So it's later than I meant to post it, BUT HERE IT IS! I think this is the final chapter. I say that because I CAN go on if I want to, but I kind of like this ending. It will all be up to you. Leave a review or pm me what you think. Thanks and enjoy!

/Akira's POV/

"Aniki?" Hikiri asked sleepily and I turned to her. I felt bad about waking her up but I was also mad at her for keeping such a big secret from me.

Our mother's had told me everything after I went into Hikiri's room to check on her and didn't find her but a picture of her and the two boys I'd met earlier instead. What truly surprised me was that instead of my beautiful little sister, the picture showed me a…well, a mini-me only with big grey eyes that had a slight haze to them. Eyes that I would know anywhere.

I'd demanded to know what was happening and with every passing sentence they said, I could feel my anger boil more and more. My sweet and innocent little sister had been pretending to be me for the past six years.

It was a bad idea to go with our father after all. I thought he was keeping something from me, but I never imagined it would be something like this. I doubt anything could have prepared me for what I heard.

I went over and quickly lifted Hikiri, saying, "We're leaving. I want you to explain to me why you would do something like this without letting me know."

"She just-"The blond started but I cut him off.

"This is none of your business so I suggest you stay out of it." He blinked, apparently not having expected me to snap at him.

"Aniki, wait." Hikiri said, trying to get out of my grasp. To make sure she didn't fall, I set he back down on the couch. "I never told you because you'd never have let me done it." She said, glaring up at me.

"Of course I wouldn't have!" I said as though it were obvious. "Why would I let my precious little sister go somewhere she could get hurt?" I didn't see why Hikiri insisted on doing things that could hurt her either physically or mentally or even emotionally.

"You always treat me like I'm helpless and like I'll break as soon as things get hard." Hikiri told me. "You make it seem as though I can't do anything on my own just because I'm blind."

"That's because you can't!" I yelled.

/Nokoru's POV/

"That's because you can't!" Akira screamed and Suoh and I both winched. That was a very mean thing to say to anyone and Hikiri had just had it screamed in her face by her beloved older brother.

I felt the temperature in the room drop and knew Hikiri had just unleashed year's worth of pent up anger. It seemed like he didn't notice though because he kept on talking. "You need someone to protect you so you can't get hurt. Is it so bad that I'm just trying to look out for you?"

"You're an idiot and a jerk Aniki." Hikiri said so softly I almost missed it. Akira stopped in his rant and stared in shock at his little sister. I felt a little awkward as I watched the siblings fight, but I felt like my feet were glued to the floor.

Hikiri stood up and moved towards the door, her bangs shadowing her eyes. "Where are you going?" Akira demanded, not through with his sister yet. He may have loved her, but he would easily yell at her if he felt she had done something stupid. I wonder what it would be like to have a sibling like that.

Suoh and I stood transfixed as we watched Akira place a hand on Hikiri's shoulder, ready to make her face him. Time seemed to go in slow motion as Hikiri grabbed her brother's arm and easily threw him out of the still open doors.

Suoh and I heard the breath leave him as he slammed into the wall and we could almost see the anger radiating off of Hikiri as she said in a cold voice, "I don't need anyone to protect me. Get it through your thick skull that I'm not a delicate princess who has to be waited on hand and foot."

Anger still pouring from her in waves, she left the room with a quick and confident stride that neither Suoh nor I had ever seen before. She looked, I thought, like a warrior heading home after being victorious in battle. All the people who still remained moved out of her way.

Suoh and I stared after her, stunned, long after she had disappeared from sight. We turned to each other and I asked weakly, "Did you know she was that strong?"

"No," Suoh said, shaking his head. I took a hesitant step towards the door to see if Akira had been knocked out or not. Suoh was in front of me, making sure that he wouldn't try anything.

We didn't have to worry though because although he wasn't knocked out, he was lying on the floor in a daze. He didn't seem to quite understand what had just happened. I wasn't sure whether to leave him there and go home after what had just happened or to ask if he was alright.

I chose to ask if he was alright since I hoped he may warm up to us better than if we just left him there. He looked up at me for a few seconds before he pushed himself into a sitting position.

"What did I say?" He asked, holding his head in his hands. I was debating whether he was stupid or really didn't know how much those words had hurt her. When I saw the confusion and sadness in his eyes, I figured it was a little bit of both, though mostly the second one.

"How would you feel," I asked, "If you were different from everyone else like she is and someone you really cared about told you bluntly that you couldn't do anything just because you were different?"

It took a few moments for that to sink in and for what I had just said to click, but when it did, he looked horrified and fisted clumps of his hair asking himself, "What did I do?"

"You should apologize." Suoh said quietly.

Akira's hands dropped back into his lap and he stared at the ground. "I know I shouldn't be so overbearing," He said after a long and, in my opinion, awkward silence.

"Then why are you?" I asked, wondering why he would act this way even though he knew Hikiri didn't like it.

"She's my little sister," He said with a sigh. "When we were little, she would always hide behind me when other people came over. She eventually grew out of that but then some boys around her age started teasing her and picking on her since little boys do that when they like someone. Hikiri didn't know that and she always ran crying to me, saying nobody liked her.

"It hurt to see her so sad. One of the boy's took things a little too far one day and Hikiri ran off. It took hours to find her and she refused to speak to anyone for a long time. I guess that's when I started being so overprotective. I never wanted to see her look so…hurt and…broken as she did back then.

"I thought that if she were to go to school or be around anymore guys she might be hurt like that again."

I think I was starting to understand now. I didn't blame him for being the way he was, since I'd probably be the same way if something like that happened to one of my friends.

"Why don't you tell her that?" I asked and he looked up at me, his eyes full of sadness and some pain. "She'd probably understand if you explained it to her." He nodded.

"How do you two feel?" He asked us suddenly. "About Hikiri?"

"She's one of our closest friends." I answered without hesitation.

"Even after you found out she was really a girl?"

"We never liked her because we thought she was boy." Suoh answered.

I nodded and added, "We liked her because of who she was. She made us smile when we were feeling sad,"

"Always was optimistic about everything and found something good in everyone," Suoh continued.

"And she just has a special quality about her that makes others drawn to her." I finished. "I don't think there's one person in this school who doesn't like her." Akira nodded; a thoughtful look on his face.

"Thank you," He said with a smile. He got up and ran after where Hikiri had gone, not giving me a chance to ask why he was thanking us. I smiled and shook my head, amused at his actions.

"Come on Suoh," I said, heading down the long corridor, "It's late, let's go home." Suoh nodded and followed after me once he had shut and locked the council room doors.

/Akira's POV/

I ran as fast as I could back home and slammed the door open, panting. "Where's…Hikiri?" I asked, wiping the sweat off my face, trying to calm my rapid heartbeat and steady my breathing.

"She stormed in here and locked herself in her room." One of our mothers told me. "I hope you're not going to yell at her some more." I shook my head and made my way up the stairs and down the hall to her door.

"Hikiri," I called, knocking on her door. No answer. "Hikiri-chan, please open the door." There was still no answer so I tried the doorknob. To my great surprise, it was unlocked.

I slowly opened the door and poked my head inside. The room was dark except for the moonlight that came in through the window. I silently made my way over to the bed where I found her curled up with one of her many stuffed animals. Her eyes were puffy and red and I could make out tear tracks on her cheeks. It broke my heart to know I was the cause of all that pain and all those tears.

She was sleeping so I sat on the edge of her bed and gently brushed the hair from her face. "I'm sorry," I said softly, knowing she wasn't listening but I figured I might as well say it now since I might not get this chance tomorrow.

"You were right, I am a jerk. I should never have said what I did and I wish I could take it back. I know you don't need anyone there to protect you, but I can't help but think of you as my precious little sister. I guess I 'm still living in the past since instead of the beautiful young woman you're growing into, I still see the little girl who hid behind me every time someone came over.

"I guess that I'm just not ready for you to grow up." I took a deep breath and said, "No matter how old you get, you'll always be my little sister. I guess traveling with dad made me miss most of your life, and now I'm trying to make up for it. Nothing can change the fact that I hurt you, and no matter how much I wish we could redo it, what's done is done.

"You've been making great friends and having a wonderful time here, and I ruined it. As much as I don't want to believe it, you don't need an overbearing older brother watching over you. I think I might go back to traveling everywhere with dad and let you live your life here how you want.

"I'll still be just a quick phone call away if you ever need me, and I'll come and check in on you every now and again, but I had no right yelling at you the way I did. I really hope you'll be able to forgive me someday."

I sighed, having said everything I came to say. I sat there for a while, stroking her soft hair and watching as she slept, a small smile making its way onto my face. "You've made some wonderful friends," I muttered.

With everything that needed saying said, I got up and tucked Hikiri in, giving her a soft kiss on the forehead. "I love you Hikiri-chan, now and always."

As I was heading out the door, I heard her mutter, "I love you too…baka Aniki." I smiled, glad that she forgave me.

I shut her door quietly and sighed. "Now all that's left is to tell moms and dad about the plan."

/Hikiri's POV/

I woke up in the morning with a high fever, probably because of all the crying I'd done. Aniki took care of me while our mothers went to work. We had to order in since he would have burned down the kitchen if he'd tried to make anything other than a sandwich.

I spent most of the day sleeping, but when I was awake Aniki and I would talk or he'd read to me. I was sad about him leaving in a few days to back to traveling with our father but I knew that he isn't one to sit around for long.

I got a surprise visit from Kaichou and Takamura-senpai who'd also brought a card from everyone in my class. They had to read what it said, but I was just happy everyone wasn't upset after they were told the truth.

All the teachers had been told since when I went back to school, I'd be going as Hikiri and not as Aniki, and they in turn told their students so the whole school now knew. I guess I should have expected it, since not telling everyone would have caused an even bigger stir and more shock.

Halfway through Kaichou and Takamura-Senpai's visit, Aya Muroi came to visit. She was a girl in my class and the only other person who'd known my secret since elementary school. It was an accident really; I'd been careless that day and didn't check to see if anyone was still in the locker room before I'd gone to take a shower after gym class.

Most day's the gym teacher would let me sit out since she had to be told about my secret but that day was a test of our abilities so I had to participate. She'd held me after class like normal so that everyone else could finish changing and get to lunch, and then let me use the girls locker room just in case.

Aya-chan hadn't been done and she'd seen everything. She promised not to tell anyone after I'd told her the story and we became rather close friends. I didn't need eyes to tell me she had most likely started blushing the moment she set eyes on Kaichou and Takamura-senpai.

In middle school, she had confessed that she liked Kaichou. It wasn't like the other girls who liked him because he was smart, handsome and rich, but because she liked his personality. He was funny, always kind, listened to others, wasn't self-centered, but she told me the one thing that really got her was how sad his eyes looked when he was alone.

'I want to know why he looks so sad, and try to help him.' She told me once, 'He's always helping others but never lets anyone help him.' It was true, and I was surprised she had seen past his good looks like so many others weren't able to do.

I smiled, thinking they'd make a good couple. "G-Good afternoon I-Imonoyama-k-Kaichou, T-Takamura-s-san." Aya stuttered. I found it rather funny how she was normally so outgoing, funny and athletic, but once she saw Kaichou she would get all flustered and tongue-tied.

I guess it was only natural when you really liked someone and didn't know how to talk to them. "Good afternoon Muroi-san." Kaichou replied and I guessed Takamura-senpai just nodded as he always did.

I think Aya got over her shyness just enough for her to make a face as she always did when someone calls her Muroi-san. 'It makes me feel old.' She complained to me. 'I know it's polite, but I just can't stand it.'

"Please, just call me Aya." She said. I was trying to contain my laughter but I couldn't do anything about the big, goofy smile on my face. Her whole face must have been red as she stammered out, "I-I mean, I-I j-just don't l-like being c-call M-Muroi-s-san."

"I understand Aya-san." Kaichou said and I couldn't help it, I let a small giggle escape but quickly put my hands over my mouth to keep from laughing. I could tell that Kaichou and Takamura-senpai were staring at me, most probably wondering what was so funny and had a pretty good feeling Aya was glaring at me.

"What's so funny?" Kaichou asked and I just shook my head, tears gathering at the corners of my eyes.

"I'm sure it's nothing." Aya said, most likely still glaring at me. That did it; I couldn't hold it in any longer. I burst out laughing, holding my stomach with tears flowing down my cheeks. After a few moments, I heard Aya start to giggle and then laugh, Kaichou joining in not long after and I think I heard something that resembled a laugh coming from Takamura-senpai.

I don't know how long we laughed for, but my stomach hurt afterwards and I also had the hiccups, which sent everyone into another fit of laughter. It felt really good to laugh like that, and I couldn't remember the last time I'd been so happy.

I'm not sure why, but after that, Aya didn't stutter nearly as much as before. She and Kaichou had an intellectual debate about…stuffed animals. I think it started out as a debate on the best way to get rid of fevers, then onto something about the mind, than about how stuffed animals helped children be happy and now I think they were just arguing about which stuffed animal was better.

We'd all wound up on my bed, either not caring or not remembering that I was sick and they ran the risk of getting sick as well, but I was having a great time just listening to them and I occasionally made a comment when it seemed like the argument was dying down and that would start them all over again.

"Why are you keeping this argument going?" Takamura-Senpai's amused voice asked from beside me.

"Because it's good for Aya so she will stop stuttering and be more relaxed." I answered. "She always loves a good debate…or argument." Kaichou and Aya weren't paying us any attention since they were too caught up in their own little world.

My fever came to remind me that I was sick not too long after as everyone's voices started to get further away and my eyelids started to get heavier. I laid my head on the person closest to me which I think was Takamura-senpai and let sleep overtake me. I'm fairly sure I had a smile on my face as I slept.

/Aya's POV/

I was having so much fun at the moment. I couldn't believe Imonoyama Nokoru and I were having a debate over stuffed animals, but I didn't care, it was fun. It may sound strange, but he's just so much fun to argue with and I love the way his blue eyes were shining with excitement as he countered my argument with another one of his own.

I could have kept going on like that for a long time afterwards, but Takamura-Senpai's soft voice brought us out of the heated argument. We both turned and found he was motioning for us to be quiet as Hikiri had fallen asleep on his shoulder. She looked so happy and peaceful right there.

I smiled both glad she was happy and also at the sight of her snuggling up to Takamura-senpai. I couldn't help but think how cute of a couple they were, and I was determined to get them together after I saw the small blush Takamura-senpai had though he was trying his hardest to hide it.

Hikiri's older brother came in a few moments later, saying, "It suddenly got quiet up here. Is everything alright?" He smiled when he saw his little sister sleeping peacefully though I do think his eyebrow twitched when he noticed how close she was to Takamura-senpai right then.

"I think it's time for us to go," Imonoyama-Kaichou said and I nodded.

"We don't want to wake Hikiri-chan." I agreed. "She needs her sleep." I smiled a little wider as I added, "Though I hate to move her when she looks so comfortable right there."

I saw a small gleam in Imonoyama-Kaichou's eyes and he smiled, saying, "Yes, just look at how happy she looks. Maybe we should let her stay like that for a little while longer. You don't mind do you Suoh?"

Takamura-senpai didn't say anything but the blush on his cheeks did get a little darker and I giggled a bit. It seems as though Imonoyama-Kaichou and I both had another thing in common; we liked to tease our best friends and we both wanted Hikiri and Takamura-senpai to get together.

Akira came over and moved Hikiri off of Takamura-senpai so he could get off the bed before he tucked her in. When we were all out in the hall, Akira smiled at us and said, "Thank you for coming over. She's been worried all day about what people will say when she goes back."

Soooo...what did you think? End there or keep going? I honestly have no clue what more I can do with this, so if you want more, I'll need ideas. Anyway, tell me what you thought with a review or a pm!