Yami No Matsuei Fan Fiction ❯ Two of a Kind ❯ Return ( Chapter 4 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters of Yami No Matsuei. I wish I did, but if I did I would not being writing fanfiction.
Warning: Bad language and more angst from Tsuzuki and Kira. Yaoi (Boy and boy love.)
Summary: It has been two years after Kyoto and Muraki appears once again. Muraki and Tsuzuki both have changed since then and are learning from their past mistakes. What does that mean for those two? A young girl comes into the picture and asks for help. Who is this girl and what does she want from Muraki and Tsuzuki?
Notes: This is the fourth chapter to Two of a Kind. You will learn more about the secret behind Tsuzuki's daughter. Thanks to all who have read and reviewed my story. It helps me continue the story with knowing people are enjoying the story.

Chapter Four: Return

Sensing someone in the room, I look around like I would find my lover in the room again. That this is all a nightmare. Asking while I sit up in the bed, "Who is there?" A young girl with long red hair walks out of the shadows and gives me a soft smile. Her eyes make me jump as I think, "Her eyes are the same as me."

She asks while tilting her head to the side, "Are you afraid of me?"

That question surprises me. Why would I be afraid of her? She is warm and nice. I can feel it in her heart. She wishes to help. How do I know that when I have no idea who she is? Why is she here? It is the sadness in her eyes that makes my own heart feel sorrow. Shaking my head, I respond, "No. You just surprised me. Who are you?" She walks to the bed and takes a seat on the edge while studying me. What is it about this girl that makes me feel like I have talked to her before?

She speaks up while turning her head to face the window, "It has been awhile. The curse that does not leave my soul even in my death. Why is that? Can you answer me that question?"

She is lost in her own pain and I can feel it more in my heart than my soul. Seeing the tears in her purple eyes, I wipe them away as I ask, "What is wrong?" Taking the young girl into my arms like it is meant to be like this, I whisper, "It is okay."

She explains, "They call me Ketessa. That name was given to me before I was born but it was not the name my mother gave me. It is my best way of no one to ever learn my real identity."

Hearing the door open, I turn to see Mr. Keyis walk in with Watari. What is going on? What is that look on Mr. Keyis' face? He looks like he is upset about her but also great fear with a touch of confusion. She moves from my embrace as she stands up. Breaking the silence, I ask, "What is up, Watari?"

He shrugs his shoulders and answers, "Not sure. Mr. Keyis said that we had to come here."

Mr. Keyis speaks up with anger in his voice, "You should not be here."

She glares at him as she replies, "That is to your point of view, Keyis. It is I who can help. Can you bring Kazutaka back? Can you bring all the enemies down to their knees?"

It is her anger that startles me and I stand up. Mr. Keyis is ready to fight her, but I can't let him harm her. Why do I feel the need to protect her? Stepping in front of her, I resort, "You will not do anything to her." He gives me a surprise look as Soka and Oriya walks in. They look at all of us and Soka grabs his head. I ask with concern in my voice, "What is wrong, Soka?"

He looks at the girl with sadness in his eyes as he answers, "I'm fine, Tsuzuki."

She turns her face as she replies, "Sorry. I forget to put my shields to the highest when you are around."

Mr. Keyis leans against the wall as he asks, "What are you doing here? Why did you go see Lord Emna, Ketessa? You are the one who is his greatest enemy, but you speak with him."

She answers with a grin, "To use that fear is to win. I need Kazutaka. I need him alive once again."

He raises his eyebrow while stating, "That is all it is to you."

She replies in a cold tone, "There were other reasons, but you do not need to know that."

He chuckles while responding, "You have a heart after all. Do you realize I know your other side?"

Looking them over, I ask, "What are you talking about?" She gives me a sad look, but doesn't answer me. She is more than she is showing us. I feel close to this girl but have no idea why. Needing to know the answer, I reply, "Answer me."

She turns her head to the side and answers, "He is referring to my false identity. The identity that Kazutaka raised me as. The person who stands before you is the one you call, K..."

Tatsumi cuts her off as he walks in, "I do not think that would be a good idea, Miss Ketessa."

She gives him a cold look as she replies, "That is where you are wrong. You should mind your own business, Mr. Tatsumi. I told you to stay out my way. You know nothing about me. I want Kazutaka back."

Her tears are killing my heart as I embrace her with giving a cold glare at Tatsumi for upsetting her. She is something to me. The care I feel for her is like a father who would do this for their own daughter. Falling to my knees, I grab my head as I whisper, "That's it."

Tatsumi asks in concern, "Tsuzuki, what is wrong?"

He walks to me and I yell, "Stay the hell away!"

He turns to look at her and asks, "What did you do to him?"

Glaring at my friend, I respond, "Leave my daughter alone!" They all look at me like I'm nuts, but she doesn't. She looks at me with surprise in her purple eyes. I don't know how I remember she is my daughter.

She asks with taking a step back, "How do you know? How could you remember? Saki . . . "

Standing up, I cut her off, "I'm not sure. That is why Kazutaka can't remember you either, right?" She nods her head and I pull her into an embrace. I have my daughter back and I will protect her even if I know she can handle her own. Looking at Mr. Keyis, I resort in anger, "No one will harm her, I promise you that, Mr. Keyis. I will not lose her again."

He gives me a strange look as he replies, "Never said that I was after her."

Watching him walk out of the room, I whisper to her, "Are you okay?" She nods her head against my shoulder. Everyone else is still surprise and will not speak a word, but the look in Oriya's eyes betray that he is surprise. I ask, "Oriya, what is wrong?"

He looks at me in confusion and answers, "Nothing, Tsuzuki."

He betrays his answer by looking at her again. Is it wise to ask him again? He knows her real name. The name I can't remember. Then again, I never knew I had a daughter until her death. She was killed by Saki. I ask while looking at Oriya, "Were you killed by Saki?"

She looks up at me and then at Oriya as she replies, "Yes. He was the one who killed me and my mother."

Feeling the guilt of taking advantage of her mother, I question myself, "How could I do that?"

She replies in sadness, "It was my mother who used you not the other way around. She lusted after you, but never loved you. You were in pain and she helped you. I know it sounds cruel to say that about you and my mother, but that is the truth. It means nothing to me and my mother was happy to have me. She deared me like no other."

Oriya finally speaks, "The sadness in your eyes doesn't suit you."

It sounds like he knows her well. She turns to stare at him and gives him a sad smile. Something is more to this than they are telling me, but I will not ask. What did she mean about Kazutaka?

She speaks while pulling away from my embrace, "I must take my leave for now. I wanted to make sure you were all right. Please go back and do not forget your loyalty, father."

Watching her disappear before our eyes, I think, "Do not forget my loyalty. I know it will always be to Lord Emna, but it is also to her." I will protect her with everything I have. Turning around to stare at Tatsumi, I reply, "Please don't upset her again." He nods to me and walks out of the room quickly. Looking at the floor, I whisper, "I made him mad at me again." Wishing that Kazutaka was right here with me, I think, "Please, come back." Everyone else leaves me to my thoughts. It is now that I wish I had Kazutaka here and now. He was the only one who would embrace me with the warmth of another. Sitting down on the bed, I ask myself, "Did she mean that she will bring you back to me? My other side, my other part of my soul, and my love."

The pain in his soul was so great. Walking down the path of the cherry blossoms, I think, "This will not end until Saki is dead for good. The true descendant of darkness desires me." How can this hurt so much? The pain I feel for Kazutaka's death is much more than I ever thought it could be. Stopping in front of a tree that I was killed under and looking at the dark sky, I whisper to no one, "I will make everything right again. I swear."

A male's voice rings through the night's air, "A vow that you take upon yourself once again."

Turning around to face a man that has my heart and soul, but I always push him away from me. Why do I push him away when I need his warmth? It is nothing new to us. Hiding behind our masks to protect ourselves from betrayal and hurt, I turn back around to stare at the night sky that has my forsaken soul. He always come to me and watch me from afar, but I do not let him any where near this broken heart. The warm tears fall down my face as I fall to my knees from the guilt and pain in me. He embraces me with his strong arms that give me warmth from the coldness of this world. It is lonely in this soul and I wish I could open it up to him, but we are meant to be enemies. Does he not see that? Why does he always come back to me when I push him away? Letting the soft side in me show to his eyes, I speak up in a hoarse voice, "Why? Why do you come to me?"

He answers me while sitting down behind me, "I do not know that answer, my lovely Kira. You are someone I cannot distance myself from."

Smiling at the name he gives me, I reply, "We can never be anything but enemies." That is what I learned so long ago. It is our fate to fight against each other. It is my revenge that I cannot allow myself to love him. The sorrow I feel from him is like my own heart aches for his touch and his love. It can never be that. Maybe if Kazutaka lived, then I could have shown more emotion to him. That is not what happened. He is gone and now I have to make it right again. It is my fault that he died. Kazutaka should have lived and everything would have been all right. The revenge runs through my veins like nothing else and the blood a demon is in these veins as well. There is nothing he can do to stop it. Pulling away from his warmth and standing on my own feet, I reply, "The time is short. It will be soon that I carry out my revenge. It is he who will choose."

He stands up and looks to the dark sky as he asks, "What if he chooses against you?"

A question that has haunted my being since I knew what I wanted with this second life. Looking at a small flower that is beginning to grow, I answer with fear in my voice, "I do not know. He is the one I can never fight against. Alone he can destroy my being with his own powers, but knowing he can never do that to me." Shrugging my shoulders, I state, "It will be up to him and that is final."

He replies while pulling me into his arms once again, "You always have someone to come to if you choose to stop this."

Feeling him disappear from the site of this mortal world, I think, "Your kindness to me will get you destroy one of these days." The time is soon. For the power of revenge is growing and my blood is boiling for the pain of those around me. Does he not see that I will betray him? Does he not know I love him and hate myself for betraying his trust?

Oriya's voice rings out, "I thought I would find you here, Kira?"

Answering him, I stare at the flower that looks so beautiful among the darkness, "I guess I come back to where I was killed." The immortals helped in my death and for that is the reason for my war. It is time to end the life of one who cannot break free. Turning around to face my uncle, I ask with sadness in my voice, "Why are you looking for me?"

He shrugs his shoulders while answering, "Just making sure you are all right."

Smiling at him, I think, "You always did that." It is his pain I can feel as well. So, he did love Kazutaka has much as my mother did. How sad for everyone to be in pain because of one death. It amazes me how one can change so many lives without knowing it. I whisper, "He showed me understanding that no one could give me. He never feared what was running through my blood. The demon blood is the same as his. Can you tell me why Kazutaka had to die when so many changed because of him? He showed me that nothing was wrong with me. Is this how he felt when he desired revenge so much?" Asking questions that Oriya will never have the answer to. It is my own pain that I feel now and I push everyone away. I never knew how to deal with my own emotions when I felt everyone else's.

He looks at the sky and answers, "I can't answer those questions, but I understand what you mean." He takes a deep breath before speaking again, "I'm heading back. Are you coming?"

Sitting on the cold ground and leaning my back against the tree, I reply, "I will in a little bit. I have some thinking to do and this place has always given me the answers I seek." He only smiles at me and walks away. Oriya will never question me.

Walking into my office, I think, "I cannot believe Tsuzuki is a father, but it makes sense with that girl. She has his eyes." Who could this girl be? What does she want with this place? There are more questions that need to be answer, but I know for a fact that I will never get those answers. Looking at the clock to see it is one in the morning, I whisper, "There is nothing for me to go home to." Was there ever anything back there in the first place? Hearing a soft knock on the door, I reply, "Come in." Seeing blonde hair peeking inside, I ask, "What is it, Watari?"

He walks in and shuts the door before answering, "I came to make sure a friend is all right."

Smiling at him, I think, "He must have questions about that girl has well." Watching him take a seat in front of my desk, I ask, "What is on your mind, Watari?"

He looks at me and replies, "I have been wondering about that girl. You said that her name was Ketessa."

Nodding my head to him as I take a seat behind my desk, I explain, "That was the name she gave me, but I have a feeling that is not her real name." Watari is thinking about this information. We better be careful about this because I have a feeling that this girl can end our lives if she so desires.

He tilts his head to the side and explains, "I did some research on the name Ketessa."

Raising my eyebrow at him, I ask, "And?"

He puts his chin on his hands while his elbows leaning on my desk, he answers, "Well, she was a great demon with powers be on anyone could compare to, but she was destroyed thousands of years ago by a descendant of darkness. It was a myth that she would be reborn into a human life, but have the blood of one who is a descendant of darkness." He takes a breath before speaking, "Well, she would need two descendants of darkness to gain her true strength back. They believed that one of them would do so willingly without question because he or she would be her parent."

Putting all this information into my mind, I reply, "So, they think Tsuzuki will do it without question." Watari nods to me and I think, "But why did she tell him to remember his loyalty." Sensing a power of someone in the room, I ask in a cold voice, "Who is there?" Raising my hands to have my shadows attack at will if I need to use them.

A girl's voice replies while stepping out of a corner, "There is no need for that, Mr. Tatsumi." She looks at Watari and replies, "So, that is what the demons think I will do."

Relaxing a bit, I ask, "Is it not what you want, Miss Ketessa?"

She tilts her head to the side and grins at me before answering, "Well, I do, but not if my father will feel more pain for betraying his friends that became his family. I had a child hood that was almost the same has his and I know what it feels like to have others replace your family because they show you the answer of life."

Leaning against the chair, I think, "It is her sad eyes that reminded me of Tsuzuki." Taking a deep breath, I ask, "Why are you here, Miss Ketessa?"

She shrugs her shoulders while replying, "I was bored and wanted to know what my true past was like. I guess that is why I am here. Or maybe it is because I want to know what my father sees in this place. The place that took his daughter's life."

This place took her life, but why? She is just a young girl who wanted life. Leaning my chin against my hands while resting my elbows against my desk, I ask, "Will you end this place?"

She walks to the window and looks out of it while answering, "It would be selfish of me to end a place that gives people second chances at life. I might feel the revenge and need to end this place, but I made a deal with Lord Emna." She takes a deep breath and replies, "As long as it happens, I will stand down from war."

Watching her disappear from our eyes, I look over at Watari and ask, "What do you think?"

He answers with a wink, "I think we should trust her. She does remind me of Tsuzuki and Tsuzuki has never betrayed us."

Nodding my head to agree with him, I think, "Even if he did decide to go against this place, I would join his side." It is not the love I feel for him but because he is my friend and a loyal one at that. He is my family and I will protect that no matter what. I wonder what Watari would decide.

Watari breaks the silence, "But you know. I would take Tsuzuki's side if he decided against this place. He has always been there for me and he is like a brother I have to look out for. I am sure bon would do the same thing."

Well, I guess that answers the question I was ready to ask. Smiling at him, I resort, "I believe many people in this department would take Tsuzuki's side. Without him it is not the same. Well, I guess we will have to see what will happens." Watari nods his head and stands up.

It is getting dark out and I have no where to go. I don't want to go back home where Tatsumi will yell at me for being stupid at work again. He just doesn't understand that I put on that act to keep me sane. Walking up to a mansion, I ring the door bell. I think, "I hope he is home and I'm not waking him up."

Muraki answers the door with a surprise look, "Hello, Mr. Tsuzuki. Please come in."

He moves to the side to let me in and I walk inside while listening to the door being shut. It is strange how I decided to come to him. It was two days ago that we met each other again after two years. Why was he at that bar in the first place? That place didn't seem like a place Muraki would go to. We walk into the living room and I see pictures of him when he was younger with Oriya. Smiling at them, I think, "Well he looked happy with Oriya when they were younger."

Muraki breaks the silence, "How did you find where I lived, Mr. Tsuzuki?"

Feeling the heat raise to my cheeks, I whisper in a low tone, "I followed you home yesterday." He raises an eyebrow at me and I hide my face from his stare.

He walks to me and turns my chin to look at him as he replies, "I did not hear what you said, Mr. Tsuzuki."

Moving my foot back and forth, I whisper a little louder for him to hear me, "I followed you home yesterday."

He chuckles and releases my chin from his soft pale fingers as he resorts, "Making sure I am not killing anyone, Mr. Tsuzuki."

Shaking my head, I think, "I don't even know why I believed that he stopped completely from killing, but something in those eyes told me that he was stating the truth." He is staring at me and it is making me nervous. Looking around, I ask, "Why are you staring at me?"

He takes a seat on a white couch while answering, "I was trying to figure out why you are here, Mr. Tsuzuki and slowly undressing you."

Watching him grin at me, I blush from the straightforward comment. He tilts his head to watch my every movement and I start to wonder why did I come to a pervert like him. Some small voice speaks in my mind, "Because you want to fuck him and wanted to for a long time." Shaking my head to clear those thoughts, I ask, "Why were you at that bar?"

Muraki answers while taking a glass of wine from the small wooden table next to the couch, "The same as you, Mr. Tsuzuki. I had a busy and hard day at the hospital and needed some time to relax." He takes a slip of wine before continuing, "I must admit it was not a place that I would ever go to, but it was close and it was raining."

Walking to the couch and taking a seat next to Muraki, I ask, "Is it all right if I talk to you?" He gives me a strange look and I explain, "I'm feeling depressed."

He sighs as he replies, "I guess you are upset about something with Mr. Tatsumi."

Looking at the fire place, I resort, "Yeah. I guess." He turns my chin to face him and blushes his soft rosy lips against mine in a gentle way that I think this is not Muraki at first. Grabbing onto his arms, I whisper, "I'm so tired, Muraki." He embraces me and my head lies on his chest while I cry from all the pain that I have been holding onto for as long as I can remember.

Muraki finally speaks up after a half of an hour of silence, "What were you two fighting about? If you do not care to speak of it, then it is all right."

Looking up to Muraki to see a sadness that I have never seen before on Muraki's face, I whisper, "We were fighting about how I work." The tears flow down my face once again and he wipes them away. Staring at the fire place, I explain, "He doesn't understand that I act that way because it is the only way to keep me sane. Do you understand what I mean?"

He answers while rubbing his hand through my hair, "Yes. You act the way you do to prevent yourself getting drawn into the pain. It is natural to do that, Mr. Tsuzuki. He just does it differently than you do."

Observing the room, I notice a bottle of wine on the table near the chair in the corner. I ask in a low tone, "Why were you drinking, Muraki?"

He looks over at the table as he responds, "I lost a patient today and their family was not too pleased with it."

Wrapping my arms around his waist, I whisper in his ear, "I'm sorry." He shakes his head to tell me I did nothing wrong. Then again, I could have been the one who had to take the life of his patient. Feeling the guilt inside raise to the surface, I whisper while tears roll down my face, "Was your patient's name Qu Manner?"

He looks down at me and pulls me closer to his body, "You did nothing wrong. He was living when he should have died a while ago. Please stop doing this to yourself, Mr. Tsuzuki."

Pulling away from him, I ask, "How can you justify me killing him?"

Muraki gives me an angry look before speaking, "You were not responsible when he had an illness that was making him suffer. You gave him peace, Mr. Tsuzuki." He takes a deep breath before he replies with a gentle voice, "Forgive my outburst, Mr. Tsuzuki. As a doctor, I saw his suffering a lot more than his family would ever accept."

Shaking my head and giving him a sad smile, I reply, "I can't say I understand what it is like to be a doctor with seeing patients die every day. I'm sorry if I upset you, Muraki." He smiles at me and touches my face with his pale warm hand while turning to his touch. I move my face closer to his to kiss him and try to forget our pain, I hear my cell phone go off. Looking down at the caller ID, I see the house phone's number and answer, "Hello."

Tatsumi responds, "Where the hell are you!?"

Jumping slightly from the tone in my lover's voice, I answer, "Walking around."

He sighs as he resorts, "It is almost two in the morning and you have to be in work on time tomorrow."

Raising my voice as I resort, "Damn it! I will be on time! Leave me the hell alone and fuck off, Siichiro!" Hanging up the phone while tears roll down my face, I look at Muraki's face to see worry in his eyes. Why can't I be with someone who understands me? Why do I fight with Tatsumi all the time? I have never said those things to Tatsumi before and I know if I go home now that we will have it out for the entire place to hear it.

Muraki offers, "You may stay for the night."

Wiping my tears from my eyes, I ask, "Are you sure?" He nods his head to me and I hug him so tight that he might stop breathing. Releasing him from my hug, I reply, "Thank you."

He gives me a kind smile while mumbling, "There is no reason for you to thank me. It is the least I can do."

Leaning into him, I brush my lips against his soft warm lips to kiss him. He slowly starts to unbutton my shirt. This is wrong, but then why does this feel so right and good? Helping him take off my shirt, I mumble, "Muraki."

He pulls back and whispers, "Sorry, Mr. Tsuzuki." He picks up my shirt and hands it to me as he replies, "I am sorry. I should not have let it go that far."

Staring at him with sadness in my eyes, I think, "I did something wrong. I made him upset and now he will tell me to get lost." My sobs wreck my body and I try to hide my face from him.

He pulls my chin to look at him and asks, "What is wrong, Mr. Tsuzuki?"

Laying my head against his shoulder, I stutter, "I . . . I ma . . . de you . . . yo . . . u upset." He lifts my chin up and wipes away my tears while giving me a sad smile. Why do I need my enemy to touch me and make me feel again?

He whispers in my ear, "That is not what I am upset about, Mr. Tsuzuki. I was ready to take advantage of you and I will not do that to you. I will never hurt you again. I will not allow myself to do that again." He stands up and holds out his hand for me while replying, "I will get you some blankets and I have a guest room you may use for the night."

Shaking my head at him, I ask in a timid voice, "Can I stay with you?"

He gives me a surprise look before answering, "Mr. Tsuzuki, I might not be able to control myself if you are that close to me."

Turning my face to look at the floor, I ask in a fearful voice, "What if I don't care if we have sex?" The heat raises to my face once again and my body feels on fire. Feeling his warm breath against my neck, I think, "If I did this, will I be able to live with that fact for the rest of my afterlife?" Raising my head to stare at Muraki, I think as I check out my worst enemy, "Yes, I can." He pushes me back on the couch and climbs on top of me. Feeling the silk shirt against my bare chest makes my body react in ways I can't explain. What has Muraki done to me to want his touch? His soft lips move against my neck and down my chest. Buckling up against the warmth of the body on top of me, I hear him moan. Looking up at his eyes, I think, "I wonder what I did to make him react that way. He seems to enjoy it."

Muraki stands up and explains, "If this is what you want, then I will not stop. Are you sure, Mr. Tsuzuki?"

Replying while I sit up on the couch, "Yes."

He gives me a real smile and replies, "I will be right back, Mr. Tsuzuki."

Nodding my head, I mumble, "Okay." He walks out the room and I take a seat on the carpet floor next to the fire place where I will be warm. I miss his warmth. Waiting about ten minutes, I hear Muraki walk in the room with a couple of thick blankets and I smile at him. He lays one down on the ground and pulls me towards his embrace. He is being so nice to me.

He asks, "Are you sure about this, Asato?"

Nodding my head as I think, "I love hearing my name roll of his tongue." My thoughts start to go to how he can use that tongue to please me into bliss. My shaking hands go up to unbutton his shirt to feel his well-built upper body. I come across a scar on the side of his stomach. Slowly rubbing my finger around the scar tissue, I whisper, "I'm sorry for doing this to you." The scar that I left him with when I was ready to end his life with my own. I had no right to end his life with mine even if he was the one who drove me into insanity.

He takes my hand and kisses it lightly before replying, "It does not bother me, Asato. To be honest, it showed me something. You gave me back my life when you did this and for that I will always be in your debt."

Sliding his shirt off his shoulder, I moan as he bites softly against my neck. We both need to forget our pain. We are both the same.

Waking up with a warm feeling in my pants, I think, "Great. Now, I'm dreaming about sex with Kazutaka." That dream felt so real, but it did happen after all. Standing up and walking to the bathroom to clean myself up, I look into the mirror. How long can I keep this up? It is already time to head back to work. Hearing a soft knock on the bedroom door, I think, "Soka is here already." Walking into the room again, I answer the door to find that I was right and replying, "Let's get to work." Hisoka nods his head and gives me a worry look.

Sitting down while watching Tatsumi pace the office, I think, "He is really worried about Tsuzuki. Then again so am I. If he really felt love for Muraki and to lose him like this, he will not be up for any assignments." I'm just glad there are not any at this point. How long will it take to get back our Tsuzuki? Hearing the door open, I look up from my papers to see Tsuzuki walk in with Hisoka. Tsuzuki turns his face from me and Hisoka stares at us. I speak up, "I'm sorry, Tsuzuki. Tatsumi told me what happened and don't worry you two. I'll not tell anyone about it."

Tsuzuki gives me a surprise look and mumbles, "Thank you, boss."

Shaking my head, I reply, "You and the kid are family to us and don't you two forget that." Hisoka gives me a smile. It must feel good for him to have a family in us and to know that we are here for him. A young girl with red hair appears before our eyes and I ask, "Who are you?"

She bows her head to me and replies, "My name is Ketessa Tsuzuki. It is a pleasure to meet you, Chief Konoe."

What did she say her last name is? Looking at Tsuzuki and her again, I think, "She does look like him. Well, at least in the eyes."

Tsuzuki asks with concern in his voice, "Are you okay?"

She turns to him and smiles while answering, "Yes, father. I am fine. I just wanted to make sure that you were all right."

I don't believe that she is fine. Her eyes betray her answer. It the same with Tsuzuki. They are truly alike and I can't believe what Tatsumi told me about her being Tsuzuki's daughter is true.

She explains, "I cannot stay to long. I have other business to attend to, but I came to make sure you will be fine. Please do not give up hope."

Tsuzuki asks with a hopeful voice, "Is Kazutaka coming back?"

She answers with sadness in her voice, "I do not know that answer. I am sorry that I cannot answer."

She disappears and I see the concern in Tsuzuki's eyes. I guess I would feel the same way for my child. Then again, I feel that every day with everyone in my department. In a way, they are like my children. Clearing my throat, I reply, "There is nothing for you to do here. So, go home and rest some more."

Tsuzuki mumbles, "Thank you for understanding, boss."

Watching him walk out without the kid following, I ask Hisoka, "Is he really all right, kid?"

Hisoka shrugs his shoulders as he replies, "I don't think so, sir. He has been having dreams about the time he has spent with Muraki and it is taking it's toll on him."

I never thought everyone would be so understanding. Terazuma walks to me and gives me an annoyed look. Sighing to myself, I think, "Well, here is one that won't understand a damn thing."

He asks, "Where have you been?"

Seeing Wakaba walking into the office, I answer, "Please don't start, Hajime." Wakaba walks to me and puts a hand on my shoulder. I shake my head to tell her I don't want to talk about it.

Terazuma speaks up with a concern voice, "Listen, just because we don't get along, doesn't mean anything. We all are worried about you." He sighs before he replies, "If you disappeared from our lives, we would have no more fun and I would be bored as hell. I wouldn't have anyone to tease and it would get out of hand because tight ass."

Smiling and chuckling at him, I resort, "Thanks, Terazuma." Waving to them, I walk out the office to head back to my apartment. I am glad Tatsumi got me my old apartment back. Looking to the sky, I think, "I wouldn't want Tatsumi to see the pain in my eyes for another man. He still needs time."

A silk voice asks, "What are you thinking about, my dear Asato?"

Frozen in place, I think, "I have just lost my mind. I'm hearing things now." Turning around slowly to see my love in front of my eyes, I whisper, "Yep, I just lost my mind. My dreams are becoming reality."

He chuckles at me and responds, "That is not true, Asato. I am here and talking to you."

Raising a shaking hand and touching his shoulder, I yell as I jump into his arms, "Kazutaka! You're back!"

He whispers in my ear, "Yes, I am back, my love. I will never leave you. Never again."