I couldn't believe what I was hearing, and the completely serious expression on my dad's face wasn't helping my confusion.
"What?" I asked him hoping—praying, really, I heard him wrong. It's possible with how groggy I am this morning from staying up late last night reading manga, I heard him wrong, but my luck never seems to be on my side; unlike my hearing.
"Fuu, I hired two body guards for you. They are going to protect you from the men who want to harm me. Recently it has become too dangerous to let you go out alone." My father explained in a little bit more detail those shattering words I didn't want to hear. I wanted to know where he got this idea for bodyguards from, but on second thought I knew why. Two days ago I came home bruised and beaten. The worry on my father's face at that time was enough to make me want to curl into a ball at his feet.
The proud man looked so scared to me, but all that others would see was his intense fury at the person who dared to lay a hand on his little Sunflower. I didn't tell him who hurt me even though he asked repeatedly. I couldn't tell him that it was my boyfriend, Kiyoshi, who was the one that beat me. I wasn't supposed to be dating the son of a rival Yakuza family anyway. I wasn't afraid of my father punishing me for it, but I didn't want to see the trust he had for me dwindle.
"Father!" I pleaded but he just shook his head at me. Atsushi, a member of my big un-biological family opened the gate to the garden and entered followed by two unfamiliar faces, well one unfamiliar face. The other was so familiar it shocked me that he was here. I could see his dyed blond hair spiked into his normal look that I once thought was sexy. Now it just scares me. I turned to my father to stop this and explain but no amount of anything would save me from this now. I should've told him about Kiyoshi when I had the chance. We may have moved or something and my father may never have looked at me the same, but at least this would never have happened.
"This is not open for discussion Fuu. I'm doing this for your own good!" my father growled at me between gritted teeth and then Atsushi and the two tag-a-longs where now standing in front of my father and I. I couldn't even look up from the ground and started instead to count the blades of grass below my feet.
"Sir, I brought the two bodyguards." Atsushi said as he bowed to my father with a small sideways glance at me. I could feel his eyes on me but beyond his eyes I could feel his eyes on me. His cruel unnerving brown eyes never strayed from me and instantly cold sweat started dripping down to the small of my back. He was planning something; I just knew it.
"Thank you, Atsushi, you are dismissed." My father said and Atsushi stood up from his bow and left with a 'sir'; leaving a clear gap between Kiyoshi and me. I hope my father will seek justice for me when he finds me dead in a ditch or back alleyway. "Fuu, this is Jin and Kiyoshi. They are the sons of fellow clan leaders. Their fathers agreed to send them to guard you until the threat is gone." My father said. I raised my head and studied the tallest out of the two. He was lean but graceful looking with his long shiny black hair tied back into a tight low ponytail. He wore glasses that only enhanced his refined features. I couldn't help but think of him as relatively handsome. And from the fresh blue-ish purple bruise peeking out from under the collar of his blue shirt; someone else came to the same conclusion.
"Right boys?" my father asked and I held back the urge to roll my eyes. Yeah, sure they'll help me. I know one will gladly help me, right off a cliff.
"Yes, sir." They both said and looked back at me. I met the dark yet surprisingly gentle eyes of the claimed guy and held them for a while. He was always aware of his surroundings and seemed so calm and collected. I was happy for whoever claimed him because he was extremely loyal to them.
"Fuu, I believe you already know Kiyoshi, he goes to your school." my father stated and I painted a smile on my face and looked up at my father.
"I do." I said and layered another fake smile across my lips before facing Kiyoshi. It took everything I had to hide my sarcasm and frustration. "Hello again Kiyoshi-kun, I hope we can get along from now on." I said as I held out my hand for him to shake. I had to layer more smiles on so I could hide my disgust at his touch.
"Me too, Fuu-sama, me too." Kiyoshi said and I quickly dropped his hand and held it out for Jin to shake. He took it and shook it firmly. His hand was calloused and strong, unlike Kiyoshi's whose was soft and gave me the shivers. I dropped Jin's hand and smile genuinely at him. Jin was a hard worker and took pride in doing things with his hands.
"Do you do Kendo, Jin-san?" I asked and he looked at me and a small smirk graced his lips before it was quickly hidden. He nodded and I smiled and nodded. "I thought so; you look like the type to really be good at it." I commented before turning to my father.
"Father I'm going inside." I announced and then turned and walked into the house through the back sliding door. I heard a couple of my brothers and uncles greet me but I just walked into my room. Once my door closed securely behind me all the strength in my body disappeared and I slid to the floor with my back to the door. My back where Kiyoshi's leather belt struck me was pulsing sending aches throughout the rest of my body. I managed to make it to my bed where I curled myself into a ball under my covers, before once again I felt the hot tears begin to stream down my cheeks. I hated crying but lately it seemed like it was the only thing I could do. No matter how much I cried and how late it got, sleep never came. Why couldn't I have been born under a luckier star? Why, Kami?