1 Family Portrait

//All your insults and your curses//

//Make me feel like I'm not a person//

//And I feel like I am nothing//

//But you made me so do something//

Staind—"For You"

Nemuriko Campbell often stared hard at the Nemuriko family portrait, which hung above the television in the living room, wishing her family could be as happy as they looked in the picture.

Mr. and Mrs. Nemuriko stood together with Campbell and her twin brother Midian just in front of them. All four were smiling. Campbell sighed.

*Why can't things be like they were...before? If Midian hadn't been hit by a car...*

****

"Why the hell did you waste our money so...so foolishly?!" demanded Mrs. Nemuriko. "We needed it to pay Midian's hospital bill!"

Mr. Nemuriko scowled. "Waste it?!" I merely invested it...in Kaiba Corporation! That company shows promise, Mila. If we play our cards right, our money will expand from my employment there; more that enough to pay Midian's bill ten times over! And we can move out of this old apartment!"

"But what if Kaiba Corp fails?!" Mrs. Nemuriko inquired. "The bill will go unpaid! We'll be evicted! Does that make no sense to you, Akiro?!"

"Mila...you worry too much."

"You call caring for our financial stability 'worrying'?!"

Down the hall in the living room, Nemuriko Campbell heard every word. *Mother and Father have been fighting...about money...every since Midian got hit by a car. God, make them quit!*

Just then, the front door opened. Campbell made herself grin.

"Onichan!" she exclaimed as Midian entered the apartment. Her smile disappeared when she saw the look on the ten-year-old's face. "What's wrong? Where have you been?!"

Midian flopped onto the sofa with a sigh. "School," he muttered sulkily.

Although Cambell and Midian were twins, they were as alike as day and night. Campbell's hair was short, dark blond, and her eyes were silvery-blue. Midian, on the other hand, had deep gray eyes and silky jet-black hair. Campbell was a child prodigy. Midian was a troublemaker.

The two did have one thing in common. They both loved video and computer games, and played many sports.

"What'dja get in trouble for?" Campbell asked. "Let me guess...you beat up Meikai Ryumi?"

Midian started. "How'd you know?" he asked sullenly.

Campbell sat beside her brother. "It was obvious," she said with a shrug. "Besides, I am a genius."

Midian grinned and threw a pillow in her direction. "Ryumi practically asked for it, imouto."

The twins' parents' shouts echoed into the living room. Midian glanced towards their closed door. "How long have they been arguing?"

"I don't know," Campbell replied quietly. "Before I came home...I guess."

Midian scowled fiercely, running a hand through his limp hair. "This is all my fault," he muttered. "Now, ever since I got out of the hospital, they've been fighting about Kaiba Corp and the stupid...stupid hospital bill!"

Campbell sighed. "It wasn't your fault, Midian-kun."

Her brother scoffed. "Yeah, right. A car runs over me, shatters half my body and sticks me in the hospital for two months. Two months! Now is that my fault or what?!"

Just then, their parents' door opened and slammed. Mr. and Mrs. Nemuriko stormed towards the front door, where they stood exchanging insults like a couple of kids. Mrs. Nemuriko finally turned and left with a defiant shout.

Mr. Nemuriko stood at the open door for a while, staring at the wall in deep thought. Then, with a nod to Midian and Campbell, he was gone.

****

"I can't believe it!" exclaimed Midian. "Father's here, but Mom still hasn't come!"

Campbell curled up on the sofa, her eyes darkening.

"Onichan?" she whispered after a few minutes.

"Hai."

Campbell shut her eyes. "I'm scared. What if...Mother...never...comes...back?"

Midian glared at his sister. "Don't say that!"

A knock sounded on the door. "I'll get it," Midian called. He was confronted by a police officer.

"This is the residence of Nemuriko Akiro?" the man asked shortly.

Midian nodded. "Hai."

"Is your father home?"

"Yes, sir. I'll get him. Midian ran off, and quickly reappeared with Mr. Nemuriko behind him, looking worried.

"Is there a problem, Officer?" he asked.

The policeman sighed and spoke awkwardly. "Yes...there is. Nemuriko-san, your wife...Nemuriko Mila...was in a...a fatal car crash."

"Is she-"

The man looked down. "I'm sorry, Nemuriko."

Mr. Nemuriko nodded grimly. "Thank you," he said quietly.

****

A week after the funeral, Campbell entered school, not wanting to live. *If Mother and Father hadn't argued, Mom wouldn't have left...and she wouldn't have been hit by a car.*

"Campbell-san..."

Campbell glanced up. She smiled faintly. "Ohayo, Seto-san."

Ten-year-old Kaiba Seto sat at his desk beside her. "I heard what happened," he began.

"Everyone has," Campbell snapped. "Could we just forget it?!"

Seto was taken aback. "Gomen," he muttered.

Campbell closed her eyes and sighed. "I didn't mean it that way, Seto. It's just that…well, so much has been happening. I've been transferred to this advanced school to 'challenge my accelerated mind', Midian got hit by a car...and now...this..." She lowered her head to her desk.

Seto was silent. "I hate to tell you this, Campbell, but...I have more bad news."

"Speak," Campbell said sarcastically, not raising her head. "I've heard the news of my mother's death...I can bear any bad news."

"Last night, I heard Gozaburo and your father talking about moving...to America."

Campbell sat up straight. "What!" She turned to her friend. "Seto, tell me you're kidding!"

Seto shook his head. "I'm not. Gozaburo wants to start a Western branch of Kaiba Corporation. He's big on expansion. Nemuriko-san sounded like he would go."

"My god..." The girl felt like crying. "I don't want to leave.