Hoho! Long time no see! Sportsfest just finished and another college entrance exam done, so I'm updating! I hope you'd like this chapter! :)

Always enjoy! :)

The Rose In Between

four-eyed 0-0

CHAPTER SIX

"Good morning, Mum."

Inoue reluctantly opened her eyes to the smiling face of her son and restrained the yawn that was about to escape from her mouth to greet him back. He kissed her forehead and she pinched at his cheek. After another exhausting week of work, Hiro was again the first to wake her up, eager for their perfunctory Sunday going around. It had been a treaty between the two of them that every Sunday, which was her only day off work, the two of them would go to the park, shop, or go to a theme park. And today was a stroll around the park, shopping, and some ice cream.

"Come on, Mum," said Hiro, tugging her hand. "We need to get ready."

"All right, baby." Inoue heaved herself up, brushed her curls from her face, and stretched her tired muscles. She tousled her son's red hair and said, "Now, take a shower and wait for me here before getting down to breakfast."

The boy nodded and went away while she grabbed her bathrobe and proceeded to the bathroom.

After showering, she changed to a pink dress and topped it with a cream-colored bolero then took out white flats. When she went out of the dressing room, Hiro was already sitting on her bed, dressed in a blue T-shirt and brown breeches. She took his hand in hers and together they went to the dining room for breakfast.

They got in the car and Inoue revved the vehicle, not forgetting to remind her son about the seatbelt. They drove to the city central. Inoue got out of the car after parking it in the space allotted for vehicles in the park and helped Hiro out. The boy eagerly pulled her to the swings and she swung him, making him giggle like any other five-year-old boy.

"Mum!" he suddenly exclaimed, making her abruptly pull him back from mid-swing.

"What is it, Hiro?" she asked, catching her breath.

Hiro pointed over across them. "Ku-kun is here!" he said, jumping out of the swing and tugging the skirt of her dress. She looked at the direction he pointed at and saw the redhead for herself, sitting placidly under the shade of a tree, a thin book in hand. "Mum, come on!"

She let herself be pulled toward the kistune and kept a straight face. They were still feet away from him when Hiro released her hand and ran toward Kurama so that he started from his reading. He smiled at Hiro and the boy pointed at Inoue, and he looked at her with a fond smile on his face.

"Mum!"

Inoue gulped before walking to the two of them. Hiro was already seated beside Kurama and she was left to sit right beside the fox or take walk the girth of the tree so that Hiro was between them. Kurama's gaze shifted from her to Hiro.

"Sit down next to him, Mum."

She had no right to say no to her son's request. Without looking at the two of them, she sat down a foot away and instead laid her eyes upon a distant tree. Even with her gaze turned away from them, she was quite sure that he stared at her through the corners of his green-emerald eyes. She could almost feel those orbs at the back of her head. She shivered slightly and heard Hiro ask something, making her turn to see the boy looking up at Kurama.

"It's Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare," said the fox, waving the book he held in front of the boy's eyes. Hiro must have asked what the book was and the nod he gave affirmed Inoue's thoughts.

"I know Shakespeare; he is from England. I've read his Romeo and Juliet but not that book. Just what is it about, Ku-kun?"

Kurama stared from the page he was reading then closed the book carefully as he adjusted his bookmark. He did not seem to mind her halfhearted watching. "It's a tale between twins ― a brother and a sister who were separated after a shipwreck ― "

Hiro's eyes went wide and there was no stopping him from budging in. "Shipwreck? They must have died!"

There was a slight chuckle from the kitsune and he shook his head. "No, Hiro-kun," he said, a note of enthusiasm in his voice, "they did not die at all, or so they thought." He paused, as though waiting for another question, which came.

"Thought?"

"Yes. They thought the other died, but actually, both lived."

Hiro nodded in understanding. "What happened then?"

Now Kurama looked over his shoulder so that he caught her staring. She instantly looked away, almost blushing. She knew all of Shakespeare's stories and Hiro even browsed through the versified versions. But even so, hearing Kurama tell Hiro about it felt a little bit wrong and more like right at the same time.

"The sister, Viola, decided to work for the governor of the land of Illyria where they had been washed to by the waves. She disguised herself as Cesario ― "

"Cesario? Isn't that for a male?"

"It is." Inoue was very sure that Kurama nodded. "She disguised herself as a page to work for the duke whom she loved so much, who, in turn, courted a countess by the name of Olivia, who did not wish for any more wooing from the duke. Viola could not express her love for the duke and wished to help him be happy through being the bridge between Orsino and Olivia. She was a great singer and had amazing poetry skills."

"Why was that, Ku-kun?" Inoue had the very urge to turn and see Hiro's expression and succumbed to it, only to be caught by his big, innocent eyes. "Hey, Mum."

Kurama turned to her with a blank expression and she just looked at her son. "Hmm?" She narrowed her eyes, trying to imply that Kurama's still watching her was irksome.

"You told me you've read all of Shakespeare's works. Why should Viola do that?"

"Do what, dear?"

Hiro tilted an eyebrow and cocked his head to the side, very much like what she would do when she got fed up. Sometimes she wished he inherited Kurama's consideration. Inoue's stomach flipped at the thought. Had she just thought of his beingHiro's father? "Why did she have to disguise herself for the duke who did not love her?"

He shouldn't be asking things like this. He was just a five-year-old boy who had just started to go to school. Kurama was really at fault for bringing the book. And it even led to his being in the same place and at the same time as the two of them.

Inoue snapped out of it and stammered answering, "You may not know it yet, son, but when it comes to love, many do selfless things." She could see Kurama watching her with formal interest and she distracted herself by looking at Hiro as intently as possible without actually freaking him out.

Her son nodded and then averted his gaze to Kurama who had turned to him a while ago. "What happened then, Ku-kun?"

"It was pandemonium," Kurama paused, looking at Hiro's face in amusement, "Olivia instantly fell in love with Cesario ― but no, it was with the man Viola assumed the identity of," he quickly added when the boy's eyebrows twitched. "On the other hand, Sebastian, Viola's brother was currently looking for her, with the help of a friend he had just known, named Antonio. And then when Olivia chanced upon Sebastian, she mistook him for his twin and made him marry her ― "

"Wasn't he so easy? He had not known Olivia nor had she!"

Kurama chuckled. "Well, I do think so. Actually, he was confused. So confused for all her actions. Being dragged along must have been the best solution and the best way to find out the truth but it turned out the wrong way. But still, Olivia was a fair maiden and Sebastian was a bachelor who needed a wife."

Hiro was silent for a minute and then he sighed. "What about Viola?"

"It just so happened that Duke Orsino and Viola were heading for Olivia's house to court her once again and an argument arose, for Olivia thought Viola was Sebastian and announced that she was her husband in front of the duke. Only when the twins recognized each other did the confusion ended. Olivia was with Sebastian and Duke Orsino offered marriage to Viola."

"And they lived happily ever after?"

Kurama nodded. "And that's where Twelfth Night ends."

"Hey, how come do you know it already when you're still reading it?" Hiro suddenly asked.

The kitsune heaved a deep breath and leant on the tree trunk, still looking at Hiro. "I've read this many times before, actually. And more of Shakespeare's works. Since I have nothing to do, I decided to read it again."

Hiro smiled. "Wow. That's nice."

A sudden ringing of a bell made Hiro look up. "Ice cream!" he squealed, standing up in a second's split. Inoue turned to where the sound came from and felt her hand being pulled. Hiro was tugging Kurama's hand as well. "Come on, Ku-kun, buy me and my Mum some."

"Akihiro, that's rude," retorted Inoue sharply, her ego suddenly struck. She stood up. "I can buy you ice cream anytime you want and you don't need to bother other people."

"Inoue-san, it's all right," said Kurama, rising to his feet as well, his face straight.

The brunette kept herself from rolling her eyes at him. "We've bothered you for quite a time now and I can buy what my son wants without your help, Kurama-san."

He looked slightly hurt. She perfectly knew that she was being grumpy and all but this was not the best time to have the fox meddling with her private life. She could not afford to see him getting closer to Hiro. She wanted a Kurama-free life.

"If you would please excuse us," she said, yanking Hiro away.

Her son yanked his hand back. "No, Mum. I still want to play with Ku-kun." He turned to the kitsune and asked, his big eyes so innocent, "You won't bother, will you, Ku-kun?"

Kurama looked at her again then back at Hiro. "No, not at all, Hiro-kun."

"Yes! Come on," said the boy, pulling them by the hand. Inoue glared at Kurama and he merely looked down. Hiro tugged at her hand more harshly and she had nothing else to do but let him drag them toward the ice cream cart where other people had crowded over. "I want chocolate crumble."

Kurama looked rather nervous and the way he fumbled for his wallet proved her thoughts. "How much does the chocolate crumble cost?" he asked the vendor warily, still not braving to look at her. And it was when Inoue decided to take a second look at his wallet did she drop Hiro's hand.

It was the black leather wallet she had given him on his eighteenth birthday. And in the picture frame was a photo of the two them and slipped above it was a folded piece of paper that bore her birthday note.

Wishing you a happy birthday.

-Anikka

She could not stop tears from pooling in her eyes upon the sight of the gift he had taken care of for years. It was so well-preserved, so cherished. He was so faithful. And she, she was so selfish.

Inoue quickly looked away and wiped the beads that were about to fall. There was the familiar pain in her chest and she could hardly breathe. Her knees were weak and trembling. She needed support. She needed to break down. She needed his shoulder to cry on. It was so unbearable. Seven years had passed since she had given the wallet to him. How did he never get tired of it? How did he manage not to lose it? Not to wear it off? How? Why?

"Mum, what do you want?"

She clenched her hands to fists and did not bother to look at her son. "I'm not having ice cream, Hiro. I feel like I'll catch cold." Her voice was throaty.

"Mum, it's not even autumn!"

"I'm not having ice cream, Hiro, and it's final. I'll wait for you by the swings." She heaved a breath and walked away without another word. Her tears rolled down her face.

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Kurama watched Anikka hurriedly walk away. He could tell that she was crying. He stared at his wallet and closed it sharply. He had always taken care of her present for the past years. He never had another wallet ever since. He had sworn never to change it. He loved it so much. He loved her so much.

"Ku-kun," said Hiro, his face in shock. "What's wrong with her?"

The kitsune shrugged. "I don't know. I can't tell."

The ice cream vendor handed the cone to him, which he in turn gave to Hiro. After paying the snack, Hiro promptly took his hand and dragged him toward the direction where Anikka had gone to. She sat still on a swing, her head bowed down. She was indeed crying, he could tell. And he could not decide whether it was a good sign or not. It would be taken as good if it was a sign that she was touched by his keeping of her present for even seven years. With this he could tell that she still harbored feelings she denied. And it would be equally bad if she was disturbed because of the picture that might be a giveaway of their unacknowledged secret. It really was stupid, but he could not let himself forget about it at all.

Hiro ran to his mother when they were feet away and the brunette discreetly wiped her face with a handkerchief before looking at the boy and smiling. Kurama, as slowly as he could without being stupid, walked towards them and halted feet away. He watched Anikka calmly stroking Hiro's red hair, her brown eyes a little bloodshot. He could almost feel the wallet radiating some heat from inside his jeans' pocket. Suddenly, Anikka stood up and walked towards him, Hiro being dragged alongside her with a look of sadness on his face. Most probably, they would go now.

"Kurama-san," she said, her voice calm and cool. He wondered how easy it was for her to recover from her crying. She was Anikka, after all. Tough and hard-headed.

"I'm under the impression you'll be going now, no?" he asked, staring her straight in the eyes.

She nodded.

"Can I have a second with Hiro? I wish to speak to him." He looked at the boy who in turn looked up at his mother and tugged her hand, making her look at him.

Anikka exhaled, her shoulders drooping. "Yes," she said this to Hiro.

Hiro took hold of Kurama's hand and the kitsune led him to a nearby tree. Once they arrived there, he crouched down and placed both hands on the boy's arms. "Hiro-kun," he whispered, "I want to give you this." He fumbled for something inside his pocket and took out a pager. He took hold of the boy's hand and placed the gadget on his palm, folding his little fingers so that they held it tightly. "You are a smart boy, right? I'm sure you know when and how to use it. Keep this to yourself, all right?"

"Of course," Hiro replied with a wink. Kurama let out a small chuckle. "But why?"

"I want to keep you safe. We are friends, aren't we?"

Hiro nodded feverishly.

"And here," Kurama mumbled, reaching for his hair and pulling out a rose from it. The kitsune grinned when the boy's eyes widened.

"How do you do that?"

"Magic."

"There's no such thing as magic. Do you keep roses in your hair? Is that why you grow your hair that long?"

Kurama smiled and lent it to him. "Give this to your mother. Tell her someone is thinking of her right at that very moment and that person will not do anything to hurt her."

"Huh?" Hiro's red eyebrows twitched as he took the blood-red rose. "But you haven't answered my question yet."

The kistune ruffled his hair and whispered, "It's a legacy of mine. And I will tell you when the roses bloom."

Hiro looked even more confused. "Okay," he nonetheless said.

"Gee. Thanks." Kurama stood up and patted his small head. "You go back to her now. Please do not give the rose to her until you get home. Hide it well."

"Bye, Ku-kun," he said, hugging him about his middle. He patted the boy's head again.

"See you, Hiro-kun."

The boy gave him one last squeeze before running off to his mother.

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"Mum," said her son, as soon as they got inside the living room. She looked at him and was astonished to see a blood-red rose being held by the boy. When did he get that? "Take this. A person is thinking of you right now and that person will not hurt you."

"Huh?"

Hiro took hold of her hand and placed the rose on her palm before running off up the stairs.

Inoue lost the feeling in her knees that she collapsed on the couch, her eyes unblinking, staring at the flower she was so familiar with.

So there it is. Did you like it? Haha. I really am so sorry for being so late nowadays. SOOOOOOO busy.

Kaori Minamino: Thanks! I'm sure Kurama's happy for having someone commend him for being nice and all. Haha. And I hope this chapter's adequate for some mind-boggling for Inoue. And well, yes, Kokoda should be knowing that Hiro is Kurama's clone! But, it is my crazy plot. Haha. :)

Stella Cadens: Thank you so much for the review and for the compliment. And I'm sorry for being late. I wish you understand. :D

KuramaEnzanBlues: I'm happy you've been experiencing different emotions when reading my story. It makes me feel good that I convey the right emotions. Haha. Well, Kokoda and his dad do not remember Anikka. And Shiori? Well she knows most of the truth. I mean, all. Haha.

And that's it for another chapter! See you again next time! Reviews, please?

Signing off,

~four-eyed 0-0