A rainy day, closed curtains, yet the sound of the rain stirring up a certain emotion that I couldn't really explain...
My hands wandered up her back as she caressed my lips softly with intervals, I tried to move her shirt up but she held my wrists, pinning them against the bed as she continued to makeout, only to part for a breather....
"What's gotten into you?" She asked
I knew she would ask, for me to initiate something like this so early in the morning...even I'm surprised with myself...but waking up with her next to my side, those few days without getting to see this scene were the toughest.
I think I realized how much this minor detail mattered to me especially when it was taken away from me..
"I just missed you.." I answered, it wouldn't kill to be honest once in a while, I'll keep my embarrassment for another day....
I lifted my arms demandingly
"Hug"
She was a bit surprised but softly leaned in and slipped her arms under my body, somewhat lifting me up from the bed in a hug while she was all leaned over me.
"You've gotten heavier"
She said, as usual, ruining the whole mood.
" Oh well, who's fault is that?" I replied sarcastically.
"Makes me feel like you'll be mine forever" She sounded somewhat pleased.
" Listen here woman, I'm the ugly one in the relationship"
I reminded her since she was acting all insecure at an unusual point of relationship.
"Oh yeah, almost forgot"
Her reply made me grab her head in a squeeze with a twitching brow
"Ow you said it yourself"
"Atleast deny it!" I argued being somewhat mad.
She chuckled a bit and kissed me yet again.
"I'll make it up to you, today is special, you can request me anything, I'll do it for you"
Anything she says, wait, by anything does she mean anything like work or like doing anything naughty?
Should I ask?
Would that be weird?
"There you go over thinking something stupid" She said pressing two fingers against my forehead.
"Aoi" I sat up clenching my fists a bit on my thighs, she also moved back and sat up.
"Yes" She tilted her head with a soft smile.
"Will you tell me about the bruise you're hiding under your shirt" I asked, her smile disappeared just like I had anticipated.
She'd been hiding it well though...
"Natsu" Her expression went somewhat dark.
I know I'd regret it but...
"Was it me?!" I ended up asking anyway "did I do something while I was unconscious???"
"Nothing, you did nothing" She answered so abruptly, though the rigid expression on her face felt like it was a huge lie.
"Aoi.." I whispered...
So she wouldn't tell me right.. thought so..
"Even if, you did something, that's not your fault" She carried on, probably noticing how irritated it made me.
" I don't remember... But I feel like.. I did something unforgivable... I'm even afraid to remember it... " I told her.
" Actually... It's not you" She said and I lifted my head " it's better if you don't remember it, because if you do, you might come to hate me"
" Eh, I could never hate-" I tried to argue.
" What If I tell you I killed Aiba?"
She suddenly said whilst cutting me off.
What..?
" Aoi"
She's joking right? Wouldn't that be a crime....?
I mean, I know she's had issues before but I don't think Aoi would ever kill a person in cold blood... Or could she???
"Do you hate me now?" She asked
I don't hate you but...
"I hate it" I whispered and her eyes widened, she slowly got off the bed.
"It's fine, you are a good person" She said smiling back and stood up.
I reached forward and grabbed her wrist..
"I hate being apart from you ! "I somewhat yelled
She looked back a bit startled since I yelled suddenly.
"So whatever happened, I won't tell anyone!!! I won't ask again! Just don't leave me! Even if you did it, she deserved it, I know you wouldn't harm an innocent person!" I argued.
She pulled her wrist from me and put her hand on my head
"Is that so" She whispered with a look of adoration.
" Yes!" I spoke resolutely.
Even if she did kill Aiba, that scum had done so many heinous acts with both Ian and Lian and damn who knows how many kids had been a prey of that disgusting pig.
No wait that's an insults to pigs.
But...on an off chance, Aoi might just be trying to scare me ..she might not have killed her...just thinking about the fact that, that woman might still be alive makes my blood boil..
It's like something inside of me really hopes, she really is dead..
Does that make me a bad person?
"What are you overthinking again?" Aoi said sitting back down infront of me.
"Aoi" I held her hands dramatically.
"Your secret is safe with me!"
She stared at me dumbfounded for a few seconds and then broke into laughter.
"DON'T LAUGH, THOSE ARE MY HONEST FEELING.. I'D I'D DO ANYTHING.. TO PROTECT YOU!!! "
Why is she laughing!!
I really mean it!! I'd protect you even if it's something like this!
"No, no, no, it's nothing, just the feeling is mutual... Pffftttt" She went into another laughing fit after becoming serious for a few minutes there.
"AOI!!" I pretty much got mad at her, why is she making fun of my feelings!
"Sorry sorry, it's just, you're so adorable" She argued and hugged me for a while there , so that I could hide my embarrassment in her chest.
"So did you really kill her?" I asked hiding in her chest
"I can only answer you this, she wouldn't be able to harm any children anymore" She answered and I somewhat felt relaxed in the heart.
"It was horrible.. being there was horrible..." I whispered as she rubbed up my back " Aoi what can I do? What contribution can I make for the people in my life? What can I do for Ian and Lian Strauss?? "
I asked her, feeling somewhat helpless just by rethinking everything...
"You have already done more than you can think of... It's just, stories like these, never have a happy ending" She mumbled and I lifted my head up to look at her.
" Then how can I contribute more, how can I make those who are responsible for this, pay for their crimes? Who is responsible for all this in the first place?? " I somewhat went on while she looked at me rather blankly.
" Nobody's responsible, everyone's a victim in their own eyes, there's just choices to protect one's self, sometimes those choices are good sometimes they are evil, in the end we are all victims for ourselves and villians for others"
She replied.
" Aoi, I just want a happy ending to all of this"
"I don't know but..."
" But...?
"I have a bad feeling about the end"
-----------------------------------------------------------
"LIAN!!"
"I'm sorry I couldn't help but call you"
"Thankyou !"
" Go ahead, see him"
Alex lightly gave Ian a push. He'd called Ian so early in the morning even though it was the first day Ian actually went to the Kirihara mansion since the kidnapping incident.
Mari had taken him so he could rest a little and she had to drop him first thing in the morning too since Alex called.
Lian Strauss was awake.
Something made Ian nervous and he hesitated even though he rushed all the way here, eager to see Lian but at the last moment his steps wavered.
Alex's push made him step forward for a bit. Alot of things were going on in his mind regarding how he should act and what he should do. He didn't know how to confront Lian at this moment.
"Kiddo" Alex's voice snapped him out of his dilemma " Be there for him"
Ian ended up nodding and slowly gained the courage to step forward.
He pushed the door open, looking forward at Lian who was sitting on his bed, looking at the rainfall from the window near his bed.
He didn't face Ian as he entered, it was just a window but it seemed as if he was looking far ahead into a unknown place.
"Lian" Ian whispered and the boy turned his head. He stared at Ian without blinking or uttering a single word.
Ian moved without thinking and hugged the child tightly. Lian made no movement, he remained where he sat.
"Brother is so sorry... I'm so sorry...." Ian naturally ranted out his feelings, though Lian remained unmoved, he didn't shed a single tear.
Meanwhile Ian let it all out on his tiny shoulder. The child remained unfazed.
"Aoi was right" Zhuang said, walking over and standing next to Alex who was watching from the door side.
"Yeah, it really was Natsu who was keeping him from waking up, but.." Alex gave out a big sigh.
" What are you thinking?" Zhuang asked noticing his tensed face.
" I don't know...if he really wanted to wake up either" Alex said.
" There's no helping it, sometimes, you have to get back up for the better things that await us in the future" Zhuang tried to console him.
Alex lowered his head and smiled a bit
"....it might be really long before this child might be able to smile again.."
Alex answered looking at Lian who appeared lifeless in Ian's arms.
Mari also arrived carrying some packed lunchboxes in her hands. She'd gone to pick up some after dropping Ian to the hospital. She'd figured they'd need to eat after this long time.
She gave Alex a slight greeting by lowering her eyes but without saying a single word and went in.
"Are you guys on good terms now?" Zhuang asked Alex since Mari didn't really pay any heed to him atleast.
Alex shook his head a bit and gave a little smile yet again whilst looking at Mari trying to console Ian and then looked at Zhuang who stood next to him.
"You might be right"
"About?"
"Sometimes we really do have to get back up for the better things that await us in the future"
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Why'd you call?"
"Akio! Check trending news, I've sent you a link!!"
"Huh?? "
Kei also got attentive when he heard Zhuang's voice reverberating through the phone. Though he pretended to carry on feeding the girls while they were seated in their feeding chairs.
Zhuang dropped the call and Akio checked whatever he'd sent. A visible expression of horror appeared on his face. Kei couldn't keep his curiosity either.
"Akio san..." He ended up calling Akio for attention.
Akio didn't turn to him which got Kei further worried.
"I have to go" Akio said out of the blue, randomly starting to wear is coat and tuck his things in.
"Um.." Kei didn't understand the rush but he didn't like this, it had been twice already "Where..."
Akio came over and gave Kei a kiss on the lips without minding the kids being there
"This would be the last time I swear, after this I'll explain"
Akio said and moved like the wind leaving behind a not only confused but an embarrassed Kei too.
Sia and Leah just innocently giggled and clapped at what they'd just witnessed.
Though, even putting that aside, Kei couldn't help but be super worried already.
"Did you tell him?" Alex asked Zhuang as soon as he dropped the call with Akio.
Zhuang seemed to be worriedly circling around the room. Alex was on bed with little Adrian asleep over his arm.
"I don't know how he'll react, in the first place how" Zhuang whispered not trying to be too loud.
"Akio san is more patient than you think" Alex spoke in a calm manner.
" I just wonder, who had this close of an access to such information-" Zhuang said, though a thunder bang interrupted his sentence and it almost scared both Adrian and Alex.
Adrian woke up and started crying.
"Hey hey hey it's okay it's okay" Alex somehow coaxed him back to sleep while covering his ears, he used a pair of noise cancelling earbuds to accommodate the child.
Zhuang sat next to Alex on the bedside too, helping him with Adrian.
Though as soon as he saw the next flash of lightning in that heavy rain, he immediately covered Alex's ears.
Though, unfortunately, there was just a slight rumbling, not that loud.
"What are you doing?" Alex asked since Zhuang was covering Alex's ears tightly. He retrieved his hands.
"Just now, you looked startled, so I thought maybe you didn't like thunder" Zhuang said.
Alex ended up smiling a little.
" What is it, did I just clown myself there?" Zhuang asked due to Alex's expression.
" No, you're right, I don't like it" Alex said and took Zhuang's hand gently kissing it.
" Why do you always do it, I end up feeling like I'm some sort of princess or something, don't you feel shy?" Zhuang rather spoke sarcastically.
" I just like showing affection to the one I love, why must I be shy about it? " Alex's question really made Zhuang quieten down. He held Alex's hand too.
" If only, the past me had met you from the start..." Zhuang mumbled "I would have been a good person from the start.. "
" There's no way we could have met in the past" Alex replied jokingly.
" Actually- you forgot one detail" Zhuang retrieved his hand rubbing the back of his head.
"What kind of detail?" Alex asked.
" Strauss family is a branch family of the Naoyuki family" Zhuang quoted.
"Yeah I know, so what? " Alex couldn't understand what he was implying.
"Why is Strauss family a branch family to the Naoyuki family?" Zhuang asked and something came to Alex.
" Ah don't say it!" Alex said
"The previous heads of the Naoyuki family and the Strauss family were cousins"
Zhuang said and Alex made a surprised face first then it turned to an annoyed one
"Does that makes us cousins too?" Alex said with a rather disgusted expression.
"Not sure, maybe third or fourth cousins, since we probably share great great grandparents, it's a vague link though" Zhuang shrugged.
" Ah I wish you'd never told me this!!" Alex said covering his annoyed face with his hands.
" Not to mention your biological mother was adopted into Naoyuki family, which makes her somewhat like my sister, I may have come in contact with her but I don't really remember though doesn't that make me kinda like your uncle too?" Zhuang added.
"Zhuang, do you want me to suffocate you to death with a pillow in your sleep??" Alex cracked a nerve.
" What? Is it not your cup of tea? Personally I'd do you even if you were my first cousin" Zhuang shrugged.
" Aaaaa stop stop stop, I don't wanna imagine it , ah this is unpleasant" Alex legit smacked Zhuang's head who grinned a bit.
"It nice to see even you can get flustered sometimes" Zhuang smirked a bit.
"If I didn't have this child over my arm, you'd be dead right now" Alex spoke with an annoyed expression.
" You mean the child we made together when my horny distant cousin came at me in heat?" Zhuang said smirking yet again.
Alex snapped. He took a pillow and gently slipped it under Adrian's head. Zhuang considered it as his cue to escape.
Alex followed nevertheless. They ended up running around the sofa in the living room.
Alex jumped over twice and almost caught Zhuang too. They both were outta breath. It's only when the lighting flashed Zhuang moved to Alex without thinking and covered his ears. Turned out it wasn't that loud.
Alex was yet again taken by surprise for a moment.
Though a few seconds later he pretty much wrestled Zhuang down on the sofa.
"Time out! Time out! My arm" Zhuang tapped at the arm of the sofa since his other arm was being crushed under his weight.
Alex stopped momentarily and let him re-adjust before starting to get his revenge on Zhuang.
Zhuang didn't have much chance when it came to wrestling with Alex, Alex was full of unearthly stamina so all he could do is give in while Alex locked him in his arms and legs.
"Admit your mistake!" Alex spoke from behind.
Zhuang couldn't help but laugh amidst this and that made him even weaker. Though with a sudden gush of power that came to him once in a long while, he got out of Alex's grip and rushed off standing against a wall catching his breath.
Alex got up, he was pretty out of breath too so he slowly walked towards Zhuang. Though soon as he reached near Zhuang pulled him in by himself by an arm around his waist.
"What..." Alex mumbled since Zhuang had him in a hug while he stood against a wall himself.
"Nothing, you just make me happy" Zhuang shook his head, he had his hand at the back of Alex's head while hugging him, the other around his waist.
Zhuang parted with him and slipped his hands up to Alex's face, leaning in he gently kissed him while pulling him closer by his waist.
Alex did try to rough it up but Zhuang would still go on being gentle.
"Stop" Alex placed his hands on Zhuang's chest and pushed him a little.
"Not in the mood?" Zhuang asked.
"You're being too soft, it's cringy" Alex sighed.
" But you don't hate being spoiled do you?" Zhuang came forward again and hugged Alex squeezing him in his arms tightly.
"Ah so cringy, so awkward, doesn't suit you" Alex went on whining.
" You little" Zhuang pulled his cheeks in annoyance.
Alex smirked, Zhuang cupped up his cheeks again and gave his puffy fish like face a bunch of kisses.
"Ew nasty, I'm gonna catch feelings, stapphh" Alex whined on purpose though it didn't stop Zhuang from kissing all over his face.
The doorbell rang and it distracted them both.
"Imma check" Alex said pushing the clingy Zhuang away, Zhuang smacked his ass while he went on ahead.
Alex opened the door only to find Akio standing there drenched in rain despite holding an umbrella in his hand.
"Akio san!" Alex almost said out loud, Zhuang heard him and also rushed to the door.
"Why are you drenched!!" Zhuang pulled him in and immediately went in one of the rooms to get a towel.
"Come in" Alex closed the door behind Akio and brought him in after looking if there was anyone else with him.
Zhuang came out and put one towel on Akio's head and the other around him.
"What is Kei even doing, letting you out in this position" Alex said.
"Did I disturb you?" Akio mumbled.
Both of them shook their heads in unison even though all the things around the living room were pretty much messed up like something wild happened there.
"Make coffee for him" Alex said to Zhuang who nodded "Akio san, come with me" Alex said taking Akio's arm.
He brought Akio to his room and searched through the closet.
Akio looked around.
"If you're looking for Adrian, he's asleep in his room" Alex said without turning his head, he got Akio one of Zhuang's shirts and trousers.
He also turned the heating up a bit.
Akio took the clothes and started changing, Alex was busy with setting temperature, though when he turned around he was taken by surprise "whoa, I thought you'd change in the bathroom but okay, I like what I see" Alex said.
Akio just put on the pants and buttoned them up.
He also slipped up the black shirt.
Alex moved in naturally and buttoned it up for him.
"You shouldn't walk in rain in this state, does Kei even know? "
Akio nodded.
" Ah jeez, you both worry me" Alex said going on with the towel to dry Akio's hair.
Zhuang brought coffee by then.
"I had to " Akio finally spoke up "Something I remembered"
" Sit down first" Zhuang said to him, Akio complied, he handed Akio the mug to warm his hands.
"It's about the article" Akio said.
"I figured" Alex folded his arms.
"I'm surprised too" Zhuang raised a brow " how'd this person get that much information?"
" No, not that..." Akio took a breather, he took out his phone, opened the article and zoomed in on the picture of Ivan Strauss's lawyer standing next to Ivan.
"The man that had been stalking Aoi, did he wear the same bracelet as him?"
Akio asked zooming in on the bracelet on the lawyer's wrist since he hadn't seen the pictures before.
"Yes it's the same bracelet, but it's not him, Aoi confirmed it, the height, figure and stuffs don't match according to her" Alex told him.
" Why? Do you recognize the bracelet?" Zhuang asked.
"Dragon bracelet... we all had one..." Akio said.
"What???! Where??! " Zhuang almost raised his voice though Alex grabbed his arm.
Akio tilted his neck putting his fingers against the tattoo on his neck
"Did you forget what this signifies?"
Zhuang's also touched the tattoo on his neck "It represents the Naoyuki family, the three foldings represent a...." Zhuang paused in realization.
" What is it?" Alex asked curiously
"...A sleeping dragon" Zhuang whispered "... the original leader of the clan was called Naoyuki Ryu"
" Then what about the bracelet? " Alex asked
" The first batch.." Akio whispered " It consisted of six orphans originally"
" Weren't there a bunch of orphans though?" Alex asked.
Akio shook his head
"They narrowed down six kids based upon their performance, we were tested in all regards, intelligence, physical strength ,looks and so on...our purpose was different from those other orphans that were meant to be trafficked , which is why we were given the tattoo of the Naoyuki family and a dragon bracelet which was our identity" Akio told them
Alex looked at Zhuang he looked clueless about it "I didn't know this either" Zhuang said to Alex.
"The bracelet allowed us to use the Naoyuki family's name in order to carry out missions for the family" Akio told them.
"So basically there were six dragon bracelets, Akio san can you remember the children who were in this batch?"
Alex asked.
"There were six, girls and boys, all omegas, we were educated, trained to fight, assassinate, spy and so on, I was the youngest, I didn't get to carry on much tasks before I was handed over to ...." Akio looked at Zhuang, Zhuang looked away rather guiltly, Alex noticed the tension and realized what it meant.
"But do you remember anything particular about them?" Alex asked
" Not really, the older ones barely talked to me and I didn't have much contact with them either, the ones I did have a relationship with I don't remember them clearly anymore but if this person owns a dragon bracelet then he or she is someone who is related to that batch" Akio replied.
" Then, this is revenge afterall..." Zhuang sighed " I have to tell Aoi"
" Just be careful, whoever it is, is well trained, smart and dangerous" Akio reminded
" Akio san what about your bracelet?" Alex asked out of curiosity.
"I didn't want anything to do with Naoyuki family, so I buried it before escaping" Akio told him.
" I see " Alex said "I wonder why'd they wait this long for their revenge though, did something happen that made them unable to do this?"
Akio shook his head " Dunno"
" Aoi says she will be over soon" Zhuang.
" Tell her to pick Kei too, I left him alone, what was I thinking" Akio regretted it right away.
"Why'd you rush in the rain like this, you could've waited geez" Alex said
"I needed to clear my head" Akio replied.
" Did you remember something unpleasant" Alex sat next to him.
" Sort of.." Akio took a deep sigh " but that nightmare is over now.."
Alex closed in and held Akio's arm resting his head on his shoulder.
"There's one thing that still bothers me" Zhuang mumbled.
" What?" Alex asked.
" This person not only wrote about the history of Naoyuki family's orphanage hubs for human trafficking but also about the current trafficking channels of the Strauss family, not only must they be closely related to the Naoyuki family but also the Strauss family to have both old and new information" Zhuang said.
" You're right, how can they be present in both time periods and closely connected to both families at the same time?" Alex replied.
" I'm not good with technology" Akio added.
"Huh?" Alex and Zhuang said in unison.
"I was in that batch too, but I can't handle modern technology enough to hack into news sites and publish an article through anonymous servers" Akio replied.
Zhuang's eyes widened " this person is good with technology, they're well familiar with hacking"
" Collecting information and hacking whilst also causing incidents..."
" Does that mean...?"
" There's more than one person..."
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Are you sure you didn't want to take him with you?"
"Someone needs to be with Kei"
Aoi turned the steering, dropping Natsu off to Kei's place after asking Mari to pick them up since Aoi's car was still in the repairing shop.
"What is this emergency exactly?" Mari asked
Aoi didn't reply, it was raining heavily and the roads felt unclear.
"Akio san recognized the dragon bracelet" Aoi spoke up after being on road for a while.
" It belongs to the Naoyuki family"
"So?" Mari tilted her head.
" Someone hacked into multiple news sites using an anonymous server and published an article on a huge human trafficking ring , linking Naoyuki and Strauss family to it, they are working hard to take it down but a large public has already shared it, therefore it's trending right now" Aoi said.
" That's not what I'm asking" Mari replied blandly.
"What do you want to know Mari?" Aoi replied
"You're not heading to see Akio san are you? " Mari said.
"I'm heading to see the publisher of this article" Aoi answered.
" That's that, but why are we heading in the direction of the hospital?" Mari asked
" Why don't you take a guess?" Aoi replied and Mari's eyes widened in realization.
"Don't tell me..." Mari whispered
As soon as the car stopped, both Mari and Aoi rushed out, getting in the hospital.
They both rushed up to the second floor only to find an empty room in front of them.
They both parted to ask around only to return infront of the same empty room.
"It's no use, they're gone"
"Well played, Ian Strauss"