Kiyomaro

 TWO PAIRS OF eyes stare intently at the figure asleep in the bed. A small hand slowly moves towards it, a tiny index finger sticking out, and 𝑃𝑜𝑘𝑒!

 "…Mm…"

 "Hee hee."

 "Shhh. You'll wake him."

 "My turn. My turn. 𝑃𝑜𝑘𝑒!

 "…Mm..."

 "Hee hee."

 "Shhh. Be quiet. Hee hee."

 "No, you be quiet."

 "What are you two doing?"

 The two little girls jump at the sudden question, succumbing to fits of laughter at having been caught.

 They were so focused on their fun, they didn't hear someone else sneak up on them. Standing there in a football jersey and blue jeans is Leon.

 "Ali, Lulu, you guys can't go sneaking into Kiyo's room." Scolded their big brother.

 ""We're sorry."" Apologized, the girl's.

 "Good morning everyone." I said sitting up.

 "Morning." Replied Ali.

 "Yeah, morning." Echoed Lulu.

 "How's it feel sleeping in your own bed, and not in some hospital bed?"

 "Feels great, Leon."

 "That's good to hear. Breakfast is ready, come on down when you're ready."

 "Thanks. I'll be down in a bit."

 "Come on you two, time to eat."

 ""Okay.""

 The girls head for the door.

 "Hey, hold up a sec." I call out to them.

 They stop.

 "What are you wearing?"

 "Bear jammies." Answered Ali.

 "Yeah, bear show jammies." Responds Lulu, jumping up and down while singing something about a bear show, causing Ali to join in. Kiyo looks to Leon for clarification.

 "It's from an anime show. This girl travels around with a black bear and a white bear, while dressed like a bear."

 "And they sell bear pajamas to help promote the show?"

 "Probably." Leon shrugs his shoulders. "However these were custom made by Abigail. Ali is wearing the black bear onesie, and Lulu the white bear onesie, complete with matching bear slippers, and a hood they can flip up to also look more like the bears from the show."

 Ali and Lulu pull their hoods up and begin making bear noises like in the show. Now it's mine and Leon who succumb to laughter at this adorable sight.

 "What are you guys doing? Your food is getting cold!" Shouts a female from the bottom of the steps.

 "Uh-oh, mom's calling. Let's go girls." Leon ushers the girls out of the room.

 I'm all smiles as I get out of bed and head for my private bathroom.

 (Character Bio)

 Name: Leon Adams, Age: 16, Gender: Male.

 Grade: Sophomore, Club: Football.

 Description: 188 cm, 91.6 kg.

 Appearance: Shaved head, Brown Eyes, Dark Skin.

 Clothing: Black n Red Football Jersey, Blue Jeans.

 Name: Lulu Adams, Age: 6, Gender: Female.

 Grade: First, Club: None.

 Description: 109 cm, 16 kg.

 Appearance: Short Brown Hair, Green Eyes, Light Brown Skin.

 Clothing: White Bear Jammies, White Bear Slippers.

 Name: Alicia Adams, Age: 5, Gender: Female.

 Grade: Kindergarten, Club: None.

 Description: 101 cm, 15 kg.

 Appearance: Curly Black Hair, Brown Eyes, Light Brown Skin.

 Clothing: Black Bear Jammies, Black Bear Slippers.

****

 "Can you tell me your name?" Asked nurse Jackie, as she checks Kiyomaro's vitals.

 "..."

 Kiyomaro shakes his head no.

 "It's alright. It'll come to you." Assured the nurse. "Your family is on the way. Maybe seeing them will help trigger your memories."

 Forty-five minutes later Kiyomaro's hospital room is filled with seven unfamiliar strangers.

 "Do you recognize me?"

 Kiyomaro shakes his head no.

 "I'm your mother Yukino. This is your father Dante, these are your brothers Leon."

 "Yo."

 "Your brother Cory."

 "Hey, glad you're finally awake."

 "Your sister Abigail."

 Abigail just gives a little wave.

 "And the two little ones hiding behind Leon are Alicia, and Lulu."

 Both girls peek out from behind Leon's legs. They both give a small smile and wave.

 "Why do you all look so different?"

 "What do you mean?" Asked Yukino.

 "Your skin color, your hair color, your faces, they all differ from one another."

 "Your father and I adopted your brothers and sisters."

 "Am I adopted as well?" Kiyomaro asked.

 "No. You are not adopted."

 Kiyomaro looks around at everyone, taking in their faces. A puzzled look appears on his face.

 "What is it son?" Asked his father.

 "Where's Kino?"

 "Who's Kino?"

 "I—don't know."

 "Alright everyone, I think that's enough excitement for today." Said nurse Jackie, having slipped quietly back into the room at some point. "You guys can come back during normal visiting hours."

 Everyone files out of the room into the hallway where Kiyomaro's doctor is waiting.

 "Good evening Dr. Adams, Mrs. Adams, children."

 "Good evening Dr. Takashi." Replied Dante.

 "I'll be brief. Your son has amnesia. I do not believe it's permanent. It'll take time for your son's memories to return."

 "How much time?" Asked Yukino.

 "I can't say. Could be hours, days, weeks, or even years."

 "When can he come home?"

 "I'd like to run some more tests on him first. Once those are done, and I see nothing abnormal I'll have him discharged."

 "What about his physical therapy?" Asked Dante.

 "He may need some additional physical therapy after his release, but as you know Dr. Rem, our physiotherapist provided some physiotherapy to help mitigate any adverse effects that could have occurred due to prolonged bed rest."

 "Thanks doc."

 The next morning some of Kiyomaro's memories had returned. After all necessary tests were run, showing nothing abnormal, he was discharged.

 "This is where we live?" I asked, staring up at the massive mansion.

 "It is." My mother, Yukino answered.

 "What do you guys do for a living?"

 "Right now I'm a part of a government think tank." My father, Dante replied.

 "I thought you were a doctor?"

 "I have a doctorate in technology, and your mother has a masters degree in computer science."

 "Are you a member of the think tank as well?"

 "No. I'm currently consulting for a software company, remotely."

 "Remotely?"

 "I work from home."

 ""Kiyooo!!"" Shout Alicia and Lulu my adorable little sisters, as they dash across the driveway, each one grabs a hand, and begins pulling me towards the house.

 (Character Bios.)

 Name: Dante Adams, Age:38, Gender: Male.

 Job: Consultant, Degree: Doctorate in Technology.

 Description: 176 cm, 68 kg.

 Appearance: Short Brown Hair, Brown Eyes, White Skin.

 Clothing: White Dress Shirt Short-sleeved, Black Jeans, Black Wingtip Shoes.

 Name: Yukino Adams, Age: 36, Gender Female.

 Job: Consultant, Degree: Masters in Computer Science.

 Description: 152 cm, 45 kg.

 Appearance: Shoulder Length Black Hair, Brown Eyes, White Skin.

 Clothing: Red Short-sleeved T-shirt, Blue Jeans, Blue n White Shoes.

****

 "Something smells good. Whatcha make?" I asked, walking into the kitchen. I'm dressed in a white t-shirt and black shorts.

 "Homemade French toast with syrup." Replied Cory, setting down a loaded plate onto the table. "You guys want more?"

 Alicia and Lulu shake their heads yes, mouths full, cheeks puffed out like chipmunks, syrup running down chins.

 "Hey Kiyo, can you drag Abigail out of her room please?" Asked Yukino from the kitchen.

 "Didn't Leon wake her?"

 "He tried, but then he left for football practice and Cory needs to leave for archery club."

 "Sure. Where's her room at?"

 "Basement. Purple door."

 "Got it."

 (Character Bio)

 Name: Cory Adams, Age: 16, Gender: Male.

 Grade: Sophomore, Club: Archery.

 Description: 182 cm, 88.9 kg.

 Appearance: Shoulder Length Blonde Hair, One Eye Blue and the other Brown, Light Skin Complexion.

 Clothing: Yellow T-shirt, Green Shorts.

 I make my way downstairs, heading for the purple door. Reaching the door I find a note posted front and center that reads.

 𝓕𝓵𝓲𝓹 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓼𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓬𝓱 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓮𝓮 𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝔀𝓪𝓲𝓽.

 I flip the switch three times and wait. Two minutes later I flip it again and again I wait. I repeat this yet again.

 𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔? 𝑆ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝐼 𝑡𝑟𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑏? 𝐼𝑡'𝑠 𝑢𝑛𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑑, 𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡? 𝐷𝑜 𝐼 𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑙𝑦 𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑡 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑖𝑔 𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑟𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑐ℎ 𝑎 𝑔𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑠𝑒 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟'𝑠 𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦? 𝑂𝑟 𝑑𝑜 𝐼 𝑦𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑖𝑡 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑖𝑔 𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑟𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑐ℎ 𝑎 𝑔𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑠𝑒 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟'𝑠 𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦?

 My thoughts begin to spiral, pulling me down the rabbit hole.

 "What are you doing?"

 "Ahh!" Startled, I turned to find. "Alice? Luna? How are you here?"

 I close my eyes and shake my head. When I open my eyes again they're gone. Standing there is Lulu and Ali with their bear hoods up, looking confused.

 "Just go in." Said Lulu.

 "I… It's…um."

 𝐶𝑟𝑎𝑝. 𝐻𝑜𝑤 𝑑𝑜 𝐼 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑤ℎ𝑦 𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛'𝑡 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑔𝑜 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑎 𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑔𝑖𝑟𝑙'𝑠 𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑚. While I'm lost in thought again the girls open the door.

 "♫ 𝓘'𝓜 𝓒𝓞𝓜𝓘𝓝𝓖 𝓕𝓞𝓡 𝓨𝓞𝓞𝓤𝓤𝓤!!! 𝓘'𝓜 𝓨𝓞𝓤𝓡 𝓝𝓘𝓖𝓗𝓣𝓜𝓐𝓡𝓔 𝓟𝓔𝓡-𝓢𝓞𝓝-𝓘-𝓕𝓘𝓔𝓓!! ♪"

 I'm accosted by heavy vocals.

 "♫ 𝓨𝓞𝓤𝓡 𝓝𝓔𝓥𝓔𝓡 𝓖𝓞𝓝𝓝𝓐 𝓞𝓤𝓣 𝓡𝓤𝓝 𝓜𝓔!! ♪"

 I cover my ears.

 "♫ 𝓘 𝓦𝓘𝓛𝓛 𝓒𝓐𝓣𝓒𝓗 𝓨𝓞𝓤, 𝓣𝓔𝓐𝓡 𝓨𝓞𝓤 𝓞𝓟𝓔𝓝, 𝓐𝓝𝓓 𝓟𝓛𝓐𝓨 𝓦𝓘𝓣𝓗 𝓨𝓞𝓤𝓡 𝓘𝓝𝓢𝓘𝓓𝓔𝓢!! ♪"

 The bass can be felt in my chest.

 "♫ 𝓘. 𝓐𝓜. 𝓤𝓝𝓢𝓣𝓞𝓟𝓐𝓑𝓛𝓔!! ♪"

 With the door open I can see Ali making her way towards the sound system, and shuts it off.

 "What the?" Confused, Abigail looks up from her sewing table, against the back wall, her back to the door.

 "Breakfess." Said Ali.

 "What time is it?" Abigail asked out loud, stretching in her chair as she glanced at the clock on the wall.

 "How aren't you deaf from the loud music?" I asked them while standing in the doorway.

 "Ear plugs." Answered Abigail spinning around in her chair, taking hers out. She's wearing a red nightgown, with black lace trim, a bedazzled black eye patch over her right eye.

 Lulu pulls her hood down, and removes her ear plugs as well.

 "You two know better than to just walk into my room. You need to flip the switch."

 "Broke." Replied Lulu.

 To demonstrate this point, I flipped the switch. Abigail looks up at the light above the door, the bulb remains off.

 "Bulb burned out. I'll have to buy more. You gonna come in? Or just keep standing there like some creeper trying to catch a peak at his sister's young, tender body."

 Tentatively I take a few steps into the room. The girls watch with amusement as I look around the room.

 I note: dressmaker dolls here and there, shelves filled with different types of fabric, ribbons, laces, bows, a vanity table, mirrors, a line of racks along the wall full of outfits, a futon on the floor, the sound system across from it.

 "What is all this?"

 "I make all the costumes for the drama club."

 "What's with the eye patch?"

 "It's to keep the Dark Demon Lord at bay. For if he ever got out the world would end. This is something only I, the chosen one, must do alone. It's a heavy, heavy burden."

 "Got it, you're a chunibyo."

 Abigail, tilts her head sideways and says. "Just kidding. This is a part of the costume I'm making."

 "Still doesn't explain why you're wearing the eye patch."

 "She's weird." Said Lulu.

 "Yeah." Chirps Ali.

 "Oh. If I'm so weird then you can give me back the bear jammies." Said Abigail, reaching out, and scooping up Alicia.

 "No. Ha ha ha. Stop. Ha ha ha tickling me. Lulu. Ha ha ha, help me."

 Lulu runs to save her sister. Only for Abigail to scoop her up as well. "Let's eat."

 As we make our way back upstairs, I ask "Is your room soundproof?"

 "Of course. I do my best work with the music cranked up. Oh, hey do you want your music tablet back?"

 "My music tablet? Wait, is that the kind of music I listen to?"

 "Yup."

 "I don't remember what kind of music I like. Can you name some of the bands?"

 "Sure there's: Cold Crystal, Cross Core, M.I.S, Antagonizing My Arch Enemies, Sourknots, Grinding Motionless, 5000 Zombies, Bullets from My Disturbed Valentine. Just to name a few." Said Abigail.

 "Nope, none of those ring a bell."

 (Character Bio)

 Name: Abigail Adams, Age: 15, Gender: Female.

 Grade: Freshman, Club: Drama.

 Description: 152.4 cm, 37 kg.

 Appearance: Long Black Hair, Brown Eyes, White Skin Complexion.

 Clothing: Red Nightgown, Bedazzled Black Eye Patch.

 "Hey mom, we're heading out."

 "Ok, you kids, be safe." Yukino called out to them.

 As the kids step through the door they're blinded by a bright light.

 "Not again."

 "Not what again?" Abigail asked.

 I blinked a few times, my eyes finally adjusting to the bright morning sunlight.

 "Big brother?"

 Lulu stares up at me. Seeing confusion in her green eyes, I pat her head. "I'm fine. Don't worry about it."

 After dropping Alicia and Lulu off at their school, Abigail and I arrive at our own school, and come across a commotion out front. As we draw closer Abigail asks what's going on.

 "Someone on the track team collapsed." Replied a female student.

 "Who was it?"

 "I think it was KK. Someone said she was in the ambulance."

 Abigail turns to me as the ambulance goes past.

 "Don't over react, but KK's real name is Kino Kurosaki."

 I drop my book bag, and bolt after the ambulance screaming Kino's name as I chase after the ambulance.

****

 "Out of all the Realms, This is where I find you, Poseidon. Fishing with Neptune, Triton, Oceanus, and Njord." Said Zeus.

 "My brother, come join us." Offers Poseidon.

 "You don't know, do you?"

 "What don't I know, brother?"

 "It's Proteus. He's finally reincarnated."

 "This calls for a celebration," said Neptune, "let us drink to Proteus's rebirth."

 "Allow me." Njord waves his hand, materializing a table of food and drink.

 "Where is my brother?" Asked Triton.

 All eyes are on Zeus.

 "About that," Zeus demurred. "He's."

 "Zeus, what has become of my son?" Demands Poseidon.