Sonomi observed the doctor holding the baby. There was something extraordinarily endearing about watching these muscular virile beings like him and Senji hold something so small and delicate. She smiled when he kissed the baby's forehead and laid him down in the bassinette beside her bed. Her body relaxed when he put his hand on her forehead. He had the softest, most gentle hands when he touched her. Those hands were healing and comforting. They had saved the life of her baby as well as her. It was hard to believe he was capable of hurting anyone. Of course, Minatsuki was a special case.
"You've got a wonderful little boy there," he said, stroking her cheek with his thumb.
"Tell me just who you are," she murmured, opening her eyes to look at him.
"I was sent to you to look after you by your father. He loves you very much and misses you. He wants me to protect you," he told her, taking her hand in his. "I will do so with my very life."
Sonomi hoped it never came to that. She did not want anyone to have to die to save her. She knew he meant what he said because he had already saved her once along with her child.
"You were meant to be mine. I was going to be the one to marry you, but…things happened," Dr. de Sade said with a sad smile.
"What do you mean? And what things?" she inquired, staring up at him. What did he expect her to do with this information? To say it was shocking would be an understatement.
"Your father had talked to my parents about an arranged marriage. He never told you?" he asked, his eyebrows drawing together.
"No. I'm learning there were a lot of things my stepfather never told me," she responded, her voice weak from the stunning revelation.
"Time got in the way first of all. We both went off to college. Well, I was still in medical school and you were sent here. Then – " He stopped when the man that happened after that walked in.
"What's going on?" Senji asked when he saw the doctor hovering over his wife with his hand on her cheek.
"Nothing. Everything is fine. I'll be leaving you so you can have some time alone," Dr. de Sade told him. He knew that man did not trust him so he did not linger to give Senji another reason to dislike him.
"How are you feeling, sweetheart?" Senji inquired, kissing the mother of his child. His eyes followed the doctor as he exited the room.
"I'm all right. Just tired," she answered, pulling his lips back down to hers.
"That's understandable. I love you," he said, digging in his pocket for something.
"I love you too," she responded, her eyes widening in surprise when he held the ring in front of her face. It was a small single diamond but she had never seen anything more beautiful. "Where did you get that?"
"That's my little secret. Will you be mine?"
"Forever?"
"Forever," he confirmed bluntly. He slid the ring onto her finger, kissing her hand.
As if on cue, Akio began to cry. His father moved around the bed to retrieve him from the bassinette. He kissed his baby boy then handed him to his mother since she would have to feed him.
"That is one lucky kid," Senji remarked, watching her position the baby at her breast.
"Don't be a pervert," Sonomi chided him with a smile on her face.
"How long before we can…you know," he hinted, his cheeks turning a bright pink.
"Seriously?"
"I can't help it. I miss you. It's tough going from sex three times a day to none."
'Poor baby,' Sonomi thought but kept it to herself. There was no reason to be hateful about it. She centered her attention on the hungry baby in her arms. A smile lifted the corners of her mouth when she felt her lover's arms slide around her to hold her.
"He's so amazing. I don't know how I'd live without the two of you. I've never been more terrified than when I thought I was going to lose you both," he whispered in her ear, holding her against his chest.
"We will always be together. We will never know what it's like to be without the other," she confidently declared.
"We won't. I'm sure of it."
...
Sonomi was at her desk looking over files. Today was her first day back at work in two months. Dr. de Sade had refused to let her come back earlier. If she dared to show up, he would herd her back to her quarters enlisting Senji's assistance to keep her there and to make her rest. She still felt a little tired but most of that was due to adjusting to being a new mother. She was also a wife now after their little self-made ceremony given by the doctor in the presence of Ganta, Yo, and Minatsuki.
"You just couldn't stay away anymore I see," Dr. de Sade said to her, strolling through her open door.
"I had to do something to occupy myself besides worrying about my little one over there and if I'm being a good enough mother," she explained unnecessarily.
"Oh, you're a great mother and he's doing just fine," he rejoined, bending down to pick up the baby.
"Yatagarasu, why are you doing this for me?"
"Haven't we already been through this?"
Sonomi pulled open the next folder to avoid looking at him. She still felt a little uncomfortable with the familiarity of calling him by his first name. She still did not understand how could keep doing these things for her when she was with another man. 'Just because you aren't mine doesn't mean I don't love you anymore,' he had told her. Guilt plagued her because it must be like ripping his heart out every time he looked at her with Senji or the baby. She liked him as a colleague and a friend but nothing more and never would which only compounded that guilt.
"Why do you always look so sad? Why do you look at me with pity in your eyes?" he questioned, rocking the baby gently in his arms.
Sonomi felt her face warming with embarrassment. She had no idea she was being so obvious. Her eyes rose to his face to be greeted with a big smile.
"Why are you so kind to me? Why do you persist on doing nice things for me when I'll never be yours?" she questioned him bluntly.
"I made a promise to your father and myself. I won't let either of us down. Besides, it's difficult to not love you. You're just that kind of woman," he told her, handing her the fussy, hungry baby.
Sonomi was surprised he did not leave the room as she prepared to feed the baby. It became obvious he had something on his mind when his face turned grim, and he refused to leave the room. She threw the blanket over her shoulder to cover her chest so she could feed the baby and maintain her modesty. She waited in anxious anticipation for whatever he had to say.
"Sonomi, something is about to happen. I need you to be ready," Dr. de Sade said, keeping his eyes on her face.
"For what? What's going on?" she asked, her mind and her body filling with apprehension. Apparently the baby could feel it in his mother because he immediately pulled away and began crying.
"Don't be afraid. It's a good thing but it can be dangerous. I'm not sure when it will happen but you need to be ready to run. I'll be talking to others as well. I'll need Senji's help to get you all to safety," he explained vaguely, managing to increase her fear.
Sonomi was thoroughly confused at this point. Good yet dangerous, be ready to run, and getting them to safety-what the hell does it all mean? It sounded like some kind of psychotic riddle that she could not figure out. Maybe her friend the doctor was going native and had succumbed to this place, although the crazy factor had dropped by several degrees since the death of two most insane tenants. If only Tamaki could be taken out of the equation the place would not be that terrible. It would still be a prison but at least it would not be a psychological and physical death trap. Tamaki still played his games with the prisoners but there was a certain elect few he steered clear of which mainly included her circle of friends.
"Just know that you are getting out of here and I have a safe place for all of you," he said with a voice of authority and finality before leaving the room.
Unfortunately that declaration did nothing to calm her fears; it only added distrust to them.
...
Sonomi awoke with start. What was that sound? It thundered again, the booming sound echoing along the hallway. Just a thunderstorm. Lying back down she heard the sound again and sat up. Something was wrong. This was no thunderstorm. She was alone in the bed. Where was Senji? Her three month old son began to cry so she hurriedly moved off the bed to get him.
"Sonomi!" Senji yelled, appearing in the doorway suddenly.
"What? What is it?" she asked, hugging the baby to her chest in terrified shock.
"You've got to get out of here now!" he bellowed, grabbing her by the arm.
Sonomi cried out in surprise when he dragged her out of the small apartment. She could smell the acrid stench of burning plastic and wire. A loud groaning like metal being twisted assaulted her ears and set her teeth on edge.
"What's happening?!" she screamed, fear making her heart beat against her chest as if it wanted to escape her body.
Another blast deafened them as if to answer her question. This one was close because the floor shook beneath their feet, threatening to throw her off balance. Senji held her, steadying her so she would not fall with the baby.
"This whole damn place is coming down. Tamaki set off a self-destruct sequence when Dr. de Sade confronted him in his office," he yelled over another explosion. "Then the little rat bastard escaped through a hidden panel."
"What?!"
"I'll explain later we've got to go!"
Sonomi held his hand tightly as he pulled her down the hall. The sounds and smells that bombarded her made her feel nauseated from their petrifying intensity that seemed to reek of impending doom. All she could do was hold on to her husband and trust him to get her and the baby to safety. The decision to leave Deadman Wonderland was no longer theirs. It had been taken out of their hands pushed upon them to flee not only to save their lives but the life of their child. Yatagarasu's words all made sense in this moment. Through the pungent and blinding smoke that was filling the corridor, she could see several people standing at the end of the hall.
Dr. de Sade took her other arm as he fell into step beside them, easily breaking into the full with Ganta, Yo, and Minatsuki trailing behind. He pulled her toward what they all hoped was the exit as the choking smoke filled their lungs and burned their eyes. He pushed open the door that led to their freedom, and they were blinded by blazing sunlight.
Sonomi tried to comfort the wailing child in her arms when they slowed to a fast walk. She jumped but held on to the baby tightly when another loud bang sounded behind them.
"Where are we going?" she asked, looking at De Sade.
"I have a car waiting at the gate. I have a place ready for you. I told you that I would take care of you," he said with a smile on his face as he looked at her.
"Are you kidding me?" Ganta gasped behind her when they saw the limousine behind the tall gate.
The gate was standing wide open waiting for them to walk out to freedom and a new life.
"What about you?" Sonomi inquired when she noticed the doctor lagging behind.
"There are a few things I need to take care of. I have some unfinished business with Tsunenaga Tamaki. I'll be along soon," he assured her. He kissed her on the lips briefly before turning to walk away.
Sonomi stared after him not noticing that her husband was disturbingly nonplussed by the kiss. She felt Senji's arm slide around her shoulders and pull her to him. He would not begrudge the man a single kiss after everything Dr. de Sade had done for them.
"Let's go, sweetheart. It's over," he whispered, kissing her on the top of her head as she watched the prison burn. It truly did look like a picture of hell being engulfed in flames and filling the clear blue sky with black smoke.
"We're free?" she asked, her whole body trembling from shock.
"Yes. We're free," he assured her, taking her to the car.
