Six Months

Part 2

Picking Up the Pieces

By Nick Maro

The fist connected squarely with David's jaw. He rolled with the punch out of instinct. Looking up he saw Roxy reaching down to pick him up. She lifted David to his feet and slammed him into the wall as she glared at him. Gone was the moment of joy and happiness he had just seen in her eyes when he had entered the Gabor Estate. David glanced at Pizzazz who was standing there looking as confused as he was.

Roxy pressed her face closer to David's. "You bet your ass you owe us an explanation! You broke Kimber's heart when you left like that." She choked back her tears and brought her voice to whisper. "You broke my heart as well. Mary is in the hospital for depression because of the fact you abandoned us. The Misfits are no more because of your selfish act. Because of you our lives are ruined!" Roxy slammed David into the opposite wall, causing it to crack.

"Dammit Roxy, that's enough!" Pizzazz yelled as she stepped between her friend and her twin brother. She helped David to his feet and checked his face. She pushed Roxy back a step. "What the hell was that about? What's wrong with you? Is this the woman you've become? He said he would explain it all to us, while you go and beat the hell outta him." Pizzazz quickly regained her composure. "Now, let's all sit down and talk about this." She calmly gestured to the living room.

David flinched when he touched his jaw. "You're getting faster with those punches, Roxy. I barely saw that one in time to roll with it." He sat on the couch next to Pizzazz. "To be honest, I wasn't expecting a warm homecoming. I know I hurt everyone deeply. I just didn't know how deep I had. Saying I'm sorry won't solve a damn thing, but I am. I'm very sorry." He looked at Roxy and flashed a small smile to her. "Roxy, I'm sorry I left like that.

"Phyllis," he said turning on the couch cushion to face his sister, "I'm very sorry that I abandoned you again. The first time it wasn't my choice but this time I had no choice." David looked at both women before continuing. "It was the concert in Kyoto when it happened. The night I left. Everyone was backstage celebrating the concert when I saw a blur of motion out of the corner of my eye. I carefully scanned the backstage but didn't see anything.

"I was standing next to Mary when I saw a man in a crimson uniform up in the rafters. He threw something metallic and vanished. I reached out instinctively and grabbed a shuriken between my fingers. I shoved it into my jacket pocket before anyone could ask me what was wrong. Remember I said it was pesky insects?" David took a sip from Pizzazz's glass of water. "After meeting with Kyoko and Yukio in their room, we decided it would be best if we left everyone until we could figure out who this new threat was.

"We left without saying a word. It was to protect everyone from the danger that we could possibly bring. We knew that we couldn't leave any notes or clues to our whereabouts." He looked at the two women again. "That's the whole reason. We did find out who was behind the attack. But I want to tell the story when everyone is together first. It seems we're all in danger." David leaned back on the couch rubbed his eyes when his cell phone began ringing.

The person on the other end began talking as soon as David turned the phone on. He listened without speaking and turned off the phone. Pizzazz and Roxy stared at him expectantly. "Well, what was that about?" Pizzazz asked finally.

David looked off into the living room with a small far away look. He finally refocused and smiled. "It was just Kyoko telling me she found a hotel room for us."

"Us? You didn't come back alone?"

"Nope, Kyoko and Yukio are with me, Roxy."

"You're not staying here, David?" Pizzazz tried to keep the disappointment out of her voice.

David sighed and picked up his bags. "I wouldn't feel comfortable if I did. Not until after I explain everything to you and The Misfits. Which reminds me don't tell Mom I'm back. Not just yet." He put his backpack on and smiled at the two women. "I'm afraid she'll ground me or something. I'll give you a call at Misfits Music tomorrow, Phyllis."

Pizzazz shook her head. "I'm taking the day off, but call me on my cell. I'll have that on all day."

David nodded and walked out the door alone. Roxy looked at Pizzazz and frowned a bit. Pizzazz closed her eyes and nodded to her friend. "I'm not stopping you. I know how you feel about my idiot brother."

Roxy bolted out of her seat, chased after David and caught up to him by the gate. "Hey! Wait up! I'm not gonna punch you." David stopped and Roxy stood in front of him. She gave him a big smile and wrapped her arms around his neck. David returned to the embrace. "Welcome back, David." She kissed him on the cheek tenderly, and then kissed him deeply and passionately on the lips. "I know you're going to see Kimber, it's pretty obvious. I just wanted to get that over with before you two got back together. Who knows when I'll have my shot with you again. And apology accepted. I missed you." She backed off and smiled softly.

"I missed you also. Hell, I missed everyone." David forced back the tears that were beginning to form. "It's good to be home." He hugged Roxy again and waved to her as he headed down the road alone.

"Wait up!" Roxy yelled from behind him again. She jogged to a stop and matched his pace. "You're heading back to your hotel, right?" He nodded as he walked. "I haven't seen you in four fucking months! We have so much to catch up on. I'm coming with you." She smiled as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. On the way to the hotel she called Pizzazz and told her where she had gone. They arrived at the hotel within the hour and David invited her up to the room. They continued their talk long into the night.

Shutting the bedroom door behind her, Kimber placed her jacket on her bed and sat at her desk. She turned on the desk light and pulled out a small, pink diary. The book creaked as it was opened. She pulled out a pen and began writing. Fifteen minutes later she finished and put the book away.

Kimber yawned and rubbed her eyes. She glanced at an empty corner of her room and smirked. "David, turn that stupid thing off. I know you're in here. I can smell that damn incense on your skin and clothes." She watched as David came into sight. "Now, what do you want? And be glad I haven't called the police for breaking and entering."

"I came to apologize for leaving like I did. I had my rea—"

"Ohhh, you had your reasons, did you? Guess what? I'm really not in the mood to hear them."

David sighed. "I deserved that. I'm trying to tell you that I'm sorry. I left for your protection just so you know." He waited for her to look at him. "I'm serious, Kim. The night I left, I stopped Mary from being murdered. A member of a group called the Crimson Sons attempted this. I caught the shuriken and kept it secret." He lifted his shirt sleeve and showed her the scar he had gotten saving her life. "Please just hear me out now."

Kimber nodded reluctantly. "Fine, I guess I owe you that much." She stood and poked David in the chest. "Let me tell you right now. Don't expect me to believe a damn word you say. I'm still picking up the pieces of my heart." Tears fell down her cheeks. Her eyes blazed with a cold rage David had only seen once before. That was when she caught Sean Harrison cheating on her shortly after they had met.

Sitting on the edge of the bed David took a deep breath. "I left without telling anyone to protect you. I know it's a thin and shitty excuse, but you have to admit that most things happen because of me or the things I try to do here. Even if it wasn't because of me, I saw the whole attack on Mary as my fault for simply being related to her.

"I went back to Yukio and Kyoko's room afterward and told them how I felt. I basically had a huge breakdown that night. It just was too much for me to handle. The constant attacks, kidnappings and conspiracies finally got to me. So I did the cowardly thing. I ran away from my problems instead of discussing them with you. I thought just vanishing like that would make my problems vanish completely and would keep you and all I loved here from further danger." David stopped pacing the room when he realized he was doing so.

"I just didn't think what the impact would be on you or the others." He wiped the tears from his own eyes. "You're the only one who knows the truth. I told Kyoko and Yukio that it was just to protect you." He smiled to himself. "I must've almost called you a hundred times, but I just couldn't go through with it." He paused. "I was scared." David stood before Kimber and sobbed softly.

Kimber walked up to David and gave him a gentle hug. She held him for a long while before she spoke. "Welcome to the human race. We all make mistakes and do things we regret. The difference between good people and bad people is that the good feel remorse and regret. I know you, David. You're one of the great people. And that's why I love you so damn much." She looked up at him and smiled.

David looked deep into Kimber's eyes and began crying again. She brushed his tears aside and made comforting noises. They sat on the bed together. David looked at her again and gave a small smile which she returned. He leaned in slowly and kissed her lightly on the lips. Together they started kissing more passionately until Kimber shoved him away.

"No, stop," she said quietly. "I-it's too soon." She sat about a foot away from David. They sat together in an unforgiving silence. "I've been keeping something from you. I did it to keep you from panicking and making a big deal out of it." Kimber looked up and let out a nervous laugh. "Before you went to Japan to be forced to marry Kyoko, I thought I was pregnant, but it turned out to be nothing. I was just late." She let out another nervous laugh and smiled. "I didn't tell you because it really was nothing."

"I thought you were acting stranger than usual around then."

Kimber mindlessly clicked her thumbnails together. "Are you, uh, seeing anybody?"

David looked up with a smirk and shook his head. "Nope." He cleared his throat. "And you?"

Kimber stayed quiet for a long moment. "After you left I couldn't bring myself to be around people for a long time. I only went out when Hitomi forced me to. By the way, Suzaku is on hiatus. Anyway, I've become somewhat of a hermit."

"Kim?" David asked after another uncomfortable moment. "We're still friends, right?"

Laughing almost loud enough to wake the whole mansion, she quickly covered her mouth and hugged David tightly. "Yes we are. And I know we'll be together again someday. Just not yet. I never stopped loving you, hon. Sure I was ready to kill you, but I won't ever stop being in love with you." She let out a quick breath and stood. "I think we should go for a walk. Fresh air will do us good."

David turned on the cloaking device and followed her out the door and out of the mansion. When they were clear, he turned it off and walked with Kimber to the closest park. They talked for hours and caught up on their lives. Both of them had begun to relax noticeably.

When David walked Kimber to the gates of the Starlight House, Kimber gave him a small kiss on the cheek and a long hug. She then pulled on the chain around her neck and pulled it out to show him. Twin rings hung from the chain. "I never took them off. I'm still waiting for you to reclaim yours." She winked and slipped past the gates.

Crimson Son ninjas scattered as their leader threw one of his tantrums. The leader grabbed the messenger by the throat and held him against the wall. He leaned in and spoke in a threatening tone. "[What do you mean you don't know where that gaijin and his whores went? You followed them to the Arashikage compound, didn't you?]" The ninja slowly shook his head no. The leader glowered. "[What do you mean no?]"

"[We followed them on to the train but they spotted us. We fought valiantly against the gaijin and about twenty other Arashikage warriors, but we were out numbered. I was lucky to have survived.]" The ninja tried to bow his head. "[Please, sire. Spare my life.]"

The leader howled with rage and threw the ninja against the opposite wall. The ninja's head and neck both made a sickening snap when it hit. "[You were told to watch and observe fool! Not to attack!]" He yelled at the dead body.

A slender arm began to massage his neck. The woman who spoke stayed in the shadows, hiding her face. "[You must control your rage, my lord. The only way to defeat the gaijin is through clear thinking, not brute force.]" She leaned forward and kissed the leader behind his ear.

"[You are right, my love. I will search anew for the gaijin. He can't elude me forever.]" He reached back and stroked the burns that covered the woman's left side of her face. "[We both shall have our revenge.]"

The rain poured down on the two young men who tried desperately to get the roof of the convertible back in place. "This is just great, Eiji. We're a day away from getting back to L.A. and we can't figure how to get this damned roof unjammed." Kenshiro shook the rain out of his thick, black hair. "How did you do it the last time? I really wasn't paying attention. It was on that blonde in the bikini."

Eiji lightly shoved Ken to the side and pressed a button on the roof's frame. The frame sprang up and he secured the convertible roof into place. He looked across at Ken and got into the car on the driver's side. "I told you there was a release on the underside of the driver's side top hinge." He watched Ken dry off his seat. "If you'd paid attention to what I was doing or read that section in the owner's manual you'd know."

"I know, I know." Ken tried to find a radio station before he gave up and left the radio off. "Are you sure no one knows that we're on our way back?"

"Yep, this whole trip has been funded by our pal Techrat. He gave me a small chunk of his fortune before we left for Japan." Eiji carefully merged into traffic. "I didn't spend any because I didn't know what I was going to do with it. When we get back I'm giving the remainder back to him. I just don't feel right about having it." He turned on the radio and put in a CD.

"Well, I know one thing for sure. Spazz and the rest will be happy to see us again." Ken leaned back and listened to the music. "Wake me when you're ready for me to drive."

Stormer stood when she heard the soft knock on her door. She set the book that she was reading down and opened the door a tiny crack. She spoke without looking who was in the hall. "I'm not expecting any visitors today. So could you please leave and come back tomorrow? Thank you."

After shutting the door, Stormer was about to sit down when the knock came again. She knew that the doctors and hospital staff would announce their presence first. The other patients of the hospital did the same.

Walking back to the door, Stormer opened it a crack and again didn't peek to see who it was. "Please go away and come back tomorrow. I'm not expecting any visitors today. If you don't do as I have requested, I will call hospital security." She shut the door and stood by it for a few moments before going back to her chair.

She sat down and picked up her book. Stormer stared at the door as if daring it to make a sound again. When fully satisfied that it safe she began reading again. She got through one paragraph before the knocking started again.

"God dammit," she mumbled under her breath while stomping to the door. This time she opened it fully intending to give the person a piece of her mind. "Now just what part of go away don't you under—" Stormer froze when she saw who was standing before her. For the first time in the longest she could remember she smiled. Tears of joy ran down her cheeks as she hugged Pizzazz tightly. "You finally made it," she said between sobs.

Pizzazz hugged her half sister tightly and cried on her shoulder. "I'm so sorry that I haven't come sooner. I was afraid and childish and stupid. I found ways to distract myself from seeing you." She hugged Stormer tighter. "It's a beautiful day outside. Let's go for a walk, okay?"

Reaching behind the door, Stormer grabbed her jacket and slipped it on. "We have to stop by the nurse station to let them know I'll be outside. Even though they know I love to sit out by the lake and watch the ducks, I still have to tell them." When they reached the station, Stormer told the nurse and introduced her to Pizzazz. They walked outside together.

"Mary," Pizzazz said quietly and looked at the younger woman, "I really am sorry. I was afraid to see you in here. I didn't know what to say and all that. Now all I can say is that I missed you." She paused to take a look around the grounds. It was the middle of December. A few leaves were still on the ground. Patients and orderlies walked around in light jackets. Pizzazz looked at Stormer, who was wiping away fresh tears. "Have you heard from Craig lately? I was curious as to how The Blue Bloods were doing in Europe."

"H-he doesn't know I'm here. I asked Kimber to tell him that I'm unavailable when he calls. He probably thinks I-I'm avoiding him." Stormer wrapped her arm around Pizzazz's waist. "I don't want him to worry too much, but he's probably worried sick." She tightened her grip and smiled sadly. She led her half sister to the pond she previously spoke of. They sat on the bench with the sun facing them.

Pizzazz smiled as the sun warmed her face. "I can see why you like it here. It's so quiet and peaceful." She fell silent again and stared at the still water of the pond. She finally asked the question that she found the hardest to ask. "Mary, when are you going to check yourself out? You can't keep hiding in here forever."

"It's funny," Stormer said softly. "A few days ago it felt like the world was coming apart for me, but now, now it's like everything is coming back together. Roxy and Sheila were here and it felt great. Like The Misfits were almost whole and complete. We just needed you there and it would've been complete but not whole." She looked up and gave an amused smirk. "To be a whole, David would have to been there."

"Now I guess we just need Roxy and Sheila here to make things whole again," David said walking up quietly behind them. He gave a small smile when he saw Stormer. "I'm not leaving you again, Mary. I was stupid to do so before."

Stormer jumped over the bench and tackled him to the ground and hugged him tightly. A rush of mixed emotions overwhelmed her; joy, relief, rage, regret. "I'm so sorry I made you leave, David. It's all my fault that you left. All my fault. I felt the danger, but I didn't react. I'm so sorry," she whispered in her half brother's ear.

David pushed Stormer up and sat on the grass hugging her. "It's not your fault, Mary. Stop blaming yourself." He looked up at Pizzazz and gave her a sheepish grin. "I think we should maybe bring this reunion inside. We're drawing attention to ourselves." He looked at the people glancing in their direction. "As usual."

Smiling as she packed Stormer hummed quietly to herself. She looked up at Pizzazz and David. She finished folding a shirt and giggled lightly. "It's funny, for the past month my doctor has been saying that I'm ready to leave. He said that my initial depression was gone and that I just needed go back to my normal routine. I would still attend therapy sessions, but no medication should be needed."

Pizzazz gave Stormer a confused look. "I thought you were going to explain to us why you checked yourself in. But all you've done so far is told David and I wait in here while you talked to your doctor and checked out. What happened?"

"At the concert in Kyoto, I was having one of my headaches. This was a bad one, but not the worst I had ever felt. It was during the backstage celebration that it disappeared." Stormer continued her packing. "When we went back to the hotel I could tell that something was bothering David. He had that look he gets when he's thinking about something dangerous or doing something stupid. Anyway, I heard his room door open. I opened my door a crack and watched him enter the room Kyoko and Yukio were sharing.

"Quietly, I walked up to their door listened. I heard David say that he had saved my life, but felt it was his fault. That he was again putting everyone in danger. David told them that he would be leaving that night without telling anyone. He said that seeing me in danger again made him realize that everyone would be much safer without him." Stormer sat on the edge of the bed and wiped a tear. "Yukio and Kyoko agreed to go with him so he wouldn't be alone. I ran back to my room and cried to myself in the bathroom."

"Why didn't you tell us what had happened?"

Stormer laughed through the tears. "Simple. I didn't want to betray David. He made his choice through tears of his own. I heard him sobbing through the door. It hurt him so much to do what he did. Am I right?" Stormer looked up at her half brother who was now standing next to her.

David put his hand on her shoulder. "Yeah and I wouldn't have done it if I had known it was going to hurt everyone like it has. I just want you to know I didn't leave because of you, Mary. It was me and the danger I seem to bring with. As strange as it sounds I left to protect everyone from physical harm." He walked to the window and watched the grounds of the hospital. "I didn't think of the emotional harm I'd do."

"You did what you thought was right, David," Pizzazz said standing up and pacing out of excitement. "But now we need to get everyone together and have a family meeting of sorts."

Picking up her luggage Stormer waited by her door. "Oh this can only end in tears."

Hanging up his cell phone, Ken looked at Eiji with an amused look on his face. "You'll never guess what that was about."

"Telemarketers finally bugging people on cell phones and not in the homes?"

"Not quite. That was Phyllis and she wants us to meet her at the Gabor Estate for what she called a family meeting, whatever that means." Ken looked out the window at the Los Angeles horizon. "How did she know we were on our way back anyway?"

Eiji shrugged. "Maybe she just figured we'd have the phone on. I mean you did say to call on the cell if there was an emergency. Obviously this is some kind of emergency. We're almost back and we can get more details once we get back to the Gabor Estate. We can still surprise them." He smiled and exited the expressway.

TO BE CONTINUED IN "REBUILDING THE FUTURE"

PART 3 OF SIX MONTHS