!"

"Now she can't leave!"

"Yay!"

"Everyone, let your sister go!" An older woman barked out. Rosie stepped outside, grunting as she tossed kids off of Yukiko. The other children quickly scattered, although a few lingered to give her hugs. She made sure to squeeze them tight.

Her mother–Rosie practically was at this point–ran a hand through her hair. Yukiko took a step back. "Mom! Don't fix it! It's fine."

"You know I can't help it, sweetie." Rosie managed to get a stray hair down, sighing. "You grew up so fast."

Yukiko smiled. Her mother wasn't often overly emotional–she let Mikan handle that–but she was soft towards anyone she considered her child. Especially if they were about to leave. "It's not permanent, I'm just doing some traveling. Besides, you guys have phones now, so I can always call you."

"I realize. It's just not the same though. I feel like I'm already watching you leave the nest forever." Yukiko paused, then went to give her a hug. Rosie reciprocated earnestly. Her hugs always left you without breath for a moment, but Yukiko wouldn't have it any other way.

"Did you say goodbye to Xaiver?" Rosie asked.

"Er…"

"Yukiko! She hasn't left yet has she?!" Mikan's panicked voice on the upper level of the house gave her away. Rosie fixed her with a stern look. All the softness left her face, to be replaced by the regular mother figure she knew so well. Yukiko gave a nervous chuckle. Sometimes her father could be….a bit much. She still remembered when her older brother Mikhail left. She swore there was a tiny river of tears that lasted the rest of the day afterward.

"I should probably at least let him see me go…"

"I don't know if you'd be able to leave the city without him tracking you down."

They both chuckled just as her father rumbled downstairs and burst through the front door, grabbing Yukiko and holding her close.

"Yukikoooo! Be safe! Call often, every day if you can!" If Rosie's hug knocked the wind out of her, Mikan's made her tap his shoulder as if to signal surrender. She gasped as he released her.

"Sniff, still...we're just so proud of you Yukiko. It was like yesterday you were just–"

"Mom already gave me the same speech, Dad. I get it. I wasn't going to stay small forever."

"I wouldn't have minded that...although I'm sure your mom would have. We could barely keep up with you when you were tiny!" Yukiko laughed at his dramatic statement. She barely remembered anything before Mikan House, she was only three or so when she came there, but she thought it was funny how Mikan and Rosie could never quite decide if she was shy or totally rambunctious upon getting there. She liked to think she remembered being overwhelmed at first, before settling in and getting more spirited.

As she got older, she turned that energy into being more responsible around the house, secretly thinking to herself that it was a sort of payback for having the couple raise her since toddlerhood. She knew they'd never approve of her thinking along those lines, not when they themselves made sure every child knew that they weren't a burden. Still though, if they never knew she thought of it like that, it was probably alright. Besides, she really did help out a lot now. She hoped they wouldn't struggle too much with her gone, especially with so many younger children at the moment. Knowing the two, she knew she was likely worrying over nothing.

She hugged both of them once again, bearing with them as they fussed and doted on her. Yukiko wouldn't be seeing them for a while after all.

With final goodbyes announced, Yukiko grabbed the handle of her suitcase and marched down the path, waving as she went.

She didn't know exactly how long she'd be gone, or even where she was going exactly. Yukiko had an itch to travel, and she wanted to see as much of the country as possible. There was a first destination in mind, however. The city of Magnolia. She'd heard it was especially lovely this time of year.