ALLY'S POV

'Finally, school's over for today. Now, time to get ready for work! I feel so accomplished for having found a job so soon! Tohru really is nice, just as Momiji said…speaking of which, Momiji's family must be really rich if his dad can own that huge building!'

As I reached the tree near the front gate of the school, otherwise known as mine and Tohru's "meeting spot", I patiently waited for Tohru to come. Standing still, I began looking up at the sky, hands crossed behind my back.

'Wow …I feel so small…This is really nice…Just how long has it been since the last time I've actually looked at the sky?...'

"Ally-chan…? What are you looking at…?" The ever-so innocent Tohru questioned curiously from beside me.

"Ah, nothing much. Just the sky. It's so beautiful...It's also in a sense very comforting to see that all of our troubles in life can't compare to the vastness of space." I paused before adding thoughtfully, "Before, I used to live in a city where the smog was so thick from machines, that you couldn't even see the sky…I guess I sort of realized just now why I used to feel so suffocated and overwhelmed all the time back then….it was because I forgot how trivial and insignificant things can really be and that sometimes…sometimes you need to let yourself breathe."

Looking back at her I saw that her gaze drifted upwards toward the big, blue vast of space, "You're right. The sky...It's so big!"

"Mmm…yeah…" I agreed as we kept staring, my eyes wandering.

"TOHRUUU-CHAAANNN! Guten tag*! How have you been?! You're going to work, right?" The little German boy came from literally no where.

'Oh thanks so much for noticing that I'm here too, Momiji…' I thought to myself annoyed.

Her eyes widened a bit in surprise before she closed her eyes smiling kindly, "Everything's been great, Momiji! And yes, I'm going to work. Although, Ally-chan and I should be leaving soon though…"

"Hai! You're right, Tohru-senpai!" I said hurriedly, hooking my arm around hers before starting to drag her. Looking back I waved over my shoulder, "T'was nice seeing you again, Momiji-kun!"

"Huh? Wait! I wanna come to work with you guys! Remember, I told you I would come earlier today, Tohru-chan!" He exclaimed quickly catching up with us.

"EH?!" Tohru began to apologize, "Gomenasai! I completely forgot that you had said that...I'm so sorry!"

He giggled, "It's alright! This is going to be so much fun!"

"Ah, um…yes..?" Tohru let out a bit confused.

I groaned internally 'Great…now I'm just going to be the third wheel at work...'

A few hours later

It was now dark outside and I was continuing on cleaning the windows on the other side of the building from where Momiji and Tohru were.

Spraying more cleaning solution on the window in front of me I began thinking to myself. 'Hmm… it's almost time to leave work. I just have to finish up this last window. I wonder if Tohru's finished already…I bet she's had a lot of help from Momiji but they could still be moving things around…'

Looking back at the window, I found that it was clean and spotless. I then began walking in the opposite direction to return the cleaning supplies, and also to check if Momiji and Tohru were still in the building.

"So Momo, what would you like for dinner tonight?" A smooth, accented voice came from behind me.

"A-ano… maybe some Okonomiyaki? I had it at a friend's house one time… I thought it was really tasty…Will you be able to make it, Mutti* p-please?" A little girl replied, stumbling over her words a bit.

Stopping, I turned around to see a tall, beautiful woman with sunflower gold hair and dark green eyes. She wore her hair up in an elegant bun that showed off her white creamy skin along with some pearl earrings and a light shade of red lipstick. Looking down, I realized she was holding her daughter's small hand, who very much resembled her mother as well. She contained the same blonde shade of hair and skin color, but in addition having large, round chestnut colored eyes.

I continued staring at them in a bit of realization and awe as they continued their conversation, walking past me as I gawked. 'Wow! That must have been Momiji's mother and little sister! He must've been German from his mom's side of the family...They looked so alike…but Momiji looks more like his mother than his sister does, I have to admit…' Coming back to reality, I shook my head around, 'No! Now's not the time for daydreaming! I should tell him that they're here before his family leaves without him!'

Quickly, I nearly ran over to the cleaning supplies closet to put everything I had used away hurriedly. 'I have to hurry and tell him! They're probably expecting him to be home already!' I slammed the door to the closet before running over to the room Momiji and Tohru were in.

I paused, my hand on the handle ready to open the door when I suddenly heard the conversation the two were having making me reconsider if I should really open it or not. I put my ear against the door to listen more closely.

"…then I…disappeared from Mother's memory. Mother recovered quickly, two months later she even started smiling again." Momiji explained to Tohru still in a soft voice, tinged with sadness that was very different from his usual happy tone.

My eyebrows knotted together in confusion. 'Dissapeared from his mother's memory…? What does he mean by that? She doesn't remember him…? She forgot him?! I don't understand a thing…'

He trailed off, "So I guess I saved mother, in a way…"

My eyes softened at that 'Momiji… he must be so sad… He must want his mom to recognize him, but for some reason, she can't do that…she can't remember him… It must be horrible…'

"...but you know there's something I believe," He took a small pause, "I want to try and live my life carrying all my memories with me. And even if those memories are painful, even if they do nothing but hurt me, I want to keep them. Even those memories I sometimes wish I could forget."

I covered my mouth with both hands as I let out a swift gasp while flashes flitted through my mind of father's face, Rika laying helplessly, unconscious, and the accident... Suddenly, tears started dripping from my eyes, on to the newly waxed floor as I bent over trying to keep silent so I could continue to listen.

Momiji continued, "As long as I carry them with me, as long as I can keep holding on, then someday I'll be strong enough that those memories don't hurt me anymore, and I'll be glad that I have them. That's what I believe with all my heart. That's why all my memories are precious to me, I don't think it would be okay to forget a single one. And that's why the truth is I didn't want mother to forget about me, I didn't. What I wanted was for her to hold on, but I guess that was selfish of me..."

Even more tears escaped as I tried to stop, but couldn't as the memories flashed by. 'For a time, all I wanted to do was forget… I wanted to forget everything. I-I even wanted to forget dad. That was the only thing that used to be on my mind since all of the memories were just so painful… I couldn't even stand to think about them. I was scared. I wished and wished for me to be able to forget. I wanted the memories of us together to fade because I wasn't strong enough to face them…'

I began shakily getting up from my position on the floor, standing up straight.

"Let's keep this a secret, okay?" The boy's voice found it's way even through the door, back to it's usual tone. Tohru's muffled crying then became louder, I could even hear her footsteps race over to embrace him, and a sudden popping sound come out of the room.

I rubbed my damp eyes, making sure to get rid of any trace that I was crying, 'Me too. I believe that too, Momiji. Even if they hurt me… and make me sad and cry…maybe…just maybe, one day, if I don't run away, I will finally be able to look back at them and be able to face them head on because all of those memories…' I put my hand on the handle again as I began opening it with a smile, '…They're all so very important and precious to me!'

The door wide open, finally let out some brightness to the room I was in from before as I glanced around the room searching for the two.

My eyes fell upon Tohru as she became flustered, and quite surprised, "ALLY-CHAN?! U-um, what are you doing here?! It's really late… I thought that you'd left already…"

"Ah…well I had to finish up on a few things…" I trailed off before pausing and questioningly slowly, a bit curious, "Um…Tohru-senpai, why are you holding a rabbit?"

"Well, I, ano…" She worried out loud.

I put my hand up stopping her before moving closer, "Never mind. It's fine, you don't need to explain."

I patted the stiff little bunny on the head, gushing, "Awwwe, he's just so cute! Although, I don't know what the manager would say to this… but who really cares, anyway? He'd just have to forgive this little guy!" I giggled dismissively as Tohru nervously smiled in response, still visibly tense.

TRANSLATIONS

*Guten tag! = Good day!

*Mutti = Mother

Thank you everyone for reviewing, I really enjoy reading them...I guess they motivate me to write even more! I would like to give my thanks to Elizabeth Blackrose and SmolderingBlackRose for your constant feedback(although I do appreciate everyones reviews!). Hopefully some of you liked this chapter, seeing as some of Ally's past experiences have been revealed. Sorry, it's been a few days past my last update but I really needed to go outside and socialize for a change... Oh! And I've made some edits of Ally and Rika so you could at least get the gist of what they look like on the link in my profile.

PLEASE REVIEW! Any pointers and criticisms would be much appreciated!