Enjoy!

When Sayoko saw her brother get off of the train in Hiroshima, she was surprised at the weight he lost. He looked tired, and badly needed a shower, but the hug she received from him overpowered it all. It was a quick drive to the hospital, where she watched Shin take off towards their mother's room. She sighed as she could remember many times her younger brother taking off as a kid to hurry when their mother was sick. As she walked into the room, she could hear her mother lecturing Shin about smelling like smoke. She felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning to see who it was, Ryuusuke pulled her out of the room.

"It's like trying to listen to one of those old English literature books in there." He said, "I could have just brought those two into class instead of reading Jane Austen."

"Ryuusuke, that's mean." She then smiled, "They just have a different relationship. He's always been her baby."

"Is that jealousy I hear?"

"No. I was over being jealous years ago. I'm just worried for him." She sighed, "He's smoking. He's never smoked."

"Mr. Goody Two-Shoes is a bad boy after all."

"It's not funny."

Taro, in his father's arms, mumbled something incoherently.

"Watch him, please." She said.

"I have been, all day."

"No, I'm taking Taro. Watch my brother."

When she came back from feeding the one year old boy, Shin was asleep in a chair leaning onto the bed. Ryuusuke had the TV on the news as her mother was trying to read. She handed the boy to her husband before forcing Shin to wake up.

"Come on, we're going to the hotel so you can refresh yourself."

"Alright." He spoke softly, not wanting to get up.

As soon as they walked out of the hospital, Shin brought a box of cigarettes out.

"You're not smoking that in the car." She said, a bit frustrated, "You shouldn't even have them."

"Sayoko," his voice deepened, "Don't start. I'll be done before we reach the car."

As they reached the car, she watched him instinctively flick the butt into the bushes. She didn't say anything when they entered the car. It was a long drive to the hotel because of traffic. Like the ride from the train station, neither of them talked. She didn't want to upset him, and he didn't seem to want to talk anyways.

"Can we stop and get something to eat?" he mumbled.

"Yeah, what do you want?"

"Just stop here." He said pointing out the gas station. He was in and out fairly quickly.

Sayoko noticed he bought a sandwich and a pack of cigarettes.

"How many packs do you smoke a day?"

"Sayoko…"

"It's just a question."

Relaxing back in the seat he calmed himself, "Two if I can get my hands on them."

"Shin."

"Sayoko, don't. Please."

"But Shin, it's really not.."

She jumped when Shin hit the dashboard, "Just drive the damn car woman!"

She hit the brakes abruptly, causing Shin to hit his head and drop his sandwich over him. Seconds later, he apologized for yelling.

While Shin was taking a long shower, Sayoko sat watching a sappy show. Knowing that she would become emotional watching the soap opera, she had a box of tissues next to her. When Shin came out of the shower, he found himself wondering what was going on with his sister. She was balling her eyes out.

"Sayoko, I'm sorry about earlier and,"

"Shin, I'm watching a soap opera. I'm not mad at you." She said, now laughing, "Stop walking around in a towel."

"Right, clothes."

He walked back out while trying to get his old blue sweatshirt on. It was a bit small from when he wore it last.

"You still have that old shirt?"

Shin laughed sitting down on the bed with her, "I need to throw it away. It's tight."

"It's almost over, and then we'll head back."

"Ok, I'll meet you down there." He got up grabbing his wallet, lighter, and cigarettes.

Sayoko sighed. She had never seen him so tense and short tempered. Grabbing her jacket, she headed out the door when she was almost run over by the door.

"Sorry. It's so cold outside." Shin came in shivering.

"It's only four degrees outside… never mind. I think Ryuusuke packed another jacket and maybe a hat." She pulled out a pink stocking cap, "I only have a hat in pink."

"That's fine. I've been caught wearing worse."

The next few days were rough, she thought. Their mother was getting worse, and Shin's temper was getting shorter. There were a few times she had to kick the men out of the room. The day the other troopers came, she shoved Shin out the door and asked them to keep him out of the room for the day.

"He is driving me crazy." Sayoko let out.

"He's just used to a different stress. Having your mother slowly die in a bed without knowing if they can find a donor seems to push him differently."

"You are not helping."

"I know that I have two healthy parents and haven't experienced this yet, but it's obvious he's freaking out. How was he when your father died?"

"He was too young to remember it." She sat down, putting her face in her hands, "Are you sure you only work with sea life?"

"Your brother might as well be a book. I can read him too easily. Is there something else we might not know of?"

"I'm afraid to ask."

"Okay, have one of the other guys do it." He watched her face drop again, "Want me to do it?"

"Could you?"

Getting up, he gave her a kiss on the head, "Yes dear. I will give your brother another man talk."

It was the early morning when Shin was allowed back in his mother's room. Sayoko made him breathe out, checking for signs of drinking. Satisfied, Sayoko left for breakfast leaving Shin and their mother in the room. She was meeting Ryuusuke and Taro in the cafeteria.

"Tea?" he asked with a big smile.

"Yes please." She took a sip and sighed with relief, "He didn't drink last night."

"He's fine." Ryuusuke said, knowing that she was going to continue to rant, "We'll deal with it after your mother gets out of the hospital. You're going to give yourself wrinkles if you keep freaking out."

"Tea!" Taro yelled out, trying to reach for the drink.

"Yes, it's hot."

The sound of crashing trays was heard as a bunch of doctors took off. The couple gave each other a look. Ryuusuke continued to eat as he watched his wife struggle to stay in her seat.

"Go. I'll catch up." He said softly.

She took off, mouthing 'thank you.' She stopped when she saw Shin sitting outside of the room. He was hiding his face.

"What happened?" she asked calmly.

"We were talking. She asked if I was planning on finishing the shop when we got home. I said that I would. She breathed out, smiled, and then coded." He wiped his face, "I tried to help her, but…"

"It's okay Shin." She said sitting next to him.

For the next month, she watched him hurt. He had a hard time with getting the Maritime Agency to release him from service early. When that was taken care of, he locked himself in the back of the shop to paint requests. In the midst of his mental breakdown, as Ryuusuke called it, Sayoko did see an increase of sales. For whatever reason, the painting and such was bringing something out of her little brother.

Sharing lunch with Taro and Yayoi in the shop, she would glance back to the back office door.

"He'll come out sometime." Yayoi said.

"I guess I'm more worried about him choking on the smoke back there. Has he talked to you yet?"

"A little bit." Yayoi said, "He was outside sitting under a tree, and we had a short conversation about the weather."

"The weather?"

"Yes. He then got up and went inside."

Sayoko sighed, "It's so tempting to call his friends and tell them to kidnap him and throw him into a river."

"But there's snow."

"And it'll wake him up from whatever world he thinks he's in."

That night, three figures stood outside of the shop. A light was shining through the high placed windows. Two of the larger figures boosted the shorter one up. After finding a way in, the shorter figure noticed Shin sleeping on a sofa with an opened book on his chest. Sneaking around the office, he unlocked the door to the front of the shop. Together, the three figures tied a tired Shin.

"Shhh, this is for your own good." One said.

"Shu?" Shin said, angry from being woken up and tied up.

"Dammit. So much for doing this in surprise." He said taking his mask off.

The other two did so too, revealing that Ryo and Jun were helping. Using tape to shut Shin's mouth, they stuffed him into Ryo's car. Soon Shin found himself thrown into the Saba River with his friends, sister and Yayoi standing over him. He would have screamed, but his mouth was still covered. He could see Yayoi watching a stop watch.

"I have a couple of minutes to preach to you before we have to pull you out." Sayoko said, "So, I get it. You're hurting inside. None of us have taken mother's death very well, but I'm not letting you rot away in the shop. But dammit, it's depressing. And you're not bringing those cigarettes back to the house. You're staying outside of Tokyo with Seiji and Nasuti until you cleaned yourself up. I didn't want to kick you out, but enough's enough. Ryo, Shu; get him out."

The warriors of rock and fire did so. Besides shivering, Shin had a look of embarrassment. He was untied, and brought to Ryo's car to warm up. Jun and Shu got into the car beside him as Ryo and Yayoi took the front.

"Sorry Fish-boy." Shu said, "We can't let you suffer alone. We'll need you to help us beat this snake dude."

"I'll give you Suiko when you're ready." Jun added.

"You're quiet Ryo." Shin muttered.

"I'm just glad to see you back and in one piece. Like Shu said, we need your help."

"Yeah, we miss your fluff ball of a head." Shu added, "And your cooking. And you owe Yayoi a sexy date by a candle light. Besides, New Year's coming soon. If nothing happens between now and then, we're partying in Tokyo."

"So, is it safe to assume you guys brought some of my things along?"

"I already had bags packed. Sayoko and I did it as they were grabbing you." Yayoi said.

Shin let out a sigh before laughing, "You guys threw me into a river in December."

"Best rude awakening you'll ever get." Shu said loudly pulling the wet warrior in for a noggie.

"And you're getting a wet hug." Shin laughed, pulling his friend into a cramped hug.

"Now I'm wet."

Jun laughed at Shu's misfortune, but got a wet hug too.

An hour into their drive left only Ryo and Yayoi wake.

"Do you think he'll be okay with us?" Yayoi asked.

"He's Shin; he always bounces back after something traumatic." Ryo said, sounding a bit concerned with the last part, "He has to."