A/N: wooo!!! another chapter!! 3 in a day!! wheee!! Enjoy everyone!!

Chapter 3

"Kenji…" I say gently shaking him.

"Hmmm…" He rolls over on his stomach and I roll him back over.

"Time to get up, breakfast is ready." He opens his eyes sleepily and complains half-heartedly.

"Already? Can I sleep a little more?"

"Yes already, come on get up." I pull the blankets off him and he slowly sits up rubbing his eyes.

"I had a nightmare." He says solemnly as he climbs out of bed.

"What was it about Kenji?" I ask him while making the bed.

"There was these things floating around and it felt scary…" I still the moment he said 'things floating'.

"Really Kenji? And what happened?" I try to keep the quiver out of my voice as I resume making the bed as if nothing happened.

"There was a man there, he was telling me something about these things… I can't remember what he said but I think they were called will-o-wisps..? Mum, what are will-o-wisps?" Will-o-wisps? A man? I pale and drop the blankets.

"Honey, what did the man look like?" I ask trying as hard as I can to keep my voice from wavering.

"He was tall, and he had black hair. His skin is really pale too. Mum, mum?" I can feel Kenji tugging on my arm but I'm not registering it.

Pale, black hair, tall…

I sit on the bed staring past Kenji. It can't be him… No. I refuse to believe that. Oh God, why? Why Kenji?

"Mum! Mum!!" I snap out of my daze to find my son very worried.

"Oh… Kenji, don't worry about mum go have your breakfast. It's in the kitchen; I'll just be making the bed here… Come on be a good boy and listen to mum." I push him gently towards the door; he gives me a worried glance before obediently going out for his breakfast.

I watch him leave the room and after he leaves I hug a pillow tightly curling my legs beneath me. I bite down on my lip and think hard. What does this mean, now that Kenji is having these dreams? He's too young to deal with these dreams… I want to protect him so much but there's just something I can't do… I can't follow him in his dreams to hold his hand and tell him everything is going to be alright…

But he always did… Follow me and comfort me…

I dash away the tears that leaked out and dry my eyes on the pillow. It'll be OK, Kenji will do fine. I pull myself together and finish making the bed before going to the kitchen to face Kenji.

"Hey honey," I swallow some more to keep my voice clear. "Finished your breakfast?"

"Yup!" He collects his plates and deposits them into the sink, he turns to me and asks, "Have you eaten yet mum?" I smile tiredly at him and say,

"Not yet honey, mum is just tired I'll eat later OK?" He nods slowly and walks up to me holding out his arms telling me he wants to be carried.

"Oh gosh Kenji, you're such a big boy now and you still want me to carry you?"

"Just a little while?" He pleads with me; I pick him up and carry him rocking him the way I used to when he was a baby. I already knew I would carry him but I just said that for the sake of saying it. I kiss his cheek and sit down with him still in my arms. He wraps his small arms around my neck and says into my shoulder,

"You can cry mum, you don't have to keep it in so tight just because of me." He kisses my check and a tear rolls quietly out. His little fingers wipe away my tears; just letting them flow out feels so good. I kiss his cheek and stroke his hair breathing in my baby's smell.

"I love you so much Kenji… I just don't want you to get hurt. Do you understand?" I lean back and brush his hair away from his face. "Come on Kenji, I have to clean up and we'll go to school OK?" I set him down next to me, I look down at him and say, "You should get ready for school too Kenji, go brush your teeth and get changed."

"OK." He jumps off the couch and heads for the kitchen sink to brush his teeth. Bless him; he knew I was going to use the bathroom so he went to use the sink to brush his teeth instead.

I wash my face not bothering to take a shower this morning I'll have one when I get back home today. I quickly change into my work clothes consisting of a plain black suit and a white blouse. Kenji is already waiting for me with his bag all packed near the front door.

"Come on Kenji, lets go." I pick up my brief case open the door and walk out with Kenji just behind me. When I turn around to lock the door he is already by my side.

---

Mai…? That's Mai… Why is she here? Everything around me is warping and she is the only thing that is solid… She looks different… She's older… She isn't happy… Her eyes, they're empty…

"Mai!" I am desperately trying to reach her but no matter how much I run I'm not getting any closer… she seems to be further from me now…

"MAI!" She turns her head and smiles an empty smile.

---

I jerk awake with a start. I see Lin standing at my door holding a thick envelope.

"What is it Lin?" I ask trying to clear my head of the dream.

"We got another request today, it was sent by mail."

"Let me see." I hold out my hand to take the envelope from him, I peel the seal open and pull out the sheaf of papers, studying them quickly. I look up and Lin is still there.

"What do you want Lin?"

"Would you like some tea Naru?" Tea… I sigh inwardly.

"No, I'll be fine." I return to the papers the words swimming in front of my eyes. I can't think now. There is just too much that reminds me of her. Every time I think of her I can't think of anything else but her. I actually feel physical pain whenever I think of her, feels like a hole is boring through my body. But once it starts it won't stop till it's satisfied. I push my chair back letting the papers drop onto the table. I open my door and head into the kitchenette where Lin is brewing some tea.

"Would you like some tea now Naru?"

"No Lin." I say exasperated, "I'm just telling you that I'll be out for a while. If anything comes up just give me a call." I turn away to get my coat but Lin asks me quietly,

"Do you know when you'll be back?"

"No."

"She left today." Lin observes quietly.

"I know that." I snap. But it doesn't matter. Every day seems to be the day she left for me. I snatch up my coat from the coat hanger and slam the front door shut loudly.

---

There is something about today… Something that is nagging at the back of my head. It's been there since I dropped Kenji off at school. I stare at my calendar when I'm at working trying to work out what was so important about today. There's nothing important about today… Just another day…

"Taniyama San." Someone drops a pile of papers next to me and I jump in surprise.

"Yes?" I ask looking up. It was my boss and he doesn't look too happy.

"Get this done by twelve, and stop day dreaming!"

"Yes sir! I'm so sorry!" I gather the papers together and start typing the work with all the amendments. While typing I glance at the date on the top of all the amended work and suddenly I remember.

It was the day I left. I stop typing, after all these years I'm finally able to slowly forget that I ever had a past there. I take in a deep breath. That's over and done with now. All I can do is look to the future and hope for better things.

I push all thoughts of the past way from my mind and continue working.

A/N: I know short chapters, I'm sorry but I seem to be able to update more often with short chapters I tried doing the long chapters thing but at the moment it just isn't possible, I've got too much work to focus all my time and energy into a fantastically long chapter and so now my Ouran fic is on hold until I can get some time where I don't have to worry about assignments or due dates or home work. To my Ouran readers – I WILL finish it but it doesn't seem to be any time soon T.T I'm so sorry!!

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