Sorry for this late update. I had some problems with my net connection. And also thanks for those reviews. Although I don't get the time to reply them, but I read every one of them. So thanks... Now without further ado...

Disclaimer:- I own nothing.

The Story of Us

chapter 7: Memories

When someone you love becomes a memory...the memory itself becomes a treasure.

Misaki sighed as she opened the door. That was close. Seriously, Ryuu has the worst timing ever. How can he always turn up in wrong places at wrong times? Who knows?

The doctor who looked at the boy but his eyes widened at the sight of the girl beside him,Emi?

"Doctor?" This time both of them looked at their right. The doctor frowned, "Shinichi?"

Misaki looked at the boy she had met some days ago.

Shinichi looked at the lady who had helped him.

The doctor looked at Emi whose father is his cousin.

Ryuu and Yui looked at each other, confused what was going on.

"Emi, what are you-"

"You know… them." It was Misaki who asked.

The doctor only nodded, "Yeah, actually her father is one of my patients." He lied.

"I see." Misaki sighed, somehow relieved.

"Um, is that your son?" He asked pointing at Ryuu.

Misaki looked at Ryuu before smiling, "Yeah he is."

"He has grown so big." he mused before a took a glance at Shinichi's direction. "I should be going then, I have a flight."

"Okay, it was nice meeting you." Misaki said as she shook his hand.

But before leaving the elder man looked at Shinichi, "Dear, what you want the most is in front of your eyes. Understand it, grab it and never let go." Then he looked at Emi, "Dear, call me at night. I think, you have something to explain."

That and he left the five of them together utterly confused about what he said. That was until Misaki proposed, "Our house is nearby. Why don't you kids come and pay a visit."

She turned back to see the four kids standing behind her. The two girls were smiling at chatting with each other while the boys were quite. She frowned.

Ryuu is turning into his father. He can't talk well with strangers.

But then her eyes drift to the other boy who has the same eyes as that guy. She was surprised, very surprised, to see him again. So, without a second thought she invited them to come to their house and not to mention, the girl Ryuu likes was there too.

"Come in." She said with a smile, "Make yourself comfortable."

The four of them entered the house in silence.

Emi was first to enter and as she entered a sudden warmth engulfed her. The house was little, nothing like her own mansion, but she could feel the homely feeling it was emitting.

"Welcome to our base." Misaki said.

Emi looked at her and smiled, "Your house is…you know…"

"Warm and cozy." Shinichi, who was also busy looking around, finished for her.

Misaki chuckled, "Then come in and sit down."

As on cue the four teens went in and Ryuu led them to their living room. Shinichi noticed that they had a kitchen, two big bedrooms, one living room and a dinning place. Surely, the house was quite little but he could feel the warmness in there.

"You come here often?" Emi asked Yui as they both sat down on a sofa.

Hearing the question Yui smiled and nodded, "Yeah, actually it is like my second house." She looked up as if she was thinking of the past, "I remember, whenever there would be a formal party or dinner at our place, I would always sneak out and come here." She ended with a chuckle.

"And your father would always think that it was me who has provoked you." Ryuu said as he also sat down on the other couch.

"You guys know each other from childhood?" Emi asked.

"Yes" Yui nodded, "Actually, my father is a old friend of Ryuu's mother."

Emi also nodded before she looked up at Ryuu, "You have a nice house."

He chuckled, "Thanks."

"So, catching up with each other, I see." This time it was Misaki who came in with some snacks, "I want everyone of you to stay for dinner, is that clear?"

"But-" Emi tried to protest but was interrupted by Misaki, "Not buts dear." Then she looked at Yui, "How's your mom?"

"Ah, she is fine now but how did you know."

Misaki smiled and patted her sons head, "I have my personal informer."

Yui rolled her eyes at Ryuu who merely shrugged it off.

"So, you guys used to live in abroad." Yui asked Emi who was quiet all the time.

And before she could even open her mouth Shinichi, who was busy all the pictures decorated on the wall, beat her in it, "Yes." He said.

"Where?" Misaki pressed.

"Actually in England." He said the truth which frizzed Misaki. Shinichi eyed her, "Have you been there before?"

Misaki rolled her eyes at him like she didn't want to answer at all, "No, I haven't."

Shinichi only nodded as in understanding before he again shifted his attention back to the pictures.

"You like those?" She asked.

He nodded.

"That one was taken on the first day Ryuu went to school." Misaki chuckled at the memory, "He looked so cute in that kinder garden hat that I could help taking the picture."

"Can I ask one question?"

"Sure."

Shinichi turned, "Where is Ryuu's father?"

As soon as the question was heard silence fell into the room. Nobody said anything. The four other persons present in the room froze on their spot and for the first time he thought that he shouldn't have asked the question. He was going to apologize but Ryuu interrupted him, "It will be nice if you mind your own business." He said sternly.

Shinichi rolled his eyes at him but he kept quiet.

"I am a single mother." Misaki answered as a matter of fact.

Quickly, Shinichi muttered an apology but Misaki nodded. She wanted ask this for quite a while now but then it eventually slipped out of her mouth.

"Why are you so quite today? Did something happen?"

Shinichi turned his head down. It was weird – very weird – for him to suddenly have a caring lady around him. He was not used this, for someone to care about him and this lady had a strong motherly feeling around him which made him so uncomfortable. He looked up to meet her beautiful, radiant amber orbs which were still expecting an answer and as much as he wanted to get out of that place, he still couldn't voice it out.

"I am fine. I am just a little tired today, that's all." He answered.

Hearing his answer, Misaki sighed. Somehow, seeing him gloomy made her gloomy too but she wasn't blind. She could easily see that something was bothering him but didn't know what. But then again, just looking at him made her heart flatter. Why? Because of his eyes. They were so beautiful but it was a little sad today.

"You sure know how to lie." She said.

Shinichi looked up at her, "Excuse me."

Misaki sighed, "Something is bothering you. You may not say it but your eyes…they say it all." She chuckled, "You have very beautiful eyes."

His eyes widened as he took her compliment. He looked down as he scratched his head awkwardly before he looked up, "Am I supposed to say thanks?"

Misaki chuckled along with others, who were quiet the whole time listening to their conversation.

"Um, can I look at the pictures?" Emi asked to no one particular.

"Of course." It was Ryuu who answered.

Emi smiled at him – which he returned by smiling – as she got up. Misaki eyed her son with a smug expression but as usual the boy shrugged it off.

As Emi went to look at those pictures, Shinichi made space for her by occupying her previous sit. On the other hand, Emi was quite fascinated by those pictures. Now she understood why Shinichi was looking at them all along. It was because, as silly as it may sound, nobody has ever tried to take any pictures of them before but right now she could see so many of them. Most of them were Ryuu's but some of them had him and his mother. As her eyes fell on one picture where Ryuu was seen smiling with his arm around Misaki's shoulder, she couldn't help but notice how beautiful he was. Slowly, she looked at pictures one by one while the others started a light conversation. After a while, a picture made her gasp loudly.

"Is anything matter?" Yui's alarmed voice made her turn.

"N-No." Emi said, "It's just that this picture." She pointed at the picture Misaki described a while ago, "If it weren't for the blond hair and amber eyes, I would've believe that I am looking at Shinichi. I-I mean…you two looked quite the same." She explained.

"Oh, really?" Ryuu said with amused eyes before his fell on the other boy, "Must be coincidence then."

Shinichi smiled at him, "Should be."

Misaki noticed as the boys glared at each other and she sighed before getting up, "I am making the dinner."

The girls also noticed what Misaki had noticed and said in unison, "We will help you."

Dinner was lively than usual with all the conversations. Well, most of the conversations were done by the girls while the boys kept quiet. Yui and Emi became friends in an instant and Misaki, being the friendly figure she was, became friends with all of them. Being the most experienced one, she could already tell they were going to be friends soon. Soon, dinner was over and it was already time to departure. After all, time really flies when you are having fun.

"Come again." Misaki stated when they were closer to the door, "It is actually fun to have more people for dinner."

"We will." The three of them said.

Misaki smiled as she watched their smiling face and when she looked at that boy her eyes again stopped. It has been so long so now why those eyes were so familiar to her. It shouldn't be. It shouldn't be bothering her right now but it was. As she watched those eyes she remembered all those times she had spent with him. His eyes were so familiar to him like they were same. Why?

She didn't understand that she was staring at him until Ryuu voice broke her out of her trance. "Mom?" He elbowed her, "You okay?"

Ryuu's alarmed voice made her gulp as she quickly blinked away her tears which were just starting to form, "Y-Yeah. I am going in." She looked at her son and gave him a pat on his shoulder, "Don't put all the responsibility on Shinichi. Walk Yui home." That and she went in without muttering a word.

Shinichi was shocked. She definitely was staring at him and if he wasn't imaging thing then there was tears in her eyes. Did he make her upset somehow? If so, then when? He couldn't think of anything. One time she was being friendly and then the next time she was crying staring at him. When he couldn't take the heavy feeling anymore, he tried asking others.

"Hey, is there something on my face?"

"Yes, stupidity is all over on your face." Ryuu muttered, loud enough for everybody to hear.

Shinichi turned and glared at him who also glared at him in return.

"Don't start here." Yui said as she stood between them, "Ryuu, are you walking me home or not."

Ryuu sighed, "I am." H turned at Emi, "See you tomorrow then."

Emi smiled at him, "Yeah sure."

As the three of them bid good bye to each other, no words were spoken between the boys. Soon they parted ways with Emi and Shinichi together and Yui with Ryuu.

When Yui was sure that no one could hear them, she finally opened her mouth, "Ryuu, what's the problem?"

He looked at her as if he had no clue of what she was asking.

She let out an exasperated sigh, "You are not like this. You are not rude to anyone but why him."

Understanding what she meant, he said, "That's because I don't like him."

Yui rolled her eyes at him because of childish his reason sounded to her ears, "What? Why?"

"Because he made mom cry."

Her eyes widened, "When?"

"When you guys were leaving."

"Are you sure you are not imagining things."

Ryuu only shook her head and both of them started walking in silence.

"Ryuu, I want to say something."

"Say it."

"My father is planning my engagement."

This made the boy stop. Yui, noticing him, also stopped and turned to face him only to see confusion written all over his face.

"With whom?"

"His name is Ayasaki Hibiki."

"You know him?"

She shook her head.

"Is it for business?"

Yui let out an exasperated sigh as she resumed walking, "Part of it. Dad thinks he will make me happy. He has everything, you know. Money, fame, looks – everything."

Ryuu followed her, "That's what your dad thinks. Do you think that you will be happy?"

"I don't know." She shrugged.

Soon the duo was near the destination. According to their unspoken rule, Ryuu stopped following when she was only one block away. Just before she was going away, she turned to face him again.

"He didn't do it by choice, you know." She muttered.

"Who?"

"Shinichi." She answered, "I am sure he didn't make your mom cry by choice."

"You are defending him," Ryuu frowned, "Why?"

Yui shrugged, "I don't know. He didn't seem a bad person. I saw him helping a poor girl today. He's not bad from heart you know."

Ryuu nodded before waving at her. Soon, Yui resumed her walking and left Ryuu alone on the street.

He sighed and looked up at the sky. Something was bothering his mom. He knew it. He just have find out what it was.

With that determination, he walked back to his home.

:::

Memories were the most beautiful things but not in case of her. Her memories always bring her pain. But still she couldn't forget them. It was suffocating and frustrating at the same time. So, sometimes Misaki wanted to have an accident which will make her suffer from amnesia but then this thought also scared her. What will Ryuu do then? After all she was living only for her son. And then again, the memories she had of him were very special and she treasured them. One thing, she knew, they can never be replaced.

With that thought, she closed her eyes let her memories to have control on her mind. Again.

"Want to make a bet?"

"No?" Misaki answered not bothering to look at her husband.

Just then two warm arms sneaked around her waist and hugged her.

"Misa-Chan, you are no fun." He whined into her ear.

Misaki sighed as she turned to face her husband, "What bet?"

Just like a child, his face lit up in a moment, "Let's make a bet on the gender of our child."

Misaki thought for a moment before asking, "What do you think? Is it a boy or a girl?"

He smiled his infamous smile which made Misaki smile too, "I think it's a girl."

"Really?"

He nodded, "If it is, then we can buy her a lot of teddies and lot of chocolates and dresses. We will make her dress cutely every day and I will give her anything she wants.

"In other words, you will spoil her rotten." Misaki finished her sentence for him.

He chuckled and nodded, "that's exactly what I was trying to say."

"Then what if it's a boy?"

"Then I will be disappointed."

She chuckled as she punched his chest playfully. In return Takumi also chuckled and embraced her.

"Takumi?"

"Hmm."

"I don't want to know the gender." She looked up at his eyes, "Let's leave it to the baby. I want it to be a surprise."

He smiled, "As you wish my lady."

She also smiled, "I just want our kid to have eyes like you."

Takumi frowned, "No, I want it to be like you."

"But yours are mysterious."

"Yours are innocent."

Both stared at each other until a grin broke out in their lips, "Bet." Both declared.

"If I win you have to stop teasing me." Misaki said.

Takumi smirked, "But if I win, you have to be my personal maid for at least a week."

Misaki just stared at him. After being married for almost a year, this guy still wanted that. This guy really is impossible to handle.

Misaki opened her eyes. She looked outside. The lights were all out which meant Ryuu was back. She slowly got up and walked to his room to see him lying on his bed. She sighed as she slowly went to his bed and watched her boy.

Looks like Takumi did win the bet. Their kid had eyes like her. Misaki smiled as she brushed the blond locks which were on his face. He looked so peaceful and Misaki had to admit his sleeping face was just like Takumi's.

After a little more watching, Misaki came out from his room and went to her room. But then again another thought came in her mind.

Usui Shinichi.

That boy's eyes were so much like Takumi, mysterious yet playful. She couldn't be that wrong. She has loved those eyes for almost two decades and then she had to admit that he also, kind of, looked like Takumi.

Isn't it too much coincidence?