At midnight—
Few hours later working on his laptop, almost midnight when Ichiro finally laid down on bed, a loud squeaking sound appeared above, subsequently, followed by a helpless groaning and viciously dominant glowering.
"Eh? Why don't you open the door when I ask? I'll beat—"
"S... Stop... I beg you, please calm your voice. Other's sleeping."
"SHUT UP BITCH! YOU DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO. I'll beat the shit of you, bitch!"
Ichiro realised exactly what's happening above him when his eyes gazed above the ceiling, unbearable sobbing and shouting is something Ichiro is not used to. Although he knew Draco is hot-headed, borderline-alcoholic, never expected to be the abusive wife-beating drunkard, more he tried to sleep, noisier the argument grows, throws furniture around adds more horrors to this domestic violence.
"S-Stop... You're hurting me! Amiko right beside us."
"Then why I do this for? YOU ARE MY BITCH UNDERSTAND!?"
"Please stop shouting! Ichiro's sleeping."
"Ichiro eh? Just because he is study in UK, you've started drooling! Still bit of lust left in you, bitch!"
"Stop... Amiko will awake any moment."
"Let her! Let her see how lustful slut her mother is..."
".... Errr... What the fuck..."
No matter how hard Ichiro tries, he couldn't, the fact what truly startled him, his father and mother just next door, no one cares to stop them, Draco was so drunk and aggressive, Nanase hardly controlled him.
By the time Ichiro had enough, right before he went out of the bed decides to sleep at terrace, he encounter his niece – Amiko Kyousuke, Draco's only daughter, seven years old girl has short pink hair with bangs that reach to the length of her chin. Hair have a rounder appearance. Holding a pillow gloomily, in front of Ichiro's doorstep, at one glimpse Ichiro knew what was the reason of her gloominess, he asked softly and compassionately.
"Hey, what's up princess? Couldn't sleep as well?"
"... I thought the room was empty. Guess, I was wrong."
For seven years old, regarding of the situation, Amiko was quite strong, showed no signs of fear, distress, or terror as if get she got used to it of her parent's domestic violence. And their nothing Ichiro could do.
"Um.... Uncle Ichi... Can I.... Stay in your room for the night? As you see... I can't go upstairs."
With extreme reluctance, Amiko made a request, eyes stayed down, she didn't know Ichiro very well, very expect he's her uncle after all.
"Why not. I am glad you ask. Come on, I have something that will help you sleep."
With a gentle smile, Ichiro welcomed Amiko, she raised her head, smiles as her loneliness slightly eased.
"Alright. Jump on in. And put this. This will help you sleep."
Ichiro prepared the bed, after Amiko get on Ichiro hand over couple of wireless earphone piece.
"What's with the headphone?"
"Earphones, got 200 plus soft piano songs, that will relieve your stress, avoids the current squabbles went to sleep quickly alright?"
"Hm..."
Amiko nodded, put on the earpiece, Ichiro started the playlist through his phone.
Few minutes later, Amiko finally got to sleep, eyes went sleepy, if wasn't for Ichiro, she hides in the storeroom, dangling with serious depression while her parent fights.
"Hum...
Seeing Amiko cutely sleeping Ichiro wryly smiled just about exit—
"Uncle Ichi?"
Amiko called softly apparently, she wasn't sleeping.
"Hm?"
"Thank you..."
When Ichiro asked, she replied something melted young lad's heart, forced him to smile back.
"Goodnight, Amiko... I be next room's couch if you need me."
A pleasant indescribable feeling ignites in his soul when he went out of the room. Something he never experienced.
He gazes upon his palm and mused,
"Is this affection? I felt true warmth from young child I didn't even knew..."
Next morning—
Aside from Ichiro's mother grumbling why he slept in couch at the chilling season, Draco and Byron already gone for work, leaving Ichiro to make coffee for himself voluntarily.
"Good morning...Nabe... Coffee?
"Goo-good morning! Ye-yes..."
There Ichiro was gazing at the sky deeply, wearing a casual t-shirt and pajamas, Nanase arrived in the kitchen, face, eyes hidden by her long deep green hair. Ichiro asked for coffee, she nervously responded in stutter manner.
"Here you go."
"Thank you..."
Before Nanase rush towards her room, Ichiro inquired her.
"Are you ok?"
Which froze Nanase suddenly, stammered—
"Huh!... Why-why did you say that?"
"(Scoffed) You're more submissive than yesterday. Not the same — brave, tough, affable, jovial, outgoing Nanase I used to remember back in high school."
"Lots changed Kyousuke. You have no idea what I have been through."
"If Amiko wouldn't came into my bedroom, terrified froze to a stiff in fear, I didn't know whom to fear: Shapeshifter Fallenborn who eats children at night, took their form or her own abusive father who terrorise her and her mom..."
"(Gasps) ... Dammit... You heard..."
"Couldn't sleep whole night."
After said that, Ichiro approached Nanase from behind.
"Look I am sorry you have to listen to this. Managing marital problems is worst than you've expect."
"Maybe... But you don't have to afraid of me, know me better than anyone else here. Let me look at you..."
Lift Nanase's chin up, swipe the hair aside, spotted multiple bruises on the face, left eye swelling...
"Hmm... Wait here..."
Seeing her horrible condition, Ichiro took out medical cream box. Starts rubbing it. She winced.
"echhh... It's sting!"
"It will be gone away. How come say anything to anyone? About this."
"To who? The police? Military? Against one of world's richest family whom will be the took the contact become new ruler of this country. You shouldn't know better—Women like me, are no value in this time, nothing but a baby factory, gets married and have babies. Endured the abuse other time." She turned, facing Ichiro her face begun tearful when she gratitude and apologised, "Thank you for taking care of Amiko. She had suffered enough. And I am sorry for dragging you into this. Thanks for the coffee."
Ichiro's face became numb, at the same time knows, it was partially true. In high school Nanase Sakie used to be an attractive fair-skinned young woman with shoulder-length dark green hair that is usually tied up in a small ponytail by a lime tie where long parts of her hair are seen hanging with bangs swept to the left, thin purple eyes, thin eyebrows and a feminine figure such as wide hips and large breasts. Always seen wearing a pair of oval-shaped glasses and her nails be painted light green.
"Hey!"
"Hm?"
"You know in high school you used to be my senior, remember? Had relationship with the basketball captain started at their high school graduation yet they both claim that the other confessed first which lead two to fight in annual sports day?"
"Yeah...?"
"Well, the captain ripped his pants when you slam him on the ground. He maybe didn't admit earlier on, had to stretch his pants in toilet. I think you're badass: to body slam a, 6 feet athlete need guts don't lose hope just yet."
"Heheh. I admired your optimism let's hope you're right."
Nanase chuckled, before leaving, smiling Ichiro never seen, still praise her good looks after so many years. Believe she's still attractive and tough, what Ichiro believe and made up his mind what he will do next.