112: Moment of Closing In

Kotarou managed to grab Yuzuki's head. His grip was strong but as he tried to take off the towel from her head, it wouldn't budge. Using that pause, Yuzuki slapped his arms away as hard as she could and Reo backed away a few steps without her telling him to.

'Why can't I take off your towel?' Kotarou said exasperatingly.

Yuzuki smirked. 'It's not easy to untie or take off a constrictor knot, Kotarou-senpai!'

'Constrictor knot!?' Kotarou gasped. 'Isn't that unfair?'

'Is it?' Reo raised a brow. 'Come and get it, Ko-ta-rou.'

He clicked his tongue and Eikichi charged forward. Yuzuki readied a defensive stance.

'As we discussed, Reo-senpai.' Yuzuki whispered and Reo nodded in understanding. Right before Kotarou's hand could reach for her head, Reo moved to the right while Yuzuki ducked under Kotarou's arm. She quickly used her right hand to grab Kotarou's towel.

But she was too short to yank it off the top. The only way to remove it from her height would be to untie it. She began to work but Eikichi quickly spun and Kotarou smacked her hands off. Reo distanced himself from his opponent.

'Head-on! Charge!' Kotarou yelled. Both Eikichi and Reo ran towards each other and Yuzuki and Kotarou began struggling and fighting.

They didn't realize the door was opened at that very moment. Akashi entered quietly and watched his teammates playing in the water like little kids. His gaze followed Yuzuki, who seemed to have been welcomed by his members and was now pushing and pulling Kotarou.

The fight went on for about two more minutes until Yuzuki was exhausted and her grips were losing strength. Kotarou, being the one with more power tried to grab Yuzuki's towel again but she quickly dodged it. She moved too far to the back and her legs slipped off Reo's shoulders.

Knowing she couldn't float in the deep water, she turned her body and reached for the lifebuoy just a few long inches behind her. She grabbed hold of it but still fell into the water. Reo quickly spun and helped her up but the lifebuoy was being pulled downwards and it was heading for his head.

Reo put up one arm to protect himself from the buoy but it hit him nevertheless. Kotarou jumped off Eikichi's shoulders and helped Yuzuki up. The buoy floated away as Eikichi put it aside in a rush.

'Oh shit, you're bleeding,' Eikichi said, examining his friend.

Yuzuki used Kotarou's shoulder as a support as they drifted towards Reo.

'I'm so sorry!' Yuzuki apologized and removed some hair from Reo's forehead to see the wound clearer. 'Let's go to the hospital!'

'Relax, guys, it's just a scratch. I'll patch up a band aid or two and it'll be fine.' Reo said, frowning as the wound throbbed.

'Kotarou-senpai, can you help me?' Yuzuki tapped on his shoulder and Kotarou nodded. He brought her to the perimeter of the pool and she climbed out. Reo followed.

Yuzuki saw Akashi, then.

'Ah, Akashi!' she exclaimed and approached him. 'Do you have a first-aid kit here?'

'It's in the kitchen,' Akashi said then opened the door and exited the indoor pool to show her the place. Yuzuki turned and grabbed Reo's hand before dragging him along to the kitchen.

Akashi opened a cabinet and took out the kit but before he could say anything, Yuzuki snatched it from his hand with a loud "thanks" and pulled Reo to the dining hall where they could sit down properly.

She grabbed a few tissues from the table and dabbed it on Reo's forehead to dry it.

Akashi watched the two from far.

'I'm really sorry about this,' Yuzuki muttered as she began the treatment.

'It's okay, really. It was an accident. The game we played was dangerous,' said Reo reassuringly. He winced as the cold antiseptic touched his painful wound. 'We're sorry too for not considering the possibility that you might fall into the water even though you don't know how to swim.'

Yuzuki chuckled. 'I can swim, Reo-senpai. I just don't know how to float.'

'Still dangerous.' Reo shrugged.

'But then, I can't believe you got seriously wounded because of a freaking lifebuoy. How could that thing hurt you like this?' Yuzuki shook her head in disbelief.

Reo laughed. 'It has a hard shell after all. Luckily it was just a scratch. I dodged it well. If it were to hit my head I'd be having a concussion by now.'

'I'm never using that thing again,' Yuzuki sighed then clasped her hands together. 'It's done! Were you hurt anywhere else?'

Reo shook his head. 'No, I'm fine. Thank you.'

'You're welcome, I think we should clean up and shower,' Yuzuki said then stood to return the kit.

Akashi, who was staring at them since the start of the treatment suddenly, left the area.

-

That night, they ordered a takeout and after a short dinner, everyone went to sleep because they were tired playing in the water for a long time.

Yuzuki's room was at the second floor, closest to the staircase. The pizza she ate had digested and she was feeling hungry. The time was close to 2am and she couldn't sleep, provided that it was a new place for her. It takes time for one's body to adjust to their sleeping position.

She slowly opened her bedroom door and without a sound, tiptoed downstairs. The first floor was dark but the staircase had a light lit up at the quarter space landing part so she could see the steps. Reaching the kitchen, she looked around to see if there's anybody but as expected, it was empty and quiet.

Yuzuki treaded carefully across the dining hall and to the kitchen. Without turning on the lights, she grabbed a bag of chips she saw earlier in the pantry and a glass of water before moving to the living room, where she sat down on the 3-seater sofa. Her hand reached for the remote controller of the TV and turned it on as if she was in her own house.

There weren't any interesting shows she could find so she ended up watching a documentary about how hot springs are discovered and preserved.

'Don't you have anything better to watch?' a voice said from behind her.

Yuzuki squealed in surprise and jumped out of her seat, falling off from the sofa. The water in the glass she was holding spilled on her pants and her unopened bag of chips were crushed under her weight. She turned her head furiously.

'AKASHI!' she gritted her teeth. 'Don't scare me like that!'

'I did nothing,' Akashi said, holding back a chuckle at her current state.

Yuzuki clicked her tongue, knowing it was right. She placed the glass on the floor then got back up on the sofa and folded her arms across her chest in frustration. She looked at the redhead.

'What are you doing here?' she asked.

'I could ask the same thing to you.'

'Yes but I asked first.'

'I have no obligations to answer it.'

Yuzuki frowned. 'It's not a difficult question, right? Would it kill for you to reply to that?'

'I just woke up,' he retorted.

'What? Why? It's 2am, you should be sleeping.'

'I'm going out for a run.'

'WHAT!?' she yelled. 'At this hour?!'

Akashi shook his head in disbelief at her stupidity then took the remote controller from her hand before switching channels. Yuzuki who was staring at him and gaping snapped back to reality and exhaled sharply. She turned towards the television, watching whatever he chose.

'Did you rent this place, Akashi?' she questioned, trying to initiate a conversation.

'No, this is my summer villa.'

Yuzuki glanced at him then back to the TV. 'How much money do you have...?' she muttered to herself but he heard it clearly.

'Yuzuki,' Akashi called out.

'What?' she spun to meet his gaze.

'Move your big head, I can't see the screen.'

'Ugh,' she groaned then stretched out her legs to get off from the sofa.

'Hey, the glass is—' Akashi tried to warn but it was too late.

Yuzuki accidentally stepped on the glass and she lost her footing. Her body fell side-first but managed to support her body with her elbow. The sound of the glass breaking echoed throughout the living room.

Both of them went silent.

Akashi stood and turned on the lights.

Yuzuki stared at the floor, thinking and registering what had just happened. Her right leg was throbbing in pain to the point that it became numb. She frowned the hardest she ever did and bit her lower lip to contain the pain.

Akashi went to her and examined her condition. 'I need to extract the broken bits. It could've gotten into your wound.'

Yuzuki shook her head quickly. 'I don't want to move.'

'Then are you going to stay here until you're infected and die in three days?'

'No...' she said quietly. The pain receptors were sending signals to her brain non-stop and she began to sob.

Akashi looked at her and sighed. 'Are you sure you're the daughter of the powerful Miyamura clan? You're going to cry because of this?'

'Do you want me to smash a glass to your head so you can feel what I'm feeling?' she said angrily, sniffing.

'I was trying to distract you from the pain.'

'Well thanks but it didn't work,' she rolled her eyes. 'Now what do I do with this?! It freaking hurts!'

Akashi closed in on her and held the collar of her clothes, bringing it near her mouth. 'Bite this.' He said.

'What? No, why?'

'Do it.'

Yuzuki frowned in confusion but bit her own collar nevertheless. Without any more words, Akashi grabbed her ankle and lifted it off the floor. Yuzuki screeched in pain but it was muffled, just as he wanted. Her hands struggled to push him away but he was stronger than her.

He turned on his phone's flashlight and held it so he could see her wounds. Akashi removed some pieces from the surface of it; those that he could see. All during the process, Yuzuki cried but obligated his words to bite her collar so no one could hear her. She repeatedly wiped her tears as he meddled with her calf.

'Can you walk? We need to wash it,' he said, holding out one hand for support.

She whined. 'I don't want to move.'

'So I need to bring a basin of water to you and flood my living hall?' he raised a brow.

'No,' she murmured then grabbed his hand. She pulled herself up slowly and limped to the nearest shower room, leaning on Akashi all the way. 'I'm sorry...'

'Why are you apologizing?' he questioned.

'I broke the glass and you have to help me and whatever.'

'It's okay, it has happened anyway, there's no point dwelling on it.' He answered. Arriving at the shower, he opened the door and led her in. Yuzuki lifted her leg so he could wash it easily.

'You can hold on to me,' he said and placed her hand on his shoulder. 'I can't let you fall in here and have another bloody scene.'

Yuzuki gripped tight as he removed the showerhead from its holder and turned the handle so the water would spray out. He began rinsing her leg. She didn't make a sound but her knuckles turned white as she clenched on Akashi's shoulder firmer.

'Okay we're done,' he said then stood. Yuzuki wiped her red eyes and Akashi chuckled. 'Why were you so relaxed eating leaves with pesticides but cry at this kind of wound?'

She didn't reply and they went back to the living hall. Akashi disinfected the wounds and bandaged her whole calf before cleaning the mess on the floor. Yuzuki leaned against the backrest of the sofa and stared at the ceiling, trying to distract herself from the pain.

When Akashi was done cleaning and disposing of the broken pieces of glass, Yuzuki had fallen asleep. He turned off the television and the living hall's lights.

-

'Um...'

Reo stood awkwardly as he stared at the scene in front of him. It was 5 in the morning and he came down after a shower to go for his morning run. He was about to open the front door when he noticed someone sitting on the sofa. Though he couldn't see the face, he recognized Akashi's glistening red hair in the dark.

But when he neared him, he saw that there was someone else on the sofa too. He squinted his eyes and blinked a few times when he figured out the other person.

Both of them were sleeping. Akashi was in a sitting position, where he leaned his back against the sofa's backrest. Yuzuki was lying down on the same sofa.

Her head was on his lap, and one of Akashi's hands was resting on her forehead.

Reo continued staring, trying to make a conclusion of the situation. After a while, he smiled in amusement.

'Let's just hope you guys wake up before they come down and see this,' Reo thought to himself and quietly exited the house to start his run.

-

Akashi opened his eyes because his nape was hurting. He saw the ceiling but not that of his room. He frowned.

This is the living room. Did I fall asleep here? I've been getting careless lately...

Then, he realized he was touching something warm. He looked down and stared in surprise.

Why are we in this position? I can't remember what happened last night.

Yuzuki was sleeping soundly.

She'd go all red and screaming if she ever finds this out.

Akashi slowly lifted her head off his lap. Yuzuki frowned a bit as her injured leg flinched. He shifted away from the sofa and placed her head down carefully. Then he left.

-

The sunlight pierced through the window and curtain. The bright ray of light shining down on Yuzuki woke her up almost instantly. She rubbed her eyes and sat up. She looked around and found herself alone in the living hall.

Someone appeared from the kitchen with a wide grin. 'Ah, Yuzuki, you're finally up! Good morning let's have breakfast!' Kotarou said loudly, waving his hand that was holding a spatula.

Yuzuki squinted her eyes sleepily and nodded in understanding then he disappeared back into the kitchen. She inhaled sharply and headed upstairs. Her leg was feeling better and it didn't hurt as much as it did the night before.

She took a quick shower, brushed her teeth and ran down to the kitchen. Inside, Kotarou was near the stove, cooking something. Akashi, Eikichi and Reo were sitting at the dining table, eating their breakfast.

'Good morning,' Reo and Eikichi chorused.

'Morning.' Yuzuki replied and sat down beside Akashi.

Kotarou glanced at her. 'Oh, Yuzuki, just in time, here's yours,' he chirped happily and sent a plate to her.

Yuzuki's eyes widened. 'Wow, thank you, I didn't know you could cook, Kotarou-senpai.'

'Well, I'm not that good but I'm the best out of these two,' he pointed at Reo and Eikichi as he sat down.

'What about Akashi?' Yuzuki wondered aloud then turned to the redhead. 'Can you cook?' she asked him.

'I can do anything.' He replied.

Reo raised a brow at their normal interaction. 'Are they pretending like nothing happened?' he thought.

Yuzuki hummed. 'Then why aren't you cooking? Aren't you their junior?'

'I would if Kotarou is not so eager to show off.' Akashi replied.

She laughed then began eating.

'By the way, you're allowed to sit out for today,' said the redhead suddenly.

Yuzuki looked at him questioningly then remembered. 'Ah, it's all right I can join you guys. It's not like I'll be playing anyway.' she answered and he nodded.

'What's wrong?' Reo asked, confused at their exchange of words.

'Nothing's wrong.' Yuzuki said as a matter of fact.

'Are we going somewhere for the practice today?' Kotarou asked Akashi.

'No, we're practicing in the court today before tomorrow's match with Kaijou.'

'Ooh, which court are you guys going to?' Yuzuki interjected.

'Just under this house,' Reo replied. 'Sei-chan had it built in the basement some years ago.'

'What? There's such thing as basement indoor court?' Yuzuki frowned.

'Of course there is, silly.' Reo laughed.

The practice was held an hour after breakfast. Yuzuki volunteered to clean the place and urged them to start training while she cleaned. The boys went down for practices and she joined them a little while after that.

Their shoes screeched and squeaked against the floor as they chased after the ball. It was two against two: Reo and Eikichi against Kotarou and Akashi.

Yuzuki sat on a bench provided and watched the four played. Just then, her phone vibrated.

From: Old man who doesn't install a sink in the kitchen

Sorry I just realized your message. I haven't seen Aidou anywhere and he hasn't been reporting to me. I'll send Jin to check. Will update.

Her eyes lit up. 'Right, Aidou...I totally forgot about him.' she murmured to herself.

-

Miyamura Takato sighed and placed his phone down after messaging his daughter. He looked at the figure down on one knee before him.

'We shouldn't tell her Aidou is dead,' said Takato firmly.

Jin bowed his head, looking at the tatami floor. 'Yes.'

'We must not let her know how dangerous of a situation we are in,' Takato continued. 'And how filthy we can be to defend our clan.'

'Yes.'

'If I find out anyone telling her things that shouldn't be told, it's execution, tell everyone this.'

'Yes, sir.'

'What's the other thing you're going to tell?' Takato asked.

'We have captured a Yukimura,' said Jin, raising his head a bit but not meeting Takato's eyes. 'Okazaki is questioning him in the special chamber.'

'No information has been received, huh? How many have you guys pulled out?'

'Currently, seven nails,' Jin replied. 'But he's not speaking at all.'

'Cut his ear off.'

'Yes, sir.'

-

A/N: AAAAAAAA sorry it's too horrible to be read but thank you for reaching this far. Words are not sufficient to say how grateful I am. Thank you for reading!

By my leave....