EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE.

RP - Blog

[badheart]

UNDER CONSTRUCTION;; enter with caution!

Indie RP-Blog for a villain OC set in the modern world, his name is Akira Kamiya, please leave your vote in the coming election, ⸻ exchange your freedom for the greater good. ⸺ NSFW / 18+ / TRIGGERs.

[badheart]

“So, what do you know about Rei? Is she really coming back?” Idachi asked while pouring himself a cup of coffee as Li waited for the copier to finish printing a few documents. The question had been lingering in his mind for a while now—an uncertainty that irritated him more than he liked to admit. He didn’t enjoy the thought of her slipping completely out of his grasp even if she married that prick. He figured Li might have some insight, considering the strange friendship that had formed between the two of them in a short amount of time.

Idachi took a slow sip before setting the cup down and stepping closer, his tall frame looming over her. His voice dropped, lower and muskier as he spoke.

“I’m actually surprised you stuck around this long,” he remarked, leaning over her shoulder and breathing warm air against her ear. “Thought you’d only be good at spreading your legs for others.”

The rumours circulating through the network were practically confirmed by the way she dressed—provocative in a way that seemed to invite inappropriate attention. One of his hands slid to the side of her waist while the other crept upward, grabbing her breast through the fabric of her buttoned shirt. His grip tightened enough to hurt. He kneaded it roughly, intent on drawing both pain and a stifled sound from her. The corner of his mouth curled upward, amused by the depravity of the moment.

“You’ll have to do for now,” Idachi finally whispered before releasing her. As much as he might have liked to continue, the space was far too public. Almost as if on cue, a couple of co-workers walked past them.

By the time they glanced over, Idachi was already holding his coffee again as though nothing had happened. His lips hovered over the rim of the cup as he blew gently across the steam, a faint smirk playing at his mouth. “You must be feeling lonely without your pimp anyway.”

This day felt like eternity, though that might be always the case since she was living with Shintaro ... where she had kind of invited herself in. She still had her own place, with a lot of things, he probably would not want in his own but it sure would save some money. She had not dared to ask yet, and neither had he. He had just kind of tolerated her around like it was the most normal thing in the world.

The printer beeped, some kind of issue again, though luckily just new paper needed, but before she could grab them. Her boss came, sort of. That she could work here, happened more through Endo and he was no more, neither was Jack. But there was hope. Doing complete office work was not her thing and the payment could not compare to her other job either. Sadly Li still had not found the confidence to ever be her own boss in that kind of business.

"Is that... desperation in your voice?" she asked while sorting the few documents she had gotten at least. Was he even aware that he made it rather obvious that he had some kind of issues with Rei and could never truly let go of her, or why was she always on his mind? She felt her body freeze the moment he erased any kind of distance between them. Sandwiching her between him and the printer, which held more warmth than he ever will. And yet, she felt this excitement rise in her. Something only ever Jack could give her, or well... Shintaro now, when he dared to surprise her, but the other two were like hungry wolves. The mix of danger and lust was a powerful drug to her. But it also helped to know them, it was not scary then, unless anger would follow. She would never dare to anger them. "Well, at least you can appreciate more than one talent of mine now," she retorted, considering he had found use in her accounting skills too. And there was no way for her to do that anywhere else with no proper documents around and just part time on top. Her rear was pressed back, touching more his thighs than groin. His wandering hands already got her a little bit excited, knowing how public this place was but in these few seconds, luckily no one came. His roughness was to be expected, something she could bear and even enjoy to a certain degree without being noisy but knowing his ego, she would exhale ever so quietly.

That she ended up being the fool again, hurt. Stopping so abruptly, there was no way he heard his employees coming, it was pure luck for sure. There was this guilt again, knowing Shintaro hated her job and he would hate her probably even more if he knew what happened at this workplace. That she dared to indulge and even could feel something like disappointment, as he had managed to turn her on so easily. "I'm okay, it's not like men are an endangered species," she huffed, while fixing her blouse, straightening it more again. Was it just coincidence, pure luck or did he actually know that much about her. He had never appeared close to Jack.

"Also... I doubt she will be coming back, ... too busy with the baby." And she hated Idachi's guts, so there was no way. And yet, Li kind of wanted her back too. She had not really managed to make any other friends in her current position. Not that she needed any here anyway, some could be quite rude, when she heard them whispering. Not that she was against gossip, but sadly she was a topic too. "Excuse me now, the printer needs paper."

[mugunghwc]

Tao stared at her with a mix of incredulity and disbelief that she would even dare suggest such a thing. Did he look like a virgin? He scoffed at the thought. “You must be jokin’. Of course not.” She was being ridiculous.

Her response was far from satisfactory, especially since it seemed to imply he might have to deal with that Ji-eun guy again. The idea made him slightly nervous—not so much for himself, but for Akira. Who knew what that guy was capable of if he didn’t get what he wanted? Even worse was his association with Han.

“Really? Aren’t you interested in catchin’ up with friends? A boyfriend, perhaps?” Tao suggested almost absentmindedly while carrying her things inside. With some luck, she might reconsider and actually socialize instead of staying around them all day. He tried not to grimace at the thought. He didn’t even know how he was supposed to act around the two of them now, given his strange relationship with Akira.

“Think ’bout it,” was all he added before stepping inside, letting the situation unfold naturally.

Akira greeted her with a warmth that made Tao pause and stare. Even after losing, the man was made for the role of a politician—putting on his best performance as a caring father, holding her as if she were his own blood.

Tao’s gaze shifted briefly toward Han, the shibu, wondering if he was just as annoyed by the intrusion as he was. He nearly growled when she was assigned his room, which meant he’d definitely have to help her up and down the stairs all day. Great.

He was so caught up in his annoyance that the mention of Han nearly startled him, snapping Tao back to reality. His lips curled into a guilty smirk as he glanced at Akira. Where he had expected anger or resentment, the mood between them only seemed to sink further, which somehow irritated Tao even more.

“It’s better this way. That connection wouldn’t bring anything of value to your father,” he said, daring to speak on Akira’s behalf as he reinforced the idea that Han had no place in his life.

[badheart]

Fang cringed at the word boyfriend, and it became even more obvious now, that the other really kind of wanted her gone. And they did not even properly know each other yet and there was already this subtle hate. Or maybe she was overthinking it again.

"Why won't you catch up with your friends?" she retorted, not even bothering to hide her annoyance with him. Why was no one ever truly happy to see her, or at least less rude. Meeting her step father later sure brought an odd but welcomed contrast. At least he seemed happy to have her here unlike his weirdo bodyguard. It truly made zero sense that he would pick him after the debacle with Ji-eun.

Akira looked slightly shocked at Tao's audacity to comment on this matter. "That's not for you to decide," he warned, clearly displeased that Tao failed to give his role justice. He truly was young, but it was kind of forgiven for the other assets he brought, but he better not act this childish in the public.

Meanwhile Akira roughly told her what happened and Fang still seemed to struggle to believe it. Did Futaba know about it? Well, surely... she watched the news after all, but she was sure that she had wanted to vote for her dad once. And she was still crushing on Han. "Do you think, you'll get along again?" She dared to ask. Considering what happened all in the past, especially with Ji-eun, somehow... it seemed possible in her opinion, since these two really had gotten along a bit too well, even if she had seen them rarely together but he always seemed to have a better mood then. Which is no surprise, considering the few other close friends he had, if they could be considered as such. "I don't understand how you got this idea." Akira shook his head, but honestly, he kind of wished for this scenario. Why was she concerned about this anyway? She barely knew him. "Either way, tomorrow we'll have to check your place and manage some forms, or do you wanna keep that place?" Fang sure looked a bit shocked at the mention of her old apartment, she had kind of blocked its existence out and was not sure, what happened to it yet. It certainly was not tied to any good memories. "And with we, I mean you and Tao, I got a meeting, but maybe in the evening I find some time," he reassured her and before Fang could say anything else, Akira would find some peace in his home office, shutting the door and leaving Tao with the mess.

"Of course ..." she grumbled. She really should have lowered her expectations.

[mugunghwc]

Her question made him pause for a moment. He hadn’t expected to be interrogated as a way to prove himself. Now it was starting to make sense why Akira had sent him off alone. Tao could already tell the girl wasn’t easy. A brat, perhaps.

He snorted, shaking his head at how ridiculous the situation was. “I’m not one to date. So that doesn’t prove anything,” he said, almost defensively—using it as an excuse to mask the truth about his sexuality. It made him wonder whether she suspected her father at all.

The car was parked along the side of the residence, the engine’s low hum announcing their arrival. Tao wasn’t quite ready to retake his role as bodyguard now that he and Akira had already crossed that line, and the more he thought about it, the more he dreaded her presence.

He glanced sideways at her, almost thoughtfully—not because of her response, but because he was already considering ways to reunite her with that freak so they could leave them alone. Losing the election had already been hard on the man. He didn’t want him dealing with abstinence on top of that. Again.

“Maybe you can take this opportunity to rekindle your relationships,” Tao suggested, hoping to encourage her to reach out to whoever she needed to, if it meant getting her off their back.

He removed his seatbelt before stepping out of the car and moving around to her side to help her. Tao opened the door and held it there for a moment, looking at her with a smile that feigned friendliness. “I doubt you wanna stay locked up with your dad.”

Hopefully he wasn’t wrong about that.

Tao then moved to the trunk, opening it to retrieve her luggage along with the wheelchair positioned beside the passenger's door. He stood there watching as she switched over, doubting she wanted that much help judging by the way she had acted back at the airport.

What a hassle, he thought.

[badheart]

"Huh why?!" She looked oddly surprised at his response. She might be, just a little, attracted to him. He was nice to look at, something she could not fully deny, but as most men, he was a dick. But surely there had been some kind of woman in his life. "Are you a virgin then?" she snorted a bit awkwardly. "That cannot be," she added before he could even reply to her first comment. Her arms were crossed above her chest. There was no way a guy like him, was not interested in love one tiny bit.

Fang fell quiet at his suggestion. She was still not sure, if she should dare anything or not. So much time had passed, and she had basically ghosted everyone, so she was not even sure, if anyone wanted to see her again. "I came for my dad," she reminded him, looking a bit confused now. She did not want to think about it, but she could not push the feeling away, that this new guy did not want her around. Which was odd, like he was supposed to just protect, stand around, why was he so against her being here? She could already feel her confidence slumping back down, or maybe she had to blame herself again, considering her prior questioning.

The fresh air was nice, the place really had not changed and still had that nice garden, even if not the biggest. She sighed, once fully seated again, getting slowly nervous now. Especially when reaching the door. Inside Akira would greet her, and even give her a rare hug. At the question of where she was supposed to sleep, he pointed upstairs, which only made her grimace, since it would mean relying on the help of others. Probably that Tao guy, seeing how he was allowed to go inside as well and not play guard in the sun. "The couch is fine for now, ... By the way, ... is it true, what he told about Han?" Akira squinted towards Tao, wondering how they ended up talking about that topic. "Yeah." He would simply comment, not out to offer too many details, since the loss still hurt. And to his surprise, she looked a bit upset too. Why in the world?

[mugunghwc]

He didn’t understand where her disbelief came from. Did she hold some kind of hope for that man, the way her father apparently did? Somehow the thought irritated him more than it should have. She was, in theory, no longer related to Akira. Yet even she seemed to entertain the possibility of that relationship—sharing the same kind of delusion as her stepfather. It made him grit his teeth behind closed lips.

“Yeah, well…” Tao began bitterly, holding back the venom that threatened to slip into his words. “He’s not someone who should be close to your father.” Regardless of what had actually happened. The details were still muddy to him, mostly because Akira refused to elaborate further. When it came to Han… he could be strangely secretive.

Tao shifted uncomfortably in his seat, shoulders tense as his hands tightened around the steering wheel. He wanted to scoff at her response, but instead settled for a short snort meant to conceal the irritation building in his chest.

“Please…” he muttered, briefly shooting her an indignant glance. “I have enough charm. I don’t need some exotic hair colour to get people staring.”

He turned the wheel, pulling into the street that led to Akira’s place. The fact that the man hadn’t moved after the attack only deepened Tao’s suspicions. It almost felt as if he didn’t want to let go of whatever he had shared with Han—like some part of him still hoped to return to it. Or that Han would.

The thought bothered Tao more than it should have, considering he was the one sharing Akira’s bed at night for a rough fuck.

He pulled over once they arrived, letting the engine idle as his gaze settled on the entrance of the residential building. So much for their privacy. Now it would be compromised because of… her.

After a moment, Tao turned his head, giving her another quick once-over before forcing a smirk. “Are you happy to be back?” he asked casually. “You probably missed your life here.”

[badheart]

Fang could not help but grin at his irritated response. Truly, it only made her wonder more, if it had been true or not, that Han tried anything against her father. This supposed bodyguard sure was not the most professional one, which was really odd, considering even she was aware that her father had issues after the experience with Ji-eun. So now he picked someone this young? Maybe a nepo baby bodyguard or something.

"Oh, so how many girlfriends did you have?" She would ask right back, as if that statistic would prove his appeal somehow. Right now she was not seeing it, okay maybe a little, since she could imagine others having fun to tease him. And he was not bad looking now, but neither overly special. No freaky style or something, too dutiful.

Akira's place did not appear any different to her, though she had seen the place rarely, be it from the out- or inside.

"Ah..." She shrugged with her shoulders. "It wasn't bad where I was." If anything, it had been kind of healing, but being back in Japan, she was not too sure anymore. Maybe everything would come crashing down on her. She was kind of scared. And it was still odd that he had invited her to his home.

Akira heard the engine and made no effort to get up yet, he was already missing his freedom. Hopefully Tao would entertain her for just a bit longer.

[mugunghwc]

Her surprise caught him off guard. From what he had heard, she had always tried to earn her stepfather’s affection—had built much of herself around that pursuit. Tao had assumed that even from abroad, she would have kept tabs on him. Apparently, that hadn’t been the case.

“Oh.” He blinked at her, the confusion genuine before he straightened and looked away, jaw setting slightly.

What she said next shouldn’t have surprised him, but it did. Enough that the irritation surfaced before he could smooth it over. Even she had picked up on the strange dynamic between her father and Han. His brows furrowed without meaning to, a scoff slipping past his lips as he secured his seatbelt and started the engine.

“That relationship is done,” Tao said, shifting his gaze between the rearview and side mirrors. “He threatened your father’s life. So it’s better to keep your distance.”

The familiarity in which she spoke of that man didn’t go amiss either. Nor the fact that her almost-boyfriend—or whatever he had been, seemed connected to that man. Maybe that would be enough to deter her from going back.

...Which meant, he would still have to prepare for possible retaliation.

Her next question interrupted that train of thought. Not doubt over him being a bodyguard—but the alternative she seemed to imply. Tao glanced at her briefly before letting out a short snort, shaking his head as his attention returned to the road.

“Your father had his doubts too,” he said evenly. “But I’m the one keeping him safe.” It wasn’t pride in his voice. It was something firmer. More personal.

“The host business is mostly run by Koreans,” he added after a moment, barely hiding his disdain. “I’d rather stay out of that.”

[badheart]

"Huh?" That was unexpected, very so. Especially after hearing that. "Han did what?" Even for Fang it sounded ridiculous, despite barely knowing him, just like Futaba she carried the idea of him as a gentleman. Despite his background. Also it was her father, or rather Kamiya Akira, why would Han do something so stupid. None of this made any sense. "But they were so close..." she mumbled in disbelief and looked outside the car's window. "..." At least she was sure of it, after seeing him with her father in the hospital. A mere acquaintance would not do that. She looked rather upset now, still not fully believing Tao. She had liked the idea that Han was a tiny bit part of their family. It was kind of cool, even if she was still a little bit upset at him for that one time, no one would ever believe her.

That even her father doubted Tao's qualities made everything even odder. Why would he hire him then? "That sounds weird," she commented without a thought. Weirdly possessive. She stared at him, trying to study him but the situation was simply confusing.

Fang snorted. Sounded like, he was the one with the actual beef against koreans. As if the red light district was seriously overrun by koreans now, nullifying the existence of all the yakuza. He must be really salty about something. "Can't compete with their beauty standards, huh?" she teased him.

[mugunghwc]

Her disappointment didn’t go unnoticed. Tao saw it the moment her gaze skimmed past him, searching for someone else, and finding only him waiting instead.

It drew an awkward twist to his mouth, a polite smile that didn't quite miss his eyes. The wheelchair caught his attention first. Then her hair—cropped short with white streaks cutting through her bangs. Even her clothes were sharper than he’d expected. Still… thinking back on Ji-eun, it made sense. The same taste, sort of.

“Pleasure to meet you,” Tao lied gently, keeping his tone smooth.

It wasn’t personal. His irritation came from the idea of her presence in their home more than from her herself. It was why he did what he’d been told... out of courtesy.

He took her suitcase and carried it toward the exit, staying a leisured step behind. She didn’t look like she wanted help, so he didn’t offer it—only hovered close enough in case she faltered. At the car, he set the luggage carefully in the boot before moving around to her side.

“I’m his bodyguard,” Tao said first, glancing up to meet her eyes as he helped her into the seat. “You probably heard about that incident with the Koreans. That’s why I’m keeping an eye on him.”

His hands lingered just a moment longer than necessary—steady, before he stepped back, shutting the door with quiet restraint to hop onto the driver's seat.

[badheart]

She could not quite read him yet, but surely he did not want to be here either. It was just another task for him, possibly one he would have liked to avoid, though not sure what would be an enjoyable task for an assistant. Free day maybe. Actually she liked to believe that her father was a nice boss, as she had never witnessed him quite furious. Everything seemed always fine around him.

"Oh..." Not something she had expected, considering of the past events with Ji-eun, not something she had stomached so well either yet. It was one of those things that made her relationship with him rather difficult. She could never trust her own feelings either. "That's new," she admitted. When he told of that incident, she looked even more confused. No avid news reader and he had not alerted her about any troubles either. As if he would ever. "No, ... but I bet Han was involved, tho' I thought they are close." Like friends. Getting a bodyguard due to Han seemed odd.

Inside the car, she checked it thoroughly out but nothing offered anything interesting that told anything about this new bodyguard. She could not help but keep staring at him at times. Somehow he looked way too young and cute to be one. "Are you... really a bodyguard?" Or would this be kidnapping part two, but surely her dad would not allow that to happen again. "I bet you secretly work as a host."

[mugunghwc]

“I did more than saving your ass,” Tao teased, nudging him with that familiar mischief he only showed when no one else was around. It had been difficult at first, but now he could say that Akira not only put up with his demeanour—he embraced it. Perhaps his loss wasn’t entirely a bad thing, if it allowed him to be this close.

“You’re not scared she’ll find out? Or get suspicious?” he asked at last, reaching for Akira’s fingers and threading them loosely with his own. The gesture was more casual than purposeful—an attempt to ease his mind.

To Tao, it was strange just how carefree he seemed about a daughter he supposedly didn’t care much about. He would have imagined Akira wanting her as far away as possible, especially now that there was nothing to gain from the media. Tao wasn’t as confident. He kept overthinking the upcoming interaction with a girl he barely knew.

It was odd… meeting the stepdaughter of the man you were secretly sleeping with.

Akira had given the order as soon as her plane was about to land. He’d sent her phone number to make things easier, though Tao had insisted on bringing a sign just in case.

He stood outside the gates, scanning for a glimpse of a wheelchair. His fingers curled around the edges of the sign, her name written neatly beneath a bold Welcome home. It was cheesy, yes—but if anyone recognised her, it would sell the idea that Akira still cared… even if he wasn’t there himself.

Tao shifted his weight from one foot to the other as passengers poured out. Couples reunited. Families embraced. Laughter filled the space in uneven bursts.

He remained still, overthinking. It didn’t take long before he spotted an airport staff member assisting someone in a wheelchair. Tao stepped forward, intercepting the interaction politely but firmly.

“Fang?” he asked. “I’m Zheng Tao. I’m here to pick you up—by your father’s order.”

[badheart]

He was about to answer but Tao's fingers going around his own got him slightly out of concept, staring at the gesture as if it was the most confusing thing in the world. "..." Not that it was bad though, no, he quite liked the contact. "Ah, ... to 95 percent, ... I just happen to be a bit too selfish now," he grinned and finally returned the pressure. Yeah, he hated the thought to let go of him, even if just one night. She was bound to that wheelchair, it will hopefully ease matters to them.

God, she hated the sight of other passengers being all happy meeting family or whatever. Something she wished for herself too, but she knew it was unlikely. Maybe she had gotten over her wish for his attention. It worked fine without him or anyone. But it was honestly a lie, some things were still difficult to manage alone. Not that anyone needed to know, she did not want their pity or the opposite of it. Either way, the world was full of assholes.

"Pa-" she stopped mid sentence, too distracted at the cheesy sign, before looking rather irritated at this chinese man. "..." She had landed in Japan, right? "Oh, ..." She had known it after all, but the disappointment was still there, that he had not come himself. This guy looked really young and even if he dressed formal, it somehow felt wrong. Since when does her dad have such an assistant, she had never seen him before. "Gao Fang," she confirmed at last, before pointing at her suitcase. "That's something you can take then." She would move herself, while still on the lookout before eventually eyeing Tao again. "What's your role?" Came her question, just when they arrived his car. Through the windows she could see no one either.

[mugunghwc]

Tao didn’t take his eyes off Ji-eun until the man was out of sight. Even then, he lingered by the door a moment longer before stepping in and closing it with care, palm flat against the wood as if he expected it to rattle open again. He had stood his ground, but there had been something deeply unsettling about that man beyond his physique. It was the instability in his gaze.

It made Tao wonder just how much leverage Fang truly was to Akira. Enough to keep a man like that at bay?

He let out a sharp breath he hadn’t realised he’d been holding, shoulders slumping as the tension slipped loose. Tao tipped his head back, staring at the ceiling for a second, until Akira’s voice called him back. He glanced over his shoulder, then turned fully, the corner of his mouth twitching upward despite everything.

A soft huff escaped him, half disbelief, half amusement.

“Didn’t think I’d hear a compliment from you,” Tao said, chuckling under his breath, still a little breathless from the adrenaline. “But I’ll take it.”

He crossed the room and sat beside him, posture still too straight to be comfortable. He couldn’t quite relax yet. Not after that. It was Akira’s teasing that made him pause, eyes narrowing with feigned indignation

“A bed is better than the couch, so…” he muttered, pretending indifference. He didn’t dare admit the truth—that it wasn’t the mattress he cared about.

[badheart]

"Well, ... after basically saving my ass, it's the least I can offer," Akira smirked, who was still relieved to have Ji-eun out of the house again but soon there will be a new visitor. Who will also cost plenty of his nerves, and Tao's probably first.

It would be a wonder if they magically got along, it truly needed someone insane like Ji-eun to tolerate her. Maybe he was not fully fair to Fang either, but her presence had been rarely welcoming to him. She was just more work on his plate of responsibilities. Even if quite empty right now.

Akira would smile at him, eyeing him for a moment. "You won't need the couch, even if she's here. I doubt she fixed her sleeping schedule."

. . . . . . Days would pass and her arrival would come. Akira would enjoy his last hours of peace, while Tao was already on the way to pick her up. Fang looked just a bit lost at the airport, her father had told her a meeting point, but she could not spot him anywhere. "..." Or maybe he was still in the car and one of his assistants would do the job. She really had not missed travelling, it was always a big hassle, especially doing it alone was rarely a good experience. Some souvenirs were in her suitcase, though she was unsure if she could or would share them in the end with a certain someone. It had been a while.

[badheart]

Rei slipped the chocolate into his inner jacket pocket while he adjusted his tie, fingers careful against the lining of his suit, smoothing the fabric after as her palm pressed flat over his chest. She insisted on seeing him out before leaving the apartment. Her eyes were tired, but her smile stayed soft, gentle.

Inside the wrapping, beneath the small piece of chocolate, was a folded note in her tidy handwriting.

Come home early tonight.

When he returned, Rei was waiting just like she promised. Dinner was done. The table set with dishes. The apartment scented faintly with broth and rice.

Saya lay in her portable crib, kicking her tiny legs happily the moment he stepped into her sight, little noises bubbling out of her like laughter she hadn’t learned yet.

“She’s excited to see you,” Rei said, watching him with that quiet, pleased expression she always wore when he came home. “And so am I.”

In the center of the table sat a small box—her attempt at handmade chocolates, slightly uneven, wrapped with care anyway. She told him they were inspired by the ones they’d shared the night he proposed, just… not bunny-shaped this time.

“After dinner,” she warned gently before he tried to reach for some—already ready to smack his hand away in case he tried.

Rei placed his plate carefully, bending close so only he could hear. “I bought white lace… and new high socks,” she murmured, lashes lowered with quiet mischief. “I also painted my toes red too… so I hope you’re not too tired tonight.”

If it had not been for Ryo, he would have missed the handwritten note, considering how quick he was to throw it away and focus more on the piece of chocolate. Something sweet but bonbons and the like would always be his favored choice, as they usually don't melt that easily, be it between his fingers, or the warmth of his pocket. A shame.

"Hmh?" Taking the note back from Ryo, he snorted at the message before grinning at him. "Means, I'll have fun and you well..." probably dive more into work.

The smell of dinner meant that the desired action would probably wait after all, though he did not overly mind as he was hungry after all.

"Well, I'm the coolest dad after all," he pointed out, while trying to entertain her with his finger, till struggling to free himself from her grip again. He held back an ouch, she sure was strong with those tiny baby fingers. There was pride, but also pain. Flexing his fingers after it.

Jiro smiled awkwardly. He could do this romantic stuff, because he saw it in movies and such, how all men did it for their women but... receiving that kind of attention back was weird. Especially when he was no die-hard chocolate fan. Valentine really should have focused on hard candies. Though neither fitted dinner now. It would ruin the taste, the sweetness to hearty. "You ... really didn't have to," he commented awkwardly, especially since he had no idea anymore if that past chocolate had anything special taste wise.

What she offered next was more to his taste, and he really had wanted to take a peek, though she was still dressed ... obviously, when he leaned slightly away from the table. "I came extra early," He grinned.

[badheart]

Naomi had spent her Friday night wandering through a small boutique chocolatier, searching for something that felt…worthy. She asked the staff for careful recommendations—flavours that could be paired with whiskey or coffee, something warm on the tongue without tipping into bitterness. Something that lingered.

She tasted sample after sample, the dark gloss of cocoa staining her lips, sweetness blooming slowly at the back of her throat. For a moment she forgot why she was there at all, humming under her breath as her cheeks warmed, as if she were indulging in a quiet little secret meant for no one but herself.

In the end, she made her choice with him in mind. One with an espresso note, deep and steady. Another edged with yuzu peel and smoked caramel, bright and teasing. A small variation—just in case he didn’t like one or the other. Just in case she was wrong.

The next day she asked him to meet her. When he arrived, she presented the box with composed hands… then slipped a single piece between the soft line of her breasts, mischief flickering in her eyes. Her face warmed, betraying her shyness even as she held his gaze.

“You can eat the rest off me,” she murmured gently, almost politely. “If you’d like.”

Seung-Jae was quite surprised to find out that she had not intended a fuck date but something else, as he stared at a little bit irritated at her offerings. His mood swung to the better though, the moment the chocolate found a far more favorable place in his opinion.

"Now that's more how I like it," he grinned, as he was not here for any romance. If he had raised any false hopes in her, he frankly did not care as long he profited from her devotion. Not that she had much choice anyway as it was doubtful, she would ever try a different job, considering the inclusion of a pretty apartment.

He leaned down, taking the piece of chocolate right into his mouth while his head remained buried between her huge breasts. Truly, he was not that much interested in chocolate, especially when he came for something else. "Should taste mine," he murmured as he leaned back, certainly desiring her lips on a lower level again.

[mugunghwc]

Tao didn’t object, even if he wanted to. He would accommodate her for as long as she chose to stay. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be long. The longer Fang remained here, the greater the risk was of Ji-eun returning to claim her.

He could tell from Akira’s response that Ji-eun wasn’t convinced. He grounded his teeth before scoffing, placing both gloved hands on either side of the couch as he pushed himself upright.

“You better encourage her to leave this place, then,” Ji-eun stated flatly. He could already picture Fang wanting to linger—playing at some kind of sentimental reunion with her stepfather. After all, he had been the one to invite her back.

Ji-eun rose fully to his feet.

For a moment, he didn’t move. His boots pressed firmly against the floor, his tall frame hovering close enough to Tao to cast a faint shadow over him. The silence stretched—intentional. Tao didn’t step back.

Ji-eun’s irritation slowly shifted into amusement. He leaned down slightly, just enough to invade Tao’s space, with a smirk curving across his lips.

“Hope you know I’ll be back if she won’t,” he warned.

Tao lifted a hand between them, brushing him off with dismissive ease. “Yeah, yeah. Now leave before he changes his mind.”

That ended the exchange. Or so it seemed.

Ji-eun lingered a second longer than necessary, mildly intrigued. Tao lacked the usual trace of fear he was accustomed to seeing in others. Because of that, Ji-eun’s stare sharpened, studying him.

“Right,” Ji-eun said quietly at last. He finally glanced at Akira, a brief acknowledgment of authority—unsettling casual in his tone despite the underlying treat. “We’ll see if your word has any merit.”

And then he left.

[badheart]

"You really worry too much." After all he kind of knew, that he had not properly fulfilled his father role. Meaning, he had very little interest in Fang and would prefer for her to leave rather quickly. It will cost him a lot of energy too to meet her again. Luckily she could annoy Tao first.

Akira watched the scene from afar, personally he doubted that he could remain this cool around someone like Ji-eun, if he were in Tao's position. Someone who could actually put up a fight, but against this guy? He kind of doubted that, their level of experience must be quite apart for sure.

A loud sigh left him, the moment they were alone again. He would lean back in his chair, staring at the ceiling, while allowing his body to slowly rest again. He had been more tense than he had thought.

"You did... really well," he admitted once Tao returned, inviting him to sit beside him. "But I think, your bigger concern laid in not sharing a bed with me, when she's here," he teased.

[mugunghwc]

He wanted to argue. The protest sat at the back of his throat, but even Ji-eun understood the significance of his presence. His face was not unknown, but Fang’s was. Even with Akira’s loss, their connection remained a matter of public record. The divorce had already stirred enough whispers at the time. It had invited criticism and speculation—already pinning the perception of failure and instability onto him. It might have faded, but it had never disappeared completely.

If Ji-eun appeared too close to her now, it would raise questions. That was reason enough to restrain himself. His jaw tightened anyway, glare shifting towards Tao. He ignored it.

Tao simply nodded once toward Akira, taking in the implication without needing it spelled out. If Fang was staying here, then some things would have to change.

“Should I prepare my room for her?” Tao asked quietly, barely sparing Akira a glance. Ji-eun’s lip curled at that, but it lacked any joy.

Another night. A longer wait. He hated it. Yet even he could admit it was smarter to let her settle first—to let her lower her guard before he showed up once more.

Tao felt his phone buzz in his pocket. The vibration was expected, given his duty. He pulled it out, eyes lingering on the new contact information. A familiar name that suddenly felt heavy in his palm, despite lacking any personal meaning.

Perhaps it was the thought of meeting someone who had once meant something to Akira. Or perhaps it was simpler than that: if Fang stayed, Tao would not. Not in the same way. Not in the same bed as Akira.

Before that thought could settle too deeply, Ji-eun pulled out his own phone and tilted his head toward him. “Might as well give me your number too,” he said, voice deceptively light. “I’d like to know when to make my move.”

The phrasing wasn’t accidental. It stirred something uncomfortable within Tao, who sought out Akira for a way to avoid it.

[badheart]

"Hm?" He had imagined her on the couch, and if he was even more honest, he had not imagined her anywhere at his house, somehow not thinking that far ahead. She sure would ruin the privacy they had, even he realized that at least. "Yeah, I think she'll appreciate it." Tao could get the couch or sleep with him, he did not really care, as he liked to believe that Fang would not give him any surprise visits during the night.

Akira shook his head. "Mine suffices." Especially since he was doing the decisions here. "Though really, you just have to stay at her old place, ... she still got those critters, I think." Grimacing slightly. Her pet choice was something else. Surely she wanted to see them and if that thought would pass her, she should wonder, who possibly kept them alive. In a way, she probably knew that Ji-eun might be waiting for her, unless she doubted his loyalty. Was he really though? It was hard to believe, that he really just wanted her and no one else.

"I think that's it for now." Gesturing for the other to leave. Hopefully this guy would never become his son in law, if Fang got that delusional and desired marriage with him.

[mugunghwc]

His delusion blinded him, rendering him unable to see beyond his own reasoning. Of course, she’d be excited. Perhaps not at first—not in the beginning, but eventually, she would come to accept his presence once more and adapt… just as she had before. Fang could be stubborn; Ji-eun already knew that much. He would have to endure her resistance—her pushing and whining, until she gave up and allowed herself to be embraced. In the end, he knew just how much she needed it.

“She will stay,” Ji-eun said with a finality that left no room for argument. He made it sound as if she had no alternative. One would believe so, but it spoke about his character that he had allowed her to leave in the first place, when he could have intervened much sooner.

A subtle chuckle escaped him as Akira warned him, adopting that familiar, faux fatherly tone. “I have no reason to make noise,” Ji-eun replied, an allusion to the past scandal—one he still didn’t consider his fault, no matter how much Akira might disagree. His head nodded along as the other spoke, as though the reassurance should have been a given. “I will. That, I can assure you.”

Tao observed the exchange in silence, piecing together context from what little was said aloud. He had been so absorbed in it that the mention of his name snapped him back to reality. His attention shifted to Akira, mild surprise flickering across his face, while Ji-eun’s reaction was far less restrained—outrage flaring instantly.

“What?” Ji-eun’s voice rose, sharp and incredulous.

Tao, by contrast, kept his tone measured. “Will you not be present?” he asked, uncertainty slipping through despite himself. He had no idea how to deal with someone like Fang. Even without knowing her personally, he was aware of her attitude and special needs, which had surfaced naturally in conversation.

And then there was Ji-eun. He looked ready to rise from his seat and make a scene. Tao caught the shift immediately and stepped in quickly when Ji-eun started forward, closing the distance and glaring him down.

“Easy,” Tao warned quietly. “Or the deal is over.”

[badheart]

Even Akira struggled to completely quench any worry about Fang's well being, the possible guilt if things went downhill again. Ji-eun's obsession really was something else, and he had thought his own on Han had been bad but in comparison it was mild. In that second he realized, that he had not thought about him since a while, be it through Tao or just his future being in shambles. In a way, he was expecting the other to leave him at any moment, as the Saio clearly would not reward him for his current duty. Protecting someone who had lost.

The other's outburst made him instinctively lean further back. "No, too many people," he argued and he was not planning to wait in the car, while Tao would look for her at the airport. "I'm sure, she will want to visit her place, after she took some rest here." There, Ji-eun could try his luck then, so no reason to start a possible scene now. Eyeing him sharply.

"You waited so long, what's another day?" After all, she could have never returned, or maybe she will even drag him along, back to the mainland. Was he not richer now? Surely with some contacts, he could get a good passport. That he really was one of Han's men though ... bizarre.

Meanwhile Akira sent Tao Fang's contact data, who definitely would not be expecting him, but her father, surely.

[mugunghwc]

Optimism was a generous way of putting it—if not outright delusion. Ji-eun had been in denial all this time, framing their bond as something unbreakable; something that had been cemented the moment he took her away from her home. She was his doll—the girl he had taken care of when everyone else seemed to neglect her. He had watched her grow, and alongside it, his obsession with her had grown as well.

Tao knew very little about this man, or about Akira’s stepdaughter, to truly comment. Still, based on that response alone, it was clear that Ji-eun’s insistence on having her back went far beyond anything that could reasonably be called love.

No wonder Akira didn’t seem surprised to hear his voice again.

Ji-eun tilted his head, watching the two of them with the wariness of a man who had been lied to—one who no longer trusted their cooperation. “She loves me. You should know,” he insisted, the emphasis sharp on should. He doubted Akira had ever been that close to Fang, despite her obvious longing for a father figure. The thought irritated him. Fingers curled briefly into his palm—a small, telling gesture that Tao noticed but didn’t comment on.

Instead, Tao listened closely, chin angled toward his chest and his eyes fixed on the floor. The feigned interest. The lukewarm request for her to visit. It was strange, thinking about someone so close to his own age having a daughter with less than a decade between them.

Ji-eun’s attention never wavered from Akira. The smirk forming on his lips was impossible to hide as the idea of hearing Fang’s voice again took hold. God, he had missed her. He could already imagine showing her how well he had taken care of her rats—just as he would be able to take care of her, too.

The moment Akira ended the call, Tao straightened, glancing back at Ji-eun as if bracing himself for whatever might come next.

Ji-eun answered with nothing but a satisfied grin, nodding with almost unsettling enthusiasm at the prospect. “So,” he said lightly, “should I go pick her up, or will you play the role of the caring father for that?”

[badheart]

"More like Stockholm-Syndrome," Akira mumbled, when the other voiced his delusions. He could not deny that Fang had come back to him in the end, but considering her position and generally how her life went, it almost felt like she had no real choice anyway. Just a little he glanced over his shoulder in that moment. Odd, how some things they kind of shared.

Personally, he could not tell how that meeting would go between these two. "What will you do, if she does not want to stay with you?" He had to wonder, since the issue remained that he was a public figure and thus Fang just a little bit too. So if anything happened again, it would fall back on him. "Don't become the reason for yet another scandal," he warned, though his words held little weight in the presence of a delinquent. "If anything, you should aim to make her as happy as possible, then I've no reason to interfere." It would be the best outcome, especially since the other clearly did not want to let go of her, which was... a wonder in itself.

"Tao will pick her up." Nodding towards his bodyguard, who probably did not expect that task in the near future. "It's in your best interest too." Unless he already forgotten, how she had basically ghosted him. The little jab at his lack of fulfilling a father role barely faced him, he was aware and had barely interest to change that. Maybe it had been different, if his ex had brought in a son, that actually brought some qualities, ... a successor and not a small artist, stuck in fictional works.

[mugunghwc]

The mention of Akira’s ex stirred vague memories of that woman—bitter, distant. The oddity of that marriage had amused him once; enough to spark curiosity, but never enough to dig into the how or why. His attention had been elsewhere back then, consumed by Fang, and the slow cultivation of his obsession.

Meanwhile, Tao’s shoulders tensed. Even knowing about Akira’s ex, it wasn’t a subject he wanted to linger on. It was hard enough living in the shadows, hiding who they were—let alone sustaining a lie like that to meet expectations. His gaze flicked briefly toward his boss just as Ji-eun flashed them both a half-smile.

“Why?” Ji-eun asked flatly. “Because I came to this country illegally.” He said it as if that alone justified his inaction, regardless of the insistence he’d once shown to keep her close.

His fingers curled beneath his gloves, impatience barely contained, stretched thin. Ji-eun’s smile carried the same danger as a poisonous animal—bright, almost pretty, and unmistakably lethal. The way it crooked should’ve been warning enough.

“I’m not going to chase her into China. Even I know I’d scare her off,” he admitted, leaning back and tilting his head to the side, blowing upward to move a stray lock of hair from his blue eye. “Besides, she’s playing difficult. Won’t answer my texts.”

It had stung. He didn’t deny that. Still, he chose to perceive it as part of her recovery—cutting herself off from everyone… except her father.

As much as it bothered him, he suspected she wouldn’t be able to ignore him forever.

“She doesn’t know what she wants,” Ji-eun finally said, lifting one boot to rest over his knee, shaking it absently. One hand wrapped around his ankle while the other stayed draped over the headrest. “She told me to leave while holding onto me at the hospital. For someone who supposedly wanted to die, she clung to me like her life depended on it.”

His tone sharpened, a faint furrow forming between his brows as the memory resurfaced.

Right. Tao had heard fragments of that—how the Saio had handled Ji-eun’s presence at the hospital with meticulous care, leaving no room for speculation.

With finality etched into his voice, Ji-eun added, “It’s like you’ve forgotten I looked after her for a good while. We spent plenty of time together.” His free hand rose, twisting a lock of hair around his index finger. “Sure, it started as something else, but…”

He paused, eyes fixed forward.

“I really wanted to take her away from you back then.”

[badheart]

"Then you are oddly optimistic that you won't scare her here either," Akira noted, a snort escaping him. Truly that relationship of these two was beyond questionable and considering how everything had ended now. In the election that is. He really could care far less now if Fang was getting involved with him again or not. On each passing day he had lost more and more relevance in the news, till it would completely die down for sure.

It brought some kind of peace, but at the same time he missed the attention, he had received so often in the last months. Now he had so much free time, he barely knew what to do with it. After all his plans had been to commit himself to this country and his further success. Perhaps that was another reason, he had allowed Tao even closer, who still clung to him to his surprise. What worth does a man hold, if he held no power? Even Idachi held far more of it now in comparison to him. He was nothing and that nagged on him, especially with no way to change it yet.

Akira would shrug. She would probably hold onto anyone in that moment. "That almost sounds like you were jealous." Though he would not ponder about Fang's feelings further as it mattered so little in the end. He had already pulled out his phone. Ji-eun would understand nothing but Tao could follow every word. Every little lie, when Akira babbled something about missing her and Han too, which funnily confused even Fang for a second, till she remembered the Shiba Inu. Honestly, she had no desire to return yet, even if it was just meant as a little trip. All bad memories seemed to resurface just at the thought of entering Tokyo again, though good ones were there too, but quite overshadowed of the bad. Maybe her father's loss had gotten him a bit sentimental, she was not sure, but considering how important it had been for him, it would be quite inconsiderate not to come.

The call was ended. "Next week she will come. Satisfied?"

[mugunghwc]

There was hesitation in Tao’s movements as Akira’s voice came from just a few steps behind him—calm, collected. Not what Tao had expected, not with the growing paranoia that had settled into him since his loss. Just who was this man, that he hadn’t managed to unnerve him in the same way it did to Tao?

He glanced back at Akira, taking in how well put together he looked within minutes, before shifting his attention to the figure standing tall by the door. Ji-eun’s cocky expression only soured his own. Tao scoffed, then stepped aside, allowing the stranger in.

Ji-eun entered without hesitation. His gaze swept the apartment briefly, taking in the lavishness of it—how comfortably the other lived despite the election’s outcome. No doubt this kind of lifestyle had been funded by the Saio. The real question was how long that would last. A crooked smile tugged at his lips as he moved further inside.

Tao’s eyes stayed locked on his back, unease creeping in. He tracked Ji-eun’s every movement, especially when he dropped onto the couch with careless force, slouching into it. His arms draped loosely over the headrest; his legs were too long for the furniture, boots swinging inward and out as he stared at the ceiling for a moment.

Tao shifted to stand just behind Akira, protective.

“Nice apartment. Same style as the last one,” Ji-eun commented, the reminder of their past left deliberately vague.

His dual-coloured stare cut into Akira—piercing, locked and loaded, the threat of violence coiled beneath the surface. Tao cleared his throat, asserting his presence. Ji-eun glanced at him and smirked.

“New bodyguard?”

“Cut to the chase,” Tao said firmly.

Ji-eun’s attention slid back to Akira, then nodded once. “I’m here to collect my prize. I got you that meeting with my boss, so why haven’t I heard anything back?”

For a brief moment, confusion crossed Tao’s face. But between the man’s presence and the mention of a meeting, the connection came quickly. His gaze dropped to Akira, as if silently confirming what he already suspected: this man was tied to Han.

Just what did he want now?

[badheart]

Inwardly Akira had to wonder if his adventures with his bodyguard could be noticeable at this point, since his level of protectiveness felt almost too extreme at times. This was a side, he still did not want anyone to know ever, especially not to this man.

"My ex would beg to differ." She had been quite eccentric but mostly she had insisted on tradition far more than him. There was only so much red he could bear. His comment left him rather unfaced, but inwardly his grudge for the other was still as present as on day one. But what had changed were certainly the consequences, even if it would be reassuring to see the other behind bars and not in his apartment. Sadly it had been him saving him from a scandal, and well Fang's life. That experience was still surreal. Perhaps he had cared about her after all, but it was still mostly tied to his reputation. She could be the most successful woman in the world, even there he doubted he would feel any kind of pride. They were not tied by blood, she was no product from him and had entered his life during an age both were grown adults.

"Why haven't you tried yourself?" Akira had to wonder first. "You got her contacts after all, ... if I were to call her and she would come over, would she even want to see you?" It felt so pointless. Akira could imagine that Tao might be confused but he had to ignore it for now, hoping he would not act out.

"Tell me, ... how come she is so important to you?" Was she even important to him? Or was it just an obsession. Either way, clearly he could not relate, but the thought that love might be involved was quite amusing. There was simply no way this freak could feel such things.