Part 4

Aiya slipped away when she knew the conversation was coming to an end. Immortals? she thought. Were these two men delusional? No that couldn't be it, Aiya decided. For one thing her husband would've known if they were delusional and never would have associated with them. So that likely meant that they really were immortal and had been around for centuries if the conversation that they had been having was anything to go by. Did Taro know they were immortal or had they kept that secret from him as well? It was quite possible that they hadn't told him, though her husband wasn't stupid. In fact, he was a very intelligent man. She had often wondered why Dave and Aaron looked like they hadn't aged a day in all the years she had known them. This was probably the reason they had never settled down as well, as sharing such a secret was dangerous. The only way that she could see it happening was if they were both truly in love and willing to turn their chosen female immortal like themselves, if that was even possible. Aiya couldn't see them settling down with a mortal woman, because they would die eventually growing older as the years passed, while both Dave and Aaron would stay the same. Before long any woman would look like they're mother instead of their wives, while they stayed exactly the same.

Should she confront them about this? Or should she not reveal that she now knew their secret? She should probably mention it to Taro first, Aiya decided. If he didn't know then it would be something of a surprise, but if he did he had probably sworn to take the secret to his grave and not tell anyone else, not even her.

If her husband did know how long had he known? It might be fairly recent, probably when he was shot and Aaron had saved his life. It was quite possible that Aaron had been hit with a bullet, even if was only a flesh wound in order to save her husband's life. In fact, that was the likely possibility. If that was the case, it hadn't been very long at all that Taro had known. Of course, she knew it also might be an older secret, one that Dave and Aaron had told him after they had known each other for awhile. She could certainly understand the need for secrecy and Aiya doubted either one of them had told many people over the years. It wasn't like they weren't human, they were likely just very hard to kill. She had no doubt that they could die if the circumstances were right, as that made more sense then them being some kind of gods and unable to die at all. She went over all the legends and myths she had read about immortal beings and wondering if any of them had anything to do with Dave and Aaron.

She would find out, but she didn't want to insult her guests, as they had saved Taro's life and that gave them an incredible amount leeway as far she was concerned. They would always be welcome here and she would assure they knew that.

She was going to have to be very careful about what she said and she knew it.

She would talk to Taro as soon as he got home.

Luckily, for her curiosity, Taro was home in a matter of hours.

"What's the matter, Aiya-chan," Taro inquired.

Aiya told him and Taro pursed his lips. Finally, he said, "They were careless, which isn't like them at all. On the other hand, you shouldn't have listened at their door."

This last statement was said in a gentle, chiding tone, causing Aiya to blush, as she knew her husband was absolutely correct.

"No, I shouldn't have," Aiya admitted looking guilty. "I just happened they hear the word immortal and I couldn't pull myself away."

"Well, Dave and Aaron are very understanding and probably won't mind you knowing," Taro paused, seeming to be thinking. "The only reason they told me is I mentioned how it was a miracle that Aaron hadn't been hurt shoving me out of the way of that gunfire. I had been curious for years why the two of them hadn't aged a day in all the time I'd known them. Both of them then shared this very long, silent conversation. I've never seen anything like it. They seemed to understand each other just from their expressions and body language."

"Well, if they've known each other for centuries and then they're bound to know how the other thinks by this time. Recognize every expression, every bit of body language. I'm sure they've been in many situations over the years that would require them to be able to communicate like that."

"There is an idea," Taro said, thoughtfully. "That's something that hadn't occurred to me, so likely, you're right. They've known each other for very long time, so they're able to communicate by not speaking a word."

"So Aaron mentioned something about a wife," Aiya said.

"I'll let Aaron tell you his story if he's willing," Taro said. "It is not my place to do so and might upset him if he knew I had. I will inform them that you are aware of what they are and how that came about. What they do about it is up to them."

"That's fair," Aiya said disappointed. It really was fair though, as she shouldn't have been listening at the door, because it wasn't like their voices had been loud. It was just that one word had captured her attention.

"Now, it is nearly time for dinner, Aiya-chan. I will tell them tomorrow. I won't be surprised if they leave immediately."

"I don't see that happening if this lady that Aaron saw is really his former wife. I realized that it might just be a lady that looks similar to the one he lost, but they're going to want to stay for awhile and try to find her I'm sure," Aiya reminded Taro.

"I hadn't considered that, but you're right, though they could get a hotel room," Taro said.

"Why waste the money, when they can stay here for free, with both of us knowing their secret?" Aiya pointed out.

That was a good point Taro admitted, though he also admitted that the money didn't really matter to either man, as just like him they had plenty of it, though apparently they hadn't at one time. They had likely built up a fortune though wise investments.

"Come now, dinner should be ready," Taro urged his wife gently.

Aiya complied without a word knowing that soon her guests would know that she knew their secret, which could be either good or bad.

~~~Criminal Minds~~~

Both Aaron and Dave took the news well when they were told that Aiya had learned their secret. They should've been more careful and they knew it, but they just never imagined that anybody would listen outside their door, not in a place like this. Still, it wasn't bad news really, as they knew that Taro's wife would say nothing. They would just have to be more careful in the future.

"This just ought to prove we need to be more careful in the future," Aaron said seriously, but with a smile. "We are lucky that it was only Aiya that overheard us. We know she'll do nothing with the information and that she is honest like Taro."

"I shouldn't have been surprised that she had noticed we haven't hardly aged at all, as we have met on several occasions," Dave admitted. "Some people have better memories and observational skills then others. We were lucky this time yes, lucky, that it wasn't someone who would use the information to try to blackmail us."

"Trying to blackmail us wouldn't work anyway," Aaron grinned fiercely.

"No, it wouldn't," Dave agreed somewhat grimly. "Blackmailers are often cowards, though not always, and it is considered a nonphysical crime. Still, we would deal with any such attempt quite harshly and they would regret trying to blackmail us."

"So what do you want to do today," Aaron asked, trying to not let his anxiety show.

"Well, we need to go out and be seen, if we ever want to find this lady you saw," Dave said. "We should take in a concert in the park as there's always plenty of those in the summer. For all we know she could love music though there're so many different types..."

"Still, it's a place to start," Aaron agreed. "I remember that Berenice loved music, but couldn't sing very well at all. I think that always disappointed her actually. She probably wanted to be a great musician or at least a singer, but didn't have the talent. Still, she enjoyed listening to it whenever musicians came through, though those that traveled weren't very good most of the time. There was a time or two though, where they were more than decent."

"People often have dreams and they have no talent for," Dave said. "Your wife didn't have a scrap of musical talent when it came to singing or the money to purchase an instrument in which to learn."

"No she didn't," Aaron sighed looking melancholy. "I suppose that doesn't matter now."

The two men discussed what they wanted to do for the rest of the day and then got ready to leave.

"Here's to hoping that it is fate that has brought my wife back to me," Aaron said finally in a solemn tone.

"I hope so too, my friend," Dave said sincerely. "Let us hope it is truly your wife come back to you after all this time, instead of someone that just looks a great deal like her."

The two men shared a solemn look and left Dave's room where they had been talking.

"So are you going to tell Aiya about what happened all those centuries ago?" Dave asked his friend.

"You think I should?" Aaron asked looking thoughtful.

"Not necessarily," Dave said. "It really depends if it brings you any pain, even after all this time, to talk about it. It was a tragedy, no doubt about it, to lose your whole family in one fell swoop over just a few weeks. I realize that tragedies happen every day somewhere in the world, but they are not usually so great as losing everyone you love. Usually there is at least one or more survivors."

This was true, Aaron knew so he nodded.

"We could let Taro tell her, as he knows your history now," Dave gently suggested. "He wouldn't have said a word about your history without your permission, as he's an honorable man."

"I'll go talk to Taro, right quick before we leave," Aaron decided, somewhat relieved that he would not have to talk about it again so soon. "While I have come to grips with my past sometime ago, thanks mostly to you, it is still very painful for me to talk about. Of course, if this lady, really is my Berenice come back to me, well, that past will not be so painful anymore, more bittersweet."

"You need to be patient," Dave advised and Aaron nodded.

"I know I do, but it's hard," Aaron admitted. "You know I'm normally very patient, but at the same time, this is so very important to me. I need to know whether this lady really is my lost love. If she is not then, as I told you before, I will be disappointed, but I'm halfway expecting that anyway, but if she is Berenice I will do anything I have to, to win her heart."

"I understand that, Aaron," Dave said. "Still, try to be as patient as you can, even if I realize how difficult that will be."

Aaron nodded telling his friend that he would try, but he was making no promises.

~~~Criminal Minds~~~

"Sit down," Taro suggested to his wife gently. This was the weekend and he didn't work them unless he absolutely had to. Weekends were for family, unless he was on a business trip. "Aaron-san has given me permission to tell you his history. It is still painful for him to talk about, even after all this time, which is why he is leaving me to tell you."

Aiya nodded and got comfortable.

Taro went on to explain exactly what had happened before Dave had discovered him.

"That is so sad," Aiya said once her husband had finished. "I know times were so much more primitive back then, but still, that was a great tragedy."

"Yes, it was," Taro agreed with his wife. "Not only was Aaron-san trying to support his family on inadequate funds, he lost all of them to disease that was much more deadly back then. He admitted that if he hadn't gone with Dave he probably would've lost himself in the bottom of a bottle and likely eventually died from alcohol poisoning."

"So Aaron was originally mortal then," Aiya said.

"Yes, what of it?" Taro asked.

"Well, I was just thinking earlier that there had to be someway to turn somebody immortal, though that was before I knew that Aaron-san originally started out like you and me," Aiya explained what she been thinking.

"Ah!" Taro said in understanding.

"At least there is a different way to give somebody blood now instead of having to drink it, though I understand that was the only way to do it back in the time Aaron-san was born," Aiya said.

"Yes, there were no needles back then, except sewing needles of course, much less IVs," Taro gravely agreed.

"You know I never believed in reincarnation, but if this lady that Aaron saw for a brief second in a crowd turns out to be his long dead wife, then I could probably become a believer," Aiya said.

"I never believed in it either, but it could possibly exist," Taro said. "Immortals do after all, so who's to say other supernatural things don't?"

"This might explain why neither one of them has gotten married. It would take a special lady indeed to settle down with someone for centuries instead of just decades," Aiya said

"Yes, it would," Taro agreed.

"If Aaron is still pining after his wife after all this time and it must've been a true love match, so if I believed in fate or the gods I would say that they're giving him a break," Aiya said.

"That's possible," Taro agreed after moment. "I hope that this lady does turn out to be his long dead wife, because they can start a family again. While there are still dangers in this century, life is much surer now and more peaceful, then way back when Aaron-san was initially born. I'm sure that he'll turn this lady immortal with her permission," Taro said. "I know that if only this lady turns out to be his long-lost love, he'll be ecstatic."

"I hope it turns out okay," Aiya said.

"So do I, because they are my friends and I would like to see them happy, settled down with mates of their own," Taro said. "That might not happen before both of us leave this Earth, but I'm hoping it will."

"Me too," Aiya agreed solemnly.

~~~Criminal Minds~~~