A/N: Sorry for the long wait!
It was just a quiet day. I drank coffee, re-read some old books, sketched some drawings of her, and sharpened my knives. Just a regular morning.
That was, until the loud sirens pierced my ears.
Obnoxiously bright lights flashed through the air and a couple imbecilic policemen barged into my lawn. How annoying.
"Come out with your hands in the air! Bring the hostage with you!" They shouted.
Hostage? I much prefer forcibly invited guest.
Still, I strolled out of my house to greet them. The girl rushed out, relief written on every part of her body. Not so fast.I grabbed her wrist and pulled her small body against mine.
"Where do you think you're going?" I whisper in her ear.
"The police are here. Just let me go already." She says. But what kind of person gives up without a fight?
I walk her out the door like a true gentleman, making sure to keep her pressed to my chest.
The policemen have their guns out, all aimed at my head. "Let go of the girl!" They shout.
Reluctantly, I release my grip on her and settle for holding her wrist with my hand. I shoot venomous looks at the police and they actually hesitate for just one small moment. The tension builds in the air.
Stalemate.
They aren't willing to shoot and I'm not willing to let go. Maybe I should send my servants after them. My mansion has a far superior arsenal and my staff could easily take on a few armed men. With a fair bit of bloodshed and sacrifice, that is.
But where would the bodies go? And the police would surely send in reinforcements.
Then my thoughts are broken by an unwanted intruder.
A boy with hideous blue hair leaps out of the police car and dashes over to us. He seems familiar. Wasn't he one of her stupid little friends?
"Rin! Thank goodness you're okay!" He shouts and clasps her hands.
Before I can even react, she breaks free from my clutch and runs into his arms. They embrace like old friends as she buries her head in his shoulder. But the way the boy looks at her, with the faintest tinge of rouge on his cheeks.
My eye twitches. White hot rage bubbles and stirs in my chest.
"Get away from her!" I yell.
He glares at me. "I should say that to you, you freak." His arms tighten around her and he shifts their bodies slightly, as if to shield her from me.
Rin pulls away her head to look him in the eyes.
"Where's Rinto-nii?" She asks.
The boy is visibly shaken. "I'm sorry, Rin. The day you were kidnapped…there was an accident while he was on his way to pick you up from school. You just missed him."
Her petite body stiffens with disbelief. Her knees give out and in an instant, she's collapsed onto the ground. He holds her gently, but firmly.
As the police hand-cuff me and lead me into their filthy car, I hear sobs resounding in the air. Not cries of fear or despair, but true pain. Something flickers in me.
I feel…sad. For someone else. It's an emotion I haven't felt in years.
I ponder this as I am taken away.
My court date is tomorrow. The charges are kidnapping, harassment, and sexual assault. Ridiculous.
I only passionately showed my love for her.
But all judges can be bribed in this corrupt world. I walk away scot-free.
The boy is furious. Her stupid little friends with weird hair also come to the courtroom. They stare at me with attempted menace on their pathetic faces.
As I leave the building, I overhear parts of their conversation.
"…a guy like that should be put in jail."
"…psychopath…"
"Are you sure you don't want to appeal this case?"
"You can live with Miku and I."
That part catches my attention. I duck behind a stone pillar and listen in.
"I really appreciate it, but I've been too much of a burden on you guys." Rin murmurs.
"Of course not! You're my best friend, Rin. Please accept our offer." A girl with long pigtails pleads.
"Yeah, there's no way we're going to let you go to some group home or orphanage." That boy argues.
Are they siblings? They both share that putrid blue hair.
"I'm going to try to become an emancipated minor. Rinto-nii and I have some money saved up." She firmly states.
"But you still need a place to live! You can't possibly try to live on your own while going to school." A tall girl with long pink hair says.
"I'll be fine, guys." Rin hugs them with a trembling smile and walks away with her head up, though I can see tears glistening in her eyes.
I stealthily follow her outside the building. So it's a place to stay that she needs?
At some point, she stops walking and turns around.
"I know you're there, Len." She calls out.
I grin and slip out of the shadows. "Then I assume you also know that I heard your little conversation. Aren't you quite the heroine?"
"Look, I really do need somewhere to go…" She begins.
"Say no more. I will gladly be of service to you, my princess." I grasp her hand and bring it up to my lips. These cheesy things work well in books.
"Just don't tell my friends! And one condition, don't hurt or-or stalk or rape me!" She says.
The corner of my lip quirks up. "Promise."
The two of us silently get into my limo and drive off. Ironically, into the sunset.
I stroke the pocket knife in my jacket. Freshly sharpened. I savor the thought of ramming it into the stomachs and throats of each and every one of her friends. Especially that blue-haired boy. I want more than anything to gouge out his eyes.
I promised not to harm her. I didn't say anything about the others.
Once we get home, I help her out of the car and go about my day normally. As I relax in my study, numerous plots and schemes run through my head.
The next morning, I manage to get up early and get dressed. I had a long day ahead of me.
Her eyes widen as I saunter into the dining room.
"Why are you wearing my school's uniform?" She stammers.
In a heartbeat, I lean in only a centimeter away from her.
"Why do you think?"
