~With Aleki~

After a 24 hour flight from Orlando to Perth, Western Australia, we finally made it to the hotel, where Arata, Kyoko, Yuria, and myself were at a hotel.

Kyoko and Arata were going to stay in one room while Yuria and I stayed in another, just so she could stay with me.

That's our routine now, considering that Yuria's willing to room with me on many days where she'll keep an eye on me, making sure I didn't go berserk or anything.

I mean, she really is that dedicated to stay by me and I can't express how thankful I am for Yuria to stay by me.

Anyway, after getting off the plane and being driven to the hotel, we all decided to get some rest in our rooms, that way tomorrow, we'll be full of energy.

Not only that, just when it turned to night, it was raining, and we couldn't really go out to eat, so we just ordered room service.

And I gotta say, the food was really delicious. I mean, I had a Australian Wagyu Ribeye with some mashed potatoes, gravy, and some peas to go along with it while Yuria had chicken thigh with a sauce on top, rice, and green beans.

This NY Strip was so good, like, I'd eat it again, but I know that I'm 230lbs at the moment, or so I thought: I checked myself on the weight scale before we left for Perth and I happened to weigh 234lbs now.

I gained a bit of weight, which isn't a problem, but I plan on working on my diet once we're done with Elimination Chamber.

After we were done with our dinner, room service came in and took our plates as we had to get ready for bed.

Yuria went in the shower first because, well, ladies first, and I started watching some TV.

When she was done, after changing into her pjs in the bathroom, I went in, showered, put on my cardigan, gym shorts, and went to sleep after turning off the TV.

However, it was STORMING!

Lightening was crashing almost every 10 minutes or so and causing so much noise to where I felt someone tug on my sheet.

?????: Aleki-chan?

I looked over and I noticed that Yuria was standing at my bed, eyes watering, with her mouth drooping down, and looking so sad.

Me: Oh, Tauchi-chan. What is it?

Yuria (voice cracking): Can I sleep with you? I scared of thunder.

I smiled, nodded, and scooted over so she could have my side of the bed while I went on the other side. I didn't mind it that much, knowing how precious Yuria can be.

As I turned over, Yuria grabbed my hand with tears down her face.

Yuria (voice cracking): Aleki-chan. I sorry to be trouble, but can you hold me?

I was a bit confused, but I didn't want to leave her alone.

Me: Yeah. Of course.

I turned to Yuria, who was still looking scared from the look of things, and I held her tightly as she snuggled herself into me and buried her head into my neck.

Yuria: Arigatomasu.

Me: You're welcome, Tauchi-chan.

And we stayed like that for the rest of the night.

~With Yuria~

I wasn't really scared of the thunder, I wanted to sleep with him in his bed so he wasn't alone.

I'm doing whatever I can to help him love again, and this is how I'm doing it.

Before I went to sleep completely, I looked at him and I kissed his cheek before burying my head into his neck.

His arms wrapped around me is heaven in the least. I really felt comfortable being hugged by him, because I feel protected by him. I'm really feeling how sweet he really is through this embrace. It tells me everything about him.

It was only after a while before I finally closed my eyes and went to sleep as I left a smile on my face.

~With Aleki; Next Day~

It was a day before the Press Event and we decided to go out and do something.

Well, it was only going to be Yuria and I. Kyoko still had some stuff for the charity that she's gotta work on.

I wasn't against it. I mean, I didn't want her to miss on what's going on with "Remember Hana", her charity.

Anyway, I was in simple clothes, since it was gonna be hotter than a woodfire oven outside:

Yeah, I got a new chain, and it was from Hunter since I gave my own away, something I paid good money for, to the make-a-wish kid on Raw last week.

I didn't mind giving mine away because I want to make sure that the poor guy had something to remember about, so for Hunter to have the people come together and buy me a new one was a huge blessing and I couldn't thank them enough for that.

I learned that I didn't need to pay them because I did something good for the world, so that was their way of saying, "You did the right thing, even if you didn't have to." I even learned that the chain they paid for me was expensive, about 2,500 dollars.

I didn't want to be someone who gets the special treatment, I wanted to work hard like everyone else, even though Leati said about John Cena being a part timer and yet started to do the same exact thing from 2022 to now.

Congratulations, Leati, you played yourself.

Anyway, once I was dressed, Yuria came out of the bathroom.

Yuria: I'm ready! Are you, Aleki-chan?

And as I turned around...

Me: I am— whoa.

...I thought I had hearts in my eyes.

Yuria actually noticed that I was looking at her and giggled before I looked away.

Yuria: You like?

Me: Well, uh, yeah. Just took me out a little bit.

She giggled at me before walking up with such a cute smile, before saying to me...

Yuria: Kawaii.

Me: Come on. Let's get a cab and head over to the Gorge.

Yuria: Hai.

We left the hotel room and got a cab, that conviently enough, was taking us to the Gorge I was talking about, Kitty's Gorge, one of the best trails in Perth, Australia.

The best part about it is that there's a pond that we can take a look at as we walk around.

It was only a few minutes before we finally made it. I paid the cabbie and we took a good look at what we were dealing with.

Yuria: Sugoi.

Me: Looks beautiful here. I mean, better than what I expected.

Yuria: Hai. It really beautiful.

Me: Come on. Let's get a walk in.

As we walked, Yuria looked so fascinated by this kind of nature.

I have a feeling she's never experienced this outside of Japan and this was her first time seeing this. It's the first time for me to, but I wanna make sure that it's extra special to Yuria.

I then looked above and there was a huge ass SPIDER in one of the trees, with a web around it.

I then realized what it was and it was the Funnel Web Spider, one of the most venomous spiders in the world. It's about the size of a human hand and it's got fangs exposed to where they stand up and and once the prey comes close, they drop down.

I heard that the first victim to ever survive the bite was a man named Gordon Wheatley, in 1981 and while many, including women and children, had died due to the bites, he was the first subject to get the anti venom tested out and he's still alive at 92, in fact.

I made sure to not let Yuria know about it because I know she'll freak out, so we kept walking until we finally made it to the railing, where the pond is.

Yuria: Ō. (Wow.)

Me: Very pretty. Wish Kyoko was with us instead of working with her charity. She would've loved this view.

Yuria: I agree.

Me: But enough of that. Let me take a picture of you.

Yuria: Okay!

Yuria gave me her phone and posed at the railing as I took her pic.

I mean, she looked so cute to where I wanted to just wanted to have her jump into my arms and rock her back and forth like a baby, but no, that wouldn't end well.

Yuria: Now you!

Me: Alright then.

I gave her my phone and just as I was about to pose for the picture, a random person had to come up to us.

Person: Want me to take your picture, both ya, mates?

Me: Really? You'd do that?

Person: Why not? It's better than taking one at a time!

Yuria: Thank you!

Person: Of course.

Yuria gave him my phone, came up to me, put her arm around my waist as I put my arm around her shoulder as the guy took the pic and gave me back my phone.

Me: Thanks so much.

Person: Not a problem. Ya take care!

Yuria: Thank you!

He waved as we continued to look around.

Eventually, we left to go to Cottesloe Beach, that was near the hotel, and when we finally got there, it was gorgeous.

Seriously, one of the most beautiful beaches we've ever seen.

The sunset was amazing and it was perfect because Yuria and I sat on the sand, watching it all go down.

As we sat, it was our knees bent with our arms on our knees.

Yuria: This is perfect.

Me: It is. Australia was somewhere I wanted to go to, but I never got the chance.

Yuria: Oh, really?

Me: Yeah, but since it's your first time, even though it's mine too, you deserve it more than me.

Yuria: Aleki-chan, why are you so sweet?

Me: Well, I wanna make sure you have an experience.

Yuria: I know, you too good for that.

She then laid her head on my shoulder as we looked at the sunset. It was beautiful.

Yuria: Aleki-chan.

Me: Yeah?

Yuria: I know how you still hurt about Hana being gone.

Me: What do you mean?

She picked her head up and said to me...

Yuria: You might not believe me, but a few night, before we flew to Perth, I had a dream, where Hana visited me, in your beach house, in Samoa, and we talked.

Me: You and her talked.

Yuria: Hai, but it was serious. She tell me how you hurt with her leaving the world, and how it affected you after all these years.

Me: Are you a psychic now?

Yuria: I am not. I telling the truth. She visit me in dream, and she told me to give you this:

Yuria then revealed a paper that was a bit big and it was wrapped in a gift style way.

Yuria: Open it.

I then took it out of her hand, and started to open it, but as carefully as I can be.

(A/N: I suggest playing this now, as it's a very key part of this chapter.)

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

And after a while I opening it, it was this...

I was stunned.

This was one of the pink roses I gave to Hana for Valentine's Day in 2020, two months before she died.

Seeing this got me choking up, and I couldn't speak.

Yuria: Anoa'i-chan. This is what Hana promised me to give to you from her. Do you believe me?

I was still in shock with the rose being in my hand, as it looked real, and when I touched it, it was soft.

It was real.

I was shuddering from the emotion of seeing this rose for the first time in four years. I never thought that Hana would give me this from beyond the grave. I didn't crush it with my hand, but I caressed it as I saw something underneath the rose.

It was another paper, but this time, written in Japanese,but it was different than I would usually understand, so I had Yuria read it for me.

Me: Tauchi-chan, do you mind reading it for me?

Yuria: Of course I will.

I gave her the paper and she read it for me, as I kept looking at the rose.

Yuria: "Dear Aleki-chan,

I know you miss me, and it something I know hurt you deeply. I miss you too, and you are someone I consider as different and special, because you are. You are outcast from family, but you my outcast, and I love you for who you are.

You do not have to mourn for me anymore, because—"

She stopped and I looked at Yuria, and I saw that she was choking up herself, but she continued to read.

Yuria (voice cracking): "Because I am in better place."

I gasped as she continued...

Yuria (voice cracking): "And in that place, I am in no more pain, sadness, or fear. I do not want those three for you. I want peace, happiness, and love with you, but love should matter above all else, because Tauchi-chan will give you the same love I gave you."

Tears started to come down my face as I was listening to Yuria read me the note.

Yuria (voice cracking): "I do not know if this will convince you to move forward, but I assure you, life will be better if you are happy, because I want you to be."

She was about to finish the letter, as it finished off with...

Yuria (voice cracking): "Be happy, but most of all, be loved, because you deserve it, including every good thing in the world. I will forever love you, Hana."

This convinced me that I have to move forward, but Yuria looking at me with tears down her face and mine as well.

After looking at each other for a while, we hugged, as she cried into my shoulder, and I did the same, but something else was guiding me.

I pulled back a bit, and then, I felt the urge to lean my face towards Yuria's.

Yuria, smiling, laid her hand on my face, and we moved closer to each other.

And after what felt like an eternity, closed my eyes, tilt my head, and before I knew it, I kissed her.

I opened one of my eyes and I saw that Yuria's eyes were closed too, telling me that we're kissing.

I then let her have the lead, letting her go somewhat rough as I had to do the same.

I will never know how Hana managed to convince me to love again with that letter, but I know that this is what she wanted from me, and I'm willing to do it.

It was only a minute before we released and looked at each other's eyes, but Yuria said this to me...

Yuria: Aleki-chan.

She said it...

Yuria: I love you.

Instead of saying anything, I kissed her again, letting her know I loved her too, as we stayed like this for a few minutes on the beach, until we were back at the hotel, in each other's arms, on my hotel bed.

It was only a matter of time before we finally closed our eyes and snuggled up to each other, in love.

I will never forget Hana, but I'm now in love with one of her best friends, who saved me from suicide, from the amount of times I went berserk, and to her kindness: Yuria Tauchi.

And Tauchi-chan, I love you too.