An update:) Finally!...really…I've been wanting to do something so that u ppl didn't think I had been kidnapped or something…if any of u really noticed…haha…doubt it:P….but yeah…updating finally because Claire made me really guilty! Reviews…thanks! SO MANY! –tear- tears of joy I assure u. Also updating because SO's been telling me to for a while…which is usually enough to get me to do it…but for some reason it just didn't this time…haha

ANYWAY! Me own…what me own that is all. No more, no less. ME LOVE UR REVIEWS! (nothing to do with anything)

Chapter 11 - Connection

Yay! Getting punished is fun! Cause then you get to say in your room and do nothing! allll weekend long!...well it's not like I really do anything anyways. Not going to those classes though... that was made preeetty clear... when they- and when I say they... I mean my mom- yelled over and over the same lines. 'You're never going anywhere ever again!' and 'Right after school you come home!' 'blah blah blah blah!' As if I didn't hear you the first time! It's weird, when she gets mad she becomes like a parrot, repeating herself till my head's about to explode from the annoyingness. And one of these conversations, that are more like a nuclear war going on (my mom being the United States and me Japan), could last for hours and all that would be heard is her loud... loooud booming voice, I think the next door neighbor's heard, heck the whole neighborhood heard! The most annoying part is that there may be instances when you think she's done but the moment you think it's safe to go do something else she starts again! Seriously, enough's enough! If you stop for ten minutes you should just end your rant all together!

Sigh, I've been in this room too long. It's getting to me. Seriously about an hour ago I thought the walls were moving in on me. I am not joking, the room got smaller right in front of my eyes! Also when I laid down on the bed it was like the floors were moving, either that or my head was spinning, I don't know but any longer in this room and I'll start hearing voices telling me to burn the place down.

I want out! I want out! I want out of this prison! Someone come break me out! Of course I could just open the door and step out, but that seems too easy... almost like a trap. Paranoia, gotta fix that problem one day, or at least make it go down from a psychotic disorder to a slight defect in my personality.

Man, its dark in here. I pulled apart the curtains, taking a moment to stare outside; it's amazing these windows don't have bars on them now. The sun shined through but it also seemed to be... raining? I opened the window sticking my hand out... Noooooo, it's snowing!...and I'm stuck in here! The first snow of winter and I'm missing it!

I stuck my head out and caught a couple snowflakes on my tongue. Watery tasting. God, I want to build a snowman or something! Must…resist….urge…to….jump…out…of….window! My pulled my right hand back which was making some sort of creepy attempt of escaping out the window and leaving the rest of me trapped in here.

Leaving the window open, I collapsed onto my bed feeling the cool air rush into the room and hit my body. I closed my eyes…

---3rd Person's P.O.V---

Rei wore slightly baggy dark blue pants, a well-fitting white t-shit with a stripped blue unbuttoned dress shirt over it. Simple yet nice. He left the house in a rush, not wanting to keep his precious Mariah waiting. (haha, Gollum: My precious) She didn't live very far away and not legally able to drive yet he usually walked over to her place which was a whole lot better then asking someone to drive him and his date someplace as it was usually rather awkward that way especially when it was one of his brothers the worst was Enrique that made embarrassing comments about their relationship and usually hinted to something like sex when he talked to Mariah. Besides he liked the quiet times he spent with Mariah when they walked alone together.

After about a ten minutes walk, he finally made it to her place, earlier then he expected to arrive. He turned into her driveway walking up to her door but before he could knock it swung open.

"Hi Rei!" Mariah's little sister yelled opening the door, she was rather fond of him. "Rei's here! Rei's here!" she chanted while jumping around, like her usually over-energetic-self. She wore a pretty pink dress with a matching bow in her hair, all matching her very well…it reminded him of someone…

"Don't bug him Krissy!" Mariah's voice- I don't want to say screech but it was awfully like a screech- from upstairs.

"I won't bug him! I don't bug him! I don't bug you, riiight!...Reeeei?" she asked with her little puppy dog eyes.

Rei smiled. "Of course not."

A huge smile spread across her face. "SEEEEEEEEEEE!" she yelled up to Mariah.

"Krissy, go finish your juice please." her mother said coming out of the living room to greet Rei. She wore a black slimming dress, her hair put up with two diamond-studded chopsticks. She wore very little makeup, a little around her eyes and some lipstick. She didn't need much. It seemed everyone in this household would be out tonight.

"Okay, mommy!" Krissy yelled louder then she had to as she ran off. Typical little kid, too hyper and too loud.

"Good evening Ms. Mao" he greeted politely. (yes I know Mao is Mariah's Japanese name…but really I couldn't find a last name so that's it from now on! Humph:P)

"Hi Rei, nice to see you again." She replied with a smile. "Come sit down, you know how Mariah is, always running late."

Rei sat down on the living room couch, tapping his legs with his hands. Ms Mao had gone to take care of some other things so he was left alone, not for very long though as Krissy came hopping in with her huge smile still plastered on her face. "Play with me Rei!" she exclaimed, seems the juice had made her extra happy.

"Sure, what do you want to play?" He said, knowing Mariah was going to take a while, not that he really minded waiting. I mean good things are worth waiting for, right?

"Ummm...I...like horses! Let's play... horsey! You be the horse!...and I'll be the princess!" she said excitingly clapping her hands together. Well that was a no duh. Krissy was certainly too small to be the horsey and Rei most likely did not want to be a princess.

How he had seen that one coming. "Okay." he said laughing.

"Get down on all fours!"

"Yes, princess." he said, going along with her little game. He got down on his knees and little Krissy climbed up on his back.

"Forward!" she cried, giggling.

Rei crawled around the living room with Krissy laughing away on his back.

"Hooney!" Mr. Mao said in a sorta whiny voice. "I can't get this damn thing on." he said fiddling with a tie.

"Did you say hi to Rei?" Ms. Mao asked from the kitchen. (gosh, that last name sounds so ridiculous)

"Hey Rei." he said not really paying attention to him and his youngest child instead he headed into the kitchen.

"A well educated middle-aged man can't even put on a tie." Ms Mao teased.

"It's not my fault they don't teach this in university."

She shook her head as she took the tie, putting it around his neck and tying it properly, and then straightened it out. "There, perfect." she smiled.

"Thanks honey." he said kissing her gently on the lips.

Rei now giving Krissy a piggy back ride and have been doing so for the last ten minutes, suddenly collapsed onto the couch.

"Noo, Rei! Keep going!"

Rei laughed. "Sorry, I'm all worn out."

"Aww! Noo! That's no fun!"

"Let's do something else... something less tiring," he suggested.

"Noooo! I don't wanna!" she whined, pouting as she went to sit on the other side of the couch stubbornly. This was how she was at times, stubborn as a mule. The thing was, Rei always won when it came to kids. Kids just have always loved him.

"Awww, you're not mad at wittle old me are you?" Rei asked, moving down next to her, putting on a fake hurt looking face.

She turned her head away. She tried desperately to keep her sour looking face on. This was sort of their thing, testing each other to see who would give in first.

"Aww, don't make that face. I know something that'll make you feel better..." Rei knew one thing that always turned her frown upside down..."The tickle monster." (don't tell me that doesn't work...cause it does:P or at least it did on me-.-I'm so ticklish it's not even funny.)

"Noooo!" she giggled. "Not... fair!... you... can't... do... that!" she said between laughs.

Mariah stepped into the room, wearing a light red dress that was flowy at the bottom and well fitted at the top. It reached to just pass her knees. Her hair was left down, reaching just passed her shoulders.

Rei began to pay less attention to little Krissy, who was laughing so hard she was gasping for air. He seemed to become dazed by Mariah's presence. "You look beautiful..." he whispered.

"Thanks, you don't look so bad yourself." she smiled. "Ready to go?"

He nodded, not taking his eyes off of her.

"No! Rei! Don't leave!" Krissy yelled out, grabbing hold of Rei's shirt, clinging to him with all her might. Sometimes it seemed almost as if Krissy would get jealous when Mariah showed up. Seriously if Krissy was just a little older and Rei was just a little younger, there would be some serious catfight in the family.

Ms. and Mr. Mao came out of the kitchen. "We have to leave now too, Krissy. Say bye to Rei."

"But... but..."

"I'll be back to visit soon." Rei assured her with a smile.

"You promise?" She asked.

"Promise."

"...Okay then,"

Mr. Mao came over and picked her up, she waved good bye as he carried her out to the car.

Mariah put on a long white coat that reached just above her knees and they all exited the house.

Rei and Mariah stood on the driveway watching as the car containing, Ms and Mr. Mao and Krissy drove off. Krissy opened a window yelling "Bye Rei!" one last time.

"I don't get why you said you're sister doesn't like you. You seem like a great big brother; I know my sister wishes you were hers…or her boyfriend…" Mariah commented as she saw the extreme happiness in her sister's eyes and it was all because Rei was there.

He shrugged. That was not a topic he was willing to talk about, even if it was with her. That topic filled his heart with too much…guilt. He blamed himself... he had always blamed himself. Why did it have to be her? Why did he have to leave her that day? Why couldn't he have saved her, then everything would be different... then everyone could be happy and not just acting like they were. He desperately wished he could turn back time and save her. Under his air of confidence, he hated himself. He absolutely despised himself. Underneath everything he was just a scared little boy trying to make things right.

"Shall we go?" he asked shoving the thoughts to the back of his mind where in his mind it belonged. It wasn't like he could really build a time machine, go back and change everything right?

She nodded and they headed off to the restaurant.

As they walked it began to snow out. Mariah looked up and watched the snow fall onto her face. She shiver a little as it got colder out with the snow, she could see her own breath now. She wished she had brought those gloves like her mother had told her.

Rei looked over at her rubbing her hands together for warmth. He put his arm around his waist, clasping his hands around hers, hoping to warm them up a little. "Better?" he asked.

"Much," She answered, resting her head on his chest, feeling secure in his arms.

I live in a house of misery

Enrique sat in his room once again. He just didn't feel like going out much anymore. To tell you the truth he didn't feel like doing anything anymore, so he kind of just sat there, day in and day out. He hated this, he was never like this... he was never this weak but he just couldn't shake this feeling... this thing that just consumed him completely. She caused this feeling... this depression?...was it?- No, no it couldn't be, he was strong... a person like him didn't get depressed... didn't get hurt... a person like him couldn't be affected by some girl... but then again he was only human... and she was different, she was almost above everyone else... like an angel or at least to him she was.

What most people didn't realize was that Enrique was a rather complex person. Most people judge a book by its cover so they look at him and just think one of those carefree-well-adjusted-always-happy-people because he always had that goofy smile of his on no matter what happened and he always seemed capable of staying positive. But most people are dumb, they don't realize that these carefree-well-adjusted-always-happy-people aren't really that carefree or happy and adjusted? As if. Most are miserable on the inside, they pretend and bottle everything and are able to socialize but they don't ever really let anyone get to know them... mainly because they don't know themselves. They act normal so well that sometimes they even end up tricking themselves into believing they are something they aren't, into believing that they are happy but in reality they're far from.

This was getting complicated. Did he actually like her? He had to, to be thinking about her this much, to have hurt his sister, the person he had devoted most of his life to protect, to be with her. He kept telling himself that it was just a mistake, just his stupid hormones again but the more he thought about it the less that seemed true. At first he thought these feelings were caused by his sister's words, it sort of was but now he realized it was more then that. He was... in love?... maybe. Love is an interesting thing, as it's able to cause such joy and happiness and then in the next instant there's nothing but devastation and pain. What was it exactly about her that drove him crazy, that causes him to get nervous, that caused his palms to sweat, his ears to burn and his stomach to fill with butterflies. He hated it... yet couldn't get enough of her. Maybe the thing he liked about her the most was that she sort of reminded him of his sister. Not that it really mattered anymore. He ended it and now he just wanted to get over it. Wanted but couldn't because real love never disappears, never goes away. Heartache is forever

A house of anger, confusion, and despair

Johnny was once again in a gym, training, beating the crap out of a punching bag while blasting some fight music into his ears. This was what he did often because he was filled with so much rage, and as he grew it seemed to grow, so much that he could hardly control it anymore. This rage couldn't be stopped now; it had become him, this rage that was born the day that it happened, the day where not only his sister's life got turned upside down but his too. The day where the innocence of life and easy-going days of childhood came to an end as he was forced to grow up just a little faster, forced to deal with the stuff happening around him, to be able to understand and take care of the people breaking down around him. The day his perfect family broke... the day he broke and his spirit died.

Even to this day he still wanted revenge, he wanted to hurt the person that did this, he wanted to cause him as much pain as he had caused this family but the fact that he couldn't only made him more angry. Kai had already done it... but he wished he had, had the chance to do it and now he regretted everyday that he hadn't. Regret... possibly the worst feeling ever, to always look back, hold onto the past unable to let go and thinking everyday 'what if?' It could tear a person apart, it was tearing him apart.

It was obviously affecting his life. He couldn't stand people for one thing, didn't trust them... couldn't bring himself too. Always thinking that they'll just end up hurting him or his family so he pushed everyone away, made them hate him because he would act like a jerk, because his anger would take over. Which is why he could never keep a girlfriend for long, if they got too close, knew him just a little or if he actually developed feelings for someone he'd push them away because under the tough persona he puts on he's really just afraid. Terrified of getting hurt because only people you love can truly hurt you. To love someone you have to eventually give them enough information to completely crush you, to make you miserable yet trust them enough to know that they won't. He just couldn't trust someone like that, so he even isolated himself from his family. He built a wall around himself; that even kept out people that loved him. He didn't like this loneliness but he preferred it better then the other option.

Everyone's fake, no one's happy, pretending to be something their not

Max sat in the basement, trying to build this new idea of his. This was what he did... or use to. He built stuff that would help with everyday life, like some contraption that put together a drink for you just by pressing a button of some sort, something that automatically opened doors or flipped pancakes for you, just whatever popped into that mind of his. He was surrounded by years and years of his old unfinished inventions that had all been piled up down here but he kind of liked it that way, being surrounded by metal and all that junk. He chewed his gum loudly trying to figure out how to make his thing run properly. He really wasn't getting anything he hadn't really finished building anything in a long time. He had lost all inspiration somewhere along the way... well not just somewhere, that day. The defying day in his life that changed everything. His mind started to drift off topic... into the world of the past. He remembered a long time ago when he was building his very first invention, his sister would be like his little assistant. It was cute, fun... he missed it, it brought a tear to his eye.

Max had turned out a little different from the rest of his brothers. He was a little more on the emotional side, softer. He was secure enough with himself not to be afraid to show a little weakness now and then... and in some way that kind of made him strong; it takes a big person to not be ashamed of crying or asking for help when absolutely needed. The problem with Max was that maybe he was a little too willing to ask for help, sometimes without trying to figure things out for himself, like he gave up too easily now which is why he never finished his own inventions, he could fix stuff but all ideas of his own never got completed. He was definitely smart, capable of figuring out solutions he just doesn't anymore. His little sister was like his inspiration and when she died, so did all willingness to finish anything.

Everyone's hopes and dreams have long been crushed

Tala was again on the ice with a hockey stick in his hands. He slammed the puck once again into the net, not that it was difficult considering there was no one at net. He was all alone, the way he liked it. He was a true loner, popular, yet still a loner. Kind, caring, polite yet always distant. Always silent, more of an observer then a talker. Mysterious was what he did best. Being the oldest he was always in command, he always takes the place of their parents when they weren't around which was almost all the time because they started to bury themselves in work, running from reality because they just didn't want to face what had happened. So from that day Tala took charge. He would become a great leader in the future that's certain. Being the oldest gave him a lot responsibility. He cooked, clean, taught everyone how to take care of themselves because he felt like he had to take care of everyone, he was always the most worried or stressed out yet hid it the best. The problem was doing that really left him with no life of his own. His life was his family, in his short seventeen years of life he's gotten something that takes most people their entire lives to understand, that family comes first.

Everyone respected him because he always seemed to know what the right thing was but again people are dumb as the truth was he was just learning as he went along in life. Picking things up and trying to use them, trying to juggle his mess-of-a-life and keep everyone in balance. He lived in a world of confusion and disaster and everyday he'd try and sort through them only to get a ton more things dumped on his shoulders. You could say his work was never really done. The load was so heavy it almost seemed like he carried the world on his shoulders. Failure has never been an option. Mistakes could not happen or at least that's what he kept telling himself…the pressure was getting to him…

Everyone only wishes for the end, to finally be saved,

Kai sat in the park, he's favorite place mainly because of the memories it carried. He watched as the last leaves fell from their snow-covered branches and the last flower withered. He was thinking about her again…it was kind of hard not to now-days when he saw her practically everyday.

There was this voice in him, the voice that came from his bitter and grouchy side that was yelling at him to snap out of it and to stop being such a baby and obsessing over a girl that doesn't even remember him but then…there was this other voice…a much louder one that wouldn't shut up about her. 'Remember when she was like this?' 'Remember when she was like that?' It was so irritating yet he didn't want to stop hearing that voice reminding him of how things were. But then he'd remember that it's been eight years…he was gone for eight years…and she just forgets about him! And that's fuel the other voice…but then he'd see her smile…and that thought would melt away…but then…well…you can basically see how his train of thought usually went.

Not today though…today there was only one voice and with that one voice he had decided. He was going to help her remember, no matter what. (wow…I made my poor Kai crazy…-.-')

Only then can happiness finally enter their souls

Slowly the disease spread….slowly they were all dying and they didn't even know it.

Rei and Mariah both stepped off of the ice rink that was really just a little frozen lake. They decided it was getting late so they'd better be leaving as school did start again tomorrow. So they sat down at a bench and toke off their rented skates.

"I'll be right back," Rei said taking the skates to go return them. He came back a couple minutes later holding a hot chocolate in his hands and handed it to Mariah.

"Thanks." she smiled, taking the cup, its warmth warming up her hands. She drank it quickly, feeling the heat rush through her body. When she was done they got up and left.

The sun was going down, there was only a little light so it was rather cold out now, it was still snowing out too, it had began to pile up on the ground. They walked through the busy streets arms linked in silence, but not an awkward silence. A person really knows that they are comfortable with another when they can be in silence, just enjoying each others company with no pressure to start some sort of conversation. Mariah once again rested her head on his chest and they just walked.

Once on a smaller street, Mariah slipped away from Rei and just as he turned around to see what she was up to a snowball hit him square on the face. Mariah laughed at Ray's cute annoyed looking face that is until a snowball hit her in the neck, some falling into her jacket. "C-c-cool," she whispered as Rei smirked. "You're going to get it Rei!" she cried making another snowball and running after Rei who had dashed down the street. "Get back here!" she laughed.

It continued with them chasing after each other for a good fifteen minutes. Finally both exhausted they called it a truce and collapsed onto a pile of snow. They stared up into the now dark sky, only a couple stars were visible.

They went back to that comfortable silence thing again. Rei held her in his arm again and she placed her head on his chest and rested her arm on his waist.

The only thing that interrupted the silence was Rei's sudden coughing and sneezing.

"Are you sick?" Mariah asked, worried, putting her hand on his forehead.

"No..." he answered kind of absent mindedly. This was different. He remembered this had happened before... last time was in the third grade. It was like he had the symptoms of a sickness yet wasn't actually sick... no but someone was, he knew it... she, his twin, was sick there was no doubt about it.

"Are you sure?" Mariah asked, as Rei was acting weirdly, his eyes were looking to the bottom right like he was remembering something or trying to.

"I'm fine."

"You don't look it."

"I'm fine," he repeated, rolling on top of her and kissing her, partly to get her to stop worrying and partly just because he wanted to. One hand was on her waist the other supported her head. (interesting... on the streets, why am I witting this?-.- moooving on:P)

---Normal P.O.V.---

I shivered as a real cold gush of wind hit my skin waking me up. Sooo cold, I sneezed once...then once more. I pulled the blanket I was lying on over me but it was also freezing cold so didn't help much in making me warm. Slowly I opened my eyes, it was now dark, no sun shined in from the outside. I looked at the clock, nine thirty. God, I slept for like the whole day. With the huge cold blanket draped over me, I got up dragging some of the blanket on the ground as I made my way to the window.

Wow, must of snowed a lot... there's a small pile of snow building on the floor. Do I really want to clean that up now?...Nah, maybe later.. I shut the window but the room was still freezing. I sneezed a couple more times; my throat seemed to hurt a little more every time I did. My nose began to run and I sniffed. I couldn't breathe out of one nostril. How annoying, I laid down as the room really began to spin now and my head ached, especially my eyes that pained when opened. It was even harder to breathe now that I was lying down but I couldn't get up the strength to stand back up either. Great.

God, am I dying? Sure felt like it.

OMG! …don't yell at me because it sucks….seriously…I couldn't even re-read this whole chapter…but the parts I did read I was like "Who wrote this?" and "I did NOT write this crud!"…but unfortunately I did….haha…I don't know…It didn't have anything to do with anything there was too much mushy kissing…and it's interesting how the kissing continues next chapter…and not even well because I don't know how to write junk like that…but after that I assure u we'll be getting to the…I guess the "climax?" of the story and I can stop with this stupidity. But…yeeeah…took me quite awhile to update…I'd like to say it was because of school and blame it all on that and on all the hw…but really there wasn't much-.-'….I just…I dunno…got really tired…in the morning, at night, during the day…it's like sleeping through ur days…day after day the same thing and it just gets so automatic and boooring!…that…it's likeI wassleepyeven after doing nothingand I didn't feel like writing…but I am totally awake now!...well…close enough:) so yes! R&R…and I can reassure u next chapter…will b edited while I'm fully awake!