"AKIRA! HE'S ON!"
 
I run as fast as I can from the kitchen to the living room to watch hideaki give his final remarks on the Evening news regarding the Zaibatsu. He is being bombarded as he is leaving the Mitsuibishi headquarters and walking to his car.
 
"Mr.Hakamichi! what can you tell us about the demand of the board compared with those of the shareholders?!"
 
Hideaki stop mid stride and looks the directly into the camera.
 
"I have always stood by the workers of this world, and I will not stop now. Shareholders and their families are far more important than the personal wants of a few."
 
"But what does this mean for the future?!"
 
without even answering the next question Hideaki walks away as more questions are hurled at him. He raises his arm to his shoulder and then procedes to flip off the camera. It is at this point that niko beings flipping out and punching his hand rapidly.
 
"AWWW SHIT! THAT'S MY BROTHER! THE TRUDEAU GOODBYE! THAT'S FUCKING CLASS RIGHT THERE!"
 
I begin blushing and shaking my head in a mixture of embarrassment and laughter.
 
"He's a feisty one thats for sure."
 
I get up and go to the TV and hit the button to turn it off. Niko yells in disagreement.
 
"COME ON! only 10 minutes more!"
 
"you said that half an hour ago. Now get! you said you would buy some ingredients for goulash."
 
Niko drudgingly gets up and i smack his ass as he walks by.
 
"Get! make sure you get some proper buns too!"
 
"yeah yeah."
 
as Niko leaves the apartment i finally have some time to myself. I walk into the master bedroom and then into the ajoining washroom. I wash my face with warm water and soap to get the grease and sweat from cleaning and attempting to cook. I wipe my face and head back into the bedroom. I take a seat on the bed before eyeing my closet and going through it to pass the time. As I reach my favorite pair of jeans I am reminded of that night. I can't believe Hideaki brushed it off like it was nothing.... and I can't believe I was drunk enough to do something like that. The way everything came back to me still shocks me as well. I was asking him where my favorite bra was, and he calmy stated while reading a magazine,
 
"It's in the back pocket of your black pants."
 
to this day, I still think I should talk to him about it directly, but I just can't bring myself to do it. I shut my closet door to end my train of thought and return to the kitchen. Niko should be back soon and he's the one who's help I truly need. Before I knew it Niko had turned with 5 pounds of ground wagyu beef and plenty of vegetables. We made haste and got right to work, Hideaki would be home soon and I want him and Niko to have a proper meal together like they did in Vancouver. Besides, Hideaki acts particularly cute when he's had a good meal, kinda like a sleepy pup. As time goes by I try my best to follow Niko's instructions. For the most part I was doing well, but I almost added an entire cup of vinegar to the goulash when I thought it was water. Luckily Niko stopped me and pointed me towards its proper use.
We had almost finished when Hideaki comes storming through the door. I call out to him as he walks but he doesn't respond. I turn to Niko,
 
"you can finish up right? I'm gonna go check up on him"
 
"Aight, It should be ready in a couple of minutes, make sure he gets it while it's hot."
 
I wash my hands and head towards the master bedroom. Hideaki is just sitting on the bed and rubbing his eyes. I take a seat beside him and put my hand on his shoulder.
 
"Hey there buddy, stressful day?"
 
"you don't know the half of it , Kira. the board is full of greedy fucks, I have to fight for every inch."
"We'll its time for dinner, get cha-"
 
It's then that I notice the odour of Cigar smoke on him.
 
"You've been smoking again haven't you!?"
 
Hideaki tenses up, I've caught him.
 
"I-It was just during the meeting I swear!"
 
I grab him by the ear and pull as hard as I can, causing him to shriek.
 
"OKOKOK IM SORRY!"
 
"Promise me you'll quit.
 
"IPROMISE OKAY!"
 
"Now say you love me"
 
"ILOVEYOUYOU'REANAWESOMEPERSON!"
 
I let go of his ear and pull his face closer to me so i can peck him on the cheek. I then procede, to walk out of the room. I turn around at the door way, wink and state.
 
"You're a good kid, you just need a little discipline! Now hurry up the food is getting cold!"
 
as I walk back into the kitchen, Niko is already setting up the table. I help and we are done within seconds. Niko get some butter from the fridge and begin pouring goulash in some bowls. As soon as Hideaki sat down we begin devouring everything in front of us. Although I'm going strong at first, I barely finishing my portion, meanwhile Niko and Hideaki are already going in for Thirds. Once we finish eating, hideaki motions that he has something to say.
 
"Mistuibishi has invited us to a gala Downtown. It's at the Imperial. It's a Formal Gala, so we all gotta go shopping for some new threads tomorrow."
 
Niko cuts me off before i have a chance to start speaking
 
"kickass, we gonna get smashed or what?"
 
Hideaki gives him a stern look.
 
"We have to be on our best Behaviour. Everyone important in the city and even people from out of town will be there."
 
I finally get a word in.
 
"Sounds good, But I still say we come in our own cars. That way we can leave whenever we want and even go somewhere else if we still feel like partying."
 
Hideaki nods in approval.
 
"Alright then. Look, I got really stressed today so any of you want to get a drink at the bar down the street?"
 
I nod and Niko replies,
 
"I'm down."
 
We clean up the table and put away the dishes and change into our casual clothes. I don't think we are going to party hard tonight, but I bring my dancing sneakers just in case.
The bar is quaint little place. A jukebox filled with alternative music and plenty of activities ranging from pinball to darts. We find a booth to sit down and we all immediately order a bottle of Crown. I have about three drinks before i start feeling a slight buzz. By this point Niko has left the table to go play pinball, but not before putting some eerily calming music on the Jukebox. Me and Hideaki are still are the table relaxing and ordering light bar snacks. It takes 3 more drinks and I begin to feel my mouth feel numb. My thoughts begin to speed up and I'm swaying to the music. as I look to my right I see Hideaki calmy bobbing his head to the music. Suddenly I begin thinking of that night all those weeks ago where I came on to him. It was a moment of weakness caused by love and alcohol. I need him to know I'm sorry. I finish the drink I'm holding in a one gulp and take three deep breaths before beginning.
 
"H-Hideaki?"
 
His concentration on the music breaks and he looks over to me
 
"yeah, wassup?"
 
"I just wanted to say I'm sorry."
 
"Sorry for what?"
 
"Remember our first night in Kamakura?"
 
"Yeah, It was a fun night. Hanako and Hisao were there."
 
"Yeah that part was fun, but I mean afterwards.... when you went down to the beach and I followed you."
"Ah..."
 
Hideaki grabs his drink and takes a light swig, but once he's finished doesn't say anything. I take this as a queue to continue. I'm getting more and more distraught over this as I try to explain.
 
"I w-was drunk and y-you know I care about you. I just wanted to show you that you weren't a-alone. That I l-loved you. I know what I did was u-uncalled for and I just want to apologize. I-I-I'll understand if you don't forgive me."
 
Once again he doesn't respond. He just takes another swig.
 
"Anyway, I-I'm gonna go to the washroom"
 
As I was about to shuffle away, I feel Hideaki's arm go around me and pull me close. I feel his warm lips against my cheek. He then pulls me close and into his chest. It was at this point I put my hands around him as well and started sniffling, his hand was rubbing my back all the while. I tried to talk but I all could do was gasp for air.
 
"Sssshhhh, Kira, It's alright. Nothing will ever change my opinion of you."
 
I felt like full out balling, but I forced myself to keep my composure. I just held on tight to him and tried to breath normally. I could feel the warmth of his body against mine. We stayed like that for the rest of the time in the bar. We left around 1am so that we could wake up in the morning. Out of respect for Hideaki I slept in a different room. However, I woke up in the middle of the night to discover his head lying on my breast and his arm around me. I pulled the blanket over the parts of his body that were uncovered and went back to sleep, but not before I kissed his forehead and stroked his head.
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"Jesus man, these suits are kickass, Hideaki."
 
"Nothing BUT Hugo boss, Bruv."
 
The elevator door opens and we walk towards our apartment. As we enter I notice Akira's shoes are already here. She's always ends up home first, and I don't know how she does it. before I can say anything Niko calls out to her,
 
" Хеј лепа! Ми смо кући!"
 
We hear nothing at first but then she responds,
 
"I'm in the bedroom, Don't come in! I'm changing into my clothes to see how they fit for the party."
With Niko's mind at ease he procedes to the fridge and begins chugging down a two litre of chocolate milk. I respond for the both of us,
 
"Hugo boss!"
 
"Again? Come on, Hideaki!"
 
"Heim Ins Reich!"
 
"Whatever, anyway i'm coming out now, I hope you like it!"
 
I hear the door unlock and expect to see a black pinstripe suit to go along with ours. But I what i see shatters my current knowledge on Akira's likes in terms of style. She walks out of the bedroom wearing an all white dress with floral design mesh from above the bust, a jewell encrusted belt, and a an opening in the front that is large enough to show off her legs. To top everything off, her face is beat red from the embarassment.
 
"I-is this n-nice?"
 
I am speechless, but Niko's reaction was entirely different. He looked down from chugging his chocolate milk and nearly choked. He ran to the sink and spit up. His first words were
 
"God DAMN!"
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Niko's enquiry breaks the silence during our drive to the banquet in a Rolls Royce
 
"So, when the hell did you get this car man?!"
 
Hideaki chuckles a little bit and states,
 
"It's the Zaibatsu's, I can take it out whenever i want. But technically i'm only supposed to use it for Business."
 
"That's real gay, bro."
 
That was enough to satisfy Niko then then started to light a cigar. Meanwhile my heart was beating so fast from the thought of myself actually following through with wearing this dress. I thought i was going to thrown up, but then I felt Hideaki's arm go around my shoulder and heard him wisper into my ear,
 
"I've never seen you look so beautiful and classy, Akira."
 
I could feel my face turning beet red as I punched Hideaki in the arm. When we arrived at the Hotel, it looked as if the entire thing was rented out for this function. There weren't even other cars waiting for the Valet. We exited the Royce and headed through the front doors and towards the main ballroom. Inside was about 200 people. The size intregued me, if there were only these many people here all of them must be important. As we sat down to the table a waiter came by and offered me a glass of champaigne. I hastily agreed and took a sip. Hideaki and Niko suddenly both gave me a strange look, I replied that at a occasion such as this a LADY must have beverages more suited to her. Niko began to chuckle heavily, but that soon stopped as i kicked him in the shin from under the table.
 
As the night went on, we were entertained by greeting those who reckonized Hideaki by his resemblence to Jigoro, and the endless supply of Shrimp and booze. I had to admit it was quite a fun time. Suddenly we heard music, we looked to the center of the hall  and saw that a live orchestra had set up and there was even a singer. The first song they started playing was quite slow and soothing, soon couples started swiftly walking towards the dancefloor. I had to admit, I've always wanted to slow dance, so I tugged at Hideaki's sleeve as he was talking to some fat guy with a monocle and a cigar.
 
"H-hey, do you think we could.... ummm.........you know.... d-dance?"
 
Before I knew it Hideaki was leading me by the hand to the dance floor. We didn't start dancing right away, he stopped by the Conductor of the orchestra first and pulled out his smartphone. The conductor then did the same. When he returned to me we walked hand in hand to the floor. The conductor then stated that the next song was a special request. The orchestra started playing "Counting Stars" by Nujabes. Hideaki had had to have slow danced before, because he wasn't the one making the mistakes. Every time I would step on his wingtips I would apologize and he would tell me not to worry. Eventually I got used to the rhythm and leaned up against him. Suddenly a man tapped Hideaki on the shoulder and then he told me that some Mitsubishi executives want to speak to him in a separate room. We separated and i was about to leave the dancefloor when Niko comes up to me.
 
"May I have this dance?"
 
That's probably the most polite thing he's ever said. I agree and we begin dancing to the next song. I can see Hideaki walking off into the distance and can't help myself from glancing over to where Hideaki exited every few seconds. I hear Niko's voice as I look over for the 7th time,
 
"Kira, He's going to be alright"
 
"I know Niko.... It's just that I really worry for him somtimes."
 
"I used to do the same thing when we still in highschool. I thought that he would be eaten alive if i wasn't there, but he proved me wrong time and time again."
 
"I just think that we shouldn't be here. It's my fault for bringing us back, i should never have mentioned it."
 
"You may have mentioned it in conversation, Kira, but It was his decision to come back."
 
As I hear Niko's last sentence I embrace him and place my head on his chest.
 
"I'm just scared for him."
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Look, I told you already! I'm NOT selling the Zaibatsu!"
 
I'm close to punching out this Mistsuibishi executive at this point. He won't take no for an answer.
"Think about the profits! What would your father say!? He'd be turning over in his grave if he found out you refused a deal such as this."
 
I stand up and using all my energy keeping the rage inside of me.
 
"My.... My father was a bastard and an alcoholic. I'm glad I'm nothing like him. I stand firm on my decision. Good day to you, Sir."
 
As I begin walking to the door I hear the executive call out to me,
 
"Mr. Hakamichi! Have a safe ride home. The streets can be dangerous at night!"
 
I stop and reply as I push the door halfway open ,
 
"Хвала на савету, стари дебели, говно једно!"
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Me and Niko are enjoying our 5th Tigershrimp Cocktail when we see Hideaki swiftly marching towards us. I get up to see what's wrong but he only tells me one thing,
 
"We have to leave, NOW."
 
He walks over to Niko and whispers in his ear, he also gets up and puts on his suit Jacket. I try to talk to them, but they just tell me to keep quiet and follow. We exit the hall and turn towards the parking garage. Hideaki shouts for our ride but the Valet tells him that we'll have to go underground to get in the car as there is a VIP arriving and there needs to be room. Hideaki gives the Valet some Yen and once again we are off. I keep trying to ask what's going on but all Hideaki tells me is that we are "too hot to be staying here.".  As we walk down the ramp and turn a corner, I feel a hand go around my waist and over my face. I try to scream, but everything became blurry. The last thing I saw was Hideaki and Niko trying to hold their own against 5 armed men in white suits.
 
My head is spinning, It feels as though I'm walking out of an ocean with 3 layers of clothes. I can hear Laughter followed by grunts and muffled screams. I try to get a hold of myself by raising my head and trying my best to open my eyes and focus. All I can see is a figure suspended and being illuminated. It's then that I hear it.
 
"Boss! looks like she's awake! Her Gaijin friend is still out cold though."
 
I hear another voice coming from another direction,
 
"Don't worry, The fun is about to begin!"
 
Suddenly cold water is splashed in my face, i wasn't expecting it and it caused me to jolt upright. As shook my head side to side to remove any excess water, my vision cleared. I was in a warehouse of somesort and tied to a chair. There were piles of scrap iron everywhere. Niko was beside me aswell, Tied up and out cold. There were several cuts on his face and neck. I then noticed the illuminated figure right in front of us. It was Hideaki. He was tied to a giant steel girter and every piece of clothing except his necklace, dress pants and shoes had been removed. His face was bloody and his chest was littered in bruises. Someone in a white suit then walked in front of me brandishing a box cutter.
 
"Glad you could awaken for our performance! My name is Arata. I've been dispatched to deal with you today"
 
I try to scream at him, but I'm still weak. My body must still be awakening. I ask him,
 
"W-what do y-you want with u-us?"
 
"Nothing Ms. Satou, I've just been hired to get some information and deal with a pest."
 
"Who h-hired y-you?"
 
"As if you really have to ask!"
 
"M-mitsuibishi?!"
 
"That's the one!"
 
"What is it t-that they w-w-want?!"
 
"They want the password!"
 
"What p-password?!"
 
He winds up and slaps me across the face.
 
"DON'T PLAY STUPID WITH ME! I want the password to your holdings! now what is it!?"
 
"I d-don't know"
 
I see him wind up to hit me again, but he stops when a voice yells out to him from behind. It's Hideaki.
 
"SHE DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING! DON'T YOU DARE LAY A FUCKING HAND ON HER YOU COCKMONGLING FAGGOT!"
 
Arata stops an inch away from my face and turns around to reply
 
"Well then Mr.Hakamichi if she truely doesn't know anything then I guess i get to play with you some more."
He turns around to me and winks and says,
 
"you're going to love this!"
 
He reaches into his suit jacket pocket and pulls out some headphones and a boxcutter. once he puts them on he starts bobbing his head and humming. I can hear some of the music emitting from them. It's some kind of weird electronic music. He then pops up the boxcutter blade and lunges at Hideaki, Slashing him across the chest. His slashes are in tune with a rhythm, like some kind of sick dance routine. Hideaki tries to hold in his screams as best he can, but eventually he starts loosing strength. The floor below him starts becoming red from his blood. Arata stops and then grabs him by the hair.
 
"Had enough?! WHAT IS THE PASSWORD FOR THE DEPOSIT BOX?!"
 
"f-fuck.....you...."
 
Arata slashes him once again across the chest causing the necklace with the ring I gave him to fall to the ground. He lunges at Hideaki's neck but then stops before he hits his neck. He then turns to me again. A grin comes across his face.
 
"Well Mr.Hakamichi, This is unorthodox for me, but I think I will have to do it to get an answer out of you."
 
He commands one of his lackies to come and grab Hideaki's head and turn it towards me. He walks behind me and grabs me by the neck.
 
"Don't worry Ms.Satou, I'll be gentle"
 
Suddenly another groan comes from beside me. It's Niko. I call out to him and he responds, but His body is still awakening. He is too slow. Arata grabs me by the hair and whispers in my ear,
 
"The task at hand, Ms.Satou"
 
I hear Hideaki call out to Arata,
 
"ALRIGHT! DON'T HURT HER OR MY BROTHER, I'LL TELL YOU"
 
Arata lets go of my hair and begins walking back to Hideaki, but not before slapping Niko across the face. The jolt from the slap apparently also woke him up completely. Niko swore at him in Serbian and tried to get his arms loose.
 
"GOOD! Now both of you are awake!"
 
As he gets back to Hideaki and punches him in the face.
 
"WHAT IS THE PASSWORD?! OR DO I HAVE SHOW YOUR LITTLE GIRLFRIEND WHAT I'M INTO?"
 
Hideaki barely raises his head and his voice is clear.
 
"The password is.....Akira."
 
Arata starts laughing manically,
 
"WOW, can't believe one of my idiot co-workers of here didn't try that. Welp, Since we are done here do you have anything to say to your two friends over there?"
 
Hideaki raises his head and calls out to Niko, who instantly replies,
 
"I'M HERE BRO, RELAX EVERYTHING IS GONNA BE ALRIGHT WE'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF HERE AND FUCKING RAPE THESE BITCHES!"
 
"N-no, I don't think that may be wise. Listen to me please. Ово неће завршити добро, брате. Гет кући безбедно. Без обзира на све, напусти ово место и држи њен безбедан. Не дозволите јој изглед. То је игра готова. Волим те."
 
"Bullshit! It's going to be okay."
 
I'm frantically looking at Niko to try to decipher what the fuck they are talking about, When I hear him Scream "No". I turn to see Arata with an m1911 pointed at Hideaki.
 
"Shows over folks, get the car around, and put your sharpest knife in the girls hands. It won't matter what they do at this point. Let's finish this."
 
then turns to us, bows and says one last thing,
 
"You have half an hour."
 
Several Nissan GTRs come screeching into the warehouse and many of his henchmen begin getting inside of them. One of them comes around me and puts a knife in my hand and whispers,
 
"best start cutting slowly now, if you want a chance that is."
 
It's then that hear the shots. One after the other. The ringing in my ears and the sight of Hideaki Cringing in pain causes me to be still in shock. Niko is screaming uncontrollably. Bang.Bang.Bang.Bang.Bang. Five shots. It's then that Arata takes his leave. I frantically begin cutting at the ropes. One rung after the other they come loose. I'm shedding tears all the way. I finally get loose and work on Niko and get him loose aswell. I can't get Hideaki loose by myself. We run to him and I tilt his head up with both my hands.
 
"HIDEAKI! SPEAK TO ME! IT'S GONNA BE OKAY, JUST STAY AWAKE!"
 
All Hideaki can do I gasp for air. Niko works on the ropes holding Hideaki in place, and as he cuts them, He falls foreward on to me like deadweight. I try my best to keep my balance and lower him down, but we both end up crashing down. I reposition him so his head is in my lap.
 
"HIDEAKI, IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY, WE'RE GONNA GET YOU TO A HOSPITAL!"
 
the bleeding from the gunshots are intense. I begin ripping pieces of my dress's skirt in order to make a kind of makeshift bandage to at least try to get the blood to coagulate. although Hideaki still isn't breathing, He's just gasping and convulsing.
 
"COME ON HIDEAKI YOU HAVE TO BREATHE! YOU HAVE TO BREATHE! JUST BREATHE!"
 
He reaches for somthing at his waist and then looks up to me with a smile on his face and tries laughing, but blood begins spilling from the sides of his mouth.
 
"COME ON YOU LITTLE FAIRY! JUST BREATHE! CALM DOW AND BREATHE!"
 
Niko begins crying beside me. He's saying prayers in Serbian. Hideaki then raises his hand and caresses my cheek. The ring I gave him is in his hand. I take hold of it along with his hand. With a final gasp he becomes limp. I let go and it comes crashing down onto the cement. Niko puts his arm on my shoulder, but I'm in shock and I keep shaking him.
 
"OH NO! NO! NO! HIDEAKI! HIDEAKI WAKE UP! FIGHT THIS PLEASE! DON'T LEAVE ME! FIGHT! HIDEAKI!"
 
It finally hits me.... He's gone. I hold his his head up to my breast, his blood is seeping down turning my already dirty white dress a full scarlet.
 
"Hideaki..... No...."
 
I begin sobbing uncontrollably, but Niko finally grabs me and made me focus on him
 
"KIRA! LISTEN! WE HAVE TO LEAVE! NOW! WE CAN'T STAY HERE!"
 
"WE CAN'T LEAVE HIM HERE!"
 
"THOSE FUCKING THUGS WILL BE BACK SOON! HE WANTED ME TO KEEP YOU SAFE AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO! I'LL DRAG YOU AWAY IF I HAVE TO! .....Kira... It's time to say goodbye."
 
I get on my knees beside Hideaki and lift his head high enough so that I can kiss his forehead. Niko places his hand on his shoulder and says a prayer. We then get up and start running. In fear I ask Niko,
 
"Where are we going?!"
 
He replies,
 
"Home."