Hello. I started writing again. (Also for those concerned- Karlheinz is not Yui's father. I agree that would be weird and bad haha. I just left it off at an odd place!)

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"What was that fool thinking?" Laito sighed. "After everything he put us through, too."

My dry eyes stung as they opened. After a couple of blinks, I recognized my surroundings. We were in the drawing room. Where practically all of this began. Back then, I should have just run. Why hadn't I just run away and never looked back?

"This is quite a mess," Reiji agreed.

I lifted my head that had been tilted sideways against something soft. To my right was Shu, whose shoulder I must have been using as a pillow. He did not look at me. His eyes stayed fixated on the ground, but his hand covered my own in my lap. My other arm laid at my side. It was neatly bandaged where the glass had cut the skin.

Laito sat to my left, his head laying defeated in his hands. After realizing I had awoken, he looked over to me and smiled grimly, "Well good morning to you. Would you believe us if we told you what you saw was all a dream?"

"No. It's better she knows," Reiji stated. He sat in the chair to our right. His fingers impatiently tapped against the armrest. His other hand met his temple- a futile attempt to massage the stress away. "The sooner we get this out in the open, the sooner we can put an end to this shameful story."

"Oi, I thought we just had a meeting. Pancake found somethin' else to complain about?" Ayato appeared from the hallway. "And what the hell is goin' on here?" He growled after seeing my hand in Shu's. He marched over. "Since when is it okay to touch my prop-"

"Shut up, Ayato," Shu finally spoke. His hand on mine tightened. Shu was not resting his head or pretending to sleep. In fact, I hadn't noticed at first, but Shu also had no earbuds in.

"Settle down everyone," Reiji said coolly. "Ayato, have a seat."

Ayato slumped and settled in the chair opposite of Reiji's. Reiji continued, effectively taking control of the room. "I doubt that I know everything concerning this matter. We all know," he glanced at me and cleared his throat, "Rather, most of us know how secretive Karlheinz can be."

"I'd say that's a pretty big understatement," Laito chuckled.

"In situations such as these it is best to get everyone's account of what they know," Reiji looked around at us. "Who would like to start?"

There was an uncomfortable silence.

Reiji sighed, "Fine," and began.

Reiji was just a small boy. During a break in his lessons at the gazebo, he caught a movement through the window of, what he had previously thought was, an abandoned room. After further inspection he saw a woman standing at the window. She was pale and thin. Her blonde hair fell in curls to either side of her face. "Who is that woman?" Reiji pointed, asking his mother.

"Who is that woman?" Misaki hissed at Karlheinz. They stood in his study. "Don't you have enough little heirs, master?" Her words dripped with poison. "You've only just brought in a new spoiled brat who, need I remind you, has just recently been reprimanded for distracting my youngest! So what is in store for us now, sir?"

"Rika." Karlheinz sat at his desk. His hands folded on top of the desk in front of him. "Her name is Rika, Misaki. She is not and will not be my wife. She was pregnant and in need of assistance. And so here I am. Assisting."

"Well," Misaki drew closer, "Forgive me, sir. I never knew you were such a bleeding heart." She placed her hands on the desk as well, leaning in. "I've seen some beggars on my way to the market. On my next trip shall I give them the key to our home?"

Karl leaned back in his chair. "Careful, Misaki."

Misaki's fingers twitched before submitting and leaning back as well. "Apologies." She crossed her arms. "And what of this child's father, then?"

"I've already answered more than what you are entitled to."

"Though I admit it is a silly question. I suppose he became an obstacle between yourself and your prey? So now that man is either dead or wishing he were."

"That is enough!" Karl's voice boomed as he stood from the desk and slammed his fist down. "You have clearly forgotten your place in this home, Misaki." In just a stride, Karlheinz was to Misaki's side. "And I am clearly to blame for that. I now realize I have been much too relaxed in lessons of discipline and compliance in this family." His large hand wrapped around her neck. "Please forgive me, Misaki." In one more stride, Misaki's back was slammed against the wall. "And allow me to refresh your memory."

'My mother never mentioned it again," Reiji explained. "Until that one night occurred. The night Yui escaped death."

Reiji's words hung in the air.

I thought of not just my new memories, but a dream, or maybe a nightmare, I had after learning Karlheinz' name. The church choir was replaced by a blonde stranger. No, not just a stranger, but my own mother. "Welcome home," she had said. All I could see was my mother stuck in that room with only her window and her monster that should have been her little baby girl. "I will not become a monster like them," she had said. How many times had I tried to convince myself of the same in just a few rooms away from where she had been? I could almost laugh over the absurdity.

"That is a lot to take in, Reiji," Laito remarked. "Though I do still wonder how this lead to our poor mothers-"

"Like you care," Shu said flatly.

"Do not interrupt, Shu," Reiji instructed.

"What the fuck?" Ayato stood from where he sat. His eyes were wide. "You knew all of this and you're just tellin' us now?" He pointed at Reiji. "You knew who Yui was when she got here. And you're just NOW tellin' us all this shit?"

"Settle down, Ayato," Reiji began.

"Like hell!"

"This all happened many years ago," Reiji continued. "I had no way of knowing for sure that Yui was the same child."

"But the letter," I whispered mainly to myself.

"Letter?" Shu turned to look at me.

"Yeah, the letter!" Ayato agreed. "How did ya' even know Yui's dad?"

"Her adoptive father," Reiji clarified. "I did not receive that letter until days after she had already arrived. Though I did briefly meet her father at the Holy Night church one morning. After the incident and Karl's dealings with our mothers," Reiji glanced at Shu, brows furrowed, "I decided to take it upon myself to manage the crisis. Father had already left abroad for business. I explored his study and found not only that Yui was still alive, which I had already suspected, but also where she was and his plans to bring her back home."

"You went to my home?" I asked.

"No," Reiji answered quickly. "I only visited the church. Then I saw a man step out of a vehicle with a younger version of yourself and I knew immediately I had found who I was looking for. You were, and still are, the spitting image of your mother, Yui."

I shook away the image of my mother's cold expressionless face as she peered down into my crib that night.

"I waited until Yui was in the church before confronting the man. I simply educated him on Karlheinz' methods to assure that things are done his way. As long as he attempted to guard Yui from us, his life would be in danger."

My hands clenched into fists. It was Reiji's fault, then."You threatened him!" I yelled.

"Do not raise your voice, Yui."

"If it wasn't for you, my father would have stood his ground. I wouldn't have been sent here if you hadn't tracked us down," I continued, ignoring Reiji's command.

"Don't be absurd. He could not have felt so threatened by me. You read his letter, Yui. He specifically requested that I look after you. Would he make that request of a man he feared? Your father was foolish, but not a complete lost cause. He knew what must be done and he did it."

"He didn't want to send me here in the first place!"

"This is bullshit!" Ayato chimed in, still standing. "Why would he ask you? We all know I'm the strongest! Just 'cuz you snuck around and got to 'im first doesn't mean anything."

"That is a little off topic, Ayato," Laito piped in.

Reiji stood from his chair and straightened his jacket. "Well, I've told my part. And I will not sit here and be blamed for our father's actions." He began walking towards the door, "That is enough for tonight, I think."

"No! You have more to answer for!" I stood, beginning to move towards the door. Before taking a full step, Shu's arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me back down. "Shu, sto-"

"Sit, Yui," Shu ordered. His voice echoed throughout the room. Reiji, without a glance back, walked through the door into the hallway.

"But," I began to protest, turning to face Shu.

"Stay," he said quieter. "No more running off." He held me tightly by the waist at his side. "You need to rest."

As he said it, my body ached in agreement. Adrenaline was the only force keeping me going. The only reason I could talk back to Reiji without cowering. The only reason I could form a sentence without spiraling.

"I think I need some time to process as well," Laito sighed. He also stood from the couch. "Don't worry, kitten. We'll sort this all out in no time. Shu is right for once. You do need rest," he made his way to the door and gave a nonchalant wave back to us.

"The night our father told me about you," Shu's grip around me eased as he talked, "He mentioned he was going away for a while, but he told me to notify him when you arrive."

"Did ya'?" Ayato asked.

Shu paused. He let go of me and looked up to peer at Ayato. He thought for a second. "No. I forgot to."

Ayato laughed. "Never thought your laziness would ever help us, slug. Way to prove me wrong!" He stood up, stretching his arms high and yawning. "So he does plan on comin' back." Ayato opened one hand and punched it softly with the other. "Good. It's about time we give that old man a piece of our minds."

"He could kill you easily," Shu muttered.

Ayato's eyes shot daggers. His attention turned to me. "Just so you know, pancake," he walked up to us, ignoring Shu's insult, and instead put a hand on Shu's shoulder to balance as he leaned down to me. "This doesn't change anything. I said I would be the one to protect ya'." Ayato slipped his free hand behind my head, pulled it to his and planted a kiss on my lips. "Yours Truly'll protect you. Not some nerd."

"Ugh," Shu shook Ayato's hand off his shoulder in disgust.

"Shu," I was walking back to my room. "Don't you think," Shu clenched the back of my dress tighter, "This is a bit much?"

"No," he responded flatly.

"You're acting weird," I sighed as I approached my door.

"I'm not."

As I turned the knob and pushed the door open, Shu's hand slammed against it, pushing it wider so that he could slip in behind me. "Absolutely not!" I objected.

He closed the door behind himself and locked it. He pointed to the bed. "Sleep."

I looked at my bed. Just as I left it. And next to the bed on my dresser was my father's letter. "I don't think I'll be able to. Uh?" My feet left the ground. "Shu!" And I was gently tossed onto the bed.

"I bet you can." Shu sat on the edge of my bed. "If you're good," his hand stroked my cheek, "I'll stay with you all night. But if you don't even try, I'll knock you out and take advantage of you while you're asleep."

"Fine. I'll try." I turned my back to Shu and let my body sink into the bed. I felt him stand and the lights flickered off. For a second, I wondered if he had left.

"Stop thinking. I can hear your heartbeat getting faster. Don't worry. I'm not leaving." Shu returned to the bed, sitting next to me with his back against the headboard.

Stop thinking. How could I? Every time I closed my eyes I saw blood. My mother's, my own. I imagined my father dying alone. I saw their mothers. Strangers that died because I lived. The silver haired man. Karlheinz. His agonized face. It was all whirling around in my brain. I was unable to escape. Reiji's story played on loop in my mind. The way his father treated Misaki. Yet he took such pains to care for my mother. For me.

I flinched as Shu placed his hand on my head. "It's okay. You're okay," he whispered. His fingers slid through my hair.

"You're okay," Reiji had promised me. I wondered if he even remembered.

Shu continued stroking my hair. "You're just in shock, Yui." He paused. "I know it well."

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. I could feel the exhaustion catching up. But behind the darkness of my lids were only mirages of agony and death.

Shu's fingers traced the outline of my ear. "Yui," Shu started. He shifted down into the bed. His body pressed against my back. "Are you still awake?" His words were the faintest whisper.

I didn't respond, but I shuffled slightly next to him. "Oh?" His lips lightly kissed the back of my head. "So that's an invitation to take advantage then."

I shook my head. I could hear Shu quietly chuckle. His arm wrapped around me, pulling me closer. "Sorry. Ignore me."

With enough silence and time, I was able to close my eyes and just see plain black. As I drifted to sleep, I thought I heard Shu again. "He made me promise," he whispered. I could hardly hear him. "... Not your savior, Yui." Was it a dream? "Can't protect... from myself, let alone my brothers." Shu's hands trembled against my waist. "But I want to keep my word. Not for him. But for you."

"I'm the only one that can decide my destiny." Whether I said it out loud or just in my dreams, I couldn't be sure.

My mother's hands cupped my cheeks. "Yui," she spoke.

GET OUT!

I ran through an endless hallway. Past a million closed doors.

GET OUT!

Her voice boomed again. Rose petals covered the floor.

GET OUT!

She insisted. Her voice getting angrier and impatient. Blood trickled down the walls on either side of me. Ahead of me, an open door.

THEY CANNOT...

I ran miles before reaching it. An arm reached out of the darkness. I reached for it. "In here, Yui," it beckoned.

THEY WILL NOT...

It was not my mother's voice. I snapped my hand back and the door fell.

THEY CANNOT...

The door did not fall. I was lifted. As my body passed through the ceiling, I squinted from the sudden brightness of the sun.

THEY WILL NOT...

My back thumped against the ground. A maze of rose bushes surrounded me. In the distance was a gazebo. I looked at the building now behind me.

"They cannot save us!" my mother yelled from her window. She pressed a bloody handprint on the glass.

My eyes opened. Get out.

The sun pierced through my bedroom window. Shu slept behind me. His arms were no longer around me. Get out.

I slid off of the bed and grabbed the letter from my desk. Get out.

"Goodbye." I quietly left the room.