Chapter 17

"Hey, you're back!"

It was Katsumi. Not wanting to see Kureha so soon we went to the shin shin kai dojo, they had a doctor to redo my stitches and moments after the man in question bursts into the room.

I smile softly, wincing when the doctor pulls out a piece of string carefully "Hey."

"You said it was Kaoru, and then you were gone. What happened?"

"I was half right."

We sat there for twenty minutes as I explained what had happened and answered any of his questions. Katsumi felt bad, saying he should have been more aware but I waved it off. After all, I was the one that told him to stay there.

"And how did you get this?" The doctor asks, turning my face to look at my cheek. I had a pretty nice bruise.

I shrug with a small smile "I was being me, they didn't like it."

He nods, crushing a small bag in his hands "Give that a minute then put it on your face."

I nod and continue squishing the bag, the longer I waited the colder it got "And the drug?"

"Well as far as I can tell it was a simple sedative." He removes the blood pressure cuff from my arm "I can run a few tests if you want but you're not showing any alarming signs. And if he is Hanayama's uncle I don't see why he would give you something dangerous."

I sit up carefully, Katsumi sits beside me. I look him up and down, taking in the same Karate outfit I'd first met him in and glance at Kaoru; my gentle giant had yet to look up from the folder. He was reading each page slowly, taking in each before moving to the next. I look at the folder and feel my face fall.

"Kaoru?" at this his head rises "Was your uncle serious about that?"

He sighs, shutting the book "My uncle has never done anything he didn't want to do."

"But he can't just expect a high school senior to run four businesses with no training of any kind," Katsumi adds

"I've been leading the family since I was fifteen. I had help, yes but that was me."

"What happens if I can't make them successful? Do we break up?"

"No." There wasn't a moment's hesitation and I felt my heart flutter "I meant what I said Sophia, I would fight anyone, do anything for you."

"Even leave the family?"

The shock was evident on my face "What? Katsumi! Why would you-"

"Look at you, Sophia. You were just kidnapped in broad daylight!" he sighs "I understand that Kaoru has a lot of power and fear in the underworld and yes, you can fight but really? What would you have done if that wasn't his uncle? You're willing to die for him?" He takes my hands in his "Sophia I owe you my life. How am I supposed to carry that every day when you're risking yours just standing beside him?"

I lift a hand, placing it on his cheek "By having trust in me." He turns his head, a pained look on his face "I'm with him because I want to be, nothing more. I have lost so much in my life; I refuse to live in fear. My dad tried to force my hand and we haven't spoken in nine days. I love my dad but I'm done making everyone else happy at the expense of my own." I remove my hand taking both of his "Don't feel like you owe me anything. I'm here. I'm alive, so are you. Be happy about that."

The door shutting had my head-turning. I look at it than the empty chair, the papers left in Kaoru's absence "Shit!" I move to the door feeling Katsumi's hand grab mine, my head snaps back to him

"Sophia-"

"Don't!" I rip my hand from his grasp and open the door "Kaoru!"

I look down the empty hall and groan, picking a direction. It was moments like this that I hated his height; with his long legs, Kaoru was much faster than I was. I glance at the elevator, each number was grey and told me it wasn't in use. I move to the end of the hall, opening the large door to the stairs. Why the hell he chose to walk seventy flights of stairs was beyond me.

"Kaoru!" looking over the side of the stairs I see him about three floors down "Kaoru stop!" I move down the stairs, seeing him still walking "You ass! Stop walking away! I'm in enough pain already!"

At this he stops. Within thirty seconds I'm standing above him on the landing. He was just standing there, staring at the steps below him. I take in his large back, his hand resting on the railing. I felt my heart hurt when he refuses to move, just standing there like a stone wall.

"… Are you giving up on us?"

My words were quiet, echoed around the empty staircase and I watch his head snap up. He turns, finally facing me. He was down three steps making us eye level.

"He's right. Everything Katsumi said was right."

"Seriously?! We're back to this again?"

"Sophia, you were just kidnapped!" he shouts, causing me to step back in shock "Do you have any idea how that felt? How I felt not knowing where you were?! If I'd get there on time?!"

"Nothing happened! I'm fine!" I cry out, tossing my hands in the air in annoyance

"You tore your stitches!"

"Because I fought back! Had I sat there nicely I wouldn't have been hurt!"

"Exactly! You will always fight back!"

"And?! I hardly think you are in any position to chastise me on that!" I take a step forwards "You had a blood bath with Sikorsky in the middle of Japan! And I know your men are searching the streets for Dorian!"

"Did Katsumi tell you that?" he snaps back

"He didn't have too…" At my sad tone, his anger drops, his eyes falling to the stairs. At his silence, I feel my anger flare again "Why?!" I feel my eyes rim with tears "Why are you willing to fight for everything in your life but me?!" At his silence, I snap "WHY?!"

"Because you're the one thing in this world I can't bear to lose!" all my anger blew away. He sighs, looking at the floor again "I have only loved one woman in my life and she's gone now. I can't lose you too. I'm not... strong enough..."

I take a step down, lifting his eyes to look at me "So stop pushing me away…"

I lean forward, taking his lips in mine. I feel him resist for a moment before his arms rise, wrapping around my waist. I feel myself pulled against his chest and his hands move to my butt, wrapping my thighs around his waist. Kaoru turns in a careful circle, sitting on the seat with me on his lap. I tilt his head up, deepening the kiss with my tongue.

I feel wetness on my hands but I knew… I wasn't crying.

..

..

"So they just expect you to make this work?" Kozue tosses one of the papers on the table. Her mother was at the kitchen counter, chopping up vegetables for soup.

"Well they said I'd have access to whatever resources I need but yeah." I sigh, taking a sip of water "Kaoru will help me too."

"So you're the manager then?" Kinuyo asks

"I think I'm the manager's manager. I have the final say on everything but a physical supervisor will stay in the building while I'm in school." I glance at a few of these places "As far as I can tell the buildings are in good shape but I haven't heard of any of these places."

Kozue picks up two papers with pictures "I think most of these places are downtown, but they're hidden among the other things."

"How am I supposed to start this?"

Kozue lifts a finger excitedly, grabbing all four papers and placed the pictures face down. She shuffles all the pictures in a few circles and grabs a die out of the counter. It was a game die, having only four sides. "Toss it." She flicks the die to me "The number it lands on is where we start."

I glance at the four numbers on the black die and sigh, shaking the small cube in my hands three times before It flies across the table.

..

..

We glance up at the old building, taking in the rainbow tiles and the bar on the left. I take in the old lights and faded paint on the walls. The building was an old disco arena and was covered in a thick layer of dust. Like Kozue had said the building was hidden among the bustle of the streets, the dark brown bricks all but blended in with their surroundings.

Kinuyo had wandered onto the dance floor, checking the strength of the lifted square. Her hands running along the smooth tiles. Kozue runs her finger along a board, shuttering as a thick line is left through the black.

"How much money did Kaoru say you could spend on this place?"

"As much as I want, as long as I pay it back."

"Well, this place needs a thorough cleaning before we can see any damage."

I nod "I will ask Kaoru if they use a certain service for it."

I turn around letting the others head out first and turn again, locking the door behind us. I glance at the bright red 'SOLD' sign on the window and sigh.

..

..

The walk to school was as awkward as ever. Takeda, Baki, Kozue, Chiharu, Kenichi and Two of Kaoru's men accompanied us. The two men were back about ten steps all but screaming Yakuza with their scared faces and cringe-worthy clothes. I hated having this many people but after our moment on the staircase, I knew better than to push the issue… at least for a while.

I grab Kozue's hand, seeing her glance at me and smile softly. When Baki turns his head I childishly stick my tongue out at him. Baki snorts, keeping his hands in his pockets and steps off onto the street. I glance left and right before following him and sigh happily in the warm morning sun. We were walking up the long hill to the school and I see Kaoru and Saeri talking. She looked upset but happier then she's been and I had no doubt the two dozen red, pink and white roses were from Kaoru.

Kozue catches my gaze and tenses "Oh god…"

I wave it off, pulling her forward with a finger over my mouth "Shh, let them talk." I send her a small smile "After the shit he pulled before he owes her an apology."

Kozue looked unsure but nods, continuing our walk up the hill. We walk through the gate and I turn, waiting for the two of them to come in.

..
..

A sea of students walk by and finally my eyes fall on the two of them walking side by side down the block. They were talking, laughing about a few things and I couldn't help the small smile on my lips.

"Yes, I know! I was –Oh, Sophia."

I smile softly "Hello Saeri."

Kaoru moves to my side, an arm wrapping around my waist "I was just apologizing to her."

"I know," I chuckle softly, punching him in the arm lightly "It's about damn time."

Saeri laughs.
Stepping forwards her laughter dies to a genuine smile.
I watch her reach into her bouquet, remove a single rose and extend it to me.

"What's this for?"

"For winning his heart." She kisses my cheek softly "Take care of him, Sophia. He's a good man."

I watch her walk towards the school, bouquet clutched to her chest like a great treasure and glance from the rose to Kaoru. For the first time, he seemed just as shocked as I was.

I chuckle, holding the rose tenderly "What the heck did you say to her?"

He gives me a gentle side hug as we walk towards the school "The truth."