Chapter 18: Siblings

It was around 8pm when Yukari had gotten settled in, they only had one bed so they would take turns in sleeping on it.

Yukari always called Yuki onii-chan even though she was his adopted cousin. Yukari was adopted by Yuki's uncle and aunt, she was a really strong kizo user. When Yuki's parents died he was five years old, he stayed with Yukari's foster parents for a while. He and Yukari got really close and she started calling him onii-chan, they both think of each other as siblings and no one could tell them otherwise. 

The first time Yuki met Yukari they were both five years old, they slept on the same bed and she sometimes braided his hair while he slept.They were best friends during childhood.

Yukari was currently sitting at the dinning table while Yuki was setting the plates they would use in eating. Yukari held chopsticks while waiting for Yuki to finish setting their food, she sang a chant which meant that she was hungry.

"Yuki's gyudon! Yuki's gyudon!! Yuki's gyudon!!!"

Her chant got louder and louder whole waiting for Yuki to serve the gyudon. Gyudon is a Japanese dish consisting of a bowl of rice topped with beef and onion simmered in a mildly sweet sauce flavored with dashi, soy sauce and mirin. Yuki was an expert in cooking and he always made the best food.

Yuki placed the plates of gyudon on the table, he was still walking with the help of crutches. The moment Yukari saw the food her light blue eyes brightened even more.

"Gyudon!!!!" She yelled.

"Shut up and eat." Yuki said while sitting across her, he sat in his regular cross legged position. He picked up the chopsticks and gestured at Yukari telling her to eat.

"Itadakimasu!!!"

(Thank you for the food!!!) 

She let out a joyful shout before picking up her chopsticks. She picked up a piece of meat using her chopsticks and put it in her mouth, her eyes brightened up.

"Oishii!!!"

(Delicious!!!)

Yukari shouted through mouthfuls. "It's been so long since I tasted your food!!! It's amazing!!!"

"Don't talk or you'll choke!!!" Yuki scolded.

She picked up a piece of meat with her chopsticks and brought it close to Yuki's mouth. "I'll feed onii-chan."

"I can eat on my..." Yuki was about to complete his sentence when she shoved the meat into his mouth.

Yuki slowly ate it while glaring at her.

"Now, it's onii-san's turn to feed me." Yukari opened her mouth revealing her pink tongue.

"You can eat on your own!! And if you talk again I'll pull out your pigtails!!!" Yuki scolded again.

They both enjoyed their dinner and washed the dishes together. Yukari showered before Yuki.

They both were in the bedroom, Yuki was lying on a soft thin mattress placed beside the bed. Yukari lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling. 

Her hair was no longer tied into the pigtails, she let her blue hair hang freely. Even though she wasn't a Kinatarou by blood she still had the unique color of hair. Her blue eyes stared at the ceiling.

"It would be much better if we both slept on the bed together." Yukari said in a low but audible voice.

"Nah, I'm good." Yuki said with his eyes closed.

"Are you sure?"

"If I don't feel comfortable I'll join you on the bed."

The night went by quickly and it was a Saturday morning. Yuki and Yukari had already eaten breakfast and showered, they now sat on the couch in the living room. They both now wore all white outfits.

Yuki was lying on the couch with his legs placed on Yukari's laps. She was using a pen to draw doodles on his cast, Yuki was reading a manga while Shizuku was sleeping on his abdomen. The scene was serene and giving out positive vibes.

Sunlight filtered in from the window and landed on the cover of the manga he was reading, Shizuku's white fur seemed to glow a bit as he slept on Yuki's abdomen. The blue spirals on his shoulders also seemed to glow but this all due to the sunlight.

Knock Knock

The silent environment was disturbed by the sound of someone knocking on the door.

"It's open." Yukari spoke in a loud voice while doodling on Yuki's cast.

The door opened and two similar figures walked in, it was Derek and Tamiko. Derek was wearing a sleeveless hoodie and shorts while Tamiko was wearing a short sleeved shirt and a skirt. They were both carrying backpacks.

"Good morning, Yuki-san." Tamiko was the first one to speak, but then she froze when saw Yukari doodling on Yuki's cast.

'So beautiful.' This was the first thing to enter Tamiko's head. 'Who is she? She looks like an angel. What's she doing in Yuki's apartment? Could she be his girlfriend?'

Yukari raised her head and her eyes met with Tamiko's. Tamiko felt the presence of a strong kizo user, she immediately felt threatened by this presence. 

'This girl is a kizo user, her light blue eyes and blue hair shows that she's an extraordinary kizo user.' Tamiko was still busy analyzing Yukari when Derek spoke.

"Yukari-chan... You're here?" Derek spoke slowly as he was shocked to see her.

Yukari turned her attention away from Tamiko towards Derek.

"Derek, it's nice to see you. How have you been?" Yukari spoke in a gentle voice.

'Her voice is so soft and gentle. Wait she knows Derek?' Tamiko's mind was thrown into chaos.

"Hey guys, what's up?" Yuki finally spoke.

He got up and hopped on one leg towards the both of them, he stood between Tamiko and Derek.

"Well, it looks like you remember Derek." Yuki said while slapping Derek's back. "He is practically the same from when we were little, the only difference is that he is taller and a bit more grumpy and serious."

Yukari stood and looked at Derek. "I didn't think you could become more serious or grumpy, you were the worst when you were a kid." She pointed at Derek and spoke.

Yuki, Derek and Yukari were all together during childhood, so they practically grew up together.

She moved her finger towards Tamiko and pointed it at her. "What about her? I don't think I've met her before."

"Her?" Yuki put his arm around Tamiko's shoulder and pulled her close. "This is my good friend Miko."

Yuki said with a bright smile. Tamiko's face turned red and she felt her heart flutter, Yuki's embrace felt so unique. His body was cold but yet it provided warmth.

Yukari felt a bit angered when Yuki put his arm around Tamiko's shoulder.

Tamiko couldn't help but feel threatened by Yukari.

Yuki and Derek sat on the couch while the two girls stood in front of each other.

"Hello, I'm Yukari. Are you onii-chan's girlfriend?" 

Yukari asked while holding out her right hand for a handshake.

"Onii-chan? Are you Yuki's sister?" Tamiko asked while shaking her hand.

"Yes, i am. But you didn't answer my question." 

"No, I'm not Yuki's girlfriend." Tamiko waved her hand while trying to defend herself.

Tamiko now knew why she was threatened by Yukari's presence. Tamiko obviously had a crush on Yuki, if she wanted her relationship with Yuki to progress, she needed Yukari's support. 

"You like my onii-chan don't you?" Yukari asked with a smile.

"No no no no. Why would you say that?" Tamiko tried defending herself.

Yukari simply shrugged and joined Yuki and Derek on the couch. She sat next to Yuki and hugged his arm. Tamiko slowly sat next to Derek and stared at Yuki's home.

There was a tall bookshelf placed in front of the wall at the right side of the living room. There were several photos placed among the books. Tamiko walked up to the bookshelf and picked up one of the photos, it was a picture of five year old Yuki and five year old Yukari. Yukari was wearing a swimsuit while Yuki was dressed like a lifeguard, it seemed they had both gone to swim at the beach. Yuki was smiling brightly.

'Even at a young age he always had that bright smile.' Tamiko thought while rubbing the frame and putting back on the shelf.

"Why did you guys come to visit? It's Saturday you should be enjoying yourselves." Yuki said.

"Well we came to enjoy today with you. We brought board games and other stuff so we can have fun right here in your apartment." Tamiko said with a smile.

"Really, that's so nice of you guys." 

"Are you hungry? I'll go cook something for you."

Yuki said while hopping towards the kitchen. "I think one of you should help me out." Yuki said before entering the kitchen.

Tamiko was about to get up and head to the kitchen when Yukari stopped her.

"Don't worry, I'll go." She said before walking into the kitchen.

Tamiko and Derek were left alone in the living room. 

"Yuki's sister seems a bit scary, she's nothing like Yuki." Tamiko said while pouting.

"Well, she's actually his adopted cousin." Derek spoke slowly.

"Naniiii!!!! Does that mean she lied to me?"

(Whaaaat!!!)

"No, she and Yuki grew up in the same house. They got so close it was like they were twins, so even if she's not blood related to him they are still siblings. And don't try to say she's not Yuki's sister."

"Why?"

"Because she'll kill you."

"Huuuh!!!?" Tamiko felt like she had just entered the dragon's lair.

Both Yuki and Yukari returned while holding plates of Onigiri.

(Onigiri= Japanese rice balls)

They set it down on the table and sat on the floor. 

Tamiko picked up the Onigiri and took a bite.

"This.... this.... this is amazing!!!" Tamiko picked up some more onigiri and ate them with one bite each.

"Yuki, you created another glutton." Derek commented as he watched Tamiko eat all the food.

"Miko is really fast at eating." Yuki added.

Tamiko paused and looked at the two boys. "What's wrong? Never seen a girl eat before." She spoke while still shoving more onigiri into her mouth.

"She's a monster!!!" Yuki yelled as he had never seen Tamiko eat this much.

Within ten seconds she had eaten everything. The three bowls which were once full of Onigiri now lay empty.

"Can I please have seconds?" Tamiko asked with an innocent face.

Yuki fell backwards in shock.