𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 | ᴋᴜᴢᴜʀʏᴜ ꜰᴜʏᴜʜɪᴋᴏ x ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

~𝟒𝟑~

Fuyuhiko stood tensely in the dimly lit IT room, the glow of several screens illuminating his sharp features. Surrounding him were a handful of his most trusted Kuzuryu clan members, all focused on the same thing: figuring out how the Morioka clan had managed to get so dangerously close to Hannah without them noticing.

One of the men, seated in front of a large monitor, typed furiously as he pulled up surveillance footage and data logs from the past few weeks. "Boss." he said, his voice tight with concentration, "We're cross-referencing the times the photos were taken with the movements around the manor. There's definitely some kind of breach."

Fuyuhiko leaned over the desk, his eyes scanning the screen, looking for any sign of where the Morioka clan had slipped through. His fists clenched at his sides, jaw tight with frustration. "What kind of breach are we talking about?" His voice was low, dangerous.

Another clan member pointed to a map on a separate screen. "It's likely they used a drone for some of the more recent photos, especially the one of her in her room. We picked up some interference near the east wing, but we thought it was just environmental at the time."

Fuyuhiko's eyes narrowed. "And you didn't think to look into it further?"

The man flinched slightly under Fuyuhiko's sharp tone. "There were no visual cues at the time, boss. We didn't think-"

"Clearly, you didn't think." Fuyuhiko cut him off, pacing slightly as his frustration boiled. He hated knowing that the Morioka clan had been watching Hannah so closely, so intimately, without him realizing. Worse, that they'd managed to take those explicit photos of her in what should have been the most secure place, his own home.

Another clan member spoke up, trying to shift the conversation. "We're also looking at possible internal leaks. There's a chance someone on the inside could've been passing information along, giving the Morioka clan access points and timings."

Fuyuhiko stopped pacing, his gaze darkening. The idea of a traitor within his ranks, someone helping the Morioka clan target Hannah, sent a surge of anger through him. He slammed his fist down on the desk, causing everyone in the room to flinch.

"We need to find out who that is, now." His voice was sharp, the threat clear. "I want every single one of you combing through these records. Check the guards, the workers, anyone who's had access to Hannah's wing, or any communication with the Morioka clan. We're not leaving any stone unturned."

The room was silent for a moment, the tension thick. The men nodded, diving back into their work, not wanting to draw any more of Fuyuhiko's ire. He glanced at the images of Hannah on the screen, the ones where she was oblivious to the fact she was being watched, and his chest tightened.

They were already too close. Too bold.

Fuyuhiko cursed under his breath. He needed to protect her, needed to keep her safe at any cost. And if it meant rooting out a mole within his own clan and taking the fight to the Moriokas, he would. No one would touch Hannah again. Not while he still had breath in his lungs.

"Keep me updated on everything." Fuyuhiko ordered, stepping back from the screens. "I want to know the second we find out who's been feeding them this information."

As he turned to leave, his thoughts raced. He had to talk to his father about tightening security even further, and somehow, he had to keep Hannah out of all this without making her feel more like a prisoner in his home. The delicate balance of protecting her without letting her feel trapped was becoming harder to manage by the day.

As Fuyuhiko stood at the far side of the room, trying to gather his thoughts, the door opened, and Riku stepped in. His usual easygoing demeanor was gone, replaced by a stormy expression that immediately caught Fuyuhiko's attention. Riku, Hannah's cousin and one of Fuyuhiko's closest friends, had just been filled in on the details of what had happened with the Morioka clan and his cousin.

Riku's eyes swept over the room before they landed on Fuyuhiko. "Where is she?" His voice was tight, restrained, but Fuyuhiko could hear the anger beneath it.

Fuyuhiko let out a small sigh and turned to face Riku fully. He knew this was coming. Riku had every right to be furious about what had happened to Hannah, but Fuyuhiko had been trying to shield her from the full extent of the situation. Now, with Riku being informed, that was going to be harder to manage.

"She's resting, Riku." Fuyuhiko said, keeping his voice steady. "She's been through a lot, and I don't want her knowing everything yet."

Riku's eyes narrowed. "Not knowing everything?" His fists clenched at his sides. "She's my cousin, Fuyuhiko. She has a right to know what these bastards have done, what they're planning."

"I know that." Fuyuhiko replied, his voice firm. "But right now, she's still recovering. She's got wounds- physical and mental. Pushing her with more stress isn't going to help anyone. I'm trying to keep her safe, Riku."

Riku took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, but his eyes flicked to the screens, where the photos of Hannah were still being analyzed. His jaw tightened further when he saw one of the more recent pictures, the one of her in her room, vulnerable, bandages still wrapped around her torso.

"And what about this?" Riku said, gesturing toward the screens. "This is the kind of thing you think she can't handle? She's stronger than you think, Fuyuhiko. Hiding it from her isn't protecting her- it's keeping her in the dark."

Fuyuhiko's gaze dropped to the floor for a second. He didn't like hearing this, but deep down, he knew Riku had a point. Hannah wasn't fragile, even if she seemed that way to others. She had a resilience he'd seen firsthand, but there was a part of him that wanted to keep her insulated from the ugliness of his world, at least until she was fully healed.

"You're right." Fuyuhiko said quietly, but with resolve. "She does deserve to know. But I need to handle this my way, and in my own time. I won't keep it from her forever, but not while she's still dealing with the fallout of what happened."

Riku stepped closer, the tension between them palpable. "If anything else happens to her, I'll hold you responsible. You're the one who promised to protect her."

Fuyuhiko's eyes darkened at that. "I am protecting her, Riku. I'm doing everything I can. You're not the only one who cares about her."

They stared at each other for a moment, the weight of their shared frustration and anger heavy in the air. But Riku finally let out a breath and nodded, stepping back slightly.

"Fine." Riku muttered. "But if you're keeping her out of this, you better make damn sure she doesn't end up getting blindsided by the Moriokas again. I want her out of their reach, completely."

Fuyuhiko nodded, his expression hardening. "I won't let them get anywhere near her again. That's a promise."

Riku, still tense, glanced once more at the images on the screen, disgust clear on his face. "They'll pay for this." he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Every last one of them."

Fuyuhiko didn't need to respond. He knew Riku was right. The Morioka clan had crossed a line, and the consequences would be severe.

As Riku left the room, Fuyuhiko returned his attention to the men analyzing the footage, his resolve even stronger. He wasn't going to let Hannah be a pawn in this twisted game between the clans. She meant too much to too many people, and to him.