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Chapter 1

Hiroki, Renzo and Ryu were around the table chuckling to each other.
"Hiroki, Good friend. Thank you for having us here!" One of Hiroki's friend's cackled.
"My pleasure! Merlin, honey? Please bring out the tea." He politely asked his daughter.
"Yes, father." She replied in a soft and sweet voice before going for the tea.
"You have a nice daughter. She would be just right for my son." Ryu smugly exclaimed.
"She sure will. She will develop into a fine woman." Hiroki agreed.
Merlin then return with the tea with the same sweet smile as before.
"There's my beautiful daughter!" Hiroko bellowed.
Merlin's smile grew wider as her face grew red.

Meguro's pov

I stood in the shadows as I continued to listen to the remarks they made at my sister. I saw her face tint red and I could tell she was very uncomfortable. She was very easy to read, well to me. She hated it there, she hated every minute of it. They did this for a few more minutes as Renzo was awkwardly caressing Merlin's shoulders. She just stood there with a smile and wide eyes. Every now and then, her eyes twitched and her smile grew wider. Her posture shifted every now and then. The makeup made it more unsettling. After a while they all got up as dad faced her.
"Alright, sweetheart. We're going out to have a drink. I'll be back tonight. Make sure you behave. Remember what I told you?"
"Little girls who are bad gets nothing in life. Good and obedient girls gets fortune." They both said in unison as he cupped her cheeks.
Her face smushed and was forced to watch him in his eyes. Her tiny hands clutched onto the fabric of her Kimono.
"Good girl." He smiled before letting go.
They all left as Merlin stood there, staring at the door. It was a good 5 minutes she effortlessly stared at the wooden door. Her body twitched as her head risen a little. Merlin then slowly got into this slouching position before she then turned around and walked to her room with the same smile and wide eyes. Merlin walked pass me without batting an eye at my presence. She went into her room and closed the door softly behind her. I went back into my room, not paying her much mind before I heard muffled crying.
"What...?"
I then pressed my ear against the wall and heard it more clearly. Merlin was... crying? Not much could've been heard other from a few curse words, hissing and her muffled crying. This made me get up and walked up to her room door. I then knocked on it as her crying stopped. It took a while for her to open the door. When she did, her eyes were widen and were slightly red.
"Merlin, are you okay in there?" I asked quietly.
"Yeah. I'm fine." She bluntly replied without blinking.
It was like she was staring into my soul. She has already taken off her make up and changed out of her Kimono.
"Is... is there anything... you need?" She struggled to ask.
It was like she was trying to keep herself composed.
"No. I was checking up on you." That's all that could have been said.
Merlin continued to stare at me as she was constantly changing her posture.
"Okay. I will see you later."
And with that, she retreated back into her room.
Why am I worried about her?
This happened for a few days. Every time father leave, Merlin goes to her room and cry and curse under her breath. Sometimes you would hear things fall over in her room. Why am I concern about her? I shouldn't be feeling this way. I really want to hate her for being so weak. But I can't. I just can't bring myself to do it. This went on for a while until one day I've decided to take things into my own hands. When father left with his friends, he left with the knowledge that I was getting ready for Judo and my sister was going to take a nap. I walked into her room before her crying stopped abruptly.
"What are you doing in here?" She asked in a raspy voice.
"Merlin... are you okay?" I asked again while walking up to her slowly.
"NO! Stay where you are! I don't want to hurt anyone!" She cried, her voice breaking.
I ignored her request and continued to walk towards her. Merlin was crouching behind her bed with her head buried deeply between her knees. Her hands were behind her head and continuously clutching onto her now messy hair. Her heavy breathing got louder and raspier. Her head snapped unnaturally to look me. Her eyes were really red and... blood was pouring from it?
"Merlin... we need to tell father." I urged as I tried to get her up.
Her body stiffened when I touched her. I tried tugging her sleeping garment but she just didn't move.
"No, he's going to send me back to that wretched place. Please, don't tell him. Don't make him send me back there!" She pleaded as her hand clutched onto my tunic.
"Please, don't leave me alone." Merlin sobbed, that huge smile plastered onto her face.
Even though she was smiling wickedly, fear was written all over it. I don't know why... but I'm not getting any urges to bring harm to her. I feel... bad for her. Quickly, I took off my tunic and hugged her as Merlin immediately hugged me back.
"It's okay." I repeatedly reassured her.
She cried out loud as she clutched onto my undershirt. When she finally calmed I parted from her.
"I won't leave you. Nor will I tell father. I won't let you go back there."
"Promise?" She sniffled.
"I promise."