Still fuming, Natsume stormed his way to his vehicle, snatching another cigarette from the package in his pocket and lighting it quickly, deciding to cool his head, before making another attempt to bring Ema home. Making sure his vehicle was still locked and made his way to a nearby park.
"You ladies look thirsty," the first young man said, pulling his red blazer closer to his face as he took a seat beside Ema, "Gee, that was tough to watch," he said with fake concern.
She tensed up, "What do you mean?" Ema asked, sliding away from the gentleman.
"Oh, do forgive me. I overheard your little spat with guy in the green. Troublesome ex?" he asked, his voice with a quiet hiss.
She was silent, "I don't wanna talk about it," she said, turning away, and staring at the door.
"Say no more!" the gent in the red blazer said, closing his eyes as he raised both hands to his shoulders, "I won't bring him up again, how about a drink?" he asked again.
The other girls were laughing and having a good time and graciously accepted, Ema was reluctant but soon she agreed, "But this is my last one," she stated.
With a nod to his friend and a sneaky grin, the one who introduced himself as Yama came back with a round of drinks, "Bottom's up," he said in a deep baritone voice, placing each drink and shot in front of the girls.
Without hesitation, Ema guzzled the drinks down. The other girls finished the round of shots and the music got loud again. Her head felt funny. Maybe she did have too much to drink. She pulled Tsuki to the side, "I'm not feeling well, think I will step outside for some fresh air," she said a lot louder than she intended.
Her friend seemed concerned, "Do you want one of us to go with you?" she asked.
Ema shook her head, and slipped away from the table, but not without catching a certain man in a red blazer's eye.
The girl left the bar and looked around. The station was on the other side of the park. It would take too long to walk all that way around. Surely, she could take a short cut through. Unbeknownst to her, she was not alone.
He didn't make it far into the trees and lights before finding a park bench. He flopped onto the wooden seat, and leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs, and looking down at his shoes. Maybe I should have asked her instead of trying to force her to go home? He suggested inwardly, watching the cigarette burn below his nose, "It's not like I was trying to order her around," he said quietly to the air, and whatever animals might be listening. You genuinely care for her. "I do," Why do I have such a hard time showing my true feelings? He was getting angry with himself, running his fingers through his hair trying to straighten out his thoughts. You should go back to her. Apologize. "I didn't do anything wrong," Go back to her. He dropped the cigarette and ground it into the paved path at his feet before picking up the butt to throw in a garbage can. Looking up into the night sky, and letting out a deep sigh as the chilled air turned his breath to a cloud, he made his way back to the entrance of the park.
Ema didn't get far down a path before she had to stop as well, leaning against a tree to try and regain equilibrium. She placed the back of her forearm on her forehead and looked up at the sky through the sparse foliage. The world was so spinny. She looked behind her and blinked as she heard footsteps approaching.
"Leaving so soon, honey?" a familiar voice called out. "Yama, get around to the other side of her," he said to his associate, but Ema was not close enough to hear and turned to see two silhouettes in the park lamps getting closer.
Run. Her body screamed at her, and she compelled her legs to move, dashing off the path and into the trees. She didn't even have enough sense to scream for help, and the moist grass only masked her foot steps, making it harder for her to pick up speed. But, unlucky for her, these men knew this park very well, and the scruffy individual and his red blazered friend were only herding her toward their third companion.
The trees flashed past her like a blur and soon she found herself in a small grove of trees with no way out, except for the way she had come, which was now blocked by those foreboding shadows, smiling down at her; their white teeth looking to her more like fangs as they advanced. She tried to speak, but her mouth was dry from running and something else that she couldn't identify. Her vision grew clouded and she felt something slam into her hard, causing her to crash onto the grass, with a slight grunt of pain.
"Looks like that new mix is working just fine," the scruffy one said, sliding his jacket off to throw under a nearby bush.
"She still has some fight in her though," Yama said in his deep voice, walking beside his companion and throwing his dark jacket onto the pile.
"Not for long," the last man said, throwing that wretched red blazer into the mix as the scared university student cowered before him, her brown eyes wide with fear.
Oh no! What are they going to do? She couldn't speak, but her mind was unfortunately clear enough to figure out what was going to happen next. I shouldn't have drank so much. She felt someone grab her hands and tie them together with a belt. I should have been more careful. The belt was latched to a tree and she felt something touch her cheek. Why didn't I listen? Ema closed her eyes, trying to block out as much of her senses as she could. The grass rustled beneath their feet as the three men grew closer, building the anticipation, and the dread. She smelled their hideous musk and the salt of the tears on her cheeks. Natsume...her final thought before surrendering her will to the darkness, retreating deep inside her mind to hide from the monsters before her.
Slight rustling could be heard not far from where Natsume was walking, and he immediately took notice. Straying from the path, he soon came upon a grove of trees and could make out a handful of shapes in the dim park lights. Probably some kids messing around. He thought to himself as he approached the cause of the noise.
"It's more fun when they cry," a male voice said, and Natsume stopped in his tracks.
"We only have a few minutes before the lights come back on. Make sure to hold her tight," a second raspy voice added.
"Don't want to get kicked like the last one, eh Hachi?" a third interjected in a deep baritone.
The flame haired man continued to advance, dreading the sight he was sure to see, but he was not about to back down, and leave some poor girl in distress. He started to sprint.
"Stay still, honey. It won't be so bad," the first voice said, before being interrupted by a raging CEO.
"Wanna bet?" was all he said, before slamming full force into the first unlucky fellow, hurtling him into the side of the grove. The second man made for a right hook, but Natsume easily dodged it and delivered a menacing upper cut. The lights on this side of the park were out, so all opponents were at a disadvantage, but the orange haired man was not letting up. He pummeled his third assailant violently in the gut, causing him to huddle over in pain.
"Hell with this," one pleaded.
"She ain't worth it," the second whined.
"Let's go," the third suggested, grabbing their jackets from the ground and retreating into the night like the cowards they were.
Standing in the grove, his silhouette was barely discernible from the foliage surrounding him, fists clenched in rage near his hips and he stood in a fighter's stance, his face turned in the direction the three attackers left in, and you could nearly hear him growl in anger. He relaxed when he was sure they were not returning and looked down at the girl he saved, "It's all right miss, they're gone," he said softly.
The park lights flickered back on, and the sight before him broke his heart, "Na..." her voice broken, her spirit shattered, her face tear stained, her eyes wide as she recognized her savior
Ema...
"Oh my, God! Ema!" he dropped to his knees and quickly unfastened her hands, letting her collapse into the safety of his embrace. He gently wrapped his arms around her head, holding her close and feeling her quake in fear.
She did not even have the strength to cry, and could only silently sob in his lap, the only sound was her gasping for air as she wept.
My beautiful Ema.
"It's all right Ema, darling. I'm here," his voice started to crack as he too came to realize what could have transpired had he been any later, "I'm right here," he said quietly, sweetly kissing her hair. He carefully slipped his hands under her knees, "May I take you home now?" he asked gently. She nodded against his shoulder and he quickly stood, feeling her tears wet against his shoulder as they left that wretched place.
Natsume carried her bridal style to the two blocks back to his car, unlocking it with one hand and carefully setting her in the passenger seat. She quickly grabbed the arm of his shirt as he made to leave, "No," she pleaded silently.
"I have to drive. I'm not going anywhere," he patted her hand before closing the door and dashing quickly to the driver's side. After quickly fastening themselves in, the two Asahina siblings made their way home.