Why allo there! Insert my own really good British accent there. Surprisingly, I'm actually really good at British accents, but that is beside the point. So last time, I made some nice Christmas-y stuffs and meshed it into a chapter, but I forgot to ask: what did you guys get over winter break and did you have any fun? Meh, food for thought. God, that question is gonna be really old when I post this chapter, but yeah. Mine was pretty good, not many fights at home and I got a Glaceon plushie for my tiny anime collection. Oh and food!

Anyways, any thoughts on how you think the story will turn out? I'd like to know what you guys think. Advice, comments, and corrections on my grammar are greatly appreciated.

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal, I only own my OC's and I suppose my plot. Oh, and Mr. Penguin.

Yuki's POV

"You're shitting me."

I shook my head.

"Seriously?" my blonde hair companion all but complained.

I rolled my eyes but nodded nonetheless.

"I can't believe this. I was looking forward for Saturday too." IV groans.

I shrug in blatant boredom. Not my problem.

"What about Sunday? Or next Saturday?"

"...Maybe. Depends if I want to humor you, but I'll kick your ass at video games any day, Arclight."

He ignores my comment. "But anyways, you're telling me that your brother is forcing you to actually spend an entire day just with him, your little sister, and yourself? Doesn't seem too bad." he says, raking a hand through his hair.

"You don't know my brother." I wrote seriously. I was nestled in my tiny corner in our usual meeting spot on the roof of the school. My head bobs to the rhythm of the music from my phone as I worked on some last minute homework I forgot to do. IV settled himself next to me, precariously throwing an arm around my shoulders.

"True but it can't be that bad." he said, taking one of my ear buds and putting it in his ear. I grunted and threw him a look that meant if he didn't take his arm off, I'd do it for him.

He snickered and put up his hands in surrender, pulling his arm away and scooted a bit to give me some space. "Chill. What are you worried about anyways?" he questioned.

I pursed my lips at his question and said nothing, while I was groaning internally, dreading the inevitable 'brother-sister time' Cloud was pretty much forcing onto me. I hated when I had to act like friggin Sally Sunshine and not be anti social.

Cloud was condemning me to a full day worth of torture. I mentally sighed, IV was right, it was just a single day and spending it with my older brother and younger sister when most of the time I already hang out with Hana, helping her with homework and watching the occasional Taiwanese drama when our stepfather was out of the house, which was most of the time now that Cloud had come back from overseas.

Our stepfather had made himself scarce around our house and especially around Cloud. My brother thought he understood my vehement dislike of our stepfather, but he didn't think past the drunkenness and how he would plow through our expenses to feed his alcohol addiction. He couldn't see the darkness in his eyes when his eyes landed on me or the smirk he wore when he was peering at Hana dangerously. For now, my sister and I were safe as long as we stuck with Cloud and made sure we weren't in his line of sight.

"Not as much as I thought." I wrote, calming my erratic thoughts and shoving them to the back of my mind. I stood up and put my books back into my bag and slinging it over my shoulder.

"So how are your new classes going?" IV asked, a hint of teasing in his voice. Did he really have to ask this right when we were walking to class? Apparently so.

"Good enough, but you already know that don't you?" I replied. After that talk with IV's, now mine as well, precalculus teacher, I now had every advanced class a second year could possibly have due to my brother. Not that I minded really, I had less free time than before, but I was less bored. And surprisingly, my new teachers enjoyed my back talk and sassed me right back. My only downside was that my annoying two toned haired friend was in my every class.

Every. Single. One.

"I can't believe you flunked your classes for two years straight." I teased, holding up my sketchpad to IV and smirking a bit. We walked back to the main hallways and into the bustling crowds filled with other students shoving their way to get to class on time.

"Hey, no. Shut it. I didn't even flunk, I was abroad in England, okay?" IV grumbled, pushing past a groupie of students. I mentally groaned, wishing we hadn't left so late now that people were flooding the hallways and crowding around me.

I rolled my eyes, "Got any proof?"

"Why the frig," Blondie said, "do I need to give you proof?"

"If there isn't any evidence, then it never happened."

"You've been on way too much Tumblr, sweetheart." IV rolled his eyes and slid open the door. "Ladies first." He spoke pleasantly. I rolled my eyes and walked in, ignoring how he called me 'sweetheart'." I walked over to my seat near the back of the class and took my seat near the window. IV soon followed and sat down in his own seat in the middle of the classroom.

Other students were clambering around the classroom still, waiting for our evidently late teacher to show up and start today's lesson. Some were finishing up some lunch and others, mostly girls, were speaking animatedly with their groups of friends about who got the latest beauty products or flaunting their newest piece of jewelry and some were waiting patiently for class to start.

I rolled my eyes at how stupid they all looked. I mean, I for one, didn't give a damn about appearances and looks, but rather personality. Reputation meant nothing to me but it did make me wary of certain people at times and from what I could tell, most of the people in the room were stuck up rich kids, feigning ignorance about things that were actually going on outside of their fancy world.

The footfalls of our teacher arriving, interrupted my annoyed thoughts. Students rushed to their seats when he sets down his books and casts a stern look around the room, silencing any gossip for now. Our teacher teacher is a rather old man with a slight balding head, in his late 50's or so but speaks enthusiastically but deliberately as he explains our history lesson.

"Alright everyone, turn to page 418 of your history book. Today, we will be learning about Japanese involvement during the time of WWII." Akiyama-sensei spoke. "We will begin with past aggression's to the different involvements of other countries such as America and Germany and then you will write an essay about the effects and what happened during the war, leading to the after effects..." he drawled onward, ignoring the majority of groans and complaints throughout the room and told us to get started with our work.

I tapped my pen onto my sheet of paper as I scanned the contents of our textbook. I could already tell this lesson was already going to be a bore.

"Yuki, hurry up already! You're taking forever in there!" Cloud yelled through the door, fist pounding on the plywood.

I ignored him as I brushed hair, collecting my thoughts.

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

It was only a dinner. Nothing big. My stepfather wasn't even going to be there. If Cloud was going to ask me anything, I could try and lie to him, but he always knew when I was lying. Better to give him half truths than nothing at all.

Before I exited the bathroom, I gave myself a once over. Black and white plaid flannel over a nice fitted tee that had the words, 'Music is the speak of Angels' sprawled on, and dark blue jeans paired with black ankle boots. I had my hair in my regular ponytail with my ribbon and black thick rimmed glasses framing my face.

A casual kind of punk look, that wasn't anything special. I nodded at my reflection; brother would approve.

I took a deep breath before placing my hand on the door and walked out to my room, gathering up my purse and phone. I'm about to leave when I realize Hana is laying on my bed, causing me to wonder what in the world she is doing. I express my thoughts by clearing my throat and signing.

"Wondering what took you so long." She replies cheekily, eyes not straying from the wall.

"We're leaving in a few minutes, y'know." I sign towards her as she gives me a quick glance.

"But I wanna know what you think about my outfit." Hana whines childishly.

"You look fine." I tell her, noting she's wearing a light blue scallop trimmed shirt with a collar and a white skirt. "You don't even have your shoes or socks on."

When I comment about her appearance, she breaks into a grin before bouncing off my bed. She probably went to go put them on, hopefully.

I go downstairs to see what Cloud is up to, since it's almost time to leave and he hates it when we're late. Not that I really care though.

"Hey, are we leaving yet?"

"Yeah. Is Hana ready yet?" He asks, looking at his wristwatch.

"Yup. I'm ready! But where are we even going, brother?" Hana shouted happily, dashing down the stairs and glomping Cloud. I smiled a bit; Hana could only be truly happy when were alone, away from our stepfather.

Cloud chuckled and ruffled her hair, "Someplace nice, that's for sure. Ah, but nothing fancy." Yeah, that's for sure. Cloud kinda always looks like a bum even if he tries to look nice. As if he was all knowing, he slapped me upside the head and shot me a mock glare.

Ah, he knows me too well.

Cloud ushers us out the door and into the car. My sister calls shotgun and jumps into the passenger seat while I slide into the backseat. The car roars with life as Cloud starts the ignition and soon we're passing skyscrapers and other towering buildings of Heartland City. Hana describes the past week to our brother while I on the other hand, plug in my ear buds for the rest of the car ride.

My thoughts and worries blur together once more and in a blink of an eye, I'm re-watching myself cowering in a corner, desperately trying to cover myself from the oncoming blows. I'm hearing shouting but it all blends together - like white noise. I know Hana's in the closet, hiding, but can hear every word that's being screamed at me. That I'm useless, a waste of space, everything is my fault. Always my fault

Even though it must be all lies, I've been fed those lies for far too long and I'm almost starting to believe them. But then I remember I'm in the car with my older brother and Hanako, safe and I'm no where near that thing I have to call my stepfather. I'm okay. I'm okay. I'm okay.

Those are the only words that calm my fear and make me swallow the urge to cut.

By the time we're at the restaurant, I'm in a dark mood, but I keep it in check. My brother casts a wary glance over my direction, but says nothing and takes Hanako's hand and leads us into the restaurant, and we are quickly seated in a booth by one of the waiters.

"Hey, little sister could you not make such a dark face? You're ruining the refreshing mood." Cloud spoke without looking at me, casually flipping through the menu. I felt myself tense, wanting to tell him off or even crawl into a hole and die, but no, all I did was shrug.

Hanako gives a tiny smile and says, "Brother, the both of you will ruin the mood, if you keep being so tense."

Brother grumbles and signals the waiter and orders our food and drinks. Two steaks, medium rare, for him and myself and pasta for Hana. The restaurant, like Brother had described, was nothing particularly special. Dimly lit and rather small, one would think it was a rather bland place for dining, but it did seem to have this quaint charm to it. Quiet piano music fills the room and if my twin were here, she'd absolutely love this place.

The food arrives a few moments after, giving Cloud no time to grill me on my mood or ask any unwanted questions. Giving me more time to evade said questions and make up some good excuses…

Even though I'm still in a bad mood, I don't want to ruin this for Hana. This has to be our first real dinner in a while since Cloud has been back. I mean, he has been back for a while, but he's been looking for a new job and after he found one, he started working and giving us a better income than I ever could with my job at the library.

I push all my dark thoughts in corner for now, for the sake of making sure Hana and my brother have a good time tonight and maybe, just maybe, I will too. I decide halfway between pushing a piece of steak into my mouth, that I don't want to lie to Cloud, but I also want so very much to tell him the truth. To tell him everything.

But I know I can't do that. I'm too much of a coward, no matter how many times I recall being called brave by my Hana or those times when I was younger, by my mother and my real father.

"Oh, sister dearest. Please try not to be so moody as Hana says, hmm?" Big Brother chides as he looks over at me with a small smirk. "Wouldn't want the both of us to ruin the mood."

I giggle a bit at his words and continue eating. "So, how's the food?" I sign.

"Heavenly." They both reply in unison. We all glance at each other and burst into laughter.

Dinner, for the rest of the night is filled with laughter. I can't speak but I nod at a few things my brother says here and there and swell with pride when Hana says she got first place on art contest. Brother and I both say we will frame it once we get home.

Cloud coughs, "So, how has our douchy stepfather been treating you two?" He suddenly asks us. I freeze midway and I begin to choke on my water. Hana frantically pats my back.

"Fine. I still don't like him though." Hana replies, casting a worried look my way. Brother probably thinks she worried because I almost choked, but that's not true. We have bigger problems than water going down wrong way.

"Of course, but how does he treat you?"

"He's okay. But he could be better at handling his vices." And not beating up his step children and not causing emotional damage, but no. He's totally okay.

"He really should. If you need me to give him a talking to, " Cloud says, "I really don't mind."

Oh god, if only you knew. I'm pretty sure if I told you Cloud, you'd give him hell to pay. I can't tell though, I'm too scared, and Hana is too. If I do tell Cloud about our stepfather, I'm sure he would get his "friend" to take Hana like the last time.

It only happened once, when he had hit me for the first time and I threatened to call the cops on him. A week later, Hana disappeared and didn't come home for almost a full day, by the end of the night our stepfather brought her back, half conscious and threatened me that if I ever told on him, he'd have his friend kill her. Hana didn't remember anything that happened that day, but it would always be traumatizing for me, seeing her body limp and drugged for several hours, even though she wasn't hurt.

Brother let out a heavy sigh, knowing he couldn't get anything else out of me. I felt a twinge of guilt, but I couldn't let it get to me. Not until I could figure out what to do without harming Hana in the long run.

"And you? Hana seems fine." Cloud commented, resting his face on the palm of hand.

I shrugged. I guess I was better than before, but I didn't really notice any changes in my personality other than my roller coaster like moods and tendency to be incredibly cynical nowadays. Other than that, I've practically become Cloud himself.

I voice my thoughts, "Hey, Cloud-oniichan, am I like you?"

He blinks and gives me a smirk, "Maybe just a little, but even if you are, you aren't allowed to grow up just yet brat." He ruffles my hair, and gets up to pay the check. I wrap up Hana's leftover pasta and lead her out the door to the car.

Cloud returns a couple minutes later and we head home. From the backseat of the car, I let exhaustion come over me.

I am completely tired by the time I climb the stairs and throw myself onto my bed, snuggling a pillow. Cloud is in the living room with Hana and thankfully, our stepfather is once again out and probably won't return for the rest of the evening.

My brief moment of happiness is ruined when my cell suddenly starts ringing. I groan, who the fuck is calling me. For Christ's sake, I'm a friggin' mute!

I pick up the phone from my bedside table just to see who's stupid enough to call me at this hour, and what do you know, it's IV.

I pick it up rather than hanging up, just to see how long it'll take for him to figure out his mistake.

"Hey. What's up?"

"..."

"Hello?"

"..."

"...Oh, I fucked up didn't I? Fuck..." He curses through the phone. Yes, yes you did. IV laughs a bit before cursing again. I bite back my own laugh.

"Uhh well anyways, I'm gonna Skype you in a bit. No, you really don't have a choice in the matter. Just get on your damn desktop, I already know you have it with you...If you don't pick up, I'll keep calling you and annoying you until you pick up, got that? Ugh, you better pick up, Shiragane,"

I sigh and walk over to my desktop, deciding it's better to be highly amused by IV than lay in bed staring at the wall until I fell asleep. It takes a few moments to start up and true to his word, he's calling me on Skype. I lower the volume and let it ring for a bit so I can find my headphones and adjust my webcam. It takes me a while to find them (they were under my bed for God knows why) but I'm not in a rush to really talk to him. He could wait, not like either of us have anything else to do.

I put my headphones on and accept his video call. I can barely give the idiot a wave when his voice blares into my headphones.

"God, you take so damn long." He complains loudly. I shrug, better late than never, right?

"So, how was "dinner" with the family?" IV asks, making air quotations when he says dinner.

Another shrug. It was okay. I rest my chin on the palm of my hand, slightly bored.

He groans, "Can you like, not shrug and give actual replies that warrant actual conversation?" I roll my eyes. "I swear, you're seriously worse than Chris. And Chris is bloody impossible."

I shrug again, just to piss him off a little more, a small amused smirk paints my lips. "I probably could, if you made more interesting conversations. Oh by the way, your English accent is coming out." I type.

IV rolls his eyes in mock annoyance, "Oh, don't type at me in that tone of voice." He chuckles a bit before looking thoughtful. "Can an English accent even come out when you are speaking a language like Japanese?"

I give him a look, how am I suppose to know? Dummy.

"Probably. I mean every other language has an accent."

"Point taken. So, again I ask, how was dinner with your brother?" He asks once more, fingers drumming against the table top.

"Like I said, it was okay. We ate food and Cloud asked some questions. It was kinda fun, I guess." It would have been better if he didn't have to ask anything at all. I'm still a bit paranoid though, it isn't like Cloud to take such simple answers, but if he wasn't going to push me for answers I shouldn't worry. Right?

He gives me a strange look that I can't really decipher, but before IV can say anything, Mihael bursts into the room. "Nii-sama, did you take my- oh hey Yuki!"

I give him a two fingered salute which he returns with a bright smile and a tiny wave of his own. IV on the other hand, frowns. "Hey Fairy Princess, do you not understand the concept of knocking?" He says, fingers still drumming against the wood. It is getting a bit annoying.

Mihael makes a noise of indignation at the words, 'Fairy Princess'. IV glances my way when I make the smallest of giggles, a smile painting my face. I had to say, the nickname was rather fitting with Mihael's girlish looks and pink hair. "Look at what you've done now, she's laughing! Oh the dreadful terror! You've doomed us all now, Fairy Princess!" IV cries, ever the drama queen. He winks at me when I applaud a bit, still giggling.

Mihael gives a sheepish smile and pulls out a chair seemingly out of thin air. Both brothers seem to forget what they were doing before and engage me in a topic of why IV's being 'incredibly childish with such a petty nickname' in which IV retorts Mihael is being a wet blanket like Chris and ruining all his fun. I watch them amused by watching their antics. They argue back and forth whilst trying to get me one of their sides. Soon, they're just all out shouting at each other like little kids.

"Fairy Princess!"

"Creepy puppet collector!"

"Thumbelina!"

"Necrophilia lover!"

"Oh hell no, I told you never to bring that up again!" IV growls, looking ready to murder his younger brother. Mihael calmly retreats backward and gives a bit of a triumphant smirk. I don't think it'll last long though with the look IV was giving him. Definitely spelled out death if he said another word.

"Or else what?" Mihael says, taunting him further. Oh yeah, he's a goner.

IV is all but ready to lunge at Mihael when an angry voice comes from the other room.

"Shut up both of you!" Chris's yell echoing in the my headphones. I wince at the tone of his voice.

"He started it!" The two brothers yell back, pointing accusing fingers at one another.

"I don't care who started it. If I hear one more word out of either of you, I'll finish it." Chris says evenly. Oh god, he's like right outside of IV's door. Both boys give each other withering looks but Mihael quickly leaves the room, taking his cue to leave.

We sit in silence for a few minutes so we don't further incur the wrath of Chris. I don't even know why I'm scared, but then I realize this is Chris. The slightly more taller and refined version of Cloud. Well, that certainly explains a lot.

"Brothers." He says slowly.

I nod. "Brothers, indeed."

"So, how long are you staying up again?" IV inquiries. His eyes dance with mirth and curiosity.

I look thoughtful for a second, thinking of something to say. "Perhaps, when you actually let me sleep."

He chuckles, "Guess not for a couple more hours huh?" I shake my head. I guess not.

"So, you're into necrophilia? Never would've guessed, Arclight." I type out.

IV groans and says it's a stupid misunderstanding because Mihael doesn't understand the art of puppetry and how it's completely awesome. I roll my eyes, awesome is such a bland way of explaining one's passion in my opinion.

He gapes at me but proceeds to tell me all about his slight obsession. I find that IV can talk for hours about puppets and marionettes. Anything ghostly and dark such as buckets of gore and various torture methods also make the list. I don't know what I was expecting. IV's room had several puppets and dolls laying around and he always had this thing for all that is morbid and strange. Just didn't think he could ramble on for so long. I don't enjoy his particular hobby much but am curious about some parts and put in some of my own thoughts to this discussion.

Our talk is cut short when Cloud tells me to go to bed and we both realize it's two in the morning.

"Come over tomorrow?" He asks genuinely hoping I show up tomorrow. I can tell, he doesn't really talk to anyone about his hobby. I'm slightly glad I could do that for him, even though our views aren't the same.

IV is giving me a look that's begging for me to tease him. "I dunno. Maybe I don't wanna see your ugly mug every single day." His face falls and I sigh. "Yeah, yeah. I'll be there."

"Great. I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight, sweet dreams." IV grins, blowing me a kiss.

I scrunch my face in mock disgust before giving him a smirk and and a mock salute. I turn of my computer and stretch. I take off my headphones and place them on my desk.

Now for sleep.

Hooray! Chapter five is done! Some character development here and some nice family stuff there and there's your chapter five! I'm gonna keep this short and sweet and just tell you guys just to R&R. Click that adorable Favorite button and make this bday girl a happy camper! Have an awesome week, month, day, life and stay amazing! :D

Later guys!