A/N: Thank you to Xxdarkness-angelxX, Hannahbluenanna13XD, Cifayn, .imagination, kazukarin, kiers, The Random Artist, *_*, .Soldier, and Akatsuki Utaou. Your reviews are my motivators. :)

Silence ensued after Ruka's question. It was a deafening silence. A stifling one. One that was interrupted by a faint, "Papa?"

Ruka turned to his friend with scandalized cerulean eyes. "Papa." He reiterated, a tone of 'what the fuck is happening, Natsume' present in his voice.

Natsume knelt down beside the female with crinkled eyebrows. His garnet eyes fruitlessly searched her face for any trace of Imai, and found nothing besides the realization that her eyes were a bit greener than dark gray. Natsume felt disappointed and intrigued at the same time. "Who are you?"

"You- Youichi." She stuttered faintly, eyes darting around the room wildly and dodging Natsume's prying eyes.

"You're... a boy?" Ruka spoke, also kneeling down.

Youichi nodded mutely, staring intently at an invisible speck on the hardwood floor.

Natsume thoughtfully processed this, wondering whether this Youichi was connected to his brother-in-law, since they shared the same unique name. "How old are you, Youichi-kun?"

He held up five fingers and an index finger, still evading eye contact with either men, causing Ruka to blurt out the word, "autism."

Comprehension dawned on Natsume's face. "You sure?"

"Well..." Ruka hesitated. "I'm going to need to keep her- I mean him- in the hospital for further examination."

At this declaration, Youichi snaked his arms around Natsume's neck and childishly buried his face into his "father's" chest. In response, Natsume struggled with his conflicting emotions: on the one hand, Youichi was still technically a girl so it would be inappropriate to return the embrace, but on the other, the citrus scent which radiated from Sakura's auburn hair was seriously tempting him. A sniffle from Youichi resulted in Natsume protectively encompassing his frail body, while Ruka studied them with an entertained smile.

"Youichi-kun," Ruka said kindly, "Papa can stay with you in the hospital, okay? I only need you to do one teeny, tiny test, and then you can go home. How does that sound?"

The six-year-old nodded forcefully.

Ruka chuckled and got up from the hard ground. "Follow me, please."

Natsume complied, strolling down the hallways next to his comrade with Youichi gripping onto his yukata sleeve possessively. The two men conversed in low murmurs the whole journey.

"Why don't you ever visit me with good news, Natsume?" Ruka complained, wiping his glasses impulsively. "Seriously, a girl who has Multiple Personality Disorder and possibly even autism? Excuse me for my pessimism, but the chances of curing her/him is... slim. At best."

Natsume pried Youichi's/Sakura's hand away from his black kimono and clasped it in his own; taking no heed to how perfect their hands melded together. Youichi's eyes lit up with joy.

"I was hoping she didn't have the disorder." Natsume remarked. "Do you think the curse could have done this?"

"My thought's the same."

Natsume made a cynical 'tsk' noise. "Right. Well I was going to leave her in your care, anyway."

Ruka gave him a disapproving look. "I would highly advise you to watch over her, rather than abandon her. You're important to Imai, or Youichi-kun, or whoever the hell she is."

"Sakura Mikan." Natsume corrected.

"You're important to Mikan-"

"Sakura." He cut in.

"-therefore it would be better... Wait. What did you just say?"

"Call her Sakura."

Ruka gaped disbelievingly, freezing in the middle of the corridor. "You like her." He accused, his eyes widening to the size of oranges. "You. Like. H-"

Natsume glared menacingly at the doctor. "Say that again, and I will castrate you. And I do not like her, Idiot. I will admit that she has a certain charm to her, but overall, she's not my type."

Ruka played along with his friend as they continued walking. "Uh huh. Whatever you say."

The crimson-eyed male halfheartedly threw a hook to which Ruka dodged easily.

"As I was saying, if Sakura stayed with you, the chances of recovery is higher than if she stayed with someone she doesn't know." Ruka led them into a circular room and unlocked one of the many doors which lined the place. "After you."

They headed inside, Youichi fearfully trailing behind. Natsume squeezed his hand reassuringly.

The small area they entered was actually the children's ward. Cheery yellow walls and wailing children assaulted Natsume's senses, before Ruka steered them through another room, where numerous building blocks awaited.

"Okay, Youichi-kun!" Ruka exclaimed, clapping his hands. "Let's play!"

The little boy ignored the enthusiastic man.

"Youichi?"

The silent boy tugged a relenting Natsume towards an inconspicuous piano which was situated in the far corner. It was then that Ruka realized Youichi was walking on his toes- another indicator of autism. He look on as the former plopped down on the antique piano bench, extracting a moan from it, and exposed the keys in the process. Letting go of Natsume's warm grasp, Youichi inhaled the calming scent of polished wood before performing an exquisite melody effortlessly; Sakura's slender fingers splaying out across the black and white surface. Natsume watched, fascinated with the young boy, whereas Ruka was stunned. When the last note of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 31, Op. 110 resounded throughout the room, an applause arose from the doorway. The trio glanced around in time to witness a crowd spilling into the converted music room.

"Wow... Uh... Yeah. We have an autistic piano prodigy, here, Natsume." Ruka whispered.

"No shit." He answered dryly.

After the assembly dispersed, Youichi timidly plucked at Natsume's kimono with wide, pale green eyes. The brooding aura dissipated from Natsume as he bent his knees to become a foot shorter. Now face-to-face with Youichi, he patted the boy genius on the head and said, "you did good, Youichi." At this, Youichi beamed with glee, finally initiating eye contact. Natsume was both taken aback and pleased, as was Ruka.

"That about sums it up." Ruka concluded with a smile.

"What? He'll have to be admitted into the hospital?"

Youichi shook his head frantically.

"No." Ruka stated resolutely. "I am absolutely certain that Youichi-kun should stay with you."

Natsume raked a hand through his hair blearily. "Ruka. How can I take care of him, if I can't even take care of myself?"

"I beg to differ. You're taking care of yourself just fine."

Garnet eyes flashed dangerously. Why couldn't Ruka understand that he didn't want to taint this innocent little boy? To corrupt with his blood stained hands. To destroy with his incapability to care for other sentient things.

"Pa... pa?" Youichi hesitantly hooked his pinky with Natsume's. "Where's Mama?"

Ruka faced his friend with the same scandalized expression as before. "Mama?"

Said man shrugged.

"Youichi-kun, can you tell me who your Mama is?"

He nodded his head, then replied, "Mikan."

Natsume pinched the bridge of his nose at the same time as Ruka's mouth dropped open. "Please tell me that this is another symptom of autism."

Ruka continued to gawk.

"Believe what you want, but I did not sleep with her." Natsume claimed. "I didn't even know who she was until yesterday."

"Speaking of, you never told me how you found Sakura."

So Natsume told his best friend, and confidant, everything. Excluding the attraction he felt towards Sakura, of course; for he felt an overwhelming need to keep it private. When the recount ended, lines had materialized in between Ruka's eyebrows.

"Something just... doesn't feel right." Ruka said, pacing around the room. "Don't you find it strange that an Alice- an AAO member at that- just so happens to be teleported to one of the most prominent leaders of the rebel cause."

Natsume leaned back against the wall, stuffing his hands into his pockets thoughtfully.

"You don't think... It could be possible that... Kuonji sent her? Like as recon?"

A low rumble broke their trance, signaling that the youngest of the bunch was hungry. Gray-peridot eyes blinked back at them embarrassedly.

"Crap. I just missed my shift."

Natsume scoffed. "No one will give a damn. You're the best doctor this place has."

Ruka ignored this comment, tapping the top of Youichi's head. "Alright, Big Man. Where should we go for dinner?"

Youichi frowned pensively; drowning Ruka in nostalgia from the same expression Natsume used to display all the time.

The little boy mimed what he wanted to eat, since his ability to speak was limited, by wiggling his thin body, after pretending to hold a bowl and chopsticks.

"Good choice." Natsume commended, offering his hand for Youichi to latch onto.

"You understood that?" Ruka inquired, taking the lead and navigating them to the hospital's back exit.

"Yeah, it was pretty obvious."

Ruka sighed exaggeratedly. "Of course you would say that."

They took off from the hospital, down a cobbled alley, with Natsume at the head of the group. Recognition shone on Ruka's face when they arrived outside of a well-kept ramen stall.

"'Ey, it's Natsume and Ruka!" A thickset man leaned over the counter, a scar marring part of his face. Youichi cowered behind Natsume's lean frame. "What's this? Natsume got 'imself a girl! I was starting to worry about you, but 'ere you are wit' the finest woman in Asagao."

Natsume had the ghost of a smile on his face at the man's playful banter.

"And why the hell are you wearing that ridiculous kimono! It looks like you're about to meet your girlfriend's parents!" He exclaimed, laughing boisterously at his joke.

"Hey, Gramps. Koko isn't in today?" Natsume asked, parking himself in a stool, while Ruka and Youichi followed suit.

"Oh, he's in alright. Prolly lookin' at more nak-"

"Dad!" A stocky man scolded, appearing next to his dad. His shaggy, golden hair offset his olive green eyes and square jaw quite handsomely. He wore a tan yukata with a plain dark blue obi. "Welcome back! We figured you guys betrayed us and found another ramen stall."

Ruka chortled at this. "And have you guys hunt us down with gargantuan knives? I think not."

Another growl came from Youichi's stomach, putting a halt to their reunion.

"Good-for-nothing-son-of-mine, keep 'em company while I make the ramen. The usual, eh?" Yome-san boomed, stepping to the back of the restaurant after Natsume nodded.

"So... What's your name?" Koko asked, tilting his head to the side.

"Just read her mind." Natsume said, not wanting to explain the whole story over again.

"May I?" Koko requested Youichi with a gentle smile that made Natsume's blood tingle. Youichi consented with a single nod, eyes still averted.

"Okie, then. In I go!" He comically declared, pushing his sleeves up. His eyes pierced into Sakura's head with concentration, then became perplexed, which dissipated into curiosity.

"What's wrong?" Ruka questioned, observing the mirage of emotions that flitted through Koko's face.

"I can read her surface thoughts just fine, by the way, I like raw egg in my ramen too," he confessed to an astonished Youichi, "but whenever I delve in deeper, something blocks my way..." His eyes obtained a glassy look as he held his hands up and attempted to imitate the 'something.' "It was like... a boulder... no a wall...? Oh! It was like a congealed shield of clouds."

Two blank looks met his narration.

"I dunno... It was like... Soft and plushy like a cloud... But it was so thick that I couldn't travel through. Very strange. May I ask what Alice you have?" He addressed Youichi, and then continued. "Oh! I see... That's a very cool Alice you got there. I would love to summon badass spirits, too, eh... What's your name?" Koko choked on his saliva the next second as he swung around to Natsume with huge eyes. "Hyuuga Youichi?"

Natsume pinched the bridge of his nose with impatience. "Just read our damn minds." He snapped.

Koko turned to Ruka with his hand outstretched, saying "pay up, Blondie. I knew he was gay the moment he refused to go to the red district with me."

The smell of homemade pork broth submerged their noses as Yome-san ambled into the room with three large bowls. "Here ya go, lads. They're on the house tonight."

Koko's hand retreated disappointedly, but Ruka recommended him to delve into their minds, before asking for the money. Koko took his advice, and was quiet for a full minute; his eyes flickering from things unseen by human beings. He emerged from his stupor with a contemplative face, gazing at Youichi through a new filter. "That's..."

"Complicated?" Ruka supplied.

"Yeah. Horrendously complicated. Sorting through Natsume's memories was a blast." Koko commented with a knowing look. "You know, it's not healthy speculating and judging people like that all the time. It'll give you premature... Well you already have wrinkles, so gray hair. Premature gray hair, ya hear me?"

Natsume disregarded this and said, "good pork ramen, as usual, Gramps."

The old man faked an affronted look. "The day my ramen tastes good, will be the day Good-for-nothing-son-of-mine takes over my stall."

Now it was Koko's turn to look insulted. "Please. I'm the one who draws in the most customers here. You're fat ass can't do jack."

The father and son persisted with their teasing while the trio slurped down the last of their noodles, the once bright sky transforming into one with hues of dusky purples and baby pinks.

"Thank you for the dinner. I've got to return to the hospital now. Have to teach some interns how to take care of their night shift." Ruka proclaimed. "See you, guys. Bye, Youichi-kun."

And just like that, the shrieking came back with full force.

A/N: Please remember to review, and tell me what Asagao, Tsubaki, and Ajisai means! You'll get a little cookie if you do... teehee

On another note, for the readers out there who aren't aware, "him" and "her" are the same word in Japanese. Which is why Youichi never questions why he is sometimes referred to as "her."

Please tell me if you see any grammatical errors.