Things had been quiet. A little bit too quiet and it was unnerving, but Megumi was enjoying the peace and quiet. Things were back to the way it was, and how things were meant to be. News must have spread about how she destroyed Red Dawn, and she was at the top again. Having all of them bow to her just like when her father was still here.

She groaned at the thought. Remembering the day she lost her father. 

They would all pay.

They were going to pay.

She turned to her window and Kenji was by the pool. It’s like everyone hid until she beckoned, and she loved it. So much power at her disposal.

She left her office and would just take a walk to clear her head. Not so far into her walk, she saw Takashi again.

“Takashi” she called and the boy turned to her.

“Good morning ma’am” he said. 

“Call me boss” she said. “Ma’am is just wrong coming from you” she smiled. “Again we come across each other. Why don’t we talk?”

“Yes, our conversation was cut short last time” he said.

“So at what age did you lose your father?” she asked straight to the point. No beating around the bush.

“I lost my father at the age of five” he replied.

“Do you have any memories of your father?”

“Not much” he replied. The conversation didn’t really hurt. He had fifteen years to get over what he saw. That had traumatized him and made him stronger so he could be here actually.

“When did you lose your father?”

“At the age of eight” she replied. “Car accident” she said.

“Murdered” he replied.

“Who do you think murdered them?” Megumi asked.

“Some bad people” he replied.

“Are you sure about that?” she asked curiously leaning towards him.

“Yes” he replied. “So that’s why you joined my gang, for revenge?” she asked with a smile.

“Yes” he replied.

“I know who killed my father” she said.

“But you said accident”.

“You really think an accident would just happen like that and take my father. It was planned and I know who did it”.

“What makes you sure?”

“I was there” she grinned. “I saw the face of my father’s murderer to make sure that my father was dead”.

“I really don’t know how to reply to that” he said.

“You’re not meant to say anything. You want your revenge as do I” she said.

“But you didn’t die in the accident. So that’s good” he said not sure of what he was trying to do.

“Yes. There was a reason I didn’t die, and it was to kill my father’s murderer”.

“But you’re not the oldest. Isn’t Sachi the heir?”

“Yeah Sachi is crazy. That’s why she couldn’t become the leader”.

“Really?” he asked.

“Yeah. The news of our father’s death did something to her brain, and I had to step in” she said.

“How did they react to your taking on the mantle as leader?”

“Well they didn’t like it. My father had been training Sachi to take over. Fighting, shooting, diplomacy, leadership and every other thing that a gang leader does. I was just lucky to be there. Observing, but not actually learning anything. Just being there, following my dad around and being there when he handled business”.

“So how did you learn?” he inquired.

“Sachi. And just did what I saw my father did all the time. So everyone didn’t take me seriously. Daddy’s girl, little princess. But I felt so good proving them wrong”.

“So that’s why they say you’re not smart” he said.

He then realized he said that out loud.

“So you’ve been talking to everyone. Good for you. It’s nice that you talk to everyone” she said.

“Sorry” he apologized. He didn’t want to get on her bad side.

“It’s okay, but my father told me something. You make them see what they want to see and not the real thing. That way people will always underestimate you”.

“And what if they overestimate you?”

“Then they’d be too scared to go against you” she smiled.

“So that’s what you’re doing?”

“Yes” she replied. “It’s nice to talk to someone about this. We’re not that far apart. If you need any help for your revenge, you should just tell me”.

“Sure” he replied.

She walked away. 

Why did she tell Takashi? She had only told Sachi and Kenji about this. It was nice getting it off her chest, but it didn’t matter. She had a plan and if it went right, she’d catch him in it. Just lead him into a state of false security and she’d have him. Hopefully, she’d be right.

Takashi watched her go and then he decided that he’d have to be careful around her.

VVVVV

Kenji emerged from the water and it was so convenient that Geiru chose to walk past.

“Were you looking for me?” he asked getting out.

No she wasn’t looking for him. He was someone she didn’t want to be around. He gave her a bad feeling. Like her boss bad, but more sinister. But she wanted to know everything.

“Maybe” she teased and she knew she was doing it right, because he smiled.

“So you can make different expressions apart from neutral. It’s nice”.

Geiru smiled. 

“So I’ve been feeling a little bit congested here. Would you mind accompanying me out?”

It’d be nice. Getting him alone with no interruptions, and she’d be able to get information, but she had to tread carefully. She felt he was really bad. Worse than the boss Megumi.

“It’ll be nice”.

He got changed and soon they were in a restaurant having ice cream.

“So before Megumi inserted herself into our conversation last time we talked, you said you joined a gang because you wanted power”.

“Yes” she replied. 

“And how will you get that power if you’re not at the top? Will you consider starting your own gang?”

“Are you propositioning me Mr. Kenji?”

“Call me Kenji. We’re colleagues aren’t we?”

“I don’t know. You weren’t there when I joined”.

“Yes I heard what happened to Megumi dear and her warehouse. And I just had to help her”.

“You were the one who closed off the deal?” Geiru asked like she couldn’t care.

“Yes. She told you about it?”

“Yes. I am her accountant”.

“Well at least she talks about me” he smiled to himself.

“How far do the two of you go? What’s your relationship with her?”

He chuckled. “Megumi and I go way back” he reminisced. “I think I’d say childhood, but didn’t quite pay attention to her. She was always hanging off her father. Thought she was a brat really. Sachi was who everyone focused on. Pretty, ruthless, smart and excellent leadership. I admired her, but that was before she hit the reset button in her brain”.

“So last time I saw the Hirose sisters was at the funeral. We kept in touch, well not with them. Their caretaker. When I saw them again, they were older then. Sachi looked like she would snap at any second and Megumi…..” he laughed. “Little Megumi, daddy’s princess had grown and she grew up well and talk about a huge frontal assault”.

Geiru made a face on the inside. Guys were all the same. Takashi and him apparently.

“And not only was she pretty, she also had to take over since her sister wasn’t fit, and she was old enough to do it now. So Megumi dear needed assistance and you could tell Sachi didn’t like that. Hence the hostility you see from her towards me”.

“So Phantom is where it is today because of you?” a little butt kiss never hurt anyone.

“I can’t take all the credit. Megumi actually did some work”.

“So what you’re trying to say is that Megumi wasn’t all ruthless and scary before now”.

“More like a robot. No emotion or anything. Much scary to me though” he shook his head. “Are you enjoying yourself?”

“Yes. Thank you for the treat”.

“Anytime”.

VVVVV

Sachi had her eyes closed. A calming method her therapist had told her. Deep breaths and closing her eyes and it really worked. For a while her problems would disappear.

She opened her eyes and was able to dodge a kick to her face.

~”Well if it isn’t my favorite sisters” Kenji said.

Both sisters turned to the man who had let himself in.

“Don’t tell me you don’t remember me, Sachi?” he turned to her sister. “Megumi?” he reached out and took her hand to kiss it.

“I don’t remember you” Megumi replied.

“Well then I need to reintroduce myself. Kenji Goya. I used to come around a lot when I was younger. I can’t believe that you didn’t tell her about me Sachi” he smiled.

Sachi sighed and Megumi just stared blankly, which was really weird to Kenji who wasn’t taking the stare well.

“Then I’ll leave the two of you to it then. Kenji” she gave a little bow and she walked away.

“Who would have thought that she’d grow into such a fine woman, huh?” he asked Sachi.

“Watch your mouth Kenji” Sachi warned.

“I’m not doing anything Sachi love” he winked. “She’s not complaining about anything, is she?”

“I saw your eyes Kenji. Leave her alone”.

He only smiled. “She’s the Mistress of the house now, isn’t she?” he asked with a smug smirk. “When she wants me to leave I will”.

“You forget that I’m the eldest, and I have as much authority like my sister” she said her look icy.

“Only that she’s leader” and he stepped back just being cautious. “Megumi needs all the help she can get and I’m going to offer my assistance when possible”.

“Like she’d let you….”

“Oh Sachi don’t be so oblivious. You were so concerned at how I was looking at her, did you see her looking at me?”

Sachi paused. 

“You’re losing it lovely” he told her. “I will teach Megumi dear things and first will be emotions” and he left Sachi standing there dumbfounded~.

He did end up teaching Megumi a lot of things, and she couldn’t stop it because Megumi allowed it, and Kenji wasn’t actually hurting anyone. And now he was back to do more damage.

She looked at the bodies on the mat. She might have overdone it a little. Well she always overdid it, so it was nothing new. That just proved her theory that they needed to get stronger. If she could beat them, how would they fare against another gang? They’d fail miserably.

Fighting was a good pass time. It helped with staying fit and keeping her in line, so she wouldn’t lash out. She wasn’t happy she was like this. When the news of her father’s passing reached her, she just lost it. Like there was something holding her together and it just broke. After that everything just crashed into her. The death, the leadership position that she’d have to take up, the stress, everyone looking to her and she snapped.

They didn’t dwell on that though. They turned to her sister that she’d be the one to lead. Did she like it? No she didn’t. Did she like that she was in this position? No. Everyone who had heard about her called her the crazy one. The unstable one. Unfit to lead and many more.

But she couldn’t hate her sister for that. Megumi was doing a good job at being leader, and it would have been a spotless record, if the whole mole incident hadn’t happened. But they’d get whoever was responsible for all their losses.

VVVVV

“I’m back” Kenji said as he walked in.

“I know” Megumi said turning away from the window. “I saw you leave with my accountant”.

“You’re not jealous, are you?” he teased.

“And why would I be jealous of my accountant?”

“Don’t be mean. I would be angry if I saw you talking to another guy. Takashi especially”.

“And why would you be jealous of the poison maker? He’s a child and doesn’t know anything. He’s just getting to know the world”.

“But he’s good looking isn’t he?” Kenji asked taking a seat, leaning back and placing his feet on her table.

“Yes. In a childish looking way” she shrugged.

“When was the last time you were with someone?”

“Must you be disgusting?” she asked.

“Well, when was the last time?”

“Are you trying to tell me to bed that kid?”

“You’re the one suggesting it. I’m asking about myself”.

“I don’t get back together with my exes” she said.

“You don’t have exes. You only have one ex which is me, because you told me that you don’t have time for dating”. “And I wasn’t suggesting that you get back together with me. Just have a little fun. What do you think?”

“Don’t you have girls always up for flings?”

“Yeah I do, but I want you”.

“No” she replied simply.

“Well the offer still stands” he said.

“What did you and my accountant talk about?” she asked.

“Nothing much” he shrugged. “She didn’t talk much about herself. She did ask how both of us knew each other. Wanted to know our relationship”.

“Nothing suspicious there” she said.

“Yes. Nothing actually suspicious. So we should turn our focus to Takashi”.

“He can’t even hold a gun, and has no idea how gun works. Why would he be a suspect? You’re a people person so you should know he’s wasted effort”.

“Yes…”

“And don’t give me that speech of looks can be deceiving. Wolf in sheep’s clothing. He looks like he doesn’t know what he’s doing. He’s not dangerous and in anyway a threat to me”.

“So you just want to rule him out?” he asked quirking a brow.

“Yes” she said standing up. “Why are you so focused on those two people?”

“Because they’re prime suspects”.

“And you aren’t?” she asked.

“What does that mean Megumi dear?” he stood up rounding the table so he could be in front of her.

“It was convenient of my house just to blow up and you closed of the deal, and just at that exact moment you’re back in my life”.

“So you did all that by yourself in that brain of yours? You aren’t completely useless without me?”

He knew she was going to hit him and she really hit hard. His jaw was throbbing, but in a good way.

“I see you can still fight. With how long you’ve been far from the field, I thought you’d have lost your touch”.

He caught her fist this time.

“Still easy to rile up I see….” And he claimed her lips.

Their hands all over each other like starving animals. He pulled her closer. His hand on her lower back, and his other hand squeezing her bottom. He spun her around so the back of her legs were against the table.

The good moment was cut short when the door opened. Kenji stepped back slowly and Megumi cleaned her smeared lips, turning around slowly to see Karou trying her hardest not to smile, and Sachi fuming.

“Kenji please excuse us” she said.

“Really?” he whined.

“Yes. Really” she replied.

He stepped out, but not without smiling at Sachi.

“Karou, get out!” Sachi yelled.

Karou stepped out calmly and closed the door.

“Are you crazy Megumi?!” she bellowed trying not to knock everything in sight out of her way.

“No I’m not” she replied.

“Then you must be sick. Why were you kissing him?”

“Should I really be explaining myself to you?” she jumped off the table. “Tell me why you’re mad”.

“I’m mad because you’re letting all this happen all over again. Do I need to recount what happened when you got together with him? Didn’t you see all that happened?”

“And what did happen Sachi?!” she yelled back. “He thought me how to actually run this gang. You’re mad because I didn’t run it the way you wanted because all your decisions were impulsive”.

“Really? That’s what I get for caring for you?” she asked a little bit levelheaded.

“You don’t care. You’ve never liked Kenji and you never will”.

“He’s toxic for you Megumi! Why can’t you see that?! He made you so dependent on him until you were nothing but a mindless puppet. He was the one ruling this gang just using you as a mouthpiece”. “For goodness sake Megumi, if you continue like this you are really going to prove all what everyone says right”.

“Just because you don’t have a man, doesn’t mean I have to be like you”.

Sachi stepped forward. “You did not just say that” she said lowly.

“I did Sachi”.

It was a face off. Trying to stare the other down.

And again the door opened.

“Mistress, the doctor is here” she held the door open for Megumi to leave.

Megumi stepped back and stepped past her sister.

Karou knew better than to look at Sachi. She left and as soon as the door closed she heard her yell. Hopefully she wouldn’t have to clean up the study again.

VVVVV

“Takashi”.

Said man turned to see Kenji. He had never really talked to the other man before, but he didn’t look like trouble. A friend of Megumi if he remembered well.

“Yes” he replied.

“Wanted to talk to you about something” he smiled.

“What about?”

“Well nothing important to be particular…”

“Well if it’s not important, why are we talking about it?”

“Well it’s important to me. Where have you been all this while?”

“Staying at home” he replied.

“Well I don’t know if you know, but your father was really popular in this, and we really didn’t know if he had a son. So just wanted to know where you were all this while”.

“School, graduating and then just at home, and now I’m in a gang”.

“How did you get into Megumi’s club?”

“It was easy. The bouncer just let me in”.

“It’s just hard to get in there and you, actually a complete nobody was just able to enter, and then just like that you were recruited. Sounds planned to me”.

“Yes it was planned. I did want to get into the gang in the first place”.

“How did you get to know about Phantom?”

“Word gets around quickly”.

“Yes I do know that. Just like the way word gets around quickly about other things” he winked.

“What about?”

“Don’t think I don’t have eyes everywhere Fujiwara” he winked.

“I don’t understand what you mean” he said.

“You will soon enough. It is a plan after all” and he tapped his shoulder playfully. “Nice talk” and he walked away.

Takashi stood there not knowing what to think. What did that guy mean? He really didn’t like what happened now, and that statement about having eyes everywhere. He didn’t think he should see Geiru right now.

VVVVV

“Thank you Doctor” Karou said holding the door open for him.

“You’re welcome Ms. Karou” the Doctor stepped out. “The mistress just needs rest and when she wakes up, she should eat and then she can do her tests”.

“Let me….”

“No need for that Karou” Sachi said as she approached.

“Oh Ms.….”

“I’ll see him out. Leave now” she smiled.

Karou bowed and she disappeared down the hall. 

“Sachi. It has been a long time” the man said, trying to say it normal due to the way she was staring at him.

“Yes it has Doctor. Or would it be wrong if I called you Akira?”

“No” he shook his head fondly with a smile. “You can still call me what you want”.

“Well I should lead you out then” she said holding her hand out to the side so he could follow her, and he did just that.

“I’ve never taken this way out before” he said a little bit nervous.

There was no need at all. His father had been the family doctor when her father was young and still alive, and then he took over. A family business and they go way back. There was no need to be scared that she’d do something to him. Well unless he was conniving with another gang.

“It’s a shortcut. You know how old this house is” she said opening up a door.

He stepped in and she closed the door locking it, making sure it was secure and that they wouldn’t be interrupted. “No need to worry. Your car has already been moved, so they won’t know you’re here” she said.

“O-okay. Any reason why my car is being moved and why I’m here?”

Sachi stepped forward and he stepped back scared for himself. He was a doctor, he was her doctor, well still is, and he had seen her flies before he took over. He knew how unstable she could be.

“You’re not scared of me are you Akira?” she asked.

“N-no I’m not” he denied. 

“Good” and she placed her weight on his shoulders and sat him down on the bench before her bed. “Really good” she grinned and she could see he was nervous. But that was all the more thrilling. 

“Can you relax? It’s not like I’m going to kill you or anything” she smiled pressing their foreheads together.

“Then what are you trying to do?”

“Being selfish” she replied running her fingers through the hair at the back of his head. “For the first time in a while, let me be selfish”.

“Is that all?”

“And also to prove Megumi wrong”.

VVVVV

She dropped the glass on her table and stood up. She should probably apologize to Sachi so this would stop eating her up. But Sachi was the one to cross the line. She was an adult!

Therefore she could make her own damn decisions, and if she wanted to let Kenji back into her life after everything then so be it. 

She walked around the room her finger on her lip. Speaking of Kenji….she was better now, so she could go see him. They had some unfinished business.

She took a long shower and changed then left her room. Everybody should probably be asleep so there would be no interference.

KNOCK!

The door opened and Kenji smirked taking in her appearance.

“All just for me?” he teased.

“I can go back” she said. “Let’s see if you’re still smiling”.

He stepped aside still with a smirk on his face.

She walked in and took a quick glance at his appearance and turned to his bed. She removed her sleeping robe and dropped it on a chair.

“Do you still remember how to do it, or have you gone so long without it?” she asked.

“No need to tell me how much of a whore you are” she said turning around, giving him a playful look.

“And no need to tell me how hopeless you are without me that you couldn’t find a man to be by your side” he whispered, his hands tightening around her waist.

He went to the hands of her gown pushing it off each shoulder slowly. Until it slipped off stopping at her chest obviously and he had to pull it down himself.

“Do you still remember the rules?” he asked.

She turned her neck and met his lips, and letting go she smiled at him. “I seem to have forgotten. Would you mind reminding me?”

And he took great pleasure in doing that.

When she was asleep he got himself a drink and joined her back in bed. He had a really good plan, but he couldn’t tell her about it. She would ruin everything if she knew everything. It was a game they both loved to play.

A sadistic game that brought them both joy. Predator and prey. He knew that she missed that.