Chapter Sixteen: Moving On

(Part 2)

Kai quietly shuffled around the attic, putting things back in the box and stacking others on top of that. Makoto seemed to be doing fine, just sleeping what Kai knew to be a horrid hangover off.

As he stacked another, much smaller box, onto the other one he instantly felt calmer, the image of his wife's smiling face coming to him. As much as it pained him, this was what she'd want.

Needing some air Kai carried the cubic wall of cardboard outside, but not before double-checking that he had everything in here.

Seeing that he did, Kai made his way to the cans on the curb. In some odd way, he felt she was telling him to do it. Though he'd most likely be getting a verbal lashing as he did it for not doing it sooner.

He could hear her plain as the day in his head and couldn't help but chuckle at it.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Doctor Joe talking with Gou over the dinner they'd made. Their boy seemed happy, laughing at the story Joe was regaling. Something about his late father, a sweltering summer fishing trip, and the many hooks getting stuck in everything but them. It sounded interesting and funny as hell. But he'd started something and had to finish it, pronto.

Setting them down by the two empty rubbish bins, Kai stood up straight, his mind's voice ordering him to now check the shed. Kai did, and within a minute or two, came back around with two more boxes. He set them next to the others and took a hard breath.

Kai looked at the pile, at what he'd done, and contemplated whether or not he should burn most of the mass. He had a lighter for cauterizing wounds so... No. Boris may not but Saori's memory certainly deserved better treatment.

Deciding to just leave it for now, Kai took a walk around the scenic area, trying to relax himself. Before he knew it the sounds of the world had lessened. All but vanishing as his mind let go.

As he approached the bus stop, which stood some minutes up the hilly, winding dirt road, Kai noticed a young couple sitting on one of the three benches. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes, a kind pair from North America who he knew to be one of Joe's cases. They were recently wed and expecting their first child. She looked to be six months along now.

"Hey there, cutie. It's daddy. I'm excited to see you." The lean and freckle speckled, dark haired man cooed, rubbing small circles in his spouse's tummy.

His appearance matching, but more curvaceous, wife laughed, "Honey, stop, his kicking tickles."

He laughed in response, loving that bubbly sound as well as her bright eyed smile.

Kai smiled at the scene, his heartwarming. But then his subconscious shifted gears and in their place he saw himself and his wife, Saori leaning her head on his shoulder contently resting while he held her close.

They'd taken a long walk one summer evening after just moving here, hands held and both feeling like it couldn't get any more perfect.

Upon hearing a wailing baby, that image was shattered, his mind pulling him back to reality.

Kai looked around for the source of the noise, and in seconds found it. An older woman, possibly the child's aunt, trying to swaddle the infant because it was cold, but having a broken arm made that more difficult than usual.

"Excuse me." Kai began, jogging his way over to her.

"Yes?" The woman said as she looked at him, sounding more irritated than she meant to towards him.

"Would you like some help?" Kai offered, flashing her a kind smile in-place of his indifferent glower.

"Yes." The woman said, relief visible in her features. "I've been trying to do this forever."

"Well, forgive me for not noticing sooner." He said as he shifted closer.

"Thank you so much." The Japanese woman said, giving him room to work.

Then things went quiet.

Kai noticed the chill from the big space she'd put between them, but said nothing. His mind screamed at him for not covering up beforehand. Boris's conniving, deep voice scolded him, saying how weak he was for not staying in line or keeping up he appearance.

I warned you this would happen many times, didn't I?! if you ever left the Underground or my special care! You fool, how dare you not listen... No matter, you showed you're damaged, now she'll judge you. Fear you... Like all the others have. You'll have nothing left. Nothing but me.

Shutting up the monster, Kai pulled out a few strips of dark, double-sided velcro from his pocket.

Smiling as he placed the strips on either side of the thick, pastel blanket, he sweetly said, "If you have questions, go ahead and ask." He peered at her knowingly out of the corner of his left eye, "I won't bite, ma'am."

"I don't have any." She lied, "I just don't want to be in your way."

Kai nodded, and went back to the baby. He cooed lovingly, "Alright, we're all done."

The baby smiled up at him, its lips trying to babble the thanks it's excited eyes gave off.

"Are you happy to be warm?" Kai cradled the infant, "That's good. Now, you wanna go back to this lovely lady? Yeah? She sure misses holding you."

The baby babbled and cooed, looking in her direction.

Kai carefully placed the baby in her arms, showing her how to hold him without hurting herself further or the baby.

"There we are, love." Kai said, mainly to the bundled babe, standing back to properly assess his work.

"Thank you so much."

"You're very welcome, ma'am."

"Is there someone out with you?" Kai asked after a bit, briefly gazing around.

"I'm afraid not. I'm on my own today. My sister is at home resting. I took Yukino out for some fresh air."

Kai silently nodded, thinking that the name sounded familiar, but where had he heard it?

"Would you like me to accompany you home?" Kai asked, concern creasing his features.

She waved him off, "Oh no, you needn't trouble yourself. We'll be fine."

"It's no trouble, ma'am."

"I'd appreciate it. Thank you."

Kai let her lead the way, a slight step ahead of him, listening as she talked her little home. As they went on, Kai realized they were heading somewhere he frequented at one time. He hadn't been there for some time though, maybe a month at most.

When the two walked up to the one-story abode, it all came flooding back. Kai had delivered that baby. Had it been that long already? She was getting so big.

"Here we are. Home-sweet-home." The lady reached to put her key in the door, only for it to be opened by a gruff looking middle-aged man.

"You scared me, Yuma." The woman said as she walked inside.

The man called Yuma only nodded, honestly he looked half-asleep.

Right when Yuma was about to close the door, he spotted Kai, who was making sure the baby was sat down carefully. Not that he didn't trust them, it was just a him type of thing to do. He'd always done that, been protective of those around him, sometimes to a fault.

Kai rose a hand, "Hi-"

"Oh my God, what happened to you?!" The man shouted in sheer panic, his mouth clearly unhinged from his brain.

"I've had a rough time of it." Kai told him rather bluntly, his face expressionless.

It took the man a minute to realize that this was the doctor who had delivered his child, but when he did it was as if he'd had ten cups of coffee.

"Thanks for waking my sister-in-law home. That was very kind of you."

Kai wasn't sure what to say to that other than the obvious so he just bowed back.

"I'm glad to see that all is well." Kai said, trying to avoid an awkward silence.

"It is, but being a parent is its own kind of exhausting."

"Then maybe you should rest?"

Kai gave him a wide grin, his face hurting again.

The father smiled back, "Understood. Take care, Doctor Kai."

"You too. I'll see you around."

When Kai made his way home, he decided to sit on the porch swing, seeing as Joe had things under control. Through the screen door he could faintly see Gou was on the couch, possibly lounging, and Joe at the table going over paperwork. That'd be him in a few days, working from home and being a nearly constant presence.

Kai took a seat on his porch swing and relaxed into the throw pillows he'd washed after breakfast this morning. The social interactions from today made his body extra hot so falling into a catnap was no trouble at all.

As Kai drifted off, he couldn't help but think she was right about the make up, that the people here weren't that cruel, and those that would be were few far and in between. Maybe if he'd let his guard down earlier like she said, to more than her, this ease would have been inside him sooner. In his heart of hearts he'd always knew that voice, that Boris, was wrong. Boris had been wrong about a lot of things ultimately, but... It still took seeing it, just like with love, to finally believe it. And, for once that little voice in his head wasn't asking how long this peace would last.

To be continued...


Thank you all for your marvelous reviews! They helped me along and to get this one out. I honestly feel like the story is falling off the rails, but maybe this chapter will get it back on track. Fingers crossed anyway. I hope you all enjoyed this update! You all are the best! ^^