In the Evening
"Isn't it? It's been two months and you still haven't apologized? Furuya-san, are you being so tough this time?" A provocative voice that was bold with a hint of attack resounded from Shinichi.
Rei looked surprised as Shinichi walked up to him, his words ringing in his ears.
"What are you talking about, Kudou-kun?'' Rei asked, a confused expression etched on his face.
"You know exactly what i'm talking about'' Shinichi continued, "You and Shiho! You had a big fight, and now you're not talking to her. She's pregnant with your child, and all you care about is your stupid pride!"
Furuya's face turned red with anger. "How do you know about that?" he demanded.
"Shiho told me," Shinichi said, a hint of frustration in his tone. "She's been waiting for you to come to your senses and apologize, but you haven't even tried to reach out to her. Do you even care about her at all?"
"I care about her more than anything," Rei said, his voice getting softer. "But I can't just apologize and act like everything is okay. We had a huge fight, and it's going to take time to repair our relationship."
"You're being ridiculous," Shinichi said, throwing his hands up in the air. "This isn't about who is right or wrong. This is about the fact that you have a child on the way and you're not even trying to be there for them."
Rei's shoulders slumped, and he stared down at the ground. "I know," he said quietly. "I've just been so jealous of her and Jin, I scared of losing Shiho, scared of everything. But I can't keep running away from my problems. I need to face them head-on."
Shinichi nodded, a small smile appearing on his face. "Good," he said. "Because it's time for you to man up and take responsibility for your actions. You owe it to Shiho and your child."
Rei took a deep breath and nodded. "You're right," he said, determination in his eyes. "I'm going to go see Shiho right now and apologize. I can't keep avoiding her forever."
Shinichi patted Rei on the back. "That's the spirit, Furuya-san," he said. "I'll be rooting for you."
Rei thanked him and rushed off, eager to make things right with Shiho. It was going to take time, but he knew that he was ready to face whatever came his way. He was going to be a better man for Shiho and his child, no matter what.
Rei arrived at Professor Agasa's house, his heart racing with nerves. He took a deep breath and knocked softly on the door, hoping she was still there. After a few moments, the door opened, revealing Shiho.
"Furuya," she said, her voice shaking. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to apologize," Rei said, his voice equally shaky. "I'm so sorry for the way I've been acting. I was so stupid and jealous, and I took my anger out on you. I know I hurt you, and I regret it more than anything."
Shiho looked at him for a moment, her expression unreadable. "Do you even know why you got jealous?" she said finally. "It was because of Jin, wasn't it? You were jealous of a dead man."
Rei hung his head, ashamed. "I know, and I'm sorry," he said. "I should have trusted you more. It wasn't fair to take my emotions out on you like that."
Shiho let out a shaky breath. "You accused me as if I were a whore, you have no idea how much you hurt me," she said, tears running down her face. "I thought you didn't love me anymore, I thought you hated me, I thought you had given up on us."
Rei stepped closer to her, reaching out to wipe away her tears. "I do love you, Shiho," he said, his voice gentle. "I love you and our child more than anything in the world. I want to be there for you, to support you, and to raise our child together. Please forgive me."
Shiho looked up at him, her eyes softening. "Kudou-kun must have told you about the baby, I want to forgive you," she said slowly. "But it's going to take time. I need to know that you trust me and that you won't get jealous again, even with my cousin."
Rei nodded, relief flooding through him. "I promise,i will try " he said. "I trust you, and I won't let my insecurities get in the way of our relationship again."
Shiho gave him a small smile. "Good, " she said. "I'm willing to try again. But you have to promise me one more thing."
"Anything," Furuya said, eager to make things right between them.
"You have to let go of your jealousy and your fixation on Jin," Shiho said firmly. "He's gone, and there's nothing we can do about it. We need to focus on our future, on our life together."
Rei nodded again. "I understand," he said. "I'll do my best to move on and focus on us, we have to get married, love''
Shiho's heart leaped with joy. She had never been happier to hear those words. They hugged each other emotionally, and Rei held her tightly, grateful for the chance to make things right and move forward with their lives together. The professor who watched their moment from afar smiled, he even cried happily for the couple.
On their wedding day, Shiho stood at the altar, surrounded by her closest friends and family. As she saw Rei at the end of the aisle, her heart swelled with love and contentment. They exchanged vows, promising to love and hold each other, through thick and thin, in sickness and in health.
At Rei's Appartment
Five months later, Shiho's pregnancy is now 8 months old. She took a rest from a mission. Last night, Rei told her that he must go on a secret mission, an important one.
Shiho held Rei tightly as he prepared to leave for his dangerous mission.
"Rei, should you go?'', Shiho asked him again for the fifth time this morning.
''Yes, I have to, Shiho. We've been preparing for months for this mission. It's crucial for our country's security," Rei replied, trying to sound as reassuring as possible.
"But what about our baby? What if something happens to you? You won't even be here for the birth," Shiho pleaded with him, tears streaming down her face.
"I know, and believe me, it tears me apart to leave you both. But I promise I'll come back, and I'll be here for the birth of our child. I'll do everything in my power to make sure that happens," Rei said, pulling her in for a tight embrace.
"I just can't bear the thought of losing you, Rei," Shiho whispered into his chest.
"I won't let that happen, Shiho. I'll make sure I come back to you and our child. You have to trust me," Rei said, looking deep into her eyes.
"Okay, I trust you," Shiho nodded, wiping away her tears. "Just promise me one thing."
"Anything," Rei said quickly.
"Promise me that you'll come home to us alive. Promise me that our baby will have a father," Shiho said, her voice shaking with emotion.
"I promise," Rei said firmly, placing a hand on her bulging belly. "I'll come home to you, and our baby will have a father. I'll do whatever it takes to make that happen."
"I must go, Shiho'', he said, looking into her emerald eyes.
"Rei, please be careful," she pleaded.
"I will always be careful, my love," Rei replied, his eyes filled with determination.
"But what if something happens to you? What if I never see you again?"
Rei took her face in his hands and gazed deeply into her eyes. "Don't think like that. I promise you, I will come back. I am the best agent the NPA has. You have to have faith in me."
Shiho leaned into him, tears streaming down her face. "I do have faith in you. But I'm still scared."
"I know. But you're strong, Shiho. You'll be okay. I'll be back before you know it. I've told Sera to come here, she will accompany you."
With that, Rei quickly kissed her one last time before heading out on his mission, leaving Shiho alone with her fears and worries. She knew she had to be strong for their child, and she prayed for Rei's safe return every day until he finally came home, just in time for the birth of their baby.
It had been a week since Rei left on his mission, and Shiho couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that had settled in her chest. She knew she shouldn't worry too much, but she couldn't help it. She was eight months pregnant, and the thought of something happening to Rei and leaving her to raise their child alone was too much to bear.
One morning, while Shiho was sitting on the couch trying to distract herself with a book, the doorbell rang. She frowned, wondering who it could be. Glancing at her watch, she saw that it was early, much earlier than any of her friends would come over.
When she opened the door, she was surprised to see Furuya's subordinate, Kazami, standing there with a grim expression on his face. "Kazami-san.. "she said, her heart racing.
Kazami hesitated for a moment, then sighed heavily. "It's about Furuya-san," he said quietly.
"He saved my life on the mission," Kazami continued. Shiho could sense a deeper worry behind his words.
"What happened? Is Rei hurt?" she asked, anxiously.
Kazami shook his head. "I'm sorry, Miyano-san, Furuya-san covered me and the rest of the team, taking out several of the enemies before we were able to regroup and retreat, but"
Shiho's eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean he 'covered' you?"
Kazami sighed heavily. "We were ambushed, and Furuya-san..." he trailed off, not wanting to say the words.
Sera, who had been listening closely, came up to Shiho and gently took her hand. "Shiho, Kazami-san is trying to say that Furuya didn't make it."
Shiho gasped, a sob bursting from her throat. "No, no, that can't be true. He promised he'd come back. He was supposed to come back to me and our baby, Sera.."
Tears streamed down her face as she stumbled backward, unable to keep her balance. Sera caught her and hugged her tightly, trying to comfort her.
Kazami spoke again, his voice tinged with regret. "I'm sorry, Miyano-san. That's my fault. I'm too weak. Furuya-san is gone."
Shiho looked at him, her eyes filled with pain. "It's not your fault."
The tears kept flowing as she realized that her husband, the man she loved, was gone. She was pregnant and alone, and the thought of raising a child without her husband was daunting.
She stumbled back to the ground as her knees gave way. Sera held her sister tightly as they wept together. Shiho cried and cried until she was too tired to cry anymore. She lay on the ground, numb, feeling like a part of her had died along with her husband.
But then she felt a sudden pain and realized she was in labor. She was eight months pregnant, and the stress and shock of this news induced early labor. Sera helped her to her feet, and they rushed her to the nearest hospital.
As they arrived, Shiho's body convulsed with pain, and she felt weak, her heart heavy with grief. The doctors quickly got her into the delivery room; she was scared and alone. Furuya was supposed to be there with her; she needed him now more than ever.
Sera held her sister's hand firmly. "You can do this, Shiho. It's going to be okay."
Shiho nodded, her eyes closed tightly in pain. She gripped Sera's hand as she gave birth, screaming, crying, and pleading to God to give her strength.
But as soon as she held her baby in her arms, she had a sudden moment of clarity. She had to be strong for her child and give it everything it needed to live a good life, even though Furuya was gone.
Sera looked at her sister, tears in her eyes. "You did it, Shiho. You gave birth to a beautiful baby boy."
Shiho smiled through her tears, hugging her baby tightly. "We created something beautiful, something that will keep your memory alive."
Sera hugged her sister tightly, while Kazami stood by them, offering condolences and support. They were a family, and they would raise the child together, even without Rei.
Shiho couldn't stop crying, couldn't stop the overwhelming sadness and despair that washed over her. She knew she had to be strong for their baby, but at that moment, it felt like the hardest thing in the world.
Later on, after delivering her baby safely, she clung to their child while in a hospital bed, crying a treacherous river. "Why did you leave me?" she cried as Rei's image lingered in her mind. "Why did you leave us?" Shiho held her baby in her arms and hugged it tightly; Something inside her shifted. She decided she would be strong for her child, and would do everything in her power to make sure their child had a good life.
It was a bittersweet moment that would forever be etched in her memory. Rei was gone, but they created Hiro to keep his memory alive. And that was enough for her to start picking up the pieces of her life and carry on.
As time passed, Shiho learned to cope with her grief, but she could never quite shake off the feeling of emptiness that came with losing Rei. However, having her family around her and her friends' support helped her heal slowly but surely.
It wasn't until Hiro's first birthday that Shiho felt like she could finally move on. Her friends and family had organized a small party for Hiro, and it filled her heart with warmth to see everyone gathered together, laughing and smiling.
During the party, Sera's eyes locked with Shuichi's for a moment, and she had always known that her brother had feelings for their cousin, Shiho.
Shuichi Akai had always loved Shiho, but it was a love that could never be. They were cousins, after all, and even though Shiho was widowed and had a child, she still held a torch for her husband, Rei, who was presumed dead on the secret mission last year.