PART X

 Alex let out a small gasp, her eyes immediately snapping open. Instantly, the four are up to their feet, peering at her with concern.

She blinked as the bright fluorescent light of her room almost blinded her. Suddenly, four faces looked down on her, mercifully blocking it.

"You gave us quite a scare there, princess." Yohji was the first to speak. Alex tried her best to focus.

"Where am I?"

"In your room." Ken answered simply. "With a gunshot wound just a little above your shoulder."

"Omi?" She groggily asked.

"Here." Came his voice. Instantly, Alex smiled as she felt his warm hand over hers.

"Ready to tell us what happened?" Aya carefully asked. He sat down on her bed as he felt himself drained with worry and anxiety.

"I-I saw this man, familiar. He was the last one I saw before the bomb exploded on us back then." She began. "I was in the library and that is where I saw him, then I followed him till we reached this warehouse."

"Warehouse? Where?" Yohji asked.

"East from the library." Alex replied scanning her memory. "It was an old, dilapidated thing. The next thing I knew, I was seen and gunshots…"

"This might be something." Ken murmured. Aya sat there silently while Omi stood up, eager to begin the research. The sooner he starts, the sooner he can make the bastard pay for what he did to her.

"Let's start tomorrow." Aya momentarily said.

"But-- " Omi began in protest.

"Alex needs your company for tonight." Aya argued. " And besides we are too weary to baby sit this little brat here." He added fondly rumpling her hair.

"Hey!" Alex began. She chuckled as she slapped Aya's hand away. Then she looked at Ken.

"Am I a brat?"

"Uh-huh." Ken answered as Yohji and Omi laughed. Aya let out a tiny smile.

"This is not fair!" Alex began laughing. "I'm sick and wounded and recuperating, you should all be nice to me!"

"Good night Alex!" They all chorused, standing up and walking towards the door. Alex let out a mocking grumble.

"Great! They are deserting me now." She said. "I just can't believe this, even my boyfriend… " She added as the four men walked out.

"No, seriously you should get some rest." Aya said after a moment, poking his head inside her room. He then walked inside and stood by her bed.

"No more reading, okay?" He said as he raised the blankets up to her chin.

"Okay." She replied smiling sheepishly. "Oyasumi, Aya-neechan."

Aya smiled as he got ready to walk to the door. He then stopped and turned to her.

"I mean it, Alex-chan." He said sternly. "No more reading."

"Aw! How did you know that I'm going to sneak up on you?" She said letting out a soft grumble. Aya shook his head fondly.

"How am I supposed to make myself sleepy?" She retorted unhappily. "I just woke up."

"No more reading." He repeated. Then he sat on her bed and looked at her, his eyes showing her concern. Without a word, Alex sat and leaned against him, bursting into tears.

"I ran away again. I was so scared" She sobbed.

"You didn't run away. You did what was right." Aya said placing his hand on her head. "And it is okay to feel afraid."

"I'm sorry." She said softly. "I made you all worry."

"That's all right. At least you are fine now." Aya replied soothing her. "Just promise me that you will not do something as stupid as that ever again, all right?"

"Hai."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

With that Aya gave out a tiny smile. He pushed her gently on the bed and brought the blankets up to her chin.

"Try to sleep." He said. Alex pouted at him. He then shook his head and without thinking, he gave her a kiss on her forehead.

"Sleep." He ordered and walked out of her room.

==========

"Hi." Omi softly said as he poked his head inside her room later that night. Alex looked up and smiled.

"Hi."

Omi grinned sheepishly as he tiptoed inside. He was already dressed in his pajamas and obviously getting ready for bed. He sat down on her bed and smiled at her.

"Seems like I won't be having French toasts for tomorrow." He began. Then his face changed. "You scared the hell out of me, Alex."

"I'm sorry." She said softly as they held hands.

"Don't ever do that to me again, kudasai?"

"I promise."

Then they stared at each other. After a moment Alex took a deep breath.

"Omi, may- may I ask you something?"

"What is it?" Omi said gently. Alex struggled to sit up as Omi immediately assisted her. She turned to him, leveling her eyes with his.

"Who- may I know who um… Ouka is?"

At the mention of the name, his features immediately darkened. He turned away from her, his chest suddenly constricting with pain.

"H-how did you know about Ouka?" He asked.

"Remember the time you lent me your notes? There is some doodling there and--" She stopped. "Look, Omi you don't have to answer if you don't want to. It's perfectly fine with me."

For a second there, Omi stopped. He looked at her and felt something tugged at the strings of his heart. No it wouldn't be fair. Alex is Alex. She was the one who filled the empty spaces Ouka left inside his heart. She made him happy. It is just her right to know everything.

"Ouka was- was a cousin." He replied haltingly.

"Was?"

"Yes." He replied and no sooner the words came tumbling out of his mouth. He told her of his past, of Ouka's involvement. He told her of his loneliness and his fears. He told her everything till there was nothing left to hide.

"It- it was just so painful." He said sobbing harder. "You just realized how afraid I was when you got home with blood all over you. I- I- if something terrible happens to you, I wouldn't know-- "

He couldn't continue any longer as a torrent of tears cam down his eyes. Alex immediately wrapped him around her arms, his head resting against her chest, his body wracking with sobs.

"I tried desperately not to fall in love with you. Everyone I love always end up dying. I- I- just-- "

"Sh… that's enough." She said as she stroked his hair. She could feel her own tears forming as well as her heart went out to him.

"I love you, Alex."

"I love you too, Omi." Then she held him at arm's length. She smiled at him and cupped his face with her hands.

"I cannot promise you that I won't die because someday I will, Omi." She began softly. "But I can assure you that I'm not your sister or your cousin."

With that, Omi began to smile. He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips.

"Do you know how happy you make me feel?" He asked softly. Alex rested her head against his chest as her reply. He immediately wrapped her in his arms.

"Do you know how complete you make me feel?" She asked. Omi smiled and lifted her face to his. Then without a word, he kissed her lips. Alex responded with sweet and genuine passion. When she felt Omi's hand going down to her chest, the kiss growing heated, she reluctantly tore her lips away from his.

"Omi…"

"I'm sorry Alex. It's- it's just that-- " He turned away as he felt his face get warm, his body furiously reacting against her soft ones. He felt himself hyperventilating, a delicious heat coursing through his body as he moved a little farther away from her.

"I- can I make love to you, Alex?"

With that, Alex momentarily stopped and stared at him. Then a soft smile crossed her lips.

"You know I'm Catholic don't you?" She asked. Then she took his hand in hers. "If we wait, I promise you it would be worth it."

Omi nodded once as he accepted her decision with respect. He turned away.

"I'm sorry-- for even asking."

"No don't be." She quickly said. "I want to make love you too, Omi. In fact, I like to give all my firsts to you but we will still have the right time for that, ne? It is just not now. And besides, my arm's in a cast right now."

"Yes you are right." He agreed. Then he smiled. To his surprise, Alex gave him a sweet kiss on his cheek.

"You do love me." She said happily.

"Of course I do! Did you doubt me?"

"Not doubt but uncertain." She replied. "You see, by being the perfect gentleman, by respecting my decision, you showed me how much you do."

"It's- it's just…

"Thank you." She said softly. Omi smiled at her and with one final kiss, he left her room feeling true happiness for the first time.