Disclaimer: I do not own Ayashi no Ceres or any of its characters.
Chapter Three
Dinner Party
The day began to pass by as Yuuhi wrung his hand nervously on his knees, his
legs curled up tightly to his chest, sitting next to Shuro. "She isn't here yet. Maybe she won't come," stated Yuuhi nervously, rocking back and forth on the wooden floor of the porch.
"Stop that," commanded Shuro, her head arched back and forth, cracking her neck bones. "She'll come," she assured confidently, looking out at the driveway, where Yuuhi stared at mindlessly.
"I know, but I can't help but be nervous. Think about it, Chidori has been "dead" for three years, and Yukiko has lost her memories for three years. What if… What if she remembers?" Yuuhi wondered aloud, almost too hopefully.
Shuro's face fell, she turned around to face Yuuhi, her face looked serious, "Yuuhi, you know as well as I do, the possibility still remains that this could all be just a coincidence," she reminded. "I don't want you to have all your hopes raised and than have it all amount to nothing," she informed.
He nodded slowly, "I know, but…" his words cut off, as a blue BMW arrived at their driveway.
Yukiko stepped out the right side of the car, talking rapidly to the driver before heading for the porch, where Yuuhi and Shuro waited for her. Her long flower printed skirt nearly touched the oak wood, as she walked up the porch.
"Hi Yukiko," greeted Yuuhi, smiling nervously.
"Everybody's waiting for you inside," informed Shuro, leading her inside.
They headed for the dining room where Suzumi, Ms. Q., Toya, Aya, and their baby, Aki sat, waiting for them.
They gasped loudly as they saw Yukiko walk in, amazement and curiosity glazed their eyes. "Chidori!" cried Aya, overwhelmed with mixed feelings.
Yukiko smiled nervously at them, "I'm sorry, but I'm not Chidori, my name is Yukiko," she informed.
They stared at her in disbelief, as though that the simple thought that she could possibly be anyone else would be an absolute lie.
"How can you be?" shouted Ms. Q, jumping up from her chair, and ran up to Yukiko. "You've got to be Chidori! Even though you may look more grown up now, you're still the same Chidori we knew three years ago. Look! Look! Don't you remember us?" cried Ms. Q, shoving a picture in Yukiko's face, that she had pulled out from her kimono.
Yuuhi took hold of Ms. Q's head, "Look you, you've got to give her some space," he instructed.
Shuro sighed, "Ms. Q, sit back down," she ordered, but before Ms. Q sat down, Yukiko took the photograph from her hand. "Come Yukiko, let's sit down and talk for a bit," advised Shuro leading her to a seat next to Aya and her.
Aki touched her hand lightly, smiling at her brightly. "How cute," commented Yukiko, patting Aki on the head softly. He pulled her hand down, and held onto it, Yukiko smiled brightly.
"Seems like he's taken a liking to you," informed Aya. "You really do look like Chidori," her eyes rimmed with tears.
Suzumi stared at them, her eyes were wet with tears also, "Yuuhi, it's time for dinner. Why don't you get it for us?" inquired Suzumi, as she wiped her tears away.
"Sure thing," answered Yuuhi, getting up from his chair.
Shuro got up too, "Let me help you," she offered, as they headed for the kitchen.
"Are they going out?" asked Yukiko curiously, as she watched them walk away.
Everybody stared at her, nearly spitting his or her tea out.
"What's wrong? They're not?" she asked.
"Why do you ask?" questioned Suzumi, putting her teacup down.
"Because they seem so close, yet at the same time they seem so far away from one another," analyzed Yukiko
"That's such a poetic way of saying it," commented Ms. Q.
"Yes, that was a wonderful way of putting it," complimented Suzumi. "And to answer your question, no, they are not going out," she answered.
"Oh," sighed Yukiko.
Everybody at the table stared at her suspiciously, even Aki, "Why? Are you jealous?" they asked.
"No!" defended Yukiko loudly, jumping back in her seat, as Yuuhi and Shuro came back to the table, with several bowls in their hands.
"What are you guys talking about?" asked Shuro, placing the large bowl of miso soup, and meat plates down on the table.
"Nothing," they replied innocently.
"Sure,"remarked Yuuhi doubtfully, putting the bowls of rice down, as they sat down again.
Yukiko went through an eventful night as everybody to talked together as if they had known each other forever, as they moved out to the living room after dinner had been over. The night wore on.
"It's gotten quite late, hasn't it?" inquired Yukiko, noticing the time on the clock. "I wonder why he hasn't come yet?" she wondered aloud.
"Who?" asked Yuuhi, when the paper sliding door to the living room slid open. Aya and Ms. Q gasped, while Yuuhi, Shuro, and Suzumi's eyes widened.
"I was just wondering when you were going to get her Kagami," informed Yukiko, as she got up from the couch and headed for the doorway where Kagami stood. Kagami Mikage.
"Kagami? Why are you here?" asked Aya bewildered, afraid of his intentions.
Yuuhi had his arm raised, ready for battle.
"You shouldn't treat me that way Aya, after all we are cousins," he reminded.
'Why is Kagami here?' thought Yuuhi. 'What does he have to do with Chidoro? Is... is this why she's still alive? Is this why she can't remember?' Yuuhi asked himelf as thousands of questions ran through his mind.
Sorry it's been taking me so long for updating the next chapter, but I've been on vacation for three weeks so I haven't really had the time to update so I'm really sorry. Please read and review.