Sophia's POV

I sigh, leaning my head on the table. My heart felt cold, heavy and broken. I feel a hand on my shoulder and look up to see Kozue, she pauses beside me, squeezing my shoulder softly.

"Have you talked with him at all?"

I sigh again, placing my hands on the warm cup "Which one?"

She sits on the other side of the table, taking my hand in hers "Either of them?"

Flashback Three days ago.

I'd left the house early this morning, walking to a small café downtown. I sat in one of the smaller tables by the end of the store, simply staring at the wall in silence. I felt cold. I felt numb, like when I'd lost my parents. I had ordered a cup of coffee, one cream, two sugars and was on the fifth cup by the afternoon. The waitress, a nice woman had offered me food a few times but I'd shake my head, I was in no mood to eat.

Kozue would probably be worried. I had cried myself to sleep last night, and woke the next morning feeling like I'd hardly slept. Kozue was still sleeping when I left, my phone, keys and credit cards at home. I had dipped into my fathers holiday cash, two hundred dollars in a card for every event. I hadn't touched it until now.

I wasn't sure what to do at this point. Everyone around me felt like the enemy. Koaru had lied to me, I wasn't sure if Baki and Kozue knew about it. Takeda had been against this relationship from the start, my fathers lies were now burned into my mind like a bad tooth ache and Doyle, my only release was the reason for this trouble. I'm sure he was expecting me to go back to him, to say he was right but I couldn't bare to see another smug smirk.

So here I sat. In this small café hidden away from the world, downing yet another cup of coffee and staring at the light blue walls. I shut my eyes, hearing footsteps approaching and silently will the waitress away. I heard them stop by myside and squeeze my cup harder, the heat burning my fingers.

"Wow princess, you look like shit."

At his- I mean her words my eyes open. I turn, looking at Iwoa Takebayashi. Iwoa looked pretty similar, her hair was in two braids but the school uniform had been replaced with a blue V neck that accentuated her chest, with the new bra a loose mini jacket was added for modesty, my eyes follow to the skinny jeans on her thick legs that showed off her natural curves and the ballet flats. Clearly, she had gotten more confident with herself.

"Hey Iwoa. Please, sit." I sarcastically reply when she does, not waiting for an invitation.

I watch her place her purse over the side of her chair and signal the waiter over "Hi, Can I get five cinnamon buns, a large chai mocha, two croissants with butter and two glasses of water please?"

"Of course."

"Thank you." She turns looking back at me "So, what the hell is going on with you?"

I sigh, going to leave when she grabs my arm "Stop being such a little brat and tell me what the fuck is going on Sophia." I turn to glare at her and watch her smile "Oh please, everyone's treating you with kid gloves well sorry princess but that's not how I work. Now you can go home and pout or you can sit your ass down and have an adult conversation with me. What's your choice?"

Despite my anger I feel myself hesitate. She was right, the fact that Iowa wasn't fussing over me was oddly refreshing. I sigh again, moving the chair closer to the table when the waitress returns with the cinnamon buns, circling them around the small coffee table.

"I will bring the croissants after these are gone." She hands out the coffee and water as well "Do you need anything else?"

"No, that's great. Thank you." As she leaves Iowa pushed a large cinnamon bun towards me.

"I'm not-"

"Shut up and eat Sophia."

I watch her tear into a bun, not even sparing me a second glance and exhale softly, my fingers using my utensils to eat. After the first few bites my hunger returns and I find myself halfway through the bun when she speaks.

"So, is it your love life or family life?"

"Honestly its both…" this time her eyes rise to mine and I quietly eat some more.

Iowa rolls her eyes "I have the entire day off, so if we have to play three thousand questions, I will do it."

I shrug half-heartedly "I'm not sure what to say."

...

...

"So, after this whole thing Kaoru and I haven't spoken."

Iowa just stared at me "Are you serious?"

"When Doyle had given me that folder my chest felt like someone had punched a hole through it. My father, a man I'd thought I could trust had been lying to me for months, yelling at me for acting irresponsibly, when he's doing this. It took a chunk of my soul." I squeeze my cup "To make matters worse Kaoru actually went behind my back to keep my father's secrets. He had the nerve to keep my family's secrets from me when I was the one who asked him to look into my father!"

"Yeah, but you were lying to him as well!" Iowa snaps back "And now you're just pissy because he decided to keep you out of the lie with your dad."

"I understand that he was trying to protect me, they both were but every time I see his face, I just get so angry." I squeeze the cup slightly "My dad thinks it's okay to lie to me and my boyfriend, the one person that's supposed to have my back chooses my father over me."

She snorts "He didn't have to buy your house or give your dad a choice Sophia. He could have let him leave, that was for you, not him or your dad. YOU."

"Iowa, I want my dad to stay for me, not because my boyfriend forces him to!"

"I want my dad to stay for me, not because my boyfriend forces him to!" Iowa mocks me in a whinny voice "You do realize that's all I'm hearing right?"

"I think I have a right to be angry!"

She rips off another piece of croissant "Oh please! That's the oldest excuse in the book." her smile only grows with my glare "Face its Sophia, you're pissed off at Kaoru for doing the same thing you did to your dad -and your only pissed because he did it better." I glare at my coffee "I mean fine, feel it. Write some angry letters, go punch a punching bag for three days, chuck rocks at a building, whatever, but let it go. Both of you are just as guilty here." I guess my silence pissed her off as her hand slams down on the table, knocking a cup to the ground "You have so many people on your side! So many people that care about you! That are willing to go to extraordinary lengths to help you and you're seriously sitting here whining about it?!" She lifts her hand out of the small indent and sighs "My parents hate me for transitioning. I haven't spoken to anyone in my family for two years. I wake up, go to work, come home to an empty house, go to sleep and do all over again. I wish I had a boyfriend that would go that far for me!"

A heavy silence lasts for two minutes until Iowa slides her second croissant my way. I wipe away a few more tears and smile softly.

...

...

"So, what are you going to do?"

I send a sideways glance at Iowa, the two of us were walking back to my house and no doubt the hellfire that awaited me "I'm not sure. I'll apologize to Kozue, Baki and Takeda but I'm not sure not sure I can face the other two right now, I'm still angry."

"Well, I'm not sure about the angry letters but if you ever need a punching bag, I can hold my own quite well." Iowa lifts her arms, flexing her muscled arms.

This time I snort "Careful, I might just take you up on that offer."

I nod my head the two of us moving down the street and I push the door open, only mildly shocked its open. I slip my shoes off, feeling Iowa behind me and move into the house to give her room. The door shuts before footsteps are heard.

"SOPHIA?!" I watch Kozue run down the stairs, phone in her hands. Her brief Joy is smothered by anger "WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?! I WAKE UP AND YOU'RE GONE?! NO NOTE?! NOTHING?!" she looks back at her phone "Sophia's back… mhm… okay. Bye."

"Sophia!" Takeda yells, swooping me into a hug, the male had run in from the back door "You had us worried sick! Where did you go?!"

I turn, still in Takeda's arms as the front door opens yet again "Sophia's back?" Baki asks, his head poking in "Was it the convicts? Are they still here?"

A larger hand moves over Baki's slamming the front door open "Sophia we need to talk."

It was Kaoru.

"Hey Hanayama, we talked about this! You need to give her time man." Baki tries to push him out the door but he reaches down, grabbing his shirt "Hey!"

"Get out of my way Baki, I have a right to talk to my girlfriend."

I glance at Iowa in annoyed desperation, finally pushing Takeda off me and see her snort loudly

"Oh, my god! No wonder you ran away. Five seconds in this house and I can hardly hear myself think!" She moves, slapping Kaoru's hand off Baki and shoves the shorter man into the wall "Seriously you guys need to calm the fuck down!" her fingers snap to the four of them "Living room! Now!" Her hands move, tossing Baki towards the doorway, her hand gripping Kaoru's as well and I simply stare at the other two in mild amusement as they follow.

"Uh, who are you?" Takeda tries, but her finger snaps to his face

"Iowa Takebayashi, the girl that's been listen to Sophia complain for the last four hours. Mostly about every person in this room, now shut up and sit down because Aunty Iowa is going to lay down some harsh truths." She crossed her arms "Sophia is not a fucking baby! She does not need your sympathy or your pity. You're not helping her! In fact, you're hurting her, because now she's acting like some entitled brat that thinks the world owes her something because she's not happy." I roll my eyes softly "You guys fucked up, she fucked up and everyone is tripping on themselves worrying who will fuck up next and honestly… It's fucking exhausting." Her hands snap to each one of us "YOU. GUYS. ARE. NOT. CHILDREN. STOP ACTING LIKE IT!
And for the love of god, just be honest with people, this whole thing of 'he lied to me and she lied to me' is so childish, what? Are we back in Elementary school? Sophia, you are a kung fu goddess and all-around bad ass and Kaoru, you are the leader of the Hanayama gang, the most powerful gang in all of japan and one hell of a fighter. ACT. LIKE. IT."

I sigh softly, looking at Kaoru sitting before me and slowly extend my hand. I watch his lift, our fingers gently touching each other. The simply touch sent sparks through my body, making my heart beat faster.

"I'm sorry, for acting like such a brat… You didn't have to do anything for my dad so thank you."

I feel his thumb run over my hand "I'm sorry as well. I should have told you what I found from the start."

This wasn't how I'd excepted this day to go but I was happy. The others were silent, thinking over everything Iowa had said and each person was soon silent, looking rather guiltily at the floor before shaking their heads with new found vigor. Iowa was standing like a proud parent, simply enjoying her power of everyone and I moved closer to Kaoru, allowing more of our bodies to touch. Yet, life had a way of slapping me in the face for any inch of happiness and I found that in the sound of squealing tires. I watch a black SUV rip down the street, swerve half way up onto the sidewalk and send gravel and dirt spewing onto the lawn. I pause, my heart falling when I watch my father throw open the door, stumbling onto the yard and hastily make his way up to the door.

"Oh god..." Kozue whispers, a very guilty look on her face once again "Sophia I'm-"

Her words were cut off as the front door of our house is slammed open "Sophia!" the intruder moves towards the stairs "Sophia where are you?!"

"Dad? What are you doing?"

My shock wasn't hidden in the slightest as he moves through the room to grab my arm painfully.

"Let's go!"

I feel yanked towards the door "Go where?!"

"Away from this psycho!"

"Dad! Stop!" I plant my feet, forcing us to slow down "What are you talking about?!"

Kaoru had stood. Hearing my concern he's moving to grab my fathers hand "Mr. Jones-"

We all stop when my father releases my hand, stumbling backwards and pulls a gun from his pocket with shaking hands. Standing this close, I could clearly see he was scared, angry and completely drunk. "Get away from us you monster!"

"DAD!" I jump in front of the gun and see him falter slightly.

"Sophia move!" He tries again but his hands don't move from the pistol. It broke my heart to see him like this. His hair was greasy, his shirt was soaked with sweat and sticking to him, his shoes were dirty and untied.

"Dad put down the gun!"

Kaoru moves, grabbing my arm to pull me behind him.

"Get away from her!"

We all jump when the loud shot echoes through the hall. In a second Kaoru's upper body was curled in front of me. I blink, feeling wetness on my shoulder and slowly lookup. A bloody circle was in the center of Kaoru's shoulder and slowly dampening the white material.

"Kaoru!" Four concerned voices shout.

"GET AWAY FROM HIM YOUNG LADY!"

Ignoring his words I move, touching the damp material of his shoulder and pull my bloodied fingers back. There was no exit wound, I assume his sheer muscle mass had stopped the bullet but that didn't stop Kaoru from falling to his knees in a grunt of pain.

"Sophia!"

At his angered tone my head snaps toward him "Dad, just use your words! What the hell do you want?!"

"I want you to leave, come with me now."

Kozue had moved, grabbing a towel from the kitchen and I move, letting her and Baki deal with Kaoru's injuries. Purposely placing myself between the others and my father. Given our new proximity, my father wouldn't be able to fire another shot without hitting me.

I pause briefly, lowering my anger and force my voice to relax.

"Why do I need to leave with you?"

"Why?" the gun lowers slightly but that shock is quickly smothered with rage "WHY?! YOU'RE SERIOUSLY ASKING ME WHY?!"

"DAD!"

He growls darkly.

"He's a liar Sophia! He manipulated me, he made me leave you and then he went behind my back and told you everything! -Don't try to deny it! Kozue told me everything this morning." My head snaps to a guilty looking Kozue "YOU GOT KIDNAPPED SOPHIA! RIGHT IN THE HOSPITAL SURROUNDED BY HIS MEN!" the gun moves back to Kaoru's face as Kaoru rises once again "It's a lie! This entire thing is a lie, this allusion of safety! Both of you are in so much danger you can't even see it!"

I suddenly feel Kaoru's hand grip mine, squeezing protectively and after my heart relaxes just the slightest I squeeze back. Moments after his hand drops but I feel his heat behind me "Dad, Kaoru didn't tell me about the money, I found out from another friend. Now please... I understand you're angry but this is not how you do this."

I see his hands shake slightly, tears in his eyes "I know..." His voice was so lost, so broken it dug into my heart. He had clearly lost all hope... "but you won't listen to me any other way." His hands move above my head "... you won't come back to me as long as he's here..."

I see his fingers move towards the trigger. My body twists, allowing my leg to spin in a deadly circle above my head as I kick the gun out of his hand. The gun hits the floor, sliding into the living room. As my foot comes down I jump to continue the momentum, now using my other foot I do a second kick. My heel hits his face, knocking my dad onto the ground.

Everything happens in four seconds and I pause, my body in a fighting stance as I waited for him to make the next move.

The house had fallen silent, no one dared to make a move as my father brought his hand to his chin. As he sits up, bloody saliva falls to the floor. His eyes follow next, slicing into me with just as much pain as my kick.

"Sophia-"

"Shut up!"

When he sees the fury in my eyes he stops, spitting blood on the floor.

"I'm not even sure why I tried." He lifts himself off the floor painfully and opens the door "I clearly see where your loyalties lie."

I feel my mouth drop, storming after my father in rage and slam the door behind me but I knew they'd be able to hear everything, the boys were warriors after all.

"HEY!"

He spins around to face me "You are unbelievable! You lecture me about doing what's best for the family when you were the one putting it in danger. Kaoru is a walking target; you've been in the hospital five times in two months."

Was he seriously ignoring the fact that he'd shot my boyfriend?!

"Yeah... You're right. This is all my fault."

"Yes, yes it is!"

"And is you losing your job, doing drugs, being a drunk, is that my fault?" he pulls back, the shock, then pain clear in his eyes "Is that Christopher's fault? Or are you gonna blame mom for dying?"

"Shut up Sophia."

"I have stood by you for everything dad. Leaving the country, harassing my friends, questioning every choice I make! I was concerned with your well-being when you were trying to sabotage my relationship!"

"Yeah and you've been a model daughter lately! Sneaking out of the house, lying to my face! Disobeying my rules!"

"DO YOU THINK YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE HAVING A HARD TIME!?" I curl my hands "DO YOU THINK YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WITH FAMILY ISSUES? YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY FRIENDS RIGHT NOW! But I am still standing here! And you are still blaming everyone but yourself."

He laughs breathlessly, it was quiet and painful "Are you done?"

I feel the last piece of our relationship breaking, the pieces crumbling through my fingers like ash "Yeah… yeah I'm done." I feel the tears rim my eyes "I'm done taking the blame, and I'm done caring." He looks down at the ground at that, swallowing roughly "Go have a drink, go, go get wasted. Go to vertigo, I'll pay for it." I step back onto the walkway, a single tear leaving my eye "I have wanted you back for half my life… but I'm done running after you."

I turn, walking back up the steps and wipe more tears off my face. I slide my hand off my left cheek and open the door. The sound of the door shutting was a knife to my heart.

The two of us sat in silence after I shook my head "No, Kaoru's wound wasn't very deep but he's been busy, Kazaki is pissed and dads in court mandated therapy. Honestly I've not had the courage to try."

Kozue takes my hand softly Her smile has mine growing just the slightest as she suddenly stands "Come on! Let's forget all this boy drama, change into our pajamas, pop some popcorn and stay up all night watching movies!"

Despite my crushing emotions I couldn't help but smile as I'm dragged up the stair "...Okay."

Despite the joyful evening I couldn't shake this gut feeling. My eyes flickered to the window more times then I cared to admit. Baki and Kozue were out on a date. I couldn't blame them, with all the drama surrounding the escaped convicts everyone was looking for a bit of normalcy. It had been forty minutes since I happily shooed my sister out the door yet I couldn't make myself walk the twenty steps to my house.

"So how have you been?"

I see Kinuyo at the doorway, grocery bags in hand.

I sigh, standing to help her unpack and shrug my shoulders "I've been better."

She hands me more cans which I easily place on the top shelf.

"Do you want something to eat?"

"I'm not sure I could keep it down, my stomachs felt weird the last few days."

After a few moments I noticed Kinuyo eyeing me up carefully and pause can mid air "... what?"

"Sophia jones." Her hands are planted on her hips and my heart beats faster "are you pregnant young lady?"

"What?!"

"Pregnant. With child. Bun in the oven."

"No! Kinuyo!"

"Really? Because that's what I said when i was pregnant with Kozue." She steps closer to me "and ive seen how handsy your boyfriend is."

"Oh my god..." i had no doubt my face was as red as a fire truck.

"Hey don't be embarrassed, it happens. I have tests upstairs if your not sure."

"Kinuyo!"

"What? I got them for Kozue not you but that doesn't mean you cant use them!" She takes me hand pulling me up the stairs.

"Kinuyo! I'm not pregnant! Kaoru and I haven't had sex yet!"

"Mhm, that's what I said to my parents too."

I sat on the side of tub as the timer counted down. Kinuyo wouldn't take no for an answer so I was forced to waste a perfectly good test for nothing.

"Now if you are pregnant i can call Kaoru and ask him to come over. I can also help you talk to your dad and anyone else that has a problem with it. Being a young mother is hard but not impossible."

I grip the tub "Kinuyo please. I am really flattered that you're so supportive but I'm not pregnant. If i am we have a huge problem on our hands because I'm still a virgin as far as I know."

If I was pregnant it would be Doyle's... I shiver and promptly toss that thought out of my head.

The two of us sit in silence, only broken in the timer. I see Kinuyo pick up the white stick with the light blue lid. Her eyes flicker over from it to me then back to the stick.

"Kinuyo." I feel my heart beat faster as she looks at the test longer "Kinuyo!"

"Sophia..." she whispers taking my hand.

"Oh my god! This isn't possible!"

"Sophia listen to me." I could feel my test tighten, my body struggling to breathe. Had Doyle really... She shakes my shoulder as I find myself on the verge of hyperventilating "Listen to me!"

"What?!"

"The test... its negative!"

"WHAT?!" I sit on the sink slowly and watch Kinuyo smile "HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO ME?!"

"I'm sorry," she laughs, handing me the stick "you just seemed so worried I couldn't help it!"

I look at the single blue line on the test and sigh, finally laughing a bit myself

"That was beyond cruel..."

Kinuyo sits beside me on the sink, pulling me into a soft sideways hug.

"So..." Kinuyo says "you two really haven't had sex?"

The pure amusement in her voice has me turning to look at her

"What's with that tone?"

"I'm just shocked that's all." She laughs again "I mean come on Sophia your boyfriend is quite a charmer."

"Oh my god!" I laugh, tossing the test in the garbage can by the sink "I'm not having this conversation with you! We are not there yet! I'm not there yet!" I turn, coming face yo face with Kinuyo as my voice falls to a whisper "And for the record Kaoru isn't exactly small in that department so excuse me if I'm a little wherry."

"You know, I do have experience in that section if you want some tips." Kinuyo smiles more "so how big are we taking here?" Her hands slowly start moving apart as i slap a hand on my face "I'm serious! Id never tell Kozue but i was quite promiscuous in my youth so there's nothing you can say that will shock me."

..

..

I shake my head, trying to let go of everything and finally fall into bed. I had had that talk with Kinuyo and honestly after I'd gotten over the initial shock she had a lot of helpful tips and tricks for me. I shiver and pull up the covers, forcing myself to sit in a cold bath for twenty minutes might have been a bad idea but I smile softly when I glance at my phone. Baki and Kozue would be home soon and I couldn't wait for the dirty details tomorrow but for now I was dying for some much needed sleep.

"BAKI HELP ME!" my head snaps up as Kozue's voice echoed through my closed window and I jump out of bed, thankful the blanket wasn't around my feet or I would have ended up on the floor and rip open the door grabbing my weapons as I went.

I swerve in front of Takeda my small sword in his hands and run down the hall. My father hears the commotion and opens his door but we were already down the stairs. I open the deadbolt and run down the stairs.

"KOZUE?! KOZUE WHERE ARE YOU?!"

We both take off to Kozue's house and I run into the backyard going for the window. I stop when I see Baki standing in Kozue's room and broken glass all over the grass. Takeda pulls me back and we move, going around the front door. I run up the stairs, taking in Kinuyo's frightened form lying against the door and the metal window frames bent and dented on the floor. I bend down beside her on the ground and look at Baki.

"What happened?!"

"Sikorsky took Kozue!" Baki roars.

I place a gentle hand on Kinuyo's face "Kinuyo, it's me, Sophia." She blinks a few times like I'm not there "Kinuyo are you hurt? Did he hurt you?"

She doesn't answer, only lays there against the wall her hands to her chest. I guess she never thought the fighting would spill into her house...

She just kept repeating "He's taken her. Kozue." Over and over.

Takeda kneels down beside me and I stand, letting him look her over and move to Baki. He was wearing a white tank top and green sweats, his feet were bare but like me, he had yet to step on any glass. I watch the floor and make my way over to him. I place a hand on his arm and fight the urge to remove it. His skin was on fire.

"Hey! Baki." I knew he wasn't hearing me, the boy was seething in rage "Hey! Look. At. Me." I forcefully turn his head and watch him blink, finally noticing me "We'll find her okay?" his hands move to mine and his anger dies, his fears and tears emerge as he holds my hands, his face tipping forwards into my shoulder "We'll find her..."