Disclaimer: I don't know why I keep puttin' this in...(sigh)

A Moment for Introspection

"Once I woke up, I started to feel better right away," Misao continued. She explained that her teacher had come to visit her and scolded her for not saying anything about what was happening to her.

"Sensei was utterly vicious!" Misao laughed. She recalled the terrified look on Ms. Lydia's face as Victoria chased her out of the room.

"There was a huge investigation and every teacher – with the exception of Ms. Tsubaki and coach Anji – lost their jobs!" laughed Kaoru. Ms. Tsubaki became the new principal and has been ever since. She is very popular with the students and the school receives a great deal of academic accolades now a days.

"Aoshi was there every day and he introduced me to my grandpa. My father had said my mom's parents were dead and I had no other family other than him and his mom and she hated me! As soon as I met grandpa I loved him! He is the best and my uncles are super cool. I couldn't believe they liked me but they did and they couldn't wait for me to come home with them," Misao explained cheerfully. She stayed at Aoshi's house when she was discharged. She had to wait for her father's court date, she had been called to testify. Her father's defense was doing a good job of painting him as a victim since Hannya had dislocated his jaw.

"The scariest part though was having to go into the courtroom," Misao began…

-0-

Okina wheeled his little granddaughter into the courthouse. He had dressed her in the most adorable kimono money could buy. People look at her and smiled at her as she passed them by with a polite and cheerful good morning. Both of his sons flanked her wheelchair protectively as they headed towards their assigned courtroom. He found Hannya and Victoria standing outside waiting for them. Hannya looked angry but he smiled as soon as he spotted Misao. He came over quickly to hug the little girl.

Okina greeted him cheerfully. He couldn't really be angry with Hannya. He was beyond grateful for what he and his son had done for Misao. They had befriended her and filled her days with love and happiness. They stood up for her when no one else had. How could he be angry with the man? In the days Misao was Hannya's guest he had seen his little granddaughter be completely happy. He had nothing but gratitude in his heart for Hannya and love for Aoshi.

"They're ready for us," Victoria announced. The door to the courtroom opened and a very pretty lady who introduced herself as Reiko Ichiro - Victoria's lawyer - came out and ushered them in. She smiled reassuringly to Misao as she introduced herself. She let her know that Misao had nothing to fear, she was safe here. There were three judges sitting on a long table at the far end of the room. Reiko hurried to the benches on the left and Misao shrunk into her chair fearfully as she spotted her father on the benches on her right conferring with his lawyer. Her uncles and Hannya quickly surrounded her chair, blocking her from his view. But their protection didn't last long. The bailiff came over to them and ordered Hannya and the other men to retire to the seats. Slowly and reluctantly they did so. Hannya had a hard time removing himself to his seat. He glared across the room at Misao's father and the judge threatened to kick him out if he didn't do as he was told.

"It's ok…I'll be ok," she said reaching out to hold his hand trying not to sound as scared as she felt. He bent down and took Misao's face in both his hands.

"No one is going to hurt you Misao! I will protect you! He'll pay for what he did to you! I promise!" Hannya insisted fiercely. Misao nodded but she didn't feel as confident as he seemed to be.

'He's a king though he has nothing to fear,' she reminded herself. She cast a quick glance at her father who gave her a threatening look. Misao's lawyer voiced an objection right away and one of the judges chastised him and told his lawyer to control his client. Misao heard none of it. She was remembering now all the times her father told her that she would go to jail if anyone ever found out how often he had to punish her. She began to cry.

'I don't want to go to jail,' she thought disconsolate not realizing she had said it out loud…

-0-

"Whoa, whoa! Time out! Two feet from a judge and he has the balls to threaten you? He has to be stupid!" Honda exclaimed.

"Not stupid Honda…it was a very calculating move. Misao was almost too afraid to speak. His defense hinged on a lot of lies that could only be disproved if Misao spoke up," Victoria explained. Misao added that her father had conditioned her to believe that if anyone ever found out about her "punishments" she would go to jail.

"I fully believed it! I did not want to go to jail and suddenly I saw him dressed up in that courtroom looking so important, I was only ten years old…I freaked out," Misao explained.

"But Misao was surrounded by smart people. Reiko was all over it! She knew how to handle her opponent!" Victoria added with a proud smirk. Misao watched quietly as Victoria explained what had happened and how the judge talked her into telling him what happened. She smiled as she leaned into Hannya.

'This is my family. These are my people,' she thought happily. She smiled at Mokuba, she felt connected to the Kaiba brothers already too. Tokio had been right to act as she did and protect them. Looking at Mokuba and Seto now, Misao was grateful for Tokio's courage.

'Having them come to us in their own time and their own way feels right!' she thought as the young ones smiled and cheered. The judge granted full custody of Misao to her grandfather and granted her grandpa immediately his request to have her name changed. All charges against Hannya were dropped and her father received a maximum sentence. She felt at peace as everyone discussed the outcome happily. Yuffie's phone trilled then and she announced that she had to go home. Kurama looked at his watch and was reminded they all had places to be tonight and had to leave. They offered Yuffie a ride home. Yuffie got up and went to say goodbye to Seto and Victoria followed her while everyone else exchanged goodbyes.

She walked next to Mokuba as he played the gracious host and walked everyone to the door. Carson couldn't wait to see them again and the guys thanked Mokuba for the VIP passes to the arcade in the lobby of the Kaiba Corp. building. Their group was now greatly reduced but it was by no means less warm. Victoria was still with Aoshi and Seto. Misao had been watching the broody corner from time to time. Whatever the guys had been telling Seto was exciting because Seto literally hung on Aoshi's every word. She understood now what Hajime had been saying to her about sometimes feeling left out. Tokio and the guys had shared a life together and created a very strong bond between them that sometimes made others feel left out but that was not their intent.

'They need us Misao…we're the missing pieces of their lives,'that's what Hajime had said to her when Soji was born and he was right. He had come to understand that he felt left out because he felt he should have been there from the beginning. He often felt that if he had been less selfish he might have been closer to Aoshi and been able to help him, maybe even meet Tokio sooner. He couldn't imagine his life without her anymore. He felt the years without her had been a waste. Misao had told him he did not waste those years but now that she contemplated all the months she and Aoshi had been reunited, she understood better what Hajime meant.

'It suddenly feels like I've been wasting my time…our time…time we should be using to build our lives together not hopping from party to concert to party,' she thought irritated with herself. She was at a point in her career where she should be passing on the baton and moving on to more challenging endeavors. She had starred in a fair amount of television and movies since high school and singing success she achieved early in her life too. She had been thinking of directing and producing new talent in the music industry and moving out of the spotlight to the backstage and behind the cameras. Settling down with Aoshi would allow her to start moving in a new direction with her career. Mokuba interrupted her reveries by wanting to know why she left Japan.

"Well, grandpa was opening a restaurant in LA and Vicky-sensei had access to some very good doctors and physical therapists," Misao began. She explained that the injuries she suffered had left her crippled. She required some surgeries and physical therapy to be able to walk again. She paused as Mai got a message on her phone from her mom that surprised her. She walked away to the broody boy corner to ask Seto something and when she didn't return the rest of the group joined her.

Misao listened with rapt attention. Mai's mom – the super intense Oume Kujacu – had driven from Kyoto out to Domino to save Seto from a group of assassins…by herself! Misao could hardly believe her ears! Mrs. Kujacu seemed so cold but the way Seto spoke about her made her sound charming and daring. Obviously there was more to Oume Kujacu than meets the eye. She felt again that disconnected feeling…she felt as though she would know more about Oume if she bothered to pay attention.

She was glad to see too that whatever animosity had sprung up between Shuura and Seto was laid to rest. She exchanged an excited smile with Mokuba as Seto took a seat next to Shuura and was happy to see them laughing and joking together. She understood much better now what Hajime had said. Mai suggested a face time with Tokio at the end of Seto's story and Misao eagerly agreed.

'I want to tell Hajime that I understand what he meant better now,' she thought as she walked away with most of the group. Sano and Kenshin stayed behind with Aoshi and Seto. Mokuba quickly got to work starting up Seto's computer and connecting with Tokio and Oume.

"Hi Everyone!" Tokio cheerfully greeted as Mai took up introductions. Misao felt as if she was seeing both women for the first time. Oume was reserved as always but seemed so much warmer than she had ever noticed. She was surprised when Mai mentioned to her friends that Tokio has been best friends with her mom since Tokio was 17. She was equally surprised to find out Tokio had been exchanging text messages with Sano and Sensei since they arrived at the Kaiba Mansion. How had she not known any of this? She berated herself for not paying attention to the people in her life.

"Fame is a fickle friend" Hajime had warned solemnly when she achieved her first success. He told her to have fun but not to neglect the people that were there before she was famous because they were the ones who would still be there when her time in the limelight was over.

'But I did neglect them,' thought Misao. Kaoru had not given up on Kenshin or her sister ever. She had gone after them and Misao knew some of the adventures Tokio had shared with the boys, Kaoru had participated in too. It didn't stop her from any of her own pursuits either.

'Kaoru was always able to find balance! Why didn't I do the same?' she thought angry with herself that she had just allowed Aoshi to walk away from her. Tokio asked to meet Seto and she looked so excited about it that Misao volunteered to go get the boys. She walked towards them slowly so she could watch them from a distance for a moment. Seto looked so at ease with the guys it made her that much more convinced that Tokio had acted the right way. She smiled amused thinking about how fearless and clever Tokio had been. She was proud to be her friend.

'Proud that she'll be my sister too!' she thought as she approached the guys.

"Hey guys, Tokio asked if you guys and Seto can join in on the face time. She wants to say hi to Seto," Misao announced as she reached them. Sano and Kenshin got up agreeing right away.

"Of course," Aoshi agreed turned to his host "Seto, will you join us as then?" Aoshi asked solemnly.

"Yes, I would like to meet Tokio and Hajime," Seto agreed easily getting up with Aoshi.

"She wants to talk to you the most! She said she can't go to sleep until she says hi to you Seto," Misao added cheerfully to Seto. She explained to them that Tokio had been exchanging text messages with Sano and Sensei since they arrived at his house. Aoshi looked surprised and shot an annoyed look at Sano. Sano quickly defended himself by saying he'd promised to let Tokio know the instant he extended the olive branch.

"I don't want a repeat of the time she got mad at us about the Kaiba/Shinomori feud!" he added very solemnly. Misao laughed, proud once more of Tokio for what she did. Kenshin agreed looking a little green.

"You make sure they tell you that story Seto! Although it's probably better if you let Mai or Shuura tell it! They were both there!" Misao explained and she laughed some more. Neither Sano or Kenshin were eager to tell that tale. So either Mai or Shuura would be telling the story later. Tokio had protected not just the Kaiba boys – she had protected Aoshi too.

'She saved him from himself!' she thought proud and grateful for her friend as they arrived at Seto's office. She chuckled a little as Tokio showed off her massive brain power by knowing all sorts of things about duel monsters, the video game industry, Seto's inventions and the gamer rankings of her friends. Seto looked like he was going to be as big a fan of Tokio as Sano, Kenshin and Aoshi were. She laughed hard when Seto demanded that Yugi tell him how he had learned Tokio was the fifth smartest person in the world and about all her accolades.

'Boys will be boys!' she thought amused as Seto grumbled angrily at Duke's faux pas. Yugi had learned all this through a book called "The Book of Angels". The book had been published about 6 years ago and it featured biographies and pictures of the most accomplished Victoria's Secret models. Tokio obviously was in it but the pictures in the book featured the models in lingerie. It was obvious that it had been the barely dressed models that had motivated the boys to look through that book. Yugi turned bright red as he looked at his feet, very embarrassed. Seto was particularly upset, she knew he was mortified that they embarrassed themselves! Broodies are very territorial, that Yugi embarrassed himself in his home made Seto feel like Yugi and his friends had embarrassed him!

'Nothing makes a broody more angry than being embarrassed!' she thought as she watched Seto grumble angrily at Yugi. Jou made a comment about Tokio looking more like a regular mom than a glamour goddess of the Victoria's Secret world. It made her laugh as she realized how much like Sano Jou actually was.

'Well at least how Sano was when he was Jou's age,' thought Misao, Sano had changed quite a bit since then. Hajime immediately growled an objection to Tokio wanting to "keep" Jou because she thought he was cute. She laughed as Hajime scolded Anzu for running off to Max Pegasus' island without telling her parents.

The dangers Anzu had been in the first year they met Seto were the excuse Aoshi had latched on to in order to continue the Kaiba/Shinomori feud. Tokio had pointed out Anzu and her friends were the troublemakers. The girl had provided plenty of evidence that she was a "danger-prone Daphne" the last couple of years. She wasn't surprised that Hajime was bringing the girl to task now.

'I do feel a little bit sorry for her though! Nothing's worse than when the Wolf is right! She's gonna be hearing about this for a while to come!' Misao thought sympathetically.

"All that worry created a huge distraction for your father and your brother and in their line of work that could put them in serious danger, you know better than that!" Hajime scolded.

"I know…I'm sorry…I carry my phone with the tracker app enabled all the time now and I make sure to check in with my mom wherever I go," Anzu replied guiltily. Her friends teased her, well except for Yugi who behaved like a good boyfriend and stood up for her against his friends' teasing and valiantly took his share of the blame. A switch came over Yugi that made Misao think of his father. Tak was gentle and easy going but he could suddenly look powerful and dominant as Yugi was doing now.

It was Seto and Mokuba's turn to talk to Hajime but they didn't get much of a chance. Tokio shifted her position and little Soji's face could be seen in the monitor. Misao's heart melted at the sight of the little baby in her arms. She moved to the screen to look at him more closely with Mai.

Misao had always liked children. She was one of those people that loved touching and holding babies but Tokio's babies had awakened something inside of her…a sort of longing but she didn't understand for what. She could sit for hours just holding little Soji and never get tired of it.

"Don't you just want to hold him and not let go," sighed Misao remembering the soft scent of the baby's clothes. Mai was suddenly in front of her blocking her view of the screen as she towered over her. Surprised, she took a step back from the glare on the younger woman's face.

"No way woman! Your old enough! You go make your own!" Mai snapped at Misao, shocking her speechless.

"This one's mine!" Mai declared glaring at Misao. Tokio tried to be diplomatic but Mai was having none of it!

"No! Rick and Soji are mine! She wants babies to hold forever she can go make her own," Mai countered with her fists on her hips and a challenge burning in her eyes. That's when it finally hit Misao what the longing had been.

'Mai's right…I do want my own,' she thought as Mai just as suddenly lost interest in fighting with her and turned to say goodbye to "her" baby. Soji was now sound asleep completely unaware of the goings on around him.

Hajime shooed everyone away so he could talk to Seto. Misao moved away without saying a word. She went to Aoshi and as she took his hand then leaned against him; she wondered what their little baby would look like. Aoshi gave her a concerned look but she smiled up at him dreaming of how adorable their babies will be, especially if they have their daddy's green eyes…

-0-

-0-

I think I should be able to finish this story up in the next two or maybe three chapters tops. Thanks to Tokio and Hajime I can get to the character arcs for this story much sooner.

Thanks for reading and reviewing!