AN/ I'm so sorry that this is late! (Bows to readers repeatedly) Between my vacation, my mom's surgery, my summer project, and the new Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince book, I have had extremely little time to write. I'm very, very sorry! (Gets hit by readers) All right, fine, I deserved that. So… I'm sure you'd like to get to the chapter, right? … (Sigh)

Fine, go enjoy yourselves…

Chapter 15/ Painful memories

(Author's PoV)

There were many minutes of awkwardness before Ayumi realized her mistake. Perhaps laying it on him as suddenly as she did wasn't the best was to go around doing it. "Oh dear, I should explain. You see, when your parents had gone on their trip to America, I had believed that you were with them. But I was wrong. Yuki had left you in the care of his business partner, now known as Commissioner Hiwatari. (1) So when your parents died on their flight home, I mourned their loss as well as your own. I'm so very sorry for assuming such a thing."

Satoshi held his emotionless mask over his face, and even Daisuke was having trouble seeing what the other was feeling. He could barely distinguish the anger in his eyes. Anger?

"What happened after that?" the redhead asked.

"Well, I up and left. After losing so much, I couldn't handle a great deal more. Kaoru died when Yuki was hardly a year old. Then I lost Yuki, Kyoko, and you all at the same time. It was simply too overwhelming for me, and even more so in my elderly condition," she answered.

Daisuke was becoming quite lost and baffled with everything. Kaoru? Yuki? Kyoko? Who were they?

He shook his uncertainties away for later so he may concentrate on what the woman was saying.

"What about us, Gemma? You always had us!" said Risa, tugging at Ayumi's skirt from where she sat at her grandmother's feet.

"Yes. Didn't you love Mama and Daddy?" added Riku. (2)

Ayumi smiled at her granddaughters. "Of course I loved them, and I love you both, as well," she assured them, squeezing their hands lovingly. "And if the same thing had occurred to you, I would have been just as upset."

This show of affection only upset Satoshi more and he began to glare at the woman and the two girls whom he hated. The realization of what this woman had done to him was incomparable. And what's worse, this news brought on the fact that he was now related to those rotten girls, whom he now may call cousins.

"Why did you come back?" Daisuke asked, intrigued about the past.

"A friend of the family called me a short while ago to inform me that he had found my grandson. So I returned to work at the restaurant that I had developed before I left, and I have been here while I tried to locate that old friend and you, Satoshi."

"Who's your friend?"

"A man named Niwa Kosuke," said the woman.

Daisuke's head popped up quickly from where he had been analyzing his hands, his eyes wide with surprise. "Niwa Kosuke?" he mumbled under his breath. He and Satoshi glanced at each other, and then Satoshi turned back to the woman, looking at her warily yet sharpening his glare. There were a few moments of silence as Daisuke watched Satoshi for signs of what he had wanted to do next, and then Satoshi stood.

"Thank you for your hospitality, but I must be going now," he said as he gave a small bow and left the room in the direction of the front door.

Daisuke stood and scrambled after him, pausing only at the doorway to bow. "Thank you, Ayumi. Harada-san, your gifts are on the table there. Merry Christmas!" With that, he followed Satoshi out the front door, intent on finding what exactly anger Satoshi.

As the boys left, Ayumi put her hand to her mouth to prevent her lip from trembling. She was so near tears. She had at long last found her grandson who she believed he was dead, and he shunned her and glared daggers at her. Someone once said that rejection was a hard pill to swallow. As she moved that hand to her chest to steady her shaking breaths, she understood that phrase.

Was there a way that she may get close to her grandson for the first time since he was conceived?

XXXXXXXXXX

(Daisuke's PoV)

"I'm sorry, Satoshi."

Satoshi blinked his blue eyes at the redhead. "Why are you apologizing when you haven't done anything? Don't say sorry for things that aren't your fault."

I opened my mouths to explain, but thought better of it and closed my mouth again. I stared at the sidewalk at we continued walking to nowhere in particular. I wanted to apologize for dragging him there with me. If I hadn't, none of that would have happened… whatever 'that' was. If I had found my long-lost grandmother, I'd be really excited. But… there was something that bothered Satoshi about it.

"What's wrong?" I asked, looking at him through the corner of my eyes. "I mean, shouldn't you be happy?"

"Why would I be?" he asked nonchalantly. I looked back at him with innocent eyes that didn't quite grasp the understanding. He sighed slightly, "Never mind…"

"No, Satoshi! Please tell me… what is it?" I urged, taking his hand to prevent him from walking any further and to secure his eyes to mine.

There was a minute or two of silent tension, as if he was debating on telling me. When he spoke, I knew that it wasn't the full truth. "She left me in an orphanage, Daisuke. That's all. I'm sorry if I overreacted."

"Oh, no, you weren't overreacting," I said, waving my hands in front of me to brush of his apology. "Don't apologize. You didn't do anything. I was just concerned and—" I stopped rambling when a saw Satoshi smiling very lightly. "You used to only wave your hands like that when you were embarrassed in front of the Haradas," he explained at my questioningly glance.

I blushed a horrible red and rubbed the back of my head. "You actually noticed that?"

"It was hard not to notice the crush you had on them."

We didn't speak much on the rest of the way home. As we came through the door, Mom ran out and hugged us both. I sent a smile to Satoshi, half out of embarrassment, and half from seeing my mom show some acceptance of him. "Takeshi called," she said as she tousled my hair and headed back for the kitchen.

Motioning for the commander to wait there, I followed my mom into the kitchen where the phone lay on the counter. I dialed the Saehara residence and Takeshi answered.

"Hi,Takeshi."

"Oi, Daisuke! I tried to call you earlier."

"Yeah, sorry. I was out. What's wrong? Are you back from your trip already?"

"Yea, there were some really bad snow storms that trapped us there and they were predicting worse. So we caught the first flight that could make it out. But my dad said that because we had to cut our vacation short, that I could have a New Years Party. I want to invite the Haradas and Keiji Saga and maybe a couple of other kids from our class. You interested?"

"Uh, yeah, it sounds like a lot of fun… Do you think that I can invite Hiwatari-kun, too?"

"Sure, whatever… Cool, then you're my first guest."

I smiled at my friend's excitement. "When should we get there?"

"I dunno! Six or seven o'clock, most likely."

"Alright, then I'll see you then."

"Later, Daisuke!"

"Bye, Takeshi," I said before hanging up. At the sight of Emiko's inquiring stares, I explained the reason for the short phone call. And after receiving an approving nod from my mom, I ran back to the entryway to meet Satoshi. Curiously enough, the blue-haired boy wasn't there, and I went into the living room searching for the other. But he still wasn't to be seen; just my father sat hiding behind the newspaper on the couch. "Where's Satoshi?" I asked him, making a mental note to ask him later about all the people from Ayumi's story, not to mention Ayumi herself.

"He took his bags from down here and went up to your room, I think," answered Kosuke, never taking his eyes away from the paper.

"Arigato," I mumbled to my Dad as I turned for the stairs. In opening my bedroom door, I found the commander folding the clothes that he had dropped on the floor last night, and placing them neatly in his bag. Next to his clothes was the worn leather shoulder bag that he had picked up from his house the day before. "Satoshi? Are you going somewhere? I mean, you aren't leaving, are you?" I asked, eyeing his packed bags.

"I'm sorry, Daisuke, but I've outstayed my welcome. I need to go home."

"What? But you know that you are always welcome here—"

"I know, but I want to be alone for a little while," he said in a soft voice, shouldering his bags as he faced me.

We stood there for a minute or two as I tried to think of an excuse for him to stay longer, and only two coming to mind. One that I wouldn't be able to sleep; and two being Takeshi's party that drew near. "Well, Takeshi is having a New Years Party and is inviting both of us. I thought that you may have liked to stay here until then," I suggested hopefully, looking at the wooden floor.

"What time does the party start?"

"Six o'clock…"

"Then I'll see you then, if not sooner. I'm sorry, but I need to sort out what happened to my family. Do you understand?"

"Yes," I answered, nodding slightly to my feet. "I understand."

"Thank you." Satoshi stepped up to me and lifted my chin. I stared into his azure eyes, and they took control of me once again. I've almost gotten used to my racing heart, and the urge to run away battling with my desire to stay. He leaned down and our lips locked. I wish I had thrown away the key because when we parted, it was the last thing I had ever wanted.

I was soon following him downstairs to see him to the door. My mom came out of the kitchen and attempted to persuade him to at least stay for lunch. But the commander stayed firm in his decision, and it wasn't long before he was riding down the street on his motorcycle toward his home.

I blinked after him for a moment, wondering what to do next. Then I remembered… Kosuke... Ayumi…

Running into the family room, I sat on the couch next to my dad and I pushed the paper down into his lap. He looked at me curiously but I had too many questions myself to bother with answering his. "Who's Ayumi? Who's Yuki, and Kaoru, and Kyoko? And why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell Satoshi? Why did you keep his only living relatives a secret?" I asked, running all my sentences together. I took a breath and continued, "And how did you and Grandpa know about my relationship with Satoshi when I barely knew myself?"

Kosuke sat there looking at me calmly, then took the cigarette out of his mouth and dabbed it in the ashtray, preparing to tell a long story.

XXXXXXXXXX

(Satoshi's PoV)

Another piece to a faded puzzle…

A forgotten note in a classic song…

A misspelled word in a favorite book…

Something that no longer matters…

That something is my past…

I didn't care about it…

I don't care about it…

So why must I always be reminded…

I don't these memories…

Why do they linger…

How do I forget them…

I did it once…

I had completely forgotten…

But… Daisuke…

He reminded me…

He wouldn't want me to forget…

Not again…

I entered my apartment, slowed by a heavy mind, and feeling rather betrayed. My grandmother? Even if her blood did run in my veins, she would never be my family. She left me, just like everyone else. Everyone left me. They all forgot me. I was left in that orphanage alone, fated to be sent with the man who I am now compelled to call Father.

The only one that cared, the only one who stayed with me, was Krad. Nothing more then a small voice, a second conscience at the time.

;; I was the only one that loved you. ;;

The only one who cared…

;; You're everything to me, Satoshi-sama. ;;

I know…

"Why didn't you tell me the reason she left? Why didn't you tell me that it was a misunderstanding? That she didn't mean to leave me?" I asked slowly as I pulled an old scrapbook off of the shelf and sat with it on the couch.

;; I hadn't wanted to bring back those painful moments. You have a fragile heart, Satoshi-sama, ;; he whispered into my ear as he wrapped his arms around my neck from where he stood behind the couch. ;; I would never want to shatter that glass heart. ;;

I opened the cover to read the scribbled handwriting saying, 'Property of Kyoko Hikari,' my mother.

XXXXXXXXXX

(Daisuke's PoV)

"Alright, we'll start at the beginning, of what I know at least," said Kosuke as he cleared his voice. "Ayumi and Kaoru were Satoshi's grandparents. Yuki and Kyoko were his mom and dad. Daichi had fallen in love with Kaoru, who soon filed a divorce so that he and Daichi could live together.

"Unfortunately, Kaoru got in a car accident and died in the hospital months later due to seizures. His divorce was never completed, so he left behind a widowed wife, a fatherless son, and your heartbroken grandfather.

"Ayumi became friends with the nurse who had cared for Kaoru during his time in the hospital. Her name was Kaeoni. Kaeoni didn't mind the way Ayumi went on and on about her dead husband at all, which is saying a lot. It wasn't long until the two women came up with the idea that Yuki and Kaeoni's daughter, Kyoko, should get married. The two children grew up together and became extremely close friends. I should know, the three of us were inseparable." Dad paused in a moment of reminiscing.

"You were best friends with Satoshi's parents?" I asked. I would have never guessed that our two families were so intertwined, nonetheless with stories of love and friendship and death. Perhaps the love between Satoshi and I wasn't that out of the ordinary after all.

"Yes. Now this will sound a little awkward, but I fell in love with Yuki, too. He didn't realize it, but I loved him very deeply. So when—"

"You loved Yuki?" I blinked. "So… my grandpa loved Satoshi's grandpa, my dad loved Satoshi's dad, and now I love Satoshi? This is kinda strange," I said.

"Yes, well, that's just what happened. We can't control it. I suppose it has something to do with the fact that we can understand each other better due to Dark and Krad. But as I saying, when they decided to agree to their mothers' plans of getting married, I was… well, devastated." He paused and thought for a moment. "It feels the same as if Satoshi agreed to marry one of the Haradas," he said, causing me to gulp at the mere thought of it.

"Anyway, that's when I married your mother. I cared for her very much, but I knew that it wasn't the same way I felt about Yuki. Both him and I had a son around the same time and life moved on. He went into law enforcement, much like Kaoru and Satoshi, and I went to college.

Two years after Satoshi was born, Yuki and Kyoko went on vacation to America, leaving Satoshi in the hands of Mr. Hiwatari. It was at this time that I just could hold it in any longer. I had needed to tell him how I felt about him, and then maybe we could on with our lives. Therefore, I followed him to America and confessed."

"That must have spoiled their vacation together," I noted. I don't think I would have liked to be interrupted from my time alone with Satoshi by some girl who confessed her undying love for him… I think that's called jealousy…

Kosuke shrugged sadly. "Yeah, I suppose you can say it spoiled the rest of their lives. After I told him, I realized the damage I had done and can running back home. But my confession had brought Yuki to realize his feelings for me and he finally saw how much he loved me in return. He cut his vacation short so that he could come home and see me, but his plane… they don't know what happened to it, but it went d0own in the Pacific Ocean and none survived. What's worse, they never found the bodies of Yuki and Kyoko."

"That's really scary…" I said as the silence drew out when he finished the sentence. "So what about Satoshi? What happened to him after all of that? He went to an orphanage, right? He told me once that the oldest memory he had was from one of the first days in the orphanage." (3)

"Yes, he did. You see, Mr. Hiwatari was Yuki's business partner in law enforcement, and Yuki had placed him as Satoshi's godfather. Thereafter, it was by law that Satoshi go with him. But I took him to court for custody of the boy. During the months that the court trial and it's preparations took place, yes, Satoshi was forced to stay at the orphanage."

"Why couldn't you adopt Satoshi?"

"It was the law. Even though he would've had a mother, father, and brother, he was still legally left in the hands of Mr. Hiwatari. Not to mention, if we had adopted him, how could you and him ever go out? It's not respectful to date your siblings, you know?" said my father with a smirk. "Although, it would save the trouble of who's last name was to be inherited in the case of marriage."

"Oh, Daisuke!" called Emiko as she entered the room. "I almost forgot. I sent Dark's note. It's tonight and 9:00. You're stealing the 'Twin Snake.'"

"What!" I asked, looking at her for a moment, then jumped up and ran past her to the front door. Having not stopped to remove my shoes or jacket when I arrived home, I didn't have to stop in the entry to put them back on, so I headed straight through the door and down the street in the direction of Satoshi's apartment.

What am I gonna do? I can't steal anything right now! Dark is gone!

- - - - - - - - -

1- According to Volume 2, Chapter 6 titled Warning of a Big Gamble in the manga series, a woman in the background goes, 'Look—It's the Police Commissioner Hiwatari!' … Sorry if I was a tad bit too precise. I like details. Lol!

2- Do any of you know what happened to the Harada's parents? I can't remember any mention of them. In the anime, they just show their butler…

3- Check chapter 10, when Satoshi gives Daisuke his Christmas present and tells him never to forget Dark's companionship.

AN/ What do you think? Are you confused? That's okay. I don't blame you. Oh! For all of you who reviewed with, 'My Poor Satoshi Baby..' I love you! And for those of you who figured out that the situation had made Satoshi and the Harada twins cousins… extra claps for you. Sorry it was such an abrupt ending to the chapter, I ran out of time… (sweatdrops).

I'd also like to remind some of you that this is under the 'romance/tragedy' category. I think you can guess what will happen on your own, because you are all such intelligent and wonderful people! Lol!

All my apologies once again. R&R!