A/N: Thank you thank you thank you everyone.. I really appreciate each and every reviews. They make me so happy.. :) I finally managed to upload the next chapter. Enjoy!

The Final Blow

(Naoki POV)

Yuki returned home early dropping Konomi at her home. I was reading a book on Neurology sitting on a couch to divert my mind. I was feeling worried and uneasy about Kotoko being so ill all the time. I need to talk to her but she looked so tired with the mild fever. That was rather surprising. I remained downstairs so that she could sleep early without any distraction.

"I'm home. Why are you still awake?" Yuki asked me.

"Welcome home. I was waiting for you all."

"Oh... you didn't have too. Oka-san didn't plan this for you to wait for us." He smirked pointedly. I scowled at him.

"Good night." I told him and started to walk out of the room.

"Umm... Oni-chan?" He called me suddenly. I looked back at him stopping on my track. "Can I have a word with you? Since you are still awake." He added.

"What is the matter?" I asked moving closer to him.

"What did Kotoko tell you about her report?" He asked me unexpectedly. I didn't reply anything immediately.

"She said her reports were normal and she will show me those when I return home. I suppose she will show me tomorrow morning." I replied.

We were both distracted enough to forget about that tonight I guess. I mentally added.

"I hope she will." He said slowly.

"Is something wrong Yuki?" I asked him. My heart was beating faster slightly.

"It's just that... I asked her to show me her allergic reports multiple times but she always avoided that with some excuses. I didn't think about it too much because I thought you knew. But that isn't the case anymore..." He paused. I skipped a heartbeat.

"Are you suspecting anything?" I asked him.

"I didn't... not until you arrived." I raised a brow at him hearing that. "Let me explain." He continued. "At first I didn't notice anything. As I told you before, I took her to the emergency after she had her breathing problem for the first time. The doctor who attended her asked me if I was her family. Then, told me to keep an eye on her always because she was weak which was true as she keeps falling ill every now and then and not to let her touch alcohol ever again. After that I tried to do as the doctor said but it seemed impossible seeing she practically started living in that hospital. She started working in the longer shifts. Sometimes if she was too late her nurse colleagues dropped her home. I believed she was working too much just to keep herself busy as oka-san said. Also she seemed obsessed about her research and the patient because she studied hard." He stopped.

"What is your point?" I asked him dreading that I already knew the answer.

"A few months ago I found her fainted in her bedroom." He said looking down.

"What?" I couldn't keep my voice normal. I felt like the hairs on my shoulders were standing.

"She studied the whole morning that day. According to her she was dehydrated. I called you but you didn't receive my call and when she was back on her senses, she pleaded to keep that a secret from everyone and I don't know why but I obliged. I suddenly remembered that on the day you went to Kobe and thought I should tell you."

I just nodded at him and didn't say anything. I was trying to think but my head seemed heavier.

"I'm not sure what to think but I suddenly realised she gets ill frequently and that doesn't sound good. What do you think?" He asked me.

I again took some time before replying anything. My eyes were not focused on anything in particular. I took several breaths to calm my senses.

"I'm not sure either Yuki, but I have a hunch now. But it could be wrong... It… should be wrong... She would never..." I trailed off.

"Oni-chan?"

"I'm going to bed Yuki. I... I will talk to you tomorrow." I left the room without waiting for his reply and went upstairs.

I went straight to bed. I could feel my hands and legs were shaking. I turned at my side to look at the peaceful sleeping face of my wife.

"No. I'm sure I'm wrong." I mumbled. But my brain didn't agree on that statement.

...

(Kotoko POV)

I woke up suddenly in the middle of the night which was quite natural for me now. I just had a very disturbing dream where my whole family was upset with me. They weren't talking to me. Then a very shocked Irie-kun was staring at me with eyes full of sorrow. When I tried to move closer to him he started to fade away until I was left all alone in the dark. I looked to my right at the dark sleeping form near me. I was panting and remained still until my breathing was normal again. After a short time I got down from the bed carefully. Then taking one step at a time I walked out of the room. I went downstairs and drank some water. It was 2:15 am in the morning as per the kitchen clock. Suddenly I heard noise behind me and turned to see my father equally surprised seeing me.

"What are you doing there Kotoko? Why aren't you sleeping?" He asked me.

"I came down for some water otou-san. Why are you not sleeping?" I directed his question back at him.

"I came back only 30 minutes ago. I was also down for some water."

"What were you doing this late?" I asked him while passing the water bottle to him.

"The water pipe in the kitchen broke at the restaurant. The repair company came and fixed that. Kinnosuke and I only retired after cleaning up all the mess."

"Aw... that must have been awful." I patted his arm to comfort him.

"Everything is under-control now. Don't worry." He smiled at me.

"You should go and rest otou-san."

"Yes, you too child."

"I will in a while." I said and he looked at me with question in his eyes.

"I was planning to drink this." I showed him the bottle of fruit juice I took out of the fridge.

"May I join you?" Otou-san asked. "It's been a while since we had a drink together."

"Sure otou-san." I grinned broadly at him.

I took out a beer for him and we both went over to the sitting area to sit down comfortably.

"How is my daughter doing?" He asked me taking the first sip from his drink.

"It's as usual otou-san. I'm doing fine." I replied with a small smile.

"You are getting way too much skinny Kotoko. You should eat more. What would people say when they will see the daughter of a restaurant owner all skin and bone?" He huffed playfully.

I laughed out loud. "I know right? I didn't think about that." I told him. He laughed with me.

"Jokes apart. You really should take care of your health Kotoko. Naoki-kun is back now isn't he? Stop working so hard." He told me which wiped the smile out of my face.

"I will otou-san. I am so sorry that I'm making everyone so much worried." I sighed.

"What are you sorry for my child? Isn't that what a family is for? To care for each other." He said consoling me. I smiled at him.

"Yes otou-san. You are correct." I agreed with him. We drank some more quietly then I started talking again.

"Otou-san, do you remember everything about oka-san?"

"Yes, I do." He said softly.

"Do you still miss her?"

"Every moment of my life." He took another sip.

"Is that why you never got re-married otou-san?" I asked without looking at him but I could feel he was looking at me with surprise hearing that question.

"Why would you ask that?" He was surprised indeed.

"I just realised I never encouraged you to get married again. You had to spend your entire life alone." My voice was dry.

"I was never alone Kotoko. You were always with me." He replied sharply.

"Yes, I was." I gulped. "It's just that... Irie-kun... He will do the same thing you did. He will also stay alone forever. At least you had me, but he will be alone. And I don't like that. I don't want him to suffer alone. I will always hope he will get over someday..." I stopped and realised what I was blabbering.

"What are you talking about?" Otou-san looked at me with a shocked face.

"What I mean is... When I put myself in place of oka-san, this is what comes to my mind. Oka-san and I are quite alike aren't we? So she must have also wanted you to get married again. She must have wanted you to be happy." I quickly tried to cover it.

"I was always happy. I am happy Kotoko."

"I'm sure you are." I smiled at him. "You have the best daughter of this whole world after all."

"I will have to agree on that." He smiled back.

"Let's get back to sleep now otou-san. It's quite late." I got up.

"Yes let's go." He also got up and followed me out.

"Kotoko" He stopped us both on the way. "You and your mother are very similar in many ways. But I always appreciated that you never hide anything from me. Your mother didn't share it when she was sick. That even is the reason why I lost her..."

I froze. That is exactly what I was doing right now. How am I ever going to ask for their forgiveness?

"Otou-san..." I interrupted, "oka-san must have had her reason. I understand her. I really do." He wanted to cut me off but I didn't let him and continued. "She took that decision because she loved you. I wouldn't say her choice was a correct one." I paused. "But yes I understand how much she loved you." I cleared my voice with a small cough. I was on the verge of tears. I hugged otou-san who patted my back for a while. I must have made him confused with all the talks. So I again told him to retire to bed and moved towards the stairs.

...

(General POV)

What Kotoko and her father were unaware of was the shaking figure that had slide onto the ground earlier listening to their conversation. He went back to his room inside his blanket before either of them could discover him on the ground.

...

Naoki went outside as soon as the first light of the day broke. He was feeling suffocated inside the house. He needed to clear his head because he didn't want to jump to any conclusion. The thought that was crossing his mind currently was something he never in his wildest dream could have imagined to be possible.

No, that assumption is incorrect. I'm wrong. It has to be wrong.

He kept telling himself again and again. He had no idea where he was going and he didn't care. He walked around anywhere his legs took him. Nearly at 9 am he finally decided something. He needed to be sure. He took out his mobile and pressed call on a number.

"Hello, it's Naoki here. I know its Saturday and it's kind of rude to call you this early but I'm really desperate right now." He paused to listen to the other side.

"I would like to invite you to my home today at lunch. I needed to discuss something with you in presence of my family." He again paused to listen to the other side.

"Thank you so much for understanding. I really appreciate this. I'm really sorry for the inconvenience." He said politely. After that he gave the address and direction to his house to the person and ended the call.

He called Mrs. Irie and informed her that they will be having a guest over at lunch. She demanded to know where he was but he just told her that he will be home for lunch. He had planned not to step inside the house before that. After dropping the call he resumed his walk to nowhere.

...

(Naoki POV)

I returned home prior to lunch. I could catch the delicious smells that were coming from the kitchen and dining area. My father didn't go out since the morning. I had also informed Kotoko's father to join us for the lunch. He seemed to be helping out Kotoko and oka-san at the kitchen. I sat on a couch and waited for my guest to arrive.

He arrived 15 minutes later. I welcomed him inside. Oka-san and otou-san also came out to greet him. We escorted him to our backyard where we will have our lunch. All four of us sat around in the lunch table. I introduced them to each other. After a while Yuki and otou-san (Kotoko's father) joined us with some appetiser. Oka-san helped them to serve.

"Where is Kotoko?" Oka-san asked Yuki.

"She will join us shortly with beers." He replied.

"She is my wife, Irie Kotoko. She works for the Neuroshia team at Hope." I clarified my guest as he was looking at Yuki with confusion. But his expression turned into utterly shocked hearing that.

"But you said you are going to work in the Neuroshia team too. Oh..." Oka-san seemed to suddenly understand. "You will be joining Kotoko-chan's team. That is wonderful." She clapped her hands together smiling brightly.

I didn't respond to my mother. I was still looking at the person who was probably trying to understand the situation.

Suddenly a huge smashing sound of dropping a tray full of beers made us aware of the appearance of the last remaining person of the house.

"Dr. Ayano!" A very shocked Kotoko muttered in a barely audible tone which didn't go unnoticed by any of us as suddenly everyone has gone very quiet.

A/N: I hope I didn't over dramatised the moment. And please don't hate me for stopping here..