I haven't abandoned this story! I've just had a busy year but I'm trying to update everything now that my semester is FINALLY ending! Just two exams left yayyyyy

Okay so NOW things are getting heated! Thank you to all who have reviewed, alerted and favorited this story! It means a lot! Really! It's what encourages me to write more!

Here's the next chapter! Enjoy!

Chapter 8: Pity

'Reika-san…'

'Hmmm…'

'It's getting late. You should get to bed.'

'Mmmm…'

I glanced at her pitifully. Reika-san had been hustling and bustling all day trying to have every room so pristine you could see reflections in the reflections. She even had the most delicious dishes made for the occasion. I was so tempted to steal a manjū from the table but I lost my appetite seeing the poor, frazzled woman. That and because of that weird tale I heard in the market today.

I shivered. So there had been other boys before me. And each one had disappeared without a trace. Right after Reika-san's husband had arrived. That was just strange. Extremely strange. Okay, not strange. Creepy. The more I thought about it, the more frightening it all got. Just what kind of man was he?

I glanced at Reika-san. The woman was looking out a window listlessly. The sun had set a long time ago and the moon was perched high in the night sky. I could tell it was getting late because my eyelids were starting to droop. And so were Reika-san's. But the woman was stubbornly sitting at the table, waiting. Ikebana-san was supposed to arrive in the evening. He never came. I didn't know whether I was relieved or angry. I know I wasn't ready to meet the man. Not after what I heard. But seeing Reika-san looking so exhausted, because she had been working so hard for him, and seeing her efforts go to waste really ticked me off.

Her head bobbed wearily but she quickly sat up straight again, alert. I sighed in exasperation.

'Reika-san, please, you should get some rest now,' I said gently, padding across the room to touch her arm. She was wearing a beautiful kimono today. Rusty red, autumn orange and sunny yellow hues, like a crisp October morning. Her hair was woven back in an intricate bun to show off her perfectly painted face. She almost looked like a young geisha. Except for the tired bags now under her eyes that gave her age away.

'In a bit, Shuuhei,' she murmured, even her voice sounding tired. 'I'll stay up a bit longer. Perhaps my husband is running late and is on his way right now.'

Even she didn't believe the lie she was feeding me. I could tell by the tone of her voice.

'He'll be here in the morning, Reika-san,' I suggested helpfully. 'Just because you'll go to sleep doesn't mean he'll be gone.'

Her hands tightened into fists and her gaze wavered for a second from the window.

'You don't know him,' she murmured softly. I swallowed. Maybe I did. More than I cared to. Since this morning, I was liking Ikebana-san less and less. His wife was so kind and gentle but he…he sounded cold and distant. He didn't sound like a good person. Not for a woman like Reika-san.

'It was awfully rude of him not to show up,' I suddenly blurted out. 'You worked so hard but it's like he doesn't even care-!'

SLAP!

I wheeled back, stunned. My left cheek was on fire. Reika-san glared at me.

'Don't you ever,' she hissed menacingly. 'Say anything to dishonor my Kazuo. Do you hear me?'

I jumped. This wasn't Reika-san. Reika-san would never use such a harsh tone. And she would never…

My cheek throbbed.

'I-I'm sorry,' I mumbled, tearing my eyes away from her scowling face. 'I won't do it again.'

'Keep your word, boy! I won't have you speaking ill of my husband. It is his earning that feeds and clothes you. Do you know how renowned he is in Rukongai? Men are honored to be in his presence! And they should be! Just like you should be! You do not understand the respect he commands from people! He is kind, honest, loving, car-!'

'He's nothing but a monster!'

My heart beat frantically against my ribcage and I kept blinking to fight back tears. Even Reika-san had stopped talking.

I don't know what came over me. Maybe the pain smarting my cheek was too much and I was just spitting nonsense. Or maybe hearing about this "Kazuo" was making me sick to my stomach because I knew it was all a big, fat lie. Either way, I had said it. And stupidly enough, I said more.

'They always disappear,' I said in a quivering voice, looking everywhere but at Reika-san. Kami knows what look she was giving me right now. 'You've brought other boys to this house and they always disappear. Right after your husband finds them. He hurts them. He beats them up. And you just…' I clenched my hands into fists at my sides…'and you just let him. How can he be such an honorable man if he does things like that? How, Reika-san?'

How? How? How? I was angry. Not a lot but enough. How could Reika-san hide such a horrifying secret from me? How could she pretend that her husband was some "great" man? And how could she punish me when all I was trying to do was stick up for her? It wasn't fair, it wasn't fair, it wasn't-

I inhaled sharply. My face was pressed up against soft fabric as a warm body wrapped itself around me. I looked up, startled.

'Reika-sa-' I started when I noticed the tears streaking down her face. All my anger quickly melted away.

'I'm sorry!' I cried out, hugging her as hard as I could. 'I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry, Reika-san! I didn't mean to make you cry! Please, Reika-san, please don't-!'

'It's not your fault, Shuuhei,' the older woman said thickly. She stroked my hair gently. 'It never was. You were just trying to take care of me. And besides, it is I who should be apologizing to you for what I did.'

She brushed a hand against my sore cheek. I willed myself not to flinch. It still stung.

'I should have told you,' she whispered fearfully, pulling me closer, like she was trying to protect me from something. 'I should have told you about the others and what happened in this house. But I was afraid. I was afraid that if you knew you would run away. And then I would be all alone again. Kazuo is always overseas and I'm always at home, alone and childless. It's painful, Shuuhei. It always is.'

She took a shuddering breath.

'You're different from the others, Shuuhei, I want you to know that,' she said carefully, a hand brushing gently through my hair. 'I would do anything for you. I want you by my side always so I can shower you with my love. I want my husband to see that and appreciate you. He needs to-'

'He frightens me…'

The elderly woman froze, her arms still around me but I could feel them tense up. For a minute, I thought she was going to hit me again.

'Shuuhei, he's not such a bad man,' she finally said, almost in a whisper. She seemed so desperate and feeble right now that I felt guilty worrying her like this. But…

'I-I'm sure he isn't,' I quickly lied. 'But…I'm not ready yet, Reika-san. I've heard so much today that I'm confused. I just want…I want…'

I didn't know what I wanted really. Never to see him? Never to have heard those awful rumors? I don't know.

Reika-san inhaled deeply.

'Then perhaps we can wait,' she finally murmured, combing her fingers through my hair once more. 'Perhaps…now is not the right time.'

I felt a heavy load lift off my chest. It wasn't what I wanted. But…it was a start.

'I'll send you off to my ojiisan's early tomorrow morning,' she continued, her voice getting stronger now. 'You can stay there until Kazuo leaves. You'll love my ojiisan. He is a great man. Very learnt. He will continue your education and probably do a better job than me.'

'I don't think so.'

'Oh? And why not?'

'Because nobody can twist my ear to make me study like Reika-san can.'

She laughed, soft but merry. She was her old self again. It made me smile. She kissed me on the head.

'Off to bed,'she remarked. 'I'll be there shortly.'

Making sure she was alright one last time, I padded off. I knew she was still a little upset about my attitude towards her husband. But at least she understood enough to give me some time. I think that's what I needed rather than wanted. Time to think and prioritize. I had my entrance exam coming up and it was stressing me out. Maybe that's why I freaked out a little upon hearing those rumors. For starters, they were just rumors and rumors tend to be exaggerated. Maybe Ikebana-san wasn't as evil as he seemed. A little strict but not downright cruel enough to beat the other boys. Right?

I finished brushing my teeth and changing into my sleeping yukata before making my way to Reika-san's sleeping quarters. I peeked in and frowned. She wasn't there. Didn't she say she'd be going to bed soon? Or had she been lying to me? My frowned deepened. That wasn't like her.

That's when I heard muffled sounds echoing down the hall. Was that Reika-san? No, there was another person. I could hear another, deeper voice as I drew closer, my curiosity growing. It was coming from the room I had left Reika-san in. Fear clenched my heart. What if a thief had snuck in and was hurting Reika-san right now?

'You stupid, stupid woman!'

I flinched in fright. It was the other voice. A man's. And it sounded furious.

'Every time I come back all I ever hear are your whimpering words and pathetic pleas. It's disgusting! All I want is to be left along in my own house! Just disappear, you wretched woman!'

'Kazuo…please…don't say that…'

My entire body froze. That was Reika-san. And she was crying. Her sobs were tearing my heart apart. So then that means, that the man in that room, was…

'Just because I am your husband doesn't mean I am weak to your cries!' Ikebana-san spat. 'I am a man of honor and respect! I do not surrender to a woman's-damn it all, stop crying already, you wretch! Stop-damn you!'

I jumped, clamping a hand over my mouth to muffle a gasp as a sharp crack resounded from the room. The crying had stopped but only to be replaced by a pained shriek. My heart thudded loudly in my ears, my mind a muddled mess.

He just hit her. He hurt Reika-san. He was her husband. What was…what was wrong with him?

'Stop crying,' he breathed heavily. Stuttered sobs filled the air now. 'I said stop crying. If you stop crying I won't hit you again.'

The sobs continued, even though I could tell Reika-san was trying really, really hard to stop. An aggravated sigh left the man's lips. There was a pause from him, as if he was getting ready to hit her again. My heart was about to burst. I couldn't take it anymore.

'Stop it!'

I barged into the room, breathless and body trembling. I don't know what I was thinking. This was the man from those horrifying rumors. I was facing him right now. I had probably signed my own death warrant. However, the only thing I could think of was how ordinary this man looked.

He was going bald. He had jet black hair but it was pulled back so tightly it almost looked like he had no hair at all. There were also lines on his forehead and around his mouth, crow's feet also strewn along the corners of his eyes which were nothing but scowling, squinty black pupils. The cruel man, the so-called respectable man of the Rukongai, was nothing but a mean, middle-aged man with bad hair. That thought actually made me less afraid.

Ikebana-san narrowed his eyes at me.

'Who are you?' he barked. 'What are you doing in my house? If you're a thief I'll have you arrested! I am Ikebana Kazuo, one of the renowned merchants of Rukon-!'

'I don't care,' I growled. For some reason, I was getting bolder. Maybe because this man wasn't scary. He was just a bully. And I'd dealt with worse bullies. 'You have no right to hurt Reika-san. She had done nothing but love you and the least can do is thank her. Not beat her up!'

The man stared at me incredulously. I could be wrong but perhaps this was the first time someone had spoken back to him like that.

Good.

'Kazuo!' Reika-san suddenly stuttered, struggling to stand up. I felt another painful pang in my chest from watching her. Even the side of her face where he had hit her was red and swollen. Bastard.

'D-don't mind him, Kazuo, my love,' she continued, trying to sound calm but her voice quivered. 'He's just…just Leila's nephew. Here to study for the entrance exam. He'll…he'll be leaving soon so don't…he's not important…'

Her voice got smaller and smaller as she watched her husband. Ikebana-san was probably listening. But then again, maybe he wasn't. It was hard to tell since he just kept scowling and scowling as he looked at me. I didn't dare flinch under his gaze. My days of being a frightened crybaby were over. If I wanted to protect those I cared about I had to be strong. Just like the 9th Division taicho. The thought of him wiped away all my fears at that moment.

Ikebana-san finally sneered.

'Waste of time, if you ask me,' he muttered. He suddenly looked back at his wife, making her flinch. 'Having a servant's bastard protect you? Have you sunk so low, Reika?'

Reika-san whimpered. I gritted my teeth, ready to fly at the man when he quickly walked past me, shoving me in the shoulder as he did. I stared after him in surprise. That was it?

Reika-san broke down.

'Kazuo, wait!' she cried out, stumbling after him. Her hair had come undone while her kimono had unraveled, part of the obi strewn across the floor. She no longer looked like an elegant geisha but a woman who just lost her honor. It was embarrassing to think about let alone watch.

'Kazuo, please! Please come back! I've missed you! I promise I won't cry! I won't-Kazuo! KAZUO!'

Her sobbing echoed all the way down the hall. I was suddenly reminded of a dog I had seen as a child. It had maimed both its front paws really badly and because of that, the animal doctor had to amputate them. I remember pitying the dog because it would never be able to run again.

I think I pitied Reika-san more than I pitied that dog.