"Matoi Ryuko!"

Ryuko groaned and turned over in her covers. She turned the side of her pillow up to cover her ear, hoping it would muffle the sound of her sister's demanding voice so goddamn early in the morning. What the hell did she want anyway? It was the ass crack of dawn on a spring Saturday. They last thing she needed was her precious older sister bossing her around.

"Matoi Ryuko!"

The boom of her voice was closer than before. Ryuko had guessed Satsuki had bounded up the stairs to stand outside her door. Jeez. Why can't she just let her sleep in for once?

Not even three seconds later the door to her room slammed open. Ryuko jumped up in anger. "Dude, what the fuck?!" She demanded, waving her hands at Satsuki.

She had on a black pair of neatly ironed sweatpants, (seriously, who irons sweatpants?) A white long shirt, and a bandanna on her head. Her long, jet black hair was tied back in a scrunchy underneath it. This meant one thing, and one thing only: Today was cleaning day, and Ryuko was not getting out of it.

Satsuki shoved the mop in her hand. "Bathroom. Now. You've had plenty of time to sleep."

That's it. That's all she said before turning around, and walking out the door. "Yeah okay, Mom!"

Satsuki didn't acknowledge the title, even though it sent a shiver down her back. She just continued back downstairs into the kitchen for a nice, calming cup of tea.

The second time it happened Ryuko was sitting at the breakfast table after finally having begrudgingly cleaned the bathroom. Permanent scowl on her face, she stabbed at her waffles as she stared the older girl down. How dare she wake her up at six am to clean the bathroom? How dare she disregard the fact that Ryuko was a late sleeper?

"If you have something to say, Ryuko, you might as well say it before you stare a hole in my face." Satsuki commented as she sipped from her favorite tea cup. She flipped a page in the book she was reading before glancing at her younger sister expectantly. "Well? I'm waiting."

Ryuko growled, crossing her arms. "Nothin'."

"Hmm?"

"I said nothing!" Ryuko roared. She pushed her chair back and got up from the table. She didn't need this. No. Not this early in the morning. She wasn't going to take it.

"And where do you think you're going?" Satsuki asked her with an arched brow.

"My room! Jesus! Get off my back, Eyebrows! Wait, 'scuse me, Mom!" The younger girl snorted. "Should I start calling you that, because that's all you seem to be freaking acting like!" She screamed.

Satsuki looked at her wide eyed. "Is that what you really think? That I'm just like her?" She asked her slowly. Her hands started trembling. "I-I'm trying to be a good older sister." She mumbled. It was unlike her. Quiet. Resigned. Crestfallen. "I-I'm trying so hard not to be like her." She looked up at Ryuko bleary eyed. "Is that how you really feel?" She croaked.

Ryuko stood there, trying to gulped down the lump developing in her throat. Their mother was a sensitive subject for the both of them. More so Satsuki than Ryuko. She was terrified of taking a bath, she was terrified of being in small places without Ryuko, and she was triggered by the simplest of things. It was painful to watch.

Ryuko didn't really fully understand because she never got the forefront of Ragyo's wrath. Satsuki had told her awful stories that had kept them both up at night, just holding each other for comfort. It scared her how much Satsuki was damaged. She couldn't go anywhere by herself. It was heart breaking. But to know now that Satsuki was walking on eggshells, trying so hard not to be like their tyrant of a mother, well, it made her feel bad.

"N-No." She stuttered. "That's not what I meant. I-It's just, sometimes you can be a little…well, overbearing. And I know it's because you love me and all but seriously, it's a little annoying." Ryuko took an experimental step closer to Satsuki.

Ever since they moved in together they had learned which touches were fine for Satsuki, and which ones were triggering. Being caressed (besides anyone but Ryuko) made her jumpy, hugs from behind were a no-no, touches close to her thigh, collarbone, and neck were also no-nos, and the only two people who could touch her in those places were Ryuko and Nonon. (And even then those times were limited and far inbetween.)

Ryuko placed a hand on Satsuki's shoulder. The slightly taller girl winced and Ryuko immediately removed it. "Sorry." She mumbled. An awkward moment of silence passed between them. It happened every time things got like this. She sighed. "Look. I'm sorry. I never had a mom. So I have no idea what it's like to be looked after, or cared for, or even nagged. I basically raised myself." She took a shaky breath. "And…and…and I'd rather have you bitching at me to clean the bathroom and giving a shit like a real mom, than have that bitch as a real mother."

Despite the vulgarity of her words, Satsuki knew that they were true. "Maybe I could loosen up a bit." She mused, pulling her younger sister into one of their rare, (But very much appreciated,) hugs.

Ryuko snorted. "A bit?"

Satsuki glared at her.

Ryuko. "Okay, a bit sounds good." She agreed.