Chapter 9

"...Uso."

"Y-Yuki-chan!" Moriko exclaimed, shooting up to a standing position immediately, breathing quickly.

Yuki stood in disbelief at the door. She looked from Ryo to Moriko, and back to Ryo again. "Ne-chan, you promised..." Yuki said, almost in tears. Moriko looked guiltily at Yuki.

"...gomen." Moriko said silently, bending her back and bowing face-down to her imouto. She was guilt-stricken, for hurting her imouto like that. She liked Yuki very much, and if they were going to be in conflict for this, Moriko would never be happy.

When she heard Yuki running down the corridor, Moriko gave chase, while Ryo shouted her name after her to no avail.

"What happened?" Uchi asked, coming into the room. "Yuki called just now, to say that she wanted to talk to me. But I didn't know why. She didn't mention anything, and I don't think we've known each other very long yet. Then after she spoke to me, she asked to see you."

"...I don't know. Moriko said Yuki had a secret."

--

"Yuki-chan!" Moriko called out after her imouto, but she had lost track of where Yuki had run to. Moriko went in the direction of home, but when she asked if Yuki was home, one-chan had said 'no', and Moriko had run off again, worried, while her one-chan was left standing in the doorway, confused.

It began to rain after a while, and Moriko had left her bag in Ryo's hotel room. There was no umbrella. The light drizzle of raindrops fell against the running figure of Moriko, and Moriko considered where Yuki could be. She ended up sitting on the steps of an overhead bridge, resting her chin on her arms, feeling the light rain trickling down her skin. "Yuki-chan..."

But not long after, Moriko caught the figure of Yuki in a fruits store, eating strawberries that she had just bought. The three siblings had a similar craving for ichigo... She got up immediately, giving chase to Yuki. "Yuki-chan!" Moriko shouted, catching Yuki's hand before she could run.

Yuki glared at her sister, obviously still angry that she had broken that promise, that Moriko had so obviously hurt her feelings. "Let go!" Yuki broke the grip, pushing her elder sister away.

"Yuki-chan, gomen." Moriko apologised again, but Yuki wasn't going to listen. "Okay, then at the very least, come home!"

"You lied."

"...I am sorry. But what can you expect me to do?" Moriko asked, exasperated.

"..."

"I'm sorry Yuki-chan. I am not going to back off like I usually do. Suki dakara. (Because I love him.)" Moriko said, then turned back home.

--

"Are?!" Kusano exclaimed in shock. "Moriko, what happened?! You only went to buy strawberries and you're all drenched! Don't you usually bring an umbrella? Where is the box of strawberries and your bag now? Daijoubu? What is wrong??" Kusano was full of concern. "Sou desu where is Yuki-chan?!"

"Nii-chan, urusai." Moriko said in a dull voice, heading for her room. "Yappari, something bad happened." She sighed to herself. Without changing, she sat at the table, resting her head in her palm. The old, abandoned magazine caught her eye, and she shifted it towards her. The big scrawling of "war declaration" was still on its cover. Should they have stayed the way they were? Something told Moriko that this was not the end of the line of problems. She sneezed.

Kusano cautiously entered the room, looking at the drenched Moriko. He sat on the edge of her bed, serious now. "Ri-chan. What happened between you and Yuki-chan? Ne-san was saying you left in a hurry when you knew Yuki-chan wasn't home."

"Oni-chan, please stop asking."

"You used to want to tell me everything, but what is it now that you can't tell me?"

Moriko sneezed again. "Huh? Nothing."

"Then I shall ask Yuki-"

"Don't!"

They stared at each other for very long, until Moriko sneezed a third time, and Kusano smiled suddenly. "How can you not immediately shower and change into fresh clothes after coming in from the rain?! You'll catch a cold like this. Go shower this instance!" Kusano pushed his imouto out the door.

"Nii-chan! I haven't even taken out my clothes from the closet!" Moriko laughed, stopping Kusano.

"Ah sou desu!!"

--

"Ri-chan?? Ri-chan?? Wake up, it's morning..."

Kusano had gotten out of bed earlier than Moriko that day. But when he went for breakfast, he realised that Moriko was still in bed, and found it queer, since she usually was up already at this time. He shook Moriko's shoulder, only to receive a moan from her lips. He put a hand on her forehead, only to find it burning. "Uwa! Ri-chan, you're sick!!" Kusano exclaimed. "Kyaaa, that's not a right day today. I'm having a photoshoot and then I have to be at the Jimusho later! I'm only back at four~" Kusano knew his imouto had relied on him a lot when she was young, and was used to Kusano taking care of her when she was sick. "Ne, ne, Ri-chan getup first. I know you'd want to be in your oversized pyjamas ne! Get up for a minute and change yourself first... you'll feel cooler and much more comfortable." Kusano pulled Moriko up, but she simply slouched and fell into her brother's arms. "Ri-chan!" Kusano scolded, and Moriko got up again, grumbling and dragging her feet to the closet.

Meanwhile, Kusano closed the door behind him and went back into the dining room to get his and Moriko's breakfast into the room. "Ri-chan?? Ri-chan, are you done?" Kusano knocked his butt against the door since both his hands were full. "Ah itai!" he complained, then waited for a response.

"Hai~" a dull voice came from within the room. Moriko now lay with her back facing the ceiling on Kusano's bed.

Kusano put down the trays on the table, complaining, "Dame yo! Don't stick to my lovely bed too much!!"

"Demo your bed smells of you, oni-chan~" Moriko mumbled, not wanting to get up. She turned herself, now her face facing up, her hands and arms spread out, her being in a set of sky blue pyjamas now, looking contented.

Kusano bent over Moriko, asking, "Hee hee you like the smell of me? I should bring my smell when I come back from the Jimusho."

"Yadda!" Moriko pushed Kusano lightly, and Kusano pretended to fall backwards. He got the tray of breakfast, and asked Moriko to sit up to have her breakfast. Moriko sat up but stared at the tray on her lap.

Kusano sighed. "You don't expect me to have to feed you, do you?"

Moriko looked back at her brother with expectant eyes. Kusano gave an even louder sigh, jumping onto the bed, almost causing the tray to topple. He held it in place just in time. "Yuki made breakfast for you ne. But she didn't want you to know that." Kusano informed, pointing the tip of the spoon towards Moriko.

--

"Kyaaaaah~ I'm late, I'm late!" Kusano shouted, rushing round the room, everything half-done. He threw his items into his bag, then rushed to the bathroom to change. Moriko got up quietly, slowly creeping to his bag, arranging it neatly for him, and placing in any forgotten items. By the time Kusano was finally done with changing and styling his hair, Moriko was back in bed. "Are? Arigatou, Ri-chan!" Kusano grinned as he looked into his bag, flashing Moriko a thumbs up.

--

"Kyaa~" Kusano shouted as he ran towards the other members of NEWS.

"You're late." Ryo pointed out.

"Gomen!"

Ryo sighed. "You're almost always late! If you could just hurry up a but and stop lazing in bed you could save us some time and let us pack up earlier!" he scolded.

"Ahh~ I didn't men to be late, Nishikido-kun~ I woke up on time you know~ But Ri-chan was suddenly sick this morning, and when she isn't well, she just WHINES to have me here!" Kusano explained between pants, then placed his bag in the locker. He went to change.

Ryo grew worried even though he did not show it on his face. It had been raining last night. Had she been chasing after Yuki? He mentally scolded himself for not chasing after her. Yet, he had to let her settle what she wanted to settle with Yuki. It was their secret. He had promised not to probe further.

"I think I'll visit her after we're done at the Jimusho." Koyama said in a worried tone.

"...I'll go too."

Everyone stopped to look at Ryo in bewilderment, except for Uchi and Koyama, who knew the reason why.

"She left her bag with me," Ryo hurriedly explained, "so I should return it to her."

"Are? Why was her bag with you?" Kusano questioned.

"I was nearby, and Moriko just left her bag there when she gave chase to Yuki." Ryo lied.

"Boys, it's time for the photo shoot!"

--

Kusano crept quietly into Moriko's room, holding a pink piggy soft toy, Ryo, Uchi and Koyama filing in behind. Kusano saw Moriko sleeping soundly in his bed, the covers kicked off, and her hands fisted against the pillow. He gently placed the soft toy beide her, smiling at the innocent figure of his imouto. Moriko awoke immediately, rubbing her eyes, then spotting the soft toy beside her. She gave it a hug, then said in a weak voice, "Hiro nii-chan, okairinasai~"

"You have guests ne~" Kusano said, pointing to Ryo, Uchi and Koyama.

"Ah!" Moriko exclaimed in shock, getting up immediately. She was starting to feel better already. She looked even tinier in the set of oversized pyjamas, and Ryo secretly laughed at her while he was behind Uchi. Moriko caught it though, and threw a pillow at him, but it hit Koyama instead.

"Hey!" Koyama protested, giving her an it-wasn't-me look.

Kusano left to get his dose of strawberries, closing the door of the room behind him. The three guests sat onto Moriko's bed. Ryo lifted a hand, pushing away the fringe sticking onto Moriko's forehead from the profuse sweating.

"I think you don't need Kusano and me looking after you already." Koyama teased.

"Hey, you must let Ryo off to go shopping with me okay!" Uchi laughed.

"Urusai yo!" Ryo and Moriko said at once.

"Ja~ I see you're much better now. We'd let you two talk inside." Koyama said, pulling Uchi out of the room with him.

"Hey don't forget shopping-"

"Hai hai, I know!" Moriko grinned at Uchi, before the door was shut. "Ahh, yappari, he's just too adorable!" Moriko exclaimed, looking at the door.

Ryo shifted her chin to lay her gaze on himself. "No watching other boys." Ryo scolded.

"So possessive?" Moriko teased, sliding a single finger down Ryo's chest.

"You're so genki already. Ahh if I knew I could've just brought those magazines here to read..." Ryo commented on purpose.

Moriko pushed Ryo over. "No watching other girls." she warned.

"Oh? What makes you so sure I was talking about that?" he asked, smirking.

"Because you're such a sukebe!"

--

Kusano popped another strawberry into his mouth, folding his legs on the chair, humming a tune to himself while listening to the radio. He was now in a yellow singlet, very much his character -- warm, energetic, sunshine-bringing. But when a storm grew too big, things can change.

"Oni-chan!" Yuki called out, running to Kusano.

"Ah, Yuki-chan, strawberries?" Kusano held out a strawberry to Yuki.

"No, not strawberries." Yuki said. "Ano... nii-chan, I-"

"You're not allowed to go out tonight." Kusano cut in abruptly, staring sternly at his sister.

"But oni-chan, I promise-"

"I said no. Otou-san and oka-san have been worried about you. You're always returning home late." Kusano scolded.

Yuki was furious. Her brother had been strict on her. "Why is it that when it comes to Moriko ne-chan, you never have any objections?!"

"I do! Don't assume when you've not seen it!"

"Then why didn't you scold her for being with Nishikido-kun?!"

"!"