A/N: Ah, gomen, everyone ;_; I apologize for the long wait, I'll do my best not to let this happen again. But school has been very busy for me, considering it's my last year of high school :/ I have post secondary applications to worry about. However, thank you for reviewing, each review I receive always boost my confidence and inspiration. So thank you -bows-
And as for when I'll update next, it'll probably be when I have time to write again (which might just be weekends).
Without further ado, I hope you enjoy this chapter and I'll do my best to work faster. Happy reading~
Chapter Fourteen
Sumireko held her breath as silence swept into the room, leaving a hanging tension in the air. Her ears were ringing loudly within her skull, barely detecting Shinya's soft breathing by the shell of her ear. She could barely feel the arms wrapped around her waist in a tight grip; nonchalantly, Shinya had pulled her closer. The warmth Shinya's body had once radiated, surrounding her body like a warm blanket, had now chilled into a frosty tension. Her eyes, widened in horror, concentrated on the man only metres away from them.
She eyed him, warily, noting his quivering hands and deep breath intakes. The quiver that shook his fists, almost as if it were a volcano about to erupt, made a chill trickle down her spine. His face, fair and pale like her own creamy flesh, had colored considerably. A crimson hue emerged, reddening his scowling face like a bright, red tomato. Yet, as seconds became minutes, his eyes remained glued to the floor.
"Sumireko is my girlfriend." Those sweet, dreaded words resonated through her mind. Like a broken record, they repeated continuously in an endless cycle. Playing in short, soft intervals that had her thoughts colliding and clashing with one another. Every sensible thought she had conjured dissipated into nothingness.
Her face burned with an unknown fire that seemed to ignite within her blood. She tentatively brought a hand to touch her cheek, wondering if she was on fire. Just touching her own skin, she felt the heated flesh beneath her palm. Indeed, this was a reaction she hadn't anticipated.
Ducking her head, she turned and buried her face into Shinya's shoulder. Her nose nuzzled into the fabric of the girl's shirt, letting her softly inhale Shinya's familiar scent. The silver haired girl barely reacted, opting to draw her deeper into the girl's tight embrace. Sumireko unintentionally let a small squeak leave her lips as her forehead bumped into Shinya's shoulder.
"S-Shinya-san, what are you doing?" She managed to hiss frantically into the girl's shirt.
"Shut up." Sumireko flinched at Shinya's suddenly sharp tone. The sound rumbled from Shinya's chest, almost like a growl, as the words snarled into her ear. Contrasting to the girl's rough tone, she felt a hand gently run through her hair. Her heart nearly leapt out of her chest when Shinya's lips brushed the shell of her left ear.
"Idiot," Shinya whispered harshly, letting her hot breath wash over her ear. Tingles shot down her spine, startling her, as she unwillingly let a shiver escape her body. "We'll discuss this later, right now yer father looks like he's about to explode."
That caught Sumireko's attention as she quickly turned her head. It didn't take much for her to believe the girl's words.
Her father's body was trembling dangerously now; as if, those words were finally sinking in. His eyes, those identical blue eyes that matched hers, were settled on her. A raging storm seemed to flicker within them as his blue orbs absorbed her face with one, long stare. They flickered up and down, first studying her face then opting with a sudden intensity that made a chill go down her spine. In a span of a minute, his ice-blue eyes were glaring daggers at the arms encircled around her waist.
"Get your filthy hands off my daughter." He demanded with his lips curved in a snarl. She could see his eyebrows drawn together, giving him an almost permanent scowl. His ice-blue eyes were narrowed into slits, flickering like a winter storm, as his gaze fixated on the girl keeping her afloat.
He took a menacing step forward, looking ready to yank her from Shinya's protective embrace. His shoulders were rigid, tensed from the anger burning within his body. His hands were trembling like a leaf, clenching and unclenching as he seemed to mull over something. She could tell from his conflicted expression that he was unsure of himself.
"I don't think so, old man." Her father stiffened at the sound of Shinya's voice. The silver haired girl's lips curled into a feral smirk. "I don't intend to listen to anymore of your blabbering. Not now. Not ever." Came Shinya's rough, resounding voice as it brought tension into the room. If the room wasn't already tense as it was, Sumireko would have felt anxious. After all, her father could be unpredictable.
Shinya-san...
Sumireko's eyes widened, finally realizing just how serious Shinya was. The pounding in her chest had intensified, causing her heart to palpitate erratically. Her heart was beating out of control, beating faster than she ever thought was possible. It almost felt like it was about to explode. In a desperate attempt to control her composure, she gripped Shinya's arms tightly as she tried to retain a serene expression.
Amethyst eyes bore into hers in response, gazing at her with a smoldering, unwavering stare. She felt a pressure tighten within her chest, trapping the air within her lungs, and drew in a sharp breath that made breathing almost painful. She felt suffocated, as if she would combust under Shinya's unwavering gaze, a gaze that hid Shinya's emotions.
Her hand moved upwards to cup Shinya's scarred cheek, letting her fingers rest along the girl's jaw. Without breaking eye contact with the silver haired girl, she felt the corner of her lips tug upwards in a halfhearted smile. Shinya's eyes flashed with an unknown emotion as her thumb gently brushed the girl's scar.
The growl that tore out of her father's throat startled her. He growled like a feral beast at her, losing his proper and well-mannered composure. Instead, his eyes glinted with a murderous intent, an intent that transformed his ice-blue eyes into a cold, hard ice.
"I refuse to believe that my own daughter would even consider courting a barbaric creature like you." He spat out, venomously, in a daunting tone. His teeth were grounded together, preventing him from voicing out more of his angered obscenities. Yet, the anger clear within his ice-blue eyes fed the small flickering flame growing within her. This unexplainable feeling was the emotions of unspoken anger.
"Father," she barely voiced calmly. Anger was buried within her serene tone, hiding beneath layers and just waiting to reveal itself. It took a bit of self-control for her not to unleash it or let itself cloud her judgment. Instead, she forced a pleasant smile onto her lips and let her ice-blue eyes rest on identical ones.
"Please inform me, if you don't mind, as to what you know about my heart." Sumireko's eyes narrowed in challenge, reflecting a hint of her emotions. She dared him to respond, dared him to spew more false information about her. There wasn't a time where he had actually sat down and talked to her. Ever since her unfortunate accident, his mind had only been set on his business and the money he was gaining.
His lips parted in shock, as if taken back by her sudden change of tone. She could see his eyebrows furrow in confusion as his eyes flickered from her face down to the arms around her waist. He repeated this gesture, looking slightly conflicted, as if he wasn't sure if he should respond to her or address the "barbarian" embracing her.
She was unaware of Shinya's loosened grip, not particularly caring if the girl continued to hold her or not. She hadn't noticed the girl's change in expression. Instead, she fixated her cold, emotionless gaze on the man only meters away from her.
"S-Sumi-chan, y-you don't honestly want to be with this bar-" Sumireko's icy glare stopped him from venomously spewing his next word. "-I mean, this girl. You're not her girlfriend, right?" His eyes were widened with hope, as if he was sure she wouldn't lie to him. But, Sumireko knew that he only wanted her confirmation to his hopes.
She opened her mouth to speak, ready to give her own confirmation. Shinya's hand had moved upwards to cover her mouth, preventing her from speaking. She shot the girl a look, questioning her actions, yet Shinya's only response was to give her a pointed look.
"Balcony," Shinya hisses under her breath, only loud enough for Sumireko to hear. Yet, when Sumireko could only furrow her brows in confusion, Shinya let go of her and yanked her towards the side. "Now."
Before she could protest or utter a single word, Shinya was already dragging her towards the balcony.
Stepping out into the cold, night air, Shinya hastily dragged the protesting girl towards the railing. Anger burned within her heart, fuelling an irritating sensation within her chest. It almost felt like an itch, an itch that she just couldn't scratch. The more she tried to calm herself, the more the sensation intensified.
Shinya was honest when it came to her own emotions. She didn't see the point in denying heavyset emotions, yet at the same time, she didn't welcome them. She only knew the meaning of satisfaction and how exciting it felt to soil her hands in blood. She, being the darker side of Mahiru and the protector, wasn't accustomed to strong feelings. But, as she gazed at her object of affection, she felt new sensations. Ones that she never encountered until Sumireko entered her life.
"Shinya-san, what are y-" An uncharacteristic yelp left Sumireko's lips, much to Shinya's amusement, as she yanked the girl forward.
The girl stumbled into her waiting arms, easily captured as she slinked her arms around the girl's slim waist and pulled her against her tightly. She felt Sumireko's body meld against hers, fitting perfectly within her embrace as she held the girl gingerly within her arms. She buried her nose into the girl's hair for a moment, letting the strong scent of tea and cherry blossoms tickled her nose.
Shinya's hand slowly moved forward to gently press against the flesh of Sumireko's right cheek. The heat greeting her palm nearly made her withdraw it, feeling as if a fire had suddenly singed it. Yet, as her fingers curled cautiously along the girl's soft, pale skin, she cupped the girl's cheek with an unspoken tenderness. Sumireko leaned into her touch automatically, sending a tingle into her frenzied heart. The butterflies were dancing within her stomach, making her shiver slightly at the sensation. It was then she brought her other hand to grip Sumireko's chin, gently tilting it upwards to let their eyes connect.
For a moment, she lost herself within the depths of Sumireko's eyes. To the point where all her senses were focused one person, Sumireko.
She forgot her surroundings momentarily. She forgot about her father. She forgot about Sagae person who looked just about ready to steal Sumireko away. Instead, she found herself lost in Sumireko's icy blue orbs, lost in the contrast of blue that gleamed intricately under the dim lights. All of her senses seem to dull as her only focus was centered on the girl pressed against her. She could feel herself tittering dangerously, almost as if she was about to tip into oblivion. Slowly, she closed her eyes, savoring the warmth Sumireko's cheek brought to her flesh.
"Shinya-san?" Came a soft whisper, calling her name out in an unsure tone. An impatient "hmm" was Shinya's only response to her, but Sumireko had Shinya's undivided attention.
"I'm here, I'm here." Shinya reassured her in a hushed tone. As if to give her confirmation, her thumb gingerly brushed the girl's cheek, affectionately. Her normally wide grin had been reduced into a hint of a smirk.
"Do you view us as girlfriends?" It was a simple question. A question that held power over both of their feelings. But, within Sumireko's questioning tone was the small hint of uncertainty. Uncertainty that was based off unspoken anxieties. Shinya's smirk disappeared as her lips pursed into a frown line.
Rolling her eyes at the girl, she leaned in and pressed her forehead against Sumireko's, startling the blue-eyed girl. Bringing her hand upwards to cup the girl's other cheek, she gave Sumireko a long, hard stare.
"Do I seem like the kind of person who says meaningless things?" Shinya responded, raising an eyebrow upwards in question towards the puzzled girl. Sumireko's eyes widened noticeably, her breathing quickening, as the girl went through a silent panic attack.
"N-No, I... I don't view you as such." Sumireko stammered worriedly, amusing Shinya further as she watched the usually calm, composed Sumireko self-destruct. It was entertaining to see this side of Sumireko. A side that only she would be able to witness. Truthfully, as irritating as it was to have strong emotions towards the said girl, Shinya wasn't complaining. Especially if she got to see a flustered Sumireko often.
Tilting her head backwards, she let out a laugh. A laugh that echoed into the air. A laugh that released the tension that built up within her. It felt good to let go and let her emotions fly away.
"You're my girlfriend," She leaned in, leaving only a small space between their faces. She had to hold back another laugh at the sight of Sumireko's shocked expression. "That's that." She didn't bat an eye as she confirmed her own decision. She let her lips gently press against the corner of Sumireko's mouth. Her lips lingered for a few seconds before she slowly retreated.
Noticing the look on Sumireko's face, a look that shook her heart with an unexplainable emotion, she firmly held Sumireko's cheeks with her hands. Then, carefully drew the girl's face towards her.
"Oi, shouldn't I be asking you instead?" Shinya chided playfully, speaking in a mock annoyed tone. Her forehead was resting snugly against Sumireko's once again, letting her feel the warmth of Sumireko's breath tickle her skin. All the while, she felt a peculiar tug in her chest, a tug that she recalled as being the string of their connection. It had only grown stronger in the course of their short time together.
"If it's for confirmation, I'm willing to enlighten you." Sumireko's lips were curved in a small smile, amused by Shinya's attempt to lighten the mood. Shinya nodded lazily, offering the girl a somewhat patient look, as the girl began to toy with the collar of her shirt, subconsciously.
"Banba-san is my girlfriend." Shinya's face lit up with a wild grin, a grin that either meant danger or excitement. The fact that Sumireko addressed both her and Mahiru made it hard for her not to feel a little giddy. After all, she wasn't sure if Sumireko would forget that there were two people sharing one body. That even if they were one, Mahiru and Shinya were two people to a whole.
Without another word, she leaned in and met Sumireko halfway as their lips connected. She felt her heart explode from the rush of contentment flooding into her veins. Warmth was spreading into her body at an abnormal rate, yet this time, she had no complaints.
When they parted, Sumireko rested her chin on her shoulder and snuggled closer into her body. Feeling serene, almost too calm for her own liking, Shinya closed her eyes.
"Banba-san is my girlfriend," he heard her confirm as he eyed their intimate embrace. His expression soured instantly at her words, letting his lips curl in disgust as if he just swallowed a lemon. "Nothing will change that." His eyes narrowed in disapproval. He didn't trust this Banba girl within his precious daughter, he didn't trust his only daughter with someone so violent and sadistic.
After all, who was to say that she wouldn't harm his daughter. Especially if they were to one day get into an argument.
"Sagae-san, looks like it's plan B." He finally spoke, keeping his eyes trained on their intimate position. He heard the shuffle of the girl's feet before he caught the "yes" Haruki muttered.
Almost instantly, the golden eyed girl sprung into action as she began to unbutton her blazer. She shrugged out of the tight material and sighed in relief at the freedom that greeted her shoulders. It had been a pain to wear such tight, uncomfortable clothing. Without a second thought, she tossed the ebony material aside and let her lips curl into a smirk.
"Isuke-sama!" The girl called, protruding iron knuckled gloves from her pockets. She quickly yanked them onto her hands with a loud snap and flexed her fingers experimentally. Hearing the leather squeak slight as it stretched, she hummed in approval and quickly moved to stand in the middle of the room.
Entering right on cue, Isuke was beside her almost instantly. Her eyes lit up the moment Isuke appeared and the grin on her face widened when she caught the hint of smile on Isuke's lips. Part of her wanted to rush over and hug the girl as tightly as that Banba girl was doing to Mr. Hanabusa's daughter.
Yet, with a pointed look from Isuke, Haruki sighed and erased all traces of her own affection. After all, she had to focus on the task they were about to receive.
They stood, side by side, behind the blonde man situated in front of the balcony door. His ice-blue eyes were hardened with anger and disgust that if looks could kill, anything he had seen as ugly would have combusted the instant his gaze narrowed. Yet, instead of retrieving his attention, they merely waited for instructions.
"I want you to kill Banba," he spoke in an emotionless tone. His gaze hadn't left the couple embracing on the balcony. "I want you to bring her body back to me." He finally tore his attention away from his daughter and acknowledged the two trained assassins behind him.
He walked towards them, stiffly, and protruded a wad of cash from his coat pocket. He held it out to them and smiled when their almost identical golden eyes fixated on it instantly. His lips were curled menacingly in a pleasant smile as he teased them with the thick, wad of cash.
"I'll pay you double if you do it now."
That was the only confirmation the two assassins needed to carry out the deed.