thetaeprint

[the-voltage-diaries]

I’ll Stay by Your Side, Every Night - Soryu Oh

For our very own, @joaxotome​; one of the sweetest, kindest, and most amazing humans I have had the honour to meet. I don’t think I write Soryu that well, because the last Soryu piece I wrote was over a year ago lmao, but I tried. I hope you like this, Joanne. Thank you for being such an amazing ball of energy who can cheer anyone up in a mere few seconds. Love you. <3

Also, since you said you love yourself some angst to love, I tried to make it come true. Cheers to me writing better Soryu fics, hahaha.

This one’s for the discord exchange, and I’d just like to take a moment to thank our very own @voltage-vixen​ for hosting this beautiful event <3!!

TW: Angst (with fluff... or so I hope.) This work is based around the ideas of abuse; mental, emotional, physical. If you are in any way uncomfortable with that, do not read this. 

“Are you going to cry now?” He smirks, his eyes glinting in a way that make the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

All I see is black as my eyelids force shut, not wanting to look at his face for a second longer, too scared to think about what will happen to me if I do.

“Hahaha,” he laughs and I sense him bending low, his face coming closer to mine. “Look at you, scared and shivering like the mess you are.” I shift uncomfortably, feeling his breath creating warm spots on my neck as his voice lowers, almost down to a whisper, “You asked for it, baby.”

“Ugh!” I jolt, my groan muffled against the cloth stuffing my mouth when I feel his fingers stroke the sides of my waist, teasing, testing the waters.

And then, before I know it, his palm comes to rest on my chin and in one swift motion his fingers pull out the dirty piece of fabric gagging me. My eyes burn with unshed tears at the pain in my mouth, caused by the sudden pull, and I take a deep breath, refusing to admit defeat in front of this bastard.

It’s okay. It’s okay. It’ll be okay. I’ll survive. I know I will. At least I hope I will.

“Baby,” he purrs, almost as if coaxing me, “Open those beautiful eyes of yours for me, won’t you?”

My breathing shallows and goosebumps show up on my skin at the nickname, the way he calls out to me in that god forsaken voice.

His rugged fingertips graze the corners of my jaw, almost as if luring me back into him, back into that web of pain, lies and suffering. “Look at me,” he whispers, and I shiver at the tilt in his tone, reminding me of the days when things between us started to go awry. “Don’t worry Joanne, I’m not going to hurt you.”

Just as his fingers tighten around my jaw, I hear the sound of a mobile ringing. He clicks his tongue in annoyance, and my sigh of relief goes unnoticed. I hear his footsteps as they back off and walk in the direction of the device which refuses to stop ringing.

My guess is that he picks up the incoming call, because no sooner than his feet stop do I hear him let out a muted, “What is it?” Again, I hear his footsteps move away, and then a door opens, and then it shuts. And then? Complete silence.

My uneven breaths echo in the silence so eerie you would hear it if a snail moved.

As I try to calm myself down, my mind chooses the worst distraction it possibly could have; my past with this man.

When did we become like this? Why did we become like this? What went wrong?

We had started off on such good terms. Both of us were madly in love. He was the perfect boyfriend; he would take me out on dates, message me constantly, shower me with his love, call me nicknames, spend time with me... or so I thought.

About a year into our relationship I realised how badly had I fucked up. I realised how blind I was to the changes in his behaviour; the way I didn’t notice how him taking me out on dates turned into him forcing me out when I didn’t want to go, just to show me off as his trophy girlfriend, how his constant messaging turn into something obsessive, how him showering me with his love turned into showering me with his abuses, how calling me nicknames turned into calling me a whore or a slut whenever I so much as even looked at someone else, the gender didn’t matter, how him spending time with me turned into him gluing himself to my side, never once leaving me.

Always on the look-out for when I’d commit even the slightest of errors. Because then he would unleash all his names, curses, abuses at me; making me feel like I didn’t deserve to be loved.

Well, maybe I didn’t.

Over time, those curses and abuses turned physical as he turned more violent, slapping me or beating me up for even the most minor of mistakes. Those verbal slurs turned emotional, making me feel like I didn’t deserve to be alive. Hah, what a cheeky little failure.

“Heh,” I scoff at myself, laughing at how naive I was to not realise when our love turned into something that would make most people sick to their core.

What makes me feel the most miserable about our past is that I allowed myself to be used and abused. Even when he didn’t reply to my texts, ignored me for days sometimes, and clearly had stopped even so much as glancing my way... I still hadn’t given up.

Not until that one fateful day when I saw him. In my bed. With not just one, but two bloody women.

Silly girl, one of his sex friends had said, smirking in all her naked glory, can’t you see the truth right in front of you? This is his little kingdom, and you’re not the queen anymore.

“Argh,” I groan, my thoughts coming back to the present when I feel my bound wrists numb with pain at a tear in the thin skin that covers them. Rolling my shoulders to forget about the pain for the time being, I pull at the rope tying my wrists behind my back, in futile hopes that it would come loose.

“Ah, I always loved the feisty side you hid underneath all that cute drama.”

I jump and my body freezes in its spot, my eyes widening at the proximity of his voice.

In my peripheral vision I see his face, his chin coming to rest on my shoulder with him standing right behind me.

When did he come back?

“While you were too busy reminiscing about the beautiful bubble you had created for yourself with me,” he chuckles, as if reading my mind. Looking at the way my eyes refuse to un-widen, he continues, “You were always easy to read. Now weren’t you, Joanne?”

“Why are you doing this?” I whisper, my head bent, refusing to stay up any longer.

“Because, Joanne,” he starts, a lewd smirk lining his face when I let out a choked sob on the use of my name, “I want you to have your epiphany.”

“My what?” I ask, looking up at him, wondering if I heard him right.

“Your epiphany,” he repeats. I feel the throbbing in my wrists relax as the ropes slowly come undone, surprising me. He slowly walks around me, coming to a stop just in front of me. My heart only pounds faster when I catch the glint of the knife in his hands. “I want you to realise what a useless little bitch you are without me in your life. Nobody loves you, kitten. Nobody did, nobody would.”

“Stop...” I whisper, bowing my head in defeat, trying to mute out all his words in an attempt to stop them from having their effect on me.

“You, Joanne, are a pretty little good for nothing.” He smiles, his palm resting on my shoulders. “Your friends run away from you, your peers refuse to talk to you. Ever wondered why?”

No, Joanne. Don’t listen. It’s okay. It’ll be okay. Every thing will be fine. Just breathe.

“Because, oh darling,” he murmurs, dragging the knife’s tip up my neck, slowly, “you are so very broken and no one cares to notice.”

“I trusted you,” I say, finding the courage to meet his eyes from god-knows-where. I meet his challenging gaze head on, trying to sound as angry and frustrated as I feel, “I trusted you so much.”

“Well then you can’t exactly blame me, can you? It was your mistake.”

“What the fuck do you want?!” I yell, immediately regretting it when I see how his smile turns from teasing to predatory.

“What do I want?” He mutters, bringing his face so close to mine I can feel his disgusting breath on my lips. He drags the tip of the knife lower... and lower... and lower, until it reaches my abdomen.

I can’t think.

“You want to know what I want, Joanne?”

I can’t breathe.

"I want so many things," he whispers. "I want your mind. Your strength. I want to be worth your time." 

His eyes hold me still, as if commanding me to stay where I am.

His fingers graze the hem of my top and he says, "I want this up." He tugs on the waist of my pants and says, "I want this down." He touches the tips of his fingers to the sides of my body and mutters, "I want to feel your skin on fire. I want to feel your heart racing next to mine and I want to know it's racing because of me, because you want me. 

And then I hear the sound of something sharp piercing skin, and the sound of blood oozing out. My eyes slowly travel down to look at my waist where the knife rests, buried deep in my body.

Because you never, " he breathes and pulls me up to him, and looking up, in the depths of his eyes I see the formation of something that makes me lose my mind, "never want me to stop. I want every second. I want every inch of you. I want all of it." He smirks, pushing the knife deeper into me as his fingers come to rest on my chest, where I feel my heart pound, "I want your soul."

And I drop dead, all over the floor.

“Joanne?” I hear a voice call out my name. It’s almost distant. Almost.

All I see is pitch black as I feel my heart pound out of control and my body grow hot.

“Joanne, love,” The voice says, insistent, and it’s as if my body automatically relaxes a little at the familiarity of it. “Can you hear me? Wake up, baby.”

I feel the urge to reach out and grab at the voice, and so I do. I stretch out a hand into the darkness that surrounds me, in the hopes of grasping on to something, not knowing what it is.

“JOANNE, WAKE UP!” I sense someone’s fingers curl around mine, grabbing my outstretched hand, and pulling me towards a strong, warm chest, immediately jolting me awake.

“Wha-What?” I whisper, not quite catching up with what is going on. All I see in front of me is a navy blue hoodie, covering a broad, strong frame, and I look up to meet a familiar pair of eyes, as calming and deep as the ocean.

“Hi,” he says, giving me a relieved smile. But for some reason, while my body calms down, my mind delves right back into the state of panic as I feel my nightmare overlapping with my reality.

“Get away from me!” I yell, pushing him away, and jump away from the bed, running to the opposite end of the room.

“Joanne?” He calls out, his eyes widening in surprise, maybe not expecting me to run away. Oh no, maybe I angered him. Maybe he will beat me up now. Oh no.

“Don’t take my name!” I say, covering my ears. I can still hear his voice ringing in my head, letting my name out from his sickening lips.

He gets out from the bed, slowly, steadily, and looks at me with a warm, comforting gaze, “It’s me, Joanne. It’s Soryu.”

“S-Soryu?” I murmur, slowly looking up to meet his eyes. I try to calm my ragged breathing down as I gradually start registering what is going on. But the moment he takes a step towards me, I immediately jump back.

“Love,” he coaxes, “at least let me clean you up. You’re all sweaty.”

Wait. I am?

It’s when he says that do I notice the state I am in; my face wet with tears, my body sticky with sweat and my fingers trembling with fear.

‘... Joanne, I’m not going to hurt you.’

“Come here,” Soryu says, opening his arms for me.

“Why?”

“Just come here,” he mumbles, taking a step forward.

“No!” I shout, stopping him in his tracks as I flinch away. “You’re going to hit me.”

“I’m not going to hurt you, Joanne.”

“I’ve heard those words before.”

He looks at me, his hair still a mess, and in that moment in the pale moonlight he looks more handsome and more human than I have ever seen him. “I guess I’m asking you to trust me,” he says, opening his arms wide, once again, for me to fall into. 

I stand there, shaking in fear for a moment, but when I see his deep, grey orbs look at me with so much longing and care, I finally start to take slow, deliberate steps towards him.

Within a few steps, I fall into his strong embrace, letting it consume me and make me forget about whatever I dreamed of.

When his fingers comfortingly start stroking my back with extreme patience and give me that sense of security I was so desperately searching for is when the dam breaks and all the tears I had been holding in rush out.

He stands there, silent as a graveyard, patting my back in a rhythmic pattern, not once judging.

“Why are you doing this?” I ask not being able to think of an answer myself.

“Doing what?” He murmurs, his voice muffled by my hair as he rests his mouth against my head, kissing the spot before staying there.

“Treating me like a person,” I whisper.

“I’m doing this because,” he starts, pulling away to look in my eyes. His fingers gently grab my chin, guiding my face towards his, to make sure our eyes are locked, “I love you, Joanne.”

My lips form a smile when I realise how much he means every one of his words. “I love you too, Soryu.”

He smiles, his fingertips stroking my cheek, patient. His other arm wraps around my waist, pulling me closer to him.

“What are you thinking?” I ask, my fingers reaching up to play with the soft fabric of his hoodie.

“I’m thinking of how I want-” he stops when he sees my face go pale.

‘I want your soul.’

“Never mind what I want,” he whispers, effectively stopping me from going too far into my nightmares again. “What do you want?”

“You.”

I suck a breath, surprising myself at how I don’t even waste a second to say it to him.

Always you.

“Love,” he brings his face closer to mine, his voice low, “You already have all of me.”

I gasp at the amount of emotion in his voice, the ineffable level of care those eyes hold for me, and he bends lower, his lips almost touching mine.

“May I?” he asks...

... when he doesn’t need to. I smile, gently standing on my tip-toes and pressing our lips together.

[voltagesmutter]

❁Obey Me:

Lucifer and Beel / Satan and Leviathan / Mammon and Asmodeus / Belphegor / Diavolo - Heat (F)

Underwear shopping - light nsfw (F)

Lucifer, Diavolo and Simeon / Asmodeus, Beelzebub / Mammon, Leviathan, Satan, Belphegor  - Aphrodisiac (GN)

ABC’s of sex:

Asmo - A, C, D, I, M, O, Y.

Beelzebub - O, S. / A, Q, R, T, U.

Leviathan - C, K, M, N.

Lucifer - A, C, D, I, M, O, Y.

Mammon - D, K, V, X. / C, F, O, P.

NSFW Prompts (1000 Followers):

Lucien, Mammon, Dazai, Leonardo.

Full Fic:

Obey Me: Leviathan - Diphallia [Part1] [Part 2] [Part 3]

Warning: Diphallia (Double penis), hand-job, masterbation, double penetrational sex.

Obey Me: Satan - Asphyxiation || Orgasm Denial || Public

Warning: Public sex, mutual pining, vaginal sex, hand-job, fingering, talks of masterbation, angry Satan.

Obey Me: Lucifer - Masturbation || Simultaneous orgasm || Nipple play

Warning: First time, virgin sex, fluff, pining, angst, drunk mc and Lucifer, internal cum-shot, hand job, oral, fingering, vaginal sex, Lucifer being a pussy because of his pride.

Obey Me: 7 Brothers - Masochism || Hair-pulling || Orgy

Warning: Fingering, Oral (Male and female), vaginal sex, over-stimulation, breath-play, multiple-partners, spit-roasting, marking, rough-play, internal cum-shot, dirty talk, aphrodisiac. 

Obey Me: Lucifer - Face-sitting || Creampie || Anonymous sex

Warning: Face riding (Female receiving), fingering, vaginal sex, reunion, fluff, cock-warming, cream pie/ internal cumshot.

❁Mr Love Queen’s Choice:

ABC’s of sex:

Helios - Complete.

Gavin - Complete. 

Lucien - Complete.

Victor - Complete.

NSFW Prompts (1000 Followers):

Victor Li.

Gavin, Shaw, Theo.

Lucien, Kiro.

Gavin.

Lucien, Mammon, Dazai, Leonardo.

Full Fic:

Mr love Queen’s choice: Victor - Accidental stimulation || Glory hole || Massage

Warning: Head-canon situations, massage, accidental stimulation, thigh riding, vaginal sex.

Mr love Queen’s choice: All suitors - Prostitution || Aphrodisiac || Impact play

Warning: Sex work, rough sex, breath-play, angst, protected sex, unprotected sex, vaginal sex, oral (male receiving).

Mr Love Queen’s choice: Kiro - Master || Lapdance|| Uniform

Warning: Playful sex, slight dirty talk, Kiro just being a horny boi, internal cum-shot.

❁Ikemen Vampire:

ABC’s of sex:

Arthur - B, D, F, G, K, P, X. / A, J, V, W.

Comte - C, F, J, K, O. / D, E, X.

Dazai - B, D, J, K, N, W. / F, L, M, P, V.

Issac - D, J, Y. / F, M, W.

Jean - A, B, C, F, I, K, M, S, W. / D, E, H, J.

Leonardo - D, K, L. / C, F, Q, R, U.

Theo - Complete. 

Mozart - A, C, F, G, T, V. /  D, I, K, O, U, W, X.

Napoleon - K, O, W. / C, D, F, H, M, Z.

Shakespeare - D, J, K, M, X. / C, F, P.

Vincent - Complete. 

NSFW Prompts (1000 Followers):

Gavin, Shaw, Theo.

Dazai, Mozart, Isaac.Comte.

Lucien, Mammon, Dazai, Leonardo.

Full Fic:

Ikemen Vampire: Leonardo - Deep-throating || Role-play || Object Insertion

Warning: Roleplay, Outdoor sex, stranger’s scenario, dirty talk.

❁Mystic Messenger:

Mystic Messenger: Zen - Body Worship || Masks || Formal wear

Warning: Mirrors, Body-worship, loving-fluff smut, oral (Female and male), vaginal sex.

Mystic Messenger: Jumin - Sensory Deprivation || Pet Play || Licking

Warning: Dark domination, Twisted themes, Oral (female and male), vaginal sex, forced orgasm, pet play, internal cum-shot, daddy kink.  

Mystic Messenger: Jumin - Sleepy sex || Religion Kink || Mirror Sex

Warning: Fingering, sleepy sex, marital bliss, vaginal sex, internal cumshot, Me just being weak for a new man.

❁My Forged Wedding:

ABC’s of sex:

Kuni - Complete.

NSFW Prompts (1000 Followers):

Kuni Aikawa.

❁Kissed By The Baddest Bidder:

ABC’s of sex:

Eisuke - F, K, O, W.

Soryu - D, F, P.

NSFW Prompts (1000 Followers):

Mamoru

Eisuke.

❁'Tis The Season For Smut

Mystic Messenger: 707 - A naughty sleigh ride.

Warning: Finger, Semi-public, References to Storyline. 

Obey Me: Beelzebub - A kinky Secret Santa gift exchange.

Warning: Sex-toys, Mammon Idiocy.

Mr love Queen’s Choice: Gavin - “Why sit on Santa’s lap when you can sit on mine?”.

Warning: Jealousy, drinking, bit of rough birdcop.

Ikemen Vampire: Theo - “You’re the only gift I plan on unwrapping tonight.”

Warning: Oral.

Obey Me: Asmo - “Toys aren’t only for playtime”.

Warning: Toy’s in public use. 

Obey Me: Diavolo - Wrapped up in ribbon/bondage

Warning: Ribbon bondage. 

Mr love Queen’s Choice: Victor  - Nibbling on holiday treats

Warning: Oral, mild-food play.

Kings Of Paradise: Taki - “You’ve been a very good boy/girl this year.”

Warning: Oral, Intercourse. 

❁ Kinktober (18+)

❁ Masterlist (18+)

❁ Smut Drabble, Prompts and Giveaway (18+)

❁ Like my work? Send a donation of support here

[otonymous]

Kissed By The Baddest CEO (MLQC Victor x KBTBB - NSFW)

Description: Old flames and prospective lovers threaten to derail your budding romance with Victor before it even begins.  How will you extricate yourselves from a web of misunderstandings?

Warnings:

NSFW/18+: Explicit/graphic language — reader discretion is advised.  Potential Trigger Warnings: profanity, jealousy, angst, exes, mentions of alcohol, bone fetishes, rough sex, 69 sex position (oral sex), mirror sex, vaginal intercourse, swallowing, size kink

Mild spoilers for Victor’s family history (MLQC); slight bending of MLQC & KBTBB canon universes via creation of original side character

Word Count: ~10K words (please set aside a good chunk of time for some fluff, angst and smut 🤣)

Author’s Notes:

First of all, a GIANT thank you to the super gracious @lin-ful​ for commissioning this Victor piece from me.  You are an absolute joy to work with and I really appreciate the fact that you gave me carte blanche to basically do whatever I wanted 🤣  I really hope you enjoy the read!  (P.S. I would never be so sadistic as to ever make you choose between Victor and Eisuke, so please rest easy 😆)

This story is especially significant to me as a writer because it represents the culmination of a number of milestones: the first time I’ve created an original character, my first attempt at writing a crossover story, the first time I’ve written in both first- and second-person perspectives.  It is also the longest single piece I’ve ever written.  That being said, please note the warnings listed above and happy reading! 😊

Nb. This is a work of fiction.  Names, characters, and incidents are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Chapter 1: Hello Diana

“Really Vic, I thought you were beyond name calling by now.”  

Her voice is sultry and low, smooth in your ears like the whiskey in her tumbler.  Completely at ease in a couture Givenchy pantsuit that likely cost more than one of your production budgets, she sat with her legs elegantly crossed in a leather armchair, tipping her glass to vermillion lips.  And as the flames danced in the imposing marble fireplace of one of Shanghai’s oldest and most exclusive supper clubs, they reflected off an enormous ruby ring gracing her middle finger.

Victor scoffs, taking a sip of his own whisky and glancing at you as you follow suit with the virgin cocktail he ordered on your behalf while you were in the restroom.

He was so infuriating at times, but at least it wasn’t warmed milk.

“First of all, you weren’t meant to hear that.  Secondly, I hardly consider ‘dummy’ name calling.  Far worse exists when it comes to options, as I'm sure you can attest to, Diana. You’ve used quite a few in your day.”

Amusement spreads across her fine features as she throws her head back in laughter, the sound enticing even as it disrupts the low chatter in the room.  However, none of the men looking her way seemed to mind.  She was brimming with so much joie de vivre that even you weren’t immune to her charms, smiling despite the anxiety that sat heavy in your chest from the very moment Victor introduced you to Diana Shum that evening.

You didn’t quite know why you felt ill at ease, especially towards someone who was doing you a favour by brokering a major deal on behalf of your company.  Well, more like doing Victor a favour, since he was the one who made the request.  Perhaps this was how all men felt in the presence of such a woman: elegantly confident and unapologetically vivacious, drawing attention everywhere she went.

“Are you still dredging up stories from our Oxford days, Victor?  Not very gentlemanly of you.  How do you put up with him?”  Diana turns to wink at you and the spotlight of her attention makes you feel like the only other person in the room.  “Let me assure you those boys deserved every insult in the book; one-track minds and transparent to boot.  They should consider themselves lucky I even acknowledged their sad existence.”  

“Di, you made the Prime Minister’s son cry.  You should’ve seen those puffy eyes the next morning at the swim meet against Cambridge."  

Victor raises his brows, subtle amusement colouring his expression.  And simple though it was, the sight of his handsome face so transformed by the faint smile on his lips made your heart race.  

No, there’s no way.  It’s probably just the fatigue catching up to you.  The flight to Shanghai from Loveland City must’ve been more taxing than you initially thought, even though Victor had graciously offered to let you hitch a ride on his private jet.  You place a hand on your chest, trying to calm the frenzied rhythm of your heart.  The gesture goes unnoticed by Diana but Victor throws a worried glance in your direction.  You smile to ease his concerns.  He furrows his brows.

“Oh please, I should’ve ripped him a new one with the way he tried to get frisky on our date.  He’s lucky I didn’t call Soryu to deal with him and his wandering hands.”

A sudden change seeps into Victor’s eyes, dark irises softening as if focused on something miles away.  “Soryu.  How is your cousin doing, by the way?”

Diana leans back, taking another sip of her drink.  “You’ll see for yourself soon enough.  I take it you are accompanying this lovely producer to Tokyo to meet with Eisuke and wherever the Ichinomiya heir is, Soryu isn’t far behind.  In all honesty though, Vic, surely you would know better than I.  Weren’t the three of you thick as thieves during prep school?”

You perk up at the topic of Victor’s childhood.  It was a rare chance to learn about the formative years of this stone-faced man before he became the slave driver of Loveland Financial Group.  

“I was only there for a year and a half with Soryu and Eisuke before…before my mother passed.  My father sent for me shortly afterwards.  I haven't seen them since.”

Deep voice trailing off, Victor’s gaze shifts to the fireplace where it remains, as if hypnotized by the flicker of orange flames.  And as the silence stretches on, you become disconcerted to see him so uncharacteristically lost in his thoughts.  You reach out to touch him but Diana beats you to it, laying a delicate hand on top of his much larger one as it rests on the leather armrest.

The gesture is ridiculously small for how much it blindsides you — the sight of her hand on Victor’s dazzling like the light reflecting off her ruby ring.

He blinks at the touch, long lashes fluttering in the split-second it takes for him to compose himself and suddenly, the unflappable CEO is back again.  

“I’m sorry, it’s been a long day and we should probably call it a night.  But you have my thanks, Diana, for setting up this meeting with the Ichinomiya Group.”

It was Diana’s turn to scoff.  “Can we please dispense with the formalities, Victor?  Soryu mentioned Eisuke was having difficulty finding the right people to make this documentary on the anniversary of his Tres Spades Tokyo hotel, so it was serendipity that we bumped into each while on business in London.  It’s a win-win situation.  Meant to be.”

Meant to be.

There is a spark of something in Diana’s eyes when she makes that last statement.  It stays with you long after you part ways with Victor for the night, lying awake in your hotel room as you wondered whether the LFG CEO was already asleep in his.

Chapter 2: SOS

“You’re awfully quiet.  Should I take this to mean that you already know everything about Eisuke Ichinomiya and his chain of luxury hotels?"

Victor speaks without raising his head, leafing through the documents on his lap and stopping periodically to leave his signature with the same gold pen that marked up your reports. Its barrel glowed warm, reflecting the soft lights of the cabin of his private jet, en route to Tokyo from Shanghai.

Letting out a shaky breath, you try to steel yourself despite the rising heat in your cheeks.  Because after a night spent tossing and turning in your hotel room, you arrived at a conclusion so absurd it could only be true:  

You were in love with Victor Li.

Against all odds, the bane of your life had become your biggest ally and mentor.  All the pieces of the square puzzle that was the LFG CEO had fallen into place to form one coherent and beautiful picture:

His exacting demands transformed into standards of excellence, his workaholism a paragon of commitment and dedication.

And though you were loathe to admit it, each soft utterance of “dummy” leaving his lips made the corners of yours turn up in the goofiest of grins.

Oh god, how did it ever come to this?!  Where and when along the rocky path of your working relationship with the slave driver did you fall in love with him?  But that wasn’t even the worst of it.  If your intuition about the previous night’s events served you well, the beautiful Diana Shum was also enamoured of him.

You turn to Victor, meaning to inform him with utmost confidence that you had already conducted extensive research on the Ichinomiya Group’s charismatic CEO and his chain of casino hotels.  You even thought to throw in a snarky reminder that he himself had been marginally impressed with the presentation you gave on the topic back in Loveland City.

“Are you close to Diana Shum?”

Was NOT what had you meant to ask.  Especially in a voice that cracked like a 12 year old pubescent boy’s.  And if there was a way by which you could’ve drowned in a bottle of water, you would’ve gladly done so.  Instead, you settle for gulping it down, trying to keep your stupid mouth from spewing more nonsense in front of the man who was your de facto boss.

“Ahem.”  Victor clears his throat, long legs uncrossing as he shifts in his seat.  Out of the corner of your eye, you catch the muscles of that chiseled jaw settling firm.

“I-I’m so sorry.  It’s none of my business.  You don’t have to answer-"

“I’ve known her for a while, if that’s what you’re asking.  She’s a classmate from university and also a cousin of a friend of mine from prep school, as you’ve probably gathered from yesterday’s conversation.  Since graduation, she’s taken over her father’s role as CEO of Shum Property Developments and we’ve partnered periodically on various business ventures…”

He continues and you nod at the appropriate times, half listening as a million thoughts filtered through your head: your surprise at how unusually verbose Victor was being, the relief you felt to see that he was as determined to avoid your gaze as you were his.  Because the truth was that the longer he went on about Diana — so beautiful, polished and charming that you couldn’t find it in yourself to hate her even if you tried — the harder it was to keep the clouds from darkening your face.  And when Victor says,

“Not like it has any bearing on anything now, but we also dated for a short period of time…”

…It hurts to breathe.

Finally turning in your direction, Victor fixes you with a scrutinizing gaze.  “Why do you ask?”

“Oh, um, I just…wanted to know a bit more about the person who helped me and my company.  So I can better thank her later.”

You speak without meeting his eyes, hoping to placate him with a quick smile as you pretend to rummage through your purse.  Thankfully, he drops the topic, returning to his documents.  And though the rest of the plane ride is spent in near silence, the thoughts in your head have never been so loud.

Chapter 3: Sexy Bones [Victor]

She wore that dress today.  The same one she had on when she impudently stormed my office to insist that I give her company a final chance before pulling funding:

Fitted to conform to every curve, yet formal enough to be professional.  Beautifully sensual in her usual understated way.  My favourite shade of red.

“It’s my go-to outfit when I need a confidence boost,” she told me once in between bites of pudding at Souvenir.  “It makes me feel like a queen, like I can do no wrong.  Perfect for business meetings I just have to nail, you know?”

“Dummy,” I had said then, feigning dismissiveness so she wouldn’t pick up on the way my eyes kept drifting towards her lips, so soft and plush I couldn’t help but wonder if her kisses would carry a hint of caramel sweetness.

It was true that the girl could be incredibly dense at times, playing at being queen when she already ruled my heart.  Or how oblivious she was to the fact that the British doctor was completely smitten with her during today’s meeting at the Tres Spades Tokyo hotel.

Dr. Luke Foster.

Completely absorbed in reading through what looked to be like a stack of medical journals, Dr. Foster had largely ignored us while Eisuke and Soryu made quick work of introducing the eclectic mix of other associates in the room:

Ota Kisaki, the so-called “Angelic Artist” whose work I was well-acquainted with, having previously spent a small fortune on his painting, Koro of My Kokoro.

Baba Mitsunari, a charming man whose handsome features were made all the more striking by the black fedora and red suit he wore.  The girl pointed out that he bore an uncanny resemblance to the cashier we saw at a convenience store earlier that day and I had to agree.

They glossed over a man named Mamoru Kishi, apparently sound asleep in one corner of the room with his face covered by a newspaper and a full ashtray by his side.

Finally, they came to Luke Foster, a blond-haired man with the air of an English gentleman.  Eisuke explained that Dr. Foster was the hotel’s on-site physician as well as a fellow alumnus of our prep school, apparently having left for reasons no one wanted to articulate the year before I transferred in.

And when the doctor finally looked up at us from his readings, his eyes took on an almost maniacal quality to see the girl standing by my side.

“Those proportions, those angles….perfect…absolutely perfect!”  He exclaimed as if in a daze, standing up suddenly and causing the reading materials to spill from his lap in the process.

He looked completely unhinged, almost like a zombie as he reached out a pale hand towards her collarbones of all places.  I stepped in front of her on reflex, only to have the doctor fix me with a piercing gaze as if he had just become aware of my existence and found it thoroughly offensive.

“Annnnd there he goes again,” Ota’s tone was one of exasperation, but there was no mistaking the amusement in the smirk that spread wide across his face.

“Ooh, Lu’s got a new victim!  Maybe now he can finally stop staring at the Boss’s girl every time she comes in to clean the penthouse!”  Baba chimes in, fingers stroking at his chin as if hatching some mischievous plan.

“Will the lot of ya shaddup!?  I’m tryin’ to sleep over here…zzz…” The man with the papers over his head gave a muffled shout before promptly rolling over onto his side.

Soryu just sighed, running a hand over his face.  And just when I began to worry that the girl was scared out of her wits, having wandered into this strange den of wolves, she surprised me by chuckling under her breath.  

Did the dummy find this funny?

“Tch, ignore them, Victor.  Let’s just get on with the presentation,” Eisuke said as he took his seat at the head of a long table.  The girl straightened up and immediately got to work, transforming into the consummate professional she always was when it came down to business.  I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride as I watched her nail her pitch.

Taking a surreptitious glance around at her rapt audience, I stopped at Luke.  The intensity of the doctor's stare made me uneasy, the way those blue-grey eyes hovered above the scooped neckline of her red dress, tracing along her collarbones as if he were caressing them with his gaze alone.  I mentally berated myself for not putting my suit jacket over her shoulders before she got up there.

And though it was spoken under his breath, Dr. Foster’s murmur of “sexy bones” rang loud and clear in my ears.

Chapter 4: In A (Traffic) Jam [Victor]

“Victor, you won’t believe my luck!  Not only did we cinch the Ichinomiya account, I also found the perfect candidate to appear on our Mystery Finder show!”

The girl was practically breathless on the other end of the line, words jumbling together as they came a mile a minute.  And though her enthusiasm is as infectious as it is adorable, I remind myself to play it cool.  “Really.  And who might that be?”

“Dr. Foster!”

HONK!

I swerve back into my lane on reflex, narrowly avoiding an accident as the driver next to me flips me the bird before speeding away.  My heart raced, beating fiercely against the cage of my chest, but it had little to do with my near brush with death.

At this moment, I was more concerned with a man who looked like Death himself.

“Oh my god, Victor, what was that?  Are you okay?”  The concern in her voice is palpable and it makes me think of how kind and tenderhearted she is, of how easily someone could exploit that to their advantage.  “This is a bad time, isn’t it?  I’m so sorry, I’ll call you ba-”

“Don’t worry about it, just some idiot not paying attention on the road.  And what's this about, ahem, Dr. Foster?"  The name itself was unsavoury, sticking in my throat until I spat it out.  I hoped the vitriol escaped her notice.

“Okay Victor, get this: it’s like the man has X-ray vision!”

She whispers for dramatic effect, and my grip tightens on the steering wheel as I picture those slate grey eyes sweeping over the curves of her body, a lewd expression falling over the doctor’s features.  He was a handsome enough man, that much was true; intelligent and a first-rate surgeon according to Eisuke and Soryu.  Goldman confirmed as much when I had him dig up all available information on Luke Foster.  On that basis alone, many women would find him to be an extremely attractive suitor and ludicrous though it is, I can’t help but think the worst.  Luke had been quite open in his admiration of her, especially her collarbones.  What if she returned the sentiment?

In retrospect, it was a horrible idea to leave her to her work (and that wolf) in Tokyo while I returned to mine in Loveland City.  While she had the company of her coworkers, clearly none of them sensed the danger in Luke Foster that I did.  I no longer had the right to call her a dummy when I was obviously the idiot here.

“I’m telling you Victor, he can just look at somebody and tell you everything about their bone structure.  It’s too accurate to just be guesswork!  Apparently, he can remember anyone he's ever laid eyes on based on their bones.  It’s incredible.  I’d love for Professor Lucien to meet him.  If only he had the time to fly out to Tokyo…”

The girl continues and I catch sight of my furrowed brows in the rear-view mirror, deepening the longer she goes on and on about men who weren’t me.

“…He’s already agreed to be a guest on the show!  But…he did make a rather strange request."

For a moment, I can barely breathe.  The skin over my knuckles blanches as it stretches tight, my grip on the wheel growing harder as I brace for unwelcome news.  God knows what she would’ve agreed to in my absence.  Filled with a sense of dread, I had to know all the same.  “Which was?…”

She pauses, the hitch in her breath subtle but speaking volumes nonetheless.

“Just say it, dummy.”  I soften my tone in encouragement though my mind was already racing, thinking of all the ways my legal team could dissolve a contract should the girl have already signed papers.

“Well, he…he asked if he could examine my body in lieu of payment for appearing on the show.  You should’ve seen him!  He was so desperate he was practically begging and I…I just couldn't say no."  

MOTHERFUCK!

Chapter 5: Role Model

“STUPID VICTOR LI!”

You had meant to throw the rolled-up magazine in dramatic rock star fashion, sending it flying across your suite at the Tres Spades Tokyo hotel to give at least a resounding smack as it hits the wall.  Instead, it flutters to the carpeted floor, barely a few feet from where you lay sprawled out on a bed much too large for a single person.

And from the surface of that glossy cover, Victor’s handsome face — all sharp eyes and chiseled jaw - staring up at you from beneath a headline that read: "Man On Top: How Victor Li Conquered The Business World.”

Man on top.  What a tease if there ever was one — especially since you’ve developed the recent habit of falling asleep to the fantasy of having the broad expanse of Victor’s muscular chest hovering over you.

“The only thing he should be on top of is ME!”

Your voice echoes in the room, empty save for you.  Even still, your cheeks burned from embarrassment over the absurdity of your current situation.  Victor Li didn’t belong to you.  Not when he had someone like Diana in his life.

Victor and Diana.  Diana and Victor.  A perfect match regardless of how the pieces fit.  And for an instant, your anger flares to remember the nonchalance in Victor’s voice when he told you that their past history as lovers had no bearing on the present, as if they didn’t look like they belonged together when you saw them just now in the lobby of the hotel, moments after you purchased the magazine with Victor’s face gracing the cover from one of the shops.

Practically ecstatic in your surprise to see him there at the Tres Spades, you were just about to call out to him when his name died in your throat, choked by the sight of the woman at his side.  Victor was escorting Diana to a limo waiting just beyond the revolving doors.  And the last thing you saw before the chauffeur pulled away was the two of them slipping into the vehicle together.

He hadn’t even told you he was coming to Tokyo.

It was only after you became aware of the fact that you were blocking the entrance to the shop that you recovered from the shock, murmuring apologies as you pulled yourself together just enough to make your way back to the safety of your hotel room.

Rising up off the bed, your feet sink into the lush carpeting as you pad over to where the magazine lay.  You pick it up and smooth out the crinkles, fingers tracing the outline of Victor’s profile as you do — gentle, as if you were touching the man himself.  And when your nose begins to tingle, you know it won’t be long before you feel the familiar sting of tears behind your eyes.

“Think you could stop being so nice to me, Victor?  You’ll give a girl the wrong impression.”  

Heaving a sigh, you slip the magazine beneath a pillow on the bed.  A quick glance at the clock on the bedside table told you it was almost time for your dinner date with Dr. Foster.  Sitting around moping wasn’t an option, at least not tonight.  Lightly slapping your cheeks, you push the image of Victor and Diana out of your head and get ready to step into the shower.

Chapter 6: Hard To Swallow [Victor]

“I’m glad you remembered that you owe me a dinner, Victor Li.  And though I practically had to drag you to this restaurant, I guess the means don’t really matter if the end result is the same.  But still, what a lucky coincidence that we bumped into each other again at the Tres Spades of all places.  Now that’s something to drink to.”

Diana holds up her glass, Cabernet Sauvignon swirling as it meets mine with a delicate clink.  Under the table, the tip of her stiletto pushes against my oxfords before sliding past my ankle, inching its way up my leg.  I pull away, watching those red lips spread into a smile as I do.

“You might be the first man who’s ever been able to resist me.  Has anyone ever told you you’re one stubborn asshole?”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

She laughs at that, taking another sip of her wine before setting it down.  “So, tell me about her.”

“Her?”  I focus on cutting into my Kobe beef, already aware that Diana will see through my bluff.  She always did.

“Surely there must be another woman if you keep turning me down over and over again, Victor.  A girl has her pride too, you know.”

“We are not getting back together, Diana.”

“Tsk, you’re no fun, Vic.  All work and no play, all the time.  I’ll have to remind myself of that the next time I start entertaining thoughts of calling you up again.”

She pouts, but it isn’t long before her eyes take on that familiar spark of mischief as she continues.  

“But seriously, tell me about your cute little producer.  That is the girl you keep rejecting me for, I presume.  I need to know about the woman who’s finally managed to infiltrate the entirety of Victor Li’s notoriously impenetrable heart.  She must be quite the lover if she’s got you wrapped around her little finger like that, pulling strings with all your friends left, right and centre.”

It annoys me to no end that the mere mention of the girl is enough to reduce me to a swooning idiot.  I fight to keep the smile off my face.

“You’ve got the wrong idea.  She’s not my lover.”  

Diana begins to protest, but her words are lost on me because I’ve stopped listening.  In fact, the only thing I can hear is the blood rushing in my ears, propelled by the adrenaline racing through my veins to see him enter the restaurant.

Dr. Luke Foster.  

WITH MY DUMMY, NO LESS.

And my dummy looks…absolutely gorgeous.  Her hair is done up, leaving her graceful neck and collarbones exposed in a little black dress I’ve never seen her wear before, I realize with not an insignificant amount of jealousy.

But wait…collarbones?!

Sure enough, that surgeon is staring at her clavicle like some kind of pervert.  The sight alone incites the beginnings of a dull throbbing in my temples, no doubt exacerbated by the vice-like clench of my jaws.

I follow them with my gaze as they are led to a table for two; fixate on Luke’s face even as the sommelier arrives to make his recommendations to the pair.  The doctor stares at my girl like he couldn’t care less about the meal, as if the only thing he hungered for was precisely what I myself had desired for so long: the woman.  And she—

Just looked my way.

Surprise etches itself onto her beautiful features — the brows I had dreamt of one day lightly running a fingertip over while she sleeps lifting into a delicate arch.  And why shouldn’t she be surprised?  I had given her no indication that I had rushed over to Tokyo from Loveland City as soon as I heard what Luke had requested of her.  

But there is no nod of acknowledgement, no smile in greeting.  Just her, looking away as if she hadn’t seen me at all, her smile apologetic when she retrains her attention on the doctor.  And while it was only for a fraction of a second, I could have sworn her eyes carried a hint of sorrow.

Or perhaps I’m projecting.

Because her obvious avoidance feels like a rebuff, a sucker punch to the gut.  She’s never blatantly ignored me like that, no matter how wound up she was even during those times when I verbally tore her sub-par proposals to shreds.  The feeling of rejection sits heavy on my chest, the tie around my neck much too tight.

“Victor, are you all right?”

Diana’s voice cuts through my thoughts.  She is looking at me curiously.  I reach for my glass of wine, suddenly feeling like I was on the verge of choking.  “Of course, what could possibly be wrong?”

“ ‘What’s wrong’ is the fact that you haven’t listened to a single word I’ve said for the past ten minutes.  Even if there’s no chance we’ll ever get back together again as you so adamantly insist, the least you could do is pay attention to the person you’re sharing a meal with.”

I take a deep breath, more than a little disconcerted by the girl’s ability to affect me.  “Of course.  My apologies, you’re absolutely right.  Please, continue.”

Across the candlelit table, I look Diana in the eye, resolved to keep up at least the pretence of being interested in what she had to say when all I wanted to do was storm the table where Luke sat with my girl.  With each sideways glance in their direction, my grip tightened on my utensils to see them chatting, seemingly engrossed in the world’s most interesting conversation.

And when she hands over a manila envelope to the doctor, my heart skips a beat.

Could it be…marriage documents?!

One tiny corner of my brain berates me for how ridiculous I am being but when it comes to her, I simply can’t help it, and the fantasy in which I casually stroll over, flip the table onto Luke Foster and steal my girl away in a bridal carry becomes so vivid in my mind’s eye, it almost seems like a good idea.

Diana excuses herself to use the restroom and I pounce on the opportunity to send the dummy a text:

“MEET ME AT THE BAR IN THE TRES SPADES HOTEL IN AN HOUR.  DON’T BE LATE.”

Chapter 7: Choked Up

“Is there something wrong, Dr. Foster?  You haven’t touched your meal.”

You do your best to school your expression into one of polite neutrality as you take in the strange sight of the pale, blond-haired man shaking out an alarming number of pills onto the palm of his hand, tapping loudly on a bottle seemingly produced out of nowhere.  He pops them all into his mouth at once and you pray you won’t have to perform the Heimlich maneuver as he chases them down with a few gulps of water.

A smile spreads across the doctor’s lips as his eyes fall upon your collarbones once more.  You were used to feeling like a third wheel by now, even when alone with Luke Foster, given his penchant for carrying on conversations while staring intently at your bones.  But you took no offence at his behaviour, especially after Baba’s attempts to give you insight into Luke’s peculiar mannerisms:

“Try not to take it personal, Miss.  Lu will look at anyone who’s got beautiful collarbones.  It’s a well-known fact that he’s obsessed with the boss’s - he's even framed the X-ray films of Eisuke’s bones.  He likely just wants yours to add to his collection.”

Strange though it was, the request that Luke be allowed to have X-rays films of your collarbones in exchange for appearing on Miracle Finder was innocent enough.  Certainly nothing that warranted the stony silence you received on the other end of the line when you called Victor the other day to tell him that Dr. Foster wanted to examine you.  After a brusque “I have to go,” he had hung up.  No goodbyes, not even a mutter of “dummy.”  

But Luke Foster had been nothing short of a perfect gentleman, never once laying a hand on you.  Moreover, he even insisted on paying for tonight’s meal despite the fact that you had invited him as thanks for appearing on the show.  

“Please, just call me Luke.  Vitamins and water are all I need to survive.  I only ordered because Eisuke said it might be awkward if you seemed to be the only one dining.”

“I-I see.”  You smile, taking another bite of wagyu.  And for a moment, you are too wrapped up in the blissful way it seemed to melt on your tongue to be disconcerted by the strange events of the evening.

You weren’t, however, too distracted to continue throwing surreptitious glances in Victor’s direction, fighting to keep composed each time Diana’s laughter carried over to your table.  What were the chances that you’d find yourselves at the same restaurant in all of Tokyo?  You know that he knows you are here; even Chik couldn’t put on a performance convincing enough for the LFG CEO to believe for a second that you didn’t see him.

With your dismal acting skills, you definitely didn’t stand a chance.

“You’re in love with him.”

COUGH, COUGH!

You clear the steak lodged in the back of your throat with a few hacking coughs, half of your face hidden behind your napkin as you tried to be as discreet as possible, the words “Death by Wagyu” flashing through your mind.  After soothing your throat with a sip of wine, you ask:

“I beg your pardon?”

“You’re in love with that man sitting just over there with the woman dressed in red.  That Victor fellow who accompanied you to that first meeting with Eisuke.”

For someone who seemed to pay very little attention to matters that didn’t concern bones, Luke Foster was surprisingly perceptive.  Or maybe you weren’t as discrete as you thought you were and it was obvious to all but yourself that you were staring at the golden couple.

“I…how did you...what makes you—”

“Please pass this message on to him for me.  If he doesn’t treat your collarbones with the respect they deserve, he can’t blame me for swooping in to take his place.”

Then, for the very first time that night, Luke Foster looks you in the eye, the intensity in blue-grey irises making your breath hitch when he says: “Until then, I hope you find happiness with him, Sexy Bones — especially since he also seems to be exceedingly fond of you.  Quite the annoyance, really.”

And for the very first time that night, you smile freely, naturally, at Luke, blushing hard as you contemplate his words.  Suddenly bashful, you drop your gaze only to catch sight of the manila envelope you brought with you.  You pass it across the table to him.

“Here.  Your payment for agreeing to appear on Miracle Finder.”

The expression on Luke’s face can best be described as euphoric when he takes the films from you, momentarily excusing himself from the table as he murmurs something about requiring brighter lighting to examine them.

That is when you hear the buzz of your phone from inside your purse.  And when you finally fish it out, you see a single text from Victor, commanding as always:

“MEET ME AT THE BAR IN THE TRES SPADES HOTEL IN AN HOUR.  DON’T BE LATE.”

Chapter 8: Green-Eyed Monsters [Victor]

“Another whiskey on the rocks for you, Sir?”

I nod to the bartender, watching as he chips away at a block of ice to produce a perfect crystalline sphere — still spinning in the glass when he pours the amber spirit over it like a libation.  It almost takes my mind off the fact that the girl is late.  By exactly ten minutes, according to my watch.  And for a moment, I’m gripped by a sense of panic when I consider the possibility that she might not come.

She never did answer my text though I knew she saw it — having witnessed her reaching into her purse to pull out her phone seconds after I sent the message.  And while the logical part of my brain is telling me I’m being an absolute idiot, worst-case scenarios are already running through my head: the girl is side-swiped by a car while crossing the street, or somehow managed to fall into an open manhole and is currently standing knee-deep in sewage.

Or maybe she is pinned to the wall in a dark corner somewhere, hemmed in on either side by the gifted hands of a world-class surgeon by the name of Luke Foster.

I lift the glass to my lips, too impatient to even savour the smooth burn of the drink as I reach for my phone to send her another text.  That is when I see her:

Cheeks flushed and chest gently heaving as if she had rushed to get here.  An errant lock of hair falling from her up-do, framing that beautiful face like I had dreamt so many times of doing with the palm of my hand.

She makes her way towards me in that dimly lit bar, and though I’m aware of the faint ticking of the second hand of my watch, time may as well have stood still.  Because I could have lived in that moment forever, gazing upon the light in her eyes as if they held every last star in the sky, as if those heavenly bodies had fallen just for her in precisely the same way I had: deeply, irrevocably.

And I know there is no turning back.

“Victor, sorry I’m late!  What are you doing here in Tok—”  

“Why did you ignore me?”  My voice comes out stern, even to my ears, and I curse myself for losing my cool around her yet again.  The girl furrows her brows, eyes dropping from my face to the half-empty glass of whiskey sitting on the counter.  And when she looks up again, something in her countenance has changed — soft surprise giving way to a hardened expression.

“If it’s the text you’re referring to, I’m here now, aren’t I?”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.”

She looks away, refusing to meet my gaze as she perches on the stool beside me.  “Surely you wouldn’t have wanted me to interrupt your dinner date, especially when you and Ms. Shum seemed so intimate.”

Intimate?

The bartender approaches, interrupting our conversation before I get the chance to formulate a reply.  “What can I get for you, Miss?”

“She’ll have a glass of warmed milk—”

“Whiskey.  On the rocks, please.”

She speaks over me, turning slightly in my direction as she does.  I ignore the murmur of “Ladies’ choice” from the bartender as well as the smirk on his face as he begins preparing her drink.  The thinly veiled challenge in the girl’s expression — elbow propped up on the counter with her chin resting atop a loose fist — only serves to highlight how incredibly alluring it is when she pushes back.

“Hmm.  Bold.  Since when did you start drinking whiskey?  I don’t think you need me to remind you of your non-existent alcohol tolerance.  Besides, didn’t you already have enough to drink at dinner?”

“There’s a lot of things you don’t know about me, Victor Li,” she says, reaching for the glass the bartender sets down before her.  She takes a moment, staring at the rich, golden hues before finally taking a sip.  I fight to keep the smile off my face when hers pulls into a grimace from the sting of the alcohol she clearly wasn’t familiar with.  Dummy.

“I’m surprised you even noticed me at all, not with the lovely Diana there.  But I guess old wounds really do have difficulty closing, no matter how much we say they’ve healed.”

“You’d have to ask for the expert opinion of your overly friendly doctor about that.”

“Excuse me?”  She sets her drink down a bit harder than likely intended, sending the liquid sloshing about the glass to kiss the pink of her lipstick imprinted on its edge.  

I don’t like where this conversation is going, the ill-disguised barbs only serving to increase the tension between us.  It was foolish to have what should’ve been a very private discussion in a public space but, as always, the thought of her and Luke together is enough to make me forget my place and position, throwing caution to the wind and behaving with reckless abandon.

And still, the heat beneath my collar goads me on.

“Luke Foster.  The one you’re so enthralled with that your manners seem to have been completely swept from memory.  I presume that’s the reason why you didn’t acknowledge my existence when you saw me in the restaurant.”

Her eyes widen in disbelief as she leans in close, voice dripping with sarcasm: “Just like how you didn’t remember to tell me you were coming to Tokyo?  Or maybe you weren’t planning on telling me at all, since it clearly looked like you weren’t here on business.  But then again, I guess your business is none of mine.”

I don’t know whether I want to push back or kiss her senseless.

Instead, I settle for a deep breath, trying to keep my frustration in check.  Having a heated argument with her was not how I had intended my evening to go.  In fact, my entire day had not proceeded as planned, and if I hadn’t been accosted by Diana as soon as I stepped foot in the Tres Spades hotel, I would have been having dinner with the woman who occupied all my thoughts, all the time.  At the very least, I could’ve saved her from the clutches of a pervert doctor.

I glance in her direction, study the beautiful melancholy of her silent profile as she watches the ball of ice slowly melt into her drink.  Then I take another sip of mine, steeling myself for reparations I desperately needed to make.

“I am only going to say this once, so listen closely.  Diana Shum and I dated shortly after graduation for all of two months before we decided to part ways on amicable terms.  We make for much better business partners than we ever did romantically, and while she has expressed occasional interest in rekindling our relationship, I have never been of the same mind.  I can assure you this will never change.

“The reason I came to Tokyo is not because of her — professional or otherwise — but because I was in a rush to prevent a certain dummy from doing anything she’d regret later on.  But…”

I knock back the rest of my whiskey, emptying the glass.

“…I’m afraid I’m too late.”

She looks at me now, eyes wide as if she were still processing the words.  Her next question comes on a whisper: “Why would you be too late?”

And it is my turn to look away.  

“Well, you seemed to be pretty intimate yourself with Dr. Foster during your dinner date.  I can only presume that…”

The girl moves closer and I can’t help the way my eyes are drawn to her mouth — the tremble of her lower lip, full and pink and lush.  Without thought, I allow my gaze to trace along the graceful column of her neck, settling at the delicate notch between her collarbones and in that instant, I come to a visceral understanding of the extent of Luke Foster’s obsession, for mine was magnified a million times over:

I yearned for the entirety of this woman before me — needed her for myself, now and forever.

“Presume what?”  Her voice is low, shaking.

“I can only presume that you’ve already allowed him to…examine your body.”

There is a moment of silence — each torturous second seeming to stretch into eternity to smother the last embers of hope.

“I have…”

Oh god.

“…given him X-ray films of my collarbones as he requested.  That is all.  He’s never touched me, not even once.  I took him out to dinner tonight so I could give them to him as thanks for appearing on the show.”

Petty.  Sheepish.  I felt all these things, but none so powerful as the staggering sense of relief that washes over me to hear her say these words.  Closing my eyes, I let the revelation sink in, finally feeling like I can breathe for the very first time that night.

Chapter 9: The Big Bang

You don’t quite know what made you do it.  

The ambience of the bar, perhaps: sultry jazz and flickering candles purposefully placed to create just enough shadows for a veil of privacy.

Or maybe it was the crestfallen uncertainty that painted the handsome features of Victor Li’s face, his sudden display of vulnerability both novel and endearing.

Most likely however, it was the way in which his downcast expression morphed into one of ecstatic relief when you told him that Luke Foster had not laid a single finger on you.

Because when Victor tilts his head back, eyes closed and sighing deeply as if some unfathomable burden had been lifted, you cannot help but bring your lips to the Adam’s apple bobbing along the length of that strong, thick neck.

Cedar wood and pine.  

The notes of his cologne are so familiar you didn’t realize how much you missed his scent until you literally came face to face with it.  Victor is warm, so very warm beneath the skin of your lips.  And under your touch, you become vaguely aware of the fact that the rise and fall of his chest has stilled.

At any other time, you would’ve questioned your sanity for how boldly you were behaving, especially towards someone who was your boss.  You had never been one to put yourself out there when it came to matters of the heart.  Something about the moment however, about Victor, made you feel like the one thing you could not do was let this chance pass you by.

So when you hear that shuddering breath, feel the faint scratch of his five o’clock shadow when he nuzzles against you in return, you know you’ve made the right gamble.  Being with Victor Li feels right.  And the surreal sense of belonging you find within the embrace of his muscular arms gives you the courage to say, “You must really believe I’m a dummy if you think I’d let any man other than you touch me.”

He slides a finger beneath your chin, gently lifting until all you can see are those jet black eyes, swimming with heat and emotion.  The sudden silence of your surroundings sinks in: no more music, no idle chatter.  Not even the rustle of limbs moving about in the dimly lit bar.  And there, in the strange privacy of suspended time…

...Victor kisses you.

                        *                                     *                                      *

“Are you sure…this is��what you want?”

The deep timbre of Victor’s voice sends a thrill vibrating along the surface of your skin as he questions you between kisses — laid on your mouth, the line of your jaw, the pulse of your neck.  His firm body presses you into a corner of the elevator, empty save for the two of you writhing in unison against a mirrored wall.

Each movement of his soft lips against yours is purposeful, imbued with meaning: longing in the gentle teeth that nibbled on your lower lip before drawing it into his mouth, in the sensual slide of the tongue that sought yours.  Affection obvious in the hands that rose to cup your face, thumbs tracing circles on the apples of reddened cheeks to tell you in no uncertain terms that Victor Li belonged to you as much as you yearned to belong to him.

So you had no qualms about answering in the affirmative, nodding your head because the press of Victor’s muscular thigh between your legs already left you breathless and wondering whether he could feel your wet heat seeping through your panties.

And all he really did was kiss you.

Ding.

The elevator stops at your floor and even before the doors slide open, Victor has hoisted you up, wrapping your legs tightly about his tapered waist and whispering into your ear, “Which room?”

You knew Victor was fit, had seen him move fast and effortlessly through the waters of his Olympic-sized swimming pool that one time he had you deliver a report to his mansion on a Sunday.  And yet, you could not help but admire the sheer perfection of his physique — the bulk of his biceps, flexed beneath strained layers of clothing; the ease with which he carries you all the way to your suite.

And when he sits you down upon the king-sized bed, you wonder if it is, in fact, too small for all the things you cared to do with him.

The LFG CEO shrugs off his suit jacket, loosening his tie just enough to pull it over his head before dropping to kneel at your feet.  You watch him reach for you, shiver when he caresses the sensitive skin behind your knee with a light graze of gentle fingertips.  Large hands trail down your calf — touch barely there and teasing — until his palm finally cups the heel of your stiletto to slide it off your foot.

He looks up at you then, the intensity in ebony irises rendering you still and mute as you patiently await his next move despite the frenzied pounding in your chest.  There is a stroke of something almost feral in the dark depths of the gaze that falls heavy upon you — searching your eyes, lingering on your lips…tracing the neckline of your dress.

“I’ve never seen you wear this dress before.”  Victor says, taking the same amount of care to remove the shoe from your other foot.

And if you were able to think straight under the influence of his touch — the hands that pushed back the hem of your dress as they roamed higher and higher up your thighs towards your heat — you might have found it strange that Victor was choosing now, of all times, to comment on your wardrobe choices.  As it was, you answered without second thought: “It’s new.  I bought it especially for tonight’s dinner.”

Victor stills and when he speaks again, there is a faint tremble in that voice, as if fighting to contain some unfathomable emotion.  

“The doctor couldn’t stop staring at you.  I know because I was the same way.  I couldn’t look away from the moment you stepped foot in that restaurant.”

The revelation leaves you silent, waiting with bated breath for Victor to continue.

“Forgive me…”

Fingers entwine with fabric, gripping tight.

“…but I can’t stand the thought of you looking so beautiful for anyone else.”

RRRIIIIPPPP!

You fall back, wincing at the sound even as you feel your body respond to the sudden shock of having your dress torn right down the middle.  Victor’s display of brute strength was so at odds with the façade of composure he was synonymous with and yet, there was no denying that you were incredibly aroused by this show of power — by the fact that he was now straddling you on all fours like some wild beast, tearing away the rest of your undergarments to leave you completely bare.

You’ve never been so desperate to feel him inside you, deep and rough and untamed.  The thought throws you into a frenzy of lust.

Digging your fingers into the front of his dress shirt, you yank it open to send buttons flying in haphazard directions, but the only thing that concerned you was the sight of that broad chest and muscular torso, so impressive it actually elicits a moan from your lips and a smile from his in return.

Propping yourself up onto your knees, you press against him, flesh to flesh — one hand running over the burning surface of his skin even as the other tugs at the buckle of his leather belt, impatiently moving to palm him when his dress pants fall and gasping to finally see and feel the full extent of the LFG CEO:

Victor Li is rock hard and intimidatingly large.

And the sight makes your mouth water.

Sinking onto your heels, you trail your lips along Victor’s chiseled body, tongue teasing at his nipples as you do and relishing the catch of his breath in his throat.

But just as you begin to lay kisses along the deep V of his abdomen with the intent of tracing lower and lower, Victor stops you, puling you up for a kiss before laying back on the bed and positioning you above him…

…with his face between your legs.

“This way,” he says, voice muffled, and you might have commented on his inability to relinquish control even in the bedroom were it not for the sensation of his flattened tongue sweeping hot and wet along the seam of your already dripping pussy, teasing from end to end.

The sensation is so intense it’s almost unbearable.  You throw your head back, mouth dropping in a silent scream as you sink onto Victor’s face, fighting the instinct to grinder lower onto that talented tongue despite the encouraging grip of Victor’s hands, strong on your hips and thighs.

“I’ve wanted to taste you…for so long,” he murmurs, sucking the swell of your clit into his mouth and humming in approval against moist flesh to hear you moan above him.  “Your flavour is absolutely exquisite.”

Gathering your wits, you fold forward — intent on giving just as much pleasure as you were receiving.  Victor twitches once within your grip, not quite contained by the circumference of your palm and fingers, running up and down the sizeable length of his cock, hot in your hand like his breath on your slit.  And after placing a few wet kisses on the smooth, hard head, you open your mouth to taste him.

The tepid salt of his arousal.  The groans originating from deep within Victor’s chest each time your lip brushed past the tender underside of his cock.  The subtle rhythm of his pelvis, lifting in time to your mouth swallowing more of that solid shaft, quickly becoming slick with your saliva.

And then you catch sight of your reflection in the mirrored closet.  See the bulge of Victor’s bicep as he grips your hip, the flex in the muscles of his neck when he lifts to bury his face deeper into your folds.  See yourself: hair disheveled and eyes half-lidded, drunk on sex.  Observe the messy smear of your lipstick as your mouth stretches to accommodate more and more of your boss’s cock.  And when the tip of Victor’s tongue begins its relentless tease of your clit, you watch as a most debauched expression falls over your features, the tension in your body breaking as you find release on his lips.

You are still shaking when he enters you, sensitized by an orgasm that left tiny sparks of electricity running along every nerve, priming you for second helpings.  A true paragon of patience, Victor Li takes his time, deliberately slow as he pushes — savouring the sensation of drenched, swollen flesh parting just for him.

It was almost unfathomable that you could experience such extreme pleasure, each powerful swing of Victor’s hips driving him deeper into your body — hitting just the right angles until your very senses were extracted along with your second release of the night, running slick between your legs to ease the slippery slide of your bodies.

It draws out Victor’s own, your lover moving to pull out moments before you surprise him by taking him once more into your mouth — gaze locked onto those dark eyes from below as you taste him on your tongue, euphoric to see him bite his lips when your lick yours to swallow every last drop.

Chapter 10: Pillow Talk

Beep Beep Beep Beep.

You roll over, eyes still closed as you reach out to hit the snooze button on the alarm clock.

Except your palm comes down on warm flesh with a resounding smack, echoing throughout your hotel room and accompanied by a deep voice that says, “Are you finally awake, Dummy?”

Your eyes shoot open to see Victor lying naked in bed next to you, a splotch of red blooming on his chest where he had been attacked.  He sets his phone down to hand you a glass of water from the bedside table, and even though memories of the previous night come rushing back to burn your cheeks, you cannot help but notice how glorious he looks bathed in morning light.  You hope he doesn’t see the way your hand shakes when you accept the glass from him with a meek “Thanks.”

Victor clears his throat, waiting for you to finish drinking before he says, “That was the fourth time you slept through the alarm.  I’ve already informed your colleagues you’ll be taking the day off.  We didn’t get much sleep last night and I think you’ll need some time to…recover.”

You bite your lip, turning sideways to feign a sudden interest in the curtains so he wouldn’t see the giant smile spreading onto your face.  It was almost surreal that Victor Li was your lover, and if it weren’t for the exquisite soreness you felt between your legs, you would’ve been hard pressed to believe it for yourself.

The sheets rustle and before you know it, Victor has his chest pressed up against your bare back, laying a soft kiss on your shoulder before he rests his chin on it.

“How are you feeling?”  He asks.

“Okay.  Pretty good, actually.”  It was too early in the game to tell him you were already doing cartwheels in your mind.

“Good.  I’m glad to hear that because I found this under your pillow…”

He places something in your hands.  Your eyes widen when you recognize the magazine with his face on the cover.

“…And this ‘man on top’ wants to know what it feels like to have this woman on top of him for the rest of the day.”

You’ve made it to the end! 🤩 Thank you so much for reading!  Check out more of my work here! 📚 

[tres-spades-hotel]

Becoming the Perfect Father, Part II

Hey everyone! So @lin-ful @leoamber66 and @flatsuke inspired me to start writing again! Have fun reading this and prepare yourself for the angst and action across the story... enjoy!

Part II - Kiki’s Heirship, a Backstory of Memories

Hi, my name is Kiki.

I used to be an orphan on the streets of Japan. I had to fend for myself, always dipping in and out of society for a while when I realised my family were no good to me. The scar they left me with on my eye made the famous billionaire, Eisuke Ichinomiya, the man leading Japan’s economy, curious. I saw him one day and believed in my heart I could be safe. I was only 7 years old when I followed him into his hotel one evening.

He crouched down to ask where my parents were but upon hearing the word, I was both crying and hitting him on his chest.

I hated the world for thinking that parents and family were what kept you safe because I didn’t believe it was true.

He didn’t know what to do with me.

I didn’t know what to do with me.

So he took my hand and led me to the penthouse elevator, thinking that Uncle Baba and Uncle Ota could calm me down. And they did. Throughout my time with them for the first few weeks, I was happy. Everyone played with me, they were patient with me, they were curious about me.

Dad looked after me, mostly because he was concerned about Uncle Baba’s antics. Blackmail was all it took to make his brick walls faulter. That day, talk of sending me to an orphanage arose and, apparently, Uncle Baba did not like it.

So Dad kept me, almost like a pet. He fed me, gave me shelter, clothing, and toys. After all this time, I really owe Uncle Baba for helping me even though I didn’t know it then. But there was only one thing Dad wouldn’t give me: his affection. To be honest, I don’t think he knew what it meant to give warmth and love to another person, whether it’s a woman or a child. That is, not until Mum came into our lives.

Instead I spent most of my time asking questions and receiving no answers. They were mysterious people with the world held tight in their hands. They could do anything.

I wanted that ability too.

Of course, it would be some time before I realise what responsibilities that ability entailed. I thought that if I were powerful, I could look after myself and never get hurt again. But it just wasn’t true.

‘Boss, let’s play a bit of poker.’ Uncle Baba said one day.

‘No.’ Rejected.

Uncle Soryu looked up from his book and sent a disapproving look at him.

‘Baba, there is a child here.’

‘Poker is not for children.’ Uncle Mamo muttered sleepily.

Everybody shot Uncle Baba down for the suggestion.

‘I want to play! Can I play too?’ I shot my arm up and waved it around.

‘No.’ Rejected. Again.

‘Kid, you do not want to play poker. You’ll lose instantly.’ Uncle Mamo finally got up from the couch for the first time that day.

‘Whaaaaaaaaaaat?!’

‘Koro, he’s saying that you don’t have enough money to play.’ Uncle Ota was always a devil.

‘Now, now Ota, don’t be so mean to Kiki. She’s just curious,’ Uncle Baba crouched down onto his knee.

‘Princess, poker is an adult game but you’re more than welcome to watch!’ He was always the more kind adult in the group. But I know that they’re all kind… in their own special ways.

‘You can watch me! With you by my side, I’ll win for sure!’ Always jolly too. He slipped an arm around me and hugged me close while the other lingered in the air like a star performer.

‘Baba, you always lose.’ Uncle Ota quipped in a matter-of-fact tone.

‘I do not!’

‘Koro, come sit with me and I’ll let you play with the chips!’

‘Uhhhh….’

‘Stop it. You’re confusing her.’ Uncle Soryu was always a firm favourite of mine after Mum and Dad. I might even be so bold as to call him a secret crush.

‘That’s enough. Kiki, sit next to me and watch what I do.’ Dad ultimately came to my rescue and the game began.

‘So Kiki, first we all put in a certain amount of chips.’ Uncle Baba held up a white chip, a red chip, and a blue chip.

‘How many chips?’

‘However many you want. Boss always insists he go first.’ There was a glare involved.

’10 million.’

‘Can’t you lower the amount?’ Uncle Mamo never did have as much money as the others. But…

‘If you don’t have enough money you can leave. Or are you so poor that you have to use our money to live in this hotel?’ It was rare to see Uncle Soryu smirk so evilly.

But Uncle Soryu always “convinced” him to continue. And Uncle Mamo always rose to the bait.

He threw another red chip into the middle. Raising the stakes.

‘Ooooohhh, Mamo is getting ready to win!’

‘Even though we all know he’s going to lose. Just like you Baba! The old men always lose.’

‘Shut up!’

‘Hey! That’s so rude Ota!’

The game was under way, with Dad and Uncle Baba giving audible instructions on how to play. I suppose this game was what shaped me into the Tres Spades Casino Queen when an international poker competition was held at the hotel.

‘Alright, time to show hands.’

I remember lifting up my hands as if it was an order. I also remember everyone laughing because of my hands.

‘Not your real hands. The cards.’

‘Ooooohhhh.’ You can imagine how red I was and how deeply I had buried my face into the pillow on my lap.

Uncle Mamo lost, Uncle Ota had a Three of a Kind and Uncle Baba had One Pair.

It was down to Uncle Soryu and Dad.

‘If you win, you can have the property you’ve been pinning for.’

‘Very funny.’

Uncle Soryu had a Full House.

Dad had a Royal Straight Flush.

‘So… who won?’

Throughout the games that afternoon, I was snuggling closer and closer to Dad’s body. And, for once, he didn’t push me away.

I was grateful for it.

*

‘Here you go Dad! All neatly organised in alfabetisal order.’

‘Alphabetical order.’

‘That’s what I said, alfapetical order.’

‘……….’ I knew Dad was sighing inwardly but I was content with life at the time. I didn’t know the danger that would happen hours later.

For a while, Dad decided to put me to work, to make up for the fact that I couldn’t pay to stay in the hotel. It was a bit dick-ish on his part but at least he didn’t sell me at the auctions. Eventually, he became more caring towards me as time went on. Waking me up when I had nightmares, patting me on the head, allowing me to help clean the paper work in his office. He even took me outside once on an exploration trip to see potential buyers and land to put the Ichinomiya name on.

I thought that I could finally be free from the pain I received. For a little while, I forgot why I had run away and why I was broken. But they reminded me of what my worth was.

‘Baba and Ota are taking me shopping. Should I get you something?’

‘If you want to.’

‘Like what?’

‘Whatever you think I will like. And if I don’t like it, I will tell you.’

‘Yeah, okay. Alright, I’ll be back later! Don’t work too hard!’ I waved my hands at the doorway to the purple man behind the desk. He didn’t look up.

‘Why am I here?’ Uncle Mamo whined.

‘Because you were sleeping. You need to do more than just eating and sleeping.’ Uncle Baba said behind the steering wheel.

‘I have work to do!’

‘You don’t have a job!’ Uncle Ota declared.

‘Yes I do kid!’

I couldn’t help but laugh at the scene in front of me. Uncle Baba decided that we should all hang out for dinner and try his new recipe of dumpling stew so he dragged us out to go shopping. But apparently I was too curious for my own good. It wasn’t long before I had wandered off to a different section of the shop that I felt a hand cover my mouth with a drugged napkin. I saw them pass by a corner before slipping into unconsciousness.

I hated myself for believing that I had a chance to live freely.

*

I remember waking up in a warehouse. I was chained to the ground with cuffs around my ankles and wrists. The stone ground was cold and miserable. I had to force myself to sit up and was instantly sick on the floor beside me.

‘She’s awake.’

‘I can see that idiot. Call the woman.’

When I was done, I looked up to see masked figures and screamed. They wore grizzly bear masks but not the fun-loving cartoon kind. They had tortured looks on their faces and blood seemed to seep out of the eye hole cut outs. A 7-year-old’s imagination can speed towards any direction but I knew better. They were symbols of the family I had left behind.

I backed into the wall behind me, hoping that the wall would open up and I could get away.

‘You’ve caused a lot of trouble young missy. You’re mum is very worried about you. Why don’t you speak with her, you little rat? Hm?’ A raspy voice floated out of the mask but I couldn’t move my hands close enough to my ears. The man reached out towards me but I took a bite into his fingers before they could touch me.

‘Ah! Damn you!’ He stood up quickly, cradling his right hand, and kicked me in my ribs. He threw down a punch on my left cheek for good measure before stomping off.

I was so used to the pain that I stopped crying out back then. But I guess staying with the bidders softened me too much. I sobbed quietly, feeling a thin stream of blood trickle down my face, and remembering the masks.

They were quite literally called The Family. I was born into it after my “father” slept with his mistress while his wife was giving birth to his third child. Illegitimate and alone, I was abused mercilessly by my half-siblings and their mother. Father didn’t care about me, he only lived for women and alcohol. But he kept an iron-fist over a torturous empire dedicated to illegal smuggling of organs. They used the bloody bear masks to practically scare their victims to death.

They were proud butchers. All of them. I was ashamed of the torture that it became a threat to my life every day.

Death was at my doorstep until I could take it no more.

‘You disgusting child, you never should have been born!’

Finally, she broke after her children accused me of attempting to steal money from their safe. They all knew it wasn’t true. She knew it was not true. She reminded me my place in this world when she drew a katana out and slashed it down my eye.

It wouldn’t be until I meet Uncle Luke Foster, who gave me a new eye and got rid of the scar, where I erase all traces of The Family.

‘The woman said to cut up her body for parts and organs. There is an auction nearby where we can sell them.’

I know now that they were talking about Dad’s auctions but luckily for me, I would never be put on that stage, dead or alive.

Before the bone-saw was even picked up from a medical cart, the screeches of car tires echoed faintly. The ground seemed to rumble like an approaching earthquake when suddenly, Uncle Soryu’s black Bentley tore through the main doors, forcing it off its hinges completely.

Dust lifted up and invaded our lungs as gravity set in and plunged the remains of the doors into the ground. The car doors opened and Dad came out in such a stylish manner that I thought I was in a movie.

‘Kiki…’

‘Eisuke!’ We looked at each other for a brief moment, a brief look of anger on his face, before he turned to see the man standing by me with the saw.

Dad stepped forward with a briefcase when one of the henchmen pointed his gun at him.

‘Don’t move!’

‘Eisuke!’ Uncle Soryu had his gun on the henchmen who immediately started shaking under his intense gaze.

Dad opened the briefcase and slid it forward.

‘$30 million in cash. If you give me the girl.’

They started mumbling and whispering, wondering what to do. It was clear the money Dad offered was substantially more than what they were originally being paid. But what would a famous billionaire hotel mogul want with a battered child? Looking to their leader, many of the men waited for an answer.

He looked down at me for a moment but I didn’t dare make eye contact.

‘Fine. Take her. She’s as good as dead anyway.’ The masked man threw the saw down and slowly crept up to the briefcase. He kneeled down when a shout came from the back of the warehouse. A large group of men appeared from the shadows with guns aimed at the heads of the henchmen.

‘Don’t shoot! Drop your weapons and get down!’

‘Wha-‘ Uncle Soryu moved quickly and bashed his gun onto the man’s head. He fell unconscious.

‘Don’t be so surprised. The Ice Dragons can be very useful at times like these.’ Dad had a smug look on his face; he knew he had won.

‘Mafia?!’

‘The Ice Dragons?!’

‘What are they doing in Japan?!’

The henchmen struggled and muttered and whined as the Ice Dragons led them away.

‘What should I do with them?’ Uncle Soryu handcuffed the man and forced him to stand on his feet.

‘The usual.’

‘Fine.’

‘Hey princess, let’s get you out of there.’ Uncle Baba’s voice came from one of the masks and I almost screamed again.

‘Don’t worry! Look!’ He took it off and I was relieved.

‘Baba…’ He unlocked the cuffs and Dad helped me stand up.

‘How did yo-‘

‘After you went missing, we did some digging around.’ Uncle Baba said, dropping the mask onto the ground.

‘We found out about The Family and traced you to here.’ Uncle Soryu came forward after handing the unconscious leader to Uncle Inui.

‘How though?’

‘The pager Eisuke gave you.’ Uncle Ota pointed to the object in my pocket.

I looked up at the man.

‘I never lose what belongs to me.’

‘We were lucky they didn’t take the pager from you. We’re glad that you’re safe.’ Uncle Soryu smiled at me.

‘You came to save me?’ I grasped Dad’s hand and asked in a small voice.

‘What kind of owner would I be if I let you get yourself kidnapped?’ I heard groans from the others.

‘Eisuke….’

‘Boss, she’s not a pet.’

‘Hey, Koro belongs to all of us. Not just you Eisuke.’

‘Eisuke?’ I said.

‘What?’

‘Can I stay with you?’

Dad looked mildly taken aback but he regained his composure, took out his pocket handkerchief and dabbed it on my cheek.

‘Ow…’

‘Stay still.’

‘Yes, stay very still for me.’

We all turned our heads to the sound of the new voice. He stood there in front of the car. The glare of the knife against the moonlight shot into my eyes. I blinked multiple times in the hopes that I had imagined him. My birth father stood there glaring at me alone, ignoring the Ice Dragons around him.

‘Stay very still while I cut you up into thousands of little pieces you damned hell spawn.’ He spat out those words that I knew so well while I quivered. He was capable of violence in every way. There were many times when he killed servants or subordinates out of anger. He was even worse when drunk, I never forgot the day when he stumbled in intoxicated and killed my mother in front of me.

‘He’s mad.’ I heard Dad whisper as he positioned himself in front of me. Shielding me.

‘You’ll have to get through me if you want her.’ Dad stood his ground and stared the crazed man down, something no one has ever done. But all it did was enrage him further.

Everything happened so fast that day, that everything is still hazy even after 15 years. He charged at Dad while gun shots rung across the warehouse. Uncle Soryu stopped him, dodged the knife, and grabbed his wrist, pinning it behind him. But that man got free and elbowed Uncle Soryu in his stomach. Suddenly, they were grappling with a gun and, as Uncle Baba and Uncle Ota tried to get me away, a single shot hit me.

‘KIKI!’ I remember falling to the ground clutching my side and hearing the yells of everyone around me. Dad’s face was the last thing I saw before blacking out.

I thought I was dead for real; I guess he almost made good on his promise to kill me.

*

In the end, I never saw The Family again. While Dad was bribing the henchmen hired by my step-mother, Uncle Mamo and the police arrested The Family using proof given by Uncle Baba’s sources. Apparently, he smelled of alcohol too that night so to hear that Dad killed my birth-father gave me a sense of peace that I didn’t know I had the capacity to feel.

I spent 2 week recovering in a private hospital. I was grateful. They never left me alone, always watching over me. The bullet wound did a lot more damage than the staff thought but they patched me up really well. Later, I would ask Dad to send small gifts to them as a thank you for looking after me. One of the nurses said that I nearly died on the operating table and that it was a miracle I pulled through at all.

‘You must have a big will to live, my dear. I’m sure there is someone you are living for in this life.’

I was unconscious for a while in the hospital after the operation. But I clearly remember the things that Dad said when he thought I was asleep.

‘Getting yourself kidnapped, getting yourself shot, nearly dying during surgery, you’ve lived through so many incidents. That’s not even mentioning the abuse you suffered growing up. He was mad. Very mad. I saw it in his eyes the hate he had for you, for the world. A man like that never survives. Only people like you. People who brave through situations, no matter how horrible or tragic, get to live in this world. I should know.’

I felt my hand enclosed in his hands.

‘I lost my family when I was your age. But I was taken in by my adopted father who was a close friend of my dad’s. He raised me, gave me a home, and taught me how to take care of myself. I repaid all of his kindness for giving me a new chance at life. Now I want to do the same thing for you. You asked if you could stay with me. I don’t intend to let you go, not after all this. I promise I will raise you the same way Akira raised me so that you can say that you made it through your trauma. That you deserve a new chance at life. Besides, Baba would have my head if I let you go now. You’ve really wiggled your way into our hearts Kiki. And it’s not a bad thing.’

‘Eisuke? I’ll look after her, you can go back to the hotel.’ Uncle Mamo walked into the private suite, so I couldn’t answer him. But in my heart, I already did.

‘You alright?’

‘I’m fine.’

‘She’s a tough kid. She’ll wake up soon.’

‘Oh I know. I doubt after all this, she would give up that easily.’ The door closed as Dad left the hospital.

I never forgot his words but I also didn’t ever tell him I knew. Maybe he sensed that I was awake but didn’t say. Dad never mentioned it and I was too shy to bring it up.

Eventually, the wounds healed but my body was still scarred. I went back to the hotel after what felt like forever. They held a little party to celebrate my return but I think they just wanted an excuse to drink. The way they drunk alcohol was very different to what I was originally used to. For a moment, I thought they would become like my birth-father, but it turns out maybe he was just a violent drunk.

Hours later, Uncle Mamo started sobbing and Uncle Baba reflected on the meaning of life, often asking me if I knew the theory of evolution. I was 7 years old.

Uncle Ota went to sleep and Uncle Soryu only shook his head disapprovingly at the mess in front of him. Dad gave me orange juice and snacks until I started feeling sleepy. He carried me upstairs in his arms. I woke up cuddling Dad in his room the next morning.

I finally found the home that I had always wanted.

*

After Dad and I got ready in the morning, Mr Kenzaki came to the penthouse.

‘It is good to see you’re back in high spirits again Kiki.’

‘Thank you!’ I said while eating an apple.

‘Here sir, the documents you requested has arrived.’ He handed over a black folder and Dad opened it.

‘Good. You can leave.’

Mr Kenzaki bowed and I waved goodbye.

‘Kiki. Come here.’

I got off my seat on the couch and stood in front of him. Dad un-crossed his legs, turned me around and lifted me up onto his lap.

‘Bwah!’

‘Pfft, are you comfortable?’

‘Oh, yes!’ I replied, looking up at his face. He placed his hand on my head and turned it towards the black folder.

‘Do you know what this is?’

‘Important documents?’

‘Yes. Do you know what of?’

‘For new property?’

‘No.’

‘A contract with another company?’

‘No.’

‘A restraining order on Uncle Baba?’

‘Pfft, if only.’ Dad chuckled.

‘Then what is it?’

Dad put the folder on the couch and adjusted me around so that I could see him.

‘They are adoption papers.’

At the time, my brain blanked out for a second. I had absolutely no idea what it meant. Then it clicked.

‘Who are you adopting?’

‘You know the answer to this, dummy.’ Dad laughed at my dumb question and I asked another.

‘You’ll let me stay?’

‘You don’t need to live in fear anymore Kiki. I will raise you to become my heir to the Ichinomiya Group and the Tres Spades Hotel. There will be hardships but I’m not about to allow you to go.’ He smiled a rare smile at me. I cried horribly ugly kid tears. All the tension in my life suddenly melted away when Dad held me tight to his chest. He patted my head as I sobbed my heart out.

‘You don’t have a choice in the matter.’

You have no idea how many times he says this exact line, or maybe you do. It is indescribable the feelings and emotions I had that day. Somehow, I found myself a new family and a new father who would look after me and love me like a real father. I believed that the idea of a family didn’t exist but the truth is that it does. You just have to know where to look.

Mum was added into my family a year later. A year after that, Uncle Luke, Uncle Shu, and Uncle Hikaru completed my family.

*

Hi, my name is Kiki Ichinomiya, President of the Ichinomiya Group.

And I am the heir to the Hotel King’s legacy.

[otomefoxystar]

The One - Chapter Two

Fandom:  Kissed by the Baddest Bidder 

Pairing: Charolette X Eisuke 

Warning: Mentions of being attacked, and amensia 

Genre: Angst 

Written by: @otomefoxystar

As satisfied as Charlotte felt there was a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She got out of bed and Eisuke eyed her.

“ Where are you going?” He smirked at her as he put his arms above his head. 

“ To the bathroom? what’s wrong?” he chuckled lowly 

“ You’ll see once you’re in the bathroom” one side of her lip pulled up.

“ You should take a look at yourself.” He took in a deep breath and looked into the mirror. 

“ Jesus, woman!” He looked back at her.

“ Honestly, you look just as bad.” 

Charolette looked in the mirror and felt over the bruises Eisuke left on her skin. She sighed, and he looked over at her.

“ How am I going to go to work like this? At least yours can be covered by your shirt.” Eisuke scoffed

“ You’re a woman, cover it up with makeup.” She glared at him

The next day they were riding home in the limo away from the hotel.

“ You did well Charolette, don’t worry it won’t happen again. We can go back to the way things were before.”

Charlotte didn’t know what to say so she just nodded her head fiddling with the sleeve of her blazer. They rode the rest of the way to the hotel in silence. She was looking out the window at the buildings going by. Regret filled her up, and she knew that working with Eisuke was going to difficult from here on out. 

She would just have to get through it, he assured her it would only happen once. She would treat him with respect because he was her boss, but she was going to keep her guard up. She decided from here on out that she wouldn’t let him push her around anymore, she was going to keep him at an arm’s length. Eisuke looked over at her looking out the window and for the first time since meeting her, he wondered what was going through her head. It was a strange feeling; usually, after having sex he would make the woman leave and his body would feel satisfied, but he would also feel empty. It was different with Charolette, she had warmed him up. She wasn’t like the women he dated. She had brought something out in him, he just couldn’t pinpoint what it was. When the limo pulled over she got out and turned to him.

“ I’ll, uh...see you tomorrow.” She quickly turned from him and walked off to her room.

She didn’t sleep around she could count the number of people she’d slept with on two hands. As soon as she closed the door behind her she locked the door, and ran to the bathroom and slid to the floor into a crying mess. She sobbed into her knees as the images of the night clouded her mind. To say she didn’t enjoy herself was a lie, but this was not her, and she didn’t know how to go on from here. 

She composed herself and walked to the hotel bar where she drank drink after drink. As she continued to drink herself into oblivion a man in the corner of the bar was watching her intently as if she were prey to be eaten. Ota entered the bar when he saw an inebriated Charlotte. He sat next to her and looked at her with concern.

“ Koro” She looked over at him and glared.

“ Go away Ota I want to be alone.”

He shook his head as she downed another shot of rum.

“ In the years I’ve known you, you’ve never told me to go away. We’re close right?” She looked at him and sighed.

“ Yes, we’re close Ota, you’re the only one I trust, the only one I can talk to.” He smiled

“ Okay then, talk to me. I’ve never seen you drink like this.” She downed another shot 

“ I’m fine I just wanted to let off some steam.” He cocked an eyebrow

The bartender brought her another shot, but Ota moved it out her way.

“ I think you’ve had enough.” 

She pushed Ota and stormed off. 

“ Charlotte!” 

When she was about to leave that mysterious man covered her mouth, and took her in the storage room. Ota didn’t know where she went, so he went looking for her. 

“ If you scream I’ll make this miserable so be good and don’t make a peep.”  

She tried to get away, but she fell and he pinned her down to the floor. He ripped her shirt and ripped her skirt trying to get it off. He started to unbuckle his belt, and she decided to take a chance and yelled.

“ Ota! Help me!” He heard her right away, and the man hit her on the side of her face. 

Ota came rushing in and took in the sight of someone choking Charolette. He tore the man off of Charolette.

“ Do you get off on targeting drunk women!?” He punched him so hard he fell backward hitting his head on a shelf causing him to be unconscious. 

Ota helped Charolette up, and put an arm around her.

“ Here, let's cover you up.” He took off his jacket and put it over her trembling body. Tears started pricking at her eyes, and Ota read the emotion swimming in her eyes.

“Hey, I’m here. He embraced her and she started sobbing. Her knees buckled and he lifted her princess style and carried her to the penthouse.

Sometime along the way she passed out in his arms.

Ota laid her down on the couch in the lounge and covered her up with a blanket. As soon as he put her down he noticed the blue shiner on her cheekbone and the bruises around her throat. Everybody started gathering in the lounge ready for an auction meeting but noticed a sleeping Charolette on the couch. 

“ Why is she sleeping on the couch?” Baba asked 

Ota looked at the men that were looking at him for answers.

“ She was attacked at the bar, I just keep thinking about what would’ve happened if I wasn’t there.”

Soryu looked down at her and saw her shirt was torn.

“ When you say attacked? What exactly happened Ota?” Ota took in a deep breath.

Eisuke walked in and noticed the state she was in.

“ What the hell happened?” He said as he noticed her ripped clothes as she turned on the couch. Then he saw the bruise on her face and throat and his eyes narrowed in anger.

“ Ota was there” Mamoru stated, and Eisuke looked at him for answers.

“ Explain...Now!” Ota looked down and sighed.

“ I found her drinking practically all the rum in the bar. I told her that she’d had enough and she got mad and pushed me and stormed off. I went looking for her, but then I heard her screaming my name. I went into the storage room, and this disgusting man was hovering over her about to have his way with her.” Soryu’s eyes widened 

“ Are you telling us that she was almost raped?”

Ota took a deep breath“ Yes, and she passed out when I picked her up. She’s completely blasted.” 

Eisuke looked down at her, and back at the men in front of him.

“ She is not to leave until this asshole douchebag is found. She’s safe here with us.” He scooped her up in his arms and carried her trembling body to his room. He laid her down on the guest bed, and grabbed one of his t-shirts, and changed her into it. He covered her up.

“ I knew I should’ve made you come with me.” He stroked her hair 

“ If you wanted to get drunk I could’ve arranged that. Unless... I’m the reason for your actions.” He turned off the light and shut the door.

Later that night Charolette woke up in a sweat feeling disoriented. She didn't recognize her surroundings and she started to panic. She got out of bed feeling the need to escape, and once she left the room she started to register where she was but didn’t remember why. Nothing made sense her head felt all jumbled, and she felt the need to run. She started to open the door when she heard footsteps and she quickly opened the door feeling a rush of urgency and fear.

“ What do you think you’re doing?” Eisuke said as he grabbed her wrist.

She looked back at him with fear in her eyes. He had never seen her look at him like that before. She had always had spirit and spunk, this was not the Charolette he knew. Something was very wrong. Tears filled her fear-stricken eyes, and Eisuke measured up the scared women in front of him. 

“ Don’t hurt me, let me go home please.” He looked at her worriedly.

“ I won’t hurt you Charolette, but you can’t go home. You’re safe here.” She started shaking her head.

“ No, no, no I need to go home. I have to work tomorrow.” Eisuke turned her around so she was looking at him.

“ I’ll call Kenzaki, you don’t have to work. Not till we find that asshole that attacked you.” 

She didn’t seem to register what he was saying, it was like she was stuck in her head. Eisuke reached in his pocket and called Soryu.

“ I need everyone in my suite” he hung up the phone and Eisuke led her to the living room and sat her down on the couch, and sat in a chair near her.

Everyone walked in and they saw Charlotte on the couch wearing one of Eisuke’s shirts.

“What’s going on?” Eisuke looked over at Baba

“ I don’t know, she seems confused. I thought you could talk to her Ota, she trusts you.” Ota walked forward and sat next to her, he put his hand on her back and she flinched so he removed his hand.

“ Koro” She looked at him with a confused look on her face.

“ Who’s Koro?” Everyone gasped.

“Uh... Well, nevermind that, Charolette what’s going on?” 

She looked at Ota, and he didn’t see any recognition there. She was a million miles away. He looked over to Eisuke with a questioning look.

“ I need to go home. I have to work tomorrow.” Eisuke scoffed

“ I already told you...” She interrupted him “ I can’t be late, my boss doesn’t like it when I’m late.” Ota cocked his head to the side.

“ Yeah. Charolette... Do you see you’re boss in this room?” Eisuke looked at her expectantly 

She looked at everyone. “ I don’t think so? I’m having a hard time remembering what he looks like.”

“ Charolette... Do you know the men in this room?” She looked at the other men

“ Should I know them?” Everyone was starting to get concerned at this point.

“ Do you know who I am ?” She looked into his amber eyes, studying him. He knew her well enough to know the answer, that she didn’t remember him

“ I recognize you, you seem familiar but I don’t remember. I’m sorry I don’t think I do.” She put her head in her hands and started smacking her head. Ota grabbed her hands and pulled them away.

“ Don’t do that” 

“ Boss, you should probably call Luke. I think there is something wrong with our princess.” 

Ota looked at Charolette, and she looked up and tears started streaming down her face.

“ What’s the matter?” She bit her lip and took a deep breath.

“ I’m so confused.” 

Luke walked in with his doctor kit, and Ota stood up giving Luke space to examine her. 

“ Hi, sexy bones I hear you’re having a hard time remembering things. Let me ask you something do you remember me?” She shook her head

“ That’s okay, do you remember your name?” 

She laughed “ Charolette” Luke pulled a chair in front of her and put his stethoscope around his neck.

“ Do you remember that’s your name or is it because they keep calling you that?” He motioned towards everyone. 

“ I remember” 

“ What’s the last thing you remember?” She knitted her eyebrows together. 

“ I remember pushing my cart and getting paged by my boss, but everything is scattered and I can’t remember faces or names.” 

 Everyone looked at her, and she started crying. Luke put his hand on her shoulder.

“ Listen, let’s not focus on what you can’t remember. Let me examine you, maybe you fell and have a concussion. There might be a reason for your memory loss.”

Once he was done examining her he sat up and cleared his throat. 

“ You look healthy Charolette there’s no concussion. You have bruising on your face and throat.” He looked at the guys standing off to the side. “ The bruising indicates trauma. Do any of you know if something happened?” Eisuke cleared his throat.

“ Let’s talk over here Luke.” Luke got up and walked over to them. “She was attacked and nearly raped, Ota saved her. He brought her here and I put her in my spare room and she woke up and freaked out.” 

“ When did this attack happen?” Luke looked over to Ota 

“ Maybe three hours ago”

“ Do any of you know how long ago her last memory took place?” Eisuke nodded 

“ Two days ago” Luke rubbed his chin 

“ She has trauma-induced amnesia” 

Eisuke looked over at her sniffling and wiping her tears away while she sat on the couch by herself. This was his fault, if he hadn’t made her have sex with him then she wouldn’t have gotten drunk and she wouldn’t have been in that bar in the first place. Because she is who she is and she takes everything so seriously his actions have caused her serious consequences. He might have gotten out of that arranged marriage but now the only woman he ever trusted is broken all because of his selfishness.

“ Will she get her memory back?” He realized she didn’t even remember their night of passion. It might have been about business but some time during the night they had lost themselves in each other.

“ There’s no way to know, sometimes people do sometimes people don’t. I want her to as much as you do, but all we can do is give her time and try to think of ways to get her to remember important things.” Luke looked back at her and back to Eisuke.

“ I don’t suggest she goes back to work, not for a while at least. I also think it’s best she stays here in the penthouse. Probably with Eisuke since he has a spare bedroom.” 

“ Agreed,” Eisuke said as he crossed his arms.

Luke and the other five men walked over to her and Luke sat down next to her.

“ Charlotte, you were attacked and nearly raped. As a result, you’ve lost your memory. You are going to stay here in the penthouse with Eisuke. You will have your own bedroom and have free reign of the penthouse like everyone else, but it’s your safest option. Let me reintroduce you to everyone.” She was scared but knew she had to accept what has been given to her.

“ That is Eisuke the owner of this hotel, and your boss. He’s the one you’ll be staying with. He’s kind of quiet and cold, but it’s a front don’t be afraid of him because he has a soft spot for you. This over here is Baba, he loves women but you are the only woman he treats with respect. This here is Mamo, he’s a lazy ass cop but he cares about you too. This is our resident artist Ota and your best friend. You have been friends ever since you joined us. I’m Luke, I’m the doctor. This is Soryu he's the leader of the dragons and says he hates women but doesn’t hate you. Then there’s Shuichi and Hikaru but they aren’t here. You’ll be safe Charolette I promise.” 

“ I can’t go home?” Luke shook his head.

“ I’m afraid not, it’s not safe for you, it’s safer here with the people that know you.” She looked down.

“ I don’t think I have any clothes why else would I be wearing a man’s shirt?” Eisuke walked over to the chair next to her.

“I’ll make arrangements to get your things. You can make that bedroom your own, decorate it. Do whatever you like it’s yours. You also have your own bathroom. I won’t bother you.” She looked towards the bedroom that now held her life. 

“ We’ll help you remember Koro!” She looked over at Ota 

“ Why do you keep calling me that?” Baba and Ota chuckled 

“ Oh Princess that’s his pet name for you, get used to it.” 

She got up and pulled down the shirt, but not before Eisuke noticed bruises he left on her thigh. He was hoping nobody else noticed, of course, she was a grown woman she has had sex before Eisuke. They would probably think she had some random roll in the hay. He would probably be the last person they’d imagine sexing up their princess. 

“ I’m exhausted I’m going to go to sleep.” She walked off before they had a chance to say anything.

“ Soryu, we’ve got to find that motherfucker!” Soryu looked over to Mamoru 

“ I agree, he stole Charolette’s memories of us. I’ll get the dragons on it right away.” 

After a long night of discussing Charolette’s condition and how to take care of her assailant and the auctions, Eisuke was drained. All he wanted to do was go to bed, but with Charolette asleep in the other room, he couldn’t bring himself to go to his room.

He was worried about her, worried that she would freak out again, worried that she would wake up scared. This wasn’t like him, Eisuke didn’t worry about others, but when it came to Charolette it was different. She was what brought the sunshine into the group. He couldn’t help himself and snuck in the room and shut the door quietly. He sat in a chair in the corner of the room, he unbuttoned two buttons of his shirt and listened to her heavy breathing which eventually lulled him to sleep.

Previous chapter Chapter One

[voltagefangirl19]

Too Late (kbtbb fic)

This is the end of the spam, also a new chapter after almost an entire year of not posting anything. again I want to thank all my followers for staying with me <3 enjoy!

Summary: In an AU where MC (Sakurai Yuuki) helps all bidders but doesn’t start an immediate relationship with neither, she gets kidnapped by a very resourceful and strong Mafia. Are the bidders able to save her on time?   Genre: angst Masterpost

<-- Previous   Chapter 5    Next -->

“Spit it out! What did you find” Soryu sees Eisuke become paler as he hangs down the quick call he made to Hishikura to let him know about the situation “Eisuke what is it?” Soryu asks and the king pushes a button on his cell to put it on speaker “Say that again Hikaru” “Her phone signal appears to be in a dumpster five blocks south from the hotel, no phone records or missing calls, there are no messages, apparently all her data has been erased and the only thing I could track was the hidden chip I installed, but not the phone itself, so it’s possible that it was destroyed, this is what I can get now, I’ll keep looking for her” “God dammit!“ Eisuke has to resist the impulse of throwing his phone to the wall  as soon as the hacker hung up The king’s device rings again a second later, it’s Mamoru “Eisuke, I might have a clue, there’s a recently new employee that just a while ago presented his resignation, according to the footage he talked to Sakurai today and a few times before, also I got a visual on the girl who was in the list originally” “Got it, send his information to the dragons so they look for him, to Aihara as well, I want to know as much as how many times a day he breaths, same with the girl and I want you to question her” he orders the cop and hangs up, how could this be happening? Soryu looks troubled, like he wants to say something, he does open his mouth but before a word could be said, the doors are open “Did someone hurt sexy bones?” Luke asks concerned at the same time he enters the lounge “Yes, Luke, I need to see if you recognize this girl” Eisuke puts the recently arrived footage of the auction and sees how the doctor’s face becomes grim “Why does sexy bones is being sold again?” both bidders contain their breaths “Are you sure that’s her?” the mobster asks, his heart clutching in dread “I couldn’t be wrong, nobody besides Yuuki and Eisuke have such a perfect anatomy” he makes a pause, he stares at the screen the moment he sees the girl moved her head right to the cameras, she knew where they were “Her hair is different though” Soryu muttered something under his breath, Eisuke just looks at him with contained rage in his eyes “Thanks, Luke, I need another favor” The doctor nods “Search for her in the black market, look at some of your previous clients and dig a little…. You are free of using any method you prefer” 

A few hours later all the bidders return, Soryu has the chance to update them before Eisuke snaps “Who sold her?!”  “It remained anonymous, the other kid knew nothin’, she just said a tall man in a suit paid her well to attend the auction and to present herself to us as a product” Mamoru answers “She doesn’t have any records or backgrounds, probably just a hooker, I let Samejima take care of her” Soryu says reading the text his subordinate sent him “What about the buyer?”   “Paid in cash and left according to Maddy, and the dragons agreed that by the time we stopped the auction he was already gone, most likely the seller as well, the papers show he took the money, sign the confidentiality agreement with a fake name and vanished” Ota adds, he can feel a headache after spending so much time checking the records  “This is not how things at the auction should go, who was looking this?! How could we miss something like this?” the king is furious and everyone can notice it, it’s the first time in a while that they see Eisuke like this   “I-I don’t know, boss, we might have grown used to the regulars, and since there hadn’t been any troubles lately…” “That’s no excuse! Yuuki has helped us time after time and she is now in danger because of our negligence! She is one of us now and we have lost her!”  “We have to find her, we have to find her quick” Ota whispers “The dragons found the guy that talked to Sakurai, they are bringing him to the quarters, I’m going to do the interrogatory myself” Soryu has his mobster mindset on “You better get something good out of him” Mamoru chimes in “As soon as you have his information I’m going to run his credentials, see if he got any record” “Do we have any other lead?” everyone else shakes their heads, they couldn’t detain the IVC guests for long and anyone who could have been the guilty was already gone by now, even with Hikaru (and Baba helping him) hacking on all of them at record-breaking speed, to search into all of them had been an impossible task from the beginning “That man is currently our only clue, without him… we are pretty much at a dead end” The King’s words lay heavy on everyone, dread and despair floating all over them. They were about to lose her   

Yuuki’s POV

“Hey, hey!” I can hear someone calling out to me, it’s a soft voice, I know I need to wake up, but I don’t want to, I don’t want to wake up to a nightmare again “Hey, you are alright, you can open your eyes now, nothing is going to happen to you” the voice sounds kind and reassuring, so I indulge it’s desire. The first thing I see is a woman’s face, she seems young but the tiredness in her features makes her look mature “There you go, that wasn’t that hard right?” she says that but actually, everything is blurry, only her face looks clear, I can feel my head spinning, everything is shining, or is it just my imagination?, I think I try to sit but I can’t feel anything that’s not dizziness “Whoa, don’t try to move, you were highly drugged, just stay still and take deep breaths, it should pass soon” I close my eyes again, everything is so bright, my head hurts too much, I do as I am told and breath, but is not enough and I can feel nausea and the indistinct sensation of something come from my stomach “Here!” a bucket appear in my sight and I feel grateful, I only throw up acid. soon I hear another voice, a more energetic one “Oh, the newbie woke up, welcome back, you were out for quite a bit” I put the bucket down. The world stops spinning for a moment “Come on Stella, let her rest a little”  “I haven’t done anything yet, I was just trying to emphasize how lucky she is for having the doctor for her first time that’s all” the cheerful voice turns smug all of the sudden. I snap at that comment and jolt while looking at her, not caring about the dizzy sensation in the back of my head “Lucky? You have no idea what I suffered back there, How dare you say I was LUCKY?!” I can feel the corner of my eyes stinging, getting wet with new tears at the memories that come oh so clear now, the other woman steps in front of me, partially ready to catch me if I stumble, but I’m only looking at her, a red-hair with green eyes, she is beautiful, one part of my drugged mind asks ‘What is doing such a pretty girl like that in here?’ another part of my mind asks ‘Where is here?’  “You are the one who has no idea what the hell you’re talking about” her eyes turns fierce, I don’t think I can win her in the state I’m in, barely keeping myself from falling, but I’m not backing down  “Now now, everyone let’s get along” The other brunette woman says looking between the both of us “That was not a nice thing to say, Stella, you know how scary is the first time” she says to the red-haired woman, she relaxes, but I remain tense  “It’s the truth, I don’t care if she is blind enough to not see it right now, but she’ll know in a few weeks… or days” the woman, Stella, shrugs and turns around to look another body… another girl curled up in the furthest corner  “Ah… sorry about that, she is the one who has been here the most, at least in this cell” the girl says in a somewhat soothing tone but with a sad smile “I’m Mina, nice to meet you” “I’m Sakurai Yuuki” the girl, ‘Mina’ frowns  “They told us your new name is Kissa” … What? “What you mean ‘your new name’?”  “Do you even know the situation you are in, Yuuki?” Stella butts in, her voice all smug again, fine, two can play this game “You wouldn’t care to enlight me now, would you?” I say with all the attitude I can muster, if they think they can break me that easily then they have another thing coming, the red hair ignore my sarcasm and comes closer, I backtrack a little but the bed I woke up in is in the way; she looks at me and her green and beautiful eyes send me a glare that I can only interpret as judging  “You… are in hell” she deadpans  “Care to be more specific?”   “To keep it simple to your poor and innocent mind… welcome to a brothel” my hands actually turns into fist hearing that “The most expensive and exquisite this side of the coast at that” I frown, she smirks “So what? Your parents own money? You were involved with the mob? Did the local gangster wanted to have his way with you and you didn’t leave him? Well you should’ve, you just entered hell, and you know what? What you just live? That was lucky, you got away with a few bruises only, and that means that you won’t be available until those fade, so that’s being lucky” she gets close enough to me so I can actually focus on her face and see little scars here and there, her expression is a solid ice, cold and calculated “You know the basics now, so stop crying and whimpering about it, better prepared yourself for what’s next” she harshly speaks, almost spitting the words and turns around to a bed on the other side of the room. I really don’t understand what’s going on here, my mind keeps spinning and I feel tired  “What does she mean?” I quietly ask, the other girl, Mina sits on the bed I woke up, and lightly pulls my arm so I do the same “You know what a brothel is, right? Men… sometimes even women, come here and… do what they want to us, there are a lot of girls around, I heard there were once boys too, we all have different stories, you were brought here I think… it was the night before? You were unconscious, Diva told us you are the new one, your name is Kissa and you are the Doctor’s new favorite” she looks at me intently “How do you get here? Did you own money? Because if you do you might be freed when your debt is paid” it’s a lot to process, my mind keeps swimming trying to grasp the little facts, I shouldn’t be here, is all the conclusion I can get to “I… don’t... I don’t have any debt” I finally muster, feeling as my head becomes foggy, even the debt I had with the bidders is already paid now “Then…” I don’t know what she says next because I have the feeling everything is growing dark “For now rest, the trip down from the drugs is going to be a rough one” I hear her whispering, a pair of hands help me to lay down and then the darkness comes 

Tag: @myotomespace

[empty-aesthetic-princess]

Over and Over Again (Soryu Fanfiction/Request)

rose-of-yonezawa said to empty-aesthetic-princess: Hello! I stumbled upon your blog and loved your piece on Mamo 😂 May I please request a prompt for Soryu with Numbers 12 and 88

Anonymous said to empty-aesthetic-princess: Hi I love your writing!! Can you do a fluff head cannon for Soryu. Whatever you want just need some happiness and Soryu is my favorite. Thanks :)

I’m gonna put these two together and hope it turns out okay! Not gonna lie, there’s some angst in the middle but it’s fluffy at the end, I swear! (:

Prompt selections taken from here:

12: "I'm pregnant." 88: "After everything...I'd still choose you."

I tapped my spatula on the side of the frying pan anxiously as I waited for Soryu's omelette to finish cooking. I had thought long and hard for three days about how to tell him I was expecting our first child but every time I planned to do it, something got in the way. Soryu and I had discussed having a family before we got married and I knew he'd be ecstatic about it. I just wanted to tell him in the perfect way and in the perfect moment but as the days quickly passed by, I knew the only thing that mattered was that I stop worrying about everything else and just tell him. 

I plated Soryu's omelette and set it down in front of him. I watched him enjoy his breakfast in silence for a moment as I took a deep breath to steady my nerves. 

"Soryu, I have something to tell you."

My husband raised his head and stared at me with intense gray eyes, his expression becoming more and more concerned with each second. 

"What's wrong?", he asked and I smiled slightly. 

"Why do you always assume something's wrong?", I asked gently and he raised an eyebrow at me curiously. 

"Force of habit", he muttered, preparing to take another big bite of his omelette.

"I'm pregnant", I said quickly and time seemed to stop. Soryu's forkfull of fluffy eggs hung in mid-air as his eyes searched my face, perhaps to see if I was kidding or not. 

You...you're pregnant?", he asked in disbelief and I slowly nodded my head. In a flash, Soryu's fork clanged against the ceramic dish and his lips were crushed against mine. I giggled against the kiss, caught off-guard by his enthusiastic reaction. I wrapped my arms around his neck and twined my fingers in his un-gelled hair. 

"Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?", he asked once we pulled away from each other.

"Soryu, it's way too early for that! I just found out about it", I said, laughing. I could see his eyes calculating things way too far into the future and I knew he was starting to worry about anything and everything. I took his face in my hands, glancing at the beautiful wedding ring he placed on my finger two years ago. 

"We'll take everything one day at a time, okay?" My words brought a slight blush to his cheeks and he smiled softly at me. 

"You've made me the happiest man in the world, _____"

Soryu pressed his lips to mine again, his hands travelling down to my stomach to rest them there protectively. 

-----

"I'm not going to ask you again, bitch! You're gonna give me the information I want or you and that bastard inside you are going to die in this room!", the man screams at me as he slaps me across the face again, harder this time. Tears are welling in my eyes but I refuse to give into him, sitting up as straight as I can in the chair I'm handcuffed to. Thankfully, he hasn't aimed his frustration at my swollen belly yet. I don't think he has the heart to hurt my baby. Yet, at least. I silently send my thoughts to my precious little man. Don't worry, sweetheart. Your Daddy will be here soon. He won't let anything happen to you. 

Another hand slap rains down on my face and a sharp yelp escapes my lips. The man grins down in sadistic satisfaction as he finally breaks the silent treatment I was giving him. I try to remain focused on happier things: my wedding day, that morning nine months ago when I told Soryu I was carrying our child, but those memories are pushed further and further away with every loud, resounding slap that echoes in the darkened room. 

The man raises his hand to hit me again and I close my eyes to try to brace myself for it, but the sound of the door being kicked down makes them fly open again. 

"Touch my woman again and I'll make you wish you were never born", Soryu's menacing voice comes from the doorway. My shoulders slump in relief and I smile at the irony: the sound of Soryu threatening someone's life is all I need to hear to make me feel safe from harm. 

The Ice Dragons file into the room and tackle my kidnapper to the ground as Soryu makes quick work of my handcuffs to release me. I fall forward into his arms and he pulls me tight to his chest, his heartbeat pounding against my ear. 

"Are you okay, baby?", he murmurs and strokes my hair soothingly.

"Yes, Soryu. We're both okay", I say and pull back to look at him. His eyes darken as he looks at my face, his fingertips grazing over where the man hit me. The skin around my right eye and cheek are tender, and I know there's probably going to be a bruise there. I flinch slightly at the contact and he curses sharply under his breath. 

"I'm so sorry, _____", he whispers to me. I'm about to tell him he has nothing to apologize for, when a strange sensation pulls deep inside my abdomen. The adrenaline I felt earlier was now gone, and it must've have brought on my labor unexpectedly. I look up at Soryu with wide eyes and let out a sharp breath.

"I think my water just broke", I murmur to my husband, who looks down at my stomach with a frantic look on his face. 

"Samejima! Bring the car around!" he yells behind him and he carefully helps me up from the chair. 

-----

Ten hours of labor later, Soryu is holding a beautiful baby boy tightly in his arms as I lovingly look up at them from my hospital bed. Ryusei's tiny fingers are in a fist around Soryu's finger and the sight brings joyful tears to my eyes. He's the spitting image of his handsome father and I can't believe how lucky I am to have both of them in my life. 

"You did so well back there", Soryu says after a moment. He carefully sits down at my bedside the large armchair and meets my exhausted gaze.

"For a moment, I was worried he wasn't ever going to come out", I say with a breathless laugh. 

"I meant before that", he whispers. A sad expression forms on his face as his unfocused eyes remember the ordeal I went through before delivering our child. 

"I'm so sorry, baby. I hate that you're constantly put in danger, but now I put our son in that same position." I gingerly place my hand on his arm and I can see all of his emotions reflected back at me in his eyes: regret, guilt, anguish. My heart lurches in my chest. He shouldn’t be feeling any of those things, especially not now.

"Please don't blame yourself. It's not your fault", I say to him as I reach over to carress my newborn son's tiny face as he dozes in Soryu's arms. 

"We're both safe and happy because of you, Soryu. You saved us, and I know you'll always be there to do that. I love you so much and I've never felt so happy in my entire life. It doesn't matter what I've been through because I'd do it all again just to be with you. After everything...I'd still choose you."

Soryu blushes a little and smiles at me. 

"I'd choose you too, _____. Over and over again.”

He reaches over slowly to meet my lips in a kiss, but Ryusei stirs in his sleep and coos loudly in protest at the sudden movement. 

We both chuckle at our baby boy and Soryu leans into kiss my forehead sweetly.

"I guess that'll have to do for now," he says and sighs, slowly rocking our bundle of joy back and forth in his arms.

[violetpiscesprincess]

Time Together

Summary: Whilst you’re away on a girls only weekend, Eisuke is forced to take care of his 5 year old son.

Genre: Angst 

 “Are you sure you can handle him on your own?” Your voice was filled with worry as you stroked your little boy’s head, holding him against your chest tightly not wanting to let him go. You were gonna miss your baby while you were away with Sakiko and Chisato for a girls weekend. But you had all confidence in Eisuke to step up and take care of little Eito on his own, although your stomach did pang with worry every time you thought of the two of them alone, you just didn’t want Eisuke to expect Eito to be able to do things that 5-year olds can’t do.

“We’ll be fine.” He rolled his eyes, tugging Eito from my grip into his own. “Do you not know who I am? I can take care of a small person just fine!” He furrowed his eyebrows, looking down at Eito’s wide eyes staring up at his father in curiosity before giving him a unsure smile which Eisuke returned with a lopsided smile. You stifled a laugh with your hand and leaned over, giving Eisuke a peck on the cheek before giving Eito an identical one. “Have fun…not too much fun but enough okay?”

“Okay, see you in 2 days! If you need anything call Soryu, Kishi, or…well…anyone, but don’t let Baba or Ota get their mitts on my child!” Eisuke isn’t incapable of looking after Eito, but since his birth he’d been busy with his business still and hasn’t been around his son as much as you have. You had taken on the hard part of parenting, like dealing with a crying baby at 4am, or the teething when he’d cry a lot, or changing dirty nappies. Eisuke had only dealt with those situations a few times, which had led his and Eito’s relationship to not be as close as you and Eito.

“Bye mummy!” Eito gave you a sad smile, not wanting you to leave him for so long. You tried not to pay attention to it, knowing if he asked you to stay then you would, you didn’t like seeing him upset. Grabbing your bags and giving your son a little wave, you made your exit, leaving the two on their own. Eisuke looked down at Eito again and rolled his eyes.

“Pfft like that’s gonna happen. Call someone else…ha.” He mumbled to himself, letting go of Eito as he walked over to the sofa. He set himself down and picked up the still hot mug of coffee you had made for him before you left. Eito followed him, standing in front of the sofa and staring at his father. Eisuke caught on to the child’s staring and raised an eyebrow in question. “What...?”

“I’m bored.” A pout formed on the small boys’ face as he let his eyebrows pull together.

“Okay…” His father mirrored his eyebrows. “Why don’t you go play with…erm…what do you play with?”

“Mummy…” Eito looked down as he answered his dad’s question. Eisuke raised his eyebrows in surprise, opening his mouth to speak but not knowing the words to say, especially when his son started to let out soft sobs.

“Hey don’t cry! Erm…we can…er…” He stuttered, doing a fish impression as he was lost for words. “Go get some toys and we’ll play okay?” Eito’s face shot up quickly, his wet cheeks glistening under the lights of the living room as his face broke out into a smile.

“Okay!” He ran upstairs as fast as his little legs would carry him, returning in less than a minute with an armful full of toy cars and some plushie dinosaurs. “You can have these ones!” He grinned widely, sitting down on the floor and holding out a t-rex and a jeep to his father. Eisuke took them and smiled, sitting down on the floor with Eito.  He felt awkward suddenly, not knowing what to do with he toys. Eito caught on quickly to his father’s hesitance and immediately made up a scenario for the both of them, leading the playing for them both. They played together for about half an hour before Eisukes phone blared out its ringtone. He sprung up off of the floor quickly and answered, leaving the room and leaving Eito on his own.

An hour later and Eisuke was still confined in his office, on the phone to a different person and taking on a big work loaf. Eito sat on the floor and let out a sigh, deciding that now he’s bored and hungry, his impatience which he inherited from his father now blossoming and making the boy frown. He adventured upstairs to his dad office, pushing open the door and hiding half behind it as he set his eyes on Eisuke.

“Daddy…daddy…” He whispered, not wanting to be rude whilst Eisuke spoke on the phone, having been brought up by you to be a polite young man. “Daddy!” He squeaked louder, trying to get his dad’s attention.

“Not now Eito.” Eisuke grunted in reply, going back to typing on his computer as he also spoke on the phone.

“But I’m hung-“

“NOT NOW.” Eisuke snapped, clearly frustrated by the work. Eito flinched in shock, his eyes filling with tears from being shouted at by his father. Eisuke didn’t notice his sons upset as he ran from the room, going back to speaking on the phone. Eito bolted down the stairs, looking around for options of what to do. Finally deciding on one, he ran out of the front door, out into the hallway. Thoughts ran through his head about who he should go to, his mind picking his uncle Baba.

“Uncle Baba!” His little fists banged on Baba’s door, his tears still trailing down his cheeks when the door opened.

“What’s wrong?! Are you hurt?!” Baba’s eyes widened, pulling the small child into his room. “Where’s your parents?”

“M-mummy is away an-and daddy sh-shouted at me…” Eito’s bottom lip quivered, he sucked in a breath and let his eyebrows harden into a frown. “Daddy is mean!” He snapped, stomping his foot. “I want mummy to come home!” The tears had stopped falling, his upset replaced by anger, an emotion he doesn’t get to feel often.

“Woah woah woah calm down buddy.” Baba rubbed Eito’s back trying to calm the steaming boy down. “Did you leave without telling your dad where you went?”

Eito nodded, pouting and looking down at his feet. “I don’t want to go back home yet. I’m hungry.”

Two hours later, Eisuke came down from his office, letting out a sigh of relief at the business deal he just managed to make. He completely forgot about Eito being down here on his own and widened his eyes when he saw the toys discarded on the floor. “Shit…Eito!!” He called out, rushing around the entire place to try and find his son, before realisation dawned on him that Eito was no longer in the penthouse suite. “Oh god…Y/N is gonna kill me.” He snatched his phone out of his pocket, ready to phone all the bidders as he ran from the penthouse. “EITO!!!” His phone started to buzz in his hand, the ringtone going off in tandem.

“Y/N baby hey what’s up? Are you having fun?” He spoke quickly as he answered the phone, not wanting you to hear the worry and panic in his voice. The longer he could keep you from knowing that he has no idea where your child is, the better.

“Eisuke Ichinomiya.” Your voice was hard, signifying to him hat you already knew about this situation. “I told you not to let Baba get his mitts on my child, and where is Eito currently?! He’s with Baba.” You frowned, tapping your foot against the floor of your hotel suite, waiting for your husbands reply. You had received a phone call from Eito who had wanted to hear your voice and to make sure you were okay. Your heart melted hearing your son worry about you, especially when he had no reason to. Until Eito dropped the bomb that he was currently sitting on Baba’s sofa, eating popcorn and watching cartoons. It’s then that it hit you that Eito had phoned from Baba’s phone and you hadn’t noticed before, too overwhelmed from hearing your baby’s voice.

“Baba has him?” Eisuke replied, immediately knowing he said the wrong thing when he heard a gasp from the other end of the receiver.  

“You didn’t know where your own son was?! I’ve been gone three and a half hours and you’ve already lost him!!!” Eisuke was left for words at your harsh tone, not knowing the right words to put this situation right for himself. “Go and get our son and take care of him properly. So far Baba is doing a better job and he isn’t even his father! And he was on the list of people who weren’t allowed to look after him!” You spoke all in one breath, taking a deep mouthful, ready to go off again. “Maybe it should be the other way around. Baba can have him, and you can’t.” Those final words took a blow to Eisuke, his eyebrows pulling tight in a scowl.

“I’m not the one who went swanning off for the weekend and left him alone.” He retorted, that being his only viable come back since he knew he was fighting a losing battle. He knew he should have kept a better watch on his son and that this was his fault. His words made your blood boil, you didn’t want to argue with him, but that was the final straw.

“Oh but you are the one who hasn’t been in your sons life as much as people who aren’t even related to him have been. Soryu was with me more than you for the first year of that boys’ life. I never told you before because I knew it would hurt you, but he used to think Soryu was his dad. I’m only telling you now, so you can realise how strained your relationship with your own son is.” You took a deep breath, tearing brimming in your eyes at the memories of raising your baby with little help from Eisuke. “You were too interested in making your sure your business grew to bother about your flesh and blood growing. I never got the breaks from parenting like you did, so I’m sorry for having two days off.” Your voice was laced heavily with sarcasm as your spoke your final piece. Eisukes’ heart was aching, hearing the pain in your voice and letting your harsh words sink in to become reality to him.

“I didn’t mean that baby I’m sorry.” His voice came out soft and defeated, he shook his head in disappointment at his own actions. “I promise you from now on I’ll be a bigger part of his life, I didn’t realise that I was being do distant.” He bit his bottom lip, walking to Baba’s suite. “I’m gonna try harder. I love you so much. I’m sorry this happened and disturbed your time away.”

You let out a sigh, wiping your eyes and wiping the residue of tears away on your skirt. “Okay, I believe you. I love you too.” You hung up without waiting for a reply, letting Eisuke deal with the consequences.

You can find the rest of my works here 

[d-om]

MC & Bidders vs Cancer

The angst!! My heart is sh00k.

Baba:

“What’s this?” Baba took of his suit jacket as he was handed a letter with several droplets of water. She didn’t speak. She only nudged her head for him to read the letter. It must be some kind of love letter. Why else would she be so quiet? He smiled at his own thoughts as he tore open the seal.

“Ahem.” He started, slapping the paper loudly in front of him.

“Dear Baba,

We have been together for so many years yet I still can’t find the words to tell you. I have canc-....” Baba sentence trailed off as his eyes looked to her, covered in nothing but regret.

“Baba..I’m so sor-“ The sentence never came. Baba’s arms that flung tightly around her silenced any words and only triggered tears.

“No..” He softly murmured, patting her head. “I’m sorry.”

How could he be so stupid? Baba gnawed at his lip, trying to coax the fear inside of him. But, he knew that the one truly struggling was the beautiful love of his life in front of him. No matter what, he would be there, supporting, tending, and loving her as she..No..They went through this abyss together.

Ota:

The door slammed behind them, echoing loudly in the open space.

“I don’t understand why you cant tell me!” Ota was faced with a predicament that frustrated him. He fully knew she was struggling, struggling with something inside but didn’t want to burden him with her worries. Then what the hell was him being a husband? As they’re vows came out, so did a promise to rely on each other.

“Tell me!”

“I cant!” Everything she had pent up now started to slowly flow out of her. “I just can’t!”

“Why?!” His scenarios he accumulated of what she could of done now started to falter to the darkest side.

“Fine!” She pulled out of his embrace. “I have cancer, Ota! CANCER!” That was the end to the screaming. Nothing followed her words other than silence and the sounds of the city. Cancer? Her? No.. He felt his world he had held up so well now crash in front of him.

“C-Cancer?” Ota repeated her words, almost trying to convince himself that what she said was untrue. No way, not her, not now.

“...I’m sorry.” Her words only tightened his heart even more.

“I swear..” He briskly walked his way to her, cradling her cheek with his hand. “I’ll be here with you. Always.”

Mamoru:

Vigorous coughing echoed from the bathroom to his ears. Mamoru felt along the bed to see if she was laying softly in his arms. Instead, he was met with the cold pillows that hadn’t been touched in hours. Shit. Somethings..off. He hurriedly glanced at the clock. 4:00 am. Somethings definitely off.

“Babe?!” Mamoru rushed out of the room, his body weak from the sudden change in motion and vision. But, as he opened the door to the bathroom, all he could see was her and blood splattered everywhere.

“M-Mamoru..?” Her voice quivered as her eyes locked with his. The sight..Oh my god the sight was something almost of a murder.

“What happened..” He grabbed the nearest towel and started to wipe the blood off of her face. Concern, curiosity, and anger all started to linger strongly inside of him.

“Mamoru.” The hands that were now stained with blood rose up to Mamoru’s cheeks. “Please don’t get mad..”

How could he get mad? And at HER? If anything, he was mad at himself. He nodded gripping her frail hand tighter.

“I have canc-“ That’s all he needed to hear before he threw the towel away and cradled her in his arms. Damnit. Damnit! Why her? Please, make this a dream. For the first time, tears streamed down his face as he softly rocked back and forth with her in his arms.

Soryu:

Crumbled sheets of paper stood in Soryu’s hands. Fear, pure fear started swelling in veins as he made his way to her room.

“What is this?!” The door swung open with a distinct crack and a slight falter of Soryu’s voice. “Cancer?”

He threw the sheet onto the ground. He couldn’t, he couldn’t lose someone else important to him. The word cancer itself sparked a chill that overtook his body.

“Soryu..Please I can explain-“

“Explain?!” His gelled back hair now began to wilt due to his stress. “Explain what? You have cancer? I- I can’t..” Waves and waves of emotion started to drown Soryu’s thoughts. This was all just a joke right? She would laugh and say it was all a joke?

“Soryu..Y-You’re crying.” She slowly rose from the bed and shifted her way towards him. For the first time, she saw an expression she thought she would never see. Soryu crying. Even the thought of him crying was something she put into the category of a distant nightmare.

“Please..Please don’t leave me!” Cries and wails of pain slipped out of his mouth. Almost like a reflection that mimicked every one of Soryu’s moves, tears started to accumulate in her eyes.

“I won’t!” Her arms embraced him tightly. “I won’t leave you! We’ll get through this..”

Like a mother and child, she coaxed him, reassuring everything was going to be alright..

Eisuke:

“You have..cancer?” His hazel eyes stared into hers, almost trying to find a hint of doubt in her eyes. But, all he saw was a quivering fear that resided in her.

“Yes..” The response she gave back was quiet, subtle, contrary to the energetic tone she used to have.

“Well. I’ll help you along the way.” Eisuke’s response was curt. He didn’t want to drag her pain deeper than it already was. To her however, his response was indifferent.

“...That’s it?” Confusion and hurt combined to send a mixture of expressions on her face. What? What did he say?

“Do you not care?”

Those words rung loudly in his head. Do you not care? Not care?

“What the hell are you talking about?” Eisuke’s tone dropped several octaves. He wasn’t angry, but..troubled over her words.

“You seem so..easy going about it.” Her eyes shifted to the ground as she riddled with the hem of her dress.

“Listen.” He practically stomped his way to her and forcefully pinned her against the wall. “Do you think I don’t care?”

His lips found their way to hers as they explored every crevice of her mouth. By now, he knew her weak spots, the spots where small moans would escape her lips.

“I care. I do.” Through breathless kisses he murmured to her. “I’m sorry that I said it like that. But I swear. I swear I care and it hurts me to struggle through this as much as you..so..”

Eisuke’s lips kissed hers one last time.

“Don’t handle this on your own.”

[talk2animals]

Hello there! Can you write an angst fic for soryu and mc getting into an accident. The accident almost killed mc but survived. While soryu was more lucky having small injuries. I'm really am an angst freak

Why oh why must you all do this to me! *Sigh* At least she survives, if you said either of them died I would have said no… to close though lol. So here yo go an angsty for Soryu, the poor baby mobster doesn’t deserve this. This is obviously from Soryu’s POV.

It was during a slow time for the Ice dragons so I picked up _____ for a surprise lunch for her lunch break. We were just heading back and she is talking and smiling while I nod and smile along. It was a sort of busy time a bit of traffic but nothing to bad. We were just going through an intersection on a green and before I notice I glance over to my fiancé and see a car barreling through the red light headed straight for us. Before I could try to protect her our car got it and sent screeching across the intersection, luckily not hitting any other cars.

I must have blacked out because when I come to I am sore and scratched but I hurriedly look over to her. Only to see her bloody her head loose and against her shoulder her arm looking broken and head most likely hit badly. I quickly get out of the car and run over to her side of the car ignoring my pain and try to wrench open the destroyed car door. “______ ______, wake up!” She doesn’t budge and I get shoved away just noticing the paramedics, cops, and fire fighters for the first time. “You got to help her, she is hurt!” My usual composure no where to be seen. 

I feel a hand on my arm and I glare looking over seeing Mamarou “Chill Oh, they are getting her,” I growl “You help then!” He shakes his head and pushes me or at least tries to take me to the paramedics. “Relax, get seen to, she’ll be out shortly. Usually would take your statement but it’s to much of a pain. Got enough witnesses anyways. Don’t need you around to long or you might be seen as threatening the witnesses,” I shake him off “Not going anywhere until ______ is out safe,” He sighs and scratches behind his neck as she is finally put into a stretcher to an ambulance and I quickly follow after her. “Get seen to too” I barely hear the slacker detective as I get in and the doors close behind us.

What seems like hours later which I knew was only probably minutes we finally arrive at the hospital me holding her hand all the while. Not letting anyone touch me to worried about my pale fiancé then to worry about me. I get pushed aside as she is taken to surgery apparently being worse off then I thought. I pace the waiting room calling all the dragons to get the information on what happened not realizing how bad I looked with my and her blood on me far from calm. I didn’t even realize that the others were there sans Mamarou and Luke for obvious reasons. I feel a hand on my arm and glare looking over seeing Eisuke and the others. I hang up the phone and growl “What do you want? I don’t have anytime for your nonsense,” I go to reach for my gun but find where it usually is empty and groan thinking must be somewhere in the car.

“We heard about the princess” Baba just says Ota nodding besides him, “How is Koro?” I just through up my hands “How should I know but from what I can tell bad,” Eisuke nods and lead me to a seat to sit down while I am to distraught to do the usual threatening to weak to do much but worry. “That’s what Luke is busy helping with,” Shuichi nods “Usually have to do all sort of paperwork but eisuke bribed him in.” The detective walks in and shakes his head “Didn’t I say to get yourself checked too?” I sigh “Don’t care waiting to here about _____”

He shrugs and discreetly hands me my gun. “Had to sneak it away, be careful next time,” he says and I just weakly take it putting it away. “So what happened?” He shakes his head “Can’t say,” I get up and grab his tie yanking it up “Can’t say or won’t say?” I growl angrily wanting to know what happened. He easily pushes my hand away and doesn’t even fix his tie. “Well all I can say is if I did say, the kid would be angry if you did something to land you in jail. Not going to have that sobbing kid on my conscience,” I groan and sit back down knowing he was right.

After an hour or two, what felt actually more like years, Luke finally comes out. “Sexy bones has broken arm, fractured leg all on the one side plus concussion and internal bleeding,” I pale glad I was sitting down or else could have sworn I would have fallen. “But she is out of the woods right?” Eisuke see me pale and asks for me, Luke just nods “She’ll be in a coma for awhile though, don’t know for how long.” I just nod and meanwhile baba takes my arms and push me towards Luke “Good, now check up on him or else something might happen to him. He just quickly looks me over and shrugs “Scratches and bruises, maybe very minor concussion, nothing serious” After awhile I just zone everything out not bother listening to them any longer to worried about my love.

-2 weeks later-

I am at her bedside yet again sitting and reading her another one of my favorite detective books to her. The room filled with flowers and get well soon cards from all the bidders and from many of the dragons. I myself have been coming over as soon as I had time, the first few days never left her side. I finally got pushed out to take care of myself and do quick things for the dragons. Though without her around nothing seemed very important. I guess I let myself go bit, barely eating and not as put together as usual. All I can do is laugh at myself for letting it effect me so badly. Thinking that I would have never thought anyone would be so important to me as her before I met her. 

I wanted to kill the man that made this happen to her. Apparently it was a drunk driver, someone who shouldn’t have been driving in the first place. When I learned of it the bidders could barely contain me. But the thought of her being sad I killed someone because of her and being sent to jail was the only thing that stopped me. Though apparently didn’t have to do anything because once the driver sobered up and heard he put a Mobster’s Boss fiancé into a coma, he was apparently quick to accept a deal to be put in jail. Apparently wasn’t the first time he had a drunk driving accident happen, though first time put someone in a coma.

I sigh and close the book and take her hand. “Please _____ wake up, I can barely eat without thinking of your omelets,” I put her hand to my forehead and close my eyes. I just sit there quietly keeping her hand to my forehead. I don’t know how long I stayed like that but I started to feel her fingers move and I look up quickly to her face. Her eyes slowly flutter open and look over smiling weakly “You look like hell,” she gently lifts her. hand and caresses my cheek. It’s all I could do from wrapping her up in a big hug but hold myself back not wanting to hurt her but I kiss her cheek. “You saying that to me while you are in the hospital?” She laughs weekly but the light in her eyes slowly return.

“So guessing an accident or something?” She asks and tries to sit up but I lay her back down gently. “Yes a drunk driver, you were badly hurt,” she shrugs and runs a hand through my hair “What about you?” I smile “I’m fine, you always worry about me, how about worrying about you?” She laughs softly and I finally smile and she quickly brushes away the tears I must have shed. “I’m awake, sore but awake. I’m sorry I must have worried you,” I just nod and hold her hand to my cheek “Just never worry me like that again,” She just laughs and I finally relax knowing she will be ok.

Gah, this was longer then I thought it would turn out. I swear I almost started crying myself lol. I hope this is what you wanted! 

[voltagesmutter]

Eisuke - “Sorry Not Sorry’ [Smut/Angst/Fluff]

NSFW, Smut, Angst and Fluff

Hugely inspired by the song ‘Sorry Not Sorry’ 

You finally snap after Eisuke over-rides his throughs causing him to become verbally abusive to you. Bases a year after the events and how you cope after becoming a successful artist but preform at ‘Tres Spades’ on the anniversary of your break up.

Language warning, verbal abuse from Eisuke and slight sexual harassment warnings

You took a deep breath and stepped out the limo you had arrived in, your stomach was tied in knots. Why, why, why, had you agreed to come to this event? Why, dear god, why was it was held here out of every venue in the whole damn city. You knew he’d be here, it was his hotel for crying out loud. You had swore to yourself you would never step foot inside ‘Tres Spades’ ever again after he broke your heart. It had been a year since you walked out of Eisuke, his growing accusations of you cheating on him growing too much for you to bear. He was possessive and couldn’t stand any other man to look at you, including those who resided in the penthouse. You knew he loved you and that made it even harder to leave…

“Eisuke he is your best friend! You really think I would screw him or any other guy, please stop being so stupid!”

“They give you that look, the look only I should you!”

“Then go and yell at them, not me! I haven’t done anything to deserve this!”

“You flirt back with them! You enjoy them all feeding out of the palm of your hand,” “Christ Eisuke, I can’t go over this argument again, the last time I love you only you,”

“Pft, I find that hard to believe when you’ve probably fucked them all and laughed about it behind my back,”.

With those being the last words you would hear him say directly to you, you ran off to your shared bedroom and locked the door before bursting into tears. You wouldn’t let him see you cry. You shoved everything you owned into a suitcase, anything that he had brought you or given you stayed, you wanted nothing that reminded you of him in your life. You waited until you heard the doors to his office slam shut and with one final look around you left his bedroom. Just as you were about to leave the penthouse Soryu had come out to see what the commotion was about.

“Bella where are you going?”

“I’m leaving, I can’t take this anymore Soryu,” You began to sob and he, rather awkwardly, comforted you, just as Eisuke came out of his office.

“Your fucking kidding me,”

“Eisuke, calm down this isn’t what it looks like,”

“Fuck it, do what you want, screw her like you and everyone else already probably has,” Eisuke held his hands up and walked away down the corridor. Unable to take anymore your hand gripped at the engagement ring on your finger and threw it across the room. 

“Goodbye Soryu, you were always the kindest to me,” Taking one last look at the penthouse where you were once so happy before leaving, never to return. You broke down in the elevator, wondering how everything had gone so wrong.

‘Boss! God dammit Eisuke! What are you playing at, why are you being like that to her!” Soryu screamed after him, grabbing him roughly by his collar.

“Oh why are you so upset, your little pet ran away, she’ll be back,” He smirked and Soryu raised his first.

“The fuck is your problem!”.

“I know she’s been sleeping with you and the others, I wanted to see how much I could break her before admitting it,”.

“She’s not slept with any of us, you fucking idiot! You're jealous over nothing and you’ve just let the one thing that made you happy walk away!”.

“Well if she hasn’t why I have seen the messages between you all and her! And why did Kenzaki report all the secret meetings between you all and that Erika girl stating information to me!”

“Christ you're an idiot, a real idiot! If you ever paid attention to her you would know that Erika hates her and makes her life misery on purpose! She’ll say anything to you to get you to leave her, and the messages? She wanted help from all us to be like a ‘woman of your standard’ for the wedding and future events because she didn’t feel good enough for you, when all in all you were never good enough for her! She wanted to change and improve herself to make you happy and you became so overzealous for nothing you pushed the one woman away who truly loved you, not your money, or your status, you! So I hope you're happy, boss,” Soryu practically spits the words out of his mouth to him. 

Eisuke’s heart stopped and he looked at Soryu who was walking away. 

“Soryu, I need your help to get her back, what the fuck have I done?”.

“I think it’s too late, you treated her like shit these past few weeks and broke her heart,” Soryu snapped, he turned back around and threw the ring she had removed moments ago to him, indicating to Eisuke the extent of his damage.

Deep breaths Bella, just keep calm, you probably won’t even see him, you kept repeating in your head. Don’t let him ruin this for you, like he ruined your relationship. The day after the events with him you decided it was time to focus on yourself, no men to distract you, only you. You took more chances and risks, saying yes to new things but the main highlight was your singing. You began online singing covers of songs and it was a instant hit, the previous year had been a whirlwind, kick starting you into the music industry and tonight you was here to perform a song for the ‘70th Annual Music Inspiration Awards’ a huge moment for you. You had worked tirelessly on your music and yourself, you was completely different to the girl who had let Eisuke break your heart, if it happened now you wouldn’t be bleak and comply to his words, no you would stand up to him and challenge him. Fighting for yourself. But none of that was relevant, you didn’t care no more for him, or thats what your head was saying at least, your heart on the other hand was racing at the prospect of seeing him tonight. 

You attended the event alone, it was still to sudden for you to find that special someone. Decked out in stilettos that wrapped around your ankles with a skin tight crimson dress that hugged your figure with a plunging, but also respectable, neckline. You had grown your hair long since you was last here and it had a wet dewy look to it. You looked like a entirely different person to when you was last here. 

“Miss Bella! Miss Bella, over here! Singing weekly, how does it feel to be the youngest person to perform at this event?”

“Music updates, how does it feel to be performing tonight?”

You was flooded with questions and interviewers before you stepped inside, guided by your manager. 

“Thank you Rikk, it was getting a bit overwhelming out there,” You smiled.

“No problems, it's why I’m here to protect you! Now I must say it one final time, you look stunning,” Rikk taking your hand and squeezing it, he was an incredibly attractive man however his personality rang like Baba’s, a true womaniser and you was smart enough not to be lured into his traps.

“So the plan?” You ask.

“Ah yes, okay so, interviews done, we should probably go and greet Mr.Ichinomiya and thank him for the event and then theres,” He started but as soon as you heard Eisukes name you zoned out and your heart began to race.

“No!” You cried.

“Sorry, I mean no, I’m merely here to do one song, I don’t think we should waste Mr.Ichinomiya’s time, you said there was a bar?” You quickly say before scuttling off, you had never told anyone in your business about Eisuke, you didn’t want to become a piece in the magazines about being his heart broken partner. In all honesty, you hadn’t heard a word from him since that day which broke your heart the most, he was meant to love you and want to marry you yet he never came after you, showing you truly how little he cared…

At the bar you could sense someone looking at you and gulped quietly before a familiar scent surrounded you.

“Hello Bella,” The voice rang crisp as day and you turned around.

“Soryu!” You smiled and pulled him in for a hug.

“Still as awkward around women as ever I see,” You giggled. 

“What are you doing here? You look, you look incredible,”.

“Thank you, I’m actually one of the performers tonight, kinda special act you know, not to be released to the public aha,”.

“But you! How are you, how is everyone?” You heart clenched at everyone because you really only meant Eisuke. 

“Yeah their good, Baba and Ota still up to no good, Mamoru nothing as always and Eisuke… well, he lost it after you and he hasn’t ever really recovered, he turned back into his cold old self and never snapped out of it,” He responds with a weak smile and you gave him one back, your heart almost re-breaking like it did the year before.

“He never deserved you, you know,” He softly whispered. 

“I don’t think I ever deserved him, he broke my heart but it helped me grow, I mean look at me now,” You managed with a smile but Soryu saw straight through it.

“I can’t take back that day, but after he left I had to explain everything to him, that Erika woman and Kenzaki had been spreading lies to him and he was already so paranoid about these secret meetings we’d been having it sent him over the edge, I don’t think he’ll ever get over how he treated you,” His words made your eyes tear up and your heart ever so lightly raced. You wanted to see him and just as you was about to ask, Rikk appeared and put his arm around your waist, pulling you away.

“Come on, it’s showtime, just remember your brilliant, your my star,” He says with excitement and kisses your wrist, something you had repeatedly told him not to do. You stood in the side wings of the stage as the lights went down, you was the first one to perform tonight, you started the show. And then, the music started, the song you wrote after your breakup and wanting to get slightly revenge against the man who broke you started to play.

“Now, I'm out here lookin' like revenge

Feelin' like a ten, the best I've ever been

And, yeah, I know how bad it must hurt to see me like this

But it gets worse (Wait a minute)” 

You stepped out onto the stage to a wild applause. 

Now, you're out here lookin' like regret, ain't too proud to beg

Second chance, you'll never get

And, yeah, I know how bad it must hurt to see me like this

But it gets worse (Wait a minute)

Your face lit up at the applause and you carried on, swinging your hips to the song like you had practiced. 

Now, payback is a bad bitch

And baby, I'm the baddest

Then you saw him, his back was turned to you but you knew just from his stance it was Eisuke.

You fuckin' with a savage

Can't have this, can't have this (Ah)

And it'd be nice of me to take it easy on ya, but nah

He turned as the applause went wild, your head ducking and flipping your hair, but his eyes met your and his face stood in shock. 

Baby, I'm sorry (I'm not sorry)

Baby, I'm sorry (I'm not sorry)

Bein' so bad got me feelin' so good

Showin' you up like I knew that I would

Baby, I'm sorry (I'm not sorry)

Baby, I'm sorry (I'm not sorry)

You carried on with your performance, you couldn’t let him ruin it for you, not this.

Feelin' inspired 'cause the tables have turned

Yeah, I'm on fire and I know that it burns

Your eyes purposefully meet his at this point. You slayed through your performance just like you had practised, feeling on fire from the cheers and whistled you received. You even perfected the chair choreography, something you had been nervous to do with the size of your heels but nevertheless you did it. As it finishes, you're met with a standing observation and thank them for, wishing all the nominees the best of luck before leaving the stage.

“Doll, I told you would be great! You nailed it!” Rikk ecstatically yelled, pulling you into a tight hug with his hands firmly on your waist.

“Thank you, I’m feeling hot so I’m gonna go outside,” You say, trying to wriggle out his grip but he guides you, his hands placed firmly on you still. You went out to a secluded area, only for the event but due to it just starting everyone was inside.

“You know, you have the voice and looks of a angel, but I bet your really a devil, a little minx,” Rikk whispered into your ear, you could smell the alcohol on him, he must have already been drinking before the event.

“Rikk, you're making me uncomfortable please stop this,” You squirm and try to push him off. 

“Your such a tease, you know that! You make all these sexual gestures towards me but shoot me down, well not anymore!” He angrily yells and grips you tightly.

“Get off me!” You cry, tears forming as you try to push him off you but his grip was too tight. It was all too raw, his words reminded you of Eisukes, tearing a fresh wound into your heart.

“She said get off her, I suggest you do so now or,” You heard from behind you, the sound of a gun cocking and Rikk’s face went white. 

“You won’t get far with her, she’s just a tease,” Rikk hissed releasing you and leaving you. You sighed, wiping away the tears that had formed before turning to see your rescuer, well you should say rescuers. There in front of you were all the bidders, Soryu putting his gun away, Eisuke stood meekly behind them.

“Thank you,” You managed before they surrounded you, hugging and welcoming you back.

“It’s been so long kiddo, look at you all grown up,”.

“My Kiro is no longer a puppy,” Ota still whined as usual.

“We saw you performing, your sensational princess,”. You smile at their comments, not feeling as if you had been away from them for even five minutes, you engaged with all of them, all except Eisuke who hadn’t said a word. 

Finally you take a breath and turn to him. 

“Come to yell at me for being complimented by men, or did you come out here to agree with that Rikk said about me,” You spit at him, it was petty, it was stupid but you wanted him to hurt like he had hurt you. But he didn’t bite, he just stood here in silence.

“We’ll give you some space,” Soryu says and they leave you alone. You both stood there, the cold air hitting against you making you shiver.

“Here,” Is the first thing he says to you and takes off him jacket, handing it to you.

“I don’t- I don’t need anything from you,” You manage but he doesn’t listen and wraps it over you, your inhaling his scent like you use to do. You looked at the man in front of you, he still looked the exact same, still as handsome as ever but there was something in his eyes, they looked broken and it pained you to see him like that. Before you could even think, your eyes began to tear up.

“You never came after me, did I mean that little to you? Did our relationship mean nothing to you? Did you even love me Eisuke,” You manage between sobs, all your confidence had washed away, seeing him standing in front of you made it feel like the events from last year was happening over again.

“I can’t take back how I treated you and what I said and I will never forgive myself for that, but I always loved you, always,” He replies, his stance softening.

“Then why! Why Eisuke, you took me down and doubted me, you made me feel so little accusing me of sleeping with every man who looked at me! I loved you, I loved you so much! I was so excited for our future, we was getting married!” You sobbed, you no-longer cared about crying in-front of him, you wanted to see the damage he had on you.

“Bella,” He softly whispered and took a step towards you, a hand reaching out to you but you rejected it. 

“I never felt good enough, never and you made me feel I was! And then you came out with all that stuff and proved me right, that I was never good enough for you,” You yelled before he wrapped his arms tightly around you, you didn’t even struggle and sobbed into his chest. It felt comforting, it felt safe, it felt like home.

“You were never not enough for me, you were always better than me and you deserve the world, your perfect, beyond perfect, my life lost all meaning the day you left,” He whispers into your hair as he holds you tight to him, never wanting to let you go again.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I will never forgive myself and I expect you will never forgive me, but your just too pure and perfect for this world, it hurt me so much every time I saw anyone looking at you, I was so frightened you would leave me for someone deserving of you, that it ruled my life,” He adds as you press yourself to his chest. You could feel his heart beating rapidly, just like yours. He was so scared of losing you, he had pushed you away instead.

“Why didn’t you come after me?” You manage as you look up from his chest, seeing tears running down his cheeks.

“I imagined you never wanted to speak to me again,”.

“I didn't,”.

“You didn’t…”

“I missed you so much,” You sobbed again, giving yourself into his arms. You couldn’t stop yourself, the man who you loved deeply was here in front of you, apologising, something you had never seen Eisuke do before.

“I missed you everyday, I have never stopped loving you, I hate myself for what I did to you, how I treated you, how stupid I was,” He whispers, holding you so tight against him you though you might burst.

“I… I never stopped loving you too,” You slowly whispered back, looking up at him before you leaned up as he leaned down to kiss you. You stood there embraced with his jacket on, your lips meeting in a passionate frenzy as if you were making up for every lost minute. When you pulled away, his gaze was heavy on you and stood there in silence.

“I don’t know what you going to say, scream at me, cry, hurt me, just please say something,” His voice was broken, you had never seen him so vulnerable. 

“I want you Eisuke,” You whisper and your lips re-meet. It was how you truly felt, the details and your relationship could be sorted later, but right now you wanted to be just with him. 

He carried you in his arms up to the penthouse, neither of your lips breaking before he sat on the sofa with you in his lap.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” He was still apologising. 

“You’ve changed so much, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you apologise so much,” You giggle slightly and finally see a smile form on his lips.

“I mean it, I will apologise everyday if I have too, I just never want you to leave my side again,”.

“I’ve changed Eisuke, I’m not the same woman who left,”.

“I know, I can see how much more beautiful you have become, you’ve blossomed into a truly remarkable creature,”.

“But more sassy, it would be nice to have someone to argue back with me, it became so lonely when you left,” A slight smirk on his face. There he was, there was the man who you fell in love with.

“Pft, like you handle me,” You say with a giggle, your once broken heart melting at his gaze. 

“Well I guess I have the rest of my life to try,” He smiles and takes your hand, your fingers entwining as your lips meet once more. The kiss between you was desperate, trying to regain and claim each part of each other. Your free hand ran through his hair, the feeling of electricity and softness through your fingertips as he moved his hand to hold your lower waist. 

Unlike every other time with Eisuke this was slow and gentle, you took your time together to appreciate each other's bodies, he was determined to kiss every inch of you ensuring to linger and leave sweet bites along your skin.

“I missed you so much,” He whispered against your skin as he eased your dress off you, resting your back on the sofa, him looking down and admiring your body. He was almost hesitant to touch you and you took his hand and slowly placed it on your exposed breast and guided the other one down your waist, showing him it was okay. His mouth came down to meet your breast, sucking, licking and nipping at you as other hand slipped below your panties, find your clit making you cry out instantly. No-one could touch you like he could, no-one knew your body than him. You could feel him trying not to smirk against you from your reaction and his fingers continued to swirl around you. His mouth trails down your stomach, leaving wet kisses and he spreads your thighs and removes your panties with his teeth, you almost came on the spot. He kisses his way up your thighs, his finger still teasing your clit as your back gently arches, your finger embedded in your own hair.

“Your still wet and perfect for me,” He whispered against your core before his tongue grazed against you, your hips instantly bucking. 

“Christ, Eisuke!” You moaned, your eyes rolling to the back of your head, your finger now tugging at his hair. His tongue delved deep into you, hitting that sweet spot that made you curse his name. He throws your legs over his shoulders, allowing him to dive deeper into you, his fingers stimulating your clit. 

“”E-e-eisuke-oh!” You whined, your back arching fully of the sofa as your orgasm hit you, releasing yourself against his mouth. He lapped up your essence, making groans against you before pulling back and undressing, the sound of his belt buckle undoing was music to your ears you had longed to here.

“You're still so sweet,” He whispered softly as he licked your juices from his fingers and lips. 

“I imagined my fingers were yours every time I-” You said with a slight flush, you had been with no-one else since Eisuke, you didn’t care if he had been, you were together now.

“I haven’t been with anyone else, I couldn’t even begin to imagine it,” He reassures you as he strokes your face, his other hand removing his boxers as you feel his hot member pressing fiercely against you.

“Neither have I,” You say as he kisses you, cover your body with his as he settles against your spread legs.

“Are you sure about this, because I can stop now,” He whispers, guiding his member to you, his eyes full of love.

“I’ve never stopped wanting you,” And as the words leave your mouth he gently thrusts into you. Both of you moaning, your cheeks were flushed and your lips gently parted.

“Y-your so, ugh tight!” He grunts, taking his time to fill you before his waist is fully against yours. The feeling of him being inside you, made your skin burn with pleasure and your legs instantly wrap around his waist. He thrusted into you gently, take his time to lap the sensation of your tightness around him, sweet moans escaping from your lips. His hand interlaced with yours as you kissed, his hips gently rocking against yours, hitting the sweet spot inside you.

“Eisuke! Oh god there!” You cry against his mouth, your nails digging into his hand as your muscles begin to contract around him. 

“I love you,” He groans as he continues to thrust, a layer of sweat across his forehead.

“I love you too” You manage as your back arches, your head thrown back and you shake as your orgasm takes over your body. Seeing you to the pleasure, Eisuke follows, releasing deep within you as he rides you both down. You both pant before he removes himself and flips you over, holding your body tightly to you to him, frightened if he lets go you will fade away. 

“I missed that,” You giggle, out of breath.

“I could never get the feeling of you out of my head,”.

“Me either,” You say as you cuddle into his chest, stroking patterns over him chest.

“I promise to you now, I will never hurt you again, I will never take you granted or let my jealousy rule me again, you are mine now and forever,” He says as he presses a kiss to your head.

You lay in each other's embrace, enjoying your blissful afterglow, neither of you wanting to let go. You filled him on the year that happened, how you began successful by yourself. 

“Your voice is just as beautiful as you are, I’m so proud of you,”.

“But I don’t know how long it’s going to continue, after Rikk tonight I think I might have lost my producer…”

“Then we’ll get you a new one, the best one, one who will know not to touch what is mine,” And you giggle at his reaction.

“I’ve always been yours,”.

“Here get dressed, I think the others will be back soon and I have something I want to talk to you about whilst we're alone,” He says, releasing you and you both get dressed. Eisuke disappeared for a minute whilst you were busy fixing your shoes.

“So what did you wanna - oh,” You say, your eyes lighting up as Eisuke had returned and was on one knee in front of you, your engagement ring held in his hand.

“If its too much I understand but I-”

“Yes!”

“Can I fin-”

“Yes!”

“Bella”

“Yes! Sorry, sorry continue,” You face blushed at your outburst excitement both of you smiling.

“I can’t bear to go without you for another minute, I want to spend everyday making it up to you and giving you the best life I possibly can,” You finally letting him finish. 

“Yes! Yes!” You say with tears and hold your hand out to him as he places the ring back on your finger. He sweeps you up in his arms.

“We have a lot of catching up to do,” He smirks and carries you to the bedroom.

Since that night the pair of you became inseparable, appreciating each other to the max, giving each other your mind, body, soul and hearts. Rikk had been removed for the company due to sexual harassment, allowing you to be free to choose a new manager at your own will. You knew Eisuke and Soryu was behind him leaving as he hadn’t been heard of since. 

Eisuke and you became an iconic powerful couple and everyone wanted a piece of both of you, ‘The Future Mr and Mrs Ichinomiya’. Your love for each other only grew stronger each day. Whilst a year apart had damaged you both, it also made you appreciate each other and your time you had, your love blossoming from the painful experience.

When your big day finally arrived, every media outlet wanted to cover it but it was strictly only your closest family and friends. 

“You ready princess?” Baba asked, holding his arm out to you. Since your parents had passed away, you had asked him to walk you down the aisle, which he agreed to through tears being touched at your emotional request. 

“You look so beautiful,” He manages with tears.

“Don’t you start! Your going to see me off,” You plead and take a deep breath before holding onto his arm. 

The sound of the organ echoed through the church and you gently gripped Baba’s harm with excitement as you saw Eisuke standing at the altar before turning to see you. His face full of love as he mouthed “Perfect” to you as you made your way down to him. 

“You know white is only for virgins right,” He whispers with a smirk into your ear as you stand beside him.

“Pft watch it Mister, I still have time to make my get away,” You giggle in response as his arms around your waist, holding you close to him.

“You're not going anywhere, Mrs.Ichinomiya,”.

With that you both follow through with your vows before exchange rings and kiss, sealing your love.

[hotcocosharing]

Guilty Not Guilty Part 3 (KBTBB x MFW)

Fandom: Kiss By The Baddest Bidder & My Fake Wedding Category: Angst / Mystery? Character: Soryu Oh / Takao Maruyama / Eisuke Ichinomiya / Samejima Koichi OC: Kaori Fujimoto Summary: Basically the idea is OC in the witness stand, canon Takao as the lawyer- struggle between WHO to trust and WHAT to believe. Is OC guilty or innocent? Notes: This may or may not continue and combining anon request below, hope you don’t mind I include this in a potential series:

Also tagging these amazing people and thank you for their help and support medievalbingeprincess69 / sugaak / deepmushrooms /cascadedkiwi / exo-nation /  mrszala

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

“We need to talk.”

The words pulse behind her eyelids, clouding her mind, filling her head with thoughts when all she really wants to do is crawl into a hole and hides forever. Takao is firing her questions after questions but she doesn’t hear any of them; her eyes dart over the walls and over her phone screen even though she’s not absorbing anything.

Her mind’s been blank from the moment she’s taken into questioning, asking and answering repeatedly about what’d happened while she remains clueless till this very day. The vivid images of coming home to find the body of her ex-husband laying cold in the middle of her tiny apartment, his colorless face which she once adored and soon being the murder suspect for a crime she didn’t commit.

As if it couldn’t get any worse, her secret was on display for a full court of people to see while she sat there like sitting duck, waiting for her death sentence.

“I’ll be right back,” she announces. Takao stands in disbelief, this is a critical time for her and they have zero defense for what the prosecutor has presented. Now is definitely the time to focus, to come clean.

Kaori really doesn’t think at all as she rushes out of the law firm; her feet simply guide the way. Feels like a walking ghost, she soon finds herself in front of his door. She purses her lips, suddenly itching to turn and run. She shouldn’t be seeing him, she can’t risk another secret getting out but she’s also dying to know the truth. And he’s her best shot, she is running out of options.

A heavy exhale escapes her lips as she closes her eyes, raising her hand to knock on the door.

“Come in.”

Her hand turns the doorknob at the sound and nervously slips in with her anxious stares casting downwards.

“Close the door behind you.” The stern voice instructs, “What do you want?”

The man stands up from his chair, eyes on her, searching for signs. “I don’t have all night, Ms. Fujimoto.”

Kaori doesn’t answer immediately, she hasn’t exactly gathered her thoughts. “I want to know the truth.” She keeps it simple and honest, the kind of person she is.

“Don’t we all?” He huffs out a breath and crosses his arms, leaning against his oak desk.

“I don’t know what happened!” She repeats what she’s been telling everyone, the police, her friends, all the other lawyers till Takao takes her case. She winces at her own cracked voice, “I .. I just want to know the truth.”

His face remains expressionless, with his brows raised and jaw clenched. He grabs an A4 size envelope and tosses it to her, he doesn’t expect any kicking or screaming but he’s watching her closely not to miss the slightest and most instant reaction.

“How did you get these? Did you set me up with Samejima?” Is this one of his sick jokes or his way of cornering her for her most ultimate truth?

“Soryu gave them to me for safekeeping.”

She looks up in confusion, “Soryu?”

Eisuke sneaks a glance at the clock behind her and decides to lay it out to her. “The place has hidden cameras everywhere. As interesting as the tape was, I had no time watching you getting fucked by a kid.”

“But why?”

“For your safety, I suppose though he’s beyond upset when he saw the recording himself. You know he never quite liked the idea of sharing you, whether with his subordinate or a close friend.”

She rolls her eyes when he leans forward at the word “friend”, “Did you have to ruin me by sending these to the prosecutor?!”

The king makes no attempt to hid his chuckle, “Ruin? I ruin you? Or perhaps your marriage too?” Eisuke leaves his desk and heads towards her, “Don’t credit me for something you’ve done. You sought for my help, I delivered.”  Now sitting next to her, she finally sees the fire burning inside his dark eyes. “He’s my best friend, you wouldn’t expect me to choose you over him, would you? After all, you’re his woman.” His hand lifts her chin up while glaring down her chest, “Just because we fucked doesn’t make you any special.” His lips quiver dangerously into a smirk, “Should I tip them off about our shared sessions too?” His fingertips begin running across the collars of her blouses, getting too close to her liking. “I have always enjoyed seeing this expression of yours, so bitter and sad.” His face now centimeters away from her neck, “Such a turn on.”

His tongue traces over her soft skin, nibbling her sensitive spots all the way down to her breast. Sucking her hardening nipple through the thin blouses, Kaori Fujimoto clenched tightly to his expensive couch. Ashamed of her anticipation, he’s almost impossible to resist. “Please, Eisuke.”

“Hmmm.. I do like it when you beg.” Humming his way down, Eisuke teasingly grazes his hand on her inner thigh. “You have to be specific and I seriously don’t have all day. Just fifteen minutes, I suggest you make it count.”

“Please help me, Eisuke.” She’d feel the sting of the first tear running down her cheek. “I didn’t kill him.”

He pauses without looking at her, “Do you have proof?”

“No! But you are the only one who can help me, please.”

Leaning back to his couch, Eisuke raises his chin. “And what do I get in return?”

“Must everything be a deal? Don’t you care about the truth?”

Eisuke lets out an annoyed sigh, “Yes but it doesn’t mean I have to help you. Haven’t I helped enough?” His eyes set on hers, accusing her. “Wasn’t that the biggest favor?”

Kaori knows exactly what the king’s talking about as the very scene begins playing in both their heads, that’s where the nightmare begins.

Her marriage was failing way before the death of her parents, 3 years passed and her heart was still captivated by Soryu but her body disagreed. She felt nothing when he touched or kissed her, she felt guilty how she rolled her eyes when his head was buried in her neck. She lost interests.

She tried, hard, but it made no difference to the fact that her body didn’t want him. She wanted someone else, anyone but Soryu Oh. She missed the anticipation when a new set of warmth on her, exploring and tasting her for the first time. She didn’t want familiarity, she craved something new.

It took all her courage to suggest the idea of open marriage to Soryu who of course did not approve. He could not understand how Kaori called it love when she said right to his face that she wanted to be with other men as if only physically would somehow hurt him less. How was that not betrayal? But it was that or divorce and he didn’t want to lose her.

Perhaps, she was already gone, their marriage and love were long gone before they had realized. Perhaps, who knows for sure?

Soryu reluctantly agreed with one condition- it had to be Eisuke. Kaori was surprised but at least he didn’t give up on them, they still had a shot. It wasn’t easy to break it to Eisuke- the king didn’t believe in marriage but he was more shocked to find his best friend agreeing to such idea. Even he hesitated for a moment, Kaori was a fine woman but he had no desire to do his best friend’s wife.

It pained Eisuke to see Soryu almost begging, “It’s the only way to save my marriage.”

And that repeated in Eisuke’s head every time he had sex with Kaori, what kind of woman put her man through such pain!? The vivid image of her sitting on his bed and vibrating with excitement. How she tensed up when he entered, how relieved and satisfied she was when Soryu watched from afar. She didn’t look at her husband, she was too occupied. No matter how rough Eisuke was, she seemed to enjoy it. Kaori would shamelessly ask him to go faster and harder, Eisuke did just that. It wasn’t difficult, given how hurtful Soryu looked, Eisuke slammed in and out of all her holes, hoping she’ll break at some point.

She never did, at least Kaori Fujimoto wasn’t the one who breaks.

“I’ll disappear, I’ll leave Japan and none of you will ever see me again.”

Wouldn’t it be convenient? Eisuke thinks to himself, “You want me to be your alibi?”

“You WERE my alibi! You’re the last person I saw before I went home!”

“So you want me to tell the world that we’re having an affair with your husband knowing?” Eisuke still doesn’t understand what Soryu ever sees in her, “You may not have a reputation anymore but I am Eisuke Ichinomiya.”

The king stands up and heads back to his desk, Kaori Fujimoto has officially bored him. She’s becoming predictable and predictable is one thing Eisuke doesn’t need. The sex was okay, he could handle the hatred and guilt he so desperately tried to ignore. Teasing Kaori was merely a tactics Eisuke used to push Soryu over the edge but his friend had swallowed his pride and dignity when it came to Kaori.  Was she responsible for Soryu’s death? Would the world laugh at his dead friend for being a slave in love?

“Tell your lawyer to add me to the witness list.” He says, eyes back to his laptop. “And if you’re ever to walk free, Kaori. Don’t ever show your face to me again!.”

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

No idea when I’ll update this next, totally swinging this but man, I love torturing Soryu, don’t I?

[maidofstars]

King of Evil AU

Eisuke Ichinomiya / MC Angst (Based off of Maid of Evil, Prince of Evil, and Regret Message.) 

- Among the land of Tres Spades, there is a tyrant ruler also known as “The King of Evil.” 

- He treats his people horribly. If the kingdom needs more money, then he’ll extort his people. If anyone goes against Eisuke, then they’ll be punished. Everything in the land belonged to him. 

- Eisuke has never been seen, however. This is because he has others do his biddings. All people know of him is that he has brown hair and the standard king outfit. 

- By his side is his loyal maid, MC. She is completely loyal to her King, and will do whatever he asks of her. 

- Tres Spades isn’t the only kingdom, however, There is a neighboring kingdom called the Ice Dragon Kingdom. Soryu is the ruler of that kingdom, and he is rivals with Eisuke.  Despite their rivalry, the Ice Dragon Kingdom and the Tres Spades Kingdom don’t interact much. The two mind their own business. 

- This all changes when Eisuke finds out that his loyal maid is in love with Soryu. He can’t stand the idea of MC being in love with his rival. Thus, he orders his other servants to kill Soryu. He was getting tired of him, anyway. 

- When MC finds out the news, she runs up to Eisuke and asks why he is doing this. Instead of giving a solid reason, he merely asks, “Do you have any intention of disobeying your king?”

- As much as MC wants to cry out or prevent this from happening, she remains silent. She then apologizes for speaking out. As much as she loves Soryu, her king comes before anyone. Even herself. 

- As Eisuke orders, Soryu was executed. This left the Ice Dragon country in anger and tears. Soryu was a symbol of justice to them, and the Evil King destroyed that justice. Not only were the people of the Ice Dragons in anger, but so were the people of Tres Spades. This was the last straw for them. 

- Thus, the people of the kingdom rose up. The one who led the revolt was a swordsman in red, also known as Baba Mitsunari. Everyone in the kingdom had surrounded the castle while all of the servants of the Evil King had fled. 

- With the castle surrounded, Eisuke had no choice but to go outside. Before he could, however, MC had walked into his room, dressed like him. She was wearing his uniform, and she had her hair tied into a ponytail. Not only that, but her chest was bound. In her hands, she had a casual outfit for Eisuke to wear. 

- Eisuke is shocked. He can barely get a word out. Was MC intending to take his place? He was about to get executed. With how harsh he’s been on her over the years, there was no reason to.  “…This…This won’t work.” Eisuke tries to reason, not wanting for her to do this. 

- MC only smiles at him. She explains that since no one outside of the castle has seen Eisuke before, than she can get away with not looking like him exactly. Besides, the people know Eisuke for his brown hair and king outfit.

- Eisuke doesn’t know what else to say but “why?” MC tosses the clothes over to Eisuke and takes a deep breath. “Because I’m your loyal maid, after all.” 

- While it may be true that Eisuke’s orders have been harsh and tough, MC has been by his side the longest. She knows best how human Eisuke really is, even though he is seen as a monster from the eyes of the public. 

- Ever since Eisuke’s father passed away, Eisuke has been forced into the role of King at the young age of 14. Deep down, he was lonely, and always unsure whether or not he was doing was right or wrong. He faked his confidence, and soon, that fake confidence became a little too real. Slowly, he closed himself off. MC knew this all to well, as she’s been his maid ever since she was young. 

- “I want you to wear these clothes and escape, Eisuke. Run away from here as soon as possible. Be happy.” 

- MC can remember a time where the two of them were happy, happily drinking coffee MC made for him together. She hopes that when Eisuke escapes, he can be that happy again. Eisuke yells that he can’t be happy like this, but MC has already made up her mind. Before she leaves out the door, she has her last words. 

- “When I’m reborn…I hope that I can serve you once again, Eisuke.” MC says, her voice the gentlest he’s ever heard . 

Once MC left, MC had taken over Eisuke’s place. She was at first thrown into a jail cell, and then once they had prepared everything. they did a public execution for the Evil King.  MC was decapitated. and now the former Evil King could only watch in horror and sadness.

He didn’t want her efforts to go to waste, so he left in his new clothes with a new identity. He started a new life for himself. 

Nowadays, he often visits in the beach, in the memory of MC.  He remembers an old trick that she taught him. If you wrote a wish, put it in a bottle, and set it off to sea, it would come true.

He remembers not taking part in it, and remembering MC wishing Eisuke would be happy forever. 

No matter how many bottles he sends out, he can’t grant her wish or his own. No amount of wishes could bring her back. 

“Of course…It’s only after she’s gone that I regret my sins.”  He chokes out desperately. 

Rather than wishing for MC to be brought back, he instead wishes for something else. Getting a piece of paper, he writes down his one last wish.

.

[flatsuke]

if i missed you, would you hold it against me

Summary: With Soryu and MC’s passing, it now fell onto Eisuke to be Ryusei’s legal guardian. Why Soryu and MC would think naming Eisuke, of all people, as legal guardian in their will was beyond him.

              You’re the only one we can trust, Soryu had told him. But that didn’t mean Eisuke was ready to be a father.

              Hell, he wasn’t ready for anything that came since that day.

              He wasn’t ready to be a father.

              He wasn’t ready to lose his best friend.

              He wasn’t ready to lose her.

Genre: Angst, Hurt and Comfort

Pairing: One-sided Eisuke/MC, MC/Soryu

a/n: I haven’t written a proper fic in so long lmao. this idea just popped in m head one day, and since then, i couldn’t stop thinking about it lmfao. 

@2bedroom-baddestbidderlove i hope you like it!! @maidofstars @bolt8826 @tsundere-eevee @alolan-lillie @themysticaldaydreamer here’s a fic after so long lol

               Dinner was a solemnly silent affair.

              In the stillness of the dining room, the only sound that could be heard was the clang of Eisuke’s utensils on his plate. Across him sat little Ryusei, who only stared at his untouched food with empty eyes.

              “… You’re not hungry?” Eisuke asked slowly.

              The boy shook his head without looking up from his plate.

              Eisuke sighed in defeat, putting his utensils down. “Do you want to go to bed already?”

Ryusei nodded in assent. Gingerly, the boy pushed back his chair and gave a little bow, leaving Eisuke alone with his thoughts.

              “I suppose it’s not going to be easy, huh?” he said to no one in particular.

              And it won’t ever be easy again. Not with them gone.

              Just three days ago, Eisuke was staring into Soryu’s and MC’s coffins. Both of them looked deceptively peaceful, as if they were only asleep—that anytime, they’d wake up from their long nap and mess around in the penthouse like always.

              But Eisuke knew better.

              Underneath all the flowers and their elaborate clothes were the bullet wounds dealt unto to them by a rival gang. The Ice Dragons had been in an ongoing feud with the said rival gang for a while now, but no one could have predicted the rivalry to escalate to MC being kidnapped, Soryu getting into an outnumbered gunfight, and both of them ultimately perishing.

              (The memory of Soryu and MC, clinging onto each other for dear life while covered in bullet holes was something Eisuke couldn’t forget, even if he wanted to.)

              With their passing, it now fell onto Eisuke to be Ryusei’s legal guardian. Why Soryu and MC would think naming Eisuke, of all people, as legal guardian in their will was beyond him.

              You’re the only one we can trust, Soryu had told him. But that didn’t mean Eisuke was ready to be a father.

              Hell, he wasn’t ready for anything that came since that day.

              He wasn’t ready to be a father.

              He wasn’t ready to lose his best friend.

              He wasn’t ready to lose her.

              (Despite everything, the torch he held for her never burned out.)

              Every time he looked at Ryusei, Eisuke felt the dull ache he kept hidden for so long resurface again.

              At first glance, Ryusei was the spitting image of his father. With his dark hair and dark eyes, Ryusei was essentially the mirror image of the stubbornly serious young boy Eisuke had befriended all those years ago at boarding school.

              But to anyone who knew better, Ryusei also carried his mother’s likeness, albeit more subtly. Ryusei’s eyes held a gentle strength Eisuke was all too familiar with, and the boy’s selfless nature was a constant reminder of what he could never hope to have.

              Sitting on the edge of Ryusei’s bed, Eisuke pulled up the covers over the boy. Ryusei was asleep, but he held onto his family photo with a firm grip, as if he was afraid that if he let go, the people in the photo would fade away.

              It’s too late for that now, though.

              Since that day, Ryusei had been unnaturally quiet. He had always been on the calmer side, but now, it was like Ryusei couldn’t speak anymore.

              Even with constant visits from all the other auction managers, nothing could rouse him from his self-inflicted speechlessness. Despite Baba’s gentle encouragement, Ota’s invitations to hang out, and even Mamoru’s uncharacteristic support, Ryusei wouldn’t budge. Not even Inui or Samejima could do anything to help their Young Boss.

              During the funeral, Ryusei practically held a blank gaze the whole time. Not once did he cry, and his once bright gray eyes were now a dull slate.

              But right now, Eisuke could see how puffy his eyes were in his sleep. Ryusei had been crying, but he did so all alone, away from anyone’s sight. He probably didn’t want to burden anyone with his tears, Eisuke thought.

              Just like his mother.

              Baba had suggested looking through old photos  to try and cheer Ryusei up.

Recalling and sharing happy memories might help him, the thief advised with a smile.

              Eisuke was never the type to be sentimental, nor was he good at comforting kids, but he supposed Baba was right.

              “This was from your sixth birthday, right?” Eisuke asked, holding up a photo album.

              “… Yeah,” said Ryusei, speaking up for the first time in a while. “The Ice Dragons threw a surprise party for me. They said I was the hero of the day.”

              Eisuke remembered that day, too.

              Ryusei had a superhero-themed birthday party. The whole thing was pretty silly, now that Eisuke thought about it. Seeing all the hardened Ice Dragons dressed in bright capes and masks was a sight to see. Even the auction managers got it on the hero action. Baba was excited to show off his full-on spandex outfit to everyone.

              “That was a fun birthday. Everyone looked really cool in their costumes,” Ryusei beamed.

              “They did, huh?” The corners of Eisuke’s mouth twitched in a ghost of a smile. He remembered how hilariously uncomfortable Soryu had looked in his costume.

              The two of them continued to browse through all the albums until Eisuke stopped at a particular one.

              “Oh, that’s my parents’ wedding album.”

              The devil in Eisuke told him to drop the album immediately in anticipation of the ache that he knew would surge, but he told himself that he had to do this for Ryusei.

              I’m supposed to feel grief, not jealousy. Get your shit together, Eisuke.

              Leafing through the pages, Eisuke could almost relive how bittersweet their wedding day was.

              He, of course, was chosen as Soryu’s best man. Standing to next to Soryu, Eisuke could see MC walk slowly down the aisle, looking immaculately stunning in her gown. She was so painfully beautiful that Eisuke was tempted to take her hand in his own, as if he were the groom.

              But he wasn’t.

              She stretched out her hand—with her engagement ring shining—and laced her fingers with Soryu’s.

              Now, Eisuke knew that if anyone deserved MC, it was Soryu. He knew that Soryu, amidst his tough exterior, was a good person at heart. He would never do anything to hurt her, and he would always, always make her happy. MC, in turn, was a perfect match for Soryu. Seeing the usually-cold mobster letting his walls down and opening up to someone was a breath of fresh air. She managed to bring out the tender side he had hidden deep within him. Eisuke knew better than anyone that they both deserved to be happy with each other.

              (But still, that didn’t mean it hurt any less when he heard the words “I do” from her lips.)

              “…Mom looks really pretty in that picture,” Ryusei said with a sad smile, pointing to a photo of husband and wife, lips on each other’s in a fervent declaration of love.

              Biting back a sob, Eisuke gave a sad smile of his own.

              “Yeah. She sure is.”

              Ryusei was finally feeling better enough to see visitors again, so Eisuke asked Inui and Samejima to watch over their Young Boss while he went out for a while.

              It had been far too long since he last checked Soryu and MC’s grave. Eisuke thought that now would be the best time to visit, considering not much people would go there after all the time that passed.

              Driving alone, Eisuke checked the back seat one last time to make sure his cargo was still intact. Thankfully, the flowers he had ordered weren’t damaged from the long car ride to the cemetery.

              When he finally arrived there, he took the baskets of flowers on each hand and began the long, halcyon walk to their grave. The only sounds he could hear were the clacking of his own footsteps on the pavement, and the constant humming of the cicadas in the summer.

              Eisuke had to chuckle bitterly. If only his feelings were as peaceful as the surroundings.

              Their grave was left in pristine condition, with white chrysanthemums to adorn it. He assumed a caretaker must have been tending to the grave every day since the funeral. He’d have to thank them for keeping the place pleasing to the eye.

              Setting down the flowers on their graves, Eisuke mused to himself silently.

              He had so many things he wanted to ask them—what would happen to the Ice Dragons now, what should he do to the rival gang, why did they think he’d be a good father to Ryusei—but he kept it all inside.

              Seeing MC’s name etched onto the grave didn’t make it any easier for him.

              Sometimes, in the darkness of his bedroom, Eisuke would think about all the forbidden what-ifs. What if they never died? What if they were never married? What if she had chosen him instead of Soryu during that fateful night at the auctions? He could’ve kept her safe, they could’ve been happy together, she could’ve lived to see today—

              “Oh, Eisuke. I didn’t know you were going to visit.”

              A deep voice shook him out of his internal stupor. He turned around and was met with the sight of an old, familiar friend.

              “Luke. So you’re here.”

              Eisuke didn’t expect to see Luke, of all people, show up with a bouquet of white chrysanthemums in hand.

              “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” The doctor gave a sheepish smile. “How is Ryusei?”

              “He’s doing much better. I left him back home with Soryu’s lapdo—ahem—Inui and Samejima. But what about you? What brings you all the way here?”

              “I’ve actually been coming here to give flowers and tend to the grave every day.”

              Luke did all this?

              “You don’t have to do that, you know,” Eisuke replied. “You must be busy with all the surgeries.”

              “You’re right about that. But every time I try to go back to my old routine, I can’t stop thinking about them. You and Soryu were the first friends I ever made back in school, and now that he’s gone, it all feels so… incomplete. The three of us won’t be together again to play with cats anymore.”

              It was unlike Luke to be so open and honest about everything, but the wistful nostalgia on his face kept Eisuke from saying anything.

              “And Sexy Bones—no—MC. She was… special. Her collarbones were definitely a thing of beauty, but I’ve never met anyone whose smile could heal me until I met her.” You and me both, Luke.

              “I… I miss them terribly, Eisuke,” Luke lamented, his lips trembling in an attempt to hold back his tears.

              “… I do too.”

              Both of them stood in silence, basking in the sorrow of it all. The cicadas hummed again, as if to play a requiem for the lost lovers and their grieving companions.

              “… I have to go now. Ryusei’s probably waiting for me to get back,” Eisuke said, turning to Luke.

              “All right then. Tell him his Uncle Luke said hi.”

              Eisuke gave his friend one last nod before walking away to leave.

              “Wait, Eisuke,” Luke called out. “I only noticed it now, but the flowers you gave Sexy Bones… why did you get her yellow tulips?”

              This was one secret Eisuke would keep to his grave. No one, not even Luke, must ever know what those flowers really meant. This was between him and MC alone.

              (If anyone knew the language of flowers, then they would know that yellow tulips stood for one-sided love.)

              “I just thought they would suit her, that’s all.”

              One morning, Eisuke and Ryusei had breakfast together in silence. Unlike all the previous times, this silence was peaceful instead of the usual stifling tension.

              It had taken a long, long time, but Ryusei improved considerably since that day. He stopped crying alone, and he opened up a lot more, too. He was back to his old self, thanks to the constant support from all the others as well.

              In truth, Eisuke was thankful for Ryusei. After his last visit to the cemetery, he focused all of his attention on raising the boy; that way, Eisuke wouldn’t have the chance to lose himself in grief and longing.

              In a way, Ryusei saved Eisuke from himself.

              “I made us some omelets,” Eisuke said, setting down the plates. “It’s not as good as your mom’s, but it’s certainly better than your dad’s.”

              “You’re right about that. Sometimes, the kitchen explodes when he cooks!” Ryusei laughed in return, poking the eggs with his fork. It was true that he could order a chef to cook for them, but Eisuke thought this would be a nice change of pace for them both.

              “Oh, wait! Stay there, Uncle Eisuke!” Ryusei chirped. “I’ll be right back.”

              Ryusei ran to the kitchen, leaving Eisuke wondering what he had in store.

              After a few minutes, Ryusei came back, a steaming mug of coffee in his hand.

              “Um, I made you some coffee,” the boy said, slightly unsure. “Mom… she told me you liked coffee a lot.”

              “Ah… she did, huh?” Eisuke forced a tight smile. The recognizable aroma was starting to take a toll on his self-control, and he could already feel the waves of his forgotten déjà vu hit him one after the other.

              ...He really is your son, through and through.

              With a slightly shaky hand, Eisuke took the mug from a hopeful Ryusei. He took a sip.

              “I—I hope you like it! I’m sorry if I put too much milk and sugar.”

              The taste that spread through his mouth was all-too familiar. It was a combination of a resolute sweetness, a gentle warmth, and a signature creaminess that reminded him of the only person that ever mattered to him in a long time. The experience of it all was all too much to bear.

              “Uncle Eisuke, are you okay? Was it too hot?” Ryusei fretted.

              Eisuke didn’t even notice the tears that started flowing down his face. All the years of pent-up loneliness, grief, and regret came out at once. It had been far, far too long since he had let his guard down in front of anyone, but the drink was what finally burst the dam of his well-hidden sorrow.

              “… It’s delicious, Ryusei. You make really good coffee,” Eisuke confessed through his sobs, ruffling the boy’s hair.

              It tastes just like yours.

[smile-smile-ichthys]

Hi! Can i request for an eisuke angst? I understand if you don't want to, i know you're busy. I just want to say that you are one of the best writers ever!!!

Haven’t written anything KBTBB related in a while, let’s see how well I do for this haha! Eisuke angst here ya go lovely anon, thank you for the compliment! Just a short drabble.

“You say you love me, but so what? You aren’t exactly thefirst, and you certainly won’t be the last”

Those words rang round and round in my mind as I lay in mybed, alone, no one beside me to comfort me. I never would have thought thatthis would have happened, and yet, the pain in my chest and the tear stainedpillow is what kept reminding me that is was. All too real. The last thing Iexpected to say to him was that. Sure, looking back when I first met him, yeah,maybe those were the kind of things he would say to me, not the other wayround. But I was just so hurt, so upset at what he had done, I couldn’t stop thewords from slipping out.

He promised, he promised me that he wouldn’t do it. Itrusted him and he went behind my back. Out of all the things that I thoughtEisuke was capable of, cheating being one, I didn’t think he would do this. Heknew I had been looking forward to our wedding for months, planning, re-planning,making it our own special occasion, and he promised he would make sure thatthat day he would keep free. No meetings, no business arrangements, no hotel,no auctions, nothing. And yet, he had come up to me during the time I had beenfinishing off booking in a time for me to pick up my wedding dress, just to saythe wedding would have to be postponed. Why? Because he’d stupidly booked in ameeting with a new client for the auctions, a day that only the client coulddo, no other day, that day or nothing.

The tears spilled over again, he had chosen work over me,broken a promise just so he could have more money. He was just a plain andsimple greedy bastard who still couldn’t understand what love meant. We argued.We yelled. We shouted. I cried and ended up cancelling the whole wedding.Apparently I didn’t understand his life. No, I could and I had done for years.I’d accepted him, all of him, never got upset when he had to cancel on me dueto a work commitment. His job was his life, I understood that, fully. It washim who couldn’t understand me. I only wanted one day, was that too much toask? Clearly it was. I’d even seen Soryu get together with someone, even hesacrificed his work just to see her, why couldn’t Eisuke do that? I told himthat, I said he didn’t really love me if he was choosing work over me. Hedisagreed, he did say he loved me, and yet I couldn’t bring myself to believehim. The words spilled out, I was done, completely and utterly done with thisman. I could find someone else, someone who respected me, treated me well, andat least be more than happy to give me days of his time that I deserved.

I left, I couldn’t stand being in the same room as him. Iglanced at my phone that I had switched off. As soon as I got a room in adifferent hotel, I had rang all of the companies who were providing mesomething or the wedding to cancel them all. I kept my composure, even when theflorist asked if everything was ok, I didn’t cry. I wouldn’t allow myself to,not until I was in bed, locked in the room, phone off, safe from prying eyesand ears.

I would move on. It would take some time, a lot of time,but, I could do it. I was past caring about Eisuke anymore, he could go on tomake more money every day, have one night stands, maybe even find someone whowould be willing to keep cancelling their wedding date, but I wouldn’t care. Myheart had hurt for far too long, it was time for me to be happy, and not tokeep sacrificing for a man who didn’t truly love or appreciate me. I was done.It was time to move on.

[new2otomelol]

Running Away

I’ve been meaning to write a little bit of angst.  Like I’ve said, I’m totally not a writer, but do like to write as an escape and right now, it’s the perfect time for one!  I might not even create an “angst” type of situation, apologies in advance!

KBTBB is owned by Voltage. I created the MC: Kaori. If you don’t want to read about themes such as rape, suicide or violence, please don’t read this post.  I’m not planning on going into detail, but wanted to try something different and still incorporate something fun into it.

Kaori’s POV

Breathe, just breathe Kaori.  I’m trying to maintain my calm as I’m being taken by two men wearing masks to a room in the hotel; I’ve apparently been purchased by them in a black-market auction.  If they only knew that it’s taking every fiber of my being to not shake, cry and fall to the ground. Taking my own life at this point would be a welcome end to so much suffering, but I have a beautiful 6-year-old boy that needs me and I need to be strong for him.  

We arrive at the penthouse and I come face to face with 5 men. “Pretty lady, we are the ones that bought you at the auction!” A man with a fedora hat he removes his mask and the rest of the men follow suit. “This is illegal and you all know it, now let me go!” I say as forcibly as I can, I wish I could escape, but I’m still cuffed. “Ooooh, looks like the maid has an attitude boss, what should we do with her?” the blond man looks at a man I know all too well, the owner of the Tres Spades, Mr. Eisuke Ichinomiya.  I feel my anger and fear get the best of me and I respond to the blond man “I WILL go to the police if you don’t release me!!!” A man with slicked back hair and a grey suit lets out a chuckle, “there’s one right over there” as he points to a man by the stairwell. “Ya jerk, why you gotta give me away?!”

Mr. Ichinomiya stands up and walks towards me, I step back, but he quickly grabs me by the cuffs and pulls me towards him.  I reactively flinch backwards hard and feel my thumb break at the base of the bone.  His eyes widen “What is wrong with you woman?!” He quickly unlocks my cuffs and tries to grab my hand. I take a couple of steps back “I’m fine, it’s just going to leave a bruise” he begins to get angry, “let me see it woman!” I suppress the pain “don’t you dare touch me. Just get to what you want to do with me.”  

All of the men have shocked expressions, but I could care less. Mr. Ichinimoya goes back to his seat and sighs “You have to pick one of us to buy you, so pick quickly, we don’t have all night!” “Boss, that’s no way to speak to the lady, she’s obviously frightened, first let us introduce ourselves…I’m Mitsunari Baba, I’m single and ready to mingle…” “You old fart, well, I’m Ota Kisaki, I’m sure you’ve heard of me, I’m the Angelic Artist” the man in the grey suit rolls his eyes “I’m Soryu Oh, second in command of the Ice Dragons and ready to kill you if you decide to talk to anyone about us after tonight!” the cop by the stairwell takes a huff from his cigarette “I’m Mamoru Kishi, just call me Mamo.” They all stare at me, I don’t know what to do.  “You know princess, you’re quite beautiful, how old are you?” I roll my eyes at Baba. “I’m 24, does it matter?” He quickly raises his arms and backs away “my bad!” Mr. Ichinimoya gets frustrated and yells at me “CHOOSE!

I just can’t, I can’t do this, I feel a panic attack about to hit, I try hard to suppress it.  My breathing increases and I begin to sweat. “That’s it, you’re mine!” Mr. Ichinimoya comes towards me, picks me up and throws me over his shoulder without warning.  I can’t move as I begin to feel my chest tighten, I can’t breathe. We enter his suite and he sets me on one of his couches.  I begin to gasp for air, but I feel like I can’t get enough in my lungs.  Mr. Ichinomiya’s eyes widen… “hey, calm your breathing, you’re going to give yourself a heart attack! Just calm down, breathe slow…” I try to slow down and think of my strength, my son.  Mr. Ichinomiya gets close to me and grabs me by the shoulders trying to calm me down, but that just made it worst.

Horrifying memories come flooding back to me at that moment… I begin to scream, kick and push at Mr. Ichinomiya.  The doors of the suite burst open as the other bidders make their way inside in shock.  “She won’t calm down, I don’t know what’s going on with her!” he tells them in a panic… Baba rushes to him and pulls him back from me… “pretty lady, calm you breathing, please, slow it down…” I drag myself off the couch and move back as far back as I can against the wall and hold my legs to my chest. I snap back to reality and slowly begin to stabilize my breathing.

Baba sits on the ground, putting some distance between us. “Now princess, you show signs of abuse, there’s no other way of putting it. Tell us what happened, we’re not going to harm you!”  I haven’t told anyone about this, except for the police, but that did no good.

“I… I um… I was eighteen meeting one of my best friends for a movie.  He wanted to take me to a café before heading to the theater, but he pulled me into an alley and he forced himself on me. I put up a fight with all my might, but he beat me into submission breaking my ribs, dislocating one of my shoulders, I… I… there was so much blood.  He took so much from me… I’m trying not to panic, to trust people again, I, I just, ….” I can’t hold back my tears at this point, but I dry them and attempt to continue… “one month later I found out I was pregnant and so I ran away.  He’s still looking for me, for my son, but I won’t let him find us!...” I take a deep breath “and now tonight I’m knocked out and placed as an item in a black-market auction.  I’m alive for my son, otherwise, I’d let Mr. Oh shoot me right here and now!”

“Kaori, sweetie, where is your son right now?” I try to calm my sobbing, “he’s spending the night at Chisato’s dorm, they had a scheduled game night.” I finally decide to look up at the guys and notice that they are all looking at me differently. Baba is looking at me with sad eyes, Soryu and Eisuke look very angry for some reason, Ota looks at me with a concerned expression, Mamoru grabs his cell phone and walks out of Mr. Ichinomiya’s suite. “I, please don’t be angry with me, I’ll keep your secret, I promise, just please, don’t do anything to my son!”

Mr. Ichinomiya gets close to me and kneels “I promise I’m not going to hurt you or your son. I apologize for earlier, I didn’t mean to hurt you.” I’m in shock to see the usually arrogant and overly confident King speak to me in such a sincere and caring way. “M.. Mr. Ichinomiya?” He smiles… “Please, call me Eisuke…” “Eisuke, thank you…” Baba inches a bit closer, but I don’t feel as scared as earlier. “Princess, please, give us your hand, trust us as we have to trust you from now on.” I take both Eisuke and Baba’s hands and they help me stand up, but as soon as I do, my balance seems to shift from all the stress and I Iose strength in my legs; Eisuke quickly supports me by putting an arm around my waist. I begin to panic once again, but he holds my hand “shhhh… it’s okay, I’m walking you to the couch.”

EISUKE’S POV I can’t believe she’s so young and has gone through so much.  I’d give anything to meet the bastard that did this to her. No man should ever lay a hand like that on a woman!  She’s courageous in having kept the child, which speaks massively about her character. She’s done it all on her own, I’m sure the rest of the guys feel the same way.  We don’t advocate that sort of thing here, especially Soryu, he was brought up with strong ideals by his grandfather.

Mamoru comes back a few minutes after having walked out. “What did you find out?” I ask him. “Well, the kid here did report the crime, he caused her a lot of physical damage, but the asshole’s dad was a detective and so he got away with it all… according to sources, he is headed to Tokyo tonight, he found ‘ya out kid!”

SORYU’S POV I can’t stand this another minute. This poor woman has been through hell and now this jack ass is on his way to her again. I look at her as she begins to shake on the couch. “Kaori, call Chisato right now and have her bring your son to the penthouse!” I hand the penthouse phone to her.  “Mamo, give me the name of this asshole!” Normally, Mamoru wouldn’t help me under any circumstances, but he writes the name down and gives it to me. “Kill the bastard!” I nod and leave the penthouse, time to have some fun.”

EISUKE’S POV “Kaori, you’re staying in the guest room in my suite from now on.  Your son will live with you.  You are now the maid to the penthouse, we won’t let anything happen to the both of you.  What does your son do during the day?” Kaori looks at me in shock… “I uh, he goes to school, he’s a bright boy, he’s skipped a couple of grades… but is it really okay for us to be here?  Please, I don’t need sympathy… I can make it on my own and…” “Yes Kaori, you’ve made it on your own for a while now, but now, you belong to me and I won’t let anything happen to you or your son. We all feel the same way; no man should ever lay a hand on a woman like that.” Kaori begins to cry. “But he’s smart and he’s going to get away from Mr. Oh, he’ll find us!” She’s going to have another panic attack, I can tell. “Can I have your hands?” She complies, she’s trusting me a little more. “We may be doing illegal things up here, but we’re not monsters.  You’re with us now.”  She begins to calm down.

“Kaori, it’s going to be okay. You need to get your son here; the security is bar none.” Ota reassures her and she begins to call Chisato.  We all take a break to give her privacy and speak with each other. “Boss, will you be okay with her here alone?” Baba looks concerned. “I know I’m an arrogant asshole, but I won’t treat her wrong.”  Baba’s eyes widen. “I’ve never seen you like this before Boss, but it’s good to know” he smiles… “you idiot, I’m not a cold-hearted ass!” Ota chuckles and addresses Baba “Alright old man, let’s just stop teasing the boss before we get it!”

KAORI’S POV My son, Daichi, is on his way here.  I still can’t believe that I’m now being supported by the very people I thought would oppress me.  I can’t let my pride get in the way and accept all the help I can offer. I begin to clean my tears, straighten my uniform and re-center myself. Mamoru is standing behind me as we both watch Eisuke, Baba and Ota carry on a conversation amongst themselves.

“Kid, the man that did this to you, he’s like a genius according to his file.” I nod.  It is then that the others come back to join us in the living room. “He’s incredibly smart… we both use to attend a university for gifted students, I was in the mathematics department and he was in the engineering department.  We had grown up together until my parents died in a car accident and I was getting ready to move away.  That night was to be the last night I would see him before leaving to America.” Right as I finished my sentence, the elevator dings and I hear the sweetest voice coming from downstairs. “Mommy?”

I get up and run to the lobby. I thank the concierge and I hug my son with all my might. “Mommy! Seriously! I love you too, but, I want to live to at least have grandkids someday…” I sigh, kiss him on the forehead “drama much?” He chuckles.  Eisuke, Mamoru, Baba and Ota all come down the stairs. “Hello little guy! I’m Ota, I have some paper and coloring pencils if you’d like…” Daichi smiles and bows to him. “Thank you, sir, I prefer a good game of chess any time. Am I correct to assume you’re the Angelic Artist?” Ota looks at my son and raises a brow. “Yes! My, my, such a well-trained puppy.” Baba smacks Ota on the arm and begins to introduce himself “I’m Mitsunari Baba and we’ll be flat mates for a while!” Mamoru walks towards Daichi, “I’m Mamoru kid, but you can call me Mamo.” And last, but not least, Eisuke is getting ready to introduce himself when my son beats him to the punch “You’re Eisuke Ichinomiya, you’ve got an amazing business acumen.”  Eisuke’s eyes widen, “nice to meet you kid!”

My son moves front and center as if he’s a public speaker and bows to them “My name is Daichi Amano, pleasure to meet you all.” I giggle at his actions. “Daichi, you’re staying here with your mother in the penthouse.” Baba smiles as he informs him.  Daichi look at me “mommy? I’m not stupid, is that man after us again?” I hold it in as much as I can, but I get to my son’s eye level, stroke his hair and hold his face “that is for me to worry about. You’ll be more than safe here, I promise… I won’t ever let anything happen to you!” he hugs me tightly with his little arms “Mommy, I don’t know what that man wants from us…” “Shhhh… Daichi, everything will be settled soon, no one will ever harm you.” Right at that moment Soryu walks in to the penthouse.  He gives me concerned stare. “Daichi, this is mommy’s friend, Mr. Soryu Oh…” Daichi runs over and bows to Soryu.  “Pleasure to meet you sir!” Soryu smiles at Daichi and ruffles his hair. “Why don’t you go and play a game of chess with one of the guys…” He quickly grabs Eisuke by the hand and takes him to the coffee table.  He takes out a chess board and begins to prepare.

I walk to the side to talk to Soryu. “He’s arrived at Tokyo.  My men tracked him down, but it’s as if he noticed them and he’s managed to hide.” I sigh and look at my son as he plays with Eisuke. “Mr. Oh, thank you for everything. But the man you’re seeking will get to me soon, he won’t let anyone get in his way. Let’s rest tonight and I’ll come up with an idea on how to deal with him.” He gives me a concerned stare. “I saw your hospital file, he did a lot more than what you said he did to you.” “Yes, he did, but, that’s not important… my son is and I can’t let my past deter me anymore.”

“Oooooooh! Eisuke you just got burned at chess by a 6-year-old!” I turn around to look at Ota clapping excitedly. “We should make a bet!” Baba begins to pull out his wallet. “No betting and no more playing! It’s time for bed Daichi, say goodnight to everyone.” He quickly gets up and begins to put away the game. “No, leave it, we’ve got a re-match tomorrow!” Eisuke gives the order. Daichi looks at him straight on “you’re on Mr.!” And so began our life at the penthouse.  

ONE MONTH LATER I continue to work on cleaning suites in the hotel and take care of the penthouse.  Eisuke sometimes asks me to help him out by pretending to be his girlfriend, something about a deal with a Bucci character.  I don’t mind, he remains respectful towards me. Daichi has begun attending a different academy that Eisuke enrolled him in, as much as I protested, he felt that my son deserved a better education; he’s grown fond of him.  Not to mention they play chess aggressively!

Soryu has placed trackers in my cell phone, pager, even my shoes.  I know my attacker well, that will not deter him.  The only way to get that bastard is to let him get me, but the guys don’t want to use me as bait, too risky.  As I walk outside the hotel one afternoon, I feel someone place a rag on my face, a strange smell fills my senses and I black out. I wake up to find the daughter of the Bucci guy staring me down… “Leave my Suke alone bitch!”

Great, this again, “I love him too much to leave him Carolina sweetie, but you’re young and beautiful and you can do so much better!” Carolina huffs and I hear a ruffling noise behind me.  I finally notice that I am in an empty warehouse and Carolina had some men with her.  Gun fire spreads from all directions and Carolina begins to panic. I look behind me and see a shadow with a gun aiming at Carolina. I get up, with hands bound, and tackle Carolina to the ground, I feel a scorching pain on my arm, I think I just got grazed by a bullet. “Stay down Carolina, this isn’t Eisuke’s doing, something else is going on!”  As soon as I finish saying that I feel arms wrap around my waist and lift me up. “That’s right sweet heart, miss me?!” Terror grips me and I begin to scream and kick out as he drags me out. “Kaori!!!! Noooooo!” Carolina’s words are the last I hear before I’m hit on the back of the head, I lose consciousness yet again.

EISUKE’s POV We arrive at the warehouse were Carolina took Kaori to. As soon as we get there, Carolina comes out running “Sukeeeee! Heeeelp!” I run to her, “where’s Kaori?!” She begins to cry “a really tall man took her, she took a bullet for me, she saved me… I’m so sorry! I shouldn’t have taken her!” I look at Soryu and he takes off to begin tracking Kaori.

“Carolina, please head back to your father’s… we’ll catch the son of a bitch!”  She nods and begins to leave with her men, but stops and turns for a second. “Eisuke, she loves you AND she saved me, please bring her back!” I nod and hurry to the limo to check in with Soryu. “Eisuke, I’ve got her tracker working on her shoes, the bastard took out the other trackers.  He’s taken her to an old hotel! It’s been half an hour, we’ve got to hurry!”

We make it across the city and head to a decrepit hotel.  Soryu has a few of his men help us in locating her… when we get to the room where the tracker picks up the device, we find her shoes on top of a bed, but no Kaori. “DAMN THAT BASTARD!” I yell in frustration.

KAORI’S POV I feel pain in my wrists and ankles as I begin to open my eyes.  So much movement all around, where am I?  “Are you awake yet bitch?!” That voice!

To be continued....