Unfortunately, I found myself facing something I hoped I would never have to face and that was social services. Being that I am only but twenty years old, something about my custody and care of my younger sisters called their attention, thus they questioned as to whether or not I can considered a fit guardian. As far as I knew, they would allow Nui to remain in my custody but Ryuuko was another story, as her existence as the third Kiryuuin daughter has mostly gone ignored and our mother, the one who abused, neglected, and locked our sister away, had died not very long ago, so they decided to scapegoat someone else.

I remember when Nui ran to me, sobbing hysterically, as Ryuuko looked on in confusion, trying to piece together what she was witnessing. I was just as confused, however, and asked what had her so upset, to which she said, "Social services called!" I was shocked and asked why they had called but the answer I got boiled down to, "They want to take Ryuuko away!" I couldn't sort out why they would want to investigate, as Ryuuko wasn't being abused and neither was she being neglected. Of course, we didn't know what to do besides contacting Aikurou for help.

Aikurou came the next day, Saturday, at 12:00 post meridian. I explained to him as to what had happened and the potential end result, to which he said, "I knew this sort of thing had a chance at happening and, frankly, you're going to need some legal help in order to keep Ryuuko, as CPS aren't going to care as to whether or not you work, go to school, and that Ryuuko wouldn't want to leave. Anywho, is there any reason as to why this wouldn't be considered a fit home for her?"

"No, not really, I mean I don't oft leave them in the house by themselves for long periods of time, as the kind woman next door offers to look after her while we're away and during the day while I'm at work and Nui's at school, and Ryuuko's needs and, sometimes, wants are often met."

"Hmm, is this about Ryuuko peeing on the floor?"

"No, I don't think so, Nui just said they called is all."

"I see. Frankly, I don't see much a reason as to why they would even think of investigating, unless someone was feeling belligerent and decided to make allegations, thus warranting their attention."

"Who would make allegations?"

"We don't know."

Nui then stepped into room to tell us that, a couple of doors down from where we lived, lived a woman to whom was upset that Ryuuko got into her plants. I raised an eyebrow and asked, "How did Ryuuko get into her plants?" to which she responded that she took her outside was all so she could meet the neighbors, after she had greeted the woman next door by the fence. "When we went by this woman's house, Ryuuko saw the flowers and got out of her wheelchair to see touch them." Nui explained.

After hearing all she said, Aikurou rolled his eyes and said, "Mmm-hmm, sounds like someone is being belligerent over a minor incident. However, unfortunately, because no one knew of Ryuuko's existence up until roughly two and a half years ago and the fact that both of your parents deceased, so, throughout all of this, you are still going to need some legal help and pray that you don't lose custody of Ryuuko. Frankly, I think you are a fit guardian, as she thrives under your care and her needs, like Nui's, are very much met but, as I've said social services may not see it that way."

As we conversed, I didn't notice Ryuuko standing behind my chair. I don't know how long she was standing there, as she was very quiet but I do know that she snagged my hair into her hand and pulled it, the act itself catching my attention. Typically, she doesn't pull our hair, instead, grabbing and petting it, so, for her to pull it told me that she very much needed my attention. I looked at her and asked if she was alright to which she said, "Stay! Ryuuko stay wih shister."

Somehow or another, she seemed to grasp what was going on and was pretty insistent on not being taken away. After making her demand, she continued to say, "Stay!" and was in tears at that point. She was pretty dead set on staying home with us and not being taken away, acting in a way that is thus. Nui turned to Aikurou and asked, "Is there anything we can do?" She was pleading much like Ryuuko was and we all didn't want her to be taken away

He sighed and responded, "Like I said, you're going to need some legal help, as this case is complicated. Your parents are gone and no one knew Ryuuko even existed until about two and a half years ago, along with Satsuki being your primary guardian. Frankly, like I said, I don't see any reason as to why she would be taken away." Gathering Ryuuko in his arms, he then goes on to state that he has a lawyer friend that specializes in social services and family law by the name of Tsumugu Kinagase.

He contacted Tsumugu, who came later that day, and asked what he thought to which he said, "Hmm, this is complicated but, like that dingus over there said, there isn't any cause for her to be taken away and for the claim not to be dismissed but, first I'm gonna need some info on her. Anything you might have that could provide some info?" We gave that some thought and, besides Ryuuko fussing around with a jar of pennies, there was a long silence before Nui said, "Well, we don't have much but we d have a photograph of her."

"Okay, anything else, like documents or records?"

"So far, none that we know of besides the ones from two and a half years ago."

"Alright, well, that brings to give you a piece of info you may not find pleasant."

"What is it Mr. Kinagase?"

"Legally, by a technicality, Ryuuko, your sister, doesn't exist, as there are no records of her birth and neither does she seem to have a birth certificate, so that doesn't give either social services or your sister much a leg to stand on."

"...Oh."

"That isn't all, for one, let me give you two pieces of info, 1), your mother cannot be tried or charged with her abuse of Ryuuko, as she's passed on, thus, it seems they want to scapegoat and, 2), because of the former and the fact that she has no legal documents identifying her as a part of your family, social services are more inclined to take her away. Honestly, in my opinion, it would be in Ryuuko's best interests to stay here with her sisters, as she isn't being abused and she seems to be pretty healthy."

Nui and Tsumugu talked for awhile before Ryuuko crept behind him and swatted him in the arm. Clearly, she wasn't in a happy mood and was taking whatever she felt out on everyone else. I expected no less as she isn't very good at expressing her upset verbally but she does express it by swatting and screaming. Tsumugu was uninjured but he was surprised and asked, "Does she do this often?"

"No, it's just that she is very upset."

"I see. Do you mind elaborating?"

"Because she isn't quite well-versed in verbal communication, she's prone to hitting."

"Does this have anything to do with social services?"

"Yes, it does and, while she doesn't know too much about what's going on, she is just as upset as we are, actually, she might be even more upset because we are all she knows."

He then asked to speak with Aikurou and I alone, prompting me to dismiss Nui and Ryuuko to upstairs. When he was sure that neither of them could hear, he said, "I wish I didn't have to tell you this but there is also a degree of classism involved in this." We were confused and Aikurou asked for him to a bit further, to which he responded, "As you know, because of her living conditions and suffering abuse and neglect at your mother's hands, she is a profoundly impaired child and, as such, they don't think you'll be able to properly care for her, however, by them having access to facilities and foster homes, they think those should be able to properly care for her."

"Any sort of way we can stop this?"

"Well, as I said to Nui, legally, because she doesn't have any known records of existence save the ones from recently, she doesn't even exist, as she isn't registered into the system. Of course, about as far as all other things go, your parents are deceased and your mother was never charged and tried for the abuse, so there is a degree of scapegoating. If they investigate and opt to take Ryuuko away, then you're going to have to take them to court and fight for custody."

"I see."

After over four hours of discussion, Aikurou and Tsumugu bid us goodnight and went home, telling us to call them to tell about the investigation went.

That night, as I tossed and turned, I awoke to Ryuuko stroking my hair, before she rested her head on mine, saying, "Don't want to go. Want to stay." I held onto her for awhile and she in turn, except I would describe her as a baby with its mother. She felt safe with us and had very much a reason to be, as she's been abused, neglected, and locked away in a cage in dark cellar, being kept away from life itself, with hardly anyone to protect her from it. Fear wasn't much a feeling I had but I feared the thought of social services taking her away, as there is a chance that they could place her in a far worse situation.

"I won't let them take you, Ryuuko, I promise." I said, holding onto her tighter.

The next day, someone from social services arrived. Nui was already off to school and Ryuuko was barely awake and the woman next door, Mrs. Mankanshoku, had yet to arrive and Tsumugu was already seated. I fought my hardest to keep myself together. A flurry of thoughts were running through my head and all of them were about whether or not they'll take her away and how much hell I would have to raise to get her back.

While Ryuuko was upstairs, I swore that I would commit murder and cover it up just to make sure that no one would take either of them away, Ryuuko especially. Being that she didn't ask permission or give me time to react as she entered my house without a warrant, I felt like killing her right then and there and probably would have if Tsumugu wasn't there and if I didn't have my sisters to think of.

"We heard that a child had been abused here," she began, before rattling off how, and then asking me about how old I was and if it was alright to speak to Ryuuko. Tsumugu was quick to point out to the social worker that she has neither right nor warrant to interrogate her and that Ryuuko doesn't know her, thus she wouldn't speak to her, yet that ugly woman was persistent and I relented. I was warned that noncompliance could get her taken away, thus leaving me with little choice.

By this point, Ryuuko was fully awake and wasn't very keen on talking to visitors. I could get her down the stairs but not past the living-room. She climbed onto the couch and settled firmly into her favorite spot, as if to say, "I am staying right here!" I didn't need to read any more cues, as her mind was set. I walked back into the kitchen and explained that she is rather shy and doesn't oft like to talk to those she doesn't know (or, as in this case, like). Either way, this woman remained persistent and demanded to talk with her, storming into the living-room.

I wanted to very much to tear this woman in two as she had long pushed a boundary. My baby sister was terrified of this woman and said woman, who is employed to help children, was acting the very opposite. She was determined to have Ryuuko removed and it seemed she would stop at nothing to have that done. As I fought my urge to fight this woman, she continued to ask her the same question, until ultimately Ryuuko, a sobbing and shaking wreck, made a defensive move.

She scratched her, leaving behind red marks in the woman's face. She sobbed loudly, while the social worker was taken aback by such an action.

Before I had yet even the chance to crush her windpipe, Tsumugu, having had very well enough, stepped and tore her a new one, saying, "First of all, this young woman, Ms. Satsuki Kiryuun has been nothing but compliant, even when you forced your way into her home and decided to interrogate a child, neither of which you had a warrant to do. You came here to investigate a tip about potential abuse, yet it is you committing the abuse with your bullying and intimidation, all and out, abusing your position. Look at her, Ryuuko is shaking and crying because is afraid but she isn't afraid of her sister be noted, she is afraid of you. Now, unless you want very much to lose your job, you would be wise enough to leave."

Quietly, she left and the case was closed soon after. As for that whole experience, I retained custody of Ryuuko and she healed nicely.

Authoress Note: As one already knows, I am terrible at math, thus I had gotten Satsuki's age wrong, in that she would be twenty at this point and 20-years old in Ch. 12, and 21-years old by a different point in the story, since this chapter was two and a half years after Ryuuko's discovery. Sorry about that~~Amoridere