Hellooooo everyone! Whoooo boy it has been a super loooong, hot minute since I've been here! Eight months, oh my gosh. I'm so sorry guys. Thank you to every one of you, you beautiful angels, who have stuck with me through this unexpected break and even come back to read my stories time and time again. Your support has been life-changing and has kept me hopeful when I felt like giving up. I hope you enjoy this extra-long update either way. I know it won't make up for the time I've been away and I have nothing else to say except that I've had a lot happening at once, but I promise I'll try to post again sooner rather than later… Much love to you all, and I hope you beautiful Cherry Blossoms are doing well and staying strong and safe. ^^

Chapter Twenty-Two: Turning Point

After Agatha and I part ways I'm called downstairs for a discussion of some kind. At the base of the stairs I pick up on the distant click of a closing door. I know how curious she can be at times, so why isn't she following me? I guess she's decided that the hug was a mistake on her end? And now I regret the action too... Damnit.

To sum up the conversation- Sex. I was told in great detail about the birds and the bees. Not a fun way to spend the better part of the morning. Annoyances aside, I get it. Better knowledgeable and safe than sorry. The whole thing was embarrassing, mega uncomfortable, and super awkward. But, maybe, I'll appreciate it later on down the line.

Moving on... The rest of my day is spent in solitude. While doing homework, part of me mulls over all uncle Max said and how to use it. Agatha hasn't bothered to chat with me, no doubt aware of what went on, but despite what she thinks I could really use her presence. I may be of Kai's bloodline, but I'm far from the super anti-social catastrophe he was.

Deciding to go see her myself I scoot away from my desk and push myself up from the chair, and then I weightlessly plop back into the dark fabric. No, if she wants to talk, she'll drop by.

Dinner does little to aid my nerves. Agatha all but ignores me, choosing to eat in her room instead of at the table. While it doesn't irk me, it does leave me momentarily chewing on whether I've done something to tick her off. The morning plays through my head again and my shoulders sink as I nip at my long-forked meatball.

The next day, I'm busy in the shop with Max overseeing most of what I do while Agatha is out with Rachel again. The hours are mundane and events oddly ordinary with no stress. Normalcy, this is a thing I haven't experienced in some time, and I'm honestly not sure how to feel about it.

By Wednesday, I'm still wracking my brain on how to talk to Agatha, bring up what I'd like to anyway, but Agatha is having none of it it seems. Anytime I think I've found an opportunity, I get blown off by either Agatha acting weird, Rachel coming by, or life itself, and Agatha comes off relieved by it all.

At my wit's end, I take a long drive and somehow find myself at a familiar place. Pulling into the Stephen driveway, I knock and then make my way inside to find Sinead's Grandma fussing with the laundry, the folding part of it anyway.

"Afternoon, Maeryn," I say as I approach the woman standing behind the farthest end of the long sofa.

"Afternoon, Love," she says sweetly while looking up at me briefly before returning to the beige fitted sheet in her hands, "What can I do for ya? Need some fattin' up?"

I smile, "No, Uncle Max feeds me plenty," Going serious I bashfully add, "Uh, you're a girl, right?"

Maeryn sets her folded sheet in the basket seated at her feet before returning her stern eyes to me.

Realizing what I've done, I utter nervously, "This isn't easy,"

"I can tell. What's up?"

"How- When you- Uh, shoot,"

"Gou," she says, voice going harder than usual, a knowing look in her eyes. Still, I can't help but pick up on the soft urging beneath.

"I-" I try, my mouth and brain and heart at war on the subject matter.

I'm interrupted by hard shoes stepping down the stairs, and look up to see an old friend. If only the timing was better.

"Lionel,"

Stopping at the base of the stairs, the recently clean-shaven man bluntly says, "'Ey, I thought I heard you're whining,"

I scowl, "I'm frustrated,"

He stares at me, unfazed by the sudden flush in my face and rising temper. "Mm, and how's that workin' out for you?"

I swallow my answer at those words.

Within the weighted lull that follows, Lionel faces Maeryn and asks if he can take me off her hands. She gives the okay, understanding that he's not trying to be rude, merely helpful considering her list of To-Dos keeps getting longer by the hour despite his and Sinead's aid. There seems to be a lot going on at once, because there is, and it appears to be more than they bargained for but all are making what they can of it, just as the rest of the world does with their given lots.

As we step outside, Lionel in front, I can't help but tick the many boxes on my mental list of oddities that I never picked up on before. Either I'm blind, or Lionel has been more influenced by Kai than I thought.

"What's up? It's not like you to get tongue-tied around Gran-Gran," He smirks, and with a teasing tone, he adds, "Don't tell me you're into cougars,"

"I'm gonna hurt you!"

"With what, your lady-hands? And don't even get me started on those noodles you call arms. Seriously, I thought you'd be beefier by now,"

I want to deck him just to prove a point, but I refrain, knowing it'll lead to a match I don't stand a chance of winning. Yeah, I said it… I instead eye my sluggishly moving feet and exhale, letting my shoulders fall with flowing air.

Lionel stops his steady stride, gold eyes watching me, no doubt a glimmer of worry flickering in them.

"Sorry, man, I was only teasin'. I didn't mean it,"

I look up at him with what I can only assume is a hopeless look on my face, because his face falters and the sincere concern is made clearer.

I scoff and smirk back, "You're not wrong though," I pause, frowning, "I'm just… lost on what to do. Tryin' to figure things out, and then where to go from there,"

I don't care to keep my mask on anymore, act tough. Around Lionel I don't need to, not usually so why start now.

"Does this have anything to do with your new housemate?" Lionel asks, dropping the know-it-all, kind of playful smirk afterward.

I offer him a slight smile, one that gives away how on the mark he is.

"Yeah, and I feel like I've majorly messed up,"

Lionel licks his lips, and after stepping up to me, he teasingly says, "You can't do anything right, can you?"

I laugh, liking the atmospheric shift, "Not when it comes to me. No. You ain't learned that yet?"

We both bust a gut at the sarcastic banter, my laughs more audible than his.

Once things die down, we continue our walk through the peaceful, sunset-painted neighborhood, and I proceed to explain the situation and how Agatha is avoiding me.

After thinking it all over, Lionel looks at me and says, "Let her come to you. It wasn't easy by any means, but I waited until Sinead was comfortable with me before confessing how I felt. With women like them it's friends first,"

"But, we've been friends for-"

"Don't matter. Give her time. If you push, you'll only make her anxieties worse, maybe even confirm some deep-seated fears,"

Visibly confused, I ask, "Fears?"

"That all men are the same, only after that one thing," After a minute, he asks, "You know what I mean?"

My face reddens like a beat at the thought, giving him his answer.

He smiles kindly at me before he says, "Be sweet but not smothery and she's bound to come closer,"

"Thanks," I mutter, not thrilled at the idea, but still taking all he's said to heart. I know he's right. I'll do my best to give Agatha what she needs.

In a matter of seconds, my mind shifts gears, and I conclude that Lionel is on the same page because of what comes out of his mouth.

"How's, Mr. Hiwatari doin'?" he asks as we turn a corner onto another long street, face a mix of somber.

"According to staff, he's Stable,"

"Still not able to see him then?"

"No,"

I pause, momentarily wishing I could get some advice from him too, but something tells me that he'd agree with Lionel and that bites.

"Speaking of Kai-" I begin.

"Yeah?"

"There's a lot of similarities between you two, and I'm his son so that's saying something,"

Lionel chortles, briefly looking down at his feet, a tinge of pink painting his face.

I grin, seeing how much he admires him too. Funny how I never noticed, because it makes so much sense.

"Huh, I never thought of that before,"

"Why do you think that is?" I ask, both wanting the silence to stay away and see if he'll open up to me.

Going stoic, Lionel glances ahead of us and frankly says, "Don't know, I'm not a psychologist,"

At first I'm not satisfied with that answer, but then I remember his background and how much he isolated himself. Thanks to the internet via my personal tablet from Uncle for Christmas I surmise… similar upbringings. Yeah, that seems the most likely. Taking that into account, I assess he sees Kai as a father figure.

The next morning finds me waking up several minutes before six o'clock, the sun steadily inching its way over the muted blue-hued horizon line.

Shuffling into the kitchen, my face washed and teeth brushed, I spy something depressing. Agatha is slumped over the counter and she appears to have been in the middle of reading a book on something. Curiosity rises and I step closer. Peering over her shoulder, I silently scan the left page, Agatha is unintentionally covering the one beside it.

"'Vulnerability is one of your greatest strengths... Embrace it. As humans, we tend to believe that we are risking too much by putting ourselves out there, but the opposite is actually true… If you don't put yourself out there and take risks, you will end up missing out on so much… Life is meant to be a little messy, but it has to be in order to be worth living... Building walls to hide behind – emotionally speaking – may sound like a good idea, but those walls do not discriminate between positive and negative feelings... A life that is guaranteed to be free from betrayal is also guaranteed to be free from love… Love is choosing to trust someone with your heart. You can practice showing your emotional vulnerability in a safe setting. Talk to a close family member or a good friend and be open with them about your feelings. You may implicitly trust them, but the act of opening up shows this in a very real way and it reinforces the belief in your mind that trust is a good thing… - A Conscious Rethink.'"

I swallow to coat my parched throat and proceed the make two cups of coffee before gently rousing my Sleeping Beauty awake.

"Morning," I say the moment Agatha groans and lifts herself from the book, closing it as she moves.

"'Ey," she grumbles, conveying something bordering on unhappy, and maybe even exhausted.

"How ya feelin'?" I ask as I place a mug within her reach, mine following.

"I'm okay," she mutters, still not looking at me.

My heart sinks and I lift a hand to place it on her shoulder and hold her close like before, but then Lionel's words replay and I lower it, letting it fall limp at my side.

"Just okay?" I ask, my concern coming through.

"… Yeah," Agatha says, it barely audible.

She turns to leave, and as I watch her back, something inside me stirs.

"What would you have named…?" I can't bring myself to finish the sentence, but then her jewel eyes meet mine. I breathlessly add, "Him, the boy, the baby, your baby?"

She blinks, her eyes on the brink of bursting. "Why, would you…? It's too early for this, Gou,"

"Please? I wanna know. Say something, say anything to me," I say, my cracking voice on the edge of croaking. I hate puberty.

"Kai…" She relaxes at his name, her frame falling and eyes looking calmer than they have since I've known her. "I would've called him, Kai,"

In spite of the mood, and to her surprise, I bare my teeth in a wide, face-splitting grin. The mere thought of that makes me giddy.

"Why are you smiling?" Agatha asks with a loud sniffle, reflecting my emotion after she wipes her watery eyes.

"It's sweet, and Kai would've thought the world of it,"

She flushes close to red, looking at the floor, "You think so?"

"Definitely,"

Agatha smiles brightly at me, eyes beaming with euphoria, before she crumples to the ground in a mound, almost appearing inconsolable as she weeps into her clammy hands.

Not wanting to scare her, or further in my case, I quietly tread out to retrieve a groggy Uncle from his spot in front of the television, the local news playing at a reasonable volume. He rushes in to do his doting duty and waves me out once he's got an arm around her. Opposing I do so, my eyes catching the forgotten mugs as I vacate the room.

The white ceramic I gave her sports an image of Dranzer while the one I used dons a 3-dimensional Draciel, both painted in bright colors and vivid detail.

The recall of the cups makes my mind chase a question as I approach the base of the stairs… How exactly did my folks get together? From what Uncle says they couldn't have been more contrary, but, so are Agatha and I when you stack our attributes side by side. And circumstances can bring about huge changes so… What was their first date, the overall relationship like?

Reaching my room, another notion occurs to me… Agatha has been worried about Kai too I know, but I never realized the full extent. In hindsight, I should've known and figured it out sooner. Given that, I'll leave her to Uncle Max. He understands her better than I do anyway. At least that's how it seems at the moment.

Once the break is over, Agatha not avoiding me as much, we're back to the old grind. This means early mornings, people, and school. I don't want to deal with any of it if I'm being honest, but it is what it is, and I'll deal with it as best I can.

It's Monday, so we're extra tired, and while I'm only half-listening to the daily announcements, the tail end captures my attention. There's going to be a Spring Formal in late May, the evening after our exams to be exact, and tickets go on sale starting today.

Exiting Economics, a year-long course, I glide into the crowded hallway that stinks of old backpacks and sweat.

In a matter of seconds I spot Agatha leaned against her locker, a bundle of colorfully covered books in her folded arms. She appears nervous as she talks to an older boy I've learned to be named, Emmitt Mansfield. He's light as ivory and wears a long white jacket with a fastened, high collar and black accents on the shoulders. Gold trim runs up the middle of the collar with matching buttons on both sides. There's a white belt left to hang in the middle of the gold-lined material. He pairs this with matching pants, brown shoes that resemble loafers, and violet fingerless gloves. His hair is strikingly orange and beneath that shaggy, semi-spiked mess, I see glimmers of his piercing aqua eyes.

"I'm sorry, Emmitt. Maybe, uh-"

"Come on, I'm the number one dancer in America," he persuades, trapping her with a raised, bent arm pressing into the lockboxes.

Agatha shrinks underneath the slender man, feeling even more cornered and intimidated than before.

Sick of this, I briefly scowl before deciding to make my move. I am quick to get behind him and tap his shoulder.

Emmitt takes me and my shortness in and soon sends me a brazen grin, asserting himself.

"And who might you be?" Emmitt says with a sly smirk.

I mentally roll my eyes at that sentence. How original. "A right pain in your ass if you don't leave her alone. The lady said no. Take it and scat,"

"I didn't hear that," he says, his eyes gleaming with superiority.

"She shouldn't have to say it, her actions speak enough," I bite, scowling as my temper wakes.

Emmitt, seething, storms off to somewhere out of my sight.

Looking at Agatha with distress in my eyes, I ask, "You okay?"

"Mhm," she sheepishly hums out, tucking some loose strands behind her small ears.

"Desire a bodyguard?" I kindly ask, hoping she catches the hint.

She nods and gives me a shy smile, before my smile widens.

As I guide the now giddy girl along the path, it all but cleared out now, Lionel's advice runs through my head. My stomach flutters and I grow warm with gratification as I realize that things aren't as complicated as I'm making them out to be in my head. It's settled then… I'm going to ask Agatha to the dance. Now all I have to do is wait for the right moment.

That evening, the instant we arrive home, uncle says over some dancey pop music that dinner will be ready within the hour. Knowing that, I head upstairs to freshen up.

Approaching my room, I sight something I haven't in a long time… Agatha is sitting on my bed.

Without a word, I step over the threshold. In the recess I take the note of the anxious, almost forlorn look on her face. I get the feeling she needs to say something but is scared to. I can't put my finger on any particular reason though.

"Can we talk?" she utters with dread in her mousy voice, finally finding the nerve to glance up from her lap and into my eyes.

"Sure, always available for you,"

I smile after speaking and she returns it before I sit down at the right of her, wishing in my heart of hearts to bring her a sense of true happiness again. Sitting there, I realize just how much I've missed this. Regardless of my feelings or what's to come, I want her to know that I'll always be there for her. I'm her friend first and will continue to be that at my core.

"What's up?" I ask, wanting to get the ball rolling. It's more for her sake than mine.

"I, just wanted to say, th-thank you," she bashfully says, keeping her red face on her lap.

"Thank you?" I inquire, eyes squinting in concern.

She lifts her head to look at me. "For booting Emmitt away... He's… He's really pushy,"

I rub the back of my neck sheepishly, my face heating up some too, "I- Oh- Uh- No biggie,"

"It, was really sweet of you,"

"I'll always be there for you,"

Relaxing, I watch the internal struggle in Agatha's eyes. She wants to do something but is either too scared or shy to. She then leans into me and lays her head on my shoulder, her red and brown autumnal tresses blanket my left side and trail down it as if they're silk ribbons.

My heart slams against my ribs and races at the contact. Staring at the open entrance, I hear a hum of contentment and then a soft whisper reaches my ears.

"… I trust you, Gou,"

Of course, trust… She wasn't avoiding me because I hugged her for longer and tighter than I should've, which likely made her uncomfortable, she needed time to think. Time to see my actions for what they were and know for herself she could count on me still, understand that I wouldn't take advantage of her.

Laying my head atop her with a soft smile stretching my own lips, I utter, "Good to know,"

I'm not sure what happened, but when I come to hours later, we're both flopped over on my bed, Agatha's head curled up on my chest. I smile at the sight of her snoozing away peacefully but not a second later my eyes drift to Uncle in the doorway. He smiles a kind hello at me before dabbing his lips with a raised finger, telling me in Mime to keep quiet. He carefully picks the princess up and carries her off to her own bed before tucking her in.

I sit up and stretch while he's gone, letting out a dramatic yawn as my joints and back pop. I rub the sleep from my face as I hear him come back in and lower my hands moments later.

"Did you make us lay down?" I ask, blinking my eyes a few times to moisten them.

"I did," he says with a wry grin, "Because the last thing I want to deal with is cranky teenagers complaining about cricks in their necks,"

I laugh, forcing back the blush that wants to surface and stay put.

Going serious, he adds, "I'm glad you two hatched things out, got a nap in, but you need to wash up and come eat. Kept it warm for ya,"

"What about Agatha?"

"Let her sleep. I need to talk with you,"

I tighten up at that and look down at my feet briefly. Not another one.

"Wasn't once enough?" I ask, eyes pleading for him not to give me another conversation on 'Adult stuff.'

Uncle lets out a nose exhale type of laugh before he says with a wild grin, "Nurse Anderson called, but I missed it. He left a voicemail asking specifically for you,"

My heart races with panic-stricken worry as he pats my back encouragingly before he adds, "Come on, Porcupine,"

My steps seem to float as I follow him out. Keep your fingers and toes crossed for good news folks! I am.

The next day, after lunch, I buy the tickets for the dance. No I haven't asked her yet, and I may be counting my chickens before they hatch by doing so, but I can't stop myself.

School goes on as usual, but toward the end of the day, I spot a freshly showered Emmitt exiting the gymnasium and my blood boils. The moment he spots us, he strides over with a cocky smirk. Agatha tucks to me for protection, hands gripping my boxy shoulders. I give it, widening my stance to make a visible wall between her and Mr. Scum.

"Hey, hot stuff. I've heard about youuuu. You wanna take another ride on the wild side? I promise I won't bite, much,"

I hear Agatha gag and decide to make sure he doesn't forget I'm here. "Despite what you've heard, she's not easy. Never was,"

He scowls, glowering in my direction. "No one asked you. Beat it, noodles. Adults are talking,"

"No," Agatha utters from behind me.

"Come on, I promise I'll make it worth your while," he says, leaning over me to spy only her. This guy's so desperate to get laid it's pathetic.

"No," Agatha says again, her meek voice louder and firmer than before.

With Emmitt now fuming, I can tell he's got a nasty idea cooking.

Before he can say anything else though I gently nudge Agatha backward and then proceed to give Emmitt's collar a forceful yank down, making him eye level with me. This shocks him, and I'm glad it does.

"Spread that rumor and you can expect my fist in your face," I say, keeping myself eerily calm.

Emmitt swallows but pretends to be unfazed. "Is that a threat?"

Not backing down, I say, "No, it's a promise,"

I set the stewing, but still dumbfounded, man free before Agatha and I head for my car parked nearby.

"My hero," she says as she slides into the passenger seat, closing her door afterward.

"Always," I say as I mirror her actions, starting the car to drive home.

While driving, I spy the rosiness of her cheeks shift from light to heavy and back again, as well as her grin fall and rise every second or so. I wonder, does she feel the same way I do? I smile at the sight, but don't say a word, choosing to keep my eyes on the road.

My phone lights up, rings, buzzes, and vibrates on my nightstand, pulling me from my deep slumber with a hard jerk and snorting noise. I use the limp arm hanging off of my bed to push my sleepy self to grab the mobile.

"… Hello?" I grumble into the phone, my face still scrunched up in the poofy clouds known as my pillows.

"Hey, Gou, it's Nurse Anderson," says an alert voice on the other end.

"Oh, hey. What's up? Uncle said you called," I utter as I sit up and wipe the drool from my chin, swallowing my allergies with a snotty inhale too.

"I did and I saw that you called back, kudos to Max for telling you, but I got busy,"

"It's ok," I yawn out, quick to stifle the noise and talk quieter.

"What's going on?" I add after dusting off some of the cobwebs.

"Hang on a sec, ok?"

There's a lull on the line, and then I hear some unintelligible speakings before the aged probably wall-bound device is noisily moved around.

"… Mr. Andrson, are you there? Hello?"

The line drops, and I, now fully awake and petrified, get dressed in some decent clothes and rush out the door to my car.

Once at the hospital I text Max where I am and such before sprinting off to go inside. This settles it, I need to get in better shape pronto. I take the elevator to Mr. Anderson's floor to spare my lungs anymore scorching. I messily sanitize my exposed skin and then return to booking it down the hall.

Midway between another patient's room and a corridor I ran through, I slip on a freshly mopped spot. With my feet falling out from under me like they do in a cartoon, I land on my back with a hard slam.

"Ow," I squeakily groan out before sharply inhaling and gasping to try and put air back into my system.

After some coughing fits I succeed, but only manage to sit up before a stern face meets mine.

"Why didn't you wait for me to call back?" Mr. Anderson asks as he extends a helping hand to me.

"Sorry," I say as I take it and let him pull me to my feet.

"It's ok. You're not the first to freak out, but,"

He looks me over and smiles, laughter in his eyes, "You are the first spaz to trip on water. Guess Brooklyn forgot to put the sign back,"

"Brooklyn?"

"Yeah, Mansfield,"

"He works here? Emmitt says his dad is some bigshot lawyer and that his mom MingMing is a movie star,"

Mr. Anderson groans and shakes his head in disbelief before he puts a hand to it and says, "Not this again…" Lowering his hand, he adds, "Despite what he says and how he acts, Emmitt is not a rich foreigner, he's a local who gets kicked out of school and changes them often because of lying and bullying, and yes his dad is the custodian here,"

I have nothing nice to say so I don't and merely sigh in annoyance. "Like I care... What did you call about?"

Mr. Anderson is visibly happy and thankful at the shift in both subject and tone, and as proof of that I'm given a toothy smile.

"Follow me,"

I nod, being led in the opposite direction and down several flights of stairs to a lower-level floor.

"Rick Anderson, Room 118, please?" he says through the landline hung on the wall beside the doors of the unit.

In a matter of minutes I'm led off by a half-my-height, curvy nurse named, you guessed it, MingMing. She sports vibrant blue, voluminous pigtails and bright brown eyes with a light tan complexion.

"Wow, you really do favor Kai," she says sweetly as sugar while we walk, her high-pitched voice instantly reminding me of the female mice from Disney's version of Cinderella.

"Thanks, I get that a lot," I say, hoping that she'll catch the hint and I won't have to rudely state how sick I am of hearing it.

After turning a few more corners, we finally arrive at Room 118.

"Here you are, cutie,"

I return the sincere smile the blunette gives me, her eyes stating how much she loves her career.

"Thank you. How long do have this time?" I ask, remembering that I don't exactly know what unit I'm in, let alone what's beyond the door.

"How long? This is Standard Care, you can stay as long as you like,"

"Standard Care... You mean-?" My breath catches and I near drop to the floor in shock.

MingMing smiles gleefully and opens the door for me to go inside. "I'll be back at Breakfast,"

"Breakfast?"

"Yes, it's at seven o'clock. Right now, it's half-past six,"

With that, the nurse heads in to wake the patient up, and I heavily breathe in and out a few times before going in too.

The moment I eye the bed, I smile. Tears flood my eyes the moment I hear a groan and see them stir at the gentle shaking motion.

MingMing cheerfully points in my direction and half-lidded, but delighted crimson eyes are quick to meet me.

Despite his tired face, the now rail-thin man manages a half-hearted smile.

Sobbing uncontrollably, I rush to him and hug him with all the love I can muster, Nurse MingMing verbally reminding me not to hug the weak man too tightly. I feel arms wrap around me and a hand rubs my upper back in a soothing gesture.

Kai's alive, finally awake, and… Thank Heaven, he's going to be okay.