Finding Him
Chapter 10 : Life in Order
by : Sakeena deathstalkker@yahoo.com


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A new fresh start was what awaited me. I lived with him again, a simple clean life of truth and virtue, just like when I was still teaching. The pain of the loss of my father, the loss of his sister was still there, but together, we managed to make it through our everyday life. He filled the largest missing void in my heart. I didn't know about him, since he was not showy or anything, but I knew I already meant something to him.

The first week with him, I went with him to visit Sakura in the hospital who was still unconscious. Then he went with me to the temple, Old Amaru's temple , the very place I could bring myself to look at. But now I faced my fears. With new hope.

The lost days were over. It was moving on. Nonetheless, we had not forgotten the people who were gone. We vowed we'd get them back, no matter what.

On with the plan we were not able to actualize, we decided to continue it. This time, he included Erinko and Yoji. He's began to trust Erinko. After all, Erinko saved me.

It will be easier this time. For one thing, I lost my frequent invader. For more than a span of two months, it had not visited me. Probably because it had found itself a much much more vulnerable victim. But Ms. Invader was going to pay. I was so sure of that.

I worked at the flower shop again. They welcomed me back. There I was introduced by Omi to Ohno Yuki, a high school girl with short black hair, lively jet black eyes and very white complexion. She was one of the usual visitors of the shop. The other one was Takahashi Jun, a biker like Hidaka who had become pretty close to him, judging from the way they talked and laughed together.

This time, though, I had the nerve to approach Ohno Gen and his friend Ryuugasaki Seiji when they visited Ken and Omi. And they recognized me.

"Sensei!" they both yelled and ran to me.

Happily, I hugged them close to me. Oh, how I missed them! I must have not seen them for more than six months already.

They began asking questions about me and why I stopped teaching. I didn't know how to answer, and Kudou, in seeing this, winked at them. "You see kids, sensei is married. That's why she can't teach."

"Yoji!" I scolded him.

He just laughed and went on entertaining their questions. "So what if she's married?" "What's married?" "How long?" "Is she expecting a baby?" "Who's her husband?"

Though I tried telling them otherwise, Kudou's pretty convinced them I was indeed married. Nevertheless it was really one of the best excuses.

They told all the others back at the dojo about me and so the next day some others visited me. My two friends who were also teachers, Fujioka Aiko and Yamada Masahiko and three other students, Mika, Kyouko and Hideaki accompanied Seiji and Gen the very next day. The news about me married AND pregnant spread around quickly.

"So you're married?" Aiko asked hesitantly looking a little uneasy. She was aware Masahiko had slight interest in me.

"No," I said defensively.

"Come on, Kasumi. You don't have to deny it. We'll understand," Aiko assured. "So who's the guy?" Her face was unable to register a definite expression. It was a combination of disbelief, confusion, sadness, relief, surprise...and was that a look of betrayal? There was a long silence that I debated to myself whether to lie or not. Then she forced out a chuckle. "So who's the unfortunate one?"

I laughed at this. Aiko had a big sense of humor. Unfortunately she was neither a good liar nor a good pretender. It was all written in her face and in her eyes.

"Well," I began uncertainly. Just then my sight began to blur. I dropped whatever I was holding.

This alerted Yoji and Ran as the others wondered if it was a boy or a girl.

"What's wrong?" Masahiko asked, obviously worried.

"No-no-nothing," I stammered, my vision blurred more. "Ran!" I yelled frantically.

He was outside watering the plants, but he had set it all aside to check on me.

"It's returned," I told him.

"I see," he answered.

"What returned?" Omi and Aiko asked in unison.

They didn't get any answers. Instantly, right before my visions totally blurred, I felt Ran's hand grip my shoulders and pull me to him in a kiss. This time, though he had to do it longer and more fervently than before. I guess it was like the drug. The more you use it the more you need. This means larger amount than the previous to get the same satisfaction (uhh..in my case the word was not the result)I was pacified much later on.

"So he's the guy," Aiko concluded loudly.

Masahiko witnessed everything with his own eyes. I felt sorry for him. He walked out in silence. Aiko followed, saying polite good-byes.

It was a big puzzle. The Invader visited me once more after such a long time. My life was going to be ruined once more. It scared me.

But Ran was determined to overcome it.



April 2000 © Sakeena