First, I can't believe I forgot Aoi's family name. I'm such an idiot! Second, is it just me or does this chapter sound a little on the cheesy side. (You can blame all the Star Wars books I've been reading lately.) I think it's fine considering the situation you'd expect a little cheese... I just hope I didn't over do it.

Chapter 24: Red String of Fate

"Narumi listen to me I have to know. Please, just tell me the truth. Who is he? I won't let him touch you but you have to trust me. Please."

Her whole body shook violently as he held her in his arms. She couldn't even say anything the only thing she could do was sob. Her body was still incredibly weak from the rabbit incident, and she just couldn't find the strength to pull away, or do anything else.

Even Tatsuya was beginning to settle down after hearing what he had heard. He knew something strange was going on and it sounded a lot more dangerous than just causing Ryuichi to get in the hospital.

He had to do something to keep that from happening.

"You heard what she said Sakuma-san! Get away from her. She's only going to get you killed! She even said it. Don't risk it. Sakuma-san!"

Tatsuya hoped he would listen. He prayed he would listen, but deep inside of him he knew that Ryuichi would probably not listen at all. Standing where he was right now, he knew it would be next to impossible to seperate those two, somehow they had managed to become so close in such a short period of time, and it was enough to make him feel like he was going to cry.

He had to protect Sakuma-san. Even if it meant losing him for good. If that was the only choice he was at least going to see to it that Sakuma was happy. Though of course Narumi was fair game to torture, if he could even handle looking at her after this...

"Maybe I should say it. I don't think sis has the energy or he will right now. His name is Masami Aoi, and he probably murdered Narumi's best friend."

The room was completely quiet. The only sounds that could be heard was the rustling of fabric as Ryuichi soothingly stroked Narumi's back. Everyone's eyes were completely on Touya.

"Masami-san was kind of like an American Black Widow. You know the kind that marries and then kills who they married? That's him, but there really isn't any proof."

"Then how do you know he did it?" Tatsuya asked stunned. Masami Aoi? The guy who had been at the hospital that very afternoon? If that was true then...

This was a whole lot more than he had expected. Well, for that matter he hadn't known what it was that he was expecting in the first place, well either way a murder hadn't been it.

"We know, or rather Narumi knows. Masami-san fell in love with Narumi, and he's been stalking her ever since. First he married her best friend and now he wants her. Anyone that gets too close to her seems to be a target. Still she came to Tokyo in order to get away from him. I don't know why she would think he's here."

"Because I told her." Tatsuya fidgited nervously. His wrist was still in Touya's grasp and it was making him nervous. "There was a man here earlier who was looking in on her. I saw him, and well... The nurse had his name...it's the same name..."

Tatsuya hated feeling anything less than 100 percent sure of himself and the situation. Especially since Ryuichi was involved.

His darling...

He could just tell things were setting themselves up to give him one major heartbreak. Still until then, he would fight for Sakuma-san in any way that he was able. Until the day came that Sakuma said no, as far as Tatsuha was concerned he was his. Even with this big oaf holding onto his wrist.

Well that meant that there was really only one thing he could do. He had to protect Sakuma-san. Both from this dreadful woman, all the baggage she was bringing along with her, and boy a murderer was a lot of baggage, and from himself. He had to protect Ryuichi from his own choices.

There really wasn't much of a choice now. He was going to have to step in so that Sakuma san would be safe, and perhaps in the end when he realized everything he had done for him Sakuma san would at last be his.

He glared at the sobbing woman being soothed in Ryuichi's arms. The very arms he longed to be in. It was making him madder by the minute.

Just you wait! You'll see it will be me in his arms. He will come to his senses, and he will be mine!

Touya studied Tatsuha with idol curiousity. He gave him a light tug on Tatsuha's arm in order to remind him of his position. Touya merely smirked knowingly when Tatsuha's eyes met his in a ferocious stare down.

Touya found Tatsuha's reaction highly amusing. He did his best to choke down the laugh that was rising in his throat. After all with Aoi on the loose and knowing about Narumi, and probably Ryuichi as well, this was definetly no laughing matter.

to be continued...