After finding out that she was adopted, Ema had spent a lot of time asking Rintarou about her birth parents. He told her as much as he could, including the days that they died.

Ema had kept those day from her brothers. She wasn't sure how she felt about them, what she would do when those days came to pass. But she was about to find out.

Tomorrow would be the anniversary of her mom's death. Ema was already anxious that night. She couldn't eat and just stirred her food around her plate.

"Is something wrong, Ema?" Ukyo had asked her as she cleaned up the dishes.

"No, I'm okay. I've just got a lot on my mind." She placed the dishes into the dish washer.

Ukyo had come up behind her and placed his hand on her forehead. "Well, at least you aren't sick. Try and rest tonight."

Ema knew they could all tell something was bothering her. She was very thankful that no one decided to push it.

It was late at night now, and she lay in bed wide awake. And stared at the ceiling, her mind wandering over photos that Rintarou had shown her.

They were of her parents, holding her. And then it was just her and her mother. These few photos were all Ema had left of them. And she could feel herself start to cry. She lay there, with silent tears on her face, until she began to see the first light break with the new day.

As quietly as possible, she got dressed and headed out the door. She wasn't sure where she was going, or what she would do. She just knew there was no way she could stay in the house that day. She wanted space from her new family. Space to think and feel freely.

~~~~~~~

Louis POV

Louis woke later than usual. He felt something was off about the day. Something was going to happen. The feeling of anxiety was building in him and his day hadn't even started yet.

A knock on his door jarred him from his thoughts.

"Good morning, Louis." Masaomi said when he opened the door. "Have you seen Ema this morning?"

"I'm just now waking up. What's going on?" Louis rubbed his eyes tiredly.

"I'm not sure. Rintarou called this morning and asked that we keep an eye out for her today. But she wasn't in her room." Louis watched as Masaomi nervously ran a hand through his hair. "I know you spend a lot of time together, so I thought I'd try here."

"Oh, well I haven't seen her but I'll let you know when I do." Louis walked out with Masaomi. "Is today a special day for her?"

"I don't know. Maybe?"

"Hmmm." Was all Louis could say as his thoughts wandered. He decided to stop by Ema's room and check on Juli. A quiet knock, and he called out "Juli?"

He heard him screaming behind the door. He let himself in.

The squirrel had been running around the room in a panic, because everything was knocked off the table.

"Juli? Where's Chii? Is something wrong?" Louis cupped him into his hands.

"Yes somethings wrong! It's the anniversary of her moms death. She took off early this morning and locked me in here! We have to find her and protect her." The squirrel jumped down, but before he could run out the door Louis grabbed him again.

"Juli, you should stay here in case she comes back. I'll go out and look for her okay?" Louis sat him on the bed. He had an idea in mind of where she might have gone. It's where he goes on the anniversary of his parent's death.

If she left that early, then she's been gone for hours. Louis was worried that something might have happened to her. If she was going where he thought, she'd be all the way across town.

He made his way to the door and called to his brothers, "I'm going out."

Ukyo was the only one to say good bye.

He took the time off the walk to think of Ema and how much he cared for her. She must be going through a hard time, it's the first time she's known that she wasn't Rintarou's biological daughter. Louis determined that when he found her, he'd listen to her feelings.

~~~~~~~~

Ema's POV

Ema sat in front of the grave with her mother's name on it. She barely knew this woman, couldn't remember her face, and yet she was sitting her crying her eyes out.

Was it the love of a mother that she was missing so bad? Or just the thought that she could have had a full family had she not died? Ema didn't know why she felt this way, like her feelings were crushing her.

She hugged her shoulders in and just stared at the headstone. It's her mother, she ought to have memories of her. The guilt was eating her alive.

When a hand came down on her shoulder, she jumped. It was just a light touch, but still one that was unexpected. Turning, she saw Louis standing over her.

"Hey Chii, you scared us," his soft voice seemed to ease some of the tense muscles in her back. "Mind if I join you?"

Ema didn't protest, and she watched him gracefully sit beside her. She continued to watch him as he read the grave stone in front of him.

"You know, I visit my parents sometimes too. They're buried a few rows over from here." He leaned his head onto her shoulder.

Ema could feel the emotions getting her again. She was holding back her tears.

"I can't... I can't even remember them. Their faces. Their voices. All I have are a few pictures from Rintarou..." a few tears escaped. How could Louis manage all this pain? He's always so calm. She wondered if he ever felt pain like this. "How does it not eat at you, to know you should be making memories with them?"

Louis lifted his head and looked deep into Ema's eyes. "There was a reason why they had to go. And there's a reason why we ended up with the Asahina's. We were meant to be part of this family." He placed a hand on her cheek. "I don't remember much of my family. And I feel guilty sometimes. But I also know that there was a reason I was brought into Miwa's family. They're my family too."

Ema began to cry again. Louis always had a way with words and bringing out the deeper meaning. He made Ema see a side to things she's never even considered before and she loved that about him.

"Thank you Louis. For always being there for me." She leaned against him.

"You scared me, Chii. I woke up and you were gone. We didn't know where you went, so I asked Juli." Ema felt his hand tighten on hers. "Don't run off on me. If you ever want to talk, I'm right here."

"Okay." She wiped her tears away. "Louis?"

"Hmmm?"

"Where do you go, when you're really sad? A place that makes you feel happy?" She wasn't ready to go home yet, but she didn't want to sit here anymore. She had found some closure in what Louis had said before.

"I like the park, a bench under the trees, where you can hear the birds sing and hi the water run." He stood up and pulled her up beside him. "Are you ready to go?"

Ema nodded and let Louis guide her away. They talked some as they walked, but Ema was glad that Louis let her fall into her thoughts. She didn't have to worry about where she was going, because she could trust him to guide her safely.

They sat on the park bench, Ema leaning on him, with his arm around her shoulders. Before long, they both had fallen asleep. Ema hadn't slept all night, and she was finally at peace.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Louis' POV

When he saw her in the cemetery, she looked really down. She was skinny, and had bags under her eyes like she hadn't slept in days. Louis understood her want to be alone on a day like today, but he also knew that deep down she wanted someone to lean on.

He remembered what it was like for him on his parent's anniversary, and he hated that she was going through the same thing.

He held her as she cried, and did his best to comfort her. He was secretly happy that she had confided her feelings with him. And even happier that she made it clear she wanted him to stay with her today.

As they sat on the bench, he leaned his head on the top of hers. He would never move from this moment if it was possible. All of his love for her was just brimming to the top. He was so comfortable that he fell asleep.

When he woke up, it was nearly dark out, and Ema was still asleep on his shoulder.

"Hey Chii?", he gently rubbed her arm. "It's almost dark, we should go home."

She woke slowly, and he couldn't help but smile at how deeply she had slept. There were red lines on her cheek from her face pressing against the hair trapped under it. He reached out and ran his hand over her cheek.

"You look beautiful like that, when you're all sleepy," he smiled and tucked the hair behind her ear. Louis watched as she blushed and turned her head. At least he could make her smile, he thought. All he ever wanted was her happiness.

She gazed up into his eyes, smiling slightly. Louis couldn't stop himself. He leaned in and placed his forehead against hers. "I love you, Chii," he whispered to her. All the love he felt for her was conveyed through the earnestness of his voice.

He closed his eyes and just breathed in the sweet smell of her vanilla perfume. Before he knew it, Ema had tilted her head up, her lips just centimeters from his. He felt the breath she let loose against him.

She breathed his name out, and it was over for him. He closed the space and kissed her firmly.

Not wanting to confuse her or make her feel guilty, he pulled away quickly. Louis couldn't stop the blush that burned his face.

He watched cautiously to see how she reacted to it. Her eyes were closed, and her mouth slightly open in a gasp of surprise. Slowly she smiled and leaned forward until her face was pressed to his chest.

Louis wrapped his arms around her and brushed his hand down her hair. After all the time he spent watching over her from a far, he could finally do it beside her.

"I love you too," she whispered into his shirt, and Louis squeezed her tighter. "Is it wrong... for me to be so happy and yet so sad? I shouldn't be allowed to feel happiness today, but you make me so happy. I feel so free and like I can be myself no matter what when you're around."

Her voice shook and instinctively Louis placed a kiss to her forehead. Looking into her tear filled eyes, he gave her a smile.

"It's okay to feel both." He stopped hugging her and grabbed both her hands in his. "Your parents would be so proud of you and what you've gone through. They would also be so incredibly happy for you, and all they would want is your happiness. However, it's okay to miss them and to be sad that they aren't here to talk to about these things."

He wiped away the tears that had silently escaped. Comforting her was second nature to him.

"I will always be with you, Chii. If you ever need to talk, I'm here. I'll start by your side." Kissing her small hands, he knew his words were true. "Let's go home." Louis pulled her up and they walked hand in hand back to the house. They stopped and admired some flowers, and played with a stray kitten, Louis doing everything he can to cheer her up.

They were greeted by Masaomi at the door, who told Ema to call Rintarou. While she was out, Louis happily made them hot chocolate.

~~~~~~~

Ema's POV

Ema's heart was racing and she felt guilty for it. Louis had all but promised her that he would be with her forever, and she wanted to scream in joy.

She couldn't forget that her mom had died today. She never knew her but she was crying for the loss of a motherly connection. She never got the chance to experience it, never had a mom to talk about boys with.

She called Rintarou and let him know she okay. She told him where she went, and how Louis was with her the entire time. Her adoptive father didn't sound surprised and this got Ema thinking. Did he know something that she didn't? Why did his voice sound so happy?

"Dad?" She was going to ask him. "Is something going on that I don't know about?" It was unlike Rintarou to be involved in who she was with. Never once had he cared who she spent time with, because he knew she was a good kid.

"Oh nothing, Miwa's been talking with Hikaru. I'm glad you and Louis spent time together today. You really needed a friend."

Ema finished her conversation but continued to be skeptical of his motives. Him and Miwa must be planning something.

She returned to Louis in the kitchen, pouring them cups of hot chocolate.

"Thank you so much," she took her glass. She had reached a level of peace in the last couple of hours. She was still sad and felt like crying, but she was also happy. She followed Louis to his room.

Her heart rate jumped. Ema had never been in Louis' room. To her, it felt like she was about to enter a forbidden area, something sacred to him.

He opened the door and let her in first. His room had dimming curtains, and a dream catcher over the bed. There were hair accessories and tools all over the room, it smelled like shampoo and hair spray. Ema loved it.

They sat on the bed and talked for hours, Ema cried a few times and Louis would hold her. She knew she had found someone to love her and cherish her. She felt herself relaxing and getting tired, and before she knew it she had fallen asleep on his bed, her head is his lap.