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"What do you mean the elevator's broken?!" Kimiko gaped at the doorman.
"Sorry Miss Takani but the maintenance man said it wouldn't be fixed until tomorrow morning." The doorman shrugged.
"But I live on the 7th floor! I don't want to climb that many flights of stairs. I've had a really rough day."
"Again, I'm sorry Miss Takani. It's not in my job description to carry residents to their rooms."
Kimiko opened her mouth to say something else but stopped. "Sorry. I guess I'll start working on those stairs…"
"Have a good night Miss Takani."
"Fat chance, but thanks anyway. Have a good night." She smiled and opened the door to the stairs. She stared up. "Well, I suppose I really shouldn't complain…it's not like I haven't done longer walks than this…" She pulled her hair out of its bun, letting it fall down passed her waist. "Better start now if I hope to get up there before sunrise. She tucked her project folders under her left arm and started up the stairs. "Even now, I'm tempted to fly, but I don't want anyone to see me.
She sighed at the thought. The bandits, the palace, the past, it seemed so far, yet it really wasn't.
Seven years ago…I know it was real, yet it feels like a dream…
I never thought a book could cause so many problems. I was just working at the library, minding my own business when I found it in the pile of all the books. Looking back, I should have known something was strange. Whenever I held it, I felt as though I shouldn't let it go. I guess I felt happy Akane wanted to take it. As long as she had it, I could still see it.
I didn't know what to think of Hiroshi's story at first. He's done some strange things before. Like stay around me…
I used to get him into trouble all the time. I told our teachers he cheated and was a bully in general. He used to always be in trouble because of me. But it never stopped him from being nice to me. I wanted him to go away. I didn't understand why he liked me. After my father died…well…not really…I didn't want anyone around. Not even my best friends…but that didn't stop him from being nice to me.
I think he was the first person I started opening up to. Somehow I knew I could trust him. I let myself need him. Little did I know how much I would need him.
For the longest time, I wanted to see my father again, but not in the way I ended up seeing him. The truth hurt…he didn't die…he just left. I don't even know exactly why he left…I don't think he really explained it to me. I also didn't think I'd forgive him for what he did…
But him leaving gave Kouji the opportunity to meet my mother. Honestly, I think she's happier now. Akira's pretty happy too. Sure he was totally opposed to Kouji and Mom's relationship, but he got over it and I think he's pretty happy he's not the only guy in the house any more.
But if there's one person I can't forgive, it's Reizo. How do you forgive someone who kills his own mother without bating an eye? And though it wasn't his own weapon that killed Hiroshi, he still commanded it.
I've never felt so many emotions at one time. Anger, sadness, confusion, pain, tired…dead. I felt dead when Hiroshi was killed. Something in me died with him. And that was when I completely lost it. I remember bits of what happened. I still feel my body shifting to that of a phoenix, then nothing, a short conversation with my father, then nothing again. The thing I remember most vividly is waking up to see Hiroshi's eyes. I was cold and tired, I knew deep down we should have gone back to the others, but I wanted to be selfish just once and stay wherever we were for a while. I wanted to make sure he'd stay. And he did. I've never felt so happy in my whole life.
I've always wondered if Akane forgives Reizo. On the surface, she seems the same, but I know she can't possibly be the same. She killed him. You can't come back from that the same way you were coming in. Kano's probably the only one that knows. And I'll leave it to them to deal with. They're the only ones who understand each other. They belong together, like Hiroshi and me.
Kimiko let out a sigh of relief as she finally reached the door to the 7th floor. "Man…this place needs more elevators…or less floors…" She walked down to the apartment she shared with Hiroshi. They'd been living together for a year or so. It had always been nice until a couple months ago when Hiroshi's boss seemed to develop a mean streak. Hiroshi always seemed to be out of the apartment. It was easier for her to go see him at work than for them to go out.
When she opened the door, the lights were off, like she expected. "Poor guy…must still be at work…" She flipped on a light switch as she kicked off her shoes. She set her folders on a table and went to her room. As she changed out of her work clothes, she rearranged some of the pictures on her dresser. There were some pictures of her and Hiroshi. Next to those were some pictures of her and her friends. The most important pictures were from her mother's wedding. There was one of her mother and Kouji standing together, smiling. The other was her mother, Kouji, Kimiko, Hiroshi, Akane, Kano and Akira and his girlfriend.
Kimiko and Akira never called Kouji 'Dad' nor did Kano call Tora 'Mom' but it really didn't matter. They were a close family anyway. She smiled, put the picture down and went back to the living room. The second she sat down, she nodded off.
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Hiroshi watched her from the kitchen doorway, happy she didn't notice he was home. Everything needed to be perfect tonight. And it would be, even if it killed him. He went back into the kitchen. Various things were cooking, hopefully correctly. He hadn't been at work like Kimiko thought. He'd been working on dinner.
After everything was finished, he only had to wait for Kimiko to wake up. Everything smelled really good so it would probably only be a matter of time before she got up again.
He sighed and leaned against the counter. "My life has changed so much since I was a kid…" He pushed his hair out of his face and looked at a small box in his hand. "And with some luck…it'll change again tonight…" He put the box back in his pocket and looked up again. Something caught his eye in the window. A bright red feather sat just outside the window.
"It never goes away…" He sighed a bit.
Seven years ago…I know it was real, yet it feels like a dream…
My father was an emperor…what exactly does that make me? The reality of it all became too real when I pretty much got myself engaged to Kimiko at age 15. At least in the eyes of my father's former advisors I was engaged.
I always figured myself for a regular guy…I led a simple life. I had my friends and family. But simple things don't last. And something as simple as a book changed my life.
The book by all means was plain. A little old, but nothing threatening. Not until Akane got it anyway. That's when everything just got weird. I saw her enter the book. I thought I was hallucinating. How could something like that happen?
I ran home and told my mother what happened. I didn't think she'd believe me of course, but her eyes said much more than she did. As soon as I finished the story I could tell she was unnerved by it. I'm sure she figured she was done with the book as well. But once it's part of you…I don't think it ever leaves.
There was a part of me that felt at home there. I think a part of all of us felt right there. Akane probably more than the rest of us. She does have more Konan blood in her. Half of the blood that runs through me is Konan royal blood. Maybe I'm not really suited to royal life, but something about Konan was comforting.
Yet, parts of it scared me. When I learned who Kimiko really was, I was afraid I'd lose her. We've fought a great deal to be together. If she wasn't pushing me away, her brother was trying his damnedest to get me away from her. I finally told her I loved her then I found out she was immortal. Now call this stupid, but relationship between gods and mortals never work. I was afraid her father would show up and tell her we were forbidden to be together. After what happened between her parents, what was I supposed to think?
But maybe love really does conquer all if it's true love. This is clichéd yes, but it did overcome death. Death is strange. It's panicked yet calm, frightening though quiet, painful but peaceful. Above all, it's cold and lonely though. I don't want to go back until I'm finished here. I have a lot yet to do.
Even now, that last battle is a blur. Everyone tried to tell me what happened, but I don't know if it's true. Everyone has their point of view and their truth. I'm not really eager to learn about a battle in which I was killed and my cousin killed anyway, so maybe it doesn't matter.
What's important is that we're all together and there's nothing threatening us anymore. We're free to live normal lives. We can be us.
It's not really like it was before…but we still have each other. We'll always be a family.
Hiroshi shook his hair out of his face when he heard footsteps in the kitchen. Kimiko was standing in the doorway.
"Hiroshi?" She was surprised to see him cooking. "What are you doing? What smells so good?"
"Trying something different?" He smiled sheepishly.
"Didn't you hear me at the door?"
"Ummm, I guess I was a little too involved in cooking. Sorry."
"It's okay. Looks like you're busy." She walked up to the stove beside him.
"I'm sorry, Kimi." He looked down at her. He'd grown a lot since they were kids. Though Kimiko was still pretty tall, Hiroshi had really gained his father's height.
"For what?" She stirred a sauce on the stove.
"I've been way too busy. I know I'm barely around."
"It's your job. You can't help it." She gave him a small smile.
"Well, I talked to my boss today. And I got a schedule change. Starting today."
"Really?" Her smile widened. "You mean it?"
"Yeah. We'll talk over dinner. Why don't you go wait in the dinning room? This is pretty much ready."
"Okay." Kimiko walked into the dinning room and gasped. "Oh my God Hiroshi, what is all this for?" She looked over her shoulder at him. "Did you do all this?"
"Yeah. Go sit down. I'll be there in a second." He smiled.
She slowly walked back into the dining room. Candles cast a soft glow over the painstakingly carefully set table. The light shown through crystal glasses, making complicated patterns on the red tablecloth. She blushed as she sat down. "Hiroshi, I feel so under dressed…I'm only wearing jeans and a t-shirt…and I'm barefoot too…"
"It doesn't matter." Ha laughed as he brought in the food. "It's just us here."
"I guess you're right." She looked at the food. "This looks great. I didn't think you could cook."
"It's not like I could open up a restaurant, but I can survive." He chuckled.
She smiled. "So are you going to tell me what all this is for?"
He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before sitting down. "After dinner Kimiko, after dinner."
"You're going to enjoy this aren't you?" She looked at him across the table.
"Probably." He picked up his silverware. "Here's hoping this is actually edible."
Kimiko smiled and laughed. The food was perfectly edible and for once, Kimiko and Hiroshi were able to have talk about their lives without worrying about someone getting called away.
Kimiko put down her silverware. "Uf, I'm stuffed!" She smiled across the table at Hiroshi. "Do I get to find out your reason for all this now?"
He stood up and smiled. "Come on." He offered her a hand.
She looked at him questioningly and took his hand. "You sure do know how to keep a girl in suspense."
Hiroshi took her out to the small balcony they always used to stand on together. It was pretty dark outside. Kimiko marvel at how Hiroshi's silver hair shone in the moonlight. He always wore it in a short, casual messy style now.
"Well, I suppose I should explain myself now, huh?" He looked over at her.
"It would help."
"Well…I umm…" She watched him intently. "We've known each other for a long time, right?"
"Yeah, I think 10 years or so…"
He took a deep breath. "You know I love you and I'd do anything for you…" Kimiko felt her hands start to shake. "I was wondering…hoping…" He took a small box out of his pocket and got down on one knee. "Kimiko, will you marry me?"
Kimiko was knocked completely speechless. "You…you're asking me to…?"
He smiled and nodded.
"Yes! Absolutely yes!" Kimiko started crying and laughing at the same time. "Oh God…" Her hand shook uncontrollably as Hiroshi slipped the ring on her finger. It was a sliver ring with one sapphire and one ruby on either side of the diamond.
Hiroshi embraced Kimiko as she cried for joy. "I love you Kimiko…"
"I love you too Hiroshi…" She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. She closed her eyes and giggled a little.
"What?"
"Isn't this the 2nd time we've gotten engaged?"
Hiroshi chuckled. "I guess it is."
"But this time is better." Kimiko put her hands on the sides of Hiroshi's face. "No advisors in the way…" She raised herself up on her tiptoes and kissed him. Hiroshi wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. They remained out of the balcony for a long time, comfortable in each other's company.
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~*~Shadow Hawk~*~