CHAPTER ADDED AFTER EPISODE 21 OF SEASON ONE
He was awakened reluctantly by the sunlight filtering through a small crack left open between the heavy curtains; he let out a tired groan followed by a groan of pain, as he felt the throbbing of his tempos awaken, a side effect of the heavy hangover he had taken the night before.
Richard's ruby-colored eyes slowly opened, his vision gradually becoming clearer, allowing his brain to register that he was not in his apartment; he had slept at one of his sugar-daddies again... he was really getting into a bad habit.
Silent as a cat, trying to fight against the headache, Rich got out of bed, heading to the bathroom for a quick shower; he then retrieved his clothes from the previous night and put them on, trying to ignore the fact that they smelled of smoke and cheap cologne. He took one of the aspirin he always carried with him and the money his still-sleeping "partner" owed him from his wallet on the floor, and after leaving one of his usual notes full of hearts and a sappy phrase on the nightstand, he left the apartment without looking back.
He walked aimlessly for a while, unsure whether to go back to his apartment or call a taxi and go to one of those luxury hotels with a spa included...
He turned yet another corner, looking up in time to avoid bumping into someone. - Oh sorry, I didn't mean to... -, his voice caught in his throat as he realized who he had bumped into.
- Karai? -.
His younger sister was in front of him, in broad daylight, dressed in ordinary clothes and with a rather annoyed expression on her face that changed to astonishment almost immediately.
- Richard? What are you doing here? -, then made a disgusted face, taking a step back when her nose caught the smell of her brother's clothes, - Ugh... why do you stink so much? -.
Richard shrugged his shoulders with his usual calm: - I just got back from a client. What about you? Day off? -, he asked her, getting a half annoyed snort in response.
- No, I just got back from a mission... -.
- Which given your bad mood must not have gone the way you wanted, right? -, he interrupted her with a small grin, immediately dodging a punch from Karai who, already pissed off for letting April slip away, didn't hesitate to attack her brother to vent. - Stop acting like a know-it-all Richard! -.
He didn't get bothered at all, just chuckling amusedly as he stopped and dodged his sister's furious blows. - I'm not acting like a smart aleck Karai, I can see very well that everything went wrong, whatever it was -, he commented, letting the girl continue; he wasn't afraid of being hit, he knew all his sister's moves too well, he would never let her win, or even just put him with his back to the wall.
Karai for her part, already quite tired, began to strike blindly, without a precise rhythm, wanting only to vent her anger and frustration for having been beaten, even with a trick, by April.
They went on for a while, sister against brother, not caring about arousing the curiosity of passers-by, closed for minutes in their little world in which the tension gradually waned as Karai got tired.
Richard watched her stop after trying to land yet another punch in his face, always remaining in guard position but panting heavily; the young man couldn't hold back a sincere smile. - You've improved a lot, you know? Maybe in a couple of years you'll be able to hit me and hurt me -.
- You've weakened, brother... -, she replied with one of her usual challenging smiles, still panting, - The good life is weakening your reflexes... -.
A sly smile appeared on Richard's face at those words.
- Oh yeah ~ ? -.
Karai didn't even have time to realize how, but an instant later she was in her older brother's arms who was holding her tightly to him bridal style.
- You were saying Karai ~ ? -, he teased, holding her a little tighter, his grip firm but not so much as to hurt her.
Karai felt her cheeks flush from being caught so by surprise and immediately began to struggle.
- LET ME GO, YOU IDIOT! -.
Richard burst out laughing, amused at seeing his sister so embarrassed. - Oh come on ~ It's literally been years since we hugged, give me this moment! -.
- ABSOLUTELY NOT! YOU STINK AND IT'S DISGUSTING! -, she protested, finally managing to push him away (he had deliberately loosened his grip while laughing).
- Ouch... there's no need to offend like this, you know? I know I need to change -, he retorted amusedly, before walking away. - My apartment is not far away. You're welcome if you want to have a drink and rest -, he told her as he walked, without turning he turned to Karai, leaving her free to choose whether to follow him or not.
Karai hesitated; she should have gone back to her father to report, she had already wasted too much time. - I have to go Richard... -, she tried to sound resolute, but the sad note of leaving her brother once again to go and receive a very likely dressing down was evident in her tone.
Richard stopped in the middle of the road, trying to force himself not to insist; he hated the idea of his sister being forced to play the role of the puppet.
- As you wish... -, he muttered, trying to hide the pain and disappointment. Despite this, obeying the brotherly instinct that bound them, he turned to greet her... only to find that Karai had already disappeared.
Richard let out a frustrated sigh, resolving to go home and maybe organize to go and see Shitsu that evening, since he hadn't seen her for days; his sister and his father would take care of it later.