THE TWIST OF FAITH
CHAPTER 2


"Congratulation, Hanaori-san. You're two weeks pregnant." Dr Kitamura proudly announced. Kotoha felt like her whole world are going to crumbling. She couldn't believe her own ears. While Mitsuba didn't say anything. She has guess that this thing might be happening. It is possible of course. Her little sister slept with her Tono and suddenly she felt queasy. Everyone can guess that she's pregnant.

"Eventough the baby seems to be healthy, but you have to take healthier food and please don't do such a dangerous or heavy activities, because it will affected the baby health in the future. And if you like to make some appointment for routine check up, please come next week." Said Dr Kitamura before Kotoha and Mitsuba leave the clinic.

After they left the clinic, they passed a nearby garden. Kotoha sat on the garden bench. She rubbed her belly, which is still flat. Well at least for now. She can't bear to think that what have she done with her lord will causes her to be pregnant with his baby.

Mitsuba sat beside her little siste, started to embraced her sister. "Kotoha." Kotoha started to cry.

"Nee-san. I… I don't know what to do." Kotoha sobbed. Mitsuba tighten her embrace

"Calm down, Kotoha. All choices is in your hand." Said Mitsuba.

"What choices do I have?" asked Kotoha. Her dark onyx eyes showed her confuse.

Mitsuba softly smile then answered. "You do have two choices right now, sister. You can choose to keep the baby with you. Give him or her birth, raise him or her up, and watch him and her grow up. Or you can also choose to abort the baby." Kotha raised her face, to see her sister's eyes intently straight to her eyes. "If you abort the baby, then everything will be over soon. But you do have a choice to keep this baby. Because as the matter of fact, Kotoha, remember, this is not only Takeru's child. But this is also your child. Your own flesh and blood."

Kotoha speechless. She didn't know what to say to reply her sister. Mitsuba's right. She can abort this baby. This baby is the child of her Tono-sama, the one who's hurting her. And she never wanted to having this baby with her. But this is also her baby. Her child. So what should she do?

"I have to think about it, Nee-san." Kotoha finally answered, after silently thinking for a while.

"Yes, please do. But please think with a clear mind, Kotoha. I do believe that you're growing up, and you can decide the right thing to do. And please do remember, I always in your side, whatever choice you take." After Mitsuba finished her word, Kotoha hugged her tight.

"Thank you so much, Nee-san. I couldn't imagine what will I bee without you." Mitsuba softly smiled. Hearing her sister's word.

"That is what family for."

_The Twist Of Faith_

"Haaaa." Takeru swung his practice sword. Training is only a destruction for the complicated situation that he pass right now. First, broke up with Kotoha is the last thing in the world that he wanted to do. Moreover, some weeks before he broke up with Kotoha, he did making love to her. That night was the most precious night Takeru ever had. Before all of this trouble struggling him.

Secondly. He never wanted to marry Mako just because that silly debt reason. But he then realized, as a kagemusha, who is adopted by the head of Shiba clan, what right do he have. Plus he never wanted to disappointed her adopted mother, Kaoru.

"Takeru." Takeru woke from his daydream. He stopped his activity and stared at a girl who just called his name. Mako stood behind him. Her hand carried a cup of green tea that she made.

"What?" He asked with a cold tone. Mako realized that, but that doesn't make her surrender to come closer to Takeru. While Takeru continue his training.

"Take some minutes to rest. I made tea for you." Mako said, trying to catch Takeru attention. Takeru answered with still swung his sword.

"I haven't finished training and I'm not sure that your tea won't affect me some stomach disease." He answered clear, sharp, and with one breathe. Mako gallanted.

It is not like she didn't realize that her cooks can't properly be eaten. She did realize that her cooks is terrible. But all this time, even Takeru, Chiaki, Ryuunosuke, Kotoha, and Jii-san never 'directly' said that to her. And Mako know why. All this time, they tried to kept her feeling.

But not this time. Takeru with his poker face, and cold tone just said it without any obstacle. Takeru has changed. And Mako do realized that Takeru hates her because of this wedding. But Mako has no willing to cancel this wedding.

Since once, Mako had always loved Takeru so much. She sometimes felt sad, because Takeru never replied her feelings. Or even, Takeru never seems to be in love with her. And the worst part is, a lot of times, Mako caught Takeru spending his spare time with her best friend, Kotoha. 'Is it possible? Is it possible that Takeru and Kotoha had never been in a relationship before?' she asked herself.

"If you didn't leave this place, I'll leave." Takeru cold voice woke Mako from her daydream. Takeru had stopped his training. He felt disturbed with Mako existence.

Mako seems like will not give any responses, so Takeru finally said. "Fine, if you want to stay." With that word, Takeru leave Mako by her own self.

_The Twist Of Faith_

Kotoha visited her Mother and Father's resting place. Since she came back to Kyoto, she's never been in here before. And she decided that today was a good time to visit. Mitsuba's not coming along. Her sister felt in sleep when they arrive at home after visited the clinic. And Kotoha didn't want to wake her. Eventough she's never been here before, but she knows this region so well, so traveling alone is not a problem to her.

After walked for a minutes, she finally arrived at the graveyard. The graveyard seems new and beautifull. With the name of Hanaori Misaki and Hanaori Sayaka written on the gravestone, along with the Shiba family symbol.

Kotoha put a bundle of white lily flower in the grave, that she bought before she came in here. She pray for a while, before finally looked straight to the graveyard.

'Okaa-san, Otou-san, what should I do? Do I have to abort this baby? Or keep this baby? Help me find the answer, Okaa-san, Otou-san. Please.' She once again pray. But this time, a different pray.

"Obaa-san!" suddenly a shrill voice distracted her attention. She looking for the one who yelled, and found a bald boy running to her. The boy stopped in front of her.

"Obaa-san, please help me from Kaa-chan and Tou-chan." Whined the boy, at the same time, repeatedly pull Kotoha's upper dress. Kotoha softly smiled, then humped. Making her high same with the boy.

"Your parents? Why? And who are you, boy?" asked Kotoha.

"The name's Inou Tori." He answered then he clean up the mucus in his nose. "Please hide my from my parents."

"What? But why?" Before Tori could answer, a man and a woman rushing to them. Tori hide behind Kotoha's body.

"Mou, Tori-chan stop running away like this. Don't make Kaa-chan and Tou-chan panic." Said the man. While Tori's still hiding behind Kotoha.

"Tori don't want to. Kaa-chan and Tou-chan will forget about Tori if Tori's sister born."answered Tori from behind of Kotoha's body.

The woman walked to Tori then humped in front of Tori. "Tori-kun. Do you remember what did Kaa-chan said when you asked why you were born?"

Tori didn't answer. But he bowed his head down. The woman continued. "It is because, Kaa-chan and Tou-chan love you so much. And you are the part of Kaa-chan and Tou-chan's blood. So even if Tori have a hundred siblings, Kaa-chan and Tou-chan will always love you. You got that?"

"Um, I get it Kaa-chan. I'm sorry for troubling you." Tori said. The women smile widely. The man come and carried Tori.

"That's my boy. And apology to the Baa-san too." Said the man. Tori nodded in his father's shoulder.

"Sorry fr troubling, Obaa-san."

"That's okay. But don't make your parent worry again, right Tori?" Kotoha asked

"Tori will not d this again. Tori swear." The boy stated.

"That's good."

"Then, I will go to the car first, Natsuki." The man said to the woman called Natsuki. Natsuki nodded with a warm smile. "And sorry for the trouble, ano.."

"Kotoha."

"Right, Kotoha-san." Kotoha nodded and the man walked.

"Ano, Kotoha-san, once again I do apologize for the trouble Tori made." Natsuki bowed. Kotoha smiled.

"No. you don't have to. It's not a big deal really. By the way, is that your family?" Kotoha asked. Somehow she felt like this could be the way that'll help her out to make decision.

"Yup. The man, is my husband Inou Masumi and the boy is our son, Tori." Natsuki answered cheerfully.

"Umm, can I ask one thing?"

Natsuki nodded.

"What is it feel to have Tori?"

Natsuki seem confuse with the question, but she reply. "It's amazing. Tori is a evidence that my husband love me. And so do I. Eventough Masumi and I might be separated, but Tori ia a evidence that we having each other once. Is that enough?"

Kotoha slowly answered. "Yes. It is more then enough. Thank you Natsuki-san."

"Anytime. Ahh, I have to leave now. I hope we can meet again Kotoha-san." Natsuki waving her hand while keep walking to the black car in front of the grave gate.

"Hai. See you, Natsuki-san." Replied Kotoha.

'This baby is a evidence that Tono-sama and I were having each other once. Moreover, I can feel my heart beat in this baby. Oh God, what have I think to abort you. Please forgive your Mom, my dear. From now on, Mom will keep you save. Eventough your father didn't know about you, you'll always have me.' Kotoha said to herself.

_The Twist Of Faith_

Okaa-san, Otou-san, thank you for the answer you give to me. I'll never ever abort this child.

_TBC_