Chapter 1: This, Apparently…

Sabrina began wiping the sweat with the towel she had brought. She didn't know why, but she had decided today's workout would be longer than usual. Ever since they had the gym installed, she'd never failed to spend her mornings there. She found it to be an effective way to clear her mind before the day began, and she felt particularly refreshed today.

She would soon find this to be a rather fortunate occurrence.

After a quick shower and a change of clothes, she sat at the head of the large dining room table while deciding what to have for breakfast. When the door to the kitchen swung open, it wasn't the chef who walked out as she expected.

Isabel walked over with an irritated expression; a newspaper gripped tightly in her hand. The woman slapped the crinkled paper on the table in front of Sabrina before crossing her arms.

"What's the matter, Isa?" Sabrina asked, not yet glancing down at the paper.

"Read the front page," Isabel said, her posture saying she wasn't in the mood to explain more.

Sabrina raised an eyebrow before looking down at the paper. She felt a small knot of unease in her stomach when she read the paper's name. Folktown Gazette was typed in bolded font at the top, the main article of the issue below it.

Honest Abe High star athlete Shaun Emerson takes first place in the 31st Intercounty Track-Meet 100yd. dash!

Sabrina frowned as she looked back to the woman whose expression had soured even further.

"We're leaving within the hour," Isabel said before briskly walking to the room's main entrance. The door opened as she approached.

"If you wish to come, I'll find you ready in the entry hall."

The door quietly closed behind her.

Sabrina let out a tired sigh as she stared down at the newspaper. Every time he came back, she had wondered if this would be the time he told her. Instead, she managed to find out by chance through a newspaper article.

"She was bound to find out someday," she rose from her seat, all thoughts of breakfast out of her mind. "Christopher. You idiot."

She left the room only to burst back in and charge the kitchen. She could probably get it to go.

Isabel stalked down the mansion hallways to her room with a cloud seeming to hang over her head. When she had hired the PI to look into her father's activities in Folktown, she had never expected to find this. At most, she thought he might have found someone for the first time since her mother's death. Imagine her surprise when she found he started a completely separate family!

Was she not good enough? Whenever he came home, he'd always treated her like she was the most important thing in the world, but was it all an act? Was she truly not enough to fill the hole her mother had left in his heart?

The sadness and gloom of this revelation had quickly sparked into anger. Her only option was to go there and confront him. It was all she could think to do.

But, amidst the feelings of betrayal, a small, joyful thought permeated the gloom.

"I have a younger brother?"

A mountain of a man stood as a pillar outside her bedroom door, his tailored suit resting comfortably over his massive form. Eyes both yellow and orange peered out toward from a stern olive face toward his mistress. He smoothly pushed the bedroom door open, his long ponytail swishing gently across his back as Isabel moved past him without a second glance.

"Bostwick," she said as he followed her inside, the door sliding shut behind him. "Pack my bags. We'll be leaving shortly."

Isabel stooped in the center of the large room, turning back to find her butler watching her with a passive expression.

"Perhaps," she put her hand to her chin. "But I doubt an occasion will arise during our stay."

Bostwick blinked.

"Better safe than sorry," she conceded. "I'll leave it to you."

The butler turned and vanished into the walk-in closet, leaving Isabel to take a seat near the imposing window at the far side of the room. Her thoughts continued to swim with the possibilities.

After her mother died, her life had become so lonely. Sabrina had done an excellent job taking care of her, but she couldn't fix what was lost. She had practically lost both her parents that day, and now, it seemed her father had moved on without her.

And had another child.

She had a little brother! True, he wasn't that little, but still! How could her father had kept this from her? She may have never discovered this if she hadn't peeked at his travel itinerary the last time he visited. What was he like? What did he like? Should she bring a gift? Does he know about her? He couldn't! If her father didn't tell her about him, he wouldn't have told him about her! …Right?

The soft, barely audible thump of the large suitcases being set on the floor jolted Isabel out of her chair. She quickly recovered herself, glaring at her servant.

"Did you have to be so loud?" she cried indignantly. "You're usually more graceful than that!"

Bostwick looked down at his left sleeve. He pulled from it a small thread that had fallen there. Isabel let out an apologetic sigh.

"Forgive me," her voice had calmed down once more. "I may have overreacted a touch."

Bostwick pulled the handkerchief from his breast pocket and folded the thread within before tucking it away.

"You're right," she gave him a curious look. "By the way, what dresses did you decide on?"

Bostwick blinked, and Isabel's face lit up.

"As always, you never fail to know exactly what I want even if I don't."

Isabel rose and hurried to the door, Bostwick lifting the two large suitcases once more.

"Once we're downstairs, call the car around," Isabel moved into the hallway and briskly began making her way down it, her butler easily keeping pace. "Then, send a call to our mansion in Folktown. It's been over a decade, and I want it ready when we arrive."

Bostwick took in these commands and the excitement his mistress was now exuding. It had been some time since he'd seen her like this. He had served the Einstein family for over three generations, witnessing both Isabel and her mother's births, and the day her mother's life was cut short. As a servant, he could do no more than watch his young mistress mourn, for any more would be improper of one in his standing. Even so, he felt this may be a welcome distraction for his charge, even if it was temporary.

Bostwick adjusted his grip on the luggage as he followed his mistress on a new journey.

OP: As You Like It [Eve]

The door slid open, and both Isaac and Shaun watched a disheveled Robin trudge inside. She took the seat across from Isaac before placing her head face-down on the table.

"You're here early, Robin," Isaac told the tired girl. "Any particular reason why?"

Robin raised her head, and Isaac flinched back from the death glare she gave him. He glared back at her, air between them becoming charged with anger.

"Guys," Shaun said, already annoyed by what seemed to be the beginnings of another argument. "Can we not do this so early in the day."

They both turned their eyes on him, but he remained un-withered by their gazes. Eventually they gave up, but now refused to look at each other either. In the end, they both glared down into the table, though Shaun felt it was their attempt to meet him halfway. He was fairly certain they could see each other's reflection in the steel table.

"So, did anything happen last night?"

Shaun had learned that the best way to break these two up was to either physically separate them (a job he'd had to do multiple times over the years) or get to the root of the issue himself. The one thing both Isaac and Robin could agree on was that they were his friend even if they weren't each other's. It was only natural he'd play the peacekeeper, even if he was forced into the role.

The furrow in Robin's brows deepened before she let out a tired sigh.

"Archie managed to put a hole in our living room ceiling," she leaned back into the chair. "I got to him before my dad did, but it's not like we could hide something like that."

"How did he even do that?" the antagonism left Isaac's face. "It's not something you can just do by jumping up and down."

"How am I supposed to know?" she cried indignantly. "Dad kicked him out before he could explain. Ended up getting an earful. It's been a while since I've seen dad that pissed."

Anthony Thompson wasn't the sort to be easily incensed. If he had gotten angry enough that Robin took note of it, Shaun could only imagine how big the hole must have been.

"Our house will be under construction for the next few days, and my allowance is taking a big cut too."

"But how does that lead to you waking up earlier?"

Robin glared at Isaac again, but a look from Shaun turned her away.

"My alarm went off early, and I can't get back to sleep once I'm awake. I think my dad set it himself."

Shaun wasn't so sure about that last bit.

"Shaun!" the far door slid open, admitting a short haired girl. "I had a feeling you'd be here."

"Aya?" Shaun tilted his head as she strode towards him.

"Sorry, Isaac, but I need to borrow him," the new arrival grabbed Shaun's arm and practically dragged him towards the door.

"Why are you apologizing to him?" Shaun asked incredulously as he was pulled through the doorway and out of view.

The remaining occupants listened as they faded into the distance.

"So, you don't know how Archie did it," Isaac said. "But where were you when it happened? You two are basically joined at the hip when you're together."

Robin opened her mouth for a rebuttal but found herself closing it in embarrassment. She couldn't tell him they were playing hide-and-seek. She was 17. She wasn't supposed to be playing that at her age, and neither should Archie. What could she say?

"Just drop it already," she turned away, a small amount of heat rising in her cheeks.

Isaac felt his own cheeks redden slightly. Whenever she was like this, he had a hard time figuring out what to do. It was easy when she was obstinate, but these rare moments of vulnerability were the most difficult for him.

"A-alright…" he conceded awkwardly, looking away as well.

It was several moments before the found something new to argue about.

"Where are we going," Shaun asked as he was dragged down the stairs, much to the curiosity of their fellow classmates.

"Your presence is required at the archery club," she answered as though it was obvious.

"What did Sheldon do this time?" he asked with a sigh. At a certain point, he'd come to expect his friend causing trouble in his own special way was just the way of things.

'Not his fault this time," Aya put her finger to her chin for a second. "Well, not fully."

Suddenly, Shaun was very interested into what had happened. Typically, he and Aya would argue with each other, or he'd accidently shoot something. What else could he have done that Samantha couldn't handle?

The first thing he heard when they drew close to the club were the voices. One was obviously Sheldon's, but the other he didn't fully recognize. It was familiar, but he wasn't able to place it.

The second thing he noticed was when Aya slid the door open. The club members were scattered around, the boys looking annoyed while the girls seemed a bit concerned. Samantha glanced over, and a look of relief came to her face when she laid eyes on Shaun.

"Shaun," Samantha closed the distance as Aya released Shaun, her dark hair swaying over her shoulders.

"Samantha," Shaun eyed his girlfriend curiously. "Who's Sheldon arguing with?"

"It's Rita," Samantha stared at the ground, clasping her hands in front of her. "I tried to stop them, but they won't listen."

Now that was strange. Rita was a recluse who lived with the Mayberry's that typically did three things. Sleep, read, and write. It helped that she was a fairly successful author, but she still refused to move out, and Samantha would never ask her to. She and Sheldon had never really gotten along, but she'd never come to the school before.

Shaun moved deeper into the dojo, Aya and Samantha following close behind. The muffled words of frustration and anger became clearer with every step.

"…And it's clear that you don't understand how important it is."

"You're right! I don't understand! You can just go get more from the mall!"

"You are well aware that I don't leave the house."

"Then what are you doing here?"

Shaun found Sheldon in full archery garb arguing with a bespectacled woman in a black sweater that looked one size too big and deep blue jeans. Shaun took a moment to contrast this outfit with her usually less conservative clothing.

"Shaun!" Sheldon noticed his friend approaching. "Tell this witch that I didn't do anything wrong!"

"Shaun," Rita calmly faced him as well. "Perhaps you can get it through this idiot's head that he can't just do what he wants."

Shaun looked over to Samantha, his face pleading for an explanation.

"Sheldon used the last of Rita's shampoo today," Samantha supplied, looking a little embarrassed about it.

"If she didn't want it used," Sheldon ran his hand through his hair. "She shouldn't have left in the shower."

"Then where to you expect me to leave it?" the woman rebuked. "If I had a private bathroom, I would put it there."

Rita pulled a lock of impressively long hair over her exposed shoulder, running her fingers through it absently.

"I need to wash with it every day, otherwise my hair dries up like a slug trapped in the sun."

"Your hair will survive a few days without it," Sheldon waved her words aside. "If it's so important to you, just go buy it yourself. You have more than enough to buy a few dozen bottles."

"But I don't leave the house," she reaffirmed her contradiction.

"Sheldon," Shaun massaged the bridge of his nose. "Just give Rita enough money to buy more shampoo."

"But I don't leave…" Rita attempted to reiterate as Sheldon gaped in indignation.

"Rita," Shaun sighed. "You're a grown woman. Go buy your own hair products."

Rita scowled at the boy, and Sheldon seemed unsure whether to declare his victory or be affronted by the prospect of paying for her.

"Now, give her the money and let's be done with it," Shaun moved his eyes between the two, waiting for their answer.

Sheldon's body tensed up, his face scrunching like he swallowed something unbearably sour. In turn, Rita's brows had furrowed together as her scowl deepened into a glower.

"Fine!" Sheldon declared with enough vitriol to be a curse before storming past the onlookers to where Shaun remembered the changing room was. He returned moments later with wadded up bills in his hands.

"Just take it!" he thrust the hand with the money out to Rita.

The woman stared at the cash, clearly debating with herself about taking it. She eventually accepted the bills before turning and approaching Shaun. Everyone watched as she pulled Shaun's arm forward, palm up, and placed the money in his open hand.

"I'll be waiting at home," she said casually before sweeping past and out the door, leaving everyone else to dumbly watch her leave.

"I hope you're satisfied," Sheldon told the dumbfounded redhead. "It's your problem now."

"Rita…" Samantha said quietly, her tone tired.

Shaun sighed as he looked down at his hand.

"Guess I'm going shopping after school," he stated for no one's benefit.

"But isn't Christopher coming home today?" Samantha asked, concern lacing her voice. "You've been waiting all month for him."

She was right. Shaun's dad was so rarely home that anytime he was coming back was an important day. Shaun had even gone shopping for the food he wanted to make ahead of time so he could head straight home to meet Christopher.

"It's fine, really," Shaun placated. "Dad will understand if I'm helping a friend."

"No," Samantha said firmly. "You are going home after school. Give me the money."

Shaun made to object, but one look in his girlfriend's eyes told him that would be unwise. Reluctantly, he handed her the money.

"Good," her face immediately brightened up. "Now get going. I'm sure Robin and Isaac are wondering what happened."

"Alright."

He turned and began leaving before stopping, giving her one final, small smile.

"Thanks, Samantha."

"Go," she made a shooing motion with her hand.

"Kirby, what are you doing?"

Kirby Kotheimer was calmly cleaning around his house… well, his mansion, with careful efficiency. Gilderoy, who had been playing WarioWare on his Gameboy before Kirby had entered, glanced momentarily at the man before returning to his game.

"There is no need to concern yourself, Gil," Kirby dusted the cross hanging above the fireplace of the living room. "I am simply preparing for my daughter's arrival."

"Ah."

Silence passed between them as Kirby continued his cleaning. Gil suddenly jerked slightly, staring at his friend in surprise.

"Your what?"

"My daughter, Karen. She's coming to live with me."

Gil watched the pastor finish dusting the tv in the corner of the room before tucking his duster under his arm.

"That's a little sudden," Gil placed the Gameboy on the coffee table. "Did she say why?"

"Klaudia believes it's time I become a greater presence in her life."

Kirby and Klaudia had been "separated" for little over a decade. While nothing official had been signed, the sheer distance between them made it hard to call them "together".

"And that she have a chance to stop moving around for a time."

"So she finally got tired of the brat?"

Kirby's glare almost made Gil wither under its intensity.

"Just a joke, Kirby," he placated his friend. "I'm just surprised is all."

Kirby watched him for several more seconds before a ringing came from the front of the building. Kirby and Gil glanced toward it at the same time.

"Did I mention she was also already close by?"

"You did not," Gilderoy pocketed the Gameboy in his jacket as he stood. "It'll be the first time I've seen her in a decade."

Kirby moved to the front of the house, Gil close behind. He placed the duster onto a nearby table before approaching the door, hesitantly placing his hand on the doorhandle.

"Don't worry," Gil smirked knowingly. "If she's anything like her mother, you have nothing to worry about."

Gil thought he saw Kirby's perpetually stoic face relax for an instant, then, it was gone.

He turned the knob and opened the door.

The clacking of billiards filled the coffee house as Ash pulled back the pool cue. As he, Logan, and Archie watched, the 3, 7, and 11 balls all fell into different holes. Logan grinned broadly as Archie frowned.

"And that's why you don't challenge him to pool," Logan patted his friend on the back as Ash positioned himself once more.

"You know," Ash began lining up his next shot. "It's because of that technique that I was…"

"Able to beat the Swallow," his friends chorused.

"Exactly."

"So, Archie," Logan took a seat at their table, sipping from the coffee a waiter brought while they were up. "What was it you were saying about Robin?"

"Just that she's not allowed to see me for a week," Archie rubbed some chalk on his pool cue, for all the good it would do. "Tony was pretty angry about what happened."

"Well," Ash easily sunk another billiard. "Breaking the first-floor ceiling is usually bad etiquette when you're a guest."

Logan laughed at that while EMIYA considered his situation. From what the memories had shown, he and these two were no longer enemies, but old friends, and the fact that he could easily interact with them was proof of that. From what he could tell, magic wasn't something anyone knew about, and he couldn't even sense any mana in the air. But, if that's the case, how did he get here, let alone possess someone's body?

"Say, school's gonna be out soon, isn't it?" Logan glanced out the nearby window. "Think your sister will be staying late again, Ash?"

"Most likely," Ash prepared to sink the 8 ball. "Ever since Kurtz moved to town, she's had a habit of discussing his students with him at length."

"Maybe she'll finally pluck up the courage to ask him out," Logan laughed again before finishing his cup. "Well, I'm off. Got a sister of my own to deal with."

"Scarlet's in town?"

EMIYA remembered the woman from Archie's memories. A beautiful spitfire with enough Olympic medals to line a small ballroom. In fact, she had lined her own with them, and even had a chandelier made from them.

"Only for a few days," Logan called as he exited. "Wish me luck."

Archie watched him go as Ash sank the ball, winning the game.

"He left us without paying his part of the check, didn't he?" Archie asked the pool shark.

"I believe he did."

As Archie sat and began drinking his cup with a sigh, Ash decided to sink Archie's billiards as well just for the hell of it.

The expensive car in front of his house's gate was enough of a signal to Shaun that something was odd. His father didn't own a car, and Ryan's was far from what one would call fancy, so unless his father decided to buy something he'd rarely use or Ryan somehow came into a large inheritance, this had to be someone new.

This was all but confirmed when he passed through the gate and found two curious women standing before his house. One woman, slightly shorter than he, was moving along the front length of the building and glancing at its every facet. Her long white skirt and deep purple coat swayed with every motion, her pure white hair tucked beneath an odd hat. The other woman, this one a little taller than him, watched the other with a bemused face. She wore a simple ensemble of blue and white, her golden hair tied in a tight bun behind her head.

As though she sensed his confused stare, the taller woman looked over her shoulder, her eyes widening slightly upon sighting him.

"Isa!" she called for the woman's attention. "He's here."

The woman in purple stopped her investigation and turned around, red eyes fixing upon him in a way he was not sure how to describe. Several seconds of silence passed between them before she suddenly charged him, causing him to stumble back in surprise before being tackled to the ground in… a hug?

"Shaun!" she cried as slammed his back against the ground, landing on the hands curled behind him. "Ow!"

Shaun tried to catch his breath, widely confused as the woman pulled her hands out from under him and began shaking them, her face scrunching slightly in pain.

"Ow, ow, ow! I should have thought about that for a second, but I couldn't resist!" her eyes sparkled as she looked down at him. "Shaun, it's so great to meet you!"

Shaun's head was spinning from more than the impact as the blonde lifted the woman in purple of his sprawled form.

"Isabel, you shouldn't tackle people you don't know," the woman pulled the struggling Isabel away with little effort.

"Let me go, Sabrina!" she waved her arms about, but the taller woman remained unfazed by her efforts. "I can only make one first impression, and I want to do it on my feet!"

Shaun moved to his feet, tenderly rubbing the new bump on the back of his head.

"I'm sorry," he wasn't sure why he was the one apologizing. "But who are you two?"

The struggling girl went limp at his words, a look of vague despair showing on her face.

"So, he didn't even tell you about me."

She slid out of the blonde's arms like water, slipping to the ground and falling still.

"My name is Sabrina Pendleton," the taller woman said before gesturing to the crumpled heap before her. "And this is my charge, Isabel Einstein."

"Rina~" Isabel whined from the ground, not raising her head. "I'm twenty now…"

"And you still act like a child," Sabrina sighed and shook her head.

"Okay…," Shaun felt like he was missing something, so he took a shot in the dark. "Do you two know my father? He'll be here soon if your waiting for him."

Isabel suddenly shot up, surprise rivaling his own dancing across her features.

"Daddy's coming here!" she shook Shaun's shoulders jerkily. "When? Why now?"

Shaun reeled in her grip limply as her words echoed in his mind.

Daddy?

"Shaun!"

Isabel quit shaking him as every eye turned toward the opening gate.

"I saw the car outside," Chris Emerson opened the large door, a suitcase in each hand. "And heard the voices! If you brought friends for me to meet, I wish you had told me. I would have…"

His voice cut off as he took note of the three figures in front of his house. He froze, dropping the handles to the bags in shock.

"Christopher," Sabrina walked up beside the two still charges. "I told you this would only last so long."

Her words seemed to snap him out of his stupor, and he began trying to form his own. Eventually he just let out a sigh.

"Well," Chris rubbed the back of his neck. "Guess there's no…"

He whirled around and bolted out the gate. Sabrina was already moving, her form shooting after him as though fired from a gun. A loud crash emanated from beyond the wall, followed by the frantic yelling of Shaun's father that slowly moved back towards them.

"Daddy?" Shaun glanced at the woman who let out a sigh very similar to his father's.

"Let me try again," she released his shoulders and put on a bright smile. "Hello, Shaun. I am Isabel Einstein, sole heir of the Einstein fortune, and daughter of Iris Einstein and Christopher Emerson, which means…"

She hugged the stunned boy, squeezing him as hard as she could from sheer excitement.

"I'm your big sister!"

ED: Ouchi ni Kaeritai [Rie Takahashi]

If you had one wish, what would it be?