I know, I know, it's been a month. I have a bunch of college meetings I have to go to and busy summer blah blah blah. Also, this chapter was incredibly hard to write. I started it as soon as Chapter 3 ended and didn't finish until not even 5 minutes ago =/

NOTE: Last chapter I said that Setsuko was a pre-teen, no she's not. I took back their original ages because there was too large a gap between Hatsu and Hikaru. I know I'm messing everything up, but I seriously have no idea how this story's supposed to end so cut me some slack! The older kids are between the ages of 9-6 while Chieko and Hikaru retain their original ages. They are very very mature for their age.

Sailorspy94- Hikaru's just the best ever! He wasn't even supposed to have such a big role. The focus was supposed to be on Seiya, Haruka, Michiru and to a lesser extent, Yaten and Ami. But he didn't want it that way =3 I love how he looks like a little cherub, yet he can be a such a handful.

PerlaNemesis-No worries, reviews are never late and I appreciate you reviewing all these chapters so far =) Yep...Seiya crossed the line, but hopefully you'll understand him a little bit better in this chapter

Chapter 4: To the Other of the Side of the Door

"Everyone wake up! Today's the day!" Setsuko called as she opened the curtains in each of her siblings' rooms, blinding Hatsu, annoying Mamiko and causing Satoshi to snuggle back into his blankets.

"Come on! The festival is today and I want to go shopping! I want to get a new kimono!" Setsuko yelled, jarring her siblings into full alertness. Satoshi quietly shut himself into the bathroom while Mamiko threw a fit.

"What do you think you're doing! I need my beauty rest or else I get wrinkles and then I'll be all old looking and it'll all be your fault! Do you want to be the cause of your younger sister's death! By wrinkles!" Mami fussed as she dressed and brushed her hair.

"Mami, you're only 6," Haruka chuckled. She leaned on the door frame and watched her daughters get ready. "You don't need to worry about wrinkles."

Mamiko huffed and forced Satoshi out of the bathroom. Setsuko and Hatsu were already done dressing and Satoshi was putting clothes on Hikaru.

"We'll be leaving in 20 minutes," Haruka told her kids before she left the room.

As Haruka will tell you, it was very hard controlling five children let loose onto a store. Even the normally reserved Hatsu was running around everywhere. She held Hikaru in her arms as she looked through baby kimonos. "What do you think of this one, Karu?" She asked the drooling baby, showing him a green and pink kimono that depicted a field of flowers.

"Mmmmm," he babbled boredly, itching to run around with his brother and sisters. Except he couldn't run. Or walk.

"Mom, Mom, Mom!" Setsuko bounded into her mother's vision. "Look at this Mom!" She showed off a sky blue kimono decorated with birds and clouds. "I want this one! I'm gonna get this one!" She ran off. Haruka rolled her eyes and continued to look for Hikaru's attire.

"What about this one?" She held up one showing a summer afternoon.

"No," a vaguely amused voice answered. Haruka turned and smiled at the newcomer.

"Michi, I was wondering when you were coming to control these wild hooligans," she joked. The aquanette smiled and took Hikaru.

"There, hooligan taken care of."

Haruka rolled her eyes. "Hikaru's the best behaved of the bunch," she turned around and saw Satoshi quietly standing by the wall. "Besides Satoshi."

"How's motherhood going without me?"

"Absolutely awful. Why didn't you tell me I had to feed them?" Haruka mock cried. Michiru cooed and comforted her, much to the chagrin and confusion of Hikaru. He scowled, and yanked Michiru's hair. Why wasn't he getting any kisses? He's the baby! He deserves all of the affection!

"What's wrong, Karu? Are you hungry?" Michiru asked as Haruka returned to looking through kimonos. Hikaru pouted and started to chew on his fist. Now she listens to him. Well she was now not important to him anymore. That would teach her. She didn't even get the privilege to have her hair chewed on.

Mamiko ran up with a serene pond covered in light blues and flying fish. She gave her mother a huge smile, but turned to Michiru to gush out a high pitched "Hi Auntie Michiru! Look at my kimono! Isn't it so pretty~ I'm getting it!"

"It's beautiful Mamiko. I love it." Michiru smiled at the beaming blonde, who ran off to drag Satoshi off the wall so he could hold all of her accessories.

"What about this one?" Haruka asked Michiru, holding up a kimono that showed plenty of beautiful flower-like designs. She shook her head. Haruka sighed. "None of them are good enough," she scowled.

"Then you should try this one," Seiya walked up to the women, holding a navy blue kimono with flying white doves on it. He went straight to Michiru and held it up against his delighted son. "You'll look good in this won't you little man?"

"Dadadada!" The cherub-like baby exclaimed. Finally! Someone with some fashion sense. He waved his chubby arms towards his father, who gently extracted him from Michiru's arms. Once in his father's arms, Hikaru made a beeline for the kimono, hugging it tightly. He was so focused on the kimono, he didn't notice the tension between the adults or the way Seiya sent an angry glare at Michiru, something which she returned wholeheartedly. Unfortunately, the other children did feel it. They quieted down and watched silently for the bomb to go off.

"Hello Michiru."

"Hello Seiya. How's the bachelor life going for you?"

"Oh you know, calling at all hours of the day and night, hearing your voice instead of my wife's."

Haruka scowled at Seiya and started to interrupt, but Michiru cut her off with a pointed look. Haruka had the gall to look offended, but she stayed quiet. The children, except for Hikaru, looked between their father and auntie helplessly.

"So sorry, she's too busy taking care of her kids."

That proved to be the fuse that set the bomb off. Seiya's face twisted in barely contained rage while Michiru's face continued to be impassively bemused.

"Maybe if someone didn't change the locks every time I leave, I could be around more often," he jabbed at Michiru.

"It's all about safety. Someone has to care about the little ones around."

"So throwing me out is a safety measure as well?"

"Who knows what alien germs you give off?"

"They'd be immune to it, they're my kids!"

"Really? I wouldn't think so with the way you accuse Ruka,"

Seiya snapped his mouth shut and glared. Michiru smirked sweetly, she had won this round. Hikaru looked up at his tense father and waved his new kimono in Seiya's face.

"Dada! Dada!" Hikaru cried. Seiya tore his gaze from Michiru and focused on the flailing baby. Michiru silently scoffed and returned to Haruka's side as Seiya walked off to talk to the other kids.

"Hey guys!" He waved. They immediately perked up and all swarmed him with ecstatic children news.

"Look at my kimono, Daddy!"

"Look at my accessories!"

"Mami made me hold everything..."

"I didn't pick my kimono yet, would you help me?"

"Babaaaa!"

"That's a very pretty kimono Setsu, it brings out your eyes. Those earrings are too old for you Mamiko, put them back. Satoshi, be a man. Hatsu, I'll be there in a minute and Hikaru, you'll get a lollipop when we're finished shopping." Seiya grinned, leading a sulking Mamiko and Hatsu deeper into the store.

"It's not fair Daddy, I want these earrings!" Mamiko sulked, not noticing the grimace that shot across Seiya's face.

"You aren't allowed to wear anything other than studs. If you're good, I might buy you the expensive ones," Seiya bargained, biting back a laugh when he saw Mamiko perk up.

"Will you get me the ones with the real jewels in them? Mom only buys the ones with the fake rhinestones that fall out." Mamiko asked, already certain of the answer, but needing to hear it nonetheless.

"Yes, you'll get the ones with the real jewels," Seiya conceded. Mamiko squealed happily, and ran off to go get her earrings. Seiya shook his head in amusement before starting to look for Hatsu's kimono.

"What type of kimono do you want Hatsu?" Seiya asked his stoic daughter.

"I want something like Sato's."

"What kimono does Satoshi have?"

"He has a storming ocean."

"So you want a storm?" Seiya asked, Hatsu nodded. "I don't think a storm would look good on you..."

"Why not?" she asked, turning her intense gaze onto the Kinmokian.

"You need a kimono that represents your inner self. You're too calm for a storm, so what about this one?" Seiya took out a kimono depicting a clear night, sky overrun with stars and the moon. She nodded and took it before saying what was on her mind.

"Daddy, why did you call Mom those things?"

Seiya couldn't meet his daughter's eyes, he was too filled with shame and self-contempt. "I didn't mean to Hatsu, I just...Your mom always tells me I have a problem. I get too close to the issue and I can't detach myself and think logically. I'm too emotional," He smiled weakly at Hatsu.

"I was just so angry at your mom for years and years of mistreatment. She likes walking all over me you see, and she always gets mad over the littlest things. I don't even know why she was angry at me when the twins were born, one minute I was helping her to the hospital, the next I couldn't even hold them..." He laughed bitterly. "I know why now, of course,"

Hatsu looked at him confusedly. "Why? What's wrong?"

"Mamiko and Satoshi aren't my kids."

"That doesn't make any sense. They're my brother and sister, and you're our Daddy."

"I can still be your daddy, but I can't-"

"You can't what?" Mamiko asked, frown marring her pretty face. She had finally had enough of standing behind Seiya, listening to horrible lies that made more sense than the truth she knew.

Seiya turned and looked at Mamiko. He hated himself for being the cause of the pain in her eyes, but "I can't lie to you."

Dun Dun Daaaaaaaaaa~ Seiya's not the father to Mamiko! Or Satoshi! You didn't see that coming did you? If you did, then you are amazingly smart and I tip my hat to you good sirs or madams. Of course, if I could draw them, you'd see the difference immediately. Anyway, what did you think of this chapter? Loved it? Hated it? Sick of Haruka's kids and want to see the others? Wait until next chapter, where the first arc will be resolved! Until then, review~