Maybe her mind had locked up such a bad memory, that day was meant to be one of her happy memories. Her twelve birthday. That day her auntie had taken Fuzuki and her cousin to the mall and bought her a pretty pink dress to wear for the party later on that day. Her heart had filled with such hope and joy that her father might show up and show her that he still loved her and hadn't abandoned her. Her stepmother because of her hate for the girl demanded Fuzuki be sent to a boarding school. Instead, her father had allowed his daughter to live in her cherished mother's family home she was born and remained in after marriage.

Her mother had been an only child, Fuzuki's grandmother pa.s.sing shortly after giving birth to her mother and her grandfather pa.s.sing when Fuzuki was a child. After her grandfather's pa.s.sing her mother had inherited everything including her childhood home. Her once gentle father saw how much her mother loved the home and allowed her mother to live there whenever he was off on business.

After the argument between her stepmother and father, he had moved her to her mother's childhood home and bought a new house in her stepmother's liking. Since then he had never once visited but would call speaking a few brief words with her over the phone before handing the phone over to the main butler of the house.

That day on her birthday she had hoped too hard he would come to her birthday party, saving a seat for him even staying up the night before making a list of all the things she wanted to tell her father. In the end, the night ended in disappointment and bitterness. Her father's secretary had called her aunt saying he was leaving to New York that night and he wouldn't be able to come. A present had been delivered for her from her father but the truth had been revealed by her cousin Hotsuma that her auntie had actually been the one to gift it to her in her father's place. It was then that she realized he had truly abandoned his only daughter and forgot her birthday having no true intention of ever seeing her. Since that day she would make up excuses not to talk to her father and soon the phone calls stopped coming but his money never stopped. She truly didn't need his money nor did she want it seeing as her mother gifted her family belongings to Fuzuki in her will. The money sent separately to her than the pay for the servants still working for him remained untouched in the bank.

No matter how hard she wanted to hate her father and throw that money at his face or burn it she couldn't do it. He had wounded her and yet she couldn't hate her own father. She still loved him even now.

...

Waiting for her auntie to come off the car behind her Fuzuki gazed up at the large house in front of her in awe. It still looked the same, for some reason that alone was able to smooth her nervousness. Behind her in one of the rose bushes, a pair of eyes flashed in excitement before a small figure rushed out behind her like a small puppy. Feeling pair of arms hug her legs, Fuzuki let out a surprised gasp jumping a little in her spot. Gazing down her heart leaped with warmth at the adorable child gazing up at him with a sweet joyful innocence in his eyes.

"Shusei." Fuzuki smiled warmly down at the small child who hugged her tightly rubbing his face against the soft fabric of her dress.

"Little Puppy, what are you doing out here?"Her auntie questioned her youngest child who laughed happily at the sight of his mother rus.h.i.+ng over to give her a tight hug as well.

"Mama! Fuzu!" Shusei yelled out excitedly gazing up at his mother with sparkling eyes as he pointed his small hand at Fuzuki still holding on to his mother's skirt with his other hand.

"Yes, your Fuzu will be staying with us for a while." Her auntie answered him in a gentle manner bending to his level as she brushed a leaf off his hair.

"Really?" He asked excitedly his eyes s.h.i.+ning even brighter as he stared up at his mother.

"Really."

"Fuzu." Shusei cried out happily rus.h.i.+ng over to Fuzuki once more reaching out to hold her hand.

"Shu-chan missed Fuzu-chan," Shusei confessed with a happy blus.h.i.+ng face as he stared up at her shyly. His words alone warmed her heart in a way only he could.

"Fuzu-chan missed Shu-chan too." Fuzuki smiled gently as she ran her fingers through his soft hazel colored hair. Of all things Shusei was one of the things she treasured the most, to her he was an innocent angel that needed looking after. It wasn't hard to see how much the s.h.i.+kibe family treasured the youngest son. Even at such a young age, he vibrated with such innocence and beauty just as the rest of the s.h.i.+kibe family. His hair like silk in a like hazel color that appeared gold in the sunlight, his eyes the softest brown with specks of green. A cute b.u.t.ton nose and a beautiful smile with dimples, even the boy's eyelashes were long and full. From this alone, the family knew he would grow into a tall handsome young man.

"Oh your here already." A voice called out from behind her before feeling a pair of strong arms hug her from behind.

"Hotsu! Let Fuzu-chan go! Fuzu's my princess! You idiot pirate!" The youngest siblings yelled out at the oldest with an angry adorable pout as he clenched his small fists stomping his feet as he gazed up at his brother in cute anger.

"If I'm a Pirate I'll just steal your princess away." The oldest sibling responded back hugging Fuzuki closer with a grin on his face as he placed his chin on her shoulder. Gasping out the small boy gazed up at him with a tearful glare a spark starting between the two compet.i.tive brothers. On one side stood the cute innocent puppy while on the other side stood the teasing playful lion. Trapped in between the two the bunny gazed between the two feelings conflicted and overwhelmed by the small fight between brothers. Her heart raced in relief as the voice of her savior called to the puppy and stubborn lion.

"Enough both of you."