Jakotsu woke, with a horrible feeling in his chest. With a jolt, he remembered the events that had happened previously. Please let it be a dream. He thought. It has to be a dream…soon Reisuki will come walking through the door smiling, and Hikaru will be outside, shouting for me to come outside. Yet in Jakotsu's heart, he knew what had just happened was not a dream. It was real. Sitting up, and pulling his knees to his chest, Jakotsu wept.

After a while, Jakotsu lifted his head and forced himself to stand. A small part of him, realized there was a burning small in the air, although he didn't care much. He felt so empty.

Kiko suddenly stepped inside. She looked surprised when she saw Jakotsu.

"Oh…your awake." Her voice was colder then usual. Jakotsu didn't reply. Instead his eyes focused on what Kiko was carrying. In her arms, she held a very large wooden crate. Even though the box was big, the size wasn't what made Jakotsu stare at it. His eyes were focusing on the neat letters JAKOTSU printed on the side of the box.

It was in Reisuki's writing.

Kiko noticed his attention. She was silent a moment before bringing her eyes up to his. "Jakotsu…I want you to get out, right now."

Jakotsu didn't answer. He merely stared blankly at Kiko.

Her gaze hardened. "Your father…. he was always too soft on you. I want you to get out. Don't ever come back." She turned her back to Jakotsu. "Your not my son anymore."

Jakotsu finally spoke. "What's in the box?" He was surprised at how calm his voice sounded, despite the hell he had just been through.

Kiko flinched. "Its none of your business. Get out!" Before he knew what he was doing, Jakotsu grabbed the box roughly out of Kiko's hands. With one arm, he shoved Kiko with all his might. She collapsed on the floor in a pathetic heap, looking shocked. After all, Jakotsu had never laid a finger on her before.

But that was the old Jakotsu.

Jakotsu looked down at the box. There were some more words printed at the top of the box. Kiko…if anything happens to me, give this to Jakotsu. Jakotsu looked at Kiko.

"You weren't planning to give this to me, were you?" His voice was quiet. Jakotsu could easily guess what Kiko's plan was. She had built a fire outside, and had been planning on throwing the box into the flames.

Kiko didn't answer. She simply stared up at Jakotsu. He thought he saw fear in her eyes.

"Bitch." This time there was anger in Jakotsu's voice. His hand flew out, and without thinking he slapped Kiko, hard.

Then, clutching the gigantic box under one arm, he fled.

Panting, Jakotsu stopped in the middle of the forest. He had been about to go to the riverside, when he realized that was the last place he wanted to go. He could never face the place where he had spent so many good times with Reisuki, and Hikaru.

Jakotsu sat down. He allowed himself to catch his breath, before looking at the wooden crate. Carefully, Jakotsu picked up a branch from the ground. He wedged it between the lids of the crate, and pried it open. Jakotsu gasped. He couldn't help it. Inside the box, lay a giant and beautiful sword. It was at least five feet long. Jakotsu grasped the handle. It was quite heavy as well. A piece of paper fluttered to the ground. Jakotsu picked it up, and unfolded it. Tears welled up in his eyes, as he recognized Reisuki's writing. Cautiously, Jakotsu began to read.

Dear Jakotsu

If you are reading this, it means I am no longer here. I know you must be mourning my death very much, but please, don't worry. I don't want you to grieve, for even as I write this, the thought of you crying, pains me.

My dear son, with this letter, I have left you my old sword, the Jakotsutou. It was the sword I used in my youth, and is your namesake. I loved this sword very much, and hope you will learn its many techniques, as well.

I guess there's something else I have to tell you…I'm hoping I have already told you, but If I haven't I am sorry and I hope you will forgive me. I have tried to tell you many times before, but whenever I try, I find myself unable to speak. I guess I'm really a coward…I know Kiko may seem unreasonably hard on you at times, but I want you to know that it is not your fault…In fact if there is anyone to be blamed it is me…you see, after I married Kiko I fell in love with another woman. I can't explain why…I guess I really am weak, and I'm sorry. You are the product of that love, Jakotsu…I guess Kiko could never accept you. Please know that you did nothing wrong to deserve such cruelty. It is me, who should be punished.

I want you to know, Jakotsu, that I love you very much. I know that your life seems so hard. You are only a child, yet sometimes when I look in your eyes I see a look of pain. Then you smile, like everything is all right, and I am almost convinced that you are happy. I want you to be happy…please keep that childlike innocence that I always see in you. Even though life may seem tough at times, don't give up, because I'll be there for you always.

Reisuki.

Jakotsu folded the letter up and stuck it in his pocket. Lifting the Jakotsutou, he studied his reflection in the mirror. He looked so…normal…aside from the pain and bitterness in his eyes, Jakotsu looked like any other boy. You would never be able to tell from looking at him that he was gay.

"Woman…Woman are all whores!" The words burst from his mouth, before he could stop them. Sayo…Kiko…they had caused him so much misery in his life. Jakotsu couldn't understand how straight men liked them. Jakotsu felt a burst of anger surge through him. I never want someone to think I might be attracted to those repulsive beings. Jakotsu thought bitterly. It was strange…It had been only a day, but Jakotsu felt like he had totally changed in the last 12 hours. He was a new person, but yet looked totally the same. Jakotsu remembered his father's words… "Please keep that childlike innocence that I always see in you." "I'm sorry father…but that Jakotsu is dead." Jakotsu briefly remembered the dream he had had, in what seemed so long ago.

"I'm dead…I cant be found." The young Jakotsu had said.

Jakotsu paused and slid his hand into his pocket. He withdrew the butterfly hairpin that Hikaru had given him. He felt a stab of pain, as he remembered Hikaru's gentle teasing, about how weird it was that Jakotsu liked a girl's hairpin. Studying his reflection, Jakotsu pined his ponytail to the rest of his hair.

It was the birth of Jakotsu.