A reappearance of Neku's forgetful mom. God I love her.

18. Rainbow

Every Wednesday, Neku's mother would go grocery shopping. And every Wednesday she'd ask either her husband or son to go with her. This week was Neku's turn. He never complained, as it was the one time that he truly got to bond with his forgetful mom, and mostly during the shopping trip she managed to hold onto her memory for a longer period of time.

His mother had a hand on the cart, reading over her shopping list as Neku guided the cart and his mother through the store. She paused, to make sure the gallon of milk hadn't moved before pausing. Her eyes seemed to drift to something and she looked at her son curiously. "Noto?"

"Yes, mom?" He picked a box of instant ramen off a nearby shelf, gazing at it in curiosity.

"Are you homosexual?"

He dropped the box of instant ramen in shock. "…what?" He stared at her in a combination of shock and worry. He could help but notice how other store patrons also stopped in their shopping to try and overhear the conversation. "Mom, is this really the time?"

"Noto, I worry about you."

"Mom, now's not the time." Despite his mild panic over the questioning of his sexuality in public, he couldn't help but feel touched that his dear forgetful mom worried about him.

"So you are, but just don't want to admit it in public?" She seemed almost relieved.

He shook his head, "No that's not it. It just came out of nowhere is all…" He started to push the cart again. "Let's finish our shopping and we can talk about it when we get home, okay?"

"Such a sweet boy," she linked an arm through his, "my darling Noto."

He flushed and felt bad, because he knew she'd have a memory lapse in-between now and then and that he was taking advantage of the disability. But one day, she'd remember it and he'd have to answer that dreaded question.

As predicted, his mother questioned where she was once they were in the checkout line, and he calmly explained the situation. After paying for her because she forgot her wallet, "Thank you, Neida," they walked home through the crowds and put away the groceries. Neku started dinner for her, reminding her that food was on the stove cooking until she took up the task. He waited for the usual, "Oh, that shouldn't be burning" before entering his room, shutting the door and collapsing on his bed.

He eventually rolled over, adjusting after almost choking himself with his headphones and stared at his roof. Neku closed his eyes, sighing, eyes sliding closed as he relaxed. He felt the weight on his bed, it started at the foot, climbing up his body much like a cat, straddling his hips and chest. Even through the song, he heard the giggle before lips brushed against his, softly, gently.

They brushed against his again, a bit stronger before opening, a tongue tracing his upper lip before he actually opened his mouth to accept the tongue. The mouth pulled away, another giggle, and then the mouth came back stronger, a body melting against his.

"Netto, dinner!"

Neku jolted off his bed at the sound of his mother calling for him. He left the headphones and mp3 on his bedside table, shaken and slightly disturbed. A dream or real? If a dream, it was supposedly his 'hidden desires' materializing. If it was real, Joshua fricken Kiryu just tried to snog him. Neither answer left him pleased.

He joined his mother in the kitchen, the meal already plated and looking delicious despite the faint burn marks on the vegetables. He sat down, offering his mother a smile as she placed their drinks on the table. "Thank you, mom."

She smiled widely, and they began eating. As Neku started on his vegetables, his mother zoned out mid-bite. "Nektarea?"

"Hmm?" He wondered faintly what that name came from but answered nonetheless.

She took a bit of her small serving of meat, seemed to chew it slowly, as if drawing out for time. "Don't you have a friend named Joshua?" Neku dropped his utensils, staring at his mom in shock. He wanted to scream and yell, knowing it wasn't the answer.

Why does she remember his name from that one meeting, but can never remember mine?

This revelation called for an angst-fest, and in result had him slumping slightly, almost into his food. "I wouldn't call him a friend… more like an acquaintance. Or annoyance."

"I see," she seemed to nod, "does he annoy you because he makes you question your sexuality?"

"…WHAT?" He couldn't hold back his knee-jerk reaction, immediately feeling like a dick when she recoiled and appeared properly chastened, if not sad. "Where did you get that idea from?"

"I remember him being slightly… gay, and I worry about you Nektarea, so I must know if you're going to give me grandchildren or not."

Neku cradled his head in his hands and wanted to cry.

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