Jyou flung the briefcase over his shoulder as he walked out of the JFCR. That day had been a particularly good one, until he was beginning to leave for work.

That was when he noticed Takeru waiting outside one of the rooms in the patient area. He hadn't talked to Takeru in a long time and he wasn't even sure if the younger knew about the eldest living situation. However, Jyou was polite, "Hello, Takeru."

"Oh, hey, Jyou," the other replied. He seemed a bit distracted. Then again, people didn't come to the hospital for fun.

"What's the matter?" Jyou breathed, fearing maybe Yamato had tried something.

"My mother..." Takeru whispered. "She's in there. They said she's going to get a head scan later this evening."

"...what happened?" the other breathed.

"I'm sure you know how my mother's been going downhill for awhile."

"Uh, no... I don't."

"I thought you lived with Yamato?" Takeru demanded. When Jyou couldn't give him a good reason the little brother scoffed, "We thought maybe all the Digimon stuff just dredged up something, but it's more than that... Well, she did seem depressed. I think she knew and didn't tell anyone. She went on antidepressants, but they just made her less unaware while opening my eyes further. I should've brought her here sooner, damn it."

"The cancer," Jyou whispered. "Takeru, I'm sorry."

"...you know, if Yamato had just taken the time to forgive her she wouldn't be like this. Even a hello. Anything!" Takeru barked. A nurse noticed the outburst and scuttled off the opposite direction. "You know last time we met as a family... this was over twenty years ago."

Jyou twisted his lips. He felt like he was stuck between two rocks.

"We just went out to lunch together, but Yamato couldn't be civil at all."

"Takeru," Jyou pressed, "You know what happened to him."

"I don't know anything. My mother has done nothing but love and care for me the way a parent should. Even if she did such a thing, it wasn't of her own violition, Jyou! Do you know how long she blamed herself?"

Maybe she should have, Jyou thought. "I understand, Takeru, but Yamato... Give him some time."

"There is no time left, now. Mom will not pull through this, Jyou. She's given up!" Takeru said, shoving past the other. "By the way..." the blonde heaved, trying to hold back tears, "You and Yamato make me sick." He slammed the door shut in the doctor's face.

Jyou messaged his forehead, then decided to call it a day, officially. He couldn't think of this right now. Not only was he expecting this day to end bad to begin with (Aiko was due for The Talk), but now Natsuko was sick, which was more stress for a near-suicidal Yamato, and with Takeru on their backs, too... Jyou headed outside of the JFCR building and was about halfway into the sidewalk when he saw a familiar face.

"S-Sora."

"Hey, Jyou, what do you know?" she smiled. The kids weren't with her. Although Jyou had somewhat been involved in their divorce and was the akin to harboring a fugitive to Sora, she didn't hold much against him. She forgave his loving nature. She wasn't aware of their... relationship, however. Yamato made sure of that. Heck, Jyou wasn't even sure how Takeru knew, unless he had guessed.

"Sora," Jyou replied.

"I was on my way home. Guess you just got off work," she replied. Jyou was walking to his car, but she followed.

"Did you need something?" Jyou whispered. "I-I'm running a little late."

"No, but... we can still be friends, right? I mean, you're just keeping a child molestor in your house... with a child," Sora said. "Don't you worry about Aiko's safety?"

"Sora, I know Yamato and you do, too. He would never do anything," Jyou said. "I don't know what drove you to be the way you are. I don't think I'll ever know. Just... I would prefer we only talk if absolutely necessary."

Sora frowned. "Everyone knows now. About him. There's no use trying to protect him!"

Jyou hurried to his car.