Isho: i'm back, and within a week too. what is the world coming to these days. anyway, i think this fic is going to be longer than i anticipated. shit.

Another week come and gone and I managed to survive these five days until freedom again with minimum trauma. Dark still managed to sneak some hugs on me, but nothing inappropriate so far, thank god. I re-adjust my bag on my shoulder and continue staring at the gate n a dwindling crowd of students as the sun edged slowly towards the horizon.

"Excuse me, Daisuke?"

My ears swivel to the noise and turn my head towards a tall blond boy who is staring at me. Oh god, it's him. Every time I run into this guy he starts staring at me, it's really started to bother me. I smile slightly from my nerves.

"U-um, yes? Can I help you?"

He chuckles a bit under his breath with a corner of his mouth tugged into the tiniest smirk.

"Mmm, yes, I was wondering if you were still with Dark. Or are you available now?"

I scrunch my brows in confusion then it dawns on me and I shake my head.

"Dark and I were never together. That's just something he said because of some fight two weeks ago."

His smirk widens and he puts a finger on his chin in thought.

"Oh, I see. Well-"

A car horn interrupts him and we turn to my Mum waving at me with a big grin on her face. I head over to the passenger side and wave goodbye at the creepy boy.

"Well, bye, um"

"Kraid."

"Y-yeah. Bye."

I turn and quickly open the door and get in. I close the door and Mum heads out of the schools gates. I fish out my hat and put it on when Mum pipes up.

"So, who was that? Was that your sweetheart?"

I roll my eyes.

"Ugh, for the last time, no one is my sweetheart. And no that wasn't Dark, his name is Kraid. I just met him actually."

"Oh, a new friend maybe?"

"I don't know, he kind of creeps me out."

"Oh, well, you have plenty of friends then. No need for someone who makes you uncomfortable."

"Yeah."

The rest of the drive home is relatively quiet as I watch the scenery go by. After a while we started enter our neighborhood and Mum, for some reason rolled down the window and started sniffing the air as she slowed the vehicle down. I furrow my brows and my ears dip.

"Mum? Why are you sniffing? Is something wrong?"

She stops and turns to be with a big smile on her face.

"No sweetie, Mummy just likes the breeze today. Lots of food in the air."

I quirk my head to the side and take a sniff as well. Yeah, there's the slight smell of meat from a local restaurant swirling about. I start to salivate as we pull into the driveway and into the garage.

**t ch**

Brrriiiinnnggg brrrriiiinnnngggg br-

"Hello? Niwa residence."

I crack my eyes open and, while rubbing my eyes, look over to my clock. Fuck, seven. I wanted to sleep in a bit more. Stupid phone, who calls this early?

"I told you not to call this house, good day."

I blink, I've never heard Mum sound so angry before.

"Daisuke! Breakfast is ready! Come down and get it!"

I sigh and kick the sheets off and quickly change out of my pj's. After I slip into a thin white polo shirt and some brown shorts I run downstairs and into the kitchen. Mum is already sitting down at a set table and I nervously eye her while I sit down. She doesn't seem all that angry anymore. She smiles at me and hands me some pancakes and I put two on my plate that already has seared ham and eggs on it. I eat a few bites before asking.

"Um, what was that call about?"

Her bright demeanor dulls a bit before picking back up again.

"Ah, just a wrong number. Jeeze, I keep telling them but they keep calling. Talk about stubborn eh?"

"Y-yeah."

She just nods and we continue eating before Mum looks up at the clock.

"Oh dear, look at the time! I've got to get to work soon, be a good boy and watch the house for me, ok?"

She gets up and rushes around, getting ready to go to the bank where she works as a lead teller.

"You have to work on the weekend?"

"Yup, one of the employee's had an emergency so I'm filling in for them. But only for today."

She walks by and kisses me on the head before heading for the door. She opens it and then stops suddenly and turns towards me with a serious look in her eyes.

"Oh, and from now on, whenever I'm gone, don't answer the phone. If I need to get a hold of you I'll call your cell ok? I should be back around one or two since it's a half day."

I just nod and she leaves. I guess that caller is more of a problem than she let on. I just shake my head and then eat the rest of my food before clearing up. I think I'll watch some more cartoons today.

For a few hours I watch an old transformers marathon. I believe it's the ones from the 80's or 90's. Around noon I decide to make myself a sandwich for lunch and get up, leaving the tv on so I can listen from the kitchen.

Just as I'm getting out the bread the phone rings. I walk over and reach for the receiver before I remembered what Mum said this morning. I look at the number and when I see that I don't know it, I go back to the counter and continue making my lunch.

"Hi, you've reached the Niwa residence. I'm not at home right now so please leave your name and number and I'll call you back, quick as I can!"

There is no reply to the message so I figure that the call wasn't all that urgent. I look at the clock, Mum should be home in an hour or so. My tail swishes around in anticipation. I don't know why, but Mum's attitude about that caller has made me nervous. I want her to get home quickly; I don't like feeling this way.

So, after an hour of me impatiently waiting, I hear footsteps near the door and my ears shoot up and I look at the door as it opens to reveal Mum's tired face. I smile and go to her and give her a big hug. She makes a startled noise and quickly tries to regain her balance. Soon enough she's returning the embrace.

"Oh my, what's all this about? Did you miss your Mummy that much? I'm sorry, baby. Just let Mummy wind down and change and we can spend some time together."

"Ok."

I slowly let go of her and she goes upstairs to her room to change and I sit back down in front of the tv, not really paying attention to it now, so I switch it off. Soon Mum comes back and sits down next to me. She pulls me down and lays my head in her lap and I close my eyes as she runs her hands through my hair, occasionally stroking my ears.

"Mmm, Mummy's missed this time together Dai-chan. Just where does the time go?"

I just sigh with contentment and close my eyes.

"Oh, I know, why don't we do something tomorrow? We could go out and eat really good food for a change."

I open my eyes and look at her like she's lost her mind.

"Don't give me that look, I'm being serious. Besides, it will be the perfect time for you to practice your transforming. You can't stay holed up forever just because of your ears."

I pout.

"But it's so difficult! I'd rather eat you cooking Mum!"

She gives me an exhausted smile.

"Thanks baby. But Mummy wants to out and eat fancy for once and you'll like it. Practice tonight and tomorrow and we'll go out tomorrow night before I drop you off at school."

"I'm not going back on Monday?"

I sit up and turn back to her. She shakes her head and turns the tv back on, changing it to one of her dramas.

"No, Mummy has to go to work very early and I doubt you want to wake up at an insane hour so I'll just drop you off tomorrow night."

My ears plaster against my head and I pout some more but Mum just waves me away.

"Giving me that look won't change anything. Now go practice, we're going for sushi, and I want to eat a lot. You can't stay a baby forever."

I huff and then make my way upstairs to my room. Sushi does sound good, and she does have a point. I can't blend into society for very long if I don't do something about my ears.