As a child, Sakaki wasn't as quiet and shy as she is now. This is a story that is meant to not only explains her reserved nature, but her love for all things cute and her bond with Chiyo-chan. Please review. Let me know what you like and what I can fix. I live to please! The sooner you review, the sooner I update!

Disclaimer: I don't own Azumanga Daioh. All characters (aside from a few orginal ones needed for plot purposes) belong to the creators.

Those Voices

I wasn't always this way. I wasn't always so shy and quiet. I wasn't always so cut off from the rest of the world. But, of course, no one knew the old me. No one knows what happened that made me the way I am. And for a long time, I promised myself that no one ever would. It's not their burden to carry…

"Sakaki, your mommy and daddy are home."

Sakaki's head snapped up and she looked at her parents with happiness. She didn't really mind having a babysitter, but her parents had been gone for so long. She really missed them and was happy that they were finally home. She abandoned her unicorn puzzle on the floor and greeted her parents at the door. "Mommy, Daddy, I missed you!"

Sakaki's father went upstairs without saying anything to her. Her mother gave her a smile, but something didn't seem right about it. Sakaki could see tears in the corners of her mother's eyes and her face was red a blotchy.

"Mommy, are you alright?" Sakaki asked, worried that something might be wrong with her mother.

Her mother wiped her eyes and nodded. "Yes darling, but your father and I do need to talk to you about something very important."

Sakaki's eyes widened. "Am I in trouble?" she asked, her bottom lip quivering.

"No, not at all sweetie. Will you please go wait for me in the sitting room? I just want to thank Mae for staying with you. And then I will come talk to you." She stroked Sakaki's long, soft hair.

Sakaki nodded her head and obediently went to the sitting room. She made herself comfy while her mother and Mae whispered to each other. After she heard the front door close, her mother and father walked into the room. Sakaki noticed that her father's eyes were red and puffy under his glasses, but she didn't say anything. She patiently waited for them to settle on the couch across from her.

Her mother took a deep breath then finally said, "Sakaki, you know that we took Aika to the doctor today right?"

Sakaki nodded, remembering how scared she had been, but her father had assured her that everything was going to be ok. "Daddy said Aika might be a little sick, but she will be ok."

Her father turned away, guilt making him unable to look at Sakaki any longer. Her mother placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, but he didn't move.

"Is something wrong with Aika?" Sakaki asked, her voice starting to shake as tears threatened to fill her eyes. She didn't want Aika to be sick. If Aika was sick, who was Sakaki going to play with every day? Who would she tell secrets to? Who was going to be her best friend?

"Well," her mother continued, her voice a little watery, "the doctor said that Aika is a little sick. You know how Aika has been having a bit of a hard time talking lately?"

Sakaki nodded. Aika didn't use big girl words like her mom and dad wanted her to. She just grunted and made strange noises to try and tell people what she wanted. And even though her mom and dad got angry with Aika for it, Sakaki didn't mind. She found that she could understand Aika fairly well.

"Aika has a sickness where she might not be able to talk for a very long time," Sakaki's mother said, tears starting to fill her eyes again. "So, we're going to have to help Aika learn to talk and we have to try and learn to understand her to the best of our ability. Do you understand Sakaki?"

Sakaki nodded again. She was going to be a big helper. Since she was eight years old, there was a lot that she could do and she promised herself to help Mommy in every way she possibly could. "I'll do my best!" she cheered, giving her parents an innocent smile.

"We know you will," her father said, finally speaking up. "We know you'll be the greatest big sister in the whole world."

And Sakaki promised she would. She would be the best big sister Aika could ever ask for. Aika was more than just Sakaki's four year old sister. Aika was Sakaki's best friend and Sakaki would do anything for her.

Just a note: I used the name Aika because in Japanese, it means love song. It's sort of a play on irony. I'm really interested in what you have to say and what you think will happen. Also, suggestions are always welcome! Please, tell me what you think! The more reviews I get, the sooner I'll update. Thanks for reading!

Mew Painappuru