-Richard? What happened? said with a worried look while approached me my my dear what happened?
In the past, whenever someone tried to address to me in a more affectionate way, I would thank the person, but I would kindly ask not to be so intimate with me; seeing that that was only for Yumi to do with me however, hearing that from this little one here didn t cause that reaction most contrary that made me feel warm and loved I decided to let her keep doing it
-Akira-chan have you ever done something that made someone really sad?
-I I think so dear - answered a confused Akira, as if taken by surprise there was one time when mommy was really sad at me because I did something bad did you do something like that?
-I lost the only thing that I believed that I really had Akira-chan - and I really broke down crying
Putting the hands on my face, I released every ounce of pain that was stored inside my heart, the tears washed my hands it was when I heard steps towards me; I looked between my fingers and saw Akira with a worried face walking towards me, with her little paws on her chin, walking towards me
I slowly took out the hands out of my face and looked at her while she approached, her small face looked really sad. Seeing my like that made that suffering come back to her, stopping on front of me, she looked at me with those angel eyes, I could notice tears also forming on her eyes, desperately trying to find a way to help me, even though she didn t have a clue on how!
-Dear please don t be that sad it makes my chest hurt It makes me sad how can I help, dear
Upon saying that, Akira began slowly caressing her small face against mine, as a cat would do when wanting to be affectionate; pressing her pink cheeks against mine, I felt her licking me gently as the authentic lovely kitten she was carefully avoiding the hurt part of my face and it was when she began sobbing
-Akira-chan what is the problem? as I looked to her, who was beginning to cry.
-D Dear seeing you crying like that made me sad sorry if I am silly but that reminded me when I saw mommy sad
Those simple, sweet and gentle words had the gift of healing the scar in my heart for a moment I forgot that pain and thought of only hugging the little girl so young and so filled with this beautiful feeling called love I knew she liked me a lot and I would do my very best as to never let her suffer ever again ever
With a big hug, which for a moment surprised Akira, I petted her head and whispered to her:
-Akira-chan please forgive me I am the silly one here I need to value more what I have not what is already gone Akira would you pardon this fool owner you have?
-S Sure you are very important to me I feel a deep pain when I see you sad dear - she said raising her ears right afterwards oh! Sorry! I don t know what overcame me! she blushed but the dear came out so naturally -Don t worry Akira-chan I said while caressing her head again you can call me however you want to I loved that you called me like that made me feel special again
Akira made me want to want to live again, even though I had just suffered the biggest setback on my life; I felt reborn, I would make it even if it was for the sake of Kikuri with the in mind, I decided to count on this little nekomimi and Enmie s help to buy her a present for my future girlfriend on the following day
Going back home; holding hands with Akira, I found both Momiji and Enmie waiting me in front of the main entrance gate; they had a serious air on them, and that made me record what happened to his brother, upon seeing me, he came to me and said:
-Richard said Momiji I would like to talk to you about what happened here and how I took care of that -Alright Momiji I replied I am all ears, go ahead.
-But Richard he said while pointing my face what happened?
-Oh! About that; you don t need to worry right now, I just slipped, fell and hurt my face.
-Please asked Enmie I ask you to listen to what he has to tell you, I am really impressed with all that; if it isn t a problem, can I stay as a observer Richard?
-Of course Enmie, if Momiji has nothing against it; I won t as well.
-Not at all, nothing against it replied Momiji.
-It is decided then, wait for me at the meeting room, I believe that talking about something that serious is not to be done standing on a front entrance gate, I shall be there in ten minutes.
Having said that, with Akira still holding my hand, I went to my bedroom and teach her how to clean, sterilize and bandage a wound. I changed my clothes, seeing that the previous one was stained on blood the same blood that was shed by my Yumi no she never had been mine I just had deceived myself for long twenty years
After cleaning and bandaging I went downstairs and noticed Enmie and Momiji already waiting for me in the meeting room, having hope in their eyes on the good outcome of this reunion; upon seeing me they stood up and after the default formalities, I said:
-I am ready, what do you wanted to talk to me?
-First, I would like to beg forgiveness for my brother s behavior.
-I forgive him with no second thoughts I replied, answer that surprised Enmie I am just curious as the motivation for doing something so impetuous would be saving you the only motive?
-That was the second motive that I wanted to deal with you Richard Momiji said.
-And that is why I wanted to be here commented Enmie because I wanted you to listen closely what Momiji has to tell you.
-Sure, go ahead please I said.
-The motive that made him do that was thanks to my imprisonment and turning into a slave; that made one of our biggest dreams be interrupted
Momiji started describing, then, what were their plans in case they hadn t been stopped by the fatality:
After our parents death, we had times of great economical difficulty; I would work begging for money to bring the very minimum in food to my brothers some time later both Kikuri and Saori appeared and together began making sweets, which I would take and sell time passed, more orphans showed up, attracted by the twin s story
We noticed we could more orphans have a chance of living a honest and legit life, without the rape threats that always lurked on orphanages; that was actually achievable in case more people, beside Momiji, helped with the bills and that began turning into reality when the other brothers slowly aged and started working; tons of people began buying and reselling Kikuri s and Saori s sweets, as they were really popular.
We were making plans on opening our own orphanage; we even had the local child protection counseling support but it all went down the drain on the day Momiji had his bank load for building the construction of the orphanage main building and was mugged on the way when the bandits tried to get the credit order he had in his possession when he reacted, he used a bit too much strength and even being unarmed, he killed the unlucky fellows the rest we already know
-That is why Marcus attacked you like that commented Momiji he believes that our dream was ruined thanks to you. Not because of my own stupidity -I understand - I began pondering.
I had something in mind it was an objective I had since the big earthquake days; but our lawyer said that it would be best to postpone the idea, as it would be a very time consuming task and would require a lot of determination something I didn t have at that time when I was younger. Momiji had given me a great idea accidentally I couldn t precise why, but I felt I could trust him as even Enmie already did.
-Momiji I said I don t think your dream has been ruined -No? he asked with a incredulous tone we lost the credit, Marcus is drowning in debts and since he is underage he cannot run an orphanage and even if he could, as soon as he completes 18 years he will be slavened for not paying his debts -Well I began with my trail of thought as you said yourself, things aren t looking good for Marcus and you but since the earthquake of 20 years ago I have been pursuing an idea I have of building an orphanage you know, something to help those kids in need but I never had time for that, or people I trusted to run that -What do you - asked Momiji, with his cat ears trembling from anticipation.
-What I exactly want to say is: I offer Marcus a chance to open the orphanage Happiness way sponsored by the Montecchio family; we do not want publicity, only want to help.
-But Marcus will be - Momiji tried to say, almost crying.
-I know, he can be slavened at any moment after he turns 18 and cannot command it now being underage I am aware of all that; so I decided upon putting Marcus on the job of supplies manager; buying food and stuff needed for the orphanage -R R - stuttered Momiji, failing at holding the tears,
-But Richard asked Enmie do you trust someone enough to give him the command on something this important? Dealing with kids lives is a huge responsibility!
-I do have one person and I trust her completely just don t ask me why, as I know her for just a few days but mysteriously I trust her!
-And who would be that person? she asked again.
-You Enmie! I exclaimed while pointing at her.
-M ME?!?! she replied blushing but but I have the village and I am not good at that not to mention I am underage yet -That can be solved Enmie, please answer me how long do you live all alone?
-What do you mean? she asked.
-How long you don t have your parents?
-Since I was 5 years old - she replied, but with shadows covering her face.
-So, according to the laws in effect nowadays I declared you are already considered emancipated for parental disappearance!
-But Richard, how can you trust something this important to someone you just met? And what about the people in the village?
-Enmie, the very little I saw was more than enough for me you helped me even when you found out I was a noble do not think I didn t noticed you have something against us this kind of character when you do what you must over what you wanted to do is what is needed in a position like that; about the village, the contract is already signed and in three days they will have the first doctor and nurses there.
Enmie entered deep thought for some moments, pondering about the proposal she just received; it was a very serious matter, she couldn t accept it without thinking a lot about it thanks to that she said to me:
-Richard, that is a great responsibility could you give me some more time to think about it?
-That is a given Enmie, and I didn t expect a less reasonable answer coming from you! Thanks for at least considering this. As for you Momiji I said turning my attention to him I know that right now you have no condition on analyzing my proposal, so I ask you that as soon as you calm down, to go and talk to Marcus, all of your siblings can sleep here -T Thanks Richard - replied Momiji.
-Momiji, before you leave, I need a favor from you I asked him please, ask Kikuri to come here? I need to talk to her in private.
-She is acting weird Richard - said Momiji between sobbing something happened ?
-Yeah, some stuff did happen- I replied but they are not bad ones I just want to talk to her to actually solve them -Oh ok - Momiji said I want you to know that I trust you Richard thanks for everything.
That said, Momiji went to tell the news to his brother and to accomplish the favor I asked of him; my heart began skipping some beats and accelerating for the first time in my whole life I was about to deal with a subject I neglected for a long time sometimes way too long after 10 long minutes of waiting Kikuri entered wearing her pretty uniform strangely enough I felt happy
-Did you call me R Richard? asked Kikuri, visibly blushing and nervous.
-Y Yeah - I said shyly now that I don t have hmm anything bothering me I would like us to deal with that subject -Oh! R Richard do not mind that I don t want someone as special as you to be bothered by that -You do not bother me in any way Kikuri - I said, getting close to her.
-R Really? I felt her blushing even harder -For sure Kikuri - I commented stopping right in front of her, putting my hands on her shoulders I have been thinking very fondly of what you proposed me; I needed to take everything into consideration for your own sake Kikuri, Momiji trusts me so I didn t want to disappoint him; with that in mind I have the answer to your confession -Oh w what is it Richard? she replied with some tears forming on her eyes.
-And my answer after thinking about all this is I want to be your love!