A/N: Still, this chapter is dedicated to MYSTERY. And darlings, I don't own a thing.
-;-
#19. He had everything in the tips of his fingers; or so he thought until he get to meet her. Now, more than ever, Usui Takumi wanted nothing more but to possess that amber-eyed woman who, literally speaking, came crashing into his word like a falling star. But can a love so untimely and not destined turn into something... fateful?
-;-
Here I am waiting; I'll have to leave soon.
Why am I holding on?
We knew this day would come, we knew it all along.
How did it come so fast?
—Daylight, Maroon 5
-;-
Spoiler:
"I guess that's what happens in the end. You start thinking about the beginning."
-;-
Twenty Six:
"Damn, what's this ugly feeling?"
Misaki grabbed the Big Ben bookmark Aoi had bought for her and placed it on the particular chapter she was reading since she's currently interested with Dan Brown's Inferno before she stands and started looking around. She's been pretty irritated lately and the irritation—and craving for something she wanted to see—was really starting to grate on her last nerve. It was annoying, had she known all these craving stuff would set her demeanor into a fouler manner; she should not have hesitated to ask Suzuna to buy her those magazines that has him on the cover. She was mad at him, all right, that was already a given. And had she seen him, she wouldn't hesitate on punching him right straight on the kisser for knocking her off quite well and rejecting her and cheating on her and not apologizing. But damn her pregnancy hormones! Everything was so annoying and irritating and vexing and confusing but despite all that, she still wanted to see him.
Stupid hormones.
In silence, she walked towards the cupboard to search for something to eat. She's been pretty grouchy and ridiculously hungry the entire morning even after finishing an entire bowl of cereal and about two bottles of milk. But damn, it wasn't enough to keep her on leash and she worries that before she could even reach the third month of her pregnancy, she's already as fat as a cow. And the idea of getting fat doesn't sound like a good one either because all the more would it lower her self-esteem. It's bad enough that she was unable to get his heart when her figure was already nice and beautiful. How would that stupid jackass fall for her if she's twice as big as a cow?
Fucking hormones.
But since her hunger still preceded her, she continued searching. And when she realized that the cookies Suzuna and Aoi has been bringing for her since two days ago was already wiped out clean, she let out a curse and stand amidst her little kitchen, hands on waist. She darted a quick glance on her Mr. Kermit wristwatch—and remembered that it was actually a couple's watch—before exhaling. She's still got half an hour before the two musketeers arrives and since she's starving, she decided to drive to the nearest mart and buy some cookies.
And besides, it might do her good getting out of the lonely confines of her home and bathing in sunshine. It's still cold since it's already mid-January but it wasn't like the sun's been hiding damned long. In fact, today seemed to be a good day. After three minutes of thinking whether she should wait for the two, Misaki swiftly grabbed her coat and shrugged it on, hiding her head under the thick and furry hood and grabbed her wallet, all set to leave. And just in case the two arrives and she still wasn't back, she left a note on the door saying her exact location. It was a nice day out, indeed, and she decided not to use her car anymore to conserve energy. And besides, she remembered her OB saying that walking is a form of good exercise, too.
Thus, she walked towards the nearest market.
It was quite busy and walking all by herself gave her some more time to think about what's going to happen to her life when February finally ends. She expects a divorce but she would never really admit to anyone—not even to Suzuna and Aoi—that even though he had broken her heart, deep—way, way, way, deep—inside, she never did asked for a divorce. She hated what he's done—what he's done—but she couldn't feel any hatred towards Usui Takumi, himself. Damn, that bastard's so lucky for receiving that kind of love from her when she knew he didn't even deserve that after all he's done to her.
Stupid Usui Takumi.
She started wondering what he's been up to lately now. Suzuna and Aoi aren't allowing her to watch television or read any news and she's beginning to wonder if news about them getting a divorce was already wide-spread—or if Takumi and Kaon was already seen dating around. Damn, she should really start breaking free from this pathetic state she's in. If he wanted a divorce, then she'd give him a divorce. She still meant what she said that night: both of them could go to fucking hell if they want.
When she reached the market she's been eyeing for quite some time now, she swiftly entered and tried to keep as low profile as possible. If news were really alive, kicking and enthusiastic, she couldn't risk to get spotted by paparazzi who's been pretty adamant—back then—on stalking her.
She walked towards the isle for food when instead, it led her to the baby section and she couldn't help but smile upon seeing twin pairs of baby tethers—one pink and one blue. She took the tethers into her gloved hand and gently shakes it which created really light sounds. She sighed, wondering if she would have fraternal babies and started thinking how they would look again. Takumi's face shot across her mind and she winced when her heart started palpitating again. She should really get over him. All these reaction was so pathetic and annoying. She looked like some friggin' fan girl crying over her idol because he had refused to gaze at her. After another minute of thinking, she took the baby item with her and walked towards the cookie isle, grabbing as much box as possible before she head off towards the counter when this little girl appeared from nowhere and bumped against her that caused for her to drop everything she's holding on the floor.
The little girl, who fell down on the floor, looked up at her apologetically. "I'm so sorry, Miss. Are you hurt somewhere?"
She was blonde and all of a sudden, her heart went all out to the kid. "No, no, I'm fine. Come on up." She smiled at her and lifted her up, planting her feet to the ground properly and picked up the baby formula she was holding. "Here. Was it for your baby brother?"
"Sister." she corrected Misaki. "My Daddy's away because of his job and since no one's around to take care of her—and my Mama is still bedridden—and I decided to come here and buy them milk." She eyed the tether on the floor and smiled back at Misaki. "Are you going to have a baby, too?"
Misaki paused for a moment and looked down on her slightly flat stomach before she nodded. "Yes, twins, to be exact."
"Really? Well, since you'll be a Mom, too, do you think this formula is good for my sister?" the kid showed the formula to her and she checked it out. This was the same baby formula Aoi and Suzuna bought for her, knowing she wouldn't be able to use it since her twins wouldn't be born until after nine months.
Turning back to the kid, Misaki nodded. "Yes. That's a good formula. Come, let's buy it together." She quickly picked up the box of cookies she had and proceeded to the counter before handing the formula to the cashier lady. "Hi, please include this little girl's grocery on my payment, is it okay?"
"Yes, Ma'am—" when the cashier lady turned to her with a smile, the smile disappeared from her lips as she gasped loudly. "—Mrs. Usui?!" she mouthed in extreme aghast, which sounded a little too louder than necessary, that caused other customers and shoppers to snapped their heads on the direction. The cashier woman started squealing loudly in obvious delight. "Oh, my God, Mrs. Usui Misaki, right? You're that woman Usui Takumi married, right? Oh, my God! My friends and I loves you so much! Oh, my God! Can I get your autograph? My friends wouldn't believe me if I tell them I've finally seen you! I've watch your wedding on live TV and you're just so lovely! You look like a Princess and your husband is handsome and… and, oh, God! This is really unbelievable!"
Misaki panicked as she swiftly looked around in time to see people already staring at them. And after realizing her hood's been removed, she pulled it back up to cover her face. "Yeah, sure. Um, can I get the amount now? I'm in extreme hurry—"
"Oh, my God, it was really Usui Misaki!" someone exclaimed. "Go get a picture of her!"
"Go get her autograph!"
"Come on and let's approach her!"
OH, HOLY CHEDDAR CHEESE AND FRIGGIN' HAMBURGERS! When people started approaching her, she forced out a smile and tried to acknowledge them all. But there was just too many of them and she had a child with her. She turned back to the cashier lady who's now busy chatting with her friends about her and smiled. "Um, could you get her formula scanned, please? Her Mom's waiting for her and she's in extreme hurry."
"Oh, my God, I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed exaggeratedly. "Do you know this child?" she asked while scanning the box and placing it to a paper bag. "Is she a relative?"
Misaki handed the little girl the paper bag and nodded at her to go. The girl smiled and thanked her before running off to the exit. She sighed; she shouldn't have gotten out of her pad. "No, she's not. We just met here. Is that done now?"
"A few more seconds." She continued talking while the other shoppers continued asking for her pictures and when the lady was finally done with what she's bought, she smiled at everyone, thanking them since they recognized her before she run out of the mart in a hurry and took another path because she was certain some people might start following her. And she was sure it wouldn't be long before pictures of her doing the grocery would come out into the public.
Damn, being a celebrity was really hard.
When she was certain she's out of the hotspot now, she decided to pull out her always ready face mask and covered her face to keep people from recognizing her. She kept her hood on, too, and when she felt her hungry, she occupied one bench and opened one box and stared at the children playing by the park she was at. She smiled at seeing children play, and she started thinking about her kids, too, once they started running around and asking her to take them to the nearest park. That would spell out trouble. She remembered when Suzuna was still younger and she used to run around the house and falling down a lot and getting her knees cut. Minako would always reprimand her for not looking after her sister. And then, she remembered when she ate grass and started throwing up—that was really hilarious if only it wasn't serious.
She laughed mentally, and thought if she was Minako and her twins were throwing up, too, after eating stray grass, she was certain she would die out of anxiety. Wordlessly, she run her fingers to the small nudge on her stomach and smiled in pleasure.
"Hey, don't cause me trouble, okay?" she whispered to her kids while eating. "We might be living in some forest in Macau—or in a secluded place in Madagascar—so don't give me trouble by eating grass, okay? I swear, your Aunt Suzuna and Aoi wouldn't be there to gather my ashes if I die?" she laughed again, as her mind flew off to Suzuna and Aoi. Those two, she was pretty certain something's going on with those two.
Who knows, right? Maybe, one of these days, it'll be Aoi ringing the wedding bells.
And her? Well, who knows, too? Maybe… just maybe, she's safe and away to some far-off place with her kids and hopefully enough, she's moved on from that man who had broken her into unrecognizable pieces.
But you don't really want to go away, right? You don't really want to leave, right? You wanted to stay with him, right?
Misaki frowned. Why would she still want to stay with a guy who couldn't even give her the love she deserved? What if he finds out she's pregnant and decided to stay with her and take her children away once she finally delivers them? What's worst is what if he decides to stay with her just for the sake of the kids? That would have been awful. She couldn't help it when a bitter laugh escapes her throat. That would be more awful than the fact that he only put up with her because of the contract. If he only stays for the kids—and definitely not because he loves her—she wouldn't know what she might end up doing. She might end up taking off or worst, she might end up in a mental institution.
Fuck, matters of the heart are damn annoying.
She was about to stand when she spotted Aoi's car coming her way and when she risked a glance on her Kermit watch, she frowned upon realizing thirty minutes is over. And her two bodyguards are probably panicking now, wondering if she had gotten herself in some kind of trouble. She waved at them when Aoi rolled down his windows and honked his horns. And it was seconds later when she found Suzuna running towards her like Hell's chasing after her.
"Ayuzawa Misaki, did you know how much you got me and Aoi damned worried—"
Misaki decided to point out the children playing by the playground at Suzuna. "Look at those kids, I remember when you were younger and you ate grass. You remember that, right?"
Absentmindedly, Suzuna nodded. "Yes. Mom told me that while she was in the hospital. She told me she nearly died out of anxiety after seeing me puking around like I was going to die."
"Well, we drove up the local hospital and the doctor said you were going to live so," Misaki shrugged again. "I was just thinking, you know, if my kids eat grass, too, and they started throwing up and getting sick. And I don't have anyone to support me because you and Aoi would be probably busy since life goes on." She laughed again. "I don't think my life's ever going to go on."
"Misaki…"
"Well, I was just thinking what if my life doesn't go on anymore—that would be awful, right?" She laughed again. "But I have my kids now. And I thought, if the Walkers take them away, there really wouldn't be anywhere else for me to go." She looked up at Suzuna, and for some reason, she felt like her heart was stirring painfully again as her eyes began to blur out. "They wouldn't take them away, right?"
"They wouldn't. They wouldn't." Suzuna sat next to Misaki and removed her face mask so she could breathe properly and hugs her. When Aoi got to them and saw Misaki crying, his forehead creased in obvious anxiety and worry. Suzuna shakes her head and he decided to stay quiet. They both secretly agreed it wasn't the right time for them to tell her Takumi's revelations last night—and that they had a plan of allowing the two of them to meet. She was still emotional and it might do bad for her babies.
When she has finally calmed, Misaki wiped her tears off her eyes and exhaled loudly. "Sorry, I'm just being overly emotional lately. It must be the hormones."
"It's the hormones, all right." Aoi agreed and takes the paper bag from her. "You bought all these?" he asked, trying to keep a light conversation behind them. "What are you, a pig?"
"I don't know. It seems like I wanted to do a lot of things right now."
"Like having sex—owch!" Aoi frowned when Suzuna kicked him on his left leg. "I was just kidding, geez. You Ayuzawas are so high strung."
"I heard that." Suzuna hissed and stares back at Misaki. "Ready to leave? We need to get going. You're so cold, Misaki. It's bad for the little monsters."
"Yeah. Zero and Ichiru might be killing each other already inside you because of the cold."
Misaki and Suzuna paused momentarily before they stared at Aoi in synchronization; the two names he mentioned rang a bell. Misaki arched an eyebrow at Aoi. "What names did you say?"
"Um, Zero and Ichiru… why?"
"Is that from Vampire Knight?" Suzuna inquired.
Aoi nodded. "Yeah. I saw the CD from Suzu's place." He said this while grinning sheepishly at Misaki. "Didn't know she liked that thing. I decided to watch it and saw there were twin vampire hunters in the series. I thought that name sounded good if we got twin boys."
Misaki continued staring at Aoi before she risked a glance at Suzuna who was also staring at Aoi in obvious amusement. She decided to throw in a bomb question. "You've been staying at Suzuna's place?"
Suzuna rolled her eyes. "Please, stop making a fuss out of it. Aoi's more like a brother to me."
"Yeah, Suzu's already a sister to me. I would never see her that way. It's like dating her means dating your own sister. And I don't do… that. That's… what do you call that case?" he eyed Suzuna again.
Sharply, Suzuna answered, "Incest."
"Yeah, that. I don't do incest." He started walking back to his car after that.
Misaki chuckled. "Did he just deliver the massive blow?"
"He didn't. Don't ask us that kind of question again." Misaki couldn't help but smile and when Aoi started honking his horns, they started to abandon their spots and crossed the street to get to the car. But before she could as much as walk across the street, she saw a familiar M5 and instantly, her heart started to palpitate. She stopped walking even if she didn't want to, but the force was just too much that all she did is stop walking and stare back at that pair of tantalizing green eyes she hadn't seen for what it felt like goddamn years.
She didn't know why she felt all emotional again when she saw him and just the mere sight of him gave her the chills. It's like the sight of him incapacitated her with so many confusing emotions his presence presented in her. She wanted to run to him and hugged him tightly, but she wanted to run away from him, too, because there was a risk that he might be here because of the divorce. But there were other stronger emotions. She was pregnant and she wanted him to stay by her side and support her and be with her because all these mayhem of confusion was making her weak and miserable and vulnerable and in extremely incapacitating pain.
Suzuna was confused as to why her sister stopped walking and stared at some particular direction and when she followed where her gaze was leading her, she saw Takumi. Suzuna's heart thudded painfully as she stared back at Misaki. "Do you want to go see him?"
"What's he doing here?" she asked as she and Takumi continued staring at each other.
Suzuna sighed. Trust Takumi to show himself without her signal. He really couldn't get a grip of himself. "He's been following you around for days. He came up to me yesterday and asked if I would allow him to speak with you." their emotional conversation the night before flashed itself on her mind and once again, Suzuna felt her heart go softer and warmer. "And I said, yes."
"I see." She nodded and exhales sharply. "Let's go home. I wanted to rest."
"Okay. Let's go home." Suzuna darted a quick glance on Takumi to shake her head to give him the signal that her sister didn't want to talk yet. "Come on, it's getting cold—"
But before Suzuna could as much as finish her sentence, this huge black van suddenly came out nowhere with its tires squealing, a sign that they've step on the brakes too hard. Suzuna gasped, and she could almost hear Aoi screaming their names out and Takumi swiftly jumping off his car to get to them. She did the best she could and tried pushing her sister to safety but the van's doors suddenly slide open and four men covered in black grabbed Misaki from her and shove her off the way.
"Misaki!" she screamed as she swiftly scrambled up to stand. "Help! Aoi, Takumi, Misaki's gonna get kidnapped!"
But one of the kidnappers turned to her and smashed something hard on her face.
Misaki, too startled by what happened, gasped, too as she tried reaching out for Suzuna. "Suzuna—" but she was unable to finish what she was supposed to say anymore because something—or someone—covered her nose and mouth and she started feeling dizzy before darkness consumed her.
.
"Takumi, calm down!"
"Calm down?! She's fucking got kidnapped! And Suzuna, did you see the state she's in? Fuck! I could kill whoever planned this!"
Aoi exhaled as he watched Takumi continued thrashing around the entirety of the room they were brought at after Misaki's kidnapping. He was anxious, too, because she's damn undergoing such a sensitive pregnancy and any blows against her stomach would make her lost her mind. When Gerard and Igarashi entered along with what seemed to be the Chief Police of the station they were immediately directed as soon as Misaki was kidnapped, Takumi suddenly stands and acknowledges their arrival.
"Any clues? Tell me!" he was screaming again, and Aoi had to place one restraining hand on Takumi's shoulder to calm him down. Takumi violently shrugged him off. "Tell me who the fucking instigator of this was and I'm going to fucking kill him."
Gerard exhaled. "Takumi, please, calm down. We still don't have the exact location but we know the van. Thanks to Suzuna seeing the plate number, we've drawn connections."
"To whom does it belong?" he hissed.
It was Tora who answered. "It belongs to Kaon Umekoji."
"Kaon Umekoji… Kaon… Umekoji." Another harsh curse and before anyone could even react, Takumi had already lifted off the table and shove it off the nearest wall. "Fuck, fuck! I should have killed her when I got the chance!"
"Sir, please calm down." The Chief said as calmly as he could. "We're doing our best to find Mrs. Usui so please, be as calm as you could. All this panicking wouldn't do you any good. Sir Gerard, Sir Tora, Sir Aoi, I will be taking my leave now." At Gerard's nod, the Chief excused himself to assemble team and prepare all necessities to rescue Misaki.
Takumi was still in extreme mess as he sat down; placing his head on his hands as though he was suffering from headache. "Damn, if something happens to her and the twins… fuck, nobody would come out alive in this."
Gerard halted. "Twins?"
"Twins?" Igarashi echoed as he, too, locked his eyes on Takumi. "What do you mean?"
"She's pregnant." It was Aoi who answered, sensing Takumi wasn't in any right state of mind to answer to anyone. "Misaki's about over a month pregnant—and she's carrying twins."
"She's… she's fucking… pregnant?" Tora whispered in disbelief, and before he could even collapsed down on the floor, Cedric swiftly hold out a chair for him so he could sit and avoid smashing his skull open because he fainted with what seemed to be the most shocking news to them. "She's pregnant… fuck, my sister's pregnant… and now, she got kidnapped. Fuck… damn it—"
Gerard—who looked equally stunned, too—walked towards Takumi and placed a comforting hand on his still in a daze half brother. "We'll find her, okay? We'll find Misa. Calm down both of you—you, too, Tora. We don't have the time to worry about you two and I would need your help on finding her. I don't want to go to the point of sedating you two because you're all unstable."
"She's pregnant… damn." Takumi cursed again. He was worried about the babies but he was more worried at Misaki. If something were to happen to her, Gerard wouldn't be able to stop him from killing Kaon and those men who roughly treated her and Suzuna like some animals. He could assure anyone that he's gonna go homicidal if any of them was hurt—the twins and most especially, Misaki. "I'm going to fucking kill Kaon."
"Calm down." Gerard instructed him again. "My men are already on the move to find her location. They've got news for us after half an hour so I want you to relax and keep yourself calm and—"
"Location… location… locator!" Aoi jumped when Takumi suddenly spun around to face him and grabbed him by the elbow. "Was she wearing anything? Anything?! Any accessory like our wedding ring… or a moonstone ring… or a gold necklace? A watch, was she wearing a watch? Any watch—her Fossil or that Kermit watch she likes? Was she wearing anything?!"
Even though he was confused—and scared shitless—Aoi was still able to nod. "Y-Yes, she was wearing Mr. Kermit and two rings, why? As for the necklace, I'm not sure about it. Why? It isn't the time now for you to worry about her jewelry!"
Takumi furiously shook his head. "No, not the jewelries. Every accessory I bought for her is customized. They have a built in locator inside that was always activated as long as her accessories were kept close to her skin. It modifies and gets activated through body heat. I've got the same pair before. Everything was introduced by Gerard."
Gerard suddenly looked like he was ten years younger at the sight of new hope and immediately, he turned to Cedric. "Ceddy, I want you to assemble the team right now and activate satellite emission and schematic of Misaki's location. I want news of her location ten minutes from now."
"Sir!" that and he had gotten out of the room in swift and impossible speed.
"We'll find her, Takumi." Gerard assures him again and checks on his phone when he received something. "Suzuna's awake now. You need to go see her because she would certainly throw a fit if she finds out her sister's still missing."
Aoi swiftly straightened his back at the mention of Suzuna's name. "I'd come, too. I wanted to see her."
"I wanted to see her, too." Tora says. "She's my sister, too. I wanted to know if she's fine."
Gerard stared at the three men who looked like life had run off from them before he checks on his watch again and nodded. "Okay. Go ahead. I'm giving you fifteen minutes to settle matters with Suzuna-san and then come back to the satellite room as soon as you can. We've got our men outside to check out on your movements and another men to look after each and every single one of you just in case Kaon decides getting the Ayuzawa sisters."
"Fuck her, I won't let that happen!" Aoi exploded. "No one's touching Suzuna without going through me." that and he grabbed his bag and got out of the room. Takumi fixed himself, too, since he looked like a zombie after so much worrying before he nodded at Gerard and walked out of the room along with Igarashi who looked equally devastated and exhausted, too.
Gerard exhaled and took the seat Takumi had abandoned to run a hand through his hair. Things got more complicated than expected. And now, they need to be extra careful because Misaki's carrying his brother's children. And if something were to happen to them because of his careless instructing, he would never be able to forgive himself for hurting his brothers again because this time, there's a risk they might not return to being normal anymore.
He took his phone and dialed on someone he had secretly asked to do close observation on the van found. Of course, the Tokyo Police Facility they were at were pretty insufficient and he had to pull some strings again to make sure Misaki stays safe. On the third ring, his ever trusted undercover agent answered. "Gerard,"
Gerard exhaled. "Maria," he said, addressing Maria Walker, his ever trusted secret agent trained underneath the grounds of the Walker estate to safeguard all members of the Walker family. "Make sure she stays unharmed. I've got good news for you."
"Name it."
"She's pregnant with Takumi's child—twins."
Long pause. "Well, fuck me. Seems like Kaon's world's about to end soon."
.
Misaki opened her eyes, feeling heavily drugged and found herself lying down on some rags and newspapers throw in all together to serve as her futon. There was that strong scent of cigarette and alcohol and metal in the air and swiftly, upon remembering she was kidnapped, her hands automatically flew up to her stomach protectively, hoping her kids were fine, trying to remember if she's been hit on the stomach.
The answer came out obvious: No.
She almost heaved out a sigh of relief before she looked around. There weren't much to see on the room except that it was dark and cramped and smelly. There were bottles of beer on some corner and empty packs of cigarette and she wondered if everyone was looking for her now. And then she remembered Suzuna and that she was hurt and her heart started palpitating painfully again. Thankfully, Aoi and Takumi are present to rescue her sister. They would know what to do with her.
She remembered Takumi again and the way he looked at her and she wondered if she would be able to see her again. She wondered if he was dead worried, too, like Aoi and Suzuna or if he still cared for her enough to use his influence to search for her. She remembered everything they went through and that after everything that has happened, she was still evidently and obviously and terribly in love with him.
Furiously, Misaki shakes her head. No! No, she'll be fine. Nothing would happen to her and her babies. She'd come out here alive or if talking didn't work, she would find her way out of here because she need to live for her babies. And Suzuna, what would happen to Suzuna if she dies? She might end up ballistic that not even Aoi could help her. She might destroy herself and she wouldn't allow that to happen to her sister. She needs to get out of here alive and she needs to keep her babies safe.
Quickly, Misaki stood and walked towards the window, trying to open it when all of a sudden, the door suddenly swung open that startled her shitless. Alarmed, she spun around and faces the newcomer, only to end up gasping upon seeing Kaon Umekoji. She looked so different now than she's last seen her. She wasn't that beautiful anymore and she could almost see how much she's lost weight. Her hair was a bit messier and dry, and because she had no makeup to conceal anything, her face looked extra paler and dry and thinner. She noticed her sharp cheekbones and the dark bruises under her eyes. She looked so stressed out; too, like a lost animal and for some reason, she felt her heart go all out to Kaon.
"Kaon…" she whispered in disbelief—but not anger nor hatred. "—Kaon, what happened to you? Why are you… why do you look like that?"
Kaon stepped out of the darkness and she gasped upon seeing how tattered and crumpled her clothes were. She looked like she hasn't bathe for days. "Don't Kaon me, you bitch. Everything's your fault… these are your entire fault! You did this to me!"
Misaki flinched when she screamed and she took three steps back as her hand flew up to her stomach protectively. "What do you mean? I don't know what you're talking about. What happened to you?"
"What happened to me?" she smirked and kicks the door close before she grabbed a rusty chair and sat on it. Misaki was stunned. The Kaon she knew wouldn't do something like sitting on a rusty and dirty chair. "What happened to me, you ask? Well, why don't you ask Usui Takumi? He destroyed me because of you!"
"Takumi?" she echoed, still in disbelief. "I don't know what you're talking about. Kaon, please, let me go. You're starting to scare me. My sister… she's hurt and she needs me. And your parents, aren't you afraid that they'd worry about—"
"My parents are dead!" she screamed, which made Misaki flinched again. "No one's left here for me—my brothers, and my parents! Not even those girls I used to call my friends! When that fucking lie the Walkers created and spread everywhere appeared on ever newspaper and news site, everyone abandoned us. UIS fell down into shambles and everybody left us. We have to get out of the country because there was a risk that Mom and Dad might get sent in jail. And even after leaving, we were still seized… and because they couldn't stomach getting treated like that for no reason at all, you want to know what happen?" Kaon smirked bitterly at Misaki. "Dad killed my Mom and my brothers before he shot himself, right in front of me!"
Misaki's lips quiver upon hearing that—and she had no idea at all about what happened. Was that the reason why Aoi and Suzuna didn't want her to see the news? Was it because something terrible had happened to the Umekojis? "I'm sorry, Kaon, I… I didn't know—"
"Bitch, everything happened because of you! All for you and always for you!" she screamed again. "The Walkers had been pretty influential and one word from either Gerard or Takumi or Aoi Walker and one Business Empire could eventually disappear overnight! And it was all for you! You did this to me!"
"I didn't know what happened!" she screamed back, and when she felt the strains on her stomach, she swiftly—but discreetly—clutches it. There was that familiar ache on her stomach again, and she was beginning to panic because she didn't know how long she would be locked in here and she wanted to go to the hospital as soon as she can. "Just let me go, Kaon. Whatever happened to you, it was not my fault because I don't have a hand in it! You did this on your own. You destroyed yourself—"
"Shut the fuck up." Misaki gasped when she suddenly pulled up a huge gun and aimed it on her. She slammed her back against the floor-to-ceiling windows and if only she could go right through it, she wouldn't hesitate to jump off—no matter what floor she's in. "Shut up, you understand? Shut up."
"Kaon, please… don't do this to me. Please…"
"When I begged your fucked up husband to spare my family and simply destroy me, he did not agreed. That bastard, he could have everything he wanted by having but no, he had still chosen you. What a foolish man, choosing trash over gold when you're nothing but a bastard—like him."
Misaki froze at that as anger blinded her; not because she was called a bastard but because Takumi was—and not even once had she thought of calling or considering or even looking at him as though he was a bastard. Her lips pursed into a tight line. "Bitch, at least that bastard you previously got yourself too obsessed with had loved me instead of you." Kaon nostrils flared and without much thinking about it, she pulled the trigger and shot the windows next to Misaki's face. Misaki gasped and swiftly leaned away after realizing she was nearly hit and cowered in a corner—the pain in her stomach was really beginning to worry her. She stared up at Kaon in extreme shock. "Kaon… you…"
Kaon seemed shaken at first, before she laughed. "Hah, does that scare you? Can you feel now what I've felt when my father killed everyone except me? And you know what I'm going to do with you here? I'm going to fucking kill you and burn everything in this building and both of us could go to fucking hell. That way, if I couldn't have Takumi, then, he would never have you, too. What was that line in your vows again? Until death do we part?" she laughed again and walked towards her, gun on hand and aimed at her face.
Misaki looked away as Kaon stood right in front of her. She didn't know she was actually so tiny and slender and fragile. And right now, she could almost see that what she need most is for someone to look after her. The woman was terribly confused and scared and heartbroken over the death of her family. "He doesn't love me, okay?" Misaki said painfully as she averted her eyes back to Kaon who looked momentarily startled. "If there was one thing you're not correct about, it was the fact that Takumi loves me because he didn't. And in fact, we're getting a divorce come March."
"That's not true!"
"It is." She pressed and for some annoying reasons, her heart started to beat painfully again. "He doesn't love me—he never did. We married because he wanted to free himself and his little brother he loves most from the binds of the Walker family; other than that, there was nothing else between us." She smiled bitterly at Kaon, too. "I guess that just makes two of us. We loved the same man but that man didn't loved us back." And bitterly again, she laughed. "Welcome to the club."
"But he said… he said… no… no! I don't believe you! You're lying!"
"I'm not." She says calmly again. "Kaon, tell me what's wrong? What happened to you, baby? What have you undergone? You know you could always come to me, right? Aren't we friends?"
"You're not my friend!" Kaon shrieked. "I never had any friends! They left me all!"
"Did I?" Misaki asked, and lifted up her hand to pat Kaon's head. "Did I leave you? Aren't I the greatest friend you ever had? I'm true to you, was I not? I considered you as a friend—a good friend. But why? Why did you have to betray me? Were you really all set on hurting me?" When Kaon stared up at Misaki in shock, Misaki smiled again and looks away. "But it doesn't matter now because Usui Takumi doesn't love me—he never had. We're just two very different people who weren't supposed to fall in love with the way our life was set in such difficult situation. We're not supposed to fall in love, you know? Because he wasn't just capable of feeling so. And me? I was so foolish to think he would feel the same way about me."
Kaon was quiet for a moment, and Misaki nearly heaved a sigh of relief when she lowered the gun and slumped down on the floor. "He loves you… he does—everybody does. When you left after that night you saw us, he told me he did. And that he was a foolish person for not admitting that he's been in love with you for a long time now when he's gotten the chance." She shakes his head, and finally drops the gun. "I just wanted him to love me, too, you know? Because I have loved him ever since I saw him—maybe even before I know him, I knew I was already in love with him. But you were there… and he would look at you with such veneration in his eyes as though you're the only thing that mattered, and I wondered what's with you that makes everyone happy." She started sniffing, and Misaki couldn't help but sympathized with her because she was only confused and she wanted love. She sat, too, and started patting Kaon's shoulder. "And now, everyone's gone. They were all taken away and… there's no one left anymore to wait for my arrival."
"Kaon—"
"Everyone's been taken away from me for your sake." Her voice came in sharper again before she glared up at Misaki sharply. "It was always about you, Misaki. Everyone's always Misaki here and Misaki there! What's it to you that makes everyone looked like they are in fucking cloud nine?!" Misaki was startled when Kaon suddenly stepped away from her with her gun back on her hand again and aimed at her face. "What's with you? Why do you have to take everything from me?! He was supposedly mine! Mine! But you just have to come to his life and do some ugly dirty tricks to have him marry you when you're only in for money! I've got money and fame and I'm a lot more beautiful than you. But why?! Why did he choose someone like you unsuitable for him?! Why does it have to be you?! Why couldn't it be me?!"
"Kaon, calm down and drop that gun!" Misaki gasped when the pain on her stomach started making its appearance again. She clutched her stomach instinctively and started gasping. "Kaon… you need to let me… go." She panted. "I need to be to the hospital… please."
"You'd be in the hospital soon and is fucking joined by dead people!"
"Kaon, please!" her breathing came in strained and she had to support herself against the wall to make sure she keeps standing. She needed to calm down, she knew that. That was the instruction to her of the doctor whenever she's in such stressful situation. She needs to calm down because if she panics, there is a great risk of terrible bleeding—and it could be a cause of miscarriage. "Please… damn… I need to get to a fucking hospital!" she screamed.
Kaon notice that she was indeed in extreme pain because she lowered the gun and took hesitant steps forward her. "What's wrong with you?"
"Get me to a hospital… please. I don't want to lose them."
"W-What do you mean?"
"Kaon, please. I'm pregnant… please. Get me to a hospital."
She paused for a moment before she started laughing and points out the gun to her again. "Hmm, I guess luck was really on my side tonight, Ayuzawa Misaki. Top prize, isn't it? I was able to get you and your baby."
Fuck! Misaki tried to take in deep breathes as she calmed herself. She need to talk Kaon out of this because if she didn't get out of this place for another half an hour, she could swear to any God right now that she'd definitely throw a fucking fuse. She wouldn't never allow herself to doe nor her babies be taken away because if they were, she would certainly hunt Kaon wherever part in Hell she may be and kill her over and over again.
She doesn't want to live in misery anymore—not anymore!
"If you do this, do you think Takumi will love you?" she asked, her voice was strained as beads of sweat trickled down her temple to her cheek. It was only mid-January and the wind was still bitingly cool. The pressure must be really working wonders on her system to make her sweat this much. "Please Kaon, he would never love you nor would this return your family. You could still change this—please! I really need to get to the hospital right now! Kill me if you want but don't involve my children in this!"
"You are really one stupid woman. If I allowed you to leave, of course I know I would never have this one in a million chance again, Ayuzawa Misaki. Let me explain it this way. The Walkers treat you as though you are a rare gem. Aside from the fact that there are guards surrounding you wherever you go, there is another set of guards whom you don't notice at all following after you and your guards—that's how the Walkers treat close relatives. That's why I wanted to be included in that family because aside from the fact that they are very influential, I could get away with anything I wanted to do and could still come out clean. Look at Gerard and Takumi, because of that influence; they were able to get away with the murder of my family. And now, even if I wind up in jail, it wouldn't matter anymore. Because you and your fucking babies will be rotting away in Hell!"
Misaki was seething with anger but she still tried to calm herself as the pain slowly subsided. Yes, she needs to calm down. Her pregnancy is not normal because when she gets stressed out, her blood sugar increases and it could be the leading cause of miscarriage—and she wouldn't really want that. She wanted to give her babies a chance to live in this world no matter how cruel and unfair it was to her. Despite the black shade trying to get over her sight, she started looking around for something she could use to defend herself. If she stretches out her hands, she could immediately grab one bottle and throw it to Kaon to distract her and run towards her to incapacitate her. But damn, with the state her hips down to her feet was in, she knew Kaon wouldn't hesitate to immediately shoot her because was friggin' slow and it could cost her the life of the twins—
Shut up! Misaki screamed at her brain, since it was beginning to go obnoxious again. The thing she needed right now is luck and definitely not fucking discouragements! Time, yes, she needed to prolong the time and tried talking Kaon out of everything and when she's distracted enough—and she's in better condition to run—she would carry out her plan—
Misaki gasped when she felt that sharp pain returning on her stomach again and swiftly, she tried caressing it. Please, please, stay with me, please! Help me in this, please. Help Mom, please… don't let go. I'd find a way out of this, please!
"Praying for salvation, Misaki?"
"I was more like praying for your soul. You wouldn't get away with this!" She threatened although she knows that it wouldn't work anymore on Kaon. With the way she looks like, it was almost impossible to make her stop. She tried begging again. "Kaon, please, please! The twins, please! I need to save them!"
"Save my ass." And then, Kaon started laughing. "I'm counting five, Ayuzawa. Any last words? Five…"
Please… please! Aoi… Takumi, where the hell are you?!
"Four… three…"
Please… just give me one sign that I shouldn't give up, please! Please… save my children, please! Misaki's thoughts were all over the place as Kaon pulled on the hammer of the gun and sneered at her in delight. She looked away, still protecting her stomach as the crazed woman aimed the gun on her head.
"Two…"
Fuck, Takumi, I love you, you bastard!
"I just wanted love, Misaki. And since everyone seemed happy just seeing you, maybe, hell wouldn't be so bad if you're with me. So, don't worry, we'll be together in this." Misaki gasped in extreme horror when Kaon revealed another gun and aimed it on her own head, smiling bitterly as tears streaked down her cheeks. She walked towards Misaki before pressing the cold barrel of the gun on her temple. Kaon smiled at Misaki. "It's as you've said, we both can't have Usui Takumi. So, since we have the same bitter fate, why don't we just die together?"
"Kaon, please… don't do this to yourself… please."
"Any last words?"
Misaki shut her eyes closed and nearly smiled when she saw Takumi's face again, and the first time they met. She remembered his angry green eyes that immediately caught her entire attention. She remembered the way he had spoken to her, when he pushed her off the ground, when she slammed her bag on his face. She remembered everything that transpired on the first months of them being together, the first time they made love, him teasing her, her running away from him, him hiding a lot of secrets from her, her wanting to get to know him better while keeping secrets of her own, him exploding whenever she's not around, her hoping she would look her way because she wanted her attention all for herself… the first kiss… the first touch… the tender words… his eyes… his soft whispers… every caresses… the dates… the public display of attention… her confession… his confession of his own life… his dark secrets… his trauma of Gerard… his hatred of Igarashi… his love for Aoi… she remembered everything.
"I wanted love."
"That's out of the question."
And she cried. Because she had loved him so much that sometimes, she just wanted to punch him on the kisser for making him feel all these.
"When I first saw you… I thought you look like a sunny morning."
His green eyes flashed behind her eyelids again, and her heart started pumping loudly and energetically when she heard gun fires behind the closed door. Misaki eyed Kaon and smiled. "You're right… I guess there's no way out of this. But you know, I think I'll be nothing if Takumi's not with me. But you, you have another choice. You don't really want to die. But me? I think it's time I take a rest now, don't you think? It's all so tiring."
Kaon's forehead creased. "You wanted this?" and then, she smirked. "Well, don't you think these make things easier? I guess hell wouldn't really be so bad if you're with me."
"I've been into Hell." She said as she traced the small nudge on her stomach, apologizing to her twins mentally because she has given up just when they decided to hold on to her. "And I've never gotten out of Hell."
She shut her eyes closed when Kaon pressed the barrel of the gun on her forehead, the cold metal seeping through the scalp of her head.
"I like kissing you."
"Yes. I like kissing you—I like it when I fit in you easily. It's like… it's like magnets. I've never felt something like this before."
"Am I forgiven?"
"Aren't you always?"
"Don't leave me."
"I wanted love."
"That's out of the question."
"Misaki!" she knew she clearly heard his voice in the air, and she wondered if she was beginning to imagine things since she's already on the brink of death. Kaon whispered one and with her fingers crossed, she lurched forward the gun Kaon was holding against her own head and pushed her off the way.
There were two gunshots.
The door crashed open and she saw Takumi—Gerard, Aoi, Igarashi and Suzuna behind him—as he emerged out of the darkness. And for another moment, she thought he was glowing. He still looked beautiful and for the eyes that has been deeply submerged into nothing but darkness, Usui Takumi was such a radiant sight. She risked a glance at Kaon who stared at her in complete shock as she felt warm liquid dripping down to her exposed shoulder.
"I wanted love."
"That's out of the question."
The smile on Takumi's face disappeared and before she gave in to unconsciousness, she saw Minako and Sakuya standing next to Suzuna, smiling at her. Misaki, they said and it sounded so far away.
I love you, Takumi.
Yey, today is MYSTERY'S birthday. I know this doesn't look like a nice birthday gift since somebody was shot but, please be happy? And, um, happy birthday… and I love you? Haha. I've been reading all your reviews lately and I've been chatting with Pantheraa and Yane awhile ago so, here's chapter 26.
Read it with all your heart, okay?
As for the SuzOi pairing, we'll see more of them on the coming chapters. :D
Do you want more? Do you want to kill me?
Don't answer that. Haha.
Happy birthday, MYSTERY!
Andy