Forgotten (Book 1 of the Remembrance Series)

All's Well With Stopsigns and Love

   I pulled Izaya to a stop. I thought I had heard something, and listened.
   "Shizu-Ch-" I cut him off as I heard it again, pulling him towards the noise. As it got closer, I could discern the small cries of a child. I noticed the same girl as before, sniffling behind a dumpster. Se held something in her arms. Izaya gasped, and the girl quickly looked up. She smiled.
   "It's you two again! Oh, did you take care of your boy problems?" The girl's voice rang with a cheery tone, even as she cried. Shizuo blushed and nodded. I sat down beside the girl, letting Shizuka stalk up to the girl curiously. The girl smiled even wider.
   "It's you again too!" She cried, and the kitten purred, curling up in her lap, on top of the torn doll. Shizuo kneeled in front of her with apparent trouble. I gave him a fearful gaze but he smiled back.
   "So why are ya' out here all alone, darling?" I purred, and she frowned, holding up the torn doll. It was made of a puke green fabric, with blue button eyes. Red yarn strung through the top of it's head, like hair. One of the arms had torn.
   "They tore Naraku's arm off..." she sniffed. I gave a curious look to her. Why would she name her doll 'Hell?' I wasn't sure about what I was about to do, but from what I understood she didn't have any family, so how bad could it end? I stood up and pulled her to her feet, earning a suprised 'oh?' from Shizu-Chan.
   "Why don't you come home with us? I could have my secretary sew her up in the morning!" I cooed, and she smiled brightly, shaking her head vigorously.

                                ◆♥◆

   Shizuo, Mioku, and I made our way home, talking about all that she will see when she arrives. She held onto our hands, swinging them back and forth happily. It brought a small warmth to my heart as I watched her.
   "Onii-san! What is your secremary like?" She cooed, pronouncing the word wrong in that cute way children have. Shizuka sat happily in my coat once more. 
   "Well..." I began describing our relationship,  her eyes gleaming with curiosity the whole time.

                               ◆♥◆

   "Here we are!" I exclaimed, giving an extravagant twirl as I showed her the door to our apartment. She gave a confused look, tilting her head to the side like a begging puppy. 
   "You live infront of a door?" She asked, her eyes becoming sad now. I giggled and shook my head, pressing my fingers to the corners of her mouth and pushing it lightly into a smile.
   "No, silly! We live in a magical land beyond this door!" I quickly flashed a key from out of my sleeve, unlocking the door with one swift move. She giggled before dropping her jaw in shock as I kicked the door open. Shizuo set Shizuka down, and she quietly stalked around the house, exploring her new home. Mioku did the same, making all sorts of excited noises.
   "We're just adopting everything, aren't we?" Shizuo chuckled, his voice hoarse. I smiled sadly back, fearful of how his state had become after the walk. He sat down on the couch and wrapped a blanket around himself to keep warm. Sitting besides him, I rested my head on his shoulder. I could hear his raspy breathing. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me against his chest. The actions strained him, and he doubled over, his body wracked with cough after cough.
   Mioku worriedly poked her head in to see what was going on, and her childish eyes widened with fear as she watched Shizuo shake in my arms. She hurried over, crawling into his lap as best she could.
   "Is onii-san sick?" She asked, her voice shaking. I mustered the kindest smile I could and nodded.
   "Don't worry, Shizu-Chan will be better all soon!" I cooed, petting her head. She giggled and let out a 'yay,' before embracing Shizuo tightly. He smiled to hide the strain on his body from the hug. I felt my gut twist as I thought over his sickness. Even Shinra was unsure. That terrified me to the very core.

                               ◆♥◆

   Mioku and Shizu-Chan had both fallen asleep, and from how peaceful his face was, one could hardly tell he was possibly dying. I cuddled up at the other end of the couch, keeping Shizu-Chan's feet and toes nice and warm. Soon enough, I was asleep just as they were.