Tomoharu's Redemption IV

"So, those were her last words to you?"

His dropped his gaze to the hands in his lap. A pained expression crossed his face as he suddenly bent his neck. The anguish was clear by the way he clenched his fists. Fallon was sure she could see his eyes misting over as he forced out his response, "Yes... those were her last words."

Relief washed over Fallon as she sank back in her seat. She had been visiting Igarashi for days to hear the story from beginning until the end. "She really was thinking about him in her last moments then," she murmured quietly. "Wait, how did you manage to get out after that?"

"Lucky break that Kazuki left her gun behind. I used it to threaten my way out, although I was still injured in the process." He slowly lifted his gaze to meet hers, forehead creased as he recounted the events following, "I made sure to shake off any pursuers before returning home. I didn't know about Kazuki until that night... I was nursing a wound in front of the television when they made the announcement about her death." Swallowing hard, he closed his eyes.

There were no words of comfort that Fallon could think to offer. Nothing she said could really console him. They both knew the reason for Kazuki's death. Accident that it may have been, everything leading up to that point – that they had ever ended up in that situation to begin with – it had been Igarashi's fault.

A quiet settled between the two of them as she searched for the words to say, and he seemed too wrapped up in memories to speak. At least not until a guard reminded them that only a scarce few minutes of visiting time remained.

"I guess I should take my leave then."

He gave her a half-hearted smile in response. "I suppose it was good if I was able to help."

"Tomorrow—"

"There's no need to come back here anymore," Igarashi interrupted. "They handed down my sentence yesterday. It won't be long and then I'll be able to be with Kazuki again. So there's no need in reading any more of the passages from her journal. But thank you, Fallon."

Her face softened. "I see, then I guess this will be goodbye."

"Oh, one last thing. Someone else came to see me yesterday – about Kazuki, actually. I told them about you. I think you should be hearing from them soon."

Puzzled by that statement, and completely baffled as to who else could have possibly held an interest in Kazuki, Fallon just stared back at Igarashi with her brows furrowed. At last she managed to force out some parting words before starting out the door.

—

"Hey, you got mail."

She had started to doze off while watching television, waiting for Goto to come home. When she was roused by his voice, she found an envelope held out in front of her. Bleary eyes stared up at him with a look of confusion but he remained stone-faced. Taking the proffered item, she studied the handwriting. Unfamiliar, she thought as she tore it open and unfolded the letter contained within.

Once he had delivered the letter, Goto turned his back toward her and started toward the bedroom – only to pause as a hand seized his shoulder.

"Wait, this is for you," she told him, holding the unfolded paper out toward him.

His forehead creased. "I don't correspond with anyone through mail. It's junk."

"No," Fallon responded forcefully, "It's definitely for you."

Although he seemed reluctant, he finally snatched it from her hands and held it in front of his face. His eyes slowly scanned the letters and the further he got, the more the scowl on his face seemed to evaporate – replaced by surprise that gradually was swept away by sadness.

Seiji Goto, I recently heard that it was thanks to your efforts that the Red Snake was placed behind bars. I was present yesterday as his official sentence was passed down. The death penalty will do nothing to ease the suffering of those of us left behind in the wake of Amemiya-san's death. But it brought me comfort to hear that you were able to move on.

As you know, I was with her in her final moments. I was with her on the elevator, I was with in her the ambulance when she left this world. And like a coward, I quit the force the next day. I was too angry – at myself, and at Kazuki. For leaving me behind, for putting her life on the line to protect me. In the end, I couldn't bring her the justice that she deserved.

But although I ran away from that responsibility, I feel I owe it to you to relay the message Kazuki gave to me in that elevator.

His grip tightened on the corners of the paper, crumpling it slightly. She watched as he swallowed visibly – and Fallon could see the hesitation on his face. As though he was afraid of what he would read on the next line. As though to usher him forward, she placed her hand against his shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze.

At the time it didn't make any sense to me. And I still don't really understand the meaning behind it. I imagine that there was something she felt was left unfinished. The first words out of her lips were an apology. And her last word was 'Yes'. She repeated it to me three times. I had no idea what that meant. I begged her to explain but she was losing consciousness by then.

I am not sure if or how this letter might bring you any comfort. I apologize if it only brings back bitter memories from the past. Regardless, I wanted to congratulate you on your new-found happiness. I am sure that is what Kazuki would have wished for.

-Atsushi Yamano

The letter crumpled in his fists as he brought it to his face. The tears fell silently, like a dam had finally burst. And Fallon quietly embraced him as wept into the letter that had finally brought him the peace of mind he had needed.

All those years of lamenting – of regretting that he had watched her go without putting up more of a protest. She had been sick, he had reasoned, and if he had pushed it more, maybe he could have convinced her to stay home.

Now he knew – knew that she had been thinking of him. That despite meeting the person who he thought himself a replacement of, her foremost concern was giving him the answer. Yes. His heart was breaking all over again, for the could-have-beens, for the what-ifs.

But the woman holding onto him now, the woman who had gone to all these lengths, it was not Kazuki. He knew that. He knew that Kazuki was already gone.

"Fallon," he whispered quietly, wrapping his arms around her shoulders.

A new happiness was awaiting him.