A Keychain of Girls

"Mother!" He cried, running over to her.

He put his arms around her and helped her to her feet.

"Come on mom...let's sit you down over here." Danny said, helping his sobbing mother to a seat at the dining table.

"I miss him...so much...god...John why did you have to leave me...and only days after Caroline! I miss them so much...I feel so alone..." Jen sobbed hysterically, her tears splashing on the table.

"It's okay mom...I'm here..." Danny said, wrapping his arms comfortingly around Jen.

"Is there anything I can do?" April asked quietly.

"It's okay...she just needs some time." Danny said, trying to comfort Jen.

"What happened?" April asked softly.

"I'll tell you later." Danny said.

"I'm going to...to bed..." Jen stuttered through her sobs.

"Okay mother, let me help you." Danny said, helping his mom to her feet.

She curled up in bed with Danny's help and cried herself into a drunken stupor.

"Danny...What happened?" April said, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Let's go in my room." Danny said.

He lead the three girls into the bedroom and closed the door. He sat down on the bed next to Chiu and April. Koto sat on the ground with her legs crossed.

"About three months ago...my sister was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer..." Danny said, his voice shaky, "She died almost three weeks ago..."

"That's horrible..." Chiu said with a hand over her mouth.

"Well..." Danny swallowed painfully, "A few days later...my mother and father were managing to keep it together...however...My dad...he was hit by a car...He died in the street..."

"Oh god." April gasped.

"My mother...couldn't...couldn't handle it...it was too much for her...she turned to alcohol...drinking day and night...She barely left her bed..." Danny said, tears welling in his eyes, "It's been hard...if it weren't for my grandparents leaving us...us some money...we would've been evicted..."

His tears spilled over and he started to cry loudly. He put his face in his hands and tears dripped through his fingers. April put an arm around him and pulled him close. He put his arms desperately around her waist and cried against her breast. April wrapped her arms around him lovingly and started to brush his hair. He let himself cry in Aprils arms for quite a while. When he finally started to calm down, April laid his head in her lap and she started to sing a quiet song to him. It was a soothing song that helped him quiet down and started to weigh on his eyelids.

Before too much longer, he was quietly sleeping in Aprils lap.

"He's had such a hard life..." Koto said sympathetically.

"Maybe we're finally needed for once..." Chiu said, "I bet we could really help this young man."

"He is definitely in need of something...to be so young and have so much responsibility." April said, brushing her hands through his hair.

"He's kind of cute too." Koto smiled.

"Koto...I'm going to warn you once..." April said with her cold serious voice, "Do not do anything to upset him or I will beat the crap out of you."

"I won't..." Koto looked at her feet and her tail hung limply.

"Harsh sister." Chiu said, looking over at her.

"I don't want you hurting him anymore than he already is. Trying to sleep with him will just confuse him more." April said, "He needs a mother who will care for him and that drunk out there obviously isn't."

"Now your the heartless one...didn't you hear him. She lost her husband and her daughter. I bet alcohol was the only thing keeping her from killing herself!" Chiu said, smacking April, "I know you've taken a shine to him, but don't condemn his mother just yet."

"Maybe you're right. I'm sorry..." April said, bowing her head to look at Danny, "He just seems so...frail..."

Chapter 3 - Shopping

Danny blinked and opened his eyes. His head was lying on something soft and he was looking up at the ceiling. Someone was humming a quiet song. April leaned forward and looked down at him.

"Are you feeling better?" April asked, a sweet look on her face.

"Quite...I'm sorry I broke down like that." Danny said, sitting up suddenly.

April had been sitting against the wall behind the bed with Danny's head in her lap.

"It's understandable. I never knew you had such a hard life." April said, slipping off the bed.

"Well...it's only been hard in the past few weeks." Danny said, scratching his head.

"You know what I just realized?" April said, scratching her head.

"Hmm?" Danny looked up.

"You've got to be a student, don't you have to go to school?" April asked, looking around for a backpack.

"I should...but I don't know if I can with mother the way she is. I mean, I have to be here to take care of her." Danny said.

"I could do that so you can go to school." April said, "I'd be happy to stay home and take care of her."

"I can't ask you to do that...I mean...I know I could...but I can't..." Danny said, opening the bedroom door, "What is that?"

There was a loud moaning coming from the bathroom.

"Oh that's Koto..." April sighed.

"What's she doing in there?" Danny asked.

"Well...Koto's a nymphomaniac...so if she doesn't get an orgasm every once in a while she starts to shake really bad." April said bluntly.

"So wait, Koto's in my bathroom..." Danny cut himself off, blushing deeply.

"I'll make some lunch." April said, pulling Danny into the living room.

A little while later, April was setting some sandwiches and potato chips on the table. The bathroom door opened and Koto came out. Her clothes were askew and her hair was messy, however there was a wide smile on her face.

"Better?" April said, raising an eyebrow.

"Much...oooh you made lunch!" Koto said, running over to the table.

"You're unbelievable Koto." Chiu said, shaking her head on the other side of the table.

"What?" Koto said with her mouth full.

"She mean's your a pervert!" Jen said, finishing the beer in her hand.

"Oh like it's a bad thing!" Koto sighed.

"You girls." Danny sighed, shaking his head.

They chatted and enjoyed their lunch happily.

"So I need to go shopping, would one of you like to come with?" Danny asked, looking at the others.

"Shopping?" Koto looked up, "Definitely."

"I wanna go too!" April said.

"I could go for some shopping." Chiu smiled.

"I forgot, you're girls. Of course you want to go shopping." Danny chuckled, standing up.

*******

The four of them were walking through the mall, laughing and enjoying themselves. Danny was really getting to know the three sprites fairly well. They were really entertaining to be with.

"Oooh! Danny, can we go try on some clothes?!" Koto squealed, pointing at a girl's clothing store.

"Oooh yea, I wanna try on a new dress!" April squeaked, clasping her hands together.

"Okay okay, I suppose I could spare some money to buy you girls some clothes." Danny nodded.

"Yippie!" Koto squealed, grabbing Aprils hand, she ran into the store.

"They really love shopping don't they." Danny said, looking over at Chiu.

"Hey, they're not the only ones. Come on!" Chiu said, grabbing Danny's hand.

"Whoa!" Danny cried as Chiu pulled him into the store.

"Hey Danny, look at this, isn't this so cute!" April squealed, holding up a full length goldenrod dress.

"What about this?" Koto squeaked, holding up a shirt.

*******

"Hey Danny, come here!" Koto said, pulling Danny over to her.

"Whaaa?!" Danny cried as Koto drug him off to the dressing rooms.

"I want you to see a few outfits I picked out." Koto said, pulling Danny into one of the changing rooms.

"O...okay..." Danny said, watching Koto latch the door.

"Just stand there." Koto said, picking out a top and a skirt from the pile of clothing on the bench.

"Wait, you aren't going to change in front of me are you?!" Danny said, holding up his hands.

"I thought I would, it would be easier than going in and out of the stall a dozen times." Koto said, dropping her shorts. She was wearing frilly white cotton panties.

"You shouldn't, really!" Danny said, putting his hands over his eyes.

"Hey...Danny...It's okay." Koto said, pulling his hands away from his eyes.

"No it's not, I shouldn't look at you. It's your privacy." Danny said, shaking his head.

"It's only my privacy if I keep it from you." Koto said, wrapping her arms around Danny.

"K...Koto..." Danny stuttered, blushing at her closeness.

"You know...you're pretty cute Danny..." Koto said, moving her face closer to him.

"Koto!" Danny said, trying to push her back.

"Oh come on Danny...Stop being such a stick in the mud...don't you think I'm sexy?" Koto said, clasping her hands behind her back. She held out her chest and smiled cutely.

"Well...um...I mean...You...You are...but I..." Danny stuttered.

"Koto!" April yelled, banging on the door, "I told you to leave him alone!"

"A...April?!" Danny stuttered, looking at the door.

"Damn." Koto cursed, "Fine, go ahead."

Danny opened the door and ran through it, closing it behind her.

"Sorry Danny." April said, glowering at the door, "Koto just can't take no."

"It's okay...I mean..." Danny scratched his nose, "She is kind of cute."

April was in shock for a second. She been in the mindset almost since she met Danny that he was just an innocent boy. But now she realized that she may have been wrong from the start. Maybe he wasn't as innocent as she thought, just overly polite to them. Then again, a young boy is naturally interested in girls, no matter how polite.

"Really? You think I'm cute too?" Koto poked her head over the top of the changing room door.

"Well of course, all three of you are." Danny smiled.

"Even me?" Chiu stepped out of a nearby changing room.

She was wearing a full length white skirt and a frilly pastel yellow top. Her black hair was pinned up behind her head and she had taken off her glasses.

"Oh my..." Danny said, his eyes wide, "Um...Y...yes."

Chiu smiled and walked over to Danny.

"Thanks." Chiu smiled and she kissed Danny on the cheek.

"Wha?!" Danny started.

Chiu giggled and walked back to her changing room.

"Uhhh..." Danny's mouth hung open.

"He he he...I think you stunned him." April giggled.

"C...Chiu!" Danny shook his head, "You...kissed me."

"I think I agree with Koto...You are kinda cute...especially when you blush." April smiled, leaning forward. She kissed Danny on his other cheek.

"You...You too April?" Danny stuttered, blushing.

"Sorry...should I not have?" April said, putting a finger to her lips.

"N...No, it was okay...I just...I was surprised...That was all." Danny said.

April smiled and giggled.

*******

Twenty five thousand yen later, the four of them were on the way home. Each of the girls had new clothing and Danny had picked up the groceries they needed for the house. They had just come from a nice dinner at a small corner restaurant.

"This was so much fun!" Koto squealed.

"I can't believe we went around all day and nobody asked about your tail." Danny said, looking over at Koto.

"Well we are in Japan. People walk around in weird costumes all the time." Koto said, "Maybe I'm just an Otaku."

"You are not my sister, you're just a high strung nymphomaniac." Chiu said, "I'm the closest thing to an Otaku in this household."

"Do you even read manga?" Danny asked, looking back at her.

"Yes, I just happen to have left my entire collection with my last master." Chiu said, "It's a good thing I have scans of them on my computer."

They walked up the stairs to the fifth floor where Danny and Jen's apartment was. It was a fairly nice ten story high rise and Danny quite enjoyed living there. However, it would be interesting to see what will happen with the Sprites living in his home now.

"Mom, I'm home." Danny said, walking through the door.

"Good, did you bring me any more beer, I just finished my last can." Jen said, walking out of the bathroom.

"I don't think it's very good for you to be drinking all this alcohol." Danny said.

"I don't think you should be...*Hiccup*...thinking about what's best for me. I think you should just be...*Hiccup*...buying me more beer." Jen hiccuped loudly, holding a finger in Danny's face.

"Mom, your an alcoholic, you have to stop this." Danny said.

"No...*Hiccup*...Your an alcoholic!" Jen yelled, swaying where she stood.

The girls walked around him and went off to do their things.

"Mom! I know it's hard without dad, but you can't drink him back here!" Danny said loudly.

"Who...Who're you to tell me what I can't do!" Jen yelled, grabbing Danny's shoulders.

"I'm your son!" Danny yelled.

"I need a drink." Jen said, her eyes sullen.

"Mom...It hasn't been easy for me either...Losing dad and sis..." Danny said, "I had to push on for your sake...But...I can't do it any more mom! Please...stop this!"

Tears welled in his eyes and he put his arms around his mom.

"Danny..." Jen muttered, looking down at him, "I'm...I'm sorry..."

"It's...not your fault mother..." Danny sniffed, "Did you get dinner?"

"I'll figure out something." Jen said, letting Danny go.

"Okay...well...I'm going to get some sleep. It's been a tiring day for me." Danny sighed, turning to his bedroom.

"Sweet dreams honey." Jen said, watching Danny walk into his room.

Danny sat down on the side of his bed and wiped at his eyes.

"Are you okay Danny?" April stood in the doorway.

"I'll be fine...I'm just getting worn out..." Danny said, rubbing his forehead.

"Okay...well...sleep well." April said, flicking the light off.

"Wait." Danny said suddenly.

"What is it?" April stepped back in the door.

"Would you...stay with me tonight?" Danny said, "I don't want to be alone...I miss my sister..."

"Yes, I will, just let me borrow some pajamas from your mom." April smiled.

"Heya Danny, where can we sleep?" Koto stuck her head in the door.

"Um...well...There is an extra mattress in mom's closet. If you and Chiu wouldn't mind sharing. It's big enough for you two." Danny said.

"That would be fine. We've slept together before." Koto smiled, "Thanks Danny."

"Your welcome Koto." Danny smiled.

When she was out of the room, he looked down at his hands and rubbed them together tiredly. Walking over to the closet, he stripped and put on a pair of shorts. It was right then when April walked back in the room. She had untied her hair and had taken off her dress and apron. She was now just wearing a knee length blueish nightgown.

"Are you doing okay?" April said, closing the door behind her.

"I just need a night sleep." Danny yawned widely.

He pulled the blankets back and slipped in. April flicked off the light and crawled into the bed next to him.

"Hey April?" Danny said, rolling over to look at her.

"Yes Danny?" April asked.

"Thanks for staying with me." Danny said quietly.

"Happy to do it." April said, wrapping an arm around him.

Danny gave another yawn and fell asleep soundly in April's arms.

Chapter 4 - School

Danny yawned and nuzzled up to the soft warm pillow beneath his head. He was half asleep and more relaxed than he had been in weeks. His arms were wrapped around something very warm and he was pressed up close to it. Suddenly his eyes snapped open and he realized what it was. He had been nuzzled up to April's breasts and he was cuddled around her body.

"Ohh I am sorry...I didn't mean to!" Danny cried, jumping back, "I was sleeping...and...and you were soft and warm..."

"Hey, it's okay. You were only sleeping." April muttered, rubbing her eyes, "Would you mind laying back down where you were?"

"What?" Danny said, his eyes wide.

"You were warm and a great cuddlebug too." April said, holding her arms out.

"O...okay..." Danny said, blushing as he cuddled up next to April.

He laid back down and cuddled up close to her, however he just laid his head on her shoulder, not her breast. April wrapped her arms around him and sighed sleepily. Danny did have to admit...it was nice being so close to April. She smelled of sweet flowers. Danny sighed happily and nuzzled April's shoulder.

*******

"Don't they look cute together." Chiu said, looking down at April and Danny cuddled together in bed.

"I think I'm a little jealous." Koto said, crossing her arms.

"What, you got to sleep with me didn't you? Am I not that cuddly?" Chiu looked sideways at Koto.

"Oh you know what I mean." Koto said, turning to leave. She smacked Chiu with her fluffy tail.

"Would you two get out." April mumbled sleepily.

"What is it April?" Danny mumbled.

"Nothing...just two dummies." April said, adjusting her arms around Danny.

"Hmmm..." Danny sighed, nuzzling up to her.

"Sometimes I despise my sisters." April sighed, opening her eyes.

"Oh they aren't that bad." Danny smiled, sitting up on his knees.

He was facing April who was still lying back on the pillows. Her hair was messy and she stretched her arms behind her head. The nightgown had worked its way up to her waist, exposing her lacy pink panties. However, she was still covered from the stomach down by the blankets.

"Oh I know, they just always stick their nose into my stuff all the time. You kinda get used to it." April smiled, pulling some of her long crimson hair out of her face.

"Everybody does that, it's called high school." Danny smiled, scooting back. The blankets fell off her and exposed April's lower half.

"Eeep! Cold!" April squeaked, hugging her knees up to her chest.

Danny blinked, staring at her lacy pink panties.

"Oh, I'm sorry." April said, pulling her nightgown down over her waist.

"Well...It's okay...They're cute." Danny said, blushing.

"Danny...You're changing." April said, "It's nice."

"Well..." Danny prodded his fingers together, "I'm a little nervous around strangers...but...I kind of feel comfortable around you three...Sorry if I'm too open."

"No, no, no! It's okay. I always just expected a young man like yourself to be more interested in...well...the physical aspect of girls, not the way you've been." April said, slipping out of bed.

"I've just...well...tried to be polite...but...now...I'm...well...um...I..." Danny blushed and looked down at his knees.

"Ohh Danny, you goof." April giggled, straightening her nightgown, "I'm going to get a shower and go start breakfast.

*******

"Hey honey, I want to apologize for the way I've been." Jen said, "I can't imagine that my drinking made it any easier on you. I would bet that it made it even harder. Sorry..."

"Mom, it's okay. I understand how hard it was on you." Danny said, touching his mothers hand, "I was just worried you were going to kill yourself with drinking that much."

"Well you don't have to worry now. I'm done drinking, I swear." Jen grasped his hand, "And I'm going to try and get a job. I can't laze about the house forever."

"Breakfast!" April called, setting down a mountain of pancakes on the table.

"What's this?" Danny asked, sitting down at the table.

"It's an American breakfast called pancakes. You eat them with fruit and such over top." April said, putting down a few bowls of cut fruit on the table, "They also eat it with sweet maple syrup, however I couldn't find any."

"This seems a bit strange for a breakfast food." Danny said, prodding at the soft pancake on his plate.

"Trust me, you'll love it." April said.

"I know I do!" Koto said, dishing up a plate with a large stack of them.

"Cooking American food now sister? Your going to get us all fat like them too." Chiu said, putting just fruit on her plate.

"Oh don't be such a sourpuss. They're mostly just a bread mix with some vanilla flavoring. Very tasty and not all that bad for you." April said, dishing herself up.

"Mmmm, they are good!" Jen said through a large mouthful.

"Might as well try it." Danny shrugged, picking up his fork, "Still prefer chopsticks."