-1Have you ever had the feeling something wasn't right?

It wasn't noticeable at first. It was just something strange, like a dream you can't remember, waking up in the middle of the night just naturally. Waking up feeling fine, but like you've forgotten something.

My room was pitch black, and the dark blue color of the walls didn't help one bit. It took a little bit for my eyes to adjust so I could see properly.

I sat up straight, looking around. What was up?

There were two beds near mine. The first was a little pull-out bed, where my little brother Senri was sleeping, snoring a little. The next was on the other side of him, not even a bed, really--just a bunch of blankets piled up on top of one another. The makeshift place to sleep was occupied by my cousin, Cilver.

Was meaning past tense.

Meaning Cilver wasn't there.

When had she woken up? I yawned and sat up straight, looking around. Nope, Cilver wasn't in here.

Might as well go find her.

I stepped around Senri, opening the door (which was shut, also strange) and going out into the hallway.

The light from a single window was the only light I got in the whole hallway. Still, I could make out Cilver standing next to the window, looking around, fully dressed.

At midnight.

What was she doing...?

"Cil?"

My voice made Cilver jump a mile in the air; she bit her lip and watched me for a moment. "H-hey, Shin."

"Where are you going?"

Someone yawned behind me, making both me and Cilver jump this time. I turned to see it was Senri, his blanket clasped in one hand while the other rubbed his eye. He looked over at Cilver, frowning slightly.

Cilver's gaze went from Senri to me and back again, still chewing on her lower lip. "Cilver? I asked again.

She snapped back to normal, the big-sister-like Cilver I'd known all my life. "Hey, guys." She stepped forward and picked Senri up, holding him with one arm while she put her other arm around me.

"Where are you going?"

She didn't answer. Didn't tell me otherwise. That wasn't very good.

I hugged her, burying my face into her shirt. "Don't go nowhere, Cil," I told her, words muffled by fabric.

She sighed, tightening her grip around me. "Don't worry, Shin."

"Don't leave."

"I'll be back soon, I promise."

"No, you won't."

"What, is Shinji Riisu to big to believe me anymore?"

I smiled and loosened my grip a little. Cilver snickered. "See?"

I shook my head rapidly, letting the moment pass. "No."

"Will you let go, please?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Here, take your brother."

I had to let go as she handed me Senri. He was half-asleep, yawning, and as soon as I took him he laid his head on my shoulder.

"Don't go nowhere, Cil," I repeated, practically whining.

She shook her head. "Be good while I'm gone, 'kay?"

"'Kay, I guess."

"Keep Blaise and Ami out of trouble."

"'Kay."

"Keep an eye on Sen, Shin. I'm counting on you."

Because besides you, I'm the only one who even cares about him. "...'Kay."

"You'll be fine, I promise." She leaned forward, kissing Senri on the forehead while putting a hand on my head at the same time. She had a habit of multitasking like that.

"Don't go nowhere, Cil."

"I've got to. Sorry, kiddo." She smiled, and I tried to return it, which lasted about five seconds. Senri yawned again, eyes darting between Cil and me.

"Make sure you tell Sen what happened."

"'Kay."

"Love you."

Senri's yawning was contagious, and I felt myself following his lead. "...Love you too."

"Now go to bed." Cilver finally took her hand off my head, still smiling.

She was still smiling when she turned and left.

--

I wish I would have known it went all downhill from there.

I was torn between wanting to know what the heck Cilver was doing and keeping my promise of protecting Senri. Cil and I were the only ones who didn't ignore the "baby" of the family.

Char was the oldest, my brother at sixteen, and Cilver was next, fifteen. My older sister Raven continued the trend with being fourteen, and I was two years behind her. Then were Cilver's siblings, my cousins: Blaise and Ami, eleven and nine respectively. Last was Sen, seven--and deaf.

Yeah. A deaf little brother.

Actually, I'd prefer not to elaborate on that subject.