A/N – Here it finally is! At long last the concluding update is here and fittingly it's the largest one yet. Hope you enjoy it.
Twenty-Nine
Hi Ruri!
I just got a call from Miss Misumaru to tell me that you're okay. Thank God! It must have been really scary running into that assassin again and having to go to hospital, but I'm glad you're okay now. Anyway I decided to write you this letter. I hope it reaches you before you wake up.
I was glad to hear that your friends found you in the end. You won't believe how surprised I was when they turned up at the orphanage! I talked to them for a bit and they're all so cool! They were all really worried about you as well so it's good to hear they found you before it was too late. I guess the whole experience of having someone trying to kill you must have been pretty horrible, but you got through it in the end, just like I said you would! You were so brave, I think I would have just fallen apart if it were me. You're really amazing you know – you should have your own anime series or something!
To be honest not much has changed here since you left. It was Tina's twelfth birthday yesterday so we had a party to celebrate that, which was fun. However, the biggest news is still your sudden disappearance. Miss Nishida is still feeling really guilty about it – she thinks it's her fault that you ran away. I've kept my promise and not told her anything, but I was wondering if you could tell her yourself when you wake up, just to make her feel better. It's up to you of course and I won't tell anyone unless you tell me to.
By the way, that phrase you said when you left, something about unforgettable days. It means that memories are really important or something like that, right? Well, I hope I'm one of your good memories!
Hope to see you soon!
Mikoto : )
P.S. I beat Leon on the Gamebase today! I managed to pull off that special move that you did! He wasn't too happy about it!
Ruri folded up the letter and replaced it in its lilac envelope. To her own surprise, a rare smile had risen on her face as she'd read the painstakingly neat words of her former roommate. It was strange – it hadn't even been a week since she'd last seen her and yet it felt as if this message had come from a long-lost friend. Ruri was delighted that she'd made the effort to contact her so soon.
"I'll have to write her one back as soon as I get the chance,"
Yurika had given her the letter earlier on, along with the mass of gifts and cards she'd received while she'd been asleep. Everyone had sent her something. She'd received a box of Swiss chocolates from Prospector and some flowers from Jun – red tulips which now adorned her windowsill. Ryoko, Hikaru and Izumi had sent her a massive basket overflowing with all kinds of colourful fruit, while Megumi had sent her a cute cuddly rabbit toy, who'd been requisitioned by Minato the moment she'd laid eyes on it. Miss Howmei had sent her the best gift of all – a gorgeous home-made sponge-cake with the Nadesico logo depicted on its icing. Yurika had eagerly suggested that they cut a few slices to celebrate Ruri's waking-up, but Miss Fressange had forbidden it, saying that Ruri's diet would have to be simple and strictly regulated until they were totally sure of a full recovery. Ruri had known better than to argue with the doctor at that time. She'd only just persuaded her to remove that horrible wiring from her body and knew it was unlikely she'd cave twice in the same day.
In addition to the presents, Ruri had received so many 'Get Well Soon' cards that her small bedside table hadn't been able to hold them all and they'd had to put the extra ones on the machines around her bed. Ruri had been surprised, and genuinely touched, that so many people had taken the time to send their best wishes to her.
"This is so strange, receiving all these. Are there really so many people who care for me?"
She couldn't bring herself to believe such a gratifying thought.
She'd read all her cards and letters in bed, following a much-needed wash and change. She now wore her hair in her characteristic bunches and had swapped her hospital gown for a dark blue nightdress. Freshening up her hygiene and appearance had done the same thing to her spirits and with that wiring now gone, she felt as comfortable as could be. In fact, come to think of it, she felt more relaxed and carefree at present than she'd ever felt before in her young life. It was as if now her dance with death had ended, she'd finally allowed herself to loosen up and smile - a side of her she seldom let the world see, but enjoyed showing off.
She broke out of her thoughts as the door opened to admit Minato and Yukina. The pair were holding hands as they came in, plain evidence of the close bond they had forged in the short time they had known each other. The glowing smile of the former helmswoman descended on the white-haired child as she came over and sat down next to her on the bed.
"Hi there Ruri-Ruri! Feel better now after that?"
"Much, thank you," replied the snow-white girl, directing her tiny smile at them. Even the simple presence of the pair made her feel happier. But of course she now appreciated the true value of her friends, having been apart them during her time at the orphanage.
"Good!" said Minato. "You know, it's a shame you're cooped up in here really – it's a gorgeous day out there. Yukina and I went for a walk and it was just lovely, wasn't it?"
"Uh-huh," murmured Yukina insipidly.
"Yes, it's like we returned from space just in time for summer!" Minato exclaimed happily. She then looked down and noted the letter lying on top of the covers. "Hey, is that a letter? Who's it from?"
Ruri looked down fondly at the envelope on her lap. "Mikoto. A girl I met at the orphanage."
"Oh yes, I remember her!" Minato said, holding up a finger. "Yes, we talked to her while we were up there looking for you. She was the one with those cute little pigtails, right?"
"Yes, that's her."
"Right! It was her who set us on the path to finding you. She seemed like a very nice girl to me."
"She wasn't so nice at first," muttered Yukina under her breath, recalling her meeting with the orphan. Minato rebuked her with a disapproving glance, but Ruri actually nodded her head in comprehension.
"I found that too," she murmured softly, though the simple phrase didn't do nearly sufficient justice to the hell Mikoto had put her through during the early days of her orphanage stay.
"So what was she like as a friend?" asked Minato, eager to make conversation.
Ruri tipped her head back as she recalled her memories of the histrionic orphan. "She was…very different to me," she stated eventually. "She never had problems displaying her emotions and personally I found her to be something of a drama queen. We had a strange relationship, but she certainly made my time in the orphanage more interesting. She made things much easier, and harder, than they would otherwise have been."
"Easier and harder?" inquired Yukina dubiously.
"Yes," replied Ruri. "You see, I knew two Mikotos. One was a mean and callous girl who hated me without reason and took pleasure in my discomfort. But the other was a true friend who took a great interest in my life and would have done anything to help me. In the end, I am glad she was there," She bowed her head slightly, lowering her lids. "She made a lonely time for me a little more bearable."
"Poor Ruri," murmured Minato, gently stroking the girl's shoulder. "You do know that we would have never let them send you away to that awful orphanage if we'd known about it, don't you?"
"Yes," Ruri nodded with sincerity and a smile. "Yes, I do know that."
"Good. I'm glad," said the brown-haired woman, patting her cheek affectionately. "I wouldn't have wanted my Ruri-Ruri to think that we would just ditch her like some unwanted toy," She entwined her slender fingers with those of the young girl and squeezed them happily. Ruri looked back up at her and together they smiled into each others eyes with a fond intimacy which they had never quite reached during their time on the Nadesico.
"A gaze like that does not lie. She really does care for me doesn't she?" Ruri's thought, her lips folding in pensively. "But I wonder why?"
The moment was interrupted as Yurika and Akito breathlessly burst into the room. The former captain was beaming like the sun, but there was something tentative in Akito's smile. Like he was anxious about something. Ruri dismissed it – it was probably nothing.
"Hello everyone!" Yurika chirped cheerfully. "Wow Ruri, you look completely back to normal now!"
"She does. It's the bunches that do it!" Minato laughed, playfully batting one of them with her hand. Ruri made a tiny flicker of annoyance, but said nothing.
"Did you get the ice-cream?" Yukina asked impatiently.
"The ice cream?" Akito hesitated for a moment, then slapped his forehead in disbelief. "Damn! I left it outside!" He immediately turned and made for the door. "I'll go get it! Aw crap, it's probably all melted by now!"
"Idiot!" murmured the Jovian girl, taking the word right out of Ruri's mouth.
Just as Akito was reaching for the handle, the door opened and Miss Fressange poked her head in, causing him to jolt back. The doctor instantly looked to Ruri and smiled.
"Oh good, you're decent. It's just that you have another visitor out here."
Ruri cocked her head curiously. "Another visitor?"
"Yes. Would you like me to show him in?"
Ruri nodded once. "Yes, of course." She wondered who it could possibly be.
She might have guessed it. The doctor stepped aside to make way for a tall, back-haired man, the sight of whom turned Akito's face to fire and Ruri's blood to ice.
"Mr Akatsuki?" she exclaimed, her face falling in disbelief.
The chairman of Nergal threw his head back and laughed out loud. "She recognises me! Does this mean we have a full recovery?"
Ruri's astonishment fell into a deadly glare. "What are you doing here?"
"Yeah, just what the hell are you doing here?!" shouted Akito, rage swelling up in him as he confronted the man responsible for all of Ruri's suffering. "You heartless bastard! I should pummel you after what you tried to do to our Ruri!" He advanced dangerously on the taller man, completely lost to his fiery rage.
"What are you going to do, fanboy? Gekigan Flare me?" sneered Akatsuki.
Quickly seeing that no-one else was going to restrain the cantankerous cook, Miss Fressange stepped in to block Akito's warpath. "Please calm yourself Akito," she said hurriedly. "I invited him here. We have something very important to discuss."
"But he…" he protested before Ruri cut him off.
"Please Mr Tenkawa, let's hear him out,"
As angry as he was, the girl's quiet voice was able to penetrate Akito's fury. With an angry growl, he strode away from the other man to stand over by the bed, positioning himself protectively between chairman and child. Though he remained silent, the smouldering gaze that remained on Akatsuki revealed his feelings very well.
"Good," said Akatsuki, nodding to Akito to acknowledge his submission. "I didn't come here for a fight, I came here to put a lid on this very unfortunate situation that has arisen," He coughed to concede the understatement. "I know a lot of water has passed under the bridge, but I hope we can discuss things like civilised adults."
"I would hardly call you civilised, Mr Akatsuki." Ruri muttered, somewhat petulantly.
With an ironic grin, Akatsuki recalled his sly humour. "Well I would hardly call you an adult but let's compromise on that, shall we? Now come on, let's get down to business, we have much to discuss." He took a few steps towards her, but stopped in his tracks at a warning glare from Akito and spoke from where he stood. His voice was apologetic, but professionally so and still contained his constant, underlying pride.
"Well, before I say anything else, I wish to apologise for the distress this whole assassin business must have caused you. In retrospect, I was wrong in my decision to put a hit on you. It did seem like a sound idea at the time, but I can see now that it was a bit extreme." He shrugged indifferently. "I'm very sorry for my actions, but I was acting on impulse. Although in my defence, I was a little annoyed when you turned down my generous offer."
"A little annoyed!?" Akito shouted hotly, his fists firmly clenched by his sides. "She could have died, you murderous bastard!"
"Calm down Tenkawa. It's not like she was actually killed," said Akatsuki, composed as ever. "And what's more, I wasn't directly responsible for the final assassination attempt, the one which nearly killed her."
"Yeah, right," muttered Akito darkly. "So your assassin just somehow happened to find her on the Nadesico?"
Akatsuki spread his arms in protest, but didn't lose his grin. "I swear it didn't factor in my plans and I never actually authorised it. It was all Erina's doing." He smirked evilly. "It was a desperate attempt to re-curry my favour. You see, I was a tad displeased with her after I received a certain unexpected visitor in my office." He cast his leer over to the girl in the bed.
"But how did she know where she was?" Minato asked.
Akatsuki looked over to her, his sneer widening. "Carelessness on Ruri's part. Miss Hoshino seemed to forget that every Nadesico communicator is installed with a homing beacon."
"Ah! Idiot!" Ruri whispered to herself, only now realising what her near-fatal mistake had been.
"Of course, that made tracking her down actually very simple. Then once Erina discovered you were on the Nadesico, she informed our friend and the rest is history." He laughed shortly. "Thankfully there was no harm done and I assure you that Miss Won will be facing severe disciplinary action."
"What do you mean no harm done?" blurted Akito. "She was nearly killed! She was in a coma thanks to that poison and if it hadn't been for Miss Fressange, she would have died!"
"True, true," said Akatsuki, a little more seriously. "I understand what has happened and I admit it was a very regrettable incident. So for that, I offer you my most sincere apologies." He bowed his head in a show of mock repentance.
"Please spare me your empty regret, Mr Akatsuki." Ruri said, her eyes taking on an aggressive slant. "It's too late. Your apologies mean nothing to me now. At this point, blame doesn't make a difference and saying sorry won't stop me from hating you and everything about your stupid, self-serving nature." Her gaze was practically stabbing him by the end. However, the blades in her words seemed unable to penetrate Akatsuki's sure composure, for he just stood there and laughed.
"Ha! For a kitten, your scratches sure do smart!"
Ruri lowered her head a touch, but kept her frosty stare fixed on him. "I would have thought you'd have already known that after our last meeting. Tell me Mr Akatsuki, have you heard anything from the UEAF yet?"
"Ah yes, the UEAF," replied the Nergal chairman. "They contacted me this morning. They're sending an investigative team to the Nergal Five's hanger on the moon." He delivered his characteristic laugh. "I doubt they'll like what they find up there!"
"Wow," murmured Minato. "You seem kind of upbeat for a man whose master plan is about to fall apart around him."
Akatsuki laughed again and spread his arms. "It all depends on which way you look at it. My father once told me that winning was everything. But my elder brother had a more lenient policy. He said there was no shame in losing so long as your opponent was worthy. And so you have proved, Miss Hoshino. You're only a young girl, but you managed to evade a hired assassin, travel all the way to Hiratsuka under your own devices and then infiltrate and hack into the biggest corporation on the planet. That's not too shabby in my book. I commend you."
Ruri's expression didn't change. "I thank you for the compliment. But still, I wouldn't have had to do any of that if you had a bit more compassion in your soul."
"Ah!" Akatsuki chuckled. "There's that word again!"
"Yes. But I doubt you'd understand it even if we tattooed it to the back of your hand."
He let that pass. "Well, I suppose now you can see why I was so eager to hire you," he continued, gesturing at her. "Your performance in attaining your goals is a true testament to your ability and value. What can I say? You're a miracle Ruri. We could have achieved much together."
"Much destruction you mean,"
"Well by that as it may," replied Akatsuki with a glib wave of his hand. "But in any case, with us or against us, you needn't fear for you life anymore. I've had a change of heart, you see. You have nothing more to fear from myself or Nergal." His eyes narrowed slightly and his thin mouth curved up again as he continued. "However, if I'm to do this for you, I would ask a small favour in return."
"Of course," stated Ruri tartly. "You don't give anything away for free."
Akatsuki continued, unperturbed. "All I'm asking is for you to keep my rash plan to bump you off hush-hush," He gestured in emphasis. "It's all in the past now, there's really no need for the world to know about it."
"Oh I see! Now that your scheme didn't work out, you want to wash your hands of the crime!" snapped Akito. "Like hell we'll keep this a secret! You're going down Akatsuki, I'll make sure of it!"
"Wait Mr Tenkawa. His bargain does make sense," said Ruri. Everyone turned to her as she continued in her typical steady tone. "If he were to kill me now, there would be nothing to stop any of you exposing the evidence to the world to prove he was the man responsible. Imagine the scandal – Nergal assassinates one of its former employees for refusing to stay on with them. A story like that could cripple the company and I sincerely doubt Akatsuki would be permitted to remain as chairman. But say we reveal the proof now and he was removed from power as a result – that would mean he'd have a lot less to lose from killing me and I'm sure he would not hesitate to do so. What we have now is an automatic deal and there is no need for us to go down together."
"That's precisely it," said Miss Fressange. "It's the prisoner's dilemma. If either party tries to cheat the deal, then both will end up worse off, but by cooperating they can maximise their joint welfare."
"So we have an agreement then." said Akatsuki, all business-like. "I'll play fair if you will, Ruri."
"Right," said Ruri, bobbing her head at him. "I can only speak for myself, but I will accept your terms,"
"Yes, we all do," said Yurika. Everyone else seconded her agreement with nods, though Akito's was noticeably resentful.
"A wise decision Ruri. This concurrence will benefit both of us," Akatsuki murmured. He then grinned at her slyly. "Everybody wins. So would you say this conforms to your 'true justice' then Miss Hoshino?"
Ruri shrugged nonchalantly. "Not really, but it's as close as we're going to get,"
"Maybe so!" Akatsuki laughed. "But those who can't have a holiday in the sun must make do with a rainy camping trip. Never mind! But come, if you accept the deal, let us shake on it."
He came across the room towards her bedside. At a nod from the girl in the bed, Akito grudgingly stepped to one side to let the chairman through. He grinned down at her as he held out his hand. Eyeing it suspiciously at first, Ruri eventually put her own tiny palm in his and shook it weakly. The gesture held no warmth. This wasn't forgiveness or even respect she was offering. For her, it was merely the sealing of a deal of mutual benefit, the formation of a pax which would allow both of them to get on with their lives without aggravating old wounds further than they needed to. That was all Akatsuki would ever get from her.
Akatsuki, who'd put more gusto into the motion, gave her hand one last solid shake, before releasing it. "Well, I suppose that concludes our business," He made a positive gesture with his right hand. "Of course, there's still a job for you at Nergal should you want it, just as a regular employee, not part of a gunship crew. We'll need talents like yours to rebuild ourselves after the UEAF tear us apart!"
"I don't think so, Mr Akatsuki," stated Ruri, no humour in her voice.
The Nergal chairman shrugged hopelessly. "Can't blame me for trying," With that, he spun on his heel and started towards the door. "Well, I guess I'll take my leave now before the fanboy savages me. I'm a busy man you know. People to see, matters to attend to, money to be made!" Tossing his head back he delivered his vigorous laugh once again. "Be seeing you all!" He was still laughing as he left, the sound of his humour echoing in his wake as he departed down the corridor.
"Go jump off a cliff, you rat," muttered Yukina under her breath, as the door closed to shut Akatsuki out of their lives once again.
Akito was glaring crossly at the door, as if accusing it for admitting Akatsuki in the first place. "That bastard!" he grunted, letting his frustration out to play. "I can't believe he get off scot-free!"
"Oh cheer up Akito," said Yurika, touching his arm to pacify him. "Ruri survived and that's the main thing. Akatsuki doesn't matter anymore."
"Right. But you know, he seemed altogether too cheery in my opinion," mused Minato, pursing her lips thoughtfully.
"Well, who knows what goes on inside his head," murmured Inez. "But then if you think about it, the whole situation is kind of humorous. A world business leader's master plan, one with massive implications for the future of the human race, was utterly devastated by one preteen orphan girl who he let in on it. Personally, I find it kind of amusing too." She emitted a small chuckle, fixing her red lips into a smile.
"But surely he should be just a bit more upset?" Minato asked. "I mean, its like he said – the UEAF will tear him apart!"
"Oh, the UEAF will be lenient with him and he knows it," Inez continued, falling back into her explanation mode. "Since the construction of the Nergal Five began before the official decision to pursue peace with the Jovians was announced, he wasn't actually doing too much legally wrong, save for keeping its development a secret. I expect that the ship will be confiscated and he'll be given a severe warning, but apart from that I doubt he'll be left much worse for wear."
"What about the deal?" asked Yurika, her tone a little concerned. "Are you really sure he'll uphold his end of the bargain and leave Ruri alone?"
Miss Fressange exhaled thoughtfully. "I honestly don't think he would take such a foolish risk in trying to kill her again. The gains to him wouldn't be worth the potential cost. Since he doesn't know how many people we've told about this whole assassination story, he can never be certain of destroying all knowledge of it altogether, even if he killed everyone in this room. No, he's not stupid enough to risk his whole company, just for vengeance." She gave a brief sigh. "And in any case, I'm sure it won't be long before he puts this setback behind him and cooks up another dastardly scheme to replace it."
"I've no doubt that he will," said Ruri. "But for now I hope I can finally put all this behind me. This last month has been the most horrible time of my life and I am glad that it's finally over," She fell back against her pillow, as kind of a symbolisation of her new peace of mind. "All I want to do is look to the future, because whatever it will bring cannot fail to be more pleasant than my recent life has been."
She mentally choked as she said those words out loud, for she'd thought and spoken them at the same time. She'd just said she would look to her future, but what future did she have? She'd won an epic battle for survival, but that didn't change anything. Essentially she was in the same situation as she had been four weeks ago, when Erina had told her she wasn't been detained with the rest of the crew. Nothing had changed. She was still a discarded tool, an unwanted child alone in the world. Thinking that caused her to panic, but she suppressed it quickly. Today was about being thankful for her recovery and reunion. There'd be plenty of time later on for her to worry about tomorrow.
"Ruri? Are you okay?" Yurika asked concernedly.
"I…I'm fine," Ruri blurted, Yurika's words startling her back to reality. Inwardly she scolded herself – she hadn't meant to lapse so noticeably.
"Ha! Lost you there for a moment!" laughed Minato.
"So what are going to do when you get out of hospital?" Yukina suddenly asked, before anyone could stop her.
Ruri twitched anxiously – Yukina had just followed the same track she had and had reached the same crucial issue. And unfortunately, she had brought it right out into the open. In a tiny mutter, she cursed the Jovian girl – she'd wanted the question to remain silent, and judging by their alarmed frowns in Yukina's direction, so had the adults.
"I don't know yet," she replied eventually, using the blandest tone she could muster to make it sound trivial and to hide the very real fears that hid behind the answer. Feeling that more was needed to eliminate the awkwardness, she added, "But I certainly won't be working for Nergal. And I won't be returning to Seven Oaks either."
She desperately hoped that reply sounded more satisfactory to their ears than it did to her own.
As she'd spoken, she spied Yurika slipping a quick word to Akito, to which he'd nodded in response. After a thoughtful moment, he leaned closer to his girlfriend and spoke gently to her, in a voice low enough for only her to hear. Yurika smiled back at him, then gave him a doting pat on the cheek and turned to address the three other women in the room.
"Um, could you give us a moment with Ruri please?"
Giving them a knowing smile, Minato nodded and placed a hand of Yukina's shoulder, both of them standing together. She gave Ruri an encouraging wink before leaving with the Jovian girl and Miss Fressange. At their exit, Ruri switched her gaze over to Akito and Yurika, now the only ones left in the room with her.
"Hmm, this is suspicious."
With the departure of half their number, a ghostly silence descended onto the room, changing the atmosphere completely. Suddenly, the tension had been cranked up a few notches and Ruri found herself feeling quite insecure. Akito went over to close the door, while Yurika sat down on the bed, just next to her knees. The ex-captain gave her a wan smile, but instead of reassuring her, it just served to disturb Ruri further.
"What are you afraid of? Stop being so childish!" she chided herself. Still she couldn't shake the premonitory feeling that something momentous was about to happen. The change in the couple's typically expressive demeanour spoke volumes to her.
Akito came back over and seated himself in the chair, shifting around uncomfortably. "Okay, right, well," he started pathetically, before looking over to Yurika for support. She gave him an encouraging nod to spur him on.
"Okay. So Ruri, are you feeling alright?" blurted Akito, his voice on the verge of a stutter.
"..…yes." said Ruri hesitantly. "Are you?" she added in her mind. By now her suspicions were fully aroused and all her senses had been put on red alert. Something definitely wasn't right here – she could practically smell the sweat underlying their calm façade.
"Er, good. Listen, now that you're awake we'd like to run something by you.
Something we've been discussing ever since you went missing."
"Uh-huh?" Ruri prompted. What was this about?
"Yes, we've been talking about it, but it didn't take us long to make our choice," said Yurika, infinitely more composed than Akito was. "We came to our decision and now we'd like to put the question to you."
Ruri nodded impatiently for her to continue, wishing she would just get to the point.
"We're not really sure how we should do this, so we're just going to ask you," Yurika continued in a slow, measured tone. "You can give whatever answer you want, whenever you're ready to do so. We just want to make that clear – there's absolutely no pressure at all."
"Yeah, none at all," seconded Akito quickly.
"What is it!?" Ruri's mind screamed, her curiosity on the verge of boiling over. "What is it that you want to tell me? Please, just say it Captain,"
"Well, here goes," Yurika said finally. With a deep breath she spoke the question which was to change Ruri's life forever.
"Ruri, how would you like to join our family?"
* * *
Ruri had gone through a good few shocks today, but this one effortlessly topped them all. For a moment everything went blank – her ears heard the words but her brain didn't. Over the next few seconds she replayed them a million times in her mind, each time coming closer and closer to understanding exactly what had just been said to her. Then her heart lurched in her chest as she finally twigged it.
"Join their family? Then…they mean…I would be their daughter? Is that what they're saying?"
Of course it was, what else could it be? As her mind stumbled across the boundary of impossibility, she found herself feeling flustered and giddy, like she was about to give it all up and faint. Her heartbeat shot into overdrive, and every little breath suddenly became a major chore. Mercifully, she was able to hold herself together and raised her head to re-establish eye-contact with the couple. Both were staring intently at her, their faces somewhere between friendly smiles and nervous gapes as they awaited the reaction beyond her silence. With difficulty, she gave it to them.
"You…wish…to adopt me?" she stuttered breathlessly.
"Yes, we really do Ruri," said Akito. His smile was nervous, but true.
She clasped her hands together and brought them up to her chest, holding them there as if in prayer. "You would…you would be my parents?"
"Yes, Ruri dearest," said Yurika, her enthusiasm tempered by her genuine tone. "If you let us, we'll be your Mama and Papa. We'll look after you, give you a home and make sure you're never lonely again."
Ruri swallowed, fruitlessly striving for composure. Taking a few heavy breaths to steady her thumping heart, she brought her head up again, mouth ajar in a soundless gasp.
"But why?" she peeped, imploring them with her angel eyes. "Why would you want me?"
The question caught them off guard and she saw a quick, uneasy glance pass between them. For a moment it seemed as though any reply they made would be a bumbling attempt to avoid a direct answer. But that was only until Akito stood and seized his destiny with both hands. With a decisive step, he came over, sunk down to her level and looked her right in the face. When he spoke, his gentle voice flowed with that same tender rhythm of sincerity it always possessed.
"Ruri, despite what you or anyone else thinks, you're a wonderful girl. You're smart, you're beautiful and you always try to do what is right. I mean who could want more from a child? We're not adopting you out of sympathy you know," He gently placed his hand on her shoulder, forcing her to meet his eyes so he could stare into her soul. "We love you Ruri. We love who you are and, if you let us, we'll do the very best we can to give you all the happiness you deserve."
Every word that came from his mouth was a heavenly chord to her ears. The glorious sentiment they held, the sheer honesty of how they were expressed – they bathed Ruri's soul in splendour it had never known. It was incredible, how could anyone say such sweet words about her? Suddenly choked up with emotion, she bowed her head, allowing her snowy fringe to veil her eyes.
"Of course, you don't have to make any decisions now," Akito quickly added, clearly thinking he'd scared or offended her with his bold words. "There's no hurry, you can take all the time you need to think it over,"
"That's right!" chirped Yurika, squeezing her hand encouragingly. "All we want is for you to be happy. We'll support you whatever you decide."
"No," replied Ruri in a tiny voice. "I don't need time to think. Not any more,"
She already knew what her answer would be. In some ways she'd known it her whole life. It was as if it had been lying dormant inside of her, waiting patiently all this time for this chance to surface. With a slow swallow, she lifted her head again, her magnificent golden eyes shimmering like sunlight on water.
"I've never known what it is to be wanted. My whole life I've been all by myself, walking alone on my wretched path of cold logic and dormant feelings. That was how I thought I was meant to be, forever lonely and unattached, never loving nor loved. And as much as I desired a family, I knew that I could never ever have one, for who could possibly care for a loathsome freak like myself?" She bowed her head a touch, her voice on the verge of cracking. After sniffing twice to stem the emotional geyser threatening to erupt inside her, she bravely faced them again and continued in a choked whisper.
"Yurika, Akito, what you are offering me now is everything my heart has ever yearned for. A real family, a proper home and a final end to my days of caged solitude. I…I love you both and if you'll truly have me as a daughter then I promise you that I'll spend the rest of my life repaying your kindness,"
"So then you'll…?"Akito gasped, trailing off in wonder.
Ruri nodded, her whole heart in the motion. "Yes. I will be yours if you will be mine."
She couldn't say any more, for on the final word her face crumpled up, releasing the first gleaming tears from her eyes. They rolled down her cheeks slowly, leaving silvery trails in their wake as they descended to touch the edge of her trembling lips. Then, at the very moment they dropped off her chin, she doubled over and covered her face with her hands, melting in the face of emotions never encountered before now.
"Oh Ruri," gasped Yurika, awestruck by her words. "Oh my dear Ruri! Come here!" She launched forward to catch the tiny girl in her arms, drawing her close and kissing her lovingly on the cheek. Ruri wept freely into her shoulder, clinging onto her with love that had been repressed her whole life until now. The depth of her sobs told of the vast longing within her, finally fulfilled tonight after so, so long. That essential need of a child for her parents and for the security, faith and unconditional love they provided. That most precious bond that no child can be happy without.
"I…I," Ruri tried in vain to produce proper words, but found herself incapable of speaking them. Yurika gently stroked her back, soothingly shushing her as she pressed her face into the child's silken hair. No words were needed now, only these tears could convey the depth of meaning this had for the tiny albino girl. Her mental dam had finally been breached and now her emotions gushed forth in an unstoppable torrent, smoothly sweeping away the barriers which had once kept sealed them inside her. Like a princess in a tower, she'd only needed love for her true self to awaken.
Another pair of arms encircled both of them and though her vision was blurred, Ruri could tell that they belonged to the most special man in her life. Akito Tenkawa, the knight who would become her father. She lashed out with her right arm, hooking onto his mid-section so that together they formed a three-way embrace, a verification of their union. Ruri held onto both of them with a most possessive passion. They were hers now. They were her Mama and Papa. And not just in name, but in every other way too. For though they weren't tied to her by blood, they cared about her enough to invite her to share in the heavenly bliss they'd found in each other. Their hearts had chosen her to be their daughter and playing that role would make her a happier girl than she had ever been.
"I have a family! Yurika is my Mother and Akito is my Father. Finally, I have two people I can call my own. Two real parents after so much time and heartache. It's…just too perfect for words to say."
Ruri's ecstasy reached a peak as both her parents, one each side, gently touched their lips to her cheeks. She could tell that they were both as elated as she was – she could feel both of them quivering in rapture against her body and her shoulders were moist with their tears. Yurika hugged her with soft motherly warmth and tenderness, while Akito's embrace was firm and protective, but with a base of pure love for the two special girls who were now the foundation of his life. They all clutched each other with strength enhanced by adoration, their bodies as close as the divine tie they now shared.
There is nothing so beautiful as the feeling of love confirmed. In that room, the most wonderful of all emotions ran unbridled and tears of joy fell like raindrops from heaven. Today a family had been created – Father, Mother and Daughter. Three souls bound together by the strength of their love for each other – it was as true a union as there could ever be. It was in that magical moment, where three became one, that everyone heard a new sound. A sound which had never graced the air with its presence. A sound beautiful, joyful and easy on the ear. A sound more perfectly musical than the sweetest of melodies. For the sound they heard was Ruri, laughing in joy for the very first time.
And it wasn't to be the last time either.
