Denji knocked on Mari's door. Both he and Nayuta were dressed for school. Since he knew which school she would be attending, he had already bought her uniforms. Actually registering her, however, had slipped his mind.
Mari answered the door wearing her tight black skirt and a royal blue button down dress shirt with a black tie. Although half of her outfit resembled men's clothing, she looked exceptionally feminine and incredibly sexy. She was hopping on one high heel clad foot while sliding on the other black pump.
"Ready?" she asked, exiting her apartment.
"As we'll ever be," Denji replied, puffing out his cheeks when he exhaled. He looked down at Nayuta whose hand he held. "Are you really ready?"
"I told you already, I'm fine," she insisted, shifted the straps of the back pack on her thin shoulders.
She wore a black sailor style uniform with white stripes on the collar and around the cuffs. Knee high white socks and shiny black Mary Jane shoes completed her uniform.
"She looks great, Denji. I think you're more nervous about this than she is," Mari said, straightening the bow on the thin black ribbon he had tied in Nayuta's hair.
"You're probably right," he readily admitted.
The child did indeed appear to be more resigned to her first day of school than her antsy Big Brother who shifted from foot to foot. The knuckles on his hand had turned white from clutching the strap of his book bag so tightly.
"We should go. I don't want to be late," Nayuta said, grasping Mari's hand.
"What are your plans for the day?" Denji asked Mari as they walked down the stairs linked together by the child in between them.
"Once I'm done with the registration, I'll check on jobs. I'll be back to pick her up at the end of the day," she informed him, hoping that would ease his frazzled nerves.
On the sidewalk in front of the apartment building, Denji squatted down to give Nayuta a hug.
"Be a good girl today. Smile and say hello to the other kids like we talked about," he coached her.
Nayuta forced a smile to her lips. She looked like she wanted to bite someone.
"How's this?"
"Uh, we'll work on that," he said, ruffling her hair and skewing her bow again. "Have a great day, kiddo."
Mari assisted her with fixing the bow as Denji stood up to face her next. She grasped the chain strap of her handbag while he stared at her, waiting. What he was waiting for, she was not exactly sure.
"Well, good b- " Before she could get the word out, he grabbed her and kissed her forcefully, possessively, on the lips.
"Don't ever say good bye. I'll see ya later," he said, letting her go then abruptly turning his back to walk away since his school was in the opposite direction.
Mari touched her tingling lips with her fingertips.
"See ya later!" Nayuta exclaimed, waving her arm despite his back being to them.
Denji raised his hand without looking behind him
"Let's go, Mari," Nayuta said in her typical toneless voice, taking Mari by the hand.
"You're going to be in fifth grade in Elementary school, right?"
"I am."
"Are you nervous?"
"No. Are you?"
"No," Mari replied with a laugh. "I think you're going to be great."
"Denji was nervous. I think he's worried about me."
"I think you're right."
Mari looked around at the shops as they passed them. She found many places she would like to stop by for one reason or another. There were various restaurants, a grocery store, and shops selling everything from hand-made soaps to pottery. On their left was an ice cream parlor that was not open yet. Everything was pink and white including the striped awning outside over the door. Peeking inside as they passed, they could see round white tables and fancy little chairs with pink heart shaped backs.
"Hey, want to get ice cream after school?" Mari inquired, swinging their hands as they walked.
"Sure. But we can't waste too much time. I need to get home to walk the dogs," she said.
"That's very responsible of you."
They passed a ramen shop that was not open but people were bustling around inside getting ready for the day. The coffee shop was full of customers with a line out of the door. Half of them looked like students that should be on their way to school.
"The school is a few blocks further down," Nayuta announced. "You won't have to walk with me every morning."
"I don't mind. There might be some mornings I can't though depending on work," Mari warned her, hoping a job order fit for her would come in today. Rent was due in a week.
"Okay."
More kids began to fall in around them as they neared the school. Most walked in groups of two or three. The girls chatted quietly and giggled with hands covering their mouths while the boys were rowdy and showed off, jumping on each others backs and wrestling around short of knocking each other to the ground.
The guard at the front gate stopped them, questioning them about Mari's presence. When she explained Nayuta was a new student, he gave them directions to the office. As they walked toward the main entrance, suddenly the students took an interest in them. The girls glared and whispered behind their hands to each other.
Mari started to grow nervous now. Sweat beaded above her upper lip. She felt both hot and cold at the same time. School girls could be incredibly mean and judgmental, some with a shocking penchant for cruelty. It only seemed to get worse as the girls got older. High school was a fucking nightmare. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat. She had forgotten how much she hated school. Her fingers tightened around Nayuta's hand.
"Mari? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she insisted despite the tightness in her throat making her voice climb an octave. "Why do you ask?"
"You're hurting my hand," Nayuta replied calmly never trying to extract her hand from Mari's viselike grip.
"Oh, damn, I'm sorry," she apologized, immediately loosening her grip but not letting go.
Mari opened the door the office indicated by the plastic tab sticking out from the wall. The woman behind the desk greeted them with a friendly hello and a smile.
"You're here to register a new student," she stated rather than asked, gathering sheets of paper to attach them to a clipboard with a snap of the metal clasp.
"Yes, ma'am. Mr. Kishibe called ahead I think," Mari said, watching the woman put aside the blank sheets.
"Ah, yes, he did," she responded, reaching under the high counter that served as a desk. She withdrew a clipboard with papers that had been partially filled out. As she extended the paperwork, she peeked over at Nayuta. "I see she has the proper uniform already. Very good."
Mari took the clipboard with the pen attached with a piece of twine. The paperwork had already been partially filled out when Mr. Kishibe called giving most of the necessary information over the phone. She exhaled in relief. Having no idea about this girl's basic yet vital information and coming here to register her would have made her look like an idiot. The only thing she knew for sure was Nayuta's address.
Curious, she read over the form quickly. Mr. Kishibe provided his surname as Nayuta's since Denji did not have one of his own. She wondered if Denji had used Kishibe's last name on his school registration papers as well.
After filling in the address, she saw the girl's birthplace was China. Kishibe found her relatively soon after Makima's death, bringing her back to Japan. So did the Control Devil that was inside of Makima flee when she was destroyed to find a new body and took possession of this little girl? Or did the homeless devil take up residence inside a new human life about to be born then she grew up at a supernatural pace?
In either case, that meant this was not a true reincarnation and more like a type of possession by the Control Devil. Therefore, all that was left was the Devil and nothing of Makima. That woman was completely gone.
Mari exhaled again; another noisy sigh of relief. When Nayuta tugged on her skirt, she looked down at her.
"Hmmm? What's up? Is everything okay?"
"I was just about to ask you the same thing," the child rejoined, gazing up at her with concern wrinkling her forehead.
"Yeah, everything is okay," she returned, smiling down at her reassuringly.
Although only seventeen, Denji's name had been put in the blank for legal guardian and adoptive brother as his relationship to Nayuta. She added her name and her phone number for a second emergency contact. Handing the paperwork back to the woman, she reached into her handbag for what appeared to be a wide lipstick case.
"Everything seems to be in order," the registrar cheerily announced, placing the clipboard back on the desk. "I just need your official stamp here."
Mari flipped open the case to retrieve her hanko consisting of her initials and the almost star like shape of a jasmine flower. Jasmine is one of the meanings of her nickname in Japanese. She had considered putting the Kanji for that meaning on her stamp but decided to use the Romaji letters for initials instead. MDV - Marianna Daria Valessimo. She had gotten the stamp to be able to sign the lease for her apartment and her application at the employment agency. She had managed to obtain a forged work visa in her real name since she could not get a legal one after being smuggled into the country.
"Well, you are all set. Welcome to our school, Nayuta Kishibe," the woman said, walking around the end end of the long desk with a piece of paper in her hand. "Classes just started for the day. We better get you to your homeroom."
"I'll see you this afternoon. I'll be waiting by the front entrance," Mari told her as they exited the office to stand in the empty hall.
"See you then." With a little wave, Nayuta followed the woman down the hall.
Mari sighed as she watched the girl take a turn toward the stairwell at the end and disappear. She was excited and anxious, happy and sad, all that the same. Is this how all mothers felt when sending off their child on their first day of school? She was being silly though, not actually being a mother herself. Clutching her handbag tightly, she walked away.
As she strolled past the coffee shop, the pleasant aroma of coffee wafted out, tickling her nose and tempting her to come inside. Waking up late forced her to skip her usual morning ritual of sipping a cup of coffee while scrolling through the job listings on the agency website on her phone. Might as well do all of that here.
Since everyone was presently at work or school, there was no line. Actually, there wasn't a soul in the place except for her and the man behind the counter.
Further temptation awaited in the glass case displaying all sorts of delicious sweets. There were the usual morning pastries along with handmade chocolates and cakes and pies. All sorts of wonderful sweet things to nosh on from morning to evening.
"Oooh, double chocolate cake," Mari murmured to herself upon seeing the two layered dark chocolate cake spread thickly with milk chocolate icing.
But who has cake for breakfast?, she asked herself silently, chewing on her bottom lip. Gazing at the other sugary options, she realized sugar is sugar no matter what form it's in. I do, that's who.
"Good morning. What would you like?" the barista behind the counter asked.
"A piece of the double chocolate cake and a brewed coffee with cream, please," she requested.
"I see you have priorities," he chuckled pleasantly. "We have a choice of a vanilla or hazelnut brew this morning. Which would you like?"
"Vanilla please," she replied, rummaging around for her wallet in her bag.
The bell on the door rang, signaling the arrival of another customer.
"Welcome. I'll be right with you," the employee declared cheerily.
"No problem," the man answered.
"Oh, god," Mari gasped, almost dropping her purse. She recognized that voice.
As if she was not already aware of the unwanted presence, she felt heat at her back along with the oppressive and frightening energy belonging to someone from her very recent past, a part of her life and a terrible mistake she desperately wanted to leave behind.
"Well, well, look who it is," the man cooed in his deep baritone.
Mari felt his voice rattling through her bones and shredding her nerves. She hoped he could not see her shaking.
"Hideki," she gasped, wincing away when his fingers brushed her neck.
Hideki is a bouncer a Club Glitter; the owner's, Mr. Sato, number two man and most trusted employee. He is also in charge of wrangling the girls as well as acting chauffeur, errand boy, and prison warden. He carted the women working at the club to and from the mansion where they all lived, took them shopping, and made sure they did not escape the house or their indentured servitude before their contracts were up.
Basically, all of the women were unwilling slaves literally bought by Mr. Sato to work at his hostess club, his brothel, or on the corners of the streets he liked to think he owned. Where a girl was placed all depended on her appearance and personality. Every expense from living arrangements to the clothes they wore were paid for by the less than philanthropic Mr. Sato adding to their contract which would never be paid.
Mari gulped, unable to breathe due to invisible hand of fear squeezing her throat. She understood more about Denji's past situation with being indebted to the yakuza than he knew. Meeting him inspired her in more ways than one to get out of her predicament. Although Mr. Sato isn't a part of the yakuza, he is definitely in the upper echelon of sleazy yet revoltingly rich and influential underworld crime lords.
"We've missed you at the club," Hideki said, placing his big heavy hand on her shoulder.
"I bet," she murmured, her hand shook so violently she dropped her card when trying to slide it into the slot to pay.
When she squatted to pick it up, the crushing weight of his hand was finally removed from her shoulder. However, as her fingers grasped the credit card, his hand covered hers. Her eyes flew to his face.
Hideki gave her a menacing grin, more of a silent snarl. His black soulless eyes were like two black holes in his head, devoid of emotion and humanity. He stood up, pulling her with him. His legs continued to extend until he loomed over her like a human mountain. Tall and wide with a hard craggy face bearing many scars from his many knife fights and even being shot in the face once.
"You still owe on your contract," he reminded her. "You owe a lot. You were one of Mr. Sato's favorites."
Oh, yes. Lucky her. She had been a personal pet of the boss. Indulged with special privileges like outings to the museums and aquariums and theme parks. Given all of the best clothes and jewelry. Even treated to dinners with the boss or elite clients at some of the most exclusive and expensive restaurants in the country. Yep, lucky, lucky her. It all added more links into the financial chain with which he held her prisoner.
Tears were forming in her eyes, and her entire body had started to visibly shake. Maybe it was a good thing she had ran into him in here with a witness. Hideki knew better than to cause a scene and have the police called out because the arriving officer might not be one on his boss' payroll. It would be too much even for Sato and his law enforcement lackeys to cover up.
However, if she had continued down the street, the man could have snatched her up from one of the many deserted side streets, and thrown her into the car, returning her to the seemingly glamourous life she never wanted. He had to be pissed she had slipped out of his grip during one of her trips to her favorite place, the art museum. She had been scouting for escape routes for a while. She had gone through a window in the bathroom, allowing her to sneak out and disappear into the city.
"Ma'am, your order," the barista said, pushing the small wooden tray holding her cup of coffee and slab of cake toward her. When his eyes met hers, and he saw her tears, he reached for the phone beside the cash register. "Is everything okay here?"
Big and brutal but not completely stupid, Hideki removed his hand from Mari's and even took a step back.
"I-it's f-fine," she stuttered. She picked up the tray and her quaking hands made the china cup clatter against the saucer.
"Let me help you," the perceptive man offered, casting a glance at the scary goon. "Forgive me. I'll be right with you, sir."
"Sure thing," Hideki returned.
The helpful barista came from behind the counter with the tray in his hands, directing her to a table close to the door. He was providing her with an easy escape route if she needed it. However, if she ran, Hideki would pursue her and grab her like a hunting dog sicced on prey. Despite his size, he was fast with long legs, a big stride, and a strong body.
"Do I need to call the police?" the man asked her, leaning toward her to whisper as he sat the tray down on the table.
"No, it's fine," she assured him, taking her own phone out of her purse.
Mari had no intention of calling the police though. That would only make her situation worse at this time since Hideki was on his best behavior. Besides, she could not have him arrested for being a sinister henchman. Mr. Sato had connections among the top cops. Hell, most of them were customers. Therefore he had blackmail, pictures and video of compromising situations and clandestine meetings, to protect himself.
"You're welcome to stay as long as you need to," the coffee shop employee said, reading the situation. Despite not knowing why she was frightened of that man, he knew she was definitely in some kind of danger. He smiled. "I'll even throw in free refills."
"Th-thanks." Any other time that would have been a fabulous offer. Extra caffeine was probably the last thing she needed to add to her off the charts anxiety.
Hideki ordered a hot vanilla latte with four extra shots of espresso. His usual. He drank at least three of those caffeine bombs a day. Surely there is a God since Devils exist, and she hoped the deity would see fit to make this jerk have a heart attack. Soon.
"I'll have a piece of that cake too," he added.
"I'll make that to go," the brave barista returned.
The man didn't know it, but he suddenly became her hero and made her a loyal customer. She decided then she would stop by here every time possible either after taking Nayuta to school or before meeting her in the afternoon.
Her fingers were still shaking as she poked at her phone screen to begin looking through the jobs on the employment agency's website. She needed the distraction to keep from completely falling apart right here in public.
"I'll tell Mr. Sato you said hello. See ya real soon, Heather. It will be good to have you back," Hideki said on his way out issuing a terrifying warning only she could understand as the threat he meant it to be.
Mari did not say anything in return. She kept her eyes downcast, picking up her cup to take a drink. Her throat felt like it had glued itself shut making it difficult to swallow.
Once the intimidating enforcer was gone, the barista came over with the coffee pot and a pitcher of cream.
"Are you all right?" he inquired, topping off her still half full cup.
"Yeah. Thank you so much." She took a swallow of the hot coffee. "For everything."
Raising her eyes to him, she smiled. The man had the most remarkable green eyes. They were the color of fresh limes, so brilliant they virtually glowed. There was a darker emerald green color around the iris.
"No problem."
Taking in deep breaths and exhaling slowly to calm her racing heart, she returned her attention to the jobs list. At least Hideki did not know where she lived. A smile stretched her lips. There was also the Devil next door who would protect her. Her heartbeat finally returned to normal, and she no longer felt like crying.
Her eyes and her finger stopped on the job titled English Teacher. Her stomach lurched.
This is legit, Mari assured herself. This posting was from the agency and not listed on a some huge job search site notorious for fake postings. Heat rose to her face and rushed down her neck. She really should have been more careful. The opportunity to escape from her dictatorial father and hopeless circumstances while fleeing to a foreign country over half a world away had been too tempting to question. But of course, that's what those awful men had been banking on, quite literally.
"Idiot," she mumbled into her cup to hide she was talking to herself.
She went back to look at the job details. Long term assignment. Fill in for teacher on maternity leave. Fourth East High School.
That's Denji's school!, she realized, her heart skipping a beat and her stomach dropping a little but with excitement and not fear. She immediately hit the button to apply.
Setting down her phone, she began to eat her cake. Halfway through her sugar and caffeine fest, she received an email: a job order to report to the school at ten for an interview. She chuckled happily. The frightening interaction with Hideki quickly became a distant memory.
Unsure if it was the caffeine and sugar or pure elation, her head began to swim dizzily. Now she would be close to Denji all day long. They could walk to Nayuta's school together to meet her when the school day was done. Smiling like a Cheshire cat, she ate another bite of the cake.
Who says you can't have your cake and eat it too?
~\'/~
"Whoa, who is that?" murmured one of the male students sitting in the row of desks along the window.
"Damn, she's fine," another one whispered after glancing outside.
"Dude, she's hot."
"Oh, I'd smash that."
"Yeah like you'd have a chance with a hottie like that."
"Excuse me! What is going on here?!" the teach exclaimed having completely lost the attention of his class.
Denji glanced up from his history book to see what was going. Boys and even a few girls in the room had migrated over to the window to gawk outside. Even the teacher ambled over to the window for a look at who had stolen his students attention - the ones that were still conscious anyway.
"Why is a woman that looks like that here at this school?" the teacher mused aloud.
"Maybe she's someone's mom," a female student commented.
"Not likely, idiot," returned a fellow female student.
"Don't call me idiot," the first girl snapped. "Big sister then."
"Oh, yeah, real big," rejoined one of the boys.
"Holy shit. You gotta see this fine as fuck babe," Yoshida said, waving at Denji to get up.
Denji couldn't possibly care less because he already had a beautiful woman of his own. But looking couldn't hurt. Standing up, he looked outside just in time to catch a glimpse of her before she disappeared under the awning of the building.
Dark curls, red bow, bright blue shirt stretched tight over big boobs. Wait...
"Fuck me," Denji gasped. He had not seen her face since she had already reached the front entrance, but he recognized Mari's outfit.
"What's wrong with you?" Yoshida caught a glimpse of Denji's eyes widened in surprise. He scoffed then asked, "What? You know her or something?"
Denji sat down without saying a word. His face had already started to turn red with a blush. He could feel Yoshida's eyes on him.
"Holy shit, dude, is she - "
"All right everyone. Back to the task at hand. You kids act like you've never seen a woman before," the teacher muttered irritably.
Denji wanted to run from the classroom to find Mari and ask why she had come here.
"Sir, I need to take a dump," he boldly declared drawing giggles from some of his classmates.
"Seriously?" the skeptical teacher returned.
"Seriously. Gotta turtlehead."
The laughter rose in volume along with utterances of ew, gross, nasty, and disgusting. There was even one comment of, "Ugh, he'll never get a girl to like him."
"Go," the teacher sighed. When Denji almost ran past him he added, "You be a little less rude about it next time."
Denji's destination was actually the front office, not the bathroom. Peering inside the window through the slats of the blind on the other side, he did not see her. When a student who had been dropping off notebooks approached the door to leave, he stepped back around the corner to hide. Every time the door opened, he peeked around the corner to see if it was her.
After five false alarms, Mari walked out. He exhaled a sigh of relief. Finally! He had no idea the faculty room was such a busy place.
"Thank you so much. I'll be here first thing in the morning," he heard Mari say.
"What the hell?" he muttered under his breath. Be here for what?!
When she passed by, he reached out to grab her from behind, hooking his arm around her waist. Before he could cover her mouth with his hand, a short, sharp cry left her lips to echo through the empty halls.
Mari shifted into fight mode, kicking her feet and abusing his shins with her heels. One of her kicks barely missed hitting an extremely delicate mark between his legs. Her fingernails clawed at his his hand clutching her waist while her teeth gnashed in an attempt to bite his palm.
"Hey, hey, hey, it's me," he whispered in her ear.
He felt her go limp in his arms but her breathing was rapid and shuddering. Her entire body trembled then convulsed. Was she crying?
Setting her on her feet, he turned her to face him. Tears ran down her pale face. When her teary eyes met his, she jumped up to fling her arms around his neck. She squeezed him so tightly he could not breathe while she hung onto him with her feet dangling several inches above the floor.
"I'm so sorry I scared you," he choked out between wheezing breaths.
As if realizing she was strangling him, Mari relaxed her grip, gradually lowering herself back to the floor. She impatiently swiped at the tears with the back of her hand. Her white face changed to red with embarrassment.
"Did something happen?" he inquired, pressing his fingertips to her heated cheek.
"No, nothing," she lied.
"Why are you here?"
"Oh!" she gasped excitedly, hugging him again with her arms around his waist. "Tomorrow I start work here as a fill in for the English teacher."
"Really?"
"Really! I'm so excited!"
"Me too. Will you be teaching in my class?"
"Uhm, let me see." She reached into her handbag withdrawing a folded piece of paper. "Sixth period, room -"
"That's my class," he said, looking at the piece of paper in her hands which still shook slightly making it wave around.
"Oh, well...I guess the teacher/student fantasy is becoming a little more real," she said, casting a sidelong glimpse at him.
"That's so hot," he murmured, leaning down to kiss her briefly on the lips.
"Uh-huh," she agreed, placing her hand on the back of his neck to pull his head down for another kiss.
There was sound in the hallway like someone dropping something. Mari let go of Denji, jumping back from him. She did not want to be fired before even starting her new job. Plus she might be put in jail as a sex offender if someone saw them.
"I better go," she whispered. "See ya at home later."
"See ya." He returned her wave, watching her walk away.
He really hated to see her leave, but watching her go, her hips swinging back and forth in the skirt that cupped her nicely shaped behind, was definitely worth it. His palms itched. Tonight he would cup that ass himself.
Shoving his hands in his pockets, Denji headed to the stairwell to return to the classroom. He froze at the bottom step upon seeing Yoshida leaning casually against the wall in the corner of the landing.
"Well, isn't this interesting?" he remarked. "So I'm guessing that beautiful woman is your mysterious tutor and your girlfriend."
Denji shrugged and stomped up the steps.
"Yeah. So what of it?" Denji returned although he wanted to yell with pride, "Hell yeah, she's my girlfriend, asshole. She is a hot as fuck babe, isn't she?!"
Yoshida jumped on Denji's back when he tried to pass by.
"Hey!"
"You lucky bastard," Yoshida said, scrubbing his knuckles against Denji's scalp.
"Luck's got nothin' to do with it. Get off my back, dude." He tried to shake off the man clinging to him.
"Man, I'm so jealous," his friend admitted, clamping onto Denji's shoulders with his hands and his hips with his knees in case he tried to dislodge him again.
"You're so weird," Denji muttered, hooking his arms under Yoshida's knees to save his hips. He didn't want to have to explain the bruises to Mari. "You're going to pay me for this, right?"
"Yeah. Of course. I'll also pay you if you give me all of the dirty details of you two fucking."
"Hell, no," Denji growled, letting go of his legs and rearing back to toss Yoshida off onto his ass like a horse throwing its rider.
"Oooh, touched a nerve," he chuckled sardonically. Getting to his feet, he brushed his behind off as if to knock off the dirt and the humiliation of being dumped onto the floor.
"That's enough. Back off, fuckwad," he warned.
"Okay, okay, I won't say anything else." Yoshida raised his hands in surrender. "Damn. You must really love this woman."
"I do."
"Come on. We better get back to class before we're given detention."
"Shit." He jogged away at that thought.
The last thing Denji wanted was to be trapped in a room with Yoshida for another hour after school. Although he would be loathe to admit it, especially to Yoshida, it was kind of nice having such a close friend again. Even if he is an annoying asshole.