Chapter 9

"I think someone is stalking me," Ran said finally.

"Stalking you? What makes you think that?" Crawford acted surprised as he brought in a glass of warm water for the boy from the kitchen. In Japanese kitchens it was so easy to find where the glasses and water were. They were very well organized.

"I have received weird phone calls during the last two days and today," Ran answered as he took one of the glasses from the older man's hand and murmured a thank you.

"Did the person say something or did they just remain silent on the phone?" Crawford asked, concerned. "A woman or a man?"

"Man, I think… he sounded weird, like a machine."

"What did he tell you? Did he threaten to hurt you?"

"Today, he said… to…" Ran hesitated, looking down at the house carpet as if there was an interesting pattern on it.

"What is it? Tell me." Crawford pushed slowly.

"Just now… he… he told me… to take off my…" Ran faltered, feeling uncertain again as how to continue and took a slow sip of his drink. He was suddenly unsure whether he should tell this or not. He knew this was not under Crawford's control.

"What did he ask you to take off?" Crawford pressed again when he noticed that Ran began to waver; his hand was gripping the broomstick that Ran had dropped earlier to contain his patience.

"He said, he told me…" Ran swallowed. "He told me to take off my underwear and that I look…" He swallowed again, harder this time, "damn fuckable," he finally managed to finish the sentence.

He heard sound of a broken wood; something clattered on the floor and he looked at Crawford's hand. He was startled to see the broomstick broken into two and Crawford's hand was bleeding. Ran quickly got up to find the First Aid Kit; but instead Crawford captured his hand again, forcing him to sit.

"Don't worry about it," he said.

"But… but, you're bleeding."

"It doesn't hurt; I just go and clean this up." Crawford said as he moved to get up off of the sofa, holding his bleeding hand, and walking towards the kitchen. From the corner of his eyes he could see Ran get up and walk to one of the cabinets, bending down to search for the bandage and disinfectant. Crawford hid his smirk and watched the presented view.

When Ran stood up, he turned back towards the sink and let the water wash away the blood. He gave his hand a glance, the cut was not deep and he thought that with Ran bending down in his white cotton briefs, the cut was well worth it. Too bad the boy was not wearing fudonshi.

"Do you learn any self-defense?" Crawford asked, pretending that he knew nothing while Ran was busy disinfecting his wound. He hissed a little when Ran dabbed particularly on the wound.

Ran paused and look Crawford "I'm sorry, does it hurt? I am not good at this," he admitted and pulled his hand away. Crawford gently stayed the boy's hand and shook his head, giving Ran signal of encouragement to continue. "I am a kendōka," Ran said. "I practice Kendo; it's a Japanese martial art for fencing," he explained.

Crawford nodded indicating that he understood what Kendo means.

"You're good at it?"

Ran gave him a soft smile, "Maybe, I don't know, my rank at the moment is go-dan, I hope I can reach the hachi-dan but sensei told me that the exam is extremely difficult, less than one per cent are said to pass the exam. Anyway, he also told me that I am qualified to compete in the District Kendo tournament," Ran told him, his eyes brightened as he spoke and of course he wouldn't tell the man his nickname. It would be embarrassing in his current condition.

Crawford could see how energized Ran was when explaining to him about his sport and the boy's violet eyes began to glow as he became more excited. He wondered if Ran's eyes would glow in bed as well. He felt like pinning the boy now, God he really wanted it, but controlled himself.

Discipline Crawford, discipline.

Ran continued to talk as he wrapped Crawford's hand with the bandage. Crawford could feel that the boy's hands were not calloused although he was participating in a tough sport. He seemed to be overly concentrating on wrapping his hand and explaining about his kendo so that he had totally forgotten about his stalker. Crawford decided to let the boy talk and would bring the subject up again later.

"When did you start to learn this Japanese martial art for fencing?" he asked, trying to remain on the subject.

"When I was five.I was so bad at first that I was even ranked in kyu level." He grinned. "It's a lower level than dan," he explained when he saw Crawford's confused gaze. "Sensei taught me all the ten forms of kendo and yet…" Ran's face suddenly changed and his hand movements began to slow down. "And yet, I am still afraid."

"If I am not wrong, one of the purposes of learning kendo is to promote peace and prosperity right?" Crawford locked his eyes with the boy's.

Ran nodded. "The knowledge should not be used as a weapon, or with murderous intent. It will defeat the purpose," he added.

Crawford almost rolled his eyes, such a naïve boy. Crawford could not believe that such youngsters still existed in this modern Japan, but then again, Ran was different. Crawford had learned that Ran's father was a financial advisor for the Takatori Group, an honest man, who had received no bribes and he had instilled his son with honesty and that there were still good deeds in this world. He almost snorted at that thought.

"Isn't one of its' other purposes to hold your honor, am I right?"

Ran seemed to agree when he nodded slowly.

"Using that as your self defense does not mean that you are against your kendo principle, you are protecting your honor."

"Honor or not, I could never use it to hurt people."

"But you did hurt people in such tornaments right?"

"That was different. We strike at them but we don't inflict injuries on our opponents," Ran snapped.

"So, are you going to let this stalker get what he wants?" Crawford made himself sound frustrated. "You know exactly what he wants; to see you break."

Ran turned his face away. Crawford's words cut through his senses but he was adamant and being obstinate about it. "I will not let him break me and I will not hurt anyone using kendo."

Crawford hide his smile. We'll see about it.If he doesn't, I will.