"Return to your husband's side along with your son and I can keep my fingers from leaking this video online"
A stifling and dreary atmosphere silenced the room. For a few moments there, Akio looked at Zhuang as if hoping he'd say something against it but then hopelessly turned his gaze back to Mari and then looking down at Keitarou in his arms.
"Do I have to repeat myself Akio san?" Mari asserted with a frown "I know you're familiar with what happened in that room judging by the whole situation and I don't even have to show you the video to make you understand how much Brother's life depends on this video" Mari walked towards Keitarou and gently brushed his hair as if nobody in the world was more gentle compared to her.
"Can't it..be something..different, I'll..I'll arrange as much money as you want and.." Akio tried to bargain but Mari burst into a fit of laughter.
"This is too funny! Do you think I need money?! Me and Money?! I'm filthy rich!" She held her stomach while cracking up "What can you even give me, I even got your tiny little house burnt down!" She couldn't even breathe with all of the laughing anyway.
Both Zhuang and Akio were shocked at this point but Zhuang chose silence because if things went this way, it would be a win win situation for both of them.
"You...You were the one that burnt my house down?" Akio mumbled with a fuming rage.
"I did and what can you do about it?" She chuckled.
For a moment there Akio thought of smashing the nearest rod on her head but tried to maintain his composure because if he'd do something to someone as rich as her he's not only going to be done for but also the fact that he knew well what would happen to omegas in prison. Moreover the responsibility of his son crossed his mind. He had to think over so much before inhaling and taking long deep breaths to calm himself and not fall to her provocation.
"Let me, take him to hospital first, we can talk later" Akio walked past her.
"You're more rational than I thought you'd be, your son is definitely not on you, I mean look at you playing it cool and then there's your son like a little worm, getting bullied at college, isn't that pathetic?" She mumbled.
Akio halted hearing the word 'bullied', this was the first time he had heard of it, Natsuro never said anything about him being bullied.
"Are you surprised?" Mari chuckled "Even though it is your fault in the first place, an omega child with an omega parent who doesn't recognize his place in society"
"Hey, that's enough" Zhuang finally interrupted with a bit of irritation from her behavior.
"Now you even got Brother involved in this" She went on talking anyway "If Brother and Aoi hadn't screwed up my plan about leaking the video of your old profession in college..it wouldn't have turned out like that" She almost spoke sadly.
Akio was not just frozen but pretty much traumatized. First his son and now he made another life miserable, he looked down at Keitarou feeling disgusted with himself.
"Why did he do that?" Akio mumbled.
"Is that even a question? My stupid brother doesn't randomly protect people for charity" She clenched her fists with back towards Akio.
Akio didn't further question her, he slowly proceeded walking forward with many burdens weighing down his conscience.
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"Natsu shouldn't know about this..the years I've spent in protecting him from all this..and now..it's all.." Akio's whispered keeping himself stern but a visible lump in his throat cracked his voice a bit even though he maintained his face showing no weakness.
"Akio san.." Aoi placed a hand over his shoulder with dropping brows feeling sorry as she saw Keitarou from the window of his room with a nurse fixing up an IV next to him.
"I'll take responsibility..I'll leave Keitarou kun, the video they took of him won't be revealed don't worry..besides, Natsu..would have more respect if he has an alpha parent around and..they won't bully him and.." Akio quietened up because if he had spoken anymore, he would finally fall apart and he wasn't allowed to do so..Not when both Natsuro and Keitarou's future depended upon him. He was willing to sacrifice his ego as long the two people..he 'cared' about would be safe.
"What about you? Are you really going to live with the man called Zhuang?" Aoi questioned with her usual expressionless face.
"I know my place Aoi san, I'm just an omega" He mumbled almost laughing at his own miserable words.
She remained quiet as if she was thinking something, the nurse came out and told them they could see him now. Apparently he had collapsed because he was also drugged to lose control with all those omegas around.
"Go" Aoi said almost pushing Akio towards the room.
"I can't, I can't face him, I'll leave now..I've got stuff to pack" He said but she wasn't convinced and pushed him forth until he was in the room.
"About Kei kun..he falls apart very easily..give him an anchor to hold upon.." She mumbled, though it didn't make much sense to Akio but Keitarou had opened his eyes and noticed him there.
Aoi went ahead and left first, soon as Keitarou gained full consciousness and suddenly everything ran across his mind, his dry eyes turned teary red. He suddenly screamed and the nurses barged into the room but he pushed them all away and in his fit he kept screaming, they tried to hold him down to put him to sleep so he'll calm down but it was useless. Akio couldn't even move a finger, he was frozen..it was his fault..it was his fault..'move..move...' he thought, but not even his limbs would move nor would his eyes turn away.
Aoi came in from hearing all the screaming too and rushed to Keitarou, even she got hit but she didn't give in and held him tightly in her arms. He kept hitting at her back but she didn't let go for even one moment, until he gave in and calmed, crying into her bosom. Akio felt useless in that moment, it was a feeling he hadn't felt before....but had he even felt for anyone other than Natsuro before? Was he allowed to?
Why did it pain to see him like this? Was it merely empathy because he hadn't felt like this for anyone before, not even... Zhuang...
It took him some while before she was able to truly calm him enough, the nurse also injected him some relaxant but he couldn't just sleep yet. She looked towards Akio in somewhat a disappointed look and he bent his head.
"Akio san, pour him some water please" She said trying to be understanding about Akio's situation as well, moreover Keitarou got hiccups from crying so much.
Akio understood now too what she meant by Keitarou falling apart easily, not like he couldn't understand but he himself had become numb to this sort of thing, it was pretty 'normal' for omegas anyway. This was the world of alphas.
Aoi took the glass from Akio and helped Keitarou drink up who was now curled up in her arms in almost a fetal position as if reverting to a child like state and Aoi was gentle about it.
"I'm..sorry...it was all because.." Akio finally mustered up the courage to confront Keitarou and Keitarou finally met eyes with him.
"I'm so sorry" Akio whispered with a cracking voice, his eyes hiding behind strands of hair. Keiatrou reached his hand towards Akio and Akio grasped it immediately.
Aoi gave them space and slid out from between them.
Keitarou's hiccups went down after a little time, Akio sat on the edge of bed holding Keitarou's hand. They were both uncomfortably silent until Akio cleared his throat.
"I'll..I'll be leaving the house..I'm thankful for everything you've done for us until now.." Akio said and Keitarou's eyes widened
"No..no..don't leave me! Please, I need you!" Keitarou's suddenly yelled out getting back to his sense and squeezed his hand while he pretty much begged.
"You don't understand..she has.." Akio was trying to explain when he got cut in the middle of whatever he intended to say being kissed by Keitarou.
"Don't go" Keitarou whispered as he parted his shivering lips from Akio and Akio was caught by surprise, he cupped Keitarou's cheeks and kissed him, laying him back on bed.
In sudden realization, Akio parted his lips from Keitarou and looked down upon the younger one with wide eyes. Keitarou looked up at him with a half teary and half blushing face. Why did he kiss him? What was this feeling anyway..?
'Even adults can be so stupid sometimes' Aoi thought standing back against the door outside the room.
"Oh well...I'm not letting anyone ruin our first date..." She whispered with a smile holding an old picture in her hands that she pressed to her chest
"That's why I must fix things"
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"That's so sweet, I don't know whether I should be awing or feeling jealous of you Aoi~" Yuki hummed sitting in the dark behind a desk in Dean's office at night time having broken in. She got a print out of a few papers and then cleared the history.
"So not only you two used to go to same school but he also saved your life hmm?? To meet here again, is that what they call fate?" She rolled about in the chair holding up the documents in her hand.
"You're holding back from doing what you really want, I didn't think you were the patient type, I just respected you a little there'
She folded the papers and tucked them in her coat
'So you're not just repaying the favor rather you realized it huh?'
She thought and got off the chair and walked out with a wide smile on her face
"So He is not just any omega is he Aoi? he's your fated pair..."