...We Could...

Fumi Two!

Gilbert sat on the couch, holding his daughter in his lap. Her twin was on the floor, playing with the train set there.

"I'm gonna build the biggest train track in the world!" boasted Preuss, clicking the plastic tracks together. "Papa, wanna help?"

"No, he dunna," answered his twin, hugging her daddy tight.

"Hey, if Perisa isn't willing to help ya out, I'm game," came Zelda's answer, kneeling down next to her littlest brother and ruffling his white hair. "Besides, we red-eyes must stick together."

"Oh, yes, heaven forbid that we goldies rebel against your dictatorial rule," Dastan chimed in, rolling his eyes. "And we've got the same hair color, Princess!"

Zelda laughed before punching her brother playfully. Dastan responded by messing up her neat French Braid.

Since they were all close to seventy years old and still young, it was a good indication that they were either a country, or just had longer lives. Zelda looked to be about seventeen, Dastan about sixteen, and the twins appeared to be about nine or ten. The slow aging had puzzled the kids until Anahi and Gilbert explained to them who--or, rather, what--they were. They took it in stride and adjusted well to the concept.

Though they were not adjusting very well to their mother's absence. For close to twenty years she had been gone, and they were worried that she hadn't come back.

Where could Nahi be? wondered the husband, twisting his wedding band that was secured on his left ring finger. She should be here by now...

"When's Mama gonna be back?" Perisa asked, looking up at her daddy with big gold eyes, unknowingly speaking his thoughts.

Prussia took a lock of white hair that had managed to get loose from her puppy ears and tucked it behind her human ear. "I don't know, hun. I don't know..."

~*~

I woke up with a stretch and a yawn, rubbing my eyes before quietly reaching over and turning off my alarm clock. I stared at my bed sheets for a while before a knock came to my door.

"Nami? Are you awake? You'll be late for school if you don't get up, soon."

I smiled and pealed back the covers. "Yeah, I'm up. Thank you, Koaru."

"You're welcome. I have your uniform. Can I come in?"

I slid off my bed and adjusted my tank top. "Sure."

Yesterday after I got settled into my home, I was whisked off to take my placement test at Ouran. I passed it well, and managed to get a bit of a scholarship. Not a full ride like Haruhi, but I scored high enough in History and Global Studies that I got half of my tuition paid for. I never knew that I'd score that high in those subjects. Though, they were one of my favorites back home. Why was that...?

The door to my lavishly large room was opened and Kaoru appeared, a yellow dress over his arm. I knew what the dress looked like--lemon yellow, white high collar with a sort of bib, red ribbon around throat, white cuffs, and large leg-of-mutton sleeves. Kaoru walked over to my bed and layed it out for me. He was already in his uniform, and I guessed Hikaru was as well.

"Breakfast is almost ready," he informed me. "Just come down when you're hungry."

I nodded, standing and grabbing my upper right arm. "Okay. Thank you, Kaoru."

He nodded, smiling. "If you need anything else just call a maid, okay?"

I nodded again, and returned his smile. "I'm not use to the rich life... It's kind of interesting."