Chapter 10

We stared at each other intently, he looked like he was struggling to say something. I turned away first.

"You don't understand anything; you don't know anything about me." I said and folded my arms.

"I know more than you think." He said.

I felt him place his hand on my shoulder.

"Look at me." He said.

I refused.

"Stone."

He grabbed my chin and forced me to look him in the eye. He brought his face closer and closer till his mobile started to ring.

I sighed as he released me, for a moment I thought he was going to kiss me. My heart pounded, this was crazy.

"Hello? Oh boss. We're in front of Mikami's parents' house… no, we're in the car. Huh? What? Understood, we'll head back now." He said and hung up.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Mikami was spotted in another location. This really was a waste of time. Let's go back to 2nd unit." He said.

He was back to his normal self again. He started the engine and we drove off.

A few hours later,

"So this bar is suppose to be pretty cool, right?" I asked.

"Yeah, we come here all the time." Tennoji said.

After the stakeout, we met up with the others at a bar called The Station. It was close to MPD, so the guys came here pretty often.

"Hey! Tennoji! Stone! We're over here." Kirisawa shouted and waved his arms.

"Hi." I said.

"You guys started drinking without us?" Tennoji asked.

"We had to, you guy took foreeeeeeeever!" Eiki said.

We sat down at the table with everyone else. I first ordered myself some food, I was still hungry. I then ordered me and Tennoji some beers. A tall man walked up from behind the bar and started talking to me.

"Hi, I'm Agasa, the manager."

He had wavy purple hair, he kind of reminded me of a surfer.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Freya." I said.

"I know. I heard a rumor that there's a pretty girl in 2nd unit."

"Stone, don't let this bartender bother you. He wants to write a mystery novel so he's always asking about our cases. Don't tell him anything too juicy or he'll steal it." Kirisawa said.

"How rude. I don't steal. Freya, come by and have a drink whenever you like, ok?" Agasa said.

"Sure, thanks." I said.

He was really nice.

My food then arrived, I had ordered a medium pizza and a plateful for pasta with a tomato based sauce.

"It's unusual to see you out here drinking with everyone, Boss." Kyobashi said.

"Well, as you guys know we've hit a wall in this case. I thought this would be a good time for a break and a change of scenery." Kirisawa said.

"Yeah." Asano agreed.

"It looks like 1st Unit guys are getting pretty frustrated too. They can't seem to make a break in the case." Hanai said.

"Yeah, because they're cutting in on our case." Eiki said.

"But we don't have any new leads either." Kyobashi said.

"Hey, Agasa. Hypothetical question, if you wanted to plant a bomb at an event that had really tight security, how would you do it?" Kirisawa asked.

"An event with tight security… you mean like an international summit?"

"Uh..

"He's sharp." Asano stated.

"Typical mystery novelist." Hanai said.

"Yeah like a summit or the Olympics or something like that." Kirisawa said.

"Hmm.. I would… I guess I would try to drop the bomb from the air."

"The air?"

"Like make a balloon bomb or something. Isn't balloon bomb the name of a song?"

"How the hell would you get a balloon to fall on the spot you wanted to bomb?" Tennoji asked.

"Or I would tie the bomb to a dove or something. Wouldn't it be dramatic to have a symbol of peace drop a bomb?" Agasa said and laughed. "It's a pretty good idea, if I don't say so myself. I'll have to use it in a story."

"A story.." Hanai said.

"It's my own fault, I shouldn't have asked for his opinion." Kirisawa said.

But Agasa might be onto something, I mean nothing's impossible.

"By the way Freya." Agasa said. "You've been eating since you got here. You're so tiny, where do you put all that food?"

I just shrugged "The pasta and pizza here just so good."

"And you just ate all that stuff in the car too. And you're drinking too much. You're never gonna make it in to work tomorrow." Tennoji said.

"Oh sorry mum. I wasn't aware there were rules and besides, it's my day off tomorrow." I said.

"Your day off?" Tennoji asked.

"Oh yeah, Freya doesn't have a shift tomorrow. What do you do on your days off?" Eiki.

"Do you go on dates? I bet she goes on dates!" Kirisawa said.

"That's sexual harassment." Asano said.

If Tom wasn't busy, I'd probably do something with him. Maybe go shopping again?

As I finished my fifth drink, I peered over at the bar and saw Tom stood there. He was surrounded by a group of soldiers.

"Oh god…" I said and quickly ducked behind Tennoji.

I couldn't let Tom see me here, if he saw me then he would come over and the others wound find out about him.

"Stone, what are you doing?" Tennoji asked.

"Nothing." I said and continued to hide.

I peered over his shoulder, Tom was ordering drinks at the bar.

Hanai seemed to follow my eyes "She's looking at the soldier's by the bar." He stated.

"What's wrong? Do you know them?" Kirisawa asked.

They all turned and looked at the group suspiciously.

"No, I don't know them. I'm going to go to the toilet." I said and stood up.

I grabbed my handbag and ran to the toilet to hide. I just needed to wait till he left, he probably wouldn't be here long. Or I could just leave, but if I left the guys would know that something was up.

I waited for ten minutes before I left the toilet. I creeped along a wall and peered around to look at the bar, Tom wasn't there.

"Looking for me?" his voice said in my ear.

I gasped in fright and jumped forwards.

"Don't do that!" I hissed and punched him in the shoulder.

"Ow! What are you hiding for? Want to join me and my friends for drinks?" he said and pointed to their table.

Thankfully it was out of view from my table.

"No, I'm with the guys from work. Look, can you please have one drink and then leave?"

"Why?"

"Because I'm asking you to." I said.

He folded his arms "What's wrong? Don't want me to meet your work buddies? Is the army not good enough for you?" he said with an angry expression on his face.

"No that's not it. I just like to keep work and personal life separate. So please leave."

He sighed "Fine, we'll have one drink and then we'll go."

"Thanks, I'll see you at home." I said.

He tried to kiss me but I pushed him away and went back to the guys.

"What took you so long?" Tennoji asked.

"I didn't realise there was a time limit in the bathroom." I said as I sat down.

"You feeling better?" Kyobashi asked.

"I'm fine, why?" I asked.

"You kinda freaked out on us." Tennoji said.

"No I didn't, you must just be imagining it." I said and shrugged.

I then grabbed Tennoji's beer and took a swig.

"Hey! Hands off!" he snapped and took it from me.

"Think of it as pay back for always stealing my food." I said and poked my tongue out at him.

"You eat too much anyway, think of it as me helpin' ya." He said and smiled.

"Freya never did like to share food her food." A voice said loudly.

I froze, it was Tom. What was he doing here? I turned around and saw him stood behind me smiling.

"Hey, I'm Tom. It's nice to meet you all. Move over mate." Tom said.

He grabbed an empty chair from the table behind us and forced it in between me and Tennoji, making Tennoji move over.

I instantly glared at him "What are you doing here?" I whispered.

"I've come to join you for a drink. So, I assume you're all of Freya's colleagues at the detective agency?" Tom asked and looked around at everyone.

They all starred at me and then looked at Tom, Kirisawa was the first to speak.

"Yes, we work with her at the Special Investigations 2nd unit. Stone, do you know this man?"

"Wasn't he one of the soldiers at the bar that she was hiding from?" Hanai asked.

"Ok first of all I wasn't hiding and yes I know him. This is Tom he's…. a friend from the army." I said.

I could feel Tennoji staring at me, I looked down at the table to avoid his gaze.

"Well, I think I'm more than just a friend. Wouldn't you agree Freya?" Tom said and put his arm around my shoulder.

Why was he doing this?!

"Don't be rude Freya, why won't you introduce me to your colleagues?" Tom asked and gave my shoulders a squeeze.

I grabbed his fingers, bent them backwards and removed his arm.

"Why are you here? I told you to leave." I hissed through gritted teeth.

"Well I didn't want to leave. So, stop being rude and introduce me to your colleagues." He said.

"I don't want to introduce you to my colleagues. Leave."

"Make me."

We both glared at each other.

"Stone, if this guy is bothering you just say the word." Tennoji said.

He was now glaring at Tom.

"Oh really? And what are you going to do?" Tom asked him and shot him a challenging glare.

Tennoji matched it, I could easily see them both fighting. I knew this would happen, Tom always got jealous and now Tennoji's feelings were going to be hurt.

"Tom don't. Just go home and we'll talk later." I said.

"What's wrong? Are you ashamed of me? Am I not good enough for you? I was good enough for you last night and the night before."

I gasped and just stared at him. How dare he bring that up now!

"Tom stop. You're embarrassing me!"

"Oh so now I embarrass you? Is that why you were hiding from me just now?"

"I wasn't hiding from you."

"Yes you were! Why?" he demanded.

We both started to raise our voices and the bar was starting to fall quite the more we argued.

I glanced at Tennoji, our eyes met. He had such a pained expression on his face, I couldn't bare it.

Tom followed me gaze and then scoffed.

"I see. So, this chump stole you from me did he?" he asked.

"Who you calling Chump?!" Tennoji shouted.

I jumped up from my chair causing it to fall over backwards "Tennoji hasn't done anything but even if he has, it's none of your business!"

Tom then jumped up from his chair and we were stood head to head. "I'm going out with you so it's my business!"

"We are not going out. I told you that I wasn't interested in having a relationship with you and you agreed to that arrangement."

"Well, I'm changing that arrangement. I want to become your boyfriend."

He tried to take hold of my hand but I pulled it away.

"Don't touch me. You must be crazy if you think I'm even going anywhere near you after this. You've embarrassed me in front of my friends and my colleagues, I cannot believe you."

I turned to the table and grabbed my purse. "I'm going home and in case it wasn't obvious, you can find somewhere else to sleep tonight." I then turned to the guys "I'm sorry about this. I'll see you guys at work."

"Stone, do you want a lift home?" Tennoji asked.

"No, I'm just going to get a taxi." I said.

I shoved Tom out of way as I stormed out of the bar. How could he do that to me?! What an asshole!

The next morning, I had several missed calls from Tom and from Tennoji. Hanai Kirisawa and Eiki had also texted me to make sure that I was ok. They were so sweet.

I got up and got ready to go for my 10 mile run. I ran around the streets and then headed to park, after my second lap around the park I noticed someone following me behind.

I pulled out my ipod headphones "Go away Tom."

"Nope, not until you talk to me." He said and ran up beside me.

"I don't want to talk to you, get lost." I said.

I started to run faster but he matched my pace. So I went even faster till I was sprinting, I continued to sprint till I couldn't go anymore I collapsed by a tree.

"See? Now you have no choice but to talk to me." He said as he stood over me.

We were both covered in sweat and breathing heavily.

"Tom.. get.. lost. I don't want to hear what you have to say." I said and glared at him.

"Freya, I'm sorry. I just… I saw you with that guy and I got jealous. And when you asked me to leave I just… I'm sorry." He said.

"You know, I thought that maybe you had grown up in the last two years but clearly I was wrong. You were always so jealous, the moment any guy came over to me you would be there instantly ready to fight them." I said.

"I have grown up and I have changed. I promise that this won't happen again. Please, just give me one more chance."

I studied his face, he did look remorseful but I wasn't going to give in easily.

"Too late." I said.

I stood up and started to walk back to my apartment. Tom moved quickly and blocked my path, he then got down to his hands and knees.

"I love you Freya and I don't want to loose. Please forgive me. Please!"

There weren't that many people in the park but they had all stopped and were watching us.

"People are starring. Get up."

"No, not until you give a second chance. Please Freya. I don't want to let you go, I love you! I rang my boss, I've got tons of holiday to take and they've given me a month off. That's a whole month that I can prove myself to you. Please!" he begged and held his hands up in the air.

I could hear the people around starting to mutter to themselves.

"Get up off the floor!"

"No, forgive me. Please!"

"No." I said and tried to walk around him.

He moved and blocked my path again "Please Freya! Please!" he shouted at the top of his lung.

"Ok ok. Just get up off the floor, you can come back to mine and we can discuss this properly."

A smile spread across his face and he instantly jumped to his feet.

"Lead the way." He said.

I poked my tongue out at him and walked past. We walked to mine in silence. I unlocked the door and we walked in, he went straight to the living room and sat on the sofa.

"You've got five minutes to make your case." I said.

"I know I hurt you Freya and I plan on making it up to you in whatever way I can." He said.

"Oh really? In whatever way you can?" I asked.

A very evil thought popped into my head, I could make him really suffer for what he did to me. This could actually be quite fun.

"Ok, let's see what you got. Impress me and if I think you deserve to be forgiven then I will. But you have to do some serious groveling."

"Fine, whatever you want. We can start right." He said and jumped off the sofa.

"Ok. For starters you can make me breakfast as I shower. And then you're going to take me into town for shopping and lunch."

"Fine. Go and have a shower." He said and rushed to kitchen.

I chuckled to myself, this really was going to be fun!

A few hours later,

"I think these diamond earrings will match my diamond bracelet and diamond ring perfectly. Don't you Tom?" I asked.

I was stood in one of the most expensive jewelry shop in Tokyo. I was stood by a display cabinet looking at all the diamond jewelry.

"Freya, this is turning into extortion." Tom grumbled.

He was stood behind me holding all of my shopping bags. He had already bought me new shoes, new clothes, a bracelet and a ring. I was wearing one of the dresses he had bought me.

"No, you said you would do anything to make me forgive you. This is what I want you to do and you want me to forgive you, don't you?" I asked.

He sighed "Yes."

"Good. Then we'll take these diamond earrings please." I said to the shop clerk.

"Yes ma'am." The clerk said.

She brought me the earrings and I put them in. I walked over to a nearby mirror and happily admired myself. I looked perfect, I couldn't wait till the girls saw this. I had never had diamond jewelry before and the dress I was wearing was very expensive as well.

"So, lunch time. I'm starving." I said and pulled Tom out of the shop.

He looked miserable and I was loving it!

"Where do you want to go?" he asked.

"I would love some Sushi." I said and led the way to my favourite Sushi restaurant.

As we walked down the street, my phone started to ring.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hey, it's me." Tennoji said.

"Oh hey." I said.

I hadn't spoken to him since last night, he must be so upset.

"Where are you?" he asked.

"Shibuya. Why?"

"Ok, I'm heading there now."

"Did something happen?" I asked.

"We arrested a man who could be King. You're the only one who knows what King looks like. We need you to tell us if this guy is him or not."

"Ok, I'll see you in a bit." I said and hung up.

"Who was that?" Tom asked.

"Work, I need to go and identify a perp. You go home, I'll see you there when I get back." I said.

"Ok, good luck." He said.

He leaned in for a kiss, I moved away and stepped back from him.

"I'm not there yet." I said.

"Fair enough. I'll see you later." He said.

He took my shopping bags and walked off.

He was trying really hard and I knew I was being very unreasonable, I was surprised that he was going along with this. Maybe he had changed, if only slightly. I still didn't know what I was going to do about Tom, I still had feelings for him and I wanted to be with him but after the other night… I couldn't be dealing with someone like that. I felt so confused.

A few minutes later, Tennoji pulled up in his car.

"Tennoji, I'm over here." I said and waved.

"Hey, sorry for taking so lo-" he said but then stopped dead in his tracks as he walked up to me.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothin'. You're dressed like a girl." He said.

"Dressed like a girl?" I questioned.

I was wearing a dress, so what?

"I didn't recognize you. You usually wear really un-sexy stuff, like suits. Where you going dressed all cute like that? You're not with that guy from the bar are you?" he asked.

"Well-"

"You're not really going out with that asshole are you?"

"It's none of your business what I do on my days off or who I go out with." I said.

"Maybe, but I wanna know!" he said.

He looked me up and down suspiciously.

"You could do better than him ya know. Anyway, sorry for calling and interrupting you. Let's hurry and do this so you can get back to your date. Here, get in the car."

We walked over to his car and he opened my door and I climbed in. He started the car and we drove off.

"So, this due you're out on a date with. What's he like? Why were you hiding from him at the bar?" he asked.

"I wasn't hiding from him at the bar. I just… I don't like to get work and personal stuff mixed up. There needs to be a line. Anyway, I haven't apologized for what he did. He was a real jerk at the bar."

"Yeah he was so why are you dating him?"

"I'm not dating him… it's complicated." I said.

"So who is he? Is he your ex?"

I remained silent. I didn't want to talk about this right now, at least all with him.

"Well, I don't know who this guy is that you're dating, but you're not gonna find a man in this world better than me."

I turned and gave him stern look "Oh, you really think so?"

"I do." He said with a smug smile.

Hm! Arrogant as always. Things were just getting more complicated, the more time I spent with Tennoji the weirder things were becoming between us. Though he was probably right.

"So, about identifying King." I said.

"Oh yeah. The guy we picked up works for a company in Tokyo." He explained.

Tennoji looked like his normal self, things were finally back too normal between us.