Astraeus

Chapter 2: Difficulties (2)

„What's happening here?" Everyone tenses up. A firm voice stops the conflict almost instantly. The man is not other than the house owner, Ryuichi Shirizawa who appears from the unknown with two butlers following him. "Ah, dear...it's a surprise seeing you...." Whatever she wanted to say didn't attract the man's attention, because as soon as she looked at her husband she gasped nervously and chose to remain silent.

"Misaki, care to explain, why our precious guest has mud stains all over her face and dress?" He narrows towards Misaki, demanding an answer. Misaki mumbles something that no one can understand while fidgeting with his hand.

The older man breathes in and out then approaches the two ladies. "Lo...Lord Shirizawa, I'm... terribly sorry for my...." Lady Hermina avoids eye contact. "No, no, please don't apologize my lady. You are not the one to blame." A piece of handkerchief catches her eyes. "My carelessness caused you great trouble..." He hands it to her. " Please accept this, not much I know, however, we will, of course, provide new clothes so the lady can put her mind at ease.

Mahiru from the distance doesn't concentrate on the elders. His brother in front of him is shaking so much, it's hard not to ignore it. Mahiru grabs his hands to get his attention. " Misaki, you should disappear while you can. I'll solve this on my own." When Misaki's eyes meet with Mahiru's he knows Mahiru is fully capable of handling this, but there is this feeling in his heart that tells him not to leave his little brother alone. "But..." Mahiru squeezes his hands tighter to reassure him."You know Father will not hurt me, right?"

He won't ever be able to say no to Mahiru, so he nods slightly. " Okay, we will meet at the usual place." Mahiru lets his hand go. "Now go." He says and moves to cover Misaki.

Everything goes according to plan. Misaki slowly, but surely leaves his vision, while the elders are in their world. He already has a few ideas on how to get Misaki out of trouble and himself without much punishment. As he thought, everything should go according to plan... But of course, god hates him as always.

A strangely familiar feminine voice behind him disturbs all of the people in the garden. "Master Misaki, I finally caught you! Do you even have any idea how much suffering I went through just to find you?!" Mahiru impatiently turns around. The maid from before keeps Misaki from escaping.

Mahiru could hear his father whispering to the butlers, which made his blood run cold. "Escort my wife to her residence and Miss Hermina to one of the rooms to change, then show her the lounge and tell her to wait there. While I'm away I demand you to do everything the miss wishes." Lord Shirizawa stares at Misaki. " I'll be... joining shortly" The butlers bow and one of them leaves with Mahiru's mother and the other guides Miss Hermina into the mansion.

Mahiru attempts to help Misaki, however, a painfully strong grip around his arm stops him. "Stop right there." His father makes him look into his eyes. "I expected better from you Mahiru. Trying to run away, how foolish of you" The cold voice sends a shiver down his spine, and if the look of his father could kill people, he would already be six feet under. "Fa...father let me explain..." His arm was held upward out of nowhere, which makes him yelp. He practically doesn't reach the ground, only his tiptoes. " You two almost made me lose a valuable business partner, do you think I care about your stupid excuses?"

"Father... that hurts..." The older holds him like a sandbag in the air by his arm and is crushing the area around it so painfully to the point it begins to go numb "How pathetic," says Mahiru's father.

"MAHIRU!" From the hurried footsteps and the cracking voice Mahiru could recognize the person right away. "Misaki, don't come here!" The loud high-pitched scream makes his brother stop." Why didn't you run away, when you had the chance? Are you stupid?! I asked you for just one simple thing, not to get caught!" Couldn't you listen to me for once?! He first was angry at himself for letting the maid slip his mind, however, now his older brother's stupidity made him even more irritated.