"Where are you going?" Bankotsu glared up as he played cards with Koga and Suikotsu in the living room. She had been in her room since she came back, apparently staying at a friend's.
His sister was dressed in a black, halter-top, mid-thigh length dress with her heels.
"Out." She smiled.
"With…?" He glared and she felt the others shift their gazes.
"This guy I met." She blushed and Bankotsu stood up.
"Not him?"
"No." She looked down and Bankotsu crossed his arms.
"What's his name?"
"Isamu." She answered shyly.
"Is he picking you up?" He smirked a little.
"Yeah…he should be here soon." She looked to the clock. "You can meet him." She offered and he smiled. As if on cue, a red Mustang pulled in. A car door shut and there was a knock on the door. Bankotsu answered and smiled at the sight of a normal looking guy with roses in his hands.
"Is Masumi home?" He smiled.
"Yeah…" Bankotsu let him in. "Isamu, right?"
"Yeah…hey, you look beautiful." He pecked Masumi's cheek and handed her the flowers.
"Thank you."
"Where are you going?"
"Just a restaurant and maybe a movie." He shrugged.
"Alright….midnight good?" Bankotsu asked and Masumi rolled her eyes.
"Sounds fine." He shook Bankotsu hand and Masumi wrapped her arm around his. She pecked Bankotsu's cheek before walking out. He opened the door for her and Bankotsu watched from the window.
"He seems nice." Bankotsu smiled.
"Yeah, if you like cornballs." Suikotsu mumbled. He waved back to Masumi as she drove off.
-
Masumi smiled as they turned the corner.
"You owe me big time." Isamu scruffed up his hair and sped the car up. Masumi tensed when two hands grabbed her shoulders from the backseat.
"Get your ass back here." He whispered and she blushed.
"Honestly, I was the kind of guy I beat up for actin' funny!" Isamu groaned. "And watch the leather!" He barked as Masumi crawled in the back. Hiten wrapped his arms around her waist and heatedly kissed her, causing light moans to escape her lips.
"Shut up….and drive…" Hiten ordered between kisses.
"Here you are….all asses out." Isamu grumbled. Hiten helped Masumi out and she adjusted her dress.
"You look amazing." He pecked her cheek as she adjusted her hair and watched her blush. "Do you have it?" He signaled for her left hand.
"Yeah I just…" She looked down.
"Could you wear it….for tonight?" He asked sheepishly. She shrugged and pulled it out of her purse. He snatched it and slid the ring on her finger. He gently lifted her hand and kissed the top of it. She giggled and wrapped her arm around his and rested her head on his shoulder.
He pulled out her chair and she nodded in thanks.
"I like that dress." He eyed her up and down.
"Thanks…" She smiled. "Happy birthday…" She leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. He slid his tongue in her mouth and she moaned. The waiter cleared his throat and she blushed before pulling away.
"I was busy." He barked and she nudged him. "My usual…what do you want?"
"Pasta." She smiled. "Water for me."
"Wine." Hiten smiled. "So….did you think about it?" He held her left hand in his palm and stroked the top of the ring with his thumb.
"I-I'm still not sure."
"Calm down…nobody's hurting you." He kissed the top of her hand gently and she looked down.
"Sorry…"
"Masumi, it's alright…did you tell him?"
"No." She whispered.
"Are you going to?"
"I…I'm still scared…he'll want to go after you again and…" Tears started glistening in her eyes. He tilted her chin so she faced him.
"We don't need to talk about it…" He whispered and she nodded. He held her hand and sighed, knowing she was uncomfortable now.
"I like this song…" She whispered.
"And?" He scrunched his nose, almost knowing what was coming next.
"Can…you dance with me?"
"I don't dace slow." His brows knotted together.
"Please? It'll make me feel better." She teased.
"If I slow dance, you club dance?"
"I don't want to go to a club…" She frowned.
"We won't drink…just one dance. Then, if you want, I'll take you home." He offered.
"Alright." She agreed. He stood up and held his hand out to her. She smiled and happily took it. He led her to the dance floor and sighed, wrapping both arms around her waist. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him close.
"I love you…" He whispered and she giggled, nuzzling into his hold. "I won't leave you…ever…"
"Thank you…" She whispered.
-
"Right this way." Bankotsu held out his arm and let Yura in, with Kagura no longer with him. She smiled and walked ahead. They sat down and he smiled at her.
"Aw, look at that couple." She pointed out and he turned his head.
"Nice." He went back to face her but his eyes got wide. He looked back over and snarled, feeling his temper boil.
"What's wrong?" Yura whispered and he held his head, not up for making a scene or hurting Masumi. He glanced again through the corner of his eyes and saw Hiten's hands lower down his sister's back before giving a firm squeeze.
"Yura, get in the car." He glared.
"But…"
"Please." He whispered. He stood up, grabbed her wrist, and dragged her out. He got in the driver seat and reached for his phone. With shaky hands, he dialed out Koga's number.
"Yo?...Koga….I have an 'errand'…bring your lighter and get gas….lots of it." He whispered and hung up before speeding off.
-
She smiled and excitedly took off her heels in the car before jumping out. He rolled his eyes and caught up with her. He agreed the beach would be better than a club…at least with her.
"When's the next time I'm getting laid?" He whispered.
"Never." She smiled. He wrapped his arms around her waist and she giggled.
"Oh yeah?"
"Mhm…you'll be sexless forever." She teased.
"I might just need to do something about that." He smirked.
"Oh really?"
"Yeah…I might just need to sweep you off your fucking feet." He smirked and she glanced over her shoulder. He looked over it and closed his eyes, pressing his lips against hers. She leaned in and he loosened his hold on her waist, allowing her to turn around.
She grabbed the back of his head and he moaned lightly. He moved his lips to her neck and she pushed him off.
"Slow down?" She blinked and he groaned. She sat down on her knees in the sand and he sat beside her, childishly pouting. She rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arm around his. "I love you…"
"Then say yes!" He faced her.
"Hiten, I…"
"You want me, you love me, then fucking marry me! I would do anything for you, Masumi….I'd give up the fucking world to know that I'm the only guy you want to be with…" He stroked her cheek as he finished.
"I'm sorry I…" She stopped when he crashed his lips against hers. He held the back of her head as she heatedly returned his kiss. His hands pulled out the top half of her hair that was neatly pulled back as he laid her down gently against the cool sand.
She moaned in his mouth as he deepened the kissed and his hands wandered her body. Her back arched as he slid his hands up her thighs and under her dress.
"Hiten…" She whispered as he pulled away.
"I love you…" He frowned.
"Yes." She mumbled and his eyes glistened happiness. "I…I want you….only you." She smiled. He leaned forward to kiss her again.
-
"Take care of yourself…" He whispered as he pulled in her driveway and she adjusted her hair one last time.
"Goodnight…" She leaned forward and brushed her lips against his.
"You gunna hide that?" He smirked at the ring. She blushed and tucked it in her bra. "Love you."
"Love you, too." She pecked his cheek and walked out. "Sorry I'm…late…" Her voice trailed off as she walked inside. Bankotsu, Koga, and Suikotsu sat on the couch cracking up, watching a special on forest fires on Discovery Channel.
"Huh? Oh…hey Masumi." Bankotsu snickered. She glared and picked up the bunch of empty beer bottles.
"Fires must sure suck…" Koga snickered.
"So….flamey…" Bankotsu stifled laughter.
"What is wrong with you guys?" Masumi scrunched her nose as she walked back in.
"Nothing…sit down gorgeous!" Bankotsu patted the spot beside him and she rolled her eyes. "So how was your date?"
"Good…" She shrugged, smelling the alcohol on his breath,
"Did you get any?" He teased.
"Bankotsu!" She snapped and all three guys laughed.
"Its getting' hot in here, so take off all your clothes!" Koga slurred and sang.
"I am getting' so hot, I wanna take my cloths off!" Bankotsu sang the woman's part and Masumi buried her face in her hands out of embarrassment.
"You know what else is hot?" Suikotsu smirked. "Fires!" He said and it got silent. Then, he, Koga, and Bankotsu nearly fell on the floor laughing.
"What is with you and fires?" She growled.
"We're pyro-maniacs!" Koga smiled.
"You know what…I don't even want to know!" She held up her hands and went to leave.
"Masumi, we're just joking…wanna beer?" He offered.
"No." She crossed her arms.
"Why? Pregnant?" He snickered and her face got blank. Then they all started laughing again. "Whoo, I kill me…" He wiped a tear of laughter from his eye and Masumi nervously joined in.
"Ha, ha…funny…"
"But seriously Masumi, fires are dangerous…listen to that bear who talks about fires and shit and stay away." He said seriously and she blinked. "They're dangerous!"
"Especially with gas involved." Koga agreed.
"Riiight…I'm….going to bed…" She walked away.
"You should stay away from Hiten too…" He mumbled while turning his attention back to the TV and she stared blankly before bolting up the stares.
-
Hiten yawned as he drove. He rolled his eyes and pulled over on the road as the fire truck with flashing sirens drove by. He sighed as he got back on the road. His eyes got wide when the truck turned down his street. He leaned forward to look and saw smoke rising.
He quickly turned and gasped at the sight of his house engulfed in flames. He ran out of the car.
"Stay back, sir." An officer warned.
"Fuck off…this is my fucking house!" He pushed him aside and ran as close as he could. He remembered Souten was sleeping out at her friend, Kanna's, but Manten was supposed to be home.
"Manten!" He yelled as loud as he could, feeling his fear build up. He heard the officers and firefighter's warnings but ignored them. "Manten!" He shouted again as loud as he could. He fell to his knees and buried his face to his hands. "Manten…." He whispered letting one tear of sorrow fall down his cheek. He saw a piece of paper on his gate and stood up. He frowned when he read it.
'You were warned'