Ha, looks like I survived this month! *crickets chirp* Damn! Not again! Now I get to survive midterms, which are probably easier than research papers, for me anyway. I hope there are still some people who will read this.
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The plane finally landed. Kei sighed and giggled when Tasuki went running off the plane onto solid ground.
"Why didn't you say we were going over water?" He looked incredibly annoyed and pale.
"I thought you knew." Kei shrugged. "And if I told you, you probably wouldn't have gone." She picked up her bags from the luggage claim.
He growled softly. Kei smiled and thought of how much he could act like a wolf. His bandit nickname suited him well. She thought back to her own wolf, Huan-Lang, who was being cared for by Hikari for the time they were there. She turned to see Jason coming through the door. He looked paler than Tasuki.
"Jason, are you alright?"
"I'll be fine…" He muttered. "Stupid plane ride…"
Kei suddenly realized something. "Oh yeah, you hate water too…"
"Ya think? I only spent the first 15 years of my life in the mountains. People from the mountains aren't supposed to like water…" He glared at Kei.
Tasuki elbowed Nuriko. "Told ya…" 'Nuriko gave me so much grief on the plane about my fear of water. Hopefully now that Jason has the same reason, she'll leave me alone about it…'
Taki pulled her bags off the luggage thing. "Hey Kei?"
"Huh?"
"Can you take my stuff to the hotel? I have something I need to do."
"Uh…sure. What do you need to do?"
"I'm gonna go visit my mom. It's been a while and I want to see how she is."
"I thought you kept in touch with her…"
"By phone yeah, but it's been a while since I've seen her, ya know?"
"Yeah, I get it. Have fun."
"Thanks…" Taki pulled out her wallet and checked to her how much money she had. "Well, I gotta go get a cab." She headed for the doors, and then stopped. "Hotohori?"
"Yes?"
"Will you come with me? I'm a little nervous."
"Of course." He followed her out the doors.
She hailed a cab and she and Hotohori got in. "Where to, lady?" She gave him the address her mother had last given her.
It was a short drive to the condo Saori had said she was living in.
"Is this the place?"
"Yeah, I think so…she's supposed to be in room 657. Let's go…" She and Hotohori went through the glass doors and into the elevator.
"What floor?"
"6th…"
Hotohori, Taki and the elevator operator stood in silence for the duration of the short ride. They left the elevator and Hotohori looked back at the door.
"Is that all he does all day?"
"Yep, you couldn't pay me enough to do that. It seems like such a boring job…" She looked at a few of the numbers. "Here's the last address she gave me." Taki tentatively rang the doorbell.
"Can I help you?" Taki gasped when a tall middle-aged brunette man answered.
"Ah…um…you…you're not my mother…I think I have the wrong room…I'm really sorry…" Taki blushed.
The man scratched his head. "Who are you looking for? I know just about everyone in the building."
"I was looking for Saori Matsumoto. I really am sorry…"
"No, no…it's alright actually. You have the right room…"
"I do?" Taki looked at Hotohori. He shrugged.
"John? Who's there? Is it important?" A distinctly feminine voice came from inside.
"Yeah. I think it is anyway. You have visitors." The man, his name obviously John, called back to the woman.
"Oh alright…" A woman who looked almost exactly the same as Taki only not as tall and with much shorter hair came into the doorway.
"Mom?" Taki stated at the woman.
"Oh Taki! Oh my goodness! What brings you here? With a man no less." Saori stared at Hotohori.
"Ah…I decided to come and visit while we were here with Lily." She smiled slightly.
"Oh my goodness, how is Lily? She must be going through hell right now. Her arrival back here has the attention of every news station around. Kei as well, how have all of you been?"
"Lily's been on edge a lot lately, I think she'll be okay though… Kei's…well, like she's always been. Umm…did I come at a bad time?" She looked at the man next to her mother. "Should I have called 1st?"
"No, no, not at all. John and I were just thinking about making plans for the evening. Come in both of you. I'm curious as to who you are, young man."
"My name is Hotohori Seishuku."
"Well, it's nice to meet you Hotohori. I suppose you already know who I am."
"Yes ma'am."
"Now that you've met my boyfriend, Mom, who's yours?" She looked a little annoyed with Saori.
"I'm John Davenport. So you're the famous Taki. You're mother talks about you a lot." He offered his hand to her.
"Funny…she's never once said anything about you." She shook hands with him. "Nice to meet you though."
Saori blushed. "Never said anything did I? Hmm…how did that happen? Why don't I get something to drink? Please, make yourselves comfortable." She hurried into the kitchen.
The three sat down in the living room. Taki stared at John. "So Mr. Davenport, are you dating my mother?"
"I suppose some people would call it dating. We got out on the weekends or whenever we have time."
"How long?"
"A few months maybe, 3 or 4 I'd say." Saori came back in with drinks for everyone.
Taki glanced up at her mother. "So Mom, how is it that you've been going out with Mr. Davenport for so long and I don't hear anything about it?"
"Well, I wasn't sure what you'd think of me dating again…"
"Am I supposed to have something against it? You can make decisions for yourself. If you want to date, I don't have a problem with it."
John looked at Saori. "Since Taki's fine with it, you should tell her."
"Tell me what?" Taki looked a little worried.
Saori held out her hand and blushed. "We're getting married at the end of the year…"
Taki looked at her mother, shocked, and blinked a few times. "Married? It's not that I'm not happy for you, but after only a couple of months? Don't you think it's a little soon?" She stared at the ring.
"I know…it does seem a little soon, but I know it's going to work this time."
Taki looked at Hotohori when her mother said 'this time.' Though Saori didn't know it, Taki knew what she meant. She looked at her mother again. "Just when were you planning on telling me? I don't see why you wanted to keep this from me…"
Saori sat next to John and he took her hand in his. "Well honey, I was worried what you'd think about me marrying again since I haven't dated or anything since your father died…"
Taki looked at the floor. 'She still tries…after all this time she can still say that with a straight face…' "Mom…even considering that, you deserve to be happy. I don't want to stand in the way if this is really what you want…"
Saori lifted her daughter's head. "You're taking this better than I thought…"
"I dealt with what happened my own way. It doesn't bother me anymore…"
"Then maybe I should tell you something else…"
Taki glanced over at Hotohori. He reached for her hand and nodded.
"What is it Mom?"
"That day…that I told your father was dead…I lied…he didn't die. He's still very much alive."
Taki took a deep breath. She was about to destroy all her mother's beliefs that she had hid her daughter from the truth. "I know…" Her voice cracked, as if was on the verge of tears.
"Y…you what?" Saori was blown away.
Taki felt tears fall onto her hand. "I know he's not dead…I mean, I know he didn't die when I was 4…"
"How could you?" She felt back into a chair.
"I saw him leave…I heard him say he wouldn't be back…" More tears began to fall.
"Why…why didn't you tell me?"
"What was I supposed to say? 'Mom, I'm sorry…I know my father didn't love us enough to stay and all your attempts to hide it were for nothing?' Is that what you wanted to hear?" She sounded angrier than she meant to.
Saori was taken aback a bit. "I'm…not sure what to say…"
"I'm sorry Mom, I didn't mean to snap…" Taki buried her face in her hands.
John looked up at Hotohori and motioned towards the kitchen with his head. They both knew the women needed some privacy. Hotohori followed John into the other room. Both men stood in silence for a bit, listening to Taki and Saori talking and crying.
"Did you know?" John stared at him again.
"About her father?"
"Yes."
"Yeah…" Hotohori fidgeted with his watch.
"How long?"
"A few months. About as long as I've known her."
"Funny…Saori said Taki was a private person who didn't talk about her life much."
"Well, she was…let's just say I was incredibly persistent when it came to being with Taki."
"Was she that stubborn?"
"Yes…"
"Sounds just like her mother…"
"Really?"
"Yes. It took me at least 5 months to get Saori to notice me."
"Apple doesn't fall far from the tree, thank goodness." Hotohori smiled.
"I'll have to agree with you there." John picked up his beer and offered him one. "Drink?"
"No thank you. I think I'll have to drive us back to the hotel after this. I don't think Taki will be able to drive after this."
"I must say, you're incredibly devoted to her."
"I am…I love her more than anything. It must sound weird, me telling you how much I care about your girlfriend's daughter after we just met, but I do."
John smiled warmly. "Sometimes it's easier to talk about things like love to people you don't know and who don't know you."
Saori stared at her daughter for a long time. "Taki…I'm really sorry I didn't tell you sooner…I didn't know how."
"I know…it's just that…there's no way anyone can just say something like that. I understand why you did it, I just wish it hadn't happened…"
Saori hugged her daughter. "So do I, honey…so do I…"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jason tossed his bag into his hotel room. He was standing in the middle of the room, looking around like he was lost. Nuriko came in from across the hall.
"Jason, are you alright?" She looked concerned.
He snapped out of his trance-like state. "Yeah…yeah…I'm fine." He looked at her. "Nothing's wrong…"
"Are you sure? After you got off the plane, you got started to distance yourself a little…"
"I know…Sorry…I was just thinking…this is the last time I'm gonna be over here. Maybe I'm getting homesick before I even leave…" He laughed a little bitterly.
"Are you sure you want to leave then?"
"Nuriko, you don't know how long I've wanted to get away from these people." He stood by the window, watching a few people he knew walking down the street. "Even now, after 13 years, I still hear about how sorry people are for what happened to my family. They aren't sorry…none of them…" His eyes narrowed. "They don't understand what it's like to lose someone you love…"
Nuriko took his hand in hers. "I understand."
"You do?" 'Who could she have lost?'
"I lost my sister when I was little…it was so sudden…I never really even got to say goodbye. I knew she was sick, but all I did was go out to the store…then when I came back…she was gone…" Nuriko felt her eyes tearing at the thought of her lost sister.
"You never told me…"
"I know…I don't like talking about it." She rested her head on his arm.
"Understandable…" He murmured and pulled her close. He pondered a few things in his head. 'Should I really believe her? I mean, she and the others already gave me that bizarre story about Ko-something that I don't really believe, but it's too hard to lie about losing a member of your family…'
They stood in the calm silence of the room for a few moments. Nuriko turned her head slightly and listened to Jason's heartbeat. It was soothing. She began to close her eyes.
"Do I look like a bed to you?" His teasing voice suddenly got her attention.
She blushed. "Sorry…"
"I didn't say I minded…" He smiled and kissed her cheek lightly. "Let's go, Kei and Tasuki are waiting in the lobby." He offered his hand to her.
"Right…" She took it and left the room with him to go downstairs. As they entered the lobby, Chichiri and Lily entered through the front doors.
Kei ran to Lily. "Lily, are you alright? You look like you've been crying…"
"I was… I'm okay now though…" Lily sighed.
"Why don't you go wash up, then we'll go walk around?" Jason offered.
"Sounds good. I'll be back in a second." She hurried up to her room.
Chichiri pulled Tasuki off to the side while Kei talked with Jason and Nuriko. "Tasuki, so you believe in ghost and spirits, no da?"
"Why?"
"I think I saw Lily's parents when we went to the cemetery, no da." He looked a little pale.
"But her parents are…oh…you think you saw their spirits?"
"I'm not totally sure…I thought I heard them talking to me as well, no da…"
"Well, you are the most spiritual one of us…if spirits and things like that really do exist, you'd be the one to see them."
"I suppose, no da…"
"What did they say to you? You said you thought you heard them speak to you."
"They wanted me to take care of Lily…and said that they could rest knowing she's happy, no da…"
Tasuki stared at Chichiri for a bit. "Don't you think you might have been hallucinating?"
"I don't think so, no da…" He frowned. "I was sure I heard their voices…"
"Well…did you ask Lily?"
"No…I didn't want to say anything to her, no da…"
"Do you think she's react badly?"
"Probably. I mean, they were her parents, so she probably be upset that she didn't see them, no da…"
"Then…I guess it's better not to say anything…" They stood in silence for a moment.
Kei suddenly popped up. "Hey! We're ready to go!"
Both men screamed. Tasuki glared. "Why the hell did you do that?"
She smiled shrugged. "Just felt like it. Sorry."
Tasuki rolled his eyes. "Whatever…' 'This is the woman I love because…?' He watched her join Taki and Hotohori who had just come back in. Kei was standing in a sunbeam coming from the window. As she moved, the light filtered through her dark hair giving her an angelic look. 'Oh…yeah…' He shook his head slightly and began walking towards them with Chichiri.
"You know Tasuki, it would be so much easier on the both of you if you just told her, no da…" He glanced at his friend.
"It would…but I'm…I can't…"
Chichiri shook his head. "I won't judge, no da…"
Tasuki said nothing as the group stood together. It was still early in the afternoon and they planned to have fun until Lily and Jason had to go to a will reading at 6:00. All of Lily's loose ends would soon be tied and she hoped she could leave behind her past for the last time. They all decided to go downtown.
Kei walked silently next to Tasuki. She didn't particularly enjoy being in the part of town they were in. She constantly looked around as if she was expecting to see someone. Tasuki glanced down at her.
"Somethin' wrong?"
"N…no, nothing. I was just looking around. Been a while since I've been here. Things have changed a lot."
He raised an eyebrow. Something didn't sound right about her tone of voice. It was more of a worried town than an 'I want to see what's changed' tone. He dismissed it and continued looking around the strange town. He'd never really been in such a big city.
Their trip around town was fun: they went to stores everywhere, ate whatever they wanted and overall acted like tourists in a city they technically had lived in at some time or another. Later, Kei excused herself to go to the bathroom.
As she left the bathroom, a young man approached her.
"Kei, is that you? It's been awhile…"
She stared at the tall, dishwater blonde man. His hair was shorter than Jason's and slightly gelled back. "Derek…hi…"
"What brings you back here? I though you weren't coming back…"
"I had something to take care of…"
"It has to do with that friend, Daisy or whatever right?"
"Lily…not Daisy…" Kei turned away from him.
"Whatever…how long you stayin'?"
"Not long. We're leaving as soon as possible."
He grabbed her arm. "You know…you don't have to. You could stick around here with me."
Kei yanked her arm away from him. "Don't touch me."
"You never used to mind." He came closer.
"That was a long time ago. We aren't together anymore." She began walking away quickly.
"Come on…it wasn't that long ago."
She frowned. "Long enough."
He followed her. "Please Kei, I know I screwed up before, but we can try again can't we?"
"No! There's someone else!" She turned and yelled at him.
He looked shocked. "Who?!?!"
"Me." Tasuki appeared from around a corner. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" He stepped between Kei and Derek.
"It's none of your business."
"Yes, it is." Tasuki shoved Derek backwards. "When you mess with her, you deal with me."
"Kei, is he serious?" He glared at her.
"Yes." She moved closer to Tasuki.
Derek suddenly lunged at him. Tasuki avoided the swing and landed one of his own. Tasuki's fist landed square in Derek's jaw. He was knocked down to the floor. Tasuki towered over the floored man. He looked menacing in his black duster and heavy black boots.
"Stay away from her." Tasuki frowned at him and turned to Kei. "Let's go."
She quickly scurried to him. "Thanks Tasuki."
He took her hand as they continued walking. "Any time…by the way, who was that?" He looked back as a few people helped Derek up.
Kei stared at the ground and sighed. "Just another part of the past come to make me miserable…"
Tasuki tightened his grip on her hand. "You're just full of bad history, aren't you?"
"Yeah…but someday, I'll fix it. I'll get myself out of all the shit I'm in…"
Tasuki smiled. "At least you want to…most people just live in whatever conditions they have and don't try to fix it…"
"I know…" Kei stared up at Tasuki. He was looking down at her. "What?"
"Nothing…" They walked in silence as their friends came into view.
Jason silently took note of how Kei and Tasuki simultaneously let go of each other as they came closer to the group. He sighed. Normally, he considered himself a cold person, but not when it came to Lily and any of her friends. He hated seeing Kei like this. In his mind, he contemplated locking the both of them in a closet and not letting them out until all was said and done…but he decided against that.
Nuriko tugged at Jason's sleeve. "Are you thinking about them?"
"Yeah…" He murmured.
"Kinda sad, isn't it?" Nuriko watched Taki badger Kei with questions about where she'd been and why it took so long.
"Yep…"
"Can you give me a more than one word long answer?"
He shrugged. "Dunno…"
Nuriko sighed. "Come on now, stop it."
"Sorry. I just…I never thought I'd get so upset of the fact that Kei's so unhappy."
"Jason…it's not a crime to care about someone. You looked out for all three of them growing up. Like it or not, you'll always care about them."
"Ah…I guess you're right." He scratched his head. "But anyway…we should get back to the hotel. We have to go to the will reading soon."
Lily sighed. "Shit…I don't wanna do this…"
"Don't have a choice now, do we?" Jason shrugged.
"No…" Lily shook her head and the group headed back to the hotel.
About half an hour later, Lily and Jason came out of their rooms dressed in like-like attire. Lily wore a white silk blouse, knee length black skirt and black heels. Jason wore black slacks and a pure white dress shirt. He was finishing putting on his tie as he walked out of his room.
"You ready?" He looked at Lily.
"I guess…" She followed him to the end of the hall Chichiri and Nuriko were waiting there. Chichiri stared at Lily.
"Are you sure you don't want me to come with, no da?"
Lily nodded slightly. "Chichiri, you've been there for me through everything I've done lately, but this is something I need to do on my own. I have to learn to rely on myself…it isn't fair to you if I drag you into all my problems."
"Who said you were dragging me?" He pulled her close. "You never said I had to do everything I have, no da. I'd do anything for you, Lily. I love you."
She smiled for the first time all day. "Chichiri…thank you." She rested her head on his shoulder. He gently ran his hand through her hair. She sighed contentedly.
Jason stood with Nuriko for a moment. Nuriko wrapped her arms around his neck. "You gonna be okay?"
"In time… They say time heals all wounds. I'm counting on it."
She kissed him. "I'll be waiting here, okay?"
"Okay…"
Chichiri and Nuriko watched Lily and Jason walk into the elevator and go down stairs. They walked back to Hotohori's room where everyone else was.
Kei looked up when they entered the rooms. "Did they leave?"
"Yes, no da."
"How did they seem?"
"Pretty shaken, no da."
Kei sighed as she turned her self upside down on the couch. "So what are we supposed to do now? Just wait?"
"What else can we do?" Taki sat on the arm of chair Hotohori was in.
Everyone let out a collective sigh. It didn't seem right. Was it right to let your friends go through the hardest part of their lives alone, even if they said so?
Time passed. At least an hour of silence went by before Kei suddenly flipped herself off the couch and stood up.
"That's it! I've had it!"
"What?" Hotohori looked confused.
"I don't know about all of you, but I'm going to the court house! I'm not gonna sit here while my friend…and Jason…are going through this! Why the hell are we sitting around while they do this?" She looked flustered.
Chichiri stood up. "Kei's right, no da! We shouldn't just be sitting here."
Everyone got up. Kei was right. It was stupid to sit there. They all unanimously made the decision to go to the courthouse. They went to the old building and found out where Lily and Jason were. They quietly entered an area for the public and press in the back of the room.
Lily looked up from a paper she was holding at one point. She noticed all of them sitting in the back. She sighed slightly. 'My friends…they have to be the most stubborn people on the planet.' She smiled. 'Won't listen to a word I say and I'm actually glad they won't…' She discreetly poked Jason and nodded with her head towards them.
Jason looked up at them. He saw Nuriko first. He smiled and looked over at Lily. Things were a little less somber all of a sudden. Lily and Jason both snapped back to attention when the judge cleared his throat.
Everyone listened intently as the judge began reading the final requests of Lily's parents. "This is the last will and testament of Annette and Anthony Reddinbaour. 'If. God forbid, tragedy should befall us and leave out daughter without us, we leave all our earthly belongings to Alana. When she comes of age, she may collect what is rightfully hers. She may use or dispose of anything and everything.
"'Jeff, Carol, we entrusted our little girl to the two of you if anything should happen to us. If you are reading this, we can only hope you did so.
"'Jason, you weren't our nephew by blood, but it didn't matter. You were always with Alana when you were kids, we hope you always will.
"'We only want what's best for our daughter Alana. We hope she will forgive us for leaving her and live as best she can.
"'Anthony and Annette Reddinbaour'
"A short will, but a clear, concise one. Alana is now the owner of all the money, property and possessions that her parents accumulated over the years." The judge set down the papers.
Everyone sat in silence. No one really knew what to say. Jason looked over at Lily. Her hands were folded in her lap and she was looking down. He noticed her trembling, like she was about to cry and holding it. He knew that was like her. He had come to accept that Lily really only showed her emotions around Chichiri now. He had been hurt at first, he used to be the only one she would talk to, but now, he knew and accepted the fact that someone else had taken his place as Lily's confidant. He slowly reached over and squeezed her hand.
She looked up at him with tearful eyes. "Thanks…" She softly whispered.
"No problem…" He gave her a small smile.
The judge looked up. "This concludes the session. Miss Alana has as much time to think about what to do with her new property."
Lily slowly scanned the room. She was surrounded by people she cared for, people she used to care for and others she didn't even know. People began leaving the room, whispers of what would be done with the property buzzed through the air. She tried to listen to what they were saying. Some thought she'd keep it, others figured she sell it. But it didn't matter to her. She knew what she'd do with it all. There were only a few things she actually wanted. A box of her parents' things, a carefully decorated wooden box she always wanted, personal things. She didn't care about money, property or status. It all meant nothing to her. She'd just let her aunts and uncles have the rest. She wanted to go home, that was all. She looked at Jason.
"You ready to go?" He stood up.
"Yeah. I was ready to leave the moment we got here." She stood up and smoothed her skirt.
"Alright then." The two quietly slipped away from Jeff and Carol, who were busy with press people.
Nuriko hugged Jason when they finally got out into the parking lot. Lily leaned on Chichiri. She was tired.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lily's POV
Could I be under any more stress? This has got to be the worst time of my life. I just want to go home? Is that so hard? Kei was watching me.
"Lily, are you gonna be okay? You looked like you were gonna cry in there…"
"I'll be okay someday. I just want to sleep right now." Chichiri helped me into the back of Kei's rented car. My head was pounding. I saw Jason in Taki's rented car, he looked like he was under less stress than me. But then again, he isn't the new owner of his dead parents' property. He doesn't have to deal with what I have to.
I fell asleep on Chichiri's shoulder as we went back to the hotel.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Dream Sequence~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Mommy? Daddy? Are you here?" Lily found herself in a white room filled with mist. There was nothing around.
"Alana…you've grown up so much…" A woman in a long white dress approached her.
"Mommy? Is that you?" Lily began to reach for her.
"Yes, honey. It's me."
"Is…is Daddy here?" Lily began to look around.
"He's around here somewhere. You know him, he's always wandering around."
Lily smiled. That was her father. He had been a very absent minded person. "What's going on? Are we in my head?"
"You always did think quickly." Her mother smiled. "You're exactly right."
"Oh…" She was disappointed.
"Why do you look so down, hon?" A tall man walked in on Annette's right.
"Daddy…I…I guess I was just hoping it wasn't a dream…"
"Honey, we are dead…" Anthony sat his daughter in a chair that seemed to come from out of the mist.
"I know…you…you don't blame me for that, do you?" She felt her eyes tearing, even if it was a dream.
"Blame you? Why on earth would we do that?" Annette looked shocked.
"Because I…"
"Because you were so mad at us? Alana, we did forget something that was very important to you…you had every right to be mad at us."
"But I told you both I hated you…I never got to say I was sorry or how much I did care. Now look at me. I own everything you worked so hard for. I don't deserve it and I don't want it. I just want to go home." Lily wept into her hands.
Annette knelt in front of Lily. "Alana, listen to me. You had nothing to do with the fact that we died. Please understand that. Please say you understand."
"I…I understand."
"Things happen for a reason. If we hadn't died, you never would have met Kei and Taki, you wouldn't be as close to Jason as you are, you never would have met Chichiri…" Annette took her shocked daughter's hands. "You wouldn't have the life you do now."
"How'd you know about him?"
"Hon, we've been watching you since we died. You've certainly led an interesting life since we've died." Anthony rested a hand on her shoulder.
"Oh…so you know how much he's helped me…"
"Yes. We're happy you finally found someone you could feel comfortable with." Annette smiled.
"Mom? Dad?"
"Yes?"
"Did dying hurt?" She looked at her parents.
"No, not really. It really doesn't feel like anything, then there's just this overwhelming sense of peace. Death is not something to be scared of." Anthony shrugged.
Lily stared at her hands. They began to fad a bit. "I think I'm waking up…"
"Yes. You are. Alana…Lily, just please remember, we're at peace now and you should do your best to be at peace as well. You seem to have found a place you belong, be happy."
"I will. I promise. Chichiri helped me come to terms with you leaving on a conscious plane, now my subconscious is clear, I think." Lily stood up and saw herself fading more. "Bye, Mom. Bye Dad. Thanks." She faded into the mist of the room, crying softly as she watched her parents wave to her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~End*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I woke up suddenly. Chichiri was taping me slightly.
"Lily? Are you okay, no da?"
"What? Yeah, I'm good." I stepped out of the car. I guess seeing my parents in a dream shook me up. I carefully made my way back to my room. I walked into the room and shut off the lights and pulled the shades. The room was pitch black, I liked it. I found the bed and fell face first into it.
Do I have my peace?
Have I really come to accept it?
I never thought I would…
But I did…
Because of him…
Chichiri…
You've helped me so much…
I couldn't do it with out you…
I wouldn't be here if you weren't…
The only one who truly understands and loves me…
"You're the only one…" I spoke thinking no one was around.
"Who, no da?"
I jumped off the bed. Chichiri had come in. When? When I was thinking too hard… "Nothing…" I could see him approach me in the darkness. I sat back down. My night vision is better than I though.
"You sure, no da?"
"Hmmm…I guess. Chichiri?"
"Yes?"
"Do you believe spirits live even after death?"
"Why?"
"When I fell asleep in the car, I saw my mom and dad."
"Really?" His voice was surprised.
"Yeah…they told me to be happy and they were glad I found you…"
"They knew about me, no da?" Once again, his voice feigned surprise. He wasn't telling me something.
"Yeah…" I felt the bed move in the darkness. Chichiri was now next to me, very close.
"Anything is possible in dreams, no da…"
"I suppose…but there's something you aren't telling me Chichiri…isn't there?"
"What?"
"When I said I saw my parents, you sounded surprised, but it was fake. I can tell."
"Well…when we went to the cemetery, I thought I saw them, no da…"
"Really?" Was that why he had looked pale?
"Yes, no da. There asked me to watch over you…"
I laid back, staring at the black ceiling. "Watch over me, huh? That's so like them." I smiled. "Always wanting me to be watched." I guess I don't mind anymore. It use to be annoying, I guess it just isn't anymore.
Chichiri laid with me on the bed. "You aren't mad, no da?"
I turned in his direction. "Mad? Why? 'Cause you didn't tell me?"
"Yes."
"No. I probably would have freaked if you had told me." I carefully reached for his face, making sure not to poke him.
He pulled me closer by the waist. "You sure, no da?"
"Yeah…" I smiled in the darkness. His being near was so comforting. My eyes were starting to close. I didn't want to sleep yet.
"You tired…" It was a statement, not a question.
"A little." I curled closer to him. "But I don't wanna sleep yet…"
"You should sleep anyway, no da. You're going to have a lot of work to do."
"Yeah…I guess." I was still in my skirt and blouse, but I didn't care. They'd probably be ruined in the morning. Oh well, not like I wear clothes like these often. I closed my eyes completely and began to fall asleep. "I love you Chichiri…" Those were the last words from my mouth as I finally drifted off in his arms.
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That was really long. Longer than I thought. I was writing this while I was doing my paper, so that might have had some effect on it. I hope people are actually reading this. I've been gone so long, some of you might have totally lost interest.
Okay, um…let's see here…for those who still care, the 1st part of the next chapter will finish off Taki, Lily and Jason's problems then I will begin working up to Kei and Tasuki's confession. I don't think it'll take too much longer.
~*~Shadow Hawk~*~