Chapter 2: The Idea of Love

Aoki stood before the quartermaster.

He was being released.

The quartermaster was quietly listing Aoki's possessions as they were being returned to him.

"Shirt, blue. Cotton. Jeans. Tennis shoes. Wallet. 4200 yen. Here, take them."

"Thank you sir. But something is missing. The ring that was in my pocket."

"Let's see.. a woman's engagement ring. I'm sorry. I'm reading this.. I am instructed specifically not to give it to you."

"Sir? I would very much like to have it back."

"I'm sorry. Your instructions state that I cannot return it to you. Apparently it is a condition for your parole."

"I understand."

The quartermaster looked at him. He had released over 500 prisoners like this. He was sympathetic.

"I'm sorry."

"You shouldn't. This is my punishment." Aoki knew his punishment would be forever.

The quartermaster said, "Go with God, young man."

"Thank you, sir."

Aoki walked out into the sunlight. It blinded him.

Taichi glared at his new wife. "Inaba, what the hell was wrong with you back there?"

She was in the hotel room with him, still wearing her overly ornate wedding dress as she sat on their nuptial bed. It was a five star hotel that her father had arranged for their wedding night. It was because he owned the hotel. Champaign was on the mantelpiece. And rose petals were on the bed.

"I'm sorry.. I saw him."

"You did not. There was not a single witness. I looked myself. He wasn't there. Baso didn't see him either. Nobody saw him!"

"I saw him."

"Look, we specifically instructed the ushers to be on the lookout in case he showed up. You remember that? To watch for him. They swore to a man they never saw him in attendance at the wedding.

Inaba flashed her angry eyes at her new husband. "I saw him."

He hugged her. "Of course you did. I understand."

"Dammit, you're patronizing me again. I hate that."

"You saw him."

"You don't believe me."

"No, I do believe you. You saw him."

"Damn you."

"But you need to be more careful when you see him. You completely freaked out your father. He stood up."

It was because Inaba had embarrassed her father in front of everybody. He felt dishonored by her spectacle, by the titters and giggles in the pews. Taichi knew that Inaba didn't care a whit about family honor, about Japanese honor culture. He didn't either, not with her.

But her father did.

"I heard him muttering. You really shook him up."

Inaba looked down. She didn't want to look at the selfless freak in front of her. She just about had enough of him.

But she genuinely cared about her father.

He held her. "Inaba, please. You know he's old fashioned. You dishonored him. He could disinherit you."

She flashed anger at him again. "And what if he does? You've said a million times you don't care about my family's wealth."

"I don't. Well, only.."

What the hell? "Okay, this is new. You want my money now that you got me?"

"I mean.. the people we could help together.. charity, the poor.. the sick.. You shouldn't hurt your father this way."

"Oh my GOD. You actually married me for my money!"

"Huh? No, I didn't! I'm just saying we could help a lot of people!"

"You selfless freak!"

"Please. I love you. No matter what happens. You know that."

"You bastard. This is wrong. Why did I marry you?"

"Because I love you. You're just being obstinate again. Forget I said anything."

"Oh my GOD."

"You're just upset. I love you."

Her heart was black. She decided to be cruel, so she attacked him right in his heart. "No. You love the idea of being in love."

"What?"

"You heard me. I grabbed you and took you away from Iori. Because I could."

He was confused. She tore into him mercilessly. "Because you are an utterly selfless freak. You are the perfect man. So I captured you. For myself. I took you. Then I proposed to you. Then I married you. And you let me. Because that is who you are. You rolled over and let me take you. "

He remained silent.

"The only time you ever grow a spine is when you do your selfless shtick. Then you're superman. You fell out of a tree and nearly killed yourself just to save a kitten, remember? At those times you are bloody suicidal. But the rest of the time? You're a spineless wimp."

"Inaba.."

"You don't love me. No one loves me. You just love the idea."

"Stop it! Stop this!"

"You selfless FREAK!" She slappped him as hard as she could, then she fled the room. She continued running right out into the pouring rain.

Her expensive embroidered silk taffeta gown was soaked. People on the street looked at her in shock.

She ran blindly.

And she crashed right into Mr. Go.

Her eyes blazed with insane hate as she recognized her eternal tormentor. "Are you happy now!?"

He looked at her with dead eyes. "Maybe I was wrong."

"What?"

"I haven't done anything yet. The test hasn't even begun."

Dripping wet, in the pouring rain, in her pure white wedding gown, she stared in shock at the man who intended to destroy her.

"The test begins right now."

Inaba's father was looking at her from his limo, feeling thoroughly ashamed and furious. Originally he had intended that one day his keiretsu, his empire, would be hers. But there she was, she standing alone in the pouring rain, utterly pathetic, with strangers staring at this scorned woman in a white wedding dress.

She spotted him in the limo. Her eyes widened in shock and fear. Oh no.. he saw me..

Her father looked at her with a mixture of shock and growing anger. She saw the anger building on his broad face. But it was not directed at her.

What man would dare do this to my beloved daughter? What a monster! He must be punished for this disgrace, for this shame. He will be punished.

She read his mind and knew the terrible danger she had just put Taichi in. And it was all her fault.

Mr. Go walked away.