"Thankyou for your hospitality''
Akio announced as he entered the private appartment two stories up, they had to use the lift.
The apartment was too big and too lonely for one person. It was a vast airy place with alot of tall windows that made the full moon appear even closer than it actually was.
Apart from the huge dining room and an open kitchen, there were two bedrooms with attached baths and a store room. The place lacked any sort of excessive furniture almost indicating no one lived there, except for one bedroom.
The bedroom had one bed and a mess of books all over, infact one could not walk in that room without stepping on one of the books.
"Whoa, what are you...? hiding a dead body under that pile?'' Akio said after seeing the horrific situation of the bedroom.
"I only come here to sleep, otherwise I'm at my ex's house during the day and its kind of hard sleeping alone so I just read myself to sleep.
At some point I just ran out of books to read and then I bought more and eventually the books kicked me out of my room so I sleep on the couch now'' Keitarou shrugged.
"You could've cleaned this place, look the ceiling's even got webs all over'' Akio pointed.
"Ah I plan to hire a maid and all but I've not been quite successful, I'm looking for one..'' Keitarou tried to reach the cobweb but couldn't.
"I can''
"You can what?''
"You know..clean this place and all''
"Wait wait, I didn't bring you here to work and..''
"It's okay, I can't live here for free even if its a few days''
"No, no its not..''
"I insist, consider it my rent, you don't have to pay me either..I can do house chores, I'm used to them''
"Er...can you cook?''
"Have been cooking for the last 19 years''
"Alright I guess..''
Akio smiled quite victoriously after getting Keitarou's approval. Though Keitarou still didn't liked the idea of making his 'guest' work but he knew Akio was a man of honor by the little knowledge of him.
He knew that Akio won't really take favours without paying them back.
"So... I'll clear the room for you and I can take the couch..it's pretty late we should..'' Akio said getting inside the room ready for war.
"No way, I'm taking the comfortable couch, you take the bed'' Keitarou said getting inside as well.
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"Morning''
I heard a fading voice that slowly became clear enough to make me sit up with a sudden jerk being vary of my surroundings.
"I made you breakfast'' she said while preparing a tray.
"You can cook?'' I asked her rubbing my eyes.
"I can make an omelet and tea atleast'' she replied.
"Fair enough'' I was obviously no one to judge, I couldn't even do that, dad's been spoiling me so much; I admit.
She placed the tray over the bed and sat parallel to me with her share as well.
Though she looked somewhat tensed, should I ask or not? I should.. right?
What if she says its none of my buisness, that'd be embarassing, I should ignore.
"Does the omelet taste weird?'' She asked noticing my discomfort.
"No..that's not it...it was..''
"It was?''
"Nothing''
"Sure?''
"Yeah''
I said reaching for my cellphone and noticed messages from my dad
"Why has he been messaging me? Ah he even called...wait, that's received''
I looked at the only other person in the room who could've took a call for me.
"Sorry, I picked it, you were sleeping'' she apologized right away.
"Well..er.. it's okay, he would've gotten worried if you hadn't picked but what was the emergency that he had to call this many times..'' I asked raising a brow since she seemed to be shifting her eyes alot.
"Eat, your dad will be here shortly, I gave him the address'' she replied.
"Yeah but...''
"If you say one more word I'll kiss you again''
"Why do you use threats like that, have you no shame''
"I'm pretty shameless when it comes to you, wanna try?''
"I'll jump outta that window if you even try''
"That window is barred''
"Oh''
I was dumbfounded and she almost chuckled.
"You're such an airhead, it's cute'' she replied.
"I'm actually very smart, you just know this room better than me''
I bragged, half embarassed, trying to cover up for it.
"Yes, very'' she smiled.
"Hey, don't make fun of me'' I flicked her forehead casually.
"I'm not, I really think you are smart'' she said rubbing her forehead while bringing a bite of food close to my mouth and I took it.
There was definitely something up, she was definitely tense, otherwise she'd be pretty perverted, I know it.
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"Hey kid, wakeup... it's morning, your breakfast would freeze at this point'' Akio came to the bedroom with an apron over his clothes.
They both ultimately ended up sleeping in the same bed while clearing the place. It was still half a mess but atleast one could walk through now.
Keitarou turned in his bed, kind of irritated by the sunlight as Akio pulled the curtains.
"Nooooooooooo nooooooooo nuuuuuuuuuuu'' Keitarou threw a tantrum and almost rolled off, falling off the bed, he rolled under the bed to avoid the sun.
"Really now?'' Akio facepalmed.
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"What do you mean fire?!''
My heart pretty much sunk ''you're lying, if you're joking with me..I am telling you it's sick don't do that okay...don't'' a lump formed in my throat while my eyes began to stream the tears that I barely controlled.
"Hey, hey...come here'' she put her arms around me right away pulling me in a tight hug while I struggled.
"No...no...you're lying right? It's a joke right?'' Her silence affirmed that she was not in the mood of any joke and this definitely was reality.
"Dad...is dad okay? Is he...''
"Don't worry, your father wasn't home at the time it happened''
"It's all because of me, it's me''
"No no, how is that your fault?''
"It has to be those bullies, they burned my house and...''
"If that is so then I'm also responsible for making you their target''
"No, they hated me even if you weren't there..''
"Listen to me Natsuo..''
She grabbed both my hands in a firm grip and kissed my wet cheek.
"I promise, I'll take revenge...I will make everyone who did this to you suffer... I promise'' she said with almost a frightening resolve in her eyes, her deep blue eyes almost gave a golden hue as if lit with fire.
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"Should I drop you there?'' Keitarou asked pulling on his coat and fixing his tie.
"You said you had a client to meet today, right? Isn't that your first case right after your degree...go focus on that'' Akio came up and got hold of Keitarou's necktie, doing it for him ''go nail it kid...'' Akio said pulling up the knot tightly.
"Akio san...will you, come to see me afterwards?'' Keitarou asked hesitatantly.
"Hm? Okay I guess'' Akio said shrugging.
"Thankyou'' Keitarou's face lit up like a kid.
"Let's go...''
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"Where is dad right now though?'' I had calmed down a little bit now but the horror of having my house burnt down still lingered in my heart.
"I don't know, he said he would stay with someone for the night'' she replied.
"I hope he's not staying outside..he worked blood and sweat for that house...you have no idea of the things he went through'' I fiddled my thumbs together in stress, she remained quiet, listening to me.
"Madame..A person asked for you at the door'' a maid knocked at the door.
The moment I heard it I got up barefeet and opened the door making a run, brushing past the maid.
I saw him from a distance and ran regardless of being barefeet and jumped on him in a hug, shivering in a mixture of emotions.
He remained still and slowly placed his hands on my back, rubbing it.
"It's fine child, it's fine'' he tried to comfort me but the more he did, the more I cried.
"Mr. Akio'' Aoi san came out as well to greet her, though she was also carrying my shoes.
She came up and squatted down by my feet taking them by force and putting the shoes on for me.
"Aoi chan, thankyou again for having my son over'' dad thanked her and she accepted it without a word.
"Mr Akio, I'm sorry for your house'' She said.
"Do not worry, it was just some drugees, the cops will find them in no time'' dad reassured her ''I'll take leave now..''
She nodded her head sympathetically ''please tell me if you need any help, I'm here for you both okay?''
"I will, thankyou very much, let's go child''
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"Kei chan, this is the file you asked for''
A young woman dressed in a suit came in Keitarou's office while he sat on the desk intently making notes. Her voice distracted him and he immediately leaned forward almost snatching it.
"This person does not seem to be related to our case though Kei chan..why are you looking him up, he looks like a gangster to me, look there's alot of arrest records too and many restraining order, including two from his own spouse'' the young woman pointed, a bit curiously since Keitarou seemed quite serious about this.
He rummaged through the pages while murmuring
"Naoyuki Zhuang huh, What is your value to Akio san exactly..?''