Time passed,and it seemed that Akasei's prayers were answered. Ami seemed to be doing much better than she or Joko thought.

And what about Yushi and Gojei? Well,they were fine as well. The only problem was that it was very hard to tell them apart. Because of this,Gojei took to wearing sunglasses at age two. Needless to say,a lot of people thought that she was blind,and Akasei had to explain that this was not the case.

Yushi was rather bossy,Gojei was rather silly,and Ami...although she would always remain just a bit smaller than her sisters,by the time she was three years old,the sickly look was gone,and you would never have guessed that anything had ever been wrong before.


In early spring the cherry trees that seemed to be found everywhere in those lovely lands were delighting all with their pink blossoms,and at night the bright lights of the city,casting a lovely glow,with the sounds of the night,however noisy they may have been there,bringing perfect bliss.

This was a time that Ami loved. She and her sisters would sit in the backseat of the car,happily watching everything that was going on outside as they were on their way to either the park,or to vist Joko at work in the luxurious hotel that he owned downtown.

Ami loved to ask Akasei questions whenever they were driving. She didn't know why,it seemed to just come naturally.

Once she asked, ''What's that?'' She pointed out the window.

''That?'' Akasei said, ''That is a bus.''

Ami looked out the window to see it,but they had already driven past it.

''The road?'' Ami asked.

''Yes?'' Akasei said.

''Whose is it?''

''Ours.''

''Ours? Me,you and Daddy?''

''What about us?'' Yushi asked.

''Yeah!'' Gojei said.

''And you...'' Ami said.

''Well,'' Akasei said, '' it's not just ours...the other people here use it,and the other roads too.''

''Oh...'' Ami said. ''Other people?''

''Yes.''

''Other little kids?''

''Yes.''

''Are there other little kids?''

''Of course.''

''But I don't see them...''

''You will.''

''At the park?''

''Maybe. We're almost there.''


The car stopped,and Akasei got out. She opened the backseat doors and let Ami and her sisters out,but she stopped them before they could go anywhere.

''Listen,girls,'' Akasei said, ''I'll be sitting on the park bench watching you. If you should come to the bench and I'm not there,stay right where you are...don't worry about me. Do you understand?''

They nodded yes.

''Now,let's go.'' Akasei took her daughters by the hand and led them to the playground.

Yushi and Gojei loved to climb on the monkey bars,swing on the swings,they loved all the things at the playground. Ami loved them too,but her favorite part of the park was the freshly-mowed grass that streched out as far as she could see. There were beautiful flowerbeds all around as well. Ami loved it all.

Leaving her sisters to their monkey bar climbing,she leapt into the flowerbed,then leapt again,this time into the grass. She kept this routine up until Yushi decided to join her. When Ami saw that Yushi was there,she gleefully began a game.

First,she ran past Yushi,leaping into the air upon her return. Yushi didn't understand. Ami ran past her again.

''Catch me!'' She said. She jumped again,then ran off. Yushi still didn't understand.

When Ami came back,she leaped into the air in a circle around Yushi to get her attention. ''Come on,'' Ami said, ''Try to catch me!'' She ran off again,and before she knew it Yushi was behind her. They leapt into the grasses and flowerbeds together until Gojei called for them.

Then the three of them played on the playground things together. They kept this up for a long time,but they were soon tired.

Ami sat next to Akasei on the park bench. Akasei pulled her close,and Ami watched as a butterfly flew by.

She wiggled free of Akasei's grasp and tried to get a better look at the butterfly. It soon landed on the bench,and Ami looked at it with joy.

But when she tried to touch it,it flew away,and she went running after it. It wasn't long before the butterfly was too far away to catch.

Ami stood watching it for a long time,then she saw something jump past her. She ran to Akasei.

''Mommy!'' She said,pointing, ''There's a piece of grass jumping!''

''No,'' Akasei said, ''That's a grasshopper.''

''Oh...'' Ami said,then she went to go find it again.

When she did,it jumped up into the air. Ami did the same,trying to catch up with it. She kept this up until...

''Ami! Yushi! Gojei!'' Akasei called out. ''It's time to go home!''

With that,they all got back into the car and headed home.


A/N: That was a lot of fun to write. I hope to make the next chapter even better...stay tuned!

In the meantime,reviews,ideas and constructive criticism are welcomed;flames...ehh...not so much.

Sayonara!

------------------------------------Shaddie-chan--------------------------------------------------