Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN SAMURAI DEEPER KYO...happy reading ^.^

Chapter 2 –Treading the shallow waters

[The last chapter finished with Yuya going with Megumi to get the sake; all the while the manager and Henry were feeling uneasy with what will happen].

"Lucky~ I can't believe they gave us these for free!" she grinned driving back to the restaurant, but something didn't sit well in her guts "Are you sure this is really alright? They might need the money and we didn't exactly just take a barrel they gave us three whole barrels you know." Megumi nagged on as she turned the wheel. When there was no response she took a quick glance at Yuya and found her very much lost in thought with heavy eyes.

"You didn't get much sleep last night?" her voice suddenly changing got Yuya's attention

"What?" she answered pathetically.

"Sleep ever heard of those?" Megumi sighed as she pulled the hand break indicating their arrival.

Rolling her eyes and taking off her seatbelt Yuya answered weakly "Yes and I've been getting enough" there are a lot of people with different things that they're not good at and lying just happens to be the one for Yuya so changing the subject she quickly said "now come on the guests might have arrived already we took longer than expected."

The reason they were late was that upon their arrival they were immediately surrounded by children as the place was a small traditional Japanese house for young orphans. Not only that it seemed the elderlies at the house didn't receive much guests for they were utterly fascinated by the van and Megumi what with her pink hair (dyed of course), full make up and dark skin. They all thought she was some sort of theatre actress from abroad of course her blue contacts didn't help either.

Yuya finally said that they were there to buy some sake it immediately caused a debate as the owner refused to be paid by Yuya and when Megumi offered to pay they were horrified even more with the thought of letting her pay. When they finally came to an agreement the girls then forgot about the fact that a barrel of sake isn't exactly lightweight and they of course could not let the elders carry it for them. The two then carried each barrel together from the house to the van which took even more of their time.

Sighing Megumi followed her to the back of the restaurant and ordered the staff to help carry the barrels all the while thinking on having a word or two with Henry about Yuya.

Whilst Megumi was off Henry hunting, Yuya was in the ground floor staffroom replying to the messages on her phone and began to feel very lightheaded from fatigue. It was a mistake to ride in the van as it gave her body a moment to feel what it lacked, which was sleep and lots of it. But Yuya refused to give up now, she was so close to her goal that she would even risk her own health for it. She then made her way back to the main restaurant. But in doing so it would mean she would have to walk pass up the staircase then through the long hallway in order to get back to the first floor.

As Yuya made her way up the staircase she began to feel her body screaming even more for rest, yet she forced her feet one step at a time as she dragged her body to the hallway leaning on the wall for support. She allowed the walls to guide her much like a GPS back to the main reception of the first floor as her eyes squinted with heaviness. Now if someone was to have witnessed this scene she would surely be mistaken for a blind woman as Yuya felt the walls in her palms with eyes closed. Feeling the corner of the wall and space beyond that Yuya recognised that she was at the end of the hallway, so pushing against the wall she turned, right remembering the way.

Before Yuya could fully process that she had collided with something hard yet warm and landed on her back on the floor she heard someone say mockingly with a bored undertone "You blind?!".

Meanwhile back at the bar Megumi finally hunted down Henry and was in the middle of having a serious conversation, which is a rarity in itself because if they're not biting each other's throats off they're mostly mocking the other.

"Wait, what are you talking about again?" Henry unintelligently huffed.

"Are you deaf?!" Megumi raised but remembered now was not the time to argue with the dopey 6ft 2inch worth of brain, taking a deep breath she tried again "I said we need to do something about Yuya!"

"Why is there something wrong with her?" Henry asked in the middle of serving a few customers. Seeing that this was not got anywhere if Henry was still in the bar serving, as Megumi knew that Henry wasn't exactly great at multitasking, so she asked another staff member to cover for Henry whilst she takes a few minutes to speak to him in private.

"Now look here, we both know and can clearly see that the child is really lacking some sleep, but I think there's something more going on here. And we both know how stubborn she can get about not worrying other people so I think it's best if you speak to her about what's going on with her. Because if this keeps up I swear that child will end up at A&E faster than the manager downing a whole bottle of rosé…I'm really worried Henry." Megumi rushed feeling more anxious by the second about Yuya's condition, she had never seen her so worn out before that it almost seemed like the girl was sleeping with her eyes open during the ride back to the restaurant.

Now Henry was truly grasping the situation and his stress levels were rapidly increasing, because A. yes he somehow knew it in his gut that something wasn't right with Yuya and B. Megumi never addressed his given name unless it's something worrisome, sighing heavily "I know and I understand. I'll try and speak to her, but like you said we both know her stubbornness. Nonetheless I will do my best Megumi. In the meantime try and lessen her workload if you can I don't want her bumping into things or passing out."

With that seeing Megumi understood Henry made his way back to the bar but turned around and said "Oh and make sure she leaves on time, her shift finishes in 15. I'll stop by her house tonight for that conversation, but if you get hold of her first take that chance to start it off- the conversation I mean you'll never know she might listen."

As Henry got back to the bar routine his mind was elsewhere. He knew that talking with Yuya for the first time about her matters would get him nowhere as the child has always been stubborn and made it a law unto herself, not to trouble others be it her friends or family. So Henry started to piece together the things he knew were out of place with the girl.

First there was the strange emptiness in her house at night. Henry for the last week has been trying to get hold of Yuya during the night at her house but every time he came to visit, the house gave off that empty feeling as if no-one was home. The lights were off except for one a very faded light at one of the inner rooms of the house.

The world be damned if he'll tell anyone what he knew for a fact that he was absolutely terrified of anything ghostly like an eerie house or haunted houses and even the dark. This of course was why he chose to rent an apartment 5 minutes away from the restaurant so he didn't have to drive far in the dark or walk in the dark for a certain amount of time. So Henry was absolutely scared beyond his wits about going to Yuya's house at night, especially since no matter how many times he knocks or shouts Yuya's name no-one ever answers, no-one human that is, only the sound of an owl or an eerie silence.

So he concluded that Yuya was hardly ever home at night, well from what he found out at least for a week now. But the question remains if Yuya wasn't home then where on earth is she at? Surely not clubbing the girl hated crowds of drunkards with no awareness of their own actions.

Secondly, there was her strange awareness of time. Yuya was so meticulous about the time it was almost unnerving as if her life depended on it. Along with the time keeping, there were the strange messages he could sometimes read on her phone, asking if she was free and the amount of hour she wanted. Now Henry wouldn't be so anxious of this if it was her beau asking or a close friend, but the problem was it came from different numbers each time, whilst some were vague others were detailed. Of course he couldn't read the whole message but he read enough to know that it was either some sort of shady business or it was work. Again, the problem was that it came from different numbers. So he could only conclude that Yuya might be working more than one job or even more than two jobs.

The question then is why would she need to work a lot of different jobs, sure it's not possible for her to work as a permanent here at the restaurant. The place has only been requiring a weekend part-timer, this way even college students can apply. The restaurant even accepts applications from high school students, that is, of course if their school allows the students to take up a part time job. As Henry thought more about it, did Yuya even go to school?!

Henry then puzzled all of these together and came to a conclusion that A. it was hardly unlikely Yuya is going to school or if she's even enrolled in one, B. she has more than one part-time job and C. she's hardly ever home because of her part-time job. As he concluded these it made the hairs on Henry skin rise to the thought that the child was trying to end herself up on A&E indeed as Megumi had said, sooner than the manager can down a bottle of rosé. He had to something, anything to stop her from doing all these crazy part-time jobs, he didn't know the reason why but he'll leave that up to Megumi to find out, he doesn't think there'd be much point in going to Yuya's tonight when there's a high chance she won't even be home.

"I-I'm so sorry sir" Yuya quickly apologised realising it must have been a customer by looking at the black ripped jeans and the rugged high cut motorbike-type boots. Although she failed to process the fact that she was still sat on the floor, Yuya did notice one thing- the voice of the stranger.

The deepness of the voice was warm but the touch of harshness and indifference was cold. Yet somehow it drew her very being to it giving her a sense of nostalgia as if her soul remembers its deepness, huskiness and timber, it was almost melancholic.

"Um," after a few moments Yuya had finally processed everything in her mind and she hastily stood up only to find the stranger had already walked off, "probably to the lavatory" Yuya thought and thinking more of how she would have liked to have at least had a look of what he looked like.

She stood still looking at the man in the distance, unconsciously observing and noting everything she could see on his back- his prideful posture, the confident stride, the defining broad shoulders but lither hips almost like a professional swimmer's physique yet so much more defined and refined like a sculpture "a model or probably an actor" she thought. Still looking on Yuya was surprised to see red, but not just any shade of red like rouge, no the colour looked more layered and complex, "like a mane of royal velvet amaryllis, perhaps?!" she thought but was brought to reality by Megumi who run up to the poor girl and dragged her to the first floor's staff room.

"Talk!" Megumi commanded hovering over Yuya who was forced to sit down on the sofa.

"Eh?" she answered confusion but thought that perhaps Megumi has seen what had happened and demanded what occurred between the customer and herself "Oh no I just bumped into him that was all. Did you manage to see what he looked like? I wonder if his eyes resembled the amaryllis in his hair."

"What? What are you talking about? Bumped into whom, what customer?" Megumi addressed her patience wavering for the always dazed child.

"No I mean, okay what do you mean?"

"Alright, listen up kid. Henry and I have been wondering if there's anything wrong or if there's anything going on with you. We're not exactly blind. You need rest Yuya and plenty of it, the only problem is you haven't been getting any and I think it's not because you don't want to it's more like you haven't got a choice or something. So what's going on?" Megumi sat down next to Yuya as she tried to reason with her. Looking at Megumi Yuya saw her sincerity over her wellbeing and became compelled to tell her, she didn't want to trouble her. And seeing her waver Megumi pushed once more "please Yuya just tell me what happened."

"I…I was living abroad. Then one day I got a letter from a close friend of my grandfather. It said my grandfather was ill but refused to go to the hospital. So he got a doctor to visit my grandfather from his home and the doctor advised my grandfather to get a test done. But he still refused it all. Grandfather's friend said that each day he would get worse, one time he found my grandfather wandering the streets and shouting my name. He said grandfather was looking for me. So I wrote back saying I'm coming to Japan and stay with my grandfather for some time. After arriving here I checked my grandfather in the hospital right away. But it would seem fate would have been too cruel on me if she didn't plan on increasing the situation more". In her sarcasm Megumi asked "What do you mean? Did something else happen?"

"A week after arriving and with my grandfather at the hospital, I received a visit from a lawyer. He said that his client who had originally approached my grandfather for the land demanded the rest of his consent by signing the rest of the papers, so that he could have complete ownership of the land. He said my grandfather already agreed with his client as he showed me the papers, and yes some of it was signed by my grandfather. But as I thought about my grandfather's condition I tried to reasoned with the lawyer and told them there was nothing I could do since I'm not my grandfather's-I mean I wasn't my grandfather." She paused but Megumi egged her on.

"And well he just repeated himself saying my grandfather would have to sign the rest otherwise there was a possibility of him ending up in jail. Apparently my grandfather agreed because he needed the money to pay off my school tuition abroad and that his client already paid 80% for the down payment. Now at this point I knew my instincts were right-there was something shady going on so of course I didn't tell them that my grandfather was ill and currently staying in the hospital. And so I-"

"Wai-wait a minute, why did think it was bogus?" Megumi interrupted trying to process everything in her mind, she was starting to feel a little slow probably the 10 shots of gin she just downed earlier was kicking in. She drunk to give her some sort of strength in talking with Yuya and now she was feeling slightly giddy.

"Well I-"

"Was it his name card?"

"No it wasn't his-"

"Ah I bet it was his hairstyle or his appearance he probably didn't look hot enough for a lawyer" now she was truly feeling the effects, but she was still sober and thought a glass or two of warm water would calm her down a bit. 10 shots of gin was nothing she couldn't handle.

"What? No it was none of those, like I said just instincts" and Yuya thinking something wasn't exactly perfect with Megumi made her a fresh cup of home-made camomile tea and sat back down and mumbled "and besides I wasn't going to school." As she saw that Megumi didn't seem to caught on, she took a deep breath and started again.

"Anyway, as I figured that out I told him there was nothing I could do, because my grandfather went to visit his sister in the countryside and that I didn't know which countryside since I've just arrived from abroad. And that grandfather didn't know I was coming since I wanted to surprise him for his birthday but after arriving no one was at the house so I called him and he said he was on his way to the countryside." Yuya continued explaining to a less giddy Megumi.

"And then what? He didn't ask you why you didn't ask your grandfather where in the countryside he's at?" she said after taking a sip of the tea and smelling it, by now Megumi was feeling much better.

"No, I made sure to tell him I didn't get a chance since grandfather hanged up on me before I could ask him anything else and played the whole sad poor abandoned child act. Anyway I went to the hospital the next day and asked my grandfather directly, now the odd thing was that my grandfather said he never made such a deal nor even signed anything." Yuya worriedly said playing with her fingers and remembered what had happened that day she went to visit her grandfather.

"Ojii-sama are you sure you don't remember signing anything or coming into contact with anyone wanting to buy the land? I mean maybe it was when you got drunk and-" she was sitting at the side of the bed taking her grandfather's hand in hers and she plastered a pleading look on her face.

"Drunk? I haven't drunk a single drop of sake ever since" he stopped himself feeling rather remorseful and feeling that Yuya might caught up with what he had meant quickly added in a more aggressive tone to divert her attentions "I've never gotten drunk on anything in my life!"

"W-well yes I know ojii-sama but-" Yuya tried again but failed as her grandfather once more loudly bellowed. "Besides drunk or not, they'd have to have my corpse before I'd give them that land!"

"Now listen here Yu-chan that land is very precious to me." He continued quietly and then signalled for Yuya to come closer to him as he said "That land was the place where I and my irreplaceable nakama once lived, it's also the place where I met your grandmother, got married there and had children there. No Yu-chan not even beyond my grave would I let someone other than my bloodline have that land! I made a promise to them that I would look after that land; I made a promise to keep the tradition, just as my father and grandfather had." There was something nostalgic yet sorrowful in her grandfather's expression that made Yuya's heart clench.

"I know ojii-sama, you've told me the stories many times…I just wish there was something I could do, I mean no matter how many times a look at the papers it truly is your signature-"

"Bah! Signed the papers up my wrinkling a-"

"Ojii-sama!" Yuya respectfully reprimanded, not at all surprise at her grandfather's behaviour.

"Never I say! If they want the land then let them show me those papers I'll rip 'em to shreds and feed it to the demons!" Now Yuya was becoming concerned her grandfather was becoming restless and saw an oncoming fit so she quickly pressed the buzzer for the nurse, at the same time trying to calm her grandfather down "Ojii-sama that's enough please. I understand okay, so just please relax and have a rest ojii-sama deep breaths" albeit unsuccessfully "Nurse?! Nurse?!"

"Listen here Yuya you protect that land you hear! I promised them Yu-chan. They will be back; it's almost time for them to gather again. You-" her grandfather began huffing out of breath and shaking uncontrollably. Yuya sat on the bed and softly in a melodic way "Ojii-sama?! Ojii-sama please I beg you calm down it's alright please, it's alright ojii-sama it's alright" taking her grandfather in her arms and laying his head on her chest as she shook with him all the while her free hand repeatedly buzzed for someone.

After a few seconds of soothing her grandfather began to calm but it made Yuya all the more frightened as his breath became shallower and before she could grab her grandfather's hand he turned to face her and with much difficulty huffed "Yuya, I beg of you protect the land."

"Ojii-sama? O-ojii-sama? Ojii-sama please!" Yuya quickly turned so she faced her grandfather fully and shakily began to shake him awake "Ojii-sama please! Please ojii-sama don't please, please don't do this to me! Damn it nurse! Nurse?! Doctor?! Please doctor?! Anyone please HELP?! Please. OJII-SAMA!"

Next time on Gakuen Deeper Taku!

"I'm afraid he'll need to have another operation" – "I-I don't understand. What do you mean another one?"

…..

"Mr. Perfect?! Oh please!" – "Yup and his supposed 'lady friend' is a real Mary Sue"

…...

"High school?! Did the two of you finally decided to get married or something?!" – "We're serious! It's either school or one job only and a part-time might we add!" – "Oh great, you decide to act parental now?!"

…..

"Are you blind and deaf dog face?" – "And you must be seriously deranged sir if you think I'd serve you without that ID."

….

"I expect you to get the job done." – "I won't let you fail."

Japanese translations to English ^.^

(formal/respectful) Ojii-sama – Grandfather

Nakama – compatriot/friend/comrade/crew/allies

Sake – an alcoholic beverage in Japan made from fermented rice. Its equivalence in English-speaking countries is rice wine.

If you have any questions/queries about the story or plotline, the characters or anything at all about Gakuen Deeper Taku you're more than welcome to ask away .

Thank you for reading, feel free to comment, favourite, follow or all of the above ^.-