Author's Notes: Hello, hello, hello! *waves* I'm sorry for that unannounced hiatus. I met a huge writer's block and mountains of schoolwork, so I hope y'all understand and forgive me for my absence. Plus, I worked on my relatively new poetry blog, which I encourage you to visit: toinks.diaryland.com and drop me a line in the guestbook if you have the time. *wink*

Last Chap Recap: Kaede and "Hisaki" have just been married. "Hisaki" is not Hisaki though. He's Doumyouji Kaii, a sort of replacement for the one who passed on. That set-up was sort of expected, but what Kaede was expecting at the very least was to find out on her wedding night that the man she married is G-A-Y!!!

Stay tuned for more surprises!

Please read and review people! Little thank you notes for reviews on the previous chapter are at the bottom!!! See you there!

~ * ~

Confused Pawn

There are times in life when you'd rather not look back into the past for fear of retribution. Every waking moment is nothing more than another day to work yourself to the nub, to keep your mind from wandering into those unwanted memories. Guilt is constantly at your mind, in your heart, eating away at your sanity. Consciousness is a torture as voices ceaselessly remind you of things in the past and things yet to come. Even sleep, the only means of escape, just a few hours of unperturbed rest, is deprived from you.

But such is not the case with Doumyouji Kaii.

Kaii yawned widely as he stirred out of that deep dreamy sleep, only to be surprised out of his wits by a pair of brown eyes boring down on him. "K-Kaede?" he rubbed his drowsy eyes to see more clearly. "G-good m-morning…" His voice trailed as he looked at Kaede's smiling face. There was just something eerily odd about her smile…like he had seen it in some slasher movie, he couldn't quite put his finger on.

"Good morning, husband," she said with as much sweet sarcasm as her tone could hold. "Lovely day, isn't it?"

He nodded mutely. Why was she looking at him like that?

"How about we visit your favorite father-in-law?" She asked sweetly.

"He's my only father-in-law…" he groggily replied.

"I wouldn't know," she said, tossing a robe in his way as she headed to the dresser and started brushing her hair. Kaii sat up from bed wondering where all the anger was coming from. Try as hard as he could, he couldn't find anything he'd done to her yesterday. Maybe it was all a bad dream? Having a grumpy wife like this every day for the rest of his life was just not part of his lifetime plan.

Kaii went into the bathroom in hopes of clearing his murky thoughts with hot blasts of water. But Kaii emerged from the shower some fifteen minutes later, dressed in casual denims and a polo shirt, looking real clean and smooth on the outside, but still foggy on the inside. Without any intention to explain, Kaede took the lead and the couple headed to the Nagasaki Holdings' top floor.

~ * ~

"What brings you two here? You should be in Maui at this time." Mr. Nagasaki asked without looking up from the contract he was reading. He continued scanning the paper, ignoring the mute couple in his office. Maybe it was the nonchalance in the way he spoke or the obvious disinterest at them or the manner of displeasure of seeing them first thing in the morning, but something just snapped inside Kaede.

She wasn't going to play mind puzzles anymore.

"You thought I would never find it. You think I'm just stupid pawn that would never figure out how to play your game. But you're wrong, father." Kaede hissed, crossing her arms over her chest indignantly as if daring him to prove her otherwise. "You're so wrong."

"Look, I have no time for guessing games, Kaede. If you think I would-"

"Don't deny it any longer, father. I know that my husband is-"

"--Is not Hisaki. I know you must know by now. I have not reared you as a brainless twit. I knew you'd catch on. Now, if you want no more interference in your married life, my only request is for a legitimate heir, one that'll carry our name," Mr. Nagasaki said almost in one breath. And with only a slight nod of acknowledgement at Kaii who stood there confused, he quickly added, "Along with yours, of course."

"Y-yes, sir." Kaii bowed before Mr. Nagasaki who looked up for the first time and pulled Kaede by the elbow out of the room before she could say anything else.

Kaede was dumbfounded. Could her father not know? She turned to look at Kaii who stood there tapping his foot anxiously at each button lighted on each floor they descended and looked at his watch alternately. It was…like…like he was afraid of her revelation.

Inside the elevator, Kaede tried to assess the situation, but it only made her thoughts and feelings even messier than before. She didn't know what to think anymore. It was as if everyone in on the game, and everyone knew their parts to play. There was no one she could trust. Almost unaware, Kaede slowly slid down to the floor and wrapped her arms around herself in a vain attempt to rid of the cold that ran up and down her spine in shivers. She was weak and vulnerable. She knew it wasn't the wisest thing to show it to her enemy, but Kaede no longer had the strength to put up a strong façade.

Kaii didn't hesitate a moment when he held and comforted her gently inside the elevator, letting her lean onto his chest where Kaede almost felt safe.

~ * ~

Now the only problem left was…how on earth would they produce an heir? It was the thought that occupied Kaii's head for the rest of the day. Sure, Kaede was attractive, he thought as he watched her rear form walking out of the elevator and into the waiting car. But should he, could he, have sex with her?

A hesitant and indecisive Kaii wrestled with his doubts day in and day out. How was he going to get out of the pit he dug himself into? Was he supposed to figure out how to clamber out by himself or was he supposed to cry out for help in hopes of some heaven-sent mercy? The deliberation would have stretched to months and even years without reaching a conclusion had he not noticed the growing lump on Kaede's stomach.

It was the answer to Mr. Nagasaki's wishes.

Kaede and Kaii never, not once, talked about her pregnancy. They went on with their formalities for the next eight months, just nodding and thanking people who congratulated them. They acted as if everything was just the way it should be. Everyone waited along in anticipation without an inkling of what actually went on behind the curtains as the famous couple infanticipated the next heir.

Ten months later, the first of the next generation of Nagasaki-Doumyouji's was presented to the world. A two-month-old baby girl was introduced in a pink lacey puffy dress that she almost drowned in, a pink bonnet with little roses and with little pink Gucci baby shoes to match as Doumyouji Tsubaki. She was presumed to be the luckiest child in the world with two beautiful, very wealthy parents who smiled and cooed with her in every interview and every press picture. Plus, she was rumored to be receiving an incredibly huge inheritance from Grandpa when she reaches twenty-one.

For one who seems to have it all, life sound so perfect. The life of the rich and famous. Sounds so perfect indeed.

Surreally perfect.

~ * ~

Author's Little Thank You's:

jestina: Yes, he is gay indeed. Shocking, isn't it? It wasn't a part of my first plan, but I don't know how it got into my head and transformed itself into words. LOL! Thanks for reviewing.

windsoffortune: AAHHH!!! I missed your animated reviews. Where are you? Anyways, if you're asking what I'm doing to her. I think I honestly am being slightly sadistic over here. hehehe. I can't help it though...It must've been bad karma for Kaede or something. hehehe!!! But I'll try to be nicer...TRY. *wide grin*

anonymous: Now, you know. Hehehe!!! See ya next chapter!

Sheen: Yes, Tsubaki is here at last. As for Tsukasa, he's going to be entering the story either next chapter or the chapter after that. I've got another twist to that... I'm cooking up quite a storm here! I just have a hard time piecing them together. hehehe! I've got future chapters, but nothing in between. What a problem. BTW, congratulations on your finished fic!!!

Ruth: Of course it's a business deal. (LOL! At least, that's what I think.) Hmm...now that you've mentioned it, I realize I didn't quite explain how Kaii was chosen as Hisaki's substitute. Anyhow, I will explain HOW but the WHY will be covered in the upcoming chapters. Thanks for reviewing again!

Lian: Haven't received a review from you for the longest time! Nice to see you're back on track!!! Oh, and how's your own story-struggle?

cuppajava: Hmm...not giving away too much hints is actually part of the mystery I'm trying to build on Kaii. But as the story is written out, more and more will be revealed. Don't worry, I'm planning to update more quickly this time around. *wink, wink*m

888: Hello there! Yes, he is G-A-Y. hehehe!!! I guess your questions have been answered already. Keep reading and thanks for the review!

Lizzy5: WOW!!! This is great to hear from a new reader! *showers balloons and confetti* I'm glad you liked the story. Thanks for the review and hopefully, I'll be hearing from you again! *wink*

mythical: I must admit, I'm flattered. ^_^ Thanks for taking time to review! And yes, you did help. Thank you!

Please REVIEW again! I'd love to hear from you all!!! Thank you!