Chapter 29: Clarification (part 1)

Aikawa dragged Goda to a taxi and said, "To the place I told you…"

Goda stiffened as she finally released her. Aikawa said, "Today is the day…you promised."

Aikawa saw the mixture of emotions on Goda's face: anger, sadness, back to anger then a moan escaped her lips. Goda said in a more feminine voice, "can we wait? I am still…" Hetzumi groaned and looked away.

Goda stiffened when Aikawa snarled, "enough is enough! Conto has been avoiding me! A rabbit dies! You disappear after hearing Mio's song! A new kid in Akihiko's life! This book is…the Uke Trade-Off… Hetzumi-chan, I refuse to let you leave me until I get answers."

Aikawa glared at her and said, "you must of spoke to Conto during the party…did he tell you about his feelings for you?"

Goda glared at her and snarled, "He did, what of it?"

Aikawa sighed and said, "Conto has been depressed…and you are pissed. What happened?"

Goda turned away and said darkly, "Something I could kill him for…"

Aikawa shivered as she knew Hetzumi-chan had a small temper…but this…sounded like she really wanted to kill Conto. She quickly said, "I believe Conto could have came strong but—"

Goda groaned and said, "how would you like the man you trusted for years to rape you? Tell me THAT!" Hetzumi crossed her arms and shivered. She continued, "I do not want to speak about that asshole right now…I do not care how depressed he is…he planned this. He planned to hurt me…I…know he did."

Aikawa opened and closed her mouth. She moaned and said, "That explains some…but…Conto is not capable of rape. He is such a—"

Goda spun to her and snarled, "Sex makes men into animals! Conto is not strong enough to stop that! Do not defend him!"

Aikawa blinked very quickly and said very clearly, "Conto…no…he never forced me into sex…why…no. I do not believe it. Especially the reactions he gives me now when I mention your name…it is not cruel and heartless…he is upset. So upset that…he looks like the world has no purpose anymore."

Goda glared at her and said, "Then he should die then…I will not save him."

Aikawa stiffened and snarled, "He loves you! He always loved you! Why are you denying him your love? Don't you love him back?"

Goda stared at her and said, "it does not matter anymore…he proved his love was purely sexual than—"

SLAP, Aikawa slapped Goda and said, "You will listen to me, young lady. Conto is the best man. He is kind, respectable, and loyal…he takes your shit and lives for you! Why do you—"

SLAP, Goda slapped her back. As Goda started to sob, he said, "You could never understand! The pain…the fears…and…I…am so confused! That night…has changed me so much…I do not know what to do any more…"

Aikawa felt her face and said, "You need to see him. He is barely alive some days…he only lives to hear your voice. Please, just talk to him."

Goda snarled and turned away. He said, "I will only say…I rather see him die than come near me like that again."

Aikawa moaned and said, "Driver, stop!"

The taxi stopped as Aikawa took Goda out. They ran out as Goda tried to protest and rip away. Aikawa kept her grip on her as she said, "common! We need to see someone first!"

Goda groaned when they came to the lightly snowing park, and they approached a man in a black coat…Goda stopped dead as he stared at the man in the coat.

Aikawa sighed and said, "I am glad I wore layers…" She gave Goda her coat and tightened her scarf around her neck. She said, "Kisho, come here please."

Kisho turned as he smirked at Aikawa and Goda. He came over as he said, "Hetzumi…how are you?"

Hetzumi openly sobbed as she said, "what do you Aikawas want from me? Leave me alone! I do not want this! Maybe suicide would be better than this crap! All of this stress, people around me, and all this confusion! Please! Just leave me ALONE!" She spun and ran.

Kisho and Aikawa chased her. Aikawa never wanted this! She wanted to finalize to Kisho that Hetzumi-chan had someone else! She ran faster than her cousin as she almost caught Hetzumi…

Hetzumi slapped Aikawa's hand and said, "Leave me alone!" She slipped as she fell down the hill.

"Hetzumi!" Aikawa slid down as she touched Hetzumi-chan's back gently.

Hetzumi sobbed as Aikawa held her close to her. Aikawa cooed, "Hetzumi…I am not here to bring you back to Kisho…"

Aikawa felt Hetzumi shudder and say, "why…is he here…then?"

Hetzumi looked at Aikawa when they slightly parted. Aikawa said, "Kisho wrote a book…about your relationship and…he wanted you to read it…when it gets published in Japanese. Also…I think he still has feelings for you."

Kisho slid down the hill and said, "are you two alright? Hetzumi…Eri…what is going on?"

Hetzumi stayed in Aikawa's embrace as she said, "Kisho…we had our moment. It was fun, but…I moved on. Please, I am glad I inspired you to write but…I cannot return to the way were we. So much has changed…please, move on."

Kisho slowly lowered to the ground and growled, "I should have known! Conto…he is your partner, right?"

Hetzumi shivered and said, "I told you before! Conto and I are friends!"

Kisho yelled, "He does not seem to think so! Conto fought me multiple times for 'your honor,' but…I knew. Even from the beginning, that he loved you! He loves you so damn much…he even bought me the condoms that we used for our first time…I asked him for advice since…" He blushed and finished, "I did not know what brand to buy so…he got them for me."

Hetzumi's eyes enlarged as she said, "so…that explains why…Conto tried to stop me from seeing you…you told him! You told Conto we were going to have sex!"

Aikawa moaned, "You two had sex! You were teens when…my lord. I need alcohol…"

Hetzumi sat up as Aikawa let her go. She said, "Kisho, the past is the past…is there any other reason why you are here?"

Kisho said, "I really did love you…and…I feel that I still do! Please, I will protect you from all of this confusion…don't commit suicide. Please…I still love you so deeply. That is why I wrote that book and hoped to see you…" His eyes were so truthful and begged for Hetzumi…

Hetzumi sighed and said, "I cannot return my feelings to you."

Kisho begged, "Please…don't leave me like this…"

Hetzumi sighed and said, "I am sorry…I really am, but…I cannot love you back. Nor, I want your friendship or credit for your writing abilities. Please, leave me alone."

Kisho opened and closed his mouth. He said, "Why…" Tears streamed down his face as he sobbed, "why? Why are you like this? Even after we had sex…you were so distant…I felt I destroyed you! I was so scared to go near you…but…I felt so bad. I took your virginity…for my own selfish reasons…"

Hetzumi stood and said, "No…I did love you and gave you a piece of me…but…you told me…"

Kisho covered his ears and said, "Please do not repeat it in front of my cousin! I was stupid and young! Reckless and…no…Hetzumi…don't say it…"

Hetzumi turned and said, "You told me to become a man because I reminded you more of a man than a woman. You hated the fact that I was stronger than you in some aspects of being a man! You hated Conto! You…may have loved the innocent girl I was…but you could never respect…the pain I have been though. Kisho, you were comic relief compared to the shit I been thorough with Conto—"

Kisho stood and snarled through his tears, "That is why I hate Conto! He knows so much more than I do! Why? He is just a bodyguard, isn't he? Why do you care so much about him? You should have trusted me more than him! But you told him everything! Why? Why… Hetzumi…did you trust him more than me?"

Hetzumi said, "He has helped me through the pain…by being my friend."

Kisho's tears stopped and said, "Now I get it…" He backed away and said, "You love him…"

Hetzumi stiffened and said, "I said nothing of that sort! How did you come up with that conclusion based on the conversation we had?"

Kisho wiped his tears and said, "Your face…your reactions to his name…and…you always trusted him, and him alone. You love him…admit it."

Hetzumi snarled at Aikawa, "what did you tell him?"

Aikawa stood and said, "I told Kisho nothing…actually, Kisho told me about Conto when you two broke up. I am surprised that I never put two and two together…"

Kisho said, "Admit it, Hetzumi!"

Hetzumi turned to Kisho and screamed, "what does it matter? Conto ripped my heart apart…for sex!"

Everyone stood still as the snow continued to fall. Hetzumi's tears joined the snowflakes as she said, "I…used to love Conto, but now…I cannot love an asshole that…abuses my body…for his sick and twisted ways…" She covered his face with hands and said, "I always loved him! But I felt it was wrong…since I broke the betrothal! He was just respecting me because I asked him to be my bodyguard! There was…nothing…how can we love each other now? I am broken beyond repair…and he…will never touch me ever again. I will not allow it."

Aikawa opened her mouth when Goda's phone rang. She covered her mouth with her hands and prayed it was not Conto….

Goda glared at the phone as she said in his masculine voice, "Kisho…I will only nod and be an acquaintance. Do not expect me to be a lover, friend, or even a person to have lengthy conversations…understand?" He turned to Kisho as Kisho nodded.

Kisho said, "I understand, but please…read my book when you can."

Goda smiled and nodded. He said, "Yeah…I will. Take care, Aikawa-san."

Kisho bowed as Goda did as well. Goda walked away as Eri yelled, "Hetzumi-chan!"

Goda stalled and said, "You are not ready for that information…soon, but when I am ready. You will know." He continued to walk away as he started to talk on the phone.