Taichi Yagami looked out his hotel window into the New York City night. The past months had been a blur to him. He was assigned to watch over this girl, a mere girl. What had he been reduced to? He was one of his boss's prime workers. He'd been loyal to him for years, and he was reduced to watching his boss's daughter as she toured the world. Of course, Taichi knew he had been assigned this job because he was one of the most trusted men in the business, but still, he'd rather be in action, making hits and keeping the other families in their place. The bigger question that lingered in his mind as he stared out into the New York skyline was how he had allowed himself to fall for his boss's daughter. His thoughts were interrupted when someone knocked on his door. It was her. He anxiously went and opened it, wondering what she wanted now. However, when he saw her, he was stunned.
She looked beautiful. She wore a simple black shirt and clung to her curves and a pair of dark jeans. Her red hair was brushed and parted to the side, her bangs covering part of her left eye. Her lips were a bright red and her cheeks flushed when she noticed him staring.
Taichi quickly recovered. "What do you want Sora?" He asked, trying to sound as polite as possible. Their relationship hadn't gotten off to the best start, and it wasn't completely okay now, however, they were becoming friends, even if they argued a lot.
She huffed at him. Obviously she'd picked up the annoyed tone in his voice. "I want to see Central Park at night." She said in a demanding tone. "And don't think of saying no, Daddy said you need to take me wherever I want to go.
Taichi scowled as he put on his jacket. The last thing he wanted to do was wander around the streets of New York at night with the girl he was supposed to be protecting. However, he did as he was told and followed her out the door. They didn't exchange words as they walked to the limo. Taichi wondered how he allowed himself to fall for such a princess, but he quickly reminded himself how she had learned growing up that the only way to get what she wanted in her life was to be strict about it. It wasn't easy growing up in her family, especially with her business-headed father, so he felt a little sympathy. At least Sora had her mother and brothers. Her mother had to have been one of the kindest women he'd known. It was her who picked him up off the streets when he needed a job. Of course, it wasn't the kind of job he was expecting, but he'd grown to love it. Her two twin brothers were characters themselves, always getting into trouble, but they were the apples of their mothers eye.
When the two arrived at Central park, the look on Sora's face made Taichi smile. She looked astonished. The smile that spread across her face said everything.
"Taichi, isn't it beautiful? Look, look at the pond!" She pointed as she burst out of the limo towards it.
"Sora, wait!" He called after her, struggling to keep up. He wasn't supposed to let her out of his sight, not even for a second. But Christ, did she look good when she ran. He let her have her moment before he caught up to her. She calmed down again once she remembered she was under Taichi's watchful eye. She didn't want her father to know she'd acted so childish. She was almost 20, certainly an adult in her and her father's view.
Taichi accompanied Sora as she finished looking around the park. Sora was unpredictable when he was around. Sometimes, she enjoyed talking to him about everything, but other times, she completely shut him out. Maybe it was just because he was around all the time. Luckily, tonight was one of the good nights. When Taichi wasn't moving fast enough, she grabbed hold of his hand and pulled him along behind her, chattering the entire way about what she would want to see tomorrow. Tomorrow? Taichi sighed. He was getting to old for this. He was about 25 now and he wasn't sure he could keep up with her much longer, but he'd do anything to be near her.
To his dismay, though, the evening quickly ended and they found themselves back in the limo. Sora sat on the other side of the seat, looking out the window.
"Sora.." Taichi began, only to receive a frustrated 'What?' in response. Her moods changed so quickly.
"What's wrong?" He asked. "Didn't you have fun?"
Sora looked back out the window again, making sure she wasn't going to say something she regretted. "Yes, of course I had fun, thank you for taking me." However, her heart screamed out for her to tell the truth. She needed to, and she had the perfect idea.
When they arrived at their rooms, Sora asked if she could leave the door that went between their rooms open. He quickly agreed when she said the reason was that she wasn't feeling well. He heard her shower go on and as much as he tried not to, he imagined her in it. He imagined both of them in it and how great it would be. He needed her, needed to touch her and be with her. Of course, though, she didn't feel the same way. It was impossible. He turned on the TV when the shower stopped, expecting to fall asleep to its soft sound once Sora was safely in bed. However, that did not go as planned. He quickly fumbled to turn the television off when he saw what was standing in the doorway.
Sora appeared before him with her hair wet and only in her towel.
"S..Sora.." He stammered, "What are you doing?"
She gulped as she built up the courage to say what she had wanted to say for the past 6 months they'd been traveling together. "I was hoping you'd like to join me tonight."
Taichi stood up from the bed, eyes wide, trying not to look over her beautiful silken body. Oh how badly he'd wanted to say yes, how badly he'd wanted to love her and cherish her, but it was impossible. He couldn't be with her. It'd be too dangerous. If any of the enemy families discovered that Taichi and Sora were involved with each other, she'd become a prime target. And if getting into that situation didn't get Taichi killed by enemies, surely her father would order a hit on him. His stomach dropped as he began to say what needed to be said.
"Sora.. no, I'm sorry.. but, I.. I don't feel that way.." He shut his eyes tight once it was said, not wanting to see the hurt reaction on the girl's face, and also, not wanting her to see that he was completely lying. All he heard before he opened his eyes were muffled sobs and a slamming door. He quietly laid himself in his bed and tried to fall asleep. After what seemed like hours of tossing and turning, he finally drifted off, dreaming of Sora, and what it would be like if fate allowed them to be together.
X
Taichi awoke the next morning to the ringing of his cell phone. He groggily felt for it on his bedside table. He only opened his eyes once he'd picked it up to see who was calling at such an outrageous hour. Taichi grunted to himself when he saw who it was. Yamato. Taichi and Yamato were best friends. They'd grown up together and entered the business together, but when he called, it meant there was trouble.
"Hello?" Taichi yawned.
"Wake up man, we've got trouble." A worried voice said back.
"What? What trouble?" Taichi sat up and began walking towards his dresser.
"Someone ordered a hit on the boss's wife. He wants Sora home now."
"What?" Taichi barely got out. "Who? Is she alive?"
Yamato sighed heavily. "We're not sure who. It's someone local though. And she's alive, but barely. They're not expecting her to make it another 24 hours. You need to get Sora home now. A flight's been booked for you in about three hours. Get your stuff and leave."
"Will do." Taichi said as he hung up. He pondered how he was supposed to tell Sora this news. He decided it would be best if he waited till they got back to Japan. Her father could tell her. Besides, Sora probably wouldn't want to speak to him anyways.
He took a deep breath and tried to put on a content face. He couldn't let the grief he was feeling show, Sora was too smart for that. He gently knocked on her door and brightly said good morning, trying to keep it together for the girl, but for his job. He wasn't paid to crumble down, even if the woman who was now dying has practically saved his sorry life.
He heard Sora wake up and brightly chirp a good morning back. However, her tone changed once she remembered the events that happened the night before. She said she was getting up and nothing else.
"You need to pack," Taichi continued. "We're going home."
With that, Sora stomped over and opened the door. "What do you mean we're going home?"
"You're father called." Taichi stated. "He wants you back in Japan."
Sora rolled her eyes. "Are you serious? I'm just starting to have fun and he pulls me home again?"
"Maybe it's time you went home to visit. It's been six months. We can travel again soon."
"Wait till my mother hears about this." The girl complained as she started throwing clothes into an empty suitcase.
Taichi went back into his own room to pack and prepare for a painfully awkward flight.
X
Mr. Takenouchi paced around in his office waiting for the safe return of his daughter. If anything happened to their flight he'd make sure to make the person responsible suffer. He tried over and over again to figure out who was responsible for the hit on his wife, but he couldn't. His mind was too clogged with emotion and he was thinking irrationally. He had to call in his computer expert, Koushiro, to figure out which families were where and what they were doing. However, not even Koushiro could figure it out. He has spent hours in front of a blaring monitor and it appeared that all the families were clean.
'How could that be possible?' Mr. Takenouchi thought as he paced back and forth, back and forth. He needed someone to blame for his wife's inevitable death. Maybe he just wasn't looking hard enough. It was with that final thought that he heard a knock at the door. Mr. Takenouchi dashed to open it, hoping it was his daughter. However, it wasn't. Who he saw standing before him was the leader of another business in Japan.
"Well, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Mr. Takenouchi asked as he greeted the man before him.
"Ah, I hear it's not a pleasure. Word on the street is your wife is dying. My deepest condolences, sir."
"Thank you, thank you. Please, come in." Mr. Takenouchi ushered the man in. He sat in a large chair in front of his desk. The man wore a black suit with matching shoes. His light brown hair was long and pulled into a low ponytail. His sideburns were short, but noticeable, and he had obvious wrinkles on his face, showing his age. He must've been at least 50 by now. Mr. Takenouchi was around 65 himself.
"I came here today because I might have some information that can help you." The man said.
"Do you, Mr. Waikashi?" Mr. Takenouchi's eyes brightened up as he realized he might come closer to exacting his revenge.
"Please, sir, call me Jirou. I feel like we've known each other long enough now for you to call me by my first name, right Hideki?"
"You can still refer to me as Mr. Takenouchi, Jirou." The man said, not losing his edge. Even in his 65 years of life, he hadn't softened a bit.
"My apologies sir. But listen, I have a preposition for you. You know that I'm one of the most well armed businesses in Japan do you not?" Mr. Takenouchi only nodded. Jirou continued. "Well then, word on the street is that whoever attacked your wife is going to come after your boys next."
"My boys? Not Kyo and Kiyoshi!" Mr. Takenouchi stood from his chair and began pacing again. "What is your preposition?"
"I can provide my services to you, make sure your boys are protected." Jirou eyed a portrait on the wall, trying to hide the arousal he felt when he saw it. Mr. Takenouchi turned around to see what he was looking at, and turned wide-eyed once he figured out what Jirou wanted in return. Favors like that didn't go unpaid.
"And, you want my daughter?" Mr. Takenouchi asked, bewildered.
"Just to make sure your boys stay safe, sir." Jirou grinned. "She's become quite beautiful hasn't she?"
Mr. Takenouchi scowled. "You're crazy if you think I'm going to give you my daughter for anything."
"Even to protect your boys? They're so young, only twelve. They haven't even lived. Who's going to take over your business if they end up in the same state as your wife?"
Mr. Takenouchi's face became solemn. He knew Jirou had a point, and Jirou did have a lot to offer. "I'll have to talk to my daughter about it first. Listen to me when I am saying I am NOT promising anything."
"Of course, of course." Jirou smirked. "Just remember, if anything happened to your boys, you'd be devastated wouldn't you? I'm sure Sora would do anything to save her brothers. Good day, sir."
And with that, Jirou left Mr. Takenouchi's office. The man sure had a lot to think about.. His sons could die, and as far as he knew, Sora wasn't being threatened. He supposed he really did need to talk to Sora after she saw her mother.
Yamato, one of Mr. Takenouchi's most trusted workers quickly walked in after Jirou left. "What was that about?"
"It was nothing." Mr. Takenouchi replied, not really wanting to talk about it. "Just business."
"Alright.." Yamato said, not really believing him. "But I wouldn't trust him if I was you. He's sketchy."
"I know." Mr. Takenouchi look out the window as a limo pulled up to his drive. "But he can offer a lot of protection. Taichi and my daughter have just arrived. Will you see to it that they arrive up here quickly?"
"Of course." Yamato promised as he left the room.
X
A couple minutes later, Mr. Takenouchi's daughter was wrapped tightly in his arms. "I'm so glad you're home darling!"
"Me too, Dad, but why did I have to come home so abruptly?" Sora questioned him.
Her father motioned for Yamato and Taichi to leave the room as he began to tell Sora what happened. Unfortunately, they hadn't made it home in time to see her mother before she died, and Sora was left with a distant memory. She began to sob uncontrollably out of grief and anger. Why hadn't anyone told her sooner? Why hadn't Taichi?
"Listen, Sora, there's something else I need to tell you." Mr. Takenouchi swallowed hard, not sure how his daughter would take the news.
"What?" She said, trying to control her tears.
Seeing how upset his daughter was, he couldn't tell her now. "A friend of mine.. He wants to meet you.. I was hoping we could have a dinner tomorrow night, would you be alright with that? He can offer us a lot of protection."
"Sure.." Sora responded, a little confused as to why her father had chosen to bring that topic up now. "Listen, I just really want to go home.. I want to be with my brothers.."
"Alright.. Tell Taichi to drive you, and tell him to report back here when he's done."
"Alright." A knot formed in her stomach as he said his name, but it didn't matter now.
Sora walked out of his office lifelessly. The man deeply regretted what he had gotten himself into, but he realized now that the only way to protect his family was to have Sora agree to marry Jirou. Maybe he would be lucky and they would enjoy each other's company tomorrow. However, he still couldn't imagine his precious little girl in the hands of a 50 year old man. The problem was, he couldn't imagine his sons dead, either.
X
Alright, hope you liked the first chapter! I keep starting new stories before updating the old ones, but I find it a lot easier to start a new idea. So, hopefully you guys liked it! Let me know what you think!
surflilu.
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