A/N: Part two of Kallen's first POV Chapter.

"Pleeease Ka-Chan! I wanna eat my crepes now! Right nyow!" Kallen bellowed out once more in childish agony, stomping persistently on the sidewalk while dragging her shopping bag behind. Thankfully Mizuki handled the bulk of the groceries otherwise the trek would be delayed longer since Kallen had to go back several times to pick up dropped items. Kallen only handled the vegetables otherwise known to the little girl as simply "rabbit food."

"Kallen I've already told you: not until after dinner. It's not likely that my answer was going to change up til now," Mizuki scolded her daughter with a raised eyebrow. The redhead ran straight in front of her mother, intercepting her with her bag held high. She knew one way to sway her mother's heart. Kallen swept her arms behind her back and leaned inward with her shoulders hunched, then her eyes dropped into a pathetic pout. 'Time to plead.'

"Pweeeeeasse! I know! If you let me eat now, then I will clean up my room and always keep it tidy! I'll also do my homework and not distract Onii-chan from his work. Deal?!"

Mizuki paused where she stood and pondered. Kallen was sure she won her decision the moment her mother provided her sincere smile, sparks brimming in her eyes, and stated-

"Denied."

Kallen dropped her bag and fell to the ground as Mizuki passed by. 'What?!' The girl cried in her thoughts. She was so sure she won her over this time…

Mizuki's smile was brief before it vanished, replaced by a serious grim along with a slight frown.

"You should be cleaning your room anyways, young lady. I'm not your maid. The same goes for your homework. Also you shouldn't be pestering your brother so much; Naoto is already under enough pressure with his painting assignments and history allocations. He needs to pass in order to graduate next year with the highest marks from University of Tokyo Arts," Mizuki made clear on those demands since Kallen had brought them up.

Kallen continued to slump in defeat before she recovered to hasten beside her mother's stride. Kallen let out an exaggerated sigh then recovered her composure. "Hey Ka-chan, can I ask you something?"

"Of course, dear."

"Why do you work at the health center when Papa pays our bills? The place is run down and the other nurses and doctors don't seem to like you much. Onii-chan never told me why either. Why do you keep going?" The uncertainty in the daughter's questions was very clear through the tone of her voice. The line of questions caused Mizuki to stop and face her daughter, only to first let out a heavy sigh.

"That's a… question that has a rather long answer. I think we better sit down first before I go into it," Mizuki proposed just as they entered a small park with a proper wooden bench nearby. The park was a familiar setting, a local getaway where Mizuki took both her children to during their infancy. It contained a rustic slide, a small kiddie pool worn down over time, and the lone bench battered and in need of fresh paint.

She placed her load of groceries to the bench's side then plucked Kallen up then sat her atop the right side. She scooted close to her child, took a moment to breath and adjust her bangs while Kallen kicked at the air (a habit she liked to partake). Once she felt comfortable with the starting point, she began without looking.

"When I was younger- before I was swept off my feet by your father's charming antics after his first visit to Japan- I was a social worker for the Japanese Society for the Study of Social Welfare (JSSSW). My position was arranged long before my birth, while my parents were kids. The Kururugi Administration running the country at the time set that precedence for our family. That was a different era to what we know now, but I suppose that's the meaning behind Japan's unofficial motto: 'The More Things Change the More Things Stay the Same.'"

"You see Kallen, most Japanese are not exactly… comfortable… with the idea of examining aspects of our society nor the idea of social welfare in general. They view the notion as going against social tenants of non-interference in private lives. Social welfare has become a softer topic over the decades, though scarcely do many indulge the talks. That's one reason why JSSSW was formed in the first place: to welcome the idea and embrace the discussion. I wasn't able to attend university due to your grandparents unable to send more than one child off, so Hideo-Niisan was expected to be the dutiful one. Sadly, he died in China after he got drafted into the war."

Mizuki's demeanor drifted into a grimmer and darker tone as she plunged into her past. The shift caused Kallen to stop her kicking and listen closely to her mother. Neither was wary of the school kids running and yelling nearby.

"Anyways, my specialty is in helping the homeless; helping those with addiction problems; helping those who had been hurt in rather… grotesque ways. The Diet refused to acknowledge the issue; even today they prefer the lower castes of the Burakumin or the Ainu in northern Japan as if they don't exist at all. Certainly not as people in the least. Despite the possibility that anyone could end up homeless due to no fault of their own!"

Mizuki's once calm explanation began to grow in disdain. An increased bitterness tinged at the end of her sentences as her eyebrows furrowed and her fingers pinched the bridge of her nose.

"You find them struggling on the streets or living under bridges, curled up within subway stations or whatever shelter may take them in. Even clinging to the camps in Ueno Park, or even 'sofa surfing' as we call it in our line of work where they live with their friends or family. Some may be lucky enough to find a place like a budget capsule or love hotel to stay and work at for barely affordable wages. It's so disheartening to me that such people are denied the help necessary to live by the very institutions meant to protect its people."

Kallen shifted uncomfortably in place, feeling the great hostility growing in her mother's rant. She rubbed at her neck as though the sensation could be wiped away.

"Of course you can't expect anyone to listen and do anything about these issues, right? Not without having research, qualitative data, and case studies done to prove such. That's where those like me, my fellow workers, and academics came in." Mizuki gave a long pause as though considering the events in the past. "The hard truth was that we were only able to achieve little success over the years, Kallen." It didn't matter which party was in power or which clan had the most influence among the powerful wealthy families. Rarely did we gather much interest or sustainable funding for our hard work."

As those on an uncalled cue, an uncharacteristic snort slipped from Mizuki's lips as she stared into the sky.

"Oh sure! We had the occasional curiosity from acclaimed persons like Prime Minister Yoshino Hironori who "promised" to fund and support us along with his son, Hiroyosi. Who was too off putting in his mannerisms for me to believe. But those were thrown to the wind once the current Prime Minister Kururugi Genbu was voted back in and he implemented a cutback on social support! We barely got a percent of the national spending! The only increase in health spending we saw from Genbu came from the maternity support based on the population problem that's been ongoing for years!"

*BAM*

Kallen's body hopped at its place on the bench when her mother's hand slammed against the ledge. Mizuki's heightened breathing became more and more labored as a twisted smile formed on her face and her neck veins popped out like living worms.

"For what purpose does that serve, Kallen?! Huh?! All for the unlikely scenario that Britannia invades us does he cut our vital social funding- all to go straight towards military expansion in that damn self-defence force where we already spent 20%! The massive Sakuradite production our country produces which made us the richest in the world! All goes to the pockets of the clans like Sumeragi and their monopoly on everything in society! Or into the stash of the prime minster I'm sure! Or people like Kirihara Taizo and those 2 crazy Britannian nobles your father deals with! Always lurking behind the powerful or stirring up a mess- just like with your father! If only he didn't meddle with their affairs back in the 90's we wouldn't have been-"

Mizuki had let her emotions run rampant in the first time in years, and Kallen was stupefied by the complex scene.

'I've never seen mother lose her composure like that… Not ever… She's so gentle and wouldn't hurt a fly,' Kallen reminded herself in desperation as she considered the scene. After Mizuki finished her words and took a moment to regain her self, a long weary breath escaped her lips after she leaned back fully into the bench. She took in heaps of air as though to suck the world into her being. Only after seeing this moment did Kallen sit back down beside her mother.

"…Whew. I'm sorry Kallen. I didn't mean to burden you with such ill-boded feelings. It's just so- so frustrating that our society that it preaches prioritizing our citizens above all else yet does its utmost to throw the unwanted overboard." Mizuki took a moment to look to her daughter with a smile. "But then, it's just like what your father once said to me during our first date: 'a group is made up of individuals. No matter how much they might share in the plan, they are still individuals with their own faiths, hopes, and goals. It's how one goes about making sure that everyone's metrics are met that makes a good businessperson.' And that's what the Japanese shares with every country, Kallen. We are neither a colony of ants nor a mind of hives. We are people."

Identifying that she had strayed far from the intent of her speech, Mizuki took a moment to cough to clear her throat then took a sip of her green tea.

"Sorry. To answer your original question Kallen, if I have to say what is my main motivation for doing all this, despite the fact your father pays us a good amount to maintain ourselves, it's the simple earnest out of helping those in need, those who have nothing. To give one thing to them that no one else dares to offer: hope. Heheh, such a simple thing isn't it? Giving hope," Mizuki teased as she considered her feats done in the past. However…

"Yet, so many people don't even know how alluring that feeling could be. How it can inspire those to achieve so much more than thought possible, or help those to see the beauty within them not seen before. Even the mere prescriptions I give out to the elderly take away a pain that's been there for a lifetime."

Mizuki turned once more to face Kallen, the genuine smile from earlier that day surfaced as clear as the sun.

"It's the same for the Filipino woman at the health center, Kallen. You noticed the Christian cross on her neck, right? The faith that she has helps her get through living in a foreign land even if she knows little Japanese. Despite that she will try to help anyone in need, even if just by humming or native song as a remedy."

Mizuki glanced to the side and spotted a budding plant blossoming in the light. "If you plant a seed from its nuts, give it water, and show it tender love, one day it will blossom into the beautiful flower you envisioned. Just like you, Kallen. Nothing beats the feeling that comes after the harvest has come. It's the same for all mothers." She reached out her hand to cup her child's right cheek, caressing its surface softly with each stroke (causing Kallen to blush profusely in public).

"My greatest wish in life is to see you and your brother blossom into the person you wish to be, and do the things you dreamed of. Nothing would make me happier in this world, no matter if something were to happen to me."

"Despite what many would consider a handicap or a curse, people are ignorant to the fact that a good minority of Japanese have at one time married gaijins and gave birth to children without stigma or judgement." Mizuki let out a darkened laughter at the thought. "I mean, it's funny how no one raised an objection with that Sumeragi woman who married a Knight of the Round, or in our ancestry where marriages were arranged for alliance purposes. I'm sure those history books your brother reads goes into quite a depth about it…"

"Sigh, yet now… We have that nasty graffiti written on our facilities, and other children pick on you just because you're a bit different. People are just afraid of anything out of the normal just walking up and causing a scene, like the encroaching war that's bound to happen."

Mizuki paused for the moment to consider her points.

"For all those we help, Kallen… there are those whose scars are far too deep to recover, and those whose pain cannot be easily mended. Those who have been too severely inflicted to hold a sword, a gun, or the most important item: trust. If the trust you hold in someone is broken, then it may never be reformed. I dread the possibility that I might have caused that with some of them that I've prescribed for…"

Kallen tilted her head in confusion, unsure the meaning behind the words. The conversation appeared to be drifting farther off from the purpose of her original question.

"While no one has ever said it, I can tell by the way they move their bodies or shift their eyes. I still remember what their brother had once said to determine their mindsets: 'he and his sister were like an onigiri in a fruit basket. It struggles to find a sense of belonging in the group they find themselves in because of-'"

Mizuki shook her head and stopped herself from carrying on. She knew at this point she spoke too much on the subject. "But you needn't worry, Kallen. You have much to look forward to in your life. Now, how about we get this done quickly and head back home?" Mizuki eased herself back off the bench and reached for Kallen's hand. After assisting the girl with brushing off the creases from their clothes, they made off to the client's residence.

Kallen could feel her mother's grip tighten around her hand as they walked through poverty-stricken section of Mikata, the heat from her body more feverish than the sun offered. Kallen did not enjoy the way sweat dripped along her wrists to moisten their hold, granted she knew that this could not be helped since Mizuki carried the heavy load. Kallen observed the poor atmosphere of the city: downtrodden houses, more and more graffiti by the block, worn wooden structure that was more occupied by mold than anything else, unkempt yards, dim or nonworking street lamps, incomplete older railings which its trails either dislodged or missing (due to the increase in theft for its copper content), and the sheer amount of abandoned cars that failed inspections or could not be legally upheld.

She did not like the scenery one bit, especially as she swore that several people peered out towards them from behind tight corridors. She eased tightly into her mother and clung to that tight hand with all her might, causing them to shiver.

Finally, the two arrived to a rather small house that appeared delinquent and unused. Its unshapely grubby windows were tainted green from no maintenance, and its upper glass was smashed in. Outside drainpipes leaked drops of water by the minute, and there were blotches of walls that appeared poorly covered up. The property offered a tiny garden that contained more cats than plants, and its inhabitants were happily cleaning themselves or gouging on food and water. Oddly enough, this makeshift sanctuary contained a small Neko shrine that helped ease the cats into staying.

Kallen really wanted to run over and pick up a rather cute little black one in her sights (one which looked so similar to the Fiji cat in an animated witch movie), but her mother's responsive grip denied that possibility.

In that distance Kallen spotted a woman knelt down near the shrine. She had her blondish brunette hair tied up in a single ponytail, and she wore a single bright-red tank top (which accentuated her physique quite nicely) along with an olive black capris. To throw off the otherwise simple attire, she had some odd lily green croc sandals with cat paws printed all over them. She held two items in hand: a fine-tooth brush for the cats in one and a spay device for neutering the animals in the other.

"Meow~," a cat barked out to greet the visitors before the woman took notice.

"Oh don't you 'meow~' at me, Mr. Fiji. You've been dodging this for a good long while, and now it's time to meet your reckoning- Hm?" The woman then sensed her approaching visitors and stood up to get a good view.

Kallen had to turn her head sideways to take in the view: the woman had a pair of icy blue eyes that seemed similar to her own. Knowing that someone else shared the same type of eyes brought a warm sensation to the little girl, and felt more at ease when the woman offered a stiff friendly smile and wave.

'They are so similar to mine... Does that mean she's a half-blood too?' Kallen pondered alone as she drew closer, giving her expression some life by crunching up her nose and eyes. Alas the scrutiny was short-lived once her mother pulled her back into check.

"Good evening Misao-san, I trust you are feeling well this fine evening?" Mizuki spoke out while giving a rather formal poised bow.

"Yes good evening to you as well, Mizuki-san. I see you're here to deliver brother's medicine... as well as the boss's I'm sure?" Misao responded in a matter of fact as she folded her arms. She did not return the formalities which stunned Kallen a bit.

"Of course. Just to be clear though, this will be the last time I'll be able to do this; the center has started to notice to drop in supplies due to the cutbacks from Takeda Pharmaceuticals. I'm afraid you'll need to find another venue for the prescriptions."

The notification was accepted by an air of silence. Misao said nothing after she withdrew behind her bangs, allowing a swift breeze to drift through to alleviate the tension.

"I see... Well, that's that I suppose. No matter. It's something my brother and the boss will have to sort out themselves. I appreciate the assistance you've given through these years, even IF some of it led to the current situation."

Mizuki became the next person to shy away from looking towards Misao. Kallen wondered what the subject being discussed was about; obviously something foul was afoot.

"...I didn't know about the happenings at St. Arcadia before I recommended you and your brother to go there. I only found out about the transgressions that occurred with the Morimoto's after the scandal broke up amidst the cover up attempted. I wasn't aware of how deep the connection went between your boss and the Englishman with the scarred lip, nor how far their actions went-"

"You think I don't know that?!" Misao abruptly interrupted with fists clutched in anger, her eyes screwed shot as though to block out the world. Her bursts caused all the nearby cats to hiss and screech in worry, and the scattered bowels toppled and spilled their contents to the floor. Even Kallen found herself scampering to the side in fear of something more severe coming.

"Kouzuki Mizuki, your ignorance does not lessen the horrors of what they did to my brother and I… the indignities… we suffered, and still suffer… that we must endure each day…" Misao trailed off from her heated moment while she looked around. "I still remember her smirking face, of Leona. That allora perfume she bought that still lingers on my hand. Even after I- I- smashed it straight down her frickin' thro- throa- throa-"

The mental image caused Misao to hug herself tightly and disconnect once more from the world. Even the slightest breeze in the wind caused her to twitch and bit away at her lip. Kallen did not know how to properly react or take in the scene, but Mizuki walked over to her daughter and took her hand in confidence. She's obviously handled this interaction before. Misao's sight drifted from side to side, as though looking for certain items.

"Mizuki Street. Tokyo Way. Hatto… Motto…" The woman spoke the items in a progressively slow manner, void of any emotion that she showed earlier. Although disturbed by the manner this deescalated, Kallen could not help noticing the comforting smile that was planted on her mother's face, reeling in success.

'Ka-chan is smiling? I don't understand.'

Mizuki took a moment to lay her shopping bags to the ground then motioned in front of Misao to gain her attention. Afterwards she offered the deepest bow Kallen had ever seen.

"Misao-san, there's not a day that passes by that I do not regret the negligence on my part for not evaluating that school properly. I was in a rush to get you and your brother in there before you were forced into an orphanage. That's the last thing I wanted to happen to you- your mother's passing was more than enough conflict in your life. I'm truly sorry for failing you and Kento-san."

Misao only stood there in silence. Her expression clearly identified she did not know what to say nor react. Kallen did the only thing she could by reaching out to her mother's shoulder for support.

"…Yeah… I know. I do not hold it against you. Mizuki, you were just one in a handful like Mr. Andre who believed in our story and tried to get us out… That's partly the reason why I have to put up with the boss despite his –unsavory- side. My brother of course is still blinded to that fact, his reasons much more personal than I care to admit… I just- just- can't put up with this anymore… I'm tired- so tired of living like this," Misao admitted aloud with a great weight on her tone. In response Mizuki comforted that confession with a pat on her shoulder.

"Speaking of, did you have any luck finding work from that list of veterinary clinics I gave you last time? It truly would be a shame to see your degree wasted during a good opportunity."

Misao brought her head up slightly to look into Mizuki's eyes. Absent-mindedly, Misao repeated the same gestures Kallen's mother did when she had to lie: twirl her hair, twist her mouth, and blink several times.

"Y-Yeah, I found a vacancy nearby… As soon as this job finishes between the boss and Kento in China I will be all set. I-In fact I just got the letter about confirmation."

Kallen had to blink several times to ensure she was seeing this properly. 'She really is like Ka-chan when she lies.'

"Oh my, that's great news! May I see that letter? I'm eager to learn more."

"A-Ah. Sorry, I accidentally threw it away in the bin when the sanitation people came by…"

"I see… Well, I'm sure you will do well. Now how about we make sure Kento-san gets his medication?"

Kallen rubbed the back of her neck in confusion. Does her mother really believe in that obvious lie?

"Y-Yes, he's in the basement during his usual thing, despite the fact that he's the one who wanted to take in these strays. Got to help out a fellow creature that was abandoned by loved ones, he says. Can't blame him for having his heart in the right place though," Misao wheezed out as she looked down towards a basement window that was concealed mostly by overgrown grass.

"I agree, otherwise these poor things will get put down at the shelters or get further abused elsewhere. Still, this really isn't the best place to them to stay; are you still getting subsidy from the local council for this?" Mizuki inquired while looking at the nasty spill that happened earlier.

"Tch! That's the only decent things we get from those lousy bastards. They won't even send somebody to fix the dripping pipes even after 20 requests- urgh, enough of that. I'll take you inside to Kento," Misao dismissed her ramblings to point towards the entrance.

"Let's get it over with. Kallen dear, I know you may be tired but please stay nearby while mommy takes care of her business. Be a good girl for me, okay?"

"Uhn! Will do, Ka-chan!" Kallen affirmed as she stretched her legs then put down her own shopping bag. She rolled out the numbing sensation in her fingers as she watched Misao and her mother walked into the house.

After time had passed, Kallen found herself obligated to pick up the toppled goods and refill the water bowls for the cats. Despite the little feast that was restored, they would merely sit and observe the little girl. Kallen frowned at the scene.

"Oh come on now puss… here~ kitty kitty kitty~… I got you some nice food and fresh water~," Kallen practically meowed out to the cats to gain sympathy. No luck. Kallen furrowed her eyebrows while she pondered what else to do.

"Oh! I know!" Kallen reached over to her bag and searched for the one item that none can resist: the utterly delicious crepes. Once freed from its confines, Kallen practically drooled over the item. The piece was still perfection: dark chocolate layered with a grand amount of crème de la crème over the top and a single strawberry on top. Kallen imagined herself in paradise eating the delicacy so slowly, so slowly as it traversed down her throat and-

Reality brought Kallen back in when she noticed the slow dropping sensation was not from eating, rather because the crepe decided to roll off its angled plate and down her shirt. Her uniform was stained and the masterpiece dropped to the grass.

"NO! My crepe! Half of it is all over my school shirt, damn it all!" Kallen wailed in her absolute misery at perfection ruined. Despite crying and the tears following, she looked to the cats who were curiously observing the treat.

"Oh well… You guys can have what's left there, Mr. Jiji- Ji…ji- Oh, Fiji. Oh… I wish I could take you home with me. Ka-chan won't let me have a pet though…" Kallen didn't mind how quickly that wonderful treat got devoured by all the cats, in fact had some joy in knowing she was helpful. Kallen started tending to her mess with a handkerchief, although the effort was meaningless because the grubby stain-

"What you do mean –you- are not sending us no more prescriptions? You're the damn one who insisted we take them in the first place! 'illness' my ass, you lying cow!"

Kallen squirmed and the cats dispersed at the new outburst that hailed from the basement. Out of curiosity Kallen rushed over to that poor basement window to check the situation. She didn't look behind to see how random neighbors rushed out of their homes to yell at the commotion.

"Will you dang cats shut it?! I'm trying to watch Kamen Rider!" *SLAM*

"My god, will someone please call the sheriff and get these strays out of here?! Those louts are clogging up the neighborhood. All because of that haafu there!"

Kallen carefully ignored the derogatory comments made behind her and focused on the scene at hand. She could not see much other than the blurry detail of a person's back who wildly bushy hair. He was dressed in rather tacky dark blue jeans and a worn-out jumper to boot. She was sure he had some rather odd marks on his hands, but she could not define the details. The man was still shouting at her mother and was being restrained by Misao.

Kallen then took in the scenery below. The basement was filled to the brim with various lap equipment, some of which she was familiar with from school: Bunsen burner, the thingy used to patch up faulty wires (she could not remember the name), various bags of material, cement blocks, electrical boards, boxes of pins, and empty oval shells. She also noticed some marked boxes with the abbreviations 'C4' written on the sides with an exclamation point.

"Just what could he be making down here? Does he do film production?"

"You- you took us from our home in Ueno Park! You put us in that goddamn place! Then you have the nerve to show up and claim you had nothing to do with it all?! You ruined our lives and go around acting like you help people when we all know you're just helping yourself! Go around lecturing people on how to live their lives! Walk around in that fine coat of yours and show off your fine jewelry given by that damn Britannian! We know who you are, even your son who hates you! Just tell me when the last time you saw your husband?! When has he ever taken up arms to defend us from those vile creatures?! We were the ones on the front lines! We were!"

The busy male continued to rail and rave on Mizuki without a care for others, unaware of the raucous he caused outside. Ka-chan had a syringe in her hand and took aim at a vital point to ease him from his episode.

"We were the ones who stopped those creeps who stalked you! We were the ones who protected that broken-down health center despite that it's funded by animal killers and drug-testers at Takeda, and owned by the damn Morimoto's!"

After a moment the bushy man managed to free himself from Misao's hold and rushed over to his stash in the corner, consisting of a bulk backpack and a blue sleeping bag. He pulled out a vanilla enveloped and waved it around. Kallen could barely distinguish the JSDF seal marked on its lip.

Misao pushed Kento down and wrestled with him on the ground. "Kento, please stop it! I can't do this anymore! You hear me, brother! You are driving me mad! You and Okino with your damn issues! You need this help! Please! Let us help you!"

"Kento-san, you are too attached to Okino… that's not healthy," Mizuki eased out in a mellow tone in attempt to stabilize the situation, but Kento did not take that comment well.

"Don't you dare mock me like that! I have that right to honor Okino-kun who saved us from our fate! Have you forgotten that, Nee-san?! Have you forgotten our promise all those years ago?!" His voice drastically reduced down, possibly from being tired out or losing his voice.

"Stop saying that brother! I'm begging you!" Misao brushed off of her brother and clung to herself once more. She did not appear willing to carry on the struggle any longer.

Kallen noticed that her mother took her time itching closer to the scene, carefully wielding the syringe to keep out of sight yet ready to plunge. Just out of coincidence Kento turned and looked out the window, spotting the young girl observing him. Out of sheer rage, he rushed Mizuki and threw her aside to slam against the window with his face.

"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!"

Kallen plopped back in fear of the crazed man staring at her. His expression was all sorts of messed up, an image as though taken straight from a horror film: his skin was flaky and seemed ready to peel off if he withdrew from the window, his teeth were crooked and darkened from years of neglect, and his eyes were bloodshot enough to see every vein in his socket. Kallen could not look away despite the fear.

In those eyes she saw the sins… The wrath it contained, of the hatred… it was like looking only at a single emotion but no soul remained. He may very well have been possessed by a demon at this point. His eyes were similar to her and her brothers, yet that showed no pride in comparison. The twisted smirk he had sent shivers down her spine. All she could do at the time was pray that her brother would show up and protect her from this… abomination.

"Keee! Help me Onii-chan!"

Kallen desperately crawled backwards to get far away from that person, and grabbed hold of her shopping bag in defense. She buried her face in its pocket to block out that face that became scarred in her memories. She refused to take her head out after hearing a suddenly clash of noise and screaming from within that basement. She didn't mind how the ingredients for their Korean BBQ were smudged in her face; she did not want to open her eyes until her mother came out.

Several minutes had passed before no further noises could be heard. The struggle must have ended, but Kallen didn't care. Not until just then when a soft hand rubbed affectionately through her hair. Finally her mother had rescued her.

"Oh Kallen, I'm so sorry that you had to witness that… I thought that Yamazaki-san would have taken the news better that that…He usually doesn't act up to such an extent. He's just a troubled soul, despite my best efforts I just cannot reach him. At this point I can only hope the one person he's devoted himself to won't lead him down the wrong path," Mizuki eased out as though also deescalating her own temper at the situation. In an instant, Kallen quickly switched from bag to her mother's uniform to hide in, clinging tightly to the fabric.

"Ka-chan! Ka-chan!" Kallen blubbered in a nonsensical voice from the horror she felt.

"I'm here, Kallen. Don't worry; I'll always be here for you." Mizuki pulled her daughter closer and continued to comb through her hair to ease the pain. "Come, let's go home. We're done here."

Kallen took all her time to pull herself out of her frantic state, and then assisted her mother with getting her bags and heading back home. She did not ever want to return to the Yamazaki house after that day.

"Please Onii-chan! Just show me you're painting already!" Kallen beseeched to her brother, all the while holding his green t-shirt and clung to his figure as he sat at his desk. She had not gotten used to his longer burgundy hair after letting it grow at university, nor the fact that he had a measly beard growing on his chin. Despite the entire trauma from that day, she was remarkably recovered and forgotten it (with the help of a nice long bath).

"You know the rule, Kallen. No one sees the painting until it is complete. Besides, I KNOW you are skipping on the homework you should be doing right now," Naoto chided his sister and pried him from her clutches. Due to the fleecy nature of her pajamas, he was able to slip out of the grip with ease.

The simple accusation stopped Kallen in her tracks, and looked aside in feinted hurt to persuade him to giving in. She noted that his room had not changed much over the years: the fact that the entire room was painted purple was a testament of such. He kept the contents simple and minimalized, such as a single simple desk with a game console and small TV connected, a wooden wardrobe with a few shirts hung up, a small western-style bed with cotton blankets, and one of Naoto's finest paintings illustrating the Battle of Sekigahara (which took home the top prize in his final exam to Tokyo University). Kallen liked how Naoto got the feel of the Yari spears piercing through the samurai on horseback, especially the finer detail of the red armored samurai. Kallen believe they were called the crimson men since they wore the Tokugawa Banner that looked like a leaf on their backs.

One samurai in the picture called Kallen's eye, they were all armored up from helmet to sandal and couldn't be made out. Was wielding a sword that had a blue looking orb on it's hilt, and stood out different than any katana sword Kallen had seen before as it struck against the western army of Isihia Mitsunari. Whom had fought the Eastern army of the victor Tokugawa Ieyasu.

'I wonder whom was wielding that sword? Must have been a notable figure to wield a rather striking sword. That or Oni-chan just got creative again.' Kallen pondered.

The only things that were slightly different than normal were the large amount of mixed magazines of Suzuki Biker Edition, some more –mature- adult magazine poorly hid out of sight (Kallen still snuck some peaks out of curiosity), and a few military-esque books about sniper rifles and famous snipers.

"N-No I don't! Even if I did, I don't wanna do them! Not after today," Kallen muttered after remembering snippets of that event. To respond, Naoto stood out of his chair and pulled his sister into a hug.

"I thought something must have happened after seeing you and Mum rush inside. I just thought you threw a tantrum and caused that crepe to fall on your shirt, seeing as how Mum looked so distressed…Sigh, I shouldn't have left her there at that health center, but I just- I was so angry at her at the time. I couldn't think clearly."

Naoto rubbed his hand through his sister's hair affectionately, perfectly copying his mother's technique. "I'm sorry for not being there for you, sis. I told Mum she should reframe from visiting that house anymore, but as always she doesn't listen to me. She thinks she's perfectly fit in Dad's world," Naoto grumbled into Kallen's color as they bathed in their shared warmth. After a moment, he pulled her away and drifted off in thought.

"This place will never be perfect; it is not meant to be. That's not what life is about. An artist such as me can see the beauty in this world from every possible angle, even if it's bad. From the lonely cloud that lingers above a hot summer's day to the glorious mass of snowflakes that cover the winter ground; the pose of a goddess to the slaying of a foe. Art paints the picture that we experience through our eyes… Oh jeez, here I am rambling on. Sorry to bore you with that, sis."

"Hmm. That's okay, Onii-chan! I like listening to you talk about art and history. Even if you come across like a lecturing old man! Hehehe!" Kallen giggled into her brother's chest and enjoyed the vibration that spread across her cheeks. In turn he hugged her closer, but then Kallen pulled away to get a serious look at her brother.

"Say Onii-chan. What exactly happened today when you, Katsura-obaasan, Kiyoshi-obaasan, and Ohgi-san met with Ka-chan at work? You'll tell me, right? Something's going on and I wanna know the truth," Kallen requested and pressed her lips together. She would use any tactic to get the answer she wanted.

Naoto's gaze shot to the sky as he considered his answer, and tapped his fingers on the chair in contemplation. Once considered, he looked back to Kallen's pathetic expression. He frowned as he thought of how to properly explain the circumstances.

"Well, you see Kallen… Mum is-"

"Naoto! Not another word from your mouth. Kallen should only hear about this situation while we are both available."

Kallen twisted in her spot to watch as Mizuki rushed inside the room, dressed in her yellow night gown and her hair tied up in a towel. She stepped into the room and closed the door behind her, either to ensure no one else heard the conversation or to bar all exits. Kallen began to form words in her mouth, but-

"Both of you please sit down on the bed. I believe now is the best time for this talk."

Kallen instantly shuffled onto the bed beside her mother, eager to hear about the situation, though Naoto acted sluggish as though reluctant to touch the subject. This became evident since he refused to look at his mother, instead folding his arms and crossing his legs at the far side of the bed. Kallen switched between mother and brother to determine what has happened. She remembered they fought numerous times in the past, but they mostly made up very quickly. However this time…

"So tell her, Mum… Tell her about what you will be forcing her to do, and basically throw all of our lives in the gutter because of 'you-know-who.'"

"Naoto! Do not speak that way about your-"

"My?! He's no relative of mine by any means! He's never here for you! For me! Not even for Kallen!" Naoto quickly fumed and pointed at Kallen to emphasize his point. "All he cares about is his damn business, his status as a snobby noble, his wealthy companions, and his disgusting money! That money that he takes from the grubby industrialists who are exempt from taxes, don't do any work, and steal from the common people like us!" As characteristic as Kallen could remember, Naoto burst into full-rant mode. Like he stated before, he had taken up the cause to fight against the 'evils' of the world.

"Where was he when I graduated from high school? Where was he when Kallen won her first spelling bee? Where was he on all those damn trips we took and he promised to come?! Let me enlighten you! He was busy asking the Empress of China where he could buy his next piece of automotive crap from!" Naoto punched at his pillow at each lasting syllable, and Kallen could do nothing but stare.

"O-Onii-chan… Please-"

*SMACK*

Kallen's extended hand to her brother was furiously slapped away then she was pushed into her mother in the wake of his grandiose performance.

"Oh yes, I almost forgot! hahah, you don't care about that, right? Nothing like a cheap cheesy line from a sappy romantic drama to keep you in line or a cheap golden heart on a chain to-"

*SMACK SMACK*

Mizuki's hand intervened in the ramblings to smack across his cheek not once, but twice in a fluid motion. Instantly his cheeks flushed red due to the great force. Kallen watched in shock as Naoto held his hand against the cheek and her mother wheezed. Her towel was left behind on the bed as Mizuki towered over her son.

'Ka-chan… Ka-chan actually hit Onii-chan!'

Kallen expected for Mizuki to return the favor in a fiery rant of her own, but the mother managed to steel her nerves and collect her breathing. The utter calm she presented was far more intimidating than she could conjure angry.

"You remember one thing and one thing well, Kouzuki Naoto: you have NEVER had to worry nor work for a living because of the FACT that your father works so hard to provide for us. You wanted those expensive trainers from the store? He BOUGHT them for you. You wanted that 1 million yen paint set? He BOUGHT that for you. The very fact that you do not have to worry about paying off your damn debts for university education is BECAUSE of your father. You have your father to thank for all that you have. Don't EVER make light on the wealthy in life, Naoto. Most people work to the bone to get what they have where most people can only dream of those privileges you take for granted!"

An uncomfortable silence filled the room, Naoto unable to respond and Kallen unsure of what to do. Mizuki noticed the uncertainty in her daughter's eyes, took a deep breath, and then concluded the talk.

"Now I think its best your sister and I leave while you sort out your items. I want you to make sure all your things in the bathroom are removed by tonight. Am I clear?"

Although she was speaking to Naoto, she refused to look at him as well, instead intent to take Kallen by the hand and guide her out. Kallen managed to sneak one last look of her brother slumped against the bed and wall while covering his swollen face before the door was shut.

"Ka-chan… what was that about?" Kallen cried out after her mother refused to speak for a few moments, desperate for an answer about the outburst earlier. The horrors from today managed to keep escalating one after another, and now her family was breaking up. Kallen did not know how much more she could take. But then-

"Kallen-chan… Please bear with this, but we will be moving in with Papa from now on."

A/N: Well... that escalated quickly didn't it? A lot of ambiguity here and completely intentional on my part. Much was said, but much was left unsaid.

The timeline of this happening is due to canon never making it clear exactly when it did happen, the exact circumstances that led to it (which is great for me since I got to think of how it could have happened). Along with also because it fitted what is planned for the Kouzuki and Stadfeld subplot in future chapters.

Hope you enjoyed reading about child Kallen as I am enjoying writing on her and also the fleshing out of her mother Mizuki as well.

Til next time everyone.

Blackmambauk