Chapter 30

Hitomi could only stare at the letter laying before her on the table, re-reading it for the hundredth time but the words had already become a blur in her mind long ago.

She had, as Viktor would say, majorly fucked up. This could only be about the incident weeks ago in the bar; she should have known that there would be more serious repercussions for this than her simply feeling guilty about the whole thing.

Just my luck she said in her mind. Just when things started to be looking up between Leifang and herself something like that had to rear its head and had to put a spoke in her wheel.

She cast her gaze to the door of the bedroom where the Chinese was still sleeping. How would she react to this?

Without really thinking about it she grabbed the letter and folded it up, walked to her coat hanger and put it into the right pocket. It would probably be better if her new girlfriend didn't know she was sued by some guys she beat up a while ago, because she was pretty pissed off, because said girlfriend had turned tail and left her to deal with the aftermath alone.

...Yeah it would really be better if she didn't know about that.

Hitomi turned around, once again looking at the door. She would love to simply crawl into bed with her girlfriend and forget about all this, but she would need to talk with her family lawyer.

She was just thinking about leaving a note when the doorbell rang. Opening the door it revealed Viktor standing there, holding a letter.

"You got that too?" he asked and simply walked past her into the living room.

"Sure, why don't you come in?" Hitomi asked dryly, closing the door and following him.

"Yeah, sorry. So did you get mail from the police too?" he asked and slapped the letter he was holding with the back of his left hand. "Because I got asked to 'Give a testimony regarding your lawsuit'.

"Yes. I did." she said.

"So what's the plan?" he asked.

"There's no plan."

He frowned at her. "What? You gonna stand for that bullshit? Those guys were drunk."

"Doesn't change the fact that I fucked them up like you would say. The only thing I can do is admit the crime and state everything truthfully. The same applies to you."

"Fine. Have it your way then, but I still call bullshit on it. So what are you gonna do next?" he asked and reflexively pulled out his pack of cigarettes but a glare from Hitomi made him put it away again.

"I'm going to meet with my lawyer and see what he can do."

"Hmm."

That was when the bedroom door opened, revealing Leifang, her hair completely out of place. She stifled a yawn and rubbed the sleep out of her left eye. "Hitomi? What's the matter?"

"Nothing." Hitomi said quickly and elbowed Viktor.

"Hey." he greeted the Chinese, then turned to Hitomi, putting an arm around her shoulder and leading her into the kitchen while saying. "Hit-girl can I just talk with you in private?"

As soon as they entered the kitchen he switched to German. "When the hell did she get back?!"

"She's back since yesterday but I only met her today about," she looked at the clock on the wall. "Two hours ago."

"Two hou- So she's back, great. And now?" he asked, still bewildered.

"Well we're together now." Hitomi said simply and wasn't able to keep a smile off her face. She watched Viktor raise his eyebrows in surprise.

"Together?"

"Yeah."

"Just like that?"

"Mhm." Hitomi nodded. "And the best part: she's gonna study abroad in Germany. She even improved her German over the last month!"

"That's...great" Viktor said, not sounding very excited, but Hitomi didn't take notice of it, being far too happy about the whole situation.

"Yes isn't it?" she looked at the clock again. "Damn I should make a call."

Hitomi walked back into the living room, over to the phone and dialed the number of her lawyer.

"Yes, Hitomi Buchfink speaking. Could I please speak with Mr. Löwinger. It's urgent."

Leifang watched as Hitomi spoke with someone on the phone adamantly, not knowing what it was about since she only understood a few snippets here and there. Maybe it had something to do with what the two were talking about in the kitchen?

Her eyes turned to Viktor, who simply stood there leaning against the wall. The Chinese walked over to him.

"What's the matter?" He just remained standing there, staring into the air, looking at nothing.

"What's the matter?" she asked again and this time she got a reaction out of him as his gaze turned to her.

"Ah. Really it's nothing, I just reminded her of an appointment is all. She's been a bit...forgetful these past days." he told her, but Leifang felt that there was something he didn't tell her.

She was just about to press further when Hitomi ended her call.

"Alrighty." the Karateka said and walked into the bedroom to change into a more presentable outfit, then walked towards her.

"I'm gonna head out for a few hours, just make yourself at home." she told her and gave her a smile that almost looked as if it was to reassure her. Hitomi leaned up a little and pressed a kiss on her forehead. "Bye."

"Bye." Leifang responded and watched Hitomi leaving the apartment to wherever she had to go. That left her alone with Viktor, who was simply standing beside her, looking a bit out of place now.

"Nothing you say, really?" she asked him.

"Yeah, really." he said, shifting in place. Leifang narrowed her eyes. Now she was sure he was keeping something from her.

"You're lying."

"Wha-? Bullshit!" he exclaimed and narrowed his eyes as well. "Why the hell would I lie?"

"I don't know. I just know you did."

"Ok listen here, girly. Just because you finally decided to drag your ass back here and become her girlfriend now doesn't mean everything's your business. So back off, alright?" He started to walk away but Leifang slipped in front of him and placed her palms against the wall on each side of him, trapping him.

"So there IS something." she deduced. The Chinese looked straight into the young man's eyes.

"Let. Me. Go." Viktor said, gritting his teeth.

"Only if you tell me what's going on."

"How about you ask your precious girlfriend what's going on?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Leifang felt herself getting angry.

"Well seeing how tight you two are now," he made a little gesture with his hand, holding his thumb and pointer a few inches apart. "She'll surely tell you if you ask nicely."

"So go and bother her." he told her and slapped her arms aside, slipping past her and muttering something that sounded disturbingly like "Fuck off." leaving her standing there with a deep scowl on her face.

What the hell is his problem? she wondered when he left the apartment, then stomped over to the sofa. She might as well simply wait here.

Hitomi was sitting in a comfy chair and looked around the richly furnished office of the man that had been the lawyer of her family since she was born. The furniture was mostly made out of mahogany and polished so that Hitomi could almost see her reflection. The floor was basically one big, dark green carpet.

She would hate to be the cleaning woman here.

Her gaze turned to the man who went by the name of Harald Löwinger. He was a fifty years old squat man and his hair, the part of it that hadn't been shed, was already grey.

He was currently reading the letter that she had given him upon entering the room. Like she had told Viktor she planned on going to the police and confess what she had done, but she wanted to consult someone that had more knowledge on the subject first.

So she had told him in detail what had transpired and he listened intently, then turned his attention to the letter at hand.

The Karateka let out a sigh as she leaned back into the soft cushions of the chair crossing her arms and tapped the heel of her boot against the carpeted floor. A stern clearing of the throat made her stop it.

A few more moment passed until he placed the letter back on the table and ran a hand across his round face, stopping at his nose to pinch its bridge.

"Hitomi, really." Harald said and shook his head. He stood up and pulled off his suit jacket, placing it around the backrest of his chair. He had been about to go home when she had called and he looked pretty tired. "I would never have expected something like this from you of all people."

"I know and I'm sorry about it, but I can't change it now. So should I simply go to the police and confess?" she asked. Harald ran his right hand through his hair and paced behind his desk for a moment.

"Well you told me they were drunk and were harassing your friend, now normally that would have turned the tide in your favor but you're a black belt and as thus the law makes it quite clear that you should know to restrain yourself according to the amount of danger you're in and I imagine they didn't put much of a fight." she shook her head at that. "Figured as much. Well if you go to the police it would only speed up the trial and even that would still take months and in addition to the fine that is awaiting you at the end of it you would have to pay for the trial as well."

Hitomi turned her gaze to the floor. So it was like she expected. At least I know what to expect now.

"Still there's another option. Since the lawsuit is only a few weeks old and the court isn't involved yet I could try to get in contact with the lawyers of the gentlemen to resolve this outside of the court. It would still end in you having to pay money, but at least it will bring a quick resolution." he suggested her and she pondered what he said.

"Can...Can this whole thing stay between you and me then? I don't want to involve my father in this."

"Hitomi, you know that your father and I have been friends for a long time now. I've known you since you were a baby. But this isn't about that," he looked at her as she looked at her fingers as if they held all her answers. "This is a case and as thus it will be completely confidential between you and me."

Hitomi's blue eyes met his steel-grey ones and a kind smile formed on his lips.

"So shall we do it this way?" he asked. Hitomi couldn't stop herself from smiling back.

The Karateka nodded in agreement "Yes." It would be better this way. Better to have it out of the way quickly and cleanly so that she could focus on other things.

"Alright then, Miss Buchfink." he sat down in his chair again, placing his elbow onto the desk. He propped his chin onto his hand and pulled out a sheet of paper with the other. "There is the matter of my fee to discuss though. You'll find everything on that contract."

Aww son of a- she groaned and took the fountain pen he was holding out towards her. Well of course she would have to pay him as well, how stupid of her to forget that.

It was his job after all.

Reading through the contract she found everything to her liking and put her signature on it and handed the sheet of paper back to him.

"Ok, I'll hand that over to my secretary tomorrow and I'll contact the opposing party to strike a deal. So just go back home and leave the rest to me. I'll call you if I got something." he told her.

Saying goodbye she left the office and went on her way to return home, longing for the presence of her girlfriend.

Tsk, tsk, tsk Viktor, if you act like that people might get the wrong impression of you.

Lots of things happening here, and not all of them for the better. But really, that's how it is in real life sometimes. The cousin of my best friend was once in the very same situation as Hitomi. He punched some dude in the nose while defending his sister, but had to answer to that because he was a boxer.

Don't you worry, this will still play a role down the road, just maybe not in the way people would expect ;)

So that's it for this week.

See you around.