Author's Note: Hello! I have another chapter for you! I'm actually writing the next chapter at the same time that I post this.
Please enjoy and remember to leave me a nice word in the form of a review!
Disclaimer: I only own my own characters like Suzumi, Haruka, and the Osiris Brethren. Voltage, Inc owns the rest.
Rough around the edges, memories and baggage
You know me
Never play the safe card, when I go I go hard
Now you know
Moments - Tove Lo
Thirteen.
"So, how's your wound doing?" Luke sipped at the tea Haruka had made for both of them. She'd made tea for the two after making Eisuke's coffee and left in a huff, muttering about how many rooms she had to clean.
"It's fine. Healing perfect." Soryu crossed his arms and glared past his old friend to the closed door of Suzumi.
"I'll examine it this weekend and let you know if I approve you going out of the hotel. By then you'll have crossed ten days. On a different note... Has Suzumi come out of her room yet?"
Soryu shook his head. "No. She ignores any attempt at people talking with her and refuses food. If it wasn't for her sneaking out to use the toilet a few times a day when she thinks I'm not looking, I'd have thought she ran off or died." His voice was mixed with thinly veiled worry and bitterness.
"And the fact that you're stuck with me or Baba helping you with your bandages?" Luke looked over the rim of his cup, eyes narrowed towards the mafia boss. "You sound upset. I wouldn't expect this from you."
"Can't you just go in there and sort it out? You're a doctor, she's already talked with you once, right?" Soryu fought his blush and rubbed the back of his neck.
"I can't invade a space that she has made safe in her mind. Her room is her own. But I can point out that, despite closing herself off to you and the others for the last two days, she's chosen a space you gave her as her own. Psychologically speaking, she's not shutting you out completely. She accepts you as a part of her life, one that is a given. From what you've told me, she won't see Haruka or the other auction managers. Has she reacted to your underlings?"
"I haven't told them. It would demoralize Samejima and Inui can't keep his emotions to himself; he's already taken to giving her a nickname and fawning over her." Soryu rubbed his eyes tiredly. "Please try to talk with her this time? Last time, you just stood outside the door. You can tell her I'm going to the lounge to talk with Eisuke."
Luke sat down his tea and sighed. "I will try my best. I suppose you're leaving now?"
"Yes, Eisuke wants to have another auction soon. Especially since you're in town and agreed to perform services. I can still do the paperwork, I can just ask Baba or have Akira do the footwork."
/*\
"Suzumi, if you wish to talk at me or to me, I'm here alone. Soryu has gone to a meeting and it would be just us."
Suzumi sat in the center of the bed, legs drawn up and arms hugging them close. From the other side of the door, she could hear Luke trying to coax her out. At this point, she was in the middle of day three of hiding away and she wanted to come out. However, every time she reached for the doorknob, flashes of the sensation of being knocked to the ground ran across her being and she would end up retreating back to the bed.
"If you would like to chat, I'll be in the living room. As I said, Soryu will be out for a time with Eisuke down the hall."
She could hear his footsteps retreat back down the short hallway and once more, there was silence surrounding her.
Twenty minutes later and a quick dart into the bathroom first, Suzumi stood behind Luke who was reading one of the magazines Inui had brought her weeks ago for entertainment. He was muttering to himself, seemingly confused at the content.
"I don't understand. The gossip people are overeager for pop star tidbits. These Revance men seem positively boring compared to others."
"Inui doesn't get my tastes. Gossip rags aren't my thing. But apparently they had a ghostwriter for a time, despite calling themselves fully self-sufficient." Suzumi came around and sat across from the doctor, shyly looking at him through her curls.
Luke looked up, surprised. He tossed the magazine on the table and gave her his full attention,blue eyes seemingly able to see right through her. "Suzumi. Thank you for coming out to visit with me. Would you like to chat over lunch?"
She could see how casual he was being, trying not to make her fasting a big deal and she appreciated it. She nodded. "Please. Whatever the special is for today will be fine."
"Let me just call down then. I'll ask for more tea as well."
When the food came, Suzumi was thankful it wasn't Haruka bringing it. Another woman who's nametag read Erika dropped it off and the woman was none too subtle about the jealous glare she gave Suzumi regarding the kind of company she was keeping. Haruka had told her about how the other maids were frothing at the mouth to be able to work with the penthouse men. And then of course catch their eye and hearts. Or was it just wallets? Suzumi let the woman see her roll her eyes and gave a small smile at her huff as she stalked out of the room.
Luke, acting as host, poured their teas and served her quietly. His plate consisted of a small amount of fruit and grain, hardly a meal. Seeing her confused face, he grimaced.
"Food is bothersome. I prefer just vitamins and supplements and I do occasionally need more."
Suzumi blanched. "That's terrible. I can't believe your body hasn't shut down yet. You should eat more." She put a few of the stir fried veggies and rice from her plate on another and put it in front of him. When he frowned, she switched into a bossy tone. "It's a few pieces of vegetables. Eat that too please? You have me worried."
"I could say the same to you, Suzumi. You have people worried and right now, I have more nutrients in me than you do. I'll eat everything in front of me if you eat all of yours and promise to stop skipping meals."
Suzumi lowered her head in shame and nodded. "I wasn't doing it on purpose." Picking up her chopsticks, she began nibbling on the food in front of her.
"We know this. Just say what comes to mind while we eat. We can keep this informal, I don't want to interrogate you." Luke glared at the food in front of him, but speared a strawberry and tossed it in his mouth.
When half the food on her plate was gone, she started to talk. "Soryu accidentally knocked me down the other day. Baba came in, said things that flustered me. I hurt Soryu as I changed his bandages and he sat up in pain. It's my own fault. But it made me think of all the times I'd get tossed to the ground or knocked around. I didn't have the luxury of running away to a different room then and I guess I seized the opportunity."
"It was all a perfectly logical response to the situation given circumstances. No one faults you for it."
"And I hate that. People should be mad at me, I seem so selfish. I was in charge of helping Soryu recover and I abandoned him. I wanted to come out sooner but every time I almost did, I'd lose my courage."
Luke smiled softly. "You may partially get your wish. I know Haruka, the force that she is, is worried and upset you wouldn't see her."
Suzumi shuddered. "Oh boy. What about the others?"
"Well," Luke said, thinking. "Baba feels awful. He feels as though he is responsible. To which I agree. Soryu is very worried. He's paced this suite the entire time. And I know he hates that his only options for changing his bandages are me or Baba."
Suzumi could feel the pit of her stomach drop. Biting her lip, she fought back the prickling pain at the corners of her eyes. Shame welled within her and she turned away from Luke to hide her face.
"Ota, Kishi, and even Eisuke are worried, too. You saw how Eisuke was the first time you and I met. He has a vested interest in you now. I would compare it to a big brother, almost."
"You know, you're making me feel worse," Suzumi grumbled, rubbing at her eyes.
"Yes, I know. It's not wholly my intention but you need to realize the circle you have around you now. You aren't alone anymore. I know you've basically had to leave your past behind, including family and friends, but you have us now. And despite whatever deal you made to walk away when the time comes, I doubt that's what will happen. Haruka was supposed to sign a confidentiality agreement after her period and go back to regular life and yet, a year and a half later, here she is. All the men who belong to this penthouse ragtag group have very few people they can trust and they rarely let go of things they consider theirs."
"You talk like you're not part of that…" Suzumi frowned. She turned back to face him and saw a very faint tinge of color on the doctor's pale cheeks.
Luke frowned. "I'm hardly around, I don't stay in Japan like the others do. However when I visit, I very much would like to continue to see you here. Not just as a patient so I can watch you heal and grow, but I find you a very trustworthy and intelligent woman. You make for good conversation when I'm not face down in a book for an upcoming surgery."
Suzumi let her eyes wander down to their empty plates and cups, mulling over what Luke had told her. His forthcoming honesty had surprised her, especially hearing about the others. She was sure, however, if she were to ask, they'd like deny every iota of the concept. The thought of the sharp-tongued Ota vehemently denying her being anything than a pet bird while looking away in embarrassment made her chuckle. Baba would never hide his feelings, and she knew the second she made her presence known, he would want to hug her and apologize profusely. Kishi, while not spending a lot of time around her due to the animosity between he and Soryu, always seemed to have a quiet eye on her like a guardian watchman. Eisuke would call her trouble but look satisfied that she was present and accounted for once more. The image made her pause, the realization that Luke was shocking right. The Ichinomiya head always made last sure she was taken care of by asking Soryu and was paying for her medicines that Luke had her on. He even updated her wardrobe once since her arrival, replacing clothes that had gotten too small with her healthier weight with replicas in the next size up. He, too was like a watchman, though one with a complex for being right and getting his way. Luke was a surgical doctor first and foremost, yet he was acting like a general practitioner and therapist for her and visited occasionally just for chats. The idea of these men that had surrounded her and complicated life forming these warm attachments to a woman they barely knew made her want to cry again.
"You have a lot of complex looks darting across your face. Anything you care to share?"
Suzumi shook her head, but still spoke. "Just overwhelmed."
"Do you think you'll be okay for now?" Luke smiled gently.
"Yeah. I hope this doesn't happen again. They aren't pleasant feelings." She rubbed at her nose to hide her embarrassment.
"I would be shocked if you didn't have another episode of remembering, Suzumi. Healing takes time. Quite often, years. You are a remarkably strong woman, but it's okay to be weak as well. Just don't shut yourself away."
Suzumi pictured going to Soryu the next time she was overwhelmed and let out a giggle. "I think I would make people very uncomfortable. Just picturing a petrified and embarrassed Soryu listening to me seems ridiculous."
Luke shook his head. "Not ridiculous. Any of us would let you talk. Or even hug you. Though, Eisuke might just let you hug him and not reciprocate." They both laughed at the idea of a bewildered Eisuke standing stone still while being hugged.
"Can… Can I go visit the others? They're in the penthouse lounge talking about another auction, aren't they?"
"They are… How did you know about the auction?"
"I heard Soryu earlier before he left. I have to really been doing anything in my room except sit there. So I can hear conversations if they're not being whispered. I'd like to apologize for my behavior to everyone."
"It wasn't your fault, though."
Suzumi nodded. "I know. I'd still like to."
Luke tilted his head. "You don't have an aversion to the auctions? You were sold there."
She shook her head. "No. I went voluntarily. I don't really care what people do with their obscene amounts of money. If they want to buy art or have you do a lung transplant, it's none of my business." She paused. "I just don't agree with human trafficking. I don't like that." Her eyes gave a far off look for a moment before focusing back in on Luke's face.
"And other than you, a willing participant, the Tres Spades auctions have never dealt in human flesh and never will. It's in bad taste and not at all what I want my auctions to be about."
Suzumi and Luke turned to the door of the suite and saw Eisuke Ichinomiya standing there, arms crossed and a grin lighting his features. Next to him, Soryu stood, hand on the back of his neck avoiding eye contact with Suzumi. Behind them both, Baba and Ota stood, grinning big at the sight of a bewildered Suzumi.
"Uhm," she stuttered, unprepared for the sudden appearance of the headstrong men who had forced themselves in her life.
"Good girl, Sora. Waiting for your master and his friends to come." Ota came around Eisuke and sat next to Suzumi on the couch, petting her head. "You're an obedient sparrow."
"Knock it off, I told you to stop calling me that," she growled, swatting his hands away.
Baba came around next and knelt in front of her, taking his hat off and placing it against his chest. "Suzumi, I'm so sorry. It wasn't my intention to startle you. Can you forgive me?" He took her hand in his and squeezed it softly.
Suzumi sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Fine. Please don't tease me like that."
Baba smiled and agreed, following Ota's lead and petting her on the head before coming around and sitting next to Luke, who was watching the interactions.
When she looked up, she could see surprise on Soryu's face. She assumed it was because of how easy she was able to handle being around them all again. Standing, she walked over to the mob boss and bowed deeply.
"I'm so sorry for my behavior the last few days. I can't guarantee it won't happen again, but I will try hard to not act like I did this time again. Will you allow me to finish your wound treatment?"
The room was silent, the present auction managers and doctor all looking on at the scene that was a repentant Suzumi and a visibly flustered Soryu. The man sighed and put a hand on her head gently.
"Stand up straight, you don't need to bow. There's nothing to forgive." When Suzumi looked up at him, eyes meeting his, he added, "I fully expect you to continue with my bandages. The others aren't doing it right."
"I'm a doctor, I know what I'm doing," Luke grumbled, glaring.
"I'm doing it as a penance, Sor! You could be grateful," Baba complained.
Suzumi laughed at the banter and the mood in the room relaxed significantly. Unaware, she smiled and sat back down on the couch. Eisuke uncrossed his arms and strode over to the woman. When she looked up, she shivered at the cold glint in his eyes.
"Yes?"
"You owe me." It wasn't a question, nor was there any hesitation in the statement. "You'll be attending the auction and the I.V.C. in three weeks with Soryu. I want to see you in action; you're a quick thinker and I know that dog that's sniffing around for you will be attending."
"Eisuke, I don't think…" Soryu began to speak, but was cut off.
"What do you want from me?" Suzumi frowned at Eisuke.
"It's time I got involved. Those rats that Soryu fought last week have been stalking Odaiba, knowing full well the Ice Dragons are the only gang I welcome here. I want to see that bowling pin purple in the face from rage."
The smile on Eisuke's face was cold and sharp like a knife. None of the other auction managers dared to speak, a shiver running through the room.
"Fine. I'm done hiding."
"Suzumi!" Soryu stepped forward and cut between her and Eisuke. "I don't approve of this. There isn't a plan and we don't know what else the Brethren are up to." His eyes darted down to Suzumi, who stood and put a hand on his arm.
"We have time. Eisuke, you said three weeks?"
"Yes," he nodded, crossing his arms again and smiling wider.
Suzumi nodded back, then looked up to meet Soryu's dark eyes. "We make plans now. I'll try to remember what else I heard, every detail. Some recon might be a good idea when it comes to the Soumas… And we can make a plan to see just how far we can push Taichi before he acts in public."
"What if this dude really does act out in public?" Ota piped in, raising a hand skeptically. "It wouldn't be a good idea for the I.V.C. and those guests on top of hotel guests."
Soryu snorted. "Naturally, I will have Ice Dragons in the crowd doing security."
"That settles that. Let's go back to the lounge and discuss the auctions some more. Before Haruka gets off and gives us a lecture," Baba said cheerfully, standing and rubbing his hands together excitedly. Eisuke nodded his agreement and headed for the door, expecting the others to follow. Even Luke made his way out of the room, asking Eisuke about the terms of his possible surgery on the auction block.
The last to leave the room of the managers, Soryu, looked down at the tiny woman standing next to him with exasperation written on his face. "Why are you insistent on this? I don't like it." Arms crossed and shoulders tense, he looked angry and every inch a dangerous man.
Suzumi frowned but held her ground. She refused to take her eyes from Soryu's and crossed her own arms. "I can't hide forever. I need to be more proactive in our agreement to help you and the Ice Dragons."
"The Ice Dragons' business, at the end of the day, is none of your business."
A/N: Here's a fun little question for everyone. In the world of KBTBB, who is your favorite character to play? If you're reading this, chances are you may say Soryu, but give me a number two, as well. Let me know in your review for this chapter! Thanks for reading, you're all wonderful!