Author's Note: Next chapter. I am so sorry that I have neglected my stories for so long. Classes this semester have been really challenging and my brain has been exhausted more than once. But I hope to (slowly) get back on track over the next month or so. In the meantime, I hope my readers enjoy this update and the one-shot I will post later this evening/night to celebrate Ryo's birthday today. :)
Oh and be warned, this is my longest chapter yet. ;)
I do not own City Hunter or any of its characters.
Thank you to everyone who is reading/following/reviewing this. It is always appreciated. :D
Eve: Thank you for the review as always. :) Yes, I figured both sides (Ryo's and Kaibara's) of this story would be needed simply because it might look easy to a lot of people for Kaibara to give Ryo up, but I doubt that it would have been at all, no matter how much he might want to keep Ryo safe. And yes, one thing that Hojo made very clear during the brief time Kaibara appeared in the manga was the strong bond that existed between Kaibara and Ryo, a bond that wasn't completely broken by Kaibara's madness, his betraying Ryo, and even Kaibara's death (as evidenced by how he and Ryo were still able to communicate with each other after he died). I could only imagine such an unbreakable bond existing between a father and son rather than with someone who just trained Ryo or simply acted as a caretaker when he was a kid. Expect to see more of his perspective on this before this section is over...As for the innocence you mentioned, yeah I could easily see that being an integral part of who Ryo was as a kid...partially because I think he still has a little of that in him as an adult. He just often hides it away behind his perverted nature or behind his serious professional side, simply because his work and the tragic relationships he has had in the past won't let him expose his heart and his innocence that way. But I think you can still see it once in a while, like when he interacts with kids or in the way he seems to love it when Kaori is somewhat maternal toward him. :) Anyway, I hope you enjoy this update and my one-shot later today.
Chapter Twenty-One—The Decision—part five
Several hours later, Ryo ate dinner with Shibata and Matsumura along with Shibata's family. Although Sayaka and Azusa were acting somewhat more congenial toward him, Ryo was wary of sharing a table with Itaro and Sadamutsu and made sure to sit between Shibata and Matsumura. He was pleasantly surprised, however, when neither Itaro nor Sadamutsu appeared to be angry with him. In fact, for the most part they remained blandly pleasant with him and did not resort to their usual disdain while interacting with him.
'Maybe it's like Matsumura said,' Ryo thought. 'Maybe they're getting used to me and maybe Itaro is over being angry with me.'
Still, something about Itaro's demeanor in particular made Ryo feel uneasy and he couldn't shake it no matter how much he tried to convince himself that he should give Itaro a second chance. But when he noticed how comfortable everyone else at the table seemed to be, Ryo decided that it would be better to keep these thoughts and feelings to himself. As a result, while dinner was enjoyable overall, Ryo was still apprehensive over his current living situation.
This apprehension was punctuated by a slight feeling of nausea he had for a short while after eating which Ryo figured was probably due to worrying too much during dinner. It passed after a short while, but Ryo could not stop thinking about it.
'Norester is always telling me that it's no good to focus on your worries while you eat,' he told himself. 'If oyaji was here, he'd tell me to relax and concentrate on the present and what needs to be done in the future instead of dwelling on old fears and fears about stuff that hasn't even happened yet or might not ever happen at all.'
Thoughts of his father brought forth a wave of melancholy. Shibata continued to shower him with presents and plan all kinds of activities for them to do, but none of it could make up for something that Ryo felt was missing, something more than just his father's presence and something that he couldn't put his finger on.
Ryo walked down the hallways of the mansion and thought about seeing what Makihara was doing when he happened to meet up with Shibata and Matsumura.
"Ah there you are, Ryo," Shibata smiled at him. "I hope you enjoyed dinner."
"Dinner was great, thank you," Ryo nodded, making sure to smile back. "Your cook always makes good food."
"Well that's why he works for me," Shibata replied with a laugh. "Because he is such a skilled chef. Anyway, I wanted to let you know that Matsumura and I are taking a short business trip tonight and we won't be back until tomorrow afternoon." Ryo started to feel his smile fade, but he forced himself to not let it disappear.
"Oh ok," he said. "I hope you and Matsumura-san enjoy your trip."
"It's not really going to be the fun kind of trip, Ryo, but thank you for that," Shibata said. "And do not worry. When I get back, I will be sure to make up for my absence."
"If you need anything while we are gone, just let Makihara know and he will take care of it," Matsumura added.
"Thank you," Ryo said.
"Ryo-chan?" Matsumura said. "Is there something you need now? Maybe something Shibata-sama and I could take care of before we leave?"
"No, it's ok," Ryo said, shaking his head. "I'm just a little tired is all. I think I'll go read in my room. Oyaji will be disappointed when he comes back if I haven't learned anything despite having all these books around all the time. See you later."
Ryo waved at them and bounded up the stairs toward his room. Once he was out of sight, Matsumura frowned and Shibata raised an eyebrow in response.
"Is something bothering you?" he asked her.
"Shibata-sama, doesn't Ryo seem a little subdued to you?" she asked. "During dinner and just now, he really did not seem like his usual cheerful self, don't you think?"
"I didn't think so, no," Shibata said. "Seems to me he was as carefree and lively as ever given how much he ate at dinner and the way he was smiling while we were talking to him a moment ago."
"True, he did look happy," Matsumura said. "But sometimes…sometimes I wonder if Ryo really is happy or if he is just putting on a show for our benefit."
"Of course he is happy," Shibata sighed. "Why wouldn't he be? He doesn't have to worry about fighting to stay alive in the jungle and being under the thumb of some mercenary who is forcing him into such a horrendous lifestyle. Here, he is safe and can live like any other child. He can learn, he can play and he knows that he can have anything he wants just by asking for it. What possible reason could he have to not be happy in the midst of all this?"
"That is reasonable yes," Matsumura said. "But with all due respect, I still think that…."
"Matsumura, I know that you are worried about Ryo," Shibata said. "And quite honestly, I am glad that you are so sensitive to his moods and concerned about his welfare. But I also think that those concerns are leading you astray. Ryo is probably just trying to get used to the idea of being free from that man's control and is maybe a little scared that all this might get taken away from him. But given time, I am certain that you will see what is best for Ryo as he adjusts to his new life and begins to fully grasp the future I intend to create for him. You will see that Ryo's place is with us…and eventually, Ryo will understand and believe that too."
Matsumura wanted to say more, but remained silent. She could tell by Shibata's tone had that he was in no mood to listen to any opposition, no matter who it came from or how reasonable it might be. While it was true that she continued to understand why Shibata was making the efforts he was to integrate Ryo into his family, Matsumura found herself increasingly conflicted as to what the truth really was.
Shibata headed for the study, and Matsumura followed him. She thought about the paperwork she had requested from her operatives in Japan to further her investigation into Ryo's true identity, but instead of the eagerness she originally had to receive them and make progress, Matsumura could not rid herself of a newly developed feeling of dread. Some of that dread was worry that Shibata might be wrong and the despair and disappointment that were sure to follow.
Just as much of that dread, however, was now over the possibility that Shibata might be right about Ryo…and the consequences that could create for all of them.
Up in his room, Ryo finished reading a few chapters in a book of Japanese history he had found in the stack Shibata gave him and sat it down on his night stand. His eyelids had grown heavy and after yawning again for the umpteenth time, Ryo had to admit that he was simply too tired to continue reading even though he was becoming increasingly interested in the book.
'Maybe I can read a bunch more tomorrow after training,' he told himself. 'That Warring States stuff looked like the kind of thing oyaji would want to talk about. I'd better be ready to answer questions about it when I tell him about it.'
Ryo yawned yet again and turned out the lamp beside his bed before burying himself under his covers. He wasn't sure why he was so tired tonight, but he was finding it all too easy to close his eyes and drift off to sleep the moment his head touched the pillow.
'Guess I trained harder today than I thought,' he thought as he fell asleep. 'Maybe I'll ease up a little tomorrow so I can do some extra studying.'
About three hours later, Itaro was finishing a glass of brandy in his father's study, smiling as he sat the glass down on the desk next to him. Before dinner, Sadamutsu had told him that he had managed to get a small supply of poison from a man in town, and Itaro had made sure to sprinkle a dose of it onto Ryo's plate while the staff wasn't looking. After the meal was served, Itaro noted that Ryo ate heartily while showing no signs of noticing anything different about his food. By that point, Itaro felt confident of his and his brother's plan and thus, he had no problems maintaining a relaxed, easygoing front around the others. He was even able to muster up some niceties to use on Ryo and had laughed inwardly at how easy it had been to fool him.
'And here I thought he'd be so cautious about people given his upbringing,' Itaro said to himself. 'I guess all the stories about how Kaibara is this legendary professional were mostly exaggerations. That or he didn't bother passing on any of his skills or knowledge to that kid. Who knows what he was thinking in the first place, saddling himself with a burden like that brat.'
Itaro leaned back in his chair, a smug smile on his face, and reached over to pour himself another glass of brandy. He couldn't deny that he still felt a little squeamish about murdering a child, but the more he thought about what he could lose, the easier it became to convince himself that he did not have a choice in the matter. He sipped at his second glass of brandy and let the alcohol slowly numb his nerves.
'Besides, I just don't believe it anyway,' Itaro thought, his smile suddenly disappearing. 'I can't believe that this kid is Kozue's son. Otosan is so desperate for anything that could bring some part of Kozue back, he'll even latch onto the idea that this unruly brat is his grandson. But I'm not buying it, no matter what otosan thinks or what Kaibara might try to say.'
'And I'm certainly not going to allow some misguided dream of otosan's get in the way of me and my wife's future.'
Once he was done, he stood up and started to walk up the stairs toward his bedroom. He stopped, however, when he heard a faint cry come from Ryo's room. He moved closer to the door and as he did, he heard the cries grow louder and more urgent. Seconds later, Makihara appeared in the hallway.
"Itaro-sama, what is it?" Makihara asked him. "It sounds like it's coming from Ryo-sama's room. Is he all right?"
"How should I know?" Itaro shrugged. "I just got here myself." Makihara shook his head and reached for the door knob.
"He must have locked his door," Makihara said as he struggled with the knob. "And Shibata-sama is the only one who has the master key."
"Don't you have a key?" Itaro scowled.
"Not to this particular room, no sir," Makihara said. "Shibata-sama felt that some rooms should be afforded a certain amount of privacy. It's the same reason why I do not have a key to your room or Sadamutsu-sama's room. Itaro-sama, we have to do something. Ryo-sama could be in trouble."
Itaro sighed and moved closer to the door. He didn't actually want to get involved, but he figured that it would be suspicious if he did nothing and considered the possibility that whatever was happening in Ryo's room could pose a threat to the rest of the mansion. He braced his arms together and motioned to Makihara to help him break the door down. The two of them pushed against it three times before it finally gave way, and they stumbled into the room.
They then found Ryo lying in bed, thrashing under his covers, his eyes closed. Both Itaro and Makihara walked closer to the bed and were surprised when Ryo did not wake up.
"Ah, poor Ryo-sama, he must be having a nightmare," Makihara said, shaking his head. He started to lean down to put a hand on his shoulder, but Itaro beat him to it.
"Hey, hey wake up," Itaro said as he grabbed Ryo's shoulder and shook it.
Seconds after he started to do this, however, both Makihara and Itaro were shocked when Ryo's eyes opened and he grabbed Itaro's wrist. Ryo then deftly jumped out of bed, sweeping Itaro's legs out from under him as he did so while twisting Itaro's arm behind his back. Ryo rolled to the floor next to Itaro and sat up to push his knee into Itaro's back when he suddenly stopped and blinked hard.
"Huh? Itaro-san, is that you?" Ryo said, continuing to blink his eyes. Ryo let Itaro go, and Itaro winced and turned over so he could sit up.
"Of course it's me," Itaro grumbled at him while rubbing his arm. "Who else would it be?"
Ryo was about to respond when Sadamutsu, Sayaka, and Azusa all appeared in the doorway.
"What's going on?" Sayaka said as she walked over to Itaro. "We heard someone crying out and…."
"I'll tell you what happened," Itaro snarled. "I was trying to wake that little monster from a nightmare and he attacked me."
"What?" Sayaka said as she knelt down next to her husband. She then looked over at Ryo and narrowed her eyes.
"Why?" she spat. "Why did you do that?"
"I…I'm sorry," Ryo spluttered out. "I didn't mean to do it. It's just…."
"Just what?" Sayaka shot back.
"Oyaji trained me to do that," Ryo said, lowering his gaze to the carpet.
"What, he trained you to attack people in your sleep?" Azusa huffed.
"No," Ryo mumbled. "Not all the time. Just if they tried to touch me while I'm sleeping. Oyaji trained me to defend myself and to not wait to wake up all the way or see who it was when I did it. He said it would keep me safe."
"Apparently he didn't care about anyone else's safety when he did that," Azusa frowned at him. "Don't you realize that you could have really hurt Itaro?"
"Ha, you have to admit, it is a little funny, onisan," Sadamutsu chuckled. "That kid taking you down like that. Maybe you should ask his dad to teach you how to defend yourself against this brat."
"That's not funny, Sadamutsu," Sayaka said. "Quite frankly, I don't think I'll feel safe with that kid sleeping here. What if he has another nightmare or decides to go wandering around the mansion at night? Who knows who he'll 'accidentally' attack next."
"You're right, he shouldn't sleep here, especially now with the door broken," Azusa nodded. "He should sleep somewhere away from the rest of us so this won't happen again."
"We could move him to that one room on the third floor," Itaro replied. "That way if he has another bad dream, he won't disturb us, and we won't have to worry about him bothering us if he ends up doing anything else while he's still asleep."
"But Itaro-sama, that room has never been properly prepared for guests," Makihara said. "I can't imagine that it would be very suitable for Ryo-sama."
"It's got a bed, doesn't it?" Itaro said. "And a bathroom attached to it. It's not like he'll be sleeping in a closet. Besides, he's probably been sleeping in much worse places for years. I don't see how making him sleep away from us is going to be so horrible for him…but it will make the rest of us feel a lot better."
Makihara looked stricken as he glanced back down on Ryo, who continued to avert his eyes from the rest of them.
"Ryo-sama," Makihara said. "I am truly sorry. But I…."
"It's all right, Makihara-san," Ryo mumbled. "I'll go ahead and change rooms. It's no big deal."
Makihara let out a deep sigh and nodded. Itaro, Sayaka, Sadamutsu and Azusa left the room while Makihara gathered up as many of the books Shibata had given Ryo as he could carry. Ryo grabbed his knapsack and stuffed it with the things he had brought with him and followed Makihara up the stairs to a cramped hallway. They walked toward the end of the corridor, and once there, Makihara pulled out his keys and unlocked the door in front of him. He opened the door and turned on the light, flinching at the thin coating of dust and at sparse, uninviting appearance of the room.
"I apologize," Makihara said. "This room has not been used in a long time. Perhaps I could talk to Itaro-sama and see if maybe he would consider…."
"Nah, don't worry about it," Ryo assured him as he walked into the room. "I'll be fine. It's just a place to sleep. It's not like I'll be here all the time."
Ryo dumped his bag onto the floor and plopped down on the bed. A cloud of dust puffed up from the sheets, and Ryo coughed for a moment while it dissipated.
"Ryo-sama, this will not do for you at all," Makihara said firmly. "Let me offer you my room. Granted, it is not as good as the room you were given upon your arrival, but I can assure you that it is clean and more than adequate."
"No, Makihara-san, I couldn't do that," Ryo insisted. "It's my fault that the door to my old room was wrecked. You shouldn't have to give up your room for me. This place will be ok. Actually, the bed is nice and soft and, I didn't really like all that extra space in my old room anyway."
"As you wish," Makihara said with another sigh. "At least let me help you make this room a little more pleasant."
Makihara pulled the sheets off the bed and shook the dust out of them. He then remade the bed and wiped away some additional dust around the room while Ryo put a few of his things away. Once Makihara was done, Ryo climbed into bed and was surprised when Makihara carefully tucked him under the covers.
"Good night Ryo-sama," Makihara said, patting the blankets near Ryo's shoulder. "I hope you have pleasant dreams for the rest of the night."
"Thank you," Ryo said, blushing slightly. "But you didn't have to do that." Makihara cleared his throat and placed his hands at his sides.
"I beg your pardon, Ryo-sama," he said. "I did not mean to embarrass you. And I know that it is not my place to say this, but…."
"What is it?" Ryo asked.
"It's just…for a moment there, you reminded me very much of Kozue-sama," Makihara continued. "When she was a girl, there nights when Shibata-sama was away on business, and her sleep would be disturbed by some bad dreams. On those nights, I would bring her something warm to drink and escort her back to bed. I made sure she was comfortable, not entirely unlike I did with you just now, and then I would wish her a good night. Kozue-sama…she would always smile and blush just as you did just now when I helped her into bed."
Makihara paused and backed away from the bed, moving closer to the lamp on the stand nearby.
"I always found it unfortunate when Kozue-sama had to endure those nightmares," he added. "But I must admit that her smile and her kind cheer at my attempts to help her sleep again were always welcome. If you do not mind me saying this, Ryo-sama, your smile reminds me very much of hers."
"It's ok," Ryo said. "It seems like Kozue-san was a really nice person, so thanks for saying that."
Makihara nodded and turned off the lamp. He then started to walk out of the room, but a sound from Ryo made him hesitate near the doorway.
"Good night, Makihara-san," Ryo called out to him. "And I…I'm sorry for all the trouble I keep causing you." Makihara's shook his head, his shoulders slumping down.
"Ryo-sama, I do not presume to know what caused your nightmares tonight," he replied. "But please let me express my sincere regrets over your misfortune…and my certainty that you do not deserve so much unhappiness. So please, sleep well."
Makihara walked out of the room and closed the door behind him, his heart heavy over what he had just had to do. He turned to walk away, but paused as he contemplated looking in on Ryo one last time before retiring. As he started to move back toward the door, however, he was startled to find Itaro walking down the hallway.
"Itaro-sama? I thought you had gone back to your room for the night," Makihara said. "Is there something I can do for you?"
"Actually yes," Itaro said. "You have the key to this room, correct?"
"Well, yes sir."
"Good," Itaro responded. "I want you to lock the door."
"Itaro-sama," Makihara gaped at him. "If I do that, Ryo-sama won't be able to leave the room. What if he needs something?"
"He's just going to sleep for the rest of the night, right?" Itaro said. "So what is the harm in locking up his room until breakfast tomorrow? He'll have access to a bathroom if he needs it, and if he gets bored, he has those books you put in the room. This way, he won't have to worry about anything or anyone disturbing his sleep and we won't have to worry about what he might do for the rest of the night."
"Itaro-sama, I don't think that…."
"Makihara, do I need to remind you who is in charge of this place while my father is away?" Itaro asked with more than a little menace in his voice. Makihara bowed his head.
"No sir."
"I didn't think so," Itaro said. "Now, do as I say and lock this door. And make sure to keep it locked until breakfast is served tomorrow morning."
"I understand, sir," Makihara mumbled as he pulled out his keys from his pocket. He then locked the door to Ryo's room and once he was done, Itaro gave him a curt nod and left Makihara alone in the hallway. Makihara slowly followed Itaro down the stairs, glancing back at Ryo's room more than once as he did so.
'Ryo-sama…I believe that it is us who should be asking for forgiveness…for all the trouble we continue to give you.'
Back in the room, Ryo laid in bed on his side, his face turned toward a window near his bed. He had heard the sound of a key in the door a moment ago, and he was certain that he had been locked in. Although he was confident that he could get out if he really wanted to, Ryo couldn't help but feel dejected that they had felt the need to make him a prisoner in his own bedroom.
Ryo pulled the blankets closer to him while he looked up at the moon in the sky which was starting to drift behind a cloud. He thought back to the last couple of days he had spent in Shibata's mansion and the reactions he got from the people living here and considered how, apart from Shibata, Matsumura, and Makihara, most of them reacted to him with fear or disgust if not both.
'I thought it'd be different here…with them being Japanese like me,' Ryo pondered. 'But I guess I'm still too strange, too different to really belong here either.'
'Is it really like Itaro said? Do they really think I'm a monster?'
Ryo blinked back the wetness in his eyes and continued to stare at the night sky. Most of the time, he tried to tell himself that he was used to standing out and not fitting in with other people due to his age, his race or the fact that he was already budding professional even though he was still a child. Still, that did not change the fact that his heart always ached some when his sense of alienation was brought to the forefront of his mind in some way...like it was tonight.
As he struggled to relax, it also occurred to Ryo that, in the past, he was usually able to cope with these feelings by reminding himself that, no matter how much other people were repelled by him, he could always count on Kaibara, Norester and the Professor to make him feel welcome and accepted. He took comfort in the fact that they understood his situation and did not judge him because of it.
Most of all though, he found solace in the fact that his father in particular always looked beyond the surface and focused on who Ryo was in his mind and heart while not caring at all about things like how he ate, how loud he snored at night, and the fact that he practiced shooting guns every day.
Ryo let out a deep breath and closed his eyes, weariness starting to overtake him again. He knew that it would probably be a few more days before he could go back to his father and to Norester's home, and he figured that it would only make things worse if he dwelled on how much he wished he was already back with them.
Still, that did not stop Ryo from dreaming about Kaibara and his life with him for the rest of the night.
The next couple of days passed without incident with Shibata and Matsumura returning to the mansion from their trip and Ryo making sure to avoid creating any more problems with Shibata's family or the house staff. Shibata had been surprised at the incident that led to the door to Ryo's room being broken and Ryo moving up to another room and had questioned Itaro's decision to lock Ryo in his room. In the end though, Itaro had been able to convince his father that he had acted only out of everyone's best interest, and Ryo expressed no desire to go back to the room he had occupied once the door had been fixed.
"I might as well stay here for the rest of the time anyway," Ryo had told Shibata. "After all, Makihara-san already moved a bunch of my stuff here."
Eventually Shibata gave in to Ryo's suggestion, but only after ordering his staff to thoroughly clean the room and after buying some additional furnishings to make it more pleasant for Ryo. Shibata then continued to give Ryo everything he thought Ryo might want and was stymied when Ryo showed little interest in any of his presents. Soon, Shibata became concerned at how Ryo spent a great deal of time by himself and at how listless Ryo appeared to be.
Unfortunately, Shibata soon found himself far too busy to tend to it himself, so one day he told Matsumura to take Ryo into town and let him choose where he wanted to go, hoping that some time spent out might lift his spirits. Matsumura readily agreed and asked Ryo to join her for lunch at one of the finer cafes in town. The two of them had a light lunch, and Matsumura couldn't help but notice how peaked Ryo was and how little he ate.
After walking around in silence for almost an hour, Matsumura placed her hand on Ryo's arm, causing him to look up at her.
"Ryo-chan, is something bothering you?" she asked him. "You do not seem well. Perhaps you are coming down with something?"
"Nah, I don't think so," Ryo said with a smile. "I guess I'm just not used to taking it easy all the time."
"I have noticed that you don't seem to be training as much as you did when you first came here," Matsumura replied. "And it does have me and Shibata-sama a little worried."
"Oh, that's nothing to worry about," Ryo laughed. "Sometimes I just overdo it and then I need to slow down for a while. Oyaji is always telling me that I need to be careful to not wear myself out so that I'll be ready in case something unexpected happens."
"I suppose that makes sense," Matsumura said. "But Ryo-chan, you will make sure to let me or Shibata-sama know if there is anything wrong, won't you?"
"I will," Ryo nodded. "And thanks for taking me out for lunch today. It's been fun."
"You're very welcome Ryo-chan," Matsumura smiled at him. "Would you like to head back now?" Ryo opened his mouth to respond, but then hesitated after glancing at the shops across the road from him.
"Can I stop at one more place before we go?" Ryo asked.
"Sure," Matsumura said. "Was there something in particular you wanted to buy?"
"Just some supplies," Ryo said, pointing to one of the shops. "It'll just be a minute." Matsumura looked over in the direction where Ryo was pointing and gasped when she realized that it was a shop that sold guns and ammunition.
"Ryo-chan, I don't think they will let you buy anything that they sell there," she said cautiously.
"It's ok," Ryo grinned at her. "The people here know me and oyaji. Oyaji did the owner a favor a long time ago, so now he always makes sure to help us get whatever we need at really good prices. Would you like to meet him?"
"That's all right," Matsumura said. "I think I'll just wait for you outside."
"Ok," Ryo said as he darted across the street. "I'll just be a few minutes."
Matsumura shook her head as she watched Ryo walk into the store and be greeted by the man behind the counter.
'Unbelievable,' she told herself. 'That man is acting like Ryo is just another customer and totally ignoring the fact that he's a child.'
'Just what kind of person is Kaibara? What kind of man brings a boy into a world like this?'
Matsumura turned away from the store front and walked over to lean against a brick wall in a nearby alley. She didn't like to think about how at ease Ryo was with guns and violence and wished that there was some way that Shibata could convince Ryo to put the lifestyle he had had for the past few years aside and live like an ordinary boy.
Matsumura was so lost in her thoughts; she did not notice it when a pair of men quietly approached her from the side until they were stand right next to her. She tried to walk away, but one of them immediately moved to block her path.
"Hey pretty lady, you're not from around here, are you?" one of them leered at her. "How about we give you a personal tour of the city?"
"No thank you," Matsumura told him. "Would you please move aside? I would like to go now."
"Hey, who do you think you are, you uppity witch," the other man snarled at her.
"Maybe we should teach her a lesson in manners," the first man said with a smirk.
Matsumura backed away from them and turned to run while reaching into her purse for the small handgun she used to ward off potential muggers. But the men grabbed her arms, making her drop her purse, and dragged her into the alley. She tried to scream for help, but one of the men clamped a hand over her mouth until they were away from the main streets. He then slapped her across the face and threw her to the ground.
"Now, I think it's time we got better acquainted," the first man said. "And don't worry, I'll make sure you learn all you need to know about being polite."
"Let me go," Matsumura spat at them. She then tried to get back onto her feet, but both men pushed her back onto the ground and knelt down beside her while holding her in place. One of the men grabbed her by the hair and started to push her face close to his. Matsumura struggled, but could not escape their grasp.
'Please,' she pleaded inwardly as she closed her eyes. 'Please, someone…anyone….'
'Please help me.'
Suddenly Matsumura heard a loud thud and a yelp of pain as the men let her go while pushing back onto the pavement. She opened her eyes to see a trashcan lid lying nearby and the man who had had a hold of her hair rubbing his hand. She then looked over at the entrance of the alley to see Ryo standing there, his eyes full of anger.
"Get away from her," Ryo growled at them. Both men stared at him for a moment more before bursting into laughter.
"Or what?" one man chortled. "Or you'll go crying to your mommy? Is that who this is, your mommy? Why should we be afraid of you?"
"I said, leave her alone," Ryo replied, taking a couple of slow, deliberate steps toward them. "Or else."
Both Matsumura and the men were shocked at the calm, menacing tone in Ryo's voice and the impassive expression on his face. That shock soon dissipated, however, and both men pulled out knives from their coat pockets.
"Looks like we're going to need to teach you a lesson too," one of the men said, chuckling. "And don't think we're going to go easy on you because you're a kid."
"Ryo-chan, run," Matsumura yelled at him. "Don't worry about me."
"Don't worry, Matsumura-san," Ryo smirked at her. "These guys are just amateurs." Both men immediately gritted their teeth and started to rush toward Ryo.
"You little brat, I'll….."
The man did not get a chance to finish his sentence, however, as Ryo smoothly dodged him with ease and continued to weave around both men, making sure neither of them could get too close to him. After almost a minute of this, Ryo struck back by picking up some rocks from the ground and throwing them. Most of them hit their marks, striking the men near their eyes and causing them to drop their knives.
"Ow, you'll pay for that."
Neither man got the chance to make good on that threat, however, as Ryo unleashed a series of kicks to their knees, causing them to stumble to the ground. Ryo took advantage of the opening to help Matsumura to her feet and to push her to stand behind him. One of the men pulled out a revolver, but hesitated when Ryo yanked out his Magnum from a holster hidden under his tee shirt.
"Give up now, and I'll let you run away," Ryo told them.
"Ha, are you kidding me?" the man with the gun said. "Time for me to give you what's coming to you."
The man started to move his finger closer to the trigger while Ryo narrowed his eyes at him. All of the sudden, the other man grabbed the first man's arm.
"What's going on? I was just about to…."
"Wait, don't you see his gun?" the other man said. "It's a Colt Python. Don't you know what that means?" The first man stared at Ryo for a moment more before blinking hard and growing pale.
"My God," he said. "Oriental kid….Colt Python…that means he's…he's…."
"Everyone always says that he travels around with a kid," the other man said. "And that anyone who even looks at that kid the wrong way becomes his target…and everyone knows that you're as good as dead when that happens. That gun….this kid must be him….and that means…."
"Shin Kaibara," the first man said in a hoarse whisper.
Matsumura was about to ask how they knew Kaibara when her mouth dropped open in surprise at the way both men started to tremble and then dropped down to their knees.
"Please," they begged in unison. "We're sorry. We didn't mean anything. We didn't know, honest. Please kid, don't tell Kaibara about us." Ryo took a step closer to them and pulled back the hammer on his gun.
"I won't tell him if you go away now and never come back," Ryo told them.
"You'll never see us again, we swear," the men bellowed before leaping to their feet and running out of the alley. Once they were gone, Ryo put his gun away and turned toward Matsumura.
"Are you all right?" he asked her. "Did they hurt you?"
"I…I'm fine," Matsumura stammered. "Thank you."
Ryo nodded and looked back at the entrance at the alley. As he did, Matsumura was stunned at the look in Ryo's eyes and at the aura that surrounded him. In that moment, Matsumura could not see him as a child and instead felt as if she was in the presence of a soldier.
'No, not just a soldier,' she told herself. 'A protector. Someone who shields others from vile people like those men just now.'
"Ryo-chan, I am sorry," she said to him. "I am so sorry that I put you in a dangerous situation like that." Ryo looked back at her and she was surprised by the grin on his face.
"That's ok, Matsumura-san," he told her. "I told you, this is the work oyaji and I do all the time. So don't worry about it."
"Those men, they really seemed to be petrified of Kaibara-san," Matsumura said.
"Yeah, a lot of the bad people are," Ryo giggled. "Oyaji never says it, but I'm pretty sure that's how he likes it. I mean, it makes oyaji's work a lot easier when they're so scared they just run away when they hear his name."
"Ryo-chan…is what they said true?" Matsumura asked him quietly. "Would Kaibara-san really react that strongly if anyone were to attempt to harm you in any way?" Ryo's smile immediately vanished and he looked over at the horizon.
"Matsumura-san…a lot of people spread all kinds of rumors about oyaji," he said. "About how scary he is, about how mean and cruel he can be…But most of it isn't true, you know. It's just stuff that people say and oyaji doesn't bother telling them otherwise because he doesn't care about what they think. But…."
"But?" Matsumura replied. Ryo let out a sigh and shook his head.
"It's nothing," he said. "I left my stuff back at the shop. I'll go pick it up and then let's go back to your place."
"All right," Matsumura said, brushing her dress off. She watched Ryo race over to the shop and grab a package from the counter before meeting her back at the entrance of the alley. They started to walk back when Ryo stopped to stare at the street in front of him. Matsumura looked over at the direction he was facing to see what had caught his eye.
A few feet away, Matsumura watched a small boy laugh and chase after a man who kept looking back at him and smiling. The boy held out his arms toward the man and jumped up and down.
"Come on Daddy," the boy said. "Carry me, carry me." The man laughed and scooped the boy up into his arms.
"All right, you little imp," the man said as the boy giggled. "Time to take you home."
"Daddy, will you read me a story tonight?" the boy asked as the man carried him. The man smiled again and held the boy closer to him.
"Of course," he said. "But this time, you're not staying up so late. You hear me?"
The man then carried the boy away down a side street, and Matsumura let out a smile at the scene. She then looked down at Ryo and was startled to see a pair of tears running down his face as he watched the man walk away with his child in his arms.
"Ryo-chan? Are you all right?" she asked him gently. Ryo scrubbed at his face and looked up at her with another wan smile.
"Yeah, I'm good," he said. "We should get going before it gets too dark."
Matsumura nodded at him, and the two of them walked in silence. As she walked, she continued to think about not only how Ryo acted like an adult and looked like a professional while he saved her, but also how he looked just a moment ago upon seeing that man with his child.
It was then that she reminded herself that, despite his boisterous personality, his extraordinary skills and his grim past, Ryo was still a young boy. A boy who was still growing and still learning about the world. A boy who still needed to be nurtured and protected.
A boy who, in that moment, was clearly missing the man he knew as his father.
After they got home, Matsumura told Shibata about what had happened in town. At first, Shibata fussed over how much danger Ryo had jumped into, but eventually, he couldn't help but be impressed by Ryo's bravery and skill.
"Ryo, I want to thank you for protecting Matsumura," he told him. "As I am sure you know by now, she is very important to me…as a highly valued member of my staff, of course. And I must say, I am very proud of your courage and your ability to defend yourself."
"Ah, it's no big deal," Ryo said as he blushed and smiled at Shibata's praise. "I'm just glad I could help out."
Shibata was about to say more when Ryo suddenly stumbled and started to collapse onto the carpet. Shibata and Matsumura managed to catch him before he fell and guided Ryo to sit down on a nearby couch.
"Ryo? Ryo are you all right?" Shibata asked him, placing a hand to Ryo's forehead.
"I…I'm ok," Ryo mumbled. "Just a little dizzy is all. I guess I need to rest."
Shibata went over to push a button on his desk, and seconds later, Makihara appeared in the room.
"Yes sir," Makihara said.
"Makihara, Ryo isn't feeling well," Shibata said. "I want you to take him up to his room and put him to bed. And tell the chef to make up some rice porridge for Ryo to eat."
"Um, that's ok, Shibata-san," Ryo said. "I'm not really that hungry…and besides, I'm just tired is all. I just need some sleep."
"All right," Shibata said. "But just the same, Makihara will be taking you to your room and making sure you are settled. Later on, I will be checking on you, so if you get hungry, just let me know then if you want anything."
"Ok," Ryo shrugged as he walked with Makihara out of the room. After they were gone, Shibata sat down on the couch with Matsumura settling down beside him.
"Ryo-chan did seem kind of tired earlier," she said. "And given what he did a little while ago, it's not too surprising that he's exhausted now."
"You're right, it's possible," Shibata said with a frown. "Nevertheless, I will closely monitor his condition from now on. If he gets any worse or doesn't get any better within the next two days, I'm calling for a doctor."
Unbeknownst to either Shibata or Matsumura, Itaro was standing just outside the room, near the doorway, listening to their conversation.
'Damn, this isn't good,' he told himself. 'If a doctor examines that kid, otosan will probably find out that we've been poisoning him. And once that happens, it won't take long for otosan to figure out that it was me and Sadamutsu…and then he'll really let us have it.'
Itaro clenched his hands into fists and walked down the hallway to find Sadamutsu.
'We can't afford to let that happen,' he thought. 'So I guess we're going to have to find a quicker way to get rid of this brat.'
'And I know just the people who could help me out with that.'