Ciel watched from behind his mother as his father smiled and patted the blonde boy's head.

The boy looked up at Ciel's father and returned the smile before his eyes were drawn to Ciel.

The two silently surveyed each other, neither one moving from their spot.

"Now go on dear," Ciel's mother said, lightly pushing him forward. Ciel took baby steps until he stood directly in front of the new boy.

"Ciel, meet your new brother," his father said, gently pushing the boy forward.

"Hi, I'm Mikaela but you can call me Mika." The boy held out his hand.

Ciel glanced at his hand and then at the expectant faces of his father and mother. "I don't want a new brother," he said simply.

All was silent as the boy named Mika dropped his hand and stood there shifting his gaze to the floor.

"Now Ciel, don't be that way. This child came all the way from an orphanage in Japan to be here as your new brother. Be nice, he's three years older than you," His father said.

Ciel pouted but held out his hand nonetheless, "It's nice to meet you."

*°°°°°°*

"I'm really glad that I get to be here," Mika said, thinking a bit before plopping the bishop on the board.

"What happened to your parents?" Ciel asked, taking his knight and capturing the misplaced bishop.

"Oh, they didn't want me anymore so they threw me out of a moving car," Mika responded, moving his king.

Ciel momentarily paused to stare at Mika. "Oh. That's sad," he finally said, moving his knight again.

"But I met all sorts of nice kids at the orphanage. Its really sad that I had to leave though. One of the kids, Yu-chan, was crying and everything even though he said He wouldn't."

"Yu-chan?"

"Yeah, he's my brother. Well, not really but we thought of everyone at the orphanage as family. One day, when I grow up, I'm going to find them and we're going to be an actual family."

"Oh. Has no one ever been adopted from there?"

"Nope. No one has ever been adopted from there, I'm the first."

Ciel ended the game by swiftly taking the opposing king and adding him to the pile of discarded pieces, most of which belonged to Mika. 

Despite losing, Mika smiled brightly and glanced out the window. "It looks pretty outside."

The bedroom door opened and a woman in red walked through. "Oh my, so you're the new child! You're so adorable!" She said, approaching and pinching Mika's cheeks.

"Hello Auntie," Ciel said, standing up from his chair and gaining her attention.

"And how is my little nephew? Feeling better?"

"Yes, I'm feeling fine."

"Good. Why don't we all go out to the garden and eat?"

Ciel nodded with a smile and followed Madam red out. He paused at the door.

"I'll see you later," Ciel said, flashing a smile before walking out.

When Mika left the bedroom and headed out to the garden, Ciel was sitting and laughing with a blonde haired girl who leaped up at the sight of him. 

"Hi I'm Elizabeth but you can call me Lizzy. You're Ciel's new brother aren't you?" She said. "I hope you can make Ciel have a lot of fun."

Mika smiled lightly and sat down across from Ciel.

Ciel instantly lost his pleasant expression and eyed Mika sourly.

"Hey big brother," he said in a snappy manner.

"Um...hey Ciel," Mika responded.

"Ciel's birthday is next month!" Elizabeth shouted, sitting down and wrapping her arms around Ciel's neck. 

"He's going to be nine years old!"

"That's cool. nine years old is a great age," Mika said. 

Ciel didn't answer. Instead he continued to glare at Mika. The action made Mika think back to the first time he met Yu-chan and he continued smiling, much to Ciel's annoyance.

"I'm going inside," Ciel muttered, standing up and departing for the house.

"Ah, Ciel!" Elizabeth shouted, reaching for him. She snuck a glance at Mika before standing up and chasing after Ciel.

Mika stayed sitting, finding it odd how Ciel was acting towards him.

"Why don't you come over here and sit with us until the children return?" Madam red asked, motioning for him.

Mika did as she asked, glancing up at the manor and catching sight of Ciel in the window wearing a sad expression.