Let Me Out

Chapter One

Shane: Hey guys. I'm on my own this time. Hunter helped me write this but he's not here right now. We own everything so please don't steal. Enjoy!

-A_D-

"Koike. Koike!"

Koike reluctantly opened his eyes and looked up to see the matron glaring down at him. He blinked up at her to show her that he was awake.

"Get up," she hissed quietly so she wouldn't wake the others in the room with him. "A family wants to see you."

Koike hesitated before nodding and climbing out of bed.

Koike wasn't used to having families visit him. In fact, this was the first time they had come just to see him. Previously he had only seen families when they came to see the other children.

He followed the matron out of the dorm and through the dimly lit hallway to her office. Koike shivered, hugging himself to try and keep himself warm.

The only room in the orphanage that was ever heated during the winter was the matron's office.

When they reached the room, Koike peered out from behind the matron to see the group inside. An mother, a girl of about eighteen, and a boy about a year older than him.

Koike stared at the young boy. He thought about what it would be like to have a brother.

He looked up at the mother and teenage girl, they were smiling at him.

Koike looked at the matron. "Go on!" She said.

He hesitated before walking out from behind her and waving shyly. The boy grinned cheerfully. "Hi! I'm Tsubasa!"

Koike blinked in surprise, not used to loud or cheerful tones in the orphanage. The mother put her hand on Tsubasa's shoulder as though to calm him down. "Koike?" Koike hesitantly nodded. "I'm Miyako Chiba. This is my daughter Miyuki-" Miyuki smiled at him. "-and my son, Tsubasa." Tsubasa grinned again.

Koike smiled at them.

"Koike doesn't like talking." The matron said as she sat down behind her desk. Miyako and Miyuki sat down and began talking to the matron about things Koike didn't understand.

"I'm six, how old are you?" Tsubasa asked as he came and stood next to Koike. Koike held up five fingers. Tsubasa blinked and looked from his fingers to Koike again. "You don't talk much, do you?" Koike shook his head. "That's okay. I don't mind."

"Do you like stories?" Tsubasa asked. Koike nodded. "My sister tells great stories."

Koike smiled at Tsubasa.

"You know, my mom said that if everything goes well today you could come to live with us and then me and you could be brothers and maybe we could get a bunk bed!" Koike smiled happily as he struggled to follow everything Tsubasa was saying, people didn't talk to him very often.

Tsubasa didn't seem to notice his struggle to understand him and continued talking about his dog Kiba and his school and his room and his toys. Koike couldn't help but notice that he never mentioned his father.

After about twenty minutes, during which Tsubasa moved on to talk about a game that he and his friends liked to play, Miyako signed a few papers before standing up. She smiled at Koike. "Are you ready to go?"

Koike didn't understand. Was he already adopted? He thought he'd have to sign papers and wait weeks.

"Is Koike really my brother now?" Tsubasa asked.

Miyako nodded and put a hand on Tsubasa's shoulder. She looked at Koike as though to make sure he was okay with the action before putting her hand on his shoulder too. "Welcome to the Chiba family, Koike."