Chapter 24

(Sophia's POV)

While today should have been the happiest day of my life. My kendo competition was here, the bleachers were filled with fans, many of them holding posters with my name on them. Most I didn't know personally, just over-enthusiastic fans that were here last year. Others I did. Kozue and Baki were the first to come, Takeda was standing with me beside the mats as we went over my plan. Kenichi and Chiharu Shiba were next, each of them brings two men with them and their loud cheers were quickly shushed by Kozue. Restu and Katsumi follow sitting on the end of the bleachers, nodding at me with large smiles. And much to my surprise even Kaoru comes, sitting below Baki with an unimpressed Kizaki by his side. With a new deal in the works, Kaoru had been saddled down with twice as much work so as the loving girlfriend I quietly told him it would be appreciated but not expected that he shows up.

Yet, even with all this love and appreciation, I couldn't focus. After the fight with my father all of my energy had been drained. I was sloppy, missing a few openings and barely made it through the first two rounds, a far cry from my other years.

Flash back

I stepped into the house, setting my keys on the table and pause when I notice the second set of shoes. I shut my eyes. Fuck, my father was home. I sigh, placing my hands on the rail and quietly head upstairs. I walk down the hall, into our training room and stop when I find my dad on the bamboo floor, stabbing a purple handled blade into the mat. To make matters worse this was a new blade, the red-handled one was still on the wall in its sheath.

He shakes the handle in my face "I have been working on myself for three weeks, wondering, worrying, and not understanding why all of this was happening to you but now I see it! You let this into our lives! Into our home! Darkness creates more darkness!" he stabs the blade into the mat as I roll my eyes.

"Have you been drinking again?" At his narrowed eyes I sigh, tossing my hands up "Fine. What do you mean dad?"

"Where do you think I got this?" he lifts the blade "Your boyfriend sent someone here to kill me."

Despite the weight of that sentence, I can't help the snort that leaves my lips "What? Dad that's ridiculous."

At my humor his eyes narrow "Is it?"

Trying to avoid another fight I relent, curbing my laughter "Dad if Kaoru wanted you dead, you'd be dead." I sit on the mat before him "What happened?"

"Some lunatic broke into our house last night yelling at me with a knife. He was angry that I was back in your life and he threatened me. Leave or else."

I grab the blade, seeing the purple handle and roll my eyes. Turning it over the three-headed dragon confirmed my suspicions "Was the man, tall, blonde and wearing a long purple jacket?"

"How did you know?"

I wave the blade "I recognize the blade." I sigh, sitting before my father again and try to say this as nicely as possible "Dad, Kaoru didn't try to kill you. The man you met was one of my bodyguards, he's a friend of mine and Kaoru's and he cares deeply about me."

"He broke into my house in the middle of the night with a knife to threaten at me and you're defending him?"

Had it been any other time I would have laughed at the irony "Dad, I know you only see them as a dangerous organization but they're not? They're a family, we're a family and family can do crazy things when they think their protecting others."

"Family?" he hisses "You're calling those criminal's family?!"

I put my hands up "I'm not doing this with you, I'm just here to get my stuff and then I'm leaving for my tournament."

He laughs painfully when I go around him to grab my large kendo bag, I'd packed it the night before not wanting to stay in the house longer then I needed "Why did I even think you'd be shocked by this... Letting Kaoru fill your head with violence and power!"

I was trying to ignore his words, keep my head in the right mindset but I couldn't ignore the venom and judgement in his tone.

"You think this is about power?" I state, stopping his movements as I stand "Dad it is a sport! It is a thrilling and beautiful sport."

"Are you sure it doesn't just make you feel powerful?!"

"So what if it does... What is so horrible about that? About feeling strong and graceful for once in my life!" At this he rolls his lips, looking down at the floor and I feel pain flood my chest "Dad, why are you so jealous of him?"

"Well I guess no matter how old we get the rest of us will always hate the strongest man."

I sigh, tears rimming my eyes. I carefully place a hand on his arm "I have never needed you to be the strongest dad, I just needed you to be around. Don't you know that?" At his silence I push again "If you could come to the school and watch me spar-"

"Don't ask me Sophia! I can't!" he storms around me and I feel the tears fall

"Come with me! Right now, dad. Just come watch me practice and then tell me I should stop."

He sighs, a hand on his face "You know what, I have work alright?"

I feel more tears fall as he reached around me, grabbing his coat. I feel my eyes shut as he opens the door, shutting it and any further discussion.

I sigh, leaning against the wall and glance up in the stands. I wanted to fall into Kaoru's strong arms and sleep for the next three thousand years. But that thought shatters when he pulls out his phone, answering a call and sooner then I'd like stands up, moving across the bleachers to leave. I knew that having him here today was a gamble, he had the organization to deal with, the convicts and paperwork but those did little to dampen the pain in my chest.

..

..

Was this wrong?

Was I only doing this for power?

Was I putting everyone else in danger?

Were my needs selfish?

Had I let my father down?

Each thought was like a wrecking ball to my head and soon I found myself squatting in my change room as my ears rang loudly. Ten minutes before my next match Kozue had come in, trying to cheer me on. Baki had come in, trying to talk me down. Even Restu had stopped by, kissing me on the forehead gently with soothing words but none of it helped and one by one they all left, going to find their places in the stands. Everything felt like it was crashing down around me and I wanted to scream in frustration.

With a loud snap, the room goes dark. Someone had shut off the lights.

I feel a warm breath ghost over my neck "You're not focusing Sophia..."

My eyes snap open, my body instantly falling to fight mode and I move, striking my leg back in a deadly kick. Nothing was there but air. I rise, staring at the now shut door.

It was Doyle.

That voice. That speed. That heat. I shut my eyes as he steps forwards, placing his warm chest behind me and I shiver, realizing how cold I was.

"Where did you go?" I whisper tiredly, being this close to him the ringing fades away "Why did you leave me with him?"

We both knew I was referring to Sikorsky.

Doyle sighs, his arms wrapping me in a hug "I saw your boyfriend coming. If I'd stayed it would have been worse." His hand moves, brushing a piece of hair behind my ear "Is that what you wanted? A bigger blood bath?"

I feel that slow burn in-between my legs, his heat seemed to awaken my body and shut down my mind "Why are you here?"

His hand moves, sliding under my chin and I wince every so often. His other hand moves, sliding against my body. He was checking my newly mended flesh in the hallway light, the subtle rays shining under the door in the darkness "I heard you went toe to toe with Dorian, I wanted to make sure you were alright."

I feel my mouth falling open as I sigh, his touch was making my body burn in an intoxicating way "Why?"

"Is it so strange to think I might care about you?"

By now my eyes had adjusted to the dimly lit room. The bright hallway lights filter in under the door, casting both of us in a soft blanket of light. My eyes caught his eyes in the reflection of the mirror. We stand like that, staring at each other. His hand over my throat and his body behind me.

"Block them out." His hands slide over my eyes "Block out all the noise. All the pain. All the worry." His other hand moves, sliding down my body "Focus on me." Each word, each movement blocked out the pain, the pounding in my head and allowed me to focus "Focus on the beat of your heart. Nothing matters but the fight." Yanagi's piercing eyes vanish from my mind "Nothing matters but the moment."

(Kizaki's POV)

I walk down the hallway, wanting to let Sophia know of the changes and stop outside her door. It was shut, not an odd thing as people walked up and down these halls religiously. I lift my hand to the wood.

"I heard you went toe to toe with Dorian, I wanted to make sure you were alright."

I freeze. Checking I had the right room number and listen. That voice was clearly a man's voice. The deep tones weren't that of her coach. And while my English wasn't that good, I still place my ear to the door.

Sophia sighs, a tired but content sigh "Why?"

"Is it so strange to think I might care about you?"

I set back, feeling a flash of pain in my chest and turn, walking down the hallway. I'd never been fond of Sophia but I never thought she'd do this...

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