Worth more that I thought

Chapter five

Chapter Title: Lies and Truth

Disclaimer: I own nothing. NOTHING. Even Hikari refuses to be owned by me.

Hikari hummed a gentle tune as she diced the carrots. A thick stew was simmering in the stove; the aroma of beef, onions and pumpkins wafted up gently, filling the kitchen with rare warmth that didn't often reach the house. Pushing the carrots off the chopping board and into the pot, she let it sit there, stirring occasionally, satisfied with her work.

The Eurasian girl never had time to cook with the job at hand, but when she did have a day-off and had all homework done, she would leave that time to this pastime of hers.

10pm tonight. Had been the brief text message that she got from Marian Cross, but to was enough to inform her. Marian Cross would be here to tell her everything. Ten o'clock tonight. She did not bother fathom how he had come to acquire her phone number, but merely attempted to mentally brace herself for what horrors might lay in Marian Cross' words.

Stirring the contents of the pot for a final time, she took the pot off the heat and ladled a generous helping of stew into her bowl. This was enough for tonight, the rest would probably last her a few days.

The lights in the kitchen were clicked off immediately after the cooking was done, Hikari could not afford to be wasting so much on electricity. Spooning food into her mouth and waiting for a certain man soon became redundant, and the girl flipped open the English Literature book she was to read for tomorrow, The Bloody Chamber.

Two well placed knocks echoed through the Black residence.

Hastily placing book and spoon down, Hikari ran to the door like a child going to an amusement park; only to skid to a halt near the door. She licked her lips as her hand touched the doorknob.

Would it be something she wanted to hear…?

Her right hand twisted and the door swung open to reveal the flamboyant mane of enflamed hair. Marian stepped in and, with one fluid motion, closed the door behind him.

Too late now to be thinking now.

It seemed like Marian Cross encaged her in her own house and not the other way round. She felt awfully exposed, knowing that most of her deepest secrets were for this man to see.

'Cross.' She said stiffly.

Marian smiled, not his smirks nor extravagant smiles for courting woman, but a genuine smile. It was a smile that was generally used when an adult would be breaking a child into the harsh reality. Hikari's eyes hardened at the thought.

'Hah, let me take a seat then.' The man went straight past Hikari and into the living room, where he collapsed on the sofa. Hikari padded slowly to the living room but did not take a seat. She stood there, staring at the man like he was uninvited.

'The Bloody Chamber…' He picked up the book and chuckled gently '…is it something that you should be reading, hm?'

'It is part of my education. If you have any questions regarding that, you may want to consult the English department.' The answer was swift and hostile. There was stark that she did not wish to have any conversation with him, and wished for it to be over as quickly as possible.

The book was placed on the sofa next to the stew. Marian's hands, now empty clapped together in an awkward manner.

'Sit. This talk will not be as short as you wished for it to be.'

With a frown on her face, she haltingly took a seat next to him on the sleek leather sofa.

The cigarette was lit and Marian took a deep inhale before lapsing into the tedious tale.

'The people associated with the yakuza party Noah in our school, you know them?'

Silence. A splutter, then a laugh resounded through the empty house.

'What? What? What bullshit are you spewing! Why would anyone in a posh school be part of yakuza? Noah, of all yakuza parties!'

The Noah was some damn hot news. About five years ago, they were causing successful riots and killings throughout Japan, putting the government under immense stress. The police and even military seemed to have gained no control whatsoever, and the government was contemplating getting other countries' special forces to help… but then Noah disappeared. The killings stopped and the riots became non-existent. No one associated to the Noah fessed up, and the Japanese government pretty much left 'bygones be bygones'.

A piece of A4 paper was flipped out from the man's briefcase. His eyes started from the top and flicked down slowly as he read off it.

'Tyki Mikki, bombing specialist.

Road Noah, hacker.

Cyril Noah, human trafficker.

Lulubell Noah, Conner.

Millennium Earl… Nothing.'

'"Nothing"? Then why is he on the list?'

'He has been sighted with the other Noah too many times for it to be a mere coincidence.'

'Wait… why… these criminals…?'

Marian gave a weary chuckle and took another puff from his cigarette.

'If you'd let me finish, Hikari.'

The girl fell silent; a fierce blazing in her eyes told him that he had her undivided attention.

'They treat the School as some sort of base. They are all from the Noah family and they have… quite a lot of the school's shares. We cannot stop them from coming in and out of the school.'

Hikari nodded slowly, her eyes never leaving the man.

'Your father… we know he had bonds with Noah.'

The girl's eyelashes flickered a few times before staring at him silently. The lack of surprise that graced her features unnerved him.

'…he… had no choice but to leave you, Hikari.'

Hikari had a look of incredulity before bursting into laughter. Her laughs were anything but joyful: short strained barks that seemed to be concealing weariness.

'That's grand. "Had to"?' Mockery and bitterness was laced in her words.

Cross was tempted to tell her the whole truth... but it wasn't the time. 'It's true.' Even this defensive comeback sounded fucking feeble to him.

'Just get on with your little story, Marian, no need to get side-tracked.'

The corners of Marian's lips lifted ever so slightly before dropping back to his stoic façade.

'There is a need to discuss your father. It is where you come in.'

Hikari glanced over at Cross before looking into her hands and nodded, seeming uncaring to this part of the information.

'Your father had ties with the Noah, and so someone is bound to keep tabs on you. Tyki Mikki, being your tutor is a perfect candidate.'

'Wait… you want me to… dig up secrets when he…' There was a pointed look of disgust on her face. 'I can't fucking deal with that son-of-a-bitch…'

'Nor can you deal with a lack of education. Don't worry. If you accept this job, other people in the Black Order will watch over you.'

'Pay?'

'I was thinking that staying in the school 'was good enough for you.'

Hikari tipped her head to one side and raised a eyebrow.

'…would having the same pay at Anita's but working less shifts sound good?'

A small smile and a outstretched hand was raised in Marian's direction.

'Deal.'

Cross grasped her hand and gave a firm shake.

'Deal.'

Only when Marian Cross was out of the house did he realize how unnaturally small and fragile Hikari hand had felt in his own.