Memories

LXXIV

GIRLS/GIRLS/BOYS

'And never did I think that I
Would be caught in the way you got me
Push another girl aside and just give in'

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They enrolled Thalia back in her classes, and she got Matt and Kevin to help her move all her art back into her studio on Sunday afternoon.

Classes weren't so bad, except for the fact that everyone asked about why Thalia had left, and why she was suddenly back. "I don't want to talk about it" Was her go to answer, and she felt like she was back in foster care with all the pestering questions at her new schools. She purposely wore baggy clothes and one of Kevin's team hoodies that was too big for her so that people wouldn't see the majority of her injuries from last week. 

On her way back to the dorms from her last class of the day, someone stopped right in front of Thalia. She kept her head down and moved around him. But then they spoke in Japanese, demanding her to stop. Thalia's feet planted where they were and she turned slowly. The man was taller than most of the students flowing past him. "We are leaving." Thalia frowned, but then her eyes widened and she stepped backwards in realisation. Ichirou had sent after her. It had happened sooner than expected. And she had expected it.

She followed the man hesitantly, and they met up with Neil and another man. "Do you know what's going on?" Neil whispered to her in German. Thalia nodded.

"Probably the new lord." She wouldn't say Ichirou's name, because even in a foreign language the bodyguards would probably understand the name. Neil tensed when she said that.

They got in the back of a car and the door was slammed shut. One of the Japanese men got in the driver's seat, and the other in the passenger. The car started driving, and Thalia and Neil both looked out the window on their side, in case they had to find their way back. But they went to the construction site on campus, and were told to get out not long after arriving. The other car in the parking lot was more like a small limosine. Thalia opened the door and got in, looking up opposite her. Neil hesitated when he saw who was waiting for them, but got in and closed the door behind him.

Thalia had heard about Riko's brother many times in her months at the nest, but had never imagined this would be what he looked like. Though he had a silk suit on and young features, showing he wasn't much older than Thalia and Neil. But she knew better than to judge him based on looks. The Moriyamas were ruthless, and Thalia had only met the offcasts.

"Do you know who I am?" Ichirou asked.

"Yes," Neil said politely. That wasn't enough, though. Ichirou needed them to say it. He needed to hear it.

"You are Lord Moriyama," Thalia fixed Neil's slight misstep. She knew they had to go into this conversation not as Jostens, but as Wesninskis.

"Yes," Ichirou said, calm and with elongated syllables, like he had all the time in the world. "You are aware my father is dead? I have not yet heard your condolences."

"It seems presumptuous to offer them," Neil said. Thalia internally cursed him. That wasn't the right thing to say. "It assumes you value my words. I am a no-one." She mentally shot him in the hand. Not the right thing at all.

"You are not no-one." Ichirou said. "That is why I am here. You understand." he said, moving on from Neil's attempt at apologising. 

"My father is dead at my uncle's hand and the FBI is investigating what is left of his ring," Thalia said. Part of that wasn't true, but Ichirou didn't need to know she'd been the one to kill the Butcher. It would only make him want to kill her, and she was already the most frightened she'd ever been in her life. "We are loose ends that must be dealt with one way or another."

"I could stop it," Ichirou said. It was true. The FBI had Neil and Thalia's stories filed away somewhere and were investigating it all, but if Ichirou wanted it to be stopped, Thalia didn't doubt it would be stopped. "Instead I am here. I like to know the value of things before I throw them away so I know how to compensate for their loss."

"We have no value now, but if given the time and chance to do so, we would repay your family for the inconveniences we've caused." Neil said. Thalia nodded once in agreement with her brother.

"The average professional exy player makes three million dollars a year. I don't need that kind of money for myself, and I doubt Neil does either," Thalia paused a moment for Neil to nod. "Let us donate that money to your family instead. We can route it through whichever holdings and charities you've inherited."

"An unsubtle attempt to buy your safety," Ichirou said, looking between the two. 

"My lord," Neil said. "We are attempting to right a wrong and fulfill a broken promise. I was supposed to belong to your uncle, and my sister did for some time. We were supposed to be raised at Evermore to be Ravens and play for Court. Our potential revenue has always belonged to you. I returned to exy as soon as my mother died because I knew my purpose." 

Ichirou turned to Thalia, taking in Neil's words. "And what about you? Why haven't you returned to Evermore with my uncle and brother yet? You should have after your father died." Thalia's throat went dry from the attention so she swallowed and spoke, not wanting Ichirou to wait.

"My lord, Riko is unstable, and hurts those who do nothing but try to help him," Thalia started. She didn't know where she was going with this, but hoped it would make Ichirou understand why she hadn't returned to Evermore. "A clear example is Kevin Day. Your uncle pitted the two boys against each other to see which was better at exy. Kevin won, and Riko broke his hand in a fit of rage. Another example is from the other day, when Riko found out about your father's death - to which we do offer condolences - he hurt one of his teammates very badly, and he is now in hospital."

"Did my brother hurt you?" Ichirou asked. Thalia swallowed again and nodded once. Ichirou stayed quiet, processing all information he'd just received, and clearly waiting for either Neil or Thalia to speak.

"I know you have no reason to trust us," Neil said carefully. "And that we have not earned your ear or consideration. But we are Wesninskis. Our family is your family. Please believe me when I say we would never risk the safety of your empire. Playing for Edgar Allan would go against everything my family is supposed to stand for."

After that, nobody said anything for a few more minutes. Thalia tried to read Ichirou's face, but there was no expression to read.

"Your brother is going to destroy everything of yours unless someone collars him." Thalia spoke up eventually. Ichirou's eyes lazily drifted to her face.

"That is very bold." he said, a thin smile on his face. It made Thalia's skin crawl.

"Yes," Thalia agreed. "But it is the truth."