-Chapter 3-
-Reunion-
Ayame set Enjeru down in her wheelchair gently and went to let her go, but Enjeru hugged on tightly, crying and shaking gently. Ayame knelt down in front of her and let her cry on his shoulder for however long she wanted while Yuki knelt beside her, one of his hands on her back, the other on one of her hands. Yuki decided that he'd tolerate his older brother, so he could make sure that his sister was okay. Ayame whispered to her that everything was fine, and Yuki reassured her as well. Enjeru's tears began to slow and stop only about a half hour after they started.
"Onii-chan... Ototo-chan... I've missed you so much... Akitou-sama lies when he tells you all that I've been sick for all of this time... I've been locked away in a room for 10 years... I don't want to go back there... but if I don't do what Akitou-sama tells me... he'll lock me away again..." She sobbed, shaking still.
"What does he want you to do Nee-chan?" Yuki asked gently.
"He... He wants me to kill Tohru Honda... I don't know who this girl is... but whoever she is... she can't be that bad! After all, she's just a normal human right? What harm could she have done to the family?" Enjeru asked, looking at the horrified and angry Ayame and Yuki.
Ayame looked to Yuki who looked back at Ayame. They nodded then looked back at Enjeru, Ayame telling her, "we'll get you out of here imoto... We'll do anything we can to get you out of here."
"Really..? You'll do that..? But... what if Akitou-sama decides to retaliate? I don't want you two hurt... Please... Don't get yourselves into trouble.." Enjeru said sadly, not wanting her brothers to get into trouble and be hurt by Akitou, knowing how much potential Akitou really had.
Yuki smiled at her gently, "don't worry about us... We'll be fine. And you'll be able to see Honda-san... and see that she's not as bad as Akitou-sama takes her for."
Enjeru then hugged Yuki, holding him close, "please... please tell me you'll defend yourself if Akitou-sama comes after you... Akitou-sama may be the head of the family, but he's no different than us... He's as plagued by the family curse as we are... and you mustn't be afraid to strike back."
Yuki smiled at her again, "don't worry, I'll keep that in mind."
From behind Yuki, there was the sound of someone clearing out his/her throat and Enjeru looked up to see Hatori next to a small boy with light blonde hair and bright blue eyes, wearing something that resembled what a girl might wear. Ayame got up and started to speak with Hatori, quietly for once, while Yuki just held onto his sister, only with one arm around her back now, Enjeru looked over at the boy and recognized him as Momiji, the one cursed with the spirit of the rabbit. Enjeru smiled at him and Momiji walked up to her and hugged her. Enjeru smiled sadly as Momiji cried, mumbling something about his sister Momo and his mom, and something about Akitou as well. Enjeru stroked his hair and soon enough there was another sniff coming from Enjeru's left, in which a small girl with orange hair and golden eyes stood, in a light yellow dress, with a boy who had short light brown hair and sharp, dark sienna eyes wearing an almost uniform type outfit. Momiji knelt back from Enjeru as he wiped his eyes.
"Momiji-kun... who are these two?" Enjeru asked gently.
"Oh..! That's Kisa-kun and Hiro-kun! You never met them before did you?" Momiji asked.
Enjeru shook her head slightly, "no... they must have been born after I was locked in that room... Don't be shy, I don't bite."
Kisa looked at Enjeru and was a little fearful about approaching her, but seeing her kind, gentle smile, Kisa walked forward, though Hiro stayed behind.
"Let me take a guess... Kisa-kun is the tiger." Enjeru said with a light air to her voice as she carried the gentle smile.
Kisa looked away from her, almost ashamed.
"Come here dear..." Enjeru asked, no command in her voice, and Kisa walked a little closer. Enjeru reached out and Kisa knew what the gesture meant. She looked back at Momiji who gave a small hand gesture to go on. Kisa climbed into Enjeru's lap with the help of Enjeru and Yuki.
"You know Kisa-kun..? My favorite animal is the tiger. You don't need to be afraid, think of the tiger as a cunning animal, who is not only smart, but proud, caring, loving, gentle, and dangerous. You're a beautiful girl, you have no need to be ashamed of who you are." Enjeru told her gently, as she hugged Kisa.
"B-but... kids at school..." Kisa started shakily, not able to finish, her gaze downcast.
"Do these kids tease and bully you?"
Kisa gave a nod.
"Then you know what you should tell them? You should tell them that your Aunt Enjeru will come and beat them up if they keep doing it. And I'll do it good." Enjeru said with smile on her face and gave Kisa a wink after saying she'd do it good.
Kisa giggled lightly and Enjeru laughed a little with her.
Enjeru looked up at Hiro who looked away, almost in disgust.
"You must be the ram, am I right Hiro-kun?" Enjeru asked, the gentle smile still on her face, and Kisa still in her lap.
"Humph! Why should I tell you?" Hiro retorted.
Enjeru laughed gently, "stubborn, tends to push his way through, and doesn't like to accept anything new. All characteristics of the ram, and the ones I've already picked up from you Hiro-kun."
Hiro looked off into the distance, still looking pissed as sat on the deck. Behind him came out a girl with dark brown hair and brown eyes, strong body, wearing a light green dress with cat back pack on her back, beside a tall boy with white hair on top and black hair on the bottom, stern eyes with a tee-shirt and a pair of pants on. Enjeru laughed a little.
"Kagura-kun and Hatsuharu-kun! I haven't seen you two since you were children! You both aren't beating Kyou-kun up too much are you?" Enjeru asked, laughter holding in her voice.
Hatsuharu and Kagura both just smiled at her, Yuki smiling lightly as well. Next came out a guy with long light hair and almost girlish eyes and attire along with Shigure. Enjeru looked up at them and some of her laughter died off. She nearly glared at Shigure and her left hand clenched in response to seeing him. Yuki noticed this and looked up at her concerningly.
"You're not still holding those old grudges are you, Enjeru-kun?" Shigure asked, the man next to him, Enjeru had recognized was Ritsu but was too busy glaring at Shigure to acknowledge him.
Everyone's head snapped up at Shigure, hearing how he said Enjeru's name.
"Shigure-kun... Why'd you even have to suggest to Akitou-sama to have me locked away in that room for ten years..?" Enjeru asked sternly, Kisa removing herself from Enjeru's lap and going to Hiro.
"You WHAT?" Yuki, Ayame and Momiji yelled at the same time.
"Oh, why'd you have to bring up that dark time?" Shigure asked.
"Because everyone has a right to know what you did to me!" Enjeru retorted.
"Did you ever think that it was Akitou-sama who wanted you all to himself? The greedy bastard wants you completely to himself, and I proposed to idea to have you locked in the main house, it was him who thought it would be brilliant, not me."
"Though that's not all of your reasons! You thought that you'd protect Ayame-nii and Hatori-kun from me, pray tell, why do they need protection from me?"
Everyone watched the argument like a ping pong match, looking from Enjeru to Shigure.
Shigure walked up to Enjeru and leaned down, hands grasping her wheelchair, he leaned down further and whispered in her ear, "because... you fell in love with Hari-kun and I don't want him being hurt by a fallen angel like you pretend to be. You're no better than us, Enjeru, and I plan to make you see that. Akitou-sama may see you as an equal to him, or even higher than himself, but to me, you're nothing but a lowlife piece of crap and I'd like it better if you were locked in that room for all eternity."
Shigure held as much hate and disgust in his voice that he could muster, while Enjeru tried her best to force him away. But she had forgotten...
"A lot of help your powers are... After that seal was put on." Shigure whispered to her again.
"Get... away from me!" Enjeru gasped as tears entered her eyes again, while a faint burning appeared on her hand.
"But Enjeru... We had so many good times together... why would you push me away now?"
Enjeru dug her nails into Shigure's hands, breaking the skin and she didn't let go until Shigure pulled back, once he did, cursing her name in as many ways he knew, she had pushed away from him, though she hadn't noticed how close to the edge of the deck she was until she felt herself falling, only to be caught. She looked up to see Hatori there and she sighed lightly. Hatori helped her up and held onto the back of her wheelchair firmly.
"Now Ayaa-kun... Why are you acting this way?" Shigure asked, Ayame and Yuki were now in front of their sister.
"You have no right to hurt imoto. Even if we are friends, I won't let you put her through more pain!" Ayame said sternly.
"It wasn't me, it was Akitou-sama, you really think I'd do this to her?"
Everyone gave him a stern look or a look that said, "well you are capable.." and Shigure backed up a little. His shocked look turned to one of betrayal as he spun around and went back inside, looking almost hurt.
"We're going to get you out of here… And you'll stay with Ayame-kun, alright?" Hatori asked her softly.
Enjeru nodded, not wanting to spend another second in the house.