This is the end of the fanfic. I'm sorry for taking so long to finish this story. I haven't had much time to write lately. Thank you so very much for your reviews. I hope you like the final chapter. :)
Chapter 20: Dreams and Reality
Yume was awakened by the smell of the candles. She opened her eyes and found herself lying on the floor, with Kouji sitting next to her and looking darkly into her eyes. The mangaka's hands had been tied up and were resting above her belly. In her entire life, Mashiro had never felt a fear so intense like the one she was experiencing at the moment.
"Yamada-kun, what are you doing?" She put her best effort in not letting her terror be noticed in her voice. The animator smiled as his eyes grew wider.
"I'm taking you with me to our new house. You'll love it; we're going to live with my Dad. He'll be astonished to see how beautiful my bride is."
What do I do? Yume asked herself, panicking. If I reject him again, he might hurt me or worse! How stupid of me! How did I never notice he was like this?! I'm so dumb, damn it!
"W-Where's your father now, Yamada-kun?" She questioned, while looking around for a way to escape.
"You know, Yume? My father told me once that life was a road to despair." Kouji narrated, standing up with a candle in his left hand. "Things like happiness and making dreams into reality were lies. I should have listened to him, but I had to try to be happy!" He was becoming more agitated and angry. "I did my best, but you betrayed me. While you were unconscious, I finally understood. There's no happiness in this world. We have to escape reality to realize our dreams. Let's go together to the land of dreams, Yume. Just like my father did."
He walked slowly to an extremity of the hangar where a bottle had been placed. He let a single drop of the liquid inside fall on the flame of the candle he was holding and Mashiro watched in pure horror as the fire grew. Yamada walked with both the bottle and the candle in his hands toward the young woman.
Is this it? I'm going to die? She began to cry. Just like this? Alone with a lunatic in a fire? What are my parents going to do when they know about this? Mom is strong, but I know she's going to fall apart. And Dad… my gosh… my Dad adores me so much… this is going to kill him! Why did I let this happen? Why was I so stupid? What is going to happen to Ichigo? Even if she has Akira now, I was always her best friend. To whom is she going to tell all her secrets and insecurities? With whom is she going to write manga? I never had the chance to tell my parents that I was a mangaka. Why? Because of some stupid fear? Because I wanted to show off to them on the right moment? I'm such an idiot! I'm going to die. There are so many things that I want to tell people. And Takuya never knew… he tried so hard and suffered so much for me… and I didn't tell him…"
"Final chance, my dear." Kouji asked as he had gotten close to Yume again. "Tell me that you were joking before. Tell me that you love me and I'll untie you."
I only need to lie to him. Just one lie. When he unties me, I'll run away. It's the clever decision. I just have to say that I love him!
But there was a problem. Perhaps because Mashiro had grown up reading shounen manga. Perhaps because of her parents' epic love story. Perhaps because of Takuya's insistence in calling her 'heroine'. Despite the conclusion that what she was about to say was the worst thing in that situation, she couldn't avoid to feel pride.
"I'm sorry, Yamada-kun." She began, with great conviction. "I fell in love with another man."
When Yamada was about to throw the bottle on the girl, in fury, the door of the hangar was harshly opened. He turned his head quickly and saw a figure standing there, painting heavily, all covered in sweat and dirt and wearing no shoes. An infuriated Hiramaru Takuya walked into the hangar.
"The minor character arrives in such a cool fashion." Kouji mocked Takuya. Mashiro took the chance and moved her hands in the direction of a candle, hoping to set fire on the rope and be freed.
"What the hell do you think you're doing to Yume-tan?" Takuya inquired, clenching his fists and continuing to approach the animator. Kouji got closer to the mangaka too, studying him.
"Do you think you are a hero?" Yamada taunted Hiramaru. "Did you come here to rescue the princess and marry her? The brave warrior who overcame everything and now takes the prize!"
"Yume-tan is a person!" Takuya stated in anger. "She's not a prize! She's not a thing that only exists to suit someone's needs! She's an extraordinary human being who has her own dreams and is free to make her own choices! And I love her. I don't need anything in retribution for my love. I just want her to be safe and happy!"
"ENOUGH WITH THIS SHITTY TALK!" Kouji yelled, throwing the bottle in Takuya's direction, but missing him. The glass broke when it hit the floor and the flames of the candles nearby started a fire. "You are all mocking me! I can hear your laughs! You worms! I'll kill you all! I'll make you scream in agony!"
Kouji jumped on Takuya and grabbed his neck fiercely. The mangaka tried to fight back but couldn't breathe. The temperature was unbearable and the smoke was covering the place.
"L-let Yume-tan go." Takuya ordered. "I'm the one you hate."
"No, Takuya-san." Kouji replied in a high tone of voice. "It's that bitch's fault for rejecting me! It's her fault for falling in love with you! That's why I'm going to kill you in front of her eyes."
Those words hit Takuya like bullets. Even though he was on the verge of death, what he felt in that moment filled him with happiness.
She loves me.
"Why are you smiling? Who smiles in this situation?" Yamada questioned in confusion.
"A hero does!" Yume yelled, hitting Kouji's head with a piece of wood that had fallen from the wall because of the fire, and making him pass out. Her fists were a little burned, but she was in good state. Mashiro helped Takuya to stand up and they both searched for the exit, taking the unconscious Kouji with them, without sharing a word. At the outside, the firefighters were arriving.
"People saw the smoke and we were called. What happened here?!" The man in charge asked.
"Sir, we need to call the police." Yume said, crying and letting Kouji fall on the ground. Takuya hugged her and cried too. They were asked to go to the hospital first, but Yume was determinate. In the police station, they both gave their reports. Takuya told Yume everything he had hid from her and begged for her forgiveness. He also informed her about Akira's situation. Yume wasn't talking a lot. She wasn't mad at Takuya or anything similar. She was in state of shock. They were sitting on a bench when a police officer approached them and said that the station had taken the liberty to call their families and that Kouji had been sent to a hospital where he would be under surveillance, and his mother had been contacted. Takuya and Yume nodded.
Moritaka and Miho had arrived in the police station at the same time as Yuriko and Kazuya.
"Aoki-sensei and Hiramaru-sensei?" Mashiro asked, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"We were called. It seems that our son was involved in a dangerous situation." Aoki replied. Each one of the parents had a heavy and concerned expression.
"The same happened to our daughter. Did Yume know your son?" Miho asked.
"Your daughter is Yume-tan?" Kazuya questioned in shock.
"Yume-tan?" Mashiro wasn't understanding what Hiramaru was talking about.
"We should enter and find them already." Miho was impatient. The four of them did so and it didn't take long for a police officer to guide them to where Yume and Takuya were sitting. Moritaka noticed immediately that the boy next to his daughter was the pervert he had seen on the day when the girls moved to their apartment. However he didn't have time to say anything before Yume ran to him and Miho and hugged both of them, crying. Yuriko and Kazuya headed to their son and hugged him too.
"Yume-chan, what happened exactly?" Moritaka asked, hugging her tightly.
"I need to tell you many things. But before that I need to see Ichigo." Yume was trying to control her emotions.
"Akira-kun got hurt and was hospitalized. She's with him now." Miho explained.
"I know. Could you please take me to where she is? After I talk to her, I'll explain everything to you. I promise." Yume pleaded. Miho nodded, understanding Yume; Moritaka was anxious and agitated, but agreed too. Takuya stood up.
"Please, allow me to go too. Akira-san is my best friend and I don't want to let Yume-tan alone." The young man asked.
"What is your involvement with my daughter? And what were you doing with her in a hangar that was set on fire?" Moritaka inquired, suspecting of the boy. Though Yuriko and Kazuya were ready to defend their son, it was Yume who stood up for Takuya.
"If it wasn't for Takuya risking his life and going to my rescue, I would be dead now!" Yume stated, holding the young man's hand. "I know that the first impression he gives is not good, but Takuya is the kindest and bravest person I ever met and I'm not going to let anyone insult him!"
Takuya blushed at Yume's actions and words. Yuriko and Kazuya were touched by the scene. Miho smiled, acknowledging her daughter's feelings. Moritaka was first shocked and then began to comprehend everything. Yume-chan, don't tell me… my little girl has…
"Do you love my daughter?" Mashiro asked Takuya abruptly.
"Yes, I do. With my entire heart." Hiramaru replied calmly and convicted.
"That's all what I need to know." Moritaka sighed. "We better go to the hospital."
Yume didn't let go of Takuya's hand until they arrived at the place and she found Ichigo sitting on the floor, hiding her head behind her knees. Not far from her, Eiji was standing motionlessly in front of the glass window of Akira's room, watching his son's sleep. Aiko had been informed and was returning from a trip. Akito and Kaya had tried to comfort Ichigo and Eiji, without luck, and now were standing next the young woman.
"Ichigo!" Yume headed toward her friend, grabbing both of her hands and trembling. "This was all my fault. I'm so sorry. I'm so deeply sorry."
Ichigo lifted her head, letting her red eyes visible. "He was attacked in the restroom… The culprit ran away… I couldn't do anything for him."
"The culprit was Yamada Kouji." Yume confessed, swallowing her sobs. "I never realized how his true personality was and let him enter our lives. I was foolish and dumb… and I put everyone in danger, including myself. I am so sorry, Ichigo."
"It wasn't your fault, Yume-tan!" Takuya tried to make her feel better. "You didn't have how to imagine that Yamada was a sociopath! He tied you up and tried to burn you to death, don't you dare feel guilty over it!"
That statement startled every person in the place, even Niizuma Eiji turned his head to Yume.
"Who is this Yamada Kouji you're talking about?" Moritaka asked, in deep fury. "Where is he? I'm going to make him pay!"
"He was sent to a hospital and a police officer is watching him. I doubt he's in this hospital, though." Takuya replied.
"Yamada-kun?" Ichigo was confused. "But he… you were going to confess to him… I encouraged you… oh my god… OH MY GOD!"
"He took me to a hangar and asked me to marry me." Yume narrated. "I told him I had fallen in love with another person…" Yume couldn't stop the tears from falling. Ichigo hugged her in a sudden movement. They both cried.
Yamada Kouji hurt Akira and almost killed Yume. I almost lost two of the people I love the most…. And I couldn't do anything. I couldn't protect anyone. I always thought that I was so intelligent and tough… but in the end I'm just useless.
"I want to tell our parents everything." Yume spoke with conviction, despite her weak voice. "Since that day when we made a gamble and a deal until tonight. I don't want to hide anything from them anymore."
"I understand." Ichigo wiped her tears away. "No more stupid secrets."
Eiji's cell phone got a message from his wife and he went to her encounter without hearing the story the girls were going to tell. Aiko left a cab in the entrance of the hospital and rushed inside, finding her husband waiting for her.
"What happened to Akira?!" She asked in despair.
"It seems that he was involved in a fight and was beat up very badly. The doctors said that he's going to be all right." Eiji informed with sadness.
"Fight? What was he thinking?" The woman relaxed a little after hearing that Akira was out of danger.
"Our son is a hero, you know? He fought a villain, just like in a manga."
"Life is not like a manga." Akina replied.
"I know it. But repeating to myself that the hero never dies was the only thing that kept me from breaking down." Eiji explained, letting a few tears drop. "I was never the logical and mature type of person, like you. I'm an eternal boy who fears to face reality and hides himself behind manga. People call me genius, but I'm a failure as a father and an adult."
"I'm not a woman who would fall in love with a failure of a man." Aiko contested, hugging Eiji. "I chose to share my life with you, Niizuma-san. Take that into consideration before you spit nonsense."
The male mangaka didn't expect those words. They made him feel better.
"I know, Akina-sensei." Eiji hugged her back. "I'm sorry."
Meanwhile, in front of Akira's bedroom, the adults were digesting the story Yume and Ichigo had told them.
"You're Tashida Hina." Akito sighed, still in disbelief.
"We're probably going to change our pen name to Tashi Hina now." Ichigo added.
"Your story reminded me a little of Mashiro's and Miho's." Kaya commented. "Except for the tragic twist."
"In the end it was impossible for me to follow the footsteps of my parents." Yume whispered with great sadness and guilty.
"You were never meant to follow anyone's footsteps, Yume-chan." Miho affirmed.
"Your mother is right! You have your own story and your own path! Real life is not like a manga! It doesn't have to follow a pre-determinate direction!" Moritaka agreed.
"There was never any reason for you to fear anything." Akito stated to his daughter. "We would always support you in any decision you made and always feel pride of you."
The two girls were deeply moved by those manifestations of love. Ichigo laughed nervously. "I don't know about you, Yume, but I'm feeling terribly stupid right now."
"You're already laughing? You recover too fast, you know?" Yume smiled weakly. "I do feel stupid. I wish I could forget the stupid things I've done."
"Don't say that!" Kaya reprehended. "If it weren't for the stupid things, people wouldn't be able to grow up!"
"And even stupid things can lead you to happiness in a tortuous way." Miho added wisely.
Ichigo unconsciously turned her head to the bedroom's direction.
Yume looked to Takuya.
And they both thought yeah.
Days later.
Hasegawa-san had used his influence to send Kouji to a mental institution and avoid charges. Akane visited his son every day. The doctors explained that the former animator was suffering from a serious case of denial but would receive the best care he could and would probably recover. On a sunny day, Akane found Kouji walking on the garden of the hospital under the supervision of a nurse. When he saw his mother, the young man ran to her and hugged the woman happily.
"Mommy, you're late! We were waiting for you!"
"We?" Akane asked, fearing the answer.
"Dad and me, of course!" Kouji replied, pointing to the air. "We're going to celebrate that the Magic Leaf is going to animate a manga of Ashirogi Muto!"
Akane bit her lower lip and forced a smile.
"That's true, we have to celebrate."
Kouji was beaming and gesticulating quickly while he talked to his invisible father. Akane wanted to cry, but she stayed strong. I wasn't the best mother you could have had, Kouji. I shouldn't have let you push me aside and isolate yourself. You suffered so much, my love. You are so damaged. But I'm going to redeem myself. I'll take care of you, son. I'll help you get better.
After Akira was released from the hospital, explained to his family and friends how he had been attacked and heard what Kouji had done, he waited for a good opportunity to propose to Ichigo. He kept the blue plastic ring in his pocket every day. Rumi had been distressed on a certain evening, after she finished her work; she couldn't stop looking at her watch.
"Is something bothering you, Saotome-san?" Hiramaru asked in a polite tone.
Rumi wondered whether she should tell her bosses the truth. She decided to do so.
"You know that I'm dating my boss in Young Jump, right?"
"We pretty much deduced it." Akira answered.
"Well… Fukuda-sensei is going to introduce me to his father today. I think our relationship might be getting serious."
"Fukuda?" Hiramaru was surprised. "I've heard stories about a Team Fukuda from my mother. Is your boyfriend related to that Fukuda-sensei?"
"Ken's father was a mangaka in Jump before his wife died. Now he only takes care of a lamen shop." Rumi explained. "I'm worried. What if his father doesn't like me? I don't even know if I'm ready for a serious relationship."
"Listen, Saotome!" Akira stood up from his sit. "Sometimes you have to follow your heart and take risks! If the man doesn't like you, make him like you! If you don't know whether or not you're ready for a new level in your relationship, just try it out and then come to a conclusion!"
Rumi had been convinced by those words and left the apartment immediately to meet Fukuda Ken. Akira touched the ring through the pocket's fabric and took a decision too.
"Takuya, would you mind taking Mashiro to eat an ice cream? I want to talk privately to my girlfriend."
"Sure." Hiramaru agreed, getting out of their place. Akira waited five minutes, to be sure that his two friends were gone, and went to knock on Ichigo's door.
"Akira? Something happened? Yume and Takuya had just left." The girl spoke, opening the door. Akira quickly kneed in front of her, took the ring out, and offered it to the woman.
"L-Let's encourage each other for the rest of our lives. Please m-m-m-marry me." He proposed, nervously.
Ichigo stared at the boy for five seconds, trying to understand the meaning behind the plastic ring. When she noticed Niizuma's anxious expression, she replied.
"Of course I'll marry you, silly."
"YES!" He unintentionally screamed, going back to his feet. "Oh, man! We have to start planning the wedding! It must be a big party! We must invite everyone!"
"Wow, calm down, Niizuma." Ichigo contested, smiling. "Why the rush? Let's stay engaged for a year or more and then make a small wedding."
"WHAT?!" Akira didn't approve the idea at all. "I waited my whole life to marry you, don't take this moment away from me, woman!"
"It's my wedding too, damn it! My opinion is as valid as yours!" Ichigo was getting mad.
"It seems that we need to work on a way out of this dilemma." Akira sighed. "How about this: Let's compete to see which manga can take first place for ten weeks. The winner chooses the date and the type of the wedding."
Ichigo was visibly fired up. They both shook hands as they said "Deal!"
Their family would never be normal.
Yume and Takuya bought ice cream in the same store they did on the night the man confessed his feelings and his determination to fight for her. It felt as if many years had passed since that night but both of them treasured those memories. They sat on the sidewalk and began to eat.
"How are you feeling?"
"You don't need to ask me this every time we see each other, Takuya."
"I'm sorry. I worry about you."
"I know that. Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate your concern, but I'm not made of glass, you know?"
"Of course I know."
They loved each other and knew they were corresponded. However, it had been difficult for them to talk normally.
"Are we dating?" Yume asked suddenly.
"I-I don't know. I never dated before, I have no idea how this works." Takuya wasn't sure about what to say. "Do you… do you want…?"
"Does it feel abrupt to you? I mean… my change of heart?" Yume had a concerned tone of voice.
"Well… I always had this hope that you would change your feelings… and we got closer with the time. It wasn't abrupt. Actually, I think it took too long, perhaps because I was the one waiting and hoping. But I'm happy that you fell in love for my character with all my faults and imperfections. It makes me so happy that I want to cry." Takuya confessed, feeling humidity in his eyes. Yume caressed his face.
"I used to get nervous very often… to feel inadequate and insecure… it's funny but I think after I met you…" Yume was trying not to cry "… I began to change. And I began to see myself in a different light and appreciate me more. You are an incredible person. I don't mind that you're a dork or that you're clumsy or a huge fan shoujo manga… I adore everything about you. I'm sorry for taking so long to realize… I'm so sorry…"
Takuya hugged Yume tenderly and kissed her forehead. She smiled and pulled him closer so their lips could touch. No more words were needed for them.
I used to hate it when people found out who my parents were. I don't mind it at all today. I'm proud of them. Not only because of their professionalism… I'm proud of them for whom they are. They believed in love and fought for their dreams without ever forgetting the reality. They are strong, brave and passionate. My story might not resemble theirs so much. My choices might have been very distinct, but it doesn't matter. I'm happy for having them as parents. And for having Ichigo, Takuya and Akira in my life. I'm happy for being a mangaka…
I am happy for having found love.