Gathering the Falling Stars

hey everyone well i noticed that i had forgotten to post a notice on facebook about the three updates he he he sorry!

anyway we have two reviews!

A/N

Babby - lol mostly i just imagined what a hard ass would look like and it morphed into what Hoshi is now im glad like minds think alike and i know there are alot of mistakes but we already have a beta being my co-author but as i said before she is going to a new home and needs time to settle but we will try and get a beta'd version out ASAP the last part of your review confused me a little were you going to continue to read or just wait for the beta'd version?

melanie - im glad you liked my story but i have to ask one question... could you draw me a map to your sentence i couldnt really understand the last part of it?

anyway i heard from my co-author this morning and she is safe and sound in her new home so soon we will be continuing to write our vampire story!

*~*~*~*~*~*~Enjoy*~*~*~*~*~*~


Chapter 30


Junko dresses himself slowly, trying to figure out just how he feels about this situation. He knows he's very very unhappy with Hoshi, but he doesn't want to leave him over it. He sighs as he packs up his things. He hates the idea of his mother in one of those death-houses. If Hoshi refuses to take her out...then there might be problems. Hoshi managed to get the boat turned and on a course back to the dock. He walked back into the room and dressed without looking at Junko. He slipped the eyepatch on. He could tell Junko was angry at him but he wanted him around all the same. Junko's eyes widen as he realizes that he *can't* leave Hoshi. Regardless of what he might want, Hoshi had final say in everything to do with his mother, Youji, and the twins. If he left...he'd be leaving them too...He drops his head in his hands, feeling more trapped than he ever has before. Hoshi finishes changing and goes back up to the wheel house. Soon the yacht was pulled into the spot where the lambo was still sitting.

"Come on grab the bags and bring them to the car." Junko nods and quickly gathers their things.

He follows Hoshi without a word, his eyes glued to his feet. Hoshi unlocks the doors of the car and holds it open for Junko. He knew that Heaven's Gate was a wonderful facility for mental problems and recooperation. Junko chucks the bags in the back and slips into the car, automatically buckling his safety belt. His eyes stare unseeingly through the windshield as he tries to calm himself and get rid of the caged feeling. He knows Hoshi would never keep his family from him, no matter how bad things might get between the two of them. Hoshi climbs in and starts to drive to the highway.

"Junko... no matter what happens... i would never stand between you and your family. I just wanted what was best for your brothers and sister. They need their mother. All of her." Junko releases a breath he hadn't know he'd been holding.

"I know." he says quietly. "I just hate the though of her in those sterile room with indifferent caretakers who don't give a damn about who she is..." Hoshi looks at him.

"Heaven's Gate isnt like that. It is a very careing place. The nurses and docters are always around to talk or help with anything that is needed." Hoshi grips the stearing wheel rather tightly as he drove.

Junko sighs heavily.

"Hoshi. Of course they're going to play it up for the guy footing the bill. How do you know what goes on the moment you leave?" Hoshi pulls off the side of the highway and turns to Junko.

"You have no idea what Heaven's Gate can do! I was checked into Heaven's Gate after the concert that took my sight! So dont you even tell me they wouldnt do the same treatment for your mother!" Hoshi glares at Junko angrier than a hornet.

The only people to care for him were those docters and nurses who helpped him through the half darkness. Junko's eyes widen and he leans back against the door.

"I-I-I'm sorry....I d-didn't know...." Hoshi sighes deeply before he merged back onto the highway as the rest of the ride was silent.

He knew that he shouldnt have yelled at Junko. He had no idea that he had gone to Heaven's Gate. He only knew what he may have heard about places like that. Junko, too remains silent for the rest of the drive. His mind keeps going over what Hoshi said. Hoshi's career was at it's peak when he'd been injured- reason enough to treat him well- but even a bad home wouldn't risk losing a potentially lucrative associate by treating one of his charges badly...would they? Could he take that chance with his own mother? Hoshi pulls in front of the building that resembled a hospital. He got out and walked toward the door leaving Junko to follow him. Junko slowly got out of the car, but had to rush to catch up to Hoshi just inside the door. He looked around carefully for any signs that the place might be less than it was supposed to be. Inside was very clean with several tables set up. There were a few paitents there with their families. One guy in his mid-40's had a nervous tick in his hand but was holding a pretty toddler girl in his lap. An equally breautiful woman sat next to him smiling. Hoshi walked over to the counter and smiled.

"Hey Bettsy." A woman who was about 80 looked up.

Her white hair was curly as she wore a nurses outfit.

"Ah... Hoshi-kins how are you feeling? How is the eye?" Hoshi smiles.

"Fine still cant see on my left side but other than that I'm fine. This is my boyfriend Junko Collin's." The woman smiles brightly.

"Ah Ella's son. Funny he looks older than 6..." Junko smiles shyly at the woman, offering a wave.

"H-hello." The woman smiles.

"So what brings you here?" Hoshi looks at her.

"We are here to see Ella." The woman nods and types into her computer.

"Alright... she is in room 46 R. Set her up in your old room. At your request." Hoshi nods and walks towards the elevator.

He pushed a button and waited for the elevator to come. Junko, a bit overwhelmed, comes up behind Hoshi.

"She knew who my mother was..."

"Of course she is. She is the nurse who cleans the paitents. She is abit of a chatter box." A hand rests on Junko's shoulder.

"Excuse me?" Hoshi turns and smiles.

"Hey Doc Hop what are you doing here? Arent you supposed to be with a paitent around this time?" A docter with ink black hair pulled into a ponytail at the base of his neck stood there with a friendly smile.

"Actually i was on my way up. "What are you doing here?" Hoshi looks at Junko.

"Visiting his mother. Ella." Junko waves awkwardly, biting his lip. Hoshi really seems to know this place...maybe they'd treat his mother well to keep Hoshi happy?

Docter Hop smiles.

"Well looks like this is Ella's lucky day. She gets to see her son. Maybe today we could do some memory theorpy with her. Would you two be alright with that?" Hoshi looks at Junko.

"Do you?"

"Er...." Junko says intelligently. "M-memory therapy?" The doors to the elevator open as Docter Hop steps in with them.

"You see Ella has now been diagnosed as having stress enduced regressive amnesia. Which in simple terms is that her mind went through a moment in her life that was so tramatic that her mind went back to a time when she felt safer." Junko frowns.

"That sounds like something from a soap opera." Docter Hop chuckles.

"Ya well Soap Operas are actually very right sometimes. But this is very much real. She only remembers 1 of her children and at the age when the second child was born or at least conseved. Junko do you recall any thing tramatic that happened when you were 6 of so?" Junko pales slightly.

"I...m-maybe..." Docter Hop turns to him completely.

"I need to know what happened or at least what you saw so we can help her to remember."

"I...ah." Junko's eyes dart to Hoshi's as his heart speeds up. "I-....I mean...it's...." Junko swallows hard and wrings the edge of his shirt.

The doors open showing a floor of rooms. Docter Hop leads them down a long hall. Hoshi follows as he gently takes Junko's hand. He knew Junko needed the attention right now. Junko latches onto Hoshi's hand, his palms sweating slightly. He knew what the doctor wanted to know, but he hadn't thought of the event in years outside of the odd nightmare every so often. Hoshi holds his hand tight as Docter Hop stops in front of 46 R. He knocks on the door.

"Ella? It's Docter Hop with your son Junko. Can we come in?" Silence followed for a moment before the door slowly opened.

Junko's mother stood there clean in a full hospital gown. Her hair was pulled into a bun that she used to wear when she was normal. She looked at Junko and tilted her head.

"Jun...ko..." Docter Hop's leans down and whispers into Junko's ear.

"She still only remembers you as a kid." Junko nods and a tenseness in his chest relaxes as he sees his mother safe and well.

"Mama..." he says quietly, not expecting her to recognize him.

Ella turns and walks to the small armchair. Hoshi walks over and sits on another armchair while Docter Hop sits down on the coffee table.

"How are you feeling today Ella? Did Bettsy already give you your bath?" Ella nods as he checks her blood pressure and other things.

"Do you feel up for some theorpy?" Ella nods again as Docter Hop looks at Hoshi and Junko.

"May i speak to you two in private?" Junko, having remained standing, nods and squeezes Hoshi's hand.

Hoshi stands up and walks to the side of the room with Docter Hop.

"Alright i will hypnotize her and talk her through what happened 12 years ago." Junko raises a skeptical brow at the doctor.

"More soap opera 101?" he asks, not quite sarcastically.

Hoshi squeezes his hand painfully as Docter Hop looks at him.

"This is what is needed to help your mother. You two will have to help out by play sounds and being the people around her by what happened. Now can you two do that?" Hoshi nods as he looks at Junko.

Junko, still not convinced, nods anyway. Docter Hops walks back over and sits down. He pulls out a pen and holds it in front of Ella.

"Now Ella i want you to look at the pen. Focus on only the tip of the pen. Slowly feel yourself to fall into a sense of being completely relaxed." Slowly Ella's eyes glaze over but she stayed sitting up. Docter Hop slowly puts the pen away as he looks at her. "Now i want you to slowly lift your right arm straight up." Slowly her right arm raises and hangs there.

Junko's jaw drops and his eyes dart questioningly to Hoshi. Is this real?! he wonders. Hoshi watches Docter Hop before he smiles.

"Alright you can put your arm down." Slowly her arm returns to her lap. "Alright Ella... i want you to feel yourself go back. 12 years. To when Junko was 6 years old. Where are you?" Ella's voice was soft as she was almost sleep talking.

"Outside the Parkville Mall... Junko was just about to start kindergarden..." a soft smile appears on her lips.

Junko squints his eyes, trying to remember.

"What is around you?" Docter Hop asks as he points to Hoshi and Junko as what ever she describes they have to make the sounds.

"Junko's little steps on the stone path... the wrapper on his candy bar..." Hoshi grabs a magazine and rips a page and starts to crinkle it up as there were chess pieces made of stone next to Junko.

Tapping them on the board would make a clicking sound. Junko obediently takes up two of the chess pieces, clicking them in the stumbling gate of an excited child. Ella's face turns into a big smile.

"Junko always loved chocolate... he would beg and plead for Rodger and i to take him to Godiva... for their chocolate elixer... we stopped by there..." Slowly her face tilted slightly and lost its smile.

Docter Hop nods.

"What happened at Godiva?" Junko shifts, a vague memory of a huge place with sweets and smiling faces flits through his mind.

Ella's face turns frightened.

"Junko... wanted to look at the guy making... the truffles in the window... so i went inside to get his drink for him..." her body starts to shake as Hoshi watches the woman.

Docter Hop nods as he looks at her.

"What happened when you walked out of Godiva?" Ella lets a whimper come out of her mouth.

A tear slips down her cheek.

"A man... grabbed Junko... the guy in the window yelled and tried to chase him..." Docter Hops waves to Junko to tap faster to the sound of running feet as he gestured for Hoshi to move foreward.

"Act like the guy in the window." Hoshi nods as Ella whimpers.

"Miss... is that your son?" Ella whimpers.

"Yes! Yes! That's my baby! He is taking my baby! Please help me!" her voice was terror filled.

Junko quickens his pace with the chess peices, his heart following suit. He didn't remember this at all, but it felt so familiar! Docter Hop turns back to Ella.

"The man in the window goes after the man with your baby. What happens now?" Ella starts to breath normally as Docter Hop tells Junko to stop the tapping.

"The man got Junko back..." Hoshi smiled.

"Here you go ma'am. Your little boy..." Hoshi guessed as Ella smiles brightly tears running down her cheeks.

"Junko.... Junko my baby... my baby..." Ella was almost reaching for Junko's voice as Docter Hop motions Junko over.

"Say something to her..." Junko's mind blanks and he opens and closes his mouth for a moment before speaking.

"M-m-mama..." Ella smiles brightly as tears continue to roll down her cheeks.

"My baby... my baby your ok... are you hurt my baby?"

"No, Mama....I'm okay." Junko feels his throat tighten and cannot believe he's getting so emotional in front of a stranger.

Ella smiles and sniffs.

"Good... good... my baby..." Docter Hop smiles.

"Ella... did something from this accident happen again?" Ella's face changes to nuetral.

"The man... the man who took Junko..." Junko frowns, sitting back and watching his mother carefully.

"You saw him again? When did you see him again?" Ella slowly tilted her head.

"I was... feeding the twins... Hiroki... and Kaouri formula... Youji was... going to kindergarden." Hoshi looks at Junko as he gulps.

"Junko... was going to 7th grade... Rodger... he was going for milk for Youji..." Docter Hop looks at Junko silently asking if he remembered this.

Junko's frown deepens and he nods slowly but says nothing.

"What happened while Rodger was gone?" Ella giggles slightly.

"Rodger... always forgot his wallet.. i told Junko to watch over them... and i went to the corner store..." Docter Hop leans over and whispers into Junko's ear.

"What happened at this store?" Junko swallows.

"My father...he was shot by someone robbing the store..." he answers quietly.

Docter Hop nods as he whispers to Hoshi what Junko said. Hoshi moves over to a table grabbing two big books as he whispers into Junko's ear.

"I want you to play your father for a bit then play a cop alright..." Ella sits there silently.

Junko's eyes widen and he bites his lip hard, a tiny drop of blood welling up before he nods. Docter Hop turns to Ella.

"What happened when you got to the store?" Ella stares off into space.

"Rodger was almost in the store when i caught up..." Docter Hop points to Junko to start.

Junko jumps slightly.

"What's the ma-matter, sweetheart?" he asks, releived that his stutter was a thing he inherited from his father.

Ella giggles softly.

"You left your wallet again... you cant buy anything without money..." Hoshi cracks the books together as Ella's whole body jumps making her face turn to terror.

"Rodger!" she screamed.

"What's happening?" Docter Hop's looks at her as she starts to panic.

"Rodger! Rodger! He's been shot! Someone help! Someone help my husband's been shot!" Docter Hop gestures Junko to be the cop as Hoshi cracks the books again making Ella jump again.

Hoshi's instinct seemed to be right. Two shots were fired. Junko reaches out, but doesn't touch his mother.

"Ma'am, I need you to calm down and tell me what's happened." he says, his voice urgent but strong.

Ella's tears roll down her cheeks soaking her gown.

"I was... taking my husband his wallet... and he was shot! Oh god! Is he going to be alright? Rodger! Rodger please say something!" Docter Hop sighs.

"Rodger isnt saying anything Ella... what happens now?" Ella whimpered as he gasps for breath past her tears.

"The man... the police brought my husbands... killer out..." her voice turns murderous through her tears. "He's the same man... who tried to take my baby... he killed my husband..." her body shakes with visible rage.

"Ella... do you know what happened to the man?" Ella visible relaxes from her rage.

"Executed... in prison... Oh... Rodger..." She starts to sob hard.

Docter Hop sighs deeply and looks at Junko.

"Is this when she changed?" Junko nods silently, willing his tears not to fall.

He will *not* fall apart in front of a complete stranger! Hoshi pulled Junko close petting his hair as he watched Docter Hop.

"Alright Ella... im going to bring you back out... i know this is hard for you but you need to regain the memory of your family... of your children. It's ok to remember what happened. We will continue to work with this Ella. I promise everything will get better." Ella continues to sob as Docter Hop gently held Ella's hand.

"Im going to count to three when i get to three you will wake up and retain your memory. 1... 2... 3." he snaps and Ella blinks a couple times before she completely crumbles into Docter Hop's lap sobbing heart wrenching cries.

She claws at the docter's coat as she cries. Junko can't hold back his own tears as his mother's sobs rip through his heart. Hoshi tightens his hold petting Junko's hair as for the first time since his accident he felt like crying himself. Not for what happened in the past... but for Junko and his mother. Docter Hop turns to Junko and Hoshi.

"Ella will rest tonight. You two can come back tomorrow if she is up to it." Junko nods and stands, his eyes locked on his mother's form and his chest tight.

Ella continues to cry as she doesnt let go of Docter Hop. Hoshi gently rests his hand on Junko's shoulder.

"Come on." He led him out of the room and to a unisex bathroom.

Junko goes immediately to the sink and splashes cold water on his face. His temples and the area around his eyes is throbbing and there is an ache deep in his chest which he suspects isn't physical at all. Hoshi stands by him rubbing his back.

"Just breath love." Junko dries his face with a paper towel, tossing it to the trash and wrapping himself around Hoshi. Hoshi holds onto Junko tight as he laces his fingers into his hair. "Your mother needed to stop hiding... are you going to be ok?" Junko nods. The day has been cathartic, if nothing else and he is now convinced of this place's qualifications to treat his mother. Hoshi holds him tight. "We can go back to the manor or stay in a hotel." Junko leans back to look Hoshi in the eyes.

"I'm sorry I ruined our boat trip..." his own eyes are full of remorse and guilt.

Hoshi pets his hair.

"It's ok. It's your birthday its your choice what we do now." Junko heaves a sigh and wraps his arms around Hoshi's neck.

"Right now all I want is a comfortable sofa, a pint of Haagendaz and an old movie. You think you can make that happen?" Hoshi chuckles.

"Well there is the private theatre in the second floor of the manor." Junko shifts uncomfortably for half a moment, remembering his time in that room recently before he pastes a smile back on his face.

"Well, what movie shall we watch, then?"

"How about we go to a movie store and see what is good?" Hoshi leads him out of the building and into the car.


*~*~*~*~*~*~End of Chapter 30*~*~*~*~*~*~