A/N: It is time I've exited the slump I've been having and get back into business. I owe you guys all this update for being so patient.

Thank you for the comforting and entertaining PM's, the reviews to remind me there still are readers, and the casual push for a new chapter.

No promises for the releases to come but I will do my upmost to get back into a routine that will include regular updates. Until I can get back into routine of my mass updates, I'll be releasing at least 3 chapters every Friday. Those chapters I'll give everyone the option of choosing by reviews received on the stories since people have mentioned that not everyone can vote on poll unless they have an account. Deadline of review count will be Mondays. If anything ties, I may or may not make an exception and release an extra chapter on Fridays.

MARYLOVER – He had to be as the sole heir to a legacy. And that is where we will hit the all-time question in this story. How will this all work out? I have no idea yet if he'll survive the crossfire or not yet.

PheonixShadow– I told it would soon. Everyone has their own reasons for wanting what they want. Takahiro did seem quite distant but hopefully last chapter helped readers understand him a little more. This whole story has the basis of the generations before the current one so yes, I'll definitely be weaving everything together for everyone.

aku no tensai – It's hard being the heir and shouldering it all but Takahiro chose his way to deal with it.

Renechan- That's the big question in this story. Who knows yet but they will start to get some parts again in the future chapters.

Frozen

Rated: M [for later things and language]

Summary: [AU] Life, as far as Ryoma was concerned, was just another obligation to Takeuchi Takahiro. He was to do as he was told but even chained, Ryoma had his own way to reach goal…what he didn't expect was Fuji Syuusuke in his business.

Chapter XVII: Summer Action

Tokyo, Japan

One Month Later

Morisato Residence

Ryoma smiled and skimmed a small kiss onto Maika's forehead as he closed the distance between them. In the last month they had gotten emotionally closer and physically.

Between Ryoma's busy schedule with his grandfather, school and "accidents" that kept coming up when they were together, Ryoma spent every free moment with Maika so he could avoid Fuji and anyone that fell along the lines of that group.

He had a better time with Maika anyways trying to figure out what happened in the past then worrying over the present.

"I did some digging with the servants," Maika said taking a seat with Ryoma on her bed after they reached her room and shut the door.

"And?" Ryoma asked lying back on her bed.

"It turns out we were correct," Maika said with a small smile. "It seems my aunt did have something to do with my parent's relationship souring after my birth."

"We just have to figure out how she did it." Ryoma said rolling onto his side to stare at Maika as she leaned back on to her bed as well.

Maika nodded and closed the distance between them by scooting into his arms. She closed her eyes she cuddled against his chest contently. She didn't realize that Ryoma, although he pulled her closer was staring out the window instead in unknown thoughts.

xXx

Takeuchi Residence

Takahiro frowned as he read the report from his investigator. All it did was confirm that the Morisato girl was nothing but trouble on top of what he was already dealing with. He hadn't wanted to put his hands into the Anzai/ Morisato problem but if Morisato wasn't going to make a solid move then he was going to have to since he already knew how stubborn Ryoma was. There was no way that kid was going to walk away without that particular fiancée.

As for the other problems, he knew his mother was making her move, he just wasn't sure how to counter without causing a disturbance in the circle. She was right to know Takahiro hated making a scene more than anything if she was choosing this tactic.

xXx

Fuji Residence

Fuji smiled politely as he grasped the girl's hand in his and brushed a kiss across her knuckles. After weeks of nagging, his mother had finally conned him into meeting a "dear" friend's daughter.

There wasn't anything wrong with Natsuki honestly. It was just that she was the wrong type for him through and through. She was a good girl, traditional and honest. He, on the hand, had lots of experience with both sex and lied quite well.

His mind was still abuzz with Ryoma after all. He had tried to explain himself but Ryoma had made himself so scarce these days, it was impossible to catch him.

"Syuusuke?"

Fuji snapped back to the present where many pairs of eyes were staring back at him.

"I'm sorry, I got sidetracked." Fuji apologized with a sincere smile. "What were we talking about?"

xXx

Atobe Residence

"Keigo," Sakuya said turning her attention to him with a lift of her brow. "Yoshiko told me today that Syuusuke had agreed to meet Natsuki and it seems as if they are going to date."

"What does that have to do with me?" Atobe asked with a frown. He knew what it had to do with but he wanted nothing to do with it.

"What are you going to do now that you're almost done with high school?" Keijirou asked looking up from his pile of papers he had been diligently going through.

"Your father's right." Sakuya said with a slight frown at her son's nonchalant attitude towards his future. "By the end of high school, your father and I had already been engaged."

Atobe groaned knowing where this was headed.

"You can't avoid it forever," Sakuya insisted.

"I don't want to," Atobe uttered under his breath before he stood to leave seeing Tezuka pull up in the driveway from the window.

"Who is that?" Sakuya asked noting that her son's attention was outside the window now.

"Just Kunimitsu," Atobe said with a sigh as he crossed the room to leave.

"When will you bring home a worthy girl Keigo?" his father asked. "Or are you waiting for your mother and me to choose for you?"

"Can't this wait till I graduate from university?" Atobe asked.

Atobe didn't wait for his parents reply as he exited the room and headed down the hall to where the butler was just receiving Tezuka.

"Keigo," Tezuka greeted seeing the usual confident stride that the diva had perfected coming towards him.

Atobe merely nodded his greeting since he didn't rust himself to keep his emotions still in check after that talk with his parents. He merely gestured for the butler to leave and followed Tezuka out of the house.

"Did something happen?" Tezuka asked after they both entered his car. He was used to Atobe talking non-stop when they were together but to have him quiet was quite unusual.

"Kunimitsu, I like you." Atobe said suddenly turning to face Tezuka with a serious face. "I know we agreed a dalliance here and there never hurt if we weren't serious but I'm fucking serious right now."

"I decline," Tezuka said without taking a moment to even consider the thought. "Perhaps it's best if you went back inside now."

"Why not?" Atobe asked not allowing such a line to deter him. Stubbornness set into his features and refused to remove itself.

"You and I have duties to our separate families to marry well and continue the line." Tezuka said simply. "I thought we were okay with what we did because we had no attachments."

"Duty and family can go fuck itself!" Atobe swore as he hopped out of the car angrily. He stomped back inside not looking back because he himself knew he had a lot of pride and crying in front of anyone was a disgrace. He'd rather die than be caught dead crying by anyone.

xXx

Morisato Residence

Two Hours later

Maika blinked as she awoke on her bed. Stifling a yawn, she turned onto her back and ran into a warm wall. Confused, she looked up and caught sight of Ryoma's golden eyes staring back at her.

"Did I fall asleep while you here?" Maika asked a bit mortified that she could be so rude as to waste the little time she had with Ryoma.

"It's fine," Ryoma said with a slight smile. "You were tired and I rested with you."

Maika smiled and cuddled up with Ryoma. "Do you have to leave soon?"

"Right now actually," Ryoma answered as he pulled out from under her and stood to take his leave.

Maika followed suit and stood to send him off.

She pressed a kiss to his cheek and smiled when she felt his knuckles brush across her jawline lovingly.

They walked downstairs and passed J where Ryoma nodded silently to acknowledge the man and continued to the door where he paused and took hold of Maika's hand. With a squeeze, he started to leave but heard her utter something.

"I love you,"

The words hung in the air as Ryoma stared silently at her. He could tell that wasn't something she had meant to tell him because surprise and panic rose in those lovey eyes of her. He noted how her hands covered her mouth almost in mortification as her eyes teared.

Knowing that it had become awkward enough with J overhearing, Ryoma smiled slightly and pulled her hands from her mouth and into his own hands. He pressed a soft kiss to her lips and spoke. "I love you too."

He didn't wait for a reply as he continued on his way to his car but Maika continued to be frozen at the door. She knew better than anything that their alliance and engagement was nothing but a business transaction to protect each other. So why was she acting this way? Forcing her way into his heart when they both agreed to be friends with benefits through all this? If she was to be honest, she knew she was in love.

How could she not fall? He was everything she never dared to hope she'd find because she was so scared, scared and positive her parents were this way too only to end like they were.

"You two suit each other young mistress," J said with a smile as she finally came in and shut the door behind her. "You both remind me of the master and mistress back then."

Maika didn't answer, she merely looked more troubled by that and went upstairs confusing J.

xXx

Elsewhere

Shiraishi Reina wanted to scream in irritation as she sped up her walk into a half-jog at seeing Matsuma Shouta trailing her. Ever since he got it in his mind to pursue her, she hadn't had a restful day. Just earlier before that last class, he had cornered her and kissed her senseless. It wouldn't have been too bad if she had just kicked him but she understood through that kiss that she didn't find it unpleasant. Not finding it disgusting could only mean that there was a chance she liked him too and THAT was what scared her because she had relentlessly dodged the circle all these years and she couldn't fail now. She had promised she was going to break some walls and marry outside!

"Reina? Why are you rushing?"

Reina turned to see her friend Oshitari Megumi walking alongside her boyfriend Sanada Goro and she squeezed in-between them in relief.

"Let me walk with you two please." Reina putting her arms around them both. "Get me out of here and don't talk to anyone!"

"What is going on Reina?" Megumi asked with a slight frown.

"Just go!" Reina commanded and forced both through the thickest part of the crowd.

xXx

Morisato

Takuya felt no pain as he forcefully used underhanded methods to secure his daughter's inheritance. He merely nodded as he acknowledged the accusations coming from the Anzai branch family head who stood in front of his desk with a shocked face at his nod.

"You are a greedy son of a bastard Morisato!" the branch head enunciated with killer intent as he absorbed the fact that the paper in front of him had in fact, come from the man behind the desk.

"You of all people should know better that I don't play around when the matter deals with my family." Takuya said with an emotionless look to the speechless guy. "I meant every word I typed onto that paper. If you, or anyone else decides to touch my daughter's inheritance, there will be consequences."

"We've already stated that the legacy cannot pass outside the family and to pass it to your daughter is outside of the family!"

"I've also read the will of my father-in-law and it clearly states that he is passing the estate, business, and funds attached to the Anzai name to the closest of male kin in the family and everything of his personal wealth to his direct line whether son or daughter, which in this case is his daughter's daughter. Shall I clarify whom my wife is to you as well?"

"Asami ceased to become an inheritor when she married you." the branch head sneered out.

"If there was a law like that then I've yet to see it since the inheritor before was also a daughter." Takuya stated with a look. "This makes no difference."

"You're already rich enough, why do you want more Morisato?" he asked.

"I'm merely carrying out the wishes of the past head family." Takuya said with finality. "If there's nothing else then I would like to get back to more pressing work."

"You won't get away with this!"

"I wonder why you need the funds more so then the name of the main family, estate, and the business." Takuya asked with a raised brow. "Why do you need more than what you've already received?"

"How can I run that estate without the extra funds?" He shouted in anger. "Do you not have a heart as they say and only a brain?"

"Perhaps," Takuya bit out in a brooding voice now. Perhaps it was true that he only stood to destroy everything in his path.

"This isn't the end Morisato! After all, who knows if Maika is even yours!" The new head swore and left angrily.

Takuya didn't reply as he sat there perfectly composed though a million things were going through his head.

'You should've married me then you wouldn't have to wonder who's the father of the child she carrying huh?'

He remembered. He remembered Misa's accusing words of how Maika wasn't his and how he didn't believe her but not once did she fight as hard as he did for them.

He shook his head to get rid of such thoughts. She was his daughter, he just knew she was and he also knew Misa had always wanted to sabotage Asami and him. There was no reason to believe otherwise.

Takuya leaned back in his chair and closed his tired eyes. He could still remember the day she came into his life. She had put herself there.

'It almost seemed like yesterday when she first entered my world…'

For as long as Takuya could remember, he was taught to be respectful and drilled to do his best at finding ways to keep the family afloat.

His father had done what he could but in the economy and business handled over time, it was harder and harder to survive using the same old methods. They began slipping more and more as time continued. By the time he was old enough to help out, they had already declined from a strongly respected family in the circle to a mid-class "fell from grace" family with nothing but a noteworthy background to fall back on.

Even then, his parents struggled to pool any savings and funds into his education as their only son to attend the best schools. They wanted prestige because they had never been without it, they needed him to save their family, companies and investments.

'It will all come back when you marry well and take over.' His mother had always told him with a tired smile when she worked hard to cover the costs of the household.

Still, Takuya dreaded the thought of having to marry into money. He had once tried to build a stronger connection to a nice high class girl but her father had told him to stay away. He had told Takuya rather coldly that just because Takuya lived in a mansion didn't mean there was anything in it.

Takuya had taken offense and kept his distance but he never forgot that everyone viewed his parents and him in that way. Takuya noted that his parents themselves couldn't admit to falling away from the circle. They did everything in their power to keep up the pretense that the family had money. Even if that included staying in a high-cost mansion, cutting the maids and butlers out, owning the beautiful gowns, driving the best cars, and sending their son to an overly expensive school.

Hard work would pay off. That's what he had told himself as he relentlessly climbed the ranks of school to stand at the epitome of the school. But even that was never enough… he was the smartest, best looking and yet not one family offered their daughter to him as all the other male friends he had gained a fiancée steadily.

So he stopped caring about catching an heiress like his mother wanted. He would make his own way. It was that year when he was seven that Asami came into his life.

"Hi," Asami said with a smile. She looked just like a doll with her soft grey eyes and cherubic cheeks staring at him.

"Anzai-san," Takuya greeted stiffly as he was taught to do. She was after all, just another heiress wanting to play with him for the time being.

"Can't you call me Asami-chan?" Asami asked with a cute pout. "I just want to call you Takuya-kun."

"We don't even know each other that well." Takuya reminded her.

"But we will," Asami said with a smile. "I'm gonna call you Takuya-kun."

As bright as she was, he himself was still skeptical of her associating with her. After all, there were rumors that Matsuma was the best candidate to be her fiancé so where was he supposed to fit in?

Still she persisted and after seeing her every day, he gradually softened towards her but he never let down his guard because Matsuma made it clear that Asami was his and she just wanted to be friends.

"It's only a matter of time before we get engaged Morisato," Ryuu had said with a smile. "When that happens you'll come because you are our friend right?"

He had agreed because what else was he supposed to say at that time? It was a reality check that where she sat and he sat was very different. So their second year in middle school, he dated Sakurako to bring about a space between them. Even though he knew Asami hated her he did it so that the pressure wasn't there.

"Why?" Asami asked with such a painful expression on her face. Those grey eyes that normally smiled brightly back at him were filled with such pain.

"Why not?" Takuya asked with a shrug. "Sakurako's not bad."

"I like you so much," Asami said suddenly. "But why won't you see me?"

Takuya stayed silent as he stared at her with slight shock at her bluntness. He should be used to it by now, he should be used to her outrageous antics but still, it shocked him that she had said such a thing to him… how could she possibly?

He kissed her.

It had been that simple to cross the line he had restrained himself with. He had no idea how long they stood there as she cried and hit him or how many times he uttered that he was sorry to her. All he knew was that he took her home on his bike that night and her father had sat him down seriously.

Takuya braced himself for the lecture that he knew was coming but he was ready. Ready to defend himself, ready to stand up for both of them, but nothing prepared him for what Asami's father said that night.

"Asami is a handful," Anzai Agito said suddenly with a slight smile.

"She's not bad," Takuya said stiffly.

"I know I can trust her in your hands even at this late an hour but-"

"But?" Takuya asked.

"I would prefer if your father and I settled the details of an engagement before you both start to test the lines of your curfews." Agito said with a smile.

"Engagement?" Takuya echoed in slight shock. That word had never been spoken before to him.

"Do you not have any of those intentions towards my daughter?" Agito asked with a raised brow at Takuya.

"It has always been my intention to protect Asami." Takuya said with confidence.

xXx

Days Later

Ryoma and Maika smiled at each other as they walked hand in hand. It was so rare to get out and have a walk together these days that Maika insisted on a light walk with him. She hadn't seen him since she had confessed rather bluntly. Still, he treated her no different than usual.

Suddenly Ryoma let go of her hand and Maika glanced at him but nothing prepared her for the look he had on his face.

"Wha-"

"Run as fast as you can," Ryoma said and blocked her from the back.

She did as she was told and ran but still she turned to find Ryoma and noted that he was surrounded. She stopped a good distance away and dug for her phone. With shaking hands, she dialed home… she had to call her mom!

"Morisato resi-,"

Hearing J answer she cut his speech. "Where's my mom?"

"She is in the garden young mistress but your father just walked in."

"Give it to him!" Maika said impatiently. She watched as Ryoma continued to evade and attack though the men around him looked bigger.

"Maika?"

"Daddy help!" Maika said in panic as she started to run back towards Ryoma instead after seeing him hit the floor.

"Maika where are you?" Takuya asked seriously now.

"At the old lake!"

Takuya set the phone down and ushered his guards to leave with him. He looked serious and dark at the moment.

"Master?" J questioned seeing his employer's look.

"It seems the Anzai are already trying to eliminate my daughter. Take care of your mistress and keep her in sight today." Takuya ordered before disappearing out the door.

J didn't question anymore as he locked the door and went to do as he was told. He went out the back to look for Asami but was troubled to see Matsuma-san with her. He was further inconvenienced when he noted that Matsuma-san leaned forward to kiss his mistress and she had back away trying to avoid it.

"Stop Ryuu," Asami said putting a hand between them. "I cannot think of you this way."

He pulled her to him forcefully and pressed his lips against hers anyways. Asami twisted her face away but he wouldn't be deterred and pressed a kiss to her jaw as well.

"I believe that's far enough Matsuma-san," J interrupted stiffly. "That's a lot of nerve you have to try such a thing with a married woman on her husband's property no less."

Matsuma didn't reply though he gave J a good glare for daring to reprimand him when he was nowhere near his standing.

"I think you should leave," Asami said and stood to re-enter the house. She was highly embarrassed at the moment and didn't want to make more of a scene than it was playing out to be.

"The master wants you inside." J intoned as he followed Asami inside. "It has to do with the young mistress."

Asami heart nearly stopped when she heard the first line out of J's mouth but the last part didn't make it any better as she rushed inside and promptly forgot about the man standing out in the garden watching her leave.

"Escort Matsuma-san out," J directed a maid stationed nearby. He followed Asami into the master's study and shut the door before facing the puzzled Asami at being closed into an empty office.

"I'm sorry mistress for lying." J said with a bow of apology. "He actually will be back soon with news of the young mistress."

"There was no reason to lie to me then," Asami said with a slight frown.

"Mistress, I beg you to stop seeing Matsuma-san." J said not raising from his bow.

"That is none of your concern J," Asami said collectedly.

"The master has never stopped loving you so please stop pushing him away." J said finally straightening to look at Asami with a firm tone "He hasn't had another woman in this house since the day you left after seeing him take out his frustration on his secretary."

Asami didn't speak as she let what J said sink in. She knew better than anyone that J had never been one to meddle in affairs. He wasn't one to fabricate anything in favor of anyone either.

xXx

Elsewhere

Takuya climbed out of the car with speed as they pulled up and immediately headed to where he assumed his daughter would be.

"Dad!"

Takuya relaxed when he saw his daughter running towards him. He enveloped her tightly in his arms as she threw her arms around him. He could visibly see that her pants were dirty as if she had fell or sat on the ground. He looked up to see the young Takeuchi heir walking towards him as well. He seemed for the most part in tact though there was a noticeable limp and visible scratch on his lower jaw that was bleeding.

"Where are they?" Takuya asked with a collected tone though anger raged through every nerve in his body.

"They suddenly dispersed when they received a phone call." Maika said. "I think I might've hurt two of them daddy."

"It's fine." Takuya said tightening his grip around his daughter. He didn't even want to think about what Takeuchi may say after seeing his grandson like this.

"Get him checked," Takuya said to his guards. "Maika, I'm afraid you cannot go out unsupervised anymore for the time being.

"But why? I barely get to see Ryoma as it is!" Maika protested.

"I agree," Ryoma said emotionlessly as well.

"Why?" Maika asked with a frown that Ryoma was agreeing.

"I'll visit you at home." Ryoma said with a small smile. "Just until this incident becomes more clear."

xXx

Elsewhere

Shouta smiled as he hopped out of his car. In the end he hadn't been able to get to Reina after her class but that kiss and response from her was more than enough to confirm that she didn't dislike him as much as she said she did. He whistled as he grabbed his book bag and shut his car door to head inside. It was such a good day after all.

Unlocking the front door, he nodded to a maid in greeting as he headed towards the stairs to his room. He would've continued on his way had he not caught from the corner of his eyes, his mother crying pitifully on the sofa.

Worried, Shouta frowned and approached the door before knocking lightly on the open door to announce himself.

"Are you okay mom?"

Mai looked up with red eyes to see her son standing at the door looking very worried and she couldn't help but cry a bit harder. What was she going to do?

"What's wrong?" Shouta asked dropping his book bag and entering the living room to sit beside his mother. Gently he coaxed her into his arms and held her as she sniffled and shook.

"Mom?"

"Shouta… it hurts…" Mai breathed out.

"What does mom?" Shouta asked concerned now. "Where's dad? I'll call him-"

"He's in love with Morisato-san." His mother cried out. "He's going to leave me…"

Shouta eyes widened at that. His eyes finally focused on the table and divorce papers laid on the table.

What was going on?

xXx

Elsewhere

Ryoma mood was dark. He had returned home but his thoughts were full of questions and suspicion. He knew better than anything that there were a lot of people who was not happy that he was named heir. The question was which Takeuchi branch is trying to off him before he even inherits anything worthwhile.

"Ryoma,"

He froze as he was ascending the stairs to the front door. If there was one thing he wished he could forget completely, it was that voice. Ryoma swallowed and promptly ignored the person in front of him.

"Can you not pretend I'm not here?" Fuji asked grabbing hold of Ryoma's shoulder a bit roughly.

"I think we're done for life," Ryoma said quite coldly before he jerked away from Fuji's hold.

"I think we need to put aside emotions for just two seconds and be reasonable." Fuji said blocking his way again. "I've let you misunderstand for long enough!"

"As I recall, you blatantly admitted to it," Ryoma said with cold, golden eyes that seemed to do more than glare him down.

"It started that way," Fuji admitted with a stubborn look. "But the more I started to know you, the more I genuinely liked you."

"And you expect me to believe that?" Ryoma asked cynically.

"Did I cry wolf that many times with you?" Fuji asked with a grimace.

"What do you want from me?" Ryoma asked bluntly instead.

"I want you to forgive me," Fuji stated.

"Forgiven," Ryoma said coldly, "Now get out of my fucking way."

"Is it really impossible to go back to where we used to be?" Fuji asked enraged now at Ryoma's indifference to his confession. "All I ask is that if you don't believe me, at least give me a chance to prove I care!"

Ryoma didn't answer.

Fuji wasn't sure if he was just being indifferent still or was actually considering his proposal.

"I'll leave you be today if you agree to at least be on speaking terms with me again." Fuji pushed.

Ryoma didn't answer again but he nodded and bypassed Fuji.

This time Fuji let him pass and watched hi enter the house. Because of his mistake, he'd have to trend carefully and he could feel that he had pushed as much as he could for the day. Fuji was smarter enough to know the limits of luck he could push in a day.

At the very least he was thankful he had gathered himself to come this far and practically begged to be noticed.

xXx

Ryoma visibly frowned as he shut his bedroom door and collapsed on his bed. He wondered what the hell he's doing these days following this kind of life like a frozen doll.

Had he really conformed to this suffocating lifestyle?

He closed his eyes and wondered if his mother had convinced him to become like this?

"I found out that daddy loves me very much today. It pained me to remember the accusations I threw at him that day he made a mad gamble to trap Ryoma and me.

I ran across an agreement paper I found along with evidence of the accounts confirmed that Daddy knew I was running away that one night with Nanjiroh and had allowed it. He had put money into an account for Nanjiroh and me. So we could live comfortably.

Daddy always watched out for me. When Ryoma was born, I had been heartbroken that he would never want to know Ryoma, but he had. The pictures I sent were carefully placed in his room next to Hahaue's pictures on his nightstand. He had lovingly documented my little boy's life with me as if he was there every step of the way. He had placed a sizable amount into an account for Ryoma which he sent to Nanjiroh when he found out about Ryoma's birth.

I still have yet to find out why Daddy allowed my happiness when I hadn't showed him half the love I should've. I haven't been able to gather the courage to ask him why. But I'll change, I'll make my last days here with daddy happier than before and I'll be sure to tell Ryoma. If one day there is no one on your side, your grandpa is, because he loves him a lot."

xXx

Morisato Residence

Maika entered her room tiredly. She had returned with her father and when the incident was relayed to her mother, her mother had agreed immediately to the house ban they were enforcing on her. J was then ordered to take her to rest while her parents quietly discussed something and headed to her father's room.

"Can I get you anything young mistress?" J asked.

"Tea please," Maika said softly and sat on her bed. When she heard the door close behind J, she collapsed on the bed and stared out the window wondering how Ryoma was because he hadn't called her at all yet. Maika sigh aloud and turned her gaze to the ceiling when a figure appeared beside her dressed in black and had his face covered by a half mask.

Maika screamed as she tried to sit up. Her scream was cut short as gloved hands covered her mouth but still she fought to get the man off of her. Tears sprang to her eyes as one of the intruder's hands squeezed her throat hard but she continued thrashing. Maika was relieved when she heard her door slam open. Her gaze connected with her father's figure as he entered the room with a gun drawn and aimed at her assailant.

The man jumped off of her and crashed through her balcony door but her father shot anyways.

"Fuck…" Takuya said watching the man run off across the lawn holding his arm.

"Maika!" Her mother said coming over to hold her.

Maika coughed lightly as she held her mother tight. She was just almost killed… what was going on?

A/n: We got a little Thrill coming back in the picture, dangerous times for Maika and Ryoma and a little look at the past through Takuya's eyes. Next chapter we'll delve in deeper.