♧Inner Demon♧

Dear Mama,

I'm writing a letter to my younger brother for this week because I'm pretty sure that Onii-sama is going to confiscate some of my stationary since I would stay up late just to write.

Is it weird that I'm writing about writing a letter? If that even makes sense...

I don't really have much to talk about right now but I guess I could tell you that my reunion with Misono wasn't my best moments.

And I'm pretty sure Mahiru is going to ask me about it once we're alone.

I hope he doesn't. Because I'm going to be putting a lot of effort on evading.

Yours,

M. A.

♧Inner Demon♧

I want to see you aga--

"Miki-chan, you still write those letters?" My brother asked from behind me as my hands scribbled on the parchment continuously.

--I hope you're doing fi--

"It's already late and you have school tomorrow." He told me, placing his hands on my shoulders as if warning me.

Don't give ••••• a hard ti--

I paused writing and rubbed my eyes a little to keep myself awake.

"I need to do this. It's what I want. I wouldn't be able to sleep today if I don't finish this Onii-sama." I told him before I used my nagging tone. "And please stop trying to read my letters, that's invasion of privacy."

"But Miki-chan~" He whined, I yelped when he grabbed me by the waist and lifted me up. I was surprised at his upper body strength as he deposited me to my bed.

"You can finish it tomorrow, it's already past your bedtime."

"What!" I protested. "I didn't know I have a bedtime? I'm what? Turning 15 now!"

He chuckled.

"But you're still my kawaii little sister and as your Onii-chan, it's my responsibility to take care of you."

I sighed before finally relenting. "Okay..."

"Don't cry, Mitsuki."

I looked away.

"My full name huh? Do I look that awful, Onii-sama...?"

He went to hug me but I did not return his embrace.

♧Inner Demon♧

"Mama!" A young girl said, stumbling towards an elegant woman who was plastering a serene smile on her beautiful and soft features.

"Mitsuki, come here.. " The woman called, spreading her arms as the young girl with long white hair and heterochromatic eyes ran to her.

"Mama, my.... my brother.. In here?" She placed a hand on the woman's stomach. "In here, in tummy? Want to see... brother! "

The woman let out a faint chuckle, stroking her child's soft hair with her pale hand.

"Mitsuki, your brother is here. Promise me to take care of him, okay?"

"Mitsuki will chase bad guys away! Protect brother and Mama..! "

"Mitsuki.. " The voice said. "You're such a good child. "

[ I remember being a child once upon a time,

Where everything started happy and sappy

But my life was no fairytale,

And I never got the happy ending I want ]

"Mi..chonu..? " The girl asked as the woman laughed at her.

"It's Mi-so-no. " She carefully worded.

"Uwaa! Michonu..! Liwwle brother..! " The girl giggled childishly, smiling at the small infant within the safety of her mother's arms.

The infant was chubby and the skin was completely soft.

The limbs were so small compared to her and he was so fragile while being held like that. She wondered if she was the same like him when she was small. She remembered being held the same way but memories of her infant life were a blur.

"Brother...is so small.. " She whispered, a smile gracing her lips.

"Chibi-chan."

The woman laughed with her.

"That's right. Misono is still small. Just like you. "

"Me..? "

[ I once had a mother,

She was gentle, kind and beautiful,

And then she gave me a brother,

So small and white ]

"Mitsuki, come here. You're doing the seam wrong. " She crawled over to her mother, curious eyes watching as she expertly sewed the corner of the doll's torn arm.

Her innocent eyes brightened and those pair of different colored hues shined under the warm and bright sunlight that was peeking through the safety of the garden.

"Yey! Miki-chan.. fixed! " She exclaimed, giggling as she hugged the doll to her chest.

The woman was happy, watching as her child played with the doll.

The child's expression was happy and completely carefree, typical for a child that was barely three years old.

She was proud of her young daughter. She was smart, a fast-learner and despite her young age, she already has a great deal of understanding.

"Mama! Play with Miki-chan...and me?"

She looked at the young child, her daughter's eyes lit up with happiness as she raised the doll to her, expecting her to take it.

Tiredly, she smiled. "Okay. I'll play with you and Miki-chan. "She could not refuse her own daughter and despite the stress and frustration of her scandalous affair, it was only her children who was giving her the courage to go on.

[ And they played hide and seek.

Where the girl will hide and she will seek.

Where are you?

Come out and play.

In this safe garden of Eden, nothing will get in the way. ]

"Mama!" The young girl shouted, awaiting for her mother on the middle of the garden.

[ A garden filled with roses, torns decorating the stem as a form of protection. ]

"Mama..? " She tried again, clutching the pink ragged doll on her arms. Her eyes were glossy then she heard the sound of footsteps coming.

She expected to see her Mama and her beautiful face. To hear her sweet voice that was too pleasant for the ears. To feel the warmth of her soft embrace and realize that she wasn't left alone and deserted.

That she has her. That woman who would call out her name ....

And yet she was wrong.

[ "Mitsuki, protect your brother, okay?"

"But Mama, who will protect you? "

".....mmm.. Mama will be fine. " ]

"A child..? " She stared at the person with confusion, wondering who this stranger was and where her mother was supposed to be.

"Mama? Where..? " She asked, crawling over to the stranger and clutching his pants while she stared at him expectantly.

"M-Mama..? Are you her.. --?" The person stuttered, shock written all over his visage. She pouted at the person, frowning and looking elsewhere for the woman that she wanted to see.

"Mama..? Mama..? "She was small, little and innocent. He didn't know what to do for the weight of their crimes became even more heavy due to his discovery.

She was just a child and for him to watch as she half-crawled and half-stumbled over on the grass while babbling and calling out Mama was just too heartbreaking to watch.

Because he knew.

He knew that her Mama was not here and this young child who barely have any resemblance to that woman was now alone without anyone to care for her.

He steeled his gaze, gently making his way over to the child.

[ "Eh. I don't have Papa.. Just Mama..?"

"Oh, Mitsuki... I'm so sorry. "

"Mama...don..not cry. Stop cry..! "

"...." ]

"I'm disgusted with you. " It wasn't directed to her but to the other person across the table.

She did not know the weight of those words nor did she understand her current situation but she was happy because her brother was here and he was the one familiar thing in her life that she knows except for her small ragged doll and her Mama.

She did not know this stranger, nor does she know what to do being surrounded by so many unfamiliar and unknown people. And this world was so, so different from what she knows.

"Mama..? " She poked the boy's nose, her other hand clutching the ragged doll in a secure grip.

"Not Mama. " The boy smiled, curiously looking over at her. "Mikuni. Mi-ku-ni. "He worded very gently and softly.

"Eh..? M-Mama..? " The boy frowned as the girl crawled away, looking over at his father and demanding for her mother in a way that a child would say it.

They both painfully watched as she crawled on the floor, doll in tow while calling out Mama repeatedly in her childlike voice.

It was just shit depressing to watch but he couldn't bring himself to look away at the scene. Even his father was looking guiltily at the child. The boy really was disgusted at his own parents. How could they do this to someone so innocent?

"Mama! Mama! " The girl cried out, if he didn't know better, he could say that the child was pretty determined to look for her mother.

It went to the point that she was able to crawl ten meters away from them, surveying the entire room until she finally began to wail in tears.

He was the first to approach her, he made sure of it. Carrying the child in his arms while he tried to soothe her in his calm and gentle voice.

"Ne.. Mitsuki, I'm Mikuni. And from now on, I'm your big brother. "

"Brother..? " She asked, finally stopping her wails, albeit sniffing lightly. She smiled and showed him her now growing baby teeth. "Michonu!! "

"Eh--?"

He shared a look with his father.

[ Humans are not perfect.

They have flaws and imperfections.

That's why they desire to be loved and cherished.

In order to fill the gap between those errors. ]

"Nii-sama..? "

"Yup! She's gotten used to calling me Nii-sama instead of my name. But that's okay. "

"Michonu!!"

"Ah! You're looking for him again. Okay. Let's get you to Misono. The both of you can play. "

"Play... Play with Mama.. "

"......"

"Mama.. Where's Mama..?"

"Mitsuki... Your Mama is.. "

"Mama! Mistuki want Mama! "

"She's already.. "

[ "Why didn't you tell me?! You're all liars! I hate you! I hate all of you! " ]

"Michonu..! "

"Waahhh---!!!"

"No! Don't cry, both of you! Ah! "

"Michonu..! Mama..! Where's Mama..?"

"Waahhhhhhh---!! "

[ "Its the truth and it hurts. " ]

" Mitsuki... Mama is already dead. "

♧Inner Demon♧

"Mitsuki! Hey! Are you still with us? " Mahiru asked her but she merely blinked at him.

"Where are we again..? " He looked at her weirdly for asking that.

"We're at Misono's place. He's the Eve of Lust. But.. You've been acting weird ever since the vampire incident. Is something wrong?" She faked a smile, slinging an arm over his shoulder.

"You worry too much. Seriously, I'm fine. I have a lot of things in mind but it's mainly because..." She stopped, staring out in the open again.

Mahiru frowned, pushing her arm away to grab both of her shoulders.

"You're not acting like yourself at all! I know that's something's wrong so spill it!" He demanded, a worried look on his face.

"Aren't you curious why I got here? " She grinned.

"Eh? You're right. How did you got here? You left earlier! How would you know where Misono lives? Don't tell me that you followed us! You could have just come with us, it was faster that way."

She shook her head as she praised herself for avoiding his question. "A lot of people knows the Alicein Mansion. Besides, Mikkun is really rich so it's not a surprise if I know. I'm not just your average highschooler! I'm also an informant~ "

"An illegal informant, you mean? "

"What! How rude, MahiMahi! " She pouted.

"That nickname is already invalid! " He shouted.

"What are you two bastards doing, hurry up! " Misono yelled at them as they hurriedly went to follow him.

"By the way, Mahiru. What did Mikkun said? I wasn't listening to the introductions so--"

An irk mark appeared on Mahiru's head. "I knew it! You spaced out! Mitsuki, why didn't you say anything. Don't lie to me! "

"I wasn't gonna do it. " She raised her hand in surrender. "And I didn't spaced out. I was recalling something."

"That's basically the same thing!"

"It's not. " She denied, tugging his arm as she dragged the brunette inside. They were led to a large and grand staircase that was connected to a small room.

Freakishly enough, the room was mostly decorated with black and purple, mostly purple though but she wasn't surprised. Purple is the color of royals.

"Hey, Mitsuki.. Actually, I was wondering.. " The brunette whispered as she spared a glance on him.

"Yeah? "

"Why are you calling Misono your Mikkun instead of his actual name? Do you guys know each othe--" She slapped a hand on his mouth and let out a cheerful laugh.

"Informant! Remember? " He removed her hand, not buying the explanation.

"You're making that up aga--"

"You see I also helped out in the magician case. " Lily said, catching Mahiru's attention. His gaze shifted at him, his mood turning jolly.

"Ah! Is that so? Then thank you. I'm glad we were able to find some allies. I have a lot of things that I want to ask about. "

Mitsuki laughed. "Ahaha! Mahiru, it's not good if you're so clueless! " She said.

"Eh? What do you mean? Because of Lily, now we know why everyone doesn't remember. But I wonder why you could remember... " He trailed off, getting lost in his thoughts.

"My memory is impeccable and close to perfection. I can remember a lot of things since I'm smart. It's as simple as that, Mahiru-kun~"

"I don't really believe that if it's coming from you. " She pouted at him, giving the brunette a dirty look.

"You're supposed to trust your friends. Oh the hurt!" She huffed and crossed her arms, Mahiru could only look at her, exasperated. Mitsuki gave him a dirty look in return.

"We would also like to get to the bottom of that. " Lily suddenly appeared between them, startling Mahiru and her.

"Were you planning on giving me a heart attack? "Mitsuki said in an annoyed tone, inching away from him. "Because I don't have any plans on dying today." She grabbed Mahiru's arm and stared suspiciously at the blonde.

Lily gave out a light chuckle. "I'm sorry for that, young miss. But we'd like to know why you are able to remember while the rest of your friends didn't. It's been so long since you--"

"Hey." Mitsuki said with an edge to her voice. "My name is Mitsuki." She said her name, emphasizing it. "And the fact that I remember is because of my impeccable memory."

"Is that really true? " Lily said jokingly, leaning closer to her with his eerie smile. Mitsuki's eye twitched as his blatant disregard for personal space.

"Yes. You could say that I almost have a photographic memory~ I'm near perfect that way~"

"Is that really true?" Mahiru repeated, sounding doubtful.

"Mahiru, who's side are you on?! "

"No one! It's just.. You're acting weird! You're not usually this whiny and pushy!"

Her eyes widened at him. "I'm not whiny. " She shoved him gently. "I'm just annoying. "

"As much as I hate to admit, we're actually on the same page here!" Mahiru gritted out.

"Fufufu! It's nice to see friends getting along. "Lily said.

Mitsuki stared at him. "Friends.. " She whispered and for once, the term sounded completely foreign from her own mouth for once. "Yes. Mahiru is my best friend. He's also a mother hen, if you'd like to know. "

"Ignore Mitsuki, Lily.. About what happened, I'd like to ask some questions .."Mahiru said in a joyful voice.

"Ah but first, can you listen to my request? " Lily suddenly said and since his back was turned against them, Mitsuki was quick to feel the sudden change of atmosphere.

"Ah. Let me translate what it means Mahiru. "Mitsuki said, coughing to clear her thoat. "It means that he didn't went all out just by the goodness of his heart. It was something like: I don't plan on helping you out for free. You should return the favor because nothing is free in the world. "

Lily laughed. "Unfortunately, that's not really far fetched. As expected of the young miss."

Mitsuki stared at him out of irritation but the door behind them suddenly slammed shut. Mitsuki immediately grabbed both of Kuro and Mahiru's wrist, the two planking her sides.

"Lily.. " Misono commanded as Lily fluttered to his neck in his butterfly form, drinking his blood in the process.

Mitsuki narrowed her eyes at the sight, taking her phone and snapping a picture of the scene.

She glanced at Mahiru. "What? "

"I can't believe that we're friends. " He blurted but that made her grin a little and ease the discomfort she was feeling.

"Aw! Stop that! You're making me blush! "

"That wasn't a compliment! " He shouted.

"Really? But you were looking at me with those eyes that said 'I-don't-understand-what-you're-doing-but-I'm-still-amazed' look~ "

"Bastards! You're ignoring me again! I heard that you didn't even launch a single attack on Tsubaki! "Misono yelled at them, purple chains appeared between them and Lily.

They stared hard at the scene and mostly at Lily's scythe. Mitsuki gaped at the object.

"It's a sickle. And why do I have a feeling like its directed to us? " She asked out of nowhere, a wary expression crossing her face.

"Don't say it." Mahiru whispered, equally feeling confused by the scene. That's when Misono decided to speak as he directed his eyes towards them.

"Shirota Mahiru. Hand that cat over to me. I won't accept any other answer than yes. "