RIVALS INCARNATE

Chapter Sixty: Who We Should Trust

PRESENT, 2020 (Modern City of Kyoto)

"Who is it?"

The distinct gruffness and very cold depth in his voice were very clear when he had spoken up, with the demanding tone from his words that had been intoned with absolute crispness. Kyouhei Kurosaki moved to the edge of his seat as he met Yuko's gaze from the distance. As soon as she had started mentioning the situation about the threats and the likely possibility that she had figured out who was actually working behind it all, he felt the need to be serious and deeply invested in what was being openly discussed now. It had already been pretty much clear to Kyouhei what she had caused her to drag him away from Tokyo and temporarily keep him here in Kyoto.

He knew that the security was at risk. His security, for one. He might be in danger. Well, hell, Yuko Amazawa might as well be in danger too.

And as that very alarming thought came to his mind, he immediately felt the need to fix this and find a way to finally stop all this nonsense. And even though he was skeptical at first of who she was referring to, he heard how sure she had been when she said it. And so he waited for her to confirm his suspicions too. Because, apparently, it was not just Yuko and Ami Komatsu who had been keeping tabs and listing down names that could most likely be an enemy of their side. For the past week, Kyouhei had also been observing people around him, watching the staff working for him, his secretary, the people around Ami Komatsu with watchful eyes, cautious and wary keen eyes, to make sure he was taking a good look at who among them could actually do such an indignant act.

Yuko took her time though, pausing for a moment, not yet responding to his query. She was trying to get her bearings first so she could think rationally and plan ahead about the upcoming party event at the royal household and the nearing elections. There were only a few things that she could come up with, but she knew omitting Kyouhei from all the decision-making was going to be out of the question now. He needed to know what they will be doing from here on.

But of course, there was no telling him that she was still pushing for her own revenge plan against him. That was still on, after all. Yet this time, whatever thing or plan they would be doing for their own strategy in winning the elections, Kyouhei must be included with the votes.

And as she took a deep breath, she finally answered Kyouhei's question that had been left hanging in silence for a few seconds now.

"Ebisu Akai," was what she then confirmed to him. And at the very second, when she had uttered the name to him, Kyouhei's eyes widened and his mouth partly opened with a soft gasp. He froze from where he sat, gaping at Yuko as he tried to absorb what she just said. Perhaps, he already had his own suspicions but he just could not accept the fact that a man like Ebisu could stoop so low.

The threats, pretty much, were completely immature, however, it had been very clear when he had shown up at Yuko's office yesterday and said those things to her to prove that he was not entirely an innocent party at all. He was still an enemy even if the threats were not his own doing. So they still need to be wary of him. And obviously, not just Ebisu. Yuko contemplated telling what really happened and how she ended up deducing that Ebisu could be the one sending the threats, but Kyouhei no longer asked anything again, so she kept it to herself at the moment. Feeling no necessity to elaborate more about it to him.

They should just focus on the risk and really be more cautious and skeptical about everyone who will be and was surrounding them. There were just so many possible ways when things could suddenly go wrong and this time the risk could be much greater than just money and reputation... It could be as valuable as someone's life. This was extremely crucial and they needed to be careful.

"Sato would be arranging a surveillance around our offices and would send security to watch over you everywhere you go once we get back to Tokyo, Kurosaki," Yuko, later on, said as she settled herself on the sofa across Kyouhei and sighed out loud.

She was no longer withholding information from him, this was the time they had to be transparent in regards to protecting their own lives. She knew that it was not just him who could possibly be in danger. She was also in the same situation. Her close and very vague affiliation with him was reason enough for her to be put on the list of the people that could be targeted by their enemy in order to get to Kyouhei and make him feel threatened.

There was no way that she can ever be careless now. She must make sure she could get out of this alive after the elections and after that, she would hunt down that bastard who was doing all of this stupidity.

"Sato's going to arrange it?" Kyouhei's jealousy somehow still got the better of him, despite the urgency of the situation. No matter how reasonable that was for Sato to extend a helping hand for his benefit, Kurosaki still could not brush off that gnawing feeling of hostility towards the guy. He was the thorn in the sole of Kyouhei's foot: disturbing, annoying, and extremely intolerable. He wanted to get rid of it but he just could not. Not yet.

Kyouhei felt the discomfort and anger crawl over him at once and resisted saying anything more while Yuko just reserved her words. She was not really going to goad him about the participation and the huge role that Osamu had playing for their own good. She was not going to press over the entire messy emotional stand of Kyouhei in regards to what really was between her and Sato.

However, she knew that such a factor would affect greatly how Kyouhei would perceive her in the coming days. He would certainly question the relationship again, not that anything or anyone could have even stopped him from questioning it at all. It had always been in his nature and she was not really expecting any less.

She would just have to say what he wanted to hear her say. Easy to do and not much of a problem now because, obviously, that was the least of all of the problems they should be focusing on at this point.

Yuko looked out towards the tinted glass walls that were now completely bare and stripped off of the thick fabric curtains that had been pushed back to the sides. The view of the city, blinking lights from the distance, and the starry night sky distracted her for a few moments as she stared at it with a blank expression.

She could feel Kyouhei thinking now. The wheels in his head turning faster and faster.

"You just have to be careful from now on, Kurosaki," Yuko eventually advised, although she did no longer need to let him know that. He already knew how serious this was all now. And it was pretty clear by the look he had given her as she spoke at him, that he was also conflicted and anxious just like her.

But he was not scared about death. Never have been scared about it. At least, for his own life. What actually scared him was another thing entirely.

It was the fact that it was not just him who could be in danger and get hurt, or worst, get killed. He stared across the room, straight at Yuko's face and he tried to memorize the way she had looked right there while she was still too domesticated and out of the battle suit that she would always wear with pride and utter confidence to her office.

Her face had been free from make-up. Her hair let down and her clothes unusual, but she was still the Yuko Amazawa that Kyouhei knew. She was the woman he fell in love with.

Then he realized that if there could be someone who would be hurt here if ever things get worse and everything suddenly goes south, he would never hesitate to sacrifice himself for her... Just to keep her alive. And for some reason, that intention felt so strong and Kyouhei felt an urgency to make sure he would never hesitate for real.

If something like that would really happen in the near future, when the situation requires him to, he would jump right in front of the bullet just to save her. Even if it costs his life, he would save her.

In a heartbeat.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------00-next chapter: Chapter Sixty-One