A/N: Sorry for the delay, I've been busy packing up to head back to school, and writing has unfortunately been pushed to the back of my agenda. I'm hoping to get a few more updates in though before school starts, which is in two weeks. I'm especially excited for the next chapter I'm writing because of the character…that's all I'm going to say though. I hope you're all enjoying this story…if you are please review and let me know! I hate to nag, but reviews are very encouraging for all the writing that I do, they let me know that I'm not just wasting my time for my own enjoyment, but I'm wasting it for others as well! Even just one word is encouraging…okay, that's all. Thanks in advance. XOXO

HIRO NAKAMURA

KYOTO, JAPAN

"In here."

Hiro followed the Princess into a dark tunnel, a little confused about where they were heading, but obedient nonetheless. The wood platform of her shoes scuffled soundlessly through the slightly damp tunnel, but she moved so swiftly that Hiro had to almost run to keep up with her. The tunnel went on for almost a full mile, and Hiro was nearly panting by the time she stopped.

"We're here." The princess announced finally.

"Where exactly?" Hiro stared hard ahead, but all he saw was darkness.

She pressed her hand against the wall of the tunnel, working her fingers around until she seemed to find what she was looking for. She placed her other hand on the wall as well and her fingers seemed to dig into something as though she were working on a latch. A moment later she pulled and a door opened in the wall.

"That's cool." Hiro smiled and stepped through the door. The princess followed and shut the door again.

Now they were in another tunnel, this time an interior tunnel. The walls were lined with flickering torches. They shuffled down the hall together until the tunnel ended, emitting them into a circular room, much better lit now. Hiro instantly noticed two guards standing on either side of an arched doorway across the room; each held a long spear.

The princess made her way straight towards the doorway, completely ignoring the guards as she passed beneath the archway. Hiro followed her quickly, though he slowed a little as he neared the guards, feeling more than a little apprehensive.

"Hiro, it's okay. They won't hurt you when you're with me." She beckoned him on, noting his fear. "Takezo is waiting for us. He wouldn't want anyone to harm you on the way."

"Right." Hiro followed more quickly, trying to ignore the fact that his stomach still felt tight with tension, not only because there were armed guards, but because he was terrified about the fact that he was moments away from meeting Takezo Kenzei. "Why does he want to see me?" Hiro asked again, for what felt like the hundredth time since he had started this journey with the Princess.

"As I've already told you, he was expecting you." She tossed him a smile over her shoulder and Hiro relaxed slightly. She had a beautiful face with soft brown eyes that shimmered in the flickering light of the torches lining the walls. But her loveliest feature was her smile. Her lips were full and soft, as though the harsh daytime sun had never been given a chance to chap them.

"And why is he expecting me exactly?"

"He'll have to explain that for himself." She smiled at him again.

Hiro realized he wasn't going to get any more information out of her and so he fell silent and simply followed the Princess down the hall until she finally stopped at a door. She pushed it open and motioned for Hiro to enter first. He stepped in hesitantly and looked around.

"Don't be frightened." She spoke up as she entered behind him and let the door swing shut. "He is a good man." She pointed to the front of the room and Hiro's eyes instantly landed on the man standing there; his hands were braced against his hips proudly.

"Kaori!" As the man's eyes lighted on the princess, his stern face broke into the most genuine smile Hiro had ever witnessed any man express before. "You're safe!"

"I am." She assured him, rushing forward quickly and momentarily losing the grace of her royal heritage, behaving like any regular girl in love. She fell into her lover's open arms and he held her close.

"I didn't know where you were or if you'd been caught…" He was mumbling into her hair, and Hiro felt incredibly awkward witnessing the scene, but as he had nowhere else to turn, he was forced to stay and watch their reunion.

"I'm sorry that I worried you." She lifted her chin to him and he kissed her briefly before releasing her. He glanced over her head and his eyes connected with Hiro.

"You've come." He stated simply. Princess Kaori stepped to the side, but Takezo still kept one arm around her waist, as if afraid to let her go again. "Good." He beckoned Hiro forward.

"Takezo Kenzei!" It was all Hiro could say as he stepped up in front of the man who had been his true hero for so long. All his life he had memorized stories of the legendary man and now he was standing here in the flesh, smiling broadly at Hiro. For a minute Hiro felt like he might pass out.

"I have been waiting a long time for you!"

"Why?" Hiro wished he could think of something more brilliant to say than 'why' but the entire situation confused him too much for him to think properly.

Takezo didn't seem to mind the lame questions. He answered calmly with an excited sparkle in his dark eyes. "Because you are the one."

PETER & CLAIRE

NEW YORK

"Peter!" Claire sprinted through the lobby, ignoring the glares she received from the hospital staff. Her only thought was on Peter and how incredibly alive he was. When she reached him though she stopped suddenly, unsure how she should greet him.

He smiled though, and opened his arms. "Don't I even get a hug?"

She beamed and instantly flung her arms around his neck. He tightened his arms around her and held her for a moment until he felt wet tears splattering his neck.

"Hey, are you crying?"

"No." She mumbled into his shoulder.

He pulled away and looked into her face. Her eyes were brimming with tears. "Liar." He grinned and wiped at the tears leaking down her cheeks. "I didn't know you cared that much about me."

She punched him in the shoulder. "You know how much I care."

"Yea?" He hugged her again briefly and planted a kiss on top of her head. "That's good to hear."

"You have no idea how scared I was that night…" She was doing her best to control the tears, but remembering everything that had happened in Kirby Plaza brought on a fresh wave of emotion.

"I couldn't do it." She told him.

"I noticed."

"I'm so sorry I couldn't help you. I should have been able to stop you…"

"Claire, I don't hate you for not shooting me." He told her with a grin. She hated him for grinning like that when she was having such a difficult time. He was always so sure of everything, even if it might be his death. "I guess we're lucky that Nathan got there in time."

"Yea, lucky." She nodded, knowing just how lucky it was that Nathan had changed his mind in time to save them.

"Are you done crying now?" He asked, still grinning.

She nodded. "I'm sorry. I'm so lame for crying like that!" Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she realized how much she had been crying.

"No you're not." He glanced behind her and frowned. "So, how about telling me who that guy is that's glaring at me like I just broke up a wedding or something."

Claire looked over her shoulder and noticed Jaden watching them carefully, though when she smiled at him he looked away quickly as though he hadn't been watching at all. Turning back to Peter, Claire shook her head. "He's one of Matt's doctors."

"Matt? Like Parkman?" Peter frowned. "How is he?"

"Fine, he'll be fine, soon." Claire assured him. "He took four bullets, but he's actually recovering exceptionally well!"

"That's good." Peter smiled. "I should visit him."

"He'd like that."

"I'm not done discussing this Jaden character yet though." Peter told her. "Why would you be getting a cup of coffee with one of Matt's doctors?"

Claire smiled slightly. "He asked me too."

"Are you dating him?"

Claire laughed. "There are so many reasons why this is not the time or the place for this conversation, not to mention that you don't exactly have the right to this conversation in the first place." He tried to interrupt, but she spoke over him. "No, you've just gotten back, you haven't seen your family yet, we're in a hospital and I'm not having this conversation with you!"

He smiled. "Fine. You win, for now."

"Come on, Matt will want to see you!" Claire felt an urge to grab his hand, actually she just felt a need to be near him and to hold onto him and to make sure that he really was there and alive, but she wasn't sure how he would respond to such an action, so she resisted. He followed her back through the lobby and paused beside her when she stopped by the coffee cart. "Jaden, I'm sorry, to cut this short, but I didn't expect for him to show up here!"

Jaden's eyes were glued on Peter. "No, I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were seeing someone."

Peter fought a grin, but Claire blushed as she tried to explain. "No! Jaden, he's not my boyfriend!" She poked Peter in the ribs when he started laughing. "Peter is my uncle."

Jaden's gray eyes brightened. "Oh? Your uncle? Seriously? No offense, sir, but you don't look like an uncle."

"I'll only take offense if you keep calling me 'sir'." Peter responded. "I doubt I'm much older than you are." He smirked and glanced briefly at Claire. "Which, by the way, if that is true, I think makes you way too old for my niece to be dating."

"Peter!" Claire squeaked with embarrassment and turned her eyes apologetically to Jaden. "He doesn't mean that. He doesn't have that sort of authority, I mean, not that we're dating or anything…" She winced at how awful her apology was coming out. Peter was only making it worse with that cocky grin of his. She took a deep breath. "Again, I'm sorry, and maybe I'll see you around sometime again, if you aren't too irritated with me…"

She was shocked to see that Jaden was actually smiling at her. "How about we rain check this coffee date until tomorrow?"

"Really?" Claire suddenly wished that Peter was somewhere far away.

"Yea, if you're interested of course." He shrugged. "My shift doesn't start until noon tomorrow, so maybe we could get some coffee in the morning."

"Sure, absolutely!" Claire hoped she didn't come off sounding too eager.

"Good." He glanced at Peter and seemed to loose a little of his nerve. "How about I call you?"

"Okay." She started to turn away.

"Umm, Claire, could I maybe get your number?" Jaden stopped her.

"Right, of course! Sorry." Claire took the pen that he was holding out for her and she scribbled her number on the top of his hand.

"Thanks, I'll call you."

"Good." She smiled at him, forgetting for a moment that she was supposed to be leaving. Finally Peter tugged on her arm, reminding her of their mission, and pulling her away from the doctor. "Bye!" She waved at Jaden as Peter continued directing her towards the elevators.

"So, tell me again how you're not dating him." Peter teased her as they waited for the elevators.

She rolled her eyes at him, but smiled all the same. "I've missed you."

"You too."