Ha! I'm earlier than you expected aren't I?

Yup that's me. Being an overachiever like always.

Anyways, this chapter is generally pointless. Really, it is. It's just a transition chapter. I was going to include it as part of the next chapter but I didn't want it to be too long so I made it separate. It's not important at all, but it may help to make things a tiny bit clearer (probably not ).

Disclaimer:: I do not own No. 6. If I did, Inukashi's gender would have been more clearly specified.

"Shion?"

"Shion!"

The whitette looked up to see irritation in the brown eyes that were staring down at him. "What?"

"Snap out of it, moron! You haven't moved in nearly ten minutes." The brunette let out a frustrated sigh and fell into the couch.

"Sorry," Shion mumbled. He couldn't help but be distracted. That dream had been so real. Like Nezumi was actually there. And that voice. That voice. There was no mistaking it. It had to have been him...

"What's the matter with you? You've been spacey all day. First you spend three times as long as normal washing one dog and then you go and do stuff like that. Jeez, it's no wonder he-" she didn't finish. Bringing up Nezumi now would just make things worse. It may have been well over four years now since that rat had left, but it was still a sensitive topic. None of them ever brought it up.

Shion started blankly at the cup of coffee Inukashi had given him. It was iced, but that had long since melted in the September heat. He hadn't even taken a sip, though he'd been holding it for a while. Inukashi had a point. He was off today. Is it because of that dream? he wondered. But he knew the answer. Of course it was. He missed Nezumi more than he could have imagined. And a dream such as that one, so real, so happy, only made it worse. And that voice that was so clearly Nezumi. The one that had woken him from that strange but happy dream. Could he have been there?

"Earth to Shion! Are you even listening to me?"

He shifted his gaze from the cup to the brunette sitting across from him. "I'm sorry. What were you saying?"

Inukashi sighed again. "What am I going to do with you? If you're gonna act stupid like that all day I'll have to keep Ran tonight. Wouldn't want her getting pulled into your world in outer space after all."

Shion let out a soft sigh and leaned back in his chair. He'd almost forgotten he was watching Ran that night. It was Friday, he should have known that. Fridays he spent helping Inukashi wash dogs and he took Ran for the night so she could have a day off. How could he have forgotten? "I can watch her. I'm fine," he argued. He liked being able to spend time with Ran. When he'd sent the child to Inukashi on that day four years ago he never would have imagined how attached she would have grown to the child. Still, he was glad Ran had such a good mother, even if she could be a little rough sometimes.

"Fine. But only because I know you're staying with Karan tonight. I trust her to look after my little girl."

Shion laughed quietly, taking a sip of his coffee. It was bitter and watered down, but it was better than nothing. "Inukashi?"

"What?" She was still annoyed, he noted.

"Do you think it's possible to share dreams?" he asked.

She gave him a puzzled look. "Share like tell someone about it? I'm not here to listen to your stories if that's what you were hoping for."

Shion shook his head. "No, I mean to share a dream with someone. To have the same dream at the same time and possibly be able to communicate with each other..." his voice trailed off. Even as he spoke it he knew it sounded crazy. It was an idea, but not a likely one.

His thoughts were reflected in the way Inukashi was looking at him like he had two heads. She burst out laughing. "Only you would think up something as impossible as that! Get your head out of the clouds. There's no way that's possible." She was still laughing.

Shion pouted. "Okay, I get it. Forget I even asked," he complained. Inukashi may not believe it, but I do. It's possible. I know it is. Confirming it for himself, he believed it. If two people were close like he and Nezumi then why wouldn't it be possible?

He sighed and set the mostly full mug of coffee on the table. He stood and stretched. "I should be going. I want to spend some time with Ran before my meeting."

Inukashi nodded. "Yeah. She's in her room so make sure she's got everything she'll need. I'll see you tomorrow." She half-waved in farewell before grabbing the cup and disappearing from the room.

Shion made his way down to Ran's room. He knocked lightly on the door and it swung open almost immediately. A girl of no more than five years stood in the open doorway. Her honey brown hair hung in thick curls to her waist and she was wearing a cute kimono that Shion assumed Inukashi had bought her recently. She stared up with big brown eyes and a bright smile on her face. "Papa!" she shouted excitedly, wrapping him in a tight embrace.

He smiled, holding the girl tightly for a moment before releasing her. "You ready to go, Ran? We're spending the night with Grandma Karan."

The child nodded. She grabbed her bag from the bed and slid on her sandals. Shion swept her up in one arm, slinging the backpack on his other shoulder. "See you tomorrow Inukashi!" he called over his shoulder before making his way onto the street. He set course for the bakery, where he knew his mother would be waiting for them.

Pointless chapter over.

What did you think? Reviews are always welcome.

I smell treats, nya~