Author's note: SORRY! I completely forgot to update this story... I had the reviews I needed to update in two weeks, but I got busy with projects and stuff for school. Life has been SO crazy lately... And sorry this chapter is so short... there wasn't much to say here. But the next chapter is already written... it is MUCH longer, and MUCH better than this one. And you'll be getting a terrific cliffhanger next chapter! Anyway... on to what you've all been waiting for... Chapter 4!

Chapter 4: Sorrow Abounding…

Yumi blinked as she heard her mother say that. Her mind raced, trying to process what it had just heard. She didn't want to believe what her mother had just told her, but it made too much sense to be false. Her mother's very frequent illness, vomiting, tiredness- all of it clicked into place. And yet she didn't want to believe it.

"Wh-what d-did you j-just s-s-say?" she stammered in shock, tears beginning to run down her cheeks.

"I'm pregnant, Yumi," Akina repeated. "I don't really know how it happened, all I know is that I went to the doctor for my checkup four weeks ago and he told me I was four weeks pregnant and to start preparing for…" She started to cry.

"Mom! You've known for a month and you didn't tell me?" Yumi exclaimed quietly in disbelief. She said it quietly because she figured her mom wouldn't want Hiroki to know yet. "I would have happily offered to carry the baby for you! Now it's too late to get the baby transferred to me because it would be too dangerous for the baby!" Her throat choked up. "Mom, how could you keep this a secret from me? This, the news that my mom's pregnant again and going to die!" She started to cry. "I wish you had trusted me with this!"

"I-I'm s-sorry, Yumi," he mother sobbed. Then her face turned a faint shade of green and she bolted for the restroom. Yumi followed and helped her mother as she threw up what little of her noodles she had eaten. When Akina was finished, she sat back and sighed, starting to cry again. "I-I'm s-so tired of f-feeling so s-sick all the time… I-I almost w-wish I were already d-dead, y-you know?" she said to her daughter.

"Yeah, Mom, I think I can understand how you feel… it's just that… I've always envisioned you there with me at my wedding, in the hospital room with me when I had my own babies… there with me, to support me during the hard times…" she trailed off, but then cleared her throat and continued. "Mom, I'm just going to really miss you, and I would have liked to have had that extra month to get used to the idea."

"I suppose I can understand that, Yumi… I just wanted to protect you for as long as I possibly could. And the reason why I arranged a marriage for you was that I really was hoping that you could take Keiko and the new baby and take care of them, at least until your father recovers. If anything happens to your father, I really wanted you to take care of your siblings. They all look up to you now, even Hiroki."

"Speaking of Hiroki, you're going to have to tell him sooner or later."

"Yes, Yumi, I know. I suppose it might as well be now. Help me into the living room and then go get him and your father, please." Then she lowered her voice. "I'll need you to help me on Sunday with telling Keiko. It's hard to tell a young child that a parent is going to die. It's very hard to explain it to a child of Keiko's age."

Yumi nodded. "All right, Mom." She helped Akina stand, looping one of her mother's arms around her shoulders. Once Akina was on the couch and resting, Yumi got her dad and her brother from the kitchen, where they were eating. Takeo sat next to his wife, who looked very weak.

"Akina, darling, are you all right? You seem very tired," he asked her. She smiled weakly and took his hand.

"I wouldn't say quite all right," she replied tiredly, "but I will be." She leaned in a little bit. "I had to tell Yumi, Takeo. She was worried about me and she guessed. She was upset that I didn't tell her sooner, but I think she recovered pretty quickly. Now we need to tell Hiroki." Takeo sighed and looked down, but he nodded.

"You're right as always, Akina." He looked up at Hiroki, who seemed scared.

"Mom, Dad, what's going on?" he asked. Akina drew in a deep breath.

"Hiroki, I'm pregnant," she said softly.

LOL, sucky cliffhanger after the last one... actually, no cliffhanger, but I will definitely make up for that next chapter... Man, you guys are going to HATE me. Anyway, 10 reviews if you want me to post the next chapter in two weeks.

Oh, I almost forgot... Don't expect frequent reviews from me this summer. Stuff has come up over the last few weeks since my last update... I found out that the grades on my PSAT that I took this last fall are really high, and so my parents want me to take a summer program to help improve them for my junior year so that I can possibly get some money for college. We'll see... anyway, I'll be having classes three times a week plus extra workshops for the entire summer. I should be able to find some time to write, but...

Anyway, just wanted to let you guys know! See you later!