[Kai/Gazette] The End [14: forgive me]

Natsumi had woke up on the couch. The only lights were the ones from the candles. There was a complete power failure. She looked around to see Ruki, Uruha, and Reita sleeping back-to-back. Aoi was sleeping with his head in his arms on the coffee table. Kai leaned against the couch, right in front of her. She blushed. Her eyes darted to the digital clock (battery operated). It was 3:55 in the morning. Natsumi sighed.

She looked down. Her shirt was different. Note to self: if I'm in the mood, track down whoever changed my shirt...

"I remember...what happened," Natsumi murmured. Tears filled her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. "Kai-kun...was almost killed...because of Natsuko...in my body..." She shook her head. "I don't want to rely on you anymore, Natsuko! Go away!" That was enough to wake up Kai. He didn't know what to do at this moment. He wanted to embrace her, but at the same time, he didn't want her to know that he heard her. Going against all logic, he stirred and stood up. Natsumi bit her tongue to suppress her gasp.

He wrapped his arms around her body. "Don't cry," he whispered into her ear, "I don't want to see you sad." Lightning flashed. The thunder roared. The wind pounded against the windows. Rain fell harder. "Some storm..." he mused. He tightened his hold. He buried his face into her neck. She blushed. Has Kai gone crazy? Natsumi thought. She shivered. He kissed her neck. "Are you cold?" He must be asleep still. "I'll keep you warm..." Lightning. Thunder. Yelp from Natsumi. "Don't be scared. Don't worry. I'm here."

"Kai-kun?"

"Hai?"

"N-nevermind..."

"Natsumi...chan..." Kai mumbled.

"Hai?"

"I love you."

Natsumi's heart skipped a beat. "Well... Looks like I can't do anything here... Bye-bye!" Natsuko chirped.

"Kai...kun?"

"Mmm..." Kai's grip loosened on her.

"You're sleeping..." Natsumi closed her eyes as well. She had a dreamless night.

~*~

"Awww... They look so cute!"

"Mmm..."

"Did they do anything?"

"You're sick."

Natsumi opened her eyes. All of the lights blinded her. Apparently, power was returned. Natsumi's head was on Kai's shoulder, whose head was on her own. Natsumi sat up straight and stared at the four in front of her. "Who said that?"

"Na...tsu...mi," Kai moaned. Her face became a bright red color as the others snickered. Natsumi looked away, only to see Kai's placid face. Suddenly, there was pounding on the door. She jumped, causing Kai to wake up too. Aoi opened the door, revealing the Chinese man.

"Huang..." Natsumi muttered. "How did you find me?"

"Hmmm... No hug for your older brother?" Huang questioned. Natsumi glared at him. Aoi was about to shut the door. Huang stuck his foot before it closed. "I want to tell you about your mother's condition. Hana-san's condition. My mother is dead, remember?" Natsumi stood up from the couch and opened the door back up--despite Aoi's protests.

"She's alive?" Natsumi questioned, "How...how do you know?"

"I work for her," Huang answered frankly. Natsumi's green eyes met his dark eyes. They were telling the truth. A liar could read through another liar if they're skilled enough. "She's about to die. What she wants is to see you before her life ends. She wants to see you with him."

"Him?" Natsumi repeated.

"Your lover, if you have one," Huang stated, "she leaves in a week, Princess."

"Leaves?" Natsumi repeated again.

"This world," Huang clarified. Huang left. Aoi leaned against the door, slamming it shut.

"Princess?" Aoi recalled. Natsumi quickly paced away from him. Ruki grabbed her wrist.

"Explain to us," Ruki said.

Natsumi glanced at Kai. "But..."

"He dumped her," Reita said, "so she didn't get to hurt him. We told him everything." Natsumi narrowed her eyes at them.

"Y...you traitors!" she cried, jerking her arm away from Ruki's grasp. Tears blinded her sight. She couldn't make it out of the living room. Her knees gave in and collapsed.

Kai walked closer to her and wiped away her tears with his thumb. "We're your friends... Why don't you tell us?"

"Don't hate me..." Natsumi sobbed, "Because without you... I have nothing."

"We don't hate you. We love you. You're our little sister," Uruha assured, patting her back. Ruki kneeled down in front of her.

"I admit it, I really didn't like you at first," Ruki confessed, "the majority of us didn't... We didn't understand. We didn't care. It's a lot different now. We got to know you. You're pretty normal...our type of normal, but you're still secretive."

Reita sat down beside her. "I feel hurt, you know," Reita said, "because you don't trust us enough."

Aoi smiled at her. "Natsumi-chan, we understand your behavior well enough to know what you'll do," Aoi reminded, "so just tell us the truth already."

Natsumi nodded. "My family rules a small country in Europe called Anastasia--after the Russian princess because they're similar. I was raised in Japan though, where my mother decided to reside temporarily. As you all know, I was abused since the times were tough. My older brother and father were trying to control a rebellion about expanding. I ran away during that. I don't know what happened then." Natsumi sighed. "Maybe...I can get an explanation if I see her again... Or just see Huang."

Aoi stared at the spot where Huang stood. "I don't know..."

"Aoi-nii-chan," Natsumi chirped, "please? I want an answer." Aoi gulped. He was weak. The only thing running through his head was Aoi-nii-chan. Ruki rolled his eyes. Reita snorted. Uruha scoffed. Kai chuckled.

"Alright," Aoi reluctantly agreed, "do you know where she is?"

Natsumi laughed nervously. "Ha-ha-ha... Nope. Not a clue," she replied. Everyone gawked at her. "I haven't talked to them in forever! Really talked to them!"

"I get it, I get it!" Aoi cried. He smiled. "I think that was your first undignified outburst!"

"It's not your first," Natsumi retorted.

~*~

"My Anastasia, come back to me," Hana-san sang, "I can give you everything. Royalty. Jewels. Riches. All you have to do is be my queen..."

Huang listened to her song before saying, "This is the song that your husband sang to you, isn't it?"

"It's also the lullaby I sang to my daughter," Hana-san mentioned.

"I saw her eyes," Huang said, "she wants an explanation."

"Nobody gives it to Natsumi but me. I want to see this man named Yutaka as well," she stated, "I want to see her future before I pass on." Mizuki stood outside the door, listening in.

"Yutaka...? Kai...? Natsumi...? It can't be..." Mizuki whispered under her breath. Her thoughts were racing inside her head. Endless possibilities piled on top of each other. Finally, her hand brushed against the cold knob. She forced her usual smile onto her lips. Her hand twisted the knob. "Good morning, Solace-san," Mizuki greeted the patient. The air suddenly became tense as Mizuki placed the tray of food onto the table with a bottle of pills.

Hana-san eyed Mizuki thoroughly before speaking, "Do you know a Solace Natsumi?"

Mizuki wasn't sure what to answer with. She spoke the truth, "Yes, I do. She's a blond haired woman, whose shade may be brighter than the summer's sun. Her green eyes rival with the lush green of spring. Her pale skin says she's the child of winter. However...her personality is unpredictable as autumn."

Hana-san showed a small sign of a slight smile. "Ahh... I see."

"That is..." Mizuki said, "What my boyfriend had said. I only view her as a beautiful, complex woman..." Mizuki's hand on the glass cup gripped it tighter. "I think... I think that he doesn't love me anymore... I think... I think that he's falling for that woman."

Hana-san smirked. "Or perhaps he already fell for her before he even met you," Hana-san mused. Playing mind games was her hobby. "And he didn't notice it then." Tears fell from Mizuki's eyes.

"No... I won't let him go," Mizuki sobbed, "I love him too much." Hana-san stared out the window.

"Astonishing... It's time for the games to finally begin at last," Hana-san observed, "I never knew it'd progress this far."

Huang mentioned, "Do you think we should bring her in for a visit or wait?"

Hana-san smiled. "I think we shall send another messenger," Hana-san stated, "is Hyun coming?"

"Your first son... I believe he is," Huang answered. Preparing the medicine, Mizuki watched in silence. Huang glared at Mizuki, causing her to cringe. "You, nurse, leave." Mizuki nodded before exiting the room. Huang sighed. "He should be arriving soon. Do you want me to make a call?"

Hana-san nodded. "Yes, if you will."

~*~

The plane landed. The prince stepped down from the ladder, dressed casually in a white and black diagonal plaid button down with black jeans and sneakers. He had neatly combed long black hair with blond streaks and emerald green eyes. His skin was fair--not too pale, not too tan.

"Prince Hyun..." his companion, Van, piped up. Van had bluntly cut black hair and dark brown eyes. His skin was tanned--almost like gold. "Your phone is ringing." He handed the thin black phone to Hyun.

"Van, please," Hyun said, "we're friends. Not just prince and servant. Call me Hyun. Nobody else is here." Van nodded. Hyun answered the phone. "Hyun speaking."

"Prince," Huang's voice addressed him, "please, do the Queen a favor and visit your sister. I shall give you her location. Hana-sama wants you to deliver a message."

"Natsumi?" Hyun whispered, "You found Natsumi?! How is she? Her condition?"

"Yes, she's fine. We don't know about her other..."

"That is enough," Hyun assured with a smile, "I will visit her soon."