Chapter 24

Author's Notes: I'm really thankful for all the reviews that had been coming my way. They really inspire me to go on and finish this story! Well… I can't say up until when the story will continue because I'm still pretty undecided but I think it will be around chapter 30. I'm already working on the next story is ever this story is done. By the way, is my story that confusing?


Taichi took the first flight back to Japan that early morning. He knew that he had been gone from Japan far too long. His mother had called him to go to Europe five days ago since she learned that he broke up with Maya. Fortunately with him, his mother agreed to this…divorce since, well… Sora's new family is way richer than them or Maya's family.

But of course, that wasn't what Tai was after for. He knew deep in his heart that he loves Sora or, Yula very much. After all, he lost her once, he can't loose her again.

Still, after spending two months with Yula, Taichi can never really explain why he changed so much. He knew that in the way he was treating Yula, it wasn't the same as he was treating Sora before.

Maybe I'm just scared of loosing her again. Maybe that's what made me become softer and kinder towards her.

These maybe-s filled Taichi with worry. He knew that this was unlikely of him to be and do. But he had no choice, if he wants Sora back in his arms again, he has to do everything it takes to get her back.

Suddenly, his thoughts changed into another.

Maya.

Taichi knew that Maya was too silent for her own good.

I know she's planning something. C'mon, Maya. I'm not scared of you…

Taichi knew that in order to get to Sora, he first has to finish off with Maya. That was the only choice he has. After all, he and Maya were already married for four years… in order to have a divorce… well, he better start planning on his moves to get her to sign the divorce papers…

Great… I have to start of thinking something… after all, once Maya is away from my sleeves, Yula's back in my arms once more… with that, Taichi smiled.

He didn't know how wrong he was to think that way.


Yula has been staying in the hospital for almost three days and she's been scared ever since. She knew that in order to go on with this operation, she has to remain strong. From time to time, her brothers would come by and visit her. Of course, her worry-rat big brother, Takuya, had been a real pest.

"Are you sure you'll be alright, Yula?" Takuya asked as he put on his coat.

"I said, I'd be fine, big brother." Yula said with a heavy sigh as she felt her way towards him.

Takuya reached out to her hands and held it close to his chest. "You're operation is tonight… and I'm really sorry if none of your busy-body brothers can come."

Yula gave a small smile as she gave him a playful punch. "Just be sure to be here when I take off my blindfold."

"Yah, I promise." Takuya said as he placed a small kiss on Yula's forehead and turned to leave.

"Bye." Yula said as she turned around and made her way to the windows.

The fact that she was all alone in the operation made Yula more worried and scared. And now, she didn't know what to do.

A thought came over.

Taichi.

She wasn't sure anymore about Taichi. She thought he was really kind and sweet for always doing things for her. But because of that, Yula felt that she was helpless.

And she hated that feeling.

And now, she doesn't care about him anymore. She thought Taichi was a good friend… why didn't even he tell him about him getting married and all?

That's because he came rescuing you in your loneliness that you instantly fell for him the moment he stepped into your life.

She said angrily to herself.

That was the truth. She fell for Tai, the moment, he came to her house hat next morning. She thought he was someone who actually cared for her… but no! all he wanted was her money!

I guess, money does make the world go round.

Yula couldn't believe that for the two months they've been together, never did Tai say that he was actually married or said something about it.

Yula felt betrayed because of that. She felt that at least, she had the right to know about it. But the fact that he used her for money… well, that actually hurted more.

But wait, those were only rumors.

But another thought pass.

"Jyou…" she said in a hoarse whisper.

Jyou and her had been getting really close with each other. And their friendship was really getting stronger by the minute as well. Jyou would come by her room whenever she felt lonely. And he came running in the room, when she would look for him.

Jyou had become her best friend.

And maybe… even more.

At first, she was lonely then Taichi came. Next she was lonely and scared, that's when Jyou came.

Who is in her heart now, then?


"Mr. Takenouchi! How are you?" Dr. Kido said as he saw Takuya rearing around the corner of the corridor.

"You could call me, Takuya, Jyou." Takuya said as both of them shook hands.

"Did you just come from Yula's room?" Jyou asked.

Takuya nodded. "She was really scared when I felt her, doctor. I think she was even more scared when I told her none of her brothers can't come."

"You can't come? Why?" Jyou asked, a little worried.

"Well… you know how busy our company is, Jyou. And well, we can't just leave it even if we wanted to." Takuya said sadly.

"Are you saying you rather worry about work over your sister?" Jyou asked with an angry expression. He couldn't believe that these…brothers even said they cared about her Yula…!

My Yula?

Takuya didn't reply to the question and stayed quiet. Moment later, he changed the subject. "Will the operation be a success?"

"it depends on Yula on how much she is willing to fight it." Jyou replied as he fixed his glasses.

Takuya nodded back. "Do me a favor, Jyou. Please… please make Yula have hope." And with that, he started walking away.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" Jyou muttered under his breath as walked around the corner.

Even if Jyou had only spent five days with Yula… he couldn't help but be amazed. Yula had actually changed him in so many damn ways. Now, Jyou doesn't only want her for his selfish needs, but wants her for her love.

I think I'm actually falling for her…

He was now in front of Yula's room. And a flash back of his conversation with Maya repeated in his mind.

Flashback

"So, have you gotten her in bed already, Jyou?" Maya asked through her cell.

"Shut up, Maya." Jyou replied as he hung up the phone.

Once he did, the phone started to ring again. He gave in a sigh and answered it.

"What is it, Maya?" he asked.

"Tell me, Jyou… are you falling for her too?" she asked, quite seductively.

Jyou blazed in fury and spat, "NO!" as he hung up once more.

The phone started ringing again and out of frustration, he cut of the phone line.

End of Flashback

he couldn't believe it, but what Maya said could be true. Every time Jyou closes her eyes, he could see Yula's beautiful face smiling at him. His dreams of her consumed him every night as he itch to have a touch on her.

The door to Yula's room suddenly opened and out came Yula.

"Ow!" was Yula's initial reaction.

"Are you alright, Yula?" Jyou asked as he helped the fallen Yula.

"Jyou? Jyou is that you?" at the sound of his voice, Yula lit up.

"yes, it's me. What were you doing?" Jyou asked chuckling as Yula gave him a hug.

"I was too lonely so I decided to find you!" she said cheerfully.

"Well, now you did!" Jyou said happily as he scooped Yula up and walked back inside the room. He carefully laid her on her bed and put the blankets over her.

"You should be resting now, Yula. Your operations just some few hours away. You have to rest." Jyou said as he tucked her in.

"But I was too lonely in her." She replied childishly.

"Well, now that I'm here. You wouldn't be lonely anymore." He replied.

Yula gave him her thoughtful look. "Why is it that every time I feel lonely, you suddenly show up?"

"That's because I'm your friend and we have a special bond together."

"we do?"

"Of course, we do."

"How do you say that?"

"Because I care for you." Jyou said as he walked to the window and gazed out.

It was already raining very hard outside. Down on the streets, people were busy charging at each other to make their way home.

"You do?" Yula asked.

"Of course, I do. Who wouldn't fall for someone like you?" he asked in an irritated way.

Jyou was never a person who would confess his feelings towards anyone else. But what he feels for Yula… was really genuine. He hadn't met any other girl like her. Her flaming red hair was like the sun that sparkles his day. Her red orbs, were like gems that reminded him that he was special. Everything about Yula made him feel completely different.

And he hated it.

He hated the fact that he was beginning to fall in love with Yula.

He knew that he didn't deserve her… for all the things he has done, for all the errors he committed, and for all the mistakes he can never erase.

Yula was way too good for someone like him.

He doesn't deserve Yula's love or presence.

And he hated it.

He hated the fact that Yula has stepped in his life and made him someone so weak, someone so vulnerable, someone… who wasn't Jyou Kido before.

Jyou grew up in a place where violence was all around. That's how life was for him. He wished he could share his pain with someone. Or at least-

"Tell me about your past, Jyou…" Yula said softly.

With that, it was Jyou's turn to be surprised.

"what?" he asked again for confirmation if he had actually heard her right.

"Tell me about when you were a kid… well, you know… what you do… what you think… what you feel… c'mon, tell me. We're friends right? We share a bond. So I think it's fair you tell me something about yourself… you know too much about me already." Yula said.

Jyou thought for a while.

Will she able to bare it when he tell her the truth?

"I… I grew up in a bad place, Yula." Jyou said, trying to see what Yula would think of it.

"Well, then tell me. We're friends right? We should help each other." She said with a smile.

Jyou knew then and there that he could trust Yula with his deepest secret. His secret of growing up in a place where love doesn't exist and life was nothing but sadness and loneliness…

"My mother was a prostitute and my father was a handler. When they see each other at home, they always fight. And in the end, I always get thrown around because of it."

"why?"

"My father hated me because he said that he knew that I wasn't his real son. Since my mother was, after all, a prostitute, who sells her body to any man. He hated me for existing that's why when he's angry he trashes anything at me. That's why I have a lot of bruises all over my body. Pains that will never be erased…"

"My mother, didn't care about me either. Time to time she brings home a different man to sleep and lay with. Back when I was a kid, I thought that was actually fun since, well… she kept giggling and moaning with pleasure…"

Yula gave a laugh.

And Jyou smiled. "I know it was funny now that I think of it. But… because of that… I did things that well, can't be something proud of."

"Like what?"

"….I… take women for granted…"

Yula nodded back.

Jyou was more surprised.

"Aren't you scared that I'd… take advantage of you, Yula?" he asked.

"Why, will you?" Yula asked back with a smile as she sat up.

"No…" Jyou replied with a blush.

"See." Yula replied with a thumbs up and added, "what happened next?"

"I… well, tell women how awful they are and take advantage of them and have fun." He said.

"What do you feel after doing that?" Yula asked.

"I felt awful."

Yula smiled.

It was there and then did Jyou realized that… he never really wanted to take advantage of women… he just wants someone to fill up his loneliness inside of him.

"I guess… I was always too lonely… that's why I felt that I should do it… at times, I feel as if, my body is being taken over. As if I'm a different person already." Jyou confessed.

"I feel the same way too." Yula added.

"You do? How?" Jyou asked.

"Whenever I feel lonely, I wanted to hate the world for doing this to me. To take away my memory, and to take my sight away. But I realize soon after that… maybe, I was looking it at a wrong side. Maybe some knight in a shinning armor will come and save me. And then, I'll be a princess who will live happily ever after." Yula said.

Jyou smiled and walked towards Yula and took her hand.

"Do you think that knight would be me, Yula?" Jyou asked.

Yula looked at Jyou and raised her hands to his face. She hands moved around Jyou's face as she smiled. "I think you are…"

"Yula… I feel as if I don't deserve you… there were so many things I did in the past that-"

"They're in the past, Jyou."

"And I'm ashamed of them."

"I'm not." Yula replied.

"Because it makes up who you are now…" Yula added as she took Jyou's hand and placed it on her chest, right above her heart.

"Do you feel my heart?" she asked.

"Yes." Jyou replied.

"Whenever you're here… it beats such a lovely rhythm… you know, my heart never felt so safe for such a long time." Yula said.

"Not even with Taichi?" Jyou asked.

Yula shook her head.

"Jyou, I don't want you to be ashamed of the past. And I also want you to know that I trust you…"

Jyou smiled widely as he hugged Yula.

"I'm really happy I met you, Yul. I really am."


TBC

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