-1Title: Childhood Questions
Part: 1/1
Author: Raven.

Disclaimer: Yuugiou is copyright of Kazuki Takahashi.

Notes: Ryou's mother's name was never given so I just chose one.

"Why is that lady crying mommy?"

His large brown eyes were locked at the corner where flowers and candles had been placed around the photo of a teenage girl. Before the make-shift memorial a women on her knees wailed while others tried to comfort her. Kiku looked away from the scene and looked down at her son. "I'll tell you later Ryou, let's go home now." She smiled softly and began to walk, holding his hand tightly.

Ryou frowned a bit, wanting his question answered. "Is she sad mommy? What made her cry?"

"Later Ryou, first let's go home so I can make supper. Besides, I'm sure that Amane is bored without her big brother to play with."

That's all it took to get Ryou's mind away from his questions and Kiku never heard him ask them again, as with most young children, playing make-believe and finger painting was more important than questions about life and death.

"I'm home!" Ryou called as he pulled his shoes off and rushed inside. The now thirteen year old boy ran into the kitchen waving a piece of paper. "Dad! You won't believe the grade I got on…" Ryou stop mid sentence when he found his father sitting at the table, his head cradled in his hands. "Dad? What's wrong?"

His father slowly looked up, there were tears in his eyes that he refused to let fall. "Your mother and Amane won't be coming home Ryou."

Ryou felt his heart stop and looked at his father in shock. "W-why? Where did they go dad?"

One more his father lowered his head and spoke softly. "Somewhere far away…"

He knew this corner, the corner that drivers would always take too fast. The corner the damn city never put a cross walk in even after all the deaths. The corner where at five he saw that women crying over the picture of her dead daughter…

The flowers, the lit candles, the photo of a smiling mother holding her little girl close…

And the young boy kneeling while sobs shook his body as he whispered quietly, "I know now mommy. I know why the lady cried."