Why?
It was a simple word and a simple question all at once, yet it was the single-worded question that continued to echo around Junichi's neighborhood even two weeks after their loss. Why? Why did this have to happen to Kagami after all she had been through and after all the efforts she put forth to make everything right? Why did she have to lose her baby? The baby that helped pull her out of the pits of drug and sex abuse. The baby that helped her see the light and mend her misguided ways. The baby that was her saving grace. Now it was gone.
Two weeks after Kagami's miscarriage brought with it the end of August and an ominous crisp in the air. It was the same crisp Konata talked with Hiyori about when planning one of their last outdoor outings for the summer, but the people of Junichi's neighborhood didn't see it that way. They saw it was the dawn of a new and cold era for the infamous couple. Where would their relationship go from here? Would Kagami ever recover from an ordeal as harrowing as this? She had come back from behind on many odds so far, but right now it looked like she was down for the count.
As much as Junichi hated thinking these things, they still exercised abundant staying power in his mind since the miscarriage as he watched over his beloved Kagami. From dawn to dusk every day since Kagami's miscarriage, her place of continuous mourning was on Junichi's bed curled in a ball. In that ball like a scared puppy she stayed curled, occasionally releasing a sniffle and a few more tears to be absorbed by the pillow. Within the past two weeks, she barely ate more than a slice of bread and a glass of water and only left the bed to use the bathroom. Each time she would return straight to the bed and her mourning would start from scratch.
Even Junichi found it difficult to concentrate on his work and responsibilities to the neighborhood and his growing relationship with The Unforgiven Sons Motorcycle Club. The whole ordeal was made more daunting with Yuka Miyakawa's trail remaining cold even with the biker club searching for her as well. Junichi's intuition was sharp, however, and he couldn't help but ponder as he sat in his chair in his bedroom with his eyes on the quietly sobbing Kagami. The timing of Kagami's miscarriage and the turning weather seemed a little too ominous for his taste. He wondered if this horrible ordeal was a sign of Yuka's impending return from the shadows.
He thought of his female adversary like a great mythological monster or plague that followed patterns like the legends of yesteryear living in the contemporary. Just like how each plague of Egypt brought forth by Moses and the Almighty was worse than the last, Junichi wondered if Kagami's miscarriage was another sign that it was a sign of their impending final clash. He also vaguely remembered his time in the United States when he was still in the Self-Defense Forces. He met an American soldier whose name he couldn't recollect, but remembered a few stories he told him. Junichi remembered him telling him he was from a state called West Virginia, a small isolated settlement not known for much outside of its coal industry and above average poverty levels. One thing the state was apparently known for was folklore and the stories that soldier told him were quite memorable now. Junichi couldn't help but huff at one folklore legend called Mothman.
It was a legend about a half-man half-moth monster that resided in West Virginia and was known for making appearances shortly before a great tragedy. The American soldier swore on his life that the entity was real and that the 1967 collapse of the Silver Bridge over the Ohio River that killed 46 people was caused by the Mothman after it was sighted near there only days before the collapse. That same soldier also ranted about another creature that inhabited West Virginia and not too far from where he grew up called the Flatwoods Monster, named after the area it was sighted. People claimed to have become sick after encountering it and others believed it to be an extraterrestrial lifeform. Of course, Junichi was a skeptic in that arena.
The light groans and movements from Kagami grabbed Junichi's attention and he sat up in his chair when Kagami slowly pulled herself up. She stared into space as if she was daydreaming. Junichi couldn't help but notice how tangled and unkept her hair had become in the two weeks she stopped investing time into herself. He gently uttered her name.
She remained still for a few more seconds until she turned her head and looked at him. Her face was a haunting pasty shade and the dark shades under her eyes gave her a truly terrifying appearance to anyone seeing her. Junichi would be the only exception that wouldn't run terrified of her. Her eyes were sunk in red puffiness and mirrored her facial expression that had truly seen death and lived to tell the tale.
"Kagami?" He asked again.
She simply sniffed and turned her head again to stare out the window, her hair struggling to come untangled or loose. She sniffed and whispered something inaudible to Junichi.
"What was that?"
She was silent again until she whispered a bit louder it a broken wheeze, "Da-did I…did I do this…?"
Junichi felt his heart tighten after hearing the question. Not because of the words she chose, but by the tone that carried them. Her voice was as pale and hollow as her face and weighted with guilt. The guilt of a remorseful murderer who took the life of someone in a careless and thoughtless manner, like a drunk driver who finally realized in his sobriety that he ran over a pedestrian. But to Junichi, it was like comparing apples to chainsaws. Kagami was no murderer or careless individual. She didn't take her baby's life, but Junichi had an inkling that an outside force named Yuka Miyakawa may still have had a hand in it.
He slowly stood and walked to the side of his bed and sat next to her. He wasted no time in pulling her tight and into his lap, where she found solace and buried her face into his thick, brawny chest.
"No. No you didn't do this. What happened wasn't your fault." Junichi cooed as Kagami continued to choke. "There wasn't anything you could've done differently to prevent this. It was just a horrible tragedy…and no one here, myself included, cannot even begin to express how sorry we are that it happened."
Kagami sniffled again. "It…it was her…"
Junichi shook his head. "I don't want you to think about her right now. You know how she is. She's like a virus. Once she's in your head, she feeds off your emotions and grows stronger that way. Don't give her the satisfaction. Don't let her win."
He continued to hold her close and brush her hair with his free hand. He missed doing this and Kagami missed it as well, even if she didn't say it. Kagami heard everything he said, but it wasn't sinking in. When he told her it wasn't her fault and to not feed Yuka's presence in her own head because both were losing battles. Kagami was convinced that it was Yuka who was responsible for her miscarriage and it was done so in a malicious and calculated way. There was more to it than Ryuji's beatings, she was sure of it. Maybe it was the drugs, maybe it was the trauma of learning how Yuka manipulated Matsuri into bed with her just to torture her with the guilt for the rest of her short life. Regardless of the root cause, Kagami knew it was Yuka that took her baby.
As Junichi continued to hold her, Kagami didn't know where to go from here. She had never felt so defeated and destroyed in her life. All those other times from losing Matsuri, to selling her virginity, and to losing her friends and family because of her drug addictions didn't hold a candle up to the pain she was feeling now. The only thing that came close to hurting more was the fact that no matter where Kagami went and no matter what she did with herself, Yuka would always be casting her shadow over her entire existence. She couldn't escape her.
Kagami slowly sat up and Junichi let her slide away while still holding her hand. She looked up at him with the same defeated puppy eyes and uttered, "What do I do now?"
He tightened his grip on her hand and ran his thumb across it. "You take as much time as you need to mourn and from there, you slowly put your life back together again. No matter what, I'll always be here with you."
Kagami continued to stare into space, still trying to fully comprehend this never-ending horror movie that was her life. She could honestly conclude at this point there was no merciful deity watching over her. There was only the devil and it donned golden hair and a voracious sex and blood lust. Even if Kagami didn't mean to, she was letting Yuka once again take control of her thoughts once again. She could hear the devil's words echo in her mind. That she was garbage. That she was a disgusting slut. That she was a horrid junkie. That she was a baby killer. That she didn't deserve to be loved by someone like Junichi.
"Come on, let's go for a walk." Junichi said and stood up.
Kagami didn't have the strength to say yes or no and needed his help to stand up. He helped fix a light jacket over her torso, held her hand, and the two walked out of his house. The neighborhood was quiet today with only a few passing residents tending to their chores as the changing leaves began to blow off their branches in the icy wind. The neighborhood rested at a higher elevation so they were more exposed to the elements and changing seasons, something the children enjoyed as they always got to play in the leaves or first snowfall first. As they walked down the street towards Mina-chan's favorite spot, Kagami could already see visions of what would never be. She could see herself and Junichi playing with the child they would've raised together. She could see them playing in the leaves together or building a snowman together. All of it was just distant and foolish fantasies at this point.
"Mina-chan keeps asking about you as well." Junichi added, bringing Kagami's attention back to him. She didn't even realize he had been talking to her since they left the house. "She keeps asking me when you're going to feel better so you two can play again. I tried explaining about the baby as best as I could but you know her. Always looking on the bright side."
Kagami nodded and gave a light acknowledging grunt. She squeezed her eyes shut as she felt more tears sting them. She squeezed them even harder when the devil's voice began whispering to her again. This time, she was saying Kagami didn't deserve to live with such good people and that there was only one place in the entire world where she belonged and would be accepted. Kagami felt another tear drip from her eye when she realized where that one place was.
They arrived at the hill where the tree stood at the top overlooking the pond. Junichi once again had to help the weakened Kagami to the top but they eventually reached the summit and they were greeted with a postcard image of autumn scenery. The leaves on the vast array of trees was like the perfect colorful canvas and they reflected perfectly off the crystal water of the unpolluted pond. They slowly sat down under the tree and Junichi pulled Kagami close.
Sitting in silence, Junichi hoped that the tranquil spot would do Kagami good. He knew his words didn't carry any weight in what she was feeling so he hoped that this familiar spot would help them both. He hoped while sitting there, Kagami would be reminded of all the fun times they had there. From the time Mina-chan first brought her there, to a stargazing date they had, and all the other fun activities on that hill.
Instead, Kagami felt cold. The changing seasons combined with the elevation of the neighborhood allowed the devastated girl to see her breath as she exhaled gently. The cold only reminded her of death and she snuggled closer into Junichi's warmth.
She whispered again, her voice still broken. Junichi couldn't hear it.
"What was that?"
Kagami slowly lifted her face and stared at the pond while Junichi looked down at her. "I said…I love you, Junichi."
It was the devastation of losing the child. That's what Junichi would later cite as the cause of his miscalculation in reading Kagami's tone. Had he been thinking clearer, he would've seen her intent as her tone was riddled with that utterance of a person speaking their last words before death. He would later kick his own ass for not seeing it because the impending consequences were too ghastly. But that was several hours in the future. For now, Junichi pulled her tighter.
"I love you, too." He replied sincerely but naively.
Kagami sniffed again. "But…but how could you love…a baby killer?"
Kagami trailed off towards the end but her dark sentiment was still loud enough to enter Junichi's ears and enrage him. He quickly snapped around and grabbed Kagami by her arms. She looked up at him, her eyes still swollen and puffy, but his eyes were dry and full of anger.
"What did you just say?!" He barked, making her wince slightly. "Don't you ever call yourself something that horrible ever again. Do you understand me?"
He shook her slightly with his final sentence and Kagami nodded. Junichi quickly released her arms and gently rubbed them. He then pulled her into a tight embrace, noting with dark realization that she felt like deadweight in his grasp. She snuggled her face into his chest until she lifted her lips to his ear. She whispered again.
Junichi's eyes widened and Kagami could feel his heart speed in his chest when he heard her. This time he did hear her clearly, or at least he thought he did. Wanting to confirm this stunning request, he asked her again.
"You heard me. I said…make love to me." Kagami replied, a dark shadow still casting itself in her mind. "I've never felt so cold in my life. I just…want to feel warm again…and to feel like a human again. Please…sleep with me."
Despite his many life experiences, Junichi still gulped and felt his heart race upon hearing the request. He wondered if she was thinking clearly when she asked this and still wanting to remain a civil gentleman, he remained skeptical of her request.
"Kagami, I don't think that—"
"Please, Junichi." She interrupted, her voice still cold and bland. "I love you and I want to express how I feel about you. I'm feeling…very vulnerable right now and need you. Please…don't leave me alone."
Kagami concluded her plea by slowly curling her hand around Junichi's and they held each other's hands under the tree. Junichi could honestly admit his feelings were mutual towards Kagami and the thought had crossed his mind a time or two, but he still wondered about the circumstances. Sure, her body had physically recovered since the miscarriage and she was healthy enough for sex, but was her mind? All these practical thoughts ran through Junichi's mind and he was so blindsided by her request that he couldn't see what Kagami was truly thinking. She had the same look in her eyes death row inmates have as they sit to enjoy their last meal before their execution.
Junichi still couldn't see that he was essentially talking to a ghost. Whether he couldn't see it or wouldn't see it would be another concept he would debate with himself later in the day when he would finally discover Kagami's intent, unfortunately when it was too late. He allowed his love for her take over and he cradled her hands.
He lowered his forehead to hers and she readied herself. He whispered, "Okay…"
The two kissed briefly under the tree until he stood her up. Their hands still connected, Junichi led them back down the hill and through the neighborhood. The neighborhood was still quiet when they returned to his house and closed the bedroom door behind them.
Kagami rested on his bed as Junichi positioned himself over her, their make out session continuing. She slowly undid his shirt and pulled it off him. They took a quick pause so Kagami could take off her shirt, letting her encased breasts fall free and she rested back on the bed. Junichi undid her bra from the front, exposing them and he began to caress them, earning a few moans from Kagami.
"You okay, Kagami?" He whispered.
She slowly opened her eyes. "Junichi…I'll say no…if I don't want to do something."
He slowly nodded and resumed kissing her. He moved his lips down to her neck where he gently licked, earning more pleasurable moans from Kagami as they finished undressing each other. It hurt Kagami when she had to give him a condom, knowing she was still infected with HIV and didn't want to get him sick as well. It also made her want to cry knowing she would never be able to bear his children as she often thought about in her fantasies in days now long past.
Junichi lowered his hips and slowly entered her. She released a pleasurable yelp as the back and forth motion warmed her insides. For the first time since her miscarriage, Kagami looked at him and smiled and Junichi continued to make love to her. She wrapped her legs around his lower back and pulled him in deeper as she hugged him.
"Junichi…it feels good," she whispered delicately in-between moans. "I feel…you inside…me…it feels…great…"
"I love you, Kagami," Junichi whispered as he cupped her face in his hands.
"I love you, too." She whispered.
The two continued to express their love until it was ended appropriately with a deep kiss. When it was over, Junichi pulled out of her and the two lovers panted as they cuddled next to each other. Junichi hugged Kagami tightly and she held onto the muscular forearm wrapped around her chest. The sex drained Kagami of her little energy and Junichi didn't have to wait long until she fell asleep.
When he was sure she was asleep, he slowly got out of the bed and dressed himself. He dressed himself warmly for his impending motorcycle ride back to Saitama. Now that he and Kagami had taken that next big step in a relationship, he thought it appropriate to take certain matters into his own hands. These matters pertained specifically to the Hiiragi family. Kagami's last contact with them was weeks ago when Miki's stolen heirlooms were returned to her but Junichi thought they deserved to know more than simple drive-by discourse. Especially in lieu of recent tragic events.
He left the house and when the door closed behind him, Kagami slowly opened her eyes. She glanced over to make sure she was alone and when she saw she was, her eyes filled with tears again. Making love for the first time instead of having sex felt wonderful and she cried for many reasons because of it. She cried because she never imagined she could love anyone as much as she loved him, and she cried because she knew it was going to be the last pleasurable thing she ever felt in this lifetime.
When she heard the Harley Davidson Fatboy fire up and vroom down the street, she curled herself tighter. She uttered, "Thank you, Junichi…for everything…"
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The past two weeks at the Hiiragi household also brought with it the sentiment of a new era. Miki sat at her kitchen counter clutching the handwritten note from her estranged daughter that came with the box of heirlooms. It really was a bizarre spectacle that unfolded outside her house when the box was delivered, but one that Miki was slowly beginning to realize that she needed. Her eyes were locked on the note as she read it for the eighth time that day.
Dear Mom, Dad, Inori, and Tsukasa,
First off, I want to once again express my deepest and sincerest apologies for everything I've done and everything I've put all of you through. Not a day has gone by that I haven't regretted everything that has happened and not a day has gone by where I haven't thought about Matsuri, Misao, and everyone else I've hurt. My purpose in writing you this is my feeble and undeserving attempt to try and hopefully one day get back in touch with you guys. A lot has happened to me since I left. I'm clean now and one hundred percent detoxed from all drugs and I also want you to know that I'm pregnant. It's okay because I'm staying with a man who took me in and we're dating now. He helped me get clean and is helping me through my pregnancy. He is also the one who helped find mom's family heirlooms which I asked him to return to you. He's a very good man and I hope you can meet him one day because I truly believe he's the one for me. Once again, I am profoundly sorry for everything I have done and one day I hope we can be reunited.
Sincerest love,
Kagami
P.S. If I have a daughter I'm going to name her Matsuri.
Miki felt the tears drown her eyes until two droplets fell. She couldn't help but scrunch the letter between her gripping hands as Tadao entered the kitchen. He saw his wife beginning to cry and he sighed gently as this was yet another pattern becoming too rhythmic in his house.
"Reading that letter again?" He asked while taking a seat next to her.
Miki put it down, sniffled, and nodded. "Yeah…and I can't stop thinking about her…and how we treated her. We just…threw her out. Like garbage."
He reached across the table and cupped her hand. "Hey, I told you this already; you made a good call at the time. You were being a good mother for Tsukasa and Inori and you saw Kagami as a danger to us all and she was. None of us knew she was pregnant and if we did I'm sure we would have treated the situation differently."
Miki grunted slightly until she gently nodded while whispering, "Yeah…but why do I still feel so guilty?"
"Maternal instincts," Tadao replied. "A child can leave the house but a real mother never stops loving them no matter how much they hurt their mother."
Miki sniffed again. "It's true…"
"Let me brew you some coffee, honey." Tadao stood and started the coffee pot.
As the coffee began to drip into the coffeepot, Miki slowly uncrumpled the note again and reread it. Each time she would see the word pregnant her heart would tighten and the tears would become heavier. She slowly shook her head, knowing that baby was caused by the prostitution and she didn't like the sound of her daughter living with a strange man. If that man had anything to do with the heirlooms being delivered in such a manner with those bikers, Miki only lamented at what kind of hole her estranged daughter got herself into this time. The only comfort she could take was the assurance that Kagami was fine and not homeless while pregnant. Despite the very warm sentiment regarding the baby's potential name at the end, Miki still couldn't help but admit her husband was right. She still loved Kagami and wished she was home.
Inori overheard snippets of the conversation as she crept to Tsukasa's room, but for the past two weeks it was all a rerun for her. Miki's heirlooms once again rested in the large display case where Kagami once kidnapped them for drug money, but the letter that came with them became the new star attraction in the family. Since then, the heirlooms resumed their old job of collecting dust behind a glass door. That wasn't the only thing that resumed its old job.
When Inori entered Tsukasa's room, she found her little sister curled on her bed, her back resting against the wall. She hugged a pillow tightly with her face nestled deeply in it. Inori glanced at her desk and saw their parents' wedding anniversary present sitting there still covered with a small blanket and turned her back to her. She cleared her throat.
"Ready to surprise mom and dad?" She asked.
Tsukasa slowly lifted her head. She hadn't been crying as her eyes were dry but her face was gloomy on this cherished day. She sighed and nodded.
"Still thinking about Kagami?"
Tsukasa nodded.
Inori came over and sat with her. "I know you're worried about her and her baby, but we have to rely on Kagami's note when she said she's safe and healthy. If Kagami is doing better as she claims to be, then you and I both know she'll do everything in her power to keep that baby safe."
Tsukasa nodded again. "I do and I don't doubt that, but my sessions with Dr. Kishimoto have made me feel better about everything that has happened and I can honestly forgive Kagami for everything she did to us…and to me."
Inori stole a quick glance at the bandana covering Tsukasa's forced tattoo. She had been trying to pull it off as a fashion statement since the ordeal but was still self-conscious about it.
"I really hope she comes back soon. I think being an aunt would be awesome." Tsukasa's voice chirped towards the end.
Inori smiled and rubbed her shoulder. "Remember what Kagami said in the letter? She said it herself that one day she hopes we can reconnect but for now, I kinda agree with her sentiment. I think we all need just a little more time. But for now, let's go cheer mom and dad up."
Tsukasa looked up at her sister and nodded in agreement with a smile. The two sisters got off the bed and Tsukasa took it upon herself to get the gift. When they arrived downstairs, Miki and Tadao were slowly sipping their coffee. Their mother still had a gloomy expression about her but that slowly faded when she glanced and saw her remaining two daughters enter the kitchen.
"Happy Anniversary you two!" Inori and Tsukasa chirped together as the latter put the covered gift on the table.
"Oh my, what's all this?" Miki asked with a replenished smile.
"We know things have been, well, odd around here lately, and we wanted to make your anniversary extra special." Inori said. "So Tsukasa and I put some money together and got you guys a little something."
"Ta-da!" Tsukasa exclaimed as she ripped the cover off the gift and chirped with her sister, "Happy Anniversary!"
Miki's eyes glowed in amazement when she saw it. The girls got her and Tadao a customized wall frame with their first wedding picture in it. The frame was rectangular shaped and on the other end was a copy of Miki and Tadao together at the family shrine last Christmas, the couple posing in a similar fashion. In the center of the picture frame were two silver roses joined together by a gold ring at their stems. "Celebrating 30 years together" was also engraved on a small plaque at the bottom of the frame.
"Oh my goodness…it's so beautiful," Miki gasped as she held it up as Tadao came to admire it too. "Thank you, girls. Thank you so much. I love it."
"Yeah that's quite a piece you girls got us. Thank you." Tadao added.
"So is there anything special you two want to do today?" Inori asked.
Miki still stared at her gift and felt her eyes water the more she observed it. She sniffed a bit, grabbing her daughters' and husband's attention. They stared at her with a concerned expression, seeing the wheels turning in her head. Tsukasa glanced at the table and saw Kagami's letter resting there and knew her mom was still having a hard time on her special day with everything that had happened since she graduated high school only a few months ago. Her anniversary was a day to not only celebrate her marriage to Tadao Hiiragi, but to also rejoice in everything that she has, especially her family. It still deeply hurt Miki knowing that one of her daughters was no longer of this world and the other had all but destroyed her own life, so the Hiiragi housewife was feeling extra vulnerable today.
"I…I want to go visit Matsuri." Miki uttered while resting the frame back on the table.
The mood quickly fell silent and real. Everyone knew what she meant, but a family trip to the cemetery seemed a little too dark for such a bright and special day. Regardless, the Hiiragi family had no choice but to lament the fact that this was their world from now on. Whenever they wanted to feel comfort or hold a conversation with Matsuri, it would require a fifteen minute drive to a large grassy field and talk to a marble stone. Still, the Hiiragi family agreed that a trip to the cemetery would be appropriate. It would have to be their way of including Matsuri on the special day.
The Hiiragi's got in their family car while Tadao informed the police officers guarding their house of their trip and that they wouldn't need an escort to and from the cemetery. He also expressed the sentimental reasons behind this special day and why they obviously preferred their privacy. The police agreed and promised to watch over their house while they were out.
On the way to the cemetery, they stopped at a floral shop and bought a fresh bouquet of flowers to put on Matsuri's plot. Their drive there was a somber one and not even the music on the radio could brighten the mood. Tsukasa, the usual cheerful, innocent and happy member of the family, sighed to herself that this was now a part of their lives. Worst of all, even she was forced to mature enough through this whole ordeal and safely conclude that the pain of her sister's death and her twin's downfall would never go away. It would just be another simple part of life like death and taxes, as they say.
When the Hiiragi family arrived at the cemetery, they parked behind a Harley Davidson Fatboy motorcycle. They barely noticed the vehicle as they got out of the car and started walking towards Matsuri's grave while Miki carried the bouquet. The family climbed a small hill and when they reached the summit, they were disappointed when they saw another person standing near Matsuri's tombstone. He appeared to be another mourner paying his own respects to another grave. The Hiiragi family didn't have a problem with that, but they still preferred to be alone with their late family member instead of inadvertently including a stranger in their own remembering.
The closer they got, however, the realized that the young man was not standing above a gravesite near Matsuri's. He was standing above Matsuri's. A small bouquet of flowers already rested against the marble tombstone that he appeared to have placed there and it worried the family. Tadao took point as Miki slowed a bit with her girls and she watched her husband approach the young man. He was an intimidating figure as he stood tall above even Tadao and was clearly muscular and covered in tattoos.
The young man turned his head to the approaching family and stiffened when he saw them. To their surprise, he smiled when he saw Tadao. Despite his intimidating stature, his smile was genuine and his voice was soft when he bowed while saying, "Hiiragi-sama…it has been a while."
It took a second for Tadao to recognize him but when he got a closer look at his face, it all came coming back to him. It had been a while since their last meeting but Tadao remembered it fondly. He remembered giving special counsel to a young man who had just returned from the Self-Defense Forces only to find his home and neighborhood in disarray. The young man was considering taking drastic action against the perpetrators who were wreaking havoc, but Tadao tried to teach him the importance of nonviolence. That there will always be violent and evil people in the world and deciding to stoop to their level would only add fuel to the fires of mutual hatred. However, even Tadao was starting to see some holes in that logic in lieu of a certain psychotic young woman who was stalking his youngest daughter.
"Watanabe-san?" Tadao asked. "Watanabe-san, is it you?"
Junichi smiled and nodded. "Yes, sir. And please call me Junichi."
"What are you doing here, son?" Tadao asked and eyed his daughter's grave.
Junichi turned back the tombstone and his sorrowful expression returned. "As it were, I was coming to see you, sir. But I would've been remised if I didn't come here first and pay my respects to your daughter. I've been wanting to do so for the longest time but haven't been able to make the journey until now."
Tadao slowly smiled as his family approached, seeing Junichi was no danger. "That's very honorable of you, Junichi, and thank you for that. Please let me introduce you to my family."
Tadao had Miki bring herself and the girls over and Junichi once again expressed the same polite and humble formalities to them. It didn't take long for the conversation to be steered towards Kagami as the reason behind his visit to Saitama. Miki asked if he was the boy Kagami wrote about in her letter, which he confirmed. He was also quick to tell them that everything she wrote was true in that she was safe and clean from the drugs. Miki asked if it was true that her daughter was pregnant. Junichi, not being the one to dampen their trip to pay homage to Matsuri, said he was hoping he could discuss it in a more formal setting so the Hiiragi's invited them back to their house. Junichi gave them a few minutes alone with Matsuri's grave before they made the trip back.
When they got home, Tadao had to quickly convince their police protection that Junichi wasn't a part of the biker gang that attacked them before, but of course Junichi kept that part about himself quiet. When Miki served Junichi a cup of tea and they all sat together in the living room, Junichi laid it all out on the table. Kagami lost the baby two weeks ago and she was obviously devastated by it. Junichi hated to be the one to tell them that but felt they had the right to know everything that was happening with Kagami. They also didn't know that she was suffering from HIV but the fact that Junichi assured them that she had all the medication she needed didn't soothe the pain.
"So…so sis hasn't left the bed or the house since she lost…her baby…?" Tsukasa sniffled as she dabbed her teary eye with a handkerchief.
"I'm afraid so, Tsukasa-chan." Junichi said. "I didn't want to come here to tell you all of this to hurt you, but I've also been increasingly concerned about Kagami's state of mind. When she wrote that letter with the family heirlooms she said she wanted to rekindle with everyone here but felt that you needed more time. Well I'm here to try and help bridge the gap in lieu of recent circumstances. Kagami is in a very vulnerable place now and I believe one of the best things for her right now is for her to be surrounded by family."
"Did she tell you about everything she's done to us?" Inori growled, her voice still laced with looming animosity for her younger sister.
Junichi nodded. "Yes, she did. She told me everything starting from the party she and her late friend attended that started this whole ordeal. Believe me when I say she's still not easy on herself when she talks about it…especially when she talks about…Matsuri-san."
The room fell silent.
"Regardless, I know it is none of my business, but I do want what's best for Kagami and I think it would be good for her to reconnect with her family." Junichi added, earning a few sympathetic looks from the family. "I…I care a lot about her and…I…I just want to see her safe and happy again."
Tadao slowly looked up at his guest and exchanged a look with his wife. She too gave him the same expression. Their parental instincts were unified in this case and they both came to the same conclusion. Miki waited for her husband to take the lead so she could play her complementing role.
"Girls…would you excuse us for a moment? I need to have a word with our guest in private." Tadao stated.
Miki nodded. "Come on, girls. Let's make some more tea."
Tsukasa and Inori could sense the mood had shifted between them but didn't protest. They stood and followed their mother out of the living room and Miki closed the door behind her. Silence was established between the two men for a moment. Junichi knew where this was going to go but still paid Tadao the courtesy of opening the discussion first. It was his daughter Junichi was sleeping with after all.
"I first want to thank you for taking care of Kagami. If she truly did tell you everything, then I don't need to waste our time by recalling that she has been through a lot. We all have." Tadao stated, his fatherly aurora showing and Junichi nodded in acknowledgment. "You have become…close…with my daughter over the time she has been staying at your neighborhood. Correct?"
Junichi nodded.
"I see. Well you're a smart young man so I don't think I have to go over the list of why I do not approve of you having a relationship with my daughter." Tadao added, his voice still fatherly stern.
Again, Junichi nodded and added, "I understand."
"Good," Tadao added and slowly sighed, contemplating where his family was going to go next. "I will allow Kagami to come home and I would like you to bring her to us. We will once again try to get her the help she needs since losing this baby has obviously changed things for all of us. After that…I'm going to ask for you to leave us alone and for you to not see Kagami anymore."
Junichi remained deadpan.
"I understand you have feelings for her and that you want to see her happy, but as her father I'm saying the last thing she needs is a relationship right now. And to be perfectly honest, Junichi, the thought of Kagami being in a relationship with someone who has aspired to the role that you have in the manner you have…well that deeply frightens me." Tadao added, Junichi remaining deadpan. "I will admit I do not know all of your vices and crimes, but I do know that you are still a troubled youth who believes in violence. Kagami got too involved with violent individuals once before and it was Tsukasa that was forced to pay the price for it. When Kagami is back with us, I would appreciate it if you and your gang would give us peace and distance. Especially for Kagami. After all, we just want what's best for her."
Junichi remained deadpan and unyielding, even when Tadao forbade him from seeing Kagami. He slowly nodded and responded, "I understand your concern, Hiiragi-sama, and appreciate your directness with who and what I am. And you're right when you said I want the best for her and to me, the best for is coming home and rekindling with her family for this especially difficult time for her."
Tadao formed a small smile as he heard this mature young man's reply.
"But if a relationship with me also turns out to be what's best for her as well…then so be it."
Tadao's smile quickly faded. "What was that?"
"You heard me, Hiiragi-sama," Junichi replied sharply, though his voice remained calm and noncombative. He added: "With all due respect, you were wrong when you said I have feelings for your daughter. I don't. I'm in love with your daughter, Hiiragi-sama. I love her more than anyone else in this world and she's opened my eyes and heart to thoughts, ideas, and even feelings I never knew I had. Kagami is also an adult now and free to make her own choice. Make no mistake; I'll make sure that her number one priority is still rekindling with you and the family and I will give her time and space. However, if the day ever comes where she wants to stay with me, we will be together."
Tadao slowly narrowed his eyes at Junichi. Most of him wanted to continue to object and forbid Junichi from seeing his daughter, even going so far as to consider police involvement. However, as a husband, he could see the conviction in the young man's eyes. He was telling the truth when he said he was in love with Kagami and as a man and husband, Tadao couldn't help but respect Junichi's principle. Before Tadao could add anything else, Junichi slowly stood.
"If you'll excuse me, Hiiragi-sama, I will go back to my neighborhood and bring back Kagami. Thank you for having me in your home and thank your wife for the tea for me." He concluded with a bow and finished with, "I'll show myself out."
Junichi left the living room and the Hiiragi household without another word. His final establishment left Tadao completely speechless as Miki slowly inched her way back into the living room to be filled in on the strange conversation her husband had. He reluctantly told his wife that they may soon have a very unorthodox son-in-law in the near future.
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Junichi felt colder as he ascended the elevated road leading to his neighborhood. Colder than usual as he glanced up and stared at the opaque clouds blocking out the sun. He also couldn't help but notice a higher number of colored leaves had detached themselves from the trees the further he rode. His old military instincts kicked in and he started to develop a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach as he recalled the events of today.
He was finally able to pry Kagami away from the bed, only to take her back to it and have sex with her. It was as he was riding and saw his neighborhood come into view that he started to see past his own emotions for the troubled girl and into the possibility that she had darker intentions for herself and that their time together was like a last meal for a death row inmate. He gave the bike more throttle as he rounded the final corner and sped down the long straight street leading to the houses.
A few residents were walking about with their children as he came to a screeching halt in front of his house. A few of his soldiers patrolling the neighborhood were startled by his abrupt arrival and ran towards him, sensing danger. Junichi dismounted the motorcycle and ran into his house, heading straight to the bedroom.
The first series in a long-term delivery schedule of self-induced ass kicking's first arrived for him when he saw Kagami Hiiragi was no longer asleep in his bed. He stood in his doorframe, jaw slowly unhinging when one of his soldiers stormed in his house, rifle ready.
"What's going on, boss?"
He spun back to him. "Has anyone seen Kagami?!"
The soldier shook his head and dashed back to the open front door. "Hey has anyone seen Kagami?!"
Word suddenly engulfed the neighborhood that Kagami was missing and all the residents began combing the area for her. When Junichi dashed outside again, Mina-chan was waiting next to his motorcycle.
"Junichi-kun, I saw Kagami-onee-chan!" She happily exclaimed, still innocent to the growing issue.
Junichi kneeled down to her and gently placed his hands on her shoulders. With a smile, he whispered, "Very good, Mina-chan. Did she say where she was going or what she was going to do?"
Mina-chan nodded with a smile. "Yes. She said she was going home to where she belonged. She also told me to be a good girl and to also be a strong one. I don't get it, Junichi-kun. I thought this was her home. She's coming back, right?"
Junichi glanced away and thought. Going home? That doesn't make any sense. I was just there and…OH NO! SHE WOULDN'T…WOULD SHE?!
Junichi smiled back at Mina-chan and patted her head, earning a giggle from her. "Yes it, Mina-chan. Kagami just went to say hi to a few people but I'm going to go pick her up right now."
"Yay," the little girl cheered. "Then onee-chan and I can play again."
Junichi nodded and straddled his bike as the little girl backed away and readied to cover her ears. Junichi pulled one of his soldiers close and whispered, "Call Bullseye and the rest of The Forsaken Sons and tell them to head to the Aku District. I have a feeling everything in this story is about to come to a head."
Junichi started the bike, turned around, and sped for the Aku District. As he rode, he reached into his vest and cocked the hammer of the pistol sitting in its holster.
