"But where is this exactly?''
I inquired walking inside a huge apartment. Even with the lack of any excessive stuff, it wasn't so hard to deduce that it was a luxury apartment.
"We will stay with someone for some while, it won't be long, I'll have to work through the damage'' dad said with quite a relaxed expression.
It made me wonder how can he be so calm when my heart won't stop hurting, what is he feeling anyway? He never lets me inside his heart.
I guess we are both similar in this thing, we try to hide things we go through in order to protect one another.
I know it is wrong but I kind of understand him when he does that, I am the same right? I can't be the judge of him.
"Dad'' I called him in a whisper and he turned towards me with a curious expression. I put my arms around him, yeah I know I keep doing it but it can't be helped..I'm so sad..I wonder how sad he is...
"Hm what is this? You're being quite huggy today, you used to get so embarassed when I used to do it before'' he asked petting my head while he leaned his tall figure down to kiss at my head.
"Its just the timing, I feel like hugging you'' I replied timidly.
"Are you worried? It is going to be okay you know? Daddy's got it covered love..'' he spoke in soft calming voice that I almost melted into his words.
"I'm not..because I know you can fix anything..but don't burden yourself too much..I'm already an adult myself, I'll start working part time as well so we'll fix this together'' I held both his hands parting from the hug, he was surprised but he didn't really reply anything.
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"Mr. Zhuang'' Mari walked in the huge room where a guest awaited him on the couch.
"Kirihara Mari'' the man stood up from his position.
"Oh please be seated, you need not stand because of me'' she said, Yuki stood behind her in her usual maid gown with her mess of black hair resting on her bossom. The man seated down while Mari took the couch infront of him and Yuki stood behind the couch.
Zhuang eyed the two girls and then spoke
"I believe I wanted to see you privately'' Zhuang indirectly commented on Yuki's presence.
"She stays here'' Mari replied with an authoritative tone making it clear that whatever Zhuang had to say would be infront of her as well.
"Very well then..''Zhuang pulled a mocking smile ''I heard you were the one who pulled off my restraining order''
"Indeed I did'' she smirked.
"However we don't know eachother, nor do I remember helping you ever..if you don't mind, can I ask..?'' He raised a brow at her.
"Hmm consider it a debt, I'll have you repay it..'' she crossed her legs as a maid came inside and placed tea infront of two of them.
"What kind of debt, I do not have any money anymore'' he didn't seem to trust her one bit.
"You don't have to know yet, besides aren't you happy that you can finally see your child, I heard that you applied for joint custody many times but got rejected everytime because of your arrest record and got a restraining order instead, Isn't that unfair?'' She took her cup and blew at the corner.
"Seems like you have been researching me but if you really did then you'd know why I was jailed don't you?'' Zhuang also took his tea.
"Mm because you beat your husband's best friend to death, heard went into comma..'' she replied.
"Seems like you only know things that were documented, there's obviously more to it..'' he sipped the burning tea without even blowing it.
"What do you mean?'' She raised a brow.
"Do tell me when and how you want me to pay your debt so I have no longer anything to do with you, I don't like owing people things..'' he placed the empty cup down.
"Why you...'' before she could finish, a maid knocked at the door
''WHAT?!''she yelled almost getting the poor maid startled.
"Forgive me ma'am..your brother is here to see you...'' the maid spoke with a shaking voice and Mari let go of her cup letting it fall to ground and break into shards of glass while she rushed out.
"Brother...'' she stopped seeing the young man at the door.
"Mari chan...'' Keitarou turned towards her and opened his arms while she rushed in and hugged him tightly with her small stature.
"HOW COULD YOU, YOU DIDN'T EVEN COME SEE ME ONCE EVEN WHEN YOU WERE IN THE COUNTRY, WHY DIDN'T YOU COME SEE ME?" she yelled at him almost in a scolding tone.
"I'm sorry Mari chan I had some things to handle before I came to meet you...besides I was waiting till your mom wasn't home or she'd be mad''
Keitarou coaxed her.
"Doesn't matter, like she does care about anything other than her parties, you should've came'' she clinged to his arm.
"I'm here now aren't I?'' He smiled.
Zhuang appeared by the stairs and Keitarou looked up, the two exchanged a glare with one another and then Zhuang came down.
"I'll come another time Miss Mari'' Zhuang said and walked past Keitarou bumping into his shoulder on purpose and went away without apologizing.
"Mari chan that man...'' before Keitarou could ask Yuki came down as well ''Yuki chan'' Keitarou smiled at the girl and her expressionless face gave a flare of brightness. Keitarou went and hugged her as well '' I've missed you both''
"Liar, if you did why didn't you come back home for all these years..'' mari pouted.
"My mother needed me Mari chan'' he replied softly.
"Oh how is Mrs. Uzawa? And your step father? He is nice to you right?'' Mari asked.
"He's a very cool person, I became a lawyer being inspired by him and mum, Mom is also happier then ever. Actually she's probably expecting, Maybe I'll be a brother to probably another princess like you..or maybe a prince? '' Keitarou chuckled ''Ah are you going to ask me everything at the door?''
"Ohhhh I was so happy to see you that I forgot..come inside big brother, I have so many things to ask and you have to tell me all about the life abroad'' she pulled him excitedly.
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"Naoyuki Zhuang huh...'' Aoi tapped her finger at a name on the list ''who is he?''
"Mr. Akio's ex husband'' the guy dressed like a cop replied ''Aoi san you can't tell anyone that I showed you the fire suspect list..''
"I won't.. don't worry but why is Mr. Zhuang on possible suspect list? Why would he start a fire at Akio san's place'' Aoi bit her lip in deep thought.
"We aren't saying he did it, he's just under suspicion because he was released from prison recently and then this happened..'' the cop replied.
"Prison? Why was he in prison?'' Aoi raised a brow.
"You don't know? He almost killed his ex husband's best friend.. he had charges of attempted murder, assault and domestic violence that got him under restraining order..he was in for good but someone really influential pulled him out..'' the cop told her.
"Is that so..and the rest of them are?'' She turned the pages.
"All the people Mr. Akio dealt with during his stay here'' the cop shrugged.
"That's like..alot of them, he doesn't look like he'd fight with this many people..'' Aoi was surprised.
"Um apparently Mr. Akio has quite the background himself, he was also from a mafia back in his days...so even if he's a changed man now doesn't mean his enemies will change as well..'' the cop said.
"Hm..I guess I'll have to approach the most probable suspect then'' Aoi tapped at the name once again.
"Can I ask you a question Aoi san? Why are you so concerned about these people, they don't seem like the kind a graceful lady like you should aquaint herself with...'' the cop asked.
Aoi looked at him and almost smirked, that was the first expression the cop saw on her during the visit so it kind of took him off guard.
"A girl's gotta keep her man'' she chuckled.
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"And then the passenger next to me told me to let go of her hand because the plane had already landed'' Keitarou shrugged.
"So lame, you could've died on that plane, why are you such a scaredy cat'' Mari laughed.
"Hey, you have no idea how scary flying is..I almost saw grandpa twice during a turbulence'' Keitarou frowned a bit playfully.
"Don't tell me you went away with him'' she said jokingly.
"If I did then I wouldn't be here you penguin'' Keitarou lightly flicked her forehead.
"Brother..''
"Hm?''
"I missed you..''
"Wah now you're making me embarassed, I missed you too'' Keitarou rubbed his red flushed cheeks.
"Where are you staying?'' She asked rolling over her bed ''why don't you come live with me?''
"I can't Mari chan..I told you, your mother doesn't like me and I don't want to be in a single debt with our father..I don't like him you know that...'' Keitarou sighed.
"Then why did you come back? You could've stayed with your mother and stepdad abroad'' Mari spoke half tauntingly.
"I came here to marry Aoi chan and finally take her with me.. or if she wanted, we could've settled here..but I got dumped..'' Keitarou covered his face with a huge sigh.
"Yeah I know, its that trashy wimp at college that she's dating right? How could she dump you for someone like him?'' Mari spoke spitefully ''he's corrupted our Aoi chan...I hate him..''
"It's okay Mari chan..I guess I'm over her now..'' Keitarou smiled.
"You don't have to lie to me big brother, I know you are hurting and I won't let it go..I'll get Aoi chan back for you..'' she held Keitarou's hands.
"No need..I guess I wasn't in love with her that much, I probably loved her because she is my fiancee..and I thought I have to love her since we're gonna be married one day but now that I think about it, if we were not engaged then I probably wouldn't have loved her...'' Keitarou confessed.
"You're just trying to avoid it, I know you've loved her and I won't forgive her and that guy for making you sad'' she clenched her fists grabbing onto the sheets.
"Don't do anything silly Mari, I really am over her...there's someone else I've been following recently, he's a man though...you don't mind right?'' Keitarou looked at her and Mari sat up cupping Keitarou's face in both of her hands
"Ofcourse brother...I'll love whoever you love and I'll hate whoever you hate..what's yours is mine and what's mine is yours''
She whispered looking him right in the eye with dilated pupils and widened eyes without blinking which almost scared Keitarou for a moment.
"I've got to go...'' Keitarou said uncomfortably removing her hands.
"Brother, you'll come see me again right?'' She asked in the same manner.
"Ofcourse I will..'' Keitarou gulped and replied with a smile. He then headed to the door and closed it behind himself taking a deep breath. Walking down the hall he almost got startled when someone pulled him into the corner by his arm.
"Yuki chan?'' He caught his breath.
"Why did you come back, you know how she is...'' Yuki finally spoke up.
"What about you, I thought you'd leave her for good..and she's not any better from last time either.. I thought they were getting her treated, why is she still like this?'' Keitarou asked back.
"I came back, her mom kept hiring random doctors, she attempted suicide and I couldn't..I came back..'' she replied.
"You love her too much, its destroying you..'' Keitarou whispered.
"I know but I can't live without her..and I know she can't live without you but I'm in my senses, she's dangerous for you, she might harm you again and forget about it..you should've just stayed with your own mother..'' Yuki shook her head.
"About that, what is she upto? That person who was here earlier..I was actually going to stay hidden but I had to come when I found out she got that person released...he's someone I know..and its important for me to know..'' Keitarou asked abruptly.
"Its Aoi san and her lover...she's actually..'' before Yuki could complete, she heard a noise of something breaking upstairs ''Go! I'll find you myself.. go for now...I've got to return to her side'' Yuki immediately got out of breath and ran upstairs whispering to Keitarou before she did.
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"Are you sure we can trust this person..you said you have only known him for a short time...''
I questioned, finding dad's explanation of things quite unreasonable.
"He's a nice person, believe me...you can tell that much even in a short time...'' he replied and I almost folded my arms sarcastically.
"Please, you find everyone nice as if there isn't already a long of list of your stalkers'' I rolled my eyes.
"Hey you..so ill mannered'' he scolded me jokingly while preparing the dinner table.
"So what are you now? A maid?'' I asked after watching him clean the place the whole day.
"Just a caretaker, that person can't keep things in order or cook..so it's kind of like a rent because I need to save money..'' he spoke politely.
"Heh..then let me help too'' I took some plates from him
The door bell rang and he left the spoons on the shelf and rushed towards the door in apron..gosh what is he even doing? So embarassing, he could've atleast took off the apron before going to the door.
"Welcome back'' I heard him greet someone until I finally saw the person and all the spoons dropped from my hand making a clacking sound against the floor. Even that guy's eyes widened and his jaw dropped open.
"YOU?"
We both said it together quite dramatically.
"You both know eachother?''
Dad asked and I was already in a fatal shock I couldn't say a single word.
"No..not at all, I was just startled''
Keitarou shook his head lying through his teeth. Why the hell is he lying though? So this is apartment? And he's the so called crazy ranting guy? Wait does that mean I'm the 'ugly duck' he's been talking to dad about that his girl ditched him for?
This punk, how dare he called me an ugly duck, I mean I know I'm ugly but he doesn't have to say it.
"Is that so...well Keitarou kun, this is my son Natsuro..''
Dad introduced us, even though we already knew eachother ''and this is Keitarou kun..the friend I told you about''
I walked forward and took Keitarou san's hand to shake
''Nice to meet you Keitarou san'' I squeezed his hand while making a grudge bearing duck face. He almost got spooked but squeezed my hand back tightly.
"Nice to meet you too'' we both upheld a fake smile while trying to crush each other's bones.
This is the worst..I can't live with this guy, he's probably thinking the same..I can tell from his face.
"Let's have dinner.. I made rice'' dad intervened and we had let go of eachother's squeezed out red hands.
"I'll go wash my hands first...'' Keitarou said and headed towards his room.
"I'll go help him wash his hands'' I said without thinking and went after him leaving dad dumbfounded.
"Wait what?''
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Why the hell are you his son?!''
The stupid guy asked a stupid question.
"What? Why are your eyebrows like that?'' I asked back sarcastically.
"Ahhhh if he finds out you are the guy I've been ranting about to him..he'll leave'' he rubbed his temples stressfully as if he was more concerned about my dad than me.
Gosh how dare he..
"Well I don't want to be in your debt either, how dare you call me an ugly duckling'' I mumbled.
"You can't tell him..you are not allowed to'' he said and I raised a brow.
"What's with you? Does it really matter that much if dad stays here? What is he to you anyway? Your new love?'' I taunted him sarcastically and he turned away his red face.
Wait...WAITTTTTT...NOOOO WAYYYYY! HE DID NOT JUST..!
"Well it doesn't matter why.. you just can't tell him'' he brushed past me after drying his hands.
He blushed didn't he? Don't tell me this guy has a thing for dad?! Hell no! I ain't letting this punk win in his evil plans.
I immediately went out to keep an eye on him, gotta keep my innocent dad safe from evil brats like him.
We exchanged glances before sitting across the table from one another.
"Can you pass daddy a spoon''
Wait...Dad said that to me right? ...
Then why...?
....Why are Keitarou kun and I, both holding out a spoon to dad?!
...OH MY GOD...
NO!
NO!
NOPE..