by Lannah Smith
John narrowed his eyes on him. "You're not in love with her, are you?"
Skull burst out laughing. Even Rohan was snickering as he continued playing.
"If I were, you'd not have the chance to be his girlfriend," Skull said cheerfully. "You know why?"
"Why?"
"Because you ain't got no skills."
"Excuse me?"
"She dumped you once, didn't she?" The numbskull pointed out cheerfully.
John threw the bag of chips back at him. "Shut up, moron. I don't know why I'm hanging out with you the day after Christmas but man, I am definitely regretting it now."
Skull laughed. "You should be nice to me. Do you want your video to be posted on Facebook?"
He blinked. "What video?"
"Someone's calling you, John," Rohan interrupted, jerking his chin at the coffee table.
John gave Skull a suspicious glare. Skull was covering his face, his shoulders shaking with laughter. Leaning forward, John picked his phone up from the table.
Then his eyes widened.
It was Sophia.
Chapter 39
Thirteen years ago, Terry at age four
"And the children? How can we use them?"
Terry and her seven year old brother, Haru, were playing on the tatami mat with her dolls when they heard their relatives talk about them as they passed outside the screen door. Terry looked at Haru. Her brother had frozen, his eyes alert and focused on the door.
The old male voice went on, "There's no doubt Haru would be the heir since he's from the main family."
"But he's half," a voice that sounded like one of their aunts said derisively.
"That doesn't change the fact that he's the first grandson."
They must have not noticed that the children were inside the room if they were talking this freely. Terry started to open her mouth to greet them but Haru brought a finger to his lips, telling her to be quiet. She instantly did and smiled at him, thinking this was a game. Her brother did like playing games.
"Then we should dote on him," another voice joined in. "Lavish him with praises, give him everything he wants. That way, it would be easy to control him in the future, just like his father."
"And the sister?"
"Useless like her mother, that's for sure," the aunt said with a scoff. "But there's no doubt she'll look like Anya when she's older. The family will just marry her off to the highest bidder then."
Terry's fingers tightened around her brother's. Even though she didn't understand, she still recognized the hate in her aunt's tone and it scared her. Haru looked down at her when she did and she became even more scared. It was the first time that she'd seen him angry, no, furious.
The voices continued down the hall, oblivious to the children. Terry didn't know what to and tears formed in her eyes. Haru's face softened when he saw them and he squeezed her fingers.
"It'll be alright, Terry," he told his little sister in a gentle voice."I'm here."
Terry smiled and wiped her tears away. She believed him. She trusted that he would indeed make everything alright for her. Haru was her big brother and he was smart. There was nothing he couldn't do. And she knew he loved her more than anything else in the world.
Terry could face anything as long as she had him.
So she wasn't going to be afraid.
As long as he was here by her side.
Someone was shaking me awake.
I groggily pushed those hands away, wanting more sleep. It was the day after Christmas. I was exhausted from flying in at six in the morning. Haru and I had spent Christmas together for the first time and he had taken me to New York directly after the last day of school for the year. He didn't return to Japan like he told me and we both caught up with each other's lives as we shopped, dined and visit the city's attractions. Only, we had to cut our trip short because he really had to return to Japan tomorrow.
The hands returned, insistent and forceful.
"Go away," I mumbled into my pillow.
"Please, young miss. Wake up."
I groaned and opened one eye. My room was dark and the curtains blocked out the sun that I knew was probably setting by now. Julie was still shaking me and I knew I could never go back to sleep until I addressed whatever the problem is that badly needed me awake.
"I'm up, I'm up," I mumbled, yawning.
"They're fighting downstairs," Julie's voice was frantic.
I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "Who?"
"The young masters Haru and John."
I was immediately awake.
"What did you just say?" I asked in horror.
I didn't hear her answer over the crash I heard that came from downstairs.
I froze for a second.
Then I whipped the covers off me.
Barefoot and without a robe, I ran out of my bedroom, through the hall and down the stairs to the great hall. Skull was standing in front of the closed doors of the drawing room along with Kabakura, both eyeing each other warily. They turned when they saw me come. Kabakura immediately shielded me from Skull's gaze.
"Young miss, your attire is not suited for guests," he told me, his eyes raised over my head.
"Then give me your jacket," I snapped. I turned to the closed doors. "Are they inside?"
A crash answered my question and I tried to push Kabakura out of my way. But Kabakura put his hands on my shoulders, gently pushing me away before he removed them.
"It wouldn't be appropriate for them to see you in your nightgown, young miss. Please go back to your bedroom."
To hell with propriety!
I tried to go past him again but he wouldn't let me. His eyes over my head, he shook his head once. Peering around him in desperation, I shouted at Skull over the noise.
"Do something, Skull!"
Skull shrugged. "I can't."
"What do you mean you can't? What are you even doing here?"
"It's a funny story." I turned to see Rohan coming out of the east hall with one of our guards trailing behind him. "Hey Skull, did you see their aquarium? The fish are actually swimming through a temple."
"I want to tell it," Skull told him. "And you should see their Japanese arms and armor collection. That shit's amazing."
Rohan's eyes widened. "They have an arms and armor collection?"
"Can we focus, people?" I shouted at them. I really had to considering all the noise coming from the drawing room.
Kabakura eyed the two of them. "Young miss, please go back to your bedroom."
Another crash shook the walls. Rohan mumbled under his breath that it sounded like a body hitting the wall and my fear hiked up.
"My God, they're going to kill each other," I cried out. "Kabakura-san, do something."
"You see," Skull began as another crash echoed, "Sophia called John saying she wanted to get back with Leon and asked for his help."
"I don't have time for that story—."
"After that call, John just sat there quiet like, staring blankly at the TV," he went on anyway. "I even dumped chips on his lap to get his attention but he didn't even blink."
"Then he suddenly stood up and raced out of Skull's house," Rohan said in monotone and Skull glared at him.
"I said I'm telling it."
The sound of glass shattering pierced the air. I whimpered and tried to sidestep Kabakura. But he was quicker.
"John was driving out of my property and in his hurry, he crashed into a tree," Skull said, laughing. "You should see his truck. It's all dented on the side."
I gasped and forgot the noise inside. "Is he alright?"
"Of course he is. He's as resilient as a cockroach. Rohan and I jumped unto his truck bed by the way so we could find out where he was going and to prevent him from doing something stupid. But he just came here."
"You don't think that was stupid?" I glared at them but they simply looked unfazed.
"Anyway, he asked to talk to your brother and Haru appeared," Skull shouted in order for them to hear him over the
ear-piercing noise. "They stared at each other for a few minutes then your brother was all like 'I think it's time we get something straight.' John nodded and told Kabakura to make sure they weren't interrupted. We didn't understand at first. But the first crash cleared up our confusion."
"And you didn't think to stop them?" I asked shrilly.
Skull seemed to be thinking about it. "No?"
If Kabakura wasn't blocking my way, I would have punched his throat.
"You took her innocence, you bastard!"
Haru's bellowed accusation echoed throughout the hall. Skull and Rohan exchanged glances then exploded into loud laughter. Kabakura had the grace to look uncomfortable. And I felt like screaming. I suddenly hoped John would kill my brother.
"Can I take a look at the collection?" Rohan asked me between laughs.
Skull, still snickering, pointed at west hall. "It's that way, want to see?"
"Yeah. This will probably take awhile."
I stared bug-eyed at the two of them as they disappeared down the hall, followed by the guard at Kabakura's silent command. A long robe fell around my shoulders and I turned to see a nervous Julie.
"Kabakura-san, open the doors," I snapped, turning back to him.
But he stubbornly shook his head. "I apologize, young miss, but I have orders to follow. Now if you can go back with Julie to your bedroom..."
"Orders to follow? You won't have any more orders to follow when I kill the two of them."
His lips twitched but he shook his head. I covered my face with my hands and groaned in frustration into them.
"Julie," I heard Kabakura speak. "Weren't you on leave this week?"
"I came back to get something from my room, sir."
"Well, since you're here, you should bring along with you when you leave the Evans family's presents to you and your family."
"Yes, sir."
"Julie, since you seem so chummy with him, can you please tell him to open the damn doors?" I grumbled, putting my hands down and glaring at the two of them.
Julie blushed. Kabakura's mouth moved like he was fighting a smile.
"Haven't you noticed, miss?" he told me. "It's finally quiet inside."
"I have," I growled. "They've killed each other."
"Do you want me to open the doors now?"
I didn't want to go inside now. I was so furious with Haru and John, so humiliated that I wanted to cry. But I still nodded. I had to make sure they were still breathing somehow.
Kabakura opened the door for me. We both stopped when we saw the destruction inside. Julie gasped, then muttered that she was going to get a broom before she took her leave. I scoffed. Like a broom could fix this damage.
John and Haru were seated on the sofa, breathing heavily. Neither looked like they won the fight. Haru's left eye was swelling and John had a cut in the corner of his mouth. Both of their clothes were torn. Both were grinning like idiots. I was so relieved to see that neither of them seemed to be dying that I trembled. Then my relief turned to anger.
This was what John made me wait for so long?
Kabakura's surprise was quick to wear off and he approached them. "Have you settled your disputes, sir?" he asked with a straight face.
"We have," Haru answered languidly.
"Wow, he's like Vincent," John mumbled. "Are you all always this proper in your home?"
"Sorry to say but we're not savages like you John."
I stumbled after Kabakura, staring silently at the remains of what used to be the side table, a priceless vase, and a painting of her mother. The chairs weren't left unharmed and even the sofa they were sitting their stupid butts on was shredded.
"Your boyfriend hits like a child, sister," Haru told me with a gratingly cheerful voice.
"Like hell I do," John retorted. "You barely scratched me."
"Barely? Can you even stand without assistance?"
"Don't talk shit when even you can't," he answered dryly. John finally looked at me and noticed that I was close to tears. "Are you alright, Terry?"
I was so angry with him I couldn't speak.
Then, when I finally could, I told my brother. "I need a few minutes of privacy with him."
Haru studied me for a moment.
Then he grinned at me and nodded. With Kabakura's assistance, they left the room and the moment the doors closed, I turned to John.
He stood up. "Terry, I—"
I didn't give him time to speak.
I punched him.
"I still can't believe she punched you," Leon was grinning.
John sighed. "Dude, it happened three days ago. Get the fuck over it."
"It's still funny."
"Piss off if you're not going to help me with the grill."
Leon kept grinning as he helped John set up the charcoal grill on the sand. The whole gang was at Skull's private resort. John, Leon, Skull and Rohan as well as Terry, Sophia and Hannah were together for a party, a farewell party actually for Leon. He was still moving to Boston to live with his father and they were leaving before New Year's. But the party was more of a celebration with Sophia and Leon together again, with Leon the happiest John had ever seen.
John glanced at his best friend and smiled to himself. Suffice to say that seeing Leon so happy, pain free and without the despair or the shadows lurking in his eyes made John so glad he didn't give up on his best friend. He felt relief, overwhelmed by it.
John didn't believe in happily ever after.
He didn't trust that life wouldn't stop trying to break them down.
But he believed in friendship. He believed in family. And he believed in love.
He wasn't reading comic books for shits and giggles. He read them because they showed him that love, friendship and family, as cheesy as it may fucking sound, could heal all kinds of wounds.
And he was proud of Leon. Proud that he was finally having dreams. Proud that he was looking forward to the future because that was all John wanted for his best friend.
His best friend was finally living.
Leon almost dropped the propane tank and John chuckled, shaking his head.
Damn, but he shouldn't be getting all melodramatic. He was just setting up the grill with Leon for fuck's sake.
"Happy for you, Leon," he muttered, still feeling emotional.
Leon glanced at him and shrugged in reply. They finished setting up the grill in silence and John took the time to take a grip on his emotions.
Then Leon broke it to say, "Not as happy as me."
John's back went straight at the surprising words. Wearing a grin, he patted his best friend's shoulder. "And that's exactly why I'm happy," he pointed out.
Leon leaned into him and said quietly, "You've had my back a lot of times, John. You kept me from flying apart. I owe you huge."
John held his gaze, his gut tightening.
Then he whispered, "You don't owe shit. I'd do anything for you, Leon."
"I know." Leon's eyes glittered as locked eyes. "And I'd do the same."
No grip, no hug, the strength of the communication through their eyes was all they needed.
And shit, but John could not fall apart right now.
He chuckled to hide the emotions brewing inside of him.
No matter what happened, no matter what shit life threw their way, he and Leon were going to be friends.
They'd bleed for each other. Die for each other. Got each other's back for the rest of their lives. Such was their bond.
And John wouldn't have it in any other way.
"Will you stop the bromance and get to cooking?" Skull growled at them, having come to inspect if the food was ready. "I'm starving."
John shook his head. "Fuck you, Skull."
Leon grinned and having finished setting up the grill, he went to sit next to Rohan, who was sitting on the sand under the umbrella, drinking a coke. John's eyes slid much further to see Terry and Hannah were draping beach towels on the lounge chairs near the water. He let his eyes linger on Terry's
legs and wished she didn't wear such a revealing bikini when his dick twitched.
After Sophia called to tell him she was going to try and get back with Leon, John didn't waste any more time trying to get back with Terry too. He didn't doubt his best friend and Sophia would, he was sure that they'd fix their relationship. And knowing that made a burst of courage and rush of impatience came to him. It was time to take Terry back again.
