Chapter # 5: Memories and The Plan

"So ... How is Jiji doing these days? And your father ... My, it feels like I haven't seen those two in forever ..."

"I know mom ... Jiji isn't strong enough to come ... She-She isn't ready for that ..."

"I'm not mad about it ... If she's not ready ... Then, she's not ready ..."

"Hm, yeah ... And as for dad, he has work ..."

"Yeah ... There's that too ... Hm, but how are they?"

"They're great ... They're really great mom, they miss you alot ... They want you to come home ..."

"I'll bet they do ... But, you all know how unlikely that is ..."

"Yeah mom ... I know ..." He said his voice cracking.

"Hey Ryu ... What's wrong, you're not crying over me, now are you? Come on, don't cry ... That's not what I wanna see you do ..."

"I'm sorry mom ... I just ..."

"Hey, don't be sorry hun, ok? Don't be sorry ... You're upset ... And I'm probably scaring you without my make-up ... I'm sorry, I have a really bad face without it and damn, you know who people keep mistaking me for? Oskar from Sesame Street!" His mother said with a laugh. He couldn't help, but laugh as well.

"Mom, you're insane, you know that?"

"Well, of course I'm insane hun. I have to have fun some how, now don't I?"

"Yeah ..."

"Now, come here, sit here on the bed. I wanna give you something ..."

He sat down on the bed's edge and she sat up slowly and pulled out a small white box from the top drawer of her bedside dresser.

"This is for your sister, make sure she gets it. 'Cause I really doubt I'm gonna be seeing her here Ryu ..."

He nodded, taking the box gently.

"This one, here, is for your father ..." She handed him a small black box.

"Make sure he gets this ..."

He nodded again, accepting that box as well.

"And this one, is for you Ryu ..." She said, reaching her hands back and un-hooking her necklace from around her neck. The necklace was on a grey chain that had a very 'old - fashioned' kind of look to it. The pendant on the necklace was a silver cross with a black cross inside of it. The cross markings were narrow and formed outward and away from each other.

She leaned forewards and clipped it together to lock around his neck instead of her own.

"Your Grandfather ... He gave me this when I was just a little girl ... Growing up with him ... He gave me this on his deathbed ..."

"Mom ... I ..."

"Wear it ... So, I can always be with you ..."

Tears rolled down his cheeks slowly,

"Mom ... I don't wanna lose you ... You're to good of a mother ... Why did this happen ... Why did this ...?"

She wrapped her arms around him tightly, holding him closely,

"I don't know son ... I don't know ... All I can tell you is that what's happening is happening, and there's really nothing we can do about all of this ... We have hoped and prayed and done our best ... Now it is just a matter of time ..."

"I don't want you to ever go ..."

"I can't stay much longer and you know that ..."

"I know ..." He sniffed, his sobs become quite loud.

"I know ... It's just ... I love you mom ..."

"I love you too son ..." She whispered,

"I love you too ..."

"Ryu-chan! Wake up!" A loud whisper was beside his ear.

"Ryu-chan? Ryu-chan! Wake up!"

"Mom ... Mom ... No ... Mom, no ..." He was moaning the words in his sleep, tears trailing his cheeks.

"He won't open his eyes ..." His friend panicked. He'd become concerned when his friend had started sleep talking, about his mother. Now, he knew what was going on. He needed his friend to open his eyes, and wake up. He leaned over him, bit his lip gently, then leaned down slowly, pressing his lips against Ryuichi's. The sad moans stopped. He was surprised when he felt the kiss being returned, and he finally pulled away and shoved himself back.

"S-SORRY! I - I - I!! YOU WERE SLEEP TALKING AND I WAS CONCERNED AND I COULDN'T COME UP WITH A WAY TO WAKE YO--" His lous whispering sentence was cut off by Ryuichi's lips being pressed to his deeply. Once Ryuichi had pulled back just a little ways, he smiled at the one he'd kissed,

"I didn't have any complaints ... Now, did I?"

"N-N-No ..."

"Then, do you think I was mad?"

"... No ..."

"Then ... Why are you apologizing so much, hm?"

"I ... I just ... I don't know ..."

Ryuichi slipped himself back and lied back down on the floor.

"You can go back to bed Shuichi, if you want to now, ok? I don't think I'll be having the memory-dream again tonight ... Not after being woken up ..."

" ... Yeah, ok ..." Shuichi got up off the floor, his face completely crimson. He looked to the bed and grabbed his pillow and blanket. He placed them on the floor next to Ryuichi, and lied himself down.

"What're you doing?"

"Trying to comfort a friend ..."

Ryuichi smiled,

"Thanks Shu ..."

( THE NEXT DAY! )

"Jiji-chan ... Keiko-chan ... I need some help ..." Shuichi said approaching the two girls, and making sure Ryuichi was no where in site.

"With what?" Jiji questioned.

"Why aren't you asking Ryuichi for help?" Keiko questioned.

"'Cause, this is something I wanna do for Ryuichi." Shuichi answered in a low voice.

"I see ... Hm, what are you planning?" Jiji questioned, lowering her voice as well.

"Well, I wanna go buy him something ... To comfort him ... You know?"

"Hm, that's so sweet!" Keiko said in a loud whisper.

Jiji was smiling,

"We're supposed to make a cover for you, aren't we? Keep him away, kind of thing?"

"Yeah!" Shuichi answered,

"Jiji, I'd like you to do it on your own though ... I need to borrow Keiko-chan ..."

"Alright ... Mission 'Distract My Older Brother' will be taken care of, sir!"

"Good, I'm counting on you Jiji."

"Yes, sir!" She said saluting him and taking off to find her slightly older brother,

"Ryuichi! I need to talk to you!"

Keiko and Shuichi looked at each other,

"Perfect," they said in unison.

( A.N: HAHAHAHA! MORE SECRETS:D YOU LOVE ME! REVIEW!!! )