"Allowing the whole household to see you like this… It's not like you, Chosen."
The teenage heir didn't reply at first, panting, his eyes fixed to the blue-green ice wall of his father's. Touko remained speechless. Those weren't the eyes of a son staring at his father. Those were the eyes of a man ogling at an enemy.
"It's my reputation, why would you care? I said explain yourself, Head. You still haven't"
Byakuya was still trembling as he walked toward the table, eyeing the contents with the distrust of a chemist handling poison. He reset his glasses against his nose, his angry glare clashing with his father's indifferent one.
"Ask the System. This has nothing to do with me, the System acts independently from the Head. Remember I'm only filling in until the Heir finishes high school- two more years to go, if memory serves me right…"
All this… for her. The mood was so tense, Touko felt she should intervene. But wouldn't she make matters worse?
"Y-you shouldn't worry… B-byakuya-sama… I'm fine…"
"Worry? Fine? I don't give a damn about the likes of you, not do I remember asking how you were" the scion's reply was as harsh and chilly as Arctic wind. He didn't meet her eyes, either. "Quit nosing. This is not for you, and none of your business."
"I see you're tactful as usual, Chosen…"
Byakuya eyed Kojiro, baring his teeth. "And as usual, you like to feign ignorance, Head. Let me guess: you tricked Fukawa into coming here with the promise of meeting me, and instead left her in the hands of those System sicksters?"
Kojiro snorted mockingly.
"When you have intellectual intel in your hands, you have a keen intuition. But you're really off the mark when it comes to human beings. Let me guess, then… you know this girl as little as you know the Head?"
An icy, sarcastic smile tensed his lips. The change was so evident from his previous attitude, Fukawa couldn't help but notice. She tried to deduce what was going on, but she wasn't used at this level of emotional tug-of-war.
Was he… lying?
Had he been the entire time?
I wouldn't know who to trust anymore… I get it now, Byakuya-sama… this is how you live…
"That's hardly the point. You bought her here while I was away. She's unharmed, so you didn't use brute force. Ergo, it had to be by deceit. Try to deny that"
In this showdown of crossed retorts, no one seemed to move an inch, and now she wasn't sure who said the truth.
"Someone whose point of reference is the back of your jacket, tricked to come here because she would meet you? Bringing her on her own instead of picking her up with you? She'd come trusting me to say the truth? Honestly, you would expect me to bring you both here and save me the drama, the quarrels and tantrums… Because this young lady here put up a fight, you know…"
Touko was overwhelmed, again. She shrunk. Could she do otherwise, under scrutiny by both Byakuya's domineering stare and Kojiro's indifferent eyes?
She felt ashamed about having snarled at Kobayama. The Planner had clearly conveyed his trip experience to the Head, who was now using it against a furious Togami.
A father, using servants' gossip against a son… Unbelievable.
"You used…. the knowledge you possess on me… to try and piss me off… And you're very close to achieving your goal. How dare you trick her out of the Academy… pick her up… brainwash her… They might be common people, but what right do you think you have over my classmates?"
That was it. He was the Prince of his class, the aristocratic brains of his year's rambunctious brawn. He had been shielded and protected by the whole batch against the outer world, put at ease, made at home. Now it was his duty to repay their loyalty.
"What were you going to do? Offer her a grant so that she would leave?– Byakuya's voice matched the sarcasm in Kojiro's - It will amuse me to see you try that…"
"She isn't a trusting creature. Reminds me of you, Heir. I guess that's why you allow her around, birds of a feather, so to speak…"
Touko was grateful that her body moved at last, as she briskfully jumped forward and grabbed his sleeve. Wouldn't put killing past her love, in that situation. She could feel his shaking from his furious fist gripping, as he thundered, not looking at her at any moment:
"Let go of me. Don't you dare take the liberty of touching me again – or are you going to pay me for a new suit?"
She mumbled, trying to apologize, but as her eyes looked up, she felt her tongue going numb. Kojiro's face had morphed so incredibly in the last couple of minutes, he didn't seem to be the same person she was taking tea with. It was a mask of cold, smirking, taunting cruelty. He was enjoying Byakuya's anger. His own son's rage seemed to amuse him...
The blonde Heir muttered darkly, bloody murder echoing in his throaty voice. He strode towards the tea table, picked Fukawa's teacup and smashed it over the sugar pot. With the pincers, he extruded a tiny camera and microphone, the trembling of his hands shaking it towards Kojiro.
The bespectacled writer gave a weak cry. He had put that in the sugar pot to spy on her – caught her off guard, silly Touko, served her right for trusting him! – and use her to deride Byakuya - again! Was there no limit to his cruel calculations?!
"Recording to listen at in your chill-out moments... Filming to watch later, drinking your disgusting tea. I swear to the family gods… aren't I enough amusement? Isn't playing around with me enough to calm your boredom… that you had to bring a complete stranger to the turf?!"
Kojiro merely smirked unpleasantly at the two of them, self-satisfied as a man who has reached his goal.
"You are one to talk. Don't you like to play these little games yourself… with the servants, with your former classmates… even with all those prospective mates we took the pain of finding for you?"
With that, Touko was pushed to her limit. Reminded of the insignificant part she played in her love's life, her fragile structure, held barely by the chat with Kojiro, started creaking dangerously. She had been complimented and shouted at, questioned and reassured, swung back and forth from evil to good, never knowing if it was a tease or the truth. Byakuya wasn't looking at her. Kojiro – she was not sure on which side he was.
This time she had no support. Touko could do nothing to avoid losing consciousness…
"Kuh…"
This time, she passed away without realizing Byakuya had moved to catch her. Which he duly did, awkwardly though, as he wasn't used to pick a limp body.
She had passed out, which meant... trouble!
In realization, he took off his jacket to cover her… she shouldn't wake up, come on Fukawa… don't fucking wake up now…
"Will you look at what you have done" he snarled, trying to keep her face hidden under his jacket. "She wasn't blocking your bid… what need did you have to act that ruthless… Father?
The last word was spat, more than said. The teenager's ill will was so close to the surface, it would've been less hateful to keep calling him Head. Kojiro's face kept showing smug satisfaction as he spoke, icy rejoice in his hurtful words:
"You aren't acting sensible at all. Where are your manners? You should be thanking me… After all the trouble I took to keep the poor girl entertained!"
"Don't you dare call her… 'the poor girl'! This is the last time you badmouth what's mine!"
"Oh, I see, now she's yours. In what currency did you buy her? You must've used up just a few coins, for what she's worth…"
"I… didn't… buy her! Don't go measuring people with your own ruler… just because you paid a fortune, it doesn't mean you're able to… look at my choices from over the shoulder! And you got it all wrong… she is NOT my girlfriend, NOT I'm making out with her! She's following me everywhere out of her brittle brain of hers, and she's useful to me, period! So let her be! If you're that bored, you have me …"
"C'mon… what'sa racket? Can't a serial killer have her beauty sleep in silence and peace?"
Byakuya let out an audible gasp. She had woken.
He tried to press the jacket over her head harder to shut her up, but instead she fought back. The jacket flew up and Genocider Syo's flexible body curved straight with a strong spine pull-up.
"Are? Oh, there you are, Gifu-sama… Aaaaaaaaah! And you finally ca-ame, my perfect-faced White Knight! Were y'holding me, darin?… While you were away I met my Gifu-sama… I can see where all that beauty comes from…"
"Urusei!" barked the scion, well aware that Kojiro's smirk had grown in length and taunt. Byakuya's eyes were nothing short of bloodshot now.
"Was this what you were hoping to hide from me? Disappointing, Heir. Utterly disappointing. You dismissed all those fine ladies because you preferred this plain kid… who also happens to be a murderer?"
The fist shot forward. With ease, aware that the teen was less than confident in his body strength, Kojiro stopped his son's arms by the wrists, cruelly taunting him:
"Or was it that you wanted to have a shot at the reward the police put on her head? So like you… never happy with the wealth the family gives you… you're always finding new sources of income…"
"I told you to stop measuring me with your ruler… I'm nothing like you! What if I accept the company of a part serial killer?! She's more – human than anyone in this household !"
Syo was staring at them, red eyes glowing, insanely serious expression, scissors at the ready, but didn't move. Byakuya understood that if Kojiro inflicted any damage to his son, Genocider wouldn't hesitate to throw herself at his father's throat.
But it was a double whammy.
He wouldn't step into heirship if his father was killed: the exam would be re-staged. Said restage would be placing him in a significant disadvantage compared to his current status, under a Council that would reduce his autonomy and field of action. Syo would be incarcerated, and Fukawa with her: he would be unable to lift a finger to defend her…
He grunted, stepping back despite himself. At his side, Syo was looking at him, slightly taken aback.
We cannot take your life, and you know it, old man…
"Well then. I have five questions, and I want an answer to them all, Togami Byakuya-kun. Is this your limit, Heir and Chosen? Do you remember what happens to those who have a visible weakness in our family? Are you ready to face the risk to your position? Are you prepared to defend her in front of the System, fighting tooth and nail for her? And, more importantly… is that girl worth all the headaches?"
Togami eyed Syo with something akin to wariness. He walked one step closer to her, eliciting a seemingly endless stream of moaned baby talk from her. Contorting his face in a disgusted expression, he walked behind her and pressed his palms against her ears.
"Omae" he called out to her, holding her ears shut.
"Eh? Speak louder. I can't hear you, Byakuya-sama", she cooed.
The Heir, then, looked at the Head from over Syo's shoulder.
"Yes… to all of them" he mouthed between clenched teeth. "And I'm meaning: yes to the last one as well"