Finding Him
Chapter 9 : Reunited
by : Sakeena deathstalkker@yahoo.com


Legal disclaimers apply to all anime.

I stayed with Erinko and Yoji longer. They welcomed me but not my drug. I tried to change. They helped me. And I did change. For the short span of one month, my eye bugs disappeared, I bathed regularly, my speech became clear, I regained my old body, and lost the overly thin and sickly looking body of mine. I ate thrice a day, slept right, and thought and spoke, and yes, even laughed the way I used to.

They didn't know anything though, and it took a while before I could trust again. They tried talking me of going back with Ran, but I refused, and they asked why but I would not answer until finally, I was able to summon up the courage to tell them about what they deserved to know.

I told them everything. Well, not everything but mainly why I refused to go back and why I was so consumed in the White Rabbit. It shocked them both. Kudou most especially. He confessed to me that it was their mission to kill the White Rabbit, but was more shocked at the fact that Ran did not turn me in. I myself was surprised, I admitted.

Nonetheless, even now that they knew how evil I was, and the crimes I committed, both of them remained supportive and kind to me, especially during that time that I was beginning to stand up from where I had fallen. Both of them said they will help me find my father and Aya.

One time as I stood on their balcony thinking Erinko came up to me and we sort of had a pep talk. She told me not to think I was a evil, because if I was evil, what would she be? With a hug, I assured her she was not evil. In fact, she had become my angel. And she said the same nice words about me.

"Aya will understand," she said, placing her soft hands on my shoulder, looking somewhere I could not see. "He'll forgive you and accept you."

"But Tomoe-"

"Yoji said he doesn't really love Sakura the same way Sakura loves him. I'm not saying he doesn't love Sakura. But why he became so attached to her is because she reminded him of Aya. Aside from a pure sisterly love, there is nothing else..There is only one woman he'll love the way he never did..and you know who that is.."

"I don't know, Erinko."

"Do you love him at all, Kasumi?"

I didn't say anything. I turned to meet her earnest eyes. "What do you think?"

"Very badly," she answered frankly meeting my eyes.

"Just as I feared," I admitted with a sigh.

"Be true to yourself. We both know you need him."

Silence.

"Listen to me Kasumi. He needs you just as much as you need him. Can't you see, he's all alone now and suffering?"

Finally, I agreed.

To be true to myself.

So the night after, Yoji and Erinko drove me to his apartment. The two came out first and asked Ran to come out. My heart beat faster against my chest, all the blood seemed to go to my face. I was excited, yet scared and anxious and hesitant. I had never been so scared of being rejected before.

He came out holding with one hand his coat. In seeing me, he dropped it unconsciously to the ground. I just stood beside the car, watching him. I wondered if he would accept me..ever again..

"Hi," I greeted him hesitantly, my voice trembling.

"Welcome home."

Tears trickled down my face. Smiling, I ran to him and threw my arms around him. I didn't know if he hugged me back, but knowing he accepted and forgave me was all enough.


April 2000 © Sakeena