Bold – action and change of scenery

Underline – thoughts

Italics – Shinkenger and Goseiger attacks (if any)

Bold/italics – flashbacks and dreams

Disclaimers: I don't own Samurai Sentai Shinkenger and Tensou Sentai Goseiger. If I did, the series would have TakeruXMako and AlataXKotoha in them with wedding and all! =D

It has been a couple of days after Christmas, and everyone was getting ready for the New Years. It was, however, a nervous Kotoha that got everyone to stop and stare at her. She was pacing back and forth a bit, trying to get her distracted so that things would be ready for the New Years. Only Mako knew what was going on and smiled encouragingly at Kotoha whenever Kotoha looked her way. She breathed deeply and walked up to Takeru. "Tono-sama," said Kotoha, "I would like to tell you something."

"What is it Kotoha," questioned Takeru.

"Ano," started Kotoha, "I-It would be a b-bit easier if you follow Mako and me to the park."

"EH," questioned everyone.

Mako was sure that Kotoha would just keep her out of it. She didn't want Takeru to know that she was keeping a huge secret from him for about a year already. However, she saw that it would also make Kotoha happy to have some support. She just hoped that her relationship with Takeru wouldn't end so soon because of this. Takeru was a bit confused because Kotoha could just tell him anything with their friends around. Yet, he could see the nervousness by her speech and the way she fiddled with her index fingers. "Doushite," questioned Chiaki.

"I-I rather not say," said Kotoha, "O-Only to Tono-sama and Mako-neechan."

"Hmph," grumbled Chiaki as he moved to get New Year decorations up.

"That's fine," said Takeru, stopping Genta ad Ryuunosuke from speaking.

"A-Arigatou," said Kotoha as she bowed.

"When do you want to go," questioned Mako from Takeru's right.

"A-Ano," started Kotoha, "Right now?"

Takeru and Mako nodded their heads. Both walked with Kotoha out of the dojo, with Genta, Ryuunosuke, and Chiaki being stopped by Jii. Jii knew that Kotoha was going to do something very brave and hoped for the best within his mind. While the rest were stopped by Jii and pestered to decorate for New Years, Kotoha, Takeru, and Mako walked to the park. There, they saw a back to a guy. Takeru saw Kotoha's eyes light up as she ran towards the guy and hugged him from behind. Takeru was about to stop her, but was surprise to see Kotoha hugging Alata from behind. Mako just took Takeru's left hand in her right as she pulled him over to the couple. "Kotoha," questioned Takeru.

"A-Ano," stuttered Kotoha, "A-Alata and I are still dating."

"NANI," cried out Takeru as his eyes widened a bit.

"Sou," nodded Alata, "Kotoha felt that it was wrong to have lied to you."

"Did you know about this," questioned Takeru as he rounded on Mako.

"H-Hai," said a soft spoken Mako.

"How long," questioned Takeru.

"A-About a year," stuttered out Kotoha.

"So, you have lied to me," stated Takeru with hurt eyes.

"O-Onegai," cried out Kotoha, "Don't be mad at Mako! I told her to promise me not to tell anyone!"

"I-I," breathed a semi-calm Takeru, "Need time to think."

Mako was about to stop Takeru, but Takeru dodged the hand that was about to grab him. Alata looked on sadly as he saw Kotoha try to comfort Mako from the ground. Both saw Takeru walk away and towards home. Kotoha sighed sadly as she told Alata that they would see each other tomorrow. Alata was about to stop her, to remind her that they were going to have a small date, but he knew that it wasn't the time. He understood that Mako needed Kotoha now more than ever. Hopefully, they could fix the damage that just started right now. "Mako-neechan," said Kotoha, "Let's go home."

"I-I can't see T-Takeru right now," said Mako.

"Alata," said Kotoha, "Can you please take her somewhere?"

"Hai," said a soft-spoken Alata, "We'll be at my house."
"Arigatou," said Kotoha.

As Alata dragged Mako towards the building that he was staying at, Kotoha sighed sadly at what she wanted to do. One hand, it was a huge weight came off of her shoulders. On the other, another weight just barreled onto her shoulders once more. Kotoha sat on the bench and took out her 'monkey.' Playing with it, she tried to think of what to do to help the situation with Takeru and Mako while still try to let Takeru see reasons on why she did what she did. It took an hour to think up of something before Kotoha collected her 'monkey.' Kotoha reared up her courage, saying over and over again that it was for her Mako-neechan. Kotoha ran all the way back home and was about to slide open the door to where Takeru's room was but was stopped. "Hey Kotoha," said Chiaki.

"Minna-san," said Kotoha as she looked at the other Shinkengers.

"Mako wa doko desu ka," questioned Genta.

"Ah," said Kotoha, "Still at the park thinking."

"Well, do not disturb Tono-sama," said Ryuunosuke.

"Yeah," said Chiaki, "He looked a bit peeved when he got back."

"Iie," said Kotoha, "I'm going in to talk to him."

"Exactly what was the conversation about Kotoha," questioned Chiaki.

"Betsuni," said Kotoha as she rushed to open the door, slide in, and slam the door close.

The others looked at each other in concern but were ushered out to get more decorations for the New Year. Kotoha heard them all leave and sighed a bit. She turned around to see Takeru with a stoic face. Cringing a bit, Kotoha walked slowly over to Takeru and tentatively placed a hand on his arm. Takeru jerked out of his reverie to see Kotoha in front of him. "What do you want," questioned Takeru with a cold voice.

"I deserve that," winced Kotoha, "Demo, Mako-neechan does not!"

"Mako lied to me," said Takeru.

"All because I asked her to promise me not to tell anyone," said Kotoha.

"Doushite," questioned Takeru.

"Tono-sama, gomen ne," said Kotoha, "Demo, I was scared."

"Scared," echoed Takeru.

"H-Hai," said Kotoha, "And pressured."

"Nani," questioned Takeru.

"Chiaki and Ryuunosuke is always telling me to not date Alata, but Alata makes me happy," started to explain Kotoha, "I felt pressurized to comply to my teammates, now tomodachi, requests. Demo, what about my happiness? Ever since Neechan…"

"Mako," questioned Takeru, not knowing that Kotoha had an older sister.

"Iie," said Kotoha, "Watashi no neechan. She was supposed to be Shinkenyellow. Demo, something happened and the powers were bestowed upon me."

"Kotoha," started Takeru.

"I just wanted to feel happiness again," said an embarrassed Kotoha, "A-Ano, I mean, feel love and carefree like I do with Alata."

Takeru looked at Kotoha. Here she was, pouring out her explanations and him listening. He sighed as he thought that Mako really didn't deserve to get the cold shoulder. He couldn't help it though. This one girl that he lo… liked so much had lied to him. However, if the situation was reversed, he might have lied to Mako for the sake of Kotoha's happiness. Takeru stood up and gave Kotoha an awkward brotherly hug. Kotoha's head flew up in shock to ever gain a hug from Takeru. "Gomen Kotoha," said Takeru, "I guess I also see you as an imouto that I never had. I guess my anger clouded my judgment."

"Will you still be with Mako-neechan," questioned Kotoha, still processing that Takeru saw her as an imouto.

"Hai," said Takeru, "Arigatou for opening up my eyes."

"Bestuni," said Kotoha.

"Do you know where Mako is," questioned Takeru.

"H-Hai," said Kotoha.

Takeru told Kotoha that he wanted to go and apologize to her. Kotoha smiled as she said that she would lead him to Mako. Takeru and Kotoha sneakily went out and towards where Kotoha knew that Mako would be. Jii was still awake and smiled while Takeru just shook his head. He wasn't going to be angry at Jii as well for keeping the dating a secret. As they neared the building, Takeru marveled at how big the place was. Kotoha had to literally drag Takeru up the stairs, where Alata opened the door. "Takeru-san," questioned Alata, "Kotoha-chan!"

"Konbonwa," said Kotoha.

"Mako wa doko desu ka," questioned Takeru.

"I'll go get her," said Alata as he left the two with the other Goseigers.

"Kotoha-chan," squealed Eri as she dragged her to sit on the sofa.

"Takeru-san," stated Agri.

Before Takeru could talk, Alata came back with Mako. Mako looked a bit worse for wear, having some tear streaks on her cheek. Takeru winced a bit as he saw it while Alata sat next to Kotoha and wrapped his arms around her. The others just sat around and became very quiet. Takeru gulped a bit as he nervously took hold of Mako's hand, getting her attention. Takeru could see the sadness in Mako's eyes and had to wince a bit. He made a terrible mistake in making his anger get the best of him. Good thing Kotoha straighten him out, though it took a while. "Mako-chan," said Takeru for the first time, "Gomen nasai."

"Nani," questioned Mako.

"I was out of line," said Takeru, "And it was thanks to Kotoha-imouto that made me see reason.

"IMOUTO," chorused the Goseigers while Kotoha tried to quiet them down.

"Kotoha-imouto helped," questioned Mako as she ignored the question.

"H-Hai," said Takeru, "I know that I am kind of bad at this confession thing, demo…"

Takeru was silenced as Mako hugged him. He took that as a sign of forgiveness. However, making her forget would be a bit of a stretch. Kotoha smiled happily as she ran over and hugged the both of them. Letting them go, Kotoha asked if they were still together again. Mako and Takeru looked at each other and smiled. They would be together for a long time, thanks to Kotoha, even though they will try to forget that Kotoha's lying had started it all. "Omedetou gozaimasu," chorused Nozomu and the Goseigers.

"When will you tell the others," questioned Takeru.

"A-Ano," stuttered Kotoha.

"I don't think we're…" started Alata.

"Takeru-kun," said Mako, "They are not ready to tell them yet. Maybe one at a time?"

"H-Hai," said the two.

"You should tell Genta," said Takeru, "I know that he will support you two."

"Maybe," said Kotoha.

"So, imouto," questioned Moune.

"Hai," said Takeru, "Kotoha wa watashi no imouto desu."

"smiles Niichan," questioned Kotoha.

"Ah," started Takeru.

"Sou," said Mako, "You should call Takeru 'niichan' now."

"Mako," started Takeru.

As Kotoha smiled happily and Mako was explaining, Takeru was still a bit worried. He knew that having Kotoha and Alata together will be good, but he knew that something was different about Alata. He didn't know what it was, but he knew that he needed to find out more about Alata. Hopefully, being a niichan to Kotoha will get him silent permission to interrogate Alata. Takeru looked at Alata as he still sensed something un-earthly about him. Alata smiled at the scene but felt eyes on him. As he turned to look at Takeru, he smiled at him. "It still doesn't mean I approve," said Takeru.

"NANI," questioned everyone as they stopped to stare at Takeru.

"I still need to evaluate if he will be good to Kotoha," said Takeru.

"Typical Takeru," said Mako while shaking her head.

"Demo Takeru-niichan," started Kotoha.

"Iie," said Takeru, "I want to question him myself."

"Not without me," said Mako.

'EH," questioned Takeru.

"You will probably scare the poor boy," said Mako.

"I know what you two can do," said Eri, "A double date!"

"NANI," chorused everyone.

Eri knew that she should have opened up and said anything. Now, Eri looked on sheepishly as Takeru, Mako, Kotoha, and Alata looked at Eri weirdly. The others, well, their gazes were alternating from Takeru and Mako to Alata and Kotoha to finally settling to staring at Eri incredulously.

Japanese Corner:

tono-sama – lord

ano – um

doushite – why

arigatou – thank you

nani – what

sou – yup

hai – yes

onegai – please

neechan – older sister

minna-san – everyone

mako wa doko desu ka – where is Mako?

iie – no

betsuni – don't worry about it

gomen ne/gomen nasai/gomen – I'm sorry/I'm so sorry/Sorry

watashi no neechan – my older sister

imouto – little sister

konbonwa – good evening

omedetou gozaimasu – congratulations

Kotoha wa watashi no imouto desu – Kotoha is my little sister.

niichan – older brother