Chapter 29

Reunion

Yaketsuku walks over to Takara. Takara gasps and starts to cry.

"No way! It's... You are..."

Yaketsuku smiles. "I survived Leitangi's beatings."

"You're alive!" Takara says. "But how? You're not a ghost right?"

"I faked my death," Yaketsuku says with a laugh. "It was tough but I managed. They buried me alive thinking I was dead. I slowly got out and ran to freedom. Once I got skin replacement surgery, I decided that I wanted to help others and became a surgeon. When I heard that Takara Uta was my patient my heart skipped a beat. I wanted to meet you again so bad. I wanted to hear about your escape and your new life."

"Yaketsuku, I can't believe it's you and you're alive," Takara says. "All this time I thought you were dead. They even told me you were dead and that they buried you. I wrote a song in honor of you, my hero."

Yaketsuku puts his hand up to his heart. "I'm touched, Takara. Is there anything you need right now?"

Takara shakes her head. "No. I am truly happy right now. I don't have to live in fear anymore. Hiroshi, Eito, Leiji, and Leitangi are dead. I have some pretty awesome friends who risked their lives for me. I have a loving boyfriend. And, my hero who I thought was dead, is alive and is a surgeon! That's so freaking cool! I can't believe you saved my life twice. How can I ever repay you Yaketsuku?"

"Just live a happy life," Yaketsuku says with his eyes closed with a smile.

Just then, Jomei comes through the door holding Jakako's hand.

"Dad? Jakako?" Takara asks.

"Daddy, big sissy is alive!" Jakako says. "Why did you say she was dead?"

"I didn't sweetie, I said she might be dead," Jomei says.

Jomei then goes up to Takara. "My little Takara. Are you okay?"

"I am," Takara says.

"When I heard my baby got kidnapped again, I fell to my knees and bawled my eyes out," Jomei says.

"It was the first time I seen daddy cry!" Jakako says. Jakako then climbs into Takara's bed and sits on her legs. "Hi sissy!"

Takara looks around awkwardly. "Oh, um... uh.. hi?"

"You're really pretty!" Jakako says.

Takara chuckles. "Thank you Jakako."

"You can call me Jak!"

Takara laughs. "Okay." Takara looks over at Jomei. "How did you know I was here?"

"It was a coincidence actually," Jomei says. "I brought your lying mother here because... well, she's in hospice."

Takara looks around. "I- I don't know what that means."

"It means that doctors are basically preparing her to die," Jomei explains.

"I don't like mommy," Jakako says.

"Why's that?" Takara asks.

"She's a meany!" Jakako says. "I heard she's a liar and liars are not good people!"

"Did you tell her what happened?" Takara asks Jomei.

"No, I just said that Takako has been lying," Jomei says. "Jakako can always tell if something is on my mind." Jakako does a little dance with her shoulders.

"Don't you want to tell your wife goodbye?" Takara asks.

"I already did when I found out the truth about you," Jomei says.

"The truth? What is he talking about?" Sakura asks.

Takara looks down. "Can I tell you another time? It's too painful to bring up."

A doctor runs inside Takara's room. "Jomei?"

"Yes doctor?" Jomei asks.

"I don't know how it happened, but your wife escaped," the doctor says.

"WHAT?!" Takara, Jomei and Neji ask.