Two So in Love with One

Disclaimer: I do not own Shugo Chara! or any other characters. All rights go to Peach Pit©.

(A/N: I finally got my laptop! So who knows how long it will take to update now! Cheers anyone?)


Hana looked down at her little girl, the one her husband wanted to be named...

"Nadeshiko?" Hana called out as she walked near the little violet. Chestnut eyes warmed up as soon as the warm body ran into her. "Nadeshiko! No running in the house!" Scolded Hana. The little nine year old smiled up to her.

"Sorry mother. But….I wrote Santa another letter! I hope he grants it this time, for sure." Exclaimed the little girl with a five year olds excitement. Hana could see a glow radiate from her daughters face and soon enough, the warm bug that always came around when Nadeshiko was at her happiest began to consume most of Hana's logic. Again.

"I'm sure he will. But be a good girl now and go to bed. It's past your bedtime." Hana explained. To this, Nadeshiko's face fell a whole 360 degree.

"Oh…" Whispered the child. "But…can't I stay up? I wanna wait for Santa!" Cried the violet. "Can't I wait for him and then go to bed?"

"Nadeshiko, you tried that last year and ended up sleeping, no. Go to bed now." Hana demanded of the little girl. To this, Nadeshiko's happy mood went to rotten.

"Hnn….but I don't want to!" Replied Nadeshiko with a raised voice. Hana was about to retort but her older sister came in the way.

"Little Nadeshiko, Santa always gives presents to the good children. Please stop arguing with your mother and go to bed. If you don't Santa will mark you as a bad child." Hana almost sighed from relief that her older sister spared her to giving a lecture. But then again, a tinge of jealousy began to swarm in her intestines as she saw Nadeshiko slowly pout, but give in nonetheless, walking up the stairs of their house. To this, Hana's older sister smiled and walked over to her. Hana edged away bit by bit.

"Why does my child always listen to you when you ask of something only once?" Hana questioned more to herself than to her own older sister. "Is it because you're older?" Hana's older sister—Naki—laughed.

"It is only because I've had a little more experience with children Lady Hana." Naki replied. "Do not worry, time will pass and Little Nadeshiko will soon do your biddings without reluctance." Naki explained. Hana gave a grim smile.

But even if you say it like that… Hana began to tell herself, unsure whether or not that she was being bitter or just plain jealous towards her older sister. I feel like that my own child….that she loves you more than me. It hurt to let Hana think that way. Unbeknownst to Hana, Naki had grabbed Nadeshiko's letter from the nearby table and held it in hand to read. Skimming through the neat letters, Naki's heart dropped.

Dear Santa,

What I want for Christmas this year is….a basketball. But please do not tell mother, I don't know why, but me mentioning a basketball always brings her mood down. Mother always gets grumpy when she sees my favorite object. And I do not know why. Maybe, while you're putting my presents under the tree, you can also wake me up and tell me the answer to this? I promise to be good and listen, if it doesn't take much of your time.

And dear, dear Santa… My biggest wish this Christmas…cannot fit under our tree or be wrapped in your little elf boxes. All I really want is to have my dad here this Christmas. He doesn't have to be perfect. Just someone who's really nice and tries their hardest at whatever they do. Mother said that dad got lost along the way. And that he's far, far away.

From us.

Again, if you don't want to do the other things above Santa, can you at least give my dad a ride in your toy filled sleigh? A ride home to me and mother and Aunty? I hope he misses us. I never met him before, I don't think… But I miss him. I know for sure mother does. She always has this faraway look when she see's other mothers and fathers together. So…please… Not just for me…but maybe for mother too…and even Aunty.

Please bring my father home for Christmas.

-Love

Fujisaki Nadeshiko

Naki looked over at her younger sister, Hana. Sighing, Naki slipped the letter in her kimono sleeve. Hana not noticing a thing as she turned around.

"Onee, is Nadeshiko's letter over there on the table?" Hana asked curiously. Naki quickly snuck a glance to her sleeve and shook her head.

"Maybe Little Nadeshiko had took her letter with her to bed?" Naki asked. She faked a stifled yawn. "Pardon me Lady Hana, but I shall turn in for the night."

"Oh? Alright then..." Hana replied uncertain of her older sister's answer. I don't remember seeing Nadeshiko carrying a letter with her to bed. "Good night onee…" Hana bid her farewell as Naki slipped passed her, dimming the lights.


Nadeshiko couldn't help but continue to sob in the dreadful waiting room. When a loved one, the only alive one left to take care of you is dying, everything comes into perspective. And Nadeshiko hated herself for it.

I'm such a brat! Nadeshiko told herself, sniffling. "Why do I always have to be such an idiot? Why can't I ever get this stuff right?" Nadeshiko mumbled under her breath as she leaned into the warm body next to her—offering a hand to her. Tadase embraced the teenaged girl as she continued to let tears fall down her cheeks. Soaking his expensive jacket, not that he cared. Tadase's main concern was the girl who he really liked was suffering from something that could probably not be fixed.

"Nadeshiko…" He started to say. But what? What does a person say in a situation like this? I hate this position. Tadase told himself sadly. I hate being put in a position that I can't do anything but hope. Nadeshiko's sobs were of no help on to how Tadase was supposed to comfort her. All he could do was wrap his arms around her and let her cry.

"I… I saw my Aunty die right in front of me…you know?" Nadeshiko confessed to Tadase who listened intently to what she was saying. "A-and…oh God… The blood was horrible Tadase. It was everywhere. Everything splattered and just like that… Aunty died in front me." Chestnut eyes which were once beautiful turned to him stained in red and rimmed with exhaustion. Her violet hair was a terrible mess and Nadeshiko seemed so much smaller than she usually looked like. Her porcelain skin was now almost as pale as the snow that continued to pour out from the sky. Tadase was stricken by Nadeshiko's tragic story as Nadeshiko sniffed. She whimpered as if she was in physical pain. And then she laid her head in her hands. "Tadase… I don't want mother to die."

"Nadeshiko…" Tadase started to say again. But it was of no use. Ikuto—as if magic—appeared in front of them and the wrong or right time and stopped himself.

"Tadase, you don't mind if I steal Nadeshiko away from you for a second, will you?" It wasn't even a question. Tadase recognized Ikuto's demand and what he was asking for. And was reluctant to give Nadeshiko to him. Tadase gave a look to Ikuto that asked, why? In an understanding, Ikuto gave a grim smile and didn't answer. Instead, he pulled a weak Nadeshiko away from Tadase. Tadase stood up quickly as Ikuto started to drag the crying girl down the 'quiet' hallway.

"Hey!" Tadase shouted, not caring to glance at the people who were staring at the teenagers. They looked like a dramatic break-up scene in Opera channels. Just when Tadase was about to dash Ikuto's way, he was stopped by a doctor. Why does this always happen to me? Tadase asked himself, growing irritated with every passing second.

"Are you family of Fujisaki Hana?" Asked the man cloaked in white. This stopped Tadase cold in his plan. His face turned a faint pink and the worst possibilities were coming to him already. His breath ragged heavily all suddenly and Tadase hadn't notice how tightly he was clenching his fists. The tips of his nails were digging into his skin and the top part of his knuckles seemed to turn a nasty purple.

"N-no…" The blonde boy hesitated. "I am a friend though." The doctor sighed and looked at Tadase.

"You should come this way." Obediently, Tadase nodded his head and followed the doctor to the room where Hana was being held.

:::::::

"What is it?" Nadeshiko cried, more to herself than to Ikuto. Ikuto sighed and looked Nadeshiko in the eyes, which was very difficult for him to do since he was so tall.

"Your mother Hana…" He started to say. And then Ikuto began to re-think to himself to what he just said. "No….our mother Hana." Continued Ikuto. Nadeshiko looked at Ikuto with sharp, red eyes.

"What?" Nadeshiko managed to choke out, clutching tighter to Tadase's jacket that she was wearing. What do you mean, our mother? She wanted to say. Hana was just Nadeshiko's mother. Wasn't she? Ikuto, meanwhile, continued on.

"Yes, she's…our mother. You and I. Nadeshiko, I'm your older brother." To say this was a shock to Nadeshiko would be an understatement. She was more beyond shocked.

"You're what? I don't understand." Whispered Nadeshiko. "What do you mean that my mother is…our mother?"

A silent tug pulled on both the newly found sibling's heart. Nadeshiko's heart was still heavy, but suddenly, she oddly felt less alone. Ikuto's heart felt tired and empty that he couldn't even answer his little sister's question.

"I don't even know Nadeshiko. I just know that Hana is my mother too."

"What are you doing here?" Nadeshiko asked as she walked closer to Ikuto. The teenaged boy gave her a grave look. Sadness and hopeless readable in his eyes.

"Look, I just came from the her doctor and had to find you. She seems… Her condition is…" Ikuto glanced to the floor and back to Nadeshiko. "I'm sorry." He whispered. His words were weak as his voice sounded. Nadeshiko had the same fear she felt growing inside her. The same one she felt when she was with her Aunt.

Ikuto tried very hard to figure out what to say next. "Maybe we should… Go see her. Together?" He offered with a hand. Nadeshiko just solemnly nodded her head and took the older boy's hand as she tried hard to fight more tears.

::::::

Slowly peeking a head through the door, Nadeshiko saw her mother on a bed, all bandaged up. Eyes softly closed and truth was, she looked terrible. Not as beautiful as Hana usually looked. But being in an accident does that to a person. Tadase was sitting next to the bed talking with the doctor and his pink eyes grew tired.

"I understand." Nadeshiko heard Tadase say with a weary voice. Nadeshiko didn't like the sound of it at all and was about to run out the room until Tadase's words rang through her head.

"I'll help you if you can't do it alone, Nadeshiko…"

He'll always be there? Nadeshiko asked herself as the doctor excused himself from the room and she started to enter. Tadase immediately caught her eyes and he jumped from his seat.

"Nadeshiko! Where's Ikuto?" Questioned the blonde urgently. Nadeshiko was taken aback by the frustration in his looks.

"Calm down, I'm over here." Ikuto replied as he stepped out of the doctor's way. The blue haired teen walked over to his mother and sat down in Tadase's chair. Tadase grimaced at the mere sight of Ikuto and Nadeshiko wondered why. Then her sight averted to Ikuto. Whose longing look almost killed Nadeshiko. He looked at Hana with such care that Nadeshiko wondered if she ever showed that kind of care to her own mother.

Actions of earlier replayed with Nadeshiko's mind and she started to tremble. I am really ungrateful.

Noticing, Tadase walked over to her and hugged her, embracing her with more warmth than his own jacket could ever offer.

"Hey…" Ikuto called over his shoulder, loud enough so they could hear him just enough. "Nadeshiko, do you want to say something to Hana?"

Nadeshiko slowly crept away from Tadase's warm arms and edged closer to Hana. When arriving to her mother's side, it was like seeing her for the first time in years. It was weird. A woman that you have known your whole life, always strong and unyielding, looked as fragile and as cold as snow. Slowly, but ever so surely, Nadeshiko clasped her mother's hand in her owns and felt a tingling sensation. A warm but sad one. Sighing for the umpteenth time that night, Nadeshiko looked over at Ikuto.

"What should I say?" She asked like a lost little girl.

"Whatever comes to you." Was his reply. Nodding her head, Nadeshiko looked back over to Hana. Her mother. Their mother. And felt horrible. Almost sick. Replays played with her mind as memories of good times with her mother came to her. The thing was, there wasn't much. Most moments, memories were already filled with her Aunty whom she loved so dearly. And that made Nadeshiko even more depressed. Because somewhere in her frustrated heart, she knew that her mother meant good. And is a good person. Then tonight was on pause in Nadeshiko's mind.

:::::::

"Stop it!" Nadeshiko yelled in anger and frustration. "I hate you!" She screeched. Putting on her shoes quickly, Nadeshiko ran out of the enormous house.

:::::::

"Mom. I'm so sorry... Please... Come back..." Nadeshiko croaked. Her fingers held on tightly to Hana's hand. "Please...don't die... I can't live by myself..." she wept as her cries filled the hospital room. "Mom." Crystal tears slid down Nadeshiko's cheeks once more.

Tadase couldn't bear to watch her like that, but he knew what Ikuto wanted. The doctor had told him, still. Walking next to the girl, he stood right by her. Just in case she needed him. Ikuto, who didn't like Nadeshiko's tears any more than Tadase did, averted his sight back to their mother.

Gosh ma… Ikuto thought to himself, almost bitterly. You got yourself into quite a mess, didn't you?

"Mother, it's all your fault." Nadeshiko cried, gripping tightly to the hand that was being held. Nadeshiko chewed on her lower lip, sobbing a little bit more before continuing. "It's all your fault… Why couldn't you just tell me the truth? Why can't you just tell me about dad? Or that I even had a brother? Why mom? Why do you have to keep all your secrets to yourself? I hate that. I hate that about you." Nadeshiko cried harder, trying to wipe the tears away from her face using the other hand. It was hard to breathe with all the emotions swarming around her like bees to a bee hive. It was almost suffocating. Nadeshiko hated this. She hated feeling weak and looking like a little girl in front of other people. Especially when she knew that gibberish must have been all that was heard from her. Her legs started to tremble. "…I'm sorry mom. I can't think of good times with you… Only with Aunty… But please don't die. I…" Nadeshiko sucked in a breath.

Nadeshiko…. Ikuto smiled her way.

"Is she dying?" Nadeshiko suddenly asked. Tadase intervened before Ikuto could answer.

"Yes…" Tadase replied. "That's what the doctor told me before he left." Nadeshiko bit her lips harshly. Glancing quickly at Ikuto before continuing, Tadase gave Ikuto a hard look. "So…" The blonde suggested slowly. "You should say what you need to say… Before it ends." Nadeshiko only nodded and gripped tighter to her mother's hand.

Thank you. Ikuto hope that his thoughtful message was sent Tadase's way.

"I….want to have better memories with you. So please, don't leave me alone." Wept the heartbreaking teenaged girl, closing her eyes tightly. She didn't notice the tears slide down Hana's cheeks. Tadase and Ikuto smiled at each other.

"Mom…you can stop pretending now." Announced the eighteen year old male, blue locks being swept to the side as he said this. Nadeshiko opened her eyes even as tears still fell out.

What?

"What do you mean stop pretending?"


(A/N: Am I pathetic updater? Yes. Is this chapter pathetically short and pathetic? Yes. Do I deserve reviews? No. Do I want them? Please. Will I make my next chapter longer? Who knows. Will I update soon? Let's just hope it take longer than a year to do so. Think of this short chapter as…a late Christmas present to you all, aye? :D?

& do I deserve your love? Probably not…but you all love me anyways. ¡Ciao!)