Under the Shaded Willow

Chapter Eight: Conflict?

A/N: I wanted to update as much as I possibly could this weekend since I haven't in a while. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please comment and vote as always!

~Tata for Now

Chapter Eight: Conflict?

    "Spirit, Hakase!" the cherry haired girl chirped as she skidded to a stop in front of them.

    She did indeed look much happier than she had the last two weeks. It was so incredibly amazing how little was needed to be said in order for the siblings to return to normal. It really did peek Hakase's interest. He had often times seen his mother and father argue and they never made up as easily. He wanted to make observations but he knew his mother would be disapproving of him using the Albarn children as "lab rats", as she would say.

    Though Hakase would never refer to them as lab rats. That was an utterly barbaric term and he much better preferred specimen. He wouldn't call the siblings specimen either, though. He would simply call them humans, which his mother would most likely find humor in.

    "Hiya, Ichigo," Spirit greeted her, though she only seemed to be looking at Hakase.

    "You know, Hakase, you would sleep much better if you didn't sleep on the floor," she said frettingly.

    She wanted to scold him for being so careless with his heath but he wasn't hers to scold so she refrained from doing so.

    "What?" Spirit asked, looking down to Hakase, who had pulled his hand from Spirit's.

    He looked as if he were going to say something but Spirit went on.

    "Sleep on the floor... You sleep on the floor? Why would you do that?"

    Hakase ignored him, looking down at the floor and walking into the kitchen. The table was set up as usual and the food smelled delicious. It was a delightful scent that filled the children's lungs as they breathed in the air. They each took their seats, the same as always and Hakase glued his eyes to his plate.

    He didn't want to see Spirit's curious eyes running over him. He didn't want to see the boy look at him so intently. It bothered him and it made him feel strange; uncomfortable. Mrs. Albarn filled the children's plates and sat down with a large smile on her face.

    "I'm so glad my little ones have made up," she gushed.

    "Little ones? I'm not little mom, I'm fourteen," Ichigo complained.

    "Oh, I'm sorry, dear," Shiori laughed.

    Dinner went that way almost the whole night. All the Albarns could really talk about was the fact that Ichigo and Spirit were talking again. Hakase's mother had gone straight to sleep since she'd just flew in from Germany. After dinner, the children all huddled into the living room, Spirit grabbing Hakase before he could go upstairs and making him sit on the couch.

    "Why do you sleep on the floor?" he demanded, almost angrily.

    "That's none of your business," Hakase stated, which made Spirit red-faced.

    "Why you little..."

    Spirit pinched the other boy's nose and gave him a noogy.

    "Stop it! What do you think you're doing!?" Hakase shrieked, which was much to the surprise of the two redheads.