(Misaka's POV)

"Aiko, you're acting like an idiot. Underage people aren't allowed to drink, moron. It's illegal."

Aiko smiled, her cheeks very red. "So? Daddy lets me drink at home."

"What's your point? Mother probably doesn't even know about that part."

"Daddy's basically the government of Tryme and he doesn't have to tell Mother everything. Does it matter? You always refuse anyway...Or..." she leaned closer and giggled. "Are you jealous?"

Ha! Why would I be jealous that Father loves Aiko more?

"Absolutely not." I rolled my eyes, dodging Haru and Miyu who was dancing toward Aiko, hands outstretched.

Dance, dance! Do whatever; being a fool is okay!

I can't dance, I told the voices irritably, ducking under a table cloth that suddenly was taped across the hall like a covering at a wedding.

A young man with a stern face stepped into my path and when I tried to get around him, he blocked my path once more. "You're Misaka?"

"Yes..." I replied warily. "Who else would I be? The Wizard of Oz?"

"Ah, so you're the sarcastic comeback one my older sister told me about. I'm Kurogane. Nice to meet you."

He seems normal. Well, Rei seemed normal, but her personality is creepy. "Are you crazy too?"

"Are you being sarcastic?" Kurogane asked, his eyes narrowed.

I just noticed, but his eyes really do resemble Rei's.

"I dunno. Was I? You seem to think I am." I responded. "It was nice to meet you, Kurogane, but I'm tired and wish to retire. Will you excuse me?" All I wanted to do was get out of this room, and away from the unnerving boy.

I waited impatiently for his answer and when he did answer, it wasn't the answer I was expecting.

"Will you dance with me?" He held out his hand expectantly.

What the heck? I edged away from him. "Are you drunk?"

"You're really frickin' rude."

"I try to be."

Miyu and Haru grasped each of my arms and giggled at the same time.

"Kurogane means..." Haru started from my left.

"...Black steel!" Miyu finished and they both exploded with laughter. 

"Just like the one of the main characters from Reservoir Chronicle!" they both shouted between giggles.

"Haru means sunlight!"

"Mi means beautiful and yu means evening!"

Okay, okay. Shut up for once. "Miyu and Haru, let go. Kurogane, excuse me, but I can't dance."

Kurogane gave a sigh of relief. "Didn't really want to dance with you anyway, but my older sister wouldn't shut up about it."

"I'm rude? You're rude. Laters." I waved sarcastically and grabbed Aiko as she walked past me and dragged her out into the hall.

"Saki~" she drew out my nickname groggily.

"What did you have?" I demanded, trying to drag her up the marble stairs.

"Bon-bons..."

Alcoholic candy that looks like chocolate. Is she stupid?

"Wonderful," I muttered, bending down and slinging the shorter girl over my shoulder, my arms curled around the back of her knees. I started to climb the steps, eyes fixed on the top. "So, Aiko. Time for you to go to bed," I continued, "We're leaving tomorrow--if we can find our way back--and you get to explain your condition to Mother because I won't."

Not many people who ventured into the Twilight Woods ever made it back...at least, not alive, anyway. That's why the adults always said never to go into the woods. And the kids tried to obey, but there was always one curious brat who went in and never came out.

Aiko wriggled. "Don't wanna...." She continued to shift around.

It made me think I was going to drop her, so I threatened, "If you keep wriggling, I'm going to drop you over the side." I ascended the last step and set off down the hall in search for our door with our name.

"Do we have to leave?" Aiko whined like a baby. "I like talking to Haru and Rei and Miyu and Rin...I even got to talk to Rei's father!"

Aaaaaaand you actually like it here? It feels weird, and you don't mind it at all? I always knew you were thick, but not this thick. I shouldered the door open, walked inside a little ways and dumped my sister on the four-poster bed.

"Hey, Saki?"

"What?"

"Who's the boy you were talking to...?"

"...Which one? Haru or..."

Aiko already snored off to la-la land in the middle of the bed.

"Whatever." I shoved her over and she flopped onto the floor and kept quietly snoring.

Oops.

I tossed the top blanket over her and shoved a pillow under her head. I crawled onto the mattress, suddenly feeling very tired.

Downstairs, I could hear the music still playing. Upstairs, it was totally quiet except for the spirit in the corner of the room, standing there and whispering:

Full of food and drink, one sister slept peacefully whilst the other was plagued by nightmares, both only concerned about going home.

But when they woke...they were full of something else. One more than the other.

Confusion. Fear.

The other was just curious. Curious, but suspicious.

"Shut up..." I murmured, rolling over to face the other way, my eyes starting to close.

The last thing I heard was:

Their desolate chronicle, the crazy night was just starting.

How will it end?

AN: The picture is Misaka. I skipped Rei...sorry.