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 protection524ＰＥＮＡＮＡBipQe4dgls
They laugh when they’re happy. They laugh when they’re sad.copyright protection524ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYuQYD8x88
That sad, lonely laugh.copyright protection524ＰＥＮＡＮＡACw9GpPV4y
That is what sounded through the hall as they walked. The lamps were unlit and the moon unmasked.copyright protection524ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaAxBFOIRU
“Misaki, are you sure you want to sneak around?” Shugo asked his sister.copyright protection524ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UDezwxeqw
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 protection524ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6B55Fbwak
“But mother and father—”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lc3eo5m88
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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 protection524ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHZgpTAUBr
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 protection524ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlxIIZjE9I
“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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2YHnsyJmy
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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 protection524ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8bRJLJzLg
“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 protection524ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXMdXX42aK
“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 protection524ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxJfXKvY8z
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 protection524ＰＥＮＡＮＡoY9pSZM1Ix
“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 protection524ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIuv9HsGOb
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 protection524ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3g2rhaQjB
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 protection524ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCuDvcM3Js
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 protection524ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTT7jHVaHD
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 protection524ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gJL2CCOhL
“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.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpL5TnT6CZr
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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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjsEmEoxdz
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Shugo held Misaki’s other hand as reassuringly as a six year old brother could.copyright protection524ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxeAoNow5d
“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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ovv7Rmk5B
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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 protection524ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7vbDmLoVB
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 protection524ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUzyCiTK2R
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