Chapter 35
[Shiro]

I have to try and contact Volpe and tell her I'm coming, I wouldn't want to surprise her like this. Though something tells me that she knows I'm coming. The night certainly is nostalgic.
'It reminds me of—'
'Venezuela,' Kazuto and I said simultaneously. He stood next to me.
'Shouldn't you be with your girl?' he chuckled.
'She's not my girl, just someone I was tasked to protect.'
'I'll go ahead and answer the question you have in your mind right now. How am I here? How am I alive? Well, they did shoot me but they made sure to miss my heart. They were double agents working for the AOA and under Lady Kamui's orders. After I killed Lily Adams, the CIA found out and wanted to take me out. Since Lady Kamui didn't want them to find out that I was with her she staged my death with the double agents. When I woke up, I was in a white room and Lady Kamui was there to greet me. I don't know how they managed to save me from dying nor did I ask. I was glad that I could finally see you again. But Lady Kamui said for me to lay low and guard you, so I enrolled at your school and made sure you never saw me.'
'This explains a lot. Also explains why you couldn't tell me you were alive and how you were able to save me when we went into school.' His explanation made so many things clear. I've never questioned my aunt on the decisions she makes but damn she sure can fuck someone's life up.
'Tell me something Shiro,' Kazuto snapped me out of my thoughts, 'Do you wish we could go back to the way things were? Me, you, Merylin and Mei. No assasination, pain or dictators. No one to make us watch our every step.'
'I don't know what you're on about. As far as I know I've never had a peaceful life, just this one.' Kazuto's eyes widened.
'So it's true.' he said with a concerned tone.
'What is?' I asked, confused about what he was saying.
'Its nothing. I shouldn't tell you.'
'Another person keeping secrets. But if you're referring to my memory loss, then I already know. I know I used to be someone else, that I was never like this, deranged, psychopathic, lusting for blood, unsympathetic to people, selfish and most of all relentlessly hopeless. I know. And no one has the answers I want. My aunt won't tell me shit. So my only choice is my brother. I'm sure you only know about my memory loss only and nothing else, right?'
'Yeah. That's all I know. I promise.' his words were sincere.
'So you don't miss it at all? The life we had?
'I can't miss something I don't remember. You're the only one I know from my memories, but as for anyone else— nothing. Not Mei, Merylin or aunty. All I have, are the memories we have now.'
Kazuto went quiet staring at the moon. He thought I wasn't looking as tears started streaming down his face. My heart skipped a beat, I felt something I've never felt before. An emotion I never had— remourse. My best friend is crying— for me.
'I'm sorry.' I said in a soft tone, 'I don't understand how you feel but I wish I could. I can promise you though, you and I will always be bestfriends, forever.' He looked at me with his teary eyes.
'You know there's no forever in our line of work.' He laughed. I laughed too. Thank you Mei. Your advice really helped me.