A/N: Hey! Stephanyey here! I'm writing this in my notebook while I'm on the ferry to BC, Canada for the holidays. Here's chapter five. Merry Christmas! Or Happy Holidays for those who want me to be "politically correct" or whatever.

Disclaimer: I do not own.

Chapter Five A Time to Keep Silent and a Time to Speak

December 3, Monday evening

Kuki ran to pick up the ringing phone but Mushi beat her to it.

"Helloooo? Sanban residence, Mushi speaking!" Mushi's voice was high-pitched and cheerful, like Kuki's had been when she was ten, four years ago. Mushi paused for a minute while the person spoke. "Just a minute, please." Mushi handed the phone to Kuki. "It's Wally."

"Hi, Wally." Kuki said cheerfully. "What's going on?"

"Hey Kuki." Wally said, "I was, um, wondering...y'know...if you could...uh...go with me...to the uh...will you...um..." Wally sighed and took a deep breath. "Will you go out with me?" Kuki's heart nearly stopped. She swore she couldn't breathe for a moment. Wally was...asking her out? "Hello?" Wally asked into the phone.

"Yes." Kuki squeaked.

"What?"

"Yes." she said clearer.

"Really?! Wow...uh...that was a whole lot easier than I thought!" Wally said, letting out a deep breath. "Um, I was wondering if you would go with me to the Christmas Village, maybe tomorrow night or something."

The Christmas Village was a small little set-up that was put together every Christmas at the local drive-in theater, the Drive-Thru. It normally had small booths selling cookies, scarves, hats, gloves, and so on.

"I hear there's gonna be a dance hall." Wally hinted. Kuki smiled into the phone.

"That sounds cool." Kuki said sincerely.

"Great!" Wally sounded at ease now. "Um, how about we meet there at seven?" Kuki thought for a moment.

"Um, my mama's not home right now." she chose her words carefully. "Can I tell you tomorrow at school?" Wally agreed. The two talked for a few more minutes until Wally had to go because his mother needed the phone.

Mrs. Sanban came in about ten minutes later.

"Mother," Kuki approached her mom carefully. "Do you think I could go to the Christmas Village tomorrow night, around seven?"

"Kuki...You know it's too dangerous. It's hard enough letting you go to school. They could get you. I can't even imagine what He would do to you." Mrs. Sanban really looked sorry. Kuki swallowed a lump in her throat.

"Mother! Please! They took my father's love, my safety, and now my life!?" Tears formed in Kuki's soft brown eyes. "I hate them!"

"I know honey." Mrs. Sanban's hard expression softened. "Were you going with someone?"

"No." Kuki lied.

"Yes you were." Mrs. Sanban declared. "I can see it on your face." Kuki looked to the ground, forgetting this peeved her mother. Fortunately, Mrs. Sanban ignored this. "You cannot date boys. They will find out. And they will kill anyone you care about. You know your father is the only reason you are alive. He did not betray us. He sacrficed himself. He joined them to save us. They didn't steal his love...they stole him..."

That night Kuki dreamed. She dreamed the same dream she'd been having for months. Since that horrible night...

"Oh Kuki!" Their voices came in unison, calling in a single, singsong voice. "We have your father! What will you do?" Kuki ran through the dark corridors. Where was she? How could she be lost here. Her old friends. They had loved her. They had been right. And now...

"Please!" Kuki screamed. "Please! Give him back!" The voices laughed. Their cold hearts couldn't be changed by desperate pleas. "Give him back! Give him back!" The darkness was choking her. She couldn't breathe. A new voice came...

"Kuki. Leave. You can't save me. I am them. Go. Before I am forced to kill you." He was emotionless. Kuki fell to her knees, crying, sobbing. She was going to die.

"No..." she whispered. back...Please!" Kuki ran. She ran away.

"Giving up on your own father?" came the voices, not Daddy's voice. "Aww, poor little Kuki can't save Daddy. Run, Kuki. Run away. Run, Kuki. Run away." The voices taunted her. She couldn't get away.

"No!" her scream echoed through the dark corridors. "No!"

Kuki sat up in bed, sweating. Not again...Not the dream. That night...it had been more than she could bear. And now...

Kuki reached a decision. She was going to the Christmas Village tomorrow. And she would try to be captured. Maybe Wally would help her...But maybe he wouldn't...Kuki fell back asleep, debating on whether to bring Wally or not...

A/N: I know this wasn't longer, but trust me, it's long than it had been before. I added the dream and a few things so if you say it's too short, be thankful I added some things. Anyway, that's chapter five.