The room was bathed in red when Geese woke up, alone. He was without a bed or a blanket, just laying on a formless slab of crimson. There was an ominous sense of dread choking the air. Moving out of his "bed", he ventured down a hallway, eventually running as the red descended into a satanic glow. The dread became unbearable, gripping the deepest crevices of his heart as he passed door after door, eventually finding one that stood open.

This room was enveloped in a neutral white. Not pleasant shade of it either; it was bright, almost blinding, outright hostile. But something beyond it compelled him to go deeper inside. Geese was certain that he did not have a room like this within his estate. Or maybe he had but had forgotten. He couldn't remember. He couldn't think.

It was as if his thoughts melted in the void of pale light. The deeper he went into the white abyss, the more his mind became fragmented. The room was quiet, only accompanied by the deep thuds of his beating heart. Contrasting the all-consuming white, there was a sudden streak of something red. His gut fell to the floor as a distinct scent hit his nostrils.

Blood.

Geese followed the trail despite the anxiety that grew inside of him. It had been a very long time since he had felt active fear. This was awful; a punch in his stomach punishing him as he came across a blood-stained white ribbon. The trail finally stopped at what appeared to be a bench where a woman with soft brown hair lay.

"Mai…?" Geese called to no response.

She remained still. The powerful hands of fear gripped him, and he hurried to her side, his blood turning to ice when he touched her. She was cold and unresponsive as he her. Looking her over, his heart nearly tore itself from his flesh when he saw dark bruises littering her body including fresh ones around her neck. Like she had been choked.

Under the silky fabric of her white dress, a W could be traced seared into her skin but it was hardly visible for the dark blood that spread over her chest from a bullet wound in her sternum. In her hand was a silver necklace with a flower pendant, that fell to the floor when Geese clutched her body; overtaken by a profound, overwhelming melancholy.

"No…dammit, why?!" he held her close, praying to whatever deity had mercy to bring her back to him. In the end, he was only a mere man, and it was no more obvious than now as he sat here, stricken by grief, wishing with all his heart he could do something to reverse this.

A nything to bring Mai back to life. To assure him that he hadn't been too late. He had promised her that he'd bring her happiness, that he'd do whatever it took to keep her satisfied. And now he sat her with her dead body. From the accursed hollow of whiteness, a woman, dressed in a pale dress, emerged before them, her face obscured by the blinding light.

"How is the pain?" her voice was mild and gentle, pulling forth memories of his tumultuous past and errors.

"Marie…?" Geese put the corpse of his dead lover on the floor, his hands now wet from her blood. Standing up, he was reminded that he was taller than Marie and he remembered how she'd look up at him in admiration. It had been years since their wedding night. It had been years since she saw her. And then she died. He had forgotten her face, it seemed. He couldn't remember. He couldn't think.

"The people you pretend to love continue to die around you because you hurt them. No matter what you do, your lust for power will always bring the same result."

Geese could only stare at her in disbelief as she spoke those words, watching while she floated towards him, right past Mai, placing her hands on his chest. He heard every word of what she had said yet he could not comprehend a single meaning of it. By now, his mind had succumbed to grief, swallowed by the white.

"Isolation. Exploitation. Rejection. Manipulation. We all bleed and cry and die for your ambition. But I wish to ask you something. Have you considered bleeding for us? Will you bleed for her?"

Marie's soft hands traced the scar across Geese's chest, before jamming her nails into his flesh, blood pouring from the punctures. With one swift movement, she tore apart his chest, widening the healed wound to such a degree, one could no doubt one could see his bones.

Blood sprayed onto her white dress as she continued to rip and tear, stripping Geese of flesh and eventually his heart. There was no pain, only the ominous dread and grief of the woman he had just found dead. The emptiness inside shielded him from the reality of what had happened, even as he collapsed onto the floor with Marie holding his still-beating heart.

Only then did the light clear to reveal her pale, sickly face adorned with a deranged smile. Her usually warm crimson eyes were now bloodshot and were sunken in, and she was thin, bordering on malnourished.

"Now you can die for her, my love!" Her voice faded into a distorted maniacal laughter, that hardly seemed to fit her. As his vision blurred, several other shapes of people emerged from the void, all people from his life. His mother, his master, Billy, Hein, Ripper, Hopper, Rock. All laughing, all sick, all dressed in white.

Yet one stood out from among the rest; Mai, now among them did not laugh. Her expression was mournful; her lips parting to speak was the last thing his tired eyes saw. He tried to move but without a heart, his strength left him.

Only then did Geese wake up, his gaze flickering around for any signs of satanic red. He sat up, wiping away a layer of cold sweat from his forehead as he traced the scar on his chest, only to find no puncture wounds. His heart raced and he had been greeted by a most resilient, head-splitting headache but he pushed it aside to look over his shoulder, relieved to see a sleeping Mai next to him.

There was no white room, no blood, no dead spouses floating around. He removed the blanket, looking Mai over for any wounds. He knew that had just been a nightmare and nothing more, but he was concerned, scared even, that he had indeed lost her. After everything that had happened, between kidnapping and shootouts, the fear of her being harmed was almost overwhelming. His apparent worry caused her eyes to flutter open and she looked at him with part worry, part annoyance.

"You made a lot of noise. You okay?" Mai asked softly and Geese couldn't help but laugh. He had been so worried for no reason. Letting out a sigh of relief, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close as they lay back in bed.

"I'm just glad to see you alive."

Confused, her brow furrowed despite the faint smirk on her lips. "What? You're not considering insurance fraud, are you?"

Her hand came to rest on his face, and he took it, giving a short squeeze. Her smile widened just a bit as he relaxed.

"Don't worry about it. It was just a bad dream. You should go back to sleep. I'll be quiet," Geese pulled the blanket over them, making sure Mai was close to him. She was a bundle of life and warmth in his arms. She was like a puzzle piece, he didn't know he had lost. It was hard to put his feelings for her into words, but he'd reckon that they were powerful and at times overwhelming with passion.

Sweetened with desire and constructed with affection. It had been many years since Geese had felt this hearty. As he looked at her, moments before slumber, a passing thought about unity and vows passed through his mind.

Maybe he should buy a ring, just in case.

The capturing of Wolfgang Krauser progressed slowly but surely. Mai would have her revenge; that was a promise he was willing to make. It was just a tiresome procedure because of the Atlantic Ocean separating Geese Tower and Stroheim Castle. Wolfgang wasn't Big; he wasn't a thick-headed idiot with more pride than sense.

He was cautious but comfortable in his fortress with his disgusting dogs and dense forestry. If he was ever to be captured, he'd have to be lured out and he probably wasn't going to leave his base without a very good reason. According to the spies stationed near the castle, it was a rarity that he ever left its walls. Though he had acquired a taste for procuring young individuals as "coping."

Whatever that meant.

As Geese headed for his office, he considered hosting a fighting tournament but that would be too obvious. Maybe he could become a shadow investor and send some of his subordinates to participate. It would be a good cover. He would have to pick between Billy and Hein as sending them both would be suspicious. Maybe convince Billy to drag Joe along. Or have Yamazaki tag along as a dragon. Some research would be needed before Geese called it a night though.

It was a late workday with more things to take care of than usual. As autumn neared its twilight, winter was fast approaching and so were the holidays. People needed to get things done fast and Geese just had to follow along. He could do that just fine, while also thinking of how he could capture his half-brother.

With Big and Turner, siccing underlings and mercenaries on them was easy but something special had to be done with Wolfgang.

Geese opened the door to the office, about to switch on the light when he instantly sensed the presence of another. His office provided a view over the bay so there wasn't much in terms of city lights to illuminate the room. Thus, Geese couldn't see who was there, but he certainly felt their presence.

He folded his arms over his chest, a deep, silent sigh coming from him. It had been a long day and he was not in the mood for kids' games or an assassination attempt. "I don't suppose there's a reason why you've decided to hide in my office…whoever you are."

From the shadow of the desk, a figure emerged: a woman's body from the looks of it. Her arm merged with the rest of her body and Geese couldn't quite see if she was just stretching or preparing a knife to be plunged in his chest.

"I really can't surprise you, can I?" a familiar voice sighed and all tension in the room vanished at a moment's notice. Geese stepped back to switch on the lights in the room, surprised by the yelp that came from the woman. When his eyes adjusted to the light, he found out why she had reacted so strongly.

"…The fact that you're in my office, naked, disproves that," Geese found himself staring directly at Mai's birthday suit. Why she had decided to greet him like this was a mystery, but he certainly didn't hate this surprise. She trotted towards the desk, hiding under it once again. Just for her sake, Geese switched the lights off and received the joy of seeing Mai's lovely silhouette rise in the dark once more.

He made sure to lock the door before he headed towards her, meeting her halfway at the end of the office. Just to give her some leeway, Geese turned her around and pushed her against the desk. Her soft skin was cold to the touch, though it quickly warmed when he slid his hands to her waist and hips, pressing kisses against her bare neck and shoulder blades. They shifted under his every touch and Mai's soft hums continued as he trailed his hands to her thighs and her backside, giving it a firm squeeze.

"Hold onto that table and don't let go. I'll reward you for your bravery," he purred into her ear, parting her shuddering legs.

He had to turn her around again and put her on the top of the table so he could better fit in between her thighs. There was a soft hum from Mai as he stroked her waist to ease her into it. She had said this was a surprise, but Geese had a feeling that she was doing it more for her own sake; to recapture some piece of herself stolen by Wolfgang. Geese would gladly help her along the way.

He'd spoil her absolutely rotten with affection. His hands passed over her stomach, across the scar which now was little more than four lines, lightly dented into her skin. It was barely visible thankfully. Anger began to simmer in Geese's gut but he cooled it before it could grow to a boil. He lifted Mai's legs and kissed the inside of her thighs, leaving trails of soft bites across her quivering flesh until he reached her groin, tasting her further. On top of the desk, Mai began to mewl and writhe, faintly to not bring unneeded attention.

Her considerations were cute but there would be no one around at this hour.

Her legs began to tremble, but he held them in place, relentlessly flicking his tongue over her most sensitive parts. Almost involuntarily, Mai began to move her hips as if beckoning him to give her more and he gladly complied. His pants began to feel a tad too tight, but he didn't succumb just yet. He'd ravage her in due time, though the way Mai gasped some semblance of his name was hard to withstand. Her moans grew increasingly louder like she was nearing her limit and only then did Geese stop, pulling back from the desk.

In response, Mai whined and shifted to a better position. She stared at him in the dark before climbing down and putting her hands on his chest. They slid down across his abdomen to his belt, efficiently pulling and fiddling the buckle. He could feel her hot breath tickle his skin and it was extremely hard not to succumb to his burning desires. That ninja girl probably wasn't aware of how much of a tantalizing vixen she was.

Before she got too frisky, Geese took her hands and guided her to the massive window overlooking the bay until she slipped out of his grasp. She knelt under the desk for a moment before standing up, facing the dark water outside. Each exhale from Mai left a small cloud of fog on the pane of glass, that only widened when Geese made quick work of his pants, instantly aware of the slender fingers that wrapped around his partly erect manhood, sliding back and forth.

It took two hands and some coordination to apply the condom, in the dark, with her back turned to him. But extraordinarily she did. Mai was being particularly upfront tonight, but Geese would reckon that he quite liked this side of hers. He let her guide him towards her, purring with satisfaction when he slid into her as deeply as he could. He grabbed onto her hips and pushed her against the glass, thrusting into her over and over with a throaty groan.

Against the window, Mai let out a shuddering gasp, widening the fog even more. Both hands were planted against the glass, leaving smudgy prints whenever she moved them, but Geese was beyond caring, his mind reeling from the sensation of being plunged deep inside of her. Slick with sweat, she leaned against him, swinging an arm around his neck to the best of her ability with her coated nails dragging against his skin.

"Don't stop," she pleaded with a needy pant. And he didn't, rolling his hips faster until he was practically slamming against her. She began to shudder and moan loud amalgamations of his name. Music to his ears; a perfect remedy to forget about the world for a moment. His hands coursed from Mai's hips to her perfect breasts, giving them a tight squeeze.

They fitted so wonderfully in his palms and her perky nipples felt good to pinch. She liked it too with the way she feverishly moved against him. One of these days, Geese would have to send a silent prayer to whatever god of fate existed, just so he could thank them for letting Mai into his life, wonderful woman that she was.

Hopefully, she'd marry him one day.

But for now, he couldn't really think of anything else but being joined pelvis to pelvis with her. His body shook, electricity crawling up his spine. His stamina had always been at a high level but even he had to admit that the feeling which exploded in his stomach and spread all over his body was overwhelming. With one hard thrust and a guttural grunt, he came, wrapping his arms around her stomach to pull her close. The hoarse cry that arose from Mai as she trembled, suggested that she had reached her peak, resting her forehead against the window.

For a moment, they stood there, deep breathing filling the office and the blood rushing in Geese's ears. He slowly eased himself out of Mai, dimly aware of how she slid down the window while he went to dispose of the rubber and tidy himself up. With a groan, she lifted herself off the floor, fiddling with something under the desk. There was a dimmer lamp on the tabletop which Geese switched on, looking at Mai partly dressed.

"Don't worry, I got my clothes under the desk," she grinned as she pulled the dress over herself, forgoing her bra entirely. "What, you really think I'd run around in the hallways naked?"

For a moment, Geese did. With the outfit she was known to wear, he often wondered if she was about to burst out of it whenever he had the pleasure of encountering her. At times Geese wondered if he was just old-fashioned since no one else cared about it. She crawled out and stood up, trying to fix her hair although she still very much looked like a hot, beautiful mess with her flushed cheeks and dazed gaze.

"I don't know, Miss Mai," Geese picked up his jacket from the floor and put it around her. It happened to be just a few inches longer than her dress. "Maybe it's a turn-on."

"Oh, hush," she pouted, snatching her undergarments laying on the chair and sliding them up her shapely legs. She took a deep breath before trotting out of the office, even if her gait was a little unstable. Suppose the research had to be taken to the study instead.

Once in the hallway, a pressing thought caused Geese's gut to tighten.

"Mai," he called out once they were halfway to the elevator and she stopped, tilting her head as she looked at him.

This was it. If he put the question out there, he had to commit. Getting cold feet was not befitting of him. If he wanted something, he'd pursue it. Even if it caused his stomach to do some uncomfortable flips. It would mark the first time he had actually proposed to someone and the thought of it shouldn't make him as anxious as it did. Perhaps it spoke volumes of how much Mai meant to him.

If he didn't care, he wouldn't bust his own balls over it.

"How would you like it if I took you out on a date night outside the tower?" he asked, much calmer than he felt.

Mai's eyes lit up like a starry sky then.

For the occasion, Geese had decided to take Mai out of South Town. He hadn't planned anything grand, just a classic dinner date. As the car sped off through the metropolis and eventually past its tall skyscrapers, the knot in Geese's stomach began to tighten and his leg bounced in restless anticipation. A hand landed on his knee and he looked down to see Mai slide it against his leg with a smile on her face.

"Relax, dearest," she said softly. Dearest. She'd call him that every now and then. Ugh, it was unreal how good it felt, which said a lot because Geese wasn't one for cutesy pet names.

"I suppose I'm just excited," he shrugged. Calling it as such was an understatement.

The lights from a nearby city illuminated her face and she turned around to look over the neon glow, tugging a lock of brown hair behind her ear. Some strains got caught up in the dangling earrings she wore. She had really dressed up for the night, hadn't she? Her eyes grew wide as the car drove past the buildings and turned down a smaller road to avoid the endless traffic.

The car stopped in front of a small establishment Geese had not been in for a while. No, it was not Pao Pao's but he reckoned Mai deserved to try something more refined than crocodile meat and hotdogs. This place however happened to be much smaller, and therefore more subdued without the constant live entertainment. The cooking was renowned however and it would help in buttering Mai up.

While the chauffeur drove off with the vehicle, Geese opened the door for her, gesturing for her to enter, and followed behind her. He did the gentlemanly thing and offered her his arm, which she wrapped her hands around without hesitation. Inside, the hostess was already ready for their arrival, informing them of their reservation while she led them to their small table in the corner, somewhat isolated from the rest of the patrons.

"This place is great," Mai immediately snatched the menu, alternating between scanning the options and staring at their surroundings. The room was modestly lit with a single candle in the middle of the table, a chandelier hanging from the ceiling, fairy lights, and a few lamps adorning the walls. It was relatively dark, to create a special atmosphere.

Mai turned around to face Geese with a bright smile on her face. "I like it."

So good, so far, Geese thought as he hummed into his glass of water, eyeing the menu on the table. Glancing upwards, he noticed Mai studying the menu intently.

"Can I order wine? Do you want wine?" she leaned forward a bit and looked around for a moment like she was discussing a drug deal.

Geese nodded. "Anything you want."

"Yay!" she smiled brightly, putting the menu down and folding her hands on the table, looking at him intently. She was quite pleased with herself as she announced; "I'll take whatever you're having by the way."

"Steak and pasta?" Geese raised a brow, unable to not smile when her expression twisted a bit.

"…I'll settle for ravioli," she sank a bit in the chair.

The ring box was safely tugged away in the pocket of his jacket; a simple white gold ring with a small gemstone attached to it. Simplistic and elegant. Geese wondered if Mai would find it aesthetically pleasing but he could imagine she'd be more occupied with the gesture. The thought of her hypothetical reaction caused his leg to bounce under the table, tempered by a hand now resting on his knee.

"You've been super restless. You okay?" she asked, her brow pulling together in worry.

"It's a little chilly in here," Geese said softly, his eyes flicking back up to hers. It wasn't really. He actually found it quite comfortable.

Mai's lips curled into a smile. "Isn't there something about old people being more sensitive to the elements?"

"Christ almighty, Mai," Geese chuckled, shaking his head.

"I'm only teasing you," she grinned. "It's all in good fun."

"I know. You're still relentless," Geese sighed, content with life as it was. Nervous as hell because he wanted her hand in marriage. Happy that he got to store some pleasant moments in the old memory bank. He leaned back in his chair, just as a waiter approached them and he hoped that this would be a night worth remembering.