Disclaimer: On the last chapter, I'd totally forgotten about this. And here's what I thought; since everyone knows the right belongs to none other than Fujimaki-sensei, I see it being pointless to put up a disclaimer everytime. So in order to save space, this will be the last disclaimer. See? I'm already wasting a lot of space by now. Once and for all, I'd never own KnB in my life. Except for my plot and OCs. Sadly, yes. But that's the truth.

Third Person's POV

She opened her mouth, gritted her teeth, chow on her nails. Then closed her mouth again; Izanami has repeated this action for the umpteenth time by now.

The gray head watched in tension at the match between Shūtoku and Seirin with a serious face. She tilted her head up and stared at the scoreboard with knitted brows; 13-19

Shūtoku in the lead.

When Izanami has arrived at the courts, the first quarter had already reached its end. Even though she had dashed like Usain Bolt earlier, she was no legend herself. She trudged over to the bench wordlessly, her heavy footsteps alerting the rest of Seirin of her late arrival.

Koga glanced up upon being the first to notice the manager's presence. Taking his eyes off the match for the moment to greet the freshman. "Nami-chan! Finally, you're back!"

"Um... Yeah," replied Izanami. Looking oddly distracted.

"Don't 'yeah' me, baka!" chided Riko as she rose up to her feet from the bench, hitting the ashen-haired across her head brutally. "Where were you all these time!? We almost went searching for you, you know!?" The brunette huffed indignantly.

Sure. Being away wasn't a big deal, but being away for a quarter's time as the team's manager, was a huge deal. Nevertheless, the brunette secretly believed the eccentric freshman has a good reason for her seemingly misconduct today. No matter how much Nami loved to fool around, she has her code of honor to uphold. And she'd never take her jobs or duty lightly. That's the type of contradicted person she is ― diligent towards her work, only.

Under normal circumstances, Izanami would have simpered a lame excuse and apologized profusely. But the coach felt something was off with her junior today; she was being way too quiet.

Riko glanced warily at the gray head with slight concern. "Nami-chan...?" she tried calling out to her. However, Izanami's attention was solely and wholly on a certain redhead who was playing out on the courts. When the manager remained unresponsive once again, that was when Riko noticed an austere expression on her face. The brunette hitched in her throat.

She swears, she has never seen Izanami this serious and... different before.

It was as if the person standing before her now wasn't Izanami Garcia, but a totally different person. The air around the ashen-haired changed all of a sudden, along with her usual witty personality. Everything about her felt distant. If she dares say, her junior looked a little scary even. Causing a slight chill running down her back with Izanami's sudden switch in personality.

Izanami turned and rested her narrowed eyes at the brunette. "Coach," Riko instinctively licked her dry lips and gulped, "please fill me in about what happened in the first quarter."

The coach nodded stiffly. Too stumped by the new image of her manager to do anything as sweats begin damping her palms. At that moment, Riko finally understood what Kagami had meant, when he said Nami being 'hard to read'. She thought the gray head was a laid-back and sarcastic person, because that's how Nami has always acted. But after seeing the person now, Riko couldn't be so sure anymore.

Nami has too many faces. When you thought Face A was the real one, only to be surprised by the existence of Face B. Misguiding people's opinions on her and manipulate them into thinking all of it were part of her personalities―

When her real self probably never existed in the first place.

Kuroko draped a towel around his neck. The towel was laden with sweats as he traipsed from the courts to the bench with laborious steps. Panting all the while.

As the bluenette was hydrating himself, an outstretch hand which held a sports drink appeared in his line of view. "Good work there, Kuroko-kun." Izanami offered as she smiled down at the passive teen.

"Thanks. Izanami-san," accepted Kuroko as he generously took the bottle from her. Izanami proceeded to perch onto the bench next to him, staring at the digital scoreboard with an enigmatic gaze.

Both of them merely sat there in comfortable silence, neither conversing nor looking at each other. They could hear the people around them buzzed around in quicken footsteps. If it was with someone else, they might be slightly unnerved by the silence. But it's totally not the case for the two. Maybe it was because they've already acquainted with each other long ago, thus they seemed to be so at ease even without your usual quotidian conversation.

However, the silence was short-lived. "I know about how you feel," started Izanami. Kuroko batted his lashes at her words. How did she― ?

"Don't worry though. Everything will work out fine," assured Izanami as she looked distantly at a certain redhead. A wistful look fleeted by her features as she said so. Her usual impish grin was now replaced by a rather melancholy smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Kuroko regarded the girl's profile that seemed to be painted from a picture quietly. He parted his lips, prepared to say something in return. Only to close it in the end as he found no words came out of him. Strange. He has many things to say, or ask. Like how she knew what he was feeling or thinking about, or what she meant by 'everything will work out fine'.

Despite the mountain of questions inside of him, in the end he wasn't able to ask.

The seniors and others hasn't realize it yet. Of what exactly lies ahead of them in the next quarter. But Kuroko and Izanami have already sensed the foreboding slowly materializing, currently headed their way and dooming all of Seirin's team. In no time, Kagami would be standing on a crossroad. At there, that's when the trial would begin. His own trial to determine what kind of athlete he wants to become.

Maybe it was due to fatigue. Kuroko thought he heard the gray head mumbled something incoherent. When he wanted to ask what it was, Izanami only beamed a crescent-eyed smile at him and stood up. Already walking away with her back facing him.

"Because I am here."

Midorima occasionally threw discreet glances to a certain ash head, who's currently having a meeting with her team during the interval.

He adjusted his glasses as his gaze lingered on her for a few more moments, before turning away and grabbing a water bottle for himself. It wasn't like he was expecting her to show up or anything. In fact, he'd wished the eccentric being never show up at all in the remaining quarters.

Remember? Izanami Garcia don't belong to this blue planet. Who knows what she would do when they meet. In addition, that ashen-haired seemed to enjoy tormenting him just for the kicks of it. Any rational and intelligent beings would of course steer clear of her. As best and far as they could.

"Hey Shin-chan," Takao slithered up next to him as he wiped the sweats off from the towel, "I heard that Nami-chan and Kagami are actually childhood friends." The hawk-eyed commented extemporaneously. From aside, Takao monitored the expression of his best friend attentively. Searching for any sort of cracks or loops on his passive mask. But alas, it wouldn't be Midorima Shintarō if it was that easy to see his expression falter from just that. Right?

"Their relationship is none of my concern," grunted out Midorima. He pushed his frame up on the bridge of his nose as he continued coolly. "Whatever their relationship is, it doesn't change the fact that Seirin will be vanquished in the next quarter." With that, the shooter turned away. Ending their short conversation, and seemingly meaningless topic.

The verdant head could hear his friend's sigh from behind as he strode away. No matter what other says now, nothing could deter the bespectacled teen from achieving his victory. In this moment, Midorima was determined― to pulverize Seirin.

Kuroko, Kagami Taiga, Izanami Garcia, and everyone from Seirin... I'll show you what true despair means.

Even if they were acquaintance, he won't show mercy.

'The misdirection has been seen through by Takao. The back steal attempt didn't work on him.'

'Midorima is on a rampage with his three pointers shot. He's unstoppable.'

'Kagami's leap has gained new heights. Due to the sudden growth of his ability, he's now almost on par with Midorima. But the prices that comes with it―'

Everything was falling apart.

Kagami was losing himself. His objective, his goal, their goals, and the oath they've made at the park. All those memories were being buried deep under the strong desire of winning. Lost and forgotten.

Izanami's knuckles turned white at the sight of his childhood friend slowly crumbling away, and becoming someone else. The more he tries to stop Midorima, the further their distance get. He has turned his back on them.

And his silhouette was slowly fading away.

Kuroko, who has been subbed out and was seated on the bench, shared the same frown as Izanami and Riko. The three of them didn't like what they were seeing at all. Despite their ace had been putting his all into this match, it's not like that. It wasn't supposed to be like that.

It looked as if Kagami was the lone wolf, fighting the battle all by himself.

"Coach," spoke Izanami. There was a slight quiver underneath her tone as she said, but she hid it well. "Could we call a time-out? I think it's time for me to wake that moron up." She cracked her knuckles as her eyes blazed wildly.

The bench warmers all backed away in fear except for Kuroko. All shaking like a leaf at the murderous intent emanated off from her. God knows what their sadistic manager is plotting at ... she wouldn't kill Kagami. Right?

"Alright. I'm leaving it to you then," sighed Riko. She thought it was an excuse when Izanami had first said about they needed a guardian to watch after Kagami before they have officially joined the club. Who knows the time would actually come, like what their manager had predicted? She just hopes whatever the eccentric teen was going to do, she could at least hold back a little. They still need their ace in one piece if they ever want to turn the table in this match at all.

"Seirin time-out!"

Kagami paused and looked dumbfounded for a second. They were doing just fine, so why request a time-out now?

"Coach, why a time-out now?" asked Kagami as he strutted up to the brunette. The redhead couldn't have masked his expression any worser. His befuddlement, tinged with a slight irritation were an open book on his perspiring face. Riko furrowed her brows at the redhead before replying. "You need to cool your head, Kagami-kun."

"Ha? What you talkin' about?"

"You've been acting too self-centered, Kagami." Izuki piped up, "at least rely a bit more on your teammates. Won't you?"

Kagami's face hardened. A harsh scowl settled upon his countenance. "We don't have the time for that!" raved Kagami. His sudden outburst had had the Shūtoku's team, as well as some of the audience to pause and attention hooked to the rift in Seirin inquisitively. "If there's anyone who can stop Midorima's shot now, it's me," he gritted his teeth. "Talking about teamwork now is useless. Everyone just have to pass me the ball from now onward and I'll make the shot."

Izanami and Kuroko frowned deeply at his words.

"This is the only way to win."

Once the redhead has finished his obnoxious speech, Izanami sighed exasperatedly. She repetitively tried to even out her breathing, trying her best to calm the boiling blood in hers. When she was sure she has her temper under control, she plodded wearily to Kagami. Her bangs were casting a shadow over her face and thus, no one knows what expression the gray head was adopting. Everyone from Seirin held their breath; her expression being unreadable was what made the fear ten-fold.

"Taiga."

Kagami turned and stared down at her childhood friend indifferently. He was damn sure Izana was probably going to lecture him like the rest of the others did. Unfortunately, it ain't going to work. No matter what the others say, it doesn't change the plight they're in now. It doesn't change the fact that the only one who can go up against one of the Generation of Miracles is him alone―

That was what he'd thought, until he felt something soft and warm pressed against his lips.

...

The flow of time in the gymnasium had suddenly gone stagnant. Those spellbound audience all goggled and gaped at what transpired before their eyes. Once they have registered everything has happened thus far, shrieks and murmurs spawned forth. This was a basketball tournament they came to watch for, right?

The Seirin's, on the other hand, all had their jaws dislodged.

Midorima almost dropped his glasses at the outrageous sight.

Takao whistled coquettishly.

Kise spurts from his soft drink on Kasamatsu's face.

Kuroko's water bottle slips away from his grasp and fall onto the floor with a soft 'thud'.

Kagami blinked once. Twice. Then third. His brain immediately short-circuit, and lost all intelligence on speech and comprehensiveness for now.

What the hell just happened? Besotted, Kagami's eyes began to spin from the soft sensation on his lips. The blood immediately surged up from his neck to his ears, and was that steams evaporating through his pores?

D-D-Did s-she just k-k-kis―

Izanami parted away from the redhead first, before running her thumb over her lips― slow and dally. Then, she quirked an impish smirk. "Have my wake up kiss woke you up, Bakagami?"

The ashen-haired thought she heard something snaps, because by the time she had noticed where it came from ― Kagami has already kicked the bucket.

"Kagami!" Everyone cried out. Rushing toward their fallen ace with arms flailing around, mimicking a herd of chaotic hens trapped inside a cage.

Izanami cocked her head to a side innocently as she watched everyone herded around the unconscious male in panic. "Strange. I thought what I did was no different from Alex, so why did it affected him this much?" she muttered beneath her breath. Her brows knitted in confusion.

She swears, she never knows the plan would backfire on him. It wasn't in her calculation. All the gray head ever wanted was for his idiotic friend to pull himself together ― not push himself out of consciousness.

Hold on a second. If Taiga went MIA now, what is going to happen to the match!? Izanami mentally blanched.

Unfortunately for her, she realized her consequences a tad too late.

Kagami groaned. He stirred uncomfortably as he tried to peel his eyelids open. When he finally came to, he was lying on the bench with a cold towel atop his forehead. "What... what happened?" asked Kagami, as he squinted his eyes at the blinding light emitted from his surrounding.

"Thank god, you're finally awake!" Koga exclaimed a tad too loud for the redhead's comfort. Kagami's head was still ringing and he doubts he's experiencing a migraine now. As if on cue, everyone began to surround the redhead the second he sat up.

"How are you feeling now Kagami-kun? Anything hurts?" asked Riko worriedly.

"You really gave us a fright there. Suddenly fainting like that," Hyūga said. Followed by Mitobe who nodded wordlessly behind.

"What? I fainted?" Kagami raised a brow. He fainted? No wonder his head hurts more than it should. Probably from the impact of his head collided with the floor.

"Yeah. But thankfully, you managed to come to before the time-out's over. So you've only pass out for a minute or two. Don't worry," Izuki filled in the details for him. While the redhead was wrapping his head around whatever shits happened before he was knocked out cold, Kuroko approaches him. "Kagami-kun," the apathetic teen addresses Kagami with an ever serious tone, "you seriously have no recollection of before you faints?"

Kagami frowned at his partner. Recollection of wha―

He blinked, as those ludicrous memories suddenly came crashing down on him. The mosaic clearing slowly. Kagami instantly paled, losing all humanely colors from his face. Although his head felt like it was splitting apart, his heart was even worse.

The pounding of his heart was even louder than the cheers from the audience when they played. At least that was the case for him. His erratic heartbeats had turned his face beet red. Merging the color on his hair into one.

That's right. Izana she―

"I thought I need to give you another kiss to wake you up again though."

Kagami flinched at the voice behind his back. Despite his body being dormant, the 'sweat-parade' still commences. It wouldn't be an exaggeration if he'd said the amount of water he's shedding could fill an ocean by now. Maybe he could lie back down and pray that sleep took over his consciousness―

"Did you ate a pepper in your dream? Your face and hair has become one. You know?"

―or not.

Ubiquitous, Izanami asked as she shifted into the range of his peripheral vision. Invading his personal space with a close-up shot of her face. Oh Jesus, he bets his heart is going to jump right out at this instant. When did she gets in front of him by the way!? Does spending too much time with Kuroko finally rubbed off on her?

Flustered, Kagami's blood pressure skyrocketed with her face inches away from his. As a result, he could see splotches of black clouding his vision now.

"Uh... Nami-chan. I think it will be better if you leave Kagami some space..." Furihata suggested meekly. The redhead must had had a concussion. Because Furihata seemed to be glowing with halo hovering above his head now. A God's messenger? Kagami dazed, assuming a dreamy expression subconsciously. Damn. The blood was getting to his head. He has even started hallucinating now.

"Why?" Izanami pouted. But she still heed what Furihata said, and back away from his childhood friend. Leaving the anemic redhead on his own for now. Though why he needed the space, was out of her box. It wasn't like she was going to eat him or anything―

The ash head widened her eyes as a light bulb lit up just then. She knew why Taiga looked so weird after having regained his consciousness! It has to be that.

"Could it be that you're upset because it wasn't a french kiss!?"

What. The. Fuck?

"Jeez, you and your greediness~ I guess it can't be help. Since you're an healthy adolescent boy, of course you'd want to try it once." Izanami rattled on about how Kagami should only do it with the person he loves. How hypocritical, the Seirin's thought. Coming from a girl who had just kissed a childhood friend of hers who she probably don't even love. "Just like sex, french kiss is special. There's no meaning if you don't do it with the person you truly loves."

As their manager ranted on pubescence and hormonal changes in their bodies, everyone from Seirin sweat-dropped helplessly at the scene. Typically, you don't see people prattled the topic of 'sexual intercourse' so casually in the public. So, rather than feeling embarrassed, it was rather refreshing to see someone not pressured by the social pressure and spout what's on their mind so straightforwardly.

Being Izanami, she could care less about how the society works. She speaks what she wants to say, without cajolery and ingratiation. She throws your worst right at your face, when everyone else swept those ugliness under the rug and showed you a fake illusion of what's good in you. Honesty might not be the best approach in the adult's world, but honesty is certainly what draws people in.

Just like what the eccentric girl's capable of. Without the person herself knowing.

By now, Kagami's boiling point has reached new low. In the spur of moment, the glutton rose to his feet. He pointed an accusing finger at the girl. "T-That isn't the c-case at all! You crazy bitch!" Though it wasn't intended, he ended up stuttering and bit his tongue.

"It isn't?" asked Izanami as she tilted her head innocently. Nonchalantly bypassing the insult sputtered by the redhead.

Kagami's fingers twitched. If only she wasn't a girl, everything would be so darn easy to resolve.

"Why did you do that for anyways!?" Kagami knows she's eccentric and unprecedented. But not to this extent! Kissing someone against his will... it's, i-it's sexual harassment! It doesn't matter if the victim was male or female. The point being ― his lips got freaking violated! It's a criminal offense!

He can sue her for that, right?

In the first place, how could she did that so easily and unabashed? The gray head doesn't seem bothered by the fact that they've just kissed at all, and it was what grate on his nerve; her nonchalant way of doing things, her lack of self-awareness, everything about her was just plain messed up.

Her head was all messed up.

Though he guessed Alex was more or less, responsible for this.

Izanami glared into his red eyes obdurately. Her lips tugged into a frown. "To drag you back to earth, of course."

Kagami paused at her change of demeanor. The ashen-haired crossed her arms in front of her as she struts towards him. "Do you think we're a burden?" As she asked, her narrowed eyes that have been piercing at him earlier, softened. She adopted a somber expression next. When Kagami looked at her now, he could feel a pang deep inside him. Allaying his erratic heartbeat with a pain he couldn't quite describe.

The redhead said defensively. "I didn't―"

"Then," she breathed out, "stop rushing in like a bull and look what's around you for a second. Won't you?"

Ah. There it appears. The pensive smile that sometime he'd see her wear when she thought no one was watching. He could feel the disappointment, anguish, and fear suffused within that sad smile. An overwhelming guilt starts to prick at the depth of his heart.

He had made her wear such expression.

'Please don't forsake us.'

That's exactly the kind of face she was making. Desperately clinging onto his back and begging him to come back. To not give up on them.

Crestfallen, Kagami clenched his fist tight. A self-loathing gaze almost bore a hole at the floor beneath him, as he was too ashamed to face any of his friends and teammates for the egoism he had shown earlier.

The manager cupped her hands around Kagami's cheeks. She tilted his head up so that they were looking into each other's eyes again. "I am here, Taiga, and it's not just me now," she side-glanced the rest of their teammates who were standing by, "everyone are here for one another. As long as we have each others, we can win."

Kagami widened his eyes at the unwavering pair of amber staring right through him. Entranced. He thought he was going to drown himself in them if he'd stare any longer. People often say 'the eyes are the windows to our soul'. Even though Kagami ain't a romanticist, he kinds of understood the meaning held in the quote now. Izanami's message, has finally reached him. She had managed to stop him in his track, before losing sight of him.

That's right. He's not alone. If she's here with him, then―

Everything will be alright.

The redhead turned and regarded each and everyone from the team― First, there's their demonic coach. If you haven't gone through hell, he'd suggest you try out the training regime she'd created. You'd never be able to forget till the day you die. He promised.

There's their Satan-reincarnated captain ― Hyūga Junpei. Serious. Strict on the others and himself, yet occasionally his kindness slips through his tough exterior. A pillar of Seirin without a doubt. An irreplaceable and dependable one at that.

There's also the pun master ― Izuki Shun. Despite his lack of talent at making up puns, his ability as a basketball player was undoubtedly, a force to be reckon with. A control tower that watches out any threat for the team. An excellent strategist who plays with a cool head.

Koga, Mitobe, and Tsuchida too. Both have their strong points and things only they can do. Roles that only they could carry out. Although Furihata and the other freshmen hasn't got the chance to play in a real match yet, they have always been cheering at the top of their lungs in every game they've played. Never once slacking off. And their howls of cheer was what kept him and the other starters motivated through out the game, to be honest.

Lastly, there's Kuroko.

To tell the truth, he don't get the bluenette at all. Their first meeting wasn't the most pleasant. His first impression of the phantom man wasn't great either. And there were many times Kuroko had gave him the fright of his life with his extreme lack of presence, he'd wished to strangle him. Whatsmore, he's weak. His stamina was low and he looked so damn fragile as if a push would shatter him to pieces.

Nevertheless. As unreadable as he was, Kagami acknowledged he possesses a strength that no others has had. Whenever they were in a pinch or reaches an impasse in the middle of a match, Kuroko always managed to help them get over the crisis. In a game, he's indeed reliable. Both have already built an unique bond from the time they've spent together as classmates, teammates, and friends. They just hadn't realize it yet.

A chuckle suddenly broke loose from Kagami. Taken-aback, Izanami released her grip on the redhead's cheeks as she fixed her gaze at the laughing man in perplexity.

"Sorry," apologized Kagami in a soft whisper, but loud enough for the team to hear it clearly. "I got carried away."

Without warning, Hyūga rolled up a paper in his hand and swiped it down across the ace's head. Giving him a good beating. "―Ouch! What was that for, captain!?"

"Took you long enough, you punk." The bespectacled captain said with veins bulging underneath his skins, "I hope you're prepared for the punishment by acting so high and mighty for a first-year brat, Kagami-kun." Hyūga grinned deviously. In his mind, the second-year has already thought up a few impeccable punishments for their ace. Lying in wait just for him.

Kagami recoiled at the satanic sight of their captain. "S-Sorry... desu." Diffident, the redhead shrunk at the intimidating glare from his senior. As if his misery wasn't enough, Kuroko crept up from behind him and gave him a kneel on the back of his knees. "Wha―!?" He floundered, but he caught himself before his knees had touched the ground.

"I was planning to do that to calm you down actually," said Kuroko.

"But I've already calm down, haven't I!?"

"Yes, you did. What I did just now was simply on a whim," affronted Kuroko.

A gigantic hand then shot out and clasped on top of the bluenette's noggin. Kagami's hand tightened as he planned to squash his skull once and for all. "You bastard..."

"We can win as a team, Kagami-kun." Kagami halted. The placid teen stared at the redhead with resolve swimming deep in his oceanic eyes as he said, "if I am put back in the game and evolve my pass, we can win as a team."

"Really?" asked Kagami. Removing his clutch on the phantom man as he took in his words.

Meanwhile, Izanami ― who has been watching the two's antics amusedly, piped up with a smug smirk. "About that," Pompously, she flipped her hair over her shoulder as her body oozes with confidence, "I've an idea."

Kagami and Kuroko both exchanged wary glances, before looking at their manager who has poised into a lofty fashion― arms crossed boldly with puffed out chest.

Somehow, when it was Izanami who had proposed the idea, it all sounded so unconvincing. No offense intended. It was just how they felt. She has brain, that much Kagami and Kuroko admit. But most of the time she just used her ingeniousness at the wrong place. So now, they learned better than to expect anything decent from their manager.

They just hoped she wasn't fooling around this time, because the team seriously needed the help. Now.

A/N: Lately, my chapters have been too serious and gloomy. I've noticed that as well. Thus, I hereby present thee comedy, (albeit a rather short one) you all missed so greatly. By the way, did anyone see the kiss happening? I hope not. Because that's what made Izana's eccentricity stand out. Lol. In case you're confused, Izana didn't kiss Kagami out of love. (Izana: Eww. Excuse me?) She only did that out of desperation (and maybe a little mischief. You know her and her wickedness). I wonder if people are put off by this... or maybe it seem way too force? *fiddled with my fingers disconcertingly*

For those with superb memories, the scene here differed quite a lot from the canon if you've noticed. Why? I believe I'd mention this before. But in case you've already forgotten about it or didn't read my previous note, the reason being I've at least forgotten 90% of the details transpired in the canon. Almost everything from here (and probably from here onward) are all made up by speculation and fuzzy fragments of my lousy memories. I do remember the main points though. But not much of the details. Sorry.

I think I've been dragging this match for longer than necessary. It's time to wrap this up in the next chapter. After that, that's when the fun and comedy is going to resume. Sorry if you were looking forward to the basketball action. Remember? I suck shit at portraying those scenes. But if you ever think that I'm leaving out the action way too much for a basketball fanfic, kindly let me know and I'll be sure to work on it more in the future.

On the bright side, I finally realize where I want my plot to go from now! I know it's a bit ridiculous for realizing it now after coming this far. But it's something worth celebrating for. At least for me, who had been agonizing over the plot since the beginning. Trust me. You won't believe what I've turned this comedy fanfic into. I only came up with the summary just now, and even I am shock to see the drastic change in it compared to what I previously had in mind for my plot. So, here's another thing for readers to look forward to I guess.

As usual, thank you so much for the follows, favs, and reviews! You bet those are what keeps me going all these time. Also, I'm grateful to anyone who still comes back to this story after the long hiatus from me. No words can describe how grateful I've felt. Thank you. Really.

Feel free to drop a review or two before closing the browser. Suggestions. Critiques. Anything. I'm always eager to know what everyone thinks of this story.

Well then, until next time. :)