A/N: Holy Shit. 11 reviews. I'm jumping of the walls right now. Thank you guys so much! I'm happy that you love it so much!

So, this is like my interlude of a sort, to the anime, I guess. Whatever you want to see it as. I just needed something to make me happy after the whole angst central chapter. Shorter than my usual but I had to write it. cruelistnightmare, I dedicate this chapter to you, since you asked for one! Hope you like it! Anyways, hope you all enjoy! R&R!

Ria536:Yes, a time skip will be coming up. Actually, with how I wrote it, the time skip will be about a year and a half. I hope you all like the changes that Akari will go through in that time =P

Guest (1): I happy that it's your favorite! I hope that it stays that way~!

Guest (2): Well, now that I'm in summer break (finally thank God!), hopefully I can update soon. If my schedule doesn't get too busy…. I'm knocking on wood so I don't jinx myself.

Plain and simple my name is not Bisco Hatori so there is no way in the universe that I own OHSHC. My life sucks.

"Akari, my dear, you're back!" I grin widely at the old woman and hug her as she approaches me. "It has been far too long since you've come here; I've had no one to pray with besides my sisters at the church. Everyone else here are unguided ruffians." I roll my eyes fondly, knowing that she was just teasing. Grace had plenty of nonreligious friends, as much as she subtly badgers at them to join.

"It's good to see you again, Grace," I grin at her, letting her lead me into her lavish home. For a missionary, she sure lived in style.

"What brings you back to Spain? Last I had heard, you weren't coming back," the old woman glances over at me, giving me a mock stern look. "You haven't even called since you left."

I laugh at her antics. "You don't own a phone. Mother had to see her specialist. He's helping her regain her health and we're staying here for longer to make sure that her condition permanently stabilizes." We've been here for two weeks and I've just finally mustered to energy to call and visit my old friend. I'm happy that I have now.

"Oh, the poor woman," she murmurs sadly. "Knowing your mother, she'll be good as new in no time! God will help her, I'm sure. Your family has been in my prayers. Now, we can't stay on such depression topics for long." The missionary bustles me into the kitchen, where several more of her sisters are cooking. The room smells heavenly and I can't help but peek into the bubbling pots and pans.

I look back at Grace, who is smiling at me indulgently. I point at the pot as an unspoken question and she pulls me along by the elbow to a table a few feet away. I raise my eyebrow at her in question. "Does that mean that I do get to eat some food? Why is everyone here anyways, you usually hold all of the events at the church."

She nods and begins, "Well, you see…. You can eat some food if you do me a favor. In fact, if you help me with this, you can get free food for a week!" My mouth waters at the thought. Grace makes some amazing food and I don't have to be all uppity while I eat since my family won't be around. Tempting.

"What is this favor you need me to do?" I question, suddenly suspicious. If she's offering me this much, it has to be something big or difficult…. Or both.

"Well…."

"No." I can't believe she even thought that I would attempt this!

"Akari, help a poor old woman out," she wheedles.

"You know, when you said that everyone else was unguided ruffians, I didn't think that you meant actual people with a Juvie record are in your home!" My eyebrow twitches as I stare at the group of various teens milling around the room. Most of them look like they belong in Juvie anyways. A few of them glance at me and Grace with hostile eyes. I flinch away nervously. This is freaky.

"Renaldo said that some of the young ones were being let out so I thought that I could help them find salvation! Spread the message and help a friend out," she begs, grabbing my hands in earnest and looking at me pleadingly. I groan at her expression. Stay strong, Akari. You can say no.

"I don't think so…"

"How about I give you a meal a day for a month?! Any of your choice. And you only have to stay for an hour or two. Please, help me." Good bye resolve.

"Fine." She squeals excitedly but I continue firmly, "But I'm only here for an hour and it has to be anything I want." Grace nods in response and grabs my arm in a vice grip to drag me to the center of the room.

"Okay everyone, thank you for coming to my humble home!" The old woman claps her hands loudly to gain everyone's attention and it grows silent as they all stare at us. Scary. I edge backwards slightly and clasp my hands together. "Feel free to ask any of the sisters and me any questions about anything."

One person raises their hand and Grace nods for her to continue. "Uh, yeah, why the hell do we have to be in this shi-?"

"You are free to go back to Juvie," my friend interrupts coolly. "Or," she continues in a much more amiable tone. "You can stay here for four hours and get home made food. Any more questions?" No one says anything and she claps her hands again. "Feel free to socialize then." Chatter starts up again and Grace turns to me. "There's someone that I want you to meet." I follow her, avoiding looking everyone in the eye. These people are scary. "He has issues talking to others so I thought that it would be good for him if I introduce you two."

"How is that a good idea?!" I hiss at her as we get closer to a corner where a teen about my age is sitting. He looks like a wannabe gang member, with the baggy shirts but without any of the serious guts to get tattoos or piercings.

A scowl is across his features as we approach and he growls in our direction, "Why can't you just leave me alone, hag?" Grace huffs at him and slaps him upside the head once she gets close enough, making a snort emit from me. I cover my mouth in embarrassment as he glances at me before glaring at the missionary again. "What the hell was that for?!" Her only response is another slap to the head. "Ow!"

"What have I told you about manners?" my friend snarls at him and I stare at her with wide eyes. I can't decide is he's scarier, or her. I think it's her. She fusses with her clothes before fixing a stern look on the teen. "Now, Jacob, there's someone I want you to meet… be nice, or else." Definitely her. "Akari meet Jacob." He finally looks at me with his full attention and a scowl still twists his features. Grace wanders away, shouting at someone to put down her vase. That poor boy is in for hell.

"H-hi," I greet shakily, waving slightly.

"What the hell is up with your accent?" I shuffle backwards, irritation starting to rise in me. I wonder if he's doing it on purpose or if he's naturally just this irritating.

"My acc-accent? Wh-w-what about y-yours?" I question him, crossing my arms over my chest. Stupid thug.

"Last I checked this is Spain. You're the one with the freaky accent." I clench my fists slightly, biting my lip. The boy leans back in his chair so that the front legs are off the ground, staring at me smugly. "Why the hell are you here anyways?" he questions suddenly. "I thought only prudes and hags were missionaries. In the case of your friend over there, she's both." He leans forward suddenly, making me flinch and shuffle backwards. "You aren't a prude are you?" he whispers, his eyes challenging. Ire rises even higher and I straighten up suddenly. Challenge accepted.

"No. I'm not a m-missionary, idiot. I moved back in-into the neighborhood and decided t-to visit my frien-friend. If I had known I would meet so-someone like you I wouldn't hav-have c-come at all."

He grasps at his chest, gasping dramatically as I glare at him. Amusement is clear in his eyes as he responds sarcastically, "Ouch, I'm hurt, really." I grit my teeth to keep my mouth shut. This guy definitely isn't worth my time; I don't understand why Grace wanted me to meet him. "So you're just a brat assisting the help. If you really hate me so much, feel free to walk out the door." I stay silent, glaring at him scathingly. I don't know why I agreed to do her a favor. This so isn't worth the food. "By the way, common courtesy says that when you first meet someone, you give them your name. I'm Felix."I furrow my eyebrows at him in confusion... didn't Grace say his name was Jacob?

"I-I though-thought it was Jac-Jacob."

"It's Felix." I raise my eyebrow at him but don't say anything else. I don't really care anyways.

He gestures towards me to continue and I huff in irritation, muttering, "Ak-Akari." It's even worse when he's right.

"Akari." His Spanish accent makes the 'r' roll in a funny way, nearly making a snort escape me. "You live in this neighborhood, right? I live in this area too, when I'm not in Juvie, of course." I narrow my eyes at him.

"I do-don't reall-really c-ca-care where you l-live," I respond back, eyeing him coldly as he chuckles at me again.

"I think that you will. Anyways, brat, how about you make yourself at ho-."

"Akari-sama." I turn to see my chauffer staring at me with a small smile.

"Oikanawa," I greet, switching to Japanese since he has a better grasp on the language than Spanish. "What? I thought I told you that I was going to be staying here for a few hours?" Not that I mind that much.

He nods back at me, explaining, "I just thought that you would like to hear this immediately."

"Oi," Felix interrupts suddenly, making us look towards him. "This is Spain; speak Spanish, not some Asain shit."

"Damn idio-idiot," I snarl back in Japanese, just to antagonize him. I take a deep breath, ignoring his noise of outrage, and look at Oikanawa again. "What is it that you need me to know?"

"Your mother requested you," he responds in Spanish, acquiescing with the thug's request. The words are slightly shaky and his Japanese accent is thick on the words. Surprise makes me freeze and I'm sure that my mouth is open in shock.

"Sh-she did?" I question, still sticking to Japanese.

"Yes, you specifically." A large smile lights up my face and I hug my employee tightly.

He returns the hug warmly and tilts his head in the direction of Grace. Oh, yeah, I should probably tell her that I'm leaving. "Grace!" I holler in her direction, gaining her attention easily. "I have to leave early, my mother requested me. I'll come tomorrow for some tapas!"

"I guess it makes sense that you're a priss too," the thug comments to himself. I whirl on him with a slight glare. This guy is so annoying! "Feel free to visit again, priss!" he laughs at me.

"Trust me, visiting you is one of the last things I would do willingly."

"The best sorts of friendships start with two people who irritate the hell out of one another. The thing is, my friends still irritate the hell out of me. I guess some things never change."

~Anonymous

The grin on my face still hasn't left and my face aches slightly from holding the expression for so long. I walk into the room that they're housing my mother and see her laying on the bed, various machines hooked up to her body. I peer quietly and she smiles at me slightly once she sees me. "You're the girl who cried over me on the plane." She gestures for me to come closer and I feel the smile start to slide off of my face. Oh. So that's how she knows me. I walk closer and sit on the edge of her bed, careful not to disturb her.

"Th-that's me."

"Akari…." My head snaps up in shock at her, a smile starting to spread across my face. "That's your name. I don't know why I know it, but I do. And I care for you a lot. I don't remember you though…. why do I care about you?" she question to herself, holding her hand up to my cheek. I bite my lip nervously before I decide to throw caution to the wind; this is the biggest chance I've ever gotten.

So I tell her everything. Tears start to wind down my face as I tell her and I stutter horribly. But not once, does she tell me to stop. No, she starts to cry to. And once I'm done, she pulls me close, despite the wires in her arms and hugs me tightly. "I'm so sorry," she croons softly, making more sobs escape me. "I don't ever want to hurt you. I'm so sorry baby." I bury my face in the crook of her neck. She believes me. She believes me. Once we both stop crying as much, she holds me at arms-length, staring me in the eye firmly. "Baby, I don't know if I'll remember this once I wake up tomorrow. I never seem to really remember you and I'm so sorry that I put you through all of this. I need you to know though, if that I love you and that this isn't your fault. None of this is your fault. I love you baby."

I hug her tightly again, clutching at her with everything I have. Because I'm so scared that if I let go, she'll forget me again. "I love you too," I whisper in her hair. "I love you so much Mother." So much…

We spent the rest of the day together, talking about anything and everything. Eventually though, her eyes start to close and her words become slow. I force the panic down and instead press a soft kiss to her forehead.

"Don't forget…. I'll always l-….love you, baby…. I'll never let you…go." I smile at her widely and squeeze her hand one last time, wishing her good night and shutting the door behind me softly.

You are worth all of the pain that I've had to deal with. I love you so much. I hope we have more days like this Mother.

…

Let it go,

Let it roll right off your shoulder

Don't you know

The hardest part is over

Let it in,

Let your clarity define you

In the end

We will only just remember how it feels

Our lives are made

In these small hours

These little wonders,

These twists & turns of fate

Time falls away,

But these small hours,

These small hours still remain

-Little Wonders by Rob Thomas