Laughter is wonderful. It lights up the room no matter if only one person is laughing or the entire group. It brings happiness from the heart into the world.copyright protection255ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoGQIqqg8h
They laugh when they’re happy. They laugh when they’re sad.copyright protection255ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWYmvozkr2
That sad, lonely laugh.copyright protection255ＰＥＮＡＮＡFysqmNZzlV
That is what sounded through the hall as they walked. The lamps were unlit and the moon unmasked.copyright protection255ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhjq81RziZ
“Misaki, are you sure you want to sneak around?” Shugo asked his sister.copyright protection255ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCWPYreyMG
She squeezed their hands which were already held tightly together. “I haven’t done this before. I want to sneak around after dark,” she whispered.copyright protection255ＰＥＮＡＮＡBse3SBQSac
“But mother and father—”259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeDf8y8tiR
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“—Should be asleep as well,” Misaki replied stubbornly. “And they’re not. So, I want to know what they’re talking about.”copyright protection255ＰＥＮＡＮＡc139R2B5Ao
Shugo gulped. What was he to do? Both of them were just six, and still young in this aged, greedy world. But Misaki seemed to know a lot more than him. They crept towards their parents’ room, their bare feet making no noise on the squeaky wooden floor. The hue of the lamp told them that as she guessed, their parents were still awake. Not asleep.copyright protection255ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbQ0fIB5AL
“Mother doesn’t sound happy,” Shugo said upsettingly. “Her laugh was sad.” Their mother had the most beautiful laugh ever and it was rare to hear her so unhappy.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XDo0dmcb9
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Misaki hushed Shugo. “They’ll hear us if we’re loud,” she said, though she too worried for their mother. The two of them crouched down, their backs to the wall opposite their parents' room. They quieted as they listened to what their parents had to say.copyright protection255ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rA8ArabxK
“As if we can ever do that,” they heard their father whisper. The twins shared a confused look and waited for them to speak again.copyright protection255ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjVpka8VgI
“They will take away all our fortune if we don’t agree to it…if we don’t do as they say. But I am not about to give my own daughter away.”copyright protection255ＰＥＮＡＮＡHy6okBqIfE
Shugo tightened his grip on Misaki’s hand as the young girl tensed and strained to hear. What were their parents talking about? She really wanted to lean closer but knew her shadow might be seen through the paper walls.copyright protection255ＰＥＮＡＮＡgj6QsGiCSP
“At least we can thank kami-sama that he is not twice her age. The Migayoshi family didn’t have that luck,” their father said. Their mother snorted.copyright protection255ＰＥＮＡＮＡms9iStt0pK
It sounded as if they had to give Misaki away…Shugo sneaked a look at Misaki and saw that the quick-witted head of his sister must have realised that, too. Now, the question Shugo pondered over was who were they giving her away to? And why do they want Misaki? His brain wouldn’t comprehend.copyright protection255ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6jQuErUmH
He felt a tug on his hand as Misaki stood, pulling him to his feet. They stood there for a moment with Misaki quivering. She was biting her bottom lip with a confused, frustrated and scared look. They walked away quietly.copyright protection255ＰＥＮＡＮＡzD1GttnM5f
Shugo finally spoke when they neared their rooms. “I don’t think we have to worry about what they’re talking about until a few more years.”copyright protection255ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsILLBfeCE
She turned on him. “Do you even know what they were talking about, Shugo?” She demanded of him. She lowered her voice, remembering that the servants’ rooms weren’t that far off.copyright protection255ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlLjcgXEbj
“Chi told me," Shugo said, referring to the young woman who was their nanny. "She told me that families marry off their daughters to wealthy families to create con-connections and to improve their repu-reputation." He stumbled over some words. “But mother scolded Chi so badly when she told us that.”259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLasIu0lo5C
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“But it’s true! Families do do that! What if father decides later to do it too?” Misaki asked, bursting into tears. Big, fat drops rolled down her chubby cheeks.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSQ87ZGgtZ
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Shugo held Misaki’s other hand as reassuringly as a six year old brother could.copyright protection255ＰＥＮＡＮＡunmgGywDcH
“But we are a wealthy family, Misaki! They won’t need to arrange a marriage for you,” his six year old common sense told him.259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uWLTXYf9a
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Misaki’s black hair bobbed as she nodded. She let go of her brother’s hand and slipped into her room.copyright protection255ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMm2zXbYNz
He stayed outside a moment longer, wondering if it was true that she won’t have to have an arrange marriage. He sure hoped so. And he went into his own room across the hall.copyright protection255ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiWkyDT4g5
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