Disclaimer: I do not own Haruka and Michiru's characters, they belong to Naoko Takeuchi. All other characters and this story belong to me.

Note: This is rated "M" for a reason. If you have issues with coarse language, girl on girl action and substance abuse references, do not indulge yourself in this.


Chapter 29

Ties

"Shimizu-san?"

Hideo nodded his head and squared his shoulders.

"You are expected. Please follow me."

He obediently walked behind the elder woman dressed in a dark gray suit that matched her hair. His surroundings were no different from any other time he has been here before, except that he no longer had the veil of business intent to shield him. He felt eyes on himself and wondered if those people knew that he wanted to abuse the system, use it for his own private purpose. Hideo has always prided himself for being a clean politician. It was not a facade for him, he truly did believe that rules were put in place for a reason and fought hard to uphold them. Today he came here to break those rules, to ask for a favor that was against anything in the book, and he did not feel comfortable. He heard whispers and straightened his spine even more, repeating in his mind that they were not talking about him. They did not know what he came here for.

The woman stopped in front of a heavy wooden door and knocked on it confidently.

"Yes?"

She opened it and stepped inside, announcing Hideo's arrival.

"Show him in."

She stepped to the side and gestured for Hideo to come in. He walked past her and the door closed shut behind him. The room was much smaller than his own office, but somehow more intimidating. Perhaps it was because of the awards and certificates that hang on one wall, or maybe because of the presence of the man behind a wide desk. A large bookshelf took up almost the length of the wall to Hideo's left, while the desk and two chairs sat to his right. It was sparse, but somehow did not seem so. There were no files scattered around the floor like in Hideo's office, instead, there were neat, albeit towering, piles on the side of the desk. Even that showed Hideo how in control the man behind the desk was. He commanded everyone and everything in his life, or at least that was what Hideo learned through personal experience and more extensive opinions of his acquaintances.

"Please take a seat, Shimizu-san."

The man gestured to the chairs that sat across the table from him with his head and Hideo did not question the formality that was given as an order.

"So, what is it that you wanted to discuss?"

The man leaned in his leather office chair and folded his hands across the chest, eying his visitor without any expression. Hideo sat deeper in his chair as well. Having been in politics for as long as he has, he could not show a slightest sign of intimidation or he would lose.

"I came to ask for a personal favor." His revelation caused no reaction, unlike what Hideo was hoping for, so after a couple of uncomfortable minutes he continued. "My daughter has convinced herself that she is quite smitten by her current romantic involvement, but the partner of her choice causes nothing but suspicions on my part."

Other than a slight rise of a black brow at the beginning of that statement, Hideo once again did not get any reaction. "Naturally, I'm quite worried. I have tried to do some research on my daughter's choice, but could not find anything. Literally."

"Shimizu-san, from my experience, digging into affairs of your family members leads to nothing but sorrow. The best advice I can give you is to leave your daughter and her partner be."

"With all due respect, I did not come here for your advice, I came here for a favor. My daughter is the sole heir to her family line, social status and our current estate. I cannot have someone simply take advantage of her."

"If you were unable to find anything out, that is generally a good thing, no?"

"I found absolutely nothing, I mean not an address, not a driver's license, not a birth certificate… Which leads me to believe that my daughter's partner is using an alias."

"So you came here to ask me to do what exactly?"

Hideo shifted uncomfortably. The man knew exactly what he came there for, yet still did not miss an opportunity to exercise his power.

"I was hoping that you could look into that person from a perspective that I cannot. A photo or fingerprints, perhaps, so that I can identify them and put my heart to rest."

"Shimizu-san, no disrespect, but I can care less about your heart. You are asking me to put aside the law and forget everything this institution stands for. Moreover, you yourself have been on a spree to rid this city of corruption and make it as safe for its residents as is possible. Do you mean to tell me that those laws and your own cause are nothing when it comes to you and your personal interests?"

The black eyes bore into his scull and Hideo suddenly found the pattern on the floor extremely interesting. Everything that the man just said was right, but he still could not simply let it be. "It's my daughter. I came to you because I know that you're not the kind to be influenced by something that is not done by the book once, you will not turn corrupt because of a personal favor." His voice was barely audible.

"Shimizu-san, a favored request leads to another, then to another, becoming a cycle. There is no stopping it once the faucet is open. I am sorry, I understand your position and your worry as a father, but you cannot bend the system to fit your needs and then unbend it the next day and prosecute those who do the same thing as what you did today. For your sake, I will pretend that this conversation never took place. You are welcome to ignore my advice, but it is given to you by someone who has been in the position of curiosity and has uncovered a wasp nest. Do not lose yourself in your assumptions or skewed perceptions. Your daughter is an adult, let her handle it. Let her come to you if she needs help, she'll appreciate it that much more."

As the room was once again consumed by silence, Hideo had no other choice but to get up. "I'm sorry for taking the time out of your busy schedule and I apologize for my inappropriate request. Thank you for your advice, Superintendent General."

"You are welcome."

Hideo bowed and walked out of the office, the man's words playing in his head over and over. Maybe it would be better to leave this alone. If Michiru got burned, she would come running back and he would finally get the recognition as a caring father, not just as her mother's husband. Hideo made his way out of the police department and headed home.

x x x

"Egocentric mother fucker."

Daiki pulled his chair back to the desk and set his elbows on top of it, supporting his chin. He knew Hideo would get interested in Haruka at one point or the other, but he never expected for the man to come looking for help from him. That was just too good to be true. It took all of Daiki's poise not to laugh in his visitor's face as he lectured him on the evil of not abiding the law. The advice that he gave him, though, was heartfelt. Daiki's family secrets would have been much better left alone all that time ago, perhaps then he would not have ended up in the police academy and would not have become the twisted son of a bitch that he was now. At least that was his take on it.

He picked up his disposable cell phone and dialed Haruka's number. She has not returned the calls she missed or the voice messages he left for her since Sunday. Just like the previous times, she did not pick up. He sighed and set the phone on his desk. He was almost positive that she was at the hospital, but he could not risk going there, not after Hideo's visit, lest they would run into each other there. That would be simply unwise.

"Oh, fuck it."

He picked up the landline and dialed her direct cell. After three long rings an agitated voice hardly above a whisper came on the line.

"What is it?"

"Glad to know you're still alive."

"Somebody would let you know if I was dead, you're fucking head of the police."

"Aren't you in a peachy mood."

"What do you want?"

"We need to talk. Meet me at my place in an hour, it's closer to the hospital."

"How considerate."

"It's in your interests to be there, kid."

"Fine."

She hang up and he shook his head, replacing the receiver. "Ungrateful brat."

x x x

"Where are you going? You said that you won't leave me again." Michiru whined from the bed. True to her word up to this point, Haruka has not left Michiru's side in the past few days.

"Well, I need a break from your mood swings."

"You're the one with the mood swings, not me."

"Really? Am I the one crying now, laughing in an hour, and screaming in another fifteen minutes? You're like a fucking roller coaster of emotions right now."

"Well, I'm sorry that I fell in love with someone who had a psycho ex-girlfriend who decided to beat the shit out of me." Michiru wiped her tears away and stared angrily at her girlfriend.

"See what I mean? Crying, then yelling."

"Screw you, you don't have to come back at all." She hissed and pulled the sheet over her head.

Haruka dipped her head backwards and stared at the ceiling in frustration. She counted until fifty in her head and let out a slow breath. Sure that she would not snap, she approached the bed and pulled the sheet off of Michiru's head. She used her thumb and index finger to take Michiru's chin and gently turn her face.

"I need to meet with Daiki. I will be back, try to sleep while I'm gone." She placed a soft kiss on Michiru's lips and the violinist responded after a few seconds of initial resistance. "Do you want me to bring you something?"

Michiru shook her head and relaxed into the pillow. "I'll be fine. Go."

"Okay." She placed a kiss on the smaller woman's forehead and walked out of the room before Michiru changed her mind again. 'I must be either insane or saint for being here.' She shook her head and took the elevator down.

x x x

She was sitting on the floor next to his door when Daiki got to the apartment.

"What, you decided not to break in this time?" He put the bags he was holding down and fetched his keys to unlock the door.

"Too much work." She knew he installed additional locks since she visited him last.

He opened the door and she got inside. Daiki picked up the bags and followed her in. He walked to the kitchen counter and placed the bags on top. Taking the containers out, he watched her sit on the couch and close her eyes. She looked exhausted and somehow thinner.

She opened her eyes at the soft sound of plastic hitting the wood and saw a container being placed in front of her.

"Chicken salad." He answered her questioning look. "Although now that I see you, you need way more food than just a salad."

"What are you, my mother all of a sudden?"

He did not respond, instead taking a seat on the floor across from her. "Would you like something to drink?"

She shook her head and dug into the salad. It was her favorite and he knew it. "What's the occasion?"

"You're still alive, for now. I'd like to spend some family time before that changes."

"Asshole."

"Stupid, irresponsible halfwit." She just shrugged. "What did you get yourself into?"

"Actually…" She spoke with her mouth full and pointed chopsticks at him. "...you're the one who got me into this. It's all because you had to use Ichiro and didn't have enough balls to say no to his request."

"Not all of us can just flaunt our hips in front of him and get what we want."

"Hmph… I doubt hip action alone would ever get anything out of him. He's not a sex addict, unlike you..."

"Look who's talking." He chewed on his skirt steak and studied her more relaxed features. "So how did you do it?"

"How did I do what?" She played with a grape tomato in her container.

"How did you get his okay?"

"I have my ways." She caught him raising an eyebrow and continued. "Which do not include any exchange of bodily fluids."

"Naturally you will not share them with me."

"Naturally."

They ate in silence until Haruka finished and relaxed into the back of the couch. She felt Daiki's eyes on her face, but did not question it or react to it at all. She pulled a small card out of her jeans' pocket and sat up straight. The card was carelessly thrown to the table and ended up in its middle. Daiki turned it so that he could take a better look. There was nothing but a string of numbers on it.

"What's this?"

"It's a bank account number." Their eyes connected and locked. "You'll find your money there."

"All of it?" She nodded. "Which bank?"

"The one you used in Switzerland before."

"Why?"

"Because I need you to do something."

Daiki chuckled. It was a second time today someone needed him to do something for them, only the first request did not have a seven-digit reward for it. "What is it?"

"This set of digits is also a phone number. If something ever happens to me, the first thing I need you to do is dial that number and tell the person who answers that the wind has died down."

"I thought you said you were on top of things."

"I am on top of things, which is why I need you to promise me to do as I asked."

"Haru -"

She raised a hand to stop him. "I'm very well aware that the psycho bitch isn't going to just sit still. I'm pretty sure that the measures I've taken so far will protect me, but one can never be too careful. I need you to promise me that you'll do as I asked."

Daiki did not like that request one bit. Sure it was a simple thing to do, it was the meaning behind the request that made his stomach churn. "I will do as you asked."

"Thank you." She returned to her previous position and closed her eyes again.

"Are you able to sleep?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"You killed three people."

"They weren't people. They were puppets that Yasu used to harm others. I don't have moral issues in respect to what I did."

He gave her an unconvinced look that she missed entirely. "Then what's bothering you?"

Haruka let out a long sigh, but did not open her eyes. "They put Michiru on heroin for the pain. She's off it now, but they're afraid to give her anything that has opioids in it, and regular pain killers aren't strong enough. Plus she has the withdrawal syndrome again. I feel like I just went back half a year and ended up in the same hell as before."

She opened her eyes and saw his sorrowful expression. Somehow she knew he was not thinking about her and Michiru. "I spoke to Sayuri." She said gently and he flinched.

"When?"

"On Sunday. She called to tell me that my girlfriend is back on heroin."

"That's quite in her character." He smiled wistfully. "How did she know?" Haruka shrugged. "Where is she?" He held his breath, watching her simply look at him.

"She has to be the one to tell you that, it's not my place."

He nodded. "How much does she know?"

"I have no idea, but enough to know that it's safe for her to come back. She's just not ready to change her life again."

"Well, I'm glad she's safe and happy." He got up, gathered the empty containers and took them to the kitchen. For someone who really was used to being in control, if not in charge, his relationship with Sayuri has always been something out of character. He never controlled her, he never even controlled their arrangement. In many respects she was the one who made the decisions. Perhaps that was why he fell in love with her.

"Why did you call me here?"

He found her standing by the window as he came back. "I had a visitor earlier today who wanted to find a way to investigate a certain someone who is dating his daughter."

Haruka turned around and stared at him in disbelief. "He came to you?" Daiki nodded and they both broke into fits of laughter. "Wow. He really is clueless of the nature of people around him."

"That may be so, but you still need to be careful. Healthy curiosity often leads to disasters."

"You know he won't find anything."

"Actually, that's what brought him to me. He found nothing and got suspicious."

"It's not my fault that my existence in this world is undocumented. Talk to the orphanage." Her eyes glazed over as she remembered carrying the photograph that had her name written on it for so many years. Legally, she got a different name every time she got adopted, so even she did not know who she was anymore. To her, all those adoptive names were aliases. Her true name was given to her by her parents and it was the only one she considered valid, even if it was never recorded.

"Haruka…"

"Hmm?" She came back to reality.

"Just be careful."

"I will. Hideo is at the bottom of my list of people to worry about, though."

"Don't underestimate him."

"I won't. Thanks for letting me know."

"Any time." He watched her walk to the door. "Let me know if you need anything."

She nodded, but he knew that she would not. Even though she needed someone to talk to, she would never admit to it.

x x x

Michiru was drifting in and out of sleep ever since Haruka left. She had no doubt that the blonde would return, she just did not want to be alone again. She heard the door slide open and turned around, happy that the wait was over. A familiar, yet not particularly welcome figure stood in the room instead of her girlfriend.

"Good Evening, Michiru."

"What are you doing here?"

"I thought I'd just stop by and see how you're doing." He walked up and took a seat in the chair next to her bed. "So, how are you doing?"

"How do you think I'm doing?" She raised her broken hand.

"Yes, I heard about that. Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Are you kidding me?"

"No, actually, I was being sincere."

"Why?"

"Well, being sincere is something I like to do occasionally to remind myself why I am emotionally detached."

"I meant why do you want to help me?"

"Do I need to have a reason?"

"Are you capable of doing anything without a reason?"

"Touché." He gave her a penetrating look that made her shiver. "I can see why Haruka likes you as much as she does."

"Enlighten me."

"You have no fear." He thought about it for another second. "You have guts or you just don't care what happens, but I'm assuming it's the first."

"Do people fear Haruka?"

"Those who know her well enough should, but then again, those who do are not the kind to get scared. Like you and I. Daiki. Hiro, perhaps. Although I think his is more of a victim to his hero attachment. He has seen her soft side and thinks that the tough side is just a front."

"And it's not?"

"No, tough side is what kept her alive. Soft side is something she just hides behind the armor, it's an accessory of her personality."

"I disagree."

He raised an eyebrow. "Really, how so?"

"I think she is a good-natured person who has seen a lot, so she has to come across as a tough person in order to keep that humanity intact, protect it from the outside world. She's not evil like you and Daiki."

He laughed out loud. "You're right, she's not evil like me and Daiki. On the other hand, we are more open about being bastards, she just harbors the sick side inside. Everything you said applies to Haruka you know, but how much do you know her street alter ego?"

"The leather-wearing alter ego?"

Both of Ichiro's eyebrows went up to his forehead. "So you are acquainted with Haru."

"Don't misunderstand me. We all have more than one side to our character. I have a social side that is what the society in general sees me as and then I have the real me. Same with Haruka. She has the tough side, and then she has the real one."

Ichiro nodded. "I don't have sides. I don't hide who I am, that's what I meant about being more open, but I agree that most people have different sides to their personalities. Just don't make the mistake as to which one is the reality and which one is a mask."

"Why are you here?" Michiru was getting tired of this senseless argument because nothing Ichiro said would make her believe that Haruka was bad. What was the point anyway?

"I want to make sure that you are worthy of the relationship you're in."

"Excuse me?" She sat up in her bed, ignoring the pain that shot through her insides.

"Haruka cares for you very much and I know that you do as well. I just want to make sure that you're not living in a dream land. I want to make sure that you're not disillusioned by who Haru really is down the line."

"I know who my girlfriend is! I know how she can be. Hell, she held a gun to my temple, she treated me like scum when I needed help. I know how brutal and cruel she can be, but I also know that it's just a part of her, it doesn't define who she is. I have seen her care for others, much more so than she would ever admit, even to herself. Whatever her life experiences have made her is a part of who she is, but it's the whole that defines her and everything you have said is just a small part. How the hell would you know who she is in the first place?"

"Because I'm her only friend." It was a simple, soft-spoken answer that seemed to cool down the raging violinist.

"If that's the case, how come she never once mentioned you outside of racing in the year I have known her?"

"We all make mistakes." He shrugged.

"I don't believe you. I don't know why you're here, other than to try and convince me that Haruka is bad. No friend would do that."

"That's not what I'm trying to do. As I said before, I just want to make sure you're not wearing pink glasses."

"Pink glasses wouldn't suit Michiru in the least. It's really not her color."

They both turned, startled, to find Haruka leaning against the pane of the door, her arms folded across her chest.

"How long have you been standing there?" Ichiro raised a brow.

"Long enough. Stop intimidating my girlfriend, I don't have enough energy to deal with the aftermath."

Michiru watched the two of them interact and realized that it was like nothing she has seen before. There was no animosity. They did banter like friends would. She was utterly confused.

"He's right, mermaid." Haruka grabbed the second chair and put it between the bed and where Ichiro was sitting. "He's also good-intentioned, unlike what it comes across as. He just doesn't know how to be nice to people." She ignored his scowl and continued. "You and I, we're both two-faced. We act one way, but we're different on the inside. The difference is, we both know who you truly are, which is a lot harder with me. I gave up on trying to figure out what is act and what is real a long time ago. I just do what seems right at the time. So long as you're aware of that, we'll be okay."

"I am aware of that." Michiru pointed to the newspaper that was still sitting on the bottom shelf of her night stand.

"Good." Haruka turned to Ichiro. "Now, what the hell are you doing here?"

"I missed you, can't you tell?"

She gave him an unimpressed look and he sighed. "I need a smoke. Come with me." He stood up and waited for her to do the same.

"You know I don't like when you smoke around me. Sit back down and say what you were gonna say, unless it relates to you, which it doesn't."

He stood for another moment before slowly lowering himself back. "I ran across your cous a few days ago. He was very worried, even offered me his services in return for your safety."

Haruka did not bother to hide her surprise. "How sweet of him. Of course you have accepted, despite knowing that he didn't need to put himself in that position."

Ichiro smiled. "Why waste an opportunity?"

"That comes dangerously close to using me." Haruka shook her head and Ichiro's smile faded away.

"I didn't think about it that way."

"Whatever. He offered, you accepted, what's the point?"

"You should give him another chance. He does care about you."

Haruka stared at him again. "That's what you came here for? Is my mush infectious? Cuz you're acting out of character."

Ichiro shrugged. "I just put myself in his position… both him and I know how hopeless it is to be on your bad side."

Haruka waved her hand to show the furtherance of her point. "You put yourself in his position?"

Ichiro grimaced. "You're right that is out of character."

"Thank you." She relaxed into the chair, satisfied. "Don't worry about him, we made up."

That surprised both Ichiro and Michiru. "Why?" The violinist asked.

Haruka shrugged. "I got tired of the current arrangements, so I got rid of them. We're fine now. I can take solace in the knowledge that he's suffering because Sayuri is not around."

"They're still together?" It was Ichiro's time to stare.

"Were together. Until the whole Oono deal." Haruka explained.

"Let me guess, you took matters into your own hands and she just disappeared from his horizon."

"Yep."

"See what I mean?" Ichiro looked at the violinist.

"She did that to protect Sayuri. It was well intentioned and came from the good place in her heart, not the bad one."

"That's how you see it."

"How do you see it?" Michiru asked stubbornly.

"She helped out someone on one hand and made someone else suffer on the other. She's never been a fan of their arrangement, so she finally got them apart."

"Must you twist everything?" Haruka grimaced.

"You yourself just said that you are enjoying the fact that he's suffering because of her absence."

"Yeah, but I didn't actually mean it."

"Really? You're not glad that he's suffering? Not even an iota?"

"Fine, I am happy that he's suffering! But it's because that proves that he does care for her, more than just a sleeping buddy. Besides, it's not like I'm keeping them apart. It's up to her, not me."

"See." Michiru pointed out, satisfied with the explanation.

"Whatever floats your boat." Ichiro gave up. "If you didn't enjoy others suffering, you would've killed Yasu."

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became grim. "That's different."

"Only to the extent of how far you went, not the underlying concept."

Haruka could not find anything to answer to that, neither could Michiru. Ichiro, who did not gloat from his victory either, got up and bowed to the violinist. He put his hand on Haruka's shoulder and grabbed her attention, bringing her back to reality.

"Get some rest, you look like shit." He looked around. "You want a different room? This can't be comfortable for you to spend the nights."

"You think I wouldn't be able to get a different room if I wanted to?"

"No offense, but you don't have the recognition I get, so you don't get the same perks."

"None taken. God forbid I ever get recognition similar to yours. I prefer to speak with people as opposed to scare them before even opening my mouth to get my way."

"Hey, I offered."

"Thanks, but I'm hoping we won't be here for much longer."

"You should get Abe to come back and take care of your girlfriend at home. Kill two birds with one stone."

"My, you do have reasonable thoughts once in a while." Michiru mused from the bed.

Ichiro sighed and looked into the dark blue eyes. "Can you explain to your girlfriend that people don't talk to me that way, unless I allow them to and she doesn't have the same privileges as you do?"

Haruka shrugged. "I'm enjoying it too much to do that."

"See - torturer." He ruffled her hair and walked to the door. "I'll see you Friday."

"Night." Both Haruka and Michiru wished him in unison.

"I'm guessing you got him back?" Michiru asked as Ichiro's figure retreated away from the room.

"Hmm?"

"You said that Yasu took him away from you. I'm guessing you got him back."

"Yeah… lots of things have happened because of that." She pointed at Michiru and got up. Haruka took off her shoes and climbed in the small bed behind its current occupant.

"Haruka, it's too small for both of us."

"I know, just for a few minutes." She positioned herself half-sitting behind Michiru, who relaxed herself into the embrace and found the new arrangement not at all uncomfortable. She sighed contently and kissed the arm that was wrapped around her shoulder. Dipping her head back to face the blonde, she found her peacefully asleep.

x x x

Large drops of rain hit the pane of the glass in a steady rhythm. The black night sky has been crying for hours, shedding the tears she herself was unable to. No matter how torn inside, how alone in the world, how much in physical pain she was, she could never cry. Not for herself. For others, to pretend that she could feel, to make them sway in the direction she wanted them to take - yes, but not to relieve any of those emotions that she still harbored occasionally. Tears did not help, only revenge did. It has been over a week since her assault and her foot was still not showing any good progress. They did not amputate it only because Ichiro got her the best plastic surgeon, but even he could only work with what was left, making it resemble a foot, but not making it serve as one. Yasu detested the idea of getting a prosthetic or using a wheelchair, but it looked more and more like those would be her only options.

She turned away from the widow and looked at the semi-dark ceiling. She has been here before. Not in this particular hospital, but in this situation. Left all alone, helpless, weak, and in a hospital room. It was three years ago when she lay like that in a small room on another side of the world, right after giving birth and learning that she would never be able to have another child due to complications. Despite the fact that she just brought a new life into the world, she felt all alone because there was no one by her side. Her parents were dead, not that she wanted them to be there; her brother got rid of her by shipping her off; the father of her child… was unknown to her until she saw her son. In the coming days when she got to hold the child that was a part of her, the child that seemed to unconditionally love her, probably because he did not know who she was, she felt something stirring inside. The infant clang to her, just like any newborn would to a mother, with all the instinct, all the pure love. Love that grew into hate in Yasu towards her own mother. Love - the feeling that Yasu was no longer capable to give to another human being. She decided then that that child deserved the best she could give. The best she could give was eliminate her own presence from that child's life until he was old enough to step into his inheritance. Inheritance that she would give him by getting rid of her brother, the man who so easily discharged her when she needed his support the most. Yasu swore on the day her son turned a week old that he would become her heir, the sole heir to the Wada clan, and no one was going to get in her way.

She picked up her cell phone and dialed a number for the person she has not spoken to in two years. Despite that, she has never lost sight of him and knew where he was, who he was with, and how to contact him. She also saw him in the open, never once indicating to anyone the past they both shared.

"Moshi Moshi."

"It's me."

"…"

"Yasu."

"Do you honestly think I can forget your voice in the week and a half that I haven't heard it?"

"…"

"Hmph. To what do I owe the pleasure of you speaking to me again?"

"I… I -" She tried to stifle a sob and it came out half-broken.

"Yasu, is this about your injury?"

"N-no."

"Then what is it? Why are you crying?"

"It… it's about our son."

"What about him?"

She did not miss the change in his tone. From indifferent and albeit sarcastic it turned into concerned. Even though both parents were absent from her son's life and neither of them spoke to each other, they both have communicated with the adoptive family because to both of them he was of a particular importance, albeit for different reasons. His father had much purer motives than his mother. It was his first and only son, though he did not acknowledge him at this point per Yasu's request, he did intend to become a part of his life when the time came.

"I'm afraid he may be in danger." She let out another sob.

"What kind of danger?"

"I'm not sure… I… I just want you to contact them and arrange for him to move. I don't want to put him in any more danger by contacting them directly."

"Does the incident that happened last week have anything to do with this?"

She cried openly for a couple of minutes and he let her, not interrupting and waiting for her to speak again. "Don't worry about what happened to me… It's just that she threatened him and I can't let anything happen. Please make sure he's safe. Please… I will take care of my problems myself, I am at fault for getting in this situation in a first place, but please, I beg of you, help our son." Her cries broke free again, but his low voice interrupted her this time.

"Who's 'she'?"

"It doesn't matter. Just make sure he's safe."

"Let me decide whether that matters or not. Who is it, Yasu?"

"I -"

"Yasu!"

"It's Tenoh."

"…"

"Please… don't do anything rash, just make sure they move and are not followed."

"Come on, Yasu, you know I never rush anything. Planning things is my specialty."

"Aden, please, forget about Haruka, just tell the adoptive family -"

"No. If she knows about the adoptive family, she'll always find them. I will make arrangements for him to be brought to Spain. My parents will take care of him."

She did not see that solution coming, nor was she sure she liked it. However, that was not the top priority at the moment. "Are you sure that is wise?"

"He'll be safe in the countryside and it will do him good to be with family. As a matter of fact, I'll bring him over myself, just to make sure that we are not followed and that there are no tracks left."

"Good. Being away from here will assure that you don't do anything stupid."

"Such as?"

"No, nothing."

"Your nature and upbringing may have made you feel okay about threats, Yasu, but no one threatens my child."

"Aden -"

"I will contact you at this number when I'm back in Japan. Fast recovery."

She pressed the disconnect button and threw the phone on the night stand. The tears that still ran down her cheeks, just like the drops of rain on the outside, looked out of place with the wide smile that spread across her face. "Ladies first, Haruka. Then your prince in shining armor will follow. No one gets in my way."