Chapter 22: The Verdict

“Respiratory system?”

“Clear.”

“Conscious level?”

“Clear.”

“Adrian.”

“Yes, Madame?”

“The replacement?”

“Ready, Madame.”

“Alright…let’s begin.”

There was a bright light.

And three heads were gazing at him.

At the center, was the face of his beloved sister.

“Serena?”

“It’s okay…”

“Where…are we?”

“In a dream.”

The little girl tried to open her eyes widely, but there was something strong in her body that was trying to hold her back,

“A…dream?”

“Yes.”

The little girl couldn’t understand what was happening. If this was a dream, where were the clowns? Where were the balloons? The Circus? The other children? The pretty tiny fairies?

“S-Serena?”

“What is it, my angel?”

“I…feel strange…”

“You’ll be fine…just…dream…”

“But…I can’t… see anything…”

“If you’ll close you eyes harder, you’ll see something.”

“But…the light…”

“Don’t you wanna dream with a light?”

“Yes, but…it’s too bright…”

Serena chuckled under her breath. Sakura could see a blurry hand touching her small forehead, but she couldn’t even feel it.

“Serena…am I…in heaven?”

Serena was silent for a while, but she replied nonetheless,

“Yes…”

“Where are the angels?”

“They’re…around…”

“Can I see one right now?”

Serena paused, took a deep breath, and leaned down towards the little girl, lying motionless on a steel bed.

“I’m talking to one of them right now…”

Serena heard her colleague talking about Sakura’s internal information and nodded in understanding.

“My angel?” Serena called,

“Yes?” Sakura replied playfully, but weakly.

“It’s time to close your eyes completely.”

Sakura did not complain but smiled meekly,

“Alright…when I get to my dream…I’ll look for heaven…I know this isn’t heaven, Serena…but if I see God…I’ll ask him…I’ll ask him to make me your angel…so I can protect you everyday…and so as mama…and papa…and Marlotte, and Monette…Bianca…and Tokia…”

“There’s no need for that, Sakura.”

“Why not?”

“Silly little girl…because you already our angel…”

Shuichi’s eyelids burst open when he heard that last statement. His heart rate was going wild.

But there was that light again, blinding him, making it hard for him to see.

And he could hear everything around him, but he wasn’t sure who they were.

“Sakura? Sakura, are you okay? Can you tell me what you’re feeling?”

Even without asking who just spoke to him, Shuichi already knew who it was.

“Madame,” Someone from behind spoke, “his heart rate is stabilizing. I think we can inject him the astroler right now.

Serena, clad in a white garment, her raven hair tied up and sealed in a plastic cap, with a mask to cover her mouth, looked a bit tensed.

She had performed such operations several times, but doing it on her sister again seemed so different.

So fragile.

So…unstable.

“Madame?”

Serena nodded her head in comply and took out several instruments.

“Let’s begin.”

Shuichi was in a different place now. He had been in this place for a lot of times. The scent was still the same. The setting of the bed, the TV—everything.

Shuichi could feel himself turning around to look at the man sprawled stark naked beside him. He smiled at him, and the man smiled in return.

His face was blurry, but his gentle touch seemed so familiar to Shuichi.

He knew this man.

Who was he?

ooo

‘Are you…afraid?’ Shuichi asked.

Shuichi could feel the penetrating eyes of this man, looking into him, and he didn’t complain. He let the stranger look at him this way, because he had nothing to hide.

‘Of death?’ the stranger drawled out nauseatingly,

‘Yeah.’

The man without a face looked at him and stared at him in the most peculiar manner,

‘I’m afraid of what Satan will do to me once we meet face to face…but no, I’m not afraid of death.’ The man answered,

Shuichi wrapped his hands around the stranger’s neck and pulled him closer. He laid his head on his bare chest and whispered lovingly,

‘And I thought you were afraid of death because you won’t see me again.’

Shuichi felt the slow rumbling underneath his ear. He smiled at the stranger’s reaction and felt his strong arms wrapping forcefully around his waist,

‘Why? Are you so confident you’ll see God instead?’ the stranger asked,

Shuichi turned his head up, his chin resting on the man’s chest,

‘Why not?’

‘I don’t think so,’ the man teased, smiling softly, ‘you’re a naughty kid. God doesn’t like naughty kids around him. You’ll ruin the reputation of heaven.’

Shuichi pinched the stranger who grunted in pain.

‘You’re such a meanie, Yuki Eiri. Even Satan will puke you out of hell.’

‘Oh yeah?’

’Oh yeah.’

The stranger who was named Yuki Eiri grinned widely at him and shook his head,

‘You’re being unfair.’ Yuki Eiri protested, ‘You say all these things to me, but you still get to heaven.’ He moaned.

‘Not without you.’

“Why wouldn’t he let us pass!”

Back at Tokyo Bay, Yuki Eiri and the rest of the band were huddled between a bundle of huge foreign men who looked like they just came out of the latest MIB movie.

Everybody else didn’t know what was going on, all of them except Yuki.

K and the others didn’t understand why somebody just went in without access at the backstage and took Shuichi away. And then now that they were trying to get to Shuichi, another batch of men in black suits surrounded them.

“Who are these people?” Hiro asked, the furrow on his forehead hardening as everybody else’s,

“I don’t know,” K answered in English, “but I’m pretty sure that they know where Shindou Shuichi is.”

“I don’t think they’ll tell us.” Fujisaki countered.

“The hell they won’t.” Yuki Eiri spoke icily, surprising the three.

Yuki slowly and coolly walked towards one of the giant men and used his never-failing deadly stare,

“Where’s the boy?”

The man did not project any facial expressions or whatsoever but looked at Yuki passively,

“I said, where’s the boy?”

Still, the bodyguard did not speak, nor did he flinch.

“If you’re not going to tell us where Shuichi is, at least let us pass.” Yuki Eiri was trying to be as diplomatic as possible.

The bodyguards seemed to have one brain, because all of them smiled in unison when Yuki spoke this.

“What the hell are they smiling about?” Hiro whispered to Fujisaki,

“How should I know!”

The man towering over Yuki called out to one of his colleagues,

He chuckled as he spoke fluently in French.

The rest laughed in reply.

Yuki closed his eyes impatiently, rage slowly rising in his veins.

“Firstly, I am not a ‘stupid’ American,” Yuki rebutted in the suave tongue of French, “second, you may be four feet taller than I am, but I assure you, I can get you moaning for mercy in the next five seconds.”

The humongous bodyguard’s eyes slowly widened in fury, but in the next five seconds, Yuki had struck him hard beneath his groin with his knee, making him bend down, which gave Yuki the chance to elbow him on the sensitive part at the back.

The man suddenly coughed blood, realizing he was hit in one of his pressure points.

His fellowmen drew out their guns, but someone intervened,

“That’s enough!”

A womanly voice entered the scene, speaking an order in French as well,

“Marco, you know better than playing around!” the woman scolded, walking towards Yuki Eiri and the others.

Behind the woman was a black limousine where three beautiful ladies slowly came out. The driver of the Rolls Royce where the woman came from also walked out of it, sensing the trouble in the midst,

“Seige Mushimoto?” Yuki hissed, “What the hell are you dong here?”

“Where’s Shuichi?” Seige demanded,

“How the hell should I know!” Yuki drawled out angrily,

“Alright, you two!” the woman exclaimed frustratingly, “Knock it off. It won’t be of any use.”

Yuki turned his attention back to the woman who had just saved his life,

“And who are you?”

The woman smiled suddenly and a chuckle even followed it. Yuki, whose forehead was deeply crumpled into a furrow, grew even more confused by the moment,

“You really do resemble, Seige.” Tokia spoke softly in English,

“I do not!”

“He does not!”

The two men raged in unison, making the woman laugh harder.

Everybody around them was addled. It seems that the only persons who were not as disturbed as they are were the three ladies behind,

“Tokia,” Bianca spoke, walking behind, “is this the man Sakura refers to?”

Tokia studied Yuki’s physical appearance and composure. Then a knowing smile slowly crept on her face and nodded in assurance,

“Yes, he is.”

Yuki was no longer confused but irritated. He folded his arms in front of his chest and began,

“And you are?” he prodded again.

“Tokia Tokigawa. Second to the eldest of the Tokigawa sisters.” Tokia held out her hand courteously, waiting for the handsome blonde man to take it.

Yuki didn’t budge at first. Hearing the name Tokigawa again rang numerous bells in his mind. Was he to trust this woman? Is she just like her sister?

But the softness of her brown eyes told him she was different, and so he took her hand and shook it carefully,

“Do you know where Shuichi is?” Yuki asked calmly.

Tokia nodded in answer. She sighed deeply and bent her head, as if it were shadowed,

“Tell me, Mr. Yuki Eiri: How important is my sister to you, anyway? I mean, I’m sure by now Sakura has told you about her condition. And I have no doubt that even though you don’t know the exact location of her destination, you know what’s happening,” she started, her voice loud enough to be heard by everyone,

“And I assume, that Sakura has told you about her departure for London. She will be coming with the rest of us…so why do you bother coming after her? Haven’t you said your good-byes?”

Yuki’s expression hasn’t changed. He still looked cold and determined, and as though the question didn’t affect him, he answered her swiftly and honestly.

“That brat isn’t going anywhere except back in my condominium right after his operation. I don’t know what the hell is going to happen to him right after his recovery, but since I also assume that you and your sisters know my position, I will ask for his stay for the remaining three months.”

His reply was rebellious and placid. Tokia was actually impressed. Yes, all of them knew about his condition. Serena told her about this news a long time before. She mentioned it was their advantage since Yuki Eiri will die in the very near future.

But Tokia herself wasn’t sure if Serena would allow that. Tokia knew that Serena was also concerned about Shuichi’s feelings. Even though she denies it, she doesn’t want their youngest to mourn for a dead lover.

Worse, to wait for her lover to die.

The realization swept Tokia all over, and made her think that maybe she herself won’t allow Shuichi to stay after all.

But since Shuichi had to talk things over with his family and friends, it was going to be rather complicated.

The plans were completely altered. Right now, Serena and the rest of their colleagues are probably be operating on Shuichi. After the operation, Shuichi will be completely turned into a woman.

The plan was that the operation should take place in London, inside their other clinic. But since this unexpected incident came, there was no other way for Shuichi but to tell the truth to everybody.

Tokia felt hopeless by the moment. She looked straight onto the blonde man’s golden eyes and said,

“I will support your request, Mr. Yuki Eiri. But as you can see, my sisters and I are not the ones who are calling the shots. It is Serena. And therefore, she should be the one you should talk to. But I have to warn you, she terribly despised you the moment she found out you were having an affair with our youngest.”

Tokia Tokigawa’s warning did not seem to surprise Yuki Eiri nor was he affected.

Somehow, he already knew this.

“Well where the hell is she?” he asked.

Tokia glanced at Seige who rolled his eyes heavenward,

“Serena is also a scientist, my dear. She is currently operating on your dear Shuichi.”

Yuki rubbed the back of his head and turned away.

Whatever happens next was something all of them feared right now.

The answer remains in the hands of the eldest of the sisters. Yuki understood all of these things perfectly well.

And since Serena loathes him, what was his chance?

“Mr. Yuki Eiri?”

Yuki turned around to see the young lady who looked almost like Shuichi.

Yuki thought that if Shuichi would turn into a woman, this is how he would most possibly look like,

“What is it?”

The lady signaled her other sisters from behind. The twins followed and went closer to Yuki.

“My name is Bianca. The twins are named Marlotte,” she pointed, “and Monette.”

“Konichiwa.” The twins bowed and smiled from the introduction.

Yuki couldn’t find the energy to do the same. Instead, he slightly nodded his head and extended his hand for the ladies,

The three sisters shook his hand and thus came their conversation,

“Look, we all understand your situation. But even though Serena hates you…we just want you to know…that we have your back.”

The twins and Bianca smiled merrily at him and the smile actually reminded Yuki of Shuichi.

“And I thought you girls hated Eiri.” Tokia teased, embarrassing the three.

“That was before!” the twins stomped in unison.

“But I guess he’s by far different than we thought.” Monette giggled.

“And very handsome.” Marlotte added.

Yuki finally found the urge to smile a bit.

What everybody thought to be a disaster came to be a gathering of understanding.

K and the rest could only scratch their heads in confusion while the bodyguards backed off, retiring in their respective cars as what Tokia motioned a few minutes after.

“So Yuki,” Seige started, startling everyone from his sudden entrance, “what’s your plan?”

Yuki took a deep breath and looked at his former adversary. Hard to admit, but they do have similarities. Only, they were both too arrogant to accept that.

Seige Mushimoto was actually the perfect man. What Yuki lacked, Seige has, and the humiliating and downing part about it was that Seige even had Yuki’s assets—in the physical aspect as well as in the personality.

Except for writing, Yuki presumed confidently.

Seige’s question was still waiting for an answer. Yes, Yuki had a plan, but he wasn’t sure it would work. He was still gong to see Shuichi after the operation, and they’ll have to talk things over.

“I honestly don’t know.” Yuki simply replied, shoved his hands lazily inside his pockets and went off, leaving everybody behind.

Everybody listened to his footsteps while they watched his back. He took out a cigarette from his pocket and lighted it. Upon lighting his cigarette, he noticed something he hasn’t noticed for quite a while.

His neoprint with the boy from their very first date.

It was still there, although it was already fading away. Yuki brushed his thumb against the tiny picture and closed his eyes.

He turned around, having realized that everyone noticed his sudden odd movements,

“Tell Shuichi,” he started, “to stop by before I die.”

With that, Yuki Eiri turned away and walked back to where he left his car.

Early in the morning, Yuki Eiri had a quick shower and went straight to work. He was going to have a meeting with his editor and he was going to specify something to his publisher afterwards.

As he typed on his laptop, his thoughts flew away to all the memories he had shared with Shindou Shuichi.

The first time they met that fateful night at the park.

The first time they had a date and spent it in a carnival.

Those aggravating moments wherein they always fought about something. May it be big or small.

And just those simple moments when Shuichi would lie down in bed beside him, talking about the latest issue concerning his career, and he on the other hand, would suffer as the solver of his problems.

Everything from the past came back to him.

Oddly, he no longer thought about his other past.

It seems that his life came to a turn when he met Shindous Shuichi. All those painful memories from his precedent, especially concerning his former teacher, seemed to have drifted away.

He kept his teacher’s name to remind him of the cruel deed he once committed. Then again, he was a child back then, and nobody could blame him from protecting himself from those bastards.

From his own trusted and beloved teacher, Yuki.

All these were almost forgotten. And as Yuki remember it now, it was no longer painful nor dreadful for him. The pain was over, and the bruise is healed. What only remained was the scar.

All of these were possible because of one boy.

Because of a young man who never left him, who never gave up on him…

Even though the world itself gave up on him.

Out of the blue, the phone suddenly rang and startled Yuki from his thoughts.

“Moshi-Moshi?” Yuki spoke.

There was a long pause of silence, but Yuki didn’t repeat his greeting,

“You are…Yuki Eiri?”

“Hai.”

“This is Serena Tokigawa.”

“I know.”

The supercilious voice that came from the man amused Serena Tokigawa,

“How is he?” Yuki asked, his voice tendered all of a sudden.

“Meet me at your nearest coffee shop.”

And with that, Serena hung up on him, the dial tone sounding off into Yuki’s ear.

As if paralyzed for a few seconds, Yuki sat still. Afterwards, he immediately went to his feet, took his coat and left his condominium.

Last night, after the operation, Serena was tired like hell. But seeing her sister who ranks next to her standing right in front of her made it all go away.

As Serena took a gentle sip from her brewed coffee, she remembered what took place of her physical pain that night. It was the feeling of being challenged.

The look on Tokia’s face meant something else.

Serena had only seen this a long time ago. Back when Tokia and Seige were still together.

Seeing this look right now meant a lot of things. She might be back with Seige, and she wants to set certain terms.

-O-O-O-

“I have to speak with you.” Tokia calmly began, her hands clasped together.

“What do you think we’re doing now?” Serena exasperatingly started, taking off her white garment.

Serena went to the nearest sofa where her bag laid. She took out a tin bottle of what seem to consist of gin.

Tokia watched her sister drink and continued,

“It’s about that man, Yuki Eiri—”

“You’re back with Seige?”

Tokia opened her mouth to say something more, but when her sister completely changed the subject, she was placed in a critical position.

Serena took out a long cigarette from her coat that hung on the sofa and lighted it, tossing the lighter aside and smoked, watching the huge puffs of clouds coming out of her mouth,

“Don’t alter the topic, Serena.” Tokia countered, feeling off-balanced.

Serena was right. With her sister’s statement, Tokia was really back with Seige.

“Why not?”

“Because we need to talk about our youngest and her relationship with—”

“There is nothing to talk about, Tokia.” Serena slowly but sternly cut in, “After tomorrow, Sakura will be taken into the mansion. She will rest there, and I will handle everything concerning her family and the media—”

“It’s not as easy as you think—”

“I’ve gone through far worse, Tokia, and you know it.” Serena’s voice lowered, as if warning Tokia that this conversation should be dismissed,

““We’re talking about Sakura here, not businesses—”

“Family, love, businesses—they all have something in common. They all have problems, and we always have to fix it.” Serena stated, wheezing another cloud of smoke into the air, “Don’t make this any harder, Tokia. All is settled. Don’t complicate it as well by going back with Seige.”

Tokia’s hands hardened into a fist.

She didn’t know how much she could still take, but she knew she had to pursue this. There was no other way. She couldn’t just let her older sister boss around her all the time.

Especially when it comes to her personal life.

“Serena, I love you.” Tokia started, “I respect all your decisions. As a child, I always looked up to you, because I knew you were the best, but Serena, I’m not a child anymore. I’ve grown up and experienced pain on my own. Now what you’re doing isn’t right—”

“How would you know?” Serena boomed, rising up mightily from the sofa, “How could you say that this is wrong? Do you really think it’s wrong to take back what is rightfully yours? Ours?” she reasoned dramatically, “Shindou Shuichi is just a fake. He doesn’t exist in reality. Sakura created him, and Sakura can destroy him, but it’s happening the other way around. Shuichi is taking Sakura’s place. I cannot simply allow that—”

“Sakura and Shuichi are just the same! You yourself said that! There is no difference. If you take away Shuichi from Sakura, then Sakura will disappear as well.”

Serena removed the cigarette from her mouth, threw it on the ground and crushed it. She went back to the sofa to light another one,

“Serena, listen to me.” Tokia pleaded, “There’s no use of separating the two of them. Even if Shuichi becomes a woman in the physical aspect, you still can’t change her heart! She grew up as Shindou Shuichi. That’s who she is. Without Shuichi, Sakura is nothing. You know this, so why are you trying to take away everything from her—”

“Because I love her, that’s why!” Serena thundered, facing Tokia, her emerald eyes blazing with fire, “And I promised mother and father that I will take care all of you! And that includes Sakura—”

“Do you think mother and father are happy with what you’re doing? For Christ’s sake, Serena, stop this insanity! You’re not God, and you shouldn’t act like one! You can’t control other people’s lives. It’s unfair and it’s despicable—”

Serena cut her off with a loud smack across the face.

Tokia was breathing heavily as the silence slowly ate them,

“You know this is wrong.” Tokia hissed, “And our parents are surely not proud of what you’re doing. And I … like the rest of our sisters…am terribly…disappointed.”

Tokia fixed herself in front of her sister and bowed slowly. She turned around and walked away, her heels clicking soundly on the floor,

“Even if I let her go…Yuki Eiri will still die.”

Tokia stopped short with that statement. Without turning around, she replied.

“You’re one of the world’s leading scientists when it comes to the human anatomy. You are a head of a research organization that pertains to transplants and internal surgeries. So how can you not make it possible to let Yuki Eiri live with your capabilities?”

Tokia had said enough and so she walked away.

Serena was left behind, deep in her thoughts as if the world never left her shoulders.

-O-O-O-

Serena leaned comfortably on her chair at the coffee shop, waiting for Yuki Eiri. She had finished half a cup of her coffee and she signaled the waiter to give her a refill.

She adjusted her Gucci shades and straightened the small crease on her Prada blazer. She tapped her forefinger on the wooden table and hummed a song her mother used to sing when she was still a little girl.

Yuki fled as fast as he could towards the coffee shop down the block. It was the only nearest coffee shop he knew that stood around the vicinity, so there was no mistake.

When he got into his destination, it wasn’t that hard to find Serena Tokigawa.

It was impossible to miss the woman he assumed she was.

And he was right.

Clad in a fashionable attire, Serena Tokigawa stood among the rest.

Yuki slowly walked towards her direction. He caught her smiling at him and signaling the waiter to come forth.

Serena watched the man prop himself casually on one of the wooden chairs. His gestures and movements were of a playboy. He acted cool and aloof.

This was the man Sakura was ready to die for. The man Sakura was willing to spend her life with.

“Coffee?” Serena asked,

“Yes, please.” Yuki curtly replied.

Serena told a few orders to the waiter and bid him off. Yuki watched the sophisticated woman in front him taking off her shades and sipping from her cup.

“I want to make this short, Mr. Yuki Eiri. I expect that you know by now that I clearly object to your relationship with our youngest, Sakura.”

“Of course.”

“And I suppose you also know that I will take Sakura with me after the weekend. She still needs to rest, but we will leave as soon as possible.”

Yuki Eiri sat still, his eyes leveled with hers. His expressions were passive, and when the waiter came with his coffee, he calmly took the cup and took a sip,

“What’s Shuichi’s say on this?” he asked,

“Like what I said, she’s asleep. She’ll wake up when we’re back in London.”

Yuki didn’t budge. He turned away and tried to absorb everything that he’s hearing,

“What about his foster family? His friends? His career? Have you—”

“All of these are taken care of, Mr. Yuki Eiri. Now, I’d like to get on to the reason of my invitation.”

Yuki almost snickered. Who does she think she is?

“I’d like to give you a second chance, Mr. Yuki Eiri.”

Yuki’s forehead formed a deep crease,

“What do you mean ‘second chance’?”

“Your life, monsieur” Serena silkily added, drinking her coffee straight.

Yuki tried to understand what Serena was trying to offer him. What did she mean about his life? He was going to die, and—

Wait, Yuki thought, she’s a doctor after all…Shuichi talked about her clinics here in Japan and abroad…she specialized in internal…

Yuki’s mind drifted away into the possibility of a real chance.

But there’s gotta be a catch.

“You want me to stay away from Shuichi in exchange for an operation, is that it?” he lucidly stated, leaning on his chair.

Serena chuckled and shook her head in approval.

“You’re a fast one, Mr. Yuki Eiri. I like your conclusion, it really does sound delicious,”

The affirmation of Yuki’s assumption was correct. Now he has to think of a way to get out of her hands,

“But no.” Sereba continued all suddenly, “Fortunately for you, I’m willing to operate on you for free.”

“What?”

Serena’s expression turned from sardonic to tired and soft.

“Don’t ask questions anymore.” she whispered and slowly stood up from her chair, putting some cash on the table for the payment, “Be at Fangten building by nine in the morning. Don’t be late—it’s going to be a whole day.”

Serena took her shades, her bag and started walking away.

“Wait!” Yuki called out.

Serena took a deep breath and turned around,

“I’m not as bad as you think, Yuki Eiri.” She explained, “Believe me, this bitch has a heart, too.”

Yuki didn’t know how to react.

Worse, he didn’t know how to express his gratitude.

“Do you…are you…are there any ‘strings’ attached to this?” Yuki suspiciously asked.

Serena laughed softly and answered,

“For a cool guy, you can be very funny.”

Serena wore her shades once again and flashed a wide smile at Yuki Eiri.

Inside the Tokigawa mansion, in one of the most magnificent rooms, Shindou Shuichi stared outside the massive windows draped with the finest curtains from Paris.

The stars were shining wonderfully tonight. There’s that peculiar zest in it tonight, and Shuichi wondered why.

Inside the room, a man was sitting comfortably adjacent to the bed where Shuichi laid,

“Gilfred?”

“Hmm?”

“Can I ask you something?”

Gilfed stood up from his seat and went closer to Shuichi, sitting his hip beside Shuichi’s pillows,

“What is it?”

“When I was small,” Shuichi started, “I remember being with Serena most of the times…she was so different back then…how come she changed?”

Gilfred reached out his hand and tucked the loose hair behind Shuichi’s ear,

“People change, Shuichi, They change through time…and certain events—occurrences…changes a person.”

Shuichi shifted his gaze outside the window again,

“The massacre of our parents…and my disappearance?”

Gilfed nodded and added, “That and many more.”

Shuichi gave out a deep breath and closed his eyes.

“I still can’t believe I’m leaving for London…”

Gilfred took his hand and gripped it as if for support,

“It’s going to be wonderful in Europe. Trust me. I’ll tour you around. And I promise you…you’ll have the time of your life together with your sisters—especially the twins. They are the wild pair in this family.”

Shuichi giggled in agreement and Gilfred chuckled along with him,

“Yeah, I know…” Shuichi slowly trailed off. His eyes started watering, and he cleared his throat before he spoke,

“I’m going to miss him…”

Gilfred smiled gently at Shuichi and said,

“I’m sure he’ll miss you, too.”

Shuichi nodded with the idea and smiled weakly.

Gilfred stood up from the bed and started walking towards the door,

“Don’t forget to wake up early in the morning. We’ll be leaving as soon as possible.”

“I will.”

“Sleep tight.”

“Thanks.”

Shuichi watched Gilfred’s back as he slowly closed the door behind him.

With the crackling sound of the door being closed, Shuichi propped himself on the bed and tried to recall everything about his life here in Japan.

When Gilfred had the door firmly closed, a voice suddenly called out to him,

“We have to talk.”

Gilfred turned around to see his employer’s face.

Shuichi woke up at the first streak of light and had himself ready for the flight. He took a hot shower and he clothed himself in a comfortable fashion.

He went down the long spiral staircase of the Tokigawa mansion, his hand holding the balustrade for support, remembering that he should be careful with his body as what Serena instructed him,

“Good morning.” Shuichi greeted one of the maids, who seemed to have stopped at the bottom of the stairs,

“Good morning, young master.”

“Grace, didn’t I tell you not to call me that way?”

“I’m not allowed to, young master.”

Shuichi chuckled at the arrogance of the old, but lovely lady.

“Alright,” he said and smiled widely at her, “So where are my sisters?”

“They left at the middle of the night, young master.”

Shuichi’s eyes narrowed in confusion.

“What—what do you mean?”

“They left for London, sir. It was kind of odd actually, because we all thought you were suppose to be with them.” The maid said, “But Madame Serena strictly said that you shouldn’t be woken up.” She added, “She also handed a,” she paused, taking something out the huge pockets of her white apron, “letter to me, which should be given to you as soon as you wake up.”

Shuichi took the lavender envelope from the old lady’s crinkled hands and felt speechless at the moment,

“Anyway, young master, what would you like to have for breakfast?”

Shuichi stared at the envelope, even almost gaping upon it.

“Young master?”

Shuichi stuttered when he finally brought his head up, “Uh—oh, um…w-well…you…ah…anything will do, Grace.”

“Very well, young master.” Grace bowed and turned around to leave.

Shuichi slowly walked towards the opened balcony where his food was to be presented any moment now. He sat on one of the marvelous steeled chairs and placed the envelope carefully on top of the glass table.

Shuichi stared at the envelope and inhaled, breathing the freshly scent of the morning and closed his eyes.

When he finally found the courage inside of him to open the envelope, he nervously reached out his hand to it and carefully opened it,

My Angel,

Love has no end.

Everyday,

Every night,

It grows stronger.

A lover cannot stop from loving,

Because love itself will not allow it.

You must leave,

go far away,

Grow into something beautiful,

And never stop from loving.

Because Love,

As I said,

Has no end.

When Shuichi finished reading the letter, tears slowly strolled down his flushed cheeks.

His heart started beating in an odd manner. A tremor inside of him arose that could only be describe as gratitude and Love.

He was suddenly disturbed when one of the maids came up, presenting herself and excusing herself from the interference she had caused, noticing how quickly her employer wiped away the obvious tears on his face,

“I-it’s okay…i-is there a problem?”

“Young master, there is a man at the salon, inquiring for your presence.”

“Who is he?”

“Actually, young master,” the maid said, clasping her hands together, “The man is looking for Madame Serena, but Madame clearly told us that if a stern-looking blonde man comes into our doorstep and ask for her presence, then we should come to you and place yourself as Madame’s substitute.”

Shuichi blinked a few times and looked away,

“Tell that man I’ll be there in a minute.”

The maid nodded in obedience and went off to do as what she was told.

Shuichi rubbed the back of his head and walked towards the salon where a blonde man indeed stood, his back against him.

“Y-Yuki?”

The familiar voice made Yuki Eiri spin around in a swift motion.

Two lovers stood face to face, only meters away from each other.

“Shuichi…” the faint whisper that came from Shuichi’s koibito’s lips made his heart ache.

“W-what…what are you doing here?” Shuichi asked slowly walking towards him.

“I…I was told to…” Yuki tried to find the words to explain. Firstly, he was too stunned to think straight. He thought that Shuichi had undergone some ‘sex changes’ due to his ailment.

But how come he still had the body of a man?

“Serena told me to come here in the morning. She told me we had to discuss something important.” Yuki continued, trying to avoid the urge to ask for the reason of his young koibito’s appearance.

Shuichi lowered his gaze to the carpeted floor and remembered what the maid said.

This was all a set-up.

“She’s not here.”

Yuki’s forehead formed a furrow,

“But how come? I thought—”

“She left together with my other sisters last night. Actually, they left at the middle of the night.”

Yuki tried to understand what was going on, but the more he tried to decipher everything, the more it got baffling.

“Aren’t you supposed to be leaving today? For London? With your sisters?”

Shuichi looked straight into Yuki’s eyes and answered,

“I thought so, too.”

Shuichi stopped right in front of Yuki. Yuki on the other hand was motionless.

The realization that the sisters set them up was too overwhelming.

And the final decision of Serena Tokigawa was unanticipated and extremely alleviating as well.

“What happened…what happened with your body?” Yuki began,

Shuichi bit his lip with the sudden question. He turned his head up and said,

“The operation to save my life a few nights ago succeeded…but the goal to change me back into a woman failed…Serena said…Serena said that my female reproductive organ has completely decayed and there was no chance of reviving it” he explained,

“Fortunately enough for me, they were able to save my male reproductive organ, which is why...which is why…I’m still…me.”

Yuki tried to say something, but he could only say so little,

“So…you’re still Shindou Shuichi…?”

Shuichi looked at the man he still and still does, adore.

“Even if I were Sakura…I’d still be Shindou Shuichi in the inside…” he faintly replied,

Yuki slowly nodded his head in agreement, but Shuichi added something fast,

“Would it matter you, Yuki? If I were…a girl?”

“Vagina or a dick…what’s the difference if you’re still the same ol’ brat in here.” He reasoned frankly, pointing at Shuichi’s chest, his other hand curving behind Shuichi.

“And you’re still the same ol’ man I fell in love with, right?” Shuichi teasingly asked,

“As long as I’m with my brat…” he answered, his golden eyes tendering and a genuine smiled tugging at the corner of his lips, “I’ll never change…” he whispered lovingly, and pulled Shuichi towards him, enveloping the boy in a strong embrace while they kissed hungrily, thoroughly savoring the moment and the beautiful chance given to them.

Shuichi suddenly pulled away and concluded,

“If so, then I’m heading for one helluva lifetime.”

Yuki grinned at his koibito’s words and said,

“Don’t worry. You’re not alone.”

The following months were wonderful for the two lovers. Thankfully, their ordeal from the past was solved. Both Shuichi and Yuki didn’t understand how it all possibly happened.

Knowing a powerful and determined woman like Serena Tokigawa, they were sure that she wouldn’t change her mind with her plans.

Miraculously, she thought again. And she might’ve found out that this was the best solution for their problem as what Yuki and Shuichi assumed.

Shuichi was glad that he didn’t have to explain himself to his foster family and to his friends since Serena never told them about his real condition. He just covered up everything from what had happened in the concert at Tokyo Bay.

Sure he was at the headlines the day after, but he was able to explain that he had a problem with his stomach and throat that caused some ‘minor’ bleeding. He made a small lie pertaining to that part, saying it wasn’t serious and he just needed to rest.

K and the others still think that there was something going on, but being Shuichi’s friend, they decided to stop demanding for answers.

Yuki had also shared to Shuichi that Serena and two of her colleagues operated on him, giving him a surgical resection.

He explained to Shuichi that new lungs identical to his were transplanted inside of him. It was hard to believe, but it was true.

And to think that the doctors even said he had no hope in surgery.

Another good news was that BAD LUCK’s latest album, RAGE, actually sold millions. It gained the band a triple-platinum award and several nominees and a few awards as ‘Best Original Song’, ‘Best Vocalist’, ‘Best Rhythm and Beat’ (Thanks to Fujisaki and Hiro), and ‘Best Rock Band’.

Shuichi was thankful for all the numerous blessings he had received and was delighted that a lot of his fans wrote to him pertaining to their second album.

Everything was so beautiful, especially that Yuki and him were doing beyond well.

Every night was exciting and adventurous for both lovers. They seemed to have grown stronger.

Although no romantic words (esp. the three lettered ones) were officially proclaimed from Yuki Eiri, Shuichi didn’t mind anymore.

Knowing his lover was here and that he was never going to leave was enough.

On a bright Saturday morning, Shuichi got up second and heard Yuki already taking a shower. He sneakily went inside the shower room and actually surprised himself when Yuki pulled him inside in a swift motion, and realized that he must’ve been seen at the corner of his lover’s eye.

After taking a ‘long’ shower, Shuichi got out first and kissed his lover passionately one more time and pulled off before Yuki change his mind and haul him inside again.

After wearing his clothes, Shuichi went off to the kitchen to prepare some breakfast for the both of them when the doorbell suddenly buzzed.

“I’ll get it!” Shuichi shouted and trotted down the hall towards the door.

When Shuichi opened the door, he saw no one standing outside.

But the second after, his eyes fell down to the floor where a small woven basket was placed.

Shuichi slowly knelt down and reached out.

There was some sort of pink curtain adorned around it, and when Shuichi pushed it away, the most unexpected and unbelievable thing appeared right in front of him.

A beautiful baby stared curiously at him, her long eyelashes fanning up and down, blinking every now and then at the sight of the peculiar new face.

She was wrapped around a white blanket but it was evident she wore nothing underneath it. Shuichi noticed a tag around its wrist and it read:

Blood Type: AB

Weight: 12 lbs.

Age: 8 months

The little baby girl had some hair and it was blonde. Her eyes were golden, too.

There was something familiar about the over-all appearance of the baby’s face, but Shuichi couldn’t quite figure out.

There was an envelope on top of the baby’s tummy.

Shuichi shakily took it and opened it slowly.

My Dearest Angel,

There are a lot of things we should talk about. Things I want you to know, and things I want to explain.

God only knows how much I love you

How much I love all my sisters. All I ever longed for was your happiness. I never intended to hurt anyone of you. Your joy is my joy, your victory is my victory, your failure is my failure, and of course, your pain is my pain.

I am not a fool who does not understand love. Say to Yuki Eiri from me that I still think he is unsuitable for you…just kidding.

But seriously, if that bastard hurts you again, I’m just an overseas phone call away.

I’m sorry we had to leave on such short notice. I wanted to spend so much time with you, in fact, as you know from the original plan I wanted to take you along with us, here in Europe.

But since you proved yourself to me, I will no longer bother you from now on.

This is a promise from a Tokigawa…and you know we never break promises.

Be safely assured that I won’t do anything to contradict you again.

I love you and I will always want the best for you.

Then again, I understand that you’ll never be happy if you’re not with him.

This…gift… is a token from all of us.

You see, the European Tokigawa Medical Firm had been performing various human experimentations lately. I’ve decided that this gift may be one of the keys to make your relationship with Yuki Eiri stronger and deeper.

When you were under operation, we found some surviving egg cells from your ovaries and combined one of it with Yuki Eiri’s sperm.

Yes, I took the liberty of getting some semen from him.

I did it while I was operating on him as well. Don’t be surprised, I only did it for you.

For both of your happiness.

As you can see, she’s a healthy infant girl. I want you to know that you looked exactly the same when you were little…well…except for the blonde hair and yellow eyes…

I feel I can no longer go on from writing. As of now, I am on the verge of tears. So before I change my mind and burn this stationary away, I’ll finish it up and send it to you.

I love you, my little angel…and I always will…take care.

With all the love in the world,

Serena

When Shuichi finished reading the letter, he couldn’t stop himself from crying.

“Shuichi?” Yuki came out from behind him, startled by the hiccups and moans from his koibito, “What is it?” He demanded in a panicking manner, “What’s—”

Shuichi slowly stood up, his back facing Yuki. And when he turned around, he was planting several soft kisses on a baby girl’s forehead,

“Shuichi…?”

Shuichi swallowed a huge lump in his throat and carefully handed the letter to Yuki with his other hand.

When Yuki took it, Shuichi bent down to take the basket inside and closed the door.

He lulled and slowly rocked the baby in his arms, holding her tiny hands and never imagined that such small fingers exist in the world.

Yuki stared at Shuichi and the child in his arms, feeling all confused.

Yuki finally decided to read the letter himself so he may understand.

Shuichi sat on the sofa and smiled adoringly at his baby girl.

“You’re my little angel…” Shuichi whispered hoarsely, not minding the tears falling spontaneously down his cheeks.

Shuichi wasn’t surprised when Yuki slowly walked towards his direction with the letter on his hand and suddenly kneeling right in front of him and the baby.

“Is she…my daughter?” Yuki asked, his eyes narrowed in such a way that Shuichi had never witnessed before,

“You did read the letter, didn’t you?” Shuichi drawled out teasingly with a wide smile on his face.

Yuki reached out his hand, as if the baby was the most fragile thing in the world, and carefully rubbed her tiny forehand.

“She…she got my hair.” Yuki brokenly said,

“And your eyes, too.”

Yuki nodded in affirmation and suddenly gazed at Shuichi,

“May I?” he asked, his hands holding out.

Shuichi slowly brought the baby up from his lap and carefully handed her to Yuki,

“She’s…beautiful…” Yuki whispered,

“She is.”

Yuki turned his head up to Shuichi, his eyes roving the face of his lover,

“You look like her.”

Shuichi’s mouth gaped open and said,

“Are you blind? She’s blonde! And she’s got your eyes…there’s no way I look like her.”

Yuki shook his head in disagreement and said,

“It’s just the color her hair and eyes…but look closely,” he instructed, his own eyes filled with amazement as he looked at this tiny angel who resembled half of his being, “the shape of her eyes, her mouth, her nose—her whole face…it’s completely you.” He pointed.

Shuichi studied their baby girl and a soft warm smile formed on his lips,

“Yeah…I think you’re right.” Shuichi chuckled and rustled Yuki’s own blonde mane.

Shuichi kissed Yuki’s temple and held the other hand of the baby,

“Are you disappointed that her face resembles mine?” Shuichi teased,

“Why should I be?” Yuki started without looking back to Shuichi, “she’s got the color of my hair and eyes anyway, so that’s okay.”

Yuki heard Shuichi laughing at his statement and he himself chuckled after,

“So…does this make me a dad or a mom?” Shuichi asked wonderingly.

The humorous realization hit Yuki hard and made him laugh,

“It would confuse her if she would call us both dad…besides,” he said, “Hearing her call you daddy doesn’t seem to be very appealing to me.”

Shuichi grinned widely and nodded, “Yeah, I think so, too.”

“I think it suits better with me.” Yuki added.

“Then what we’ll our baby call me?” Shuichi haughtily argued.

Yuki looked at Shuichi as of he lost his mind. He rolled his eyes heavenward and stood up from his kneeling position,

“You look like a girl anyway, so it’s safe to call you mom.”

Shuichi was left speechless on the sofa. He just sat there looking at Yuki and their new little baby.

But what struck the chords in Shuichi’s heart was the way Yuki looked at her.

Yuki looked at the baby as if she some sort of miracle.

And she was. She actually was.

There was that certain fulfillment in Yuki’s eyes. A look that Shuichi will never forget. He knew that deep inside, Yuki felt the same overwhelming rush of love for their little baby.

Shuichi slowly stood up and came towards Yuki and their baby,

“So what should we name her?”

Yuki’s eyes stared softly at Shuichi and shifted it towards the big golden orbs of their little girl,

“Yuki.” He answered.

“Yuki? But that’s also your name. What if I call out her name and you’re sitting right beside her—wouldn’t that be confusing?” Shuichi reasoned, his hands on his hips, really looking like an irritated mother.

Yuki shook his head and spoke,

“No. From now on, everyone will call me by my real first name. Eiri.”

Shuichi’s hands fell on his sides and smiled slowly,

“I understand…but are you sure?”

Yuki didn’t say anything further, but nodded his head.

“Are you…still torturing yourself…from the past?” Shuichi worriedly began.

Yuki lifted his head up from the baby and pulled Shuichi close to him with his other hand.

He kissed his young lover longingly on the lips, and when he ended it, his forehead was pressed on Shuichi’s, his fingers raked inside the pink soft mane,

“Not anymore.” Yuki whispered,

“How did you—?”

“Because,” Yuki explained, transferring the baby in Shuichi’s arms, “I am freeing myself from my horrible experience.”

“But you’ll remember your sensei every time you look at our baby girl… and I know you’ll get upset.” Shuichi stomped worriedly,

Yuki shook his head in negation and said,

“You met me as Yuki Eiri. I…I fell in love with you as Yuki Eiri…so now that this baby is here, I want to give her my name…so every time I see her, every time I call her, and every time I think about her…It’ll remind me of my love for you… Through her, I’ll always remember you.”

Shuichi’s eyes were becoming misty again. Yuki chuckled with his lover’s reaction and pulled him closer.

Shuichi laid his head on Yuki’s shoulder while they watched the baby.

“You know what, I think we shouldn’t kiss in front of the baby.”

“Why not? Don’t you know that it’s important that children should see their parents showing their affection for each other?”

Shuichi rolled his eyes with a giggle, and then suddenly something came to him,

“Oh my God! How on earth will we make love when Yuki’s here!” Shuichi gasped in horror, “She’ll hear us! Oh my God! She might even catch us doing it!”

“We’ll bolt the door.”

“But she’ll still hear us!”

“We’ll educate her early about sex.”

“We’re guys!”

“Then we’ll teach her how to be open-minded.”

Shuichi laughed exasperatingly, not believing what he was hearing.

He drew a deep breath, smiled at his daughter and said,

“I wonder how it will all work out someday…”

Yuki wrapped his hands around Shuchi’s waist and replied,

“Don’t be such a worry-wart. It’ll be fine.”

“But how about our families? Our friends? The media? Do you think we can say she came from us?—And don’t tell me we’ll make up a lie and say we adopted her.” Shuichi reasoned uncomfortably with a warning, “I’m proud of our daughter, and I claim her ours—from our own flesh and blood.”

Yuki sighed and tipped Shuichi’s head up,

“Ever heard of IVF?”

“IV what?”

“In Vitro Fertilization.”

Shuichi’s forehead crumpled, and then it slowly straightened as it came to him,

“We’ll say you used your sperm and combined it with some woman’s egg and produced this baby.”

Shuichi went silent for a while and looked at their baby,

“It still feels unfair…”

“Look,” Yuki began, his hand on Shuichi’s cheek, and his thumb rubbing it “it doesn’t matter if we adopted him or not. Whatever the world says about it, to hell with them…what matters is that we’re a family now…and that we’ll raise this girl.”

Shuichi looked at Yuki and finally agreed,

“You know, I’m not really used to you talking like this…”

“Well better get used to it, because I think there’s plenty more in the years to come.”

The statement made Shuichi realize that Eiri means to have this relationship last forever.

It made him feel warm and secure.

Serena was right. Their little baby girl is the key to a better relationship.

Eiri was playing with the little girl in Shuichi’s arms when Shuichi suddenly spoke,

“Eiri,” Shuichi called, making Yuki look at him, “…I love you.”

Eiri opened his mouth to reply, but his forehead formed a deep furrow and his mouth opened with a wide smile,

“Do you smell that?”

Shuichi sniffed the air and his eyes narrowed as well,

“Oh my God! Yuki pooped!”

Eiri laughed out loud and stared at their laughing toothless baby girl,

“I b-better call M-Mika, I think she can handle this.” Yuki turned away, leaving his baby with Shuichi,

“You asshole,” Shuichi shouted, tugging on Yuki’s polo, “do you realize that this baby is not wearing a diaper?”

“Relax, he’s got a blanket around her—”

“Oh my God!” Shuichi gasped, “I think she just peed!”

Eiri started guffawing all over again which made his lover furious,

“You idiot, what are you laughing out! Help me!”

“Hell, no!” Eiri shouted and covered his nose, “Look, I’ll go get my phone and call Mika—”

“Don’t you dare, Eiri! Your sister is the last thing I want in this place right now! I’ll call mother instead, she knows better when it comes to babies.”

“Fine, fine.” Yuki fanned and turned away,

“Hey, Yuki.”

When Yuki turned around, Shuichi pressed a damp stinky cloth on his face,

“You little—”

“No bad words in front of our baby!”

“You called me an asshole—”

“I said no bad words!”

Shuichi began to run for his life with Yuki in his arms. Unfortunately for him, it only took three long strides for Yuki to get to them,

“Yuki! Wash your face first!” Shuichi protested when Yuki hauled him in his arms, “You’ve got poop all over your face—”

“Wanna have some?” Yuki deliberately nuzzled his face on Shuichi’s neck, which made Shuichi scream,

“Yuki!”

“Hey! I’m just showing my affection for you!”

“Not with crap on your face!”

“You’ll hurt Yuki’s feelings!”

“Anyone’s crap smells like hell!”

“So! Here, have some more.” Yuki continued nuzzling Shuichi on the ground until they dropped on the floor,

“Yuki, stop it! We might injure the baby! She’s only eight months old!”

“I love you, too…”

Shuichi opened his laughing mouth to say some more, but he was caught off-handed.

Little Yuki reached her chubby arms out to play some more with the two funny strangers, but the one holding her right now seemed to be frozen,

Suddenly, Shuichi started laughing again and went to his feet,

“You could’ve at least said that when you still smelled nicer.” He laughingly pointed,

“Oh come on,” Eiri complained while blushing thoroughly, “well ‘you could’ve at least’ give me some credit for saying those words!”

“But you smell.”

“So do you!”

“But you stank first!”

“Who put in on my face anyway?” Eiri countered.

Shuichi continued laughing and ran towards the bathroom,

“Shuichi, come back here!”

Yuki went to his feet and ran after his lover who closed and locked the bathroom door,

“Open this door!”

“No way!”

“I’ll call Mika!”

Before Yuki could even complain further, Shuichi opened the door and splashed the water using the extension of the faucet,

“Sh-Shuichi!” Yuki protested, his hands covering his face,

“You stink!”

“When I get my hands on you!—”

Yuki finally got through the water and took the extension away from Shuichi’s hand. He closed the door behind them and continued their game inside, teasing each other and bathed inside the bathtub with their little baby girl.

Shuichi held Yuki in her arms, making sure he had a strong hold on her. He nuzzled her bulging tummy and heard her giggle in delight.

Yuki on the other hand was right behind Shuichi. He pulled his lover closer to him and embraced him tightly underneath the water,

“Eiri,” Shuichi began, “I hope this lasts forever…”

Yuki brought his head down and kissed Shuichi once more,

“It will…I promise you, it will.” Yuki whispered, holding him underneath with his other arm and the baby with the other,

“We’ll be a happy family, right?”

Yuki looked at Shuichi, the boy he once met under the pale moonlight. The same boy who had remained by his side throughout the two years, despite their hardships and obstacles.

Nothing was greater than this.

This was what he was searching for.

A home. A family.

Shuichi was his family. Shuichi was his home.

“We already are.”

THE END

Author’s Notes:

Hello readers! I hope you enjoyed reading ‘Haunted’/’Shuichi’s Past’! Thank you for sticking around unto this very ending.

I always dreamed that I would be able to post the ending of this story, and at last, I have and I truly hope that you enjoyed it.

Thank you for being a part of this story by being its constant supporters and reviewers. You have taught me a lot when it comes to your different criticisms that will surely inspire me in the future.

Before anything else, I have decided to create a continuation of this story. A sequel wherein the plot revolves around the new family.

The genre is comedy, drama and romance.

The story will consist of husband and wife relationship, parent and child relationship and of course some other juicy twists.

Unfortunately though, I will not be able to submit this soon.

The story is entitled, “For Better or Worse”, and is out next year.

I promise this story will definitely come out between March and April of 2006.

I’m really sorry it has to take that long.

I’m a graduating student so I’m doing a lot of things lately and have to concentrate on my studies first.

But I do hope you’ll support “For Better or Worse” as you have supported “Haunted”.

Thank you very much once again and I do hope for your reviews next year.—Spinx