Disclaimer: I do not own Gravitation or any of its characters. Storyline and Kira belong to me.

Part Three – It Feels Like Christmas Time

She couldn't remember how she got here. The ceiling above her, her father's lap beneath her head, his comforting presence. She couldn't remember. She remembered the falling stars. That was it. A deep sigh escaped her lungs, and her father's hand rested lightly on her head.

"Kira." The word was gentle, so many thoughts hid in that single vibration of air. She shifted so she could see him. Golden hair framed gold eyes. Eyes that watched hers, concern swirling in the depths. "You've been quiet lately. And now this? Want to tell me what the tears are for?"

"They fall for you."

A frown creased his brow.

"I don't follow you."

"Tohma told me. About New York."

His expression hardened and he looked away.

"That was a long time ago."

"It still haunts you."

He looked at her. She had sat up, and fixed him with an unreadable expression. Her hair tumbled over her shoulders, and hid her green eye. He reached out a hand and pushed her hair from her face.

"You would never know you were twelve by looking at you."

"Thirteen."

"Thirteen."

A silence passed between them. A silence so deep, it reached for the vastness of eternity. The door banging open and excited shouting coming from the entrance hall smashed that silence. Rising smoothly from his seat, Eiri exited the room to find his partner fighting to get his shoes off, while still singing loudly. Remaining where she was, Kira listened quietly.

"Yuki! I've got brilliant news!"

"My father's dead?"

"Don't say that… No, I'm pregnant!"

"Again?"

"I know! Isn't it exciting?!"

"And you only discovered today?"

"Yes! Apparently I'm five months along already!"

"Don't you ever get fat?"

"No! It's brilliant isn't it!"

"What, the pregnancy or your not getting fat?"

"Well both… But mainly the pregnancy!"

"Yes it's wonderful."

"We're going to have a child!"

"Another child."

"Oh. Yes. Another child."

Kira let her head fall onto her knees in defeat.

"I'm still here." She whispered. "All that's left of yesterday…"

It was beginning to get to her. The constant screaming of her little brother and her parents' blatant disregard of her existence. She reached out in the darkness and found the power button on her stereo. Letting the music flood her ears, she lay back and relaxed. Her arm hurt. She caressed the broken skin almost lovingly, the slick liquid oiling her fingers. She raised the digits to her lips and tenderly licked them clean, savouring the metallic taste on her tongue.

"Kira!"

Eyes snapped open and sleeves were pulled down seconds before the door flew open. Her father was a silhouette against the light from the hallway.

"Get out here now. You're babysitting your brother while we go out." He vanished, leaving Kira to punch the power button on her stereo and moodily drag herself into the living room. The closing of the front door signalled the escape of her parents. Sighing, she scooped the screaming baby up.

"Why are stars falling, otouto-baka?" She cooed, cradling the infant gently. Slowly the screaming faded to sobbing, the sobbing to whimpers, and the whimpers to silence. Peace at last.

"Kane." She purred, cuddling her baby brother. He giggled as she pulled a face at him, and she set him down in his cot gently.

"Time to go to sleep little one." She whispered.

The doorbell was the last thing she'd expected. Muting the TV, she glanced at Kane who was still soundly sleeping and moved to open it. Ryuichi's dark eyes peered back at her.

"Kira-chan!" he squealed excitedly.

"No one's around, I've got a splitting headache and Kane's asleep, so shut up."

Ryuichi shrugged.

"Someone might have been here."

Rolling her eyes, Kira opened the door to allow him in. Making her way back into the living room, she discovered that her brother had slept through Ryuichi's arrival.

"Where is everyone?" Ryuichi sat beside her on the sofa.

"Out." She said bitterly. "They couldn't get him to shut up, so they left me here to baby-sit."

"I thought you were going to talk to them?"

"It lasted all of fifteen minutes."

"Oh."

Silence reigned.

"Tea?" She asked eventually.

"No thanks."

"Coffee?"

"No, I'm fine."

"Ok."

"What about you Kira?"

"Hmm?" She glanced at him.

"How are you holding up in all this?"

She shrugged.

"You know. I'm coping."

Ryuichi nodded and patted her arm gently, his arms narrowing as she winced slightly. Seizing hold of her wrist, he peeled her sleeve back. He inhaled deeply as the gashes on her arm came into plain view.

"Kira…"

She pulled her arm from his grip and rolled her sleeve back down.

"It's nothing." She murmured.

"Nothing!? You're carving yourself up and it's nothing!?"

She curled up, pulling her knees to her chest.

"It's nothing…"

"Kira… I only want to help you."

She turned to face him, tears pooling in her eyes.

"Don't think anyone can help me now. I just don't want the same thing to happen to him."

They both glanced at Kane, sleeping peacefully and unaware of the two people beside him.

"It won't."

"But you don't know that…"

He curled his fingers under her chin, turning her head to look at him.

"No. I don't. You do."

She raised her eyes once more. His were gentle, and full of emotions. Sadness, anger and frustration all swam in those dark depths. She managed a weak smile.

"Yes." She whispered. "It'll all be fine."

"It will be. Want a hug?"

"Love one…"

Burying herself in his arms, she inhaled the scent that was Ryuichi. She could feel her eyes closing. She was glad he was here.