Author's Note: Please note that this chapter is more than a year after the end of the Heartcatch series, so Futaba is about a year and a half old already, she could probably talk by then.

Chapter 10: Little little sister to little sister

Season: Heartcatch Precure

Main Characters: Ibara(Dark Precure, refer to chap 2), Futaba

Summary: Two girls who had only recently arrived at this world shared such a similarity: both of them were a little sister.

Bold: emphasize

Italics: thoughts

CAP LOCK: SHOUT

A loud, bitter growl could be heard even in the noisy afternoon street.

Yuri: Quit the grumbling, I didn't force you to come.

Ibara: When you give someone two options, one of which being studying for exams four months away at home with you, everyone would automatically assume the other is better, Miss Smartypants!

Yuri: (Mortified) Hey! I was only looking out for you. (Arms akimbo)You need to be well-prepared for exams since you have never received junior high school education.

It's quite rare for this usually calm and composed high school third year to raise her voice, at her little sister however… we get the picture.

Yuri: (sigh) I know you think destined enmity doesn't vanish that easily, but that's towards me, not the others. What do you hold against helping a sick friend out anyway?

Ibara: I am perfectly fine with taking care of a fifteen-year-old, but you only remembered to tell me that we might be taking care of an one-year-old just now?!

Yuri: No one else can come today, Erika and Itsuki had fashion club business, Kaoruko-san has a seminar to attend to, Tsubomi's father and mother needs to look after the shop, we've got to lend a hand! Besides, it's about time…

Ibara: For what?

Yuri: You'll see. Oh, like it or not, we're here already.

And here comes another growl.

Inside Tsubomi's room

Yuri: (outside, voice muffled by the door) Tsubomi? (Knock) It's me, Yuri, I'm coming in.

And not surprisingly, a silver haired boy was sitting by the sick girl's side.

Olivier: You had me so worry when Erika said you fainted in PE lesson. This is what happen when you don't take good care of yourself.

Tsubomi: It's just a cold and a fever, don't worry, (sniff) I catch colds all the time.

Olivier: Do you realise that makes me even more worried? (facepalm) Good grief…

Yuri coughed into her hand intentionally to let the couple know of their presence, followed by Ibara giggling quietly.

Ibara: I hope we're not interrupting anything important.

Tsubomi pulled up her blanket, Olivier pulled up his scarf.

Ibara: (whisper to Yuri) Welp, Olivier is here, we can go.

Yuri: (ignoring Ibara) If you are up for it, Erika has already packed your homework for you, though it'd be wise to ask some of your other classmates. In addition, we've brought ginger tea leaves from your grandma, I can…

Olivier: (interrupt) Great, I'll go make some tea for you then, Tsubomi. (Takes the pack) Thanks, Yuri. (Rushes out)

Yuri: (whisper to Ibara) No chance of that now.

Tsubomi: I appreciate your concern, Yuri-san, Ibara-san, but I'll be fine after some rest and grandma's ginger tea, you needn't worry.

Yuri: I figured you would say that, but I suppose you need my concern somewhere else?

Tsubomi: Actually, yes… I'm sorry but as you should've seen when you came in, we can really use some help taking care of Futaba, the shop is swarming with customers for some reason.

Which earned another irritated groan from Ibara.

Yuri: Ignore her, we'll go help with the baby.

Ibara: (whisper) Can't we help look after the shop and they continue with the baby?

Yuri sent her a sharp look which made her stop. Crap! How is my sister this scary and how have I never noticed that before? Ibara thought as a shiver ran down her spine.

In Futaba's room

Ibara: So this is a baby?

The teal haired girl sat down cross-legged and observed the infant squeezing Tsubomi's fairy who was practically the same size as herself.

Chypre: Yes-desu…ow… isn't… oww… she … ouch…cute-desu?

Futaba: Cute~~~ (smile)

Ibara: Uh…um... not q-quite.

Yuri turned around and started snickering quietly, which earned her a scowl from her little sister.

Futaba suddenly let go of Chypre and tugged at Ibara's sleeve.

Ibara: Ugh! What now?

Yuri: Perhaps she wants you to hold her. (Refraining herself from smirking)

Ibara: WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER!

Futaba: No…? (Puppy eyes)

Ibara: (grind her teeth) Fine! Just for a little while.

She lifted the baby gently, but Futaba suddenly started crying out loud.

Ibara: What?! What did I do wrong?

Yuri: Here, allow me.

She cradled Futaba and rocked her back and forth, the child slowly calmed down in Yuri's arms, causing a bit of jealousy to well inside Ibara, which Yuri noticed, apparently.

Yuri: Before you say anything, a baby can't control when to cry, they just do, so it probably wasn't your fault.

Ibara: There has to be some reasons…

Yuri: Well, it doesn't seem like she's hungry, nor is the room too hot or too cold, maybe she just feels like crying. You see, there are many reasons that make a baby cry. Hunger, temperature, tiredness… Some even say that babies have their sixth sense well-developed, like they can see things we can't see or they can perceive how we feel.

Chypre: No way-desu! Not even Potpourri can do that-desu.

Yuri: Well, those are just superstition, personally, I don't believe in those, but there are so many people who have "evidence" that I can't deny the possibility.

Ibara: (to herself) Perceive how we feel, eh?

5:30pm, Outside the building

Hanasaki Mizuki: Thank you so much today, Yuri-chan, Ibara-chan.

Yuri: Not at all. (Smile) Until next time then.

They walked away, Yuri was just about to start a tease but Ibara stopped in her tracks abruptly.

Ibara: Sorry, I think I left something in Futaba's room.

She ran back towards the flower shop as Yuri raised an eyebrow.

Futaba's room

She patted the sleeping infant's head.

Ibara: Is it possible that you really understand me?

Futaba smiled in her sleep.

Ibara: Heh, silly me, why would I believe in those superstitions?

As she was about to turn around and go away, Futaba suddenly started mumbling something, well, sleep talking something.

Futaba: Sisters…

Ibara: What? What did you say?

Futaba: Learn to be… little sisters… together...

At this, Ibara showed a heartfelt smile, denying the possibility of Futaba was just dreaming of some unusual things.

Ibara: You're right, Futaba-chan, we will learn how to be little sisters. Soon enough…

A/N: Sorry for the late update, it's just that there are a lot of things to get used to when you're a secondary 3 student. Really sorry :(

End of Chapter 10