Previously…

As I still didn't have any ideas for a gift, it seemed appropriate to offer this to you as you have earned in such a short period of time my respect by your countless acts of self-sacrifice."

Understanding the difficulty for her to voice this honest admission aloud, Takumi solemnly replies, "Although I'm unworthy, I consider this an honor to be placed in such high esteem along with Ayuzawa's grandfather." He didn't realize until that moment that he could fall even more in love with her.

Chapter 4: Time

3:20 a.m.

Bewildered, Misaki begins to fidget in her seat as she doesn't know what to think of Tamuki's humbling response…but a part of her heart melts with happiness in his acceptance.

She whispers softly, "Please open it and look inside." Looking down at her to see her smile excitedly, he responds by automatically opening the cover to reveal inside an exquisitely designed mother of pearl clock face with the center open to expose the elaborate mechanisms that is housed inside allowing this instrument to function so flawlessly. He notices on the back of the cover an engraved phrase. Per Diem, Per Noctem.

Simultaneously, they both speak the words, "By day, by night." Seeing the astonished expression on his face, Misaki hides a small grin.

"Knowing that you are an in-human outer-space alien, I'm not surprised that you would know Latin, but I can tell by that expression on your face that you are surprised that I know it as well. To be honest with you, I only know how to translate that particular phrase as my grandfather had repeatedly explained to me as a little girl the meaning of those words."

Takumi compulsively compares the watch to the beautiful woman before him. To the eyes of the beholder, both of their exterior surfaces may be considered simply elegant, but once their interiors are unveiled, one cannot help but be amazed and admire the stunning complexity that is held within. Just as every minuscule spring, cog and bolt is imperative for the precisive function of the timepiece in his hand, so does every aspects of her personality such as tenacity, assertiveness, generosity and kindness are imperative to define the person who is Misaki. It is all these characteristics that initially tantalized his interest and later made him fall in love with her.

Her eyes seem to glaze as if lost to a treasured moment. "Grandfather would sit me on his lap and when he pulled out this watch, I cheerfully understood that it was time for his lessons about the passage of time. He would diligently explain to me that since creation, time has always been measured by day and by night as day cannot exist without night because the sun cannot set without the moon to rise. As this is a continuous but unchanging cycle, all variables within nature are affected by time as they rely on its undeniable constancy that can neither be stopped nor reversed. It can only move forward. Enlightenment is only attained by few that can appreciate its reliability as humanity itself is only given a small portion of time's infinity to establish even a minute impression in this universe. So time is a valuable thing to not be trivially squandered."

As each word pours from her mouth, she mournfully recalls those moments that she shared with the person she will always consider the most important man in her life. Takumi's eyes did not miss the flash of pain and sorrow that came and went from her eyes. Instinctively wanting to comfort her, he encircles her in a soothing embrace. He holds his breath in fear of breaking the spell that is allowing her to be this candid with him. She wearily leans her head against his chest as he drops a kiss atop her head as she continues.

"He often said that time is truly valued by the perceptions that are within oneself such as kindness, patience, love and understanding. Every moment holds its own existence. My grandfather would then quote his favorite American poet, Emerson, 'What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matter compared to what lies within us.' I was too young and too naïve to fully comprehend and appreciate my grandfather's words of wisdom…until he's gone."

Remembering that her grandfather is no longer here to guide her causes her to relive the grief at her loss. She has only two moments in her lifetime that she felt this deep sorrow, the death of her grandfather and the desertion of that man.

"My grandfather's compassion, tolerance and wisdom made me feel so safe, so special and so…loved, unlike that man. I am thankful though that Grandfather is not here to witness what his family has become…what that so-called man reduced this family to become."

Listening to the heartbreaking anguish in her voice, he tightens his embrace desiring only to shield her from anything that may bring her misery and pain in her life. The absence of both her grandfather and the man whom shall not be named may explain the animosity that has built the tough walls around her heart. Considering the depths of truth within the words that were spoken by Ayuzawa's grandfather, he recalls his own inescapable truth. He wonders if she will ever again show this openness to him. He murmurs to himself, "There are limits to my realism."

Momentarily observing his peculiar countenance, she snaps from her bitter nostalgia to uncertainly question him. "Did you say something?"

In an attempt to turn her attention away from his previously spoken words, he brings the watch to caress it with his lips. He smiles devilishly at her. "I just remarked on how this gift fits me so perfectly. I will cherish this always especially as it holds such a special significance to Misaki. Is this by any chance your way of revealing how significant I am to you?" He wonders if she realizes the inadvertent symbolism that her gift represents. He pauses for a moment. "This reminds me, you've never properly answered my question."

She slightly pulls away. "What question?"

He pulls her back into his embrace as he places his forehead against hers forcing her to meet his mesmerizing gaze. "Does Misaki know who I really am?"

She squirms restlessly as she searches to find the right words to respond.

"Well…um…y-you are…a lot…of things—." Her hesitation intensifies his current state of agonizing anticipation. A sense of foreboding descends on him as he understands too well how difficult it is for her to express her emotions. He considers that he may have pushed her too far this time, and he decides to withdraw his question as it pains him to see her suffer by his carelessness.

"Misaki, you don't—."

"Please let me finish before I loose all my confidence that I've worked so hard to build. I've learned from my previous experiences with you that I must not let something important remain unclear between us. I realize now that you have always been completely honest about your feelings for me even to the point of perversion. It has taken me some time, but I have made the decision that it time for me to be just as honest with you as you have always been honest with me."

Enticingly, he replies, "Does that mean that I can look forward to Misaki performing perverted acts to me? Just the thought turns me on."

She instantly fumes in agitation. "Will you stop saying such things to me? It makes me lose my concentration. Now, where was I, oh, yeah…I think the best description for who you really are to me would be 'my first'. You were my first perverted stalker and of course, my first outer space alien then you became my first kiss, my first bo-bo-boyfriend…and…and now I think you have become my first lo-lo-ve."

Overcome by the anxiety of her confession, she abruptly pulls away from him to stand rigidly in front of the window. Knowing that it is uncharacteristically cowardice of her to avoid witnessing his reaction, she takes a deep breath to give her strength to accept his answer whether it will be acceptance or rejection. As she gazes out of the window to the scene of the slumbering city before her, she awaits in trepidation for his impending response.

Unbeknownst to them, two menacing eyes glint in the shadows as they observe the couple predatorily.

Trying to recover from the sheer shock as her final words wreak havoc to his sanity, he questions if she said those words aloud or were they just part of his wildest imagination.

"Why does this particularly adorable side of yours must be shown now of all time?"

Not expecting this reaction, she swiftly turns around to confront him. "What is the matter?"

Taking him by surprise that she could unravel his calm exterior, he questions, "What makes you think something is wrong?"

"Tonight you have been giving me an unusual amount of complements even if some are perverted as well as a few conflicting expressions, which only means one thing. You have been enduring something by yourself, haven't you? What are you trying to handle on your own that you can't share the burden with me?"

A thought occurs to her that makes her gasp. "Is it because I asked you that time to suppress yourself by hiding our relationship at school? If so, I want to take back those words. Now that I've found the resolve to actually voice my true feelings for you, I now realize that I have been…selfish."

He smiles tolerantly at her. "You are a lot of things, Prez, but you are not selfish."

"But it is selfish to request from the person that you love to suppress his own desire, so I promise from now on I will publicly acknowledge you as my boyfriend no matter where we may be."

Hearing how easily the words love and boyfriend now comes from her lips, he savors them like music to his ears. "You are definitely not selfish, Misaki."

Opening his precious gift to read the time, dread pervades his thoughts as he recollects the impending complication that he must face. He agonizingly whispers, "Time doesn't seem to be on my side."

The unavoidable time arrives for him to express his own confession. He nervously begins. "Although it makes me deliriously happy to hear that you wish to publicly announce our relationship, I regret to say that it may be too late."

Not wanting to see her expression from his admission, he examines the constant movement of the second hand of his pocket watch. "I will not be here to finish our senior year together as I have an urgent obligation that requires me to return to England for an indefinite period of time. Unsure how to confide to you about this subject, I have fearfully prolonged the inevitable. This is the reason why I decided to notify you at the very last moment."

"What do you mean by 'the very last moment'?"

He sighs deeply as he continues. "I've made an arrangement with my family that 'the prodigal son' will be on a plane departing Japan by the dawn of my 18th birthday."

As each word stabs painfully through his heart like daggers, he finally inspects her face for any kind of response. Every kind of silence tears right through him. Seeing only a vacant expression, for the first time since he has known her he is unable to read her thoughts. Breaking the painful silence, he pleads, "Please, Misaki, say or do something, whether it is to yell at how stupid I am or to punch me for my idiocy. Just react."

She continues to stare blankly at him but she finally murmurs astonishingly, "Have you ever heard of the phrase, 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder'?"

Before Takumi could even reply, a black and white blur pounces on his chest, and a pair of vicious eyes glares at him. Takumi only stares back in annoyance. "You have such lousy timing, Sanshita-kun."

A/N: Firstly, I wish to express my deep condolences to all the victims of the Pacific earthquake and tsunami. My thoughts and prayers especially go out to the citizens of Japan that have been tramatically impacted by this tragedy.

To all my readers: On a higher note, IT IS FINISHED! No, don't start throwing things at your computer as I only meant this chapter and not the story. I apologize at such a long period of no updates. You can only imagine the difficulty that I had with this chapter, but I hope you enjoy. Please continue to voice your support and reviews as they give me such encouragement to carry on. I wish I can give all my supporters a big hug.

I do want to warn you though that future updates may be few and far between. Please forgive me.

BTW, Thank you for all those that gave an input about the gift. I can only say that some truth can be taken from each one of those response. The truth will not be reveal until much later. HeHe

Did anyone guess the dramatic ending to this chapter? Hope everyone knows where I got the name Sanshita-kun.

To Shark's Fin: I hope that this may quench your thirst for a longer chapter, but do not expect future chapters to be this long. ;)

Completion Date: 03/11/2011

Updated: 10/30/2011