"You're unusually quiet tonight," Kenichi casually remarked. The elder Yamagi brother deftly speared a chunk of chicken from his bowl and ate it, eyes never leaving his younger brother.

Shinji pushed the chunks of meat and vegetables around in his bowl, never changing his withdrawn expression. "…so?"

"Not like your normal self," the elder answered. "Just seemed a bit odd," he remarked a little too casually for Shinji's taste. He paused. "Would you like more, or should I remove the pot?"

Shinji darted a listless glance at the pot of yosenabe set in the center of the table. "No, thanks."

"Well, I think I'll have a little more," Kenichi cheerfully replied, helping himself to some more of the soup. As he slurped down some broth, Shinji glared at him.

This had been going on since the beginning of dinner—and since Shinji had returned home yesterday from the Council summons. He had gone to school in a zombie-like states, and once school was finished, he hadn't been much better. A bored, lethargic Shinji moped around the house, while Ken had adopted a slightly too-cheery mother-like attitude. His brother must have caught some inkling of the meeting, Shinji was sure.

But he doesn't have to act like such a prick about it…

"How was school today?" Kenichi solicitously inquired. "Have you gotten back the results from that chemistry test yet?" Without waiting for an answer, he continued on. "I was thinking about enrolling you in the Glory Cram School. The daughter of a co-worker of mine studies there, and apparently, she's raised her grades by 20% since attending there…" Kenichi paused for a minute to take a sip of tea. "Although I suppose I can't, now, since you don't seem to have any spare time from now on…" He took another sip of tea.

Shinji's heart skipped a beat, and hands clutched the chopsticks convulsively until the pair snapped in half. Frustrated, he tossed them to the side, where they hit the wooden floor with a clatter. "What are you talking about?" he queried, his voice much more nervous and high-pitched than he would have liked.

If what I think has happened…

"I found this," said Kenichi calmly and coolly as he drew an envelope out from under his sweater-vest, "in your room." Shinji blanched as he recognized the familiar paper and seal.

Oh, no. It has.

The elder Yamagi brother lowered his eyes. "Would you like to talk to me about something, otouto?" His voice was soft and disappointed. Dark brown eyes, the same as Shinji's own, lifted to hold Shinji's gaze.

The younger boy slowly flushed as maroon as the shirt he wore, suddenly unable to meet his brother's eyes. "You went through my room."

Not a question; a statement. His brother's head nodded in return, although Shinji didn't need to see it.

"Why can't you just-" he exploded suddenly, frustrated and angry at what felt like his entire world being invaded. First the Council, and now my brother, and who's next? Why can't they just let me be?

"Shinji!" Kenichi tilted his head up, lips white and pressed tightly together. "Kindly explain just what is going on that you needed," his hand trembled holding the letter, "A Council summons for."

It felt like a bomb was exploding inside of his mind. "You went through my stuff?" He nearly screamed. He gritted his teeth. "I've told you over and over—stay out of my room!"

"Shinji!" Ken barked sharply. "You're acting like a child. Calm down."

Seething, the younger brother plopped back down, arms crossed, and glaring. The asshole…

"And as for searching your room, I am your legal guardian and as such, reserve the right to. And this," he gestured to the envelope, "seems to support my concerns. Now, kindly explain."

He would've loved to say no, just to piss Ken off, but that would probably result in his cell phone being confiscated or something. "Drell called me down," he began grudgingly. "He wanted to talk about my case file."

Ken slumped down in his seat, covering his face with one hand. He was mumbling something faintly; Shinji couldn't entirely hear, but it sounded like a prayer for mercy. Unsure of what to do next, he decided to continue. "Anyway, to kinda sum it up, he told me that I could get my file wiped clean if I do some sort of community work."

Kenichi cracked the fingers of his hand open. "Community work?"

Shinji nodded as he took a quick slurp of soup. Now that everything was in the open, it felt easier to talk about. It wasn't weighing down on him, although the fear and stress were still lingering. "He wants me to work for an investigation bureau for the Witches' Council; he called it the Spirit Detective Bureau, or something."

Ken raised an eyebrow. "A detective? He's trusting a juvenile delinquent with a position in crime fighting?"

Shinji shrugged sheepishly.

Ken leaned back in his seat, staring at the ceiling. He was quiet for a long time. Shinji nervously watched his brother, taking a sip of soup every few seconds to break the silence.

I've never seen him like this before—he almost looks like Dad, when he used to get upset…

Shinji stopped himself suddenly. No. Dad and Ken are nothing alike. Nothing. Dad wouldn't scream and lecture me about the "proper" way to do crap. Dad always understood. Always…

Ken slumped forward again, putting his elbows on the table, and his head in his hands. "Shinji," he wearily began, "what's going to happen to you? You're a smart kid; I know you are. Underneath it all, you're a good kid. So why do you insist on disobeying?"

Shinji was quiet for a moment. He wasn't sure how to respond.

Ken briefly lifted his face out of his hands. He looks so old, Shinji thought, startled. So tired. Like a man three times his age…

"What's going to become of you?" Ken asked quietly.

His brother was still silent.

"I feel so stupid," Sabrina grumbled, pulling a pair of socks on. "Nobody goes to the movies alone anymore."

It was a Friday night in Westbridge; a few days after she'd returned to school. Just a typical Friday night. There were a few parties going on somewhere, probably, but most teenagers her age were congregating at the Slicery for the age-old ritual of a pepperoni pizza and a game of Foosball.

And instead of being one of them, Sabrina was going to the movies, by herself.

"I still don't see why you're making such a big deal out of this," Salem paused from grooming himself. "After all, Val and Harvey aren't your life. They are allowed to do things on their own, you know."

"But not without me!" Sabrina wailed. At the incredulous look Salem shot her, she threw a pillow at him. "Oh, knock it off." She sighed, reaching for a pair of shoes. "I just want things to go back to normal."

"What is normal, anyway?" Salem murmured, rhetorically. This was lost on Sabrina, who was crawling under her bed to find the pair of black shoes she wanted.

"I just want-" she paused as she fished one chunky-heeled shoe out, "my life to go back to the way it was, before detectives and dark magic and haunted houses took over." She pulled the other shoe out from behind her armchair.

"Well, that's not going to happen now, is it?" Salem yawned. "The only way to fix things would be to go back in time, and Drell wouldn't let us. Again."

Sabrina sighed, examining a tube of strawberry lip-gloss. "I know. It seems childish, I guess, to want everything they way it was…" With a shrug, she applied the gloss, and turned around, modeling her outfit to the cat. "How do I look?"

The black cat cracked open one eye lazily. Sabrina was pirouetting in front of the mirror by her door, dressed in an orange tube top and a pair of short black pants that ended at her knees. "Marvelous," he mumbled, snuggling into the comforter again.

Sabrina mock-sighed and rolled her eyes, grinning as she did so. She walked over and kissed him on the nose. "Silly cat," she murmured affectionately, giving him a good scratch behind the ears.

The teenage witch picked up her purse and turned to leave. She paused at the door, hand hovering at the light switch. "I should be back by ten, so…"

Salem began faintly snoring.

Sabrina snickered in amusement, and turned off the light.

Shinji burrowed his face into the pillow, pulling the covers over his head. Ken had taken the whole thing…quite badly, really.

Well, what did you expect? He wondered rhetorically. This isn't exactly the best thing that could happen to someone. I knew he was going to freak out; this kind of thing sets off his "perfect big brother" complex. Now that he's in charge, he feels like he has to make everything perfect. That's how he is...

The Yamagi brothers served perfectly as foils. Kenichi was the elder of the two, traditional and formal. He was responsible, and more than a little uptight. It was Ken's dream to work his way up the ladder, from being a lowly security guard to an inspector, or chief of police. Ken would be the one with the proper, pretty little housewife and quiet, well-behaved children who went to the right schools.

Shinji was…freer. Looser; more relaxed. He grew his hair to fall to his shoulders, and wore skater shoes. Some weekends, he holed up in his room, playing video game marathons with the 6th grader who lived next door. He didn't care much about the competitiveness in school, or the strict rules society imposed. All Shinji had ever wanted was to be happy and have fun.

Unfortunately, his idea of 'fun' widely differed to what the Council's idea of 'fun' was.

His parents had never been exactly thrilled about his escapades, but had always been quietly supportive, in their own way. He could remember coming home with the tale of the latest scrape he'd got into. Mother always tossed her hands up and sighed, but giggled as he mimicked the Council official who tried to discipline him. Father had just listened, never judging, but quietly telling him, later, to be more careful.

It isn't fair anymore. It just isn't fair. But that's gone, they're gone, and there's nothing I can do about it. It's my problem, and now I have to deal with it…

He could hear Ken walking quietly about the house. He hasn't left for work yet, then.

How long had it been since their deaths? Each passing year made the accident feel like it was farther and farther away, like it had happened eons ago, and that living with Ken was how it had always been. As time went by, their relationship had shifted from trying to make sense of the tragedy to trying to make sense of each other. Two polar opposites trying to carry on their daily lives, circling around each other to try and find common ground.

He loved his brother. There was never any question about that. Deep, deep inside, Ken was his big brother, and would always look out for him, always love him. Shinji snorted in faint, slightly dark amusement.

Somewhere very deep down. We can barely talk anymore without fighting.

Kenichi could never understand the lax attitude of his younger brother. It was as if the strong work ethic, the traditional morals and way of life, just…didn't matter.

Shinji could barely comprehend his older brother. He was so stern and uptight. Didn't he ever have fun? Why was he so narrow-minded and judgmental?

It was the stupidest idea fate had ever devised, Shinji decided as he drifted off. Two people, who could hardly understand each other or get along, trapped together by their sorrow and blood ties.

She'd felt nervous the entire way to the theater. Stupid, of course, but she couldn't shake it. Sabrina had never had many friends before; Harvey and Val were probably the first best friends she'd ever had. They did everything together.

I guess I just feel…left out. Everything was so uncomplicated before. Harvey was my boyfriend, and Val was my best friend, and we would go out and have fun together.

Maybe I am being selfish. I just want them to spend time with me…like I matter to them…like I'm important…

Frustrated, she ran a hand through her hair. It was partially out of selfish pride that she was upset. The three of them had never really hung out with anyone else, never needed anyone else. They had their own comfortable little triangle, and rarely strayed out of it.

But the triangle was fragmented, and here she was, buying a ticket for one.

As she stepped up in line, Sabrina's eyes scanned the crowd beyond the ticket booth. She could see groups of kids from school, scattered about the lobby in small, chatty clusters. None of them have friends who bail on them…

Sabrina sighed noisily. She was being selfish again. She really had to stop acting like a spoiled toddler. Still brooding, she purchased her ticket and slunk into the lobby.

The lobby was brightly lit, faint Top 40 music playing in the background, accompanied by electronic blips from the arcade, and the smell of fresh popcorn. Sabrina took in none of it, eyes half-shut, and pensive.

She was surrounded by kids her own age; not only from Westbridge, but Greendale and Riverdale as well, the neighboring school districts. Friends clustered around each other, excitedly chatting as they waited for the movie to begin. It seemed that couples were everywhere: the typical jock and cheerleader in front of her, two nervous-looking middle schoolers, obviously on a first date, and a comfortable old couple seated near the snack stand, sharing a soft drink.

Listlessly, she drifted over to the snack stand, deciding to purchase something highly sugary and fattening to consume while watching her mindless romantic fluff of a movie. That should take her mind off things…

But there was a flash of a scarlet blouse, and a swish of dark hair. A couple had just emerged from the arcade. The boy was wearing a Westbridge High varsity jacket, and smiling at the girl next to him.

Sabrina whipped around to face the cardboard cutout of a famous actress smiling vaguely as she plugged her new movie. The blond stared at the wall, praying for them to pass, pass by without seeing her, pass by without looks of guilty shock dawning on their faces.

Minutes passed as she stood there, shocked, eyes staring transfixed at the patch of wall next to the drink marquee. The other customers in line moved around her, faintly grumbling.

When the crowd thinned a few minutes later, she slowly turned around. Swiftly, she ripped her ticket in half, and left for the door.

Sabrina didn't feel like watching a movie anymore.

Salem was still asleep when Sabrina came home, throwing her jacket onto the floor, and curling up into a ball on top of the covers. She covered her hands with her face as faint rivulets of tears trickled through the cracks of her fingers.

She had never felt so shocked and betrayed.

If they liked each other, that's one thing, but this…this…

Why couldn't they tell me? Why?

I never thought…the two of them…Harvey…I thought you liked me, Harvey. It was supposed to be you and me! You and me…

Minutes drifted lazily by, but to her, it felt like an eternity. After some time, the tears stopped, replaced instead with a deep ache. Whether of betrayal or loss, she couldn't say, but it hurt deeply, nonetheless.

The lobby had been crammed with students from Westbridge who had seen her. They had undoubtedly seen Harvey and Val, too. How many of her classmates had seen all of them and figured out what was going on? The teenage witch lay quietly on her bed, imagining the prospect of going back to school: of her two best friends carrying on, hiding their secret from her, of everyone smirking or sighing behind her back at her ignorance…

She didn't want to face the fact that they no longer needed her. She was useless. Not even her friends wanted her: not Valerie, not Harvey.

The weight of her emotions pressed deeply on her in the silence. Her options were few, but there was one last, desperate option…one way to cope with the whole situation…

Sabrina pushed herself off the bed, walking over to the crystal ball sitting innocently on the corner of her desk. It was a simple matter to turn it on and get the operator to patch her through.

She waited, fingers drumming against the wooden desk top in nervous excitement.

"Yes?" The voice was gruff, and slightly drowsy, as if awakened from a good nap…or as if someone desperately needed a coffee break.

"Drell? It's Sabrina. How soon can you assign me to a new case?"

Oh, Sabrina. How overly dramatic and emotional you can be! But it's part of being a teenager—all those hormones and whatnot.

Just as a note regarding Sabrina's clothes: I'm beginning to lean towards the styles used in the manga. Some of the outfits are just too hot to be passed up.

Another fun Sailor Moon reference: Glory Cram School is the cram school that Sailor Venus attended, before she began fighting crime as a Sailor Scout. (With all these inside jokes, can you tell she's my favorite Sailor Scout?)

Shinji and Kenichi's parents are dead in the manga, and...well, it's the same here. (Sorry, boys!) Different circumstances, though; their deaths aren't going to be that much of a plot point, but for those who want to know, they died in a traffic accident.

More gratuitous Japanese!

"Yosenabe" is a type of thick soup; it's typically made with chicken, shellfish, tofu, and vegetables. Food such as this is often served in a large pot in the center of the table; family members help themselves.

"Otouto" is a way to refer to one's younger brother.

Next chapter: As Sabrina decides to solve her problems by running away from them, Shinji's being stretched to an emotional breaking point. Drell, of course, decides to intervene by assigning his new detectives a delightful mission to another haunted building.