Music Playing: Distant by Vindsvept

As quickly as her condition declined, Ryuuko's condition seemed to be improving. If anything, the doctors called it "miraculous", considering how rough a state that she seemed to be in when she arrived. She hasn't gotten particularly good with eating, yet, but, at least, her body is starting to work with the medicines to beat back the infection. Needless to say, as Ryuuko's heart starts to mend, maybe her body will, too.

I think we were all waiting to hear what the verdict would be. Ryuuko was sick and Satsuki is her actual next-of-kin. In Mako and Mrs. Mankanshoku's heart, there was another fear and it wasn't that they'd lose Ryuuko to illness but, instead, they'd lose custody of her entirely. I knew Satsuki wouldn't have wanted that, no, she wouldn't have taken Ryuuko away from the only family she really knew but the whole situation was just iffy.

I suppose Satsuki didn't want to tell her this because of how sick she is. Mako asked what was going to happen to Ryuuko and the four of us couldn't but Gamagoori told her, "Well, all I can say is that the whole custody situation is questionable in the eyes of social services." Mako looked like she wanted to cry before saying, "I don't want them to take Ryuuko away."

"I know, and, honestly, none of us do but, with both Ryuuko and Satsuki being minors at the time she dropped the former off on your doorstep and with your mother not having any official documents of custody, social services might want to hand custody to Satsuki because of that fact." Mako was upset and confused asking why, citing that Ryuuko lived with them since the either of them were little.

"Yes, she has but both Satsuki and Ryuuko were minors at the time and there weren't any papers that designated your parents as an official guardians."

"How?!"

"In simple terms, your parents are Ryuuko's guardians but they don't have official custody of her. "

"But what about school?"

"The school recognized your parents as her guardians, inasmuch, as a school might but the hospital and social worker might not, with all considered."

"All considered?"

"How do I say this? You see, official guardians have records that say they have custody but your family doesn't. On top of this, Satsuki is Ryuuko's blood relative and is also old enough to have custody of her sister. In short, Satsuki has to sign papers acknowledging your parents as Ryuuko's guardians."

He would go onto explaining to her that, because of Ryuuko's critical health, none of us want to upset her further. "For what it's worth, I think Ryuuko would like both her sister and your family in her life, not be made to pick and lose either one." he said, before Nui pointed out Ryuuko's hospital bills would be costly and that Satsuki could pay for them, considering all the money she has, while Uzu gently explained that the hospital is more apt to go with Satsuki's word over the Mankanshokus'.

When asked how she was dealing, Mrs. Mankanshoku promptly said, "I have raised for Ryuuko since she was three. She is one of our kids. It's one thing to almost lose her to illness and her broken heart but it's another thing entirely..." She couldn't bring herself to finish but I knew. If Ryuuko is one of her kids, then losing her would be like having her baby snatched from her arms. She quickly said, "Don't tell Ryuuko. Her health is starting to pick up and, with her heart already broken, this might be what kills her."

She was silent before she said, "Well, if Satsuki will have custody of her, then I'd better enjoy my time with her. I just don't want to break that potential news to Ryuuko." After that, she said she wished Ryuuko were little again, like when she first took the girl in. "I remember holding her and carrying her around the house, that first day." she said, folding her arms in a cradling motion, "She was scared, at first, but then she held onto me like life depended on it. I wish she were little again." She would go on to tell me how quickly she took to Mako, before going, "I know Mako would just be heartbroken if Ryuuko had to go live with Satsuki."

After observing Ryuuko, she said, "For Ryuuko's sake, if we do retain custody of her, I sincerely hope Satsuki would be a more active presence because I can't stand to see her go through that again."

In between talking with me, observing Ryuuko, and speaking with Satsuki and the social workers, Mrs. Mankanshoku was comforting Mako, who was just so distraught. Seeing how Ryuuko was getting up to walk around (inasmuch as she could) at least, we knew it was better than she not know of the storm brewing.

It was a miraculous that her body was starting to cooperate and miraculous still that she never knew what Mrs. Mankanshoku and Satsuki discussed.

Authoress Notes: First time I get to use a track by Vindsvept, so yay!

That aside, in a lot of stories like this, there are some legal loose ends that don't really get addressed. In which case, we're talking about the status of Ryuuko's guardianship.

Since the Mankanshokus have had Ryuuko in their care since she and Mako were little, school records and Ryuuko's word were all they have as proof that she's been in their care and so the hospital and social services accepted that part, however, with Satsuki being Ryuuko's genetic and legal next-of-kin, then puts the Mankanshokus' custody of her in question, perhaps more since Satsuki is wealthy, was a minor herself at the time she dropped Ryuuko off on the Mankanshokus' doorstep, and, of course, hasn't signed any official documents acknowledging the Mankanshokus as Ryuuko's guardians.

If you're wondering, yes, the story takes place in the US.

Another thing, as one can prolly guess, Mako and Ryuuko were raised more-or-less like sisters in this canon.

—Amoridere