A/N: Here's something I should have done in the prologue but forgot for some reason:

Disclaimer: I do not own Gravitation. ::mumbles:: Life's so unfair....

Thanks: Kitty in the Box, Notta Writer, lemur130, Guren Ashura Akuma, Claudita, Kibethan, Kitsune's Grrl, clueless97, Shos-lady, Sakura Blossom-Cilla-85:P, Alana-Star/SugarCat.

Chapter III

The young blonde headed girl stared at the scene before her. "Wha-What's going on?" Tohma sighed and buried his face in his hands. "Tou-san?" "Go upstairs, Ichigo..." "Domo, tou-san...." "Upstairs!" She looked reluctant to do so, that was until he shot her a serious look. "Fine..." She picked up her pack and raced upstairs, casting a backward glance at her poor oji-san. 1 As she entered her room and close the door, Ichigo couldn't help but think something was seriously wrong. She bit her lip, dropping her pack on the bed and turned to look at herself in mirror. "Something's not right," She said her mirror-self. "They're hiding something....but why? And what?"

She could faintly hear her Uncle Tohma sobbing. What had hurt him so? "Well, Ichigo Hana Uesugi, I guess we'll just have to find out, won't we?" 2

"Eiri-san..."

"It's your own fault."

"How can you say that?" His brother-in-law looked up, eyes wide.

"If you hadn't been so damn impulsive and stubborn, she would have never have been hurt that way."

"Domo...I never meant."

Eiri lit a cigarette. 3 "Tell me," he murmured around the stick. "Did you love my sister even just a little bit?" "Of course..." "Really?" "Why would I have married Mika-san if I did not share feelings for her?" "To get at me." "That's not true." He wiped his tears. "You weren't till after..." "Cut the crap, Seguchi!" "What do you expect me to say?" Tohma asked, breathless. "I expect you to admit this was all your fault." The other blonde looked at him with stony eyes. "I'm afraid I can't do that." Eiri stubbed out his cigarette and got up, walking over to the terrace door. "Than live with what you've done, and don't come crying to me."

He turned in place. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do...." The novelist then disappeared down the dark corridor next to the stairs, leaving Tohma to sit and contemplate his thoughts and actions alone.

"Tadaima!" an energetic voice exclaimed, pulling Tohma out of his stupor and extracting Ichigo from her bedroom. Feet raced down the stairs as she swung around the corner grinning. "Welcome home, Okaa-san!" She had a pencil behind her ear and had changed into her everyday clothes—a tight purple tank top with blue jean short-shorts. "Dinner ready?" "No, it hasn't been started." He nodded, noticing Tohma Seguchi for the first time. "Hello, Seguchi-san. What're you doing over here?" He set his pack on the floor, just like his daughter had done before him and headed over to the hall way where Yuki had disappeared. "Yuki! I'm home!" "I heard, brat!" the voice shouted back.

He grinned. "Now, Seguchi-san..." He turned back to the president.

"It's a long story, Shindou-san. One I prefer not to have to retell again..." He got up. "If you'll excuse me, I think I will get some fresh air." He then went outside into their backyard.

He looked to his daughter. "Do you have any idea what that was about, Ichi-honey?" "Nope." She watched after her oji-san. "Tou-san told me to go upstairs as soon as I got home." "Hmmm. Well, maybe I can get something out of Yuki." "Good luck." Shuichi nodded at her and ventured down the hallway. Ichigo watched after him and sighed. Yes, maybe okaa-san would get some answers. She could only hope that he would. Curiosity was killing her!

Knock! Knock!

"Come in," Yuki called out and continued to type.

"Yuki?" His lover started.

"Yes?"

"What's with, Seguchi-san...."

The blonde stopped typing. "I'd rather not talk about it. I'm through talking about it."

"Domo, Yuki..."

"I said, no, Shuichi!" He turned and stared at the man through his glasses. "If Ichigo sent you to get information out of me, she's not getting any. If Tohma chooses to tell the rest—her included—it's his business." "Than you do know what's wrong?" "Yes, but that doesn't mean I'm telling you..." "Yuki!" "No." Shuichi sighed and gave up, leaving the room.

When he closed the door behind him, he could faintly hear his daughter getting things ready in the kitchen. He smiled and ventured inside to join her. He'd never been very good at making things, but somehow she excelled at not burning the house down. Ichigo was in the middle of measuring whit rice into a plastic cup; a pot of water was boiling on the stove. "Rice balls?" he asked with a smile. She turned to look at him and smiled back. Sometimes she could be so sweet. "Yeah..." "What else is on today's menu?" He stepped forward peeking over her shoulder. "Uh-uh..." She pushed her okaa-san back. "No peeking." "You can tell your okaa-san, Ichi-honey..." "

"It's a surprise." She poured the rice into the pot. "And if I recall correctly okaa-san, you don't keep surprises very well."

He pouted and Ichi had the urge to laugh but didn't it wouldn't be wise to insult her parent than she all ready had. "I'm on orders from tou-san." She said to explain her actions. Shuichi sighed, turned, and started to raid the pantry. "What're you doing now, Okaa-san?" The tone in her voice was exasperated. "Getting a snack, if you want to know." He sounded miffed. "Okay, as long as you don't try to use the microwave...." She heard a curse in the background and grinned, turning to look at him. He had his hand on the microwave door handle. "You blew up the last one." "It was defective!" He was irritated have to explain himself to his fifteen year old daughter.

"That was not was the company said..." She chuckled.

"They lied!"

"Maybe, but I don't." Yuki's voice intervened.

His petite raven-haired lover pivoted in his spot. "Yuki!?" "Trying to sneak past Ichigo?" The rock star turned up his chin. "Your watch dog does a good job. Making sure I starve and all." "Don't be stupid." He passed the young man. "You can eat; someone just needs to make it for you." "How old AM I, Yuki?" "Thirty-five, but you're still cooking inept." His lover sighed. "I guess that's true." Yuki looked at him as if he'd grown a second head. "That's a surprise." "What!?" "You actually agree with me." "So?" "Nothing, I'm just surprised is all..." "Oh..." He looked down at the floor. "Now, are you going to tell me about Seguchi-san?" "No." "YUKI!" he shouted. "Now I'm getting mad! I'm your partner! I thought we told each other these things!"

"It's not mine to tell!" he snapped back.

He flinched and muttered. "Sorry, Yuki. Did I make you mad?"

"What do you think?"

"Make up kiss?"

The blonde snorted. "I'll think about it..." He took on a smug smile and a look in his eyes that said, 'we'll deal with this tonight'. It was very sexy and very suggestive. Shuichi began to pant and his pants at the crotch began to tighten—then realized his daughter was there and took his lust elsewhere. "You're pathetic, you know?" Yuki was at the bottom of the stairs watching a sex-crazed vocalist try to calm himself. "It's your fault!" "Why?" He lit a cigarette. "You've made me horny!" He slapped a hand over the other's mouth. "Keep it down, baka." "I'll see you later tonight..." he said suggestively, pressing his nose against the blonde's. He then traipsed up the stairs, Yuki watching the shorter man's backside. "Later, huh?" He took a drag. "Sounds like fun..."

Tohma Seguchi sat outside on the deck, relaxing in one of the chairs beneath the big umbrella. She hadn't even gave him warning; she'd just up a left. No note; nothing. She'd taken everything, except her car. That was what confused him the most. Did it mean she was coming back? "Mika-san..."

Ichigo stuck her head out the back door and said, "Dinner ready, Oji-san."

"Thank you, little Blossom." He moved to get up.

The girl nodded then said the same thing to her parents, "TOU-SAN! OKAA-SAN! DINNER!"

Yuki came out looking irritable. "What have I told you about shouting in the house?" "Don't do it?" she answered sheepishly. "Exactly!" "Yuki!" Shuichi scolded as Tohma came inside. "You're stifling, my Strawberry's personality!" He took his daughter by the shoulder and murmured, "Don't listen to tou-san, Ichi-honey, he's just an old grouch." "Don't fill her head with stupid ideas OR suggestions, Shuichi!" "Don't mind him; you know your tou-san." She nodded. "Let's just eat okay?" "Mmmm, this looks splendid!" Her uncle Tohma announced, placing a napkin on his lap and picking up old-fashion chopsticks. He smiled. "Thank you, Ichigo. You remembered." "I don't forget that kind of thing, Oji-san. It's like breathing; once you learn, you never forget!" "Very good."

Tohma took a bite out of the rice ball he picked up with his chopsticks, chewing slowing. The small family carried on small conversation; her oji-san quietly inquiring about her day. Shuichi shared his news with Ichi and Yuki about how great the farewell concert was going to be, talking animatedly as always. It wasn't till Ichigo brought the dessert out that it happened. Before taking a bite of the delicacy, Tohma began to out right cry in it. He openly sobbed, dropping the spoon and burying his face in the palms of his hands with elbows rested on the table. Shuichi and his daughter watched astounded. "Oji-?" She saw her tou-san shake his head negative. Ichi made a face as if to argue with him, matching his look with a deadly one of her own. Her stubbornness came from both of her parents.

Tohma lifted his tear drenched face and murmured, "I-I'm terribly sorry. Excuse me!" He quickly got up from the table and dashed outside. Ichigo mad a move to go after him but Yuki quickly restrained her by grasping her wrist and shaking his head. "Tou-san!" "Leave it be, Ichigo Uesugi." She pouted and stood up. "I'll do the dishes...."

Tohma Seguchi sat in the moonlight in his pajamas on his brother-in-law's couch, thinking about his dear Mika-san—thinking about what had driven her away. "How could I have been such a fool?" He threaded his hands through his white-blonde hair and cried openly. "Why have I let my feelings linger this far; even now? Why?" He thought about her. He thought about how she would smile sadly when she thought of her brother Eiri, how her eyes would light up on her birthday when he presented her with an extrodinary gift. But most of all, he thought how she looked on their wedding day; dress in a white flowing gown, her hair done up elaborately. Mika Uesugi, the daughter of a monk. Mika-san, the woman he had loved and had sworn to cherish. Mika; the woman who he had driven away, because of what he had done...

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Eiri had said, looking delectable and flustered. Tohma was on top, just like he'd always wanted to be, Shindou-san was still in recording and most of the staff had thought he'd gone home.

"I just want to love you like I always have, Eiri-san...." He bent his head to capture the novelist's lips with his.

"Seguchi, get off!" The taller blonde tried to push him away, but Tohma was strong for a smaller guy and had Eiri trapped between himself and his company desk.

"Never!" He lowered his lips to the man's neck and began to suck on the soft skin.

"What the fuck?" Eiri shoved him off.

But not in enough time. Someone had seen what they'd been doing in the moonlight.

That someone had been his dear Mika-san.

"What have I done?" He began to cry again, tears coming down his face in great rivers. There was a saying; you don't know how much you'll appreciate something until you loose it.

Tohma could now testify to that. He lost Mika the moment he had dared touched Eiri again, and he deeply regretted it. Deeply. "What have I done?"

"Oji-san? Uncle Tohma?" a small feminine voiced intoned throughout the semi-darkness. The president jerked slightly and looked up, lowering his hand, to look at his niece. "Ichigo... Little Blossom..." he spoke softly, surprised by her presence. "Oji-san...Why are you crying?" "Ichigo..." He sniffed. "I-I can't tell..." "Please, Oji-san," The blonde haired girl came forward, wrapped in a green terry-cloth robe that dangled to her ankles, her hair loose. "I can't bear to see you cry. It hurts, Oji-san." Tohma looked at her a second more. "Oji-san... You've always been there for me, now I'd like to be there for you. Please?" He sighed and patted the couch, giving in. "Come sit with me, little Blossom." She did as he asked, pulling her legs beneath her and looking at her elder with large, soulful amethyst eyes.

They were eyes that could reach into the soul.

"I've done something terrible, little one..."

"What could you ever have possibly done?"

"Your-your obaa-san has left me," He sobbed. "And it is because of me, because my heart was so unfaithful, because I was so selfish I lusted after another!"

Ichigo sat there silent. Lusted? Whom had her oji-san's heart been lusting after? She hadn't been aware of anybody... In all of her 15 years she'd never seen him look at anyone but her obaa-san. This was a total and complete shock to the young woman's mind. "Who?" He looked at with pitiful eyes. "That I cannot say. I'm too ashamed to say." He bit his lip, turned his head, and cried into his hand again. "Please...I need to be alone..." Ichigo hesitated for a moment then got up and started back upstairs, looking sadly at her forlorn oji-san. Her heart began to sag; she had to do something to make Uncle Tohma feel better. She had to find her Aunt Mika first of all. She had to find out where her obaa-san had gone! She had to! Her oji-san's happiness depended on it; along with the stability of N-G pro!

As soon as she had left, Tohma once more started to sob his heart out. He cursed himself and cried for his love, Mika-san to return to him. "Oh, Mika-san...." In the end, he ended up crying himself to sleep.

Ichigo got up early that morning determine to track down her aunt. She made a call to N-G pro, saying it was on behalf of her uncle Tohma the president, she told them to hire a private detective and to call her cell number when the investigator got back to them. She said her thanks and hung up the phone. She'd find where her obaa-san had gone one way or the other. As for money to pay for the detective... Let's just say she didn't lack for anything, seeing as who her parents were.

After making the call, she snuck quietly down the stairs, stopping at the bottom to watch her oji-san snoozing on their couch then crept into the kitchen to quietly make herself breakfast. After making herself food and eating it quickly, she exited the house then took her bike from the garage and hightailed her way down to N-G pro to do a bit investigation of her own. She grinned. This was much better, she could make it there much faster this way, and with the key she'd pick pocketed. (How terrible lol) from her uncle Tohma, she wouldn't have any trouble getting into his office to do her nosing around. She peddled into downtown Tokyo, watching as the shopkeepers just started to open the stores.

In a few moments, the building of N-G Production, her oji-san's company, loomed before her. Speeding up, she beat a car that was making its way to the busy intersection then stepped on the breaks as soon as she reach the tall building, her bike tires screeching. Business men and women who were all ready up and entering the building looked at the amethyst eyed girl strangely. She smiled brightly and raced into the building. "Uesugi-san, is that you?" the front desk clerk asked. "Hai! I'm coming to get some things for Seguchi-san. He regrets he will not be in today. He does not feel well." "That's too bad." "Hai, it is." Ichigo continued on her way to the elevator and took the lift to the uppermost floor.

"Okay, it's got to be here somewhere?' Ichigo muttered, opening up the locked office. "The key to Aunt Mika's disappearance....."

1 Oji-san: Uncle

2 Ichigo Hana: Strawberry Blossom

3 As you can see I call him Eiri whenever he is talking to Tohma. Don't ask...

Next Chapter: Sweet Sixteen Part II

A/N: Chapter over! Yeah! I would have written more but all I wanted to do was end this chapter...