[56] Not yet over

Night had fallen, and the apartment felt eerily quiet. Shiranui had been restless since yesterday afternoon when Kaoru had last been in contact. Like a worried spouse, she paced back and forth in front of the door, unsure of what to do. She had tried repeatedly to call Kaoru, but none of her calls connected.

'Where is he?' Shiranui thought, anxiety mixing with frustration. Kaoru often went out without informing her, but this time felt different. Something about it made Shiranui unable to relax.

Just as Shiranui was about to attempt another call, she heard the sound of the apartment door unlocking. Her heart raced as the door swung open to reveal none other than Kaoru standing there.

"I'm home," Kaoru said casually, as if he had merely stepped out for a moment.

Shiranui couldn't hold back any longer. Without saying a word, she jumped into Kaoru's arms and hugged him tightly. Her small frame melted against Kaoru's chest, her face resting against the cool fabric of his jacket.

"Where have you been?" she asked, her voice trembling and reflecting all the worry she had bottled up since that afternoon. "Why didn't you contact me? I was worried sick!"

Kaoru looked surprised by Shiranui's reaction but gently returned the embrace. "I'm sorry, my phone died. I had some things to take care of," he replied, stroking her hair in an attempt to calm her down.

Shiranui lifted her face, her large eyes staring at Kaoru with a mix of anger and relief. "You always do this… leave without a word, making me worry," she said, her tone softening. Her hands still clung tightly to Kaoru's clothes, as if fearing he might disappear again.

Kaoru gazed at her tenderly. "I didn't mean to worry you. But this was something I had to handle on my own."

Silence hung between them, and in that close distance, Shiranui could feel the warmth radiating from Kaoru's body. Though she was angry, part of her just wanted to savor this moment—the moment when Kaoru was finally back safe.

"Shiranui..." Kaoru spoke softly. He knew that beneath all the anger and worry lay deeper feelings between them. Slowly, he lowered Shiranui's hand that still grasped his clothes. "I'll be more careful. I promise."

Shiranui sighed softly and nodded. However, she didn't pull away from Kaoru. Instead, she sank deeper into his embrace, creating a space that felt almost nonexistent between them. "You always make me wait," she murmured, her voice gentler now, almost a whisper.

Kaoru sensed that there was more than just ordinary concern here. He could feel the depth of Shiranui's feelings, and perhaps he felt it too. Their relationship, though never explicitly stated, always had a depth beyond mere friendship.

In that embrace, Kaoru looked down at Shiranui, who now seemed calmer. Without thinking, he reached out to stroke her hair, his fingers gently brushing away the strands that fell across her face.

"You know, you don't have to worry anymore. I'm here now," Kaoru said, his voice lower, almost a whisper against Shiranui's ear.

Shiranui tilted her head up, looking into Kaoru's eyes, and for a moment, their gazes locked in a silence filled with meaning. There was an unspoken feeling hanging in the air between them—a soft yet palpable tension. Unable to hold back any longer, Shiranui leaned closer, and in an instant, their lips met.

The kiss was brief yet intense, filled with all the emotions that had been buried for too long. Shiranui pulled back slightly, her cheeks flushed, but there was no regret in her gaze—only relief at finally expressing what she had felt all along.

Kaoru was momentarily speechless, then he took Shiranui's hand, holding it gently. "I… I never knew you felt this way," he said softly, almost in disbelief.

"I've always felt it," Shiranui replied. "I was just waiting for the right moment."

And that night, in the stillness of their apartment, the feelings that had long been hidden finally surfaced, needing no more words.

After their brief romantic encounter, Kaoru felt a pang of guilt wash over him. It felt as if he were taking advantage of Shiranui's lost memories for his own benefit. If Yukikaze knew about her mother falling in love with another man so soon after her father's death, Kaoru wouldn't know how to explain it, especially since he had promised to restore Shiranui's memories while finding himself in this situation.

It was indeed dangerous for a man and woman to live under the same roof, even if Kaoru was merely being kind and had no intentions toward the widow with a child. But the situation had become increasingly complicated.

After dinner and a shower, Kaoru settled on the sofa, watching the news where Ishiyama Ryoji, the brother of Takuto—who was a high-ranking student that Kaoru had previously slammed against the wall while saving Asuka from assault—was reported dead under tragic circumstances.

Ryoji was found hanging from a building, stripped of his clothes, with his innards exposed. It was truly a heinous act, and certainly not Kaoru's doing, as he disliked such gruesome artistry.

However, Kaoru knew immediately, having read the background of the Ishiyama family, that they were also connected to the DSO, the organization where Asuka worked.

It turned out there was a traitor within the DSO named Oboro, who, plot twist, belonged to the Koukawa family branch and was actually Asuka's aunt. Oboro was the one who had orchestrated the downfall of the Ishiyama brothers to harm Asuka for reasons that couldn't easily be explained.

Kaoru hadn't received information about this yesterday, but he intended to find Oboro within the DSO. He had previously asked Asuka to introduce him to her organization. Although she was reluctant because the DSO was a secret organization under the western alliance, Kaoru's persuasion eventually led her to agree, allowing him to join as an intern mechanic.

…

The next day, Takuto's world completely crumbled. The once-powerful Ishiyama family was now in ruins. His father, embroiled in a major scandal, chose to end his life tragically. His oldest brother had been brutally murdered—a clear warning to anyone involved in the family's crimes. Everything he had once prided himself on and controlled was gone.

Takuto, who had once basked in luxury and power, was now homeless. Under a dark, filthy bridge, he found himself alone, abandoned by all those who had once bowed to him. Takuto laughed bitterly, "Hahaha… This must be a dream."

But it was no dream. The hell he had created for others was now turning back to haunt him. All his connections, whether among the elite or the Yakuza, were worthless. They couldn't protect him after the mysterious attack that had obliterated their stronghold overnight—a lone man, arriving like a shadow, ruthlessly cutting everything down without mercy.

Meanwhile, Kaoru sat calmly, gazing at the city he controlled with an icy grip. A faint smile curled on his lips, satisfied to see the destruction he had orchestrated. For Kaoru, Takuto's death was too simple. He took greater pleasure in the long, torturous downfall that the man experienced. Every step Takuto took toward ruin was a price paid for all the sins he had committed against the innocent.

Kaoru, who had always seemed cold and distant from emotion, found satisfaction in watching his enemies endure suffering far more painful than death. For him, death was merely a quick escape, while total destruction, as experienced by Takuto, was the true form of justice.

"This isn't over yet," Kaoru murmured softly, plotting his next move to eradicate the remnants of evil surrounding him.