34|| Saviour
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--Chihaya POV--

He was such a good man...

When he left... So did the smiles on my babies faces.

I sighed as I rest my head on the table.

How am I suppose to pay these bills? I can't use the kids' money for college...

Taichi... Now I know just how much I depended on you... How much I need you.

Bang! Bang!

I jolted up when I heard the loud banging.

Bang!

"C-Coming!" I jog to the door and open it. "Oh! Atsuko-san..."

The landlord.

"Chihaya you haven't been paying the rent for the last two months!" He says with a scowl on his face.

"I'm so sorry Atsuko-san. Can't I just pay you slowly?"

"No! I need the money now or otherwise I lose this place. Money or out!"

"But I don't think I can-"

"Then leave." He gives me one last glare before turning around and leaving.

I close the door and fall to my knees.

What do I do? I'm going to have to try and find a smaller and cheaper place.

Shit.

My mother and father are wealthy but they opposed of me marrying Taichi because he was 'just an ordinary guy'. I ran away with him. I've never seen them since. I wanted to show them that i'd manage even without them. I'm not going to ask them for help.

"You need a place, huh?" Doni says and inhales from the cigarette.

"Yes."

"How many people?" He moves closer to me.

"Four."

"Four?" He arches a brow.

"Me and my kids."

"Oh... So you're divorced-" The corners of his lips tug up and I clench my fists.

"He died."

"Tch tch tch." He sighs and moves closer. "Well you are just beautiful. I'd love to rent you one of my apartments. How's ninety?" He winks.

"Okay." I nod and he claps.

"Oh... If the money is not paid... You're going to have to pay me another way..." He licks his lips. "I'll make it forty per week if you give your weekends to me..." I stand up.

"Ninety it is. Thank you." I bow and turn around before leaving.

.

"Ota you can't do that!" I scold him as he hangs his head low.

"But she was being mean!" Ota points to Ageha as she cries.

"No Ota. You can't hit a girl and call her names. You have to be patient and be gentle with girls, okay? You have to be a gentleman. You have to help girls and treat them nicely."

"Why?" He looks up at me with his brows furrowed.

"Ota..." I sit next to him and stroke his hair as Ageha gets comforted by Kako. "You are born in a time where girls are seen as objects. The world sees girls as the weaker gender. When someone says 'Ota! You hit like a girl!' Do you feel insulted?" I ask and he slowly nods. "See. That's what the world has taught you to think. The first thought that goes through your mind is what you have been conditioned to think. What you think next defines who you are. So when you think bad about someone for example you think that someone is ugly but then you think again and say 'No! That person is beautiful.' That second thought was you. The real you and that's okay."

Ota nods as he looks up at me. Taking in every word I say.

"Girls are very strong but also very weak. When you insult a girl, she is even more hurt than being hit physically. They are strong because when they are older, they have to carry a baby in their tummy's for nine months and then give birth, which hurts a lot."

"Did you have to do that?"

I nod. "Three times. First was Onee-chan, then you and then Ageha. Mummy's always put their babies first. Your Ama loves you more than anyone. So when you hurt a girl, you hurt Ama."

"I'm sorry." His shoulders slump and his eyes start to tear up.

"It's okay!" I hug him. "You didn't know... You learn from your mistakes." I pull away and look at him. "Be a good boy, okay?" I say and he nods.

I won't let my children grow up to be someone people fear and hate.

"You see this?" I hold up the cigarette I found in front of the apartment.

The three of them look up at me.

"This is bad." I say slowly.

"Why?" Ageha asks.

"Because it is bad for you. If you smoke this, you will be poisoned." I say and their eyes widen as they stare at the cigarette. I smile at their curiosity. "If you see someone smoking this, cover your nose because it is even worse when you inhale it from someone else, got it?"

"Yes Ama!"

Teaching them is fun... Without you... I didn't think I could manage... But you didn't leave me empty handed. You left, but you left me with such beautiful and kind children.

"Ama, what's this?" Ota asks.

"Yakitori." Kako answers before me.

"What's this?" Ageha asks.

"Korokke." She answers again.

I feel so guilty. After you died, I knew that she felt as if she had to mature and grow up faster to help me. They're all so kind. I know I can depend on them when I get old.

When I look at their eyes... I see you. I miss you.

8 years later.

"Kako! What happened?!" I lift her head up.

Her lip cut. Nose bleeding. Eyes red. Bruises everywhere.

"Nothing..." She pants.

"This isn't nothing! What happened?! Tell me right now!"

"I just... Bumped into a pole."

"What kind of pole would give you bruises all over your body?! Who did this to you?!"

"Just... Some people from school."

"That's it! I'm going to your school tomorrow to report this!"

"Ama no!"

"Why didn't you tell me?!" I press my hand onto my cheeks frustratedly.

"Because I didn't want you to worry!"

"You make me worry even more when you hide things from me!" I clench my fists and she bursts into tears.

.

"What do you mean you can't do anything about it?!" I slam my hands onto the table.

"If it is not within the school grounds, we simply can not do anything."

"F-Fuckin..." I laugh. "Do you just sit your ass down here all day and think every thing is fine? If it's happening outside, it's obviously happening inside!" I run my hand down my face. "Look. If this were your daughter. How would you feel?"

"I'm divorced and my kids are with my wife. So I wouldn't know." He says and I chuckle.

"I wonder why?!" I say sarcastically.

"Great job Ama." Kako sighs as we are escorted out of the office.

"I have never been to a school with such a LOUSY PRINCIPAL! Don't worry Kako! I'll move you to a better school with a BETTER PRINCIPAL!!!" I say out loud.

"Ama..." Kako whines.

.

3 months later.

Kako's moved to a new school and made friends.

My girl.

I think she's in love too. He was kind and had Taichi's eyes. Sooner or later... I know they'll be together.

She's so happy.

As I was on my way home with the groceries in hand, someone suddenly grabs my bag and runs.

"What the?! HEY!" I chase after him. "Thief! Thief!" I yell out. I take out one of the oranges I had bought and was about to throw it at him, when I heard a feminine and kind of manly voice yell.

"HYAH!" I slow down when I see a tall person with long wavy hair whack the thief with their purse.

"Oh! Oh my god!" I gasp.

"You little brat!" The person steps on the thief several times, knocking him out.

"Thank you!" I jog up to the person as they take my bag from the thief.

The person turns around and holds the bag out to me.

"No worries."

A man? A... Transvestite?

Well... It was just the beginning of a new love.

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Agh i'm so annoying. I never wanted to be the type of author to update really late but i've been so busy and will still be busy the next couple of weeks. Thank you to all the people who have given me positive comments and stayed around. The only reason why i'm still writing is because of you guys.

I'll make it up to you all with another story for next year.

- Luca