Hiya, Lovies!! Nothing new except for this chapter. I hope all of you who celebrate it are having a wonderful Rosh Hashanah!! Happy New Year! (★^O^★) 

P.O.V: Ryuu

"That's horrible! I hope Mistress feels better soon." Cook reaches across the counter to hand me the steaming chicken broth I asked him (Y/n) wanted.

"I'm sure that, with your cooking, she'll be better in no time." I give him a wide, closed-mouthed smile and quickly exit the kitchen before he can ask any more questions. It's been about five days since any of the household staff has seen (Y/n) so it's no wonder that they'd ask around about her. Luckily, I'd prepared for their inquiry, saying that she's come down with a mild cold. I've locked her bedroom door so no one realizes she's not in there. Instead, I bring the soup down the hall and duck into one of the servent's halls in the wall. The unfinished walls have become a familiar sight and no longer unsettle me.

The walkie-talkie attached to my hip hisses quietly as it's range from the guard's station is challenged. Goro and Asterid have been ordered to give me hourly updates surrounding the possible appearance of a certain psycho. I have no idea what mistress (Y/n) sees in that thing, but soon she'll understand the real danger she's in. She'll understand. She'll understand me.

I knock once on the thick metal door the alert (Y/n) of my presences before swinging it open. It's completely dark so it takes my eyes a second to adjust. Mistress (Y/n) sits in the furthest corner of the room cradling her right hand. I rush over, crouching so my face is even with hers.

"Mistress? Mistress, what's wrong? Are you hurt?" I place a hand gently under her clasped hands instantly feeling the wetness. I pull my hand away to find that it's covered in blood. I reach out to see the hidden wound but something heavy hits the back of my head. My vision blurs so much that I can barely make out the sad eyes of (Y/n).

"W-wha..." My hands shoot out in front of me to steady my wobbly form. I can feel blood run down my skull and pool in the hair at the nape of my neck.Suddenly, a kick to my ribs, knocking me onto the hard, unforgiving cement floor. My breath leaves me in one huff as I look up at the sneering face of Katsu.

"Pathetic. I was honestly expecting a little more of a fight from you, Ryuu." I grunt in pain as he grabs my hair, picking my head up an inch from the ground. He shakes my head around, a sick smile showing his sharp canines, angled so only I could see them. A hand lays down on Katsu's, stopping his movement.

"Katsu. That's enough." Mistress won't look at me, as much as I try to catch her eyes. Instead, she bends over and grabs my keys and walkie-talkie.

"I'm going to lock you inside but in fifteen minutes I'll contact Asterid and tell her where you are."Mistress (Y/n) drags over one of the flour sacks and lays it under my head so it isn't against the cold ground anymore.

Her face is right next to mine now, I can hardly hear her but her feverish whisper reached my ear anyway.

"I'm sorry."

My body won't listen to me. I try standing up but I stay, frustratingly, still. Watching as (Y/n) takes Katsu's outstretched hand in hers. She doesn't look back but Katsu does. He grins down at me  his eyes flashing wide.

"I win."

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P.O.V : (Y/n)

Katsu shuts and locks the metal door as I set the fifteen-minute alarm on my watch. I hope Ryuu will be ok for that long but we need enough time to run. Katsu said that when he was kicked out  he found a small cabin a little ways into the forest where we could stay until we find another place. At first, I was hesitant about running away, this house is the only place I've ever lived, I feel that if I stay here I'm just going to end up in another locked room pretty soon.

After Ryuu first locked me up Katsu picked the lock that night and told me that he could take me away. Away from Ryuu, away from my parents, away from this house. I said no. I would give Ryuu the benefit of the doubt thinking that he will eventually come to his senses and let me out. I begged Ryuu to see that he was being over dramatic but he turned a deaf ear on me, leaving me alone in the tiny cement room.

Katsu came again the next night, trying to convince me to leave with him. I was scared. I'd never not had Ryuu by my side before and the thought of running away from him with Katsu was terrifying.  I told Katsu no, again.

On the third night when Katsu came to me I had created my own plan.

Back when my father did most of his work from home he would have a monthly meeting with a  man by the name of Youko Ito. I haven't seen him in years and am only remembering him now because of his older brother, Yuki, was recently in the news about something. Youko was always nice to me, defending me when my father criticized and bringing me presents whenever he came over. Contacting him was a long shot, but I think it was a better option than camping out in the woods indefinitely. I don't know what is going to happen when my parents come back from their trip. I don't want them to fire Ryuu but the way he's been acting toward me lately would make even those two unhappy. He was acting like I was a stupid, fragile doll. A servant could hardly do what he's doing, dictating who a speak to, let alone locking me up!

So I told Katsu where to find my father's home office and to find information on Youko then contact him. Katsu came back saying that Youko was currently in on business in Germany but is sending one of his loyal servants to come pick us up at my house. I was surprised. I had expected him to argue or at least ask about my father, but Katsu said he did neither. 

Katsu packed me a bag and stole a couple of Ryuu's shirts and pants for himself. A sleek, black cab waits for us in the houses' paved driveway. A tall, barrel-chested man stands with the car door open and a kind smile on his face.

"Mistress (Last/name)? It's a pleasure to meet you." The man bows and turns to Katsu, "And you are her servant Ryuu, I assume?" I scoff and open my mouth to correct him when Katsu answers him.

"That's right, sir."

I glance at him from the corner of my eye. He wears a confident smirk on his lips and his messy attire suddenly disappears. Youko's servant doesn't even blink at his plain tee-shirt and loose  pants. No servant would ever be able to dress like that in their Mister/Mistress' house.

Why is he pretending to be Ryuu? Is that who he told Youko he was on the phone?

We climb into the back of the cab while Youko's servant puts my bag in the trunk. I have no time to ask Katsu what he thinks he doing before the servant is back in the car.

"My name is Ume but the boy can keep on calling me 'sir' if he wants." Ume flashes a jolly smile in the rearview mirror at Katsu who just nods his head. My watch beeps. It's been fifteen minutes.

I turn the walkie-talkie on before the cab is out of range and quietly tell a very confused Asterid where Ryuu is. Of course, I can't actually say Ryuu's name because he's supposedly sitting next to me right now and I don't know if Ume can hear me or not. I just tell her that one of the staff is hurt in the servant hallway by my bedroom.

After a quick reminder that the house still has servant hallways she sends Goro to get the house doctor and went off to find the real Ryuu. I let out a breath of relief now that I know that Ryuu will get medical attention for his head. Despite what he did I still love him and would hate myself if something bad happened to him.

"Mister Ito would like me to send you to his summer home instead of the main house. It's much closer and Mister has been meaning to visit it in the past couple of years. Now he has the excuse and good company to do so." Ume taps his fingers on the steering wheel in tune with the generic pop song playing softly from the radio.

"He still has business in Germany but he believes that he will be done in about a week or two. He wanted me to find out how long you two will be staying with us." Ume directs this question at me but I have no idea when we should leave. "He needs to know if he should bring more staff down to accommodate both of you or not."

"Uh..." I start but nothing else comes out. Katsu stays quiet, looking out the window with an odd look on his face as he watches the trees pass by.

"It's ok. I'm sure the Mister isn't expecting an answer immediately anyway." Ume saves me from answering but glances at me from the corner of his eye. He's confused but has no right to ask me for the reason of my visit.

We soon arrive at a luxurious beach house. It's front yard consists of emerald grass that abruptly stops at a steep cliff. A winding staircase attached to the side of the rocky cliff connects to a private beach at the end of the yard. Windows make up most of the first level  and the curve of domed rooftops off the fourth floor of the house. 

The front double doors swing open and a busty woman in a french maid outfit weakly waves at us.

"Mistress (L/n) Mister's house maid, Wendell, will show you to your rooms." Katsu and I begin to walk over to Wendell when Ume stops Katsu.

"Over there are where the servants' quarters are. Ryuu, if you'll follow me I'll show you where you'll be staying." Ume points to a significantly smaller building off to the right side. It's faded mint green paint is barely noticeable, especially when the flexible branches of the palm trees covered half of it anyway.

Katsu looks at me as if asking if I'm ok with being separated for a bit. I just shrug. It's not like he won't climb in through my window tonight anyway, the boy was like freaking monkey.

I walk over to Wendell, who chubby cheeks hold a natural blush to her bronzed skin. I can't help but instantly like her. She has her shiny, black hair tied neatly back into a bun but rebellious loose strands fall around her face, framing it perfectly.

"Ok, so, you already know my name , right?" She fidgets nervously and I can see an underlying anxiousness in her bright blue eyes that I couldn't see before. I smile and nod my head.

"Great! So, I can skip that part and just show you your room." She talks quietly as if to herself then quickly looks back up at me again like she just got catch going something horrible. "I mean, not that you need to know my name. I just thought...I thought it was the friendly thing to do." A little bead of sweat form on her forehead as she continues to ramble on.

"You're fine! Please, will you show me my room." I try to be as friendly as I can when I say this but Wendell's face still pales. I hand her my bag when she doesn't meet my eyes. She stops talking and just shakes her head, stepping back so I could enter the house.

Bamboo hardwood covers the entirety of the front landing and envelopes the open kitchen. The house is set up as if the Mister or Mistress doesn't mind watching their servant cook their meals or do the laundry. The only door I can find is to the bathroom. The dining room, living room, and kitchen are all one room. Nothing but a difference in flooring to signify that you're in a different section than before.

"This way, Mistress (L/n)."

We walk up a flight of stairs then stop at a slightly ajar, red door. Wendell opens the door to reveal navy blue borders and off white walls. The bedroom is smaller than the one I have back at the house but it's still nice. A king sized bed sits in the middle of the room and curtains cover the entire right side of the room, hiding  floor to ceiling windows. A small fireplace that looks as if it has never been used before faces the front of the bed and two large bookcases tower over the headboard. I sound of hurried footsteps sound down the hallway until they stop at this room.

"Excuse me," I turn to see Katsu squeeze past Wendell in the doorway.  His eyes hold a predatory gleam to them as he stalks over to me. He doesn't break eye contact until he's right next to me. Taking my hand in his he looks behind me once with his heated gaze. Wendell gets the hint quickly and, in a flurry of skirts and rushed sentences, she's gone. I'm glad I don't have a stranger looking over my shoulder anymore but now I'm left alone with Katsu in a bedroom.

Not sure how I feel about that.