http://clampfix.fanworks.net/others/birds2.txt </head><body><pre>Disclaimer: CLOVER is copyright CLAMP. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Birds Never Fly by Nakuru Akizuki aka Jenn ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chapter 2: Deceit [deceit - n. 1. an attempt or disposition to deceive or lead into error 2. a misleading falsehood; a fraud] "Hey, Kakeru, what do you want for your birthday?" The two were in the isolated park again, only this time, no silver bird flew overhead. The sun was hot and blazing, and the pass-byers used their rain hats as sun shields. "Eh?! You mean you haven't gotten me a present yet? It's tomorrow you know." the little girl glared angrily and folded her arms in front of her chest. "Well...with that attitude, I suppose you don't want anything," the boy said. "Hey! No!" she flushed angrily. "That's not fair!" "Really?" The little girl quieted and watched her brother's face intently. He turned around at her sudden silence. "Onii-chan, what happened? Did you get into a fight on the way home?" the little girl eyed her brother's blackened eye. "No," he shrugged. The little girl quieted and looked away. She sighed deeply, "Did you get into an argument with Okaa-san?" Her brother jerked to face her, "How did you know?" "I just do," the little girl sat down on the park bench to face her brother, "What did you say to her?" The older boy looked away. Kakeru was always like that, jumping into conclusions. She loves her mother and never considers anything she does is wrong. Foolish girl. "I didn't say anything. I just told her to stop sending you to the Clover Project for tests," he said. Kakeru's eyes widened. "Why? They pay for me and it helps pay for Okaa-san's debts. It's helping our family live better." "It's helping your mother gamble more and create more debts," he whispered, trembling in frustration. Kakeru didn't seem to notice. "How do you know? Okaa-san isn't that irresponsible! Don't talk about her like that! She loves us, you know it." She looked away, her eyes suspiciously shiny. "She loves the money we can provide for her. She doesn't love you at all." *** "Hello?" "Oruha." "Suu? This is late. Why are you not in bed?" "Are you angry?" "No. What's wrong, Suu?" "I can't sleep. I'm afraid." "Afraid of what? Is something wrong?" "I'm afraid of seeing those people in my dreams. I want them to go away. I don't want to sleep." "Do you hate those people?" "No." "Then why do you not want to see them?" "Because I don't want to be reminded about them." "Suu, go to sleep. Accept the things you cannot change." End of chapter 2 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Questions, comments, or concerns are welcome.</pre><p><a href="./">Back</a></p><p><a href=http://www.dreamhost.com/donate.cgi?id=216><img border=0 alt="Donate towards our web hosting bill!" src=https://secure.newdream.net/donate1.gif></a></p></body></html>