"See you tomorrow!"

I waved back at Heiji before shutting the door. Glancing out the window, I could see him waving back at me. I smiled, before turning away.

Being the diligent student that I was, I decided to spend the next hour struggling over homework. (Oh, the joys of high school.)

Halfway through Biology, my brain managed to come to a complete standstill. My next thought was: multiple resources to the rescue! This led to me nearly turning my backpack inside out in search of my notes until I realized I had left it at school. Along with my textbook.

Okay, maybe a break from homework would be good right now.

I walked into my room, and sat down at the edge of my bed. With the green walls and the pale sunlight streaming through the window, it was the supposed haven from the chaos of the world.

Maybe, if I had bothered to clean it up, it might have had the potential of being a relaxing refuge.

But then again, it probably was rather neat if you compared it to Heiji's room.

That and the fact that I'm slightly OCD when it comes to neatness. To me, an occasional shirt or paper on the ground drops the room to the "messy" category. So, don't even get me started on the category Heiji's room belonged in.

Sighing, I fell back against the pillows.

Nestled among the many colorful ribbons strewn across my nightstand was a golden heart-shaped locket on a thin golden chain. It was a simple piece of jewelry, nothing too flashy or study.

I stretched out my hand and picked up the locket. I undid the tiny clasp on the side of the heart and opened it. Inside, there was a picture of my mother, father, and me in the middle. We had taken the picture on my ninth birthday, and Mom had given it to me as a present a year before she died.

I remember that day so well. Remember laughing at my dad's lame jokes, hugging my mom as a thank you, and wearing the locket so proudly for the first time. I don't think I've ever felt so….happy.

Rrrrriiinnnggg! RRrriiinnnggg!

My heart nearly stopped when the locket fell out of hands. It slid off the side of my bed, heading towards instant death. I dove for it, but it was too late.

My stomach dropped when I heard the sickening crack of the locket hitting the hardwood floor.

"No, no, no, no, no, this is not happening, this is not happening!"

The heart was broken into four jagged pieces. A broken heart. But the symbolic significance didn't occur to me. I felt tears gathering in my eyes as I dropped the four pieces back onto my nightstand.

The phone continued ringing, so I trudged out to the living room.

"Hello?"

"Kazuha?"

"Oh, hi, Dad! I'm so glad that you're calling right now! You have no idea what I've bee-"

"I'm really sorry, Kazuha, but I need to go to a meeting soon. I was just calling to let you that I'm probably going to spend the night at the office, working on a case. So I can't make it home today. You okay with being alone?"

What was I supposed to say? No, Dad, you're not allowed to continue working on your job because your daughter is so incredibly CLUMSY?

"Hello?"

"I guess so. But just listen to me-"

"Kazuha, I am in a huge rush. I have a tremendous load of information to go over and plenty of coffee to fuel me for the night, so don't worry about me, but please save what you were going to tell me for tomorrow. I'll be home by then."

"O-okay," I said, my voice cracking. "I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Good girl. And if you need anything, just call Heiji."

"Sure," (not)

"Bye, I love you."

"Love you, too, Dad."

I hung up, and slid down to the ground. Not that I wasn't used to being home alone, but on this particular day, when everything seemed to be falling apart, I really needed someone here with me. Sitting on the tile floor, I leaned back against the counter and let depression hang over me.

Today was really not my day.

So, what did I do?

Well, given the present circumstances (the whole Candy incident after kendo practice, then Heiji's annoying remarks at the dinner table, followed by me falling off a chair, then breaking my arm, plus the homework dilemma, not to mention the locket and my dad's sudden news), you can't blame me for feeling a bit upset….Okay, a lot upset.

I broke down in tears.

I'm sorry this is a really sad chapter! Poor Kazuha, sob sob. But it will get better (hopefully.) Anyways, love it? Hate it? Comment pplleeaassseee!

And thanks to everyone who has commented! :] (I just realized that I used a lot of exclamation points right now.)