Race Begin!

Maya was amazed when she reached Masumi's home. She never imagined him living in a mansion. She always imagined him living in his office, doing nothing besides work!. She became lost in his home only to stumble across a room with a painting of a beautiful woman.

"MAYA!" Masumi barked. He began looking for her. Strolling casually past maids, butlers etc. But breaking into full speed looking for her. He finally found her, in the storage room with the painting of his long forgotten mother.

"Maya!" He scolded.

She slipped off the stepstool. Only to hit ground side down.

She rolled over and panted. Rubbing her left elbow and knee.

Already on his knees beside her, he asked.

" Chibi- chan, are you okay?

" I'm alright." She sat up " Who is she, the beautiful woman in the painting. She's so pretty but she looks sad, I don't get it."

"You're one of the few people who noticed, that's my mother. I always thought she looked sad, but everyone I know says no."

" You had a mother?"

" Do you know how children are brought into the world? If you don't we can get an educational video for you."

"Yes I do, I'm 17 going on 18! "

"Exactly! My point to prove that was a really dumb question."

"Masumi, why have you never talked about your mom much?"

"She died in a fire when I was young, she was sick anyways."

"I'm sorry to bring that up."

"It's okay."

" There's something more behind that isn't there. And would that reason explain why you are so cold?"

" You Don't need to worry yourself on that."

" THERE IS ISN'T THERE, TELL ME NOW!" She exclaimed.

" I refuse."

" Fine, I guess I will spread a rumor that you don't like women and that you're gay!"

" It wouldn't quite work chibi-chan."

"Yes it will, you're 28 and unmarried! All you do is work!"

" Are you sure that's all I do?" He winked.

" That's disgusting!" Maya gasped when horror consumed her face.

" No it's not Maya. Everyone has needs."

" You're sick! Sick!"

Masumi was glad they were off the subject of his mom. Before he knew it she was gone again. He had no idea where she went. It was like playing hide and seek with a large kindergartner.

She was in his room reading his old journal he didn't remember he had. She was a quick reader and by the time he found her (about 45 minutes) she was crying.

"Maya you had me worried si….." He stopped in his tracks to see her face red.

" You're father is a cruel man Masumi! Cruel! I now see why you are so cold!"

" He loved no one but himself, he was the one who made my mother die."

" I need to find him!"

"No Maya, don't!"

She dodged past him and screamed bloody murder when he pulled her arm. She kicked him in shin, causing him to let go of her. She stopped and asked a maid where she could find Eisuke Hayami.

The Maid pointed to the right and she asked the maid to leave. She slammed the door opened and gasped. The old man who attended her first show was sitting in a wheelchair. She walked over to him, wiped her tears. And mentioned the word cruel under her breath.

The old man exclaimed "Maya, my favorite actress, you came to visit me!"

She yelled "No I did not!" He was scary indeed, his old eyes bore into your soul. She mourned for Masumi. "You only said that because I am the next candidate for The Crimson Goddess!"

He was shocked at the implication, " What makes you think such a thing? Eisuke asked..

" You don't love your son! All because of The Crimson Goddess!" You valued a play over you family!" Maya cried.

" It's not a play Maya, it's living, it's real!" Eisuke gently replied.

She became aware of the fact that he might not be mentally stable after saying that. It was disturbing indeed. She felt the urge to cry for Masumi.

"You're sick! You trained your stepson to be a work demon and you left him in the hands of kidnappers for only a million dollar ransom. You're company makes that in one day! How could you!" She spat.

"I was training him to be a wise businessman in the future, Maya." Eisuke calmly replied.

" But what if they really killed him, he had to escape them! That's not very wise Eisuke!"

" Don't you think it's rude disrespect me like that, call me Mr. Hayami" Eisuke replied.

"I refuse, you are banned from seeing my premiering play next month!" Maya Yelled

Eisuke shot her a dangerous glare. Then he asked her why she considers the play to be just a play.

She replied that it is living, it depends on your view. Once you experience that place where the fable originated. You know it's true. She answered it's a beautiful play indeed that touched the hearts of many. But it's not living until you reach the afterlife. When you meet the Crimson Goddess, while you're still alive, you know she's real. But he couldn't feel her touch because he was so obsessed with having her, instead of meeting her.

Eisuke knew in his heart this was true. But he didn't want to accept it. Masumi walked in as soon as Maya finished her statement. He was worried when he saw his fathers face. He stood up from his wheelchair and grabbed his cane. Masumi told Maya to back away, but she wanted to prove she wasn't afraid of him.

Whack! Was the sound of Eisuke's cane hitting Maya's face.

She hit the ground with a loud thud. Masumi Froze up and his heart began to race. Eisuke began to lean into Maya's face which was bleeding, and exclaimed how rude she was.

She rolled over and mentioned that what he did was wrong and that he could still make it right. And unless he did, he could not see her play. She stood up and looked him straight in the eye and said her short prayer for him out loud. That someday God could show him the real meaning of love.

Instead of kicking her out of the house. He was going to call her later that day. He was attracted to this girl's sense of justice and her passion for his stepson. He was considering arranging a marriage for Masumi to her.

Maya held her mask until she walked down the stairs into his room and cried. Masumi asked her why would she do something so stupid. She replied because it was right . She was broken for him and he felt awful, he called for a nurse to tend to her and asked her if she wanted to eat, but she refused everything he tried for her. She fell asleep and he became tired, stressed and worried for her. He didn't want to leave her alone in fear of his father throwing her out into the snow. So he went into the chair across from his bed and fell asleep there.

He woke sometime later to hear her shivering and pulled the blanket on her. He sat on the bed on fell asleep on the bed with her.

A nurse came by to check on Maya and was shocked to see her serious Demon boss sleeping peacefully next to a girl who took a beating for him.

She called for no one to disturb his room until he called for it. She told his father nothing of what she saw.