Warnings : Rape and ViolenceChapter

Warnings : Rape and Violence

Chapter 12. She Finally Made Her Move

Part 1. The Powerless and The Powerful

Kou had never seen Arata in such a mess. Arata always dressed neatly. He was a business consultant and giving a good first impression was part of the job. He wouldn't look competent enough to handle a business if he couldn't handle his own attire. But now, the poor man greets Kou in a stained short, crumpled shirt, messy hair, and days old of stubble on his cheeks.

"Kou," Arata nodded.

Kou understands by now that it was not Akihito's fault. But seeing the man he secretly admires in such a devastating state rouses another wave of anger inside him. He doesn't know whom to blame for all the misfortune that fell on Arata. And Akihito is an easy target. Cursing silently, he tries to remind himself that it was not his friend's fault. Well, at least, not exactly.

"Arata, shit! When was the last time you shave, man?"

Arata merely shakes his head.

"You can't stay like this," Kou scolded him, seriously considering the option to drag the man in front of him to the nearest bathroom and give him a proper shower.

Somewhere from inside the house, Kou can hear children laughing and screaming in excitement. It must be Arata's nephew and niece. He tries to look over Arata's shoulder, but the man in front of him moves to firmly block his gaze.

"Ummm, sorry I came uninvited," Kou murmured uncomfortably. Obviously, Arata doesn't want him to enter the house.

Arata let out a tired sigh. "It is not that I don't want to invite you inside. But the house is in a total mess. It is embarrassing."

"Oh come one, it can't be that bad. Nothing can be worse than my room back in uni," Kou said cheerfully in an effort to lighten the mood.

Rubbing his own face wearily, Arata asked, "Why are you here, Kou? I am sorry but to be honest, I don't have time for chitchat."

If Arata noticed the hurt flashing in Kou's face, the man ignored it. Kou tried to swallow his disappointment as he answered, "I just want to check on you. I told you to call if you need help. Anything." He forced a smile, "I can be quite good at cleaning, you know."

Arata stares at him long and hard. It makes Kou think that it might be wiser to just leave the man alone for now. He almost speaks out his thought. But then Arata steps forward and quietly closes the door behind him. As soon as Arata is sure that no one inside the house can see or hear them, the poor man slides down against the door and starts sobbing violently, hiding his face and tears behind his trembling arms.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Kou swore silently in his panic. He has never been good at comforting. He kneels in front Arata, reaching out his hand awkwardly to pet Arata's knee.

"Arata," he called softly. "Man, it is okay. Everything will be okay."

Arata's body shakes in his grieve as the man cries his heart out.

God, Kou hoped he was Akihito. Akihito will know what to do in this kind of situation.

"They were all depending on me. My parents. My sister. My niece. My nephew. Then, Akihito left. I lost my job. Mariko was gone. My mother is too sick to care for the children by herself. My father works harder than ever and it is still not enough to pay the monthly installment for our debt. And I don't know what I can do. Never before I felt so powerless like now, Kou. "

The man's voice was so broken, so defeated, so lost. It makes Kou want to cry himself. Unable to think of what else to do, Kou pulled Arata into a tight embrace, rocking him back and forth, whispering soothing words that in the end, surely, everything will be all right.

"What are you doing?" Haruka asked when she found the young guard looking suspiciously at some documents on her desk.

Goro instantly turns around to face her. The man is tall and huge that it feels awkward to see him moving nervously. Haruka always thinks that his timid behavior doesn't fit the first impression given by the size of his body.

"Nothing, Ito-san. I...I am just waiting for you. Ummm, Kirishima-san told me to pick a new credit card for-"

"For Emi. Yes, he told me," she quickly cut him. Goro is always a bit slow and with all the tasks waiting for her after her trip to South East Asia, she doesn't have the time to patiently wait until he finishes his sentence.

She searches for Emi's document in one of the filing cabinet in her office. The new credit card was delivered to Sion by a courier this morning. Considering Kirishima gave the order via email a few hours after midnight, it took a bit of extra effort to get the bank to process the request in such a short time. But it was a request from Sion group that belongs to Asami Ryuichi and the world would do everything for her boss.

While flipping through the folders, she casually asked, "How's Emi?"

Goro cleared his throat before he answered, "She is good, Ito-san. She said...well, she said she missed her babies. Is it possible for her to visit them soon?"

Finding what she is looking for, Haruka pulls Emi's folder out of the filling cabinet.

"It is up to Asami-sama. But I will make sure to raise this issue to him."

She strides to sit on her chair. There will be some forms Goro needs to sign before he can take the card and leave.

"The babies...I heard that Asami-sama will raise them as his heirs," Goro said tentatively.

Instead of replying, Haruka clicks her mouse to print the necessary forms. While waiting for the printer to finish its job, she ignores Goro and carefully checks the documents on her desk.

"I also heard that one of his lovers is taking care of the kids and that Asami-sama is now living with them. They said Asami-sama took a liking to this lover that he trusted his heirs to the boy. Why didn't Asami-sama ask Emi-san to take care of the babies? She is the biological mother. She can handle them better than anyone. She won't betray Asami-sama."

Slowly, Haruka raises her head from the paper that she is currently reading.

"Whom did you hear all of this story from?" Her voice was completely controlled and composed.

Glad that Haruka finally paid him attention, Goro continued excitedly, "Well, some of the guards were discussing it. Ida, Muto, and Nagai."

Those guards Goro mentioned are all newly hired. Last night must be their first assignment to guard Takaba-sama's penthouse. Not upstairs on the penthouse floor. Suoh wouldn't make a mistake by placing new guards near Asami-sama or his boy. New guards would be stationed downstairs, most probably waiting in the parking area. She keeps her poker face as she thinks.

"So, is it all true, Ito-san?" The giant pushed.

Lucky for Goro, the printer beeps at that very moment, informing that the task is completed. Wordlessly, Haruka makes a commanding gesture with her fingers and the young guard quickly scatters to get the printouts for her. She checks it briefly; making sure that everything is in order.

"Please sign here, here, and here," she pointed.

After Goro signed, Haruka puts the new credit card on her desk. But when he reaches his hand out to take it, she forcefully grabs his wrist and presses a very sensitive nerve spot there. The guard shouts in shock while trying to take his hand back. She calmly keeps her hold on him. She is sure by now he knows that she can bring him down within seconds despite their size differences. She presses that soft spot even harder and Goro writhes in unbearable pain. But he doesn't dare to ask her to release him.