(Sophia's pov)

I stumbled down the hallway, moving around a few of Kaoru's men, and made my way down to his office. I was pissed, completely drunk and Iowa had somehow convinced me to go talk to my 'current problem'.

I see the heavy door and push it open with both hands, the wood hitting the wall with a bang. Kaoru looks up from his computer as my eyes narrow "You." I lift a finger "you, you, you, you, you! I have a bone to pick with you!"

Kaoru had simply paused, looking at me from head to toe and sighs "I'll have to call you back." My ever so gentle boyfriend doesn't wait for a reply, simply hanging up the phone "are you drunk?"

I toss my coat on the coat rack or well-tried to and watch it fall on the ground "Maybe! But that's not the point!" Kaoru smiles, pushing his chair back as I come around the desk "don't smile at me! I'm mad at you."

His hand lifts, resting on my hip, that calming warmth spreads through my body "Really?"

I cross my arms in a pout "Yes, I am."

"About what?"

"Well i was playing this game with Iowa, we talk about something that's bothering us and we take a drink" my hand goes to his lips "Don't interrupt me! And as you can clearly see I guess I have a lot of shit I don't like!" His other hand goes to my hand when I tip backward. My hands rest on his shoulders "Kozue has this perfect relationship and I can't get a text message or a moment of time from my boyfriend. I mean I almost died!" My hands move up, smooshing his cheeks together "Doesn't that warrant me some love?"

Kaoru lifts his hand, removing mine, his lips placing gentle kisses on my palms "How much did you have to drink?"

"I don't know, it was a big bottle of wine."

His arms wrap around me "I'm sorry, your right. I should have been more attentive to you but I had some things to take care of."

This time I sigh "No, it's okay... I guess I'm just feeling sad, my dad and I are done, for good."

His hand lifts to my face "why don't I get you some water and we can talk about it."

..

..

we'd been sitting on the couch for about an hour, the two of us just talking. Three empty water bottles sat discarded on the coffee table. I sigh happily, feeling the world balance out and enjoy the heat of Kaoru's body. Being this close made a lot of the pain fade away but it doesn't last as the door opens, a shocked look on his features.

"Hi Kizaki." I giggle

Kaoru sits up as the thin line of Kizaki's face was growing "Boss," his words were as sharp as razors "While I'm thrilled you're enjoying the time with your girlfriend you do have things that require your attention. I'd appreciate it if you would keep these acts to a minimum at work."

I roll my eyes, feeling a sudden burst of anger. Any and all happiness had been sucked out of the room. Kizaki walks to the desk, looking through the papers with a frown, and takes a few before handing others directly to Kaoru with a look of annoyance completely uncalled for in the situation and moves, sending me a sideways glance before slamming the door behind him.

I stand, using both hands to rip open the door and chase after him"Hey!" Kizaki ignores me "Kizaki I know you can hear me! Stop!"

He sighs, turning around slowly. It was clear he wasn't happy with the interruption "Yes, Sophia?"

I force a smile "You don't like me do you?"

"Honestly, no. I don't."

"Why?"

"Because you are a distraction to the boss. You are reckless, weak, emotional and inexperienced in our world." When he pauses I move my hand for him to continue "Do you think anyone can come into this world? Do you think anyone can run a organization of this size? Kaoru has been raised from birth to lead this group. His father was the nephew of the original head, when he died he was named to the group. Kaoru's mother was the daughter of the division leader. I can see that you like him and I'm thankful for that but your loyalties are divided. Family, friends, your future. Kaoru only has one future and if he's looking out for your interests then he's not doing what he needs to here."

"Kaoru is more than just a leader!"

"To you!" Kizaki sighs "I know the boss is more than a leader okay? But you need to understand that he represents the entire group, he represents this family. Kaoru has so many obligations; it's hard enough to keep them straight as it is!"

"And that's my fault? I'm not the one that threw all this pressure on him!" I snap a finger in Kizaki's face "I understand who he is, understand what he is but I am not, I am NOT going to let you shove us apart because he's decided to finally do what he wants! Kaoru is not a child Kizaki, he is old enough to make his own choices!"

"His own choices..." He looks at me painfully "Sophia, when you went to find miss Kozue the boss just walked away from a battle. That is turf lost! Business's lost! Houses' lost! Almost a million yen LOST because he was being a good boyfriend! Do you fully understand the weight of that choice?!"

I pause, the news throwing me for a loop, Kaoru had said nothing to me about this. "I understand that Kaoru wanted to be there for me but I would never ask him to walk away from something like that! I don't even know why he was there, I never called him!"

"You're the boss's girlfriend! The king of the juvenile empire, leader of the Hanayama group. Do you honestly think he just lets you wander around unattended?"

"I have people who watch me, I know that."

"No, you know a fraction of the people who watch you! Every time you so much as sneeze we know about it. Any time you fight with your father, especially since you're father came home, the boss knows about it. Did you honestly think he wouldn't come after you when you willingly put yourself in a situation like that...?" I pause, feeling the pain laced in those words and my anger dies in my mouth "He's different with you." The door opens and I see were now standing in the lobby, the white walls lit with bright lights. "I can see he loves you Sophia, you awoke a part of him that died when his mother died. I can't express how thankful I am for that but Kaoru must always choose the family. If he had to choose between this life and yours... we both know he'd choose you."

(Kaoru's POV)

I glanced at the clock, watching it every few words and quietly wondered where Sophia was. I feel myself slightly relax when footsteps come down the hall but that was short-lived as Kizaki enters. I glance behind him at the empty hallway.

"Where's Sophia?"

He sighs, clasping his hands together "She's gone boss."

"Gone?" Why? She didn't look sick.

"Yes. She said to tell you she was sorry."

At Kizaki's odd behavior my eyebrow rises "She said she was sorry?"

He sighs, swallowing roughly "Boss, she's not coming back. She's letting you go..."

"Letting me..." my eyes narrow darkly. From our argument in the stairwell, I knew she would have never left of her own free will, my hand crushes the corded phone. Spraying both of us in shards of black plastic "Kizaki, what did you do?"

"What I had to do." He bows lowly "I'm sorry boss, I'm so sorry! The last thing I want to do is cause you pain! But you swore an oath to this family and I swore an oath to your mother!" at the mention of her my anger breaks and he rises "I know you care about her, she cares about you but your mother made me promise to watch over you. It was your parents wish; your mothers wish for you to lead this group. To be the greatest and strongest boss this world has ever seen and she is a weakness!" his voice falls into a whisper, pain in his eyes "She's your weakness..."

My anger comes back "Kizaki-"

"Boss please!" he slams his hands on my desk, tears falling down his face "Sophia is hurting just as much as you are! But she chose this because she knows what everyone has done to get you here! What you have done to get here! Don't make her sacrifice mean nothing!"

I felt my heart breaking. I had allowed myself to believe in something, to desire something just long enough to kill me as it was ripped away. His words were a sucker punch to the gut and no matter what I did I couldn't seem to get my breath back.

Kizaki's hand clench, his voice broken and painful "Please... Boss, please..."

I shut my eyes, willing the tears away, willing the pain away "... Okay..."

(Sophia's POV)

I walked around a few people, wiping away the tears that refused to stop falling. I guess training for three years had given me a sixth sense as I had my eyes closed for the last two blocks and had yet to run into any people. That's why it was so shocking when I felt two hands grab my shoulders. They move slightly to the left as I automatically swerve out of the way but I'm forced to a stop and I glance up at a mountain of a man. He was six foot three or six foot four and pure muscle. He had short brown hair and a serious face, yet it seemed softer to me as he had no scars.

His hands were large and warm like Kaoru's and that only made more tears fall "Excuse me for grabbing you but you seem upset." Despite his grip strength his hands were gently holding me, a fact I proved as I reached up wiping my tears "I don't mean to scare you. My names Tawaraya, I work in the police department."

Wiping a few more tears away I got a better look at him. I'd say he was in his early thirties. His face was wide and without blemishes. His eyes were soft like Kaoru's giving the man a contradicting appearance.

"Is someone bothering you?"

I shake my head "No it's not like that." I wipe more tears away "I just broke up with my boyfriend, his family doesn't like me so I had to leave because I didn't want them to leave him."

I feel his hand rest on my head and that brings more tears out, he reminded me so much of Kaoru "That was a very selfless thing you did. I hope your boyfriend knows how much you loved him."

His words brought more pain out and I shake, my shoulders bouncing as sobs rip from my throat. He lifts his hand, pulling me too his firm stomach and I reach up, gripping his shirt tightly. Even though we were in the middle of the street no one seemed to bother us.

We just stood there, my loud sobs echoing into the night and his thumb gently rubbing my head like a concerned parent.

..

..

"And now you can't tell anyone because your father will throw this in your face?"

I sigh, nodding once. Tawaraya and I had walked into the large park and were seated on the short wall "I can't do anything well enough for him."

He nods, glancing at the sky "I get what you mean. The chief has been on our ass's lately to round up these convicts, the public pressure isn't helping either."

"So, you constantly feel like your failing too?"

Tawaraya snorts, sending me sideways glance "Well I wouldn't put it that harshly but yes." He lifts a hand, running it down the back of my head "You're young Sophia and I know you probably hear this all the time but you will fail at so many things in your life. You win by getting back up."

"I just don't understand why someone would clearly feel one way about a person and then leave? When did business become more important than love?"

"Well loyalties are hard in any sense but when family is involved it's even worse. I remember when I wanted to join the force, my old lady was against it as we had lost my old man ten years before to a bank shoot out. But when its things like that, it's hardly ever about loyalties, it's all the other emotions mixed together." He looks at me with a small smile "I mean if I were you, I'd walk up to his family and tell them right where they could stick their judgement and anger but if your boyfriend let you go then he's also made his decision. Both of you have to choose to walk away Sophia."

I look down, nodding quietly. His hand lifts again, resting on my head "If you two are meant to be then you will find a way back to each other, even if it takes a few years. If not, then you should look back on this relationship and appreciate the lessons you've learned. The good, and the bad..."

"Sophia?"

We both turn to see Baki standing half out of a black shiny car. From the white patches of medical tape on his mouth and left eyebrow, I had no doubt he was coming back from a match.

"Hi Baki..." Despite my earlier release of pain I couldn't stop the tears from running down my cheeks. Baki was out of the car and at my side in seconds, having leapt over the wall with ease he pulls me to his body.

"Tawaraya."

"Baki."

I wipe away a few tears "You two know each other?"

"I know all the cops in the police station." Baki replies

"I haven't met him face to face but I've definitely heard of Baki Hamna before. The old detective is quite fond of you."

"Really? Cuz he says I'm a giant pain in the ass."

Tawaraya snorts, handing me a card "He says that to everyone. –here, this is my number. Call me if you ever need something."

I take the card and look at it, smiling softly "Thank you Tawaraya. For everything."

(Kaoru's POV)

I saw Baki's fist fly through the air and didn't bother stopping it. The hit was much like the first time we fought and I felt my legs give out, blood pour from my nose and pain flash across my body. When my men go-to move, I lift my hand, they stop and I look up at my raging friend. He was panting like a wild dog, already imagining a thousand ways to kill me.

"You bastard!" he roars "Why the hell did you let her fall for you if you knew you couldn't love her back?

"The boss is doing what's best for his people!"

"You made her a promise!"

"Sometimes promises must be broken Baki"

"Shut up Kizaki or you won't like how this ends..." A second passed before he turns to me, his voice low and dangerous "When you give a woman your word you keep it."

"I don't have a choice."

"You don't have a choice? You don't have a choice?! Look at you, you are Kaoru Hanayama! You always have a choice!"

"I swore to lead this family."

"So, what? Everything you told me, everything you felt, everything you had, you're just going to walk away from that?"

"...I never meant to hurt her"

"I thought you were better than this." When I look at the floor he turns, walking towards the door and slams it open, I see him stop at the doorway, his shoulders slumped down and he turns his head sending me a sad glance "If you walk away from this, you're no better than my father..."

When he turns, walking down the hall I stand, punching my hand through the wall in anger. I punch it three more times before I feel my knees crumble to the floor, sad sobs shake my shoulders.

Read and review, peace!