Hey, sorry I haven't updated in a while. School starts for me tomorrow so Ill probably update less often for the next few weeks while I get settled in and everything. But Ill try So, enjoy this new chapter and please review!

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Chapter 3-The Park

"Here you are, Ritsuka" Soubi smiled down at the small boy as they reached his front door. Ritsuka nodded

"Thanks for taking me home" he scuffed one foot against the cement. Soubi patted his shoulder

"I will take me leave now" he hesitated, looking like he wanted to add something else but in the end, all he said was "Goodnight, Ritsuka" before he turned and melted seamlessly out of sight. Ritsuka stared after him for several long moments, wondering for at least the hundredth time how Soubi could do that, especially since it was light outside. Shaking his head, he turned to the door and opened it, peering around cautiously for any signs that his mother was upset.

The remains of the plate she had broken remained on the floor but the rest of the mess was cleaned up. With a soft sigh Ritsuka began picking up the sharp shards of blue glass. He jumped when the front door opened and sliced one of his fingers on the edge of a small piece. He hurriedly dumped the glass into the trash can and went to see who had come in.

His mother stood in the doorway, removing her coat. She had a shopping bag slung over one arm. She looked up to see Ritsuka and smiled

"Hello Ritsuka, where were you last night?" she asked pleasantly. Ritsuka sighed in relief; she seemed to be sane today.

"Uh, I went to stay at a friend's house" he replied. His mother smiled again

"Did you have fun?" she asked, walking into the kitchen and unloading her bag. Ritsuka followed her.

"Define fun" he thought sourly.

"Oh yes, it was lots of fun. We watched anime all night" he lied brightly. The lie pleased his mother though because she smiled prettily.

"That's wonderful Ritsuka, now why don't you go do something so I can cook?" she suggested, shooing him gently out of the kitchen. Ritsuka stood there for a moment, wondering what to do when there was a loud, almost hyper sounding knock at the door.

"Ritsuka-Kun!" Yuiko cried happily, still knocking on the door. Ritsuka smiled faintly and opened it. Yuiko's fist halted an inch from his nose and her pink tail waved wildly.

"Ritsuka-Kun!" she smiled broadly, hopping up and down. Yayoi poked his head out from behind her and smiled brightly, seeming just as cheerful as Yuiko.

"Yes?" Ritsuka asked, leaning against the doorway.

"Do you want to go to the park with us?" Yuiko asked, she glanced down and caught sight of Ritsuka's cut.

"Oh, you're bleeding!" she exclaimed, rapidly hopping from one topic to the next. Ritsuka glanced down and shrugged, he had forgotten about the cut.

"It's really nothing…" he began but Yuiko grabbed his wrist and dragged him into the bathroom. How she knew where it was, Ritsuka had no idea, but she did. Yayoi followed her and observed as she cleaned and bandaged Ritsuka's finger.

"Ahh…thanks" Ritsuka said, holding up his hand to examine her work. Yuiko watched him, her tail waving almost lazily.

"Can we go now?" she asked hopefully. Ritsuka sighed and a faint smile ghosted around his lips.

"Sure, lets go" he said, grabbing a jacket to guard against the chill breeze in the air. Yuiko hopped up and down, squealing about how much fun they would have while Yayoi watched her with pure love in his eyes. Ritsuka sighed softly as he followed Yayoi out the door; those two would probably end up together some day.

The got to the park and Yuiko immediately began chasing Yayoi around in circles. Ritsuka laughed softly as he watched them. Ritsuka suddenly found himself being chased around as well.

The happy laughter of the three echoed around the park as they ran. Ritsuka smiled, the only way this could be any better would be if Soubi were there. Movement caught the corner of his eye and he glanced over, scanning the shadows. Someone slunk away and Ritsuka eyed the spot suspiciously. His lack of attention got him tackled by Yayoi.

"I win! I caught Ritsuka" he grinned broadly and looked over at Yuiko "See Yuiko, I caught him." He said proudly. Yuiko ran over and pushed Yayoi off

"Are you alright Ritsuka?" she cried. Ritsuka sat up and brushed grass out of his hair.

"Yeah, I'm fine" he nodded and got to his feet, brushing grass off of his clothes as well.

"Come on, lets take a picture" he pulled the ever present camera out of his pocket and took a picture of Yayoi and Yuiko laying in the grass.

That was how the rest of the afternoon went, the three of them chasing each other around and taking pictures. When the sun began to go down Ritsuka walked Yayoi and Yuiko home before heading to his own house. He hesitated outside the door before going in. He looked in the kitchen for his mom but she wasn't there. He shrugged and went upstairs to take a bath.

Why hadn't Soubi called today? The man usually called fifty times a day just to say hello. He pondered this as he filled the tub with hot water and stripped his clothes off. He tossed them in a corner to be taken care of later and on his way back to the tub he glanced in the mirror. What he saw ripped a heartrending scream from his throat.