CHAPTER THIRTY: WHEN THE SKY FALLS.

Sighing as I enter the silent apartment, I shrug my jacket off and head to the kitchen. I need alcohol. A lot of it. I needed to get drunk. Despite the amount I'd consumed with Father and Wil, I needed more. Walking past the sofa I nearly jump out of my skin my the silhouette framed by darkness.

"Hmm... for fucks sake! Don't just sit in the dark like that!" Pinching my nose, I opt for taking two beers from the fridge instead of Sake and move to sit next to August.

"Did your talk not go well?" He questioned, taking the beer.

"Nah, it went well. Just... you know." I replied, shrugging.

"Yeah." We sit in the silence of the hotel penthouse, the only noise, the soft whistle of the early morning breeze coming from the slightly ajar balcony door.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?"

"No." The nervousness in his voice made me smile. I knew what he was worried about. I knew what he referred to in his answer. Her. He wasn't ready to face - her.

"I'll be gone for four years." I say bluntly and I feel him go stiff next to me. His silence draws out and as I turn to look at him, his emotionless face greets me.

"I doubt father will actually have me helping Miya-Kun for that long though. Better yet, I'll go hungry and sleepless if I have to in order to reduce the time."

"You know if you'd walked out on anyone but her, they would've thought you were leaving for good."

"My programmer didn't write me to be that kinda guy." Chuckling softly he elbows my side.

"You idiot."

"Thank you."

"But, in all seriousness, four years is a long time."

"You would know." He pouts at my tease, taking a long swing of his beer and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Don't pout. Anyways, compared to how long he wanted me to stay for originally, trust me, this is a walk in the park."

"So in order words, he's fucking with you?"

"Yes. I think he found out about Atlas. Not surprising though, he had his little minions around me since he found me a couple years ago. But to be honest, I suspect Sakamoto-San - my guardian before Mr. Fairchild - was still reporting to him."

"I see. Still, do you think he'd forcefully do something like that just to get between you two?"

"Why not? He threw away his son for his throne." I retort and he sighs and silence drifts over us again.

The sudden knock on the door jerks us from our trance. Looking at my watch I realise it's already after six. I guess it's finally done now.

"Are you expecting someone?" August asks, confused by the sudden guest as he gets up to check who it was.

"It's for you."

"Huh?" The soft click of the door opening draws our attention to the man entering.

"Good morning Sakamoto-Sama. The documents have arrived."

"Thank you." I nod at August and the man walks over, handing it to him before bowing and leaving.

"What's this?"

"Give that to Atlas for me, will you. You are not to open it. It's for her. She'll understand." He stares from me to the envelope, confusion written across his face.

"She'll understand, right?" Realising I wasn't going to give in, he slumps back on the sofa and turns the tv on, to be greeted with Atlas's face. A short clip plays of her speech on Monday and one of yesterday as reporters swarm outside her apartment complex and at The Academy. Fucking relentless vultures.

She replies to a reporter's question about her being too young in a calm tone outside The Academy and the clip cuts back to the anchor praising her for being mature and business smart, despite her age. They continued by talking about her past; they now had short videos of her father and his company, a picture of August briefly floating across the screen. One anchor even referred to her as the Ingram Princess, making me cringe. Irving's face cuts across the screen before another clip of her entering the clinic and another reporter spitting out theories on the politics surrounding his injury and her appointment as Chairman.

"So she became a celebrity overnight huh..." his voice was soft and as his sentence trailed off his voice broke slightly.

"It was inevitable that this would happen. No ones heard about her since she moved to live with your grandmother. And even when she came back her name was different, so she just went under the radar. You got chased around a lot when you were a kid too, didn't you?"

"Yeah but..."

"To them she's like some lost, recently found treasure. Especially with how secretive everything done by your father is. They'll poke into everything. You'll have to help shield her; I have a feeling that old man's going to use that to his advantage." His eyes widen at my statement and he looks away from the tv to me, realization deep in his eyes.

"Y-you...? Is that another reason you're so adamant about going! Not because of the shares, this, you're going so he can't use you to get to her!" he wasn't asking, "God, it's kinda scary how well you think everything through and prepare Jason." He says, staring at me in awe.

As much as I hated to admit it, I knew our relationship would be used against her. I wasn't running away; I hope she knows that. My Atlas. However, those reasons weren't the only reasons I wasn't complaining about going. She may be mature enough to be in her current situation and not break down but after Monday, I couldn't help but be mad at her. She was still naive and finding herself. She needed to break out of that, and me being there would only make her more comfortable in the role she was playing. I wanted her to stop being a simple puppet to her father and be herself. My alarm goes off, breaking through my thoughts and I look at my phone. Quarter to seven.

"I've gotta get ready." Getting up I head to my room and into the shower. Leaving the dial on cold I step under, the water beating down on my skin and through my hair.

"I don't want to leave you Atlas." The words a mere whisper, lost in the water rushing down my face. For once, couldn't I just have this one thing without any complications? Which deity did I piss the fuck off? What did I do in my past life? Sighing, I finish my shower and step out. Repacking my bag again, I move to the outfit hanging on the door. Black trousers hugged my thighs, a black close-fitted turtleneck beneath my white dress shirt fitting my build perfectly. The illustrated black box on the side breaking the typical white frame giving it dept. Leather platform lace-ups on my feet. God. For a Japanese man, my dress sense is definitely more Korean. I mean, they're fashion kings over there and I like being fixed. Putting on my open front cardigan, I pick up the long-line jacket and faux leather duffle I head back out. Wil's perched on the breakfast stool; August stood near the coffee machine.

"Damn. Don't you look ready to kill." Rolling my eyes at his teasing, I place my stuff on the table and pour myself a cup, ignoring August's obvious stare. I mean, I'm no narcissist but I know I look good.

"You're leaving now?" He asks as I lean against the cupboard next to him.

"Yeah. The plane leaves at nine."

"Like they'll take off if you're not there." William smirks and I glare at him. I knew he was being sarcastic, but my mood wouldn't allow me to appreciate it. Atlas filled my head and I wanted for nothing more than to hold her. But I knew the moment I saw her face or heard her voice... touched her, I'd crack. I'd never leave, or I'd take her away with me. Hmm, that could work.

"Can I?" His eyes move from my face to my still slightly damp hair.

"Seriously?" I smirk back at him and he chuckles.

"Allow a big brother the honour one last time." Chuckling I nod and he heads into the bathroom returning with a towel.

"What's going on?" August asks confused and I seat myself on a stool as he moves behind me.

"My nii-chan's gonna dry my hair." I replied and we burst into laughter. Ever since we were kids, he'd do this. I got sick quite easily, so he'd always make sure my hair was thoroughly dry. He'd brush it and add whatever hair products he could find. I really thought he'd be a hairstylist. The memory makes me smile and I lean into his touch as he massages the product August had fetched from his room. Thank you, mom. Because of you, I found a family I belong to... now, I was leaving them. Bless my journey.

"Don't." His hand stops moving as he brushes my hair and I turn to look up at him.

"Huh?"

"Stop thinking about what's in your head right now. You're not abandoning us, Jason." Shocked, I stare at him dumbfounded before I feel the smile creep across my lips. He always seems to know.

"You're simply, making way for your own family." His words seem to stick in my mind... my own family... my family. Atlas's face is the first thing I see, and my smile widens. Is this feeling, a cliche anime heart flutter or am I dying? I sigh and get up as he pats my shoulder indicating he's done. A soft knock on the door draws our eyes to it and August moves to open it. The young boy from this morning steps in and bows, greeting everyone politely before meeting my gaze.

"The jet's been prepped and your car is ready, Sakamoto-Sama." He says politely with a smile.

"Thank you, I'll be right down." I reply returning his smile, moving to get my things as he leaves. Putting on my jacket, I pick up my bag and move to stand in front of William.

"Take care of him for me will ya." He smiles and nods and I move past him to August.

"Don't forget the envelope. Take care of Atlas for all the years you didn't and couldn't." He nods, trying to blink away the pool of tears settles in his eyes.

"I'm leaving her to you guys. Take care of my girl or I'll kill you both." I meet their eyes and they both smile awkwardly.

"We don't doubt it." William replies cheekily.

"Good." I retort, winking at him.

"Oh yeah, what about your place?" Wil asks.

"I bought it, so you can stay there," I say, pointing to August, "Since your father hasn't leaked my relationship with her yet, it'll be safe for a while as you get your bearings back."

"Wait, What?! I couldn't possibly..."

"I doubt you'll want to go home - even if that's where your husband is - and with reporters snooping around her apartment, you won't be able to stay there. This idiot leaves here in the city and that commute isn't worth it. Plus, if I know her, she's at my apartment." Smiling, I leave the room and head to the lobby.

"Wait, Jason!" Wil calls after me.

"Yeah." Turning around, he pulls me into another hug.

"Be safe over there bro. Don't catch a cold and hurry home. Don't leave your girl waiting too long."

"I'll be back before the sky falls. Tell her that." He looks at me confused but nods nonetheless.

"We'll be waiting. If you need anything just call me."

"You'll always be the first person I call." I smile and turn away. Again. But this time there's no stopping. Atlas, wait for me. It definitely won't be four years if I have a say in the matter.