Sacrifice, Part II

Author's Note: If someone had told me it'd take eight months to finish a three chapter story back in the day when I was kicking out three chapters a week, I'd probably cry and wonder what happened in my life. A LOT.

As I posted on Tumblr and in my profile, I had a "mini-heart attack" in February. I've really been struggling ever since and nothing in my body has felt even remotely right. I've written a lot of this in pain or just general malaise.

It has some admitted rough spots to me just because, I have to admit, this isn't my favorite couple. They're very settled and kind of not…chaotic. Not that I'd want them to be but it seems out of character for them to all up and down like some of the others making for some very quiet spots. However! Once I got my ideas flowing, it really started to fall into place and I am far happier with this final product than the previous version from 2008.

I was shocked but I…could not find the ending to the previous version. At all. It wasn't even on the hard drive of my old computer from that time period. I'm thinking I wrote it on my college laptop which is absolutely fried through now. I know I wrote it but it was really weird I have no record of it…

Anywho, happy reading! Some smut and violence as well as language.

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What if he just wants to hurt me?

Izumi Jilliana slumped into her house, having delivered a baby that decided his debut had to be at the glorious hour of four in the morning. He was absolute perfection but after a day in the NICU, his timing was a bit painful.

Dropping her scrubs immediately in the laundry basket she kept downstairs, wandering around in her undies, she had to take an excruciating few moments to decide whether to allow herself to starve or go immediately into a coma. She was dead on her feet already and she could only see microwaving a PopTart at the moment…

She yelped, having been standing in the precipice of her kitchen, half-naked and asleep on her feet, when her phone suddenly rang. The ringer denoted a video call. Rapidly shaking her head, she quickly went to her bag and took out her phone. Jilliana's eyes widened when she saw the caller. Azuma.

…What if he just wants to hurt me?

Sitting on her haunches, staring at his face from a picture she took when they went to a street food festival, she found herself gnawing on her lip. It…it had been about four months since their graduation. That was the last time she saw him. It…it had been four long months of contemplating that simple but deafening question which could contain so much truth.

What if he was just trying to hurt her?

All the same, despite her concerns, her deep trepidations, she answered.

For a second, she was alarmed by the mess of black hair she was seeing. Had someone taken his phone?! Alas, when he looked up, he smiled. "Jilli, hey."

"Azu, it's so good to see you" she murmured, grimacing as she noted her voice was scratchy.

"Ha, I figured you'd be up at this crazy time of day too" he groaned, his voice also distorted, "How are you? I've been so busy, I wanted to call you months ago."

She smiled some, managing to drag herself off the floor before she curled up there to head upstairs. Food could definitely wait tonight. "Making it. Babies are definitely on their own schedule, I can tell you that."

"Yea, I've had some emergency deliveries here and, whoa boy, that's a wild ride you signed yourself up for, lady."

Jilliana couldn't help snicker at that, setting the phone down and wandering to grab a nightgown, "It is. And despite what we did find of our specialties combining, I don't think they overlapped enough you should be delivering babies, Azu. Where are you? Where'd you end up getting posted?"

He cleared his throat. Eh? "So…stick with me here."

Oh God. She pulled on a silky spaghetti strapped pink gown and sat on the bed to pick the phone back up, giving him a look, "Azu, where are you?"

Hattori Azuma was twiddling his fingers. He looked…a little more tanned, now that she observed. And his hair was way longer than she'd ever seen it. She smiled, remembering how he was going to cut it one day when they were in college, showing his school ID from when he first entered. He had had a bowl cut. She'd…been a little biased against it, preferring his current hair. She…guessed when he considered that his mother probably commanded he keep his hair like that, he didn't go through with it.

…His mother. She winced. Not right now, Jilliana. And all that aside, his hair was way different now. He was looking everywhere but her as he drawled, "So I did get offered a posting at Tokyo…"

"So you're in Tokyo?"

"…I…turned it down…"

If Jilliana hadn't been so hell-bent on getting back to Mineral, she would have accepted Tokyo in a heartbeat. He turned it down?! "Azuma-"

"I am in Sarawak, Malaysia."

What? She stared at the screen silently, slowly formulating that she was delusionally tired and she was fabricating up this whole conversation. Azuma smiled awkwardly, shifting wherever he was standing, "I, uh, came over and hunted around to see if hospitals would let me kind of shadow more so right now and they accepted it here since they allow foreign students. I had to do some testing and enroll in the school but it's been really neat."

"AZU. MALAYSIA?"

'I'm going to find myself' often held different meanings to different people. Usually, yes, the person threw themselves into a new environment or new situation. Azuma flung himself into another country. He groaned as she gaped at him incredulously. "I know it sounds nuts, Jilliana, but this is what I meant when I said I wanted to find out more about myself. Japan is very much my home but if I stayed there, I'd have to stay in my safe ruts because that's all I know. I know literally nothing here. I'm having to learn the language, I'm having to interact with a different culture of people, learn different—everything. And I'm really learning things about myself. Like, I really do not like having a ponytail."

Jilliana laughed. "I was going to comment on that next but I thought that may have been a part of your self-discovery."

"Yea, I am not crazy about the amount of shampoo and conditioner and maintenance it needs. It won't be a bowl cut cut but it's definitely getting cut" he droned.

Malaysia. Snuggling under the covers, she tried to smile supportively but that was pretty left field. "Well, I'm…I'm glad you're finding yourself."

He gazed at her quietly before sighing gravely, "…Yea. Of course, I'm sort of thinking I'd be just as okay in bed with you right now…"

She blushed, alarmed, as he stroked his hair back. "You get some rest, Jilli, and try not to work yourself too hard. I have a couple more hours of my shift before I can go die somewhere because I'm zombie exhausted right now."

"All right, Azuma…call again sooner."

"I will. Night, Jilliana."

He clicked off first and she stared at the phone before setting it on the empty space beside her. Before their night together, Azuma was a perfect gentleman. He made sure she got into her apartment okay and he would check on her during her late shifts. The best nights were when he was off and would bring her a home cooked meal for a twilight dinner. They could go see movies together and they could go to parks and festivals. Azuma…fit. And, had he just kept the part where his mother wanted part of her family dead, he would have stayed absolutely the one she wanted in her life long-term.

Now though…? Now, even though she also wished he was here and snuggled up in bed or here to go with her to the Harvest Festival or the Goddess Festival or the Starry Night…

…What if he just wanted to hurt her?

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"We really need a vacay, Azu."

Izumi Jilliana remembered that both she and Hattori Azuma were actually off. Like, they were free to leave and catch up on sleep and dissertations. However, after their shift, all they could manage to do for a few…hours was lie in the break room on the hard chairs. She was exhausted.

Azuma had closed his eyes, seeming to be fast asleep. He opened his eyes when she made her absent remark. "I've never been on a vacation."

What? "What do you mean?"

"I've never been on one. We just kind of stuck to home" Azuma murmured, rubbing his face.

What the hell? She hadn't really known back then, however, what his home life had been like. She rested her cheek on his knee, blinking, "Where would you like to go? A beach, a mountain?"

He had chuckled huskily, rubbing her shoulder, "I can't say I've ever really thought about it. Show me."

It was a dream then since they were interning at the time, lucky they had a solid day or two off in the first place. Azuma left before they could truly bring it to fruition either. Alas…

Izumi Carrie smirked some, watching as her four-year-old son, Jilliana's nephew, Izumi Hayato, meandered around her yard. "I mean, that would be very unlike you, Jilliana, going to another country for a booty call."

What! Jilliana gave her little sister a look, "I am not going for a booty call, Carrie."

It'd been about six months since Jilliana found out where Azuma was. He kept in frequent contact now, almost like her answering had been his go ahead to stay in touch. He called about once or twice a week to update her on his experiences. It truly sounded inspiring and he sounded genuinely happy. She…she was happy for him.

Yesterday, she was speaking to him about using her vacation time. Her head supervisor kind of pushed that she needed to take her time essentially before she lost it in the next year. Azuma's dark eyes had almost started to glow. "Come see me then! I can show you around and everything!"

…That was not really her intentions. She was just going to kind of meander around her house and watch movies. It sounded good though and she hadn't gone anywhere like that in a good long while. In their family, they did get to experience other countries which was a blessing but, since she got into her career, it was almost a nonexistent opportunity.

Azuma was very excited though, stating he could take some days off so they could spend time together. Carrie teased that they probably could spend a lot of time 'catching up' in the bedroom. Jilliana…wasn't so sure about that. And more so? She was unsure of going to an unfamiliar country with him. Her family would know where she was, just…

Dropping her face into her hands, she shook her head. She implicitly trusted Azuma before she found out. Even with his previous shady behavior, once he opened up, they were good and good together. Now? In some irony, due to the fact he was comfortable with her to express this dark information, she now found herself questioning. He trusted to tell her and now she distrusted his intentions. Like he said of hating someone for something they didn't have anything to do with, the duplicity of such feelings were nonsense. But they were there.

Carrie yawned, smiling as Hayato kicked around his soccer ball. "Sis, you're leading this guy on. I know you don't see it that way but giving him the idea that you two are solid when you're questioning if he's just setting us up isn't really legit."

"I know" she murmured, "Truth is, I…I really like him. And I want to not question him. He's not really given me any reason to either, just…I don't know what's an act and what's not."

Her younger sister hadn't seemed as bothered when Jilliana informed her of Azuma's bizarre connection to their mother's background. She did advise that Jilliana needed to be sure when she voiced her concern of his reasoning for pursuing her but that it seemed unlikely. "Can you imagine being a doctor AND trying to sabotage another human being at the same time? What's the benefit? So he can be charged for a crime and lose all that effort?"

It was true. Azuma was nothing if not practical. If all he was doing was trying to hurt her, he wouldn't have wasted time on schooling and a career that required so darn much of it. Not to mention he really wanted nothing to do with her at first and it was simply circumstances that brought them together like this. He still could very well just be hating her like before had she been paired with another.

So… "I guess I will go to Malaysia…"

"You can take little tyke and maybe deter any devious plots about murdering you with our baby brother."

Jilliana scoffed, "One, that would put our itoto-san in danger-"

"Takeru is a little savage. I mean, a well-mannered, calm savage but he'd probably stab anyone on the fly!"

"—Which I cannot condone" leered Jilliana, "I don't need my little brother stabbing murderous psychos for me because I made a poor decision. So maybe I shouldn't go."

Carrie grinned widely, drinking a glass of juice, "I bet two was going to be it'd be weird smashing around your thirteen year old brother, huh?"

"I'd be lying if I said no" she snickered, shaking her head.

"Just go on and give it a go, Jilliana. Video message me and give me like a tap on the throat saying you're in danger or a temple tap saying you're going to get your brains f—ked out."

"I swear I have no idea what our parents did to you."

Her little sister just laughed. All in all, it…sounded sane. She wasn't entirely helpless, she had self-defense in case her concerns were valid. And maybe she could insist they stay in a hotel so she could at least have…witnesses.

…All of this for someone she once trusted implicitly. All…because of his mother, the one he told her ruined his life. That…

That was a duplicitous feeling too.

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Wow.

Jilliana stared around into the night, bewildered. They were an hour apart time wise, Malaysia and Japan, but it took eleven hours to get there. When she learned this, she had to cut down on the days she was here. Both the trip here and back were almost a day. Azuma said he was a bit disappointed but that he understood and would take any amount of time to see her…yea. It was…it was still a little nerve-wracking. What…what were Hattori Azuma's intentions?

When she stepped out of the airport and looked around, she couldn't help smile. He said he was going to look less like a 'bum' for her and she assured she didn't think he looked like one to begin with. All the same, he had gotten a haircut and was currently leaning against a blue car with red flowers in his arms. He really was trying, whatever the case.

"Azu."

He looked up from his feet, his dark eyes surprised, "O-Oh, Jilli! I, uh, thought luggage might take longer, I would have come in."

"I just had a carry-on. I can be a simple girl" she teased.

Why was he so adorable? He shyly handed her the flowers, "Th-these are hibiscus. U-Uh, I never got around to buying you flowers before so-so I wanted to, even if they don't last when you leave."

"Thank you, Azuma. They're pretty" she murmured, hugging his neck.

Swallowing as he crossed his arms at the small of her back, she breathed in softly. He smelled very fragrant somehow. He kissed the top of her head and groaned. "…Man, now I am homesick."

"Sorry" she whispered.

"Nah, I was worried for a second…" he assured, opening the door to the car.

Eh? Going over to the driver's side, he smiled as he got under the wheel. "Are you hungry?"

While she was more sleepy, she did feel a bit of a pang in her belly. "A little, but if you're tired-"

"No way, I've been hyped all day for this. I've been writing lists of everything I want you to see and the beaches—I went to a beach finally! I hate it."

Jilliana laughed, setting her flowers in the back seat as he started up the road, "What?! Why?"

"The sand gets EVERYWHERE, Jilliana. It's like when we had to play with that glitter with the kid's unit and I found it in my refrigerator back home for no intelligible reason."

She bit her lip, cracking up. She recalled how Azuma called her, completely incredulous and like he'd found an alien in his living room. In stitches, she'd tried to explain that glitter was probably sticking to his arm or something but he was just entirely appalled. Yea, sand was probably not his thing then. "Well, that is true. So you're not taking me to a beach then?"

"Absolutely. This isn't probably close to the vacation you had in mind but you listened to my random request and came over. So, I want you to also relax. I know you, lady, you're probably working triple shifts without even being asked" he replied, glancing at her when they stopped for a moment.

With a pout, she crossed her arms, "No…" Just…doubles without being asked.

Azuma smirked because somehow he knew her well. "Regardless, we're going to lounge on a beach so I can have a panic attack over sand and all the random animals roaming around."

"Can't wait" she grinned.

He took her to a small restaurant, gushing that it was his absolute favorite and that he'd wanted her to sample it ever since he discovered it. He was so excited and she wanted this to work more than anything she ever had. They sat outside under an awning, awaiting "laksa Sarawak" which Azuma assured was absolutely delicious. She drank a bit of water and smiled, reaching out to touch his hand. "How's it been here, Azu?"

"Fantastic, really. I'm learning a lot about myself and other medical facilities. It's really eye opening" he murmured, rubbing her palm.

"Well, I read somewhere that Malaysia's government kind of enforces weird laws for housing. Where are you staying?"

Just in case she…no, Jilliana. Azuma sighed gravely, "Yea, I managed to finagle my way around that. It was tough to get someone to overlook me not being Malay or the other common groups. And, you know, Japan still has something of a reputation here…"

Eh? Really? He told her more about the hospital and some of the cases he'd had to handle. He asked about hers after having to assist with open heart surgery and she felt…well, a little boring. "I, uh, delivered triplets the other day?"

"Jilliana, the one baby almost had me passed out on the floor. Three, I'm pretty sure I would have died" Azuma droned.

She laughed, smiling when a fragrant bowl of noodles was brought to them. Picking up the chopsticks, she nibbled at a bit. That was delish… "I guess I just don't feel like I'm doing the broad range of things you're doing, Azu."

"I mean, I'm just kind of being a Jack-of-all-trades, Jilli. I'm not particularly versed at all areas but I can do a little bit of each. My heart is for pulmonology, I can say that for sure, and I think when I come home that is definitely the specialty I want to post for. I'll leave the heart and brain to geniuses like your grandpa."

…It almost sounded like a dig? He slurped his noodle, shaking his head, "Those are our main organs, man. I was looking at your grandpa's success rate and he's a monster. No one should have that many successful surgeries under their belt with the issues that can occur in either of those systems. It's like, 98 percent? And there was some weird outlier with the two percent missing, like it wasn't even technically his fault they occurred. It's just crazy."

Yea… "So I guess you've been looking into grandpa?"

Azuma made a face, kind of tilting his head back and forth, "My ridiculous biases made it so I didn't really look at his accolades during school, Jilli, but when I come to another damn country and they're talking about him, I really had to bury the hatchet and see what the deal was. And he is every bit of incredible. I can see how that would inspire you."

"Yea, to deliver babies and make people uncomfortable" she groaned.

"Jilliana, childbirth is insane" Azuma scowled, wiping his mouth with a paper napkin, "And you did tell me you do C-sections which basically requires you to move around essential organs to take out a baby. It's not like going through a box of packing peanuts, lady."

With a snicker, she swatted at him, "I don't know how to feel about that comparison, actually."

"Just stop feeling inadequate. You are bringing humans into the world and ensuring their mothers are healthy. That's what we're supposed to do and I know you're the best at it."

Mmm… Azuma brought the bowl to his lips to drink the broth, cutting his dark eyes at her before setting the bowl back down on the table. "Speaking of babies…have you been thinking about making them with anyone?"

She choked, having to giggle at his bluntness, "Really, Azu?"

"I'm sorry, if I can go back like ten seconds that would have been framed entirely differently."

Biting her lip, she cleared her throat. "Not anyone new in particular, no. I'm a little old-fashioned though and would want at least some kind of commitment prior. Maybe not marriage but at least a framework."

"Understandable" he nodded, folding his hands, "Am…am I still in the race, at least?"

With a smile, she rubbed his wrist, "…Yes. Of course, you might meet a nice girl. Seems like I'm just the first one that wasn't scared off."

"No…" he murmured, gazing into her eyes, "…And yes. I think you rightfully have your concerns but…you're still trying."

Alarmed, she shook her head, "Con-concerns? What do you mean?"

Azuma chuckled lightly, shrugging, "You meet a guy that has spent the entirety of his life being honed to hate your family and he conveniently starts cozying up to you when he meets you. I can read reluctance, Jilli, especially when I have my own trepidations. You're trying though."

God, he was reading her like a book. Pulling her arm away to hug herself, she rasped, "…H-Honestly? I've spent a lot of time thinking…w-…what if he's just trying to hurt me? And…that hurts because before you told me, I-I wouldn't have ever questioned your intentions. Your honesty caused distrust and there's a disconnect for me."

"You are using a very valid defense mechanism, Jilliana" Azuma said, strangely calm, "Not gonna lie, it does sting a bit that you feel that way but, say, you told me your mother raised you with all intentions of burning my family down and I probably would be a wee bit concerned myself. I mean, it's just…coincidental? And like one-sided Romeo and Juliet. The Capulets with their burning revenge and the Montagues that really don't care and moved on with their lives."

She nodded in agreement. Well… "A-Actually, it was years and years ago but my mother did say to beware, at least, your mom. She…she sends my mom death threats quite frequently."

"…Seriously?"

Jilliana bit her lip as he looked…angered. "I don't get her, Jilliana. I really don't. I looked into my uncle too, at his accolades, and I can tell you now: he wouldn't want my mother going around threatening to kill people. She just went so…left. And if we do stay together, dinner will be so awkward!"

She couldn't help but laugh. Whereas other people sounded like they said things like that to break the tension, Azuma always sounded like it was a genuine concern. He…he was pretty genuine. "Azu, I promise it will only be awkward because of my five uncles."

"Your what uncles?"

"Five. My mama was the only daughter thus the daughters have their prospective mates hounded for a good five to ten sessions due to how rare we ladyfolk are" she teased.

Azuma slowly shook his head, wide-eyed. "…That scary prospect aside, your grandpa is a neuro and cardio surgeon and banged out six kids? Six kids?"

"There were some twinzies in there" she grinned.

"That doesn't mean there wasn't still six people" he declared, aghast. "As an only child, that is…God, I can't even imagine."

Setting her chopsticks down properly, or, what she hoped was properly per their different locale, Jilliana smiled sweetly. "Speaking of siblings, you'd also have to get in good with mine too."

"Oh…your sister and brother, right?" he drawled, "Uh, are they also tough on newcomers?"

"Oh no, they're just crazy in general" she assured.

Azuma snickered, standing and helping her up as they went to pay their bill. "Oh really? I find that hard to believe or imagine given how mild-natured you are."

"And that would be a mistake" she said dryly, reaching for her wallet.

He waved off her attempts to pay for her food, assuring he already had the right conversion of gs for here anyway. She pouted all the same. She wasn't used to that sort of thing…when they went back to the car, Azuma guided it back up the road toward the city. "So your baby brother is some crazy amount of years younger than you, right? Sixteen, seventeen, you told me?"

"Yea, he was born quite late in the game…he's just very…pointed. Like, he's just a little too wise for his current age which doesn't translate into wisdom."

Azuma laughed, raising a brow, "Uh, elaborate?"

"He's smart as a tack, my Take-chan, he's just very…bold with his knowledge. I think he got it from my little sister, they're very similar" she droned.

"Carrie, right?"

She nodded, blinking languidly, "She…suggested I call her and hand signal the nature of our…activities so she knows everything is okay."

With a pout, he shook his head, "I mean, that's…that's not necessary, Jilliana, not at all. I'm just happy to see you. I didn't call you here to…well, you know."

"Oh, I know!" she gasped, waving her hands, "And it'd probably be healthy for it not to go that direction."

He agreed and she yawned into the back of her hand, nodding. Yes. It was for the best and she was tired. This was good though, them talking.

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Well, it was 'good'. They went back to his current abode which she found very charming. It was like the average apartment but whomever furnished it for renters liked a lot of color. Red curtains, goldenrod table cloths. Azu's place had always been very sterile…He got her settled in and offered her a glass of wine while they chatted. Wine. Wine and booze was their downfall.

Azuma groaned, kissing and nipping along her jaw, both of them naked and stretched across the almost full-sized bed. Fine, it was a GOOD idea but fact of the matter was she was horny, he was horny, and they were too busy to not consider being bad tonight.

"Azu" she rasped, running her fingers through his…long hair. She actually giggled at this and lost her train of thought.

"What?" Azu smirked, looking down at her.

"Sorry. I thought you had cut your hair but I guess you just got a trim. I've never gotten to run my hands through a guy's hair like this."

"Yea, I wanted to but the lady kept threatening to give me a crew cut so I just cut the ends myself…" he groaned, "So you can have your Tarzan fantasies now."

"Shut up" she snickered, pulling him closer to kiss again.

…This would be good. She felt…she felt confident of that. While there was a cloying part of her still fumbling with the idea this was a ruse, it…it was a lot for a ruse, wasn't it? Running off to another country alone made it seem entirely impractical that this was a way to get back at her family. Just the mere idea that that was on the table meant there was an amount of nonsense involved.

Just…she didn't want to believe that about Hattori Azuma. She…she would like to more than consider him.

What if she tried to hurt them?

"Dr. Izumi! I think Margo is ready to deliver!"

"On my way!"

Izumi Jilliana was ultimately pleased with this turn of events. Of course she was always happy to assist bringing another life into the world but she was also off after this. Being off at six on a Monday? That meant she could go to dinner night!

Dinner night was the family tradition. It was weird they chose such a stressful day out of the week to meet for dinner but it sort of made sense. After a weekend of relaxing, the lucky ones anyway, and by the end of a stressful week, Monday was just kind of the breather. No one had to worry about what they were going to eat or if they were going to eat, they were going to be served a multitude of different foods. Azuma said he couldn't even fathom it.

It'd been about six months since her vacation. Things had been so fast paced lately that she hardly got to talk to her somewhat-beau. He called when he had a chance or sent her video messages to tell her about his experiences. He seemed to still be enjoying it and…and for that she was glad. Maybe, however, she was a little selfish when she sent the physician posting for pulmonologist that just opened at her hospital to him.

Margo was from overseas, here on a work visa teaching English as a second language. She met a nice guy and they got married rather quickly and now she was having their first child. Jilliana smiled when she entered the room. She secretly kind of laughed when most women told her initially this made them so angry because they were suffering. After, they admitted she really was the heart of calm in a stressful situation. Her grandfather said a stressed doctor for a stressed patient was not a combination for success.

"I hear our little man is ready to show" Jilliana said cheerfully as she sat at the woman's feet, a nurse coming to assist.

It was actually fairly common, to Jilliana's surprise, but there were women that were sheer freaks of nature and completely unbothered by the actual birth-giving. It was sometimes women whom had been through a previous trauma or injury or women with a high pain threshold. She was warned that these patients often could have some complications they didn't recognize until later and to watch especially for them. Margo was actually on her tablet, looking at something. Even she was smiling. "Yea, I'd say so."

All of her uncles ended up having multiple children and she recalled featuring at least one or so on their second or third child, just as calm as can be. She thought they were just nervy but each and every one of them expressed that on their first? "I fainted clean away on Jyun for a minute there" her Uncle Nelly said at ease, speaking of his oldest son. Jyun himself snorted and said he probably would too if he ever actually got someone pregnant. Whatever the case, since Jilliana started doing this, she really only met calm husbands on the second child. First time? She smiled comfortingly at Margo's husband who was pretty much crumpled in a ball in the corner. Well, Margo wasn't having a C-section, she lost a number of spouses on that one to fainting.

Margo set her tablet down to start the pushing. Jilliana calmly observed for any obstructions—breach position, umbilical cord compression—it was all things that their technology could pick up now but it was not the tell all. It missed some things and she had to make sure for both mother and child everything was just right.

She relaxed as he was crowning properly and one more little shove should bring another person to this world. Jilliana smiled when the newborn came out, shrieking. Maybe one day.

He was crying his little lungs out as the nurse took him over to be observed by his mother. She waved him away, alarmed, to be cleaned. While in the beginning Jilliana was shocked by this, by some of the women requesting their infants be cleaned up first, when she started to actually look at the child covered in blood and just general unpleasantness, that probably wasn't the first look she may have wanted. Plus, she would want to hold the baby immediately…

Staying for about an hour to make sure mom and baby were okay, Jilliana resigned when baby was fed and mom and dad were cooing over him. Going to her locker, she grabbed a change of clothes to get a quick shower so she could go straight to her Uncle Koji's house. She was starving.

"Hey, Izumi-san!"

Jilliana was heading for the door when she heard her name. She dreaded that in a way because that generally meant she was about to be called back. Fearfully looking over her shoulder, she smiled some when one of the other doctors ran up to her. Dr. Megumi. He was a nice guy… He was also wearing everyday clothes meaning he was also leaving. "Hi, Megumi-san."

"How are you? I was wondering if you're free tonight. A couple of us were going to meet up for drinks at Doug's."

"Oh, put me down for the next one, definitely. I have to see my family tonight."

He gave her something of a look. They always went on Mondays and that was her reply every time she got invited. She could 'swing by' but only for a second. She barely got to see anyone anymore. "Well, c'mon, Izumi-san, surely your family would want you to get out and socialize a little."

…Ugh. "Maybe so" she smiled, "But, well, not tonight. Next time!"

He was nice, he just didn't get that her family meant a great deal to her and he probably didn't even believe her. That was not a plus. Not to mention…Azu.

Sighing gravely as she rushed to the parking garage to her car, she made the fifteen minute trek to the old district where her uncle and parents lived. She knew what Megumi-san was insinuating. Surely her parents wanted her to go out and meet someone to date or marry. No. That was and never would be the case with her family. Her sister and mama may pry but like her dad or uncles or brother questioning it? Nope. Not until it was mentioned so they could annihilate the poor guy.

…She…was a little fearful by the idea that maybe she'd have to introduce Azuma, the son of the woman that threatened to hurt her parents. She'd do so and do so gladly because he was a good person but…that…was a dark shadow over them.

"Thank God, my only sane child is here."

Jilliana looked up as she walked to the door, biting her lip to find her father standing on the porch. She'd text him that she would be able to make it tonight and for Cliff Izumi that seemed to be a relief. The blond man looked exasperated and she could only imagine Carrie and Takeru were just being…Carrie and Takeru. "Hi, papa!"

He smiled and gave her a hug, sighing, "Hey, Jilli."

Walking with him back in, she wasn't too surprised to find her nearing 14-year-old brother strumming Carrie's old guitar madly and singing 'Scotty Doesn't Know' while Carrie accompanied him. Somehow she had to laugh since Uncle Nelly and Uncle Koji were encouraging them with hoots and whistles. While she naturally spent a great deal of time with both uncles, due to Takeru's…rather spontaneous arrival into their family, he may have been dumped off on them a bit more than usual for emergency school and work activities. Uncle Koji apparently during one of these visits took her then four-year-old brother with him to get a tattoo which he let Takeru pick. He ended up picking a very odd idiom for a four year old. "Wake from death and return to life"…Uncle Koji said it was one of his favorites. Takeru may have gotten some of his free-spiritedness from Uncle Koji. Of course, she blamed that mostly on…

"Jilliana, jeez, you either need to take a nap or get laid, you look awful" Carrie scowled.

Yea, it was majority Carrie, Jilliana smirked widely as Cliff leered. "Carrie."

"What! She knows it's true."

"I just got off a ten hour shift, Carrie, I am leaning more 'nap'" Jilliana stuck out her tongue.

Yagami Jyun wandered through the room, doing a little shimmy dance as he passed, "But that doesn't mean option two is out of the question for later. Getting freaky after getting some sleep-y."

Jilliana coughed not to laugh as her father just stared at them all pensively. It probably was a wonder how so many of them were so…warped. "A-Anyway, I am definitely more hungry than anything so I'll work on that."

"A full stomach is important too" Yagami Kyo, Jyun's younger brother, chimed in, sitting on the couch with a giant tray of pasta.

"Yea, does that ever happen for you or…?" Jyun questioned dryly.

Giggling, Jilliana headed for the kitchen while the two hit at each other. Kyo had some strange metabolic issue, his body was consistently in hunger mode and churning through energy faster than it could almost be produced. She told a doctor about it in passing once and they said it sounded like a God-send but that was only for someone that didn't have to spend extra time, money, and resources consistently feeding themselves. Kyo always took it in stride though.

When she entered the kitchen, her mum was standing with her other aunts, laughing about something. More than anyone, she wondered what her mom would think of Hattori Azuma…smiling, she waved a hand in greeting. "Hi, everyone!"

"Ah! Hi, sweetie! My God, look at those eye sacks, you need to sleep" sulked her mother, coming over to her.

Jilliana laughed, "I will be doing so immediately after I fill my belly, I assure you."

Her cousin, Yukina Kaede, elbowed her as they exited the room with their plates. "So, I was talking to Carrie…"

"That is never the way I like sentences started" groaned Jilliana, shaking her head as they sat off to the side. Everyone was gathered in the living room.

Kaede snickered, "Well, it's nothing too nefarious. We'll just leave it at does he have a cute butt?"

Choking on a bit of pasta, she coughed and couldn't help giggle. Did Azu…? "Well, it's, uh, a fairly nice butt, I'd say. Not squishy?"

"What about butts?" Jyun echoed, appearing like his ears were magnets to the word.

"No one's talking about the kind of butts you like, perv" Kaede waved her fork at him.

This seemed to perplex Jyun entirely, rubbing his chin. "Odd. I would say I'm unbiased for ass…"

Jilliana grinned, sipping her tea, "Male?"

Now he looked mystified. "Wait, women observe those on guys? Like…what do you even want it to look like?!"

"If it hasn't come up, Jyun, I'm sure yours is fine" Kaede teased.

They laughed as he looked back at his own, seeming genuinely confused and probably going to consult with Kyo. She cracked up when Kyo also proclaimed his confusion at this fact. They were so silly. She loved her family…

…What…if she introduced something dangerous here? Takeru must have decided his concert was over, coming to sit beside her on the ground. He chattered with their cousins, gushing about how he hoped to go to a music school soon. Jilliana really wanted him to enjoy his youth because, as far he was concerned, he was about to head off to college at the tender age of fourteen. She pet his head and bit her lip.

…In the vaguest sense, she…she got it, what Azuma's mother must feel. Just…being on the other side…

Her papa requested that she stay over at their childhood home for the night but she needed to rise early to get chores done. It would have been nice to be curled up in the comfort of home. Her house was nice but…something was missing.

Jilliana frowned when she pulled up, noting a figure on her porch. Uh…maybe she ought to have stayed. Prepared to pull away, alarmed someone was here at two in the morning, her eyes widened when they looked up.

Azuma.

Quickly putting her car in gear, she jumped out. "Azu?"

The man smiled broadly, his dark eyes heavy as he wandered closer to her. "Hey, Jilli. Uh…off with your family, I guess?"

"Nn, it was…it was dinner night."

He looked relieved. Probably because there weren't too many reasons she should have to be out until two as an overworked doctor. She blushed as he hugged her tight, kissing her temple. "U-Uh, I'm glad you're visiting, Azu-"

But. "Visiting?" he echoed, seeming confused.

Eh? Before she could question why this seemed weird, he looked enlightened. "I think my service was sketchy so you probably didn't get my messages. One of the department heads that didn't care for me much decided to get me in trouble. My other seniors vouched for me but it was pretty debilitating where that senior was in charge. I couldn't do any work or was questioned. So, like the angel you often are, I got your message about the pulmonology position and I figured maybe it was time I come home."

Oh. "W-Wow, Azu, that's crazy! S-So you have an interview?"

He nodded in confirmation, yawning, "Yea, it's Friday. Gives me a few days of recovery and to catch up with you."

Picking up the apparently one duffel bag he had, Azuma smiled, "So, where's the nearest hotel so I can bug you later without having to hike a mile?"

Oh. Her heart started to race. Well, Doug's, but…

Oh God. Rubbing her arm, she blurted, "W-Well, you can stay with me while you're posting for the position, Azuma."

"Aww, Jilli, that's a sweet offer but I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable or inconvenience you…"

"I-It's okay, honest! I-I mean, I won't feel uncomfortable at all." Or…not completely.

Azuma was clearly apprehensive, most likely for her sake. "If…if you're sure, I'd love to stay with you, Jilliana. But only if you're sure."

Nodding, she reached out to hug him. Maybe he was nervous or he was cool as a cucumber, calculated. He embraced her back, breathing in deeply. "…It's good to be home."

…He felt normal. "I'm glad you're home too."

She watched as he looked around when they entered, seeming surprised. "Wow, Jilli, this is a nice place for someone right out of med school."

Unable to help a snicker, she sighed, "It shames me to admit I have parents that won't let me struggle my way up like everyone else. And I mean that genuinely because even that sounds snobbish."

With a grin, Azuma shifted his bag from his one shoulder to the other, "As someone whose mom would not only buy the house but make sure everything was furnished, I don't have room to judge."

His mom. "Here, sweetie, you can set that here" Jilliana gestured for him to set the luggage by the steps, "Have you talked to your mom? Did you call her when you got back?"

"Haha, no."

Despite that fact this person they spoke of wanted her and her family dead, Jilliana sulked, "Azu."

He followed her into the kitchen as she put the kettle on for a nice warm drink before bed. She wondered if she even had food to offer Azuma… Azuma sat at her table and rubbed his temple, "Jilliana, I cannot even describe to you the conversations we had while I was away. She 'wasted her efforts on me' and 'what kind of idiot does this sort of thing?'. That's the edited version, by the way, because the real version did bring me to tears at least twice."

She grimaced as he shrugged, flexing his fingers, "I'll tell her eventually. Just right now it'll sound like she was right and I've come back to Japan with my tail between my legs."

"That's not true! You accomplished a lot in your journey! You just had to come back because of circumstances that weren't looking good for you, that's the smart thing to do" she insisted, offering him a turkey sandwich she made before going to work.

Azuma was silent. Just…ugh. He was so spirited and happy with his course of action after internships. Now he…he sounded like he felt like he'd failed.

However, he suddenly looked assured again, "This still is the path I want to take. I had no intention of staying there, I wanted to come back here to be with you anyway. Just happened a little sooner than I expected but I can live with that, at least, since I ended up on the same road I intended."

Jilliana blushed, smiling a bit at that, as he took her hands to pull her into his lap. "You get some rest, beautiful, it looks like you delivered a zillion babies today."

Giggling, she hugged his neck and gave him a kiss. It…it felt… "I will after you finish your sandwich and I make some chamomile tea. I felt your tummy growling."

"You always look out for me" he murmured softly, pressing his lips to her cheek.

It felt normal. And fulfilling. And he felt normal and befitting. But what if?

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Yagami Popuri hummed as she stretched out on their dark colored couch, reading a book in the afternoon sunlight underneath her favorite frilled throw blanket. Having made herself her favorite rose tea, she couldn't ever think of a better way to spend her weekend.

She scowled, alas, when the house phone, a relic and a half of a societal basis that had long faded into obscurity, rang. What the hell?

Her Kochi entered the room with a cup of coffee and his tablet, having just left her side to get a refill of his preferred warm beverage. He took a long sip as he picked up the device, nonplussed that this was the first time it had rang in maybe three months. He usually said he would always be a 90s kid. "Hello?"

Smirking, Popuri watched her husband's face twist with disgust, the skin around his eyes tightening a bit while his jaw grew taut. He didn't say another word as she held out her hand and he passed the phone quickly, dropping back on his occupied side of the sofa, muttering. Pressing the receiver to her ear, Popuri said brightly, "Hi, papa!"

"How did you know it was me given your dingbat husband didn't say a word?" Yamachi Rod grunted coarsely.

"Because he didn't say a word" Popuri droned, rubbing Koji's foot that was near her, "What's going on? Is mama okay?"

Her relationship with her father had deteriorated for years. He watched her raise her oldest daughter with great dismay, feeling Popuri was allowing Kaede to make the same 'mistakes' she did. The mistake of choosing her husband and having his children, she supposed. This coming from a man that had left them for almost twenty years to search out a 'cure' for their mother. Yamada, her father-in-law, ended up treating her mother successfully within maybe a year. She still had some respiratory problems but Yamada said it probably would take some time for that to improve. Thus, due to Mineral's growing infrastructure, her parents moved to a smaller island some miles south of here.

The distance somehow improved things for Popuri and her dad. As was, he wasn't here to criticize her choices and when he called, he spoke to her kindly. It was too bad it was too late for his relationship with his grandchildren and whatnot, Popuri's children very put off by the man, especially with how cruel he was to Keiji. Rod wanted to try but Popuri figured it was best to let sleeping dogs lie. Her oldest children had children and a relationship with a mean grandfather was probably not on their list of priorities. And Koji? Well, her dear hubby was not the type to resolve grudges.

"Your mom's fine. She's off with her sister somewhere, shopping again" Rod informed, "Took her to that swanky place your spouse is from."

Probably confusingly, her mom, Lillia, sister's name was Lillian. Lillian was the older of the two and was the only child from Popuri's grandmother's first husband before he passed in a car accident. Grandmother remarried maybe three years later and had Popuri's mom. As half-siblings, apparently Lillia and Lillian didn't get along very well. Both of them ended up marrying botanists but one moved to Mineral and the other was actually the next door neighbor to her husband's family home. Koji's oldest brother actually married Popuri's aunt's daughter. That was a trifle awkward though. Koji was far closer to her blood cousin than she was. Alas, again, due to this proximity, her mother and her sister reconciled and now they got along swimmingly.

"Popuri, I did want to discuss something with you. It's about your brother."

And that was one reconciliation she wanted no part of. Popuri felt her eyes narrow like her husbands had, picking up her tea and sipping it gingerly. "What of him?"

"Popuri, please. He is genuinely remorseful-"

Remorseful! "Do I need to remind you he tried to kill my sister and brother in law? And that he did kill a respected member of this community?" she snapped, "He may feel remorseful but it doesn't take away what he did!"

"Which he fully understands, Popuri! But he still needs his family, doesn't he?"

The hell. "He should have thought of that before he shot at someone."

"Sweetie, look, I am not going to pressure you or make you feel bad. I'm just asking that you consider. This is mostly my fault. I put too much pressure on Rick to be the man of the house while I was away and he snapped. I failed to consider what my absence would do to either of you."

Popuri set the cup down on the stand, watching the pink hued liquid ripple a bit. It was true, to an extent. Rick was forced to handle a lot of things at the age of eleven that he shouldn't have been responsible for. He became mean-spirited when he once hadn't been and he started to gripe because perhaps that's what he thought father would do. He had no time for friends when he was running the chicken farm their family once owned and he seldom had time for anything he wanted to do.

But she also was without a father. She also had responsibilities that others her age hadn't had. Yes, she had friends and more freedom but that didn't instantly transform her into a more reasonable person. They had the same circumstances. Why was it one of them was serving a life sentence for murder and stalking and the other was sitting in their home with their spouse on a lazy weekend sipping tea?

"…I'll consider it, papa, but I'm still feeling a firm 'no'."

"That's all I can ask, dear. We're going to see him next Friday, if you decide."

"…Okay."

Parting with him, she shook her head. She didn't want to dare look at her husband who probably would be quite pissed about the suggestion. It…it was his sister that was mostly affected. His only precious baby sister at that. Rick…tried to take her away.

All the same, she was curious and glanced to Koji. He was still sipping his coffee calmly and reading on his tablet. He had to have heard. "What do you think, Kochi?"

She'd met Yagami Koji when they were ten-years-old, her charming dark prince. He played a large role in all this, she would say. Had she not met him, maybe…maybe she'd be in no place to compare her and Rick's outcomes. After a moment, he looked to her with his deep eyes and blinked languidly. "You'll never get me there but he is your family."

…Yes. That…that was what the Yagami's mantra was. Family first. Just…no one in the Yagami family had ever killed anyone.

Koji suddenly started to sulk. Maybe he was reconsidering what he said and was going to remark that she shouldn't go. She'd feel better that way, honestly. However, he scooted a bit closer to her and rested his cheek against her shoulder, grumbling, "…If…if you want me to go, I'll go with you. It'll be unpleasant but you're my wife so…"

She smirked, kissing his temple, "I wouldn't do that to you, Kochi."

"You wouldn't be doing anything to me, princess" he scoffed, hugging her waist.

…It hadn't been anything she felt the need to revisit. When it happened, she renounced Yamachi Rick's name as anyone she had any connection to. It had never ached or itched that she did so either. He made his unfortunate choice and now a man was dead because of it. Jill, when she was pregnant with Jilliana, came to her shaken one afternoon and showed her a letter she received from someone. A stranger but not really. Not because of these circumstances. The victim's sister. She blamed Jill for what happened to her murdered brother. Popuri found it ignorant and moronic at best. Jill didn't pull the trigger on that woman's brother.

…Hers had.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

This was perfect.

Hattori Azuma wasn't sure what occurred. He had to borrow glucose testing strips from the lead nurse. This particular facility, the patients were responsible for paying for the testing and that wasn't always easy for some of them. He bought it off of her with his own money and somehow it got back to some lead that he was 'stealing supplies'.

Only by grace did the nurse and his leads stand up for him to say that wasn't his character. The nurse even showed the money he gave for the materials. It was enough though. Departments outside of that one hid things from him that he needed to treat their patients. All…it ever took was one person to destroy his endeavors.

He'd been just sitting outside of the restaurant he took Jilliana when that same angel messaged him. It was a weird message, a hyperlink, actually. He'd opened it, confused, and found a link to a job opening for a pulmonologist at Mineral Town General Hospital. 'Come home' was what it said to him and he needed that. Practically running to his Malaysian apartment, he updated his CV and sent it to the link. When asked who referred him, he put her name. It…might have been a little bit like cheating but he got a call back and that's what mattered more than anything. It wasn't like she hadn't referred him.

It was such a swift upheaval. He left a lot and packed the things of significance, things he wasn't looking to replace right away. Taking the address off the care packages of things from home she sent from time to time, he flew into Hondo and told his Uber to take him to the ferry station.

It was already late when he arrived so his fear was she was off with someone. Not that that was his right but he worried she'd find someone else. Someone whose mother hadn't threatened their life at some point.

However, Izumi Jilliana showed up and had been at her family's home for dinner. Family. That…was the one thing he'd struggle with in regard to her. He loved and respected his father but he…he didn't have anything like Jilliana had whatsoever. To go over to one family member's house in droves on a Monday to eat dinner? It…was such a foreign thought.

He took a nice hot shower before crawling into bed with her. Really, he wanted to take this a little more slowly because he was still the son of a psycho. He was prepared to sleep on the couch but Jilliana assured he can just sleep with her. Reluctant, when he came out, she was already fast asleep. She…she very frankly said some of the trust toward him had been lost but she…she just didn't show that very well, did she?

Azuma gazed at Jilliana as she slept, the sun long up but both of them were still beat. He didn't want to move because this was just perfect and…that worried him. It only took one person.

She made a gentle sigh sound, shrugging her shoulders hard before her blue eyes started to open. It was weird he was watching her sleep so he quickly shut his. She giggled. "Too slow, Azu."

He pouted and opened his eyes again, "Sorry, seemed like such a creeper thing to do…you're just really cute."

With a smile, Jilliana gave him a peck on the lips and curled against his chest. He breathed in sharply when she started to stroke him. Eh? Nipping his chin, Jilliana purred, "You're cute too."

Azuma breathed out deeply, closing his eyes as her hand ran up and down his shaft. "Careful…I might get spoiled on my first day back."

"Lucky for you, a sleepy day off and a warm bed is enough to make me feel like…spoiling" she teased, kissing his neck.

Oh really…? It…it was perfect.

It only took one person to fuck this up. And she'd do so with all of her might.

Azuma groaned, squinting when the brighter sun beamed into the bedroom. What the hell…? Sitting up, he rubbed his neck and glanced to the spot beside him. So she screwed him into a coma to steal his energy, huh? Well…he had been more on the receiving end so maybe he should rectify that situation.

Wandering out of the bedroom and down the steps, full of some sort of boldness he'd never been predisposed to, he heard the kettle whistling. Peeking in, he found Jilliana standing in front of the stove. Target locked. Quietly walking toward her, he cautiously reached out to hug her from behind when she had set the scalding water down.

Jilliana jumped a very little but she noticed first. "Oh my, you're naked."

"And last I saw, you were too" he whispered into her ear, "Come back to bed."

"Oh, I would" she sang, "But I have company."

…Company?

In all of his life, how he overlooked the figure sitting maybe not even five feet away, he'd never know, but he shakily turned his head to gaze at…company. It was…a shorter Jilliana with blond hair and wild red highlights. She was sipping a cup of tea, blinking at him before smiling very mischievously. "See? Up to no good."

Kill him. Kill him now. He almost screamed as he quickly dropped his hands to cover…something. He couldn't even say anything, stammering through syllables and nonsense describing more nonsense. Jilliana actually giggled like he hadn't just exposed himself to the first relative of hers he'd ever met. She took an apron from the pantry and put it around his neck, reaching around him to tie the back. "Carrie, this is the Hattori Azuma whom I have told you about. Azu, this is my little sister, Izumi Carrie."

Oh, hello person that has inadvertently seen me naked. "H-Hello, n-nice to me-meet you" he blurted, shaking, "I-I'd bow but-"

With a laugh, Carrie waved a hand, "No, no, I understand your situation. It's nice to finally meet you as well. I can leave though, Jilli, you need all the bang time you can handle."

Eh? Jilliana smirked at her, "There's other times for that. I have things to do like laundry."

"Sorry, dude, I tried. Jilliana's always gonna be that practical" Carrie sighed airily.

Yea…he was getting an inkling of what Jilliana meant by her sister. Smiling awkwardly, feeling a draft from behind, he slowly backed up. "U-Uh, th-that's okay."

"Ah! Mama, you make me wear pants! Do adults not have tuh!?"

He needed Satan or Jesus to take him up or down immediately. He fearfully looked behind him and found a tiny…person. The child was staring at Azuma pensively like somehow the naked man in the kitchen had all the answers to all the problems he'd had during his short time in life. No. No, he did not.

"Well, sweetie, you can make that decision when you get there" Carrie snickered.

Jilliana smiled, patting her knee which apparently signaled the child to come to her. "Haya-chan, this is Auntie Jilliana's friend, Azuma. He's lost his pants, is all."

Yea, that sounded like a valid excuse to his sort-of girlfriend's little nephew. Azuma wanted to crawl into a hole and die but sure. Hayato's dark blue eyes widened in recognition and looked to him. "I can help you find them!"

"Oh, that's…so nice of you but…I'll just…find other pants, maybe…"

"You're so sweet" cooed Jilliana, picking up Hayato, "Maybe when Azuma finds his other missing pants he'll kick the soccer ball around with you. He likes soccer too, you know?"

Oh God. He smiled awkwardly when Hayato's eyes lit up. Somewhat unfortunately, he had about two percent experience with children and that was due to his stints in the pediatric ward. Of course, with how much Jilliana talked of Hayato, he figured she'd want him to get along with her beloved nephew. Hayato giggled as Jilliana blew into his cheek, going to the refrigerator to get out a juice box for him. Azuma's smile relaxed. And, of course, she would probably make the best mama…

Slinking into the shower, he quickly bathed and…located these missing pants. Part of him didn't even want to go down there or see anyone that featured his indiscretion ever again. Alas…Jilliana or Carrie really hadn't made that big a deal of it? The kid was more indignant that he couldn't run around naked.

Part of him just couldn't help think how his mother probably would have died of shame right then and there and disowned him. Although, that…probably wasn't a hundred percent unwarranted. He'd only been here a day, who was he to walk downstairs naked in someone else's house?

Miserable, he dragged himself back down the steps. Jilliana and Carrie were sitting at the table, sipping tea, while Hayato played with a truck or something in the living room raucously. Azuma tried to put on his best smile. Try two.

Jilliana looked up as he approached with that gorgeous smile. She…didn't seem ashamed of him? "Here, sweetie, I made you tea and breakfast."

"Thank you. You didn't have to…" he smiled back, sitting beside her.

Excited to be having a traditional Japanese breakfast after all this time, Azuma picked up the chopsticks and declared 'itedakimasu' at ease. Carrie pursed her lips as she poured herself more tea. Eh? Had she grown apprehensive while he was away?! Her brow was furrowed! Almost losing his appetite, the woman grumbled, "They'd having another one of those stupid 'father's days' at school. I think they're doing it just to spite Haya, we're not even close to any fake father's day holidays."

Oh. Calm down there, idiot, not everything was about you. Relaxing, he ate rice as Jilliana shook her head. "I guess preschool wants to have as many events as primary to get them acclimated. And again, where is his daddy…?"

"Hayato has no daddy. He's the product of immaculate conception."

Wha? Azuma raised a brow, confused, as Jilliana gave her sister a bland look. "Eventually I would like the truth on that, imoto. For now, I will accept Hayato's saint status."

Carrie snickered some before gazing off, "…I wouldn't even know how to break it to him now."

Azuma had heard slightly about how Carrie ran off for half a decade without returning home. He wished he was that level adventurer, honestly, but that sounded a bit intimidating. Also, she came back with a baby so…yea, he was good with his mild venture into going off to find himself, thanks. Drinking a bit of tea, he thought about it. Of course, he had a little insight into this.

"Uh, not that…it's exactly my business but my mom divorced my dad when I was younger. I…very rarely got to see him and it was really hard on our relationship. I love him, I like to speak to him, and I will always choose to seek him out before her but it…it's probably not the best father-son relationship. We lost a lot of that."

"Mm…" Carrie murmured, "I'm sure Hayato deserves to know his father. And I'm sure his father would love to know him too. Just…I'm not always a hundred percent certain of that, considering."

Jilliana frowned at her. Sounded complicated…Azuma frowned when Hayato pranced back in, holding a beat up old soccer ball expectantly. Well…didn't sound like they were too different in some perspectives. With a smile, Azuma dabbed his lips. "Do you know what speed drills are, Hayato?"

"Yea!"

"Awesome. Let's do some of those."

Carrie smiled, standing, "Let's get you bundled up, sweetie."

Oh yea, cold. Jilliana kissed his cheek as she stood, "Thank you, Azu."

"A-Ah, no problem…"

They all got bundled up to go outside. He wanted to say they could stay in while he and Hayato played. Of course, he…was probably still on close watch for being a psycho. Thanks, mom.

"Mom and dad wanted us to go over for dinner tonight, Jilli, so we can talk some 'sense' into Takeru. I think the kid is a genius and can definitely go to college soon though" Carrie said as they walked to the front door.

"And I think he needs to try to enjoy his teenage years more! He's only 14" Jilliana sulked, "He only has four more years to wait to go to college."

Carrie rolled her eyes, "Takeru is gung-ho about it right now though, Jilli. We wait four years and he's eighteen like I was, he's going to be crazy and able to do a lot more legally."

Huh. Jilliana did pause, wide-eyed, "…Wow, I didn't consider that."

"I mean, it's no guarantee but, at the very least, if he does go crazy at eighteen, he finished his degree."

Jilliana rubbed her chin as she took her scarf off the coat rack near the front of the house. "Or he'd very well be close to doing so…and I guess he is interested right now. Just still! What if he looks back and feels he wasted his youth?"

"He'll be eighteen or nineteen tops when he's done, Jilliana. You're just starting to even try to pull something together by twenty and you're still doing bull by then. He can either have that stage with a degree already under his belt or doing normal new adult shenanigans while trying to get a degree."

Azuma mused. That was a thought. Jilliana suddenly rolled her eyes as she opened the door to let them out. "You almost had me, Carrie, except Takeru is your clone and he'll be up to shenanigans at sixteen in his Sophomore year."

Carrie grinned lazily, sitting on the loveseat on the porch. Apparently they were prepared for this as Jilliana had a stylish heater that Carrie flipped on. "Well, it's possible, but Take isn't completely my clone. He loves music. He always has and, unlike me, I know he can stay focused."

Hayato rushed to his mother when she beckoned him to tie his scarf a bit tighter. Jilliana looked at her smart watch and made a face. "…I guess I can make it for dinner. I'll go for groceries after and I'll just run the laundry through quickly now."

"Sweet. Will you be joining us?" Carrie blinked at Azuma.

…Sweet God. Azuma felt himself grow pale at the idea of meeting 'the one'. He knew it was ridiculous, he knew it was petty, he was falling in love with the daughter. Just…the actual one.

… "If…If I'm invited. Of course, this sounds like a very personal matter."

Jilliana bit her lip before smiling awkwardly, "I-I'll leave it up to you, Azu. I mean, my parents are by pretty frequently so you'll probably end up running into them fairly soon so…so I guess we should get it out of the way."

Sweet God. Heart pounding with the knowledge he just got back but was already going to meet the parents, he smiled awkwardly when Hayato tugged his arm to start the 'drills'. He guessed either way he'd be apprehensive meeting a girl's parents. It always had a history of being a trying time for people. Just he would have to introduce himself as the son of the woman that hated them.

Thanks, mom.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Izumi Jill gnawed on the end of a pen she had nearby just for freehand notes, her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail as she stared at her computer screen, the words glaring back at her. Ugh, this was impossible.

"Damn, you're sexy…"

Jill glanced back and squeaked when arms wrapped around her shoulders, the familiar embrace warming her as his lips kissed the back of her neck. She snorted once the euphoria wore off a bit, continuing to type.

"I don't know how in my emo glasses and sweatpants."

"Mm, but they're those Victoria Secret sweatpants that curve around you so nicely…" he purred, kissing down her shoulder, "Unn, I've wanted you all day…"

Jill smirked at her husband, the very frisky Izumi Cliff…the love of her life.

He was still in his cream colored dress shirt and slacks from work, apparent that he'd just wandered in. She'd been way preoccupied with this new novel. The deadline was in a week but that was a week too soon.

Yagami Nerimaru, also known as "Nelly", her older brother, had inherited the farm from her when she thought she couldn't stand it anymore. Looking back now, she definitely could have handled it but, well, he had a family and they needed a place to live so she just had to find something else to do.

When she was a teen and not out at rock concerts or parties, she enjoyed writing. It was all dark, crazy, 'I hate the world' kind of stuff but she liked it. And, as she got older, she noted that she liked all types of writing too. So, she just set out at it slightly, figuring she could give it a shot.

Her first story was actually kind of a variation of her own story, telling how she met the man of her dreams and he got hooked on something. She remembered her favorite song and music video growing up being The Perfect Drug and how the main character represented was addicted to absinthe. So, she made the story kind of gothic style with the frills and darkness and what not. Cliff read it and was a little weirded out.

"Uh…we didn't wear bonnets and top hats."

"I know that!" she'd laughed, "But what do you think?"

"It's…sad" he smiled some.

"Sad?"

"Seeing it like this, I feel…like the most horrible person in the world" he laughed anxiously.

God, if that didn't make her want to shuck it into the fire and her recycling bin. Cliff insisted she publish, that it was really good and that people would enjoy it and possibly get some meaning out of it. Reluctantly, she agreed and got it printed and introduced on the e-book stores.

It was very well received.

She was so excited when it got into the top ten selling list for the year, not in just Mineral Town, but in the Western region. Some other areas were starting to receive it and it did fairly well there too.

People…liked it? That was…so cool!

She got signed to write a series and had eagerly started writing the sequel when she got wind of some not so cool news: Some people hated it.

Despite that being how everything in life went, she was crushed and went to Yagami Koji, her other older brother, and whined to him about it. Leave it to Koji though, he just snorted, as indifferent as ever to what others thought about anything.

"You have to remember, sweetie: you can't impress everyone."

"I know…" she said sadly, "But…they HATE it. They're protesting it on forums and social media!"

"Of course" he shrugged, "Some may read it as the old damsel in distress story with the overbearing men around her. And then taking back the man that struck her? It's a feminist nightmare."

Jill grimaced, never having even thought about that. As the main character in the story that inspired her novel, she felt like her life had been a bit out of control, just she hadn't thought of it because of her gender or anything. She just…was spoiled? Life beat that out of her.

She was really reconsidering everything but her readers insisted on a sequel on the same venues people decried it. She did what the thousands that liked it wanted…and it was a hit. She…enjoyed writing things people liked.

She moaned softly as Cliff nipped at the flesh of her shoulder, reaching up the tank top shirt she was wearing, cupping her breast. Just this guy. "Cliff, do I come and fondle you at work?" she grunted.

"I wouldn't complain if you did."

Jill snickered and sighed, clicking 'save'. She stood, grabbing his tie and dragging him toward their bedroom, "Let's make this quick, pretty boy, I don't have a lot of time."

His blue eyes brightened and she giggle squealed when he picked her up, throwing her over his shoulder to apparently speed up the process.

She sighed when he dropped her into their bed and lifted her shirt over her head whilst struggling out of his tie. She sat up, unbuttoning his shirt as she kissed along his jaw.

"I love you…" he groaned into her ear as she rubbed his back and shifted his pants off.

Jill smiled and kissed him, whispering the sentiment back into his mouth…

"Oi, mom, dad, I'm hungry!"

Jill glared at her only son who just looked disgusted…as usual to be walking in on them, "Can you NOT close the freakin' door? I mean, if I were going to get laid, I wouldn't want anyone just waltzing in!"

Cliff grumbled, flustered, and turned over on his side, as Jill threw a pillow at her youngest child, "If you're hungry, go to your sister's house!"

"So this is what it means to be in a blond family, huh?" he said in a weirdly sober tone, "We're more into having sex than feeding our offspring."

"Takeru, I have never beat you a day in your life…" Jill started, hoping she wouldn't have to word the rest of the threat.

Cliff grumbled, sitting up and stalking to their closet, "Forget it, he's, unfortunately, right. I did invite his sisters over to eat so I'll make dinner. You get back to your book."

Oh yea, that. Jill glowered after her son, starting to consider it a good idea to boot him off now, and caught Cliff's arm before he left. She kissed his cheek, whispering into his ear: "Tonight."

He grinned lazily, patting her thigh, "Better believe it."

She smirked and sat up, redressing, and wandering back to her computer. Biting her thumb, she scowled thoughtfully. Maybe Takeru's intrusion was a blessing in disguise because she had spent four days floundering over this and still hadn't come to a resolution.

Tsumaru.

Eyes glazing, she slouched. Tsumaru…

He had been her lover when Cliff had…his dark moment. She turned to him for comfort and other things. Tsumaru spent their relationship believing she was just leaning on him, that she loved Cliff. And, all right, she did. She loved Cliff…but she loved him too. He…he had died for her. Had it not come to that, she…she would have had the struggle of her life deciding between them. Unfortunately, it could have never come to that.

…Did she dedicate a character to him?

She glanced over her shoulder as her son laughed, Cliff threatening Takeru's life and demanding where his adorable toddler son went. She smiled and stood. Ah well, she'd think about it later. It…was still difficult to think about all this time later. Jilliana was approaching thirty so…over three decades ago and she still remembered that moment perfectly. Jill's father said he'd hoped none of them would have anything that poignant in their lives and it turns out all of them did. Life…was a tough master.

"So what are nee-sans coming over for? Trying to tag team convince me I'm too young for college again?" Takeru questioned dryly, chopping a potato for curry.

"You won't even cook your own food" Cliff retorted in the same tone.

Takeru's brow rose, surprisingly conceding, "Well, you got me there."

Jill chuckled, starting the kettle for tea. Takeru could cook, she made sure of that, he just was too much of a perfectionist. He wanted his food just right and if it were off in any degree that he couldn't rectify after the cooking, he got very irritated. "To accomplish that, you need to get over yourself. Because if I were to concede, there's no way in the world I'm sending you money to eat out for three meals of the day every single day."

She wasn't sure how things like this actually occurred. Her papa wasn't a very strict man but he expected at least decent grades. Surprisingly, her three older brothers were always top of the class. This was really surprising considering she was pretty sure she'd never seen Koji open a textbook her entire life but she'd sure seen him down about two bottles of vodka by himself. It was just the first half though. Tony, her twin brother, herself, and their baby brother, Shaun? Mediocre at best. She knew she would have never made it through college at eighteen. She went back when Carrie went to kindergarten but she was already nearing her thirties by then.

Takeru was 'bored' at school. Not because he found it tedious but because he was always ahead in understanding the topics. He was already a grade ahead of his age and his school was a little disturbed he probably could jump ahead again. Cliff had been against it, saying it would be crazy for him to be done with school by sixteen. So, the school gave him another crazy option: he could go to school in the States.

What? They cited that most Japanese schools would want him to be at least sixteen before he started but there were some schools in the states that were okay with allowing young transfer students. So now they had accelerated from him graduating Japanese high school two years early to him going to America to college to graduate with his bachelor's degree at eighteen. Did things like this actually occur?

Takeru was beyond excited for the mere option and was pressing that he do it. He wanted to get his degree in music and had been pestering them for the last month and a half. He could get in at the University of Rochester and maybe get into Eastman, he said. Okay. She and Cliff were entirely against it because he was fourteen. He just started doing his own laundry and he was talking of going to live in a dorm! Or, actually, since he was underage, he would have to be with a transfer family. Her baby with perfect strangers!

Oh, but leave it to Tony! "I mean, if he's hellbent, I have the place near Rochester. I know I only go for a week out of the month but we can probably bulls—t a little so he can stay there. I have housekeepers, they can watch out for him."

It sounded like a perfect nightmare. New York wasn't next door. The only one a thousand percent for it was Carrie, naturally. Carrie was concerned he'd lose his way if he let himself get too old and…well, that was a concern. Her son had fleeting interests and the only ones that were stuck to him were music and her oldest niece's sister-in-law, Sharron. That…wasn't promising in Jill's head? Just who knew what he'd do on his own in a new country.

"Kenji can come with me!" Takeru protested, sitting at the counter as she put rice in the maker.

Motosuwa Kenji was her brother's best friend, Keiba, son. Takeru and Kenji were only a few months apart age wise…surprisingly, since Keiba was an absolute doofus, Kenji was almost a genius. And still a doofus too at the same time. Keiba was pretty free-spirited and prepared to let his son go though his wife was traumatized by the thought. At least Cliff was on her side…

Going to change into some jeans, she rolled her eyes when she came back and Cliff relayed that Takeru had stomped off to his room so they could 'discuss his future' by themselves. "Are we being unreasonable, Cliff?"

"Maybe?" Cliff groaned, "I think we're smart, baby, but I don't think we're at 'I can have two degrees by the time I'm twenty'. We may be thinking of this too strictly. This is a big opportunity."

Ugh. Taking out some plates and glasses for water, she started to set the table, "…Cliff?"

"Hmm?"

"I, um, was wondering…another issue I'm having resolving is…should I include a character based on Tsumaru in the series?"

Her husband frowned as he looked up. Tsumaru saved both of their lives but, at the end of the day, the doctor was sort of his love rival. Cliff's opinion may have been entirely different.

"I think it's a great idea, baby" Cliff said simply, "Just…whose wrath might you incur?"

…Rinko.

It'd been years after Tsumaru's death. Jilliana was at least four when she got one of the evilest letters she could ever fathom reading. The woman detailed how Jill ruined her life and took the only person that ever mattered to her away and that there was a special place in Hell for her. That was the good parts of it. It ended with she would destroy someone important to her too.

Shin, the eldest Yagami sibling, assured he would make certain that didn't happen. Apparently he even spoke with the woman and advised this was not the way to go about things. Usually Shin's words were enough to end a lot of nonsense. The letters started coming every week after. It wasn't until she had Takeru that they stopped.

That still meant it was fourteen years ago and maybe the woman finally came to peace but…somehow in her heart, Jill didn't feel that was the case. It felt like she may have just been biding her time.

"I…I'll think on it. You're right but…it'd only feel wrong not to have him there, at least in story spirit."

Cliff sighed when there was a knock at the door, probably announcing the arrival of one or both of their daughters. With a smile, she gave him a kiss on the cheek as she walked to the door. Maybe she just needed a sign.

Opening her mouth to greet her daughters, her heart stopped when Tsumaru was at the door.

"Hi, mama" Jilliana greeted.

What? What was happening? How? They watched him die. What was going on? Tsumaru was nervously standing behind Jilliana and Carrie raised a brow, Hayato asleep in her arms. "Mama, are you okay?"

"I-"

"Oh, uh, mama, this is Hattori Azuma, my boyfriend" Jilliana quickly smiled.

…What?

Cliff came over to stare, mystified, at Tsumaru's doppelganger named 'Azuma'. The clone bowed deeply, nervous, "I-It's nice to meet you both."

"U-Uh, likewise" Cliff stammered.

"Jeez, something must be wrong for you not to instantly go postal over meeting one of your daughter's boyfriends" Carrie remarked sarcastically.

Jilliana pouted at her and Jill was finally able to find words, "I-I apologize, i-it's just that you look very similar to someone we used to know. Like, twins."

The ghost briefly looked…dismayed? "Yes, I…I've heard that before."

With a grimace, Jilliana nudged them back to allow them all to take off their shoes. "Look, mama, this…may be hard for you and papa to accept but Azuma…Azuma is Ishikawa Tsumaru's nephew."

…Nephew? But that meant… "…You're…You're Hattori Rinko's son."

"Unfortunately" Azuma groaned.

Why? How in the hell did that woman's son just happen to show up here and end up dating their daughter?! This had to be a trick! She warned Jilliana about her so she knew better! Jilliana quickly held her hands up so Jill's expression must have betrayed her thoughts. "Mama, look, I…I don't know how to explain it because it does sound a little naïve and overly optimistic but I've known Azu for years. We had a rocky start because he knew I was your daughter and he avoided me but we…we grew past that? And he's been nothing but perfect to me and while I had my worries, I-I genuinely believe he's not up to anything for his mother so I ask that you and papa give him a chance. He's…he's had a tough life because of his mom."

"Jilliana, Hattori-san—your mother will not agree to this and if she has now—I don't trust it!" Jill proclaimed, having to sit on the couch.

Azuma shook his head slowly, "She…she doesn't even know I'm here. I don't…plan on telling her."

What? She wasn't going to wonder where her kid was? Cliff rubbed his forehead, raising a brow, "…Look, I pulled some disappearing acts myself but my mom and dad were easily aware of where I was. Unless you're starting over with a fresh name, I think that's being mighty hopeful she won't know."

"Well, that's…that's her business. I want to stay here with your daughter and I've let her run my life for far too long to let that stop me."

But why? Feeling faint, Jill buried her face in her hands. And she thought Takeru was going to be the topic of the night…

Just like her middle child, Carrie scoffed, setting Hayato down, "Mother, this is a very easy talk."

"How possibly?"

Carrie blinked languidly at Azuma who looked confused. "I like you already, Azuma. You're good with my son, relaxed, well-hung-"

Wait, what? "REALLY, Carrie?" Jilliana leered deeply.

Azuma flustered as Carrie waved a hand as though the remark was inconsequential, "—But let's just make one thing brutally clear here because it sounds like your mom doesn't research her shit. We have plenty of people in this family that could see your family dead. There is no amount of power your mother is able to flex that won't see her and you dead if this is some sort of time-consuming ruse to break our family. We have uncles that know people who know people and your mother will not come out on top of this. So, for the sake of effort, if you are here to break us for mommy dearest, there are enough people behind us all to erase you."

That wasn't…well…all true? Jill frowned, about to blurt this wasn't the case. More so because it made her family sound like the mob than concerns that Azuma would take it badly. Alas, Cliff actually raised a brow toward her, wordlessly questioning if she was actually going to say otherwise and she groaned. No, it was about two hundred percent true because if it wasn't going to be the Yagami side, the Izumi side was there too.

Despite this very black threat, Azuma looked…resolved. "I want to be with your daughter. I have had zero control on anything in my life and I am making the decision to be here with Jilliana. I can't…I can't make decisions for my mother, unfortunately, so I don't know what she will do but I promise you I will be on this side. Jilliana has…has already been more family than I've really ever had."

Jilliana bit her lip, clasping his hand, as he bowed his head. It…wasn't enough of a reassurance but what could Jill say? 'Dump him?'. This…was just yet another coincidental moment in the life of the Yagami. Jill weakly nodded, hugging herself, "Okay."

"I know it's not, ma'am. And even Jilliana has told me she is concerned. I just hope I can prove to you all that I…I don't want that sort of thing in my life. She force fed it to me but I don't…I don't want it. I'll prove it to you" Azuma said, staring at her resolutely.

…Okay.

Well…she guessed she was going to have to write Tsumaru into her book now.

Hattori Rinko was coming regardless.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"So I'm your boyfriend?"

Jilliana jumped, startled, as they walked back toward her house. Dinner was awkward, her baby brother pissed off they were reluctant to send him off to college and her parents nervous about Azuma. Maybe she should have held off…

However, once they parted from Hayato and Carrie, walking them home on the way, Azuma quietly murmured about her rather…forward slip of the tongue. "I'm sorry, that…that was very brusque of me."

"Not at all if you're okay with it being true."

Pouting, blushing, she hugged herself, "I-I'm okay with it being true if you are."

Azuma smiled and kissed her temple, pulling her closer to him in the cold night, "Tonight was pretty good then."

"Azuma…I-I have to agree though, your mother will not be okay with this."

"So let her be" Azuma scoffed, his breath fogging the air, "I've told you, Jilli, I am over being her pawn and her clay to shape to be her dead brother. We had no control over that—your parents didn't either. The one that pulled that trigger is in jail and she ought to be happy with that."

True…her aunt's brother, an example of how crazy their circumstances were in the first place, was serving life for that crime. Hattori Rinko should have left it at that. The way she acted, the way she taught Azu, it sounded like Jilliana's mom was the one that pulled the trigger…

That chapter was closed. Yamachi Rick would answer for his crimes forever and Rinko would need to learn to accept that.

"I beg the f—k your pardon?"

Yagami Popuri had an absolute migraine as she entered her home in the old district of Mineral Town. Her husband had greeted her with a glass of wine, having known that she would need it. What he hadn't known was exactly how much.

She mused long and hard over the phone call with her dad for the week. She hadn't seen her brother in well over twenty years and she was growing an impression. She wasn't under it because part of herself knew better but one was sort of sprouting from her head that maybe she needed to confirm her brother had changed. It'd never change what he did and no amount of regret would make it any better or bring back the life he took but just maybe.

So, with this tree of thought emerging from her reason, she called her parents and agreed to the venture. Both of them were thrilled and even came to pick her up. The feeling Popuri had of meeting up with her parents to visit a prison somehow wilted her little tree. It seemed a little…off?

Not immediately put off, Popuri made the small journey across the sea on the ferry. Mineral Town itself did not have a prison or jail, exactly. It was sort of like those old westerns where criminals were held in a very small area until being escorted to a facility on the mainland. It was one reason her brother-in-law Shin and her cousin Lyla never moved to Mineral Town, being he was an officer and all. There was so little crime to begin with it wasn't even worth it. Lo, there was some rumor of one being implemented as more people came in…

Koji would have probably been arrested had he been there when the cops patted her down a little too vigorously, especially around her chest. She gave the perp a look to kill when he suggested she 'definitely could smuggle something in'. Her father, oblivious to anything, didn't seem to notice and it was just infinitely ironic, as all things Yagami, that the forementioned Yagami Shin was present and passing. Shin lightly suggested that the errant office quickly remove his hands before something unfortunate occurred and Popuri probably could have come in with an assault rifle with as quickly as the man disappeared. Her tree was very much dying.

She held strong though. She sat in the room with her parents and, like a phantom, Yamachi Rick was brought into the room.

His hair was still long which seemed odd. He was a bit scruffier though and muscular. Shuffling in in the striped prison uniform, he sat across from them and she could only stare.

…What do you even say to someone that has been in prison for over thirty years?

'How is your day?'? They were in prison. 'What have you been up to?'? In prison. 'So have you met anyone?'? Maybe, but they were in prison. This was a mistake.

"Hello, Popuri" Rick greeted.

"…Hi, Rick."

"You're looking well, dear" Lillia said, reaching out to pat his hands, "It looks like you've been working out a lot more."

"Yea" he agreed, "Not much else to do around here."

…Small talk. Small talk where one of the parties had a limited scope on all possibilities because they'd made it that way. Popuri just…remained silent. It'd seem gloating to speak of her beautiful home and family. It wasn't a mistake that he was here but…it didn't seem proper.

And, unfortunately, her dear father decided to chop down her tree.

"Popuri, there is a little extra reason I asked you to consider coming here."

Oh, of course! "And what's that, dad?"

Her mother looked at him inquisitively, signaling that she was unaware of this 'extra' motive. Rod looked unbothered, "Your brother is up for parole. He only has good behavior on his record and you can see he's changed. His lawyer said his chances of getting out are increased if a member of the victim's family comes forward."

"I…what?"

"We were thinking that maybe someone in your sister-in-law's family could be convinced to speak up for his reform."

There was a better chance…of Popuri founding a colony of unicorns and fairies on the planet Venus after she drove there in a magical car. In addition, what the hell?! "Rick has been denied bail twice."

"Of course he has, no one's spoken for his changes!"

Lillia silently looked to her as if she thought this was a good idea. No. No, a murderer does not go free after he decided to end someone's life. "No."

Rod looked aghast, "What do you mean 'no'? You didn't even ask."

"A, you lied to me about why we were coming here. I thought we were just visiting, not setting up a plot to possibly get him out. B, he tried to kill their only sister. Jill is their holy grail and this idiot tried to kill her. We would not be having this conversation but visiting his grave if he had because they would have murdered him without remorse or question. And they sure as hell wouldn't be asking for remorse because they would know they belong here. So C? He belongs here and don't ever ask me to visit again."

She stomped out in an absolute fury, turning her phone off because she knew they'd call. Some gossiping hussy in town once told her she married into a messed up family. Apparently they cast a blind eye to her maiden family then.

Sitting on the couch, taking a strong sip of red wine, she slowly shook her head. Koji was standing in the doorway, glaring incredulously. He'd asked what went wrong, not what happened because he knew it could only go wrong but wanted to be supportive. And she told him because she needed to share the insanity.

"You know, Popuri, I've always thought your dad was cracked but I really think it now" Koji snarled.

"I dunno what I'd do in their place, Koji" she murmured, closing her eyes.

Koji sat beside her quietly. He was balancing it in his head, what he'd do. She knew when he snorted that he came up with the same conclusion she had. "If-if I raised that sort of child to be guilty of this, I'd let him rot in jail and admonish myself for the rest of my life. I'm not going to allow the monster I raised back on the street when the person he took from this world doesn't have that same option. He took a life and he gets to lose his. Equivalent exchange, I believe?"

She nodded grimly, "…Good behavior."

"Yea, well, he should have practiced that prior to it being forced on him in a prison" Koji said sarcastically, hugging her to his side. "I'm sorry that it was such a sordid thing, baby. Let me take you to dinner and I'll run you a bubble bath when we get back?"

She just wanted to hide in her sanctum for a couple days to forget about this. Wrapping her arms around her husband's chest, she nodded. "Okay. Take me somewhere with some frilly drinks and good dessert."

He smiled and kissed her temple, "You got it."

Rick would stay in prison because she knew not one person in her extended family would speak a kind word of him. He meant to kill someone and he had, it just didn't end up being his target. No, he…he wouldn't get a kind word from them.

He was planted where he was supposed to be.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hattori Azuma groaned as he went into the elevator, almost collapsing against the wall in exhaustion once the doors closed. Well, this was crazy.

About two months ago, he got the open position for a pulmonologist and it probably should have raised some flags that they suggested he could start immediately. His predecessor must have fled in horror.

Once upon a time, perhaps back during World War II, this would have made sense. He was thinking he'd be treating mostly asthma and the likes. And he was but what he wasn't expecting was so many occupational injuries from working in mines.

Jilliana explained that they were probably sitting on millions of pieces worth of jewels and gems. She cited her uncle would go to an upper mine sometimes and get ore and the likes but rarely traveled downward. It was those people that did take the risk that were in his office with lung issues. Apparently there were all sorts of gases hovering around. Not to mention he was treating all sorts of scrapes as apparently the ground could give out in spots or something insane. They should need a permit!

He straightened up professionally when the door opened and a couple doctors entered. Well, he was going to eat dinner then go home and that sounded like positive bliss. And it was nirvana too because his girlfriend text him to ask when he was ending his shift because she was going home too.

The good thing about his specialty is he had…hours. He was not going to be there until 5 in the morning every day of the week or just be called in for no reason. Jilliana got called in at all times of the night and worked graveyard shifts at least three to four times a week. While he knew that was going to be a thing, he hardly got to see her and when she had days off, she was resting as she should. Nope, she had the next couple of days off, starting now, and he was making her relax. Maybe he'd take her to a spa or something because she deserved some coddling.

"Any luck with Izumi?"

Eh? Azuma looked up, confused, pretty sure he'd never even talked to either of them since he'd been here. Sure, he saw them in passing but how would they know? Alas, the ruddy haired one snorted, shaking his head, "Of course not."

"C'mon, Megumi, you usually would've had them on all fours by now. At least twice."

Oh really? Eyes narrowing, his eyes rolled toward 'Megumi' who just looked peeved. "She's playing hard to get unless she's a lesbian or something. Shouldn't matter either way."

"She is pretty hot, I wouldn't be surprised if she has a boyfriend."

Yea, you assholes were standing in an elevator with him. Azuma's eye twitched, silently listening to the two of them remark on portions of Jilliana's body and what they'd do to each part, wondering how the hell this was such a long elevator ride.

Thankfully the end of the line came without him busting one of them in the eye. Megumi. He'd tell Jilliana about this prick and advise her to look out for him. Sounded like she was already picking up on his intentions if she was playing 'hard to get'.

…Or maybe she was avoiding Megumi for him?

"Izumi!"

His head shot up from his thoughts when he heard the bastard's voice call out his girlfriend's surname. Megumi's goon chuckled lowly as they both approached her. Oh, hell no. Jilliana was standing in the lobby, waiting for him, wearing a pretty salmon colored dress that cut off a little above her knees. He was going to take her to dinner since they both agreed neither felt like cooking. His eyes narrowed when she looked slightly perturbed, seeing the guys.

"Hello, Megumi-san, Urumo-san."

"We're about to go out for a drink with some of the others. It's not Monday so you shouldn't have your family thing" Megumi pressed.

"Um, well, no…"

Nope, there would be no night that would happen. Azuma smiled some as he purposefully strode between them. "Hey Jilli, we don't want to be late for dinner. You know how crowded Tenshiya gets."

She smiled as he came over and she kissed him. "Hi, Azu. Don't worry, Steiner saved us a table."

Somehow he didn't even have to turn to look at the other two, pretty much smelling their surprise. Jilliana hugged his arm, turning back to the wretches, "Have you met the new doctor in pulmonology, Megumi-san, Urumo-san?"

"Uh, no…" Megumi squirmed.

"We went to medical school together. He's just getting back from abroad" Jilliana gushed.

While Azuma was flattered as she proclaimed some of his accolades, he was honestly more pleased they both looked so awkward. Megumi cleared his throat after a moment and smiled quickly, "W-Well, that's cool. N-Nice to meet you, Hattori."

Azuma nodded at them, tilting his head to the hospital doors, "Well, you guys have a good night. We should be going now."

"Yes, good night" Jilliana smiled.

Taking a deep breath when they left, a little irritated that was so…tame, he shook his head. "Jilliana, I was on the elevator and those pricks were talking very…sexually about you."

"I figured as much. We're not even in the same department but he's always had some weird fixation with me."

Azuma leered at that, Jilliana climbing into the passenger seat of the new car he just got. He had kind of wanted to bring his car from Malaysia when he left but the shipping and whatnot just didn't seem reasonable. He had been reluctant to invest in one here, especially given that he hadn't had a permanent residence. Jilliana rectified that by inviting him to live with her.

It…was all kind of fast. He was okay with it because when they were in college they had spent a lot of time with each other and, had he not left, he probably would have suggested it anyway. Just, to go from such a fickle relationship to living together and being addressed as a boyfriend? Sometimes it was overwhelming but sometimes it was just…perfect. It had been growing for a long time, hadn't it?

Jilliana was flipping through her phone, smiling at messages and pictures she got from mostly her family, as they headed toward the ferry station. He was half-tempted to suggest they just go to a restaurant here so they could just go straight home and snuggle. Alas, having tasted the food at her cousin-in-law's establishment, he was pretty hooked and almost everyone else far paled in comparison…

"We can stay in Hondo tonight, Azu. Maybe we can do some shopping in the morning and come back home to get some chores done" Jilliana suggested, looking out into the early evening sky from the window.

Azuma scowled, "Well, I wanted to make you take a break. You're gonna run yourself into the ground at this rate."

Jilliana waved a hand as if it were inconsequential and rubbed his knee. "It'd be different though, a change of venue."

Raising a brow at her caressing hand briefly, he cleared his throat as he pulled into the gate so they could be ferried across the island. "Yes…change of venue."

Two months. Everything was so perfect he couldn't even believe he began to deserve this. He frowned when he heard a crackle overhead. Huh…thunder this early in the Spring? Jilliana stretched, seeming to be lulled into a nap by the waves, leaving him alone to be crazy and speculate a storm was coming.

Azuma shuddered when they were on the other side and resumed driving through the busy city. No rain came but that didn't mean anything, right?

"Hattori-san, Jilliana, hey!"

Yagami Miru was sitting at the host stand of Tenshiya when they arrived. Tsumaru was bewildered by Jilliana's family, this sea of some very strange hair and eye colors. When he first met Miru here, he was very…baffled. He had pink hair and red eyes. Jilliana introduced him as her cousin which…okay, he wasn't sure he would attach them. Not to mention the kid was like fifteen? "Steiner is his brother-in-law and Miru has worked as his host server for a while."

God, all of their family seemed so responsible. At fifteen, he was to be studying, no ifs, ands, or buts. Technically he didn't think anything was wrong with that mantra but Miru was apparently like number 2 in his class whilst working. Azuma was like…five with all of his efforts going into it, good grief.

"Hi, Miru-chan!" Jilliana greeted.

"Hello, Yagami-san."

Miru stood, people bustling all around as he held menus, directing them toward a small room. It was apparently the VIP area where Steiner would occasionally close off for special events. Otherwise it was just like any other area of the restaurant and it was good they called Steiner early because it was already packed at 6:30.

Seating them in a nice corner with candlelight, Miru smiled as he handed them the menu. "Steiner recommends the Pinot Noir tonight."

"Sounds good" Jilliana smiled as well, "Put me down for a glass."

Azuma nodded to confirm he would partake in a glass of wine as well, especially after this hellacious week. He flipped through the menu, just amazed how sophisticated this felt. "You're going to make me a gentleman yet, Jilli."

"You're silly" she laughed, setting her menu down, "I was thinking while I was napping that a little relaxation would be nice. Maybe we can go to a hotel with a spa for a night."

"Sounds perfect" he agreed, stroking her hand.

When his mother was away and he was 'allowed', or, 'partook upon himself', to watch television, the dates looked something like this. The fancy dinner, the plans to go to a hotel…he flustered, shaking his head. Maybe she just wanted to briefly fondle his thigh, it didn't have to mean anything.

After a dinner of lobster and gratin with a dessert of a chocolate soufflé, he could tell his lovely lady was ready to sleep. Quickly searching for a nice hotel with an attached salon and spa, he found a perfect fit not too far away.

Jilliana sipped on something as they were driving in a little bottle. It was kind of strange since they'd both just eaten and he was unaware she was on any medication. Pulling into the hotel, he grabbed the bags they kept in the car for changing at the hospital which made this venture easier. Checking into a nice suite on the top floor, reminding himself they were paying for service and convenience, Azuma smiled, a bit confused, as Jilliana hugged his waist when they entered the empty elevator. She seemed to have pepped up for some reason…

Arriving at their room at the end of the hall, Azuma set their suitcase on the bed and stretched. He couldn't wait to sleep, his bones were starting to hurt and that just was impossibly weird to him. He wasn't that old. Jilliana grabbed her bag and smiled, going toward the bathroom. "I'll be right out."

He nodded and shuffled through his bag for his toothbrush. While he waited for Jilliana, he looked at his phone and checked the weather. Not…one thing about thunder or lightning or anything of that sort. Had he been hearing things?

Jilliana came out, shooing him to go brush his teeth quickly. He guessed she was ready for some shut eye too. Cliff, who was becoming a little more comfortable with him, advised that Jilliana was the type to work herself into the ground if she were allowed. Azuma felt he had somewhat gotten her to slow down but she was definitely a whirlwind of activity.

Taking of his slacks and shirt, folding them and then washing his face before brushing his teeth, Azuma meandered out and expected to see his dear girlfriend conked out in bed. Well…she was in bed, just…wearing a sheer black negligee. He stared at her, wide-eyed and a bit speechless, as she smiled. "I was thinking we can do a little…relaxing before we go to sleep."

Azuma swallowed and walked closer, feeling like he was in a trance. "W-well, I-I wouldn't mind that so much, I-I don't think, but-"

She tugged him closer by the band of his boxer briefs and he guessed another storm was churning as his mind traveled from sleep to sexy time at ease. Sitting up on her knees, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him teasingly, nipping at his lower lip. Breathing out faintly, he ran his fingers through her hair, resting his free hand on her hip. This…was still more than he deserved.

Easing her onto her back, he dipped his tongue between her lips and rubbed her thighs. She reached down to stroke him, nice and slow, and…

Their relationship was good. It was just so breezy and harmless that it was laughable to him that there was this looming threat somewhere in the distance that may emerge like a storm. Part of him just wanted to write it off the paranoia but part of him just knew. It drove him crazy because this was perfect. Well, not perfect, but this was the most solid commitment he could ever fathom. Just knowing that his own mother was perfectly capable of ruining every solid inch of this just made him ill.

Jilliana had the sultriest voice when she came, her body trembling underneath him as she clenched his shoulders hard. His damn mother was such a distraction he wasn't even sure how he got that far into them doing it where Jilliana came in the first place! Groaning, he dropped his head against her shoulder and shook it miserably. This…was a mess.

"Azu? What's the matter?" Jilliana panted, flushed, as she looked toward him.

"A-Absolutely nothing, Jilli" he shuddered, "J-Just that we probably s-should still use condoms."

Her nose wrinkled and he almost laughed. It was odd, being they were both doctors and Jilliana was specifically working in one of the areas where unprotected sex was a bit of a factor, that they were a little against condoms. Not the benefits, heavens no, but she had that implant which was almost foolproof at this point. He…couldn't imagine what his mother would think if Jilliana had his child.

…He would think it was absolutely perfect.

Pulling out, sticky with sweat, he watched Jilliana fall asleep before dozing off himself. No. No more of this. He was so busy chastising Jilliana about relaxing he was overlooking the fact he hadn't been able to relax for months now. It was time to stop running. He'd…he'd call his mother tomorrow and tell her everything and that she could do nothing about it. He'd tell her he was in love with her mortal enemy's daughter and that, should they both consent, he wanted to stay with her. Maybe they'd have a long-term future, maybe they'd have children, and maybe she was simply everything that made his spirit complete.

He could already feel the winds brewing.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"A certain level of maturity comes with going to college, Takeru. A certain level of discipline. You are not portraying either to me."

Izumi Jill gnawed the end of a pen as she sat in her living room, looking back at her husband and son as they started to bicker for possibly the millionth time about him going to college. Cliff was starting to get more adamant that Takeru wasn't prepared for the responsibility while Takeru was only getting hotheaded. Truthfully, that was entirely unlike her youngest child so she knew he was serious about this. Just…now might not be a great time.

It was an odd commonality in the eighties and nineties but people that had taken another person's life could get out of jail eventually. Later in the nineties, Jill supposed someone said 'that's insane' and usually a life sentence was always proposed. That's what she was used to now. Last week, Yamachi Rick was given parole. To say her older brothers were livid was an appalling understatement. Shin didn't express it quite as vividly as, say, Koji or Nelly, but it didn't sound like any of them were averse to killing him.

Popuri was horrified and confused. "How did this happen? I turned down even suggesting it to your brother!"

Jill's brother's father-in-law gushed that someone very relevant to the case used their vast knowledge and declared forgiveness for Rick's crimes. Who? Who would possibly have done such a thing to sway a judge?

Hattori Azuma, the pure image of the slain, said coolly, "My mother."

Mentally, Jill actually formulated the word 'pause'. Pause. Hattori Rinko wrote her death threats for almost twenty years over the loss of her brother. Jill felt she was to blame even though somewhere deep in herself she knew it wasn't logical. Just she thought often what could she have done differently or why couldn't she have left Tsumaru alone. Rinko pretty much had her tagged as the gunman that pulled the trigger. And apparently so as she just gave testimony to allow the actual gunman out of prison.

What could the court actually say? Rick was the model prisoner for over twenty years now, they couldn't cite any grievance from his time there on why he shouldn't be let free. Then, the tip of the iceberg? The victim's only surviving blood relative speaks for him. The sister! She wrote Jill death threats for almost twenty years because her brother was dead and she gave testimony for his killer?

To say the least, she was terrified.

"I do believe in forgiveness" Shin had muttered, "Just, had someone taken one of your lives and needed me to sing their good graces, I simply could not. And I don't think a woman like this could do so either. Not without something else in mind."

Azuma had come over with Jilliana after all this happened, quietly digesting the information. Jill had been wary of him, naturally. Strangely though, she did feel this overwhelmingly dark animosity he had for his and his mother's relationship. Azuma was born after what happened to Tsumaru so apparently not one inch of his life had never been without this cloud looming above him. He told them silently that he had called his mother and informed her who he was with.

'Why?' did come to mind. Just it would have been a weird thing to ask because it was his mother. Maybe he thought she could…handle the information? "I'm sorry, ma'am, it was a mistake. I…I am happy so I guessed I hoped she'd be happy for me."

And any mother should. Instead, she…got the murderer of her brother out of jail. Why?

Looking to her youngest son, she sighed heavily. They told Takeru that now was just not a good time. They explained it perfectly, she thought, that there were concerns that preceded his right now but they could revisit it soon. He was…upset. "Our family's issues happen all the time! What's different this time?!"

That was the problem, they didn't know! Takeru looked irritated, huffing as he stalked toward the door. He was mostly likely going to either a friend's house or Sharron's. The young woman was something like the love of Takeru's young life and she was usually pretty levelheaded. Maybe she could talk some sense into him…

Cliff stroked his long dirty blond hair back, seeming aggravated as well. "…I'm now leaning a hundred percent toward 'no'. He's got too much growing to do."

Jill felt grim. "Does he have too much growing to do or is this like the thousandth time family drama got in the way?"

Her husband grimaced. Maybe…just maybe, Rick would go lead a secluded life elsewhere once he got himself on his feet. Perhaps he'd be okay and honor the restraining order to stay away from her. Maybe, just perhaps, this was not shaping out to be a bad thing.

…Maybe. Just…why?

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"You've gone completely insane. I ought to disown you."

Hattori Azuma numbly finished some annotations to his medical records for the day to give more clarification. To be honest, he was in such a haze he questioned the details himself. The clouds were dark.

He had been sitting on the couch in the home he shared with Jilliana, the former insisting on cooking them a nice healthy fresh dinner the Saturday they got back from the hotel excursion. He'd made her go to the spa and pamper herself and got them a nice lunch at a restaurant overlooking a river. She got the chicken, he got the seabass.

When they finally came back to the house and he was given the opening, he sat down and he called Hattori Rinko. He told her he met Izumi Jilliana in college, tried to avoid her, but ultimately he found he'd fallen head over heels in love with her. He didn't inform the woman of where they lived but that he was now living with her and everything was perfect. His sanity came to question in his mother's actually pretty mild response.

"You've raised me to hate them, mother. And I did. But…I can't live that way and I hope you can decide not to either."

"Don't tell me how to live. Apparently it won't work for either of us."

Truthfully, he had no room for argument there. Maybe…advise though? "I just want you to find something positive to focus on, mother. Not this."

"Something positive, huh?" she said coolly.

Yea, he guessed that 'something' was getting the one that killed his uncle in the first place out of jail.

'Mind boggling' failed to describe anything about the situation. For all he knew, she was practicing forgiveness and giving this man a second chance. That was positive! Just entirely unlikely. Jilliana's family was terrified and they probably should be.

Closing the computer, he stood and headed out to the neonatal wing. Her family was surrounding her mother. Tsumaru's mother had made no qualms about who she wanted to see suffer and it was definitely Izumi Jill. It made sense…if they weren't dealing with Hattori Rinko. His mother knew that it'd be too obvious to target Jill. In fact, she had sent enough incriminating evidence in those death threat letters alone that it'd be such an open and shut case should something happen to her it'd be ridiculous. No, he figured when he heard about all the wild incidents in their family, they were usually dealing with a common villain. His mother was not that.

As of right now, knowing her psychotic tendencies, the only person that made sense? Jilliana.

Hurting Jilliana would mean hurting Jill's oldest child and, in turn, taking out the one that had 'coerced' her only son to their side. Jilliana had seemed shocked by the suggestion. "But…why?"

He was going to give a long spiel on the autonomy of 'why' but Jilliana apparently knew the answer immediately after voicing the question. This was the same woman that buried in him the belief that her entire family was evil and that Jill was completely to blame then gave enough testimony for the courts to approve bail on the actual murderer. 'Why' did not matter because reason was not afoot.

However, Jilliana did not adjust her schedule or anything to try to avoid public places or anything. "I have things to do, I can't put my life on hold for her."

No…she shouldn't. And he couldn't expect her to just sit around, waiting. Azuma miserably walked toward the station where Jilliana was standing, typing something. He…he had already done that to her, hadn't he? He'd…he'd done all of this.

"Hey, Jilli…?"

The blonde looked up at him and smiled. It made him weak because in the face of his mother's mysterious tactics, this woman smiled at him regardless. His mother. His mother…always ruined everything.

"Hi, Azu. Are you ready to go home? Let me finish up the notes for the next doc."

"Um…okay. We need to talk though."

She frowned some before closing the computer, waving him to probably where her locker was. He followed weakly, all the life sucked out of him. Not here. Maybe…outside. When they got to the elevator, she yawned and stretched. "How about we order Chinese for dinner tonight, Azu? I'm too tired to cook."

He stared down at his feet before looking up at her. "…I think we should break up, Jilliana."

Dramas made this activity out to be the most chaotic event to ever happen. Lots of tears, lots of questions, lots of panic. Jilliana looked…unperturbed. "Why?"

"Why? Because this situation wouldn't have fallen on your family if it weren't for me, Jilliana! I-I brought this attention to you all! My mother stopped writing letters and everything but now because my stupid ass told her, you're all being threatened again and we're just sitting around, waiting for her to strike! You're…you've always been better off without me. I knew that from the very beginning and I-I thought just…just finding myself would be enough but it's not. It's…it's just not."

He looked up her to see her expression. It hadn't changed. "Do you love me?"

"What? Of-Of course I love you, Jilliana. But be practical! That's not enough if you're going to get hurt! It's going to hurt me more because I put you in this position!" Azuma protested.

"Azu" she said flatly, "You told me. You told me when we graduated about how your mother aligned in my family and the drama she's caused. You told me and I was reluctant because I didn't know your intentions. You've made your intentions clear and I trust you again. And your mother has been very clear about her intentions all along. I still made the decision that I wanted to be with you."

His eyes widened as she wandered to hug his waist, resting her ear against his chest, "Your mother's hatred would have come to a head one way or another, with or without you. You have nothing to do with any of the actions she takes. And, no offense because I know you're trying to be heroic, but I doubt you leaving me all of a sudden would make my family less of a target."

…Shit. "That's…that's true" he whispered. And hell, how was he supposed to protect her if they broke up? He…he kept thinking he was the problem in her life and him disappearing would fix everything for her. No, these…these clouds were in motion with or without him.

"Will you ride this out with me?" she said softly, looking up at him.

"…Of course, baby. Just wish we didn't have to, this…this wasn't either of our waves to begin with" he muttered.

She smiled softly and kissed him, parting when the doors opened to let them out. Fine. Fine, if the hurricane was going to come, he was going to batter down. He reached out and held her hand tightly as they walked toward her car. If…if something happened to her in the midst of this, he'd lose it. He'd have lost pretty much everything in his life.

"Azuma, I know you and some of my family are concerned but I really don't think she's coming after me" Jilliana replied, buckling her seatbelt.

He'd honest to God just checked to see if the car had anything resembling a bomb before letting them get in and she still thought that? He scowled, looking to her, "Look, it'd have to be someone. Maybe your dad? Carrie? Your mom?"

"I don't know…" she murmured, "And why Rick? If he's gotten out, what can she give him to make him go commit the same crime he committed in the first place?"

That was true. Unless he was truly a dumb criminal? This was a fresh start for him so maybe he wasn't a component of this madness.

Thing was, everything was a component to her madness, wasn't it? This…this puzzle didn't have fitting pieces. Someone was going to get blown away.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Yagami Koji stared off as he stood outside on the island away from Mineral. He wanted a cigarette but knew that was the last thing poor Lillia needed hovering around. She didn't need her son hovering around either, as far as he was concerned, but here they were.

Rod called and basically told his wife that her brother had been allowed release in a week with that 'no thanks to you' tone. Like anyone wanted Rick released except Rod and most likely Lillia. She was his mother so of course she probably wanted him to have a second chance to redeem himself. Koji could respect that to some degree, he believed in second chances. Just…not in regard to the one that almost killed his only sister.

He clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing as he leaned against the fence. Jill had to watch a man die due to all this. Someone she cared about too. They didn't do her any favors, him, Nelly, Shin, by protecting her from darkness for such long periods of her life but be damned if he wanted her experiences to have something that morbid. Above all, as selfish as it was, that son of a bitch tried to kill his baby sister. Yes, Jill was a mom now and he felt that maybe his protective tendencies started to shift more to his children and his nieces and nephews but, well…she was the original. Some places in his mind got shadowy thinking about it, as if some spots were missing, but he'd been protective of his sister since she was born. And maybe she was a big bad adult now but there was no way in Hell this was going to happen again.

"Koji dear?"

Looking up, he smiled some when his and Shin's mother-in-law appeared, carrying bags. He started toward them, reaching out to take the bags, "Hello, Lillia, Okamoto-san."

He couldn't help but grin some as Okamoto Lillian scruffled his hair, "I swear, I know I wasn't around you boys as much but I've known you since you were children and you still call me 'Okamoto-san'."

"Of course, Lillian."

They exchanged some quick pleasantries before Lillian took her leave, waving at them and advising Lillia she'd be back by in a few weeks. Siblings…were this strange entity, he imagined. While Popuri could have been present way more in his life earlier had Lillia and Lillian been on good terms, they seemed to come back around and were the best of friends. Popuri didn't even want to come with him as she might see Rick. "There's…there's nothing left, Kochi."

She told him when they were doing the prison visit, had it not gone south, she still probably wouldn't have gone back. His wife asked what do you talk about when one of you has been locked in the same place, told when to eat, when to sleep, and how to live, for the last twenty or so years?

Koji didn't have anything like that. If he went twenty days without seeing one of his siblings, that was a problem. Tony, Shaun, yea, maybe, they weren't as nearby as the others but he got a damn phone call from them. Popuri and Rick hadn't talked in any degree since the murder.

Wracking his brain for even a slight similarity to give his wife an answer, literally the only thing he could think of was how he talked to Shin when he came back from his first tour of duty in the army, after he got stranded and was one of three people out of his entire unit to survive, after he had to take people's lives. Thing was? He…just talked to Shin. Shin still had issues because of all that but they talked about it. That's all he could do. Popuri fell quiet and shook her head.

"I get that, Koji. But Shin was overseas looking for a refugee prison camp to help people and came out with understandable scars. My brother killed someone and placed himself in this situation. I…don't think we can talk about his 'issues'. He started them."

Maybe so. But there was a reason he did this and it could start there if she actually wanted the relationship. She didn't which was fair. Except…maybe someone should have just have talked to Rick to begin with. Maybe, and most likely, it wouldn't have solved anything. Maybe, when he considered it, having an absent father and a sick mother didn't give Rick many venues for healthy conversations. Maybe any of this could have been avoided. And then maybe Koji wouldn't be here ready to threaten his brother-in-law's life. Just…just maybe.

"I know why you're here, Koji. I promise to keep a close eye on him."

Koji looked up, startled, by Lillia's soft voice. She was looking off, kneading her hands. Popuri said her mom blamed herself. Had she been a stronger parent, Rick wouldn't have come to this. There was no telling at this point.

"…How has he been?"

"Oh, quiet. He feeds the chickens sometimes and he'll come eat with us. I think he's just not used to it anymore but…but I think with time, he may be okay" Lillia nodded.

Yea…maybe. "That's good, Lillia. I guess you figured I was here to make some…mild threats, huh?"

The woman actually smiled, "I assumed. I know how crazy you are about your sister. Just…I will keep an eye on him, I swear."

…Mm. "I want you to stay out of his way if a situation gets out of hand, kaa-san. I will, at your request, forgo any bodily warnings today" he said faintly.

"Thank you, Koji."

"However…you advise your son that should anything befall anyone in my family, this is it. We have unfinished business and, even if it's not me, one of us will wrap it up if he gives a reason."

Lillia seemed surprised…but actually nodded. "I understand."

He walked her to the door, setting her bags in the corridor before taking his leave. He wanted to avoid seeing either of the Yamachi men now. Picking up his phone, he gave each suspected target a call. Jill and Jilliana since the girl was dating Dr. Ishikawa's nephew. Cliff, eh, maybe? He was there. Popuri suggested something pretty funny.

"Maybe…since Ishikawa-san was her brother, she'll come for one of you."

If that crazy bitch sent Rick after any one of them, it wouldn't even be a problem anymore, she'd have done them a damn favor. Popuri still was concerned.

Nah, that'd be best case scenario. It'd really have to be Jill for any of this to be symbolic. And he'd been an overprotective older brother his whole life so, should that occur, there was going to be war.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Nonsense.

Yagami Elli wished. WISHED that somehow there was a hotline to the afterlife so that that stupid man could talk sense to his stupid sister!

Irritated as she walked back from the small urgent care clinic, what once used to be Ishikawa's practice and the only medical building in Mineral Town, Elli picked up some flowers to take to his grave. She didn't do it very often, just when she thought about something like when they had to run to the mine to treat Gotz for inhalation or treating a scrape on Aja. She missed him but…well, her life had turned out very well, hadn't it? She'd…moved on.

Elli stopped, seeing a black haired woman standing before the grave. Others hadn't.

"…Rinko."

The woman turned to her, looking to her absently. When Ishikawa first came here and for a couple years during Elli's tenure as his nurse, Rinko came every other day. She was a very serious woman and spent most of her time trying to convince her brother to go to the big practice he deserved. Sometimes Elli knew that he questioned if he was doing enough in this small town but most of the time he'd deny his sister's suggestions, stating he was at home here. Rinko…was never thrilled about that. At some point, when Rinko started seeing someone, she and Tsumaru stopped speaking. Tsumaru said they just had different paths in life. Elli…wasn't certain when the last time the two talked but she was certain it wasn't before he died.

Satoru, or, 'Stu' was her half-brother by whatever standards were in place to describe such relationships. He was younger than her by something like twenty years. It was an odd inclusion by that point but she thought he was the cutest thing. Naturally, being pretty much an adult by the time he was born, she didn't see him very often as a baby. When their parents died, she helped raise him where she could but their Grandma Ellen came and took up the mantle. When their Grandma Ellen passed, he was sixteen and requested that he be allowed to study abroad. Much like Jill was with Takeru, she was hyper reluctant but allowed it. Thrilled, he went off to Hong Kong and pretty much never looked back. He had a business out there, a software company, and he often invited her to come meet his girlfriend. She…hadn't physically seen him in quite a few years but the bond was there. If…if something had happened to him like it'd happened to Tsumaru…

"Well, if it isn't the woman that failed to marry my brother."

Elli's eyes narrowed. She still would never be as jaded as Hattori Rinko. "I think at some point you need to accept that your brother never loved me. Of course, having heard about the way you've 'loved' people, you might be surprised to learn you can't make people love you."

Hattori Azuma was physically Tsumaru's clone. Jilliana, in what had to be some version of irony, brought him to dinner night recently. All the normal 'girl brings boy home' shenanigans fell to the wayside because of just the amazement. He was a nice young man, also a doctor, and he was damaged.

It wasn't hard to tell that his mother had done a number on him. He told them small stories as an introduction and it sounded like he'd been forced into medical school and forced to forego all other interests to meet that goal. His mother made her son a facsimile of what she lost and that was…that was disgusting. As a mother, she just…didn't understand.

Rinko turned to her, her eyes dark. But then, maybe Rinko never even saw Azuma as her son but a chance to start over with Tsumaru. Another Tsumaru since the one she had a falling out with was gone forever... It…it was too late for that.

"You could have made him love you. But just rather strangely you also got on with this Yagami family. You replaced Tsumaru. And you claimed you loved him."

Somehow, Elli had to scoff, "Again, Rinko, your brother did not love me. Maybe he could have learned but I didn't want to suffer such a feeling. And, you know, I was prepared to mourn for all eternity for your brother but, yes, I 'got on with' my husband and it's been an absolute blessing."

"You never loved him, that's why. Nothing is a blessing if you lost the person you loved" Rinko snarled.

"That's a pathetic way of living" Elli replied briskly.

Rinko stared at her before turning back to the grave. "We'll see about that in the end, Elli."

…Popuri called her, Lyla, Karen, and Ann on a video chat yesterday. She was terrified that perhaps it wasn't Jill but Jill's brothers Rinko may target. That was poetic justice, after all. Elli wasn't into that sort of poetry. Dropping the flowers, she stalked right up to the woman. Rinko turned to her, leering as they came almost toe to toe.

"You listen carefully: if you think about harming a hair on my husband's or any of his brother's heads, I am swearing on your brother's grave below us, I will make sure you're never a problem for anyone again."

"How passionate. I miss that."

Elli glared hotly as the woman looked to the sky, closing her eyes. "…I was going to wait. My son's phone call to me about how he's found 'the love of his life' in a little she-devil made me change my plans. I think they'll know my suffering."

What? Rinko kneeled before her brother, pressing her hands together, "Just you wait, little brother. You'll be avenged."

With that, the woman stood and left without another word. Elli stared after her before coming to the grave, staring at his name and the dates from oh so long ago now.

…She wished there was a hotline to the afterlife so he could tell her what his crazy ass sister was about to pull.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"You can have a new life. Start over from this place. I can't but you can have that opportunity. You just need to do one thing for me and I can get you out of here with enough money and a new identity. You just have to do one thing."

Aunt Popuri sent a text in all caps: 'MY BROTHER IS MISSING AND HE HAS MY DAD'S GUN!'.

Really? Just…didn't he know they were suspicious of him? What would make him do something like that? Jilliana hectically looked over her shoulder, glancing to her phone to see if Carrie had responded yet that she was okay. She had. She and Hayato were at home. Azuma had also received the text, off today, and told her she needed to come home as well.

Biting her lip, Jilliana did her rounds, checking on the soon-to-be mothers as she always did. Her uncles were on it, she was sure. They were probably looking for Rick. Aunt Popuri's father insisted that the gun was only to protect the chickens from wildlife and maybe Rick had seen something. What dissolved the man's faith was Lillia wasn't stirring. When he went to wake her, he found a residue in her cup of tea that he'd expressed Rick had started to bring her lately. He'd slipped his mother something. This was not a misunderstanding.

Just…who? Her mother? It'd just…it'd just be too obvious. Maybe Tsumaru's mother didn't care about going to jail or whatnot though. Just…Rinko wanted people to suffer and, frankly, she'd be candidate number one in that category if something happened to Izumi Jill. There wasn't anyone in her mama's family who wouldn't immediately go postal.

So…her? She was dating the woman's son and was the daughter of Jill. It made a little more sense, just…well, it'd hurt her mother and her family but it seemed a little expected as well to kill the girlfriend of her son. It wasn't…calculated enough or something. The brothers? It would seem like a suicide mission to go after Jilliana's uncles though. Maybe Rick could take out one but then the other three to four would murder him instantaneously.

Aunt Elli had advised she had a run in with Rinko at Ishikawa Tsumaru's grave. She told them the crazed woman said something like she 'thinks they'll know her suffering'. They who? The whole family? Yes, that was the case, but…

'They'. Her for dating Azu, her mother for 'causing' Tsumaru's death. Rinko's suffering, in her mind, was losing her brother and to some degree her son…

…Wait.

Jilliana froze.

"Takeru!"

The nurses around her looked alarmed as she quickly told them she had to go. Running out of the hospital in a panic, she blindly dialed his cell phone number. Breathing hard as she pressed it to her ear, she could have collapsed when it just kept ringing and ringing. He was mad because all of this going on was getting in the way of his college endeavors. So, either he was ignoring her or he was…

No. No, just let him be ignoring her. Maybe he was at home. But no, it was Saturday so even if he wasn't pissed at the world he wouldn't be home. Where would he be? Almost dropping the device several times as she looked at the GPS, she found his dot was in the middle of town. Maybe…maybe as long as he stayed in crowded places…

Coming to the shopping district, she stopped and caught her breath. It wasn't as crowded as usual but there were enough people that ought to have made committing a crime here ridiculous. All the same, she had to get him to a safe place. "Takeru!"

She called him again, finding she was unable to locate him. At last, he picked up, "What is it, Jilliana?"

"Takeru, sweetie, where are you? I have to get to you quickly, okay?"

"So you can take me back home? Nah, I'll pass" he said irritably.

No! "Takeru, this is not a game right now! You are in danger, baby, I have to get you somewhere safe!"

"What are you talking about? Is this more of this BS with that Rick guy or whatever? What the hell do I have to do with any of that?"

Nothing. Absolutely and completely nothing which was why he was the target. Rinko said her brother was a hapless victim and that's what Takeru was going to become. Jilliana let out of a breath of relief when she saw his back, a phone pressed to his ear. Oh, thank goodness! Putting the phone down, pretty much just going to ambush him and force him home, her whole body stopped when a figure in a black hoodie appeared out of an alley from behind.

No.

Without another thought, she darted right at the man and, just as he was removing his hand from his pocket, elbowed him hard in the side of the face.

"Stop it!" she screeched, grabbing his arm.

God knows for a fleeting second she thought, what if I'm attacking some random person? However, a gun was very tightly gripped in his hand as he tried to fight her off. No, this…this was him, trying to kill her little brother.

Everyone in the square was gasping and taking pictures, screaming for someone to get the cops. Yes, please. Takeru looked horrified. "N-Nee-san!?"

He had a ski mask on, covering everything but his eyes and mouth. That was because he'd be recognized immediately and that…

Finally, he shoved her forward and, while she'd never heard Yamachi Rick's voice a day in her life, he said, enraged, "You look just like your bitch of a mother."

Her thoughts were on Takeru even when he pulled the gun and shot her in the stomach.

"Nee-san!"

Crumpling to her knees, the pandemonium in the square taking on new levels as people ran and yelled, Jilliana could barely get out 'Takeru, run'. Run. He…he was the target.

"Y-You fucking bastard!"

Jilliana gripped the gaping hole in her belly, falling to her side, watching helplessly as Takeru… did about the craziest tackle she'd ever featured by pretty much diving and clotheslining Rick in the neck. Huh…Carrie did say he was a savage. She was only semi-relieved when the shock of the impact forced the gun out of Rick's hands. He…he could still hurt Takeru…

The man had spent years in prison and it showed, he also threw Takeru effortlessly down on the ground near her. It looked like he'd gotten the gun but people that hadn't ran off to safety started screaming too and throwing fruit and whatever they could find toward Rick. Jilliana could only watch as the man cursed loudly before darting off back down the alley, getting away. He…he failed…

"Jilli! Jilli, are you ok-okay? Hold on, th-the ambulance is coming!"

She dazedly looked to Takeru who was by her side, a scratch on his cheek. She weakly reached up to touch it, whispering, "A-Are you okay…?"

"Nee-san, you-you've been shot, don't even think about me!" Takeru choked, "J-Just hold on!"

Jilliana smiled some. To be honest, she kind of knew this wasn't as serious as it could be. It felt like it might have damaged some of her internal organs but she…was most likely just…getting weak due to blood loss…

She heard the ambulance as she succumbed, smiling grimly as she closed her eyes, listening to Takeru's screaming before they became simply whispers. Too bad, Hattori Rinko. Jilliana had accomplished what that bitter harpy wish she had:

She saved her brother.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

What the living fuck?

Azuma was pacing circles around the waiting room floor, almost pulling his hair out. This went exactly how he didn't imagine it.

He'd actually been going to Jill and Cliff's home in the town square when he heard the horrified declarations that 'Jilliana was shot!'. Then, he thought 'it happened'. He knew she was the target. Except, she wasn't.

When he got to the hospital, Takeru was in tears and shambles. "S-She told me I was in danger a-and she protected me and I-I'm such an idiot!"

Takeru? What the hell? Takeru. He couldn't have been further removed from what happened to Azuma's Uncle! Jilliana made more sense even though none of it did! Izumi Jill hugged Takeru tightly before muttering, "…I took her brother and Jilliana took her son."

But what? Two birds, one stone, he guessed? This was pure and absolute idiocy. But yea, he was not looking at Takeru, that was for sure. And when the other relatives arrived, they were startled before saying 'well, no, Takeru was not the focus'. If Jilliana hadn't figured it out, the kid would be dead. What the hell did that even accomplish?

Jilliana…would be okay, the doctors informed. Just she'd lost a lot of blood and she needed a transfusion. He quickly volunteered. He…he had to fix this. He swallowed as some of her relatives did give him questioning looks. Just…he didn't know if he could this time.

Yagami Koji had his arms crossed, looking to his wife who had her face buried in her hands. "…Po, it is not your fault, baby."

"Twice, Koji. Twice! This time he actually hurt someone in our family!"

"Which blaming yourself still doesn't make sense by any means. Why don't you call your dad and check on your mom? See if the drugs wore off."

Popuri shook her head to the negative for a moment. After a few minutes though, she glumly stood and excused herself. That bastard drugged his own mother to get out of the house and took his dad's gun. He was apparently covered head to toe and wearing gloves. His…his dad could have potentially been pinned, he supposed? If he'd…stuck around for a while, his dad could have been the one framed. Lunacy.

The doctors emerged and told them she'd finally woken up, that they could see her now. Tsumaru held back as everyone rushed into the room. Two blond men continued to sit, however. He knew one of them was Yagami Yamada but the other one…he'd been giving him the most looks.

"You don't want to go in, Hattori-san?" questioned Yagami Yamada, his arms crossed.

"I'm…I'm just the boyfriend. I'm not as important."

Yagami Yamada's brows furrowed at this and the other blond looked at him poignantly. "Look, kid, I'm only going to ask you once: did you have anything to do with this?"

Eh? Yamada nodded, "This is Izumi Craig, Jilliana's other grandfather."

"O-Oh, nice to meet you." Great, grandpas.

"So?"

"…This seemed to have been instigated by my calling and telling my mother I was in love with your granddaughter, sir, so I guess I did have something to do with this" he whispered.

Craig made a face. "Kid, I meant did you plot this with her? Apparently a lot of mothers have issues with their sons getting into a long-term relationship. If that's your 'something', join the club."

"N-No sir! I swear, I didn't know what she was planning! It-it doesn't even make sense! I-I do believe though that…that my declaration to her was the catalyst. I-I could have kept it to myself."

"Oh, you poor sweet naïve child" Craig said gravely. "I'm almost seventy years old and my mother knows all my business. She probably already knew about your girlfriend."

…Eh? The gears started turning in Azuma's head. Yea, when…when he spoke to her, she said 'I ought to disown you'. That didn't mean much in terms of language but it meant something in the way his mother said it. If she hadn't have known, that conversation would have been entirely different, more volatile. Disowning would have occurred. So…so why now?

"Well, I think people know things, Hattori-san. They can sense them or they find about them through word of mouth but when you confirm it, it takes on a life of its own" Yamada explained, "You putting it out to her meant it was solidified."

He guessed…there were ways for her to know. She had a lot of people that knew her so if they saw him anywhere, they could have informed her. Just…something was off, he just couldn't put his finger on it. An informant, maybe?

"…I should leave" he whispered.

"Hattori-san, I know for a fact that you mean something to my granddaughter. And if she means anything to you, you will not leave and you'll take your spot in that hospital room because you want it. I know this place of 'not being as important' that you're coming from…but that's not the case" Yamada said softly.

…Oh. Biting his lip, he quickly turned without another thought because the truth was, he…he wanted to be there.

When he came into the room, everyone was pretty quiet considering. Jilliana was pale, her lips almost white as she looked toward him…and still smiled. "There you are."

"Jilli…"

He sat on the edge of the bed and held her cool hand, her eyes heavy. She rubbed his thumb with hers, weakly pulling his hand to kiss his knuckles. "You've been beating yourself up, I'm sure. Just we've all come to the conclusion this was coming one way or another. Your…your mom planned this long before you came into the picture."

What? Her Uncle Koji sighed, crossing his arms, "The letters stopped around the time Takeru was born. I guessed she couldn't target one of us as Jill's brothers because there's like fifty of us and, well, we do have a bit of a reputation…"

Eh? Nelly nodded slowly, "So she was going to aim toward Takeru just to take away Jill's only son like Tsumaru was her only brother. I guess it's just kind of ironic Jill's daughter is with her only child and son."

…But… "…She had no idea that Takeru would be born though. What was her plan up until then?"

Carrie somehow looked droll, sitting on the side opposite her sister, Takeru pretty much lying miserably in bed with Jilliana. "Dunno, dude, she's your mom: you tell us."

"Carrie" Jilliana scowled.

No…she was right. Jill had been whispering with Cliff before shaking her head, "All that doesn't matter now. It may have been that she was just waiting to hurt one of the girls but then Takeru sidetracked her until he was older."

Likely. And what was likely was they couldn't sit here and think about it much longer. Shin, Jilliana's police officer uncle, blinked at him languidly. "Would your mother meet back up with Rick? As is, I can arrest her as an accessory but Rick has violated probation within little over a week. I need to get him back behind bars."

"It wouldn't be smart but she's not being that right now anyway" he murmured, looking to his phone. It looked like she was at some area behind that clinic where his uncle used to work…

Weird. "Is…is there anything behind the old clinic in town?"

Everyone frowned and Elli looked thoughtful, "…It was kind of like the maintenance shed for the lawnmower and everything. The doctor used to do his own lawn work. I don't know if the clinic is doing anything with it now."

"She's there. Before…before you arrest her, I'd like to finally talk to her" Azuma requested softly.

Jilliana gripped his hand and he patted hers, reaching out to stroke her brow, "Get some rest, Jilli. You've had a long day and…I think it's about time we wrapped up this nightmare."

Shin was calling in the brigade as he headed out, feeling the eyes of his girlfriend's relatives. They were probably still wondering about him and if he were trustworthy. Jilliana had just been worried before giving him a smile, asking that he come back, safe and sound. She trusted him. After his mother got the killer of her brother to almost murder her only baby brother and instead shot her. That…that was a lot to live up to.

He just wasn't going to run or conform this time. He…he wanted to be here. And she was finished taking that from him.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Who the hell are you?"

Hattori Rinko had to wait to be allowed clearance to see Yamachi Rick. There was protocol and dates and times she had to wait for to be able to see him. Finally, she'd been granted sufficient clearance and was now sitting across from him. He had voiced the poignant question, probably not expecting this perfect stranger. She stared back evenly.

"My name is Hattori Rinko. You killed my brother."

He seemed somewhat surprised. It was something she thought about long and hard, to whom she'd want to exact her vengeance. She could have hired a hitman but after her talk with Yagami Shin, she did some research. Needless to say, she was certain they'd be busted before the ink dried on her contract with his network. Even here was of some question but she'd forego sneakiness for poetic justice for this matter.

Rick sat back, staring at her, before drawling, "Is there…something you need to say to me?"

"Say? No. Do? Yes."

"Well, I won't be too much use to you there as I am serving a lifetime sentence as long as no one speaks for me."

Rinko waved a hand, "I'll deal with that. Once you get out, I need you to do something for me. Once it's complete, you can have a new life. Start over from this place. I can't but you can have that opportunity. You just need to do one thing for me and I can get you out of here with enough money and a new identity. You just have to do one thing."

"Which is..?"

"Help me remove Izumi Takeru."

She looked at that tramp's brothers. It was fitting, especially for the youngest one, Shaun. Just it wouldn't work, from what she could tell. Yes, she could ambush them and make one of them suffer, certainly, but they were an ornery bunch. They'd all lived through a great deal without issue and people like that don't go down easily.

She looked at 'Cliff', her brother's supposed 'friend' and the husband. It would hurt and she could make it look like an accident. Just Cliff had been involved. He'd caused this as well and she wanted him to suffer too. Death would be too easy.

The two daughters would have sufficed but it felt random. Very random, actually, but they'd do. Just she wasn't in any rush to kill two children at the time. When she heard about the birth of their only son though? It sounded much more fitting. Their only son for her only brother.

Azuma was born out of a brokenness she couldn't fathom. She was weak and needed a facsimile of Tsumaru to keep her going. What she got was this poor substitute that had desires her brother never would and did things Tsumaru had been above. Alas, when he called and told her he'd fallen in love with that woman's daughter, she could finally see some commonality. She'd make that bitch suffer too for repeating history.

Rick didn't seem stricken that she wanted him to kill someone. "Who the hell is that?"

"That is Izumi Jill's youngest child."

"Oh. Well, I can get with that" he said lowly.

"So you agree to the terms then?"

Rick snorted loudly, pushing the bridge of his glasses back up, "I don't know how you figure to do all this. But yea, if you can somehow get me out of here, I'll take care of the brat. Gladly. You just keep your end of the bargain."

She had no intention of doing so. The bastard pulled the trigger and killed her brother. He'd be properly framed and placed back in prison for going for revenge, killing the son of his intended victim from all those years ago. She would cite ignorance and declare how on Earth she could have possibly thought he'd do such a thing. They might have letters and hearsay but they had no proof she put him up to this.

This was all she had left.

And he'd failed.

Hattori Rinko gritted her teeth and stared at Yamachi Rick who looked aggravated. "You failed."

"Look, I shot one of their kids. Doesn't that count for something?" he rolled his eyes.

"I wanted the son!"

She was boiling. One teenage boy. She got word from some people she had posted around that he was walking the streets, in and out of dark alleys. He was an easy target! Even when the daughter showed up, he was an easy target! How hard was it overpower one woman!?

The worst part? That little bitch protected her brother! This wasn't poetic justice, it was a slap in the face! How perfect it would have been if 'Jilliana' got to watch the life seep out of her brother's body. Instead? She got to do the one thing Rinko hadn't been able to do! She would have taken a thousand bullets for Tsumaru but she wasn't even talking to him at that time. Izumi Jilliana took that bullet for her brother. This bastard failed.

"The deal is off."

"Figured that" Rick said at ease. "I stole some of my parent's stuff, I'll be able to make it off the island and can probably get another identity without you."

Rinko gritted her teeth, "So a poor finisher and a poor son."

Strangely, Rick smiled and folded his arms. "Y'know, my dad went away when I was around eleven years old. Said he was off to 'find a cure' for my mom's illness. I never told my little sister but I found out when I was about thirteen that he'd actually started a new family. Figured mom wasn't strong enough to handle the truth and Popuri was just a kid at the time. I held the lie together for them."

He got closer and she backed away, growing a little uneasy as his eyes closed some, "It's tough in a small town to keep things quiet though. And it was hard having to be the man of the house. I had a girlfriend, sure, but she was a wild slut, I never knew who she was going to do it with next. In fact, she married that bitch's twin brother. Just a slap in the face, y'know? It wouldn't have worked either way though, I could have never controlled her. I didn't have much control in my life."

What—"So here comes this pretty rich blonde with an attitude just asking for someone to take the reigns. Just like my girlfriend, she was sleeping around. The black guy, Cliff—your brother. She was like a succubus or something, man, seducing a doctor. She used to ride him almost through the floor, y'know?"

Rinko's eyes widened, gaping a little. "Y-You-"

"Oh, and he liked it too. Hope that doesn't hurt your sister complex you have going. Having the hots for a sibling can go like that."

She screamed, slapping him hard across the face, "How dare you?!"

His cold hand wrapped around her arm and his smile turned wicked, "But then, even big sister goes spreading her legs for another man when it suits her. You didn't want him though, did ya? Maybe your look a like son would do. Of course, just like little brother, he grows up to hate you too. Yea, I heard from my mom: your son? He hates you and wants nothing to do with you, just like Tsumaru. And then he goes and gets himself the daughter of the same blonde slut that stole your precious brother from you. You just lost control too, didn't ya?"

Trembling, she stared at him. He was going to kill her. "You know why my dad came back to this family though after all that time? The other wife left him and took the kid too. He had nothing left so he came back to take what he could get: his shitty other family. But it was just too late. And that's what you failed to realize, Rinko: you let things go to shit with your brother and now he's dead. And you cling to the idea that killing some random ass teenager that means nothing to you will really change anything. There won't be any satisfaction now because the fucker is dead and has been dead for thirty years. But you fucked up that relationship. Then you fucked up your relationship with your husband and your only child for a dead man and have the idea you can gain control by killing nobodies. But it's just too late now. You lost control and now you're going to lose everything."

…No…

Rick reacted instantly by cocking his pistol when the door opened to the small shed. She shakily looked back and stared in horror. Azuma was standing there, wearing his doctor's coat with his hands up and a solemn look on his face. "Hey, I'm not here to try anything."

"Azuma-" she rasped.

"Then you walked into the wrong place, bastard" Rick snorted.

Her son slowly shook his head, approaching them but coming to a stop when Rick flexed his hand more, threatening. "I'm not here to try anything but I'm going to let you know that you are surrounded by the police at every corner and apparently a very skilled sniper from my girlfriend's uncle's team. You try anything funny, this isn't going to end very well for you."

"Does it ever?" Rick snarled, holding the gun at them while rounding to the window.

Azuma rushed to her and looked her over, "Are you all right, mom?"

"I-I'm fine" she whispered.

"Mom…you have royally screwed up this time. Not slightly but royally. You're going to prison for this. Was it…was it even worth it?"

Rinko shivered, watching Rick as he peeked out at his impending doom. "I just wanted another chance. I wanted to tell Tsumaru I'm sorry and that I did love him, I just—I just didn't know how to say it."

"But how does that translate into anything you did, mom? How does making my life hell translate into saying how much you loved your brother? How does killing someone's son—a direct slap in the face to Uncle and my profession!—translate into love? Why, mom? Why didn't you just start over?"

"…Because it's too late" she murmured, feeling steel in her chest, "It's too late."

"Mom, I went to Malaysia because I needed to find myself. You made me feel it was too late too, like I-I was just a failed facsimile to some man you loved more than me and I had to find myself. I had to find out I-I could make my own decisions, that I could be with who I want, be who I want—I had to start completely over from what you set me up with but I did. It's-it's not too late. It was never not too late."

… "What…what if he died thinking I didn't love him? That's—that's why it's too late!" she screamed, backing away.

Everyone was right. She could have that entire family murdered but at the end of the day, it would amount to nothing but meaningless bloodshed. She would never know if Ishikawa Tsumaru knew that no matter what disagreements they had, what fallouts, that she loved him. She let it end like he was a no one to her, she couldn't even remember their last conversation—it was too late.

"I can't go back."

Azuma looked up, startled from her outburst to the one across the room. Rick was tremoring as well, hissing, "I-I won't go back to jail. I can't. Not again. I can't."

Rinko stared emptily as Rick once again pointed the gun at her. "I…I won't go. It's…it's too late. It's too late for either of us."

He pulled the trigger in what she imagined was about to be a murder suicide but she couldn't care anymore. It was too late here. Maybe…maybe in the off chance there was something beyond the grave she could tell him there. She could let him know. That may have been the only way.

"No-"

Jolting, she opened her eyes when wetness hit her face. It didn't hurt like she expected, at least.

Azuma collapsed to the floor.

…Wait, what? "…Azuma?"

"You have a very selfless family, Rinko. You must be defective" Rick said snidely.

She stared down at the crumpled body before her, nothing quite registering. What happened? Why? When? Dropping to her knees, she choked, staring at the spreading red spot on his back as he didn't move. "Azuma."

"Look at that, Rinko: someone else that probably didn't think you loved them when they died."

Gagging, Rinko turned him over. His eyes were closed and he was so…so still. She slapped Azuma's cheeks, screaming through strangled breaths. "Azuma! Azuma, you listen to me, you wake up! Wake up, damn you! I-I don't care who you're with or-or what you play or what you do, just wa-wake up!"

This…this time it was only her. She started this. This…this bastard killed her only brother and now her only son? And she…she did it this time.

She screamed when two gunshots shattered the window and Rick howled. Rinko watched in wide-eyed horror as his legs essentially crumbled beneath him. What—

The door opened and Yagami Shin appeared, his eyes covered by sunglasses which made it all the more menacing. Rick writhed and screamed on the floor as Shin approached. "Y-You son of a bitch! Why didn't you just kill me?!"

"It occurred to me" Shin said in a disturbingly calm tone, sliding Rick's gun away with his shoe. "You've tried to kill my only little sister, have shot my niece, and now have shot her boyfriend within the same day when she called and pleaded I keep him safe. I could have told my partner to snipe you right through the chest…but you're my wife's cousin and my sister-in-law's brother. Family dinners needn't be anymore awkward with me having had you killed. And it sounds like you wanted me to so I made the right call."

The man walked over to them and knelt beside Azuma. Pressing his fingers to Azuma's neck, Shin frowned. He pressed a button on his phone, looking around, "Location is secure. We need an ambulance, two injured. One will require an armored vehicle and to be under surveillance."

'10-4' echoed over the other side and Rinko held Azuma's hand, whispering, "I-I just need to see that he's okay. Anything after that, you-you can take me away."

"That's asking a lot" Shin said dryly, "You orchestrated all this so I may as well call you the mastermind. Azuma hasn't painted a very pretty picture of you either."

… "I don't suppose he should have."

The man that came years ago when she was busy threatening his only sister and told her even then it wouldn't end well stared. She'd go sit in jail and hear her son died. Because she…she couldn't let go. She couldn't see it was too late and all she did was raise another person to not know she…she did care about him.

"I'll let you sit with him until he wakes up. I'm not a doctor but I don't think this hit was lethal. He probably is just in shock."

What? Rinko bit her lip as emergency techs rushed in with two stretchers, one with two handcuffs to pick up that lunatic and another for Azuma. To her surprise, Azuma did stir a little weakly when they moved him, his dark eyes rolling around before he closed them again. Perhaps…

Perhaps she could have hope that, this once, it wasn't too late.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Azuma drearily stared into a dream. He could tell it was a dream for the sky was purple and gray. He felt warm and damp, like he was in a shallow bath. Weakly turning his head, he found he was on a beach and someone was sitting with their back to him.

He swallowed when the stranger only slightly glanced over his shoulder. He didn't have spiritual beliefs but he had a strange feeling that this was his uncle. After a moment, the man looked back to the waves and said softly, "In the shed, look on the shelf."

"What…?" Azuma whispered, feeling like a feather in a breeze.

"It's a letter. For Rinko."

A letter? "And…let Jill know I'd be honored to be in her story if she'll have me."

…Eh? His ghostly uncle stared up and said deeply as he started to blow away just like the sand. "And I'm sorry you had to face all this. She knows how to love. I'm sorry."

Did she now? Did she understand that her love wasn't the only one that mattered, especially plotting to kill someone's child? She certainly hadn't when raising him, when she was more engulfed in telling him he was a terrible copy of this man instead of what he was able to accomplish. Everything pointed toward her being without even the core concept of caring whatsoever.

Azuma felt agitated as he opened his eyes. It didn't seem to be because of the 'ghost's' proclamation but that he was really struggling to wake up. Above him was a bright light and there was a weight on his chest. Great, he had died and there was an afterlife. He just hoped the guidelines weren't too stringent to get in on the less torturous side…

Turning his head, Azuma was almost frozen to find his mother asleep against his chest and holding his hand. What…

Who even was this? Panicking, he jerked his hand away, alarmed. He had no memories of holding her hand, not even once. She jumped as well, startled awake by the motion and looking around rapidly. Why was she even here? Why hadn't Shin put her in jail where she belonged?

"Oh. Oh, Azuma, t-thank God" she said faintly.

For what? Him? "The-the doctors said the bullet just missed your heart but you-you lost a lot of blood. But that doesn't matter. How do you feel?"

Why would you start caring now? "…Confused."

"Do…do you remember what happened?"

"I took a bullet for you" he snarled, "I took a bullet because you and another madman wanted 'revenge' for something that was his fault in the first place."

His mother had gray eyes. He hadn't honest to God noticed because she never stared him directly in the face like this. She appeared solemn like she hadn't caused all of this. Finally, she murmured, "Why?"

Why? "That's what I'd like to know! Why-why did you do all this-"

"No. Why did you jump in front of me, knowing damn well you could have died?"

His eyes widened as she actually started to cry, burying her face in her hands. Who even was this? What did she care if he died? He never measured up anyway and she was ready to disown him not even a month ago! Azuma wanted to escape, a fear buried in his chest because he didn't understand this situation before him, but he was too weak. Help. Someone help.

Why though? Why did he? Why would he jump in front of this person that made him feel like he was merely a doppelganger? This person that made him have to start completely slam over at thirty years old. Why did he?

…Damn it. "Because…for whatever reason- psychological, self-deprecating, insane—whatever reason, I do love you, mom. And I didn't want to see you die."

Mommy dearest. He could have been snatched out of this life for someone that never cared who he was or who he could have been. Now he felt tears rolling down his face too. What an idiot.

"…I guess you and Tsumaru had more in common than I wanted to recognize."

Azuma scowled at that as she dabbed at her eyes. "Nn. Rick said you were both selfless and I didn't seem to get that trait. I…I guess I have a lot to learn about myself too."

Frowning, Azuma watched as she stood up and opened the door, "…He's awake. I'm ready."

What? Yagami Shin walked in, his face registering relief, "Good to have you back."

"T-Thanks."

The older man glanced at his mother absently, her back to Azuma just like her brother's had been. "Hattori Rinko, you're under arrest as an accessory to attempted murder and aggravated assault."

For some reason, the man didn't cuff her but she went perfectly willingly. Maybe…maybe she was finally ready to own up to the facts for penance. Maybe…maybe it wasn't too late for her. And…and maybe she did…

…Maybe.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Popuri could feel the depth of nothingness in her chest as she entered the room after requesting to do so from Yagami Shin. He advised he didn't feel it was a good idea but she had to. He'd…he'd had the opportunity to grow but he didn't. He'd had his roots completely removed.

There were officers in the room on either side of the door, armed like her brother was capable of anything now. Shin admitted, ashamed, that they had shot his legs from under him and he hadn't thought the damage was that extensive, that he honestly, no matter who it was, never wanted to see someone crippled on his watch again. Popuri assured Rick had done that long before any of this.

He was pale as he stared at the ceiling, the blankets dipping abnormally over where limbs once were. She stood at the end and looked at him, this…pathetic human being.

"You could have started over. You could have gotten out on whatever that woman said and ignored her and started your life over. Now you're not only going back to jail for probably ever this time but you lost your legs. Why?"

Rick didn't look to her at all. There was nothing left. Balling her fists, she started to walk away like she should have a long time ago. "Popuri."

She glowered at him as he closed his eyes, his wide-framed glasses missing from his face. "Hoshimiya Stephanie. Look her up when you get a chance. I figure you can handle it now."

What? Popuri stared at him as he apparently went to sleep like all of this chaos he caused never happened. Hoshimiya Stephanie?

Izumi Jill wearily went to her daughter's room in the hospital. It'd…it'd been a long week.

When she thought about Ishikawa Tsumaru, she remembered how calm he was. He tried to wrangle the chaos and he helped everyone that he could up until the very end. A place in her chest grew hot when she felt all this madness surrounding his name. From his sister, no less.

Azuma took the bullet for Rinko. Her son. Just like she was going to make Jill lose her son and Jilliana lose her brother, Rinko was almost about to lose her son just like she had her brother. The universe often had a twisted sense of humor but it was all painfully aligned to perfection, as far as Jill was concerned. Luckily, Azuma did not suffer the fate of his uncle and, surprisingly? Rinko apparently was being very cooperative with the authorities after turning herself in. Maybe…maybe she finally realized the truth after all this time: no one wanted Tsumaru to lose his life and Jill would have never asked for the man to give his for her. Rinko watched first hand that some people took it upon themselves. Just…in a way, Jill got that that wasn't actually any easier.

Smiling when she got to her destination, she found Takeru and Carrie huddled around Jilliana. Her oldest daughter was briefly in hysterics when they informed her that Azuma had been shot. They assured her that he was just fine and that once he was to at least ninety percent, he was going to be able to come see her. Jill wasn't surprised when she heard her daughter snuck off in the night to see him recently, much to the chagrin of her doctors. She would have done the same in a heartbeat.

"Hello, you all."

Takeru looked up, his blue eyes tired. She noticed he had been very quiet and withdrawn since the assault. It wasn't like him at all. Koji reminded her he literally just watched his sister get shot to protect him from getting shot. "You might want to get him to talk to someone."

Perhaps so. She…she didn't want him scarred too.

Carrie looked peeved, her brows furrowed. Ah, Jill's hotheaded offspring. "Mom, Takeru said he doesn't want to go to school now."

Eh? Takeru made a face and absently shrugged. What was this? "What's made you change your mind, sweetie?"

"…What you said all along: I'm not mature enough yet. I can't even listen when it's crucial so how can I expect myself to manage even the little things? I…I can wait."

Jilliana pouted, stroking his hair, "That's not true, sweetie. The incident, it sounded absurd, that was all."

"But it was coming from my family" he murmured, "I know we do some crazy things but we've…we've never played around about one of us being hurt. I knew that much and I ignored it."

While hesitant to make any serious decisions without her husband, Cliff had been a little more on board with the idea. "Sweetie, we…we just want to keep you closer a little longer. But we also know this is the perfect opportunity and none of us are blind to that. So, your father and I discussed letting you go, if you're still interested, at sixteen. That's a little less than two years to show us your dedication and that you're ready for this. And time to know if you've matured to your own standards as well as ours. Deal?"

Takeru opened up his mouth to respond but Carrie gave him a look. "Take that deal, itoto. Jilliana nor I want you getting sidetracked because someone else decided to hurt our family. But mama is right. It may be hard to know at sixteen but you'll know."

Her baby didn't seem so sure but the whole thing was too fresh. To be honest, she expected him to be back to himself in maybe two weeks or so. She still wanted him to talk to someone but…well, her son was very resilient, she found. All of her children were.

"Mama, did you get to check on Azu?" Jilliana murmured after they convinced Takeru to be open to the new idea.

"I did, sweetie" Jill assured, "He's probably going to be here longer than you are if they want to discharge you in two days. They're concerned about where the bullet hit him."

Jilliana frowned deeply and Carrie shook her head, "Honestly, I started to lean toward him being involved in all this even though I made that speech about him being an idiot if that were the case. Just I can't imagine he'd take a bullet for a plan…"

"Not at all. The guilty ones here are Rick and his mother" Jilliana replied.

Taking a seat on a rolling stool, Jill was reminded by the mention of Rick to check her phone. She'd gotten a message from Popuri about something. The woman had seemed out of sorts lately and Koji remarked she was being a little secretive. About…what though? "Rick managed to tell her something that's got her thinking. Can't imagine what the hell that is."

Jill couldn't either. The man that tried to kill her, killed the doctor, and now had shot her daughter and her boyfriend? What could he possibly say that Popuri didn't disregard immediately?

…It'd been a long week.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

So he knew.

Yagami Popuri sat on the fence of her maiden family's farm. The original, where this all started. They still owned it for whatever reason, just renting it out to another chicken farmer. Their name was Murata. He had a wife and two kids. The wife's maiden name was Hoshimiya. Popuri had heard the woman speaking in a store once about Hoshimiya Stephanie being her niece and a popular announcer for idol shows. Popuri didn't register it because it didn't matter, just banter with Sasha and Anna. A simple Google search after Rick's comment got the best of her curiosity and it became far more than gossip.

Hoshimiya Stephanie was, per her idol affiliation page, forty-years-old. Popuri was around eleven when she was born. Popuri's father left when she was around nine. So what of it? This…random pink-haired woman.

Stephanie's mother wasn't an idol or celebrity involved but she had enough online for Popuri to get all the information she needed. She was a divorcee per her Facebook account, currently married to an anthropologist. In a conversation, her prior married name came up. Yamachi.

That didn't mean anything though. Yamachi wasn't that uncommon a name. So she checked public records.

Yamachi Rod was her spouse in 1992. Popuri was around ten.

She gazed off into the distance, the sky as blue and as clear as everything unfolding around her. Her father never left to find a cure. He left them entirely.

It was such a neat and clean thing now. She wondered how it was Yagami Yamada treated her mother so easily. Her father went out like he was searching for some elusive cure-all plant that would will their mother's disease away when there were fucking doctors an hour from here. Why didn't her mother ever question it? Had she known?

To think. To think he'd run off with some bullshit excuse when he had no intention of coming back. He started over. He had a new wife and he even had a child. He married another woman when he had his sick wife and two children back here, thinking he'd return. The divorce record cited 'adultery'. Adultery. As in, the woman must have found out her father had another wife and two children. That was in 2004. Popuri was around 22 and having her first child.

He came back to Mineral because his second chance failed. And Rick knew before that.

Burying her face in her hands, she quivered. A part of her said it would have been fine had he just ended it. Yes, maybe divorce may have destroyed them but then they'd have known. They'd have known they were on their own instead of getting mad and disenchanted that their patriarch was gone so long.

Rick knew. He knew their father had left to start over. He knew they had a father that never called or even wrote a fucking letter to them not because he was deep in his journey but because he was okay. He was okay and having his new life with his new family. Rick knew that he was supposed to manage the house as the oldest. Not because their father died or anything, just because he decided he was going to start over somewhere else without them.

Popuri would never be able to forgive her brother or even right the wrongs he'd done. He just shot her niece for no reason. He could have started over instead. Just.

Just…had Popuri known this in her youth, had she known she wasn't even an afterthought to the person that fathered her but a backup plan, there was absolutely no telling where she'd be. Distrustful. Hateful. Apathetic. Manipulative because of these things. Basically Rick. Their father returned to them because his other option failed.

Taking a deep breath, she wiped her eyes and folded her hands together. She would never be able to forgive Rick but she'd be lying to herself if she said, for everything he did, that keeping that bit of information from her was probably the best thing he ever did. He just told her because he figured she could handle it now. That meant he had had this information prior. He probably had it prior to everything he did and he didn't tell her. There was absolutely no reason not to tell them aside from trying to protect something, either their father's image or them.

In…in all honesty? Rick…Rick stuck around for a reason. If he knew, he…he had no reason to run a chicken farm. He could have left and been just fine. He stayed and snapped.

That man came and treated her son like he was garbage. He was a 'mistake' because Koji and she hadn't planned him. He told her Kaede was making the 'same mistakes' with Steiner that Popuri had made. He came and told her children they were mistakes and exited stage left. Popuri…let a man that left her like a mistake treat her children the exact same way.

Her hands wouldn't stop shaking. No…Rick killed a person and just tried to kill someone in her family. He kept this all inside himself and she would never forgive or excuse him but if he felt this then perhaps she may have a good grasp on 'why' now.

What the hell was she supposed to do now?

A light melody echoed from her pocket and she idly retrieved it, staring at the number. For once, she was possessed not to answer. Pressing the green button, she pressed the phone to her ear and murmured, "Hi, Kochi."

"Hey, baby. Where ya' at? I came home early to check on Jilliana and wanted to take you to dinner."

She couldn't even begin to be hungry. Or go home with her face puffy and red. Yagami Koji came with guns blazing if anything even put a frown on her face. Her…her Prince Charming, she smiled miserably. He always seemed snide about her father's 'journey' because, for as fantastical as he could be, Koji was so blunt and pragmatic that he probably fathomed this possibility long before she confirmed it was true. He…he was right to treat her father the way he did.

"Baby? Are you there?"

"Oh, sorry, Kochi. I, uh, I don't know how up to dinner I'm feeling right now, love."

Koji fell quiet and he probably knew something was wrong. Her soulmate. She probably would have turned him away as yet another lie in her life had she found out. It…it felt so sickening. Just…

"But, you know, we have been so preoccupied with everything happening. Maybe a night out will make me feel better."

Her husband drawled, "Yea, maybe. Are you okay? You don't sound like yourself, Popuri. Where are you?"

"I'm on my way home, I'm just up the street at the chicken ranch." The one her father rented to his ex-sister-in-law.

"Oh? What's there?"

"…Absolutely nothing. Just…feeling nostalgic."

"Yea, okay. I'm coming now."

Popuri pouted, pushing off the fence and starting up the road. "I'm a big girl, Koji. I can have a little time to myself, right?"

"W-Well, of course, I just…"

His voice was hesitant like he wasn't really sure what to say. It sounded more like something he'd do and nothing she'd ever needed: just a spell of time to herself. She…she'd seldom asked to be totally alone.

Koji though. "I…I understand, baby. A lot has been going on right now with your brother and the family. I don't blame you for needing to escape this madness right now. Just…just know you don't have to pent anything up, okay? I'm always here to listen to you. But you also take as much time as you need. I love you."

Her husband struggled to give her time to herself because he knew she was hurting for some reason but needed space. He wanted to be there for her.

Her father left for no damn reason.

"I love you too, my Kochi. I'll be back in time for us to go to dinner, okay? Can you make us reservations at that Thai place on the mainland for six? I'm feeling a little spicy."

"I like it. I'll give them a call now. Be safe."

She agreed and clicked off, heading up the mountains to where they met all those years ago. Her mother was in shambles, thinking that she had let Rick down when he had drugged her to keep her from stopping him. He was an idiot through and through and he didn't care what happened to anyone around him now. Like father, like son.

Yamachi Rod had been appalled that Rick was potentially going to frame him for the murder he could have committed. Not that his son was beyond reform or that he was barely a week out of prison and ready to commit a crime. No, Rod was appalled because he was going to get in trouble.

Taking a deep breath, Popuri stretched her arms and inhaled the mountain air. If Rick could do it, so could she. She'd change their old house number and breathe not one essence of this to not one soul. Not Koji, not her mother, not anyone. Koji would support her but he believed in family and, even if he talked around it, he would agree that she should meet with her half-sister for some damn reason.

She didn't know a Hoshimiya Stephanie and she didn't know a Yamachi Rod. Her tree had been cut.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

End Notes:

So I would actually hope by this time in the future that Malaysia isn't racially biased on housing considering reports say they had put in place something to counteract it. I learned this from Quora though and many of its members lamenting the issue. I also learned about some of Japan and Malaysia's history there too…

It's probably different in Malaysian hospitals but my friend studied medicine in India and that predicament with the test strips sort of happened to her.

Elli's…indiscretion? It occurs probably a little after next chapter. See This Love, Lessons in Life, and Jewel in the Rough. She loves her Nelly though.