Chapter 21 – A Broken Celebration

Mina gleamed at the house, as she stepped outside of the car. She looked at the house, "Yay! I'm back!" She smiled. She missed being with Shigure and the others so much… and now she was finally back!

"Mina!" Tohru shouted as she ran out of the house.

"Tohru!" Mina called back. They ran into each other and locked into a big hug.

"I'm so happy you're back!" Tohru told her.

"Me too… I missed you guys." Mina smiled.

They saw Shigure poke his head out of the doorway, "Is my angel back?" He murmured.

"Yes." Mina smiled, she ran over to Shigure and gave him a hug, "I missed you, Shi!"

"I missed you too, I was wondering if you were ever coming back." He smiled.

"Hey, I'm back aren't I?" She smiled.

They heard footsteps descending from the stairs, Kyo appeared and said, "You're back!"

"Yup!" Mina beamed, "This was the hardest week at school, I felt so weird!"

"Me too," He smiled at her. They locked into a hug, "I'm so happy you're back."

"Where's Yuki?" Mina looked around.

"He's at the school, he had work to do but he really did want to be here." Tohru told her.

"Oh, that's okay." Mina smiled.

"We have a surprise for you…" Tohru smiled and then looked toward the house, Kanako and Makono came emerging out of the house.

"Mina!" Makono yelled while spreading her arms high up in the air.

"You're back again!" Kanako yelled. They both came towards her and started hugging her.

"Kono, Kana!" Mina smiled.

"I've made lunch, let's eat." Tohru smiled.

Mina took a bite of the soumen and smiled, "It's delicious Tohru, I love it!"

"Thanks."

For the rest of the weekend, Mina stayed at home and kissed the ground while hanging out with everyone else. Kanako and Makono stayed the night and all three of them hung out together. On Monday at school, Mina looked much happier and everyone noticed it, including Hana and Uo. At lunch, they both called her outside.

"Hey, you were in tears last week and now you're all chipper again. What's been going on?" Uo asked, Hana nodded her head in agreement behind her.

"Your electric signals are back to normal. They were very odd last week."Hana noted.

"Well… if I tell you, you promise not to kill Kyo later in class?" Mina said.

"I knew it, it is about orange top!" Uo yelled as she made her hand into a fist.

After Mina had told them mostly everything, Uo and Hana just stood there staring at each other.

"I'm gonna… kill him!" Uo said, she stomped off, she was followed by Hana.

"But Uo! He's all better now!" Mina reached out her hand, but she knew it wouldn't do any good.

Haru walked out of the building that Uo and Hana ran into. He looked back at the two girls and then at Mina, a soft look was on his face as he walked up to her.

"What's up with them?" He asked her as he sat down next to her.

Mina had her face buried in her hands by this point, "I told Uo and Hana what happened between Kyo and I and now Uo's going to kill him!" Mina cried.

"Don't worry, I think Kyo can handle it, don't worry too much." He smiled as he took her hands off of her face.

Mina looked up at him and smiled, "Thanks." She continued to look at him, "You know, we haven't spent time alone together in a long time." Mina said.

"Yeah, you're right. That doesn't count the resort a couple of days ago because Momiji was with us…" Haru turned around as in thought, "We should set up something soon…"

"How about after school? Do you wanna hang out… it could be at Shigure's house or at the park…"

"That sounds good," He smiled. He leaned in for a kiss, just when that happened, the bell rang.

She smiled, "Let's get to class…"

They held hands and walked to class, talking softly to each other. They sat in their seats and prepared for the rest of boring school. Neither of them could wait until the end of school. When the bell rang, Haru and Mina walked to the park. They sat down under a tree and Mina took out some rice balls she had saved from lunch.

She offered one to Haru, "Here." She handed him the rice ball.

"Thanks." He took it.

"Well," Mina said as she started to blush, "Our 5th month anniversary is next month."

"Yeah, it is. Where do you want to go for our anniversary?" He asked her.

"Hm… I dunno. Since it's getting hot out, why don't we go to a water park or something?" She suggested.

"Alright." Haru said.

After they finished their rice balls, they kissed and walked around the park together.

"Hey, can you push me on the swing?" Mina asked him as she looked to the swing.

"Sure." He answered.

Mina ran up to the swing set and got on and started to swing. Haru stood behind her and pushed her. While they were swinging and talking, they saw Kisa and Hiro come up.

"Hey, Kisa! Hiro!" Mina shouted. She jumped down from the swing as she ran up to them.

"Hi, Mina." Kisa smiled, "Hiro and I sometimes come here after school but today we stayed home a while before waiting."

"Really?" Mina asked, "I'm here with Haru." Mina turned to Haru who was now walking towards them.

"Hey Hiro." Mina repeated and smiled.

"Hello…" He turned his head.

"I'm sorry… he's still shy around you." Kisa smiled and blushed.

"That's alright, he'll warm up to me someday…" Mina smiled.

They all decided to hang out until sunset. They all said goodbye and went their separate ways. Mina walked home with a smile.

Well, Haru and I planned our outing for our 5th anniversary and we got to see Kisa and Hiro… it's been a good day. Now, all I have to worry about is planning for mother's death day celebration.

About a week passed and Mina and Kyo's mother's death day celebration had finally come.

Mina woke up and looked around, she sighed, Mother… I just hope that Kyo will attend. She got up and dressed up in her fanciest black dress that she owned. It was a black frilly dress with a corset over it, it extended out and it was barely inches off of the floor. She decided to wear her lace-tied suede black boots with it. She put a single crimson rose in her hair and on her wristband for her wrist and put on a little bit of make up including putting crimson red nail polish on her nails and a soft rose-colored lipstick that complimented her skin tone. To complete the whole outfit, she grabbed a black parasol with red frills around the edges.

She walked out of her room and saw Tohru, Yuki and Shigure up at the breakfast table.

"Whoa…" Shigure and Yuki said in unison once they set eyes on Mina's attire.

"Wow…" Tohru said, she ran up and hugged Mina, "You look so beautiful and I love your clothes!" She squealed.

"Thanks Tohru," Mina smiled and closed her eyes as she put her arms around Tohru.

"Ah Mina, you always dress to impress. Your outfit is very beautiful, if Aaya was here, he'd certainly have a field day…" Shigure said, he got up, "In fact, I think I'll call him over right now…"

Yuki grabbed Shigure's wrist, "If you call him over, I will kill you…" Yuki glared at him.

"Fine!" Shigure said, "But I'm going to see him sooner or later."

"When are we leaving again?" Yuki asked.

"Noon," Mina told him, she looked around, "Where is my brother?"

"Dunno…" Shigure shook his head. Mina turned to Tohru and Yuki but they also shook their heads.

"Oh, I see." Mina walked out, "I'll look for him."

Mina looked around the forest, the porch, around the house, There's only one more place… She looked up at the roof. But how am I supposed to get up there in this outfit??

Mina decided to risk it, "If it gets ripped, I can ask Ayame to sew it back up. Kyo is more important then any outfit I own!" She told herself.

A couple of minutes later, she managed to climb the ladder. When she got up, she found Kyo sleeping on the roof.

She smiled, "He looks so peaceful…" She told herself.

He opened one eye, "I was peaceful." He mumbled.

"Brother!" She shouted, she blushed.

He sat up, "You look really pretty today, sister." He said.

"Please… won't you come with us?" Mina asked him.

"I already told you I wouldn't." A bit of stubbornness came out of his voice, he looked off.

"But, I don't understand why…" Mina said.

"Because I don't belong there!" Kyo yelled at the top of his lungs.

Mina winced and looked into his eyes for a second, she finally decided that no matter how she begged or pleaded he wouldn't go. She climbed down the ladder and ran into the house.

Ten minutes later, Shigure came in, "Mina, are you ready to leave?"

Mina sat up and took a deep breath, "Yes." She replied.

Shigure helped her up and they all walked to the funeral home. When they arrived, they found Haru, Uo and Hana already there.

Mina could have sworn that she heard Uo mumble, 'Whoa…' under her breath.

"Wow, we're finally here…" Mina sighed to herself as she looked up at the main gate.

Haru came over and hugged her, "You're beautiful," He mumbled in her ear.

"Thanks," She mumbled back. She turned around, "Thank you guys for being here with me."

"No problem girl," Uo winked.

"Yes, it's an honor." Hana smiled, "I'm going to be borrowing that outfit by the way…"

Mina gave her a look, "… Okay…"

They all walked to the grave and set their things down. They had made food for this occasion. They all stood behind Mina, she stood directly in front of her mother's grave. She bowed her head down. Tears ran down her cheeks as she said a silent prayer. She touched her mother's grave and took one of the roses from her corset and placed it on the grave. She picked up a bouquet of red roses and put them in the flower holder.

She turned around and wiped the tears from your eyes, "I'm sorry, I promised myself I wouldn't cry."

Tohru walked up, "Of course you would cry, good or bad she was your mother. We all need a motherly figure in our lives to help us endure our first steps, to care for us and to teach us all that they can. I can see that you obviously love your mother." Tohru hugged Mina.

Mina started to cry, "I know… I hate to think that she died because of Kyo and I know that she didn't like Kyo because he was cursed but I still loved her."

"There there…" Tohru mumbled.

"Come on girl. We need to have fun." Uo smiled, "I'm sure your mother wouldn't want you to cry like this, whoever she was."

Mina looked up and smiled. She nodded her head as she wiped away her tears.

Shigure came up and stood in front of the grave, "Thank you for bringing up Mina, thanks to her I am happy. She is one of the best housewives a man could ever ask for! Even though I love Tohru, I love Mina too and when Tohru isn't there, Mina is! And whenever I can, I always can picture my lovely Mina in her maid's uniform. Yay!"

"Eh…" Mina had a baffled look on her face.

"Pervert." Haru mumbled under his breath.

Yuki hit him on the head, "Stop acting like such an old man." He said.

"Let's eat!" Tohru said. She sat down and took out the food, everybody crowded around her for some food.

While everybody was preoccupied with their meal, Mina took out incense and lit it on her mother's grave. She then went to Tohru for some food.

"This is yummy, thanks Tohru." Mina smiled as she chewed her food.

"You're welcome." Tohru smiled back.

They all hung out and talked around the grave, occasionally glancing at the grave. They had a good time, but the all while Mina was still wondering why Kyo didn't come. She really wanted him to, it didn't feel right with just her alone. At that moment, she felt like an only child.

She wasn't just my mother, she was his as well…

Even so, she still laughed and smiled, for her mother's and everyone else's sake.

When they were about to leave the grave, Mina turned to Haru, Uo and Hana, "Thank you guys so much for coming, I'm honored that you wanted to meet my mother."

"No prob, we had to meet you and Kyo Kyo's mother!" Uo smiled as Hana smiled too.

Mina smiled, "Yeah."

"I just wanted to meet your mother, and I wanted to be with you also." Haru wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Thanks." She smiled and blushed as she touched his arm with her hand.

"Closing time, come on kiddies!" Shigure smiled as he waved.

"Bye!" Tohru and Mina shouted to the three.

"Bye girl!" Uo shouted.

"See you tomorrow." Haru called.

"Until tomorrow then," Hana called.

As they were walking home, Mina wondered why Kazuma and Masako never showed up. When they got home, Mina was on a mission to find Kyo. She had to talk to him about this whole thing. She had to or it would forever churn in her stomach and never leave.

She first looked on the roof and then went to his room, she found him on his bed, her eyes softened, "Brother…" She stood in the doorway.

"What?" He snapped, "I know what you're going to ask me. I just didn't want to go alright?"

Mina walked over to him and sat down on the bed, "It's more than that, I know it. There has to be more than that." She looked down at him.

Kyo rolled over on his side so that his back was facing her. She leaned over and lay down on his side, "Please don't keep it from me. I have the right to know!"

"I-I couldn't face her, after what I did…"

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"She killed herself because of me…"

Mina sighed, "Brother, that's not true. Akito has been drilling that into your head—"

"No! It is true! She couldn't bear the fact that her son was cursed!" He yelled, "How could I ever face her after what I did to her. I wouldn't feel comfortable. I couldn't do it. I caused her so much pain, she would only frown on me if I went with you guys."

Mina started to cry, "It wasn't your fault brother! It wasn't your fault! Our mother would never frown on you. Trust me."

Kyo held her until she fell asleep, he put her in her room and decided to go to the kitchen for some water. When he got there, he found Tohru in the kitchen making a snack for her.

She turned around, "Oh Kyo! Do you want something to eat?" She asked him.

"No, I just came in for some water." He went to the cabinet and then the fridge.

"Kyo… about today…"

"I don't want to talk about it. Stay out of my business…" He said darkly and then walked out. He went back into his room and set the empty cup on his desk. He went out on the balcony and started to day-dream.

Mina, I'm so sorry. I wish I was stronger, so I could protect you, make you happy.

"One day…" He said a loud as he looked up at the moon.