New Life : A Second Chance

People's heads turned at his wail. Neighbours looked at him in pity.

Stephan ran towards the building, and as he got closer, he saw it.

That white sheet.

Covering a body.

"No," he said, rushing over, "No no no no no."

Kyle arrived then, and watched as his spouse ran unsteadily towards the body. 

Kyle clenched his teeth and gripped the handlebar of the bike so tightly that his knuckles went white. As much as he wanted to go over and comfort him, he could not. As much as he wanted to offer his help to pick up the kids, he could not.

While everyone was busy and distracted by the grieving man and burnt house, Kyle slipped to the letterbox at the gate.

The letterbox was built into the wall that the front gate was attached to. Kyle opened the letterbox from the inside of the house, and reached up.

The thumbdrive was taped to the side of the letterbox, just as it reached the ceiling. 

Taking it, Kyle put it in his pocket and drove away. 

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When Kyle reached the apartment, Kyle didn't go up immediately. 

Instead, he took several minutes sitting on his bike as he fought hard against his desire to rush back out.

To go back to his kids.

To comfort them.

To be there for them.

As for his spouse?

Kyle had to admit, he no longer was in love with his spouse but the deep feelings he had was still there. After all, he did have two kids with him - even if it was not in this body. 

Kyle had to be strong and wait.

If he went now, he would be unraveling years of planning. There was no way for him to explain what he was doing there, and when they were so consumed with grief, they might even reject him.

The pain would be too raw and fresh for him to try and help right now.

With a deep sigh, Kyle finally got off his bike and headed up.

As he opened the door, he found that the lights were already on. He stopped at the doorway for a second, and soon, he was enveloped in a tight hug.

Kyle hugged her back, stepping in and kicked the door closed behind him. 

[I am here for you, brother]

Kyle didn't answer, but continue to hug Kay silently.

Kay was patient, holding him and letting him do so.

Although Kyle had managed to block his feelings from affecting her, Kay knew full well how much pain Kyle was under. She cursed the airlines for the delay, causing her to arrive after he had already left for the mission.

She didn't dare talk to him until he got back, lest she disrupted his thoughts. It was already hard enough for him to handle what he had to that night, and she did not want to burden him. 

So wait she did.

She could feel his trembling form as he hugged her, his breathing deep while his hold was strong. She could feel his erratic heartbeat and she buried her face in his chest.

Kyle didn't know how long he stood there, but he knew it was time to stop when he felt Kay getting slightly heavier in his arms. Obviously, she was getting tired standing but did not say a thing.

He scooped her up in his arms, princess carried her to the sofa and placed her down. Then he lay down on the sofa, and placed his head on her lap, closing his eyes.

Kay stroked his hair, gently.

Neither said a word.

None was needed.

Soon, Kyle fell asleep.

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Two hours later, Kyle's eyes popped open and he stared guiltily at Kay's sleeping form. She was leaning back on the sofa, her hand on the side. 

Kyle slowly got up, careful not to wake her. He started massaging her legs and thighs for a while before carrying her and placing her on the bed. Kissing her forehead, he slowly slipped out to the balcony.

He closed the sliding door and looked towards Sayuri's apartment, and the balcony. It was dark, and he wondered whether she was asleep yet. Climbing onto the railings, he jumped easily towards her side, landing softly.

Just as he was getting up, the sliding doors of her balcony opened, and he was greeted with the frowning face of Sayuri.

He reached behind to his pocket and took out a squished chocolate bar.

She looked at it, raised an eyebrow and gave him that 'seriously?' look on her face.

He shrugged and was about to throw it away when she grabbed it.

"No take-backs," she said, passing him by and leaning on the railings.

Kyle went beside her, and she said as she waved the chocolate bar, "You know this is not enough."

"I know," Kyle said, sighing. He turned over and leaned his back on the railing, looking at her intently.

"So, why?" Sayuri asked, turning her head towards him, "Why did she have to die?"

"So I can live," Kyle replied.

Sayuri frowned.

"She was a threat to you?" Sayuri asked in surprise.

"Yes," Kyle said, not taking his eyes off her.

"How? Why? Was she a rogue agent or something?"

"No," Kyle said, "Not at all."

Sayuri was getting annoyed, and she turned to face him. Poking a finger on his chest, she growled, "Quit that. These short answers aren't telling me anything."

She got closer to him, clenching her teeth, "So tell it to me straight. In what was she such a threat to you that she had to die?"

"Because I am her reincarnated soul," Kyle said.

Sayuri stared at him.

He stared back.

She put her hand on his forehead.

He took her hand and put it on his chest, saying, "I'm not lying or crazy or sick."