Hello! Sorry it's been a big gap again. University is evil and takes up more time than I want. Anyway... Thank you to all those who support my book, and a MASSIVE thank you to those who have followed since the very beginning! I applaud your patience! I couldn't have done it without your encouragement and lovely comments. And so: the last chapter. Enjoy, and review, my lovelies.

Chapter 20- Breathless

A lot of people were unsurprised when I decided against going to college. A while into my final year in high school, I was handed a form to fill out on what I wanted to do in the future, a career choice, a college wish, that sort of thing. Then there were the parent-teacher interviews to determine the best path for me. I refused all of their coaxing. My grades, after all, were only average. I smiled and kindly turned down my mum's attempts to get me into college. As for Gin, he remained at home.

Only me, my mother, Kyoko and Hiro even remembered who Gin was. Something Oho-Yama did irreversibly wiped their memories. Maybe only people who loved Gin could remember him. I didn't know. I couldn't work it out. Gin embraced me and told me that he was okay, really, that he didn't mind staying at home for a while. He gave me a smile that looked like he could cry at any moment. At least this would only be for a few months. He would always welcomed me home in a cheerful mood, but I embraced him tightly, able to see his pain.

Ran? Ran was mysterious as ever. While Gin was living at home, Ran retained all of his powers as a god— until Gin took over as Yamagami. He would never tell us where he stayed or how he lived. We learned to accept this is normal. Ran was Ran, and that was the end of it.

Fast forward to the next spring, the spring just before I turned nineteen. A time of great change.

OOO

"You're sure about this?" my mother asked tearfully. She hugged me tight. I leaned into her chest, smelling and taking in the scent of perfume and flour, thinking that I would miss her more than anyone on this Earth.

I nodded. "I'm sure."

"I trust you. You'll be happy here."

I wondered if a mother's love could top anything I held for Gin. She held me tight, as if I were about to disappear right in her arms. I would miss her desperately, but this was what I had chosen to do, months ago, in our conversation with Oho-Yama.

"Look after my daughter," she told Gin firmly. "You've been together almost three years now, and I hope you've grown into enough of a man to provide for someone."

Gin was stood, a small amount of stubble forming on his now straight, hard jawline. He was much taller, a man, lean and muscled but still strikingly beautiful. He shot my mother a steely look of determination, showing her that yes, he would do his best to make sure we had a good life. Gin seemed to have grown into a man.

After all, today was the day we moved to a small house at the base of the mountain, outside the mountain god's forest. Things were becoming quite emotional.

We were stood outside the large traditional house that would be mine and Gin's family home. It was comfortably based just outside the mountain god's forest, very close to the temple. That way, Gin's presence would still keep the mountain pure and safe. The place was huge, having three sizeable bedrooms, and more than enough living space. There were tatami mats on the floors, and sliding doors connecting all the rooms. It was perfect. Tall green bushes and towering trees shielded us from the view of anyone who might walk by; we were truly hidden away. Hidden to carry out Gin's work as a god. He had a job to do— he worked as a tour guide for the village— but still, his main occupation? God. I smirked to myself just thinking about that.

"It's time for me to go," my mother mumbled, glancing behind herself. The taxi driver in the car on the road was beginning to look impatient.

"Okay. Have a safe trip," I replied. I felt the tears well up and fought them back.

She nodded at me, kissed me forehead, and walked swiftly to the taxi. She got inside and the car pulled away, taking her from me and leaving me here to start my new life. I sunk into Gin's chest, finally giving in and beginning to cry.

"We'll see her again soon. Don't you worry, little lady," he said gently, stroking my hair.

"I know. I'm going to miss her, that's all."

"Try to focus on the future, what a good life we're going to have here. Besides, your uncle lives just around the corner, and your grandfather too. It's not like we are alone out here."

I sniffed. "I guess you're right. You're always the voice of reason, aren't you?"

"Not really. You always calmed me down when I panicked, or when I was nervous or in a bad mood. It was you who was the reasonable one."

"Hardly!"

"No, I'm serious. Anyway, shall we go inside our new home?"

I nodded. We held hands firmly and stepped through the doors at the same time.

"Wow," I gasped. "It's impressive. It's huge!"

"Have you not looked inside yet?"

"No— I was busy talking to my mother and helping unload the vans."

Gin gasped himself. "Oh, Hotaru? Do you know if Ran is visiting us? Has he texted you?"

I shook my head. "He'll be around. I don't know why he never texts you. He send me messages all the time, telling me how much he misses us when we go away from town."

"It would be weird for him to do that to me… He's a friend to you, but Ran has always been more of a father figure to me. I'm certainly grateful that he saved me. He doesn't need to text me all the time to remind me of that. I'll be thanking him forever."

"So will I. Having you here with me... is just the best."

Gin was smiling, but his smile was directed at the ceiling, as if he were subconsciously reaching up to the heavens where Ran once lived. His face was easy, devoid of worry. I had always love that pale, clear, carefree skin of his.
I put out my hand and brushed it across his face. As I went to take my hand away, Gin caught it and kissed it. My face flooded with embarrassment. I hadn't even realised I was doing it.

Gin leaned in close to me. "Here're the beginning of everything, in this house. We can live normal lives here, even with my… occupation. I'm sorry for being such a burden. I love you more than anything."

"Don't worry. Me too." I was too flustered to say anything else.

"Let's go upstairs. I already laid out the futon." He winked mischievously at me. I blushed.

His lips pressed softly onto mine, sealing his words. Yes, here was the beginning. The beginning of our forever.