CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR: SUMMER COMES HOME.

The warmth radiating for the body that holds me feels both alien and familiar and I'm too shocked to even think about stepping away. No. I don't want to step away. My arms snake across his back and I cling to him; afraid he'll disappear if I do.

"This is a dream right...? It has to be a dream…" My voice barely a whisper, even to myself.

"Dream... this...?" His chest vibrating against my face as he chuckles, his hands moving my face away from his chest to meet his gaze.

"It's anything but, Atlas." The heat from his lips as he kisses my forehead radiates through my body and I shiver, biting my gum in order to not cry.

"How...?" He looks from me to William and I follow his gaze.

"You?" He puts his hands up imitating surrender as he smiles at me.

"Nope. I told you, didn't I? Jason sent you a gift." He says winking, a cheeky grin plastered on his face.

"Yu-San did?"

"All I did was get him August's number and he did everything else."

"And now, I'm home." August says, pinching my cheek.

"August!" His voice shakes the entire room into silence, and I look from the man in front of me to the old man staring daggers at us.

"You incompetent fool! What do you think you're doing?" I open my mouth but I'm cut off by a chuckle I hadn't heard in a long time and didn't think I'd ever hear again. Well, not so soon anyways.

"Hello, Father. What does it look like I'm doing? I'm greeting my sister." Looking away from the old man he meets my gaze again and I stare at him in confusion, finally stepping out of his arms.

"Why? Why are you greeting me? Don't you hate me...?" His lively smile dims into hurt at my question and he winces, looking away as though my words did physical damage.

"I've never once hated you Atlas. You'll always be my beloved baby sister and I'm so, so, sorry that you ever thought I could hate you. It wasn't until yesterday that I realised how selfish I'd been towards you. Thanks to Jason, I was not only able to realize that I was about to lose you forever, but that I still could apologize for my failure as your big brother before it's too late."

"Wha-"

"What none-sense! Get over here right this instant boy."

"Father, in case you've forgotten, I'm no longer a boy. I'm twenty-one and an adult so I'd appreciate it if you'd treat me with a bit more respect. And everyone, I apologize but this meeting has not yet ended so please remain in your seats." Looking around confused everyone sits, except the old man.

"Atlas, please sit. You're shaking."

"Ah. Right." He chuckles again and I look at the man standing before me. He was right. He had become a man. It's clear that he remained active the way his clothes fitted his form. His jawline was more pronounced and his eyes were somewhat brighter and fuller. He also seems shorter... or have I simply gotten taller? His voice had deepened even further and as much as I disliked the comparison, he sounded much more like our father. August was home. His palm rested on my shoulder. Not fathers. Yuzuki, where are you? Hontōni arigatō, anata.

"From what I saw on my way in it seems that White won't be joining us in the near and distant future." He says smirking.

"You guessed right." I reply grinning.

"And am I to assume that based on the order of things his shares automatically get transferred back to the chairman, yes?"

"What are you getting at, August?" I stare at him, confusion clearly written across my face.

"You're still under fifty percent, am I right?"

"Yes." I look from him to William, but he just shrugs and smiles at me. Stupid brothers.

"Hmm, I see. I know Atlas said that although she'll be starting this project, when I returned it would be handed over to me. However, she will not be stepping down. She will finish this project and do so with me by her side. As of today, I, August Ingram will officially sign over all my shares of The Academy to Nolan Winters." Silence.

"What?!" The room's silence continues and I look from William to the man standing beside me. Father's head also snaps in his direction at his declaration, but he only meets my gaze.

"Prove to me that I'm not a complete failure and that your moms' work did not happen in vain. Prove to me that a selfish old man's game can never break us, Atty." At his nickname, I could feel the smile before it even forms. I catch Father's eye and his jaw clenched in anger. I'm guessing he didn't realize that brother was gone, but, how?! Knowing his personality, he'd always have people near August. How did Yu get away with this?

"Also, here's your final gift from Jason." Handing me the envelope August moves to stand behind me.

"What's in here?"

"He didn't tell us." William speaks up and the expression in his eyes tells me he's as curious as to what it is too. Opening the envelope, I scan the pages. Huh?

"What the hell is this?!"

"Sorry?" Handing him the envelope his eyes widen as he reads the contents.

"Explain to me why... how...?!"

"What is it, Young Master?" Hugh asks moving to look at the papers before his eyes find me in disbelief; shock, written clearly across his face.

"How is this possible?!"

"That silly brother of mine." William sighs and returns the papers to me.

"I guess this is his version of loving you, Ms. Ingram."

"What are you talking about?"

"Knowing him, he'd probably already thought about giving up everything to help you and I guess the day you mentioned Ms. Jones was when he finally decided."

"I don't understand." Looking away from me he meets my father's furious stare.

"Do you remember someone called Bright Jones, Mr. Ingram?"

"Bright...? Ah, I believe she worked at my mothers' hotel before she disappeared... " He replies, his words trailing off as realization sets in, his expression darkeing.

"She didn't disappear. She got married and moved to Japan. Of course, that was after your grandmother gave her those. Atlas, I believe you understand his meaning, yes?" William states, his eyes searching mine.

"I do." Forcing myself to smile, I hide my clenched fist beneath the table. Yuzuki you stupid, stupid man.

"Hugh's, finish this up will you." He stares at me silently before nodding his response, a sympathetic smile forming along his lips.

"This is the hidden shares of the final shareholder, Ms. Bright Jones. The letter states that before she died, she'd signed it over to her son, Yamada Yuzuki, formally known to use as Jason Fairchild." Hugh's states projecting an image of the documents onto the screen.

"What?!" The chorus of confusion rings through the room. Inaudible noise to me.

"As of the end of this meeting, Ms. Nolan Atlas Ingram holds fifty-eight-point-six percentage of The Academy shares. As a result, she is now officially the chairman and largest shareholder of this establishment. I will hold my position as vice-chair until she finishes the work she's started. Once it is done, I will take over and she will be free to follow her own path in life and father," his cold gaze locks with the furious stare that's been pointed at him since he entered the room, "you will no longer have any business with The Academy. As of today..." he looks to me, a sly grin on his lips. Oh, I know that look.

"As of today, you Mr. Ingram, are in the kindest term of the word, fired." The room falls silent as everyone looks from us to the old man. Drawing out the silence between us his eyes burn through August and me. Pushing back his chair, he huffs and stands before walking towards the exit. The click of the door echoes through the room and everyone seems to broad again.

"Well then, ladies and gentlemen I believe today's meeting is adjourned. If you have any questions, please contact Assistant Hugh's." Bowing their respects, they all nod their responses before getting up and exiting except William. Hesitating at the door he turns and walks back to me.

"I must admit I didn't think he'd actually fall for you or go this far for you. Ever since he moved in with us, he's always been rather distant despite not keeping his distance. He never really showed much interest in anything except books. Thank you. For easing the mind of this big brother." He squeezes my shoulder and smiles his toothy smile.

"You bro-con." Laughing at my response he heads for the door again.

"This bro-con will make you suffer if you hurt his precious baby brother, so be careful."

"I'll be waiting for him to come home."

"Good." Without him turning around, I could tell he was smiling. I knew the smile on my face mirrored his and I couldn't feel more content. Yu, I miss you. Where are you?

"Will you really wait for him?"

"Huh?" Meeting the concerned gaze of the man standing beside me my wall collapses.

"Will you really wait?"

"I will." The tears fall down my cheek and I desperately try to wipe them away. I won't cry. I will not cry. I can't... Cry.

"Wh-Where is he?!"

"Oh, baby." Kneeling before me, he takes me in his arms, his scent washing over me. His hand rubbing circles on my back and soothing my hair.

"I'll be back before the sky falls..."

"What?"

"I'll be back before the sky falls... that's the last thing he said to me."

"Before the sky falls..." I feel the smile creep across my face at the words. You silly man.

"By your smile, I'm guessing you understood?"

"I do. He's gone back already, hasn't he?"

"Yeah. The stupid man didn't listen to me. I told him to come back..."

"If he had, he wouldn't be able to leave if he saw how much him leaving would hurt me. Plus, I would've tied him up." Hugh's coughs at my blunt statement and we burst into laughter. Thank you, Yu. Even if this is my karma, thank you.

"Welcome home, August."

"Yeah. I'm happy to be home." He takes me in his arms again and time escapes us. Everything else can wait for tomorrow.