Hi everyone :) I'm writing this note because we're almost at the ending now. :D From the bottom of my heart, I really want to thank you for everything that you've given to my story. For all the love and support, for all the advice that you shared. They definitely helped me. It made me happy to know that you guys love to read about Julie and Kuu. And gomen - for making Julie cry :) hehe I must've tortured my plot huh lol Thank you again. Tell me what you all think about the chapter or story at the reviews, I'd love to hear them! Enjoy Fallen! :)

Shelf #034

Two hours later, during that very same day, Kuu and all his best friends, Max and Bella, his sister Honey, Tony and Spike were gathering inside Tony's restaurant.

The restaurant was in the middle of being deconstructed. The pictures were gone off the walls –– a kettle on a long extension lead was on the bare table behind. Everyone was on their chairs around a table, looking intently at Kuu who sat across them.

Kuu took a deep breath, eyeing his friends. "What do you think? Good move?" he asked.

"Good move: when all is said and done, she's nothing special," Honey started. "I saw her taking her pants off and I definitely glimpsed some cellulite down there."

"Good decision," Bella added with a nod. "All actresses are mad as snakes."

Kuu turned to Tony, who sat on top of a chair with his beer.

"Tony – san. . You heard it. What do you think?" Kuu asked.

"Never met her, never want to," Tony briefly answered.

"Brilliant. Max?"

Max toasted his sake in the air.

"Absolutely. Never trust a vegetarian," he said with a forced smile.

"Great. Excellent," Kuu said with a deep sigh. He nodded at them. "Thanks, minna. ."

Then Kuu forgot Spike was there. For the very first time since they started this important talk, Kuu's spiky friend had been silent throughout the conversation. Spike's hand lifted up in the air.

Kuu saw him and realized he had not asked him for opinion.

"I'm sorry, Spike. I forgot about you," Kuu said. "So what do you think?"

Spike's eyes were fierce and cold as he stared at Kuu. He never blinked as he began to speak.

"I hate to be all truthful to you bro, but you're a daft prick," Spike said. The rest all turned to him.

"Why so? He did what he was supposed to do, Spike-san," Bella said.

"–And unless I'm mistaken, you made her cry didn't you?" Spike snapped, ignoring Bella completely.

Kuu stared back at him with surprise. Spike had never been this sharp-tongued at anyone before. . He had never seen him so cold and frighteningly able to read everything before. It seemed as if he knew, without needing Kuu to tell it.

'So that's a yes then.' Spike thought.

Kuu blinked and was about to say something, when all of a sudden a sound of tires screeching on the road to a halt made them jumped in their seats. Lory shot inside the restaurant.

"I was called and I came," Lory said, looking at everyone with an alarm. "What's up?"

"Kuu Onii-sama has just turned down Julienna Scott," Honey answered.

Lory's mouth fell as he listened to his cousin. His eyes were wide.

"And interestingly made her cry," Spike added without a blink.

Without a word, Lory's eyes shot back at Kuu, piercing sharply at him. By coincidence, he happened to repeat Spike's words at his cousin.

"You daft prick!" Lory snapped and walked calmly towards the table. Kuu couldn't understand why, as he watched his elder cousin pulled out a chair. Lory turned it the opposite side and casually sat on it, leaning forward on its back and rested his arm on top of it.

Bella was casually looking at the painting that sat beside Kuu. It was the original of the Chagall, the poster of which was on his wall.

"This painting wasn't the original, was it?" Bella asked, staring at the painting.

"You really think so?" Max said, turning to his wife.

"Yes, I think that one may be," Kuu answered. He leaned forward and rested his arms on his thighs.

There was silence for a brief moment. Then Spike broke it.

"But she said she wanted to go out with you?" Spike asked. Except Kuu, others were bewildered to hear this, as they all tried to agree with Kuu and avoided themselves to encourage a spark, which obviously, Kuu didn't realize as of now. They wanted him to see this by himself. But luckily, Spike did it first.

Kuu looked up and eyed his Spiky friend. Those eyes weren't cold anymore. Kuu thought about it carefully, then nodded silently.

"Yes –– sort of. . ." Kuu replied.

"That's nice," Spike said and grabbed his beer. Max, Bella, Tony and Honey were all nervous.

"What?" Kuu asked, puzzled.

Spike drank for a while, then placed the bottle back on the table. His eyes were wide and he shrugged. "Well, you know, anybody saying they want to go out with you is. . . . pretty great. . . isn't it. . ."

The rest all turned to Kuu. Kuu thought about it for a moment, as all eyes were locked on him now. Their faces all spoke of wanting for his answer, and all of them were waiting for it.

Kuu took a deep breath, and spoke.

"Well. . It was sort of sweet actually–" Kuu answered, looking at them.

"––I mean, I know she's an actress and all that, so she can deliver a line –– but she said that she might be as famous as can be –– but also. . . that she was just a girl, standing in front of boy –– who. . . she loves so much– more than anything. . . asking him to love her. Back. And. . ."

They all took in the line. It totally reserved their attitudes, looking at Kuu.

". . . And that the gold thread around her ring finger –– well, she just made it herself from a shawl since I don't have that money to buy such an expensive ring, if I want to –– but then she said. . . That no matter what happens, she'll never take the ring off her finger. . Ever."

An air of silence hung heavily inside the restaurant. All the more Spike and Max just ran a hand through their head in deep thought. Lory sighed in his seat, while Tony drank from his bottle in a daze. Bella stared back at the painting again. Honey looked sadly at her beloved brother. All the close friends shared one complete thought. This guy truly missed such an important thing in his life.

Kuu thought about his decision. . . Julie had definitely forced a smile when he said no to her. . Her hands were cold and shaking, and her lips quivered when she kissed him. Yet– it was still loving. . . She really meant it, not to take off that thread on her finger, because it was the promise that she had made, a vow to keep forever for him. . Then when she left, she didn't completely walked away. . Instead, she leaned on the glass door. Clearly –– he saw those shoulders shook heavily as she bowed her head low. Then from inside the bookshop, he saw little Kise Ryota talking to her. . He had watched Julie staring at Kise and his father playing basketball at the court. . . . The dread for something was clearly painted on her face, and she cried while watching the father and son. . . . All the more she cried painfully –– when she looked down at her hand and caressed the ring finger with the thread around it. . . Then she hugged her belly. . . He stared at her in that state, just hugging her belly, and he noticed more and more tears fell. Afterwards, she tried to stood up straight, her body shaking, and never looked back as she left tearfully. . . Then he remembered the promise he made with her. . He had told her he will never let her go. . . Didn't he?

It was only until then that Kuu finally realized everything. He blinked to this sudden answer, and dropped his head low and gave a deep sigh. He buried his head in his hands. Spike and Lory were right. They were both right!

"Oh fuck sod a dog– I've made a wrong decision, haven't I?" Kuu asked.

They looked at him. He finally got it. Bella and Honey smiled, Tony toasted his bottle in the air. Max just shook his head in disbelief. Lory and Spike did a big nod.

Kuu quickly turned to his elder cousin.

"Lory, how fast is your car?"

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