Okay, I'm sorry. I haven't been updating. But in my defense, I have perfectly legit reasons for this delayed last chapter.
1) I'm in an after school club called Robotics at my HS, and our competition was the 22nd. We actually did really well and are progressing to the next level, per say.
2) My tablet was confiscated. Need I say more?
3) I take a lot of Pre-AP and AP classes, and those are SUPER hard and take up a lot of time. I actually have a paper due Monday, soo... hehe.
Anyways, this WILL be the last chapter of The Only Exception, but don't worry. Gin's story isn't finished yet. Here you go!
A few Months Later~~~~~~~
"Gin-Chhhhhaaaaaaannnnnnnn?~ Are you awake?" Honey's (It felt weird calling him by his real name, so I never did) sweet voice rang through my bedroom, making me smile, if only for a short period of time.
"Almost!"
I entered my private bathroom, looking in my full length mirror. I was wearing a long, black dress to match my hair, black heels, and a veil over my head. I reached into my small purse, fingering the two pictures in there, my only pictures of all of us. I felt tears coming, but blinked them away. Instead, I tried to remember when everything changed.
~~~Flashback~~~
I lay in the bed I had just woken up in, Kaoru at my side. Everyone else sat in chairs around my bed, staring at me intently, waiting for my explanation.
"The man who beat me up wasn't my father. He was an old friend of my uncle's, a very deprived and greedy friend," I said, shivering. "My uncle wanted the fortune that was left of my parents company, but the only way he could get it was if I died or left for good. So he hired the man to scare me so they could spin a tale about me being a criminal and leaving. I'm just happy that wasn't my real father. I can't wait to see him."
Kyoya looked up for half a second, then looked down again almost immediately. I brushes it off, my thoughts shifting back to the prospect of hugging my father once more.
"Yeah. I'll go with you, Gin-chan. I've never met your parents... err.. parent." Kaoru smiled awkwardly, a light blush sprinkling his cheeks. I smiled back at him, feeling that sense of awe and happiness once more.
"But, how are you gonna go see him? After all, you are hurt and tired." Haruhi moved towards me, pulling my blankets over my chest.
I sighed, bowing my head. "Yeah..."
Tamaki strode to the side of my bed then keeled down.
"Gin, we will get you to see your father soon, one way or another." He looked so solemn, I couldn't believe this was the same Tamaki.
~~~~~~ I stared at the address on the screen, my eyes widening. Kyoya's face was blank, glasses reflecting the light. It was only me and him, alone in my dimly lit bedroom.
"No... Please don't tell me... Is that really?..."
"Yes Gin, your father has been residing in an insane asylum. While in jail, he went crazy with the guilt of brutally murdering your mother and leaving you with your uncle." Kyoya's eyes were blank, no mercy or compassion.
I began to breath heavily, looking around wildly. Kyoya tilted his head slightly, closing his notebook. I tried to scoot away, but he caught my wrist.
"Gin-san..."
Suddenly, I thought back to something I thought I had long forgotten, something I couldn't see twice.
Yet here I was.
Blood flowed freely, dying the white carpet. My eyes widened in horror as I saw my Father, holding onto the body desperately. A gaping hole was on her head, a steady drip coming from it.
Only...it wasn't clear. Everything was blurred, like water had been spilled on it, distorting the image. But I got the gist.
"Mama... Papa... What have...?"
I screamed, slapping Kyoya's hands and clutching my head. I distinctly heard a door open and a familiar voice.
"Gin! Gin please, its me! I'll take you, to see him! Gin please!"
I thrashed around, then I threw myself at the voice, totally collapsing. I sobbed, great big gasps of air and rivers of tears. "Tomorrow... I don't care."
The next day, I sat on my bed, fixing the flats I was to wear. I adjusted the collar ogre my dress, then exited the room. At the door was Kaoru, Hikaru, and Haruhi. My friend, boyfriend, and whatever the hell Hikaru is classified as.
As soon, as I exited the room, Kaoru was there, holding me close, stroking my hair. Haruhi sighed, grabbing us by the arms and dragging us out the door. She stopped suddenly.
Normal POV Clarissa stood in front of the door, attempting to gather up her courage to knock. She had just been told that her family was going to be moving to Japan for a job opportunity, and wanted to know if Hikaru went there as well. Suddenly, the door burst open, reveling two Hikaru's, a guy with short, brown hair, and a girl with shoulder length pitch black hair wrapped in an embrace with one of the Hikaru's.
"Clarissa? What are you doing here, I thought you were going back to America yesterday?" The twin whos hands were free approached her, grasping her hands in his own.
"Change in plans... What's..?"
"No time. Bring her with us, Hikaru." The girl grasped her wrist, dragging Clarissa along. The group clambered into a long, black limo.
"Hi, I'm Gin. Hikaru's twin is my boyfriend and that-errr..., GUY sitting there is Haruhi, a friend. We are going to an insane asylum to see my father."
Clarissa stared blankly at Gin, then burst but in laughter. "Well THAT escalated quickly." She smiled at Gin, tilting her head. "I'm sorry. That's how me and my friends from America act. But this sounds like fun."
Hikaru gazed at Clarissa for a short time, then jumped at her, holding her close.
"Your wonderful, you know that right?"
Clarissa blushed, stiff. She slowly melted into Hikaru's hug, closing her eyes.
Sometime later, they arrived at the asylum, all anxious. After checking in at the front desk, the sat in a waiting room, quiet.
"Kaoru?"
The carrot top turned to look at the brunette sitting a few chairs away. Haruhi signaled for him to move closer. He sighed, kissed Gin on the forehead, then moved toward his fellow host.
"Kaoru, I want you to brace yourself. We don't know how Gin's father will react to her spontaneous appearance, for two reasons. One, he hasn't seen her for almost 12 years, and secondly," Haruhi paused, pulling a folded photo out of her pants pocket, "This."
Kaoru looked down at the picture, gasping in shock. There was a man with brown hair, a smile gracing his face. He had his arm around someone, who held a bundle with a tiny fist sticking out of it. But the woman holding the baby looked so familiar, he almost cried out.
She had shoulder length hair, darker than the darkest night, and the same blushing cheeks.
'Gin?'
"He's ready for you, dear."
Gin stood up, walking towards the nurse. Kaoru joined her, the picture still clutched in his fist.
Gin POV At long last, we stood in front of a door, knees trembling. I reached out, taking a deep breath.
"Gin, I'm having seconds thoughts."
I turned to face Kaoru, confused.
"What if you trigger something? What if I trigger something? We don't-"
"Kaoru, I have seen my father since he was taken away the day I met you. I know this is risky, but I have to see him."
Kaoru froze, then gave in, sighing. I opened the door, revealing another room. It took me a bit to realize there was a think barrier of glass between us.
"Hello? Dad?"
A man sat up, looking towards the glass. He had brown hair going gray, a small beard, and bloodshot eyes. As soon as he saw me, his eyes widened, filling with tears.
I expected him to fall to knees, thanking God his baby came to see him. I expected tears of joy as he conversed with me, his interest in my life.
"Fumi-san? Fumi-san, why are you here? You need to move on."
"Dad? Who's Fumi?"
He ignored my words, tears flowing down his cheeks. "Fumi! Go! Go to heaven! Your baby is safe, safe from me! I killed you, and I don't want our only daughter to be cursed with your fate. Please leave me, Fumi!"
I gasped, realizing what was wrong. Suddenly, the image that was forever blurred cleared, as I saw my parents on that fateful day once more.
My mother-Fumi- had left me one gift, her eternal beauty. She looked the same since she was a teenager.
I was a mirror image of her 11 years ago, the day she died.
"Father! Please, it not Fumi! Its Gin! Can you hear me? Gin!"
He walked up to the glass, eyes wild. He pressed his hands against it. "If you won't leave, I'll make you."
He slammed his head against the glass, bring the skin. He did it another time.
"HELP, PLEASE, SOMEONE!"
But on the third smack, my father's head broke open, blood pouring out of his wound. He looked at me, his eyes struggling to focus.
"Good bye..."
A Month after the Funeral
I stood at the grave stone, my head bowed. I felt tears threaten to come, so I turned digging my face into Kaoru's shirt. He stroked my hair, cooing gently to me.
We had witnessed his death, both scarred. Shortly after, Mori-kun's family had decided to adopt me, but left my money alone. They claimed the gift of a daughter was payment enough.
I began to walk away, Kaoru following. I went back, then returned onward, into whatever life held for me.
Normal POV Gin walked away from the grave, her head held high. The only trace she had left was a small, silver rose, engraved with her, her mother's, and her father's names.