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NEVER HAD A DREAM COME TRUE

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

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Skipped the last two steps of entrance steps and landed at the doorway, Yoruichi asked her daughter, catching her breath. "Hannah, where is Daddy?"

She'd expected Kisuke to be there waiting for her to come back from the studio, but there was neither hide or hair of him in sight. He said he had something important to tell her and to give the necessary documents to adopt Hannah legally. She almost ran the red light just to see him again after all these months. So where on earth was he hiding again?

"Hannah, tell Mommy, where did Daddy go?"

Hannah wasn't looking too well and seemed to be afraid of something. She sat down on her legs then held her daughter's hands, face relaxed. "My child, tell Mommy Daddy didn't bring home another little girl and left."

Hannah attempted a giggle at her joke but it fell flat. Eyes darting between her uncle and her, Hannah replied in a small voice, just like the first few days she came to this house. "Daddy came and Grandpa asked him to leave." She choked but she kept talking. "Grandpa told Daddy never to come back. I didn't get the chance to say goodbye to Daddy."

"Uncle, what did you say to Kisuke to make him leave even before seeing me? He promised to see me. He isn't the man who breaks his promises if he can help it. Please, Uncle, tell me what you said."

She implored to her uncle, who was standing behind them at the entry way. Her uncle looked tired and yet the steeliness in his eyes didn't waver. His resolve only became firmer when he saw her gathering crying Hannah for hug. Shifting his gaze from them, he said in his usual authoritative tone of voice. "He isn't welcome here, in my house. Not before, not now. You'd better get used to the idea of not seeing him ever again if you want to keep his daughter."

"Why can't you give him a chance to prove himself, Uncle? You know he's a good person, a good man. I know you're worried for me after what happened to Mom, but life and death aren't something we can decide for ourselves. Living peacefully here doesn't guarantee we don't die unexpectedly. There are so many possibilities that can happen to any of us anytime, whether at some place we think it's safe or somewhere else violent and less safe. We can die right around that corner from a car accident or a plane crashes into our house and kill us while we're asleep in our cozy bed. Life changes constantly, it's unpredictable. And that's why we need to cherish what we've been blessed with and love the ones we love more."

She paused to get herself some air as well as to give her uncle sometime to calm down and listen to her reasoning. Her uncle seemed to be listening for his eyes became less steely. She decided to let herself bare and tell him what she only admitted to herself and no one else, not even Soi Fon although she knew Soi Fon knew. Picking up where she left off, she revealed. "I don't know how or when it started, but I know I've always loved him. How do you think you're protecting me when you take the one person I love from me? I don't know exactly what he does for his job, but I know in my heart he's doing something good. Like his parents, I believe in him. I want to be with him when he finishes whatever the he's been doing and comes home. I want to be his wife and his children's mother. I want to be Hannah's mother."

At the mention of her name, Hannah sniffled and tightened her arms around Yoruichi. She stroked the small body on the back as she reflected to her wavering uncle. "I know I've not been a model niece but you're the only family I have left, I need your approval. Before Grandpa passed away, I promised him to wait and have you consent to my marriage to Kisuke. Grandpa said you'd be heartbroken if I went and did as I pleased like always. All these years I'd waited. Please, Uncle, give us your blessing."

No response, no sound. Her uncle was silent. He looked the way he'd been when he caught her sneaking out to look for Kisuke. To an eight year old, her uncle looked like a giant and intimidating then and now he looked frail, almost like her grandpa was during his last days. Her insides were in knot, half wanting to yield to his wishes while her other half screaming at her to go find Kisuke. Her innate sense of familial loyalty won out and she felt her heart shrivel, like the pansies Kisuke's mother used to care for and had withered after her death.

Hugging Hannah tighter for self comfort, she gave in. "I'm sorry, Uncle. I won't bring up my marriage to Kisuke ever again. I have something to ask of you however."

"I'm listening."

Finally a response from her uncle. How long was that ago when there was only her and her own thoughts? Hannah even stopped hiccupping and somehow fell asleep right where she was, standing in Yoruichi's arms. Perhaps she was still recovering from her latest bout of pneumonia. She slept soundly but wouldn't let go of her hold when Yoruichi carried and put her down on one of the leather sofas. Poor child, so young yet not full of life for the father had seen to it when he regularly threw his daughter into the water as punishment. It was a miracle that Hannah had survived through that kind of inhumane treatment; regrettably it hadn't left her young body unscathed. Her lungs retaining water from repeat episodes of near drowning and not getting proper treatment for pneumonia had resulted in non-cardiac pulmonary edema. Yoruichi felt rage for the real father while feeling love and respect for Kisuke, the proxy father. She was glad he brought Hannah to her for the child couldn't have survived another case of pneumonia without being treated properly. And she was grateful to Hannah, because Kisuke wouldn't have willingly sought her out again. Even before he'd revealed Hannah wasn't his and she'd been shamefully jealous of late the mother, the child had been a joy to her lonely life. Being close to Hannah also filled the void he left in her heart for Hannah was someone he cared deeply for. And so she was willing to do anything to keep this last link while staying loyal to her family as her grandpa and mother had taught her to.

"Uncle, I wish to adopt Hannah legally. My last attempt at adopting her failed. Her father threw her into the water and let her drown, Uncle. I can't and won't let the daughter of my heart go back to that monster. Judge Brown almost granted me full custody of Hannah but changed his mind after hearing her still has living relatives back home." Hannah moved in her arms but calmed down when Yoruichi rocked lulling her back to sleep. Chin on Hannah's head, she carried on, "He only granted me temporary custody until I can provide him proof that her relatives either give up their rights or deem to be unfit to raise a child. I told Kisuke what Judge told me when he called me last. He said he'd do something. Today he came here to give me the proof to gain full guardianship of Hannah. Uncle, I promise I'll never see him again after I get the needed document for her adoption. Please tell me where he went."

"I didn't know the poor child went through such ordeal," said her uncle, lightly rubbing sleeping Hannah's hair.

Her uncle softened and now looked a lot like her grandpa when she ran crying to him, asking him to stop her uncle marrying her off. Her uncle only acted tough as to instill discipline in her. She was grateful to him for looking after her all these years even though she had fumed and said childish, mean things to him behind his back. She remembered her nightly prayer to her parents, asking them to use the power that was said the deceased possessed and lead some nice and beautiful lady to her uncle. After marriage, he wouldn't have had the time to keep watch on her like an owl. Her lips curved up at the reminiscence.

"What are you smiling about, my child?"

Her uncle's question told her she was living in the past again. And she's been doing that a lot lately, especially after Kisuke's reappearance. Where had the years gone? What had she done in these past ten and a half years other than putting one foot in front of the other and waited? Waited for what exactly? There would be time to contemplate the possibilities later, now Hannah's adoption was critical.

"I just remembered my prayers for you to marry and give me some peace."

Her uncle chuckled and she joined him laughing buoyantly. Still chuckling, he asked, "Some peace or give you some time to sneak out to see the smitten boy you were smitten with?"

"Uncle?" Did Uncle just laugh and tease Kisuke and her? Not believing her own eyes and ears, "Uncle, the smitten boy you said I was smitten with wasn't smitten. If he were, you'd hear Grandpa not only from Hannah but also from a few more children."

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He hadn't felt this contentment in a long time, probably not since his sister died. After his sister died, he needed to toughen up and become Yoruichi's stand in father for her grandfather, his own father loved the newly orphaned girl too much to be stern with her. Nonetheless, he should have been less strict and more open with her. He said a prayer to his father, sister, and brother-in-law for watching over their little Yoruichi through the years. He was thankful that she had turned out well. Growing up with a quiet man like him with her outgoing personality wasn't any girl's dream.

Lighthearted with his own decision, he confessed, "Being his parents' son and a gentleman, he dared my wrath and came to ask me for your hand. So you see, my child, he was smitten."

"You didn't tell me he came or asked for my hand. When was that, Uncle?"

"A few months before he disappeared. I asked him to stay away if he ever cared for you. I also told him you were getting married. I'm very sorry, child."

He hoped his voice sounded apologetic as he meant it to be. His niece looked up at him from the sofa, Hannah on her laps, sadly she said. "I'm sorry, Uncle, you had to hide it from me all these years. You're an honorable man, it must have been hard on you."

He let out a breath in relief which he didn't know he'd been holding while confessing his well intended but bad act. Fortunately, his niece and the man of her choice hadn't given up before now. What would he do if either of them had married another and ended up unhappy in the marriage? Of course, there was a possibility that they would be content with another; but he doubted it'd be the case with his niece. Touched and proud of the woman his niece had become, he finally thought through and decided to make her dream come true.

"Yoruichi." He waited for her gaze to meet his then granted, "you know where to find him. Also, tell him don't take too long for I can't wait another decade to bounce my grandchildren on the knee."

As he said, he saw again the face of a girl on her prom night on his niece. She looked radiantly happy and all the months and years of him worrying about her were paid off with that radiance. He was really glad he gave in as she thanked him in a voice that he missed. "Thank you, Uncle."

"What are you still in here? Go find your boy. He might be crying river of tears by now."

As if doubting her own conviction, his niece's happiness dimmed a bit when she contradicted his judgment. "Kisuke doesn't cry, Uncle."

"You not realizing his love for you is the first thing you're wrong. Maybe not for you'd been waiting for him these years. The one thing you're wrong about him is that you think he doesn't cry. Men might not cry tears but our cries are deeper." Placing a hand over the region of his heart, he told his niece, "In here. For millennia, men have been perceived and expected to be strong. So we keep our tears and pain all in here, well hidden. And I believe, he's hurting from what I said about you marrying. He's like a lost little lamb now, with both parents gone and the girl he's always loved is leaving him as well. Go to him, child."

"Yes, Uncle."

She moved to get up as she said but Hannah's grip around her neck was too tight to gently remove. Unsure of what to do, she searched for his wisdom. "Uncle, how did you untangle yourself from me when my mom died and I had a death grip on you?"

"I didn't. Your grandfather took you from me so I could rest a bit after holding you all day." He smiled at the guilty look on her then walked around the sofa to get to the girls. Gently he untangle Hannah's locked arms behind her but Hannah protested, locking her arms again. He whispered. "Shhh, it's all right, Grandpa is here. Let's go take a nap with Grandpa and wait for Mommy to come back with Daddy, alright?"

Hannah straightened but her arms never left his niece. Her voice drowsy from sleep. "Mommy?"

"Yes, Mommy is here. Stay with Grandpa. I promise I'll back soon."

There was such love and tenderness he heard from his niece's comforting. He felt the moisture in his eyes and blinked it away. "Yes, come with Grandpa. Do you want take another nap or go to the back? I have a surprise for you. It's something white and fluffy."

He tempted the child with her favorite animal and the lure seemed to work, her eyes widened and all the sleepiness gone from them. Still, her grip remained on her mommy. He looked at his niece apologetically and she smiled back with understanding as she coerced. "Hannah, be a good girl and go with Grandpa. Mommy needs to go find Daddy. You want to see Daddy again, don't you?"

Hannah nodded and finally let go of his niece. He told them. "While Hannah stays busy with her surprise, I think I'll make up a guest list."

"What is the guest list for, Uncle?"

"For your wedding. What else?"

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Happy yet doubtful, she worried. "I'm not sure he wants to marry me, Uncle. For all we know, he might already have a woman he loves."

"How can you be so dense for being so smart up to now? He loves you. You're not getting younger. So if he didn't, I'd just enact the shotgun wedding and put a gun on his back to get him to the altar for you. Just like the shotgun weddings in the wild west novels you read."

"You knew?"

"Of course. What did you think I kept my eyes on you like an owl for? Especially when he left and you started act your belated teenage years." Her uncle pointed at her ring, "I even noticed the day you started to wear that ring."

Suddenly shy, she covered her ring with her other hand. "Mom, I mean Kisuke's mom gave it to me the day she passed away. She told me to keep it safe for it's an heirloom. It's passed down through generations, from one Urahara bride to the next."

"I want to see it. I want to see Grandma's ring."

Hannah excitedly took hold of her hand, admiring the ring. "I saw it the day Daddy brought me here. I think Daddy saw it too."

She was busy admiring the ring to notice the adults exchanging worried glances. "Do you think that's why he believed when I said you're getting married?"

"Not really, Uncle. It's I who made him to take your words seriously." Somewhat embarrassed of her own childish behavior, she explained. "You see, Uncle, I didn't clarify when he brought Hannah here and asked me to introduce him to my husband. He thought I was married with kids and I let him on purpose. I was upset."

"What woman wouldn't be if the man she loved came back with his child from another woman?" He smiled. His smile almost looked mischievous when he teased. "I'm glad Soi Fon wasn't home at the time or you'd blow a hole his black heart with her gun. And she'd help you put a few more too."

"I guess he thought of that possibility and came without calling first. I haven't changed my number since forever. He knows the number. I was tempted to, Uncle."

Her uncle gave a belly laugh and shooed her out of the door. "That's my little girl. Go get him. He owes me a few wrinkles."

"I will. Thank you, Uncle. Thank you for raising and loving me even though I caused you many troubles and migraine over the years. And thank you for loving Hannah too. You can't know how much that means to me."

Her uncle said nothing and in his own way, he let her know he accepted her apology and gratitude with a kiss on her forehead. She bent down to kiss Hannah on the forehead. "Mommy will be home soon. With Daddy."

After years of waiting for her uncle's approval, she felt like wings were growing and lifting her up; she felt light and giddy like a child. Like Hannah always did when excited and couldn't contain the excitement, she wanted to skip. Soi Fon would have her laugh if she saw now. And maybe Soi Fon could still see her skipping for having her uncle's consent gave her the freedom to openly show her love for Kisuke.

Then she was out of the door and in her Coupe in minutes flat. She thought she scraped her car off the wall when she backed out of the garage. She shrugged, who cares about a few scratches on the side of the car. She had more serious damage to consider if she couldn't catch up to him. Her heart would have much more than a few bruises for she felt herself at the end of the rope and her arms were getting tired, very tired lately.

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posted 30 November 2013