Chapter 17 - Mine

Alex was annoyed. Whenever he had those dreams he had never felt scared, although he would feel uncomfortable despite how strange and unrealistic they could be. This time he actually felt thoroughly freaked out and for some reason, he didn't find the whole scenario totally unrealistic. Which just made him scoff at himself for being mentally retarded, a snake the size of a man that can talk? Sure that's real.

Water raining down on him as he scrubbed away at his skin, a slightly rotting smell lingering in his nose, he suddenly held a strong desire to see his 'fiancé.' However, he wasn't the type to apologise to someone, neither had he been expected by his father to.

Alex didn't really want to get married, he knew he wanted to have children someday. But he worried that even if he found Yukari, he wouldn't even know what to say- what if she had found someone already?

He wondered how he would react.

Would his possessive nature completely take over and destroy the happiness that she'd found for herself?, or would he just leave her be?

Unfortunately though he couldn't seem to find her or the damn woman, neither she nor her brother Hayato attended breakfast. Of course they wouldn't, not after how he behaved. But it wasn't exactly like he could stomach anything, especially after that. The feeling of those snake like creatures crawling over him and inside his body just made him want to vomit.

I suppose his old man didn't want him to embarrass himself in front a big boss like Mr. Nakamura huh?

But it's not like he really cared. He just wanted to know which bastards were behind the attack on his family and on him, which had been occurring since the last year.

Though he wondered how the hell this mere coincidence had to turn into such a big deal. It just had to have happened at their hotel didn't it? and his dad just had to have his hands on their Yakuza money.

Even though he's supposed to be the boss, he feels like he's being lied to- particularly by his father and perhaps Nico. He wasn't even reported back to on the events from last night- it wasn't like they were in his territory though. So he couldn't complain.

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Taking a stroll around the hotel, which was incredibly elegant with modernistic elements. Lots of earthy tones and wooden panelling, they even had several inside gardens with beautiful cherry blossom trees that you could dine under.

However he could only sneer at these beautiful distractions because it was all just a cover up, for the shit they do under the table which was much more 'organised' when it comes to the underworld.

He thought about the Nakamura's casually, they were practically unknown- from who knows where and they seem to have been in the business much longer than them. Unlike the Auclair's who started in the 60's, according to his father he wouldn't even begin to comprehend how old their family was.

He didn't want to get his hands cut.

These big jewellery, hotelier and subsidiary companies were all made via legal means... but it couldn't be clearer to him. How else had a simple Yakuza family stealthily enter the business industry, over the past thirty years?

How else had Z become so good at what he does? Training. It was no wonder Z was good as he was.

They were fucking hired killers. Assassins... and apparently they dealt in arms, which meant they probably did deals with the Americans.

It was obvious, they had easier access to guns than buying a packet of cigarettes at a convenience store.

Although he wasn't certain, he felt sure of himself.

***

"Big sis... Are you secretly a cat?" The little boy, the son of a half-Japanese/American client, asked curiously as he held up her face with his tiny hands.

Looking up at her slightly upturned eyes and long eyelashes, the boys eyes sparkled dazedly. Her grey eyes watched the boy, her gaze soft and doting.

Her ensemble of a simple lilac short sleeve (that covered her neck that was plastered with a medicated patch) and blue jeans with a cloud knit sweater, made her look like a young girl just about to start university.

Carrying him on her hip, she walked unhurriedly to the water feature by the centre stage of the tea house. Crossing half way over the stone pathway that was surrounded by shallow water.

Stopping in the middle, she chuckled lightly as she felt the cheeky boy grip her shoulder tighter. Looking up feeling multiple gazes on her she smiled stiffly, glancing over the shut wooden sliding doors carved with cherry blossoms on the upper floors.

"A cat?,Why?" She said puzzled with a hint of amusement.

"I'm a big boy now- I can keep secrets... I saw it, it went swish swish. A long black tail." He babbled nonsensically, a sudden flush of red spread on his cheeks.

"I like cats and big sis." He mumbled bashfully as he hugged her neck and rubbed his soft cheeks against her own.

Watching as the Red and Yellow koi's swam and splashed at the surface of the water with their tails, he looked on curiously over her shoulder. Listening to her laughter he blushed furiously, watching the pink lotuses absentmindedly. His soft blonde hair a little messy as he rubbed her face in the crook of her neck trying to hide his embarrassment.

"Come on Asahi, let's go back to mama. She's probably finished feeding Akari." She said looking up at the workers setting up the the stage for the Zither performances.

***

Knocking on the door a small warm hand in hers she heard a flustered, "Come in" from a woman with a neutral accent.

Seeing how she had just finished feeding her daughter, by the way her dress was tied sloppily and her chocolate brown waves were smoothed down behind her ears.

"Asahi were you a good boy for Dr. Fukushima?"

Tilting his head the five year old looked blankly at his mother as he sat comfortably on Yuki's crossed legs.

"Big sister Yuki?" He questioned stubbornly.

Not wanting to see him scolded seeing her acquaintance/client biting her lip in exasperation, she ruffled his mop of blonde hair and looked at her kindly.

"It's okay. It's seems after the unexpected caesarean your doing well." She explained as she felt him play with her fingers. "As long as you continue to use the medicated cream I've personally prescribed you with, you shouldn't have to worry about the scarring." Her soft voice giving her an overall feminine and scholarly vibe.

"Thank god." She said with a sigh, looking at the cleanly presented white box. A wide smile formed as she listened to her three month olds cooing.

Picking up the pretty cup of citrus tea, she watched her sons interactions with the pretty doctor. She was unbelievably fair, with waist-length inky hair that made her seem even more like a Japanese doll.

Realising how long she was staring, she flushed in embarrassment as her sons tiny fingers clumsily plaited her hair. Thinking about her brothers love-struck face she laughed quietly behind her cup.

"Yuki..by chance are you seeing someone?" She asked slyly, not minding one bit the possibility of them being in-laws.

"No." With an awkward smile. "Why Mitsuba?"

"Well.. how do you feel about my brother?" She said hurriedly,her cheeks warm by how she uttered her name. Not noticing how her son hands stopped moving, a cold flash in his pretty hazel eyes.

"No!" Asahi stood up in front of his mother confidently and then jumped into Yuki's embrace, wrapping his hands around her neck. "Yuki's going to marry me!"

Unable to stop herself her laughter filtered out like tinkling bells, her eyes curving like crescent moons. Unable to comprehend how her response had such a reaction on the mother and son.

Looking at his blank crimson face, she held his burning face in her cold hands, "If you marry me, you'll be marrying an old lady."

"No! Yuki will be pretty but not old and wrinkled like a grandma." He exclaimed.

Looking up at Mitsuba she said softly an eyebrow raised, "I was actually going to say that I think I'm getting married soon."

"Really?!"

"To who?!" His eyes looked away coldly, not wanting to show his expression to his crush. His hands clenching tightly.

"Actually... I'm the Nakamura's daughter, for consultations I don't like parading my identity around." She explained with unease, ignoring the speechless and greed in her gaze.

"But because Mr. Miller has worked with my father recently in his businesses, I'm telling you in case you get invited."

"I see." She coughed, fiddling with her silk shirt dress.

"Which scum bag is it?!" Asahi suddenly spouted as someone knocked at the door.

"Asahi!"

The door opened as Asahi said a little murderous look in his eyes, Yuki watching with secret amusement and sympathy.

"Excuse me-"

"Yuki's mine! I'm going to beat up the one who tries to take her away from me." He said a little sinisterly to Mitsubas horror and Yuki's struggle from not being able to laugh at the little yandere.

However, as the amusement flickered in her eyes and her lips curved she turned her head and gritted her teeth. Moving her head away from the view of the handsome blonde haired man that stood behind the steward. His striking blue eyes, emanating an icy air watched her back unrelentlessly.

A cold smirk plastered on his lips, as he listened to the brats tantrum.