Author Note

Happy Holidays! I know I am still behind, and owe all of you a number of chapters still.

But as today's flurry of chapters hopefully shows, I have been busy at work writing new chapters again. Some of these were little bottlenecks in their own right, so I am hopeful I might be able to keep at it and make up for my missed chapters before this year is through.

Time will tell, I suppose?

Thank you all for your ever-lasting patience! ~SilkHandkerchief

Chapter 71s: Overshadowing

This wooden horse looked a lot more comfortable when I picked it out as our sitting spot. Ugh. I should have listened to Nee-san when she suggested we pick one of the chairs, but she went along with my argument anyways.

My argument was obviously right, though. We're sitting a lot higher. We can see things far better. But the horse itself is slippery and hard, and squeezing my legs around that weird wooden shape doesn't seem to do much to help me keep my grip.

I can feel myself sliding away with every little movement I make.

But then there's Nee-san.

Pulling me back into her embrace to steady me. So reliable..! Like a true sister!

And making my neck hurt just a little because of her breasts getting in the way. I guess I can't win them all.

"Thank you so much for taking me to see his practice, Nee-san."

Her laugh is gentle and utterly obviously radiating her satisfaction. Compliments and thanks are pretty much my bread and butter when it comes to appeasing Nee-san; she's just that much of a people person.

"Oh, don't mention it. I've been wanting to see if he's any good myself. You mentioned all those performances of his you weren't able to attend, so I'll admit to being a bit curious. Like, 'is Cain any good or just fucking about', you know?"

I nod carefully, and find myself not slipping now that I am in her secure grip.

"Cain will be great."

My words are filled with conviction, but I think Jenny feels some of my worry and momentarily tightens her arms around my waist in support. She knows me pretty well by now, I guess.

"I mean it!"

I respond a bit too strongly to her, and as I see some of the group looking in my direction. Their gazes are a bit unkind. Okay. I'll be silent. Shhh. I mime my mouth shut to them before repeating myself to Jenny in a more hushed voice.

"I really mean it. He'll be great!"

"Uh huh. So you're not worried at all...?"

She responds in a conspiring tone, and I turn my head just far enough to see her expression in the corner of my eyes.

"What do you mean? He can act."

"Those girls."

My heart makes a jump. God. She knows? That's so embarrassing! I turn my head away to look back at the group before Nee-san can infer more from just my face.

"What?" I respond.

"Those girls." she repeats herself, mirth audible in her voice.

"You're not blind, are you? They've joined the Cain fanclub."

I feel my stomach turn in my chest, even though Nee-san's grip ought to have it kept there sturdily without any such opportunities. It must be in my mind. God. Those girls. Nii-san? God no!

"So he's a good actor. I told you."

My response lacks zealousness, and I want to hit myself in the face. Can't I be a bit more protective of him? He's an asshole and I am angry on him, but to look as wolves circle around him? God no!

I feel just a bit more sick, but this time it is because I hate myself. God. Can't I protect Nii-san?

"He's good-looking, too."

"Nee-san!"

"It's true."

I feel red like a tomato. God. I don't want to talk about whether my brother is hot with my sister. That's just weird.

WEIRD! I yell it in my own mind. WEIRD!

"You're not stupid, Setty. Stop treating me like the fool."

I just want to hide right now. Slipping ever so slightly into a slouching position is the best I can do, relying on Nee-san's sturdy grip to not fall off this stupid horse.

At least I am far more comfortable now... physically, anyway.

God.

"That atmosphere was because of me, wasn't it?"

My words are soft, but the way she bursts out in a laugh and squeezes the skin of my belly makes me yelp in turn. We're making a ruckus, and she soon shuts up with what is no doubt one of those gracious Nee-san smiles that can silence entire crowds. I wish I could do that..!

"No, silly. Don't overrate yourself. It's because of me."

Huh? I want to look around, but I'm actually way comfortable right now, m neck snugly nestled into her bossom. Thankfully she begins to explain before I can ask.

"You look like him, right? Not much mind you; you take a lot more after your mother's more western looks. But you still share some of that Asian vibe, so the resemblance isn't that far off to these Britons who think all Asian's are alike. So basically, given your age and how familiar you were with him, they knew instantly you were his younger sister."

Aaaah. I find myself nodding along, and a smile comes to my lips at the thought. For living such separate lives, there's still some things that are undeniably shared between Nii-san and me. It makes me just a little bit happy! Other's can't get inbetween us at all when it comes to that!

Knuckles come down onto my head, and I find that some sense got literally knocked back into my distracted mind. "Ow..?" I utter distractedly to her.

"So basically, they were pissed off at my appearance. They are an untamed herd of wildebeest who thought they had their stud on lockdown, and then I appeared. Not to toot my own horn, but with the way most guys only mind the outside of a girl, I could probably steal any guy they put their eyes on. I'm both older and more mature than them. And to make it worse, I'm really familiar with his little sister, so I have a leg up on them in fighting for Cain's affections, you know?"

Wow, she really gave it some thought, huh? Her explanation makes sense, but.. I feel appalled. "Don't call Nii-san a stud, Nee-san! That's just wrong! So wrong!"

She's just giggling, and I can't really help but to join her merriment even if I still feel appalled at thinking of Nii-san like that.

"Nii-san isn't like that, though." I speak up again before focusing on the group as they go through some exercise. I failed to keep track of what their assignment was, but they are catering to Nii-san's strengths for sure.

Girls come up to him one at a time, finding different ways to profess their love. And Nii-san apparently has to rebutt every single one of them in a different manner. Some, he yells at. Others, he just turns away from, showing them his back. The stubborn ones try to circle him, but whatever they saw on his face made them back off with an apology.

I wish I could see what they saw.

My cheeks heat up just a bit.

On second thought... maybe not.

I don't want him to look at me like he does those shallow fleshlings.

I don't want him to say no to me, especially not all uncaring-like.

I don't want him to yell at me, either.

Nor do I want him to walk away from me...

Some tears slip into my eyes, but I stay silent.

More than ever, I realize how much I don't want to lose my Nii-san.

"But they don't know that, do they?"

Nee-san finally speaks up again, picking up our hushed conversation where we had left off. Silently, I bob my head into a nod of agreement.

"That is why they relaxed. Your silly brother solved that problem by implying I wasn't just your sister, but his sister, too. I'm not sure if he even realized he did so.. but hey, no guy is ever interested in his sister, or vice versa. That's just wrong, you know? So now they can just accept me."

My gut wrenches at that statement. God! Why does that hurt so much?

Why do they get to be so ignorant and blissfully happy? It isn't fair!

And then... the question is out before I realize.

"So Nee-san, are you interested in Nii-san?"

One question, asked louder than it should have, instantly primes the herd down there once more, and I can feel Nee-san's shock as I nearly slip off the horse together with her. Heck, I can see Nii-san's shock, and I feel just a bit guilty.

Just a bit, though. My glee and righteous fury outnumbers it by far!

More than anything, I don't want those stupid cows to feel at peace while they play at being predators. Ignorance is bliss, after all. But they don't deserve such happiness!

They are not worthy of his time! Or his kindness! My Nii-san has no interest in stupid herbivores like them. They will never be more than the scenery in his life!