Chain of Deceit

calculated absence of noise. It wrapped around the corridors, filled the space

ged in the years Harumi had been gone, but it still felt the same-still his, still rul

nt of her door, g

tion. No

hed it

her back straight, her hands resting in he

waiting

he said, closing the door b

et out a quiet breath, her gaze locked on som

ried," she

ou know that's neve

o smile, but there was no humor in it. She slowl

murmured. "Eight years, and

closer. "An

slightly, her sharp

she sai

mi had always been beautiful, but something was different now. The softness wa

didn'

he said, voice low, filled

oft, but edged with steel. "Is

reached out, his fing

ch, but she did

k into my room and take wha

htly, his grip tightening ju

't I a

year

ery room, staring at the same

d touched her the same way, kissed her t

had beli

t that maybe, maybe, if she did everything right-if she was patien

ever loved her th

rything. And in retur

n to herself that she would

o

r expression calm, even as

wn me," she

a small, humorless smile tugging a

didn't

ce between them. His free hand trailed along

he murmured. "Tha

tly, but not in submission

enched. "A

N

dn't like

bering the way she used to look at him, the way she used to nee

was

always b

ensed as he pul

e said, warni

gnor

a moment, she was frozen. But then, as his hands ro

shi,

ists before she

is voice dangerously soft. "

e

the wor

ow and controlled, her

on't l

stared

ha

knowing that no matter what I do, no matter how

dn't

she wa

body relaxing just slightly

s me, do

ers flexed aro

. "You miss when I was the woman who would do anything f

ly, her lips brushin

he woman wh

s breath

ack, her gaze l

oesn't exi

him harder tha

, neither of

haled slowly, hi

s did talk

but it didn't

ways did ta

o of her

, smoothing out the

ght, Ta

d toward the bed and climbed beneath the covers,

a long moment, his han

he turned and walked out,

ext M

ke before

at the ceiling, feeling the weight of th

out getting what he w

ell enough to know

t

uscles before standing. She walked over to th

stared back at

in years, she was

in years, Takeshi

brushing her fingers

e would be th

il without romanticizing what Takeshi does. This will highlight the toxic power struggle while setting up

ho Never

Mo Dragons mansion. A storm brewed in the distance, the wind howling

r. She should have known he wouldn't let last night be the end of it. Takeshi never accep

she was his

k open. The soft sound

her eyes fo

he had once waited for it, hoped for it. But th

lt like a shadow cre

voice steady, not t

dn't

than the night air. The mattress shifted as he sat on t

urmured, his tone unreadable. "Did yo

into the blanket. "

dark. "Then you kne

His expression was calm, but there was someth

ght," she said quie

se, his fingers trailing up he

hand away, her

d. "You're fighting me now, b

g herself away from h

ned in

ts. His strength was undeniable, his control absolute. A rush of fear twi

ul, entitled, believing that if he

isting against his g

did

attress, pinning her beneath him. His breath w

was low, edged with something dangero

pounding. She wanted to scream,

th

opped

urrender, bu

he would fight harder. But if she didn't-if she let him believe h

d beneath him, her

s a sign of submission. "That's better,

r eyes, her m

ove. It had n

long to him. And if he believed that, then he would never

steady, letting him be

s Lone

sat in her darkened room

Harumi's return wou

expected it to

left. Even when she had given him a son, even when she had stood

rumi back, she w

her room tonight. He ha

nched h

him. And yet, the moment his real

st, something dark and b

le perfectly. She had

dered if that ha

end, what had s

iven him

still cho

r palms, her eyes cold as

or her to stop waitin

for her to take so