http://clampfix.fanworks.net/others/birds3.txt </head><body><pre>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Birds Never Fly by Nakuru Akizuki aka Jenn ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chapter 3: Puppet [puppet - n. 1. a small figure of a person moved by the hand or by strings or wires; doll 2. one whose acts are controlled by an outside force or influence.] "Forget it! It doesn't matter anymore." The little girl's jade eyes widened in shock. "Gomennasi! I had to go this time. Besides, Kou-sama promised me it was the last test, and she paid very high. Okaa-san really wanted me to go." She looked away, her head bowed, "I didn't know you would be so angry. I'm sorry!" "I told you, forget it!" the older boy turned with his back to his sister, trembling with frustration. How could he make her understand, what he already knew? The Clover Project may seem passive and generous, but it expects to be paid in return. And the cost will be far more painful than what the Clover Project gave. Kakeru is for too naive. She lets everyone use her; she never makes her own decisions for herself. Stupid fool. The little girl eyed her brother cautiously. "Why are you against them? Why do you hate them so much?" The boy jerked to face her, "Can't you see? Don't you understand why you've been having the tests for so long? All the other children were already sent home. Last time you went, there were only four; you and the triplets. They found you unique and valuable, Kakeru, and they aren't going to let go get away with it." "But Okaa-san doesn't believe that. She says it's okay, and they are helping our family!" her voice was defensive. "That woman is under threat. She can't disobey the council! She doesn't care anything about you anyway. Can't you see what's going on? Don't you understand?" The little girl's eyes widened, probably from realization. But she soon narrowed them angrily again. "I guess if that's true, then it is too late." She walked away from the bench jerkily and ran down the street. The boy closed his eyes and sighed. He willed the vision of the ghostly pale girl sitting on the park bench. She looked so thin, so frail, so naive. He wasn't going to let anything happen to his little sister. He wasn't going to let them take her away. He wasn't going to let her die. *** "Have you ever been angry, Oruha?" "Angry? With you? No, I'll never be angry with someone I love." "Then why is it that people become angry with someone they care about?" "Because they love them so much...it's hard to explain...." "I see." "Tomorrow is my birthday." "I know." "I'll sing at the usual joint. Will you listen again? I'll sing for you, Suu, and for Kazuhiko." End of Chapter 3 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Questions, comments, or concerns 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>