The siblings raced all the way home and at last, turned a corner to their street. Their house was the first house, turning a left. By ending the race, Kisho beat Umeko to the door and called, "First!" (my bros and i do it all the time, racing to the car and calling first.) Umeko ran out of breath and touched the doorknob and called second.

"Okay... you... win...Kisho," Umeko panted in between words. Kisho was unlocking and while so, he was telling her what day he had.

"Guess what, Onee-san?? I finally learned how to do a bicycle kick, and scored a goal!!" said KIsho. "And then n-" Kisho kept talking and Umeko paid attention, until something else attracted her.

At the corner of her street, crossing it, and walking up his street, was Taka. He still had that scary look on his face, but was walking, absorbing views to help him remember his way back home. Umeko's heart started to race and her face felt hot. He didn't notice his neighbor until he heard someone call for his sister to come in that he looked.

Umeko and Taka finally stared at each other. It was an awkward moment and neither one knew what to say. Umeko gave Taka a little wave and then rushed inside, quickly shutting her door. Taka shrugged and unlocked the gate to his house.

'Okay. This is getting weird. First we're in the same grade. Then we were almost in all of the same classes... and now we're across the street from each other?? Weird,' he thought, locking his gate again and entered his house.

Umeko leaned her back against he door. Her heart was still beating fast as she bit her tumbnail, wondering what to do. Kisho came by looking for his sister, still at the door.

"Anything up, Onee-san?" he asked, holding his soccer ball.

"Did we have new neighbors that I don't know about?" Umeko asked, holding her brother's shoulders.

"Yeah, last weekend across the street. You were busy playing your new DDR that you didn't want anyone to disturb you. Even when you came out of your room you didn't want us to break your mental concentration," said Kisho, bringing up last weekend.

"Oh, hehe, sorry about that. Um, did you happen to see a guy about my age?" asked Umeko.

"I didn't go over to say hi cuzz I had practice last weekend, but I think I saw a kid, but he was carryin large boxes inside," said Kisho. "Why?"

"Oh, okay. No, he's a new student in my school, is all," said Umeko.

"Ah, then maybe we'll see him in the morning now. Okay, I"m going to the backyard to practice my bicycle kick now," said Kisho, walking to the back.

"Kay," she said to him. 'This is geting weirder and weirder. Is it because of the Gem I got this morning?'

Still biting her thumb to figure this out, she headed upstairs to her room. Locking the door she played loud asian music after. She started to change from school uniform to her pajamas, consisting of a big white-T and silky blue pj pants.

Her window was always up during the daylight, while her pale yellow curtains remained closed. Taking off her jacket and tossing it on the other side of her bed, she unbuttoned and took off her school blouse.

Something then caught her sight at her window. There was someone there, but recognizing the spikey hair, she inched slowly to hope her hunches were right. Pulling the curtains, Taka, with his scary/normal face, was outside her window.

The sight of him at the moment caused her to panic and spazz.

"WHAT THE HELL IS TAKA-KUN DOING HERE?! WTH?!" she kept repeating as she ran acround her room.

Her sudden squeal caused Taka to lose balance and he fell forward. He landed over Umeko and she stopped screaming and looked up at him. They turned bright red and Umeko pushed Taka off. He covered his face and turned around, sitting.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!" he said, muffled.

"You sit there until I get my shirt on! Don't even turn around!" she commanded.

"Yes Ma'am!" said Taka.

'Boy, she's scary when she's mad!...' he thought.

Umeko quickly put her white T on and she told Taka he could turn around now. She didn't want to change her skirt because she didn't want to risk it.

Taka slowly turned around and uncovered his face. He saw Umeko sitting with her legs over the over, on her bed. Her arms were also folded and she looked... scary.

"Talk," she said in a straight tone.

"Um, first, my apologies. And um, I wanted to come by. The door was locked and I'm not a button pusher. So I climbed up here," said Taka. "I just wanted to say hi to my neighbor cuzz my mom said so.

Umeko looked at him... wondering. She had too much of a kind heart to be angry at him.

"It's all right then. Just warn me next time before you come," smiled Umeko gently.

Seeing that smile, for the first time on her like that, made him feel funny.

'She... looks cute... with that smile on her face,' thought Taka.

"But... is climbing the vines... was it only to say hi?" asked Umeko.

Taka felt he couldn't hide it anymore.

"When I saved you from that car, and carried you all the way to the nurse's office, you had something clutched in your hand," said Taka.

"Oh, that..." said Umeko, remembering what happened. (The Gem recieving part.)

"What was it?" asked Taka with a serious look on his face. She was deciding.

"How well can you keep a secret?" she asked.

"I don't have any friends... so I can't say much. But regarding secrets, I won't tell," Taka said honestly.

"Well all right. There was this light I saw, all bright and soft, then something fell into my hands," said Umeko reaching over for her Jacket.

Doing so, her underwear was accidently showing. Taka saw and automatically grew bright red but didn't say anything.

"...okay! Lemme see..." she said reaching in her jacket pocket.

She found it and looked at Taka. He was still red.

"Taka? Are you all right? You're red... HEY! YOU PERVERT! YOU LOOKED!!" said Umeko, throwing her pillow at Taka.

He caught it and this time defended himself.

"Wull, I Was looking at your face 'til you suddenly reached over for your jacket," he said, looking at the pillow. It was kitty shaped.

"Jeeze you're weird! Weirdest boy I've ever met... and I guess... that's new to me," she said, then smiled again.

'I'm weird...?' he asked himself.

"Oh and um, this was what I got from the light," she said, showing him.

"Taka snapped back from zoning out to find Umeko in front of him.

"Whoa! When'd you get here?!" he was startled, but remained where he was.

"I only slipped down to show you this. Boy, I think you zone out more than I do," said Umeko, showing Taka the Gem.

It was diamond white and there seems to be a faint sparkling light that shone in the center. Taka was curious as he gave it back to her.

"If I'm going to keep your secret. Then you have to keep mine," he said.

"What is it?" she said, taking the Gem back.

Taka reached in his pockes and pulled out a black Gem, resembling Umeko's.

"Hey! That looks like mine!" she said.

She politely took it and looked at the two. Umeko stared for a while to try and figure something out. She touched the two together and... they fit!

"Taka-kun! Look! They fit! Mine's arked on the left and your's to the right! And it looks like there are other pieces to make this thing whole!"

"Hm. We don't know yet but let's see what'll happen later," said Taka.

"Onee-san! is someone there? I hear another voice!" said Kisho, knocking on the door. Umeko and Taka hid their Gems. Taka placed the pillow on the window will.

Umeko walked over and unlocked the door and opened it. Kisho and Taka just starred at each other.

"Oh um, Kisho, this is Taka-kun. He goes to the same school as me and is our neighbor across the street. Taka-kun this is Kisho, my little brother. He's the captain of his soccer team," she introduced Taka.

"Hey, nice to meet you," he said, almost slipping a smile. He hid it by giving a small salute.

'Ah, so he Can smile,' thought Umeko by the door.

"Oh! So you're the one who moved last weekend. Will you be walking with us form now on, Onii-san?" asked Kisho.

Taka looked unsure so he looked at Umeko. She just shrugged and smiled.

"Sure. It can't hurt, right?" said Taka.

"All right!" Kisho punched the air. "Kay! I'll see ya tomorrow morning then, Onii-san!"

Kisho left again, leaving the two together.

"Well, I gotta go now. I'll see ya tonight then," he said, heading back out through the window.

"Ah hey! That's my pillow! And whaddya mean, 'tonight?' I'm gonna be sleeping," said Umeko.

"Well, you said you felt like you were somewhere else fer real when you were Daydreaming, right? Then let's see what'll happen when we Dream. Maybe we'll dream of each other," said Taka.

"But... my pillow.. and get those dirty thoughts out of your head!" said Umeko.

"I'm not the one thinking dirty. You are, silly. I'm talking about seeing each other in our dreams.. if we'll meet.. like in real life right now," he said.

"I still don't understand you... but you're gonna dirty my pillow!" said Umeko trying to get it back. Taka held it out of reach.

"You shoulda thought about that before you threw it at me. Now it's mine and you can only hope you'll ever get this back!" before climbing down, he turned his head slightly and finally smiled at her.

She gasped as Taka made it down the westeria vines.

'He.. .finally smiled!' thought Umeko. She leaned out her window.

"You'd better not lose my pillow!" she called. She saw him wave and run across the stree (after looking both ways from the vine.) She watched him go in.

Closing her window because the sky was glowing yellow and orange of the evening, she went to her bed to hug her giant stuffed panda. All the things that happened today, she replayed it in her head from this morning. Finally, drained of thoughts and energy, she drifted off to sleep with the last thoughts of, 'I wonder what adventures this Gem'll hold for me.'

Kisho was at the door, watching through a small crack. He opened her door further and entered. His Onee-san looked like she was already in a deep sleep. He pulled the blankets just under her neck (blankets already folded at the end of her bed.) He brushed her hair from her face and turned off her lights.

'Onee-san... new things are being shown before you. Something, answered, is opening for you. You'll get your adventure of your life. Be safe in Sonoto... for I hope I will see you soon,' whispered Kisho gently.

He walked to her door and was closing it, with a last whisper of, 'Good night... Onee-san, Gem Keeper of Light.'