Disclaimer: The muses would like to remind everyone that Angel Spirit doesn't own Digimon, just the plot and the OC's.
Author's Notes: Life sucks sometimes you guys know that? You want time to work on fics and personal stuff like that, but every once in awhile, you just never get what you want…sighs. I've been wanting to work on all of my fics for ages now, and haven't had the time-luckily though with Spring Break coming up and nearly here I'll have two glorious weeks to get some serious writing done. My main goal during Spring Break is to finally finish this fic…it's nearly done, I'm so close to the end of it that I feel like I can almost touch it. This chapter was one of the chapters that was getting in the way though, as it's a connecting chapter that I wasn't quite sure how to write, and that became a problem because no matter what idea I thought of for it, it just never seemed to want to work the way I felt like it should. I still have no idea how in the world I came up with this…maybe it was a last minute stroke of genius or I saw a movie or something that made it all click together…shrugs. Whatever inspiration it was, it helped create this chapter so that Forevermore can finally start it's way to completion-soon to be my second completed fic. (Cheerssilently to self) I seriously wrote a lot of this chapter-as well as the next couple of chapters, listening to Evanescence's Anywhere But Home CD…her remake song of Seether's "Broken" really helped me just work on this chapter non-stop. And I am also well aware of the mistakes in this fic…lol…there are QUITE a few…(gives everyone a nervous look and hides underneath desk) I DO plan to go back and rework out misspellings and all that fun stuff…I'm planning to recruit some help…(gives hinted/pleading look in Sailor Epyon's direction-you know you're awesome girl, right? Right…?) and get this fic up to par so it's all nice and pretty…(winks)
Ahhhh…but enough rambling from me…you guys are all here to finally find out who Kouji's stalker is, ne? I suppose I've kept you guys all waiting long enough…so without further ado…(drum roll please)…
Rating: PG13 (mild swearing in this chapter)
Warning: This fic contains yaoi/slash…male/male pairings, and yuri…not like? Then I suggest that you hit the back button to the top left of your page there and run far, far away…
Pairings: Takuya/Kouji, Taichi/Yamato, Kouichi/Izumi, Katsume/Rei, and Ruki/Juri with some hints of Shinya/Tomoki to come.
Time Setting: 5 years after Eternity
ForevermoreAuthor: Angel Spirit
Chapter 17: Identity Revealed
Being in a hospital, and lying on a bed in the recovery room made Rei Ashia remember just how much she truly hated them.
Sure, she could always visit a friend in one when they were sick or injured but for her to actually stay in one…it always gave her the creeps. And this was probably the second time within the past couple of months that she was stuck in one like this.
Rei was just thankful that they allowed her to keep her street clothes instead of making her put on one of those horrid hospital gowns…
Glancing down at her upper left arm, which was currently wrapped just snug enough so that it didn't cut off the circulation in her arm, Rei made a face. She was glad that she'd been unconscious and completely out of it when the doctor had stitched up her arm. Needles-like hospitals-were her worst enemy. She couldn't stand the sight of them…especially when they were being used on her.
Looking from her bandaged arm to the door, Rei sighed, wishing that Katsume would hurry up and come back from wherever in the hell it was that she'd gone off too.
When Rei had woken up there had been a nurse sitting there in the chair next to her bed waiting for her to waken, to make sure that she was alright. After Rei had asked the nurse what had happened after becoming fully coherent of everything around her, she only found out from the nurse that she'd gotten about twenty stitches in her arm and apparently had passed out from shock earlier-which, was all very helpful indeed- but the nurse wasn't really able to tell her exactly what she wanted to know, whereas Katsume could.
Rei really wanted to know more about what had happened right before and after she'd passed out-she wanted to know if whether or not Kouji was alright…had he gotten hurt?
She had the sneaking suspicion that Kouji was fine and probably seeing Kouichi…she hoped that her instincts this time were right. Rei had found out lately that listening to her instincts was a very good thing, and that they were very rarely wrong these days.
Not feeling as dizzy or nauseated as before, she sat up gently and leaned herself against the pillows so that she could see more of the recovery room that she was stuck in. There really wasn't much to it-it was as bland of a room as a room could possibly get. White walls, white linoleum...no pictures or magazines or anything interesting to look at once so ever. How dull…
Just as Rei found herself falling back asleep from the sheer boredom of being alone, the door to her room opened with a soft click, and Rei blinked her eyes several times and rubbed them once, forcing herself into a better state of awareness as her visitor came through the now opening door…and Rei sighed with relief as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"It's about time you got back here, I was about ready to fall asleep again…and not because I was tired." The figure at the doorway chuckled as she headed into the room, closing the door behind her once again to give them a little bit of privacy.
"I truly am sorry love, but I thought that you might want a change of clothes…and while I was coming back they informed me that you were fit enough so that you could leave now and I took the liberty of signing you out." Rei grinned as Katsume lightly tossed a set of clothing on her bed, and shook her head.
"This feels so much like déjà vu at the moment that it's not funny." She pointed out, and Katsume only smirked.
"Yeah…what was it only a few months ago, maybe less than that, that I was doing the same thing for you? Honey, you've got to stop hurting yourself." Growling lightly under her breath, Rei picked up the clothes and tossed a fresh pair of socks at Katsume, since the blond was too far away for her to smack.
"Gee, thanks…and you're supposed to be my girlfriend." Katsume chuckled lightly as she came over and handed Rei her socks back and bent down to give her a gentle kiss…one which Rei gratefully returned.
"Mmmm…as much as I want this to continue, we really need to get going…Kouji was asking about you when I bumped into him a few minutes ago and I promised him that he'd be the first person that you'd see once you were out of this room." Rei laughed as she climbed out of the bed and started to change out of her now bloody clothes…both her T-shirt and her sweat pants had been stained with her own blood, and Rei made a face.
"I don't think that these are even worth washing…" She mumbled, and Katsume only smirked again as she took Rei's light gray sweat pants from her.
"Let me wash them, I can get out the stains so you can wear them again." This caused Rei to smile, and give Katsume a wink as she changed into a pair of clean black jeans.
"I knew you were good for something!" Snorting, Katsume rolled her eyes.
"Why thank you, I'm so glad that you think that highly of me…" Rei giggled as she walked over and wrapped her arms around Katsume's waist-thankful that for once she was the short person in the relationship as Katsume glanced down at her with a bemused smile on her face.
"I do…I think very highly of you…for more reasons that I can count on my fingers…" Katsume didn't allow Rei to finish her sentence as she kissed her again-this kiss lasting much longer than the second one. Neither of them had heard the door open, and a light cough-as well as a small amount of giggling-forced the two apart. Still embraced, the two turned to see who their 'intruders' were…and Rei smiled and shook her head.
"Only you guys, only you…what're you guys doing here?" She murmured, and Kita giggled as she and her twin Kai stood in the doorway with Junpei behind them-trying very hard not to look as Rei was still in her bra, wearing only her jeans and socks-having yet to put her shirt on.
"We came to see how Kouichi's doing now that he's awake. The good news that we found out is that since he's on a speedy way to recovery and will be allowed to leave the hospital by the end of this week!" Rei returned Kita's grin at the news and exchanged a high five with Katsume as her girlfriend released her hold on her long enough so she could put on her shirt so that way Junpei would stop looking so embarrassed.
"Ha, at least one of you guys here is a gentlemen." Rei teased as Kai at least had the decency to blush a little bit to show slight embarrassment and Kita burst out laughing as she lightly smacked her twin alongside the head.
"Yes, Junpei's got manners, Kai here doesn't…he's my twin, I thought he knew better!" She continued the teasing as Kai finally turned around and placed his hands on his hips, lightly tapping his left foot as though feigning impatience with everyone else-but mainly Rei.
"Come on Ashia, we don't have all day…it doesn't take that long to put on a T-shirt! Unless of course if you're caught in a lip lock with your girlfriend that is and than of course that is completely understandable!" A gasp could be heard from Kita as Kai felt someone-who he assumed to be Rei-jump on his back and lightly smack his shoulder blades with her hands as she had completely finished dressing and was now ready to go.
"For that Mister, you can give me a piggy back ride to Kouichi's room!" She said with a giggle, as Kai shook his head and sent a teasing smile in Rei's direction.
"And why should I?" He asked, supporting her legs with his arms and hoisting her up a bit while she gently put her arms around his neck so that way she wasn't strangling him, or pulling at her new stitches.
"Because…I'm the wounded patient here, remember?" Rei answered, and upon glancing at her arm, Kai snorted and balanced her a bit more before starting out of the room.
"Whatever Ashia-that's nothing." Rei laughed, and Kai had to admit that it was nice to hear her genuine laughter…he'd been wondering about her lately, why she didn't laugh and smile as much as she had used to, and Kai vowed that once the stalker business with Kouji was all over, that he'd spend more time with his friend.
"Oh, I know, I've been through so much worse." Said Rei-still teasing, and the small group laughed as they headed into the nearby elevator with Rei still on Kai's back…Katsume had to smile at this. She had also been surprised at the lack of time that Rei and Kai had been spending together. Kai had always been a really good friend to Rei…he'd been one of the first people that she'd met when she had arrived on campus, and he and Kita had taken her under their wings. Though Katsume couldn't really blame neither the twins or Rei for the distance between them lately. Katsume only blamed one person…and she'd feel a lot safer once that one person was finally behind bars. They almost had enough evidence…almost…
Katsume was so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't realized that the elevator had stopped and opened, allowing their small group off on the right floor-and that she was still standing there. She was brought out of her thoughts rather quickly by their laughter, as she looked up to see Junpei holding the elevator door so that it wouldn't shut on her. Katsume found herself blushing lightly as she mumbled a thank-you to Junpei and the light brunette nodded.
"Anytime." He whispered as she passed by and Katsume only shook her head as she followed everyone else to Kouichi's hospital room.
Once they were there, Rei lightly hopped off of Kai's back, and gave him a backwards hug, which-to her surprise-he turned around and returned it.
"I promise to spend more time with you when this is all over…" He whispered to her, and she only smiled lightly and nodded at him as their hug broke.
"I promise as well. Come on, let's go see how Kouichi is going." She murmured, brushing past him and pushing open the door that was already slightly open.
The sight that was before them all was rather welcoming as they saw Kouichi sitting up in bed looking rather grossed out by the hospital food that sat on a tray in front of him-Izumi was gone, but Takuya and Kouji were sitting in the chairs to Kouichi's right and the empty seat to Kouichi's left had to be Izumi's.
"Hey how's the other wounded patient?" Junpei asked, and Rei glared playfully at Junpei as she lightly punched him in the shoulder.
"Owww…Rei, that hurt, I think I need a nurse-preferably a cute nurse-to ease the pain!" He joked, and it sent everyone-including Kouichi, Takuya, and Kouji-into a fit of giggles once more.
"It's good to see you guys." Kouichi greeted as Kouji got up from his spot to give Rei a hug.
"I'm glad you're okay…I was kind of worried about you when you passed out back there on me." He murmured into her ear, and Rei nodded into his shoulder, letting out a soft sigh while she returned his hug.
"I'm okay-and I'm glad that you're okay too. I wasn't sure what was going on after I woke up, only a nurse was there to greet me, as Katsume had vanished to get me a fresh change of clothes and sign me out…" She replied, and Kouji nodded as he noticed her change in clothes.
Instead of the sweats and T-shirt that she had had on earlier she was now dressed in a pair of black flare jeans, and a dark red T-shirt, layered with a long sleeved black T-shirt underneath it…a large peace symbol-in black-covered a good portion of the front of the shirt, and she still had on the same running shoes as before. He noticed that Katsume was still holding onto Rei's black leather coat that she'd brought along as well.
It looked much better then the soiled clothes that Kouji had last seen her in, and as they parted the hug he reached down and gave her hand a light squeeze.
"I'm surprised that Takuya's not jealous from all the attention that you're giving Rei, Kouji!" Kita teased, and Kouji sent her a glare that was meant to be playful…but Kita took a step back, and held her hands up in front of her.
"Sheesh, I was only kidding…" She murmured, and Rei sighed as Kouji shook his head, closing his eyes for a moment as he rested his forehead against Rei's shoulder.
"It's not you Kita…I know you were only playing around…it's just that with everything going on lately…" He mumbled, so that not many people could hear him, but Rei instantly wrapped her arms around Kouji once more, lightly embracing him. Kouji was looking for comfort, that much Rei knew…
But she wondered what had happened while she had been unconscious.
"Kouji…? Do you want to go and get a cup of coffee or something?" Rei murmured, and Kouji nodded, sending an apologetic look at Takuya who only looked at him with concern etched deep into his dark brown eyes.
"Yeah, I do…that would be great. We'll be right back, okay Takuya? Kouichi…?" The two in question nodded as Kouji took Rei's offered hand and they left the room, Kouji throwing Kita a look of apology as Kita nodded back at him-apology accepted, and no feelings harmed.
The moment the two left the room, Katsume sighed hugged Rei's coat to herself as she shook her head.
"This has to stop-it's getting to be way to much, I'm not sure how much more Kouji…and Rei…can take of this." She muttered, and Takuya agreed with her.
"I'm really worried about Kouji…what happened earlier today really kind of freaked him out. I think that normally he'd have been able to take on something like that but with everything else that's been happening lately-I don't think that he really believes that we can keep him safe anymore…" Takuya hated to admit it, but it was the truth. He sighed and lightly nibbled on his lower lip, hating the thoughts that were going through his head.
It seemed like Kouichi and Katsume were thinking the same exact thoughts that he was, but Kouichi voiced them first.
"I hate it how Kouji feels so responsible about everyone else. None of this is his fault! It's not his fault that I landed up here in the hospital, and it's not his fault that Rei got hurt again…"
"But he thinks that it is because the stalker is after him…and I think-no, scratch that, I know-that he now believes that anyone close to him is going to keep on getting hurt-it's why he's starting to distance himself from us again, and we can't allow that to happen." Katsume finished off, and everyone else but Takuya just looked at her with questioning eyes, and she shrugged. Takuya was starting to think that Katsume was a mind reader…
"What can I say, part of my degree from school was in psychology…one that I still need to finish…" The blonde muttered, and Junpei and Kouichi laughed lightly before Izumi came in, carrying a bag in her hands-and Kouichi's eyes lit up as he pushed away the horrid hospital food in front of him.
"Thank god…Izumi, you really are an angel, you know that? Real food!" He exclaimed, and everyone laughed as Izumi smiled while she dumped the bag into his lap.
"You know it's only the cafeteria food that I managed to bring into you-a sandwich, and some chips…maybe a couple of other things…" She mumbled, as Kouichi shook his head and lightly kissed her on the cheek.
"It's great, thank you…anything is better than the crappy hospital food they keep on trying to stuff down my throat!" Izumi giggled as Kouichi dumped out the said items into his lap and started to unwrap one of the sandwiches. Katsume was starting to feel a bit uneasy for some reason, and she wasn't sure why.
Maybe it was because Rei and Kouji had left on their own…
She had felt that in the beginning that it was the wrong thing to do. That she should've gone with them or that they should've stayed here. But she knew that Kouji needed comfort that only a friend like Rei could give…maybe Rei could convince him again, that everything that was happening wasn't his fault…
"You're worried about them too, aren't you?" Takuya asked her, and she blinked at him-not realizing that he'd moved from his chair so that he was now nearly standing right in front of her. She sighed and shook her head-she should've known that Takuya had been standing right there…it was part of what she had been trained for at the Academy, right…? But now this and the recent experience in the elevator…it made Katsume believe that she was starting to loose her game.
"I am. I'm thinking that they've been gone for too long, but it hasn't really been that long at all…I think I'm just being paranoid, but if you're feeling the same way…" Katsume bit down on her lower lip as Takuya nodded and looked directly into her blue green eyes.
"I do, feel exactly the same way. I want to go after them, right now. It was a bad idea to let them go alone." So Takuya was thinking as she was. Katsume nodded and glanced at Kouichi and then at Izumi…an idea striking her.
"Izumi, did you see Rei and Kouji down at the cafeteria at all?" She asked, hoping that Izumi had-and that it was where Rei had chosen to go and get coffee…she knew her girlfriend wasn't stupid, with all that was going on lately, Katsume knew that Rei wouldn't choose to go anywhere outside of the hospital…but still…
When Izumi regretfully shook her head, Takuya glanced at Katsume and she caught his eyes-his dark brown orbs were flashing with such a mix of emotions that Katsume couldn't quite read them. But one of the strong emotions that she saw running through them was definitely fear…fear and even strong concern for his boyfriend…and for Rei as well.
"We're going after them-we'll be back as soon as we can!" Katsume finally exclaimed, giving into the need to go after the two as she turned around and nearly flew out of the room, her black trench coat billowing out after her. Takuya took off as well-grabbing his own leather coat from the coat stand near the door, and quickly catching up to her without any troubles.
"We'll head down to the cafeteria first and ask any nurse or patient we see along the way in the hallways if they've seen them, and maybe we'll find them that way…hopefully we're both very wrong and they're just fine, they're safe…" Katsume prayed silently to herself that they were, and Takuya nodded not saying anything.
They both felt the same way.
They both felt that Rei and Kouji were no longer in the walls of the hospital. And that something very, very, bad, was about to happen...
There they were…perfect…he couldn't believe his incredible luck. Just Ashia and Minamoto, walking calmly and casually along the hospital corridor, and from the looks of it down to the cafeteria.
He
shook his head as he watched Ashia say something to Kouji, as he only
shrugged at her answer while she grabbed his hand and gave it a light
squeeze. He felt like he wanted to be sick…if only because he
wished that it was his
hand that Kouji was holding, and not
Ashia's…Ashia already had a girlfriend. So what in the hell was
she doing holding hands with Kouji? Of course…they were best
friends. Though, he had the feeling that if they weren't gay,
that they'd probably be dating each other now...life was ironic
sometimes that way...
He'd change that soon enough. The fact that those two were alone without that bitch Monroe…or even Kanbara shielding them was a definite improvement. It would make his task a hell of a lot easier.
Speaking of which…
He needed to stay focused.
Watching as Ashia and Kouji stood waiting for the elevator to open, it seemed like they were talking to each other about something, Kouji's face looking grave-his eyes though, his eyes were what displayed his true emotions.
And now He led himself to believe, that maybe it was a good thing that Kanbara came into the picture-if only because now He was starting to see what Kouji was truly like. And that only made him want him more…so much more that it had started to become almost a physical ache for him now.
But it was only a matter of time.
He was still a bit far away so He couldn't hear the conversation between Kouji and Ashia, so he crept up a bit more-still hiding. He couldn't allow himself to be seen until the perfect moment…but at least now he could hear bits and pieces of what the two He was stalking were talking about.
"…not your fault! You can't go blaming yourself again Kouji!" He smirked. So his young lover was blaming himself for everything that was going on…how sweet…
"I can! Because it is my fault Rei! All of it, if you guys hadn't gotten as involved in this whole thing, none of you would've gotten hurt! All of you can't always protect me all the time Rei! And I'm getting so sick and tired of seeing those who I love and care for get hurt…I want it all to end…NOW!" Kouji said this just as the doors to the elevator that they were waiting for opened, and He smirked straightening himself up and started to walk ever so cautiously toward the pair who were starting to get into the elevator.
'As you wish Kouji…it'll all end…be prepared for the grand finale, because it's going to be a real killer.' He thought, before he managed to catch the elevator doors with one of his strong hands before they could close fully.
The shocked expressions on Kouji's and Ashia's faces were more than priceless…
"…I want it all to end…NOW!" Kouji knew that he might be being just a little bit on the dramatic side, but he meant every word that he said.
If everything that was happening would just end now, he'd be fine…life could go back to normal.
Unfortunately, he was just about to get what he'd just wished for.
When the elevator doors were halted by a masculine hand, causing them to open fully once more both he and Rei gasped in surprise at the menacing figure who stood before them.
"Kouji!" Rei cried out in warning, and in an instant Kouji had a protective arm around her. He wasn't going to let her get hurt again.
"You…you bastard…you're the one who's been doing this to all of us, to me…haven't you? WHY? And why in the hell do you look so god-damned familiar to me?" Kouji spat out, his anger rising as Rei accepted his protective embrace, but at the same time still kept up her own front.
The all to familiar figure in front of them laughed, and both teens winced at the sound. It wasn't at all a gentle laughter, but just the opposite. It was maddening…with a touch of sheer evil to back it up.
"So many questions, and so little time huh Kouji?" As the elevator doors slid shut behind the creep that stood in front of them now, Kouji realized just how much danger they were now in. And he and Rei had all but willingly stepped right into it. He felt like such a fool now.
One glance into Rei's eyes, told Kouji that she was thinking and feeling the same exact way that he was-they should've been a lot more careful. And now they were stuck in the wolf's lair…and the wolf looked hungry-more than hungry actually.
"I still can't believe it's you…I really can't…" Rei murmured, forcing her dark brown eyes to meet up with his…and the figure before them laughed again, drawing something out of his pocket…neither Kouji or Rei were sure of what it was, but a slight smell filled the air. And Rei's eyes opened…she didn't know where she'd smelled that smell before but it was familiar to her…why?
"I knew you'd be one of the first people to figure it all out Rei-you're smart. I'm surprised you're not a cop like your girlfriend, both of you are too nosy for your own good. Now, if you'll excuse me…I've got a schedule to keep, and you're not involved Ashia." Kouji felt Rei push off from him suddenly, and had a small inkling of what she was planning to do.
They only had one chance to get out of this creep's clutches…if they didn't, it was all over…maybe not for Rei, maybe He'd let Rei go. But for him…
Kouji shuddered as Rei sent him a look, and he nodded. One last leap of faith…
Rei lunged for Him, and He staggered for a moment as she struck her leg out and tripped Him slightly, as Kouji brought his hands together in a fist and hit Him hard along his upper back. He let out a groan as He rolled over and realized how close He was to Kouji, bringing out a hand and tightly clasped it around his ankle…
"Rei!" Rei had been going for the elevator control panel, trying to stop the elevator on a floor so that they could get off, but as she'd heard Kouji's cry. She partially turned to see that Kouji was now the one on the floor, wincing as he clutched his head, which had banged against the rail in the back.
"Stay away from me, you're fucking crazy!" Rei cried, still trying to get the elevator to stop before she got another idea and grabbed hold of the emergency phone-He was too quick though, and snaked a hand around her left wrist as her right hand held the phone, and squeezed it hard enough to nearly bring tears into her eyes. She dropped the phone.
"Good girl…it's too bad you couldn't have made this easier on us Rei-Rei…" Scowling at the nickname that Katsume was only privileged to use, Rei tried to struggle but He pulled her close to Him so that her back was against His chest.
From behind them Kouji was struggling to stand, as the stars that he had seen in his eyes from where he'd hit his head were starting to fade…but a part of him knew that he was too late. He'd been caught off guard, his and Rei's last chance was gone now.
"LET GO!" Rei shouted, trying to grab hold of His wrists but to no avail…the cloth that He'd brought out of His pocket beforehand was now pressed firmly over her mouth and nose, and Rei's struggling slowly ceased as she breathed in the strong smell of chloroform. It was making her dizzy…she fought to not breathe it in, but it was too hard.
'Kouji…I'm so sorry…' Believing that she'd failed her best friend, and that she quite possibly might never see him again, Rei forced herself to stare up into the eyes of Kouji's stalker-forcing herself to put His face into her memory.
His dark eyes stared back down at her, barely a trace of emotion showing-except for maybe madness, if that was a possible emotion.
As He pulled his arm away, Rei took a long gulping breath of fresh air-knowing that it wouldn't help her at all as her body sagged against His.
"And now…the finale begins." He murmured, and Rei fought to stay conscious as long as she could.
Long enough to hear the elevator doors open as He grabbed hold of a now struggling Kouji, putting the same cloth that He'd used on her over Kouji's own mouth and nose. Rei watched through fog-filled eyes as Kouji slowly ceased his struggles as she had done earlier, as He lifted Kouji's now limp body into His strong capable arms.
Her last glimpse of her best friend was one that would be burned into her mind forever seeing him helpless in His arms…and hearing His horrible laughter as He gave her a wink while she lay there on the elevator floor, helpless herself…finally feeling the effects of the chloroform taking over her as her eyes slowly slid shut as the elevator door slid shut at the same time.
Rei hadn't even realized that He'd managed to hit all of the floors on the elevator control panel on His way out, so she had no idea when the elevator would stop…when someone would find her…she was in for a long ride.
And there was nothing she could do about it-she couldn't warn anybody about the fact that Kouji-her best friend, Takuya's boyfriend and lover…was now in serious danger. It was as though He'd planned this all along.
Tears slowly slid from her closed eyes, as she finally allowed herself to crash into unconsciousness.
"Damn you Hirotaka…you bastard…" She murmured, before finally allowing her body to go limp onto the elevator floor.
TBC
End of Chapter Note: Bwahahahaha! So, did you see it coming, did you…or was this a complete and total surprise for you, hmmm…? Lemme know, I'm dying to know what you guys are thinking right now, so definitely don't hesitate to leave me a review or a note by email since you guys now know who's been behind this whole masquerade…(dun-dun-dun…) Maybe you did see it, maybe you didn't…but see, even though this ending was an evil cliffhanger, you guys do know what you've been waiting for all this time…(grins) And trust me when I say that this chapter was a blast to write, I had so much fun with it! Especially the last part here, I was thinking of a clever way to let you guys know who it was and I think I might've done it…so…do I pass? (winks) Ahhh…but it's not done yet! Hehe…there's more to come, and the next chapter is near completion so this'll be updated again real soon…till' then everyone…