AnimeKiwi369: Well, since I received 16 reviews and it's been twelve days, I decided to update.

Copper: Took you long enough.

AnimeKiwi369: At least it wasn't a cliffhanger chapter I had last time.

Copper: Point taken.

AnimeKiwi369: Yeah. Also, I didn't really have access to a computer the past couple days.

Copper: Yeah, well what's the chapter about?

AnimeKiwi369: Well it basically completely focuses on Nan and Martha. Both of Yusei's mothers. His biological and foster.

Copper: And...?

AnimeKiwi369: There's another flashback with an amusing ending. So I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's or its characters. I do own my own characters, Nan's name, and the storyline. And sorry if any character is out of characters (namely Yusei in the flashback). Onto the chapter.

Chapter 23

Motherly Confessions

Nan sat at a small table in the cafeteria of the hospital. It was empty and seemed more like a café than cafeteria. Yusei and Akiza were back with Copper, who was doing a lot better according to the dark-haired man. The brunette could still feel that odd feeling of emotions to scold her son while he was feeling bad because he thought it was his fault for his daughter crashing. She hadn't felt that in the few weeks she'd gotten to know him. It was strange. The blue-indigo-eyed woman figured it was a maternal instinct that she'd never experienced before because of that coma.

The brunette thought back to what happened before Zero Reverse. She could see Hakase in her mind again. She mentally laughed remembering the first time they went out on a date. It had been so awkward between them, it had been funny. Her late husband had been especially nervous. Nan remembered when he had shown her the plans for the Enerdy Reactor. They had spent three entire weeks going over the plans. It was amusing to see the Goodwin brothers' reactions when Hakase said that the blue-indigo-eyed woman was joining their project.

Roman and Rex had been opposed at first, but they eventually warmed up. It was hard for her to believe that the elder of the two had betrayed her and her husband. And it was even harder to believe that both of them had become Dark Signers that her son had defeated. But Yusei had said both had seen the errors of their ways when they had been in a "realm of peace", as her son put it.

She sighed, missing her old life as a tea cup was set in front of her. Nan looked up at Martha as she sat down. She had gotten to know her son's foster mother in the past couple weeks. She was very nice, caring woman who obviously cared about children. She was a few years older than the brunette.

"Thank you, Martha." The blue-indigo-eyed woman said to the dark-eyed one.

"Is there something on your mind?" the dark-haired woman asked, concerned.

"It's just how much Yusei is like his father." The brunette replied with a sigh, "He was blaming himself for Cyli's crash. Hakase used to blame himself for things like that when we were dating. He didn't much after we got married."

"Yusei's always been like that." Martha responded, "Back in the Signer-Dark Signer war, he blamed himself for Kalin becoming a Dark Signer. I don't know how long it took to convince him otherwise. I've never been able to fully understand him. I think he feels that it's his responsibility to take care of problems and that it's his fault when something goes wrong. And because it's Copper was hurt, he feels it's his fault that he couldn't protect her and he's her father."

"I see your point." Nan commented, "You've raised him well. He's turned out great."

"He has." The other woman replied, "But he can be so stubborn. And like I said, he acts as though the weight of the world's on his shoulders. Yes, he has had that weight on his shoulders before, but he wasn't alone. He had Jack, Luna, Akiza, Leo, and Crow. I love that boy like he's my own son, but I wish I knew what went through that head of his." The brunette flinched slightly when the caretaker said she loved Yusei. The foster mother saw this, "Sorry."

"It's all right." she responded, "You've been more of a mother to him than I've ever been."

"Nan, you were in a coma for nearly all of Yusei's life up until just a few weeks ago." the dark-haired woman pointed out.

"I know." She sighed, "But I've missed nearly every significant detail of his life. I missed his first words, love, his marriage, his becoming a parent. The only I didn't miss was his first steps, but like that compares to all of the others. I missed my only little boy grow up." Nan's voice trembled as she spoke. Tears fell again, making ripples and splashes as they fell into the tea. Being back in that hospital caught everything she had missed up to her.

Everything.

Martha took her hands, "Nan, you can't blame yourself for missing all of that. It was Zero Reverse. You can't help that." The orphan caretaker told her.

"You've been there for everything!" the brunette said, still upset.

"Yes, while that and the fact I've acted as a mother to Yusei are true," the dark-haired woman agreed, "I know that all he has ever wanted is his real mother. You."

"He told me that." The blue-indigo-eyed woman responded numbly.

"It's true. You're the one person he's never known anything about. He's always wanted to know you." Martha began, "Nan I've never told anyone this because Yusei didn't want me to. And he never wanted to show it. But considering you are his mother, he'd want you to know, but I know he wouldn't ever tell a soul. I think the only person Yusei's ever told is Akiza only because they don't keep secrets from each other."

"W-What?" the brunette asked.

"Yusei's always missed you." The dark-eyed woman said, "He's even cried over you."

"H-He has?" Nan asked shakily. The other woman nodded.

"He was about seven."

-Flashback-

Martha set breakfast plates in front of seven-year-olds Jack and Kalin and six-year-old Crow after the other orphans got their breakfast plates. It was early in February. The ginger-haired boy hungrily began eating the food on his plate, while the others were more civilized.

"Crow, you aren't being raised by wolves." The golden-eyed boy commented, rolling his eyes at his friend.

"Martha, why does Yusei get to sleep in when we can't?" Jack asked with an annoyed tone.

"He was up until about two in the morning working on fixing the dryer." The caretaker replied, "And it's his birthday. Besides he needs the rest. He's been working awfully hard around the house lately."

"Why complain Jack?" Crow asked with his mouth full, "It gives us more time to wrap the presents and set up and such."

The dark-haired woman came over to the gray-eyed boy and pinched him by the ear for continuing to speak with food in his mouth, "You know better than that."

"Sorry!" he replied with a cry of pain. He rubbed his ear as his foster mother let go.

"Now I want you to distract Yusei when I make the cake." Martha told the three boys that were the dark-haired boy's best friends, "That'll be after he gets something to eat. All right?" the three nodded.

"We'll duel him," Kalin said with a fist as he blew his shaggy hair out of his eyes, "When we duel, it can take up to two hours sometimes. It can take Yusei up to half an hour to make a move!" he exclaimed, flailing his arms, causing a piece of egg on the fork he was holding to fly across the room. His foster mother gave him a stern look and he rubbed the back of his head, "Sorry."

The occupants of the dining room heard a small yawn and turned to see a still-sleepy, now seven-year-old Yusei coming into the room. He was in his normal outfit with a pair of tennis shoes.

"Morning." He said tiredly.

"Happy birthday, Yusei!" Martha and the other orphans greeted in unison.

"Thanks you guys." He responded, sitting in the last empty seat at the table as his foster mother set his plate in front of him. Crow slung one of his arms around the blue-indigo-eyed boy's shoulders.

"Hey, Yusei, after breakfast how about a duel?" the ginger asked, "What do ya say, birthday boy?"

"I wanted to duel him first, Crow!" Jack complained.

"It was my idea!" Kalin whined.

"Boys, boys." The dark-skinned woman interjected, "You'll all get you chance to duel Yusei."

"Fine." They all said.

Several hours later, after about a dozen duels to distract him while Martha baked the dark-haired boy's favorite cake, the blonde, ginger, and ice-blue-haired boys led him to the small living room with a blindfold on. The living room was decorated with a few streamers, but not much else. A few small presents were set on a coffee table along with the chocolate cake their foster mother had baked. Their caretaker was in there with the other orphans.

"Can I take this blindfold off now?" Yusei asked. The other three looked at their foster mother, who nodded; they removed the blindfold from his eyes.

"Surprise!" they all yelled.

"This is all for me?" the blue-indigo-eyed boy asked, surprised.

"Yes, Yusei." The dark-haired woman answered, "It is your birthday after all."

"Thank you everyone." He said, "This is so nice."

"Do you want to do cake now or later, Yusei?" Martha asked him.

He nodded as a 'yes' for now. The foster mother lit the seven candles as the little dark-haired boy went over to the cake. He thought for a few seconds after they were lit, contemplating a wish. He finally came up with one and softly blew the candles out.

Several hours later after the small celebration, it was time for the orphans to go to bed. As the orphan caretaker was getting ready for bed, there was a small knock at her door. She answered it to see the still wide-awake newly turned seven-year-old, Yusei. She was more than surprised to see him. He knew that all of the children went to bed about the same time; he'd been excused from the night before because he was fixing the dryer like she had said earlier.

"Yusei, what are you doing out of bed?" she asked.

"I had a question." He answered.

"Couldn't it wait until morning?" the dark-haired woman inquired.

"I guess it could have." The blue-indigo-eyed boy responded, "But I wanted to know now. Sorry Martha."

"It's all right Yusei." She reassured, "What's on your mind?"

"Martha," he started, "I was wondering if, um…you knew what happened to my parents."

She crouched down to his height and looked him straight in the eyes, "Yusei, dear, I'm afraid to tell you this." she told him, "I'm sorry to say, but your parents, I'm pretty sure are…" the dark-eyed woman sighed; she didn't know if she should continue.

"My parents are what, Martha?" he asked, "I want to know. Please tell me."

She sighed again, "Yusei, your parents are…dead."

"Oh." He replied, looking down. He stayed silent for a few seconds, "Although I feel sad," he started, looking back up at her, "I'm glad that I know you, Martha. If they weren't I'd never know you."

"Oh, Yusei." She responded, giving him a light hug. She released him quickly, "Go on to bed now, Yusei."

"Yes, Martha."

The following morning, the little dark-haired boy didn't seem like himself. He was quieter than usual at breakfast and his demeanor seemed sad. He didn't speak much when Jack, Crow, and Kalin spoke to him. And he was eating a lot slower than normal.

"Yusei, you gonna watch Kalin's duel against Alice before our lessons?" Jack asked after breakfast.

"They made a bet." Crow started, "And if Kalin wins, Alice does his chores for the next week." The ginger started laughing uncontrollably, "But…if Alice wins, Kalin…has to…has to put on one of her skirts! And wear it for the rest of the day."

Alice was another one of the orphans. She was about a year younger than them and often fought with Kalin. She had gray eyes like crow and light brunette hair tied into a ponytail. She was a pretty fair duelist for her age.

"No girl has ever beaten me." the golden-eyed boy boasted, "So you gonna watch us?"

"Uh, yeah." Yusei responded, moving towards the staircase, "I'll be along in a few minutes. I, umm, forgot something upstairs."

"Okay." They responded as he went upstairs.

Martha was dusting the upstairs portion of the orphanage when she noticed a small noise that sounded like sniffling. It was coming from what sounded like Jack, Crow, Kalin, and Yusei's room. She went over there and knocked on the closed door. The sniffling sound stopped. The orphan caretaker opened the door to a darkened room.

In the blue-indigo-eyed boy's bed was a small mound, which told the dark-haired woman that, that the little boy in the bed. She went over to the bed and attempted to pull back the covers. The dark-haired boy's grip on the covers over his head was too strong. She attempted to pull the sheets back again and succeeded.

The young dark-haired child was curled into a little ball, clutching his pillow, which was now tear-soaked, to his chest. He had his head buried on the top of the pillow. Soft sobs could be heard from him, although it was obvious that he was trying to suppress them.

"What's wrong, Yusei?" Martha asked him softly, touching his shoulder.

"I want to know my mother and father." He mumbled shakily, "I know I can't, but I still want to know them, Martha."

"It's okay." She responded, taking the boy's head so she could look him in the eye, "It's only natural for you to want to know them."

"But I'll never know what they were like." He cried, burying his head in his foster mother's skirts, "I miss them."

"I know you do, Yusei." She told him, "Think of this when you think of them, that they loved you and each other. Otherwise you wouldn't be here. And that they're watching over you."

The young boy sobbed for a few minutes as his foster mother rubbed his back. He was glad that he had a mother figure, but still missed his birthparents. The dark-haired boy still clung slightly to his foster mother. He kept his head rested in her lap for several minutes, glad for the comfort.

"Martha?" he asked.

"Yes?"

"It's all right to miss my mother and father, want them, and love them even though they're dead and watching over me, right?" Yusei asked.

"Yes, Yusei." Martha answered, "That's perfectly all right."

"I'm still glad that I have you to raise me since my parents can't." he told her as he sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"I'm glad I have the privilege of raising you." She replied, ruffling his hair. The dark-haired boy put his arms around her as best he could as a response. She embraced him tightly for a few seconds, "Now why don't you go play. You and the others have lessons in an hour."

"All right, Martha." He said, "Thank you."

"You're welcome." She replied.

Yusei walked out of the room as the pounding sound of running footsteps sounded.

"Get back here, Kalin Kessler!" Jack, Crow, and Alice's voices sounded.

"What happened?" the blue-indigo-eyed boy asked, though he was out of sight.

"Kalin lost!" The three exclaimed.

From inside of their room, Martha shook her head, "At least Yusei's the good child."

-End Flashback-

Nan was surprised. She never though her son would get upset over just learning that his parents were dead. Even though he and Martha didn't know that the brunette was alive. Her son seemed like he didn't get emotional easily. But then again, he had been much younger during the story. Still… It did make her feel better though, knowing that her son had thought of her and Hakase and had been upset that he couldn't know them.

"You see, Nan," the dark-haired woman started, "Yusei's always loved and wanted to know you."

"I see." The brunette responded. She smiled at her son's foster mother, "Thank you, Martha."

The other woman smiled back, "Anytime."

"Martha," the blue-indigo-eyed woman started, "I'm glad that you were the one that raised my son."

"And I'm glad that you're back for him to know."

Coming up in "Lost and Found":

"Lane, please come in."

"Both of you don't know how much I was relieved when the doctor said she was going to be all right."

"Lane, do you want us to give you a moment alone with Copper?"

"Yes, Yusei. I would…if that's all right with you two."

"Of course it's okay with us."

"Just a fair warning, when she wakes, she'll probably be really out of."

"Wait! What do you mean by 'out of it'?"

"You'll see."

Maybe I could practice while she's asleep and then tell her again when she's awake later. Here goes. "Copper. I really like you."

Meanwhile

"I'm an Atlas. We don't worry about anything!"

"You've been worried like crazy, huh?"

"No one's been more worried than Lane, though. We're lucky Lane's dad found her. Else we'd be one friend short."

"We both know Lane would never be the same. He'd probably end up like Kalin, regretting not telling her the obvious."

"And all he would've needed to say to C is 'I have a major crush on you', right?"

"There's something I need to tell you something. I, uh…you first! No, you."

NEXT TIME—CHAPTER 24: NOT SO SECRET CRUSHES

AnimeKiwi369: The chapter everyone has been waiting for is the next!

Copper: *Blushing*. W-What do you mean?

AnimeKiwi369: *Grins*. Oh, you know what I mean.

Copper: N-No I don't. This was a sweet chapter. It was nice. Like the last chapter.

AnimeKiwi369: I really only have one more torture chapter and that's not for a few more chapters.

Copper: Oh, no! Not again!

AnimeKiwi369: Don't worry, I don't torture you again until the sequels. I torture the *In a small voice*. two men closest to your heart, your dad and Lane.

Copper: WHAT!

AnimeKiwi369: Don't worry, I don't torture them that bad. Anyway, I think at least 10 reviews. But I'd preferred more. And I won't update again until either two weeks have passed without 10 reviews. Or five days after I get at least 10 reviews. Deal?

Copper: She would be talking to you, readers.

AnimeKiwi369: You catch on fast. So please be kind and please review! ^.~