Kaidou in Triplicate
By Washumomo
Chapter 10: Ultimate Decision
It's been a long time, but as a few more people have fav'd this story, I thought I should give it a go at updating. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Still don't own POT but, glad to see some new material out there.
Hatsumi Momoka dropped to a sprawl at the physician's words. Her husband and Lin both knelt to raise and support her. Kaidou's eyes were glued to the elder doctor's face as he asked him to clarify for them.
"The mother is in a coma, due to severe hypertension, originally brought on by preeclampsia and we've had to deliver the distressed infant", the physician started. "Please allow me to make introductions. I am Dr. Saito Taku, head of Obstetrics, and this my associate, Dr. Taeko Daisuke. The young woman's condition was being monitored up until six weeks ago, according to her medical charts, after which she has missed all but one of her appointments. She should have been on bed-rest, but I didn't see an order noted."
"Our daughter is in a coma?" Momoka-san's voice sounded weak to her own ears.
"I'm sorry, but, yes." said Dr. Taeko, the assisting physician, "According to her chart, she was diagnosed with preeclampsia in her twenty-first week, but she was already being monitored for hypertension. It's noted this was determined as hereditary. Hatsumi-san, there were complications with you pregnancy as well?"
Momoka-san nodded in the positive. "I also suffered from high blood pressure, but that was diagnosed before my pregnancy. My condition worsened while pregnant and I was bed-ridden until Aiko was around three weeks old. The medications were mild during my confinement, but still made me feel weak. My pregnancy was determined to be a high-risk. I prayed Aiko wouldn't suffer the way I did, but now…my daughter….." Souta-san braced his wife as she slumped, crying against his shoulder. Another doctor, dressed in full scrubs, approached the group and introduced himself as Dr. Yoshiyuki Sho, head of Neo-Natal Pediatrics. Souta-san was next to address the physicians.
"The baby? It's too soon, isn't it?"
"The boy is in our neo-natal intensive care unit." Dr. Yoshiyuki stated. "He is very tiny and his skin is quite translucent. His lungs are developed, but we've inserted a breathing tube as he isn't yet strong enough to breathe on his own. We've also inserted a feeding tube into his stomach as babies do not develop the sucking and swallowing reflex until around the 34th week of pregnancy. At just under twenty-eight weeks, he is very premature, but our staff will do everything medically possible to increase his health." He turns to Kaidou. "Are you the mother's husband?"
Embarrassed, Kaoru stumbled over his words. "I- She- We're not- I mean- fssshu…" Souta-san spoke up for him.
"He is the child's father, but he and Aiko-chan aren't married; this young woman is his wife." He gestured towards Lin, patted his wife's shoulder and took a deep breath. "They will be raising the baby….if he survives." 'Please forgive me Aiko-chan. This is for the best.' Souta-san nodded solemnly to the young couple suddenly starring at him, then questioned the obstetrician again. "Will Aiko-chan recover? Will my daughter ever wake up?"
"We were hoping she would wake up after the delivery," Dr. Saito interjected gravely, "but now, only time will tell. She'll be in recovery shortly and we'll make her as comfortable as possible. You should be able to visit with her within the hour."
"And what about the baby?" Lin asked. Dr. Yoshiyuki answered.
"As I stated, the child is in NICU, but we do encourage parents to visit as often as possible to establish a connection. I must remind you that he is very tiny; he only weighed 2lbs. 2ozs., and there are a number of wires and tubes helping to support his systems, however, even infants in his condition can pick up on stress from others, so try to remain calm in his presence. You all will be able to visit him in a few hours." The physicians excused themselves and returned to their other patients.
Kaidou Lin watched Hatsumi Aiko's parents helplessly as they grieved silently for their ailing daughter. She turned teary eyes to her husband. Kaoru raked his hand through his hair repeatedly and paced slowly before facing Aiko's parents. Her heart leapt when he dropped to his knees and bowed low to the older couple, begging their forgiveness. His voice sounded cracked and rough.
"This is my fault…all my fault!" he croaked. "I should have been more gentle with her…I only wanted her to stop….I didn't know she was sick….I didn't want this and now she's….I-….please...forgive me!"
Lin watched him kneeling there, his head low over clenched fists, and it made her heart ache. She started to move toward him, but Hatsumi Souta was already kneeling. He grasped Kaoru's shoulders and forced him to look up. He acknowledged the anguish in the younger man's eyes with a nod and helped him to his feet, then rejoined his wife. Kaoru held on tight when his wife embraced him and silently prayed the baby boy would survive. He had made up his mind not to question the child's paternity, but to continue on as they had originally planned. Once strong enough, the boy would come home with him and Lin, and they would raise him alongside their triplets. It would be okay.
Kaoru's hand trembled slightly as he stroked the tiny hand of the baby boy in the isolette. Lin stood by her husband, quietly observing. He was the same here as he first was with the triplets. In the short time she had known him after their meeting in America, she'd thought the man before her had great natural instincts. Even though certain situations could be uncomfortable for him, he could usually adjust. Normally, this made him seem unapproachable or intimidating to most people, but Lin saw it for what it was. A defense mechanism he used to just 'get through' that situation. His instincts were what also made him great at tennis. Combined with incredible stamina and honed skill, his instincts allowed him to make quick adjustments on the court if needed.
Now, his new bride watched as his instincts guided him in making adjustments to the baby's reactions. The nurses had explained how premature babies' reactions differ from full term babies and that they could be extremely sensitive to stimuli. Lin had a little experience here as the triplets' birth was also considered premature, but the child before her now was so delicate, so fragile. Though premature, the triplets were born at 35 weeks, only two weeks from being considered full-term, and they each weighed over 5 lbs. They spent a week or so in the step-down nursery and were home a week later. This little one wouldn't be coming home for a while. She turned her attention back to her husband as he drew his hand from the isolette.
"He's going to be okay, ne?" Kaoru asked, still watching the baby's chest rise and fall.
"They're doing everything they can to make sure of it, Mamushi." Lin answered. "He just needs time to get stronger." She bent close to an opening of the isolette and spoke softly to the infant. "You just need a little more time and your papa will be able to hold you, little one. We're here for you, don't worry. Fight-o, baby boy."
She reached in and stroked the baby's arm before righting herself. Kaoru gave her a small smile while squeezing her hand. They exited the room and removed their protective gear. Kaoru took a deep breath and let out a long hiss after entering the hallway. Lin gave him a small hug and they proceeded towards the ICU wing to join Aiko's parents. They found Souta and Momoka in the waiting room and were followed in by Dr. Saito. The older couple stood as the others entered and Dr. Saito bowed to both before updating them on Aiko's condition. Her blood pressure had returned to normal levels while in recovery and remained so. Her condition was now considered stable, but they would keep her in ICU until she regained consciousness. Barring any emergency, he would check her condition again in the morning. He excused himself and exited the waiting room. The couples exchanged visit information, but spoke mostly of the baby. Souta stood and paced for a moment before speaking.
"Due to our daughter's condition, Momoka-chan and I would like to proceed with your proposal and allow your wife to become the child's legal mother. Since Aiko-chan is incapacitated, we, as her parents, will make the decision for her, and give over full custody to you and your wife. If you would be so kind as to give us a ride home, we'll sign the papers you had drawn, and leave the rest up to you." Momoka had joined her husband and bowed as he did to the younger couple.
"Are you sure you don't want to wait for your daughter to wake up?" Lin asked. "I mean, we thought she would be against this option, but we were going to give her time to come to terms with it. If we do it this way, won't she try to get him back when she's stronger? She'll think we've stolen her baby."
"Kaidou-san is the child's father, and as his birth mother isn't capable of caring for him, the child belongs with his father. This is what's best for the boy, and we'll just have to make Aiko-chan understand….if she wakes up." Momoka gave her husband a small nod and patted his hand, silently agreeing.
"Are you sure you wouldn't like to have an attorney look over the agreement before signing?" Lin asked. "Despite the current situation, we will still take care of the hospital expenses for both your daughter and the baby, but just so there are no questions later….?"
"We trust you both that the agreement is in order to make you the legal mother of your husband's child, who was born from our daughter. Rather simple in truth. Everything will be fine."
"Are you going to visit him, Hatsumi-san?" Kaoru asked the older couple.
Souta shook his head. "We've decided seeing him would only cause us to grow an affection for him. It would be better for us not to get attached. Aiko-chan will have no place in this child's life, so, neither shall we."
Lin gave her husband a sad nod and they both bowed to Aiko's parents. She agreed with Kaoru that this would be the best solution for their family's sake, but at the same time, felt as if she were stealing the Hatsumi family's future. Aiko would surely only cause trouble if she and Kaoru shared custody of the child, but Souta and Momoka had to lose their first grandchild to avoid it. She prayed there would be no backlash once Aiko later discovered the truth.
The Hatsumis visited their daughter once more before the group returned to the Kaidou's car and rode silently back to the Hatsumi home. Once there, they quickly got down to signing the papers Kaoru had given Souta earlier. Kaoru promised to deliver their copies after the filing, but the Hatsumi's insisted on no further contact. Their copies would be delivered to them by courier, once finalized, and once Aiko regained consciousness, they alone would explain it all to her.
Aiko was dreaming.
The stares from the other women in the posh baby boutique made her smile to herself. She wore Prada from head to toe, including her black nylon diaper bag. Her precious baby boy was sleeping in the latest stroller from Peg Perego. He was dressed in a baby tennis set by Nike, complete with printed scarf, mimicking his father. This was the fourth boutique she had shopped today and had felt like a star in every one. Being the pampered wife of a super star tennis pro was everything she had dreamed it would be. Her personal driver/bodyguard stood near the entrance, while her personal assistant/nanny/stylist/confidant chattered away while perusing outfits selection for her sleeping charge. Her charge cards never tired and her husband never complained. The perks of a tennis-wife were endless, boundless; Tokyo was hers for the taking and she wanted it all. She couldn't be bothered with the simple lives the other tennis wives led or the boring reunion parties Kaoru frequented. She would much rather spend her time shopping or entertaining her own circle of followers with her husband's endless wealth. This was his way of keeping her happy and she knew this was exactly how her life should be.
Tanaka Kyo took great pride in his kitchen skills, especially his ability to re-create his mother's delicious homemade meals. It was with this great pride that he now prepared an animal-themed lunch for his favorite triplet toddlers. Upon discovering his wife's driver was actually a young man of many talents, Kaidou Kaoru offered him the job of being a full-time assistant for Lin. His primary responsibility was caring for the toddler's while Lin spent time with the new baby, Kazue, but he continued to act as her driver, when needed. Kaoru knew his parents enjoyed their grandchildren, but he didn't want to over burden them. While the youngest Kaidou was still in the hospital, Tanaka would drop off Lin, then take the boys for fun outings during her daytime visits; two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon. Her evening visits were usually longer, as she was often reluctant to leave the infant. At those times, he acted solely as her driver, leaving the boys in the care of their father or their grandparents when Kaoru visited the infant with her.
Now that little Kazu was home, Tanaka spent most of his days tending to the Kaidou children's needs, running errands and keeping the house tidy. At present, the toddlers were in the family room, well within Tanaka's line of sight, watching a reading video prepared by Inui Sadaharu, whilst their mother was preparing the baby for his afternoon nap. Working in the Kaidou household was like a dream to him, especially when Kaidou Kaoru's friend's came to visit. In the short time he had been under contract, he had seen other famous tennis players and athletes, young heads of major corporations, and idols, all being related to Seigaku in some way. On the new baby's second day home, Atobe Keigo himself came to deliver a gift for the four children and said he hoped to have someone as capable as the 'good Tanaka' to care for his future children. Tanaka was on cloud nine the entire visit.
Tanaka, of course, had know that little Kazue wasn't Lin-chan's natural child, but to avoid any confusion or second-guessing, the Kaidous had explained to him Kazue's existence and the situation concerning his birth-mother. Gossip in any form would not be tolerated and any offense would lead to immediate termination. They simply wanted to live their lives together in peace, raising their boys happily.
The gate-bell interrupted his carrot cat carving. Family members, most of Kaidou's tennis buddies and Lin's new circle of friends all had the pass-code for the gate, and generally came straight to the door. The servicemen and those Kaidou only tolerated, had to be first buzzed in. The security monitor next to the refrigerator showed the picture of a man on a bike, wearing sunglasses, a helmet and a fluorescent vest; a courier. After hitting the gate release he checked the boys before trotting off to the door. The splash of bright colors in the man's grungy hair initially startled him when he threw open the door. The courier bobbed his head in rhythm to the tiny buds in his ears as he flashed an envelope to Tanaka. He offered him a handheld terminal to sign before giving it over, then hopped on his bike and sped off down the drive. The return address was that of the Ibu Law Firm, headed by the grandfather of Ibu Shinji, one of Seigaku's rivals and friends.
Tanaka knew this was important and rushed towards Lin and Kaoru's bedroom. He knocked softly on the closed door and entered when beckoned. Lin sat in a glider rocker humming to the tiny infant. Tanaka walked over and smiled at the sleeping face of Kazue. He looked like a miniature version of his brothers, who themselves were miniatures of their father. He fit right in and looked perfect in his adoptive mother's arms. Her own children bore no resemblance whatsoever to their mother, but spending only a short time with them, one just knew. He was certain it would be the same with Kazue. He stepped back as Lin rose to put the baby into his crib. At only two months old, Kazue slept in his parent's bedroom at Lin's insistence, and would until he was about six months old, at which time he would share with his brother Kyosuke, Tanaka's personal favorite triplet. Tanaka handed Lin the envelope after she finished tucking in the baby and followed her out into the hallway.
"Was that a courier just now at the gate, Kyo-kun? She asked as she waved the envelope.
"Yes ma'am," he answered, "I brought it as soon as he left. I hope the news is good." He stood by as she opened the envelope and scanned its contents, watching her face anxiously for any signs of bad news. He released the breath he was holding when she sighed deeply, but smiled at him hesitantly. "Is anything wrong?"
"Everything is fine, Kyo" she answered and patted his shoulder reassuringly before walking towards the kitchen. "The adoption is final. I am now the legal mother of my husband's son, Devin Kazue Kaidou." Tanaka clasped his hands and nodded as he rushed before her to returning to the triplet's meal preparation. Lin continued on to the family room and checked on the boys, then called Kaoru to give him the news. After about twenty minutes she went back to the kitchen to assist Tanaka with serving. "We haven't had any contact from Hatsumi Aiko, which is a good thing, but I still wonder if she'll really let this be. You remember what to do if you see, right Kyo?"
"Yes ma'am," he replied, "Gather the children and get them out of the area, then contact you and Kaidou-san. Do you really think she'll try to reclaim little Kazue?"
"She's obsessed with Kaoru and wanted to raise her baby with him. It didn't matter that Kaoru was married to me, she still expected him to be with her. I wouldn't be surprised by anything she did to be a part of his life." She called the boys in to their meal and along with Tanaka, helped them into their seats. "It's been a month since we brought Kazue home. We haven't received word yet this week on her condition." She went to the counter and turned up the volume on her bedroom's baby monitor. "We'll just have to live our lives and deal with her if and when she comes around. As Tezuka-san would say Kyo, 'don't let down your guard'."
Being an only child, Tanaka dreamed of having a large family of his own one day and quickly came to think of the Kaidou tots as his little brothers. They each had their own personalities, tastes, and ways of doing things, but they got along with each other and other children, well. He decided he would protect them with his life if need be, but hoped it wouldn't come to that.
Aiko was dreaming again.
She felt his lips on her back, trailing kisses down her spine. Her whole being was tingling with the anticipation of his entry. His strong hands caressed her thighs as she reared back on her knees to give him full access. His fingers teased her lower lips apart before zeroing in on the sensitive little nub of her sex. The friction he provided caused waves of heat to rush over her body, followed by riveting tremors. Her mind was foggy with lust, but recognized the heavy pants she heard as her own. She emitted a sharp gasp when he thrust deeply into her wet passage and pounded her mercilessly; she was loving every second of it. He stopped only to roll her to her side, then was in her again. Her vision was hazy as she watched her beloved. His expression was grim, but it always was when they made love. The intensity of this connection they shared reminded her of his performance on the tennis courts, and her Kai-kun's stamina was just as impressive in the bedroom. He had her on her back now. Spasms coursed through her sweat covered body as she came. Hot, sticky liquid flowed from her body, but the weight of Kaidou's body was suddenly gone. Through the fog, she heard a faint beep, then another, then a woman's voice calling her name. The hot, stickiness flowed a bit heavier now after she felt another spasm, but this one was confined to her lower abdomen and was causing her pain. The fog in her brain was lifting, the beeping becoming more rhythmic and the woman's voice more urgent. She realized her eyes were closed. Suddenly her other senses were on alert now. The air had an antiseptic smell and the cloth her hands touched was extremely cool. The dryness in her mouth made her tongue feel heavy. Her lids too, were heavy as she struggled to open her eyes, but the woman's voice was clear now. It was her mother's voice. 'Where am I?'
"Aiko-chan," Momoka called, "can you hear me? Aiko-chan, please, answer me."
The brightness of the room made it hard to keep her eyes open. Her entire body felt leaden, as if it had been weighed down somehow. Adjusting to the light, she focused on her surroundings. She was in a hospital room, tubes and wires linked her body to various machines. She turned to see that it was indeed her mother at her bedside. Her mother was smiling as she grasped her hand. The older woman's hands felt warm and comforting. Something had happened; she needed to know what, but when she tried to speak, she could only manage a dry whisper.
Momoka nodded and rose to get water. She elevated Aiko's bed to a sitting position before helping her with the drink. Aiko choked a little as another spasm seized her abdomen and caused another rush of wet heat from between her legs. She fell back against the pillow with a small moan as she lifted her heavy hand to her stomach.
"Are you in pain, Aiko?" her mother asked, to which Aiko nodded. She smoothed Aiko's hair before pressing the call button to alert the nurses to Aiko's awakening. After being assured the patient would be attended to shortly, Momoka called her husband. Aiko's mind swam with questions while she waited for her mother to finish speaking with her father. Momoka had barely said 'goodbye' before Aiko gave voice to her query.
"Kaasan," she began, "what happened? Why am I here?"
"You collapsed, Aiko-chan. You wouldn't wake up, so we rushed you to the hospital. You should be fine now. Your father is so relieved that you are awake. He should be here shortly." Momoka smoothed Aiko's hair again, took a deep breath and smiled at her daughter. A nurse entered shortly after, asked Aiko a few questions, then took notes from the machines before advising them both of the doctor's impending arrival. Aiko began to ask another question of her mother as the nurse turned to leave, but Momoka put her off, feigning a need to visit the ladies room. In truth, she didn't want to have to tell Aiko about her baby or the decisions she and her father had made in her stead.
Aiko closed her eyes and lay quietly trying to come to her own conclusion about her present situation, but only felt tired instead. When she opened them again, the sky was glowing with the sunset and she heard voices outside her door. 'I fell asleep….The doctor must be talking to kaasan…. Why won't she tell me what happened?' The last thing she recalled was seeing Kaoru. He had been in her home and that woman was with him. She remembered yelling at him, at her parents. They wanted to give her baby to that woman to raise with her Kai-kun. 'My baby.' She had had a cramp in her abdomen just moments ago, and something was wet between her legs. 'Kami-sama! Is my baby okay?' She slipped her hand underneath the bed sheet to raise her gown. Timidly, she reached down between her legs, then drew her hand out to see blood on her fingertips. Her eyes grew wide at the sight and her body began to tremble. A low moan escaped her lips and tears formed in her eyes. Another spasm struck her and she let out a scream for both the pain in her abdomen and for her horrifying discovery. The door flew open as a physician rushed in, followed by Aiko's parents and a nurse. They all noticed the blood on her hand and bed sheets, her parents realizing she now knew her baby was gone. They tried to calm her while the doctor checked her vitals and ordered a sedative from the assisting nurse.
"What happened to my baby?" Aiko gasped between sobs. "Where is my baby….kaasan…..my baby….."
"The baby is okay, Aiko-chan," her mother soothed, "please calm down. He is fine."
"Really?" Aiko blinked repeatedly as she sank back into her pillow. Her mother cleaned the blood from her hand. "I want to see him." She turned to the doctor, grabbing his sleeve as she spoke. "Please bring me my baby….please." The poor physician looked to her father for help.
"Sensei", Souta began, "could be please have a moment of privacy with our daughter?"
"Of course", the grateful physician answered, "We'll come back to examine Hatsumi-san in a few minutes." He gave Aiko's hand a reassuring pat before exiting the room with the nurse.
"Why can't I see my baby?" New tears were flowing down her face. The thought of losing her last link to Kaidou, her last hope of living happily with the man she loved, was unbearable. This baby was supposed to bring her closer to him. This was her only chance. Her mother said the baby was alright. Was it a lie? Was her baby really dead? The look on her father's face didn't inspire hope.
"Aiko-chan, the child is in Tokyo with his father and his father's wife." She stared blankly at him for a moment as his words sank in.
"That woman has my baby! And what did you mean by 'in Tokyo'? Aren't we in Tokyo?"
"No dear", her mother answered, "this is Okayama. Your father's printworks transferred him, so we live here now."
"Okayama? Not Tokyo? Away…from Kaoru…..and my baby…..is with that woman?"
He braced himself and took full-frontal the rage-filled rant she hurled at him. After a minute or so of the barrage, he watched, disheartened, as his wife attempted to console his grieving daughter. The decisions which were made were in the best interest of his daughter and the child. He had to make her understand this. In situations like this, a firm hand was needed for his daughter; if only he had been paying closer attention to her before she had gotten pregnant.
"Aiko, stop this!"
The force in his voice got Aiko's attention. Her eyes were swollen, her face was red and wet from the tears that still flowed, but she gave him her full attention. Souta tempered his tone when he next spoke.
"Your mother and I have been waiting for you to wake up from your collapse for well over two months now and we are very happy you are back with us. But being in his father's care was best for the baby." Aiko looked from him to her mother.
"Is this true kaasan?" Her mother nodded. "But why? What happened to me and why does she have my baby?" Her parents detailed the entire ordeal from her collapse to her delivery, as well as the baby's stay in the NICU. They explained how the doctors stated she had missed appointments and how she should have been on bed rest to avoid mishaps. They told her of the offer made by her father's company and how they transferred her to the Okayama University Hospital. Finally, her father defended his decision to grant Kaidou Kaoru's request of adoption, and why he thought it was better for the child to be with his father's family.
"The child will be brought up in a stable home, with a father and mother who support each other, and he'll grow up with his siblings. And you can focus on getting your life back on track; perhaps find a young man who is available for you, and not in love with someone else."
"But he needs his mother, his real mother, not that imposter!" Aiko began sobbing again. "I gave birth to him. He is MY child!"
"Not anymore, Aiko." Her father's firmness had returned. "Kaidou's Kaoru's wife is the child's mother now. The adoption has been finalized and all legal paternal rights are hers. You will not be a part of this child's life and you are legally forbidden to have any further contact with Kaidou-san, his family or friends. We brought you here to be away from temptation."
"First you give my child away without my consent and now you are saying I can't even see him. I don't even know what he looks like….if he looks like Kai-kun…." She turned for her mother for confirmation.
"We never saw him, Aiko-chan." Her mother answered her silent question. "We didn't know when you would regain consciousness and decisions had to be made about the baby's care as he was very premature. Kaidou-san was there and as the child's father, those decisions were made by him. We really do believe it's better for the child if his parents are of one mind, Aiko-chan. After coming to that conclusion, your father and I decided we also would not see the child. It would not have been fair for us to know him and you could not."
"But we could have come to an agreement; we could have shared our baby, Kaoru and I. Why did….."
"Do you really believe you could have been civil with Kaidou-san's wife?" her father cut her off. "Knowing that at least part of the time, your child was being mothered by a woman you harbor hate for, you wouldn't be tempted to teach your child to hate her as well? Whenever he would be with his father, he would be with his father's wife and his father's other children. Would you not have taught him to hate his brothers? You have never been good at sharing your belongings Aiko-chan. Do you really believe you could share your child with another woman without trying to do her or her children harm?" Her expression answered for her. "As I said before, the decisions we made were the best ones. You no longer have any legal right to the child you bore and are forbidden to interfere in his new life. I accepted my company's offer for that very reason. We've have checked with St. Luke's and were told the Kaidous had taken him home. His overall condition had improved to the point where he could finally be released. I pray to Kami-sama that he has a happy life. I know that this is a great lose for you; it is for us as well, but let him live in peace, Aiko-chan, and be happy."
Aiko slumped against her mother and wept silently. Her last link to the man she loved had been signed away to his bitch of a wife and now over 300 miles separated her from her love and her baby. She never had a chance to see him. Did he look like Kai-kun? Did he have his dark, brooding eyes or Kaoru's soft full lips or his dark, silky hair? Not knowing made her hurt more and made her hate for the foreigner, Lin, stronger. She had stolen her man, her baby, and her life. She realized she had only been dreaming before, and now, those dreams would never come true.
The doctor returned to find Aiko staring blankly out at the darkening sky, her face sullen. He ordered the attending nurse to draw the curtains and asked the parents to wait outside. He joined them twenty minutes later and informed them, barring any further complications their daughter could be released the following day. Her vitals were back to normal and her birth incision had healed well. He had given her a sedative and replaced her tapes, but she would need to be seen again for two weeks for a follow-up. They thanked him for taking such good care of their daughter, bowing as he departed. They reentered Aiko's room as the nurse was leaving and found that she had fallen asleep again. Momoka tucked in her daughter, stroked her hair and sighed heavily; she worried that, knowing Aiko, the times ahead were going to be difficult for their family. As much as she hoped, she knew her daughter wouldn't let it end this way.
Much to Lin's relief, there had been no surprise visits by Hatsumi Aiko. Fuji Syuusuke had been informed by Ibu Shinji of Aiko's recent release from the hospital in Okayama. Given the condition of this adoption, Kaidou Kaoru had asked to be informed of her whereabouts. The 300 mile barrier gave Lin little comfort considering how determined Aiko could be where Kaoru was concerned, and losing her baby to the one she considered her enemy would only make her more determined.
The triplets all scrambled onto their parent's bed where their new baby brother lay blinking at the ceiling fan. His focus shifted to the faces now hovering overhead. A week ago, they shared with their new family their first Christmas in Japan, their first Christmas with their father and their first Christmas as big brothers. They had attended Christmas parties, holiday play-dates and holiday themed shows with both their parents and grandparents. Tonight their parents and uncle were attending Atobe Keigo's New Year's party, while the four of them spent the evening with their grandparents. They would all reunite later for a short family trip. Kyosuke climbed off of the bed as his father came into the bedroom and ran to him to be held.
Lin emerged from the bathroom to find the other two chattering to their baby brother and her husband and youngest triplet watching them from the glider rocker. He was handsome in his Ralph Lauren tux, complete with a deep red silk tie, the color matching perfectly to her Tadashi Shoji off shoulder gown; being that this was an Atobe event, Lin wanted to do her husband proud. After finding the perfect gown and shoes, she rented a gorgeous diamond and ruby necklace, with matching bracelet and chandelier earrings. After seeing his wife's gown for the first time, Kaoru had given her an intricately carved white gold ring, studded with diamonds and rubies as an after-Christmas present. He also wore diamonds and rubies in his cuff links and tie tack. His watch was a white gold Concord Delirium with red face, given by his wife. Together they would make a striking couple at tonight's event.
Lin carried Kazue and herded Keiichi and Kentaro toward the foyer to dress them all in their outerwear. Kaoru gathered the boys' bags in his free hand and carried Kyosuke out to be bundled up along with his brothers. They all looked to the door when Tanaka-san's key jingled the lock, the boys calling out to him as he entered.
"The car is all warmed up and ready to go!" He announced, bending down to address Ichi and Taro.
"Tanaka," Kaoru said, "go ahead and put Ichi and Taro into the car, then come back for Kyo."
"Hai, Kaidou-sama!"
Kaoru buckled Kazue into his carrier while Lin finished dressing Kyo. Tanaka came back and ushered Kyo outside, grabbing Kazue's carrier as he went. Kaoru helped his wife with her wrap and faux-fur cape before putting on his own cashmere coat. He followed Lin out to the courtyard after locking up the house. They arrived at the elder Kaidou's home to find Hazue waiting for them. He tickled each of the triplets and fussed over his namesake while his mother commented on what a handsome couple his brother and sister-in-law made. They were expecting a few guests for the evening, so Shibuki had gone out for a few forgotten refreshments. Lin kissed her children good-night and the three Kaidous went on their way.
Aiko hummed softly to herself on the ride to her new home. After being settled in her bedroom, she fell asleep right away. When she awoke later that evening, she noticed the walls of her new bedroom were bare. Amongst her things, she found her posters and photos of Kaoru were gone; his image was nowhere to be found. Even her magazine stack looked thinner; all of the tennis mags were gone. With a little difficulty, she moved around her room to her small chest to check the drawers. The few baby items she had purchased were gone, as were the tennis shirts she had "borrowed" from Kaoru. She went next to check her cell phone; 'I can still call him'. The phone she found on her desk was unfamiliar, a totally different model from the one she carried. As it wasn't locked, she checked the phone info to find her number assigned to it. Her girlfriends' numbers were there along with her parent's contacts and those of other family members. A new number under 'home' was there, but none of the numbers she had for Kaidou, his friends or the tennis school, were listed. It didn't have a single photo; Kaidou's or otherwise. Her father couldn't have known who Kaoru's friends were so he had omitted the contacts of any unfamiliar male from this new phone. She put the phone back on the charger and returned to her bed. She drew the closest plushie into her arms and stared at the empty space where a large poster of Kaoru should have hung. They had removed all traces of him from her life. Both he and their baby were gone.
Her mother was calling to her; dinner was ready. Slowly, she made her way out into the unfamiliar hallway and downstairs. Her father was already seated at the dining table, serving himself. Her mother brought out the last of the dishes and took her seat. Aiko looked around the room, and into the living area, before sitting down to the meal. Her father advised her to take a few more days to rest before exploring her new area.
"When you are feeling up to it, you should find a part-time job, Aiko, or maybe take some classes at the university. You need to find a way to occupy your time. It will help you to move on with your life. We do want to see you find happiness."
Momoka watched her daughter tense up at the mention of getting on with her life; tears began forming in Aiko's eyes. Her mother saw this and tried to distract her.
"Ah, I forgot the shichimi. Aiko-chan, could you get it from the pantry?"
"Mm", Aiko nodded. The new kitchen was similar to the old kitchen, so she had no trouble finding the requested condiment. She grabbed her favorite drink from the fridge and started to return to the meal, when she spotted a Tokyo newspaper on the counter. It was about two weeks old and slightly crumpled; may have been used for packing or something. It was the Lifestyle section, her favorite, and it featured a large photo of Atobe Keigo and his parents. Her eyes widened at the announcement of the then upcoming annual Atobe holiday events. The Christmas party was a few nights ago, but the New Year's Extravaganza was being held three evenings from now at the Atobe's Tokyo Excelsior Hotel. Kaoru would be there, she just knew it. She had to go to that event.
"Aiko-chan", her mother called, "are you alright?"
"Hai", she called back, "I'm coming." She took the article's page and folded it to fit her pocket. She rejoined her parents, apologizing for the wait and retook her seat. Aiko's mind was reeling as she plotted her escape. She had money in her bank account, so getting to Tokyo wouldn't be a problem. She was certain one of her friends would put her up, but it would have to be someone her parents didn't know. She would buy a dress in Tokyo, find a way to sneak into the hotel and reunite with Kaoru. Once he saw how determined she was to be with him, he would finally accept her into his life. He would give her back her baby and they would raise him together; she would figure out how to get rid of that bitch and her brats soon after.
"Aiko-chan", her father interrupted her thoughts, "are feeling tired? You are not eating."
"Perhaps you would like to rest, dear." her mother interjected. "I could put your dinner away and you could have it later." Her mother patted her hand as she spoke. Getting out of the house wouldn't be a problem, but getting away from her mother would. Hatsumi Momoka was the doting parental type, especially when her daughter suffered any type of distress. She would insist on going everywhere with Aiko until she felt she was well enough to go it alone. She would have to sneak away; tomorrow night would be best.
"I'm fine, Ka-san." Aiko assured her, "I was just thinking of visiting Shiori-san and Mikura-san since I haven't seen them since they moved here. It's been such a long time and we've been promising to visit each other."
"I did receive a visit from Yui-chan after seeing her mother at the market, and she said she and Asaka-chan wanted to visit, but would wait until you came home. Are you sure you are up to going out, dear?" Momoka gave her a worried look.
"Mm, I'm fine." Aiko finished her meal and excused herself back to her room. She first called the train stations to check the schedules; then she made a few phone calls to Tokyo, careful not to give away too many details and found a friend who would put her up for as long as she wanted. Lastly she called both Yui and Asaka to come out to meet her. Yui and Asaka had been her best friends since middle school and her biggest Kaidou supporters. Their fathers all worked for the same printworks company, so they had been transferred as well over two years ago and since both Yui and Asaka had refused to live on their own, they had gone with their parents. Yui decided she would come over to Aiko's, then the two of them would meet up with Asaka. Aiko knew her friends would cover for her while she went to Tokyo to see Kaoru. Her plan would go off without a hitch.
The Atobe Excelsior Grand Ballroom was indeed grand. From the polished marble floor to the gilded ceiling, it was a model of luxury. On the two end walls were huge old world paintings by Italian Renaissance artists; these were actually panels which hid equally huge viewing screens. Dining tables draped in gold, crystal chandeliers, soft music wafting about, all welcomed the guests as they entered the room. Waiters were running to and fro, filling glasses and offering hors d'oeuvres. Hazue tried to keep his composure as he followed his brother and sister-in-law into the room. His eyes widened as Atobe Keigo approached them with a famed beauty on his arm.
"Kaidou-san and his lovely American bride, welcome! Hazue-san, it's good to see you again. Please, eat, drink, and be merry! Ore-sama has worked hard to see that you are entertained this evening." Kaoru's already present frown deepened as Keigo moved on to greet more guests; Lin pressured his arm and smiled at him as he released a low hiss. The three moved deeper into the room where they sighted Inui and his girlfriend Maaya seated at a table with Taka-san and his wife, Yukari. After taking their seats, they were immediately approached by a waiter who took their orders for the dinner to be served later. The women chatted about the children, while the men discussed the tennis school.
Hazue excused himself to visit the men's room. As he exited the ballroom, a glimpse of a familiar face made him do a double-take. He stepped back into the room to get a better look, but the figure had disappeared into a crowd. He looked back to where his brother was sitting, wondering if he should tell him of whom he thought he'd seen, but instead shook it off and continued on to the facilities.
Kaoru closed his eyes and massaged his temples. The other couples had gone to the dance floor, leaving him and his wife alone at their table. A tense feeling was creeping over him and he was beginning to feel anxious. The look of concern on Lin's face made him voice that anxiousness.
"Something doesn't feel right, Lin." he said, "There are too many people here. Maybe we should go."
"If that's what you want Mamushi, but we have to wait for Hazue to come back and I want to say goodnight to Maaya-san and Yukari-san. We were thinking of having lunch next week." His constant glancing around was beginning to make her nervous and she suddenly felt this was the last place she wanted to be. She looked toward the dance floor as the song ended, seeing Fuji walking toward them with Momoshiro, Eiji, their dates and Oishi with his wife An. She smiled and waved to them, but dropped her hand when they all stopped dead in their tracks. Fuji and Oishi both appeared shocked, while Momo, Eiji and An all frowned at something or someone ahead of them. Lin turned slowly to look behind her husband, then gasped to see Hatsumi Aiko standing directly behind Kaoru's chair.
"Ai- Aiko-s-san!" she stammered. Kaoru shot her a look, then turn quickly in his seat, following shocked her line of sight.
"Aiko-chan!" he stood quickly, blocking Aiko from his wife. "What are you doing here! You're supposed to be in Okayama!" Lin came to his side as his friends rallied around the table. He was silently thankful for their support. Aiko had yet to respond, given the offensive crowd that was forming around her. Instead, she shifted her focus to Lin, the woman who had stolen her life. Kaoru questioned her again, this time grabbing her arm as he did. "Aiko, you aren't supposed to be here. Why are you in Tokyo? Where are your parents?"
His touch was a warm comfort to her and she surprised them all by throwing herself into his unwelcoming arms and buried her face in his chest. Kaoru tried to dislodge her without causing more of a spectacle, but failed; she wouldn't let him go. She was crying now, and her sobs were getting louder. Fuji and Inui tried to intervene, which only made her more resistant. The other guests were beginning to notice now, and tried to get a better look at the scene unfolding nearby. Thankfully, the disturbance had gotten Atobe-san's attention as well and he promptly called for a concierge to bring a suite key. He explained to Fuji that the concierge would show them to a room where they could have privacy to handle the situation and that security would also be nearby. He then implored the remaining guest to continue with the celebration, before joining the receding group.
Kaoru cast a apologetic glance to his wife and managed to get Aiko to walk with him, still attached, as he followed Atobe, Fuji and Inui out of the ballroom and to the elevator bank. Hazue jaw-dropped as his brother passed him with Aiko wrapped tightly around him. He hurried to his sister-in-law's side and apologized.
"Gomenasai, onee-chan. I should have come back when I suspected it was her. I thought it couldn't possibly be. I apologize for not warning you."
"It's alright, Hazue-kun," Lin assured him, "even if you had warned us, we would still have to deal with her. I knew this wasn't over." Hazue offered his arm as they followed along. It took two elevators to transport the supporters as they refused to stay behind. Once they arrived at the appropriate floor, the small group crowded the hallway as they watched Atobe, Fuji and Inui follow the Kaidous into the suite with the distraught Hatsumi Aiko still attached to Kaoru.
"This woman is a nuisance, Kaidou-san." Atobe stated flatly, "You couldn't possibly still be associated with her, could you?" Kaoru looked worn whilst Aiko ignored Atobe, just as flatly, and attacked Lin instead, attempting to dismiss her.
"Kai-kun, make her go away. I don't want her here." She glared at Lin from Kaoru's side, still refusing to release him. Fuji approached her, speaking softly.
"Aiko-chan, be reasonable," he began, "Lin-chan is Kaoru's legal wife. She has a right to be here." She finally released her hold on Kaoru to turn on Fuji.
"A right? What about my rights! I too have a child with Kai-kun, but my rights were stolen from me, along with my baby and my life! If she hadn't of interfered in Kaoru's life, he would be married to me now, and we would raise our baby together!" She turned her flaring anger on Lin. "Why did you chase after him! Why! He rejected you, didn't he! I know that's what really happened! Then you got yourself pregnant and passed your bastard children off as Kaoru's, right!" Aiko was slowly coming unhinged. Everyone in the room stared at her in disbelief as she turned to Kaoru for support in her delusional fairytale. "It's true isn't it Kai-kun? Tell them. Tell them you only married her because you felt obligated."
"Aiko…chan…" Kaoru was the most disbelieving of all. He was watching this woman fall to pieces right in front of him. She grabbed the lapels of Kaoru's jacket, then released them again, smoothing the wrinkles she had made. Tears streamed down her face, staining her new gown. She smiled weakly at him, her eyes not seaming quite focused.
"Tell them Kaoru. You're such an honorable man….such a good man. You only married her because you thought you had to, right? You never wanted to be a father to her children, because you love me, don't you Kaoru? Tell them. Tell them you want to be with me…just me…me and my baby." Her smile faded when she heard the word fall from her lips. Her face contorted in pain as she remembered her parents' words at the hospital. "My baby…is gone. Kaoru, he's gone! Someone stole our baby!" She grabbed his lapels again. "We have to find him, Kaoru! Please find my baby! I want my baby!"
"This unfortunate creature is clearly insane." Atobe said as he gaped at Aiko's antics.
She was indeed losing her sanity and they all were witnesses. She began to search the room frantically, begging everyone to help find her baby. They watched as she stumbled around the room, calling out for him. Inui attempted to stop her, to calm her, but she pushed him away, flailing her arms madly, knocking to the floor a vase and a water decanter from a nearby table. The sound of the crash startled her to clarity, but only for a moment. At the sound of the crash, Taka-san threw open the door to assure that everyone was alright. The others followed him into the large ante-room, closing the door behind them.
She stood there, blinking repeatedly at Kaoru, then slowly looked around the room to the newcomers, then Fuji, Hazue, and stopped at Lin. She took a few steps back, past the table, over the broken glass, shaking her head. Her expression was one of fear as the tears started anew and she mumbled incoherently. She dropped to her knees, crying into her hands, asking again for Kaoru to find her baby. Inui knelt at her side and placed an arm around her shoulder. She looked up as Kaoru spoke.
"Aiko-chan," he began, keeping his tone as soft as possible, "you don't have to worry about the baby. He's fine. We're taking good care of him. You should go home and take care of yourself. You're not well. Let me call your parents. They can take you home." He wasn't sure she was listening until she spoke. She seemed to have regained her senses.
"That woman has my baby?" She raised her face to look first to Lin, then to Kaoru. He nodded. She dropped her head again, but continued. "Why can't you leave her alone, Kai-kun? Why do you have to stay with her? I would love you more than she does." Kaoru walked over, avoiding the broken glass, and knelt at her other side.
"She is my wife, not because of obligation, Aiko-chan, but because I truly love her. Can't you understand that? I made a promise to her, to be by her side until the day she dies. I will always be with her Aiko-chan." He watched her, watch him, as he spoke. Her eyes still looked clear, but the smile she wore seemed strange. He frowned a bit when she reached out to stroke his face as she answered.
"Is that all?" she replied as if he had just given reason to why he was late from work. Her eyes were wide now, completely glazed over and her smile was tight across her teeth as reached down to grasp the broken decanter's stopper. It was still stuck fast in what was the bottle's neck, making it now a sharp and dangerous weapon. Before either Kaoru or Inui could react, she was on her feet, stumbling quickly towards Lin, the makeshift weapon raised to attack. "Then all she has to do is die!"
Hazue covered Lin from the front, pushing her out of Aiko's reach, as Momoshiro pulled her by the waist from the back. Eiji rushed the lunging woman, immobilizing her attacking arm, while Fuji wrenched the would-be weapon from her grasp. She kicked and screamed, but was ultimately powerless against the two men. Kaoru looked with great relief, to where his wife stood staring at the horrific creature struggling against her captors. She was obviously shaken and probably scared, but she was safe and unharmed. Hazue held her in a protective embrace, staring angrily at his brother's mistake. Atobe went to the door and called security in to restrain Aiko. She attempted to fight them as well, but again, was no match for them. They used plasticuffs to bind her hands and ankles, then placed her on the sofa and gently held her down.
"What do we do with her, Kaoru?" Fuji asked. They watched as she struggle against her restraints, slowly bruising her own skin. She groaned and grunted, all the while professing her need to kill the woman who had stolen her life. Fuji shook his head; she had clearly lost her mind. "Are you going to press charges against her?" Kaoru stared at him. "She did try to kill your wife and clearly, if left alone, she may try to do so again; or maybe even go after your children." Kaoru looked back to where Aiko lay. She called out to him to help her, begged him to free her and help her rid them both of Lin.
"You said you only have to stay by her side until she dies, Kai-kun. Help me…help me kill her…then we can be together! Kai-kun! Kai-kun!"
"She's completely crazy!" Momoshiro shouted. "Mamushi! Throw her loony ass in jail! Protect your family!"
"It would be easy for Ore-sama to arrange..." Atobe said, "…we have plenty of witnesses to her attack on the lovely Lin-chan and to her current state of mind. Just say the word. It is obvious she can't be left free to roam the streets. She is a danger to everyone around her."
"He's right Kaidou." Inui said. "You could call her parents as a courtesy, but some form of authority has to intervene at this point. She's just too dangerous."
Kaoru listened as he watched his former lover alternate crying for help to screaming death threats. If he tried to be gently with her now, it could very well lead to the death of his wife, or anyone else who happened to get in Aiko's way. He looked to his other half. She was composed now and watching his every move. He had no other choice. He turned his attention to Atobe.
"Do it, Atobe-san. I'll call her parent's to inform them."
It was two hours before midnight. Kohaku was still going strong and Hatsumi Souta was enjoying an ice cold beer with his wife at his side. They had both decided to allow their daughter to spend the New Year with her friends, in hopes they would aid her in getting over the loss of her child and his father, and get on with her life. The ringing of Souta's cell phone startled them both, but he answered it promptly.
"Moshi, moshi, Hatsumi residence." The voice on the other end was completely unexpected.
"Hatsumi-san," Kaoru began, "This is Kaidou Kaoru. I hate to trouble you, but I have some disturbing news."
"Is the boy alright?"
"Mm, Kazue is fine. This concerns Aiko-chan."
"Aiko? She's tried to contact you? We warned her against it, Kaidou-san. I am sorry if she has troubled you again (mumblings from Souta speaking to Momoka). I've explained to Mother. She's going to contact Aiko now. Again, I am sorry."
Kaoru hissed low. This was going to difficult for them, but there was nothing else to be done. "Hatsumi-san," he began again, "Aiko-chan is here in Tokyo."
"What? Impossible. Aiko is here, spending the New Year with her friends. She couldn't possibly be th—"
"Aiko-chan is here, Hatsumi-san, in Tokyo, and currently be transported to Matsuzawa hospital to be admitted for psychiatric treatment." Kaoru paused to allow Souta time to absorb his last statement.
"I- I don't understand, Kaidou-san." he stammered. "What do you mean admitted? Why? How is she in Tokyo? We spoke with her an hour ago and she was celebrating with her friends."
"I don't know what friends she was with, Hatsumi-san, but she is now in Tokyo. She approached me and my wife at Atobe Keigo's New Year's party at the Excelsior, where we are now. We were given a place to have a private word with her, try to get her to return home, but she became delusional. She began to spin a story about how my marriage was simply me fulfilling some misguided sense of obligation to children who weren't really mine, then she tried to kill my wife." He heard Aiko's mother gasp in the background, realizing Souta had put the call in speakerphone mode. "I'm sorry, Hatsumi-san, but she had to be restrained. When the ambulance and police came, she was still hurling death threats at my wife."
"You said Aiko tried to kill your wife. How? Why, Kaidou-san? Momoka questioned him.
"I tried to explain to her that I married my wife because I love her and would love her until the day she died. Aiko-chan took that to mean that if Lin were dead, I would be free to give my love to her. Her exact words were 'then all she has to do is die', then she lunged at Lin with a piece of broken glass." He could hear Momoka praying for her daughter, but Souta questioned him further.
"Why did you not call us first, Kaidou-san? We should bring her home, where we can watch over her. We could…" Kaidou cut him off.
"But she's here now, Hatsumi-san, 300 miles away from you, in Tokyo, threatening my wife, and you didn't even know she was gone! I'm sorry, but I have to protect my family! I never wanted Aiko-chan to get hurt in anyway. I tried many times to put her off gently, but she just wouldn't stay away! Now she has gone after my wife…she tried to kill her right in front of me…in front of ten other people! Then she showed no remorse afterward, but instead begged me to free her to try again, but with my help! She has clearly gone insane and she needs professional help. There's nothing any of us can do for her. You can't help her, Hatsumi-san."
Both of Hatsumi Aiko's parents were silent for a long time before Souta asked Kaoru to repeat the hospitals name. Kaoru told him again where Aiko was being sent and explained the papers had been filed to have her admitted for medical protection, but they would be authorized to visit her and be privy to the details of her care. Souta apologized to Kaoru for the trouble his daughter had caused and thanked him for contacting them. It would be last time the Kaidous heard from either them or Hatsumi Aiko.
It was Christmas afternoon and Kaidou Shibuki was building a snowman with his triplet grandsons. The two year olds were having difficulty gathering the snow in their mitten covered hands, but were having fun nonetheless. Inside their home, his wife sat on the floor clapping and cheering as her youngest grandson toddled a ball from his father, to his uncle and back again. Hozumi rose from the floor, deciding to join the young women on the sofa. She rose again when her husband and other grandchildren came stomping in the patio door, helping the toddlers to remove their outerwear.
It had been a happy holiday season with their younger son, Hazue, falling in love and the birth of their only granddaughter, Willow Kaori Kaidou. She was conceived after what had been the worst night of her parent's lives and was considered the blessed calm after a fierce storm. She was almost two months old, with a cap of dark curly hair, her mother's eyes and her father's creamy complexion. She was also her father's pride and joy, the apple of his eye. His four boys each had their own special place in his heart, but Kaori was his only baby girl.
Whenever she saw his face, she flailed her little arms and kicked her little legs, all the while cooing and watching his every move; his heart melted every time. Despite how their evening was interrupted that last New Year's Eve, it ended as they had intended. Atobe Keigo had arranged everything so they only had to give their statements to the police once, as there had been no formal charges made by the victim, Lin. After the results were given from her initial evaluation, Aiko's parents had agreed to their daughter's confinement. Kaoru and Lin had reluctantly rejoined their friends at the party and brought in the New Year with a kiss.
After the party, they went home to change and grab their overnight bags. They and Hazue had joined the grandparents to venture into the local mountains to a reserved cabin. They watched the sunrise together, then later visited a local temple. Once returning to the city, Kaoru had relieved some of his remaining stress on some unsuspecting posers at his favorite street court, then spent the rest of the evening playing with his boys and the night making love to his wife. The announcement of Kaori's creation a month later came on the heels of his win of the SAP Open. Lin and the boys had traveled with him to California, bringing along Tanaka-san to help. They had traveled afterwards to visit Lin's family and received the news from her former family practitioner after Lin had appeared to have taken ill.
Kaoru watched his family from where he sat on the floor. They were happy, the children were healthy and their lives were finally at peace. The last year and a half had been the wildest ride he'd had since Seigaku took the Nationals during his middle school years. Parts of it he definitely could have gone without, but he knew what didn't kill you, only made you stronger; and in his case happier. Lin looked at him and gave him playful smile before beckoning him to join them. Momoshiro could joke all he wanted, but Kaidou Kaoru was definitely a happy man.
~ Fin ~
This was the last chapter and I hope you enjoyed it. Again, I apologize for taking so long to update and I look forward to your review. Signing off.