A/N: Sorry if this chapter is kind of weird, I'm trying to build the premise of the conflict for the story, so there was a lot to set up. Sorry if Haruka is a little ooc. I needed to update, and this was what I was able to come up with, I hope you guys enjoy.
You know the drill, Utapri isn't mine. Please R&R!
When Michiko had finished giving Nagi a pep talk, she sat down across from Haruka, Tokiya, and Ringo.
"We have some things to discuss," she told them solemnly. "I know the circumstance may be confusing and disorienting, but please ask me anything you want to know, and so long as it isn't about anyone other than our family, I should be able to answer you. "
Ai looked at Michiko curiously. "What year is it?"
Everyone looked up expectantly, Syo even stopped playing with the baby in his lap momentarily.
Michiko winced. "If you really want to know, I can tell you, but it would really be better I don't. Knowing the timing might complicate things for all of you."
Ai tilted his head, processing her statement. "Very well, your refusal to answer tells me everything I need to know."
Nagi looked at Ai oddly. "What are you, a robot?"
Ai smirked. "Yes." There was no point in hiding it. STARISH already knew after he overheated last year at one of the shoots.
"What? Don't pull my leg," Nagi shot back, crossing his arms huffily.
"It is up to you to believe me, that does not change the facts," Ai returned evenly.
Nagi tried to hide the fact that he was staring at the teal-haired idol by glaring.
Tokiya cleared his throat. "So, Michiko, maybe you can explain how the whole 'sharing' thing works, because it honestly does not make sense. Why would we all agree?"
Michiko sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose the same way Tokiya always would when stressed. He picked up on the gesture, and tucked it away for later.
"Well, where do I start? Mom tries to divide her time between you guys, similar to the way you were in the Master Course. Sometimes you guys go out in smaller groups, sometimes all of us go out, sometimes you guys leave us here with our extended family." Michiko supported her head with her chin as she tried to figure out what they needed to know. "There is a master suite on the third floor, and you guys tend to take turns sleeping in Mom's room. I think there's a calendar."
Syo looked dumbfounded. "We use a calendar to decide who gets to spend time with Nanami?"
"I don't know that I'm okay with that," Ren added as Rena finished braiding his hair.
Taiki looked up at Ren from his place on the saxophonist's lap. "But Babbo, it's not like any of you would choose someone other than Mama. This was the only solution where all of you could be happy."
Ranmaru grunted, "I never even said I liked her. Why would I trip all over myself like those morons for her?"
Kaname muttered something under his breath as the guys went back and forth. "You guys are annoying. I see why Mom apologized in advance last night."
Nagi decided he had been ignored long enough. "Well, I'm not going to share Haruka. I intend to win her, even better if it's not fair and square."
"As much as I enjoy working with you, Nagi," Eiichi began, "The angel will be mine, and mine alone."
The kids shared worried glances as the fighting escalated. Tokiya was the first to notice Haruka looking at the ground, her fists clenched.
Just as Cecil returned a comment by Otoya with, "The Muses have decreed that my princess, Haruka, and I will be together," Haruka snapped.
"Enough!" she shrieked. The guys froze, turning to her in surprise. They had never seen Haruka look so mad, or even mad at all. Her eyes, which were normally warm and embracing like amber, were now unbearably hard to meet, like staring into the sun.
Michiko and Kaname shared a knowing look as Hayato stared at their mother in surprise. He had seen her do this once in his life, so seeing her snap at them now was rather surprising. He gingerly scooted onto Tokiya's lap, knowing that something was coming.
Haruka rose to her feet, her posture more rigid than Camus's. "I am very disappointed in you all," she said icily. Despite (or maybe because of) her tone, Camus was getting kind of turned on.
"I am not a carnival prize to be won. I am not a thing. I am a composer, whether you remember it or not. I love STARISH, that is true, but that is because they are my precious friends. Quartet Night have been very helpful, but I hardly know what they are like outside of work. I don't know anything about HEAVENS that can't be found with a quick internet search or from the recording studio. And then Tsukimiya-sensei and Hyuga-sensei are great for advice, but I have never looked at them as anything other than more former teachers."
STARISH looked crushed, and the others looked as though they were in various stages of shock or indignation. None of the idols had ever seen Haruka snap before, and it was terrifying because they had no idea what to do.
The kids shared a weary look, knowing that their plan would have to go into effect if they wanted to help things smooth over.
Haruka continued, her voice carefully measured, but still terrifying to the guys. "I am not in love with all of you, and I'm disappointed that you didn't even stop to consider my feelings. The kids are very cute, but only one person has earned my affection so far." Haruka sighed, the anger slipping with her shoulders. She started crying, her tears raining down her cheeks, making the guys instantly feel horrible. Her sobs grew louder, and she hid her face in her hands.
"I-I'm sorry, Hayato, Akihiko, Taiki, and everyone else, b-but I don't think I can do this." With that said, Haruka sprinted toward the door to the rose garden. Without a backward glance, she ran off outside.
Silence became a tangible force in the room as the guys ruminated on what they had done. They had fought for her (in front of her) as though she were the last slice of pizza. They all knew she was more than that. STARISH and Quartet Night were nothing without her, emotionally or otherwise, and the others had always had a soft spot for Haruka.
"Good going," Sora quipped as she broke the silence. "I take it that was the first time you've seen Mom's temper? She's only snapped like that three times that I can remember, but I think this was the worst. You literally said you were going to 'win her' as if she is a game."
Syo looked down guiltily, not liking the fact that they had left a bad impression on the kids.
"Wait a second," Reiji interjected. "She said one person has earned her heart. Could one of us be that person?"
"Well we know it isn't HEAVENS or the senseis based on her other statements," Ai added. He didn't know why, but he really wanted to be that person. He evaluated what she had said, and added forlornly, "Though it is most likely a member of STARISH since she has known them the longest."
Natsuki, Otoya, and Syo perked up. Otoya came up with an idea, "What if we each try to court Nanami and find out who she has fallen for? Or, maybe we should convince her to fall in love with us?"
Michiko cleared her throat uncomfortably, no matter how well they played at romance for work, her fathers were really bad at wooing her mom.
"That's a really bad idea, Otoya," Tokiya interjected before Michiko had to speak up. She watched as he steepled his fingers.
Ren nodded. "It is true that we need to have her fall for us, but that is not the way to figure out who has the lady's heart."
Michiko interrupted, "I might be able to help. Okay, out of the six people who wanted to partner with her at Saotome Academy, do you know who she had been planning to partner with before you all wrote your names down?"
"No," Ren said. "I never even asked," he finished, feeling slightly surprised that the little lady had had someone in mind. To think that she had chosen them all, he was suddenly a lot more grateful. The other guys made noises of agreement as they pondered the new information.
"Hmm. I guess she hadn't mentioned that, but she hadn't been planning on choosing all of you. Try to remember why Mom became a composer."
Natsuki said, "Oh, I know that one! She wanted to write songs for HAYATO!"
Hayato noticed a flickering of understanding in Tokiya's eyes, but he looked to afraid to say anything.
"You'll have to spell it out for them, they may not want to make the connection," Masaru whispered to his older sister.
"Okay guys," Michiko continued. "I'm the oldest child, who is my biological father?"
"EHHHHH!?" They all gasped, suddenly putting two and two together.
Otoya then whined, "She fell in love with Tokiya! What did you do to make her fall for you?"
"So Tokiya-kun was the one to win Haru-chan's heart," Natsuki added, looking impressed.
Tokiya blushed brightly as they other guys began asking him what he had done to capture Haruka's heart.
"I- I don't know," he managed to get out between prods from the other guys. "I just offered to take care of her whenever she was troubled. That night before the Utapri concert, when we went to see the fireworks, I had taken her to the street fair, I told her that someone like her needed someone by her side." Tokiya's blush was as vibrant as the sunset outside before he hid behind Hayato.
"Oh now," Ren sing-songed. "I didn't know Ichi had such a romantic side."
Cecil glared accusingly at the blue-haired idol. "So that's what you were doing before we got off of work! That's not fair!"
The other rainbow boys nodded in agreement as Tokiya looked mortified.
"Someone should go find Mom," Masaru reminded as the sun continued to set.
"Who should go?" Ai asked, looking around at the kids.
Kaname rolled his eyes. "Obviously Dad should. He's the only one who she trusts with her heart right now. It'd be bad to send one of us kids since she thinks she is failing us right now. It helps that Dad wasn't part of the 'I'm going to win her' argument. She probably made her way to the rose pavilion in the garden, that's always been her favorite spot. Though, since this is her past self, she might be lost since she hasn't been there yet."
The other guys bit back their objections as Tokiya looked to Kaname and Michiko for confirmation.
"Go to her," Michiko urged as she held Chi-chan.
Once Tokiya left for the garden, the other guys deflated slightly. "Don't worry," Sora told them. "The Dad from our time left a journal explaining that this would happen, besides, you'll get your turns to make Mom love you back."
"I never said I was in love with her," Ryuuya added.
"She is not of noble standing, so she would not make a suitable bride. Besides the fact that sharing is beneath me," Camus said.
"You never said you didn't love her in all of that," Reiji accused, tired of seeing his bandmates deny their feelings.
Camus blushed. "That is true; I never said I did not love her," he added more softly.
"Just because you're a count doesn't mean you shouldn't follow you heart!" Ringo scolded. "Now that there is no threat of Shining butting in, I will proudly say that I'm in love with Haru-chan!"
The others were taken aback by Ringo's passion as he continued. "Haru-chan has always been exceptional. Something about her is magnetic, drawing people to her light and warmth. There's a reason we are all here, and that reason is her. Without her, none of us would be where we are now."
"It's true," Masato added. "She was the one who inspired me to fight for my love of music and attend Saotome Academy. If I had never seen that beautiful, pink-haired goddess singing with children, I never would have had the courage to disobey my father. She was the reason I became an idol, and she supported me every step of the way, whether she knew it or not. I owe her everything."
Ranmaru was taken aback by Masato's passion. How could he so openly admit to the debt he owed her?
Ren was next. "When I was about to drop out of Saotome, she ignited a burning passion in my heart with her determination and adorable relentlessness. She's an inspiring little ball of cotton candy with a burning core and a heart of gold. The little lamb has been my precious person for years. Without her, I would probably be wasting my life wallowing around the family residence and breaking more hearts. Now I feel that without the little lady, it will be my heart breaking."
Rena smiled as she played with Taiki's hair. She knew that her Babbo was a big marshmallow inside his cool, playboy appearance.
Natsuki followed, his tone surprisingly serious. "Every since I was little, I've always felt like a part of me was hidden, missing, maybe. I've always felt like no one could ever love all of me, because there's that part that feels dark and broken, but Haru-chan has always accepted me as I am. She's so understanding and sweet. Haru-chan is like the first breeze in spring, her whole being refreshes and heals me. I never wanted to share her, but," here he teared up, "without her, I don't think I could go on. If she will have me, I don't mind sharing, especially if it means that I get to stay with her and have this family."
Nagi was getting slightly ill at all of the confessions, but as much as he wanted to tell them to shut up and stop being goss, the words stuck in his throat. Over the last few years, he had become secretly fond of the composer, even if he only saw her at work. It had gotten to the point where just a glimpse of her hair in the halls of the recording studio made his heart falter and his lungs forget to work. Her warm smile, though almost never aimed at him, was enough to put him in a good mood even when Eiichi was late or the staff mixed up his order. Just her presence was comforting to Nagi, and he hated it.
Syo decided to go next even as he continued to play with Louis. "She's so strong and so composed, but she's also so innocent and clumsy. I want to be by her side to protect her and learn from her. Nanami is the only person who I feel really gets me. She and I share so much; I really am hopelessly in love with her." Here Syo laughed before continuing. "It feels good to finally get that off of my chest after four years. So yeah, I guess what I'm saying is that I want to be with her, even if it means that she will never be wholly mine, that's good enough because I'm all hers."
Cecil looked up briefly, still ashamed of the way he had upset Haruka earlier. "I've never been shy about my affection toward Haruka. Ever since we first met, I knew that she was special. There is something magical about her and her music, that's why I believe she is an incarnation of the Muses." Here he finally brought his head up to face them all. "Without her, I never would have met all of you. My dearest friends, our rivals and teachers. Without her, I would be trapped on a throne, tied with invisible strings and made to dance by my step-father and cousins." Cecil teared up slightly, and Otoya put a hand on his shoulder. "Haruka saved me, she set me free in so many ways, and if I can be good enough to have even a part of her, then I will be the happiest man on the planet."
Otoya heaved a deep sigh. "I love Nanami, truly, but I didn't even consider this as a possibility. Though to think that all this time, Tokiya was the one she really loved... I don't know how to feel. I need Nanami's music. She makes me happy just by being near, and without her, I'm afraid I'd never be the same. So much of who I am now is because of her and all of you. If I get to see her everyday, I'd be happy, so I guess I wouldn't mind sharing all that much." Here he blushed and stuttered, "T-though only if she want to! I never want to upset her like that again."
Kiku and Kanon smiled at each other as their daddy finished. "They're learning," Kanon whispered, and Kiku's grin widened.
"I'm not about to dole out a gooey confession or anything," Ranmaru began, ignoring the many eye-rolls from the kids, "but I do know that I've ever met such an interesting girl. She's passionate and talented, undoubtedly, but she's still so innocent and cute." Ranmaru glared as Ren and Masato stared at him. "That's it, idiots, pick your jaws up off the floor."
Kira surprised everyone by speaking next. "I like her. Her songs are beautiful."
Eiichi and Nagi stared at their bandmate in surprise. "EHH!? Kira too? That's the most he's said since the Entry Contest!" Nagi exclaimed.
Chi-chan ran up to him and parroted, "Contest! Contest!" Then she thought a moment and asked, "Whas dat?"
Nagi was surprised by the two-year-old's approach, so he backed away a little, but she just climbed on his lap and asked again. "Whas a contest?"
"Umm... when people fight for something, that's a contest," Nagi tried to explain, not sure if she would understand.
"Oh!" Chi giggled before running off, shouting, "Something! Chi-chan fights for something!" Reiji resisted the urge to pick her up and tickle her or play with her, but he needed to voice his thoughts before playing with the little cutie.
Clearing his throat, the others turned to the oldest member of Quartet Night. "Kouhai-chan is adorable, that much is obvious, but her radiance is through and through. Even though she is oblivious to our advances, she is amazingly perceptive when it comes to embodying out essence in song. She was able to find the real me within, the part that no one knows or sees, the side that I have worked to bury for so long. Yet within a few days, she had seen it and captured it in song. She's incredible, and I would be lying if I said I was not madly in love. I want to stay beside her and grow old with her, even if you are all there too." Now that the seriousness was done, he cracked a slight smile and scooped Chidori into his arms. "Besides, maybe it'll be fun, after all, life here looks like it would never get boring." He laughed as he blew raspberries on Chi's stomach, making her shriek and giggle.
Chi shouted, "Oto-chan! Stop!" in between her peals of laughter.
Ai whispered, "I don't even know what love is. Is it a pounding heart and a happiness at seeing the person? My sources say you may begin to crave seeing the person; you may find them irreplaceable. Haruka makes me feel that way. I don't know what she is to me exactly, but when she is near, I feel like everything will be alright. It's completely illogical, so I don't understand why I feel this way, she's only human. And yet, I want to see her; I want to spend time with her; I want her attention; I want to be with her." Ai began tearing up, and he looked surprised. "What is this feeling? Why am I crying? I'm a robot, I don't have real feelings, right? Please excuse me."
Michiko teared up as Ai talked. She knew he was a robot, they all did, but that never meant he didn't feel every bit as strongly as her other fathers.
Eiichi and Ryuuya stayed silent the whole time, still mulling things over, not quite sure what to do yet. They were too busy dealing with their conflicting feelings about the situation to give a response.
Through it all, Nagi had stayed relatively composed, but when Ai finished, he couldn't take it any more.
"That's enough! How can you just blurt things out like that! How can you agree to share! I don't want to share! I want her to love me and me alone! No one has ever loved me for who I am, why can't I have this!" STARISH and Quartet Night looked surprised by his outburst, but Ryuuya and Ringo had heard bits of the cosmically cute superstar's tragic backstory from Shining, and Eiichi and Kira knew.
Nagi broke down, his knees collapsing as he sank to the floor. "My birth parents ditched me when I was five, and my adoptive parents never cared about me until I became an idol, and then it was only to show me off. My nannies were paid to like me, but as soon as their job was done, I became invisible. My fans don't know anything about me other than stats and a stage persona; that's not love. Love doesn't exist. How can it? But if it does exist, I need it all. I want to keep it all to myself so no one can take it away."
The guys were shocked to hear Nagi's story; they never would have guessed how much he hid behind his sarcasm and presumptuousness. Every little thing in his life was an act, he was just as fractured as any of them, so it made sense that he too would seek Haruka. She always had so much love for everyone, no wonder Nagi wanted her for his own.
Nagi sobbed harder as Michiko got down on her knees and hugged him from behind. "Shhh...It's okay now; it's okay. You'll never have to be alone or feel unloved again. Mom loves you just as you are, not as a thing to show off. The other fathers love you too, you are an important part of the family, and all of us kids love you too. You're so much more than your parents will ever know, you always have been. It's going to be okay now; we're here."
He slowly managed to pull himself together as the others sat in silence. The younger kids, from Suzu down, came over and gave Nagi a group hug that he pretended to be annoyed by, but he really appreciated. "Thank you," he whispered, looking at the floor. As much as he wanted Haruka to himself, he realized that if this future didn't come to be, neither would this family. Maybe they were worth sharing for.
A/N: I apologize if this seemed like Tokiya is superior, I just feel that he is likely who she fell for first since he was her goal in the music industry and the street fair... But the other guys will have their turns. Next chapter, the kids have a plan to convince Ryuuya, Eiichi, and Haruka that this is the way things should be and Tokiya gets his time with Haru to confess and stuff, and each chapter I'll try to have family fluff as she falls for each of the guys. Please review, let me know what you thought, this wasn't a very fluffy chap, more like the basis for the drama, but it'll get fluffier from here on out. I promise. Thank you all!
~Raine