So my promise of updating a week after the last chapter was posted? Went down the drain, as usual. I had actually finished typing up the first draft of this chapter, but I disliked it so much that I had to make major changes again and again. Never thought it would get this long, though. 8,804 words (excluding author's notes), haha. Definitely the longest chapter I've posted for this story. xD

And for the last time, sorry for a super late chapter. It's really hard to capture a confused character's thoughts, and I tried my best to straighten things out. And of course, lots of distractions came up. xD So yeah, this is it. THE FINAL CHAPTER. Enjoy reading!

And ooh, I've got a SURPRISE for you guys at the bottom. Hihi. xD Author's dramatic message would be there too ;)

I looked down. The bed sheet I sat on was white cotton, not the red silk I laid on earlier with him. And instead of a black dress, I found myself clad in cotton shirt and shorts. I felt my hair sticking to my neck, so I gathered it all over one shoulder. It's brown, and a bit shorter. My fingernails weren't potentially dangerous in length anymore too.

My hands shot up to the top of my head when I heard sounds from downstairs. No more twitching furry fox ears there. Sliding my hand down the side of my head, I took hold of two human ears. I stood up and looked behind me. Nope, no silver tail there too.

I hurriedly approached the mirror hung above the dresser. Sure enough, what stood before me was not the humanoid form of the silver vixen, but a reflection of a smaller brunette human girl instead. And as I've observed before, the only thing similar between us are the hazel eyes.

So I have long since been right all along? That I was just having a super long lucid dream? But isn't this what I wanted? To get back home? To live normally like before, as a human?

I shook my head. No, I've already learned to love the life I had as Yana. Even without Kurama now, I know I'd be ready to live a new life, get stronger, and continue his legacy.

But have I just really invested my thoughts and emotions on someone that can never be real? Was Youko Kurama really just… a figment of my imagination?

My gaze drifted to the closed silver book on top of the dresser. It remained in its place near the window, the sunlight glinting off its hard cover.

This book started it all. I remember passing out right after opening it, leading me to meet Kurama. Whether it's all by chance, or there really is something... magical with it, I had to try again. I had to see Kurama again.

Like before, I slowly traced his name in the title. "Kurama," I whispered, my hand creeping to the side of the silver cover, slightly lifting it.

I want to see you, I took a deep breath as I closed my eyes and lifted the hard cover even more.

"I wouldn't open that yet if I were you."

I whirled around at the familiar voice, the voice I remember had talked to me during those 'short breaks' in the dream.

A certain teenage redhead stood by the half-opened door.

"Shuichi," I could clearly recall his name now. "What are you doing here?"

"I had offered to watch over you as you slept while your mother cooked downstairs," he answered. "I just got back from getting myself a glass of water."

My gaze averted downwards at the mention of me sleeping. "So it was really all just a dream," I muttered to myself. Of course. I'm so silly to think that I could stay there forever and abandon the life I have here.

Apparently, Shuichi had heard me. "Yes, but it's also like a literal take on the phrase, 'trip down memory lane.'"

"What the heck are you talking about?" I asked slowly.

He smiled. "May I come in first?" he gestured towards the inside of the room.

"You already came in here earlier, didn't you?" my brows furrowed in confusion.

"That was when you were still asleep. But now that you're awake, it would be disrespectful to come in without your permission."

I can't help but smile back. "Please take a seat," I gestured for him to follow me to my study desk.

I reached for the stool near my desk when Shuichi cleared his throat. I turned to see him pull out my desk chair, motioning for me to sit on it instead. And his smile clearly says he won't waste time over any argument, so I obliged. The air of authority he exuded was very similar to his.

I shifted the desk chair so that I was facing him. As I settled down and looked back up at him, I saw him staring straight at me.

I stared back.

He stared back harder, unblinking, into my eyes.

I could feel a ghost of a smile on my lips as I continued to hold his gaze.

Shouldn't this sort of thing be awkward? But no, I just feel comfortable and safe while staring into those eyes, the warm fuzzy feeling you get around someone you've known and trusted for a long time.

And yet, Shuichi Minamino is just an acquaintance, a new friend. I usually don't allow people I just met to lead me someplace out of town or let them into my bedroom, much less if they're of the opposite gender. But then how come I became that quick to trust Shuichi? And now, with this realization in mind, why am I not the least bit alarmed?

Meanwhile, Shuichi continued to stare, his eyes filled with... longing?

Absentmindedly, as if in a trance, I leaned a bit closer. Surprisingly, he leaned in as well, leaving little distance between us, all the while still staring into each other's eyes. That was when those emerald green eyes slowly started turning hazel.

Stifling a gasp, I immediately closed my eyes and leaned back on my chair. That eye color, I shook my head and opened my eyes again.

Shuichi was smiling apologetically, his eyes that dark green color once again.

I sighed, dismissing it as just my wild imagination, and smiled kindly. "Sorry, but I don't seem to know 'eye-speak,'" I tried joking, "Can't read eyes as much as I can't read minds."

He chuckled, "I'm sorry, it's just that I haven't got a good look at those eyes for a long time now."

I tilted my head to the side in confusion.

Apparently he won't explain that though when he straightened up. "Let us begin then, Yuki."

"Yuki...?"

"I believe that's what you told me to call you."

"Ah, right." It seemed so long since then. I got so used to being called by another name too..."So, a trip down memory lane?"

He just smiled. "Before that, aren't you wondering too about what happened to Yana?"

"Yana?" I repeated. "You mean she did exist? In Kurama's life, I mean. Because, well, we both know he's just fictional," I faltered at the last sentence as I looked down at my feet.

"She was very much real," he took hold of my hand on my lap just then. "She's his wife."

I looked back up at him. Shuichi's touch felt so familiar, and brought about memories and feelings that I don't even know if they were right to have.

Kurama was just a fictional character all along, nothing of that was ever real. And I was never Yana.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried speaking in a firm tone, "Then, what about her?"

Shuichi gently squeezed my hand, as if he sensed my inner conflict just now. "You see, not long after her husband died, Yana discovered she was pregnant." He chuckled when I gasped and smiled in reaction. "Her smile must have been as big as yours right now. Her loss was replaced with pure joy five times over, for it was said she was expected to have five kits."

"That was really wonderful news, considering how they wanted so much to have children." I smiled wryly, "She surely did not fail him as a wife."

"I already told you—"he started to say, but cut himself off as he cleared his throat again. "Anyway, Shin and the twin bunnies, Shirosagi and Kurosagi, helped her supervise the men's operations until she needed to revert back to her fox form to carry the growing children in her womb better. From then on, they temporarily took over."

What's with that earlier sentence? And he knows these characters from my dream. I glanced at the book on my dresser. Was it all written there? Did Shuichi finish reading everything and was just telling me the rest of what I haven't dreamt of? That would explain why the book was closed. Wait, how did he know where the dream stopped anyway?

"But then," his voice lowered all of a sudden,"it was said that as her fifth month of pregnancy came along, the mansion was ambushed. While many had successfully escaped, many have also died." He looked away, "And that included her and her unborn kits."

As if on cue, sudden images flashed through my mind just then. There was a huge fire eating up the mansion that was our hideout in my dream. And a silver kitsune chased by two men, her bulging belly preventing her from running too fast. I could only assume that was Yana. The men closed in on her, and then...

"Yuki?" Shuichi cut through my thoughts. He gripped onto my arms, and it occurred to me that my eyes were closed and I was holding my head. "Are you alright?"

I panted, a heavy feeling now setting on my chest. I was met with Shuichi's worried expression when I opened my eyes. "I just... felt weird all of a sudden." Am I still plagued by Yana's memories even after I woke up? But why? "Please," I smiled, "just go on. I think I'll be fine in a moment."

He nodded, though he doesn't look convinced at all. "Very well then," he released my arms and sat back in his seat. "Now, Kurama never expected such incident. He never once thought she'd... die, that she'd have to stay true to her word of going after him in Ningenkai."

Slightly recovering, I told him what I've pointed out to Kurama before, "Well, anything could happen even in just a span of one year, right?"

His eyes widened for a brief moment, before he smiled, "That is true. However, this journey to another world cost Yana her memories. I suspect it's because of the grief of another huge loss, and the strain on her spirit. She did try to find Kurama and a convenient vessel at the same time, after all."

"Did she? And does Kurama remember her? The books said the consciousness of his thousand-year-old self was still intact even in his new body. Or at least, that's how I understood it."

"That is correct. And much too conveniently, Kurama's human mother's best friend was pregnant at that time. It seemed like Yana found the body of the unborn baby in that woman's womb as her perfect vessel. And so she was reborn, but like I said, with no memories of her past. Kurama was aware of this though; he had sensed it was Yana right when she merged her spirit with that of the fetus."

"So, was she able to remember everything in the end? Were they able to go back to Makai together?"

Shuichi smiled. "Actually, the story hasn't ended yet. And as for her memories really returning, only you could know the answer."

I blinked. "What do you mean by that?"

"Like I said, you just had a trip down memory lane. I believe you're capable enough to know what I mean soon."

Why does he have to speak so cryptically?

He straightened in his seat once again, his smile unwavering. "Please read the book to help you more. Don't worry, you won't pass out again."

So there really is a connection between me passing out, the long dream, and the book? Now how did he know that? Why does he know that?

"And please remember what I told you at that time. That you and I play important roles in this story. "

So those short breaks were real.

I opened my mouth to speak, but then my bedroom door opened.

"Yuki!" Standing by the door is a certain middle-aged woman with long brown hair tied up into a messy bun, whose troubled face lit up at seeing me. "Thank goodness you're finally awake!" she rushed in, and I was pulled into a crushing hug.

"Okaasan," I can't help but smile as I hugged her back.

Even after all those crazy adventures and getting to live with the man I so admired, I realized how I still longed for my mother's embrace, to see her face and talk to her again. I feel so ashamed to even think of abandoning this simple joy forever.

It felt like an eternity since I've last seen her, so I hugged her tight. Ah, that's right. "How long was I out?" I asked as I pulled back a little.

"Actually, I don't know. At first I just shrugged this off as one of the rare times you oversleep, but then Shuichi asked for you, so I finally decided to wake you up. Then I just found you lying flat on the floor when I got here!" she gestured to the spot near my dresser. "Just what happened to you, dear? You seem so well last night, totally far from passing out anytime soon."

Last night? Wow, that sure was fast. All those years were actually just a few hours of dreaming.

"Yuki," my mother brought my attention back to her... and her question.

"Huh?" What the heck would I answer? "Well, I was reading a book." Guess a half-truth will do. "I was so absorbed with it, as usual, until I got too sleepy to even crawl towards the bed. I do that most of the time though. It's just your first time seeing it," I winked. "So there's no need to worry."

"Your mother actually wanted to bring you to the hospital," Shuichi piped in from beside me.

"Well it's not normal to see your daughter passed out on the floor," she retorted, pursing her lips.

I grinned sheepishly. "Anyway," I turned to the redhead, "what are you doing here in the first place?"

"Well if you could remember, my mother had mentioned over dinner last night that she had forgotten the welcome present she prepared for you and your mother. And since she had work this morning, she asked me to deliver it for her," he replied smoothly.

"Oh," I nodded slowly. "And Okaasan said you asked for me?"

He smiled kindly. "I was just wondering where you were, since you weren't downstairs when I arrived."

"Shuichi had actually moved you to the bed and stayed by your side the whole time," Okaasan added. "He even watched over you in my stead so I could cook lunch for us."

Of course, he wanted to make sure he's there to put me back to sleep with that powder. I'm betting he had reassured my mother that I'm okay enough to stay home, because he wouldn't be able to proceed with his plan in the hospital.

Okaasan clapped her hands once. "That reminds me, it's time to eat. I'm sure you're both really hungry right now. Especially you, Yuki," she turned and walked ahead of us towards the door. "You missed breakfast because of oversleeping."

I giggled. "Sorry about that," I followed after her, with Shuichi close behind me. I turned to look at him, and our eyes met again. "Where have you known all this by the way? Are you another Youko Kurama fan?"

He chuckled. "I guess?"

"Then what's with suddenly withholding information just when it's at the climax?"

We both stopped at the doorway. "I assure you, you would soon understand why," he said.

I glanced at the book, but before I could say anything more, Okaasan interrupted me again when she called us from downstairs.

Shuichi tilted his chin towards the stairs. "That's our cue."

My stomach grumbled just then, so I half-heartedly turned away. "If you insist on being mysterious, then I'll check the book later."

"Please do," he said, and as I looked up at him, I found a painfully familiar smile.

Closing my eyes, I leaned my head back to feel the water beating down on my face. And it triggered another one of Yana's memories, this time of her and Kurama kissing in the rain one night. Gasping at the sudden vision, I immediately turned the shower off.

I've been having flashes of Yana's memories all day, specifically those of the years skipped in the dream, which are her and Kurama's life as a married couple. It's like almost everything I see and hear would trigger these visions. But I'm not freaked out. I actually kind of liked it. Maybe because he's in these memories. Though I feel bad too, since I am not her.

Groaning, I leaned against the wall. I'm really hopeless, falling for someone in my imagination. I should get a life.

But why did it all feel so real? Is this how cruel life is to me?

I thought Shuichi would tell me some kind of closure to it all, but more questions were just brought up.

A trip down memory lane, I repeated the phrase in my head. But those are Yana's memories... I froze. Don't tell me...

Just then there was a knock on the bathroom door. "Yuki, you've been in there for a while now," Okaasan called from outside. "You're not the only one who wants to use the shower, you know."

"Gomen, give me a few more minutes, please."

I stepped out of the shower and reached for the towel. As I patted my body dry, my hand grazed my left shoulder, where I felt a familiar lump. It was my birthmark. And as I looked at it, again I was awed.

The ugly birthmark that's been on my shoulder ever since I was born—the one shaped like two half-spheres facing each other—strongly resembles the bite mark Kurama gave Yana to make her his official mate. And it's at this exact same spot.

A coincidence? Why didn't I realize this before?

The sound of my mother's foot tapping didn't give me much time to think, so I quickly got dressed.

As soon as I got to my bedroom, I grabbed the big book from the dresser and sat on the floor.

Quite fickle-minded tonight, I cautiously opened the book, bracing myself from the blinding light. That light that seemed to have transported me back to the past, like in movies, when actually all it did was to put me to sleep and get me to dream all of that. I squeezed my eyes shut as I waited for it.

But it never came.

I opened my eyes and stared down at the title page. I sighed. Shuichi's right, it won't happen again. And I'm never going to see him again too.

I decided right then to just immerse myself in the contents of the book that technically I should've finished last night.

And it was amazing. Most of what I dreamed of was written in it—in Kurama's point of view, though. That meant getting a glimpse at what they did in team raids. Some were narrated casually, while some delved into detail. I temporarily forgot the depressing thoughts I've had since I started, as I relived the events in each page in my mind.

True to its title, the contents are like journal entries, minus the date and the usual 'Dear Diary' or whatever pet names you could think of (though it's funny to think that Kurama would even consider that). The book also contains pictures of people and places, some of which were all exactly the same as what I saw. Mizu Castle, buildings they've raided, and the mansion we stayed in were illustrated in it. A picture of Yomi and Kuronue were in it as well.

Then I got to the part where we—Yana and Kurama, rather—got married. Moving onto the next entry (after a few moments of burning cheeks and shaking off the memories of that night), I found that it jumped to Kuronue's death. The next entry is about the day of Kurama's own death. It was short, roughly three sentences talking about his supposedly solo raid that Yana apparently decided to tag along to. I assume the huge time skips are because of the lack of entries written here.

I skimmed through those last two entries. The memories within these words are not something I want to remember over and over again, most especially since they're only imaginary. Turning to the second to the last page, I saw a picture.

The silver hair and ears, the hazel eyes, the silver tail, the gray dress I wore when I first met him… the details and colors were very accurate. It was a picture of me, or rather, what I looked like as Yana. I touched the hand-drawn portrait and sighed deeply. I should return this book tomorrow.

Yawning, I closed the book. I have yet to read the last page, but my throat was really parched, so I decided to go downstairs. Switching the kitchen lights on, I read the wall clock. 12:47 AM. Man, it's late. I set the book on the counter and got myself a glass of water. And another. And another.

I really don't know what to think anymore. I believe now that the book is 'magical', but it doesn't change the fact that Kurama is not real.

I glanced at the clock again. I still don't feel like sleeping—and I know I can't sleep like this anyway—so I made myself a glass of milk. With the glass in one hand, I tried carrying the book in the other... forgetting how heavy it was. It slipped from my hand and landed face up on the floor, opened at the last page. Setting the glass on the counter, I bent down to pick the heavy book up.

And that's when I saw it. What was written in the page looked like a letter, which was addressed to Yana.

I immediately picked the book up and placed it on the counter, my heart pounding harder by the second. The said letter wasn't printed; it was written straight on paper. And the penmanship is exactly the same as I remembered how his looked like.

Yana,

I was fortunate enough to find an efficient spell to cast upon this book. I did my best to find an old acquaintance, a charm caster, to help me. But I hope my efforts were not futile. Now as the spell works, this book could be read by everybody else, but once you yourself finally open it for the first time, you would fall into a deep sleep and dream about all your lost memories. Also, only you could see and read this letter, still through the spell.

I had to stop. A spell, huh? Could this be really... true? Yes, that did happen to me, but...

And to also say that those are my memories... the phrase 'trip down memory lane' resurfaced. I shook my head. It just can't be.

"I never thought blank pages are appealing to you."

I jumped at the sudden voice and turned around to see my mother standing close behind me. I almost knocked down my glass of milk on the counter. Wait, what did she say? "A... blank... page?"

"Yes, don't tell me there's something written in invisible ink there."

I looked again, and the letter's still written there. I rubbed my eyes. Yep, still there. "You really can't... see it?" I asked.

"See what?" she squinted at the book, then turned back to look at me, "You know, get some sleep. Seems like you need it so badly."

You've got to be kidding me.

I closed the book, "I guess you're right." I gulped down the now lukewarm milk, knowing full-well that sleep is out of the question.

Okaasan went down here to drink some water too, so I offered to wash her glass along with mine. She then leaned next to me on the sink, "So, Yuki-chan, what do you think of Shuichi-kun?"

"Eh?" I almost dropped the glass. "W-what's with that sudden question?"

"You two seemed to have an intimate conversation in your room earlier."

"We were just-"

"But if it's Shuichi, I wouldn't mind."

I stopped to look at her. I was surprised to find that she had on a serious expression. For my whole life, this woman had been overprotective of me when it comes to my guy friends (thus I only have a few). "What do you mean?"

"Excellent in academics, very polite and respectful, and actually quite charming," she smiled. "He takes a lot from his mother, don't you think?"

Shiori Minamino is a beautiful woman, but I just don't see any physical resemblance of her in him. That's why I brushed off the thought of them being related when I saw Shuichi's surname in Meiou's bulletin board, he who's famous for being top of his class and his batch.

Shiori lost her husband a few years after we left this town. My mom had left me in the care of an old neighbor to attend the funeral. Shiori's got to be a smart woman too, for raising a child on your own ain't easy, that much I've learned from Okaasan.

And she's also Okaasan's best friend. Despite Shiori's busyness with her newborn baby back then, she had been there for my mother all throughout her pregnancy. Without my father and with my grandparents living far from us, Shiori's the only person Okaasan could turn to that time.

Okaasan and I moved to the neighboring town when I turned two, in her search of a better job. And even then, Shiori would visit us, most often with a gift for us. She's a real generous woman, bringing along a new book, clothes, or a recipe she decided to try, to name a few. And of course, plants. There would always be one or two species of flowering plants among her gifts. They're really pretty, so I had placed some in my old bedroom. She says it's from her son. Okaasan had visited them a few times before, so she's quite acquainted with the guy.

Speaking of Shuichi, I remembered I have yet to still figure out the mystery the redhead gave me. So far, I still have no clue what he meant by the important roles. And that letter's just piqued my curiosity even more.

Putting the glasses away, I picked up the book. "Yeah, I guess he does," I replied, hoping the conversation to end with that.

"He also likes to read," my mother added, but I only gave a wave of dismissal. Yet she's not one to give up easily. "Shiori's raised her son well."

"Mmhmm, he's pretty much perfect. Too perfect for me."

"Oh come on, don't be like that. He seems to have long since liked you even before you met yesterday." As I gave her a puzzled look, she continued, "Do you remember when Shiori once visited with him? You were nine years old back then, I think."

"Yeah, I was out library- and bookstore-hopping like always that day, right?"

She stepped closer to me. "Now I didn't tell you this before, but Shuichi looked for you. Seeing one of your pictures, he set out to find you. He did though, but was probably too shy to approach you. And too bad they had left before you came home. But you know what? He's got this triumphant smile on his face when he got back. I think he was smitten."

I looked at her weirdly. "It's so unlike you to be cheesy."

My mother chuckled, "Well, he sure quite pass my standards. But that doesn't mean I won't let my guard down. And you shouldn't, too."

I sighed and started out of the kitchen, "Like I always say Okaasan, you can trust me to keep my relationships with guys as 'friends only' until after I graduate college. Oyasumi."

Hearing her faintly bid me good night as well, I trudged up the stairs, Shuichi Minamino now successfully ingrained in my mind. Come to think of it, I did consider him as cute when I first met him. And just this morning, when he looked at me, touched my hand, drew close to me... everything reminds me of Kurama.

I shook my head and looked at the book in my hands. Just one last page. I just have to resolve all this confusion, and then I could start moving on. It's sad, but I know I won't go anywhere with my obsession over a fictional character.

I settled myself back down on the bedroom floor and turned to where the letter was at.

Now this letter is a brief account of what happened after you followed me here in Ningenkai.

Two years after you were reborn as a human baby, your human mother had to move to another home, taking you away from me. But she stayed close friends with my own human mother, who visited you from time to time and told me stories of you growing up. And to my convenience, she also gave you gifts. Once I found myself capable to speak clearly in this body, I asked to send plants on my behalf too, under the pretense of making friends with you. But actually, aside from protecting you from a few demons that might approach you while at home, the plants also work like security cameras. I suppose it's a given that you became fond of them and kept some in your bedroom, since those plants are from me.

That's kind of creepy. But wait, why does this sound familiar?

Then one summer day, my mother took me along with her on one of her visits. But you weren't there when we arrived. Your mother told us you were probably in a library or a bookstore like usual, pestering the librarian or counter girl for new books. So I looked for you to see for myself.

My eyes widened. Isn't this weirdly similar to what Okaasan and I talked about moments ago?

Considering you still have no memory of your past, I decided that before you could meet me in this world, I at least should come up with a plan first to somehow help you remember your past. Watching you read struck me with the idea to expose myself to you through books. And so I set out to 'supply' you with books about me. Given who you really are, it wasn't surprising how you got easily drawn with those, and for you to favor those books the most over others.

All books related to Youko Kurama, including this one, were penned by me. I have written everything that could possibly trigger your memories, even the seemingly prophetic dreams you've decided to tell me about, namely Yomi's failed assassination and our good friend Kuronue's demise.

Having a human uncle who owns a publishing house helped a lot. I asked him to keep it a secret though, even from my mother. Thus, I did not identify myself as the author too. I only wanted a few copies printed anyway, and all of them were only exclusively distributed in your area.

This book is also by an anonymous author, like all the others.

I immediately turned to the copyright page and found the name of the publishing house. Scrambling towards my bookshelves, I took out all the Youko Kurama books I have and checked the copyright pages.

And voila, they all have the same publisher.

"So this was all I needed to get me to start paying attention to copyright pages, huh?" I muttered to myself as I turned my laptop on. It seemed like forever since I touched a computer. I've been used to the quite traditional way of researching back in that dream.

I started on my quick research, using the name of the publisher as my keyword. And look what I found, it was a small publishing house owned by no one else but a Minamino.

My breath caught in my throat. This is the second time already. If I'm not mistaken, that surname is not common, and is only actually given to families of nobility. So it's highly possible that they are related.

I crouched back down to where the book lay. Breathing heavily, I read the last few paragraphs.

Our human appearances were a lot different from what we used to look like. That is, except for your eyes that remained as the same hazel ones I've always loved staring into, and the mark I gave you, which could be easily mistaken as a birthmark. I retained that mark as well, but that was all. I now have red hair and green eyes, but I could not describe myself clearly for now because I assume I still have yet to grow up in this body before I see you again.

Red hair, green eyes. My eyes, and my ugly 'birthmark'. I couldn't deny this again anymore.

Many things can happen even in a span of a year, you've said. We don't know what may happen, but I'll make sure that we would meet again and I myself will lead you to this book. All the other books were simply about me, but this book, my greatest project, is about us. Think of the others as the introduction, The Untold Story as the body, and the end would be up to us now.

Now if the spell worked and you've read this letter, you would most probably know who I am by now. I'll see you very soon, Yana-chan.

I am a swirling mess of emotions as I stared at his signed name.

Now it all adds up. That little attraction I felt for the redhead when I first saw him in person. The comfortable feeling I get around him and how I came to trust him so easily, like we've known each other for so long. His reaction when he first saw the title of the library book I borrowed. The way he spoke and moved, and that familiar gaze, touch, and scent. Why he knows so much.

And I remember, at one point, I found a slight resemblance between the fox's face and someone else's whom I recently met. Now I realized it was the redhead's face I was thinking about.

And these visions of memories... my own memories. And of course, the whole 'passing-out-once-I-open-the-book' ordeal.

I plopped down on my futon and shakily reached for my phone on the bedside table. I realized it's already past one in the morning, so I guess I'd leave a message after two missed calls, even if that means bearing with the anxiety for much longer and losing more of my precious sleep.

He answered on the second ring though. "Hello?"

"Shuichi," I breathed. "Sorry to call you this late, but there's something I really, really need to know right now." I paused to take a deep breath, "Are you related to Jun Minamino? Who owns a publishing house? And published The Untold Story? As well as all the Youko Kurama books distributed exclusively to the town I used to live?"

I think I could hear him smile. "He is my uncle, my late father's older brother," he calmly replied.

I gulped. "Then," I whispered, "who are you?"

His voice dropped a few octaves lower when he answered, "It is me, Yana."

I gasped. I didn't realize I was holding back tears until they escaped my eyes, hot and continuous. Tears of joy and frustration. "Why didn't you tell me right away?"

He chuckled softly. "I figured I wanted to give my favorite student a challenge. It won't be nice to spoil this climactic revelation."

"Cruel... old fox..." I said between sobs.

"Yana, I... please don't cry."

"You expect me to just jump for joy?"

"Well..."

"It's a rhetorical question."

He sighed. "Look, I'm outside."

"Outside...?" My eyes widened, "No way, right now?" I padded towards the window, and true enough, he was standing by the entrance. "What the... since when have you been there?" I made a mad dash towards the front door right then, ending the call.

As I reached the front yard, I stopped. And stared, drinking in the sight before me.

The long silver hair was now as red as his favorite flower. The hazel sinister eyes are replaced with gentler green ones, the color of its thorny stem. And that smile. The canine fangs have disappeared, but it was no less dazzling.

He was no less beautiful.

There he was, Shuichi Minamino.

Kurama.

"I just got here," he answered my question. "I figured you were close to the answer, so I have to stay true to that last sentence in the letter." Seeing my puzzled expression, he added, "You have one of my flowers in your bedroom."

I nodded in realization. Shiori's welcome present for us included plants, as usual. And I took one to my bedroom again.

Smiling reassuringly, he pulled his hands out of his pants pockets and opened his arms wide.

I ran towards him. As soon as I was within his reach, he wrapped me up in a warm embrace and stroked my hair, a gesture so close to home. And I was again surrounded with this same warmth that I loved.

"Welcome back," he whispered in my ear. "I said in my letter that I'd see you soon, right?"

I hugged him back. He smelled just like how I remembered him. "It's not nice to play with my emotions," I mumbled into his neck. "I seriously thought I lived someone else's life!"

"I'm sorry," he said. "But I'm sure you know now why I have to do that?"

I sighed and nodded. I'd only be more confused if he told me directly. I rested my head on his shoulder, where something caught my eye.

He was wearing a wide neck shirt, and on his left shoulder peeked out the exact same ugly birthmark as mine, although a bit smaller. I hesitantly touched it. It was real, with the same lumpy texture of mine.

He momentarily tensed up at my touch, but he just chuckled, "That's one of my physical proofs, since I cannot turn to Youko Kurama at will."

"I figured," I smiled as I gently pulled away. "How did you know I still have the mark too?"

"I got a good look at you when you were still a baby, for your mother brought you to our house a few times before."

"Oh my gosh, isn't that pedo-"

"I was technically a baby back then too," he smirked.

I laughed as I took his hand in mine and looked at him from head to toe, thinking aloud. "Is this real? You're truly real, living and talking and standing in front of me now? Not just a character from a book? Kurama," I smiled as I tested out his name on my lips again. It had me thinking back to the very first time I called him by that name.

"Hm?"

"I guess I should start calling you that now."

"As long as there's no one who knows me as Shuichi Minamino is around."

Nodding again, I noted that I only reach up to his chin. "I'm still smaller than you."

"At least I could reach you more easily now," he grinned, leaning in and tilting my head up with one hand. "You know, if you need any more proof," he continued leaning in closer until he stopped right in front of my face.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Then I felt something warm press against the top of my head. "I should let you sleep," he stepped back, smiling. "I'll see you later. Please wait for my call."

Kurama had led me to an artificial riverbank. We have been lying on the grass in comfortable silence for a while now, just listening to the sounds of nature around us as I flipped through The Untold Story.

There was a teeny-tiny difference about my amnesia in my dream and my real amnesia. I actually never forgot I was a kitsune back then, because no matter how severe your amnesia is, you wouldn't forget what kind of creature you are born as. Well except this time, since I was reborn as a human and my whole self-concept was wiped out. At least that's what I think.

"I just realized," I finally spoke, and he instantly turned to look at me, "I seem to have a knack for getting amnesia."

Kurama laughed. "Now I have to agree with that. But are you okay? No jumbled memories or anything like that?"

I shook my head. "Fortunately, no. And I'm glad. I remember everything in order, right from when I was still with my real family. There sure are a lot of memories. And I've realized, it's nice to live long."

"Now you sound like an old person."

I playfully rolled my eyes and continued to turn the pages. I stopped at an entry about my training. "Hey, what happened to our powers?"

"I could still summon and control plants, though I have to admit that I became weaker with this body. And like I said, I can't change forms, and I assume you haven't even tried that yet, considering you just remembered everything recently."

"I'm pretty sure I can't too."

"True, because I sense a weak energy within you. Too weak, actually."

"What?" I exclaimed. "As in so weak?" I turned to the river behind us. "Too weak to make waves?"

He chuckled. "I don't think so. But prior to the long dream the spell put you in, have you ever tried controlling water, despite your unawareness of your ability?"

"Hmm, when I was six years old, I thought I overturned a half-empty cup of water, but Okaasan said it's just my imagination. It was rather windy, and it's a paper cup after all, so I believed that. But could it be...?"

"I'm not sure. Outside your house, where you're without the protection of my plants, you weren't attacked by low-class demons. You never came home with an injury from them, based on my observation. Though, have you ever gotten the feeling of being watched?" I shook my head, so he continued, "Maybe they think you weren't a worthy opponent, for a lack of a more appropriate term."

"That's really harsh."

"Don't worry," he reached out to pat my head, "I guess it's all just because you haven't practiced getting stronger these past years. We could work on that through training. Although I'm afraid I have to be stricter this time."

I fake shivered, "I'm so scared." It earned me a flick on the forehead. I giggled.

"It's also another way to spend more time with you," he smiled.

"Won't our mothers be suspicious?"

"What's wrong with spending the whole summer with a new friend?"

"That would be suspicious if that new friend is of the opposite gender, especially for my mother. Which reminds me..." I trailed off, closing the book and sliding it in between us. I lay my head in my folded arms, coming face-to-face with the grass.

So if this is all real, I already gave myself to a man? I thought, trying to suppress the blush creeping up my cheeks.

"What is it, Yana?" I felt him touch my shoulder.

Startled, I sat up suddenly.

"Are you alright?"

I kept my head turned away from him, "How are we supposed to treat each other? Relationship-wise, I mean. Okaasan's strict when it comes to this matter, and I've accepted the rule of being boyfriend-free until after college, but this is different. I mean, you're not just a boyfriend, and-"

"Yana," he said, and I turned to see his gentle smile, "if it's all too fast for you, let's start over. I don't want to force you into anything, and get you to rebel against your mother." He gingerly laid his hand over mine. "Besides, I trust that you'll remain loyal anyway, and I promise you I'll be the same."

I smiled back, sighing in relief. "Thank you. So physical contact is limited to this for now?"

Kurama chuckled. "Sure."

I looked out into the river. "Have you been attacked?"

"Oh, if you only knew," he said. "Once I turned seven years old in this body, my energy grew strong enough to attract low-class demons that slip through the barrier to spread mischief. I had to protect this place from them when they come here to have a piece of me. It is also actually through them that I found out about your pregnancy and the ambush."

"They're gossipers, huh?"

Kurama laughed. "Yes, you could say that. I guess you were pretty famous too, considering that incident happened long ago." He sighed rather happily, "Seems like I'm still plagued by my past, but I'd have to accept it. I could never leave it all behind. Especially since you are part of my past," he glanced at me, "then my present, and of course, my future."

I shook my head, smiling, "Sweet-talker."

Kurama laced his fingers into mine and squeezed gently. And then we fell into a comfortable silence once again.

This time, he initiated conversation. "I originally planned to return to Makai once I fully recovered my strength, which is an approximate of ten years. You know about that, don't you?"

"Yes, that was written in the books. But now that I think about it, you didn't follow through with it. Is it because of me?"

"No, it is actually part of the plan to find and take you with me, with or without your memories. I was that desperate."

"So why didn't you, then?"

"Okaasan," he answered, a pleasant smile crossing his face. "I was, in every way, a child prodigy, yet anti-social. I was not all-out mean to other people though; I kept all cruel thoughts to myself. I hated this whole situation I was put in, and most especially being away from you. I was quiet most of the time, and emitted a cold and insensitive aura. But my mother loved me despite that. Moreover, she saved me from an accident when I was a child." (1)

"I think she told me that herself when she visited a month after the incident. I had asked about the scars in her hands back then, the curious little child I was."

Kurama smiled wryly, "Those scars were constant reminders of my selfishness. I remember her crying not because of the pain, but because she was happy I was not harmed. From then on, I realized I couldn't leave her. She was the mother I never had. And so I thought I would just take my time, live as Shuichi Minamino for as long as she lived, before finally going back to Makai. I eventually changed, bringing out more of the side of me that I used to show only to you before, for I longed to bring Okaasan happiness. And while I'm at it, I decided to focus on restoring your memories too, before taking you back home with me. My early plan with you was pretty harsh, after all."

I smiled, "She seems to have a great impact on you. I can see you've changed a lot. And amazingly, this big life-changing realization happened when you were technically ten years old?"

Kurama chuckled. "Yes, and also the time when I started writing those books."

"Didn't your uncle get suspicious?"

"Most probably he did. But he published my works anyway. I told him those books were all for a friend. I said you like challenges when he questioned why they have to be distributed in bookstores in your place."

I laughed. "You know, maybe you should be a novelist someday."

"No way," he grinned. "That was... a one-time thing. I only wrote facts anyway. I don't think I could make up stories."

"Really, now?" I smirked. "So who's that charm caster you mentioned in your letter? We should thank that person too."

"Oh, well it's that librarian," he looked away. "She went to Ningenkai to escape a few people from Makai, then disguised herself as a human. She came to this town when she had sensed my energy. She's the one who created and cast the spell on the book."

"She's a friend of yours?"

"Well," he kept looking away, "an ex-lover, actually. But I was a child when she found me here, and she didn't want to be a pedophile, so..."

"But you're a teenager now. Maybe she won't mind being a cougar?"

He looked at me weirdly.

I giggled, "You know I'm just kidding. Though I still won't let my guard down." I heard him chuckle, and I sighed, squeezing his hand gently. "Thank you, Kurama. You never gave up on me, not even once, right from the very start. You never got tired."

"I promised, didn't I? I told you I would not break it this time. And now that you're finally back," he paused to yawn, "I think I could relax now, somehow."

I smiled as he lay back on the grass, my hand still in his. "Oh, please do. I've caused too much trouble already. You deserve a rest."

He smiled as he closed his eyes. "Don't be silly, Yana-chan." He yawned again. "I missed you."

"Well I can't say the same, because I woke up after you died in my dream and found you soon afterwards," I replied, earning a soft chuckle from him. I smiled before laying back down as well and leaning closer to him. "I love you," I whispered, but I realized he had already dozed off.

He looked so peaceful. He slept soundlessly like always, and with his new (and quite feminine-like) appearance now, Kurama looked more innocent. A ghost of a relieved smile seemed to settle on his sculpted lips. If anyone would look at him now, you would never believe all the big challenges this guy had already faced in his long life.

Meeting him was the best thing I ever got to experience. He had filled my life with joy, excitement, and love, as much as I filled his. I look forward to our future, now that we were together again. He sure had fulfilled his promise.

I laid our intertwined hands on top of the thick book between us. It was not just all about our love story. The book contains him, the real Youko Kurama. All his troubles, all his thoughts, all his feelings. In it is a very different insight of the life of the seemingly cold and arrogant fox, his life at its best and worst. It showed a person who could love and care deeply for others, and would do anything for the sake of those important to him, even if it meant risking his own safety, his own life.

THE UNTOLD STORY:
The Account of the Youko Kurama

Now I know the real reason behind the title.

THE END. Did you like it? I hope you do. It's my first time ending a multi-chaptered story (hahahaha), so I'm really nervous about this. :) So would you be kind enough to leave me your thoughts about this through a review? ;)

So now, time for this author to express her HUGE gratitude for you faithful readers.You guys were just so amazing, and you've made me cry (I'm a really emotional person xD) a few times with your reviews. Short or long, I treasure them all. I also loved how you gave me constructive criticisms.

Really, I didn't think this story would come this far. Like I've said before, this was originally something I planned to enter into a fanfic writing contest, but then I didn't get to finish before the deadline. And now, uwaaah, I still can't believe this story's success. I never imagined that lots of people would come upon this story. It's just... so overwhelming. I think I'll cry later and for the next few days. xD

1 YEAR, 8 MONTHS, AND 27 DAYS (in my timezone, that is). Wow, I took so long to finish this, huh? You know my usual excuses. So thank you for being so patient with me, and for all the encouragement and support. Your reviews helped me so much to squeeze words out of me. xD

So again, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to all those who reviewed, followed and favorited this story and/or me as the author, and for simply just taking the time to read this. Congrats to those who've figured out this story's main twist.As for a sequel, I'm not sure yet. I have yet to come up with a good plot. xDI really enjoyed writing this despite all the stress it gave me. I hope you loved this too, as much as I loved this baby to bits. :)))I love you people so much, and I hope you continue to support me.

So the surprise? REVIEW REPLIES! Yay! I've always wanted to do this. But I'll only reply to the site guests through this chapter, so for those who've got accounts, please wait for my PM. XD Oh, and FOR THOSE WHO WOULD READ AND REVIEW THIS IN THE FUTURE, I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!

rozenmiko: My first reviewer! Haha, I remember squealing so much for getting a review soon after I posted the first chapter. I'm really glad you liked it from the first chapter already. Huge thanks to you, because your review really encouraged me so much to continue. Oh, and I've tried PMing an account with the same name as your guest name (I hope I was right, haha), because I want to thank you right away back then. Hehe. But anyway, again, thank you so much!

AliceJr: Yes, our sexy fox really deserves some love too. ;) Hihi thanks for reviewing, I hope you liked every chapter update since you've first reviewed, and especially the ending! :))

Rose: Hi, haha sorry for not updating as soon as you wished me too. I hope you still continued reading despite that, and that you like this conclusion! :)

Klean: Hey man, I think I owe you a lot. Lol, kidding. Okay, first of all thanks so much for sharing this story to others, even though you're not a fan of this fandom. Next, I have to thank your boredom on that day you decided to read my story. Then thanks also for agreeing to review, despite you being a man of few words. xD And thanks for breaking my heart with your innocent frankness, lol. Really, thanks for supporting my written works. :)) I miss you so much, see you soon ;)

Ruabre: Hey, your review about choosing which type of water kitsune Yana should be brought me to my senses. xD Haha, thanks for that, you helped me a lot. I hope you like every chapter since your review, how things turned out, and of course, the ending! :)))

Guest: I don't know if you're the same anon who said something about Youko being OOC, but thanks anyway! Haha, I got really nervous when that matter was pointed out, so since then I tried harder to look further into Youko's character. xD Oh, and for the grammar errors, sorry! Hihi, I hope you still liked the chapters anyway, and especially this end! :))

D: Thanks for the review! I loved that you loved my story so far, and I sure hope you would still love this story now that it's completed. :))

Mikuro: Kyaa, I'm really, really glad that you appreciate my OC. I try my best to not make her a Mary-Sue, so thanks for liking her. Thanks for your constructive criticisms too, those really helped me soooo much, if you only knew. And I admit I got kind of nervous in one xD Hope you liked the chapters since your last review, and especially how it ended. Thank you sooo much!

Blue Rose: Hi, thanks for the suggestion, haha it was pretty long, but thanks anyway since you gave thought into the story. ;) Here, I hope you like how things turned out though. :))

ley-chan: Hi, thanks for your reviews, hihi. I can't help but feel excitement through your reviews, and I can't help but smile at them. Thanks so much, I hope you love the conclusion. :)

Fangirl: Hey there, I've finally updated, haha! Sorry for procrastinating too much, and for being so distracted. :/ Here, I hope you like this ending, as well as the whole story! ;))

YYH fan: Hello! Hihi, here's the final chapter update, I really hope you like it as much as you like the other chapters. Thanks for reviewing!

There, did I forget someone? I hope I didn't. :/ So again, thanks guys! I love youuuuu~

By the way, I'm going to be editing the previous chapters, because I made a real embarrassing mistake (though it's just a minor one), and of course I badly want to correct the grammatical errors, even if that means retyping the long chapters again. xD So for those who've followed this story, if you receive an email regarding this story in the future, those are just edited chapters xD Haha..

So again, PLEASE REVIEW! :))) Until my next YYH (or non-YYH) fanfic~! Thank you so much!