Unsealed box Part 5

That night she slept with both her mother and Ren-san on either side, so she slept comfortably. But in the morning she felt very restless and that same pattern continued the next few days. The weather was good today, and her body condition was good. So mother said she could go in the garden.

After a few minutes she saw a young boy similar age to her pop his head through the gate. "I thought I saw you, your okay now-"

Lila immediately rushed over and hugged him. "Kiryu!" Lila looked at him like she had been wronged. "You have to help me come up with a way to stop that monster from getting closer to my mother."

"Uh, monster?"

"He keeps getting close even after I warned him."

'He even has the nerve to visit the house directly now! If this continues mother will fall in his hands and she will have to call him father.' The mere thought of it disgusted her.

After Kiryu calmed her down, they sat down on the swings. This boy is Austin Kiryu, she met him earlier this year and they became 'partners.' Although she still doesn't understand the hanyou bond very well. Lila knew that she liked Kiryu very much.

To think he had been living next door to her all this time, she didn't notice at all.

Right that time was the last time she went to a hanyou gathering, and the last time she went out.

"I have heard about Uncle Nagawa too. Father Hisame seems to dislike him a lot. But my mother says that he isn't a completely bad person."

"That isn't a compliment, it means he is bad."

Kiryu's mother Asuka is not the type of person who would lie. She always has such good judgements regarding people. If she said that then she can confirm her suspicions.

Her thoughts broke off when she felt Kiryu's hand on her cheeks.

"You don't look feverish anymore."

Lila could not miss his worried tone.

2I wanted to be by your side. But F ather Hisame had to bring me around to a gathering, and he didn't want me to catch your cold." Kiryu trailed off. "I'm sorry I couldn't be by your side."

At those words she felt like crying again. Kiryu is so good to her! Lila wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. She felt him pat her back.

They are only children, so she cannot describe the emotions she has for him just yet.

The time she spends with Kiryu is not painful.

She has not been comfortable with anybody other than her mother and Ren-san for the longest time. Her mothers friends have tried to introduce their children to her before but she has turned them away. She cant imagine being around people other than Mother and Ren-san.

But look now, after she met Kiryu five months ago. After discovering he lived next door, she spends a lot of time with him.

She felt so suffocated around others but around Kiryu she was okay.

"Do you want to drink? Your complexion does look better today, but I'm worried."

Lila felt her cheeks burn and she shook her head. "Um it's okay. Ren-san gave me some blood and mother too."

"Kanagawa Ren, you like him a lot."

"Um, yes?"

Why does he sound so displeased?

"Anyway, do you want some food? I went to the street market earlier and got all sorts of stuff."

She drew away from him and looked at the food on the mini table. She rushed over and sat down.

"Hey that speed isn't normal."

"But mother doesn't like me eating street food. Quick let's eat it all and dispose of the evidence."

Kiryu rolled his eyes. "Do you think you can trick Aunt Sumire?"

"Then-"

"Your mother told me to go there and get you food. She said you looked down and needed something to cheer you up."

Lila felt flattered that her mother noticed her condition. But isn't she trying to bribe her with food again?

Kiryu slowly opened the boxes. Lila felt her mood brighten when she saw the takiyoaki, yakisoba, okonomiyaki, ikayaki, karaage. There was even some shaved ice and chocolate covered bananas.

"I probably went overboard with the portions. But Aunt Sumire rarely allows this, and I haven't seen you in awhile so I wanted to make you happy."

Kiryu is very kind to her. Is it simply due to the bond between them?

"Anyhow, have you decided to stop treating your father as a bad man?"

"I didn't originally." Lila pointed out. At first she still patiently waited for Father Yuhi to come home. But after the days went by she realised something. "During times when I am in pain and when mother got hurt. The one who was there for us was Father Ren."

It was Ren-san who stayed by them during their harshest times.

"I just find it strange."

"Recently I snuck into Father Hisame's study and saw some strange articles on his computer. It was articles on a landslide happening at a concert venue abroad."

"That-"

"Your mother said so herself right? Your father went abroad with his bandmates to increase their standing in the international industry. They were supposed to have a large concert right after the plane landed. He still called your mother when he landed right?"

"Ah-huh, she said they were still chatting on his way to the venue. But if something like that happened surely we would know right?"

Kiryu shook his head. "It seemed somebody suppressed the news, originally it was supposed to be released to the public. But somebody stopped it. Your mother can't get in touch with the other guys either, isn't it strange?"

Lila felt her face colour turn cold at those words. "Does that mean-"

Is her father dead? Is he- Before she could burst into tears and endless questions, she felt somebody pull her into their arms. It was mother, she had a pained look in her eyes and for the first time Lila understood.

Mother must have found out. She doesn't know when she did, but mother knew. Mother knew and hid it from her. Mother allowed her to misunderstand her father because it was better than saying he was dead.

Is that why mother gave her the necklaces? Is it because he isn't around anymore?

When Lila saw her mothers tears, she immediately held back her own and hugged her tightly. "Mommy it's okay! We can go find father Yuhi together, the two of us can find him."