Chapter Twenty Two

Yoichi's POV

Forgive me, Mrs. Kazumi.

I have been a very selfish person and I know this'll upset Eko. She will be disconcerted and she will feel quite miserable. But for now, I simply did not give a damn. It all seemed unfair to me. Call me an ungrateful cad, but it pains me to see that even the only person I tried to give my heart to won't accept me.

She doesn't love me the way I love her. She loves somebody else.

From the moment I saw the way her eyes was communicating with Soryu Oh's, I knew something had transpired between the two of them during the time of my absence. My old fellow took advantage of the time he had with her and made her fall. I couldn't accept it. From the way I watched him grasp her hands before we left, I knew this will wage a war far more dangerous than mafia worlds combined.

I might even lose myself a friend.

It's a better image than losing Chieko.

If she left, I can't bear it.

As we arrived home, my temper wasn't improving no matter how happy I saw her greet my men and them forever eager to please and serve her. It is as if for them, everything is back to how it is. But Chieko and I both knew that everything is now ruined and it can never be the same ever again. Not after she left, not after Samo and the others died.

"You'll want to rest, Eko." Tadashi said and she smiled and nodded. "I'll go up and I'll rest now then. Good night, Tsuyoshi and Tadao. I'll see you guys tomorrow morning?" the two nodded. I stared at Chieko's form ascending the stairs and I felt the twins looking at me warily.

"You are not to hurt her, Yoichi. Let her be." Tadao said as he too went in his rooms to rest.

"Yoichi, don't." Tsuyoshi said, but he was more audacious than his twin and he stared at me as if he was waiting for me to concede to that order.

"You have no right to tell me what to do and not do. I am leader here, I call the shots." I said as I went after Chieko.

I must do what I have to do. I cannot lose her.

I will not allow it.

Chieko's POV

As I entered my room, I could sense that things will definitely change. Yoichi is not the man I know. Not anymore. He has changed into somebody ruthless. As I took a look at his eyes a while ago, it was cold, hard, and unfathomable. Something shifted in his being and I think my leaving and Samo's death was the reason. He has so much weight in his shoulders and I knew he needed somebody to be there for him.

The only problem was he was expecting me to be with him.

But somehow, being with the people in Tres Spades made me forget who I was in this place and who I am in real life. But somehow I guess things are getting out of hand and I need to get back to where I really belong. It's just that I hope things can change for the better soon. All this mafia war is bringing out the worst in everybody and it isn't right. People's lives have been destroyed, dreams have been shattered, and people have been crushed into nothing.

When will this end?

I closed my eyes as I opened my window and took a deep breath of the air that welcomed me. All of a sudden, I felt somebody's eyes looking at me. I quickly looked at my back and saw Yoichi silently watching me.

I didn't like what I was seeing on his eyes.

"Why are you here? I didn't hear you come in." I said. He smirked and pushed himself off the door and stalked towards me slowly. As he took a step forward, I took one backward. I could feel myself shiver and my blood began to run cold when his eyes had this glint of danger… of ill intent.

This isn't the best friend I knew.

Yoichi's mind has been poisoned by jealousy.

As his hands reached my shoulders, I heard my mind scream danger.

"Did you enjoy your stay at Tres Spades?" he silently answered. His voice was so cold it made me shiver. I looked away from his face because his eyes were boring into mind so intensely I couldn't take the look of chilling anger in it. Mother, please help me.

His hands slowly ran up and down my arms and I felt disgusted. I closed my eyes as to forget and maybe I wish I was dreaming. Yoichi never touched met his way no matter what. There was something in this touch that wasn't endearing at all.

His touch was purely dangerous. Betraying. Scary.

"Yoichi…" I gasped as his other hand clamped on my jaw and he forced my face look up at him.

"You're hurting me." I struggled as his other hadng ripped my arm hard. He was so angry I didn't know what to do.

"Tell me something, Eko." He said. His cold voice lashed into my cloud of panic and my eyes widened and I felt tears prickle my eyes.

"What has gotten into you?" I whispered.

"Easy, Eko." He smiled.

"You betrayed me."