The Ultimate Cure.
Chapter One: Over the Moon.
Run.
That's all I thought. Kai had me start to run. His steps were behind me, his voice urging me to keep going. I was only five, but Kai knew a lot, so I trusted him.
"Keep going, don't stop. Everything's gonna be okay, just keep going," he assured. He was covered in blood, his eyes wide and his hand shaking.
"Kai? What about Mommy?" I asked.
"Mommy's gone, so's Dad, all we've got is each other," he said with no emotion.
"But why?" I asked.
"Because Dad was scum, and Mom was just as bad as him," Kai mumbled. He knelt and hugged me.
"I love you, Naosu," he said.
He pulled on a mask, his eyes shining. They were gold, like Dad's. He pulled a mask onto my face.
"We gotta hide, okay? Like a game," he reasoned.
"Okay!" I chirped. Little did I know that my life was going to change forever. We started just wandering. Kai talked a big game and I just stayed back and let him work. Soon, we gained the attention of the leader of the Hassaikai.
I just wanted to help. Kai was stressed out, almost tearing his hair out in frustration.
"Naosu, just go! Okay?" he snarled. We were starving and I just wanted to help, now I was alone. I wasn't the best at stealth. We were staking out a compound with an odd symbol on the doors. I smelled something really good on the other side.
Like meat or something. Kai is still feeling frustrated about not having enough money. I wanted to help so badly. So I grit my teeth, clenched my hands into fists, and snuck in as quietly as I could.
I crept to the kitchens, smelling the meat, my eyes burned with hopeful tears. Kai would smile again. Kai would hug me again. Kai would be happy again. I loomed over the meat sizzling on the pan, the smell overpowering.
These pompous people wouldn't mind if a little bit of their food went missing, would they? I hesitated. It's wrong to steal, but I was already trespassing. I was too far in now. I reached out, my hand trying to jerk back.
I grabbed the sizzling meat and ignored the burn, dashing my way out, my eyes wide and I didn't notice a guy in a black suit with white stripes in my way until I smacked into him.
"Ow!" I gasped. I saw the pin on his lapel
Busted. I struggled, my arm was held out. A knife wasn't too far from my hand. I tried to get away. I got caught, and the man in the black suit studied my face closely. His hair was a dark gray, and his eyes were red.
"Listen… sir! J-just let me go! M-my b-brother and I… we… uh…. Uhm…" I stammered.
"There's more than one?!" another yelled.
The man just quietly stared at me, his eyes still staring into mine.
"Remove the knife," he said.
"Boss?! Are you sure?" another one asked.
"Yes, I am sure, he's just a child trying to survive with his brother. Now then, tell me where your brother is, young man,"
That was when we met Terada-san. He became our boss, and we became his enforcers. We quickly became his favorite ones. He taught me honor. He taught me that the world wasn't black and white.
It was in shades of gray. When I was ten and Kai fifteen, He told us to go out and… collect.
"Kai, Naosu, please understand, if they cannot pay… they must be held accountable," he said. We nodded, Kai, wore a black surgical mask, while I wore a gray one. He was the ideas man, I was the man of action.
We walked side by side, Kai counting the money. I hated collections… especially from single parents just trying to scrape by. I just took what money they had and took half. The business was good.
"Hang on a second… the guy at the liquor store back on fifth and main gave us counterfeit. Said some sorta rival gang started taking some from him… they're overstepping… Naosu, this is your field of expertise," Kai said.
"Are you sure you can handle the apartments?" I asked.
"Yeah, you go greet our friends, I remember your policy: if they can't pay, take half for the first time, half for the second, and waive their third, right?" he asked.
I nodded, "Yeah, exactly. Just don't be too nice, Apartment five-two-five's got the Repeat Offender," I sighed.
"Don't worry… I'm sure we'll reach an… understanding," he muttered. Apartment Five-Two-Five opened up for a new tenant that evening. Of course, they had to clean the blood first.
I waved and he left for the apartments. From the intel LiquorBoy gave us, they're hanging out near Wookies. I set off, my eyes fixed on the department store the Boss took us to whenever we did a good job. We played games in the arcade.
People seemed to dive out of my way when they saw the lapel pin on my crisp white suit. Both Kai and I were known as the Blanche Brothers. Named after our suits. Not only that, but many of our rivals knew to shake in their boots.
Because we were also known as the Hassaikai's Reaper and Crow. I stopped for a second, seeing someone pass by. Someone who interested me at a single glance.
'Wait, focus! My suit's getting dirty, and there's no time to gawk at some girl!' I thought intensely. I needed to find that rival gang, not lollygag around gawping at some girl that whisked by on the street with oddly interesting hair. It was periwinkle. Periwinkle! It made my brown hair look like a cheap dye job.
Not only that but… our eyes met for a split second. I snarled to myself, seeing that girl flutter past and I walked on. That girl's hair stuck out in my mind, how pretty it was. How cute she seemed.
But I shook my head, a Yakuza never forms outside attachments. It's a messy job. Besides… there was 'My Friend' to consider, god… she was relentless. I saw the 'base' which was just an alleyway.
'Ah well, time for some… house cleaning…'
I stepped into the alleyway, seeing the gang all gathered up.
I was twelve when I met my little sister Eri. Terada-san tasked me and my new friend, Rappa, to watch her. She was honestly one of the cutest things I've ever seen. Rappa was a recruit, and she cried when she saw him.
"Aww! Eri-chan, don't cry… Rappa's big an' scary… I know… I know…" I sighed, she buried her face into the fur-collar ruff of my jacket. I patted her back.
"Hey! I'm not that scary!" Rappa snapped, making me glare up at him.
"N-Nao…" she sniffed.
I stopped, my heart jumping to my throat, "Yeah, Eri-chan?" I asked.
"Nao…. Big Brother Nao!" she said. I almost had a heart attack.
"Yeah?" I wondered.
"Can… can I… can I have a kiss?" she asked.
"Huh? Why me?" I wondered.
"I'm an icky boy… I thought you didn't like icky little boys!" I teased.
"But you're my favorite… Kai is so mean… and grandpa isn't around much! The Big One is scary…" she explained, yawning.
"Oh yeah? What makes me your favorite?" I asked, sitting down on her bed.
"You're… my… Naosu… best… big brother… Love you lots…" she mumbled, "Best… hubby… ever…"
I smiled, remembering earlier where Eri insisted we do a fake wedding, of course, I swore the guys to absolute secrecy, with Terada-san having an absolute ball with it. My favorite part was how happy it made my little Eri.
That's what tired her out. I pulled my mask down and leaned down, kissing her on the forehead.
"Goodnight, Eri-chan," I whispered.
A guy flew out of that same alleyway from when I was ten, I was eighteen now, "FUCK! Get goin'!" he yelled, hauling ass. I watched him go, my knife slid out and I busted the impromptu door down, finding my pursuer kicking the shit out of the leader of the guys.
Her hair was wild, her eyes fire, her strong legs kicking the guy's ribs to powder. She looked over her shoulder, her red eyes aflame. She looked like a demon.
"Hey there, Blanche Two! Where's your bro?" she asked, her smile feral, and I slid one of my gloves off, ready to get out. She had tan skin, her ears like a rabbit's. Despite our age gap, I considered her to be quite pretty.
If she wasn't trying to kill me. She knelt and leaned down to the guy.
"We'll finish this later," she muttered, getting back up and turning to me.
I speed-dialed Kai, "Brother! Help me! She's gonna kill me!" I yelled.
"Who?! Is it that rabbit that you keep on talking about?! Or is it that dominatrix? Seriously, they both seem to want a piece of you…" he sighed.
"I don't care, just help!" I yelled.
Kai hung up and I started to run. She pursued me. Who knew that the gang was already KOed?
"WHERE YOU RUNNIN'?! WHERE YOU RUNNIN'?!" she yelled, I overhauled a wall nearby, trying to trip her up. I then pulled on my glove. I had to run. The Boss still needed me! I then fell, seeing Miruko land behind me, she was one of the heroes that I didn't want to run into.
"Aw… yer no fun, lil' Crow…" she sighed.
I got back up and tried to run. I didn't know that she had a friend I also knew I should run from. I picked up the pace, making sure my mask was up. I didn't want to touch anything else, and my suit was covered with dust.
I wanted to go home! Why did they want to take me away?! I don't wanna leave Kai! He's my home! I belong with him! I was panicking, and I curled into a little ball, crying. I hated being chased, I hated the feeling of something unbeatable breathing down my neck.
I felt something grab me. I had my eyes closed, my breathing calmed. I fell asleep.
Kayama held the young Yakuza. She cuddled the poor kid to her chest, petting his hair. Her investigation into the Hassaikai had her run into the younger Chisaki. She saw Rumi walking up.
"Rumi, you didn't have to chase him…" she sighed.
"What can I say, I love chasing me some good prey! Especially the cute ones..." Rumi cackled.
Kayama shifted the kid. He had a bag on his back, with a mask hanging out of it. He also had a framed picture of him and an older man, with gray hair and red eyes holding a toddler in his arms with white hair and red eyes with a tiny horn.
She looked down at the kid, his sleeping face looking so peaceful. Rumi knelt and took the mask out, one line of kanji was on the side.
"Hummm… a mask? 'Eri's brother'... how cute," she said.
Kayama passed the kid to Rumi, and she shouldered his bag.
'Poor kid…' she thought. Rumi carried him over her shoulder, patting his back and smirking.
"Tagged and bagged!" she snapped.
I was woozy, waking up in a… bed? When did I… what the-? Ow! My head! God, my headache was worse than that time Rappa challenged me to a drinking contest. God, I can't hold my…
Liquor? Why was I in an infirmary? What's going on?! Where's Kai? Rappa? Hell, I'd even take Mimic! Where the hell am I?
The last thing I remember was running from the Rabbit. Then here I am… Waaaait! My mask! My mask! Where is it?! Where's my mask?! God, I must be filthy! Where's my mask?! Where even am I?
Mask. Mask. Mask. Mask.
Need mask.
Love mask. Best mask.
I didn't see it, I tried to move. I tried to move and my body stayed still. My eyes were bleary, I finally was able to move again. I gotta get home, Kai's probably worried. I looked down at my suit, and it was filthy.
"Oh great…" I sighed. I didn't see much. I got up, not finding my knife, or my bag anywhere. I fixed my mask onto my face. I noticed that there was nobody around. Which was weird. If I was in here, and I have a majorly dangerous quirk, wouldn't there be someone?
I sighed, opening the door and seeing someone on the other side.
"AHHHHHHH!" I screamed, skidding back and falling. The girl giggled at me, and I sighed.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
I got up, dusting my suit off, my eyes glaring at her, "Tell. No one." I snarled. The girl smiled and I recognized her hair.
Periwinkle Girl?!
"Wait a second… do I know you?" she asked. I just peeked past her and into the hallway.
"Where am I?" I wondered.
"OH WAIT! You're one of the Blanche Brothers, right?! Wow, I can't believe one of you is so young! I'm Nejire Hado! Nice to meetcha! So, what kind of quirk do you have? Why are ya wearing that mask? Are you sick? Why is your suit so dirty? C'mon! Tell me!" she demanded.
"None of your business! Now, where am I?" I asked.
"Oh! Okay… so… you're in U.A.!" she exclaimed.
"WHAT?! NO! Hell no! Get me back home! I need to tuck Eri in! Oh god, I hope Rappa isn't on 'Eri Duty' again…" I mumbled, panicking, scared. Eri and I were close. She needed me! I couldn't just leave her!
"Easy there, short-stack! Just got some news from up-top!" Rumi's voice snapped, she strode in, her eyes settling on me. Whoever said rabbits were cowards should meet Rumi.
"What?" I asked.
"The Hassaikai moved house," she said.
"But… what about me? Why wasn't I informed?" I wondered.
Rumi grabbed me by the collar, slamming me into the wall, "That means they don't need ya anymore! That means ya got nowhere else to go, Crow!" she snarled, I smelled the carrots on her breath.
"What?! No… no… they need me! I'm… I'm their top enforcer! They need me to… to wrangle Eri! I'm essential!" I prattled. Rumi's grip grew tighter on my collar.
"I ain't good at playin' Good Cop, but Good Cop's busy right now, so yer gettin' me! That means I get ta do what I always wanted ta do to ya when I first saw your dumb mug!" she growled, dropping me and kneeling.
She put her hands on my shoulders, "Look punk, you were fun to chase, but I noticed a lot of things about ya… you ain't bad. You ain't got the guts to say that they need ya for some dumb reason like yer quirk…" she sighed, she was so close, and her eyes stared dead into mine, she leaned forward, her eyes closing, pushing my mask down, she kissed me.
"I chased ya 'cause I liked ya, punk!" she snarled when she pulled back. I stood up.
Nejire looked at us, "Aww! That's cute! So, you two know each other? From where?!" she asked.
"She tried to murder me multiple times…" I sighed.
"Murder you?! That was me tryin' to ask you out, dumbass!" Rumi yelled
"Chasing me down like I'm some sort of prey isn't technically asking me out. Nor is it a good way to start a relationship, you barely know anythin' about me aside from-" I was cut off by Rumi's next comment.
"I was in HEAT you crow-beaked punk!" She snapped, her ears drooping and her cheeks red. I found it to be adorable. I stepped up to her.
"I hope you know that I don't- What… Wait, so you- were-" I sputtered.
"Yeah… guys don't like me 'cause I'm overly aggressive and hate all this 'gender role' shit… when I'd chase ya… it got all the energy out an' all… now that I gotcha… an' you're outta the yakuza…" she mumbled.
Her ears were down and she punched herself in the chest, "I WANT 'CHA TO LIVE WITH ME, PUNK!" she yelled, at this moment, her reluctant partner, a black-haired, blue-eyed woman came in.
"Oh, good, you're up! That's a relief! I see Rumi's already got her feelings out!" she observed.
"So… what did I miss?" she wondered.
"Miss Usagiyama and… uh… well! She kissed Crow-Punk!" Nejire chimed in, causing me to blush and tap my mask. Rumi growled, grabbing my arm and yanking me along behind her.
She finally grinned once we left, "God, I thought we'd never get outta there… so c'mon, Crow, gimme the details!" she encouraged me. She honestly was quite beautiful.
"Well…" I mumbled.
Naosu stood there, tapping his mask, his wild brown hair went down to the base of his neck, his silver eyes sparkled. Rumi first saw the young Yakuza when she was on her Work-Study, she didn't like it, but when she saw the young Yakuza walking alongside the older one, he looked to be around her age at the time, the older one.
She found Naosu to be the cutest thing. Now, he was much more… together. He was shorter than her, but he held himself confidently, his eyes twinkling with curiosity at all the things around them.
Most of all, he was handsome. Yet he had this cute little tic where he'd tap his mask, marked with purple on the side with 'Eri's Brother'.
'He's a family man, huh? Good…' she thought, seeing him notice her shivering in the cold air, he dropped his bag and dug around, mumbling.
"Where is it? AH!" he gasped, pulling out a jacket with a fur collar ruff that was dyed blue. He wrapped it around her.
"T-there… you can borrow it… S-Sweetie?" he mumbled, smoothing his long brown hair and looking away.
"What?" Rumi wondered.
"I just… can't believe him. My brother and I were close… why would he just… ditch me like that…?" he mumbled.
Rumi didn't know who this 'brother' was, but if she were to meet him, she'd kick his ass. Naosu was sweet so far. He didn't have to give up his jacket, but it was warm, and she huddled close to him.
"Y'know what? Screw him! If he doesn't want you around, fine! I chased ya down, I caught ya! You're mine, Naosu, an' if he doesn't appreciate that you did all he asked an' shit for what?" she trailed off.
"I'm eighteen, and we joined the Yakuza when I was five… so…" he mumbled a bit, his eyes closed.
"How far are you two apart?" she wondered.
"About five or so years apart…?" he mumbled.
"So… who's the Eri girl?" she wondered.
"Oh! She's my little sister! Honorary, but… ever since her parents died, Kai tasked me with lookin' out for her… My friend Rappa and I did. She's around six or seven now… I… I miss her a lot," Naosu explained, remembering all the times he played with her and all the times he saw her smile.
He adjusted his mask, "Well… I'm filthy… let's go to your place… I hope it's sanitary…" Naosu growled, his voice low.
"Whaddya gonna do if it isn't?" Rumi taunted.
"Then I'll make it so clean you'll be able to eat off the floor…" he growled, glaring at her. Rumi smirked.
"Oh yeah? What about me? You gonna punish me?" she asked.
"No! Hell no, you're going to be my housemate, why would I ever want to hurt you? I just… WATCH OUT!" he yelled, pushing her out of the way of a car.
"Whoa! You okay?" he gasped, holding out his hand and helping her up.
"Sorry… I got a little spacey…" Rumi sighed.
"You could've gotten hurt! Don't you dare do that again!" He snarled, one of his gloves burst apart and his eyes glinted coldly. Rumi glared at him.
"I said I was sorry, you bastard!" she snapped. She raised her hand in frustration and Naosu burst apart a nearby wall in fear. He turned away, touching it with the same hand and reversing it. Rumi lowered her hand, her eyes closing and a breath hissed out.
She'd soon know what made her boyfriend so jumpy. She didn't want to make him run away. They finally made it to her apartment building, it was close to the city center. She unlocked the door and Naosu gawked at how clean it was.
"Whoa…" he breathed.
"Yeah, I'm not a savage, Naosu!" she chided, seeing him start to take off his suit coat and the rest, his mask the second to last thing to come off, he folded each piece of clothing meticulously.
She blushed at how casually he'd done it. He turned, a smile on his face.
"Now then! Time for cleansing!" he said, clapping his hands together and walking over to her, taking his jacket off her and folding it too. He looked at her.
"Well?" he asked.
"W-wait a minute! What the hell?! D-d-do you do stuff like this?" she asked.
"Uh… yes, I do!" he said, "Oh… is it a faux pas?" he mumbled.
"Just get on with it! Why'd you strip?!" Rumi demanded.
"Because I'm dirty?" Naosu reasoned.
"Hahhhh… you know what, fuck it!" Rumi snarled, starting to strip herself.
"WHAT?! NO! P-PUT Y-YOUR C-CLOTHES BACK ON!" he screamed, covering his eyes, turning tail, and running headlong into the bathroom door, smacking into it and then opening it with a scream.
He shut it and got into the shower, it was big enough for two. He blushed and shut the door, his eyes staring down at his feet. He heard the door open and heard soft footfalls on the floor, he didn't want to look at his new girlfriend.
He didn't. He didn't want to. He did not need to. He heard the door open and he shut his eyes. He felt her strong arm wrap around his shoulders.
"I know it's a lot to take in, Naosu… your brother disowned ya, everythin' you know is crashin' down… but it's okay, it's alright… 'cause I gotcha now! I'm gonna help ya get yer sis back and get her all safe n' sound," Rumi sighed, seeing the tattoo of a crow on his back, intricately detailed and beautiful.
"C'mon… turn around, Naosu…" she muttered, he turned slowly, reluctantly, his eyes still closed and his breath shuddering out. His silver eyes opened, and he smiled, staring into her eyes and touching her forehead to his.
"I've… never done… physical displays of intimacy with a woman… I have… no experience," he mumbled, taking in her bronze skin, her powerful legs with equally powerful arms, that teasing smirk and beautiful eyes.
He found himself falling in love. Yet he noticed more. Her long white hair slowly dampening, her breath shuddering out in a steamy fog, the slight twitch of her ears. Her beauty didn't stop there. It only continued.
Her breasts were sizable, Naosu didn't react to them. It was mainly how beautiful she was overall. How lucky he was to finally find someone, even if her idea of asking someone out was to chase them down with a downright murderous smile.
Her muscles moved, and she situated herself against him, her hands holding onto him, she shook. She didn't know if that power would activate and hurt her. His hands held her close, rubbing her skin, getting a feel for it. Feeling every flaw and beautiful difference.
"D-d-do you…" she mumbled gently, trying not to be too loud, he seemed to be focused on her.
"Has anyone ever told you that you're beautiful?" Naosu mumbled, he kissed her neck and Rumi whirled around, her eyes staring into his. He was surprised and then grinned.
"Let's get started then…" he said quietly. He kissed her gently, just a small peck. Rumi tried to lean into it, but he pulled away from her quickly. She let him do what he wanted, his hands were warm, his eyes glinted, and his voice was humming a little tune.
She was patient. Yet, Naosu was, too. His poker face was giving her no clues. She wasn't expecting the next thing that he did. He grabbed onto her, holding her close, his face so close to her, he kissed her passionately, pushing in, they were against the far wall, her arms wrapped around him, he wasn't inside her, she didn't want him to be, all he wanted to do was kiss her.
Yet, something else took over his lover's body, something that she held back. She pulled back, her eyes narrowed, her hair flattened against the shower wall, wet from Naosu's delicate cleansing.
Her heart pounded, her body became hot, and Naosu backed up, "Rumi?" he asked.
She looked at him with a feral grin, grabbing onto him and pulling him into her arms, squeezing strongly.
"I'm gonna break you!" she snarled into his ear.
"You're gonna what?" Naosu mumbled.
Rumi wrapped her legs around his waist, "You know… I've never mated with a single guy before…? I'm tired of goin' through the heat without anything to take it out on… so don't hold back, okay?" she asked.
Naosu was never a religious man, but he then started to pray to whoever's listening that he was so scared. 'Please don't let my girlfriend break me!'
Rumi was no woman. She was a force of nature so fierce and wild that I just… just got scared for my life.
"What's the matter? I thought you were a big-bad Yakuza! Don't they have hot ladies in the Yakuza? 'Cause if they did you sure didn't get any…" she said.
"I… I'm scared…" I admitted.
"Baby… whatever you do to me… it's okay… I put in the effort to chase you, you should get rewarded for leaving your old life and making the chase so fun! So enjoy this!" she encouraged me, and I took a deep breath.
"What if I'm not good at it?" I asked.
"Everyone starts somewhere, hun…" she sighed.
"I… I just…" I mumbled.
"Are you overwhelmed, sweetie?" Rumi asked, her eyes staring into mine.
"Yeah…" I sighed.
"Okay then, easy does it then…" she said, "Let's start with a kiss then," she reasoned.
She leaned up, her lips meeting mine, her hands rubbing my back. She didn't pull away, we were together, her legs wrapped around me, her arms too. We continued to kiss, she was shifting.
"Okay… Okay, Naosu, babe… have you ever been given 'the talk' before? Just checking," she asked.
"Of course! Of course, I've been given the talk! Why else am I naked before you? You come to me for my capabilities in producing offspring or assisting in the creative process! I apologize for my rudeness!" I ranted, I rant when I'm panicked.
Rumi giggled, You're so serious, baby…" she cooed.
"Of course, sex is a- a- WHOA!" I yelped, Rumi's smile was wide.
"You're in, now… this is the part where you hold nothin' back! I hope you got lots of stamina! I know you do! I trained you well!" she declared, I thrusted.
"Mm… yeah, like that, sweetie…" she said.
I smiled, thrusting more and more, feeling her buck against my chest, her breath heating my chest, her warmth increasing more and more. My love for her grew, she moaned out my name, and I buried my face into her shoulder, my breath washing over her neck.
"Bite me!" she snapped.
I did so, and she let out a yelp. She cooed and I kept going, my lips going down her neck and to her chest. I hesitated, I didn't know what to do. I was just winging it! What the hell am I even doing?! What if this ruins her career?! What if I ruin her life?! What if Kai decides to hurt her?! I can't fix things as well as he can!
What… What if I hurt her? What if she… doesn't love me anymore?
"Naosu? Punk? Are you okay? We can stop if you don't want to do this… we can wait a little bit, okay?" she assured me.
"No… you earned this. I earned this…" I sighed, "I'm just… dueling…"
"Let's forget about all of that, alright? Just… let go," she reasoned, I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her again, feeling her buck and writhe, her eyes closed and her nails digging into my back.
She groaned and separated, her smile was beautiful to me now.
"Good job… good… ah!" she groaned out, holding on tightly, her strong legs squeezing a little. She licked at my neck, kissing it sloppily. We were on the steaming floor, her moans echoing out in a loud chorus. How did I get here? In the arms of a woman I once saw as the one who'd tear me away from the place, I grew up?
She continued to kiss me, moaning between kisses. I teased her body gently, her body shaking. I didn't want to let go… but I couldn't take it anymore. I let go. Rumi's back arched and she let out a loud cry, dropping to my chest, her red eyes closed as I let go of her hair and held her to my heart, letting her listen.
"Naosu! Mm…. good job, baby… good job… not bad for the first time… carry me to bed, sweetie…" she gasped, coming down from her endorphin high. Her smile was radiant, and I carried her gently, wrapping her in my arms and laying her down on the bed.
"Naosu… no matter what happens, we'll look out for each other, okay? Normally I ain't too much into teamwork, but I'll make an exception 'cause you're my punk and I love you," she teased, pinching my cheek and wiggling my head.
I smiled, laying down beside her, burying my face into her hair and wrapping my arms around her.
Her hair was soft, and I loved how silky it was. How good she smelled, how warm she was and how her smile shined. Rumi was savagely beautiful. Yet I thought of how different things would be from here on.
Do I keep going? Do I go against the men I called family? Do I raise my hand against my brother? Do I… do I save the girl that gave me so much joy in those dark times? Do I avenge Terada-san?
Or do I stop? Raise a family with the woman sleeping soundly by my side as our messy and hasty romance crashed to a passionate lull? I love her. Somewhere between the first and tenth time she chased me, I fell for her.
She rolled over, her eyes opening just a little, "Get some sleep, Naosu…" she sighed.
I smiled, "Roll back over, then," I said.
"Mm… okay…" she yawned, "How's that?" she mumbled.
I buried my face into her hair, breathing in her scent, "Lovely…" I sighed, closing my eyes and surrendering myself to the silver seas of sleep. That night held no nightmares.
Only dreams.
Rappa held Eri gently, hearing that Naosu was 'liquidated' hurt her deeply. She knew what that meant.
"Shh… it's okay, squirt…" he assured her. He was a man of honor and duty. He let her down gently, telling her that Naosu had to go because that's what guys his age did. He knew the real reason was that Naosu was getting too protective. If he got too protective over someone, he'd kill anyone in his way for them.
The tension in the meetings was once so palpable that you could cut it with a knife. He couldn't protect Eri as well as Naosu could. He laid her down.
"Rappa-san?" she asked.
"Yeah, squirt?" he wondered.
"I want Big Brother Nao…" she sniffed.
"I know, squirt, it's okay… I'm sure he's doing all he can to getcha outta here," he assured.
'Knowing that dumbass, he's probably either drunk, sulking, or somehow he ended up getting in jail, or even more crazy… the lucky bastard got laid. I swear that kid was gynophobic the last time I saw him.' Rappa thought, sitting down next to Eri's door.
'Still, I have to look after the little squirt until we get her out. Sleep well, Squirt. Sleep well wherever you are, Naosu. I'll see ya when I see ya.' he thought, closing his eyes and smiling.