A/N: And the story moves to their hometown: Umegae.
Disclaimer: I do not own Sasameki Koto.
"Sumika! Ushio-chan!" Murasame Tenkai rubbed his eyes and stared at the two approaching figures, "It is you! Come'ere!" he quickly ran over to hug both women tightly. His hair was completely grey and many crinkles appeared on his face when he smiled, much like how he was grinning now.
"Dad," Sumika complained when her dad started tearing up, "You're making a scene in front of your students."
Tenkai stepped back, sniffling, "You're right. You're right. I'm just so happy to see you two here! Ushio-chan, have you gotten cuter?"
"Have I?" Ushio giggled, a hand on her flushed cheek.
"Indeed you have!" Tenkai trained his gaze on his daughter, "Have you grown taller, Sumika? Here I thought staying together with Ushio-chan would make you more feminine."
"Being tall doesn't mean I'm not feminine!" Sumika snapped.
"Sumi-chan has become more girly. She's learning how to cook, sew and many other things." Ushio smiled.
"Is that so?" Tenkai beamed, "I bet she's making no progress at all."
"That's none of your business!" Sumika growled, crossing her arms defiantly.
"Now, now, Sumi-chan, no need to be embarrassed." Ushio smiled brightly, nudging the taller woman playfully.
Sumika just grumbled to herself as her father burst into laughter, tears of mirth gathering in the corner of his eyes.
"SUMIKA!" two voices exclaimed and Sumika and Ushio were suddenly picked off the ground by 2 identical men.
"Put us down you idiots!" Sumika scolded and her brothers lowered them to the floor, "I see you three are still hanging around the dojo? When will you get some real jobs? Wait... where's your third copy?"
"We'll work in the dojo forever!" they said together, "Keita is at the supermarket."
Sumika smiled, "At least one of you is doing some thing useful. I'm assuming he's with mum?"
"That would be correct. Your brother's very keen on learning how to cook, Noe has already taught him every thing she knows." Tenkai said proudly, "Let's go inside for now. Sumika, since you're back, would you like-"
"I kindly refuse." Sumika immediately cut her father off, "I just arrived and you're not even going to let me unpack before asking me to help you train the kids who never listen to you?"
"But-" Tenkai whined childishly.
"I'll come and help when I feel like it. Is that okay?"
"You're the best, Sumika! Go freshen up, we'll be in the dojo if you need us!"
"Yeah, yeah." Sumika waved and led the way into her house, inhaling the familiar smells that told her she was home.
"I guess I'll stay here with you then." Ushio said as they entered Sumika's tidy bedroom.
"If you want to stay with your broth-"
"No, no. His house is too small for the two of us anyway." Ushio smiled, sitting at Sumika's desk and smiling broadly at the photo frames displayed there. Identical ones were framed up in their Tokyo apartment, but to Ushio, it felt different to be looking at the picture while sitting in Sumika's old room.
"After we've unpacked, shall we visit him?" Sumika asked, unzipping her luggage bag and taking things out.
"What about training those kids in the dojo?"
"How can that even compare with us visiting your brother's family?"
"Okay then." Ushio smiled, already eager to see her brother.
"Sumika! Ushio!" Murasame Noe beamed. She too had grown old over the years. Tenkai had proposed to her 4 years ago after much thought, and the woman agreed, a month later, "How long has it been!"
Sumika and Ushio enveloped the older woman in a hug, the groceries being flattened between them but none of them cared.
"It's been too long, too long!" Noe answered her own question, "What brings you two lovebirds here?"
Sumika blushed, "J-just v-visiting."
"My, my, still turning red from such a simple comment?" Noe's eyes twinkled with mischief.
"Good to have you back, Sumika." Keita, Sumika's oldest brother said, hugging both woman with strong arms.
"How's cooking coming along?" Sumika grinned, "Good to know at least one of us can cook without blowing the kitchen into smithereens."
"It's pretty good. I'm working full-time at Ume's most expensive restaurant, you two should come visit some time while you're in town!" Keita then smirked, "What can I say? I'm gifted."
"Sure!" Sumika punched her brother in the shoulder, hard, and he winced.
"Geez, sis, don't want to act too violently, Ushio's right here."
That only earned him another punch and a death glare, "Anyway, we're going to visit Kazama's brother. Be back for dinner."
"Will Norio-san and Kinuta-san be joining us?" Noe asked.
Sumika looked at Ushio before replying, "Can we tell you later?"
"Not too late!"
"It's okay, mum, we should cook extra. Sumika's back so she can finish any leftovers." Keita's distant voice said and Sumika was about to turn around to beat him up when Ushio wrapped both arms around her waist.
"Sumi-chan." Ushio giggled, pulling her embarrassed lover closer.
Sighing, Sumika looped a long arm around Ushio's shoulders and walked towards their parked car.
They arrived at the Kazama household, which was a small apartment in the centre of Umegae, minutes away from where Norio worked and a bus ride away from Kinuta's office.
"Ushio-chan, Sumika-chan." Kinuta grinned, hugging both woman and inviting them in, "Your brother is in the shower. He should be out soon. When did you two arrive?"
"Just now." Ushio smiled, entering the cosy apartment with walls completely covered by nostalgic stacks and stacks of books.
"Oh? Are you two hungry? I was just about to start on dinner." Kinuta asked, moving to the living room and gesturing them to sit.
"Actually, we were wondering if you wanted to join us for dinner, at Sumi-chan's house." Ushio asked, sitting next to Sumika on the comfy couch.
"Oh, I don't know. Ryushi has school tomorrow and it's a working day for us too."
"I think that's a great idea." Norio said, coming from his bedroom with a towel around his neck.
"Onii-chan!" Ushio sprang to her feet and hugged her brother fiercely.
"I missed you too, Ushio." Norio spotted Sumika standing close by and smiled, "You too, Sumika-chan."
"We've missed you all too." Sumika said with a gentle smile.
"How're you two?" Norio asked after his sister released her grip.
"We're good." Ushio said without much thought, standing on her tiptoes to hug her brother again, "I missed you so much!"
"Do we have guests, daddy?" a little boy with tousled blonde hair appeared in the room with sleepy eyes which slowly widened when he stared at the two visitors, "Aunty Ushio, Aunty Sumika!"
"Ryu-kun!" Ushio squealed, dropping to her knees to embrace her nephew.
"Aunty Ushio!" Ryushi tucked his head on Ushio's shoulder and their hair colour was almost identical with Ryushi's just slightly darker.
Sumika moved to hug the pair, "How're you, Ryushi?"
"I've got my yellow belt!" Ryushi beamed proudly.
"Oh? Tenkai-sensei didn't go easy on you, did he?" Sumika teased, messing with Ryushi's wavy blonde hair.
"Nope. At least... I don't think so." Ryushi looked troubled, his brown eyes narrowed.
"Don't worry, I know you deserved that yellow belt."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Spar with me!"
"Right now?"
"Yeah!" Ryushi struggled out of Sumika's grip and landed firmly on the floor before taking up a fighting stance.
"Now, now, Ryushi, Sumika-chan only just arrived, you can't ask her to spar with you all of a sudden like that." Kinuta scolded her son, "Besides, there's no fighting in this house, remember?"
"Sorry, mummy."
"I'll spar with you in the dojo." Sumika whispered and winked at Ryushi before addressing his parents, "So how about that dinner?"
"Sounds good to me." Norio smiled.
"I'm okay if Norio's okay." Kinuta agreed.
"Let's go!" Ryushi exclaimed.
That night, the Murasame house was noisier than ever. Things got even louder when alcohol got involved. Ushio was the first to get drunk as the happy family sang, drank, laughed and chatted the night away.
"Bye-bye, Onii-chan!" Ushio slurred, her face tinted red from all the alcohol as she sat on the front porch, leaning against Noe who was equally as drunk.
"Thanks for that dinner, Sumika-chan. We had a blast." Kinuta smiled, entering the car with a sleeping Ryushi, leaving Norio with Sumika.
"I'll see you two around?" Norio asked.
"Actually, there's something important I want to speak to you about." Sumika looked over her shoulder at Ushio, "It's about... Kazama."
"Is it urgent? 'Cause, I can always meet up with you after I drop Kinuta and Ryushi off."
"No, no. You guys go home and rest. I was thinking maybe for breakfast tomorrow?"
"Sounds good. Where should we meet?"
"Are there any good cafes near your office?"
"Right opposite the train station, it's called Coffee Haven."
"I'll see you at 7?"
"Alright."
They bid each other good night and the Kazama's were driving off. Sumika turned back and picked her drunk lover off the front porch while her dad did the same with his wife.
"Nights, dad. Sorry I didn't help out today. I'll try make some time tomorrow afternoon."
"No." Tenkai said firmly as they reached the 1st floor landing, "You have your own things to do, I understand."
"Dad, it's not like that, I was just-"
"I didn't mean it like that." Tenkai lowered his voice, "I know you didn't just come here for 'vacation' but whatever it is you have in mind, Sumika, please remember that you're still a girl, you're still my baby daughter."
"Dad-"
"I mean it, Sumika. I can see it in your eyes, I've never ever seen you glare at the air with such intensity." Tenkai smiled and retreated to his room with his wife in his arms, "Just be careful, Sumika."
Sumika was shocked. She didn't think her father was that observant, "R-right." she stuttered and watched until his door closed before snapping from her thoughts and entering her own room where the bed spread had been laid out, probably by her mother.
"Sumi-chan..." Ushio groaned, "Sumika...?" her hands groped air until Sumika leaned in and caught both hands.
"Yes, Ushio?" Sumika smiled when Ushio's lips twitched at the sound of her first name.
"Come'ere." Ushio gently reached for Sumika and pulled the woman down for a slow, sweet kiss.
"Kazam-"
"Ushio."
Sumika smiled at her light-haired lover's dark eyes, "Kazama," Ushio pouted, "Ah, nevermind. I'll ask you another time."
Sumika didn't receive a reply, but she wasn't surprised when Ushio was breathing deeply and evenly below her. Getting up, she changed both her clothes and Ushio's before sliding in next to Ushio and falling asleep shortly after.
"So what did you want to talk to me about?" Norio asked curiously, taking a sip of his coffee.
Sumika fumbled with her cup, not knowing how to start or whether she should even be here with Norio, while Ushio was fast asleep back home, "Erm..."
"You mentioned it was about Ushio?" Norio tried to help.
"Well... I wanted to ask about... something that happened..." Sumika hesitated before finally deciding she needed more details and there was no way around it, "When Kazama was 7 years old."
Norio's face immediately changed. His skin visibly paled, losing all colour and an uncharacteristic scowl appeared on his usually calm face, "I thought she forgot what happened."
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I need to know what happened to that man."
"Why? He ended up in jail. Who cares what happened to him? He'd be better off dead." Norio growled, much to Sumika's increasing regret for bringing the topic up in the first place.
"That man's alive." Sumika said.
"How do you kno- oh my god." realization dawned on Norio's face, "She's met him again, hasn't she? Is she okay? Is this why you two are here in Umegae? Has he tried any thing with her again? I swear, if he has, I won't even call the cops, I'll hunt him down myself!"
"No, he hasn't tried any thing. But yes, she's met him. He was the new technician in her secondary school. She freaked out really bad and eventually, I got her to tell me what happened. I brought her here to get her mind off things for a while. She's still very shaken up."
"Of course she is. That man destroyed her childhood." Norio glared at the mug in his hands, "So what happened? Is he in jail again? Or did you personally send him to the hospital?" Norio chuckled.
"No... I only just found out about him from Kazama 2 days ago. I'm planning on lodging a police report if he shows up again. File a restraining order against him so that, at least we'll have the authorities aware of our situation."
"That won't be the first restraining order filed against him." Norio leaned forward and met Sumika's gaze, "Because Ushio wasn't his first victim."
"What?"
"His name is Tokaji Akuhei, otherwise known as the Demon or Akuma. He's a well-known criminal, a rapist and a murderer. Ushio was his last victim. Before her, there were many, many young woman and little girls who he raped and killed before dumping pieces of their bodies in many different places. Before Ushio, the authorities could never catch him because, I'm sure you know, he's an insane genius. The police couldn't track him, he has no pattern or particular preferences. He just raped and killed before disappearing into thin air, like the demon that he is."
"How can he be that good?" Sumika remembered the man's sardonic smirk and felt shivers run down her spine.
"A mad genius. I will never forget that crazed look in his eyes when he was hauled into the back of a police car. He was just grinning at me with half his face melting... I suffered from nightmares for years after that incident, so you can imagine how surprised I was when my little sister, who was discharged from the hospital months after the incident, behaved as if nothing ever happened. Sure, there were subtle changes like how her eyes lost their innocence, her smile lost its brightness, she was more timid and fearful of others, especially men, but it was nothing compared to what the doctors told us to be ready for. I learnt, when I grew up, that she simply pushed it out of her mind, erased that part of her memory. But I guess every thing comes back one day. We can't run away from the ghosts of our past forever."
"I see..." Sumika sipped her drink, "I-I... I don't know what to do. I feel like I should be doing something to help extinguish her fears by putting that criminal back behind bars. But I don't know where to start."
"I understand how you feel, but the only person who can overcome this is Ushio herself. You being there for her is already enough and I'm infinitely grateful to you for that."
"But... I just want to do more. After seeing her so... terrified, I just..."
Norio placed a hand on Sumika's and smiled, "You really are her best friend. If you really want to do some thing, you can start with the Tokyo police. They were the ones who handled his case 19 years ago. But they probably won't listen to you unless you have solid proof that he's been up to no good."
"Thank you. Once we get back, I'll keep a close eye on Kazama. For now, we'll just relax being home again."
Norio glanced at his wrist watch, "And I've got to head to the office now. It was nice chatting with you, Sumika-chan."
"Yeah and thank you for your advice." Sumika got up and when they left the cafe, they each went their separate ways.
When Sumika reached home, Ushio was already awake and sitting by the dinning table chatting with 2 familiar faces.
"Murasame-kun! How nice of you to join us!" Hachisuka Tomoe grinned, her hair was still short after so many years.
"She's as tall as ever." Miyako grumbled her greeting.
"Hey, what're you two doing here?" Sumika entered the room and sat next to Ushio who immediately leaned against her.
"We haven't seen you in years! So of course the minute we heard that you two were back, we took the day off and came right over!" Tomoe exclaimed, as enthusiastic as ever about the smallest things.
"Right... Have you eaten?" Sumika turned to Ushio who nodded and yawned.
"Where did you go this morning?"
"I..." Sumika was stumped, but she knew that lying would only make things worst, "I had breakfast with your brother."
"You did?" Ushio didn't seem to realise for what reason as she smiled brightly, "Isn't it too late for him to be giving the 'hurt Ushio and I'll hurt you' speech?"
"Believe me, he's already given me that speech." Sumika smiled, remembering the rather frightening experience.
"Really? When?"
"The day after we graduated."
Across the table, Tomoe cleared her throat loudly, "Yes, we're still here."
"Right, so what do you guys wanna do today?" Sumika chuckled, feeling nostalgic.
"How about a walk around town?" Ushio chirped, "I saw many new shops while driving here yesterday!"
"How about it? I'm curious to see what has changed in the past year." Sumika agreed.
"We haven't been around this area too, actually." Tomoe looked at Miyako, "What do you say?"
"I go wherever you go, Tomoe-chan." Miyako's brown eyes sparkled and Sumika quickly interjected before the couple could start kissing passionately, and ruin their afternoon plans.
"Okay! Let's get going!" Sumika got up and dragged Ushio with her.
"What's the matter?" Miyako waggled her eyebrows when they started walking down the street towards the row of shoplots nearby Sumika's home, "You can do the same with your titty monster right?"
Sumika blushed while Ushio laughed with amusement, "S-shut up! And don't call her a titty monster damnit!"
"Now, now, we're way past our high school days, no need to tease each other." Tomoe then looked at Sumika seriously, "But really, don't feel embarrassed showing affection for Kazama-kun in front of us."
"Gah! You two don't know any shame do you?" Sumika fumed, storming ahead.
For a good portion of the afternoon, they spent it walking around their hometown, visiting old shops, reminiscing the old days and laughing about it. They spent the most time in their old school where a new batch of students were roaming the compound.
"That was us 9 years ago." Tomoe smirked, holding her blonde lover close to her, "Can't believe I'm 28 years old now."
"And we're 26." Sumika smiled, "Hey, why don't we go to that fast food restaurant we always go to when holding our club meetings?"
"That brings back many good memories."
"Remember the time Akemi-chan was eating with us?" Ushio sighed, "I really, really thought she was a she when she was actually a he. How foolish of me."
"He fooled us all. Except Murasame-kun, of course."
"What can I say? I have more observant eyes."
"Says the woman wearing glasses."
The 4 women strolled away from their former school and towards the nearby fast food joint. Ushio and Sumika were walking in front while Tomoe and Miyako were slightly behind them. They were happily chatting away when Miyako accidentally walked right into a motionless Ushio.
"Hey! What's the big idea?" Miyako shouted, nursing her sore nose.
"Kazama?" Sumika asked worriedly, "What's wrong?"
Ushio was rooted to the pavement. Her eyes were wide with alarm, her body trembled and her lips opened and closed, as if trying to say some thing without her voice. Her hand that was clasped in Sumika's quivered and tightened her grip.
Sumika followed her gaze and saw something that made her blood freeze. A man in his late 40's was standing in the middle of the crowd several blocks away. He was wearing a black hoodie and jeans, but his malicious smirk and greedy black eyes were perfectly visible under the afternoon sun. He turned abruptly and began walking away, disappearing into the crowd with surprising ease.
"Look after Kazama for me." Sumika instructed, moving into the crowd in the general direction she saw the man leave in.
"Mura-" Tomoe stopped, "What's the point she's gone. Come on, Kazama-kun, we'll head back for now."
Ushio let herself get pulled along by Miyako and Tomoe, her mind was moving in slow motion and she only realised that Sumika had gone after that demon minutes after it happened.
"We have to go after Sumi-chan!" Ushio exclaimed, resisting against Tomoe.
"She'll be fine."
"No! She won't! We have to call the police! We have to go after her!" Ushio begged.
"She's the Murasame Sumika, I'm sure she can handle herself." Miyako huffed.
"Don't worry, Kazama-kun." Tomoe assured.
A/N: Review? :D