"What took so long?" Zhao asked when he saw Saiki and Kiryu finally walk in to see the others. Kiryu kept an arm around her waist to show they were clearly an item now, and he ignored the odd looks from people. They were guided into a back room where the others were by the girl at the main desk before she bowed lightly and went back to her post.

"We took a very long trip down memory lane. And, ah…I can safely say she's my girlfriend now. I know! Less than 24 hours, but…well…we agreed to it. Considering how we are with each other, it made the most sense," Kiryu chuckled. "We'll revise the work contract later. I did make an exception clause before."

"It was needed. And, if anyone sees me running after him, he can let them know that his girlfriend is looking for him. And will likely turn everyone into a bloodbath until he's safe at her side," Saiki smirked.

"What did you want to do after lunch?" Kasuga asked from where he sat at a long table. The others were seated with him, and Kiryu led Saiki to a table close by to be a bit intimate with her.

"I want to go to Dog Catcher's place and clean it out. Before anyone else knows about what happened to him. That's important and next on the list," Saiki said. "The sooner we start building funds to do what we need to do the better."

"I get that," Seonhee nodded. "I can see if the Geomijul can help chip in a bit more. That's the faction I work for. I practically lead it now. Zhao used to lead it, but he…retired. He loves to cook more than anything."

"Damn straight!" Zhao grinned and had some of his staff start handing out platters of food. "It's more relaxing for me in a kitchen."

"So…what made you decide to claim her at your side so fast?" Goro had to ask Kiryu. Before Kiryu had a chance to answer, Saiki rose up her hand to stop him to show she was taking care of it.

"You are the type of man that I would easily murder in your sleep and walk away as though a job was done," she said with a small grin. "Kiryu-san, though…he'd make me think twice and actually reconsider what I was thinking of doing. He has my respect. You don't have shit."

"I love that answer," Daigo said with a wide grin.

"If it wasn't for him, I don't know what frame of mind I would be in. For ten minutes…we just…talked. Normally. Just a simple hello. Nice to meet you. Daily plans. It made me realize…that I could have a regular conversation without feeling bullied or insulted. And I did tell him that I had to go…but I wouldn't slaughter anyone if it came time to find him again. That he impressed me. I kept my promise," she nodded. "I always keep my promises."

"Yeah. You just turned some of us into…bread crumbs?" Joongi frowned.

"Yes. Rather that than headstones, eh?" she grinned.

"She still didn't kill anyone," Kiryu interjected.

"And I do thank you for that," Seonhee nodded to her. The next thirty minutes were spent eating, complimenting the food and enjoying the company of friends. Saiki had never experienced such a thing before, and she found herself liking it quite a bit.

"Different for you?" Kiryu chuckled.

"It is. I think I can get used to this," Saiki smiled and let him squeeze her gently as she sat next to him. "I'm still…wrapping my head around a lot of things…you know?"

"I am," he said and kissed her forehead. She smiled softly at that and sighed. He knew she wasn't used to being in a crowd. He was aware that he had a lot of work to do to help her fit into society safely.

"Okay, so…who's going to pay?" Zhao asked on looking at the bill he brought over. Everyone looked at him to get him dying with laughter.

"How about…you skip the bill. And I'll show everyone my tattoo as the payment?" Saiki asked. Kiryu looked at her with surprise. Everyone seemed to hush now to show it was full blown acceptance.

"Are you sure?" Kiryu asked carefully.

"My choice," she smiled. "I only request…well…if there's no karaoke, then I'll retract the statement."

"Yeah…that can be a bit of an issue…" Zhao agreed. "I mean…we are in a private party room, so…huh. I should put a karaoke section in here. I'll make a note of that for next time."

"I can play a song on my phone!" Chi-chan grinned.

"I can pull up lyrics on mine," Sa-chan offered.

"Does your phone link up to a television?" Saiki asked.

"Ah…that I don't know. And I don't think we have a screen like that here," Sa-chan frowned. Then Zhao pointed to a corner television that was displaying the news. He got the remote to show it did have a mirroring section.

"Your phone?" Saiki smiled. Sa-chan gave it over, and Saiki was able to get it to do the mirroring display. "Pull up a song."

"This is going to be awesome!" Kasuga beamed.

"It was considered a form of bragging rights to see the tattoo of the Headhunter. I'll definitely accept this as payment," Daigo chuckled.

"Was it really? Huh. Okay. I'll foot the bill after this," Zhao agreed.

"Let's do…this one…" Sa-chan started.

"No. Let me choose," Kiryu said. She laughed and let him pick a song. Saiki had already removed the black lace cardigan and began to sing with Kiryu. When she turned to expose her back, awed silence was the only thing given in return. After the song ended, she replaced her cardigan and nodded to the others.

"The bill has been paid. Wow…" Zhao said with shock.

"That's about as awesome as mine! But no signature, either. Same as mine, but I know who did it," Kasuga said while thinking about it. "I don't know who did yours. It could be the same artist as Kiryu-san, but…I have no idea."

"How long did that take?! It had to have taken months!" Taiga exclaimed.

"Three days. With my ass knocked out," Saiki frowned. "I never agreed to it. And they messed up my scalp so my hair will not grow out to cover it. Only the hair on the sides of my head grows out normally. As you can clearly see. It was a bitch to heal, too."

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Goro asked with surprise.

"You were knocked out?!" Daigo gaped. "What the fuck…?!"

"That's rough," Adachi frowned. Nanba was also very surprised at this.

"There's a lot that even I learned that's hard to swallow. And I felt this before. That…even though I only fully met her today…I feel like I've known her forever. I took the chance to ask her to be with me. She agreed. I know we agreed to a few months out, but…considering the circumstances, I took the risk to do it.

"Also…one of the old haunts we went to…" he started and glanced at Saiki. She nodded to show it was fine. "Okay. We found her original home. It's abandoned and falling apart. And the bed was still covered in blood from where her parents were murdered. That bastard cut open their throats while they slept. And she remembered all of it when she caught him in the act of doing it. The house hasn't been lived in since."

"Oh shit…" Tomi said.

"There were other things discovered, too. I'd feel better if that place was burned down. But I would need to go back in there at some point first. To sift through what's left from the place as it was broken into multiple times," Saiki swallowed. "It was…painfully educational. And it's why I also want to go to Dog Catcher's place. To see if there was anything he took from there for himself."

"Yeah. We can do that," Joongi nodded.

"The wall…with my name…will need…to be…changed up…first…before others…go in…" she whispered to Kiryu. He gave a sharp nod at that.

"If I knew that the Headhunter of the Yakuza was treated like this…I mean, what was done was just…insane! But…none of us were told anything. Or how any of it happened. That video gave a lot of insight, yeah, but nothing of anything else. Is there anything else you can tell us?" Daigo asked Saiki.

"In time. There's only one that knows everything now. And that's Kiryu-san. That's how it needs to stay until the time is right," Saiki nodded lightly. "I'm just glad that I don't need to be in a blood-thirsty rage all the time now. It's…a big relief to me. And the only reason why that slaughter happened long ago…I had lost my mind. I had no recollection of anything that happened after it was done. And I know why it happened. As does Kiryu-san. But that must remain a closed door for now."

"Okay. So, where did that guy live?" Tomi asked.

"He actually set up shop around Tokyo. In a rather prestigious place," Nanba frowned. "I'm not sure if we can get in there."

"I'll find a way in," Saiki murmured.

"Not without me," Kiryu said and looked over at the main entrance of the restaurant. He was starting to hear a small argument, and it made his senses perk up that it wasn't a good one. "Something's up."

"I'll be right back," Zhao nodded and made his way to the front desk. Saiki tilted her head with interest and started to smile.

"No," Kiryu grunted and put his hands on her arms gently. "Not until we know he needs us. I don't want you damaging this place."

"Spoil sport…" she pouted. Then she hid her laugh at his light, tickling poke in her side. He chuckled at that, but then his smile disappeared at the sound of a girl screaming.

"Zhao!" Seonhee shouted when she ran out with Joongi. Kasuga was next to follow to show the incident would be resolved quickly.

"Should we investigate?" Saiki asked.

"We'll check in. But not step in," Kiryu said carefully. She nodded at him and let him lead her to the main room.

"Pay up or get this place messed up!" the young hoodlum said with five of his friends there as back up. Saiki grinned when the six troublesome youths saw her in her outfit. It was the exact distraction needed for Kasuga and Joongi to jump in and apprehend them.

"Distraction. On purpose. Yeah. I see why now," Kiryu said with a tight smile. "As much as I don't like the idea of other guys staring at you…okay."

"Told you so," Saiki chuckled.

"That…little bitch…!" the main guy spat out.

"And now you pissed her off," Kiryu grimaced at the sight of the six foot long scythe coming out to play. She lifted it easily to show it was ready to swing.

"Say that again," Saiki growled at the now stammering youth. "Please. Tell it to me again. I insist…"

"Ah…no! I…I'm sorry!" he stammered.

"Be very glad that you're leaving with only bruises and no missing limbs. Like that head of yours that is quite empty of sound reason. Don't you fucking dare come back in this building again. Because I will find you. And I'll finish the fucking job…" Saiki said with a twisted grin.

"And she will," Kiryu nodded. The blade was put away after the young men were escorted out, and she sighed with complete dismay.

"Well, that was interesting," Chi-chan mused.

"It's actually been happening a bit more now," Zhao admitted. "Hmm. Saiki, you said I could…hire you? As a mercenary?"

"You want me to find out what's up?" Saiki grinned.

"I would be delighted to know why this is happening," Zhao nodded.

"Let me look into it first," Seonhee said. "If it's something I can handle, I'll take care of it. Saiki needs to look out for Kiryu-san. His health is always at risk."

"Awww…" Saiki frowned. "Don't take away my toys…"

"Saiki…" Kiryu muttered and shook his head.

"Kiryu-san is right, Sai-chan. And you just found out a lot of what happened with your past. You should take the rest of the day off," Kasuga said with a small frown. "You need to be in the right state of mind before doing anything right now. It won't be good."

"Hmm. True. You do make quite a bit of sense…like Kiryu-san…" Saiki mused with a bit of interest. Kiryu rose a brow at this and bent down low.

"He's in love with Sa-chan. You are going out with me. Stop trying to make me jealous over nothing," Kiryu muttered in her ear.

"Not making you jealous…trying to see…where his heart is…" she responding directly to him. That had Kiryu blink with confusion.

"Ah…I'm…already claimed. I mean…I want to be claimed…" Kasuga started and began to fluster. Now Kiryu pieced it together and found himself chuckling softly.

"You see? Besides…only you…have…my attention…in that way…" Saiki whispered soothingly. Kiryu took in a deep breath and let it out slowly with relief.

"Will you shut up?!" Sa-chan finally said and rolled her eyes at Kasuga.

"So…you know he likes you?" Saiki smiled.

"He just…has…weird tendencies. Like how he tries to tell me things, but…he fails. Miserably. It's a long story. And embarrassing," Sa-chan frowned. Saiki frowned at this and looked at Kasuga.

"A bit…of advice…so…listen…" Saiki said softly and directly to Kasuga.

"What?!" Kasuga gaped.

"Get her…a heart…necklace…of gold…with two halves…so you each…get…one half…" she advised carefully. "This can…discreetly…prove your affection…to her…in a simple…beautiful…way…"

"Ah…oh…!" Kasuga blinked at the idea. "That…actually…yeah…!"

"Did you tell him something?" Sa-chan asked warily.

"Something to help him with you. Also, Kasuga, I have a book I need you to read when I get back to my underground home. It will help you. In fact, I have two books for you. And if you don't read them, I will know," Saiki said sternly.

"What books?" Kiryu muttered to her.

"A relationship guide…and a romance novel…" she mused in his ears.

"Ah…" Kiryu started and hid his face to hide the laughter.

"I have a copy…of the Kama Sutra…for us…" she giggled playfully.

"I don't think I have ever read that book…" he said with complete curiosity. He scooped her up into his arms to nod to the others to start heading out.

"How are you feeling, though?" Saiki asked seriously.

"I do get…spots of dizziness now and then. Not intense, but enough to make me lose focus. I was told I only had six months to live. But I seem to outlast everything. And with all the stress I went through just a few weeks ago…I think it's even less now," Kiryu admitted. She frowned hard at this.

"I just met you again. I won't let you go so easily. I think…I may have something for you. Let's get this day done with Dog Catcher's home. Then we'll go home so you can rest and I can research," she said with a nod. "Do you know where the cancer is centralized?"

"The cancer in my system…it's all through my body…so…" he started and she pressed a finger to his lips.

"Take a risk with me," she said softly. He found himself nodding.

"I will," he said and gazed at her.

"He's old enough to be your dad! You gonna be his trophy wife?" Tomi had to snicker out. Then he stammered at the cold stare he was rewarded with.

"I don't give a flying fuck about his age. He is the only one I trust that treats me like another human being. Don't you fucking dare take that away from me!" she said with a hissing tone.

"He was just teasing," Kiryu said gently. "He meant nothing by it. It's fine. Okay? Just calm down."

"She's not used to our jokes yet," Seonhee said to help calm the mood. "Just keep your mouth shut, Tomi."

"Yeah, Tomi! Do something smart for once!" Chi-chan grinned.

"Oh, shut up!" Tomi scowled to get them laughing.

"You see? Don't worry," Kiryu chuckled. Saiki shivered hard and that made him pause. He knew she was struggling. "I know. I know. You're not used to this. So, tell me something. Where did you go after you were freed?"

"Where did I…?" she paused and got lost in thought. "I actually did have some funds from where I looted places. Unknown to Dog Catcher. I had them in a safety deposit box that was safe for yakuza use. This way I didn't really need to provide identification. My tattoo was enough proof of what I was. I used those funds to move around to various hotels for a few years and live off of. I had quite a bit, actually. It was when I started to run out of those funds and got close to my mental deadline that I realized I needed to do something. And…that Tatara Channel started to reveal…quite a bit of information…"

"Oh! Yeah, that was from me. I was forced into a lot of stuff that wasn't supposed to have happened," Chi-chan frowned.

"That's why you looked familiar. I saw the last episode when you exposed yourself. But that's also when I knew that Kiryu-san still lived from what was reported. So…I waited until I knew he was up and about again. I also knew that I was on intensely borrowed time. I had to get back into that underground dwelling before my mind shut down. Kiryu-san appeared at the perfect time," Saiki smiled.

"Yeah. And you did for me. Despite how the reunion started…" Kiryu said with a small grin. She shrugged at him and got carried to the waiting minivan.

"Okay, we have the address?" Tomi asked. Nanba provided it, and Adachi was quick to hop in with the others. "I think I'm gonna need a bigger van."

"If the funds do start to come in…I could possibly hire you as a personal driver. But we'd need to see if that's the case," Saiki chuckled.

"That would be awesome," Tomi nodded at the idea.

"I bet that's her way of apologizing to you," Seonhee grinned lightly.

"Possibly…" Saiki shrugged and got settled in Kiryu's lap in the minivan.

"We'll follow in the white car. Hmm. Actually, Nanba has the address. We'll have you follow us. I'll go with Nanba to save on space," Adachi said. Goro, Daigo and Taiga got into the white car with Nanba and Adachi. Seonhee, Zhao, Joongi, Chi-chan, Sa-chan and Kasuga got into Tomi's minivan. Kiryu kept Saiki in his lap in the back seat. It helped save on space, and he felt better about it.

"You're getting fairly clingy…" Saiki muttered. "But…I like it…"

"Good. Expect it a lot," Kiryu chuckled and kissed her forehead.

"I need to watch the two of you a bit more…" Kasuga mumbled.

"I really wouldn't," Saiki said on looking at him. "I've never been in a relationship before. I never bothered since I always slaughtered the ones that tried. I've read about them. How things 'should' be. But actually being in one? I never had time. Or even cared to think about it…"

"I have my work cut out for me. But I'm not complaining," Kiryu nodded. Saiki went quiet again and gave an internal shudder. He pressed his mouth to her ear to whisper, "What's going on in that mind of yours?"

"I worry…how much…of my past…was stolen…and hoarded…" she swallowed. "That man…used me…stole everything…from me…"

"He's dead now. He can't steal from you anymore. Or use you for his selfish needs," he muttered. "You are in control now. And I won't let anyone take that from you again. I can promise you that."

"Are you okay?" Sa-chan asked with concern.

"She finally got control of her life again. But she still has…a lot of emotional and physical damage. This is not going to be something that's fixed overnight. And I know that if anything happens to me…she'll go on a killing spree without even thinking about it. No bartering. No excuses. She's been trained to simply kill the threat and leave it to rot away," Kiryu said with a hard sigh.

"I'm going to want to put a tracker on your phone, Kiryu-san. I know you'll need to do things away from me. I need to know where you will be at all times. For my peace of mind. Because if you go off track without telling me…" Saiki started. He made a sound with a nod to show he clearly understood that.

"If you see me go off course, and I don't text you within five minutes of what's up…find me," Kiryu nodded again.

"Done," she muttered and looked out the windows to watch the highway come into view. After another ten minutes, the cars were parking in front of a gated community. Saiki was not amused, but Nanba had the deceased man's entry card. And the guard was on lunch break with no one monitoring the main gate. Nanba drove in and ensured Tomi could follow with the card again. Then they finished the drive to the luxury apartment.

"He was living it up. All while you were stripped from everything," Goro snorted when the group joined up again.

"I'm not setting you down. You might get it in your head to start killing anyone you see," Kiryu said and tightened his grip on Saiki while he kept carrying her around. "I have an idea of your thought process now. Let's just go in and see what we can find."

"I want us to go in first. Alone," Saiki said with a look of stern control.

"Okay. But you cannot destroy anything if it is of possible value to sell," Kiryu agreed. That got her to look at him and grumble lightly. "And don't think you'll be in there alone. I'll be in there with you to ensure it."

"You really do know her thought process now," Adachi mused.

"To a point," Kiryu agreed. "Just wait here. If there is something we need help with, I'll text Seonhee."

"I can wait outside the door," she said.

"Fine. Let's check this out," Kiryu said and carried Saiki up to the third floor. Nanba was waiting there and opened the electronic lock. Seonhee waited right outside the door with the others. Kiryu paused on looking around to survey the entry room. He was livid.

"He's been living a life of no regrets. Lavishly," Saiki grimaced. "While I stayed in one spot…for months on end…with barely anything…"

"Yeah," Kiryu muttered.

"Yama-chan! Are you home? Was your meeting good?" a woman sang out while walking into the main room. Then she paused at the look of absolute hatred that Saiki gave her. Then her face went completely white with recognition.

"He's dead. I'm reclaiming all of the property that he stole from me for over thirty years!" Saiki growled. The black-haired Japanese woman gasped and started to panic with absolute fright.

"Did you know that he was doing this?" Kiryu asked. "And please be honest. I can only hold her for so long."

"I…was only told by him that he had meetings to go to. I heard nothing else…" she swallowed. Saiki studied her face and curled her lip back.

"You're lying. And now I do recognize you. He brought you to meet me. To gloat that I was the one working for him. You know exactly who I am, and you did nothing! Even when I looked at you with a silent plea for help, all you did was smile and follow his fucking lead! And that jewelry you're wearing…hmm…" Saiki frowned and took out the photo of her parents. "That is my mother's jewelry you're wearing. As well as her wedding ring from what it shows in the photo…"

"Really?" Kiryu asked and looked at the photo. Then he glanced at the woman. "She's right. That's stolen property that must be returned."

"I've had this for years! If you think I'm just going to give over-!" she started and found herself silenced by a sickle at her throat. Saiki's other hand was now holding her scythe to show she was ready to use it. Kiryu already released her the moment the woman started to argue.

"You're a common, low-grade whore. I will fucking rip your head off from your shoulders and reclaim what is rightfully mine!" Saiki spat out.

"If you want to live, you will give her back the jewelry. As well as anything else that was stolen from her birthplace. This place is now going to be sold off to recover the funds that were spent within a month," Kiryu muttered.

"Wait…what is this?" the woman blinked.

"I had over a million yen in a bank account. All that's left is two hundred. He pissed it all away," Saiki seethed.

"That bastard! He was planning to flee! To find you and leave me behind! I knew that was his plan if he ever caught wind of where you were, but even I knew he was getting bored with me. But to know that he was planning to set me up with debt?! Oh! Take this cheap garbage! All of it! I'm glad he's dead now. After everything I did for him! I covered up for him! I lied for him! And to know about this? I'm going home to my family," the woman said while taking off all the jewelry. When she was about to leave, Kiryu stopped her.

"The ring. You didn't take that off," he said in warning.

"Ah…well…" she started. Then she paused at the scythe that came around her front. She started to shake.

"I will pull it back…if you don't leave the ring…" Saiki said in a hissing tone. "The ring…or your life…"

"Fine!" the woman snapped, pulled the ring off her finger and threw it. Kiryu caught it, though, much to the woman's dismay.

"Where is my father's ring?" Saiki growled out.

"He had it…" she muttered.

"Likely confiscated before we killed him. Let her go," Kiryu nodded. Then he looked at the faulty woman. "I would advise you never try to cross paths with us again. Or tell anyone that we ever met."

"Yeah…" she agreed. "I need to collect a few things that were mine."

"I'll have Seonhee monitor you," Kiryu nodded and made the call to bring her in. Saiki rose the scythe up and let the woman leave to collect what things she had. Seonhee and Joongi ensured nothing else was removed that didn't belong to her. While this was going on, he went over to Kasuga. "Dog Catcher's jewelry. Where is it? We think he was wearing a wedding ring that belonged to Saiki's father. We need to give that back to her."

"Oh! Yeah, we have it," Kasuga said and went straight to Daigo. The ring was quickly brought over, and the family photo was inspected.

"The way her parents are holding her…look. Both left hands are present. Both rings are there. These are the wedding rings of her parents," Kiryu grimaced. He looked at the men's gold band with a single diamond center with a hard sigh. The woman's gold band was slender with three smaller diamonds in the band. They are clearly a matching set and likely looted right after her parents were murdered. At least Aika has them back now.

"I can't see them right now…" Saiki winced. He nodded and showed he was placing them in his pocket. "Thank you."

"That woman was also wearing your mother's necklace? And the gold stud earrings?! Why would she do such a thing if she knew they were stolen?!" Kasuga asked. "I just…geez…"

"She was addicted to the luxury I provided. And didn't care," Saiki said with a sad sigh. "Just the fact that she was to be abandoned…it shows me what sort of person Dog Catcher was…"

"A user of others and women. And I'm sure it started with you," Kiryu said. He walked over to her and pulled her into his arms to comfort her. "Bit by bit we will recover your past. I'm sure this is a major part. Do you recognize anything else? Possibly?"

"I don't know…" she frowned. He nodded and led her around the three bedroom suite. It had two bathrooms and all the main rooms one would need for a life of simple luxury. She didn't notice anything else, but then she spotted a small jewelry box on an armoire in the master bedroom. It had beautiful ivory inlay of a small, white rose in the middle of the aged cherry wood. It had three layers of shelves, and the top lifted to show it played music.

She walked over to it and ran her fingers over it to ensure nothing was damaged. She wound up the golden key in the back carefully. Then she opened it to hear the tune. There was no figure that popped up to dance, as some did have little ballerina figures, but the music was pristine to show the mechanism was undamaged. It was all that Kiryu could do to keep her from collapsing again from the shock of the melody that played.

"The tune you sang! It's from this! And…a baby ring in one of the drawers. Okay, this will come with us. It was definitely yours," he muttered. He made sure she was able to stand again, and he didn't mind her clinging to him to keep her composure. He was still in shock of everything being discovered in a single day.

"There's a cassette here…with the song…I think," she blinked and took out the old cassette tape from a bottom drawer. "I should be able to get the song from something I have at home. Yes…this needs to come with me. The rest of the stuff here…I don't recognize anything."

"Good. It can be liquidated. I think it's time we went home," he said. She nodded and closed the music box lid to stop the tune. He scooped her up into his arms and she had the music box in her arms. He carried her over to where the others were taking down pictures of art and checking over statues that decorated the place. "I need to take her back home. To the place under Tojo HQ. She needs to rest now."

"Can we meet up there later?" Seonhee asked.

"Maybe…that bar…" Saiki said softly. "I'm not used to…visitors yet…"

"A couple hours, you think?" Kiryu asked.

"That's fine," Goro nodded. "That bitch left and was grumbling about getting even. When I flashed my knife, she went quiet and ran off. I don't think we've seen the last of her."

"If she shows up again…she's dead…" Saiki growled.

"I have my boys trailing her. They'll be keeping an eye on her for a month. If she skips town, then that's fine. But if she comes back…we'll know first," Seonhee nodded. "We'll see you at the Survive Bar later."

"I'll catch a cab," Kiryu nodded back and carried Saiki out of the apartment room. He was able to leave the entire complex with her from a side exit gate, and he set her down to put his jacket back on her. "For now."

"Sure…" she seemed to shrug. He located a cab car and gave a street to go to right before the park with the hidden entrance. He paid the driver and escorted Saiki around the park as though they were just enjoying their time together. When they got to the hidden entrance, he realized it was a false tree. He didn't notice it before. She put in the electronic key to activate the elevator door. It was only after they were secured in the underground karaoke chamber that she fully broke down.

"I'm here!" he said and moved swiftly to carry her to a couch. He took the jewelry box from her to set on the coffee table nearby to keep it from falling from her grasp. Now he let her vent in full now, and all he could do was run his hand through a long lock of her hair. "That's it. Let it out. No one else is here."

"It's…not…fair!" she gasped and clung to him. "I've done…everything…! And for what?! I'm so…fucking…done…with this…!"

"You learned practically everything about your past in one day. All by meeting with me," he said softly. "These things…usually span out over time. This was like…getting hit with a cement truck. Multiple times."

"Tell me about it…" she muttered thickly in his shirt. "I haven't slept a full night's sleep…in…ever…"

"You should be able to now," he said with a small nod. He continued to stroke the lock of hair to show he was still listening.

"Mainly from my training. Always on edge. Waiting to see who would try to find me. If Dog Catcher would finally find me. Somehow. As much as I always did the hunting…"

"I am aware."

"I'm still…afraid…of one thing…"

"Oh?"

"I was…knocked out for three days. From the tattoo. I was told I needed an extra day to recover. I was given a drug…it knocked me out again. I don't know…if…I was taken advantage of then…"

"How would you know?" he asked and studied her with intense concern.

"I woke with pain…between…" she winced. Now he looked away with a harsh growl. "I was…too scared…to get checked…but…"

"You made sure it never happened again. You think he…?"

"I would see no other doing such a fucked up thing to me! I'm just glad...nothing further came of it..."

"Right. Okay. Just rest now."

"I mean…the only way…I would want to check…is if…we…"

"Oh? Hmm. Not yet."

"I know. We need time."

"Yes. Maybe a month?"

"If we survive that long," she found herself chuckling. "Speaking of which, I think I need to call in a favor…"

"For what?" he asked.

"For you. To see if there is something that can slow the cancer."

"I see. You don't need to."

"I want to."

"How soon?"

"End of the week."

"Very well."

"I think…we could use a nap…"

"A nap sounds good," he smiled softly. He watched her move slightly to take off his coat and set it aside. Then she moved to her music box to take out the old cassette tape. "That first?"

"Yes," she nodded. He watched her move off into her security room for a bit and come back with a very old cassette player. "Wow. That takes me back!"

"Does it?" she giggled softly. She ensured the tape was wound up, and she started to play it. Then she found herself going still at the sound of her parents talking on the recording.

"You got it, Kai?" a man said with young, strong tone.

"Yes, Hori. It's recording! Why did you want to do this again?" a woman with soft, dulcet tone asked.

"It will be so much fun to hear this back with her when she's older! So, Aika, just know that we are leaving you this message to show that we love you and can't wait to watch you walk and talk!" Hori's voice said with enthusiasm.

"You were our miracle baby, Aika. We were told we couldn't have children. But here you are! And so beautiful! You are the most amazing thing that came to us, and we love you so much," Kai's voice said with genuine loving care. "Now, why pick this song for the music box?"

"Hey, we made a wish! It came true. Even though it sounds sad, it was a wish that came true," Hori's voice chuckled. The voices laughed and went silent before the song came on. Kiryu saw that Saiki was in complete tears now, and he found himself consoling her again.

"Amazing…" he whispered.

"Yeah…" she whispered back hoarsely. "I'll learn this song…"

"We both will," he nodded. When the tape ended, she stopped it and burst into tears again. All he did was rock her until deciding to move and stretch out on the couch. She found herself stretched out against him and nestled securely into his chest. He ran a hand over her back to show he was there. They both ended up falling asleep ten minutes in after that.

*Author's Note - Music box and song can be found on Youtube: [Kagamine Rin] Regret Message (English Subs)*