Sorry for the delay, I had a lot going on and didn't have time to write.

2.9

One week later…

Manami pulled his bangs away from his forehead. The gash that crossed his brow line was healing quickly and was now a thin scab. It wouldn't be so bad if it didn't itch so damn much!

"If it leaves a scar I'll kill that cat," he grumbled, smoothing down his bangs. It was an empty threat, of course. When Norio rose from the dead, Manami had been so shocked that he woke up that he just started screaming. He'd never been so scared in all his life. He had seen Norio, touched Norio—and he knew that Norio had been a corpse. So when Norio suddenly sat up, after being dead for several hours, Manami naturally thought he was alone in a room with a zombie.

But Norio hadn't been a zombie. He was somehow alive…and he was an even BIGGER jerk than he had been before he died.

"Tsuburaya Norio is nothing to any of you. My only value to any of you is to save Kunimasa from himself. To give birth to his child. Am I wrong? I have bent over backwards to prove myself worthy of this family, but what has this family done to prove itself worthy of ME? None of you have helped me for my own sake! Even my Madararui training was molded to Kunimasa's taste! Everything has always been for Kunimasa!"

Manami winced, and rubbed his arms self-consciously. He had known that Norio had been murdered because he had been shot. But hearing Norio had almost been gang-raped had twisted his stomach. He had spoken of it in a deadpan, matter-of-fact tone, to the point that Manami thought that Norio was making it all up. But when Norio exploded in anger and screamed not only at Kunimasa, but at everyone for how they had treated him, Manami knew that he was telling the truth.

And that just pissed him off even more.

"Asshole," Manami grumbled, but he felt a tightness in his chest as he left the bathroom. Kunimasa had been absolutely miserable since Norio had left, and he rarely spent any time at home anymore. His half-brothers were also keeping to themselves or were with their partners, and Karen seemed to be working exceptionally hard to keep Makio in line this time. So there wasn't anyone for Manami to talk to. He was just left to his own devices…which added to his frustration.

This is all that kitty's fault. If Onii-chan hadn't brought him home, then none of this would have happened. We wouldn't have gotten hurt and the house wouldn't have been destroyed. Damn it…why do I have to feel bad for treating that bastard how he deserves?!

Manami reached the garden and sat alone, drawing his knees to his chest. When Norio had died…the pain he had felt was unlike anything he had ever experienced. He was so angry too, that Norio dared to die before Manami could apologize for anything. Now Norio was back and—and Manami didn't want to apologize anymore. Why should he apologize to Norio when everything was Norio's fault?!

"Jerk," Manami muttered, dipping his head forward. "…Why do I have to feel bad about any of this? I didn't kill you…"

"Manami-san?"

Manami quickly looked up. Inukai approached him carefully and sat down at a respectful distance. When Manami saw the concern in his face, he wasn't sure if he would explode in rage or burst into tears. "Manami-san, are you all right?"

"I'm not a jerk, am I?" Manami demanded, turning to face him. "That kitty was lying, wasn't he? I wasn't that to him, was I?"

Inukai looked uncomfortable by the questions that were fired at him. He rubbed at the back of his head and looked away. Manami wanted to throw something at him. Say something, damn it!

"How do you feel about the situation?" Inukai asked instead of answering, looking at him. "Do you think you were a jerk to him?"

"I asked you what YOU thought!" Manami said harshly, gritting his teeth. "He was lying, wasn't he?!"

"If I'm to be honest Manami-san…no. He wasn't lying."

Manami stiffened in shock. "Tsuburaya-san complained a lot, but there's no denying the fact that he tried very hard to integrate into the Madararui society," Inukai said. "And there's no denying the fact that he wasn't given the same amount of care or patience that Fujiwara-san was given."

"B-But that jerk wanted to be with Kunimasa-onii-chan!" Manami protested.

"I know. And I know that his training needed to be more intense because of Kunimasa-sama's position. But there's no denying the fact that…I-I feel," he corrected himself. "That little was done to make Tsuburaya-san feel welcome here. The impression I got from him was that he was walking on eggshells, terrified of disappointing Kunimasa-sama and terrified of disappointing the family. Kunimasa-sam, he—I feel that he could have done better to make him feel welcome. And to—to feel like a partner."

"And me?" Manami pressed.

Inukai smiled sadly. "You love Kunimasa-sama more than you love your other brothers, Manami-san. No one would be good enough for him in your eyes."

Manami wanted to protest, but he couldn't. He knew Inukai was right. "Okay, fine," he said, tears stinging his eyes. "I treated him badly. But he's a jerk too for not letting me apologize!"

"If you're going to apologize Manami-san, it should be because you are truly sorry," Inukai said. "If you apologize to Tsuburaya-san just to make yourself feel better and to clear your conscience…then that's not a true apology."

Manami gaped at him in shock. "I need to get back," Inukai said, moving to stand up. "There's still a lot of repairs that need to be done." He held out his hand to Manami. "Here. I'll help you up, Manami-san."

Instead of accepting his hand, Manami tripped him as he stood up. He stuck his tongue out at Inukai and hurried away. But…Inukai's words resonated within him.

Is that it? I wasn't trying to apologize because I'm sorry…but to make myself feel better?

"You ended the engagement?"

"Yes." Kunimasa shrugged off his coat and handed it off. He looked at Karen over his shoulder. "I'm not taking any mates right now. It's become clear to me recently that though I'm ready to take the throne…I'm not ready for a relationship."

"That is admirable of you Kunimasa," Karen said, folding her arms over her chest. "But your now-ex betrothed came from a powerful Madararui family. They will take this as a slight against them."

"They can deal with it," Kunimasa said curtly. "They owe this family far more than this family owes them. I will become King and the protector of Japan without a consort at my side. Everyone is just going to have to accept it."

"…You said you are not taking any mates," Karen said slowly. "So then you will not have lovers? Or a harem?"

Kunimasa frowned thinly. "No."

"Our community will want you to have an heir, and to have one soon. They will want the reassurance that the ruling family of Japan has a steady bloodline."

"Well, they can deal with it!" Kunimasa said harshly, turning to glare at her. "You've seen everything that's been going on for a past year! I treated the man I love like SHIT! I loved him, and yet I hurt him more than I've EVER hurt anyone in my life! I abused him physically, emotionally, and psychologically! HE DIED BECAUSE OF ME!" Kunimasa hollered. "I can't trust myself to be in a relationship right now! There's just—" he waved his hands around his own head wildly. "If I can treat the person I love most like this, then what else am I capable of?! I don't want to know! I hate what I did to him! I-I—I fucking hate the man I've become!

"So no," Kunimasa rasped. "I'm not taking any marriage proposals. I'm not getting married right now. And I won't take anyone to my bed right now! There is something—wrong with me, okay?! I'm not all right, and I need to fix myself before I destroy somebody else!"

Karen stood there silent as Kunimasa heaved out loud and harsh breaths. Suddenly she surged forward and grabbed him. Kunimasa was shocked when she pulled him into a tight hug. "I'm sorry," she said quietly.

Kunimasa's eyes widened in shock. "I'm sorry for what you experienced. Had I been strong enough back then, I-I could have prevented you from being taken away. But I let that happen to you. I thought—" she exhaled painfully. "I thought…that I could redeem myself somehow, for letting that happen to you, by personally raising your brothers myself and giving them stability. But I…I did nothing for you, and you suffered because of it. I'm so sorry, Kunimasa."

Kunimasa closed his eyes, and rested his forehead against her shoulder. "There was nothing you could do," he said quietly. "Grandfather, he—you couldn't have stopped him. And you did a great job with my brothers. Yonekuni, Shinobu, and Manami…they turned out okay because of you. Thank you for looking out for them."

"Kunimasa—"

"Madarame-sama!"

Karen pulled away and Kunimasa straightened as the cat ran into the room. "What is it?" he demanded sharply.

"Forgive the intrusion, however there have been multiple letters of complaints coming in related to incidents at a high school," the cat said. He held out several pages of paper. "Madararui who both attend the high school and work at the school have been reporting of an antisocial Madararui who is not controlling his soul appearance and has been destructive."

"Damn," Karen grumbled, shaking her head. "It must have been a late bloomer who awoke into their powers."

Kunimasa took the pages and scanned the first page. The name of the high school jumped out at him and his eyes widened. "This is the high school I graduated from," he said aloud.

"Really?" Karen hurried to his side and looked at the first page. "Is it an underclassman you may have known? Did they give a name?"

"I don't need to read anything more," Kunimasa said, frowning. "I know who they're talking about."

I'm not seeking a mate…but I MUST make this right.

Norio hummed to himself as he sat in bed playing cat's cradle. He rocked back and forth slightly, and he heard murmurs from downstairs. His parents were still worried about him.

I didn't tell them about the Madararui, but I did tell them that I died. And they've getting daily complaints about me from school. Which is foolish because it's not my fault.

Norio had grown to hate school. The smells and the sounds made him irritated and nauseas, and the Madararui students could not seem to stop asking him about Kunimasa. No matter how many times Norio had made it clear that he didn't want to talk about the Madarame heir, people loved their gossip. It was annoying.

I didn't attack anyone, but I DID display my power to make them leave me alone. And somehow, I am the one being blamed and getting into trouble.

He was on the verge of being expelled; he knew that. But he couldn't find it in himself to care. He realized that he couldn't care about anything anymore. And…it was strange. Not caring was extremely liberating. The last time he cried was when he cornered the jaguar. Now though, the tears didn't come even if he stubbled his toe.

I want to return to my normal life. I want nothing to do with ANY of them anymore. Yet…they don't want to leave me alone.

Norio stiffened and he gasped as the familiar power washed over his body. HE was nearby.

Kunimasa. Norio's upper lip rose in a snarl. He's approaching my house. Why? I told him to leave me alone!

Mrs. Tsuburaya answered the door, and her voice rose in recognition of the visitor. When Norio heard Kunimasa's voice, he raced to the window and opened it. He swung his legs out onto the ledge and jumped out, landing gracefully on the grass outside. He was still in socks but he didn't care. He just had to get away.

Norio turned to run, but a hand caught the back of his collar. "Wait."

Kunimasa. Norio almost unleashed his soul appearance, but then he heard his parents approach and he held himself in check. "N-Norio!" Mrs. Tsuburaya exclaimed. She looked up towards his window. "What are you doing?! You jumped down?! That's dangerous!"

"It can't hurt me," Norio said bluntly. He glanced at Kunimasa before glaring at his parents. "Why didn't you tell him I was in Dallas?"

Kunimasa barked out a humorless laugh. "You know that wouldn't have worked, Noririn."

"W-We didn't have time to," Mr. Tsuburaya said uneasily. "Norio, what—"

"He caused my death," Norio said, pointing to Kunimasa. "Why would you let him in the house after what I told you?"

"Noririn, you told your parents that you died?" Kunimasa asked him. His eyes were wide.

"He's been…acting very strangely since he came home," Mrs. Tsuburaya said, her voice trembling. "Madarame-kun…could you please talk to him? He was your kohei, and you two—"

"We're no longer together," Norio said, his tone turning sharper. "There's nothing for us to discuss!"

"I'll be happy to talk to him, Tsuburaya-san," Kunimasa told her with a strained smile.

"Thank you."

Much to Norio's great displeasure, he found himself back in his room sitting on his bed while Kunimasa stood in the middle looking around. "Did you change your room a bit?" he asked.

"Yes," Norio said. "I threw out anything that belonged to you."

Kunimasa quickly looked at him. "What?"

"I threw out your gifts, pictures, and whatever items you left behind in here," Norio said. He reached underneath his bed and pulled out a small trash bag. "Here. You can take them with you when you get out of my house." He shoved the bag at Kunimasa harshly.

Kunimasa had the nerve to looked stunned by his behavior. "Noririn—"

"Don't call me that," Norio quickly hissed, baring his teeth and glaring at him. "You have no right to call me that! You're not welcome here, so get out of my house!"

"Other Madararui have sent complaints to my family about you," Kunimasa said, narrowing his eyes. "If you keep up this erratic behavior, you will be taken into custody Norio."

Norio shook his head and looked away. "I made it clear that I'm not part of your community anymore. You Madararui have caused me nothing but pain. If I never met any of you, my life would be better. If anyone's complaining about me, it's because they won't leave me alone. Just as YOU won't leave me alone." He looked back at Kunimasa with a glare. "So stop wasting your time here. Go and be with your betrothed."

"I broke off my engagement," Kunimasa said.

"Good for you," Norio quickly responded, sitting down on his bed again. "Now get out."

Kunimasa threw the bag onto the floor. The motion was quick and would have startled Norio under different circumstances. Now though he didn't even flinch. "What do you want from me?!" Kunimasa demanded. "Do you want me to grovel?! To beg for your forgiveness?!"

"I want you to leave me alone," Norio retorted.

"Look, you said I treated you terribly. I know I treated you terribly! I'm not currently looking for a relationship because I need to work on myself, but—but if it comes down to it, then I only want you!"

"You're lying," Norio said.

"Are you even listening to me?!"

"How is this song and dance any different from the OTHER times you pledged that I was your one and only—only for you to reveal that you lied?" Norio shook his head. "I fell for it before, but I won't now."

"I'm not ready for a relationship, but I will give you the best fucking courtship anyone would ever experience!" Kunimasa quickly spat out. "You want to be wooed?! I will woo you! You want dates on your terms?! Then I'll do whatever you want! I have hurt you and I have lost you—and I am too fucked up to be with anyone right now! But I want to work on myself and do better! I want to be better for me and I want to be better for YOU!"

Norio stared at him with a piercing gaze. He remained silent. Kunimasa's breathing was unsteady and he looked highly emotional. "Whatever you want," he whispered. "It's yours. You can have it all and I will give it you freely, Norio."

"Roller coaster," Norio said.

"What?" Kunimasa blinked in shock.

"I want to ride a roller coaster," Norio clarified. He stood up. "Take me to an amusement park. Now. I want to ride every ride they have."

"O-Okay." Kunimasa looked confused and uneasy but he nodded. "I-I—the workers mentioned a good one, so I know where to take you."

"Fine," Norio said. "And you're paying for everything."

"T-That's fair…"

Norio didn't want to be with Kunimasa. He was abusive and pathetic. And he didn't want to be part of the Madararui society anymore. But…But there was a part of him—a sadistic part—that wanted to humor Kunimasa. To give him even a sliver of the taste of all the abuse Kunimasa had inflicted upon him all this time.

This man has trampled my heart so many times. I want to stay away from them, but they won't stay away from me. So…I'm going to hurt him. Bad. I will hurt him worse than he ever hurt me. Then maybe…I can finally have peace.