Hi, mina-san~!

Here's the next to last chapter, all that's left is the epilogue. It's rather short, but I hope you like it!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my OCs.

Chapter Nine

"This is absurd!" A woman threw an envelope down in front of her husband, and resumed pacing the room, turquoise eyes alight with rage and disbelief. The man sighed, and pulled a hand from his sky-blue hair. He opened the delicate envelope, pulling out a folded piece of paper. When he did so, a worn blue ribbon fluttered out as well, landing on his desk in front of him. "Calm down, Hitomi, I'm sure it's not that outrageous." Ichisada Hiro unfolded the pink paper and began to read.

"My dear Otosama and Okasama,

I am well and safe, hidden from prying eyes. I'm quite happy where I am, and have no wish to return home at the present moment. I demand that you release Genda Koujirou from the police's custody, or I will never come back. I have something very important to do, and in one month's time, if you have complied to my wishes, I will return home, at least for a while. If you think this is some kind of trick, as you most likely will if you're the people I know, then please heed my seal on the envelope and my signature. If that's not enough for you, as you are probably thinking 'forgery!', I have enclosed the ribbon that you gave me for my third birthday. Do you remember it? You bought it for me because it was the exact color of my hair.

Sincerely,

Your daughter,

~Ichisada Torina~

He set the letter down gently, and picked up the long satin ribbon, fingering it lovingly. A rush of memories filled him, and he laid his head on the desk, weeping softly. "My poor daughter. My little darling, how could I have been such an awful father? I hardly even know what you look like! I can't believe what a horrible person I have become…"

Hitomi turned and stared at her husband as he cried, wishing that he had been a better parent. Well, this is sudden! The woman walked to stand behind him, laying a tentative hand on his shoulder. "Hiro… it's for the best. She was a star! This all her own fault, she just has a bad attitude."

The man shook his head, not lifting his face from the mahogany. "No, it's because we failed. As parents, anyway."

Hitomi squeezed his shoulder, still not convinced. "Hiro, I don't think-"

"Please, Hitomi! It's our fault! Do you think you did what was best for her as our daughter, or as a celebrity?"

The woman looked startled from her husband's outburst. He had lifted his head off the desktop, and was staring at her, waiting for an answer. A hand snaked up to nervously twist a lock of her sunny golden hair. Her husband raised an eyebrow as he saw it, she hadn't done that for years. He smiled a little, thinking how cute it was. The first time he had set eyes on her, she was doing that, trying to figure out an algebra problem as she sat in the park. She wore glasses then and was quite an adorable nerd.

Hitomi spoke quietly, pulling him out of his reverie. "I think it's one and the same. She got to play music all the time! Don't you think that's what she wanted?"

Hiro put a hand over the dainty one on his shoulder and smiled sadly. "No, I don't. Surely you see what I'm trying to say, Hito-chan?"

The woman gasped at the use of the old pet name. She averted her gaze from the green one that was staring at her intently. "Hai, Hiro-kun…"

Her husband grinned as he stood from his seat at the paper-filled desk and embraced her. She stood, stunned for a moment before gently hugging him back. It felt so good to do that after so long… all the stupid arguments forgotten, she murmured softly, "perhaps one good thing came from Torina running off…" Hiro chuckled and nodded, suddenly unable to wait for the month to be over.

"Best. Game. EVER!" Tori squealed and pulled Aoi into a bone crunching hug.

The manager chuckled hoarsely, "uh-huh. T-Tori, I can't breath…"

The other girl let go of her, smiling sheepishly. "Hehe, gomen, Aoi."

Aoi grinned and giggled. "That's okay, Tori-chan. And you're right! I'd say your first game was a success."

Tori nodded and jumped up and down. "I know, I loved it! I definitely have to play more games before I leave."

Aoi's blue eyes filled with tears. Tori frowned, "whoa whoa, what's this? Don't cry, Aoi-chan!"

The manager rubbed her eyes and sniffed, "but I don't want you to go, Tori-chan!"

Tori smiled at her friend. "I'll come back for visits, and we can write to each other."

Aoi put her hands on her hips, suddenly switching from upset to demanding, "I want to video chat at least once a week." Tori chuckled, a bead of sweat falling down her temple. "H-Hai…"

"So, are you gonna ask her?" Kirino asked his friend.

Shindou shrugged, his chin length hair wavier than usual due to his sweating during the game. "I don't know, Kirino… what if she says no? I mean, I don't know that she likes me…"

His best friend rolled his eyes and put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't sell yourself short, Shindou. Check out the way she looks at you!" Shindou's gaze shifted from Kariya, who was in a trance, staring at the picture he'd had Akane take the other day of him and Tori, which he had asked the undercover girl to sign, to follow Kirino's to Tori as she chatted with the managers.

The girl looked radiant, obviously pleased that she won the first soccer match that she ever played. Her gaze shifted over to Shindou, as it had been periodically. She smiled shyly then looked away, blushing as she realized he'd caught her. Kirino chuckled softly, "if that's not love, then I sure don't know what is."

Shindou's face turned red, and he thanked his best friend.

Kirino just grinned and said, "go get her, Shindou." The boy looked at him gratefully, and took a deep breath. Seeing Tori gathering her things, he walked over to her, stomach twisting in knots at what she would say. He really hoped she would accept. She was the only one he could ever want for his girlfriend.

And there you have it! The next update will be the last... :'( Please review~! ^v^

Ja ne, mina!

~Swaggy-chan