Disclaimer I don't own any of the HYD characters nor the original plotline of HYD, but I certainly own this particular plot and all the characters I created for it...

I don't own "I'm sensitive" by Jewel Kilcher either – and I'm sure you know that...

A couple of important notes :

- I have never seen a Japanese birth extract, and, for that matter, an American/English/foreign one... So I modeled Akira's from a French one. Sorry of seems strange.

- I have been told by az09 that Tokyo doesn't have the status of a city. I'm lazy... So it's either an update when I will have done all the necessary research, or just bearing with a strange detail that doesn't really change anything to the story in the end...

- I chose Akira's birth date at random – the same for all numbers involved – since it's never mentioned in the drama. So even if I've begun reading the manga – not that I'm very far –, for me, the characters are still what they were in the drama... Even if I think that Tsukasa with the straightened hair in the manga is SO much sexier... But well, this is completely out of topic !

Thanks to my faithful reviewers az09, kashuneko, snuffyTHEmonkey, and Juliana...

I know it was not really a cliffhanger – that's why I called it 'sort of' a cliffhanger... Because, as Juliana remarked it, I would have been pissed to be stopped there if I was not the author...;o) Then again, I already admitted to being evil !

Besides, another separate thanks to kashuneko, because your review triggered my rewriting this entire chapter – I was struggling to make it more plausible and flowing. Your review provoked some kind of 'Eureka' in me... So thanks! But I have to say, you guessed alright... ;o) And anotehr thanks to sTm, I tried to mend what bothered you as much as possible...

As to Sophie having a history – of course she has one, she would be fade and uninteresting if she hadn't, wouldn't she ? But as to what is this history, to sTm's review, I'll only answer that it's neither of your suggestions but, at the same time, a bit of both... Did that help ? Wasn't meant to, anyway... ;o)

Sorry for the huge blabber section once again, and have a good read !

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22-A long-awaited truth, an unexpected answer

"It doesn't take a talent to be mean,

and words can crush things that are unseen,

So, please, be careful with me,

I'm sensitive, and I'd like to stay that way."

He accelerated the convertible, to let the wind cool his anger as much as possible. Not as if he would ever get a fine, anyway. And he didn't feel like waiting a single more moment before confronting his father – yes, at least, the birth extract had confirmed this much : Izumi Mimasaka was his 'official' father.

"And I thought the Domyouji family was fucked-up !"

He sighed in fury. How could his own father have done that to him ? How could he have made him feel so guilty when he had told him about the nightmare ? How could he have lied during all those years ? His father, for crying out loud ! His father... And suddenly, Akira felt something very akin to a bad headache slowly begin to take possession of his skull.

He didn't understand, he couldn't understand, and, frankly, he wasn't sure he even wanted to understand. He felt betrayed, by the one person in the world that he was supposed to be able to trust above any other. As he stopped the car to a halt because of a red light, he ran his hand in his hair nervously.

He wasn't looking at Sophie when she had discovered the contents of the birth certificate. At that time, he felt almost sure she was going to give him the ultimate proof of his being a bad son, with a mental illness that made him see his own caring mother as some kind of heartless monster. Not that, deep inside, he didn't hope most fervently that the name 'Chie Mimasaka' would be the one that the young Frenchwoman would actually utter. But, knowing Sophie's level in Japanese, even for an administrative document, she had stayed silent for too long after having begun to read. So he had finally turned towards her.

Where he had still been hoping that he would see puzzlement at some odd administrative way to phrase something, he saw an expression of sadness and disbelief. Sophie's eyes were dilated, as if she was under some kind of shock, and she had brought one of her hands to her open mouth. He could see her gaze fixed on one particular area of the paper. And he knew she could not believe what she was reading.

On February 19th, 1988, at eight hours thirty-five minutes in the morning, was born in the prefecture of Tokyo, in the Asakusa district, Akira Seinosuke Mimasaka,son of Izumi Yoh Mimasaka, twenty seven years old, president of the Mimasaka World Corporation, and of Kyoko Sayuri Mimasaka, born Shoji, twenty five years old, independent journalist, his wife, both living in Tokyo.

Marginalinformation : on May 3rd, 1992, Akira Seinosuke Mimasaka was adopted by Chie Sakura Mimasaka, born Seino, married to the father of the said child, as recorded by the adoption act #74 for the 1992 year, under the jurisdiction of the city of Tokyo.

He remembered knowing at once that something was definitely wrong on that birth certificate just by seeing Sophie's expression. But he just couldn't be sure of what exactly was wrong, even if he could guess. And when Sophie's eyes had finally met his, they told him everything he needed to know.

"My mother is not my mother."

It was the first logical statement that his mind had made for him. And then, Sophie had voiced softly the name written on the official act. And, in the time of a mere second, he felt like he was living the whole nightmare again. He felt cold, so cold. And lost. And sad. Betrayed and alone. Forsaken and loathed. But, strangely enough, the justified sadness had soon been replaced by the quiet rage that was boiling inside of him at the moment. And the distressing nightmare had become a disturbing memory. He knew there was only one thing he could do. One thing he could say. One person he had to talk to. But so many answers to be demanded.

As she had already shown him several times before, Sophie had enough empathy and understanding to do and say exactly what needed to be said and done. After he had averted his gaze again, she had gently placed her hand on his shoulder, wordlessly. She hadn't said that 'she understood', that 'she felt awful for him', or 'how big a shock it had to be for him'. Because those were empty statements and she was well aware of it : only one living what he was living could ever 'understand' what he was feeling while discovering he had been made to live this enormous lie during all those years ; he didn't need anyone to 'feel awful for him' because people pitying him would only make him feel worse ; and even the worst retard in the universe could know that the 'shock had too be huge'.

No, she had simply whispered, while looking directly in his eyes : "I'm here if you need me". Yes, it could seem trivial, it could seem nothing, but from someone to whom he had never done anything that deserved this unreserved offer, someone who could usually barely stand who he was, that was the best thing she could have said – that was everything he needed to hear.

Moreover, she had understood he needed to be alone to deal with the news in his own privacy – so she had created an opportunity not to crowd him in this moment. She had miraculously remembered she had to pick up some photographs for her father in a nearby shop, and that he did not need to bother bring her back to her house, she would take the underground to go back to there. Of course, the excuse had not fooled him for a second, but he had seen the hidden intention and acknowledged it for what it was – the most delicate and discreet way of letting him deal with what would probably be one the most important matters he would ever live through during his life.

And then, after a few minutes of silent thinking, he had pocketed the paper back into his jacket, and had begun to drive towards the main building of the Mimasaka Corporation in Tokyo, where his father's office was located.

Izumi Mimasaka was standing in front of the large window of his huge office, turning his back to its door, looking outside at the city, under the bright sun of the middle of the day. He felt old, so old, suddenly. Just a few minutes before, he had received a phone call. A phone call he had been dreading for some time, but hoped would never come. He was well aware of what he should be expecting, now. He knew what he would do, had he just learned something of the sort.

And, accordingly to his expectations, less than half an hour after the said phone call, his only son and heir stormed into his office exuding in outrage and hurting as hell. There was no turning back in time to fix this, and, he feared, not much more lying possible anymore. He knew he couldn't blame Akira's subconscious, this time – at least not if he wanted to be believed at least a little.

When Akira saw his father in this position and attitude, he immediately made sense of the strange behaviour of the man at the service of Civil Status. He stopped in the middle of the room, not even bothering to close the door behind him, crossing his arms on his chest, as if to prevent himself from punching something – or someone. As far as he was concerned, it didn't move him anymore to humiliate his father in front of his employees. Fortunately for the head of the Mimasaka Corporation, his secretary thought otherwise and, understanding something bad was going to happen, she immediately insulated the battlefield-to-be from the remaining space of the floor.

Izumi Mimasaka was waiting for a flood of insults and questions that didn't seem to be beginning. So he finally turned towards his son, to find him glaring at him with a depth of hostility that was even more important than he had forethought. So, apparently, he was the one who was supposed to do the talking ? Great way to torture him – he could not blame his son for being smart about that. But he didn't know what to say, or how to explain the reason of what he had chosen to do. He didn't think Akira would understand, anyway. He was too young, too innocent, too spared by life – well, maybe just too insulated from its realities. From women like Kyoko Shoji, who could turn crazy without anyone ever seeing it coming.

And for the first time in years, he allowed himself to see the hints of Kyoko in his son's features. He had to admit that her graceful beauty had been transmitted to the young man. The delicate nose, the sensual lips, the artistically drawn eyebrows : they were all more masculine versions of hers. Hers. He thought of the time that had flown since he had last seen her, or even as much as heard of her. Was she still alive ? He didn't even know that. He closed his eyes. So old...

Then, as if this was the answer Akira had stormed in his office for, he just whispered his feelings, avoiding his son's piercing eyes – her eyes.

"I loved her."

As if it explained anything, as if it was relevant to the situation. Akira's eyes narrowed. He wasn't able to utter more than a single word in his rage and feeling of betrayal.

"Why ?"

Not that he really needed to elaborate. In this single word, he was asking a thousand questions, and Izumi was clever enough to figure out most of them quite nicely. Why had she left ? Why had he never been told who was his real mother ? Why all the secret when nothing was more common than divorces and remarriages nowadays ? Why had he not told the truth when his son had come to him to tell him about his nightmare ? Why had he just said that he had loved his mother ? Why did nobody seem to know any of this among his friends and their family ? Why was that piece of paper in his hands the only proof he had ever been able to find that something wasn't right ? And so many other 'why's. And no short evasive answer could do, this time.

"You'd better sit down, son. This is a long story."

He paused, until Akira reluctantly obliged. Then, he cleared his throat, and turned towards the glass windows again.

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Okay, now, that IS a cliffhanger, isn't it ? Correct me if I'm wrong... You can say it, Juliana, I'm mean... Especially since chapter 23 is nearly finished, but I feel it has to be separated for several reasons... ;o)

Well, did that turn out the way you thought ? I guess so. The interesting and informative part is just following...

Please Review !