The next day, Ruki was at her office trying to contemplate about something. Her mother had given her the worst ultimatum ever. And right now, she was seeing her adoptive brother and her right hand man. Of course, both of them were probably talking about their experiences regarding sex. It was a good thing that Hirokazu and Kenta were not here, otherwise she could imagine a room full of people having an orgy.
"And that's the point you're going to get in and ride on her!" Ryo remarked with a gleam in his eye. "Then you do the dirtiest trick ever."
"I agree with you. I could reach the apex of my happiness when I do it with her!" Takato exclaimed. "I wish that she's not really faking it."
"Of course she won't be faking it. She's your girlfriend and probably a hopeless romantic for a classical worker of a restaurant," Ryo answered.
Motherfuckers, Ruki thought with a snort. She was actually annoyed with what she was currently hearing right now.
"Hey, Ruki!" Ryo teased. He was the only one who could call her Madame and Ruki at the same time.
"What is it, asshole?" Ruki asked as she was fidgeting something in her fingers. She was pretending to be examining them so she could show that she was thinking of something.
"So, did you and Jenrya saw each other naked?" Ryo asked, trying to stifle his laughter for his adoptive sister. "Or, Ruki must have forced Jenrya to get naked in front of her then apply the things she loved the most."
Ruki felt embarrassed but she did not show it. To Ryo's answers, Ruki and Jenrya never saw each other naked.
"Fuck off, jackass!" Ruki berated Ryo. "What I and my fake husband do is none of your fucking business! You have nothing to do wuth everything I do. Do you get it?"
Ryo only laughed because of his adoptive sister's peculiar behavior. Surely, something must be up!
"You're getting defensive, Ruki," Ryo teased. "Why is that?"
Takato decided to intervene as well. "Yeah, Madame. Why does it seem that you're defensive, Madame? Are you falling in love with him?"
At this point, this had set Ruki's silence. During the past days, she did not know what to feel towards Jenrya anymore. She enjoyed his kindness, his devotion and loyalty to her. However, she only did nothing but insult him and rebuke him sometimes. More often, she would cuss at him and yell at him but he only laughed at her and made her feel like a queen in their house.
He's too kind for me, Ruki thought. I guess I'm an idiot to always yell at him with curses. I'm such a vulgar woman with a machine mouth.
Ryo noticed that she got silenced at Takato's words. He found the opportunity to discover Ruki's weakness.
"Oh… The great and amazing Wonder Woman of Black Sword Organization is going soft because of a guy!" Ryo smirked. "Should we have a bottle of wine?"
"If that happens, I'll answer the wine!" Takato joined in the laughter. "That's completely new, Madame Amethyst!
"You guys better shut the fuck up," Ruki answered irately. "I'm not going soft because of a guy."
"Oh really?" Ryo teased. "Well, what about the time I saw you two laughing at the park? Don't you dare deny it, Ruki. I saw it with my two eyes!"
Goddamn it, Ruki thought as she also remembered what transpired that day. But that was the very fateful day that made it quite remarkable for her.
Ruki was at the park when she ran into Jenrya who was walking as well there.
"Hello, Babe." Jenrya smiled. "Fancy meeting you here!"
"Oh, it's you!" Ruki said, startled that Jenrya saw her at the park. "What are you doing here, you fool? Don't you have work?"
"I do. But my boss sent us home for a change," Jenrya replied with a smile. "What brings you here?"
"I came here to think," Ruki answered. She was currently sitting on a bench.
Ruki actually went there to think about her and Jenrya's current relationship. Right now, she was not sure if there was something but the way Jenrya cared for her, she felt like as if she was falling into a trap and never be freed. Sure, they had a like-dislike relationship because everything was only staged for her mother but the way he smiled at her and cared for her made her heart beat thrice in a row.
"What about it?" Jenrya asked, sitting beside her. "Is there something wrong?"
Ruki sighed. "I just don't know how to classify us. Our relationship… It seemed too fast for me."
Jenrya also nodded. "I also have to admit that we're way too fast. I'm just shy to tell it to you. now that you brought it up, I suddenly found the freedom to say it."
"It's alright," Ruki answered. "I-I…"
"What is it, Ruki?" Jenrya asked.
"I'm sorry…" Ruki said. Suddenly, she was surprised with what she said. And worst of all, she said SORRY!
Jenrya was surprised also with what Ruki said.
"Did you just say sorry?" he asked her.
"Yeah. Why?" Ruki asked. She was not surprised if Jenrya asked her about her apology.
"Nothing… But the reason is, for what?" Jenrya asked.
"I practically dragged you into a mess because of emotions going bullshit on me," Ruki answered. "Because I liked your company."
Jenrya only placed his hand on Ruki's hand, which was lying on the bench, affectionately.
"I also have to apologize for saying yes immediately. But then again, marrying you sent me to a new adventure!" Jenrya assured her that marrying her gave him no regrets. "But that's all because I like you so much, Ruki."
"How could you like me, Jenrya?" Ruki broke down her curiosity at once. "I'm not even a good woman. I aimed a gun at you on the first time I met you."
"But I know that despite your bad aura as you say, you have something good within you," Jenrya answered.
Ruki felt moved by Jenrya's words. She smiled at him for understanding her so much.
"Thanks, Jenrya," Ruki answered.
With this, Jenrya took her in his arms and embraced her. Ruki found the act surprising but she found comfort in her husband's arms. Right now, she had a big problem with trust issues. She found herself hugging Jenrya as well.
"You're welcome, Ruki," Jenrya answered. "I appreciate also everything. Even you love calling me with insults and what's your favorite word? Shit, jackass…"
Ruki instantly broke away from Jenrya's grasp and began to laugh.
"Oh yes. You're much of a jackass!" Ruki replied with a laugh.
"Of course. I'll be forever your shit and your jackass." Jenrya laughed as well.
Not far from where she sat was a brown-haired man with blue eyes and he was smiling contentedly. He was definitely hearing the laughter from the woman and her husband.
"You saw that?!" Ruki asked, surprise was evident in her voice. How the hell did he see that?!
Takato also was laughing. Ruki, falling for a guy? What happened to their fierce man-hater that they used to know?
"Of course, dear sister." Ryo laughed. "Looks like we'll be having a new boss in this goddamn organization! A boss who will rule alongside Ruki!"
"Wow. So much for the organization, Akiyama." Ruki snorted but decided to explain as well. "I don't know what's happening to me lately, Ryo. I feel like shit whenever I'm with him. He's not like those guys out there."
"What did Jenrya feed to Ruki?" Takato wondered. "Have any ideas, Ryo? She's as romantic as we thought she wouldn't be!"
"Matsuda!" Ruki berated her right hand man. "My mind has nothing to do with that man!"
"Ruki, we're just trying to help you understand that you're also a woman and you also need love," Ryo reminded. "We just wanna ask you something. Why did you ask me on a date?"
"Or Jenrya?" Takato asked. "As you would say, it's just a friendly date. Then it led to a marriage just a week after."
Ruki was trapped in the hot seat by these two hooligans. She could not believe that they were not talking about things related to gangsters. Now, they were talking about the deadly thing called love. She only ate her words because in the previous years, she was man-hating.
"Or, why did you even search for a husband anyway?" Takato continued. "We almost thought that you hated us men to a certain degree."
Ruki placed her hands on both her temples. This was hard to explain. After all, she did not want to get involved in the problem of her family. But the truth was ready to go out and she did so much in covering it.
"You do have an idea that my mother was dying, right?" Ruki answered. After all, she would have to tell this to her men sooner or later.
Ryo and Takato's eyes were wide as plates. Ryo had no idea while Takato had barely because he was with Ruki when they went to the hospital.
"What does your mother have something to do with your marriage?" Ryo asked while Takato was solving the puzzle as well.
"Don't you jackasses get the picture?" Ruki asked insolently. "I married because my mother was the race against time."
Ryo was disbelieved with what he heard. Was this the entire thing all about?
"Your words are bold, Ruki," Ryo answered. "Care to explain?"
Ruki took a deep breath and decided to explain everything from the start until the end.
"After I found my mother in the hospital, she told me that she was dying. And her last wish was that she wants me to get married," Ruki explained. "And to grant her wish, I was forced to marry Jenrya. But, I think I'm starting to like it. Starting's the word, fuckers."
Ryo and Takato finally got the picture. That was why it seemed like a rush to her as well.
"Sorry for our pressuring you. We didn't have any idea that it's all that," Takato replied apologetically. "The only thing I know is that your mother's in the hospital."
"My apologies, Sister," Ryo answered as well. "But seriously, Ruki, are you having feelings towards your husband?"
"Specifically, fake husband?" Takato added. "But on the case of Jenrya, I think he likes you so much."
Ruki breathed deeply as she remembered her past adventures with Jenrya. "I think so. He's not like any other guys. Believe me, once you take him outside and go to a club of yours, he won't do any such things. I don't even understand why I felt this way but that's a thing I'm sure of."
"If you like him, then that's nice," Ryo supplied. "Your feelings are becoming mutual. Make it more so you could be like real-life husband and wife!"
"He told me that he likes me. Of course, that's because we're friends," Ruki answered, rebuffing the fact that her husband has romantic feelings for her.
Ryo began to laugh. "You're really a one tough chick, Ruki. I think you have to settle for a date with your partner before things get serious."
"We've been on a date," Ruki pointed out. "Once. And I think that's enough!"
"It's not enough, Madame." Takato laughed. "You have to date as husband and wife!"
Ugh! I can't believe that I'm having advices from these two dweebs! Ruki smacked her face mentally. Should I smack myself because they know things related to that crap?
"Takato's right, Madame Amethyst!" Ryo replied with a smile. "You need to take a break off. When you got married, I promised to cover for you but still you showed up to Jiro. Now, you have to show your spouse what a nice bitch you really are!"
Ruki only smirked at Ryo's words. "Of course. I'm a super bitch. I killed innocent lives because they threatened mine as well! I think I'll be taking your advice, dear brother. And I suggest that you also do the same with your new girlfriend Alice!"
Ryo only smiled. "At your service, Ruki Makino-Lee!"
Ruki Makino-Lee, Ruki thought. I never realized that I'm also taking his surname as well! Why didn't I think of that?
Eventually, she showed the gun as well. They were enveloped in a brief period of silence until they heard a door open. When the trio looked up, it was Hirokazu as well.
"Hirokazu! What an unpleasant surprise!" Ruki greeted sardonically.
"Unpleasant indeed!" Hirokazu added. "Because we learned that White Sharks are coming!"
"When did you hear this?" Takato asked, apparently taken aback with the information. "Why don't we know about this?"
"Just a while ago. We just beaten up a White Shark member," Kenta answered for Hirokazu.
"That's life-threatening, Kitagawa," Ruki answered. "And life-fucking as well!"
"I wonder what's their next move now!" Hirokazu mused. "Now that they had totally conquered the next building!"
"Probably splash us with gasoline, the least!" Kenta added.
"That's idiotic!" Ruki remarked sardonically. "Totally idiotic!"
But deep inside Ruki's mind was a plan on how to return back Jenrya's kindness. She had eben thinking of that for some time now, but it never commenced.
Yes, I married him… Ruki thought. And it was for a goddamn show.
Suddenly her thoughts were ruined when she heard Hirokazu asking something from her.
Meanwhile, Jenrya was busy preparing a narrative report. Today, he was wearing a blue buttoned down shirt with long sleeves along with a pair of black slacks together with a pair of black shoes. Suddenly, he remembered that he was not yet eating.
What if I ask Ruki to go out for lunch? Jenrya thought. Would she refuse me?
When he dialed the number, he waited until she answered. The phone had a click and was followed by a young woman's voice.
"Hello?" It was Ruki's voice. "Jenrya? Is this you?"
"Hey, Ruki!" Jenrya greeted pleasantly.
And from the other line, Ruki's face was tainted with shock. She was surprised since it was Jenrya who called her. Her heart had increased its beating since she already was talking about Jenrya together with Ryo and Takato.
"H-Hi, Jenrya…" Ruki stammered because she was embarrassed being seen by her right hand man talking to her husband. "Why'd you call?"
"I just want to ask invite you for lunch," Jenrya answered. "I hope it's going to be fine with you."
Ruki looked at the clock in front of her. It was already 11:15 A.M.
"What time?" Ruki asked. Oh I don't know about this one.
"Twelve noon?" Jenrya answered. "Are you free?"
Ruki finally agreed to Jenrya's invitation. "Okay. I'll see you. Where are we having lunch, anyway?"
"The Japanese Dish," Jenrya answered. "I hope you'd say yes."
At the tone of Jenrya's sweet and husky voice, Ruki could not help but smile a little.
"Oh… Okay. I'll be there," Ruki answered, ending the call. "See you."
"Okay. I'll see you, Ruki," Jenrya answered and hung up as well.
Once Ruki had hung up the phone, she could swear that she was feigning unusual feelings in her chest. Ryo was looking intently at her and was smirking evilly.
"So, who's that? Is it Mr. Ruki Makino?" Ryo smirked.
"I think you know more than anything than I do, Ryo," Ruki answered, not straight to the point. "And I can't believe that I involve you two freaks into this fucking mess I made unintentionally."
"Don't worry, Ruks," Ryo answered with assurance. "Your secret is safe with us!"
"Because we are loyal to each other and to Jiro Kobayashi!" Takato supplied. This caused Ryo to cackle with laughter.
"Oh, I believe you, Takato!" Ryo said with a laugh. "I strongly believe your sayings!"
-•••••••••••-
Later that day, Ruki went outside her territory and walked towards the outside of the building. When she was already outside of it, she saw the blue-haired Jenrya Lee standing not too far away.
"Hi, husband," Ruki snorted as she walked towards him. She could not help but remember what transpired earlier in her office.
"Hello, wife." Jenrya grinned. "What took you so long?"
"I just finished sorting all the reports in my desk. It was a mess!" Ruki explained. Well, not exactly. She was singling out Hirokazu because of the mess he made in her desk.
"Hungry?" Jenrya asked.
"Yeah!" Ruki answered simply. "I'm famished, actually. And that is because of Ryo and my fellow comrades at work."
"It's okay," Jenrya said. "We're not that far from the restaurant actually."
When the two were far away from the building, Jenrya's left hand grasped Rika's right hand and walked so they could scout for the mentioned nearest restaurant. Ruki tensed up at the contact but immediately relaxed since Jenrya was with her. She had nothing to worry about because they were married. At that very moment, they saw a Japanese restaurant from afar.
"There's 'The Japanese Dish'," Jenrya said as he pointed with his left finger. "We often eat here."
"Alright!" Ruki answered again. "Now let me at it, Lee."
The two walked towards the restaurant. When they got inside, they felt that a warm aura surrounded them. They saw an empty table for two and sat on it. A waitress went towards them and handed them separate menus while she stood there to take note of their orders.
"I'll have yakitori," Jenrya said. "What will you order, Ruki?"
"Same as yours, Jenrya," Ruki said nonchalantly. "Same as yours."
"Okay!" Jenrya smiled. "Two orders of yakitori."
"Okay, Sir!" the waitress said and went off. "Coming right away!"
Not long after, the food arrived and the couple began eating their lunch. While eating, Jenrya felt the need to tell Ruki something.
"Ruki…" Jenrya said to his wife. I hope she doesn't get mad with me saying this.
"Hmm?" Ruki mumbled. Her mouth was full for her to talk. Is this a date?
"You look beautiful today," Jenrya replied with a smile. "But you're really beautiful at any day."
Ruki's blood went to her face as she heard those words. He was the one who only told her about her beauty seriously. And she wanted to be honest with him in every single day.
"Thank you," Ruki replied as she ate. But then again, she was losing concentration because of the man in front of her. She only decided to stick to eating, otherwise she would get into Jenrya's eyes.
"Ruki, about what I said previously, I'll do whatever it takes to be loyal to you," Jenrya answered.
Ruki felt extremely guilty. Jenrya must have felt that she thought that he was not loyal to her. Probably because he was just cleaning conscience in front of a woman. But she had to change that mindset for now because she was obeying Rumiko's wishes towards her.
You don't have to do anything, Jenrya. Ruki swallowed while thinking. Just keep up with your personality. I like men with your demeanor and I don't know that of all guys that I'd go with, it'll be you.
"Fine," Ruki replied as she gathered her composure. "I know that you'll be bound to me forever."
"Of course, Ruki!" Jenrya only laughed at her. "I always know that."
But the talk last night with her mother reminded Ruki that they should have a child while Rumiko was still around.
It looks like that he's not that committed to raising a child yet, Ruki thought. We're not really most couples. We're just bound by law and living in one house. Maybe the dweebs are right. I should do what normal couples do. But then again, my job as a gangster might stand in my way.
"So, how long have you been working there?" Ruki inquired, trying to start another conversation. "I mean in your office. I never asked you that even if we're still dating at that time."
Jenrya swallowed first her food before answering Jenrya's questions. She composed herself before saying something.
"Two years. I've been there since I graduated college," Jenrya explained. "It happened that my librarian was a friend of my current boss so she recommended me to her."
Ruki only nodded. She began to ask more questions.
"Good thing you liked your job," Ruki remarked. "Nowadays, people would end up being mad because they didn't get what they want."
"I know the feeling too," Jenrya answered with a laugh.
Then the two continued eating as well. They were enjoying the meal while they were exchanging some infromation regarding themselves.
"I think we should do this next time, Jenrya," Ruki stated. "It's like a date or something!"
"Of course, Ruki-san. We're going to do it over and over again," Jenrya replied back. Ruki-san? I hope she doesn't get angry at me!
Ruki-san? Ruki thought. "Ruki-san? Why did you call me that?"
"Of course," Jenrya answered with a smile. "You're my special woman, right? You're my Ruki-san and I can be your Jen-san."
This made Ruki stiffen. "Jenrya, if there's something I could repay you for being kind to me, then tell me."
"No. None at all," Jenrya assured. "Just stay with me all times. I have no one but you. You're all I have right now, Ruki."
I as well. Ruki drank her water. I still have my mother but I don't know when will that hateful day happen. I don't want to lose my mother right now. Please. I'm begging you.
Ruki mentally smiled at herself. Maybe having a husband like Jenrya Lee was not so bad after all. She trusted him already so what about giving her space in intimacy, right? Because they only have a commitment but no passion. It was completely just a companionship between them.
Oh Ruki, Jenrya thought. I wish I could tell you what I'm really feeling right now. I think I'm in love with you already.
I hope you won't change, Ruki thought as well as she pondered on Jenrya's words. Because men like you are hard to find nowadays!
"Thanks for being loyal and kind to me," Ruki answered honestly. "To tell you the truth, this was really my first time to end up in a house with a man. And I'm sorry if I'm really awkward with you. I never got to meet people aside from my mother and grandmother."
The two were already finished with what they were eating. Jenrya grasped for Ruki's hand affectionately.
"It's alright," Jenrya assured with a smile. "We still have a lifetime to show each other what we're really about."
Ruki realized that she had only one thing to clear with: her gangster attitude and to grant Rumiko's last wish about having a child. Her mother must be mad but because of her condition, she had to understand.
This must be getting harder than I really thought, Ruki thought as well. Welcome to the new age of gangster and marriages! Goodness! Can somebody help me here?