Hey everyone! Thank you all so much for so many sweet words! I'm getting fat with all those... :P just kidding. Love the reviews.

Sooo, here you go!

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…*****…. "Souls reconstructed with faith transform agony into peace."

― Aberjhani, The River of Winged Dreams …*****….

…

26. WE REMEMBER

"Ayuzawa…there is really a reason I did it…" Usui looked calm and composed. But she knew that he was nervous. Well, whatever the reason or excuse it was, it doesn't matter. She was angry. Her face was flushed and, by the sharp whisperings from the kitchen, everyone knew it too.

"Get out." She said through gritted teeth.

"But…" he was flailing. He was too worried to go.

"Wait for me outside," saying this, she stomped inside. With a low hanging head and drooped shoulders, and still looking impressive, Usui walked out.

Misaki changed her clothing all the while muttering curses.

"Misa-chan…?" she heard her manager call out. Taking a deep breath, she turned to see all her co-workers with a slight blush on their faces.

"Um…what's wrong?" she asked nervously, as they were all smiling sweetly at her.

"Is that handsome guy your boyfriend?" Honoka asked, smirking.

"No…" she tried to protest but they were all firing their questions without a pause.

"It looks like you had a fight?" Subaru asked a little concerned.

"He looked so sad! He is so cute, Misa-chan! I'm envious." Erika sulked.

All the while, the manager was looking at Misaki with sparkling eyes.

"It…it is not like that…" Misaki stepped back.

"Misa-chan!" Honaka, who left the conversation to put the waste bags outside, returned with a grin. "Your boy is waiting for you outside. And you got to excuse him, he looks so dejected…" with that, she was pushed outside from the back door.

The door closed with a thud. She sighed and shivered due to the cold air outside the café.

She was looking down when she felt a coat being draped over her.

"It is really cold…" she heard him say. She didn't speak. Till this time, only the shock and pain where there on her mind when he said he didn't remember a thing. And on knowing that it was a lie, only anger showed up. But now, after hearing his voice up close, she felt many more emotions clutter up her mind.

With both the hands, she pulled the coat closer. It was warm and comfortable.

The warmth increased ten folds when she felt strong arms embrace her. Usui rested his chin on her head. She didn't struggle; she just snuggled closer to him.

"Idiot…" she murmured into his shirt.

"That I am, Ayuzawa. I'm so sorry," he sounded so sincere. He kissed her hair and then moved a little away, still having his hands around her, to look at her.

She looked up at him, eyes shining and cheeks flaring. He smiled at her and the loving look in his eyes made her want to drown in them.

"I…I'm still angry…" she mumbled, fidgeting in his hold.

"I can do something for that," he said.

"Whatever you do, I'll still be really angry and-" she stopped when his palms gently cupped her face.

She stiffened anticipating the next. He came close to her; his breath on her face was warm, contracting the cool air around.

"Misa-chan…" his voice made her blush more. "Calm down…" that made her heart beat faster.

He leaned down and kissed her. Her anger dissipated into nothing with that soft kiss. She gladly accepted it and he moved closer to her providing all the warmth his princess missed till that time.

….

"So, looks like the ghost game you both have been playing with me has come to an end, huh?" Tora smirked, relieved by the idea.

He was leaning on the wall across from Yuu Hirose, who was looking up on his schedule for the next day. Gerald and The Duke left the hospital. Tora watched them sulking; one with dread and the other with anger.

Tora wasn't exactly happy, because it was an easy escape for that Gerald…but well, no one would've trusted the story of ghosts either.

"It is not a game, dear boy. It is true that they are re-born souls. It is true that he walked as a ghost while he had a concussion," his voice was clear and content.

"Oh, right. And he didn't remember any of it," Tora huffed. "You are his father, right? You should know better. Misaki Ayuzawa must have some ulterior motives for making all that up and using your affection towards your son to help her."

"Do you really believe that? What you just said…do you actually mean it?" Yuu looked up at him with a smile as he watched him with a frown on his face.

"What do you mean? Of course I do."

"You've know Misaki for a longer time than me. Would she do something like that?"

His question seemed to catch Tora off guard but he immediately fell into deep thought. There is no way she would. She wasn't any woman to run after wealth or fame. He had personal experience with her fierce and strong nature. That was something that made her much more interesting to him.

"No…" he finally said with a sigh.

nodded in agreement and added, "And also, Takumi didn't forget. He is just pretending not to know me…"

"And why would he do that?"

"I think he isn't ready to meet his father who was non-existent all these years. He may be lying but in his eyes, I could see the indifference he had towards me when he talked to me earlier. There isn't any reason for him to have that feeling for a normal doctor, is there?"

With that they both fell silent.

….

"Look out for that post," Usui said as Misaki was about to bump into it. She looked up at the last second and stepped aside.

They were on their way back to her house. All the while, she would steal glances at him but when he looked at her she busied herself with something or watched the road.

Usui chuckled watching her blushing and fidgeting. It pleased him so much to see his usually strict Misaki so nervous and self conscious.

"So, what was on your mind when you lied to me?" she asked looking straight ahead.

"You wanted me to tell my grandfather that Gerald was responsible for my accident?" he answered her question with another question.

"Of course! Are you not angry?" She looked at him, disapproval written all over her face.

"I am, Ayuzawa…but my grandfather accepted me into the Walker family with some unknown intensions…and to know those, we may need Gerald's help," he stated calmly.

"What!? You are going to take that guy's help!? It's ridiculous," she yelled at him.

"Hey, calm down. Do you think my Grandfather would trust my words rather than his legitimate grandson's?"

This made Misaki ponder over the situation.

"But now…we can use the little information we have against him to gain more of our use from him."

"You mean…blackmail him," she concluded with a satisfied smile.

"Hey, I didn't know princess has an evil side…" he smirked.

She elbowed him saying, "Princess doesn't. But, demon president does."

Her replay made him stop walking. He looked at her, happiness filling his empty soul. She was the one for him…always have been.

With a smile, he jogged a little to fall in step with her and as they walked in the night, they both knew they were ready for whatever life was planning for them.

…

"Sorry I'm late!" Misaki's voice rang in the silent room when she pushed open the door with full force.

The sound made three heads turn to her. Her eyes travelled from Dr. Yuu – who was reading some reports – to Tora – who was also studying some files – to Usui. He was perched on the window sill, his favorite spot everywhere.

She got a funny feeling seeing them together…in Tora's house. His study room became their meeting spot.

"What, you are not punctual at all," Tora mumbled.

"I had a lot of work," Misaki switched to defensive mode and walked in, still in her school uniform. "The student council works got delayed a lot while I wasn't paying attention."

"Bragging now, are we?" Tora smirked.

"I'm not!" Misaki glared.

"If we are done with the idle chat, maybe we should get on to the main talk," Usui said coldly while wrapping his hands around Misaki from behind.

"Hey, what are you getting so protective for? She is of no interest to me," Tora grinned.

"Who knows…Misa-chan really is charming. So, just to remind you, she is mine," Usui said in a low voice that almost sounded like threatening.

"Well, she is interesting though," Tora replied as if to annoy him more.

"What the hell are you guys talking!? I'm right here!" Misaki yelled getting red and pushing Usui away.

"I always knew meeting with teenagers would get me nowhere but idle chatter," Yuu chuckled.

"Fine, so what are our plans now?" Usui asked, avoiding eyes contact with his father.

"My men are still searching for Jade – the guy who managed to hit you," Tora added though not necessary. "Without him, it will be hard for the Duke to believe us."

"But we have information to make Gerald work for us. He is already terrified of grandfather. He won't take a chance," Usui conveyed his thoughts.

"So, you need to find him now?" Misaki asked.

"Nope. They need Takumi. So, they'll come searching for him. We just have to wait." Tora leaned back in his chair as he recalled the Duke saying how important he is.

"I remember the old man saying he needed Takumi. He said something like… Usui was gifted."

They all looked at Dr. Yuu for some answer.

"Is this about the alien like features he has?" Misaki blurted out.

"Haha, no Misaki. It is about the ability of his to look at his past life," he said. Looking at their confused faces, he continued. "You remember the past life with Misaki, right?"

Usui nodded.

"That power…you got that from your grandfather. My father…"

The three stared at the older man with a look of disbelief. "He had the same gift and for that, he was pursued by Richard Rachester…but looks like he didn't get any useful information from him."

"And being close to you made Misaki share this power." He added.

"This is all so stupid…" Tora said after a few seconds of processing.

"I know you wouldn't believe me. Misaki…did you ever do sword fighting before?" the doctor asked while getting up and walking towards the corner of the room, where there was a long box he brought with him.

"N-No," she stammered not understanding what he was thinking.

"And you, Takumi?" he clicked open the box.

"No."

He pulled out two swords from the box and held them out.

"Wha-what are these for, ?" Misaki asked doubting his sanity.

"These are just wooded ones. I want you both to fight," he handed one to Usui and the other to Misaki and sat back on his chair.

"This feels so stupid…" Misaki mumbled.

"Are you afraid that you'll lose, Ayuzawa?" Usui whispered in her ear. "I'll go easy on you. Don't worry."

That enraged her and she hit him on the head with her sword. "Bring it on, you over-confident alien," she shouted and charged at him.

Then it started. Without the need to think what to do next, they fought with expertise and grace. It was like watching professionals dance. They blocked and made hits on instinct as if that's something they've always been doing.

There was an expression of awe on Tora's and understanding on Yuu's faces when they finally stopped.

Usui and Misaki looked at each other with wonder.

"Wow…" Tora breathed.

Just then the door opened and Gerald walked in. "What a weird gathering…"

….

That's it for now! Let's see how they play with Gerald in the next chapter *evil smile*

Have a cherished day!