Fists and Lipsticks 2: The Silver Crescent

EPILOGUE

EPILOGUE:

 "I warned you, my son, but you didn't listen to me."

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Kosuke finally understood what those words meant.

So many questions still lingered in our minds, in our hearts. Questions like why? How come? For what reason? We craved answers for those we could not decode, searched for things that would never be found, and came up with reasons behind unfortunate events that only question our worthiness to live and love.

Is life still worth it if you've become so tarnished? Who once was innocent and seemingly perfect now drowning in a puddle of mistakes and flaws?

Is there still room for repentance? For change? Is there still a way to remove the stains that tainted our souls? A method to wash the stench from our sinful hands?

The answer might be 'yes', but often times, the reversal may come a little too late.

Yamazaki Daisuke was already lifeless when we arrived in the Kantei. The investigators reported that he hanged himself merely two hours before we arrived. He was released from prison after being falsely accused of the crimes of Yanagisawa Gendou. After assuming back his position as prime minister, the very first thing Daisuke did was send the Jieitai to rescue his only son. But he did not know how to face him afterwards. He felt greatly responsible for all his son had to go through because of his own mistakes. The stress became too much – too much that it pushed him to ending his own life.

If I started describing how Kosuke mourned for the death of his father, I'm afraid that I may not be able to contain my feelings. I'd stop midway my narration, fall silent, and just breakdown. I'd seen Kosuke cry a couple of times before, but this was the very first time I saw him weeping with his eyes too strained to shed more tears.

"Your father left this in his office," I handed to him an envelope given to me earlier by one of police investigators. "I reckon he wanted you to have this."

Kosuke immediately recognized the envelope as the same one which Yamazaki Daisuke attempted to give to him a few weeks ago – the item which he refused to receive. He opened the envelope carefully. Inside, he found his passport and a plane ticket to the United States. But those were not all.

There was another item inside the envelope. As Kosuke pulled it up, he saw for the very first time the one and only copy of his family picture. It was taken in the hospital right after he was born. Lotus Akiyama was carrying the newborn Kosuke on her arms. Her head was resting on Yamazaki Daisuke's shoulder. Their smiles were priceless.

That was when Kosuke started breaking down again… and so did I.

I embraced him as tightly as I could inside that lonely prison cell, our silent cries echoing across the hall.

Yamazaki Daisuke was given a state funeral seven days later.

Our story was all over the news. The whole Japan probably knew of our mistakes, but we chose to remain strong. This was only the beginning. After all the things we'd been through, we realized that it was not the battle, chase, or bloodshed that was most difficult to undergo. It was the process of recovery.

 Similarly, Saori-chan was discharged from Sato Yuken's newly-reclaimed family hospital on the same day. She was there with us during Yamazaki Daisuke's funeral, holding Crosse's hands. Despite the fact that our appearances were different now, looking at her nevertheless still felt like looking at myself. It was the same feeling I had when I first met my twin sister ten years ago.