...We Could...

Fumi Twenty-Eight!

Preuss stared at his sister.

"P-Perisa..."

She hurried forward, a broad grin on her face. "Listen! Listen! I was following a trail of jewels, and then I fell down a hole 'cause I was chasing a bunny, and then I wandered around the halls underground for a while, then I met some really mean monsters--they were scary! And then I fought them, but I didn't win and they took me in a cell, and I grabbed this because I thought it was pretty--" she gestured to the amulet. "--and they didn't treat me nice, but then Junpei came and saved me!"

"Really." Preuss turned to settled his hot red gaze on the man he loathed. "He saved you."

"Uh-huh!"

"Perisa," the girl spoke soothingly. "Did you ever think that Junpei might have been the one that captured you in the first place...?"

Perisa scowled. "No! Junpei would never have done that! He rescued me. Do you know what rescue means?"

Good, God my sister has turned into a snob... Thanks, Junpei.

The raven man strolled over to the girl and rested his hands on her shoulders. It was all Preuss could do to keep from running over there and slapping them away before pulling his sister into a hug.

"I care for Perisa like a little sister. Why should I hurt her?"

There was a short silence. And then...

"Do you remember what happened last time you tried to protect a younger, Junpei...?"

His vivid purple eyes dimmed slightly. He gripped Perisa's shoulder a little tighter. "Yes," he stated. "I do. But I’m not going to mess up, this time.”

The girl pressed her lips together before speaking.

“If this goes as last time, I will be sure to kill you.”

Junpei did nothing.

The doors burst open only for Dastan and Zelda to tumble over each other on the floor.

“Sissy!” Perisa cried with glee, running forward to latch onto the oldest. Zelda smiled and hugged her close.

“Oh, Perisa...! You’re alright… You’re alright!”

“Yes, thanks to Junpei,” she smiled.

“Junpei found you?” Zelda wondered, looking up at the man.

He gestured his arms out with a smile. "When both you and Dastan were asleep, I decided to surprise you by finding her for you."

Zelda teared up and ran to hug him. Junpei returned her hug, smiling. But his smile made Preuss uncomfortable. It didn't seem... Right.

"You thinking the same as me?" Dastan murmured to his younger brother.

Preuss nodded. "I don't trust him."

"Neither do I. If only my charms worked on my sister... Then maybe I could whisk her away from him."

"Or you could kidnap her and be the villain," Preuss grinned.

Dastan snorted. "Al would have a heart attack if he heard you say that... But that option does like nice right now."

"Preuss," the girl murmured. The snow-headed boy looked over at her. "May I speak with you in private?"

Preuss nodded. "As soon as we get our sisters back from that idiot, yes."

"We need to get back," Dastan voiced, taking his brother's cue. "Let's go. Perisa, do you want a piggy-back ride?"