Chapter 3

Yuki got the stuff for the weekend that he would normally and added some of her favorites. He was unpacking everything into his small kitchen. He knew how to cook, but he rarely did. He made sure everything was in its place before he knew she would be there. He really couldn't believe that Mitsuhide had suggested she stay with him for the weekend at all. It was those things that made him wonder just how much Mitsuhide knew about him.

Four years of being her slave and he wouldn't trade it for the world. When she turned her smile his way, everything in the world seemed perfect. When the adoption was final Yuki was there. When Kit had her first child, Yuki was there in the waiting room holding Rin's hand. When Kit and Mitsuhide got married though a small ceremony to begin with he was there. Everything that had been deemed important by her he had been there standing right next to her.

Everything needed to come out of the dark and into the light. He had to let her know and though he was really bad with words she seemed to understand him. She would laugh when he called her dummy and idiot only because in his mind those were his nicknames for her. He was in love with her.

There was nothing she could do that would change that. He had lost his heart four years ago, and now it was time to tell her. Everything they had done together was etched into his mind. Even Shingen couldn't give him advice on this because he was already to far gone. He hoped beyond hope that she would possibly say the same, that she loved him as well.

Yuki let the what if's cloud his mind, so he lost track of time as he looked around. He didn't have much, but he was willing to share with her. He would ride out her college career waiting for her if that was what it took. He looked at the time and knew Masamune should be on the road with Gabbie by then. Mitsuhide should be picking Rin up now. He was starting to get restless.

"Dad you are early.", Rin said as she got into the minivan. She threw her stuff in the back and climbed into the passenger seat.

"Can't I be a little early to see my favorite oldest daughter?", he asked.

"What are you up to?", Rin asked.

"I am not up to anything.", Mitsuhide responded with a chuckle.

"Then what is going on?", Rin asked.

"What do you mean?", Mitsuhide asked, "Is something going on?"

"Dad, Please.", rin said.

"Do you want me to tell you or do you want to figure it out on your own?", Mitsuhide asked.

"So something is going on! I knew it. Why did Masa pick up Gabbie? Why is she staying with him? Why are you pawning me off to Yuki?", Rin asked.

"Your mother and I figured with the noise of the house both of you would like some peace.", Mitsuhide said. "I hate to say it, but I thought the four of you were slightly loud. I changed my mind; your youngest brothers and sister are louder."

"Babies are.", Rin replied.

"I have found that out.", Mitsuhide said with a chuckle.

"So about this weekend?", Rin asked.

"Rin you are an adult now. It is perfectly fine for you to spend the weekend at a friends house. Even if that friend is Yukimura.", Mitsuhide said. "Your mother and I both agreed on that."

"But dad it is weird.", rin said.

"What is so weird about it. Yuki has barely left your side since that day. He has been a good friend to you.", Mitsuhide said with a sigh.

"But dad he is a guy!", Rin said.

"And?", Mitsuhide prompted. "You are twenty now."

"Dad it is weird.", Rin repeated.

"Do you like Yukimura Rin?", Mitsuhide asked. He knew he was breaking his don't ask don't tell policy right then, but he had to know.

"Yeah, I like him.", Rin said.

"That isn't what I meant Rin.", Mitsuhide said with a sigh again.

"Do I like like him?", Rin asked.

"Something like that.", Mitsuhide said, and he watched Rin think that through. It was always amazing to him how much she looked like Kit and the way she thought was no different. The thoughts showed on her face making them completely readable to him or anyone else watching her.

"Dad.", Rin said.

"Rin.", Mitsuhide said back, "I am being serious."

"I don't know.", Rin said finally. "It isn't like I have thought about it before.

"I suggest to think about it, Rin.", Mitsuhide said. "I won't get involved and neither will mom but understand this, Yukimura has been there for everything important in your life since he became a part of it. He is a grown man, sweetheart, not a little boy on a string."

"Are you saying I treat him like he is a toy?", she asked.

"Look at things yourself and make that decision.", Mitsuhide said.

"Do you think I have?", Rin asked.

"No.," he replied easily, "But I know you. I know him. Other people may think you have though. Rin it is time to think about the whole picture not just you in school."

"Are you pushing this?", Rin asked.

"I am doing nothing of the sort. I want my girls to be happy. Rin it is time to think about you and Yuki as more than just friends. I have held my tongue for years, and I will continue to, but you need to look long and hard at what you want. If it isn't him, you have to let him go."

"Why?", Rin asked.

"Because he is not a toy as we just said. He has always guarded you, and he will always want to continue, but the fact is you have to be the one to make up their minds in this.", Mitsuhide replied.

"Are you saying that he likes me?", Rin asked.

"I am not saying anything.", Mitsuhide said with his trademark grin.

"Dad come on.", Rin said with a huff.

"When you do that you look like your mom.", Mitsuhide said knowing that would end the conversation.

"How did you know mom was the one for you?", Rin asked out of the blue.

"I just did.", he replied with a smile. "She needed help desperately but was too stubborn to ask. She was out of her mind with fear that night. It took everything I had not to keep it together and help her."

"So you just knew?", Rin asked.

"There was a bit more, but the more I spent time with her and all of you I knew I could not do any better than her. She became everything that was important, and you guys were a close second. So yeah I just knew.", Mitsuhide said. "I wanted forever to begin well before your mother even realized I wasn't going anywhere."

"Dad you are weird.", rin said with a chuckle.

"The fact is sweetheart that you already know what you want. You are scared, and I understand why. Yuki is not Kenny. Your incident changed you and your sister. You both need to realized there are good men out there that will not hurt you. If they ever did, they would be ripped to shreds.", Mitsuhide said in a way that Rin knew he meant it.

"Dad, thank you.", Rin said with a smile.

"For what exactly?", Mitsuhide asked.

"For being you.", she said. "For being there that night."

"Rin I will always be there.", Mitsuhide said as the car turned to silence and Rin was lost in her own thoughts.

She knew that her dad was right. She had played a game without thought when it came to Yukimura. He wasn't a pet she could keep on a leash. She was almost ashamed of the way she had treated him. Yukimura had become such an important part of her life; she had to question how she didn't see it as it was glaring at her. He had been there at every major event. He had stayed at the hospital with her. He had seen her at her worse, and he had helped pick up the pieces as she tried to rebuild herself.

He had never asked anything of her. He was simply just there when she needed him. He had always been there. He watched over her. He helped her when things didn't go right. He let her cry to him about the things that she had gone through. She thought back and never once had he judged her. He sat next to her and wiped the tears away. He would whisper things to her, and she would be okay again.

She knew right then how he felt. She felt like an idiot. She knew there was only one person who could love her the way she needed. It was him. She had treated him like a pet though. She had always made her own rules instead of being nice to him. She felt horrible for not calling him back. She felt horrible for everything she had done. How could she fix this? How could she move on? How could she make him love her as much as she did him?

They pulled up in front of Yuki's apartment building while her father waited for her to get her things out of the back and wave as she headed inside Mitsuhide smiled knowing that his two headstrong daughter both met their matches and this weekend will be the first of many changes. He smiled as he drove off after watching her head inside.

Rin watched up the stairs and stood before the door she knew was his. she had no idea how to act around him now that she knew how she felt. She wasn't sixteen anymore, and she was stunted because of what happened. She reached up and knocked on the door. She was surprised that he responded so quickly. It was like he was waiting next to it. He opened the door, and she looked at him and smiled as she reached up and touched his face to his shock.

"Come in.", he gruffly said. As she walked in, she turned, and he looked are her. "What is it, dummy?"

"Why are we friends again?", she asked as she let her bag drop to the floor and took a step closer to him. He was shocked by the question, and as he was about ready to have some smart ass answer, she closed the distance and pulled him down to her as she touched her lips to his.