"Minoru! I'm home!" I got up slowly. "Minoru! Minoru!"

"Coming, coming!" I yelled down. What was with Miki today? Weird kid. I came down the stairs. Standing besides a dripping wet Miki was a tall girl who seemed completely out of it.

"Oh, why hello...?" I glanced at Miki. The girl smiled brightly.

"I'm Amaya Ebasi, a pleasure to meet you, Sohma-San...?" She glanced at Miki too and whispered, "Right?"

"Yes, I'm Minoru Sohma. Are you one of Miki's friends...?" This was one of the weirdest conversations I ever had, right next to the one about if an ostrich could beat a emu at chess.

"She knows." Miki cut in. I eyed him. "If you'll excuse us for a second, Ebasi-San, I need to speak to Minoru alone-"

"Occhan!" Aika-chan jumped out from behind Miki. "Occhan, I'm hungry!" That girl. I thought I told her to finish sweeping, but I guess she was busy making friends with this girl Miki brought home.

"Please give us some space, rabbit," Miki kept his eyes locked on me.

"Don't tell me what to do, you dumb-"

"Oh, well, I, Aika-chan, let's go get something to eat!" The girl spoke up. She smiled at me then was pulled by Aika-chan into the kitchen.

"Alright. Why didn't you wipe her memory?" I needed to get right down to buisness, while Aika-chan was in another room. She didn't need to be part of this conversation.

Miki looked into my eyes. This kid had a way of freaking people out just by looking at their eyes. It felt like he was searching one's soul. But he could never bother me. I just saw the scared little boy behind those eyes.

"I couldn't. There was something with her mind. I couldn't. I tried, I really did." Miki seemed really upset.

"Then I guess she can't forget." I looked up at the clock. The twins should be coming home soon, maybe another twenty minutes...

"What do you mean? There has to be someway...someway..." He looked desperate.

I sighed. "Miki, I've never seen you this persistent to wipe someone's mind. What's up?" He's never wanted to in the first place. He just has no choice in the matter.

"I don't want to leave this school Minoru! I like it here! I...I don't want to leave this house..." He seemed near tears. I forced him up by his left arm. For a slowed moment in time, I just had my hand on his sleeve, him with tears begging to come out of his eyes and me with my steadfast gray eyes. Then I pulled him forcefully into an embrace. His breath was cold against my chest.

"Shh, no one's making you leave. You won't have to leave." He started crying. I felt bad for the kid when he cried. I couldn't make it better when he cried. I wanted to protect him, I swore I'd protect him from that point forward. But I can't protect him when he cries. What makes him cry is something out of my control.

Don't take away my dear little pet, Minoru-San. You know I can't stand to live without him. And he wouldn't be able to stand without me. Look at you Minoru, stretching out a hand to the weaker man, but we both know why. My dear little pet doesn't though. You've really become my despicable little monster, haven't you?

"I-I can't go back Minoru. I can't go back. Ever." I patted his back as he gripped at my shirt. His hands were so small. I wanted to stay like this for eternity. I could protect him in my arms. But we couldn't stay this way.

"Go wash up," Was all I could manage whisper as I released my reluctant grip. It was one of those times when my head said let go, but my hands really didn't want to. He walked slowly to the bathroom.

"Occhan! Come in here!" Aika-chan called for me. I smiled and hid away those bad feelings.

"What is it?" I came into the kitchen to find the girl standing over the oven. Aika-chan grabbed my arm.

"Amaya-neechan is teaching me to make cookies! We'll have cookies in fifteen minutes!" I smiled at her. Her big green eyes were sparkling. I was glad she didn't hear what we said. I was glad she didn't cry. I looked to Amaya, who was setting the timer for fifteen minutes.

"Oh, Sohma-San. I guess I got carried away and well," She acted like she thought I was upset.

"Call me Minoru. How many cookies are you making, Amaya-chan?" She smiled with relief. "Because I will want some for sure. How long are you staying here Amaya-chan?"

"Don't worry, I'm making plenty. I'm only staying the afternoon I think. My mother will pick me up when she gets home from work. So Minoru-San, is this your house? What do you do for a job?"

"It was my father's actually. He left it and his money for me in his will. He actually was pretty rich, if you'll believe it. On his will he wrote, 'For my beloved son, my estate, so he can get the hell out of this place!'" I smiled thinking back on it. "I couldn't live all alone though, and I think he knew that. So I took these two rascals you met, the twins, and Daisuke to come stay with me."

Suddenly Amaya-chan jumped. "Oh, my phone's buzzing! That must be my mom, please excuse me for a moment." She slid out of the room. I exchanged a look with Aika-chan. We both got right up against the door so we could hear her.

"Moshi Moshi, this is Amaya...hi mom...oh...of course..." She was quiet for a while. "No, no, its no problem...don't get too caught up in work...I can always stay at Sakura's...I'll see you then, two weeks...love you too." She started back into the kitchen.

"It was a pleasure to visit Minoru-San. I'll be heading home now. My mother was sent on a last minute work trip, so I'll just walk myself." She bowed. "Have a nice day!"

"Wait, Amaya-neechan!" Aika-chan grabbed her shirt sleeve. I had the same concerns as her. From what we heard and what she said just now, was she going to be home alone for two weeks? "Are you gonna be...all alone?"

She smiled, but her eyes were sad. "Only for two weeks. Don't worry about me, really. My Mom's gone away on work trips before. This is nothing new." I didn't like the sadness in her eyes. She may say she was going to be fine, but I could see she didn't mean her words. I also didn't like Miki being sad...maybe...

"Amaya-chan, I'd like you to stay here for those two weeks. You won't have to be alone then, and I'm sure your mother wouldn't want you to be alone either." I could always stay at Sakura's. She was lying to her mom because she didn't want to worry her. She obviously had no intention of bothering her friend with it either.

"Before you can decline, let me add you would not be troubling us at all. We'd love a good pair of hands in the kitchen, and it seems to me you're a pretty good cook, unlike any of us. In fact, it's been ages since we had real food made in this place."

"What about when I cook though, Occhan?" Aika-chan moaned. "I cook all the time."

"Well yes, your cooking is...unique. I can't say most people have had the pleasure to eat mint ice cream covered in soy sauce and blueberries. But what do you say, Amaya-chan?"

She looked so happy righ then, I could've sworn she was going to hug me.

I couldn't disobey my king. To do that is revolution. I sighed. Looks like I was going to war.