It Was All Arranged [R. Sakamaki]

Physical Education

Moonlight gushed through the closed, glass doors, spilling across the polished wooden floors. The tall easel stood in the centre of the room, cursive and loopy words carved into the neck of the ancient thing. 'For My Sweet Athena, Love Mummy.' There was a small station beside it, her paints had been neatly organised in a pretty gradient, her transparent palette clean and prepped against the large pot containing her pristine paint brushes. There was a lilac ribbon tied around one set of brushes, the bow was long and silky; the brushes were old yet unused. Canvases decorated the walls, naked ones lounged against the cream walls, several fuschia paintings had been discarded into the far, dark corner and the rest were stacked on top of one another or hung upon the walls. Only the special ones got a place on the wall. One was a painting of her childhood home, another of her brothers, one of the little cottage she and Reiji had lived in, one of a smiling man and woman cradling a chubby baby and another... of her mother.

It was the biggest one and absolutely gorgeous with every detail. The woman's skin was pure white, her hair long and flowing - it looked silky to touch. Her dress was a deep red, it fell from her bony shoulders and it hugged her torso tight. The woman's lips were the same colour, they were parted and glossy and stretched into a small smile. It was as if it were a photograph.

He nearly felt bad for destroying it.

"Welcome home, Athena," Laito beamed as he sat beside her in the limo, hand resting on her knee as a warm grin spread across his lips, "we really missed you!"

"Ah, thank you, Laito," she swept his hand away with a forced smile, "I apologise for the trouble my absence caused."

"No worries, we were quite occupied." Laito shrugged. Athena's eyes caught Kanato's and she offered a gentle smile.

"I heard about Teddy's wound," she said, "I'd be happy to help when we get home." Kanato only nodded, squeezing Teddy's body tight, his head long gone.

"Are you okay?" Yui said finally, eyebrows furrowed at the older girl who nodded.

"I should be asking you that," she laughed, "you're the first bride to ever survive the awakening - that I know of anyway." Yui nodded softly, "How do you feel?"

"Strange," Yui said, "my heart no longer beats, I don't breathe... temperature doesn't affect me." She sounded a little glum causing Athena to purse her lips.

"Welcome to the family, officially," she said softly.

"Not officially," Reiji interrupted from beside Athena, "she has to marry one of them. Ideally the one who awakened her." His eyes focused on Ayato for a long moment before he returned to his book, unbothered. Athena smiled lightly, drumming her nails on the seat. Her pinkie was milimetres from Reiji's, causing her stomach to flutter whenever they brushed against one another.

"We should have a party!" Laito then announced, catching everyone's attention, "To welcome Athena home."

"I'm sure your father will be arranging a ball in Yui's honour anyway," Athena said.

"A ball?" Yui's eyes grew wider with shock.

"It's a rare occurrence," Reiji said.

"Besides, that man will host a party for anything," Ayato rolled his eyes with a huff.

"I was only invited to two," Athena smiled, "the engagement party and the wedding."

"As a part of the family you'll be expected to attend every ball now," Reiji said, closing his book and shifting his hand slightly to wrap his ungloved pinkie around hers. She fought the blush growing on her cheeks as she looked at him.

"I wonder if my brothers will be invited too," she said after a while.

"Probably," Ayato said as the limo came to a stop.