Hi again. I'm actually proud of myself for this chappie and for that last review that finally got me up to 70 reviews. There is no user name; it just states "Guest". Thank you so much for that. Anyway, enjoy reading this chapter and chapter 30 should be up soon. Please let me know what you think? Many thanks.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own KHR nor do I claim any rights to it or any of the characters and/or locations you may recognise from the anime/manga. I am only responsible for the plot and OCs and nothing else.
Basco left Haru in the alleyway hefting the purse in his hands. Best to hide it so it didn't seem like he had stolen it. Haru had a strange look in his eyes and one he didn't particularly like. He liked having a steady income from her. The purse was heavy. That meant she was paid well. And in turn so would he.
But he hadn't liked the direction her questions had taken at all.
He turned the corner into another alleyway where he had left his two cronies Sadiq and Nori. They both stood as he approached.
"How did it go?" asked Nori. He had always been extremely loyal to Basco.
"You tell me," said Basco tossing him the coin purse. Nori whistled and laughed.
"Good one Boss, we should have it good for a while on all this," he said. Sadiq said nothing as usual. It was hard to tell what he was thinking. When he did speak though, it was always to say something that made him sound much older than he really was. Besides Basco, he was the oldest pack member and always had a wealth of information for anyone who asked for it. A bookworm since he could remember, he was probably also the smartest there was.
"I have a job for you two. Our little Spring is asking one too many questions. I want her stopped."
"Boss?" said Nori handing back the purse.
"Get rid of her. I can't have her messing up my plans. No, better yet, bring her to me. The moment she gets the urge to squeal, we'll all be up the river, you know?"
"So… so we won't get any mow money? Aw, why did she have to get so nosey?" said Nori kicking at some dirt.
"I don't care about the money. I am the pack leader. I will always have money for my pack. She is a threat to my pack and all threats must be eliminated."
Nori nodded. Sadiq said nothing but he had clearly heard the order. The two turned and went back the way Basco had come. Basco went the other way. Now, what exactly was he going to do to his little Haru when she got to him? She knew that knowing too much was bad for her health. He had told her that before. And if she had wanted to know so much, she should have accepted his invitation into his inner circle when he had offered it. She should have gotten off her bloody high horse and agreed to be his girl. Ling Mei had only been a prop to try and make her jealous. But then she had outlived her purpose. And now he had to get rid of Haru because she was way too nosy. Stupid girl...
*.*.*.*.*.*.*
Haru walked down the street in the "bad lands" as this part of town was commonly called. She no longer felt safe anywhere and the sooner she got back to the house, the better. She had only made it halfway to the main street when she was confronted by two figures in the alley. She knew them well. Both of them were loyal to Basco. She had no chance of escape.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Miss Pretty. Boss told us you would be trouble," said Nori grinning evilly. Beside him, Sadiq's features were stone. As usual he said very little.
She looked from one to the other, a sickening dread filling her every pore. She was too far away to run back to the brothel and she really didn't trust her strength over two boys – especially not pack members.
"You're coming with us," announced Nori. He took her arm forcefully and Sadiq took the other arm and they began marching her down a different route. Haru's heart sank. If she disappeared now, what would Hibari-sama think? Would he think she had abandoned him? Maybe he would eventually find her in a crop field and it would break his heart as well; and what about Fuuta? What did Basco want with her anyway?
Haru was a bit numb as she followed them. She barely heard the whisper by her right ear.
"Haru-chan, it's alright," it said. A moment later, Nori was knocked out cold. Sadiq stood over him and made sure he was truly unconscious so he wouldn't go blabbing to Basco.
"S... Sadiq, but why...?"
"Haru-chan still has pudding for brains," he said with a friendly smile as he touched her forehead. "Sadiq has always looked out for Haru-chan, don't you remember?"
Haru did remember. He had been watching her from afar for a while. He had been the big brother she had never had. He had taught her a lot of things – among them how to fight. She had him to thank for that move she pulled with the Kokuyo heir.
"What does Basco want with me?"
"Nothing good; you should get away from here as quickly as you can. I can handle the lapdog and Basco. You have to handle yourself, little one." Here he smiled a warm and gentle smile like he had back when he was allowed to spend more time with her. "You are being followed, no doubt by someone from your big house. He has been behind us for a while now. He wears a blue coat and black hat. Tell him to dress a little better next time or you will be in trouble. Go with him and be safe, Haru-chan."
With that, he wrapped his hand around her neck as if planning to choke her.
"What are you doing?" she asked panicking at once.
"I still need something to show Basco," he said. Sure enough, the man came running up and Haru recognised him as one of the guards from the house. He had been exactly as Sadiq had said. He grabbed Sadiq by the collar and gave him a punch to the face. He went down and Haru was quickly dragged away from the scene. Sadiq could have easily avoided that. He'd done it on purpose. He was still protecting Haru.
Her breath was coming in short gasps. Not only had she had one hell of a morning but now she had been accosted as well.
"How... how did you know to follow me?"
"Akira-san asked me." He said no more until they were safely out in the main street and on their way back to the house.
*.*.*.*.*.*.*
Haru had never been so glad to see the house. She had thought she might never get to see it again. She was so relieved she actually dropped her basket and hugged Akira-san when she saw her. The older woman looked puzzled and glanced up at the guard. He gave a little nod and she looked back down at the maid who was now sobbing in relief in her arms.
Well, she could allow this much. It wasn't like she didn't have children of her own. Patting her head like she would a child, Akira-san wrapped her arms around Mari-san and let her have her cry. Things must have been terrible. She thanked the guard and led Haru away from the kitchens and up to her room. She was glad the girl was safe. Her instinct had not been wrong. She was glad it hadn't failed her yet. But what could have caused her such agony? She could find out from Mari herself.
"Here now, what happened to you Mari-san?" she asked in a gentle voice. Haru wasn't sure she'd heard right. Akira-san looked a lot more different as well. She wiped her tears and sighed. She had a lot to tell and very little she actually could tell, but there was no doubt that she needed advice.
"I... I can't say. I think I am in trouble... and I may put everyone here in danger. I need to leave this place."
The last came out whispered. Akira-san regarded her. Whether or not she was telling the truth, there was still a lot she wasn't saying. She could simply be trying to get out of working there. Otherwise, she was Hibari-sama's maid and he wouldn't take kindly to her disappearing. She pointed this out and Haru nodded sobbing a little more as she did so. Akira-san patted her shoulder a little awkwardly and left the room. Haru curled up on her bed, the weight of the morning's events almost physically crushing her.
She knew that leaving would be hard. She had made something of herself here. A lot more than she had thought she would. She had hated the work, but being around Hibari-sama had made it a little better. And if she just left, he would definitely get the wrong idea. She had to give him some notice – something to clear her name at the very least to him. But she couldn't tell him in person. He would never let her go.
She had no idea how far Basco would go but she didn't dare assume this would be the end of it. The next time Sadiq may not have an opening except to openly defy Basco. Neither would Hime-chan or the others. This time, Haru had to take care of things herself.
