The last chapter of the fic! A bitch to write, but hopefully it turned out okay.

Kazuki holds a newspaper clipping in front of him.

"... the house mysteriously burned to the ground after the alleged break-in, but police have no leads as to what or who was responsible. No bodies were recovered, but previous residents have not stepped forward. Police have declined a statement on that matter, but have released a statement saying that it is believed to be connected to the disappearance of the leader of the 'Earth Dragons' Syndicate. That their known enemy vigil-anti group labelled the 'Fire Dragons' had anything to do with the disappearance, remains to be seen."

Kazuki puts the clipping down after reading out loud to Miss. Kasumi, who nods and sips her tea reflectively.

After that night, Kazuki has been living with Miss. Kasumi in the spare room – he has nowhere else to go, but Miss. Kasumi seems to enjoy his company, and Kazuki feels comfortable at her house – not at all like he felt while living at his former home.

"So, you were part of that group all along? The Fire Dragons?"

"Yes, I was. Still am, in fact, but everything's been cleared up, so now its just a matter of keeping it quiet... do you mind it? My being involved?"

Kazuki thinks about it for a moment.

"No... I do not think I do mind. It is just... odd, to know you were a part of it, when all along you were, are, my school teacher."

This gives Miss. Kasumi the opening she has been waiting for during the past few days. After comforting Kazuki that night, she realised that she cares very deeply for him – more than the simple care of teacher to student. She wants him to be happy – she doesn't want Kazuki to ever fear again what he has been made to fear for so long. Most of all, she is still enraged about the man he called 'Father' – Miss. Kasumi can still feel the pain of her own abuse as a child from her Mother, and feels sick to realise that Kazuki's was so much worse. Now, she doesn't want to let him go – not if it might mean more pain or loneliness for him.

"Kazuki..."

Kazuki watches her intently – it is not usual for the red-haired woman to be so hesitant in speaking.

"I thought... I mean, I was thinking over some things in the last few days, and... well, you don't have anywhere to go, do you?"

"No. Like the newspaper said – the house burned down... even if it had not, I would not wish to live there. I suppose it would not be too difficult finding a place to rent, but..."

He lets his voice trail off – he likes it very much where he is, but does not want to impose on his teacher.

Miss. Kasumi, after a moment spent in awkward silence, decides to just come out with it.

"What would you think about staying here? To live?"

Kazuki's eyes show wonder, and something more that is undefinable.

"You mean, I could live right here? For as long as I wanted?"

"That's right. It would be your home too, Kazuki."

Miss. Kasumi feels nervous, but then finds her fear to be unfounded, as Kazuki does something highly unexpected.

He smiles.

It looks so odd for a moment – a face that showed no expression, no emotion whatsoever – smiling – that Miss. Kasumi is startled. Then she smiles too.

"I would like that very much, Miss. Kasumi. Thank you."

The words are spoken formally, but the smile remains – Miss. Kasumi makes a mental note to tell him that he must smile more often.

"Do you understand what it means, Kazuki? There would be papers to sign... I would become your legal guardian... your legal adoptive Mother. Do you want that?"

Kazuki starts at the word 'Mother'.

"A... a Mother? I have never... I never really... you mean like a Mother that the other people at school have? A Mother like every other child has?"

"Yes."

"Then I would never say no, Miss. Kasumi."

Miss. Kasumi laughs, her relief, and happiness, evident.

"You'll have to stop calling me Miss. Kasumi, then! At least, not at school. And 'Mother' would be odd, after... well, Karen is fine. We can go and inquire about adoption papers tomorrow after school then, Kazuki."

Thisisthepagebreakthatwon'.

"So that's... the whole story?"

"Yes."

Well, no, it actually isn't, but Kazuki does not want to fill in the gaps; he has told his friends only what they needed to know – that his foster-father was abusive, and that he was now being legally adopted by Miss. Kasumi.

"Wow... that's... a lot to handle, Kazuki. I'm sorry we weren't there for ya."

"Yeah, I'm sorry too... we should have asked, we could've-"

"No. You could not have helped. Do not feel guilty, Sorata, and it is all over now anyway..."

"So when do the papers go through?" asks Arashi.

"They should be going through right now – by tonight I will officially be Kazuki Kasumi."

This, Kazuki is very proud of.

"Well that's great. I'm glad it turned out okay then."

Kazuki glances over at Kamui, and then, very carefully, smiles. He has been practicing in front of the mirror, while Karen pretended not to notice.

The smile now, however, draws a delighted giggle and cheer from Yuzuriha, and a look of awe from everyone else before they also grin.

"Gotta be the first time I've seen you do that, Kazuki!"

"You really should do that more often..."

Sorata smothers a laugh at Arashi's comment.

"Really Missy, you're not one to talk! After all the glares you send my way I sometimes think your face'll get stuck that way."

Arashi tries to glare again, but Sorata's easy grin gets the better of her, and she leans over so her head rests on his shoulder. Sorata looks like he's just won himself a year's supply of food. He whispers something into Arashi's ear, which promptly makes her head snap back up and the glare again on her features. Kazuki, though, can see the faint blush tinging her cheeks.

Kazuki is content to sit and listen, then, while his friends continue to chat. Not just content, he corrects himself, but happy. Because Kazuki is no longer emotionless, and though his emotions often come with a price, such as fear, or guilt, or sadness, or anger, it also comes with the good things. Kazuki can feel things like never before, and that will always leave a spark of hope inside Kazuki – hope that no matter what emotion he experiences, even if it is a bad one, there will without doubt be happier times.

And that makes Kazuki smile again; a small, secret smile.

Kazuki has emotions, and Kazuki feels happy.