Hey! I was hoping to put this up yesterday but fanfiction wouldn't let log in. Don't know why! Anyway, we left off with Kaede asking Rin to talk to Ryo for her and Chihiro and Yuki worried about their husbands. We only see Chihiro for a while, but next chapter we will see them! Enjoy!

Chapter 12: Truths and Misfortunes

"Kaede! Get up!" I was in no mood to get up. I couldn't sleep the night before and when I did, it only lasted for a few minutes. I hadn't felt that tired in years. My mother was pounding on the door, screaming my name out.

"Kaede! Now!" She walked away as threw my pillow at the door. I missed my morning shift, so now she was going to make me work later today. Being the daughter of the bathhouse owner was not a treat.

I slowly climbed out of bed and started the day. I was in no mood to see anyone at the moment, and Mai came up to me at the wrong time.

"Hi, Kaede!" She screamed, "Want to play dollhouse with me?"

"No," I said, "I'm too old to be playing dolls with my younger sister."

"Please!" Mai said, begging on her knees, "Just for a little bit!"

"No!" They always got their way, and I always tried making sure that didn't happen. Mai and Haru were going to have to learn how to survive in this world the hard way, and I was going to be their teacher.

"Actually, Kaede," My mom said as she walked up to me, "I need you to play with Mai and Haru today while your father and I have to do some…away business."

"But Mom!" Begging was going to do me no good. She was still going to make me play with them. And if she was gone all day, I was not going to get the hair sample in time.

"No buts," She said, "Your father and I will be back before the bathhouse closes. You can skip your chores today but only if you work the night shift, since you slept in this morning, and keep your siblings entertained. I don't want to find someone hurt or upset when I come back, got it?" I nodded and she patted my shoulder.

"I'll pay you extra for this, thank you." She embraced me. I didn't say a word. I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction she wanted. She left and I was stuck with the twins of terror.

"Kaede, come on!" Mai grabbed my arm and pulled me to their room. It was chaos in there. I had never seen a messier room, not even mine was ever this cluttered.

"Dollhouse! Dollhouse!" Mai pulled on my arm and forcefully made me stay in her room. I was trapped.

"Alright," I said in defeat, "let's play dollhouse."

"Yay!" Mai was always the annoying little sister. I always had to do things for her or play with her whenever she wanted me to, but no one did that for me. When I was her age and I wanted someone to play with me, my parents said to go play with Kamajii. They never had any time to spend with their only child. Then, Mai and Haru come along and they got all the attention. It just wasn't fair.

Ryo's POV

I woke up extra early today. I knew that Kaede had the morning shifts, so I decided to help her. We needed to talk. I saw her the day before, but she didn't even look at me. Not even Rin would. It was clear that she took Kaede's side.

I looked at the board and saw that today, same as the day before, I was not with Kaede and Rin. I sighed and went to my assigned duty. I was supposed to clean the tubs this morning. At least I didn't have to clean the big tub. That was the worst job anyone could ever have to do.

"Hey, Ryo," I turned around and saw Rin standing in the doorway. She was Kaede's best friend, after me. All three of us would do everything together. It seemed weird that my only friends were girls, but I felt lucky to have them around. Now, it seemed that Rin was on the edge, unable to choose me or Kaede.

"Uh, hi." I said back. She just stayed there, staring at me. I didn't know what to think of it. it was creeping me out.

"Did you want to ask me something?" I asked. She had to have come here for a reason. We haven't spoken since before the "adventure" Kaede and I took. What could she want with me now?

"Actually, yes," She said, walking closer to me, "I want to know what really happened between you and Kaede." My eyes opened wide. I didn't even know what happened to us. It was all so sudden. I just wanted to help.

"I…I don't like talking about it." I turned away, hoping she would go back to work. But Rin was persistent. She never gave up.

"Well, I want to hear it," she said, "I want to know the truth."

"I'm sure Kaede already told you."

"Sure she did, but you know how good Kaede is at bending the truth. You never lie." It was true. I was a terrible liar, so I learned it was best to tell the truth all the time.

"Yeah, but I…" I was nervous. It was hard dealing with it. Maybe by telling someone I can get some help and advice.

"Okay," I finally said, "I'll tell you." She clapped and sat down next to me. Rin always got way too excited about the gossip around the bathhouse.

"When Kaede and I were leaving the Human World, we had an argument. I said it was risky to have been so straightforward with her grandparents, but all she cared about was having an adventure. I tried reasoning with her, but Kaede is so stubborn!" I was letting my anger get the best of me.

"So, she was mad at you because you were trying to help her?" I nodded, and Rin sat back.

"Well, you know Kaede. She always has to be right."

"But I was only trying to help! She always takes the wrong path! Why does she do that? She knows how to be good, I know it! Kaede is a good person, but why does she have to be so…so…"

"So bad?"

"She is not a bad person!" I shouted, "She may be annoying at times, but Kaede is the most cordial person I know!"

"You sure care a lot about her," Rin said.

"Of course I do! I lo…" I quickly stopped myself. I was almost about to tell Rin, Kaede's best friend, my deepest secret. I hoped that she didn't understand what I was about to say, but the shocked expression on her face told me she already knew.

"So I was right!" I she said, standing up and dancing. I was confused as to how she would have known, but that dance was just creeping me out.

"You…you knew?"

"Of course! I mean, every time you two are together, you always blush or get nervous. And the way you two flirt just creeps me out!" We flirted? How did that happen?

"I'm going before you make me throw up." Rin started leaving, but I grabbed her arm and stopped her from moving any further. I knew what she was about to do.

"You're not going anywhere!" I said, "How do I know you're not going to tell Kaede what I just said to you?" She turned around, looking very guilty. She was! Rin was going to tell Kaede everything!

"Uh, no I wasn't!" Her voice was full of guilt.

"Let me make myself clear: If you tell her, you'll regret it!"

"Oh, and what are you going to do about it?"

"If you tell her, I'll tell everyone how you made that potion for your parents to drink so that they would do whatever you wanted them to."

"Wha-what? How…how did you know that?"

"I have eyes everywhere." Rin became angry. Her secret was more important than telling Kaede the truth about my feelings.

"I'll find a way to tell her! Just you wait and see…" She walked away back to work, but I didn't know what to expect from Rin.

Kaede's POV

"Kaede! Kaede!" I heard someone calling my name. They ran into Mai and Haru. It was Rin. She was supposed to be working, but obviously decided to take a break, like me. At least she didn't have to babysit any of her siblings; she didn't have any.

"Kaede!" Rin was panting and put her hands on her knees. What was so important? Did she talk with Ryo like I asked her to?

"What? What is it?" I was anxious to know what Ryo said.

"I talked with Ryo for you!" I knew she would. Rin was such a good friend.

"And?" I was anxious to hear what he said.

"And…um…he didn't tell me anything good," she said, "I asked why you two were fighting and he wouldn't budge. I kept persisting, but all he said was that you two had some differences you needed to work out." That was partially true; Ryo and I were complete opposites, but I didn't believe that was the reason for our fight. He was getting in my way and telling me I needed to be more careful than I was. It was like he didn't trust me.

"Oh," I said, putting down the doll Mai gave me, "I see. Okay, thanks for telling me."

"I know you wanted more, but I just couldn't get that much out of him. Boys are so stubborn." I looked up and smiled. She always knew how to make me smile.

"Thanks," I said, "I should think of something else, like how I'm going to get that hair when my mom isn't even around! She won't be back until closing!"
"So? I have a plan." Rin said. I looked at her grinning face. She seemed to have had a cunning idea, and knowing Rin, it would most likely work.

What could she be planning? Rin is the conniving genius of the group. She just might be able to get the hair for Kaede. And how will Kaede ever find out about Ryo's true feelings for her? She feels the same, but after that argument before, how will they ever work things? So much conflict, so much drama, I hope you all are enjoying this as much as I am! But like most stories, there will be good things that come out of this. Until next time! Thank you!

Anabelle ;)