For several days, Ruki and Jenrya had not seen each other. If they saw each other, one would often avoid and hide. And that was what Jenrya had been doing so far because he knew what Ruki would do to him on the next time they saw each other.
"Maybe I should go to Kyushu and rest myself," Jenrya said as he contemplated what he wanted to do. "The more I'm seeing my wife here in Tokyo, the more I remember that I… defiled her."
Jenrya wanted to apologize for what happened but he still thought that Ruki might kill him with the gun. If he died, then it would be Ruki's fault while Rumiko would become suspicious.
I need to think about what happened, Jenrya thought. Father, please help me. I destroyed the woman that I love. How could I be so cruel?
One day, he was carrying his suitcase when Rumiko saw him. He was already at the doorway when she saw him.
"Jenrya?" Rumiko asked, wondering why he had a suitcase with him. "Where are you going?"
Jenrya had completely no idea as well because he was directionless right now. But he wanted to find himself before he was confronted once again by his own wife. He wanted to know what went wrong with himself.
"I'm going to Kyushu. I'm going to visit a friend of mine." Jenrya smiled wryly. I'm just there to think until I have the ability to talk again to her.
"Why don't you bring Ruki?" Rumiko asked. "Certainly she would enjoy a vacation!"
"Uhm… I don't know about Ruki," Jenrya answered ruefully. "She's busy with work. Besides, my friend needs to see me so bad."
Rumiko only nodded. "Well, okay. How long will you be back?"
Maybe never, Jenrya thought. Probably the time Ruki will ask for a divorce. And, at least, Ruki won't know I left. She's somewhere there, probably beating some crooked guy or something or lashing her anger out.
"I don't know," Jenrya answered again. "I'll see you soon, 'Mother'. I had called my female friend who will take care of you. She's already at the front door."
However, Rumiko also had something to say.
"I'm really sorry," Rumiko began.
"Why?" Jenrya asked.
"I know that my daughter is coarse and stubborn on the surface. But she's got a good heart. It's just she's had a hard life. but I know you'll stand behind her until the end, right?"
And I made her life even harder, Jenrya thought. What am I supposed to do now?
"Yes, I will." Jenrya smiled sheepishly. "Anyway, I have to go. I'll probably be back soon."
"Take care, Jenrya," Rumiko replied. Something must be wrong. I can see the sadness in his eyes.
-•••••••••••-
At that moment, Ruki was at the newly constructed building with her subordinates. She was doing that to drive off the incident with her husband. Sure, she had recovered from the pain she got but being reminded of her husband seemed to kill her. She could not even decipher what happened.
With this, she was having lunch with her subordinates and she poured wine to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new business. She was wearing her white long-sleeved shirt and a black blazer along with black pants. If she did not have long hair, she would be mistaken for a guy by the clients around.
"Let's drink to the successful completion of the new building," Ruki proposed as she raised her glass. "Cheers!"
The men raised their glasses in the air and chuckled as well. Ryo, Takato, Hirokazu and Kenta seemed to be oblivious behind Ruki's happiness.
"CHEERS!" they exclaimed.
However, they got disrupted when they saw members of the White Shark gang coming inside their new business.
"Well, well, well… if it isn't Amethyst?" Yoshina smirked evilly.
"What the…" Hirokazu snapped back.
Hirokazu was about to attack but Ryo stopped him because they did not want to get revealed by their clients in the new business.
Ruki tensed up a little. After the incident with the White Sharks, she did not know how to attack them. It would cause a major turn off to their clients right now and she did not want to disappoint her adoptive father.
"Nice little gathering you got here." Yoshina grinned.
Shut the motherfucker up, Ruki thought. "I'm entertaining clients."
"I've always wanted a drink poured by Miss Amethyst," Yoshina explained. "I hope you gentlemen won't mind."
The subordinates only casted a dark look in Yoshina's direction. Outside, they were playing cool but in the inside, they wanted to kill him right now for disrupting their precious moment.
"Go on. Have a drink," Ryo said in pure pretense. He was the master of playing safe with everybody.
With this, Ruki had no choice. She took the bottle and poured it on an empty glass being held by Ryushin. Her fingers wanted to tear this man but she could not do so.
"Now get the hell out of here," Ruki said calmly as Yoshina started to drink the wine.
"It's my turn," Yoshina remarked.
"I said leave," Ruki said with iciness in her tone and looked at her subordinates. "Why don't we step out gentlemen?"
Yoshina shook his head. "Amethyst, that's not polite."
"What do you call polite?" Ruki asked violently and stabbed the knife towards Yoshina, causing him to be stunned for a moment with the blood near his head. "Let's go."
The gentlemen stood up and left the business, causing Yoshina to freeze. The other members of the White Shark gang were terrified as Ruki and her men passed by them.
Later that day, Ruki and her men had arrived back to the office. She was nursing the tension in her brain after the White Sharks, miraculously, did not cause a scene.
"Boss, I feel like we've been invaded by a bunch of hooligans," Hirokazu remarked.
"I agree with you, Hirokazu," Ruki answered as she sat on her desk. "Looks like Masato hadn't tasted a dose of his own goddamn medicine."
"What are we going to do now, Madame?" Kenta asked. "For sure, they won't stop until they get what they want."
"Those bastards had no idea who they're messing with," Ryo answered. "Good thing, they didn't cause a stupid ruckus along the road."
"Our cover's nearly blown a while ago, if you ask me," Takato voiced out his opinion.
"We have to be careful next time, men," Ruki advised. "If these White Sharks were asking for peace, it's as if we're sent to Hell alive."
"Motherfuckers." Hirokazu snorted.
"Anyway, I have a cousin who's willing to work on our organization, Madame," Takato replied. "We still need men to improve the organization."
"Send me for him then. I want to know who the hell of this man is," Ruki answered, stroking his chin. "What's the name?"
"His name is Kai Urazoe. He's from Okinawa," Takato explained.
"If ever he comes here and I'm not around, please take over and ask him the questions," Ruki instructed, feeling guilty of the recent events lately.
The men bowed. "Yes, Madame."
"I have to go for a while, freaks," Ruki answered back. "Take care of yourselves before we launch the battle with the White Sharks."
"Yes, Madame," they chorused.
Eventually, Ruki went outside of her building so she could go to her house. She decided to walk so she could go to the loading station of the cabs.
Unfortunately, she was still in a mental haywire. She admitted to Ryo that she liked Jenrya, then the unexpected had happened and they had the bitterest spitfire without Rumiko's earshot. And, worst of all, her heart seemed to be pounding hard because of that one person it had been beating for.
Goddamn it! Motherfucking shit! Ruki thought. Why can't he just get out of my head?
As Ruki was alone in her thoughts while walking alongside a pavement, she saw a couple with a stroller and smiling happily to each other. She could also see that they have a child as well and remembered her mother's ultimatum towards her.
I promise… You'll have that little girl while you're around…
I'm sorry…I'm really sorry, Ruki.
This was what she wanted originally. What her mother wanted for her… and she finally got a piece. And everything went totally damn wrong.
She wanted to conceive a child and yet she was blaming him greatly for what he did. She wanted to do it in her own way but her drunken stupor that night paved way for the unexpected. She gave herself to him unknowingly. She felt stupid because she realized that her own body enjoyed that night she and Jenrya shared. She allowed herself to consummate their marriage. A marriage which was formed on impulse and haste and without… love. That night was just a drunken affair, a one-night stand, or a search for release inside their own bodies.
She felt ashamed at herself. She became a drunken whore for him that night. She never listened to his apologies why he did them when it fact it was her who initiated everything. Suddenly, she saw the white band in her finger. She made a deal with herself to silently divorce Jenrya after two weeks but what happened. Almost a month elapsed and she was still Ruki Makino Lee. But after those moments of hugging out and some unnecessary teasings, she realized that those simple gestures had a meaning.
"He told me that he fucked me because I told him to. I realized I'm really a whore," Ruki said, finally regretting her lashing out on her husband when it fact it was her who initiated the whole mess. "I made it worse since I was drunk."
With this, she went home so she could alleviate the unusual feeling in her head after seeing the couple with a child.
Aaaagh! I don't know about this family thing… Ruki thought. It's making me feel shitty as always.
Eventually, just as she was enjoying her walk and processing all the images in her head, she received a call in her phone. One could only hope that it was about work alone.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Mantis!"
Ruki stiffened. The man she was talking to was Masato Neji, the boss of the White Sharks.
"What the hell do you want, Masato?" Ruki snapped belligerently.
"You and only you."
"Goddamn it, Neji! Why don't you just get straight to the point already?!"
"I just love fooling around with a bitch like you, Amethyst!"
"You arrogant son of a bitch!"
"Words, dear. Anyway, I'm inviting you somewhere this afternoon. I want you to be there. We have an important meeting. I'll see you there. Same time and same place."
Then the caller had hung up. Ruki gritted her teeth in anger.
"That bastard knows never to give up!" she said to herself. "I think I have to head back to the headquarters just the same!"
Ruki ran back to the building with speed like a cheetah. Just as she was about to enter the building, she saw Ryo who was smoking.
"Hey, brother!" Ruki said.
"Hey, sister!" Ryo smiled. "Back so soon?"
"Yeah. That asshole Neji called me," Ruki answered. "He needs my presence and I don't trust him too much to be alone. Care for you assholes to join me?"
"My pleasure, Ruki! We'll do exactly what you want!" Ryo answered. "I'll call the others."
Ruki then waited outside for Ryo to call the other gangsters. Not long after, Ryo and the others had returned to where she stood.
"Where are we going, Madame?" Kenta asked curiously.
"To Neji's goddamn residence. Many kilometers from the outskirts of Tokyo," Ruki answered. "Ryo, shall we?"
"Of course!" Ryo agreed and they hopped inside Ryo's black BMW.
Eventually, Ryo started the engines and they were leaving the territory. The car was moving at a normal pace while traversing the city of Tokyo.
When they arrived there, Ruki was the first to alight and she was followed by the others. Takato was holding a deadly weapon for Ruki's own protection.
"I brought it in just in case," Takato offered.
"Keep it covered," Ruki instructed. "And no matter what, don't make the first move."
"Yes, Madame!" the men chorused.
Ruki walked over to where Masato would be. When she arrived there, she was surprised to see Jiro Kobayashi there as well. She decided to play cool and bowed to them.
"Sit down. He's got something to say to you," Jiro Kobayashi instructed as Ruki saw Masato Neji petting his cat.
Ruki eventually sat down. Masato Neji took out a cigarette and a man ran to his side so he could light it.
"I heard one of my men got out of line with you," Masato started.
"I wouldn't go that far," Ruki said nonchalantly.
"Hey, Yoshina!" the assistant hollered. "Come over here!"
Yoshina quickly ran towards Masato's side, showing his bandaged head. Ruki was surprised that this happened just earlier but he still recovered.
Immortal bullshits, Ruki thought.
"Bring a knife," Masato instructed.
Jiro Kobayashi had a bad feeling with this while Masato's cat ran towards the side of Ruki's subordinates.
"If there's one thing I despise," Masato resumed as his cigarette was lit. "It's people with no respect."
Ruki nodded. "I think this is really unnecessary."
"It is very necessary," Masato insisted. "Even if we live by certain unbreakable codes of conduct. I thought I told you to bring a knife!"
The assistant, known as Taro, brought a knife.
"It's all water under the bridge," Ruki remarked. "He was drunk and didn't know what was going on."
"That's right," Masato said, looking at her straight in the eye and returned to his assistant. "He was drunk and didn't know what was going on… but you tried to gouge his eyes out!"
Ruki only looked darkly at Masato. Meanwhile, Masato's men started looking for the cat.
"So I guess I'm the one who's owed an apology?" Masato smirked.
Apology your ass, Ruki thought sarcastically.
"Or was that an outright challenge?" Masato returned.
Masato's men had returned to finding the cat but little did they know was that it was being under the custody of Hirokazu.
Jiro had taken the opinion too wisely. After all, he was the father of the gangsters as well.
"There's no need to make mountains out of molehills," Jiro remarked.
"There's no need for bloodshed," Ruki supplied.
"Well then… Meet your opponent, Yaro…" Masato replied confidently. "He learned the righteous way to use a knife. You choose the time and place."
So this was the bullshit that was all about? Ruki thought. Motherfucking bastards! But I must win. No one can stop the undefeatable Ruki Makino.
She glanced at her opponent Yaro. Apparently, he looked to coward for Ruki.
-•••••••••••-
When they left using the car, the entire people were looking at her in vain.
"Ruks, are you nuts?" Ryo asked.
"You've been asked to battle a stupid guy? One of Masato's pawns, nonetheless?" Hirokazu pointed out.
"Yeah! That's suicide, Madame!" Kenta added.
"I have no choice, you fucking idiots," Ruki answered. "I didn't even know that Yoshina's injury would be the main root of all this stupid mess!"
"Yeah! That incident at the groundbreaking was only just hours ago!" Takato added.
"Does this mean they have ears more than us?" Kenta asked cluelessly.
"Apparently, Ryushin must have phoned Masato and informed about Ruki's deed," Ryo explained, finally getting the picture. "And Ruki, I think they're more cowards than us. They even used a man to get to even with you?! That's rich!"
"Ryo's right, Madame!" Takato added. "This is pointless."
"I have no choice. It's the only way to settle this asshole of a problem anyway," Ruki answered. "I think I also need to train during the next two days. And besides, please drop me to my house."
"Right away, Madame!" Ryo answered.
Not long after, she arrived at her home and saw that the door was wide open. When she walked inside, she saw her mother who was drinking tea. She remembered that she got it from her grandmother Seiko. At the thought of Seiko Hata, her face became gloomier than ever.
"Hi, Mother," Ruki greeted.
"Hello, dear." Rumiko smiled. "How are you?"
"I'm fine," Ruki answered and decided to ask the question that was bothering her for the past days already. "Mother, what did you feel when you saw my father?"
Rumiko smiled as she was going to tell her daughter about her romances previously.
"My heart's beating so fast and I'm happy when I was with him. He makes me special and alive," Rumiko answered. "He loves me and I love him."
Ruki remembered the symptoms regarding her feelings for Jenrya. She only admitted a liking but it soon developed into romantic love. But she became reluctant if it was really love because of what happened between her and Jenrya.
"Why are you asking those, dear?" Rumiko asked. "Are you okay?"
"I think I'm feeling it too," Ruki answered sheepishly. "I feel happy when I'm with Jenrya. He makes me feel alive and happy. I never felt it this way with the other guys."
Rumiko smiled. "My daughter's really in love with her husband! I'm so happy!"
"Yeah and I never told him," Ruki answered and suddenly noticed that the cheery person was not in the house for some time. "Where's Jenrya?"
Rumiko wore a gloomy face. "He left a day ago. He's visiting his friend but when I saw him, he seemed really sad. I think he's really sad to leave you here."
"Where exactly, Mother?" Ruki asked.
"He said Kyushu," Rumiko answered. "He'll be back but I don't know when."
Ruki felt as if she got stabbed in the chest. He's sad and probably left because he feels guilty of what he did. But, it was me who started it. I was too hard on him that day. Maybe I should talk to him. But he left. What am I supposed to do?
Later in the afternoon, Ruki went to her matrimonial room with Jenrya and decided to fix things. When she opened the cabinet to fix her clothes, a piece of paper flew in front of her.
Huh? Ruki thought and saw that it was for her. What's this? And it's Jenrya's handwriting.
Dear Ruki,
I don't know how to tell you how sorry I am. I know you're set to kill me but please let me explain.
The night when we did that, I thought you wanted me. That's why I gave in. But during the morning, I was so guilty that I wasn't in my cheery self. I don't know what to do. I can't even figure out what to do when I know I have a feisty wife with a gun.
And you became mad at me. You were truly mad at me. After we exchanged words, I realized what a fucker I was. I didn't think that you're just drunk when you seduced me at that time. I'm sorry if I forced myself into you. I'm sorry for defiling you. I really do. Now I also gave you a reason to hate me that much.
I'm facing the consequences of that night. Every time I look at my body, I remember all the things that happened to me in exchange for such pleasure. I stole your virginity in just one second without considering the results of that. I'm sorry for taking away the thing that is most important to you.
I know you won't forgive me for this. Because, who am I to you, anyway? I'm just an ordinary man you met weeks ago. I'm not as good as your bodyguards in the loan shark business.
But even if I just knew you for weeks, I wanted to say something. I love you. I know you needed love and you're just afraid to tell anyone, even me. I love you ever since I met you. Always have and always will.
P.S. If you'll file a divorce because of what I did, I won't blame you. I'll just give you the money and we can process it.
Your "husband",
Lee Jenrya
Ruki felt tears in her eyes as she read her husband's letter. She could not understand why she was feeling this way but she felt sympathy towards him. He was the one who made her feel loved and the letter showed his sincere regret. She must find him and apologize for her rude behavior and her anger at him.
I need to find him… I just can't let him leave me… Ruki thought. Mother's right. I think I have feelings for him as well.
Ruki decided on one thing: she would follow Jenrya to Kyushu so they could work things out.