Aka-no-Joo

Chapter 16

"Do I reeeeealllly have to go?" I groaned while sitting next to Munakata in the back seat. Fushimi was glaring at me through the rearview mirror before slowing down the car to find a parking spot. I would always find myself watching him while he drives, how focused he looks. How calm he is when he's driving and how cute he looks when he's leaning against the side of the door with hand holding his head. Stirring the wheel with one hand.

"We suffer together," Fushimi says, before finally parking the car. I hang my head as we get out and stretch our legs.

"It would mean a lot to the captain if we all showed up," Awashima says, while pulling her hair back from her face. Fushimi sighs while standing next to me, his hand lacing with mine as he drags me behind him.

"The sooner we get through this, the sooner we can go back home." He mutters as if I couldn't hear him. I grip his hand a bit tighter.

"The sooner, the better." I mumble back. I bet he's smirking now. "Or are you interested in what happened earlier?"

"I am, but I wasn't thinking about it until you brought it up." My eyes widen and I step in front of him. Stopping him at the mailbox. A grin was on his face. I was blushing. " Now I have something useful that I can use to make you suffer throughout the day."

I scoffed and turned away from him. Damn him and his handsome face. I'd have to keep myself together during this dinner and make sure I don't succumb to Saruhiko's harsh temptation. As much as I wanted to continue where we left off, it has to wait a bit...Okay, a bit more.

We get to the entrance and I sigh to myself, Saru looks down at me, and I point the two red-haired adults that were running out of the house without their shoes. Saru stands in front of me, a knife slipping out of his sleeve. I could've handled it myself,but to see Saru so protective over me. It makes me happy at times.

"Ts-Tsubaki-chan!" My eyes widen as my aunt and uncle come out of the house and slow down in front of Saru. He takes a deep breath and withdraws his knife.Tucking it back into his sleeve.

I hold out my hand and wave. "Yo!~" my hand slipping back into Fushimi's grip. "Long time no see.~"

"You're alright." My aunt breathes. Was she worried? She never called nor texted me. It would be nice to hear from everyone, but the only one who answers my calls were grandma and grandpa. At least they remember that I'm my own person and not just someone's sister "I didn't believe Soujuro when he says he saw you."

I bow my head. "Gomen."

"You've been busy, I bet. Just like your mom, always busy and never taking a break." I looked away from her. Saru grips my hand and remains silent. "Be sure to take it easy."

I nod my head. My uncle was watching us in silence. I glance over at him and sighs. He must've heard about Mikoto ,after all Mikoto was the favorite between the two. He's made that perfectly clear, most of the men in my family have. I wasn't supposed to joining martial art teams or go into tournaments. I was to keep my head low, go to college, and make a family. But fate must've had better ideas for me.

I mean, I'm still going to go to college. I just need Munakata to sign a letter of recommendation for me.

"Did you visit your brother lately?" He asks. I lower my head, my hands deep into my pockets.

"No, sir." I clench my jaw. "Not yet."

Uncle sighs to himself. "Figures." He mutters. "I bet you're glad that he's gone, now you get all of the attention you want from us."

Saruhiko stands in front of him, and a chill went down my spine. We don't need a confrontation right now. Not about this! "You don't get to talk to her like that when you weren't even there to support him during his last moments. For someone who cares so much about Mikoto-san, you sure were pretty absent when he needed to get away. If you really know and cared about Mikoto, you should know that he loved Tsubaki, and did what he can to protect her. "