Hello peoples...alright please don't kill me. I know I've been gone for what, months now, and I'm sorry. Here is an chapter as an apology for my long hiatus.

Disclaimer – I do not own Brothers Conflict.

Chapter 4

As it turns out Louis is a really good hairstylist. I mean for real, my long brown hair that's usually straight as I don't know what is actually curly. Curly! My face was lit up like a Christmas tree when he put a mirror in front of me and showed me my hair. I was pretty ecstatic about it.

"Do you like it," he asked a she leaned down closer to me. I stared a the mirror for a few more seconds before turning back to look at him and smile.

"Yeah, you did a really good job," I said as I picked up a small piece of my curled hair. It still felt kind of warm from the curling iron but it looked like perfection. Oh if Misaki could see me now.

Louis smiled back down at me. "That's good. If you don't mind me asking this, may I find you something to wear. I know a great dress that will go with your hair curled."

I shook my head and grinned. " I don't mind at all." That white dress I have can wait.

"Good, I'll be right back." He walked away heading towards the stairs, once up the steps he turned a corner.

"That guy really is a professional," Juli chirped sounding impressed.

"Indeed he is. I never thought my hair could get this curly in a matter of minutes. Usually takes me hours to get it to look decent much less stay this way." Trying to do so much just to like is such a pain.

I had zoned out for a bit while I twirled the same piece of curled hair I had between my fingers, not really paying attention to the sounds of heavy footsteps coming from up above.

"Huh, where's Louis?" The sound of a very familiar and utterly annoying voice brought me out of my zone. I looked up to the second floor and saw Fuuto standing up against the railing looking back and forth.

"Um, Louis had to go get something, he said he would be back soon," I answered stoically as I stared up at the young idol.

Fuuto sighed heavily in irritation. "Sheesh! What the heck?! I asked the salon and they said he went home!" He looked down at his watch and sighed again.

Okay Arisa be nice to him, don't snap at him like you almost did the other day. "Are you in a hurry or something?" Good, good, I feel like I really accomplished somethi-

"Why should I tell stuff like that to you, an outsider," the idol shot back at me in a condescending tone.

...Okay, that's it! I said this tons of time before but I am serious! This brat is going down, way down!

I glared up at him with as much fire as I could muster, hoping that he would catch on fire. Unfortunately this is reality and that won't work, so I settled with just a regular glare.

"Excuse you," I growled prepared to sick the hissing Juli on him if necessary. Usually I'm not for Juli getting snappy with folks but this was one of those times when I really liked when he got mad. He was like my back up in situations like this, something that Misaki does from time to time.

I saw the kid back up a bit from my glare, frowning like he was the victim. Ugh, he is such a brat.

Fuuto's expression changed from irritation to surprise when I saw his eyes squinting down at me. "You changed your hairstyle, huh?"

Is that supposed to be a fact? Of course I changed my hair you little moron!

I twitched again, trying so hard not to say those words. "Louis was kind enough to curl my hair for me." Juli chirped in agreement from the couch behind me.

"Really?...Sorry, I didn't realize it until now," he began leaning over on the railing as he kept his gaze on me, "That you were such a beautiful person, sis."

...Um, okay that caught me off guard. My angry exterior softened a bit. Just a bit.

Sis, hmm, I kind of like the sound of that...er, but that doesn't mean I'm going to fall for it though. He's probably going to switch up again like he did the other day.

"Hey, sis, do you mind if I forget about it, just for now?"

I quirked a brow at that. "What do you mean? What are you trying to forget?"

He chuckled softly. "That you and I are siblings."

"...What?" What does he mean forget we're siblings?

As expected the little brat's face switched from soft to his usually spoiled expression. "Just kidding," he said and began to laugh. "You thought I was serious just now, didn't you? Unreal! You didn't exactly react like I wanted but I suspect that you thought you were some sort of princess because of your new hair style?"

Ooh, that spoiled little brat! He thought he had one upped me with that 'sis you're beautiful' crap, but he's going to get a rude awakening when I bring in the cavalry. Misaki, my oh so awesome secret weapon!

Ten minutes later Louis had finally came back with that dress that he wanted me to try on, and let me tell you it was a nice dress. A long knee length lavender dress with light pink flower patterns at the very bottom. The ruffled straps were a nice touch to it since they weren't to thin or to big, they were just right. As an added bonus I had a heart shaped locket that my biological mother had given to me when I was 2. Seeing what time it was I realized that I had wasted so much time admiring myself and not getting the dinner and birthday cake ready for Subaru's party.

I rushed down stares then headed straight for the kitchen. Remembering that I had put a rubber hair tie around my wrist, I tie up my hair with it being extra careful with my curls. After that I got to work.

As a girl it's important to know certain skills in order to be a perfect wife. As a girl myself I thought that was a load of baloney, but I cam to realize that not knowing how to do things wasn't really good. Ritarou, my adopted dad, he wasn't home a lot and so our neighbors had to look out for me. But when they weren't around I had to do the cooking and cleaning my self. You could say I was like the little girl who never acted her age. I know I said I was a bit of a tom boy, a raging spit fire that didn't take crap from anyone, but knowing how to do things helped me.

Later that same evening everyone, except for Fuuto (thank the lord), started to arrive. Ukyo was pretty flustered when he saw that I had done all of the cooking and baking. I didn't really pay much to his comment and just smiled.

I was greeted by more and more of the brothers as the started to pile into the kitchen. Tsubaki made an attempt to hug me...ugh, but Azusa swooped in just in time and knocked him upside his powdered head. I got a good laugh from that.

Once everyone was seated at the table we all said 'itadakimasu' then dug in.

"Mmmmm, this is really good, imouto-chan," came Kaname's voice from two seats next to me. The others couldn't have agreed more than what I saw from their expressions. It must be that good.

"I've never really had something like this at home before," Ukyo muttered in astonishment as he took another bite. His cheeks turned a soft pink as he chewed his food.

Iori, who was seated next to me smiled at me. "When did you learn how to cook Italian food Arisa?"

I blinked at his question and moved my hand to my chin. "Hmmm, I guess it would have to be when I was 12."

"Twelve," Yusuke shouted in shock, fork half way in his mouth as he gaped at me. "Did you teach yourself or something?"

I nodded. "Yep, it was difficult but I finally managed to make the perfect lasagna."

"I had the privilege of taste testing all of your dishes," Juli chattered from my lap with a puff of his furry chest. I giggled and pet his head with my finger.

"I seem to remember you not liking most of them though," I stated with a small smirk on my face.

"W-Well that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it," he tried to defend himself. I only nodded and went back to eating my food.

…

After we finished eating everyone pitched in to help me clear the table. I was so happy. Once everything was cleaned up I made my way back into the kitchen and took out the cake that I am very proud of. For most people it's strawberry but for this cake I went with a Neopolitan cake, which is vanilla, Chocolate, and Strawberry. I've always wondered if it would look as good as the ice cream, and what do you know it does. I had decided to do the traditional cream cheese icing swirled around the edges, a small chocolate bar in the middle with Subaru's name written on it underneath the 'happy birthday'.

"Wow! This cake is huge," Wataru admired as he stared down at the cake.

Yeah, I might have gone a little over board when I made the thing though. It's like drawing, sometimes you make something either too small or too big. I ended up making the cake kinda big.

"It looks delicious." Tsubaki, you my new brother get a slightly bigger slice for that. I could already feel my head getting swelled from the multiple compliments that I was hearing. Is that bad?

With a huge grin on my face I rubbed the back of my neck bashfully. "Aww, thanks guys!"

Wataru the little cutey smiled at me and said, "It's awesome! It's really, really awesome!"

...Okay, he's getting an extra large slice too. Keep them compliments coming boys!

"Wataru, Arisa made this for Subaru,so you shouldn't be more excited about it than him. Do you understand," Masaomi lightly scolded the pink haired boy. I inwardly frowned at that. Oh yeah, I was this close to forgetting about it too.

I squealed when I saw Wataru's happy smile slowly fade from his face...noooo!

He bowed his head and pouted. "I see.." He looked over to Subaru who was sitting on the couch then ran over to him. "I'm sorry Suba-nii." Subaru smiled and ruffled the boys hair.

I couldn't help but grin at the sight. "Man, if I knew having siblings was going to be this fun I would've have forced my dad to marry a single mother with kids a long time ago.

Strangely Subaru caught me staring at him and turned his head away with a blush on his cheeks.

...Again with that.

It wasn't time to cut the cake until Subaru blew out his candles, but I did volunteer too for when it was time. Ukyo told me straight up though that I had already done so much today. He didn't want to over work me. I reluctantly agreed.

Everyone was more than prepared to eat the cake though. I could see it in their faces.

"You...made this all by yourself, right," Yusuke asked as he stared down at the cake. He looked kind of nervous.

I nodded. "Yep." I popped he 'p' at the end.

The red heads eye brows furrowed slightly as he continued to look at the cake. "You made it...for Suba-nii...I can't eat it." My eyes widened.

"What? Why not?" Did he not like my cake or something? I worked my butt off for two hours working on both the dinner and the cake!

"No, it's not like that, but...You made the effort to make it, and I'd feel bad about not eating it, and I want to eat it, but...But somehow... I can't."

"...Yusuke." I was mistaken, bless his heart he thinks the cake is too good for him to eat. I think my heart just melted a little.

Tsubaki bumped Yusuke's shoulder with his and grinned with mischief. "Oh, really? So you're not going to have any, Yusuke? Then I'll eat your share, too."

"What?" Yeah, I'm with Yusuke. What?

Tsubaki leaned in to my face with that same mischievous grin on his face. "After all, it' a cake full of your love, right? I feel like I could eat every crumb I could get my hands on."

"H-Hey, Tsuba-nii," Yusuke blanched.

My face scrunched up a little at powder heads comment. I'm having mixed feelings about this right now. Should I feel flattered or insulted by his words? I don't know.

"Oh, I know! I think it'd make me super happy if you'd feed it to me. Come on, do it! Do it!" Tsubaki moved in bit closer. My face heated up slightly... oh no. This is bad! I'm not supposed to get embarrassed from this! Embarrassed isn't something I would be much less want to be!

"Or, would you rather I fed you instead? I'd be fine with that too." He picked up a piece of chocolate that I head sitting out and moved it to my mouth. "Here, say, 'ah'." He poked my lip gloss covered lips with the chocolate trying to prod my mouth open with it.

"Please stop," I mumbled, feeling my face grow even hotter. Geez, what is with me right now. I wasn't like this before, why is it so different now...maybe I'm sick or something. Yeah, that's it, I'm sick. On top of that he's in my personal space bubble!

Finally, Azusa stepped in and pulled his twin away from me, heh, with Juli dangling by his claws on Tsubaki's sleeve. Thank God.

"Okay, now, that's enough of that, Tsubaki."

"Yes, Sir!" Tsubaki turned his head in the direction of Subaru. "But it looks like the key person in question is in no state to enjoy."

Subaru flinched, his cheeks turning a bright colored pink. "What? Oh, no..."

With my face finally blush free I quirked my brow at the birthday boy...whoops, I mean adult. "Subaru?" He's been acting really weird today. This morning he flinched when he saw me, he flinched and blushed when he came home, and he flinched and blushed just now. Subaru is probably coming down with something too.

"Don't worry. It's not like he's sick or anything," Kaname reassured from next to me. Oh, so he wasn't sick. "Or maybe," he said catching my attention as I turned my head to look up at him, "it is an illness."

"Huh?" What does he mean? I thought he just said it wasn't a sickness.

Kaname leaned in close to my face. " The kind even a doctor can't cure, you know?" No, I don't know. "Well, I'm suffering from the same illness, though." I felt a had grasp my upper left arm, pulling me to the side right up against Kaname's chest...He's touching me! Does anyone here not know the meaning of personal space! "If possible, I'd like to have this illness forever."

"You're embarrassing her, Kana-nii." Praise the lord, Iori saved me.

Kaname and Iori stared at each other for a minute before the former stepped back a bit and smiled at me. "Sorry about that, imouto-chan."

I shook my head and smiled. "Nah, you're alright. Just caught me off guard though."

"Do you mind if I ask you something?"

I turned to Iori and shrugged. "Depends on what you want to ask?"

He chuckled. "Why did you change your hair style today? It's usually so straight."

"Oh you noticed huh. Yeah, Louis did this for me because of the birthday party."

"...I see, well it looks good on you," he complimented. I grinned.

"Thanks!"

"I have to say Arisa-chan, you do clean up nicely," Kaname chimed in looking me up and down. The others complimented me as well, except for a few. I'm talking to you Subaru, and Yusuke.

"Alright Subaru, time to blow out the candles," I announced with my camera in hand ready to take pictures.

"Don't forget to make a wish before you do," Masaomi added.

Subaru sighed and took a deep breath and closed his eyes, then with a quick brush of air he blew out the candles. Everyone cheered.

"Time for cake," Wataru cheered, fork in one hand with his plate in the other.

"Watare," Masaomi scolded, "Subaru has to get his piece first remember." The little boy deflated in his seat and pouted.

"Okay." I giggled at his cute face and took a picture. I was definitely showing Misaki this one next time I see her.

Ukyo sliced everyone a piece of cake starting with Subaru who looked pretty reluctant to take, but one small glance at me made him change his mind. He picked up his fork and took a piece off from the cake, then moved it to his mouth. He chewed and chewed until he finally swallowed. I sat in anticipation awaiting his compliment. Hey, he was the only one that didn't say anything about.

"...This is really good," he muttered. He was quiet but he was still loud enough for all of us to hear.

"Yay! I knew you would like it! I got the idea from this American ice cream I saw once. It's called Neopolitan which means it has three different flavors in it!"

Subaru blinked at my random burst of happiness then blushed, taking another bite from his cake. "T-Thanks a bunch."

"Oooh, is it really that good," Tsubaki reached out for one of the plates with a piece of cake on it and took a bite. "Mmmm, it's delicious! I can already taste the love you put into it!"

"Tsubaki, stop that," Azusa warned. He turned to his own piece of cake and took a piece of it to eat. "He is right though, this is really good. My compliments to the chef."

My smile could not go any higher than it did now. Everyone really loved the cake I made.

"..." Yusuke stared down at his cake. He still looked unsure of whether he should eat it or not, which I still didn't understand.

"If you still don't want your cake I'll be happy to eat it." Tsubaki was still persistent on trying to get Yusuke's cake.

"No! I'll eat it," Yusuke grabbed his from, gouged out a rather large piece from his cake, and ate it. "It's good," he said with a mouthful of cake.

"I'm glad."

The rest the party was spent with me taking more pictures, Tsubaki teasing Subaru, and Wataru asking for more cake. I have to say, everything went really well.

Having a big family like this really is nice after all.

(Third POV)

After things were cleaned up and everyone headed off to bed, the adults stayed up for the continuation of Subaru's 20th birthday party.

"Ah~it's nice to just kick back and drink sake, especially right after we had cake." Tsubaki pouted as he sipped some the sake from his small cup. "Would've liked Arisa-chan to make me a cake too though."

Ring! Ring! Subaru picked his phone from out of his pocket. When he turned it on he saw that he had gotten a message from one of the brothers that wasn't living in the condo, Natsume. As he read over it his eyes narrowed and narrowed. He clicked his teeth and put his phone back into his pocket.

"Tch, arrogant."

Tsubaki leaned forward in his seat as he stared up at Subaru. "Is something the matter, beloved Subaru?"

Subaru rolled his eyes. "Love, my butt. So stupid." He flinched when his brother slung an arm around his shoulder.

"Stupid? You say that, but...You sure your mind isn't on our new little sis, Arisa-chan?"

Subaru's cheeks turned pink. "What? Th-That's not true!"

"Hmm, is that so, then, what do you think of her, Subaru?"

"What do I think?" Tsubaki leaned his face in close to his brothers face with a wry smirk.

"You can't say?" He pulled his arm away and crossed his arms. "See? She really is on your mind!"

"You're wrong," Subaru denied.

"Then tell me why I'm wrong."

"So, like... F-Frankly, she's a pain! I-It's been just us guys for all this time, and suddenly, this girl comes along... Ever since she came here, I've had to be careful, even just taking a bath. And I can't stay naked after my training routine... I'm going to wash my face." Subaru got up from the couch and headed for the stares. Before he got all the way he noticed a pair of sock covered feet standing near the railing.

There in front of him stood Arisa with her pet squirrel sitting on her shoulder.

Subaru stared down at the floor like it was the most interesting thing."H-Hey, look, I-"

"Is that what you really think of me," he heard her say. He flinched again. He didn't expect her to be eavesdropping on their conversation like that.

"I-I..." He didn't know what to say. No words would come out of his mouth, all he could do was just stare at the floor with a nervous frown. And that's when he heard it. The sound of sniffling passed through his ears making him finally look up. His eyes widened a fraction when he saw tears rolling down her cheeks. Her hands were at her sides in tight fists shaking erratically.

Arisa sniffled again. "I did all of that work just so I could see a smile, and here you are throwing it right back in my face... Ngh!" She ran back down the hallway where she came from leaving Subaru with a very dumbfounded look.

He sat down on the top step moving one of his hands to his face.

What did he just do?

(Normal POV)

"Come one Chii, it's going to be okay," Juli chirped trying console me. He scurried up to my shoulder and reached out with his small hands so he could wipe my tears. If this were a different situation I would have giggled, but I just couldn't do that right now. I was too upset to even chuckle.

I sat on the floor with my knees folded underneath me, my curled hair now straight again with a few strands sticking to my wet face. My hands were at my sides still balled up into fists.

"I know Juli... it's just that I could have gone not hearing those words," I whispered through my sobs. It's been a long time since I cried like this. First was when my mom left me behind with my biological dad, next was when Rintarou left me home alone, and the last one was when I found out that my mom had died a few years ago. So much has happened to me since that last one that I just said enough was enough. I wasn't going to cry anymore, I was going to be strong... but look at me now, crying over a guy saying that I'm a pain.

I covered my face with my hands. "What's wrong with me?"

Juli jumped down from shoulder into my lap. "There's nothing wrong with you Chii! You're just upset is all! Grrr, that stupid male will pay for making you cry!" He hissed as he scratched at the air. He was probably pretending that Subaru was right in front of him.

Cute, I thought as I watched him. He managed to get a smile out of me with that one.

Ding Dong!

"Who could that be," I wondered a loud as I picked Juli up from my lap and got up from the floor. I walked over to the door as quickly as I could then unlocked it. My eyes still felt kind of wet so rubbed whatever tears were there, then opened the door. Outside of my door stood... Subaru?

I frowned. "What are you doing here? I thought I was pain to you?"

Subaru flushed but did not look away from me. I could tell from the look in his eyes that he was ashamed for what he said, but I needed to hear it before I even think of forgiving him.

"S-Sorry, I was wrong to say things about you. Please...if possible, could you just forget about it! I-I just said those things in the heat of the moment." Now he decides to look away from me, looking very guilty and sorry.

"...Geez, what am I supposed to say that... Uh, I was really taken aback by your words, and yes, they did make me cry. Just because I seem like a tough chick doesn't mean I'm that way on the inside. I get emotional like any other girl... So, it's alright."

Subaru turned his head back towards me with his eye brows furrowed. "Still!" I lifted up my hand to stop him from speaking any further.

"Subaru, I'm alright now, and I forgive you. There's no need to apologize any further."

"I'm sorry," he said as he bowed, he looked kind of unsteady right now. Did they drink a lot of sake?

"Hey! I just said you don't have to apolo-" Subaru's unsteadiness, which was obviously from the sake, make him pretty clumsy, so his head bumped into me... really hard, making us both fall to the floor. I pretty much hit my head, like really hard.

"Ow," I winced in pain, "That smarts!" I tried to get up but couldn't, something big and heavy was laying on top of me.

"What the?!" Subaru was laying on top of me with his face buried in my... oh ham no! His freak'n face is laying on my chest! And if things couldn't get any worse he rose his head with his arms propped up next to my sides, like he was about to get up, then he plopped back down but this time his lips touched mine.

I have no words to describe the utter horror that I am feeling right now. My brain has been completely fried, I can't think of anything. This fool has killed me from his head being lodged between my breasts to his lips brushing against mine. Juli's going to have to live on without me.

"Hey," I heard a someone shout from outside my room. It sounded like Tsubaki.

"What are you doing?!" Oh, that sounds like Azusa. Have they come to remove this drunkard from off of me? Please let that be so.

"Why you little..." I felt Subaru's body being taken from off of mine, sat up and got up from the floor. I saw Tsubaki dragging unconscious body out into the hallway. Both him and Azusa looked down at him.

"Hey, he's completely zonked out."

"Must have had too much to drink."

Tsubaki sighed. "Man, he's helpless." The twins turned to look at me with small smiled on their faces, they had sympathetic looks on their faces as they stared at me.

"Hey listen-" Azusa catching me off guard.

"-Forget about what Subaru said."

"We all think of you as our precious little sister, Arisa."

"It was because I was teasing him that he said things that he didn't mean. Really." My left eyebrow twitched. So, it was his fault the unconscious drunk on the floor said all of that stuff that made me cry. Heh, I'm going to remember that.

I nodded slowly. "I guess."

"But how did this end up happening?" Oh crap!

"Did Subaru make a move on you? "

I shook my head furiously. "No, he didn't make a move! He tripped and then..." Oh man I don't want to tell them about Subaru's face landing on my chest or the accidental kiss. They'd, more Tsubaki than Azusa, would freak.

Asuza tilted his head. "Which means, it was an accident?"

I nodded again. "Yep, it was an accident." Better they don't know than to live out my life here with that mess hovering over me.

"I see."

"Well, just because it was an accident, he'd better not think at all will be forgiven." ...Hold, what? IS he going to do something to Subaru? I recognize an mischievous glint anywhere, and that one looked like the same one Misaki had when she pranked our Math teacher. Sadly, it ended with her getting in trouble.

"Guess we should head off to bed," Tsubaki stared down at Subaru, "But, we gotta do something first." He bent down and lifted Subaru from off the floor, putting one of his arms over his shoulder. Azusa took the other one.

I waved. "Have a good night." The twins waved.

"Aside from that little debacle, I think I can truly come to like this family...don't tell anyone I said that, okay Juli?" The squirrel gave me a mock salute.

"You got it Chii!"

How was that? Was it a good enough apology for you all to forgive me? I hope it was cause I might come out with another chapter soon.

Hope you enjoyed this one!

Ja ne minna~

~Anime hotty lover. 18