Tokyo Revengers: Empresses of Japan

Chapter 4: Belonging

Baji and Haneul – Shinjuku

The two love birds waited outside the cinemas in line to purchase their tickets. Baji wasn't that into public affection, he was a boy who wanted to look tough in front of anyone and everyone. However, Haneul was quite the opposite, she was always hugging his arm, holding his hand, touching his face; anything to be physically affectionate with him. He found it a little annoying at first, but learned to live with it. Although now he secretly loves it when she is like that, though he hides it.

Baji had a secret about him; he hated scary movies. Regardless of the fact that the teenager looks absolutely intimidating, as if he could punch a ghost if he wanted to, he was a big scaredy-cat! The first scary film he watched was when he was only 8. His mom had to work overtime and Haneul suggested they watch a movie at night. She managed to steal a copy from a store and brought it home; proclaiming that it was the best movie in history, the Exorcist. She said that the film was better when watched at 12am and of course, Baji being Baji, he believed her. During the movie, she sat there, eyes sparkling with fascination and excitement. Baji on the other hand, was shaking with fear, eyes sparkling with tears and hid behind a pillow. But, young Haneul held his hand, assuring him that he would be safe with her, that she would protect him. He'd never forget that, that bright grin on her face like a beacon of light, her squeezing his hand with hers. The way she wiped his tears and held him in her arms until they both fell asleep.

"What if I get scared?" Baji mumbled so quietly, as if thinking out loud and wished she didn't hear him.

"I'll hold your hand like I always do." She stated whilst smiling at him. The sides of his mouth perked up and he sighed dreamily.

"Anyhow I do, then you owe me Peyang Yakisoba." He poked her forehead and she rolled her eyes.

"Um no. You know you can always cover your eyes." She suggested and he chuckled.

"Now, where's the fun in that?"

"Just don't end up crying again." Haneul smirked and he rolled his eyes.

"That happened one time!" He exclaimed whilst she laughed.

"Don't worry, we can cuddle afterwards too."

They both got to the counter for the movie and when the cashier looked up at Baji, his eyes widened. Baji looked like he was older, although 14 years old, he looked like he was in his late teens. It was perfect whenever they wanted to rent, buy or watch any scary movies. All he had to do was glare at the cashier, who was either scared shitless or believed he was older; mostly the latter. Haneul however, always had to use fake ID to get in. But that wasn't the reason it worked; it was her boyfriend's intimidation.

When they got inside, the 14-year-old told her boyfriend she was going to get popcorn, giving him a kiss on the cheek then leaving. Baji stood outside the cinema screen, leaning against the wall waiting. It was weird being the youngest but it was amusing that they're able to do things adults could purely for his looks; even if it was just watching scary movies.

"Well, hello." He heard a voice and looked up to see a young woman in her late teens with jet black short choppy hair, pale skin, heavy makeup with bright brown eyes standing at 5ft. "What's a cutie like you doing on your own?"

"Minding my own business. I suggest you mind yours." He replied, huffing; not this again.

"How can I when a cute boy is standing right in front of me?" He glared at her and stood up to approach her, pulling his scariest face. "You think I'm scared? I like bad boys like you." She stared him in the eye smirking.

"Why hello!" Haneul popped up with a big bag of popcorn in her hands grinning oh so radiantly. Baji just shook his head smiling; this won't end well. "Who may you be?"

"Awwww, you must be his little sister."

'Dumb bitch, how do we look like siblings.' Both Haneul and Baji thought the same thing.

"Oh really?" The brunette asked and then leaned towards her dropping the smile, her voice instantly deeper. "Listen here you stupid bitch. This boy right here, is mine. If I ever see you flirting with my man again, I will fucking cut your stomach open, pull out your intestines and strangle you with it until your head pops like a fucking grape. Now run, before I make that a reality. I've watched a shit ton of scary movies so don't think I won't."

The girl's eyes widened and she felt her heart stop. It was if her heart was stuck at her throat. She looked down, turned around and walked as fast as she could away from the couple, instantly regretting whatever she said. Baji on the other hand just crossed his arms whilst smiling proudly at his girlfriend.

"That was really good. Can I use that during my next fight?" She grabbed his hand, leading him into the screen.

"No way! Make your own threats." Haneul refused.

"Awww, but what if I pay you?" He asked with a pout and her eyebrow rose with curiousity.

"Oh really? Name your price good sir!"

"20 kisses per threat." Her eyes sparkled and she kissed his cheek. "19 kisses, 9 on the cheek 10 on the lips."

"Deal!"

The young couple sat in their seats and proceeded to watch The Grudge whilst sharing popcorn. Haneul ended up absolutely loving this movie, her eyes glistening watching in wonder, jumping a little during jump scares but was deeply into it. Baji kept whispering swears under his breath, beads of sweat falling down his neck, gulping and his heart rate increasing at the scariest parts. He glanced at his girlfriend with a pissed off look, but that quickly disappeared when he saw her excitement. She looked like a little child, so excited, so pure. The way her grey eyes sparkled, the flutter of her eyelashes and smile on her face. Although he hated horror, it was all worth it if it made her happy. As if sensing his fear, she took his hand in hers. Her hand was so tiny compared to Baji's that it was so adorable. She intertwine her fingers with his, squeezing his hand to make him know that she was there, and nothing can hurt him. The safest place he ever felt, was with her, her arms around him or his fingers intertwined with hers.

When the movie ended, Haneul was talking non-stop about how brilliant the movie was. It was always like this, whenever they went to watch a horror movie together that she thought was amazing. And every time, her boyfriend would let her. He was there with her, watching the same movie, but he'd just let her rave on. Her passion watching horror movies was so adorable to him.

Baji and Haneul finally got home. They lived with Baji's mother, in a block of apartments, the same one Chifuyu and Natsuki lived in. The block was atop of an uphill road which Baji would always struggle with. Haneul would always hop off and push the bike up, but now he was a professional. She always found it fun going up and downhill with Baji, comparing it like a rollercoaster. The dark-haired teen parked his motorbike in the garage whilst his girlfriend just stared in the distance. The best thing about living above that uphill road, was the breath-taking skyline of Tokyo at night. The way the building lit up at night felt like stars in the night sky, with Tokyo Tower glowing gold in the far distance.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" She said when her boyfriend joined her side and she felt him wrap his arm around her.

"Yes, you are." The girl couldn't help but blush whilst shaking your head.

"I'm talking about Tokyo."

"Okay then, you look like Kayako Saeki." Baji received a light punch on the shoulder as he laughed.

"Shut up!" She couldn't help but giggle too. "You look like Godzilla."

"Roar." He growled and her face twisted with cringe. He grinned whilst wrapped his other arm around her waist, standing behind her and resting the side of his face on hers. "Don't you ever miss Seoul?" Her smile and heart dropped and she nodded.

"It's been 2 years since I visited." Haneul replied with a serious tone.

"Why don't you go back to visit?" He asked curiously and she sighed deeply. "Don't think your dad would mind."

"I'm only able to visit whenever he wants me there. I hate going to Korea to visit him. He barely spends any time with me and I just spend my days in his Penthouse." The Korean girl said with annoyance in her voice.

"Living in a penthouse? That sounds like enough fun." He chuckled.

"No, it isn't. I'm just locked away in that house, not being able to go out when I want to, surrounded by security so the press doesn't know that his alleged bastard daughter is staying with him."

"Oi!" He raised his voice, grabbing her wrist and pulling her towards him so that she can face him. "What did I say about calling yourself that? You know I hate it."

"But that's what I am." She answered back, her grey eyes glistening with tears. "Every time I go to Seoul, that's what I'm reminded of. It's what all the maids and security would murmur whenever they thought I wasn't there. But I always heard them." Tears slowly fell down her cheek. "No one wants me there."

Haneul Kim, was the product of an affair between her extremely rich tycoon father and his lover. They never loved each other though, he would just sleep with her to take out his stress from running his own business as well as his wife and paid his lover for it. The rich man's marriage was hanging on by a single thread. They were arranged by their fathers for financial advantage and 5 years after they married, they found out she was barren. Then all of a sudden, his lover got pregnant. It made him happy but stressed at the same time. The last thing he would want was the Korean press to find out. He would visit her every so often, which made Haneul so happy, seeing as she really loved him. The media was getting extremely suspicious, so he had no choice but to send her and her mother to Japan for a better life, as well as paying her a generous amount of money for his ex-lover's silence and to support them both.

Her mother, only saw her as a money bank. She spent her days going out partying or on holidays, leaving little Haneul alone at home at such a young age. That was until one day, she had become so very ill and Baji's mother spent time at the little girl's house to get her better. Her father decided to surprise them, but was shocked to see a random woman with her. Haneul explained where her mother was and he was beyond cross. He stated that she wouldn't live with her anymore, to her excitement. But that disappeared, when he proposed that she would stay with Baji's mother instead. He offered to pay her, but she declined, stating that she would take care of her and that she didn't need payment, because a child wasn't some kind of product or property to pay for. That day, he burned the apartment down, getting rid of any evidence and she had to watch her own father leave. And ever since that day 9 years ago, she had stayed with Baji and his mother and she despised her father.

"I don't want to go back there, knowing that's exactly how I'm going to be treated; like a mistake." She whispered. She felt his warm hands cup her face, with his thumbs wiping away her tears. He lifted her head up gently so that she could look at his gorgeous brown eyes. His soft and loving gaze calmed her down as she exhaled deeply.

"Listen to me, Jagiya." Haneul couldn't help but smile; he learnt that word from watching k-dramas with her and his mother. "You're no mistake. You're the best thing that's ever happen to me. Everyday, I'm thankful you're in my life. I don't ever want you to think you're not wanted; it doesn't matter if you're in Japan or Korea or the North Pole." She laughed at this.

"The North Pole isn't a place of land anyone can live in." She stated.

"Shut up, I'm trying to make a point, smartass." She mimed herself zipping her mouth. "What I'm trying to say is, it doesn't matter where you are or who you are, just know you're wanted. Your friends, your gang who I knew nothing about by the way." Haneul frowned mouthing a sorry. "It's okay. They love you. Hell, you're my mom's favourite child, seeing as you're not a demon like me." She couldn't help but laugh whilst tears fell down her cheeks. "Once I turn 18, I'm marrying you."

"How do you know I'm gonna say yes?" She joked.

"You don't have any better option but me. I'm all you got." Baji smirked for a moment but then it dropped into such a loving and genuine smile, that even she couldn't handle without her going bright red. "When we get married, our honeymoon will be Seoul and I'll be right by your side." Her bottom lip quivered as she rested her forehead on his head, placing her hands on his chest. Haneul didn't know what she did to deserve him. "I love you, more than anyone will ever love you. You're mine and I'm yours."

Baji pressed his warm soft lips on hers, as he wrapped his arm around her waist again. Her heavy eye lids closed; her heart felt like it was about to explode with joy. Haneul returned the kiss, his lips feeling like two petals. Their lips slightly parted as they kiss under Tokyo's night sky. It was both their first kiss and it felt so perfect; full of compassion and love. A kiss so soft, pure and true.

The young couple held hands and went into the apartment block, going up to the third floor. They entered their apartment, and took their shoes off. Haneul who took her shoes off easily ran into the living room to see Baji's mother sitting on the couch. His mother's name was Keiko Baji, a 43-year-old woman with dark chin-length hair, fair skin, rosy cheeks and bright brown eyes. She was a tall woman, towering at 5ft 10in with a slim body. She turned from the TV and her face instantly lit up as she stood up to greet the girl.

"My girl!" She wrapped her arms around her kissing her forehead and Haneul giggled.

"Kaa-san! I missed you." The brunette stated. When Keiko looked up at her son, she noticed red lipstick on his lips and her eyes widened as she pulled away. The older lady placed her hand on her stomach and bellowed with laughter. Baji stood there extremely confused and when his girlfriend turned to him, she couldn't help but laugh too.

"Oi, what's so funny?" He asked with annoyance.

"Do you love my lipstick that much?" Haneul asked.

"It really suits your Kei." His mother added.

Baji turned to a nearby mirror and noticed Haneul's lipstick on his own. He turned beet red, screaming so loudly with embarrassment and ran into the kitchen, attempting to wash it off, his two favourite women laughing their heads off.

"Oh, love. Take a seat, I made a surprise for you. Kei, go on you too." Both of them sat at the dinner table with Baji still rubbing his lips vigorously with tissue and Keiko entered the kitchen, taking out dinner.

"It's come off already." She chuckled.

"This is all your fault." He glared at her but she just winked at him.

"Want another kiss? I'll wear pink." He rolled his eyes as she puckered her lips.

"Whatever."

"Alright, my love. I want you to close your eyes." The girl did as she was told and could smell a delicious yet familiar meal. She heard plates being placed on the table and then felt a warm hand on her shoulder. "Open."

When Haneul opened her grey eyes, they widened and she gasped. On the table was a feast of Korean dishes. All of which were the ones she would rave about to Baji and Keiko. Small plates of Gimbap, Tteokbokki, Bibimbap and Japchae.

"Ja-jaaaa!" The mother and son duo sang.

Haneul's bottom lip quivered and her tears fell down her cheeks. Her heart had exploded with utmost happiness and she began to cry. She pressed her hand on her chest whilst grinning so widely that the apples of her cheeks ached. Both Keiko and Baji couldn't help but smile at this. They had known that she was feeling a little homesick for the past couple of days and it was Baji's entire idea to do this. He went on a hunt for ingredients and Kei worked her magic. It made Haneul so emotional because her own biological mother never made effort to cook like this. It was always little scraps of food or soup. She never made her daughter's favourite dishes no matter how many times she asked. Even in Korea, the food was never made with love, even when she got what she wanted. But here, was a woman who had no relation to her, who had no reason to do this for her. A woman who loved her more than her own parents did. Keiko created a place where Haneul felt she belonged.