Dlbn: This fic will be updated as close to every day as possible leading up to Mother's Day. Fiancé hogs the laptop when he's here so I haven't been able to post the past few days like I wanted, but here I am now.

Main Dedication: Dedicated to my mom Laureen who passed last year. Its our first Mother's Day without her. Miss you mom…

Dedication 2: This fic is dedicated to all my friends and family members who are mothers and/or mother figures. Including grandparents, step moms, foster mom, adoptive moms, girlfriend/fiancé of someone with a child, moms to be, etc.

Dedication 3: This fic is also dedicated to all the mothers and mother figures out there. Happy Mother's Day.

000

Aoyagi Seimei, age 4

Father was shouting. Mother was crying. Seimei feigned ignorance as he played with blocks to the sounds of some TV show playing in the background. They always fought; this was nothing new. The front door slammed and suddenly the TV was the only thing he could hear. His mother entered the living room, dabbing at her eyes with a napkin as she sat down on the couch.

"Mommy?" He asked.

"I'm okay, Seimei." She told him. "Hey, Seimei?"

"Yes, mommy?"

"How would you like to have a little brother or sister?"

Seimei frowned, but then smiled. "That would be fun!" He lied.

"I'm glad you think so."

"Am I going to have a brother or sister, mommy?"

"Yes, you are." She smiled.

"Then on Mother's Day, you get double the presents, right?"

She smiled at his innocence. "Double the love, as well."

Aoyagi Seimei, age 8

Seimei pushed open the door to his parents' bedroom, a giggling three year old Ritsuka behind him. Ritsuka carried a few flowers they'd pulled from the yard, and Seimei carried a card they had made their mother the night before while she was out shopping and they were left home with their father.

"One...two...three"!" Seimei counted down quietly.

"Surprise!" They called at once.

Their mother snapped from her sleep as she sat up and looked around. When her eyes landed on what the kids had brought her, she laughed.

"Why, did you two do all this for me?" She asked.

"We did!" Ritsuka cried, thrusting the flowers at her.

"How lovely. Thank you, boys." She kissed their foreheads.

"Happy Mother's Day." Seimei told her.

"Thank you, Seimei. I'm so lucky to have thoughtful little boys like you."

"More surprises!" Ritsuka informed. "Come on, Seimei!"

"Breakfast is served, mother."

"Oh dear."

Ritsuka pulled him out of the room to go downstairs.

"Do you think mother will like what we made for her?"

"Just as soon as she gets over the mess…"

Aoyagi Seimei, age 14

Seimei sighed in frustration as he pulled Ritsuka out of the way of a plate that had once contained an omelette. Their mother screeched curses and claimed a child that was not hers had no business bringing her breakfast on mother's day. He could feel Ritsuka tremble out of fear. It was the first Mother's Day since he had lost his memory and their mother first started to declare that he wasn't her child. If he didn't know any better, Seimei would say she was under a spell.

"I told you to leave me out of it." Ritsuka muttered into Seimei's arm.

"If you hadn't tried, she would have been angered anyway." Seimei threaded his fingers through his brother's hair. "At least you can hold your head up high and say that you tried to celebrate with her."

"I guess…" He sighed. "Everyone is going to be talking about today at school tomorrow...what do I do?"

"If anyone asks, we made mother breakfast in bed but messed it up so we went for a picnic instead." He stated. "She loved the card we made her and the flowers we bought."

"But we didn't buy flowers...or make a card...and we're not going on a picnic…"

"It's called lying, Ritsuka." Seimei laughed at his brother's innocence. "And who said we're not going on a picnic?"

"Really? But shouldn't we stay here in case she throws a fit again?"

"Mother isn't coming." Seimei stated. "We're going to go on our own picnic at the park to give her time to cool."

"What if I see someone from school? Then they'll know I'm lying."

"Then just tell everyone you and I went out so mother could take a nap and have a day for herself. One of my classmates was planning on doing that with her sisters."

"Oh, so it's not weird then...okay, Seimei, whatever you want."

His heart, and his ego, swelled.

Aoyagi Seimei, age 15

Everything was perfect. Their mother was silent, their father was gone, and Ritsuka was happily munching on cereal as he watched early morning cartoons on the living room TV. A vase full of roses and lilies sat on the kitchen table with a homemade card signed by both brothers, and a necklace box from an expensive store in town. He'd made his mother breakfast and served it to her before Ritsuka woke up. Seimei leaned on the doorframe as he watched his brother enjoying his life for once. Normally he was shy and reserved, hiding behind Seimei as their mother threw another tirade. But now h was laughing, tail swaying happily, at the television as he ate. It was going to be their last Mother's Day as a family before he had to fake his death and up and leave. He hated that he had to, but it was for Ritsuka's sake, so he'd gladly suffer.

He did everything in his power to make sure his mother and brother both had a good Mother's Day. After all, with him gone, he doubted anyone would celebrate at all.

Akame Nisei, age 4

The house was decorated in pastels, the guests were boisterous, and their mother was glowing. Nisei sat in a corned playing with his younger cousins as his brother mingled with the adults like he was one of them, though he was only six. The Akame matriarch rubbed her growing stomach gently as she conversed with some family member Nisei barely recognized. The newest addition to the Akame family wouldn't be there for another three or four months, but their father had thought that having a baby shower on Mother's Day brought everyone into the house. People he didn't know mingled with people he did know. Some were friends, but most were family. Their family always threw lavish parties for this kind of thing. His brother Hideki wasn't old enough to remember the baby shower they had had when their mother was pregnant with Nisei., but photos and videos proved it was just another Akame family overdone extravaganza.

"I asked mom where babies come from." His cousin stated.

"What did she say?" Another asked.

"She said that when two people really love each other and really want a baby, a magical stork brings the mom a special egg to eat." He explained. "Then when she eats it, the baby starts growing. And the doctor takes him out later when he's ripe. Like a melon!"

"Well my mom told me that God comes and tells you that you're going to have a baby. Then you have a baby." A third cousin stated. "It takes so long because God wants you to be super happy and excited when the baby is ready, and so you have enough time to buy the baby things they need!"

"Did your mom tell you where babies come from, Nisei?" A female cousin asked.

"No." Nisei stated. "I never asked her."

"Then where do you think they come from? The stork or God?"

"I know where the baby came from." Nisei stated.

"Oh yeah?" His male cousin teased. "Where did he come from?"

None of the children heard the clinking of the glass drawing everyone's attention to his father, filling the room with silence.

"They had sex."

The entire room froze and turned to stare. That night was the first time Nisei's father actually spanked him.

Akame Nisei, age 9

Having a little sister wasn't so bad. Now that she was five, Kimiheri was able to help with Mother's Day preparations. She made the card, Hideki bought the flowers, their father bought an expensive bracelet, and Nisei made a bowl in art class that he painted. They prepsented her with the gifts after breakfast. She seemed appreciative, but rather bored. Their father took her out to see some big play that night, leaving Hideki in charge of his siblings. Nisei read a book, curled up on the couch, as Hideki completed homework and Kimiheri played on the floor with her dolls. It was a quiet night; the kind that Nisei liked. Between their parents' irregular fighting, three kids under the age of thirteen being in the house, and father's business guests coming and going, nights like this were rare.

"Do you think they're going to have another baby?" Kimiheri asked out of the blue.

"Why do you ask?" Hideki wondered, not looking up from his homework.

"My friend at school told me that her daddy told her mom the other day that he was going to create a baby on Mother's Day. I wonder if mommy and daddy want to do that, too."

Hideki flushed as Nisei laughed.

"They're not having another one." Nisei told his sister. "Mom and dad didn't even want us, let alone another one."

"Nisei, that's a terrible thing to tell her!" Hideki scolded. "He's joking, Kimi."

"I know he's not." Kimiheri frowned. "I heard daddy say something like that the other day when they were fighting."

"I'm sure he didn't mean it."

"I call garbage on that." Nisei pointed out.

"Go to your room." Hideki glared.

Nisei laughed, standing. 'Whatever you say, brother. you can't ignore the truth all the time."

He retreated to his room knowing full well that Hideki knew their parents didn't want children at all and were now stuck with three. Well, as his mother had said one day when they were fighting. If he'd get off of her once and a while, they wouldn't be making babies.

Akame Nisei, age 13

The more time went by, the more Nisei began to realize little things about his parents. Not wanting kids and regretting having any was one thing. Ostracizing one child was another. Maybe he was exaggerating, but his mother didn't seem all that thrilled with the card and flower he had gotten for her. When he'd snuck into their bedroom while they were out, he spotted Hideki and Kimi's cards and flowers, but the ones he had given her were nowhere in sight.

"What are you doing?" Kimiheri asked behind him.

He jumped and turned to face her. "Oh, Kimi…" He greeted. "You caught me." He put his hands in the air. "I was going to search for my birthday present while they were out."

"No you weren't." She accused. "What are you really doing? Looking for your report card before mother sees it?"

"What do you know about my report card?" His eyes narrowed at her.

"That you're failing three classes and have a D in another and mommy's pissed."

"Ah, so they've seen it already." His ears flattened against his skull. "Did you overhear that?"

She nodded. "I think they forgot my sleepover was cancelled."

"Of course."

Well that explained why she didn't want his gifts. How rude.

Akame Nisei, age 14

Nisei scratched his earless head as father scolded him for not getting his mother anything for Mother's Day. He hadn't been without ears long, and the spots where they used to be were itching something fierce.

"Are you even listening to me?" His father asked.

"Why should I get her anything? She always tosses it out." Nisei stated. "Why waste everyone's time and effort when she's not going to want it?"

"Your mother would like a gift from you, as well."

"I have a box in my room of every gift I've ever given her that she's thrown out." Nisei stated. "Do you want to try again?"

His father rolled his eyes. "Just go get her something. I don't care if its flowers from our garden. Just go get something."

"Fine. But only so I can say I told you so when I fish it out of the garbage later."

Three hours later, an appropriate I told you so was laughed in his father's face.

Akame Nisei, age 17

"I've decided who I want to live with." Nisei announced at Mother's Day dinner.

The entire table stopped moving as they all looked to Nisei. Though their parents were divorcing, the kids tried to play it off like they weren't doing so and tried to be happy for this one day. Even their father had managed to show his face at the house. Gone were the lavish parties and enormous guests counts of the children's youth. Now there were just five people gatherings around a small kitchen table in a mediocre attempt to pretend everything was normal until the kids retreated to their rooms, mother retreated to the sitting room, and father left for his own home a few streets away.

"And you choose to announce that now?" His father asked.

"When else am I going to have the two of you in one place so I can tell you both at once?" Nisei scoffed. "I don't like repeating myself. This is more convenient."

"Just tell us and get it over with." His mother swirled a glass of wine in her hand.

"Neither of you."

"What?" Both parents asked.

"I'm gonna just hoof it on my own." Nisei shrugged. "Neither of you want me around, so I may as well just get on with my life."

"Are you serious?" Hideki asked. "That's terrible, Nisei. you can't make it out there on your own."

"Watch me."

"You know he's just going to do it to prove you wrong now, right?" Kimiheri rolled her eyes.

Now thirteen, she was no longer a child blinded by her brother's sugar-coated lies. Nisei felt bad for her. She once saw the world as a bright, happy, sunshine filled place. Now she saw it for what it was; a dark, dreary, abysmal let down.

"If you're serious, I'll get you your own place and pay the rent as long as it keeps you there." His father stated.

"Father!" Scolded Hideki.

"I second that." Their mother stated.

"Mother!"

Kimiheri rolled her eyes.

"It's a deal then. I'll be staying at Mimuro's until then. His mother has been made aware." Nisei stood. "Thanks for the food, but I have elsewhere to be." Nisei threw his napkin down on the table. "What do you know, mother? For once, I've given you a present you won't throw away."

He stalked off, silence answering him and the door's slam making his departure all that more final.

Akame Nisei, age 18

Nisei was surprised the following Mother's Day when Mimuro's mother invited him to join them for the family dinner. He had long since moved into his own place, but she knew he wasn't going home and wanted him to be around because he was more like a second son to her than just a friend of her precious son. A part of him was jealous of the relationship Mimuro had with his mother. Nisei and his mother had never been close; the schism between them growing larger and larger since he was thirteen and she threw out his gift. But he was grateful to be included.

For once, he had a mother that actually wanted him around. It felt nice.