Author's Note: So here is another chapter! I'm getting my groove back...hopefully no one throws it off. he he ^-^;

Contest Stuff: Okay, so after much deliberation, I have decided that the contest will end when this story does. That means that everyone, from now until the end, can send me their story in any way. If you're going to do it through email, be sure to put your name, or if you want to be anonymous, you can put that too. I will have my email address on my page, so, yeah...Remember the winner gets their chapter posted at the end of this story as an extra story, because I will be writing a few of those...and a picture request from yours truly, which will be posted on my deviantart as well. *sigh* Alright, let's move on!

Rating: T

Dedication: This chapter goes to my newest reader, tAkuMi aZuKi! For their lovely review and alerts! Yay!

Summary: Like any popular boy, Ikuto has many girls that chase him on a daily basis besides his sister, so there's only one way, in Ikuto's mind, to stop them. Have a fake girlfriend of course!

Chapter 26: Whichever way the Tail Points

Hotaru was on her balcony, her eyes staring out at the street. It was winter break, so she was stuck at home at the moment. Her eyes stray to the new egg around her neck, Kia and Lily on either of her shoulders.

"Hotaru-chan, I'm sure he's fine."

"Yeah, maybe he lost his phone or something."

Hotaru sighs, rising her head from the railing, another cool breeze blowing through. It was cold, but she was being suffocated in her room.

"I just wish I knew where he was…I haven't heard anything from him."

Hotaru raises her eyes to the sky, her mind solely on one person.

'Ikuto…'

"And then? Once again you couldn't get the Embryo?"

An older man bows his head, a look of fear in his eyes.

"Yes. I'm sorry, Boss."

Ikuto stands to the side, his eyes on the Dumpty key in his hand. He clenches his fingers shut, his eyes straining at the dark area in front of him, a voice emitting from it. He watches as the older man begins to explain the plan that had failed. Not being able to take anymore, he walks out, his footsteps echoing in the empty hallway. After a minute or so, he hears a voice.

"Ikuto!"

Ikuto stops, his body not fully turning to the man.

"How dare you act that way in front of the boss!"

"It was boring watching you kiss his butt."

"Don't talk to me that way!"

"Anyway…"

Ikuto holds his hand out, a small smile on his face.

"…can you return my violin, Mr. Executive Director? The deal was that if I cooperated in the Black Diamonds plan, you'd give it back to me. Remember, Mr. Executive Director?"

The Director frowns.

"I told you to stop calling me that. I am your…Never mind. Anyway, the deal is off. The plan was a failure and you let Hotaru get away. I'm going to use that violin for a different purpose."

Ikuto scoffs, his frown apparent now.

"Man…underhanded as always."

"Listen…you can't defy me. I am after all your father and if you plan on disobeying, don't think we'll hesitate in getting a hold of Hotaru again."

Ikuto stiffens at this bit of news, having known deep down that they would play that card. Flashes of Hotaru's emotionless face cross his mind, his hands clenching tightly at his sides.

"If you're going to blame anything, blame the fact that you were born a Tsukiyomi. The Tsukiyomi people are going to work for Easter forever…until their death. You were born to that destiny."

Ikuto looks away, sarcasm apparent in his voice.

"Fine "Father"."

He watches as the Director walks away. It's when he can no longer hear his footsteps anymore that Yoru pops out, a key hanging in his mouth. Ikuto takes the key from him, a devious smirk on his lips.

"Yeah, right."

Yoru snickers.

"He was so busy sucking up he didn't even notice I pick pocketed him! The violin is in the safe that can be opened by this key."

Ikuto begins to take off in another direction, ears appearing on his head, his tail flailing behind him.

"I'm sorry, but I'll decide my fate myself. I'm getting my violin back, Mr. Executive Director."

"Get back here!"

Ikuto is already scaling a wall, his hands pulling his body up by a pole. Angry guards below begin to reach for him but he's already too high up.

"He's already up there!"

"Damn that cat burglar!"

"Get him at all costs!"

Ikuto manages to get away, sweat running down his face.

"Heh, idiots."

Yoru begins to eye the violin case, a dark aura emitting from it.

"Hey, Ikuto…this violin…it's a little…"

Hotaru sighs, a towel in her hand, her hands rubbing it against her head. Clad in a matching shirt and shorts, she looks around downstairs.

"Onii-chan?"

No response. Hotaru sighs, Kia and Lily observing her.

"I guess he's pulling another all-nighter at the lab."

"That's true, he has been dedicated lately."

Hotaru smiles to herself, for once not sad about being home alone. She couldn't be happier about her brother continuing on with his new leaf life. After the whole incident with her brother having been a part of Easter, he had started a scientist club and he had been busy with inventing new things.

He was hardly home anymore, like usual.

"Well, better get ready for bed then."

Hotaru heads upstairs, the towel now around her neck. As she enters her room, she throws it onto a chair, her eyes roving over to her sliding screen door.

"Oh…it's snowing again…"

She walks over, the sight taking her breath away a bit. Her eyebrows lower a bit.

'Ikuto…where are you?'

After awhile, she sighs, pulling away from the door, pulling her curtain closed.

"I'm sure…he's fine…"

Pulling her covers back, her eyes widen at the sight before her, a blush taking to her cheeks before tears begin to fill her eyes. In her bed, is an unconscious Ikuto, his soft angelic face peacefully asleep. The cover falls from Hotaru's hand before everything sinks in.

"I-I-Ikuto-kun!"

Author's Note: Sorry the chapter was so short, but there really wasn't much more I could do with it. Hope you enjoyed all the same and I'll post again next week!