After a long, exhausting trip from their old home, the Byrne family arrived in Kuoh. Their moving truck stopped at a two story, four bedroom house on the edge of town.

A teenage boy with dark brown hair, and light brown eyes, wearing a plain pair of beige pants, a white T-shirt, and a grey flannel, stepped out of the side of the van. "Fucking finally!" He exclaimed as he stretched his legs.

The metal shutter on the back of the van opened, and a teenage girl with short blonde hair that turned brown at the bangs and violet eyes, wearing shorts and a baggy light purple long sleeved shirt, leapt out. "That took forever." she said. "Can't wait to lie down, and relax."

A grown woman with shoulder length dark brown hair and light brown eyes, wearing jeans and a blue summer dress with a white wave pattern, stepped out of the driver seat, "Aren't you two forgetting something?" She asked. "We still need to unpack."

Both of the teens let out a groan.

"I'll take care of the heavy stuff." the girl stated, slowly walking back to the truck.

"And I'll start with the breakables." The boy volunteered.


After a half hour everything had moved from the van into the living room of the empty house. The family was part way through unpacking, and having trouble figuring out which boxes contained what.

"This would be so much easier if these boxes were labeled." Complained the girl as she opened boxes at random.

"And who was supposed to do the labeling, Azalea?" The boy remarked, carrying a box of plates and silverware into the kitchen.

"Shut up." Replied Azalea, opening yet another box. "Hey Mom, I think I found the family photos. Brandon, want to take a quick look?"

"A little break won't hurt." the mother said.

Azalea carried a large album over to the kitchen, and opened it on the counter, revealing dozens of pictures arranged in no particular order. Both her mom, and brother gathered around her.

"So many memories, you two were such sweet kids." The mother reminisced, looking at a picture of the two kids playing in a park on a sunny day.

"What happened to us?" Brandon quipped.

"Speak for yourself bro, I'm just as delightful as ever." Azalea bragged, lightly smacking her brother on the back of the head.

"Knock that off you two. You'll always be my little angels, no matter what." The mother lightly scolded, continuing to look through the photos.

Azalea noticed a loose picture with their mother, and a tall, brown haired man holding a newborn baby. "Hey, who's this guy?"

Brandon reached over, and grabbed the photo. "Huh, haven't seen this one before, looks like it wasn't taken too long after I was born."

After getting a good look at the picture the mother's face turned crestfallen, and her eyes started to well up. "That's Brandon's father, Azalea."

Azalea clearly noticed her mother's distress. "Oh, I'm so sorry mom." She said, as she went over to give her grieving mother a hug. Brandon wordlessly followed suit.

The mother hesitantly reciprocated the hug. "It's alright sweetheart, you didn't know." She mumbled, holding back tears.

They stayed like that for a couple minutes before the mother reached for a nearby paper towel, and wiped some of the excess moisture from her eyes.

"Alright." the mother stepped back out of the group hug, her face looked a bit brighter. "We still have a lot to do, so let's get back to work."

"You sure you're alright?" Brandon asked. "Azalea, and I can take over for a bit if you need some time."

"It's alright, I'm fine now. I need to prepare the medical room." the mother reassured, trying to wave off her son's concern. "and besides the couch, and chairs aren't even set up yet."

"Alright Mom." Brandon said. "Just remember we're here for you." Azalea nodded in agreement.

They continued unpacking, Brandon finished putting the kitchen supplies into their proper places, and Azalea tackled the furniture before helping her mom set up medical supplies in a small, unoccupied room.

Looking out of the window, the mother saw the sun starting to sink into the horizon. "It's starting to get late, and I need to drop off the moving truck. Tell your brother I'll be back in a bit. okay?"

"Got it mom." Azalea replied.

"And don't burn the house down while I'm gone." The mother joked.

"I won't, but I can't speak for Brandon." Azalea played along.

"I'll see you later." The mother chuckled, ruffling Azalea's hair before walking out of the front door.


Azalea searched for her brother, finding him in the bathroom, reaching to place an object in the top section of a cabinet, completely unaware of her presence. "Hey Bro!" She called, startling him.

Brandon fumbled with a bottle he hadn't set down yet, nearly dropping it before re-stabilizing himself. "Don't sneak up on me like that! This hair dye isn't cheap."

"Sorry. But couldn't you just fix it with Shattered Glass?" Azalea inquired.

"I could fix the bottle, but most of the liquid would still be soaking into the floor." Brandon explained. "So, do you need something, or did you just want to give me a heart attack?"

"Oh yeah, Mom went out to drop off the rental truck." Azalea said.

"In that case, we should finish up before she gets back." Brandon suggested.

"No taking this opportunity for a break?" Azalea questioned.

"We just had one like a half hour ago, besides after the incident earlier Mom could use a pick-me-up." Brandon insisted.

"Good point." Azalea agreed.


The siblings continued working, unpacking boxes, setting up furniture, and each choosing a bedroom on the second floor. They had placed their mom's belongings on the floor of the remaining, ground level room, for her to set up personally, and all that remained was a heavily locked, three foot long wooden box with the words 'Do Not Open, Ever' carved into it.

"Well that's ominous." Brandon stated.

"What do you think it could be?" Azalea asked.

"No idea."

Azalea examined one of the padlocks. "Do you think you could pick it with Shattered glass?" She inquired.

"No. Clearly this is something we're not supposed to get into" Brandon replied, crossing his arms.

"Oh, you're no fun."

"Yeah, like messing with some unknown variable, with a literal warning sign could ever lead to a good time." Brandon said sardonically.

"I wasn't seriously asking you to break into it, but you've got to be at least a little curious." Azalea defended.

"Not really, I'd rather things stay peaceful, and boring than find out whatever's in the box." Brandon stated.

"Yeah yeah, Yoshikage Brandon just wants a quiet life." Azalea mocked.

"As if that's a bad thing." Brandon asserted.

There was a knock at the front door, the knob turned, and the door opened revealing the mother carrying a couple of flat white boxes.

"I picked up your school uniforms while I was out." She stated as she stepped in, before scoping out the living room. "Wow, you two got a lot done while I was gone."

"Thanks Mom, we didn't know how you'd like your furniture set up, so we kind of just halfhazardly tossed it into to your room." Azalea said.

The mother set the clothes boxes down on a table set up in the middle of the living room "That's fine, I'll finish that part myself."

"Before you get to that, what's this?" Azalea gestured to the heavily locked box.

"Azalea wanted me to break into it." Brandon added.

Azalea gave Brandon a dirty look.

"Oh that? that's nothing you need to worry about." The mother said, trying to brush the question off.

"Come on, not even a hint?" Azalea probed

"What is your fascination with the forbidden box of mystery?" Their mother asked japingly.

"Don't humor her, mom." Brandon groaned.

"So, are you going to let us know?" Azalea insisted.

The levity on the mother's face faded, she looked straight at Azalea. "In all seriousness I can't tell you now, that's a secret you just aren't ready for."

"That just makes me want to know even more."

The mother sighed, placing her hand on Azalea's shoulder. "This isn't a joke honey. I might need to tell you, and Brandon someday, but that will be a dark day for all of us, so please drop the subject."

Seeing her mother uncharacteristically serious Azalea relented. "Alright Mom, I trust you."

"Thanks sweetie." Azalea's mother said, her tone brightening as she pulled her daughter into a hug.

Brandon walked over, and tapped both on the shoulder. "Sorry to ruin the moment, but where are we going to put the 'forbidden box of mystery,' exactly?"

The mother released Azalea from the hug, and turned to Brandon. "Ah, about that, could I ask for your help? I'm going to need to pry up a floor board, or two."

"Sure." Brandon curtly replied.

"Want me to help too?" Azalea asked.

"No thanks sweetie, we've got this." The mother responded as she reached for one end of the box, Brandon grabbed the other end, and helped carry it over to her room.

"Alright then, I'll be right here if you change your mind."

Azalea plopped down on the living room couch, and started to relax. She heard a thud, followed by a muffled swear from her brother, which made her let out a chuckle. Probably dropped the box on his foot she thought, before starting to drift off.

After they had finished hiding the box, the mother and son found Azalea fast asleep.

"Aww, how precious, looks like it's getting close to bedtime." The mother doted over her sleeping daughter. "It's a shame we'll need to wake her up."

"Don't worry I've got this." Brandon said, matter of factly. "These things require elegance, and tact."

Brandon gently put a hand on Azalea's shoulder, "AZALEA, FIRE!" ...and shouted to startle her awake.

Azalea's eyes shot wide open, and she jolted into a seated position. "What's Happened?!" Azalea frantically looked around before Brandon's words sunk in, not seeing anything wrong she turned to him, and glared.

"Brandon, that was terrible." The mother scolded.

"Douchebag." Azalea said, still glaring.

Brandon shrugged "Hey it worked didn't it? I couldn't just leave you asleep on the couch."

"Douchebag." Azalea repeated incredulously before getting up, stretching, and turning to her mother. "so, are we done for the day?" She said groggily.

"Yeah, there's some rearranging that needs to be done, but I'll handle that while you two are at school."

"Thanks Mom, you're the best." Azalea yawned out. "I'm gonna go to bed now."

Azalea walked up the staircase, stopping halfway to the top. "Love you Mom, you exist bro." She said, before continuing to her room.

"I love you too honey." the mother replied.

"I 'you exist' you too, Sis." Brandon bantered.

The mother turned to talk to Brandon. "You are just incorrigible, Brandon."

"Hey, that's just part of my charm."

"How many schools did that 'charm' get you expelled from?" The mother jabbed.

"A couple." Brandon casually responded.

The mother let out a sigh. "Just please don't get kicked out of Kuoh, it's the only school in town, and your sister needs you."

Brandon's face grew downcast. "I'll try, Mom." He replied solemnly.

"That's all I ask." The mother said, pulling him into a brief hug. "Now tomorrow's a big day so make sure you're well rested."

"Alright Mom, goodnight."

"Goodnight son, I love you."

"I love you too Mom."

And with that Brandon headed to his room.


Azalea stood at the foot of her bed, after having changed into a set of sky blue pyjamas, decorated with images of doves carrying various flowers in their beaks. Ten black wings burst out of her back, and wrapped her in a feathery cocoon, she then fell forward onto her bed, and immediately drifted to sleep.


After a set of nightly exercises Brandon, opting to remain in his day clothes, tucked himself into bed, he started to doze off before realizing he had forgotten to turn off the light.

"Shattered Glass." He said, lazily. A hand made out of stained glass shards floated over to the light switch, and flipped it off, then fell apart as Brandon fell asleep.


Hello, this is Tenebrionidae, and thank you for reading.

This is my first crack at writing a fanfiction, or any type of creative writing project for that matter. I'd highly appreciate it if you would write your thoughts, leave some advice, or point out any spelling errors/missing punctuation/grammatical hiccups you may have noticed in the reviews, so that I can improve.

Also if you happen to be reading this during the covid-19 pandemic do what you can to stay safe.

Tenebrionidae signing out.

Edit: Fixed a ton of punctuation errors.