Later on,Ami and I were practicing a new song. Things seemed to be going fine,but I was a bit distracted. Why? Kaz was in the livingroom looking after Sakura and Koja. I wanted so badly to more time with little Koja,but being famous got in the way. It was somewhat upsetting to know that while practicing,Kaz was doing the things with Koja I should be doing.

It wasn't very long after Ami and I were done when I heard Koja calling for me: ''Mama! Mama!'' He sounded a bit sad. I went into the livingroom. Kaz wasn't there. Koja was by himself.

I picked him up and he seemed to calm down right away. After a few minutes,I sat him back down on the couch.

He came over to me and snuggled me,then he fell asleep next to me. I watched him. It always made me glad to see him so at peace like that,in stark contrast to how I used to be at his age.

You see,I didn't start out so bitter and tough. I've become that way because of what others have done to me---paticulary Father and Seicha. Father beat me fiercely and shunned me,Seicha taught me how to fight back.

And there were others,too...

In a cul-de-sac-like area in the neighborhood there was an old house. It was made of wood and had sliding doors and windows,there was even one window that had a balcony. On the other side of that tree-lined road,this house would stick out like a sore thumb,but here it was fine. And it wasn't just any house,it was mine.

The sun shone brightly through the window,waking me up. I got up. It was too bright for me to fall asleep again. I went into the hallway,and to my surprise,Mother was there.

''Ah,perfect timing.'' She said.

''Wh-what are you talking about?'' I asked.

''Go change out of your pajamas and get your clothes on.''

I was somewhat confused. ''Are...are we going to the park?''

''Go to the park?'' Mother said,bewildered. ''Now?''

''Aren't we going to the park?'' I asked shyly.

''No,we're not going there.''

I was even more confused now. ''Then...''

''What?''

''Then were are we going?''

''Go put your clothes on and I'll tell you.''

''But...but I want to know now.''

''Go put your clothes on first.'' Mother said,annoyed.

I went back into my room and did as I was told. When I came out Mother wasn't there. She was at the foot of the stairs waiting for me.

I went to her and we left. As we drove off,I asked, ''Now will you tell me where we're going?''

''You're coming to work with me.'' Mother said.

I was quite surprised.

''Don't you ever forget'' Mother said, ''that it is what I do that has been paying for the clothes on your back,the roof over your head,the food that you eat.''

''You've never told me just what it is that you do.'' I said.

''You'll see when we get there.'' And with that she turned the radio on.

We had arrived. The inside of the building was an office or something similar---I was too intrested (and somewhat intimidated) to care.

Mother went over to a black-haired man with a red-orange sweater and round glasses. I shyly followed her. The two of them talked for a minute,then Mother noticed me standing behind her.

''Don't be so shy like that,'' She said, ''it's only Yamakawa-san.'' She stepped out of the way. Yamakawa-san looked at me for a moment,then he looked at Mother.

''So,this is Yumi?'' He asked.

''Yes.'' Mother told him.

''Konichi Wa.'' He said to me,bowing. I shyly nodded back.

''How adorable she is,'' He said,looking me over. He smiled somewhat at Mother.

''I congratulate you,Yoshimura-san.'' He said. ''I can't help but do so. Those charming eyes! That lovely hair! Yes,Yoshimura-san,I simply congratulate you. Hopefully I'll get to see your little boy sometime as well.''

''Umm...thank you,Yamakawa-san.'' I said,flattered.

Yamakawa-san turned his attention back to Mother. They both went off. I followed them,but Mother stoppped me,telling me that I'd have to wait outside. Then she and Yamakawa-san went into another room,leaving me alone---or so I thought.

''Is that her?'' Someone said. ''Is that Yoshimura-san's daughter?''

''The purple hair---yes,yes,it must be.'' Someone else said.

I looked and saw two women standing near a desk not far from where I was standing. One of them was wearing a yellow kimono,and one was wearing a purple kimono. They both came up to me.

''K-k-k-konichi Wa,'' I said nervously. ''Wh-where is--''

The one in the yellow kimono cut me off. ''Are you Keikai Yoshimura's daughter? You look like you could be her.''

''Y-yes I am.'' I said.

''How old are you?'' The one in the purple kimono said.

''I'm six.''

''What's your name?'' The yellow kimono one asked.

''Yumi.''

She looked at me closely. ''Open your mouth.'' She said.

''Wha--what for?'' I asked.

''I need to look at something.'' I opened my mouth. She looked closely again. She pointed to something. ''How did you wind up with that--that--'fang'?''

She was talking about this one tooth I have that sticks out of my mouth at times and looks like a fang.

''My father gave it to me.'' I told her. And that was right,Father had a tooth exactly like mine.

''Interesting choice for him.'' She said.

''Where is my mother?'' I asked them both.

The two of them thought for a moment. ''I don't know.'' The purple kimono one said.

I stood there,trying to think of where she could possibly be. It became too much for me to stand still. I left and went into the same room that Mother and Yamakawa-san went into eariler.

When I got in there,I caught a glimpse of Mother. She was wearing a rather fancy outfit. I was about to go over to her when suddenly a light from a camera flashed. I flinched. Then there was another flash. And then not long after that,another. It all excited me so much that I felt like I was chained to the ground and couldn't move. It hurt my eyes to look at those flashes of light and yet my eyes were fixed on them.

Then finally they stopped. I saw Mother go into another room,then a little while later she came back out in a purple and white kimono. She noticed me.

''Yumi-chan!'' She said,somewhat angrily. ''What are you doing in here?'' She came up to me. ''I told you to wait outside.''

''But--but--but I got worried and I missed you. I had to come in. I just had to.''

Mother thought this over. ''I suppose you could stay in here,'' She said, ''as long as you don't bother us.''

I nodded. Mother went back over to where the cameras were. I stood there,watching her. It all seemed fine.

Then the light flashed again. I flinched and covered my eyes,unsure of what just happened. I uncovered my eyes a moment later. Then the flash came again. And then after that it came again. I tried to stay as still as I could,but the urge to get away from all the commotion was driving me nearly insane.

Then there were two flashes that happened both at the same time. Then after that,another flash. That did it. The longing to get out of there was freed at last. I ran out the door madly.

I had reached the desk where Mother had talked with Yamakawa-san earlier. I stopped,out of breath. It wasn't long before Mother came out of the room with Yamakawa-san. She noticed me,took me by the hand,and then we left.

On the way home there was not a word of it all mentioned. But still,I wanted to know just what this thing could be that Mother did that involved so many flashes of light.

The next day,I was out in the front yard with Seicha. I told her all about what had happened. She seemed quite intrested.

''Those lights,'' Seicha said, ''did they frighten you?''

''Yes,'' I said, ''the first time it happened my heart was beating so fast I couldn't breathe.''

Seicha stood there,thinking all of this over. ''Was there anything else that you saw there that you'd like to tell me about?''

''Uh-huh. I remember hearing a lot of talk about makeup.''

Seicha thought this over. ''Did your mother do anything with it?'' She said, ''I think I've almost gotten this figured out.''

I tried to remember. ''Well,it looked like she was holding it or something...but those lights...it--it was hard to see very well,so...''

''Aha!'' Seicha said, ''I get it now.''

''Really?'' I said,excited. ''Tell me!''

''Your mother is a model.'' Seicha said.

I stood there thinking about this,surprised.

''And that makeup,'' She went on, ''it's a really famous brand of it. Yes,it's got to be.''

''Famous...'' I said shyly.

''Yes?'' Seicha asked.

''Will I be...''

Seicha understood what I was trying to say. ''Well...'' She said, ''it's a bit too early to answer that.'' She thought for a moment. ''You never know,though...''

I sighed happily,my heart filled with hopefulness and excitement.

''Yumi?''

I opened my eyes. ''Huh?''

''What have you been doing in here?'' It was Ami.

''I...I...I was just kinda...daydreaming...you know...''

Someone else was there. It was Donjo,Ami's husband,and he was carrying Sakura. Koja was still asleep on the couch.

''Your brother wants to talk to you.'' Donjo said.

''Where is he?'' I asked.

''He's outside the bus waiting for you.'' Ami said.

I got up. ''Keep an eye on Koja for me,Ami.'' I said,then I left.

''What do you want,Buyo?'' I asked.

''Well,'' He said, ''it's nothing important,really,it's just I'm going over to see Mom and I wanted to know if you want to come with me.''

A bit of a shock went through me. Should I go with him,or should I stay here? I didn't want to tell Buyo or Ami or anyone else that it's painful for me go back home.

''Ummm...well...Buyo...'' I said, ''Ami and I...we...we're practicing for this one really huge gig...and...''

''Yes?''

''I'm...not going to be able to come with you. Sorry.''

''Oh,'' He said,starting to walk off, ''I guess you can go there later or something.'' As he walked off,he turned to me. ''I'll be back tomorrow morning.'' And then he left.

I stood there filled with frustration.

A/N: (pant pant pant) I'm FINALLY done with this chapter! This has GOT to be the longest chapter I've done for ANY story,EVER.

Anyways,here's something else about this chapter: That whole bit with Yumi's mom's job...I recall reading somewhere that the real Yumi's mom was a model,so I decided to have it where the animated Yumi's mom is too.

Enough of the yummy information. Now,please review and do make haste,flame me and my wrath,you shall taste! (hee hee hee I love that)

-----------------------------ShadowTheHegehog92 aka Shaddie--------------------------------