Time limit

TOH

Toh's gaze fell on the girl fast asleep curled in his arms still and exhaled deeply. He ran his hands through his silver locks.

'If I wasn't a gentleman, she wouldn't be sleeping in peace right now.' After drinking his blood, Sumire fell asleep without a single care in the world. A bad guy like her ex would definitely have woken her up to satisfy his desires. But, he cannot do that.

Is he immune to her charms? That's not it. In fact, this is not the first time he has felt his self-control slipping when he is with her.

It doesn't help how she has been trying to provoke a reaction from him.

Toh leans forward and lightly nibbles on Sumire's lips. Despite being fast asleep, Sumire responded subconsciously.

'I really don't know what is going on in her pretty little head these days. Since when did she start acting like this? Since when did she start acting like every moment is there last?' He isn't going to delude himself into thinking that she is acting on her own desires because she loves him.

His thoughts break off seeing the door open, and Tsueno Mamoru casually strolled in.

"You seem slightly better." Toh commented.

Mamoru nodded. "Yeah, that new hospital opened up and Sano did kindly write me that recommendation."

"I see. You should consider getting full treatment now you have the means to do so." Toh trails off seeing Tsueno's gaze landing on Sumire then back at him. "Unless there is another reason you can't?"

Mamoru exhaled deeply. "I'm not the kind of guy who beats around the bush. I've known your real identity since the start."

Toh paused. "And yet you allowed a dangerous man like me to date her?"

"It's not about allowing. Ki is her own person, even if I warned her, she wouldn't have listened. Besides, I respect her choices, as reckless as they are."

Indeed, Toh knew no matter how many people opposed their relationship. Sumire wouldn't change her opinion of him.

"You knew but-"

Mamoru scratches his hair awkwardly. "Well, the truth is I wanted to test you."

"Is that why you were hovering around her like a fly at the start?"

Mamoru's cheeks flushed. 

"Did you really think I couldn't tell how you would watch from the windows outside my room? Or hiding behind a tree, but the one in plain sight?"

Mamoru continued to curse how bad his stealth skills are when he watches over her.

"Sitting on a tree like that, in the cold isn't good for your health."

Mamoru nodded. "I was just worried about her."

"I understand now, why you act the way you do towards her." Toh points to her bandaged arms. "I look away for one second, and she does this to herself. I am sure you have had similar experiences that have made you paranoid about her safety."

"Unlike you, I don't know what to do when she is like that. All I can do is hold her close. I can't even tell her she will be okay."

Toh raised his eyebrow. "So you take advantage of the moment to make a move on her?"

At those words Mamoru frantically shakes his head with flushed cheeks.

'Sometimes when I watch Tsueno Mamoru, I envy him. Unlike Tsueno, I have not had the opportunity to act as a normal boy. This pure innocence? I have no shred of it left, after witnessing the horrors of the black alice organisation.'

But, it's exactly because Tsueno is like this.

"I think you should stop sneaking off from her. Even though she doesn't say anything, I know Sumire misses hanging out with you."

Mamoru awkwardly scratches his hair. "You know, even I know better than to be a third wheel."

"What did you do when she was dating Nagawa? Did you not speak to her at all?" Toh wondered.

"Well, during that time I had a lot going on myself. Did she tell you about the casino incident?"

Toh nodded. "That was Nagawa's doing. He set up that situation so he could step in, play hero and have her rely on him more."

"Right, I realized what he did too. Though Ki seemed adamant that he wouldn't do such a thing."

"So you investigated?"

"It's more like I visited one of Sano's friends. Not the ones who were jailed for the assault, but someone who was also supposed to be part of it. But, he left before it began. This guy happily ratted Sano out, but I noticed he wasn't going to the police with that information."

Had that guy done so, Nagawa would have at least spent time behind bars. At least, in normal circumstances. But Nagawa Sano comes from a wealthy family, he would have spent only a few days or two in jail. Perhaps it's a good thing that scenario didn't happen, because if it did. Nagawa would have unleashed his anger on Sumire.

 "So, you kept watch secretly?"

"I did, and yet Sano caught me doing it one day."

Toh blinked. "Are your stealth skills that bad?"

"No, it's more like Sano was really sharp when it came to do with anything regarding Ki."

Toh raised his eyebrow. "I thought they didn't know each other well."

"Actually, it pains me to say that Sano is probably one of the few who do understand Ki. Otherwise he wouldn't have been able to hurt her the way he did."

So, that bastard had the knowledge to make her miserable and used it.

"So, he confronted me. For future references, do not confront a guy who is possessive over his girlfriend. He showed strength that I didn't think he had."

"And you just backed off?" Toh said surprised.

"No, I was just sneakier about it. Eventually we came to a compromise." Mamoru mumbled. "I told him about Ki's involvement with the underworld."

"So, he knew?"

Mamoru nodded. "That's why he tried taking her away on more trips, and brought her along to those gatherings with his friends she disliked attending."

'As much as I want to hate him for hurting her, Nagawa Sano really did do everything for a reason.'

"I'm not going to criticize you for speaking to her. Me and Sumire may be dating, but that doesn't mean she can't speak with other people. It's her choice who she speaks to, and spends her time with."

Mamoru looked at him cautiously. "I understand your different Mashima. But, honestly I think you should use this time with her wisely."

Toh immediately understood. "What is Aki planning?"

"Something big. I don't have the details yet, but it will certainly involve dragging out the names of the top members of the black alice organisation out in public."

'So, even if me and Sumire drag things out. I will end up exposed.' The only reason he has been able to move so freely is because of the confidentiality behind his identity. Once he loses that, then it's game over.