Stage

2184 - Central City

Natsu hadn't properly spoken to Hajime since their fight. He became distant and used any excuse to leave the house. At first, she only worried about their relationship and what would happen to it now that she'd hurt his feelings. As time went on, she noticed subtle things about him which worried her.

I've been too focused on trying to win him over. He's hurting, and I've done nothing to help.

It wasn't his words that tipped her off, but the lack of them. In his actions, slow and lethargic, unable to make decisions on his own, which led to him becoming passive even at work.

Another quiet night, they sat in the living room doing their own things. Hajime finished editing his friend's paper recently, so he moved on to reading books. He had a large collection of philosophical literature and classic novels, which were over her head. She couldn't understand how he read such boring, introspective books with ease.

She sat on the ground, painting her nails and filling the room with chemical smells.

"You're quiet these days. What's on your mind?"

His eyes flickered to her, but he didn't give any importance to her question. "Nothing."

"Can't be, I know you've been mad at me since I...ya know."

"Hmph, you seem to think I'm always dwelling on things. I haven't given your words a single thought since they left your mouth," he replied. Natsu couldn't help but gawk at him, lying back on the couch with his feet up. He became more casual around her every day, and it insulted her. He must've been lying. His behavior said as much.

"Then maybe I should say it again so it sticks..." she grumbled. "The way you treat me...it makes me hate you sometimes."

He sighed and shut his book. "I understand, but you can't expect me to behave exactly as you want me to. I don't go out of my way to hurt your feelings. I'm just not capable of reciprocating them."

His words stung. She couldn't justify her anger towards him when he acted this way. Rational, smart...he was always so put together. "What if you had your eye? How would you feel about me then?"

Nothing could've prepared her for his answer, which came immediately, as if he'd prepared it in advance. "I want to love you, so if I had my eye...I would."

Want to love me?

Desire alone was enough. Starved of all forms of affection in their cold relationship, she would take what she could get. "I'm attracted to you. Lust has nothing to do with love, but that isn't what you want," he added.

"Attracted to me?!" Natsu's mouth fell open. She'd never even considered that he could be attracted to her without love. The two went hand in hand, so she had just assumed he couldn't feel either. His admission made her blush, and she looked away from him with a sudden shyness.

I don't get it! How can he say something like that and not get embarrassed?!

Hajime straightened, sitting up and facing her with a serious expression. She couldn't bring herself to look at him. "Someone who does sex work shouldn't get flustered over something like this," he smiled.

"D-Don't act like this isn't different! I like you, that makes it worse!"

"Like I said, I've never been opposed to having that kind of relationship with you. I assumed you wouldn't want something casual with me."

She held her breath.

What he was suggesting was tempting, but she wasn't sure she wanted to make that leap. Being physical with him might satisfy her temporary urges, but how long would that happiness last? She would always want more from him. Genuine love. Again and again, she was reminded that it was something he could not give her. Was this enough?

His peaceful smile tempted her to accept. His hands were folded together in his lap, domineering as if to intimidate her.

What was the difference between him and other men? For her entire life, she'd done whatever she wanted without thought. This should be the same, a choice she could make without hesitating. But he was completely different from the men in her past. He was someone she saw herself being with forever.

"Forget it. It's too much for you," he said.

He stood up, stretched, yawned, and went to the kitchen for a drink. Her mouth was dry as chalk. Her legs trembled as she brought herself to her feet and followed him. It would be a mistake to let this opportunity pass.

She tugged the corner of his shirt. "I want to," she pressed her hand against his large back. Everything fell into place. "Anything you can give me, I want it."

- - -

Ring Ring. Ring Ring.

The phone's repeated calling disturbed his slumber, but Masao didn't bother picking up. Yoli ran out of the bedroom and answered it. At first, he thought nothing of it, but as she spoke to the person on the other end, he became worried. Her voice was hushed and dripping with panic.

"Oh...yes," she murmured. "I'll tell him right away."

She hung up and stood dreadfully still. "Is something wrong?" Masao called from the couch. Could something have happened at the hideout? Yoli inhaled sharply, and when she turned, he saw her eyes wide with fear. She'd been crying a lot lately, but this expression wasn't the kind she made when she was sad. No, it was hatred.

"It was Kaho. COT took Ren, and they want you to trade me for him."

"W-what?!"

Using Ren as a hostage...How the hell did they know he's my brother?

He joined Yoli in the kitchen. After all the promises he made to her, it finally came down to this. Bring her back to COT to guarantee his brother's safety, or gamble with Ren's life. He cared for them both, but he didn't have much of a choice. It was possible they still didn't know his identity and had taken Ren to gather information. After all, they stormed Ren's house while he and Yoli were visiting. Ren would be useful to interrogate, and why they hadn't taken him sooner was another question.

Stormed Ren's house...

How had they known about it in the first place? Even if he and Yoli were seen driving away from the city, how could COT know their exact location? Ren's horns came to mind. The colorful tusks that were sewn into his skull. Tracking devices.

Masao trusted Ren, but he doubted his brother would be able to keep secrets if he was tortured. COT would do anything to get Yoli back, and he knew just how fearsome they could be. Torture was nothing. They must have gotten the gang's number from Ren and used it to reach out to Masao.

"Shit..." he gritted his teeth, cursing himself for letting things get so out of control. It reminded him of when they first met. The constant tug of war between freedom and danger. The question always lingered. How long will this last?

She took his hand and forced a smile for his sake. "Stressing won't help. We'll figure something out."

They needed a plan. Something that could get Ren back safely without putting Yoli in danger. A fake offer? Make them hand over Ren first and run for it? No, Wataru would never fall for something like that. Masao was tired, his mind too foggy to develop any good ideas.

He suggested that Yoli stay home so he could sort things out without risk to her, but she insisted they be honest. If things went badly, he could hand her over as a last resort. But they would try every other option before it came to that.

There was no other choice. They would have to go to Central City to rescue Ren. As they blew towards the marble gates, he could only think of his brother, taken from his home and brought back to the city that traumatized them as children. His fists clenched around the handlebars of his bike, muttering curse words to himself. These days, they were distant, but as a kid, Ren was his biggest inspiration.

His older brother was smarter and more mature than him. Always doing the chores around the farm that were too hard for him, and excelling in his studies, while Masao couldn't stop daydreaming.

They splashed through puddles of spring rain as they entered the city. Yoli didn't say a word as they went. Her quiet whimpers told him she was scared; it would be weird if she wasn't. He admired her bravery, her willingness to put herself in danger for someone else's sake.

He considered getting help from his friends, but it wouldn't make any difference. Negotiations should be kept between him and Wataru. Parking his bike on a side street, he put his coat over Yoli.

"I'm gonna talk to Wataru. Wait here and don't draw any attention, okay?" He instructed before running towards headquarters.

It was the same as before; a friendly woman greeted him at the front desk. He shoved his hand in his pockets. "Wataru Yamada wanted to meet me."

"Of course, when was your appointment?"

"I don't have an appointment. He just called up my friends cuz aparentally you guys kidnapped my brother," he spat. "He's the one making an appointment with me, Missy."

"..." she glared at him, her smile fading. "I see. I'll call him down."

It took Wataru five minutes to get down to the first level, where he greeted Masao in the lobby. His eyebrows lifted at the sight of the magenta-haired man. "So it was you all along," he grinned. His hatred could be felt through his voice, but he maintained a composed exterior. Of course, he would recognize Masao. Everyone knew what Masao looked like. The former leader of JumpAHead.

"Let Ren go, and then I'll give her to you."

"Hah! Slow down, there's no need to rush these matters." Wataru raised his hands and shrugged. It boiled Masao's blood—how he was so nonchalant while his actions affected the lives of others. The most ignorant person you could imagine, that was Wataru.

"Bring him here now!" he demanded.

"How do I know you'll hold up your end of the deal?"

"She's outside. I'm not a liar."

Wataru nodded and gestured to the lady at the front desk, and she clicked some buttons in front of her. They waited a few minutes. Standing so close to his worst enemy, he wanted to rip his skin off. Wataru was overly confident, not the slightest bit worried that Masao might have something up his sleeve. Where did that snobby pride come from? He'd never felt such security in himself, so he struggled to understand where a man even eviller than himself could manifest it.

Ren came out with security guards all around him. His head hung low, eyes shifting around the room with unease. When he noticed Masao, he ran to him dramatically, to the guard's shock. "Sao~! You came for me!!" he wined, nuzzling his brother affectionately.

"Come on," Masao grumbled in response. "We're gonna go get Yoli," he said to Wataru.

Wataru watched them leave with a smile. As soon as they'd cleared the area, he took off running. Ren followed behind him, almost tripping over trash on the ground. They bolted down the sidewalk, taking the curve of each street speedily. He couldn't waste a second. Finally, they got to his motorcycle.

It was untouched on the side of the road as he'd left it. Yoli was nowhere to be seen.

"Shit...where did she go?"

Wandered off? Been taken?

"The girl?" Ren asked. It was obvious now why Wataru had been so smug. While Ren was being freed, his men were out looking for Yoli.

"AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" he howled, dropping to his knees and holding the sides of his head. They knew his identity. Yoli had been taken for the second time. He would never get her back. His bloodshot eyes bulged, lips trembling as he yelled loud enough to burst an eardrum. His ragged voice strained, so charred by cigarettes it was hardly a pleasant sound.

"Sao...I'm so sorry," Ren sulked.

Masao wanted to yell at him, maybe even kill him. If Ren hadn't been captured in the first place, he would've never had to trade Yoli. But it wasn't Ren's fault, he told himself. Ren was just as much a victim as Yoli.

"Everyone I love is disappearing," he choked.

He thought he'd become stronger, but Wataru scored another victory, and it reminded him that he was just another meaningless face in the scope of their plan for the world.