Just what was Kiyoni planning for this day? All Shuuichi wanted to do was help out in cleaning up the sanctuary, return to his underground smokehouse, and drown himself in marijuana smoke and sorrow. Kiyoni was not going to let that happen. She didn't want that to happen. What she wanted to do was give Shuuichi something he has been yearning for ever since she first met him and she was going to do that today.

The area, Takiyama. The ward, Higashikurume. The place, Tokyo Coffee Roastery Cafe. A place where organically-raised, roasted coffee is the norm. It says so on the storefront window. Lunchtime hours meant things were a little busy as just about every table in the spot was occupied. It had a winehouse look and feel to it with the hint of a small warehouse. Shelves of ready-to-brew coffee beans covered the area in its pure aroma. Just inhaling would make anyone get a caffeinated contact high. The mark of a true coffee shop. However, despite the vibes and the people, what Kiyoni focused on as she escorted Shuuichi to the shop was a lone woman sitting at a booth in the corner of the storefront. The woman looked to be in her mid-to-late forties, had long, jet-black hair with a few strands of gray tied neatly into a bun. She wore little makeup and was dressed in an aqua-green, ruffled dress shirt with a black, pencil skirt that reached below her knees. She sat alone reading a book and enjoyed an afternoon espresso by the time the couple showed up.

"Kiyoni, will you please tell me where we're going," Shuuichi insisted, "You were like this on our second date."

"Damn, you remember that?"

"It was Club Morningstar. How could I forget?"

"Ohhhhh, you're right. Okay, okay. I'll confess," Kiyoni peeked over, "See that woman behind me?"

"Which one?"

"The one in the…green shirt. Reading a book?"

"Yes. What about her?"

Kiyoni nervously sighed, "I don't know how to…explain it to you so I'm just gonna come out with it. Remember Nagoya?"

"Yes. I met your family there."

"Yeah, well…I, eh, did some things for you…while we were there."

"Like what?"

"Well, I told you that my father was a hematologist, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, while we were in Nagoya, I asked my dad if he could do something for me which was, in turn, something for you."

"And that was…?"

"Well…" Kiyoni twiddled her fingers, "I asked him to go on a hunt for me…and he said he needed something from you in order to do that. He needed your DNA so...I gave him your DNA…from your hair."

"What on earth…? Kiyoni, why would you do something like that? How could you do something like that? Without my permission, no less! I do have a right to privacy, you know."

"I know, I know. Let me explain, okay? So after I gave him your DNA–"

"Without my permission."

"Yes, without your permission. Anyway, he got to work on my request. It took some time and well…long story short, that woman and I have been in constant contact until now."

"Who is she and what exactly did you need my DNA for?"

"Shuuichi…I needed your DNA to find something, someone you've been looking for, for years. Ever since you were born, basically. Suu'chi…that woman over there is who you've been looking for. I needed your DNA to find her because…she's your mother."

Shuuichi was in shock, in total disbelief. As he observed the woman's every move, he nearly dropped the bouquet of fresh lilies and roses he had in his hand. He couldn't believe neither his eyes nor Kiyoni. Was this the woman he had been yearning for ever since his involuntary departure from his mother's arms? Kiyoni went through so much trouble to bring Shuuichi to this very moment and he didn't know what to say or do.

"That woman…is my mother?"

"Yes. Her name is Hatanaka Shiori. Formerly known as Minamino Shiori. She remarried some time ago. Has a stepson who is also named Shuuichi. She runs a trading business with her husband."

"My father? He–"

"I'm sorry, Suu'chi. He passed when you were a child. Your mother went through years of depression after that."

"I can…I can imagine," Shuuichi suddenly grew nervous, "Wait. I can't allow her to see me like this. What if she doesn't recognize me? What if I scare her away? Kiyoni, I wasn't a yokai when I was born, wasn't like this. I was just as human as she is. This is a mistake. This is all a mistake. Perhaps, this wasn't a good time for any of this. I don't think I'm ready for this. Kiyoni, I—"

Kiyoni assured Shuuichi by engulfing his face in her hands, "Could you…could…for once, stop being so adorable? As much as I understand how you're feeling right now, Shuuichi, it's okay. Trust me. It's okay. Believe it or not, she didn't believe me either. She wasn't convinced until she saw the news reports about your case. I've been explaining everything to her ever since. She wants to see you, Shuuichi. She wants to see her son again. Her first and only born child. Remember what you told me about my dad?"

"No. What did I say?"

"You said that he may be happy that he has his mom and brother with him but he would be even happier to be with the family he created. Think about her. For the better part of over two decades, she thought she had lost the family she created. Could you imagine how happy she would be once she finds out she didn't?"

Shuuichi glanced over at his mother once again with Kiyoni's words on replay. She was right. Shiori would be ecstatic to learn of her son's existence. Yokai or not, Shiori was Shuuichi's mother and he couldn't wait to be reunited with her.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Very. I would not have gone through all this trouble just to do the opposite."

"But why? Why would you?"

"Because I wanted you to feel complete with yourself, Suu'chi. Now that Shinobu is no longer with us, you need a new foundation. Why not start with the one you were born with? You were there when I reconnected with my family. I wanted to return the favor."

If he wasn't so out in the open, Shuuichi would've cried right where he stood, "You have no idea how much of an angel you truly are."

Kiyoni responded with a smile, "Thank you. Now, let's go."

Inside the store, Kiyoni took the lead in introducing herself to Shiori. Shiori truly is a mother at heart. A loving smile, a peaceful aura, and a welcoming embrace. The moment she noticed Shuuichi, she froze. Shuuichi did as well, adjusting his funeral suit. All he could think about was the ears and tail that he had. He didn't have those over twenty years ago. If Shiori ran away from that alone, the entire moment would be ruined. Kiyoni stood behind them both, anxious for what's to come. She pulled out her phone just in case.

Shiori gently stepped forward towards Shuuichi, eyeing him up and down. Shuuichi stood there with the bouquet in hand, ready to present them. When Shiori got close enough, the only thing she concentrated on was Shuuichi's eyes. They weren't the original green that he was born with. However, it didn't matter to Shiori.

"Hello. An honor to meet you," Shuuichi asked, "Recognize…me?"

"Do you," Shiori asked back, "I was told that a child never forgets its mother's voice."

She went on to hum the song, Edo komoruita. It was a song she used to sing to him during her pregnancy and during his days in the NICU.

Remnants of Kurama's power came through. It was obvious that Shuuichi wasn't going to remember the song but Kurama had access to Shuuichi's memories starting from the latter's first day of life. It was Kurama who brought them forward. The melody triggered faint, nearly-forgotten memories. The type of memories one never knew they had unless triggered somehow. It was at that moment Shuuichi put everything together.

"It's you," he said with tears in his eyes, "It's you. I recognize that voice. That voice has been on my mind…for far too long and I never knew what it belonged to or where it came from."

Another gift from Kurama to Shuuichi. Because of Kurama's access to Shuuichi's memory bank, Kurama would replay the memory of Shiori's song whenever a young Shuuichi felt down and alone. It remained in Shuuichi's mind ever since.

Shiori began to cry as well, "Oh…I hoped you would. My little piece of joy. I thought I'd lost you so long ago. Come here…my son."

Both mother and son embraced like they've never embraced anyone before. Those around them watched with tear-filled eyes as if they were extras in a soap opera. Even Kiyoni wasn't spared. She had gotten so lost in the moment, she nearly dropped her phone twice as it was recording. In fact, Kiyoni was so touched, she actually checked twice to see if her tears were normally clear. They were. Only blackened due to the eyeliner she wore. It was definitely an emotional moment. Afterwards, Kiyoni joined mother and son as they spent the better part of the day getting to know each other. Shiori welled with pride over the life her son had lived and was grateful for Kiyoni's involvement in it. At the same time, Shuuichi was impressed with how his mother was able to break free from the darkness that had plagued her for so long. Her new husband and family, Christianity, and personal therapy were to blame for that. It's amazing how love in any form could conquer so much.

Early evening. All of the flowers that were displayed at Shinobu's funeral were either carted off or given away. Shuuichi kept some of them for the rooftop greenhouse. They looked too good to pass up. Once that was finished, he joined Kiyoni in the basement where she was just rolling up another joint. The humidity of the space was already getting to her hair and was frizzy by the time Shuuichi showed up. She didn't care. It was the end of a long day anyway.

"Ready to light one up," she invited.

"Ladies first."

That's exactly what Kiyoni did. She lit up that joint and went at it. The scent brought back memories.

"Damn, did it always smell this good?"

"Yes, Kiyoni. It did. You don't remember?"

"Remember what?"

"That's the first strain we shared together. Banana kush."

"Get out! It is! Yo, it is! Oh, my–! Wooooooooooow! Has it been that long or have we been smoking too much?"

"...Both."

"Aw, man," Kiyoni collapsed on the couch, "Wow. It has been that long."

"Yes, but…it's been one, crazy ride."

"Yeah. Would you do it again?'

"If it meant you walking into my life…without question. I am a fox, after all. I'm for the chase. How about you?"

"Oh…hell yeah. If it meant hooking up with you and this good-ass green, hell yeah. I couldn't see myself doing anything else. I'm glad I met you."

"As am I. I love you, Ikeda Kiyoni."

"I love you, too, Minamino Shuuichi."

One year later…

It was another rainy season in Japan. A common occurrence, many natives take the wet conditions in stride with many umbrellas and ponchos adorning the streets of the wettest cities, Tokyo included. The weather was perfect for Shuuichi and his gardens. With water conservation tactics in place, he didn't have to worry about anything going dry. The abundance of free water helped his business immensely as he broke down and got to work. The marijuana farm was fine since the rain kept it going strong. It was everything else to attend to. All of the herbs and fruits needed to manufacture his over-the-counter pills, ointments, and tinctures were all priorities.

Due to the blemish on Shuuichi's nearly perfect record, cutting through the red tape in order to sell his products took great work and some serious convincing. It'll take some time to upgrade to the local dispensaries, but around town it was fine so long as it was minimal. To keep up with demand, the congregation of Lighthouse Tokyo banded together to give their deacon a truck to help him make his deliveries throughout Tokyo and the surrounding areas. Forest green in color, equipped with Bluetooth controls, power steering, and WiFi connection, it was perfect. The selling point was the truck bed, wide and deep enough to hold plenty of boxes and up to three people. The final touch to the vehicle were the logos for Lighthouse Tokyo on one side and his business, Foxtail Organics, on the other. Again, it was perfect and Shuuichi was truly grateful.

Shuuichi drove that thing everywhere and with the assistance of some volunteers, was able to make his deliveries to residential areas. Most of his customers were patients recovering from cancer, anxiety, depression, seizures, pet problems, eating disorders, chronic pain, Alzheimer's, vision problems, and mental illness. All of the inventory was sold as either herbal teas, baked goods, or supplements to throw off any prying eyes. What was even more intriguing was the quality and price of his work. It was cheaper than what a medical dispensary would sell for and every piece of his products was organically grown and used. Within months, Shuuichi was feeling good about his work, making roughly twenty percent in total profits. Given his Christian nature, ten percent of that went to the church. It was good. It was all good…for him. Unfortunately, there was one person who felt like the third wheel to it all and Shuuichi knew what to do about it.

On the other hand, Kiyoni was neither naive nor desperate. She knew that once Shuuichi got to work on his business, she and their relationship were going to be on the back burner. Didn't stop her from showing her support. She was there as a product tester. She was there for the production. She helped Shuuichi pack up, load up, and ship his products across town. She even made some deliveries alone while Shuuichi kept working, which was rewarded with either some buds, edibles, or basic affection such as a subtle kiss on the cheek. All the while, Kiyoni wondered when she'll be number one again in Shuuichi's eyes. Not only did she worry about things on Shuuichi's end, she focused on her own plans as she was in the middle of her very first year as a college student studying physiology and working as a dance instructor. That, itself, was a breakthrough due to her age. A college freshman already in their twenties when "tradition" says adults should be either finishing university and/or have chosen their career paths by then? Another social roadblock to crash through. The way things were going between the couple, an outsider would suggest a separation to avoid potential heartbreak and disappointment which was followed through. It was emotionally devastating but they kept some sort of partnership going anyway.

On another rainy day, Shuuichi sat in his room on a work break. On his laptop were multiple tabs on camping sights nearby. Once he found the perfect one, he made the reservation without a second thought. He had a little money to burn and the plans he was making with it were necessary.

We need this. We seriously need this.

A couple of months later, Kiyoni was called to show up at the church campus with an overnight bag and an open mind. The only thought that came to mind was another staycation in the greenhouse so all she had on her were some toiletries, bikinis, hair products, a couple of sex toys, and infused body lotion. She stood by the back entrance of the sanctuary with her bag over her shoulder and an umbrella over her head waiting for Shuuichi to show up. She wore a black, graphic tee and a pair of ripped, dark-wash jeans with black Air-force ones shoes, and a Black Clover hoodie sweatshirt, wondering just what Shuuichi could have up his sleeve.

On the other hand, Shuuichi was excited for what was to come. He didn't display the same level of excitement a child would have, no. He wore his enthusiasm through a smirk to keep both himself and his date calm.

Kiyoni noticed the young man looking comfortable in his gray hoodie jacket, matching jeans, green tee, and simple tennis shoes all underneath a clear umbrella. Judging by the smile on his face, Kiyoni felt slightly relieved that whatever Shuuichi had planned may be fun.

"Hey," she greeted.

"Hello."

"So…another lockdown?"

"Something like that."

"Something like that?"

"I'll get to the point. We need a break, Kiyoni."

"A break? Shuuichi, we're…already on a break," Kiyoni hated admitting that.

"Nonononono! Not that break. No. Though… What I mean is…we need a break from this, from what we've been doing for some time. A break from this greenhouse, the church, school, studying…"

"A break from the greenhouse? Suu'chi, that's like our vacation spot."

"Not this weekend, it isn't. Kiyoni, if I'm not in the sanctuary, I'm in that greenhouse working my butt off to get my business up and running. Not only is it physically draining but it's getting to me mentally as well. I can't keep going without a break from the everyday and I want you to be a part of it. Could the same be said for you?"

Kiyoni nodded, "Of course. I could use a vacation or something."

"More importantly…" Shuuichi reached out for a hand, "I've missed you, missed us."

Kiyoni grabbed that hand and squeezed it like it was a prized possession, "You've noticed?"

"Yes. Not only could I see it but I could also smell it. Our relationship has unfortunately fallen by the wayside and…I observed the moods you've developed from it. Disappointment is the main one, correct?"

Kiyoni nodded again, "Yes. Yes, but we knew this was going to happen. I said it was going to happen but…it hurts, Shuuichi. It really hurts."

"It gets to me too, Kiyoni. So, to make up for lost time, you and I are going on a vacation for a couple of days."

"Where are we going, if not here?"

"When was the last time you went on a camping trip?"

Kiyoni grew wide-eyed, replying, "A camping trip? Wow. Mm…I think…high…school? …S-s-second…year…?"

"Yes, it's been about that long for me as well."

That's a relief, "Oh, praise Ra. I thought I was going to be the weird one. Wait, we're going camping?"

Shuuichi led the way, "That we are. I made reservations for a spot near Lake Yamanaka."

"Ooh…! Where's Lake Yamanaka?"

Shuuichi chuckled, "You'll see. For now, just keep the excitement up."

"Wait! Shuuichi. You should've told me about this ahead of time. I have nothing but beachwear in this bag…unless Lake Yamanaka is…"

"Don't worry. Hopefully, you won't be needing much clothing, where we're going."

Kiyoni flirtatiously bit her tongue after processing Shuuichi's statement. The sensual tone along with the way he coyly delivered those words brought nothing but dirty, dirty thoughts. Sex while camping had never been done before and it was all Kiyoni needed to know. As soon as she saw the newly-installed camper shell with extra attachments, Kiyoni was sold.

Oh, it is so on and poppin'.

Other than the thirty-minute traffic jam out of Tokyo, driving out of the city was relatively easy. The drive nearly reminded Shuuichi of the train ride from Tokyo to Nagoya. As he glanced over at his passenger, he noticed her ability to stay awake for the drive. She looked like a child who was happy to play hooky from school while remaining calm and mature about it. The main reason why was because despite the lush landscape of the open forest preserves, the fog that hovered over them, and the cloudy skies that hung over that, Mount Fuji was her main focal point. One of the country's most popular attractions, it was breathtaking and picturesque with its audience of clouds and sparkles of the sun shining through. Kiyoni's entire demeanor was convincing enough to ensure Shuuichi's validity in his decision making.

Rainfall picked up a little bit once the couple made it to Odakyu Yamanakako Forest Cottage to check in. A couple of cars were leaving the facility by the time Shuuichi made the short jog to the building's entrance leaving Kiyoni to check out her surroundings. A little further up north and behind the parking lot was a salad mix of forestation and mountainous terrain. The jagged landscape didn't look too intimidating if one was to travel by foot but no one would really know since no one has made the trek post construction of the lodge. The building itself had a small, cabin-like resort feel with a souvenir shop and a bicycle parking lot on one side and a patio complete with tables and chairs on the other. Given how much green surrounded the area, Kiyoni wondered if Shuuichi brought any. Sex, smoke, and the sights of Lake Yamanaka and Mount Fuji for a weekend, were all exciting as hell and Kiyoni couldn't wait to get into it.

The truck pulled in backwards to a spot between twenty to thirty feet away from the lake with a 180-degree view of nothing but green. The only addition was the sprinkles of blossoms from a few yoshino cherry trees that made the area its home.

"Wait," Kiyoni cautiously noticed, "Shouldn't you park the other way? How are we going to get back there?"

"Relax. I gave us enough room to move," Shuuichi stepped out of the truck to make some final preparations.

"Suu'chi?"

"Yes?"

"You wouldn't happen to bring some–?"

"Taking care of that now."

Camping mode activated. Attached to the camper shell was an easy-to-assemble tent that pulled out like opening an Amazon package. From there, Shuuichi stepped out with a couple of water containers to collect rainwater. Inside the tent, a dining table for two complete with foldable chairs and dining set were all set up as well. In the corner of the tent were seeds planted inside the damp, fertile soil. What came out of it was enough green to last the couple the next couple of days. The last thing that came out of the camper was a cooler that held enough food and drink for the weekend.

When Kiyoni stepped out to meet him with an umbrella in hand, she was impressed with the spread, stepping through the zipper door, "Holy shit, this is nice. Wait, how are we going to sleep and freshen up?"

Shuuichi answered the question when activated a handheld air pump machine for the air mattress. With some extra padding and the right amount of cover, sleeping arrangements were quickly made. The collected rainwater will be heated using a portable heater to be used for bathing. As far as the other bathroom use…there's nature itself.

"Ta-da."

"Suu'chi…"

"Does my lady approve?"

Kiyoni examined everything from a 360-degree angle, "I approve."

"Excellent. Hop in."

The rain came down at its heaviest by the time the pair got comfortable inside the camper truck. Their clothing and overnight bags occupied the front seats leaving them alone with nothing but the comforter covering their bodies. Freshly sexed and under the influence of an indica hybrid strain, they endured the most relaxing slumber they had ever had. Kiyoni relaxed in the arms of her foxy lover, completely appreciative of his touch. When Shuuichi woke up first, he sweetly drew the phrase "I love you, Kiyoni" in kanji on her left shoulder and arm while reading her facial expressions. She had a look of satisfaction on her face. That orgasm was long overdue and the effects of the green came in a timely fashion. Despite the separation, Shuuichi still had love in his heart for the former succubus. It was the reason why he set up and planned everything in the first place.

"Kiyoni," he whispered, "Kiyoni?"

Kiyoni was fighting against sleep at this point and was losing badly. Forgoing the space, Kurama gave her that work and she welcomed it with an open mind, heart…and legs. She, too, greatly missed the deacon both physically and romantically.

Shuuichi tried again, "Kiyoni…?"

"Hm?!"

"...Hey, beautiful."

"Mm…hi…Suu'chi."

"Feeling better?"

"Yes. Very much."

Shuuichi leaned forward to lock lips with his lady, "Good. That was the point."

"How about…you?"

"I'm fantastic."

"Suu'chi?"

"Yes?"

"We needed this. I missed you."

"Agreed. I missed you too."

"Why did you…why are we here?"

"I told you. We needed the break, the space. An opportunity to refocus on where we stand with each other."

Now Kiyoni was waking up, "But…"

"But?"

"You look like there's something else. What is it?"

Shuuichi smirked, "Alright. You caught me. There is another reason."

"What is it?"

"Kiyoni, you know I love you, right?"

"Yes. I love you too."

"Right and I hope you're aware that…well, I hope that… This past year with you has been a learning experience for me. One that I truly cherish."

"I'm enjoying it too. If you're asking for us to get back together…I'm open for it."

"I am but, well…this is…we're elevating from the honeymoon phase, right? Things are…getting pretty serious, yes?"

"I would say things got serious the moment we started sleeping together but whatever. What are you getting at?"

"I was thinking…since things are getting more serious, stable and that we're picking things up from where we left off, I figured…we set some standards for us. Begin to truly build a future between us."

"...What did you have in mind?"

"Well, it's more of a…proposal really–"

Kiyoni immediately sat up, clutching the blanket, "Suu'chi, are you…?"

Shuuichi sat up as well, wanting to laugh, "No, Kiyoni. It's not like that–"

"Oh, praise Ra. I thought you were going to–"

"No, no. It's not like that…sort of. Perhaps 'proposal' isn't the right word."

"Then…?"

"It's…well, it's a plan."

"What's the plan?"

"Our future. Hear me out. I have a goal of getting my business off the ground. You have a goal of becoming a physical therapist."

"All true."

"So the plan is…well, the deal is…if we're able to accomplish our goals…"

"Yes…?"

Shuuichi blinked out of nervousness but if he planned for this moment, he had to see it through to the end, "If we're able to accomplish our goals…then…I think we should get married."

Kiyoni's eyes grew their largest, "...M-married? You…wanna marry me?"

"Think about it. If you and I can make it through the most difficult…situations that could come our way, then…why not go that far? I mean, everything we went through with Shinobu and–"

"Suu'chi, are you sure? I mean, granted, we're picking up where we left off and dealing with Shinobu was what brought us together but…"

"What is it?"

"Suu'chi…I don't think hardship of any kind should be the reason to walk down the aisle. You're basically saying that in order to taste the sweetness of marriage we have to eat shit every day. I don't think a marriage should work that way."

"Well, what do you suppose?"

"Suu'chi, as someone who was old enough to witness and is (now) understanding of why my parents divorced, we need to…think this through a little bit. We're not our parents or grandparents or the people before them. Yes, I want to see you succeed as much as you want the same for me. Thank you. I appreciate the vote of confidence but to use that as an incentive to say 'I do' just isn't sitting well with me."

"Kiyoni, nothing is ever truly earned without some type of hard work involved. 1 Corinthians 4:7: 'Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.' Emphasis on endure. If we're able to obtain the things we want in life, I see no reason not to celebrate it together under the sounds of wedding bells."

"Endure? That's exactly my point. My parents stayed together for my brother and I but at the cost of their personal freedom. It was broken from the start. I mean like... finding a sense of personal happiness. You were there when my dad and I talked about it. My mom was miserable while my dad was in denial. What I'm trying to say is your idea shouldn't be the reason to marry. Suu'chi, I think if we weren't in a relationship at all, we'd still go for what we want. Just different from the way we're doing it now. If we get married, it should be because we genuinely love each other, are honest and respectful with each other no matter what, can satisfy our needs and desires, eh… be openly and respectfully communicative and compromising, and are willing to do so for as long as we walk this earth. Not because of the 'blood, sweat, and tears' we had to shed to get to where we wanna be, where we are. We already did that dealing with Shinobu. Literally! I don't wanna maintain and evolve our relationship using that energy again. It's exhausting. We've endured enough. I wanna ride things out for a while, get used to us in a normal relationship. Especially…for a day like today. I mean, we're starting over. The last thing we should think about is marriage."

Shuuichi was highly impressed. Once again his Christian ideologies about love and marriage were questioned or seen in a different light and he didn't know how to respond to it.

"So…how would you…describe the energy surrounding our relationship now?"

"Compared to how we got here…we're coasting. The reason is because we…are living a normal life now. No bloodshed, no violence, no beef with anyone, no magic spells or anything. Just a…normal life. A life with freedom, fun, good sex, and equally good green."

"And you're satisfied with that?"

"I am so far. Aren't you?"

"Yes but what of my proposal?"

"Suu'chi, we made plans for ourselves the moment we declared what we wanted to do in life. Your proposal was unnecessary and way too early to think of. Shame on you."

"Forgive me. I thought that would be an incentive for us."

Kiyoni rested on Shuuichi's shoulder, "Suu'chi, I love you. I don't need your business or bullshit to take off for me to marry you. I just need you to be you."

"Right and…I guess I don't…need your medical credentials to marry you. Your magic hands are enough."

"Ah! Excuse you!"

Shuuichi laughed in his throat, "It's true, those hands are indeed blessed but…I just need you to be you."

"Don't forget about me, about us, when your company takes off. I'd hate for us to break up again because of that. Hell, I'd…hate for us to break up ever again."

Shuuichi sighed in agreement, "Yes. It was ridiculous for us to do that. Complete lack of judgment. I couldn't get much, if anything, done after that. I lost focus in both my business and the church."

"Ugh, I did too. I hated you, I was disappointed in us. I was… It felt like a piece of my heart was missing. But then, I realized it was like…at least I have some time for myself. Like I went out and the world didn't blow up or anything. I was depressed but I had no one else to worry about other than me. Then I thought about our blood pact and…I couldn't stop thinking about you. Even when we were in each other's faces, I couldn't stop thinking about you. I wondered if you felt what I felt because of our pact."

"You know, eventually, I realized that myself. Once I got my wits together, I got back to work, doubling my production time at times. Even the church noticed. However, by feelings, you mean feeling the same things you just described? By feelings, you mean that it haunted you when that special someone is only around as a ghost or a figment of your imagination? By feelings, you mean that no matter how many times you tell yourself to run over to that person and hold them tightly with no release in sight, you can't out of the mutual agreement you made to separate? Is that what you mean? Because yes, I felt it all…and I hated it. It's why we're here."

"Suu'chi…that's exactly what I felt. Every bit of it. Being alone is great and all but…if I can be alone…and with you, I can be just as comfortable. Ra…"

Shuuichi laid back down, bringing Kiyoni with him, "Please don't cry. I feel it too. It's alright. I'm here. We're here. We both have to learn how to make time for us and we will. Under God and Hathor's grace, we will."

"I love you, Shuuichi," Kiyoni confessed in between tears, "I'm sorry for breaking us up. I got jealous because you were putting in more time with your business than you were for me and thought of you as boring. I missed you so much. I'm so sorry."

"Believe me, I'm just as remorseful and apologetic as you. I, too, am sorry for our separation. I gave myself more time towards my work instead of you. So much so that I've become somewhat of a perfectionist. That was completely unfair to you. I've missed you just as much. I love you with all my heart, Kiyoni. Believe that."

So Shuuichi's plan backfired a bit. It's no big deal. Plans will always have the chance to backfire. However, the outcome was just as positive as Shuuichi hoped and his love for Kiyoni deepened because of it. With one year in the books, both Shuuichi and Kiyoni prayed for many more to come.