Yugana Kashi

By Sakura Takanouchi

Disclaimer: Ya, ya, I own nothing, so... give me stuff!

Chapter One: Some Dreams are made to Last Forever

Kateri ran through the crowded streets of England, stopping only at a food stand to get some roasted almonds. She checked her watch and gasped. "Darnit, I'm late!" She ran through an opened apartment door, up three flights of stairs, and around a corner before stopping in front of a door that read 356. She fished a key out of her book bag and went inside. "Mom, dad, I'm home!" She called as she set her book bag down on the nearest couch. Two small children ran up to her.

"Kateri! Kateri! " They chorused.

"Oh, so you're finally here," an older voice (her mom) said. "You need to get home earlier! Now I'm going to be late for work, and I need someone to watch the kids!"

"Why don't you ask Toshi to do it?" She asked irritably.

"You know he isn't old enough to watch two children. Now I'm leaving, and I'll be back before their bedtime," the woman then left the apartment.

"Come on, Kateri, let's play!" The youngest child, a little girl, said.

"You go play with your other sister, ok? I'm going to check on dad and Toshi," Kateri answered, smiling at her sisters. She got up from the couch and went in to her father's room.

"Hey, dad," she said. The sight of him made her want to cry. He was lying on a bed, with his arms, legs, and head in casts.

"Hi, sweetie. How was school?" her father asked.

"The anime club had our first real meeting today," she answered. "Fifteen people came."

"That's great, Kateri, but right now I'm getting really tired," her dad replied, and within seconds he was asleep.

"Sleep well, dad," she whispered and went to Toshi's room. She knocked on his door, and went inside. "Toshi?" She asked.

Toshi was playing a video game on his TV. "What do you want?" He snapped.

"Gheesh, I was just checking up on you," she answered.

"Well, I'm here and still breathing, so you can leave," he replied, and went back to the game (one of those violent fighting games).

Kateri went out of his room and focused her attention on her two younger sisters. They were cheerful and carefree, and helped block the troubles from her mind as she made them all dinner. She put a portion on a tray for her father.

"Here's your dinner, dad," she said. "Chicken, mashed potatoes, and a biscuit."

"Smells and sounds good," he answered, and started to eat his food. Which wasn't easy, because of the casts.

Kateri then called Toshi in for dinner, and they all started to eat. Peace reigned in the apartment for several minutes. And then...

"This chicken tastes horrible."

"Kateri! Audrey threw food at me!"

"I need some more juice, Kateri! I spilled it!"

Kateri spent the rest of the meal wiping up spilled juice, breaking up fights, and telling off her brother (in the nicest way possible, of course). Her mother came home just as Katelyn, her other sister, knocked over Kateri's plate and it went all over the floor.

"Kateri Miwa! What on heaven's name has been happening since I left this household?" her mother screeched.

"It was just an accident, no harm done," Kateri said, reaching for a towel to clean up the food.

"Can I trust you with anything? Go to your room, but set your sisters to bed, first," her mother ordered. Kateri nodded, and picked Audrey up, and took Katelyn's hand, and led them to their room.

"Goodnight, now," she said as she cracked the door open and went to her own room, which was actually an oversized closet.

It was her haven.

Her bedspread was a pinkish/purple/blue/green color, and it rested on a mattress that was placed on the floor. She had a small dresser and a mirror on the back of her door. There was a shelf built in to the wall above her head where she put all her manga and anime.

You could not see the color of the walls.

The walls and ceiling were covered with every picture of the YYH gang, (especially Kurama and Hiei) the HxH gang, the X1999 gang, and just about every other anime gang known to the dedicated otaku.

Kateri pulled out a small book and a pen from under her mattress and began to write in it.

'Dear Diary,

I do not know how much more injustice I can take. At least I have one good thing in my life that is stable—anime. We actually had an anime club meeting today, Diary! Can you believe it?

Dad's condition is worsening. If he dies, I do not know what I will do. But at least I've got you. I look at you, and at my pictures, and it gives me strength.

Kateri Miwa.'

She then pulled out a very faded picture. It was of the red-haired bishounen known to YYH. She stared at it, and then gently kissed it. She put it back inside her diary, and then put that under her mattress. Just then, the door opened.

"Kateri? Kateri? We had a nightmare. Can we sleep with you?" Audrey and Katelyn asked in unison. Kateri spread out her arms.

"Sure," she answered. They ran to the mattress (not a very long run) and curled up around their sister. Soon, they were both sleeping peacefully.

'They're so innocent,' she thought. 'They have no idea what is happening to this family and what may happen.' She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

A/N

I don't know why, but I feel it is my duty to put author's notes at the end of every chapter. If you have questions, comments, or concerns, please press the little blue button at the bottom of your screen. I'll try to answer them to the best of my ability.

Sakura Takanouchi