A/N: Sorry I hadn't posted for the last couple of days this installment, but I was in a bad mood after work the past couple of days and I felt, despite the heart-wrenching nature of the story, it also has some uplifting bits as well and so I didn't want to post it while in that type of mood.

I wrote this one because over the years I've lost 3 cats. And even though, due to various reasons for their passings I knew the immediate answer. I was left with the greater question that's also in the installment below.

I still don't have an answer philosophically for the latter 2. The first one was natural causes.

Though I do wish to disclose that the passings of the other two are related in here. One by changing the cause of the death. The other was the time of the death. I'll let you read and then explain more later.

"Why?"
Charles/Nanako/Chie
September 25, 2011

Dojima Residence

Charles was walking home from the bus stop after having left the Amagi Inn, happier that he had been able to patch up with Yukiko…and patch up he had. HE and she had spent…several long whiles together. After that and a heart-to-heart talk with her, Charles felt that things would only go upward and onward in their relationship.

His happiness turned to immediate concern when he had heard Nanako crying. Charles ran up the way and saw her in the garden…

And his face turned to horror at what he saw.

Nanako was kneeling over the striped female cat Sukauto.

And Sukauto looked very sick.

"Nanako-chan! What happened?!" Charles said.

"Big bro…Suka-chan…she's sick…"

"Did you call your dad or Yu?"

"I got home just before you did…about a few minutes ago…" Charles knew Nanako was at Mai-chan's, like she usually was most Sundays.

"You found Suka-chan like this?" Sukauto looked like she had a hard time breathing and Charles thought she was needing water.

"Uh-huh…" Nanako said.

Charles took a look at the garden. It looked like Sukauto had gotten into it…The Tiny Soul Tomatoes still looked green and a few were eaten.

Charles got his phone out and called Ryotaro.

Charles heard a scream from Sukauto while he was talking to Ryotaro. "Nanako, don't touch her!" Charles said with worry.

"I'm sorry…I wanted to comfort her…pet her…" Nanako said, crying. "Don't be mad at me, Big Bro…"

Charles felt terrible for what Nanako and Sukauto were each going through. "It's okay, Nanako-chan…it's just that she's in a lot of pain…" Then he spoke to Ryotaro, "Yeah, Ryo, thanks, I will." He gave the phone to Nanako, "Your Dad wants to talk to you, but he's not mad either…He's worried about you and Suka-chan…"

"Mos-Moshi Moshi?" Nanako said. Charles went to get the cat carrier Ryotaro had bought just in case Sukauto or one of the other stray cats had gotten sick.

"Nanako, your Big Bro Charles is going to take Sukauto and you to the vet that's around the corner and up the street. Do everything he says."

"ok…" Nanako said in a small voice.

"Nanako…You have to promise me something…You have to promise me that you're not going to cry…"

"I-I promise…" Nanako said.

"You're a brave girl, Nanako," Ryotaro said. "You've always made me proud with how brave you can be…please be brave…"

"I will, Dad…" Nanako said.

Charles came back. "Ryo, I have the carrier…I'm going now and I've locked up the house…Yeah, I think Yu is with Yosuke, so I'll call them…Ok…if you want to handle it then okay…I'll see you there…"

Charles said good bye and put the carrier down. "Nanako…Please don't cry…Suka-chan's gonna scream real loud when I put her in here…So please don't cry…"

"I-I won't, Big Bro…"

Charles nodded and braced himself. Sukauto still could have enough strength to claw or bite and Charles was not sure that rabies was not playing a part in this.

He gingerly touched Sukauto and to his surprise she didn't respond past a whimper. That made Charles's heart sink further.

"Why…Why didn't she scream when you touched her, Big Bro?" Shit! Trust Nanako to ask that question, he thought as he secured the carrier.

"She's gotten sicker…Not because of when you touched her…" He said quickly when her face started to fall. It's just due to the passage of time. She's getting sicker…"

"Why?" Nanako asked. "I thought plants were good for cats…"

"Some aren't…" Charles replied. "But we're wasting time…We need to get her to the vet as soon as possible."

"Okay…" Nanako said.

Charles and Nanako walked as briskly as they could without harming Sukauto to the Vet.

Takeda Veterinary Hospital

"Why is it taking so long, Big Bro?" Nanako said. It had been 20 minutes since they brought Sukauto in. She had been taken into an examining room and no one had come out yet.

"I don't know, Nanako-chan…" Charles replied softly. Nanako wasn't crying at least, but Charles understood she was trying to be brave.

Finally, Charles heard someone come about to come out. "Doctor? What news?"

"News?" Charles heard Chie's voice say. He slightly stiffened because she had never replied to any of his texts the day before.

Chie was walking out in her usual green tank top over yellow shirt and her blue shorts. However, she was wearing yellow flip-flops.

Unfortunately that was the last thing he saw before he was on the ground and felt a lead weight on his chest licking him.

"Kunichiwa, Kenta-chan…" he said. Kenta barked happily and licked Charles.

"Muku! Get off of Charles, he greeted you…" The dog whimpered as he got off. Charles chuckled and pet him.

"Are you doing well, Charles-san?" Chie said with a cool formality. She was still stung by the cold, cruel, heartless bitch comment, no doubt.

"Indeed, Chie-san…" Charles replied with the same formality. He WANTED to apologize…but he was afraid it would look trite and fake.

"Are you two fighting?" Nanako asked.

Both teenagers looked at Nanako with worried expressions. "No…" Charles said.

"This isn't one of your training sessions…" Nanako grumbled.

Charles looked at Chie and mouthed, Truce?

Chie looked at Charles before saying, "No, Nanako-chan…Chuck and I weren't fighting…We just had a spirited disagreement yesterday."

"Very spirited…" Charles agreed.

"Two friends who care about each other and a mutual friend sometimes has spirited disagreements…" Chie said.

Nanako looked at the both of them. "You two were fighting…"

"Nanako-chan…I think Chie's and my disagreement is not something you should worry too much about…"

"Whatever…" Nanako said.

"Why are you here?" Chie said in a politer tone than before.

"Suka-chan is sick…" Nanako said.

"Suka-chan?" Chie asked.

"The gray-striped tabby…" Charles whispered.

"Oh…her! I didn't know you named her, Nanako-chan…"

"Yes, she gave names to a lot of them, except for an all-black one that Yu named 'Shadow'," Charles said.

"Figures..." Chie said.

Nanako was just petting Kenta/Muku, who had come over and wanted to comfort her anyway he could.

"Nanako-chan? Could I speak to your Big Bro for a moment…No fighting, I swear…"

"…" Nanako said.

"Muku! Make sure Nanako stays safe…"

"WOOF!" Muku said, taking his duty seriously.

Satisfied, Chie took Charles aside out of Nanako's earshot and murmured, "How bad is it…?"

"Not good…Sukauto had started nibbling on the tomatoes Yu and Nanako were growing while they were still green…"

"That's bad, isn't it?"

"Yeah…add to that a few of the vines were also showing some teeth marks."

"You think she wanted to chomp down on those…?"

"Yeah…"

Chie looked at Nanako. "She looks like she's gonna pop any moment…"

"She's trying to be brave…She promised Ryo…"

"That's not going to last," Chie replied.

"Don't I know it," Charles said. Then, after a pause, Charles said, "Chie, about yesterday…"

She put out both her hands in a "Stop" gesture at waist level. "We're…good here for the moment…I don't want to discuss it…"

Charles wanted to argue with her. Wanted to tell her that she wasn't what he called her.

But the firm look in her eyes were pointed. Nanako needed him and he needed to focus on that. "Was Kenta here for a checkup?"

"Yeah…and it's Muku again…He'll respond to both in the transition as we're kind of taking a Pavlovian approach to it…"

"How did you get your siblings to agree to that?"

"Yukiko was so pissed at you she told me there was no reason for me to have the compromise…I guess Chosokabe is off her list.

"For a while. I just think she'd lost her faith in heroes…"

Someone came out and said, "Charles?"

"Yes, Doctor?" Charles said.

"You brought a tabby in?" The doctor said, all business.

"Yes, Sukauto…what's the prognosis?" Charles asked.

"For starters, I want to know why you have an open garden?" The doctor said icily.

Charles looked at the doctor like he just implied something unsavory about Charles. "Excuse me?"

"This cat has shown high levels of Solanine which is consistent with several days of consumption of the tomato vine. Were you deliberately feeding it to the cat or were you careless?"

"The cats we have are strays but they've generally shied away from the garden. They're afraid of Nanako-chan's elephant watering can…"

"I'm glad you think this is funny…"

At that moment, Charles's face darkened. "Doctor…you have 5 seconds to change your tone before I MAKE you change it."

The Doctor put his face six inches from Charles's. "I don't like cruelty to animals…"

"And I am the LAST guy you're ever gonna make the mistake of accusing of that."

"WHY ARE YOU FIGHTING WITH BIG BRO?!" Nanako asked. "HE'S DONE NOTHING WRONG!"

The doctor looked at Nanako in shock, and then shame. "Forgive me…I had thought that he was careless and got Suka-chan hurt…"

"He would never hurt Suka-chan…" Nanako said.

"No… he wouldn't…" Chie said.

Charles relaxed. He knew the doctor really cared about animals.

"Can I see Suka-chan with you for a moment, Doctor? Please?" Charles said.

"What about me, Big Bro?"

"I just want to see if she'll react to me…I don't want you to go in there if she doesn't know you're there…"

"ok…" Nanako said.

"Nanako-chan…" Chie said. "Why don't I show you some pictures of Muku when he was younger?"

Charles looked to the doctor. The doctor said, "Please follow me."

Charles followed the doctor and had to resist the urge to cry when he saw Sukauto. She had a respirator mask over er and had IVs attached to her paws.

"As you can see…it's not good…" The doctor said. "I wish to apologize for…"

Charles didn't look back to the doctor. "No need to apologize…you care deeply for animals…just like I do...But I'm here to ask…how she could have had several…"

"Somehow she was introduced to the plant. Ripened tomatoes are not harmful and small quantities of the plant when ingested usually are not this toxic.

Charles nodded. Something was bothering him. How could Sukauto have been introduced to the vine and plant…Hell, the tomato itself?

"But I meant what I said before, Sukauto and the other strays WERE afraid of that watering can…so I don't know what changed. WHY she started approaching the garden."

"Sometimes cats patterns change on their own without explanation…but other times…an outside force acts upon those patterns as interference…" The doctor explained.

Charles mulled that over as he looked at Sukauto. "She's not going to make it, is she?"

"No…" The vet said. "We've made her as comfortable as possible…But we're going to have to euthanize her."

"Are you asking for consent? Because it's Detective Dojima…"

"We already called him…He said it was your call…"

"If I say no, despite the painkillers….Suka-chan will suffer…" It wasn't a question.

"I'm afraid you're right," the doctor replied.

Charles thought about it some more.

What do I tell Nanako? She's upset as it is. In fact, she's been acting so upset and quiet, almost as if she felt guil-

That's when the answer stabbed at him.

And then that's when the monitors Sukauto was hooked up to started to beep rapidly.

"She's starting to crash!" the vet said.

The vet started working on Sukauto. Charles just ran his fingers in a cross shape and prayed for Sukauto's soul.

Shortly...

Chie started to wonder why Charles and the vet hadn't come back out. It had been over 20 minutes.

Yu and Yosuke had managed to show up and tried to comfort Nanako as best they could. Ryotaro wasn't able to be there after a last-minute mistake by Adachi would delay him for another hour.

Finally, Charles walked out. He looked like he had been crying.

"Big Bro?" Nanako said, sounding afraid. "What happened? Where's Suka-chan?"

Yukiko had just showed up as well. She had known through the bond what Charles knew…what he was going through.

"Suka-chan…Suka-chan's with your Mom now…" Charles said, trying to be positive.

When Nanako heard that, she could not believe it. "No, Big Bro... You're wrong!"

"I'm not...I'm sorry, Nanako-chan..."

"Why?" Nanako asked. Tears were starting to fall from her face. "Why, Big Bro? Why?"

"Nanako-chan… She…"

"There has to be a reason why, Big Bro! She couldn't have just been sick and died…there had to be a reason. A reason why. Why?"

And Charles looked at his friends. Charles could have explained to Nanako that it was God's Will or Plan. He could have explained that it wasn't even God. It was fate, or chance, or bad luck. He could have explained the science behind it. That Sukauto died because she had too much toxin in her bloodstream.

He could have explained that it was Sukauto's destiny to live the life she did and pass away like she did…just to fulfill her purpose in life.

Or Charles could have told Nanako the truth…or the truth as he believed it…

Nanako had asked earlier "I thought plants were good for cats…" which made Charles believe that Nanako had fed Sukauto the plants and tomatoes and Sukauto grew a palate for them. Nanako had mentioned several weeks back that she had learned cats liked tomatoes on TV. It was probably just mentioned in passing…not an entire program devoted to that subject. Add to that, Yu had starting from about that time planted Tiny Soul Tomatoes, Crack Wheat, Return Daikon, Tiny Soul Tomatoes and Tiny Soul Tomatoes in that order.

But he wasn't 100% sure. And none of the other answers would have been comforting to Nanako.

"Why?" Nanako asked again.

"I don't know…" Charles replied.

And then Nanako started to cry and Charles hugged her and cried too.

Dojima Residence

Sukauto's remains had been cremated as per Dojima's request. However, despite the fact that she was never adopted, Ryotaro, Yu, and Charles created a memorial for her at the Family Shrine, to the left of Chisato's memorial. Ryotaro had clenched his jaw part of the time, having not been there since Mother's day. However, he managed to get through the creation of the memorial.

There had then been a small memorial ceremony for Sukauto. Nanako, Charles, and the girls cried. Kanji tried not to. Adachi was rolling his eyes but then Ryotaro cuffed him upside the head. Teddie was trying to comfort Nanako.

Ryotaro, Yu, and Charles had each said a few words about Sukauto. About how she was a feisty, yet loving cat. How she loved to explore. How she had sometimes abused Charles by clawing at his feet and made demands of him. (In fact, since Charles was telling it, Adachi wondered aloud if Charles was eulogizing the cat or himself, which caused Yukiko to laugh.)

Then Nanako had spoken about how Sukauto had a few months before been close to the end of her kittenhood. How she and Charles had rescued her from the April rains. How she loved Nanako and her Dad and Her Big Bros…even though she seemed to love Big Bro Yu a little more.

But then Nanako wondered again "Why? Why did she die?"

No one answered.

Then Nanako said, "Then James told me…"

Everyone looked at James. He shrugged.

"James said that My Mommy was lonely in heaven and had wanted a kitty-cat very badly. And she was very sad because she couldn't have one…So God wanted to make Mom happy by letting Sukauto go to Heaven to be with her. I asked him though, why would God want Suka-chan to be hurt? Why did it have to be Suka-chan…? And James said, 'God didn't want to hurt Suka-chan or you… He wanted your Mother to be happy…but Suka-chan was reluctant…she wanted to stay with you…but when Suka-chan realized it was so she could keep your mum company…Suka-chan did not hesitate…because she knew you would have wanted your Mum to be happy…'" So I hope Suka-chan is happy with Mom."

After that, the Memorial ended. Charles was standing there with Chie.

"I'm glad Nanako-chan is doing better…Thanks to James…God, did I just say that?"

"Why?" Charles asked.

"Um…I think that was answered by James, Chuck."

"No, Chie. I mean, why…Why have I never gotten an answer like the one Nanako did…flawed as it is…"

Chie shrugged. "It's what Nanako-chan would have wanted to hear."

"When I was Nanako-chan's age…A cat died on me too…He was fine for the first couple of years…then he got sick off and on for the next four. He died on Easter Sunday. I remember Mom and Dad…Telling me. 'It was God's will.' I remembered how upset I was. I wondered why God would make such a sweet animal suffer. I still can't accept that answer…"

Chie looked at Charles. "Chuck…Everyone will go through what Nanako-chan does. Questioning why. Muku's fine now, but in a few years he may pass away due to old age, or he could die tomorrow because he decides he wants to take on a car…"

"Somehow in that, I think the car would lose…" Charles said, trying to lighten the moment.

Chie snickered. "No doubt…But the fact of the matter is…Human or Animal…we're always going to ask why a loved one died. I think most people can accept old age as the reason for the loss, though that's not absolute. The problem is…we may NEVER receive an answer…"

"So we just have to take what we can get and move on as best we can while still honoring their memory…"

"Yes…" Chie said.

Charles and Chie stood there looking at the memorial.

"Did you ever ask…?"

"No, I knew why…because you were playing a stupid risk." She said, referring to when he took the risk in Mayonaka against the Snake.

"No you didn't…Not until I explained it after the antidote kicked in."

"I think one of the others asked why, but I didn't…"

Charles didn't respond to that. Instead he just said, "Good Journey, Suka-chan…"

"Chuck…Was this really about Sukauto and that cat you lost years ago…or about Siobhan and your Mom?"

Charles just walked away and said, "If it was…I don't have an answer to the question…"

Charles went inside the house. Chie soon followed.

Never knowing that a warmth was being carried from both Chisato's and Sukauto's Memorials…

"Sukauto" is the Japanes name for "Scout"...Who is a cat of mine who is beary much alive. I based the story around two cats. One was an orange tabby my younger brother dubbed "Chubbs" Chubbs had passed away because he was a stary that we let inside our home, but he wanted to go outside a lot. After nearly 3 years, I let him go outside and didn't see him for 2 days. When he came back, he was hurting and looked like he was in a fight. Turned out he had had smelled some antifreeze somewhere in the neighborhood and because of the sweet smell, drank it. Sukauto was most inspired by Chubbs's experience. Not only because he had been screaming in pain when I tried to comfort him, but also the eulogy. (For the record, Adachi's question was actually asked by my Dad, but not in the same way as Adachi asked.) With Chibbs, I had been left with the question as to why he died and also felt guilty for a while because I had let him out. Not that I was blamed for it mind you...just filled with regret. I decided to use that feeling for Nanako because despite Nanako being a smart 6/7 year old in the game, she would still make an honest mistake.

The other cat that passed away on Easter was named Shadow (I decided to use it on a different cat in the story, just because Yu has the odd sense of humor and so would totally call an all-black cat Shadow. After all...I may have been inspired by a little game called Persona 3 FES that I was playing at the time when I named him. :D) But Shadow didn't pass away when I was younger...He passed away on Easter of this year. It was the case for him that he was sick for four years and I was left feeling, "Why would a nice cat like him have so many health problems? Why?" I still don't have an answer to that.

I probably will never will for those 2. The first cat who passed away, Lucky...He died because he was an old cat. I'll never have to ask why.

Still, I hope you liked this story and hope that again, despite the sadness, it was also uplifting.