Chapter: 10

A/N: To those wondering, Haruhiko was in the shower. His absence earlier was hardly significant.

(1 year ago)

"Can't this thing go any faster?"

"Misaki we are in a plane. I just can't walk up to the captain and ask him to floor it."

Ha ha. I'm so amused.

"Misaki relax. Calm down, I'm sure it's nothing."

"CALM DOWN? CALM DOWN?! I'M COMPLETELY CALM. UNTIL I SEE MY SON, THIS IS MY CALM FACE!"

I heard him mutter something about 'mother bears.' Bears? Why was he bothered about bears when my son was in trouble? My poor Aki! He could be injured…or kidnapped…and crying for his daddy…..

"…Misaki?"

"WHAT?"

"I'm just saying that he could be just missing you?"

"Then why in the hell isn't he picking up his cell or the home phone?"

"What does the GPS say?"

"The cell is at home. My son isn't."

"Maybe they went to the park?"

I glared at him. He shut up.


I left Haruhiko-san to deal with the procedures at the airport. I had to get to my son, as fast as possible.
Four speeding tickets later, I was barging into my own home.

And there, sitting on the sofa, sipping tea, was Usagi-chichi…

Wait, what?!

"What are you doing in my house?"

"Waiting for you, of course"

"Where is my son?"

"Where a Usami belongs. He's at the family home."

"You kidnapped my son? What in the hell did you do to him?"

"Takahashi-kun-"

"Usami"

"Yes, unfortunately…but to me you'll always be Takahashi-kun. Anyways as I was saying, I'm his grandfather. It's not kidnapping, it's parenting."

Is this guy for real?

"Well unfortunately for you, I am his father. And you are breaking and entering and kidnapping. Give him back before I call the cops on you."

"Prove it. Prove you are his father. By blood, I am his next of kin."

What…?

"Takahashi-kun, I once told you I had a duty to protect my family. I regret not being able to save my son but I will not fail my grandson."

He's blaming me…for Usagi-san's death. He's…I can't believe it. He thinks I'm a danger to my own son?

"It was rather cunning of you to keep my grandson's existence a complete secret from the world. You didn't even allow him to perform his father's last rites. And then you disappeared with him just as I found out about him. Clearly I underestimated you…But no matter, it won't happen again. My grandson is safe, he is where he belongs."

That snapped something inside of me. Aki belonged to me!

"You are wrong. I was legally married to Usagi-san. I have also legally adopted his son as mine. By British law, he belongs to me."

"Ah but you are Japanese. My grandson is Japanese by descent. And in Japan, your farce of a marriage has no legal standing whatsoever."

"Well tough luck to you, we are in the UK. And my son is British: he was born here; his father was a citizen of this country. And in this country, not even his blood grandfather can take him away from me."

"Ah you'll see that's where you are wrong. I can and I have taken him from you. You kept him from his blood kin; you kept him from my son's last rites. You are the guilty one here, both morally and legally. Add to that the fact that you practically kidnapped him from Akihiko's house, I may as well celebrate winning the guardianship."

"I did not kidnap my son! And I didn't keep him from his blood kin."

"Then how do you explain that he didn't even know I existed before I met him? He was all so sweet saying he was happy that his papa's papa was alive. Of course he didn't want to come with me, he insisted on calling you. But oh how luck favors the fortunate! You didn't even pick up the phone."

…I…what have I done?

"Misaki, did you find him?"

It was the worst possible time for Haruhiko-san's entrance. He looked momentarily stunned at seeing his father there. But the shock was instantaneously replaced by anger.

"You didn't!"

Huh? It's like he was expecting this…

"Ah Haruhiko I'm glad you are here. Actually I'm not. I'd rather have my family back home than here. Let's go."

"Where's Aki?"

"Don't worry, he's where he was always supposed to be. And we can finally move back to Japan. The objective behind the takeover is now complete."

The takeover…it was planned? And Haruhiko-san knew all about this?

"Don't seem so surprised Takahashi-kun; you compelled me to play dirty. After you vanished with Akihiko's son, I had no choice but to be subtle, to play underhand. The takeover was nothing but my means of trapping your wandering ways. I'm glad it has succeeded."

I turned to Usagi-ani, "You knew? You knew everything? It was all a ploy to get my son?"

"He told me the night you and Aki came for lunch. I didn't know before that."

Betrayal…I cannot even begin to describe what it feels like.
Conflicts…I'm conflicted between collapsing on the floor and going on a murderous rampage.

I let the latter win.

"Out. Get OUT. Both of you OUT! Get out of my house."

And as I heard the door slam, I let the former get the best of me.


Tbc

A/N: To the angry mob of readers…flame away.