Episode 79
"There you are.."
"He's..gone...he's"
"Calm down"
"I can't, what if, I can't if he gets hurt-"
"Aoi"
"I'LL FUKIN KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM-!!!!"
Aoi's eyes widened as a slap brought her back to her senses. Mari then lowered down and hugged her right after it.
She was sitting on the floor of her empty apartment with Natsuro and Lian both gone.
"What am I gonna do-" She spoke with a frustrated voice next to Mari's ear.
Ian Strauss also walked in with a stressed look on his face. He was nervously nail biting just thinking about it, Lian was in danger and his mind couldn't come up with what could be done about.
"What sort of question is that" Mari parted "You're Himari Aoi, you always have a way"
Aoi stared right at her as if realizing something.
"I love him so much...if something happens to him I can't forgive myself..." Aoi mumbled.
"Then don't let anything happen" Mari said out straight.
"I'll go-" Ian interrupted the two "this happened because of me, I'll go and take responsibility"
"Stop nail biting before I slap you too" Mari said in a threatening tone.
"I didn't blame you, let the adults handle it" Aoi said out straight.
"I'm sorry I can't stay put with Teacher in there and we don't know what he might do to Lian so-" Ian tried to hold onto his hands since he knew Mari might actually do what she claimed.
"That's like giving the third hostage for free, more trouble to us" Aoi stood up and grabbed her bag going through it.
"I can do it! I can seduce him and-" Ian quietened up for a moment "you already know what it's like, I don't have to say it.. Just believe me" Ian was talking when Aoi walked upto the nearest reflecting object with a lipstick in her hand.
"Ian, calm down" Mari almost had her hand ready for another strike.
"What are you doing?" Ian asked in confusion since Aoi started to apply the lipstick.
Mari also looked at her and rather than being confused, she rather smirked at Aoi's actions.
"You've finally decided huh" Mari folded her arms.
"Gotta say that slap sure woke me up"
Aoi spoke while checking out the color.
"Did you finally lose your mind?" Ian was still confused.
"Actually she was always more like this, I don't know what happened along the way" Mari commented with a shrug.
While Aoi rolled down the lipstick, lidding it back on.
"Mr. Ivan Strauss, you haven't seen the worst of Himari Aoi"
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"And what makes you show up?"
"Can't I just say hi?"
Ian said as he walked in and sat on the couch next to Mr. Strauss.
"Where's your guard dog?" Mr. Strauss spoke mockingly.
"Ah, she's got something to do but that doesn't matter" Ian said with a straight face and leaned in placing a hand on Mr. Strauss's thigh.
"Aren't you forgetting something?....Dad"
"And just what are you trying to do here?" Mr Strauss sat back with an amused face.
"You promised, as long as I- you wouldn't touch Lian" Ian frowned.
Mr. Strauss made a sudden movement and grabbed Ian by the jaws "Look at you glaring at me now"
Though Ian stared him right back in eyes in rebellion, even though on the inside he was shaking but he controlled it really well
"Just what has that woman done to you, to have you act this disrespectful? Look down!"
Though Ian didn't comply and was met with a slap. He still stared back.
"I see, now that she's with you, you feel like you can do anything? Remember Ian, you keep forgetting, this is a business marriage, it's not a damn love story, all she wants from you is property and that's all we want from her too, though it would have been better to go for her useless elder brother though, heard he's easier to manipulate" Mr. Strauss spoke in a lecturing tone.
"I'm not here to discuss about the Kiriharas, I just want to know where is teacher and Lian" Ian spoke in a harsh tone.
"And why do you think I'd know?" Mr. Strauss smirked.
"You promised, you wouldn't do it with Lian, you said as long as I- " Ian was cut off my Mr. Strauss who started laughing.
"Ah you're so innocent, it's almost cute" Mr. Strauss said while wiping a tear from the corner of his eye.
Ian was horrified.
Ian sat down on his knees in front of Mr. Strauss with the same widened eyes and terrified face "Please...not Lian..." He grabbed at the other's man shoe, leaning forward and resting his forehead against Mr. Strauss's shoe "Not Lian, I'll do anything, I'll follow whatever you say...you...you wanted to destroy Kirihara Mari right ? Himari Aoi? I'll do that! I'll do that! I'll do everything you say...just let's make things like they were before..."
Ian begged.
Mr. Strauss looked down at him in amusement before leaning in and sliding his hand under Ian's chin, lifting it.
"Now you look like you know your position"
Mr. Strauss said caressing Ian's lips with his thumb.
"Let's see, turn back huh"
"Anything but Lian..please"
"Then, why don't you go ahead to my bedroom?"
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"Are you sure we shouldn't tell Akio?"
"There's no need"
Zhuang had a frown on his forehead ever since he'd heard about the situation.
Alex took alot of time to calm him down too otherwise he wanted to storm into Strauss manor and raise hell.
"What's Aoi thinking?" Alex asked.
Mari shook her head indicating she had no idea but Aoi had been on her phone all along.
"She suddenly asked me to bring the cctv footage of the office too, what does our office have to do with this?" Zhuang said in a pretty confused tone
"Shouldn't we look up where Natsuro is?"
"It must have something to do with it, otherwise she wouldn't do it"
Aoi came out of her office.
"Lend me your car" She said to Mr. Zhuang.
"I'm coming with you" Mr. Zhuang insisted.
"No, you're going to xxxx hospital, Natsuro's phone signal dropped there, take Alex with you, you know what to do, use force if you have to, I'll cover for you" Aoi said helping herself and getting Zhuang's key from his shirt's pocket.
"What to do if we find out Natsuro's whereabouts? Shouldn't we let the cops handle this?" Alex asked.
"No, I can't trust cops, I have too many enemies, can you or can you not?" Aoi asked with a fierce expression.
"We'll do it" Zhuang said, Alex still had concerns but followed soon as Zhuang went ahead.
"Mari, come with me" Aoi said.
Mari nodded and followed
"Where are we going?"
"hunting"
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"I think...its okay..."
"No...something's definitely up"
Akio sat on the bed letting his imagination run wild.
"They were...working...on Mari's...marriage...arrangements.." Kei reminded Akio who was worried sick since Natsuro's cell phone was going off and Natsuro atleast called him once a day to check up on him but it had been two days already that he didn't.
"Let's just go to his house" Akio suggested.
"Akio..san, you're not well...and what if..they are really busy..and we disturb them..." Kei said, though he himself had felt the tension when he got a weird message from Alex.
If he could have one wish in life, he'd probably have wished for Alex to at least be able to send comprehensible messages.
He'd literally sent him
"14-1-20-19-21-18-15- I GO TO THE QUEEN'S FERRY- Stay put"
What was that supposed to mean anyways?
He couldn't tell but he just believed if neither Natsuro nor Aoi could be contacted then it definitely meant Alex hinted at something about them.
He did want to find out so badly especially since Alex came by in such a hurry and dropped Adrian by saying that they were going on a date and needed this favor but neither Alex nor Zhuang looked like they were going out, atleast not in those outfits.
There was alot going in Kei's mind but he felt like discussing it with Akio would only stress him out.
"You're doing it again" Akio mumbled looking at Kei
"Doing...what...?" Kei asked as Akio's gaze went more intense.
"That thing, where you all keep things from me" Akio said and Kei quickly averted his eyes "I'm right aren't I? You all are hiding something from me again!"
Kei just didn't meet Akio's eyes, he kept avoiding it.
"You guys seriously need to stop doing that" Akio frowned "It feels horrible to be treated like this"
"But...even if...there's something...they'll handle...I'm sure..." Kei replied in a bit of guilt.
"So there is something huh, does it have to do with Natsuro?" Akio raised a brow.
"I don't....know..." Kei said.
"Please don't lie to me, I told you I hate being treated like this" Akio replied.
"I'm...not...I really don't...know.." Kei extended his phone after opening Alex's text "This is what....Alex...sent..."
Akio took the phone from Kei and looked at the weird message.
"What does that mean?" Akio asked.
"I told...you...I don't know..." Kei said to Akio who looked half disappointed.
"So basically we're both being left out until we figure out the meaning of this message huh" Akio said rubbing the temples of his forehead.
"Akio san....It's not.. Left...out...I just think...they care alot...about you..." Kei took Akio's hands in his own.
"How is hiding things caring alot?" Akio felt annoyed "It makes me even more angry"
Akio put the phone on the bed next to the kids and little Adrian picked it up to play.
"Natsu nii" Little Adrian giggled.
"What did you say?" Akio turned around.
"Hehe, Uncle Kei , I want chocolates" Lil Adrian said.
"Adi chan, why did you just say Natsuro?" Akio asked.
"It's a game papa and I play" Little Adrian spoke cheerfully.
"Get him chocolates" Akio whispered to Kei through lipsing and Kei nodded going off to get a few from the closet.
It got Leah and Sia excited and they started jumping on the bed.
"Uncle Aki you don't know this game?" Little Adrian asked innocently.
"No what is this?" Akio replied immediately.
Little Adrian stood up "Yay chocolate!"
"Adi chan" Akio tried to get his attention, but Kei stopped him, since he knew the kid could only explain as much and that Akio might get harsh if Adrian would be unable to explain.
He sat next to Akio holding the phone consoling him by holding his hand and placing his head on Akio's shoulder.
The kids started their own game with the new chocolates they just had.
They were in their own world in that playing corner of the room.
"Let's save it, we can play house" Little Adrian said.
"I'll be daddy" Leah raised her tiny arms.
"I'm papa" Sia also raised her hands.
"What about me?" Adrian said feeling like he'd lost the most important roles "I'm not playing!" He got moody.
"No you play!" Sia got mad.
"Not playing!" Adrian declared back at turned away folding his arms.
"You play!" Leah got mad too and she came at Adrian in aggression and bit at his shoulder.
Sia also got aggressive and bit Adrian's arm.
To which the boy screamed and Akio and Kei's attention quickly turned.
"OH MY LORD!" Akio rushed to the girls and Kei quickly grabbed little Adrian.
"LEAH, SIA LET GO"
Akio yelled at them but they both bit in even harder till the boy was screaming and crying hard.
Akio got frustrated and tried to forcibly part them to which the girls let go of Adrian but bit Akio instead.
"It's...okay..it's okay.. .."Kei consoled the crying boy, the teeth marks were engraved in his skin quite deep enough to draw blood.
Akio didn't say anything, he let the girls bite him to their full content
"Are you done?" He said to which Leah and Sia's eyes teared up in both anger and frustration.
"Akio san?" Kei held Adrian tightly to his chest.
"Do you mind leaving me alone with the girls?" Akio said with a scary look on his face.
"Akio san..." Kei made an unwilling face.
"Keitarou san, did you not hear me well or do I have to repeat myself?" Akio's frown made Kei stand up in seconds with Adrian in his arms.
He couldn't resist against Akio even if he wanted.
He took Adrian out feeling somewhat worried about the girls.
The girls stood in front of Akio sniffling.
"Adi chan start it!" Leah said but Akio showed him the eyes and she Immediately quietened up like Sia.
"What did we discuss about biting other people?" Akio said with an intimidating raised brow.
"Daddy...sowwy" Sia said sniffling.
"Daddy" Leah got hiccups from all the crying.
"You did something wrong didn't you?" Akio asked and the two nodded with their lips puckered.
"Daddy" Little Leah had her face all messed up.
"Don't call me daddy, I'm not daddy of bad girls from today on" Akio said and stood up and turned away.
"Sorry daddy sorry" Sia stuck to his leg and so did Leah, they both started crying loudly, getting Kei really worried outside.
Akio gently moved them away from his legs and walked out, to which they chased him but couldn't catch up with their tiny feet.
He came out facing Kei who had Adrian hugged tightly to console him. Akio came up to Kei and took Adrian from him, rubbing up the back of the kid. The girls stopped when they saw this.
"It's okay, uncle's sorry" He kissed Adrian's forehead and cheek consoling him. While the girls stood at the edge of the door watching and sniffling.
"Akio san..." Kei mumbled.
"You go to them, I can't go soft on them, they need to be disciplined about this" Akio whispered "it'll be worst when they grow up, they need to learn to control this.."
Kei lowered his head understanding that it was hard on Akio to play the bad parent as well but it had to be done.
They needed to learn from this age, that their behavior couldn't be discarded on the basis of instinct.
"There, there, why don't we cook something for Adi chan? Do you want or not?" Akio asked and little Adrian sniffled while nodding.
"What do you want?"
"Jelly" He said while still crying.
"Okay let's go cook jelly, but first we have to wash your nose and face, look how funny it looks" Akio showed Adrian his crying face in the mirror. "See, see, who's that" Making him laugh and cry at the same time
Kei went in to the girls, he squatted down in front of them and they came to cling to him.
"Papa, daddy not talk to us" Leah cried.
"Sia say sorry papa" Sia also sniffled.
"Let's...give..daddy some...time okay?" Kei spoke gently and let the little girls cry it all out.
Akio cleared up Adrian's face and washed the bite wounds as well putting some ointment on it, he made little Adrian sit on the counter while he started making jelly, though he put in enough for Sia and Leah too.
"Uncle Aki, Adrian is sorry" Little Adrian reacted sensitively to Akio's expressions, even at this age, he could tell that Akio was really sad.
Akio smiled at him and came to the kid gently ruffling his hair
"Your sisters did something wrong, it's not your fault, I'm mad at them, I don't know if you can forgive them"
"It's okay, I forgive, papa says I'm older so I take care of Leah and Sia" Little Adrian said being understanding.
"Your papa teaches you a lot of good things doesn't he" Akio smiled, Alex really had taught him well for someone who always acts carefree and mischievous.
"Daddy also teach me, he say to be nice to people you like" Adrian told proudly about Zhuang too.
"He said that?" Akio mumbled.
"Yesh, he say, when you like someone, you do nice things and not hurt them" Adrian said, Akio stopped mixing the powder for a little, going into his sea of thoughts.
"What if they don't like you back?" Akio asked.
"Then you don't tease, you let be happy and move away because daddy say if you like someone you want to make happy not get happy yourself" Little Adrian replied cheerfully.
Akio smiled "he's changed huh" he mumbled.
"But Adrian is confused" Adrian said folding his little arms dramatically.
"Over what?" Akio asked collecting some utensils.
"Papa say we don't bully but he bully daddy all time" Adrian said.
"What makes you think that Alex is bullying your daddy?" Akio asked being amused.
"It's secret" Adrian lowered his voice and asked Akio to lean closer with gestures, Akio leaned in "I sleep but I hear noise and daddy keep saying papa to stop, I think they fight when I sleep and be nice when I'm not sleep"
Akio was dumbfounded, he low key wanted to hit Alex now.
"Adi chan, I don't think they fought, maybe they were just playing?" Akio spoke with a twitching brow.
"Like I play with Leah and Sia?" Adrian asked innocently.
"Uh...um, yeah, yeah" Akio was sweating now, he'd made up his mind to choke Alex to death once he'd come back because he could only think that it must be Alex going crazy since Zhuang was more of a conservative person.
"Then it ok, Adrian is happy when papa and daddy happy" Adrian said fluttering his little legs back and forth.
"Ah I remembered, you said you and Alex play a game, what game is that?" Akio asked.
"Yes! I like that game, we write every people name and we change abc to 123 to see what our name is in maths" Adrian said playfully.
That's when it came to Akio.
Those numbers were actually alphabets in their numerical order..
So....
Then
14-1-20-19-21-18-15
Spells as N-A-T-S-U-R-O
"Then what is meant by 'I go to queen ferry'?" Akio asked feeling like he was onto something.
"It is story part, papa read Adrian stories before bed but Adrian can't understand so just sleep but Adrian love listening to papa" Adrian told him.
"What story part?" Akio asked but Adrian looked like he didn't know any of it. So he took out his cellphone and put the whole thing on Internet search.
Results popped up and it really was a chapter from a novel.
What was Alex even doing, reading a complicated novel to a kid barely 5 years old?
...Was Akio's first thought but he brushed that thought aside, understanding Alex was beyond him for now.
He opened the link of the chapter and the first thing made his eyes widened, the chapter started with a scene of an abduction where a guy laid tied up in an unknown place.
Akio quickly scrolled up to look at the title of the novel and that's when his heart sank....
"Kidnapped"
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Ugh my head....
.... can't see anything...
My hands and my legs too...can't move...
What kinda torture cell is this? Depriving me of my basic senses?
The only time I can remove this blindfold is when they take me to bathroom but then they wear masks...
The tape too, they only remove it twice a day and feed me, then put it back on...
...like am I a dog?
Where's my human rights???!
I'm really scared, I haven't felt any movement in a while...what if...
No,no, this is not the time to get panicked....I can't think about this!
But...what if...
No
No
No
Stop thinking
This was meant to lure me and Lian into a trap but what about Aoi? Did she really get in an accident or not?? No, don't think about it! Please don't think anything bad, just stay calm and try to get out.
In a situation like this, it's important to stay calm.
"Isn't this too much trouble, I've heard Himari Aoi is a very dangerous woman"
"No, no we have nothing to do with this, we just did a job given to us and we're taking good care of him too!"
"I don't think she'd spare us just because of that"
"Let's not think about it, we need the money to get out of this debt"
"Who told you gamble like crazy"
"Stop blaming it on me!"
Amateurs,
They sound intimidated by Aoi...but that means Aoi is okay...that's a relief!!!
"For now we have the boy, isn't that enough, let's inject it first, he might be here anytime"
Who? What are they upto?
"Hey kid, wake up, come on be a good boy"
"Damn he's seriously one disgusting man, who'd want to do his own kid? That's nasty"
"Shhh, don't say it, we get our money and we leave, we got nothing to do with what he does"
Who are they talking about? I do have a fair guess but what do they mean, what is he going to do?
"Alright I injected it, it'll start working soon"
What did they do to him?
"Alright let's get out of here before the kid gets in heat"
"Yeah, I don't wanna get my hands dirty with a kid, that's disgusting, weird man haha"
HE....WHAT.....????!!!!!!!