Heeey there! So yeah, uhh, I kinda tought that maybe you wanna read the new chappie though I intentionally meant to upload this tomorrow or the next day but because I love you all for reading and loving this story then I'll always update as soon as I can and whenever I'm free or I'm not totally busy.. :)

Thankyou soooooooo much for the support friends! hehe, hope you'll like this too!

Chapter 4

Naoko was enjoying her first day in the Academy, talking with Youichi and Kouta until she felt hungry. "Ano, nii-chan? What time is it already? I'm hungry." Naoko said. Both Kouta and Youichi then felt hungry also. "Well, we talked this long, it is almost lunch time." Youichi stated as Naoko went to Marika.

"Where do you eat nii-chan?" Kouta asked.

"Well, I am with the Class B's gang since I was 5 every lunch." Youichi answered.

"Oh, ok then." Kouta then noticed Naoko's sad expression, "What happened to you, Nao?"

"Huh? Oh, nothing. It's just that Mari-chan seems busy going to the library every lunch. And I can't take not eating lunch." Naoko answered noticing her brother's concerns.

"What if both of you will come with me?" Youichi offered.

"But won't your companions complain?" Naoko asked.

"No they won't. They'll like you especially the girls." Youichi said.

"What? There are girls?" Kouta became frantic.

"Yeah, why? What happened Kou?" Youichi asked, as he began to panic a little.

"Kou-nii, they mustn't be like the others. It's ok; onii-chan won't leave us alone." Naoko assured. As Kouta began to calm down, silently muttering "Mommy.."

"What happened Nao? And why is he looking for your mommy when you said she left you two?" Youichi inquired.

"She didn't left us!" Kouta burst.

"Calm down Kou-nii, he doesn't know." Naoko soothingly said, "Well, onii-chan, an older girl tends to pinch, hug and etc at the cute and adorable kids right? He doesn't like it that they will do that to him as he says it hurts 10 times more as he has seen from other children. And mommy didn't really left us, she said she has to check someone first. And she'll be back as soon as she can even though all of us know that she won't be coming back for a long time. At first, Kou-nii didn't want to come with the academy's staff, cause for him, when mommy comes home, we won't be there to welcome her. And he tends to burst when he is frantic. Sorry about that." Naoko explained.

"Oh, that's ok. Well, I gotta warn you two. The gang consists of couples already. So if ever you'll see them being sickly sweet at each other, don't be surprise." Youichi warned them as Naoko and the now calm Kouta nodded. They were now headed towards the Class B. When they have arrived, Youichi directly opened the door and walked towards the gang at the back of the room with Kouta and Naoko followed closely behind him.

"Hello there, Youichi. Who are these behind you?" Ruka asked. And Naoko being the friendly and cheerful one answered, "Hi! My name's Naoko and this is my brother, Kouta. Nice to meet you all!" pulling Kouta along with her. "Kouta?" Natsume thought.

Naoko roam her eyes at the faces within the gang which landed on Hotaru, "You!" she pointed. The gang began to panic as Naoko pointed at Hotaru, "Me?" Hotaru asked, raising her brow.

"Yes, you. You look like Ai-baachan, the only difference is that you're emotionless. Right Kou-nii? She even looks like Tai-jiichan when she raised her brow!" Naoko said as Kouta look at Hotaru then said, "You're right Nao. She does look like Airi-baa and Tai-jii."

"Wait." Hotaru said in a gentle voice which shocked the others, "You know my parents? Imai Airi and Imai Taiki?"

"Yes, we were under their care for 1 year and a half. Since jii-chan passed away." Kouta answered. "Does this mean that you are their baby girl Ho-chan?" Naoko asked.

"Uhm, yes, I am their daughter. Are they fine? How did you know my parents?" Hotaru asked again.

"Oh, goody. Airi-baachan always tells me stories about when you were little. They are healthy if that's what you mean by fine. Well, for the second question is—" Naoko was cut off by a shout.

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! WHY DIDN'T I WAKE UP EARLY?! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I'M GONNA BE LAAAAAAAAAATE!" a certain scream was heard.

"There goes the idiot." Natsume said.

"Language Hyuuga. There are kids in front of you." Hotaru said.

"Hotaru-neechan is right, dad. If mom heard you, she'll yell at you for hours." Youichi said, which made the others nod in agreement.

"Wait? He's your dad?" Kouta asked.

"Not biologically, Kou." Youichi said.

"Oh, he meant like how is mommy with us!" Naoko said.

"I know what he meant stupid." Kouta said which earned a hard smack on the head.

"Excuse him for his language. I think mommy didn't teach him enough manners. I am really sorry." Naoko apologized which became an amusement for the gang.

The door opened loudly as the person shouted, "I'M SORRY I AM LATE SENSEI! PLEASE, DO NOT GIVE ME A DETENTION!" as she bowed down, the kids didn't saw who it was because she was bowing really deep.

"Baka, no classes today." Hotaru said, "So where were we? Oh yeah, how did you met or knew my parents?" she continued.

Both kids turned to Hotaru as Mikan made her way to them not seeing the kids, and when she was just right behind the two, Naoko beamed, "That's because Sakuras and Imais are close!" she beamed as the gang was once again shock especially Mikan who now noticed the two 4 year olds which made her take three steps back which didn't go unnoticed by Natsume.

"Oi, Polka? Are you ok? Why are you backing up?" Natsume asked.

Instead of answering him, she tried calling out, "Nao-chan? Kou-chan?" as the kids turned to whoever is calling them, Mikan is already on the verge of crying.

The two kids were shock, as they saw who they didn't expect seeing. "Mikan are you alright?" Sumire asked. No one answered. The three just stood there frozen on their spot, as the kids can't believe what they're seeing, they needed proof that she is the one who they think she is.

"Yo, Mikan? You there?" Kitsu called out. No response.

Ruka nudge Hotaru's side. Hotaru just rolled her eyes at her boyfriend as she wonder what is the relationship of the three.

"Kou? Nao?" Youichi tried the kids instead. There is also no response.

"Oi, Strawberries?" Natsume also tried but got the same result, no response. Now everyone was turned to look at Hotaru, indicating that it's her turn.

Hotaru rolled her eyes then called out, "Hey, baka? Miki?" Which made the Sakuras turn to her; the twins widened their eyes at the nickname used while Mikan apologized, "Huh? What? Uhm, sorry Ho-chan." Mikan then turned to the twins, "How are you little angels?" she asked, which made the gang now wonder what their relationship is as Mikan is in mother mode.

"We are fine. Ano, we were being taken care of by the Imais for a year and a half." Kouta was the one who answered as politely as he can while Naoko is teary eyed.

"What? Why? What about grandpa?" Mikan asked slowly nearing them.

"You didn't know? Airi-baa sent you a letter regarding about that matter." Kouta answered, and then Narumi burst in the room saying there are two letters for Mikan. Mikan wiped her eyes, stared at the twins before getting the letters. As Mikan read the letters, she broke down and cried hard.

The gang was alarmed and ran to Mikan to comfort her especially Natsume. They tried soothing her but nothing work until she stopped herself when she heard Naoko cry much harder than she did. She immediately stood up and ran to Naoko and Kouta who was also crying but silently.

The gang went to the three and could then hear Mikan sooth the kids, muttering, "There, there. Don't cry. Don't cry. Mommy is here, mommy won't leave anymore. I'm sorry that you have to go through that. Sorry. Mommy didn't mean it." As the kids hugged her tight while the gang was shock to hear her say that. Mikan stood up, carrying the two who doesn't want to let go. "Guys, what do you say we head to the Sakura tree? I'll explain along the way." The gang agreed, the girls offered to take one of the kids but Mikan won't give them and the kids would hold on tighter. So as they head towards the tree, Mikan told them from the very beginning until recent, so by the time they arrived Mikan was done explaining and the gang understood everything.

"Ok, now we know. Then what about the letter? What happened?" Sumire asked, when Naoko heard the question, she cried again as they sat and Kouta just lied down by Mikan's side, whimpering. "Sshhh, Nao-chan. Stop it, she didn't mean to ask." Mikan hushed.

"Sorry. I didn't know it was that hard." Sumire apologized

"You got that right; I can't believe that they went through that. Any other 3 year old wouldn't last a week without their parent or parent image." Koko said sadly.

"Well, Koko. Would you be a dear and please just show them what happened? Because I know Nao will only cry again if I will say one event that happened." Mikan asked.

"Sure, I don't like to let her remember such things as well." Koko said as he told Yuu what happened which made him devastated, then used his alice to show the others without letting the kids see except for Youichi who stubbornly wanted to know.

-flashback-

Six months have passed since Mikan went to follow Hotaru, the kids were just playing with each other at the backyard. Until a few minutes, they needed to get ready because they'll go to the Imai's for that day. Having a feeling of something may happen, Kouta took out the emergency bag with him and told Naoko to bring the emergency basket with her. And as they were in the kitchen looking for something to eat before leaving, they heard their grandfather, Sakura Shion shouting, Kouta being quick pulled his sister and hid in the safest hiding place in the house but can still see what is happening.

"Where are the kids, old man?" a man in black asked.

"I don't know what you are talking about!" Shion shouted.

"Let's not play dumb now. Tell us where are the kids with alices?" another man asked.

"Alices? What's that?" Shion asked in return.

"Don't play dumb. The kids. Now!" the third man demanded.

"I don't know. The kids left with their mother and I don't know where they went." Shion lied.

"Don't lie old man, where are they?" the second man asked again.

"I'm not! I told you, I don't know! Please do me a favor and leave; I'm not getting any younger soon." Shion answered.

"Well, ok old man. I'll do you a favor." The third man said.

"Then please leave." Shion said.

"Oh, not that favor." The third man said again before nodding at the fourth man who was with them and as the fourth man understood, he took out his gun and shoot Sakura Shion right through the heart and as he fall down he turned to where the kids are hiding and smiled at them while mouthing "Go. Now." as the kids saw this, Naoko did her best not to shout and Kouta couldn't take it anymore, took his sister's hand with his left hand and the emergency bag with his right hand, Naoko seeing her brother's action also held the emergency basket. They slowly and quietly left the house through the back door to the secret passage at the backyard as it is the shortcut to the Imais, halfway through the passage, they looked back from where they came from and their eyes widened when they saw fire and smoke. Even having the urge to go back, they still head forward to the Imais. As they have arrived at the Imais, they were tired and luckily Imai Airi was near the passage doing the laundry, the bushes near Airi shook that made her turn to the bushes and she was surprised to see the twins very exhausted. She immediately helped the kids and let them rest, after 4 hours they have woken up and explained what happened to the Imais.

-end of flashback-

After knowing what happened, the gang was devastated. The girls were crying including the infamous Ice Queen while the boys were still frozen from shock except for one who just clenched his fist. One question was asked in their minds, who were those men in black; they couldn't be from the academy cause the academy only sends teachers to get the children.

"AAO." Mikan answered their unspoken question as she watched the twins sleep since the beginning of the flashback.

That's the end of this chappie guys! haha, so tell me what you think okei? :D

love lots :*