Kanako almost leaped out of her bed in joy, bouncing off the mattress and running to the mirror, reaching up to push her bangs out of the way and revealing her eyes, wide with joy and childlike wonder. The texture of her cloths, the scratches on the wall… everything was so perfect in every detail. She turned her head fast, looking around her old room, so excited she even started to cry a little, her heart pounding hard in her chest. This has to be a dream… she pinched her arm to make certain, and sure enough the pain hit, causing her to yelp for a moment in surprise. She was so overwhelmed, she fell to her knees, hurried, excited prayers going up her throat to any spirit or god she should think of.

As she fell to the ground, hitting the floor hard, she heard heavy steps in the hallway, somebody pushing her door aside and stepping in. Turning up her head, she saw a stern, concerned look; the tall, solid figure the father she hadn't seen in three years now. "Kanako… are you alright?" He asked, lowering his hand for her to grab. The feeling of his warm grip on her made her feel… awkward, but she was too happy to care, her feet bouncing with a barely contained excitement, trying to hide the massive smile she wanted to put on her face.

"I'm fine, Father…" she replied somewhat cheerfully… her disturbance over her less-mature voice sounding almost like an awkward shyness, glancing around his arm. "I just… slipped." She'd always hated the way she used to sound… so nervous, so passive, almost like she was trying to make as little a sound as possible. However, she was glad she did now, because her father didn't expect a thing, merely giving her a fairly impersonal nod. "Can I talk to Oni-chan? It's really important."

"Your brother's on the phone with Grandma Hina." He told her, placing a hand on her head as she turned away. "You're not to disturb him."

"Yes father," she found herself answering reflexively, body tightening up as he walked out of the room, Kanako walking to her closest so she could change out of her pajamas. By getting on her tip toes, she was barley able to bump up on black, gothic dress with a white under layer down and put it on, stretching and straining as she tried to dress hersele. Her hand slid down the sleeve ruffles, and the hem of the dress, trying to get it down as fast as possible... her initial joy and excitement fading into nostalga , remembering how her beloved brother had used to help her get her cloths, and even help her dress if she was especially lucky. Now, though, she felt more rushed then calm; she could not allow today to play out as it had before, that terribly painful memory playing in the back of her mind…

"Big brother… where are you going?"

"Sorry Kanako… Mom and Dad said I have to go away for a while."

"Uh… did I…upset you?"

"No! Of course not. Granny just needs somebody to take care of the inn for her while she travels. Dad just thought I should get some practice for when she gives me the inn is all."

"… you'll remember to send me letters?"

"Of course. I promised I'd write to you every month, didn't I?"

"… and… um… our other promise?"

"Don't'cha worry, Kanako… once you're all grown up, you can come and help me with the inn as much as you want. Until then, you can keep Granny company."

"… I… I… lo…"

"Silly Kanako. I love you too. I'll talk to you next month."

But those letters had never come… and it wasn't because of some goat either. She could almost see that temptress standing behind her in the mirror, mocking her with that energy and perfectly formed body. She ran from the mirror, rushing into the hallway still in her pajamas, her slippers squeaking against the floor as she came into the kitchen, seeing her mother by the stove, cooking something in a pan, while Keitaro stood there at the phone. As she rushed in with so much energy, however, every eye in the room settled on her… Mother and Father's eyebrows raised, as she felt her body tighten up, old habits and emotions stirring up.

"… you're sure you should be traveling the world at your age, Granny?.. " Keitaro continued his conversation as thought nothing happened, Kanako gravitating towards his legs as she felt the looks of her parents.

"Mother…" she began to say, only to be silenced by a sharp whisper

"… Kanako sweetie…" her mother said in a harsh whisper, barely audible above the sound of boiling fluids and Keitro's speech. "Please settle down. Your brother is having a very important conversation."

She could feel her breathing getting a little more unsteady, listening to her brother in the background, on the verge of abandoning her… something starting to well up behind her eyes. "Please…" she started, speaking as quietly as possible as she slowly knelt to the ground, kowtowing towards her parents. "Please don't send Oni-chan away. " She begged, fingers gripping for purchase on the wooden floor. Her parents just looked at her critically, her father placing a hand to his temple as he looked down from his seat.

"This is a grown-up matter." He told her flatly, shaking his head slightly. "Your brother has already failed his entrance exams twice now, and we're not going to let him stay here forever… which reminds me." Kanako's heart sank as she heard those words. "There are still the matter of your mock high school entrance exams to deal with."

Her face flushed red when she heard that, staring down at the floor. "I… I'm trying." She managed to get out, glancing up at her brother slightly ashamed… seeing him stare at her in such a position while he kept talking with Grandma. "its hard…"

"We'll talk about this later dear." Her mother continued firmly, taking her pan off the stove and starting to prepare their breakfasts. "Now, get out of those pajama's so we can all start eating."

"… not until I know Oni-chan is going to be alright." She answered with some defiance, turning her forehead up from the floor to look her mother in the eyes… or, at least, through the veil her several strands of hair. "I'm not letting you take him away from me." She heard Keitaro pausing on the phone as the room filled with silence, her father gripping the table hard.

"You won't let us?" His voice lowering suddenly… almost threatening. " What has gotten into you?" Kanako firmed up her limbs, her eyes still half-closed and tear filled, as she took in a deep breath.

"Its… not fair that he has to leave." She began, almost sounding guilty. "Big brother is so close to getting into Tokyo U and I…" she paused, shuddering a little in side as she tried to admit it. "… and I… I 'm never going to get into high school. If anybody should leave, it should be me." It was only then she realized she'd been speaking out of a whisper, suddenly mortified when a voice came out of the phone.

"Kanako… is that you dear?" She heard to the wise, kindly tones of her Grandmother on the other end

Almost in a panic, she saw mother rush over from the stove and snatch the phone from her son's hand. "It's nothing, Hina-sama." She forced a laugh, trying to play off the whole situation, as Kanako looked up at her brother, standing up and rushing over to his leg, clinging tight… enjoying the warmth and breathing his smell in deeply, suddenly feeling at peace.

"If Oni-chan's going, then I'm going too." She huffed, wrapping herself tighter around him, Keitaro rubbing his neck awkwardly at the air-daggers he was receiving from their father.

"You are not going to Hinata, young lady." He spoke with a strong finality, though his death-glare seemed to be focused at Keitaro instead, who was clearly starting to sweat a little

"You can't be serious …" she heard her mother say, her normally calm and reserved face agape from whatever had been said during her father's conversation and her brother's forced chuckling. Suddenly, they both stopped, looking at the phone and listening carefully.

"Of course I am." They heard Hina say from the other end. "Keeping up that old place takes a lot of work… Keitaro could use a dedicated little girl like her to help him out. Besides, its certainly safer then my son's plan to tour the world and study the family jujutsu." Now, it was her father's turn to buckle, as his wife gave him a repulsed glance.

"But Hina-sama, how is Kanako ever going to get into a good school if she can't study?" She spoke worriedly, shuffling her feet on the floor. "I will not have my daughter."

"Relax. I have a number of very gifted tenants. There's the sweetest girl, top scores in her prefecture and prospective Tokyo University student. I'm sure she wouldn't mind give you daughter a few lessons, and much cheaper than any cram school." Kanako made a disgusted face at the mention of that girl, Naru… best and strongest student in the prefecture, as her countless hours of data-crunching had told her.

"Please…" she looked up at her mother, her eyes wide… pleading not to turn her love over to that she-witch. At first, she seemed unsure, but slowly, surely, that cute little look melted her heard, and she let out a small groan of defeat. "Alright. If it's alright with you, Kanako can help at the inn." Placing a hand over the receiver, she gave a sharp look. "But if anything happens, I expect you to send her straight home." She told Keitaro, who nodded vigorously.

Kanako's eyes sparkled as she looked up at her brother's shinning face, humbly trying to brush off this wonderful occasional as though it were nothing. That soft, toothless smile and closed eyes told her everything she needed to know… made her feel safe. "… Oni-san…" she said sofly, respectfully as she pulled off his knee. "… will you take me?"

He laughed warmly, placing a hand on her shoulder and holding firmly, but gentle. "Of course, Kanako. Let's look out for each other and make the most of it."

"It's a promise." She answered as she leaned in… planting a small, seemingly innocent kiss on his hip.