A/N: I'm sorry this chapter is so short and that it's been a super long time since I updated. But, anyway, I hope you enjoy it nevertheless. Thanks for reading and reviewing.

Disclaimer: I don't own Hana Yori Dango. It belongs to Yoko Kamio.

Tsukushi and Rui had remained in the attic, waiting until a little after dinner. Tsukushi crept down the stairs, warily searching for her older brother. There was no telling when he'd just pop out of nowhere. Rui, on the other hand, casually walked behind Tsukushi, eyes filled with amusement.

"Tsukushi!" Soujirou yelled, popping out from around the corner.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Tsukushi screamed shrilly, jumping almost a foot in the air. Behind her, Rui chuckled. Usually she wouldn't be so caught off guard, but there was something about Tsukasa that put a little fear in her…well…when he was seriously angry perhaps. Akira stepped out from behind the corner, laughing hysterically, Yuuki following behind, trying her hardest not to laugh. However, she failed, a few giggles escaping.

"That wasn't funny!" Tsukushi growled, punching Soujirou's arm. "I was actually freaked out!"

"I know," Soujirou replied. "That's what makes things so funny." To add an even more embarrassing factor, Tsukushi's stomach grumbled loudly. This was only logical considering both she and Rui had gone a few hours without food.

"Tsukushi, we made lasagna downstairs if you or Rui-san wants any. It's not that bad, actually, considering I had these two helping me." Yuuki offered, her smile growing wider at her friend's bright red face.

Tsukushi looked at her best friend skeptically. Well…if none of them was at the hospital, then the food must be okay, right? She and Rui followed the trio downstairs to the dining room. Tsukasa was no where to be found.

"Hey, where is Tsukasa-oniichan?" Tsukushi asked after spooning some warm lasagna into her mouth. She savored the food. It surprisingly wasn't that bad. She took another bite, waiting for someone to answer.

"He's probably in his room sulking or something," Soujirou replied, shrugging. "You know what he's like."

"Yep, that's a fact of my life." Tsukushi nodded, pretending to be sad. She covered her mouth after yawning suddenly. She took one last bite of her lasagna before putting the plate in the sink. "Well, I think I'll just go shower and sleep early. 'Night everyone." She waved goodbye before leaving the room.

As soon as they heard her footsteps fade away, Soujirou and Akira turned to Rui with mischievous looks on their faces.

"So, Rui, you and Tsukushi were left alone for hours. You didn't do anything that might make Tsukasa kill you, did you?" All Soujirou got as an answer was a glare from Rui.

Tsukushi stepped out of the bathroom after taking a quick shower. At least now she didn't feel as if she was going to fall over. It was only a little after ten, she noted, slipping under the comforters. She turned off her lamp and closed her eyes, instantly falling asleep.

A small jabbing in her side woke her up. She usually wasn't a light sleeper, but the jabbing was insistent. She opened her eyes and blinked a few times, yawning loudly, most unladylike. Her etiquette teacher would've definitely disapproved, but Tsukushi wasn't really into being a lady all the time and whatnot. She wasn't a natural like Shizuka nor was she so worried about it that she drilled it into herself to be ladylike. She was just Tsukushi, and if it wasn't for the fact that she loved her mother so much, she would've ditched the etiquette lessons and instead hung out with Yuuki at the mall or gotten a job at the dango shop like a normal teenager.

She reached out a hand for her lamp, stretching as far as she could. Apparently that wasn't enough. She sighed grumpily and slowly sat up, switching on the light. She turned to see if she'd accidentally left one of her text books on the bed and almost ended up screaming, or at least cursing loudly. Comfortably sleeping on the bed were two kids, a boy and a girl. They looked to be about four years old. The girl had long, dark, curly hair and porcelain pale skin, her features perfect and delicate. She wore a light pink princess-like nightgown. The boy, on the other hand, was also extremely pale with golden-brown hair. Both were breathing softly, their chests moving up and down. However, Tsukushi noticed that they were facing away from each other, their backs a few inches away from touching. The boy had been the one sleeping next to her, tucked into a ball, holding the blanket close. He must've been attracted to the warmth that radiated off her body.

Hesitantly, she reached out and shook the little boy first and then the girl. Groggily the boy awoke, rubbing his eyes tiredly. He blinked a few times, his eyes straying to her. A large smile crossed his face. "Hi, mama," he whispered. Tsukushi froze. Either the kid was delusional or his mother was very young; Tsukushi decided to go with the latter. However…looking closely…he did resemble….

"Rui?" She spoke out loud. The little girl stirred, pulling the blanket closer. Tsukushi peered at the girl once again. It was just a wild guess on her part, but…with the dark curls, the girl really did look a little like… "Tsukasa-oniichan…?" The little girl groaned then and slowly sat up, rubbing at her eyes. She sighed, groaned again, and then looked up, blinking. Now that they were both awake, she looked them over again. Their eyes were so similar; they could be twins. Their eyes were a deep chocolate brown, different in shape, but same in color.

"Mama, what's wrong?" The girl asked, yawning widely. 'Okay…' Tsukushi thought to herself, 'somehow, you have just become the mother of two children overnight. How the heck did that happen?'

"Uh-uh, c-c-could you two—could you two wait here for me? Mama's going to…I'm going to go talk to someone. I'll be back soon." The two children nodded, not really caring as they lay down, pulling the blankets up to their chins. Tsukushi quickly ran out, making her way to Rui's room. She didn't care if he was sleeping; he was going to help her solve this weird puzzle. Maybe it was all a dream. Perhaps too much studying had gotten to her.

"Rui?" She asked, opening his door after knocking once. "Rui?" She asked again, quietly stepping in. He'd left his curtains open slightly, allowing faint rays of the quarter moon to stream in. She could see his thin form under the blanket, his face buried in the pillows. "Rui?" She sat on the bed and shook him gently. "Rui, wake up. I need to talk to you." There was no use in calling him 'Hanazawa Rui' anymore. If she started calling him that again instead of just plain old 'Rui', he might get suspicious and figure out that she really liked him. "Rui, please." She pleaded when he refused to budge.

As if sensing her urgency, he gradually lifted his head, enough to look at her with at least one eye, waiting for her to talk. She fidgeted nervously under his gaze but said, "There are these two kids in my room. I don't know who they are. They both called me 'mama', and, well, I'm…confused." When he didn't say anything back, Tsukushi looked up. He patted the area beside him where she was sitting and scooted over slightly to give her more space. He didn't wait to see if she would comply; he instantly buried his face in the pillows and began sleeping again.

Tsukushi blinked. Did he just invite her to sleep next to him? But what about the two kids that were sleeping in her room? What if they woke up and wondered where she'd gone to? She had told them that she'd be back soon. It was like a promise, and she didn't feel like breaking a promise.

"Thank you, Rui. I'll see you tomorrow, then." She whispered before heading back to her room. She looked at the two kids who were sleeping, this time facing each other but on opposite ends, a wide gap between them. She didn't understand why they slept so far apart. Maybe they'd learned about 'cooties'? She shrugged, fixing the blankets around them before grabbing one for herself. She turned off the lamp and settled on the sofa. Tomorrow was going to be an interesting day.