Part 3. Anything and Everything2.04

Part 3. Anything and Everything

2.04AM, 12 minutes after Akihito met Emi

"It is a nice house you have here," the woman said while holding Naoyuki in her arms.

She has taken her time exploring my house and I had to grit his teeth every time she touched my furniture or decorations, making cynical comments here and there. Trying to ignore her, I focus all my thought at the tea that I prepare. Maybe I shouldn't throw Asami's whiskey away. I definitely need something strong to drink now.

"Is this the main bedroom?" She asked from another room but I still could hear her clearly.

The question froze me for a second before I started running to stop her from doing...well, I don't know what she can do. But our bedroom is where most of our private moments happened. I don't like the idea of letting her into it.

"What are you doing barging into our bedroom like that?!" I yelled at her.

I find Emi staring at the photographs hanging on the bedroom wall.

"It is him," she whispered softly.

"Yes, it is," I grumbled.

I took those photos years ago. Asami came home one night, looking unusually tired after a few business deals that didn't go his way. Nothing to worry about, he told me shortly. But he was so cranky that I decided to pamper him; serving his favorite dishes for dinner, preparing a hot tub so he could relax, and massaging his stiff muscles until he fell asleep.

In our early days, Asami didn't sleep with me. We would have sex, then he would take a shower and leave. But at one point, it changed. I realized how much this simple act showed his trust to me. Stroking his silky hair gently, love filled every inch of my body and the idea just popped into my mind.

A few days later, I hanged the photos I took that night on our bedroom wall. Each photo only showed a part of his face, his sexy lips that curved into a subtle smile, his strong jaw that finally relaxed after a lot of pampering, and his closed eyes that made me missed his golden orbs. I expected him to scowl at me because I managed to immortalize Asami Ryuichi's unguarded face. These photos might be the only ones on earth that exposed Asami in his most vulnerable state. To my disappointment, Asami didn't say anything while watching me putting those photographs on our wall.

"He sleeps with you," she brought me back to the present.

I grimaced, "And with you as well, I believe."

She keeps her gaze on the photographs. "No, he doesn't," her voice sounded broken and lost.

"I am sorry?"

I don't understand. We both know Asami slept with her. The baby who is struggling to get away from her arms is the proof of that painful fact. If Nao can't prove enough, another proof is currently sleeping in the children room.

For some unknown reasons, Nao doesn't really like the idea of being with his own mother. He makes those protesting baby noises while wriggling to get away. Emi holds so tightly to keep him still. Looking at her stiff back, I started to worry that she would somehow strangle the child.

She is the mother, Akihito, I reminded myself. She must know what she is doing.

The woman in front of me stayed very still, facing away from me as she explained coldly, "Asami-sama had never slept with me. He took what he wanted and then he left. He didn't stay over. Not even once."

Oh, she meant 'literally sleep'.

Well, I don't know what to say. Should I say, 'Oh don't worry. He did that to me as well in the beginning'? I would rather die than acting as if we were two women happily sharing the same man.

"Why?" she asked softly.

I almost laugh. How could I know why Asami decided not to sleep with her? I couldn't even understand what was in Asami's stupid mind. If I could, I wouldn't be so miserable these few days. One minute the man declared his love to me, the next he told me that I needed to take care of this woman's children for the rest of my life.

Asami is a selfish bastard. He does what he wants and he makes damn sure that he gets what he wants. It doesn't matter how much he needs to sacrifice in the process. It is surprising that the woman doesn't understand that side of Asami by now.

"Unfortunately, you need to ask him yourself because I doubt anyone but Asami know why," I replied sourly.

"Liar!" She shouted, making me jump.

Emi finally turned around and I was actually shock to see the fury in her face. I am angry, too. But just like I won't blame her for any of this, I believe she can't blame me too. I didn't even know her existence until a few days ago. If anyone is at fault, it is Asami. How could that bastard put us in this situation?

Her body is shaking uncontrollably in anger, her eyes accusing me for a crime that I am not sure I understand (I couldn't control what Asami did or didn't do!), and unconsciously, she tightens her grip on Nao. The baby starts to cry in discomfort and I fight the surprising urge to forcefully take Nao from her.

"Emi-san, you are hurting Nao," I reminded her, struggling to keep my voice even as Nao's cry got louder. "Let's take a seat and calm ourselves, shall we? We better check on Rikiya as well."

I don't like the sound Nao is making by now. But Emi ignores my request. Her grip is still hurting Nao and I begin to seriously worry. She stands as rigid as a statue. The smile that made her looking like an angel is gone, replaced by a thin line full of hatred. She glares at me with her hazelnut eyes, reminding me of my own eyes in the most bizarre way. For a few seconds, I am thinking how weird it feels to be in a staring contest with someone who looks exactly like me.

"Emi-san, please give Nao to me," I tried again in a soothing tone.

Slowly, raising my hands in a surrender gesture, I take a step forward. I don't want to push her into doing something that may hurt Nao even more. I am stronger than her. But as long as she has Nao, I don't dare to do anything rush. Emi doesn't move. I raise my foot to take another step and she crushes Nao even tighter. I freeze instantly when Nao howls in pain, pushing desperately with his tiny fists to get away from her.

From the children room, Rikiya started to cry as well. Hearing his brother's cry must have made him scared. Panic grows in me and I am thinking of calling Kirishima or Suoh or even Asami for help. I don't care about my pride anymore. There is a phone in the bathroom. I can tell her that I need to pee or something while calling one of them discreetly. I glance towards the bathroom door, calculating my chance to do that without putting Nao in harm.

But Emi's next move makes me reconsidering my plan.

"Shut up," she told Nao, slapping his cheek roughly. Her voice was icy and flat.

Fuck you, Asami. What kind of a woman did you sleep with? Couldn't you choose someone more normal? Why does everything about you have to be full of madness?

There is no way I am going to leave Nao alone with this crazy bitch. Silently, I am praying that Nao will somehow calm down. I don't want him pushing her to do anything more dangerous. But Nao starts to scream at the top of his lungs.

Oh no, no, Nao dear. Please. Don't do that. Not now. Calm down, baby. Come on. I beg you.

The noise clearly annoys Emi. She covers Nao's mouth and nose with her hand. The room suddenly becomes way too quiet for me. In horror, I watch Nao struggling to take his next breath behind her palm.