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My tired eyes slowly flickered open and instantly shut themselves again due to the piercing light. I felt a hand caress my cheek and I then remembered having dozed off on Nagi's lap. I turned my head and my vision locked with that of my smiling wife's.

She bent down and kissed my forehead, "Slept well?"

I nodded, "Yeah… But how long have I been asleep?"

She glanced at the alarm clock and replied, "Around two hours?"

'Two hours?!' my eyes widened as it dawned on me that I had slept for so long without having completed all my tasks. I still had to deliver the rice sacks to the herbivores and my family would definitely want to visit Sasagawa Ryohei who was the most injured but I had yet to tell them (I promised them never to lie, especially if the matter involved our loved ones) and wait…. It was already evening and Nagi had not prepared dinner because of me!

"Nagi, you've been sitting like that for two hours?" I asked.

She nodded, "But you had a rough journey, didn't you? Although you're a light sleeper, you didn't even wake up when I treated your wounds".

I rose up my hands and saw that my knuckles were plastered.

"Kuri brought the first aid kit in and out for me. I fixed your jacket, talked to Mukuro-san, took a short nap, and you never woke up. It showed how exhausted you were."

I heaved myself up and adjusted my position to sit beside her, "I'm fine now".

Nagi leant her head on my shoulder and interlocked our hands together, "Mukuro-san told me you singlehandedly defeated fifty six warriors and earned fifteen rice sacks. You're really a born murderer, Kyoya".

I smirked and kissed her hair, "Even if it means having to cross such lengths of committing deep sins, I will continue to move forward, as long as I can protect this family".

She looked stunned, "But, Kyoya—"

"It's all right, Nagi."

Her face fell.

"By the way, I need to deliver the rice sacks to the herbivores later," I said, changing the topic, "I took three, one for us, one for the herbivorous boss, and one for the woman taking care of Hiro".

"But, Kyoya, you should rest. Maybe I can help you do that?" Nagi offered.

"No," I immediately objected.

I could not afford to let something like the rapist incident happen again.

"Chrome is right, Hibari," Rokudo Mukuro appeared at the bedroom door out of thin air, "I understand you are worried for her, so I volunteer to accompany her to deliver the rice sacks to your friends".

At his suggestion, Nagi begged me for my approval with her gleaming puppy eyes that I was vulnerable to, so in the end, I gave in.

"Fine, but if anything happens to her, I'll bite you to death."

He chuckled, "You have my word".

"Kyoya," Nagi suddenly whispered nervously, "I'm sorry but because I didn't want to disturb your sleep… I-I invited M-Mukuro-san to stay for dinner without your p-permission…." She hung her head low, afraid that I would be mad at her.

Although I was pissed at the idea of prolonging a herbivore's presence in our house, I let the matter slide and chose not to argue back. Nagi seemed very surprised when I just ruffled her hair and told her it was okay. Besides, it would be mean of me if I did not give her the chance to make decisions without my interference.

"But…is there even dinner?" I asked.

"W-Well… The ingredients are already in the kitchen but….I-I didn't cook yet…." Nagi replied sheepishly.

"I'll cook then," I said, standing up, "Meanwhile, you can distribute the rice sacks".

I handed her the rice sacks, and she pecked me on my cheek before she left the house with her 'bodyguard'.

"Mmmm…. Yummy! What did you cook, Otosan?" Kuri asked when she was lured into the kitchen by the food's delicious aroma.

"Curry rice," I answered as I lay the dishes and utensils on the dining table, "We'll eat when they come back".

Speaking of the devil, there were five consecutive knocks on the front door. The code sounded again as I walked out of the kitchen, seeming rather urgent. I pulled the door open, and widened my eyes at the sight of Rokudo Mukuro carrying my wife on his back.

"She's unwell," his sentence was all I needed to quickly usher them into our bedroom and help him place Nagi gently onto the bed.

"What happened to her?" I almost yelled at Rokudo Mukuro as I dabbed a wet towel on Nagi's forehead.

"I don't know," he said, "On the way back home, she suddenly had a stomach ache and was in so much pain that she couldn't stand so I carried her here".

I lifted up her blouse and noticed that her stomach looked more swollen and bloated than usual, which I apparently did not feel when I tickled it earlier.

"Kyoya…." Nagi murmured weakly as she reached out a pale hand to me, which I caught in mine. "Are you still in pain?" I inquired, touching her abdomen. She sighed softly, "It's…better now. I don't know why…but it suddenly hurt a lot after I went to Haru-chan's house. If it weren't for Mukuro-san, I wouldn't be able to come home…."

Rokudo Mukuro smiled in relief, "I'm glad to be of help, dear Chrome. Kufufu… I think I shall leave you under the care of your husband".

Watching him exit out of the room, I turned to Nagi and brushed her hair, "Are you ill?"

She shrugged her shoulders, "I'm not sure… Do you think it's food poisoning?"

Even though that could be the reason, I doubted it, as if I was absolutely convinced that something else was affecting Nagi.

"If it still hurts after dinner, I'll bring you to the clinic," I said, applying ointment onto her stomach, "…. Or maybe not. The clinics around here are Ingotish-dominated. I think Namimori hospital would be the best".

She rested for fifteen minutes or so, and then claimed that she was well enough to eat dinner with us. The four of us surrounded the dining table, and while I consumed my curry rice in silence, I saw how bonded and insouciant Rokudo Mukuro and Kuri were together, in the midst of the illusionary world they created, where there was no war, no deaths of those they held dear, no discrimination, no problems with self-acceptance, no pain, no nothing…. to escape from the harsh reality they loathed.

For once, I agreed that illusions, those deceiving and complicated perceptions that were nothing but lies no matter how much truth they tried to copy from the reality, were what a person could establish to keep himself sane. However much I abhorred illusions, I had to agree that sometimes, it was because of those 'fairy tales' that one could temporarily forget the hard truth and spare himself some peace.

In the middle of the meal, Nagi abruptly stood up from her seat, murmured something incoherent and rushed off urgently to the bathroom. I followed her to check on her and outside of the bathroom I heard gagging noises that instantly told me that Nagi was vomiting.

Without knocking, I burst open the door and saw her throwing out the contents of her stomach into the toilet bowl, sobbing due to the pain in her throat. Kneeling down beside her and rubbing her back, I frowned at her condition.

"You are far from being okay," I declared, "I'm bringing you to the doctor".

She stubbornly shook her head, "I-It's fine… I think I just ate too much and all…. Please don't waste money and time on me…."

'Waste money and time on you?' I thought disbelievingly. How could she think of something so ridiculous? She was my wife, my responsibility and my world. How could I ever put those things above her well-being? My pride as a man would not tolerate that.

"Don't be an idiot," I snapped, wiping her mouth with a tissue, "Do you not care about your health at all? I'm bringing you to a goddamn doctor regardless of your stupid protests".

Nagi's eyes watered, and I internally cursed at myself for being so harsh to her. However, she smiled at me. It was not forced at all. It was a genuine smile. Why was she still able to smile when I just spat out those mean words at her?

'Damn, Nagi, why are you so forgiving? Okay, I may be overreacting about this but…why are you so kind?'

She then promised to go for a check-up after dinner, without any more reluctance.

Even at the dining table, when Rokudo Mukuro and Kuri questioned her about what the matter had been, she simply smiled and insisted that she was all right and that we were worrying for nothing.

I did not think so.

"So you were ill since Friday?" I began to interrogate Nagi in the waiting room of the hospital.

She responded obediently to my queries, "Yes…"

"And you didn't tell me? Not even when I got home?"

"I'm sorry…." she bowed her head low, "I didn't think it was necessary. I just had stomach aches, bloating and feeling very tired all the time…. I thought it was nothing serious, so I didn't tell you… I don't want to bother you with something minor….."

I growled, "That's not what others think. To us, you're important, so if something's wrong, we want to help you. Signs, no matter how vague, can mean a terminal illness".

She smiled, touching my hand, "Kyoya, you're exaggerating. Don't worry. I'll be fine".

"You better be."

"Mrs Hibari Nagi," a nurse called, signalling Nagi's turn to visit the doctor.

~A few days later~

I kissed Nagi's forehead yet again, caressing her smooth hair as she gripped onto my dress shirt and wept heavily into it. My arms moved to wrap around her back comfortingly.

Both of us wished we never had to know the reason behind Nagi's symptoms of illness.

Ovarian cancer.

Ultrasound, blood tests and others had led to the diagnosis of her curse. She had not been ill since that Friday. She had been ill since weeks ago. The signs were so vague that no one had noticed. Her cancer had already reached advanced stage two!

We were far from being prepared for the results.

I had stood up from my seat, shouted in incensement at the gynecological oncologist, and demanded her to spit out the truth. That my wife was not accursed by the ugly fate of cancer and that she was going to be fine. I had tried denying everything, yet the hard truth lay before us clearly. Nagi had immediately broken down into hysterical tears the moment the horrible news shot through her mind. She had screamed, not stopping even as I held her tightly in my arms, and had begged the doctor to help her live.

She wanted to live so badly.

"I don't want to die! I don't want to die!"

We felt our world fall apart.

That night, when we had returned home after Nagi's appointment with the gynecological oncologist, Nagi had confined herself in our bedroom, refusing to talk or eat, and had no more tears to shed. Just like when she had to let her best friends go.

Rokudo Mukuro was thunderstruck. Kuri was devastated. I was in pain.

I hated this. I hated everything!

Having to put up with the damn Ingotish Occupation was already so tough, yet another huge nightmare befell on us! My wife had cancer. Cancer! What the hell was fate trying to do? Kill someone so important to me? Take away one of the few things I cherished in this world? Just…. why?

Even till now, we had yet to inform the others of the awful news. Rokudo Mukuro wanted to stay with us more than ever. After all, one of the few people who appreciated his existence was close to death's doorstep.

The possibility of Nagi slipping away crushed my heart to no end.

I had been afraid, for I would never know what the future had in store for us. Even with surgery, chemotherapy and other treatments for Nagi's cancer, no one would know how much she could pull through. No one would know how long it might take for her to recover, or if she would be even given that chance. However, no matter how scared I or anyone else was, Nagi was definitely feeling worse.

Then I realised that there was no use in cursing or blaming anyone or anything, for that would never change the circumstances. The only thing we could do was to adapt to the situation and adjust Nagi's destiny so that we could ensure her survival and fulfill her wish to live a good life again.

No matter what, I would stand by her side forevermore.

"No… No! I don't want to go in!" Nagi wailed as she clung onto me with such force that I staggered backwards and pressed my left hand on the wall. The doctor bit his lip sympathetically at how frightened Nagi was to face her first chemotherapy session. Her reaction was worse than when she had to undergo surgery.

I gently created a short distance between Nagi and I so that I could talk to her and ease her insecurity. "It's going to be fine," I whispered patiently yet firmly, cupping her pale cheeks and muffling her nervous pants with my lips, "It's going to be over before you know it. Trust me. They won't screw anything up unless they want to be friends with my tonfas, so you will be okay".

Tears lingered at the corners of her fearful eyes as she shuddered uncontrollably, "Kyoya, I'm s-scared… so scared…."

I kissed her again, "I know. But it's for your own good. We will be with you, though not physically. It's going to be fine".

I was relieved when she finally calmed down and reluctantly let go of me as the doctor kindly escorted her into the room. My heart sank as Nagi shed another tear before our eye contact was cut by the shutting of the doors.

Rokudo Mukuro, Kuri and I were the only ones gathered in the waiting room. Kuri had fallen asleep and her head was pillowed on Rokudo Mukuro's lap. I sat silently with my elbows resting on my thighs. An irritated grumble from the man opposite me made me glance up and I saw him grimace at his phone.

"One more time that impatient, annoying, stupid, ugly, stuck-up, one hell of an idiot tries to blackmail me by using my absence from work and I'll make sure shit is the last thing he will eat before I kick him to the deepest pit of hell…" he cussed under his breath. I was going to ignore his gibberish like usual, but a part of his long sentence caught my attention.

"You have been skipping work since you returned to Namimori with us," I said, and he stared back at me like a retard.

"Kufufu?" clicking my tongue, I mentally translated that to 'So?'

"For Nagi's sake, I assume," I added, and then sneered, "You weren't kidding when you proclaimed that you like this family. Well, at least Nagi and Kuri. I wouldn't want to be fancied by a pineapple bastard".

Rokudo Mukuro shook his head, amused, "Drop the pretence. I know you are pissed that I don't seem to acknowledge you as much as your wife and daughter. But, truth be told, that isn't the case".

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms, "I can't think of any valid reason why I would yearn for an attachment with someone like you".

He chuckled, "Kufufufu! But seriously, admit it, you do see some similarities between us".

"You're dead wrong," I deadpanned.

"I'm dead right," he retorted back, "Both of us are willing to neglect all else for the sake of the people important to us, even if we have to be sinners".

I raised an eyebrow, "Sinners? I am one of them, but you… I'm not sure. I just know you're an annoying cannot-stop-talking-crap chicken".

Rokudo Mukuro suppressed a roaring laughter in order not to jerk Kuri out of her much desired sleep ever since news of her mother's grave illness was announced.

"Of course I'm a sinner too," Rokudo Mukuro smirked smugly at me, but smiled fondly at Kuri (see the difference in attitude?), "My presence here proves that".

He brushed Kuri's fringe away from her forehead before he continued, "Instead of doing my jobs, I had chosen to stay with this Japanese family. It's like betrayal in the eyes of the Ingotishs, don't you think?" He chuckled again, "They're coming for my head if they deem I'm a traitor. Well, not that I'm afraid though".

His expression suddenly turned serious, "About Chrome's cancer…."

"She's going to be fine," I interrupted, confidently and insistently, yet grudgingly as if I was being forced to console others and perhaps myself.

Rokudo Mukuro sighed gloomily, "You still have to prepare for the worst".

I glared at him, "It hasn't been two weeks since her diagnosis and you think she'll die?"

"I have faith in her too," he snorted, "But I'm telling you to be emotionally prepared for whatever that may happen. It's for the best. After all, Kuri and you will be Chrome's main source of inspiration".

He sighed again. Ruefulness was evident in him. "With ovarian cancer, Chrome may never be able to give birth again."

My teeth gritted behind my lips.

"In the worst-case scenario that hasn't reached the point of death, her ovaries and other organs that the cancerous cells have invaded may be removed. Henceforth, subsequent children will be no such thing."

"Do you think Kuri is lonely?" Nagi had once asked me, "It'll be nice to give her siblings, ne?"

Nagi would break down even more if what Rokudo Mukuro said came true.

It was my turn to sigh.

I listened with Nagi to the doctor who was briefing her about certain side effects due to chemotherapy, and advising her on how she could cope with them. Nagi's only response was nods and half-hearted answers of "Yes", so I took it upon myself to make inquiries on her behalf. I felt that it was also my responsibility to understand her illness as much as I could so that I could help her.

While Nagi was receiving medicine from the nurse, the doctor called me aside to speak with me privately, out of anyone's hearing range.

"Your wife is currently very depressed," he stated, "During this tedious journey to endure numerous treatments and side effects, she needs a lot of emotional support. Staying at home will be safe for her health, but it may also worsen her feelings. You can consider taking her out, but avoid those places where she may get infections. Treat her like you have always done. Let her see a glimmer of hope even as she's haunted by her illness".

As I tried to sink in his words, I felt the stress on my part build up. I understood what role I had to play, but at the same time, I did not.

"Right now, it isn't necessary for her to stay in the hospital, but you need to keep close watch on her. I know it's also stressful for you, so please feel free to seek assistance from us. Anytime, anywhere. Our job, after all, is to save lives."

Cancer was a disastrous and petrifying demon that would slowly and painfully swallow up one's torn spirit and suck away life energy. It would twist one's perspective of everything and damage the senses. However, it was definitely not impossible to counter it and win back whatever was lost. Maintaining a strong and positive resolution would be the best foundation and cure to overrule that hateful demon.

I would remember to embed that into the will of my wife.

"Hibari, Chrome's medication and treatments are not going to cost little. Can you afford it?" Rokudo Mukuro voiced his thought when we returned home, but of course after ensuring that none of the girls could hear.

I scoffed, reading through Nagi's records, "That's the least of my concerns". I would not mind owing a decade of money if it meant Nagi could be cured.

He shrugged, "Well, I'm just saying that I can offer some funds if you're in a tight spot".

I shot my head up at him. Was he serious?

"Are you trying to do me a favour so that I will owe you?" I snarled suspiciously.

He slumped his arm over the couch lazily as he crossed his legs, "Kufufu… Prideful as always. It's a good thing Kuri didn't inherit that trait from you".

I narrowed my eyes, "She inherited her backbone from me".

Rokudo Mukuro grinned, "That's true".

He then stood up and strolled off to the guest room that we lent to him during his stay, "I'm gonna take a nap. Oh, and perhaps I should seek my revenge and blackmail that asshole… Kufufufu~"

I sighed, thinking that it must be a miracle for me to be able to tolerate another herbivorous human in my house without throwing a tantrum.

"A pendant?"

"Yes. It's an heirloom passed down to every female family member. And now, it's yours."

"Thank you, Okasan."

Nagi and Kuri's voices clearly came from our bedroom. Opening the door, I saw them sitting on the bed in Japanese style, awing over a necklace that Kuri held carefully in her hands.

"Ah, Otosan!" Kuri beamed, showing off the delicate item, "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

I examined the shimmering aquamarine pendant that had a lotus imbedded in its core and recalled that Nagi had explained to me what this piece of jewelry was for when I stumbled upon it during the New Year spring cleaning. But I remembered that she intended to hand it to Kuri only when she became sixteen. Now was way too early.

It then dawned on me like a lightning bolt.

Staring at Nagi, I noticed how hard she was trying to smile as she talked to Kuri.

Was she predicting that she would die before Kuri could grow up to be a teenager? Was that why she decided to give her the necklace now before it was too late?

Kuri left to keep the heirloom safely in her own bedroom, leaving Nagi and I alone. I was not going to waste any more time. I quickly pulled Nagi into a strong embrace, ignoring her surprised gasps and whispering huskily into her ears, "Do not, I repeat, do not start the countdown of your remaining lifespan. You have to believe in yourself. If you don't have that self-esteem, I'll fix it into you".

Nagi was shocked, to say the least. But she wrapped her arms around my waist and stuffed her face into my shoulder, "Please do". She was pleading me.

I slowly released her and we just gazed blankly at one another.

Nagi suddenly rose her hand up and caressed my cheek, stroking her thumb over my lips. She leant in and replaced her thumb with her own lips. I placed a hand on her neck and kissed her back tenderly, passionately.

She moved away, watching the strand of saliva between our lips disappear. She looked up at me and spoke softly, "Kyoya, how much do you love me?"

It was so random and odd, but I was sure she asked the same question before, and I remembered my previous answer was, "More than you can ever love me" (it had sounded so herbivorous, but it made her happy).

This time, I would say a different thing.

"Beyond infinity."