AN: trigger warning...? This is a heavy chapter, no sunshine and rainbows... Besides their father being an EXTRA homophobic asshat (about half way in) Asami will be going through a tough time. I repeat, heavy chapter :(
P.S. they still speaking Japanese (bold font)
Ch 6: Coup d'etat de Satos
Standing in front of their little sister's condo, Ren and Hideyuki looked at each other as they practically sweat bullets before looking back at the door.
"..."
"..."
After a tense few moments, Ren glances at Hideyuki first. "You knock on the door."
He shot back a look. "You do it, you're older than me."
"But she likes you more!"
His face brightened up. "Heh, so you do admit I'm closer to her than you." He snickers with a smug smirk.
"No, she isn't!" Ren scoffs back with a puff of his chest. "I am! Fine, I'll do it."
Hideyuki looks off to the side before mumbling. "Too easy."
"What'd you just say!" He gruffs as his hand cautiously reaches for the door panel.
"Nothing. Now come on, hurry up. Let's go check up on her." He nods towards the door.
"That's what I was gonna do!" Grunting slightly, Ren knocked on the door. "Asamiii, it's me."
No response.
"..."
"..."
Hideyuki took the initiative and rang the doorbell out of courtesy. "Asami? Lil' sis you in there?" Obviously, there was no response. With a sigh, he reaches for the padlock before punching in the code. The door clicked open and the two of them made their way inside. The first thing they did was take off their shoes and slip on some slippers. The second was turning on the lights. They made themselves comfortable as they cautiously explored her condo in search of her.
They both noted the mess, scattered clothes, and misplaced furniture but chose not to comment on it.
Hideyuki cleared his throat before finally speaking up. "Asamiiiii, you home?"
The brothers look at each other again before taking more careful soft steps inside. Ren jabs his little brother's arm. "Hey, do something!"
Hideyuki gave him a lost expression. "What do you want me to do?"
"Well she's your sister!"
"She's yours too!" Hideyuki jabs him back on the arm, slightly harder than necessary.
But before Ren could respond, they both freeze upon hearing a sniffle in the background, specifically towards her bedroom. They make eye contact again with a nervous expression before Hideyuki sighs at Ren's signal to say something with a roll in his eyes. He grumbled before conceding. "Fine." He clears his throat before trying, "Asami it's me and Ren-nii."
They made their way towards her room.
"We bought you your favorite fruit danish from the La Pâtisserie Lotus Blanc." Ren comments in a cheerful voice as they reach the door frame.
A whinier grumbling and soft sniffles sound off before they knock on the wall. Since the door was wide open, it was displaying a very messy and disheveled blob at the center of the room to which they once called it their sister. They both raised an eyebrow and made eye contact again before Hideyuki spoke up softly.
"Asami…? You awake?"
That blob, aka that worm-like creature buried beneath a big blanket, wiggles around with a sad cry. "Go away!"
Ren frowns before lifting up another bag in his hand. "But we have your favorite fire snappers! You know those are the best when they're super fresh and warm…!" He tries enticing her with an awkward grin.
Hideyuki shoots him a look before mouthing, 'That didn't work!'
Ren mouthed back. 'Then you try something!'
Hideyuki opened his mouth but before he could respond, Asami sniffled loudly before peeling the blanket past her head. She practically mirrored the two of them. She looked like a lost child with a sad pout, before mumbling:
"Really?"
Ren kept up his poker face. Oh my spirits! She's so adorable! "Yup! I got a dozen~ I know they're your fav!"
Hideyuki was also having a hard time keeping a straight face as she watched his depressed sister look like a cute yet sad mopping mess. "We got them just for you so why don't you have a bite or two?"
Asami sniffles before shifting slightly. Once she was upright, she rubbed her swollen puffy red eyes with a frown.
Taking that as his cue, Ren walks up and pulls out the box. He gives her the full service and opens the box for her with a smile. "Dig in lil' sis! They're nice and toasty still!"
Getting a closer look, her eyes were pretty swollen, her hair was messy, tangled and even her nose was scrunched in sorrow, slightly red at the tip. Eventually, she slowly grabs one of the pastries before bringing it to her lips. She took a small and soft bite before munching away sadly.
Ren turns to Hideyuki with a victorious bright grin and mouths out, 'Told you fire snaps were the best choice!'
Hideyuki rolls his eyes before mouthing back, 'I wouldn't be too sure about that because—'
Before he could finish his thought, Asami whimpered as her eyes began tearing up badly. Sure enough, she began crying out her eyes again. "I miss mommmm!" She was a sobbing mess as tear pellets fell onto the paper box. "I hate my life!" Crying loudly, she messily wiped away her ongoing tears before curling up into a ball.
'Those were mom's favorites…' Hideyuki finishes before walking over to her side.
Ren gave him a panicked face. 'Shit!'
Hideyuki plops down next to her on the mattress before patting her back soothingly. "There there… let it all out."
Asami began hiccuping as she couldn't stop crying. "I—" she choked on her words. She broke out in an ugly cry again. "I hate dad!" She furiously wiped her tears away, "I hate myself!" She cried loudly as she shrunk down into a smaller ball.
Her two brothers' frown deepened before Hideyuki pulled her into a hug. "Shh shh… it's okay… you're okay… we're here for you."
"Is—" she choked before sobbing some more. "Is it really that wrong that I like Korra? A woman?"
Hideyuki pulls Asami into his chest before kissing her forehead. "No. Nothing's wrong with liking someone Asami."
"I—I just…" she pulls at his shirt, burying herself in his chest. "I just like her! Why does dad have to threaten her! What did she ever do!" She shouts in desperation and frustration.
Ren carefully sets his hand against her back. "Father is taking things out of hand… I really don't get why he's being like this." He then softly tucks a strand of hair out of her face, "Why can't he see that he's hurting his little girl…"
After a moment, Asami's desperate cries finally settled down somewhat. "Will I ever be able to like someone freely? Tell me, brother!"
His mouth opens before words wouldn't come out. "I…"
Her body was shaking and her lips were quivering as she whispered, "I hate him… I hate him so, so much! Why can't he leave me alone! I just… I just like Korra…" she sobs out helplessly, unable to save herself.
"..."
"..."
The two of them didn't speak up for the rest of their time there. They just sat there, by her side, watching over her as she cried herself to sleep. Hideyuki eventually tucks her into bed before helplessly watching over her torn face.
"Ren-nii… I…"
"You don't have to say it…"
Hideyuki pulls up her blanket just past her shoulders. "I wish mom were here."
"Me too…" Ren sighs before looking away in shame. "Why are we so powerless?"
"..." Hideyuki took in his sister's worn-out face before answering. "I don't know…"
xXx
"What did you just say?" Naofumi states in an angry tone. "Father did what?"
Ren grunts in frustration before repeating himself. "I'm telling you, father found out about Asami's crush and threatened her! He's crossing the line brother! Asami's…"
Letting out a deep sigh, Naofumi ran his hand through his neatly styled hair. His eyes were closed and the crease in his eyebrows only grew. "How did this happen…" he sighs again before sitting up from his seat.
"Nii-sama? Where are you going?"
Naofumi grabs his suit's jacket off the rack before tossing it over his shoulder. "What I should've done before Asami got hurt."
Soon enough, Naofumi was storming into the Future Industries' main office room with Ren in tow. By the time he busts through the door, Hideyuki was already there in an attempt to appease their father.
"Father, I'm begging you, please leave Asami alone! She just wants to be with the person she likes."
"And allow her to get blinded by that pompous skank? How dare some commoner try to use the Sato name for their selfish gain!"
"That's not it! Korra isn't like that and you should already know that because of your illegal background check!" He snaps back in a raged fit.
"Hideyuki." He slams the take with his fist. "How dare you question my methods? You know that this is the only way to get her to like men!"
"Get her to like men? Are you being serious? That's not the problem!"
"Hideyuki, I will not tolerate this insolence. Are you just like your sister? You foolish boy, I gave you everything so don't make me take it away. I—"
"That's enough." Naofumi's voice booms across the room, getting them all to look at him. "Father, I've heard enough. You're getting out of hand. Stop messing with Asami's affairs."
"What was that? You too Naofumi? I can't believe this nonsense…" He shakes his head in disappointment. "Why don't you all understand that I am doing the best for Asami's future! There is no future if she gets together with some woman! She can't create heirs nor attend public settings with a woman" He fumes out in anger and certainty.
Naofumi sighs in disappointment. "You have really changed…"
"What did you just say?"
"I said, you have really changed father. You've gone blind. I respected you. I looked up to you. You built Future Industries into the amazing company it is from ground zero but, look at you now. You are nothing but a foolish man incapable of listening to your own daughter and sons' words." He repeats confidently with an undertone of shame.
Hiroshi slams the table. "You insolent brat! How dare you talk back to me! I ought to—"
"What?" Naofumi interrupts. "What are you going to do father? Break your daughter's heart again to the point she'll want to take her life? Make her feel ashamed for liking someone of the same sex when she has no control over that? You always say this again and again that what you do is for our best yet, what you do benefits only you."
Naofumi walks up closer to his face.
"You don't care about us anymore. Not after mom passed and you know what? You and I both know that we all can survive without you. And just like how you don't need your children, we don't need you. We are not your tools."
He slams his hand down onto the table.
"If you don't leave Asami alone… no, if you don't leave us alone, I will take you down father. No, Hiroshi Sato, mark my words, I will do everything in my power to make you fall."
He stands up tall and gives him a cold look before turning around. As he made his way to the door, Hideyuki and Ren were both flabbergasted before they quickly followed after him. But, just before he exited the door, Naofumi tilted his head back for one last comment.
"Ah… those so-called secret files of yours. If I were you, I would burn them to ashes before I release them to the public. Though… I already have them saved elsewhere so whatever you plan will be useless. I've had enough. My patience has run out and I will not tolerate such behaviors again. I won't turn a blind eye anymore so watch your back, I'm watching your every move."
Once the three brothers were out the door, the door slammed shut, never to be opened again for casual greetings. Naofumi had taken the lead, storming out of the building causing employees to dodge the brothers like the plague. Perhaps it was because it was rare for the three of them to be together so they could've been quite intimidating; or, perhaps it was because they carried more heavy facial expressions than usual. There had been an employee that was waiting for the elevator but the moment it clicked open and they saw the Sato brothers, they immediately stepped aside and bowed to them.
Ren gives them an awkward grin and slight wave as thanks while Hideyuki nods in appreciation. Once they were all inside the machine, Naofumi spares them a glance before making eye contact and speaking:
"Thank you."
The employee was so shocked that they got a word of 'thanks' from the eldest son that they froze in place, mouth agape in awe and astonishment. The elevator finally moved and the brothers finally snapped at their brother.
"Nii-sama what was that!"
"Nii-sama what just happened!"
The two of them expressed in unison.
Naofumi simply spares them a glance and closes his eyes before sighing. "About?"
"About? What do you mean about! Obviously what you said to father!" Ren exclaims while flicking his hands outwards.
Hideyuki nods. "You usually don't talk back against father when it comes to Asami so I'm just… surprised."
The eldest sighs before rubbing his temples. "I've been thinking about what to do for a while now and an old acquaintance of mine just told me to be direct so that's what I did."
"Ehh… that's it?"
He gives them a dead-panned look. "Yeah, that's it."
"No way…" Hideyuki was stunned while Ren was flabbergasted to the point of silence.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Silence hung until the end of the elevator ride but Hideyuki was the first to speak once they were headed to who knows where.
"So… now what?"
"Now we…" Naofumi looks off to the side. "You two go buy Asami those fire snaps she likes."
Both of them respond at the same time.
"Tried that already."
"Didn't work."
"She cried even more cause she misses mom."
"..." His eyebrows twitch and he grunts softly before suggesting, "How about those creamy swan puffs?"
"Ah!"
"Ah."
"You two get on that then, I need to prepare things with dad."
"Nii-sama… are you really going to?"
Naofumi finally stops in place before looking at the two. He takes a deep breath before calmly stating, "There are things you two don't know about Future Industries… it has taken a turn in a direction you can't imagine. With that said, I have been trying to take care of it on my own under the table however… If he continues to harm Asami any further, I will have no choice but to go public and make him regret it. Even if it means exposing the company…"
He unlocks his car before opening the driver's side door.
"Ren, Hideyuki, stay diligent understood? With how he was acting, we don't know how he'll act. Keep a close eye on Asami… make sure she's not alone. Something about the look on his face was unsettling. Other than that, I'll keep you posted on our situation when I can."
The two youngest nod before they watch Naofumi drive away. A short silence hung between them before Hideyuki spares Ren a glance.
"What do you think Nii-sama meant by Future Industries taking a turn in some direction?"
Ren only sighs before rustling his hair in frustration. "I have no idea but stay alert. We should brace ourselves for the worst… it seems like the Sato kids are at war against their own father."
They both understood the importance and dangers that came from this outcome. One wrong move and for all they know, the company they've been raised to run might get toppled in a blink of an eye. However… if it meant protecting their little sister from his barbarius hands, they'd cross that line in a heartbeat again and again without questions asked.
"Let's just hope there won't be any bloodshed…"
xXx
"Urgh…"
Groaning out loud, Asami forced herself into the bathroom. She first makes eye contact with her reflection before she flinches.
"I look like shit…"
She drags herself over to the bathtub.
"I feel like shit…"
Letting out a heavy sigh, she eventually turns the faucet to the bathtub, filling it up with decently hot water. She mindlessly stared at the knob, watching as it spewed out water in voluminous streams until it reached the appropriate amount. Shutting the water off, Asami begrudgingly stands up before letting her clothes drop to the floor. After they fall down with a solid thump, she doesn't bother checking the temperature before hopping in.
The water sloshes around and she huffs at the burning sensation devouring her body before she settles down inside. Once semi-relaxed, she immediately sank down and closed her eyes. Resting the back of her head against the tub, she sighs before breathing some shallow breaths. Her body was fatigued and her eyelids felt heavy. Her body felt like stone and her eyes were swollen enough that makeup would be able to fix her appearance.
How long has it been since she dropped out of school?
A week?
As if…
Two?
That couldn't be it.
Maybe three?
Just about a month sounds right however, at the same time, has it really been that short of a period in time? She feels as if months have passed or even a year since she had stepped foot out of her house. How long has it been since she's been on campus? Cracked up a textbook? Talked to her supposed friends? More importantly, how long has it been since she texted Korra? Talked to her? How long has it been since she broke down, unable to read a single message from her crush and live on normally with that monstrous paternal figure she called father?
How long does she have to loathe herself for being attracted to women?
She couldn't help it. Her eyes just naturally wandered off in their direction but, especially for Korra. She never really had any preferences for women up until now but her eyes seemed to follow tanned women these days. Athletic bodies were also a must and tattoos were a bonus. A charming yet goofy smile was heavenly and clear blue eyes were the best. But, most importantly, the way Korra made her feel normal was the deal-breaker.
Asami might as well call herself lesbian now because she can't look at men the same now that she has met Korra.
Korra was what she wanted in a partner. Someone she wouldn't mind spending the rest of her life with. One can say that it's just a phase or that it's still too early to say that but Asami had made up her mind. But, as cruel as fate would have it, truth be told… Asami never got what she truly wanted in life. Materialistic items were never even a question and friendships were a joke so the thought of dating someone was simply cruel.
She just wanted to be with Korra.
She just wanted to see her mom again.
Her wishes were so simple yet so… distant.
"Will my life get any better…" Letting out a deep sigh, she sinks down further, leaving her nose just above the waterline. Shortly after she lets out a frustrated, muffle scream accompanied by aggressive air bubbles at the surface of her bath.
Once out of breath, Asami pops her head back above the waterline. She sits there, mopping away until she finally takes a deep breath before submerging her whole entire head. With her hair immediately floating to the surface, she kept her eyes shut as if she was meditating underwater. It wasn't until all the oxygen in her lungs slipped away from her breath that she finally shot back up.
Gasping for air, she wipes away the water from her face before pulling her knees up to her chest. She hugs herself tightly, sadly looking at the ripples of water caused by her mayhem. Taking in the complete silence of her bathroom and the ever-so-chilling water wrapped around her body, she sat there with an invisible force weighing her down. By the time she was out of the tub, her fingertips and even toes were shriveled with deep grooves as the bathwater was no longer piping hot, lukewarm at the most.
She dries off her shriveled body and slips on her bathrobe before pulling up her hair into an updo bun wrapped in a towel. Her sulking face never left and she fumbled her way over to the living room. She flops down onto the couch, basking in the darkness of the sun-setting sky and the silence of her prison. It wasn't until complete darkness came after the sun had settled that she finally moved like the living. She slowly reached for the remote, hitting the power button before mindlessly changing the channels.
Channel after another, the light from the TV brought life to her monotone life before she finally vaguely registered her phone buzzing. Settling with some random soap drama, she sets aside the remote before begrudgingly grabbing her phone. The first notification she noticed from the ongoing list came from her brother. In fact, all of them had been from her brothers.
Swipe after swipe, she continued scrolling through those encouraging words that should have freed her from her demons. One message after another, it wasn't until she came across a specific one that made her pause. Her lips parted, quivering at the message. Her heart wavered once again and her hand began to shake.
Why?
Why was she doing this to her?
Why did every action she did bear its way into her heart and made it falter?
Why!
Why was her heart swelling in joy despite the cold shoulder she had been giving her? She didn't deserve her kindness. Tears end up loosely falling onto her phone's screen and Asami lost track of how many times she read Korra's message over and over again.
Ocean Eyes (20:02): hey… I know ur probably still mad at me or something but since my messages still get thru to u (at least it says delivered) I figure u don't hate me completely.
Ocean Eyes (20:03): anyways what I'm tryin to get at is that I had a point in time where my life got…messed up and then I remembered something.
Ocean Eyes (20:03): Whatever it is that ur going thru, it's ok.
Ocean Eyes (20:03): You'll be ok.
Ocean Eyes (20:04): Now, of course I don't know what's happening in ur life but thanks to the free time I've had wondering why u haven't responded to me, I wanted to make sense of things and this was the conclusion that makes sense to me.
Ocean Eyes (20:04): This may be redundant and I might not look it but I've been thru some deep shit too (a story for another day) but the point is I shut out everyone around me and that's actually kind of the reason why I'm studying here in Republic City in the first place. I just… needed a change in pace u could say.
Ocean Eyes (20:05): Anyways, sorry for the essay. I know we haven't known each other that long but over these past few weeks, I have come to a decision that I wouldn't mind waiting for u until ur ready. U don't hav to explain or say anything that makes u uncomfortable but I would just be happy if u tossed me a bone with hello or something…
Ocean Eyes (20:05): Of course, if u do find my texts a bother lmk, say the word and I'll stop. Otherwise… I'll keep spamming u gifs of kitties and puppies as a hi :)
Ocean Eyes (20:06): hope to hear from u soon, Korra (that is if u still haven't removed me from ur phone, it's me, the gal u lent a tampon to and stole her panties! I totally kind of want those back btw, they were comfy…)
Ocean Eyes (20:06): but a… yeah, sorry for the redundant speech and I'll be waiting for u
Never has Asami hovered her fingers over her keypad for so long. Never has she fought so hard to not reply with a single word. There was this gut feeling in her that the moment she texted her, her father would do something to her.
Knowing him, it wouldn't be a surprise if Korra is suddenly locked up behind bars for no reason or even put on blast to the public from some inappropriate out-of-context photo. She didn't know what he would do so that's what scares her more.
The unknown.
If only she knew, she could warn Korra or even maybe ask a favor from brothers to protect her. Her brothers were on her side but what could they do under her father's grasp? Unless for some miracle, Naofumi joins their side so it'd be four against one. Either way, nothing would change.
Sighing yet again, she scoffs at herself feeling helpless, powerless, and pathetic. She held her phone close to her heart before falling over onto her side. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. One after another, she took some calming breaths before listening to her own lonely heartbeat. Eventually, she curls up in the fetal position before mumbling.
"This sucks…"
Thinking about pointless thoughts, she dreamed about what it would be like born into a normal family. One without a strict and inflexible father. Sure, the chances that she had the same family would be close to none but even so, maybe her mom would still be alive in that life. She couldn't help but bitterly whisper to herself.
"If only a miracle would…"
Shaking her head at the silly glimpse of hope, her phone buzzes. She immediately raises it to eye level with some weird expectation before noticing the sender. It was her brother.
Ren nii-chan (21:34): Asami! Ur never gonna believe it! Naofumi nii-sama!
Her face scrunches as she watches the text bubble bops up and down on the message board. Eventually, he continued his thoughts.
Ren nii-chan (21:35): u won't guess what just happened, Naofumi nii-sama just talked back to dad about you!
Asami's mouth dropped.
"What?"
