Make Her Shine

by domgk115

Kage Midori's mother Ayane, was the best young song writer in Japan, writing hits like Our Sign is B and Star T Rain. In addition? She was the best friend of the star idol Ai Hoshino, growing up with the twins Kage earned the name 'Twin Alternate' alongside his two best-friends growing up. But, like them he also has memories of his past like, and like them, he can't let it go...

2. A Perfect Idol

Authors note: It should be obvious, but I want to remind everyone this is FANFICTION, so there are going to be some things changed from the source material, that's the point of these stories! I'm read and caught up on the ENTIRE Oshi No Ko manga not just the anime, so anything you see changed from the manga is intentional and done for the sake of the story I want to tell here with these amazing characters, if you want to discuss at all feel free to message me! Or, follow me on twitter akira_archer, thank you all so much again, I hope you enjoy!

English and Japanese Voice Actors for this chapter:

Kage Midori: Nobunaga Shimazaki- Ritsuka Fujimaru (Fate Grand Order) Eugeo (Sword Art Online) Shido Itsuka (Date a Live) Seishiro Nagi (Blue Lock) Kaedehara Kazuha (Genshin Impact)

English VA: Alejandro Saab- Cyno (Genshin Impact) Izumi Miyamora (Horimiya) Yuri (Fire Emblem Three Houses) Johnny Black (Sword Art Online)

Ayane Midori: Haruka Tomatsu- Asuna Yuuki (Sword Art Online) Zero Two (Darling in the Franxx) Kyoko Hori (Horimiya) Eina Tulle (DanMachi) Haru Okumura (Persona 5) Iris Cannary (Violet Evergarden)

English VA: Cassandra Lee Morris- Leafa (Sword Art Online) Taiga Aisaka (Toradora) Leo and Luna (Yugioh 5ds) Morgana (Persona 5) Sothis (Fire Emblem Three Houses) Nero (Fate Last Encore & Grand Order)

Kage

The first memory I had in my new life was my own funeral.

"Minato…" Ayane's soft voice said.

She hadn't moved from her spot on that bench outside the church. I was surprised, my Dad really had pulled out all the stops. Never, not once in my life had I seen my father cry, but he did that day. It was a bit bittersweet for me, it was the first time I really felt he had any kind of genuine love for me, and it was after I was dead?

Not that it matters now…. I thought, looking up at her from the stroller.

It didn't matter, because apparently, I had a new family now. Nothing had really set in yet, but after my eyes closed in that lobby, I had woken up with the first thing I saw being Ayane's bright green eyes. I had never given it any thought at all what would happen after I died, however, this was one of the last things I thought would happen.

I wanted to think, why did this happen? Why was I suddenly Ayane's son, that kid I'd seen in her ultrasound? Why did I still remember my previous life in its entirety to the point I recognized almost everyone who came to the funeral only two weeks after my death? I could even talk! How was that possible?

And what was with the twins? Ai's kids' eyes were as beautiful as hers, but why were they so… big? Wide? Why did it seem like whenever the two looked at me they were about to whip out a corncob pipe and give a lecture. Especially the boy, Aquamarine, the way he looked at my funeral? He seemed ready to burn the church to the ground. The girl Ruby was suitably named with her eyes, although she seemed the most confused of the three of us who all now shared a birthday.

I wanted to try and figure out all these questions, but I just couldn't at that moment.

Because all I could do was look at Ai from the stroller.

The funeral had let out, everyone was outside mingling, waiting for some reception dinner. Apparently, they hadn't caught the guy that killed me, and there was still no sign of Sensei from what I had seen and heard, he wasn't at the funeral… so if my killers' words were true, I had to assume the worst. Despite the beautiful day outside, the sheer amount of people I saw show up to my funeral and showed their love… I couldn't feel anything except numbness.

Especially from Ai, who wore a black dress with a gold cord necklace, her beautiful hair fell down her back. Her shining eyes were dark now, the bracelet I had given her just a few weeks ago was still shining on her wrist.

I hadn't heard her say anything, and I so badly wanted to say something to her, tell her I was right there… but that would have done more harm than good. Hearing from your best friend's baby that he was actually your dead boyfriend reborn probably wouldn't be the best.

"Ai… Ai, you need to eat," Ayane said, holding out a bag of sugar cookies to her as she scooted closer to her friend. "Come on Ai, please eat, you'll starve."

Ai's head tilted over to her. Her normally bright eyes still dark, she just shallowly breathed, looking uninterested at the cookies Ayane offered. Everything hurt, my heart, my head, I still felt my stomach tingling where I'd gotten stabbed. Most of all, seeing Ai like this crushed me. Her shine was slipping away with each second, she spent outside of that church, I never had thought I'd see the day that she looked like this.

And she was doing it at my funeral… I had known she did, but I supposed that told me she really did love me. That only made the entire situation even worse.

Ayane sighed; she rested the cookies in her lap for a moment. "You know… I was jealous."

Ai still didn't move. The twins had gone with Ichigo back to the hotel they were staying at, I had overheard they had plans to leave within the next day or two. I couldn't imagine what she was going through, I was dead of course, but her…? I tried to put myself in her shoes, and when I did… well I would have been in a similar position.

But, luckily for Ai… she had someone else I knew loved her.

Ayane sighed. "I had a feeling you and Minato were going to hit it off, I just didn't expect you to hit it off that well! I mean it… I was jealous of you both."

My insides churned; I tried not to react too noticeably. Ayane… you really are a much better person then any of us. Always honest, you never had to lie.

Ai's head shifted and she looked at her. "…. Really?"

"Oh yeah, I had the biggest crush on the guy before you got here!" Ayane said, chuckling. "A cute guy my age who could write songs and make music like him? Not to mention he was so charming and smart! Seriously, sometimes he said words that hurt my brain they just sounded so smart."

"Yeah… he did that, and then he'd fluster when I asked what they meant, he'd get all red, it was cute," Ai said, blinking rapidly. "Wait… Ayane, you really-."

"Oh no, don't think you stole him from me or anything. I don't know, I could just tell we were only meant to be good friends after a few weeks," Ayane said, smiling as she looked up at the sky. "And the two of you? You were perfect for each other. Seeing you being such a cute couple? Yeah… I was jealous."

Ai shook her head. "I'm sorry Ayane…" she looked down at the ground. "I…I just can't believe that he… he's…"

Ai cried, her face in her hands, and my heart shattered.

Ayane dropped the cookies and hugged her. Ai didn't waste any time, holding her crying face still she dug her head into Ayane's chest. It was still amazing that Ayane was my age… well, had been my age when I was alive. Ai was sixteen, and yet she still felt as if she were as old as us with all she went through. It wasn't a large age gap, but I knew that Ayane considered Ai to be like her little sister.

"I know, I can't believe it either," Ayane said, silently crying as Ai sobbed. "I… I really can't."

"He just gave this to me last week he… he said we had all the time in the world," Ai said, a sarcastic chuckle leaving her as she cried. "I guess… that was a lie he didn't mean to tell."

My tiny new heart nearly collapsed then. She's right… I guess I did lie to her.

"I don't think me, or you really have any idea how much he cared about you," Ayane said, holding Ai's head in her shoulder. "And all his songs…they won't-."

Ai sobbed and lifted her head up, clutched onto Ayane and she shook her head. "He… told me loved me last week, and just… just before he…"

Ai's hands shook, Ayane held her, and didn't say a thing.

Ai leaned her head on her friends shoulder as she cried again. "He said that, and I was so happy… he was the first one to ever say that to me. I… I think I felt the same… but I… I couldn't… I couldn't…"

"Ai…" Ayane said, hugging her tighter. "I'm sure he knows."

"If I had said it to him, and…and it had been a lie? I would never have forgiven myself," She said, wiping her face, still looking like a wreck. "And… and now… now the one person who did he's gone-."

"Ai…?" Ayane said, looking at her friend. Miraculously she was smiling. "What are you talking about the one person who did? I love you Ai, I always have."

And now, despite my heartbreak… I couldn't help but smile. I may have been gone, I wasn't going to get to marry her, go on dates with her, none of the stuff people in love normally did. As much as it killed me, that couldn't happen now.

But that had never been the most important part.

No, I fell in love with Ai because I wanted her to be the best version of herself, I wanted her to thrive… I wanted her to shine and be loved, thanks Ayane… oh man, she's really my mom now isn't she?!

I shuddered, that idea was still crazy. Still, I watched Ayane hug a perplexed Ai as she started sobbing into her again. Ayane just smiled and held her tighter, the two of them crying together on the bench. Ai had someone who loved her, she had kids to learn to love.

"Ayane I… I…" Ai said, pulling back as she wiped her tears.

Ayane chuckled. "You don't have to say anything Ai. I'm here for you, for your kids, just like Minato would have been. I… don't know if it helps, but when my Dad died my mom said I should… live each day with a smile, to make him happy. I think Minato would want that for you."

Ai's eyes went wide, tears still pooled at the corner of them… but her smile soon came back, the smile I'd fallen in love with. She blinked and wiped her eyes.

When she opened them? Her eyes shined like the charms on the bracelet I'd given her again.

"He always said… he loved my smile the most. Yeah, that does sound good!" Ai said, pumping her fist, her eyes continued to shine. She smiled, holding her hands to her chest, her hand stayed over the bracelet I had given her. "Minato… I'll continue to shine like you believed I can. And along the way? I'll make my lies truths… just like we always wanted."

Ayane smiled and grabbed Ai's hands. "I think Minato would be happy about that. And… and I'm going to do the same. I know he didn't like sharing his songs, but I'm going to make sure everything he taught me goes into the songs I write!"

I couldn't help but smile now, and the heart in my tiny new body managed to calm down. I looked back at the church from the stroller, feeling weird that this was how I'd finally leave this place after all these years… but then I looked back at Ayane and Ai.

My new family now…I thought, seeing my tiny hand again as I smiled towards Ai. In the end, I guess I really did-.

"Aw, I'm sorry Kage!" Ayane suddenly said, before turning down towards me. "What's wrong?"

Huh? What's she- GAH! I thought, doing my best not to say what I was thinking out loud.

Ayane picked me up like I weighed nothing which… to be fair I didn't. I was still wearing a green onesie, and when Ayane picked me up out of the stroller onto her lap I felt my entire body try to shrivel up.

I ended up looking a bit different then Ayane. I had black hair instead of her brown hair, something I assumed I inherited from my 'dad', whatever lowlife decided to leave Ayane. However, my new eyes? They shined as bright green as Ayane's.

This… this is going to take a lot of getting used too, I thought as Ayane placed me in her lap… and naturally my eyes went right to Ai.

She looked down at me and smiled. She even rubbed my cheek. "Aw, you're so cute Kage! Not as cute as Aqua, Ruby or me, but still adorable! I still can't believe our kids are gonna share a birthday Ayane!"

My entire body tingled when she touched me as I groaned inwardly, oh man… that's really gonna suck these next few years.

Ayane giggled. "Haha, it really is! It's nice they'll all have each other," she looked down at me and smiled as she noticed me looking at Ai. "And you just won't stop staring at her huh Kage? I think he's got a little crush on you Ai!"

"Aw, that's so sweet!" Ai said, as to my horror Ayane handed me over to her. Ai smiled and held me up like she did with her own kids. "You're Ayane's kid so I'll treat you like my own! You'll be sure to keep an eye on Aqua and Ruby for me growing up, won't you Kage?"

I bit the inside of my cheek and tried to force myself to stop blushing. My girlfriend was literally holding up above her and talking to me like I was a baby.

But… I am, and I can't change it… but still, I thought, smiling at the cute look she gave me. I'll still do everything to keep that smile on your face. And… just like I promised before, I'll always look after Aqua and Ruby.

Idol: Oshi No Ko OP1

Make Her Shine

Chapter 2: A Perfect Idol

Aqua

"I don't think I'll ever get used to this…" I whispered, I looked over at Ai next to me sleeping, Ayane wasn't far on the other side of her. "You'd kill me Minato…"

I found myself missing him more every day, part of me expected to wake up to him shaking me to wake up out of a chair in an empty hospital room. He'd always roll his eyes but smirk with coffee in his hands for us both before we both went on our rounds around the hospital. It's a bit sad, but I wasn't afraid to admit a twenty-year-old really had been my best friend.

But now he's gone, they're both gone… I need to accept that, I thought, standing up with my tiny new body. I sighed and looked at Ai, for Sarina, for Minato… and for Ai herself, I'd look after her.

"Uh… what are you doing?" A tiny voice said, and I looked over to see Ruby sitting up while rubbing her eyes. "Aqua?"

To say I'd been a bit surprised to find my younger sister in a flame war with twitter trolls to discover she was also someone who shared my fate was an understatement. However, it was also kind of nice, now at least there was someone I could talk to in full sentences, since I certainly couldn't do it in front of Ai or Ayane.

"Couldn't sleep, you can go back to bed," I told her, yawning as I blinked, ready to do the same.

"Mhm… okay," She said, falling back onto her back next to Ai. I was going to lay back down myself, but then Ruby spoke again. "Huh…? What the… hey Aqua."

"What is it…" I said, tired now, but I turned to Ruby to see she was still sitting up and looking over right next to her.

Ai and Ayane had moved in together after they got back from the hospital. It was a tiny bit cramped, but I knew Minato had told me he and Ai were about to move in together, so I didn't think her, and Ayane would have any problems doing that. The two hadn't so far, them being best friends had made it easy, and for the last few weeks I'd gotten used to seeing Ayane every day, living with us, I hadn't known her as well as Minato had, but I knew she meant a lot to him, so I wanted to look after her too.

But Ayane wasn't the only one who lived with us now.

"Where'd… Kage go?" Ruby asked quietly, careful not to wake Ai and Ayane up.

The moon cast a glow inside the bedroom from outside, and I stood up on my stubby little legs and walked around Ai's head next to Ruby. When I looked over next to Ayane where her kid had been sleeping the last few weeks… I saw nothing.

"I… don't know," I told her, and we both looked at each other, confused.

I didn't know what to make of Ayane's kid, Kage, not yet at least. He had very smart and lively looking green eyes, he'd inherited his messy black hair from whoever his dad was. He hadn't said anything, not that I expected him too at first, but still… I had my suspicions. He just looked far too aware of his surroundings, far too coordinated for a baby, I wanted to ask if he was like Ruby and me the last few weeks but didn't want to look like an idiot if he wasn't and was just a real baby.

Still though… I could even see him blushing when he took a bath with us. One-time last week, Ayane had been out shopping, and told Ai to just have Kage take a bath with me, Ruby, and her. The minute we were all in that tub, much like me his eyes had turned away from Ai and Ruby both, I had felt close to him then since I was equally embarrassed, Ai had to practically drag us off the side of the tub to wash us. That, plus the way I sometimes caught him simply… staring at Ai for minutes on end, it was as if the baby was in love with her, it was odd, but I couldn't exactly blame him.

I'd had my suspicions for a few weeks… but now, not seeing him sleeping next to Ayane in the middle of the night?

I looked at Ruby and a shake of my head. "Maybe he couldn't sleep either and got up."

Her bright eyes went wide. "How could he just get up without Ayane…"

I sighed at her, still whispering. "Don't tell me you haven't noticed it about him. The way he acts, looks around…"

Ruby sheepishly shook her head and whispered back. "Of course, I noticed, I'm not stupid!" Her voice grew softer. "It's just… still hard to believe, do you really think he could be like us-."

It wasn't very loud but a *thump* came from the living room. Ruby and I turned our heads right away, Ayane and Ai of course only lightly snored as they turned in their sleep. I looked at the clock and realized that it was almost 2 in the morning and couldn't help but wonder if this was a normal thing Kage did.

"You heard that too right…" Ruby asked, getting to her feet.

I nodded. "Yeah… well, if we didn't know before, I guess we'll find out."

I turned and walked towards the living room, a second later I heard Ruby's pattering footsteps following behind me. The apartment really wasn't that big, so the living room wasn't far from where we slept or the bathroom. Still, after moving in Ayane had set up her keyboard and guitar in the corner of the living room and would often spend her days huddled on the stool to the keyboard, writing songs and filling the house with great music. It hurt me some days… because there were some melodies and progressions, I knew she had come up with thanks to help from Minato.

The fact whenever I looked at Ai, I saw her wearing the star bracelet Minato had made me help pick out for her only worsened the pain.

"How the heck did he get up there…." Ruby asked from behind me, as we both stopped a few steps away from Ayane's stool up to her keyboard, the baby on it didn't even notice us.

He was too busy trying to reach his stubby arms to the keys.

"Dammit… dammit! Damn these tiny arms!" Kage whispered, stretching as he finally got his fingertips onto the keys and his green eyes went wide. "Yes! Ha, now if… if I can just-."

"Kage."

"GYAH!" He squeaked out, almost falling. I felt bad as he gripped onto the stool, and it almost wobbled over.

"Aqua!" Ruby whispered from next to me. "That was rude!"

"Well what else was I supposed to say?!" I whispered back, annoyed at her, before I turned back to see Kage had recovered from his heart attack.

He let out a sigh. "Jeez, what the hell's… A… Aq…Aqua… R…Ru...by?" he blinked a few times again before he nearly seemed to choke. "You can talk?!"

"Shhhh! You'll wake up mama and Ayane!" Ruby shot back at him.

Kage's face went red. "S…sorry! You… you just… you both you… you're…"

"Like you… you share the same fate as us, right?" I told him, trying to keep the three of us all calm. "You… remember your last life?"

Kage's eyes went wide. They were bright, bright green, his last name being Midori, the Japanese word for green was certainly fitting. He looked at us both for a moment from atop the stool, his eyes darted back and forth from me and Ruby like we'd disappear if he blinked. Ruby next to me looked a little creeped out, but I couldn't blame the guy, I'd had a similar reaction when all of this happened too.

"Um… Kage?" Ruby said quietly. "Why… are you staring?"

Kage stammered. "Sorry! It's just… oh man thank god!"

I don't think god has anything to do with this… I couldn't help but think, as I watched Kage slowly slide off the stool. It turned out the thump we'd heard was a falling book, Kage had stacked about four of them on top of each other, leapt onto the couch, and then used the couch to get onto Ayane's stool to get to the keyboard. Ruby sighed in relief as we watched Kage slowly climb down the couch, and then onto his stack of books. He was wearing a green onesie, it seemed Ayane and Ai had really enjoyed the 'red, blue and green' color scheme for us.

Well, the two of them do keep saying we three had best get used to each other, since we'll be spending so much time together, I thought, looking at Kage as he walked over to us, his black hair a complete mess from the bed head. At least us all sharing the same fate makes it easier.

"You really remember your old life completely, have all your memories like we do?" I asked, wanting to make sure.

Kage looked disturbed but nodded. "Yeah, somehow. I remember every little painful detail unfortunately, it's the same for you both I'm guessing?"

Ruby answered for me. "Yeah, it's the same for me. I was worried I'd have nobody to talk to until Aqua started talking to me."

"You mean when I found you responding to Ai's twitter trolls?" I reminded her.

She looked at me embarrassed. "Hey somebody needs to defend mama's honor online!"

I was about tell her to quite being dramatic, but Kage cut me off, only he didn't tell Ruby to quite being silly, he only laughed.

"She's right you know!" He said, pointing his finger at me. "If idiots can't see how amazing Ai is, then they need to be shown and reminded that she's number one!"

"Ha yes! Finally, someone who gets it!" Ruby exclaimed, smirking at me.

I groaned at them both, great it seems I've been reborn with two crazy idol otakus… not that I can talk really.

"Jeez… will you both be quiet before Ai and Ayane wake up?" I droned to them both, my gaze turned to Kage. "You sound like quite the fan of Ai; you followed her in your last life I'm guessing?"

Then he did something weird. He stuttered and went silent, the slightly excited gleam in his eyes was gone, his gaze went to the floor for a minute.

"Yeah… I guess you can say I did," He whispered, but before I could ask him to elaborate, he looked back up with a smile again. "She's number one, there isn't anyone more talented or beautiful then she is!"

"That's right!" Ruby said excitedly, before she even quietly giggled. "You got good taste Kage."

"Thank you!" Kage said, smiling but making sure to keep his voice down. "I knew you were a fan, Ruby; I've seen how you act around her. What about you Aqua?"

I felt a connection to her, she was an inspiration to the girl I considered my daughter, she was the girl my best-friend loved… she really is amazing, is what I thought.

"I was, and I still am, I'm just trying to make sure she makes it big," Is what came out.

Ruby scoffed and leaned over, whispering to Kage. "He's lying, he tries to act all cool but is really just as big a fan as us."

"Oh yeah, I already knew that" Kage leaned and whispered back to her.

I growled and the two of them shared a laugh at my expense.

Kage finished laughing and smiled at me. "Well, we share the same goal then Aqua… I wanna make sure I look after Ai and Ayane. We have an advantage after all, remembering our old lives."

"That's right! We can make sure we help and love mama the whole time!" Ruby said excitedly, before she quickly nodded. "Oh, and Ayane too, she is mamas' best friend after all. Her songs are always so pretty!"

That was one piece of the puzzle I was having a hard time fitting together. I looked over at Kage who smiled, before her and Ruby excitedly started chatting. I didn't interrupt them, they spoke about the songs Ayane wrote, and how great it was that her and Ai were so close. While they did, I couldn't stop looking at Kage, his eyes were the exact same as Ayane's bright green, and I swear I could see a white star in his eyes just like I could in Ayane's at times. The two were quiet, but seemed to already be getting along well, but I still couldn't wrap my head around it.

I had a connection to Ai before I died, I considered her a friend, I admired her so much, and of course she was the girl that Minato loved. Ruby had a connection to Ai, she was apparently Ai's biggest fan even I could tell that, other than that I knew nothing about her past, but being a fan of an idol as well-known as Ai was understandable. Kage was a mystery. I knew he didn't have anything to do with it, but if the pattern held…

"Hey, Kage."

He and Ruby stopped talking, I felt a bit bad, the two had been discussing Ai's best hits and their favorite concerts of hers they had watched. They were smiling, clearly excited to have another person with the same obsession.

"Yeah, what is it?" Kage asked me.

I shook my head. "Did you have any connection to Ayane before you… were reborn?"

I had almost said, 'before you died', but didn't want to be rude.

Again, Kage went silent. Ruby looked at him curiously, waiting for the answer the same as me. Despite being a bit silly, I knew she wasn't an idiot. Kage sighed and looked down at the floor.

"Yeah… I guess you could say we were friends," He said, before his hand rubbed over his stomach, and he looked back up with his smile again. "Sorry, but I don't… really wanna think about my old life right now, it's kinda fresh, I'm sure you both can understand."

Ruby looked to the ground, and gently nodded. "No… I understand."

It really didn't matter too much what any of our previous lives were at this point since we were here now. It shouldn't have mattered at least.

But it still does for me… I won't let anything happen to Ai, I thought, before I saw Kage's smile grow again. I decided to just assume he was an old relative of Ayane she had mentioned when she was in the hospital to Minato and me, she'd had a friend who passed away from a surprise heart attack a year or so before she was pregnant, perhaps Kage could be them?

"Sorry for asking…" I said, genuinely meaning it. "I didn't mean to pry."

He shook his head. "Don't worry about it, trust me, I did my best to try and come up with an explanation when I realized what had happened."

"Did you come up with any?"

"Nope, nothing at all."

"Makes two of us then," I sighed, managing to smile myself.

"And that makes three of us!" Ruby decided to chime in.

Kage and she laughed quietly together… and I smiled more.

Maybe… this won't be so bad, I thought, looking between them.

Ruby finished laughing, and still whispering looked at me and Kage. "So… what do we do now?"

"Huh? Do now?" Kage asked her.

"Yeah… now that well, we all know each other's secrets," She asked, looking at them curiously. "I think…we all have the same goal but… do we do something now that we know?"

I sighed and shook my head. "Why would we-."

"We live."

I slowly looked over at Kage, and Ruby did the same. I noticed he smiled almost as much as Ruby did, he seemed to be trying to make the best of the situation.

"Live…?" Ruby asked.

He nodded. "Yeah…we live. It's simple but true. Think about it, Ruby, Aqua, we have a chance that as far as we know nobody else ever gets! I'm… guessing you both died too, and it feels like yesterday still."

The back of my head throbbed hard, and I could see Ruby shuffle nervously.

Kage grabbed onto his stomach but kept smiling. "But we get a second chance! We have great parents and our old memories. Ayane and Ai are some of the most talented people in the world, and we get to grow up as their kids and help them, don't you realize how awesome that is?"

Ruby slowly smiled and nodded. "Yeah… yeah it really is! This has been like a dream!"

I just nodded at him, I could see he was smiling yes, he was being genuine… but there was something behind his eyes that Ruby didn't see that I could see.

It's the same as what's behind mine… he's trying to convince himself, I realized, but didn't say anything. Kage was braver then I was, at least he was attempting to move past his old life.

"Exactly!" He said, being sure to keep his tone down. "And, not for nothing, but we all share the same birthday. Ayane's never going to leave Ai no matter what, so looks like we're going to be together for it all too. It would help if we were all friends don't you think?"

Ruby's eyes looked extremely excited. I guessed it stemmed from having another huge and vocal Ai fan, they both had a similar enthusiasm which I could already tell was going to help them get along well.

"Yeah! It really would! Mama already said that we're going to be together every day," She said excitedly, as she grabbed Kage's hand with both of hers and shook it. "I'm really happy to officially meet you, Kage!"

"You too, Ruby," He said as he shook her hand back. "You guys have no idea how happy I am I'll have people to talk to! I thought I was going to have to be silent for years!"

He turned to me, and my mouth slightly fell open. It was still odd to me, seeing another baby trying to hold his hand out to shake mine. I looked up at him and felt a pang in my chest.

Ha… keeping it together and moving forward despite your fears and reservations… he reminds me a bit of you, Minato.

I managed to smile and shook his head. "Yeah, it's nice to meet you, Kage."

"This is awesome!" Ruby said excitedly, before realizing she was a bit too loud in the middle of the night before she looked at Kage with an inquisitive look. "Oh, by the way Kage, were you… really trying to play the keyboard?"

Kage finished shaking my hand, looking embarrassed. "Ha… yeah, yeah, I was. We're not alone a lot, so I normally do it at night."

"You… play keyboard in the middle of the night?" I asked him oddly.

"Well… I keep it unplugged of course," He said, looking at his stubby baby arms. "I just press the keys and try to imagine the sound. I don't wanna forget how to play."

Ruby's eyes went wide, and she smiled again. "You played keyboard? Were you a musician, did you write and play music?!"

Kage's green eyes practically bulged, as his chubby baby face went red. "I… well… you see I…. I…. Y…yes! Yes, I was a musician! I can play keyboard, guitar, bass, and I… I've even wrote some songs before."

"That's so cool! It's perfect you're Ayane's son then," Ruby said, her tiny fists up in front of her in excitement. "I can play keyboard too!"

For the first time, Kage and I looked at each other, and then back to Ruby.

"Really…?" He asked carefully.

"You're coordinated enough to play keyboard?" I asked her, saying what I knew Kage had really been thinking.

"Shut up I really can!" Ruby said embarrassed, before for the first time, I saw her smile soften, she looked at the floor. "I… I had someone who taught me how. I'm no expert but I know the basics!"

"Huh…." I said curiously, as my mind started racing.

I don't think I've ever seen her like that, whoever taught her must have been important to her, maybe an old boyfriend or sibling, I guessed, before I felt bad for assuming.

Kage must have too.

"I see… well, if you want, I can teach you some more," He told her, meeting her eyes as she perked right up. "Well, as much as these tiny arms will let me now anyway. And as we get older, I can teach you more, what do you say?"

"You mean it, really?! I'd love too!"

"Shhhh quiet down!" I told her, as she'd gotten louder. I looked between her and Kage. "Don't you think it'd be smarter to go back to bed? If Ai and Ayane caught us…"

Kage smiled softly. "Oh, come on, I've been doing it for weeks, don't worry, I'll make sure we're quiet," he looked over at Ruby. "Do you want to start now? It kinda sucks without sound, but you can still get used to the keys."

Ruby's eyes shined more then they usually did. "Yeah of course I would, your really don't mind?"

"Not at all," He said, smiling at her, before he looked over at me. "We'll get back to bed soon."

"Alright!" Ruby whispered excitedly, as she went to climb up Kage's stack of books towards the stool at the keyboard.

I sighed and met his eyes, I considered myself good at reading people, and found myself surprisingly trusting him.

"Alright, just try not to be too loud," I said with a yawn, before I turned and walked back towards the bedroom.

This new life just got a lot more interesting….

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Ruby

"Ha… he certainly is a ray of sunshine, isn't he?" Kage said, grunting as he climbed up the book stack, onto the couch and then next to me on the stool.

"You can say that again…" I whispered, watching my new brother walk back to the bedroom. "But he really does seem like a good person."

"I think so too," Kage said, as he leaned forward, his tiny hands touched the keys of Ayane's keyboard. "Okay, I moved the keyboard a bit closer, so now we can reach. So why don't you show me what you know first. Do you know the scales?"

I caught myself looking at Kage. His hair was so black it blended in with the night around them, if not for the light of the moon coming in through the window and the tiny bathroom light, I wouldn't have seen it at all. His smile was genuine, he'd been nice so far, and I could tell by looking into his bright green eyes he really knew what he was talking about, he was definitely Ayane's son. I guessed he must have really been a good musician in his previous life.

And Aqua was definitely someone very smart… and then you have me… I couldn't help but think for a moment before Kage looked down at me again.

"Ruby? You, okay?"

"Huh? Oh yeah sorry," I told him, turning back to the keyboard and holding up my tiny hands, trying to comb my brain for the right-hand placement. "Scales… okay, I'll start, here! Right hand on C…D, E, F, G… gah! Stupid tiny hands…"

It did feel weird hearing no sound, but like Kage had said… if I closed my eyes and let my mind wonder… I heard them, I heard the sound of each key as I pressed it. The sounds were burned into my brain, and I knew they'd never be removed, no… I'd never forget the scale practice again.

Especially when…it was you who taught me, Mina…

If I closed my eyes, I could not only hear the sounds the keys made… but I could feel his hands over mine, feel his arm around me as I sat in that bed when he moved my hands to show me where to press each key. Yeah… I could see it, I could hear his instructions, he was always so focused, and right there when I made a mistake.

"Okay, so here's an easy one, C, D, E, tuck your thumb, F, G, A, B, C… and then back," He said, the beautiful melody playing throughout my room. "Go on, try it."

He smiled at me; he was only sixteen. I was twelve, but I didn't need to be older to know that I really loved him. It was thanks to Sensei we met, and I loved Sensei for it, Mina, and Sensei… the first family I had in so long. He was in a very prestigious high school, getting ready for med-school… he should have been studying, but he made time for me. He was sweet like that all the time.

"Okay… C, D, E and… F?" I said, going through the progression of keys, but it sounded nothing like Minato's as my thumb slipped. "Oh! Sorry, I… I can't get that thumb tuck part!"

He smiled, and gently put my hand back on the key. The keyboard was over my lap, and he moved closer. When his arm wrapped around me, I stiffened, my face completely red.

"Don't worry, it's tough at first, but you'll get it, here I'll help you," He said, smiling as he reached his hand around me, and then placed his hand over mine on the keyboard. "C, D, E…now tuck… huh, are you okay?"

His face was inches from mine, and I freaked out. "I… I'm fine! Totally fine! Yes fine!"

He just chuckled. "Ha… you're such a goof. Don't worry I'll stay here until you get it."

He was always so sweet like that… right there whenever I needed help, whenever I needed anything, him, and Sensei both, I thought, as I looked down at the keyboard and my now tiny fingers and tried again.

Kage next to me scoffed. "Wow, you knew to tuck your thumb and pulled it off with those tiny hands! Great job Ruby!"

"Great job Sarina!"

I stammered and looked away from Kage and back to the keyboard. "Th…thanks! The… the person who taught me said you should practice scales every day if you want to be a master!"

"Smart advice," Kage said with a chuckle. "They sound like they were a genius."

I found myself smiling, as I looked down at the keyboard, and I could practically feel him guiding my hand.

I'll make that my goal… I'll look after mama! And then I'll… I'll become an idol! And I'll find you both again… Sensei… Mina….

I looked at Kage and nodded. "Yeah… yeah he really was!"

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Kage

"Okay, first order of business, Ai's return to being an idol!" Ichigo yelled, slamming his hand against the board. "Ayane!"

Ayane nearly dropped me and fell out of her seat. "Why are you yelling?!"

Ichigo looked embarrassed for a moment but composed himself. "Sorry… I got ahead of myself. I wanted to ask, are you sure you're still okay with being made Ai's assistant in addition to your song writing duties? I know it's a lot of work."

"Oh, don't worry at all, I don't mind one bit!" She said, before looking back down at me. "Jeez… you really don't want to breast feed do you Kage?"

NO! NO, I DO NOT AYANE! Is what I wanted to scream. This whole being able to talk but not being able too thing was getting harder every day. It was mitigated some by being able to talk with Aqua and Ruby, but in situations like this where my old best-friend was trying to breastfeed me it really sucked.

I took some comfort knowing I wasn't the only one who had this problem.

"It's weird isn't it, Aqua's the same way!" Ai said from next to Ayane on the couch. "He won't breastfeed at all!"

I looked and tried to give Aqua a sympathetic look as he sucked on a bottle on the couch next to Ai. I also had no idea how old Aqua was if you counted the few months that we'd been reborn.

Ayane sighed and sat me on the couch next to him where I sighed in relief. Ayane smiled down at me and handed a bottle over, which I snatched and went to town on, so I didn't have to think of the alternative anymore.

That was when Ruby started crying.

"It makes it even odder that Ruby has no problem with it," Ayane said as Ai got up and picked Ruby out of the crib. She sighed as she looked at me and Aqua sympathetically. "Maybe it's just a boy thing?"

Ai patting both Aqua's head and then mine. "Haha, maybe we should switch then! Maybe Aqua will have an easier time with you and Kage with me!"

At the same exact time, Aqua and I choked on our milk. It of course made both Ayane and Ai laugh, but Aqua and I didn't find it funny. We looked at each other and it wasn't the first time I'd felt true comradery with Ai's son.

If…things had been different well, I would have been helping take care of them, I thought, looking from Aqua over to Ruby who had no problems breastfeeding. I had kept telling myself I could look out for them both still, but… some nights it did really hurt, thinking about it, what would have happened. My stomach still tingled every day, and I found myself often rubbing the place where I'd been stabbed, as if the knife was still twisting in my gut. That was what it felt like at times, like the knife of regret was constantly turning in my gut.

It didn't help that even now as we sat on the couch, Ai was wearing it. She was wearing that black bracelet with the two silver star charms. I hadn't seen her once without it on since my funeral, a part of me was happy, it meant she really cherished my gift… cherished what we had. The other part of me? I hated seeing it, it was a constant reminder of what we could have had.

I looked up and saw Ayane's large pretty green eyes looking at me as she smiled.

"It's okay Kage, I'm just teasing," She teased, poking my nose.

I might have blushed if this still wasn't an odd feeling. I was going to have to wait until I was at least three or four until I started talking and that was going to be hell. It was going to be even weirder when I had to start calling Ayane, 'mom'.

"Will you two please focus…" Ichigo sighed from next to the whiteboard. He looked to Ai first. "Ai, you're okay with Ayane being your assistant, right?"

"Haha why would I mind?" She smiled widely, holding Aqua and Ruby, she looked over at Ayane. "I don't wanna go anywhere without her!"

Ayane blushed but smiled at her, before looking back at Ichigo. "We'll be fine Ichigo, oh! And I think I should be finished the song by tomorrow! Ai and the girls should be good to perform it during the TV show in a few days."

My ears perked up, I looked up at Ayane… and the knife twisted in my stomach again, I knew exactly what song she was talking about. She'd told me about it plenty of times while she was in the hospital, showed me the lyrics, the chords, and scales and even while she was pregnant tried to show me some of the dance moves, she thought of for the choreography. It was twenty times better than anything I'd ever wrote or planned out in my old life, when I told Ayane that she denied it, but I knew it was true. Aqua and Ruby looked at Ayane and then at me, I subtly shrugged, I didn't like lying to them, but I didn't exactly want to spill my past life to them.

I knew Ayane considered this song her magnum opus, she had told me and Ai it was going to be her biggest hit yet. And I had been supposed to help her finish it. But instead, I'd secretly watched her stay up till crazy hours of the morning the last few weeks working on it, and all I could do was sit there and watch.

"The one you've been working on for months, right?! I love that one!" She said, her bright starry eyes getting wider. She leaned her head over on Ayane's shoulder. "You're the best Ayane!"

GAH! I yelled in my head as my head almost bumped into Aqua's, he and Ruby both squealed too. All three of us looked at each other with a sigh of relief. Since we'd all first talked, we'd been becoming really good at silently communicating with each other like that.

Ayane blushed and with her free hand patted Ai's head which she loved. Her smile then slowly faded as she looked at Ichigo.

"Yeah… it should be ready by tomorrow," She said, looking up at the manager. "But… boss are you sure you want to have a debut song on the TV show, it'll be Ai's first performance back!"

Ichigo was a guy who I could tell liked to act tough and uptight but was secretly a pretty caring guy. I saw how he looked after Ai even before I had died, and he did the same thing with Ayane. He was also extremely smart; he was the definition of someone who was way smarter then he looked.

"I'm sure, don't worry Ayane I trust your work, the other girls have all liked the small bits you've sent in too, they're ready," Ichigo said, before looking to Ai. "So long as Ai's okay with it too."

Ayane gripped me tighter in her arms and looked down at me smiling.

"Ai…?" She asked quietly.

Ai scoffed and didn't stop smiling. "Are you kidding Ayane, of course I wanna perform your song, I've heard it through the entire process, you really are a genius! Our Sign is B! It'll be our best song yet!"

I felt myself start to smile. Aqua and Ruby still looked confused, but when I looked up at Ayane, I even gently pinched her arm. She went wide eyed and looked down at me, I made sure she saw the smile I had. If I couldn't say anything to help her feel more confident… this was the least I could do.

It worked, she giggled and rubbed my hair. "Well, I guess if Ai and you believe in me Kage… okay, I'll have it ready. Ichigo… thank you for believing in me, you too Ai."

Ai giggled happily, and Ichigo smiled.

"Don't worry Ayane, I know this isn't the only hit you'll write for us," He said reassuringly.

Ayane smiled, and her eyes fell again. "Yeah… I'm really proud of this, I… even had some extra help, from someone special."

The entire room went silent, and it took every ounce of control in my tiny body to be quiet and show no reaction of any kind. My hands, however, both went over my stomach, the knife was turning again.

Ichigo, Ai, and even Ichigo's wife waiting in the corner knew who Ayane was talking about.

"He was a talented guy…" Ichigo said softly.

"Yeah… yeah he was…" Ayane said quietly. She saw Ai and went wide eyed again. "I… I'm sorry Ai! I didn't mean to-."

"It's fine, don't apologize!" Ai said, her face lighting up, her eyes were bright as ever. She nodded determinedly with Aqua and Ruby in her arms. "He'd tell us to give it our all Ayane, so that's what I'm going to do! And I know he'd say the same to you!"

My eyes drifted to Aqua and Ruby. Aqua I knew had been awake and attentive at my funeral. I wasn't sure if he figured out that I had been Ai's boyfriend before she had him and Ruby, but it was clear he had some semblance of an idea who they were talking about.

Ruby on the other hand looked completely lost. I remembered she had fallen asleep, and Ichigo had taken her back to the hotel, she hadn't seen the funeral like Aqua had. So, she had no idea who they were all talking about, but she was smart, if a little goofy, she'd pick it up somehow. Neither of them it seemed was going to know my name, as Ayane and Ai both refused to say it.

I didn't know what it was, but neither Ayane nor Ai had mentioned me by name since I'd died. I knew they were referencing me at times, but my name seemed to be foreign to them… I wasn't offended because I understood.. The one time I had heard them mention my name before this, was late at night. I'd snuck awake to go use the keyboard, but found Ayane and Ai awake, Ai had been trying to convince Ayane to go to bed and stop working on 'Our Sign is B' for the night.

My name had come up, first Ayane cried, and then I saw Ai cry… and then, I had cried.

Ayane smiled, her face bright again. "Yeah, you're right Ai, that's exactly what he'd want! Ichigo, boss… let's do it."

"Alright that's the spirit!" Ichigo said, slamming the white board behind him again. "Ayane from now on, you'll go with Ai to all her rehearsals and practices, oh yeah… you'll also be joining in the rehearsals from now on whenever you have time."

"Okay! It looks like we'll get to be together all the time now Ai!" Ayane said excitedly. "Just like Kage, Aqua and Ruby! Yeah, we'll…. Wait… what was that last part?"

"You'll be joining in on rehearsals, dancing and singing, in case we ever need an alternate, the girls already know," Ichigo repeated again, looking away from her.

Ayane's eye twitched, and my eyes went wide, she squeezed me a bit too tight.

"I'm sorry Ichigo, can you repeat that one more time?"

Ichigo cleared his throat. "You'll be rehearsing and practicing with the other girls too-."

"OH, HELL NO!"

GYAH DAMMIT AYANE! I thought, a cry coming from me as Ayane did almost drop me this time.

"Oh! I'm so sorry Kage!" She quickly said, catching me and pulling me back into her arms. She breathed out in relief and looked back at Ichigo. "What the hell do you mean I'm rehearsing! That's not in my contract, I can't be an idol I'm too old! Why do I need to practice?!"

Ichigo sighed. "You're not old Ayane, you're twenty. You need to show the girls the choreography, but relax you'll just be an alternate in case any of the girls can't-."

"I couldn't do that, I could never! I couldn't go out on stage, sing, dance, wave to the crowd, there's so many people! I could never-."

"Huh? Ai, you told me she secretly wanted too!"

Ayane's eye twitched as she looked over at Ai with red cheeks. "Ai, I told you that in confidence!"

Ai giggled and stuck out her tongue. "Hehe, sorry Ayane, looks like your idol dreams aren't dead yet!"

"Relax, like I said you'll only fill in if we need you, and if you like it, there's plenty of solo acts who write their own songs," Ichigo said, trying to smooth the situation over. He looked at Ayane with genuine care in his eyes. "But I won't force you to do anything. I thought I'd give you the chance as thanks for what you've done for me and Ai both so far."

Ayane bit her lip and looked down at me with a sigh. "Well… okay I guess, thank you…"

"Hehe, you hear that Aqua, Ruby! Ayane's gonna be an idol like mama!" Ai said happily as she looked very satisfied with herself.

Ayane sighed but smiled. "This really was your idea from the start huh… you little devil."

As Ai laughed, Ichigo slammed his board again.

"Okay! We're going to get started today," He said, looking down now at me, Ruby and Aqua. "Now, as for the kids, Ayane, you're twenty and not technically an idol, so you should be fine in public, but Ai…"

He looked at Ai and I felt my heartbeat faster. Ai and I talked and joked about what we'd do.

She giggled and laid her head down on my lap, looking up at my ceiling. "Hey Minato! I just had the best idea!"

"Oh yeah? If it came from that head of yours, I'm sure it's a good one," I said, putting the book down and smiling down at her. I poked her face. "What is it?"

She giggled and snatched my hand. "So, you know how I'll have to keep the kids a secret right?"

"Aha, I do," I told her, smiling as she poked and played with my hand.

"Now, what if you became my personal assistant! You can still help Ayane make music, but that way you can come with me everywhere!" She said, letting my hand go and smiling up at me. "And you can bring the kids and just say they're yours so we can always be together!"

I scoffed, my chest warm. "And you don't think people will ask who the kids' mom is?"

"You can just tell them they're your girlfriends! A simple enough lie," She winked at me.

I chuckled. "Okay… but you're my girlfriend."

She rolled her eyes and nodded. "I am, lucky you huh?"

"Yes, very lucky me."

"You suck up!" She said, laughing as she reached up from my lap and touched my cheek. "I know we'll have to be secretive but… I promise it-."

"It'll be worth it? Yeah, it will be," I told her, holding my hand over hers. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it, either way, I'll be there."

She giggled. "You really are a suck up…"

I leaned down and kissed her.

"As for Ruby and Aqua, my wife will look after them while we're gone, Kage too," He told us, gesturing to the woman who'd been silent to this point. "When we're out in public we'll say Aqua and Ruby are our kids. This is best for a little while; you both understand right?"

Ayane and Ai both nodded affirming they did, this was something I'd been expecting too. I looked over at Ruby and Aqua, Ruby clung to Ai, while Aqua like always, seemed like the was trying to put a puzzle together. He looked at me a few times, and I couldn't help but remember him saying he wanted to look out for Ai when we first met.

So long as that's his goal, we'll get along okay, he seems like a good guy, I thought, before I looked up at Ruby whose eyes fell on me from Ai's arms, and she smiled, I smiled back. Ruby… she's certainly unique and seems… oddly familiar.

It was as if we'd clicked in seconds, the minute we realized how much we both loved Ai, we'd hit it off. After that first night, I'd been showing her more scales on the keyboard, she really did have good knowledge, whoever taught her really was a good teacher. Most nights though we'd just stay up talking about Ai, about what it was like being alive again.

I still hadn't talked with her or Aqua about our previous lives, and I didn't want too. It wasn't that I didn't trust them… I just wanted to try and move on, and the more I thought about Minato Kaniyama, the less I felt like Kage Midori.

But I was Kage Midori now, son of Ayane Midori, and best-friend to Aquamarine and Ruby Hoshino.

No matter what… this is going to be an interesting life to say the least.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Kage

"Hey, don't you think we should wake up Ruby?" I asked Aqua as he clicked to the right channel with the remote. "She'd probably want to watch."

"She's been having trouble sleeping the last few days, let her rest," He said, finding the correct channel. "Besides, it'll record it automatically anyway."

"You do have a point," I said, leaning back on the couch. Miyako was asleep on the chair, letting Aqua and me sit on the couch finally. "Ayane was up late getting this ready… it really does sound like a hit."

"I may not have been a musician like you, but I'll have to agree," He said, putting the remote down. "By the way, how are Ruby's keyboard lessons?"

I chuckled. "Good as they can be with these tiny arms. She's surprisingly good, whoever taught her must have really known his stuff."

"He?" Aqua said curiously. "I supposed it must have been a brother or maybe boyfriend from her older life."

"That's what I guessed, it's kinda cute she gets all smiley when she mentions him."

"That could be bad… the sooner we accept this life, the sooner we can move on," He said as the show returned from commercial, the interview already started. "Either way, you and her seem to get along well."

"Yeah, she's nice and of course has great taste in idols," I said, smiling as the camera on screen panned to Ai.

"Just be careful, who knows you maybe you'll fall in love, childhood best-friends to lovers is a popular shoujo manga trope after all," He said casually.

I choked and stared at him wide eyed. Was he really talking about this when we were just babies?! Did he really think… I realized he had a slight curl on the corner of his lips.

Is he… making a joke? Aqua? I realized suddenly, before chuckling myself, that was certainly a new thing.

I decided to joke back. "Ha, who knows maybe you'll be right and-."

"Oh yeah I've been keeping busy!" Ai said on screen cutting me off. "Just the other day my kids- I mean kittens! Hahaha, I got new kittens over my break!"

Aqua and I both nearly fell off the couch, before at the same time letting out a sigh of relief. I looked over at him with the feeling we were going to be doing that a lot growing up. I looked back up at Ai who made every girl and even the reporters laugh. I knew that she was really smarter then she let on, I'd seen it plenty in the months we'd spent together… but that didn't mean she still wasn't truly a bit of an airhead for real. I loved her for it, it was one of her many quirks I found adorable.

And apparently, I was showing my adoration then.

Aqua groaned. "Jeez, will you stop staring at Ai like that… it's creeping me out."

I stammered and shot him a glare. "I… I am not staring!"

"Aha, of course you aren't," He sighed, leaning back on the couch with me. "You seem like just as big a fan as Ruby was."

"Yeah… yeah you could say that…" I said quietly, my eyes focused on her as she smiled and answered the reporters' questions sitting between the rest of the B-Komachi girls.

She still had it on even during her interview, that black bracelet with the white star charms, my last gift to her, when I said it to her.

The reporter's next question was about their performance on the show.

Ai's eyes glowed as she nodded. "Yes! It's a brand-new song! My best-friend wrote it, Ayane Midori she's the absolute best, she's going to be the top song writer in Japan! She's right over there! Hi Ayane!"

"Ah… Ai!" Aqua and I said at the same time.

The camera spun around, and I saw Ayane caught in the middle. She'd been standing next to Ichigo, a cute white skirt with long black stockings up her legs. Her hair was tied up in a neat bun with a dark green blouse on to contrast her bright green eyes. When the camera went on her, I saw Ichigo get out of the camera's view before sighing with his face in his hands.

I stammered as I watched Ayane make a nervous face that looked awfully similar to the one I was making at home then. She nervously chuckled and waved to the camera before she quickly retreated back with Ichigo. The camera spun back around to Ai who giggled.

The reporter had a good laugh. "Haha… so a brand-new song for your first performance back Ai? Are you nervous at all?"

And that was when Ai smiled, and her eyes were brighter than ever, and the bracelet on her wrist sparkled.

She nodded confidently. "I'm 100 percent confident! No nerves at all, you're all going to love Ayane's new song, let's show you Our Sign is B!"

And the camera panned out, as the crew right away went to work. My tiny toes curled, my nerves building up in my stomach as I saw Ai chat with the other girls, and I knew that Ayane had to be practically bouncing, she liked to act calm, but I knew she was just as nervous as I was.

"Don't worry, Ayane's song is fantastic," Aqua said, as if reading my mind. "And with Ai singing it… they'll both be even bigger stars after today."

I didn't know what it was, but the calm almost monotone way in which he said it made me truly believe it, not that I didn't already. Still, it was nice to have some reassurance. I let out a sigh, my tiny chest thumped loud as I watched the girls all get their microphones and take the stage in position, Ai was in the center as always, and I could imagine the chatter around the studio now.

'Who even are these girls?'

'The one in the center is cute but… that really seems to be it.'

'Can we just get this over with…?'

I had spoken with Ayane before I died, who had practically become Ichigo's protégé, she knew a bit about how the entertainment world worked. Ichigo had pulled a favor to get Ai and the girls on TV, the show had a more adult audience and was relatively big. Meanwhile, while Ai and B-Komachi had a dedicated sect of hardcore fans the last few years like me, and apparently Ruby in her previous life… they had yet to really break out onto a bigger national stage.

"Mhm… huh? What… what time is it?" Ruby's voice asked, and I looked over to see her rising out of the smaller crib. I saw her eyes go to the screen and shoot open. "Gah! It's starting, why didn't either of you wake me up?! I don't want to miss Mama's performance and Ayane's new song!"

I chuckled and looked over at Aqua. "Told you, didn't I?"

Aqua sighed as looked down at Ruby trying to jump up to the couch. "You haven't slept the last few nights well; besides it would have just recorded, and you can watch it back."

"But it's not the same as watching it live! Performances as big as this need to be watched live, Kage agrees right Kage?" She asked as I reached down my tiny hand.

I smiled and nodded, grabbing her, and pulling her up to the couch where she sat between me and Aqua. "Yeah, she does have a point."

"You always agree with her don't you…" Aqua sighed as well all looked to the screen. "Well, I guess it makes-."

"Shhhh! It's starting!" Ruby gushed, practically bouncing in her seat, Miyako somehow still had her eyes closed in the chair.

I looked at the screen, as Ai took her pose, microphone in hand, her fingers were together pointed up, her back bent as her beautiful pink idol dress sparkled.

And so did the stars in her eyes, and on the bracelet on her wrist. I couldn't help but smile as the first few scales of the song started playing, I remembered every little moment of helping Ayane with this.

"Mhm… it's good, but the start should have a little more kick," I said, looking across at Ayane, Ai leaning on her head on my shoulder as I did. "And since Ai would be leading it off, we should try and match-."

"Match the lyrics and pitch of the notes to her dancing and voice!" Ayana finished with a sparkle in her green eyes. "I was thinking the same thing!"

"Exactly! Maybe start off a bit lower and then go high," I told her as we sat on the carpet in a circle in my living room. "Ai can hit either note, but her dancing style matches the higher notes, still, her voice can fluctuate-."

"Fluctuate? What does that mean if my voice can fluctuate?" Ai asked, raising her head off my shoulder, and looking up at me inquisitively.

Ayane chuckled as she looked over at us. "It means you're good at changing the pitch of your voice."

"Pitch?" Ai asked.

I chuckled nervously and looked down at her. "Well, it's the difference in the sound of the notes you sing. Some sound higher and louder some sound lower and-."

Ai giggled and poked my cheek. "Hehehe I was kidding silly of course I know what pitch is, I'm not stupid you know!"

"Oh! I wasn't saying you were stupid! I… I just well, um… I-."

"Stop torturing the poor guy Ai," Ayane laughed with a guitar over her lap and large stomach. I saw her smile amusingly. "She does that a lot, she's a lot smarter then she lets on."

Ai laughed more and wrapped her arms around my neck next to me. "Haha, I can't help it, your reactions are just soooo cute!"

She playfully poked my face making Ayane laugh and me blush even more.

I chuckled nervously and smiled at her. "I always thought you were smart, seriously, I… really admire that about you."

Ayane and she went quiet. Ayane smirked at me which only made my face redder. Ai smiled, her face getting red herself as she cooed and hugged my neck tighter again.

"Haha, aww, you're such a suck up it's so cute!" She said, kissing my cheek before sitting back down and looking at both Ayane and me. "But jokes aside… you're both the talented ones, I just go out and sing!"

"Ai that takes tons of talent! You're amazing!" I said quickly.

Ayane nodded. "Minato's right Ai, you can't sell yourself short."

Ai giggled and leaned back, looking at us both with her eyes sparkling. "Well, I suppose you are both right! But… don't you worry, I'm going to give my best for these songs you write! If I do, then everyone will know how talented you both are!"

"Gahhhhhh Mama's so amazing!" Ruby gushed as Ai danced and sung right in the center, her moves were precise, her voice was beautiful, she didn't miss a single beat, it was as if she had never taken a break… and she was breathtaking.

Ai… I always knew you'd make everyone love you but… still not as much as me, I thought with a smile, as Ai winked at the cameras as she sung.

Then her wrist passed by the camera, and the black bracelet with the star charms glinted for everyone to see.

I smiled, my mouth slightly open, it was a contrast to Ruby leaning forward practically bouncing. Aqua was trying to act stoic as Aqua did, but I saw him starting to smile as well, he was just as enthralled as I was.

"And our sign is B!" Ai's voice resonated, before a break in the lyrics as the amazing music that Ayane had wrote played with Ai and all the girls moving perfectly to the choreography that Ayane had planned out, that had been the hardest part, since I knew Ayane wasn't the best dancer, but she studied and made the perfect routine to go along with her song.

"Wow… her and the song," I said breathlessly, looking fondly at Ai on screen as she brought home the final quarter of the song. "Good job Ayane… Ai…"

"Aha! Mama was so amazing! And Ayane's song, it's beautiful she's a genius!" Ruby said happily, looking over at me with her wide bright eyes full of just as much life as Ai's. "It looks like you're mom's as much of a genius as you are Kage!"

I stammered, my pudgy face going red. "I… I'm not a genius! No, not at all, Ayane's the talented one! I… I was just well… an amateur musician, nothing compared to-."

"Oh, come on, you know every scale every key on that keyboard! And I bet if your arms were long enough, you'd be great at guitar too!" Ruby said reassuringly, her smile not leaving her.

"Ha… you think so? Thanks then…" I said, turning away from her.

"She's right you don't have to be modest, it's clear you were talented… it'll be interesting to see what you and Ayane can come up with when you're older," Aqua said, as on screen the entire studio cheered for Ai as she waved upon finishing. "Ai's surely going to blow up after that-."

"Shhhh shut up!"

Aqua and Ruby both looked offended when I practically shouted at them, but when they saw why they quickly quieted up and leaned back like I did, trying to put a more baby looking look on my face.

"Huh… what was that… What? How'd the three of you get… ugh, I don't care," Miyako groaned as she opened her eyes. She looked from us and then to the screen, she still had an agitated look on her face.

A part of me couldn't blame her, she'd had to change three babies that weren't her multiple times today as Ichigo, Ayane and Ai had head out very early in the morning while she'd been stuck here. I liked to think if I were in her shoes, I'd be a bit annoyed too.

That is annoying I get it but still… hold on, what is she doing? I thought, my eyes going wide as she shot up from the seat glaring at the TV, just as the camera panned over to Ayane and Ichigo clapping for Ai, and then back to Ai herself, who was already getting ready for the next song.

"This blows! I thought it'd be fame and handsome guys my age, this isn't fair!" She complained as she paced back and forth before glaring at the TV again. "Now I'm stuck taking care of some brat's kids, and what do I get for it?! Nothing!"

I stammered, wanting to say something, but I did what I normally did now when I wanted to say something but couldn't since it would have been weird for a baby to talk in complete sentences. I looked over at Aqua and Ruby to communicate through our faces, I always seemed to know exactly what they were talking about.

They were just as wide eyed as me, we all thought the same thing.

This… isn't good, she finally snapped.

"Ugh, I'm sick of this! You know, what I'm finished!" She yelled stomping her foot down, before slowly looking over at the drawers of the entertainment center. "Hold on… that's it! I bet someone would pay a fortune to know about these little brats!"

At the same time, Aqua's, Ruby's and my jaw all fell as Miyako rushed over to the drawer and started looking for the family registry.

"I'll be rich! Ha, it beats being nothing but a babysitter!" She said, pulling out the registry with a very satisfied smile.

I stuttered, wanting to yell but I couldn't. Ruby thankfully spoken up when I couldn't.

"This is bad, what are we gonna do! It's over if she exposes mama!" She said worriedly, looking between Aqua and me. "Do we kill her?!"

I almost had a stroke. "Ah… what?! Ruby!"

"No, we wouldn't stand a chance, we're at too much of a size disadvantage."

"Aqua!"

"I… was joking, but you sounded serious," Ruby said, taking the words out of my mouth.

"Well, I hope you both were…" I muttered.

Aqua turned to us both. "I have a plan, follow my lead."

I wanted to protest… but I knew they were right, so I followed Aqua as he carefully leapt over to the table right behind Miyako along with Ruby, kneeling in between them both. I wanted to groan but kept my mouth shut for the moment.

"HA! Now we're talking!" Miyako said, turning around with a smirk at first. "I'll be able to pay for… huh? Wh… how did you three get up there? What… what are you-."

"Be silent mortal! Show your respect for you have been chosen as part of a holy mission!" Aqua said, actually speaking and cutting her off. He gestured to Ruby and me. "We are the chosen holy vessels of the Three Precious Children of Izanagi!"

It took every bit of self-control my tiny body had not to gag and react to how crazy he was.

Miyako's face had a multitude of reactions, but as expected she tried to laugh it off. "Ha… haha, for a second there I thought that baby just talked! But that's crazy, babies don't-."

"Deny at your own peril mortal! For I carry the soul of the great Susanno," Aqua said dramatically as he narrowed his eyes at Miyako. "Ai Hoshino has been chosen by the god of entertainment to bring peace and joy to the people of Nihon! Ayane Midori shall be her second, and you were chosen to look after the holy vessels they birthed!"

Aqua looked at me, and my chest nearly collapsed. I cleared my throat and looked down at Miyako too, trying to pick my words carefully.

"M…my brother speaks true! I am the spirit of Tsukuyomi, for the music of Ai Hoshino transcends night and day! Rejoice for the great choice you've been given mortal!"

That… sounded so stupid, there's absolutely no way she's really gonna believe all this right?

"K…Ka...ge? No! Ha, no… no, no I'm just going crazy lack of sleep yeah!" She tried to tell herself, looking at the last of us. "Now come on Ruby! You'll get hurt if you fall from-."

The *SLAP* echoed through the apartment as Ruby slapped the woman's hands away.

"Speak not to me in such a way human! I am the vessel of Amaterasu; I am what you may call a god!" Ruby said, committed to the act as she glared down at her. "You've been chosen to aid in our holy mission of bringing the music of Ai Hoshino to Nihon! Rejoice in your good fortune!"

My mouth fell open, she may be the most convincing one of the three of us…

"H…holy… holy mission? I'm chosen…?" Miyako said eyes wide before her face went to the ground. "No… no this can't be happening no! Un…unless…."

I choked on my own spit. Is this really going to work!?

"Yes, rejoice human, your role in this mission is critical!" Aqua announced to her.

"Um, you've been chosen to be a caretaker for the holy vessels! Do so and… and you will be greatly rewarded!" I quickly added, not wanting to not contribute.

"Rewarded….?" Miyako said, her eyes looking between the three of us.

"Yes! Care for the children of Ai Hoshino and Ayane Midori as your own, and you will be greatly rewarded in the future!" Ruby said, still the best actor of the three of us. "Do so and… a marriage to a wealthy handsome man is in your future!"

My eye twitched. No… there's no way this really-.

"Yes! Yes, I accept! I'll fulfill the holy mission!" Miyako happily yelled as she shot to her feet.

My mouth fell fully open. THAT REALLY WORKED!?

I looked between Ruby and Aqua who seemed to have similar reactions. I let out my breath and fell back to the table, feeling suddenly exhausted. Ruby's head popped into view, and she smiled wide at me with a wink, and feeling better thanks to the gesture I winked back.

Miyako suddenly was interested in making our bottles up and taking real care of us now. I watched her and felt a bit bad, that plan seriously could have been dangerous for us, but in the end, I was beginning to learn I was going to have to get used to things like this, especially when it came to Aqua's plans.

I sat back up and looked at Ai on screen, who was excitedly finished her interview with her arm around Ayane of all people who I guessed Ai drug out from behind the camera for an interview. She spoke and answered questions about Our Sign is B for the reporter and the cameras, she was red faced as she answered, with Ai making sure that everyone knew how amazing Ayane had been making that song which was going to become a hit.

I fell back again and looked at the ceiling.

"Oh man, that was close! Good plan Aqua," Ruby said, looking over at her brother and then to me with a worried look. "Huh? Are you alright Kage?"

I chuckled, looking at them both. "I'm alright… well, at least there's someone else we can talk to now."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Ayane

"Thanks so much Ayane!" One of the girls said as she left the studio.

"Oh, no problem!" I waved, packing me and Ai's bag.

Another walked past and smiled. "You're the best Ayane, thanks so much for the new song!"

"There's more to come, you're welcome!" I said waving back, my chest thumping as I tried to hide how giddy and excited I was at the praise.

"Great work Ayane, we really appreciate it!"

"They're loving your song, Ayane; I can't wait for the next one!"

"That routine you came up with is brilliant Ayane, thanks for all your help!"

"You're dancing is getting even better too Ayane; you should join us for a performance soon!"

"Yeah, you're so talented Ayane! We'll see you soon!"

"Ha… you guys are making blush…" I said, looking down so they didn't all see my goofy smile. I kept blushing as I made sure everything for me and Ai to head back home was in our bag, and when I saw it was, I let out a shaky breath, I couldn't stop smiling or blushing.

I did it… I... really did it! My song… everyone loves it, and Ai she was shining! I did it… no… no, we did it, we really did it Ai, I thought excitedly as I looked at my phone. The practice studio was empty except for Ai and me, the room smelled like sweat, and my muscles were still aching from the practice. I'd joined in and made sure to start showing the preliminary moves for the next song I'd been working on. Ichigo had told me I was going to be in charge of practices especially after how well Our Sign if B had been received.

It had come like a whirlwind, B-Komachi was popular yes, but they hadn't exploded yet… but after that performance on the show? Ichigo had told me about all the phone calls he was getting, Our Sign is B was already climbing streaming charts, and each message I saw, interview I gave with Ai I felt even giddier.

Of course, Ai was the main attraction, but I never minded, that had always been what I wanted. I wanted to make my best-friend shine, to make her smile and show the world how beautiful and talented she was. I was finally making music with the people I loved, Ai, Kage, even Aqua and Ruby I loved like my own kids. Even if we weren't making much money yet… it was still everything I dreamed of.

And everything you said I could do… Minato, thank you for inspiring me, I thought, fondly smiling, and holding my hands to my chest. If not for meeting him, learning from him, hearing him tell me I was brave and that I could really be successful? I wouldn't have been able to write that song that made Ai shine, I missed him… but Ai was right, he would have wanted us to move on and be happy, to shine.

"And we're not done yet…" I smiled looking at 'Star T-Rain', the next song I was working on, the first one I was doing completely alone without any influence from Minato… and I wanted it to be great. I closed the notebook, dropped it in my bag and picked up both mine and Ai's.

"Ai! Are you ready to leave? I thought we could pick up some dinner on the way home," I said, smiling as I walked over to her sitting in the booth next to the mirror. "I bet Kage, Ruby and Aqua have given Miyako all kinds of trouble!"

I smiled as I got to her, she's really amazing, she's been stronger through this then I have. It may have only been about half a year but… I know she really loved him even if she didn't say it out loud. If it was hard for me, I can't imagine what it was like for… Ai…?

She hadn't heard me. I stopped behind her and was able to see over her shoulder and what she was looking at on her phone.

I stopped. My heart sunk to the bottom pit of my stomach, the hair on my arms stood up, and I felt like a bomb had gone off in my chest. With one hand she held her phone and with the other she scrolled through the pictures. I knew she took a lot, but never just how many. I watched her scroll through the pictures, slowly, methodically, sometimes she chuckled… but then I'd see her wipe her face.

All of them… they're all of her and Minato… Ai…. I thought, as picture after picture went by. His messy blonde hair, his blushing face, his warm smile, and brown eyes. Most of the pictures were just ones that Ai had snapped of him in cute or awkward positions, one of him sleeping against her shoulder, one of him blushing as he wore an apron to cook, another just smiling in his doctor's coat as he held Ai's wrist to check her pulse. More were of the two of them, selfies, pictures that me or Gorou had taken of them, in front of the lake, the walking trail, in the hospital bed, there wasn't a single picture Ai wasn't smiling in.

No, she beamed ear to ear, laughed, was kissing his cheek, hugging around his neck, there was one of him and her holding their hands on her pregnant stomach. I knew that Ai had really loved him, and it killed her that she had never said it out loud… but I was realizing now just how much she really did.

I saw her stop on one, her finger lingered over the screen, and she let out a louder chuckle… but I heard a sob mixed into it. She kept chuckling and looking down at the picture and it was just a picture of Minato on his couch, his guitar was over his lap, in it her hand was in frame and the picture was of the bracelet he'd gotten her only a week before Aqua and Ruby were born… before he died.

Ai's hand trembled and she looked at her left wrist, the same hand in the picture, the same bracelet. I hadn't seen her even take it off in the bath or shower. I didn't see her face, but I heard another chuckle mixed with a sob… before she leaned her wrist against her head, and another sob came.

When that happened, I finally moved. "Ai…?"

She jumped and scrolled up on her phone, the pictures went away, and twitter reopened. I saw her hastily wipe her face before a chuckle came from her.

"Ha… sorry Ayane!" She said, her voice bubbly again. "I got distracted, dinner on the way home sounds… great!"

And when she turned back to me, my heart shattered.

"Ai…!" I said, dropping our bags and rushing to the booth next to her. I sat down and took her face in my hands, wiping the makeup and tears from her cheeks. "Ai… Ai what-."

"I'm fine, I'm fine! Ha, just got some dust in my eye, it… it won't come out!" She said, rapidly trying to wipe her eyes. She blinked a few times, her purple eyes, the bright eyes wide but watery. "Ha… we… we better get home! Ruby, Aqua and Kage are going to miss us!"

"Ai… what… come on what's wrong," I asked her, gently wiping the smudged makeup off her cheeks with my sleeve. "What happened…."

I saw her look towards her phone. I followed her gaze and saw the tweet she had been looking at.

"Ai from B-Komachi is talented and cute yeah… but there's just something about her smile, it doesn't seem real! I don't think I can support someone with a smile like that…"

My heart shattered all over again, but I looked back up to Ai and wiped her cheeks more. "Hey, you can't let some twitter guys get to you. Ai, so many people loved your performance! It was-."

"My smile… my smile…." She said quietly, turning her head back towards me, only it looked down at her lap, where she ran her finger over the star charms on her bracelet. She chuckled, with sob mixed in. "Minato he… he always said that was his favorite thing about me that it… it was what made him the happiest he'd ever been. He… he…"

And then her tears started falling onto her lap.

"He… he really loved me, didn't he?" She said, looking back up at me with the tears falling down her cheeks again. "He loved me so much; my smile changed his life he… he was ready to give up everything to be with me… wasn't he Ayane? He told you I know."

I felt my eyes start to sting. I shuddered as I nodded, blinking tears out of my eyes from seeing her like this. My heart continued splintering as she cried and waited for my answer.

I quickly wiped one eye. "Yeah… yeah, he did. He loved you Ai."

"And I… and I… I couldn't…" She said, her eyes back on the ground, tears falling more rapidly now as she gripped her wrist tight and held the bracelet to her chest. "If my smile is really that bad does… does that mean that… that Minato he… he… lied-."

"No! No, he didn't Ai, he didn't lie, he loved you," I told her, blinking away tears as I shook my head. "Never doubt that, never for a second! He loved you… I love you, and I love your smile too…"

Ai looked up at me, her face a mess with tears as she clutched the bracelet to her chest like her life depended on it. I was about to pull her into my chest to hug her, but she reached out and grabbed my shoulders, shaking her head as her cries became harder and tears didn't stop.

"I never told him… I never said those words to him, I've never said them to you and… and…" She sobbed and looked down again. "And not even…not even my kids… Minato would have loved them; he would have said it to them, to me every day. I… I can't say it does that… Ayane does that mean I'm just incapable of it?! Am I incapable of saying it to someone?!"

"No! No, you're not Ai, you don't have to say it for me to know, and you didn't have to say it for Minato to know," I told her, unable to stop myself from crying now. "You can take as-."

"I don't deserve this… do I?" She said, sobbing as she looked at the bracelet on her hand. She shook her head, sobbing as I saw her reach to pull it off. "He said it when he gave it to me, and I'm just spitting in his face by-."

"AI!" I said, grabbing her wrist, and sobbing as I pulled her head towards my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around her, one went to the back of her head, and I sobbed as I squeezed her and cried into her hair, every second I saw her like this broke me more. "Ai… it's okay… I promise it's okay. You… are allowed to be sad, I promise it's okay."

She went stiff in my arms and quickly inhaled, before shakily starting to sob again…and that was when I felt her grip onto me like her life depended on it.

And Ai Hoshino cried.

She's been saying ever since his funeral, she was going to move on for him, she was going to stay positive and smile like he would have wanted, I thought, silently crying as I held her. She wailed once, her face dug onto my shoulder as she sobbed, it was all so clear now… and I had been stupid, a horrible friend for not realizing sooner.

She hadn't cried yet, not once for him, not even at his funeral. She'd bottled it all up, and now… it was coming out.

"Why… why'd he have to die?! He… he lied, he lied to me he… he said we'd have all the time in the world," She sobbed into my neck as she squeezed harder. "He lied… he lied to me when he said he wouldn't I… I…"

She started crying harder again, and it only made my tears fall even more. I squeezed her back, rubbed her hair as she lamented and let everything out, she'd been holding in for the boy I knew she truly loved.

Don't worry… Minato, I'll be sure to look after her for you, I promised, sobbing myself as I held her.

"I… I miss him Ayane, I…I…" She sobbed, her cries growing quieter as she just squeezed me and sobbed now. "I wanted to… I wanted him to be here, I wanted him to meet Aqua and Ruby I… I miss him… Ayane… Ayane!"

"I know Ai…" I told her, sniffling as I shakily sighed and leaned my head against her before my heart strangely felt warm as a thought came to me. "And he'd be so happy to know you cared so much, he'd blush up a storm and start stammering like a nervous wreck."

She laughed through her sobs, her head still on my shoulder. "Yeah… yeah, he would have and then I… I would have poked him and kiss him and he… he would have been…"

"Under your little finger like always… I know. It's okay to cry Ai," I told her, gently pulling her head back and wiping her wet cheeks again as I looked at her. "I know he would have wanted us to smile and be happy but… you need to grieve and that's okay. It's okay to be not okay Ai. It's okay to miss Minato, I promise it is. So please… just come to me and cry next time you miss him, okay?"

She sniffled and wiped her eye, holding the bracelet to her chest again. "Okay… okay… thank you… Ayane!"

She launched forward and hugged me again, and I felt myself grow warmer again, as I hugged her back and felt finally at a little peace.

"You're my best-friend Ai… I love you," I told her as she held onto me. "I'll always look out for you… just like I know Minato is… someway somehow I know he is… and I know he still loves you."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Kage

"Ugh… she could have at least put me in a crib…" I muttered, climbing off the couch. Aqua was still asleep on the couch as well, and Ruby had walked to the bedroom.

It wasn't too late, only around 9pm. We'd been trying to wait up for Ai and Ayane to get back from their late-night practice. In the few weeks since 'Our Sign if B' had debuted, Ai and Ayane both had been busier, I missed both of them at times, but knew it was for the best and got giddy thinking about how big they were both getting, Ai for well… being Ai, and Ayane for being the next big up and coming song writer.

I groaned and waddled back around the couch. "Gee… I wonder where she-."

"Do you want me to make tea before we go to bed?" Ayane said, and I right away fell to my butt as I saw the door open.

"No… it's okay, I think I just want to go to sleep…" Ai's soft voice said.

After we fell asleep, I'd been half awake and heard Miyako leaving. I had wondered why… but now I had my answer. I stopped and looked up, seeing Ayane come in first with her and Ai's bags, dressed in sweatpants, a t-shirt and her hair tied up. Ai was dressed similarly after their dancing and singing practice… but when I saw Ai, my heart dropped to my stomach… and I couldn't look away from her.

She… she was…

Ayane turned and her face lit up. "Oh Kage! Miyako said you fell asleep with Aqua and Ruby, what are you doing up?"

She smiled and walked over to life me off the ground. She giggled, kissed my cheek, and messed up my hair. Normally those were all things-including being picked up-that made me blush… but tonight, I still didn't move. I didn't even look at Ayane when she picked me up and she noticed.

Her eyes followed mine, and when she saw where I looked, she smiled.

She was… crying… Ai… I thought horribly, my stomach churning as I saw her red face and eyes, I could see the spots from tears on her shirt. The bracelet I'd gotten her was still on her wrist, but she was idly playing with it before she looked over and saw me in Ayane's arms.

Ayane giggled and poked my cheek, walking me over to her. "Look Ai, your little boyfriends awake!"

Ai giggled, but it was soft, her voice was low. She walked over to Ayane and messed up my hair, looking me in the eyes and gently taking my tiny hands.

"Ha… stayed up late? I bet you were watching Ruby and Aqua for me," She said, gently holding my tiny hand. "You're such a cutie Kage, just like Ayane…"

She stopped when she looked down at her hand. She'd tried to move her hand away… but with all the strength my tiny fingers could muster, I gently held onto her hand. Her and Ayane both looked at me, Ayane kept me held eye level with Ai, and… unconsciously I reached out my other hand.

Ai's eyes sparkled as she looked at me, but she didn't say anything, her lips in a surprised o shape. Ayane, however, did smile and move, she giggled and brought me closer to her, my tiny hand still holding hers tight.

"Aww… looks like someone's worried about you Ai," She said, holding me over to her. "Can you hold him for me? You relax, I'll get Aqua and Ruby in their spots for bed."

"Okay… come here Kage," Ai said softly, smiling down at me the entire time as she took me from Ayane. Ayane went to the living room, and Ai leaned against the wall with me in her arms. "Aw, you're worried about little old me Kage? Ha… you're my knight in shining armor, aren't you?"

What… what could have made her… My mind was a jumble, not once so far in this new life had I been at more of a loss for words.

She giggled and let out a relaxing sigh. She hugged me closer to her, and smiled blissfully, slowly sliding down the wall until she was sitting on the floor.

She reached forward and gently touched my nose. "You're such a little cutie… you really are Kage, just as sweet and cute as your mom… as crazy as it sounds… you remind me of… of…"

I saw her eyes start to well up in her eyes… and I realized what had happened. My small heart broke, and I did the only thing I could think of. If I couldn't talk… I'd show her I still loved her I other ways, even if she didn't get it… I would.

"Yeah… you're a little sweetie Kage, always looking at me, always smiling at me," She started, her tears slowly leaking. "Just like… like just… huh? Oh, you think that's pretty?"

I gently reached down and tugged at the bracelet on her wrist. The effect was instant.

"It's cute huh? Someone… someone I cared about a… a lot…" She started, before wiping her face with her free hand. Her smile… it came back wide as she looked down at me. "Someone I cared about more than anything gave this to me… yeah, he was sweet, just like you. He promised he'd always look after me!"

I am… I am…! I wanted to say it out loud but settled for just squeezing the bracelet.

She giggled again and touched the star charms with me. "Yeah… it's always important to have someone like that. Remember your promise to me okay Kage? Look after Aqua and Ruby for me… you're going to be best friends the three of you, just like me and your mama…"

I wanted to promise her that I would. Despite knowing what I'd want to say… I found myself still only able to grip the charm on her wrist and look up at her with my worried baby eyes.

"Aw, don't look at me like that! I'm okay! I have Aqua, Ruby, Ayane… and you Kage, we're going to stick together," She said, gently rubbing my hair and poking my cheek, before a cheeky but tired smile came to her face as she gently pinched my cheek. "Oh! I just had a great idea!"

I tilted my head at her, curious, but smiled. That's Ai… always bubbly, she never lets anything get her down for too-.

"What if you grew up and married Ruby!" She said happily, her smile growing as she playfully poked both my cheek and giggled with her tired eyes. "If you did, me and Ayane could really be sisters!"

My mouth fell open, and I choked on my own spit, making Ai laugh as she pulled me closer and hugged me again.

"Hehe, I'm just joking Kage… unless that's the path you wanna take," She said, smiling blissfully again as she held my tiny head against her shoulder. "Or… who knows, hehe, maybe you will grow up and be my knight in shining armor for real…"

It was a harmless enough joke, but it made my face go beat red.

Ai fell asleep against the wall with my in her arms not soon after… and I did too, right there in her arms. Ayane eventually came back, and when I blinked, I saw her smile, before first carrying me to the bedroom, and then, she came back with Ai on her back still sleeping. She tucked Ai in… and then let me cuddle up next to her.

Ayane had no idea what she'd done obviously… but she gave me something I had been craving.

When I closed my eyes to sleep next to Ai… it almost felt like we were back in my old house, falling asleep together on the couch.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Kage

"And the three of you can't make a scene alright?!" Miyako said down to the large three child stroller she was pushing. "Don't do anything to draw attention!"

"We know, we know!" Ruby complained backup to her.

"We wouldn't do anything to jeopardize Ai and Ayane," Aqua said right after her.

I didn't say anything, my eyes were just up on the stage. It did feel nice to be able to finally talk to an adult again despite being babies, how Miyako believed the 'Holy Vessel' lie was beyond me, but I decided not to question it. I aimlessly fiddled with the glowstick in my hands and looked at the excited crowd of B-Komachi fans all looking up at the stage. My mind was becoming numb to things like this, I was happy for Ai and Ayane of course… but that lingering feeling kept coming back into my head when times like this came.

If things had been different… I could have been the one pushing the stroller, looking, and waiting for Ai to come on stage. I remembered our plan for concerts as if we'd had the conversation yesterday…

"Kage!"

"Huh?!" I yelped, looking to see it was Ruby who had called me. "R…Ruby?"

"Are you okay? You seem spaced out," She said.

"Are you sick?" Aqua asked next.

A part of me wanted to just spill all my troubles from my old life to the two of them, but I knew it would do more harm to me then good… because in the end there really wasn't anything I could do about it anymore.

"Jeez… please don't get sick, should I go find Ayane?" Miyako said from above us, actually sounding concerned.

I quickly shook my head. "No… it's okay, I'm fine, just tired, let's focus."

"Focus… on what? Why are you three looking at each other and communicating silently?!" Miyako said, as Aqua Ruby and I all nodded at one another. "I swear don't you three do any-."

"And now what you've all been waiting for!" The announcer in the small venue loudly said over the speaker, drawing all attention to the stage. "It's some of the girls of B-Komachi!"

"Huh… that's odd," Miyako said, looking down at her phone.

"What is?" Aqua asked.

She looked down at me. "Kage was your mom okay? She normally texts me before concerts start to check in, I wonder where she-."

"Um… Kage…." Ruby said, tugging on my sleeve. "I found your mom."

` "And a special guest for this performance!" The announcer yelled. "B-Komachi's lead song writer, creator of all the songs you love, joining them for this performance, Ayane Midori!"

My jaw fell open, Aqua's jaw fell open, Miyako's jaw fell open, Ruby's jaw fell open.

A…Ayane?!

Sure enough Ayane was on stage, an idol outfit similar to Ai's fitting her perfectly as the crowd started cheering for her. From appearing with Ai so many times and the rest of the group, Ayane had been developing a bit of a following herself, so it made sense that fans of B-Komachi would be fans of her. I stammered as my eyes scanned the stage and realized one of the girls, Takamine, wasn't on stage, in her place was an Ayane who very clearly was trying to not appear like she as going to fall to pieces. She waved, smiled, but I could see she was trying not to freak out. She stood practically shoulder to shoulder with Ai, didn't fully raise her arm when she waved and kept the microphone on her head raised up, so people didn't hear her. It was odd, I was used to seeing her in jeans or track pants, her hair tied up in a neat bun or low ponytail. She was always beautiful of course, I'd seen her get dressed up more formally when she went to studios or other important events with Ai and Ichigo, but she normally dressed so relaxed, that seeing her in the short-skirted idol dress, makeup around her eyes, her long brown hair sprawled behind her, she seemed like a completely different person. I knew that she had secretly wanted to be an idol herself before I had become her kid, she told me when she was in the hospital, but she always thought it was out of reach since she was a horrible dancer. In the last few months however… she'd gotten much, much better.

Ai also seemed to be enjoying it, her arm around Ayane's shoulder as she excitedly egged her on to wave more.

"Wow Ayane and mama look so pretty!" Ruby gushed, and I had to agree with her.

"That's certainly odd, I thought Ayane didn't want to go on stage?" Aqua asked me.

I shook my head. "She didn't… someone probably got hurt."

"Mhm, that's what it is yeah, Takamine rolled her ankle warming up," Miyako told them. "Ichigo and Ai practically had to drag Ayane to the dressing room, but she relented in the end. I hope she's okay up there…."

"There's no need to worry! If anyone will know how to perform with mama, it's Ayane!" Ruby said confidently.

I saw Ayane looking over at me, a relaxed smile coming to her face. "I hope you're right…"

Well… this is your chance Ayane, go on and make your dream a reality…. I just hope Ai's okay too…

"Okay, you both remember the plan?" Aqua said.

"Yup!" Ruby said.

I nodded. "I got it yeah."

"Plan what plan?!" Miyako said urgently as she glared at us. "What are you three little brats going to-."

"Thank you all for coming to see us tonight!" Ai announced loudly into her headset on stage. Her smile grew and she waved to the crowd. She then giggled and looked at Ayane. "Today, Ayane's going to join us, there wouldn't be a B-Komachi without her, and today she's going to shine herself! I hope you all enjoy it again; Our Sign is B!"

I sat and waited for the music to start, and for once I wasn't looking at Ai. I was genuinely worried about Ayane, while she was smiling and waving, people were cheering for her, I knew she was freaking out on the inside. As crazy as it sounded saying still, I was her kid, I could see she was nervous just by looking at her.

The only problem is… so is Ai, I thought, as I looked at her, as the first few chords of the song started playing and the crowd burst into cheers with the music. Ai sang but… she didn't sing and smile like I knew she could. Next to me, it was clear to Ruby and Aqua to, that despite her smiling, whatever it was that made her cry a few nights prior was still on her mind. She smiled that night after we had fallen asleep, but I had looked up and seen it the last few days, Ruby and Aqua had seen it too. Something was wrong, and while I couldn't know for sure, I liked to think I had an idea.

And if it was true, that really broke my heart.

"Sign wa B!"

"AYANE!"

"GO AYANE!"

"YOU'RE PERFECT AYANE!"

"Wow, Ayane's doing to good!" Ruby pointed out from the stroller next to me, but her face fell. "But… Mama is…"

"I can see it too," Aqua quickly said. "Okay, let's… Kage?"

I didn't even hear him, I sat looking at them both, it felt like my soul was about to leave my body. And a part of me wished it did. Ayane was taking well to the stage, amazing even, her dancing had come such a long way, and she was always incredibly cute with a great singing voice and feel for music. She also did the choreography with each girl in mind, so she knew each step like it was nothing. Yes… the crowd was starting to love Ayane… but that meant Ai while she was smiling, started to falter.

I have to do something… I… I just have to! Ai…. I thought looking at her smiling… but not smiling at the same time.

"Okay… so like this?" I asked her, trying to bend my fingers the right way.

She laughed from my lap and tried to fix them for me. "Haha no! Come on, bend your fingers silly! It's a heart, make it look like a heart!"

"But my other fingers are in the way, GAH! Don't bend them like that!"

"Oh quit being such a baby," She teased, gently and delicately handling my fingers to move them the right way. "You're learning how to perform surgery, but you can't fold your fingers like a heart?"

"That's different!" I blushed as she bent my fingers into an arc.

"Hehe, of course they are… and there, tada! You look just like an idol now," She said, making the same heart with her hands and holding it up to her eye looking at me through it. "You're so cute Minato look at you blush!"

I was indeed blushing.

"Gee doing this on command it kinda hard," I told her, holding the heart with my hands up to my eye and looking at her through it. "Ha… as cute as ever."

"Hehe, suck up…" She said, before giggling again and tossing her arms around my shoulders. "Mhm… I like sitting here with you."

"And I like you sitting here with me too…" I told her, my arms wrapping around her on my lap.

She smiled and leaned her head on my shoulder, holding up the heart with her hand again. "The fans love it when I do this, I never understood why."

I shrugged. "Well if someone as incredibly cute as you did that towards me, I'd love it too."

"Haha, you get all blushy just from me looking at you so of course you would!"

I blushed again and she laughed.

"Hahaha… honestly, I'm glad you do… because I know you like who I really am…" She said, closing her eyes with her head back on my shoulder. "Who I really am… not just the idol."

"Of course I do," I promised, smiling as I held her. "But that doesn't mean I won't go wild if you do it to me at a concert."

She laughed again. "Ahahaha! And it'll be easy for me, because you'll be in the front row with the twins so they can watch their mama sing! Oh I know I'll do it for you every performance! We can't hold hands or hug in public… so that'll be my way to make you blush at concerts!"

I laughed at the idea. I held up my hands in the heart shape again and looked at her through it. "Ha… that sounds like a plan. I'll do it just like this from the crowd too… so if you're ever nervous for some reason, that way you know I'm looking for that beautiful smile of yours."

"GAH! WHAT ARE YOU THREE-."

Miyako didn't have time to complain as Ruby, Aqua and I put the plan into action. Despite the pacifiers she'd shoved into our mouths, the three of us had developed a good understanding of what the others were thinking just from looking at each other over the last almost year. The glowstick waving was something we'd been planning the last two days, and while I sympathized with Miyako who looked horrified at the perfectly in synch waving of them, it was partly her own fault for giving babies glow sticks. I waved the red ones in perfect synch with Ai's two kids, and it not only made everyone around us look and start recording… it was easy to see up on stage too.

I looked up there, and saw Ayane's eyes go wide, I thought she was going to be mad for a moment, but she just broke into a smile and laughed uncontrollably, before shaking Ai during a break in the lyrics. She pushed her hair out of her eyes, and she looked over to see us. I waited to see her reaction, hoping that it had the intended effect. After taking it in, Ayane next to her on stage… it came back.

Her smile came back.

But… I… I just need her to know, I thought selfishly. I needed her to know, I needed her to know that it was okay, it was okay if she kept smiling.

That it was okay for her to be happy, and to show how much I knew she loved her kids.

"Aqua, Ruby… help me out," I whispered as I twirled the glowsticks, spitting out the pacifier.

The two twirled the glowsticks and looked at me simultaneously as the music began to get loud again, I was worried they'd ask questions… but they didn't and just nodded.

I was thankful to have such good friends now, and they seemed to trust me. I was also impressed; they got the heart down with their tiny fingers so quickly.

The song started up again, the music got loud, and nobody else seemed to be interested in the glowstick waving babies anymore. I was sure that it would be a buzz on social media later once it got posted around, but that was all a part of Aqua's plan to help generate more attention for Ai. But me? I wanted to make sure she was able to live a happy life, one that made her smile all the time. I looked at her through the heart my fingers made… just like I'd promised I would. She saw the three of us, and for a moment she almost missed her que, but between that… I could tell exactly what she was thinking, I still liked to think I could tell just from how she smiled, how her eyes glew.

She was thinking how cute her kids were, and that made her smile before giving the performance of her life.

After a few moments I let out the breath I'd been holding and fell back into the stroller. I noticed Ruby's head turn to me.

"Are you okay Kage?" She asked again, her eyes full of concern. "Okay for real…?"

"You seem pale," Aqua pointed out in his usual monotone voice.

I felt it too… but I still smiled. I had two friends, I got to see Ai smile and thrive, Ayane was a great mother, what didn't I have to smile about?

I was getting a second chance, and for the first time when I said to myself it may not be too bad, I really did mean it.

"I'm alright yeah…" I said, smiling over at Aqua. "You know Aqua, I'm never going to doubt your plans ever again."