I'm so tired, my Lovies.(￣Д￣) I can't even type with exclamation marks like a usually do. I'm sorry you didn't get a chapter yesterday but here is a fresh new one that longer than normal. My new job is driving me up the wall and its only my second day. I hope you all had nicier days! (There I put an exclamation mark in because I love you all so much!)

"Oh gosh, I didn't realize how late it was!" Katsu packs up his blinders after another intense homework session. I sit pouting on the bed, my homework finished long ago. He had finished uncharacteristically slow. The clock now read 8:00 PM. I know what he's doing. He wants to keep me in his line of sight for as long as possible so I don't sneak off to the party.

Katsu still refuses to even consider going to Haru's party so I've taken the high road and took a very mature course of action. By ignoring him completely. So far he hasn't let it get to him but I can see my lack of commentary begin to annoy him greatly. When he gets up to go out to help me start dinner I stubbornly stay seated for a couple more minutes then follow. Rio's job as a cocktail waitress starts in a few hours so I'm not surprised to she her sleeping soundly on the couch. If I start dinner now then she can eat with us before leaving. Despite her rare fits of rage and horrible taste in men, she is a very loving mother.

"I think we should have Tempora fish tonight," Katsu says from the kitchen. He studies the inside of the fridge, not noticing the frown I throw his way. Instead of reaching for the Tempora I grab the ingredients for Sukiyaki (a dish with vegetables and thin slices of beef). I try to walk past Katsu with just a bit of attitude but end up bumping into him making it look intentional. I hear him intake a sharp breath as he tries to keep a reign on his temper. I place the unwashed vegetables in the sink as an uncontrollable shiver crawls up my spine. I dare not move, in fear that he will turn around and his violent side will rear its ugly head. I hesitantly start washing the vegetables. My pride stops me from apologizing.

"I...know you're...upset...but please understand that the people going to that party could hurt you." Katsu still faces the fridge as he says this. He seems to be struggling with something internally. "I couldn't stand you ever getting hurt by careless teenagers."

I don't say anything . Mostly because I don't know what to say to that. I take a knife from the rack and begin cutting the beef into thin strips. I haven't had someone worry so much about me in a long time I've forgotten how to react to it. Katsu gives a dark, humorless chuckle at my silence. Turning around really quickly he grabs me from behind. He takes my hands in his and brings them to my chest. The knife dangerously close to my neck.

"I suggest you stop this silly attitude especially when in the kitchen." His breath is hot and tone harsh as he whispers his vague threat in my ear. Katsu forces my hand with his own to angle the knife to point at my jugular. Just one little poke and I would be bleeding out in his arms. Sweat beads down my forehead and slicks the handle of the knife. We stay like this for what feels like hours but it was probably only a few minutes. All while this was happening Katsu rubbed his head against my own and I think I even felt him lick my neck but I can't be sure because I was mainly focused on the knife in front of me.

"O....ok," I mutter very quietly at first. He was just trying to scare me. Katsu can be mean sometimes but I doubt he would actually ever hurt me. "Ok, fine. I'm sorry." Katsu doesn't move fro a few more seconds making me think that I said something wrong. But he steps away from me, taking the knife with him. I turn around to ask him what he actually wants for dinner.

Katsu stares down at me, knife to his lips tracing their outline softly. He seems to stare right through me. His eyes can't focus correctly and an off white film covers the brilliant green. I gasp in surprise. I've never seen him so scary before.

"(Y/n), when will you get it through that thick skull of yours that I met you for a reason? I met you so I can protect you from the harsh reality that is the outside world. You will only leave this house when with me. You will not go to a boy' party. You will not. You will not!" The louder he got the deeper his voice got; the closer to my face he got, until all I could see are his foggy pupils stare into my (e/c) ones.

When I didn't reply, just standing there shaking, he seemed to take that as an agreement. Katsu blinked and his familiar emeralds returned along with a mischievous smile.

"I told you I wanted Tempora, sweetie." He places his large hand on my head as he smiles down at me. I shake my head, a little too much, and get right to work preparing the Tempora. Katsu chuckles at my rushed behavior before going to wake his mother.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As I'm washing the dishes from dinner I receive a text from Haru. He must have gotten my number off of Katsu's phone.

Are You coming? ;)

Looking over my shoulder to check for Katsu I type a quick reply then hurriedly put my phone away.

Be there soon. Can't wait.

I realized that I can't let fear rule my life like when I was living with my brother. I've never been to a real party before and want to see what its like. Katsu can suck it. I'm my own person, damn it! And I choose to go to this party. I'll need to sneak away when Katsu is asleep.

He usually falls asleep around ten and Rio leaves soon after for her shift. So I have a small gap to leave with her. Katsu would definitely hear someone open the front door after that because Rio gets home at five AM but sometimes . So, I have a seven hour period to hang out at Haru's.

It's nine PM right now. Katsu and I sit together at the kitchen table. He sits perfectly still as he looks down at his hands. I shift uncomfortably in my spot and try not to let my gaze land on something for too long. Rio is up now and eats her food casually. She's talking about her latest crush on one of the locals at the bar.

"...he even carries himself in a way that screams masculine dominance. I would ask him if he wanted to come home with me but we all know how something like that ended up last time." She pointedly looks at Katsu but he ignores her. I don't think he even heard what she said. He seems lost in thought as he taps his knee against the table leg. Rio continues talking but interrupts her by abruptly standing from the table and Katsu finally looks up.

"I'm going to bed," I say, immediately heading to the bedroom and shutting the door, feeling Katsu's eyes burning into my back.

"Are you two having a lover's spat?" I hear Rio ask Katsu in a mocking tone. The sound of hitting can be heard through the door. I roll my eyes. Sometimes they act more like siblings than son and mother. Instead of changing into my pajamas completely I just put a large shirt on Katsu's as a nightgown over my day clothes. I pull the covers over me and wait for Katsu to go to bed.

It isn't long before the door opens and Katsu walks in. I pretend to be asleep as I listen to him change into his night clothes which are normally just a pair of boxers.My cheeks flush slightly when I remember I'm alone in a bedroom with a half-naked boy. Katsu settles on the loveseat and eventually his breathing becomes slow and even as he drifts to sleep. I can hear Rio grab her car keys and fix up her makeup in the mirror next to the front door. My eyes shoot open. This is my only chance to leave.

Moving my legs out of the bed first I try not to make any noise but the bed frame squeaks in protest. I hold my breath. Katsu a little, though, doesn't wake up. I get up the rest of the way without a problem. I open the bedroom door. I smile as I see that Rio is just walking out the front door.

Before she can close it all the way I hold it back with my hand. Rio looks at me through the small opening. At first, she's surprised but after a few second a wide grin spreads across her face as she realizes what I'm doing.

"Katsu wouldn't want you out this late, sweetie." She basically spits the last word out in disgust.

"I'm just leaving for a few hours. I'll be fine." I whisper. I stick my chin out in what I hope looks confident. Rio seems to think debate something but suddenly she swings the door open again, allowing me to walk through. I nod my thanks and take no extra time to run down the stairwell quietly and outside. I had texted Haruto come pick me up because I don't really know how to get to his house and this is a bad neighborhood at night.

A roar of an engine brings my attention to my left where I see a sleek black convertible pull up the curb. Haru's upper body hangs out the window as he laughs hysterically.

"I didn't think you'd ever come outta there!" I can tell he's already drunk. I hope the driver isn't.

The convertible's roof is down so Haru hops into the empty backseat and I climb into the front passager seat. The driver is a girl around my age. She has a mop of black hair and wears a tight, black dress that reveals way more then I think it should. She looks me up and down with obvious lust. When her eyes find mine again. When she realizes that I've been watching her check me out her cheeks blush a harsh red. Without saying another word she begins to drive back to Haru's

"(Y/n)! How have....you been?" Haru has trouble finishing his sentences. How drunk is he?

"I should be asking you that. Look at you! It's barely ten and you're drunk already!" I giggle.

"Hey, it's a party! I'm just following the rules."

"The rules? The rules of parties?"

"Yes! It states that in the first fifteen minutes you have to take fifty shots without vomiting!"

My eyes widen at that. Is that really a rule? I've never had much alcohol except at Passover. I don't think I could stand having fifty shots or even one. The girl beside me laughs at my expression and turns to Haru.

"If that were the case you've already broken that rule. I saw you vomit in the bushes before we got in the car."

"That doesn't count!" Haru yells back.

"And then I saw you start to hack like a cat!"

"No, you didn't !"

"GUYS, LOOK AT THE ROAD!" I scream. The car had drifted into the other lane of traffic. A giant semi-truck blares it's horn at us. The girl doesn't react as she pulls sharply at the wheel to the correct lane. As the trunk passes she and Haru flip the driver off. I gape at them. The rest of the ride I stay silent.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We finally pull up to Haru's place. My mouth opens in disbelieve at the size of it. The place has four stories and eight balconies. It looks like there's an outdoor maze as well. A loud steady beat shakes the whole mansion and outlines of people dancing can be seen once in a while because of the differs,rent colored flashing lights.

My mouth is still hanging open and the girl next to me suddenly sticks her two of her finger in. I quickly close my mouth, biting her in the process. He takes them out and giggles.

"I'm May, by the way." She sticks the same finger that was just in my mouth in hers. I gawk at her disgusting display. May takes me by my arm and leads me up the stairs and into the house. As soon as I enter I have to cover my ears. The music is so loud I can't understand it if that makes any sense. I feel someone cup my butt and glare at a smiling May. She disappears into the sea of bodies so I can't yell at her.

I stand alone in a crowd of drunk teenagers. For the first time tonight I begin to regret leaving the house. More people burst through the front door and they push me into the crowd. Immediately beer is poured down my shirt, either by accident or on purpose. The girls at this party dress a lot like May and Rio. I feel out of place in my white off the shoulder sweater and blue space leggings.

I try to make my way back to the outskirts of the crowd but someone always either grabs onto my waist, thinking that I want to dance, or pushes me down, thinking I was trying to fight. Currently, I'm battling a drunk twenty-year-old that forcefully holds my head to kiss my lips. But it feels like he's licking my face because he slobbers so much. I finally break away from him and slip under his legs and end up outside somehow. I must have been near one of the balcony entrances. I'm on the third floor and face the front so I can see all the late arrivals and the drunkards stumbling around in the bushes. Where are Haru's parents?

"Intense, isn't it?"  I look over my shoulder to see May. I haven't seen her since she walked me when we first got here. "The first time I went to one of Haru's parties I had to leave an hour later"

"Yeah, I guess," I say, still wiping off the saliva from the drunk guy. The only ones that don't appear to be drunk are May and me. At least , I'll have a driver to take me home.

"Look...I...would you..." May mumbles, suddenly really nervous. I give her a questioning look. May's face slowly taking on a blush.

"You're cute." As soon as she says that she slaps both her hand on her mouth. My eyes widen. Now I'm the one blushing. There's a long awkward pause as she tries to calm herself.

"Ok, that came out wrong. What I meant to say was that I may or may not find you very attractive and if you wouldn't mind could you possibly consider hanging out with me in the future?" May won't look me in the eyes. She shuffles back and forth on the heels of her feet.

I'm about to answer her when a deep voice by the entrance answers for me.

" No, she can't. She's already seeing someone." I don't have to look to know it's Katsu. How did he find me in that maze of people inside? I glare at him which he gladly returns with just as much heat.
May,  embarrassed, gives a quick apology then walks past Katsu back into the party.

I don't know where to look. I wish May didn't leave so someone would witness my murder. Katsu stays quiet. He just stares at me, his eyes battling with the off white fog I saw before. I feel myself shrinking inward away from him. His voice is even and his face, except his eyes, is very controlled as he threatens me.

"I can't wait to get you home...."