Fuji Yoshiko carefully un-knotted the silk kerchief, and then opened the large black lacquer box, placing its contents in front of her youngest child.

"Okaa-san, my favorite," exclaimed Fuji Yuuta, a note of boyish enthusiasm in his voice. "Thank you."

"Yes, 'Kaa-san, how very thoughtful of you," echoed Fuji Syuusuke, a friendly smile on his face.

"It's your first job, Yuuta," responded Yoshiko simply.

"And Yuuta's first apartment," added Syuusuke.

Yoshiko didn't answer, and only smiled sweetly at her two sons sitting across the table from her.

"Okaa-san, can you stay for dinner?" inquired Yuuta innocently.

"Yes, Yuuta has become quite the cook," boasted Syuusuke.

"Aniki!"

"It's true, Yuuta," praised his brother, placing his hand gently on Yuuta's shoulder. "You're very talented."

Yuuta blushed lightly at his brother's compliment.

"No, I'm afraid I have to decline," apologized Yoshiko, her features fixed in a cheerful smile. "'Tou-san and I have a dinner engagement tonight."

"Ah," nodded Yuuta, his disappointment palatable. "Okaa-san, you'll join us for some of the cake and tea, won't you?"

"For you, Yuuta."

"I'll put on some water for tea then."

Yuuta lifted the cake excitedly off the table and disappeared into the kitchen. Yoshiko and Syuusuke silently smiled across the table at one another.

"Your approval, 'Kaa-san, is important to Yuuta."

"Your approval is even more important," replied Yoshiko.

"Saaaa, perhaps you are right, 'Kaa-san."

Again, Yoshiko didn't respond, and they returned to their silent truce. Yoshiko didn't want to think about the fact that her two sons were sharing an apartment. She didn't want to think about the time...the clatter of a plate of cake being placed in front of her broke her from her reverie.

"The tea will be ready in a moment," explained Yuuta, smiling at two of the three people who mattered most to him.

"I'll wait until the tea is finished before sampling my cake."

Yuuta seemed happy. As a mother, what more could Yoshiko ask for her children. And yet...she wished it could be someone else, someone else, who commanded Yuuta's heart, who made her youngest son happy and at peace.

"Here, Okaa-san," offered Yuuta, pouring a steaming cup of tea in front of his mother.

"You're such a good host, Yuuta."

Her plans to meet a friend for lunch at Bon and then visit the National Museum had unexpectedly collapsed. Not in the mood to go shopping at a depato, she'd returned home. Yoshiko remembered being surprised at seeing two pairs of sneakers neatly aligned in the entryway. Even now, she still wasn't sure why she hadn't loudly called a greeting into the house when she had entered. Perhaps, she'd always suspected what she had discovered that day. Syuusuke had always been so devoted to Yuuta, had always wanted to be with his brother. And Yuuta...Yuuta had idolized Syuusuke, constantly seeking his attention.

"This cake is delicious, Okaa-san," raved Yuuta enthusiastically.

Syuusuke used one of his fingers to wipe a dab of whipped cream from Yuuta's nose. He hungrily sucked the offending cream from his finger.

"So sweet," smirked Syuusuke. "Yuuta, you'll have to ask 'Kaa-san for the recipe."

The cake suddenly seemed cloying to Yoshiko, and she struggled to finish her slice.

She'd entered the house without making a sound, and had been surprised to hear Yuuta crying his brother's name. Creeping through the hallway, following both her son's voices, she'd arrived at Syuusuke's room. By some quirk of destiny, the door had been left open a crack. Peeking inside, her heart had stopped at the sight that greeted her. Transfixed, she stood watching, horror, then shame, and then dread filling her. After what seemed an interminable passage of time, she was finally able to break the spell that held her, so she could softly flee. Just needing to escape, she'd wandered the neighborhood trying to erase the memory of what she'd witnessed from her consciousness. But the images refused to be exorcised.

"I'm sorry you can't stay for dinner," remarked Yuuta, a hint of longing in his voice, as he helped his mother into her light jacket.

"You'll have to join us some other time, 'Kaa-san."

"Yes, some other time," assented Yoshiko.

She didn't ask for a tour of their apartment, before she fled again. She didn't want to see that only one bedroom was being used.

"Perhaps, not living at home any more, will give you a chance to date now, Yuuta," suggested Yoshiko. "I'm sure any girl would count herself lucky to catch your eye. You're such a handsome boy, and I'd like to know you won't be alone."

Yuuta turned red and stared at his feet. Syuusuke placed a protective arm around his brother's waist.

"Yuuta will never be alone."

"I see," murmured Yoshiko. "Thank you for having me for tea and cake, Yuuta, Syuusuke."

Bowing slightly, she left their apartment, to head towards the home she had shared, until recently, with Yuuta and her husband. Having never been to her sons' apartment before, Yoshiko allowed herself to focus on the directions, so she could keep up the pretense that everything was fine for just a little longer. When she arrived home, the house was dark and silent. After turning on a few lights, Yoshiko went into the kitchen and began to wash the bowls from baking that were waiting patiently for her in the sink.

"I know you saw us, 'Kaa-san," Syuusuke had stated.

"Eh?" Yoshiko had responded over the din of the water.

"I know you saw us earlier, 'Kaa-san, Yuuta and I." Syuusuke had said it as an unarguable truth, a small self-satisfied smile on his face.

"Saw what, Syuusuke?" Yoshiko had turned off the water and faced her eldest son, a look of confused innocence on her face. "I've only just returned home from the museum."

Syuusuke hadn't said anything, merely giving his mother an appraising glance.

"Yuuta will be joining us for dinner tonight."

"Really?" Yoshiko had asked, feigning surprise. "I'll have to make crepes for dessert tonight then."

"I think Yuuta would like that. He's resting right now. Expect Yuuta to come home more often to visit now. He's also promised me to think about transferring to another school, so we can all be under one roof again."

"How nice," she'd answered, as she had turned back on the water to work on dinner.

Yoshiko felt haunted by her memories of that day, and now...now, Syuusuke and Yuuta were sharing an apartment together and she could no longer deny the truth. Perhaps this situation was partially her fault, had she admitted to herself earlier Syuusuke's actual feelings for Yuuta, had she warned Yuuta in some way, had she not tried to ignore what fate had revealed to her that day...

Tears slid down Yoshiko's cheeks, mixing with the dishwater. She continued to wash the cake bowls, mourning the futures she knew her sons would never have.