Yep.. Let's get this started.. How was the cliff hanger? Family problems.. Drama.. Yeah.. I'm distracted. I was expecting more from this fic.. It's not living up to my enthusiastic expectations at all.. Oh well. Tell me how I'm doing.

BTW Uh.. Yeah, I don't own Naruto or anything like taht, or Aster would be Itachi's lover and Sasuke wouldn't be a homo.. I don't why I put that, I won't do it again. I just feel I need to, everyone else does.. Is there a real reason for it?

Chapter Two

I'm Sorry

"Glad to see her?!" Idate yelled indignantly. "I don't ever want to hear about her again. I hate her and she hates me! That's all there is to it."

Hikaru felt like he had been punched in the stomach. "But.. Why?"

Idate had managed to escape his grasp. "She thinks she knows everything, but she's knows nothing! I hate her!" He had tears in his eyes. "She doesn't care about me, and she never did!"

Hikaru gave him a stern look and Idate sobered immediately. "That's not true and you know it. C'mon, you need top get to bed. Enough of this nonsense."

They climbed down the tree and started the trek to their house. Idate trudged behind Hikaru. The little boy yawned. "I'm only going 'cause it's you telling me to…"

Hikaru stopped to look over his brother. Idate was stumbling and his eyes were only half-open. "Come here.." He picked him up, arranging his limp limbs across his back.

As his arms wrapped around Hikaru's neck, he gave a sigh of relief. "Niisan…" came the sleepy voice. "I'm sorry." There was a long pause. "I love you…"

Hikaru shifted him on his back before answering. "Same here otouto…" but the boy was already asleep.

He made his way in through the back door, weaving in shadows to the small landing that held the doors to all their rooms. The door creaked noisily as he crept into Idate's room to lay him in his bed. Making sure that the sheets were tucked in around him, Hikaru gave him one last glance before going into his room.

The room was only light by slivers of moonlight sneaking in through cracks in the walls. He almost didn't notice the lump in his bed. "Aster?" he gently shook her.

"I'm awake Niisan…" There was a bruise spreading across her cheek.

"Aster-chan…" his hand brushed against it and he watched her wince.

"Mom and Dad were mad that you weren't home. They said it was my fault…" she gave him a sorrowful look. "Is it?"

He shook his head. "Of course not. I told you to stay up here.. Why didn't you listen?"

"I did," she was staring down her lap. "They came up here…" her voice was barely audible. Hikaru swore in the back of his mind. I shouldn't have left her alone…

"Let me go get some ice for that," he moved to get up, up her small hands wrapped around his arm as she pulled him back down.

"Don't leave me alone Niisan.." she pleaded. "Please…"

He gave her a pitying look. "Aster, that will hurt much more in the morning. You need ice."

"I-it's fine Niisan.." she stuttered. "Just don't go."

Hikaru gave in. "I'll sit with you until you're ready to go to bed."

She lowered her head, biting her fingernails. "Hikaru.." she paused, making him sympathize with her by her expression. "I wanted to stay in here with you."

"N-no!" he shot back, shocked by her request. "Aster, we're brother and sister…"

"So?" she obviously didn't understand what he was implying. "You can get ice if you let me stay here."

"That sounds like a catch twenty-two for me. Where's my part in this?" He asked sarcastically.

"You can get me ice, like you wanted." Her eyes were wide, it was an earnest offer.

Hikaru couldn't help but laugh. "Fine, you've got yourself a deal."

She smiled slightly, though sadness still clouded her eyes. Hikaru watched her curl up on his bed as he went to get the ice. When he came back, she had created an igloo of the bedding and was peeking out of it at him.

"What are you doing?" He asked, chuckling at her.

"Waiting for you." She said it so seriously, Hikaru thought it was funny.

He destroyed her cave and applied the ice to her cheek. Aster leaned into his arms, curling up like a small animal. Even though was too old for such treatment, he coddled her like a baby. It was a few hours before he was satisfied with the ice's effect. After dumping it, he started arranging a bed on the floor, planning to let her have the bed.

"What are you doing Niisan?" She leaned over the edge of the bed, giving him a confused glance.

"Making my bed."

"You're supposed to sleep here," she patted the mattress next to her.

"Aster…" He sighed, not wanting to start this argument again.

"What's the point of me being in here if you're on the floor?" she sounded so adult.

"You're persistent. That's not a trait many people appreciate, me included." Hikaru pulled the sheets he arranged on the floor onto the bed.

"My lover will appreciate it."

"What?" he pushed his eyebrows together, thoroughly confused by her random thoughts.

"The guy who loves me will appreciate it." She was muttering, as if it was a simple thing that explained itself.

"Why are you talking about that? Do you have some kind of boyfriend?!" He grabbed her shoulder, turning her toward him. "You're too young for a boyfriend!"

She shot him a moody glare. "Of course not, Niisan. I know I'm too young. I won't have a boyfriend."

"Then why are you talking about such things?" Hikaru was thoroughly exhausted by her tangents. "What do you mean you won't have a boyfriend?"

"I'll get a lover." She chided him, rolling back over. "Boyfriends break up with you, lovers don't."

He gave another stunned look. It was a moment before another thought hit him. She's right… Boyfriends and girlfriends always break up, but you never hear about lovers breaking up. That's an odd connection. "Aster," he said after a moment, "Don't say anything else, just go to bed."

She made an odd sleepy sound, shifting and snuggling against his side. The sheets were thin, but it was still warm, even as the summer faded into fall. Daydreams of random and unconnected things floated through his mind as he lay on his back, staring at the ceiling. They were feathers drifting through an empty mind.

He was almost asleep when he felt a hand dig into his ribs. Hikaru turned over, thinking Aster had woken up. Her hand clenched tighter around the fistful of shirt she had, and she grimaced, caught in a nightmare. He watched her writhe for a second as his mind went blank with shock. Her small, terrified gasp snapped him out of his stupor.

Hikaru reached for her shoulder, planning to wake her, instead, she slipped under his arm in her sleep. With her so close, he could feel her small body trembling. But the effect was almost immediate. Her shaking faded, and her tense form relaxed. Her nightmare's over.. He realized as a look of calm came over her.

It was sitting there with his sister under his arm that he became aware of how truly dire their situation was. They lived under the same roof has their parents, but these biological caregivers only served to scar them in various ways. He had always known in context that all this was bad, but he had grown up knowing nothing else. Now Hikaru saw firsthand the effects of this lifestyle in his siblings.

For once, he felt helpless and small. What can I do to help them? How do I support them when I barely know how to care for myself? He had always been the strong one, the steady rock for them, but now he seemed to be crumbling away. We can't continue on like this… If I can't save myself, how do I save Aster and Idate? Question after question came at him, all questions he couldn't answer. A knot twisted in his stomach. It didn't make sense to feel so hopeless after he been so strong all this time. I just have to go on… There's nothing I can do but go on and live through tomorrow.

He gazed down at his sister, coming to a decision. I swear I'll make it up to you guys. I'll get us out of this mess as soon as I can. When I'm old enough, I'll move away and take you with me… Things will get better.

Hikaru slid down into the sheets, letting his eyes drift closed. The road was still unclear, but if he could imagine it, he would find it in the fog.

The sunlight crept into the room, waking him. Slipping his arm out from under Aster, he crawled out of bed. He sighed as he realized he had fallen asleep in his clothes. At least I don't have to get dressed…

It was better not to wake anyone if he was leaving. Surely his mother and father would disapprove of him leading missions for the genin. It was the job of a chunin, but it didn't pay enough for their satisfaction. Waking Aster would be a mistake because she would try to keep him home, and Idate would only be angry with her for it, but secretly in agreement. Causing as little commotion as possible, he set out through his window into the dew covered morning.

Aster sat up, rubbing her eyes as her hand absently searched the cold side of the bed. It was a moment before she noticed Hikaru was missing. He left…

The door made an obnoxious sound as it opened, revealing Idate. "Where's Niisan?" he asked accusingly.

"He left," she muttered, still half asleep.

"What did you do to make him leave?" He glared at her, gritting his teeth.

Aster gasped, face flushing in hurt. "I didn't do anything…"

"You're a liar." He sighed heavily, crossing his arms tightly over his chest.

"Idate?" she called, he was right outside the open door, surely he could hear her. "Otouto…"

He continued the walk toward the staircase. Aster leapt out of the bed, dashing after him in her pajamas.

"Idate!" she caught his shoulder. He jerked away, but didn't divert his eyes from hers. "Otouto… I'm sorry."

"So you did do something last night…" He gave her a cold look.

"No!" she cried, trying to keep her surge of indignant anger at bay. "I just wanted to apologize for yesterday…"

Idate was silent, not sure what to say. An apology was unexpected.

"I shouldn't have said those things to you," Aster frowned deeply, hoping for forgiveness.

He was still and expressionless for a moment. "Yeah well…" he paused again, uncomfortable under her gaze. "I guess I'm sorry too."

She hugged him abruptly. "I'm sorry, I was just upset. Please forgive me."

Idate struggled, trying to remove himself from her grasp. "Okay, I don't care. I forgive you."

She released him finally and gave him a small smile. "Thanks Otouto…"

"Don't thank me…" he muttered, starting down the stairs. Halfway down he stopped. She had been watching him and had just turned to get dressed and start her day. "Aster!" he called quietly.

She stopped, peering back around the corner. "Yes Otouto?"

"C-can you.." he bit his lip before finishing. "Can you forgive me too?"

She smiled at him warmly. "There's nothing to forgive. You're my little brother, I love you."

As if it were an everyday thing, she disappeared around the corner, gone from his view. Idate stood, stunned, for a few minutes before silently making his way sluggishly down the rest of stairs.

lolz. Aster is insane and stupid.. We think. Maybe she's smart and really good at hiding it. For any one who read SIght and Sound, they see major foreshadowing! lolz Other people probably see it too... I'll continue after I update Sight and Sound, so don't hold ur breath.. As if u were..

REview please! I love to hear from u guys! Even flames.. I welcome it all! XD