It will fall apart

SUMIRE

'I can keep denying it for as long as I can. But, eventually this lie will come falling apart.' From the moment she met Mashima Toh, she was suspicious of him. Even though she recklessly followed him into his home, her guard was up. But, when she stepped into that house and saw the pieces that made up this mysterious stranger, her heart wavered.

To see those pieces that made him so beautifully human.

"Then, can you show me more?"

At those words Toh exhaled deeply. "I'd love to take you up on that offer, beautiful, but-" Toh pressed his body against hers and she felt a wincing pain on her leg. "It seems you won't be able to handle it a second time."

Damn it.

Toh gets off her. "Can you sit up? I'll treat your wound."

Sumire nodded and watched as he rummaged in the cabinets for the first aid kit.

He really is an odd person. 

'Had this been San, he would have taken advantage of me.' Sumire shakes her head. She needs to stop comparing the relationship she had with Nagawa Sano, to the one she has with Toh.

Mashima Toh.

Just saying his name in her head makes her feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The emotions she felt earlier, the steady sound of her heart beat, the places he touches that still burn.

'I have never felt this way towards another person before.'

Her feelings towards Yuhi are definitely different.

'I will be sad, I already am. Heck, this hurts. But, I don't want you to lose sight of someone precious to you. So, even if it hurts me Ibuki Sumire. Please follow your heart.'

Recalling Yuhi's words, she exhales deeply. She wonders if it really is fine.

Her thoughts break off when she feels Toh's hand on her nightgown. "May I beautiful?"

Sumire nodded and watched him lift her skirt.She noticed immediately how careful he was, almost like he was touching something precious.

'Even though he has touched me many times already. He is still so careful and attentive when he touches me.'

"Toh, it doesn't hur-" Sumire's sentence fell short when he pressed his finger on her wounded leg. "Ouch."

"Do not lie to me beautiful."

"Do you dislike liars?" Sumire wondered. "Because, I lie a lot."

Toh exhales deeply. "I know you do. I know why you do it too, but you don't have to do so around me. Around someone you trust and love."

L-love? D-did she give herself away already?

"Will you tell me what happened? I thought you went to take care of your cousin-" Toh suddenly frowned. "He didn't do this to you did he?"

Sumire blinked seeing his reaction.

Now that she thought about it, when she came back, it looked like the two had been chatting.

"Do you know Hijiri?"

"He's sort of a sponsor to the group I belong to. Well, he's one of the leaders. But he's a sponsor too, since he helps fund the group."

Sumire felt her face colour turn pale hearing those words. 

Thump.

Thump.

She recalls that paperwork and the evidence that state that Hijiri is a member of the black alice organisation.

No.

No.

No.

Please no.

Toh can't be-Her thoughts break off when she feels Toh's lips on hers. He is kissing her for a few minutes, and Sumire realized why. After she has calmed down, he pulls back.

"Calm yourself, beautiful."

"I-I-"

Toh exhales deeply. "I know what you're thinking. Seeing that look of terror on your face just now after realizing Hijiri was connected to the group I was-" He trails off and takes a deep breath. "Ibuki Sumire, do you trust me?"

'I should say no. How can I trust him after hearing confirmation from his own lips that he is actually related to those people?'

But, Sumire felt her eyes water even more. She will trust him. How can she not trust him? After everything he has done for her?

"Yes, I trust you."

Toh's gaze softens. "Alright, this is what we will do. I will give you some documents, and you can use that to appease your friends and the people who know."

Sumire frowned. "But, that's not-"

"I can't say which group I belong to directly, at least not now. Your suspicion, is correct."

Sumire felt her eyes water again and Toh brushed his lips lightly against hers.

"Ibuki Sumire, even before I met you. I was already planning on leaving that group. That's why, just cope with me okay?"

Leaving? Can he do that so easily? Unless Toh's position in the black alice organisation isn't high? If that's the case, then perhaps she can stop the others from targeting him when the truth comes out.

Sumire slowly nodded and tells Toh about everything. The information Eli found out, to her conversation with Asuka and even what she spoke about with Yuhi.

She watched his reaction. "So, are you mad? That I spoke to Yuhi?"

Toh exhales deeply. "I'm not bad, a bit disturbed. But, I know that you cut him off when you decided to be with me."

Her cheeks colour at those words and she coughs. "W-who said I-I did it for you?"

Toh raised his eyebrow. "Who else would you have done it for?"

"M-myself?" Sumire said uncertain.

"It would be nice if that was the case. While you have gotten better beautiful, I know you still don't care about yourself." Toh trails off. "This situation is complicated, but I want you to trust me no matter what okay?" "I understand." Sumire mumbled.

Although she wants to pry more details from him, this is the most honest he has been about this topic. Neither of them said a word, as Toh treated her wounds.

"You're good at this." Sumire commented.

Toh chuckled. "Yeah. It's a handy skill to have when you belong to this circle."

"Have you always been with your current group?" Sumire casually asked.

If he hasn't been there from the beginning, she can still spin a tale. Of him being deceived. Especially if the lie Atsuro made up doesn't work.

"No, there was a time after the accident where I did some work for underworld groups abroad."