A/N: KT! YOU SHOULD TOTALLY GET AN ACCOUNT!! THAT WOULD BE AWESOME!! AND SINCE YOU'RE SO AWESOME, IT'LL JUST BE DOUBLY AWESOME!!

Ahem…Um Thanks so so much to all my wonderful reviewers for helping me get over ONE HUNDRED reviews. It's been a real dream of mine to have fans that are dedicated to the crap I try to write. You guys give me so much confidence. You make me feel like my work just might be worth reading. Thanks so much everyone!! RAMEN AND HUGS FOR EVERYONE!! YAAAAY!! If you don't like ramen you may have cookies. (Smile)

Disclaimer: Nope not mine. The only thing that's mine is Shouta's last name. What's sad is that I definitely could have asked for help with a last name but I finally thought of one after sixteen chapters…I suck…Hahaha. His mom and dad's names are made up too by the way. I don't ever remember them being said in the show.

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The clouds seem to become darker as they walked toward Shouta's house. Ken looked up and then looked to Marika with worried eyes. The saying "calm before the storm" didn't seem to measure up to the situation they were facing. Maybe they were being dramatic and Shouta's mother wouldn't get as angry as they feared. No mother could be content with herself after telling her son he should have never been born. Shouta held Yuzuyu's hand tight as he looked ahead. He felt like he would be able to conquer the world if she was by his side.

"Am I the only one that notices how dark the sky is getting?" Ken asked breaking the uncomfortable silence.

"No Ken, you're not. But I highly doubt the sky is changing because of the situation." Marika said with a you're-being-dramatic tone. She didn't believe in any superstitious or supernatural things.

"I don't know Marika. It feels that way." Ken said.

"Ha, I think you're right Ken. This is a warning." Shouta began to slow down. "Maybe we should go do something else first." Shouta said with a nervous smile. Yuzuyu squeezed his hand reassuringly.

"No. I think we should go and confront your mother or this problem will never get solved. Don't run away Shouta." Shouta looked into Yuzuyu's big brown eyes. She seemed so serious. She wasn't going to let him run; he didn't blame her though. He's been a coward for far too long. It was about time he actually said a little of what was on his mind. Especially if he was going to keep living with his mother like this.

They were almost to Shouta's house and Yuzuyu tightened her gentle grip on Shouta's hand once again. They stopped once they were in front of the door.

"Well we're here."

"This is my first time at you're house." Yuzuyu said.

"Yeah and it sucks that you have to meet my mom for the first time under these circumstances." Shouta replied feeling horrible. His first girlfriend had to meet his mother after they had a big fight. Nice. This wasn't how he pictured them meeting for the first time. He wanted the meeting of the two most important women in his life to be a happy one. This wasn't fair to Yuzuyu at all. Shouta looked at the sky and then at Yuzuyu.

"I'm sorry Yuzu."

"For what? You didn't do anything."

"I didn't want you to meet my mom this way." He couldn't look her in the eye.

Yuzuyu turned his face gently toward her.

"Why do you always look away from me?"

"I don't know…" Yuzuyu pulled him into a hug. Her head pressed under his neck softly and Shouta kissed it tenderly.

"You don't have to apologize. I just want you to understand that I'm here for you no matter what."

"I love you."

"I love you too Shouta."

"How many times can I say that in a day?" He asked with a smirk.

"What a silly question. You act like I'm going to be like 'Bad Shouta, don't say I love you more than once.' You're silly." She smiled and hugged him tighter.

Marika and Ken couldn't believe their ears. Yuzuyu and Shouta had taken that next step and said I love you. Marika smiled; she was so happy for Yuzuyu it was unreal. Ken was as well. He was also happy for Shouta. He did love Marika but he wasn't sure which love it was just yet. Rushing to say 'I love you' wasn't always good for everyone so he wasn't going to rush it. It seemed though, that Yuzuyu and Shouta were definitely ready, and right now; them being happy was the only way he and Marika could be happy.

"Shouta, what are your mom and dad's names? You never told me." Yuzuyu asked.

"My mom's name is Kakoe Hanasaki and my dad's name is Shinji Hanasaki."

Yuzuyu let Shouta go and looked at him. His face was pale but his eyes were serious. He was determined at this point to fix the rift between him and his mother.

"Shouta, Ken and I will be out here waiting for you." Marika said with a smile. Ken gave Shouta a thumbs-up.

"Thanks guys." Shouta gave them a weak smile and opened the door of his house with Yuzuyu behind him. She closed the door with a click.

In the living room his mother jolted to her feet and ran to the door.

"SHOUTA! I'm so sorry I didn't mean--" She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Yuzuyu. She looked at Yuzuyu with shaky eyes. Who was this girl? Why was she with her son?

Yuzuyu looked at Shouta's mom and it was obvious she had been up all night crying. Her skin was pale, most likely from not eating and her brown eyes were dull. If you looked into them you wouldn't think there was something inside her. She seemed almost empty. Her clothes were messy and so was her light brown hair, most of it pulled back in a ponytail. She just looked completely frazzled, last night must have been the worst night of her life.

"Who is this?" Shouta's mother asked angrily. Although it seemed like she was asking Shouta she looked at Yuzuyu.

"My name is Yuzuyu…I'm very sorry for intruding in your home like this Hanasaki-san." Yuzuyu said in a scared tone as she bowed. Shouta's mother looked absolutely terrifying to Yuzuyu and all it too was that one look.

"Mom, Yuzuyu is my girlfriend and I went over her house yesterday…" He spoke calmly.

"Oh? So did you come back just to tell me you're going to live with her? You don't want to come back, is that it?!" Her voice began to rise in volume. "FINE! You don't HAVE TO! GET OUT! You can go live your OWN HAPPY LIFE WITHOUT ME!" Both Yuzuyu and Shouta closed their eyes as she yelled. Tears began to well up in Yuzuyu's eyes. What had she gotten herself into? Who was she kidding she couldn't handle this.

'NO! I have to be strong for him…it shouldn't be this way.' She cleared her head and stopped her tears from falling. She gripped Shouta's hand tight. They both stood there silently for a moment. Shouta's mom started walking away and then she stopped when she realized they weren't moving. Just silently holding hands.

"What? Do I need to open the door for you or something? I SAID GET OUT!" Yuzuyu flinched yet again at her outburst.

"I never said I wanted to leave mom." Shouta said looking at the floor. His eyes were watery.

"You didn't have to. I can see it on your face how much you really hate me. It's fine. The feeling is mutual." She said with a smug smirk. Yuzuyu was shocked. How could someone's mother say that to them? What Shouta had said about her was true. She couldn't believe it. She thought to herself what he had said last night.

"Ever since I was little my mom has always had a problem. I don't know what it is or why but it makes her very unstable mentally. She's very insecure and if you don't tell her you love her constantly than she'll start to think you don't." Yuzuyu thought back some more.

"She acts like she doesn't love us and I can't stand it. But I've been thinking lately that she really hates me Yuzu." Shouta's sad voice echoed in the back of her mind. This was it. She was seeing it first hand how badly Shouta's mom's word could hurt.

They were like acid.

Completely poisonous to the heart.

Yuzuyu couldn't take it anymore and began to cry. No child should ever ever hear those words. Shouta saw a tear fall from Yuzuyu's face and onto the wooden floor.

"STOP IT MOM!! PLEASE!!" He couldn't hold them back anymore either. His mom was shocked he yelled back. He never yelled back. "Stop being this way…I-I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! I can't…I can't…" His tears were uncontrollable now. He tried to fight them away but he couldn't.

"Sh-Shouta…" Mrs. Hanasaki spoke. What was she doing wrong? She was only telling him what he wanted to hear right? The truth. He didn't want to be trapped with her anymore than she wanted to be trapped with herself.

"I don't hate you and I never ever have! I love you! Why don't you understand that!? I know I haven't been able to say it often but its because YOU always make me feel like you HATE ME!" He cried as he looked at his mom. "D-do you hate me?" He choked out. Those words were so painful for him to ask; so painful for him to even think.

Shouta's mother fell to her knees at that moment and began to cry. She didn't hate her son. But she wasn't a good enough mother for such a perfect boy; she could never deserve a son like Shouta. So caring and loving; and brilliant beyond belief. How could something so pure and untainted be born from her?

"N-no…I don't hate you Shouta…" She sobbed into her hands. "I-I don't know what's wrong with me!" She looked up at her son. Shouta let go of Yuzuyu's hand so he could bend down to hug his mother. She cried into Shouta's chest when she felt his arms wrap around her. "I never meant anything that I said yesterday, or any other day…I'm sorry…I'm just…your father…and you…I'm just…" She couldn't form the sentence she wanted to form.

Yuzuyu wiped her tears and walked closer to his mother. "You're just lonely aren't you? You have no one to talk to in this big house and its hard for you isn't it?" Yuzuyu spoke gently and softly. His mother looked up. Yuzuyu's angelic voice soothed his mother's ears but she only cried more at the truth.

"You think that no one cares about you anymore because they're hardly here right?" Shouta's turned his mom's face to look up at his.

"Is that what it is?" Shouta asked completely concerened. Mrs. Hanasaki looked up at Shouta and then turned to Yuzuyu. Yuzuyu gave her a soft smile and bent down as well.

"That's not true Hanasaki-san." She said. Shouta's mother was surprised. This young girl was able to tell the problem as soon as she had seen and listened. How was she able to do that?

"Mom. Dad and I didn't know. We didn't know that you were lonely. If you only had said something none of this would have happened. Can't you see that if you would only talk to us like we want you to, you wouldn't be as lonely." Shouta said. Shouta's mother looked away.

"Well that doesn't matter anymore, I doubt your father is coming back he--" The door busted open and Shinji Hanasaki ran inside with a big bouquet of white tulips, Mrs. Hanasaki's favorite flower.

"Kakoe! Kakoe, I'm sorry for everything! I didn't mean to just leave like that yesterday; I love you so much. Please don't be angry anymore!" Shouta's mother stood up and walked over to Mr. Hanasaki slowly.

"Y-You bought me tulips?" She looked at them in awe. It had been so long since she's had some tulips of her own. Mr. Hanasaki handed them to her and pulled her in close.

"I know I haven't been here a lot lately and for that I am sorry. I went down to my job last night and asked for another day off from now on so we can spend more time together."

"B-but Shinji! You can't--" He put his finger over her mouth.

"It will be fine. He gave me a raise so I'll be making more, don't worry." He inhaled deeply and looked into his wife's brown eyes. "I don't want to lose you Kakoe. Please trust me when I say, I would never do anything to hurt you, ever." His kissed her on her forehead.

She leaned into him and started to cry again. She sobbed loudly into her husband's chest. She had been so stupid for so long.

"H-How can you two ever forgive me?" Shouta looked at his dad and smiled a small smile.

"Mom, you're already forgiven." She turned around to Shouta and he opened his arms to her. He was about the same height as his mother, wouldn't be long before that changed but she put her forehead to his and smiled. That was something she used to do with him when he was younger and when she was happier. With anything her and Shouta did together, she would always put her forehead to his and kiss his nose. It had been so long since she was nice to her own son she had almost forgotten.

Yuzuyu stood there and smiled. They had a break through; she was so happy. Though she still had one thing to say.

"Hanasaki-san, you don't have to be alone in this town. My aunt would love to have some company during the day as well. Both her sons are living on their own and my uncle and oldest cousin work a lot. And I go to school. She would love to meet you if you'd like?" Yuzuyu said with hope in her voice.

"I would like that very much. Thank you Yuzuyu." She gave Yuzuyu a smile and finally Yuzuyu's heart was completely calm again. The smile Mrs. Hanasaki gave her was so genuine.

"Ah, so this is Yuzuyu. How very nice to finally meet you. Shouta's told me about you in passing and this is our first encounter." Shouta's dad walked over to Yuzuyu and held out his hand. Yuzuyu took his big hand and shook it.

"It's very nice to meet you too." Yuzuyu was very charmed by Shouta's father. She finally understood where he got it from. He seemed so sweet and so gentle. Yeah, he was definitely Shouta's father.

"Oh Shouta, I also met your friends outside too. The young man seems like a nice funny guy. His adorable girlfriend seemed like a fire cracker though."

"Oh, she is!" Yuzuyu said completely cheesy that Mr. Hanasaki figured Marika out in one shot.

"And Ken has his moments I must say." Shouta said with a smile.

"Give them my regards. I'm going to take Kakoe upstairs now; she hasn't slept or ate. I can tell." He looked at her with disapproving eyes. "You can go out for the rest of the day."

"Ok dad. Get some rest mom alright." Shouta gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"I will." They started walking upstairs. Mrs. Hanasaki stopped before the second step. "Oh and Yuzuyu, please come back tomorrow ok? I'm very sorry we met under these circumstances…forgive me?"

"Of course Hanasaki-san, it's ok, really." She gave her a smile and waved goodbye. She looked forward to the next day. Talking to Shouta's mother on proper terms would probably make everyone happy.

Oxoxoxoxoxoxo

"We heard a lot of yelling. Thank goodness it seems to be all over." Ken said gratefully to the heavens.

"It's thanks to Yuzuyu that I even had the courage to say anything." Shouta held Yuzuyu close as they walked.

"Yeah, she can do that to you." Marika said with a smile.

"Though meeting your dad was pretty cool." Ken chirped.

"He said you were funny and he called Marika a firecracker." Yuzuyu laughed and continued, "He's a good judge of character it seems."

"Haha, fire cracker. How perfect." Marika smacked Ken on the arm. He grinned at her and held the spot she hit while continuing. "We saw him running and I said, 'Whoa! Where's the fire?!' and he said, 'In my house I'm pretty sure.' Your dad seems cool. Of course Marika jumped in and was like, 'you mean you're Shouta's dad! Don't stand around out here! Go talk to your wife!' He was surprised she was yelling at him like that." Ken explained.

"That's our lovely Marika for you." Shouta said giving Marika a warm smile.

They all shared a laugh. It felt good to finally have some normalcy back into their lives. It had been far too long.

Far far too long.

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YES! So this was a really hard chapter to write. I definitely cried while I was writing it. I didn't expect anyone else to cry but I'm a big fat sensitive baby so I had to. I REALLY hope you liked it! I worked SO SO hard on it. Tell me what you think ok?

Oh and I'm moving this weekend and I won't have cable or internet for about two weeks…(cries) I'm going to try to get another small little chapter in, if I'm not too busy with packing and work. I'll miss everyone a WHOLE lot though so um, send me reviews so I can be without internet contently…Well I won't be content but I'll definitely feel loved while I'm bored out of my mind watching DVD's I've seen eighty-thousand times over haha...ha...(sigh)... I LOVE YOU ALL! (KISSES AND HUGS)