Chapter 111: Justice Served!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kuon would eventually cross paths with Tina.

Her body trembled softly with nervous energy. The permanent squeeze around her heart was still there. It felt that way for the past week. She was either on the brink of a nervous breakdown or having a heart attack.

Why did I come here?

She swiped her sweaty palms on the legs of her navy pantsuit. Classy, she thought, looking down at the streaks on the material. She couldn't understand a lick of what they were saying. She glanced at the people sitting to the left of the room. She should have sat where there were fewer people. Her seat selection was a conscious decision. She wanted to be close to the door in case she needed to escape. There was one familiar face on that side. He conjured up horrible memories for her. A time in her life that she tried desperately to forget but failed. The thing about being over there, at least, he spoke her language.

Her eyes scanned the front of the room. She could barely see through the people in front of her, making it even worse. She would have a decent view of the judges since their seats appeared to be on a raised platform. She moved in her seat to try to see those sitting up front and only stopped fidgeting when the man next to her let out an annoyed huff. She apologized, bowing her head slightly. She at least knew how to say that much.

She gave up and fiddled with the coin in her hands, a stark reminder of her darker times. Someone moved to her right to squeeze onto the already full bench. She scooted over anyway but didn't look up.

She thought about the email that brought her to this point. It didn't surprise her. The detectives showed up at her gallery without warning, way before that email came. They had new evidence and a suspect.

"Ms. Flores, this was brought to our attention a few days ago by a law firm in Los Angeles. I'm certain this evidence was obtained illegally, but that's beside the point," the detective had said.

She forgot how to breathe. Years of therapy could not have prepared her for this new revelation. They now had a suspect. Rick's case had remained unsolved all these years. She buried him, blaming his best friend.

"I know it's difficult, but please take a look. This person, Yuri Kusanagi, is a Japanese citizen. At the time of Mr. Johansson's death, she was living in the area, attending college," the detective added.

She sat with a blank stare, gazing at the table, unblinking, lost in her memories of that night. She was chasing after them when Rick got hit. The car came out of nowhere. It happened so fast that she couldn't even tell the police what color, make, or model the car was. She was in shock. All she saw was Rick lying on the ground with his lifeblood seeping out. She had no one else to blame but the boy in front of her. She could objectively think of him as a boy. Now that she was in her mid-twenties, all fifteen-year-olds looked like babies to her. It was easy to forget how young he was when he was around them. He dressed and acted maturely for his age.

She lifted a trembling hand to sift through the pages and pictures. It walked her through a chronological story of that night and convinced her that this woman was responsible for her fiancé's death.

She inhaled shakily, then released her breath slowly and looked up at the detectives. Their eyes were filled with sympathy but firm.

"Is she in prison now?" She asked rather calmly.

"She's under house arrest but not for this crime. She was captured in Japan as an accomplice, attempting to assault a celebrity."

"How does this help Rick's case, umm detective…"

"Stevens, but please call me Mike. And this is my partner, Danny Nguyen. We've verified this report before coming here. It adds up."

"Can she be charged with the crime of killing Rick, Mike?"

"It's complicated Ms. Flores—" Mike began.

"Please call me Tina," she interrupted. It felt too detached being addressed by her last name.

"It's complicated, Tina. As good as this looks on paper, it's all speculation. Her defense could argue that her car was indeed stolen as the police report entails and the thief responsible for the crime," Mike said without sugarcoating the facts.

"What? So she just walks! My fiancé is dead, and she just gets away with it. If there's no hope of getting justice for Rick, why did you even bother coming here," Tina argued, shoving away from the table. Her earlier calm was replaced with frustration and anger.

"Well, we thought you would want to know. The lawyers here are working with their Japanese contacts to figure something out," Danny offered.

Tina stopped pacing. That aspect didn't make sense to her. "Why are these lawyers trying so hard? Who hired them?"

"Apparently, this woman messed with the wrong celebrity. It's her father that's seeking justice for her past victims. Your Rick is at the top of his list."

"Could I get the info for the lawyers in charge? I want to stay informed."

"Sure thing! I'll have them contact you," Mike offered.

Tina sent her assistant home for the day and closed the gallery after the police left. She lay on the foyer floor and stared at the large portrait of her late fiancé and his best friend. The sobs came fast and strong. The tears she suppressed in front of the detectives poured down her face in a torrent. She had lost both of them that night.

At the urging of her remaining family and friends, she sought therapy after the funeral. She immediately became addicted to the pills the psychiatrist prescribed. The doctor saw the warning signs and cut her off. She sought relief elsewhere. For six months after Rick's death, she lived in a dark, mindless fog. She lost her friends and her livelihood. All she was concerned with was getting her next fix. Until one day, she woke up in a hospital having overdosed. She knew she hit rock bottom.

She pled guilty to illegal possession of narcotics to avoid jail time. She had to complete 12 months of rehab to have her record expunged. During those months, she faced that night and came to terms with her mistake. She completed the program and took up photography full-time as part of her therapy. The first thing she did outside was to visit Rick's grave and beg his forgiveness for her weakness. The next thing she did was try to hunt down Kuon at their old stomping grounds. No one had seen him since that night. It was like he disappeared from the face of the earth.

She tried his house, but his parents looked devastated. Tina didn't have the heart to prod any further and gave them her card if he wanted to meet with her. That was about five years ago.

She had two relapses since she came out of rehab and had been sober for three years and two months. Her luck changed when she won the grand prize in a photo contest. It was not only a cash prize, but also earned her a spot in a prestigious exhibition where she could showcase her work. Her career as a photographer blossomed from there. With the help of an anonymous investor, she was able to fund her projects and eventually open her gallery. She even started dating again but had yet to find someone that moved her the way Rick had, except maybe him. This new revelation changed things.

The email she received from one Tadashi Morimoto, the father of the woman's latest victim, explained the current events that led to Rick's discovery. He reiterated what the detective had told her. He wanted justice before the woman could hurt more people. He enclosed a first-class e-ticket with the specifics of the court hearing. She only needed to reach out to him if she was interested in attending, and he would arrange the rest. Tina never called. With the help of her agent, she rebooked the ticket for a later flight at the last minute. She changed in the plane's first-class lavatory before landing and made it to the hearing before they sealed the doors.

She stood with the rest of the crowd when the judges entered and tried her best to follow along. She may not have understood, but she could tell by the body language of the two lawyers which side had the upper hand.

Tina was getting drowsy. She yearned for a strong cup of coffee; however, no one moved not even to use the restroom. Her last caffeinated drink wore off a while ago. The balcony video played for the judges was enough to perk her up. She almost laughed at the women's stupidity. It was like watching a bad telenovela. Who wrote this script?

A young Japanese man was called to the stand next. She could see his face since he was significantly taller than the others. He was very handsome. Her thoughts wandered to how he would look in front of her camera's lens. What caught her attention was his use of a name she heard before. How was Cedric Bennett involved? Whatever he just said aggravated the people on her side. Some shifted uncomfortably while others whispered, and the person beside her made unintelligible sounds throughout his testimony.

The next video shown was unbelievable. Tina tuned in completely since they spoke English. She didn't have enough backstory, but the young woman was acting out of some demented form of love for the American actor. The tabloids in the States buzzed only a few months ago about his scandal with a supermodel, and now this. It should have made prime-time news in the States, but she hadn't heard a peep. His family had to be paying big money to keep it quiet. She concluded that Cedric Bennett, America's playboy, was a psycho magnet.

There was a collective gasp throughout the courtroom as the lantern sailed through the air. The footage was cut short at the behest of the head judge. Tina bit her tongue so she wouldn't voice her disappointment.

Her body turned cold when the woman in question was finally called to take the stand. It was her first glimpse of her fiancé's supposed killer. Nervous, tired, and skinny were words Tina would use to describe the woman as she walked to the front. She looked fragile, but that didn't make her less guilty. She balled her hands into fists as she tried to follow along.

She watched Yuri smile as the attorney asked her questions. Tina's lip curled in disgust. She wanted nothing more than to march up there and slap that smile off her face. She didn't have to wait long for relief. It seemed the female prosecutor did a thorough job of putting her through the wringer. She was unmoved to see the woman cry. Tina could tell things were escalating. The judge became more vocal, and the woman's attorney kept interjecting. A hush settled over the court. Tina strained her ears to hear the woman's reply to the prosecutor's last question. She figured this answer was crucial even if she couldn't understand it.

Tina smiled as the woman squirmed in her seat. Finally, she was feeling the heat. Even if Rick didn't get justice today, the detectives were right, it was a relief to know she would be behind bars for a long time. Assault and battery were not light sentences, and this woman was guilty as charged in her eyes.

Tina let the elation wash over her. She wanted to whoop with glee. She spent enough time crying over her loss. It was time she let it all go. She pursed her lips to keep a laugh of relief from escaping and laughed internally instead. At least, she thought it was internal.

Air escaped clenched lips as if to suppress laughter. The people around her turned in her direction. She was bewildered by their glares. Did I just make that sound out loud? Perhaps fatigue was settling in and making her delirious. Then she heard it herself, a quiet sniggering. It wasn't me! She lifted her head to look at the others staring past her. She slowly turned her head to follow their gaze and gasped. The woman sitting beside her shook as she tried to contain her laughter.

She couldn't see the woman's face clearly since it was shrouded in a black veil. How could Tina have missed her seatmate? The woman was covered from head to toe in a black suit. She even wore gloves. Is she in mourning? Did she lose a loved one to this woman, too?

Tina sympathized. "Miss, are you okay?" She whispered. The woman ignored her. She cringed as the mysterious woman's laughter continued and became downright hysterical. She had no idea what was so funny even though minutes ago Tina wanted to laugh herself.

She flinched when the judge slammed his gavel down repeatedly. Tina saw the police officer walking towards them. She placed her hand on the woman's shoulder to try to calm her down before things escalated to a point of no return.

The woman pulled away from Tina's touch and stood. She shouted something in Japanese and pointed to Rick's killer. It had to be something profound because the room exploded in an uproar. An older woman up front screamed dramatically and then fainted.

The woman on trial was screaming something in response, but all the woman did was laugh. It was utter chaos as the head judge tried to restore order to the room.

The woman was now in the custody of the police, but she continued to scream as if in horrible pain. Unable to turn a blind eye to someone hurting, Tina stood and intervened.

"Let her go! Can't you see you're hurting her?" Tina shouted. Wasn't the Japanese supposed to be gentle? She didn't think police brutality existed here. The young officer looked at her nervously but didn't release his hold.

…

"Stop, stop! Don't touch her she's injured," Kento demanded, rushing forward. What in the actual fuck was Kimiko doing here? He bent down to inspect his niece. The foreign woman backed off when he approached and stood to the side.

"Kimi-chan, are you okay?" He asked softly. Kento lifted the veil, revealing his niece's scarred face. Her eyes were glazed over, and tears streaked her face while her body shook with the aftershocks of laughter. She had on a silk scarf used to conceal her bandaged neck, but it could not cover the injuries still healing on her face. Why isn't she bandaged up? He sent an annoyed look toward the young officer. "Call an ambulance…now!" he shouted when the officer hesitated. Kento put her veil back down and pulled out his phone.

"Jiro, where the hell are you?" he hissed into the phone.

"I'm at the office. How are things going?"

"Kimi is here right now!"

"That's impossible!"

"I'm looking at her right now. I don't know how to salvage this."

"She had permission to leave this morning for therapy! Why didn't the police notify me?"

"I don't know why!" Kento leaned down and picked up Kimiko's right pant leg. "The monitor is still here."

"I'm coming. I'll be there in twenty minutes," Jiro assured him. Kento heard rustling, doors slamming, and elevator dings in the background.

"I called for an ambulance. She'll be going to the hospital. Meet her there."

"Shit! Okay!"

Kento hung up the phone and turned to face the crowd behind him. He motioned for his sister to watch Kimiko and made his way to the judges, ignoring the whimpers from Yuri.

"I apologize, sir!" Kento bowed deeply. "I'm not sure how my niece was able to enter the courtroom. I called her father. She needs medical assistance."

"Is she going to be alright?" the judge asked with concern.

"She's still healing, sir. It's tough to say," he explained. He glanced up as Saena walked to him. She looked extremely annoyed.

"Hayashi-san, your honor. How do we proceed from here? His client was just accused of murder," Saena demanded, feigning ignorance of the matter.

"I don't recall any such thing, Mogami-san. I had my hands full with my sick niece," Kento replied evasively.

"Shall I ask the court recorder to read back the transcript of the last few words uttered by your clients?" Saena challenged, folding her arms.

The courtroom doors burst open, halting any further talk. Medics and police arrived to remove Kimiko from the room. Reporters didn't hesitate to shout questions and take photos through the open doorway. Security had their hands full, keeping them from entering. Kento's sister and their cousin accompanied Kimiko to the hospital.

…

The judge called order back to the room once Kimiko was removed. Kyoko watched her boyfriend's eyes linger on the American woman as one of the foreign cop-looking men waved her over to sit near him. Ren turned around quickly when she got close and locked eyes with Kyoko.

Ren smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. He was pale, looking like he just saw a ghost. In a sense, he did, Kyoko thought. Kyoko smiled reassuringly and nodded. Tina's presence was unexpected, but this could be a good opportunity. She knew Ren was probably hurting and panicking at this very moment, despite his calm façade. They needed to figure out a game plan.

Both lawyers took their seats after conferring with the judges. A decision was made on how to proceed. The head judge glanced at the clock on the wall. It was still a couple of hours shy of noon, even with the interruption.

"Let's take a short recess. We'll reconvene in fifteen minutes." Everyone stood when the judges left the room. Kyoko saw her chance to corner Ren and excused herself.

"Ren, come with me." Kyoko gripped his hand and made a beeline for the door, pulling him down the hall without protest. There was no resistance from him, but was reassured when his hand closed over hers. She found the door she sought and pulled him into the stairwell. The heavy doors were usually loud, which was welcomed. They could hear anyone who entered. Once the door shut behind them, Kyoko gathered him into a hug, knowing it was what he needed most. He slumped against her and laid his head on her shoulder.

Kyoko stroked his back soothingly. "I know today is hard for you. Seeing Kusanagi-san up there, knowing she's responsible for Rick and unable to do a thing about it. You don't have to be brave in front of me. If you need to cry, I'm here, Corn." Her voice quivered with emotion.

Ren lifted his head and kissed the tip of her nose. "You're so sweet, baby, but I'm okay. She tried to hurt someone else that I love. She deserves whatever the judge has in store for her."

"What about Tina? You want to meet with her, right?" Kyoko asked cautiously.

Ren looked away, and Kyoko understood his fears. He had voiced his apprehension to her the other night. He indeed had every intention of talking to his old friend. It just felt too soon for him. He thought he had a few more weeks to prepare himself to face her again. It was risky talking to her here. What if she still hated him and exposed him here in Japan? All his hard work would have been for nothing.

"I. I don't know. I don't know... if she still blames me...I don't know," he replied, running his hands through his hair nervously and pacing back and forth. He stopped and looked at Kyoko. "What would you do?"

Kyoko smiled determinedly. "I know you're scared, but you have to rip the band-aid off sometime. I have a plan. Do you trust me?"

"With my life," he answered without hesitation.

"Then leave everything to me. We'll see how things play out."

Ren's phone buzzed. Yashiro was calling them back. Before they left the safety of the stairs, he pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her breathlessly. They walked back to the courtroom hand in hand feeling calmer.

Kyoko stood when the judges filed back in and took their seats. It would be her turn to go up soon. The judge gave a brief recap of the case and allowed Saena to proceed.

"The prosecution would like to call Kusangani Yuri back to the stand," Saena said tersely, addressing the court.

...

Tina adjusted the earpiece in her ear. If she had sat on this side of the room earlier, she would have been given a translating device courtesy of the Prosecution team. Now that she had one, she could understand what was being said through the disembodied voice.

There was something pleasurable in watching Yuri trudge back to the hot seat. In Tina's eyes, she was a dead woman walking. Tina wished that the other creepy woman hadn't interrupted her testimony earlier. Mike Stevens, the detective from LA, was sure she was ready to confess something big. It could have been about Rick or some other victim. The upside was that he and his chief, who accompanied him to Japan, would question Yuri and Kimiko after the trial.

"Kusanagi-san, your cousin Morizumi Kimiko just accused you of murder. Is there any truth behind her declaration?"

"No! It wasn't mur-!" Yuri caught herself from saying more. "No!" She reiterated firmly and glanced at Kento. Her uncle nodded in satisfaction.

Saena kept her face neutral at her response.

"I would like to readdress the previous question before the interruption...you claimed that your cousin was threatening your life. That she left you no choice but to comply with her wishes. Is that true?"

Yuri nodded slowly.

"Please verbalize your answer to the court."

"Yes, Kimi could be quite scary."

"Again, you said you two were close, like sisters. Why would she want to hurt you?"

"I don't know, Kimi is not in her right mind these days," Yuri stammered.

"Is your cousin blackmailing you?"

Yuri's head shot up.

"Objection, your honor. This question has no bearing on the case," Kento interjected.

"Prosecutor?"

"Your honor, I'm trying to establish to the court that Kusanagi-san had every intention of hurting my client to protect herself from her cousin."

"Please answer the prosecutor's question, Kusanagi-san," the judge commanded.

Yuri hesitated. She looked at her parents. Her mother had recovered after her fainting spell. She hid the truth from them for so long. It was wrong that they would find out this way. She stared at her father and confessed, "Yes."

"Can you tell the court why you were so inclined to act maliciously towards my client? What kind of leverage does your cousin have on you?"

Silence followed for several moments until Yuri once again broke down in sobs. It took several minutes for her to pull herself together, but the court waited patiently. Tears weren't going to get her out of this one.

"I was scared. I didn't mean for it to happen. He came out of nowhere. I didn't mean to..."

"What happened?" Saena prodded.

"I was driving home after drinking with my friends. He just darted out in front of my car. I couldn't stop in time. I didn't mean to kill anyone."

"Did you check on this man or call for help?"

"I panicked and drove away. I reported my car stolen. Kimi was visiting me. She was just a kid but smart and mature with the face of a cherub. I begged her to lie to the police for my sake. She didn't hesitate to help. She told me, 'Morizumis, look out for one another.' I owed her."

"No further questions, your honor," Saena said satisfactorily. She glanced at Kento as she returned to her chair. The man looked stunned and at a loss for words. His client just jeopardized the whole case with her confession.

"You can return to your seat, Kusanagi-san," the judge said dismissively.

Tina felt a nudge at her side. She looked at Mike and then down at his hand. He held a wad of tissues out to her. She didn't know when she started crying, but she could now feel the drops coming down. Finally, a part of her nightmare could be laid to rest. The other part would remain unsettled. She smiled at Mike and took the tissues offered. It was good to know. She knew Rick was partly at fault for rushing out in the middle of the street, but it was wrong of her not to take responsibility when she made the mistake. Tina couldn't hate her, but she would never forgive her.

From her view on this side, she could see she wasn't the only one crying. The Japanese actress was also crying. The tall Japanese man stood and reached over the rail to hand her a handkerchief. She saw the young woman's golden eyes look up with worry and then light up with love. She used to look at Rick like that. Tina concluded that they were probably lovers. That thought relieved her heart and made the viselike grip constantly lurking over it disappear.

Tina's focus turned back to the main judge as he spoke, "Does the defense have any further witnesses?"

"The defense has no more witnesses, your honor," Kento told the court and sat back down, sighing with resignation.

The judge nodded toward the prosecution lawyer.

The female lawyer stood. "Your honor, we would like to call on Morimoto Kyoko to give her testimony."

…

Kyoko stood shakily. She gripped Ren's handkerchief in her hand like it was an omamori. It was her turn to take the stand. She shared her firsthand account of what transpired on the balcony. The biggest thing she remembered from that time was the fear she felt. It was such a foreign feeling that she failed to notice the danger until they were upon her, smothering her with a rag.

"It left me paralyzed. I couldn't move my body. I couldn't scream for help…I felt...helpless," she recounted to her mother. For some reason, staring at her cold and fearless mother comforted her. She gave Kyoko the strength to continue.

"I think I was too heavy for them because they struggled and argued. I was blindfolded, but I recognized their voices immediately. I felt the wind on me, so I knew they brought me outside. Then, I felt my body lifting over a railing. I thought I was going to die. I didn't think anyone would save me," Kyoko said, her gaze fixed on her lap. I prayed he would save me. The pain of thinking he was in love with such a wretched girl came crashing down on her heart at that moment. She took shaky breaths to calm herself down and let those awful thoughts pass.

"Then what happened," Saena prodded gently. It was the first time Kyoko ever heard concern for her in her mother's voice.

She lifted her head and looked at Yashiro, cowering in his seat. She ignored the other important men in her life, sitting next to her manager. Her grudges danced around the vicious aura from not only her lover but her father as well. She watched Yashiro squirm in his seat beside the two angry men.

"My real-life superhero came to my rescue. Yashiro-san, my manager, saved me in the nick of time." She beamed gratefully at the man who saved her life, not once, but twice.

Kyoko continued her story for another ten minutes. Her mother was mainly interested in her interactions with Yuri rather than Kimiko. Saena interrupted now and again to ask clarifying questions and always steered the conversation back to Yuri.

"Thank you, Morimoto-san," Saena said with a hint of a smile. She turned to the judges, "I have no further questions, your honor."

"Your witness." Saena directed the statement to Kento.

Kento stood reluctantly and bowed. "The defense rests, your honor."

Kyoko was asked to go back to her seat. The judges would deliberate and return after lunch. Yuri was taken to the holding cell while the rest of the courtroom filed out.

After braving the reporters camping outside the courtroom, Kyoko found herself having lunch with her father, mother, stepfather, and the foreigners he invited, including Tina in a private room at a Japanese restaurant.

With Saena's permission, Ren and Yashiro excused themselves from joining in lunch due to his work schedule. Kyoko received a confused look from Yashiro when she immediately sent them on their way without even a strict warning to eat something.

She was doing her part to keep his identity a secret until he was ready to reveal himself. Though he didn't ask, she planned to do reconnaissance on Tina for him. She liked to think she was a good judge of character.

"Ms. Flores, my mother informed me about your fiancé, I'm very sorry for your loss," Kyoko said softly. It wasn't a total lie. Her parents did tell her, they just didn't know she already knew. Kyoko felt terrible for deceiving Tina.

"Your mother?" Tina asked, cocking her head.

"Ah, yes, she's my mother," Kyoko said, blushing and glancing at Saena.

Tina looked down at the end of the low table where the older woman sat and back to Kyoko.

"How did I not notice? She looks just like you."

Kyoko ducked her head shyly.

"Thank you for your kind words. Please call me Tina...um...Kyoko-chan, right?"

Kyoko smiled softly and nodded.

"It's good to finally know the truth. Your mother is amazing and your father too. They made this all possible. They went through so much trouble for someone they didn't even know. Even if she wasn't going to jail for Rick, it's a relief to know she won't hurt anyone else." Tina's voice cracked as the waterworks began.

Kyoko pulled out a pack of tissues from her purse and handed it to her. She couldn't possibly understand what Tina was going through. She could only imagine the devastation she would feel if she lost Kuon. She admired Tina's strength to carry on living.

"You are all kind. Just like he used to say," Tina said, blowing her nose with a tissue. Tina wasn't sure about the proper etiquette of blowing her nose at the table in Japan. She hoped they could excuse her bad habits because she was a foreigner.

"He? Did your Rick-san know many Japanese?" Kyoko asked curiously.

"Oh, sorry, not Rick. Our friend, Rick, loved him like a little brother. He was part-Japanese and visited Japan before. He told us the people were very kind here...a different kind of culture. He used to tell us stories whenever we ate sushi," Tina said, a nostalgic smile gracing her lips. But her smile didn't last long.

"Is everything okay? Ah, no, of course, it's not okay. Sorry for prying." Kyoko said, noticing her companion's sad expression.

"No, I was just reminded of how poorly I treated him when Rick died. He was a good kid. He didn't deserve my contempt. I wish I could take back how I acted that night."

"Perhaps he—" Kyoko began.

"Ladies, let's eat quickly so we're back in plenty of time," Saena said, interrupting their conversation. She glowered, unconsciously, at the two young women sitting on the opposite end of the table.

Kyoko and Tina both apologized and ate the rest of their food quickly. Saena's reprimand managed to make both young women feel like little girls again.

Ren took calming breaths in the hallway leading to their apartment before going through the motions of opening the door. It had been a long day. He was more exhausted mentally than physically. The most trying part of his day had yet to come.

He opened the door and stared at the figure sitting on the couch in the living room. His heart threatened to stop, and was startled by the door closing behind him.

"Welcome home, Kuon," she greeted him warmly from the living room.

Kuon froze. He was expecting her but was still at a complete loss on how to proceed. He watched the apparition in his living room stand and glide toward him.

She stopped several feet before him and dropped into a dogeza. With her forehead on the floor, she burst into tears.

"I'm so sorry...so sorry. Please forgive me," she wailed through her tears.

Kuon slumped to his knees and pulled the woman into his arms. They clung to each other in their grief, finding solace in one another. The movement was enough to forgive each other for that horrible night. They stayed like that for minutes, maybe hours. They weren't sure how much time elapsed. When they finally composed themselves, both laughed at the pain in their bodies from kneeling for so long.

"Did Kyoko teach you that?" Kuon asked, referring to the dogeza. He offered his hand to help her up.

"She said you were a sucker for it."

Kuon cocked an eyebrow at her.

"Okay, she didn't use the word sucker, but you catch my drift."

Kuon chuckled.

"Do you want a drink? I can make you one. I know, I could use one. Do you still drink gin and tonics?"

"God knows I need one, but I'll just take some water. I've been sober for three years now."

Kuon's step faltered as he walked to the kitchen. He turned to face her. "I'm sorry."

"Again, not your fault, kid," She replied, reaching up to ruffle his hair like she and Rick used to do in the past. She had to tiptoe and stretch a little further this time. He had grown so tall.

"Besides, I think I had it easier compared to you." She told him while taking a seat at the bar. At least I didn't have to change my whole identity to cope.

"Can you do me a favor," she asked when Kuon joined her with two bottles of water. Kuon nodded mid-swig of his drink. "Can you please take off those lenses?"

He gave her a weak smile. "I'll be right back," he said, putting down his bottle.

He quietly entered the master and tiptoed to where his angel slumbered. He knelt by her side and caressed her cheek. She stirred in bed. Not wanting to wake her, he kissed her forehead and headed to the bathroom.

He changed into comfortable clothes and removed his contacts. He found Tina looking over the photographs of him and Kyoko throughout the room.

"I can't believe I didn't recognize you today. All I thought when I saw you in the courtroom was that you would make a good subject for my black-and-white collection. This photo of you two is really good. The photographer captured the essence of your relationship with her. She's amazing."

Tina turned in his direction and smiled when she saw the familiar vibrant green eyes. The shadows of the past were slowly receding with each passing day.

"I know," Kuon agreed.

"Don't screw it up."

"I'm trying my best not to," Kuon chuckled.

They talked into the wee hours of the morning. She told him the hearing results. Justice was served, and Yuri was found guilty. Additional charges were pending following the investigation with the U.S. Tina told him how Kyoko convinced her to stay the night rather than check into a hotel. She didn't know why she agreed. Isn't this how horror movies are made? She enticed Tina with the promise of a scrumptious dinner. Tina would have married her on the spot when she took the first bite of her meal. She wasn't gay but for Kyoko, she could be.

It wasn't until after Tina was bathed and stuffed that Kyoko spewed out the truth about her motives. Tina was shocked at the way the young woman threw herself to the ground and groveled at her feet. If she had taken the chance to look at the few pictures in the apartment, she wouldn't have been so surprised. She wasn't even mad for being deceived. She was grateful for the opportunity to speak with him again.

Kuon confessed to having her personal information. He was planning to look her up when he went to L.A. for fashion week. He never planned to meet her here and wanted to push it off until his originally proposed time. Kyoko laid the guilt on thick over text. Enough with the excuses. Not everyone is as forgiving as me Corn. His girlfriend left him no choice but to face this part of his past, today.

They took turns filling each other in on their lives before saying good night. After parting in the hall, Kuon got ready for bed. He pulled back the covers and crawled in next to his girlfriend. He pulled the warm bundle into his arms, securing her back to his chest. She burrowed herself into him, making him smile. Placing soft kisses in her hair, he took a deep inhale of her fragrance. Kuon was fast asleep before he released his breath completely. He slept well that night.

AN: Hiya! Phew! This chapter got out of hand. Thanks for always reading. I have one more chapter to wrap this all up, I think, I hope. These witches need to be gone!

Thanks for all the reviews of the last chapter. I appreciate all your enthusiasm. I hope you enjoyed what I did here.

Until next time, Ja ne! ^_^