Chapter 12: 

Yumi walked down the same hall she always did. Her head was low, and her head was full of thoughts of Yuji. “Father…He’s gonna come after him…all because of me…” 

She beat herself up with her thoughts. All of her thoughts could only be filled with the possibilities of what her father would do to Yuji. The sound of Yuji’s suffering filled her mind, and took a dark turn quickly. 

“I need to see my mom…she’ll know what to do…” 

She said, already heading to her Mom’s kitchen. 

She walked into the familiar scent of her mom’s green tea and the sound of her mom’s giggle. 

“Wait…what could she be giggling about now?” 

That’s when she heard the sound of Yuji’s voice followed by it. 

“Wait, No no no…He isn’t here, is he?” 

With a quick corner turn, she was met with the sight of her mom talking to her best friend. 

“M-MOM!? YUJI!? WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING!?” She squealed, startling her mom and Yuji. 

“Oh hey Honey! I ran into one of your little friends outside of the dojo.” 

She said, emphasizing with her eyebrows. Yumi immediately turned red and she hid her face from the two of them. 

“Why is he here…why did you have to get tangled up in this Yuji…” 

She mumbled, trying to be irritated. 

“It’s okay, Yumi…We're both here now!” 

He said, already coming up to give her a hug. When she felt him on her, she was on the verge of tears. She couldn’t think of Yuji the same after what her father said about him. 

“Wait, what’s wrong Yumi? Did I do something wrong?” “No…back when my father went to talk to me, he said something about you…about us.” 

She said quietly, her mother giving a worried look. “W-What did he say? It can’t be that bad…” 

“It is…It really really is…” 

She said, her arms tightening around him, as if worried he would disappear right then and there. 

“Honey…you can tell us what he said…” 

She told her. 

“He…He’s gonna come after, Yuji…He’s going to find you and torture you for ever stepping into my life…” Yuji’s eyes went wide. 

“W-WHAT!? NO NO NO…” 

He shouted, even her mother covering her mouth from shock. 

“I knew I should have never opened up to anyone, now I’m putting my best friend in danger…” 

She said, her voice cracking and slight tears starting to form. 

“Yumi…It’s not your fault. It’s mine…” 

“Don’t say that…You were just being nice to me, and now you’re in danger…” 

She said, her breathing now unsteady. Her mom went over to the two of them. 

“No one will touch the two of you…your relationship is too important to end now.” 

She said, trying to comfort the two of them. Yumi pondered, and finally had an idea. 

“M-Me and Yuji need to talk… Yuji, can you come with me to my room?” 

She asked. 

“Of course, you guys go on ahead.” 

They walked upstairs, Mao even starting to tear up, realizing the danger that the two of them are in.

Yumi led Yuji to her room and closed the door. 

“Yuji…I don’t know what we're gonna do…” 

She said, her voice showing that she was breaking mentally.

 “Yumi…I-It’s going to be okay-” 

“NO IT’S NOT! You’re in danger, Yuji…A-And It’s all my fault…” 

She said, falling to her knees. 

“My father’s going to come after you, Yuji…and he won’t stop until you're dead…to him, you're just another obstacle in the road of this stupid clan.”

Yuji carefully lifted her head up to look at him “Yumi…this isn’t your fault…it’s mine…” 

He said gently, trying to lift her spirits.  

“I should have known the consequences when I first met you…” 

“Yuji…You shouldn’t even have to go through all of this just to be my friend. The attack, the trauma, and now being hunted down…” 

“I don’t care, Yumi…as long as we’re together, all of those things are in the past, and what matters is that you’re my present and my future.” 

He said, slightly tearing up as well. To Yumi, that felt like a stab in the gut. All of the terrible things that she and her clan have done to people like him, they all just seem to wash away at his confession. 

“Yuji…” 

She said, tears still in her eyes, but now looking with newfound determination. 

“Yeah, Yumi?” 

He said, not knowing what was gonna come next.

In an instant, her arms were wrapped around him. Yuji broke out in blush immediately. 

“W-Woah…Y-You’re…HUGGING ME!” 

He shouted out of pure joy and excitement. 

“You earned it…You officially broke my walls, Yuji Toshida…” 

She joked, still embracing him. 

“C-Can I hug you back?” 

“Isn’t that why I’m hugging you in the first place?” 

He finally latched his arms onto her. 

“Your arms are warm, Yuji…I like that. I knew that I picked the right person to be with me right now…” 

She said, holding onto Yuji like there's no tomorrow.

Mao was still sitting downstairs as the two wandered off, sipping her tea and watching Soy Sauce sniff the area. It wasn’t until she heard a slam at the door that was too familiar: Toshi. She quickly grabbed Soy Sauce and hid him under the table. 

“Forgive me dear…” 

She whispered. Toshi practically stomped inside and sat down at the table. 

“Honey…what are we going to do about our daughter…” He grunted, still upset about the altercation they had. “What happened now dear?” 

“Your daughter thinks that she can just disobey clan orders without me noticing. I brought an outsider in for an interrogation, and she was getting head over heels for that boy.” 

He said. Mao’s eyes widen at the mention of her daughter showing affection, and tries to cover it up by acting like she agrees.

 “Yeah, she can be a pain, huh? That’s what you get for having a 17 year old for a daughter!” 

She said jokingly, but Toshi kept a dead face. 

“This is serious, Mao…If she keeps this up, who knows what’ll happen to her. I must find that boy again…and show him what he gets for ever going near my daughter…” 

He said darkly, already forming a plan. Mao didn’t want to anger Toshi, and kept trying to stall him, while still holding Soy Sauce from his sight. 

“ I must send troops to his location. We’ll capture him and show him what he’s messing with by being with Yumi…” He kept forming plan after plan, showing that Yuji’s clearly target #1. “Capturing…Robbing…Killing…Whatever! I’ll do anything to get that boy out of my sight!” 

He shouted. 

“Dear…do you think that you’re going too hard on the boy? Maybe he caught Yumi’s eye just by being an outsider in the dojo…” 

She tried to compromise.

 “It can’t…It’s too obvious that the boy had done something to her…something that can ruin her and this clan.” 

“Honey…I think you just need some rest. I promise you, you’ll feel a lot better when you get breakfast in the morning!”

She said, trying to form a distraction. 

“I suppose…good night, Honey…” 

He barely mumbled, and walked to his room a few doors down. Mao finally released Soy sauce and sighed. 

“Three days…” 

She said, as she looked at Soy sauce. His eyes were big and watery, not ready for his owner to leave him.

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