Sorry for the wait. I've been trying to update the previous chapters so they flow better and doing the next chapters have been a struggle. I have more chapters so I'm hoping to toss them up soon enough. I hope you enjoy chapter 23!

(Sophia's POV)

I was sitting on the couch in Kaoru's office, biting back a third yawn. Of course, Kaoru notices it, eyeing me carefully. I had yet to look him in the eye, knowing from experience that I would crack.

I hadn't told anyone that I'd seen Yanagi in the alley. I knew I was breaking the rules by keeping secrets but I couldn't make my mouth form the words. I wasn't sure why. We had had a few talks about the death row inmates and my apparent ability to draw them to me like magnets. Discussing his obvious anger towards Dorian -his men where still looking for him. We discussed the possibility of Sikorsky coming back and what I should do. We even talked about Doyle and our encounter in the change rooms.

Still, I couldn't say anything about him.

I could still feel it.
The way his eyes watched me.
The curl of his lips like he knew all my secrets before I did.
The way he vanished into the crowd of people.

He wasn't like the others.

Spec, Dorian and Sikorsky were easy, extremely violent people I had to avoid.
Doyle was a bit trickier but I hadn't felt any need to avoid him.
But him… I was terrified even thinking about him.
It made me feel like a small child, wanting her parents.

Every time I closed my eyes, I could see his staring at me.

"Sophia?"

"Hmm?" I glance up from my book, setting down my pencil

"Are you okay? You're not worried about the death row inmates are you?"

I roll my eyes "That's a bit ridiculous now don't you think?"

Despite my words he smiles, picking up a piece of paper "Why don't you go visit your brother?"

"I can't. I called the hospital and my father's there."

This time his face falls "Have you talked with him at all?"

"We've hardly spoken in two months…" I set the paper down "Every time I try we just fight. He doesn't understand my anger and he still sees me as the five-year-old he left. I just-" I sigh "I don't have the energy to do this as well…"

"You should still try, he's your father."

"I can't."

"You can."

"I can't because I don't have time. I have to get my stitches out, sit in an awkward meeting with Kureha, train with Takeda, meet Kozue for dinner and stop by the club. I don't want to add my dad's childish behavior on top of that."

Kaoru's eyes narrow "I got you a different doctor."

"Yeah but Kureha's being an ass and won't let anyone else approve the fight because apparently, we made a deal about it three weeks ago and now, he's holding me too it." When Kaoru looks at the wall in anger I smile, standing carefully I lean over the desk, waiting for him to lean in for a soft kiss "I'll be fine." I give him a few more pecks "You can kill him after my tournament."

(3rd person's POV)

The people in the street are looking scared of a certain student. He only laughs, clearly enjoying the shocked looks of the people around him.

"Yes that's it, be scared. It's only natural."

The sounds of screams, yelps of fear and shaking echo around the street.

"Are you for real?!" a man yells.

His smile only grows at people slide to the surrounding buildings, trying to put as much distance between them and the large creature before them. This reaction was justified as the boy was walking side by side with a beast of an animal. The king of animals would pale in comparison to this creature; its thick brown fur and muscled body were that of a monster. This was a pure breed, an imported Tibetan mastiff.

As you could see it was no ordinary dog, this was the strongest dog on earth. Not only was it more than 220 pounds of pure muscle, they have an unrivaled fearlessness, and will stand boldly even in front of the most savage beasts. And what about strength? Its massive jaws have enough strength to take a bite out of a coconut like it was a peach. The large mane around its neck isn't just for show either, it protects the vital areas. It's said that the Tibetan mastiff is even capable of taking down a tiger.

"Today I'm going to become one of those random attackers you see on the news. I'm targeting my old school but my weapon isn't a gun or a knife like everyone else. He will take the tragedy, my beloved king. I'll squish your lives like flies you pricks."

(Sophia's POV)

I couldn't help but yawn, walking through the front doors with Kozue, we move with the flow of bodies, quickly changing out our shoes before making our way to the gym.

"God, why do we have to be here again?" She yawns and I lift up my hand as well.

"I'm not sure, something about a school assembly. I think the principal wants to wish us well before our upcoming exams."

"And why can't he do it over the intercom?" she whines.

Normally Kozue and I were a lot more alert in the mornings but we had stayed up most of the night finishing a five page essay our history teacher decided to throw on us the week before. Honestly we weren't the only ones, I'd seen over a dozen people yawning as well, bringing mugs full of coffee to their lips in an effort to wake up.

"Hey princess, your knights are here." a student jokes.

I pause mid sip, turning to see Haga and his crew walk through the door. My outspoken group of delinquents were actually here before school? Okay I had to be sleeping. He smiles, most likely reading my thoughts and tips his head towards me. I squeeze Kozue's shoulder and slip out of line towards him.

"Well, this is unusual. Since when do you attend one of these morning meetings."

He smirks, rubbing his neck awkwardly "I was bored so I came to check them out."

"Mhm, sure." I tease, taking a sip of coffee.

Hearing the loud monstrous rawr rip the gym it was a miracle I didn't spill my coffee all over me. A hundred heads turn towards the door and I feel my coffee mug fall from my hands. The shock was unanimous, gripping the student body. Oh for the love of god, not again...

"What's that!?" a female screams

"What the hell is that!?" a male adds

"Shit it's a bear!"

I feel Haga's arm raise, pushing me lightly behind him. I force myself to breathe, assessing the situation before me. While the dog was clearly a threat I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at his owner. The boy was short and plain, had an unflattering haircut and narrowed eyes. I recognized him from one of my classes and try to figure out what was happening. Tabei. He wasn't an outspoken person. He got good grades and mostly kept his head down. I feel my eyes snap to Haga, a beyond furious look in my eyes. Soft spoken or not I knew with one look, this boy was out for blood and I had no doubt my 'knights' were responsible.

"Hey that guy, he's from class C..."

That guy? That guy?! He doesn't even get a name?! If we weren't in immediate danger I would have punched all of them in the head.

"Hey Haga," he sings, lifting his arms slightly "Are you in the mood for Yakisoba bread? Or would you rather have some fucking sweet bread?" the silence in the room was deafening "I see you're not ordering me around like you usually do."

"You son of a bitch." Haga growls

"Haga, this isn't the time to heal your injured ego." I whisper, stepping around him but he steps a head once more.

"Soph, stay out of this." he hisses back, shielding me further from view.

"Now that the tables have turned you don't have the balls to boss me around. Just like everyone else." Despite the obvious danger I couldn't help but feel sad "You all watch and laugh at me, just like you always do. COME ON, LAUGH! THAT'S WHAT YOU ALWAYS DO ISN'T IT?! LAUGH AT THIS!" This wasn't an act of violence it was one of desperation.

While Haga quickly visualized his utter demise I never took my eyes off the boy. You couldn't get a dog like this in a pet shop. My guess would be military or illegal breeding ring. And from the obvious power difference the dog had to be trained. If it's anything like police or military dogs' normal commands won't work. There are signals, code words, hidden commands. Our best option would be to take out the owner before he could give them.

I step around Haga I lift my hands, Haga moves going to grab me and pauses when the dog growls dangerously. Clearly he wasn't a fan of Haga. I swallow, stepping forwards more "Okay, let's just calm down okay."

"Sophia Jones. Why am I not surprised." he scoff "The princess is here to save her knights."

"Me? No. I'm not saving them. Hell I can even get Kaoru to punch all of them if you want." I take another step "I'm here because I want to talk to you. I'm all for getting even Tabei but this is insane." my hand moves "look at all the people in this gym. You would be hurting more than just Haga and his delinquents."

"So? You mean the people who stood by and did nothing for years? Those people." I feel my heart ache as he laughs painfully "Thirteen years. These guys have been kicking my ass since we were in preschool... but i'd hardly expect you to understand Miss perfect."

"Perfect?" I chuckle painfully "My mothers dead, my brothers in a coma. I had to transfer around the country because everyone I love dies. And now I'm stuck in a house with my alcoholic father who can't even look at me because I remind him of his dead wife! Believe me I understand better than anyone."

"Yeah but you didn't spend these years alone. You have Kozue and Baki and those assholes!" his hand snaps towards Haga "I've had to spend it alone..."

"It's seven hundred days. High school. Seven hundred days out of twenty or thirty thousand. Can't you see past that?"

"Yeah, and how many of these days do I get back?" he states tearfully "Do I get back the days I got spit on? Or the day I learned to look at the floor when I walked the halls? Or how about the day my dad came to pick me up and saw me getting my ass kicked on the Quad and realized his son was a loser! Do you ever see the look on your fathers eyes when he realizes that?" I feel tears roll down my cheeks. Yes I was intimately familiar with that look "Do I get that day back? Because I saw the same look when he left me and my mom."

"It's not right." I step forward again. Had the dog not been in the way I would have tried to hug him "It's not. People can only be pushed so far." I feel more tears and watch his pain surface

"I just wanted it to stop..." he whimpers "I wanted all the pain to stop but they'd never listen!" he unhooks the leash wiping away tears "Your right Sophia. There are people here that might not deserve it but I can't stop. The only way to make them see is with force." I watch his eyes, lonely and broken beyond repair "KING, KILL!"

My eyes widen as the large dog charges at Haga and the other students. While I was confident that we could disarm his owner, taking down King as an entirely different situation. I hear the doors open. When the door slams shut the gym was silent.

"Kaoru?"

My boyfriend had appeared, simply kneeling down in front of the large beast like it was some common lap dog. What's even more shocking was the large beast so confident in his abilities slides to a halt along the gym floor, fear now lingering in his eyes as he takes in the man before him and Kaoru simply reaches up, petting the dogs head reassuringly. I knew in that instant Kaoru had won.

"KING!" Tabei screams angrily "KILL HIM!"

His orders kick in and I gasp as the dog opens his massive jaws "KAORU!"

I wasn't sure if I should laugh or cry as my ever so gentle boyfriend simply lifts his hand, shoving his large fist into the dogs mouth. His sharp teeth hardly leave an indent in the thick muscled flesh and I see that fear appear once more in the dogs eyes. He knew who the true king was.

"HEY KING! KING! COME ON! KILL HIM!" the boy struggles

"Hey!" I snap, grabbing Tabei's shirt "You shut up!"

My fist connects with his jaw and his face hits the floor, the annoying yells stops. My eyes glance up at Kaoru's then the dog's, his calm eyes now narrow and I gasp as the dog charges, wanting to defend his owner and I scream.

"Sit!" Kaoru's deep voice echoes around the room and when I open then I am face to face with the large dog before me "Come."

I swallow roughly when the dog turns, trotting back to my boyfriend like a small pup and falls over, exposing his belly with small pants. Kaoru simply smiles, rubbing the dog like a happy child as the other students clap.

I drop to the floor, my knees shaking "Oh my god…"

..

..

"So what's going to happen to the dog?" Kozue asks

We were sitting in the cafeteria, the school trying to fall into a sense of normal, most students just picked at their food, not in the mood to eat. Considering everything that happened in the last four years you'd think we'd be used to this…

I sigh, pushing around my noodles "Well it's sad but he will most likely be put down."

"Why?"

"They'll probably argue that no one can control it." I add "Plus King has been trained to kill, having a dog of that size and training will be a risk to keep."

Baki sighs, shaking his head sadly "There is no such thing as a dangerous animal, only bad owners."

At this I snap him a look "Okay, just because you and Kaoru seem to have this uncanny ability to befriend extremely dangerous animals does not make this morning any less terrifying."

"Well you were the one that attacked his owner." Baki snaps back, I simply glare at the man.

Five days later*

I was sitting in Kaoru's office, my feet pulled up on the couch and my binder open on my lap. I couldn't have been working on my math for more than ten minutes when the sound of heavy steps travel down the hall. I smile, not looking up and hear the door creak open. Kaoru's fingers tap on his computer, glancing between his notes and the screen and looks my way when a heavy head moves, placing itself on top of my binder.

I smirk, lifting a hand to run my fingers through the thick mane and glance down at the large muscled face "Hello king."