Reliving the Past
By: CallxMexSenseixSenpaixSama

Taking a break from Kaneshi to try and finish this.

I'll add YunYun to my shopping list with Kyonkichi :)

A story of Momiji.

Momiji strolled down this well-known route. The only difference was that he wasn't in school uniform and no bunny backpack this time. He smiled at the thought. But the feeling of sadness began flooding him. He looked up, at the balcony.

Was his relationship with the family over? His own mother was determined to forget about him. And never did regret it. The sadness brought upon him when his father asked him if he loved his mother. If he'll understand that to make her happy was to be erased. A tear rolled down his cheek. He caught it with his hand. How sad did he feel when the curse was released. How he wanted it to be so much, yet when done, felt so alone. When his family was taken away, his undeniable bond with the other Jyuunishi was so important. He closed his eyes in this old pain.

"Is someone there?"

Opening his eyes, he rubbed his sleeve against them.

"Who's there?" He watched as his mom walked out onto the balcony.

Raising a hand, he called, "Good afternoon."

"Is that you, Momiji? It's been so long! 3 years has it been? How are you?"

"I'm doing good."

"Did you just come back?"

"Just yesterday."

"Did you visit your family yet?"

"No, not yet."

"You should or they'll feel forgotten, you know."

"I will."

Someone said in the background, "I'm home."

His mom turned around. "Looks like Momo came back." She smiled. "It was nice seeing you again." She went inside and closed the doors.

Momiji could hear what was being said inside, although muffled.

"Who were you talking to?"

"Momiji. He just came back from world travelling."

Momo dashed out. However, he was already gone.

They're happy, Momiji told himself. They're happy. That's good. Suddenly feeling exhausted, he headed back to the main house, where he was staying.

The phone rang on the other line. He tapped the desk as he waited, but Tohru and/or Kyou weren't picking up the phone. Were they on a family outing? Sighing, he threw on a t-shirt, shorts and a nice hat. Holing himself up in depression after coming back for five days wasn't doing him any good. Also, his skin was becoming sickly. It would be nice to see his highschool again. Maybe a visit to the icecream store afterwards. Have an ice cream party with the former Jyuunishi? Sounds good.

Stepping out the main gates, he breathed out deeply. Walking further, he turned the corner where he spotted someone who's name might be Momo with friends. Before he could turn away, she noticed him too. Immediately, she started running to him. His feet froze onto the ground. They broke free when she grabbed his hand and dragged him along. Wordlessly, 2 pairs of legs pounded furiously onto the street. Momiji didn't know what to say, anyhow. Feelings of joy were rising internally. Momo was growing nicely. Although a bit on the short side as well. And looking just like her mother. She abruptly stopped at a certain hole in the wall. She began pulling Momiji in.

"Ah, Ah. Hey. I'm a little too big for this." Momiji cried softly as a twig scratched his cheek.

"Oh, sorry." She crouched forward, slower, until they came to an opening. Then she sat down. Only then did Momiji notice that she carried a bunny backpack. He gulped, holding back the tears. He sat down as well. He shook his head to clear his hair of dirt and leaves. "Momiji-san, do you remember me?"

He gulped again. "You're Momo-chan aren't you?" he slowly said.

"Hehe. Yeah!" There was an awkward silence between them. "Ah, I wanted to tell you something." She crawled further down until a house could be seen. "See that place?" she pointed.

He nodded. He knew clearly where that was.

"I don't know if Honda-san ever told you this, but once I met her and lead her here. I told her that I used to sneak in to listen to your violin playing. But then you stopped, right when I decided to take violin lessons from the same teacher as you. It made me sad."

Her watch made a loud beep. "Oh. I better get going, or my mom will worry. I have lots of questions to ask you. Please stop by at my house tomorrow." She scurried out, leaving Momiji to feel bliss and sorrow at the same time.

Knock Knock Knock

Momiji rapped his knuckles against the door. He felt excitement about this, but he was also worried. Would his father get mad that he's meeting Momo like this? Before he could decide on what to do, the door opened.

"Momiji-kun? What are you doing here?" His mother appeared. "Come in, come in." He entered. "My, you have grown. Sit down if you want."

He sat down at the dinner table.

"So what did you come here for?" She stood in front of the stove, stirring.

This felt like home. The home that he had always desired. Heat rising, he blurted out, "Ca- Can I have something to eat?"

"Is that why you came? That's a bit rude, you know. Tell that to your mother... I don't see why you would come here out of all places, though."

"Ah, Momo asked me to come by.. Because she wanted to hear stories about my world-travelling." he added, so as not to get her in trouble.

"Is that so. Haha, I'm sorry. I suppose you can have something to eat... Even though lunchtime wont be for a while.. And Momo's school wont be ending for another 30 minutes."

Momiji's heart rose.

"Do you want ramen? I only made enough food for the family." He nodded. "You can look around if you want. People tend to do that." He nodded again. Standing, he went to the living room. It was furnished well with extravagant art pieces on the wall. In the hallway, he opened a door. It was the bathroom. Cute fluffs decorated the toilet and such. Hands trembling, he turned on the water in the sink. After washing his hands, he dried it. He buried his face in the towel. So this was what it smells like in his family's home.

"You can eat now." she called.

Momiji sat down in front of the ramen. Picking up the chopsticks, he began eating. He couldn't hold it in anymore. Big fat tears rolled down his cheek and landed in the soup.

"Did I make it too spicy?" she asked.

He shaked his head. He wiped the tears off and continued eating. But they wouldn't stop coming. This was what it was like to have a mother cook your food.

"Mom! I'm home!" Momo called. "Mom! Is someone here? I see another pair of shoes!" She ran into the kitchen. "Oh? Momiji-san, you really came!"

"Momo, do you mind being a hostess for him? Mom has to go somewhere." She hugged Momo and left the house.

Momiji continued eating. When the noodles were gone, he picked up the bowl and drank the soup. Two small hands grabbed his wrists and pulled them down. He put the bowl down and looked at her. The tears were still pouring out. She grabbed a tissue and wiped them off for him. "Did Mom make it too spicy? She does that sometimes."

He laughed, because of the fact that her mom asked him the same question. She smiled too.

"That's right. I have some questions for you."

"Mmhmm?"

"Are you related to my Mom? You look so much like her, but Dad keeps telling me no. But you have to be some kind of distant relation. Maybe a nephew or something."

Should he tell her the truth? Should he tell her that he was her brother? That for their Mom's sake, he gave up their family? The small hands were placed around his hands now.

"But, what I really want to ask you is... I already asked Honda-san to tell you, but I never received an answer. I always admired you. And I've always wanted for you to be my brother. Will you?"

More tears splashed onto the table. A smile crept up. "Yeah... Sure."