Chapter 11
(Sophia's POV) *two weeks later*
We stepped out of the car, and I glance up at the house. Baki grabs my hands, gently helping me out of the car.
"I'm fine Baki." I roll my eyes
"Sophia you lost a kidney, most people would be spoiled rotten after that." I turn, taking in his smirk and gently elbow him.
"What are you doing today?" Kozue asks, grabbing my two bags from the trunk
"Well, I was hoping to check up on my father and the school before meeting up with Retsu for some lunch."
"Are you sure, that seems like a lot of things on your first day back."
I snap him a look "Baki, I don't get on your ass about resting after your arena matches, get off mine."
The man smiles, holding up both his hands
"Alright, alright." He shuts the door, sliding his hands into his pockets "Do you want me to come with you?"
"I'd rather not. It's not a long walk downtown and I know my way from there. A big crowd causes attention." I wave off his look and turn "I have my phone; I'll call you if I need anything."
Kozue takes my hand, squeezing gently "You better or I'll kick your ass."
"You'd have to catch me first."
..
..
"You're total will be twenty-seven ninety five."
The lady slides the books into a bag and I reach into my purse to grab my wallet. I shift to the left, wincing slightly before straightening "are you sure you're alright miss?"
"I'm alright, just a little sore from my surgery." I smile, sending the clerk another nod "Thank you."
When I turn I get a shiver, a heat blooms in my abdomen and I turn, jumping only slightly when I see Doyle standing in the alley across the street. I feel his eyes on me and I watch his head move back, nodding me over to him and he backs up, disappearing.
I shift the bag, moving it onto my left shoulder and step out of the building. I turn my head, checking both ways for cars and when it's clear I move, running across the street... or the best I could in my condition. I step into the alley, expecting to find Doyle and pause when it's empty.
What the-
A cold chill runs down my spine, the hairs on my arms stand straight up and I turn, glancing up at a tall blonde man. Images flickered across my mind in a split second and I knew I was standing before Sikorsky, one of the escaped inmates. He looks at me slowly, clearly noticing my lack of fear and bends down. I guess my lack of screaming or peeing amused him.
"Hello, little kitten."
Despite the obvious need or run or scream or do anything that should prolong my life I couldn't ignore my anger. First I was attacked by my closet, almost killed by my classmate, molested by Doyle in the dressing room, hospitalized by Dorian, fighting with my father, finding my dead brother was alive, having the cops breathing down my neck and now this?! I felt my anger boiling over.
"Seriously?!" I snap "What am I?! A death row inmate magnet?!"
I'll admit, even with my anger his surprised face was amusing. Sikorsky was taken back slightly but recovers faster then I'd hoped
"I see the little kitten has claws."
He leans forwards, grabbing one of my arms. Just like Doyle had in the change room he slides up my sleeve, his calloused fingers running along my flesh. While I wanted nothing more than to punch him in the face I was still injured from my fight with Dorian.
So I was left with asking, pathetically asking "Let go of me Sikorsky." When I try to pull my hand away it doesn't move. He actually pulls me closer to him, his other hand sliding around my waist "I said let me go!"
"Oh come on kitten. No need to bite." He chuckles, lifting his hand to touch my cheek "You amuse me."
Just before I abandon all logic and punch him despite my injuries a bigger hand grabs his, squeezing the digits tightly.
"You heard her." A deep voice spoke. That deepness... calm but so angry.
How...
I slowly turn back to see Kaoru bent on one knee to match Sikorsky's altered height "What are you doing here? Did you follow me?"
His other hand reaches down, crushing Sikorsky's other hand and I feel it easily removed from my waist "I'm sorry Sophia. I wasn't there to stop Dorian. Can you forgive me?"
He had shoved Sikorsky back and was now standing between us while the Russian stared angrily from the ground "You don't know who you're messing with boy..." when Kaoru all but ignores him his eyes narrow, it was obvious he only cared about me. After a moment his mouth turns, smirking evilly "Say, if you're that concerned why don't we fight for her then? The winner gets the feisty kitten."
That sure got his attention. I felt myself shiver and step closer to Kaoru as Sikorsky's leering eyes undressed me, his tongue slides shamelessly over his lips. Sikorsky pushes himself off the ground as Kaoru's eyes narrow darkly and I watch as the two large males seem to grow bigger like their full power was on display.
Kaoru turns, pushing me back about four steps "Stay right here."
The air took a deep breath and we all waited. Kaoru stepped forwards, the cold look on his face and I step closer to the window of a shop. Sikorsky was the first to attack, a heavy punch to the face. Kaoru flies back, his arms swinging out and I barely dodge the hand that swings over my head. I gasp as Kaoru flies back, Sikorsky already on him again and the sudden gush of cold. The store I'd been beside was a pet store, the large fish tank purposely placed to attract attention. Kaoru's hand had smashed through the glass window and the tank. The large line through the middle of the tank had the contents spilling out.
Now soaked I step out of the line of water and look across the road. Sikorsky was punching Kaoru repeatedly but the gentle giant had yet to toss a single swing. A sudden thump against my foot had me glancing down and I gasp noticing about eleven fish flopping on the ground. I glance at the tank and notice the water had started to level out. I reach down, carefully grabbing each of the fish and place my hands through the glass to drop them in the tank.
I glanced between the fight and the fish doing one of each before repeating. Cup, glance, move and drop. Cup, glance, move and drop. I had to be careful, watching the sharp glass around the window and drop another fish. I had put most of the fallen fish in the tank, cupping the last two in my hands when a hand touched my shoulder.
"Sophia."
I gasp, yanking my hand back and cry out in pain when my inner arm slides along a piece of glass. I feel the white-hot burn and liquid run down my arm. Thankfully I'd dropped both fish into the tank in the mess and turn to look at Kizaki.
"Oh god..." he grabs a cloth from his pocket, checks the thin but long cut and presses it against my arm.
"What are you doing here Kizaki?" I hiss, half in pain and anger. It didn't take a genius to realize he didn't like me.
"I was following the boss."
A loud crash has both of us turning and I see Kaoru on his back. I feel my heart jump in fear before he rises, his body steaming with heat and his large green shoes hit the pavement one by one. His hands lower, gripping the bottoms of his pants and I watch the material bunch. It continues to bunch, gathering in his hand and soon enough a loud ripping noise hits the air. Pieces of cloth fly left and right as his hands lift, his fingers grabbing the bottom of his shirt and soon Kaoru is standing, almost naked in the middle of the road.
The fight was brutal. I had seen many fights in my life but; this was different than anything I'd seen. They punched, kicked, tossed and dragged each other through the streets of Tokyo. Buildings, cars, street lights were destroyed, sidewalks smeared with blood.
With each kick, punch or throw down Kaoru would utter one line "Want some more?"
And each time Sikorsky would smile, charging at him again. Kizaki would shift his fingers, pressing tightly to my wound with different hands. Like that moment in movies when two equally matched opponents fight something has to give. That came when Sikorsky pushed Kaoru backwards; Kizaki yanks me out of the way as the two men go back. I wasn't sure what had happened but in a second Kaoru was on the ground and Sikorsky was kneeling above him. Kaoru wasn't moving. That fear only doubles when Sikorsky turns his attention to me. When his sick grins slides over his lips I feel myself shout, half in fear of his predatory look and half because I feel a cold blade at my throat.
Kizaki grips my arm painfully "Stay back or I'll kill her!"
Sikorsky smirks, launching himself across the ground, only he doesn't... I wasn't sure if it was my scream of panic or Kizaki's threat but Kaoru's eyes snapped open and he grips Sikorsky's leg, tossing him on the other side of himself. I feel the blade leave my throat as Kaoru stands, eyes glaring at Sikorsky. I feel that hum of deadly power once more as Kaoru was on him like a rabid dog. I watched him line up his punch like he'd done with the gate and cringe when it connects with Sikorsky's face. While there was resistance, bone and flesh, it did little to stop the spray of blood drawn with each hit.
Once, twice, three times.
Crunch, squish, crunch.
I wasn't an idiot. I knew the legend of Kaoru Hanayama, the legendary street brawler but to watch it on fold took my breath away.
Left hook, right hook. Both hands, one hand, left hand, right hand. His fists kept flying through the air like a swarm of killer bees as blood sprays both of them. When I began to feel sorry for Sikorsky he moves, gripping Kaoru's next punch, his fist breaking the concrete street below and Sikorsky's on his back locking him in a headlock. Our eyes widen at the same time as the thick muscles wrap around his throat. I go to move feeling myself yanked back by Kizaki and his other hand wraps around my waist.
"Don't, you'll only hurt him!" he whispers hotly in my ear and I feel us stepping back some more "Let him fight, he knows what he's doing."
Like Kizaki had been talking to Kaoru not me his head snaps up, his eyes locking on us and his eyes darken. He lifts both hands and he grips his arm. I cry out in disgust and shut my eyes as Kaoru's grip tightens and instead of popping the flesh he twists his hands, ripping the flesh, muscles and tendons out of his arm. Sikorsky yells in pain as he glances at his arm, blood sprayed out like one of those cheesy horror films and the white bone shone brightly under the street lamp.
I guess Sikorsky realized he couldn't win this fight as he scrambles to his feet, holding his left arm and he runs. Kaoru doesn't chase him but his loud battle cries followed Sikorsky down the street and I felt myself gasp, starring at my classmate covered in blood.
For the first time, I was finally seeing Kaoru Hanayama, leader of the Hanayama organization and most feared fighter in all of Japan.
..
..
We were sitting in the car, my head draped on his arm. That was one of the things I like best about him, Kaoru was so warm. I was wet and cold and his large body easily held heat and I forced myself to look anywhere but the flesh shamelessly displayed before me. But seeing his large body, almost naked had me thinking about the last time I'd seen the infamous white fundoshi and I snort embarrassingly loud, tossing a hand over my face.
Kaoru spares me a sideways glance "What?"
My blush deepens and I pull my head from his shoulder "Uh, you don't want me to ask when Kizaki's here."
"Why?"
"Because you don't."
"Try me. I don't keep secrets from Kizaki."
I sigh "Okay. Um, it just popped into my head but does it get 1.5 times bigger when in action?"
Kaoru paused the briefest but most glorious of pauses before it clicked. His eyes widened like a baby deer in headlights and his head turns impossibly fast but I could see the blush on his cheeks from the reflection of the window. Kizaki only coughed, focusing on the road with a look of pain on his face.
I could tell he wanted to ask how I knew but he stops, letting the car fall into painful silence for a while.
Eventually, he sighs "... No. I was just trying to frighten her off."
"Why would you agree if you didn't want to date her?"
"Because I didn't want to hurt her feelings."
I chuckle breathlessly, leaning my head on his arm again "Okay, in the future, a few moments of pain is much better than three days of bodily damage and the hell storm of embarrassment that comes with it."
Kaoru only smiles, staring out the window again "Fair enough..."