"About what?" Chie asked.

Kikuko sat down on a nearby chair and picked up the spatula Chie had dropped.

"I noticed you gave away our most expensive chocolate cake to Ami-chan," she said.

Chie bit her lip and twirled her hair several times. "Uh, well, she was in a hurry and told me about Iru-san and---"

"So it's true Iru-chan is in the hospital?"

Chie nodded sadly.

"And you thought the cake might cheer up Edo-chan?"

Another nod. Kikuko sighed and pointed at the small sink in the corner.

"Go wash your face. It's difficult to talk to you seriously when you look like you stuck half of your face in a jar of honey."

Chie laughed nervously and walked over to the sink.

"Now, Chie, do you like anyone?" Kikuko asked.

Chie splashed water on her face and grabbed a bar of soap. "Well, there's Ku-chan, Giku-chan, Dai-kun, Hiwa-san, and---"

"Not that kind of like," Kikuko interrupted.

Chie scrubbed her face with the soap bar. "Then what kind?"

"Like like. You know, love. True love."

Chie laughed. "What's this all about? Are you trying to arrange my love life or something?"

"I think I should've arranged your love life because you clearly can't. You pick the worst possible people to fall in love with."

"Huh?"

"I think you could've done better than the boy that houses Dark within him."

Chie dropped the bar of soap. It skidded around the sink for a while before stopping on top of the drain. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"I know Anas is within you. Or at least she was. And quite a number of factors contributed to her awakening."

"Awakening?"

"All angels awaken within their tamers when the feelings of love cause a reaction with the tamer's DNA. However, Anas doesn't appear until Sana appears first. Chie, did Sasaya love anybody?"

"Not that I know of," Chie mumbled.

"It was Hiwatari-chan, wasn't it? I know it's true, so don't even try to lie." Kikuko sighed. "If you still don't understand, allow me to explain. Sasaya fell in love with Hiwatari-chan and you with Niwa-chan. Sana awakened in Sasaya and Anas in you."

Chie splashed more water on her face and grabbed a paper towel to dry it.

"Are you saying that it's Ku-chan's fault?"

"Yes. A girl's emotions are stronger than a boy's. That's why that bloody cycle keeps repeating itself. It's Sasaya's fault that it started over just when everything was going along so smoothly. She should've kept her feelings under a tight lid."

Chie whirled around to face Kikuko. "How can you say that about my sister!" she demanded.

Kikuko frowned. "She's not your sister, Chie. It's about time you realized that."

"I know she isn't my sister by blood, but she's still my sister in my heart!"

"Don't yell at your elders, Chie!" Kikuko snapped and stood up. "You should respect those that are wiser than you."

"Then please give me a reason to respect you."

"I've fed and clothed you and your so-called 'sister' for over eleven years!"

"And I'm much obliged Kiku-san, but you shouldn't say such things about Ku-chan."

"You can't deny the truth, Chie. A girl's emotions are so much powerful than a boy's and---"

"Stop that!" Chie shouted. "Stop saying things like that. For as long as I can remember, you've been stating the differences between boys and girls. Boys are human, just like girls. Don't talk about them like their emotions aren't worth anything!"

"I told you not to raise your voice at me!" Kikuko shouted.

"And what are you doing?" Chie snapped back, rubbing her eyes furiously. She was on the verge of tears. "We all feel anger, happiness, pain, and sadness. Those are all human emotions. Boys and girls are both human. There's no such thing as a girl's emotions being more powerful than a boy's! Why do you talk about boys like they're subhuman? It's not fair!"

Kikuko's face grew red with anger. "Chie, I'm warning you. Shut up this instant!"

It was too late for Chie to stop her little speech.

"Maybe the reason you're blaming Ku-chan is because you don't want to blame yourself!"

"How dare you!"

The spatula clattered loudly as it fell on the floor. A bit of Chie's blood sparkled on the sharp edge. Chie sank to her knees, the blood from the cut on her cheek running down her neck and collarbone and staining the white collar of her blouse. Wide-eyed, Chie looked up at Kikuko, shocked that her own grandmother would throw something so dangerous at her.

"Kiku . . . san?" Chie whispered as tears started rolling down her face.

Kikuko blinked several times. "I . . . I didn't mean to . . ."

"Was I right, then? Were you blaming Ku-chan because you didn't want to blame yourself?"

Kikuko turned and ran into the kitchen. She slammed the door and bolted it shut. Chie flinched. The cut burned when her salty tears fell on it. She stood up and washed her face until the water stopped running red.

"I have to get some honest answers," she said to herself. "I have to find Dai-kun. He'll tell me."

Chie ran out of the bakery. She meant to go to Daisuke's house, but couldn't remember where it was located. She spent a few hours wandering around and finally spotted Daisuke in the middle of a bridge.

"Dai-kun!" she called and ran towards him.

Daisuke turned around. "Chie-san!" he exclaimed.

Chie accidentally tripped while crossing the bridge. Daisuke knelt in front of her and helped her up.

"Dai-kun, please tell me everything," Chie said.

"What do you mean?" Daisuke asked.

"Something happened, but no one wants to tell me. Please, do you know what happened yesterday?"

Daisuke bit his lip and looked down at the ground.

"What's the matter? Dai-kun?" Chie asked.

"Saki . . . she . . . died."

Chie gasped. She knew something horrible had happened, but didn't know it had been this horrible.

"No. It can't be . . ."