Told you I am excited as heck.

Reviews:

Fafy x3: I only thought that Misaki would do that if she was in that condition. Wouldn't everyone? And no, your English is not bad!

xtheBLEACHEDalchemistx: His corrupted mind says so :p

WanderingDreamer4Ever: I think everybody hopes so, too. LOL.

usuixmisaki: LOL. When I read 'hole', I thought about Alice in the Wonderland XD

Sarah9797: You may punch him anytime, just be sure you're wearing gloves ;)

fateMoon: Well, what can I say? I'm really excited.

arissamei-chan: YES! LOL haha jkjk. But I am working on my atmosphere making.

UsagiKuro: I know how you feel. does that to me, too, sometimes.

"What?" I blurted, choking on a sob. "What's so funny about what I just said?"

Ankoku stopped laughing and looked me in the eyes, which was hard, considering how one of his eyes was swollen shut.

"I'm afraid that you're just too naïve for your own good, Misaki," he shook his head in pity. "It doesn't work that way. It's called reality, in case you haven't noticed, and it's not as fair as you think it is."

I looked down to Usui's face. Still faintly glowing against the darkness of the night, complementing the look of ill on his face.

"No, it doesn't," I agreed, my voice calm and sad. "I have experienced reality a lot of times, unfortunately, and I know how it works."

Fresh tears formed in my eyes as I remembered how my dad left my family and me to defend ourselves, to survive the cruelness of life alone, without a male to protect us. And when I learned to never trust a single person ever again, in fear that they will only let me fall yet again.

Ankoku chuckled and said, "Good, then you should've known better than to say what you said previously. About things working out for you guys."

I felt Usui's hand reached over to me and I grabbed if gently, squeezing if lightly to soothe him down.

"But you don't know what reality had done for us in the past," I said next, bluntly, as I patted Usui's palm and drew soothing circles on it. I was afraid that it would tickle, but he didn't react so I guess that it didn't. Tickle, I mean.

A faint sound escaped Ankoku's mouth.

"Pardon?" he said, in a very surprised tone.

I was the one who chuckled this time, although my chuckle was bitter and humorless, unlike Ankoku's, which was full of sarcasm and arrogance.

"Yes, Ankoku. There were obstacles that we faced in previous years. And although those weren't as extreme as this one, but I'm sure that it will work out in the end. I'm sure that this is just something to strengthen our love for each other," I said calmly, my eyes not once wavering from the blonde on my lap.

Ankoku was silent for a while, and I really thought that my passionate speech – psh, passionate, yeah right – got into him. But I was disappointed when I heard him let out a long, tire sigh, as if I was some kid he had to deal with.

I had to let it go. There was no point in trying to dictate what Ankoku thought. It didn't matter what he thought, anyway, because it was none of his freaking business. He had no right to be messing up and criticizing my relationship with Usui.

"Yeah, you think it's like that. But have you ever thought about what it's like for him?" Ankoku muttered in the middle of a chuckle.

My eyes widened as this caught my attention. What did he mean by what was it like for Usui? I mean, I was sure that Usui would feel the same way as I did. I was sure he didn't disagree when I said that we were destined for each other, did he?

No, of course he didn't. What was I thinking?

"Have you ever bothered to ask yourself – heck, ask him – about how it's like for him as a ghost?" Ankoku continued. "It's not all that easy, being a ghost, you know?"

I faced him, eyes narrowing in accusation. "Oh yeah?" I said. "And how would you know that?"

He sighed and replied, "I deal with them all the time. Practically every single day in my life I need to deal with the Undead. So it makes the job easier if I knew what being one of my preys is like, you know? Although, usually I would just go ahead and kick a ghost's ass back to the realm of the Underworld. You know, until they get transported to their final resting place. This is probably the longest time I took dealing with one ghost only."

My brows went up in surprise, but forced it back down once I remembered that I needed to look strong, not clueless.

"And why is that?" I blurted out.

Ankoku looked at me. And I meant looked as in he really looked at me. His swollen eyes boring into my teary ones, he said, "Because I can't stand to see you in pain."

This was definitely not the answer I was expecting.

"I have been looking after you for some time, Misaki," Ankoku said, his face grave and sad. "Ever since the doctor announced Usui's death, I knew that he was going to become a ghost and go back to you. I saw you cry, I saw you have nightmares every time you try to sleep. I saw you faint on the street and brought you back. And I've been in love with you ever since."

My eyes widened and I didn't bother to change its size. I needed to show him how surprised I was. But I was really shocked to hear that last part coming out of his mouth.

No, not the part where he said he loved me, although that was shocking. But the one where he said he was the one carrying me back. I had always assumed that it was Usui who brought me back and changed me, but –

Wait. If what he said was true, than that means…

"You were the one who changed me?" I demanded as my cheeks caught in flame.

Ankoku was surprised to be addressed in this manner, but he replied still, "Well, I guess you can say it that way."

And before I could snap and punch his head off, he quickly added, "But I didn't see anything! I swear!"

"Explain how you could do it without seeing anything!" I growled.

"I-I have powers! The one that Usui has, too, if he ever mentioned it to you."

Usui had mentioned it to me. When I was about to accuse him of intruding my personal space, too, when he had changed me.

I regained my calm as I let Ankoku continue.

"But all that aside, I wasn't lying when I said that I love you. I really do. And I know that our first meeting had been a total disaster, and I'm really sorry. But that was because I couldn't help myself. You fascinate me so much that I had no more bit of self-control left," said Ankoku in a tone that would make anyone have pity on him. With the exception of me, of course, because I knew better than to trust people so easily.

"I don't believe you. And I probably never will," I muttered bluntly as if his feelings were no concern of mine. But maybe that was because it wasn't. "So go home while you still have some dignity left inside that hollow shell of yours and leave me and Usui alone."

"Of course," he said. "But it isn't my feelings that are important here, is it? But your little ghost boyfriend."

I gasped a little, wishing that he didn't notice it. But judging by the chuckle that he let out after it, he did.

"What business do you have left with Usui? I told you to leave us alone," I said in the sternest voice I could muster then, but my voice failed me by cracking in the end.

I saw his mouth twitch before he said, "I am giving you a choice. A choice that will determine where he will be going after tonight. And not to mention how your destiny would change depending on your choice."

I held my breath, thinking if this was only a trap. A trap designed to make me believe that all his words are true. Including the one where he said the 'L' word.

"I'm giving you the choice to choose," Ankoku went on, "whether or not to give Usui back the life he deserves."

Hmm, I just noticed that, while I've gained some new readers lately (HI! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING!), some of the old readers aren't making an appearance... Well, no matter. They have a life out of FF.

Please review!