Chapter 2: Forgetful Angel

 

 

 

Chapter 2: Forgetful Angel

 

“YOU really had me worried,” said a young woman with pretty auburn hair. Although not as soft as Shindo’s hair, it still held a shine. The slightly wavy hair dangled to roughly the middle of her back.

A smile as gentle and kind as a spring sunbeam rose upon her fair visage that was lightly colored with makeup. She radiated such sweetness, she practically melded with her pastel pink dress.

“I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard about your accident at school,” she continued with a giggle as she exquisitely added each of the ivory roses held in one hand to the vase. Upon putting together a beautiful arrangement, she turned and offered a smile to Satsuki, who was sitting propped up in bed.

“May I leave this at your bedside?” she asked. Her warm smile filled Satsuki with a sense of ease.

“I’d love that! After all, it was so sweet of you to bring them, Miharu,” Satsuki answered with a soft grin.

The smile still upon her lips, Miharu Kono put the vase of roses on the nightstand at the side of the bed. Then she leaned toward Satsuki and held her pointer finger between them. A look of mischief was suddenly written all over her face. “Now listen! Don’t abuse the bed, okay? You’ll knock over the vase if you do!”

“I-I don’t abuse my bed! It’s not like I toss and turn that much in my sleep!” Satsuki cried.

“Mr. Shindo doesn’t warm your bed? But doesn’t he stay with you until you fall asleep?” Miharu continued naughtily.

“N-No! We don’t do anything like that!” Satsuki protested.

“Really? You don’t?” Miharu confirmed, disappointed.

“Miharu!”

The sight of Satsuki so indignant threw Miharu into a fit of giggles. Who beyond these walls could ever imagine that the president of the Tsujikawa Corporation’s only daughter, whose levelheadedness and outstanding talent earned her the title of “Tsujikawa Sacred Blade,” was flustered with cheeks blazing red over such a simple comment on her sex life or rather lack of one.

This was a side she could never show in public. Just as there were sides she could only reveal to her most trusted retainer, she was only able to turn into a girl in love before Miharu, the sole person aware of the fact Shindo had stolen her heart.

As the corporation president’s daughter, it was essentially taboo for her to confide with anyone about her feelings for an attendant. But as these feelings threw Satsuki’s heart into turmoil, Miharu’s kind nature drew the words out of her. Upon learning the truth, Miharu didn’t make her the talk of the town, nor did she reprimand her for “harboring indecent emotions.” Rather, she became a close confidant who offered Satsuki her full support.

As a result, Satsuki loved and respected her like an older sister. The two met right before Satsuki turned fourteen, almost exactly four years ago. Not only was the older woman Manabu Hayama’s fiancée, she was also his secretary.

“Teehee! I’m sorry.” The mischievous look was instantly replaced by a sweet smile as Miharu apologized and patted Satsuki on the head. “Please don’t look at me with those big, sad puppy eyes. If Mr. Shindo found you like this, he’d never let me hear the end of it.”

Did I look like I was about to cry? Satsuki wondered, cupping her cheeks in both hands. The warmth of her cheeks burning traveled to the palms of her hands.

She found it embarrassing for her cheeks to flare such a bright red over the mere mention of Shindo. Normally when someone raved about how they were “jealous such a wonderful attendant waited upon her every beck and call,” it didn’t bring the least bit of color to her cheeks. But it was a different story when it came from Miharu. After all, Miharu knew how Satsuki felt about Shindo. So whenever she heard the older woman say his name, it made her heart pitter-patter.

She was only able to entertain feelings like a normal girl when she was with Miharu. And she loved Miharu for taking it in stride as if this was perfectly normal.

“Who would never let you hear the end of it, Miss Miharu?” Shindo asked, apparently only catching the tail end of the conversation. He knocked three times on the partially open bedroom door before letting himself in. “I brought some tea, ladies. I hope it is to your liking.”

While balancing the tray on his left hand, he set the teacups on the small table beside the nightstand. As he was placing them down, he noticed the roses decorating the nightstand.

“I see Miss Miharu brought a bouquet of roses. Thank you for arranging them so beautifully. I’m certain they will help comfort the Miss’s heart,” Shindo said, expressing his gratitude with an endearing smile.

Miharu returned it with a smile of her own. “Why, it was nothing. Just don’t wallop the mattress so hard it knocks them over, Mr. Shindo!”

“Wallop? Me?”

“M-Miharu!” Satsuki frantically cut in, putting an end to Miharu’s attempt to involve Shindo in her dirty jokes.

Even though Shindo was always at Satsuki’s side, it was nevertheless a rare sight to see the young lady so flustered. Satsuki was beet red as she glared daggers at Miharu, who was giggling with her mouth hidden behind her hands. The conversation completely flew over Shindo’s head. He could tell they had been talking about him while he stepped out, but he didn’t particularly mind since there was a sense of happiness in Satsuki’s frantic protests. If Satsuki was smiling, he was content.

Offering Miharu his hand, he escorted her to the heavily cushioned chair brought in by another attendant. Upon easing into the chair, she looked up at him and asked, “Not to change the subject, but have you seen Manabu, Mr. Shindo? Is he done yet?”

Miharu naturally came to the mansion with Manabu. Catching word of Satsuki’s accident, the couple decided to put their Sunday morning to good use and pay a visit. Going by the way Manabu bailed on visiting Satsuki with Miharu in favor of meeting Tsukasa, he already had plans to come see her father anyway. Manabu claimed it’d only take “half an hour,” but that was nearly an hour ago.

“I’m afraid I haven’t, but I believe he should finish any time now,” Shindo replied as he ran his eyes over his watch before slowly returning his gaze to the somewhat disgruntled Miharu. He suspected she was slightly annoyed that Manabu was taking forever to make his appearance after they came to cheer Satsuki up together.

Shindo picked up one of the teacups he had set down and offered it to Miharu with a bow. “There is a hint of lavender in the sugar cubes. I believe they may offer some comfort. If you like, I will strive to keep you entertained, so please don’t look so upset. That having been said, don’t expect too much of me, for none could possibly comfort you as well as Master Manabu,” Shindo said oozing charm that made Miharu giggle.

In better spirits, Miharu picked up the teacup and dropped one of the light purple sugar cubes on the saucer into the black tea. She spun her spoon around the reddish liquid before slightly raising the whole set—teacup and saucer—to enjoy the fragrance. A light scent that was soothing to the heart combined with the mellow fragrance of the tea tickled the tip of her nose.

“You’re right! It does have a hint of lavender. What a wonderful idea! Thank you, Mr. Shindo.”

“The pleasure is mine. I’m honored if you take any comfort in this.”

“Plenty! But isn’t there one other lady here you should be ‘comforting,’ Mr. Shindo?”

“Huh?”

With a wave of her hands, Miharu gestured to Satsuki, who was sitting right before them. When his attention turned to Satsuki, he saw dark clouds hanging over her face.

“Miss, are you not feeling—” he started to ask. As he drew to her side, Satsuki swung her head away. Whenever he was overly attentive to anyone else, she would act up. While Shindo found this quirk of hers troublesome, it didn’t truly annoy him.

Satsuki recognized the emotion in herself as jealousy, but when it came to Shindo, her emotions were beyond her control. Part of her felt that since Shindo was her retainer, he belonged to her. Seeing him display acts of kind consideration toward others drove her crazy.

But that’s no excuse to get upset just because he was nice to Miharu... I’m awful...she reprimanded herself, fully aware that she had a tendency to overreact. But her over-possessive desires only grew stronger with each passing year.

I only want him to look at me. I don’t want him to be nice to anyone else. Although these were normal emotions to experience when in love, they were emotions she was never supposed to harbor for her retainer. That was why she kept them tucked away. She had to replace them with feelings as his “mistress.”

“You’re my retainer, remember? What made you think it was wise to tend to her first?” Satsuki pouted.

“I’m terribly sorry,” Shindo apologized with a chuckle as he gazed down upon the glowering young lady.

As it dawned on her that Miharu was enjoying the spectacle, Satsuki changed the topic, “Still, I’m surprised you heard—about how I was involved in that incident at school, I mean. Shindo was immaculate about covering the whole affair...”

This issued a proud chuckle from Miharu. She boasted, “As Manabu would say, ‘My information network is perfect.’ But in all honesty, the star employee of our managing director’s pet IT division found the tidbits of information and pieced it all together this time.”

“He’s among the group of people Manabu chose for that ‘Managing Director’s Inner Court’ of his, isn’t he? It’s actually rather frightening how he’s surrounded himself with such brilliant minds. I’m amazed someone other than Manabu saw through Shindo’s handiwork,” Satsuki remarked.

With a chuckle, Miharu smiled proudly as she took another sip of tea. In reality, she didn’t know what truly happened in the Student Council Room. Satsuki and Shindo were the only ones who knew the truth in its entirety. With the assistance of the lawyers and other attendants, they twisted that truth, turning the incident into a bombing. But not even the lawyers and attendants knew all of the facts. While he didn’t uncover the actual facts, Manabu managed to discover the “artificial truth” that Shindo strove to bury.

Satsuki spent these past few days following the incident at home. It was necessary for her image since the members of the school board knew she was involved in the “bombing.”

Without thinking about it, Satsuki pressed her hand against the left side of her neck, hidden under her delicate soft hair. From her neck down to her collarbone, she was bound with gauze. The red-purple hickeys were too great of a contrast against her porcelain-white skin. She couldn’t bear to leave those horrible marks out for all to see. Shindo was the only one she ever allowed to change the gauze.

Even though it had been a few days, these hickeys always reminded her of the sensation of Shindo’s lips against her skin. When he sucked hard—yet gently—against her flesh, the inner depths of her body grew tingly. And the weight of his body filled her core with a pleasant warmth that utterly scoured the filth of her would be rapist.

“Does it hurt?” Shindo bent down and asked in a hushed voice upon noticing Satsuki’s silent reverie with her hand over the gauze.

Directing her attention to him, her cheeks instantly grew hot. Held in his gaze, she was struck by the desire to keep his eyes forever locked on her. Overwhelmed by such desires, she missed her chance to look away.

“No...” Satsuki answered with her cheeks flushed. She narrowed her eyes sadly, answering in a tremulous whisper, “I’m fine...”

The sight of Satsuki so fragile made Shindo miss his chance to look away this time. Seeing her make this expression painted vivid memories of an experience in the shower he had to forget. The feeling of her soft body under him was all too vivid. Her skin felt warm and moist under his touch. Latched to his lips, her neck beckoned to him as a man to claim all of her for himself. It took every ounce of self-control to suppress such carnal desires, leaving him utterly exhausted in mind and body.

“It’s just a bit hot...” Satsuki whispered and pulled her hand away from her neck.

“Let me know if it gets too hot. I’ll bring something to cool you down,” he offered.

“Okay.”

Enjoying the faint fragrance of lavender, Miharu faked dozing off as she spied on the two through slit eyes. As she watched them, she knitted her brows in a pained frown.

Even if my body cools down on the outside, there is no cooling this inner warmth... Satsuki couldn’t help but think as she looked up at Shindo

For a brief moment, the meaning—the emotion—behind Shindo and Satsuki’s locked gazes was different from usual. But as if trying to avoid that emotion, the two averted their eyes at the same time. Satsuki was the heiress. Shindo was her retainer. Neither was ever supposed to realize they harbored feelings for the other. And even if they did...they must pretend otherwise...

The incident in the shower room must never replay in the minds of either. They must forget the warmth of the other’s body... The hot passion of the other’s heart... They must forget the emotions filling them...

***

“I think you should put some more thought into this.”

In the entire world, this was probably the only man outside of the intermediate family who could find fault with documents presented by the current president of Tsujikawa Corporation.

“They just don’t sit right with me,” Manabu said and slapped the stack of documents on the table in front of him. He sank into his chair and continued, “They aren’t good enough. Not for Satsuki.”

With his chin propped on his right hand, a contemplative expression washed over Manabu’s face. The sight drew a vinegary smile from the older man sitting on the opposite side of the marble table. It was followed by a long pause of silence that weighed on the spacious living room. Eventually, Tsukasa broke the silence with an exasperated sigh. “You’re being too harsh, Manabu.”

“Are you honestly satisfied with the four you picked, Uncle?” Manabu asked, shifting the hand at his chin to indicate the documents he rudely flung onto the table only moments ago.

His shoulders visibly dropping, Tsukasa heaved another hard sigh and relented, “I’ll admit, I did make some allowances.”

“That isn’t like you. You never compromise on the business front. Isn’t this just as important—no, even more important?” Manabu demanded.

“Yes, of course it is... But I can only think of one man who would qualify if I didn’t,” Tsukasa responded. The look he gave Manabu as he picked up his coffee cup to take a sip spoke volumes. The implication stilled Manabu’s tongue. No matter how badly Tsukasa wanted him for this “task,” he was unable to fulfill that request.

Tsukasa enjoyed the fragrance of the coffee before filling his mouth with the bitter liquid. Upon achieving a certain level of calm, he shifted his gaze to the documents Manabu had flung down and explained, “I was originally hoping to inform Satsuki today, what with you here and all. But she’s currently recovering from that trying incident. I think it would be best to put it off another two or three days, don’t you?”

This was hardly the type of thing Satsuki would want to hear while recovering mentally and physically. The news would undoubtedly throw her into emotional turmoil. Not only Tsukasa, but also Manabu, felt it would be best to give her some time.

Manabu shifted his gaze, following Tsukasa’s eyes to the documents on the table. They were profiles for four young men with sound positions and promising futures. They were background checks for Satsuki’s “marriage candidates.”

“Satsuki’s eighteenth birthday...is essentially a matchmaking party...”

***

“FROM the looks of it, Father is planning some amazing entertainment for my eighteenth birthday.” Satsuki forced herself to smile brightly as she said that to Miharu, her heart sinking under the oppressive feelings she felt. “He’s been asking Manabu for advice about it for a while now. Have you heard anything, Miharu? I’m dying of curiosity!”

“Manabu? I had no idea he was giving input on anything like that,” Miharu answered. She returned the teacup she was holding to the table. With the fingertips of her right hand pressed against her lips, she mused, “I wonder what it could be. It’s unusual for him to keep something from me. I’ll be sure to pry it out of him later!”

“Let me know what it is when you do,” Satsuki said with a giggle in response to Miharu’s bold determination. Then she leaned toward the slightly older woman like she did when she wanted something and demanded, “And you simply must come to my birthday party this year. Promise you will!”

“Of course I will! I can’t wait to see what Manabu and Mr. Tsujikawa have up their sleeves,” Miharu promised.

“You weren’t able to make it last year, so you absolutely must come this year, okay?” Satsuki insisted. She dipped her head as she said the word “absolutely” for extra emphasis. Satsuki’s childish form of begging was so adorable, Miharu couldn’t wipe the grin off her face.

“I’ll come no matter what! But the only reason I didn’t go last year was because you told me not to, remember?” Miharu reminded her. She drew closer to Satsuki, scooting her chair next to the bed as she did.

“You and Manabu were new to your jobs last year, so I was afraid you’d be too busy...” Satsuki grumbled.

Neither Manabu nor Miharu attended Satsuki’s seventeenth birthday party almost a year ago. Upon graduating from university, they both began working at the Hayama Group’s main company, Hayama Pharmaceuticals. Manabu became the managing director while Miharu became his secretary. Their hectic schedules made typical new employees look like they had it easy. That was why Satsuki told them “Please don’t come” when she handed over their invitations.

If she invited them without saying that, she knew they would take time out of their busy schedules to attend the party. As new employees, it was an important period for them. Satsuki wanted the two to put all of their attention into their work. She was a little disappointed there was no sign of either at the party venue on the big day, but Shindo softened the emptiness inside by staying with her the whole time.

As she indulged in memories of last year’s birthday party, Satsuki looked up at Shindo somewhat awkwardly. After the party, she stayed in Shindo’s room well past bedtime and let him pamper her. She remembered how he cradled her in his lap and they split a cookie.

Maybe I’ll sneak into his room this year, too... She could just see Shindo angrily scold her “Now that you’re eighteen, it’s inappropriate to simply waltz into a man’s room!” Not that I’d mind a scolding if it came from him...

Shindo was puzzled to find Satsuki looking at him bemusedly, but her expression was so adorable, he couldn’t help but smile. In the middle of enjoying the moment, Shindo noticed a knock come from the sitting room door. Still smiling, he offered the ladies a bow before stepping out of the bedroom.

Satsuki could hear the sound of the sitting room door open followed by Manabu’s voice offering salutations.

“Ah, it’s Manabu! He certainly took long enough!” Miharu fumed, but the inflection of her voice bounced with joy. A moment later, the man who put the pep in her voice entered the room.

“Hello, Satsuki. It’s a pleasure to see you,” he greeted.

“The pleasure is all mine, Manabu.”

As he returned Satsuki’s greeting with a smile, Manabu swept behind his fiancée sitting at her bedside. He rested both hands upon Miharu’s shoulders.

---

---

“Sorry I kept you waiting, Miharu,” he apologized.

“You sure took your sweet time, Manabu!” she snarled.

“Sorry. It took a bit longer than expected. Are you mad?”

“Don’t you think it’s rude to keep Satsuki waiting when we came to see her? You said it’d only take half an hour, and the poor dear had to wait a solid hour!” Miharu snapped.

At this, Manabu bent around Miharu, bringing his face before hers. Absolutely indifferent to the fact Satsuki was right in front of them, he lightly pecked her lips like a little bird. “Cheer up, for me.”

“Fine, I’m over it,” Miharu conceded as she stole a glance at Manabu over her shoulders with slightly rosy cheeks.

Watching the spectacle they put on, Satsuki smiled wryly. “What do you think you’re doing in front of an innocent single bachelorette?!” Satsuki asked in a somewhat snarky tone, but she knew this was how these two always behaved.

Copying Satsuki, Manabu shot back in a slightly snarky tone of his own, “Funny, coming from the girl who makes out with Mr. Shindo in front of anyone and everyone!”

“I do not!” Satsuki protested.

“Really? As I recall, you didn’t mind asking him to carry you in public all that long ago. Isn’t that right, Mr. Shindo?” Manabu ask, turning toward Shindo as he brought another chair into the room.

Unable to follow the conversation after stepping out of the room, Shindo was at a complete loss. “Isn’t what right?” he asked for clarification, but Manabu simply laughed, not bothering to elaborate.

Shindo barked a dry chuckle. Apparently, this was one of those days where people were having fun talking about him behind his back.

“Master Manabu, if I may assist you—” Shindo began to offer, placing the chair next to Miharu, but Manabu held his hand up apologetically, cutting him short.

“Thank you, but we really must be going. As it is, we’ve already kept Satsuki up for an hour. I’m sure she must be exhausted. I’ll drop by some other day.”

“I’m fine! You don’t need to worry about me, Manabu,” Satsuki asserted.

Manabu shook his head and tapped Miharu’s shoulders to prompt her to stand up. “I’m afraid I can’t stay. You need to rest up and get well soon.”

“And then will you come visit me again?”

“Yes, I’ll be back soon. Think along the lines of two or three days...” Manabu snuck a sidelong glance at Shindo, who was trying to keep the chairs out of the way by pushing them against the wall. “...There is something important I need to discuss with you.”

***

“WOULD you like me to bring you something to drink?” Shindo asked Satsuki after he returned from escorting Manabu and Miharu to the entrance hall on her behalf. Miharu graciously said she didn’t need to see them out, so Satsuki bade them farewell from the perch on her bed.

“Would you like something cold? Or would you like to treat yourself to a carbonated beverage?” he asked, standing at her side. Concerned for how long she had been sitting up, he slipped his hand behind her back for support.

Satsuki grew increasingly frustrated as she watched Shindo wait patiently for her to reply. Finally she snapped, “I don’t want you to treat me like I’m sick, too. It’s not like I got hurt or anything.”

“But I believe you were gravely wounded...in the heart...” Shindo replied.

At a loss for words, Satsuki turned away. Her body was unharmed, excluding the hickeys on her neck. However, her heart and mind sustained terrible wounds.

Coming into contact with the fundamental nature of the beasts known as “humans” was rattling. It made her lose all control of her powers. Her heart flew into an unstoppable frenzy. All of this combined to bring about a cold, hard reality that could never be undone.

“Shindo...” Satsuki whimpered and clutched onto the same side of the blazer’s lapel as the hand he was using to support her. She looked up at him and continued, “...I want to go outside for some fresh air.”

“To the veranda?” he asked.

“To the greenhouse.”

“I can’t take you there.” It was unusual for him to reject one of her requests. Slightly leaning over, he peered into her eyes as he explained, “You are currently on bed rest, or at least that’s the cover story. Even though the greenhouse is on our property, it’s still outside the mansion. We can’t afford to run the risk of anyone seeing you up and about.”

“You’re no fun,” Satsuki grumbled with a pout. “I want to visit the greenhouse. Shindo, figure something out!”

Satsuki pursed her lips angrily. This pouty face was reserved just for Shindo. He was so happy to see her make that face for him, he couldn’t help but chuckle.

At the sound of his chuckle, Satsuki’s face instantly lit up. “Ah, I made you laugh! That means you’ll take me there, doesn’t it? You’re going to take me to the greenhouse, aren’t you?”

Satsuki was overjoyed to see Shindo laugh. These past few days, it felt as though she had only seen him act solemn out of concern for her. To be fair, he only treated her as gently as if she might break due to her listless brooding. The greatest comfort to Satsuki’s heart was none other than Shindo and the smile he reserved for her, but he kept that very smile tucked away in his attempt to console her.

Shrugging his shoulders in mildly bemused defeat, he dropped to both knees. “Very well, but you’ll have to wait a while before I can. If you rest all morning, I’ll say you’re feeling better and take you outside. We’ll go under that pretext.”

“We can’t go now?” Satsuki pouted.

“Your guests just left. I can’t let you wander around outside your room when you should be exhausted from entertaining company,” he explained.

Satsuki’s shoulders slumped in disappointment, but she was willing to accept this compromise. “Fair enough, but we absolutely must go this afternoon.”

“Of course,” Shindo replied with a satisfied smile, glad that Satsuki came around, albeit reluctantly. “In the meantime, I’m afraid you’ll have to be satisfied with the veranda. I’m going to grab something light for you to wear over that, so if you’ll excuse me,” he said and began to step away from the bed.

A tug on the hem of his blazer brought him to a stop. Naturally, it was none other than Satsuki who tugged at his blazer. Shindo turned to look at her, his head tilted inquisitively as he wondered, What does she want? What silly little request has she thought up next?

“What is the matter, Miss?”

It was no wonder those words flew from his lips. Satsuki looked up at him with eyes filled with fear and trepidation. “Shindo...I want you to tell me something.”

Seeing the serious look on her face, Shindo thought better of leaving and turned to face her properly. “Anything.” He would answer whatever plagued his mistress. That was, after all, part of his job.

Satsuki released her hold on the hem of his blazer and shifted her eyes away from him. Staring fixedly at hands folded over the blanket pulled up to her waist, she began, “You see...I’ve been thinking a great deal these past few days...”

Ever since the incident, Satsuki would fall deep into reverie if left alone. The events of that day replayed in her memory one after the next, from how her heart fell into chaos to how she lost control of her powers.

Satsuki’s mind was assaulted with the hateful words of someone confronted by her abnormal powers. Monster! he cried in her mind, the word piercing her heart. But this wasn’t a first.

I was repeating the events of the past, Satsuki realized.

“There was another instance in the past when I was unable to control my powers, wasn’t there?” she quietly asked. Shindo’s hand twitched noticeably, but Satsuki kept going. “This wasn’t the first time I killed someone with my powers, was it?”

She tilted her head toward Shindo and gazed into eyes drawn wide in surprise—an unusual expression for him.

“And the one who made me forget was you...” she finished. The melancholic past was trying to resurface and overcome the block on the memories presumed lost in the depths of her mind...

***

“DID you read my mind...?” Shindo breathed, his brows slightly furrowed. Despite his best efforts to sound calm, his voice trembled.

“No...” Satsuki answered with a slight shake of her head. She peered at him with the same intelligent and inquisitive eyes that he always found irresistibly captivating. “I remembered during the incident... There was another person who rejected my powers... He also called me a ‘monster.’”

“You don’t need to remember that!” Shindo suddenly raised his voice. He stooped over and scooped up Satsuki’s hands. He held her hands gently as he begged in earnest, “You don’t need to remember any of that! Why would you want to? Even if you did, this isn’t the sort of thing that will guide your heart down the path to recovery! Why would you want to remember?!”

“Because I want to know... Please tell me, Shindo.” She leaned forward, drawing closer to Shindo. “What did I do? ...Who did I kill? How did you make me forget about it all this time? ...Tell me! Please!”

“You’re better off not knowing!”

“Shindo!”

Shindo refused to let her know the truth, but Satsuki wasn’t about to back down. She flung her clasped hands towards his chest and pulled closer as if to unleash a verbal lashing. She demanded, “If I order you, will you tell me then?! Will you tell me if I order you to as your mistress?!”

For a retainer such as Shindo, an order issued by his mistress—by Satsuki—demanded absolute obedience. If his little lady ordered him to talk, he had no choice but to tell her. Even so, Shindo refused to acquiesce. For her sake, there were some orders he could not obey.

“I cannot obey that order, Miss!” he cried.

He took Satsuki’s hands firmly pressed against his chest and pushed them back toward her. She must’ve been pushing with greater force than he realized, for the moment he pushed back, her whole body rocked backward as if shoved. He tried to pull her forward to keep her from falling, but lost balance in doing so.

“Miss...!”

Shindo frantically let go of her hands and wrapped his arms around her shoulders to provide more support in a vain attempt to keep her upright. But having lost balance himself, far from keeping Satsuki from falling, he collapsed onto the bed with her clutched to his bosom!

Perhaps their violent collapse onto the bed was to blame. The vase decorating the nightstand fell over with a loud crash, spilling Miharu’s beautifully arranged ivory roses along with water across the floor.

“I’m terribly sorry! Did I hurt you?!” Shindo fretted. Accident or not, a full-grown man just fell on top of Satsuki! He was afraid he hurt her. Afraid he caused her pain... Shindo was sick with worry as he started to get up, but Satsuki latched onto his arms.

“Come...” she whispered in a tiny voice, pulling him toward her. “Come...Shindo...” Satsuki pressed her hands against his cheeks, slowly drawing his face before hers.

Their faces drew so close, Shindo could feel Satsuki’s breath. She looked into the depths of his gray-tinged dark eyes with her piercing eyes that could see through anything.

“...Shindo...” she said in a melancholic voice that echoed sweetly in his ears.

“Miss...”

“Tell me...” Satsuki commanded with closed eyes. With a bump...she pressed her forehead against his. “Tell me...Shindo.”

As if Shindo were disclosing all, scenes played before Satsuki like a movie... A single memory flowed into her mind. She had begun searching through Shindo’s memories...

***

“DO you seriously intend to pull Mr. Shindo away from Satsuki?” Tsubaki Tsujikawa asked, gently laying her slender, lily-white fingers along the shoulders of her husband, Tsukasa.

“Hmph, so what if I do? I don’t have your seal of approval?” he probed.

“Not at all,” Tsubaki answered without a moment of hesitation. It was a truly crisp answer.

Tsukasa’s wife, Tsubaki, was probably the only person in the whole world capable of barking her disapproval at him without batting an eye. Tsukasa put the stack of documents he was holding down on his lap and placed his hand over the one his beloved wife rested on his shoulder.

“This is best for Satsuki, and for the Tsujikawa line in turn. Can’t you see that?” he cajoled.

“I fail to see how this is best for Satsuki,” she replied. Known as “Princess Camellia” for her beauty since her youth, Tsubaki’s attractive face grew dark as she glared angrily at Tsukasa. “I’ll admit finding a fiancé for her is important for the Tsujikawa legacy. After all, Satsuki is our only child. If she doesn’t get married and produce an heir, the Tsujikawa name will end with her.”

Phew! Thank goodness the woman sees reason, Tsukasa thought as he nodded in satisfaction. Releasing his wife’s hand, he reached out for the cigar case on top of the table.

“Having said that, I don’t approve of separating her from Mr. Shindo,” his wife persisted. His hand fell short of the cigar case at the sound of her repeated disapproval.

“If you try to take him from her now, I have no doubt she’ll make the same mistake she did all those years ago,” Tsubaki insisted, making Tsukasa frown in consternation. “As it is, the incident from the other day is still too fresh...”

Tsubaki recalled the report she received from Shindo regarding the incident at school. It said Satsuki lost control of her powers and accidentally killed someone. It was heartrending for her as a mother. She was agonized by her daughter’s pain, feeling it as if it were her own.

“If what happened back then were to happen again, she would lose her grasp on sanity... She will commit another crime so she ‘doesn’t lose Shindo’! Do you want to make her repeat the mistakes of the past?!” Tsubaki shouted in warning.

***

“MISS...”

“Silence,” Satsuki snapped. She searched his mind with his head sandwiched between her hands and her forehead pressed against his.

The corners of Shindo’s eyes twitched. The inside of his head throbbed with terrible spasms of pain accompanied by ringing in his ears. Along with the pain, fear and anxiety filled his heart.

Oh, God! Please tell me she isn’t...

“Miss...”

“Be quiet!” Satsuki commanded as she tried to delve through Shindo’s memories. Realizing what she was doing, Shindo tried to stop her, but Satsuki quickly issued orders that defeated his efforts.

“Tell...me...” with each word she uttered, a waft of Satsuki’s warm breath embraced Shindo. Her face was so close, he could feel the warmth emanating from it. Their foreheads were pressed together. The texture and warmth of Satsuki’s soft hands pressed against his cheeks helped him forget the unpleasant sensation of her searching his mind.

This isn’t good! I can’t let her find out. That incident was... Shindo tried to pull away from Satsuki, but his body wouldn’t so much as budge. It wasn’t as though Satsuki’s orders kept him from moving. He was actively trying to move, but it was as if the surrounding air held him bound, forbidding the slightest movement.

Miss...? Shindo stared in shock at Satsuki’s face held terribly close to his own. His gaze was fixed on her closed eyes. Are you preventing me from moving...?

It wasn’t as though Satsuki was applying much pressure with her hands. Nevertheless, he had no doubt in his mind she was the one robbing him of the ability to move. She was relying on her powers to bind him...

“Miss...” Shindo gasped. His mind felt as though pins and needles were prickling at it. Was someone searching through memories—through the mind—supposed to be this unpleasant? Even with Satsuki working to make it more bearable, it was still an indescribably strange sensation.

That sensation brought back a certain memory for Shindo. A memory from long, long ago. That happened...when the Miss was four, and I was sixteen.

“Stay with me...forever...”

The flashback played in his mind! Fragments of the memory rolled into frames that played like a movie one after the next, making him remember with vivid clarity.

I...must never remember this moment. It was the very memory Satsuki was searching for and “reading” right this very minute.

“Miss! Don’t!” Shindo shouted, shaking off the feeling he could collapse from mental fatigue!

Satsuki’s eyes flung wide open. Betraying a hint of surprise, her eyes pierced into the depths of Shindo’s gray-tinged eyes!

“Shindo...” she said in a trembling voice. “...Shindo...”

She slowly narrowed her wide eyes, revealing her sadness. Shindo was still unable to move.

“I’m sorry...Shindo,” Satsuki apologized in a meek voice, her eyes growing misty. Enchanted by her and unable to turn away, all he could do was gaze back at her. “I’m sorry...” It was only a matter of time before the tears began to spill down her cheeks.

Satsuki absolutely never used her powers on Shindo. Even when the door to her heart popped open, she never actively tried to read his mind. Ever since she was little, Shindo strictly forbid Satsuki to use her powers in daily life or on those she held dear. This also served as a means to prevent Satsuki from dwelling on the fact that she possessed supernatural powers.

Satsuki mostly obeyed those rules throughout the years. There were times she broke them in innocent mischief and play, only to earn a sound scolding. But now she went so far as to break those ironclad rules and paralyze Shindo in order to draw this memory from the person she trusted more than anyone. The memory was so overwhelming it made tears cascade down her cheeks as it wrenched at her heart.

“I...” Satsuki choked, tears streaming down the corner of her eyes. “I killed someone you held dear, didn’t I...?”

***

THE wisteria flowers danced. Their petals fluttered in Satsuki and Shindo’s memory. In the midst of the dancing petals, there was a wisp of a little girl and a young man. The little girl was playing with the flower petals beneath the trellis of wisteria. The young man watched over her as she played.

“Stay with me forever, please,” the girl said.

It was a promise sworn under the trellis. Pinky finger twined with pinky finger. This promise would bind the two forever... To think Satsuki was only four and Shindo was sixteen at the time.

“Certainly, Miss,” Shindo swore. The moment he gave that reply, their “eternal promise” was forged.

They would be together forever and ever. Neither doubted this promise would last until the end of time.

Satsuki was overcome with such great joy, it made her want to dance in the air along with the tumbling wisteria petals. She was with the man who put her mind at ease. The smiles he gave her were kinder than any other, and the hugs he gave her were filled with boundless love. Unlike the love of her parents, the love of this young man made her want to melt. He wormed his way into her heart the very first time she laid eyes on him. And now he was promising to spend the rest of his life with her...

“Don’t you belong to me, Shindo?”

“But of course,” he replied. Shindo snapped the book he was reading shut. Slipping his hands between the child’s arms planted on the ground from crawling toward him, he lifted her up as easily as if she were a kitten before plopping her on his lap. Once she was on his lap, he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight. “I will forever be yours.”

Held in his embrace, Satsuki happily nuzzled her cheek against his chest.

Rustle...! Just then, the bushes near Shindo began to violently shake. The first to notice, Shindo quickly turned to face the bushes.

“I can’t bear to watch another goddamn second of this crap...” came a voice that made all of the blood drain from Shindo’s face.

Sensing Shindo’s emotional distress, Satsuki cocked her head in the direction of the bushes.

“Yer like a neutered mutt in that spiffy suit with that complacent look smeared across yer mug... And that ain’t yer style,” a man sneered as he stepped out from the bushes, glaring at Shindo. “Now is it, kiddo?”

Shindo’s lips began to tremble, his eyes open wide. “Pops...” he whispered, but the rustling of the wisteria in the trellis drowned it out...

***

“NONETHELESS, this is how it must be done...” Tsukasa insisted and reached for his cigar case with the hand that fell short earlier. He pulled out a single cigar. “We were bound to confront this one way or the other when it came time for Satsuki to choose a future spouse. Don’t you see that?”

He turned to face his wife, who was standing over his shoulders. She was giving him such a nasty look, he could have sworn she was ready to bite him at any second.

“I’m not upset about your plans to make her pick a future husband. I am upset with you for consequentially tearing her away from Mr. Shindo,” Tsubaki clarified.

Tsukasa turned away from his outraged wife and sighed, “For Pete’s sake!” as he sunk into his chair. Always stubborn as a mule, something about his wife resembled her older brother when she contorted her face into this dangerous snarl.

Tsubaki’s brother was Manabu’s father. Like an older version of Manabu, the astute president worked alongside his son to steadily build up Hayama Group. Manabu inherited both his talent and skill. Even now, Tsukasa wanted the man renowned the world over as the “Hayama Prodigy” for the Tsujikawas.

If he didn’t have a fiancée, Tsukasa could have launched a hostile takeover against the Hayama Group and obtained Manabu that way... However, Tsubaki put an end to that ambition a few years ago, making her warning crystal clear with the threat “If you go after my family, I’ll never forgive you.”

“I just looked over the files. I’ll admit the candidates you’ve selected for her future grooms seem like fine young men with bright futures from respectable families. But even if she marries one of them, there isn’t any need to intentionally separate Satsuki from her retainer, is there?”

“I’ll have you know, Tsubaki...” Tsukasa stopped to take a whiff of his cigar before slowly rising to face his wife looming over his shoulders, “...it wasn’t my idea to have Mr. Shindo leave her side.”

“It wasn’t?” she questioned, her stern expression softening slightly. But the next moment, the name she heard made her doubt her own ears.

“It was Manabu.”

***

WISTERIA petals danced within the memory... They fluttered between Satsuki and Shindo... In a curtain of dancing petals, the same scene began to roll before the two.

A breeze blew through the silent greenhouse. It was a draft born from the ventilation system. Yet there was a consciousness that was not Satsuki at work that made the wisteria petals dance up and down around her.

“So that’s the Tsujikawa’s only kid, eh...? She’s just as cute as they say...” said the man who appeared from the bushes, curling the corner of his lips into an unsavory grin. As realization struck, Shindo quickly shifted his position so he was holding her protectively in both arms.

The man was in his fifties. He boasted a robust, muscular build. Although the top of his head was shaved clean, tufts of white could be seen in the overgrown mustache above his lips. The dark lenses of his mirrored sunglasses hid his eyes. But it was easy to imagine that under those glasses, he had eyes as sharp as any weapon.

“She’s the first thing you couldn’t kill.”

Satsuki wasn’t looking at the man who called her a “thing.” Trusting herself to Shindo, she looked up at him as he held onto her with all of his might.

The man chuckled dryly from the back of his throat before continuing, “Did she ensnare ya with her cute charm? Does that little girl satisfy yer itch better than them ‘ladies’ who treated ya real nice back at the hideout? Well? Does she, kiddo?”

“Wha-?!”

“I’ve gotta admit, she is cute. C’mon, lemme have her for a bit. I haven’t done it with a girl this young in ages. It’s cool, ain’t it, kiddo? You and me, we’re pals, ain’t we?” the man persisted. He laughed from the back of the throat, the sound of ridicule in his laughter only growing louder.

Burying Satsuki deep in his chest, Shindo held his arms across the back of her head to cover her ears in hopes of blocking out the man’s voice.

“We aren’t pals...” Shindo whispered at the man. “That relationship came to an end four years ago.”

“Yeah, when you failed to kill that there brat.”

Shindo was raised at a place where humans who “made a living killing people” gathered. He was there as far back as he could remember. He had no idea what either his father or mother looked like... He didn’t even have a name.

The place was a large mansion built like a labyrinth. Countless nameless people with similar backgrounds were also there. The men all called him “kiddo” while the women who hunkered there to entertain the men referred to him as “boy.”

“Kill to live.” The creed was commonly accepted in this world. He learned this—and more—from this man. Displaying impressive mastery with the knife from an early age, Shindo used his talent to kill his first person at the early age of ten.

The man was greatly pleased with the job he completed then. “I knew you had talent in ya! Ya’ve got the same eyes as yer old man,” he had claimed. Apparently this man was also pals with young Shindo’s father.

It might be fair to say they were close. The man gave more attention to him than the other boys, and taught him a great many things. Shindo had viewed him as a teacher and father figure. Over time, he naturally grew to refer to him as “Pops.”

“I thought you were dead,” he said, walking slowly—pausing between each step—toward Shindo. “Right after you failed to come back four years ago, the politician who hired us to kill this munchkin died in an accident. The damn thing smelled freakin’ fishy. Rumor among our kind had it Big Man Tsujikawa pulled some strings to make it happen.”

With Satsuki in his arms, Shindo inched back as if hoping to escape the man who gradually drew closer.

“I can’t help if the client up and croaked on us. What with you missin’ and rumors that the brat was just fine, we decided this whole deal was a bust.”

Shindo’s back hit the trellis lattice, preventing him from edging back. The man came to a halt before Shindo and glared down at the young man.

“I never dreamed the Tsujikawas had ya tucked away, alive and kickin’!” the man snarled. He suddenly grabbed Shindo by the arms. Utilizing his incredible strength, he broke Shindo’s protective hold on Satsuki. She was huddled in the crevice of his arms like a small animal as the man grabbed her by the scruff of her dress, lifting her up as easily as if she were a kitten.

“Miss!” Shindo cried.

“...Shin...do...!” she whimpered in pain with both hands clutching at the suffocating collar of her dress.

She was being held by the back of her dress’s collar. The only thing supporting the weight of Satsuki’s body was the material of her clothing. And that was cutting against her neck. She was trapped in a suffocating position. It was too much for any four-year-old to bear.

“Miss!” Shindo shouted.

He jumped up and began to lunge at the man in hopes of snatching Satsuki back. But before he could launch his attack, the man caught Shindo in mid-stride with one hand and lifted him off the ground!

“You’ve gotten damn big for yer breeches if ya think you can attack me...kiddo,” the man goaded.

Although Shindo was only sixteen, he was nearly 5’11” and began formal unarmed combat training once he became Satsuki’s retainer. In Aikido, he was already able to fight on par with the Master Instructor. But none of the skills he honed were of any help to him now.

The man tightened his clutch around Shindo’s neck, cutting off airflow. Shindo clasped both hands around the man’s arm.

“Why don’t I go ahead and kill ya here and now...? I don’t got no use for a dull-eyed sap.”

Caught in the man’s grasp, Shindo looked at Satsuki from the corner of his eye. She was dangling beside him from the man’s other arm. Her neck was bent awkwardly despite her hands pulling at the collar of her dress. Her mouth opened and closed slightly, unable to voice the word, “...Shin...do...” But the wisteria petals flying erratically around Satsuki conveyed what she was trying to say.

“Shin...do...” The word uttered from lips as little and adorable as flower petals was none other than his name. They weren’t words beseeching help or any other imaginable possibility. It was the name she gave him. “...Shindo...”

“Miss...!”

Shindo put all of his strength into his clasp on the man’s arm. Whipping his body around, he landed such a powerful kick on the man’s torso that it sent him tumbling away! Caught by surprise, the man released his hold on Shindo. While he was stumbling off balance, he made the mistake of accidentally popping open the hand used to hold Satsuki.

“Miss!”

Once Shindo was on solid ground after breaking free of the man’s grasp, he dashed toward Satsuki, falling from the man’s outstretched hand. He managed to catch her before she struck the ground, but wound up sliding across the grass as a result. At least he was able to catch her safely in his arms, successfully preventing so much as a single strand of hair from crashing to the ground.

“Miss...are you...all right?” Shindo asked, his voice hoarse from being strangled. He was on the verge of hypoxia, but oxygen was reaching his brain once more, giving him a mild headache.

“Shin...do...” Satsuki whimpered, slightly out of breath. Her beautiful eyes that could make his heart melt were brimming with tears. Each time the name she gave him left her trembling lips, Shindo’s chest grew painfully tight.

There was a time when all he knew was how to steal, including human lives. Without a name, no one would notice or care when or where he died like a dog.

But then this little girl taught him the meaning and joy of living and protecting another. The girl gave him a name. The more he tried to protect her, the more she filled him with kindness and peace.

“Miss...” he croaked. If I never met you...I wouldn’t be alive today.

“Shin...do...” Satsuki said in a slightly stronger voice as she held her hands up to his cheeks. “You won’t leave me...will you...?”

Rustle...! There was no breeze, yet right at that moment, the wisteria flowers began to stir.

“Stay by my side, okay...?” They had promised one another as much only moments before. She repeated it sadly as if ensuring it still stood. “...That man wants to take you away...”

“What?”

After hearing Satsuki’s warning, Shindo sensed the desire to kill and leaned backwards! Along with the sound of knocking on wood, a small dual-bladed knife stabbed the base of the tree next to him! If Shindo didn’t lean back, the knife would have struck him clean in the head.

“At least ya’ve still got yer wits about ya,” the man said with three more knives in one hand. He might’ve stumbled, but he never did fall.

“I was originally gonna put an end to yer sorry existence, but...” The man readjusted his hold on one of the knives and threw it at Shindo with a whip of the arm!

Shindo smoothly rolled to dodge the throwing knife with Satsuki held tightly in his arms! Against this man, the best he could do was dodge. Even if he tried to launch an attack, he knew he didn’t stand a chance from the physical punishment he’d taken throughout the twelve years he was raised by the man.

But...at least I have to protect the Miss... I don’t care if I die as long as I protect her... That’s good enough... Shindo glared at the man. The killer chortled happily the moment Shindo’s determined eyes fell on him.

“Come back, kiddo,” the man invited. He swung the two remaining knives around in his hand before they disappeared into his jacket. His eyes behind the mirrored sunglasses looked happily upon the boy glaring daggers at him. “I like those eyes. Ya haven’t totally lost the old glint. It’s not too late. Come back, kiddo.”

“No...”

“You don’t belong here. The clean air’ll rot yer brain if ya stick ‘round too long.”

“I’m not going...” Shindo refused.

“Us bastards raised ‘round the stench of blood can only meet violent ends. Don’t get any stupid ideas ‘bout goin’ clean after all the shit ya’ve done. Yer sixteen now, ain’t ya? All ‘em sweethearts who used to play with ya will treat ya real good. As a man this time, not as their toy.”

“I’m not going!”

The man’s lips curled into a vulgar grin and his voice dripped with boundless sarcasm. The stronger Shindo rejected his offer out of growing anger, the more violently the man’s shoulder’s trembled from suppressed laughter.

Thud...! Satsuki jerked violently in his arms. Dropping his gaze to the child, Shindo saw her eyes were flung wide open and her entire body was beginning to tremble.

“Miss?”

“You can’t have him...” Satsuki hissed, looking at the man from the safety of Shindo’s embrace. “You can’t...”

Rustle! Swish! There was no breeze in the greenhouse, yet the wisteria, surrounding trees, plants, and flowers all swayed to and fro as violently as if there were a storm!

“Shindo...belongs to me...”

“What the hell?” the man exclaimed, a dubious expression painted on his face as he looked around. There was only a slight artificial draft blowing through the greenhouse, yet the plants were thrashing as wildly as if there were mighty winds.

Rustle! Swish! Crackle...!

The man couldn’t feel any wind against his body, but there was undeniably some form of pressure like a strong wind blowing through the greenhouse. Even Shindo with Satsuki in his arms—not just the man—spun full circle to take it all in.

This was the first time Shindo ever saw the plant life in the greenhouse throw such a fit. With Satsuki tucked in his embrace, he found himself wrapping his arms around her even tighter. The fact that she was the one disrupting the trees and plants didn’t escape him.

Satsuki’s body felt abnormally hot. It was akin to the fevers she ran when she caught a cold. Her temperature was obviously climbing at a tremendous rate.

“I won’t...let you take...Shindo...” she muttered as if delirious from the fever. But the moment the words were out of her mouth, Shindo’s arms were struck numb!

He was so surprised, it made him loosen his hold on her. The numbness in his arms didn’t feel like the pins-and-needles of poor circulation, but an electric shock. This was the type of numbness felt when electricity ran through the body. If he had to compare it to something, the closest thing he could think of was when he got zapped by a stun gun.

“Shindo...belongs to me...!” Satsuki repeated.

Zap!

“Whoa!” Shindo’s arms flew away from Satsuki as if he were being repelled! Electricity coursed through the girl’s body! His arms were repelled from her.

Rustle! Swoosh...! The trees, flowers, and bushes swayed violently.

Satsuki pulled away from Shindo’s limp arms and slowly...rose.

“You can’t take him away...” She slowly began to walk. The man stared silently at the approaching little girl. “You can’t take him away!”

Bang! The moment Satsuki shouted, the man’s sunglasses shattered to pieces and crumbled off his face! Beneath the crumbled sunglasses revealed cold, brutal eyes. Those eyes glared intently at the girl closing in on him.

“Miss!” Shindo shouted as he jumped to his feet. He tried to stop Satsuki, but soon learned the futility of his efforts.

He couldn’t get near her. If he tried to reach out to Satsuki, his fingers would come in contact with the same electric currents that repelled his arms earlier. A curtain of electricity was draped around her. Or perhaps she was creating the electric barrier around herself.

“Miss...”

Shindo had never seen Satsuki like this before. He had never seen anything like this! Although he had seen her play with the plants and flowers or creating a gentle breeze, he’d never once seen her unleash a protective invisible electric field in a rage.

“What...is Shindo to you? You have no right to take my Divine Wisteria...” Satsuki lashed out. The electric whirlwind emanating from her made the child’s beautifully long, jet-black hair whip in the air. In this windless greenhouse, it posed a strange sight to behold.

“Be gone!” Satsuki shouted in a voice with unconcealed rage that Shindo had never before heard. The moment the words left her mouth, the man’s massive body was tossed like a ragdoll against one of the trees behind him! The tree creaked loudly as it bent against the impact of his muscular body.

“...Ngh...!” the man groaned. His entire body spasmed before slowly collapsing to the ground. The pain of crashing into a massive tree wasn’t the only source of his suffering. His muscles felt like jelly as if someone just tasered him.

“Leave! Don’t take Shindo from me!” Satsuki screamed.

Lightning. If there was any word to describe this, it would be “lightning.” A flash suddenly crashed down upon the man’s head!

Boom! There was a deep, massive crash! Following that blinding light and boom, the great tree behind the man split in half!

“Miss!”

Shindo was terrified that if Satsuki kept this up, she might do something irredeemable... Spurred by his sense of dread, Shindo desperately reached out to Satsuki! But each time his hands drew near, the electricity racing through the air around her kept him back. Not even Shindo could touch Satsuki now.

“Miss! Please stop! Don’t do this!” he cried out.

The man was lying on his stomach by the tree struck by the lightning-like flash. His body began to twitch as he slowly pushed himself to his elbows. The moment he was up, red blood began to pitter-patter off his body in big droplets. His open mouth stood out as a crack against the flesh of his charred head. But that didn’t stop the man from glaring balefully at Satsuki as he guessed, “...Yer...psychic...?”

The man shifted his menacing glare to the young man behind Satsuki; his face twisted into a scornful grin. “You’ve fallen...into the hands of a...terrifying creature...kiddo...”

The greenhouse was perfectly still. The man’s weak voice came out no more than a whisper, yet it nonetheless road on the breeze to reach Shindo and Satsuki’s ears.

“...Yer gonna...die... That monster’s gonna kill ya...”

“…” Shindo gasped, his body recoiling. The weight of the word “monster” drove his body down with tremendous weight.

“...Return to our hideout...kiddo...if ya wanna live...” the man continued.

Shindo’s gaping eyes were glued to the man who was looking beyond Satsuki to gaze upon him. This was the man who looked after him when he was no better than a stray dog. There were times he yelled and hit Shindo, even beating him within an inch of his life. But recognizing Shindo’s potential, he looked after and cared for him more than anyone else.

This was the man who once said, “I’ll keep ya under my wing till ya can fend fer yerself.”

Those days were filled with nothing but competition and rivalry with the other boys Shindo’s age. Caught in that drudgery, the man would drop by every now and then to tell stories of his own youth. Back then, Shindo felt that was the only time he could “breathe naturally.” He truly viewed the man as a father...

“If ya stay with that brat...ya’ll...die...” the man warned.

“...Pops...”

Whether the man’s words were spoken out of concern or as a threat, not even Shindo could say for certain. But he knew that the man was the one and only person who took any interest in his future back in that hellhole.

“Miss! Please stop already! Miss!” Shindo shouted. But it was already too late...

“Gaaaaaaah!” The man screamed as his body jumped up, his chest thrust outward. With his hands clutching at his head, his red mouth agape, it was clear the man didn’t rise of his own volition.

“...Gah...! ....Hah...! ...Gah...!” The noises akin to a tongue-twister never made it out of his lips.

Surrounded by sparks, the man shook from electric shock. The electric current flowing through him was a high enough voltage it threatened to burn his body to a crisp. This electric shock forced his broken body to its feet when he was unable to rise of his own volition.

“Pops...” Shindo uttered in a horrified whisper. His face blanched with terror, he was unable to peel his eyes from the nightmarish sight. By age twelve, he had seen people die more times than he cared to remember. It was a common sight for him back then. But had he ever seen such a cruel and unusual death? It was hard to believe such death could be brought by the hands of...

“Show me everything,” Satsuki commanded, glaring with narrowed eyes at the man whose body jolted violently from electrocution, making red blood gush from his head. “Show me everything you know about Shindo...”

At that moment, it dawned upon Shindo. What if Satsuki was trying to read this man’s mind to see his memories? What if she was tearing through his mind in search of memories about Shindo to uncover all he knew?

“Miss...” Shindo whispered as he gazed upon Satsuki, unable to draw near her, let alone touch her.

A vortex of electricity swirled around Satsuki. Sparks flashed throughout the energy waves emanating from her. Even Shindo could tell she was approaching her limit for her to be on the verge of combustion.

Satsuki’s pitch-black hair drifted with the swirls in the electric currents. The hem of her dress billowed as if she were standing in the midst of a mighty gale.

“I won’t give Shindo...to anyone...” she declared. He swore to stay with her forever. He promised to stay at her side.

This was the boy Satsuki chose when she was still a newborn baby. What was so special about him? What made Satsuki choose him? In truth, Satsuki no longer knew the answer herself. The only thing she knew for certain now...

“Don’t take Shindo from me!” she screamed.

...was that if she lost him, she would most likely lose sight of herself!

The man’s body rocked wildly! Upon reaching a boil, his blood began to rapidly bubble through the wounds across his head. Neither consciousness nor life still held their grip on the man, yet Satsuki continued to lash out her powers. She was unable to rein them in. The electric currents surrounding her flashed sparks, whipping her hair wildly to and fro.

“Miss!” Shindo cried out. What should I do? How can I stop the Miss?!

The man had been reduced to a lifeless thing. Raised under his wing, he was the one person Shindo went so far as to call “Pops.” Even though his life was spent, the powers emitting from Satsuki made his body continue to convulse. It was as if he were her marionette.

In the face of this limitless discharge of power, an unthinkable possibility passed through Shindo’s mind. If Satsuki’s powers continue to go out of control, won’t they ultimately burn her out? What would happen to a psychic that unleashed their power without control?

I won’t let that happen... The Miss chose me to protect her... She saved me from that living hell and spared my life. Her life must never be put in harm’s way!

“Miss!” he screamed like a madman. His heart was filled with only one desire, much like when he was in danger of dying at the hands of the man. I don’t care what happens to me! Not as long as I save the Miss!

Shindo plunged into the currents swirling around Satsuki. Pulling her toward his chest from behind, he gave her a great hug!

---

---

“Miss! Please stop!” Shindo pleaded. It felt as if the electricity crashed down on the crown of his head before surging through his body. Despite fighting to remain conscious, he refused to release his hold around Satsuki’s hot body on the verge of bursting into flames.

“...Miss...” he wheezed, his voice not wanting to come out. But Shindo only held Satsuki tighter, pressing her head against his chest. He stroked her hair as he did when she was a baby.

“Shindo...” Satsuki said gently. As if taking that voice as a sign, the electric currents around Satsuki showed signs of ebbing. Peace and calm gradually returned to their surroundings.

“Shindo...” came the sound of Satsuki’s calm voice. Held in the embrace Shindo fought desperately to win, she rubbed her cheek against his chest and happily whispered, “Stay with me...Shindo...”

“Miss...”

“Stay with me...forever...” she whispered.

With Satsuki in his arms, Shindo raised his head. His eyes fell upon the man reduced to nothing more than a lump of mass by Satsuki’s powers. Her powers took his life, leaving just a corpse.

“Miss...” Shindo whispered. As he fervently stroked her hair, he was surprised at himself for nearly bursting into sobs, something he had never done in all his sixteen years of life.

Why must the Miss be put through this? Why does she have these awful powers?! The more such thoughts raced through his mind, the more an emotion unknown to him filled his heart: sadness.

“Shindo...” Satsuki gently called out to him as he fell into sadness.

Shindo looked down at her and gasped. Satsuki was crying. She was looking up at him, tears filling eyes as clear and intelligent as ever.

“Shindo...you’ve had a hard life, haven’t you...?”

“Miss...”

“Shindo...” she repeated, beautiful, clear tears streaming from her eyes. Those eyes gazed into Shindo’s gray-tinted eyes, piercing to their inner depths. It was just like how he was drawn to her eyes and mesmerized by them when he first met her as a month-old infant. They held him paralyzed.

Shindo slowly dropped to his knees on the grass as he peered into Satsuki’s eyes and she into his. Helping Satsuki to her feet, their eyes locked at the same level.

“Shindo...” Satsuki reached her hand out to gently brush Shindo’s cheek. “You’ve endured...so many hardships...”

The tears she shed were not for herself, but for Shindo. Satsuki read the man’s mind, uncovering all of his memories concerning Shindo. It showed his past. His past as a nameless boy before he met her pierced her heart with agony.

The sight filled Shindo with pain too great to bear. He never wanted Satsuki to know. All she needed to know...was that he was originally a shady character without a name who came to kill her. She didn’t need to know that he was raised in an environment no better than a cesspool, that he was taught the obscenest way of life, or that it was necessary to put those lessons to use in order to survive. He thought nothing of it when women reduced to animals made him their plaything.

Shindo didn’t want Satsuki to learn that side of him ever existed. Not her...not the child as pure as an angel who saved him. She was the one person...he didn’t want to find out...

But even upon learning Shindo’s past, Satsuki did not look down on him with contempt. Instead she shed tears on his behalf. And here she had every right to cry for herself after just killing a man with the abnormal powers contained within her body. The man’s horrific death was etched into her eyes, yet instead of bemoaning her own lot in life, she offered words of sympathy for Shindo.

“It must have been awful... I feel for you...Shindo...”

Shindo could feel warmth emanating from Satsuki’s hands pressed against his cheeks. That warmth cleansed his heart of the remorse and disgrace that tainted it.

“Are you crying...?” Shindo asked as he gently cupped his hands over hers. “Are you crying for me?”

He felt as though he could lose himself in her eyes. He was seized by the illusion that simply bathing in her gaze alone could purify him.

“Miss...” he said as he gave her hands a squeeze. “Please forget...”

Rustle... The trees shook. As if whipped around by mighty winds, their leaves blew off as they thrashed about.

“If...you feel any pity...or compassion for me...please forget everything that happened here today...” Shindo continued.

Whoosh! Rustle...! Almost as if they were moving with a mind of their own, the fallen leaves piled on top of the remains to conceal the hideous corpse.

“Forget that you used your powers to render this person into a pile of flesh...” Shindo requested.

Once the tree leaves fully covered the body, wisteria petals quietly began whirling up from the earth.

“And forget...my past...” he finished.

As if trying to comfort Satsuki, the whirl of wisteria petals fluttered down over her head. When Shindo brushed a tear from her cheek with his finger, she tilted her head questioningly and asked, “Shindo...would it make you happy if I forgot?”

“Yes, it would.”

“Everything?”

“...Yes, everything.”

Satsuki gave him a big smile. She was like an angel, her eyes clear, her smile adorable. “Then I’ll forget,” she promised.

Rustle...! The wisteria flowers jostled, dropping a cascade of petals. The petals began to encircle Satsuki in their fluttering dance.

“If you want me to forget...then I’ll forget...” Satsuki agreed.

Like a squall, the wisteria petals poured upon Satsuki, hiding her from sight. Only her hands upon Shindo’s cheeks poked through the lavender curtain.

“...Miss.” Shindo gave her hands a squeeze.

“Shindo...” came her happy voice from the curtain of flower petals. “Stay with me...forever...”

“Miss!”

Shindo had to fight back the tears forming in his eyes. If he allowed the dam to break, there would be no stopping the cascade of tears, never before shed by his eyes.

The curtain of petals gradually began to dissipate. As he felt the weight of Satsuki’s hands fall into his own, he knew she had passed out. With this, the wild dance of the wisteria petals drew to an end.

“Miss...” Shindo whispered. He sat on the ground with Satsuki in his arms, unable to move for some time.

“I...” he said in a quivering voice with his arms wrapped around the little girl. “I will stay with you...for as long as I live...”

It was quite possible he was crying.

***

“PLEASE don’t cry...” Shindo soothed, gazing at Satsuki as she cried before him. Her eyes were still just as clear as they were back then. He felt like Satsuki could engulf him in her overflowing kindness and compassion, while he...

“I’m the one who stole this moment from you... And now it’s my fault this painful memory has resurfaced... I can’t begin to apologize enough,” he said.

Satsuki’s hands trembled slightly against his cheeks. The gentle warmth of them cleansed Shindo’s heart now, just as they did in the past.

“Shin...do...”

But Satsuki’s tears did not dry up. Her hands slid from his cheeks to the back of his head. She began to entwine his soft, wavy hair in her fingers.

“Please don’t cry...” Shindo repeated. His lips brushed against an eyelid...

“Shin...do...” Satsuki’s spellbinding whisper drifted in the air.

Shindo’s lips brushed her eyelids, sweeping away the tears through her wet interlocked upper and lower lashes.

“Please don’t cry, Miss...” His hushed voice was so soft he was afraid she might not be able to hear him. The sound of the bed’s springs with each minor movement along with the rustle of the sheets each time they turned their heads or shifted their bodies only made his voice seem louder.

“I...took someone important to you...” Satsuki wept. She didn’t know that when she was young. Filled with the simple desire “I don’t want to lose Shindo,” her powers went out of control. She only cared about what she wanted when her heart flew into that mad frenzy. But she knew better now.

She personally killed the man Shindo loved throughout his youth like family. He was also a mentor for Shindo, teaching him a way of life. She had killed the only member of Shindo’s family.

“No, there is no need for you to apologize,” Shindo told her. He held Satsuki’s head in both hands and began to stroke her hair with the tips of his fingers. “No one would care when or where someone like him turned up dead, anyway... He was the type of person no one would ever miss...”

“But I...”

Seized with sorrow after remembering the past Shindo made her forget, she couldn’t get over how she used her powers to kill someone who played a role in his upbringing. She took the life of someone Shindo held dear. That thought filled her with overwhelming guilt.

“I killed someone you hold dear...” she cried.

Thanks to Shindo sweeping all her tears away, Satsuki was barely able to peel open her still bleary eyes. But what he said next made them pop wide open.

“You are the only person I hold dear.”

Satsuki stared at Shindo with bulging eyes.

“...Only you, Miss...” he repeated.

Satsuki felt as if those words were going to melt her heart. Even if he only meant them as her servant, they seeped into her and resounded throughout her body with indescribable sweetness.

“Me, too...” Satsuki replied, curling her fingers twirled around Shindo’s terribly soft hair. It almost seemed as if she could feel his kindness flow through her fingertips simply by touching it. “You’re more important to me than anyone else, Shindo...”

No words could be found, neither by Satsuki nor by Shindo. As her clear eyes locked with Shindo’s, their hearts melted into one. As they gazed upon one another, mutual feelings flew back and forth between them.

These feeling must never get voiced. It was taboo to harbor such emotions even in the safety of their own hearts. All they could do was keep them locked in the depths of their hearts. And yet...

Even if the fact that their lips overlapped...was an unforgivable act, at least for now—at least for the moment—they didn’t pull away...

---

---

***

“I simply can’t believe it...” Tsubaki said, unable to accept the truth of her husband’s statement. “Manabu would never say such a thing...”

They were going to make Satsuki pick one of several suitors to become her future spouse. It was something Tsukasa had wanted her to do for years. In fact, he first tried to bring the plan to fruition when she was sixteen, but called it off when she threw the house into an uproar by threatening to run away. Nevertheless, she couldn’t avoid facing reality forever. Satsuki needed to select a partner whom she could work alongside to further advance the Tsujikawa Corporation. Not to mention, she was burdened with the fate to give birth to the next heir the moment she was born.

“I’m afraid it’s true. Although I can understand you wouldn’t want to believe that came from your beloved nephew,” Tsukasa countered, noticing the distress etched in his wife’s visage through the smoke rising from the thin cigar hanging from his mouth.

Tsukasa was going to use Satsuki’s birthday party as a match-making event. When he asked Manabu what he thought about it, the younger man advised him, “You’ll need to relieve Mr. Shindo of his position as retainer.”

He wanted Tsukasa to remove Shindo from his position as Satsuki’s retainer. That meant he would no longer be in a position to stay glued to her side, serving at her beck and call. He would be reduced to just another attendant, offering his mistress assistance with her work and life, but nothing more.

Having served Satsuki since shortly after she was born, Shindo knew her better than anyone—even her parents. She couldn’t ask for a more trustworthy secretary when she was ready to take over the Tsujikawa name. Bearing that in mind, Tsukasa began assigning Shindo work at headquarters several years ago. In this relatively short period of time, he already managed to earn an administrative position in the Office of Information Management.

“I thought Manabu realizes just how dependent Satsuki is on Shindo, and how much she relies on him. What would compel him to say that?” Tsubaki persisted.

Ever since they were little, Manabu doted on Satsuki as if she were his little sister. Much like Shindo, he also watched over her from the time she was little. Although he wasn’t made aware of her unnatural powers, he knew what she was thinking, what she wanted, and what her goals were. It could be said he was the man who understood her best after Shindo.

“Why would Manabu...?” Tsubaki trailed off, miserably clutching her hands before her chest. She couldn’t put it from her head. Memories of that horrifying disaster from when Satsuki was four were still vivid.

“The Miss...used her powers...” the boy holding Satsuki said as he collapsed before Tsubaki. His face was wrought with sorrow unlike anything she’d seen before.

“I’m so sorry... It was all my fault... I’m so sorry.” He apologized over and over again with Satsuki in his arms. His apologies blurred into a tearless wail.

When an assassin attempted to take Shindo away, Satsuki killed him. It happened in an uncontrolled outburst of power... All to avoid losing the person she called, “Shindo.”

Shindo dedicated his body and soul to protecting Satsuki so that the existence of her powers wouldn’t cause her suffering or sorrow. That was supposed to be the nature of his duty. He blamed himself for failing in his duties. He believed the blood of the man Satsuki killed was on his hands, not hers.

If Satsuki was in danger of losing Shindo again, would she lose sight of herself once more? Would she fly into an uncontrollable rage? This was a completely different situation from when she was four. She would be turning eighteen. Emotionally, it was an age where she possessed both the maturity of an adult and the immaturity of a child. Not to mention...the emotion to love another.

Tsubaki couldn’t quell the unease surging inside. Could Satsuki endure her fate as an heiress in her current state?

***

ONLY the gentle sound of breathing echoed in Satsuki’s ears. The image of the man she loved projected against her closed eyelids. And then her lips met his warm touch.

Shindo’s lips invitingly scooped Satsuki’s tongue, floundering in embarrassment at their tender touch. He gently sucked her tongue before nipping her lower lip with the tip of his, only to trace where he nipped with his tongue. They gradually shifted their heads, adjusting the dynamics of their kisses with their lips interlocked; an occasional sigh escaped from the side of their mouths.

It was impossible to say how long the two showered kisses upon one another... Their bodies filled with passion burned at the touch of each other.

The thought that Shindo could hear her heart’s thunderous beating made Satsuki want to die of embarrassment. As if trying to put that thought from her mind, Shindo showered her with one kiss after another, filling her with joy.

She felt light in a sensation reminiscent to...intoxication. Her body was so hot she swore she was going to melt. It was followed by a natural desire. The desire was perfectly natural. She wanted him to touch her more...

Similar emotions rose within Shindo’s heart as well. He loved Satsuki so very, very much it hurt. In the face of that love, no constraints held power over him. All emotional restraints were rendered meaningless.

His body was also burning so hot he could scream. And much like Satsuki, the same perfectly natural desire was surging within him. He wanted to touch her...more...

The feelings and desires of the two overlapped in perfect harmony. So when Shindo stopped stroking her hair to slowly move his hand to her waist, Satsuki wasn’t the least bit upset. But assaulted by emotions she never experienced before, a moan escaped her lips unlike anything Shindo, or Satsuki herself for that matter, had ever heard before.

The moment Shindo heard her make that seductive sound, his body jolted with an uncharacteristic start and he hastily pulled away from Satsuki! He unwrapped his arm from around her waist, placing his hand next to her before quickly pushing himself away.

He looked down at Satsuki with wide eyes as he apologized, “...I’m sorry... I’m terribly sorry!”

It was out of character for Shindo to act so distressed. He pulled away from Satsuki and quickly jumped off the bed. Upon catching his breath, he placed one hand under Satsuki’s shoulder and the other behind her back in order to slowly ease her up.

“How do you feel...? Did that make you feel worse...?” he asked, looking her straight in the eye. Both of her hands clung to his supportive arms.

Flushed, she blinked in confusion. Her slightly open lips were left moist and slightly reddened from prolonged kissing. The expression on her face was beautiful...as if she were lost in a dream.

“No...I’m fine,” she answered in a gentle, dreamy voice.

“I’m so sorry...” Shindo apologized again. He quietly brushed aside a strand of tussled hair hanging over Satsuki’s face with his fingertips and began combing it along with the rest of her hair.

“I stepped out of line... I hope you can forgive me for what I did...” Shindo said only to come to the realization that he was more distressed than he thought. His hands were shaking.

What I did to the Miss was impermissible! I must never get lost in the heat of the moment. It’s completely inexcusable...!

Practicing self-restraint was part of his daily life where Satsuki was concerned. Whenever his emotions escalated, he reined them in and cooled them off. That was how he hit the reset button in his heart. But he wasn’t able to hit reset this time. Lost in the moment, he submitted to his surging emotions and kissed Satsuki.

He kissed the Miss! Staff must never commit any form of sexual conduct with their employers! As it was, it was taboo to harbor special feelings for his little lady...

“...Please don’t apologize...” Satsuki begged, resting her hand against Shindo’s cheek. She started tracing her hand down his jawline, coming to the very lips that guided her to that wondrous dream she was in only moments ago.

“Please don’t apologize...Shindo...” Satsuki repeated. Those lips generally assumed traits that made them appear cold and stern, yet against her fingers, they felt unimaginably soft...and warm. Just because Shindo kissed her, his mistress, Satsuki thought no less of him for harboring emotions beyond those of a retainer when he touched her. That was irrefutable proof that she harbored feelings for him as well.

Yet Shindo only held himself responsible for failing to keep his emotions in check. If only I was able to curb my emotions! If only I was able to hit the reset button in my heart like always! Then the Miss wouldn’t have humiliated herself in front of her lowly retainer. I never should have touched her in that frame of mind...

“Shindo...” Satsuki opened her lips longingly, but Shindo turned his head to avoid her gaze.

“You must be tired... I’ll go get you something to drink,” he offered. He pulled his hands away from Satsuki and quickly stood. Spinning around, he turned his back to her. “It will only take a minute. I will be right back with a cool beverage.”

“Shin...do...?”

“I think you might enjoy a carbonated beverage once every now and then. How about I bring your favorite, grape soda? Or would you prefer something else...?”

“Shindo...”

As if in an attempt to avoid confronting how Satsuki felt, Shindo kept his back turned toward her as he prattled on. “I will be certain to escort you to the greenhouse this afternoon... I believe it would be a nice change of—”

Unable to suppress her emotions any longer, Satsuki barked, “Shindo!” At the sound of his name, Shindo’s voice cut off.

It did happen... The moment their lips locked...each of their hearts filled with the same emotion, overlapping with one another.

Satsuki could feel it happen. She could tell that Shindo felt the same as her. That feeling transformed into joyous rapture, engulfing her entire body. She didn’t want this to be nothing more than her imagination. She didn’t want it to be a mere misunderstanding. She loved Shindo more than anyone else...after all.

That feeling also swept through Shindo. He believed Satsuki might share the same feelings as him. That feeling lifted his spirits to uncharted heights, giving him a sense of wholeness. He didn’t want this to be nothing more than his imagination. He didn’t want it to be a mere misunderstanding. He loved Satsuki more than anyone else. She was his entire world.

However, any open display of such affection was absolutely inexcusable... They must not love one another. They must not feel for one another. They must not touch. That was the silent command passed on the two.

“Miss...” Shindo told Satsuki with his back still facing her, “please forget this ever happened... If you’re willing to forgive how I stepped out of line...” With his back to Satsuki, Shindo repeated once more, “...please forget what happened...”

Satsuki couldn’t tear her eyes away from Shindo’s back. Why did she have to forget? Why did she have to erase this memory when it filled her body with wondrous intoxication unlike anything she ever felt before?

“Shin...do...” Satsuki squeaked, her voice trembling.

In truth, she understood. Why did she have to forget? She knew the answer painfully well. Both Shindo and Satsuki were made excruciatingly aware of why.

“Shindo, do you want me to forget?”

Perhaps a small part—just an itty-bitty part—of her was clinging to hope. She was wishing he might reply, “I don’t want you to forget.”

However, the words out of Shindo’s mouth were more or less those of a retainer. “It was a...mistake,” he said simply. It was as if that one, short sentence bore his emotions.

They had to forget what transpired. Even if it was only for a moment, their hearts were never supposed to connect. Brief as it was, their feelings were never supposed to harmonize. Acting in defiance against the silent command wasn’t an option for either.

“Very well...” Satsuki answered in a tremulous, drawn voice. “If you want me to forget...Shindo...”

Satsuki’s view of Shindo’s back began to blur as tears began overflowing from her eyes. Fighting back sobs, she rejected saying what was in her heart as she replied, “...I will forget...”

Tears slid down her cheeks. They rolled down endlessly one after the next. Firmly biting her bottom lip to hold back the sobs, Satsuki continued to stare at Shindo’s back.

“Thank you...Miss,” Shindo replied in an unusually small, weak voice.

Shindo never looked back. He fled from the room without turning back. He had no way of realizing that behind him, Satsuki shed an endless stream of tears as she swallowed her sobs.

“Please forget...” The sound of Shindo’s voice echoed in her ears on end.

“Shindo...” Satsuki’s lips moved in the shape of his name. Pressing her fingers to those lips in reverie, she could still recall his touch. As brief as it was, she thought she could melt in the joy. It helped to erase her painful encounter at school.

“Please forget...”

But she had to put this from her mind. It was not a memory she could keep.

Satsuki suddenly noticed the vase had fallen off the nightstand. The beautiful ivory roses were strewn across the floor in a pool of water. She remembered how Miharu laughed, warning her not to “abuse the bed.”

“Miharu isn’t going to be very happy with me, is she?” Satsuki said to herself. She started to climb off the bed with the intent to collect the roses.

“Please forget...” Shindo’s voice raced across Satsuki’s mind once more, stopping her in her tracks and squeezing her chest.

If she forgot, she would be freed of this suffering. She simply needed to forget all that transpired...

“I will forget, so...”

How wonderful it would be if she could actually forget. But Satsuki knew better. It was impossible. She couldn’t possibly forget.

“Shindo...” she whispered nevertheless. “...I’ll forget, so please stay with me...”

To keep from losing him, she would lie to herself. She would use her abilities to thrust everything into the abyss of oblivion. Never mind that it was impossible for all of her memories to truly vanish...