~ Author's Note ~
Hi everyone! I'm so sorry for the late updates! TT_TT You see, it's not easy working on four multi-chapters what with homework, school, tuitions and a lot of other things in the mix (especially with my exams coming in March QwQ) . . . . . . . . . but I promise to update twice every month! (If not more than that :D) So please stay with me cause it's your reviews, favorites and follows that keep me going!
Special thanks to Zhane17, Fede 194, Rose Rain 7, Marchioness Scarlet, Nakumare, Dennou Writer, Nayrael, Vampire Princess, The Crest of Anubis, Dark Lord 5198, Kuro Shiro Neko-Chan, Night Dreamer, Night Star 09 and Silver Gold Moonlight for the lovely support! :D Big thanks to the other readers as well!
Reviews are appreciated. Enjoy! :D
Ch. 6 – A Dangerous Man
"Cookie, come here!" she called out to the white pug, who gave a cute "Woof!" as it rushed over to her. Kana laughed in delight as the mammal licked her frivolously on her cheek, not minding that the said body part was getting drenched with dog saliva. Looking at her Barbie wrist watch, she gasped when she saw it was 5:33. Mama had told her to come before 5:30.
Getting up, she dusted her dark blue dress before waving goodbye to her friends who were still playing on the swings. The fourth-grader tightened the rubber band on her side ponytail as she took Cookie's leash, walking out of the park.
Walking on the sidewalk, Kana suddenly began to get an impending feeling in her chest. It was what she'd called un . . . . . un . . . . what you called that? Yeah, 'unpleasant.' She felt something bad was gonna happen soon.
But being the fourth grader she was, she shook it off just as any normal kid would. She turned to the intersection where she was supposed to take the right and waited patiently till the light went green. She was the only one standing except for a young man whom she didn't notice properly.
As soon as the light turned green, Kana walked across with Cookie, checking once more to make sure the light was green. She didn't like the 'unpleasant' feeling one bit but then again, it wouldn't be 'unpleasant' if she liked it, didn't she? Her sensei always told her that the word 'unpleasant' meant something which you disliked.
To her relief, the light was green. So shouldn't the feeling go away? But no, it stayed there, as if warning her of some approaching disaster. Kana decided to ignore it again and was halfway across when she heard a loud honk.
Light. Two pairs of brightly flashing white lights.
A deafening scream.
A raucous screech.
She felt a pair of strong arms grab onto her and thrust her across the sidewalk. It hurt a lot when she crashed onto the concrete sidewalk on her rear. Her ankle felt twisted and she let out a small yelp but then something red and sticky covered her clothes and body.
And she realized Cookie's leash wasn't in her hand anymore.
"Ienaga-san?" a familiarly seductive voice called out, as Kana's eyes fluttered open. Looking up, she noticed her friends and Rikuo Nura staring at her worriedly.
Wait . . . . . RIKUO NURA?!
Kana got up with a start and stared at her surroundings curiously. She noticed she was in bed in the nurse's office – though how she got here, was a total mystery for her. Staring at her friends, as if demanding a silent explanation, she was interrupted by Natsumi who burst into tears on seeing her awake and bear-hugged her friend, almost suffocating the brunette. "I'm so glad you're awake, Kana-chan!" the cat-eyed girl wailed "We were so worried!"
For once, Kana reveled in the feeling of the greenhead's lung crushing embrace. "I-I'm glad to see you too" she managed to choke out. She was thankful when Saori pulled the sobbing girl away. However, the furious expression on the blonde's face made Kana brace for the scolding that was about to come.
"You should know better than to go wandering off like that!" the busty blonde practically screeched her head off "Do you know how worried sick we were for you?! If it wasn't for Rikuo-san . . . . ." her voice trailed off as she gazed admiringly at the white-haired man.
"Thank you very much for your help, Rikuo-sama" Kiyotsugu said, bowing down while the ever-faithful sidekick Jiro followed his leader's footsteps. "If not for you, we wonder for Kana-chan's fate." Kana was a bit surprised at her usually dramatic friend's formal behavior but shrugged it off. She had more important queries now. But first, she had to thank her savior properly.
"Th-Thank you so much, Nura-san" she stuttered, her cheeks flaming scarlet "I'm glad you saved me but . . . . . I . . . . er . . . . . am still kinda confused . . . . ."
Rikuo took her uncertainty as cue and butted in. "Of course, of course" the young man smiled at the brunette, which cause her cheeks to flame up more "You still haven't received a proper explanation yet."
"Well, actually-" Saori took the initiative for explaining but as soon as she started, Yosuzume entered the room.
Her long, dark green hair swishing behind her, she bowed low before Rikuo – with Jiro ogling at her magnificent breasts – and turned to the students "Mr. Oni demands your presence. He said it was an emergency." The four looked at each other before turning back to Kana.
"We'll give you an explanation later" Saori said, smiling reassuringly at her.
"Go" Kana smiled back, nodding. "Don't worry, I'll be safe."
"Besides" Rikuo butted in, a smirk on his face "I'll keep her company."
So led by Yosuzume, the brunette's friends left the room. As soon as their footsteps were out of earshot, Rikuo walked towards the door and locked it – much to Kana's shock. He wasn't gonna . . . . . rape her, was he? No, no, NO! she mentally chided herself Rikuo-san is not that kind of a person!
Rikuo pulled a chair and sat directly in front of her, making the brunette stiffen. Red met brown and Kana felt like he could look deep, deep within her soul with those electrifying eyes of his. "So, Kana-chan" he interlaced his fingers and propped his chin on them, his elbows on her bed "Willing to share some discoveries with me?"
Even though he was visibly smirking, there was that malice in his voice which made Kana want to cower in fear and hide under the bed sheets forever. But he's the good guy . . . . . right? There's nothing for me to be afraid of . . . . . "I think they were assassins."
"Tell me something I don't know" Rikuo muttered under his breath, too low for the brunette to properly hear. Kana stared questioningly at him but lowered her gaze when he looked back at her. Leaning back in his chair, Rikuo asked "Something else, Ienaga-san?"
"Well" Kana's brows knit together in concentration "There were four. Three of them were males. One seemed young and quite short-tempered; one was kinda stealthy and the third one seemed to be the leader. He was calm, patient and held command over the other three."
Rikuo leaned forward in his seat, eyes glowing with interest. She's more observant than I thought. "And the fourth?" there was irrepressible curiosity in his tone.
"Well" Kana blushed at the close contact "The fourth didn't speak so I don't know much about him or her."
"How do you know so much about the other three?" Rikuo smirked, closing an eye. "Did they give you a profile on themselves?"
"N-No" Kana blushed "The second one snuck up on me while I was eavesdropping on the other three and I failed to notice. Not to brag but I'm kinda alert. So he must've been real stealthy. The first one . . . . . he . . . uh" the brunette stuttered, not knowing how to say "he somehow lost his temper with me and . . . . . and . . . . slapped me."
Anger flamed inside Rikuo. A man hitting a lady? Shameful. But he decided not to put his thought in words. "Continue."
"The third one reprimanded the angry guy for slapping me" Kana said, slightly shivering at the thought "He was the one to aim the gun to my forehead."
"In which state we found you" Rikuo said. "Anything else?"
Kana shook her head gradually but then suddenly stopped. In a tentative voice, she enquired "Um, do you have any connections with Hikage Daito Ryu? They questioned about him . . . . ." but noticing the frozen look on the white-haired man's face, she got worried "R-Rikuo-sama?" Oh God, WHAT DID I SAY?!
However, Rikuo regained his composure, his calm smile returning. "Ah Hikage, Hikage, Hikage" he stated, closing his eyes. "Do you know how we found you Kana-chan?"
"Um . . . . uh . . . . . when the leader pointed the gun at my forehead?" she unsurely answered, remembering the white-haired man's earlier statement of finding her.
"Yes" Rikuo replied, staring at her again. Leaning closer towards the scarlet girl, he muttered "Quite the observant one, aren't you?" Kana just lowered her gaze shyly. Smirking once more, Rikuo delicately held her chin between his index finger and thumb and asked "Can you keep a secret, Ienaga-san?"
The brunette, not knowing how to reply, decided to remain silent. But Rikuo's questioning gaze was too overwhelming and in the end, she just nodded.
Satisfied, Rikuo let his trademark smirk return once more as he said "Hikage Daito Ryu, the underworld assassin, works for us."
That just sent her over the edge. Wait, WHAT?! That murderous assassin . . . . . works for the Nuras?! Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, OH NO! Am I gonna get in trouble? Why, just WHY did I follow them? My life sucks! Shit . . . . Inside, the young brunette was on the verge of a panic attack. But all she said was "Oh."
And at that, the young heir burst out laughing. Brown eyes stared at the tall figure who was currently having a spate of mania. Mixed emotions of surprise, annoyance and confusion flashed through her mind. Rikuo could not control himself as he genuinely laughed after a long period of time. It wasn't one of his fake smiles and malicious grins; it was true, genuine humor that emerged from his heart.
Wiping fake tears from his eyes, the red-eyed man commented "You're an interesting person, Ienaga-san" The brunette blushed at the complimented. The two sat in silence, one staring down at the covers, thoroughly embarrassed and the other staring at the first one, amused.
However, a knock on the door brought them back to reality. "Rikuo-sama?" a muffled voice floated through the solid structure "Rihyon-sama requests your arrival. We'll shortly be returning back."
"I'll be there" the white-haired man said, getting up. Turning to the brunette, he asked "Do you have your phone?"
Kana, still dazed by the incidents today, nodded wordlessly as she reached into her jeans pocket and fished out her cell, giving it to Rikuo. As her fingers brushed against his, a strange chill passed through her body.
The sound of buttons being pressed resonated and when she looked up to see what he was doing, Rikuo returned her cell phone, his phone number clearly typed under the name 'Rikuo Nura'. Kana stared at him, a pinkish blush covering her cheeks as she quietly asked "Why?"
"That's not important now" he waved it off, walking towards the door "You'll know soon enough." Then unlocking the wooden structure, he glanced back for the last time. "See you soon, Ienaga-san. And don't forget our secret" the words were followed by a smirk and a wink, after which, he disappeared.
Kana stared after him, as old feelings began to re-emerge in her heart. I know hoping is useless; there's no way he's gonna be mine. But even if I can only dream of being together with him, it's at least better than not dreaming at all. And she stared at the doorway, a smile on her face.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Rikuo stared at the College building, as it began to disappear. Sighing, he leaned back in his seat, switching off his cell phone. Kana Ienaga, eh? That girl was interesting. He was positive that she knew more than she'd let on. He didn't wanna drag her into this mess, but there was simply no other choice.
"You seem strangely preoccupied today" Rihyon remarked, glancing at his grandson's contemplative expression "Someone caught your fancy?"
Rikuo glared at his grandpa before continuing to stare out the window. "Yeah, but not in the way you think."
"Oh?" the elder Nura drawled, smirking mischievously "Maybe you can finally get married then."
"Not again" Rikuo grunted in annoyance "Why can't you just let that topic rest?"
"But I wanna see my grandchildren before I die!" the old man childishly stated. Ao's muffled laughter could be heard from the front seat. "What's wrong with Tsurara?"
At the mention of his childhood friend, a deadly glow erupted in Rikuo's eyes. "Not her grandpa. She's nothing but a friend to me."
"Fine then" Rihyon pouted, crossing his arms "But you have to get married soon." Rikuo rolled his eyes as he cursed God for having given him such an annoying grandfather.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Are you gonna call him?" Saori asked excitedly, rolling over to Kana's side, who was staring at the number on her phone. Since the brunette had felt too afraid to sleep alone, she'd called over her two best friends for a sleepover.
"I-I don't know" she replied, confused as to her actions. Her slim finger hovered over the call button like a ghost.
"I think he's developed a thing for you, Kana-chan!" Natsumi chirped, her head propped up by her elbows. "Boys don't give their phone numbers to random girls!"
"W-What?" Kana blushed a furious shade of red; she was blushing way too much today. "That's impo-''
"I think Natsumi's right" the blonde butted in, arms behind her head. "Rikuo-san definitely has some feelings for you."
"But we only just met!" Kana reasoned, shaking her head furiously. "There's no way he'd fall for me! I'm just a homely, simple girl."
"Haven't you heard of love at first sight, honey?" the greenhead asked with a dreamy look in her eyes "It's definitely happened to you."
"Wow, when did Natsumi become so intelligent?" Saori asked, raising an eyebrow.
"All right, guys, enough of this now" Kana said, switching off the lights "We still have to deal with College tomorrow."
"Huhhhh" Natsumi stated "Wish my prince charming arrives soon."
"Yours has definitely been hit by a truck" Saori retorted.
"Waah! That's so mean, Saori-chan!"
"Kidding."
Kana sighed. Even after the lights were off, she knew the other two would continue their rants till morning probably. Giggling softly, she snuggled under the covers. She was glad to have them. And she would not change that fact for anything. "Guys?" she called out.
"Yeah?" came the reply in sync.
"I love you" Kana said, eyes peacefully closed.
"We love you too, Kana-chan!" Natsumi perked, hugging the brunette.
"I don't know what's up with you but" the blonde snuggled closer "I agree with cat eyes."
"SAORI-CHAN!"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Rikuo! I missed you so much!" were the words he was greeted with as soon as he stepped inside. Not to mention they came with a free hug. Rikuo rolled his eyes as he lightly hugged the dark blue-haired model back.
"I was gone for only a few hours, Tsurara" the white-haired man said, opening his shoes. Ao and Kuro simply bowed to her and went to their own rooms. As Rikuo walked in, Tsurara followed him, her hands behind her back.
"But we barely spend any time together!" Tsurara whined, following her best friend to the kitchen. She watched as Rikuo took out some wine from the fridge, poured it into a glass and took a sip.
"Want some?" he asked the girl. She just shook her head.
"I have to go to few inaugurations tomorrow" the model said, putting her arms around Rikuo's neck "And after that, I'll be off to Moscow for two weeks. But when I return, we're gonna go to a holiday all right?" Rikuo opened his mouth to say 'no' but the model placed her manicured nail on his soft lips. "I'm not gonna take no for an answer.
And its just gonna be me, you and nature. Okay, babe?" and she smiled so sweetly at him that it could've melted a troll's heart. But not Rikuo's.
"Fine" he replied in an irate voice, a frown on his face "We'll go wherever you want. Just . . . . get back home now. I feel too tired."
Tsurara clapped her hands together in glee and pecked Rikuo on his cheek. Then grabbing her Hidesign bag, she rushed out, shouting "See ya soon, Rikuo!" And the door slammed shut.
Rikuo sighed as he sat on a chair, taking another sip out of his wine glass. He knew he was gonna regret his decision soon. But he also knew Tsurara wasn't gonna take no for an answer.
I hate to say this but old man's probably right. I need to get married. Soon.