Make Her Shine

by domgk115

Kage Midori's mother Ayane, was the best young song writer in Japan, writing hits like Our Sign is B and Star T Rain. In addition? She was the best friend of the star idol Ai Hoshino, growing up with the twins Kage earned the name 'Twin Alternate' alongside his two best-friends growing up. But, like them he also has memories of his past like, and like them, he can't let it go...

4. Mother and Children

Authors note: It should be obvious, but I want to remind everyone this is FANFICTION, so there are going to be some things changed from the source material, that's the point of these stories! I'm read and caught up on the ENTIRE Oshi No Ko manga not just the anime, so anything you see changed from the manga is intentional and done for the sake of the story I want to tell here with these amazing characters, if you want to discuss at all feel free to message me! Or, follow me on twitter akira_archer, thank you all so much again, I hope you enjoy!

Authors note 2: This chapter will contain cameos of characters from other anime/manga series I love. Those series are, The Quintessential Quintuplets, Toradora, and Kaguya Sama Love is War. You do NOT need to read or watch these series to understand this story, in this story those cameo characters are simply characters. Any OC characters, (ie: Arata Uesugi, Yukio Takahashi, etc) mentioned from these other series are my own but again you do not need to read those stories to understand them in this one. (I will eventually post stories and more of the stories I have up for all these OCs and series)

English and Japanese Voice Actors for this chapter:

Kage Midori: Nobunaga Shimazaki- Ritsuka Fujimaru (Fate Grand Order) Eugeo (Sword Art Online) Shido Itsuka (Date a Live) Seishiro Nagi (Blue Lock) Kaedehara Kazuha (Genshin Impact)

English VA: Alejandro Saab- Cyno (Genshin Impact) Izumi Miyamora (Horimiya) Yuri (Fire Emblem Three Houses) Johnny Black (Sword Art Online)

Ayane Midori: Haruka Tomatsu- Asuna Yuuki (Sword Art Online) Zero Two (Darling in the Franxx) Kyoko Hori (Horimiya) Eina Tulle (DanMachi) Haru Okumura (Persona 5) Iris Cannary (Violet Evergarden)

English VA: Cassandra Lee Morris- Leafa (Sword Art Online) Taiga Aisaka (Toradora) Leo and Luna (Yugioh 5ds) Morgana (Persona 5) Sothis (Fire Emblem Three Houses) Nero (Fate Last Encore & Grand Order)

Kage

"Oh wow… they really are strange babies," The blonde girl said, looking down at us. "I don't think I've ever seen any so… wide eyed."

"Don't worry we get that a lot," Aqua commented.

"Hayasaka! Don't say they're strange, they're adorable!" The black haired one said, she smiled and patted our heads. "You absolutely are!"

Ruby giggled as she had her head patted, and I just blushed, more concerned with what was going on below us. I had always wanted to come here, but never got the chance to make it to Nagoya. The suite was beautiful, with plenty of food being served, and the box seats had the perfect view of the field right behind home plate. There weren't a lot of people in there, but Aqua, Ruby and I were familiar with everyone. Miku, Kawashima, along with Nino two other Nakano sisters minus Ichika, Taiga, and Ryuuji, along with two more of their friends, and the two girls above us patting our heads now. I hadn't met them before today, but apparently they were friends with the group, and now Ai and Ayane as well.

"There you three are!" Miyako sighed. She was with Miku as she turned to the two girls. "Thanks for keeping an eye on them."

The black haired one laughed. "Ahaha, it's no problem at all! They're just adorable!"

"It's good to see you again Kaguya, it's been way too long!" Miku commented, looking at the blonde one. "And you too Ai, I'm sorry Arata and I haven't come up to see you and Ren."

The blonde girl, also named Ai shook her head. "It's no problem, it's just luck Ren's playing Arata today. Kaguya and Miyuki have been up keeping us company."

"It's been so much fun!" Kaguya said excitedly, looking at Miyako. "It's been so nice to meet you all!"

"And you too, Shinomiya," Miyako said, smiling. Then she looked to Miku. "And we can't thank you and Arata enough again for the opportunity Miku. Ichigo, me, Strawberry Productions owes you!"

Miku shook her head. "Aha, it's really no problem! The organization really listens to Arata, plus Ai and Ayane have worked so hard the last few months, they deserve this!"

I shared a look with Aqua and Ruby, and all three of us smiled. Ayane and I really did. I leaned forward over the railing from the front row of seats down at the sprawling stadium. Rabid and excited fans were packed into every seat with a deafening roar, drums, chants, everything collided in my ears as I felt my excitement rise. Vantelin Dome in Nagoya, home of the Chunichi Dragons, one of the best looking baseball stadiums in Japan's NPB the professional baseball league. I never thought I'd get the chance to see it in person, let alone sit in a box suite with the family and friends of Arata Uesugi, the player that I'd idolized in my old life. I didn't think about him often… but I knew my Dad would have killed for this view. Behind us in the box, Miyako continued chatting with Miku, Hayasaka and Kaguya, while I spotted Ichigo in the back talking with some of the guys, which now included Arata's cousin Fuutaro who we'd just met, also Miyuki the one who'd shown up with Kaguya and Hayasaka, Ryuuji, Yukio Takahashi Ami Kawashima's fiancé, and even Kawashima herself. Ichigo was having a particularly intimate conversation with her and Yukio. It was all the people I'd come to know and appreciate for being so kind to Ai and Ayane.

And they still haven't revealed Ai's secret… I guess that means they're true friends after all, I thought, smiling as Ruby and Aqua joined me in looking down on the field.

"Wow…! It's so pretty from up here, look at how the lights are changing colors!" Ruby said excitedly, her eyes sparkling. "I never thought I'd be here, not in my life, this is so exciting!"

I smiled, she was in a cute outfit, a tiny Dragon's hat over her hair, and a jersey with her name on the back of it. Aqua and I had similar tiny jerseys, which apparently had been a gift from Arata and the team to Ai and Ayane. Ai and Ayane had a field day gushing over how cute we were in the matching outfits.

"I… gotta admit, this is a pretty great view, the dome is beautiful," Aqua said, looking at me. "You were a baseball fan before, weren't you?"

I nodded, still mesmerized by the views and the people below. "Yeah… a Dragons fan too! I can't believe it, this is exhilarating!"

Ruby giggled. "Haha, I never thought I'd see you so excited over anything other than Mama Kage!"

I blushed. "Well I… I was a pretty big fan. Miku's right, Ai, and Ayane, they deserve this after all their hardwork."

Aqua smiled, which was rare but not unpleasant to see. "Yeah, I have to agree."

Ruby excitedly nodded and leaned over the railing again. The stadium was an enclosed dome with beautiful multicolored lights in the rafters, I looked down and could see the dozens of players for each team warming up, including Arata who jogged to home plate, he met up with another player for the other team, who I assumed was Ren Hayashi, the one Hayasaka dated. I watched him then meet up with Ai and Ayane who were also both dressed in Dragon's gear, he introduce Hayashi, they laughed, and even from all the way up where I was… seeing them smile made my chest warm. The last few months ever since the movie had been a whirlwind. Ai had been the standout, even more then Ami or Ichika, she had been absolutely brilliant. And that had led to her breakthrough, with work flooding her way every week, movies or TV shows, podcast interviews, bigger concerts, and venues for B-Komachi, a blow up of fans on social media with Ai's twitter reaching a million followers. Ayane wasn't very far behind her, as she wrote more songs and appeared in a performance here and there with B-Komachi even she had gotten work, putting on a few small shows by herself as a solo act, being interviewed by large other music groups, it even included offers from companies for almost twice her salary to go and write songs for them.

But of course, Ayane hadn't left. She never would. This was her and Ai's dream, and it was my dream to see them living it. We'd even finally moved out of that tiny apartment into a bigger one, soon me, Aqua and Ruby had started school, it was all surreal, and felt like it had happened in a flash.

"Four years," I said, the smile on my face growing. "It doesn't feel real…"

I felt a sharp tingle in my stomach, nothing was there of course, but despite all the time that had passed, it still felt like I'd been stabbed yesterday.

"Haha you can say that again!" Ruby said, leaning back and forth on the rail. "I can't believe how much fun it's been!"

"It's been interesting, that's for certain… but not in a bad way," Aqua said, looking at us both. "And Ai has grown in popularity like we all wanted."

"And… um… I wanted to tell you guys something," I stammered, blushing when they both turned to me. "I uh… I'm… really happy, that… it was you guys I got reborn with."

It'd been something I'd been meaning to say for a long time, I hadn't because the three of us promised not to talk about our rebirth. But for some reason that just felt like the right moment as the light show in the dome started.

Both of them slowly smiled. Ruby giggled, and then almost knocking me over, she hugged me. "I'm glad that I was too Kage!"

"Yeah… it has been nice," Aqua said, and I knew those words and the smile was all I'd get, which I didn't mind.

I blushed again as Ruby laughed at him and let me go. Looking between them, I was at a loss for words, so I could only smile back at them.

"Hey you three!" Kaguya's voice said, and when we all turned she was smiling with a camera in her hands. "Do you want me to take your picture together? I'll print them out and give them to Ai and Ayane!"

My body tingled; I was never one for pictures despite how many Ai like to take. I blushed and saw Aqua similarly didn't seem enthused by the idea especially when a pretty girl like Kaguya offered.

Ruby as usual however, didn't give us an option.

"Haha yes please Ms. Shinomiya!" She said excitedly, moving between Aqua and I grabbing both our arms.

And she put on a smile that made me blush even more, and I found myself doing the same, turning to look at the camera. Aqua did the same, and Kaguya laughed, before leaning down and after the snap and flash of the camera, the announcers voice boomed throughout the dome.

"Now for our special performance to celebrate opening day! The Dragons are excited to welcome, Ai of B-Komachi, and Ayane Midori!"

And the entire sold out crowd of over 35,000 people all cheered in unison.

Idol: Oshi No Ko OP1

Make Her Shine

Chapter 4: Mother and Children

Ayane

"Haha, it was so much fun meeting you all! I hope we get to see each other soon!" Ai gushed, hugging the girl, Kaguya.

"The pleasure, was mine!" She said, hugging her back. "I'll without a doubt keep in touch!"

"That was some performance too," The guy, Shirogane said with a kind smile. "You're both really as good as advertised."

I blushed at the praise and shook my head. "We really appreciate it, but it's Ai who deserves the praise."

"I know, Ayane's the best isn't she?!" Ai said, leaning on me with her arms around my neck. Her eyes sparkled as she smiled. "Oh! How about an encore back Café Nakano?!"

"Aha, well we certainly wouldn't be opposed, that sounds wonderful!" Kaguya said.

"We'll see you both there!" Shirogane said after her, before they both waved and walked to join the others.

I waved to them with Ai, as they went and joined Ren Hayashi and Hayasaka. Apparently they had all been in school together, and through Hayashi playing baseball, they met Arata who introduced them to the Nakano's, and soon, they had met people like Ami, Taiga, forming the group of friends they had now. The group that Ai and I were seemingly accepted into, which I was very thankful for. For the last few years after Kage had been born… I almost felt like I was trying to play catch up, at some points I felt I was slaving away for nothing.

But now? All of the hard work had been worth it.

"They're so nice aren't they?!" Ai said excitedly, holding up the picture Kaguya gave her. "Awwwww look how cute they are Ayane! She even got Aqua to smile, and look at Ruby, I know for certain she just has the biggest crush on Kage!"

I chuckled at that, looking at the picture of the three kids Kaguya had taken for us. Ruby was looking more and more like Ai every day, and sure enough, Aqua really did smile… and so did my son. It made me particularly happy to see that. Sometimes, I'd look at him, hear him talking, and think that there was something wrong, that he was hurting in some way that he refused to tell me. I had no idea how he was so smart, so composed at his age, I was happy about it, but at times it made him feel distant, but seeing him smile in that picture? It reminded me that he really was my son, and that he really was just a kid. I didn't make sure he was always with Aqua and Ruby just because they were Ai's kids, but because I somehow knew, friends was what he was going to need the most to be truly happy. Just like me, before I met Ai, and Ai and me before we met Miku, Ami, and everyone else.

"Haha, and I think he's got a little one on her too, I always find them together," I said, which was the truth.

Ai laughed and leaned back on the couch in the suite. Miyako had already taken the three kids to the car, while everyone else lingered back to chat after the game had been over. An Arata Uesugi homerun had been the deciding factor in a Dragons win, so everyone was in good spirits. All of us were heading back to Nakano's for dinner, Miku had told me this was the first time their entire group of friends had all been together in years, so it was a big occasion. I almost felt like I was intruding on a private reunion, but they'd been insistent Ai and I come.

And they really haven't said anything… I'm so grateful, I thought, as Ai got up, holding the picture up in the light.

"Ahaha, our kids are so cute aren't they Ayane?" She said, her eyes sparkling. "We need to make sure Kage and Ruby get married, so that way we can really be sisters!"

I smiled; she'd been talking about that before the kids were even born. "Ha… we should let them grow a bit first before thinking about that. I'm just glad they have each other."

"Mhm, so am I, and I'm so happy we've found such good friends! I'm so… so grateful…" She said, smiling as she held her hands on her chest.

It was still there around her wrist, and still shining in pristine condition. Her present from Minato. It was so many years ago now, but it still felt like yesterday. I often found myself wondering what he would think of how we'd turned out, I thought about Dr. Amemiya who disappeared, to which… I had to assume the worst. At times, it felt like the time Ai, and I spent at that hospital had been a dream that we'd waken up from.

But that wasn't the case for Ai, it never would be. That was the only lie we'd told our new friends so far. The fact that Ruby and Aqua's father, was a guy named Minato. I didn't see any harm in letting Ai lie about it, because I knew it was something that she desperately wanted to be real.

She turned to me and grabbed my hands. "And I'm most grateful for you Ayane! I'm just so, so happy!"

My heart melted, and I hugged her. "And I'm grateful for you, Ai… thank you, for coming into my life."

She giggled as she hugged back. "Ahahaha, I couldn't imagine it any other way! We don't need Kage to marry Ruby to be sisters… but wouldn't it just be so cute?!"

I let out a laugh, almost tearing up. "Hahaha… yeah, yeah it would be-."

"Ai, Ayane!" Ichigo's voice said.

The two of us turned, and I realized everyone was filtering out. Ichigo was smiling as he was joined by Ami on one side, and then Miku and Arata on the other. He smiled, and I couldn't help but think how different he looked from when I first met him. I knew he cared about Ai, and me, he'd been just as big a reason for the success we had as we were ourselves.

Miku smiled as she saw us. "You were both so amazing before the game! I come to almost every game, I don't think I've heard this place so loud!"

"She's right, they don't even get that loud when I come up to bat," Arata chuckled. "You both really brough the house down, great job!"

Ichigo looked at us. "I was talking to Arata and Miku, I should be able to have both your schedules cleared so we can all go to their wedding next month.

Ai's eyes went wide, and she grabbed Miku's hand. "Yes! I'm so excited, you have to let me sing, please, please Miku, Arata!"

Miku laughed. "Haha, of course you can, but the most important thing is that you're all there."

"Yeah, that's all we need," Arata said, before sheepishly blushing. "Although… Raiha would be ecstatic for a live Ai performance."

"Ahaha, well I'll give her what she wants!" Ai said.

Ichigo smiled, and then looked at Ami. "Also, talks went pretty well with Kawashima here, she wanted to tell you the good news."

"Huh? Ami?" I asked as we looked to her.

Ami's blue eyes looked ecstatic. "Well, your manager here drives a hard bargain, but we worked something out in the end. I'm officially going to sign with Strawberry Productions as your first internet personality!"

My chest exploded, and Ai squealed. She leapt and hugged Ami who laughed with her and hugged back. My fingers were tingly, as the smile became wider and wider, I looked to Ichigo who seemed to be trying to contain his own excitement. Ami's YouTube channel with Yukio had almost a million subscribers, she acted in some very big named movies and was a successful model who was engaged to one of the best young baseball players in the country, if… she really signed with Strawberry Productions, it would be the biggest accomplishment for the studio since B-Komachi formed.

"You… you mean it, really?!" I said, still in disbelief.

Ami chuckled and while hugging Ai smiled at me. "It's true. I'd been meaning to leave my old agency, and now, I get to work with you two more!"

Ichigo nodded, his smile growing bigger. "I'll remain the company head and lead the idol department. And I decided that Miyako will be Ami's manager, and in charge of the internet personalities department."

"If anyone deserves it Miyako does! This is so exciting; we're going to get to work together even more now Ami!" Ai said, as she rushed over to Miku and Arata. "Miku, Arata, we may need you to look after the kids a bit more if Miyako's going to be getting more work!"

"We don't mind one bit, don't worry," Miku said, looking at Arata. "Right Arata?"

"Of course, if anyone deserves it, it's you guys," He said, winking at Ai and me. "Congrats Strawberry Productions, you just landed a very talented-if a bit prickly-star client- OW!"

"Wanna say that again Uesugi?!" Ami said, stepping on his foot.

Miku, Ichigo, and Ai laughed as Arata and Ami started arguing. I just watched, unable to stop smiling, with everything that had happened the last few months, moving into the new apartment, more and more jobs flooding in, it wasn't until now that the truth had finally set in.

"Ahaha, you two are so funny!" Ai laughed. "It reminds me of…huh? Oh! Ayane! What is it?"

She stopped when I hugged her, and squeezed her, tears coming from my eyes as I did.

"Ha… we did it Ai," I said, squeezing her tighter as I cried into her shoulder with a smile. "We really… we really did it!"

I didn't have to say anymore, I knew that Ai knew exactly what I meant.

"Ahaha… yeah, we did it Ayane," She chuckled, hugging me back. "We really made it…"

We had done a pretty good job for a girl from a group home, and a poor girl from the country.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Ruby

"Does this feel a little weird to you guys too?" Kage asked, tugging at his outfit.

"Huh? Why would it feel weird?" I asked him from the top of the slide.

Kage scrunched his nose and flopped back backwards with a sigh, looking up at the sky. "Being in pre-school? It doesn't feel a tad bit awkward for either of you?"

I leaned my head over his and laughed. He did that often when he was thinking hard about something I noticed over the last few years. He often did it when he was trying to show me more scales on the keyboard, or when trying to debate something with Aqua. He was clearly extremely smart, but was as easily flustered as a guy in a romance manga, it was cute and pretty funny at times.

"I felt the same way at first, we are mentally older," Aqua said, looking back at us. "How old were you two anyway? I know we don't talk about it, but… I've been curious."

"Twenty," Kage said with a sigh as he sat back up. "So I guess I'm mentally 24 now?"

My heart skipped a beat, twenty…? I see, if I add the years right, he'd be the same age as Mina… 4 years older then I'd be.

"Mhm, makes sense you always struck me as someone a bit older," Aqua said, looking to me. "What about you?"

"Oh.. how old? Well… um…." I stammered, before a jolt shot through my head.

If… if I'm the youngest then… oh god!

"Huh?! What the heck, I should've guessed you were just a kid!" I could hear Aqua saying.

Kage scoffed. "Mhm, no wonder you always act so childish. I guess I should dial back the complexity of the keyboard lessons to the kiddy version!"

"Let's go drink tea and talk about intellectual stuff Kage and leave our junior here alone!"

"I… I'm an adult woman I'll have you both know!" I stammered out to them. I tossed my hair behind my head. "It's rude to ask a woman about her age, how insensitive you both are! Besides, our past life doesn't matter anymore anyway, we all agreed to not talk about it right?"

Aqua looked at me still, which made me nervous. I knew he wasn't a bad guy, just a bit of a know it all. I started sweating, I thought he'd ask a follow up question when Kage saved me.

"Ha, she does have a point Aqua," He said, standing up next to me. "No point in drudging up our old lives right?"

He smiled at me, which made me blush, but then I saw him reach his hands over his stomach. I saw him do that a lot, sometimes when we were just sitting and eating, having a keyboard lesson, out in public, he'd just cover that same spot on his stomach. I didn't need to think too hard to figure out why he did it. I also knew that his words didn't exactly line up with his actions, I knew he thought about his old life a lot, all three of us did. Still, he was always the one to try and pick us up when we felt down, he was always making me feel like I could do just about anything, which I was thankful for. When he smiled at me, I saw his messy black hair blow with the wind, he was such a calming presence that whenever I started feeling anxious, I'd just look over at him.

Just like… I used to do with Mina… I thought, finding myself smiling back at him.

"Kage's right! Besides, this is fun!" I said, getting to the top of the slide again.

Aqua sighed and held up his book. "I… suppose you're right."

"Of course I am, I am brilliant after all!" He said jokingly, which made me laugh, before he joined me at the slide. "Alright, let's go Ruby!"

"Okay!" I found myself saying enthusiastically as I joined him and sat down.

He laughed, sitting behind me. "Alright, let's go!"

I laughed the entire time down the slide and threw my arms back as we went down. Kage got to the bottom right behind me, but ended up slipping and rolling into the dirt and leaves at the bottom of the slide. I watched as he yelled and sat back up spitting a leaf out of his mouth, when he saw me looking at him, he got red faced and started trying to wipe himself clean… which only made me laugh more. I did that a lot with him, and it was really nice.

I'll keep trying to do what you said Kage… but it's hard, really hard… to not think of the fact I couldn't even do something as simple as this before.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Kage

"Ruby!" I yelled after her, scanning the trees.

Aqua who walked besides me pointed forward. "There, she's behind the tree."

My chest had nearly collapsed. I had even gotten excited when the teacher mentioned a dance routine, a performance we'd do in front of our families. I could already imagine Ai and Ayane texting everyone that we were going to be in this little school play. If it had been anyone, I expected Aqua to have been hesitant, it seemed far too flashy an event for him. I had even planned on asking if I could maybe help write music, it may have been weird for a four year old to be able too, but I was going to at least try to be able too.

But Ruby running away…? That was the last thing I expected, I thought, as I walked ahead of Aqua once we found her.

"Ruby!" I said, kneeling next to her. "Are you okay? Why… why…"

I wanted to ask my next question, but the words got caught in my throat when I saw her tears. She didn't even look up at me, her head against her arms and knees, softly sobbing. The hair on my arms stood up, I felt like my chest was being stepped on. Ruby? Crying? So many times she'd stopped me from doing just that, just by being her normal energetic self. I had already been planning on practicing with her every day, I thought she'd have been ecstatic, I had been looking forward to seeing how excited she got. For a minute, I just knelt next to her, unable to say anything as I tried to process it, every silent sob I felt like someone was stepping harder and harder down on my chest.

Aqua stood next to me. "Ruby, why'd you run away?"

Ruby silently sobbed again, her voice came out small and quiet. "Because… I'm bad at dancing. Or rather I… I've just never done it before."

"Mhm? What, did you stay cooped up in your room and play there?" Aqua said with a sigh. "Kids these days, I'll tell ya-."

"Aqua!" I snapped at him, shutting him up.

"What?" He said defensively. "I was just-."

"I guess… I was similar to a shut-in," She said quietly again, her voice pained. "I tried a few times but… I could never do it. I… I don't feel I'm capable of real exercise."

A shut-in…? Ruby? I thought, knelt next to her, feeling my arms start to tingle. I… I almost can't believe that. She's so… so….

"I don't know what things were like for you before, but are you really okay with this?" Aqua said, shaking his head. "You have a new long life in front of you."

Ruby sniffled and wiped her nose and eyes with her sleeve. I bit my lip, I wanted to snap at Aqua to stop being insensitive… but I knew he was right. I was still doing a horrible job at it myself, I still thought about everything I couldn't do in my old life every day. Ruby had always been someone who stopped me from thinking about what was, and started thinking about what was in front of me. Her bubbly excitement about everything, her contagious smile, when I saw them, it was one of the few things I felt that I had gained from being reborn into this life. I had promised Ai I'd always look after her kids, and that was what I had been trying to do this whole new life… but I realized that they were both taking care of me as much as I had been taking care of them. Aqua with his smarts and calm demeanor, Ruby with her smile, from sitting in box suites at a baseball game, to something as simple as going down the slide, they'd helped me as much as I'd helped them.

It was thanks to them that I felt like I really could be Kage Midori. I realized as well that I had done a pretty poor job of paying attention, why should I have just assumed that Ruby never felt the same things I did when thinking about her old life?

And… also, a shut-in, who was never able to dance, exercise… who wants to be an idol, yeah, this hits close to home, I thought, my chest heavy as I reached and pulled out a pack of tissues I always instinctively kept in my pocket going back to my doctor days.

"Aqua's right, you have a new life now Ruby," I told her, as her head slowly looked up at me. I smiled and felt my stomach in knots. "Believe me if anyone knows what it's like it's us. It may take years but… we have to stop letting who we used to be dictate how we see ourselves now. It feels like you're alone; I know that but… you're not! Even if it does take years, we'll be here to help, just like I know you are for us."

Ruby sobbed again, and then looked at the tissues. Her tiny arms were shaking a bit, but she took one, wiped her eyes, blew her nose, and shakily sighed, still crying. I smiled again when she was done, and offered to take the tissue for her, but when she handed it to me, I felt her tiny hand grip tight onto my sleeve. My face got hot, and saw she was meeting my eyes now, tears still welled up in hers.

"Thanks…" She said, sniffling and shakily breathing. "Kage… Aqua…"

I could have melted into the ground then. Smiling, I reached out and patted her head. "Yeah… of course, Ruby."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Ruby

"Okay, are you ready?" He asked, holding his one arm tightly around my waist, his other one holding the railing.

My face went red, my weak body tingled, but I slowly nodded. I gripped tighter up around his neck with one hand, my other on the opposite railing. "Y…yeah, yeah I'm ready."

He smiled down at me. "Don't be worried, you're going to be fine. I'll be here the whole time, don't be afraid to hold onto me."

"O…okay… Mina…" I shakily said, my knees already shaking as it felt like pins were pushing up into my feet.

"Just remember, go at your own pace," He said, looking up down the walkway. "Ready Sensei?"

"I am!" Sensei said, smiling over at me too. "Just remember Sarina, hold onto Minato if you need any help."

I quickly nodded, my heart racing as I looked up at him, my eyes watering. "Are… are you sure I can do this Mina? I… I haven't been able to-."

"I know you can," He said before I could finish, his soft smile making my heart race. "You're gonna show everyone just how tough you are."

He winked, and I bit the inside of my lip. I knew that for the last few months my legs had been feeling better, but being out of bed now, even with Mina next to me and Sensei not far away, my chest was ready to burst. He was so confident in me, and now, the last thing I wanted was to let him down. That smile Mina gave me, Sensei's reassurance, it all had been what kept me trying. My feet still shook but when I nodded, Mina slowly let go off my waist. He stayed right next to me, inches away, but as soon as his hands left me I felt my knees buckle again. I yelped and moved my hand off the railing to brace myself for the fall. I yelled as I saw the floor speeding up towards my face, but just before it hit my arms, I was caught.

"I got you!" Mina said, as he gently pulled me back up onto my knees. He knelt, holding onto my shoulders, I felt my body shrivel up, completely and utterly embarrassed. I looked down at the floor, at my disabled body that refused to do anything I said, shame, regret, longing to stand, it all washed over me as I felt my eyes water.

"I… I'm sorry… Mina… Sensei…" I told him, as he held onto me. "I… I…I'm sorry I'm wasting your…your…"

The tears came as I sat there, I tried to wipe them, but before my own hands could do it, I felt a tissue against my face.

"Don't cry, it's okay," Mina said, looking down at me. His smile hadn't gone. "We'll keep trying, and no matter how many times you fall, don't worry, I'll catch you, so long as you promise to not stop trying. So long as you keep trying, I'll be here, and one day, you're going to be able to do all the moves Ai does, I promise one day, you'll be able to dance!"

"Ruby… with the way you keep moving, it's as if you're always scared of falling over," Mama's voice said.

"W…Well…" I started, tears welling up in my eyes.

Mina… Mina and Sensei aren't here to catch me anymore.

It was how it always was. Despite all his promises, the ones I knew he did absolutely everything he could to make true… Mina had been wrong. There were times when I fell, when I fell and it hurt. I wanted to overcome it myself, to one day, be able to get up out of bed and get the keyboard for my lessons with Mina myself. I wanted to show him, that I really could one day become an idol that he could write songs for, that all the promises we made could really come to fruition, that we could really do all of the things that we wanted to do together. I wanted to do them so badly, I loved him, I wanted to be able to fulfill all the dreams we had, and how would we have been able to do that if he always had to pick me up off the ground? What was the point of me trying to do all of these things now? It didn't matter if I had a new body, a new life like Kage and Aqua said… I knew deep down I was still that same girl who was never strong enough to reach for the dreams she always wanted, to even live. I thought all the time about how much my dying had probably hurt Minato and Sensei both, and each time I did, I felt myself ready to cry.

It had been why I promised to find them again one day… but what would happen when I did? What would they see when they saw I was still always falling?

But.. but the truth is… I need them, I need someone… someone to just pick me-.

"If you're scared of falling, you'll just fall over more," Mama said, her voice soft and kind, as I felt myself lifted up. I looked into the mirror in the dance studio and saw her holding me. "Stand more confidently, with your chest out! You'll be fine… trust your mama okay?"

I sobbed as I looked up at her, her eyes so bright, so warm, so loving. It was just like Mina's used to be. The bracelet mama always wore on her wrist sparkled like her eyes did, and this time, when she set me on the ground, I recoiled at first, holding my arms up… but she didn't let go.

My life had come to an end having spent the majority of it in hospital rooms. My body, it had never done what I wanted it too, for years, years I had longed for it. To be able to get up and dance to the song that me and Mina wrote, to be able to do all of Mama's cool moves, to shine as brightly as she shone. I could see them all now, all the concerts I watched, I could see all the moves I wanted to make my body do, I could hear Mina laughing and talk to Sensei as they watched with me, I could feel the longing to do those moves again.

"It feels like you're alone; I know that… but you're not!" Kage said.

"And one, and two, one, two, see that's it!" Mama said, as I mimicked the moves in front of her. "And two, and three, and four! Haha, you're doing great Ruby!"

My… my feet! They… they're moving, I… I'm doing it! I thought, the feeling of pins under my feet were gone, my knees didn't buckle, my arms weren't shaking, I followed the moves I saw Mama do in the mirror, and with each one I did, I felt my heart begin to race! I saw it all flash in my mind, all the times that I had fallen, all the times Mina or Sensei had picked me up, but this time instead of just that, I saw all the times they walked with me. I saw all the times I laughed at Mina for doing idol dances in front of me, I saw that smile he and Sensei always had, felt the care they had for me.

And I felt all of those exact same things radiating from Mama as we finished the move and she laughed, scooping me up off the ground.

"Ahaha, see that was so good Ruby!" She said, squeezing me, her eyes sparkling. "Oh, I know! I'll have Ayane come up with a special beginner routine for you! Doesn't that sound great?! And I bet Kage and Aqua will practice with you too!"

My face tingled, my mouth fell open and I finally, finally felt myself smile. "Y…yeah! Yes please!"

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Yes! Haha, that's exactly it, great job Ruby!" Kage said, as he finished the set with the same pose as I did.

My heart raced as I kept going, one foot to the other, relishing the feeling of my feet touching the ground, relishing the feeling of balance I felt. Kage laughed as he clapped to help keep my steps in rhythm, Our Sign if B playing from a speaker not far from us. Mama and Ayane were in another studio practicing with the others, and now for the last few hours Kage and I had been here, and I felt as if I was floating the entire time. He was a great dancer himself, keeping up with every move I made. My energy seeped back into me, and I just didn't want to stop. The giant mirror in front of us was perfect to count my steps as when the song finished I hit the note and final move exactly.

Kage laughed again. "That was awesome! Haha, and you said you didn't know how to dance!"

He smiled so wide it made my heart race. I breathed heavily, sweat trickling down my face as he handed me a tiny towel. I took it and wiped the sweat from my face. The rush of dancing, of being able to move was so exhilarating that I felt like I could do it forever. My mind was racing, I could finally see it, finally see the reunion that I had been longing for ever since I was born into this new life.

"Wow, that was amazing Sarina! You've done so good, I'm so proud of you!" Sensei said, patting my head.

I could see Mina's flustered embarrassed smile. "Sarina you… you're brilliant! I… I think I lov-."

"Ruby!"

"GYAH! Oh, sorry Kage haha… I was daydreaming," I said, blushing as I looked at him. "I… I really didn't know how, but well… I guess-."

"I guess you Hoshino's just have that dancing gene huh? You were seriously amazing!" He gushed, he chuckled, but after he realized how much praise he'd given out, he nervously rubbed the back of his head. "I… I think Ayane and Ai both will be super excited! This school performance will be nothing for you!"

I looked at him for a moment, my mouth slightly open, before I found my face feeling hot and I smiled. Kage always did that, he'd show how passionate he was about something, he'd gush and give praise, and then get all flustered and blush. He did it with me, Ayane, and mama especially.

It was one of the many things I really like about him.

"Ha… thanks, Kage," I told him. "But you were just as good! Haha, I know you said you used to be a musician, but you can dance really good too! Talk about good genes, Ayane's rubbing off one you!"

He smiled. "Ayane's twice as good as I ever was. I'm really lucky I've been able to watch her work growing up so far. I… I…"

"Huh? What is it?" I asked, as he started looking at the ground.

He let out a sigh, and he blushed. "Well… I… want to be like Ayane, really, really badly, I always have."

I smiled at him. "Haha, you say that like it's unobtainable! You already were in your old-."

"I wasn't, I… I lied," He said, breathing as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. "I wasn't really a musician. I… wanted to be one, I guess I was a closet one, I taught myself to play guitar and piano, I… wrote some songs but I… I never actually made a career out of it."

I looked at him for a moment, and realized he must have been expecting me to get angry with him.

But that never would have happened.

"Ha, so what if you never made a career out of it? You still made music!" I told him, offering him my smile. "And I think you're really good at it! Seriously, I've heard you singing before!"

His face went even more red. "Y…you have?!"

I giggled. "Haha I have! You weren't as alone as you thought when you were practicing! It's like you told me… it'll be hard to forget about our old lives, it'll hurt me, but we're here for each other! And like Aqua said, we have a whole life ahead of us now, I think you're going to be a great musician, just like Ayane!"

I said more enthusiastically then I had intended, but when I saw his reaction, I really didn't mind. The way his face stayed red, how embarrassed, and nervous he looked, I found it funny and cute. So many times I'd been on the edge so far, ready to sink into despair, they hadn't seen it, but a lot of times before a few days ago I had been ready to. Each time though? Kage and Aqua were there, Aqua with his sound calm advice, and Kage with his encouraging words. I had said it back to Kage at the baseball game when he said it to us, and I really had meant it.

I'm really glad that I was reborn with them… I thought, as Kage finally let out a breath and smiled.

"Thanks… Ruby," He told me, meeting my eyes. "My… entire life, I've just wanted to write music, to… to make the people I care about shine, like Ayane does for Ai. I want to make people feel things with what I write I… I want to make people happy."

"You do a great job of that already Kage," I told him, my heart racing, and now I looked as flustered as him. "I wouldn't have started dancing if I didn't remember what you said. I felt alone… like you said I would, but… you made me remember I'm really not! I have you, mama, Aqua, Ayane, Miku, Ami and everyone else. So thanks Kage! You're really awesome you know that? I'm so excited to grow up with you!"

Kage stammered, and I saw him trying not to smile to much. Finally he sighed and met my eyes. "Thanks… Ruby you… really remind me of someone I knew once."

"I… I do?" I asked.

"Yeah… yeah you really do!" He said smiling wider, his bright green eyes sparkling more as he talked about the person. "She had a bit of a hard life but, she got sad a lot but… but she always, always smiled again, and that inspired me!"

I stammered, unsure how to respond with my words, but I did know my heart was racing even more now.

"I… I guess she was pretty great then! Thanks Kage!" I said, feeling a burst of energy, as I rushed away from him towards the speaker. "C…come on! Lets do Hearts Kiss next!"

"O…oh, okay, sure!" He said, rushing up in front of the mirror again.

I stayed in front of the speaker, not looking back at him yet.

I didn't want him to see how much I was blushing, and how wide my smile was.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Ayane

"Oh, that's tomorrow?!" Ai asked frantically as I unlocked the door.

I laughed as I turned the knob. "Haha, I told you this yesterday Ai! Honestly, you really would lose your head if not for me huh?"

"Ahaha, I can't deny that!" She said as I opened the door. "I'm so excited! I've never been to a wedding before, and now we have two in back to back months! I can't believe Miku asked us to be brides maids, I'm so happy!"

I smiled at her enthusiasm. It really was an exciting time. First, Arata and Miku's wedding was in two weeks, and then next month, one for Arata's cousin and Miku's sister Fuutaro and Yotsuba. Ai and I were only brides maids for Miku-Ai had almost cried when she asked- along with Ami, Hayasaka, Kaguya, Taiga, her other sisters and then me and Ai for ten. Ruby had been the most excited out of the twins, while Aqua seemed to not react at all, and then Kage had stammered how he didn't want to be hounded by so many people. That was becoming the normal reaction from the three of them, one was hyper, one was nervous, and the last one was deadpan, it was an extremely cute dynamic.

Two weddings in two months… and… if what Ichigo said is right…I thought, my smile growing as we walked inside, my mind wandering to the possibilities. And… if everything works out, a dome concert in-between!

"I'm excited to! I'm really happy Miku thinks so highly of us," I said, the both of us taking our shoes off.

"And I can't wait to see all the others too!" Ai said, giggling as she walked towards the living room. "I'll need to figure out what song too…"

"Huh? Ai?" I asked, coming up behind her.

She held her hand out to stop me. Before I could ask why, I heard the kids talking.

"I try not to think about it, but I do sometimes wonder who our father is," Aqua said. "My stomach hurts just thinking about it."

My eyes went wide, I looked up and saw Ai tense, her eyes on the ground, her ears perked up. My mouth went dry, and my heart started beating fast.

Ai had told all of our friends, that Minato was the twins father, of course… me, Ichigo and Miyako were the only ones who knew that wasn't true. Ai had asked them all not to mention Minato around the kids, and they had kept their word. I hadn't seen any harm in letting her tell that lie to everyone else but… I didn't know if it would be right to tell the kids that. We'd both avoided the subject for years, it never seemed important, but I'd be lying if I didn't have the same question as Aqua. I really didn't want to believe that Ai could have had the feelings she had for Minato for anyone else. Of course… she still hadn't said those words yet, but I knew she felt them, for her kids, for me, for Kage, for our friends. I had to assume if she had kids with someone, that she had to have some kind of feelings for them too right?

"You dummy! You let a little thing like that get you down?" Ruby said smugly, as I heard her turn on the TV. "She obviously had a virgin conception! You think so too, right Kage?"

My heart sank too, and I looked to see Ai still hadn't moved.

I heard my sons voice, he chuckled and sounded strangely at ease. "Yeah… sorry, I can't take your side on this one Ruby."

"Yeah, Kage's right, stop being silly," Aqua said. "What about you Kage? Do you think about who your father is?"

I almost gagged and fell into Ai.

I heard Kage sneer. "Of course I don't. Whoever he was, he's nothing but a low life who didn't deserve Ayane anyway! I hope he's rotting in a gutter somewhere."

I almost cackled a laugh. Ai had told me the last four years Kage and I were practically clones except for the hair, and it wasn't any different here, because I had the same feelings as him. I tried my best to forget him, I was just thankful that Kage had inherited my green eyes instead of his. That stupidly charming smile, the honeyed words, the warnings from my mom, from Ichigo, I hadn't forgotten any of them despite how much I wanted too. Kage would be nothing like him except for the hair color, and I was thankful for that. I'd told him before that his father wasn't around, I had expected him to ask questions, but to my surprise, he understood, I didn't know what I did to deserve a son who was so intelligent, so caring of others around him, but I was thankful for it.

"Yeah! Kage's right!" Ruby said after him. "And the same thing if someone did that to mama! I hope he's rotting!"

I couldn't see it, but I imagined Kage and Ruby fist-bumped like they often did.

I let out a breath. "Gee… those three have big imaginations," I smiled but then realized something that made me scrunch my eyebrows, "wait, does Kage really call me Ayane when I'm not around? Ai has he ever… huh? Ai?"

"Ayane, I'm going to find a pay phone," She said, putting her shoes back on and walking back to the door. "I'll be right-."

"Wait, Ai!" I said, grabbing her wrist before she could go. "Why can't you just use your phone here? What… what's going on?"

Her body softened, and she turned to meet my eyes.

And nothing seemed wrong at all, she just smiled.

"Oh, I just need to call a private number!" She said, waving her hands. "Nothing's wrong at all!"

My mouth floundered. "Are… you sure? Ai you… you can tell me."

It was a lie; I knew she was lying.

She shook her head, just smiling away. "Oh it's nothing I promise! I'll be right back!"

My arms tingled, as before I could say anything else she left the apartment. I stood there looking at the door where she'd gone… and felt empty.

"Ai…" I said softly, clutching my chest as I shakily sighed. "If only you were alive… Minato, you understood her even more than I did."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Kage

"Thank you all so much for being here!" Miku said into the microphone, Arata standing next to her. "We can't express how excited we all are to share this moment with all of you, everyone being here, all of the love and appreciation you've shown us, it's been just as big a part of our journey together as the two of us have been! Without all of you here, we wouldn't be in this position, so from me and Arata both, thank you so much again!"

Miku's speech went on, and despite now having sat through an hours long service, and making our way to this reception, despite the fatigue I was feeling… I was happy. Miku went on to literally thank everyone, all four of her sisters, Ami and Taiga, Kaguya and Hayasaka… and even Ai and Ayane. I looked around and felt my neck tight with the tiny tie Ayane had picked out for me. The tiny suit was black, and I really did look like one of the other groomsman. Next to me was Aqua, dressed similarly, while Ruby was next to him, in a cute white dress looking absolutely delighted next to Miyako. The wedding reception wasn't too crowded, only about 50 or so people, and half of them were the Chunichi Dragons Arata's teammates. I recognized a good number of the people there from having spent time at Café Nakano, and of course all day people had come up gushing over me Ruby and Aqua, much to Ayane's delight.

She smiled as she sat next to me at our table. It consisted of the three of us, Miyako, Ichigo, Ayane, and an empty spot for Ai who currently wasn't there. I smiled as Miku handed the microphone to Arata. His cousin Fuutaro had already given a best-man speech, and for her maid of honor, Miku had given the mic to all four of her sisters who read out their speech together. As Arata got the microphone, I felt Ayane pick me up and put me on her lap. I'd gotten used to it, but this time, I felt her squeeze around me a bit tighter, she played with my hair, and I looked up at her, wondering if something was wrong. My suspicions were apparently unfounded, because she just smiled, holding me as she listened to Arata speak, her long silky brown hair was beautifully combed, her white dress was gorgeous, and her eyes shone bright… she really was dazzling.

I looked over and saw Aqua looking at me from his seat. He tugged at his tie, and I chuckled at him, just as Arata cleared his throat.

"So… before I wrap this up, I do have one more announcement for everyone," He said, a smile on his face, he grabbed Miku's hand and spoke clearly into the microphone. "After considering the options I… I've made the choice, that instead of going to the America to play in the MLB, I'm going to resign with the Chunichi Dragons and play in Japan!"

My eyes shot open, I even heard Ayane gasp as she held me. The entire room erupted in cheers, that had been something being discussed for the last few years, how long it'd be before an MLB team signed Arata to go play in America. Next to me, I even saw Ichigo and Miyako cheering, Ayane yelled, but nobody was louder than the Chunichi Dragons, his teammates who cheered as if they had just won the lottery.

After this, Arata hugged and kissed Miku, before holding the microphone up again. "And now that's over, everyone give it up for our friend, Ai of B-Komachi!"

Ruby cheered from her seat; the entire hall went crazy as the track for Our Sign is B started playing. A curtain that had been behind Miku and Arata pulled open to reveal Ai, dressed now in her idol outfit instead of her bridesmaid dress. The entire wedding had gone crazy when they saw Ai from B-Komachi in Miku's wedding party. Now, they all erupted in cheers as Ai sang, the lights flashing as she danced around the room to sing, she even grabbed Miku's hand and tried to show her how to do idol dances, but the one the most excited, was Arata's younger cousin Raiha who while absolutely star struck, landed every move to perfection as Ai laughed and sang. My heart pounded, and my face hurt from smiling so much.

This… is really happening, she seems so, so happy, I realized as more people moved to dance next to her.

And one of them was Ayane. "Come on Kage! Ruby! Aqua!"

"Huh?!" Aqua said, sounding panicked.

My eyes went wide, but I laughed when Ayane lifted me off her lap. I turned and yanked Aqua to his feet off his chair. "You heard her! Come on Aqua!"

"Yeah, come on twin!" Ruby giggled as she jumped off her chair, the hook for Our Sign if B rang throughout the hall, as even Miyako was dragging Ichigo off his chair.

"What, no!" Aqua said, as Ruby and I got behind him. "I don't want to- Hey!"

"Come on, you don't get out of it!" I told him, pushing him into the crowd of dancing wedding guests.

Ruby laughed and pushed him with me, and now he had no choice but to follow. Like I was being reborn all over again, when I got to the center of the floor with Aqua and Ruby, Ruby grabbed both of our hands and started moving her feet perfectly. I laughed as everyone around us seemed to realize the kids were on the floor now and moved out of our way. The finale of Our Sign is B started playing, and just like we'd practiced before, Ruby knew exactly what the moves were, and then to my complete and utter shock, Aqua did too. He didn't move as precisely as me or Ruby did, but eventually he gave in, and started dancing with us. Around us, everyone started clapping in unison, the entire part with their eyes on the group of dancing kids.

"Ahahaha it's like the glowstick concert!" Ruby said as she moved her feet, and even grabbed my hand and Aqua's. "I'm doing it! I'm dancing!"

"You are!" I told her, as the clapping got louder, and I moved my feet with her. I turned and laughed. "You're up Aqua!"

Aqua was breathing heavy, but his eyes went wide, and everyone cheered as the little blonde boy hit the perfect moves, and as the final lines for Our Sign if B came up, when the beat drop everyone jumped back onto the floor and started moving again. It was like I got caught up in a whirlwind. I looked over and felt Ami gently tug my arm, I danced in front of her, before I looked up and saw Nino laughing in front of me and moving her feet. The best was Taiga, the shorter girl dancing her way into the middle of the three of us, she leaned down and rubbed all three of our heads playfully as she moved in synch with us, we were only up to around her waist, so I was sure it was an amusing sight.

And finally, I spun, and I saw Ayane, dancing with Ai as they both sang into the microphone Ai held, and when they saw us, the smiles they had, the shine in their eyes, it was something I never wanted to see leave them.

I… I'm happy! I'm actually really, really happy! I'm happy I was reborn here! I thought as I felt Ruby grab my hand again, and I turned to see she was dragging Aqua around as well.

And like usual, she nailed the final pose for Our Sign is B, and even Aqua did too.

I breathed heavily, sweating in that tiny suit, my legs were aching, but it was a good ache, a great ache. In front of me, I saw Ayane laughing as Ai hugged her.

Star T Rain started next, and I found I just kept thinking the same thing over and over.

I'm happy… I'm so, so happy that I was reborn into this life!

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"I TOLD YOU ITSUKI LOOK!" Miku's sister Yotsuba said, kneeling between Aqua and Ruby. "THEY LOOK EXACTLY THE SAME!"

"I don't know why you find that so baffling! We're quintuplets Yotsuba!" Itsuki, another of her sisters said.

Yotsuba pulled on Aqua and Ruby's cheeks. "Yes I know but they're a boy and a girl! Imagine if one of us had been a boy, how crazy would that have been?!"

Itsuki's eyes went wide. "Y…you're right! Like imagine if Nino had been a boy!"

"What?! How come I have to be the hypothetical boy!" Nino yelled from near them. "Why can't it be one of you?!"

I laughed as I watched the three sisters start arguing, while simultaneously gushing over the twins. Ruby lapped up the attention, while Aqua seemed to want to be anywhere else, the dancing having drained a lot out of him. The music was still playing, but the reception was slowly dwindling down. Cake and dinner had already been served, people were drunk, people were dancing, laughing, singing, I'd never been to a wedding before this, but I decided that I definitely liked them. I sat next to Ayane again, with Ai on my other side, as at our table, Miku, Arata and Ami were across from us. Ichigo and Miyako were surprisingly still dancing, while others all mingled and had a good time. I felt completely exhausted, so I had no problems sitting there. Aqua had said to me being a preschooler was easy, since you just got to play, eat and rest all day, and I was beginning to believe him.

"Thank you so much for this again Ai!" Miku said, Arata holding her hand. "I know you probably had something else-."

"Nope! Not a chance, I'd never miss this, I should be thanking you, I'd never been to a wedding before!" Ai said as she looked at Arata. "And Arata! You're really staying?!"

Arata nodded, he hadn't stopped smiling all night. "Yeah, it's true. I… just don't want to leave, I couldn't go away from all you guys!"

"So… if you or Ayane ever need any babysitting done, you're still more then free to call us," Miku said with a happy wink.

"Or me too!" Ami said with a laugh. "We're signed to the same agency now, so I'll be around, and Yukio has a few more years before he goes to the states."

"You guys are amazing," Ayane said, even wiping her eyes. "You've been so kind to us from the moment we met you, we're so grateful."

"Oh stop, don't think anything about it!" Ami winked.

"She's right, besides we're grateful for you too," Miku told them. "You've been such a joy, we're all so happy we met you!"

The five adults all laughed, and I looked up between Ai and Ayane, unable to stop myself, I smiled, again and again and again. I couldn't remember smiling so much in my life. So many times in the last four years, I'd found myself yearning to have back the life I lost. I'd look in the mirror, and I'd see Minato again, and feel my heart shatter. I was still upset that I couldn't have been at this wedding as Ai's boyfriend, that I couldn't show her the love I wanted to show her more of after those months we spent together. That was something I'd always wish I could have done but… that hadn't been the reason I was so drawn to her, the reason I fell for her in the first place. No, it wasn't because I wanted to go on dates, or take her to weddings, I loved her, because she was someone who deserved to be loved. Someone who had brought a light back into my life that I thought I lost, so I found myself finally able to accept it.

I looked up at Ai, who was laughing at something Ayane said. Yeah… I'm ready to accept it. I've known but…now I can say it. Minato Kaniyama is gone, Kage Midori is here, but, just like him, I'll make sure you never stop smiling Ai.

"Oh, and you must be so excited Ai!" Ami said, gushing. "Your dome concert is in two weeks!"

"Oh yeah, you're playing at the Tokyo Dome!" Arata said with a snap. "That place is amazing to play baseball in, I can't imagine what it'll be like with thousands of glowsticks."

"I know, I'm so excited! You'll all be there right?" Ai asked.

"We wouldn't miss it for the world, we're gonna hold off on the honeymoon, so we can make sure we make it," Miku promised.

Ami chuckled. "All of us will be there, this is your big moment Ai, we wouldn't miss it for the world!"

"And you too Ayane, this is just as big for you too," Arata added in.

Ayane blushed, and Ai threw her arms around her. "You bet it is! I would never have gotten this far without Ayane; this is just as much her dome concert as mine!"

I watched Ayane blush and felt my heart growing warm. The Tokyo Dome was the ultimate venue in Japan… and now Ai had finally reached it. Ichigo had got sufficiently drunk when it was announced, and not long after we'd celebrated Ai's 20th birthday. It all happened so fast, a year had already passed since that first TV drama, four years since I'd been born again.

And now Ai would shine in front of thousands.

"I… I didn't…" Ayane started, before looking at Ai and leaning into her. "Yeah! Yeah… this is our concert!"

I nodded; there you go Ayane… finally you're realizing your talent.

Ami chuckled. "Well I'm sure it's going to go great. I'm going to get a drink, do the bride and groom care to join me?"

"Oh, sure, so long as you promise to drink us under the table Ami- OW!"

"Don't think just because you're married to my Miku now means I won't hit you for being stupid!" Ami said, stepping on his foot.

Miku laughed, and Ayane got up. "I'll come with you! Ai, watch Kage for me?"

"Of course I will!" Ai said, turning to me as the others left. "Come here Kage! Oh you look so cute in your little suit!"

My body went stiff as Ai wasted no time in grabbing me from the chair and pulling me over to her lap. She smiled down at me, laughing as she wrapped her arms around me. It was a bit awkward, back in my old life our positions had been reversed, but I didn't mind now. The music was slowing down around the hall, and I finally had a moment to relax from the constant dancing and singing. I looked and saw now all five of the Nakano sisters were gathered around Aqua and Ruby, which made Ai laugh as she hugged me.

"Ahaha, they're so popular aren't they!" She said, looking down at me and poking my nose. "Did you have fun Kage?"

"Y…yeah, yeah, lots of fun!" I said, blushing as I wriggled in her arms. I looked at the ground, not wanting her to see. "I… I'm happy we came."

She was quiet for a minute, and then laughed. "Ahaha, you really are just like Ayane, you both get embarrassed so easy, it's so cute!"

She rubbed my head again, and that didn't help me stop blushing any. Her wrist was right in front of my face, as much as I always tried to move on, seeing that even for the last four years Ai had still worn that bracelet I gave her made my heart race. I had never gotten to hear her say it, say 'I love you', I still hadn't heard her say it, to me, Ayane, or even Aqua and Ruby… but I knew that was where Ai was mistaken. She was mistaken in thinking that she had to say I love you. No, she didn't have too, actions would always speak louder then words, and in Ai's case? Her actions always spoke louder.

I knew she had loved Minato Kaniyama, just like I knew she loved Ayane, she loved me now, and most of all that she loved Aqua and Ruby.

"I… well… we both um…" I said, unable to form words, but before I could I felt her squeeze me harder.

"Thank you Kage, I've been meaning to tell you that," She said softly, resting her chin on my head of black hair.

"Huh? Thank me for… what?" I asked her.

She giggled and gently rubbed my hair. "For keeping your promise to me! For helping Ruby dance, for making sure Aqua smiles and has fun like you did tonight. You really care about them, don't you Kage?"

My chest exploded; her smile was even brighter then it got when she was up on stage.

"Y…yes! Of course I do, they're my best friends!" I told her, desperation in my voice as I wanted to spill it all out, wanted to tell her how I felt. "I… I love them! Both of them, and I love you Ai!"

My mouth clamped shut, I realized in that moment… that was the first time I'd told her that in this life. Ayane had said it to her, I'd heard Ruby say it at least once, her friends had, but me? I hadn't, not since just before I left her in her hospital bed. My face was beat red at that point, as I looked up expecting Ai to start laughing at how cute the situation was like she always did. Her eyes just looked down at me, her mouth opening and closing, I was worried for a moment she was upset, but that worry disappeared, when she smiled, and instead of laughing just pulled my head into her chest and squeezed me tighter, stroking my hair softly as she spoke.

"Thank you… Kage," She said, before a tiny giggle left her. "You really are my little knight in shining armor aren't you?"

She leaned down, and when she kissed my cheek I melted completely. I felt like a puddle in her arms as my tiny body got hot and I could only get out tiny words.

"I… I… um… well… I…"

"Ahahaha, you're so cute!" She said, standing with me in her arms, before whispering. "Don't worry, I'd never steal you away from Ruby!"

I choked. "Wh…what do you mean by that?!"

She laughed more and winked. "Oh nothing at all! Come on Kage, let's dance!"

I yelped as she put me on the ground and grabbed my tiny hand, leading me towards where everyone else was starting to dance again as Our Sign is B came back onto the speaker. I hurried after her as she leaned down to pull me with her, and soon, I was in the middle of the floor again.

"Okay! Now I know you're as good a dancer as Ayane, show me how its done Kage!"

And she started dancing, right in front of me, smiling the entire time.

This… definitely isn't how I pictured dancing with Ai at a wedding for the first time… I thought, but despite that, I didn't mind. I started dancing, moving my feet to the familiar beat matching Ai's moves one for one, and the whole time, I didn't stop looking at her, or the bracelet she still wore.

It all came flooding to me now, the realization I'd been putting off, one that I thought would make me sad but… I found was making me really happy.

I... have to let you go, Ai. You're happy now, so… so happy, I thought as I danced with her. Minato Kaniyama? His mission was to make sure you could smile like this, every day, to see you shine and love everyone else. You're happy now, you have people that love you, and people that you love yourself.

"Kage!" Ruby's voice said, as I turned and saw her dragging Aqua towards us.

Ai laughed and reached down, grabbing Ruby's hand and Aqua's helping them both dance with the two of us. Aqua's reluctant eyes and hard time keeping up with Ai and Ruby's moves made them both laugh.

You're successful, you're happy… you're shining, yeah, that's all Minato ever wanted, I told myself as I joined them, and saw Ayane rushing to dance too. So, if Minato's goal is fulfilled… he can rest easy. I can rest easy.

My name was Kage Midori now, and it was his turn to start loving not just Ai, but all of them.

Now, Minato Kaniyama could truly die happy.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Two weeks later….

"Ugh… M…mama it's to heavy!" I complained, the boxes weighing down my arms as I got out of the car.

Ayane laughed and took one of them from me. "Silly, I told you to not try and carry them all!"

"But they're Ai's t-shirts, I wanted to give them to her Aqua and Ruby," I explained, very disappointed in my lack of strength in this tiny body.

Ayane took one of the boxes from me and held the drycleaning for all of us in her other hand. A dress for her and Miyako, and the tiny outfits for me Aqua and Ruby, we had been cutting it close, going and picking them up only a few hours before Ai's dome concert, but it had been Ayane instead of Ai this time who forgot to go and grab them. After she realized, there was a scramble. Miyako and Ichigo were already at the dome getting things ready, Ami, Miku and the others were all apparently coming in one big group and were already driving to the dome. So, Ayane went herself, which turned out to be good because she needed to pick up some samples from the dome of the merchandise they were going to see. The two large boxes contained t-shirts, buttons, other merchandise and of course red glowsticks. All of them with either Ai or B-Komachi imprinted onto them, it was literally a giant box full of Ai's, and I was excited at the idea of showing her, but of course my tiny body had let me down.

Ayane chuckled as she kicked the car door closed and we started walking. "You can give her that one don't you worry. I'm just glad we got the dry cleaning in time."

"Do I really have to wear that outfit again?" I muttering as I held the one box.

Her eyebrows raised, a mischievous look on her face. "Oh? Would you rather wear one the Ai t-shirts? I'm sure she'd be so happy seeing that!"

"I… no! I… I just… well-."

"Ahahaha, I think Ruby would rather wear one too," She said, as we neared the steps up to the apartment. Ayane smirked down at me, clearly enjoying seeing me flustered. "Someone's been in an awfully good mood since Miku's wedding, I'm guessing you had fun?"

"You could say that yeah…" I said softly, smiling at the ground. "It… it was a lot of fun. I really like Miku and Arata, Ami, and… and everyone we met."

Ayane laughed. "So do I! I'm so glad you do too, you, Aqua and Ruby are going to get babysat by them a lot soon!"

"What about Miyako?" I asked, not wanting to stop seeing her.

"Don't worry you'll still see her plenty, but she may be a bit busier now running the internet personalities department," She explained as we turned the corner. "And… who knows, in a few years when Ai's idol career dies down, me and her have talked about wanting to be an act together!"

"Really?! Like, the two of you as a music group?" I asked, the idea sounded amazing.

Ayane smiled wide. "Aha! Idol's only go to a certain age anyway, after that…? Well, Ai and I will make videos, do small concerts, but we most want to spend time with you, Aqua and Ruby, and everyone else of course!"

"I… I really like that idea," I told her.

She giggled. "Haha, I'm glad that you do. I'm really proud of you Kage, you're such a responsible boy… you, Ai, Aqua, Ruby, you're all the best thing to ever happen to me!"

I stopped with the box not far from the steps, my heart racing. "Um… Ayan…Mama?"

Ayane's eyes went wide. "HA! I knew it you! You do call me Ayane sometimes! Why would you… oh! I'm sorry, Kage, what is it?"

I stammered as she looked genuinely upset for a moment that I almost called her by her first name. It faded though, as still holding the box and dry cleaning she knelt down and smiled at me eye level. Ayane was 24 now, but it really did feel like yesterday she had checked into the hospital, and I had seen her for the first time.

"Um… I wanted to tell you something," I said, my chest growing warm, as I smiled at her. "I… I'm really glad that I'm your son. I… I love you!"

Oh god have I… have I never said that to her? I thought, the horrible realization coming to me as her mouth fell open. My stomach contorted as guilt washed over me. Of course I always felt it, I'd heard her say it to me plenty of times, but looking back at it, I really hadn't ever said the words to her.

"I… I'm sorry I've never said it, I always have!" I quickly added, as her eyes watered. "I just… well- GYAH!"

"Kage…" She said, dropping the box and dry cleaning, she reached out and grabbed me, pulling me into her chest. "I love you too! You're my everything, my absolute pride and joy!"

I felt her tears drop onto my head, and while I was blushing yes… it quickly went away. It went away, because… for the first time in my new life, I really felt like I was Kage Midori. Minato Kaniyama had finally been put to rest a few weeks ago.

I decided this was going to be my first real memory after fully embracing the fact, I was Kage Midori, the son of the genius song writer Ayane Midori.

"I… I'm glad you're so proud of me, I'll keep trying," I told her, hugging her back as she wrapped around my tiny body. "A… Mama, I… I want to be-."

"GYAHHHHHH! N…NO! NOOOOOOO GAHHHHH!"

My chest completely shattered, as I was thrown backwards. I yelled as I hit the ground with a roll and dirt flung up into my mouth. The box of B-Komachi merch flung open, buttons and glowsticks flying all over the ground. I heard a loud thud, and after blinking dirt from my eyes, looked up and realized that Ayane had quickly pushed me away. I blinked and saw her shoot to her feet, and she was not happy.

"What the hell is your problem asshole?!" She shouted, glaring at the ground. "Watch where the fuck you're running you almost knocked my kid over, who they hell do you think are?!"

"G…GYAHH. NO…. NO, NO, NO, NO!"

"What's the matter can't talk?! I swear, I'm calling the cops if you're not out of here in seconds!" Ayane spat, pulling pepper spray out of her bag. "I haven't seen you around here, what are you doing?! I'll make you go blind ass-."

She was cut off, when I felt myself start convulsing.

My hands shot to my stomach; I grabbed it so hard my nails almost ripped my shirt. My breaths came in quick heavy heaves, my legs buckled and twitched, my eyes felt like they were going to fall out of my head. I looked at who Ayane was yelling at, and tried to scream, but screams didn't even come out, all that came out was labored breathing, and what was a mix between a yell and a sob as my fingers dug into my stomach, it erupted in pain like the knife had been plunged inside of me again, my tiny body felt like it was about to explode from the inside out. He looked at me, his eyes went wide, and the minute Ayane turned from me, he yelled again, scrambling to his feet, and running with his hands clutched to his head. Screams I heard before, footsteps I recognized, a face I recognized, a pain that was all too familiar.

"Th… tha…he… he.. AH! AHHHH! NO! NO, NO, NO!"

"KAGE!" Ayane yelled, scrambling over to me, she knelt down and picked me up, clutching me to her chest I wrapped my tiny arms around her shoulders and gripped her, I gripped her so tight I was worried I'd rip her skin off.

It was as if I was splashed by cold buckets of water with droplets of ice which dug into my skin and cut me over and over. My eyes were blurry, and my stomach wouldn't stop screaming as the anxiety fell over me like cold blanket, each second that passed I felt a knife, a knife from that man twisting deeper and deeper into my body like it had been that night. It had been him, the same exact man, I knew because I'd never forget the wild crazy eyes of the person who killed me.

"Shhh… Kage, Kage calm down you're okay!" Ayane said, unable to pry me off her as my ragged breathing got louder and louder. "What's wrong did you hit-."

"A…A…Ay…Aya…" My eyes bulged, my retinas ready to explode, as I felt myself deflate like a popped balloon. I used every bit of strength I had in my wobbly arms to point. "A…. Ai…Ai…"

I still couldn't even formulate words.

That was because I saw blood dripping from the steps up to the apartment.

"What?!" Ayane said, panicking as she turned around to follow my finger.

Her face went white, her arms so slack she almost dropped me.

"Wh…what?!" She whispered quickly, stammering as she sighed, her eyes watering as she shot to her feet with me in her arms. I bounced in her chest as she rushed up the steps.

M…more… more bl…no…no, no, no, no, no….

My body started to shut down to the point when Ayane put me down I stumbled to my knees. Ayane quickly helped me stand, she fell to her knees, her brown hair a mess now as she looked at me, holding my face as tears fell down her face.

"Kage don't move... okay?! I… I need to go and-."

"A…. A…. Aya…" My voice again didn't cooperate, only my tiny shaking arm did.

And my stomach exploded in pain again, but this time when I keeled over Ayane didn't catch me, her hands went around her face as she sobbed. She started hyperventilating too, as I felt my lungs barely getting any air, I coughed, I coughed more and more, as I tried to elongate my quick shortened breaths. The invisible knife twisted in my stomach as I saw it, and it was Ayane again who responded first, her screams guttural as she shot to her feet.

"AI! AI, RUBY, AQUA!"

Our door gently blew open in the breeze, the wet bloody knife still in front of her door.

Ayane stumbled as she rushed to the door. What was really only seconds, felt like hours, like years as I saw her reach for the handle.

Ai… Ai… Ai… Ai… Even my inner thoughts shook, as I leaned against the wall and lifted myself up.

That night, the same fan, that man murdered me and Sensei… and he had been looking for Ai.

"Ai… Ai… A…Aqu…a… Ru…Ruby…" I said, clutching my stomach as I could feel imaginary blood oozing out of it, the life force of my old life, and this one leaving me little by little.

"NOO! AI! AI!"

I didn't know what it was, but like my legs had been zapped, I ran for the door as Ayane screamed.

And when I flung it open further, and stepped into the hallway, the blood sparkled on the ground, a zig-zagging trail that led to the one thing that would haunt every bit of darkness I ever seeped into for the rest of my life.

"It's okay, you're okay Ai just… just breath and… and…" Ayane said, squeezing her hand over Ai's stomach, blood covered her hands as my feet drug across the ground, her blood covering the bottom of my shoes.

"AYANE! MAMA! MAMA! AQUA! K…KAGE! WHAT… WHAT'S-."

"Just wait Ruby! Wait right there it… it'll be okay!" Ayane yelled back to her, her eyes gushing as she reached past Aqua and pressed both hands on her stomach. "Yeah it… it'll be fine! It's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay Ai I… I…"

"A…Aya…ne… her… it's her… her…"

I had never seen Aqua unable to speak, but now he couldn't even move, as Ai's bloody hand was wrapped around him, holding him to her chest. I saw the outline of Ruby banging against the door to the bedroom, Ai's other bloody hand pressed against it, as if trying to reach her.

"N…no… no way I… I…" I said words something my brain was unable to compute. My feet continued to drag, and soon I was only a few inches away from her foot, from Aqua who's blue eyes were wide set.

It wasn't real, I refused for it to be real. I thought I was going to blink, and it was going to be over.

But then Ai opened her mouth, and when she did… she smiled.

"Oh… there… there you are, Ayane… I was worried you… weren't going to make it back," She said, as Ayane leaned and covered her stomach, Ai's blood seeping deep into her hands.

She shook her head, tears and blood covering her face. "Shh… don't say anything! Don't say anything Ai it… it's gonna be okay I'll… I'll-."

"Where's…." Ai said, her head weakly looking over from Ayane. "Oh… there you are… Kage…"

"A…Ai… I… I-."

I stopped when Aqua's head slowly turned around, he clung his tiny hands to Ai as they shook, his big watery eyes looking at me. The bang of Ruby's fist against the door, her loud sob as she begged for it to be opened, Ayane's sobs as she pressed against Ai's wound.

None of it broke me, more then seeing Aqua cry, because that… was just something I knew I'd never see again.

"You're both… here… you're all here…!" Ai said, her smile growing as she let out a shaky pained breath, her eyes went to all of us, shining as they did. "My… my… family… I… I always wanted to have one and… now… now that you're all here I… I'm so happy!"

Her arm that was wrapped around Aqua reached out, and I unconsciously stepped towards her, and with whatever strength she had left, she pulled me next to Aqua. I shakily sobbed, as I looked up, one arm around us both, one pressing against Ruby on the other side of the door.

And he her head leaned into Ayane's chest, her smile never wavering.

"Ai… Ai you just… just need… need to… A…AI!" Ayane sobbed, pressing her hand harder onto Ai's stomach as she sobbed and leaned with her other arm wrapped around her.

Ai blinked; her eyes really like stars. "Oh, Ayane…! You… you'll be so happy! I… I did it! I really… really finally did it… I… I said it! I… I said it to them!"

My chest collapsed, and finally I sobbed and gripped tight onto Ai's arm. I saw it sparkle, as if it had just been freshly cleaned.

The bracelet, with two star charms, she had promised me she'd never take it off… and that hadn't been a lie.

"You… you just need to…" Ayane trailed off, hyperventilating as she held her. "Hold on… helps coming they… they'll-."

"I… I need to say it to you too! Both of you…" She said, her head looking up, her eyes meeting hers. "Ayane… I… I love you… big sis!" and then, her eyes looked down. "And I… I love you Kage! You… you're going to be the best song writer, just… just like your mama! You're going to make… so many people shine, like Ayane did for me…!"

"I love you… I love you Ai… I… please… please no… no, no… NO!" Ayane's cries washed over me, and made me fall to my knees, my head leaning and digging into Ai's body, her blood mixed onto my clothes, Aqua didn't move, I heard Ruby sobbing behind the door.

My hands gripped onto her, she squeezed her arm tighter around Aqua and me, and for a moment, I just listened to Ayane cry as I felt Ai hold me. It all flashed in my eyes, the moment I met her, the moment she kissed me for the first time, the first night she spent at my house, agreeing to come to this job, giving her that bracelet, telling her I love you. I saw it, it all came to me in seconds.

"You know… I feel like I know you after reading your song, like you know me, and I think you're brave just writing those words down."

"So, if you don't mind… can I read more of your songs? So I can get to know you even better? I want to… and that's not a lie, us liars need to stick together. And who knows… maybe by the end of my time here, we'll learn how to stop lying!"

"Ha…Hahahaha! You're such a charmer, Ayane warned me about that before I came here!"

"Say it again… please, ha… come on, say it again!"

"You're sweet. Really sweet… Minato. It… it's nothing like hi…. I…. I'm so happy that I met you, Minato."

"I love it! I'll wear it every concert, every show!"

"You're Ayane's kid so I'll treat you like my own! You'll be sure to keep an eye on Aqua and Ruby for me growing up, won't you Kage?"

"Or… who knows, hehe, maybe you will grow up and be my knight in shining armor for real…"

"Thank you… Kage. You really are my little knight in shining armor aren't you?"

"Oh… Ayane! I… I can finally do it… I can do it now…!" Ai said, her breathing labored. I felt her hand move and heard the jingle of the charm bracelet. Her voice was soft, and when I looked up… still she was smiling. "I'll get… I'll get to tell him… I… I can tell him now… Ayane! I can… right?"

If I hadn't felt like I died before… I did now.

Ayane sobbed loudly into her neck as she nodded her head. "Yeah… yeah… you can Ai… you… you can."

"Mhm… finally! He'll be… so happy when I do…" She said, leaning her head against Ayane… her hand against the door to Ruby, and squeezed her arm around me and Aqua. "A family… I love it… I…I'm so happy! Ayane…Kage…Aqua…Ruby…I love you!"

I looked at her arm as her hand squeezed me again. The bracelet… the star charms on it were specked with her blood.

And then her hand finally went limp, my legs gave out, and I fell onto her, grabbing at her dress.

Her eyes… they finally went dark, but she was still smiling.

"MAMA! AYANE! WHAT… WHAT'S HAPPENING! MAMA!"

"Ai… Ai…no…no, no, no…. NO! AI, AI!" Ayane wailed, pulling Ai closer to her, shaking, her head pressed against Ai's as she squeezed. "Ai… Ai… please… no… please no I… I can't…not… not without… without… NOOO! AI!"

"MAMA! MAMA, AYANE!"

I wanted to scream with them, but all I could do was look at the bracelet as her lifeless arm was around my shoulder.

"I'll get… I'll get to tell him… I… I can tell him no."

"Finally! He'll… be… so happy when I do!"

She… she can't… because… because…

She couldn't tell me because I wasn't wherever you were supposed to be when you died.

And that was when I finally broke, my entire mind, body and soul shattered into a million pieces that would never be put back together.

I started sobbing, wailing, holding onto her. Ayane didn't do anything, because she was doing the same, Ruby kept banging on the door.

Behind me, Aqua just silently cried, Ai's arm still wrapped around him.

Again… it happened again… I let it… if… if I had told someone I… I…

Doing absolutely everything you felt you could, and still failing.

Minato Kaniyama wasn't dead. Both him, and Kage Midori were complete and utter failures.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

2 weeks later…

"Aqua, Ruby… Kage… you need to eat," Miku said, kneeling in front of us, holding out the cookies I knew had just been freshly made at Café Nakano.

Why does this feel… so familiar? I thought, my body numb as the sun gently hit against the back of my neck.

Miku sighed, wiping tears from her eyes and put the large bag between us. "These are here if you need them…"

She didn't say 'I'm sorry', or ask 'how are you feeling', or go on about how great Ai was to us, which I'm sure Aqua and Ruby had appreciated too. She stood up, and behind her, Arata came by, rubbing all of our heads, before the two of them walked towards the rest of the group. It was sunny outside the funeral home, a gentle breeze chilling me under the nice, collared shirt I wore. The sounds of the people silently chatting around us sounded distant, even though most of them were voices we did know, many of them weren't. I recognized Miku and Arata, a crying Ami Kawashima with her fiancé Yukio, the rets of the Nakano sisters, Kaguya, Shirogane, Hayasaka, Taiga and Ryuuji, all the people who had been so loving and caring in the last year to us… they were here again. A few other people like Director Gotanda I recognized, but the others…? Why did they even come? They didn't really know Ai, they were just famous for giving her some of her early chances or knew her in passing. I had no idea why, but them all being here really pissed me off.

Everything really pissed me off lately.

Especially when I learned the guy who killed Ai, who killed me, Sensei, had taken his own life. He wasn't going to spend his life rotting in a jail cell like I had hoped, hoped so that one day if he did ever get out, I could rip him apart with my own hands. No, he was dead now, the public cry of support and despair over Ai's death was still in effect… but I could see it starting to fizzle out. Now the focus wasn't on Ai, mourning her death, but on the mental health of this deranged man who'd killed her. Amateur psychologists, who in reality were just twitter trolls with nothing better to do with their pathetic, meaningless lives, were starting waves online as people tried to 'figure out' what had been wrong with the guy. In some corners, you even saw sympathy for him, for a cold blooded murderer.

I didn't care what was wrong with him, I didn't care why, the only thing I did care about, was that if I couldn't get my hands on him myself in the future, that he was rotting in the darkest depths of whatever hell there was.

Not far away, near the front of the church, was Ayane, Miyako, and Ichigo. Ayane wore a black dress, her eyes surprisingly up and glowing, as she offered tiny smiles and shook the hands of everyone who was leaving. The service was over now, and only the close friends were heading back to Café Nakano. The Nakano sisters themselves, along with Arata and his cousin Fuutaro, Ami and Yukio, Taiga and Ryuuji, Kaguya, and Shirogane, Hayasaka and Ren Hayashi, only the people who had really known Ai. Fuutaro and Miku's sister Yotsuba had pushed their wedding back, Arata and Miku cancelled their honeymoon indefinitely, Ichika had flown back from America again after just having left after Miku and Arata's wedding. They'd all canceled plans, rearranged things, turned down jobs, all to come with us, to celebrate Ai.

But despite all the outpouring of kindness, I still only felt numb.

"Why…why are people saying things like this?!" Ruby said, her voice soft, and I could hear the pain in each word. "Why would they feel bad for the guy who killed her?! And… and some of the stuff they're saying they… how…how could this happen?!"

"Ruby…" I said softly, I saw her tears welling up again.

I looked next to me, to Aqua for support, but his eyes were on the ground. He hadn't really said anything at all in the last two weeks, and while I didn't want to either… I knew that I couldn't do that to Ruby. I let Aqua understandably be silent, and when I saw her crying, I scooted closer to her. I didn't say anything, what could I say? Nothing I could say was going to dampen what had happened, nothing I could say would make a difference.

So, I let her lean on me, like I had promised I'd always do.

"K…Kage… I… I…"

"I know…" I said quietly, as she held onto my arm and looked up at me, her eyes watery. "Go ahead… it's okay."

"I…I… Kage!"

And she cried, grabbing and leaning against my arm. I didn't move, and just let her cry, the only thing I did was use my other hand and gently stroke her hair as she cried.

Nothing else happened. Aqua didn't move, and all I did was sit on that bench and listen to Ruby cry, loudly at first, but after a while, it just turned to a soft sob… and then, she just leaning against my arm holding it, and after that, she even fell asleep still clung to me. I didn't mind, the only thing I had left, the only thing I felt like I had left in this life that I wanted to end, were the two of them, and the promise to Ai to look after them, along with being Ayane's son. Other then that? What was I even living for? Every time I blinked I saw it, felt her lifeless hand on my shoulder, saw the star charmed bracelet tinged with blood. They had asked if they wanted to bury her with the bracelet on… but Ayane had decided to take it. In her fake happy voice, which I knew she was just putting on for me Aqua and Ruby, she said they would have it to remember her by and would 'bring it to her grave every month!'.

But like me, I could tell Ayane was broken on the inside. Believe it or not, if it hadn't been for Miyako, things would have fallen apart. She even adopted Aqua and Ruby as her own kids, and helped Ayane direct everything for the funeral, as Ichigo was also mentally gone. I even saw her now, standing next to Ayane, holding her arms around her, smiling, and reassuring her. Ayane herself had barely said anything about the day, and tried to just smile each day she woke up with me, Aqua and Ruby… but I knew soon she'd break down as well, but the fact she was even moving around now? It made me proud to be her son.

She was so much stronger then I was.

Ruby's right… how? How could this happen? There's not a chance that guy acted alone, found Ai's address alone, figured out she had kids, I thought as she lightly snored against me, my eyes went to the small crowd still around, to all of our friends. I've thought of almost everything, how did he know what hospital Ai was at all those years ago? How did he know she was having kids? How did he find our apartment? I refuse to believe Miku, Arata, Ami or any of them said anything, if they wanted to do Ai harm they would have long ago by just revealing Ai's secret. Who else could have known…?

"You've been thinking about it to… haven't you?"

My eyes went wide, and I turned to my right. Aqua's eyes were dark, his blue orbs with a dark tinge. I knew my eyes had to look the same, I looked at Ruby still snoring against me… had he been waiting for her to fall asleep?

I didn't think about that for long, because Aqua's question washed over me like a waterfall. My heart sank to my chest, as I met his eyes. He already knew my answer, but I gave it anyway.

"Yes… I have," I told him, quiet so I didn't wake up Ruby. "And knowing you, you have too."

"It's all I've thought about," He said just as quiet, he turned his head with me. "I don't think it was any of them. If they wanted to do anything to profit off this, they would have months ago."

I nodded as we looked at the group of adults we'd come to love and trust. "I thought the same. Besides… I'd feel disgusting accusing them."

"I agree," Aqua said, his eyes turning back to the ground, they grew wide, darkening with each word. "Ichigo and Miyako the same thing… that only leaves one option, only one who could have known about Ruby and me, possibly two."

After he said it, my stomach tied in knots.

"Our… fathers," I said quietly.

"Yes, has Ayane ever said anything about yours?" He asked right away.

I shook my head. "Not much, his name was apparently Yuuki Kitagawa, but that was a fake name. He left after Ayane was pregnant, she hasn't seen him since, I don't know if he'd have known about Ai being pregnant."

In reality, Ayane hadn't told me any of that, it was just information I remembered from four years prior when she'd come to the hospital pregnant. It was a simple enough lie, and Aqua didn't seem to care how I knew.

"But we can't discredit the possibility," He added, meeting my eyes, and I could see something snap. "That only leaves one-."

"Oh, there you three are, I'm sorry I had to leave you alone," Ayane's voice said, and Aqua and I both looked up at her.

Aqua went quiet, and I just shook my head. "It's okay… we're fine."

Ayane smiled warmly, but I could see the pain in her eyes. "You're good boys, both of you. Here… let me take her Kage."

I nodded, as Ayane reached down and took Ruby off my arm. She mumbled in her sleep as Ayane held her to her chest, let out a relaxing breath, before looking at Aqua and me.

"We're going to get out of here in a few minutes okay? I'll put Ruby in the car now, can you both be sure to head over there in a bit?"

"Of course," I told her, my chest panging.

Aqua nodded. "Okay."

She nodded back, and turned quickly to walk to the car, but I could see the tears falling from her cheeks silently as she clutched Ruby to her. The moment she left; I felt the heat in my chest rise.

If… if the bastard who left Ayane… if the lowlife who left Ai, if one of them are really responsible for this… for Ayane crying, for Ruby crying, for… for Ai I… I…

"Me and Ruby's father…" Aqua said, and when I turned to him, he wasn't the same.

Whatever had snapped inside of him was taking over like an infection rapidly consuming his body. His fists curled, his eyes grew darker and darker, as for the first time in weeks I'd really heard him speak.

And he truly was someone different now.

"He's the only one who without a doubt knew. Ai always dodged the question even with Ayane," He said, his eyes not leaving the ground. "He had to be the one who organized it, and I… I'm going to find him, and I'll make him suffer everything that Ai suffered. I'll find him, and when I do… I'm going to kill him, with my bare-."

"We."

He looked up at me finally, his dark eyes going wide. "We?"

"We…" I said, looking up at him from the ground. "We are going to find him, and when we do… we'll kill him."

"Are you sure?" He said, his tone unchanging. "Because when I do this… I won't stop, not until I see him dead."

I had made my mind the moment that she died, in the last two weeks, I'd thought about it every single day, what I could have done different, if I could have said anything, used my knowledge in a different way, but everything I thought of, there wasn't an answer as to what I could have done differently.

But I still knew I had failed, and now, there were only a few things I could do to even begin making up for it.

This was one of them.

"I'm sure," I told him, holding out my hand. "I'll help you, in every way that I can… so long as Ruby doesn't get put in harm's way."

Aqua wasted no time, he nodded and shook my tiny hand. "That was always going to be the case anyway…. Thanks, Kage."

I didn't smile, I didn't nod, I didn't do anything except shake his hand.

When he let go, I felt something sink to the bottom of my stomach. I knew exactly what I had just agreed to, and I didn't care.

We heard Ayane call for us, and we both turned and made our way over to her and the car. My feet felt heavy with each step, they echoed in my ears, and I looked up at the funeral home, where I'd just buried the second person I loved.

Well… I guess Minato Kaniyama isn't dead after all. Now, he and Kage Midori both have the same exact mission.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

12 years pass by…

Aqua

"Ruby come on, we're gonna to be late," I yelled up the steps, putting my shoes on.

I heard the sound of rapid footsteps a minute later.

"I'm here don't rush me! I was just fixing my hair; this outfit really is cute!" She said, appearing in front of me, her hair nicely combed, she smiled wide as she reached down for her shoes.

I shook my head at her. "What? You're alone? Where's Kage?"

Her head shot up and her face went red. "Why do you always just assume I'm with Kage?!"

"Because most of the time you are," I told her, which was the truth. "I always ask him where you are when I need you."

She stammered as she pulled on her shoes. "That… that's completely untrue! We don't-."

"I'm here! Sorry…" Kage's voice said, he sighed as he got to the bottom of the steps.

Kage had grown to be around the same height as me. His bright emerald-green colored eyes were as breathtaking as Ayane's, combined with a handsome face and that soft and fluffy looking black hair, he really was starting to look more Ayane every day. He wore the same school outfit as me, the boys version of Ruby's, his bag was wrapped around his shoulder, he smiled and handed Ruby hers.

"Here, you forgot this," He said with a smile.

Ruby's eyes went wide as she grabbed it. "Oh! Thanks Kage!"

"Ha, you're welcome, try to remember it next time, you're such a goof," He joked, rubbing her head as he went to put on his shoes.

Ruby blushed, which was normal. Me, I looked at Kage as he grabbed his shoes next to mine and scrunched my eyebrows at him.

He looked up at me oddly. "Um… why are you looking at me like that?"

"Did you… comb your hair?" I asked him, looking at his head.

Ruby snapped. "I thought you did something different! Haha, someone's looking awfully spiffy!"

Sure enough, instead of falling in a mess around his head like normal, Kage's hair had been combed and even gelled.

He choked on his words and cleared his throat. "I… well, I wasn't going to, but you see…"

"I couldn't let you go to your first day of high school with bed head!"

More footfalls down the steps came, and Ayane came rushing down the stairs dressed in a black skirt and dark green sweater with a bag on her arm, a camera in her hand. It'd been twelve years since Ai had died, she was 36 now, but still just as beautiful as she'd been when she was younger.

Kage sighed and shook his head. "I told you I don't have bed head I just-."

"Don't comb it even though always tell you too!" She sighed as she slid on her shoes. "Ruby you're in charge of making sure he combs every morning!"

"Hehe, yes ma'am!" Ruby said, hugging Ayane's waist. "I didn't think you'd be here Ayane!"

"Yeah, I thought you headed out early with Kawashima for a shoot," I asked her.

Ayane chuckled, shaking her head. "Are you serious? Did the three of you really think I wouldn't drive you for your first day of high school?"

Ruby smiled contentedly as Ayane hugged her back, Kage sighed but looked at me with a shrug and smile. "Oh well, can't complain about not walking right?"

I felt the smallest curl of a smile at my lips.

"Yeah… can't complain."

"Oh! Before you leave, picture, now! Don't argue! Kage in the middle," She said, laughing as she stepped back with the camera she had pointed up.

Ruby yelped, and rushed up next to Kage, she stuck her two fingers up. Kage chuckled and did the same as Ayane counted down.

"And three, two… one!"

The camera flashed, and Ayane smiled. Ruby rushed over to see, laughing, and smiling at it. Kage smiled too, but then he looked over at me. My eyes locked with his, and as usual we had a silent understanding.

This was a much bigger day then just the start of high school.

"Okay! Come on, let's get you all there before you're late!" Ayane said, grabbing her keys from the ring and walking to the door.

"Alright!" Ruby said excitedly, going to the door, before she stopped. "Oh! Wait Ayane!" My sister smiled, and both her, Ayane, me, and Kage all stopped and turned. Ruby smiled and nodded. "We're leaving now… mama."

I looked over and saw the picture that was always there. Ai and Ayane smiling, their arms around me, Ruby, and Kage. It was something that made my chest ache each time.

"They did it Ai…" Ayane said softly before she looked at us. "Okay, come on you three! And remember, head to Nakano's after school, everyone's coming for your party!"

Ruby excitedly cheered and rushed out the door after her, and I looked at Kage again. He was smiling fondly at his mom and my sister… but I saw him nod.

It's time then Kage… after all these years, I thought, as he stepped out first, and then me behind him. Me and Ruby's father, he's not only responsible for Ai's death… but for mine… and for Minato's. Minato… Ai… I won't let him go on living.

I walked out the door behind them, it's time to begin our revenge play….