Feather Bound

Chapter 59

He swallowed nervously, gazing at the front door of the large house in front of him. The warm summer breeze played with his feathers, and the sun's rays kissed his skin, but these external comforts did little to quell the storm of nerves within.

Six months had passed since they rescued Himari, and it marked almost a year to the day since her mother entered the program that intertwined their fates. Reflecting on the tumultuous events that had unfolded in just a year, it was almost astonishing how much they had been through—a condensed lifetime of experiences.

True to their word, the Commission had promptly transferred the agency's deed to him, arriving in his mailbox within two days of Himari's rescue. He had stared at it for hours, an official end to the Commission's control over him. Keigo had tried to keep tabs on Jiro's trial, eager to witness justice being served. However, that satisfaction eluded him; Mamoru had informed him three weeks later that Jiro had been "terminated." The President had accomplished the task more discreetly, unlike the brazen act of tossing him off a skyscraper. Keigo had simply snorted in response, rolling his eyes.

So much for a legal system.

Himari had been discharged from the hospital just a few days after she had woken up. The doctors were thrilled with her progress and had quickly put her onto anxiety medication to help with her mental health. She had required portable oxygen for the first few weeks, the doctors just wanting to make sure her lungs had some extra time to rest. She was miserable, wheeling around her little cart with the canister attached as they loaded her up into the car, though the Christmas presents waiting for her at home certainly helped lighten her mood.

It didn't take long for her to begin asking about her dad, and eventually, they were forced to confront the truth. Y/N sat her down, gently revealing that Koru had passed away. Despite the terrible things he had done to her and her mother, he was still her father, and it was evident she still loved him. Witnessing her tears was painful, and he felt fucking helpless, frozen in his chair as she cried out desperately for her father. Her mother embraced her tightly, attempting to provide as much comfort as possible, her own tears slipping down her face.They hated having to tell her, but there was no avoiding the necessity of sharing the truth. They couldn't alter the past, only strive to move forward. It was obvious she was dealing with a significant amount of trauma, and Y/N had started taking her to therapy sessions to address some of the issues. Together with her medication, they had seen some positive changes.

Parenting presented its own challenges to learn and adapt to. Despite the magnetic force that seemed to have bonded them since her rescue, she was occasionally wary around him. Deep down, she knew he was a good person, but he could sense the hesitation she carried in her interactions with him. He suspected it was tied to guilt, as if she believed being near him was a betrayal to her father. Unsure of how to address this with her or Y/N, he opted to keep his distance during those moods, letting her mother take the lead.

However, there were moments when she would wake in the middle of the night from nightmares, screaming for him. He'd never really been a light sleeper before, but the first time it happened had sent both of them scrambling for her room in a panic. They found her sitting up in bed, clutching her doll, screaming and crying. It fucking broke his heart, recalling the nightmares from when he first started his training, waking up screaming for his own mother. Standing in the doorway, he was unsure of what to do as her mother tried her hardest to calm her.

"No, Mommy," she sobbed, her large, tear-filled eyes turning to him. "Hawks, please."

Y/N stared at him for a second before giving him a soft smile. He swallowed nervously, walking towards the bed as Y/N moved away. Himari shifted, allowing him to settle next to her as she quickly curled herself by his side. Y/N looked them over with a soft chuckle before leaning over, kissing his temple gently.