It Will End In A Kiss

How To Be an Akage

(GILBERT)

I sunk a hand on Zane's hair while we lay together on the bed. Darkness and shadows surround us. We should be exhausted after a whole day of activities and having that talk with the boys but I found myself still awake even though the digital clock on top of the bedside table reads ten minutes past midnight.

And I know for sure that I am not the only one still awake and plagued with thoughts. I heard Zane sighing. My husband lay on his belly, one of his arm hugging my waist while his head is on the crook of my shoulder and arm.

"I think it went well enough," I said while playing with the strands of my husband's hair.

"Robin cried. He was devastated. He got scared. I think he is still scared. It didn't go well for me," Zane grumbled.

"You are pissed for Master Robin, that is why." I said, feeling amused. Trust Zane to feel irritated on behalf of his nephew whom he thinks has been slighted by his own father.

"I am beyond pissed. If its up to me, I will just throw that old man's corpse into a landfill." Zane huffed. "But no. After an elaborate wake, we will still need to perform an elaborate cremation ceremony for him before the dramatic reading of his last will. I think we should fly back to the Philippines as soon as we wake up tomorrow." Zane moved to lift his body up so he can gaze down on me. "What do you say? Lets just let my relatives cremate the old man's body. Lets bundle up the boys and fly back to Manila."

I flicked a finger on his forehead. "For what? So you and your family will grace the headlines of every business section on every newspaper and online new sites tomorrow? Surely, I am not the only one who noticed the camera and media people on the wake yesterday. You couldn't be that stupid, right?"

Zane rubbed that part that I flicked. "After the reading of the will, we WILL grace every news site here and abroad. Surely, the news of my brother's disownment and the change of dynamics in our company and family will make the rounds. It will happen no matter what we do."

"True. But running away will only serve to pique the media's interest. I can imagine the media running after us in Manila just to catch a photo of the boys. What about Blu's privacy and those innocent people around the boys?"

"Shit!" Zane moaned as he fell on the bed again. He bury his face on my neck and let out a low frustrated breath. I chuckled as I patted his head. "I know, I know. It truly could make anyone want to scream onto a pillow."

"Blu and Robin's world will turn upside down. Robin will be on spotlight again. I hate this," Zane groaned. "It seems like my family is always in the news. Just a couple of months ago, Otosan and Misaki were on the front page for announcing their intention to marry."

"Ah...that feels like a lifetime ago," I sighed.

"I'm tired, Gilbert." Zane said with a tinge of sadness in his voice. "I get tired too. It feels like ever since Robin was born, its like I have been fighting hard just to keep him with me."

I held him tighter. There is truth in what he said. Zane saved Master Robin from Master Daimo's chaotic household when Master Robin was barely five. Fought Madam Misaki and her goons from taking his nephew when Master Robin was six. Lived in the police station when Master Robin was kidnapped at seven. Almost scorched everyone to get Master Robin to breath again when his nephew was eight. Established a calm household for his nephew when Master Robin was nine. Uprooted himself, left Japan and relocated to the Philippines to get Master Robin away from prying eyes and hide his nephew's condition.

Zane did almost all he can for Master Robin. Even taking Blu in as his ward when Blu's parents were killed by the orchestration of either his father or brother. Zane has been paying for everything that went wrong when he almost didn't do any of them. Of course he would be tired. Who wouldn't be?