A/N: For those still here, drama ensues in this chapter.

Also, you'll find out a lot more about Rein's past.

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Masahiro was given a Reinmyo, a false name given to the deceased to prevent the return of their soul when their name was called. He got a long and rare one written in highly prestigious, ancient Kanji that most of us can hardly read. It was supposed to reflect how virtuous the person had been in their lifetime, but in this case, it was a reflection of our steep donation to the shrine.

Then came the task of transporting the body to the crematorium. The Priest chanted various sutras that were supposed to assist him along the afterlife. Masahiro needed all the help he could get. 

We clasped our hands in prayer too, prayer beads slung on our palms. And the body slowly descended into the furnace. The smell was familiar. I recalled it from my biological mother’s funeral.

When it was done, we picked his bones from the ashes with chopsticks and placed them in an urn. You had to be sure to pick up the pieces of feet first and head last, lest he be placed upside down. The urn was then moved into the Reikyusha. The chosen hearse was a beautiful black gilded design mounted on the back of a Toyota.

Very suitable for a man of his stature. The only shining, golden thing in a sea of men and women dressed in black. There were twenty cars trailing slowly behind it, bearing many different flower arrangements. The streets were lined with thousands of Yakuza that appeared from everywhere. 

The police were there too, posted at strategic locations, more afraid of us than we were of them. 

It rained as the urn was placed in the Yakuza graveyard. The headstone had his name written in elaborate fashion, coupled with the Oyabun’s name, Yamakichi Ayako. The red in which it was written would be removed when she would come to rest there as well.

Shockingly, the whole thing passed without incident. At night, when the guests had left, the vehicles and the police all cleared up, and the Oyabun retired to her mansion, I snuck out.

It was the ideal time for me to go get Suzuna. Who, for obvious reasons, wasn’t present. I had no idea how I would face her. I had already wasted two days with my stay in the hospital and now even more with the funeral.

I pulled Michi along and took the car because I was feeling a little bit off. 

Would Suzuna ever find it in herself to trust me after this? Was she scarred forever? 

Who was I kidding…of course she was.

No one got to walk away from something like that unscathed. I squeezed the steering wheel tight enough that I couldn't feel my hands after a while. 

Masahiro had told me to make myself available…hand too low on my back, he whispered it in my ear. His moist breath still clung to my skin. 

I’d gone to Seoul instead.  

It was all my fault.

My arms jerked the steering wheel to the side and I barely avoided ramming my car into a truck next to us. The thing had appeared right next to my face, and I smell it and hear its wet, strained breathing. I knew it wasn’t real, but my heart was thundering so badly it hurt my chest.

It had been Masahiro’s way of punishing me. I should just have let him do it. I had let him so many times before, what was one more? 

I loosened my tie, struggling to regulate my breathing. The Hannya mask was still hovering in my peripheral vision. I’m pretty sure it’s some kind of stress response. It had been years since it reared its head. 

Michi was looking out the window, oblivious, and I focused on his stillness to force the vision away. 

It disappeared by the time I reached Kimiko’s apartment. 

Maybe bringing Michi along was a bad idea. He was pulling all kinds of strange looks as they walked into her building. With his general twitchiness and neon green hair, he always did. An old couple waiting for the elevator refused to get in with us. 

Michi just smiled at their horror and discomfort. A quality I greatly admired in the man.

“She will be happy to see you.” Michi said, as we stood in front of Kimiko’s door, “You will be fine.” Maybe he wasn’t so oblivious after all. 

I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Someone looked through the peep-hole and then the door opened to reveal a middle-aged woman I don’t recognize.

“You must be Rein-San,” She said, looking apprehensively at Michi, who was clawing at his tie..

“Hello!” He said extra cheerfully, bringing his face close to hers. She jumped backwards with a hand on her chest, which I took as my cue to walk right through the door.

“Yo-Your sister is with Kimiko-San in the kitchen,” she said, “I’m her editor. She has been expecting you for a few days, so go right in. I was leaving anyway…” 

She continued to speak, but I stopped paying attention. 

I couldn’t anymore.

Akito was there.

Akito was there, and he was kissing Kimiko. His hands in her hair…her lips on his.

“Ni-San!” Suzuna came running towards me, shocking the two to break their kiss and look at us.

Suzuna rammed into me, sending me hurtling towards Michi, a solid wall behind me. 

I caught her, held her, feeling my face move into a smile as I looked at the couple. 

And Akito smiled back.