A/N: So this is officially my first fanfiction...don't know if I'm going anywhere with it, but I gave it a shot with one of my favorite series. Sorry for the length! ^^;

"Keiichi, can we talk?"

He hadn't said a word to Rena the entire morning. In fact, he had been pretty quiet since their walk home the day before. She hadn't meant to upset him.

He continued walking in silence.

She had just wanted to protect him. She and Mion had decided before Keiichi had returned from his trip that they wouldn't tell him. He didn't really need to know, and it would only frighten him anyway. She had done the right thing, hadn't she?

Still no answer.

For some reason the evening before, Keiichi had suddenly become very curious about the village's past. She didn't even know why; everyone took great care in not mentioning it, especially around him. So of course Rena denied him the answers he sought. That's what she and Mion agreed on. But he kept pestering her and wouldn't accept her answers. She kept rejecting it until she suddenly exploded with anger.

"Keiichi, why don't you just shut up?! I keep telling you that I don't know, and yet you keep bothering me about it! Oyashirosama will not forgive those who meddle in affairs that don't concern them! He hasn't even forgiven me, one who has always been faithful! Why should he forgive someone like you?"

The scene played over and over again in her head. After her outburst, Keiichi had just stared at her in shock. Once he had finally gotten a hold of himself, he murmured something about home and walked off without her. Rena had tried to catch up, but he barely acknowledged her existence. He managed to mumble a goodbye before parting ways, leaving her looking helplessly after him. This morning proved that sleep had not made Keiichi any more sociable.

"Will you talk to me? Will you?"

Keiichi remained silent. They were quickly approaching their meeting place with Mion; maybe she could bring the old Keiichi out. No sooner had she thought that then Mion came running in to view, her chest heaving from the pace.

"Hey, Keiichi! Rena! Looks like this old man won't be late today! Let's go."

"Hey Mion, I'll race ya!"

Rena jerked her head up, shocked. Keiichi refused to say a word to her all morning and here he was, challenging Mion like nothing was wrong. A devilish smile played across Mion's face.

"Damn it, Kei-chan! You know I can't back down from a challenge!" She paused for a moment to catch her breath before continuing. "Fine! Loser gets penalty of Satoko's choice. See you at school, Rena!"

Rena could only look on sadly as her two best friends left her behind.

R&R? Idk. Just felt the need to put this up. Might continue if I feel like it, but I've got a lot of stuff going on at once so who knows.