A/n sorry for the late update. I was about to update like 2-3 week ago but you know, school ends in Thursday next week, and I am kinda excited for it. Updating my story kinda left my mind for a while and I have also been somewhat busy with oral presentations and assignments before our grades are set. I hope you can comprehend my situation.

A few days later, Kai was finally allowed outside again. Nothing had happened since his visit to the hospital. Now when he finally had the time to relax, he felt much better. More energized. More alive even.

But now he had another matter that demanded his attention. The constant disturbance from his friends. Miwa was especially a nagging pain in the neck. His constant five minutes texts where especially unbearable. He had stopped answering after twenty minutes. Make that a few days and anyone would get pissed, but thanks to his parents (for once), the blonde was not allowed to come over until he was fully rested. Finally something he was thankful for.

Miwa was like a brother to him. Nothing he would admit out loud though. The blonde sometimes worries more over Kai than over himself. It was appreciated of course but he could act like an overprotective mother. Even more so than his own mother. And his own mother was a little to much at times. Add Miwa to the mixture and it was pretty much unbearable.

Kai inhaled the sweet scent of nature as he walked down the pavement. The fresh air was exactly what he needed after staying home for so long. A visit to his bench in the park would do his heart some good.

He passed a pavement artist who drew beautifully pictures of families as well as a small group of people playing instrument on his way to the public park. (He gave his attention mostly to the electric piano, he had wanted one for a while now). These kind of events had begun now when spring was finally on the horizon. So much better than the winter where everyone just stays indoors and instead enjoys a cup of hot chocolate, sitting in front of a warm fireplace with thousands of pillows and whatever around you to keep you warm.

When the teen got to the park, he saw an elderly couple feeding a bunch of white pigeons. When he looked closely, the two was the elderly couple living a few houses away from him. He had met them occasionally, yet sadly there were rumors circling around the woman and because of it no one came up and talked. She was known as the "crazy cat lady". Apparently, she love cats so much she actually hurt some kids because they were treating a street cat badly. In his opinion, those brats deserved it. Some also says she's a complete maniac for her way of talking. Sometimes she talks about how nice it would be to become a flying cat in her afterlife and some claims having seen her talking to thin air. Their grandson is only a few years older than Kai himself and they usually talk for a few minutes when they happen meet, mostly in grocery stores. He has told the brunette about people ignoring him because of his relationship with them.

however Kai ignored the supposed warnings and walked over to the two. After all, they are neighbors. ''Hello Mr and Miss Akane. It is a perfect day for outside activity. Don't you agree?''

Mr Akane looked up surprisingly at the brunette, like he couldn't imagine someone would freely come over and speak but when he realized who it was, his smile grew. ''Ahh Toshiki. Good morning. Yes, it is a very beautiful morning today. I have been up since the crack of dawn just to enjoy the sunrise. I can never seem to get enough of it."

''I used to do the same thing but mother always scolded me. Told me a kid in my age should sleep more since it is natural for a teen to sleep in late in the day.''

''Hahaha" He laughed. "Your mother is very prejudiced I see.''

''Yeah sometimes, but she mean well.''

''By the way, I heard about your trip to the hospital a few days ago from my grandson. How are you fairing?"

Kai took the seat beside the older man and looked at the birds. ''I'm much better now. My parents didn't let me out of the house since now. I took the chance as fast as I could to get out of the house.''

''I can understand that. A young man like yourself has all your life ahead. Don't spend them indoors when you can explore the world however you like.'' (A/n somehow I feel offended by his statement..)

''My thought exactly.'' Kai looked at the small bag of lining and at the pigeons enjoying their free meal. ''May I join you in feeding the pigeons?''

''Of course, go ahead. I actually needed to go to the restroom. I'll be right back and keep an eye on my wife.'' Mr. Akane got up and headed for the public restroom over at the small diner by the fountain. Kai was left alone with Miss Akane, and the white pigeons of course.

''I can see them. They are all swarming around you. Those from the other side. Like bees attracted to their divine queen.'' Miss Akane said suddenly. Kai froze in his movement and slowly turned to face the old woman. She looked up at the sky.

''What do you...? What do you mean?''

''I can see a little girl with black hair. She is the closest to you. She was the one who visited a few days ago. She is standing behind you right now, watching your every move. Waiting for the moment to lash out to you.'' At that Kai couldn't stop himself from hastily glancing behind himself but no one was there. Then Miss Akane suddenly grabbed his hands and held them tightly. ''I also see a light. A protector. But the two of you aren't as one. That's why he appears before you in your dreams.''

''How do you know of all this?''

''He told me so. Just now. Like the little girl, he is ever with you. Protecting you from any harm.''

''Wait, you can see-''

''Love, that is enough. Do not scare away the youngster.'' Their conversation was interrupted by Mr. Akane returning from the restroom. He pulled Kai's hands away from her and smiled sadly.

''Don't listen to her Toshiki. She does not know what she is talking about. I assume you know the rumors, correct? Of her being a crazy old lady?''

''..Yeah, something like that.''

He smiled half heartedly. ''As I said, don't take it to heart.'' Mr. Akane then looked at his wife. ''I think it is time we leave now. Very nice seeing you Toshiki and say hi to your family from us.''

''I will. And tell your grandson a thank you for saving me in your next meeting.''

-

To say this was a normal morning would be a lie. To say it would be a continued normal day was an even bigger lie. As it turned out, even this would be a strange, eventful day with unforgettable factors as if all these mysterious days never blend together but have their own meaning.

After visiting the park and back home, Kai had found his mother looking through old photo albums in the living room.

''Is that you sweetie?" she called throughout the house. ''Did you have a wonderful visit to the park?''

Kai walked in to the living room where she was seated on the floor. He sat down beside her. ''Yes, I met Mr and Miss. Akane. They had been there since earlier this morning, watching the sunrise just like I did a while ago."

She deadpanned. ''Oh yeah, I remember that." She looked through another picture. ''What did you talk about? I know that Miss. Akane does not have the brightest mind.''

Kai looked at the pictures in her hands in a sort of trance. Something was calling out to him. Something wanted his attention. But what?

''Toshiki?'' She asked once she realized his attention was elsewhere.

Kai's thought was broken and he looked back at his mother. ''Sorry, what did you say?''

''I asked what you guys talked about."

Kai shook his head. ''Nothing to major, however. Miss Akane said something about me being a bee queen or something.'' The moment he said it, he realized what exactly it was he said and just a second after that, after watching his mother's weird frown, he knew he said something he really shouldn't have said. Damn it.

''What did she mean by that?''

He had to mislead her so she wouldn't suspect anything. ''I don't really know what she meant. Maybe she said it because... because some teenage girls, probably in my age, kinda stalked me."

Her suspecting frown didn't vanish but she did look back at the photos on her lap. "Girls stalking you? Do tell."

Kai stared at her with a serious frown. "Don't take this the wrong way. There was a few girls, don't know any of them, who happened to follow me around. When I looked, they either hid themselves or pretended to do something else.'' Half of it wasn't a lie. When he was in the park, he did encounter one or two teenage girls who did happen to pretend nothing was amiss whenever he looked their way, (a while after the elderly pair left).

Kai's mother giggled. "Well, it's not that my son doesn't look absolutely stunning. You are your father up to every bone. You should have made a move on them. Who knows, one day one of them could have become your future wife.''

''Mom!'' Now, she was practically laughing her ass of and had to wipe away a few tears when she finished.

''Hahaha, I'm sorry sweetie. It's just so fun teasing you about such things you know.''

''Yeah, figured."

A moment of silence washed over the two. It was not an awkward silence shared between strangers. No, it was a fresh silence. An enjoyable moment between mother and son.

"Before I forget to ask, we found my necklace, you know the one with the key I always carry? The doctors gave it to us when they examined you back at the hospital."

Damn. He had forgotten about that. "Oh that... I found it lying in the bathroom before I headed to Miwa's. I must have forgotten to give it to you before I left.''

She looked back at him. ''Seriously? You found it in the bathroom?" The brunette nodded.

''I probably didn't search well enough..'' Kai's mother mumbled to herself before their moment was ruined by a door opening and a man yelling "I'M BACK!" at the top of his lunges.

-

Sleep didn't come easily that night. No matter how many lamb's  he counted (is he what, three?) or how many times he shifted position, it didn't help him fall asleep. The feeling he had back when he talked with his mother hadn't disappeared, it was constantly nagging him in the back of his mind. It was almost like it begged him to find it. Whatever it was.

The teen (finally) got up from his bed and walked downstairs and into the living room. As he expected, the albums where gone, probably lying in one of the cabins in bis father's study. And that was one place he really couldn't go into. For unknown reasons. And just for that matter alone, it was worthwhile solving the mystery.

He walked to his father's study and to his relief, the door was open and he easily top-toed inside without making any sound and quietly closed the door behind him, just for safety in case his mother decided to get up and having a late cup of tea. Like she did almost every second day in the week. Another bad habit of being an insomniac.

He looked through the cabins and the mysterious feeling grew ever stronger until he placed his hand on a certain album and he knew immediately this was the one. It's appearance was different from the others. It was leather bound and much thicker with old scribbled writing with what looked like a golden glitter color-pencil. He couldn't make out what it said but could make out a few letters.

When he opened it, many of- more like all of the pictures was of him from his childhood. That weird feeling returned and he knew he was on the right track. He flipped between the pages as fast as he could. It had to be here. He was sure of it. He could feel it. The first key.

When he came across the last picture in the album, he halted and stared at it for very long. It was the picture of himself and another guy. For a strange reason, that guy looked like the guy from his dreams...

A/n

Man, this is probably one of the longest chapters I have ever written (one shots doesn't count). I am very happy of how this whole chapter unfolded. I think I managed to give out two main keys to his book but which ones, I won't tell. That you have to figure out on your own~

One last thing, as I mentioned early, my 10 week long summer break starts on Thursday next week. That basically means I can focus my mind on this story without any hindrance. So I will try to update as much as I can starting on Monday the 18th!

As usual, sorry for any misspelled words/wrong grammar!

See ya next time!