Chaper # 7: Phone Calls
"My, my, my. Never thought I'd see the day when my Keiko came back to live with me," an elderly woman said as Keiko and her older brother walked in the front door. Her older brother smiled and placed his black hat on the coat rack and hung up his coat next. Then his shoes, once he had removed them, he strolled off into the house. Keiko's mother grabbed hold of her and pulled her into a big hug.
"My little angel. I haven't seen you in years!"
"I know mom, it's been forever ..."
"Even after your father ... Well ... Passed ..."
"Mom, please ... Don't."
"I'm so sorry Keiko-chan ... I've always hoped you would come back and live with me ..."
"Where's my room?"
"Last door, on the left ... Keiko-chan, it means so much that we're living together once again ... I've wanted to live with you for so long now ..."
"Yeah? Then maybe you never should have told me that you wished I was never born ..." She said marching up the stairs and past her mother. She walked down the hallway and made a turn to the left at the end of the hallway. She walked over to the bed and put down her suitcase. She held her teddy bear closely.
"I wonder what you're doing now Ji-chan ... I wonder what you're doing now ..."
"So, you like this Jiji girl, do you?" A woman's voice was in the doorway.
"Why did you send onii-san to come get me instead of coming to get me yourself?"
"I thought you would wanna talk to him ..."
"Why would I wanna talk to him?"
"'Cause he's had this happen to him before with Jiji's older brother, has he not? He was worried about you ..."
"I don't care ..."
"She called here you know ... Asking for you ..."
"When did she do that?"
"About five minutes before you got home ..."
"This isn't my home ..."
The woman sighed,
"You're as stubborn as ever ..."
"Can you blame me?"
"You're too much like your big brother ..."
She looked to her suitcase. Tears trailed her cheeks.
"Call her back."
She looked over to the one standing there. The brunette.
"Mika-chan ...? I can't ... I'm not ready to face her again ..."
"Would you really rather live with your mother?"
She was silent a moment. Then she sighed deeply, shaking her head 'no.' She wanted to go back to living in Jiji's house. With Jiji, Ryuichi, Shuichi and Mr. Sakuma. She wanted to kiss Jiji again. She wanted to be able to tell her good night. She never wanted to leave her again ...
"Call her back ..." Mika said simply, extending her hand to Keiko, a phone in hand. Keiko took the phone gently.
"I'll think about it."
( MEANWHILE! )
"I didn't want her to leave me." Jiji said sadly.
Ryuichi sat, holding his rabbit in his arms.
"We can't change what happened you know ..."
"I know." Jiji sniffed quietly,
"I'll be back, I need to go get Keiji."
"Keiji?" Ryuichi questioned, looking to his sister.
"Keiji ... That's the name of my toy. It looks exzactly like yours does Onii-san ... Only mines blue."
"I see."
Once his younger sister had left the room, Ryuichi looked to his own rabbit toy.
"I need a name for my toy as well then ..."
"What will you name him?" Shuichi questioned.
"Hm ... Something different ... Something, no one would ever think of naming a toy rabbit ... Something funny and just confusing ..."
"Like what?"
"Hmmm ... Kumagoro!"
"You're naming your pink, toy rabbit ... ' Mr. Bear '?"
"Told you it would be confusing!"
"You're confusing."
( MEANWHILE! )
"Keiji ... Time to come on out ... I need you." Jiji said picking up the stuffed animal. As soon as she did, her phone began ringing. She answered it, without a second thought.
"Sakuma residence, Jiji speaking."
"..."
"Hello? May I ask who's calling? Who would you like to speak to?"
"..."
"Who are you? Who are you calling for?"
"..." The voice on the other end, cleared their throat.
"Actually, I'm calling for you ... Ji-chan."
"K-K-Kei-chan?!"
( A.N: AHAHAHAHAA! WHAT AWAITS YOU NOW I WONDER!!! )