-Chapter 5-

-Family Problems-

(AN: This is a short chapter told from Enjeru's perspective, and is completely in first person. So don't get too confused! Happy reading.)

Ever since I can remember, Mom and Dad always treated me differently than Ayame and Yuki. I'd always tell them that they should look after Yuki more, but they just laughed. I remember one time, very vividly, Ayame-nii and I were in the hall, I was doing homework while leaning on the window sill and Ayame-nii was just passing through. Of course I've been in a wheelchair since I was three, so I always had a place to sit. Both of us were in our school uniforms, a black uniform for Ayame and a black and white sailor style top with a black skirt for me, black knee socks on my feet.

"Another meeting Ayame-nii, or were you out with Shigure-kun and Hatori-kun?" I asked, keeping my eyes on my paper, doing the work without much thought.

"You don't need to worry about it imotto," Ayame said as he normally did.

"Where do you think Yuki-ototo is?"

"Probably in his room again."

Though, we soon found out that Yuki wasn't in his room any longer as we heard shouts from Mom and Dad as well as Yuki's crying. I moved myself to the main room of the house, wheeling myself in my wheelchair with some trivial effort. I saw Yuki ducking his head as he cried while Mom and Dad yelled at Yuki about something, to this day I could not remember exactly what it was, though both Mom and Dad seemed very angry. I tugged on Ayame's shirt, asking him to help Yuki, but Ayame never moved, watching Yuki as if it was a normal daily occurrence.

"Ayame-nii, do something, " I pleaded.

Ayame however just turned his back on me. So I decided to take action myself and put myself in front of Yuki. When I think about the moment, the frames play slowly, almost like a slideshow, but really it happened so fast, I wonder how my mind could keep up. Though now that I think about the incident, I find that I had gotten up out of my wheelchair, ran across the room, and stood between my mother and Yuki just as she went to slap him. Though however it happened, I had been the one slapped across the face. The firm hand of my mother landing on my cheek is one thing I remember most, and I had never known that the stubborn yet seemingly fragile woman I called mother, was so strong until I fell to the floor, skidding a tad.

I remember that I had a burning pain. It hurt so much to move, so I didn't. It hurt so much to breathe, hurt so much to think. Mom let out a high pitched scream, yelling for the doctor to come, Dad running out. I saw Yuki for a brief moment before Mom shoved him away. I knew my body had curled up, I could see my knees, both of my arms and hands, and my hair was everywhere. I suddenly felt something hot and wet touch my left cheek that was against the floor. Even though my mother had slapped my right cheek, it seemed both sides of my face were burning, and in my ignorance, I found myself wondering what the dark crimson liquid was, that pooled around my head. But before I could ask mom, everything went completely dark.

I was told that it took me 16 hours to wake up again, only to wake up in a hospital bed. Never again has Mom looked at me with anger. I think she still remembers that time. Then again, I haven't seen mom in ten years, so, who's to say? Who's to say that she hates Yuki for that time. No one can truthfully say and I know that she'd never admit to it, even if she did. Oh well, I guess that it's her own fault. Though I do know that Yuki blamed himself for me getting hurt, despite countless times I told him that it wasn't his fault.

I think mom liked me more due to the fact that she could hug me, and not have me transform into a snake or a rat. Mom never liked those animals. Come to think of it, I'm not sure she really liked anything. One thing she absolutely hated was my power, and I think she's the reason it was taken away from me. Even though I only used my power in extreme cases, and only in defense, I think she still hated it. Especially after what I had done to Dad...

That is one of my most horrific memories as well as one of the last times I ever saw the man I called my father. Many a time he blamed me for things crashing to the floor, things breaking, when in reality, they fell on their own. I soon became sick of it, and lost control. That day was the first time that I had ever hurt anyone, and it was the last. I couldn't stand seeing anyone in pain, and after I had lost control on that day, seeing so much blood come from someone who had tried to protect me for so many years, it was painful for me as well. Though, they couldn't protect me from everything...

My father told Akitou what had happened, and he decided that my ability would be taken away. That ability was telekinesis, the ability to move things with the power of the mind. A small intricate circle, resembling a tattoo, was placed on my back as a way to seal in my power. I became very vulnerable for the next few years, not being able to defend myself well. My power gone, and not being even able to walk for nearly any period of distance... I felt very weak. My health showed it, due to I was absent from school a lot more and under the care of the family doctor for a while, having attacks more frequently.

However... after that time with the doctor... when he gave me too much of the injection used to calm my heart rate, I was terrified of anyone who tried to help me, terrified of doctors, hospitals, and that injection... Akitou sought to protect me in his own ways. After High School was over for me, and once I graduated, Akitou forced me to live in a small home on the main house grounds. I was kept there, not allowed to talk to anyone, so I'd sing in the morning when the sun rose, and I'd sing at night when it went back down again. People called me a ghost because no one knew someone was living in that house, save for Hatori who came by to check up on me when he started becoming the family doctor, and once he did. Yuki and Ayame knew I was being kept at the main house, but they didn't know exactly where. Mom was never told either.

If I wasn't kept there, I probably would have illustrated children's books... I love kids and drawing, painting, and sketching. Or help Ayame with designing clothes... Ayame, Yuki and I ... all share one dream. To create something that others can use... To be of some use to others... Ayame does this by making clothes, Yuki does this by seeing to it that everyone's problems and concerns are heard so that they may be taken care of... I just haven't gotten the chance to try and fulfill my dream yet... Now maybe I will.