Destroyed Innocence

October 4, 2019

At her elementary school, Ruka was sitting at her desk next to several other children when the teacher looked at her and asked her, “Kishio-san, can you collect everyone’s homework and pass out graded class work today?”

“Yes, Hayasaka-sensei,” replied Ruka to the teacher, who was a woman with glasses in her late thirties. She was a bit tired from not sleeping as much as she should have the night before, but she was still able to function as she got up and walked over to the teacher’s desk to grab graded classwork from the day before. She then began to pass it out to each of the other children in her class while also taking their homework. As she did, she could feel some of them staring at her, which made her a bit uncomfortable, but did not deter her from doing her task.

As she was about to collect the last of the homework, she thought she heard whispering from behind her and briefly paused. The teacher looked at her and asked, “Is something wrong, Kishio-san?”

“Oh, no. It’s nothing.” Ruka then began collecting the homework as normal again. She thought to herself, “Some of the girls were looking at me when I got their work. Oddly enough, none of the boys seemed to stare like the girls did, but… They stared at me like they didn’t like what they were seeing.”

She then handed all of the classwork to the teacher, who told her, “Thank you, Kishio-san.”

“You’re welcome,” Ruka replied with a bow. “It is always a pleasure, Hayasaka-sensei.” She always spoke very formally to her teachers and other adults, as her family had expected her to do so both before and after her parents had passed away. She then sat down back at her seat and looked at the homework she had given out to herself before putting it away in her backpack. As the teacher began her lesson, she thought to herself, “I wonder what the other girls in class think of me.”

…

Later that day, Ruka attended a formal gala at a reception hall hosted by her father’s family in a red dress. The gala was attended by many wealthy businessmen that the Kishio family had come to know, as well as local politicians from in and around Yokosuka. As an older couple who her grandfather knew entered the hall, she greeted them with a bow and told them, “Welcome. Thank you both for coming.”

“It’s a pleasure to be here,” said the female half of the couple. “Are you one of Kishio-san’s grandchildren?”

“Yes,” she replied. “My name is Kishio Ruka, daughter of Kishio Masahiro.”

“Oh, alright,” said the male half of the couple, who had graying hair. “You’re Masahiro’s daughter. Well, I want to extend my condolences to you for the loss of your parents. It was a sad day when they both died, and I can’t imagine what that must have been like for you.”

“Thank you,” Ruka replied with a smile. “A lot of people have offered their condolences to me, but it still feels nice to hear that people care.”

The older woman told her, “You’re a very refined young girl. Your parents and your grandfather taught you well.”

“Thank you,” Ruka replied with another bow. “Enjoy the gala.” As she bowed, she felt another set of eyes stare at her, causing her to quickly come back up. She took a deep breath and thought to herself, “Even in a formal event like this, some people still stare at me.” While no one was looking at her, she placed a hand on her chest and sighed, asking herself quietly, “I just hope this won’t be a big problem tonight.”

As the partygoers all chatted with each other and classical music played through loudspeakers in the hall, Ryota was talking to several other men about the family business. “We got a new contract to install heating and cooling equipment at the American naval base,” he told them. “They’re building a new housing facility, and we snatched that shit up faster than the F-35s they’re rolling out. The only thing better than government contracts are foreign government contracts. The Americans always pay big bucks.”

All of the men shared a laugh as one of them told Ryota, “Well congratulations, Kishio. Any other new installations your company will be doing?”

“I can’t disclose stuff we’re still negotiating,” Ryota replied. “But we did also get a contract to replace the boilers at a local fire station near my granddaughter’s school. I mean, it’s not as much as the American naval base contract, but it’s still good money.”

“Speaking of your granddaughter,” then said another man who was in his early thirties. “How has life been with raising her?”

“I mean,” Ryota replied. “It’s not easy. My son’s death two years ago was, obviously, very unexpected, so I wasn’t able to plan accordingly, but I’ve managed to make it work, even with my wife’s death a year before then. Not helping was, of course, the influence from her mother, given her… Lower status.” Ryota had, in a roundabout way, pointed out that Ruka’s mother had come from a poorer family than her father as well as the fact she did not always conform to the rigid standards of feminine behavior. “She was a lot less, as you may say, ladylike. Ruka had some traits of her like that, but I’ve managed to refine her into a fine girl. She’ll be a prim and proper young woman very soon.”

“It isn’t easy when that’s the case,” the same man replied. “I heard you also taught her how to fence.”

“Correct,” Ryota nodded. “I’ll admit that she is definitely improving, but she still has a long way to go. Her father fenced, and even if it isn’t totally ladylike, I’ll have her fence too.” He then downed a glass of sake.

“Ah, that hits the spot.”

“You drank that pretty quickly,” said one of the other men in the group. “Something on your mind tonight?”

“Nah,” Ryota replied with a smile. “I’m just here to have a good time and unwind following a week of bullshit at the office.”

“Hey, don’t worry,” he assured him. “I understand completely. By the way, after the party wraps up, we were thinking of going out drinking at this new restaurant down the road that’s really good according to some of the employees at my company.”

“Count me the Hell in,” said Ryota. “I’m always up for that shit.”

As the conversation continued, the man in his early thirties looked at Ruka while she walked through the hall and then turned to Ryota, interrupting him with, “Sorry to interrupt you, but how old is your granddaughter again?”

“She’s ten,” Ryota replied. “What’s up, Murase?”

Aki Murase, the man who had asked Ryota, replied, “She’s only ten?”

Another man in the group replied, “If I didn’t know she was Masahiro’s daughter, I would have thought she was at least twelve or thirteen.”

“Ah, right,” Ryota realized. “Yeah, that’s been a bit of a pain recently. She’s growing up pretty fast, so I gotta deal with all that.”

Then, Ruka walked over to them, oblivious to what the conversation had been about. She asked her grandfather, “Grandpa, I believe everyone that said they would be here are here now.”

“Good,” he replied. “I’m sure you’ll find some other kids to play with.”

“I know,” she replied. “I saw a few of them walk in earlier.” She then turned to her grandfather’s associates and bowed to them, saying, “Pleasure to meet you, or perhaps see some of you again.”

Aki asked Ruka, “You’re Masahiro’s daughter, right?”

“I am,” she replied. “I’ve met you before, have I not?”

“Probably,” he replied. “I’m Murase Aki. I work for a construction company that your grandfather’s company often works with. My father runs it overall, and I’m in charge of supplies and logistics. I know it must be a bit confusing for a girl of your age.”

“I know what logistics are,” Ruka assured him with a smile. “I am not completely unaware of the business my family runs.”

“Ah, so you’re pretty smart.”

Ruka replied in a tone of humility, “I do not consider myself very smart. I have just observed much of this from my grandfather, that is all.” She made sure to act very humble around him, since such polite and formal behavior was what was expected of her by her grandfather.

“Ruka,” then said her grandfather. “Can you do me a favor and go find your uncle? I have not seen him once yet tonight.”

“Of course,” she replied with a bow. “I will be back here as soon as I find him.” She then went off to find Daisuke among the crowd of people.

Once she was gone, Aki turned to Ryota and whispered to him, “By the way, can I speak to you in private about something?”

“Sure,” Ryota replied. He then told the others the two of them were with, “We’ll be right back. Me and Murase have to discuss something alone.” As the two walked away to a side room to talk with no one else bothering them, he asked Aki, “So, what do you need from me?”

Aki began to explain to him, “I need some help after the party wraps up, and I could use another set of hands…”

…

A few hours later, the gala had wrapped up, and as Ruka was looking around the almost totally empty reception hall, her grandfather called out to her from nearby and told her, “Ruka, come here. I have a task for you.”

“Yes, Grandfather?”

“My friend Murase needs some help with loading things from the party to his car,” Ryota explained. “He’s willing to pay you seven thousand yen for it.”

Ruka was shocked. “Seven thousand yen?!”

“Yes, seven thousand yen. He’s right out front, and he’ll show you where to go.” Ryota then told her, “You know, you were alright tonight. You did as I asked of you and you were very polite with the guests.”

“Thank you, Grandfather,” she replied with a smile. To her, it felt nice to get compliments from her grandfather, in contrast to the criticism she often got. “I’ll go help Murase-san.”

“Have fun,” Ryota replied as Ruka began to walk out of the hall. Once she was gone, he checked the time and realized he was going to be late for the visit to the new restaurant and bar nearby that one of his friends had proposed. “Oh fuck, I better get going. I don’t wanna be late.” He then ran out of the reception hall, hoping to catch up with them soon.

Meanwhile, Ruka was already busy at work, helping Aki load several heavy boxes into his car. The boxes contained extra food as well as unused party features that Ryota had given to him. As she loaded a box into the back of his car, she asked him, “Murase-san, what’s all this for?”

“I have a work party coming up in about a week,” he explained as he stood on the sidewalk nearby. “I figured I’d save money and use some stuff that hadn’t been used here.”

“Oh, okay.” They then both watched as Ryota ran down the street after exiting the reception hall to go to the restaurant. She turned to Aki and asked him, “What’s he running for?”

“Oh yeah, I forgot. He and a few of his friends were going to visit a new restaurant and bar nearby after the gala.”

“So I imagine he won’t be home until late, right?”

“Probably not,” Aki replied. When Ruka turned back around to grab the last box and put it into the car, he seemed to look at her more intensely. He then asked her as he pulled his cellphone out, “In fact, since I haven’t drank anything in a while, I’ll ask your grandpa if I can take you back to your home.”

“Really?” Ruka smiled, replying to him with a bow as she turned around, “Thank you, Murase-san.”

After Aki dialed his number, Ryota answered, having caught up with his other friends. “Hello?”

“It’s Aki,” he told him. “Since you’re out at that new restaurant nearby, do you want me to bring Ruka home?”

Ryota replied, “If it’s not any trouble on your end, sure. As long as she gets home in one piece.”

“She will,” Aki assured him. “Don’t worry. I haven’t let you down before.”

“I know you haven’t,” Ryota replied with a chuckle. “Tell Ruka I’ll be home in about two or so hours.”

“Got it. Goodbye.” Aki then hung up and told Ruka, “Hop in my car. Your grandpa will be home in about two hours.”

“Again,” she said as she got in the front seat. “Thank you for doing this for me.”

“Any time,” Aki replied with a smile. As they drove to Ruka and Ryota’s home, he began to silently look at her after turning on the car radio.

Ruka asked him as they rounded a corner onto a wide avenue, “Do you have anywhere you have to go early tomorrow?”

“No,” he assured her. “Why do you ask?”

“I would have felt bad if I was taking up time for you to sleep.”

“You’re not.”

…

Ruka walked into her home. The Kishio family’s two servants were both at their own homes for the night, meaning that she and Aki were the only people in the mansion. As she walked into the front foyer of the home, she yawned, tired out from the long day she had between school and then the gala. She stretched her arms and told Aki, “Thank you for bringing me home, Murase-san.”

“You’re welcome,” he replied from the doorway.

As Ruka turned back around, she walked up the stairs to her room silently, expecting Aki to have left the house by the time she opened the door and walked into her bedroom. She then turned on the light and looked at herself in the mirror next to her bed, smiling and telling herself, “This is a really nice dress indeed.” She then opened a dresser and began to take a set of pajamas out of them, preparing to change her clothes. Before she could take anything off, however, she heard footsteps nearby and immediately turned her attention to the doorway, curious to see who it was. “Hello?” When she got no response, she slowly walked to the doorway and looked down the dark hallway, finding the shape of a person standing nearby. “Murase-san? Did I forget something?”

“Oh, it’s nothing,” he replied as he slowly walked towards her.

“Uh… What are you doing?”

“Come here…”

Feeling as though something was wrong, she began to back away from the doorway. Then, Aki bolted through, startling her. Realizing Aki did not have good intentions, she flung open her closet and tried to grab a sabre she had kept in her room from it. However, Aki grabbed her by the arm and ripped her away from the sword before she could grasp its grip. “Agh, no!”

“Quit struggling!” Aki then pulled her towards him and placed her on her bed, telling her, “Sorry for yelling, but I really can’t have you fighting like that, okay?”

“What…” Fear filled Ruka’s eyes as she realized what he was most likely going to try to do to her. “Why… Are you going to…?”

“I’m not here to kill you,” Aki assured her with a rather eerie smile. “You’ll be fine afterwards. Just make sure no one else knows about this, okay?” In response to this, she kicked him in the stomach, causing him to fall down. “Agh, fuck!” He yelled at her in frustration, “What the Hell was that for?!”

“Get away from me!” Ruka was now angry at him for what he was trying to do, and once again tried to dash for her sabre. However, again, Aki grabbed a hold of her. This time, he pinned her to the floor. “Agh, no! Let go of me!”

“Quiet down already,” Aki commanded her. “I already left your grandpa some money in the foyer! As long as you keep your mouth shut, nobody’s gonna suffer, okay?”

“You…” Hearing those words demoralized Ruka. “You gave my grandpa money…” With those words, she lost all will to fight back, and simply began to cry instead. “Why… Why is this happening to me…”

“Shhhh,” Aki told her as he caressed her face and her tears dripped down his right hand. “You’ll be fine. I think you’ll enjoy this, too, Ruka-chan.”

Ruka, internalizing her anger and her desperation to get out of this situation, thought to herself as Aki continued, “Stop it. Please, stop. I don’t want this. Don’t touch me. Let go of me! Let go! GET OFF OF ME! STOP! NO! DON’T TOUCH ME!”

…

About forty minutes later, Aki left Ruka’s bedroom, having fully dressed himself once again. As he went down the stairs, he smiled and told himself, “Well, that was definitely worth it.”

While Aki left the house and went to his car, Ruka was left in her bedroom by herself. She was lying on her bed, having haphazardly put her dress back on fully after Aki had left the room. In a daze, she stared blankly at the wall next to her, still trying to process what had happened to her. After about another minute of replaying what had just happened to her over and over again in her mind, she got up and said to herself, “I should go to the bathroom…”

When she walked into the bathroom attached to her bedroom, she looked at herself in the mirror and sighed. She had clearly been crying quite a lot before then based on how her eyes looked, and her hair was a mess. Her dress had a few peculiar clear stains on it, which Ruka then stared at after shifting her focus away from the mirror. The stains were a reminder of what Aki had just done to her, which she was still attempting to process.

“Why did this have to happen tonight?” Ruka then sighed and slipped her dress off before sitting down in the bathtub inside and hugging her knees. She thought to herself, “He did… What did he do to me?” She then looked up at the ceiling, her eyes focused on nothing in particular as she wrapped her head around what Aki had done to her. “No, I know what he did… Murase raped me. How could I tell Grandpa about any of this? Will he just take the money with no questions asked?”