-Chapter Seven-

It had been three months since that night. Kaien had ignored him the whole time he was removing all necessities from their shared home at Cross Academy. In retrospect Toga was glad for the silence. Kaien wasn't a man who would stoop as low as giving someone a dirty look behind their back, and it was obvious they'd both needed some time to cool off. Because Toga was still the Ethics teacher they naturally bumped into each other, but Toga didn't expect anything more than a nod in his direction. He wouldn't dare expect anything more until this whole mess was cleared up. What any of them would do afterwards would depend solely on the events of that afternoon.

Toga sighed and shrugged his shoulders as he walked down the chilled and sterilized halls of the hospital. He and Junko were going to meet with the doctor who had performed the test one more time to find out the results. Unless it was for a criminal case a DNA test was very expensive and took a long time to perform. But after three months of waiting, and for Toga dying a little bit on the inside everyday, they would know the truth.

He took another right turn that led him into the heart of the hospital where the doctor's offices were located. The atmosphere back there was severely different from where patients were attended. The floors were carpeted, the walls painted rich warm colors rather than harsh white, and instead of curtains and sliding doors separating people where was solid oak hinged to the walls. He knocked on one that had the appropriately named plaque next to it and opened it when he was told to come in.

Junko was already there looking down at the floor. Strategically avoiding his gaze. Her light brown hair cascaded down her shoulders before meeting her gem blue dress. Toga swallowed and nervously pulled at the cuffs of his white dress shirt. His black slacks swished quietly when he walked over to the overly plush seat waiting for him. He sat down and hid a grimace at how low he sunk in it. He hated this thing-it killed his back. He licked his lips nervously and gave the doctor a small smile. He continually ran the palms of his hands back and forth over his thighs. Dammit, his was already breaking a sweat.

The doctor cleared his throat seemingly relieved to have both parties there. Junko crossed her legs and ever so slightly tilted away from her ex-husband. Toga didn't notice- he was too busy eyeing the piece of paper sitting right in front of the young man in the white coat.

The doctor-Dr. Kaldia- looked like he'd just graduated from medical school a few years ago, and this was the first DNA test he'd ever done that didn't have to do with a custody battle. He took a deep breath and gave a genuine smile trying to ease the tension in the room.

"First of all I'd like to thank you both for meeting me in person," he said kindly, "Usually I can just deliver the results by phone and send you a copy of them later on, but I thought you might like to hear here."

"Thank you," Junko said softly. She wasn't really in the mood for any small talk, she just wanted the results so she could move on with her life.

Toga leaned back in his chair yet again wondering how a tiny cotton swab rubbing on the inside of his cheek could hold the answers. He didn't understand medicine, but he had to admire it on some level.

"So you have the results back?" Toga asked hoping to move things along.

"Yes I do," Dr. Kaldia nodded and picked up the pristine white sheet. He looked at it for a moment before he exhaled what sounded like a sighing laugh.

"I…don't really know what to say other than," he looked at Toga, "You're not the boy's father."

"What?" Toga and Junko said in unison.

"I made sure our results were correct, and Yagari-sensei isn't the child's father. Quite frankly in this situation I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing…" he trailed off scratching the back of his head. He wasn't really too sure how to handle the situation, if they were still a married couple this wouldn't have been great news but…surely it would be a nice thing to hear now. Right?

Toga almost raised a hand to his chest unsure of how to breathe. The wind was knocked out of him, but it was in such utter delirious relief. Yet he was still compelled to ask, "But Taro looks like me…I mean a little. Why would he look like me if he wasn't my son?"

Junko looked at Toga blankly as if she was blown away that he would question these results. Dr. Kaldia smiled softly as if he'd expected that question. He'd seen the child whose lineage was under question and it was true that the man before him and the six year old did look similar.

"Let me ask you both a question first," he began in good humor, "have you heard the theory that somewhere in the world there is a person who looks just like us?"

"Sure," Toga answered furrowing his brow. 'Where is he goin' with this?' he wondered.

"Well if that theory is true to some extent then it explains a great deal."

"What are you talking about?" Junko asked irritated.

"Humor me Madam; how do you think the film industry is able to pull of certain movies with a time gap?" he asked.

"What?" Junko hissed. Toga fought the urge to roll his eyes.

"They make them work because they are able to find two actors who look ridiculously alike that's how," Kaldia stated simply, "and while we all believe-if not only for the purpose of enjoying the film-that these actors are in fact the same character in two separate stages of life, why not apply that principle to the real world? Many many people look almost identical without having any familial relationship. Now in this case it is extraordinary given the situation but…this is purely by chance."

"So that's it then?" Toga demanded, "It's all just one big coincidence?"

"With the results of this test sir," Kaldia sighed, "That's all I can really say. The child is not yours no matter how much he may resemble you."

There was a momentary silence in the room before Toga and Junko looked at each other. They both tried to read the other's reactions but Toga was simply so relieved he unresponsive, and he'd never been able to figure out what Junko was thinking. When Toga finally broke eye contact with her Dr. Kaldia took it as his cue.

"Now I don't know what the situation is with either of your personal lives, but I have copies of the test results for each of you so you can show…anyone who needs to see it," he said. He paused once more after they stared at their own separate papers, then went to the door and opened it for them. "Thank you both for your time and patience. Please have a good rest of the day," he said pleasantly.

Toga realized it was time to go. The man was probably flooded with patients if the charts on his desk were any indication.

"Thank you," Toga said somberly as he folded the results sheet and put it in his shirt pocket. He quickly exited the room but was surprised when Junko didn't follow him like a bat out of hell. He turned back to hear Junko speaking in hushed tones. Toga quickly looked down the hallway only to find it deserted.

Instead of leaving promptly like he knew he should have he leaned against the wall one leg bent so the bottom of his shoe rested against it. Years of hunting vampires had forced Toga's senses to reach their full potential and it was easy for him to eavesdrop on the conversation.

"This is bullshit," his ex-wife hissed.

"I'm sorry but a DNA test can't lie," Kaldia replied calmly.

"I thought we had an arrangement," Junko said.

There was the sound of a paper sliding across Kaldia's desk. What in fact was an envelope with money inside.

"I'm sorry but I don't provide those kinds of services," he said sternly.

"What are you talking about?" Junko asked irate.

"Listen I don't care why you would do something like this but I refuse to be a part of it. I hope to have many more years in the medical field and I cannot allow myself to be one of those bribe-doctors. And most importantly…that little boy…he deserves to grow up with his real father if fate allows it…I will not condemn a man to supporting a child that isn't his for no good reason," Kaldia flinched at his own wording, but it couldn't be helped. Many step, foster, and adoptive parents were light years better than some children's biological parents but he couldn't condone this.

"Forgive me for being rude Madam but I think you'd better leave…and leave that poor man alone," he added at the last minute.

Junko snorted and stormed out the office.

But she never expected to bump right into the man they'd just been talking about. Her face went as white as the sheet the results were printed on and she looked terrified to see Toga standing there. She was a deer caught in the headlights and Toga wasn't quite sure how he wanted to proceed. His only thoughts were a continual, 'Holy shit…'

He finally settled for a soft and even, "Hey sweetheart."

Junko snapped out of her frozen in fear state and began to walk quickly down the hall.
"Junko wait," Toga commanded gently.

She stopped instantly and flinched at his voice. Toga pushed himself away from his reclining position against the wall and steadily walked over to her.

Really he shouldn't have been surprised-at one level he wasn't and at another he was too shocked for a great many words. When he finally stood beside her he turned her round to face him.

As expected there were tears running down her cheeks causing her makeup to run slightly and what looked like genuine grief in her green eyes. He wiped her tears away with his thumbs and sighed. A deep lunged, anguished, and exhausted sigh. And he asked the one question that spun in his head making him dizzy.

"Baby why?"

Junko opened her mouth then closed it. She shed more tears before she finally began to speak.

"I honestly don't know anymore…but I was afraid something like this would happen…my husband has never treated Taro poorly he just…isn't involved with him…but I knew that if you were said to be his father…you'd probably love him like I do…and he looks so much like you it just…Toga it wasn't my right to do this. I'm sorry," she looked down at her feet unable to meet his gaze.

Toga swallowed his throat parched. He was too hurt to show how truly upset he was and too tired to be angry at her for screwing up his life again. He wasn't ready to say maybe she had done this with good intentions in heart…he wasn't sure if he could ever recognize that.

But he pushed down everything for now and did something he would question himself for later on.

He wrapped his arms around Junko and pulled her into such a tight hug she couldn't breathe. She was afraid of what he would do but he just held her close for what seemed like an eternity and she couldn't help but feel safe in his arms. She always had…Toga ran a hand through her hair.

"I shouldn't say this but I will," he started dully, his voice was demure he wasn't able to speak any louder or with greater inflection, "Junko…there is a part of my heart that still loves you. And I don't think I can get it to stop…but you chose how we would be a long time ago…so please," he pulled back and took her face in his hands, forcing her to meet his gaze, "Junko…if you care about me at all…then let me go. Please let me go."
She closed her eyes and a few more tears started to slip out. Toga's own eye began to sting but fortunately it remained dry. She looked at him again and her shoulders shook from the effort of holding back her sobs.

"Please let me go," he begged one last time. He had finally reached the day when he would ask for the age old, 'if you love me let me go.' He'd never realized what that old saying entailed and how desperate one could be to achieve it.

He was stunned when she nodded slowly.

He was right, but it still hurt. It had hurt to leave him the first time and every time since. But she knew this had to be the last.

Toga was flooded with such gratitude it almost made him sick. He knew better to assume, but maybe she finally understood what it meant to be apart from each other.

And he would never understand why he did it, but he leaned down and captured her lips in a kiss.

A kiss that was soft and sweet.

A kiss that was thankful and almost loving.

And a kiss that little Taro saw when he turned a hallway corner with a nurse that had been on break. A kiss that would eventually make Taro hate Toga for he assumed that the raven haired hunter had been the affair that would later break up his parents' marriage.
But at the time Toga pulled back and smiled wearily at her. He ran the back of his fingers down her cheek one last time. Then he turned and walked away with every intention to never see the woman behind him again.

-Chapter End-

Okay so in case anyone got lost along the way here's the basics: Junko tried to bribe Kaldia to botch the test and say Taro was Toga's son. He almost did so but didn't because I made the man have a conscience. So the conclusion of the test I wrote is in fact correct.

Toga is not Taro's father. (It was actually very hard for me to figure out what do with this chapter, but I think I was able to explain everything alright. I hope it's not too rushed. I even considered not including the little conspiracy but I decided to keep it in. Not to sure if it works but I regret nothing!)

Also I hope Toga's didn't seem lame. I'm sure there are some people reading this story wanting a whole lot of angst (I thought it was angsty though) or maybe you wanted Toga to explode and scream at Junko. I guess either of those are good options but I know that when an ex does something like this to you, you become catatonic. In other words you go into shock or plainly shut down. That's kinda what happened to Toga. He was still able to react a little, but not as much as some people may have liked.

So that part's all cleared up but don't think the story's over yet. After all Toga is still in the doghouse and the next question is; will he ever get out of it?

Stay tuned! :D

Also feedback helps me grow as a writer, and I do love to read people's comments.

Thank you.