A/N: Hey guys its been awhile, sorry about that. Honestly, life is a roller coaster. There was so much going on these past few weeks that I haven't been as motivated to write as I should be. I could give you a super long sob story or I could give you a basic rundown, and I'm sure you just want me to stop talking. So short list it is.

1. I moved again (45 minutes away from where I was living at the time)
2. My eating disorder returned (bring on the depression)
3. I had a major fight with my parents (haven't spoken to them in a month)
4. My grandfather passed out at the store (first time ever being admitted as an inpatient at the hospital, he wasn't happy)
out my grandfather had bladder stones which he needed surgery for (50% survival rate but still risky in elderly patients, he's 95 btw)
6. My boyfriend is being an asshole (won't communicate with me and I'm pretty sure he believes I would cheat on him. which hurts me)
7. My computer died on me and I had to go get a new one (all my lovely saved data *cries*)
8. Numbers 1-7 were all happening at the same time!

Good news is that half of that is all over with. Only 2, 3, and 6 are remaining. I don't know how often or if I will update, I'm trying to get all my notes together. But remember I promise you that I WILL FINISH THIS STORY EVEN IF IT KILLS ME!

Oh and for those that are keeping up with The Vampire Prince, I regret to inform you that I have not finished the next chapter yet, because of number 7 mentioned above I don't have all the already written up chapters and information I saved for the story. So, unfortunately, I have to go back and see where I was going with it. Worst case I'll just have to go with my gut and do something new, I may even have to re-write the whole story. I don't know yet I'm still trying to figure that out. So I ask that you continue being patient with me and I shall do my best for you guys.

ONWARD WITH THE TALE

"You don't have to tell me anything," Momo replied, sure he wanted to know but that information is sensitive, and he didn't want to the pressure the girl.

Ryoko smiled and walked closer to Momo; then she sat down on the bench right next to him. "I know, but you want to understand right? I can see it in your face how confused and interested you are in my situation. You're holding back your curiosity for my sake, which I appreciate, but I don't mind telling it if it's you."

Momo blushed and turned his head away. "Ah, um. How about we talk more about ourselves first. After all I don't know anything about you."

Ryoko's eyes lit up, and she nodded. "What do you want to know?"

Momo turned his head back to look at her and smiled. "You said you played tennis but only as a hobby, so what do you do seriously?"

Ryoko hummed and looked up at the ceiling. "If you're asking about sports, it would be swimming, but I'm very dedicated to my violin playing more than anything else. I've loved it since I was very little."

"Wow! you play, that's awesome!"

Ryoko smiled. "I'm guessing you are only a tennis nut."

Momo mocked pouted. "Hey! I do more than just play tennis."

Ryoko looked at him with amusement. "Oh? like what?"

"l-like um..." Momo frantically looked around.

Ryoko giggled, and Momo was so mesmerized by the sound that he couldn't come up with some excuse. "alright fine you got me."

"I figured since you said your friends with Ryoma. Birds of a feather flock together."

Momo smiled. "I guess so." He then thought a bit before he asked a question he's been wondering about. "Ryoko, do you know a lot about Ryoma?"

Ryoko put a finger to her mouth and stared up at the ceiling. "I'd like to think so. I don't know everything about him, but I have an idea. Based on the clues left behind and the things in our room, I know for a fact tennis is his life. He seems to be quite annoying and stubborn. Very confident in his abilities and a brat. Of course, those were all things my brother said about him." Ryoko sighed. "I want to know more but its difficult to do on my own." She then smiled over at Momo. "Honestly it doesn't matter anyway."

Momo frowned. The way she said that last sentence was worrying, she sounded defeated. Almost like she gave up. Why? Momo had no clue. But he did know that something was bothering her. He couldn't do anything about it now, but he sure will try in the future. It happened so fast, but in this short time talking to her and hearing about the situation with Ryoga and Fuji, momo just felt the need to protect. Almost like an older brother. He had siblings so he knew the feeling and he felt that towards Ryoko rather easily. It surprised him, but he thought maybe that had to do with the fact that Ryoma was his best friend. He didn't want to think like that though, it would be unfair for Ryoko. He needed to separate the personalities from each other, he needed to show her that he was friendly to her because shes herself not because of the fact that he knew Ryoma.

"I think it does matter, Also what is it like with your family?" Momo innocently asked, wanting to get to know more.

Ryoko gave Momo a sad smile, and her eyes started to get glassy. "My family is complicated. Of course, there is my overprotective brother. he cares too much about me that it could be considered his weakness. Other than that you could call him a prodigy. He's incredibly smart and despite his young age, he is already well on his way to graduating and getting his degree in psychology. He wants to become a therapist that helps those with mental disorders. I think he will do exceptionally well in his field." Momo made a weird face at that and Ryoko chuckled. "Yeah, he's a little blind concerning matters he's close to, its why he can't treat me. However, with others, he's brilliant. He understands their problems and tries to relate to them in a way that's helpful and not suffocating. My brother really will be a great therapist..."

Momo nodded. "And your parents?"

Ryoko hesitated and turned her head away. At first, Momo thought that she wouldn't answer but then she looked back at him with tears in her eyes and replied. "My mother died when I was born, and my father... Well, he doesn't know I exist."

"What?!" Momo was beyond shocked, so her father was the direct cause. "What do you mean? What exactly happened?"

Ryoko turned her head away again. "So you do want to know then?

Momo hesitated "Of course, but only if you really want to tell me. I'll understand if you don't."

"Most of what I know is from stories I've heard from relatives or my own brother. I don't actually know myself because I was barely a newborn. Apparently, after my brothers birth, my father desperately wanted another son. He couldn't raise Ryoga-ni because his grandma gained custody of him. My father was upset and really wanted a boy he could raise himself, so he begged my mother to give him a son. After trying several times, my mother finally became pregnant with me. During the entire pregnancy, my father was convinced I was going to be a boy, there wasn't a single doubt or thought otherwise. In his mind, there was no possible way he could have a daughter instead of a son. Because of this, he got my mother hyped up as well as where even she believed I would be a boy. The nursery was decorated accordingly, the walls were baby blue with tennis ball stickers. The carousel above the crib even had tennis related charms. Everything was prepped to be for a baby boy. My father was so happy because he would have the son he always dreamed of having, someone to pass his tennis skills and knowledge to, someone he could give his dream to." Ryoko got quiet for a moment then continued in a shaky voice. "The day my mother went into labor was supposed to be a cause for celebration. My father couldn't have been more excited to see his child. But then something went wrong. One moment my mother was perfectly healthy and the delivery process was going smoothly, then the next she was gone and the doctors had to surgically remove me from her."

Momo's heart broke, never getting the chance to meet your own mother must have been hard for Ryoko. For her father too, the pain of losing his own wife when they were supposed to gain a new member of their family. Momo did not know what he would have done had he been in either situation.

"My father lost it the moment he heard the news, he would have trashed the hospital room had the nurses not stopped him. The only thing he could look forward to was the fact that his son survived. When the nurse handed me over to my father and told him congratulations on having a girl, something inside him broke. No one is completely sure about how he felt at that moment but all that my brother knows is that he was never the same after. Ryoga-nii said that I grew up normally, that it wasn't until I turned 6 years old that Ryoma was created. He told me he doesn't know exactly what happened with our father, just that he snapped. Of course, I don't remember anything either. However everytime I see him myself or hear him nearby I feel frightened. My instincts tell me to hide away and never to come back out until its safe again. I feel fear wash over my entire body in my own father's presence."

Ryoko finally looked back over at Momo and what he saw almost made him wish he never let her tell him this story. Her face was deathly white and her eyes were as wide as could possibly be. The look of pure fear had momo frozen in his seat. He didn't know what to think or what to do. Then she spoke that last sentence that had Momo internally crying out for someone to help this poor girl.

"I fear that he will kill me."