-Chapter One-

I opened the door to my family's apartment. The sun was beginning to lighten the sky as Aoi and I walked into the small, barren apartment. "Akane, I'm going to go shopping soon. Will you get the kids to school?" Aoi asked me, slipping off her black ballet flats. I nodded, my blonde hair bouncing around my high torso. I slipped my black ballet flats off and placed our shoes in the proper cubbies before walking into the bedroom and yawning. My magenta contacts felt rough as I blinked, trying to stay awake.

Aoi began brewing coffee, the smell wafting into the room and making me smile. "It's time to get up and get ready for school," I said, the sleeping figures stirring and slowly waking up. "Breakfast will be ready in five minutes. We have to leave by 7:45 today." Michi, my 13 year old brother, and Ryouichi, my 8 year old brother, got up groggily.

I left there room and moved to the other bedroom. "Aka-neetan," Aini, my six year old sister whimpered. I walked over and knelt by the girl with saddened eyes. "When are you and Aoi-neetan going to be home for dinner?" I forced a small, sad smile onto my lips as I watched the blonde girl twist around to sit up. Her emerald green eyes peered into mine as I thought.

After a moment, I ruffled her shoulder length hair and picked her up. "When we get better jobs," I answered, going to the closet and picking out a pastel orange sundress, a sky blue jacket, and white long socks before giving them to Aini. She got dressed as I walked out to count how much money we had now, trying to see if we could pay for Michi's tuition to Ouran Academy's middle school today. "I'll go and pay Michi-chan's tuition today and then I'll go to work, okay?"

Aoi set a cup of coffee in front of me with a sigh. "You work too hard," she said. I laughed lightly and took a sip of coffee. Aoi, my twin sister, returned to the kitchen to finish breakfast. Michi walked out with his school uniform, black slacks and a pearl white jacket, lined with golden hems. On his right chest, the famous Ouran symbol sat proudly on the raven haired boy's jacket. I smiled at him as he walked by me, snatching my coffee and sipping some of it before handing it back.

He grabbed his breakfast and sat at the table. "Nana-san called while you were out," Michi said nonchalantly. "She said that she was going to stop off at your work today." I sighed and drank some more coffee, knowing I wouldn't be sleeping for a while. Nana was our mother, though she abandoned Aoi and I with Michi when he was only three and we were five. After that, she would stop off every few months and give us money and any recent children she had. I got up once my coffee was emptied, Aoi making me a to go coffee, and went to change and do Aini's hair as Ryouichi went and got his breakfast. He had on a simple outfit, jeans and a dark green shirt, and messy black hair. Both of the boys had the 'emo' hair because I refused to cut their hair in any other style.

I walked into the bedroom where Aini yawned, brushing her short hair. I giggled and replaced my black dress with a red skater skirt and a white blouse. I yanked on some white stockings that went to my low thighs and brushed my hair into a high ponytail, held in place with a scarlet bow. My blonde fringe and side bangs hung down, framing my face, as I took out my contacts, showing my brown doe eyes. I then brushed Aini's hair into two high twin tails and tied golden ribbons around them. "Thank you, neetan," she said, rushing out to get her breakfast.

Aoi laughed at me, knowing she would have to wear the same outfit in blue instead. "I finished their bento boxes. Do you have the money?" Aoi asked, going to change as Aini scarfed down her food to catch up with her brothers. I nodded and grabbed my small black purse, slinging it over my shoulder. The three quickly brushed their teeth and slipped on their shoes was I put on my black high heels. I picked Aini up and grabbed my coffee on the way out of the door, walking with the two boys by my sides. We reached Bunkyo Public Elementary School first where I dropped Aini and Ryouichi off.

Michi walked beside me as we headed to his school, sipping some of my coffee. "Are you nervous about having to talk to Nana-san today?" he asked me, looking up at me. I shook my head slightly. "I bet she has another kid to give you and Aoi-neechan." I laughed at him, pushing his arm playfully.

He smiled up at me, handing me my half empty coffee. "You aren't supposed to say stuff like that. Then it might come true!" I joked. He rolled his emerald green eyes while looking ahead as his large school came into view. "Do you want another brother or sister?" He grinned widely and pretended to think.

"Brother," he said. "Us boys are outnumbered by all the girls in this family." I laughed and took a swig of the bitter-sweet coffee. We fell into a comfortable silence as we closed the distance between us and his school. As we walked to the main office so I could drop off the tuition money, he wrapped an arm around me in a half hug. "Thank you for working yourself to the bone for my education." With that, he ran off towards his friends. I smiled as I walked into the office.

I took out the money and walked to the receptionist. "Here's Azumano Michi-chan's tuition for this month," I said, handing it to the lady. She smiled and nodded. I walked away. As I was about to leave, a tall man walked on campus with a small child and two teenagers with him. Now I was fairly short, being only 152 centimeters (5') tall, but he was at least 188 centimeters (6'4). He was wearing the Ouran Academy's high school male uniform, as was the blonde child on him.

The child hopped down upon seeing me. "Ah, you don't go to Ouran, do you?" he asked, looking at me with chocolate brown orbs. I shook my head and he smiled. "What school do you go to?" School… my least favorite subject when it came to Aoi and I. If we're talking about Michi, I'll even bring up the subject to show off.

I took a deep breath before looking past the boy about three centimeters (one inch) shorter than me without these eight centimeter (three inch) heels on. "I don't go to school anymore. I have to work," I said. "I was here to drop off my brother." The golden brown haired boy as tall as me in the heels walked over to me, wearing the middle school male uniform.

He peered at me through his glasses. "You mean Azumano Michi-san, the scholarship student, is your brother?" he asked me. I nodded, wondering if I should be concerned or happy. "I'm Haninozuka Yasuchika." The name rang an automatic bell and I bowed respectfully.. "My cousin, Morinozuka Satoshi, and I were wondering if Michi-san could come over today after school." I chewed on my lip, realizing I would have to do my makeup at work.

"I would love for that, but I'm afraid that Michi-chan was going to take care of his brother and sister as I met Nana-san with my sister," I said. He nodded and I quickly sighed. "I'm sure that she could come home early though. Just have Michi home by 7:30 please." he nodded enthusiastically and left with the other middle schooler. I smiled and bowed to the two high schoolers before leaving. I was glad that Michi had friends, especially wealthy ones. This way, he wouldn't be alone in school.

I entered the small cafe as I thought about this, a small smile on my face. "Hello Akane," the woman who made my life a hell said. I turned to look at my mother, whose hair was dyed a strange green color. "I have some money for you and a baby boy." I rolled my eyes, thinking back to the walk to Michi's school. I shoved the money in my purse and grabbed the baby boy covered with a mere blanket.

It was obvious that he was newborn, from the bulge on Nana and his hospital clothing. "You know, I don't understand how you keep getting pregnant despite dad being dead, Nana-san," I hissed quietly, hugging the child to my body. Nana narrowed her brown eyes at me, though I knew she just wanted to regain control of me. I turned away and walked into the back of the cafe. I set the boy on my lap and dug around in my purse, looking for my lip gloss before noticing the huge amount of money.

I grabbed the baby and stood up. "Akane-chan, are you okay?" Aoi asked as she walked into the back. She looked and saw the baby in my arms and sighed, getting ready to work. A large grin spread across my face as I bit my lip to contain a squeal. "Akane?" I pulled out the money, all paper bills of 1000s and 5000s. Aoi grinned wider than ever before as she ran to find the manager. After a mere minute, she returned and we left the cafe. We decided to go home and see what we needed for the baby.

Hey guys! I've been writing this story non-stop for a day now and I'm on like... chapter four already. Why not post it, ya know? I promise that I'll keep doing Before the Clock Strikes Twelve. I just get writer's block and that makes me listen to music which makes me write stories.

So, do you guys like it so far?

And if there are any songs, do you want it in English, Japanese, or Japanese with English translations? I'm doing Japanese songs because they're in Japan and yeah...

Who would you pair Akane and Aoi with if you were me? A host? An oc?

Do you want more kids to pop up in later chapters? What kids do you want to see more of?

Suggestions and ratings are highly appreciated! Thank you guys so much!