It was a month later that they decided to try going on a date. They were both so busy recouping the funds needed to buy the Tojo headquarters land that they found themselves in an easy gait with each other. The graves of her parents were also located, and she made sure to make plans to visit them once a month. Kiryu had to constantly comfort her as she stood there in his arms and hiding her face from the tears that fell.
The apartment of her tormentor was also claimed by her when she showed proof that her funds were being used. She proved who she was with the bank, and quite a bit of money was refunded under the pretenses that it was all stolen. Once again, Kiryu was there at her side for the entire thing. He was proving to her that he would never abandon her to her own devices. The apartment was sold off for an intense amount of funding, and no one had even heard of the woman that left the place. Seonhee had reported that she left the city and had yet to return.
"Kazuma, where did you want to go?" Saiki asked after serving him lunch. He was adamant to be on first name basis in the comfort and safety of their home. She had made light sandwiches of tuna and lobster pieces with a touch of seasoned mayonnaise on toasted sourdough bread. He was enjoying every bit of it and was amazed at how precise she was at cooking. He knew she used every book she had with intense study.
And he was pleased that she decided to start wearing somewhat tight, black jeans with a strapless halter top that connected behind her neck with a shimmery feel of satin. The one she wore today was of a dark red coloring that left her back exposed. Of course, it did have a plunging neckline to expose her intense cleavage, but it was a lot more presentable in the public eye. She did have her black lace cardigan to wear over it to keep to her theme to hide her back away. She also wore two necklaces now consisting of her mother's necklace of a golden flower with a small diamond chip in the center and the skull coin.
Seonhee had even convinced her to get a second ear piercing for her mother's earrings to never take them out. The golden, circular studs stamped with a small smiley face on each one went beautifully over the diamond studs she wore. Even Kiryu thought she looked oddly cute with them on. He was even delighted when she started to wear bracelets to get used to them. As always, she also had her back belt. She had designed it to be like a stylish utility belt to hold a vast assortment of her traps and other nasty devices.
"Honestly, Aika…I was thinking…maybe I should cook for you," he chuckled. "We have plenty of things to do here. Of course, that's if you don't mind. We purposely left our night clear, right?"
"That we did. The whole day. I know we were asked to go to the Survive Bar, but we really just need…a night to ourselves. You know?" she smiled.
"I know it. It would be nice to unwind with you alone. We can sing each other a couple karaoke songs. Maybe even…finish watching a movie…" he said in quiet knowing. "We had one left unfinished."
"That we do…" she muttered and sighed hard. "I suppose we must see it through to the end. There was only a few minutes left of it."
"Then we have a plan. Karaoke, dinner and a movie. Depending on the order, well…we'll figure that out," he chuckled. "Hmm. I may need to do the grocery shopping tonight. We don't have the ingredients on hand for what I have planned to make for you."
"Should I go with you?" she asked softly.
"I think I should be fine. It's just food shopping," he shrugged.
"I don't know. I am getting the vibe that something might happen if we are apart. So, here's what we'll do," she said and sat next to him. He regarded her fully when she was in this mood. She's been trained for this. I'll let her take the lead. "I'll walk with you to the store. You go inside while I wait outside in another area. Hidden. When you walk out, I'll rejoin you. This way you can keep the shopping a secret, and I'll still be with you. You know that my scythe is never noticed and only seen as decoration. Mainly as a possible fold in cane for you."
"Hmm. Okay. I'll accept that," he nodded to her. "Oh. Did you ever get in touch with your friend? The monk?"
"No. I have left a couple voicemails. I hope he's well. If I don't hear from him by the end of the week, then I may need to go out to Tibet. And you'll join me," she grinned. Now he rose a brow at her.
"I haven't been there yet! I suppose a little sight-seeing would be nice. I should have you come with me to Hawaii," he grinned.
"I actually have yet to go there," she admitted.
"Next month. If everything is good with my health?" he smiled. She lifted up her fluted glass of water for him to do the same to toast to it.
"Done," she smiled back. "I'll wear something decent, yet easy to move in should my instinctive feeling be correct. It never fails."
"We had no issues so far. Maybe you're right that something might just happen. I'll hope for no issues," he said and finished off his sandwich. She refilled his water for him, and they finished their lunch. At her look of amusement, he looked at her curiously.
"You know…I did redo my weapon a bit…" she grinned a bit wickedly.
"What?" he blinked at her.
"My scythe. I upgraded it. It can have multiple blades now and spin like a saw blade. I can even have the end of the staff it connects to swivel around into any direction I want," she grinned a bit more. He stared at her with pleasant surprise. "I also…put specialty blades in the heels of my shoes. I did have them before, but these blades are much, much sharper. So, if I kick out, it's like a bone saw with a slicing action. Foot goes up for first cut, and straight down to fully sever. What do you think?"
"Yeah. If anything happens to me, I'll have to tell them to stand down before my girlfriend kills everyone in one go," he smirked.
"I'll make sure you get an umbrella for the bloody rainfall of death that may happen," she nodded. Now he looked at her to get her laughing at him.
"I know you're not joking about that," he muttered.
"That I am not," she chuckled. "I also improved my whip a bit more. I can use it like a grappling hook. I did before, but I refined it a bit more."
"To think that I ended up with the Headhunter of the Yakuza as my girlfriend. If anyone else found out from outside our little circle of friends…"
"Oh, I know. And to think that I am with the famous Dragon of Dojima! Quite the hookup, huh? Goro still thinks he has a chance, though. I think he's waiting for something to happen to you. Little does he know…I'll likely disappear if anything does. I can't…see myself with anyone else," she frowned.
"I know that," he said and kissed her forehead.
"I have been working on a weapon for Zhao, though. A specialized kitchen knife that's a bit like a boomerang. So he can use it both in and out of the kitchen. I just need to perfect it to return properly when thrown," she beamed. He rose a brow at her with a small smile.
"I need you to make something for me," he muttered.
"I did," she nodded and took a set of dark blue framed glasses out of a protective case nearby. "Put those on. They're fake, but they have a chemical laced in them that can cancel out that neurotoxin I use. I made a few small bombs with it. So this is crucial for you."
"How…would they cancel it…?" he examined the false glasses.
"Put them on. Then push on the bridge that goes over your nose," she instructed. He put them on and did as she said. Now he smelled and tasted something like roses. "If you smell roses, then that's the chemical that counter-acts the neurotoxin. It may get into your system, but that rose scent will keep you from getting affected by anything. And as long as that scent is on your tongue and in your nose, you'll be immune to it."
"How long does it last?" he asked.
"That I'm not sure. So, you'll have to tell me when you no longer have it," she chuckled. He rose a brow at her again.
"I'm your guinea pig?"
"I figured it was best. This way you're still protected."
"I see…"
"Oh. There was something else I wanted to do…"
"Yes?"
"I…think…it may be time…"
"For what?" he asked. He watched her get up and head into her bedroom. She came out with the wedding rings from her parents. His eyes widened at them. "Ah…why?"
"Call it a hunch," she said softly. "I want others to know we are couple. Even though they are wedding rings…"
"Can we wait until after tonight?" he asked gently.
"I don't think we should," she said seriously. "I want people to know that you are no longer on the market. And I never was."
"Hmm. It doesn't feel right to wear them. We should get other rings for ourselves until the time is right to use those."
"Please, Kazuma. Take the risk…and trust me…"
"I…damn…" he sighed and shook his head. "When you say it like that…okay. You really are serious about this. Come here. Let's put them on each other. That way…"
"A bit official," she smiled and moved into his lap. They put the rings on each other and kissed deeply after it. He hugged her close and smiled at how the rings were a perfect fit on each of them. "If anyone asks…"
"I won't have to say anything. I'll let them guess. That's if we don't know them," he nodded at her. "And…I think the other reason why you wanted this…for Goro…"
"Exactly," she nodded.
"Makes sense. It would shut him up. But…I do need to confess something," he sighed and let her rest against him. He ran a hand through a long lock of her hair to show he was content for now.
"What's that?"
"I never…cared for another. Not since Yumi passed on. I told you about her. My life. But with her…I even had rings for her. I left them in a church in Hawaii. She always wanted to get married in a church. I guess…a part of me felt that…if I tried to get involved again…"
"You told me before. I get it," Saiki smiled. "Just know…that I'd likely be the one rescuing you. And you would be rescuing anyone that got in my way to get to you."
"My, my…how the tables have turned…" he said with a soft laugh.
"You'd better believe it," she grinned and let him kiss her passionately. "And I do find it…rather odd…"
"What?" he muttered and let her run a hand over his chest. He was only wearing an off-white shirt with dark blue pants for now, but he tensed at her very touch. A part of him was already feeling a touch anxious on being with her.
"Ever since we took a nap on that couch…we haven't been able to sleep apart since…" she murmured. "I always woke up irritable. You'd struggle to sleep properly. Finally we just…decided to fall asleep against each other…"
"And you always slept in the guest room with me after a week. Should we try your bedroom tonight?" he asked. She looked at him and saw he was actually a bit serious. She mused over the idea.
"I suppose we can. It's just sleeping…" she started. She went still when his hand lightly traced up her back. She didn't have her cardigan on to be relaxed, but she felt an odd, delicious shiver come forth. Then her breath heightened slightly when he leaned in close to let his hot breath wash over her skin.
"It's been a month…" he muttered in her ear. "We agreed to wait a month…to ensure things would be well…"
"And…if we discover something…" she looked away and trembled.
"It will just prove that I am the only one able to do that. As you will for me. As furious as I know you would be…I won't let you stay mad for long. And, if it was the case, I'd still be the one having you first. You'll remember what I did. That's the only time it will fully count," Kiryu growled in her ear to excite her. "We've played this game before…"
"A few times," she said with a light blush.
"And we both struck out evenly."
"Nothing like a friendly rematch…"
"We'll be on an even playing field where we both score after tonight."
"Who says we'll do anything tonight?"
"We'll be in your bedroom tonight."
"And if I change my mind?" she asked with a small grin. At the smoldering gaze of desire he gave her now, she felt her mind lightly spinning.
"I won't give you that chance," he said and grinned lightly before giving her a hungry kiss. "First date. First time for us. And we are wearing wedding rings. The reason is quite sound."
"Our first date had better be impressive," she said to get him laughing at it.
"Then we'd better do our shopping now before it gets dark," he smirked and kissed her again in a feverish way. "I might just forget that I have to go out."
"Maybe you should let me move…" she gasped when his mouth moved over her neck. He had just started to move down her chest when his phone rang.
"Who…in the hell…?!" he scowled and had to shake his head free of her. He sighed hard and pulled the phone out of his pocket to answer it. "Kasuga? What's going on?"
"Hey, Kiryu-san! What are your plans for tonight?" Kasuga asked in his cheerful way. Saiki found herself laughing and shaking her head.
"I'm staying home tonight with Saiki. We have a date night. After a month, we are finally scheduling one. I was going to make her dinner," he said calmly.
"Oh! Ah, well, great! I'll let the others know you have plans," Kasuga said quickly. Then Saiki spoke up to be heard.
"We're going shopping for food, but Kazuma wants to surprise me with the meal. I was going to wait outside, but I am also sensing…possible funny stuff. So, keep an eye on your phone just in case I send out a text blast," Saiki said.
"That doesn't sound good. Where do you plan to shop? Maybe we can all meet up and go in as a small group," he offered.
"Not needed. Just me and her. Keep an eye on your phone. If there's no text, then all is fine. If there is, follow her instructions. That's it," Kiryu said.
"Ah…okay! I'll let the others know," Kasuga agreed. After Kiryu hung up, the phone was put back in his pocket, and he went straight to claiming her mouth again with his.
"I don't think I can wait until tonight…" he mumbled and proceeded to move his mouth over her again. She tilted his face up to hers and blinked her deep blue eyes with a smile.
"Then let's go shopping now. And build up an appetite," she crooned. Her voice started to drive him mad with desire, but he gave a small growling swear at Kasuga for spoiling the mood.
"I'm going to have to keep from hitting him for the cock-block…" he grunted. That got her sputtering with laughter. "Very well. Let's go. While I can still think straight. And I still have that rose smell and taste."
"It's been almost twenty minutes. Good. There's more than one dose in there, and if you feel the scent going away you can press on the nose bridge again. I believe it has three doses, so it should be more than enough," she nodded and hissed when he lightly nipped her neck before letting her go.
"Right," he nodded and had to force himself to let her go. When she turned to get her cardigan, she couldn't stop the gasp she gave when he moved to lightly run his hands over her sides. "Change of plans."
"What?" she blinked and squeaked when he scooped her up to carry her. He started to make his way to her bedroom when his phone rang again.
"Why?! Why now?!" he hissed. "It's going to voicemail!"
"And then they'll come here looking for you," Saiki grinned sweetly. He scowled and pulled out his phone to see who it was. He realized it was an unknown number. Now he was curious on who had his number.
"What?" he frowned at the number and answered. "Hello? Who is this?"
"Is this Kazuma Kiryu?" a man's voice said on the line.
"Maybe. Maybe not. Who wants to know?"
"Were you busy today?"
"It depends. But I did have plans."
"Cancel the plans."
"No."
"You're needed for a job."
"If you know who I am, then you should know my condition. The doctors forbid me to do anything strenuous. I can't do anything at all or my condition worsens. Do you even know this? I'm effectively retired. Permanently. Do I even know you?" Kiryu asked warily. Saiki frowned hard, but he gave a small shake of his head to keep quiet.
"Then you will be picked up. Where are you?"
"Nowhere you need to know," he said. "I'm safe. I'm keeping my health in check. There is no need for me to be sought after anymore. I don't know who you are or what you want. So, no, I'm not meeting with you or going anywhere with you. I am flat out refusing."
"Well, you are the only one able to do what we need done," the man argued.
"I can't. Use someone else," Kiryu said bluntly and hung up the call.
"I knew it…" Saiki said with complete mistrust.
"Just don't worry about it. You'll be keeping an eye on me. At this point…maybe I shouldn't go up above. If others are waiting for me…"
"Who's waiting for you? Wait. The Daidoji?!" she spat.
"I know I told you about them, but it doesn't feel like it's them. Besides, I was told that I was let go with strict rules to not get in anyone's way when it comes to the Daidoji. As if I would have! They keep enough tabs on me, as it is. The Tatara Channel saw to that. They had no choice but to let me go to a point.
"As for my unknown caller, I don't want to know what they have planned for me. Even what they could possibly need me for. I don't even know how they got my number. Quite baffling," he muttered. He looked over at her bedroom. Then he turned to the couch.
"What?" she asked with amusement.
"Every time I go to your bedroom, I get a call. I'm trying an experiment," he smiled and sat down on the couch with her in his lap. Just as he began to kiss her intimately, his phone went off yet again. "Okay. I'm turning this damned thing off!"
"It's Zhao?" she frowned at the name of the caller. Kiryu let out a slow sigh and kept her firmly in his lap while answering the phone and put it on speaker.
"I need some help here!" Zhao said quickly. "Seonhee is already on her way with Joongi and Kasuga!"
"What's going on?" Kiryu asked.
"There's a black car that's been going around my street for a while now. People have been asking for you," Zhao said carefully.
"And you want me to go out there?" Kiryu asked with confusion.
"If he goes out there to get confronted, there will be a bloodbath," Saiki said firmly. "You know that, right?"
"I do. It's why I am telling you," Zhao said.
"This was supposed to be my date night with Saiki. The one day we set aside for ourselves. This makes no sense at all," Kiryu muttered.
"Well, I had no idea. All I know is what's going on right now," Zhao said. The next thing heard over the phone was the sound of glass breaking with shouting. Kiryu narrowed his eyes and looked at Saiki.
"I guess this can be a start to our date…" she mused. Now he rose a brow at her. "And, as we'll be out, we can go food shopping."
"Ugh…" Kiryu winced. "Unfair. But…let's go."
She nodded and jumped off his lap to snatch her cardigan. Then she paused and went into the security room. "Kazuma! We have a welcoming party right outside our elevator! And it's no one I know!"
"What?!" Kiryu gaped and rushed over to see the cameras. "Not the Daidoji…I have no clue who they are, either…and all men in black suits…"
"So…I can test my weapons?" she grinned. "You stay behind me."
"Right," he nodded. He collected his coat and put his dress shoes on to show he was ready. They moved into the elevator and rode it up. On getting out, they saw several men in black suits waiting for them. Kiryu narrowed his eyes. The same ones from the camera monitor.
"Who are you to stand outside my main door?" Saiki asked.
"We are only here for Kazuma Kiryu," one of the men said.
"Aww. I can't let him go with you. He's my boyfriend. And it's date night. Can you come back tomorrow?" she asked sweetly with a hint of a smile. Kiryu cleared his throat and sighed. I know that tone all too well…
"We need him now! If he won't come willingly, then we'll have to take him with us!" another man said and rushed at her. Now the men around them gaped with shock at the sight of the six foot scythe that hefted the man up after slicing straight through his waist out his back. Then she grinned savagely and tossed the man up into the air to twirl the scythe to dice up the body into pieces to fall all around them. She was still incredibly strong and easily kept up her training routine to ensure it. Then she stared at the other men.
"Who's…next…?" she breathed out with the excitement of bloodlust.
"Yeah. I'll wait in front of the elevator," Kiryu nodded.
"You do that, dear. I get to make…bread crumbs…" she giggled.
"No. We can't have others finding us," he said lightly.
"But I just made some," she frowned at the body parts around them.
"Then we have to clean it up," Kiryu said sternly. He saw her jump onto the scythe to rock it. There were six men there. None of them could attack her from what she just did. Her attack was so savage and brutal that they had no clue how to begin. When one man tried to reach for a gun, she already had her whip out to severe off his hand with the bladed tips.
"I am the Headhunter of the Yakuza! And I see…some heads…that need stacking…" she grinned. Now she leapt off the scythe and twirled it for several scythe blades to appear at once. Her arm raised up was right at their neck level. Kiryu watched with intense, fearful fascination when all six men fell to the ground with their heads lopped off their bodies with a circular swing. She readied the scythe again in its single blade state as though waiting for the next attack.
"Kiryu-san! We got here…just in…fuck…!" Tomi gaped at the sight.
"Hi…" Saiki said and looked right at him with a twisted grin of interest. Kiryu moved to lightly touch her shoulder. That got her to pause and blink. Then she saw what happened around her. She took in a deep breath and put her scythe back at her side.
"Did you black out?" Kiryu asked and let her cling to him.
"I think so. Sometimes it happens. Part of my training. Did I hurt you?" she frowned and let him pick her up to cradle her. She nestled into him and sighed with a hard shiver. Just the fact that she worried that she almost hurt him let him know how much she cared about him. His feelings deepened for her even more. He stroked a lock of hair gently to show he was fine.
"No. You had me stand behind you in the elevator. You were definitely protecting me. And I'm glad that you didn't hurt our friends. I don't know what those men wanted, either. But I know that we need to get these bodies out of here! They will draw attention to us!" Kiryu said. Seonhee was actually speechless at what she witnessed. She had just come up to them when she saw the men fall down headless.
"Who are they?" Saiki asked her.
"I think they're some random group that just popped up around Ijincho. No idea who else they could be, but they seemed to just appear overnight. Like they were waiting for their chance. I don't know what they want with you, though, Kiryu-san. They just kept asking around for you! Zhao's restaurant got the windows busted in, but we took care of them. I don't know how they found out where this place was. And I haven't had any word about that woman who fled," Seonhee said when she came about.
"Hmm," Saiki thought. She whispered to Kiryu to set her down, and she walked up to one of the bodies on the ground. She searched around in the pockets and found a small brooch of a shield with a scorpion on it. "This is new."
"I've never seen that before," Kiryu frowned when he walked up behind her to see what she found. She shrugged at him and let him rest his hands on her shoulders to keep her calm.
"I have some of the boys coming here now with a truck to move the bodies. And the body parts. Let me take a picture of that to send to them," Seonhee said.
"Kiryu-san! Ah…wow…" Kasuga gaped at the sight before him.
"Hmm?" Kiryu found his phone ringing and he answered it. "Daigo. I'm fine. These men in suits showed up at the hidden entrance. Saiki…did her job. Thoroughly. Anyways, one of them had this brooch of a shield with a scorpion on it. Do you know anything?"
"That's new to me. How did they fight?" Daigo asked.
"They didn't have a chance," Kiryu sighed. "One rushed at me and turned into pieces of meat. The others became a calling card."
"Bread crumbs!" Saiki giggled sharply.
"We don't need them leading to our door," Kiryu said to get her to look at him. "Promise me that it won't happen."
"But…anywhere else…?" she asked with a grin.
"It's fine anywhere else. Just not around the home," he said carefully.
"Does she have a split personality?" Daigo asked from what he was hearing.
"That makes the most sense," Kiryu frowned. "I didn't think about that before. Anyways, I really did need to go food shopping. But with Saiki being in this mindset…and others looking for me…"
"We'll figure something out. See you soon. Stay safe until then," Daigo agreed and hung up the call. Kiryu put his phone back in his pocket and sighed.
"How in the hell am I supposed to run errands if people are looking for me?!" Kiryu grumbled irritably.
"Tell one of us what you need. We'll get it for you," Joongi said.
"I didn't think of that, either! Okay, I'll give you a list in a moment. And is that another black car?" Kiryu looked over at the road.
"It's us!" Nanba said when he got out with Zhao and Adachi.
"We hijacked this one. I have no idea who these guys are! But they are all looking for you. And I guess they found you and failed to tell you why they need you," Adachi said on staring at the ground littered with corpses.
"Yeah. No way a hospital will fix that," Nanba frowned.
"I think I have an idea," Zhao said and took out a business card. "I was given this before they smashed in my windows."
"Hmm," Kiryu frowned and took the card to examine it.
"That's a rush job if I ever saw one," Saiki growled. "And now I'm confused. They left you a calling card. Then broke in your windows. Why?"
"My question exactly," Zhao sighed.
"They may have tried to leave a more direct message," Joongi said.
"Well…now they have my attention…" Saiki grinned savagely.
"Hey. Listen to me," Kiryu said in her ear. She tilted her head at him expectantly. "You stay with me. Protect me. You are still bound by my contract. Only if I am threatened are you to attack."
"I know that," Saiki frowned. "I'm just saying…what they are doing…is a major contradiction of actions. They look for help. Then cause trouble. I suppose…the next man we find…he'll have to live…to get information…"
"Right. We need that," Kiryu agreed.
"But the card…the name of the group logo. I have to wonder what it means. Stinger Shield? No. Armored Scorpions? Interesting…" she mused.
"Reminds me of some local gangs I had to kick around a few years back," Kiryu mused. Then he looked over to see several more men in black suits arrive. They all stopped in their tracks at the sight of the bodies. Saiki gave a twisted grin to show who did it. Then she turned to wrap her arms around Kiryu's neck.
"We should go back down the elevator…" she murmured in his ear.
"But we have company…" he muttered and found himself kissed heavily. After the kiss, he mused at her. "Are you setting a stage?"
"With me as the main performer," she grinned a bit wickedly. "This is our date time, you know. We still have some time before the night hits…"
"Or we turn in early?" he chuckled and pulled her close.
"You wanted to cook for me, though," she frowned.
"I did…" he sighed. At how he gazed at her, she found herself blushing softly again. He clearly didn't want to go anywhere.
"Just hand over Kazuma Kiryu! Then we'll go!" a black suited man managed to say. He stammered when Saiki turned to give an icy cold glare at him.
"Why…?" she asked dangerously.
"It's a secret mission, and only he can do this!" the man said.
"Tell me. Or join your friends," Saiki warned. "My boyfriend is sick. I'm keeping him from getting sicker. You being here is endangering his health. Talk or die. Or run away. You have multiple choice options here…"
"You should go with option B," Goro grinned wickedly behind the group of men. Daigo and Taiga were also there with other former yakuza.
"Where did you find them?" Joongi frowned.
"They wanted to help us. We're letting them," Daigo nodded.
"Look, okay?! Can you just…meet us at an address? Later tonight?" another black suited man asked.
"Only if I bring my friends. And my girlfriend," Kiryu grunted out.
"You'd better bring me," Saiki frowned.
"I'm not gonna let him agree to anything unless you talk," Taiga growled.
"Some of us are also former yakuza. We just…want to band together! We need a strong leader!" the man finally caved when he recognized the three other former yakuza men.
"Ah, excuse me? First of all, my boyfriend is sick. He is dying. He has a form of cancer in his body that is crippling him. I am doing everything that I can to keep him alive. You'd be better off convincing one of the guys behind you. They are also very strong former yakuza. Even I am a former yakuza, but don't even look at me! I don't do well with delegations or negotiations. You piss me off, you just die. It's how I was trained," Saiki said with dismissal at them all.
"I'm not getting back into that mess. The First Dissolution was needed. There was supposed to be a Second Dissolution, but…that was complicated. We had too many internal corruptions. Besides, I'm retired. Period. I just want to live out what's left of my life. And…I just thought of something…" Kiryu frowned. "I think…they don't want me…they want you, Saiki…"
"To take you away…to force me to follow…" she frowned hard. At how the intruding group of men cringed, she realized that Kiryu was right. Now she glared right at the man who was talking before. "Do you report to a woman?"
"No," he said quickly.
"A lie…" she grinned widely. "I think Dog Catcher's bitch is back in town…to get revenge on me. How cute…"
"You think so?" Kiryu frowned.
"I do. Who else would know where we live?" she asked with a form of sheer delight. "So…Kazuma…my dear…I have a plan…"
"Hmm…" Kiryu looked at her. She pressed her mouth to his ear and whispered. Now he looked at her with complete amusement.
"Usually…it's the girl used as bait…" he said with a small grin.
"I know. But I can't let you come to harm," she said softly and stroked his cheek. "And if I make bread crumbs…she'll just send more…"
"Take out the head loaf…" he grunted and kissed her possessively.
"You really do know how I think, eh?" she grinned and squeaked at his warm squeeze. Kasuga found himself chuckling at it, and Tomi was rubbing a hand over his forehead.
"So…what are we doing?" one of the Geomijul men asked.
"I think we need to become distraction," Seonhee mused.
"Just explain how," Joongi nodded.
"Now, wait a minute!" one the intruding men started before getting knocked out by Taiga. The other four men there were quickly subdued. Saiki was now being carried by Kiryu and giggling at his husky whispers in her ear. They both looked over when Zhao approached them.
"So…what's the plan?" he asked.
"We need to know where their hideout is," Saiki said calmly.
"I think we do have an idea," Seonhee nodded and pulled out her phone. She dialed a number and waited. "Hey. You said you saw these guys driving down a specific street? Okay. Where? Gull Street? Hmm. Just before the alley? Rather ballsy of that bitch to make a claim on a building in my territory."
"Darling, I want you to stay here," Saiki said to Kiryu.
"No. I have to go with you," he said.
"But…you want to cook for me?" she smiled.
"At night. It's not night yet. So…here's my deal," he mused. She regarded him with a smile. "We pay a visit. Clean the place out. I'll just support you. I promise that I won't get into the fight. We'll have our friends also help us."
"As long as they don't get in my way," Saiki muttered. "I tend to work alone. It's…safer."
"I'm just as down as anyone for throwing a hard punch, but, eh…yeah. I won't jump in when you're already there," Tomi nodded.
"Chi-chan and Sa-chan are working, but I think we can handle it with just us," Kasuga nodded. Zhao rose his brows to show he was ready.
"We can make sure no one leaves alive," Goro grinned.
"And make sure you keep your dick in your pants," Taiga grinned at him.
"Fuck you," Goro grunted to get Daigo snickering.
"Well…we'd better get going. How far away are we?" Saiki asked.
"Five minute drive. The cleanup crew just showed up for us. They'll drop the bodies into the river and abandon the survivors along the opposite side of town," Seonhee nodded.
"I should change clothes…" Saiki mused.
"No. Just stay as you are. I'll be ripping off everything later," Kiryu mumbled in her ear before kissing her hard. Then she gave an amused sound after the kiss broke. "What are you thinking of?"
"Something dirty, I bet," Zhao grinned.
"Oh, quite possibly a bit of dirty fighting. Do we have a plastic bag? Or something to help conceal an item?" Saiki asked with a small grin. "I need a head from one of those men to turn it into a bomb…"
"What?!" Joongi gaped. Seonhee was dying with laughter at the idea.
"Why not? They all had thick skulls and big mouths. And they don't need their heads anymore when they're dead," Saiki grinned wickedly. Then she looked at Kiryu to whisper in her singing tone. "Keep…the rose sense…in your mouth…and nose…"
"You're making a bomb…with that…?!" Kiryu blinked at her.
"Recall what my scythe and a blacklight can do," she grinned.
"Okay. If she throws that head in there…no one goes into the building at all. What she plans to do with it…if you remember that last hallway with the blacklight and symbols, she knows how to bring it with her," Kiryu said sternly.
"Nothing happened in that hallway," Goro frowned.
"I know. I didn't activate a hidden element. But the floor would have still fallen through if you had no focus," Saiki nodded. Seonhee rose a brow at this news. "Recall Dog Catcher after I started the blacklight. There was a…neurotoxin introduced into the elevator before he used it. It settles in the senses for two hours. And it clears from the air just as swiftly as introduced. It causes your senses to overload. That's why he was screaming bloody murder. I had the symbols on my scythe and exposed by the blacklight."
"Wow…" Tomi blinked.
"So…I'll stuff a head with a neurotoxin bomb. Throw it in a window where they all gather together. Activate my blacklight lantern and let them run out to see my scythe. They'll murder each other for us," Saiki grinned wickedly.
"I have got to see this," Goro said with complete curiosity.
"You can. Just don't go in the building after the head bomb goes off," Kiryu warned. "She gave me something to neutralize the toxin. For my own health. You all may notice I'm wearing a set of fancy glasses. They're fake. They hold my antidote to the neurotoxin. They don't look too bad on me, either."
Kasuga blinked and found himself laughing that he didn't even notice the glasses at all. None of them really paid attention to it.
"That I did. And you look so handsome with them on," Saiki beamed and giggled at his nuzzle into her neck. "I really should change my outfit…"
"No," he grunted and took her into Tomi's minivan. "Follow Seonhee!"
"Let's move. And grab one of those heads," Seonhee said. A cloth bag was used to collect one and brought with them. Saiki took it while sitting in Kiryu's lap and pulled a small, circular metal ball out from one of her belt pouches. This was stuffed into the mouth of the skull, and then she took out the small remote that would activate it. Seonhee claimed the front seat to guide Tomi. Kasuga, Kiryu, Saiki, Joongi and Zhao got in the back. The others went in the confiscated black car to follow them.
"How in the hell do you make these?" Kiryu asked while watching Saiki.
"Patience. Practice. And time," Saiki nodded. When the minivan began to start moving, she set the prepared head back in the bag. Then she leaned into Kiryu's chest with a sigh. "Food shopping after this?"
"Yeah. Still sucks that our reserved day was interrupted," Kiryu muttered.
"Well, you can both get back to it after this," Kasuga nodded.
"Part of it was your fault. I was almost at a point to go further in my relationship," Kiryu grumbled. Saiki hid her small laugh now.
"Ah…well…" Kasuga faltered.
"Fair warning. I am turning my phone off when this is done. For the rest of the night," Kiryu said with a small glance at them all.
"But, Kiryu-san! If we need you-!" Kasuga started.
"Phone. Turns. Off. Period. I'm not repeating myself again," Kiryu growled. "I'll be reached in the morning. The moment I am back at home with Saiki, the phone goes dead."
"Ah…okay…" Kasuga seemed to shrug.
"Are you sure?" Seonhee had to ask.
"I'm not repeating myself. I don't need to," Kiryu grunted.
"Yeah. Every time we went to a bedroom…the phone rang…" Saiki sighed. Now Seonhee coughed and hid her face.
"Yeah. It did. On the one day she and I decided to spend time alone," Kiryu grunted out with a sigh.
"Ooh…not good…" Zhao winced. "And I bet I was part of that…"
"You were," Kiryu muttered.
"But…you're not married to her…" Kasuga started.
"We are wearing the wedding rings of her parents. She insisted. So, technically, we are married. In a sense. Even though not official. We'll be fine. People have fun all the time. We'll just be careful," Kiryu shrugged.
"Yeah, definitely use protection," Tomi agreed.
"I wouldn't know…if the poison…in my body…made me sterile…" Saiki whispered to Kiryu. He looked at her and gave a hard sigh.
"It's fine. We'll see what happens," he muttered back and kissed her.
"So eager…" she mused.
"Maybe we should just…toss the bomb and leave…" he mused back.
"It won't do anything without the symbols," she sighed.
"Damn. I guess we have to go inside," he rolled his eyes lightly and kept his arms around her. "Or at least stand outside."
"I'm sure it will be quick. As long as I'm not held back," Saiki giggled and squeaked when he pressed his face into her neck.
"Geez, you two! Get a room!" Joongi chuckled.
"The windows are starting to steam," Zhao chuckled.
"We had a room until we were disturbed with calls," Kiryu grumbled.
"Oh, hush," Saiki giggled.
"I waited a solid month for this day. Don't take it from me," he grinned lightly and paused when the minivan stopped. He got out with Saiki clinging to him in his arms. He looked at her and said, "How do you want to do this?"
"I want to scout for a little bit. See where the main window is," she said.
"Already done," Seonhee said and pointed to a large window facing the south side of the alley. "Right there."
"Nice…" Saiki grinned and pressed a kiss to Kiryu's cheek. "Set me down so I can throw a thick skull through a window?"
"Okay," he smiled and kissed her deeply before letting her down. She watched the black car drive up with Nanba at the wheel. When everyone got out of that car, Kiryu held up his hand. "Stay back. She's lobbing a bomb."
"A what?" Adachi frowned. Then he saw Saiki pull the head out of a bag.
"There's a bomb in the mouth. The sight of the head will make them flee. Then they come out and see me. I make them kill each other in fright," Saiki mused. Kiryu watched her take out the flat disc to form it back into the lantern. The blacklight bulb was set in and ready to be used. But she handed the lantern to Kiryu to hold onto. Then they all watched her take the gruesome, pale head to impale it on the end of the scythe.
"Want me to lob it?" Goro asked.
"Nope! I got it!" Saiki grinned and hefted up the scythe easily. She twirled herself three times for momentum and launched the head straight into the window. Screams of outrage were heard, and she took out the remote to launch the attack. She swiftly grabbed the blacklight lantern to hang on her scythe and moved in front of the building entrance. Kiryu moved to stand just out of sight around her.
"Extremely accurate throw…" Zhao whistled.
"I can hear them coming out," Daigo muttered. The others got ready to attack, but Saiki flipped on the switch to the lantern to display the symbols. The moment the first group of men came out and saw her with the glowing scythe, they screamed with horror at what filled their thoughts.
"Friend is foe…all against you…who…can you trust…?" she sang out in her haunting tone straight into their heads. The group of men turned on each other. There were no words to describe how they attacked each other now.
"Stop it! All of you!" a woman was heard scowling at them. Then the same woman let free a month ago saw Saiki there. Then she saw the glowing symbols on the scythe. She gasped and screamed at the visions in her mind.
"A mistake…to let you live…now it's time…to correct it!" Saiki sang out while she removed the lantern and swung the scythe.
"I didn't get to stab anything…" Goro seemed to pout.
"Look for survivors. If they do live, then talk to them before they come out here to see us. They have to sit tight for two hours to let the stuff filter out of them. They will do the exact same thing if they see her scythe. So, Saiki, please put it away? The job is done," Kiryu said gently in her ear.
"Still have…some crumbs left…" she murmured.
"No. They may have a purpose for other things. We need to go food shopping," he chuckled. She looked at him with a somewhat distant look. "Saiki. Are you with me?"
"The job…is not finished…" she said darkly.
"You killed the main one. It's done. Return to guarding me," he ordered gently. Her eyes seemed to refocus on him, and she started to breathe in harsh gasps. "That's it. Come back to me. Easy now…"
"My head…!" she winced with a heavy frown.
"I know. It's okay now. Put away your weapon, please," he urged in his gentle tone. This was done now with the lantern after the bulb was removed. He picked her up in his arms after that to let her rest against him.
"What happened to her?" Daigo asked.
"Her training did. She couldn't snap out of her killing mood because people were still alive in there. I had to coax her out of it. I'm likely the only one who can help her with this now. And it stays that way," Kiryu said protectively. Saiki wasn't responding to him, and he realized she had fallen asleep. "This is different of her. Likely from her headache. I'm going back into Tomi's van. Let me know when it's time to go food shopping, please."
Joongi opened the sliding door for him, and he settled in the back seat to cradle Saiki close. It was five minutes later when she started to stir. "What happened? I blacked out…until I heard you…"
"You killed the one causing problems. You thought you weren't done. I told you that it was done," he said in his soothing tone.
"Thank you. For freeing me of that…" she swallowed. He felt her shiver, and he continued to cradle her. He pressed kisses all over her forehead and ignored everything else around them. "I want to go home…"
"Do you? I still need to get some ingredients," he said softly.
"Let them get that for us?" she whimpered.
"What's wrong? Talk to me," he said and ran a hand over her cheek.
"I have too many thoughts to put into words. So…" she said and rose up her hand to tilt his face to hers. A kiss was soon done and intensified in its magnitude. They were both gasping by the time it broke, and he was floored at the rush of emotions that hit him now.
"I…" he started and she pressed a finger to his lips.
"Later…" she smiled softly. "We need to get home."
"Yeah…" he said while gazing at her in a trembling way.
"Maybe we can pick up a bento box…" she mused. Now he looked at her and found himself laughing softly.
"No. I should cook for you. I'll give Nanba a shopping list," he sighed.
"Better do it now," she chuckled. He rested his head against her neck and felt her move her hands through his hair. She felt him start to relax, and she began to close her eyes in comfort. Then her eyes snapped open when she heard the others approaching the car.
"Hmm?" Kiryu voiced out.
"Company…" she mumbled. He nodded and forced himself to sit back up.
"Hey there, lovebirds! What's the next plan?" Tomi asked when he got in the driver's seat. Seonhee was staying behind to ensure the building was cleared out with the other former yakuza. Joongi was ordered to keep assisting them until the errands were done. Zhao chose to go with the others to help Kiryu.
"We need our food shopping done. I can give a list of what to get while we wait in here. I don't think it would be wise for me to leave the van," Kiryu nodded. "Especially if there are others out there that don't know their leader is dead. I need to keep Saiki calm."
"I can go in with Nanba-san," Kasuga said after he got in.
"I'll inspect what's picked out," Zhao chuckled and claimed a back seat.
"If Adachi wants to help, too, then it's fine. But no alcohol. None. I can't have it right now. If he insists, then it must be something weak. I can't compromise my health anymore," Kiryu said. They were soon underway, and a small shopping list was texted to Nanba. When Saiki tried to peek, he grinned and said, "No peeking."
"Awww…" she chuckled and got squeezed. While they waited patiently in the car, Nanba, Adachi, Zhao and Kasuga went over the shopping list. Joongi and Tomi optioned to stay in the van to help protect it.
"Okay…he wants…wow! Two lobsters?" Nanba mused.
"Lobster dinner? He's going all out romance," Adachi chuckled.
"He'll need some good side dishes to go with those. I can look around," Zhao said and was quick to get on that task.
"Maybe we should get him a couple steaks, too," Kasuga grinned.
"Nope. There is a note that says to not add anything more to the list. But he did say we can add a very basic alcoholic beverage. We have to remember his health," Nanba said seriously. "Nothing heavy."
"We should get a sweet sake!" Kasuga said.
"Best one would be the moonlight stuff, if I'm not mistaken. I'll grab that," Adachi nodded. "And I'll make sure it's not too strong."
"He didn't add a dessert?! Okay, I'll grab a small tiramisu," Kasuga said and went off to find that. Nanba went to the seafood section to pick up the live lobsters. Zhao came back with some vegetables that paired well with lobster and were easy to prepare. He also picked out some sauces to help flavor the meat with.
"Ah…who's paying for all this?" Kasuga asked and set a box with tiramisu in the shopping basket.
"Yeah…I think that's Kiryu-san's job," Nanba mused.
"I'll go ask!" Kasuga grinned. He walked out of the store to get to the minivan. Tomi looked over at him with a wave. "Who's paying?"
"Here," Kiryu said and gave over a black credit card. "I hope they don't need me in there…"
"Do you have to sign for it?" Saiki asked.
"Ugh. I do," Kiryu frowned. "Let me know when you're at the register."
"I'm going in with you," she muttered in his ear. He nodded and sighed with exhaustion. She frowned at that and felt over his forehead. "This is starting to tax you greatly. Yes, we'll go straight home after this."
"Yeah…" he nodded and coughed a bit. She pressed a hand to his chest to gently rub where his lungs would be. That got him to breathe easier with a form of intense relief. Then he looked at her. "How…did you do that…?"
"I studied anatomy intensely. I made sure to learn how to soothe ailments and cause them. It's how I have been able to train as hard as I can. I'll set you up with a strong mint tea at home. It will help," she said. Then she whispered, "Your coughing…is not normal. I know it is from…the cancer. I do hope…that the monk I spared…can reach me…"
"Yeah…" he mumbled and rested against her again. She kept rubbing his chest to help soothe him. When it came time for him to move with her to the register, she had him move slowly. She studied how he seemed to struggle a bit, and she realized that his joints were aching.
"Lean on me a bit," she said.
"I'll be fine. I just have to walk around to get my body going," he said.
"Bullshit. Lean. On. Me. Or I will carry you over my fucking shoulder," she growled at him. He looked at her with pure amusement now.
"If my strength returns by the time we get home…" he growled at her.
"I'll take my punishment," she winked in full knowing. "Hmm. You may benefit with some training techniques I have to keep your strength up. I'll set up a part of my training room just for you."
"If you think so," he chuckled. He kept a hand on her shoulder to let her help guide him into the store. He had her hide her face to keep from seeing what was being purchased at the register.
"Is that shellfish I smell?" she mused against his chest.
"Quiet," he muttered and paid for the groceries. He noticed some oysters were also collected to go with the lobster. He noted what else was gathered with a small nod, and Zhao collected the bags.
"I, eh…put something that might help you later in one of the bags," Nanba winked. "No, it didn't come from a certain pocket."
"Really?" Saiki mused.
"I'll text you some cooking tips," Zhao offered Kiryu.
"Thanks. That'll help. Okay. Time to go home," Kiryu said and led Saiki back to the minivan. They paused at the sight of a few ruffians starting to surround the minivan. He walked up with Saiki and said, "Excuse me. That's my ride. He was waiting for me to come back."
"Oh, come on, old man! You can catch the next ride!" one of the thugs said.
"Maybe let your daughter ride with us, though," another grinned.
"Daughter? This man is my boyfriend. I'm old enough to be your mother. And if I was your mother, I'd be flaying your skin off your body and hanging it up as a wall ornament," Saiki growled dangerously. That got the group of thugs to pause at her with a bit of surprise. Then she crooned out softly, "Do I…get to play…with bread crumbs…?"
"No," Kiryu said and glared at them.
"No need to have you both do anything," Joongi said when he got out of the minivan. Zhao was quick to put the groceries inside to help solidify that. Nanba, Adachi and Kasuga also showed up next to show they were ready to throw down. When Saiki started to sing her haunting tune, it completely unnerved the group.
"What the hell is that music?!" the first thug gaped.
"A distraction," Kasuga grinned and punched him out. When the group was beaten down and fled, the minivan was quickly boarded up and on its way back to the park. Joongi was on the phone to Seonhee to tell her what happened. He helped ensure no other issues happened on the drive back.
"Okay. Phone is getting turned off the moment I get in the elevator. If there is a problem, we will reach out," Kiryu said. Saiki grabbed the groceries and led Kiryu into the elevator with the USB key.
"How did you want to start this?" she asked and set the bags in the kitchen. She found Nanba's little 'gift' and shook her head. Kiryu saw what it was and smirked while he watched her put it on the bedside table for possible use later.
"After I satisfy another hunger," he growled and pulled her close. She blinked at him with complete surprise and watched him shut off his phone. "Finally! Let me just…put something in a pot…"
"Okay…" Saiki smiled and watched him pull out the large boiling pot. Her smile turned into a frown as he struggled a bit to fill it with hot water to put the lobsters and shellfish in. She saw him waver, and she swiftly darted in to keep the contents in the pot from falling off the stove. Then she hefted him to the couch. "Sit down."
"But…" he started and paused when she rose up her hand.
"You are weakening. I know you want to do this. I said I would make something for you. Give me a few minutes, please?" she smiled and moved into her library. She found a book on herbal remedies and located the tea she wanted to make. She was quickly going into her security room and the workshop to go through the dried herbs she had collected.
Water was soon boiling in a large steel bowl on a small burner that was ready for use. Making a tea bag with carefully crushed herbs from a mortar and pestle, she was quick to put the newly made tea bag into the hot water to steep it. She purposely made enough for several drinks for future needs for him. Preparing a mug with a dose of honey, she brought the herbal mixture to him to drink it.
"What is this?" he frowned.
"If it tastes like shit, then that's normal. Drink the whole thing. Now," she ordered. "I have honey in it to improve the taste."
"Seriously?" he blinked at her. She stared at him until he drank down the mixture. After a few minutes, he found his head clearing up. "Huh! What…what's in this?"
"I can't disclose that right now, but just think that it's very hard to get herbs that help with breathing, headaches and body weakness. You should be good to go in five minutes. After that, finish making dinner," she smiled.
"I haven't felt this good in a long time!" he marveled.
"It's temporary. A couple hours at the most, but it should be enough," she nodded. "I'm doing all I can to ensure you can keep going a bit longer. I don't know…how much time you have left…so…"
He looked at her and set the empty mug down. Now he moved and pulled her right into his lap to hug her tight. She pressed into him and shivered hard. A kiss was pressed to the top of her head and he muttered, "Trust me. I'm doing all I can, too. I'll listen to every order you give me. Unless you are in a killing mood. Then you listen to me. And, eh…dinner might be late…"
"Why?" she asked and gasped at the kiss he gave her now. He lifted her up and took her straight to the bedroom. Everything was an intense blur up until she felt him loom over her. A sudden fear gripped her, and he showed he understood.
"Remember. I am the one that counts," he muttered and kissed her intensely. It was ten minutes later that he had her cradled in his arms. She was shivering horribly with the truth. "Don't think about it."
"How can I not?! He stole that from me, too!" she cringed.
"But I made it better?" he asked and kept his arms around her. She looked at him and swallowed. "We were prepared for this. You remember all that I did. And what I will still do…"
"But…I am getting hungry…" she said and found herself blushing.
"We'll get to that. In another ten or twenty minutes," he chuckled and kissed her again with the hunger he still had for her.