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Crossing Stars

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Proposal

Touya looked over everything one last time.

Cute ribbon? Check.

Note? Check.

Ring?

He paused, patting down his pockets.

Where was the ring?

A small wave of panic ran through him as he searched for it.

It'd been a few weeks since Houjo and his mother had finished up their criminal trials and were sentenced to death. It'd be some time yet before they would be forced to serve their punishment but for now they were locked up in Tartarus, the most secure prison in all of Japan.

During the trial, Kagome had given one final statement. She'd addressed the courtroom and informed them that she'd spent much of her life questioning whether or not she was making the right decision. Everyone kept telling her that she was wrong and that her decision would haunt her. She asserted that on that day, what she felt wasn't regret but a sense of liberation. She was free from that horrible monster and was now living her life to the fullest. She then warned that people like the Houjo family would never learn their lessons. If set loose on the street again, they would only cause more harm to some other unfortunate soul. So for the sake of protecting future innocents, she implored the judge to hit them with the full force of the law. So that another family won't be shattered by their selfish actions.

The judge heeded her wishes and among the faces in the crowd to support them was his own face.

He could recall the man's expression as Kagome stood before him afterwards. She had pushed her brother at the man and told him that this was the life he'd saved that day.

For the first time, he saw his father cry.

The man who'd beaten them until they were blue and continued having children with his wife until his 'true successor' had been born in Shouto, had been down on his knees crying in front of Kagome.

With his own ice power so weak, Endeavor had sought to find a 'spare'. He'd spent his entire youth being told that he wasn't good enough for his father's respect. By the time he became an adult, he swore that he would never step foot before the man again. Watching as he humbled himself before Kagome had stirred a small smidgen of pity for him, but that was all. He had no desire to maintain contact with him or even see his face after this.

Maybe one day he'd be brave enough to look his siblings in the eye and apologize to them for not being stronger when they'd needed him the most. For now though, he wanted to take the fragmented pieces of his life and put them together in a way that was stronger than they were before. With Kagome as his rock and foundation, he was sure that he could find his footing once again.

Touya grinned as he finally found the velvet box tucked away in the top drawer of his desk.

"Ohagi," He called the cat over to him.

The feline purred as it leapt onto his lap.

"I've got an important job for you." He grinned down at the cat. "Think you can take these to your mama?"

Carefully, he strung the ring through the scarlet ribbon and tied a note to it as well. Afterwards he fasted it securely to the cat's collar.

Kagome was just in the other office beside him. She had another episode of Say Yes to the Dress playing and had been openly looking at rings on her phone. She'd been trying to drop hints and it'd taken everything in his power not to laugh. He'd already had everything ready to go by the time she'd started hinting at rings.

Ohagi jumped off of him and sauntered over to Kagome. Touya quietly took out his phone and began recording her reaction. He'd like to have this moment on video for later.

The woman lifted the feline onto her lap before she paused, her fingers trailing over the note and ring.

Touya tried not to laugh when she looked at the cat then the ring then the cat again. He watched as she untied the items and unfolded the note. He'd only written one sentence on it.

Will you marry me?

Kagome high pitched squeal of excitement startled Ohagi off of her lap. Touya laughed even louder when she jumped out of her seat and slipped the ring onto her finger. She ran over to him and threw her arms around his neck.

Touya caught her and swiftly ended the video.

Between her laughter and tears, he could hardly make out anything that she was saying.

"So is that a yes?" He grinned down at her.

Kagome nodded in return, "Yes!"

He held her against him as he captured her lips in a soft kiss.

"You know," He drew back after moment. "I did schedule you for dress shopping in about an hour."

He didn't need to say anything else.

Kagome pulled on his hand as she made a beeline for the door.

"You don't mind me seeing what you choose for the wedding?" His lips curled up into a smirk. "I thought most people were superstitious about that sort of thing?"

Kagome's tugging on his hand grew more insistent, "I want you there! Besides, I don't believe in luck."

His lips curled up into a smile, "Me either."

It was more than luck that'd brought them together. He never believed in anything as flimsy as chance. Every experience he'd had in his life had brought him to this very moment. Whatever happened afterwards, he was sure they could handle together.

"Oh I almost forgot," Touya started. "My transfer to Nabu Island was accepted. So I supposed we should start house shopping after this."

The bird had threatened to come with them too—citing that he didn't want to miss out on being an uncle. He'd barely managed to dodge having him here today.

"Hey," Kagome tipped her chin up towards him. "I want a beach wedding. Just us and Ohagi as the ring bearer."

Touya laughed at that, "A ring bearing cat and beach wedding it is."

Now all they had to do was plan it.