*** *** ***

They sat in silence for a few moments, Kaoru's hands tight on the steering wheel, Misao staring down at the dusty floormat. A steady stream of people passed by in front of the tiny car, the one the family owned, which had been donated for the
girl's use after Sano's transportation had been added to the household assets. It was a little car, but quite reliable, and it had not once let them down, even through Misao's abusive driving.
So what happened, exactly? Kaoru managed through a clenched jaw, fingers
shaking.
Sano-san busted another locker. They took him off in an ambulance. That's
all I know. Can we go now, nee-chan? We've got to go pick up Yahiko-kun, y'know. Misao didn't lift her head, her hands clutching harder and harder with every passing second in the legs of her jeans.
All right, Kaoru conceded, leaning over to switch the ignition. What a day it had been... first she couldn't go through lower B, with the-
she whispered, interrupting her own thoughts, where? Was it...
In front of the Spanish room, after third period, her little sister clarified. The blue lockers, where-
Oh, my God- Kaoru felt her stomach heave, and it took all the control she had to not be ill right there, the car spinning before her eyes and forehead exploding into aching pain. She'd tried to go through there, after the beginning of third period, to take something down to the office for her English teacher- She'd thought it had been spilled paint or something, like they were repainting the lockers red or something, for some sort of change, though she'd thought at the time they should probably fix the heating systems before repainting lockers, but- the twisted metal- the scarlet stains-
Oh, God, she whimpered, burying her face in the steering wheel. Oh, God... that... that was blood...!
She felt Misao's hand on her back, tight voice concerned, urgent. 'Nee-chan, what are you-?
I tried to go through there, at the beginning of third period-! she rasped into the old plastic, tears stinging her eyes. I thought- I thought they were working- oh, God, that was Sanosuke- that was all his-
'Nee-chan, he's okay, Misao soothed, leaning against her back, a thin arm
stretching around her waist to hug her reassuringly. He's gonna be fine... he broke a few bones in his hand, they said. They wouldn't let me stay, but I went and got tou-chan... and I think he skipped out and went to the hospital after him. It's okay, nee-chan. It's okay. Don't worry.
Kaoru nodded weakly, squeezing her eyes shut, trying to force away the images... God, there had been so much blood... Just like... Just like when-
She stopped her thoughts before they could veer near that subject, and sat up, turning the ignition firmly. Let's go, then, she said strongly, disentagling herself from her sister's worried arms. You're right, Misao. He'll be fine. Let's go get Yahiko, and then we can go see them, okay?
She could feel Misao blinking at her in surprise, but she greeted that with a brief silence, then spoke up with considerably more cheer in her voice.
Hey, y'know... we get to tell Yahiko about tou-chan and Sano-san. He wasn't there, this morning.
Kaoru found it somewhere in herself to smile. Yeah... he's gonna be really mad he missed that...

*** *** ***

Ich... moecthe... alles...
shouted a triumphant voice, its owner slamming the shop door closed behind him. I WANT TO EAT EVERYTHING!!! BRING ON THE DOUGHNUTS!!!
Kelsey threw the closest available object at Joe Richards, who dodged it with amazing success and plopped down on the stool beside her. You're lucky Mr. Sherman is here, she warned him, scrambling for her pencil. Otherwise, you would be lacking that sack of air on top of your shoulders about now.
Cranky, cranky... Doin' your German, I see. Joe leaned over her shoulder, then complacently stole the paper and tossed it across the dingy room.
Kelsey stabbed him in the arm with her pencil and scowled, then pasted her
sweetest smile on her pretty face and sat up. she lilted. Get me my homework, sweetie.
The dark-haired boy swept it off the ground and deposited it before her with a typical sunny smile. he said proudly, then went back to whatever it was he had been doing. It involved a calculator and lots of numbers, so Kelsey paid it no attention and went back to her homework. She was done with math courses. Never touching another calculator again.
Where is Sherman, anyway? Joe leaned on the table for a few moments, then
began spinning around on his stool.
Did you take your Ritalin? Kelsey inquired tersely, trying frantically to remember how to conjugate .
Yeah, yeah, yeah, shuddup.
a familiar female voice pronounced, is in an important meeting. Protecting our funding. So he left little Sydney in charge for our planning of the recycling this Saturday.
The door slammed, and Kelsey let herself glare venomously at the dark-haired girl who leaned langorously onto the table, her low-cut t-shirt straining at the seams to contain her impressive and well-accentuated bosom.
And you were chosen to convey this message why? she gritted out, fingers
clenching on her pencil so hard she could feel its pliable plastic bending beneath her grip.
Because I- Aimiee began, lips pulling white beneath her lime-colored lipstick.
Let's get started! Sydney sang out, cutting off the impending conflict, placing his clipboard and calculator onto the table in front of Joe. I worked out how many more recycling drives we need to run, according to the supplies we have acquired from previous drives and how much more we need. If we are to get everything up and ready to move by spring break, as Mr. Sherman requested, we need to hold a drive every other week until then. Or, as an alternative, we could hold them every week for half the time and spend the remaining two months constructing the things we need, instead of staying extra time after school and on weekends and being required to
explain the time used to administration and the janitorial staff. This speech finished, the dark-haired boy smiled cheerily and fell entirely silent, waiting for their ruling.
Kelsey blinked owlishly and looked helplessly at the other two. Aimiee was
busy inspecting her nails, and Joe looked blank.
Maybe we should get the whole Key Club together before we decide something so big, she suggested hopefully.
Yeah... where's Anthony, anyway? Joe hopped up from his stool, then leaned over and sent it spinning before he peered out the door. He said he was gonna be here...
The others will follow whatever we decide to do, Aimiee threw in, sounding resigned. They don't care about schedules.
Kelsey agreed grudgingly.
We should wait for Anthony, Joe repeated.
Is right here, intoned a familiar voice.
AAGH! Geez, man! Don't do that, givin' me a heart attack...
Kelsey swiveled about to offer a welcoming smile to the other boy, who stalked in past Joe and carefully set his filled-to-the seams backpack on the floor. I was at a football meeting, he informed them, running a quick hand over the dark hair shaved close to his skull. Sorry I'm late, I didn't want to just leave and miss something. What have we been doing?
Before anyone could open their mouths, Sydney cheerfully repeated his
entire speech of only a few moments of before, this time adding to the end, We have yet to make a decision.
There was an astounded silence, each member of the Key Club staring at their youngest member in something resembling both awe and worry.
Anthony coughed, breaking the silence. I vote for getting it done quickly, he said stiffly, then sat on Joe's vacated stool next to Kelsey. It seems to give us the most leeway, and attracts the least suspicion. Which, in reality, is not something we need to be handling at this stage.
Joe responded emphatically, nodding. It was really a surprise to no one... in every decision like this, he waited for Anthony's decision and then agreed. And he wasn't the only one.
I'll go with that, Kelsey seconded, patting Anthony's muscled arm. You're right, as always!
All right, whatever. Aimiee picked in irritation at one nail.
Sydney blinked cutely, surveyed each of their faces, then nodded and smiled
brightly. Yes! It's decided, then! I'll make up the schedules, and Mr. Joe, you can put them on the announcements as usual, and Miss Aimiee can help Mr. Sherman with the setup as usual, and Mr. Kelsey can do the outside advertisements, as usual... If you'll work up the finances, Mr. Anthony, I think we're set!
Kelsey winced inwardly, then stared down at her... his... German homework.
All right, then. I'm going. I'll see you all next meeting. Anthony rose abruptly, crossing the dingy shop to catch up his backpack and stalk out the open doorway in a span of less than ten seconds. Joe looked about, then followed, slinging his near-empty bag onto his shoulders as he tore down the hallway to catch up with the other.
Kelsey sighed, then put his homework away, resigning himself to finishing it during first period tomorrow. Tonight was movie night with Katsu, after all, and it was no fun putting off any of that for schoolwork.
Katsu...
For only a moment, Kelsey placed his palm against his shirt, pushing the fabric down to his flat chest, destroying the artful folds that made it appear there was something beneath there that there wasn't. Sydney was the only one he never could fool... Everyone else thought he was... a girl...
It was such a stupid thing. Katsu wasn't homophobic, after all, far from it... Sanosuke was flamingly gay, and Katsu loved him all the same, and it didn't seem to bother him at all... Of course, he'd found that out too late.
He and Katsu had already been when Sano had finally begun to trust
Kelsey enough to be himself around him. After all, he'd just assumed, that like any other boy, he'd have been disgusted... It wasn't a far-out assumption, after all.
And it had been too late, after he'd found out he'd been wrong, to say... oh, by the way, I'm not really a girl... He... he would find out someday. But until then... it wasn't hard to just avoid anything that would give it away. He'd just keep it up.
She would keep it up.
Until that day.

*** *** ***

This is the room, I guess... Misao peered again at the room number she had written down, then back up at the plate above the door, then nodded firmly. Yeah, Sano-san's in here.
Kaoru took a deep breath, then cast a worried glance down at the
dark-haired boy who stood unmoving by her side. Yahiko... are you going to be all right with this?
Of course. Yahiko refused to look up at her, voice shaking the tiniest bit. Of course I'm fine with it. Why wouldn't I be? I'm sure I've seen worse.
Kaoru felt Misao's eyes on her, and when she met her younger sister's gaze,
the amount of helplessness in those blue orbs made her ache. She smiled a little sadly at the younger girl, then knelt down to look the boy in his dark eyes.
she said gently, reaching out to take his shoulders, it's okay to be worried. You saw us when tou-san had his breakdown, we were all wrecks! And we're a lot older than you are, you know! It's fine if you're a little scared to see him.
Yahiko's dark eyes searched hers, the hardness she had seen there only a
few seconds ago wavering and struggling to melt away. She smiled gently, squeezing his thin shoulders. He was so small... and for perhaps the first time, she saw the beginnings of the little boy he was shining forth in gathering tears.
But you're girls, he said weakly.
You don't have to hide your feelings just because you're a boy, Misao said quietly, kneeling behind Kaoru. Kaoru shifted a little automatically, and her sister slid in closer. Sano-san has always been like that, hiding away everything that he thinks makes him weak. You told us yourself, right?
Yahiko wavered, looking back and forth between them, his frame shaking a little beneath Kaoru's gentle grip. But Sanosuke's so strong, he
finally whispered, chin quivering. He's strong and he can take care of himself. I want-
But do you see how unhappy he's made himself? Kaoru interrupted, voice
nearly breaking in urgency. Don't you see that? He pushed people away for so long, and now... Now he...
Now he wants to need someone and he isn't sure how, Misao finished softly.
Yahiko gazed at them silently, and the pain in those young eyes broke Kaoru's heart. He was only ten... why should a ten year old boy have to suffer so much, before he even really knew what life was about? He had been there, witnessing the torment of the others, bearing his own without a complaint or even evidence of his personal agony. Just... a little boy... never allowed to be a child... so much like Sanosuke... so much like tou-san...
So much like all of them...
She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around the little boy, letting her own aching empathy spill over her cheeks as she pulled him close. Don't hide your pain away, she whispered against his ear. That's what we're all here for. None of us are alone anymore.
None of us, Misao echoed softly, grabbing them both close to her. We're... we're a family now. And we're gonna stay that way, Yahiko-kun. We're all gonna be together from now on. And we don't have to be scared anymore. Of anything. It's all gonna be all right.
The three held onto each other, both girls crying freely against each other, until finally the dark-haired boy choked and wept into Kaoru's shoulder.
They didn't have to be scared anymore. They were all going to be together, no matter what. Nothing was ever going to tear them apart, ever again, not law or illness or injury... they would never leave each other, from this moment on...


He felt his voice crack with sleepiness, and Kenshin winced, opening one eye to the dimmed lights of the hospital room. How long had it been since he'd fallen asleep? The last he remembered was the steady beat of Sano's strong heart beneath his ear, the warmth of his arm about his back, the gentle rise and fall of his breathing... They must have fallen asleep like that, wrapped up in each other's arms...
He squirmed a little, then peered up at his still-slumbering lover's features. He looked so peaceful, so innocent, while sleeping... The cares and worries of the day melted from his thoughts, leaving him to dream of pleasant things... And he looked as though he hadn't a care in the world.
Kenshin drew a gentle hand along the sharp curve of his jaw, contemplating with a soft sadness that... that couldn't be the truth for him... He should be able to live on, worrying about nothing more than his next exam, maybe the mean teacher he had next period... not those things he had to deal with every moment of every day... Matters of life and death, they were... or so he had come to fear.
He should be able to be a little boy... a teenager... to move about from new experience to new experience... To never have to worry about the things he did...
he whispered forlornly, tracing his strong cheekbone. Such a beautiful child... Such a wonderful child. Who had never truly been a child. Who had been forced into adulthood at the tender age of nine. He could have had such a wonderful life... if he had been born and raised as he deserved, with all the luxury and love any boy could ever wish for, with his every want catered to without fail... Instead of living from day to day, hoping he would survive the harsh night, to live on and protect his only family in the world... With no one to take care of him... No one to kiss him on the forehead every night and whisper I love you, Sano...
It was no wonder he...
Kenshin's eyes fell upon the bandages that stretched partly up his forearm, the blood still staining the pure white cloth where it touched his hand. It still twisted his heart, to remember, the soft whimpers that had clawed out of his throat, the sounds of his blood dripping, dripping... falling to stain the floor... his pain...
Oh, Sano, doushite de gozaru ka...? he begged softly, knowing his plaintive voice reached ears still deaf to him. Why...? Why would he react so badly, to... To the simple affirmation that one person, one person alone, knew of their affair, even though he had no involvement with how Saitou could have known... To explode so... To hurt himself... to knowingly bring harm to himself because... only because...
How could he still hate himself so much, when he knew how much Kenshin
loved him? How much all the family loved him! Kaoru-dono, and Misao-dono, and of course Yahiko, and his friends Katsuhiro and Kelsey he'd spoken so often of... He was such a wonderful person, and they could all see it, it was why they loved him so! There was some undefinable quality about Sano... and his loyalty, his humor, his gentleness... protectiveness... tenderness... his passion and fire... There was such life within him, such kindness and capacity for love...
Why couldn't he see that?
You know all it is you are, Kenshin whispered, remembering those words Sano had spoken in such helpless anger that time... You know all you are, and yet you can't bring yourself to love that person de gozaru yo... And yet, so many of us who have never been able to fully trust... have found ourselves loving that person against our will de gozaru...
He smiled sadly, then returned to again lie his head against Sano's beating
heart, taking reassurance in the undeniable truth that at least for now, Sano lived on, and was well and strong... and at peace, in his dreams...

Kaoru sighed, feeling the effort of that exhalation shake her entire frame. God, she was exhausted... It wasn't even five yet, and she had homework tonight... so much for that... maybe she'd just stay home tomorrow...
She slumped against the wall, feeling the cold plastic burning through her shirt. It felt curiously good... her stomach had been unsettled, and apparently the lower temperature helped to calm that. So she remained leaning there, eyes closed.
What a day...
Once they had finished their spontaneous bonding session, Misao had noticed
that the lights were off in Sanosuke's room, and they had decided to wait for a while in case he was sleeping. Yahiko and Misao were taking a walk around the waiting areas, and had invited her along, but she had declined, pleading fatigue. They had accepted that excuse and gone on without her.
So she was here. Alone. In the quiet.
She didn't know how much time had passed from when she'd first leaned against the cold wall and when she felt the warm arm press against hers, another figure leaning there next to her, a warm and exotic-scented perfume drifting to her senses.
He really did himself in, didn't he, Meg's low voice observed.
Kaoru blinked open her eyes, shifting to gaze at the older girl in quiet surprise. Meg smiled down at her, and there was a certain amount of sadness in her onyx eyes.
You've seen Sanosuke? Kaoru asked hesitantly, knowing she should probably move back from where their hips remained snugly pressed together, but afraid to lose the sudden... comfort...? Comfort? Was that the proper term for...?
I checked in on him, Kaoru-chan. He seemed all right then, after the sedative wore off. She shrugged prettily. It's not regular practice to medically sedate someone after anything but a emotional outburst, so I suppose he must have showed some violent opposition to being treated.
Sounds like Sanosuke, Kaoru admitted with the tiniest fond smile. So... he's all right, then?
Yes, I think so. Ken-san went in there with him a few minutes after I left, so I thought it would be fine to leave them alone. Meg winked, then leaned back against the wall again. Her shift in position did nothing to alleviate the lack of space between them, her thigh rubbing against Kaoru's as they stood in silence.
Kaoru stared at the floor, her heart pounding so loudly in her breast that it seemed to echo down the long hallway, bouncing off the tiled walls and amplifying... God, this was uncomfortable... And it was even worse, to think... she didn't mind... All the space in this hallway, along this wall, and Meg chose to press her slender body so close to Kaoru... continually rubbing closer as to push into her body heat... which seemed to be tripling with every thudding heartbeat...
So, Kaoru-chan... Meg murmured, leaning closer. Kaoru shuddered minutely.
she whispered, forgetting for the briefest of moments to speak in English. Her mind... wouldn't work... wouldn't work at all...
Are you going to be all right to go home tonight? You seem so... shaken up... Her voice coarsened to something that could only called a purr with those last words, and Kaoru felt herself shivering uncontrollably, not knowing why, not willing to admit why...
I- I guess so, I- I have school tomorrow, and homework, and you said Sanosuke was okay, and tou-san is here, and... and... She could feel herself rambling, and winced, wondering just how stupid she must sound, hating her lack of control over her speech patterns at times, hating her utter stupidity and... and...
If you're sure... There was the strangest feel to those simple words, an unspoken... an unspoken... something... Kaoru felt her heartbeat increase tenfold at those three words, those three syllables, a shiver raking her entire frame, resonating through the form pressed to her side, her body quivering in... in...
Meg, I- Kaoru couldn't bring herself to force any more through her lips, everything frozen into that moment...
Until Meg shrugged and stood away from her, turning on her boot heel and
taking a few steps down the hallway. Then I suppose I'll see you soon, Kaoru-chan, she breathed, fluttering her dark eyelashes against a pale cheek, and was gone down the expanse of the hallway.

*** *** ***

It had been a remarkably quiet week.
Ever since that day, that dark, horrible day, that day they'd all spent in the hospital waiting and worrying by Sano's side, everything had returned to normal.
Or at least as normal as it could be in this household.
Misao-dono, get back in the window de gozaru yo! Kenshin called into the living room, husky soprano harried and strident. If you fall again-
I WON'T! returned the distant voice.

There was a loud scuffle in the living room. Kenshin blinked down the
hallway, then smiled warmly at Sano as the tall boy dragged his younger daughter back in the window.
Misao, I swear to God- he warned, deep voice rumbling through the expanse of air that separated them to tingle across Kenshin's cheeks. If you fall out that window and break your neck I will never forgive you- STOP WIGGLING!!!!
Misao-dono wailed. There were a few more loud
thumps, then silence.
Kenshin smiled to himself, then reentered the kitchen. Sano would handle the children... he had dishes to wash, and lunches to make for tomorrow... His own, Kaoru-dono's, and... Sano's, perhaps... He felt his cheeks heat a little as he contemplated that.
He thought for a few more minutes, then blushed deeper. He felt so... domestic.

He jumped, startled from contemplating what kind of sandwich Sano might like to blink into the dark blue eyes of his eldest. H-hai, Kaoru-dono? he returned, feeling curiously sheepish.
When are we going to go get our tree, tou-san? It's the first day of December tomorrow, so... we need to go sometime soon, right? Kaoru-dono cocked her head, leaning in the doorway.
Kenshin blinked dumbly for a few moments, then cast a glance
at the old calendar he had hung over the sink. Oh, my... You're right, aren't you de gozaru ka? He gazed at the calendar a few moments more, still baffled. December...? Already? It had been the beginning of November when he had spoken with Shishou about Sano and the... situation... And it had already been a month?
And Christmas was already coming.
Christmases of the past had always been the highlight of his year. Buying presents for the girls, and seeing their pretty faces light up in delight, knowing he had made them happy with his choices... And the decorations... and the colored lights... and the smell of pine floating through the little apartment... It was indeed a wonderful time of the year.
Maybe it would snow!
We can go as soon as you want de gozaru yo! he said brightly, smiling with a sense of cheer that seemed to burn through his entire being. Tomorrow, or even this evening, perhaps... Oh! I should get the decorations de gozaru! He dropped the soapy towel he had been holding and rushed past Kaoru-dono. The decorations in the closet downstairs that Shinimori-dono let them use... the garlands and the tinsel and the nutcrackers and the wreaths and the mistletoe and the ribbons and the bulbs to hang upon the tree and the other ornaments and the nativity scene with the goats and the sheep...
He slid down the stairs nearly headfirst and skidded into a turn, bare feet falling in nearly-silent thumps onto the wood-paneled floor. The closet... Ah, there! And all his decorations, waiting peacefully inside, just biding the time until another holiday season...
Ah, Christmas!

Kaoru watched after her father, bemused. The redheaded man was so much of a child when he was happy... And he'd always been insufferable when the holidays arrived. Christmas in particular... though any holiday was a bright time to him.
Thanksgiving had been an interesting affair this year, with Sanosuke and Yahiko with them. It had never been anything extravagant, but this year had been even a little more restratained, because as a whole they'd been quite unsure of how to conduct things. But it had turned out fine in the end.
And it was amazing how much the boys could eat in three hours.
Kaoru noted with a moderate amount of amusement that her mind hadn't included her father in the boys. Well, he was the consumate mother...
She pushed the thought away with a minute shrug and stuck her head back in the living room. Sanosuke and Misao were having some heated discussion, while poor Yahiko sat on the couch trying to read something for school, throwing dark glowers in his brother's direction every time he turned a page.
I was trying-
To commit suicide? Are you crazy? If ya wanna see the man, go downstairs! It's not gonna getcha anywhere fallin' out the window!
Would you two SHUT UP?!!
Kaoru shook her head with no small amount of fondness and moved fully out of the hallway. Hey, guys... she began feebly.
If you hadn't INTERFERED-
Kaoru snapped. Christmas alert!
Her younger sister froze in the midst of whatever she had been threatening Sanosuke with, turning wide blue eyes to Kaoru's position by the wall. Her parted lips mouthed the single word , not a sound escaping her throat.
Kaoru nodded.
Is he downstairs already? Misao sighed, shaking her head in consternation, then pushed past Sanosuke and flopped onto the couch. Aagh... Already?
It is December tomorrow... Kaoru pointed out, wondering inwardly if she was the only one who ever knew what day it was. They had a calendar! Why didn't anybody look at it?
Misao pondered that for a while. The small room was silent.
Kaoru shifted back and forth, waiting impatiently for whatever her sister was going to pronounce, no doubt with characteristic pomp and splendor.
Well, I guess it's time for Christmas! she said cheerfully.
Sanosuke coughed faintly. began the rough voice, 'jou-chan... Misao... just why is there a Christmas alert'? And should I be worried?
Christmas is tou-chan's favorite time of the year, Misao informed, craning her neck to peer up into Sanosuke's deep brown eyes. He floofs about the house singing Christmas carols and hanging decorations everywhere and buying presents by the cartload. It gets kinda scary.
Sanosuke blinked, then peered over at his brother, who had looked up from his textbook. The two shared a long, silent gaze, then looked back at Kaoru and Misao in startling tandem. We... This'll be something new for us, Sanosuke explained a little sheepishly, casting his dark eyes to the worn carpet. Decorations and all. I mean, we'd get each other a present and all, just for fun, but we've never really had anything bigger than that.
Kaoru crossed the floor and stepped up beside him, laying a hand on his strong shoulder. It'll probably be quite the shock, she advised him with a smile. But you'll get used to it. If you can deal with tou-san on a regular basis, it only takes about that and half again to handle him at Christmastime. And he'll probably give you an allowance of the savings to buy presents for everyone. He always saves up a lot extra for holidays.
Sanosuke grinned down at her, and before she could dodge, that familiar
rough hand descended onto the top of her head to playfully muss up her hair. It'll be fun, he returned with the beginnings of cheer sparkling in the depths of his eyes. Naa, jou-chan? All of us bein' together an' all.
Oh, God, they're a perfect match, Misao moaned, throwing her head back onto the arm of the couch. This is gonna be quite the Christmas...

The strident soprano echoed up the staircase and into the small apartment, virtue of the door Kenshin had left open in his mad rush downstairs. Kaoru eyed the older boy, who winced and took off at a quick jog to bunch up the rug beneath his feet and then thunder down the stairs, calling an obligatory,
Kaoru watched him go, then heaved a sigh and sat down beside Yahiko, taking a cursory glance at the textbook. He glared at her and turned it away from her field of vision. She blinked, then hmph'ed in offense and looked over at the sprawled figure on the loveseat.
Misao cracked open an eye under her scrutiny, then struggled up to look at her correctly, mischief beginning to sparkle in those eyes. she teased, leaning forward a little, ya gonna invite Meg to Christmas dinner,
Kaoru blinked at her, feeling her innards twist in a strange sense of guilt, not understanding why, not comprehending the knowing look in her little sister's blue eyes, her skin tingling unpleasantly as a rush of nervous adrenaline shot through her veins.
Wh-what do you mean? she asked in forced innocence, unable to force the
feeling that some wrong she'd done had just been uncovered. She hadn't done anything, after all! Nothing at all! Why did she feel so guilty? And why was Misao asking her these questions? Why was she looking at her with those sly eyes?
Oh, just that I saw you two gettin' all cozy at the hospital. Just figured. She leaned back on the cushions, her sharp, teasing gaze not leaving Kaoru's face once. Am I wrong?
About what?! Kaoru sputtered, her fingers twisting unknowingly into knots in her lap. What do you mean, cozy'? I don't know what on Earth you're talking about!
Misao shrugged, stretching lazily. If that's how you wanna play it, fine. I'll just wait until you admit it. She squirmed about and buried her face in a pillow.
Admit what? Kaoru interrogated, feeling a strange sense of frightened urgency rise in her throat. She cast a harried glance down at Yahiko, noticed he was studiously ignoring them both and studing multiplication, then let herself ignore his presence.
Oh... I'm not gonna say a word until you do...
Kaoru jumped up from the couch, stomping one foot on the floor in exasperation, glaring down at her.
There was a pause, then a growl of consternation, and Misao exploded up from the loveseat to glare her in the face, feet sliding gracefully to the floor. she pronounced with an agonizingly slowness. Kaoru waited in both annoyance and a certain amount of fear.
ARGH! God, nee-chan, you're so dense you don't even see it when- GAH! Misao spun on her heel and stalked away from her, heading for the kitchen. Before she reached the door, however, her blue eyes glinted in the weaker light, her face set in hard lines of frustration.
You think she's BLAZIN' HOT and you won't ADMIT IT! she snapped, then slammed the kitchen door behind her.
Kaoru stood in astounded silence, then felt something twist within her. What... what was she saying...?! Meg was a girl! A girl! She wasn't- she wasn't-
A shiver ran its burning fingers all the way down her form, her traitorous mind dragging back the remembered feeling of the older girl pressed tightly to her side, that long, silky black hair falling over her shoulder, the rough purr of her low, hoarse voice as she spoke...
Kaoru stood in the middle of the floor, hands clenched at her sides, trying hard to forget that feeling... the way that electricity tingled over her suddenly-aching skin, the cool, ethereal hand gripping her heart so tightly to send it racing and shuddering in her breast... She wasn't. She wasn't. She was overreacting. That was all. It couldn't be any more than that. An overreaction. Misao was judging too quickly. It was only... It didn't mean anything that she could appreciate that she... she was attractive... she was provocative... she was dark, beautiful, voluptuous, enticing, seductive, all those things that... that...
Just because she could see that... just because she could appreciate the effect such qualities brought on the unsuspecting viewer... just because... that didn't have to mean anything! Anything at all!
Did it?
No! No, of course not! Misao was being silly. She was only being silly. Overreacting. There had to be a perfectly innocent explanation for why she... why the thought of that slender physique against her side, the soft push of her thigh against her as she'd shifted, shifted ever closer, rubbing into her shaking body, the smooth yet substantial curve of one breast against her thin arm... why those thoughts... made her ache so... stirred her so...
There had to be a perfectly innocent explanation.
And she wished she knew what it was.
Oh, God, how she wished...

Get the box- aagh! Oro!
Sano caught the sagging cardboard on the edge of his fingertips, then grabbed the huge box tightly to chest by the sole virtue of a good deal of luck and a helpful push from Kenshin's side. He staggered under the immense weight, the ominous shifting of whatever contents this thing held making him list helplessly to one side.
But the contented sigh that echoed from the other side was well worth the
struggle, though muffled by the container of Christmas ornaments. Sano grinned faintly, though the expression was a bit pained. Should I- gah- Should I take these upstairs? he called plaintively, unable to see the tiny redhead over the wall of cardboard.
Of course de gozaru! came the bright response. Put it in the living room de gozaru. I still have a few more, so...
Yeah, yeah. I'll be back. Sano grimaced and inched over towards the staircase. He wasn't about to question how on Earth they'd managed to get these damned things up to the apartment in previous years, considering this was making his arms ache and he was probably stronger than Kenshin, jou-chan and Misao put together. And there were still three more of this mammoth size, with all the little ones besides! That had to be a damn big closet...
He made his way up the staircase step by agonizing step, taking about a minute for three feet up the slope. It seemed an eternity until his sneaker thumped into the door at the top, and Sano heaved a tired sigh of relief before he kicked the wood with all the strength he had left.
Silence.
Sano scowled, then took a deep breath before bellowing OPEN THE GODDAMNED DOOR, MISAO!!!! at the top of his lungs.
After a few more seconds, his arms straining, the hinges creaked and swung the wooden barrier out of his way. Sano staggered into the hallway and set the cardboard box carefully on the hardwood floor, then collapsed on top of it with a whimper.
Misao observed cheerfully.
he growled, willing his muscles to stop aching. Go help your father or I'll beat you senseless with a broom.
A foot nudged his side. Abuuuuuuse... I'm gonna tell my daddy and make him stop sleeping with you if you keep being such a horrible stepmommy.
Stepmommy my ass, he grumbled, lifting his face blearily from the crinkled top of the cardboard box. I ain't nobody's stepmommy.
Yup! Misao has two daddies! the younger girl chirped brightly, just before stepping not so lightly down his back and one leg to bounce down the stairs, singing something Sano would rather she didn't remember the lyrics to in the morning.
he told himself resignedly, pushing with a grunt to his knees, then to his feet, they warned you, didn't they, Sagara? Can't blame anybody but yourself...
With a sheepish scratch at the back of his neck, he went back down the stairs. More decorations to bring up, after all... maybe there'd be good food in store, this Christmas... maybe some mistletoe...
A wicked grin curved his lips, and his pace fairly doubled.

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